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WE, UM, ARE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2023.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
I, I SEE A COUPLE OF MALE ALLIES IN THE ROOM.
UH, OUR CHAIR WILL BE HERE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
I'M, I'M FILLING IN WHILE HE GETS HERE, SO MANNY WILL BE HERE.
UM, LET'S START OFF WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 8TH MEETING OF THE I G R COMMITTEE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? WE NEED TO ROLL.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HERE.
CHAIR ELIAS WILL BE HERE SHORTLY.
[Approval of Minutes ]
THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM MARCH, UH, I'M SORRY, FOR FEBRUARY 8TH OF THE I G R COMMITTEE.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I SECOND.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
YOU.WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS A BRIEFING ON THE 88 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND I WILL BE PRESENTED TODAY BY SALLY BASTO.
GOOD MORNING, UH, CHAIRWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY.
WE ARE BACK TO YOU IN FRONT OF YOU THIS MONTH, AGAIN, TO PROVIDE, UM, ANOTHER UPDATE ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UM, SEVERAL ITEMS, UH, BEFORE YOU TODAY, SEVERAL GENERAL, UM, UPDATES, UM, THAT I WILL GO TO, UM, IN THE FOLLOWING FEW SLIDES.
ALSO, WE WANTED TO FLAG FOR YOU THE LEADERSHIP, UH, PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED, UM, IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, UM, THE MOST LENGTHY OF THE SECTION FOR THIS PRESENTATION ARE BILLS OF INTEREST.
IT WERE CLOSELY, UH, MONITORING AND TRACKING.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS IN FULL SWING.
AND, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE FILED OVER 5,800 BILLS.
AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY BUSY, UH, FILING VARIOUS TYPES OF BILLS.
AND WE'LL HIGHLIGHT A FEW IN THE SLIDES TO COME.
THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, UM, AS WELL AS CITY DEPARTMENTS AND PARTNERS, UM, HAVE BEEN, UH, FOLLOWING AND TRACKING CLOSE TO A A THOUSAND BILLS INTERNALLY, JUST CITY DEPARTMENTS AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.
UM, SO WE'LL HIT ON THOSE, UM, IN A LITTLE BIT.
UH, THE BILL FILING DEADLINE IS MARCH 10TH.
THIS IS THE 60TH, UM, DAY, UH, OF THE, UH, 88 SESSION.
AND SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS BETWEEN NOW AND FRIDAY, UM, AN ONSLAUGHT OF BILLS WILL BE, UH, FILED, UH, TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET, UM, THAT FINISH LINE.
UM, SO RECENTLY THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED 77 EMERGENCY ITEMS. THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY HIS 88 SESSION, UH, PRIORITY ITEMS. HIS TOP ITEM REMAINS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WHERE HE CONTINUES TO PROPOSE $15 BILLION OF THE, UM, STATE SURPLUS FUNDING, UH, TARGETED FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR TEXANS.
UM, THE SECOND ITEM, UM, WHICH HE IS REFERRING TO AS COVID RESTRICTIONS FOREVER, UM, THAT WOULD PROHIBIT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOLS FROM IMPOSING ANY COVID, UH, RELATED MANDATES LIKE MASKS IN VACCINES.
UM, THIRD PRIORITY IS BEING REFERRED TO AS EDUCATION FREEDOM FOR ALL TEXANS.
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A FOCUS ON EXPANDING, UM, SCHOOL CHOICE.
UM, A FOCUS FOR THE GOVERNOR WILL ALSO BE SCHOOL SAFETY.
THAT'S STRENGTHENING SCHOOL SAFETY AND EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH, UM, RESOURCES FOR THE STATE.
UM, THE NEXT ONE, NUMBER FIVE, IS, UM, ENDING REVOLVING DOOR POLICIES.
UM, THAT IS, UH, THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SEE TOUGHER BAIL REQUIREMENTS AND INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, FOR JUDGES.
THE NEXT ONE IS INCREASING BORDER SECURITY THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY CONTINUE HIS EFFORTS, UM, AT THE BORDER THROUGH OPERATION LOAN STAR, WHICH, WHICH HE'S PROPOSING TO INVEST, UM, APPROXIMATELY $4.6 BILLION FOR OPERATION LONE STAR ASSOCIATED WITH BORDER SECURITY FOR THE GOVERNOR IS ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL CRISIS.
UM, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THESE, WE CAN CERTAINLY, UM, SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
UM, ON THE HOUSE FRONT, SPEAKER FEELING HAS ANNOUNCED AT 11 OF HIS, UM, UH, 20 PRIORITIES.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THEM FOR YOU THAT ARE TWO OF THE NEWEST, UM, THAT HE HAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK.
THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, THE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, FUNDING THAT'S HB NINE.
AND THAT FUND, UM, WOULD ALLOCATE $5 BILLION FOR THE BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE TO EXPAND, UM, INTERNET ACCESS.
SO THIS ESSENTIALLY WOULD EXPAND AND SUPPLEMENT THE WORK OF THE BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OR B D O UNDER THE COMPTROLLER'S, UH, DIRECTION.
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UH, FOR SPEAKER FEELING IS A TEXAS WATER FUND, UM, THAT ESSENTIALLY WOULD POUR IN, UM, IF PASSED, UH, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.THAT'S HB 10, UH, FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE TWO BILLS EITHER, UM, ONE IF PASSED OR BOTH, UM, WOULD BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, UM, FOR A VOTE.
UH, NEXT, UM, ON THE SENATE FRONT, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCED 30 OF HIS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
UM, SB ONE, UM, FOR THE SENATE SIDE IS THE STATE BUDGET.
THERE ARE 29 OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH PROPERTY TAX, UH, SCHOOL SAFETY, UM, AND, AND MANY OTHERS.
UH, ON THE BILLS OF INTEREST UNDER MUNICIPAL FINANCE SB 1110, THIS IS A MUNICIPAL UTILITY FUND TRANSFERS BILL.
IT WAS FILED ON FEBRUARY 22ND.
IT HAS NOT BEEN, UH, REFERRED TO COMMITTEE, BUT WE ARE TRACKING AND MONITORING THIS BILL IN PARTICULAR, UM, VERY CLOSELY.
UM, THIS BILL WOULD, UH, PROHIBIT THE CITY FROM TRANSFERRING REVENUE, UH, FROM MUNICIPAL UTILITY TO THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
UM, AS FILED, THE BILL WOULD ELIMINATE MORE THAN 25% OF THE CITY'S, UM, GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
WE UNDERSTAND, AND WE'RE HEARING THAT THIS BILL IS AIMED AT AUSTIN ENERGY.
HOWEVER, IN ITS CURRENT, UH, FORM, IT IS STILL A STATEWIDE BILL.
SO IT IS VERY CONCERNING FOR US.
UM, AS I SAID, AS INTRODUCED, UM, IT WOULD HIT OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE PERCENTAGES, UH, PROBABLY NOT, PROBABLY, BUT REQUIRING DRASTIC CUTS TO CITY SERVICES, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, IT WOULD ALSO UNDO OUR MUNICIPAL UTILITY MODEL.
UH, THIS BILL, UH, CURRENTLY ALSO IMPACTS, UH, WATER UTILITIES, ASIDE FROM E ENERGY UTILITIES.
UM, ONCE THE BILL WAS FILED ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO OR SO, WE IMMEDIATELY DID OUTREACH TO OUR ENTIRE HOUSE AND STATE DELEGATION.
UM, CITY MANAGER WALSH AND OUR C F O, UM, BEN GOEL MET WITH, UH, 10, UM, OF THE 13 HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS, UM, AND STAFF TO IMMEDIATELY FLAG OUR CONCERNS.
