[00:00:08]
♪ O SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE, THE BOMB'S BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ O SAY DOES THAT STAR SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THAT WAS OUR VERY OWN SAN ANTONIO'S OWN ROGER VALASQUEZ, A NEWLY-MINTED TEJANO GRAMMY AWARD WINNER.
WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 13, 2018.
>> COUNCILMAN PELAEZ WILL NOT JOIN US TODAY.
HE IS ILL, SO WE WISH HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
[1. Invocation]
THE TIME IS 9:17 A.M.I WOULD LIKE TO START BY WELCOMING THE INVOCATOR, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR COLLEAGUE, REBECCA VIAGRAN.
IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE PASTOR ISRAEL DE LA ROSA BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
AN ORDAINED MINISTER AT NEW SONG MINISTRIES FROM DECEMBER 2009 UNTIL PRESENT.
AND WILL BE CELEBRATING HIS NINTH YEAR AS PASTOR ON DECEMBE.
AND WILL BE HAVING NEW APPOINTMENTS TO COME.
HE IS MARRIED TO JESSICA DE LA ROSA, AN R.N. AT MCCOLLUM HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE HAS THREE DAUGHTERS, A SET OF TWINS.
AND ELIZABETH, ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS, WHO IS A SOPHOMORE AT THE S.T.E.M. EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE HARLANDALE ISD, IS ALSO OUR DISTRICT 3 SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION APPOINTEE AND IN THE DISTRICT 3 LEGACY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE.
HIS TWIN DAUGHTERS, REBECCA AND TABITHA, WHO ARE IN THE FIFTH GRADE ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST.
HE IS ALSO A SPORTS OFFICIAL, BOTH IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THANK YOU, PASTOR, FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR BLESSING US.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN FOR THIS INVITATION, AS WELL AS OUR MAYOR AND ALL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES HERE WITH US.
WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AS WE PRAY? DEAR WISE AND HEAVENLY AND LOVING FATHER, FIRST LET ME SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL WHO ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY WITH THE INTENT OF DOING GOOD WORK FOR OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK AND FOR THE HONOR OF BEARING APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITIES.
IN THE SCRIPTURES YOU HAVE SAID THAT THE CITIZENS OUGHT TO OBEY THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES SINCE YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED THOSE AUTHORITIES TO PROMOTE PEACE, ORDER, AND JUSTICE.
THEREFORE, THIS MORNING I PRAY FOR OUR MAYOR AND FOR THIS ASSEMBLED COUNCIL AS THEY GATHER HERE TODAY TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GRACIOUSLY GRANT THEM WISDOM TO GOVERN AMID THE CONFLICTING INTERESTS OF OUR
[00:05:01]
TIMES, A SENSE OF WELFARE AND TRUE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE AND A KEEN THIRST FOR JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GRACIOUSLY GRANT THEM CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS GOOD AND FITTING TO USE OUR RESOURCES WISELY AND WELL.
TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT PROMOTE THE COMMON GOOD.
AND THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY EVEN WHEN THERE IS AN HONEST DISAGREEMENT.
I PRAY THAT YOU WILL GRACIOUSLY GRANT THEM PERSONAL PEACE IN THEIR LIVES AND JOY AND IN THEIR TASKS.
AND I PRAY FOR THE AGENDA SET BEFORE THEM TODAY.
PLEASE GIVE AN ASSURANCE OF WHAT WOULD PLEASE YOU AND WHAT WILL BENEFIT THOSE THAT LIVE AND WORK IN AND AROUND OUR BELOVED CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND ABOVE ALL, LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU BLESS THEIR FAMILIES, EVERYONE HERE PRESENT IN THIS SEASON OF CHRISTMAS IN WHICH WE CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTH.
IT IS IN THE NAME OF YOUR BLESSED NAME THAT WE PRAY, AMEN.
[2. Pledge of Allegiance]
[3. Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meetings of November 14 - 15, 2018]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR.
THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS FOR US TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 14 THROUGH 15.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 14 AND 15.
[Additional Item 1]
MOTION CARRIES.WELL, WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FOLKS WITH THIS MORNING BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY GET STARTED.
AND I THINK WE ALL GOT A LITTLE TASTE OF THE FIRST, AND THAT IS I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME LATIN GRAMMY WINNERS ROGER VALASQUEZ AND THE LATIN LEGENDS TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS MORNING FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU ALL SAN ANTONIO-BASED TEJANO BAND.
ALMOST ALL THE MEMBERS WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
ROGER VALASQUEZ IS FROM THE SOUTH SIDE HAVING ATTENDED HARLANDALE HIGH SCHOOL.
IN SEPTEMBER 2018 THE BAND TOOK HOME THE PRIZE FOR BEST TEJANO ALBUM OF THE YEAR FOR TEX-MEX FUNK, WHICH IS AT YOUR TABLES.
AT THE ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS AND SCIENCES.
THEY ARE THE ONLY WINNERS AT THE LATIN GRAMMYS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THE ALBUM WAS RECORDED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AT THE BLUE CAT STUDIOS UNDER THEIR RECORD LABEL.
MR. VALASQUEZ AND HIS WIFE TERESA IS PRESIDENT OF THE RECORD LABEL.
PLEASE HELP ME IN WELCOMING MR. ROGER VALASQUEZ AND THE LATIN LEGENDS TO THE PODIUM.
[APPLAUSE] ROGER KIND OF IMPROMPTU GAVE US AN A CAPPELLA STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
I WON'T INTRODUCE YOUR BAND MATES BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE NOT ALL PRESENT TODAY, ROGER.
IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE EVERYONE AND JUST SAY HELLO TO SAN ANTONIO.
>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY.
TO MY RIGHT IS FRANK SALAZAR, WHO PLAYS BASS WITH THE BAND.
TO MY LEFT HERE IS GILBERT ARRIAGA.
HE IS AN AWARD WINNING BMI PUBLISHER AND PLAYS TRUMPET.
HE'S BEEN WITH THE BAND THE LONGEST.
IT'S JUST AN AMAZING INCREDIBLE HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY .
I THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING US.
IT FEELS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, NOTICE THAT WE DID SOMETHING OF THIS ENORMOUS, YOU KNOW, CALIBER.
AND IT WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO WIN.
BUT TWO HOURS AFTER WE RECEIVED THE TROPHY, I GET A TEXT FROM YOU, MAYOR, CONGRATULATING US AND LETTING US KNOW THAT THE CITY WAS PROUD OF US.
IT REALLY DID MEAN A LOT TO ALL OF US.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M KIND OF GLAD THAT YOU DIDN'T BRING YOUR INSTRUMENTS BECAUSE MY WIFE IS IN THE AUDIENCE AND SHE WOULD MAKE [INDISCERNIBLE] AND EMBARRASS US ALL.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE BAND AND MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HEREBY PRESENTS MANY CITATION TO ROGER VALASQUEZ AND THE LATIN LEGENDS IN RECOGNITION OF WINNING THE BEST TEJANO ALBUM.
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THE PRIZE-WINNING ALBUM WAS THE FIRST-EVER NOMINATION OF THE BAND IS A TRULY WORTHY OF COMMENDATION.I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL PROUDLY COMMEND ROGER VALASQUEZ AND THE LATIN LEGENDS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE A LOT OF FANS ON THE DAIS .
CONGRATULATIONS, ROGER AND ALL OF YOU.
AND WHAT A SYMBOL OF PRIDE FOR ALL OF US THAT YOU WENT OUT THERE AND THAT WE KNOW IN SAN ANTONIO THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE THE HOLDERS, THE OWNERS OF TEJANO AND TEJANO MUSIC.
SO THANK YOU FOR GOING AND FOR SHOWING UP AND FOR WITH YOUR SMALL MOM AND POP LABEL BEAT OUT THOSE BIG RECORD LABELS OUT THERE.
THAT'S THE WAY WE DO THAT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND ROGER, WHO WENT TO HARLANDALE, WHO PLAYED IN HARLANDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND AS A DRUMMER, WHO WAS IN THE MARCHING BAND AT HARLANDALE.
KNOWING THAT THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE THERE NOW CAN ALSO BE GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS.
I KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENED YOUR BROTHER CALLED ME AND SAID WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO RECOGNIZE IT.
SO I'M SO PROUD THAT WE CAN DO THIS HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING PROUD SAN ANTONIANS AND REPRESENTING US WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND SO I'M LOOKING AT YOUR ALBUM HERE.
SO I'M SO EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT TEX-MEX FUNK IS.
AND LATELY MY TIME HAS BEEN CONSUMED WITH DISNEY MUSIC.
SO I'M EXCITED TO HEAR IT AND LISTEN TO IT.
AND I'M GLAD THE GENERE IS PERHAPS REINVENTING ITSELF.
BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS WE HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH OF OUR TEJANO.
BUT I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IT'S STILL WITH US AND THAT YOU'RE REINVENTING IT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MILLENNIAL TO DO FUNK MUSIC.
SO I'M EXCITED TO HEAR IT AND TO LISTEN TO IT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR REPRESENTING US SO WELL IN LAS VEGAS.
YOU KNOW, TEJANO MUSIC STARTED RIGHT HERE AND WE KEEP IT ALIVE AND INTRODUCE IT TO OUR CHILDREN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, GUYS.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO COME DOWN.
WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS.
[Additional Item 2]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
OUR NEXT POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE -- FIRST I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ERICA PROSPER, WHO IS HERE ON BEHALF OF ONE OF THE CAPSTONE PROJECTS OF OUR TRICENTENNIAL, WHICH IS THE OUR LADY OF THE LAKE ANNUAL CIVIL RIGHTS HEARINGS, ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS HEARINGS.
[00:15:03]
GUESTS -- IF YOU COULD COME TO THE PODIUM, I'LL CALL ON OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, ANA SANDOVAL.PLEASE, COME ON UP IF YOU'RE HERE WITH THE CONFERENCE GROUP.
THIS WEEK MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF A SPECIAL TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
A LOT OF THINGS WERE HAPPENING IN 1968 IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND ONE OF THEM WAS THAT THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS STARTED SEVERAL DAYS WORTH OF HEARINGS ON THE STATUS OF MEXICAN AMERICANS IN THE SOUTHWEST.
THE HEARINGS WERE HELD HERE AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY AND DREW HUNDREDS FROM ACROSS THE REGION.
ONE OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS, DR. HECTOR P. GARCIA, DESCRIBED IT -- I APOLOGIZE.
PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE CAME TO TESTIFY.
NOT JUST PROFESSORS AND RESEARCHERS BUT STUDENTS AND MIGRANT WORKERS TOO.
ON THE SCREEN YOU CAN SEE A FEW PHOTOS OF THE HEARINGS AND QUOTES FROM A FEW OF THE TESTIMONIES ON SCREEN.
THE HEARINGS EXPOSED DIFFICULT TRUTHS ABOUT OUR COUNTRY.
FOR MANY, THEY VALIDATED THEIR EXPERIENCES OF DISCRIMINATION.
THOSE WHO TESTIFIED SPOKE OF CRAMPED INSECURE HOUSING, UNSAFE AND EXPLOITED WORKING CONDITIONS AND BEING PUNISHED FOR SPEAKING SPANISH.
BUT LAST MONTH OVER 900 PEOPLE GATHERED AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE TO COMMEMORATE THE HEARINGS AND TAKE STOCK OF OUR PROGRESS AND OBSTACLES.
IT WAS A MOVING CONFERENCE THAT INTEGRATED CULTURE AND HISTORY.
AND MANY OF THE SESSIONS WERE STANDING-ROOM ONLY.
I HAVE HERE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEM.
IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND OURSELVES OF THE PAIN OF THE TIME AND THE RAW SUFFERING THAT PEOPLE WERE MADE TO BEAR.
IT WAS A CHANCE TO TAKE INVENTORY OF PROGRESS SINCE THEN AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHALLENGES STILL REMAIN.
TODAY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO CAME TOGETHER TO ORGANIZE THE CONFERENCE.
THAT'S MR. RICHARD AVENNA, THE CHAIR.
ROSIE CASTRO, MARIO COMPEAN, DR. PEREZ, MARIA VASQUEZ AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO PLAYED A ROLE AND IS HERE TODAY.
TODAY THIS COUNCIL WILL HONOR THE WORK OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO ADVANCE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS IN OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY.
WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVED THROUGH THE HEARINGS HERE WITH US TODAY.
I WAS TOLD THAT THE MEDIAN AGE OF THE ORGANIZERS IS 70 YEARS OLD.
BUT THE CAUSE ENDURES AND WE NEED YOUNGER PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE OF US ON THE DAIS, TO STEP UP AND BECOME THE FLAG BEARERS OF THIS CAUSE.
THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE IS TOO RICH TO LOSE AND THE CHALLENGES ARE TOO PRESSING TO GO UNADDRESSED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
[APPLAUSE] THE MAYOR HAS A FEW REMARKS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WELL, THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS COME HERE AND WHO HAD A PART IN ORGANIZING THE EVENT.
WHEN WE BEGAN THE PROGRESS FOR PLANNING THE TRICENTENNIAL, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T JUST A PARTY.
THAT WE WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON WHO WE HAVE BECOME AS PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE STRUGGLES THAT OUR CITIZENS AND OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN THROUGH OVER THE YEARS AS A WAY OF EDUCATING OUR FUTURE.
SO THE HOLDING UP THE MIRROR CONFERENCE, WHEN THE CONVERSATIONS FIRST STARTED ABOUT THAT, BECAME A FOCAL POINT FOR US IN REMINDING US THAT THE TRICENTENNIAL TRULY WAS GOING TO TURN OUT TO BE MORE THAN JUST A PARTY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
I HOPE THAT THE MESSAGE THAT WAS SO VERY CLEAR DURING HOLDING OF THE MIRROR CONTINUES TO RESONATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW IT CERTAINLY DOES UP ON THIS DAIS.
AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY WIFE, WHO TEACHES ME THOSE LESSONS OF THE HEARINGS AND WHY THEY WERE NEEDED AND WHY THEY'RE STILL NEEDED EVEN TODAY ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND HANDS THAT DOWN TO OUR SON AS WELL.
ERICA, I'M SO VERY PROUD OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING US A BETTER COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME A BETTER MAYOR AND MAN.
[00:20:01]
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL FOR PULLING THIS AND FOR MAKING SURE WE HIGHLIGHT THIS.THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK, FOR THE FIGHT, AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE UP HERE -- I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, I AM UP HERE BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND MY FAMILY HAS DONE, AND I DO NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.
AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK FOR ALL PARTS OF TOWN AND SPECIFICALLY FOR ME THE SOUTH SIDE.
BUT ALL OF MY FAMILY THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I WISH WE SHOULD SAY THESE HEARINGS AND WHAT HAPPENED THEN WAS IN THE PAST, BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT.
WE KNOW IT IS STILL HAPPENING NOW MORE THAN EVER.
AND WE, AS A COMMUNITY, ALSO NEED TO BE SURE TO LET OTHERS RECOGNIZE WHEN IT IS HAPPENING.
SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO KEEP THIS FRONT OF MIND FOR US HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE DISCRIMINATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING NATIONWIDE TO PEOPLE OF COLOR AND TO CALL IT OUT AND TO SPEAK IT OUT.
WE HAVE LIVED THIS, WE HAVE FOUGHT THIS AND WE CANNOT GO BACK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR BRINGING OUR GUESTS BEFORE US TODAY.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPONSORING SOME OF THE EVENTS, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND.
I HAD CONFLICTS EVERY TIME AND I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THE PROGRAM WAS SO FABULOUS.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF THEY WERE RECORDED OR WE CAN SEE THEM AGAIN? COULD YOU PERHAPS SOMEBODY TALK ABOUT WHERE ONE CAN SEARCH FOR THAT? THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROSIE.
>> EVERYTHING IS ON THE WEBSITE OR WILL BE SHORTLY PUT ON THERE.
MANY OF THE PANELS WERE RECORDED AND LIVESTREAMED, AS WERE THE MAJOR SPEECHES.
SO ALL OF THAT WILL BE ARCHIVED AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE.
AND PEOPLE CAN FIND IT THERE AND CAN FIND IT ON THE WEBSITE.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH SO THAT WE ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SEE WHAT CONVERSATIONS WERE HAD.
I KNOW I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED THAT I COULD NEVER ATTEND ANY OF THEM.
BUT I ALSO JUST THINK THAT SOMEBODY UNFORTUNATELY VERY ABSENT FROM YOUR GROUP IS CHOCO.
SHE WAS SUCH A CHAMPION AND LIVED IT SIDE BY SIDE.
SHE WOULD TELL ME STORIES OF ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES WITH HER WAS DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHE WOULD SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE ORGANIZED THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN HERE ON THE CORNER OF COMMERCE AND SAN JACINTO.
THIS IS WHERE WE TALKED AND ORGANIZED AND LAUNCHED THE PARTY AND SHE WOULD TELL ME ALL THESE INCREDIBLE STORIES THAT WE HOPE WILL BE IN A BOOK SOMEWHERE SOME DAY.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE WONDERFUL THINGS TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES IN WAYS THAT PERHAPS -- AND PERSONAL STORIES AND SOME OF THE ONES THAT SHE WOULD TELL ME ABOUT THE LATE NIGHTS AND THE OLD SCHOOL WAYS THAT YOU DID THINGS ORGANIZING.
AND ALSO THAT IT WAS MOSTLY WOMEN.
SO MANY WOMEN WERE THE FRONT OF ALL OF THAT AND OFTEN DID NOT GET THE CREDIT.
THERE WAS USUALLY A MAN -- NO OFFENSE TO THE MEN, I KNOW YOU ALL WORKED HARD TOO -- BUT OFTEN IT WAS A MAN WHO TOOK CREDIT AND GOT THE GLORY, BUT ACTUALLY ALL THE WOMEN BEHIND THE SCENES DOING ALL OF THE WORK.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU ALL HERE REPRESENTED THIS MORNING.
AND, ALSO, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, EVEN AS WE TALK TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARN IS THAT PEOPLE BECOME VERY AMBITIOUS AND VERY ACTIVE IN THEIR COLLEGE YEARS AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER.
AND THEN THEY SORT OF DROP OFF.
BECAUSE YOU GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR FAMILIES AND YOU HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES.
BUT EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE BEFORE US TODAY HAS REALLY STUCK WITH IT.
YOU KEPT IT 50-YEAR CONFERENCE.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING AND NOT GIVING UP.
AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT I LEARNED FROM CHOCO IS IT DOES TAKE GENERATIONS TO SEE THE CHANGE.
AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T SEE IT ON A DAILY BASIS AND THE RESULT DOESN'T COME FOR GENERATIONS LATER.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND FOR NOT GIVING UP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE SO GRATEFUL FOR.
WE UP HERE GET TO WALK THE PATH THAT YOU TRAIL BLAZED.
I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, MY MOTHER TOLD ME OF THE STORIES, HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO GROW UP SPEAKING SPANISH AND BEING TOLD YOU CAN'T ANYMORE.
[00:25:02]
YOU COULD GET IN TROUBLE FOR IT.AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THOSE STORIES.
IT'S LIKE THEY OCCURRED JUST YESTERDAY.
AND I SEE IN ONE OF YOUR PROGRAMS, YOUR ROUND TABLES YOU HAD LANGUAGE RESOURCE FOR LIABILITY AND YOU WELCOMED THOSE FROM THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, WHICH I'M PROUD OF.
WE'RE STILL MAKING PROGRESS, BUT ONE THING I WOULD HIGHLIGHT THAT I THINK IS SO CRITICAL AND SO IMPORTANT HERE AT CITY HALL, IS WE HAVE MEANINGFUL SPANISH TRANSLATION HERE PROVIDED EVERY SINGLE TIME WE HAVE A MEETING.
OUR AGENDAS ARE TRANSLATED, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT.
I WANT TO THANK STAFF, SPECIFICALLY MARIA VILLAGOMEZ AND ROD SANCHEZ FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND ALL THE TRANSLATORS WHO ARE HERE TO MAKE THIS A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR US ALL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM AND THESE GIANTS TO OUR CHAMBER.
WHEN WE USE THE TERM THAT WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS, I THINK OF THE STEADY SHOULDERS OF ROSIE CASTRO OR MARIO COMPEAN AND A FEW OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGING FORWARD IN THIS CITY.
AS THE COUNCILWOMAN DESCRIBED, 1968 WAS A TUMULTUOUS TIME IN THIS COUNTRY AND CITY AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THOSE TIMES IN THIS CITY AS MUCH.
I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE WE ARE DOCUMENTING OUR HISTORY, WE ARE DOCUMENTING THE STEPS THAT WERE TAKEN.
I'M GLAD THAT SOME OF THE EVENTS MADE IT DOWN TO THE SOUTH SIDE.
ERICA, YOU GOT TO HEADLINE THE SCREENING OF WILLIE VALASQUEZ'S DOCUMENTARY, WHICH IS, FOR MOST FOLKS, SHOULD BE REQUIRED WATCHING IF YOU ARE ENTERED INTERESTED IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE POWER OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS IN FRONT OF SEVERAL GENERATIONS THAT I HOPE CONTINUES.
AND FOR, AGAIN, THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE SET TO ALLOW FOLKS LIKE US TO HAVE OPEN DIALOGUE, SIT AT THESE SEATS AND HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
AND I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR, RICHARD AVENNA, AS WELL AS DR. PENA AND ROSIE CASTRO.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STEP FORWARD AND MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AND, AGAIN, A SINGLE YEAR, VERY PIVOTAL FOR OUR HISTORY AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE SOME TIME AND MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> I WAS TRYING TO GET INTO THE OTHER OLD COUNCIL AND I SAW THE MAYOR AND I THREATENED TO SUE HIM UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
BUT HE SAID, NO, WE HAVE GOOD LAWYERS.
FIRST, LET ME TELL YOU 50 YEARS AGO THE CITY COUNCIL DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT LOOKS NOW.
THE 50 YEARS LATER, HOLDING UP THE MAYOR PROJECT HAS TWO MAIN PROJECTS.
WE JUST FINISHED WITH THE FIRST ONE, WHICH WAS A CONFERENCE .
THE SECOND ONE IS THE REPORT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PUBLISHED.
AND WHEN THAT IS ISSUED, WE'RE CONSIDERING CALLING THE U.S.
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION TO COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO AND HOLD HEARINGS ON TWO MAJOR ISSUES, VOTING RIGHTS AND IMMIGRATION THAT ARE BURNING ISSUES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN I CAME HERE 50 YEARS AGO, SAN ANTONIO WAS A VERY, VERY SEGREGATED CITY.
ECONOMICALLY, ETHNICALLY, AND RACIALLY.
I LOOKED UP IN THE REPORTS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION AND HAD THE LITTLE ALAMO HEIGHTS AND CASTLE HILLS AND I RAN INTO THE ONE OVER ON FREDERICKSBURG AND I-10.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT.
I SAID HOW MANY MEXICAN AMERICANS WERE LIVING THERE? THEY SAID ZERO.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE LATELY, BUT MEXICAN AMERICANS LIVE EVERYWHERE.
SAN ANTONIO IS NOT AS SEGREGATED RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY AS IT USED TO BE, BUT THEY TELL ME IT IS THE MOST SEGREGATED CITY ECONOMICALLY IN THE COUNTRY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
IT'S OUR HONOR TO MAKE OUR PRESENTATION TO THE CITY AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, ESPECIALLY TALKING TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO PICK UP THE MANTLE AND CARRY IT FORWARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR.
>> ON BEHALF OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY AND PRESIDENT,
[00:30:02]
DR. DIANE MELBEY WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF OUR GRADUATION ACTIVITIES GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, THE CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP INCLUDING MS. ERICA PROSPER.THE VOLUNTEERS, THE OU TEAM, AND THE GENEROUS SPONSORS.
ALL THE PRESENTERS OF THE CONFERENCE, INCLUDING A LOT OF COMMUNITY SCHOLARS AND ACTIVISTS HERE IN THE CITY.
AND REALLY THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WHO CAME TOGETHER, THE TRICENTENNIAL COMMISSION, TO CELEBRATE THE MAKING OF THE HOLDING UP THE MAYOR CONFERENCE AND MAKING IT A HUGE SUCCESS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BEING INCLUDING IN THE PROGRAM ITSELF.
THANK COUNCILWOMAN ANA SANDOVAL, MAYOR RON NIRENBERG AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL FOR BEING PRESENT WITH US, AND ALSO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO PARTNER AGAIN WITH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY AND RETURN TO THE PLACE WHERE THE HEARINGS WERE HELD IN 1968.
SO PRESIDENT MELBY REFLECTED TO ME THAT THE CONFERENCE HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON HER AND IT GAVE HER A GREAT SENSE OF HOPE AND THAT SHE'S HOPEFUL THAT THE NOVEMBER CONFERENCE IS A SEED THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND BECOME THE SIGNATURE THAT DISTINGUISHES OLOU.
OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY IS PREPARED TO CONTINUE THE SPIRIT OF THE CONFERENCE AND CONVENE FUTURE GATHERINGS AND SYMPOSIUMS TO REVISIT THE WORK THAT WAS BEGUN AT THE 1968 CIVIL RIGHTS HEARINGS.
IT IS ONGOING REALLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND NATION.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, FOR TAKING TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT WORK OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND ALL INVOLVED.
PERHAPS THE NEXT CONFERENCE WE CONVENE AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY CAN BE FOCUSED ON LATINAS IN LEADERSHIP AND YOU CAN COME AND PRESENT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR VISION, AND OTHER COUNCILWOMEN AS WELL AND JOINT THIS GREAT GROUP OF WOMEN WHO ARE BEHIND ME IN THIS EFFORT TO REVISIT, PERHAPS FROM THE OTHER LANDS, THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN CONTINUED.
>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY ONE OF THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS CONFERENCE IS THAT TODAY MARKS THE 50 YEARS.
THIS WAS THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD.
ONE OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT THINGS IS THAT IN 1968, AS I WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT GOING TO THE CONFERENCE, BEING AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAUSED A LOT OF PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR, THE CONGRESSMEN, AND ALL THE POWERS THAT BE AT THAT TIME DID NOT WANT TO SEE THE CONFERENCE COME HERE.
DID NOT WANT TO SEE THE HEARINGS IN SAN ANTONIO.
THAT THERE ARE NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS.
AND WHAT IT MADE US FEEL LIKE IS THAT WE DIDN'T BELONG.
