* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:59] ANTONIO ANTONIO AND SAN ANTONIO. GOOD MORNING [ PROCEDURAL  ] EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:06 AM ON THE 23RD DAY OF MARCH, 2023. WE'RE CALLING OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAVEO VARDA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PALAI. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. HERE. MAYOR EHRENBERG. HERE. MAYOR. WE HAVE A QUORUM. ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL, A SESSION TO ALL OUR GUESTS IN THE CHAMBERS. WELCOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE'LL BEGIN TODAY. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY TO WELCOME OUR INDICATOR. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, TODAY I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, PASTOR ROBERT BENNETT. AND, UM, HE'S THE PASTOR OF, UH, CHURCH RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MADISON HIGH SCHOOL. AND, UH, COME ON UP. AND, UM, LET ME JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HIS BACKGROUND. HE WAS BORN UP IN OKLAHOMA AND WE'LL FORGIVE HIM FOR THAT. UH, HE GOT HERE IN TEXAS AS FAST AS HE COULD. AND, UM, HE'S BEEN HERE IN TEXAS FOR QUITE A WHILE. UH, HE'S GOT SEVERAL DEGREES FROM DIFFERENT, UH, UM, SEMINARIES AND, AND THEOLOGICAL, UM, UH, INSTITUTIONS. AND, AND, UH, HE COMES WITH A LONG PEDIGREE, UH, IN THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST, UH, UH, COMMUNITY OF, OF CHURCHES. UM, HE'S STARTED SEVERAL PROGRAMS, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT IN THAT AREA. UH, THEY GO OUT AND MINISTER TO THE HOMELESS AND REALLY CONCENTRATES ON HOMELESS CHILDREN, UH, PARTICULARLY THE HIGH SCHOOL, UH, AGED CHILDREN AROUND THAT AREA. THEY GO OUT AND FEED THEM. THEY HELP THEM AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AND THEY, THEY, UH, HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED BLESSED COMMUNITIES. IS THAT WHAT IT IS? YEAH. BLESSED COMMUNITIES AND, UH, UM, REALLY DO A FINE JOB UP AROUND THE MADISON HIGH SCHOOL AREA THERE. UH, THIS BLESSED COMMUNITIES. THEY GO AROUND DELIVERING MEALS TO SURROUNDING HOMES IN THAT COMMUNITY. UM, YOU'RE MARRIED TO SHERRY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. UH, ACTUALLY I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF COMMONALITY WITH HER. SHE'S A NA NAVY VETERAN AND SHE WAS PART OF THE NAVY CBS AND I WAS A AIR FORCE CIVIL ENGINEER, SO THERE'S SOME COMMONALITY THERE ALSO. AND SHE WORKS AS A, AS A NURSE IN THE VA. SO, UH, UH, VERY, VERY, UH, INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT. SHE GRADUATED FROM, UH, LITTLE T, LITTLE U NO, NO, NO. DON'T, DON'T GET, DON'T GET STARTED. BUT YES, SHE'S A LONGHORN AND, UH, AS YOU KNOW, I'M AN AGGIE, SO, BUT THAT'S OKAY. GREAT SCHOOL. UM, TWO CHILDREN, JAKE AND JOSH, AND A, AND A GRANDDAUGHTER. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT Y'ALL LOVE TO GO GLAMPING. NOW I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T SAY CAMPING, I SAID GLAMPING. AND Y'ALL MAY KNOW WHAT GLAMPING IS, BUT THAT'S GOING OUT AROUND THE, UH, CAMPING SITES. BUT YOU LIVE IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER, UH, ACCOMMODATIONS WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND WATER AND ALL OF THAT STUFF. SO, UH, UH, THAT'S GREAT TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND DO THAT. UH, ALONG WITH YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER OUT THERE. UM, YOU GOT ABOUT 300 CHURCH MEMBERS THERE AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU ON UP AND WELCOME YOU TO GIVE THE INVOCATION TODAY. THANK YOU PASTOR BENNETT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. HOOK 'EM HORNS. FIRST, [00:05:01] LET US PRAY. FATHER, THANK YOU THAT WE ARE ASKED TO PRAY AND MAKE SUPPLICATIONS FOR THOSE IN LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU THAT LORD, WE'RE TO PRAY FOR OUR KINGS AND THOSE THAT ARE IN RULE SHIP OVER US SO THAT WE COULD LIVE A QUIET AND PEACEFUL AND GODLY, DIGNIFIED LIFE. HOLY GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS YOU HAVE GIVEN OUR CITY, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, THAT WE RECEIVE FROM YOU. WE PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN OFFICE, IN THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR CITY. PRAY THAT LORD, THEIR DECISIONS WOULD BE GODLY AND THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE ALL THROUGH THIS CITY. GOD, PLEASE BE WITH THOSE IN OUR GOVERNMENT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE COMMISSIONERS, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, CERTAINLY THOSE LORD THAT ARE IN HARM'S WAY. WE PRAY FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, E M S WORKERS AND OUR MILITARY. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE GIVEN US TO SERVE PEOPLE AND TO HELP THEM IN A WONDERFUL WAY OF BLESSING. AND HELP US, LORD, BE UNDERSTANDING FOR THEM AND LISTEN TO THEM. HELP US TO SPEAK WITH CHARITY AND RESTRAINT. GIVE US THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE, GOD THAT WE NEED FROM YOU. AND REMIND US THAT WE ARE STEWARDS OF YOUR AUTHORITY. GUIDE US AS WE HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED AROUND US AND HELP US IN ALL THAT WE DO. BLESS THEM IN YOUR NAME. WE THANK YOU FOR RENEWING OUR STRENGTH EVERY DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO TODAY IN THIS VERY CHAMBER. AND WE PRAY THAT YOUR BLESSINGS WOULD CONTINUE TO FLOW OVER OUR, OUR CITY. WE ASK YOU LORD, TO BLESS OUR DAUGHTERS, OUR OUR HUSBANDS, OUR WIVES, AND OUR GRANDKIDS, WITH A GREAT BLESSING OF LOVE TODAY. WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON JESUS, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR BENNETT. ALRIGHT, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR US TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 1ST AND MARCH 2ND, 2023. THOSE ARE IN YOUR PACKET. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH ONE AND MARCH 2ND, 2023. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE GET, UH, INTO OUR CEREMONIALS FOR DAY TODAY, I WANNA NOTE FOR, UM, OUR PUBLIC THAT ITEM 25 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. WE DO ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM, EXCUSE ME, TWO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING TODAY. THAT'S ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE. EVERYTHING ELSE IS LISTED FOR CONSENT, CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, HEARING [CONSENT AGENDA  ] NONE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR FOUR, FIVE, AND THEN 25, WHICH WAS WITHDRAWN. SO MOVED. OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CONSENT AGENDA. UH, I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW TO HIGHLIGHT CONSENT ON YOUR TABLETS IF YOU'D LIKE TO QUEUE IN TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. UH, IN THE MEANTIME, UH, WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING ON CONSENT. ACTUALLY TWO, UH, WE'VE GOT JANET ELLER ON ITEM EIGHT. MS. ELLER, ARE YOU HERE, MS. ELLER? OKAY, WE'LL GO NOW TO ITEM 24. JOANNE ROLAN IS JOANNE ROAN HERE. ALL RIGHT, WELL THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR FOUR OR FIVE AND 25. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I WANNA HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 23, WHICH IS IN SUPPORT OF A NASA GRANT, UM, AT MY LIBRARY AND IT'S, UM, NATIONAL EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE INITIATIVE THAT CONNECTS NASA PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO YOU ALL MAY HAVE HEARD ME, UM, TALK ABOUT THE ECLIPSE. I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ECLIPSE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. I THINK SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS A LITTLE CRAZY AT FIRST. WE HAD TWO ECLIPSES COMING UP, ONE ANNUAL OR IN OCTOBER, AND THEN THE BIG ONE IN APRIL. UM, BUT [00:10:01] I WANNA RECOGNIZE THIS SPACE SCIENCE INSTITUTE FOR THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM AND THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR UTILIZING THIS EFFECTIVE METHOD OF ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTING AEROSPACE EDUCATION. I DO WANNA SAY THAT WE HAVE, UH, IN THE AUDIENCE, PAUL STAHL TODAY WITH THE, UH, SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD. SO PAUL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO. AS OUTLINED IN THE MEMO, IN 2017 S S I REACHED APPROXIMATELY 7,000 PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITH 2.1 MILLION ECLIPSE GLASSES PROGRAMMING AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT SUPPORT AS WE GEAR UP FOR THE TOTAL ECLIPSE ON APRIL 8TH, 2024. THAT'S THE BIG ONE. I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUTH. AND WE SEE A LOT OF THEM HERE TODAY TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SPACE EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH. FOR THE PAST FIVE FEW YEARS, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE U T S A DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY, SPECIFICALLY DR. CHRIS PACKHAM TO DEVELOP A SOLAR WALK PROGRAM AND THE SAN ANTONIO TEACHER TRAINING ASTRONOMY ACADEMY, WHICH WE'VE HOSTED AT CITY HALL. DISTRICT FOUR IS HOME TO THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AT PORT SAN ANTONIO, AND SEVERAL COMPANIES SPECIALIZING IN AEROSPACE. WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY AND OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON BOARD TO SHARE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SPACE EXPLORATION AND POTENTIAL CAREERS IN AEROSPACE. IN FACT, I'M PLEASED TO SHARE THAT WE HAVE SELECTED AN ARTIST TO DESIGN THE SOLAR WALK AT P SAW PARK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AS WE PREPARE FOR THE TOTAL ECLIPSE NEXT APRIL. MARK YOUR CALENDARS, Y'ALL. APRIL 8TH, 2024. AND REMEMBER, LET SAN ANTONIO IS LOCATED ON A NARROW PATH TRAVERSING 13 STATES WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. THAT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL. I'M SO EXCITED. OF COURSE, AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION, WE REMIND THE PUBLIC THEY NEED TO USE THESE SPECIAL ECLIPSE SAFETY GLASSES FOR VIEWING DURING THE PARTIAL FACES OF THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE, WHICH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PICK UP AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NINE, WHICH IS A SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH TWO ENGINEERING FIRMS WHO WILL HELP THE CITY WITH STORM WATER CONSULTING ACTIVITIES LIKE STORM STORMWATER PLANS, HYDRAULIC MODELING, MAP PROVISIONS, AND SO ON. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM BECAUSE MY OFFICE HAS BEEN, UH, IN CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO REQUEST THAT ELEVATION CERTIFICATES BE INCLUDED AS ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT. THE NEW FLOODPLAIN MAPS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED ACROSS THE CITY PLACE OVER 2000 PROPERTIES IN THE PALM HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT FIVE INTO THE FLOODPLAIN. THIS CAN MEAN HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND A GREAT, UH, UH, RISK OF PROPERTY DAMAGE. ELEVATION CERTIFICATES ARE IMPORTANT TOOLS THAT FAMILIES WITH PROPERTY IN THE FEMA FLOODPLAIN CAN USE TO HELP PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY, LOWER FLOOD RISK, AND REDUCE FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUMS. SO, RAZZY, I WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS, AS WELL AS COMMITTING TO WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE ON CONNECTING RESIDENTS WITH ELEVATION CERTIFICATES, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON DRAINAGE PROJECTS. UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A VERY COOL ITEM, WHICH AWARDS THE CONTRACT FOR COOL WITH THE PAVEMENT PROGRAMMING COUNCIL MADE, UH, REDUCING THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT A PRIORITY DURING THE LAST SEVERAL BUDGET CYCLES. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS PILOT IS BEING INITIATED. THE DISTRICT FIVE PILOT PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE NEAR THE VIDA MENDY SOCIAL HOUSING COMPLEX, AND THIS IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE DISTRICT FIVE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR A HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, UH, IN THE, THE NEW YORK TIMES. AND THIS COOL PAVEMENT CAN POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE TEMPERATURE FROM 10.5 TO 12 DEGREES. UM, SO IT'S GONNA KEEP SAN ANTONIO AND DISTRICT FIVE COOL. A REALLY COOL PROJECT. AND I WANTED TO THANK AGAIN, THE SUSTAINABILITY AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND ALL CITY STAFF WHO WORKED ON THIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HALO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M HIGHLIGHTING ITEMS 13 AND 14 THIS MORNING. THERE ARE ACQUISITIONS OF TWO EASEMENTS IN MEDINA AND UVALDE COUNTIES, ABOUT 2300 ACRES OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES. THESE ACQUISITIONS, WHICH HAVE COMPLETED THROUGH THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM, ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE AQUIFER IS PROTECTED AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH WATERSHED AREAS. BOTH THESE LOCATIONS WILL PROVIDE HIGH WATER QUANTITY AND QUALITY TO THE AQUIFER. SO THANKS TO DAVID AND HOMER AND YOUR TEAMS FOR WORKING TO PROTECT OUR EDWARDS AQUIFER, WE APPRECIATE THAT. ALSO, ITEM 15, IT'S VERY WELCOME NEWS. THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION IS PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 12, I'M SORRY, $122,000 TOWARDS DENTAL SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR OUR YOUTH. THANKS TO ERIC AND CLAUDE AND YOUR TEAMS FOR WORKING ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC AND TO THE [00:15:01] DENTAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FROM UT HEALTH THAT WORK WITH THESE CHILDREN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT ITEM 17 WHERE, UH, WE'RE, UH, RECOGNIZING AND APPOINTING JOE NICKS TO THE ZONING COMMISSION. JOE STARTED OUT IN THE ZONING COMMISSION BACK IN 2017, AND THEN HE MOVED TO THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND, UH, NOW WE'RE PULLING HIM BACK TO THE ZONING COMMISSION AND, UH, UH, HE'S SERVED GREAT. AND I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, YOU KNOW, WE GOT OVER IT. I, I THINK IT'S 90 CLOSE TO A HUNDRED DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THOSE WOULD NOT EXIST IF WE DIDN'T HAVE VOLUNTEERS TO STEP UP AND PARTICIPATE AND DO THE WORK OF THE CITY. AND, UH, SEND US GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS UP HERE TO THE COUNCIL. SO I WANTED JUST TO HIGHLIGHT JOE, HE'S A, HE'S A FELLOW AGGIE AND A TRAFFIC ENGINEER. AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU JOE, FOR STEPPING UP AND, UH, GIG HIM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS SAY FOR FOUR, FIVE, AND 25, WHICH WAS WITHDRAWN, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] OKAY, WELL THERE ARE MANY SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY AND MANY, UH, DAYS AND COMMEMORATIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO NOTE. AND I'LL BEGIN THAT TODAY. UH, BY NOTING THAT ON APRIL 1ST, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL BEGIN CELEBRATING NATIONAL POETRY MONTH. THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE HAS WORK WITH LOCAL POETS, BUSINESSES, AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE TO COORDINATE NATIONAL PUBLIC POETRY MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO. IN OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 45 POETRY, READINGS, WORKSHOPS, SPOKEN WORD AND SLAM COMPETITIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, ET CETERA, ARE ON THE NATIONAL'S, ARE ON THE CITY'S NATIONAL POETRY MONTH ESSAY CALENDAR TO CELEBRATE SUPPORT AND TO VALIDATE OUR RICH LITERARY CULTURE. THE OFFICIAL KICKOFF TO THE 2023 NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, THE NINTH ANNUAL VIVA PIA PRIA, MUSA, AND I CULTURA WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 1ST AT MISSION MARQUEE PLAZA IN CITY COUNCIL. DISTRICT THREE, VIVA PIA IS HOSTED BY THE CITY'S WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE WITH SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE. SINCE 2014, SAN ANTONIO'S POETS LAUREATE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS EVENT, DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE LITERARY ARTS AND ARTICULATE A SHARED VISION OF OUR PAST AND OUR FUTURE. EACH A VIVA PO HAS A THEME FROM WHICH POETS CREATE AND READ POEMS, WHICH ARE INTER SPURTS WITH MUSICAL AND OTHER PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE EVENING. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES TODAY. ANDREA VOCAB SANDERSON, WHO IS OUR 20 TO 23 SAN ANTONIO POET LAUREATE, WILL BE DELIGHTING US WITH A POEM TO MARK THE END OF HER TENURE. VOCAB BEGAN HER TERM IN 2020 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, AND SHE RESPONDED BY CREATING ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH POETRY. HER TENURE WAS DURING EXTREMELY CHALLENGING TIMES, AND SHE HAS UPLIFTED, INSPIRED AND STRENGTHENED EACH OF US. SHE HAS LED AND PARTICIPATED IN HUNDREDS OF EVENTS, ALWAYS WITH A UNIFYING VOICE THAT MADE US PROUD OF OUR CITY AND OF OURSELVES. SO I RECOMMEND EACH OF YOU GO TO SAN ANTONIO.GOV/ARTS TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL EVENTS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT APRIL, INCLUDING THE INVESTITURE OF OUR 2023 TO 2026 POET LAUREATE NAFTALI DELEON. UH, SO IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE NOW TO WELCOME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ANDREA VOCAB SANDERSON, WHO HAS A TALENT MUCH, MUCH BIGGER THAN A STATE OR A CITY CAN CONTAIN. ANDREA VOCAB, SANDERSON GREETINGS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL PERSONNEL. GREETINGS, EVERYONE BEHIND ME. IT'S KIND OF ODD. I'LL PROBABLY TURN SLIGHTLY TO THE SIDE SO I CAN DO THIS. IT'S WEIRD HAVING A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE BEHIND ME. UH, I WANNA SAY BEFORE I GET STARTED THAT I GRADUATED FROM MADISON HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LATE 19 HUNDREDS. AND SO IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, UH, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING WITH THIS WONDERFUL MAN OF THE CLOTH THAT, UH, OPENED US UP WITH THAT WONDERFUL INVOCATION. ALRIGHT, SO I BELIEVE, UM, I'M GONNA DO A POEM FOR YOU ALL. AND EVERY TIME I COME, I'M ALWAYS DOING VERY SERIOUS POETRY, BUT TODAY I'M GONNA KEEP IT A LITTLE MORE LIGHTHEARTED AND I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT JAZZ, ONE OF MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS. AND SHOUT OUT TO MY MAMA [00:20:01] ON THE FRONT ROW. HI, MOMMY , THAT'S ELIZABETH BALDWIN. OH YEAH, THANK YOU. GET AWAY FROM THAT MICROPHONE. NO FEEDBACK. GONNA COME HANG OUT IN THE CORNER WITH YOU. . THIS POEM IS CALLED JAZZ THAT I AM, AND I'M A SINGER, SO IT'S GONNA SING . I'LL BE THAT SAXOPHONE. I'LL BE THAT TROMBONE. I'LL BE THAT JAZZ SONG. MY VOICE IS A MICROPHONE ON FOR ON I AM PIANO KEYS. MY WALK IS A SYMPHONY. MY HEELS CLICK LIKE A TAMBOURINE. YEAH, MUSIC IS MY EVERYTHING. SO GIVE ME JAZZ. JAZZ THAT I AM. GIVE ME JAZZ, JAZZ THAT I AM. GIVE ME JAZZ AS THAT. I AM, I'M JAZZ. YEAH. GIVE ME A THELONIOUS MONK KIND OF FUNK. TO SMOOTH MILE WRINKLED MORNING BLUES CRUISE DOWN MY MEMORY. BANKS WOULD SUBDUE BE BY BRUISED MELODIES RAIN DOWN MY SOUL FROM THE HEAVENLIES THAT CALLED DROPS OF PRECIPITATION. I THINK MY FLESH WAS AWAITING ITS CREATION THROUGH COLTRANE STAINED SAXOPHONE. NOTES CHAINED TO CLAY AND ADAM'S MISSING RIB. AND AS DIZZY GILLESPIE CARESSED ME MOLDED AND SHAPED ME TO THE SOUND OF SUPPLE TRUMPET TOOTS, THE BRAVADO OF MY HEART BEGAN TO SHOOT THROUGH THE ROOF OF MY MOUTH. AND A JAZZY FAT NASTY SOUND CAME SPOUTING OUT. I LET THE PITCH OF IT SHOUT OVER KENNY CLARK. DRUM TAPS, HAVING A MUSICAL SPAT WITH THE RAINBOW IN MY SMILE. AND FOR A WHILE, I DROWNED MY MIND IN THE LINES OF AN OLD LOUIS ARMSTRONG. SONG OF BREATH FROM HIS CHEEKS PUSHED ME ALONG. AND FROM THEN ON I KNEW MY SPIRIT BELONGED WITH DEXTER GORDON GREAT SOUL FOUL ME AMONG THE RANKS WITH CHARLIE PARKER AND JOHNNY HODGES. AS A INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC MASSAGES, MY TEMPLES CHANGING THE TEMPO OF MY THOUGHTS. 'CAUSE LATELY I'VE BEEN DWELLING ON DUKE ELLINGTON KEYSTROKES MENTAL IMAGES FAULT OFF HIS ELEGANCE. AND WITH RELEVANCE, PROMOTE MY THOUGHT PATTERN TO LINGER. REMEMBER WITH NINA SAMONE AS CAB CALLAWAY ECHOES HIS RESONANCE OF A HEIDI HEIDI, HEIDI HOE TWIRLING IN A YELLOW PINSTRIPE ZOOT SUIT WITH MATCHING HATS TO BOOT. I TELL YOU, I AM A RECRUIT FOR BA JAZZY DREAM TEAM. SO STREAM ME THROUGH DOC PERRY'S PIANO POUNDING GLEAM ME IN A MONTAGE OF COOL AND BIG BAND SWING WORLD ME ON THE SURFACE OF A MELODIC COLOR SCHEME. HARLEM MAHOGANY AND DUTCH DC CHOCOLATE BROWNS CATCH ME IN THIS MOVEMENT OF SYMPHONIC SOUND. AND I WILL NEVER COME DOWN FROM THE VERY HIGH FOUND. AND MY BLOOD IS A PUMP SOUL. GIVE ME A THELONIOUS MONK KIND OF FUNK, A TRUE BLACK BILLY HOLIDAY GROOVE, LUSCIOUS LEAN A HORN TUNE CROON FROM SARAH VAUGHAN TO SPAWN A MID-MORNING PRESS FOR MY BUNCH OF BLUES. 'CAUSE I WANT TO BE SMOOTH. SO SMOOTH AS JAZZ IS JAZZ, A RENOVATED SOUL AND INNOVATIVE FROM OLD AND INUNDATED WITH COLD DROPS OF RAIN. CARNIVORE DRUNK WITH THIS NEOCLASSIC THELONIOUS MONK KIND. THE FUNKS WILL GIVE IT TO ME. LIVE IT THROUGH ME. SAY IT TO ME. PLAY IT THROUGH ME. I AM A VESSEL, AN INSTRUMENT, A SIGNIFICANT INFANT, ADOLESCENT, AND IMMINENT WOMAN PROJECTING AND EXPRESSING THIS AIR INSPIRED ART FORM. MY BODY PERFORMS AT EVERY MINUTE, MINUTE OF EVERY PASSING DAY FOR FOUR DECADES, YOU CAN HEAR ME, JAZZ WOULD WIN PERCUSSION STRING WITH DISCUSSION BRASS LIKE IS BABY. I AM CONTAINING BECOMING AND BEING PIZAZZ. AND I HAVE AS MUCH AS WITH SUCH CLASS OF THELONIOUS MONK KIND OF FUNK, JAZZ, JAZZ, JAZZ THAT I AM. SO, UM, GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. ANDREW, I HAVE, I HAVE WITH YOUR MOM IS OUR WITNESS. I HAVE ONE REQUEST FOR YOU, WHICH IS THAT WHEN NAME, WHICH THEY WILL, THAT YOU REMIND THEM THAT YOUR MAGIC WAS NURTURED IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. ABSOLUTELY. I LOVE MY CITY. WELL, FOLKS, UM, SO THIS IS A KIND OF [00:25:01] A CEREMONIAL MARK TO THE END OF, UM, VOCABS TENURE AS OUR, AS OUR POET LAUREATE. UM, BUT I DID, UH, WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO THE INVESTITURE OF NAI, WHICH WILL BE COMING SOON. BUT ALSO WE WANTED TO MARK NOW WITH ANDREA HERE, UH, NATIONAL POETRY MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO. BUT THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO IS PRESENTING YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE OF OFFICIAL APPRECIATION TO ANDREA VOCAB SANDERSON. AND I WON'T READ THIS WHOLE THING, BUT IN HONOR OF YOUR SERVICE AS THE SAN ANTONIO POET LAUREATE FROM 2022, EXCUSE ME, 2020 TO 2023 FROM A VERY EARLY AGE, VOCAB EMULATED THE GIFT OF POETRY. AT THE AGE OF SIX, SHE FOUND A TYPEWRITER AND DECIDED TO WRITE HER MOTHER A LOVE POEM. THAT MOMENT SPARKED AN EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION FOR SHINING WORDS THAT NEVER WANED. AND IN THE SEVENTH GRADE, HER TEACHER COMPARED HER WORK TO MAYA ANGELOU AND SHE DISCOVERED HER WORDS WERE A GIFT. AND HER CALLING THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, ARE PROUD TO JOIN YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR FRIENDS AND FELLOW COLLEAGUES IN SALUTING YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE AND PROUDLY EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OFFER BEST WISHES FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME PRESENTED THIS DAY. UH, YOUR YOUR ROAD IS GONNA BE LONG, ANDREA, THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. AND WE LOVE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL WE LOVE NATAL AND UH, WE AWAIT FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORDS. UH, VOCABULARY ARE A VERY, VERY TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. ALRIGHT, UM, I'M GONNA TURN IT NOW OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO TO, UH, RECOGNIZE ASAR CHAVEZ MARCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY WE HONOR THE LEGACY OF CESA CHAVEZ. UH, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE DONE THAT ALL MONTH JUST ABOUT, UM, TRINITY UNIVERSITY HAD A KICKOFF OF THE SONG FOR CESA THAT WILL BE PLAYED DURING HIS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH ON P B S. WONDERFUL MOVIE. PLEASE LOOK FOR IT. UH, OUR LADY LAKE COLLEGE, OUR UNIVERSITY HAD THE KICKOFF FOR THE MARCH. UM, AND IT'S REALLY SOMETHING TO KNOW THAT THIS IS THE 27TH YEAR THAT THE MARCH WILL HAPPEN. AND IT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDATION FOUNDED BY JAIME MARTINEZ. AND BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN CONTINUED BY HIS SON, ERNEST MARTINEZ. AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE IF ERNEST, IF YOU AND THE FOLKS THAT PUT THE MARCH TOGETHER, COULD COME UP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE. AND I KNOW THERE'S MANY MORE. UM, AND, AND LET ME SAY THAT ERNEST HAS HIS OWN BUSINESS. AND DESPITE THAT, HE HAS NOT ALLOWED A YEAR TO GO BY WITHOUT COMMEMORATING CESAR'S LEGACY. UM, WE ALL KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF CESAR TO THE FARM WORKERS, BUT TO ALL OF US FROM THE CHICANO MOVEMENT AND TO SO MANY PEOPLE HERE NOW, UH, TODAY, I FELT LIKE IT WAS ALMOST FIESTA WITH EVERYBODY IN SUCH A CELEBRATORY MOOD. I AM HOPING THAT, UH, EVERYONE WILL COME OUT TO THE MARCH. THE MARCH WILL BE THIS SATURDAY AT NINE O'CLOCK AT THE CORNER OF BRAZOS AND GUADALUPE. UM, AND THERE'S SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS THAT WE WILL HAVE. I DON'T, I DON'T THINK ARTURO'S HERE. ARTURO RODRIGUEZ AND HIS WIFE, UH, ARTURO'S DAUGHTER, JULIE RODRIGUEZ, WHO WORKS FOR THE PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATION WILL BE HERE. UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE A PERSON THAT'LL BE INTRODUCED LATER WHO IS A NURSE AND WAS ON THAT FIRST MARCH WITH SESA. UM, SO YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT HER LATER. UM, WANNA SAY THAT, UH, THE MARCH WILL BEGIN, LIKE I SAID, IN GUADALUPE AND BRAZOS AND VIA WILL BE, UH, TRANSIT WILL BE PROVIDING, UM, [00:30:01] RIDES TO AND FROM THE MARCH. SO I HOPE THAT WE SEE ALL OF YOU THERE. LET ME SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. UM, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT THIS MARCH, AND I'M VERY PROUD. I WAS POINTED OUT THE OTHER DAY AT TRINITY THAT WE ARE A CITY, ONE OF THE CITIES THAT CELEBRATES CESA CHAVEZ AS A HOLIDAY, HIS BIRTH AS A HOLIDAY. SO THANK YOU AND, UM, WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU, DEAR. THANK YOU, CAST COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO, GO AHEAD. WELL, THA THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN CASTRO. AND, AND BY THE WAY, IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE COUNCILWOMAN CASTRO THERE IN DISTRICT SEVEN. BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THAT. UH, WELL, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. YES, IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, THE 27TH ANNUAL CESA CHAVEZ, MARCH FOR JUSTICE IS HERE. AND YES, MY FATHER STARTED THIS AS A MARCH. UM, HE CAME BACK FROM THE FUNERAL IN 1993, AND HE SAID, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING FOR CESA HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. CESA WAS A FRIEND AND MENTORED TO MY FATHER, AND MY FATHER SAID, SAN ANTONIO IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO HAVE THIS MARCH STARTED WITH A COUPLE OF HUNDRED PEOPLE AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY REALLY, THERE WAS A LOT OF RESISTANCE TO THIS MARCH. UH, THEY DIDN'T WANT INTERRUPTION OF THE FINAL FOUR, THEY DIDN'T WANNA INTERRUPT DOWNTOWN TOURISTS. THAT WAS THE MINDSET BACK THEN. BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME TO SEE THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL CO-SPONSORED AND WITH A PAID HOLIDAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR, LAST YEAR THAT WAS PASSED A PAID HOLIDAY FOR CESA CHAVEZ HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND AS COUNCILMAN, UH, CASTRO MENTIONED, WE STARTED OFF STRONG AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH. WE DID SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WE KICKED THIS OFF WITH A COMMUNITY KICKOFF PRESS CONFERENCE AT OUR LE LAKE UNIVERSITY THAT WAS JOINED BY NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, UH, STUDENT GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, UH, COMING TOGETHER, EDUCATIONAL LEADERS THAT CAME TOGETHER TO KICK THIS OFF AT OUR LE LAKE UNIVERSITY WITH DR. CHAVEZ. TOTALLY EMBRACED THE IDEA. UH, BY THE WAY, YESTERDAY WE HAD A, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A CESA CHAVEZ MARCH, YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE MARCH, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF ART AND MUSIC THAT'S PLAYED. SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF THAT THIS YEAR. UM, THIS YEAR'S THEME FOR THE MARCH, INSPIRED BY THE FARM WORKER PRAYER BY CESA CHAVEZ. FINDING TRUE LIFE THROUGH SERVICE TO OTHERS. AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE'VE LEANED ON EACH OTHER BEING OF SERVICE TO EACH OTHER. SO VERY FITTING THEME, UH, BUT EXCITING FOR THIS YEAR. MY FATHER STARTED THIS TRADITION OF A GRAND AL IDEA FOR THE MARCH IN THE EARLY YEARS. WE HAD DOLORES HUERTA, RICHARD CHAVEZ, ARTURO RODRIGUEZ, AND WE HAD A LOCAL GRAND MARSHALL. THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MARCH'S HISTORY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GRAND MARSHALL TRIO WITH A FAMILY, THE CASTRO FAMILY IN COUNCILMAN ROSIE CASTRO, HER SON, FORMER MAYOR AND HU SECRETARY JULIAN CASTRO AND CONGRESSMAN JOAQUIN CASTRO, ALL THREE SERVING AS THE FAMILY GRAND MARSHAL FOR THIS YEAR'S MARCH. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK, AND OF COURSE YOU SEE FOLKS HERE FROM THE BOARD. UH, MOST OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE EDUCATORS. THEY'RE IN THE CLASSROOM OR AT WORK. BUT, UH, VIA REALLY STEPPED UP THIS YEAR, THERE'S FREE TRANSPORTATION FROM ALAMO DOME STARTING AT 8:00 AM FROM LOTS B AND C ON SATURDAY. THEY'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO THE FRONT OF THE MARCH AND RETURN SERVICE FROM HEMISPHERE, UH, THERE BACK TO, UH, THEIR VEHICLES, UH, THERE ON SATURDAY. AND WE GOTTA GIVE BACK, RIGHT? SO I'M REMINDING EVERYBODY, DO NOT FORGET YOUR CANNED GOODS WITH THE THOUSANDS WE'RE EXPECTING, WE'RE EXPECTING, UH, QUITE A FEW FOLKS. SO, UH, YOUR CANNED GOODS WILL GO TO THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK AND THE YES WE CAN CAMPAIGN, UH, IN SPANISH, THAT , RIGHT? SO I WANT TO HAND IT OVER JUST FOR, UH, JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. UH, OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND, IT'S GROWING THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY. IT'S EMBRACED IT. UH, AND I WANNA TURN THIS OVER TO DR. CARLO DURAN TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR MAKING A STELLAR YEAR. LAST YEAR WAS OUR BIGGEST, UH, AMOUNT FUNDRAISED AT 50,000. AND EVERY YEAR WE HOPE TO INCREMENTALLY GROW THAT FUND TO BE ABLE TO, UH, REACH MORE STUDENTS, RIGHT? SO WE WANNA ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. AND IF YOU CAN GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE THIS YEAR, THAT WOULD BE, UH, VERY, VERY, UM, REWARDING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES. AND WE TRY TO GIVE THOSE TO STUDENTS THAT ARE HIGH NEED, UM, IN ALL OF BEAIRD COUNTY. AND SO THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED THROUGH MARCH 31ST. UM, PLEASE SHARE THOSE. YOU CAN FIND THE INFORMATION ON OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WEBSITE. SO THERE'S A LINK IN MY EMAIL IF YOU NEED ANY ADD, YOU KNOW, HELP IN COMPLETING THAT. YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US AND WE'RE GLAD TO HELP YOU. AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 18 SUBMISSIONS, SO OF COURSE I WANNA SEE WAY MORE THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF [00:35:01] YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. UH, YES, WE MARCHED FOR CESA CHAVEZ, BUT I WANT TO MAKE MENTION THAT WHEN WE MENTION CESA CHAVEZ, WE HAVE TO MENTION DELOS HUERTA ALSO. SO WE MARCHED FOR HER AS WELL. AND ALL THOSE WHO'VE COME BEFORE US WHO HAVE LENT THEIR VOICE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND OPENED UP DOORS FOR ALL OF US. SO THANK YOU MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL COMMENT, SO PLEASE, UH, STAY STAND BY. COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HVAR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I ADD MY THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ERNEST, UM, YOUR TEAM, THE BOARD AT THE CESAR CHAVEZ CHAVE, UH, LEGACY AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION. UM, I JUST A QUICK STORY, UM, ABOUT HOW HARD ERNEST WORKS AT, AT THIS, WITH THIS MARCH. WE RAN INTO EACH OTHER AT A GAS STATION AND THERE HE WAS WITH HIS FLYERS. AND I HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM GIVING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO WHERE, WHEREVER HE IS, HE'S ALWAYS THINKING THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION. AND I DO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I THANK ALL OF YOU UP HERE TODAY, DR. TORAH, UM, DURRAN AND COUNCILWOMAN, ROS AND, AND, UM, AND YOU, SIR, IN THE REALLY AMAZING HAT. I APPRECIATE IT, UM, FOR BEING OUT HERE AND, AND ALWAYS OUT HERE WORKING. UH, A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, IRENE CHAVEZ, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST, UH, RECIPIENTS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP. AND SHE'S IN THE COMMUNITY DOING GREAT WORK. PEOPLE LIKE YOU EMBODY ONE OF, UM, MR. CHAVEZ'S VERY FAMOUS QUOTES. WE CANNOT SEEK ACHIEVEMENT FOR OURSELVES AND FORGET ABOUT PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO I THINK YOU EMBODY THAT AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING, UM, TO KEEP THE LEGACY ALIVE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE AT THE MARCH, WHICH I'LL, UM, IS THIS SATURDAY, ACTUALLY. AND SO I, I INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT. IT'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL EVENT. AND, UM, AND I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BEO, HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S CONTINUED WORK AND COUNCILMAN CISNEROS FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK AND ADVOCACY FOR RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS YEAR YOU ARE HONORING, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROSIE CASTRO AND, UH, JULIAN AND JOAQUIN CASTRO FOR, UH, THEIR IMMENSE IMPACT ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND QUITE FRANK, RIGHT, THE UNITED STATES. SO I THINK IT'S VERY SYMBOLIC AND IT'S VERY MOVING. I'M EXCITED TO BE THERE TO MARCH ALONGSIDE YOU ALL. WE WILL HAVE FOLKS MEETING WITH US IN FRONT OF LINDA TACOS. WE'LL HAVE LABOR UNIONS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WE'RE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO COME OUT, MEET WITH US IN FRONT OF LINDA'S CAFE, GET YOURSELF SOME TACOS, AND THEN LET'S MARCH ALL THE WAY TO OUR LADY OF THE, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S CONTINUED WORK, UH, AND Y'ALL SCHOLARSHIP FUND PARTICULARLY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADVANCING OUR YOUTH. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UM, EARNEST AND, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM. UH, YOU ALL ARE PHENOMENAL. I JUST, I, I'M IMPRESSED AT EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AND JUST SO VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO, UM, TO STAND WITH YOU ALL. UM, MY, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND, UH, COUNCILMAN CASTRO, UH, AND I WERE AT THE LADY OF THE LAKE KICKOFF AND THERE WAS SO MUCH ENERGY, AND MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME OF MY STUDENTS IN THERE, I WAS EXCITED TO SEE, BUT I JUST FELT THAT, THAT ENERGY JUST EVERY YEAR, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH, UM, TO SAY FOR THE ENTHUSIASM. AND I THINK THAT A BIG PART OF IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU ALL. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON SATURDAY. . THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT BECAUSE WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HOW THE MARCH HAS GROWN UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, BERNIE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE ON SATURDAY. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. THANKS EVERYBODY. THANK YOU, . ALRIGHT, NOW I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WITH THE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE WOMEN AS PART OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND LAST WEEK. UM, MY COLLEAGUES WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE A FEW WOMEN IN THEIR DISTRICTS. AND, UM, WE, WE HAD SCHEDULED FOR TODAY BECAUSE MY, UM, THE, THE, THE RECOGNITION THAT I'M DOING TODAY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD HER FAMILY HERE. AND TODAY, I WANNA RECOGNIZE MRS. CHRIS RETE FOR HER SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS AS A MEMBER OF THE PORT SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AS AN APPOINTEE OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, MS. RETE SERVED ON THE PORT SAN ANTONIO BOARD FROM 2008 TO 2023 PRIOR TO HER ROLE AS BOARD CHAIR. SINCE 2019, SHE SERVED AS SECRETARY TREASURER AND AS VICE CHAIR DURING MORE THAN A DECADE OF SERVICE TO THE PORT SAN ANTONIO BOARD. SHE WAS SECRETARY TREASURER IN 2014, VICE CHAIR IN 2015, SHE WAS CHAIR OF THE KELLY FIELD CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE IN 2017. SHE WAS CHAIR OF THE PERFORMANCE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IN 2018 AND SERVED AS BOARD CHAIR FROM 2019 THROUGH 2023. CHRIS BEGAN HER 35 YEAR HEALTHCARE CAREER AT CHRISTUS SANTA ROSA AND OBTAINED HER CERTIFICATION FROM THE TEXAS HOME AND COMMUNITY [00:40:01] SUPPORT SERVICE AGENCY AS A HOME HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATOR. SHE ALSO HOSTS CATHOLIC TELEVISION OF SAN ANTONIO'S, CHANNEL 15. TODAY'S MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTING MINISTRY BASED PROGRAMS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH BY THE WAY, CHRIS, I DON'T KNOW THIS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT I WAS AN INTERN AT C T S A MANY, MANY YEARS AGO AFTER HER RETIREMENT IN 2014, SHE BECAME A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OF THE ROSE BOUTIQUE FLORIST, THE FLORAL COMPANY THAT IS AFFILIATED WITH F T D AND SERVES ALL OF BEAR COUNTY. RETA CHAIRED THE 2000 CENSUS COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE AS THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN ON BEHALF OF FORMER SAN ANTONIO MAYOR ED GARZA. IN 2012, SHE WAS APPOINTED BY MAYOR JULIAN CASTRO AS CO-CHAIR OF THE 2012 PROPOSED BOND COMMITTEE ON STREETS, BRIDGES, AND SIDEWALKS. CURRENTLY, SHE SERVES ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S, OR SHE SERVED ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S 2017 DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL COMMUNITY BOND COMMITTEE. ALTE ALSO SERVED ON THE BLUE RIBBON 2017 BOND COMMITTEE FOR THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, A MEASURE THAT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2017. SHE IS ALSO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME AND CONTINUES TO SERVE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SHE WAS ALSO THE FORMER CHAIR AND CONTINUES TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF OASIS, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES SUCCESSFUL AGING THROUGH LIFELONG LEARNING HEALTH PROGRAMS AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT. SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS BOARD CHAIR OF SAM MINISTRIES, WHERE SHE OVERSAW THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A TRANSITIONAL SHELTER FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES. ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT I WORKED WITH, AND SHE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER'S, CANCER THERAPY AND RESEARCH CENTER. THE ORGANIZATION RECENTLY BECAME AFFILIATED WITH MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. HER OTHER CURRENT BOARD PHYSICIANS INCLUDE THE HERITAGE AS AT WESTOVER HILLS, AN ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE CENTER, AS WELL AS LAS ES, THE ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS RESTORE THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. RETE ATTENDED SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, TRINITY UNIVERSITY. SHE IS MARRIED TO JO JUNIOR. THE COUPLE HAS FIVE CHILDREN, AS WELL AS FIVE GRANDSONS AND TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS, SOME OF THEM WITH US TODAY. CHRIS, I WANNA RECOGNIZE YOUR SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO AND SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS A PORT SAN ANTONIO BOARD CHAIR. THERE'S A MOMENTUM IN SOUTHWEST SAN ANTONIO, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THAT IT IS DRIVEN LARGELY IN PART TO INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU WHO SHARE A PASSION FOR EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE TRANSFORMATION HAPPENING AT PORT SAN ANTONIO IS MADE POSSIBLE, OF COURSE, WITH THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT AND C E O, JIM PERSH BUCK, WHO IS IN THE BACK. THANK YOU, JIM, FOR BEING HERE AND ALL THOSE WHO SERVE AND CON WHO HAVE SERVED AND CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT PORT SAN ANTONIO. BUT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE WITNESSED THE EXPANSION OF THE CAMPUS, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF BOEING CENTER AT TECH PORT, THE MATERIAL INNOVATION CENTER, AND THE LIVING HERITAGE TRADES ACADEMY LEARNING LAB. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP. THE 1900 ACRE BUSINESS PARK IS NOW HOME TO MORE THAN 80 COMPANIES, EMPLOYING 16,000 WORKERS. AND THERE WAS A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY BY STANDARD ARROW. THANK YOU CHRIS, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOUR FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING YOUR WORK. I THINK WE CAN ALL ATTEST TO HOW CRITICAL IT IS TO HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES WHO OFFER US SUPPORT, WHETHER THAT'S FAMILY, FRIENDS, MENTORS, OR EXTENDED NETWORK, WHICH I KNOW YOU BROUGHT SOME OF YOUR EXTENDED NETWORK TODAY TO SUPPORT YOU. YOU ARE AN EXTRAORDINARY LEADER, AND MOST OF ALL, YOU'RE AN EXCEPTIONAL ROLE MODEL FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO HAVE A TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT. I KNOW YOUR WORK IS FAR FROM OVER AND THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HELP US IMPROVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES PERHAPS IN HEALTHCARE VERY SOON, AND ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN OUR RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS, CHRIS. CHRIS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND, UH, AS YOU COME TO THE PODIUM, UH, LET ME PRESENT THIS OFFICIAL APPRECIATION TO CHRIS ALDRETE IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR 15 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO THE PORT AUTHORITY OF SAN ANTONIO BOARD. THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ARE PROUD TO JOIN YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND FELLOW COLLEAGUES IN SALUTING YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE AND PROUDLY EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OFFER BEST WISHES FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME. PRESENTED THIS 23RD DAY OF MARCH, 2023. THANK YOU, CHRIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA. I WAS DEEPLY MOVED BY YOUR, UH, HISTORY AND IT DOES GO A LONG WAY. I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL, UH, FORMER COUNCILMAN PHILIP CORTEZ, WHO APPOINTED ME, UH, MANY YEARS AGO. AND AT THAT TIME I WAS THE ONLY WOMAN ON THE BOARD. BUT NOW I'M GLAD TO SEE MANY OTHER, UH, COLLEAGUES THAT Y'ALL HAVE [00:45:01] APPOINTED ON THE BOARD. NOW THEY ARE HERE TODAY. AND I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CURRENT CHAIR, UH, MARGARET WILSON NAIA AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WITH A PORT TO JOIN ME ALONG WITH MY FAMILY AND SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHO, UM, SOME OF MY FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE, LIKE MARY ALICE CISNEROS AND ALEJANDRA AND ELISA BERNAL ARE A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO MAYBE 14 YEARS AGO WE MEET AT RA AND WE CALL OURSELVES JUST THE MI TIERRA MORNING GROUP. PLEASE COME UP, LADIES AND AND MY FAMILY, PLEASE COME UP. UH, THESE LADIES GOT TOGETHER AND WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL THE COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS LIKE COUNCIL PERRY MENTIONED, AND WE WERE SAYING, WHAT BOARDS SHOULD WE IMPACT? THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WOMEN REPRESENTING US. AND SO THE WOMEN SAID THERE WERE, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, CORTEZ SAID AT THE TIME, CHRIS, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THAT BOARD? AND I WENT, WHO? ME? YOU KNOW, I'M IN HEALTHCARE. WHAT WOULD I KNOW ABOUT PLANES AND TRAINS AND TRANSPORTATION AND CYBERSECURITY. BUT I LEARNED. AND THAT'S WHY I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO CONTINUE LOOKING INTO YOUR DISTRICTS AND FINDING PEOPLE WILLING TO SERVE BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF ENERGY AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF YOUR COMMUNITY. AND THE COMMUNITY IS STANDING RIGHT BEHIND ME, PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND HOW WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO GIVE BACK. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION. I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T INTRODUCE MY FAMILY. AND OF COURSE, MY HUSBAND SAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, UH, PLACE AND ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S HERE WITH ME, WHO IS MICHAEL MODERN AND A STRONG MENTOR IS NORMA RODRIGUEZ, WHO THIS FACILITY IS NAMED AFTER. SO LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. SHE'S JUST LIKE FAMILY. BUT MY HUSBAND, JOE, OUR DAUGHTER, CLAUDETTE, OUR ELDEST DAUGHTER, CLAUDETTE, AND THEN MY SON JOE, WHO FREQUENTS THE HALLS HERE QUITE OFTEN, AND MY TWIN DAUGHTERS, PATINA AND MARINA. AND WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER DAUGHTER, UH, WHO PASSED CLARISSA, UH, . BUT, BUT WE WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JOB. GOOD JOB. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. COUNCIL MEMBER VIE GRAND. CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU AND JOE FOR BEING A FRIEND TO THE VIE GRANDS. UH, WHEN MY SISTER DECIDED TO RUN ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, UM, SHE MET WITH YOUR GROUP AND SHE REMEMBERS YOU AND YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT FONDLY. AND I JUST CAN'T, UM, LET YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY WITHOUT KNOWING YOUR INFLUENCE ON THE WOMEN ON THIS DAIS. BECAUSE BECAUSE OF YOU, SHE SAT HERE AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I SIT HERE AND, AND, AND THIS IS YOUR LEGACY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. CHRIS, UH, WHAT A WONDERFUL CAREER. AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT DONE YET. YOU STILL GOT A LOT MORE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY, BUT JUST WANT TO KIND OF GO THROUGH MEMORY LANE A LITTLE BIT. I WAS, I WAS AT BROOKS, UM, WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME OUT THAT KELLY WAS GONNA CLOSE DOWN. WE ALL THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE BROOKS AT THE TIME, BUT IT WASN'T. IT WAS KELLY. UM, AND THAT WAS A BIG SHOCK TO THIS COMMUNITY. BUT I, I WANT TO SAY WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE, IT'S NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO KELLY, THE OLD KELLY AIR FORCE BASE, AND NOW THE PORT, UH, HERE FOR SAN ANTONIO. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE HAD AND THE HAND THAT YOU'VE HAD AND, AND THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE, UH, VOLUNTEERS THAT DO, UH, DO ALL THE WORK THAT'S NECESSARY TO KEEP ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT, UM, COMMITTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS GOING. UM, AND I KNOW MANY ENJOYS THAT, UH, THAT BOARD AS WELL. AND, UH, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU ON THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY A PLEASURE FOR ME TO SEE THE ALRE FAMILY UP HERE. UH, WE FIRST HAD SOME INTERACTION OVER 40 YEARS AGO AND, UH, JOE AND I HAVE KIND OF SWITCHED PLACES OVER THAT 40 YEARS. HE WAS A COUNCILMAN AND I WAS A MEMBER OF THE A C C D BOARD. AND NOW, UH, I'M HONORED TO BE ON THE COUNCIL. I KNOW HE'S HONORED TO SERVE ON THE A C C D BOARD, AND CHRIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE KIND OF PERSON WHO STEPS UP AND DOES THINGS ON HER OWN. UH, YES, [00:50:01] IN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HER HUSBAND AND OF COURSE AS A, A LEADER OF HER DAUGHTERS AND HER FAMILY. UH, BUT SHE'S DONE SO MUCH ALSO FOR THIS COMMUNITY. UH, I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO HEAR, UH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED AND I KNOW THE WHOLE FAMILY HAS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S FEW FAMILIES THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IN SAN ANTONIO HISTORY THAT HAVE DONE AS MUCH OR HAVE OFFERED THEMSELVES AS MUCH AS YOUR FAMILY HAS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, CONTINUED HEALTH AND, AND CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE OR CHRIS THE PORT IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE'VE GOT GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH GREAT LEADERSHIP, UH, AND MAKING SURE THAT IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE THERE IS LEADERSHIP THAT'S SUPPORTED, THAT'S HELD ACCOUNTABLE, BUT THAT ALSO IS EXTRACTING THE VERY BEST TALENT FROM EVERYWHERE WE POSSIBLY CAN FIND. AND SO ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, UH, THE MOMENTUM THAT HA IS HAPPENING AT THE PORT AND, AND THE GREAT FUTURE THAT IT REALLY HAS, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT VENTURES AND LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND, UH, YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM US ABOUT THAT SOON. THANKS SO MUCH, CHRIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T INCLUDE MY GRANDSONS. THIS IS JOE THE FOURTH, AND THIS IS JUDE AND ADRIAN AND THEY CAME TO JOIN US, SO THEY SKIPPED SCHOOL TODAY, SO LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. Y'ALL GET IN THE FRONT, IN THE FRONT WITH THAT. ADRIANA, DO YOU WANNA COUGH ADRIANA? ALL RIGHT, I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AS WE KNOW, MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND IT'S ALSO CONTEMPORARY ART MONTH. SO OUR LAST DAY SESSION AS OUR LAST DAY SESSION IN MARCH, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL WOMEN INVOLVED IN OUR LOCAL CONTEMPORARY ART SCENE IN SAN ANTONIO TO GIVE ALL OF US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE IN SOME OF THE CULTURAL RICHNESS THAT OUR ARTS COMMUNITY HAS TO OFFER. CONTEMPORARY ARTS MONTH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1986 AND IS A NON-PROFIT THAT PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR OUR ARTISTS COMMUNITIES OF SAN ANTONIO. IT GATHERS THE BEST OF GALLERIES, MUSEUMS, PERFORMING ART SPACES, SCHOOLS, ARTISTS AND STUDIOS, AND PROMOTES CONTEMPORARY ART EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO. SINCE 2012, CONTEMPORARY ART MONTH HAS ALSO HOST AN EXHIBITION WHERE A CURATOR FROM OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO IS INVITED TO ASSEMBLE AND SHOW FEATURING CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UM, THE FOLLOWING UP. UM, NINA, IT HAS BEEN THE CONTEMPORARY ART MONTHS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SINCE 2012. NINA IS A BROOKLYN BASED, TEXAS BASED CURATOR, ARTS SUPPORTER, AND ARTS ORGANIZER. AS A CHILD, NEW YORK'S MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES WERE HER PLAYGROUND AND SAFE SPACES. AFTER MOVING TO TEXAS, NINA FOUND HER JOY AND REFUGEE IN ART AGAIN, FALLING IN LOVE WITH SAN ANTONIO'S VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE DOWNTOWN ART SCENE. NINA HAS SPENT OVER 15 YEARS IMMERSED IN THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMUNITY, FIRST AS A FRIEND, VOLUNTEER COLLECTOR AND FUNDRAISER, AND IS NOW CURATING LOCAL AND TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS AND SERVING AS AN ADVISOR TO ARTS INSTITUTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, IN ATTENDANCE, WE ARE, WE HAVE CARISSA VALEZ, AND Y'ALL COULD MAKE YA'S WAY UP IF YOU'D LIKE. AND SELENA MONTEYO, CO-FOUNDERS OF MOTHERING MOTHERING IS A D I Y WOMAN RUN ART COLLECTIVE, DEDICATED TO PRESENTING THE CONTEMPORARY AND FAMILIAR FORMAT, AND CURRENTLY CULTIVATES THEIR D I Y ARTISTRY AT MERCURY PROJECT IN DISTRICT FIVE, UH, RIGHT ON THE BOARD OF D THREE. SO WE BOTH SHARE THIS CULTURAL ARTS GEM. CHRISA VALDEZ IS AN ARTIST WRITER CURATOR BASED IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. SHE CURRENTLY WORKS AT TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO AND IS EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT ART AND NONPROFIT WORK. HAVING WORKED AS A VOLUNTEER WITH SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE MCNAY ART MUSEUM. SHE'S ALSO A PUBLISHED POET AND MOST RECENTLY HAD HER PHOTOGRAPHY WORK DISPLAYED AT A BRIGHT COFFEE IN FEBRUARY OF 2022. SHE PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED PRATT INSTITUTE FOR CREATIVE WRITING, UH, AND IS CURRENTLY A STUDENT AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE AND, AND IS AND IS COMPLETING HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN VISUAL ARTS AND MEDIA. SELENA MONTE IS AN ARTIST AND CURATOR FROM SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND SHE'S ALSO BASED IN [00:55:01] WASHINGTON AND HAS A DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND A NONPROFIT ORGAN, UH, NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO AS AN ARTIST. HER PORTFOLIO EXPLORES THEMES OF NOSTALGIA AND IDENTITY. SHE'S A NATIVE SAN ANTONIO AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ARTS SCENES FROM A YOUNG AGE WITH NOTABLE EXPERIENCE AT THE BLUE STAR CONTEMPORARY AND AT THE SMITHSONIAN. SO, AND THE LATINO CENTERS FOR YOUNG AMBASSADORS PROGRAM. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THE THREE OF YOU ALL HERE, UM, TO CELEBRATE CONTEMPORARY ARTS MONTH. UM, AND IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT THAT MEANS TO YOU ALL, UM, UH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NINA HASSELL WITH CONTEMPORARY ART MONTH. WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING THE ARTS AND ARTISTS IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE 1986, AND I'VE BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION SINCE 2010, I THINK MAYBE NINE, MAYBE SEVEN IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. UM, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS AND THEN PASS IT OVER. WE SHARE A SPACE AT MERCURY PROJECT, WHICH IS AN AWESOME ARTIST RUN SPACE IN SAN ANTONIO ON ROOSEVELT AVENUE. PLEASE COME BY AND VISIT US. THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE IN THERE. AND, UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE REALLY GOOD THINGS COMING UP BEFORE THE MONTH IS OVER THIS FRIDAY. WE ARE, WE ARE SCREENING OUR YOUTH, UM, STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL. WE ACTUALLY HAD 30 PLUS SUBMISSIONS AND ALL OF THEM WERE SO AMAZING THAT WE DIDN'T WANNA JUST PICK ONE OR 10. SO WE DECIDED TO CHOOSE ALL OF THEM AND CREATE A TWO HOUR FILM FESTIVAL THAT WILL BE SHOWING AT THE TOBIN CENTER WILLS PLAZA ON FRIDAY, STARTING AT 6:00 PM SO PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN US. ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE HAVE OUR CAM AWARDS AND CAM GRANTS. THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR OF SUPPORTING A MICRO GRANT. WE'RE DOING THREE GRANTS THAT ARE SPONSORED BY FIVE WOMEN THAT SUPPORT THE ARTS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING THAT AT SPACE C SEVEN ALSO ON ROOSEVELT AVENUE, ON THE 31ST OF MARCH. AND WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL EXHIBITION CURATED BY GIL ROCHA FROM LAREDO, TEXAS AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY AT THE GALLERY. SO PLEASE STOP BY AND SEE THAT THAT'LL BE SHOWING UNTIL APRIL 8TH. THANK YOU. HI EVERYBODY. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE. UM, I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT, UM, TERRY CASTILLO HAS BEEN ABLE TO INVITE US HERE AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT MOTHERING. UM, AND A LITTLE, UM, TIDBIT IS THAT, UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH NINA LIKE PERSONALLY BEFORE IN CONTEMPORARY ART MONTH. AND IT'S COOL, IT'S KIND OF FEELS ALMOST FULL CIRCLE BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE GOT A CAMMIE AWARD FOR CONTEMPORARY ART MONTH AND NOW WE SHARE LIKE A STUDIO SPACE AND WE'RE UP HERE TALKING WITH HER AND WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED. UM, SO, UH, ME AND KRISA ARE THE CO-FOUNDERS OF MOTHERLAND GALLERY. AND SO IT'S KIND OF A COLLECTIVE STYLE, UM, SPACE WHERE WE PERSONALLY CURATE AND WANNA WORK WITH UNDERREPRESENTED ARTISTS, SPECIFICALLY WOMEN AND A NON-BINARY ARTISTS. AND SO WE DEFINITELY SAW THAT THERE WAS A NEED, UM, FOR MORE UNDERREPRESENTED ARTISTS OR UP AND COMING ARTISTS. ALSO, WE JUST WANTED TO CREATE MORE OF A PLATFORM FOR WOMEN ARTISTS TO NOT HAVE AS MANY LIMITATIONS FOR MORE FEM ARTWORK. AND SO, UH, WE DEFINITELY BELIEVE IN CREATING LIKE A PUBLIC PLATFORM AND HAVING THESE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HAVING DIFFERENT EVENTS AND SPACES, UM, JUST WANTING TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU EVERYONE AND THANK YOU TERRY FOR HAVING US. UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WITHOUT NINA, I DON'T THINK WHAT WE DO WOULD BE POSSIBLE. UM, HAVING CONTEMPORARY ART HIGHLIGHTED IN THE CITY IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE'RE SO FORTUNATE THAT THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GROWING IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR ART SCENE. THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL. AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CHECK OUT OUR LOCAL GALLERY, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARTISTS, CHECK OUT ALL THE EXEC EX EXHIBITIONS, UH, AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND ENJOY CONTEMPORARY ARTS MONTH IN DISTRICT FIVE. GREAT. AND BEFORE Y'ALL LEAVE, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL CELEBRATE CONTEMPORARY ART MONTH TO HIGHLIGHT THE DIVERSE ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ALAMO CITY. AND WHEREAS THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE VISUAL ARTS WAS INITIATED BY BLUE STAR ART SPACE IN 1986 TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR THE ARTISTS COMMUNITIES OF SAN ANTONIO TO SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS AND TALENTS. AND WHEREAS THE ARTS ARE A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND CONTRIBUTE TO ITS QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING. AND WHEREAS CITYWIDE CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITS, EVENTS AND OUR SCHEDULED AND OUR PUBLISHED AND CONTEMPORARY ART MONTH CALENDAR DISTRIBUTED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS MONTH LONG OB OBSERVANCE AND WHEREAS ALL CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO ARE INVITED TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC HERITAGE OF OUR CITY AND THE VITALITY OF OUR CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS. NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NUREMBERG MAYOR, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH, 2023 TO BE CONTEMPORARY ART MONTH IN [01:00:01] SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. OKAY, NOW LET ME TURN IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER VILLA GRAND. WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, THANK YOU. ALL MONTH WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATING WOMEN IN HISTORY AND WOMEN MAKING HISTORY. WE STARTED THIS LAST YEAR BRINGING GROUPS OF WOMEN UP AND CELEBRATING WHAT THEY'VE DONE. AND I'M GLAD TO CONTINUE TO DO IT THIS YEAR. UM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A FEW WEEKS IN MAY AND NOT THE FULL FOUR, I WANTED TO, FOR MY POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO TALK ABOUT WOMEN MAKING HISTORY IN THE ARTS. AND I THINK IT WAS FITTING THAT VOCAB WAS HERE AND STARTED THIS SESSION WITH THE POETRY. BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE ARTS ARE USED IN SCENE IN, IN SO MANY FORMS AND THEY HELP US TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION THAT SOMETIME IS RATHER DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATE OUR HURTS, OUR PAINS, OUR CULTURE, AND THEN SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT. SO TODAY I HAVE FOUR WOMEN HERE TODAY. THEY'RE PART OF OUR SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMUNITY, ADVOCATING AND BRINGING OUR CULTURE OUT FOR THE WORLD TO SEE AND ELEVATING ARTS IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE YADI YA YADIRA LOZANO UP CLAUDIA DESCO AND ANDY RODRIGUEZ. AND THEIR PICTURES ARE GONNA BE THERE WHILE I, I SHARE A LITTLE OF THEIR BIO. YADIRA GREW UP IN THE ARTS AS PART OF THE HARLANDALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, MARIACHI IN THE EIGHTIES. SHE PER PERFORMED, SANG AND PLAYED VIOLIN AT FESTIVALS AND WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE TUCSON MARIACHI FESTIVAL, THE FIRST GROUP. BUT OF COURSE, AS WE KNOW IN SAN ANTONIO, SHE HAD TO MOVE TO DO, DO SOME WORK AND MOVE TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, WHERE SHE WAS PRODUCING LARGE FESTIVALS, CULTURAL EVENTS, AND SPENT NEARLY A DECADE WORKING IN MUSEUMS. BUT SHE CAME HOME AND FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, SHE HAS PRODUCED GRAND OPENINGS FOR THE BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM AND THE TE JUNTO FESTIVAL. SHE SERVES AS THE D THREE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CITY ARTS COMMISSION PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE, AND, AND IS THE CHAIR OF CENTER OF THE ARTS', CITY RUN GALLERY. SHE'S NOW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LUMINA AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL SET FOR OCTOBER 21ST AT HEMISPHERE AND CONVENTION CENTER. NEXT UP IS CLAUDIA DI VASCO. BEFORE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO, SHE HAD A 15 YEAR CAREER WORKING IN LOS ANGELES, IN ABROAD AND IN HOLLYWOOD THEATER AND CIVICS. SHE WORKED AND PERFORMED BOTH ON STAGE AND OFF, INCLUDING TV SHOWS SUCH AS JANE THE VIRGIN SWAT GILMORE GIRLS, AND DID WORK ACROSS ACTOR DENZEL WASHINGTON AMONG ANY MANY ACTORS. TONY PLANA TOO, I GOTTA GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT. BUT SHE DID WORK ACROSS DENZEL WASHINGTON IN HIS OSCAR NOMINATED ROLE IN ROMAN ISRAEL ESQUIRE. WHEN WE MET, WE BECAME FAST FRIENDS. AND THE ONE FASCINATING POINT I LOVE IS THAT SHE WAS ONLY TWO LATINA PROFESSIONAL ACCENT COACHES IN THE INDUSTRY. OVER IN, IN, UH, LOS ANGELES. AND SHE ACTUALLY, THE LATE GREAT RAQUEL WELCH WAS ONE OF HER, HER STUDENTS. AND, UM, I JUST FOUND THAT FASCINATING. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO BE INVOLVED, UH, IN A CIVICS CAREER, ELECTED TO THE SILVER LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL IN LOS ANGELES, WORKING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT AT THIS, AT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, AND THEN MOVING HERE TO SAN ANTONIO TO TAKE OVER THE SAN ANTONIO LITTLE THEATER, KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC THEATER, AND KIND OF REVOLUTIONIZED THAT WITH AMERICAN MARIACHI MAKING GREAT CHANGES, PRODUCING AND DIRECTING THE FIRST LATINO WRITTEN SHOW PRODUCED BY THE COMPANY IN ITS ENTIRE HISTORY, BEING A WOMAN OF COLOR IN THIS TITLE IS NOT EASY, AND SHE'S BEEN CHAMPIONING IT, AND WE'VE ALL NEED TO COME BEHIND HER TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SUCCESSFUL, AND IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL SO FAR. SO I'M GLAD SHE'S HERE TODAY. AND THEN ANDY RODRIGUEZ FROM CENTRO SAN ANTONIO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CULTURAL PLACEMAKING. AS A LONGTIME URBAN CHAMPION, ANDY LEADS CENTRO'S ART EVERYWHERE PROJECT TO SHOWCASE EMERGING ARTISTS AND REMIND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF THE POWER OF PUBLIC FACING ART, UM, DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURES EFFORTS. ART EVERYWHERE WILL CELEBRATE ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY. THIS MAY, HAVING INSTALLED THE WORKS OF OVER 150 LOCAL ARTISTS DOWNTOWN. SHE SERVES ON THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OF URBAN LAND INSTITUTE. SHE'S A FORMER PLANNING COMMISSIONER AND HAS SERVED ON BOARDS, INCLUDING THE SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART, LUMIA, BLUE STAR CONTEMPORARY, AND AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS. SHE'S THE FOUNDING CHAIR OF HEMIS HEMISPHERE CONSERVANCY, [01:05:01] CO-FOUNDER OF POWER PRESERVATION, THE PROM AND FORMER CHAIR OF MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND PAST SHARE OF LEADERSHIP, SAN ANTONIO 44. ANDY IS A SERVANT LEADER. SHE'S BEEN PROMOTING THE ARTS AND ELEVATING ARTISTS AND ENCOURAGING JUST ALL THOSE WHO, WHO WANT TO TELL THE STORY OF SAN ANTONIO AND, AND PRESERVE AND ENHANCE PUBLIC SPACE. THE FOURTH PERSON I HAVE TO HEAR, HEAR, AND THERE IS A FOURTH PERSON THAT I AM HIGHLIGHTING IS PAULINA CHAVEZ. UM, SHE IS HERE WITH US VIRTUALLY, AND SHE'LL GIVE HER FIRST SP MOMENTS TO SPEAK, BUT PAULINA IS HERE TO CELEBRATE AS WE END WOMEN MAKING HISTORY. I JUST ATTENDED THE, UM, SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST PREMIERE OF THE LONG GAME, WHICH SHE WAS IN. AND THE THING THAT WE SEE IS THEY'RE TELLING THE STORY OF LATINOS IN THE FIFTIES AND OF WOMEN IN THE FIFTIES, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A A SMALL PORTION, AND THEY DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. BUT SHE HAS GONE FROM SAN ANTONIO AND CURRENTLY IS IN HOLLYWOOD, AND Y'ALL MIGHT KNOW HER FROM THE NETFLIX, THE EXPANDING UNIVERSE OF ASHLEY GARCIA FATE, THE WINK SAGA, AND, UM, AND OTHER SERIES. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE WOMEN ELEVATING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS OF THE ART. AND SO CURRENTLY PAULINA'S OUT WORKING ON A NEW PROJECT, BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO SHARE WITH, WITH US SOME REMARKS DURING OUR INVITATION. AND THEN CLAUDIA AND ANDY AND YADI ARE GONNA SHARE SOME REMARKS. HEY EVERYONE, I'M CLAUDINA CHAVEZ, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE INVITED TO THIS EDITION OF WOMEN MAKING HISTORY IN THE ARTS. I'VE BEEN ACTING SINCE I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD. I STARTED OFF AT SKY BROWN ELEMENT WITH THEIR THEATER PROGRAM, AND FROM THERE STARTED DOING LOCAL AND REGIONAL PROJECTS. I GOT MY FIRST BIG OPPORTUNITY ON THE NETFLIX SHOW, THE EXPANDING UNIVERSE OF ASHLEY GARCIA. THEN I GOT TO GO TO IRELAND TO SHOOT MY SECOND SHOW WITH NETFLIX FATE, THE WINK SAGA. LAST SUMMER, I GOT TO SHOOT A MOVIE AND IT PREMIERED LAST WEEK AT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST IN AUSTIN, AND IT'S CALLED THE LONG GAME. AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON A NEW PROJECT WITH DISNEY PLUS, AND I'M HERE IN NEW MEXICO SHOOTING. I'M PROUD TO BE REPRESENTING LATINAS IN TV AND FILM REPRESENTATION IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. I BELIEVE AS LATINOS GONNA TAKE UP MORE SPACE IN HOLLYWOOD, THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM FOR ALL OF US AND OUR STORIES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, KNOW YOUR WORTH, WORK HARD, AND SURROUND YOURSELF BY THE RIGHT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO UPLIFT YOU, AND LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. UH, PEOPLE WHO ADD VALUE TO YOUR LIFE AND DON'T ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. LADIES Y'ALL WANNA ADD TO THAT I GO FIRST. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR TO BE UP HERE IN THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK TO ALL OF YOU. I'M Y LOSANO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LUMINARIA, AND I JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF, OF SAN ANTONIO. WE LIVE AND BREATHE ARTS AND CULTURE WE'RE, IT'S INGRAINED IN US FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I STARTED PLAYING VIOLIN IN FOURTH GRADE AT COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY. UM, THERE'S AN AMAZING ART TEACHER THERE, UH, UM, NOE, AND HE TAUGHT MY DAUGHTER. MY DAUGHTER IS NOW PERCUSSION CAPTAIN FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR BAND FROM INDIAN LAND AT HARLANDALE HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD SOUTH SIDERS. I HAVE CHICKENS AND CHIHUAHUAS. THANK YOU FOR THE CHICKEN ORDINANCE, BY THE WAY. UM, AND ALSO, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THE ARTS ARE EVERYWHERE IN THE PANDEMIC. WHO DID WE TURN TO? WE TURNED TO NETFLIX, WE TURNED TO OUR, OUR MUSIC, WE TURNED TO SPOTIFY. WE READ BOOKS THAT IS ALL PRODUCED BY ARTISTS. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS AND CONTINUING TO, TO FUND, UH, AND PUT THAT, THOSE, THOSE DOLLARS INTO OUR POCKETS. BECAUSE AT LUMINARIA, WE HANDED OUT OVER, NOT HANDED OUT, WE WERE, WE AWARDED OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GRANTS AND CONTRACTS TO ARTISTS IN 2022. AND SO THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER, BUT IT CAN BE BIGGER. WE WANT ARTISTS TO CONTINUE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE WITHIN OUR, OUR CITY DISTRICT, AND BE ABLE TO PRODUCE AMAZING WORKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. LUMINA WORKS YEAR ROUND TO SUPPORT ARTISTS. WE ALSO HAVE THE WORKING ARTISTS FUND, WHICH IS A MICRO-GRANT FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. AND THE CITY. YOU'RE PRODUCING GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, WHICH IS AMAZING. AND SO THE MORE WE CAN FEED INTO OUR ARTS AND CULTURE, INTO OUR ARTISTS, INTO OUR LIVELIHOODS, INTO OUR POCKETBOOKS, THE MORE WE PRODUCE FOR OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY, WHICH IS TOURISM NEXT TO THE MILITARY. BUT TOURISTS COME TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S INSPIRING BECAUSE THERE'S AN OUTDOOR PUBLIC ART GALLERY. UM, I'M ALSO THE CHAIR OF ES, WHICH I'M LATE FOR OUR MEETING, BUT I'LL BE RIGHT OVER. IT'S JUST ACROSS THE STREET. [01:10:01] AND, UM, I, I'M VERY, UH, HONORED TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE ONE COMMITTEE THAT AT THE TIME WHEN IT WAS FORMED WAS THE ONLY ALL WOMEN, ALL LATINA COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S CHANGED. I HOPE SO. BUT IF NOT, THERE'S, THERE'S SO MANY WOMEN THAT HAVE, UM, THAT WE LEARN FROM, THAT MENTOR US, AND THAT SERVE ON THESE COMMITTEES STILL, AND THAT WE LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION SO THAT I CAN INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION SO THAT MY DAUGHTER CAN BE UP HERE IN FIVE TO 10 YEARS SPEAKING TO YOU AS WELL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRIVILEGE. I, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. HI, UH, I'M ANDY RODRIGUEZ. I AM, AS YOU KNOW, FROM CENTRO SAN ANTONIO. SO VERY QUICKLY, THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THIS RECOGNITION. AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN VRAN. YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL CHAMPION OF THE ARTS. AND, UH, OUR ART EVERYWHERE PROGRAM, AS YOU KNOW, IT FOCUSES DOWNTOWN, BUT WE WORK WITH ARTISTS, EMERGING LOCAL ARTISTS FROM ALL ACROSS THE CITY. THE REASON, AS HAD SAID, AND AND FROM EVERYBODY HERE VOCAB AND AND BEYOND, IS THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR ARTISTS. IT'S, IT'S A MATTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE ARTISTS TELL OUR STORIES AND THEY CONNECT US. THEY MAKE US MORE COMPASSIONATE AND ART EVERYWHERE. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS WORK ALONGSIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND FOSTER CLOSER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. WITH MORE SUPPORT, YOU'LL BECOME MORE AWARE OF ARTISTS, WE'LL CULTIVATE THAT APPETITE AND MAKE IT MORE ECONOMICALLY RE ROBUST, ROBUST, AS WELL AS CULTURALLY ROBUST. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN, UM, YOU'VE SAID IT ALL, AND, UM, WE'RE JUST SUPER GRATEFUL. AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR SUPPORT OF THE ARTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HAVING US HERE. IT TRULY IS AN HONOR. YOU KNOW, UH, MY, IT IS TRUE THAT I WORKED FOR MUCH OF MY CAREER IN LOS ANGELES, BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I ACTUALLY CAME BACK TO MY HOME STATE AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN HOUSTON AND WITH ROOTS IN SAN ANTONIO. MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN ON THE WEST SIDE, AND MY MOTHER WAS RAISED HERE IN HER EARLY YEARS. AND I WAS SO INSPIRED TO MOVE TO THIS CITY AND SEE HOW THE CITY ELEVATES WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT, IN BUSINESS, AND IN THE ARTS. THE AMOUNT OF WOMEN LEADERS IN EXECUTIVE POSITIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEATERS, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, IS SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T EVEN SEE IN LOS ANGELES, MINNEAPOLIS, OR SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT I'VE WORKED WITH ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND WE REALLY SHOULD BE PROUD. I HOPE THAT AS I LEAD THE THEATER, THE LONGEST RUNNING THEATER IN TEXAS, SOMETHING WE SHOULD REALLY BE PROUD OF, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY MEET THE CITY'S ECONOMIC GOALS, EDUCATION GOALS, AND ALSO ANY INITIATIVES IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFE COMMUNITIES. AND ALSO, AS THE CITY WORKS TO REALLY CONTINUE GROWING INTO BEING A, A MODEL AND AN EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M ALSO HONORED TO BE ONE OF THE FEW LATINA ARTISTIC DIRECTORS OF A PROFESSIONAL UNION THEATER IN THE COUNTRY. IT'S STILL SO RARE. UH, OUR COMMUNITY SPOKE UP ABOUT CHANGES NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN THE THEATER COMMUNITY, IN THE THEATER. OUR BOARD LISTENED. THEY BROUGHT ME AND RECRUITED ME OVER FROM LOS ANGELES. AND NOW THE NATION IS LOOKING TO OUR THEATER TO SEE THE KIND OF CHANGE THAT WE CAN MAKE, NOT JUST IN THE ARTS, BUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE CHANGES IN OUR CITY. SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL. WE ARE SO HONORED TO BE HERE. I THINK WE'VE SAID THAT 20 TIMES. SO NOW JUST SAY THANK YOU AGAIN, . THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. GRA ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOU ALL. THANK YOU. AND WE BELIEVE IN YOUR VISION. CLAUDIA, WE BELIEVE IN YOUR VISION. CLAUDIA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, LET ME RECOGNIZE NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER KIBA HDA WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. 