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[ PROCEDURAL ]
EVERYONE.WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION.
THE TIME IS 9:07 AM ON THE NINTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2023.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRAND COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOUR, UH, COURTESY FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
UH, IF YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS, MOTHER NATURE ONCE AGAIN HAS REMINDED US WHO'S IN CHARGE.
UH, AND WE'VE LOST, UH, COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES IN THE COUNTRIES OF TURKEY AND SYRIA.
UH, AND IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEATH TOLL CONTINUES TO CLIMB.
AS OF THIS MORNING, IT'S ROUGHLY 19,000 PEOPLE.
SO I'D ASK FOR US TO ALL IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD, TO PLEASE OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN, IN HELPING SERVE, UH, AND RESPOND TO THIS CATASTROPHE, UH, YOU CAN, UH, TURN TO THE RAINDROP HOUSE, UH, TURKISH HOUSE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO IS HELPING TO, UH, CONNECT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN, IN TURKEY AND SYRIA, AND ALSO, UM, HELP COORDINATE RELIEF EFFORTS, FUNDRAISING, ET CETERA.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, THAT'S THE RAINDROP TURKISH HOUSE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, TO GET US STARTED THIS MORNING, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO TO WELCOME OUR IN VINDICATOR.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I AM REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE TO INTRODUCE VIRGINIA MATA.
VIRGINIA MATA IS RETIRED FROM TWO CAREERS, ONE FROM FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ONE FROM THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
UM, WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUED WORK AND COMMITMENT THAT SHE'S DEMONSTRATED FOR NOT JUST DISTRICT FIVE, BUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN ENSURING THAT WE WORK TOWARDS A BETTER SAN ANTONIO WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND DRAINAGE.
VIRGINIA MATA HAS BEEN THERE ADVOCATING TO ENSURE THAT DISTRICT FIVE AND WEST SIDE RESIDENTS RECEIVE THEIR FAIR SHARE.
UM, SHE'S COMMITTED TO WORKING ALONGSIDE, UH, COPS METRO AND HAS BEEN A MEMBER AND IS A MEMBER OF HOLY FAMILY, UH, PARISH, AND WE'RE REALLY HONORED TO HAVE HER HERE TODAY TO GIVE US OUR INVOCATION.
UH, AGAIN, WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK, UH, THAT SHE'S BEEN BRINGING TO DISTRICT FIVE AND POLICY CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING AROUND TRAFFIC CALMING VIRGINIA.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.
FATHER, I ASK THAT YOU BLESS EVERYONE HERE AND THAT YOUR LOVE WILL STREAM INTO THE HEART OF US ALL.
WE PRAY THAT OUR LEADERS WILL MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON JUSTICE, AND THAT YOU WILL GIVE THEM THE WISDOM AND THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
GIVE THEM THE COURAGE TO ASK THE WHAT, THE HARD
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QUESTIONS, SUCH AS TO WHOM DO WE NEED TO LISTEN AND WHOM HAVE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN? REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT ONLY LEADERS, BUT ALSO SERVANTS, AND THAT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND OURS TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD.REMIND THEM THAT NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE, EVERYONE IS OUR NEIGHBOR.
AND THAT YOU HAVE CALLED ON ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY LEADERS, TO RESPECT AND PROTECT THE LEAST OF THOSE AMONG US, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE ON THE MARGINS AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN.
HELP US TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THAT OUT OF OUT OF MANY, WE ARE STILL ONE, MAY WE ALWAYS BE GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, BY THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE, AND BY THE SPIRIT OF LOVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VIRGINIA.
OKAY, OUR FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 25TH AND 26TH.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE MINUTES.
SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, MINUTES OF JANUARY 25TH AND 26TH, 2023.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
[CONSENT AGENDA ]
DO NOT HAVE ANY INDIVIDUAL ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, AND I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT ITEM 16, 20 AND 23 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN AND WON'T BE HEARD TODAY.ARE THERE ANY ITEMS, ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE TWO FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON CONSENT.
SO LET ME CALL HEC HECTOR VEGA ON ITEM NUMBER 10.
MR. VEGA, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, JACK FINGER ON MULTIPLE ITEMS. WELL, GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR NURNBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M.
UH, HOW DO YOU PUT THIS? YOU KNOW, ONE DAY YOU, THE CITIZEN, YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SUDDENLY THE PRISTINE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU HAD, NICE HOUSES, NICE LOCAL APARTMENTS, UH, MANICURED LAWNS.
IT'S ALL CHANGED, AND YOU WONDER WHAT HAPPENED? WHO STOLE MY NEIGHBORHOOD? ALL YOU SEE ARE JUNKED OUT CARS AND TRASH DRIVEN LAWNS AND, UH, PAINT PEELING OFF THE SIDES OF, OF WALLS OF, OF THE HOMES AND APARTMENTS NEAR YOU.
AND YOU SEE, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WELL, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
IT HAPPENED, UH, WITH THE, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN, UM, PEOPLE WHO MOVED IN WHO DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT AND ASK, IT'S A REALITY.
ASK YOUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT THESE THINGS.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? WELL, MAYBE A LOT OF, UH, WELFARE HOUSING TOOK PLACE, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
YOU HAVE, UH, SHUCKS, SEVEN OUT OF 10 ITEMS, UM, ON, ON THERE.
JUST, JUST, JUST THREW UP, UP IN THERE.