THAT SOMEHOW WE WERE STILL OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE INSTEAD OF BEING IN IT.
YOU HAVE MADE IT SO THAT 50 YEARS LATER WE STAND HERE AND WE'RE PART OF EVERYTHING.
THIS CONFERENCE TOOK A LONG TIME TO PLAN, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU WERE THERE OR NOT.
EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE IN SPIRIT.
WE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE WELCOMING OF OUR MAYOR AND THE RECEPTION GIVEN BY THE HISPANIC E CHAMBER AND ERICA PROSPER.
AND ANA'S WILLINGNESS TO TAKE PART IN THE CONFERENCE, EVEN ON THE DAYS SHE WASN'T ON, WE APPRECIATED HAVING HER THERE AND THINK EXTREMELY HIGHLY OF ANA .
ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW WILL HAPPEN IS WE WILL ARCHIVE THIS MATERIAL AND IT WILL BE THERE FOR THE FUTURE SO THAT THE CHILDREN OF TODAY AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF TODAY WILL NOT FORGET ALL THAT CAME BEFORE.
WE HAVE MANY OF US AND MANY OF YOU WORKED FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO SEE A CITY COUNCIL LIKE WE SEE NOW.
AND THAT IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL MUCH TO DO, BUT ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE WAS THAT EVERYBODY HAS NEW IDEAS ABOUT THINGS TO DO.
SO WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS, ONE OF WHICH IS MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE OR MUSEUM.
BUT MANY OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE WORKING FOR.
[00:35:01]
AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF US FEEL THAT IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT WE ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR STAND THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN ON US BEFORE AND WE CONGRATULATE THE CHIEF AS WELL FOR HIS STAND.IMMIGRATION IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US AND IT'S A FIGHT WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE, BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO SEE THIS COUNTRY GO AGAINST ITS MORAL OBLIGATIONS.
WE CANNOT SEE THIS COUNTRY FORGET ITS VALUES AND NOT WELCOME THE IMMIGRANT.
WE CANNOT SEE THIS COUNTRY JAIL CHILDREN AND SEPARATE THEM FROM THEIR PARENTS.
SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO DO, BUT WE THANK YOU FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.
ALL OF YOU ARE WORKING HARD, AND WE KNOW THAT AND WE VERY GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU STOOD WITH US ON THAT DAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IT'S DECEMBER 13, 2018.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, LET ME JUST TAKE A MOMENT.
BECAUSE WHEN WE STARTED THE PROCESS OF PLANNING A TRICENTENNIAL, MANY PEOPLE WERE ASKING WHAT IS THE TRICENTENNIAL GOING TO BE ABOUT.
AND I THINK IT'S TAKEN US THIS LONG TO FIGURE IT OUT.
ROSIE, YOU MENTIONED THAT IN 1968 THE COMMISSION WASN'T WELCOMED BY THE PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY AND THAT YOU FELT LIKE THE CIRCLE DID NOT INCLUDE YOU.
YOU WERE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE INSTEAD OF INSIDE.
I THINK DURING THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR, AND I'M SO PROUD OF MY COLLEAGUES.
AS DIFFICULT AS SOMETIMES OUR DEBATES ARE, THAT I CAN LOOK BACK ON 2018, OUR TRICENTENNIAL YEAR, AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH REGARD TO POLICY AND SOME OF THE MORE DIFFICULT STANDS THAT WE'VE TAKEN, SOME OF WHICH YOU'VE MENTIONED, AND SAY TO OUR CITIZENS THAT OUR CIRCLE IS MUCH LARGER IN 2018 THAN IT WAS EVEN A YEAR PRIOR.
THAT WE'VE WORKED HARD FROM JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 13 TO EXPAND OUR CIRCLE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LIVING UP TO THE PROMISE THAT EVERY SAN ANTONIAN DESERVES TO BE IN IT.
AND I SAY WITH A GREAT DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE TODAY THAT THAT'S TRUE.
WE DO HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION, BUT NOT TO BE ANTI-CLIMATIC, I'LL GIVE THAT TO YOU AFTERWARDS.
[Additional Item 3]
AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO IS IN THE GALLERY FOR YOUR PATIENCE.WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, SHERYL SCULLEY, TO HAVE THE FIRST.
>> SCULLEY: GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND THOSE WHO ARE IN THE CHAMBERS.
WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT THIS MORNING TO RECOGNIZE OUR CITY ENGINEER, MIKE FRISBIE, WHO JOINED THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007.
AND TOMORROW IS HIS LAST DAY WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS HE GOES ON TO TAKE ON A NEW CHALLENGE, BUT WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT THIS MORNING TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE HIS SERVICE.
DURING HIS 25 YEAR CAREER MIKE IS KNOWN FOR FOSTERING GREAT TEAMWORK TO PRODUCE EXCELLENT LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT ENABLE HIM TO SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTE ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.
IN 2007 WHEN I RECRUITED MIKE TO SAN ANTONIO, IT WAS TO OVERSEE A NEWLY-CREATED CAPITAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS DEPARTMENT FOCUSED SOLELY ON MANAGING CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION.
AND THE 2007 LARGEST BOND PROGRAM, AT THE TIME, $550 MILLION.
AND WE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THOSE WOULD BE DELIVERED ON TIME, WITHIN BUDGET, AND OF HIGH QUALITY.
THE VOTERS EXPRESSED THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THE CITY'S ABILITY TO MANAGE BOND PROJECTS, APPROVING THEN THE 2012 PROGRAM.
MIKE HELPED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROGRAM.
WE ATTENDED ALL OF THOSE BOND MEETINGS TOGETHER, AND THE VOTERS DID APPROVE THAT NEARLY $600 MILLION PROGRAM THAT AGAIN IN 2012 WITH ANOTHER 150 PROJECTS.
IN 2013 WE COMBINED THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS DEPARTMENT WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
AND MIKE BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PRIOR BOND PROGRAMS, MIKE LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM, NOW KNOWN AS OUR
[00:40:01]
LARGEST IN CITY HISTORY, $850 MILLION.WE'RE HAPPY WITH THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OFRT THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S A TESTIMONY TO MIKE AND THE TEAM IN TCI TO DELIVER THOSE PROJECTS ON SCHEDULE AND WITHIN BUDGET, PROVIDING STREET CONSTRUCTION, DRAINAGE, SIDEWALKS, LIBRARIES, PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, AND EVEN MUSEUMS. SO, DURING MIKE'S TENURE, TCI, AS WE'VE COME TO CALL IT, OUR TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO MANAGED OTHER HIGH-PROFILE PROJECTS, THE LARGEST SINGLE PROJECT IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY THAT WE COMPLETED, THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, $325 MILLION AT THE HENRY B.
THE $172 MILLION CONSOLIDATED CAR RENTAL FACILITY AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AND MORE THAN $50 MILLION OF IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ALAMODOME FOR RENOVATIONS.
AND THAT'S ENABLED US TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE AS WE RECRUIT LARGE MEN'S FINAL FOUR IN 2025.
MIKE AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER OVER THE PAST 11 YEARS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT OUR WORKING TOGETHER GOES BACK AT LEAST 20 YEARS IN PHOENIX AND HERE.
BUT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, MIKE, PETER, MARIA, BEN AND I HAVE MET AT LEAST MONTHLY TO REVIEW OUR SCHEDULE FOR BOND PROJECTS AND TO KEEP THEM WITHIN BUDGET.
MIKE IS HIGHLY RESPECTED IN THE ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND BEYOND.
MIKE WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION 2018 TOP TEN PUBLIC WORKS LEADERS IN THE COUNTRY FOR THAT YEAR.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST COVETED AND PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS AWARDED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, IF YOU WEREN'T AWARE OF THIS, THAT MIKE SPENDS COUNTLESS HOURS OUTSIDE OF HIS LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES HERE AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO GIVE BACK TO THE YOUTH AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA.
HE ALSO CHAIRED OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE FUND CAMPAIGN ONE YEAR FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.
AND, OF COURSE, ANNUALLY WE RAISE MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS.
MIKE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT AS WELL.
HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE ACE MENTOR PROGRAM OF THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO AREA.
AND HE IS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL CHAPTER OF THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.
HE MENTORS YOUNG STUDENTS WHO WANT TO BECOME ENGINEERS.
AND WE THANK MIKE FOR THAT EFFORT.
IT'S PART OF THE PROCESS FOR CREATING THAT PIPELINE.
OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM HAD A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE MIKE'S PUBLIC SERVICE LAST WEEK AT OUR HOLIDAY EVENT WHERE WE DID A COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITY FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE.
BUT WE WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE MIKE THIS MORNING, AS HIS LAST DAY IS TOMORROW.
I CAN SAY, HAVING KNOWN AND WORKED WITH MIKE FOR 20 YEARS, HE IS A PROFESSIONAL, A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL, BUT HE'S ALSO A GOOD MAN COMMITTED TO FAITH AND FAMILY.
SO LET'S JUST RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE MIKE THIS MORNING.
AS WE ALL KNOW, HE IS TAKING ON A NEW ROLE AS VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM.
>> WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SHERYL.
I AM VERY MUCH HUMBLED TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND SHERYL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY YOU'VE PROVIDED TO ME TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO.
I CAME HERE BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AS WE CELEBRATE -- YOU KNOW, BEFORE COMING UP HERE WE WERE CELEBRATING THE RICH ETHNICITY OF THIS COMMUNITY AND OF COURSE THE HERITAGE AND THE HISTORY IS GREAT.
IT'S BEEN A BLESSING TO BE YOUR LEADER IN TCI HERE.
BUT I DO WANT TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE SUCCESSION PLANNING
[00:45:02]
THAT HAS GONE ON OVER THE YEARS, JUST EVERYBODY'S GOING TO LEAVE AT SOME POINT.AND SO THERE IS SUCCESSION AND PLANNING.
IN TCI WE HAVE LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS, JUST LIKE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND SO NEFE, ANTHONY, CHRISTY, RAZI, PAUL, ART REINHART, REGINA RODRIGUEZ, JESSICA SHIRLEY SAENZ.
LIZ, I GUESS I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR YOU.
BUT GREAT LEADERS BACKED UP BY MORE LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION.
JUST CONSTANTLY GETTING BETTER.
I'M EXCITED FOR THIS NEXT CHAPTER.
I APPRECIATE MR. PUENTE THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE STEVE CLAUS.
YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH MR. PUENTE AND STEVE CLAUS.
STEVE IS RETIRING FROM SAWS AS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR 33 YEARS WITH SAWS.
STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.
BUT WE'RE ONE BIG ORGANIZATION.
DIFFERENT BOARDS, DIFFERENT C.E.O.S BUT ONE BIG PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
I'M JUST GOING TO BE UP THE STREET A LITTLE BIT WORKING FOR SAWS.
BUT, AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUED PUBLIC SERVICE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CONGRATULATIONS, MIKE.
WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE HERE.
AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES WHEN ASKED, IT IS A LOSS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE TEAM THAT YOU'VE PUT IN PLACE AND THE TIME THAT YOU'RE HERE.
AND WHAT IS A LOSS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO A HUGE GAIN IN TERMS OF THE WORK YOU'LL BE DOING THERE AT SAWS AND THE NEXT ERA OF SAWS AND THE HIGH DEGREE OF IMPORTANCE THAT THE CAPITAL SIDE OF THAT ORGANIZATION WILL HAVE.
SO YOU ARE FILLING SOME INCREDIBLY LARGE SHOES, LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY OVER AT SAWS, BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT IN YOUR LEADERSHIP MOVING FORWARD AND GRATEFUL YOU'RE STAYING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUES.
>> VIAGRAN: I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL BECAUSE WE HAD OUR MEETING ALREADY, MIKE, BUT THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS GET THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED AND THAT THEY ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO YOU ARE.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY HUMAN BEING IS TREATED WITH RESPECT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
AND THANK YOU, SHERYL, FOR RECRUITING HIM HERE TO SAN ANTONIO.
AND THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR HAVING FOUND YOUR HOME HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH YOUR INCREDIBLE FAMILY.
WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON YOU.
AND JUST HAVING ROBERT HERE IN THE FRONT ROW, LOOK AT HIM LOOKING AT US.
SO IT IS OUR LOSS AS AN ORGANIZATION.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL IN OUR FAMILY TREE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
I CAN'T HIDE THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED.
MIKE, YOU REALIZE WE DON'T HAVE TERM LIMITS FOR YOUR POSITION.
YOU COULD STAY MUCH LONGER IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
IF IT'S STILL SOMETHING YOU'LL CONSIDER, WE'LL TALK TO ROBERT PUENTE AND SEE IF WE CAN'T FIGURE SOMETHING OUT FOR YOU.
HE'S BEEN PUSHING THIS CITY IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
AND I'M JEALOUS THAT YOU ALREADY HAD A MEETING WITH MIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND REALLY CONGRATULATE HIM.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY JOKES.
MIKE, YOU'VE JUST BEEN AUDIO] BUT SOMEBODY HAD TO BUILD IT.
AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE SUCH HIGH MARKS FOR YOUR TEAM.
AND WHEN I THINK OF OUR ENGINEERS AND I THINK OF TCI AND SIMS, AS IT USED TO BE CALLED, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN YOU.
AND SO YOU'VE BEEN REALLY REMARKABLE TO THIS CITY.
AND WHEN I SAY GIFT, I TRULY MEAN THAT.
FOLKS WILL NEVER KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT TOOK TOO LONG BECAUSE IT DIDN'T TAKE TOO LONG.
FOLKS WILL NEVER KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT CRUMBLED TOO QUICKLY BECAUSE IT DIDN'T CRUMBLE TOO QUICKLY.
AND THEY'LL KNOW ABOUT THE STURDINESS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S TOO BAD YOU CAN'T DO LIKE MOST OF US DO ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO WHEN WE SEE A SMOOTH FRESHLY POURED PIECE OF CONCRETE AND PUT OUR HANDS IN IT.
I KNOW IF WE COULD, WE WOULD SEE YOUR HANDPRINTS ALL OVER THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BASED ON THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE HAVE PUT
[00:50:02]
IN COMMUNITIES THAT FOR A LONG TIME DIDN'T GET SO SEE SOME PROJECTS IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT AND YOU LEFT YOUR HANDPRINTS WITH US AND YOU BROUGHT YOUR FAMILY WITH YOU AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TOO FAR OVER AT SAWS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
MIKE, STOP LOOKING FORLORNLY AT COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY I'M BLESSED TO REPRESENT.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
I DON'T WANT TO TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT YOU BEING AN ENGINEER.
I'M GOING TO TELL ONE QUICK STORY.
WE WERE AT A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER LAST YEAR STANDING ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL.
AND I LOOKED OUT AND I SPOT YOU IN THE CORNER PRAYING AS INTENTLY AS I'VE EVER SEEN SOMEONE PRAY.
AND I LEARNED THE DEPTH OF YOUR FAITH.
AND I WAS JUST IMPRESSED BEYOND BELIEF ABOUT WHAT YOU CONSIDER THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE TO BE.
WE MIRROR EACH OTHER ON A LOT OF THINGS.
I WAS STRIVING TO BE AS GOOD AS THAT GUY AS HE CARRIES HIMSELF, ESPECIALLY AS A MAN OF FAITH.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS IS YOU CARE ABOUT EQUALLY THROUGH THE FAITH THAT YOU HAVE AND THE FAMILY.
WE HAVE CHATTED ABOUT WYOMING STUFF AND OVER THE YEARS YOU HAVE HELPED ME MULTIPLE TIMES.
WHEN A YOUNGER REY SALDANA CAME IN THE OFFICE AND I WAS REY'S CHIEF OF STAFF IN 2011, I THINK IT WAS, WE LEANED ON YOU.
YOU WERE THE ONE THAT HELPED US REBUILD THAT COMMUNITY AND DO THE THINGS IN MY TIME WITH THE COUNCILMAN, MY COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 4 NOW.
YOU ARE A FAR BETTER MAN OF FAITH, LEADER OF YOUR FAMILY THAN YOU ARE AN ENGINEER.
AND YOU ARE THE BEST ENGINEER IN THE COUNTRY.
SO IF THAT DOESN'T SAY HOW PROUD I AM TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE DOES.
I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THE BEST OF LUCK.
ROBERT PUENTE AND SAWS' GAIN IS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S LOSS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MUCH SUCCESS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
I AM PROUD TO CALL YOU MY FRIEND.
I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK AND I WILL BE HERE FOR WHATEVER YOU NEED IN THE FUTURE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
MIKE, WE FIRST MET BACK IN -- WHEN WAS IT? 2016 ON THE BOND ISSUES FOR THE 2017 BOND.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS ON THE STREET AND SIDEWALK COMMITTEE.
THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF THE BOND.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD SOME DIFFERENT IDEAS.
AND YOU AND I WEREN'T SEEING EYE TO EYE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I SAW WHERE YOU WERE GOING.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I SAID, HEY, THIS GUY'S GOT IT TOGETHER.
AND I'VE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOU OVER THE TIME.
AND I'VE BEEN VERY, VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS CITY.
YOU HAVE BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THAT, OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
AND I'VE MENTIONED IT BEFORE, YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING WELL YOU STILL HAVE A SMILE ON, AND THAT IS WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT YOU.
AND I MENTIONED IT BEFORE THAT WE NEED MORE OF THAT ACROSS THIS CITY.
AND THAT IS, I THINK, VERY IMPORTANT AND PEOPLE REALLY RECOGNIZE THAT AND APPRECIATE THAT.
YOU KNOW, OUR LOSS, THE CITY'S LOSS, BUT SAWS' GAIN.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU SOME MORE IN THE FUTURE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE NEXT BUDGETS ARE COMING UP, MR. PUENTE.
BUT I'M SURE YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL OVER THERE AND I'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU SOME MORE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
MIKE, JUST WANT TO SAY REALLY APPRECIATE THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN ASKED WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE ABOUT THE CITY, AND THAT'S THE VERY PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING FOR THE CITY AND THE HEART AND PASSION THEY HAVE FOR THE CITY.
AND YOU'RE THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR COMMITMENT.
AND PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HOW INCLUSIVE YOU ALWAYS WERE IN WELCOMING ME INTO, FOR
[00:55:03]
EXAMPLE, THE ACE EVENTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.THAT IS TRULY REMARKABLE MEASURE OF WHO YOU ARE.
BECAUSE YOU GOT A LOT OF US UP HERE THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
OF COURSE YOU ALSO HAVE A CITY TO RUN, AND SO MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO HERD ALL THE CATS AND GET US SUCCESSFULLY TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL ELECTION OF A BOND AND OF COURSE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS AND WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE DONNIE AND MARIE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND, MIKE, I DO WANT TO SHARE A STORY OF A NIGHT THAT WE WERE AT LOWELL MIDDLE SCHOOL TO TALK OVER THE BRIDGE OVER FRIO CITY ROAD AND ZARZAMORA.
AND THE CITY PRIORITIZED THAT PROJECT.
WE GOT $19 MILLION FROM MPO, $10 MILLION FROM THE BOND VOTER APPROVED PROJECT, BUT IT WAS VERY CONTENTIOUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
AND PEOPLE WERE GETTING VERY UPSET AND ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
AND OF COURSE I'M NOT AN ENGINEER.
I CAN'T ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
AND YOU SAID TO THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, THERE'S NO NEED TO SHOUT OR GET UPSET.
WE WILL BE HERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE'RE HERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES.
AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT REALLY SHOWED YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY AND TO THE PROJECT BECAUSE IT TAKES A LONG TIME.
AND I WANT TO SAY WE WERE THERE UNTIL AFTER 9:00 THAT NIGHT TRYING TO ANSWER PEOPLE'S QUESTIONS.
AND THESE QUESTIONS ARE VERY TECHNICAL, OR RATHER, PEOPLE ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE IT IN A SIMPLE WAY BECAUSE MOST OF US ARE NOT ENGINEERS AND MOST OF US ARE NOT TECHNICAL PEOPLE.
A LOT OF IT IS WE NEED TO TRUST WE ARE DOING RIGHT BY THEM, THAT WE HAVE THEIR BEST INTEREST AND WE ARE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE.
AND THEN I THINK THAT YOUR TEAM ALSO HAS THE SAME RESPECT OF TRYING TO EXPLAIN THINGS IN A WAY THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN UNDERSTAND.
AND I KNOW THAT'S A SPECIAL SKILL SET TO BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE THAT.
AND I HAVE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE WITH NEFE, WITH ANTHONY, AND WITH RAZI, JUST EXPLAINING IT IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE TRUST.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK HERE.
I KNOW THAT AT SAWS WE HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS, BEING ABLE TO TRANSLATE VERY COMPLEX PROBLEMS INTO A WAY THAT AN AVERAGE PERSON CAN UNDERSTAND.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR WORK OVER THERE.
AND I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES AUDIO].
AND WE DID STAY THERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES.
IRONICALLY, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BRIDGE OVER FRIO CITY ROAD, ONE PERSON LEFT TO GET A BITE TO EAT AND THEN THEY COULDN'T GET BACK BECAUSE OF THE TRAIN.
SO THAT WAS, AS A RESULT, A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR THAT PROJECT.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR US, MIKE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FURTHER AT SAWS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
WE'VE HEARD FROM ALMOST ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO I THINK HAVE EXPRESSED THE FEELINGS THAT I HAVE AS WELL.
YOU'VE DONE SUCH A PROFESSIONAL JOB AND YOU'VE REALLY MADE ALL OF OUR JOBS MUCH EASIER.
AND HOW YOU REALLY WANTED TO WORK WITH ME, SO I UNDERSTOOD HOW THINGS COULD GET DONE.
I REALLY BELIEVE YOU HAVE BENEFITED ME AS A COUNCIL PERSON, ALL OF US, BUT ALSO MY CONSTITUENTS.
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON AND THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO, AND YOU HAVE BEEN VERY DEPENDABLE AND RELIABLE IN HELPING US UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN GET THOSE THINGS DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
IT IS A LOSS FOR US BUT I WISH YOU WELL AND I HOPE IT'S A GREAT CAREER MOVE FOR YOU.
ALSO I DO RECOGNIZE YOU'VE GOT A GREAT STAFF.
I ALWAYS BRAG TO PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT ABOUT HOW GREAT MY
[01:00:01]
STAFF IS, AND I KNOW YOU DO THE SAME THING, BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE A GREAT STAFF.I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS AND SERVE US ALL WELL.
THANKS FOR BRINGING THEM ALL ABOARD AND THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
DUDE, YOU'RE AMAZING, YOU'RE AWESOME.
I'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND FOR HOW YOU HAVE SUPPORTED OUR COUNCIL OFFICE.
YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS AND THEY'RE A REFLECTION OF YOU AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU IMPART TO THEM.
ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS OF MY JOB I TELL PEOPLE IS TELLING THE PUBLIC I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A SIDEWALK THIS YEAR.
THAT'S PROBABLY HANDS DOWN THE HARDEST PART OF MY JOB.
AND YOU HAVE THAT AND A WHOLE LOT MORE.
THAT'S A HARD PART OF YOUR JOB, BECAUSE OUR RESOURCES ARE SO LIMITED AND OUR NEEDS ARE SO GREAT, YET YOU MANAGE TO DO YOUR JOB, LIKE THE COUNCILMAN SAID, WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND YOU KEEP US MOVING FORWARD.
I REALLY ADMIRE THAT AND SAWS IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
MIKE, I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY HOW MUCH WE THINK OF YOUR WORK, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE YEARS TO COME.
BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON A CAREER WELL DONE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
[Additional Item 4]
AND, FINALLY, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A RECOGNITION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ.
AND IT'S SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY VERY HONORABLY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND SOMEONE WHO I BELIEVE IS THE CONSUMMATE PUBLIC SERVING WILLING TO TAKE THE HEAT, AS COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL SAID , BUT DOING SO IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT I THINK WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, ONE OF THE UNDERPINNINGS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR SUCCESS MOVING FORWARD.
AND THAT IS TO OFFICIALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF OUTGOING C.E.O.O. OF SAWS, STEVE CLAUS.
HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM IN 1985 WORKING IN THE ANALYTICAL LABORATORY AND HOLDING MULTIPLE POSITIONS RANGING FROM SAMPLE COLLECTOR TO OPERATIONS ENGINEER, TECHNICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR TO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT.
AND WHEREAS STEVE PROVIDED OVERSIGHT OF SAWS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS AND PERFORMED ENGINEERING ANALYSES OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND NEW INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING TO MEET THE GROWING DEMANDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
A TEAM OF NEARLY 1,000 WATER AND WASTEWATER PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE SERVICES OF WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TREATMENT, SYSTEM MAINTENANCE, HEATING AND COOLING, FLEET, TECHNICAL SERVICES, AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND WHEREAS STEVE'S DEDICATION TO SAWS' VISION TO BRING LEADERS IN DELIVERING RESPONSIBLE WATER SERVICES FOR LIFE HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND IS WORTHY OF COMMENDATION.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT KNOWN THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DO HEREBY EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION TO STEVE CLAUS FOR HIS DEVOTED SERVICE TO THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS.
MAY YOUR RETIREMENT OPEN UP NEW VISTAS WITH NEW CHALLENGES, NEW INTERESTS AND ABOVE ALL CONTINUED SUCCESS AND LONG LIFE.
CONGRATULATIONS, STEVE, FOR ALL YOUR WORK FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE] I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, I CAME ALONG IN 1985 AND THE WORLD IN SAN ANTONIO WAS
[01:05:01]
REALLY QUITE A DIFFERENT PLACE.I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO COME ALONG -- I HAVE BEEN VERY PRIVILEGED IN THIS ROLE TO COME ALONG WHEN GREAT OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF.
AND I GOT TO BE A ROLEPLAYER IN SEEING SOME OF THAT OPPORTUNITY CONVERT INTO REALITY.
AND THERE ARE REALLY TWO MAJOR CHANGES I HAVE GOTTEN TO SEE IN MY CAREER WHILE I HAVE SPENT TIME AT SAWS.
FIRST, AND NOBODY THINKS ABOUT IT TODAY, BUT IN 1985 THE RIVER BELOW SAN ANTONIO WAS BLACK.
THE PLANTS WERE HORRIBLY OVERLOADED AND ANTIQUATED.
