[00:00:02]
SO, UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY JOINING US.
WE GOT A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER.
[Approval of Minutes ]
BUT FIRST, UH, WE HAVE MINUTES TO APPROVE FROM OUR LAST MEETING.UM, AND NOW RO COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA IS USUALLY THE ONE WHO HAS THEM MEMORIZED AND HAS REVIEWED THEM TWICE.
UH, BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, SHE'S NOT HERE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? COUNCILWOMAN CASTRO.
YOU WANNA MOVE TO APPROVE TO THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST TIME? SURE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES, PLEASE SAY.
THOSE MINUTES ARE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
WE NOW HAVE SALLY UP TO THE PODIUM TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN AUSTIN.THAT'S A TRICKY QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE MEMBER SALLY BATO, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR TODAY, IN FRONT OF YOU.
UH, ONE MORE TIME THIS MONTH TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE ON ALL GOOD THINGS AND BAD THINGS HAPPENING AT THE STATE, UH, LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UH, SO FAR WE ARE COUNTING DOWN THE CLOCK.
UM, ON A, UH, POSITIVE UPDATE, YOU'LL RECALL THAT SSB 2220 A BILL, UM, SPONSORED BY, UM, SENATOR MENENDEZ.
I'M HAPPY TO KICK OFF THE CONVERSATION ON A POSITIVE NOTE.
AS YOU WILL RECALL, UM, THIS PARTICULAR BILL, THE PROJECT, UH, FINANCE ZONE, UM, WOULD ADD THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO A LIST OF ELIGIBLE, UM, CITIES, UM, CURRENTLY DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
UM, THAT WOULD MAKE SAN ANTONIO, UM, ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROJECT FINANCE ZONE.
UM, WHAT DOES THAT SPECIFICALLY DO? UM, WHAT, UH, PFCS THEY ALLOW THE, UH, GROWTH OF THE STATE'S PORTION OF SPECIFIC TAXES, LIKE THE HOT SALES AND MIXED BEVERAGE TAXES TO BE COLLECTED AND BE REBATED BACK TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OVER THE COURSE OF 30 YEARS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ALAMO DO AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, THE BILL HAS MOVED, UM, OUT OF THE HOUSE.
IT PASSED THE SENATE, THANKFULLY, TO ALL THE GREAT EFFORTS AND LEADERSHIP OF SENATOR MENENDEZ.
REPRESENTATIVE GERVIN HAWKINS IS THE SPONSOR ON THE HOUSE SIDE, AND IT IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS, UH, THIS WEEK, AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL BE ON THE WAYS AND MEANS, UH, HEARING DATE FOR NEXT MONDAY ON THE 15TH.
SALLY, CAN I INTERRUPT YOU REAL QUICK? SURE, SURE.
SO, JUST FOR CONTEXT, IT'S, AS SALLY SAID, IT'S MADE IT OUT OF THE SENATE.
UM, IT'S PENDING IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE FOR A HEARING.
UH, HOUSE BILLS HAVE TO BE VOTED OUT OF HOUSE COMMITTEES BY MAY 20TH, A WEEK FROM SATURDAY.
SO NEXT MONDAY IS THE LAST WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE MEETING.
BEFORE THAT DEADLINE, THE MAYOR, THE MANAGER, MYSELF, AND MARK ANDERSON AND NADIA, AND A WHOLE GROUP OF US WERE AT THE CAPITOL YESTERDAY.
WE TALKED TO THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE.
WE TALKED TO THE CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS.
HE COMMITTED TO US TO HAVE IT HEARD ON MONDAY.
SO WE'VE STILL GOT A CHANCE ON THIS.
BUT, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE RACING BOTH WELL RACING THE CLOCK PRIMARILY TO GET THIS, THIS THROUGH.
CERTAINLY, IT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS EFFORT, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE GERVIN HAWKINS AND THEIR TEAMS. THEY'VE DONE SO MUCH TO PUSH THIS ALONG IN THE POSITIVE DIRECTION.