WHAT, INSTEAD OF THE WORD AFFORDABLE, USE THE WORD SUBSTITUTE.
SO ITEM 15 IS, UH, AFFORDABLE HA UH, WELFARE, MULTIPLE FAMILY RENTAL HOUSING ITEM ITEM 17, WELFARE MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING, 18 WELFARE, MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING, ALL
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THE WAY THROUGH, THROUGH, UH, NEAR ITEM 22.RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD.
UH, AND HOW DID IT HAPPEN? WELL, YOU GUYS VOTED IT IN AND, UH, I'LL, UH, I'LL JUST, AND THIS IS WHAT IS WELFARE HOUSING? IT'S WHERE YOU HAVE, YOU, YOU HAVE PEOPLE MOVING INTO APARTMENTS THAT, UH, HAVE, UH, BY THE BLESSING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, HAVE LESS THAN, UH, WELL, LESS THAN THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
YOU HAVE ONLY 30% OF WHAT THE, THE, THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU MAKE IN YOUR, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
MAYBE 60%, BUT THAT'S ALL YOU MAKE.
AND, AND, UH, CONSEQUENTLY, UH, UH, YOU DON'T, IT'S BEEN SHOWN PEOPLE REALLY DON'T CARE.
WHO, WHERE IS THIS TAKING PLACE? WELL, I'LL START WITH SOME OF THE RITZY NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN, UH, DISTRICT SIX, MS. UH, CA HAVANA'S, UH, UH, DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN THE TIMBER RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU, YOU HAVE WELFARE HOUSING COMING CLOSE TO REED ROAD THERE.
THE, UM, ALSO, UM, IN DISTRICT, UH, DISTRICT NINE, YES, MR. CURTIS'S DISTRICT, THE TIMBERWOOD PARK AREA, IF YOU LIVE THERE NEAR BORG ROAD, WELFARE HOUSING COMING TO YOUR, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, ALSO IN, IN DISTRICT NINE, BY GOLLY.
UM, FURTHER UP ON SAN PEDRO, NEAR THE THOUSAND OAKS AREA, BROOKE, UH, BROOKE, BROOKE HOLLOW, AND SO FORTH.
ONCE AGAIN, MR. YES, MR. K IS ACTUALLY SAYING THUMBS UP TO IT.
HE, HE'S, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE WELFARE HOUSING THERE AS WELL, SO, OH, YEAH.
SO MANY SCANDALS WROTE DOWN TO, UH, COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND FOR THE RECORD, AGAIN, 16, 20, AND 23 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN AND WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE.
WHY DON'T WE TAKE A, UH, VOICE VOTE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
NOW WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE ONCE AGAIN.
AND, UM, IN FURTHERANCE OF THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL THEME OF BLACK RESISTANCE FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I WANNA INVITE ANDREA VOCAB SANDERSON, OUR WORLD TALENT, UH, UP TO THE PODIUM, UH, ALONG WITH VISUAL ARTIST BARBARA FELIX, AND THEY'RE GOING TO PERFORM FOR US TODAY.
UH, AND I'M GONNA ASK, UH, ANDREA, UH, VOCAB AS WELL AS, UM, BARBARA TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE THE REST OF OUR, OUR GUESTS TODAY.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE WE HAVE SE CAMM DIRECTOR, UH, DEBRA JARMAN IS HERE AS WELL.
SO DEBORAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE ALSO, BUT ANDREA, COME ON UP, THE ONE AND ONLY VOCAB.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CHECK, CHECK.
IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE THIS MORNING WITH YOU ALL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PERSONNEL AND MAYOR NUREMBERG FOR HAVING US HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AND, UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME ARTISTS COME FORTH, A TALENTED AND AMAZING ARTIST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THEY'RE GONNA SPEAK FIRST AND PRESENT SOME ARTWORK TO YOU ALL, AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA SEE A PERFORMANCE.
SO, VERDELL AND BARBARA, IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NUREMBERG AND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT, UM, EXHIBITIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, BLACK EXHIBITIONS THAT ARE CELEBRATING, UM, THE, OUR, OUR BLACK, OUR RICH BLACK COMMUNITY OF, UM, VERY TALENTED ARTISTS.
UM, SO I'VE CURATED TWO EXHIBITIONS.
UM, THE FIRST ONE, UH, IS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S AT THE PLAZA ARM'S, UM, CULTURAL COMMONS GALLERY RIGHT ACROSS THE WAY.
UM, AND IT'S TITLED, UH, BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW, UM, UH, MY BRAIN IS A LITTLE FOGGY, SORRY.
BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW, UH, PERSPECTIVES OF SAN ANTONIO BLACK CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, IT FEATURES, OH, I'M SORRY, I NEED TO TALK THIS WAY.
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IT, SO THIS EXHIBITION FEATURES 17 ARTISTS FROM SAN ANTONIO, VERY DIVERSE, UH, UH, IN AGE AND, UH, REPRESENTATION OF MEDIA.UM, AND THERE'S LIKE FIVE DIFFERENT THEMES IN THE EXHIBITION.
UH, A CALL TO ARMS RECLAIMING WILM.
IT'S ABOUT, UH, BLACK ARTISTS ADDRESSING SOCIAL ISSUES AND PRESSURES THAT BLACK FAMILIES FACE TODAY.