AND THROUGH SOME SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AND A HECK OF A LOT OF WORK, IF YOU GO DOWN TO THOSE PLANTS TODAY, THE GUYS AT THOSE FACILITIES ARE SO CONFIDENT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND IN THE JOB THAT THEY'RE DOING, THAT THEY WILL DRINK A GLASS OF THE WATER LEAVING THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND I THINK THAT'S JUST AN AMAZING TESTAMENT TO THE CONFIDENCE OF WHAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR PROCESS DOWN THERE TODAY.
THE RIVER BELOW SAN ANTONIO IS IN FANTASTIC SHAPE AS A RESULT OF THAT.
ALSO ON THE WASTEWATER FRONT, WE'VE INVESTED SO MUCH MONEY IN MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FORM OF THE COLLECTION SYSTEM.
AND I KNOW THE COLLECTION SYSTEM WORK IS INCREDIBLY DISRUPTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS HAD ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD TO WORK THROUGH AS WE GO THROUGH, WHETHER WE'RE DOING A MAJOR TRENCHING OPERATION RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE, OR WHETHER WE'RE WORKING WITH YOU ON THE MILITARY BASES OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING OVER SOME PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD, BUT WE ARE INVESTING.
AND WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH.
THERE WILL BE AN END TO IT SOON.
AND WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THAT WORK, THEN WE WILL HAVE A SEWAGE COLLECTION SYSTEM THAT WILL BE READY TO TAKE SAN ANTONIO FORWARD FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, ITEM 2 THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO WITNESS IN MY CAREER, IS WHAT WE'VE DONE IN DIVERSIFYING OUR WATER SUPPLY.
IN 1985 WE JUST HAD A SINGLE SOURCE, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
WE DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT DIVERSIFIED WATER AND THE WORK THAT GOES TO DIVERSIFY WATER IS A VERY GOOD THING FOR SAN ANTONIO.
I WAS PREPARED TODAY TO COME FORWARD AND DO A PRESENTATION FOR YOU IN YOUR MEETING.
AND IN THAT PRESENTATION I WAS GOING TO COMPARE WHAT HAPPENED IN AUSTIN WITH THEIR CITY-WIDE BOIL NOTICE AND THE DETRIMENT THAT CAUSED TO THAT COMMUNITY AND HOW WE WON'T HAVE THAT IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE WON'T HAVE THAT BECAUSE WE'VE DIVERSIFIED OUR WATER SUPPLY.
THAT DIVERSITY'S A VERY GOOD THING.
SHERYL, ALTHOUGH YOU'RE NOT HERE, I DO APPRECIATE -- WE DO APPRECIATE THE THINGS THAT SHE'S DONE FOR US.
BUT IN REALITY, NONE OF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE AND THE SUPPORT FROM THIS COUNCIL.
Y'ALL HAVE TO MAKE THE VERY TOUGH DECISIONS ON DO WE INVEST IN SAN ANTONIO, DO WE INVEST IN THAT WATER OR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE? AND I REALLY THINK ALL OF THAT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE MADE THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS AND ALLOWED US TO MOVE FORWARD TO SECURE OUR FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, MR. FRISBIE HAS TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE SAN ANTONIO'S NEXT BIG CHALLENGE IS, WHERE SAWS' NEXT BIG CHALLENGE SITE IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS? WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING 400 TO $500 MILLION A YEAR IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
MR. FRISBIE WILL BE STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU EXPLAINING THAT WORK.
AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE, I'M SURE YOU WILL CHALLENGE, YOU WILL QUESTION, AND YOU WILL MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU MAKE THAT DECISION THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS HE'S BRINGING TO YOU ARE SOUND AND JUSTIFIED.
OF COURSE EVERYTHING I TALK ABOUT IS A PAST SUCCESS.
I AM NOW IN THE PAST AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
WELL, AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE CONTINUED WISE AND STEADY GUIDANCE OF MR. PUENTE, NOW THAT WE HAVE THE GUIDANCE OF OUR NEWEST WATER GEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, MIKE FRISBIE, AS WELL AS THE GUIDANCE OF DOUG EVERSON, WHO I KNOW YOU KNOW, AND NANCY.
I THINK WE HAVE A FANTASTIC LEADERSHIP TEAM.
SO BETWEEN THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT SAWS AND THE CONTINUED OVERSIGHT OF THIS GROUP IN WHAT WE'RE DOING, I CAN LEAVE KNOWING THAT OUR WATER FUTURE IS SECURE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER THE FENCE TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING.
I WANT TO BE AN INVOLVED CITIZEN IN THE FUTURE.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THE TIME THAT I HAVE WITH YOU AND IN THE
[01:10:02]
ROLE THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PLAY AT SAWS.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I KNOW WE HAVE LINGERED QUITE A WHILE WITH POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, BUT THIS IS THE END OF A LONG AND STELLAR CAREER, STEVE, AT SAWS.
OUR CITY IS MUCH BETTER FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I JUST WANT TO ILLUSTRATE ONE THING, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY SEE INTO THE WORK AND OPERATIONS OF SAWS.
I HAVE DONE, AS A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL, QUITE A BIT OF WORK IN WATER.
IN LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY BUT ALSO OUR NEEDS WITH REGARD TO WATER SECURITY.
AND VISITING WITH PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHETHER THEY'RE INDUSTRY OR WATER EXPERTS, WATER ATTORNEYS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, BUSINESS LEADERS.
EVERYONE HAD ONE PERSON ON THEIR LIST OF TOP THREE MOST RESPECTED PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH REGARD TO WATER.
YOU HAVE EARNED THE RESPECT FROM PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THE DEBATE.
YOU HAVE TAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE NATURE OF OUR COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO WATER.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT, FOR HELPING US BE SMARTER ABOUT WATER AND FOR GUIDING US THROUGH.
WE DO HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU AS WELL, BUT THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
>> SALDANA: STEVE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN SO MANY YEARS TO WORK TOGETHER THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE COMMITTED TO SAWS AND TO THIS CITY.
CONSIDER THE FACT THAT I JUST ADMIRE FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY GOOD AT THEIR JOB.
AND YOU ARE PROBABLY THE MICHAEL JORDAN OF THE WATER ENGINEERING SYSTEMS. I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY IMPRESSED.
YOU HAVE TAKEN ON SOME REALLY DIFFICULT ISSUES AND PRESENTED THEM UP HERE.
YOU HAVE ALSO GOTTEN AS FAR AS DOWN TO MY DISTRICT AND EXPLAINING TO ME THE SCIENCE AND THE ENGINEERING BEHIND SOME OF THE SEWER BELOW OUR FEET.
AND YOU WALKED ME THROUGH THAT AND YOU MADE SURE THAT FOLKS WERE ASSURED.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOU AND HOW WELL YOU DO YOUR JOB.
STEVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING SUCH A PROFESSIONAL.
AND I WILL SAY THAT I AND THE REST OF SAN ANTONIO WILL THINK OF YOU WHEN WE FLUSH OUR TOILETS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
I KNOW YOU WERE REFERRING TO ACTUALLY THE AGENDA MEETING AT 1:00.
YOU WEREN'T GOING TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION RIGHT NOW.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I WOULD ASK ROBERT IF YOU WOULD BRING HIM BACK OUT OF RETIREMENT, AT LEAST FOR A DAY, TO GIVE US THAT PRESENTATION WHEN IT'S SCHEDULED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STEVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ON THE BUSINESS PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.
LET'S START WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES.
[Consent Agenda]
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS FROM WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS TIME.
ITEM NO. 4 IS THE ONLY LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHERS WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE AGENDA? OKAY.
ITEM 42 IS PULLED FOR RECUSAL.
AND 35 WAS PULLED FROM THE AGENDA.
HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A BALANCE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 35, AND 42.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 35, AND 42.
WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT, AND THEN I'LL GET TO COUNCIL COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT
[01:15:01]
AGENDA.>> WELL, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
WELL, WE ARE IN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.
THE SEASON THAT CELEBRATES THE BIRTH OF THE MAN WHO SAVED ALL OTHER MEN FROM THEIR SINS.
WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT WHAT BIG SIN THE CITY COUNCIL'S GOING TO COMMIT THIS MORNING IN HONOR OF THAT SEASON.
YEAH, THE PERVERTED SEXUAL ACTIVITY BETWEEN PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX, SCOURGE OF SOCIETY.
IT'S AN ABOMINATION AND IT'S INTRINSICALLY DISORDERED.
THOSE ARE NOT MY WORDS, THOSE ARE FROM THE CHURCH, COUNCIL PEOPLE.
WHY DO I MENTION THIS? WELL, ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, MR. MANNY PELAEZ, WHO IS NOT HERE THIS MORNING, HE IS GOING TO RECOMMEND A FEMALE HOMOSEXUAL, A LESBIAN BE PLACED ON THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN.
WHAT DOES IT DO? WELL, IT MAKES POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, REGARDING ALL KINDS OF WOMEN'S ISSUES.
ABORTION, HOMOSEXUALITY, GENDER QUOTAS TO GIVE YOU, MS. SANDOVAL, AND ANY OF THE OTHER LADIES ON THE COUNCIL.
THEY HAVE, AND CONSEQUENTLY, MRA LADY BY THE NAME OF RUBY RESENDEZ.
WHAT DOES SHE STAND FOR? WELL, IN AN INTERVIEW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID.
THE UNDERLYING [INDISCERNIBLE] A SMALL LGBT, LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL TRANSGENDERED OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESS.
SCROLL DOWN TO THE NEXT, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
I AM THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO LGBT LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHERE I SERVED AS A BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2012.
THE NEXT LINE ALSO SAYS MY PARTNER, DR. SHARON NICHOLS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
PLEASE RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD.
I DON'T THINK SO, UNLESS THEY'RE GIVING ALL KINDS OF BUSINESS TO EACH OTHER.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT HOW YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, VOTED ON THIS.
THIS THING IS GOING TO SAIL RIGHT ON THROUGH, INCLUDING THE VOTES OF THE TWO CONSERVATIVES ON THE COUNCIL.
MR. PERRY AND MR. GREG BROCKHOUSE AS WELL.
I'M STILL LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT HAS SOME MORAL COURAGE ON THIS ONE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
ACTUALLY, I JUST RECOGNIZED, IF I CAN TAKE A BRIEF POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I JUST RECOGNIZED WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
WOULD THE MEMBERS OF THE IN AUDIO] PLEASE STAND UP? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE OTHER NAMES ON CONSENT FOR COMMENT.
>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
FIRST, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I HAVE NO ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM THIS PRESENTATION.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A FEW STATEMENTS.
I AM AGAIN BRIAN WINER, OWNER OF LONE STAR SPECIALTIES, WHICH IS IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.
I'M SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE I'M A FORMER REY FEO, A FORMER REGENT OF REY FEO ORGANIZATION, FORMER BOARD MEMBER.
I'M A PASSIONATE -- I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT FIESTA AND PROUD OF THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON OUR COMMUNITY.
FIESTA COMMISSION AND FIESTA ARE
[01:20:01]
DEAR TO MY HEART, BEING A FORMER COMMISSIONER, BOARD MEMBER.I'M BECOMING CONCERNED WITH CERTAIN DECISIONS MADE BY THE FIESTA COMMISSION'S DIRECTOR THAT DID NOT PROVIDE FAIR SELECTION PROCESS FOR CERTAIN CONTRACTS, DESIGNER FOR THE FIESTA POSTER, AND THE OFFICIAL FIESTA PHOTOGRAPHER.
TO CLARIFY, I'M NOT OPPOSING THIS SELECTION, THE FIESTA COMMISSION TO MANAGE FIESTA, BUT I AM OPPOSED TO THE CURRENT LANGUAGE IN THE NEW LICENSE AGREEMENT.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD REQUIRE THE FIESTA COMMISSION TO OPERATE WITH HIGH INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY, REPRESENT THE CORE VALUES OF THE CITY INVOLVING INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND REPRESENT THE CORE VALUES AND INVOLVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITH FIESTA.
AS THE OWNER OF A SMALL MANUFACTURING BUSINESS, WHICH HAS OVER 60 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE VOTING CONSTITUENTS, I HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE CITY'S POLICY FOR FOLLOWING FAIR, TRANSPARENT PUBLIC RFP PROCESS.
WHEN THE CITY PROVIDES A NOTICE OF INTENT TO ALL RESPONDENTS, THE CITY ALSO PROVIDES A COPY OF A SCORING MATRIX TO SHOW HOW POINTS WERE ALLOCATED TO EACH RESPONDENT.
THIS HELPS EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY FELL SHORT ON POINTS AND POSSIBLY IMPROVE THEIR PROPOSAL FOR THE NEXT CONTRACT.
THAT THEY DO NOT NEED TO FOLLOW A FAIR TRANSPARENT PUBLIC RFP PROCESS WHEN AWARDING CERTAIN CONTRACTS.
THE FIESTA COMMISSION REFUSED TO RELEASE THE SCORING MATRIX FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OFFICIAL FIESTA MERCHANDISE, WHICH IS CONTRADICTING TO CITY VALUES.
THE DIRECTOR, AMY SHAW, DECIDED TO GRANT THE OFFICIAL FIESTA PHOTOGRAPHER CONTRACT TO SOMEONE IN CALIFORNIA WITHOUT HAVING A BIDDING PROCESS THAT WILL ALLOW LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
AND, FINALLY, AMY SHAW DECIDED TO CEASE THE ANNUAL OFFICIAL FIESTA POSTER CONTEST THAT ARTISTS LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WINER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ARE YOU MR. SALMAN? OKAY.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MR. WINER.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE DIRECTOR MAKING EXECUTIVE DECISIONS WITHOUT APPROVAL BY THE FIESTA COMMISSION BOARD, WHICH IS DEPRIVING OUR COMMUNITY OF AN IMPORTANT INCLUSIVE FIESTA TRADITION THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO SAN ANTONIO'S HEART.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD REQUIRE A FAIR TRANSPARENT PROCESS FROM THE FIESTA COMMISSION THAT WILL PROVIDE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN FIESTA.
I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE NEW LICENSE AGREEMENT ELIMINATED REQUIREMENT FOR THE FIESTA COMMISSION TO REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR SOME OF THE EXPENSES RELATED TO PUBLIC SERVICES PROVIDED FOR FIESTA.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE REY FEO ORGANIZATION WAS THE WINNER OF A TRANSPARENT RFP ORGANIZED BY THE CITY TO HOLD FIESTA AUDIO] THE AGREEMENT SANCTIONED THE CITY ORDINANCE RESULTED IN THE CONSEJO PAYING THE CITY $355,000 IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR, WHICH WE WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO.
WE REQUESTED TO GIVE OUT IN THAT ORDINANCE WE REQUESTED TO GIVE OUT 20 SCHOLARSHIPS, ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS, TO THOSE WE ALREADY GIVE OUT, WHICH ARE OVER 150.
THE TOTAL REVENUE FOR THE CONSEJO IS LESS THAN HALF OF THE FIESTA COMMISSION'S REVENUE.
THE REY FEO CONSEJO ORGANIZATION IS A 501C3 AND HAS LIVED UP TO THE AGREEMENT, COMPENSATED THE CITY FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED.
IN THE INTEREST OF FAIRNESS, I BELIEVE THE FIESTA COMMISSION SHOULD DO THE SAME.
I HAVE FAITH IN THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
[01:25:03]
MR. WINER.MR. SALINAS, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANN INNINGLER.
AND RECENTLY WHILE CONDUCTING NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS WE DISCOVERED 100 HOMES THAT WERE WRONGFULLY IN THE WRONG ZONE.
NOT LIKE ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN DELL VIEW.
SO BASICALLY MY REQUEST IS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER CHANGING THESE ZONES ON THESE 100 PROPERTIES TO R-4.
NOW THESE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED BETWEEN VANCE JACKSON AND SCALES.
AND ALSO BETWEEN BARREL AND FREELING DRIVE.
AGAIN, THE MOST FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION TO HAVE THESE HOUSES, RESIDENTIAL HOMES ZONED TO R-4 WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. SALINAS.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EACH OF YOU.
I REPRESENT THE DELL VIEW AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSON, ROBERTO TREVINO FOR PREPARING A CCR TO CORRECTION THE ACTIONS OF THE AREA THAT ERNEST SPOKE ABOUT THAT GOES FROM BARREL TO FREE LING, IMPACTING 100 HOMES.
IN ACTUALITY THEY HAVE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
I KNOW THAT FOUR OTHERS HAVE ALREADY SIGNED OFF ON THAT.
AND I'M JUST VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU'RE MAKING A CORRECTIVE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. INGLER.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY REBECCA GONZALES.
>> CAN I HAND THESE OUT? HOW LONG DO I HAVE?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MR. ALLEN.
THIS REALLY IS WHAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED WITH THE FIESTA COMMISSION AND THE PROBLEM WITH AMY SHAW.
AND THAT'S WHAT MY FOCUS IS ON AS WELL.
I AM -- TO GIVE YOU THE CREDENTIALS TO TELL YOU THAT I'M AN EXPERT ON THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT.
I HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE IN ART.
A MASTERS DEGREE IN ADMINISTRATION AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.
I HAVE BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL ART TEACHER FOR 30 YEARS -- AND SURVIVED.
AND ALSO A PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
I HAVE WON DOZENS OF ART COMPETITIONS.
I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF ONE-MAN SHOWS.
I HAVE JUDGED MANY SHOWS, SO I'M TELLING YOU THAT TO SAY THAT I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
AND WHEN I COME ACROSS THIS COMPETITION, THE FIESTA POSTER COMPETITION SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I THOUGHT I COULD WIN, SO I TRIED.
THIS YEAR I PUT 150 HOURS INTO MY DESIGN.
THIS COMPETITION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN TO ALL ARTISTS, AND THERE WERE TEN FINALISTS.
AND OVER THE TIME OF THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE COMPETITION, THE RULES HAVE ALL BEEN THE SAME AND THEY WERE THE SAME THIS YEAR.
BUT WHEN WE GOT TO THE TEN FINALISTS, WHICH I WAS ONE OF THEM, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WASN'T FOR THE FIESTA POSTER COMPETITION, THE OFFICIAL POSTER.
THAT ARTISTS WERE HIRED TO DO THIS.
AND, OF COURSE, I BECAME VERY UPSET AND SO DID SOME OF THE OTHER ARTISTS.
THIS WAS A MISLEADING COMPETITION.
AND IT WAS RUN BY AMY SHAW AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN RUN THIS WAY.
AND BEING PART OF MANY COMPETITIONS BEFORE, THIS WAS NOT RIGHT.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU, I TRIED MANY TIMES, ACTUALLY, TO GET THIS FIXED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
SO I'M SAYING THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT EVENT IS THE FIESTA CELEBRATION.
IT REPRESENTS OUR HISTORY, OUR CULTURE, OUR ART, AND OUR MUSIC.
FOR SOMEBODY TO DIRECT THAT ORGANIZATION AND TO STEP ON PEOPLE, TO BE MISLEADING AND
[01:30:02]
DISHONEST IN SMALL THINGS WILL BE THE SAME WAY IN BIG THINGS.HAS NO BUSINESS RUNNING THIS FIESTA COMMISSION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ALLEN.
MS. GONZALES, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY EMILIO AIROLA.
>> THANK YOU TO MAYOR NIRENBERG AND THE CITY COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF SPEAK ON BEHALF OF CAFÉCOLLEGE AND THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP.
MY NAME IS REBECCA GONZALES AND I'VE BEEN THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS THAT SAEP HAS MANAGED CAFÉCOLLEGE OVER 60,000 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO COLLEGE SERVICES.
WE'VE SEEN STUDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, STUDENTS OF EVERY AGE, RACE AND CREED, ALL WITH ONE COMMON GOAL OF REACHING THEIR POTENTIAL.
FOR STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL, CAFÉCOLLEGE HAS PROVIDED A BRIDGE OF KNOWLEDGE INTO THEIR COLLEGE TRANSITION.
FOR ADULTS IT'S BECOME A RELAUNCHED PART TO BEGIN COLLEGE.
THE MODEL OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY SAEP AT CAFÉCOLLEGE HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED.
IT'S BEEN SERVED AS A MODEL FOR NUMEROUS CITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION INCLUDING CAFÉCOLLEGE HOUSTON.
SAEP HAS ALSO CREATED COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AS A GATHERING SPACE FOR ISDS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO DISCUSS AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES FOCUSED ON COLLEGE ACCESS.
THERE IS STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE, HOWEVER.
WITH YOUR VOTE TODAY, SAEP CAN CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STUDENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THROUGH MRS. EMILIO AROMA FOLLOWED CONSUCO RAMOS.
MY NAME IS 'EM MILEIO AROMA, IT'S MY HONOR TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY TO GIVE MY SUPPORT FOR CAFÉCOLLEGE.
IN 1989 MAYOR HENRY CISNEROS AND BUSINESS MEMBERS JOINED TOGETHER TO CREATE AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE COLLEGE ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES.
SINCE THEN, OVER 23,000-DEGREES HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO STUDENTS UTILIZING SAEP SERVICES.
FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, SAEP HAS PROVIDED THE PROGRAM AND OPERATION SUPPORT AT CAFÉCOLLEGE.
SINCE THEN WE HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF LIVES CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.
WHETHER A STUDENT IS GETTING THAT LATE PUSH TO FINISH A SCHOLARSHIP, TO AN ADULT RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER TAKING TIME AWAY FOR THEIR FAMILY, OR A SINGLE PARENT THAT'S WANTING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIFE, CAFÉCOLLEGE HAS BEEN THERE TO SERVE THEM.
SAEP HAS BEEN GRATEFUL OF THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY AND SAN ANTONIO AS THEY RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING THEIR COLLEGE DREAMS. THESE STUDENTS BOTH YOUNG AND OLDER, WORKING TOGETHER, CAFÉCOLLEGE IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE LIVES IN SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MONSUCO RAMOS FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL BERNARD.
I'M WITH GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIPS GROUP OF TEXAS.
MY CLIENT IS BRIAN WINE ERT, PART OWNER OF LONE STAR SPECIALTIES.
AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL IS TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND CITY AS A WHOLE.
CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF HAVE CONSISTENTLY REPRESENTED IN THE PAST THEIR SUPPORT OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO LOCAL, SMALL, MINORITY, VETERAN AND/OR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS LOCAL ARTISTS.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS IN REGARDS TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS AND HOW THEY ARE SPENT.
TODAY YOU'RE CONSIDERING A RENEWAL OF A 10-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH FIESTA COMMISSION TO MANAGE FIESTA FROM 2019 TO 2028.
I'M NOT SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF FIESTA COMMISSION TO MANAGE FIESTA, BUT RATHER OPPOSED TO THE LACK OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS IN THE PROPOSED LICENSE AGREEMENT.
IN ADDITION TO GRANTING A LICENSE TO FIESTA COMMISSION TO MANAGE THE CARNIVAL AND PARADES ON THE CITY'S RIGHT OF WAY, THE CITY IS ALSO GRANTING A LICENSE TO FIESTA COMMISSION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR FIESTA, SOME OF WHICH REVENUE IS GENERATED FROM THE SALE OF OFFICIAL FIESTA MERCHANDISE ON AND OFF THE CITY'S RIGHT OF WAY.
THE AGREEMENT ALLOWS THE FIESTA COMMISSION TO SUBLICENSE OR
[01:35:01]
SUBCONTRACT CERTAIN GOODS AND SERVICES WHICH CAN BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR LOCAL SBE, MBE, WBES AND VBES, AND AS WELL AS LOCAL ARTISTS.HOWEVER, TO ENSURE THAT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS AND LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO BID ON THESE CONTRACTS, IT IS MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT CITY COUNCIL SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY IT WAS GRANTED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO REQUIRE THE FIESTA COMMISSION, REQUIRE THEM, TO FOLLOW A FAIR, TRANSPARENT PUBLIC RFP PROCESS.
OTHERWISE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL FIESTA PHOTOGRAPHER FROM CALIFORNIA.
WE HAVE SO MANY LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
FIESTA COMMISSION WILL CONTINUE TO DENY RELEASING SCORING MATRIX TO RESPONDENTS AND THE OFFICIAL FIESTA POSTER CONTEST WILL NEVER BE HELD AGAIN FOR OUR LOCAL ARTISTS TO COMPETE IN, WHICH HAS BEEN A GREAT TRADITION THAT WE'VE CELEBRATED.
FIESTA COMMISSION WAS CREATED BY THE CITY, SO IT SHOULD BE SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF THE OTHER NONPROFITS TO FOLLOW BY REPRESENTING THE CITY'S CORE VALUES.
AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THE TIME OF CORY HARMEYER, IF I --
AGAIN, FIESTA COMMISSION WAS CREATED BY THE CITY AND THEY SHOULD BE SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR ALL THE OTHER NONPROFITS BY REPRESENTING TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS AND SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS.
I HAD PROVIDED SOME RED LINE REVISIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF FOR CONSIDERATION THAT MY CLIENT HAD PROPOSED, THAT ENSURES THIS.
I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
FINALLY, I HAVE A GREAT CONCERN THAT IN THE LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT THE CITY REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT FOR FIESTA TO PAY THE CITY FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN PUBLIC SERVICES THAT IT PROVIDES DURING FIESTA.
THE EXISTING LICENSE AGREEMENT REQUIRES REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS OF PUBLIC SERVICES, AND AS YOU'RE AWARE, OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING SAPD, SOLID WASTE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR FIESTA, THEY COULD DESPERATELY USE THOSE FUNDS TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE OR TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS WHEN IT'S NOT DURING FIESTA, SO I WAS SURPRISED THAT THAT WAS TAKEN OUT.
FIESTA COMMISSION GENERATES OVER $2.5 MILLION EVERY YEAR IN REVENUE.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORTS THAT THEY FILED WITH THE IRS.
I JUST -- I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY FIESTA COMMISSION CANNOT REIMBURSE THE CITY SOMETHING FOR SOME OF THE EXPENSES THAT THE CITY SPENDS ON PUBLIC SAFETY, CLEANUP SERVICES AND SO FORTH.
I WOULD HOPE THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL LOOK AT THE RED LINE REVISIONS AND TAKE THOSE INCONSIDERATION AND NOT DISREGARD THEM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MRS. RAMOS.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M MICHAEL BERNARD, I'M A LAWYER, I REPRESENT LONE STAR SPECIALTIES AND BRYAN WINEE RK ARE.
MR. WINIER RESPONDED TO AN RFP THAT WAS ISSUED BY THE FIESTA COMMISSION FOR THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT REGARDING THE SALE -- MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF FIESTA MERCHANDISE.
THE RFP WAS ISSUED PUBLICLY, THERE WAS A RESPONSE TO THE RFP.