WE DID THIS IN COORDINATION WITH C P SS ENERGY.
WE CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH THEM.
UM, AS I SAID, THE BILL HAS NOT BEEN REFERRED, UM, TO COMMITTEE.
UM, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO ENGAGE OUR, OUR SENATORS AND OUR HOUSE MEMBERS, UM, TO FURTHER HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH, UM, THE BILL SPONSOR ON THE, UH, LAND USED FRONT, UM, SB 4 91.
UH, THIS IS A BILL BY SENATOR HUGHES.
THIS IS, UM, LIMITING, UM, BUILDING HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
IT PROHIBITS OUR ABILITY TO ENSURE COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT ADJACENT TO MILITARY INSTALLATIONS THROUGH HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
UM, AGAIN, WE, UH, IMMEDIATELY, UH, LAUNCHED, UM, AN ADVOCACY EFFORT ON THIS.
AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED LANGUAGE, UH, TO THE BILL SPONSOR, UM, FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
UH, RECENTLY I DID RECEIVE GOOD NEWS THAT THEY, UM, ARE OKAY PROVIDING AND ACCEPTING THE LANGUAGE THAT WOULD EXEMPT, UH, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS SINCE CIVILIAN AIRPORTS.
SO WE ARE PENDING, UM, A, A BILL FROM THE LEDGE COUNCIL, WHERE WE WILL SEE THE EXACT LANGUAGE, BUT IT WOULD BE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE SUBMITTED FOR THEIR REVIEW.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, THIS WOULD HAVE IMPACTS ON OUR MISSION PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICTS, THE ALAMO VIEW SHED, AS WELL AS NEW CONSTRUCTION AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
THE BILL DOES EXEMPT THE STATE CAPITAL, BUT THERE ISN'T AN EXEMPTION FOR THE ALAMO.
SO PART OF OUR, UM, LANGUAGE, OUR PROPOSED LANGUAGE, UH, TO THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL AND, UM, THE BILL SPONSOR IS TO ADDRESS OUR HISTORIC LANDMARK CONCERNS.
UM, AS I SAID, WE ARE, UH, COORDINATING WITH THE BILL SPONSOR, THE REAL ESTATE COUNSEL OF AUSTIN, WHO FILED THE BILL.
WE HAVE PROVIDED LANGUAGE, AND SO WE'RE HAPPY THAT THE MILITARY, UH, IMPACT IN THE CIVILIAN AIRPORTS, UM, SEEMS TO BE IN THE WAY OF GETTING, UM, RESOLVED.
AND THE REVISED BILL IS PENDING FOR OUR REVIEW.
WE'RE ALSO CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING AN ADDITIONAL SET OF LANGUAGE, UM, TO CARVE OUT SAN ANTONIO TO PROTECT OUR HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES.
UM, THIS WOULD BE, UM, THIS IS LANGUAGE THAT, UH, LISTS THAT WE ARE PROTECTED BY THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT, THE TEXAS HISTORIC COMMISSION.
UM, AND THAT RECOGNIZES OUR, UM, UH, UNESCO DESIGNATION, UM, UNDER LOCAL GOVERNANCE, UM, HB 2127.
THIS IS A BOROUGHS BILL, A PREEMPTION BILL, UH, TITLED THE TEXAS REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT.
THIS BILL WOULD IMPACT LOCAL POLICIES AS WELL AS WAIVE IMMUNITY.
IT WOULD PREVENT THE CITY FROM PASSING OR ENFORCING ANY ORDINANCE ORDER RULE OR POLICY AFFECTING ANY AREA UNLESS EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZED, UM, OR INDICATED, UH, WITHIN, UM, THE BILL OR THE SPECIFIC CODES.
THERE ARE SIX CODES THAT ARE PART OF 2127, STARTING WITH THE, UM, AG CODE, FINANCE INSURANCE, LABOR, NATURAL
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RESOURCES OCCUPATIONS CODE, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES A MUNICIPAL LIABILITY SECTION.UM, THE MUNICIPAL LIABILITY SECTION STATES THAT ANY PERSON WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HARMED BY, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE OR ORDER, UM, COULD BRING A SUIT AGAINST THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR AN OFFICIAL.
UM, REMEDIES INCLUDE, UM, INJUNCTION COSTS AND, UM, ATTORNEY FEES.
UH, THIS, UM, PARTICULAR BILL, AGAIN, ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY IMMEDIATELY.
UH, WE HAVE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS, UH, WITH THE BILL SPONSOR.
UM, IT CURRENTLY IS A VERY, VERY BROAD BILL.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING RIGHT NOW IS T M L IS WORKING WITH VARIOUS, UH, CITY ATTORNEYS, UH, OFFICES, UM, AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE CITY, UH, TO HELP IDENTIFY THE FULL IMPACT, UM, TO THE SPECIFIC ORDINANCES, UM, TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT, THAT NEGATIVE IMPACT WOULD BE.
SO FAR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL AREAS OF IMPACT, BUT WHAT WE NEED NOW IS A MORE FOCUSED LENGTH, UH, UH, MORE FOCUSED LENS ON THE SPECIFIC ORDINANCES, UM, AND ADDITIONAL STRATEGY.
UM, ACTION ITEMS ARE BEING IDENTIFIED IN COORDINATION WITH, WITH OUR, UM, CONSULTANTS AND, UM, TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
UH, NEXT UNDER LOCAL PENSIONS WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE, UH, THE SA POLICE AND FIRE PENSION LEGISLATION, WHICH OF COURSE WAS APPROVED BY COUNSEL AND BY THIS, UH, COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FILED.
UM, IT'S, UH, HB 26 49 BY REP ALLISON AND SB 1207, UH, BY SENATOR MENENDEZ.
AS YOU WILL RECALL, THIS INCREASES THE MINIMUM, UH, BETH, UH, DEATH BENEFIT TO 50%, UH, FROM 50% TO 75% FOR ALL NON-LINE OF DUTY, UH, DEBTS.
PLUS THERE'S SOME ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES, UM, THAT CLARIFY LANGUAGE FURTHER AND EXPAND ON A FEW DEFINED, UH, TERMS. SO, UH, WE ARE, WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THAT OUR, THAT OUR PARTNERS WERE ABLE TO, UH, GET THAT FILED BY OUR DELEGATION, AND THEY'RE WAITING FOR, UM, A BILL TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH US SO THAT WE CAN SEE IT.
MOVING ON TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, UM, H B TWO, UH, THIS IS A BILL THAT IS, SORRY, THIS IS A BILL THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR SPEAKER FEELING.
IT WAS REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS ON MARCH 3RD, AND IT WOULD, THE PROPOSAL IS TO REDUCE THE LIMIT ON ANNUAL APPRAISAL INCREASES FROM 10% TO 5%.
THIS BILL DOES APPLY TO ALL PROPERTIES, UH, INCLUDING, UH, BUSINESSES.
UH, THE NEXT LOOK HERE IS ON SB THREE BY BETTEN COURT.
THIS BILL FOCUSES ON HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, AND IT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.
IT INCREASES, UH, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, UH, FROM 40% TO 70%.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF APPROACHES, ONE FROM SPEAKER FEELING, AND THE OTHER ONE FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PATRICK.
WE ARE HEARING, UM, THAT THERE'S NOT ALIGNMENT YET ON WHICH DIRECTION, UM, THE, UH, MEMBERS WILL GO.
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DOES CURRENTLY HAS SAID THAT HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH THE APPRAISAL CAP, UH, PROPOSAL.