UH, THERE'S A, A PLACE OF REFUGE, GOD AND FAMILY ARTISTS INSPIRED BY RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS AS A SOURCE OF RETREAT AND REJUVENATION.
SANKOFA FETCHING IT TO NOT RECLAIM THE PAST.
IT'S A SANKOFA IS A, AN AFRICAN ANDRIS SYMBOL, AND IT'S A SYMBOL OF A BIRD FACING BACKWARDS.
THAT MEANS THERE'S VALUE IN HISTORY, AND IT'S NOT A TABOO TO LOOK BACKWARDS AND FETCH THE PAST.
SO THESE ARTISTS ARE DOCUMENTING REALITIES OF HISTORY AND THEIR OWN, AND THEIR OWN TIMES.
WE ALSO, ANOTHER THEME IS WE ARE AN IMMIGRANT CITY, IMMIGRANT NATION.
SO IT'S SAN ANTONIO AS A STOP FOR MANY TRAVELERS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
WE HAVE SOME INTERNATIONAL, TWO INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN THE SHOW, AND THEN, UH, AFROFUTURISM AND BEYOND.
UM, ONE OF THE NEWER TRENDS IN CONTEMPORARY, UM, AFRICAN ART.
IT'S, UH, IT'S ART AND LITERATURE, AND IT'S USUALLY, OFTEN IT'S A MEANS TO EXPLORE, UM, REALITIES WHILE IMAGINING A BETTER FUTURE.
AND THE ARTISTS IN THE SHOW ARE EDWARD HARRIS, ALETHA JONES, CALVIN PRESLEY, ALDRICK DOW, ANTHONY FRANCIS, JOHN COLEMAN, CARMEN CARNES JOHNSON, THERESA NEWSOM, PAUL HEARD, BERNICE WILLIAMS, DEBRA HARRIS, NAOMI KU, ELAINE GIA.
AND, UH, ALSO, UH, UH, DAWN STEWART, ANGELA WEDDLE, UH, UH, KWANZA EDWARDS AND ARDELL PK.
UH, AND THEN I'M ALSO CURATING A SECOND SHOW THAT IS AT THE, UM, AT SLAB CINEMA ART HOUSE, WHICH IS AT, UH, IT'S AT THE BLUE STAR ARTS COMPLEX.
IT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO, UH, THE CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, AND THAT HAS SEVEN, SEVEN ARTISTS, TWO OF THEM THAT ARE IN THE CITY SHOW, AND THEN THERE'S FIVE ADDITIONAL ARTISTS THERE.
THE CITY EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN AT THROUGH NOVEMBER, UM, 17TH.
UH, AND THERE'LL BE SEVERAL, UH, AUXILIARY EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE EVENINGS FOR THAT EXHIBITION.
AND THE, UH, SLAB CINEMA ART HOUSE EXHIBITION WILL, UH, BE OPEN THROUGH FEBRUARY 23RD.
UM, AND, UH, YOU CAN, UH, CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT OR GO DURING THE FILM HOURS FOR THE, FOR THE SLAB CINEMA EXHIBITION.
UM, AND ALSO, UM, YOU CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO ME, UM, FOR AN APPOINTMENT.
I CAN, I I'LL HAVE KEYS SO I CAN LET ANYONE IN AT ANY TIME WHO WANTS TO SEE THAT SHOW.
UM, AND THEN THE CITY EXHIBITION IS WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 11 TO FOUR.
UM, OTHERWISE DURING THE AUXILIARY EVENTS, WARDELL, WOW, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY AFTER THAT?
UH, I'M AN ARTIST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I AM ORIGINALLY FROM NEW ORLEANS.
I'VE BEEN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE HURRICANE KATRINA.
I WAS BLOWN HERE BY THE STORM.
ALL THE BAD WEATHER YOU'VE HAD SINCE THEN, IT'S 'CAUSE OF ME, UH, AS AN ARTIST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, I AM, UH, EXPERIENCING FOUR DIFFERENT EXHIBITS RIGHT NOW I'VE GOT A SOLO EXHIBIT AT BELLHOUSE ARTS, UH, THAT IS, UH, THE EXHIBIT CALLED ESSENCE AND STYLE, THE AFROCENTRIC WOMAN.
IT IS BASED ON, UH, UH, A TRIBUTE AND, AND HONORING OF, UH, BLACK WOMAN AND THE, UH, ASPECTS AND TRIALS OF THE BLACK WOMAN.
UH, AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER EXHIBIT AT THE SAN ANTONIO ART LEAGUE.
UH, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE AT, I'M IN THE EXHIBIT WITH BARBARA AT PLAZA ARM.
AND I'M ALSO AN EXHIBIT STARTING SATURDAY AT DOC SPACE GALLERY, UH, IN SECOND SOUTH TOWN.
UM, ALSO I SERVE AS THE GALLERY COORDINATOR FOR BELL HOUSE ARTS, AND I'M ALSO AN INSTRUCTOR IN THE BELLHOUSE ARTS PROGRAM WHERE WE TEACH ART TO SENIOR CITIZENS.
UM, I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
UH, THANK, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
THANK YOU, BARBARA AND VERDELL.
AT THIS TIME I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVING MUSEUM, ALSO KNOWN AS SAY, CAMM, FOR HAVING US HERE.