IN ANOTHER VENUE, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT THAT RFP WAS ACTUALLY FOLLOWED OR NOT.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE TODAY AND SOME STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN THAT DIRECTION, IS THAT THE ORDINANCE BEFORE AND THE ORDINANCE NOW REQUIRES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF A PUBLIC PROCESS IN THE SELECTION OF CONTRACTS.
AND THE NEW ORDINANCE BUILDS ON THAT A LITTLE BIT, AND IT ADDS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT MATTERS BE POSTED ON WEBSITES AND THAT THE PUBLIC BE INFORMED, LONE STAR AND BRIAN WINIER WERE
[01:40:02]
HOPING THAT THE ORDINANCE WOULD GO FURTHER THAN THAT AND MAKE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS EXPLICIT, BUT THE CURRENT ORDINANCE DOES ADD ON TO THAT TRANSPARENCY.BUT MR. WINIER WAS HOPING THAT THE ORDINANCE WOULD GO FURTHER AND MAKE EXPLICIT OF THAT WHICH MIGHT BE IMPLIED, SO THAT THE RFP PROCESS IS NOT ONLY IS IT JUST DONE, BUT IT'S ALSO CLEAR THAT IT'S REQUIRED, AND THAT THE TERMS OF IT BE FOLLOWED.
AND THAT'S THE HOPES IN THIS ORDINANCE AND WHAT MRS. RAMOS HAS SUGGESTED, THE RED LINE VERSION BE TO REQUIRE THOSE THINGS.
THIS ORDINANCE MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE TRANSPARENT THAN THE LAST ORDINANCE DID, AND, OSKT, -- OF COURSE, WE APPRECIATE THAT, BUT THE HOPE IS THAT IT WILL BECOME -- THAT FIESTA IS SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S CELEBRATION -- AUDIO] -- OFFERED OR SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE FINANCIALLY, OUR SMALLER BUSINESSES, IN FIESTA AS WELL AS PARTICIPATE IN THE FESTIVITIES, AND THAT THAT BE OPEN AND FAIR TO EVERYBODY.
AND THAT WAS A REQUEST, AS MRS. RAMOS AND MR. WINIER SAID, THEY'RE NOT OPPOSING GRANTING THE LICENSE TO FIESTA COMMISSION, BUT SIMPLY SEEK TO STRENGTHEN THAT -- THE FIESTA COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO DO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BERNARD.
I THINK MR. AND MRS. DEVANO ARE HERE, THIS IS REGARDING 23, THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MR. DEVANO WHICH IS ON OUR VETERANS AFFAIR COMMISSION.
IF YOU DON'T MIND STANDING BRIEFLY, I JUST HAVE TO RECOGNIZE YOU.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, AND I'M HONORED FOR YOU REPRESENTING US ON THE COMMISSION OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.
YOU SERVED 27 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AS AN E7, DID 22 YEARS OF CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE FEDERAL SIDE.
YOU'RE VERY ACTIVE, NOT ONLY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BUT IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU, YOU ARE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS, AMAZING COUPLE.
ME AND MY WIFE LOOK UP TO YOU, SO CONTINUE THE HARD WORK YOU DO IN DISTRICT 2 AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND IT'S A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO VOTE FOR YOUR REAPPOINTMENT THIS MORNING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN SHAW.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT HAVE TAKEN YEARS TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE FIRST ONE IS ITEM NUMBER 28 ON THE AGENDA.
I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES BECAUSE THIS IS OUR TAX ABATEMENT GUIDELINE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THIS HAS COME THROUGH OUR ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS, MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, AND THIS IS FOCUSED ON OUR GROWTH STRATEGY FOR AN ECONOMIC MOBILITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF THE CITY.
WE ARE MAKING STRATEGIC CHANGES TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE RECRUIT, RETAIN OR EXPAND BUSINESSES, THAT WE BE ABLE TO LOOK IN OUR DISTRESSED AREAS.
WE HAVE TO DO IT EVERY TWO YEARS, SO I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE'RE DOING AND TAKING THIS STRATEGY.
THANK YOU TO RENE AND ADRIAN FOR ALL OF THE WORK AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND IT'S ABOUT INCLUSIVE GROWTH.
NEXT I ALSO WANT TO THANK -- I KNOW SHANNON -- I THINK SHANNON MILLER'S HERE, THE ADMISSION MANUALS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE HAVE DESIGN MANUALS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT NOW WE'RE HAVING GUIDELINES AND A MANUAL FOR THE MISSION DISTRICT, THE ARRIVAL, A SENSE OF PLACE WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOW IN AND AROUND THE AREA.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE WE HAD A VERY INTENSE COMMUNITY PROCESS AND ENGAGEMENT THAT TOOK MORE THAN A YEAR, AND IT WAS CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO HAVE THE AUTHENTIC FEELING WITH -- THAT SPOKE TO THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THAT AREA, SO NOW WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND AS WE GROW, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, SHANNON, THANK YOUR TEAM, THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE TO THANK ANN ENGLERT AND ERNEST SALINAS TO COME OUT AND SPEAK ON AN ITEM, ITEM 27, TO INITIATE A REZONE.
[01:45:02]
EFFORT, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION PIECE MATCHING THE ZONING TO THE CURRENT LAND USE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND PRESERVATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS TODAY, AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE THAT WE SHOULD BE INCLUDING.WE HAVE MANY MORE EFFORTS LIKE THIS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT, AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN.
I WANT TO INCLUDE JULIE GRISERT IN DELLVIEW FOR ALL THE HARD WORK IN HELPING US TO GET IT TO THIS POINT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING IT TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE BECAUSE MY NAME WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
I SUPPORT ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES IN WHO THEY FEEL IS BEST AND RIGHT TO REPRESENT THEIR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, AND COUNCILMAN PELAEZ OP POINTING SOMEBODY -- APPOINTING SOMEBODY, I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S THE COUNCILMAN'S RIGHT AND I SUPPORT THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY AS I WOULD EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE MEMBERS ON THIS BODY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT AND BEST FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES.
IT WAS MENTIONED, SOME COMMENT ABOUT BEING A CONSERVATIVE.
THIS I WILL TELL YOU, BEING A CONSERVATIVE AND MORAL COURAGE, THEY'RE NOT THE SAME THING IN MY BOOK.
MORALE COURAGE, MR. FINGERS, IS ALSO ACCEPTED OUR DIFFERENCES.
THE BIBLE I KNOW AND FOLLOW SAYS CLEARLY WE'RE ALL CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE I'M GOING TO HONOR THAT BY RESPECTING ANYBODY THAT SHOWS UP TO THIS COUNCIL TO DO THEIR BEST.
I'M SORRY YOU FEEL OTHERWISE, MY FRIEND, YOU ARE NOT A CONSERVATIVE IF YOU STAND UP HERE AND TRY TO DEMEAN SOMEBODY JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFE.
I WILL NOT STAND HERE AND HAVE MY NAME ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I STAND HERE TODAY.
MAYOR, I DO APPRECIATE YOU CALLING SOMEONE TO RISE UP AND RECOGNIZE THAT AS WELL IN STANDING IN THE FACE OF THAT KIND OF -- I CANNOT STAND FOR IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 15.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT'S ABOUT 60% DONE ALREADY AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITION THAT'S AT THE AIRPORT.
IT'S ON THE INSPECTION AREA FOR COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS COMING FROM OVERSEAS.
AND IT'S A FEDERAL FACILITY THAT WE PROVIDE AND CONSTRUCT FOR THEM, AND THEY'RE JUST A USER.
BUT THE ISSUE THAT I FOUND OUT WAS THAT THE COST INCREASES WERE NOT DUE TO CONSTRUCTION OVERRUNS BUT CHANGES BY THE USER.
AND I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THAT, THAT THE USER WAS THOROUGHLY INVOLVED DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS THEY'VE COME IN TWICE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT HAPPENED ON THIS PROJECT, AND WHAT THEY DID WAS CORRECT, AND I'M HAPPY WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE AND, AGAIN, A TESTAMENT TO MIKE FRISBEE ON RUNNING THAT THROUGH AND TRYING TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT WITH THE EXISTING FUNDS, BUT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DONE.
AND, AGAIN, IT'S DUE TO THE CUSTOMS PEOPLE CHANGING THEIR MINDS DURING CONSTRUCTION, AFTER THE DESIGN WAS DONE.
I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT, THAT WE'RE HAVING TO PICK UP THE TAB BASED ON THEIR CHANGES DURING CONSTRUCTION, AND I INTEND TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE DIRECTOR UP IN FORT WORTH TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET ON THIS AND THEY DON'T ALLOW THIS KIND OF THING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE TO OTHER CITIES.
WE'RE BEYOND THAT HERE, WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DON'T HAVE A BUDGET OR THEY DON'T HAVE FACILITY FUNDS WITHIN THEIR BUDGET TO PAY FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS, WHICH I WOULD REALLY GO AFTER THEM TO DO THAT; HOWEVER, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT.
SO THIS IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE FOR OTHER AIRPORTS IN OTHER CITIES THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DO THEIR CUSTOMS INSPECTIONS AT.
SO I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK TCI FOR DOING THIS PROPERLY, AND IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT FOR THIS HUGE COST INCREASE, IT'S ALL DUE TO ERRORS ON THE CUSTOMS SIDE AND I WILL BE SENDING THEM SOME -- A RATHER INTERESTING LETTER TO FOLLOW-UP ON THIS PROJECT SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
[01:50:02]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 39.
IT'S A RESOLUTION TO BEGIN DEVELOPING AN OVERLAY DISTRICT AROUND WOODLAWN LAKE.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN AN ARTICLE IN THE REGARD REPORT THAT CITIES CITY DROPS VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROPOSAL.
WELL, I'M TELLING YOU, THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD PROTECTING THE VIEW AROUND WOODLAWN LAKE, FROM WOODLAWN LAKE TO THE BASILLICA.
WE'RE GOING TO BE USING A DIFFERENT TOOL, SOMETHING CALLED RIVER IMPROVEMENT OVERLAY, I THINK I'VE GOT THAT RIGHT.
SO VERY EXCITED, THE RESOLUTION WILL BE THE FIRST STEP IN MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS SUPPORT ON THAT, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY INVOLVED GOING FORWARD TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND, OF COURSE, COUNCILMAN CRUZ SHAW FOR COAUTHORING THAT CCR THAT GOT THIS PROCESS STARTED.
THIS IS OUR TRICENTENNIAL, AS YOU'VE HEARD US SAY, AND IT'S ALSO THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOODLAWN LAKE PARK, SO WE KNEW WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TO COMMEMORATE THAT ANNIVERSARY.
WOODLAWN LAKE IS REALLY THE EXTENSION OF A HOME TO MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA OR GREW UP AROUND THAT AREA.
IN FACT, TONIGHT WE'RE HAVING A TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY THERE.
WE HAVE A 21-FOOT CHRISTMAS TREE THERE, AND ON FACEBOOK THERE'S ABOUT FOUR TO 5,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE EVENT, AND I AM SCARED THEY'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL EVENTS COMPANY, THAT I AM JUST A COUNCILWOMAN WITH SOME COOKIES AND HOT CHOCOLATE AT THE EVENT.
SO -- BUT, OF COURSE, YOU'RE ALL STILL WELCOME TO COME.
I WANT TO THANK THE STEWARDS WHO HAVE WORKED IN TAKING CARE OF THE LAKE FOR SO LONG, INCLUDING THE WOODLAWN LAKE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE WEST END IMPROVEMENT GROUP IN THE 1920S, AND THAT THANK YOU WOULDN'T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT THANKING THE PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF, INCLUDING MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, XAVIER, VERONICA MORENO, AND OF COURSE MY DAD WHO IS NOW RETIRED, HE'S A RETIRED CARPENTER FROM THE PARKS AND RECS DEPARTMENT AND TO ALL HIS COLLEAGUES.
SO I WANT TO SHARE A SMALL VIDEO CELEBRATING THE LAKE.
SAN ANTONIO'S RICH HISTORY IS STEEPED IN ITS BEAUTIFUL NATURAL AREAS AND PARKLANDS, WHICH PROVIDE GREAT RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND VISITORS TO BE ACTIVE AND SPEND TIME TOGETHER, FROM PLAYGROUNDS TO SPLASH PADS TO HISTORIC SPRINGS, SAN ANTONIO'S BEAUTIFUL PLAYSCAPES PROVIDE MORE THAN 15,300 ACRES OF PARKLAND, AND MORE THAN 150 MILES OF WALKING, HIKING AND BIKING TRAILS.
HOME TO MORE THAN 240 PARKS AND GREENSPACES, SAN ANTONIO IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS HISTORIC PARKS.
AS WE WELCOME SAN ANTONIO'S TRICENTENNIAL, A SPECIAL PARK IN THE HEART OF SAN ANTONIO CELEBRATES ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY, WOODLAWN LAKE PARK LOCATED IN ONE OF THE FIRST SUBDIVISIONS IS HOME TO THE CITY'S ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, MOVIES IN THE PARK, PLAYSCAPES AND GARDENS.
THE PARK COMMEMORATES ITS CENTENNIAL IN 2018 AND RECENTLY RECEIVED THE HONORED LONE STAR PARK LEGACY DESIGNATION BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND RECREATION SOCIETY.
IN OCTOBER, THE COMMUNITY GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE PARK'S 100TH BIRTHDAY, WITH MUSIC AND DPANS PERFORMANCES, FIREWORKS.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED WOODLAWN SINCE 1918.
INTERACTING FITNESS STATIONS, A SWIMMING POOL, TENNIS COURTS, A GYM AND MANY MORE AMENITIES.
THE PARK IS NOW HOME TO A COMMUNITY-LED CENTENNIAL GARDEN WHICH IS A PROUD SERVED 300-PARTNER PROJECT BROUGHT TO-BY THE WOODLAWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.
WOODLAWN LAKE CONTINUES TO BE A VITAL ATTRACTION FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND LIVES IN THE HEART OF ITS NEIGHBORS BOTH NEAR AND FAR.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CLOSING SHOT IS THE VIEW THAT WE'LL BE PROTECTING IN HONOR OF THE PARK'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY.
I FORGET TO THANK SHANNON AND CORY FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK OVER THIS PAST YEAR AND ROD SANCHEZ.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE WOODLAWN LAKE COMMUNITY.
THAT IS EVERYONE THAT'S SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I DO WANT TO NOTE, ACTUALLY, THERE IS A LETTER OF SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY ON ITEM 38 WHICH WILL BE FILED IN THE RECORD.
THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE THOSE PREVIOUSLY READ.
[01:55:02]
PLEASE VOTE.[4. Ordinance adopting amendments to the Center City Housing Incentive Policy (CCHIP) and Inner City Reinvestment/Infill Policy (ICRIP) [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; John Jacks, Director, Center City Development and Operations]]
MOTION CARRIES.>> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY, CCHIP, AND INNER CITY REINVESTMENT/INFILL POLICY, ICRIP.
LORI, I KNOW WE HAD AN EXTENDED PRESENTATION YESTERDAY, SO IF YOU HAVE AN ABBREVIATION, AND THEN WE'LL GET RIGHT TO CITIZEN COMMENT.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE INNER CITY REINVESTMENT/INFILL POLICY AND THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY.
THE FIRST POLICY I'LL DISCUSS IS THE ICRIP, AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS THAT WE CHANGE THE NAME OF THIS PROGRAM FROM THE INNER CITY REINVESTMENT/INFILL POLICY TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FEE WAIVER PROGRAM.
WE WILL CHANGE IT FROM A PLACE-BASED STRATEGY TO A NEEDS-BASED STRATEGY AND ONLY ALLOW PROJECTS THAT MEET FOUR CATEGORIES TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEE WAIVERS.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB, HISTORIC REHABILITATION, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LEGACY BUSINESSES, AND AS I MENTIONED, IT WILL NO LONGER BE PLACE-BASED, IT WILL REALLY MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT NO PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO BE PURSUING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT THROUGH A TYPE 2 PERMIT WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THESE FEE WAIVERS.
THE NEXT POLICY I'LL DISCUSS IS THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY.
WE'RE PROPOSING A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION.
THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SA TOMORROW PLAN, THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE.
IT ALSO PRIORITIZES NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION AND THERE'S A FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY AND DENSITY.
THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY, WE HAVE A THREE-LEVEL SYSTEM.
LEVEL 1 IS THE CENTRO BUSINESS DISTRICT WHICH IS THE AREA IN THE YELLOW/PEACH BOUNDARY.
LEVEL TWO IS THE AREA SURROUNDING THAT CENTRO BUSINESS DISTRICT, WHICH IS PINK, AND THEN LEVEL 3 INCLUDES THE 13 REGIONAL CENTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE SA TOMORROW PLAN AS WELL AS THE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS THAT WILL BE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE VIA 2040 PLAN.
WHAT WE'VE PROPOSED IS FIRST FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE INCENTIVES FOR THE CCHIP, IS YOU MUST BE WITHIN A BOUNDARY.
ALL PROJECTS WILL BE SUBJECT TO DESIGN REVIEW.
PROJECTS REQUIRING REZONING FROM SINGLE FAMILY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE, AND THIS IS RETRO TO '16, AND LEVEL 1, YOU MUST PROVIDE 20 R MORE HOUSING UNITS THAT MEET THE DENSITY REQUIREMENTS.
LEVEL 2, 10% OF YOUR UNITS MUST BE UP TO 80% OR WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND 10% MUST BE AT 60% AMI OR BELOW, OR YOU MUST BE ABOVE FIVE STORIES.
20% OF YOUR UNITS MUST HAVE 60% AMI OR BELOW.
SO THAT IS AN ACTUAL REQUIREMENT THE INCENTIVES YOU RECEIVE FOR LEVEL 1 PROJECT IS YOU'D RECEIVED A WAIVER OF YOUR CITY FEES AND A SAWS IMPACT FEE WAIVER OF UP TO $1 MILLION.
YOU'D RECEIVE A 15-YEAR TAX REBATE FOR 75% ON THE AD VALOREM TAXES THAT THE DEVELOPER PAYS TO THE CITY.
WE ALSO HAVE A CAP FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE OVER $360,000, THEY WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES THROUGH THE AS OF RIGHT PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AMOUNT YOU CAN GET THROUGH AN FHA LOAN.
AND THEN PROJECTS THAT ARE RENTING FOR MORE THAN 2.75 A SQUARE FOOT ARE ALSO NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS INCENTIVE.
FINALLY ON LEVEL ONE, IF YOU INCORPORATE AFFORDABILITY INTO YOUR PROJECT, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT OF $10,000 PER UNIT UAL TO ABOUT UP -- EQUAL TO UP TO ABOUT $500,000.
LEVEL 2, AS A REMINDER, YOU MUST HAVE THAT WORKFORCE AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT OR BE ABOVE FIVE STORIES AND IF YOU MEET ONE OF THOSE TWO REQUIREMENTS YOU RECEIVE A WAIVER OF YOUR CITY FEES, A SAWS IMPACT FEE WAIVER OF UP TO $500,000, A 10-YEAR TAX REBATE AT 75%, AND THEN YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM.
AND THEN LEVEL 3, 20% OF YOUR UNITS MUST BE AT 60% AMI OR BELOW, AND YOU WOULD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR YOUR CITY FEES TO BE WAIVED, A SAWS IMPACT FEE WAIVER OF $250,000, AND THEN A 10-YEAR TAX REBATE OF 75% OF YOUR AD VALOREM TAXES.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION FOR TODAY.
WE WENT OVER THIS IN A LOT OF DETAIL YESTERDAY DURING THE B SESSION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LORI.
AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FOLKS HERE TODAY, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A BRIEF BUT TIME-CERTAIN EVENT, SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ALL CITIZEN
[02:00:02]
COMMENT, WE'LL HAVE THE BRIEF RECESS, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK FOR COUNCIL DELIBERATION.SO I'LL BEGIN -- I'LL CALL NAMES IN ORDER.
I'LL CALL THE NEXT NAME ON THE LIST, IF YOU CAN PREPARE TO COME FORWARD.
WE'LL START WITH GRACIELA SANCHEZ FOLLOWED BY YANETH FLORES.
>> ALMOST A YEAR AGO, THE CITY PLACED A MORATORIUM ON CCHIP.
CITY STAFF HAS SPENT MEETING WITH SOME STAKEHOLDERS MAINLY FOR-PROFIT AND NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THESE POLICIES.
ANA SANDOVAL'S GUIDING PRINCIPLE POLICIES WHICH WERE SUPPOSED TO BE VOTED ON TODAY, BUT WILL BE VOTED ON NEXT MONTH, ARE IMPORTANT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER PUTTING FORTH THOSE POLICIES OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TODAY AND NOT WAIT UNTIL THEY GET VOTED ON NEXT WEEK, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
THE PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN MEANINGFUL, ENSURING THAT PUBLIC INPUT IS APPROPRIATELY CONSIDERED IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
IT HAS NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT BY COMMUNICATING THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC IN THE PROCESS OR PROVIDING TO YOU OR TO US A RECORD OF THE INPUT RECEIVED AND THE RANGE OF VIEWS AND IDEAS EXPRESSED.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY AT THESE MEETINGS STRICTLY TO DISCUSS THIS POLICY? WE WERE ONLY INVITED FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST WEEK, AND THANKS TO YOU, ANA, ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS CAME.
THIS PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN RESPECTFUL, BECAUSE IF IT WERE, THEN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS A LONG TIME AGO.
AND EVEN WHAT WE HEARD LAST WEEK WAS THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET AND PEOPLE CHALLENGED THAT AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, TOO BAD.
AND WE DIDN'T SEE ANY CHANGES.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED THAT, NOR ACCESSIBLE.
EVEN THE CONCEPTS, THE LANGUAGE IS SO TECHNICAL AND HARD FOR MANY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEMBERS TO HEAR.
I MEAN, ONE OF THEM WAS THERE YESTERDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE B SESSION AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT SHE WAS DOING THERE, AND SHE WAS AFRAID TO COME AND SPEAK TODAY OR YESTERDAY, AND NOTHING WAS OFFERED IN SPANISH, AND YOU HAD TO COME TO THE CITY STAFF AND ALL THE MEETINGS WERE DURING THE WORKDAY, NOTHING AFTER HOURS.
IT WASN'T INFORMATIVE ENOUGH, IT WASN'T RESPONSIVE, AND, AGAIN, NOT TIMELY.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A DELAY, AND Y'ALL KEEP ON PUSHING IT, SO TIMELINESS IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC.
PUBLIC INPUT IS FAIR BECAUSE IT ALLOWS PARTICIPATION BY THOSE WHO WILL BE MOST AFFECTED, BUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WILL ALSO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC POLICY BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR THE FULL PARTICIPATION OF AN EXAMINATION AND DEBATE OF OUR POLICIES.
I THINK ANNETTE IS GOING -- YANETH IS GOING TO GIVE ME HER TIME.
IN ABSENCE OF FULL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND FULL EXAMINATION OF THIS POLICY, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO HAVE HUGE ECONOMIC DISPARITIES, AND THIS POLICY WILL AGGRAVATE RATHER THAN SOLVE THESE DISPARITIES.
THE CITY IS COMMITTING MILLIONS AND ALREADY HAS COMMITTED $100 MILLION TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL CLEARLY HAVE THE EFFECT OF DISPLACING POOR PEOPLE AND BRINGING THE MORE AFFLUENT INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS STRATEGY IS THAT IT IS UNTESTED AND HAS DUBIOUS MERIT.
THIS IS BASED ON A GRAND STRATEGY THAT'S SUBSIDIZING THE AFFLUENT, WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO CREATE JOBS FOR LONG-TIME SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WILL WORK.
ON BEHALF OF LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN SAN ANTONIO IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND ON BEHALF OF THE NEWLY FORMED YBARIA NAVOSO COALITION, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED INFORMATION.
COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA'S CONCERN ABOUT $360,000 HOME IS STILL NOT AFFORDABLE TO MOST FOLKS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND MY STAFF AND SO MANY MILLENNIALS CANNOT AFFORD $1,375 A MONTH FOR A 500 SQUARE FOOT EFFICIENCY.
WHAT ANALYSIS HAS THE CITY DONE THUS FAR TO DETERMINE IF CCHIP HAS HAD ANY DISCRIMINATORY IMPACT ON RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO? WHAT STUDIES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF CCHIP HOW HAVE CITY AGENCIES INVOLVED CURRENT RESIDENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REVISED CCHIP PROGRAM?
[02:05:01]
AND THERE ARE MORE AND MORE AND MORE.WHAT ARE THE CITY'S PLANS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF DISPLACEMENT OF LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR RELOCATION OF RESIDENTS WHO CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CCHIP GEOGRAPHIC AREA? THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT A RESPONSIBLE EXAMINATION OF THE PROPOSED POLICY MUST ASK AND THEY ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED BEFORE THE PEOPLES' MONIES CONTINUE TO BE SPENT.
PLEASE DELAY TODAY'S VOTE, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS WE AND MANY OTHERS HAVE ASKED IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO.
I BELIEVE MOST OF YOU HAVE NOT MET WITH MANY, IF ANY COMMUNITY RESIDENTS OR ORGANIZATIONS REGARDING THIS POLICY.
I KNOW I HAVEN'T MET WITH ANY OF YOU.
I ALSO KNOW THAT AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT CCHIP POLICIES BEING PROPOSED.
STOP THE VOTE, BRING US INTO A FULLY ENGAGED COMMUNITY PROCESS.
AND REMEMBER, AS WE CELEBRATE THE 50 YEARS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS HEARINGS AT OLLU, MANY OF US HAVE CONTINUED TO FIGHT FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS SINCE THE 1968 HEARINGS.
I WAS ONLY EIGHT, BUT AT LEAST FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS I HAVE BEEN VERY ENGAGED ON THAT, AND I -- AND THIS CCHIP POLICY CHALLENGES THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO.
DO NOT CREATE POLICIES THAT CONTINUE TO NOT ONLY ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATE US, BUT RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY PUSH THE MEXICAN-AMERICANS AND BLACK PEOPLE AND POOR WORKING WHITE PEOPLE OUT OF THE INNER CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MRS. SANCHEZ.
CYNTHIA SPIELMAN, FOLLOWED BY MARK SPIELMAN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MR. SPIELMAN , THAT'S YOU?
>> HE'S GOING TO CEDE HIS TIME.