UM, HE HAS INDICATED THAT INCREASING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WHICH IS WHAT HE SUPPORTS, WOULD HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON HOMEOWNER SAVINGS.
AN ESTIMATE THAT HIS OFFICE HAS PROVIDED IS, UM, THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WOULD SAVE OVER 24,000 OVER A 30 YEAR, UH, MORTGAGE.
SO THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE THAT HE HAS GIVEN.
UH, SPEAKER FEELING IS NOT, UH, OPPOSED TO INCREASING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, BUT HE ALSO WANTS TO MAKE SURE TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES.
UM, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHICH APPROACH THE GOVERNOR, UM, WILL SUPPORT, OR WHICH DIRECTION.
UH, IT COULD BE BOTH OR, OR, OR, UM, ONE OR THE OTHER.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT CONSENSUS IS TO INVEST A 15 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAX CUTS.
SO WE WILL, UM, DEFINITELY TRACK THESE TWO VERY CLOSELY.
IF EITHER ONE OF THESE WAS TO PASS, THERE'S ALSO, UM, UH, A PIECE THAT WOULD BE ADDED, UM, AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, UM, THAT WOULD BRING IT TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT FOR, UM, TEXANS, UH, TO VOTE.
SALLY, CAN I INTERRUPT REAL QUICK? YES.
JUST FOR CONTEXT ON THAT ONE, UH, COMMITTEE.
THE, UM, APPRAISAL CAPS WOULD AFFECT ALL TAXING ENTITIES, OBVIOUSLY, 'CAUSE IT DRIVES DOWN THE APPRAISAL VALUES, AND THEN IT WOULD ALSO APPLY TO ALL PROPERTIES.
UM, IT WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY, 'CAUSE IT WOULD DRIVE DOWN APPRAISED VALUES, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS YET.
UM, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WOULD APPLY TO THE BIGGEST PORTION OF YOUR BILL, THE SCHOOL TAXES.
SO IT'S MORE OF A TARGETED FOCUS ON THE SCHOOL TAXES PIECE.
AND THE DOLLARS THAT ARE SAVED BY TAXPAYERS WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE MADE UP BY THE STATE WITH ITS BUDGET SURPLUS.
UH, SO IT WOULDN'T COME AT A COST TO US AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, WHEREAS THE APPRAISAL CAP WOULD.
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ONE ADDITIONAL NOTE TO FOLLOW UP ON, JEFF SAID, UH, SPEAKER FEELINGS EXAMPLE WAS ON A $350,000 HOME, UH, THE HOMEOWNER WOULD SAVE APPROXIMATELY $460 ON THEIR TAX BILL, UM, IN THIS CURRENT YEAR.AND THEN IT WOULD INCREASE TO FIVE 190 IN 2025, UM, AND IT WOULD CUT, UM, SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES BY ABOUT 28%.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, UH, AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
AND, AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA FOR, FOR COVERING FOR ME.
I, UM, I'M, I'M PARTICULARLY ALARMED AT THE, UM, AT THE U UTILITY REVENUE BILL THAT YOU MENTIONED.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND WHY THIS, UH, PARTICULAR MEMBER HAS THEIR KNIFE SHARPENED FOR UTILITIES? UM, AND SPECIFICALLY, UM, OTHER THAN US AND C P S, IS THERE A PLAN TO RECRUIT OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO GO AND, UH, TELL THE SAN ANTONIO STORY? FOR EXAMPLE, JENNA SAO RERA, RIGHT.
THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I MEAN, THIS IS AN ATTACK ON, ON OUR ABILITY TO, TO DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO WHAT WE HEARD, UM, IS THAT THIS, UM, STARTED FROM THE BILL SPONSOR, UM, HEARING, UM, OR READING ABOUT AN EX, UM, AUSTIN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SAYING THAT, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY, UH, WOULD NOT HAVE RAISED, UM, THEIR LAST ENERGY RATES, UM, IF, UM, THE CITY WOULD HAVE EITHER REDUCED OR FOREGONE, UH, THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER.
SO, SIMPLY AS THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD.
UM, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE UNDERSTAND THIS BILL IS AIMED AT, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY, BUT BECAUSE IT IS A VERY CONCERNING BILL, WE IMMEDIATELY, UM, DEPLOYED, UM, REGARDING YOUR QUESTION ABOUT ALLIES, ASIDE FROM C P S ENERGY NAWS, UM, WE HAVE GENERATED A LIST.
THERE IS A LONG LIST OF SUPPORTERS THAT SUPPORT THIS BILL, UH, TAB, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUILDERS, UM, OUR TWO ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE CREATED A LIST OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND WE'RE IDENTIFYING POINTS OF CONTACT, UM, THAT THE MAYOR OR ANYBODY THAT HAS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT IS, UM, A BUSINESS, UM, POTENTIALLY, OBVIOUSLY AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARGUMENT TO IT, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP US DO THE OUTREACH TO EDUCATE THE BILL SPONSOR ON THE IMPACT.
YESTERDAY I MET WITH, UH, JENNA, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA OVER AT GREATER S A T X.
THEY'VE HIRED, UM, MARK RODRIGUEZ AND, UM, DAVID WHITLEY.
DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR? YEAH.
UM, AND SHE OFFERED UP THEIR ASSISTANCE, UH, AS FAR AS COORDINATING OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WITH THEIRS TO MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE IN THE ROOM AND WE'RE NOT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SINGING FROM THE SAME HYMNAL THAT WE ARE.
UM, AND SO CAN, CAN I IMPOSE UPON YOU TO, TO REACH OUT TO JENNA AND SEE IF WE CAN RECRUIT THEIR LOBBYISTS TO ALSO MAYBE HELP US BRAINSTORM WAYS THAT WE CAN, UH, EDUCATE THIS MEMBER AND, AND I WANT TO GIVE THIS MEMBER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, RIGHT.
UM, THAT MAYBE HE, HE JUST DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW.
UH, AND I, I DO THINK THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE IT'S AN ALL HAND ON, ALL HANDS ON DECK.
ADDITIONALLY, IT'S A NEW DAY OVER AT THE GREATER CHAMBER.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IMPOSING UPON KATIE HARVEY.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE CALL ON THE GREATER CHAMBER TO STEP UP AND, AND HELP US FIGHT THIS FIGHT.
BUT, UM, ANYWAY, COUNCILWOMAN HOBERT, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? YES, THANK YOU.
I, I'VE HAD MAINLY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES BILL.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY BEHIND IT, BUT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR US COULD BE, UM, I DON'T THINK I'M BEING TERRIBLY DRAMATIC WHEN I SAY COULD BE CRIPPLING NOT TO BE ABLE TO, TO HAVE THAT REVENUE.
I, I'D LIKE TO MAYBE FULLY UNDERSTAND, AND I KNOW YOU CAN ONLY PROJECT SO MUCH, BUT MAYBE THE TRAJECTORY OF THIS BILL, UH, AND OF COURSE, OFFER MY ASSISTANCE TO ANYBODY THAT I CAN REACH OUT TO, UH, TO CURTAIL IT.
UM, IT, IT JUST, IT'S DISHEARTENING TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE STATE.
UH, BUT OF COURSE, OUR CITY COULD BE IMPACTED BY, UH, AN OFFHAND COMMENT BY A, A COUNCIL MEMBER IN A DIFFERENT CITY.
UM, SO ANYWAY, I'D JUST LIKE TO, TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ASK TO KEEP US IN THE LOOP ON THIS AND, AND ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO, TO HELP ADVOCATE, UH, AGAINST IT.