50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, THE US SUPREME COURT ISSUED A WATER WATERSHED DECISION REGARDING PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING IN TEXAS AND A FIVE TO FOUR DECISION IN SS A I S D VERSUS RODRIGUEZ. THE COURT RULED THAT THERE WAS NO VIOLATION OF VOTING RIGHTS IN THE TEXAS SCHOOL FUNDING SYSTEM. IT WAS A WATERSHED MOMENT BECAUSE THE, THE SUPREME COURT DECISION SPARKED A MOVEMENT IN SAN ANTONIO'S MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THE FUTURE OF MEXICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN. A FUTURE BUILT ON FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY WAS AT STAKE. THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY ORGANIZED AGAINST A PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING SYSTEM THAT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST POOR STUDENTS AND FAVORED WEALTHY SCHOOLS IN THE STATE. FIVE YEARS EARLIER, 400 STUDENTS ORGANIZED A WALKOUT AT EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL TO PROTEST THE INEQUALITIES IN EDUCATION IN SAN ANTONIO. THEY LEFT THEIR CLASSROOMS AND WALKED FROM EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL TO THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION OFFICES TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE INEQUITIES IN EDUCATION. ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE WALKOUT IS A LIFELONG DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT, MR. LOUIS GOMEZ, AND HE'S ALSO A COMMUNITY LEADER IN EDGEWOOD AND HAS, HE'S COME FULL CIRCLE. HE'S NOW ON THE EDGEWOOD SCHOOL BOARD. HE'S ALSO A, A VETERAN OF A VIETNAM WAR AND A RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEE, WHICH IS A VERY TYPICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT, OF THAT COMMUNITY. THE STUDENT WALKOUT, THE S A S D VERSUS RODRIGUEZ LAWSUIT FIVE YEARS LATER, THAT WENT ALL THE WAY TO [01:15:01] THE SUPREME COURT, AND THE EVENTUAL EDGEWOOD VERSUS KIRBY DECISION A DECADE LATER ARE PART OF A LONG HISTORY OF STRUGGLES FOR EQUAL RIGHTS IN OUR CITY. THEY'RE THE REASON THAT SAN ANTONIO IS L KNOWN AS THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CRADLE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. AND, UH, AND, UH, FITTINGLY, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE, THE MACH DOING A LOT OF THAT WORK FOR US NOW TO PRESERVE THAT HISTORY. THERE ARE MANY STORIES, MANY GENERATIONS OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TO FIGHT INEQUITIES. THAT'S THE REASON I WANTED TO PAUSE THIS MORNING, TO, TO REMEMBER THE STRUGGLE OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE US. THE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO HAD AN UNCOMPROMISING VISION OF A BETTER LIFE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. S A I S D VERSUS RODRIGUEZ IS ONE OF THE MANY MOMENTS IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY THAT DEFINE US AND GUIDE US. SO WE REMEMBER THAT, THAT MOMENT THIS MORNING HERE AT CITY HALL WITH PRIDE AND GRATITUDE. THERE ARE MANY STORIES AND MOMENTS LIKE THIS ONE IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, AND I LOOK MORE FORWARD TO MORE COMMEMORATIONS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILMAN PERRY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. UM, SPEAKING OF ARTS, UH, DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT MARCH 27TH IS? OKAY, NOBODY KNOWS. I'LL TELL YOU. IT'S NATIONAL THEATER DAY. AND, UM, UM, MY STAFF AND I WERE INVITED TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE, UH, PUBLIC THEATER HERE IN TOWN. AND, AND DURING THAT TOUR, CLAUDIA SAID, DID YOU KNOW THAT IT'S A, A NATIONAL THEATER DAY COMING UP IN MARCH, MARCH 27TH? AND I SAID, NO, I DIDN'T. WELL, LET'S GET A BUNCH OF FOLKS IN HERE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR THEATERS, UH, AND I KNOW WE HAVE MORE, BUT, UH, FOLKS, WHY DON'T Y'ALL COME ON UP HERE AND, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THEATER BUSINESS. UM, UH, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL OF SEVEN REPS HERE TODAY. AND, UH, THE CLASSIC THEATER OF SAN ANTONIO, AMANDA GOLDEN, THE MISCAST THEATER COMPANY, ALEJANDRO PINA, UH, TRO ADAS, LAURA GARZA, THE OVERTIME THEATER, ANGIE HERNANDEZ, THE PUBLIC THEATER, UH, CLAUDIA DESCO WONDER, WONDER THEATER, MELISSA GONZALEZ AND THE MAGIC THEATER, ANTHONY OLO. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. AND I WAS ACTUALLY, AND I TALKED TO Y'ALL ABOUT THIS, I WAS HOPING Y'ALL WOULD DO SOME KIND OF A SKIT OR SOMETHING THIS MORNING FOR, FOR, TO RECOGNIZE TODAY IS, UH, OR THE 27TH IS NATIONAL THEATER DAY. AND, AND I I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF, UM, ART HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND Y'ALL ARE A PART OF THAT ARTISTIC COMMUNITY. AND, UM, WANT, WANT TO INVITE Y'ALL TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT OUR THEATER INDUSTRY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO? AND DO I, DO I SEE, UH, RICHARD? OKAY. UM, ACTUALLY, IT'S ME. HI, . I WELL, OKAY. YEAH. I'M ANTHONY RUN. I'M THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AT MAGIC THEATER. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR GIVING US THIS TIME TO SPEAK THIS MORNING. UM, WE'RE HERE TO, UM, UH, REPRESENT, UH, SAN ANTONIO'S THEATER COMMUNITY, UH, IN RECOGNITION OF WORLD THEATER DAY. COMING UP ON MARCH 27TH, DESIGNATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL THEATER INSTITUTE IN 1961. THIS DAY CELEBRATES THE ESSENCE BEAUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF THEATER ARTS, THEIR SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ENTERTAINMENT AND THE SYMBOLIC IMPACT THAT THEATER HAS ON LIFE THIS DAY. ALSO SERVES TO INFORM GOVERNMENTS, POLITICIANS, INSTITUTIONS, AND STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THE WORLD WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE, UH, NOT YET REALIZED THE VALUE OF THEATER IN PEOPLE AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH. THESE THEATERS ARE HERE TODAY TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR WORK AND ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER SUPPORT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AND IN YOUR, IN YOUR GOALS AND PLANS FOR THIS CITY. OUR CITY HAS A LONG, HAS LONG BOASTED A ROBUST CULTURAL SCENE, AND WE HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN KEEP GROWING OUR THEATER COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY TO INSPIRE AND UNITE THE CITY'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGH THEATER, BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT YOU IN MEETING THE CITY'S ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL GOALS. WE ARE ALSO VERY THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF SAN, THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROVIDES OUR COMPANIES, AND FOR THE SUPPORT THAT MANY OF YOU PRESENT, THAT MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY THAT ATTEND OUR PERFORMANCES AND CHAMPION OUR MISSIONS. SO, I'LL GIVE THE STAGE TO OUR OTHER COMPANIES TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. HELLO, I'M ANGIE HERNANDEZ. I'M WITH THE OVERTIME THEATER. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PRODUCTION CALLED TUNE IN OPENING THIS FRIDAY, AND I INVITE YOU ALL TO WANDER OVER TO THE OVERTIME THEATER. WE'RE OFF BANDERA AND FOUR 10. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS AMANDA GOLDEN. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CLASSIC THEATER OF SAN ANTONIO. AND OUR NEXT PRODUCTION WILL BE IN MAY. WE'LL BE, DO, BE DOING SHAKESPEARE'S MEASURE FOR MEASURE. HELLO, MY NAME IS MELISSA GONZALEZ, AND I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THE WOODLAWN THEATER, WHICH WILL SOON BE IN THE WONDER THEATER. BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE STILL AT THE WOODLAWN BUILDING, AND WE HAVE ONE MORE WEEKEND OF RAGTIME, WHICH IS [01:20:01] A WONDERFUL MUSICAL. PLEASE COME SEE US AND SUPPORT US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. HI, MY NAME IS ALEJANDRO PASINA. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISS CAST THEATER COMPANY. WE ARE ONLY ABOUT FIVE MONTHS NEW, AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO PUT, UH, TO DO OUR FIRST FULL PRODUCTION OF ORDINARY DAYS, WHICH RUNS SEPTEMBER 7TH THROUGH THE 17TH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO AGAIN. I'M THE EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC THEATER OF SAN ANTONIO, AND WE'RE OPENING A MUSICAL, THE PAJAMA GAME NEXT FRIDAY THAT RUNS FOR ANOTHER, ANOTHER MONTH. AND I ALSO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ARE SPONSORING A CONCERT FOR THE SAN ANTONIO PHIL HARMONIC, COMING UP IN MAY. SO ALL THE INFORMATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU INTO OUR, IN OUR SPACE. HELLO, MY NAME IS LAURA GARZA, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR THERA ADA SAN ANTONIO. I'M ALSO THE THEATER COORDINATOR AND DIRECTOR AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE. UM, AT THERA DAS, WE, UH, EXIST TO SHOWCASE AND HIGHLIGHT THE UNDERSERVED ARTISTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, STARTING WITH LATINX BIPO, L G D L G T B Q I A, UM, WOMEN AND REFUGEES. UM, SO WITH THAT, OUR COMPANY, WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT US IS THAT REPRESENTATION MATTERS FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, 24 7. OUR NEXT SHOW IS IN JUNE. UH, IT'S JUNE 1ST THROUGH THE 11TH, LUCIA DORA. SO WE INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME SEE IT. UH, AND AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, WE HAVE A SHOW OPENING IN TWO WEEKS, UH, APRIL 6TH THROUGH THE 16TH. IT IS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, SO HOPE YOU GUYS CAN COME OUT. THANK YOU. AND I DIDN'T PLUG MAGIC THEATER. WE'RE OPENING SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE ON APRIL 15TH. UM, AND JUST TO TALK ABOUT MAGIC THEATER VERY BRIEFLY, UH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, WE ARE PROFESSIONAL THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES. SO THAT IS ADULTS, PROFESSIONAL ACTORS, DESIGNERS, DIRECTORS, CHOREOGRAPHERS, UH, PERFORMING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, THEIR SCHOOLS AND THEIR FAMILIES. UH, AND WE'RE RIGHT HERE DOWNTOWN IN HEMISPHERE. SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT THERE AND THANK YOU COUNCIL AGAIN AND MAYOR FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. YEAH. AND THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. REALLY GLAD TO SEE Y'ALL HERE TO CELEBRATE THE CULTURES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND I'M, I'M GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME ON MY HANDS IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND I'M GONNA GET AROUND TO SEE ALL THESE DIFFERENT THEATERS. SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. LASTLY, COUNCIL MEMBER ELAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE, UH, GOT A SPECIAL GUEST TO INTRODUCE, UH, TO YOU AND, UH, MY COLLEAGUES. I'D LIKE TO, UH, INVITE DORA RODRIGUEZ STAHL UP TO, UM, UP TO THE PODIUM. AND AS SHE'S WALKING UP HERE, I'LL TELL YOU WE ARE ALL EXCITED AND PREPARING FOR OUR, UH, SATURDAY, MARCH 27TH ANNUAL CCIA CHAVEZ MARCH FOR JUSTICE. IT'S, UH, IT'S FITTING THAT WE RECOGNIZE DORA, UH, WHO ACCOMPANIED CESAR CHAVEZ ON HIS 340 MILE FARM WORKERS MARCH. SHE'S A NATIVE SOUTH TEXAN, SHE'S, UM, 91 YEARS YOUNG. AND, UH, SHE STANDS THERE WITH HER HUSBAND, ED, UM, DORA NURSED CESAR CHAVEZ, AND THE STRIKING MEXICANOS AND FILIPINO FARM WORKERS DURING THEIR 1966 MARCH FROM DELANO, CALIFORNIA, DRAWING, UH, NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE STRIKE AGAINST LOW WAGES AND MISERABLE LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS. UM, SHE HAS, UH, PERSONAL, PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE THE PLIGHT OF FARM WORKERS GROWING UP IN FALL CITIES IN A SHARECROPPER FAMILY, UH, WHERE SHE, AND THEY PICKED CORN, COTTON, BEANS, AND SQUASH UNTIL SHE MOVED TO LOCKHART, WHERE SHE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL. AND SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN DRIVEN BY A DEEP DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS. AND SHE CAME TO INCARNATE WORD COLLEGE SCHOOL OF NURSING, AND GRADUATED IN 1955 AND, UM, A YEAR. AND AFTER A YEAR AT SANTA ROSA HOSPITAL, SHE, UH, STARTED SERVING AS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE IN THE MISSION DISTRICT OF SAN FRANCISCO. WHERE, UH, THERE SHE MET ED STAHL, PRESIDENT OF THE ARCHDIOCESE CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKING. AND, UH, THEY GOT MARRIED. SHE SAID, YES, RIGHT, ED. AND, UH, WHEN, UH, DOLORES HUERTA ASKED THEM TO SUPPORT THE FARM WORKER STRIKE AND THE PLAN MARCH, SHE SAID YES AGAIN. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT I'M DOING HERE TODAY, RECOGNIZING YOU ON MY OWN. UM, MY COLLEAGUE ADRIANA CIA GARCIA PHD, ALSO, UH, WANTS TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MANNY. SO I GET TO TELL A LITTLE BIT OF THE LOVE STORY TODAY, RIGHT? AND SO, ED AND DORA MET WITH CESA CHAVEZ AND ONE OF HIS BROTHERS, AND DELANO STAYING THE NIGHT TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE PLANNED DETAILS CATHOLIC COUNCIL'S AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT THE MARCH AS THE ONLY HEALTHCARE SPECIALIST ORGANIZING, DORA DROVE THE FIRST AID TRUCK AHEAD OF THE MARCHERS, THEN SHE RAN BACK TO WALK WITH CESA UNTIL THEY REACHED THE TRUCK. SHE THEN LEAPFROG TO THE NEXT STOP, REPEATING THE PROCESS. ALL ALONG THE WAY, DORA SAYS [01:25:01] THAT SHE CLEANED AND SHE BANDAGE ESSA'S FEET, ESPECIALLY THE BAD SORE ON HIS BIG TOE, THAT HE CONS CONSTANTLY, UM, HURT AGAIN. AND SHE RE SHE GAVE EVERYBODY, UM, MEDICAL CARE AND WATER WHEN THEY STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT, THOUGH, DURING THE 25, UH, DAY MARCH, LA PUEBLO WELCOMED THEM GRACIOUSLY WITH FOOD, LODGING AND SINGING DELORES TO CELEBRATE THEIR, THEIR JOURNEY. AND LAA, KNOWING THAT SHE WAS SINGLE. CESAR MADE SURE SHE HAD A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP EACH NIGHT, WHILE AT TIMES SHE LEFT THE MARCH BRIEFLY TO ATTEND TO HER DUTIES. ALSO IN, IN SAN FRANCISCO. EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY WEEKEND, THE MARCHING NUMBERS SWELLED AS ED STALL AND MANY SUPPORTERS JOINED CESAR DOLORES, DORA AND THE STRIKERS. WHEN THE MARCHERS WERE DAYS AWAY FROM THE STATE CAPITOL, ED AND DORA RETURNED TO SAN FRANCISCO AND RECRUITED BUSES OF SUPPORTERS TO RECEIVE CESA AND THE WEARY FARM WORKERS WITH A ROUSING WELCOME IN SACRAMENTO. PROVIDENTIALLY PROVIDENTIALLY, THE MARCH ENGENDERED A LONGSTANDING ROMANCE WHEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ED PROPOSED TO DORA. THEY WERE MARRIED IN SAN FRANCISCO ON OCTOBER 1ST, 1966. AFTER SON PAUL, WHO YOU SEE HERE WITH THEM TODAY, WAS BORN. THEY WENT TO MEXICO AS CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES SUPPORTED BY THE LATIN AMERICAN MISSION PROGRAM. THEIR DAUGHTER, LETICIA, WAS BORN DOWN THERE WITH DOWN SYNDROME, AND THAT LED THEM TO DALLAS FOR BETTER HEALTHCARE. PAUL LATER ATTENDED ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE MET DISTRICT JUDGE CATHERINE TORRES. PUBLIC SERVICE, AS YOU CAN TELL, IS A FAMILY TRADITION WITH MA THE PAUL NOW SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WHICH WE REFERENCED EARLIER, NOW RETIRED, AND HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. ED AND DORA ARE ALSO PROUD GRANDPARENTS OF DARIEN AND MIA STAHL. THANK YOU TO THE INCARNATE WORD SCHOOL OF NURSING FOR THE DEEP COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE HELPED NATURE NURTURE IN DORA THAT LETTER TO A LIFE IN PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING. THANK YOU ALSO TO DORA AND EDSAL FOR YOUR LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR NATIONAL HERO, CESAR CHAVEZ, TO COMPLETE HIS MARK, HIS MARCH FOR THE FARM WORKER JUSTICE AND SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZED THE UNITED FARM WORKERS UNION. SAN ANTONIO IS PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE, AND THANKS, YOU SAY ANYTHING. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US. AND, UM, I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED. I NEVER EXPECTED ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO, AND I HELPED MAKE HAPPEN. THAT IS MANY YEARS AGO. SO IT'S BEEN, UH, A LITTLE DIFFICULT REMEMBERING SOME OF THE THINGS WE DID, BUT, UM, UH, HAVEN'T BEEN PART OF THIS, UH, MOVEMENT THAT CAESAR CHAVE STARTED HAS BEEN AMAZING, ESPECIALLY SINCE AT THE BEGINNING THEY SAID, WELL, HE CAN'T DO IT. NOBODY, NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO ORGANIZE ANYTHING. AND SO WHEN WE WENT DOWN, I'VE LIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND, UH, WE WENT TO DELANO TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND WE SAID, MY AND MY FEELINGS WERE, THEY'RE AT THE BOTTOM. WHATEVER THEY DO, THEY'RE GOING TO BE UP. AND, AND SO IT HAPPENED THAT IT'S LASTED SO LONG. WHAT HE'S DONE HAS GONE TO OTHER, UH, UH, UH, BESIDES JUST THE, NOT JUST THE, UH, THE, UH, FARM WORKERS, THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT, UH, UH, HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN JUSTICES IN THEIR WORK THAT HE HAS HELPED ORGANIZE. AND OF COURSE, IT GAVE HISPANIC PEOPLE, OR MEXICAN PEOPLE, MEXICAN AMERICANS, A FACE IN, IN THE COMMUNITY. A LOT OF TIMES WE FELT WE WEREN'T EVEN THERE. PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE THERE. WE SAID, HERE WE ARE. AND SO IT WAS A, A HAPPY TIME BECAUSE WORKING TOGETHER, THE, THE, THE SPIRIT THAT WAS THERE WAS AWESOME. THERE WAS SINGING DURING THE, UH, DURING THE, UH, UH, MARCH. THERE WAS, UH, FLAGS IN THE FRACK, WHAT I REMEMBER. AND, UH, OF COURSE, KNOWING THIS MAN THAT, UH, STARTED THIS WAS AWESOME. UH, A VERY, VERY COMMON MAN, BUT VERY, UM, UH, KIND TO PEOPLE, UH, HUMBLE. YOU WOULD NEVER KNOWN THAT, UH, HE WAS THERE WHEN, UH, AND SO, AS I SAID, A HUMBLE MAN NOT NEEDING A LIMELIGHT. SO, UH, [01:30:01] AS I SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY FOR ME THAT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED. WHAT IS IT? THERE WAS, SAY, 57, 57 YEARS AGO? I'M GLAD I COULD REMEMBER THAT. . THANKS AGAIN, EVERYONE. AND MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU. UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO ADD VERY BRIEFLY. FIRST OF ALL, I'D ASKED HER, I SAID, MOM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T WANNA SAY ANYTHING, THAT'S OKAY. AND SHE SAYS, I DON'T KNOW IF I WANNA TALK. WELL, I THINK SHE WAS READY TO TALK, AND, AND SHE WAS READY. SHE'S BEEN READY TO TELL HER STORY. AND THE, THE REASON, UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR THE RECOGNITION. UM, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT NOW THAT THEY MOVED DOWN FROM DALLAS, UH, JUST, UH, LESS THAN A YEAR AGO NOW, THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT EIGHT, PROUD RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT EIGHT, UM, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO TELL HER STORY. AND I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME REACHING OUT. 'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANNA LOOK SELF-PROMOTING OR WHATEVER, AND I'M LIKE, NO, SHE, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF MY PARENTS PLAYED A PART IN HISTORY, AND IT WAS, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MY MOTHER HAD FELT, AND MY FATHER HAD SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOUNGER PEOPLE SO THEY CAN HEAR THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE. THAT IT, THAT IT NEEDS TO CONTINUE. AND ALSO THAT THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER BECAUSE OF PEOPLE'S, UH, UH, VOLUNTEERISM AND ACTION AND ACTIVISM. SO I JUST, I, I KNOW THAT THERE, MY PARENTS ARE VERY HUMBLED BY THIS RECOGNITION. IT'S BEEN A LOT HAPPENING FOR THEM. UH, MY MOTHER, 91, MY FATHER 87, THEY'RE GONNA MARCH THIS CESAR CHAVES MARCH FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS SATURDAY, THE FIRST TIME, 57 YEARS AGO. IT'S, UH, IT'S JUST A VERY SPECIAL TIME. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THIS, THIS RECOGNITION FOR THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. UH, MR. AND MRS. STAHL, I THINK YOU CAME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON SATURDAY TOO, AND TELLING YOUR STORY. I, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY , I'D REALLY LIKE TO GIVE AN HOUR SPEECH ABOUT THIS. WHEN WE MET, UH, WHEN WE GOT INVOLVED IN THIS 57 YEARS AGO. UH, THERE, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IT CHANGED MY LIFE COMPLETELY. AND WHEN WE MET, WHEN DOLORES HUERTA CAME UP TO SAN FRANCISCO AND, AND ASKED US, UH, I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE CATHOLIC COUNCIL FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKING, AND MY WIFE WAS VICE PRESIDENT. SHE WASN'T, SHE WASN'T EVEN MY GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME. SHE WAS VICE PRESIDENT. I WAS PRESIDENT AND DOLORES, AND, AND SOMEBODY ELSE FROM THE FARM WORKERS CAME UP AND ASKED FOR, ASKED WOULD, WOULD WE SUPPORT HER? AND OUR, OUR GROUP WAS, UH, UH, AN UMBRELLA GROUP OF 12, UH, CATHOLIC, UH, PARISHES IN SAN FRANCISCO. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE, WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY. WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH, CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH POLITICAL POWER, BUT WE AT LEAST HAD 12 CATHOLIC PARISHES THAT COULD GIVE MORAL SUPPORT, WHICH IS WHAT, BASICALLY WHAT WE GAVE THEM. AND, UH, WHEN DOLORES ASKED US TO SUPPORT CAESAR AND THIS MOVEMENT, NOBODY KNEW CAESAR. HE WAS AN UNKNOWN PERSON. AND, UH, SO OUR, OUR BOARD SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GO DOWN TO DELANO AND SEE WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE. SO DORA AND I WENT DOWN A WEEK OR SO LATER, AND WE JUST SPENT, I THINK A DAY AND A HALF. AND, UH, WE TRIED TO SEE WHO THIS, WHO THESE PEOPLE WERE, AND WE, UH, DECIDED THESE WERE NICE PEOPLE. WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH CAESAR AND HIS GROUP. AND WE CAME BACK AND WE TOLD OUR PEOPLE IN SAN, IN THE CATHOLIC COUNCIL, WE SAID, WE THINK WE SHOULD SUPPORT HIM. BUT MY WIFE AND I GOT INTO OUR FIRST ARGUMENT, , BECAUSE MY WIFE GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT I WASN'T GOING TO SUPPORT CAESAR. AND SHE GOT THAT IMPRESSION BECAUSE I, ON THE, ON THE RIDE BACK FROM DELANO, I WAS TELLING HER, LOOK, I DON'T THINK THESE GUYS HAVE MUCH OF A CHANCE OF SUCCESS, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAD BEEN TRYING TO ORGANIZE THE [01:35:01] FARM WORKERS FOR YEARS, I DON'T KNOW, 20 OR 30 YEARS, AND NOBODY HAD EVER GOTTEN TO FIRST BASE. SO WHY SHOULD ANYBODY THINK THAT CAESAR'S GONNA BE ANY DIFFERENT? SO I WAS READY TO SUPPORT HIM A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT I HAD TO, I REALLY COULDN'T BELIEVE HE WAS GOING TO SUCCEED. I HOPED AND PRAYED THAT HE WOULD, AND BY GOD HE DID. AND IF WE EVER NEEDED AN EXAMPLE HOW ONE MAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD, WE HAVE IT IN CAESAR. AND SO I'VE BEEN SUPPORTING HIM FOR 57 YEARS, AND I WATCHED HIM GO FROM HAVING LITERALLY NOTHING EXCEPT THE IDEA THAT AND HE DID IT. AND I'VE WATCHED THAT MAN THROUGH THE WHOLE HISTORY OF WHAT HE DID. AND I WATCHED HIM GO FROM LITERALLY THE GROUND WHERE, AS DORA SAID, THE ONLY WAY HE COULD GO WAS UP. AND HE WENT ALL THE WAY UP, AND THE REST IS HISTORY. AND THE ONLY THING, THAT MOVIE THAT WE SAW THE OTHER DAY IS JUST FANTASTIC. THE, THE ONLY THING IT DIDN'T EMPHASIZE WAS HE WENT FROM NOTHING ALL THE WAY UP. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK, WAS IT THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS, OR FIVE YEARS? BUT THE NEXT THING WE KNEW HE WAS, YOU KNOW, HAD JUST ABOUT EVERY, EVERYBODY UP TO THE PRESIDENT. ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GET INTO OUR AGENDA TODAY. BEFORE WE DO THAT, I DO SEE RAMIRO, UH, SALAZAR, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF OUR LIBRARY HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE RAMIRO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. RAMIRO WAS JUST A, UH, APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN TO BE ON THE NATIONAL LIBRARY MUSEUM SERVICES BOARD. SO CONGRATULATIONS, UH, RAMIRO, UH, ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE IN OUR STAFF. OKAY, [ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING] WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM FOUR. ERIC, THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON LEGISLATION FILED WITH THE 88 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE STATUS OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ITEM FOUR ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS A BRIEFING BY, UH, SALLY BARTA ON THE BILLS AND ACTIONS RELATED TO THE, UH, CURRENT, UH, TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH BEGAN IN JANUARY. AND ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM HAS BEEN IN AUSTIN, ATTENDING COMMITTEE HEARINGS. UH, COUNCILMAN PALS WAS UP THERE EARLIER THIS WEEK, UH, ALONG WITH BEN GOEL, MEETING WITH MEMBERS' OFFICES, UH, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED THIS SESSION THAT ARE IMPACTING MUNICIPALITIES, UH, LIKE OURS. UM, THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM IS WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS ON A DAILY BASIS TO IDENTIFY THE IMPACT OF THOSE BILLS, CREATING, UM, IN SOME CASES AND SHARING SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE, UH, WITH BILL AUTHORS AND CONTINUING TO COORDINATE SUPPORT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. SO THIS IS, UH, THE FIRST OF A NUMBER OF BRIEFINGS WE'LL BE DOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE FULL COUNCIL. UH, SALLY WILL BE PRO PROVIDING THAT FIRST UPDATE, SO LEMME TURN IT OVER TO SALLY. THANK YOU, ERIC. GOOD, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO PROVIDE YOU, UM, THE FIRST 88TH STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE STATE LEDGE IS IN FULL SESSION. UH, QUICK OVERVIEW OF MY PRESENTATION TODAY, I WILL BE PROVIDING YOU A FEW GENERAL UPDATES. SOME OF THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE I G R COMMITTEE IN OUR REGULAR UPDATES, UM, TO THE GROUP. UH, I WILL TOUCH ON A FEW, UH, LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, BILLS OF INTEREST, UM, THAT ARE MOVING IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THAT ARE TAKING UP A LOT OF OUR TIME. UM, A QUICK LOOK HERE. BILL FILING DEADLINE WAS MARCH 10TH, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THANK GOODNESS, UH, DESPITE THAT DEADLINE, THERE WERE 8,161 BILLS FILED, UM, IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. UH, THIS NUMBER IS EXCEEDED BY OVER 1200 [01:40:01] BILLS FROM 2021. SO, UM, THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 1500 BILLS AT THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM. AND, UH, THE CITY DEPARTMENT LIAISONS, UM, AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE HELPING, UH, US TRACK. SO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE GA TEAM AND THE DEPARTMENTS. THIS IS A LARGE ENDEAVOR THAT WILL CONTINUE, UH, FOR ANOTHER 70 OR SO DAYS. A QUICK SNAPSHOT AT THE LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES. AS I SHARED WITH I G R LAST MONTH, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED SEVEN EMERGENCY ITEMS. UH, ESSENTIALLY HIS PRIORITIES, SPEAKER FEEL, AND ANNOUNCED 20 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, UM, UNVEILED 20 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. A QUICK LOOK HERE AT SPEAKER FEELING'S PRIORITIES. HIS TOP PRIORITY, UM, IS TO REDUCE PROPERTY, UM, UH, TAX BURDEN ON, UH, RESIDENTS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. HB TWO APPRAISAL CAPS REDUCES THE LIMIT ON ANNUAL APPRAISAL INCREASES FROM 5% FROM 10% TO 5%, AND IT DOES EXPAND, UH, TO PROPERTIES, INCLUDING BUSINESSES. UM, THIS PARTICULAR, UH, BILL WAS VOTED OUT OF A WAYS AND MEANS, UH, THE STATE WOULD ESSENTIALLY CUT SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAXES BY APPROXIMATELY 28%. UM, ACCORDING TO SOME INFORMATION RELEASED FROM THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE, UH, ONTO HB NINE, THIS IS A TEXAS BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND. UM, THAT IS ALSO A PRIORITY FOR SPEAKER PHELAN. IT WOULD ALLOCATE $5 BILLION FOR BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE TO EXPAND INTERNET, UM, AVAILABILITY FOR TEXANS. SO WANTED TO PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR. IT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, SO WE WILL BE, UH, MONITORING THAT CLOSELY AND REPORTING BACK TO YOU HB 10, THE TEXAS WATER FUND WOULD ALLOCATE AS WELL. BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, UM, HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE. UM, A QUICK SNAPSHOT AT THE LIEUTENANT, UH, GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES, AGAIN, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AT THE TOP OF HIS PRIORITY LIST HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS. UM, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL OF SPECIAL NOTE DOES DIFFER FROM A SPEAKER FEELINGS PROPOSAL. SO ULTIMATELY, THESE TWO PROPOSALS WILL HAVE TO BE, UM, RECONCILED ONE'S, ONE OR THE OTHER GETS, UH, TO THE FINISH LINE. THE HOME STATE EXEMPTIONS PROPOSAL INCREASES, UH, THE EXEMPTION FOR TAXATION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. UH, FROM 40 TO 70% IT HAS PASSED THE SENATE. SO IT'S DEFINITELY ON A FAST, UH, TRACK ON THE SENATE SIDE. UH, S SP 11, KEEPING SCHOOLS SAFE AND SECURE, IT CREATES, UM, A REGIONAL E S C SERVICE CENTER TO ACT, UM, AS A SAFETY, UM, ENTITY AND A RESOURCE FOR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. UM, ADDITIONALLY CHANGES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCIPLINARY RECORDS AND THREAT ASSESSMENT FOR STUDENTS. UM, ESSENTIALLY, DISCIPLINARY RECORDS WOULD FOLLOW THE STUDENTS TO NEW SCHOOLS WHEN, WHEN THEY MOVE CAMPUSES. IT'S BEEN REFERRED, UH, TO THE SENATE EDUCATION, UM, COMMITTEE ADDITIONALLY. A ONE QUICK NOTE. UM, IF THIS BILL WAS TO PASS, IT WOULD ALSO ALLOCATE $15,000 PER CAMPUS FOR SECURITY GRANTS, UH, ACROSS THE STATE ONTO THE BILLS OF INTEREST, UM, MUNICIPAL FINANCE SECTION. UM, THIS BILL SS P 1110, PROHIBITS THE CITY FROM TRANSFERRING REVENUE FROM MUNICIPAL UTILITY TO CITIES GENERAL FUND. THIS IS A C P S IMPACT AS FILE. UH, THE BILL WOULD ELIMINATE MORE THAN 25% OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND REVENUE. UM, ONCE THE BILL WAS, UH, FILED AND REVIEWED, UH, REFERRED, EXCUSE ME, WE IMMEDIATELY, UH, DEPLOYED OUTREACH TO OUR DELEGATION IN THE BILL SPONSOR TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE BILL AND TO COORDINATE WITH OUR DELEGATION. UM, JUST THIS WEEK, UH, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UH, PROVIDED TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION OF 1110 BY OUR C F O, UH, BEN GOEL. I HAVE TO SAY THAT BEN DID A SUPERB JOB, UH, LAYING OUT, UM, THE CITY'S MODEL AND HOW IT HAS BENEFITED, UH, THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY SINCE 1942. UM, WITH STRONG, RELIABLE SERVICE COMPETITIVE RATES, A TRANSPARENT MODEL IN A FINANCIAL, UH, RETURN THAT SUPPORTS LOWER TAX IN FUNDS, BASIC CITY SERVICES. UM, AN ADDITIONAL NOTE, UM, THAT OUR C F O SHARED, UM, WITH THE COMMITTEE WAS THE 50 MILLION, UH, DOLLAR PAYMENT BACK TO THE, UH, RATE PAYERS. IT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL LAST YEAR AFTER THE HIGH HEAT SUMMER. THE, UH, BILL IS LEFT PENDING IN SENATE, UH, BUSINESS AND COMMERCE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, UM, SENATOR [01:45:01] MENENDEZ AND OUR OTHER SENATORS, UM, TO IDENTIFY, UM, THE NEXT STEPS. UM, OF SPECIAL NOTE, I WANT TO THANK SENATOR MENENDEZ FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND DURING THE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS, UH, CHAIRMAN PALIS. UM, HIS PRESENCE AT THE CAMP CAPITAL THIS WEEK, UH, REALLY REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE IN THE CONCERNS, UM, OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THIS BILL. CONTINUING ON TO LOCAL GOVERNANCE, HB 2127. THIS IS A, UH, SWEEPING PREEMPTION BILL, UH, TITLED THE TEXAS REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT. UM, THIS BILL WOULD IMPACT LOCAL POLICIES AS WELL AS, UM, WAIVE IMMUNITY. IT PREVENTS THE CITY FROM PASSING OR ENFORCING ANY ORDINANCE, ORDER OR RULE. UM, DELETE POLICY. UH, THE, MY TEAM FLAGGED FOR ME THAT THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE RELEASED, UM, OMITTED POLICY. UH, I'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS THERE. IT'S STILL AFFECTING ANY AREA UNLESS EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZED WITHIN SPECIFIC CODES. SO THIS IS, UM, FIELD, UH, PREEMPTION. UH, THIS PARTICULAR BILL AS WRITTEN, WOULD GIVE THE STATE EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY OVER ACTIVITIES CONTAINED IN THESE VARIOUS CODES. UM, IT WAS LEFT PENDING IN THE HOUSE STATE, UH, COMMITTEE AFFAIR, UH, UH, STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. AND OUR VERY OWN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, JEFF COYLE, UM, TESTIFIED IN OPPOSITION. UM, SOME SPECIFIC NOTES ABOUT THE BILL AS WRITTEN. UM, IT WOULD, UM, PREEMPT, UM, ANY LOCAL ACTIVITY UNDER THE SPECIFIC CODES, UH, THAT ARE MENTIONED IN THE BILL. EXAMPLES ARE AG FINANCE, LABOR OCCUPATIONS, NATURAL RESOURCES, INSURANCE, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE HEADED IN, IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAT WE WANNA GO. THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE ALSO ADDED PROPERTY CODE, UM, IN BUSINESS AND COMMERCE ONTO SB 1 49, PREEMPTION OF REGULATION OF COMMERCE. UM, THIS WOULD PREEMPT ALL REGULATION OF COMMERCE, WOULD TAKE AWAY THE CITY'S ABILITY TO REGULATE PAYDAY LENDERS, UH, ST NOISE ORDINANCES, HEALTH CODES AND MORE. THE CITY REGISTERED IN OPPOSITION, UM, TO THIS BILL AT THE COMMITTEE HEARING. UM, SOME AREAS THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, BILLBOARD, UH, BILLBOARDS, PAWN SHOPS, ST UH, PAYDAY LENDER REGULATIONS AND DOOR TO DOOR SOLICITATION. UH, THE THANK YOU FOR THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP AND, UM, HIS MAYOR COLLEAGUES. UM, ON THE BIG CITY MAYOR'S, UM, PLATFORM, THEY SUBMITTED A LETTER OF OPPOSITION, UM, TO EXPRESS, UM, THAT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED, UH, TO ADOPT ORDINANCES, UM, THAT ADDRESS UNIQUE LOCAL CHALLENGES. SB 1 75, RELATING TO THE USE, UM, BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. THIS BILL WOULD SPECIFICALLY PROHIBIT US FROM HIRING REGISTERED LOBBYISTS, PAYING A NONPROFIT STATE ASSOCIATION, UM, THAT HIRES OR CONTRACTS, UM, WITH A LOBBYIST, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, WOULD ALLOW TAXPAYERS TO SUE THE CITY, UM, THAT HIRE CI, UH, HIRES, LOBBYISTS, AND RECOVER COSTS, UM, IF, IF THEY WIN. UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS LIMITS OUR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. UH, IT WAS VOTED OUT OF THE SENATE, UM, AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. UM, THIS IS A, A CONCERNING BILL AS WELL. UH, TRADE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS, UM, T M L THAT HELP CITIES MONITOR THOUSANDS OF BILLS, UM, EVERY SESSION AND HELP OUR VOICES BE HEARD, UH, WOULD, WOULD BE, UM, HEARD BY THIS PARTICULAR BILL ONTO SSB 1601 STATE FUNDING OF LIBRARIES. UM, THIS BILL REMOVES STATE FUNDING TO MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES THAT HOST READING STORY TIME EVENTS BY A MAN PRESENTING AS A WOMAN OR WOMAN PRESENTING AS A MAN, AND THE PERSON BEING DRESSED, UM, AS THE OPPOSITE GENDER IN A PRIMARY COMPONENT OF THE EVENT. THIS BILL HAS BEEN, UH, REFERRED TO THE SENATE STATE AFFAIRS. IT IS ACTUALLY BEING HEARD, UH, TODAY OR, OR AS I SPEAK. UM, WE SIGNED UP IN OPPOSITION OF THIS BILL. UM, OUR LIBRARY DOES RECEIVE SOME STATE FUNDING, UM, AND THIS BILL COULD POTENTIALLY START A TREND, UM, WHERE THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, AIMS TO CONTROL, UM, THE ACTIVITIES, UM, AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES ONTO SB 12 SEXUALLY ORIENTED PERFORMANCES. UH, IT CREATES A DEFINITION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED PERFORMANCES TO INCLUDE MALE PERFORMERS EXHIBITING AS FEMALE OR FEMALE PERFORMERS EXHIBITING AS MALE WHO USE CLOTHING, MAKEUP, AND PERFORM BEFORE AN [01:50:01] AUDIENCE. AND IN ADDITION, UM, OF A PRURIENT NATURE, UH, PROHIBITS PERFORMANCES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, OR IN THE PRESENCE OF A MINOR, AN OFFENSE WOULD BE A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR WITH A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 