I'M CYNTHIA SPEILMAN, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MYSELF TODAY, NOT ANY ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE A MOMENT IN THE CITY THAT COULD HAVE THE VISION, THE LEADERSHIP, THE COURAGE, THE IMAGINATION AND EXPERTISE TO CREATE A HOUSING POLICY THAT WOULD SOLVE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE AND CREATE A VIBRANT AND LIVABLE DOWNTOWN.
WHAT HAPPENED? INSTEAD, THROUGH THE CCHIP RECOMMENDATIONS, WE FIND OURSELVES PLAYING A PART IN THE KIND OF POLITICS THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING ALL THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE POOR AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS CITY.
YOU'RE CREATING WEALTH ON THE BACKS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
THE 68% OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT EXISTS DOWNTOWN WILL NO LONGER BE HERE IN FIVE YEARS.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE WEST SIDE, THE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM WHERE MY FAMILY IS FROM, WILL NO LONGER HOUSE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE NOW IN 10 YEARS BECAUSE OF INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT WHICH MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS PERNICIOUS AS DIRECT DISPLACEMENT.
WE KNOW THIS, BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
MAKING THE PROBLEM OF ECONOMIC SEGREGATION EVEN WORSE.
INCENTIVIZING IS THE NEW RED LINING.
FIRST, YOU KEEP THEM OUT, AND THEN YOU PUSH THEM OUT.
LET ME REMIND YOU THAT HOUSING IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE.
YOU ARE CREATING POLICY THAT MAKES THE POOR PAY FOR THEIR OWN DISPLACEMENT AND THE ARGUMENT RECENTLY THAT ADDRESSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON HIGHLY VALUED LAND IS COSTLY AND EFFICIENT IS THE KIND OF ECONOMIC ARGUMENT THAT CITY OFFICIALS HAVE ALWAYS USED TO JUSTIFY THEIR ACTIONS AGAINST THEIR AT-RISK CITIZENS.
YOU'RE MAKING THE BURDEN ON THE POOR EVEN HEAVIER.
AND WHERE WILL THEY GO? THE PROBLEM WITH THE STUDY THAT YOU'VE COMMISSIONED TO APPEASE THE PUBLIC IS THAT INSTEAD OF AN ASSESSMENT OF HOW TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT, IT WILL BE A DOCUMENTATION OF YET ANOTHER INSTANCE OF DISPLACING THE POOR BECAUSE IT'S IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST.
AND FOR WHAT? WHAT ARE THOSE INTERESTS? IT'S BEEN CLAIMED IN MEETINGS AND PRESENTATIONS THAT IT'S TO HOUSE ALL THE NEW EMPLOYEES COMING TO USAA AND THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS OF THE EXPANDED UTSA CAMPUS, OR IT'S FOR THE NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES.
DOWNTOWN HOUSING IN THE FORM OF CONDOS WILL BE PRICED AT $360,000.
RENTALS AT 2.75 A SQUARE FOOT, 1,000-FOOT APARTMENT, TWO BEDROOMS, OR AN 800 SQUARE FOOT ONE BEDROOM FOR 2200.
WHAT MIDLEVEL EMPLOYEE OF USAA, OF WHICH I THINK ARE THE MAJORITY, COULD AFFORD THAT? I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WITH PH.D.S WHO ARE COLLEGE PROFESSORS WHO COULDN'T AFFORD THESE PRICES? AND DO YOU HONESTLY THINK COLLEGE GRADUATES WITH THEIR BURDEN OF STUDENT DEBT COULD AFFORD TO LIVE DOWNTOWN, NEVER MIND THE TEACHERS, CITY STAFF,
[02:10:01]
NURSES, CHEFS, ARCHITECT CONNECTS AND OTHER WORKING PEOPLE THAT MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SO VIBRANT AND THAT YOU CLAIM TO WANT TO MAKE A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN FOR? SO WHO IS THIS FOR? THIS IS INCENTIVES FOR HOUSING FOR THE WEALTHY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR USING OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS TO BENEFIT FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS.THIS IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO CREATE A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN OR A DOWNTOWN THAT MOST OF US ENVISION, AND WE DESERVE BETTER FROM YOU.
AND THOSE WORKERS THAT YOU CLAIM TO BE BUILDING FOR, THEY WILL BE HEADED TO THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS, IF THEY'RE STILL AFFORDABLE, OR OUT TO THE SUBURBS BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
AND INSTEAD OF EASING THE PRESSURE OF OUR INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONTROLLING SPRAWL, YOU'LL EXASPERATE THE PROBLEMS. AND FRANKLY, I'M SHOCKED WHEN WE WERE TOLD YESTERDAY THAT THIS POLICY IS THE PRODUCT OF CONFIDENTIAL -- MONTHS OF CONFIDENTIAL SPEAKING WITH DEVELOPERS.
WE HAVE YET TO HAVE A FULL PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.
I KEEP HEARING THIS IS A CITY BY DESIGN.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THE FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS WHO WOULD BE DOING THE DESIGNING INSTEAD OF GOOD, PUBLIC POLICY THAT WOULD BENEFIT US ALL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MRS. SPEILMAN.
MR. JONES WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DR. CHRISTINE DRENNAN.
>> EXCUSE ME, AND WITH THAT, MAYOR, CALLED WIN CEDES TIME IF NEED BE.
>> MAYOR, COUNCIL, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ITS INCENTIVE PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY, OR CCHIP, AND THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAVE DONE A COMMENDABLE JOB OF INCORPORATING CITIZENS CONCERNS ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD INSTABILITY AND RESIDENT DISPLACEMENT.
WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR MARKET-RATE HOUSING THE CCHIP POLICY DOES EVERYTHING IT CAN TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM DIRECT DISPLACEMENT AND PLEDGES TO WORK WITH THE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON POLICIES THAT MITIGATE THE EFFECT OF DISPLACING RESIDENTS.
HOWEVER, THE POLICY DOES NOT PREVENT FAR MORE DESTRUCTIVE INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT.
THE POLICY DOES NOT ADDRESS LARGER CONCERNS PEOPLE IN THIS CITY HAVE ABOUT A COLLECTIVE VISION OF HOUSING.
ADOPTING A POLICY LACKING OF MEANINGFUL PUBLIC PROCESS TO DETERMINE AN OVERALL HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY FORLI EVERYONEN SAN ANTONIO JEOPARDIZES FUTURE DECISIONS.
ESSENTIALLY, A BROKEN POLICY BECOMES THE POLICY.
CITIZENS CONCERNS REGARDING INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT.
INCENTIVIZED DEVELOPMENT CAUSES ADJACENT PROPERTY VALUES TO RISE AND INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES.
RENTERS, IN PARTICULAR, BECOME VULNERABLE AS RENTS RISE.
THE COST BURDEN FORCES HOMEOWNERS TO MOVE.
IN SHORT, VULNERABLE RESIDENTS FINANCE THEIR OWN DISPLACEMENT.
INCENTIVIZING POLICIES LIKE THIS VERSION OF CCHIP MAKES THE BURDEN EVEN HAIRIER FOR THOSE AT RISK.
SOME IN OUR COMMUNITIES QUESTION THE NEED FOR INCENTIVIZING MARKET-RATE HOUSING.
THEY ARGUE THAT SAN ANTONIO SHOULD SUBSIDIZE GENUINELY NEEDED HOUSING, AFFORDABLE TO MORE SAN ANTONIANS, NOT MARKET-RATE HOUSING.
DO WE CREATE A POLICY TO PRODUCE A LIVABLE, AFFORDABLE DOWNTOWN, OR DO WE INCENTIVIZE A WEALTHY ELITE DOWNTOWN? MANY RESIDENTS -- EXCUSE ME, MANY RESIDENTS CRITICIZE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S OUTREACH METHODS AS COMPULSORY, SUPERFICIAL AND MORE OF PRESENTATIONS THAN ACTUAL COMMUNICATIONS.
THE MEETINGS INITIATED WITH VARYING STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE FOCUSED ON ADOPTING CCHIP, NOT SEEKING INPUT.
NEIGHBORS CHARGED THESE MEETING AS PRESENCE NOT CONVERSATION CONTINUING THE CALL FOR TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE POLICY AND DECISION-MAKING BY THE CITY.
THE SAN ANTONIO, NEW BRAUNFELS AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME MISLEADS AND ILLUSTRATES THE BROKEN MODEL.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S AMI IS 85% OF THE REGIONAL AMI.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTENDED FOR THOSE MAKING BELOW THE MEDIAN HOUSE COME INCOME CALCULATED USING REGIONAL METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA FIGURES IS ACTUALLY MARKET RATE WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
IF WE MUST USE MSA FIGURES IN THE POLICY, 60% IS THE UPPER LIMIT TO PRODUCE TRUE AFFORDABILITY TO HAVE A REFLECTIVE POLICY.
I REQUEST, POSTPONE THE CCHIP AS PER THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE HOUSING POLICY FRAMEWORK PRODUCED BY THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE, AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR LATINO COMMUNITY ASSET BUILDERS VULNERABILITY STUDY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT COMPLETES THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON DISPLACEMENT OF SAN ANTONIO'S RESIDENTS.
TIER 1 NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION STEERING COMMITTEE, CHRISTINE
[02:15:01]
DRENNAN, TONY GARCIA, RICKY KUSHNER, VELMA PENNIER, CYNTHIA SPIELMAN AND THERESA YBANES.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. DRONE.
DR. DRENNAN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY WARREN WILKERSON.
NEW YORK CITY, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE, PORTLAND, BOSTON, NEW ORLEANS, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUSTIN, TEXAS.
ALL, UNTIL THE LAST 20 YEARS, HAD FUNCTIONAL INNER CITIES THAT HOUSED THE WORKING, MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASSES.
I WAS A GRADUATE STUDENT RAISING TWO LITTLE KIDS BY MYSELF LIVING IN THE EAST SIDE INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOOD IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THOSE TWO KIDS GREW UP TO BE REALLY INTERESTING ADULTS, BECAUSE THEY LIVED IN AN EAST SIDE INNER CITY MIXED UP NEIGHBORHOOD IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
NOW, AS A PROFESSOR WITH GROWN KIDS OUT OF THE HOUSE, I COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THAT EAST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD.
DOWNTOWNS AND INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS OUR COUNTRIES HAVE TURNED INTO PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE WEALTHY.
AND IS THIS WHAT WE WANT? THERE'S NOTHING NATURAL ABOUT THIS SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN.
THE SITUATION WE HAVE OF A DETERIORATED DOWNTOWN AND INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LACK INVESTMENT, WE CREATED THAT WITH YEARS OF INCENTIVE POLICY THAT DIRECTED INVESTMENT TO THE EDGES OF THE CITY RATHER THAN DOWNTOWN.
AND THEN AS SOON AS DISECONOMIES BEGAN TO APPEAR IN THE FORM OF SPRAWL, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, WE REALIZED THAT THAT INCENTIVE STRUCTURE HAD COME TO AN END, AND WE NEEDED A NEW ONE.
THERE IS AND WAS NOTHING NATURAL ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THERE IS AND WAS NOTHING NATURAL ABOUT IT THAT WE CREATED IT, THEN WE CAN GUIDE IT AND REGULATE IT RATHER THAN LEAVING IT UP TO SOME MYSTERIOUS MARKET FORCE.
SO WHAT DO WE WANT? AND FINALLY, THIS RUSE ABOUT THE AMI FIGURES.
WE ALL KNOW THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IF WE COMPARE MSA AND CITY MEDIAN INCOME FIGURES.
THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF THE CITY, 75 PERCENT OF THAT OF THE MSA, WHICH MEANS THAT 80% AFFORDABILITY CUTOFF IS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN THE MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL OF OUR FAMILIES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE MUST USE HUD GUIDELINES WHEN CALCULATING AFFORDABILITY STRUCTURES, SO LET'S BE HONEST, AND USE THE 60% RATHER THAN THE 80%.
LET'S SET ASIDE 30% OF UNITS IN THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS FOR HOUSEHOLDS MAKING LESS THAN 60% HUD AMI, WHICH IS OUR WORKFORCE.
IS IT A BAD THING THAT SOME OF OUR LOWEST INCOME FAMILIES LIVE ON OUR VERY VALUABLE LAND? IF YOU USE THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE MODEL, IT IS.
BUT WE'RE A CITY, NOT AN ACCOUNTING FIRM, SO WE SHOULD SAY MORE POWER TO THEM.
WE KNOW WHY THEY'RE THERE, BECAUSE PAST POLICY PUT THEM THERE.
AND NOW PRESENT POLICY WANTS THAT LAND BACK, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT'S OCCUPIED, SO TOO BAD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, DR. DRENNAN.
WARREN WILKERSON FOLLOWED BY RICHARD PEREZ.
>> MORNING MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS , MRS. SCULLEY, ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WE REPRESENT RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, TOURISM, PROPERTY OWNERS, NOT ONLY DOWNTOWN BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I ASK THAT YOU APPROVE AND SUPPORT THE UPDATES TO THE CCHIP AND THE ICRIP PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT, THEY ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROVIDE CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE POLICIES REGARDING AVAILABLE INCENTIVES; THEY PROMOTE HISTORIC REHABILITATION WITH APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT, THEY HELP WITH DEVELOPMENT OF LEGACY BUSINESSES, HOUSING DENSITY, SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEY PROVIDE FOR A TWO-YEAR REEVALUATION.
THE PREVIOUS PROGRAMS WERE A SUCCESS, THESE CHANGES ENHANCE AND CLARIFY THE PROGRAM ATTRIBUTES.
I HOPE YOU SUPPORT THESE POLICIES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WILKERSON.
RICHARD PEREZ FOLLOWED BY BRAD MCMURRAY.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS RICHARD PEREZ, I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
FOR 124 YEARS THE CHAMBER HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL OF OUR MEMBERS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN BUILDING AND SUSTAINING A DIVERSE AND PROSPEROUS ECONOMY.
IN MY TENURE, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN VERY STRATEGIC PLANS OF THE CITY ON BEHALF OF OUR 2100 DIFFERENT MEMBERS.
TODAY, WE JOIN IN SUPPORT OF THE CHANGES TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FEE WAIVER PROGRAM AND THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY.
THE CHAMBER BELIEVES THAT RESPONSIBLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS VITAL TO THE FUTURE GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL ITS CITIZENS.
[02:20:01]
THE CHAMBER HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORKING GROUP OF THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON HOUSING AND IS EAGER TO SEE SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED IN THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAMS. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DOWNTOWN PLANNING GROUP OF SA TOMORROW, FOCUSED ON DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY.THE PROPOSED CHANGES YOU'RE VOTING ON TODAY ENSURE THAT THESE MASTER PLANS ARE CONNECTED, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE WORK OF MANY CITIZENS AND EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THESE PROJECTS.
ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR MEMBERS, WE ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. PEREZ.
BRAD MCMURRAY? FOLLOWED BY KRISTEN DAVILA.
MY NAME IS BRAD MCMURRAY, AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT FOR PROSPER HOUSING COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WE'RE A LOCAL NONPROFIT HOUSING PROVIDER, WE'RE A 501(C)3, AND WE'RE CELEBRATING FORTUNATELY OUR 25TH YEAR IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE OUR OWN OR ADMINISTER 5,000 UNITS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTH TEXAS AND WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE 16 MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS WITH OVER 2200 UNITS, SO I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE A DEFINITE INTEREST IN SAN ANTONIO.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM, THE REVISED FEE WAIVER PROGRAM AND THE REVISED CCHIP PROGRAM.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT PERFECT, BUT THEY'RE VERY, VERY GOOD.
I MEAN, FROM MYSELFISH PERSPECTIVE, MY PASSION IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PASSION FROM THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.
AND IF YOU ASK ME, I'D WANT TO MAKE IT ALL ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT'S NECESSARY FOR A VIABLE CITY.
NOW, I HAVEN'T PUT THE 10,000 PLUS HOURS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT I HAVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND SO I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK ON THAT.
I HAVE AN OPINION, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A QUALIFIED OPINION.
BUT I DO HAVE A QUALIFIED OPINION WHEN REGARD TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT IN THE PAST, AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER, I'VE BEEN -- I WORK HERE AT PROSPERA, BUT I'VE HAD PREVIOUS CAREERS AT THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, WORKING IN EAST AUSTIN, DEVELOPING AND REVITALIZING HOUSING THAT LED TO THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH, SO I'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT HELP IN MY OPINION.
AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THE FACT THAT LORI HOUSTON AND JOHN JACKS AND VERONICA GARCIA AND THE REST OF THE CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REALLY REACHED OUT AND ASKED FOR THE NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS OPINIONS.
WE GOT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
I HEAR WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THEY REALLY GAVE US A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
I'M VERY EMPATHETIC THAT SOMEBODY WITH A PASSION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HEARS ALL THESE ACRONYMS AND DOESN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT.
WELL, AFTER 20 YEARS, I'M STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IT'S A VERY COMPLEX PROCESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO APPLAUD ABOUT THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM THAT IT DOES FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT'S A CHANGE.
IT'S GOT DEDICATED FUNDING FOR BOTH THE SAWS AND THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAMS WHICH IS AN EXCELLENT THING AND AS WELL HAS CREATED A CAP ON THAT FUNDING FOR THE SAWS FEE WAIVERS SO THAT MULTIPLE PROJECTS CAN PARTICIPATE.
ONE OF THE THINGS IT DOES, TOO, IS USES THE HUD INCOME LIMITS.
I ECHO DR. DRENNAN'S PERSPECTIVE.
WE DO HAVE A DIFFERENCE, THE 60% IS PROBABLY A BETTER WAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S ECONOMICALLY VIABLE FOR THIS OTHER DEVELOPMENT AT THIS 60%.
THAT'S WHY I THINK THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD TO GIVE IT A CHANCE AND ANALYZE IT IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO DO IT.
I ALSO APPLAUD THE CCHIP FOR ELIMINATING THE LUXURY HOUSING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MCMURRAY.
>> I'D JUST LIKE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: KRISTEN DAVILA FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS KRISTEN DAVILA AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER OF MERCET HOUSING TEXAS.
WE'RE A NONPROFIT HOUSING DROITER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
OUR PRIMARY BUSINESS IS TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ALSO RUN AN OWNER SLACK OCCUPIED REPAIR PROGRAM.
WE OWN FIVE MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITIES IN THIS CITY.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH MY PEERS FROM OTHER NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO STAFF AND IN PARTICULAR MRS. HOUSTON, MR. JACKS, AND VERONICA GARCIA FOR INVOLVING US IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THIS ORDINANCE AND THIS POLICY.
[02:25:03]
INDIVIDUALLY AND GENUINELY HEARD WHAT WE HAD TO SAY AND INCORPORATED OUR FEEDBACK.AND IN PARTICULAR, THEY INCORPORATED OUR FEEDBACK AND OUR RECOMMENDATION RELATED TO USING THE HUD DEFINED INCOME LIMITS FOR PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.
SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT WE, MERCED HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO BE PA PART OF THIS PROCESS AND CONTINUE TO BE HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MRS. DAVILA.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MICHAEL TAILOR, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
LAST NIGHT AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, I SPOKE ABOUT HOW THE CITY PER FIT FEE WAIVERS AND THE IMPACT FEE WAIVERS THAT WE RECEIVE THROUGH THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM ARE REALLY ESSENTIAL TO HABITAT'S BUDGET FOR NEW HOUSES.
I TALKED ABOUT HOW THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM IS CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO HABITATS BUILDING NEW HOMES -- EXCUSE ME, THAT ARE AFFORDABLE FOR LOW AND VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
AND HOW THE CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED WILL HELP US BUILD EVEN MORE HOMES.
I MENTIONED THAT CCDO STAFF WERE VERY RESPONSIVE TO THE FEEDBACK FROM THE NONPROFITS, AND I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE.
THE ORIGINAL POLICY WAS BASED ON A YET TO BE PRODUCED LOCALLY DERIVED INCOME LIMIT STANDARD INSTEAD OF THE HUD STANDARD, WHICH OUR NONPROFITS PRETTY MUCH LIVE AND DIE BY.
WE EXPLAINED HOW DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE IT WOULD BE FOR THE CITY TO DEVELOP ITS OWN INCOME LIMITS THAT ARE ADJUSTED FOR FAMILY SIZE AND ARE CORRECTED BASED ON MARKET RENTS, WHICH IS WHAT HUD DOES, AND WE ALSO EXPLAINED HOW DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE IT WOULD BE FOR THE NONPROFITS TO COMPLY WITH TWO DIFFERENT STANDARDS.
CCDO HEARD OUR CONCERNS AND THEY CHANGED THE POLICY AND THE INCOME LIMITS TO BE REFLECTIVE OF THE HUD INCOME LIMITS.
WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE POLICY, AND WE ASK THAT YOU APPROVE IT TODAY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DELAY CONSTRUCTION OF 22 NEW HOMES FOR LOW AND VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES THAT WE'RE STARTING IN JANUARY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND, AGAIN, I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. TAYLOR.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL PERSONS.
I SPOKE LAST NIGHT AND SHARED SOME OPINIONS, AND ONE THING THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO EXPAND UPON BECAUSE OF TIME LIMITATIONS, AND THAT IS I UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES BEING MADE IN THE PROPOSED CCHIP PROGRAM TODAY, I UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR THEM, SUPPORT THEM, BUT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU AN OPINION THAT THEY MAY -- AND THIS IS COMING FROM BEING IN THE DEVELOPMENT WORLD TODAY AND SEEING LAND PRICES CLIMB, SEEING CONSTRUCTION COST CLIMB, A CONCERN THAT THERE MAY BE A CHILLING EFFECT AND THE PROGRAM MAY BE SOMEWHAT INEFFECTIVE IN SPURRING ADDITIONAL HOUSING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE AN OPINION THAT IF THAT HAPPENS, I HOPE -- I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A TWO-YEAR REVIEW.
I'M HOPING THAT IF THAT OCCUR, THAT THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT PERHAPS ANNUALLY, SIMPLY AN ENCOURAGEMENT.
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS -- OF THE CCHIP PROGRAM TODAY, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT MIGHT HAVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. SHONE.
THAT'S EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
AT THIS TIME, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS AND WE'LL RECONVENE FOR COUNCIL COMMENT AND
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
CITY COUNCIL IS BACK FROM ITS RECESS, SO WE'LL RESUME ITEM NO.
AND THAT WAS AT COUNCIL COMMENT AND QUESTION.
SO I'LL START WITH COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THIS PROGRAM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK ARE CRITICAL AS WE PUSH FORWARD.
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE MOST EXPENSIVE LAND IN THE CITY IS EXTREMELY INEFFICIENT,
[02:30:03]
AND WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR A SMART APPROACH.WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR A BETTER WAY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR AND THAT FEAR IS ALSO DRIVING A LOT OF ANGER TOWARDS THE WORK THAT I THINK IS BEING DONE TO HELP MITIGATE ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR CITY.
SO FIRST I JUST WANT TO SAY WE HAVE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
WE HAVE HEARD THE CALLS FOR THE DISPLACEMENT STUDY.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, PUT ALL OUR RESOURCES TO BEAR ON THIS.
THERE IS NO REASON THAT THIS STUDY CANNOT TAKE PLACE WHILE THE PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY, AND WE PLAN TO DO JUST THAT.
IF THERE ARE REPORTS THAT ANY INCENTIVE PROGRAM IS AT FAULT FOR DISPLACEMENT, WE WILL ACT IMMEDIATELY TO MITIGATE AND END THAT DISPLACEMENT.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT MY COLLEAGUES ALL AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT .
AGAIN, I WOULD POINT OUT THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE INVEST IN OUR DOWNTOWN RETURNS $13 RIGHT BACK TO OUR CITY.
WHY DO I SAY THAT? AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A MUCH LARGER POLICY THAT WORKS WITH OTHER POLICIES TO HELP FUND THE ABILITY TO MITIGATE THE ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR CITY.
TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVE MODIFIED THE CCHIP TO A POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE STUDYING IT, WHETHER IT WILL CREATE SOME ISSUES OF DISPLACEMENT OR IF IT WILL BE EVEN EFFECTIVE AT ALL.
SO WE NEED TO BE TRUTHFUL ABOUT WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS ABOUT.
I WANT TO COMMEND LORI HOUSTON FOR ALL HER HARD WORK AND THE FACT THAT HER AND HER STAFF HAVE REACHED OUT AND SPOKEN TO A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE MODIFIED THIS PROGRAM SIGNIFICANTLY TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND CONCERNS.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE PASSED IN RECENT HISTORY HAVE BEEN ABOUT PROTECTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I'M WILLING TO DISCUSS THIS PARTICULAR DECISION TODAY WITH ANYONE, ANY TIME.
BECAUSE I'M CERTAIN THIS IS THE BEST DECISION FOR OUR DISTRICT AND FOR OUR CITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A CHANCE TO CHAMPION A BOLD VISION FOR SOLVING OUR CURRENT HOUSING CRISIS, BUT CCHIP SHOULD NOT BE A MARTYR METHOD FOR INCREASING AFFORDABILITY AND, OF COURSE, I REMAIN CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL GET THERE TOGETHER.
AND I WANT TO SAY TO THE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO BEFORE AND WHO HAVE COME TODAY, GRACIELA, DR. DRENNEN, CYNTHIA SPIELMAN.
MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN VERY OUTSPOKEN AND CHAMPIONED VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT MATTER TO US ALL.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HELPING TO GIVE SPACE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WHILE KEEPING THE MOMENTUM OF OUR CITY GOING.
THESE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT WE ARE ELECTED TO TAKE ON, AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET.
THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET BUT, AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION YESTERDAY, LORI HOUSTON MENTIONED THEY WILL BE EVALUATING THIS THING THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR CITIZEN INPUT.
WE WILL ASK THAT WE CREATE A TIMELINE SO WE CAN GIVE ADVANCED NOTICE TO FOLKS ABOUT THAT.
WE WANT TO BE INCLUSIVE AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEX STRATEGIES THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED HERE AT CITY HALL TO HELP ADDRESS BOTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE AND CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM FOR OUR CITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.
AGAIN, WITH THAT, I WANT TO MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 4.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 4.
AND SO WE OF COURSE HAD THE PRESENTATION YESTERDAY AND I HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
BUT I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A FEW OTHER QUESTIONS THAT CAME TO ME AFTER YESTERDAY'S PRESENTATION ABOUT -- VERO, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I WONDER DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE FROM THE RIO LOFTS? I DON'T THINK SO.