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AND TO GET DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY OF, UM, MUSIC AND POETRY AND DANCE, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE STAGE ORLAND TEBOW GONZALEZ AND TANISHA PAYNE.THIS PIECE IS CALLED RECOVERING SELF.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PUT YOUR IDENTITY ON THE SHELF? YOU SUFFOCATED YOUR MOTHER'S ACCENT WATERED DOWN YOUR WORTH, SMOTHERED YOUR FATHER'S SURNAME.
YOUR ASPHYXIATION CAME WITH AN ABBREVIATION.
YOU PERMITTED THE DEMOLITION OF YOUR MAJESTY FOR A MORE PRONOUNCEABLE NICKNAME.
YOU ALLOWED OTHERS THE RIGHT TO CHOKE THE LIFE RIGHT OUT OF YOUR CULTURE.
FOR CONVENIENCE SAKE, YOU LICK THE ERASURE RIGHT OFF OF THEIR TONGUE AND THEIR LIPS.
PUT A WET NAP TO YOUR FINGERTIPS AFTER SMUDGING.
APOLOGIES ALL OVER YOUR HISTORY LIKE ROUGE LIPSTICK.
YOU CAN'T KEEP POLITELY SHRINKING YOURSELF AND EXCUSING YOUR ANCESTORS' EVIDENCE FROM YOUR DAY TO DAY.
WHAT WOULD YOUR GRANDMOTHER SAY ABOUT THIS GRAMMATICAL ERROR YOU'VE BECOME? ARE YOU NONE THE WISER? ARE ALL THE MORE FOOLISH FOR THIS ELLIPSIS TYPED ACROSS YOUR CHARACTER? DO THE BEST PARTS OF YOU EVEN MATTER? DON'T SCATTER THE ASHES OF YOUR BEST ATTRIBUTES.
YOU SHATTER THAT MIRROR INTO SHARDS YOU TIME CAPSULE THE PAINFUL MEMORIES OF YOUR YOUTH.
AND WHAT IS LEFT OF YOU SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE IS YOUR SHAME.
YOU BLAME YOUR WHOLE BODY FOR BEING BUILT WITH THIS PHYSIQUE NOW CARVED OF GUILT.
LET NO ONE INTIMIDATE YOU OUT OF YOUR UNIQUENESS.
YOU INHERITED THE ABUNDANCE OF FAMILY TRAITS.
CHERISH THE VESSEL AND LET NONE OF YOUR HERITAGE BE DISPLACED.
DO NOT PLACE A QUILT OVER YOUR MAJESTY.
TOLERATING BLANKETING STATEMENTS THAT CLASSIFY YOU AND AMBIGUITY THE LILT IN YOUR TONGUE IS NOT NEARLY AS HEAVY AS YOU COMMISERATE OVER.
A LEGACY OF BEAUTY RESTS HEAVY ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
ARE YOU EVEN BRAVE ENOUGH TO STOMACH THE IMMIGRANT BOAT RIDE IT TOOK FOR YOUR LINEAGE TO CROSS OVER? BE BOLD, NOT A BOLD OVER DECOLONIZE YOUR SHIVERING MOUTH.
SERVE THE OPPRESSION FROM YOUR SKIN AND RECLAIM THE SACREDNESS OF YOUR KIN.
THERE IS A LIBERATION WAITING TO BE UTTERED ON THE TIP OF YOUR TONGUE.
LET THE BILE OF NEW BEGINNINGS BURN OUT.
THE THINGS YOU CAN UNLEARN IN THIS LIFETIME.
THERE IS SO MUCH YOU NEED TO LEARN IN THIS LIFETIME AND KNOW THIS.
YOU NEVER HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO EARN YOUR HERITAGE OR EARN YOUR ETHNICITY, BUT YOU CAN AFFORD YOURSELF THE LUXURY OF UNVEILING THE MYSTERY.
DISCOVER YOUR HISTORY, BE FREE, BUT THERE ARE PARTS OF YOUR IDENTITY THAT ARE GASPING FOR RECLAMATION.
BE FREE AND CELEBRATE THE STATE OF BEING IN WHICH YOU RESIDE.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE.
UH, LET ME, UH, TURN IT OVER NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER MICKEY RODRIGUEZ.
AND THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR ART WITH US, UH, ALL OF YOU.
UM, AS A PART OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
TODAY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL BLACK H I V AND AIDS AWARENESS TODAY BY INVITING AN INCREDIBLE
IT'S BY INVITING AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION BLACK EFFORT AGAINST THE THREAT OF AIDS OR BE AIDS TO JOIN US TODAY AND SHARE THE CRITICAL WORK.
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I WANNA INVITE THEM UP TO.JOIN US TODAY AND SHARE THE CRITICAL WORK AND CARE THEY HAVE PROVIDED OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER THREE DECADES.
30 YEARS BE AIDS GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ENSURE EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND MEDICAL CARE TO PREVENT H I V AND AIDS AND ASSIST THOSE WHO ARE LIVING POSITIVE, THEIR WORK UNDERSCORES AND BATTLE AND, UM, THEIR WORK UNDERSCORES, UM, HOW HEALTH DISPARITIES CONTINUE TO FORCE PEOPLE INTO THE MARGINS AND THREATEN THEIR LIVES.
THE C D C REPORTS THAT BLACK PEOPLE ACCOUNT FOR A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF NEW H I V AND AIDS DIAGNOSES AND THOSE LIVING WITH H I V COMPARED TO OTHER RACES AND ETHNICITIES.