UM, BUT I DON'T WANNA GO TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD, BUT I MEAN, HOW COULD THIS IMPACT US? I MEAN, IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET, I MEAN, IF, IF I'M, I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS, UH, TO THE 14% THAT WE NORMALLY RECEIVE.
UH, AND WHEN I SAY WE, I MEAN THE CITY FROM, FROM C P S, CORRECT?
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YEAH.AND SALLY, I'LL JUMP IN IF I COULD PLEASE.
UM, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH SAYING THE 14% IS, UM, A COMBINATION OF, UM, REVENUE, UH, UM, A COMBINATION OF WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE PAID BY A PRIVATE UTILITY AND PROPERTY TAXES, RIGHT? IF WE HAD A PRIVATE ELECTRIC COMPANY HERE, THEY'D BE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES TO US.
THEY'D BE PAYING RIGHT OF WAY FEES FOR ALL THEIR LINES, AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE WOULD BE A RETURN TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS.
UH, AS A PRIVATE COMPANY, THE 14% COMBINES THOSE THINGS AND IS OUR RETURN TO THE CITY.
AND IT'S UP TO 14 THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT'S USUALLY 12, 13%.
UM, IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT, UH, YOU ALL HAVE MADE THE DECISION LAST YEAR TO RETURN $50 MILLION WHEN, WHEN, UH, REVENUES WERE HIGHER THAN PROJECTED BECAUSE OF THE HOT SUMMER.
UH, WE ALSO WAIVED OUR, UH, 14% DURING WINTER STORM URI, WHERE PRIVATE UTILITIES BENEFITED FROM THE WINDFALL THAT THEY GOT.
UM, IT, IT IS, AS SALLY SAID, MORE THAN 25% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET TODAY.
IT'S, UH, IN THE TUNE OF CLOSE TO $400 MILLION.
AND THE, THE, THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT IF IT ALL, THIS WENT AWAY AND WE HAD A PRIVATE UTILITY HERE, IT'S NOT THAT THAT COST TO THE RATE PAYER WOULD GO AWAY.
THEY'D JUST BE PAYING IT TO A PRIVATE COMPANY WHERE THOSE REVENUES WOULD GO TO SHAREHOLDERS OR WALL STREET OR, OR WHATEVER.
INSTEAD, IT'S INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THE EARLY CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH THE SENATOR, UH, WERE THAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE THE, THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS OF THIS.
IT WAS REALLY AIMED AT AUSTIN ENERGY.
UM, HIS OWN UTILITY IN GEORGETOWN HAS A GENERAL FUND TRANSFER AND WENT AND MET WITH HIM LAST WEEK.
SO OUR HOPE IS THAT IT DOESN'T GET THAT FAR, AND WE DON'T NEED TO DEPLOY ALL THE RESOURCES TO BATTLE IT.
BUT AS SALLY SAID, THIS WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT ERIC AND BEN CLEARED THEIR SCHEDULES THE DAY AFTER WE LEARNED ABOUT IT, AND WENT TO AUSTIN, TALKED TO EVERY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS TO SAY, THIS IS THE BIGGEST, POTENTIALLY MOST DAMAGING PIECE OF LEGISLATION WE'VE EVER SEEN.
IF IT CONTINUES THE WAY IT IS, HOPEFULLY IT CHANGES OR DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN,
THERE'S NO HOUSE COMPANION BILL AT THIS POINT.
THE SENATOR, HOWEVER, IS THE CHAIR OF THE POWERFUL SENATE BUSINESS AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE THAT, THAT BILL MAY GET REFERRED TO.
SO HE'S A VERY, UM, WELL RESPECTED, OKAY.
UH, UH, SENATOR UP THERE AND, AND KNOWS THE INDUSTRY.
HE'S THE ONE, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS TASKED TO TAKE ON THE MARKET REDESIGN.
ENERGY MARKET REDESIGN IN TEXAS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR HOPE IS WE CAN CONVEY COLLECTIVELY HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND MM-HMM.
AND, AND, AND ESSENTIALLY, LIKE YOU JUST MENTIONED, THEY WOULDN'T, IT WOULD BE A BIT OF A LOSS TO THEM MORE BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT INVESTMENT BACK INTO THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
WE, AS SALLY SAID, WE'D EITHER HAVE TO MAKE MAJOR CUTS TO OUR GENERAL FUND, OR WE'D HAVE TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO MM-HMM.
SO WE WOULD, UM, MAYBE POTENTIALLY HAVE TO START BILLING C P SS FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT WE, UH, DON'T HAVE TO DO NOW BECAUSE IT GETS ROLLED INTO THE 14%.
OR THAT'S PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR OUR UTILITY TEAM.
AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN AS A, SINCE WE OWN THEM.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE TIP, BUT, BUT THAT IS IN LIEU OF THAT MONEY TODAY, SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME, THE SAME THING.
I, I, I FEEL, UH, I UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BETTER AND I FEEL I'M A LITTLE MORE HOPEFUL, UH, THAT, THAT BILL MIGHT NOT GO THROUGH.
UM, YOU, YOU MENTIONED BILLS OF INTEREST.
I THINK IT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT THE, THE BILLS OF INTEREST, INTEREST, UH, INVOLVE LOCAL GOVERNANCE.
THEY INVOLVE OUR LOCAL PENSION.
UM, I KNOW THAT THE, THE PENSION BILL, IT WASN'T FILED EXACTLY AS IT WAS, UM, I THINK INTENDED OR APPROVED.
SO I ASK THAT, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP US INFORMED ABOUT HOW THAT, UM, IF IT, IF IT CHANGES A LITTLE BIT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL INTENT, UH, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, AND I JUST, ONE OTHER ITEM.
I WAS AT THE STATE OF THE STATE LAST WEEK WHERE THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED, UM, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
IT'S, IT'S ON EVERYBODY'S MIND RIGHT NOW MM-HMM.
UM, AND I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S THE BIGGEST COST ON OUR PROPERTY TAX BILLS.
I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S ANY BILLS BEEN FI FILED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT, UH, THAT CONCEPT, OR IF, HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING THAT, UM, LIKE IN OTHER WAYS TO INCREASE SCHOOL FUNDING? SO THE, THE OH, SCHOOL FUNDING MM-HMM.
I KNOW THERE WAS A SCHOOL CHOICE, UM, THAT WAS IDENTIFIED.
AND THEN THESE TWO BILLS, UM, HB TWO AND HB THREE, WHICH TARGET THESE, THESE PARTICULAR, UH, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROPOSALS.
COUNCILWOMAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THE TEAM HAS
[00:25:01]
ANYTHING ON SPECIFICALLY ON SCHOOLS PENDING.WE'RE NOT TRACKING THAT CLOSELY.
BUT WE CAN TALK WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERS AND UNDERSTAND THE DISCUSSION GOING ON THERE.
I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL VOUCHERS COUNCILWOMAN MM-HMM.
UM, THANK YOU SALLY AND TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE CONTINUED WORK.
THE, UH, MUNICIPAL UTILITY FUND TRANSFERS BILL IS, UH, REALLY CONCERNING AND ALARMING, BUT, UM, I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WON'T GAIN ANY TRACTION AND THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO SHIFT IT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
UM, ONE THING THAT, UH, ONE QUESTION RATHER THAT I HAVE IS A C S HAS INDICATED THAT, UM, OUR CITY STAFF IS WORKING WITH REP, UH, OUR ELECTEDS, UH, AND STATE ELECTEDS ON DRAFT LEGISLATION AROUND THE AFFIDAVIT PROCESS, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, ANIMAL BITES.
CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE INTEND TO SUPPORT, UM, THAT INITIATIVE? UH, YES.