[02:35:01]
YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE $6.5 MILLION THAT WE DID FOR REHAB THAT CAME FROM -- SOME OF IT FROM THE HOUSING TRUST.NOW I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT WAS REQUESTED FOR HOUSING REHAB.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHERE THAT ALL CAME FROM?
>> GONZALES: AND HOW MANY HOMES WE INTEND TO REPAIR WITH THAT?
SO GOOD AFTERNOON, VERONICA SOTO WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES.
YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE $6.5 MILLION THAT WAS ALLOCATED AS PART OF THE BUDGET FOR THE OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB PROGRAM.
A LOT OF THE FUNDING FOR THAT WAS NEW GENERAL FUND MONEY THAT CAME TO THAT PROGRAM.
BUT WE ALSO ARE UTILIZING FEDERAL HUD ENTITLEMENT GRANT MONEY.
THE HOMES THAT ARE GOING TO BE REPAIRED WITH THAT 6.5 ARE 81 HOMES.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOTTERY SYSTEM.
WE USED AN EQUITY APPROACH TO DISTRIBUTE THEM CITY WIDE.
BUT OVERALL, AS YOU KNOW, AND AS WE PRESENTED TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE, YESTERDAY WE HAVE OVER $17 MILLION IN NEW MONEY, MOST OF IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND IN SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
A LOT OF IT WENT TO PROGRAMS LIKE OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB.
WE HAVE NOW 5.25 FOR THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM.
AND WE HAVE 7.25 FOR GAP FINANCING AS WELL.
>> GONZALES: $7.25 MILLION FOR GAP FINANCING, ONLY FOR LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS?
>> THIS IS FOR RENTAL AND HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
THE RENTAL GAP FINANCING AWARDS CAME BEFORE COUNCIL LAST THURSDAY.
THE HOME OWNERSHIP YOU SAW AT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE YESTERDAY.
AND THOSE WILL BE COMING FOR FULL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION IN JANUARY.
>> GONZALES: AND THAT'S PART OF THE $7.5 MILLION, NOT THE $6.5 MILLION IS IN A SEPARATE POT?
>> GONZALES: OR BUCKET, I GUESS IS WHAT I WANT TO ASK.
>> GONZALES: THE REASON I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, MAYOR, JUST SO THERE'S SOME CONTINUITY -- MY CONCERN OR MY DESIRE IN OUR HOUSING IS TO PRESERVE EXISTING HOUSING.
AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE, AS I HAVE HEARD YOU MENTION NOW MANY TIMES, DISTRICT 5 HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN THE CITY WITH 57% HOMEOWNERS.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE HOMES WERE BUILT BEFORE 1960.
AND WE KNOW WE WANT PEOPLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO HOW MUCH WE DEDICATE TOWARDS REHAB AND HOME OWNERSHIP IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US INVEST MORE.
AND THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE GRANT FUNDED.
THERE'S NO -- TYPICALLY THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT INTENDING TO STAY BACK THOSE LOANS.
THEY HAVE TO STAY THERE FOR TEN YEARS? AND IF THEY DON'T, THEM WHOEVER --
>> GONZALES: THEY HAVE TO PAY BACK THAT LOAN.
I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS THE DESIRE TO INVEST MORE OF OUR DOLLARS IN THAT CAPACITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR YOU, VERO, AND I SEE DEBRA IS HERE FROM RIO LOFTS.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT RIO LOFTS AS WELL.
I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION BECAUSE YESTERDAY IN OUR B SESSION COUNCILMAN SALDANA ASKED WHY DO WE HAVE TO USE HUD METRICS.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE TO USE HUD METRICS BECAUSE THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE VERY COMPETITIVE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF STANDARD IN THE COUNTRY THAT WE USE WHEN WE ARE COMPETING FOR FUNDS.
BUT IN THE RIO LOFTS EXAMPLE, WHICH IS ANOTHER PROJECT THAT'S ON THE CORNER OF DISTRICT 5 AND DISTRICT 3, IT'S LIKE THE VERY EDGE.
AND THAT WAS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT GOT HUD MONEY BUT THAT WE, AT THE HOUSING TRUST, GAVE RIO LOFTS AN ADDITIONAL $500,000 SO WE COULD HAVE GREATER AFFORDABILITY IN THAT PROJECT.
CAN YOU JUST CONFIRM THAT I HAVE THOSE DETAILS CORRECT?
THE REASON WE HAD TO USE THE HUD INCOME LEVELS IS BECAUSE TDHCA, THROUGH THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FEDERALLY-FINANCED PROGRAM, REQUIRES THAT WE USE HUD INCOME.
[02:40:01]
AND SO WE USE THE ICRIP PROGRAM, THE IMPACT FEE WAIVERS AND THE BUILD FEE WAIVERS TO ACTUALLY LAYER ON TO THAT COMPETITIVE 9% APPLICATION FINANCING APPLICATION.SO WE NEEDED TO USE THOSE SAME HUD INCOME AMOUNTS IN THAT CASE, ABSOLUTELY.
>> GONZALES: AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE STANDARD FOR ANY PROJECT WE DO THAT HAS AN AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT.
AND IF WE AS A COUNCIL DECIDE WE WANT TO HAVE GREATER AFFORDABILITY, WE HAVE TO FIND THAT MONEY SOMEWHERE.
SO IT EITHER COMES FROM OUR GENERAL FUND MONEY.
IT'S GOING TO COME FROM LIKE A HOUSING TRUST.
WHAT ARE -- AND MAYBE THAT'S MORE OF A QUESTION FOR THE STAFF.
WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO USE HUD METRICS.
AND HONESTLY, THE REASON THAT WE SEE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT IN DALLAS AND IN HOUSTON AND IN AUSTIN IS BECAUSE THEIR HUD AMI INCOME LEVELS ARE HIGHER.
THEREFORE THEY CAN FINANCE AND HAVE MORE FINANCING TO PUT MORE UNITS ON THE GROUND.
RIGHT NOW SAN ANTONIO IS SO UNBELIEVABLY LOW COMPARED TO AN AUSTIN.
AND SO BUT THE NEED IS SO GREAT.
BUT, THE IDEA OF CONTINUING TO LAYER, TO CONTINUE TO GET DEEPER AFFORDABILITY, THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS WITH LAYERING.
THIS PROGRAM ACTUALLY HELPS BECAUSE IT HELPS FILL THAT GAP TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
RIO LOFTS IS SIMILAR TO MUSEUM REACH, WHICH IS THE APPLICATION THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT THEY'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SEE.
IT'S THE EXACT SAME APPLICATION.
IT WAS JUST AWARDED LAST YEAR INSTEAD OF THIS YEAR.
SO I GUESS, LORI, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THERE'S BEEN SOME ANGST IN THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT -- OR I SHOULD SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
MY REASON FOR A RELUCTANCE TO SUPPORT THE ICRIP IS BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABILITY THAT WE EXPECT AS A CITY, OR THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT AS A COUNCIL IS NOT ENOUGH.
I KNOW THAT WE AS A GROUP WE DISCUSS MORE AFFORDABILITY, MORE LIKE IN THE 50 TO 30% RANGE.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE.
AND IF WE WANT TO SEE THAT AS A COUNCIL THEN WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO MAKESHIFTS IN OUR BUDGET.
THAT MEANS WE TAKE MONEY FROM STREET MAINTENANCE.
IT MEANS WE TAKE IT FROM PUBLIC SAFETY .
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SOURCES WHERE WE CAN FUND THAT GAP IF WE WANT TO SEE THAT GREATER AFFORDABILITY, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO USE THE HUD CONSTRAINTS TO FUND PROJECTS.
>> NO, THE SOURCES THAT WE TYPICALLY USE ARE THE LOW-INCOME TAX CREDIT PROJECTS, THE 4% OR 9%.
THE PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION.
AND, AS YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE MUSEUM REACH LOFTS AND RIO LOFTS, LAYERING THOSE HELPS US PURCHASE MORE AFFORDABILITY.
ANOTHER GREAT TOOL THAT WE HAVE THAT WE HOPE TO BE USING OVER THE NEXT YEAR IS THE DISPOSITION OF CITY-OWNED LAND.
SO WHEN WE OWN THE LAND WE CAN CONTRIBUTE THAT AS PART OF THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL HELP DECREASE THE EXPENSES AND HELP US REACH DEEPER AFFORDABILITY.
>> GONZALES: BUT THERE WERE ONLY TWO EXAMPLES I THINK THAT I SAW.
>> THERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES THAT CCDO WILL BE WORKING ON.
HOWEVER, WORKING WITH VERO SOTO AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING, THEY'RE PURCHASING LAND FROM THAT $20 MILLION FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS BOND FUNDING.
THEY CAN PURCHASE LAND AND WE CAN RFPS TO DO THAT, AND THERE MAY BE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT BECOME AVAILABLE THAT WE CAN ISSUE RFPS ON TO GET MORE AFFORDABILITY.
WE ALSO WORK WITH DEVELOPERS ALL THE TIME ON LOOKING AT THEIR PARCELS.
AND WE COME TO COUNCIL WITH CONCEPTS ON HOW TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS AFFORDABLE.
SO THE CCHIP IS ONE TOOL THAT CAN BE USE TO LAYER, BUT THAT DOESN'T PREVENT CCDO STAFF TO COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL WITH A SPECIFIC HOUSING PROJECT THAT HAS MORE AFFORDABILITY.
>> GONZALES: AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT.
BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, I THINK THE PROGRESS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BEEN VERY SLOW.
THERE'S A DESIRE ON THE COUNCIL TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS.
BUT MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT ACTUALLY PROJECTS ARE NOT MOVING IN TERMS OF SORT OF LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS.
EVEN SOME OF THE SMALL INFILL HOUSING PROJECTS SOMETIMES TAKE TOO LONG.
AND I HAVE ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG FOR YOU ALL TO DO A SMALL INFILL HOME.
[02:45:03]
AND IT'S OFTEN BECAUSE THERE IS CONCERN WITH FINANCING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY EXPECTED IT WOULD COST $50,000 BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT GIVEN EITHER THE EXTENT OF THE REMEDIATION OF THE LOT OR THAT THE SAWS INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT HOW THEY ANTICIPATED IT WOULD BE, BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS VERY OLD.IT IS NOT AS AFFORDABLE AS THEY HAD HOPED.
I HAVE MENTIONED HERE ON THE COUNCIL THAT SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE SOME OF MY VERY FIRST MEETINGS WAS ABOUT LONE STAR.
ONE OF MY VERY FIRST MEETINGS WAS ABOUT VITRA, THE PROPERTY DOWN SOUTH ZARZAMORA WHICH WAS ANTICIPATED TO BE RETAIL HOUSING.
NONE OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE COME TO FRUITION.
AND THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES, THE LARGER-SCALE ONES THAT I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT LOOKED PROMISING.
EVERYTHING FROM THE MALTHOUSE, WHICH HAD BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 60-PLUS YEARS WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE CUSTOMERS ANYMORE.
WE'VE SEEN A CONSOLIDATION OF NOW SIX OF OUR CHURCHES, OUR WEST SIDE CHURCHES COMBINING.
AND WHEN I ASKED FATHER DAVID WHY ARE WE CONSOLIDATING OUR CHURCHES THEIR RESPONSE WAS WE HAVE NO PEOPLE ANYMORE.
AND SO AS A RESULT AUDIO] IN MY DISTRICT, IN DISTRICT 5.
I FACT, ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS IS IN DISTRICT 6, ST. GABRIEL'S.
SO THE REALITY IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOSE POPULATION AND I FEEL THE NEED TO MOVE PROJECTS ALONG MORE QUICKLY BECAUSE THE FINANCING CAN BE STABLE IF IT'S IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT WITH THE EFFORT AND THE CONCENTRATION ON SMALL-SCALE DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE MY SENSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY RESILIENT OVER THE YEARS.
WE HAVE MANAGED TO HAVE BUSINESSES STAY FOR DECADES AND GENERATIONS.
BUT SOMETIMES WE NEED SOME HELP TO MOVE THOSE ALONG.
AND SO AS WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THIS I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT IT IN THE HOPES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SEE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT'S SUSTAINABLE, THAT IS RESPECTFUL.
AND PART OF THE WAYS WE DO THAT IS BY COMMITTING AS A COUNCIL THAT WE WANT TO INVEST MORE OF OUR FUNDS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
WHETHER THAT'S SINGLE-FAMILY, WHETHER IT'S BY CREATING GAP FINANCING FOR MULTI-FAMILY.
WHETHER IT'S SELLING CITY LOTS VERY AFFORDABLY.
I KNOW WE HAVE HAD SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW WE HAVE DONE THAT.
WE HAVE SOLD OUR CITY LOTS FOR $500 TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE TRYING TO BE MORE CREATIVE IN INFILL LOTS THAT ARE 25 FEET AND LESS.
THERE'S SOME DIMENSIONS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO BUILD ON.
CAN WE INVEST MORE IN THAT KIND OF PROGRAM TO BRING MORE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.
AND THEN ENCOURAGE THOSE TO STAY.
BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THINGS, THE REALITIES OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY ON THE FLOOR RIGHT BEFORE US IS THAT PEOPLE ARE LEAVING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OUR HOUSES ARE FALLING IN ON THEMSELVES AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY FOR GAP FINANCING TO STABILIZE THOSE HOMES AND KEEP THEM THERE LONGER.
SO I AM PREPARED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO MOVE THINGS ALONG.
AND HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS IN THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED IT MOST, IN AREAS THAT CONTINUE TO SEE A DECLINE IN POPULATION.
IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT CONTINUE TO DECLINE.
AND ALSO THOSE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PENDING FOR A LONG TIME.
MANY OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROCEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
AND THE CITY HASN'T WANTED TO INVEST IN THE CLEAN UP OF THOSE AREAS GIVEN THE EXPENSE.
AND WE SAW THAT OVER ON THE ZARZAMORA PROPERTY.
SO I LOOK FOR A COMMITMENT FOR THOSE AS WELL SO WE CAN DEVELOP ON THE LAND WE HAVE AVAILABLE THAT THE CITY OWNS.
SO I WILL SUPPORT THIS WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL WORK ON THOSE ISSUES.
AND I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING VERY HARD.
WE STILL HAVE THE HOUSING PILOT
[02:50:01]
IN THE DISTRICT.WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS VERY WELL.
AS IN ALL PILOTS, SOME THINGS HAVE NOT ENTIRELY GONE AS PLANNED, BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE'S IN PLACE TO CONTINUE ON THAT.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE OF HOUSING, WHICH IS ULTIMATELY WHAT EVERYBODY CARES ABOUT.
AND EVEN AS WE SIT ON THIS DAIS AND WE CAN SEE THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE THAT WE'RE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF, THE ONE THING THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW, WELL WHAT DID YOU DO FOR ME? SO IF WE CAN SAY I HELPED PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES LONGER, I SURROUNDED THEM WITH SUPPORT SERVICES.
WE FIXED THE STREETS, WE FIXED THE SIDEWALKS.
WE DID THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO PEOPLE, WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, LORI AND VERO AND EVERYBODY WHO CAME TO SPEAK TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE ON HOUSING IN YOUR DISTRICT.
I THINK YOUR PILOT PROGRAMS ARE INNOVATIVE AND VERY MUCH NEEDED, AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE THOSE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK LORI, VERONICA -- VERO AND VERONICA AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON THIS POLICY.
LORI, I KNOW YOU HAVE PUT IN LATE NIGHTS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN YOU HERE WHEN I WAS HERE TOO.
YOU WERE PROBABLY HERE WHEN I WASN'T AS WELL.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSAL WE HAVE TODAY IS MUCH IMPROVED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
YOU HAVE ADDED, AT MY REQUEST AND MAYBE OF SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, LANGUAGE SPECIFICALLY TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT FROM OCCURRING.
THERE'S PROTECTION OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE AGREEMENTS, AS THEY ARE EXECUTED, WILL NOW BE POSTED ONLINE AND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT ADDITION.
WE'VE ALSO ADDED TRANSIT CORRIDORS AND REGIONAL CENTERS.
I DO BELIEVE THERE'S AN ADVANTAGE TO INCLUDING THEM.
AND I ALSO LIKE SEEING GUARANTEED FEE WAIVERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE REVISED ICRIP PROGRAM.
AND MANY OF THESE POINTS DO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS THAT I'VE HEARD.
LIKE WAS SAID BEFORE, THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CCHIP WILL NO BE THAT SILVER BULLET.
THERE'S GOING TO BE MANY TOOLS.
JUST LIKE THIS LAYERING PROCESS THAT COUNCILWOMAN GUERRERO TOLD US ABOUT.
THERE WILL HAVE TO BE MANY TOOLS.
NONETHELESS, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AFFORDABILITY IS A PROBLEM.
WHETHER THIS PASSES TODAY OR NOT, AFFORDABILITY WILL STILL BE AN ISSUE.
AND SO IS INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE INDIRECT IMPACTS HAPPENING.
WE DON'T HAVE A QUANTIFICATION OR A QUALIFICATION ON THEM YET, BUT I DO WANT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
UNFORTUNATELY I WON'T BE VOTING IN FAVOR TODAY.
I MADE A PROMISE TO MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I WOULD ENSURE THAT AS THE COMMUNITY GREW THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A VOICE IN SHAPING THAT GROWTH.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE RECALLS, BUT WE WERE ON THIS DAIS IN THE FALL OF 2017 AND THERE WAS A CONTENTIOUS VOTE FOR A WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN MY DISTRICT.
IT DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, AND THAT CREATED A LOT OF DISTRUST ALONG THAT BANDERA CORRIDOR IN DISTRICT 7.
AND I THINK HAVING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS IN KEEPING IT.
NOW THAT WE'VE INCLUDED THESE CORRIDORS I DO WISH WE WOULD GIVE OURSELVES THE TIME TO INFORM THE STAKEHOLDERS ALONG THAT CORRIDOR, THE REGIONAL CENTER PLAN TEAM MEMBERS, AND THOSE THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED ALONG THE CORRIDORS.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU LIMITED THE QUARTER-MILE BUFFER AND YOU BROUGHT THAT INTO ADJACENT PROPERTIES.
I STILL THINK WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE OWNERS OF THOSE PROPERTIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES WHO THRIVE FROM THAT LOCATION AND ON THOSE PROMINENT CORRIDORS IN OUR CITY.
SO, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS MUCH IMPROVED.
I JUST DO WISH WE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO ENGAGE THOSE.
AND THAT WAS A COMMITMENT I MADE TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP IT.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS.
AND I DO HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO AT LEAST INFORM THE STAKEHOLDERS ALONG THOSE CORRIDORS SPECIFICALLY BANDERA, WILSON, ZARZAMORA, FREDERICKSBURG, AND BABCOCK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, BUT TWO WEEKS AGO LORI RAN
[02:55:03]
THE MARATHON, THE FULL MARATHON, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.AND SHE DID A LOT OF TRAINING TO LEAD UP TO THAT.
AND SO THIS IS REALLY THE FINAL STRETCH HERE FOR YOU ON CCHIP.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO BETTER TRAINING FOR ANY CITY MANAGER WHO IS WORKING ON CCHIP THAN TO HAVE TRAINED FOR A MARATHON.
LET ME ASK YOU TO TOSS BACK AND FORTH WITH ME SOME QUESTIONS, IF WE CAN.
WE'RE AT THE FINAL STRETCH, IF I'M PREDICTING THIS CORRECTLY.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE NEED TO WE COULD STRETCH IT OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE SO I CAN GET MORE FOLKS ON BOARD WITH THE IDEA.
LET'S GET BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING YESTERDAY ABOUT HUD.
I WILL TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD AND EVERYONE'S WORD WHO IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.
DEBRA GUERRERO, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND SPEAKING TO WHAT HUD REQUIRES, AND I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS LET'S USE THE HUD METRICS, BUT INSTEAD OF 80%, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO USE HUD'S 60% AMI WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING OUR MATRIX OF AFFORDABLE PROJECTS.
I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S.
>> ACTUALLY A GREAT EXAMPLE IS THE BROADWAY JONES PROJECT THAT WE WORKED ON RECENTLY.
WHEN YOU DROP IT LOWER -- SO WE HAVE THE 10%, 60% TO BE ABLE TO BUY DOWN THAT 80% TO A 60, WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND SO WE KNOW THE PROJECTS WILL NOT WORK.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.
SO, YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE WOULD BE A NURSE, WOULD BE A TEACHER.
AND WE DO HAVE A NEED FOR THAT TYPE OF HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES, FOR THE WORKFORCE, FOR INDIVIDUALS MAKING MARKET RATE AND HAVING THAT AFFORDABILITY.
SO IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING DIVERSITY OF OPTIONS AS WELL.
>> SALDANA: I REALLY WANT TO STAY ON THOSE POINTS, LORI.
I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION BUT I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN CLOSE TO ANSWERING IT, WHICH WAS IF WE PASS CCHIP WITH ALL OF THE SAFEGUARDS WE HAVE IN HERE, WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? IN MY MIND SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE A DIVERSE DOWNTOWN WITH WORKFORCE OPTIONS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT NOT ONLY A NURSE IN A 500 SQUARE FOOT BUT A TWO BEDROOM THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO A FAMILY WOULD WORK FOR THEM.
NOTHING ELSE IN TERMS OF CCHIP MATTERS TO ME OTHER THAN MAYBE GETTING THAT RIGHT.
BECAUSE THIS WILL BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO REALLY BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WILL LEAD INTO POTENTIALLY TWO YEARS BEFORE WE EVALUATE THIS AGAIN.
SO I WANT TO SPEAK TO WHAT I THINK I'VE LEARNED IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHEN WE TRY TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WORKFORCE HOUSING IN A PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'VE SEEN EVEN IN MY OWN DISTRICT THAT LABELS AND TERMS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOMETIMES SCARE PEOPLE.
AND I THINK RIGHT NOW YOU SEE WE MIGHT BE WORKING ON AN AFFORDABLE PROJECT IN ONE PART OF MY DISTRICT AND NEIGHBORS WILL HAVE QUESTIONS AND SCRATCH THEIR HEADS.
AND SO WHAT I'M ASSUMING IN THE FUTURE, IN 2023, IN 2024 IN OUR DOWNTOWN, IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN CCHIP, AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, WHICH IS WHY I'M CAUTIOUS, IS THAT WE'LL GET MORE MARKET RATE, WHICH IS NOT A BAD THING.
THERE'S ARGUMENTS FOR WHY THAT COULD BE GOOD.
BUT MY ARGUMENT FOR WHY THAT MIGHT NOT HELP US TOWARDS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL OF SUCCESS, DIVERSITY IN THE TYPE OF HOUSING THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IS THAT FOLKS BEGIN TO FORGET THAT THE CITY HAD A HAND IN CREATING THE DOWNTOWN THE WAY THAT WE SEE IT IN 2023 OR 2024.
THE CITY WILL FORGET IT HELPED SUBSIDIZED SOME OF THAT MARKET-RATE HOUSING AND THEY WILL ASSUME THIS IS THE MARKET THAT CREATED THE OPPORTUNITY THAT MAKES IT SO IT IS A PRICE OF ENTRY AT $2 ABOVE A SQUARE FOOT.
SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE IS THAT WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT DOING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT OR MIXED INCOME PROJECT DOWNTOWN AND THERE WILL BE THE TYPES OF RESISTANCE TO THE IDEA OF HOW DARE THE CITY EVEN CONSIDER PUTTING AFFORDABILITY INTO THE DOWNTOWN.
BECAUSE THEY'LL USE TERMS LIKE IT WILL CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M IMAGINING PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL BEING CONSTRUCTED TODAY AND THEY'LL USE THAT LANGUAGE TO SAY THEY DON'T WANT FOLKS WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.
I THINK THE TIME TO GET THIS RIGHT IS AT THE BEGINNING.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MEASUREMENTS -- AND SO THE HUD AT 60% AMI YOU SAY WILL COST US MORE.
>> SALDANA: I'M WILLING TO SAY THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF A DIVERSE DOWNTOWN THAT OFFERS
[03:00:02]
THIS, WE HAVE TO SORT OF PUT UP OR SHUT UP IF WE WANT THAT AS OUR GOAL.BECAUSE, IF NOT, THEN I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MARCH TOWARDS A REPLICATION OF THE SUCCESS WE HAVE SEEN FROM 2012 TO 2018, WHICH IS MOSTLY MARKET RATE.
AND I THINK WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN HARDER IN 2024 TO HAVE A CONVERSATION OF FITTING INTO THIS NEW DOWNTOWN THAT WE'VE CREATED, THE CONCEPT OF AFFORDABILITY.
ADD ON TOP OF THAT THE LAND PRICES WILL BE DIFFERENT.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN NOD OUR HEADS IN AGREEMENT THAT THAT WILL PROBABLY BE TRUE, THAT LAND PRICES WILL ONLY GET MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WANT TO BAKE INTO THIS POLICY TODAY THE CONCEPT OF HUD AT 60% AMI.
SO LET'S SUBMIT THAT IT WILL COST US MORE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT, CORRECT? THE DEVELOPERS WILL SAY IT COST TOO MUCH.
THEY'LL PRESENT IT TO THE CITY AND THEY'LL SAY, CITY, IF YOU WANT 60% OF HUD AMI, MEANING FOLKS WHO MAKE, YOU KNOW, $40,000 CAN AFFORD A UNIT IN THE DOWNTOWN.
THEY'LL TELL US IT'S GOING TO COST YOU $2 MILLION MORE.
WE STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO SAY WE CAN'T DO IT.
BUT I'M WORRIED THAT WE WON'T HAVE THAT OPTION IF WE GO FORWARD.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 2024 TO START WORKING ON THOSE PROJECTS.
WE'LL BE DOING THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE NEXT YEAR WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES AND WITH THE DISPOSITION OF THAT PRIVATE LAND AND THAT PUBLICLY-OWNED LAND.
SO ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS I HAVE HAD WITH VERONICA SOTO IS WE HAVE THE CHERRY STREET PROPERTY.
WE WANT TO ISSUE AN RFP FOR HOUSING AT 60% AMI OR BELOW.
AND WE WOULD EVEN PACKAGE THAT WITH A CCHIP AND POTENTIALLY COME TO COUNCIL BEFORE WE EVEN ISSUE THAT RFP REQUESTING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE 9% TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.
SO WE MAKE IT MORE COMPETITIVE.