THIS BLACK HISTORY AND BLACK FUTURES MONTH.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPACTFUL AND DEEPLY LOVING WORK BE, BE AIDS HAS PROVIDED SAN ANTONIO.
OUR GRATITUDE CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED FOR YOUR COLLECTIVE SERVICE.
AND PLEASE KNOW WE SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS.
I'D NOW LIKE TO INVITE, UM, THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MICHELLE, TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR RON NURENBERG, CITY COUNCIL PERSONS AND ESPECIALLY COUNCILMAN JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ OF DISTRICT TWO.
MY NAME AGAIN IS MICHELLE MAYFIELD DURHAM, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEAT AIDS, YOUR VERY OWN AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I HAVE WITH ME SEVERAL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS CONSUMERS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE.
WE OCCUPY, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN DISTRICT TWO, AS HAVE OUR FAMILIES.
WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE LIVING WITH H I V AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT WE ASSIST, AND THAT'S IN ALL 10 DISTRICTS.
SO WE NEED EVERYONE INVOLVED, EVERYONE INVOLVED, AND WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK SEVERAL OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY NATALIE ZER, MODESTA PUTLER, MARIA CARILLO, AND ALFRED CHAVARRIA.
THEY HAVE WORKED HARD AND DILIGENTLY WITH HELPING US ASSIST OUR VERY SPECIAL POPULATIONS THAT WE SERVE.
LIKE HAS BEEN STATED, BEAT AIDS IS A LOCAL NONPROFIT FOUNDED IN 1987.
SO IN OUR 36 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, WE'VE ASSISTED MORE THAN 360,000 PEOPLE, ABOUT 10,000 PER YEAR WITH EDUCATION, INFORMATION TESTING, AND OTHER VITAL SERVICES ACCORDING TO THE C D C.
EVERY TIME 10 MORE INDIVIDUALS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH H I V, AT LEAST FOUR OR 42% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN.
ABOUT TWO OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE FEMALE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF THOSE TWO FEMALES WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE BLACK.
ABOUT FIVE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 24.
AND AGAIN, ABOUT HALF OF THOSE FIVE WILL BE BLACK.
I DON'T THINK I SHOULD TELL YOU ALL THAT BAD NEWS WITHOUT TELLING YOU SOME OF THE GOOD NEWS.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD FOR 40 PLUS YEARS TO FIGHT THIS PANDEMIC AND EPIDEMIC.
AND C D C ANNOUNCED THAT IN 2019 THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 34,800 NEW INFECTIONS.
BUT WHAT I WANNA TELL YOU IS THAT'S DOWN ABOUT 8% FROM WHAT THE INFECTIONS WERE IN 2015, WHICH WAS 37,800 NEW INFECTIONS.
H I V DIAGNOSES IS SLOWLY BUT HOPEFULLY GOING AWAY.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO ZERO NEW, NEW INFECTIONS.
SO IF YOU DON'T LEARN ANYTHING ELSE FROM ME TODAY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW TWO THINGS.
THAT MEANS IF A PERSON LIVING WITH H I V IS UNDETECTABLE, THEY WILL BE UNTRANSMITTABLE.
SO H I V IS UNTRANSMITTABLE AS LONG AS WE GET THE MEDICATION OUT THERE, U EQUALS U UNDETECTABLE EQUALS UNTRANSMITTABLE.
AND SECONDLY, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE TWO NEW LONG LASTING INJECTABLES TO FIGHT.
THIS IS THE LATEST AND GREATEST.
WANNA MAKE SURE OUR CITY COUNCIL IS EDUCATED.
THAT MEANS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT LIVING WITH H I V CAN TAKE A SHOT EVERY TWO MONTHS AND THAT WILL KEEP THEM FROM CONTRACTING.
AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH H I V CAN ALSO TAKE AN INJECTABLE DRUG ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS CALLED CAB NUVA AND GET TO VIRAL SUPPRESSION, GET TO U EQUALS U.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, WE WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO COME VISIT US AT ANY OF OUR SITES AT ANY TIME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU BETTER, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ASK.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE OUR COLLABORATION AND TO COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE AND RALLY AS A COMMUNITY
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TO COMBAT THIS EPIDEMIC.GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE INFECTED AND AFFECTED BY H I V AND AIDS DISEASE.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE ]
I'M GONNA TURN IT NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.TODAY MARKS THE END OF ONE CHAPTER AND THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER FOR MR. RICHARD GARCIA OF THE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
MR. GARCIA HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SINCE 1998.
FOR 25 YEARS, MR. GARCIA HAS BEEN A LEADER FOR THE NEIGHBORS OF MEMORIAL HEIGHTS.
AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, 25 YEARS AGO, MR. GARCIA WAS LOOKING FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND SAW LOMA PARK PRESIDENT TERRY KILMER ADVOCATING FOR LOMA PARK AND WAS INSPIRED TO GET INVOLVED.
LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT A MOMENT WOULD LEAD TO 25 YEARS OF TIRELESS WORK AND LEADERSHIP MAKING MEMORIAL HEIGHTS A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US.
MR. GARCIA, YOU HAVE BEEN A TRUE CHAMPION FOR COMMUNITY, UH, UPHOLDING CITY CODE WITH FIERCE RESPONSIBILITY AND LEADING UP WITH PASSION, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE FIRST TO RAISE THE ALARM.
WHETHER IT'S ABOUT STRAY DOGS RUNNING STOP SIGNS, OR SPEEDING YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE.