10,000 FOR EACH VIOLATION. IT'S BEEN REFERRED TO THE SENATE STATE AFFAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, WE OPPOSE THIS BILL. UH, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT EVENTS, UH, IN SAN ANTONIO, SUCH AS THE PRIDE PARADE, UM, OR EVENTS, UH, SUCH AS COORDINATION DURING FIESTA IN A CITY RELEASED CITY, UH, LEASE THEATER, UM, WOULD BE POTENTIALLY IMPACTED AND WOULD MAKE US LIABLE AND SUBJECT FOR A CLASS A, UM, MISDEMEANOR ONTO FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WHICH OF COURSE IS PART OF OUR STATE PROGRAM AS WELL. HB 1429 BY REPRESENTATIVE COMBOS, UM, FROM OUR DELEGATION. IT'S A VICTIM'S COMPENSATION BILL. UM, IT RELATES TO THE DEFINITIONS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION. IT DOES EXPAND THE DEFINITION TO INCLUDE CHILD ABUSE AND DATING VIOLENCE. UM, IN FAMILY VIOLENCE SITUATIONS. UM, EXPANDS DEFINITION OF HOUSEHOLD MEMBER TO ANYONE LIVING IN THE HOME. UM, IT WAS REFERRED TO THE HOUSE, JUVENILE JUSTICE AND FAMILY SERVICES OF SPECIAL NOTE. UH, SOME OF THE, UM, SERVICES WOULD INC THE COMPENSATION SERVICES, UM, REQUEST EXPECTED FROM, UM, CANDIDATES, UH, WOULD INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, COUNSELING, POTENTIALLY LOSS OF EARNINGS, UH, TRAVEL EXPENSES, AND RENT AND RELOCATION. ALL SERVICES THAT ARE, UH, VERY BENEFICIAL, UM, FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS. ANOTHER FAMILY VIOLENCE, UH, PREVENTION. UH, BILL HB 2229 BY GOODWIN. THIS IS A NOTICE OF SERVICES. UM, THIS IS RELATED TO THE, UM, NOTICE THAT, UM, A, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM RECEIVES FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A STANDARD NOTICE, UM, IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, UM, IN A LIST OF AGENCIES AND SERVICES THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, UM, TO THE VICTIM. UM, AND THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, UM, NOTICE WOULD INCLUDE SUCH AS, UH, SAFETY PLANNING, SHELTER AND PROTECTION, VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES, UM, AND INFORMATION ON THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. IT WAS HEARD IN, UM, HOUSE HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE BILL WAS LEFT PENDING. A COUPLE MORE BILLS, UH, TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR. SB 4 91, LAND USE AND HISTORIC AND MILITARY PROTECTIONS. UM, THIS LIMITS, UH, BUILDING HEIGHT REGULATIONS. IT WOULD PROHIBIT OUR ABILITY TO ENSURE COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT AROUND JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, UM, THROUGH HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS AS WELL AS IMPACT, UM, OUR MISSION PROTECTION OVERLAY, INCLUDING, OF COURSE, THE ALAMO, AS WELL AS NEW CONSTRUCTION AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS. UM, THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, UH, THIS BILL WITH THE BILL SPONSOR, AS WELL AS WITH THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, WHO REQUESTED THIS BILL BE FILED. UM, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, UH, THE LANGUAGE THAT WE SUBMITTED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONS FOR J B S A, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, THE VIEW SHED FOR THE ALAMO, UM, AND OTHER SAN ANTONIO, UM, HISTORIC, UM, AND PROTECTED, UM, LAND, UH, RESOURCES, UM, IS UNDER REVIEW. AND I HAVE VERBALLY AND THROUGH EMAIL RECEIVED, UM, NOTICE FROM THEM THAT, UM, THEY HAVE ACCEPTED OUR LANGUAGE. WE ARE AWAITING A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE BILL, UH, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, IT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE. AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE BILL SPONSOR, UM, AND, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE REPORT BACK TO YOU IN SHORT ORDER. UM, REFERRED, UH, TO THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE. COUPLE OF BILLS, UM, ON, UM, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, ANIMAL CONTROL, SB 2226, AND HB 49 0 9. UM, THIS IS SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE VERNAL, UH, RELATING TO, UH, DANGEROUS ANIMAL REPORTING. UM, THIS PARTICULAR BILL ALLOWS A WITNESS THE OPTION TO HAVE THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION EXCLUDED FROM DISCLOSURE. UM, WE WORKED WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE BERNAL PROVIDED THE LANGUAGE, UM, WHICH HE FILED, UM, ON, UH, MARCH, UH, 10TH. UM, ESSENTIALLY THE AFFIDAVIT USED, UM, TO SECURE A SWORN STATEMENT FROM A WITNESS WILL INCLUDE AN OPTION FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, UM, TO HAVE THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION, UM, EXCLUDED. NEXT ONE IS HB 1653, DANGEROUS ANIMAL PENALTY RELATING TO, UM, UH, THE ATTACK BY A DANGEROUS DOG INCREASES A CRIMINAL PENALTY. THIS IS BY REPRESENTATIVE CAMPOS. UM, PENALTY WOULD [01:55:01] BE INCREASED FROM A CLASS C TO A CLASS B IF THE OWNER HAS A PREVIOUS CONVICTION ON THE SAME ISSUE. UM, THIS WILL HELP ADDRESS, UM, THE ISSUES WITH, UH, REPEAT OFFENDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S BEEN REFERRED TO HOUSE JURISPRUDENCE. COUPLE MORE BILLS, UM, EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT HB 26 33 BY REP CORTEZ AND SB 1794, MY BY MENENDEZ, UM, REGARDING THE REQUIREMENT OF AN E S D TO GET MUNICIPAL APPROVAL TO ACCRUE DEBT, TO SET CONDITIONS FOR EQUIPMENT COMPATIBILITY, AND A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS THAT ALLOW, UM, COLLABORATION, UH, DURING SITUATIONS WHERE, UM, OUR SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS TO COORDINATE, UM, WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES AND JURISDICTIONS. UM, COSA HAS SHARED SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE. WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY, UM, WITH REPRESENTATIVE CORTES. UM, THESE ARE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS, AND THE BILL HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOUSE COUNTY, UM, AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON THE LOCAL PENSIONS FUND. UM, YOU RECALL, UM, WE AMENDED OUR STATE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE SUPPORT, UM, TO THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE, FIRE, UM, AND PENSION GROUP. UM, THIS PARTICULAR BILL, AS YOU RECALL, INCREASES THE MAX, THE MINIMUM DEATH BENEFIT FROM 50 TO 70%, 75% FOR ALL NON LINE OF DUTY DEATHS. IT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOUSE PENSIONS, INVESTMENTS, AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. MAYOR AND COUNSEL, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, SALLY, UH, LET ME COMPLIMENT YOU FIRST ON PRESENTING THIS WHOLE, UH, DECK WITH A STRAIGHT FACE. UM, SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING FROM AUSTIN, UH, MAKES YOU SHAKE YOUR HEAD. UM, AND SO LET ME GO TO ONE OF THOSE THAT, THAT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE ALL TRACKING. AND THAT'S, UH, HB 2127. COULD YOU GO OVER AGAIN THE CODES, UH, THAT WOULD BE PREEMPTED BY THAT LEGISLATION? YES, MAYOR, THANK YOU. ALONG WITH THE AMENDMENT, I, I TAKE, IT WAS FILED YESTERDAY. LET ME START, UM, WITH THE CODES, UM, THE, THE, THE VARIOUS FIELDS. AND SO JUST TO, JUST TO SET THE STAGE SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT, WHAT SHE'S READING OFF, THESE ARE AREAS WITHIN STATE LAW THAT CURRENTLY CITIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GOVERN IN, THAT WOULD BE FULLY PREEMPTED BY THE STATE. THAT'S CORRECT. SO THE, UH, THE BILL, AS THE MAYOR SAID, INCLUDES, UH, VARIOUS CODES, UM, THAT ARE LISTED IN THIS BILL. UH, THE FIRST ONE IS THE AG CODE FINANCE CODE, THE LABOR CODE, THE OCCUPATIONS CODE, THE NATURAL RESOURCES CODE, PLUS THE INSURANCE CODE. AND IN THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE, UM, IT ADDED THE PROPERTY CODE AND THE BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE. THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE REMOVED POLICY, BUT IT REMAINED ORDINANCE ORDER AND RULE. YEAH. AND EFFECTIVELY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PO REMOVING POLICY DOES, BECAUSE POLICY DOESN'T BECOME EFFECTUATED UNTIL THERE'S ORDINANCES PUT IN PLACE. SO, UM, ANDY, COULD YOU GIVE US A SENSE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS OR OR JEFF OR ANYBODY ELSE HAS DONE A READING OF THOSE NEW CODES, UH, AND JUST THE BILL OVERALL, AND COULD YOU GIVE US A GENERAL, UM, OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU THINK THE IMPACTS ARE? YOU KNOW, I, I CAN GIVE YOU A A A VERY GENERAL, UH, HIGH CONCEPT. ONE MAYOR IS ESSENTIALLY REMOVING HOME RURAL CITIES FROM THE TEXAS, TEXAS. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING TO. SO, I MEAN, THAT, THAT, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I THINK, UM, WE NEED TO BE, UM, WATCHING THIS BILL IS THAT EFFECTIVELY IT WOULD REMOVE THE AUTHORITY THAT WE ARE GIVEN BY OUR CITIZENS AND, AND, AND THROUGH THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO HAVE OUR OWN CITY CONSTITUTION. WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GENERAL LAW CITY AND A HOME RULE CITY AFTER THIS WOULD BE ADOPTED? WELL, SEN, WELL, REALLY, THERE WOULD BE NO DIFFERENCE, MAYOR. AND AGAIN, UH, JUST TO, UM, LEVEL SET, UH, A HOME RULE CITY CAN DO THINGS UNLESS IT'S SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED BY THE STATE. WHEREAS A GENERAL LAW CITY CAN ONLY DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE. SO AGAIN, HOME RURAL CITIES ARE GIVING A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY. UM, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE GIVEN THAT FLEXIBILITY, RECOGNIZING THERE'S A LOT OF LOCAL ISSUES AT THE STATE JUST CANNOT, CANNOT DEAL WITH. SO YES, ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD REMOVE HOME RURAL CITIES FROM, FROM, FROM, UH, BEING IN TEXAS. ARE THERE ANY, UM, WHAT, WHAT ARE THE CODES THAT ARE LEFT UNTOUCHED BY THE LEGISLATION? THERE'S A LOT OF CODES IN STATE LAW. THERE'S PROBABLY 30 OR 40 OF THEM. SO IT'S OF INTEREST. IT'S NOT THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE ACTUALLY HEALTH, HEALTH AND SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION, [02:00:02] LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, TAX CODE. UM, THE WHOLE POINT THOUGH, THE QUESTION, THE LINE OF QUESTION YOU'RE GOING DOWN IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM WITH THE BILL. IT'S NOT CLEAR AT ALL WHAT IT PREEMPTS. IT SAYS ANY FIELD THAT IS TOUCHED BY ONE OF THOSE CODES WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE REGULATIONS IN. SO ANIMALS ARE IN THE AG CODE, FOR EXAMPLE. SO THE QUESTION THAT I POSED TO THE COMMITTEE WAS, IS THAT GONNA DO AWAY WITH ANY LOCAL ANIMAL ORDINANCES OR, UM, TO GET A LICENSE TO DRIVE A LIQUID PETROLEUM TRUCK? YOU, YOU GO THROUGH THE STATE, IT'S IN THE OCCUPATIONS CODE. SO DOES THAT MEAN WE CAN'T REGULATE ONE OF THOSE DRIVING DOWNTOWN STREETS OR PARKING AT THE AIRPORT? IT'S THE, IT'S THE UNKNOWN THAT IS THE PROBLEM. AND A BIG PART OF THE BILL IS THAT IT ALLOWS ANY RESIDENT, ANY BUSINESS, ANYWHERE, TO SUE THE CITY IF THEY THINK SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE'RE REGULATING SOMETHING THAT IS TOUCHED BY ONE OF THOSE CODES, AND WE WOULD'VE TO GO DEFEND IT IN COURT. AND IF WE'RE NOT SUCCESSFUL, THE WHOEVER SUES US GETS ALL THE, UM, COURT COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES AWARDED TO THEM. SO IT'S CREATED A, A BIG, UH, CONFUSING SUPER PREEMPTION THAT WOULD GET RESOLVED IN THE COURT SYSTEM, CASE BY CASE, BY CASE BY CASE. AND THE IMPACT TO US IS, IS UNKNOWN. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT ALL THE TESTIMONY WAS THE OTHER DAY. SO THE, THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL WAS PUT A LITTLE BIT ON THE DEFENSIVE TO TRY TO EXPLAIN. HE CLAIMED THAT HE GAVE A LONG LIST OF THINGS THAT HE SAID WEREN'T PREEMPTED, BUT HIM SAYING SO DOESN'T MAKE IT. SO THEY'RE STILL TOUCHED BY THOSE CODES. AND, UM, THIS, THIS IS, UH, THAT'S THE, ESSENTIALLY THE ISSUE WITH THE BILL. OKAY. ERIC, WERE YOU GONNA ADD SOMETHING? OKAY. WELL, UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S, WE HAVE MEETINGS ALMOST EVERY WEEK AND PEOPLE COME TO DEBATE CERTAIN ITEMS. TODAY. WE HAVE, UM, AN ISSUE ON OUR AGENDA RELATED TO HOW WE MANAGE, UH, MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES. I SEE OUR, UH, MILITARY DIRECTOR HERE, UH, GENERAL YALA, WE WORK WITH HIS OFFICE ALL THE TIME TO RESOLVE, UH, ISSUES WITH REGARD TO LAND MANAGEMENT TO PROTECT OUR BASES. I MEAN, EVERY SINGLE WEEK WE HAVE DEBATES ON PARTICULAR THINGS AND OUR LOCAL CONSTITUENTS, OUR COMMUNITIES COME OUT AND DEBATE THOSE. AND THEN WE WOULD DEBATE THEM UP HERE AND WE'D FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST THING IS TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD. OCCASIONALLY WE GET INTO DEBATES THAT, THAT GETS THE, GETS STATE OR CERTAIN SPECIAL INTERESTS, A LITTLE RILED UP. UH, AND WE HAVE TO RESOLVE THOSE. AND SO MY QUESTION, UM, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CONCEPT OF PREEMPTION IS, UH, GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF A DEBATE THAT WAS SETTLED AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT IS NOW ADOPTED INTO THE SAN ANTONIO CODE OF ORDINANCES OR INTO OUR, OUR CHARTER THAT YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH. UH, AND TELL ME HOW THAT NOT WAS NOT RESOLVED DEMOCRATICALLY, UH, EFFECTIVELY. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE ARE, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SOME CONTINUED DEBATES ABOUT THOSE. BUT TO WHOLESALE, PREEMPTS CITIES AND REMOVE THE AUTHORITIES OF LOCAL CITIZENS TO HAVE, UH, A SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE THAT RESOLVES CONFLICTS AND DEALS WITH LOCAL ISSUES THROUGH A CHARTER THAT IS RECOGNIZED, UH, AND ADOPTED BY THE CITIZENS, UH, TO ME IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDEMOCRATIC THINGS THAT I'VE EVER SEEN COME FROM OUR STATE LEGISLATURE. SO I HOPE PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE, SALLY. IT'S GOT THE ATTENTION OF, OF IT SHOULD HAVE THE ATTENTION OF EVERY CITIZEN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, WITH REGARD TO THEIR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS. SO, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING UPDATES AND, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT IN TERMS OF WHAT RESOURCES THERE THAT ARE NEEDED UP THERE TO MAKE THE CASE, UH, FOR CONTINUING LOCAL, UM, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN IN CITIES IN TEXAS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HDA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ON THAT NOTE, THE STATE'S PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR. UH, MY PRIORITIES RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, MENTAL HEALTH, FOSTER YOUTH, HOUSING, SMALL BUSINESS, UM, SCHOOL SAFETY OVERALL PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE, UH, POPULATIONS REMAIN THE SAME. FOR OUR CITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK, UM, TO WORK TO PROTECT THESE GROUPS, UH, WE NEED TO HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDING. MY, UH, THE PRIORITIES OF THIS WHOLE COUNCIL REALLY ARE AT RISK OF FUNDING WITH, ESPECIALLY WITH SB 1110, WHICH AFFECTS MUNICIPAL UTILITY FUND TRANSFERS. UM, IT'S REALLY THREATENING HOW WE CAN OPERATE. I HEARD WORD THAT BEN GO DID A FANTASTIC JOB. I HEARD, UH, FROM A FEW PEOPLE, UM, TESTIFYING ON OUR BEHALF. SO WE THANK YOU, BEN. UM, I'M CURIOUS, ARE WE PARTNERING WITH OTHER CITIES, UM, TO FIGHT NOT JUST THIS BILL, BUT, BUT SPECIFICALLY THIS BILL RIGHT NOW, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER ONES? UH, COUNCILWOMAN? THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES. WE'RE COORDINATING, UH, VERY CLOSELY ON, UM, 1110 [02:05:02] WITH, UH, C P SS. UH, NOT ALL, UM, CITIES HAVE MU UH, MUNICIPAL OWNED UTILITIES. SO THOSE THAT DO, WE ARE COORDINATING WITH THROUGH THE STATE ASSOCIATION THROUGH C P SS. I'M CURIOUS, WHICH ONES, UH, DO HAVE MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITIES? SO THE ONES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT ARE WITHIN, UM, OUR PARTICULAR SENATORS, UH, SAN MARCOS, UH, NEW BROWNFIELDS, BERNIE, OUR THREE, UM, IN SENATOR CAMPBELL'S DISTRICT. THEY'RE NEARBY TOO. DID YOU SAY THAT AS WELL? MM-HMM. . UM, AND IS, DOES C P S PLAY A ROLE IN, IN, IN THIS EFFORT? YES, THEY DO. WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY. UM, THEY'RE HELPING US, UM, EDUCATE, UM, OUR DELEGATION, REACHING OUT TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WORKING THROUGH THEIR STATE ORGANIZATION, UM, IN TANDEM WITH US, UM, FROM, UH, UH, THE C E O TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, UM, OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, AND OUR DELEGATION. AND HOW IS, WHAT IS THE RESPONSE? UH, IT'S VERY POSITIVE. I MEAN, AS FAR AS, NOT THE BILL, BUT WITHIN THE COORDINATION, WE FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TOGETHER WITH C P S, AND THAT'S THE SAME MODEL THAT, UM, OTHER CITIES AND UTILITIES, YOU KNOW, UM, SHOULD BE TAKING AS WELL. UM, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE RESPONSE FOR THOSE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, UM, TRYING TO CONVINCE THOUGH THAT THIS IS NOT A GREAT IDEA. SO, UM, DURING THE, UM, ACTUAL HEARING, UH, BEN'S DELIVERY WAS VERY IMPACTFUL ON THE CHAIRMAN, UM, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. UM, HE EVEN MADE A STATEMENT PUBLICLY THAT, UM, HE CONGRATULATED SAN ANTONIO FOR HAVING SUCH A WELL RUN OPERATION. AND SO I THINK ON AFTER THE, THE HEARING AND BEN'S TESTIMONY UM, THE EDUCATION PROCESS DID, UM, WHAT IT NEEDED TO DO FOR US AT THAT PARTICULAR HEARING. OKAY. AND I HOPE THIS DOESN'T COME TO IT, BUT HAVE WE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT FRAMEWORKS TO HELP MITIGATE, UM, THE IMPACT OF THIS? SURE. SO OUR NEXT STEPS IS TO CONTINUE WORKING, UM, WITH OUR SENATORS. UM, SENATOR MENENDEZ IS INSTRUMENTAL, UM, AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY, UM, A PATH, UM, TO CARVE OUT SAN ANTONIO AND, UH, MITIGATE THOSE POTENTIAL IMPACTS. THANK YOU. SALLY. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE UPDATE, UH, AN UPDATE TO THE FIRE AND POLICE PENSION LEGISLATION. I KNOW SOME CHANGES WERE MADE, UM, THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE HAS, HAVE THOSE CHANGES BEEN? YES. I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY, UM, UM, COUNCILWOMAN WHAT THE CHANGES WERE, BUT I DO RECALL THAT THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE THAT THEY RECEIVED DID INCLUDE THOSE CHANGES. SO THEY WERE HAPPY WITH THAT VERSION. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, LASTLY, HB 41 86 IS SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE GARCIA AND SENATOR MENENDEZ. IT'S CALLING FOR HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO GIVE FIRST PRIORITY TO YOUTH AGING OUTTA THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT? UM, SO THAT PARTICULAR BILL WAS, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS REFERRED, LET ME CHECK HERE REALLY QUICKLY. APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. UM, 41 86, UM, DOES HAVE, OF COURSE, THE COMPANION, AS YOU SAID. UM, AND IT HAS BEEN, UM, HAS NOT BEEN REFERRED. OKAY. WELL, IF WE COULD, UH, TRACK THAT ONE OKAY. TO REPORT BACK TO YOU. FANTASTIC. OKAY. THANK YOU, SALLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KEEO. HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER PAL. YEAH, SO JUST, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT THE, UH, THIS SB WAS IT 1 49? THE, UH, THE PREEMPTION BILL? YEAH. UM, I'LL, I'LL READ TO YOU THE, THE PARTS THAT ALARM ME THE MOST. UH, A MUNICIPALITY, A A MUNICIPALITY MAY ADOPT AND ENFORCE ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO DIRECTLY REGULATING A UNIQUELY LOCAL CONCERN. HOWEVER, IT MAY NOT ADOPT IT IF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ALSO ADOPTED, BECAUSE THEN IT WON'T BE AN ESSENTIAL UNIQUE CONCERN, RIGHT? AND WE ARE ABLE TO ADOPT RULES AND ORDINANCES UNDER THIS IF IT'S ESSENTIAL TO NECESSARY REGULATION OF LAND PROTECTING CITIZENS', PHYSICAL SAFETY, AND IS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED TO BE ADOPTED BY STATE STATUTE OR REQUIRES NON-DISCRIMINATION IN THE PROVISION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICES TO ANY PERSON ON THE BASIS OF STATE OR FEDERALLY PROTECTED CLASS. IN OTHER WORDS, OUR N D O WOULD BE GUTTED, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN IT GOES ON TO REPEAT. WE CAN DO THIS, HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO ALSO FILE A STATEMENT DESCRIBING THE UNIQUELY LOCAL CONCERN THAT CANNOT ALSO BE OF A SIMILAR CONCERN IN ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY. AND SO, MAYOR, IF, UH, WE PASS AN ORDINANCE, LIKE A MILITARY LIGHTING OVERLAY DISTRICT, RIGHT? UH, OR IF WE DO ANYTHING, UH, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING US FROM A FUTURE BRACK, RIGHT? BY, UM, LIMITING WHAT HAPPENS AROUND OR NEAR BASES. AND EL PASO HAPPENS TO DO THE SAME FOR FORT BLISS, OR DEL RIO DOES THE SAME FOR LAUGHLIN. UM, THEN ANYTHING WE DO IS VOID, AS THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, ABIO RIGHT FROM THE, OUT FROM THE OUTSET. AND SO, UM, [02:10:01] THIS IS ABSURD. AND, UH, THERE IS, I, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY WHO CALLS THEMSELVES A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA, RIGHT? UH, SO YEAH, WE'VE GOTTA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, TO OPPOSE THIS. UM, I, I DO WANNA ALSO MOVING ON FROM, FROM, FROM THIS TOPIC, I, IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WITH REGARDS TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE, WHAT IS IT THEY'RE CALLING IT? THE DRAG QUEEN BILL OR WHATEVER. IT'S NOT JUST THOUGH THAT WE FIND OURSELVES AT RISK, YOU KNOW, IN REGARDS TO THE PRIDE PARADE OR COORDINATION. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO MEET TODAY THE OWNERS OF, OF COMMUNITY THEATERS, RIGHT? AND IF ANY OF THEM PUT ON HAIR, LET'S SAY, RIGHT? OR EVEN MAJE OR THE MAJESTIC THEATER, RIGHT? OR THE TOBIN, IF ANY OF US PUT ON THAT MUSICAL HAIR, RIGHT? AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER MUSICALS, RIGHT? WHEREAS PART OF THE SCRIPT, A MAN COMES OUT DRESSED AS A WOMAN, RIGHT? UM, FOR WHATEVER REASON WE'D BE COMMITTING A CRIME, RIGHT? I MEAN, DOES THAT, I I, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S OTHER TEXANS OUT THERE WHO WANNA PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR BEING AN ACTOR IN THE PLAY HAIR. YOU KNOW? SO, UM, I, FOLLOWING UP ON THIS COMMENT, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT THIS IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT, RIGHT? SO, SALLY, AND CHRISTINE AND JEFF, I, I DO THINK IT'S TIME FOR, UH, I MEAN, I WAS IN AUSTIN TWO DAYS AGO WITH Y'ALL, AND I SAW BEN GO KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK, BEN, YOU DID GREAT. AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAD, YOU VOICE WAS CRACKING AND, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THE ALLERGIES WERE KILLING YOU. AND, BUT YOU, I MEAN, YOU POWERED THROUGH IT. YOU DID GREAT, RIGHT? AND I THINK THAT YOU REALLY DID OPEN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S EYES UP THERE, BUT THO AFTERWARDS, YOU KNOW, WE ALL GOT TO WALK AROUND AND, AND TALK TO OUR DELEGATES AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM WITH GUTTING C P S, RIGHT? AND THE PROBLEM WITH THESE PREEMPTION ISSUES AND ALL THAT. SO, AND, AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE VALUABLE CONVERSATIONS. SO CHRISTINA AND SALLY, I'M, I'M GONNA INSIST THAT Y'ALL CHECK WITH, WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR SCHEDULES, RIGHT? SO THAT THEY CAN GO UP THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SEEN AND THAT THEY CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, TELL SAN ANTONIO'S STORY AND WHY THIS WORRIES 'EM. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN BRAVO, THERE'S, THERE'S PROPOSED LEGISLATION HAVING TO DO WITH ADUS, RIGHT? UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT HAVING CHRISTINE AND SALLY AND NADIA, RIGHT, UM, SET UP MEETINGS FOR YOU IN AUSTIN, SO YOU CAN GO TELL THE STORY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT SAN ANTONIO IS TRYING TO DO AROUND THIS SPACE. I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, RIGHT? UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US SEES AN, OR I'M SORRY, A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY ON THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING, YOU KNOW, THE SILLINESS THAT IS HAPPENING UP THERE. AND I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAS A DIFFERENT PRIORITY TO GO FIGHT FOR. AND SO I'M, I'M GONNA IMPOSE UPON YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER DOING THAT FOR US. A SS A P, RIGHT? SO THAT, UH, COUNCIL MC CASTILLO, YOU CAN GO UP THERE AND TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS, RIGHT? AND HOW MAYBE THIS PREEMPTION BILL WILL HURT US, UH, YOU KNOW, IN OUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY BUILD HOUSES IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO REGULATE. UM, YOU KNOW, HOW, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION SITES, RIGHT? AND DO INSPECTIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO, ANYWAY, THO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, AND I THINK YOU'RE PICKING UP WHAT I'M LAYING DOWN. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I, I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED, UH, WHEN I GO UP THERE AND ACTUALLY GET TO WITNESS WHAT YOU GUYS DO. SO VERY WELL IN AUSTIN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALAIS, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA. THANK YOU MARIN. THANK YOU SALLY AND JEFF AND EVERYONE FOR, FOR KEEPING US, UH, ABREAST OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT AT THE STATE CAPITOL. AND THANK YOU, BEN. UM, ALSO FOR, FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, UM, WE KNEW THIS WAS GONNA BE, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF A CRAZY TIME. AND I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN PLAYING DEFENSE TO PROTECT, UM, OUR LOCAL CONTROL. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU DO. AND I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, ALONGSIDE WITH MANY MAYORS OF MAJOR CITIES TO RETAIN LOCAL CONTROL AND TO PRESERVE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A HOME RULE CITY, UM, AS WELL AS WITH T M L. SO, I DO HAVE TO, TO SAY THAT THE EFFORTS THAT T M L, UM, MAKES ON OUR BEHALF ARE, ARE GREAT, UM, WITH A CITY, UM, WITH A MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITY. UM, I, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT, RIGHT? THAT WE ALIGN OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES SO THAT WE CAN TELL PEOPLE THE STORY OF HOW THIS WOULD BASICALLY JEOPARDIZE OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY AND OUR RESILIENCY. SO, UM, AGAIN, BEN, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. AND I KNOW THAT, UM, ERIC WALSH A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, LITERALLY DROPPED LIKE EVERY MEETING HE HAD ON HIS CALENDAR THE NEXT DAY TO GO AND MAKE SURE THAT HE WAS ADVOCATING FOR US. SO THANK YOU, ERIC, FOR MAKING THAT A PRIORITY AS WELL. UM, BEN, I KNOW THAT YOU OVERSEE THE, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND, AND THAT YOU TESTIFIED ON SB 1110. UM, HOW I, I KNOW THAT THIS WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT, OBVIOUSLY, SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE BOND CREDIT RATINGS AND OUR CAPITAL PROGRAMS, CAN YOU, UM, GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, INSIGHT IF WE DIDN'T HEAR YOUR FULL, UM, SPEECH ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT OUR FUTURE BONDS, FOR INSTANCE, AND, AND BOND CREDIT RATINGS? GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND BEAR WITH ME AGAIN, I DON'T QUITE HAVE MY VOICE COMPLETELY BACK. BUT, UM, IN TERMS OF THE BOND RATING PROCESS, [02:15:01] YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF C P SS IS THAT IT HELPS DIVERSIFY OUR REVENUE MIX. SO WE HAVE THREE MAJOR REVENUE STREAMS. WE'VE GOT PROPERTY TAXES, WE'VE GOT SALES TAX, AND WE'VE GOT OUR, UH, TRANSFER FROM OUR MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITY. IT MAKES UP ABOUT 26% OF THE GENERAL FUND. THE WAY SSB 10, UH, 1110 IS DRAFTED TODAY, IT WOULD ELIMINATE THAT TRANSFER BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ALLOW THAT TO BE RECOVERED THROUGH A COST OF SERVICE, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN'T INCLUDE IT IN RATES. SO IMMEDIATELY, IF IT WERE TO PASS, THE IMPACT TO US WOULD BE FIGURING OUT HOW TO CLOSE A GAP OF ROUGHLY THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS ABOUT $390 MILLION. SO THAT WOULD HAVE A, A, UH, SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE DO TODAY. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LIMITATIONS ON HOW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CLOSE THAT GAP. I MENTIONED, UH, DURING THE TESTIMONY ABOUT LOOKING AT PROPERTY TAXES, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CAPPED AT 3.5%. YOU CAN'T DO THAT OUTSIDE OF THE THREE POINT HALF PERCENT CAP WITHOUT AN ELECTION. UM, AND THERE ARE EVEN LIMITATIONS ON WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT. SO IT WOULD BE VERY CHALLENGING FOR US, UM, IF OUR RETURN FROM C P S WAS IMPACTED IN ANY WAY AND OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES GOING FORWARD. THE, THE RATING AGENCIES WOULD LOOK AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ONE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE IMPACT TO THE, THE LOCAL, UM, UM, OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR CITIZENS, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO DELIVER QUALITY SERVICES? HOW DO YOU REMAIN COMPETITIVE AS A CITY? ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOBS, UM, PEOPLE WANTING TO LIVE HERE, PEOPLE WANTING TO BE IN SAN ANTONIO. HOW DO WE CLO, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE WHEN WE'RE TAKING OUT ONE OF OUR MAJOR REVENUE STREAMS? GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, BEN. I, AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. UM, I'LL, I'LL LET YOU OFF THE HOOK 'CAUSE OF YOUR, YOUR VOICE, SO, BUT THANK YOU. UM, SALLY, I DO HAVE A QUESTION, AND IT'S IN REGARDING TO, UM, SB 1 75. AND ACCORDING TO THE AUTHOR, THE PROPOSED BILL WOULD NOT PROHIBIT LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM USING STATE MONEY TO GO TO AUSTIN AND LOBBY ON BEHALF OF THOSE THAT THEY REPRESENT. UM, HOWEVER, CAN WE GET CLARIFICATION ON THIS? UM, BECAUSE IT, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS DUE TO EXISTING STATE LAWS THAT EXEMPT SUCH OFFICIALS AND THEIR STAFF FROM REGISTERING AS LOBBYISTS. AND AS YOU KNOW, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE, ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT WE HAVE STAFF THROUGH THE L G C. AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE L G C IS AFFECTED, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOU ALL RIGHT? BUT THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS OVERSEEN BY THE CITY MANAGER WHO IS APPOINTED BY US. SO I THINK THAT THIS BILL COULD IMPACT CITIES DIFFERENTLY IF THEY HAVE A CITY MANAGER, UM, UH, FORM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. CAN YOU HELP KIND OF WITH THAT? I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND, AND DIG UP. I KNOW THAT THE REFERENCE TO LOBBYISTS WAS REGISTERED LOBBYISTS, OKAY. AND, UH, THE REFERENCE TO T M L AND OTHER STATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP US WITH, UH, THIS LINE OF WORK IS ALSO IF THEY UTILIZE OUR CONTRACT WITH REGISTERED LOBBYISTS. BUT I CAN GO BACK, UH, AND PROVIDE YOU ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK TOO OKAY. TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND IT CLEARLY. THANK YOU, SALLY. AND THEN HB 21, 27 IF PASSED, UM, CITIES OR COUNTIES MAY NO LONGER BE ABLE TO, TO ADOPT OR ENFORCE ORDINANCES. AND SO THE MAYOR EX EXPLAINED, AND THEN YOU EXPLAINED SOME OF THE CODES, INCLUDING THE AG CODE MM-HMM. , UM, SO DROUGHT CONDITIONS, OVERGROWN VEGETATION, DANGEROUS ANIMALS, PREDATORY LENDING. UM, SOME OF, SOME OF THESE THINGS, RIGHT, ARE, ARE JUST EXAMPLES. I'M WORRIED BECAUSE YESTERDAY WE HAD A PRESENTATION BY ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, FOR INSTANCE, RIGHT? OR SO OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING, FOR INSTANCE ON SOME, UM, EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS ON ATTENDANCE BILL OF RIGHTS. AND SO TELL ME ABOUT IN, IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE. SO OBVIOUSLY IT SOUNDS LIKE IN THE MAYOR KIND OF E EXPLAINED THIS, IT WOULD TAKE AWAY ALL OF THAT. UM, SO, SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. UH, SURE. COUNCILWOMAN, SO WE SHARE THE CONCERN. ANYTHING, ANY AREA THAT TOUCHES ANY OF THESE EIGHT CODES NOW, UH, WOULD POTENTIALLY PREEMPT US FROM, FROM REGULATING AND CREATING ORDERS, UM, LOCALLY TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S SUCH A, A BROAD, BROADLY IMPACTING BILL. WE'RE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I'M NOT SURE WE'RE EVER GONNA GET THERE JUST BECAUSE THE IMPACT IS SO, SO, UM, OVERREACHING. GOT IT. AND SO I, I'D HOPE THAT WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ADVOCATES, RIGHT? SO THAT THEY COULD GO TO THE STATE AND, UM, AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND, AND TAKE RESIDENTS THAT ARE LIVING THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES, RIGHT? YESTERDAY WE HAD A PUBLIC COMMENT, SOMEONE, UM, AND, AND THEY, I DON'T THINK THAT UNTIL YOU PUT THE PERSON RIGHT, A A FACE A NAME, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T GET THE SITUATION. SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO BE HELPFUL WITH LEVERAGING, UM, ANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE CURRENTLY WORK WITH, I THINK WOULD BE GOOD. UM, REGARDING LAND USE, SPECIFICALLY ANNEXATION, HB 1246, UM, AND HB 3 7 9 4 BY AND, UM, SS V UH, UH, SB 360 9. IT'S THE AUTOMATIC DIS ANNEXATION OF THE CITY DOESN'T PROVIDE FULL MUNICIPAL SERVICES TO AN AREA. MM-HMM. , THAT'S A PARTICULAR CONCERN TO ME. MM-HMM. , HB 25 61 BY TEER, UM, [02:20:01] WHERE THE CITY MUST CONDUCTED DIS ANNEXATION ELECTION IN EVERY AREA THAT WAS ANNEXED BEFORE 2015 AND 20, BETWEEN 2015 AND 2019. THAT'S ANOTHER HUGE ONE, UM, FOR ME. AND I KNOW WE RECENTLY ANNEXED IN, IN MY AREA, BUT THAT WAS THAT, I GUESS THAT'S PAST THAT, THAT DEADLINE. UM, BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE, LIKE, LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT CASE, HB 1279 LIMITS THE EXTENT OF A CITY'S E T J. SO I'M, I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THESE THINGS AS WELL. AND THEN, UM, SB BY MIDDLETON 1108, THE CITY MUST CONDUCT, UM, THAT ELECTION, UH, FOR RELEASE FROM E T J ON PETITION FROM E T J RESIDENT. I DON'T KNOW, LIKE WHAT IS AT 10% OF THE E T J RESIDENTS IS THAT ONE RESIDENT. AND SO, UM, IT'S A LITTLE UNCLEAR THE WAY THAT, THAT I SAW IT WRITTEN. BUT OF THOSE PROPOSED BILLS, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME MIGHT ADVANCE? AND WE DO, DO WE KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY WOULD BE, UM, COUNCILWOMAN. SO ALL THE, THE BILLS THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE IN OUR, UH, HIGH PRIORITY LIST OF BILLS WE ARE TRACKING AND MONITORING. UM, THERE ARE SOME ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH SOME OF THE BILL SPONSORS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPACT TO THE CITY, UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, THE MILITARY, UH, AND J B S A COMPONENT, THAT'S WHY GENERAL ALES HERE, HE AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH US AND SOME OF THE BILL SPONSORS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT IMPACT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO. UM, WE CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE YOU MUCH GREATER DETAIL IN ALL THE BILLS THAT YOU REFERENCED, AND THANK YOU, WHAT THE STATUS IS. THANK SALLY. ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT TO ME. ONE GOOD THING, UM, HB 300 HOWARD CREATES A SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR FEMININE, UH, HYGIENE AND BABY PRODUCTS, AND THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. AM I CORRECT ABOUT THAT? I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK ON THAT ONE. OKAY. AND SO, I, I THINK THAT'S OBVIOUSLY LONG OVERDUE. UM, MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, RIGHT, UM, THAT THESE ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS ARE NON-TAX EXEMPT. AND SO IF THIS BILL PASSES, I THINK THAT IT COULD HELP US ADDRESS SOME OF THE, THE LACK OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS THAT, UH, UH, DIS DIS DIS I, THEY AFFECT WOMEN, OBVIOUSLY, UM, DISPROPORTIONATELY, BUT, UM, AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF LIMITED NEEDS. UM, AND THEN IN THAT SAME, CAN WE CHECK, I KNOW THAT IT WAS LISTED AS THE HOUSE SPEAKERS, AS ONE OF THE HOUSE SPEAKERS PRIORITY, UM, AND I'D LOVE TO KNOW IF THAT'S, IF YOU THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, UM, IN LINE TO BE PASSED, AND THEN CHAIR ELIAS, IF POSSIBLE. IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD SPECIFICALLY DISCUSS MAYBE IN DETAILS THE PREEMPTION AND THE SALES TAX, UH, PROPERTY TAX AND LAND USE BILLS AT OUR R G R COMMITTEE? I THINK THAT IT'S GONNA AFFECT, OBVIOUSLY, A WHOLE LOT, AND WE CAN'T DISCUSS ALL 1500 BILLS RIGHT NOW. UM, BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE IF MAYBE IN, IN, IN APRIL, UM, IF, IF YOU WOULD AGENDIZE IT. BUT THANK YOU, SALLY, AND TEAM, AND, AND THANK YOU CHAIR ELIAS FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. UH, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THANK YOU. UH, THIS HAS BEEN A BIT OF AN EYE-OPENING DISCUSSION, I THINK, UM, FOR, I HOPE THE PUBLIC THAT'S LISTENING AS WELL AS, UH, THE REST OF US ON THE COUNCIL, THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE, UM, THE TWO BILLS THAT REALLY ARE GOING TO, IF, IF PASSED PREEMPT OUR AUTHORITY, UH, IN THE CITY ARE, ARE VERY, VERY WORRISOME. UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND JUST FROM THE UNDERSTANDING OF, OF WHAT THEY SAY RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE SO VAGUE AND SO BROAD. I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO TALK TO MY, UH, RESIDENTS AND TELL 'EM WHY THEY SHOULD VOTE AGAINST IT OR WHY THEY SHOULD CONTACT THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE AGAINST IT. BECAUSE IT, IT IS VAGUE. IT IS BROAD. BUT BASICALLY WHAT IT'S SAYING IS THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT MEETS SIX MONTHS EVERY TWO YEARS WANTS TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE HOW A CITY CAN PROTECT OR CARE FOR, OR ASSIST OR SUPPORT ITS CITIZENS. THAT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL. UM, AND, AND SO I HOPE THAT RESIDENTS WHO ARE LISTENING TO THIS, UH, WILL ASK US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THIS AND PASS IT ON, NOT JUST TO OUR OWN LOCAL DELEGATION, WHICH I KNOW IS, IS GOING TO BE WORKING, UH, TO, TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION THAT THIS IS GOING IN, BUT THAT THEY'LL REACH OUT TO OTHER, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS, PARTICULARLY, UH, YOU KNOW, AT THE TOP, UH, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE'S OFFICE NEEDS TO KNOW, PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO DO NOT WANT THIS. YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE, UH, SENATE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT, THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO KNOW THAT. AND EVERY CHAIR OF EVERY COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE REVIEWING THESE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO DO NOT SUPPORT THIS KIND OF DRACONIAN TAKEOVER OF, OF CITY GOVERNMENT. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, [02:25:01] SB 111 0, WHICH WANTS TO STRIP THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BASICALLY FROM ITS OWNERSHIP OF C P S ENERGY, UH, OF A MUNICIPAL UTILITY THAT WE BOUGHT, THAT WE OWN, THAT WE SUPPORT, UH, AND, AND THEY WANNA SAY, WELL, BUT YOU CAN'T GET ANY OF THE MONEY FROM THAT. THAT IS, THAT, THAT IS EARNED FOR THE CITY TO USE. IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL. NOW, IF WE HAD PRIVATE ENERGY INDUSTRY IN THIS CITY, WE COULD GO AHEAD AND SAY, WELL, IF YOU WANT TO USE PUBLIC EASEMENT, YOU GOTTA PAY FOR THAT AS A BUSINESS. YOU NEED TO PAY US A FRANCHISE TAX AS A BUSINESS. YOU NEED TO PAY US A PROPERTY TAX, AND THEREFORE THE CITY COULD TAKE THAT MONEY AND USE IT. BUT THEY'RE SAYING, BECAUSE WE'RE MUNICIPALLY OWNED, WE OWN IT OURSELVES, WE CAN'T USE THAT KIND OF MONEY. IT, IT'S SENSELESS, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, UH, THE MEN AND WOMEN AND THE FAMILIES AND THE, AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO SPEAK UP AT A STATEWIDE LEVEL, UH, THAT THESE ARE UNREALISTIC, UNNECESSARY, THEY SEEM TO BE SOME KIND OF PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST CITIES THAT ARE, ARE, ARE STRICTLY WORKING ON THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR RESIDENTS. SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN, UH, CONTINUE, UH, OUR BATTLE AGAINST THESE COMING TO FRUITION. BUT THERE'S ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT, THAT YOU DIDN'T MENTION, SALLY, AND, AND I KNOW SOMETHING MY OFFICE HAS TALKED TO YOU ABOUT. EXCUSE ME. I THINK MANY OF US KNOW THAT, UH, THE CITY, UH, PROPOSED A C C R, UH, AND THAT C C R WAS TO PROTECT NEWBORN INFANTS. UH, IT WAS A NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES, UH, C C R ALSO CALLED SAFE BABY BOXES, WHICH COULD BE INSTALLED AT CITY FACILITIES SUCH AS FIRE STATIONS, POLICE STATIONS, METRO HEALTH FACILITIES, ET CETERA. AND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOW PENDING BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE, UH, REPRESENTATIVE MARTINEZ FISHER, UH, PUT A BILL FORWARD. SENATOR MENENDEZ PUT A BILL FORWARD THAT WOULD EXPAND ACCESS TO THE SAFE HAVEN LAW, INCLUDING THE USE OF NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES, BUT ALSO INCLUDES ANNUAL REPORTING AND TRAINING ON THE LAW AND ADOPTION OF MUNICIPALLY CHOSEN CRISIS HOTLINES FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES. SO, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS AND KEEP THE COUNSEL INFORMED SINCE IT IS A MATTER OF INTEREST. UH, AND WE'VE GOT A C C R PENDING. I WILL MENTION THAT WE ASKED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO GIVE US AN OPINION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS C C R WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE JUST BASED ON THE CURRENT LAW. AND FOUR MONTHS AGO WE ASKED THAT, AND HE HASN'T GIVEN US AN ANSWER, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE ASKED OUR LEGISLATORS TO TAKE IT UP BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE. AND HOPEFULLY, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THIS MOVED AND PASSED. SO PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON THAT FOR US, TOO. I KNOW IT'S NOT A PRIORITY ON OUR LIST, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE, AND I KNOW THE COUNCIL WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING HOW IT PROGRESSES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE THAT IN FUTURE UPDATES TO THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRAVO. THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, UM, IT ACTUALLY REMINDS ME, MAYOR OF, UH, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE HAD A, I I'M GONNA CALL IT A DEBATE. UM, YEARS AGO, I THINK BEFORE YOU WERE OUR MAYOR, YOU AND A COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DALLAS WERE PUT HEAD TO HEAD WITH, UH, TWO STATE LEGISLATORS. AND THEY CALLED, THEY CALLED THE FORUM CONTROL, THE LOCAL, UH, LOCAL CONTROL VERSUS CONTROL, THE LOCALS. AND THAT WAS ONE OF YOUR FINEST MOMENTS. I REMEMBER, UM, TAKING THEM ON. UH, BUT APPARENTLY NOBODY THERE LISTENED. AND THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO PUSH FOR CONTROLLING THE LOCALS TO AN EXTENT WHERE I, IT FEELS LIKE THEY, THEY WANT CITIES TO BECOME, UH, INSTEAD OF HOME RULE CITIES, MOTHER MAY I CITIES. AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ONE THING I PRIDE MYSELF IN IS KNOWING THAT I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SERVE HERE AS YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M NOT THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM. YOU KNOW, UH, I'M HERE TO LISTEN TO YOU AND BRING YOUR IDEAS FORWARD. WHAT WE HAVE IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW IS STATE LEGISLATORS WHO AREN'T FROM SAN ANTONIO, WHO THINK THEY'RE THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE STATE, AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR SAN ANTONIO. AND SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I'LL TELL YOU, UM, RIGHT NOW HERE AS YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THE, THE FIRST POLICY PROPOSAL THAT I FILED AS A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION RE REQUEST HERE WAS TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT HOW WE [02:30:01] ARE REGULATING, REGULATING SHORT-TERM RENTALS LIKE AIRBNBS. THAT WASN'T MY IDEA. THAT WAS YOUR IDEA. THAT WAS A COMMUNITY'S IDEA. PEOPLE WHO OWN SHORT-TERM RENTALS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BROUGHT THAT IDEA. NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEIR, HOW HOMES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE POSSIBLY NOT BEING WELL ENOUGH REGULATED, BROUGHT THOSE CONCERNS. PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOMES BEING BOUGHT UP, BOUGHT UP IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BY FOREIGN, BY BY OUTSIDE INVESTORS, UM, DRIVING UP THEIR HOME PRICES, MAYBE HAVING PEOPLE THERE WHO ARE, WHO ARE THROWING PARTIES, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE, THAT ARE OPERATING WITHOUT PERMITS. AND SO I TOOK YOUR IDEA AND BROUGHT IT FORWARD AS A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST. AND SO IF WE DECIDE WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BETTER REGULATE SHORT-TERM RENTALS HERE IN OUR CITY, WHATEVER COMES OUTTA THAT, IF WE DECIDE TO CHANGE OUR ORDINANCE OR, OR, OR UPGRADE OUR ORDINANCE BASED ON THAT, THIS STATE LEGISLATIVE BILL COULD PREVENT US FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. AND SO WHAT IT DOES IS IT PREVENTS WHEN YOU FIND A CHALLENGE, A PROBLEM HERE IN OUR CITY, AND YOU BRING US A SOLUTION THAT PREVENTS US FROM BEING ABLE TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS FOR YOU. UM, AND SO I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM, PROBLEM AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT. THE OTHER THING THAT ALARMS ME IS I'M LOOKING OVER HERE AT SCHROER'S BILL, SB 1110, THE MUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY FUND TRANSFERS. AND I SEE THAT THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM TAKING OUR REVENUES FROM SAWS AND C P SS ENERGY, WHICH WE OWN, AND PUTTING THEM INTO OUR GENERAL FUND. SO THAT WOULD RE REDUCE OUR GENERAL FUND BY OVER 25%. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A BILL THAT, WELL, SO, SO IF WE DO THAT, WHAT HAPPENS, UM, IF WE REDUCE OUR GENERAL FUND BY $400 MILLION, WE EITHER HAVE TO CUT $400 MILLION IN EXPENSES, OR WE HAVE TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES SO THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO GET ALL THE SERVICES THAT YOU WANT. IF WE WANNA MAINTAIN THE CON THE, THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO A BILL THAT'S BEING PROPOSED RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT LIMITS HOW MUCH PROPERTY VALUES CAN INCREASE BY AS WELL. RIGHT? SO THAT'S GONNA, THAT'S GONNA SAY, OKAY, SO NOW WE CAN'T ACTUALLY INCREASE OUR, OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BY MUCH, AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA LOSE A LOT OF, OF REVENUE, TAX REVENUE OR, OR JUST REVENUE THAT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND FROM THE, FROM OUR UTILITIES. SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN YOUR LIFE? WELL, WE HAVE A CURRENT CITY POLICY THAT WE SPEND, UH, UP TO 66%, ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE GENERAL FUND ON PUBLIC SAFETY. AND SO THEN THAT MEANS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE TWO THIRDS OF $400 MILLION OUT OF POLICE AND FIRE, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA REDUCE YOUR SERVICES BY EVERY YEAR. AND SO I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS, AND I'M GLAD SALLY AND JEFF, THAT YOU ALL ARE STAYING ON TOP OF THIS. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT OUR STATE, UH, LEGISLATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION IS WORKING ALL AS HARD AS THEY CAN TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT THIS. AND SO ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING, PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR AND ASK THEM TO, TO MAKE SURE THESE BILLS DON'T MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRIME. THANK YOU. WELL, WELCOME TO THE 88TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. UH, WE SORT OF KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE LIKE THIS. UM, AND THANK YOU JEFF AND SALLY FOR YOUR AVAILABILITY AND ALWAYS TAKING MY CALLS, KEEPING ME UPDATED. UM, LIKE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I THINK THEY'VE MENTIONED EVERYTHING THAT I'M CONCERNED WITH, BUT MY, UH, QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS IS, CAN WE GET A TIMELINE OF WHEN WE THINK THESE ARE GONNA GET OUT OF COMMITTEES AND WHEN WE NEED TO START REALLY, UM, MOBILIZING TO GET TO AUSTIN AND TO TESTIFY, UM, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE CITY BUSINESS WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. SO AS, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO SPEND A DAY IN AUSTIN, I DON'T WANNA DO THAT AT THE EXPENSE OF MY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. SO DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE FOR THAT? THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFER. UM, IT IS, UM, VERY DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE HOW QUICKLY THESE BILLS ARE GOING TO MOVE, BUT AS JEFF JUST SAID, HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T, UM, ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD WANT. HOWEVER THEY DO MAKE IT, UM, TO THE HOUSE OR SENATE FLOOR, THAT IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA NEED THE ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH THAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER. GREAT. THANK YOU. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL. I MEAN, I LOVE GETTING THE UPDATES. THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK WE COULD TAG TEAM WITH THE COUNTY. AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE, THAT THEY'RE, UM, OPEN WITH US IN TIMES OF LINES OF COMMUNICATION OF WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE. AND WE CAN ALWAYS DO THAT BY REACHING OUT TO OUR COUNTY, OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. SO, UH, I MEAN THIS, THIS HAPPENS TRADITIONALLY. UM, UH, IT IS, IT IS THAT BATTLE OF, OF LOCAL CONTROL. AND [02:35:01] AS LONG AS WE, UM, MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE, I THINK, UH, WE CAN BE IN GOOD SHAPE. 'CAUSE YOU GUYS DO A GOOD JOB. THE ONE THING I DO WANNA STRESS IS, UM, WE KNOW LOTS OF LEGISLATION IS GONNA COME DOWN REGARDING OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. MY CONCERN IS HOW THE FUNDING IS GOING TO COME TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. BECAUSE THE PRIORITY IS, IS THAT A LOT OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED THAT STATE FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR. AND SO IF YOU COULD JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP US POSTED ON EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE PUSHING FORWARD. 'CAUSE IT ALL SOUNDS LIKE GREAT IDEAS, BUT HOW IS IT GOING TO GET PAID FOR? BECAUSE WE KNOW, UH, AND IN PARTICULAR WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MY AREA, IS THAT THEY, THEY ARE THAT FINANCIALLY IT IS HARD RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK KEEPING THEM SAFE, DEFINITELY A PRIORITY. HOW WE PAY TO KEEP THEM SAFE IS, IS THE BIG QUESTION RIGHT NOW. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BERAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, SALLY, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I MUST SAY THAT I FIND IT QUITE IRONIC THAT TEXAS STATE LEADERSHIP, WHO, UH, IDENTIFIES AND CHAMPIONS RHETORIC OF CIVIL LIBERTIES AND FREEDOM AND JUSTICE ARE WORKING TOWARDS, UH, MUZZLING AND TYING THE HANDS OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. UM, I'M QUITE CONCERNED, LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, ABOUT SSB 1110, UM, WHICH WOULDN'T ALLOW THE CITY TO TRANSFER REVENUE FROM OUR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AS IT'S ALREADY BEEN EXPRESSED. THIS IS HOW WE BRING THE STREET SIDEWALKS AND DRAINAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HOW THIS IS GOING TO, UH, IMPACT, UH, THE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS IF SUCCESSFUL. UM, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE, UH, IN, UH, OUR TEAM AND JEFF, SALLY AND BEN AND EVERYONE ELSE, UH, TO GO BACK AND, UH, HIT BACK. UM, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT, RIGHT, THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CIVIL, CIVIL LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS, AND WE LOOK TO OTHER STATES, WE SEE THAT PEOPLE HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE LESS FREEDOMS. I WAS SPEAKING TO A RESIDENT WHO WAS EXPRESSING HIS FRUSTRATION THAT HIS DAUGHTER COULD MOVE TO A DIFFERENT STATE AND HAVE THE RIGHT AND MORE AUTONOMY OVER HER BODY. HIS DAUGHTER'S ALSO A TEACHER, AND HE EXPRESSED THAT IF HIS DAUGHTER TAUGHT IN A DIFFERENT STATE, SHE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH, UH, ANY BOOK THAT SHE WANTED TO, RIGHT? AND WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH CULTURALLY RELEVANT PEDAGOGY WITHOUT HAVING TO BE DIRECTED BY THE STATE. UM, SO I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, RIGHT, THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, CIVIL LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS, THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE, UM, GOING TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE STATE LEDGE, UM, REMOVE THOSE CIVIL LIBERTIES AND TIE THE HANDS OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UM, SO YOU ALL HAVE A HUGE TASK. UM, GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THIS BRIEFING IN I G R. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ONGOING WORK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO JUST TAPPING ON THE SHOULDER. AND I'M, I'M READY TO GO TO AUSTIN. UM, AND, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO THE DEBATE AND THE DISCUSSION, AND HOPEFULLY SOME OF THESE ITEMS NOT MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, JEFF OR SALLY, UM, GOT A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU HERE. UM, TWO AREAS THAT I'M MORE INTERESTED IN IS, UH, THE PREEMPTION BILLS. UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. UH, WHY, WHY ARE THESE SHOWING UP AT THE LEGISLATURE NOW? WHAT, WHAT'S PROMPTING THAT? CANDIDLY, THE BILL AUTHOR HAD A HARD TIME ANSWERING THAT QUESTION WHEN HE WAS REALLY PRESSED ON WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU TRYING TO STOP? THE EXAMPLES GIVEN WERE, UH, WORK, UH, EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS, LIKE PAID SICK LEAVE, UM, PLASTIC BAG BANS. UH, BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES, AS WAS QUICKLY POINTED OUT, HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN THE COURTS. AND THERE ARE NOT LOCAL ORDINANCES LIKE THAT. UM, AND SO THAT WAS PART OF THE AUTHOR'S FRUSTRATION IN THE HEARING WAS, WAS REALLY BEING ABLE TO SAY WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT. HIS OVERARCHING STATEMENT WAS THEY WERE TIRED OF PLAYING WHACK, WHACK-A-MOLE WITH LOCAL ORDINANCES AROUND THE STATE MESSING WITH THE TEXAS ECONOMY, THAT THEY JUST WANTED AN OVERARCHING PREEMPTION. UH, AND THE ARGUMENT FROM EVERYBODY ELSE WHO CAME UP WAS, WE DON'T MIND HAVING A DEBATE ON THE PARTICULAR ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT THE STATE HAS PREEMPTED, BUT THIS BROAD, VAGUE, AS EACH OF YOU HAVE HAVE SAID, UH, LANGUAGE THAT THAT IS REALLY HARD TO INTERPRET, UH, IS, IS VERY PROBLEMATIC. SO THAT, THOSE WERE THE REASONS GIVEN AT THE HEARING. YEAH. AND, UM, THERE WAS SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THIS TAKING AWAY HOME RULE. WHAT, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? THE, UM, THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE THAT WAS OFFERED AT THE HEARING ON TUESDAY, UH, ACTUALLY PUT, WHAT DID HE CALL IT? A, UM, A SAFETY CLAUSE THAT SAID, UM, THAT IN ANY OF THESE AREAS WHERE A HOME RULE CITY WOULD BE PREEMPTED, THEIR POWERS WOULD REVERT TO A GENERAL [02:40:01] LAW CITY IN, IN THAT AREA. SO HE, HE WAS POS FRAMING IT AS THOUGH IT WAS A PROTECTION TO CITIES THAT WE'D AT LEAST STILL HAVE GENERAL LAW AUTHORITY, WHICH I THINK WE ALL KNOW MEANS ONLY WHAT THE STATE HAS TOLD US EXPLICITLY WE CAN DO. UM, BUT, BUT THAT'S THE IDEA, IS THAT THE, THAT THE IDEA HOME RULE ESSENTIALLY MEANS THE CITY HAS DISCRETION TO DO THINGS IN ITS COMMUNITY, THAT IT'S RIGHT FOR ITS COMMUNITY. GENERAL LAW IS THE SAME SET OF LAWS ACROSS THE STATE. SO IT'S TYPICALLY VERY, VERY SMALL CITIES THAT ARE GENERAL LAW. THERE'S ABOUT 372 HOME RULE CITIES ACROSS TEXAS. OKAY. 372 OUT OF, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, 1100? 1100, OKAY. YEAH. AND THESE THAT ARE UNDER GENERAL RULE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT, I MEAN, THEY'RE STILL THERE, RIGHT? THEY'RE STILL THERE USUALLY WITH YOU, YOU'VE SEEN THEM BEFORE WHEN YOU PASS. THEY'RE A REAL SMALL TOWN. YEAH. AND THE CITY STAFF MIGHT BE TWO PEOPLE, THE RIGHT, RIGHT. ADMINISTRATOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF OR THAT SORT OF THING. BUT, BUT YES. OKAY. THERE ARE GENERAL LAW CITIES IN THE STATE. SO, UH, IT, IT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THIS IS JUST PARAPHRASING IT, IT'S SOMETHING TO KIND OF REEL IN CITIES THAT ARE KIND OF GOING OFF IN TANGENTS THAT GO AGAINST WHAT THEY THINK SHOULD BE FOLLOWED OR NOT FOLLOWED HERE ON THE STATE, UM, OR GOING AGAINST STATE LAW. YES. THAT, THAT WAS THE SUGGESTION THAT, UM, THAT POLICIES THAT CITIES HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD, THAT AGAIN, UM, SOME OF THE, THE, THE EXAMPLES GIVEN WERE ALREADY, UH, RESOLVED BY COURTS AND, AND, UH, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BY PETITION TO A COMMUNITY. A COUNCIL DECIDED TO EITHER PUT IT ON THE BALLOT OR IMPLEMENT IT, AND THEN THE COURTS, UH, ULTIMATELY MADE A DECISION. AND THAT'S HOW, UH, THE OUTCOME OF PAID SICK LEAVE IN, IN OUR CASE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, YEAH, THAT'S A TOUCHY ONE. EVERYBODY WANTS TO, UH, DO THEIR OWN THING, BUT I, I LIKEN IT TO THE STATE. YOU KNOW, THE STATE HAS TO FOLLOW FEDERAL, FEDERAL LAWS, RIGHT? AND CITIES NEED TO FOLLOW STATE LAW, BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS DO THAT. CORRECT. AND THAT'S WHAT'S KIND OF TRIGGERING THIS. WELL, WE, WE ARE ONLY, UM, THE WAY HOME RULE CITIES WORK IS WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO ADVANCE ORDINANCES THAT ARE NOT ALREADY, UH, EXPLICITLY PREEMPTED BY STATE LAW. I THINK I'M SAYING THIS RIGHT, ANDY. SO, SO WE HAVE BROAD AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUES UNLESS STATE LAW EXPLICITLY SAYS YOU CAN'T REGULATE IN THIS AREA, OFTEN THAT'S BECAUSE THE STATE HAS ITS OWN POLICY STATEWIDE. BUT, UH, AS THIS COUNCIL KNOWS, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE ADDRESSED THROUGH LOCAL ORDINANCES ARE IN AREAS WHERE THE STATE HASN'T ACTED. AND THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS AROUND, UH, PAYDAY LENDING A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THAT'S WHY CITIES STEPPED IN AND PASSED THEIR OWN ORDINANCES. TO THIS DAY, THERE'S STILL NOT A STATEWIDE LAW REGULATING PAYDAY LENDING. WE DO IT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. DO WE KNOW WHO OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT ARE SUPPORTING VERSUS NOT SUPPORTING, UH, THESE, THESE BILLS? UH, WE, WE DON'T YET. THE, THE BILL HAS ONLY GONE TO COMMITTEE. UH, AND IT'S, UM, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAN ANTONIO MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, MEMBERS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE. UM, I WILL SAY ONE CHALLENGE IS THE BILL AUTHOR IS THE CHAIRMAN OF A VERY POWERFUL COMMITTEE, THE CALENDARS COMMITTEE THAT EVERY BILL THAT MAKES IT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR HAS TO GO THROUGH. SO, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE SOME POLITICS INVOLVED, BUT, BUT I THINK, UM, SALLY AND I WOULD BOTH AGREE THAT THE HEARINGS ON BOTH OF THOSE SUPER PREEMPTION BILLS LAST WEEK DID NOT REALLY GO WELL FOR THE BILLS. THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES ON THE COMMITTEES. AND SO IT STANDS TO REASON THAT THEY'RE GONNA CHANGE, AND WE WANT TO BE AT THE TABLE AND, AND HELPING INFLUENCE CHANGES SO THAT THEY MINIMIZE WHATEVER IMPACT THEY ULTIMATELY HAVE HERE IF THEY GO FORWARD. YEAH. AND I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, AND YOU, I KNOW SALLY KIND OF MENTIONED IT, WHICH ORDINANCES THAT WOULD FALL AFOUL OF THIS PARTICULAR, THESE PARTICULAR BILLS HERE. THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. IT, IT, IT'S SO BROADLY WRITTEN. YOU CAN POINT TO ALMOST ANYTHING IN THOSE CODES AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, THAT'S MENTIONED, SO THEREFORE YOU CAN'T DO IT. AND THE WAY IT'LL GET RESOLVED IS BY SOMEBODY SUING THIS BODY AND US HAVING TO GO TO COURT AND, AND ARGUE IT THERE. SO THAT, THAT'S THE WHOLE ISSUE WITH THE BILL, IS THAT IT'S NOT PRESCRIPTIVE, IT'S NOT CLEAR. SO YOU GET, YOU GET SUED EITHER WAY, BECAUSE BEFORE THIS IS OUT, LIKE YOU SAID, THESE OTHER ISSUES THAT WENT THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM WAS BASED ON LAWSUITS. UH, SO OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YEAH. YEAH. ON INDIVIDUAL CASES, WE'RE GETTING SUED ON EITHER, EITHER, EITHER DIRECTION, SO, OKAY. UM, THE OTHER ONE WAS THE, UH, THANK YOU, JEFF. [02:45:01] THE OTHER ONE WAS THE, UH, MUNICIPAL FUND TRANSFERS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. THAT'S A BIG PORTION OF OUR BUDGET, AS BEN WAS SAYING, I GUESS CLOSE TO $390 MILLION THIS NEXT YEAR. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE PEOPLE THAT LOOK AT THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS SAYING, WOW, THIS IS GETTING, THIS IS GETTING LARGER AND LARGER. WHY DON'T WE GET A CHOICE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO? WHY CAN'T WE, UH, HAVE COM COMPETITION WITH OTHER ELECTRIC COMPANIES OR WATER, UH, TO SERVE, SERVE ME AS A CUSTOMER TO GET, I CAN GO SHOPPING TO GET A BETTER RATE. UM, YEAH, THAT'S A BIG PORTION OF OUR BUDGET. UM, 14, ABOUT 14%, RIGHT, BEN? ABOUT 14%. AND, UH, PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT SAYING, WHY AM WHY AM I PAYING 14% MORE ON MY ELECTRIC BILL? UM, HOW, JUST A GUESS HOW MUCH HAVE WE RECEIVED FROM C P S FOR THE LAST, WHAT, HOW LONG HAVE WE OWNED THAT UTILITY NOW? FOR SEVEN YEARS? THIS SINCE 1942. YEAH. HOW MUCH HAVE WE GOTTEN OUT OF THAT TIME? HAVE WE PAID OURSELVES BACK FROM THE INITIAL INVESTMENT? UH, YES, SIR. I'M SURE WE, WE, WE HAVE, UH, COVERED OUR INITIAL INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF THE BONDS, BUT, UM, I'LL LET YOU FINISH YOUR STATEMENT AND THEN I'LL, I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU AN ANALOGY IN TERMS OF HOW YOU CAN LOOK AT THE C P S OWNERSHIP. YEAH. UM, BASICALLY I'M JUST MAKING THE POINT THAT WE HAVE HAND OVER FIST PAID, GOTTEN PAID BACK FOR THE INITIAL INVESTMENT OF C C P S. AND, UM, I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE, BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, I, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK, AND I THINK THERE WAS A STUDY DONE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, WHETHER WE SHOULD SELL C P S OR NOT. UM, I THINK WE NEED TO DUST THAT STUDY OFF AND TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHY WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO OWN C P SS. BECAUSE EVERY, EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UNDER A THREAT OF THEM TAKING C P S AWAY FROM US AND OPEN IT UP TO THE, TO THE MARKET. AND, UH, WE NEED TO, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT'S THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR US TO TAKE BEFORE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS? UM, SO I THINK WE NEED TO DUST OFF THAT STUDY THAT WAS ALREADY DONE, FRESHEN IT UP AND BRING IT BACK. AND LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT, SEE WHAT IT SAYS BASED ON CURRENT DAY, UH, REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT GO, WHAT WENT INTO THAT STUDY INITIALLY. SO WOULD SURE LIKE TO GET THAT BACK AND, UH, TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT. BUT, UH, I, I THINK YOU WERE GONNA SAY SOMETHING, BEN, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAN I JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS? YEAH, SURE. ONE, THAT STUDY THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING WAS DONE BACK, I THINK IN 1997 WHEN THE, UM, LEGISLATURE PASSED THE BILL OPENING CERTAIN PARTS OF TEXAS UP TO COMPETITION. AND WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION AT THAT POINT IN TIME ON WHETHER WE WERE GONNA OPT IN OR NOT. WE CHOSE TO STAY OPTED OUT. AND SO AS PART OF THAT, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT DO WE CONTINUE TO OWN, UH, C P S. UM, WE MADE THE DECISION AT THAT POINT IN TIME TO OPT OUT AND WE DID NOT PURSUE A SALE OF C P S. THE OTHER PART I WANTED TO REFERENCE WAS REALLY GOING BACK TO, UM, THE ACQUISITION BY THE CITY IN 1942. SO ONCE THE CITY OWNS SOMETHING YOU TALKED ABOUT, DID WE GET PAID BACK? WELL, ONCE I MAKE A A, WHETHER IT'S DEBT OR AN EQUITY INVESTMENT AND SOMETHING I OWN, I'M ENTITLED TO RETURN OFF OF THAT ASSET AS LONG AS I OWN THAT ASSET. AND I THINK THE PART ABOUT, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT, LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, AND I'M HAPPY I SHARED SOME OF THIS WITH THE COMMITTEE. UM, I KNOW AT THE C P S BOARD, THEY SOMETIMES SHOW HOW OUR RATES COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT C P SS RATES, AND I'VE GOT THE RESIDENTIAL RATES HERE COMPARED FOR THE MAJOR TEXAS CITIES, AND AGAIN, AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO ARE THE ONLY TWO THAT OWN, UH, THE ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY. OUR RATES ARE VERY COMPETITIVE WITH THE REST OF THE STATE. SO IF WE WERE JUST TO LOOK AT AN ANALOGY WHERE C P S, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID, COUNCILMAN, COURAGE. 'CAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE COMMITTEE, UH, WITH THE SENATE, AND THAT IS, IF YOU JUST THINK FOR A SECOND, IF C P S WERE A, A PRIVATE UTILITY, THAT PRIVATE UTILITY WOULD BE PAYING US PROPERTY TAXES ON ALL OF THE ASSETS WITH INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, THEY WOULD BE PAYING US FOR THE USE OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. AND THE THIRD PIECE WOULD BE A RETURN TO PRIVATE INVESTORS OR SHAREHOLDERS. NOW, IF YOU TAKE OUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR A SECOND, IS NOW IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY. WE'RE GETTING PAID FOR A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAX. WE'RE GETTING PAID FOR USE OF THE PRI THE, THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. AND INSTEAD OF A RETURN GOING TO PRIVATE SHAREHOLDERS, IT'S COMING BACK TO THE CITY AND GOING BACK TO CITIZENS IN THE FORM OF BASIC SERVICES THAT NOT ONLY SUPPORT THE CITY, BUT THE SURROUNDING AREA. I MEAN, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT IN 1942, [02:50:01] UM, THOSE THAT MADE THAT DECISION, WERE THINKING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM MODEL AND HOW BENEFICIAL THIS HAS BEEN FOR THIS COMMUNITY. BUT IT OBVIOUSLY WAS A, A GREAT DECISION. 'CAUSE FROM MY STANDPOINT, YOU LOOK AT IT, WE'VE GOT VERY COMPETITIVE RATES. WE HAVE RELIABLE ELECTRIC AND GAS SERVICE HERE, AND WE HAVE A RETURN THAT RATHER THAN GOING TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, UH, SHAREHOLDERS COMING BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY. SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS TO THE, TO THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. AND THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT WE TRY TO TALK ABOUT, UM, DURING THE SENATE, UH, UH, COMMITTEE HEARING THE OTHER DAY. I THINK I'M OUTTA TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU BEN PERRY, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN TEXAS AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE A HABIT OF SAYING, OH, YOU KNOW, THE STATE'S TRIED THIS BEFORE. THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE. BUT TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND TO, UH, MY FRIENDS IN THE AUDIENCE, I WANNA STRESS THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION EACH AND EVERY TIME. AND THE REALITY THAT WOULD EXIST IF THEY SUCCEED THIS TIME OR NEXT TIME. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF OUR GENERAL FUND WAS STRIPPED OF A MAJOR REVENUE SOURCE AND WE HAD TO RETHINK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR GOALS AND PRIORITIES AS A COUNCIL AND CITY, UM, INCLUDING HOW WE SUPPORT RESIDENTS AND THEIR HOUSING NEEDS. HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THE 10 MINUTE WALK TO PARKS AND GREEN SPACE? HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN QUALITY LIBRARIES AND KEEP THEM MODERN AND RELEVANT? HOW WILL WE, HOW WILL WE PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING? HOW WILL WE ACHIEVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS BY 2030? UM, HOW CAN WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR CITY WITHOUT THIS FUNDING? AND THERE'S, THERE'S A VERY REAL, UM, POSSIBILITY THAT THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE THAT WE WON'T, NOT AT THE RATE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY AND WILL BE SET BACKWARD ON THE WORK THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE WORK THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE IN GETTING US TO THIS POINT. SO THESE COULD SET US SO FAR BACK THAT WE COULD SUFFER NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. FURTHER, THE ABILITY OF CORPORATE POWERS TO EXPLOIT OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, AND, AND BE PREVENTED FROM ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE OFTEN HAVE TO BE VERY CREATIVE TO SOLVE. AND SO, I WANNA ENCOURAGE MY CONSTITUENTS AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND WAYS TO GET INVOLVED, WHETHER THAT MEANS WRITING TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES, SHOWING UP TO AUSTIN TO TESTIFY AND BRINGING A FRIEND AND A RELATIVE, UH, RELATIVE TO AMPLIFY OUR COMMUNITY'S VOICE. PLEASE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY THIS SESSION AND EVERY SESSION AFTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MKE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AFTER LISTENING TO DISCUSSION, I WAS REMINDED OF, UH, MY FIRST FEW MONTHS HERE IN OFFICE. I WENT TO AUSTIN WITH COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL TO GO TESTIFY. AND, UM, MY TEAM AND I HAD BEEN HAVING A CONVERSATION, RIGHT? WE HAVE ESSAY TO DC. UM, HOW ABOUT SOMETHING SIMILAR TO TAKE THE COUNCIL TO THE LEDGE AND JUST HEARING THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE L G C AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS, MAYOR. AND, UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE, UH, SAN ANTONIO TO TEXAS LEDGE DAY. I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE AGENDIZED, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO OUT THERE, UH, AND LOBBY ON BEHALF OF THE, THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO, UM, WITH THOSE REPRESENTATIVES AND WITH THOSE SENATORS TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE. I UNDERSTAND THERE NEEDS TO BE A, A COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT, , SO WE'RE ALL ALIGNED. UM, BUT I, I, I THINK IT IS SOMETHING, UH, WORTH EXPLORING AND DOING AS, AS A BODY. UM, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. UH, AND JUST TO WRAP UP THE DISCUSSION HERE, YOU KNOW, I'M THE REASON WHY, WELL, ONE DAY, THE STATE'S GOVERNING MAKEUP POLITICALLY IS GONNA CHANGE, AND FOLKS WHO ARE RUSHING TO THE STATE TO SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS, BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR YOU DON'T LIKE THAT A LOCAL CITY GOVERNMENT HAS DONE, ARE REALLY PLAYING WITH FIRE. BECAUSE WHEN THAT COMPOSITION OF GOVERNANCE CHANGES AND THEY'RE NO LONGER ON YOUR SIDE, YOU HAVE PREEMPTED YOUR ABILITY AS A CITIZEN TO RESOLVE LOCAL CONCERNS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND THAT IS NOT A STATE I WOULD EVER WANNA LIVE IN. SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE DEBATE. VERY, VERY GOOD COMMENTS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET UPDATED FROM OUR DELEGATION. THANKS SO MUCH. WE'LL MOVE NOW TO, TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE PROACTIVE APARTMENTS INSPECTIONS PROGRAM TO PROACTIVELY INSPECT MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES OR APARTMENT COMPLEXES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH MINIMUM HEALTH AND SAFETY HOUSING STANDARDS, AND ESTABLISHING A FEE FOR REGISTERED APARTMENTS AND THE ANNUAL AMOUNT OF ONE $100 PER UNIT ON THE PROPERTY. MAYOR, THE, UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON TODAY'S, UH, AGENDA IS A BRIEFING AND PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON A, UH, PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM. AND, [02:55:01] AND YOU ALL WILL RECALL THAT THE NEED FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS HIGHLIGHTED, UH, TOWARDS THE END OF, UH, LAST SUMMER, UH, WHEN WE SAW TWO, UH, TWO CASES IN PARTICULAR HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT BROUGHT THE, UH, THE ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. UH, AFTER BUDGET DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CONVENED A STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO DISCUSS, UH, A, A PROGRAM FOR THOSE, UM, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEXES OR BAD ACTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO, UH, DON'T TAKE, UH, CARE OF ISSUES ON THEIR PROPERTY QUICKLY, AND THEREFORE PUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE APARTMENT TENANTS AT RISK. UM, AM MEAN TOMEZ. UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF V S D IS GONNA WALK US THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, BUT THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP WAS KEY IN MAKING SURE THAT WE GOT INPUT, UH, FROM A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE, UH, TO, TO, UH, DEVELOP A, UH, PROPOSAL FOR THE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION, UH, TODAY. SO LEMME TURN IT OVER TO AM MEAN TO WALK US THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ERIC. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS AMIN THOMAS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. AND EXCUSE ME FOR MY VOICE. I, I'M HALFWAY THROUGH THAT, BUT ACTUALLY I'M THE ONE WHO CAUSED MIKE SHANNON TO LOSE HIS VOICE. SO, , SORRY, MIKE. SO, I GUESS THE, THE FIRST THING IS TO TALK ABOUT WHY ARE WE HERE. BASICALLY, THE MAIN REASON WE ARE HERE NOW IS APARTMENT VIOLATIONS AND A APART APARTMENT, UH, COMPLEXES THAT THEY HAVE VIOLATIONS. THEY CAUSE BASICALLY VERY CRITICAL AND UNIQUE CHALLENGES COMPARED TO SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING UNITS. THE REASON FOR THAT IS YOU ARE DEALING WITH MULTIPLE TENANTS, MULTIPLE FAMILIES, AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH LANDLORDS, TENANTS, AND LANDLORDS. THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES. THERE'S A LOT OF DISPUTES THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS. SO IT'S REALLY A COMPLEX ISSUE COMPARED TO SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING UNITS. THIS LAST SUMMER, UH, WE HAD A COUPLE OF APARTMENTS THAT THEY HAD REALLY MAJOR ISSUES AND THEY, UH, BASICALLY RECEIVED A LOT OF CITATIONS UNTIL WE KIND OF MANAGED TO GET THEM INTO COMPLIANCE. UH, ONE OF THEM IS COMPLETELY INTO COMPLIANCE. THE OTHER ONE IS PENDING ONE ISSUE RIGHT NOW. UH, BUT IT'S NOT AFFECTING TENANTS BECAUSE IT'S AN ISSUE WITH STAIRS. UH, AND THE SECOND FLOOR IN THAT APARTMENT IS NOT OCCUPIED AT THIS POINT. SO, JUST GOING BACK, UH, THROUGH QUICK BACKGROUND, BASICALLY, UH, IN SEPTEMBER AND LAST BUDGET SEASON, UH, COUNCIL AND MAYOR, YOU APPROVED US TO ADD TWO CODE OFFICERS TO FOCUS ON APARTMENTS, BASICALLY ON THIS SPECIFIC ITEM. UH, THERE WAS NO CODE CHANGES. THERE IS NO IMPACT OR ANY FEES ON THE LANDLORDS. FOR, FOR THE TWO OFFICERS THAT WE GOT THIS SUMMER, BETWEEN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, WE DID PRESENT TO P C D C AND WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE, UM, A STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE STUDY THIS AND BRING RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, TO COUNCIL. IN DECEMBER, WE DID GO BACK TO P C D C. WE PROVIDED THEM WITH SOME UPDATES WHERE WE STAND AND, UH, DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT, UH, ALL THE TOPICS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO WITH, UH, THE STAKE STAKEHOLDER GROUP. AND, UH, P C D C BASICALLY INSTRUCTED US TO FOCUS ON LIFE SAFETY ITEMS. AND THEY DID MENTION THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO LOOK INTO THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS THAT BRINGS THOSE, UH, BAD ACTORS INTO THIS PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE WE REDUCE IT, BECAUSE THE RECOMMENDATION WAS FIVE CITATIONS AT THAT TIME. FAST FORWARD TO FEBRUARY, 2023, WE WENT BACK TO P C D C. WE PRESENTED THE OUTCOME AND THE PROPOSED, UH, ORDINANCE FROM THE STAKEHOLDER AND P C D C INSTRUCTED US TO MOVE FORWARD TO FULL COUNCIL. SO TECHNICALLY, UH, WE CREATED THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP AND SINCE OCTOBER, WE HAD 12 MEETINGS. EACH MEETING IS THREE HOURS PLUS. WE TRIED TO REALLY WRAP IT UP AT THREE HOURS EVERY TIME. BUT SOMETIMES WE WENT OVER, UM, EVERY MEETING HAD, UH, IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. WE HAD PUBLIC ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS AND WE DID ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS IN EVERY SINGLE MEETING. 'CAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC AND A PROGRAM LIKE THIS INTO AN ORDINANCE THAT AFFECTS TENANTS. BASICALLY, WE DID A COUPLE OF, UM, COMMUNITY MEETINGS AS WELL AS WELL, ONE IN PERSON AND ONE VIRTUAL TO AGAIN, OBTAIN ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UH, COVERS BASICALLY ALL THE BASES. , THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP BASICALLY WAS VERY BALANCED. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE DIRECTION WE GOT FROM P C D C. ON THAT. [03:00:01] WE HAD BASICALLY 10 MEMBERS, UM, IN THAT GROUP. FIVE OF THEM REPRESENT RENTERS AND RENTERS ADVOCATES. AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER FIVE BASICALLY ARE PRESENTING THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION LANDLORDS, UH, AS WELL AND OWNERS. AND I REALLY WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY AND EACH ONE OF THOSE, UH, MEMBERS, BASICALLY, THEY ALL STUCK TO IT. THEY ALL ATTENDED EVERY MEETING. UH, WE HAD A LOT OF DEBATES, A LOT OF ARGUMENTS, I WANT TO CALL IT SOME ARGUMENTS OR DEBATES WERE REALLY HEATED. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I BELIEVE WE DID REACH TO A GOOD CONSENSUS AND CAME UP WITH, WITH REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS. SOME OF THE MAJOR TOPICS THAT WE WERE TALKING TO, UH, WITH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP WAS NUMBER ONE, OBVIOUSLY WE HAD TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF CODE ENFORCEMENT TODAY. WHAT DO WE DO TODAY? HOW TO, HOW DO WE ENFORCE, UH, OUR CODES? THE SECOND ITEM WAS TO TALK ABOUT TERMINOLOGY, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND CITATION. 'CAUSE THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THAT. AND UNDERSTANDING THAT HELPED US KEEP MOVING WITH THE PROCESS. UH, THE, THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP ASKED US TO GO BACK AND GET SOME DATA FROM PREVIOUS DATA WE HAVE. SO WE WENT BACK AND WE CAPTURED 18 MONTHS OF DATA AND WE REALLY ANALYZED IT. WE DISSECTED THAT DATA, WE CAME BACK AND WE PRESENTED EVERY DETAIL ABOUT THOSE, UH, THE DATA WE HAVE TO THE STAKEHOLDERS TO HELP, HELP UNDERSTAND WHERE WE STAND AND WHAT'S THE NEED. WE TALKED ABOUT THE MOST COMMON VIOLATIONS. UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT EDUCATION AS WELL. AND EDUCATION IS NOT JUST FOR LANDLORDS, IT'S TENANTS, OWNERS, ANY OCCUPANTS, BASICALLY, MANAGERS, UH, OF THOSE PROPERTIES. WE DID DISCUSS WITH THE STAKE, UH, HOLDER GROUP AS WELL, UH, THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PERMITS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN CHAPTER 10 IN OUR CONSTRUCTION CODE. EVERY APARTMENT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PERMITS FOR MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING. SO WE EXPLAINED THAT PROCESS AND TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. HERE IS SOME OF THE MOST COMMON, UH, VIOLATIONS BASED ON THE 18 MONTHS OF DATA THAT WE DID PULL. UH, INTERIOR ACTUALLY IS THE HIGHEST. THEN OVERGROWN YARDS AND TRASH IS NEXT. UH, SEWER LEAKS, WATER LEAKS IS THE THIRD ONE, EXTERIOR. AND THEN DUMPSTERS IS THE LAST ONE. THOSE ARE THE TOP FIVE FROM THE 18 MONTH OF DATA. SO BASICALLY, NOW I'M GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP CAME UP WITH, AND AGAIN, CAME UP WITH REALLY GOOD CONSENSUS ON THAT. THE MAIN GOAL IS OBVIOUSLY TO, UH, INCENTIVIZE, UH, GOOD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TO MAKE SURE THEIR TENANTS HAVE SAFETY AND HEALTH AND WELFARE, BASICALLY TO THE MAX. THE NEXT ONE IS TO HOLD APARTMENT, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS MORE ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY GET TOO MANY VIOLATIONS. AGAIN, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THEY MEET AT LEAST THE MINIMUM, UH, HOUSING SAFETY STANDARDS. THE THIRD ONE WAS, UH, TO HAVE A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THIS, UH, THE CURRENT PROCESS. NOW WE GET 3 1 1 CALLS. WE DO DISPATCH CODE OFFICER. THEY GO AND INSPECT THAT LOCATION OR THAT ONE UNIT. BUT THIS PROGRAM AND THIS ORDINANCE IS REALLY GONNA INCREASE THE PROACTIVENESS, UH, FOR US. UH, AND AGAIN, I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO WHO REALLY FALLS INTO THIS? UH, SO THIS, THIS ORDINANCE, OR PROPOSED ORDINANCE NOW APPLIES TO MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT COMPLEXES WITH FIVE OR MORE UNITS. THE REASON WHY WE CHOSE THE FIVE OR MORE UNITS IS TO GET IN LINE, TO GET IN LINE WITH THE, WITH THE ADOPTED CODES, THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, AND WITH A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TODAY. SO WE WANTED TO KEEP IT TO THAT AND MAKE SURE WE CAPTURE, AGAIN, THOSE TYPE OF APARTMENTS. SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING UNIT DUPLEXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AGAIN, THE REASON FOR IT IS, OBVIOUSLY IS IF THOSE APARTMENTS HAVE ISSUES WITH MAINTAINING MINIMUM STANDARDS, THOSE ARE THE APARTMENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE, UH, BASICALLY, UH, APPLIED OR, OR GONNA BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM. THE WHOLE REASON IS, AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE EVERY APARTMENT COMPLEX OWNER, LANDLORD, THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO BASICALLY DEVELOP SAFETY AND HEALTH AND, UH, WELFARE, UH, TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS FOR THE TENANTS. SO DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BIGGEST ITEMS AND THE BIGGEST DEBATES IS HOW DO WE DEFINE BAD ACTORS? HOW DO WE DEFINE OR IDENTIFY WHICH APARTMENT COMPLEX WILL BE IN THIS PROGRAM? SO THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT THIS, AND THE END RESULT WAS, AND THE CONSENSUS WAS TO HAVE ANY APARTMENT COMPLEX [03:05:01] THAT RECEIVES THREE DESIGNATED CITATIONS IN SIX MONTHS. WHEN THEY GET THAT, THEY HAVE TO QUICKLY REGISTER WITH THE CITY. BASICALLY WITHIN 10 DAYS, THEY HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE CITY. AND AGAIN, THE FOCUS IS WE WANT THEM TO REPAIR THOSE ITEMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO IF THEY DO REPAIR THEM BEFORE THEY GET CITATION, THEY WILL NEVER BE IN THE PROGRAM. THAT'S THE GOAL. BUT IF THEY DO GET CITATIONS, THREE CITATIONS IN SIX MONTHS, THEY WILL BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, P C D C TOLD US TO LOOK AT LIFE SAFETY ITEMS. SO THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP DID REALLY FANTASTIC JOB. WE TOOK THE SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE AND WE REVIEWED IT LINE BY LINE, SECTION BY SECTION TO SEE WHICH ITEMS, WHICH VIOLATIONS SHOULD BE COUNTED TOWARDS THOSE THREE, THREE CITATIONS. SO BASICALLY WHAT WE ENDED UP WITH IS WE LOOKED AT ANY STRUCTURE ISSUE, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING ISSUES, UH, INTERIOR SURFACES MEANS OF EGRESS, FIRE SAFETY AND INFESTATION. THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE HAS OVER A HUNDRED SECTIONS, A HUNDRED VIOLATIONS, AND I THINK WE ENDED UP WITH ABOUT TWO THIRDS. ABOUT 66 OF THOSE ARE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE ITEMS I JUST MENTIONED, LIFE SAFETY ISSUES. SO BASICALLY, ONCE, UH, THE, THE APARTMENT IS REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED, THEY NEED TO, AS I MENTIONED, COME AND REGISTER WITH US WITHIN 10 DAYS UPON REGISTRATION IMMEDIATELY, WHAT THAT GONNA, UH, CREATE IS THAT GONNA ALLOW US TO GO AND DO A PROACTIVE INSPECTION. THIS IS WHERE THE PROACTIVENESS COMES IN. NOW WE HAVE THE RIGHT, AS A CITY, AS CODE ENFORCEMENT TO GO OUT AND DO PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS. WE WILL DO UP TO 5% OF THE UNITS THEY HAVE. AND BASICALLY THAT'S IN ADDITION TO ANY 3 1 1 CALLS THAT WE ARE STILL GETTING, OR ANY OPEN CASES THAT WE ARE STILL INSPECTING OR REINSPECTING. WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THOSE. BUT ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE GONNA DO UP TO 5%. NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO IS WE'RE GONNA DO THOSE 5% RANDOMLY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THE TENANT KNOWS THAT WE ARE COMING. SO WE ARE OBLIGATED TO NOTIFY THE APARTMENT COMPLEX OR THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AT LEAST 10 DAYS MINIMUM, 10 DAYS AHEAD OF TIME AND SAY, ON THIS DAY, WE ARE GONNA COME AND DO INSPECTIONS. THAT WAY THEY CAN NOTIFY THE TENANTS. WE DON'T WANNA WALK INTO AN APARTMENT AND START KNOCKING ON DOORS AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM AT LEAST 10 DAYS, UH, NOTICE TO COME AND INSPECT. BUT WE WILL INSPECT RANDOMLY 5% EVERY MONTH. AGAIN, AS LONG AS THEY'RE IN THE PROGRAM, THEY HAVE TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE PROGRAM MINIMUM SIX MONTHS. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IF I'M DOING 5% EVERY MONTH, MINIMUM SIX MONTHS, THAT MEAN I'M INSPECTING 30% OF THE UNITS IN THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX. OBVIOUSLY, IF WE SEE MAJOR ISSUES AND WE CONTINUE TO FIND ISSUES, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACTUALLY INCREASE THAT AMOUNT. BUT WE, WE FEEL LIKE THAT IS, UH, A GOOD COMPROMISE. THE, THE STAKEHOLDERS TALKED ABOUT IT. WE WENT FROM COUPLE PERCENT TO 10% BACK AND FORTH, AND AGAIN, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS 5%. THAT MAKES SENSE. WE CALLED SOMETHING GRADUATION. UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT NAME CAME UP, BUT ACTUALLY IT SOUNDED GOOD. SO THE MINUTE THEY'RE REGISTERED IN THE PROGRAM, AS I SAID, THEY WILL BE IN IT FOR SIX MONTHS. BUT THE QUESTION WAS, DO THEY GET IN THE PROGRAM AND STAY IN, STAY IN IT FOR LIFE, OR DO THEY GET OUT AND HOW DO THEY GET OUT? SO AGAIN, AFTER A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS, THIS WAS A A, A HOT TOPIC. THE, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS THEY GET OUT KIND OF THE SAME CONCEPT AS THEY CAME IN. SO IF THEY HAVE AN ENROLLING SIX MONTH, LESS THAN THREE CITATIONS, SO SO TWO, ONE OR ZERO CITATIONS IN, IN SIX MONTHS, THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE PROGRAM BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WANNA INCENT INCENTIVIZE THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY FIX EVERYTHING AND GET TO NORMAL AND TO BE A GOOD, GOOD ACTOR. RIGHT NOW, WITH THE CAVEAT AS WELL IS THEY MIGHT HAVE CITATIONS IN THAT SIX MONTH, BUT WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM THIS PROGRAM, ALL CITATIONS, ALL VIOLATIONS BASICALLY NEED TO BE RESOLVED A HUNDRED PERCENT. SO AT THE TIME THEY GRADUATE, THERE IS NO VIOLATIONS AT ALL. AND IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THEY HAD, AGAIN, NO MORE THAN TWO CITATIONS. THERE WAS A A, A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IF SOMEBODY GETS IN THE PROGRAM AND THEN GETS OUTTA THE PROGRAM AND THEN COME BACK AND GET IN THE PROGRAM, REPEAT OFFENDER, RIGHT? SO, UM, THE, THE, THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP CAME UP WITH, THEY CALLED IT A PROBATIONARY PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. SO IF I GET IN THE PROGRAM AND THEN I GRADUATE FROM IT, I HAVE A PROBATIONARY PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. IF FOR WHATEVER REASON I GET BACK IN THE PROGRAM DURING THOSE FOUR YEARS, THEN NOW MY MINIMUM TIME [03:10:01] IN THE PROGRAM WILL BE INSTEAD OF SIX MONTHS, WILL BE MINIMUM 12 MONTHS. SO AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S A LONGER TIMEFRAME. AT THAT POINT, I WILL INSPECT, INSTEAD OF SIX MONTHS, I CAN INSPECT 12 MONTHS PROACTIVE INSPECTION. SO NOW I'M UP TO 60% OF ALL THE UNITS. SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST KEEPING US, UH, ON TOP OF THAT, UH, LOCATION AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF. THERE IS A, THE NOTICE, SO OBVIOUSLY OUR STANDARD, UH, PROCESS TODAY IS WHEN WE, WHEN WE FIND VIOLATION, WE ISSUE A NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND WE DESCRIBE WHAT'S, WHAT THAT VIOLATION IS FOR. ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE GROUP WAS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR TO THE LANDLORD AND TO THE OWNER THAT WE PROVIDE THEM THE BUILDING NUMBER. WE PROVIDING THE UNIT, UNIT NUMBER. WE PROVIDE THEM EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE. I CAN'T JUST SAY A LEAK IN UNIT 1 0 1, I HAVE TO SAY BUILDING FIVE UNIT 1 0 1 POTENTIALLY. AND SAY THE LEAK IS SPECIFICALLY, LET'S SAY THE BATHROOM SINK, FOR EXAMPLE. WHAT THAT GONNA DO IS QUICKLY IDENTIFY EXACTLY THE PROBLEM. SO GOOD ACTORS WILL JUMP ON IT AND FIX IT. 'CAUSE THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. THERE IS NO TIME LAPSE. THERE IS NO NEED TO TRY TO CALL, EMAIL, GO CHECK THE WHOLE BUILDING. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE WANNA BE VERY, VERY SPECIFIC. WHEN WE ISSUE THOSE NOTICES TO THE APARTMENTS, ON TOP OF THAT, WE GONNA, UH, BASICALLY PROVIDE THEM, UM, A STATEMENT ON THE NOTICE TELLING THEM THEY HAVE 10 DAYS. NORMALLY OUR STANDARD TIME FOR NOTICE IS 10 DAYS. WE'RE GONNA TELL THEM, YOU HAVE 10 DAYS TO REPAIR IT AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW IF IT'S NOT REPAIRED, THIS COULD BE POTENTIAL POINT, OR THIS COULD BE ONE OF THOSE CITATIONS AFTER THE 10 DAYS THAT WILL GET YOU INTO THIS PROGRAM POTENTIALLY. SO AGAIN, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT. WE'RE GONNA NOTIFY THEM EVERY SINGLE TIME. ON TOP OF, ON TOP OF THAT, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE STANDARD PROCESS THAT, UH, WE NOTIFY AGAIN, OWNERS OR LANDLORDS IS WHEN WE ARE ON SITE, IF WE HAVE A MANAGER OR MANAGEMENT COMPANY ON SITE, WE TALK TO THEM. WE DO PROVIDE THEM AND HAND THEM BASICALLY THE NOTICE. SOME APARTMENTS, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT OR THEY MIGHT NOT BE AVAILABLE WHEN WE ARE THERE. SO WE STILL POST THAT NOTICE ON THAT DOOR. IF THERE'S, AGAIN, AN OFFICE ON TOP OF THAT, WE DO MAIL IT. UH, WE MAIL THE NOTICE AND THE FIRST CLASS MAIL, THE STANDARD MAIL. ONE OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE APARTMENTS WAS, YOU MAIL IT, I MIGHT NOT GET IT TILL DAY 6, 7, 8. SO NOW I REALLY HAVE ONLY FEW DAYS TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. SO WHAT WE ARE OFFERING IS, AS A COURTESY, IF THEY PROVIDE US AN EMAIL ADDRESS, WE WILL EMAIL THEM THAT NOTICE THAT SAME DAY. SO AGAIN, WE WANNA GIVE THEM ENOUGH TIME TO REPAIR IT, AND THE SOONER THE BETTER. SO THEY KNOW ABOUT IT, THEY WANT, HOPEFULLY IT'S FIXED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. VERSUS EVEN WAITING TILL THE NOTICE SHOW UP AT THEIR, YOU KNOW, MAILBOX AND ANY, ANY CODE, ANY ORDER THAT WE, WE WE MAKE, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY RIGHTS AND THERE'S A DUE PROCESS. THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL IT. UM, SO BASICALLY ANY CITATION THAT IS ISSUED, UH, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL THAT TO THE CODE OFFICIAL. AND, UH, THEY HAVE 10 DAYS. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING HERE, HERE IS THEY HAVE 10 DAYS TO APPEAL. IT DEFINITELY, IT NEEDS TO BE IN WRITING. SO NUMBER ONE IS DOCUMENTED, AND WHEN WE REVIEW IT AND WE RESPOND, WE'RE GONNA SEND THEM THAT IN WRITING AS WELL IF WE AGREE WITH THEIR ASSESSMENT OR NOT. I MEAN, WE ARE HUMANS, WE DO REALLY AWESOME JOB, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN WE MIGHT DO A MISTAKE. SO IF, IF THEY APPEAL IT AND SAY, CODE OFFICER DID THE MISTAKE AND WE CONFIRM THAT MISTAKE, THEN OBVIOUSLY WE GONNA REMOVE THAT CITATION. UM, SO AGAIN, EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE IN WRITING. IT NEEDS TO BE, THEY NEED TO PROVIDE THE PROOF WHY THEY'RE EVEN APPEALING. THE, THE, THE CITATION, FISCAL IMPACT. I KNOW THAT'S A BIG ITEM FOR ANYTHING WE DO. UM, ANYTIME WE ADD PROGRAMS OR WE ADD AN ORDINANCE, NORMALLY THERE IS SOME IMPACT. UM, THE IMPACT, WE DID SOME ANALYSIS ON THIS, AS I MENTIONED. WE USED THE 18 MONTH DATA AND WE LOOKED AT THAT. OUR ESTIMATE OR ASSUMPTION RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE ABOUT 15 APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN THIS PROGRAM. UH, THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 200 UNITS PER APARTMENT COMPLEX. SO IF WE DO CHARGE A HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR PER UNIT, THAT'S ABOUT $300,000. SO THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BASICALLY DO IT. SO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE IS TRYING TO CREATE THIS PROGRAM TO BE COST RECOVERY. BAD ACTORS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB. THEY NEED TO REGISTER WITH US. THEY NEED TO PAY FOR OUR INSPECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THEY GET BACK ON TRACK. THAT'S REALLY THE GOAL HERE. [03:15:01] SO BASICALLY, WITH THAT SAID, UH, THE, OUR RECOMMENDATION, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE, UH, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS I JUST PRESENTED TO YOU, BASICALLY. AND AGAIN, THE MAIN GOAL IS WE WANNA MAKE SURE BAD ACTORS GET BACK ON TRACK. WE WANT GOOD ACTORS TO BASICALLY STAY OUT THIS PROGRAM IF POSSIBLE 'CAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN THE PROGRAM. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE JUST NEED LIFE, SAFETY AND HEALTH, UH, FOR OUR TENANTS. THANK YOU. AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MEAN, THIS IS YOUR, UH, FIRST PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL. YES, SIR. WELL DONE. THANK YOU. WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IT FOR 10 YEARS. ME, ME TOO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ME TOO. BUT MIKE DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO TALK. WELL, , HE DOES A BETTER, HE DOES A BETTER JOB THAN MIKE, DOESN'T HE? YEAH. . WELL, GREAT JOB. I MEAN, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, WE HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME TO SEE THIS, SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. UH, ALONG WITH, UH, ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE PART OF THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS, I WANNA MAKE SPECIFIC MENTION TO OUR RENTER SOLUTIONS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION, ALONG WITH THE HOUSING COMMISSIONERS. UH, I KNOW MANY OTHER FOLKS WERE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, TEXAS HOUSERS, SABOR. UH, MANY PEOPLE WEIGHED IN OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS TO GET US TO THIS POINT. SO WE APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS WHO SIGNED UP WHO TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. SO WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. UM, SO I'LL CALL FOLKS IN ORDER OF SIGN UP, UH, AND I'LL CALL THE NEXT PERSON ON THE LIST IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO COME FORWARD. WE'LL START WITH KEISHA BROWN. IS KEISHA BROWN HERE, MS. BROWN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY CLAUDIA NEGA. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR TODAY. HI, MY NAME IS KEISHA BROWN, AND I AM A RENTER AND A LEADER WITH TOP ORGANIZATION. AND I AM HERE TODAY TO DECLARE A VICTORY BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS BEEN PASSED. UM, MY CURRENT SITUATION IN 2021, I WAS LIVING IN A COMPLEX, UM, BUT IT WAS DISTRICT ZERO. I HAD NO IDEA. I'M NOT FROM SAN ANTONIO, SO I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE DISTRICTS. UM, THE STORM HIT. UM, MY, MY SON AND I, OUR APARTMENT, WE HAD NO, NO CEILING, NO ROOF, MILDEW, AND MOLD. I STAYED LIKE THAT FOR SIX MONTHS BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE LANDLORD WAS GONNA FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS A STORM. AND, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THAT HAPPENED. WE LIVED THAT WAY FOR SIX MONTHS. I SPOKE UP. WHEN I SPOKE UP, I DID A STORY WITH PROBLEM SOLVERS. IT WAS CALLED, WHO WANTS TO LIVE THIS WAY? IT'S, IT, IT, IT WAS ERRED ON APRIL THE FIRST, 2021. IT WASN'T A APRIL FOOL'S JOKE. IT WAS REAL. WE WERE LIVING THAT WAY. ME AND OTHER SENIORS, OTHER PEOPLE IN THE UNIT. UM, I JUST SPOKE UP BECAUSE I'M AN ESSENTIAL WORKER AND I TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ALL LIVING IN SAFE CONDITIONS. NO MILDEW, NO MOLD, NO CEILINGS. UM, I HAD TO BUY TARPS FROM HOME DEPOT TO PUT UP SO WE CAN HAVE PRIVACY FROM THE OUTSIDE. 'CAUSE YOU CAN LOOK STRAIGHT INTO MY HOME. UM, BECAUSE I SPOKE UP, I WAS RETALIATED ON. I STAYED ON PROPERTY FOR SEVEN YEARS. THEY WOULD NOT SIGN MY LEASE. SO I HAD TO MOVE OUT. I'M CURRENTLY LIVING IN DISTRICT 10. UM, I REACHED OUT THERE AS WELL. MY CURRENT UNIT HAS EIGHT HOLD VIOLATIONS, EIGHT OF THEM FOR TWO MONTHS. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THEM TO FIX THEM. ONLY ONE HAS BEEN CLOSED OUT. THAT'S JUST THE LITTLE STRIP THAT YOU PUT ON THE DOOR. BUT IT'S LIKE, I TOLD MY LANDLORD MY SITUATION. I WAS BORN IN ALASKA, RAISED UP MILITARY. I'M HOMELESS FOR SIX MONTHS. I'VE NEVER BEEN HOMELESS. I'M AN ESSENTIAL WORKER, CARING FOR PEOPLE AT THE HOSPITAL, HOMELESS WHO'S CARING FOR ME, AND THE, THE TENANTS, BECAUSE WE SPEAK UP, WE GET RETALIATED ON, OUR RENT GOES UP. UM, SO IT'S LIKE WE HAVE NO VOICE. YOU KNOW, I COME TO THE MEETINGS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A YEAR NOW TO TRY TO GET THINGS PASSED, BUT I'M SCARED TO SPEAK UP. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, I SPOKE UP AT THESE MEETINGS AND I'M ON THE VERGE OF GETTING HOMELESS AGAIN. MY LANDLORD DOESN'T WANT ME THERE BECAUSE I JUST WANT MY PROPERTY FIXED. THAT'S ALL. I'VE BEEN BROKEN IN TWICE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD CRACK HEAD. I HAD TO DO TWO POLICE REPORTS, HELD 'EM DOWN, DO A CITIZEN'S ARREST. WHO WANTS TO KEEP LIVING IN POVERTY. I'M A TAXPAYER. I HAVE TWO JOBS WHO KEEPS ONE WHO, WHO WANTS TO DO THIS, WHO WANTS TO KEEP LIVING LIKE THIS? YOU ALL DON'T LIVE THAT WAY. BUT I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT FOR THIS VOTE. AND WE ALSO KNOW THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE HEARD LANDLORDS THREATEN TO PASS THE COST OF BEING IN THE PROGRAM, UM, BY, UH, PROGRAM ONTO THE RENTERS BY RAISING THE RENT. AND THAT IS SO UN UNACCEPTABLE OR EITHER PUTTING US OUT, IF WE SEE LANDLORDS SITTING IN THIS PROGRAM FOR YEARS, THE CITY MUST BE WILLING TO TAKE MEASURES BEYOND CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE NEED HOMES, NOT REAL ESTATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BROWN. CLAUDIA NEGA IS CLAUDIA NEGA HERE? OKAY. JAMES HAMILTON. [03:20:03] MR. HAMILTON, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY TODD KORY. JAMES HAMILTON. I'M FROM DISTRICT THREE. AND, UH, THIS ORDINANCE IS A GAME CHANGER. YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUT THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THESE PRIVATE, UH, APARTMENTS AND, AND HOMES THAT THERE'S MOLD ON THE WALLS, UH, TOILETS THAT DON'T FLUSH. I'VE JUST BEEN TO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE THAT THEY HAD A HOLE IN THE GROUND. AND BROWN LAUSE SPIDERS ARE COMING OUTTA THE GROUND AND IT'S IN DISTRICT THREE. AND, YOU KNOW, UH, WE NEED TO GET THIS ORDINANCE PASSED BECAUSE, UM, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THE LANDLORDS DON'T CARE. UH, UH, THEY ENRICHING THEYSELF BY LETTING THESE PROPERTIES, UH, ROT DOWN, YOU KNOW, AND THEY GOT PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM. SO, AND, UH, I ALSO HEARD THAT, UH, SOME OF THESE LANDLORDS ARE PLANNING TO, UM, GET THE COST THAT THEY HAVE DURING THESE FEES AND PASS IT TO THE, UH, TO THE RESIDENT, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, RAISING THEIR RENT OR, UH, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT. YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE HOMES, LESS REAL ESTATE. 'CAUSE IT, IT AIN'T BENEFITING, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT'S LIVING IN THOSE HOMES. HOUSING SHOULD BE A HUMAN RIGHT, NOT A COMMODITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HAMILTON. TODD GIL. TODD KORY, HERMAN MACIAS. MR. MACIAS, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MOHAMMED RASUL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVERYBODY. UM, MY NAME'S FER MACIA. I'M A RENTER. I'M A LEADER WITH TOP. I'M HERE TODAY TO DECLARE VICTORY. THE EXPERIENCES I'VE BEEN GOING WITH, THEY'RE, UH, TOILET WASN'T WORKING, NEVER WORKING RIGHT. UM, AC FIVE MONTHS. THE COMPLAINTS WERE ALWAYS, UH, COMPLAINTS WERE ALWAYS FELL UPON DEAF EARS. UH, WHILE WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS BOAT, WE ARE ALSO KNOWN. IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE HEARD LANDLORDS THREATENING TO PASS THE COST OF BEING IN THE PROGRAM ON THE RENTERS BY RAISING THE RENT. THAT, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. AND WE SEE LANDLORDS SITTING IN THE PROGRAM FOR YEARS. THE CITY MUST BE WILLING TO TAKE MEASURES BEYOND CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE NEED HOMES, NOT, UH, REAL ESTATE. WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY LEADERS, LEADERS FOR FOLLOWING OUR LEAD. WE WANT THE CITY TO SEE THAT WE, WHEN WORKING PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR EACH OTHER. WE CAN WIN. WE WILL WANT OUR LEADERS TO SEE THAT AS OUR CITY GROWS, OUR MORALE AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMES WITH GRASSROOTS. THIS WOULD, THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER, THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED WITHOUT THE RENTERS OF SEVEN OAKS ORGANIZATION TO DEMAND BETTER. SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE MAY SEE HOUSING AS SOMETHING THEY CAN'T GAMBLE THEIR MONEY ON, BUT MOST, MOST OF US, WE JUST SEE HOUSING AS A PLACE TO LIVE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO CALL HOME. NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MACIAS. MOHAMMED RASUL, MOHAMMED RASUL, ELIA SALAS, ELIA SALAS, AMBER CUMMINGS, AMBER CUMMINS, CELINE WILLIAMS, MS. WILLIAMS, WILL WE BE FOLLOWED BY JOANNE ROONE AND HAPPY WOMEN HISTORY MONTH? IT WAS SO EXCITING TO SEE ALL THESE STRONG WOMEN UP HERE. UM, MY NAME IS CELINE WILLIAMS. I AM PROUD TO BE A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE, A GRADUATE OF U T SS A, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND A PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS WORKED IN THE APARTMENT INDUSTRY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION [03:25:01] STAKEHOLDER GROUP, AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AS A NONPROFIT TRADE ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS OVER 1500 PROPERTY OWNERS, MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, AND MULTI-FAMILY COMMUNITIES DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HOUSING FOR OVER 20 225,000 HOUSEHOLDS. WE ARE PROUD THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF APARTMENTS IN SAN ANTONIO NEED OR EXCEED HABITABILITY STANDARDS AND MAINTAIN QUALITY HOUSING FOR OUR RESIDENTS. HOWEVER, WE DO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME OUTLIERS AND THINK THIS ORDINANCE COULD BE A REASONABLE SOLUTION THAT WILL ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY WHERE NEEDED WITHOUT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE THOUSANDS OF APARTMENTS AND RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT GOES TOWARDS FEES TO OPERATE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS UNDERMINE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCREASING OPERATING COST TO MAINTAIN QUALITY HOUSING FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AS A MEMBER OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, I APPRECIATE THAT WE WERE COMPRISED OF A BALANCED GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE IT REALLY GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN OPEN DIALOGUE, EDUCATE OURSELVES, EDUCATE EACH OTHER, AND REALLY JUST GET A BETTER SENSE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES BOTH RENTAL HOUSING PROVIDERS AND RESIDENTS FACE. IT TOOK MANY MEETINGS AND NUMEROUS HOURS TO ANALYZE ALL THE DATA, TAKE IN ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND REVIEW THE PROPERTY CODES AND PROCEDURES. BUT THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF MIKE SHANNON AMIN, THE D S D STAFF, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WERE THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF COMPROMISE, A LOT OF HEATED DEBATE. UM, AND REALLY ALL OF US HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP CREATE AN ORDINANCE AND RECORD TIME. I THINK THAT WE FELT ACHIEVED THE GOAL AND ENSURED CODE COMPLIANCE STANDARDS WERE MET AT ALL APARTMENT COMMUNITIES. I ASK THAT YOU RESPECT THE PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED TO GET THE ORDINANCE OF PROPOSED TODAY AND APPROVE IT AS PRESENTED. OR IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT IT OR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU ALLOW IT TO GO BACK TO THE STAKEHOLDERS GROUP FOR US TO VET THAT OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MS. WILLIAMS. JOANNE ROONE. MS. ROONE, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MARCELLE WILMOT. . THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TO COUNCIL FOR HAVING ME HERE. UM, YOU MENTIONED TWO RESIDENTS, AMBER CUMMINGS AND ELIA SALAS, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE. UH, THEY COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. TWO OTHER RESIDENTS. IS THIS NOT? OKAY. HELLO? UH, MY NAME IS JOANNE MALONE. THANK YOU, UH, MR. MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TO COUNSEL FOR HAVING ME HERE. UM, YOU MENTIONED TWO, UH, OTHER, UH, RESIDENTS OF THE SORENTO WHERE I LIVE NOW, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE. I MENTION THEM BECAUSE THAT JUST SPEAKS TO THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE THERE. P PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL PROBLEMS, PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL PROBLEMS, UM, WHO CANNOT BE HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE PROBLEMS. AND THAT GOES STRAIGHT TO SOME OF THE BANDS THAT WE HAVE MADE. UM, AS FAR AS SECURITY, AS FAR AS HAVING ELEVATORS THAT WORK, I MYSELF HAVE HAD TO ESCORT AND HELP TENANTS WALK DOWN THE STAIRS, BRING DOWN THEIR WALKERS, BECAUSE THE ELEVATORS WERE NOT WORKING. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTIALLY PARALYZED THERE, WHICH I USUALLY ASSIST, UM, WITH VIA TO HELP THEM DO THEIR, UH, SHOPPING AGAIN WHEN THE ELEVATOR'S NOT WORKING. AND, UM, SOME OF THEM ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVE, UH, OLDER, THEY FEEL, UM, AFRAID TO SPEAK. I'M FEARLESS. I'M NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK REGARDLESS OF WHAT CONSEQUENCES. I'M NOT AFRAID OF BEING EVICTED OR NOTHING, BUT I WILL SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TO SPEAK, UH, ABOUT. UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THERE. UM, I WON'T BE ADDRESSING THEM ALL. THIS MAY NOT EVEN BE THE PHONE FOR ALL OF THEM, BUT AS FAR AS, UM, UH, WHAT WE CAME UP WITH TOP, AND MY FIRST CONTACT WITH TOP WAS MARCO A KUNA BECAUSE I SAW PROBLEMS THERE AND PEOPLE WERE AFRAID TO SPEAK INTIMIDATED. SOME PEOPLE GOT LITTLE NOTICES OF EVICTION OR THREATS OF, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT. THEY DON'T KNOW THE RIGHTS. WE DID HAVE LEGAL AID YESTERDAY THERE. THEY WERE HELPFUL IN CLARIFYING SOME OF THOSE RIGHTS. I'M ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK CITY, WHERE THERE ARE TENANTS HAVE MORE RIGHTS, TENANTS HAVE MORE RIGHTS THERE. UM, BUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I'LL DISCUSS HERE JUST TO PRIORITIZE IS AC PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED. UM, THE HEAT NOT WORKING, THE ACS NOT WORKING, UM, [03:30:01] PEST CONTROL PROBLEMS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, TOP MEMBERS HAVE OBSERVED SOME OF THE HOMES THAT ARE CLEAN AND NEAT, BUT THEY HAVE PESTS, UM, ELEVATOR PROBLEMS THAT'S BIG FOR THE POPULATION HERE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM ARE DISABLED IF THEY CAN'T MAKE IT DOWNSTAIRS TO AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY MISSED A VIA TRANSIT THAT WORKS AGAINST THEM. UM, AND THE SECURITY PROBLEMS. WE RECENTLY HAD A MURDER THERE A FEW WEEKS AGO. THAT'S TERRIFIED A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THERE HAD BEEN GREATER SECURITY, WHICH WE ARE ASKING FOR GREATER MORE CAMERAS, UH, SECURITY GUARD. OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY TERRIFIED A LOT OF PEOPLE ASIDE FROM INTIMIDATION. THANK YOU MS. ROONE, THAT THEY FEEL. SO THANK YOU MS. ROONE. THOSE ARE THE MAIN POINTS THAT I'M GONNA MAKE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. MARSHA, WILL NO WILL WILMOT. MS. WILMOTT, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL MOYA. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAKING TO YOU, COUNSEL, AND ESPECIALLY YOU MAYOR. MY NAME IS MARCIA WILMONT. I'M A TENANT AND A LEADER WITH TOPS. I'M HERE TO DECLARE VICTORY. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY STORY IS, CURRENTLY I LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE WE HAD ARAF, UH, CATASTROPHIC WEATHER OF SNOW. DURING THAT ACROSS THE STREET, THE FIRE HYDRA EXPLODED AND OUR COMPLEX DID WITHOUT WATER. NOW, I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THERE THAT HAD WATER IN MY REFRIGERATOR BECAUSE HOW WAS TRAINED AND GROW UP, I'LL TIP ON THAT IN A FEW MINUTES. NOW. I PROVIDED SOME OUR TENANTS WITH THE WATERS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT HAD INFANTS AND CHILDREN THAT NEEDED THE WATER, ESPECIALLY NOW IN MY OWN APARTMENT. UM, I'VE DEALT WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEMS, SEWAGE BACKUP IN MY OWN APARTMENT. I HAD TO CALL ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. UM, I'VE ALSO DEALT WITH PEST PROBLEMS AND MORE. I KEEP MY APARTMENT VERY CLEAN AND I'M VERY ORGANIZED. NOW, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF AS I WAS BORN WITH SCIA, BASICALLY THAT MEANS I WAS BORN A HALF ME. AND YES, I DO KNOW SIGN LANGUAGE. I WAS BORN ON A MILITARY BASE IN A MILITARY FAMILY. I HAD SURGERY IN TWO YEARS OF SPEECH THERAPY. P NOW I HAVE WORKED AND I HAVE VOLUNTEERED. I CURRENTLY DO VOTE AND I WILL CONTINUE VOTE. I AM NOT AFRAID TO TALK. I AM NOT AFRAID TO WRITE ANYBODY ANY LETTERS. I'VE WRITTEN SEVERAL MAYORS. I'VE WRITTEN SENATORS AND ALL THE WAY UP TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENTS IS BIDEN. AND YES, I HAVE RUINED HIM. AND, AND TODAY WE'RE HERE TO CLAIM THAT WE'RE EXCITED FOR THIS VOTE. WE'RE ALSO THIS, KNOW THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. WE'RE WE'RE BEING THREATENED BY THE COST OF LANDLORDS TO PROVIDING US RENTERS TO HAVE OUR RENTS TO GO UP. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. Y'ALL NEED TO TAKE UP Y'ALL RESPONSIBILITIES AND STEP UP AND PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN AND LET THEM KNOW, HEY, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS. AND THERE IS, UH, SOLD A PROGRAM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THE FIRST ONE WAS THE, WITH THE SOUTHWEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT OUT THERE AT THE SKY HARBOR ELEMENTARY. AND YES, I WAS PART, PART OF IT, OF BEING THE, WITH ONE OF THE MAYORS OF PLANTING A TREE THERE. SO I DO KNOW OF IT, AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU, MS. WILMONT. CRYSTAL MOYA. CRYSTAL MOYA. MS. MOYA, YOU BE FOLLOWED BY PONCHO VALDEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL MOYA. I'M THE REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE N R P GROUP. UH, WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 4,000 APARTMENT HOMES ACROSS SAN ANTONIO 18 COMMUNITIES. I HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRY FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS. SO YOU CAN PROBABLY SAY I KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT MANAGING AN APARTMENT COMMUNITIES AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING [03:35:01] TO PROVIDE AND ADVOCATE FOR SAFE, QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE TODAY AND TESTIFY THAT ACROSS THESE 4,000 UNITS IN 18 COMMUNITIES IN SAN ANTONIO, N R P DOES NOT HAVE ONE SINGLE CITATION TO ACCOUNT FOR TODAY. WE ARE ONE OF THE GOOD ACTORS OF THE MANY OTHER GOOD ACTORS IN SAN ANTONIO. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SAFE, QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT JUST IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ACROSS THE NATION. AND ALTHOUGH WE DON'T OPPOSE THE ORDINANCE AS PROPOSED TODAY, WE KNOW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THAT ORDINANCES SUCH AS THIS HAVE ON OUR OPERATIONS WHEN NOT IMPLEMENTED IN A FAIR AND CONSISTENT MANNER. FURTHERMORE, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE COUNTLESS HOURS THAT HAVE GONE INTO DRAFTING THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PRESENTED. ALL MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE WORKED DILIGENTLY AND BOTH SIDES COMPROMISED. BUT THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM ALL OF THIS IS THAT WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING, SAFE, QUALITY, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND ACCOMPLISHING THIS TASK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MS. MOYA. PONCHO VALDEZ. OKAY. JANET ELLER. WOO. MS. ULEY, YOU BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIE RECTOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE. WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? I'M STEVEN ELLER. I'M THE HUSBAND. OKAY. UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE MS. ELLER? YES. OKAY, GO AHEAD. WANNA GO AHEAD? NO, YOU GO AHEAD. OKAY. YEAH, WE WERE A RESIDENCE AT SEVEN OAKS APARTMENTS, AND I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF WHAT WE HAD TO LIVE IN SINCE 2021. AND THEY WOULD, UH, WE HAD COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES AND WRITE IT DOWN. EVERYTHING. AND NOTHING EVER GOT DONE. AND MY LUNG ENDED UP COLLAPSING. AND 'CAUSE WE HAD TO BREATHE IN THIS MOLD EVERY DAY AT OUR APARTMENT. AND THIS IS A KIND OF LIKE GOOD HOUSING. THEY'RE, THEY'RE PROVIDING US, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT MY FAULT. I'M ON HOUSING. I GREW UP IN THIS CITY. I WAS HERE SINCE I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. I'M 60 YEARS OLD NOW, AND I'VE BEEN HANDICAPPED HARD OF HEARING, BUT I WORKED CONSTRUCTION JOBS ALL MY LIFE IN THIS CITY. AND THIS IS HOW, YOU KNOW, AND I GET TO THIS POINT IN MY LIFE. I GOTTA BE ON HOUSING. AND THIS IS WHAT, THIS IS WHAT THEY OFFER ME AND, AND I AND HOUSING. WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY COME DOWN. OKAY, WELL, YEAH, THEY, I TALKED TO THE APARTMENT PEOPLE. THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA FIX IT. TWO WEEKS LATER THEY COME BACK. IT'S STILL THE SAME WAY. SO THEY STOPPED PAYING THE RENT, AND I'M STUCK WITH THE FULL COST OF THE RENT. AND THEN WE HAD A WATER LEAK FOR THREE MONTHS. I COMPLAINED HE WAS COMING IN OUR KITCHEN. I WAS MOPPING THAT STUFF UP EVERY DAY, EVERY FOUR HOURS WITH TOWELS THAT I'D TAKE IT OUTSIDE AND HANG THEM UP. DO YOU THINK THAT'S FAIR? I DON'T. AND I WAS STILL PAYING THE RENT EVERY MONTH. WE PAID OUR RENT, PAID OUR ELECTRIC. WE, WE DID IT ALL FIX ANYTHING. BUT THIS IS HOW WE GET TREATED. AND, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL PASSING THIS ORDINANCE, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LET THEM RAISE THE RENT TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT THEY SHOULD ALREADY BE TAKING CARE OF IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. I MEAN, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I LIVED IN THE CITY, THIS CITY'S, I WAS PROUD OF SAN ANTONIO, AND NOW I'M HERE CRYING BECAUSE Y'ALL LET THESE PEOPLE DO THIS TO US. Y'ALL THINK IT'S FAIR? NO, IT'S NOT. BUT I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME AND, YOU KNOW, MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. AND MRS. ELLER. WILLIE RECTOR. GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME HERE TO HEAR MY WORDS. OKAY. UM, I RESIDED AT SEVEN OAKS FOR TWO YEARS, AND WHILE I WAS, UM, OKAY. AND WHILE I WAS THERE, I HAD NO HEAT, NO AC SO WHEN IT WAS HOT, I WAS HOT, OKAY? AND THEN, UM, WE, I HAD MOLD AND, UH, IT [03:40:01] WAS, IT WAS JUST HORRIBLE THERE. SO, UM, I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE PASS THIS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST COME AND BE WITH US. AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE, THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT OKAY, THEY, THEY SAY WE SIGNED A CONTRACT, OKAY? BUT THEY ALSO SIGNED A CONTRACT PROMISING US THINGS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET AND WE DID NOT GET. SO THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PARTS THAT THEY DID NOT DO. SO THIS IS WHY I'M SAYING IT'S NOT FAIR FOR US TO HAVE TO PAY OUR RENT AND BE HELD STILL ACCOUNTABLE TO DO THINGS THAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD DO AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND, AND, AND THE MOLD AND THE MILL DO. BECAUSE THE THING OF THAT IS, IS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER BECAUSE THE, I'M SORRY, AND MY APOLOGIES AND MY CONDOLENCES, YOU KNOW, WILL NOT BRING A LOVED ONE BACK. SO THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE LIKE ASAP, LIKE YESTERDAY, BECAUSE IF IT DOES NOT GET DONE, YOU KNOW, THESE WERE THE PROBLEM. THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO STOP AND PREVENT FROM HAPPENING. SO I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO PLEASE COME WITH US AND MAKE THE NEXT STEP WITH US. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MS. RECTOR. MIA LO HELLO, HELLO TO EVERYONE. I WAS GONNA SAY GOOD MORNING, BUT GOOD AFTERNOON, . UM, MY NAME IS MIA LOS. I'M A VERY PROUD RENTER OF DISTRICT TWO. UM, AND I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE TASK FORCE FOR THIS POLICY. UM, I WANNA SAY TO START OFF, WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE A GROUP OF TENANTS CAME FORWARD TO FIGHT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS IN THEIR HOME. I REALLY WANNA GIVE A LOT OF LIGHT TO THAT, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY. UM, BUT WE REALLY WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE TENANTS OF SEVEN OAKS. SO I WANNA KEEP THAT AT THE FOREFRONT. UM, I WILL SAY I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION POLICY HERE TODAY. THIS POLICY IS A DEDICATION TO SAFE AND QUALITY LIVING STANDARDS IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES ACROSS THE CITY. HONESTLY, THE CITY AS A WHOLE SHOULD BE REALLY PROUD OF WHAT THIS POLICY MEANS FOR ALL SAN ANTONIO RENTERS. I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT STEP, AND I DO WANNA POINT OUT TWO FUTURE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT AS WE DO WORK TO IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY. THE FIRST IS THE APPEALS PROCESS AS WRITTEN, THIS IS A SOLID PROCEDURE. I THINK IT IS WRITTEN WELL, AND IT'S, IT'S SET UP TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY TO PROPERTY OWNERS DEALING WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF MAINTENANCE ISSUES. UM, I DO WANNA SAY THAT IF WE COME BACK SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR FROM NOW AND FIND THAT THERE'S AN ALARMING LARGE AMOUNT OF APPEALS THAT'S AN ISSUE. IT'S REALLY VITAL THAT THIS POLICY DOES NOT SET THE PRECEDENT, THAT IT IS EASIER TO APPEAL AN ISSUE THAN TO JUST FIX IT. I WANT TO CALL ON ALL OF YOU AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE TO THE INTENTION OF THIS POLICY, WHICH AT THE BOTTOM LINE WAS TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANNA PRIORITIZE. THE SECOND ITEM I WANNA ELEVATE IS THE NEED FOR A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR APARTMENTS IN THIS PROGRAM. IF WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE A COMPLEX ENTERS THE PROGRAM, PAYS THEIR ANNUAL FEES, AND THEN JUST STAYS IN THE PROGRAM WITHOUT ADDRESSING ANY MAINTENANCE ISSUES, WHAT IS OUR NEXT STEP IN A PROGRAM SUCH AS THIS ONE THAT WAS LITERALLY CREATED TO ADDRESS NEGLIGENCE? WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THIS HAPPENING. IT PROBABLY WILL. I'M URGING THE CITY TO BE DECISIVE AND DEFINITIVE ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS AND THE NEXT ACTIONS IN THESE SCENARIOS. OTHERWISE, WE HAVE CREATED A FAILED PROGRAM THAT SIMPLY TRAPS APARTMENT COMPLEXES WITHOUT ACTUALLY PRODUCING REPAIRS. WITH THESE ITEMS IN MIND, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TAKE THIS REALLY IMPORTANT STEP AND ENSURING THAT TENANTS HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME. I WANNA SAY A THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE TENANTS OF SEVEN OAKS FOR BRAVELY SHARING THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES. AND ANOTHER THANK YOU TO THE STAFF MOST OVER HERE AND MY FELLOW TASK FORCE MEMBERS FOR HAVING THE URGENCY TO PRIORITIZE THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE. I'M EXCITED TO SEE YOU ALL SUPPORTING THIS TODAY, AND I HOPE IT PASSES VERY EASILY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MS. LO. ALRIGHT, THAT'S EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY. WE'LL MOVE INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED BY STAFF. ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION, A SECOND [03:45:01] FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM FIVE. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT, UH, TO SPEAK TODAY. AND THANK YOU AMIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, TEXT HOUSERS AND TOP, AND THE SAN ANTONIO PARKMAN ASSOCIATION, SABOR, EVERYONE WHO WAS ON THE, UH, WHO, WHO PARTICIPATED THROUGH THE RENTER SUBCOMMITTEE. UM, I, I REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS A MOMENTOUS OCCASION. SO VERY, VERY EXCITED FOR SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE HEARD STORIES OF LIVING CONDITIONS THAT HONEST, HARDWORKING RESIDENTS HAVE HAD TO ENDURE ON THEIR OWN. HOWEVER, ONLY UNTIL NOW HAVE WE HAD A, POSSIBLY A POLICY TO ADDRESS NEGLIGENT PROPERTY OWNERS. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS BEEN, UM, COMING UP FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. SO MANY COUNCILS BEFORE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING AND THEY JUST HADN'T DONE IT. SO I JUST WANNA, AGAIN, SAY, SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES ON THE PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR REALLY PRIORITIZING THIS. AND THANK YOU MIKE SHANNON, BECAUSE WHEN I GAVE YOU A DEADLINE, YOU, YOU TOOK IT TO HEART AND WE GAVE YOU ONE EXTENSION AND, BUT YEAH, ONE EXTENSION IS ALLOWABLE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, I KNOW THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS IN MEETINGS GOING OVER THIS PROGRAM, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SPIRITED DEBATES AT THE TIMES, UH, AT THE TIME, BUT THE END GOAL WAS ALWAYS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE. AND SO TODAY, I DO THINK THIS IS A WIN. THIS IS A COMPROMISE. THIS IS COLLABORATION, THIS IS COMPASSION THROUGH COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER. AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT. I WANNA STRESS THE POINT THAT THROUGH THE WORK THAT THE RESIDENTS, CITY STAFF, ADVOCATES AND CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE A PROACTIVE INSPECTION PROGRAM. AND HOPEFULLY SOON WE'LL HAVE A TENANT BILL OF RIGHTS WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE ISSUES AT SEVEN OAKS BEING REPORTED BY OUR FRIENDS IN THE MEDIA. THIS IS RECORD TIME AT CITY HALL. I LIKE THAT WE ADDED THE GRADUATION PIECE, BY THE WAY, AM MEAN. AND SO I, I'M, I'M, I'M FINE WITH THEIR NAME GRADUATION. UNLESS SOMEONE COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER TO INCENTIVIZE PROPERTY OWNERS TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE. OUR PRIORITY IS NOT TO PUNISH THE LANDLORDS OR PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE HOME FOR OUR FAMILIES. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS POLICY TODAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CHECKING IN AT THE 12 OR 18 MONTHS TO SEE HOW THE PROGRAM IS GOING, AND SPECIFICALLY TO LOOK FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT, UM, WE, WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO. SO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES AGAIN, UM, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PASSING THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU AMIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. UH, AS MIA STATED RIGHT, THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE STEP FORWARD FOR RENTERS HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. UM, AND ESPECIALLY AS SAN ANTONIO MOVES TOWARDS BEING A MAJORITY RENTER CITY, UH, THIS DEMONSTRATES THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENSURE THAT OUR RENTERS HAVE A FAIR QUALITY OF LIFE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS AND TO THE CHAIR OF P C D C FOR MOVING THIS ITEM FORWARD WITH URGENCY AS WELL AS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ENSURING THAT WE MOVED IT FORWARD AS WELL. UM, BUT ULTIMATELY TO THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. UM, AT COMMITTEE, WE MADE SURE THAT, UH, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS OF TOP AND, UH, TEXAS HOUSERS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE. SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT MIA WAS ABLE TO SERVE AS WELL AS, UH, MAR OF TOP WHO'S NOW IN PHILADELPHIA OR ORGANIZING WORKERS. UM, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM AND THAT WORK THAT HE'S DONE, BUT ULTIMATELY RECOGNIZING THAT, UM, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED AT SEVEN OAKS. UH, AND AS SOMEONE WHO FORMALLY ORGANIZED ALONGSIDE TENANTS, I UNDERSTAND WHAT Y'ALL PUT ON THE LINE, UH, WHEN Y'ALL SPEAK OUT, UH, AS KEISHA MENTIONED, RIGHT, YOU RISK RETALIATION AND POTENTIAL EVICTION, UM, WHEN YOU SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AND JUST ENSURING THAT THOSE, UH, ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED. SO I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COURAGE FOR COMING TO EVERY COMMUNI UH, COMMITTEE MEETING TO SPEAK UP AND ADVOCATE AND SHARE YOUR STORIES, UH, AND MOVE US IN THIS DIRECTION. UM, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TOWARDS MORE HOMES AND LESS REAL ESTATE, IS WITH COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER, HOLDING ELECTED LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE, UH, AND ENSURING THAT WE DO COLLABORATE. UM, WHAT'S ULTIMATELY IMPORTANT IS THAT AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, RIGHT? UM, WHAT WAS EXPRESSED IS THAT BOTH SIDES WEREN'T HAPPY , RIGHT? IS WHAT WAS DISCUSSED. UM, BUT ULTIMATELY MAKING SURE THAT WE SHIFT THINGS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UH, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE WORK AND LEGACY OF COUNCILMAN AN SANDOVAL, UH, AND HER LEADERSHIP, UH, AND GOING OUT TO THE SEVEN OAKS APARTMENTS AND ENSURING THAT SHE USED HER CAMPAIGN RESOURCES TO RELOCATE AND KEEP FOLKS HOUSED. SO REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. UM, I, I DID HAVE, UM, A, A, A QUESTION, RIGHT? BUT I WANTED TO POINT TO THE FACT THAT PRO APARTMENT INSPECTIONS DO WORK. UH, AND WHEN WE LOOKED TO LOS ANGELES, THEY'RE PROACTIVE, MULTI-FAMILY INSPECTION PROGRAM RESULTED IN HALF A MILLION CORRECTED [03:50:01] VIOLATIONS AND AN ESTIMATED 1.3 BILLION IN REINVESTMENT IN THE EXISTING HOUSING STOCK. OVER A SEVEN YEAR PERIOD IN SACRAMENTO, DANGEROUS BUILDING CASES FOR RENTAL HOUSING WERE REDUCED BY 22% FROM 2018 TO 2012. IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, THEIR INSPECTION PROGRAM LED TO MORE THAN 8,700 RENTAL PROPERTIES, UH, BEING BROUGHT, BEING BROUGHT UP TO STANDARD, RIGHT? AND AGAIN, IN THESE CITIES, THEY'RE LEADING IN MORE HOMES AND LESS REAL ESTATE. UM, BUT MY QUESTION THAT I HAVE, I MEAN, AND, UH, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE, BUT CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GRADUATE FROM THE PROGRAM I SEE IN SECTION, UH, SIX DASH ZERO SIX A, IT STATES THAT YOU MUST HAVE UNDER THE THRESHOLD OF THREE CITATIONS TO GRADUATE, UH, YET YOU CAN STILL GRADUATE WITH TWO ACTIVE CITATIONS. SO CAN YOU JUST, UH, WALK US THROUGH THAT, UH, REAL QUICK, PLEASE? SURE. UH, SO TECHNICALLY, AS I STATED, THE, THE DISCUSSION WAS, UH, TO COME UP WITH A GRADUATION, UH, PROCESS. AND, UH, THE GROUP CAME UP WITH THE GRADUATION WILL BE KIND OF SIMILAR TO THE REASON WHY YOU GOT IN THE PROGRAM. SO THEY HAVE TO BE IN THE PROGRAM, LET'S SAY, IF THAT, IF IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY NEED TO BE IN THE PROGRAM FOR SIX MONTHS AND THAT SIX MONTH TIMEFRAME, THEY CANNOT GET MORE THAN TWO CITATIONS DURING THAT TIMEFRAME. NOW, AT THE END OF THE SIX MONTHS, EVERY VIOLATION, INCLUDING THOSE TWO CITATIONS, IF THEY GOT THEM, NEED TO BE CORRECTED PRIOR TO THEM GRADUATING. SO TECHNICALLY THEY CAN HAVE ZERO OR ONE OR TWO CITATIONS IN A ROLLING SIX MONTHS. THAT IS OKAY, AS LONG AS THEY CORRECT EVERY VIOLATION PRIOR TO GRADUATING. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I APPRECIATE IT. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. UM, BUT A AGAIN, RIGHT, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLKS IN THE TEAL SHIRTS, UM, FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND ENSURING THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE VOICES OF WORKING PEOPLE ARE HEARD, UH, AND AGAIN, RIGHT? UH, ONE FIFTH STEP, AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT TO THE TOP AND HOPEFULLY, UM, THIS ITEM ADVANCES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER VEO. HDI. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WELL DONE AND, UH, FOR THE WORK, OF COURSE, PUT INTO THIS PROCESS, NOT ONLY BY, UM, THE, THE WORK, THE TASK FORCE, BUT OF COURSE THE, THE P C D C, THE COMMITTEE, I ESPECIALLY THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME TO SPEAK TO US TODAY, YOUR STORIES ARE, ARE POWERFUL. MS. BROWN. UM, MS. ROLON, THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT OUR SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY, UH, AND CELINE WILLIAMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR COMPASSION AND YOUR WORK ON THIS ISSUE. THROUGHOUT THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE LOOKED AT PUBLIC SAFETY WITH A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH, AND THIS ORDINANCE IS ANOTHER STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. WE'RE, WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. I OFTEN BRING UP THAT IT'S A CITY. WE'RE DEFINED BY HOW WE TREAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AND THIS ORDINANCE IS A STEP AGAIN, TOWARDS, UH, HELPING OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, HELPING PROTECT THEM, INADEQUATE UNSAFE HOUSING AS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN THAT I HERE IN DISTRICT SIX, UH, EVERY, EVERY CORNER OF OUR CITY, WE, IT'S OCCURRING MORE THAN THAT. IT WAS SAID, AS WAS SAID HERE TODAY, HOUSING IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. IT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARY AND THAT WE DO OUR BEST AS A CITY TO PROVIDE. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AS WAS MENTIONED, FORMER COUNCILWOMAN, AN SANDOVAL STARTED TALKING IN EARNEST ABOUT THIS CONCERN. AROUND THAT SAME TIME, I INVITED CHIEF MCMANUS TO GO OUT WITH ME TO TOUR A SPECIFIC APARTMENT COMPLEX IN MY DISTRICT WHERE WE RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND THEY SHOWED US DANGEROUS AND UNSANITARY CONDITIONS THAT THEY, AND, AND, UM, MANY OTHER SAN ANTONIOS HAVE BEEN LIVING IN. I TELL THIS STORY ABOUT, UM, HOW THEY FOUND THIS ROLLED UP CARPET ON THE PROPERTY AND THERE WAS A BODY INSIDE AND IT HAD BEEN THERE FOR DAYS. I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH. MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED CALLS, AND OF COURSE WE'VE WORKED WITH D S D ABOUT COMPLEXES THAT DON'T HAVE RUNNING WATER. I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAVE ALL RECEIVED CALLS LIKE THIS AS WELL. THESE CALLS ARE THE REASON THIS ORDINANCE IS SO IMPORTANT. IT IS HOWEVER IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE GOOD MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND PROPERTY OWNERS THAT TAKE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEIR TENANTS SERIOUSLY. I FIND THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF LANDLORDS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THEIR TENANTS. BUT THERE IS THAT, THAT AMOUNT THAT'S OUT THERE, THAT'S THE BAD ACTORS THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK. AND A LOT OF YOU HAVE TOLD YOUR STORIES ABOUT, UM, ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN AND TO THOSE OWNERS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. THIS IS, AND, AND A LOT OF YOU HAVE SAID THIS, THIS IS A GOOD START AND I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A, THIS IS A START. WE CAN, WE CAN DO MORE. I DO HAVE JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS. UM, IT WAS BROUGHT UP HERE TODAY MANY TIMES. UM, IS THERE A SAFEGUARD AGAINST LANDLORDS WHO ARE RAISING RENTS IN RESPONSE TO, TO THIS? SO THAT TOPIC ACTUALLY CAME UP WHEN WE WERE TALKING WITH THE STAKE, UH, STAKEHOLDER GROUP, AND WE DISCUSSED THAT A LOT. NOW, IN THIS ORDINANCE, WE ARE NOT ADDRESSING THAT AT ALL. UH, THAT IS TECHNICALLY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE, UH, TENANT RIGHTS. AND I KNOW NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, THEY'RE WORKING [03:55:01] ON A RESOLUTION FOR THAT. AND THEY PRESENTED TO P C D C JUST RECENTLY. UM, HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, I THINK THEY WILL COME UP WITH THE FINAL RESOLUTION. AND I DUNNO IF THAT'S GONNA BE ADDRESSED IN THAT, BUT THAT IS REALLY TENANT TENANT RIGHT ISSUE. IS THERE A WAY, UM, IS THERE AN AVENUE FOR AT LEAST TO, TO REPORT WHEN THAT'S HAPPENING, TO START TRACKING THAT? I'M, I'M SURE THERE IS A WAY, UH, AGAIN, PROBABLY THAT'S MORE A NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES QUESTION, I WANNA SAY. OKAY, NOBODY HERE. ALRIGHT, WELL, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK INTO. UM, WE, WE WILL, AND BECAUSE WE, THERE'S GONNA BE SOME, MAYBE SOME PUSHBACK FROM THESE BAD ACTORS, RIGHT? AND, AND WHEN, AND A LOT OF THE ITEMS WERE BROUGHT UP HERE TODAY BY OUR PUBLIC. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS THIS, UM, AFTER WE HOPEFULLY PASS TODAY THE ORDINANCE, UH, WHATEVER PUSHBACK IS BEING REPORTED SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS. OH, HI. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. VERONICA GONZALEZ WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN RELATION TO ANY, UH, RETALIATION OR DISCRIMINATION. WE DO HAVE OUR FAIR HOUSING COUNSELORS AND A DIRECT HOTLINE WHERE ANY RESIDENT FACING THESE TYPE OF, UM, TERRIBLE ISSUES, PROBABLY THE WORST TIME OF THEIR LIFE, INACTIVE CRISIS CAN ALWAYS CONTACT THE CITY. OKAY, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. AND, UM, WHEN INSPECTIONS OCCUR ON SITE AND WE DETERMINE THAT THERE ARE VIOLATIONS, ARE WE ALSO NOTIFYING OR REFERRING PROPERTY OWNERS OF C UH, LIKE CITY RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT THEY CAN HAVE, UM, TO HELP THEM COME INTO COMPLIANCE? IF, IF THEY DO QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THE SERVICES, WE WILL DO THAT DEFINITELY. AND WE WILL CONNECT THEM WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, UH, OR OTHER, UH, DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY HAVE RESOURCES. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COO HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING DAY. UM, YOU KNOW, WE GET A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CALLS FROM RESIDENTS, AND THIS HAS BEEN SAID, WE GET A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CALLS FROM RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES WHERE THEIR HEALTH, HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE AT CONSTANT RISK. AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND LANDLORDS DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THEN THEY MAKE A COMPLAINT, AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MADE AWARE THAT THEIR LEASE WILL NOT BE RENEWED OR THEY EXPERIENCE POOR TREATMENT BY PROPERTY STAFF. AND WHEN THE TENANTS OF, UH, SEVEN OAKS WERE ON THE NEWS, NEWS FIGHTING FOR THINGS THAT SHOULD BE INHERENT, UH, LIKE VERY BASIC LIVING CONDITIONS LIKE RESPONSIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, REMOVAL OF HEALTH CONCERNS LIKE MOLD AND BUGS, AC AND HEAT, WHEN WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CLIMATE CRISIS, THESE TENANTS EMPOWER TENANTS ACROSS OUR CITY, MANY OF WHICH CALL MY OFFICE AS WELL, TO ASK HOW THEY COULD GET INVOLVED, TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO RAISE AWARENESS OF CONCERNS AT THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT IS ORGANIZING. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF THE TENANTS AND HOUSING ADVOCATES WHO ARE HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO COULD NOT MAKE IT, MANY OF WHICH ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW. ONE THING I APPRECIATE ABOUT THOSE WHO CAME TO SPEAK TODAY, AND I HOPE EVERYONE NOTICED THIS, IS THAT MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE HAD ON THE SAME BEAUTIFUL TEAL SHIRTS ON, BUT YOU ARE REGULAR EVERYDAY RESIDENTS UNITED BEHIND A CAUSE AND EMPOWERED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS COMMITTED TO ELEVATING EACH OF YOUR UNIQUE STORIES. IT WAS STATED THAT, UM, FEES AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS THESE LIMIT THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT AS IT STANDS, THE QUALITY IS MISSING. IF WE WANT QUALITY, IF WE WANT QUALITY, THEN THE LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY OWNERS NEED TO HOLD UP TO THEIR END OF THE AGREEMENT AND ENSURE CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT LIVING IN SUBPAR UNITS JUST BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO LIVE ELSEWHERE. YOU SHOULD NOT HOLD RESIDENTS HOSTAGE AND EXPLOIT THEIR VULNERABILITY AND THE LEADERSHIP AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU ALL HAVE DEMONSTRATED THROUGH YOUR PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS THAT PEOPLE'S HOUSES, SOMETIMES YOUR HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC OUTREACH TO OUR OFFICES AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED IN OUR CITY IS TO BE APPLAUDED. AND IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME FOR MANY OF OUR POLICY IDEAS TO BE CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL. BUT YOU HELPED US ACHIEVE RECORD TIMING FOR SUCH A POWERFUL POLICY CHANGE LIKE THIS. AND SO I LIKE FOR ALL OF THE ADVOCATES AND TENANTS WHO PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS, PLEASE STAND UP AND GIVE YOURSELF A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WOO. I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM TODAY. UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. UH, ONE IS, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY HAPPY WE HAVE A PROACTIVE INSPECTION PROGRAM, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, YOU KNOW, CAN WE PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW WE CAN PROTECT TENANTS FROM RETALIATION? AND WHAT GUARANTEES CAN WE GIVE TENANTS WHO CALL 3 1 1? UH, UH, YES. UH, SO AGAIN, ABSOLUTELY THIS, THIS, THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS REALLY TO FOCUSING ON MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE BAD ACTORS AND WE MAKE SURE THAT THE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES OR LANDLORDS THEY CORRECT ALL THE ISSUES AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE TENANTS HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN. SO THAT'S THE FOCUS ON THIS, [04:00:01] UH, UH, ORDINANCE, PROPOSED ORDINANCE. NOW IN REGARDS TO TENANT RIGHTS, AGAIN, UH, AS I MENTIONED, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES IS WORKING ON THAT AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL COME UP WITH A FINAL RESOLUTION AND PRESENT IT TO YOU GUYS, UH, PRETTY SOON. THAT WILL COME. QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT RETALIATION OR ANYTHING IN RELATIONSHIP WITH TENANT RIGHTS. OKAY, SO I'M HEARING THAT YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY ANSWER THAT QUESTION TODAY, BUT I AM GONNA EXPECT AN ANSWER FROM CITY STAFF. UM, AND THEN MY LAST ONE IS THAT THERE'S A CONCERN THAT I THINK HAS GONE UNADDRESSED AND IT'S THAT LANDLORDS WILL PASS THE COST OF GETTING UP TO CODE DOWN TO TENANTS. WHAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE TO PREVENT THAT? AND I'LL THROW OUT AN EXAMPLE. UM, COULD THE PROGRAM EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT THE $100 PER UNIT FEE COME FROM A RENT INCREASE? UM, I WOULD CONSIDER A RENT RENT INCREASE TO BE RETALIATION. BUT WHAT WOULD THE CITY SAY ABOUT THAT? I BELIEVE I, I HEARD THAT AS WELL FROM SOME OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT, UM, RAISING THE RENT BASICALLY, IF THEY GET INTO THIS PROGRAM. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I, I BELIEVE THAT IS, UH, RETALIATION AND THAT WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE TENANT TENANT RIGHTS AS WELL. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. AND THANK ALL OF YOU. THANK HI, COUNCILMAN, UH, VERONICA WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING ATTENDANCE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND WE'LL BE BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION THAT WILL MAKE SURE WE AFFIRM AND CONSOLIDATE ALL OF OUR TENANTS PROTECTIONS. THERE'S EXISTING AT THE STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES A FORMAL DOCUMENT LIKE THAT WITH A LOT OF, WHEREAS LANGUAGE ISN'T HELPFUL TO SOMEONE IN ACTIVE CRISIS. SO THE NEXT STEP IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE THOSE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT WILL HELP FOLKS WHO ARE IN THAT CRISIS KNOW WHO TO CALL AND HOW, WHAT EXACT, WHAT EXACT VIOLATION THEY WANNA REPORT. SO THAT'S PART OF OUR EDUCATION PROCESS. AND ALONG WITH THAT, THE LAST DELIVERABLE THAT WE WILL BRING MAY 4TH IS ALSO RELATED TO OUR NOTICE OF TENANTS RIGHTS THAT IS, UH, DELIVERED IN A VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE DURING A NOTICE OF, UH, TO VACATE FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT. AND THAT IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO UPDATE THE LANGUAGE AND EDUCATE OUR TENANTS ON, UM, WHAT PROTECTIONS ARE OUT THERE. OKAY. AND I KNOW I SAID LAST QUESTION, BUT I'M WONDERING HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE THE ORDER IN WHICH APARTMENTS ARE, UH, PROACTIVELY INSPECTED? SO I THINK MAYBE AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION REGARDING, IF SOMEONE CALLS 3 1 1 AND THEY'RE SCARED OF RETALIATION, COULD WE THEN JUST FLAG THAT TO THE CITY AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOTTEN A CALL OR TWO ABOUT THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX. CAN WE HAVE THIS APARTMENT, UH, INSPECTED? SURE. SO, SO THE, THE, THE PROCESS THAT WE, WE HAVE BASICALLY IN MIND, AND AGAIN, THIS IS A NEW ORDINANCE POTENTIALLY IF IT, IF IT PASSES AND WE GONNA, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT. UH, BUT BASICALLY, UH, THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE THINKING OF IS WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE AREA OFFICERS, AREA CODE OFFICERS WHO RESPOND TO ANY 3 1 1 CALL. SO IF THAT APARTMENT IS IN THEIR AREA, THEY'RE GONNA RESPOND TO IT. ORIGINALLY, WHEN WE START MONITORING THOSE APARTMENTS AND WE SEE MULTIPLE CALLS COMING IN FROM THAT APARTMENT, WE GONNA TURN THAT APARTMENT INTO, UH, THE, THE TEAM THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTIONS. AND AT THAT WE WILL FOCUS ON IT, MONITOR IT. AND AGAIN, IF THEY DO GET THOSE THREE CITATIONS, THEY BECOME PART OF THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU. AND IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY, OR, UM, I'M SORRY IF I MISSED THIS, BUT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE, UM, THROUGHOUT THE, OR FOR CERTAIN A PERIOD WHILE THE PROGRAM IS CONTI IS, UH, STARTING UP SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE REALTIME FEEDBACK? IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? UM, I, I, I'M SURE WE CAN, UH, PROVIDE THEM UPDATES. UH, I BELIEVE, I MEAN, WE CREATED THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEY DID, UH, IF YOU GIVE US DIRECTION, OTHERWISE WE CAN DO THAT. BUT I'M SURE WE CAN PROVIDE THEM UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. OUR GOAL IS TO COME BACK IN 12 TO 18 MONTHS TO PROVIDE YOU UPDATES ANYWAYS ON THE PROGRAM AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY NEED TO TWEAK IT. THANK YOU. PLEASE KEEP THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON STANDBY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. I MEAN, UH, DON'T SIT DOWN QUITE SO QUICK. I GOT SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. UM, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THAT, UM, EVERYBODY KNOWS I'M A STRONG BUSINESS SUPPORTER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND, AND ACROSS THE STATE, BUT, UM, WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM INDUSTRY URGING US TO VOTE FOR THIS, SO I'M GONNA VOTE FOR IT, BUT I HAVE SOME CONCERNS. AND, UH, LET ME GO THROUGH THOSE. UM, LOOKING AT THIS, ARE WE INTRODUCING ANYTHING NEW IN THE FRONT END PROCESS AS FAR AS GETTING NOTIFIED ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH A, AN APARTMENT AND THEN US GOING AND INSPECT [04:05:01] IT? IS THAT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE? THE, THE UP UPFRONT PROCESS IS THE SAME. OKAY. UH, WE'RE GONNA GET 3 1 1 CALLS AND RESPOND TO THOSE. SO, SO THERE'S REALLY NO CHANGES ON ON THAT. IT'S WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT, RIGHT? CORRECT. SO, AND WE'VE MENTIONED SEVEN OAKS A COUPLE OF TIMES. WHAT WENT WRONG THERE? DID WE NOT GET NOTIFIED ABOUT THAT ISSUE OR WHAT WENT WRONG THERE? WE, WE GOT SEVERAL CALLS THROUGH 3 1 1, UH, BUT TWO THINGS HAPPENED. ONE IS WE DID NOT GET ALL THE CALLS FROM THE TENANTS. A LOT OF TENANTS, UH, DID NOT CALL US. I GUESS MAYBE THEY WERE AFRAID TO CALL US OR THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY CAN'T CALL US. THAT COULD BE THE REASON. UH, BUT THE MAIN, THE MAIN ISSUE IS, AGAIN, WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE THIS ORDINANCE WHERE WE GONNA MONITOR THAT LOCATION CLOSELY AND MAKE SURE IF THEY DO GET SEVERAL, UH, CITATIONS, THEN THEY CAN GET INTO THIS PROGRAM. AND AT THAT POINT, WE DO THOSE PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS, BUT OKAY. THE FRONT END IS THE SAME. SO AFTER THE FIRST INSPECTION, WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T CITE THEM, OR WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T PUSH THEM TO GET THOSE. AND I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF IT. IT WASN'T JUST ONE LITTLE INCIDENT, IT WAS ACROSS THAT WHOLE APARTMENT COMPLEX. SO WHAT, WHAT I, I'M FAILING TO SEE WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS ABOUT REPORTING THIS AND OUR INTERACTION WITH THE OWNERS ABOUT GETTING THINGS FIXED. THE, THE, THE DIFFERENCE, THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS, AGAIN, FOR US TO MONITOR THAT LOCATION OR ANY LOCATION. SO YOU'RE USING SEVEN OAKS. WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST IS IF WE FOUND VIOLATION, WE DID ISSUE CITATION. NOW WE DID NOT MONITOR THAT LOCATION TO SAY IF WE HIT THREE CITATIONS, THEN WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO AND DO PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS AND INSPECT 5% OF THEIR UNITS RANDOMLY. SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT TODAY. SO WE DIDN'T DO ANY FOLLOW UP OR ANYTHING. WE, WE FOLLOWED UP ON, WE, WE GIVE A CITATION. WE DIDN'T GET A FOLLOW UP ON, ON THOSE CITATIONS, ON THOSE ISSUES. WE DID FOLLOW UP AND WE KEEP DOING INSPECTIONS UNTIL THAT ISSUE IS RESOLVED. BUT APPARENTLY AT THAT LOCATION, THERE IS A LOT OTHER ISSUES THAT THE TENANTS DID NOT REPORT. IF WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM AND WE START DOING THOSE RANDOM INSPECTIONS, WE GONNA KNOCK ON DOORS AND WALK INTO APARTMENTS, UH, AND DO INSPECTIONS. AND WE, IF WE FIND ISSUES, POTENTIALLY THAT'S WHERE WE GONNA, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE BENEFIT OF THIS PROGRAM IS. THAT ADDITIONAL PRE, UH, PROACTIVE INSPECTION, BASICALLY. OKAY. WELL, UH, I, I THINK THERE WERE SOME ISSUES THERE ON NUMBER ONE NOTIFICATION, BUT ALSO IN US DOING THOSE INSPECTIONS AND THE FOLLOW UPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS GOT CORRECTED, UH, IN THAT, THAT COMPLEX, UM, IN THIS PROGRAM, WHAT I SEE IS IT'S AN ADDITIONAL BUREAUCRACY THAT'S GONNA COST ADDITIONAL MONEY. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND OWNERS DON'T JUST HAVE, CAN'T JUST PRODUCE THAT MONEY OUTTA THEIR POCKET OR GO GET A LOAN TO PAY FOR THAT. WHAT, WHO'S GONNA BEAR THE COST OF THIS PROGRAM AT THE END OF THE DAY? WHO'S GONNA BEAR THE COST? AGAIN, OUR, OUR GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL GOOD ACTORS. AND YOU, YOU HEARD IT FROM THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, BUT WHERE'S THE MONEY GONNA COME FROM TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM? IT'S GONNA COME FROM THE RENTERS. SO THOSE COSTS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE SETTING AGAINST THEM, BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE, ARE GONNA BE BORN BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING THERE. AND THAT'S MY BIG CONCERN. MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES. IT'S NOT GONNA COME FALL OUTTA THE SKY TO, TO, UH, UM, PAY THESE FINES, WHICH IS A FINE, AND I WOULD RATHER SEE THAT MONEY GOING INTO FIXING THE PROBLEMS THAN COMING TO THE CITY TO PAY FOR MORE PEOPLE. AND THE BUREAUCRACY OF THIS PROGRAM, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS, A LOT OF MEETINGS AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SAYING EVERYBODY, PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY ON BOTH SIDES. WELL, LET'S, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR THIS THING AND LET'S TRY IT OUT. BUT I, I, I WANNA SEE METRICS ON THE COST OF THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX BEFORE AND AFTER, DURING THAT TO SEE DID THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES RAISE THEIR RATES, WHICH PUT THE RENTERS IN A BAD POSITION OF HAVING TO PAY MORE FOR LIVING IN THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX. THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN. WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE GONNA COME UP WITH A MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS? WE, IT WAS MENTIONED BY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS EARLIER THAT, THAT'S A MAJOR CONCERN AND THAT'S A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ME. AGAIN, THAT MONEY DOESN'T JUST FALL OUTTA TREES, [04:10:01] IT'S GOTTA COME FROM SOMEWHERE. WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR IT? AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE OWNERS ARE JUST GONNA PASS THAT COST ALONG. THEY MIGHT NOT EVER GET OUTTA THIS PROGRAM. UM, MONTH AFTER MONTH OR YEAR AFTER YEAR, THOSE PRICES ARE GONNA GO UP. SO I WANT TO, I, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE METRICS ALSO INCLUDE COST OF THAT COMPLEX FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING THERE. UM, BENCHMARKING, DID Y'ALL ACTUALLY GO OUT TO OTHER CITIES AND SEE WHAT THEIR SUCCESS RATES WERE FOR, DID ANYBODY HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM TO THIS OR AN EXACT PROGRAM TO THIS? WE, WE DID LOOK AT OTHER CITIES. UH, WE DIDN'T FIND ANY CITY THAT HAS A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THIS. I MEAN, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROGRAMS. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, DALLAS, THEY LET EVERY APARTMENT, GOOD OR BAD, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO REGISTER AND EVERYBODY PAYS THAT FEE AND THEY DO THOSE INSPECTIONS. SO IN THAT CASE, I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU, IF, IF THAT'S WHAT WE DO, THEN ALL THAT MONEY, ADDITIONAL MONEY TO REGISTER, GONNA GO TO THE TENANTS BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S PAYING FOR GOOD ACTORS OR BAD ACTORS. YEP. BIG CONCERN. UM, WHAT, WHAT'S THE SCOPE OF THIS PROBLEM? I MEAN, HOW MANY APART DO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE IT IN OUR HEADS ABOUT HOW MANY APARTMENTS OR BAD ACTORS AT THIS POINT VERSUS THOSE THAT TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS? SO A A, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DID LOOK AT 18 MONTHS OF DATA. WE WENT BACKWARDS AND WE PULLED THE DATA FOR THE LAST 18 MONTH, AND WE ANALYZED THAT DATA AND IT WAS ABOUT TWO TO 3%, UH, I WOULD CALL IT BAD ACTORS. OKAY. I DON'T LIKE PERCENTAGES. WHAT'S THE NUMBER? ABOUT 15 TO 20, UH, APARTMENTS IN A YEAR WILL BE IN THIS PROGRAM. 15 APARTMENT COMPLEXES OR INDIVIDUAL APARTMENTS? APARTMENT COMPLEXES. OKAY. HOW MANY APARTMENTS THOUGH? THE AVERAGE APARTMENT, UH, COUNT IS ABOUT 200 PER APARTMENT COMPLEX. OKAY. SO ABOUT 2000 OUT OF HOW MANY HERE IN THE CITY? 250,000 UNITS. 200 UNITS. 50,000, OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, YEAH, THAT SHOWS A LITTLE BIT OF A SCOPE. AND I, I, AGAIN, TO ME, THIS IS ADDING BUREAUCRACY TO THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM DIRECTLY WITH THAT SMALL AMOUNT OF PROPERTY OWNERS THAT AREN'T TAKING CARE OF THEIR RESIDENTS. AND, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S GONNA BE VERY EASY TO GET INTO THIS PROGRAM. IT'S GONNA BE HARDER TO GET OUT OF THE PROGRAM. UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE, THE TYPES OF ITEMS THAT WE'RE IDENTIFYING, LIKE SAFETY AND LIFE CODE ISSUES, UH, PESTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THOSE MINIMAL THINGS THAT, UH, OKAY, YEAH, WE'LL GET TO IT. AND THEY CAN'T BE REPORTED ON THINGS THAT AREN'T, YOU KNOW, A BIG LIFE AND SAFETY TYPE OF ISSUE FOR, FOR AN APARTMENT, UM, UM, INHABITANT. SO, UH, AGAIN, THAT'S MY CONCERN. I I, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE METRICS ARE. I, I, BUT AGAIN, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE INDUSTRY SAID, HEY, THEY'RE URGING US TO VOTE FOR IT, SO I'M GONNA VOTE FOR IT. BUT I, I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE OTHER RAMIFICATIONS HERE FOR, UM, BOTH THE OWNERS AND THE PRO UH, RENTERS THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR THIS, FOR THIS PROGRAM. SO THAT'S MY CONCERNS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANKS. UNDERSTOOD. AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO HAVE THE METRICS AVAILABLE WHEN WE BRING IT BACK FOR REVIEW. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. COUNCIL MEMBER ERIC, GO AHEAD. YEAH, JUST, JUST A, UM, A REAL QUICK COMMENT. UM, AND A REMINDER, THE, THE, THE POINT OF THE PROGRAM AND THE GOAL THAT IS AMIN LAID OUT IS THAT IF, IF THERE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AT THE COMPLEXES, UH, UM, THAT, UH, THOSE, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS OR LANDOWNERS OR MANAGE APARTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANIES HAVE, UH, 10 DAYS TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE BEFORE, UH, BECOMING A PROBLEM, PROPERTY IS DEFINED UNDER THE ORDINANCE. AND SO OUR HOPE IS THAT, IS THAT, UH, ONCE THEY'RE NOTIFIED AND CERTAINLY COORDINATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, THAT THAT'S AN EXPENSE THAT, THAT THEY BEAR REGARDLESS OF, OF THIS POTENTIAL ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF YOU. 'CAUSE IF THERE'S A MAINTENANCE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AT THE PROPERTY, THEY SHOULD BE HANDLING THAT. AND IN MOST CASES, AS YOU HEARD FROM THE A DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION, UH, THEY, THEY CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATION TO THEIR TENANTS. UM, BUT OUR GOAL IS NOT TO ADD LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY. [04:15:01] OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK, UM, AND A FOCUS SO THAT THOSE PROPERTIES HAVE TIME TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND NEVER BECOME AN AREA OR A PROPERTY THAT IS, UH, SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE INSPECTIONS. UM, AND, AND I, I WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S INCENTIVE FOR, UM, UM, THE, UM, UH, APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, I'M SORRY, THE APARTMENT OWNERS TO, TO RESOLVE THEIR ISSUES AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE LEVEL. IT DOES NOT MEAN AN AUTOMATIC, UM, A LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY OR ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS, UH, HANDLE THE VIOLATION IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND, UH, WE ALL MOVE ON. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. THANK YOU, RICK. COUNCIL MEMBER KURTZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD, UH, AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN REACHED BY, UH, THE STAKEHOLDERS. NOW, I WANT TO THANK THOSE STAKEHOLDERS. YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF IMPORTANT COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT SERVED, THAT REPRESENTED RENTERS, AND THERE WERE SOME WHO REPRESENTED PROPERTY OWNERS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS, THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, BUT ALSO OUR CITY STAFF. EVERYBODY WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS. AND AS IT WAS GOING ALONG, I KIND OF HAD MY CONCERNS. BUT WHEN I'VE SEEN THE FINAL PRESENTATION TODAY, I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT. I THINK IT IS A COMPROMISE, AND I THINK BOTH SIDES HAD TO GIVE, BUT MAYBE ALSO DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING THEY WANTED. UH, BUT THE, THIS IS JUST AIMED AT A FEW BAD ACTORS. IT WAS INTERESTING. N R P GOT UP HERE A LITTLE WHILE AGO AND SAID THEY HAVE 4,000 UNITS IN SAN ANTONIO. NOT ONE OF 'EM HAS A PROBLEM THAT THEY DON'T DEAL WITH. THEY DON'T HAVE CITATIONS. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ALL OF THE BAD ACTORS START TO FOLLOW AS WELL, WHICH IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND THIS. ONE THING. I, I DO WANNA KNOW IF A, IF A PARTICULAR FACILITY IS, IS GOING TO BE PUT INTO THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY HAVE MULTIPLE, UH, ACTIONS THAT THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN OR RESOLVED, WILL THERE BE A NOTICE GIVEN TO ALL THE TENANTS WHO LIVE IN THAT COMPLEX, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THIS COMPLEX IS NOW ON THIS LIST? AND THAT IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT UNITS THAT HAVE COMPLAINED, BUT MAYBE IF EVERYBODY WHO LIVES THERE IS NOTIFIED THAT THIS, UH, COMPLEX IS NOW WITHIN THIS PROGRAM, THAT IT MIGHT HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE, WHAT THEY SHOULD EXPECT FOR A QUALITY OF SERVICE FOR THE REST OF THEM WHO LIVE THERE AT, AT THIS POINT, UH, THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORDINANCE. NOW, AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IF THEY'RE IN THE PROGRAM, WE'RE GONNA DO THE PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS. THE LANDLORD WILL NOTIFY THE TENANTS EVERY MONTH THAT WE ARE COMING ON A SPECIFIC DATE TO DO INSPECTIONS. SO MAYBE THAT WILL BE A GOOD NOTIFICATION TO ALL THE TENANTS THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY THERE THAT DAY. THEY KNOW CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL BE THERE, AND IF THEY HAVE ISSUES, THEY CAN COME FORWARD AND, AND MEET US ON SITE. WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US CONSIDER JUST GIVING THEM A NOTICE. THE COMPLEX YOU LIVE ON HAS BEEN PLACED IN THIS PROGRAM. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL BE MONITORING. IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, LET US KNOW. HERE'S A NUMBER TO CALL. UH, LET'S GET IT ALL CLEANED UP RIGHT AWAY INSTEAD OF PIECE BY PIECE, GOING OUT AND FINDING AFTER YOU DO AN INSPECTION, OH, WELL, HERE'S A FEW OTHERS THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT. UH, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A SMART WAY OF MAKING SURE WE ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RIGHT UP FRONT AND THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE ALSO CAN KIND OF GET THE PEACE OF MIND THAT, HEY, THE CITY'S REALLY LOOKING OUT TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE AND RELIABLE FOR US TO LIVE HERE. I'VE GOT, UH, ANOTHER QUESTION. UH, HOW DO WE VERIFY THE PROBLEMS ARE RESOLVED? DO WE SIMPLY DO A REINSPECTION EVERY TIME THERE'S A CITATION THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT? YES, WE FOLLOW THE NORMAL PROCESS. SO AFTER WE ISSUE NOTICE A VIOLATION, WE GO BACK AFTER THAT TIMEFRAME. AND IF, UH, THE ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED, WE ISSUE CITATION AND THEN WE KEEP FOLLOWING UP UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. BUT WE GO PERSONALLY AND LOOK AT IT. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. YES. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IF AN APARTMENT OWNER OR MANAGER REFUSES TO PAY THE FEE OR ENTER THE PROGRAM? SO BASED ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, AND THAT'S A NORMAL, UH, PROCESS WE HAVE, IS TECHNICALLY WE CAN ISSUE, UH, CLASS C MISDEMEANORS TO THEM AND CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNTIL THEY OBVIOUSLY REGISTER. BUT THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO IS ISSUE 'EM A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR. I, I BELIEVE SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YES, COUNCILMAN, THAT'S ALL WE, THAT'S, THAT'S THE HIGHEST WE CAN GO. IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. AND [04:20:01] WHAT'S THE FINE ON A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR UP TO 5,000, IS THAT CORRECT, JOE? 505 UP TO 500. 500. AND SO IF IT'S A 200, UH, COMPLEX, THEY'VE GOTTA PAY A HUNDRED DOLLARS PER UNIT TO GET IN, WHICH IS WHAT, ABOUT $2,000. SO, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY JUST DECIDE TO IGNORE IT AND, AND WORRY ABOUT IT IN COURT. WHY ISN'T THERE SOMETHING MORE, MORE THAT WE CAN DO, AND NOW IT'S MINIMUM 500. COULD WE ACTUALLY, IN THE CASE OF THOSE WHO DON'T WANNA COMPLY, RAISE THAT TO A MAXIMUM. UH, UH, COUNCILMAN, I'M GONNA ASK JOAN Y OUR HEAD OF PROSECUTION TO GIVE YOU SOME A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT. YEAH. YES, SIR. COUNCILMAN, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE CLASS C OFFENSES, SO THEY'RE GONNA BE A MAXIMUM UP TO $500. OF COURSE, FOR A PERSON WHO FAILS TO COMPLY, UH, AS A MEANS STATED, WE CAN CONTINUE TO FILE CITATIONS AGAINST THAT PERSON, UH, TO THE POINT TO GRAB THEIR ATTENTION. OF COURSE, THEY'RE CRIMINAL CITATIONS AS WELL, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO COME TO COURT. OF COURSE, WITH COURT PROCESSES, THAT MEANS YOU MAY HAVE TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY AS WELL. IF YOU FAIL TO SHOW UP, WARRANT CAN BE ISSUED FOR YOUR ARREST. SO THERE IS RAMIFICATIONS FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T COMPLY WITH THE REGISTRATION ORDINANCE. DO ALL OF THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES GET A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IN ORDER TO OPERATE? YES SIR. YES. YES, THEY DO. SO COULD WE THEN WITHDRAW THOSE KINDS OF CERTIFICATIONS FOR OCCUPANCY IF WE THINK THAT THEY'RE UNSAFE AND NOT BEING ADDRESSED? IT DEPENDS. YES. NOT, NOT ON THIS ORDINANCE ITSELF. I THINK THE C OS BASED ON JUST THE SAFETY OF THE BUILDING ITSELF. SO IF THERE WAS ANY HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES THAT THE, ON THE BUILDINGS THEMSELF, THEN THEN DEVELOPMENT SERVICE CAN GO AHEAD AND REVOKE THEIR CFOS. I'M WONDERING, FOR EXAMPLE, WE SAW, UH, A TERRIBLE EXAMPLE OF MOLD THAT DEFINITELY IS A SAFETY HAZARD, A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD. UM, AND MAYBE IT'S ONE UNIT OR MAYBE IT'S 20 UNITS. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENSURE THAT THESE, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS ACCEPT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION? AND IF WE'RE JUST GONNA GIVE 'EM A CITATION, IT COULD BE $500 AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME TO PROCESS THOSE. AND THEY MAY GET A GOOD JUDGMENT IN COURT. THEY MAY NOT, IT COULD TAKE SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR BEFORE IT EVEN GETS HEARD. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AS MUCH AS WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF, OF OUR CITIZENS IN THESE COMPLEXES. SO, SO JUST TO CLARIFY ONE THING, UH, SO YES, IT'S A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR THAT WE CAN ISSUE. TECHNICALLY WE CAN ISSUE THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY THEY'RE IN VIOLATION. SO IF THEY DON'T REGISTER, REGISTER IN THE PROGRAM AS THEY SHOULD DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE CAN ISSUE A A, A CLASS C CITATION. NUMBER ONE, IT ADDS UP THE $500 EVERY DAY. THEN AS JOE MENTIONED, IT'S A CRIMINAL, UH, CITATION. SO I'M, I'M SURE IT CAN ADD UP REALLY QUICKLY. OKAY. BUT OUR MAIN GOAL HERE IS REALLY TO KEEP TENANTS IN THEIR, THEIR HOME, AND AS LONG AS IT'S SAFE FOR THEM, RIGHT? SO FOR SOMEBODY NOT TO REGISTER FOR US TO REVOKE THEIR C F O DOESN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT, YOU KNOW, GIVE US THAT, THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. I MEAN, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT, BUT WE ARE NOT GONNA DO IT BECAUSE WE WANT TENANTS TO STAY THERE AS LONG AS IT'S SAFE. IF IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, THEN THAT IS DIFFERENT, RIGHT? ASPECTS. I GUESS I'LL JUST ASK THAT AS WE MONITOR THIS, IF WE FIND THAT THERE ARE, UH, COMPLEXES THAT WE THINK SHOULD BE PARTICIPATING AND THEY'RE REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE, THAT WE REVISIT THIS ITEM AND COME UP WITH OTHER WAYS OF COERCING THOSE, UH, THOSE OPERATIONS TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR THEIR, UH, TENANTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. SORRY. YOU MENTIONED, UH, NOTIFICATION. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO AND WE'LL LOOK TO DO THAT. UH, WE ALSO ARE GONNA PUT THIS ON A WEBSITE, SO YOU'RE A BAD ACTOR. YOU'LL BE ON THIS BAD ACTOR WEBSITE, SO OTHERS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. THANK YOU. AND ANDY, EARLIER WE WERE, UM, DISCUSSING, POSSIBLY TRYING TO TAKE AWAY, ESSENTIALLY TAKING AWAY HOME RULE. AND SO IS THIS AN EXAMPLE THE ORDINANCE WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW? IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IF THAT PASSED? UH, COUNCILMAN, ACTUALLY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT EVEN BEFORE THE COUNCIL, UH, TOOK UP THIS TOPIC. AND, UH, OUR PRELIMINARY, AN PRELIMINARY ANSWER [04:25:01] IS YES, POSSIBLY THIS IS ONE OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WOULD BE PREEMPTED BY THE PROPOSED STATE LAW. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS ISSUE FIRST CAME TO MY ATTENTION, UM, IN, ON JANUARY 31ST OF LAST YEAR WHEN THE SAN ANTONIO REPORT PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE BY WAYLON CUNNINGHAM. THAT'S, THAT, UH, WAS TITLED TENANTS OF SAN ANTONIO'S FASTEST GROWING LANDLORD DESCRIBED DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. AND THIS WAS DERI DESCRIBING SHIPPY PROPERTIES. AND THE OWNER OF SHIPPY PROPERTIES, UM, DESCRIBED HOW HAD WRITTEN A BOOK ON HOW TO GET RICH QUICK ON THESE CLASS B AND CLASS C UH, PROPERTIES. AND I, THE, THE ARTICLE DESCRIBES HOW, HOW YOU CAN PURCHASE CHEAPER AND OLDER CLASS B AND CLASS C APARTMENTS THAT WORKING CLASS PEOPLE TYPICALLY LIVE IN, AND THE OWNERSHIP BE PROPERTIES DESCRIBE THESE RENTERS AS A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY TROUBLING TO ME. AND I, I SENT THAT ARTICLE TO COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMUNITY, THE PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA. AND I'M GLAD THAT, UH, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THAT EVERYONE HAS DONE TO, TO CONTINUE ON THIS WORK, INCLUDING THE, THE, THE INDIVIDUALS OUT HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY WHO HAVE STRUGGLED IN CERTAIN WAYS AND HAVE ELEVATED THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. AND I AM ALSO ALARMED THAT WE, IN THE FUTURE, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PUT FORWARD ORDINANCES LIKE THIS, UM, THAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE WORKED ON TO CO UH, TO DEVELOP A COMPROMISE ON. AND I'M, I'M IN VERY MUCH IN, IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE. I DO, UM, HAVE SOME CONCERNS ALSO ABOUT HOW, HOW DO, HOW DO FUTURE POTENTIAL TENANTS KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE THIS CAPTIVE AUDIENCE? UH, HOW DO THEY KNOW, UM, THAT THIS COULD BE, THAT, THAT A, A CLASS B OR CLASS C COMPLEX COULD BE, UM, REGISTERED AS A BAD ACTOR WITH A CITY. AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, THEY MAY NOT GET ONLINE, GET ONLINE AND GO AND LOOK AT THIS LIST. UM, SO I, THAT, THAT IS ONE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, UM, IS HOW, HOW ARE PEOPLE, HOW IS SOMEBODY WHO'S DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND SEES A BANNER, UH, ON AN APARTMENT COMPLEX SAYING, YOU KNOW, FIRST MONTH FREE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S SOME KIND OF A DEAL TO GET IN. HOW, HOW ARE THEY GONNA BE AWARE THAT THIS MAY BE A MORE A POORLY MANAGED, UH, AND APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT MAY HAVE DANGEROUS UNITS? SURE. UH, SO OUR PLAN WAS TO JUST PUT IT ONLINE, BUT I GUESS BASED ON YOUR COMMENT, AND CASTLE ENCOURAGES COMMENT AND ROD MENTIONED IT. SO WE'RE GONNA WORK ON THAT. WE'RE GONNA DEVELOP THAT AND SEE HOW CAN WE NOTIFY TENANTS, UH, WITH THOSE ISSUES. GREAT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO. UH, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR THIS ORDINANCE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THAT, UM, THE STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE SPENT SOME REAL GOOD TIME LOOKING AT THE ISSUE, COMING UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS AND COMPROMISING, THAT'S A WORD YOU DON'T HEAR MUCH ANYMORE IN POLITICS. SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD THING. I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT SOLVES ALL THE PROBLEMS, OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD START. I ALSO LIKE TO THANK TOP BECAUSE IT WAS SEVEN OAKS THAT KICKED OFF THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE. UH, AND IT'S THE SUFFERING OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT I THINK CAPTURED THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT READ ABOUT IT, THAT SAW IT ON THE NEWS, AND THAT COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. UM, I ALSO FEEL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS VERY MUCH TO BE APPLAUDED FOR THIS MEASURE, UH, AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS TIME TO ENSURE THAT WE GET A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OUR PEOPLE TO HAVE SAFE HOUSING. I'M ALSO GONNA VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE SEVEN OAKS WAS IN DISTRICT SEVEN, AND ANNA SANDAL DID A GREAT DEAL TO TRY TO HELP THERE. WE NOW IN DISTRICT SEVEN HAVE ANOTHER COMP APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT WILL BE DEALING WITH THE HOUSING FOLKS TOMORROW THAT OUR STAFF HAS. AND I HAVE BEEN GOING OUT TO SEE THE TOP IS NOW INVOLVED WITH, THAT WAS SET OFF BY THE KILLING OF A, AN AUTISTIC MAN BY A 19 YEAR OLD HOMELESS YOUTH WHO WAS STAYING ACROSS FROM THE APARTMENTS BECAUSE THE OWNER ACROSS THE APARTMENTS, THIS IS AN ELDERLY COMPLEX, HAD NOT FENCED UP, UH, PROPERTY TO THIS VACANT. SO THERE'S MULTIPLE, [04:30:01] MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THAT YOU SEE WITH THIS WHOLE ISSUE. IT'S NOT JUST THE ISSUE OF THE APARTMENTS. I MEAN, IF YOU START TO LOOK AT WHAT WE DEAL WITH IN ZONING, AND EVEN IF IT WAS JUST DISTRICT SEVEN, PEOPLE DON'T WANT APARTMENTS, THEY DON'T EVEN WANT FOUR OR SIX UNITS. YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? WHY, WHY WOULD YOU OBJECT TO APARTMENTS IF THERE'S JUST REGULAR FAMILIES LIVING THERE OR ELDERLY LIVING THERE? BUT WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE DON'T WANT APARTMENTS, AND IT JUST DRIVES ME BATTY BECAUSE YOU'RE NEVER GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF BETTER HOUSING OR HOMELESSNESS IF YOU DON'T CREATE APARTMENTS. WE'VE JUST GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE APARTMENTS WE'RE CREATING OR HEALTHY ARE SAFE. IN THE PARTICULAR CASE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ON FREDERICKSBURG ROAD NOW, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE OF SECURITY AS WELL. ALL THOSE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP, I'M AFRAID. UH, AS I WAS LISTENING TO YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY, YOU ASKED FOR A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING. THERE'S A WORD IN SPANISH, AND IT'S CALLED SHINGLES. HOW MANY APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE THERE THAT DO NOT DO WHAT THEY SHOULD SHINGLES? SO I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS. SO ANYWAY, TODAY I'M HAPPY TO VOTE FOR IT WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND I SINCERELY THANK YOU ALL, TOP AND SEVEN OAKS APARTMENT DWELLERS FOR HAVING BEEN HERE TODAY FOR BRINGING US TO THIS SPOT THAT WE'RE IN NOW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO, COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRIME. UH, THANK YOU. AND I JUST, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF THE, THE PLANNING, UM, P C D C, THE PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, BECAUSE WE DID GO BACK AND, AND WE HEARD YOU AND YOU CAME WEEK AFTER WEEK. AND I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY TO, TO PASS THIS BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED TODAY. AND I WANNA THANK THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE RENTERS FOR COMING TOGETHER AND REACHING A COMPROMISE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. AND I WANNA, UH, APPLAUD VERONICA FOR BEING HERE BECAUSE I KNOW N H S D IS WORKING ON THAT TENANT RIGHTS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR RIGHTS AND WHERE WE GO MOVING FORWARD. THE ONE THING I WANNA SEE IS I DO BELIEVE, AND I, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S KIND OF IN MY BONES, THAT WHAT WHAT WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT IS A LOT OF THESE LANDLORDS, UM, OF, OF THESE BAD ACTORS DO NOT HAVE A PRESENCE, AREN'T HERE IN TEXAS, AND THAT THEY'RE HIRING VERY IRRESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, OR THEY'RE NOT MONITORING THEM. AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE SEEING THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING, BECAUSE WHEN I HAVE, UM, UH, PEOPLE COME UP AND SPEAK AND SAY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CITATIONS, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE TAKING CARE OF THEIR APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S WHO WE NEED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE THIS, OH, A COST BURDEN TO THEM. I THINK IT'S ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO COME INTO SAN ANTONIO AND TO RUN THESE APARTMENT COMMUNITIES. AND WE CAN DO THAT AS WE I, AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS AND LISTEN TO EACH OTHER. SO I AM SO GLAD TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TODAY, AND I'M, I'M SO THANKFUL THAT THOSE SITTING ON THE DAAS HAVE ALL INDICATED THAT THEY WILL BE VOTING THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER . COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY ADD, RIGHT, UH, I'M A RENTER, BEEN A RENTER, UH, AND I'VE BEEN BLESSED THAT I'VE HAD LANDLORDS AND MANAGEMENT THAT HAS MAINTAINED THE PROPERTIES THAT I'VE LIVED AT, RIGHT? BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT ME. THIS IS ABOUT, UH, RESIDENTS AND THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY OF HAVING A QUICK RESPONSE WITH MAINTENANCE. UM, WITH THIS, UH, PROCESS, IT MOVED VERY QUICKLY. THERE WAS A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT, AND I DON'T BELIEVE I ARTICULATED MY THANKS TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR FACILITATING THAT CONVERSATION AND DEBATE AND GETTING US HERE. UM, AND ULTIMATELY, RIGHT, THE WHOLE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM SABRE, THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION TOP, UM, AND ANDRE GREEN, WHO'S A DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT, AND, UH, WE MET OVER SOME CONCERNS THAT HE HAD ABOUT, UH, MOBILITY AND THE QUALITY OF HIS APARTMENT COMPLEX. UM, AND HE'S JUST BEEN A GREAT ASSET, UH, TO DISTRICT FIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND THAT HE ALSO SERVES ON THE HOUSING TRUST, UH, SUSTAINABILITY AND DESIGN COMMITTEE AS WELL. UM, BUT I ALSO DIDN'T MENTION YUEL, WHO'S BEEN PRESENT AT EVERY P C D C MEETING ALONGSIDE TENANTS, UH, AND, AND HELPING TO ADVOCATE TO ADVANCE THIS FORWARD. UM, BUT ALSO DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, I HEARD PANCHO VALDEZ, UH, BE CALLED UP. UH, OBVIOUSLY HE'S NOT HERE, BUT I KNOW HE'S LIKELY ON FACEBOOK LIVE, [04:35:01] LIKE TYPING AND LIKE, UM, EVERYONE KNOWS PANCHO, UM, PANCHO'S AMAZING ONE DAY THERE'S GOING TO BE A BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT HIM. UH, I MET HIM AT A HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING YEARS AGO, UH, AND HE'S JUST BEEN DOING PHENOMENAL WORK AND JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM AS WELL. UM, BUT THANK YOU ALL. THANKS. THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. I THINK THAT IS IT FOR OUR DISCUSSION. UH, AGAIN, MY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS OVER THE YEARS. THERE'S ALWAYS PROLOGUE AND TO THOSE WHO'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS FIGHT FOR QUITE SOME TIME, MY THANKS TO YOU FOR STICKING WITH IT. AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GOTTEN US TO THE FINISH LINE, UH, MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE WHO'VE MADE THIS A PRIORITY, MY THANKS AS WELL. UH, SO WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM FIVE AS PRESENTED. I GOTTA DO, UM, LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE VOTING SYSTEM, SO WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND DO A VOICE VOTE, UH, MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM FIVE AS PRESENTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, ALL THAT'S EVERYONE ON, THAT'S ALL OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS. ERIC, IS THERE? UH, ALL RIGHT, IF Y'ALL CAN, UH, WE STILL HAVE SOME BUSINESS FOLKS. ERIC, DO WE [City Manager's Report  ] HAVE A CITY MANAGERS THAT REPORT? YEAH, WE, WE DO. MAYOR, UH, JUST REAL QUICK, ONE ITEM, UH, AS I MENTIONED, AND AS ALL OF YOU MENTIONED LAST WEEK AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, UH, WE ARE TAKING TIME THIS MONTH TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTION OF WOMEN AS PART OF, UH, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, UH, AND THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON OUR ORGANIZATION. FOLKS, IF YOU'RE EXITING THE CHAMBER, WE STILL HAVE BUSINESS. SO IF YOU CAN TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE OR PLEASE KEEP THE VOLUME DOWN. GO AHEAD ERIC. THANK YOU. UM, SO, UH, LAST WEEK THE CITY HOSTED, UH, THE GIRLS EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT ON, UH, FRIDAY, MARCH 17TH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, HELD A, A CAMP, UH, HERO LIKE HER, UH, LAST SATURDAY ON MARCH 18TH. TWO EVENTS THAT HAVE BECOME PERENNIAL EVENTS FOR US THAT ARE REALLY GEARED, GEARED TOWARDS, UM, UH, FUTURE WOMEN THAT WILL DO GREAT THINGS IN OUR CITY. UH, WE ARE HOSTING, UH, THREE IN-PERSON EVENTS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES TO CELEBRATE LATER THIS MONTH, AND A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH, UH, UH, ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS AND A SOCIAL GATHERING. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL'S AWARE OF THOSE DATES. THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT, UM, WOMEN HAVE CAN BE SEEN THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. AND, UH, I'M FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH, UH, WITH THE BEST. SO TODAY'S HIGHLIGHT VIDEO REALLY FOCUSES ON THOSE EMPLOYEES AND WHAT THEY DO FOR US EVERY DAY, CONTROL THE VIDEO. I WOULD DESCRIBE SAN ANTONIO WOMEN AS BEING INDEPENDENT, FIERCE, PERSEVERANCE, DARING, STRONG, VERY TOUGH, PROUD. I HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR ALMOST 27 YEARS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL TO THOSE FEMALES IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND AS A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS, I WANT THEM TO BE PROUD OF ME. I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 19 77, 45 YEARS AND SIX MONTHS. WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, THERE WERE THREE WOMEN. AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE, THE AMOUNT OF WOMEN HAVE GROWN IN ALL DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF CODE. STARTED AS AN INTERN WITH THE CITY IN SPRING OF 2020, WORKING WITH COMMUNITY NUTRITION AND THE MAYOR'S FITNESS COUNCIL. AND THEN IN JULY OF 2020, DURING THE PANDEMIC, I WAS BROUGHT IN AS A CONTRACTOR AND I WORKED WITHIN C OVID 19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE AND EQUITY COALITION, OR THE CRE, AND THAT'S HOUSED WITHIN THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY. AND IN MARCH OF 2023, I WAS PROMOTED TO THE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT COORDINATOR. I'M DEFINITELY IN GREAT COMPANY AND I LOVE BEING A PHILIPPINA AND, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR GROWING CITY HERE. I HAVE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR 24 YEARS. IT'S REWARDING WORKING FOR THE CITY THAT I GREW UP IN, UM, ESPECIALLY BEING IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE. IT'S BEEN VERY REWARDING. I'VE TAKEN ON SOME CHALLENGES, BUT WITH HAVING A GREAT LEADERSHIP MENTORING US AND MENTORING ME, TAKING THE TIME IN ME, IT'S BEEN REWARDING AS WELL. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR 17 YEARS. THEY'RE SURPRISED WHEN THEY SEE ME WITH THE WELDING HAT ON AND I TAKE THE HAT OFF AND THEY SEE, OH, YOU'RE A WOMAN. . I LOVE BEING IN THE SHOP, FABRICATING AND SEEING A FINISHED PRODUCT, BUT I ALSO LOVE BEING OUT IN THE FIELD. AND I EVEN TAKE MY GRANDDAUGHTERS OUT THERE AND SAY, LOOK, GRANDMA MADE THAT, OR WE DID THIS. YOU KNOW, I FEEL PROUD. I GET TO SEE WHAT MY FINISHED PRODUCTS ARE DOING FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. SO I LOVE IT. SO WHEN I FIRST STARTED AS A SHE, YOU KNOW, IN SHELTER, I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE. BUT THEN OVER THE, THE YEARS I, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WELL YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK I WANNA CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND CONTINUE TO GROW WITH [04:40:01] A C S. AND SO I DECIDED TO TAKE THE LEAP AND IT JUST SOUNDED LIKE A, A FUN OPPORTUNITY. I'VE WORKED FOR THE CITY NOW FOR FIVE YEARS IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES, STARTING WITH HEALTH, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, AND ALSO HOUSING SUPPORT. WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THE DEPARTMENTS I'VE WORKED IN OR THE PEOPLE I'VE CROSSED PATHS WITH, WHEN I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHO WAS AT THE TABLE, WHO WERE THE DECISION MAKERS, WHO WAS MY LEADERSHIP WHEN I LOOKED TO THE TOP, I SEE WOMEN. I THINK THE MORE THAT I GET TO NETWORK WITHIN THE CITY, THE MORE MY CHEERLEADING SQUAD GROWS. AND IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE WOMEN CONTINUE TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP. AND I HOPE THAT I HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT FOR OTHERS AS I CONTINUE MY PATHWAY AS WELL. THAT'S IT, MAYOR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UH, THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THERE IS NO EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY. THE TIME IS 1:46 PM ON THE 23RD DAY OF MARCH, 2023, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.