AND WE MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDER OR A MARKET-RATE HOUSING BUILDER WOULD LOOK AT AND SAY I CAN DO THAT WITH THOSE LAYERED INCENTIVES.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT UNTIL 2024 TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE CCHIP IS ONE TOOL THAT WE CAN USE, BUT WE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL REGULARLY WITH OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON -- WE'RE WORKING ON ONE WITH ALAMO GROUP NOW THAT WILL PRESENT MORE AFFORDABILITY.
THE CCHIP IS NOT THE TOOL FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
>> SALDANA: IN THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE POTENTIALLY MIGHT DO LAYERED APPROACHES, WOULD YOU FORESEE THOSE PROJECTS HAPPENING IN TIER ONE OR TIER TWO?
SO IF WE WERE TO MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT, YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE POLICY?
>> SALDANA: TELL ME WHY AGAIN.
>> WE WOULDN'T HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO MAKE THAT AS AN AS OF RIGHT REQUIREMENT.
IF WE WERE TO MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT, WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING SOURCE TO SUPPORT THAT 60% -- ADDITIONAL 60% AMI.
WE ALSO -- THERE IS A CERTAIN DEVELOPER THAT IS ONLY GOING TO BUILD MARKET RATE, AND WE STILL NEED MARKET RATE.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THAT WORKFORCE, SO THAT 80% IS IMPORTANT.
IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AND THAT IS A MARKET THAT WE'RE MISSING IN DOWNTOWN.
SO IT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE DIVERSITY OF THE HOUSING PRODUCT THAT WE ALSO PROVIDE IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.
>> SALDANA: I GUESS I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THE TERM REQUIREMENT.
IF WE PUT IN -- THE CURRENT 80% HUD LANGUAGE, THAT'S A REQUIREMENT?
>> SO YOU HAVE -- SO IN LEVEL TWO -- WELL, LEVEL THREE IT'S 60% AMI OR BELOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT.
>> SALDANA: SO WE'RE GOING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN?
>> AND WE HAVE THE AS OF RIGHT TOOLS TO SUPPORT THAT.
IN LEVEL TWO, IT'S 10% UP TO 80, WHICH IS WORKFORCE.
AND 10% UP TO 60, WHICH IS AFFORDABLE.
IF WE WERE TO DROP THAT DOWN TO 60, AND SO THEY HAVE TO DO 20% AT 60% OR GO ABOVE FIVE STORIES, MOST LIKELY THEY WOULD ALL GO TO SIX STORIES AND NOT EVEN CONSIDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A SOURCE OF FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT THAT 60%.
NOW, THAT 60% COULD WORK WHEN WE PARTNER IT WITH A PFC AND WORKING WITH THE PFC MODEL AND MAYBE BUYING DOWN UNITS TO SUPPORT THAT 60% OR WORKING ON OTHER WAYS TO LAYER THOSE PROJECTS ON OTHER PROPERTIES.
I GET THE POINT THAT YOU'RE MAKING.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT THE BEST CHANCE OF VICTORY, AFFORDABILITY, THAT IT HAS TO BE AT SOME POINT A BETTER CHOICE AT THE DINNER TABLE TO EAT FOR DEVELOPERS, RATHER THAN JUST TO GO UP TO SIX
[03:05:01]
STORIES.BECAUSE THAT MIGHT BE -- WE MIGHT BE FORCING THEM INTO THAT IF WE MAKE IT SO EXPENSIVE.
AND YOU'RE ALSO SAYING IF WE MAKE IT SO EXPENSIVE, YOU MAKE IT EXPENSIVE UPON OURSELVES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PAY INTO IT TO COMMIT TO THAT 60% HUD FIGURE.
I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS I THINK I'M READY TO SAY THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO CURATE THE NEXT TWO YEARS THAT WE CURATE IT IN A WAY THAT WE FEEL IS AFFORDABLE TO THE MAJORITY OF SAN ANTONIANS.
LET ME ASK ONE OTHER QUESTION.
THE PIECE ON THE PREDICTABILITY AND THE SPEED OF THIS IS WHAT CONCERNS ME.
BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE THAT I DON'T KNOW ARE POSSIBLE.
WE SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE IT PRETTY WELL.
THAT IF SOMETHING DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT WE CAN PULL BACK, THAT WE'RE GOING TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS.
BUT DOESN'T THAT -- ISN'T THAT INCONGRUENT WITH AS OF RIGHT AS IT STANDS? THE IDEA IS IT'S AS OF RIGHT, MEANING YOU'RE ENTITLED TO THESE ONCE WE PASS THESE RULES.
IF WE START QUESTIONING THAT THEN THAT THROWS OFF PREDICTABILITY.
HOW DO WE SAFEGUARD WHEN WE'RE AT THE SAME TIME SAYING IT'S PREDICTABLE, IT'S QUICK.
I'M GOING TO SAY, IF I'M THE DEVELOPER, NO YOU PASSED THE RULES AND YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE RULES OF THE GAME NOW, EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOMETHING THAT LOOKS MORE EXPENSIVE THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE PART OF THE PROJECT.
>> IT IS PREDICTABLE FOR A CERTAIN TYPE OF PROJECT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT WE WORK ON WHERE THEY START AND THEY DISCOVER AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.
OR THEY DISCOVER ANOTHER ISSUE TO THE PROPERTY THAT INCREASES THEIR PROJECT COST.
AND SO IT'S PREDICTABLE TO A CERTAIN LEVEL.
SO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL IN THOSED SO IT WILLK
>> AND IT WILL ALLOW US TO WORK ON SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE STAFF ATTENTION AND CATERING IN TERMS OF AN INVENTIVE PACKAGE.
>> HOUSTON: I'LL GO BACK TO BROADWAY JONES JUST BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE RECENTLY DID.
THAT HAD ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN ENVIRONMENTAL THAT NEEDED TO BE REMEDIATED, SO THE INCENTIVES THAT WE PROVIDED ABOVE THE CCHIP HELPED WITH THAT.
>> SALDAÑA: BROADWAY JONES IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, I LIKE BROADWAY JONES BECAUSE WHAT WE DID IS WE PASSED IT IN THIS COUNCIL, AND THEN NRP CAME BACK TO US AND SAID WE GOT A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE, THERE'S THIS MONEY IF YOU WERE TO CONTRIBUTE, DEBRA, IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS EXAMPLE, $125,000 BACK, WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT BUYS DOWN THE UNITS TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE.
AND AT THE PFC, YOU-ALL BOUGHT THEM DOWN NOT ONLY AT 60%, BUT AT 50%, TOO.
I MEAN, DOWN TO 50, WHICH MEANT THAT IF A POTENTIAL RESIDENT CAME TO BROADWAY JONES AND THEY WERE AT 50 OR 60, WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND LEASE IT TO THEM, OF COURSE, QUALIFYING -- GOING THROUGH OUR QUALIFICATIONS.
AND THE PFC THROUGH THEIR PROCEEDS WOULD BUY DOWN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 80% RENT AND THE 50 OR 60, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY QUALIFIED.
SO IT REALLY WAS A WAY TO GET DEEPER AFFORDABILITY INTO A PFC, RIGHT IN THE SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN.
>> SALDAÑA: YEAH, WE JUST HAD TO BE WILLING TO PUT UP THE MONEY AND WE WERE.
I THINK THAT'S THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE HERE, IS THAT IF WE'RE WILLING TO PUT UP THE MONEY, I THINK WE END UP WITH A BETTER PRODUCT THAT IS MORE GENUINELY DIVERSE IN ITS OFFERINGS FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T MAKE A TON OF MONEY.
>> BUT THE ONE CAVEAT TO THAT, COUNCILMAN, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, THE REASON THAT THE COST WAS MANAGEABLE, WAS BECAUSE WE WERE BUYING DOWN FROM AN 80% TO A 60 OR 50.
THE CONCERN THAT I KNOW THAT LORI IS EXPRESSING WITH THE MARKET RATE IS YOU'RE BUYING IT DOWN FROM MARKET RATE DOWN TO A 50 OR 60.
SO THAT'S WHY THESE PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENTS DO WORK BETTER WHEN IT IS LAYERED WITH THE PFC OR WITH SOME KIND OF TAX CREDIT FINANCING THAT'S SPECIFIC TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY IN THESE AREAS WHERE IT IS MUCH HIGHER TO DEVELOP, LIKE DOWNTOWN.
>> SALDAÑA: YEAH, I MEAN, THAT -- IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT, I GRANT YOU THAT, BECAUSE IN SOME CASES SOME OF THESE BUYDOWNS ARE FROM MARKET RATES THAT ARE FROM HIGHER THAN ANYONE, I THINK, IN MY COMMUNITY WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD, SO THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT WHEN IT'S AT $2.40 A SQUARE FOOT, EVEN IF YOU BROUGHT IT DOWN TO $2 A SQUARE FOOT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT TASK.
>> SALDAÑA: BIG PICTURE -- I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE TO MY COUNCIL THAT I MIGHT BE ANOTHER FEW MINUTES HERE.
THE CCHIP WORKS WHERE THE BEST PRIZE FOR A DEVELOPER IS THE CITY FEE WAIVERS, IS THAT -- AM I MAKING AN ACCURATE CHARACTERIZATION.
>> HOUSTON: THE BEST TOOL IS THE CASH THAT COMES AT THE FRONT END, SO THAT WOULD BE THE CITY AND SAWS FEE WAIVERS.
THE SAWS FEE WAIVER IS THE HIGHEST FINANCIAL TOOL.
NOW, I'LL TELL YOU THE BEST TOOL
[03:10:01]
IN THE TOOLKIT IS THE STAFF FACILITATION, HELPING THEM NAVIGATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO IN THE PROCESS, THEY KNOW WHAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MEET WITH, AND THAT IS A BIG TOOL THAT WE PROVIDE IN CENTER CITY, BUT THE BEST FINANCIAL TOOL THAT COMES WITH THE CCHIP WOULD BE THE SAWS FEE WAIVERS AND THE CITY FEE WAIVERS AND THEN THE TAX REBATE IS NEXT.>> SALDAÑA: THE TAX REBATES ARE SOMETIMES 10, 15 YEARS.
10 OR 15 YEARS, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE LOCATION -- THE PROJECT IS LOCATED.
>> SALDAÑA: COULD THE VALUE OF THAT 10 OR 15 YEARS EQUATE TO A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF SAVING FOR THE PROJECT.
SO IT DEPENDS ON --, YOU KNOW, THE LEVEL OF THE PROJECT, SO LET'S SAY THE CITY TAXES THEY'RE PAYING ARE 200,000 A YEAR, I MEAN, THAT'S OVER, YOU KNOW, 10 TO 15 YEAR, AND THAT TYPICALLY GOES TO THEIR -- THAT GOES TO OFFSET THEIR EXPENSES THAT HELPS THEM WITH THEIR RETURNS.
>> SALDAÑA: WHY COULDN'T WE FIDDLE WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE YEARS ALLOTTED TO THE DEVELOPER? IF WE WANTED TO SAY, BUY DOWN TO AFFORDABILITY, THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO BUY DOWN IS GIVE YOU ANOTHER FIVE YEARS ON TAX ABATEMENTS.
>> HOUSTON: WE LOOKED AT THAT FOR OUR LONG-TERM HOLDERS, WHICH IS WHO WE WANT TO WORK WITH.
>> HOUSTON: LONG-TERM HOLDERS, THOSE THAT COME IN AND OWN THE PROPERTY FOR A WHILE, THAT TAX REBATE IS KEY FOR THEM TO HELP THEM WITH THE EXPENSES.
CAN WE MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE BY MAKING THE TAX REBATE LONGER.
>> HOUSTON: NO, BECAUSE IT'S AN ANNUAL -- IT IMPACTS YOUR EXPENSES ANNUALLY.
IT WOULDN'T HELP THEM BUILD MORE AFFORDABILITY UP FRONT.
>> SALDAÑA: SO THEN THE BEST TOOL IF WE WANTED TO DO THAT WOULD BE CASH -- AUDIO]
>> HOUSTON: HELP OFFSET THAT INITIALLY, AND THEN THE BEST TOOL TO HELP WITH MORE AFFORDABILITY WOULD BE THE COMPLETE TAX EXEMPTION THROUGH THE PFC OR THE 9% TAX CREDITS.
>> SALDAÑA: LET ME EXPRESS WHAT I THINK MIGHT BE SOME CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE TRIED TO TRANSLATE TO ME THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS THE CONCEPT WHEN WE STARTED THIS, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF -- WHEN WE WERE GOING INTO THE DOWNTOWN TO BUILD HOUSING OR EVEN INTO THE PEARL, WHICH AT THAT POINT WAS JUST A PLACE THAT USED TO SELL BEER, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS THAT WERE IN THAT PLACE.
AND SO I THINK THE SENSE THAT DISPLACEMENT WAS AT THE TOP OF PEOPLE'S MINDS WOULD BE INACCURATE FOR 2012 OR 13, BUT I THINK NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO PARTS OF THE DOWNTOWN AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TIER 2 AND TIER 3, WE'RE GETTING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THAT IS VERY MUCH AT THE TOP OF PEOPLE'S MINDS.
I WANT TO GO THROUGH AN EXAMPLE THAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES BROUGHT UP, BECAUSE I WANT THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT I WANT US TO ALSO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE PIMP LS AND WARTS THAT COME ALONG WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.
LONE STAR IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT THAT CAN REALLY GET OFF THE GROUND, AND I WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN FOR THE SAKE OF LONE STAR AND FOR THE SAKE OF PROPERTY THAT'S BEING UNDERUTILIZED TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BE MIXED INCOME, BUT I KNOW THAT WHAT'S AROUND THERE TODAY ARE HOMES THAT ARE NOT MAKING AT THE CURRENT MEDIAN INCOME.
I KNOW THAT PRETTY WELL, BECAUSE I HAVE FAMILY THAT LIVES UP AND DOWN PROBANDT.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE CONCERN THAT YOU'RE SEEING EXPRESSED BY SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE WORRIED THAT -- WE'RE LOOKING AT -- AND LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT LONE STAR IS IN TIER 2.
>> SALDAÑA: LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD REALIZE IT'S SUCCESS UNDER THE CURRENT PROGRAM.
>> HOUSTON: AND WE DO KNOW THROUGH WORKING ON THREE PREVIOUS LONE STAR PROJECTS, THE CCHIP PROGRAM IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE THOSE PROJECTS HAPPEN, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT JUST HOUSING PROJECTS.
THEY INCLUDE A RETAIL COMPONENT, AN OFFICE COMPONENT, SO THAT IS A PROJECT THAT WE WOULD BRING BACK TO CITY COUNCIL WITH AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE.
COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES WORKED TO GET $5 MILLION IN THE BOND PROGRAM TO HELP WITH STREET SURROUNDINGS LONE STAR, SO MOST LIKELY WHEN WE DO FIND A DEVELOPER, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE PART OF SOME OUR INVENTIVES THAT WE'D BE DOING SOME OF THOSE STREETS.
SO IT'S A BIGGER PROJECT THAN JUST THE CCHIP BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER COMPONENTS AND ISSUES WITH THAT PROPERTY.
SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE CCHIP ALONE WOULD NOT WORK FOR THAT, FOR A PROJECT AT LONE STAR.
SO THERE'S EXAMPLES THAT I THINK MAY FIT MORE OF A DESCRIPTION WHERE HOUSING MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN ELIGIBLE PROJECT, AND IF IT'S MEETING, I THINK, SOME OF THE NEEDS IN THE CURRENT OUTLINE, IT WOULD BE NEW TO THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT, I SUSPECT, AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE CONCEPT THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE ASKING US FOR A POSTPONEMENT TO REALLY GET OUR HANDS ON THIS TO UNDERSTAND, WILL IT TRULY IMPACT ME IN A WAY THAT MIGHT NEGATIVELY STARTLE SOME OF THE CURRENT RESIDENTS THAT MIGHT BE LIVING IN THOSE AREAS.
I THINK I'M SYMPATHETIC TO THEIR CONCERNS, I'M SYMPATHETIC TO THE IDEA OF GETTING OUR HANDS AROUND
[03:15:01]
A DISPLACEMENT STUDY.I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT WOULD TAKE BUT MAYBE I CAN ASK VERO IF SHE CAN HELP ME THINK THROUGH THIS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT COMMUNITY HAS REALLY DONE A DISPLACEMENT STUDY IN A WAY THAT WE CAN FEEL PROUD OF TO POINT TO THANK YOU, LORI.
>> CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> SALDAÑA: THE CONCEPT OF HAVING A DISPLACEMENT STUDY, IN ITS BASIC FORM, I IMAGINE THAT IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENT IN AREAS THAT ARE SORT OF NEXT TO TRIGGER THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT FOR DISPLACEMENT, WHAT KIND OF DISPLACEMENT STUDY DO YOU THINK WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR US TO REVIEW?
>> SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE RISK MITIGATION POLICY FRAMEWORK JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIME FRAME, AND WE'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT THAT TIME.
>> SALDAÑA: THOSE RESULTS WILL TELL US -- WILL TELL US THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE THINK ARE MOST AT RISK?
>> THEY WILL BE USING FOR ALL THE REST OF THE WORK THAT HAS TO DO WITH DISPLACEMENT, BUT WE'RE BRINGING THAT RISK MITIGATION FUND JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS AS WELL.
I MEAN, WE'RE BUILDING ON THE EXISTING VULNERABLE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT WORK THAT WAS DONE BY NALCAV ACTUALLY.
>> SALDAÑA: NALCAV HAS DONE SOME OF THAT EXACT WORK.
I DO THINK THAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SHOULD BE LEADING WHEN IT COMES TO THESE KINDS OF EFFORTS, AND FOR ME, THIS IS JUST A QUESTION OF SEQUENCE.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE STUDY IN HAND BEFORE WE GO INTO A BIG POLICY THAT MIGHT RUN US DOWN A TRACK THAT MOVES FASTER THAN WE CAN CONTROL.
AND IF MY ISSUE WASN'T SEQUENCE, THEN ONE OF THE ISSUES WHERE I THINK I'M GOING TO JOIN COUNCILWOMAN ON THIS IN ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT IS THAT IT REALLY IS NOT JUST ENOUGH FOR US TO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF THE POLICY.
LIKE I SAID, I THINK I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SENSE BECAUSE YOU'VE SHARED SOME TIME WITH ME, LORI AND VERO ON THIS ISSUE, BUT I THINK FOR THE FOLKS, LIKE SISTER CONSUELO WHO I WASN'T ABLE TO MEET OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WHO'S CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO SIT DOWN AND TALK THROUGH WHAT THE ICRIP AND CCHIP WOULD MEAN TO HER, I WANT TO AT LEAST BE RESPECTFUL OF HER AS A RESIDENT THAT SPEAKS FOR HER CONSTITUENCY IS USUALLY AT THE FRONT LINE OF ANSWERING TOUGH QUESTIONS AND TRANSLATING THOSE TOUGH ISSUES TO THEM.
RIGHT NOW IT FEELS TOO MUCH LIKE INSIDER BASEBALL.
LIKE WE KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN, WE'RE TELLING THE COMMUNITY, JUST TRUST US, WE'VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK, AND LET US GO THROUGH AND DO THIS POLICY.
I WOULD LOVE US TO GO THROUGH A PROGRAM WHERE IT SAYS WE'LL BRING YOU IN, WE'LL LET YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, AND UNDERSTAND THE POLICIES AND WHAT WE THINK THE IMPLICATIONS WILL BE, AND YOU COULD SPEAK INTO WHAT YOU BELIEVE ARE YOUR BIGGEST FEARS AND CONCERNS.
LIKE I SAID, I STILL HAVE SOME BIG FEARS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THIS THAT I DON'T THINK WILL BE QUELLED, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE HUD AMI GUIDELINES AND THE 360,000 THAT WE'RE ALLOWING FOR SOME OF THE CONDOS UNITS TO BE SUPPORTED BY TAX ABATEMENTS AND CITY FEE WAIVERS AND SAW FEE WAIVERS.
SO, MAYOR, I STILL WOULD ASK, I HOPE THAT SOME FOLKS WILL CONSIDER THIS, THAT WE LOOK AT THIS IN 30 DAYS, AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE FOR 30 DAYS.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR A POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
COUNCILMAN, THE CITY MANAGER HAD A POINT OF INFORMATION.
>> SCULLEY: JUST TO ANSWER THE COUNCILMAN'S QUESTION, RATHER THAN IDENTIFYING NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THE DISPLACEMENT PROGRAM AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION, THERE WILL BE CRITERIA AND A METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATION, SO THAT WE HAVE -- AND YOU MAY RECALL THIS, OF COURSE, EMANATED FROM THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SOAP WORKS PROJECT, THE HIGH INTENSITY AS THE HOUSING TASK FORCE WAS DISCUSSING THOSE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY MADE AND WOULD PERTAIN TO A PROJECT LIKE THAT OR MISSION TRAILS ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS NOT SAYING THE DISPLACEMENT CAN ONLY GO HERE, HERE OR HERE, BUT RATHER HERE ARE THE GUIDELINES AND THE METHODOLOGY SO AS PROJECTS COME FORWARD THAT ARE PRO PROPOSED FOR DEVELOPMENT, THEN WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE AND CAN READILY DEAL WITH IT.
AND IN OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR, WE HAD RECOMMENDED $1 MILLION AS THE INITIAL FUNDING OF THAT PROGRAM TO HELP IN THE DISPLACEMENT AND RELOCATION IF NEEDED, BUT TO KEEP PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE IS REALLY THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM.
AND PERHAPS IN FUTURE BUDGETS, THE COUNCIL WILL CHOOSE TO INCREASE THAT DISPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
SO WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU, THE STAFF IS WORKING ON THOSE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE METHODOLOGY AND THE GUIDELINES AS TO HOW THAT WILL OPERATE IN THE FUTURE.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I THINK YOU WERE -- YOUR
[03:20:01]
QUESTION WAS WHAT AREAS OF THE CITY, AND IT'S FOCUSED ON GUIDELINES THAT, OF COURSE, WILL PERTAIN TO THOSE LEAST AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.COUNCILMAN, DO YOU YIELD THE FLOOR? WE'LL TAKE UP THE MOTION.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
IS THERE ANY COMMENT FROM THE COUNCIL ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? IF NOT, WE'LL TAKE UP THAT MOTION FIRST, SINCE IT'S PRIMARY.
SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR, A YES VOTE IS TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONEMENT.
A NAY VOTE IS A VOTE AGAINST POSTPONEMENT.
WE'LL CONTINUE ON NOW WITH THE FIRST MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU, LORI AND TEAM FOR YOUR DILIGENT WORK, TAKING A TON OF COMMENT, ESPECIALLY BACK-TO-BACK LIKE THIS WHEN WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF SIMILAR STUFF, I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF AND BRING A COUPLE OTHER POINTS.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID YESTERDAY BY MY COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 4 ABOUT THIS $360,000 AFFORDABILITY THING, I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID, BUT IT WAS REFERENCING THAT THAT'S AN AWFUL HIGH AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE INCENTING A PROPERTY OF THAT VALUE, WHILE I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GO FORWARD OF THIS, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
LIKE I SAID, I WROTE THE CCR LAST YEAR ABOUT FIXING THESE PROGRAMS SO WE CAN START INCENTIVIZING GROWTH EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY, THAT'S WHAT I FELT NEEDED TO BE DONE, I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT I THROW A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT DO CONCERN ME TO YOU THAT WE'RE WATCHING, ONE IS TO MY COLLEAGUE'S POINT WAS DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE INCENTIVIZING $360,000 OR $300,000.
IN DISTRICT 6, THAT'S A PRETTY NICE HOME, THAT SUCKER'S 4,000 SQUARE FOOT.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT'S ON THE HIGHER END OF THE COMMUNITY I REPRESENT.
I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL GOING FORWARD THAT WE MONITOR THAT.
I'D BE INTERESTED IN GOING WHERE THESE DOLLARS ARE ACTUALLY GOING.
WHILE WE WANT TO DO THEM, WE DO WANT TO TARGET THEM TO HELP CREATE THESE OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY, AND WE TALKED YESTERDAY, ALL OF THIS GRIEF OVER CCHIP AT 7500 UNITS, I MEAN, WE NEED 242,500 MORE ACROSS THE CITY TO HELP THIS INFLUX OF PEOPLE WE'RE HAVING OVER THE NEXT 20, 30, 40 YEARS, SO WE HAVE TO GET BETTER ABOUT IT.
AND IN MY OPINION, IT GOES WAY FURTHER THAN JUST THIS.
CCHIP IS NOT THE MAIN DISPLACEMENT FACTOR, AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
I THINK ABOUT EDGEWOOD, I THINK ABOUT OLD HIGHWAY 90, WE'VE GOT THE WETSY COMING IN THERE, $24 MILLION DEVELOPMENT ON OLD HIGHWAY 90.
IT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM THE CORE DO, AND WHEN IT DOES, WE ARE FACING DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN WE COME AND WE DROP SENIOR LIVING FACILITY IN THERE? OR WE BUILD A SENIOR CENTER, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING A SENIOR CENTER JOINTLY IN THE AREA, WHEN WE START DOING OTHER TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT AS WELL, LIKE WHAT ALAMO COLLEGES IS DOING, WE FACE A DISPLACEMENT CONVERSATION THERE, TOO.
I HOPE ANY CONVERSATION WE HAVE ABOUT DISPLACEMENT GOING FORWARD ALSO INCLUDES THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THAT, IT'S NOT JUST CCHIP, NOR IS IT ICRIP, IT IS THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE WAGES THAT MAKE SENSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE MORE MONEY SOMEONE MAKES, THE MORE HOME THEY CAN AFFORD.
LET'S BE HONEST HERE, WE'RE BEATING AROUND A BUSH TRYING TO CLOSE AN AFFORDABILITY GAP BUT WE HAVEN'T ONCE MENTIONED THE WAGE GAP.
WE HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT CREATING AND FINDING BETTER JOBS.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M A BIG ADVOCATE FOR PARTNERING WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO TRY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND THE OTHER HALF OF THAT, IS WE ALSO SHOULD REDUCE THE FEES, COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA HAD A VERY GOOD POINT I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE, IS EXTENDING THE TAX ABATEMENT A LITTLE FURTHER, A DOLLAR IS A DOLLAR TO A DEVELOPER, EVEN IF WE GIVE THEM A FEW MORE YEARS.
THERE'S GOT TO BE BETTER COMBINATIONS WE CAN ALSO THINK ABOUT GOING FORWARD.
I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE TAX ABATEMENT PIECE AT ALL, AS LONG AS THEY'RE CREATING JOBS, WE WANT TO MAKE SENSE, WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT.