WE'LL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AND ALWAYS BE APPRECIATED.
BUT WHAT IS A GREAT LEADER WITHOUT A GREAT PARTNER? ROSIE, THANK YOU FOR BEING MR. GARCIA'S LEFT HAND AND FOR YOUR LOVE AND DEDICATION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT HAS BEEN INVALUABLE, AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US WHEN I SAY WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE BOTH OF YOU ALL TO CITY STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN COPIED ON MANY OF MR. GARCIA'S EMAILS.
I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS, MR. GARCIA'S NOT WRITING OFF INTO THE SUNSET JUST YET.
HE'S STEPPING DOWN AS A PRESIDENT TO ALLOW OTHERS TO GROW INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES, BUT HE'S NOT DONE ADVOCATING FOR HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO HOLD ON TIDE AND DON'T FORGET THAT IT'S FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FINALLY, MR. GARCIA, WE THANK YOU FOR 25 YEARS OF PASSION AND DEDICATION TO THE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, DISTRICT FIVE IS BETTER BECAUSE OF YOU AND WE'RE EXTREME, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS YOUR THOUGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
FIRST OF ALL, AND FOREMOST, I WANNA THANK MY LORD AND SAVIOR, LORD JESUS CHRIST.
HE HAS GIVEN ME THE WISDOM, THE KNOWLEDGE, AND THE UNDERSTANDING TO LEAD MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND ALSO, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITH MY LOVELY WIFE, ROSIE GARCIA.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY MY SIDE AND ALSO TO MY PARENTS, UH, WHO AT THE VERY EARLY AGE TAUGHT ME THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VOTING, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO VOTE AND TO HOLD OUR ELECTORAL PUBLIC ELECTORAL OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. GARCIA, FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.
THANK YOU MR. GARCIA, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
OKAY, THAT IS, UM, ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
I'M HIGHLIGHTING A COUPLE OF ITEMS. UM, I'LL TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, BOTH POLICE AND FIRE.
THEIR, THEIR DAILY JOB IS TO SAVE AND PROTECT OUR LIVES.
UM, AND ITEM NINE, UM, I THINK HELPS THEM TO DO THAT.
UM, MARIA OR DEPUTY CHIEF ADA, WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP AND TALKING ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL AND ON THE POLYSUBSTANCE OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM, PLEASE,
I'D LIKE TO TALK FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES ABOUT OUR POLYSUBSTANCE, UH, PROGRAM.
SO STRAC IS A SOUTH TEXAS CRI, SOUTH TEXAS, UH, REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.
UH, IT'S, THERE'S, IT'S IN STATUTE BY DISHES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HU HUMAN SERVICES.
UM, IT COVERS A LARGE REGION IN TEXAS.
WHAT WE'VE DONE, UH, WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO CREATE A CONSORTIUM TO HAVE, UH, M I H SPREAD THROUGH NOT ONLY OUR REGION, BUT TEXAS.
AND IN DOING SO, WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, CREATED A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS, OTHER, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO COME AND WORK TOGETHER THROUGH STRIKE TO, TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING AN OPIATE PROGRAM, UM, THROUGH T TOUR SINCE 2018 IN, IN SAN ANTONIO.
THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO EXPAND PAST OPIATES.
SO THIS ISN'T A CONTINUATION OF EXISTING PROGRAM.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT TYPICALLY, UH, THE, THE, UH, SOURCES OF FUNDING WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON OPIATES.
AND SO WE SAW AS WE GO OUT AFTER OVERDOSES THAT WE MAKE IN OUR CITY THAT, UH, THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES AT PLAY BESIDES OPIATES.
SO THIS, THIS, UH, THIS OPPORTUNITY GIVES US, UH, A CHANCE TO NOT ONLY LOOK AT OPIATES, BUT LOOK AT, UH, COCAINE, MAINLY ALCOHOL ABUSE.
AND SO WE CAN, OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN
[00:35:01]
SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A CRISIS AND IS AN OVERDOSE, UH, SITUATION AND GET THEM INTO SOME, UH, TREATMENT.AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM'S ABOUT TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE EXPLANATION.
UH, THIS IS A LIFESAVING INVESTMENT.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN DESERVE OUR SUPPORT.
WE NEED, UM, TO HELP YOU, HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED.
AND SO OVERDOSE DEATHS, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, CAN BE PREVENTATIVE.
WE MEET, REACH THE PERSON QUICKLY.
THAT'S WHAT THIS GRANT DOES, AND IT HELPS, UM, US TO IMPROVE OUR, OUR RESPONSE TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS.
SO I APPRECIATE YES, THAT THANK YOU.
I ALSO QUICKLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT THANK YOU, CHIEF.
IT'S THE SAME AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL SAVE LIVES, LIVES.
IT'S, UH, UM, ENSURES THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THEM TO DO THEIR JOBS.
IT'S A SAFETY, HIS ISSUE, BUT ALSO A HOUSING ISSUE.
AND THIS, UH, JUST FOR, UM, REFERENCES, UM, TO PROVIDE AN AERIAL PLATFORM LADDER TRUCK.
UM, WE'RE SEEING MORE APARTMENT COMPLEXES BE, UM, BECAUSE APARTMENTS ARE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
AND WE HAVE TO MEET THAT HOUSING REALITY AND THE SAFETY CHALLENGES IT BRINGS.