UM, COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
SO WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ OFFICE.
UM, HE REQUESTED, UM, SOME LANGUAGE FROM, UM, THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM FROM THE CITY, AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UM, AND WE SUBMITTED LANGUAGE TO HIM, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, PROPOSED LANGUAGE THAT INCLUDES, UM, AN OPTION.
THIS IS UNDER, UM, THE DETERMINATION THAT A DOG IS DANGEROUS PART OF LANGUAGE THAT INCLUDES THE OPTION FOR, UM, A WITNESSES TO HAVE THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION, UM, REMOVED OR EXEMPT, UM, FROM THE AFFIDAVIT.
UM, I HEARD AN UPDATE, UM, JUST A SHORT WHILE AGO.
SENATOR MENENDEZ IS TRYING TO, UH, MEET THE DEADLINE OF MARCH, OF MARCH 10TH, WHICH IS THIS FRIDAY.
AND SO HIS STAFF, UH, THEY ARE, UH, PULLING TOGETHER THE BILL LANGUAGE TO SUBMIT TO ALLEGED COUNSEL AND MEET THAT, MEET THAT DEADLINE.
UM, THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY UPDATE WE, WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE, UM, HEARD, UM, GREAT INTEREST, UM, FROM, UM, REPRESENTATIVE CAMPOS AND REPRESENTATIVE BERNAL TO WORK TOGETHER WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ, UM, ON THIS LEGISLATION.
THANK, I APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE.
YESTERDAY AT A COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, WE HAD SOME NEIGHBORS WHO HAD THE QUESTION, RIGHT, DO WE ORGANIZE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR THE STATE LEVEL? AND, UM, YOU KNOW, POINTING THEM TO GO TESTIFY AND SUPPORT AS THIS MOVES FORWARD IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT WE SEE THAT IT'S SUCCESSFUL.
UM, SO I WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AGAIN FOR HAVING THAT OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION AND SHARING LANGUAGE WITH, UM, THE SENATOR AND OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO ENSURE THAT WE, UM, HIT ALL THE ANGLES WHERE WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT WE PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, MY LAST QUESTION IS, UM, THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST RECENTLY, UM, PUT OUT THEIR STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN SHARED WITH YOU ALL? UM, AND IF SO, UM, DO WE INTEND TO SUPPORT THOSE LEGISLATIVE ITEMS? I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY SEEN, UM, THE TRUST PRIORITIES.
I'LL SEE IF NADIA HAS, I KNOW THAT OUR, UM, UH, HOUSING TEAM, MARK CARMONA AND, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM.
SO WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK FOR THAT.
UM, HAVE, HAVE YOU SEEN IT? I'M JUST CURIOUS.
IT'S BEEN SHARED WITH US, AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN BRIEFED ON IT IN COMMITTEE, UH, AND I JUST, IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE INITIATIVES, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO.
UM, BUT, UH, ALL THAT TO SAY, RIGHT, IF THERE'S ANY INITIATIVE OR ITEM WHERE YOU NEED FOLKS TO TESTIFY, PLEASE, UH, TAP ME IN AND HAPPY TO GO UP TO AUSTIN.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, SALLY, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND, UM, JEFF, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING, DO WE HAVE, UM, A FULL LIST OF ALL OF THE BILLS THAT WERE FILED, UM, BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE THAT JEOPARDIZE LOCAL GOVERNANCE? SO WE'RE CURRENTLY, THERE'S A LOT TRACKING.
I KNOW WE'RE CURRENTLY TRACKING CLOSE TO A THOUSAND BILLS.
WE HAVE TO DO IS, UM, GET A MORE FOCUSED LENS ON EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE THINKING OF, AND WE CAN RUN A REPORT AND SHARE THAT REPORT WITH YOU.
THE WELL, AND THE REASON THAT I WAS ASKING IS BECAUSE I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY PARTICULAR BILLS, UM, THAT, THAT YOU ALL AND, AND MAYBE LOBBYISTS FEEL ARE MORE LIKELY TO ADVANCE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION? I'LL JUMP IN HERE, SALLY.
I THINK WHAT, WHAT WE PRESENTED TODAY IS A CUING DOWN TO THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES OF THE BILLS THAT ARE FILED BY, UH, SENIOR MEMBERS CHAIRMAN.
UH, BUT, BUT I WILL SAY THIS IS THE SCARIEST TIME OF THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BECAUSE BILL FILING COMES FRIDAY, UH, WHICH MEANS EVERY BILL HAS BEEN FILED USUALLY SIX, SEVEN, 8,000 OF THEM, AND THEY'RE ALL STILL ALIVE.
AS WE MOVE THROUGH APRIL THROUGH MAY, SOME BILLS ARE NOT GONNA GET HEARD IN COMMITTEE.
SOME BILLS ARE NOT GONNA MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE.
SOME BILLS AREN'T GONNA MAKE IT TO THE OTHER CHAMBER.
AND, AND THAT LIST GETS SHORTER AND SHORTER AND SHORTER.
SO I'VE BEEN SHARING THAT WITH THE TEAM, THAT THIS IS THE TIME WHEN OUR, OUR HAIR IS MOST ON FIRE BECAUSE EVERY THREAT THAT'S OUT
[00:30:01]
THERE IS STILL ALIVE.UM, AS WE CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO ZERO IN ON THE ONES THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE SAY, EVEN WITH THIS MUNICIPAL UTILITY BILL, AS BIG OF A DEAL AS IT IS TO US, WE DON'T THINK THAT, THAT THE INTENT IS TO AFFECT C P SS.
AND OUR HOPE IS THAT ULTIMATELY IT DOESN'T ADVANCE IN THAT WAY.
AND WE'RE NOT HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS IN MAY, BUT, UM, SALLY'S TEAM HAS A LONG LIST, THEY'RE HAPPY TO SHARE, BUT I'M NOT SURE IT WILL BE HELPFUL, THE WHOLE THING.
YEAH, T M L HAS A GREAT WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY SENDING OUT UPDATES.
UM, SO I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW THAT IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY.
AND, AND ANYTHING YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR TEAMS HERE TO ANSWER.
AND ACTUALLY, I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT THAT NEXT, JUST HOW WE ARE LEVERAGING T M L AND MAYBE OTHER CITIES TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON, ON THE LOCAL CONTROL ISSUES.
I MEAN, TO, TO ADD TO JEFF, WE MEET WITH T M L EVERY MONDAY.
WE MEET WITH OUR STATE CONSULTANTS, UH, WEEKLY AS WELL, BUT WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION REALLY DAILY.
UM, AND THERE'S A VERY CLOSE, UM, DIALOGUE WITH, UH, THE OTHER LARGE CITIES ACROSS TEXAS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE, UH, THE MAYOR'S, UH, BIG CITY MAYOR'S PLATFORM.
THERE'S A LOT OF COORDINATION THERE.
UM, AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO ADVOCATE, UM, AND LEVERAGE OUR, OUR EFFORTS FOR THESE BILLS.
COUNCILWOMAN, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT, UM, MUNICIPALITIES WOULD SUE OR MAYBE HAVE, UM, TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER OR TEMPORARY, UM, INJUNCTION, UH, IF IT DOES PASS, UM, RATHER THAN FORECAST THE FUTURE? I'LL SAY IN THE PAST, IT HAS, IF YOU REMEMBER, THE LEGISLATION THAT, UH, ALLOWED, UM, TELECOM COMPANIES TO NOT HAVE TO PAY IF THEY'RE PROVIDING BOTH TWO TYPES OF SERVICES USING OUR RIGHT OF WAY THAT'S IN COURT RIGHT NOW, UH, WITH MIXED RESULTS.