IT'S ALSO CAUSING A DISPLACEMENT THAT I WOULD HAVE A CONCERN WITH ALSO, ALAMO COLLEGES COMING OFF OLD HIGHWAY 90, EDGEWOOD, WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGE THAT'S ALREADY THERE? I DON'T KNOW.
HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT? SO THERE'S ALWAYS THESE OTHER THINGS THAT GO INTO IT.
I'M TRYING TO COME AROUND JUST TO RIGHT SIZE THE CONVERSATION THAT THE CCHIP AND ICRIP IS ONE COG IN A WHEEL IN ONE OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE CITY AND WE'VE SPENT A YEAR TALKING THROUGH ALL OF THIS, AND I'M ANXIOUS TO GET IT PASSED.
[03:25:01]
LIKE I SAID YESTERDAY, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SO MANY OTHER PRESSING ISSUES AND WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO SOLVE THEM WITH THE BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM MAKING A LITTLE BIT OF PROFITABILITY AS LONG AS THEY'RE MEETING OUR LARGER GOAL OF CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN, AND THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND REALLY EXAMINE OURSELVES, I THINK, ON THE WAGE SIDE OF THINGS, BECAUSE FRANKLY PEOPLE -- THERE'S DIGNITY IN WORK, THERE'S DIGNITY IN EARNING CASH, THE MORE CASH YOU MAKE, THE MORE YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND, AND THE MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE YOU HAVE.AND YOU WANT TO STAY ON OLD HIGHWAY 90.
THEY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE OLD HIGHWAY 90, THEY WANT TO STAY THERE.
AND OPPORTUNITY VOICE THAT PRETTY MUCH OVER THIS DISCUSSION.
I DO HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DISPLACEMENT CONVERSATION.
AND WE BROADEN THAT BEYOND JUST -- ONCE WE DROP AN INCENTIVE OR AN ITEM IN THERE, WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON IN THAT AREA, WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE HAPPENING THAT WE'RE ENCOURAGING THAT DISPLACEMENT POSITION.
I'M GOING TO GO THINK ABOUT WETSY, HOW ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS RIGHT THERE AND THEN THE SECOND PIECE IS, WHAT IS THAT DOING TO PROPERTY VALUES? IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT DIRECTLY CONTROLLING BUT WE'RE A PARTNER IN WITH OUR -- I'M PUTTING $10 MILLION OF STREET REPAIRS UP AND DOWN THAT STREET, WHAT IS THAT DOING TO THE PROPERTY VALUE, HOW IS THAT CHANGING OR MOVING THE DISPLACEMENT CONVERSATION? BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FORAYING PROPERTY VALUES.
THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER CONVERSATION I'D LOVE FOR US TO TAKE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT LET'S BROADEN IT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S AFFECTING SOMEONE'S INABILITY TO PUT A BETTER OR SOME CASES JUST A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, BUT IN MORE CASES, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE, ANOTHER BEDROOM, MAYBE LIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN GET TO.
I'M TRYING TO DO THE BEST I CAN IN DISTRICT 6.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS GOING UP BECAUSE WE HAVE THE DIRT, IT'S INEXPENSIVE AND IT MAKES SENSE, PLUS WE'VE TRIED TO FOCUS ON THAT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S OPEN SEASON ON DEVELOPMENT IN DISTRICT 6, NOT THAT THAT'S AN INVITE TO ANYBODY SITTING BACK OUT THERE, BUT I GUESS IT KIND OF IS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ANYTHING WE CAN GET BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT.
THERE'S DIGNITY IN THE WORK AND THERE'S DIGNITY IN THE HOME, AND I THINK WE CAN GET THERE, BUT LET'S WATCH IT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE FOLKS.
THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK, I'M THANKFUL FOR THE VOTE TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO KIMPLEMENTATION OF THIS AND GETTING THIS MACHINE MOVING AGAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
TO ALL THE CONSTITUENTS AND GROUPS WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR SUGGESTIONS REGARDING ICRIP AND CCHIP WITH ME OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HEARD YOU.
I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE.
I ALSO SHARE MANY OF THE CONCERNS OF MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED HERE TODAY.
YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE MADE SOME POSITIVE CHANGES IN CCHIP PROGRAM, AND THESE CHANGES ARE GEARED TO IMPROVE THE FAIRNESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAMS, BUT MORE CAN BE DONE.
I, TOO, SHARE THE CONCERN ABOUT THE HIGH RATES THAT WE LOOK AT FOR AFFORDABILITY.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN DEVELOP A MECHANISM, AND I HOPE WE CAN FIND THE BUILDERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD PROPERTIES AT AN AFFORDABILITY RATE, NOT AT 80% OF A $65,000 A YEAR SALARY.
BUT MORE ALONG THE LINES OF 70, 60, 50, 30, TRUE AFFORDABILITY FOR THE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EARNING A LOT LESS BUT WORKING HARD IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE'VE EXPANDED THE BOUNDARIES FOR BOTH ICRIP AND CCHIP TO THE POINT WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE INNER CITY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A VOICE IN THESE CHANGES, AND HOW IT MAY AFFECT THEM.
AND THE ICRIP PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO HELP DEVELOP IN THE INNER CITY, AND NOW WE'RE SAYING, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT CITYWIDE.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE INNER CITY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR YEARS, AND IT'S JUST PASSED THEM BY.
AND I THINK THAT THIS MECHANISM IS CONTINUING TO ALLOW THEM JUST TO GET PASSED BY.
I'D LIKE TO ASK LORI OR VERO, WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATING THESE PROGRAMS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS?
[03:30:02]
>> HOUSTON: FIRST, I WANT TO STRETCH THAT WE ARE INCORPORATING A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY IN THESE PROGRAMS. AND SO EVERY CCHIP CONTRACT EXECUTED WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
WE ALSO WILL DO AT LEAST ONE ANNUAL BRIEFING TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE STATISTICS AND THE METRICS THAT WE'RE SEEING COME THROUGH THE CCHIP.
WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE INCENTING, LOOKING AT THEIR ANNUAL RATES ANNUALLY, SO THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT THAT TO US ON AN ANNUAL BASIS BEFORE THEY CAN GET THEIR REBATE, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY'RE WITHIN THE RENTAL RATE LIMITS THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED IN THIS PROGRAM.
WE ALSO PLAN ON DOING MORE OUTREACH THROUGHOUT THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS AND YEARS.
ACTUALLY, IF THE REGIONAL CENTERS, THOSE STILL HAVE MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE'LL BE ATTENDING THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS, MAKING SURE AS THE LAND USE PLANS ARE FINALIZED, THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE CCHIP WILL PROVIDE FOR THAT AREA.
THAT'S ANOTHER LEVEL OF OUTREACH, BUT WE'LL ALSO, AS I'VE DISCUSSED WITH NATALIE WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A SURVEY THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO OUR FOR-PROFIT, OUR NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS, IT ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN DO A SURVEY TO LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY.
>> COURAGE: WILL WE BE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS CREATING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE BEING OFFERED AS AFFORDABLE, WE'LL BE TRACKING ALL THAT.
>> HOUSTON: WE WILL BE TRACKING THAT, ABSOLUTELY.
SO WE CAN PRESENT IN THAT ANNUAL BRIEFING, WE CAN SAY WE'VE EXECUTED 10 CONTRACTS AND OF THAT WE HAVE 1,000 UNITS OF WHICH 30% ARE AT THIS LEVEL OR -- SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT DATA TO YOU, WE'LL BE TRACKING THAT.
SO WHEN WE COME BACK IN TWO YEARS WITH RECOMMENDED CHANGES, WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE MISSING IN DOWNTOWN WITHIN THE INNER CITY OR WITHIN THE REGIONAL CENTER.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE PROGRAM TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE MISSINGS.
>> COURAGE: WITH THE PROJECTED CHANGES THAT WE'RE INTRODUCING RIGHT NOW, WERE YOU ABLE TO FORMULATE SOME KIND OF GOAL YOU THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REACH FOR A NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS?
AND SO WE LOOKED AT THE 10-YEAR PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED AS OF PART OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT, AND SO THEY ARE PROPOSING ABOUT -- IT WAS 9500 HOUSING UNITS, I BELIEVE, IN THE 30 TO 60% RANGE, AND THEY HAD DIFFERENT GOALS.
WE BELIEVE THAT LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 10 PERCENT OF THOSE GOALS, 10% EACH.
SO ABOUT 1,000 HOUSING UNITS IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS.
AND THAT'S ASSUMING THAT WE HAVE OUR PFCS AND OUR LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD AS WELL.
>> COURAGE: WELL, WHAT ABOUT DISPLACEMENT, NOT DIRECT BUT AS WE'VE HEARD INDIRECT.
DO WE HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD BE AND A WAY OF TRACKING THAT AND BEING ABLE TO REPORT THAT BACK TO US?
>> HOUSTON: THAT WILL BE PART OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICE'S WORK THEY'LL BE DOING OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
THEY ARE WORKING ON THE DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY THAT WILL ADDRESS DIRECT DISPLACEMENT AS A RESULT OF PROJECTS THAT WE'VE INCENTED, OR DISPLACEMENT RESULTING FROM AREAS EXPERIENCING RAPID NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE, AND SO THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIME FRAME, AND COME BACK TO THIS COUNCIL IN EARLY 2019.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY'LL BE DOING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT, LOOKING AT AREAS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED RAPID NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE TO REALLY LOOK TO SEE HOW THAT IMPACTS THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED WAS INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS, MAYBE BEING OVERLOOKED FOR DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF HOW WE'RE OFFERING THIS -- THESE INCENTIVES A LITTLE WIDER THAN WE HAVE BEEN.
I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE WITHIN SOME OF OUR INNER CITY COMMUNITIES SOME OPEN HOUSES TO EXPLAIN WHAT CCHIP AND ICRIP MEAN, IF NOTHING MORE TO REASSURE TO THEM THAT THEY'RE STILL AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WIDER NET THAT'S BEING SET OUT TO DEVELOP MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND LIKE I SAID, I'M AFRAID A LOT OF THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE OVERLOOKED, BUT IF WE LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S STILL AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND HOW THEY CAN WORK TO ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO BE MADE WELL AWARE OF.
OVER TIME, PEOPLE LOSE TRACK OF ALL OF THE COMPLEXITIES INVOLVED IN THESE THINGS, SO JUST A PIECE OF ADVICE.
[03:35:01]
>> COURAGE: YOU KNOW, I ACCEPT THE STAFF'S COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE HOW THESE CHANGES WILL AFFECT OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DECEMBER PLACEMENT SERVICES.
I BELIEVE THEY'LL BE MONITORING THOSE AND REPORTING BACK TO US AS THOSE DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INCUMBENT UPON US OR ANY COUNCIL HERE TWO YEARS FROM NOW TO GIVE CLOSE REEVALUATION TO THESE.
MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE AND MODIFY THESE PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THE CITY'S INCENTIVES LEAD TO DRAMATIC INCREASES TO REAL AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY HOUSING IN THE DOWNTOWN AND THE INNER CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS.
THEREFORE, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE CURRENT MODIFICATIONS BEING PRESENTED.
AND LET'S HOPE WE SEE A LOT OF PROGRESS AND WORK TO MAKE IMPORTANT CHANGES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LORI, VERONICA, VERO, EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE BEING HERE TO SPEAK TODAY AND FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND STAMINA TO BE WITH US THIS ENTIRE TIME, ALL DAY LONG.
A COUPLE OF THINGS, I MADE A LOT OF STATEMENTS YESTERDAY -- OR I MADE -- I SHARED A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT MY RESIDENTS HAD SHARED WITH ME YESTERDAY THROUGH SOME OF THE LETTERS, AND, LORI, YOU ANSWERED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS WHEN IT TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND I THINK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE ALSO BROUGHT THAT UP TODAY AS WELL.
AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE, AND I THINK AS MENTIONED YESTERDAY, WE, WITH THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP, RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT FIVE YEARS WAS TOO LONG FOR THAT -- THE DECADE OF DOWNTOWN POLICY PROGRAM, THE CCHIP, TO GO WITHOUT BEING REVIEWED.
AND TO DO THAT EXTENSION, SO WE PUT THE PAUSE.
AND NOW WE'RE MAKING THOSE REVISIONS.
AND I THINK WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT, AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE THESE REVISIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE TO SAY, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, YOU WERE -- YOU HAD SOME EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT POINTS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE ON THAT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY OUR FAMILIES WHO CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES THAT CONTINUE TO CREATE THESE DYNAMIC NEIGHBORHOODS AND AUTHENTIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS WHERE WE ALSO NEED TO FOCUS ON.
WE ALSO NEED TO FOCUS AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO HERE, SPECIFICALLY I WOULD SAY WITH THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTION, THE OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB, THE HISTORIC REHABILITATION AND THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND THE LEGACY BUSINESS INVESTMENT, THESE ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE NOW FOR HOMEOWNERS, INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAD NEVER HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE.
SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL AND HELP WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP BUILD UP THE SOUTH SIDE AND GET ALL PARTS OF TOWN, I SHOULD SAY, AND HELP END THAT STIGMA OF ECONOMICS -- THE MOST ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
I THINK THIS IS A STEP MOVING FORWARD, AND I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
I DO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, LORI, ABOUT THE TWO PROPERTIES THAT THE CITY OWNS RIGHT NOW.
SO ARE YOU TELLING US RIGHT NOW THIS COUNCIL THAT THOSE TWO PROPERTIES WILL BE ABLE TO GO FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE FINANCING AS LOW AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NOT JUST WORKFORCE HOUSING, BUT WE COULD DO A MIX OF THIS?
THAT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION, TO LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT AND FOCUS ON THAT 60% AMI OR BELOW.
>> VIAGRAN: SO THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE TWO PIECES OF PROPERTIES THAT WE CAN USE WITH THESE NEW POLICY FROM THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE AS WE WALK OUT.
>> VIAGRAN: THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING, AND I'M GLAD IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE INNER CITY AND THE DOWNTOWN AREA -- OR THESE PROPERTIES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I AM -- I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE -- NOT TAKE OUR EYES OFF OF, AND AS I REQUESTED FROM YOU, LORI, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THESE
[03:40:03]
UPDATES TO THE COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES' COMMITTEE, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE.AND I KNOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, IF SHE WANTS A TALLY OR AN UPDATE OF HOW MANY AS OF RIGHT PERMITS ARE MOVING FORWARD, ET CETERA, YOU ALL WILL BE READY TO PROVIDE THAT NO MATTER WHAT MONTH IT IS OR WHENEVER THAT COMMITTEE MEETS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE.
>> HOUSTON: YES, WE'LL BE COLLECTING THAT DATA THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM AND IT WILL BE AVAILABLE.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK CONCURRENTLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE -- ONE, THE RISK MITIGATION FUND BUT ALSO THE ORDINANCE THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING HERE WITH THIS AREA BECAUSE KEEPING OUR RESIDENTS IN THEIR HOMES IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO PUT INVESTMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS INTO OUR AREAS OF TOWN THAT HAVE NOT HAD INVESTMENTS IN A REALLY LONG TIME.
BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BRING THOSE INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FINALLY, ONE OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE'S POINTS, ABSOLUTELY, I THINK IN ORDER TO DO THIS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE RESIDENTS, OUR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE WANTED THESE ACCESS TO THIS KIND OF INCENTIVES OR FEE WAIVERS, WE NEED TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S WHY I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UTILIZE SOUTH SIDE FIRST AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO TALK ABOUT THESE -- THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM SO WE CAN UTILIZE AND LEVERAGE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
LORI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE.
I THINK Y'ALL HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB.
AND IS THIS A PERFECT SCENARIO? I DON'T THINK SO.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL EVER GET THERE, BUT THE CONCERN I HAVE IS WHAT THIS PROGRAM WILL GROW INTO AFFECTING OUR GENERAL FUND.
AND WHEN I HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, IMPACTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT HAVE YOU THAT COULD CAUSE DISPLACEMENT, DWRECT OR -- DIRECT OR INDIRECT, YOU KNOW, I -- THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN STARTS GROWING ON THIS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE BEING IMPACTED TODAY ACROSS SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST BEING IMPACTED BY THESE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS, BUT OTHER DEVELOPMENTS AROUND SAN ANTONIO AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO DIFFERENTIATE THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES VERSUS THESE TYPES OF ISSUES WITH THESE INCENTIVES TO DEVELOPERS IN NEW AREAS AROUND TOWN VERSUS SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENT THAT'S TAKING PLACE, IMPACTING OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT AREN'T BEING INCENTED.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THAT BALANCE? BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED IN BOTH SCENARIOS, BUT ARE THOSE OTHER PEOPLE GOING TO BE SOMEHOW HELPED WITH DISPLACEMENT COSTS?
>> HOUSTON: THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED AS PART OF THIS DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY THAT IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE RISK MITIGATION FUND.
AND SO VERONICA SOTO WILL LOOK AT THINGS LIKE DIRECT DISPLATESMENT RESULT -- DISPLACEMENT FROM PROJECTS WE'VE INCENTED, DISPLACEMENT THAT HAS OCCURRED OF RAPID NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE, SO THAT COULD BE ANYWHERE, AND THEN ALSO DISPLACEMENT THAT'S OCCURRING BECAUSE THERE'S A THREAT OF EVICTION, OR DISPLACEMENT DUE TO HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO HER STRATEGIES WILL ADDRESS THOSE FOUR CATEGORIES AND SHE'LL BE BRINGING THAT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE, THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE LED BY COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIME FRAME, AND THEN TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR A BRIEFING IN EARLY 2019.
>> PERRY: I MEAN, I CAN LOOK AT OUR PROPERTY VALUES AND SAY IT'S RAPIDLY CHANGING AND GOING UP, DISPLACING PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.
AND SO I'M GOING TO -- I HOPE WE HAVE VERY CLEAR GUIDELINES ABOUT THAT.
>> PERRY: -- BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO DIFFERENTIATE AND WHO'S GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE ACROSS SAN ANTONIO, WHETHER IT'S FOR AN INCENTED PROJECT OR NOT.
SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AS A STEP, I THINK, AN IMPROVEMENT ON WHAT WE'VE HAD, AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THE NEXT JUNCTURE IS AND CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THIS PROGRAM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
[03:45:01]
>> SALDAÑA: JUST A QUICK REQUEST, LORI, IF THIS PASSES, COULD I MAKE THE REQUEST TO LET US KNOW WHAT PROJECTS ARE COMING THROUGH.
MY SENSE IS THAT THERE ARE IS A -- THERE ARE DEVELOPERS AND PROJECTS THAT ARE WAITING IN THE WINGS, THAT HAVE PROBABLY BEEN WAITING IN THE WINGS FOR A YEAR, AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN PRIVY TO THE PUSH FROM THIS COUNCIL TO TRY TO GET SOME AFFORDABILITY, THE NEW METRICS PROBABLY ADDED TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO.
I'D LIKE FOR US TO SEE SOME WAY TO REWARD THOSE FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY DO COME TO US WITH CREATIVE PROPOSALS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST THAT WE SEE, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE FIRST PROJECTS THAT COME OUT OF THE GATE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA.
I SAID MOST OF WHAT I WANTED TO SAY YESTERDAY, BUT I DID WANT TO KIND OF CLOSE ON THIS NOTE: FIRST, I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE OUR DOWNTOWN AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. SECOND, OUR CITY STAFF, PARTICULARLY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LORI HOUSTON AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR HARD WORK FOR GATHERING COMMUNITY INPUT ON THIS PARTICULAR CRITICAL ISSUE.
SIX YEARS AGO, SAN ANTONIO DECLARED THE DECADE OF DOWNTOWN.
THIS WAS A BOLD VISION AROUND THE NOTION THAT WORLD CLASS CITIES HAVE VIBRANT DOWNTOWNS THAT ARE WELCOMING TO EVERYONE.
AS A CITY, WE INCENTIVIZED THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING, RETAIL AND OFFICE SPACE AS PART OF A STRATEGY TO ATTRACT MORE RESIDENTS TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN THE URBAN CORE.
SINCE THEN, WE'RE ON PACE TO CONSTRUCT THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE AND 10,000 HOUSING UNITS.
EVERY $1 THE CITY ALLOCATED WAS MATCHED BY $44 OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A REAL CONCERN THAT WE COULD BE VICTIMS OF OUR OWN SUCCESS.
IN FACT, WE'VE SEEN IT TO MANY FAMILIES ALREADY.
THE TERN THAT THE DECADE OF DOWNTOWN COULD TURN INTO THE DECADE OF DISPLACEMENT, SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ON THIS CITY COUNCIL WILL ALLOW TO OCCUR.
A YEAR AGO, WE CAME TOGETHER AND HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE STRIKING A BETTER BALANCE BETWEEN THE OVERALL NEED FOR MORE HOUSING IN THE CENTER OF OUR CITY, AND AT THE SAME TIME RECOGNIZING THE NECESSITY FOR MORE AFFORDABILITY, BUT WE SHOULD NO LONGER DELAY.
THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE REPORT SHOWED THAT SAN ANTONIO NEEDS A VAST AMOUNT OF MORE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WORKING TO EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING AT EVERY INCOME LEVEL, AND IN EVERY PART OF OUR CITY.
THIS NEW AND IMPROVED POLICY WILL HELP US TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.
WHEN BEFORE, CCHIP WAS NOT INTENDED TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE HAVE NEW REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE AFFORDABLE UNITS AT BOTH 60 AND 80% LEVEL OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THE AREA WHERE DEVELOPERS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES IS MORE TAILORED INTO THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS TO REFLECT THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORS AND TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE SA TOMORROW PLAN.
WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE A LUXURY CAP, SO THAT WE'RE NO LONGER SUBSIDIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-END UNITS AND ALIGNING THIS PROGRAM WITH FEDERAL STANDARDS.
IN THE NEW FEE WAIVER PROGRAM, WE NOW HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT, AT LEAST HALF OF UNITS MUST BE CONSIDERED WORKFORCE HOUSING AT 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL WITH A QUARTER -- AFFORDABLE UNITS AT THE 60% AMI LEVEL.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING OUT FOR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS AND PROPERTIES MARKED AS RESERVATION NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION ARE SIMPLY NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THESE INCENTIVES.
THIS IS ONLY A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION AND BE REVIEWED SOONER IF NEED BE.
CITY STAFF IS ALREADY WORKING ON AN IN DEPTH ANALYSIS AROUND DISPLACEMENT AND VULNERABILITY AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THESE CONCERNS IS SERIOUS AND IT IS UNWAIVERRING.
ON BALANCE, THIS NEW CENTER CITY HOUSING REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY VISION OF COMPASSION, EQUITY AND PROSPERITY.
AND SO AFTER A YEAR OF DELAY, A YEAR OF STUDY, A YEAR OF REFLECTION AND A YEAR OF REFINEMENT, THE TIME IS NOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT, YOUR HELPING US CRAFT A POLICY THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR OUR CITY, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, KNOW THAT THIS CITY'S VALUES HAVE NOT CHANGED.
SO WE NOW HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
BEFORE I -- DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
JUST AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOLLOWING THIS MEETING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WE NEED TO CONTINUE FROM YESTERDAY, BUT
[42. Ordinance approving an Agreement with the San Antonio Education Partnership for the operation and management of the Dr. Manuel P. Berriozábal cafécollege for an amount up to $675,000.00 for the period of January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019 funded from the City’s FY 2018 and FY 2019 General Fund Budget, with four one-year renewal options and with a base contract amount in the first year of $890,000.00 adjusted upward to correspond to any increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the FY 2020 Renewal Term, and adjusted annually thereafter. [María Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Melody Woosley, Director, Human Services]]
BEFORE WE DO THAT, I DID WANT TO TAKE A POINT --[03:50:02]
SPEAKER]>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SORRY, WE HAVE ONE ITEM LEFT FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WAIT FOR OUR COLLEAGUE TO STEP OFF AND THEN WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 42.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 42.
AND BEFORE WE BREAK FOR OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION, I DO WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, AS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN BREAKING IN THE NEWS TODAY, WE ARE WITH HEAVY HEARTS, BUT WITH VOICES OF CONGRATULATIONS, WE WILL BE SENDING OFF SOON OUR COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 2, COUNCILMAN CRUZ SHAW AS HE TAKES A DISTRICT JUDGE APPOINTMENT.
I DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAS DELIVERED HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION, WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN JANUARY GET YOUR LICKS IN COUNCILMAN, CRUZ, AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, BEFORE THEN, BUT WE DID WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND COUNCILMAN, IF YOU'D LIKE THE FLOOR, GO AHEAD.
IN TYPICAL CRUZ SHAW FASHION, HE DECLINES THE FLOOR.
NO? HE'LL SAVE HIS LAST WORDS FOR HIS LAST DAY.
>> SHAW: I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
TYPICALLY I QUIT ONE THING ONCE IN MY LIFE, AND THIS IS THE SECOND, SO THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR ME TO DO.
BEING OFFERED THE POSITION IS NOTHING I EVER STRIVED TO BE OR I NEVER WANTED TO BE A JUDGE.
THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF VERY QUICKLY, I HAD ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH MY WIFE, PRAYED ABOUT IT, AND I THINK IT'S THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR FAMILY.
HONESTLY, I LOVE SERVING DISTRICT 2, I LOVE THE CONSTITUENTS, I HAVE A GREAT D2 TEAM, GREAT STAFF HERE.
WE CAN DO AMAZING WORK WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
SOMETIMES IT PUTS OUT OUR EGOS AND THESE FALSE PRETENSES OF TITLES AND REALIZE WHY WE'RE HERE, TO SACRIFICE OURSELVES.
I SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY MANY TIMES, AND I TRY TO BE THE BEST PROFESSIONAL I CAN BE ON THE DAIS, IN MY PRIVATE LIFE AND IN MY PRACTICE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, THAT SUPPORTED ME, AND I'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
[APPLAUSE] FOR THE RECORD, YOU'RE NOT OFFICIALLY DONE.
[Executive Session]
ATTENDANCE ON A NUMBER OF MEETINGS BEFORE THAT, SO...AT THIS TIME, CITY COUNCIL WILL RESUME IT'S EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WAS RECESSED YESTERDAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME DO THIS PROPERLY.
THE CITY CITY COUNCIL OF THE CIF SAN ANTONIO WILL NEW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY'S ATTORNEYS OFFICE 551.071 AN
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.