THIS AERIAL PLATFORM, LADDER TRUCKS, UM, ARE VITAL TO ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS SAFETY.
THANKS ALSO TO OUR FINANCE TEAM.
THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT, AND THE FINANCE TEAM MET THE SAFETY CHALLENGES THEY ALWAYS DO BY FINDING THE FUNDS TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE.
VARDA, JUST A NOTE FOR THE RECORD, AGAIN, THE, THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, PERRY.
I, I, UH, DIDN'T MAKE THIS NOTE BEFORE THE VOTE, BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE MATT PROFIT.
HE'S ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS FOR FOREST OAK, BUT HE'S ALSO ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND HE'S, UH, UH, RE-UPPING AGAIN TO BE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MATT FOR HIM VOLUNTEERING TO DO THAT.
IT'S NOT, UH, AN EASY JOB TO BE ME, UH, AT THOSE MEETINGS AND SPEND A LOT OF EXTRA TIME AT THOSE, PLUS BEING AN H O A PRESIDENT.
ANY, UH, ANY FURTHER POINTS? COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
I WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT ITEM SIX, UH, THE AMENDMENT TO THE WEST COMMERCE STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
THIS IS A VERY EXCITING COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROJECT FOR DISTRICT FIVE THAT MY CONSTITUENTS AND MYSELF ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING, PARTICULARLY THE ART COMPONENT.
UH, THE ARTISTS WILL MAKE ROUTE TO CITY HALL, UH, MORE LIVELY, AND THAT I DRIVE DOWN THAT STREET EVERY DAY TO GET HERE.
I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER NINE.
THESE ARE TWO IMPORTANT PROGRAMS WHICH SAVE LIVES, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, IN THE SUBURBS AND IN THE STREETS.
SAN CHIEF ESTRADA DID A GREAT JOB AT TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ROLE.
AND AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY SAFETY, I HOPE THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE ITS OWN INVESTMENT IN M I H THROUGH FEDERAL DOLLARS, AS WELL AS THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
I WANNA COMMEND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT OF THESE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE M I H OVERALL.
UH, AGAIN, I HAD A CONSTITUENT COME IN ON MONDAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
HE WAS SHARING THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS TRULY DO SAVE LIVES OUT IN DISTRICT FIVE STREETS.
I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 10, UM, THE APPOINTMENT OF MANUEL GARZA TO THE PROSPER WEST BOARD.
I JUST WANNA SINGLE OUT AND EMBARRASS ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES BECAUSE I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO STEP UP AND SERVE COMMUNITY.
MANUEL GARZA HAS A LEGACY OF STANDING UP FOR HIS COMMUNITY, STARTING BY ORGANIZING WITH EDGEWOOD I S G FOR THE EDGEWOOD SCHOOL WALKOUTS.
SO HE HAS A, A, A HISTORY AND HE'S CONTINUED HIS WORK WITH RASA UNIDA, WHICH LED TO THE CREATION OF SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT.
AND HE NOW WORKS FOR SOUTHWEST VOTERS REGISTRATION EDUCATION PROJECT.
AND I KNOW MANUEL, UH, WHETHER HE'S, UH, ON THE BOARD OF PROSPER WEST OR NOT, HE WILL CONTINUE ORGANIZING COMMUNITY AND WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR HIS SERVICE.
[City Manager's Report ]
WE HAVE NO REGRETS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.TURN OVER TO YOU FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
UH, JUST ONE, UM, UH, ITEM FOR TODAY'S, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, IT'S OUR EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO AND, AND, UM, IT HIGHLIGHTS THE WORK OF OUR HOMELESS STREET OUTREACH TEAM, WHICH IS NOT ONLY A TEAM IN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, BUT A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES.
UM, THE STREET OUTREACH TEAMS ENGAGE DAILY, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THEIR, THEIR WORK OUT ON THE FIELD, BUT ESPECIALLY DURING SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS, UM, UH, LIKE WE SAW LAST WEEK, THEY, THEY WORK OVERTIME COLLECTIVELY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ON THE STREETS ARE SAFE AND CAN ACCESS SHELTER.
UM, AND WE WORK WITH THEM TO ENSURE THERE'S AMPLE SHELTER SPACE, UH, AND GET THEM TO THOSE, THOSE, UH, SPOTS FOR, UM, UM, FOR, UH, FOR RESPITE IN THIS TYPE OF WEATHER.
UM, THE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS THE COLLABORATIVE WORK OF D H SS, UH, CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, SAM MINISTRIES, UH, HAVEN FOR HOPE AND, AND COONE.
UM, THE D H SS EMPLOYEE, YOU'LL SEE IN THE
[00:40:01]
VIDEO IS, UM, IS AN EMPLOYEE BY THE NAME OF TREVOR BAKER, WHO'S A LICENSED, UH, CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER WHO'S BEEN WITH THE D H S OUTREACH TEAM FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.IN FACT, UH, LAST YEAR OR LAST, UH, YESTERDAY WAS HIS, UH, TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
AND HE PRIMARILY WORKS IN THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE CITY.
UM, SO, UH, THANK YOU TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND THE PARTNERS.
I, I, I, I WOULD ASK THAT THE COUNCIL KEY IN ON WHAT TREVOR SAYS AT THE END, BECAUSE WE COULD SPEND ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD.