UH, CITIES ARE WINNING PART OF THE ARGUMENT AND, AND NOT THE OTHER.
SO THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST WHERE LEGISLATION THAT IS EITHER VIEWED AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO CITIES OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT IS, UH, BECOMES A, A SUIT WHERE A NUMBER OF CITIES JOIN TOGETHER AND FIGHT IN THE COURTS.
BUT IN TERMS OF THESE, UM, IT'S HARD TO SAY YET.
I, I WILL SAY THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
SALLY MENTIONED HOW CITY ATTORNEYS ARE COLLECTIVELY ACROSS THE STATE WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT SUPER PREEMPTION BILL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THAT BECAUSE WE ARE A HOME RULE CITY, WHICH MEANS UNLESS IT'S EXPLICITLY PREEMPTED IN THE LAW, WE'RE ALLOWED TO ENACT ORDINANCES THAT WE SEE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS NOT NEARLY CLEAR ENOUGH.
THIS KIND OF SAYS EVERYTHING'S PREEMPTED, UH, IF IT'S UNDER ANY PART OF THIS STATE LAW.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTION ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THAT.
AND WE'VE THOUGHT FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THIS BILL WOULDN'T STAY IN THIS SHAPE, THAT THIS AUTHOR IS A VERY SAVVY AND SMART LEGISLATOR, AND THAT WHATEVER PROBLEM HE IS TRYING TO SEEK THROUGH THIS LEGISLATION, WE THINK HE WILL FINE TUNE IT AND NARROW IT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT, UM, BUT THAT IS ONE THAT THERE'S A, A LEGAL QUESTION ABOUT AT THIS POINT.
AND THEN, DOES THE STATE OF TEXAS USE, UM, TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO LOBBY IN DC? SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
UM, THERE'S THE STATE FEDERAL AFFAIRS OFFICE, UM, THAT'S LED, UH, BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
IT'S AN OFFICE UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S DIVISION.
AND SO THEY DO HAVE STAFF IN AN OFFICE LOCATED IN WASHINGTON.
AND THEY DO ALLOW, UM, CORPORATE LOBBYISTS AND, AND SPECIAL INTERESTS TO LOBBY THE LEGISLATORS HERE, UH, IN, IN TEXAS, CORRECT.
UM, AND THEN I THINK THAT, THAT, MY OTHER QUESTION IS, OR GOING ON INTO, UH, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF HAS BEEN, UH, HAS THERE BEEN ANY MOVEMENT WITH SPEAKER, UH, FREELANCE PROPERTY TAX PROPOSAL, AND HOW WILL LOWER, WOULD LOWERING THAT THRESHOLD TO 5% IMPACT OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS? UM, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I'M GONNA ASK, UH, TO LEAN ON JEFF, ON SOME PAST LEGISLATION.
UM, THE, THE, THIS PARTICULAR HB FIVE, THE APPRAISAL CAPS BILL THAT WAS PROPOSED BY SPEAKER FEELING WAS JUST FILED.
SO WE NEED TO DO AN ANALYSIS ON THAT ONE.
THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT REVIEWED IT YET.
BUT IT WOULD, TODAY, JUST SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR, TODAY, THERE IS A 10% CAP ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES MM-HMM.
THIS WOULD LOWER THAT TO FIVE.
BUT THE BIG THING IS IT WOULD EXPAND IT TO ALL TO COMMERCIAL COMPELS, OFFICE BUILDINGS, EVERY KIND OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
UM, I THINK IT'S NOTEWORTHY THAT SALLY REPORTED THAT THERE IS IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A CLASHING OF IDEAS BETWEEN THE SPEAKER AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
THEY WERE BOTH SPEAKING AT A PUB, UH, CONFERENCE LAST WEEK.
UM, AND, UH, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID VERY CLEARLY THAT THE, THE HOUSE BILL, THAT THE APPRAISAL CAP CAP WOULD UNDO ALL THE WORK DONE FOR HOMEOWNERS IN PAST SESSIONS BECAUSE IT WOULD BROADEN IT.
IT'S, I'M NOT CLEAR EXACTLY HOW THAT IS MM-HMM.
[00:35:01]
A DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS.AND SO, GIVEN THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TOPICS AND THE TWO CHAMBERS ARE CLASHING, WE HAVEN'T FELT THE NEED YET TO, TO GET TOO, UH, FOCUSED ON IT AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN TO US UNTIL THAT SORT OF SORTS ITSELF OUT.
BUT WE DID JUST GET THE BILL LAST WEEK MM-HMM.
UM, SO I, I KNOW AT LAST COUNT THERE WAS MORE THAN 35 BILLS THAT WERE RELATED TO APPRAISAL CAPS.
UM, WHICH DO YOU SEEM LIKE, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK OR ARE THE ONES THAT SEEM LIKELY TO ADVANCE THIS ONE RIGHT HERE? THAT IT WAS, UM, IT WAS FILED LATE, BUT IT WAS GIVEN HB TWO, UH, WHICH, WHICH IS MEANS RIGHT AFTER THE BUDGET, IT IS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP.
AND, AND EVERY SESSION THAT'S THE CASE THAT WE SEE MANY, MANY BILLS ON APPRAISAL CAPS.
UH, THEY'VE NOT ADVANCED IN PAST SESSIONS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN RECALL THAT THE LEADERSHIP HAS SAID THAT THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
SO I THINK THIS IS A MORE, MUCH MORE SERIOUS RUN AT IT.
BUT THOSE OTHER BILLS PROBABLY WON'T, WON'T MOVE WITH, WITH HB TWO ON THE TABLE.
AND, UH, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT, THAT TO OUR RESIDENTS, IT'S IMPORTANT, RIGHT? PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IS ALWAYS AT THE TOP OF MIND.
SO I, I'D HOPE THAT WE WOULD COMMUNICATE OUR PRIORITIES WITH OUR, OUR TEAM, RIGHT? AND SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR DELEGATION AFTER OUR, OUR GOAL BUDGETING SESSION IN, UM, I THINK IT'S IN APRIL.
SO, UM, BUT THOSE ARE ALL MY, MY, MY QUESTIONS AND MY COMMENTS.
AND THEN, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOLKS.
WHAT? AND, AND JEFF, I, I, I, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, AND, AND I DON'T THINK, MY ME MY, MY COLLEAGUES WILL DISAGREE.
A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS FUNCTION OF CITY COUNCIL'S WORK, UM, AS IT RELATES TO LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY IN AUSTIN OR IN DC, RIGHT? I, I MEAN, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE WORKING ON POTHOLES AND SIDEWALKS AND STRAY DOGS AND, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND POLICE, BUT I, I'M NOT SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT OUR JOB IS ALSO TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR BEST INTERESTS IN AUSTIN AND DC.
UM, AND TO TELL, YOU KNOW, THE SAN ANTONIO STORY AND EDUCATE PEOPLE UP THERE, BUT ALSO TO, UM, OPPOSE VIGOROUSLY THOSE INITIATIVES THAT EITHER ON, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE DESIGNED INTENTIONALLY TO HURT SAN ANTONIO, UH, OR INADVERTENTLY, UH, WILL HURT SAN ANTONIO.
AND, UH, A LOT OF ENERGY AND TIME IS SPENT DURING THESE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
AND SO, HELP ME UNDERSTAND TO WHAT EXTENT WE COULD HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS ROLE THAT WE PLAY IN AUSTIN, UM, AND ACTIVATE THE PUBLIC SOMETIMES WHEN WE MIGHT NEED THEM TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THEIR LEGISLATOR AND SAY, HEY, DON'T, DON'T MESS WITH MY C P S.
RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S GONNA HURT.
IT'S GONNA MAKE THINGS COST MORE HERE.
IT'S GONNA MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, HELP, UH, H E B SUCCEED AND HELP TOYOTA SUCCEED AND HELP MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE MILITARY CITY U S A.
HAVE WE EVER DONE THAT? WELL, YES AND NO.
UH, I'LL SAY, I'LL GIVE CREDIT TO THE REPORTER SITTING IN THE ROOM.
ANDREA RUSH, UH, HAS BEEN COVERING THIS CONVERSATION SINCE WE WERE PUTTING OUR AGENDA TOGETHER IN THE SUMMER.
SO THAT'S PART OF IT IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING TO THE COMMUNITY WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
UH, IT'S, IT'S SUCH A COMPLICATED AND HARD PROCESS FOR, TO WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND THE WHOLE THING.
UM, SO, UM, IN OTHER WORDS, TO YOUR POINT, RESIDENTS, UH, ALL THIS COMPLICATED CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING ABOUT HOW BILLS CHANGE AND MOVE AND WHAT COMMITTEE THEY'RE GOING TO, NOBODY WANTS TO FOLLOW THAT FROM HERE.
BUT AS, AS ISSUES GET REALLY, UH, HOT AND HEARINGS JUST STARTED THIS WEEK, SO WE'RE GONNA START SEEING THINGS GET HEARD, MOVE AT A COMMITTEE, THAT'S WHEN WE, UH, WILL START RAISING THE PROFILE OF PARTICULAR BILLS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS AND CAN ENGAGE.
WE OFTEN DO COORDINATE, UM, UH, ADVOCATES FROM OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
JOSIE GARCIA, OUR NEW HOUSE REP, UH, WAS STANDING SHOULDER AND SHOULDER WITH US ON THE POLICE REFORM BILLS WE BROUGHT LAST SESSION.
THAT'S HOW I GOT TO KNOW HER LAST YEAR, AND NOW SHE'S SITTING IN THE SEAT UP THERE.
SO, UM, WE'LL BE TALKING WITH YOU AND I, AND CHAIRMAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED YOUR HELP, UH, EACH OF YOU AS, AS SOME OF THESE ISSUES, GOOD, BAD, OR OTHERWISE, REALLY START TO MOVE.
WE'RE GONNA WANNA MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS A CHANCE TO GIVE THEIR, GIVE THEIR VOICE.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THAT AS A TASK FROM YOU THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE WE DO THAT, MAKE THAT CONNECTION.
WE WILL, UH, ANDREA, THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, SALLY, WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE WORK, UH, AS IT RELATES TO SA TO D C.
[00:40:01]
I'M GONNA INTERRUPT YOU.UH, I, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE, THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR INTERGOVERNMENT RELATIONS, UH, COMMITTEE, COUNCILWOMAN ROSIE CASTRO.
UM, I'VE, UH, THE MAYOR HAS, UH, INDICATED THAT HE'LL BE APPOINTED, THAT HE HAS APPOINTED HER TO THIS COMMITTEE.
UH, WELCOME COUNCILWOMAN CASTRO.
WELCOME COUNCILWOMAN CASTRO TO THE I G R COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE INVITED CASEY MADRID FROM THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, SA TO DC 2023, UM, IS UPON US IN FAST APPROACHING.
UH, SO WE'VE INVITED CASEY TO GIVE US, UM, A OVERVIEW, UM, OF A, TO DC FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, CASEY'S PARTNERSHIP AND THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER'S LEADERSHIP, UM, TO GO TO WASHINGTON, DC IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY'S, UH, PRIORITIES.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
I JUST HAVE A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION AND I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
I DO LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS IS A, A FLY-IN THAT WE DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR OTHER CHAMBERS ACROSS THE CITY.
SO WE HAVE THE NORTH CHAMBER, HISPANIC CHAMBER, SAMCO, AND SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP.
UH, WE ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN DC FROM MARCH 27TH THROUGH MARCH 23RD OF THIS YEAR.
AS SALLY SAID, IT'S QUICKLY APPROACHING.
THIS IS SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON OUR HOST HOTEL.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND SKIP ALL OF THIS.
WE HAVE A CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 28TH, AND THAT IS SPONSORED BY P N C AND AMERICAN RED CROSS.
AMERICAN RED CROSS WILL BE HOSTING US FOR THE RECEPTION.
WE HAVE A RECEPTION AND DINNER SPONSORED BY FIRST DAY FOUNDATION THAT WILL BE SPONSORED AT THE WILLARD HOTEL.
IT IS ON THE SAME BLOCK AS OUR HOST HOTEL, SO IT'S VERY CONVENIENT TO GET TO, REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
HERE IS THE GROUP FLIGHT INFORMATION.
I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, THESE ARE THE ISSUE TEAM AREAS.
SO WE HAVE AEROSPACE, CYBERSECURITY, ED, AND WORKFORCE, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, MANUFACTURING, MILITARY AFFAIRS, NON-PROFIT TRACK, WHICH IS A NEW ISSUE TEAM THIS YEAR, SMALL BUSINESS, TRANSPORTATION AND WATER.
UM, AS, AS WE DID LAST YEAR, WE, WE REALLY WANNA INVITE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LET US KNOW IF THERE'S AN ISSUE TEAM THAT YOU WANNA PARTICIPATE IN.
WE'LL WANNA GET YOU PLUGGED IN WITH THOSE ISSUE TEAM LEADS, SHARE OUR AGENDAS, SHARE THE AGENDAS WITH THE OTHER CHAMBERS SO THAT WE ARE GETTING YOU UP TO SPEED ON WHAT OUR FEDERAL PRIORITIES ARE.
THE BULK OF OUR PROGRAMMING WILL BE REPLICATED OF LAST YEAR.
UM, WE ARE GONNA HAVE OUR MORNING SESSIONS HOSTED AT THE HOST HOTEL FROM EIGHT 30 TO 1130 IN THE MORNING.
AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING IN GUEST SPEAKERS AND THE SAN ANTONIO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO MEET WITH US AT THE HOTEL SO THAT EVERYONE'S IN ONE PLACE AND THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.
AND THERE WILL BE A PRIORITY ON OUR ISSUE TEAM MEETINGS IN THE AFTERNOON TO MEET WITH THOSE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT WE DON'T TYPICALLY HAVE ACCESS TO.
I THINK THAT THIS YEAR WE'RE NOT UP AGAINST A CHALLENGE THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR WHERE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT WEREN'T IN TEXAS, THEY WERE PRIORITIZING MEETING WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS FIRST.
SO IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT WEREN'T PART OF THE TEXAS DELEGATION.
SO WE KIND OF DON'T HAVE THAT CHALLENGE TO DEAL WITH.
UM, AND THE SAME IS FOR WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY MORNING.
THE BULK OF THE PROGRAMMING WILL BE AT THE, THE HOTEL.
WE DO HAVE REQUESTS FOR SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT, UM, ARE IMPORTANT TO NAME THE AIRPORT VIA BROOKS THAT HINGE ON D O T FUNDING.
SO WE'VE PRIORITIZED AN ADDRESS FROM HIM OR A MEETING WITH HIM OF SOME SORT.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR HIM TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR FASTEST GROWING CORRIDOR AMONG HIS OTHER PRIORITIES.
WE ALSO CONFIRMED SECRETARY JAVIER BETA TO ATTEND THE CON THE RECEPTION ON WEDNESDAY EVENING AT THE WILLARD HOTEL.