UH, SO SORRY TO BRING YOU BACK TO HB UH, 2127.
THIS IS A, A SUPER PREEMPTION, UH, FIELD, UH, BILL.
UM, AS YOU RECALL, THIS WAS PREVENT CITIES FROM ADOPTING OR ENFORCING, UM, VARIOUS LOCAL ORDINANCES, SPECIFICALLY UNDER THESE CODES, UH, LATE LAST NIGHT.
ACTUALLY, THIS WAS PLACED ON THE SENATE CALENDAR FOR TODAY, NOT MAY 10TH.
UM, THAT IS, WELL, ACTUALLY, THAT IS TODAY.
WE HAVE SENT ALERTS TO OUR SENATORS SINCE MONDAY.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH T M L.
WE SENT ANOTHER FLOOR ALERT TO THE SENATORS THIS MORNING.
WE AGGRESSIVELY OPPOSE THIS BILL, AND WE'RE WORKING, UM, AGGRESSIVELY WITH OUR MEMBERS TO OFFER AMENDMENTS.
AS YOU RECALL, IN MY PREVIOUS UPDATE LAST MONTH, WE HAD OFFERED VARIOUS, UH, AMENDMENTS ON THE FLOOR DURING THE HOUSE DISCUSSION.
AND, UM, NONE OF THE AMENDMENTS, UM, WERE WELL RECEIVED.
SO WE'RE GOING ON THE SIMILAR EFFORT, SIMILAR PATH ON THE SENATE SIDE.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT REMAINS A BAD BILL.
THERE'S REALLY NO, UM, VIABLE, UH, PATH TO FIX THIS BILL.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT AND OPPOSE IT AND BRING YOU BACK.
MOVING ON, A BIT OF MORE POSITIVE, GOOD NEWS ON A HAPPY FRONT, UH, REPRESENTATIVE COMPASS'S DANGEROUS
[00:05:01]
DOGS BILL.THE OTHER ONE IS, IS STUCK IN COMMITTEE.
UM, THIS ONE RELATES TO HOW TO IDENTIFY, UM, THE DANGEROUS DOG ATTACK.
AND IT ALSO, UM, INCREASES, UH, THE PENALTY FROM CLASS C, UH, TO CLASS B MISDEMEANOR.
UM, IF THE ATTACK CAUSES BODILY INJURY INTO A SECOND DEGREE FELONY, IF THE ATTACK CAUSES DEATH.
UH, WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE HAS WORKED WITH SAN ANTONIO, ALONG WITH OTHER CITIES, DALLAS AND HOUSTON, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE INITIAL CONCERNS, UM, THAT THE ANIMAL, UH, CARE SERVICES, UH, REPRESENTATIVES HAD.
SHE AND HER STAFF HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS TO WORK WITH, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE, UM, HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE WAS REPORTED SUBSTITUTED, UM, IN THE HOUSE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE ON MAY 6TH.
AND AGAIN, IT'S SET FOR THE HOUSE CALENDAR TODAY.
WE HAVE ALSO SENT A FLOOR ALERT TO OUR HOUSE DELEGATION, ASKING THEM TO SUPPORT THIS BILL ONTO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
UH, I'VE BEEN PROVIDING YOU REGULAR UPDATES ON THIS.
HB TWO IS, UM, THE APPRAISAL REDUCES THE APPRAISAL CAPS.
UM, IT'S IN COMPETITION WITH SB THREE.
THIS IS THE, UM, INCREASES THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION BILL FROM 40,000 TO 70,000.
UM, THESE TWO BILLS, UM, HAVE PASSED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS, UM, AND THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD.
THESE ARE TWO BILLS THAT THE LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE.
SO ONE OF THESE TWO WILL LIKELY MAKE IT TO, UM, THE FINISH LINE.
SO, UH, WE ARE WATCHING THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS VERY CLOSELY.