UM, BUT UH, WITH THIS ATTITUDE AND THIS APPROACH, UH, WE'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HOW YOU DOING BRO? DOING ALRIGHT.
I WAS JUST COMING BACK TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
LIKE I SAID, AT I WOULD BROTHER, MY MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO MITIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ONE BEING ON THE STREET.
OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TO MITIGATE THOSE AVENUES OF APPROACH AND TRY TO GET PEOPLE AS MANY RESOURCES AS POSSIBLE THAT CAN HELP THEM GAIN SOME RESEMBLANCE OF CONTROL OVER THEIR LIFE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THE INTERVIEW OUT THE WAY, BROTHER.
YOU CAN KEEP DOING THAT WHILE WE'RE GOING ON.
SO IT IS THIS MORNING, AS YOU ALL WERE FOLLOWING ME AROUND, I WAS DOING, UH, A HOUSING INTERVIEW, UH, FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY ENGAGED WITH.
THERE'S NOT A RIGHT WAY TO END UP ON THE STREETS,
THERE'S NOT A WRONG WAY TO END UP ON THE STREETS, BUT, BUT THERE IS A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE MITIGATED AND THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO DO THIS LINE WORLD.
WE'RE BRINGING THEM FROM THIS PLACE TO A GREATER PLACE OF STABILITY, AND THAT'S WHEN WE DEPEND ON OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
WE REALLY STARTED WORKING WITH THE CITY AND CITY STAFF WHEN COVID HIT.
AND SO CAM AGREED TO BE A HOMELESS HUB.
SOMETIMES IT'S SOMEONE WHO MAY COME ON OUR CAMPUS TO GET A SACK LUNCH OR TAKE A SHOWER, AND THEN AN OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY OCCURS.
WE'RE OUT INTO DIFFERENT ENCAMPMENTS, UH, IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY.
UM, TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH, WITH FOLKS WHO ARE OUT UNSHELTERED ON THE STREETS, GETTING THEM ENROLLED INTO THE SYSTEM, UH, WORKING ON THEM WITH BASIC NEEDS, WHETHER IT BE FOOD, CLOTHING, WATER, CONNECTION TO MEDICAL SERVICES, UH, DETOX, UH, WARN PEOPLE OF THE IMPENDING WEATHER.
UM, ALSO IF THEY REFUSE COMING INTO SHELTER, WE PROVIDE THEM WITH COLD WEATHER GEAR, BLANKETS, UM, HATS, GLOVES, SCARVES, FOOD.
AND THEN ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT, HEY, THERE IS SOME EMERGENCY SHELTER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
UH, WE WILL TRANSPORT TO THOSE, THOSE SHELTERS AS WELL.
AFTER BUSINESS HOURS, UH, WE, WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR SCHEDULES AND THEN WE ARE ARE ALSO OUT AFTER HOURS, UM, TRANSPORTING PEOPLE TO THE SHELTER.
WERE PART OF THAT OVERALL EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN THE HOMELESS SERVICES SYSTEM.
SO REALLY OUR WINTER WEATHER PREPARATIONS JUST ENSURING EVERYONE IS SAFE.
UM, OUR OUTREACH TEAM PROVIDED OVER 200 BLANKETS TO OUR CLIENTS, UM, OUT THAT WERE UNSHELTERED.
UM, WE HAD OVER 1600 CLIENTS SLEEPING HERE ON OUR CAMPUS.
UM, WE PROVIDED OVER 400 PRE INTAKE ENROLLMENTS, UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT JUST NEEDED ONE OR TWO SERVICES, UM, DURING THAT COLD WEATHER, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT IT'S THERE FOR.
WE WORK WITH BETWEEN 150 AND 300 PEOPLE IN HERE A DAY, UM, DEPENDING ON WHETHER WE CASE MANAGE EACH CASE FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE AND, AND HELP.
SO IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING FROM THE CITY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE STRENGTHS THAT WE DO IN HERE TO HELP OUR PEOPLE.
THESE ARE LIVES, THESE AREN'T JUST NUMBERS AND IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT A COMMUNITY, WHAT YOU COULD DO FOR OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE NO MEANS OF PAYING TO THAT.
SO, SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES SAN ANTONIO GREAT AND IT SETS IT THE APART FROM OTHER METROPOLISES IS THAT IT HAS A VERY CARING AND GIVING SPIRIT AND I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE FELT THROUGH THIS LINE OF WORK.
SO, UM, MARY COUNCIL, THE, UM, THE, UM, THE WORK WITH THE STREET OUTREACH TEAMS IS, UM, COLLECTIVELY ACROSS NOT JUST THE CITY, BUT THE, UM, OTHER PARTNERS WE'RE WORKING ON REVISING, WE'RE HELPING OR THEY'RE HELPING US REVISE OUR GUIDELINES AND IMPROVE OUR ONBOARDING AND TRAINING, UH, NOT ONLY FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES BUT FOR OUR PARTNER EMPLOYEES.
AND, UH, I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK.
[Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the B Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following: ]
THE TIME IS NOW 9:49 AM ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2023.THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND TO DELIBERATE DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.087, THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 AND CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ISSUES OR ADVICE RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY AND C OVID 19 PREPAREDNESS UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071.
UM, SO WE'LL MEET BACK, UH, ANDY, UH, B ROOM TODAY.
[00:45:04]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, OR GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.TIME IS 10:56 AM ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2023.
CITY COUNCIL IS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.