WE HAVE A REQUEST PENDING FROM SECRETARY FUDGE.
WE WANT HIM TO WALSH, EXCUSE ME.
WE WANT HIM TO FOCUS ON APPRENTICESHIPS.
WE HAVE SECRETARY RAIMONDO WITH CHIPS ACT.
WE ALSO HAVE A BROADBAND SESSION WITH A SPEAKER FROM THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE GENERAL UPDATES FROM THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
SOMETHING THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED ON HERE, BUT NOT IN MUCH DETAIL, IS THE, THE WELCOME RECEPTION.
I DO WANNA PREFACE THAT THIS WELCOME RECEPTION TIME WILL SHIFT TO PROBABLY SEVEN BECAUSE NOT NOTED ON HERE IS A TOUR, UM, ORGANIZED BY THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE.
IT'S A V I P TOUR OF THE MOLINA FAMILY LATINO GALLERY AT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM AND TALKS WITH OLIVIA TRAVIESO AT O C O GROUP, O C I GROUP.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE US TODAY ARE CONFIRMED TO ATTEND THAT TOUR.
UM, IT'S A REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT CAN TRANSFORM IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS TOUR.
IT'S ONLY OPEN TO S A T A TO DC PARTICIPANTS.
SO IT'S A VERY EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY, AND WHEN I SHARE THE AGENDA, IT WILL BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THAT TOUR.
IT WAS JUST FINALIZED IN THE WELCOME RECEPTION DETAILS TO BE LOCATION AND TIME WE'LL FOLLOW.
UM, AND THEN THESE ARE JUST THE PARTING DETAILS FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRAVELING WITH THE GROUP.
WE DO HAVE PORT SAN ANTONIO, UH, SPONSORING OUR MOBILE APP THIS YEAR.
[00:45:01]
APP.I SHARED SOME DETAILS FOR THOSE WHO WANNA MAYBE GET STARTED ON THE APP RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN SCAN THAT QR CODE AND LOG IN THAT AGENDA.
UM, THAT APP, EXCUSE ME, WILL HOUSE ALL THE AGENDA AND MEETING SCHEDULE DETAILS.
AND THEN IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME OR JONATHAN GURWITZ OR ASHLEY HARRIS WHO ARE THE CO-CHAIRS FOR THIS EVENT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
AND I, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
UM, COUNCILWOMAN CASTRO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE'RE WE, WE CAN START OFF THE QUESTION SESSION WITH YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY.
UM, DOES THIS WORK THE WAY THE OTHER YES, MA'AM.
UH, LET ME SAY THAT I'M NOT GONNA BE ATTENDING UNFORTUNATELY, BUT, UM, I'M HOPING THAT EVERYONE WILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WITH RI TO SEE THE LATINO MUSEUM.
UH, THAT'S REALLY, UM, FANTASTIC MUSEUM THAT'S JUST BEEN CREATED AND, UH, THAT I HOPE THAT WE WILL SOMEWHAT MODEL OURS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AFTER.
UM, BUT I WISH ALL OF YOU WELL AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM Y'ALL WHAT IT IS YOU WERE ABLE TO DO.
I'M HOPING THAT JOAQUIN WILL BE ABLE TO BE THERE BY THEN.
SO I'M SURE YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HIM THEN.
WHAT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO, TO CONVINCE YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MIND AND JOIN US?
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND PLEASED TO HEAR, UM, WITH SECRETARY WALSH THAT THERE'S INTENTION TO DISCUSS, UH, APPRENTICESHIPS.
THIS MORNING I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH GARY WARREN OF THE CARPENTERS UNION, UH, AND THEIR, UM, NATIONWIDE LEADERSHIP.
AND WHAT THEY OFFERED WAS, UM, TO HELP WITH GRANT WRITING.
SO AS A RESOURCE TO CITY STAFF AND OUR LOBBYISTS, UM, THEY'RE OPEN TO, TO SHARING THAT LANGUAGE AND HOW THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DIFFERENT STATES WITH SECURING FEDERAL GRANTS.
SO JUST, UH, ENSURING THAT YOU ALL KNOW THAT THAT RESOURCES IS AVAILABLE TO THIS COMMITTEE AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
DID YOU SAY THE GROUP'S NAME AGAIN? UM, YES, THE CARPENTER'S, UH, UNION.
AND COUNCILMAN CASTILLO, THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST, UH, ESSAY OF DC CORRECT.
WELL, UM, I, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA FIND IT TO BE REWARDING AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR AGREEING TO SHOW UP.
I I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE A FORCE MULTIPLIER UP THERE.
UM, COUNCILWOMAN RICHARD GARCIA QUESTIONS? YES.
AND, AND CASEY, YOU JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR ADDING THE NONPROFIT TRACK.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE, ONE THING THAT WE HEARD, UH, FROM PEOPLE.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU FOR HAVING ON THE HOUSING, UH, OUR CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER MARK CARMONA.
SO I WAS HAPPY THAT HE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE IT.
UM, I, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A, A FEW, OR WE WERE ASKED KI OF WHAT OUR INTERESTS WERE, UM, SPECIFICALLY, UM, IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST, UH, WEEK WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF TEXAS VISTA AND ALL OF THE THERE, THE LACK OF HEALTHCARE ACCESS.
I THINK IT'S EMER AN EMERGENCY.
AND SO I WAS GONNA TALK TO YOU OFFLINE BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT YOU ALL ARE PLANNING FOR HEALTHCARE.
BECAUSE IF AT THE STATE WE CAN'T GET HELP, WE HAVE TO HELP GET HELP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND I HADN'T, UM, DISCUSSED IT JUST YET WITH YOU ALL, BUT I FIGURED THAT I COULD BRING IT UP HERE BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO LEVERAGE THAT.
UM, I HAVE A REQUEST FROM C B S NEWS TO TALK TO THEM, AND BEFORE I TALK TO THEM, I WANNA BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH YOU ALL AND SEE WHAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THINKS, THINKS ABOUT THAT, AND HOW WE CAN KIND OF ORGANIZE AND, AND FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE COULD LEVERAGE THE TRIP TO SA TO DC FOR, UM, FOR THE CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE LOSING THAT ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.
PLEASE PASS ALONG TO, TO LEADERSHIP AT THE CHAMBER, PARTICULARLY
WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING TIME AWAY FROM OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICES WORK FROM OUR SIDEWALK AND POTHOLE WORK AND STRAY DOG WORK, RIGHT.
UM, AND WE'RE TAKING TIME AWAY UP THERE TO, TO LEND SUPPORT TO YOUR, UH, YOUR EFFORTS.
SO JUST PLEASE, AS, AS YOU GUYS ARE UP THERE, ERR ON THE SIDE OF INCLUDING US MORE, UM, IN THESE WORK GROUP MEETINGS, UH, BECAUSE I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOING UP THERE WITH, UH, WITH THE DESIRE TO BE AS ABSORBED INTO THE, INTO THE MISSION AS POSSIBLE.
UM, BECAUSE, UH, WELL, I MEAN, IT'S ALSO COSTING US, IT'S COSTING US MONEY FROM OUR BUDGETS TO BE ABLE TO BE WITH YOU GUYS.
AND SO IT'S AN INVESTMENT OF TIME AND, AND TREASURE TO, TO BE UP THERE.
AND SO, UH, DON'T FORGET ABOUT US WHEN WE'RE THERE.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S, UH, THE AGENDA FOR TODAY, RIGHT? SO UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, I'M GONNA ADJOURN THE MEETING, SEEING NO OTHERS INTERESTED IN TALKING.