UH, THE POLICE AND FIRE, UH, BILL, THERE WAS AN EMAIL SENT ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
UH, THIS BILL HAS BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR, UM, FOR SIGNATURE.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT THIS PARTICULAR BILL, UM, IS PART OF OUR, UH, STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, NAMELY, INCREASES A MINIMUM DEATH BENEFIT OF 50%, UM, TO 75% FOR ALL, UH, NON-LINE OF DUTY DEATHS.
SO, WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IT ADVANCED, IT'S AT THE FINISH LINE, AND HOPEFUL THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN IT.
THANK YOU TO REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON AND SENATOR MENENDEZ FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT HERE AS WELL.
OKAY, SO THESE THREE, UH, REP TRUCKS, CLEAR BILLS, UM, HB 42 0 7, UM, IS RELATED TO UTILITY FUND TRANSFERS.
THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTS A GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS.
IF THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION DETERMINES UNDER THE UTILITIES VEGETATION MANAGEMENT THAT ACTIVITIES ARE INSUFFICIENT TO ENSURE RELIABLE SERVICE IN THAT YEAR.
A SPECIAL NOTE, UH, THIS PARTICULAR MEMBER, UM, WE UNDERSTAND, UM, IN REGARDS TO 42 0 8 AND 42 13 ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THERE WAS A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE WORKED, WHICH SOFTENED THE LANGUAGE.
UM, ESSENTIALLY THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER, UM, WOULD ONLY BE NEEDED FOR, UH, THAT SUFFICIENT VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
SO THIS IS SPECIFICALLY ONLY RELATED TO MAKING SURE THAT THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ARE SUFFICIENT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RELIABLE SERVICE.
AND SO IT, IT'S STILL A BILL THAT, THAT WE OPPOSE.
AND, UM, IT'S BEEN SET ON THE CALENDAR FOR TOMORROW.
SO, UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS ADVANCING, UM, C P S ENERGY, OF COURSE, OPPOSES AS WELL IN THEIR, UM, STATE ORGANIZATION.
THE NEXT TWO BILLS, 42 0 8 BY THE SAME REP MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF CERTAIN MOUS.
THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR REQUIRES A MUNICIPALITY TO TRANSFER MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL TO A BOARD OF TRUSTEES BY SEPTEMBER.
ONE THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO C P S.
THIS APPLIES, UH, TO, TO AUSTIN.
THE NEXT ONE, HB 42 13 RATES FOR ELECTRICITY AND THE USE OF REVENUE FROM THOSE RATES.
UH, THIS LIMITS THE RATES AND USE OF REVENUES FOR MOUS GOVERNED BY CITY COUNCILS.
WE JUST WANTED TO PUT THESE ON YOUR RADAR BECAUSE THESE HAVE BEEN, UH, MOVING, UM, IN THE HOUSE.
AND THESE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY EXPAND NEXT SESSION INTO OTHER, OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND MAKE YOU AWARE OF THESE.
THIS IS AN E T J BILL THAT RELEASES A MUNICIPAL E T J BY PETITION.
UM, THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM IN COORDINATION WITH GENERAL AYALA JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO.
WE SECURED MILITARY EXEMPTIONS.
UM, THIS WOULD ALLOW, UM, AN EXEMPTION WITH A 15 MILE BUFFER, UH, FROM CAMP BULLIS, RANDOLPH LACKLAND, UM, WITH A MINIMAL IMPACT AT THIS POINT.
SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT, UM, SENATOR BETTENCOURT WORKED
[00:10:01]
WITH, UH, OUR PARTNERS AT J B S A, THE CITY, UH, THROUGH GENERAL ALA'S LEADERSHIP AND HIS TEAM.THE BILL HAS BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR, BUT AGAIN, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN A BAD BILL.
WE WANTED TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS, UH, WITH THE SENATOR, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, SECURE AN EXEMPTION FOR SAN ANTONIO AND J B S A HB 2266.
UM, THIS IS RELATED TO STATE LICENSING.
IT CREATES A CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST MUNICIPAL LICENSING.
UM, IF THEY'RE MORE STRINGENT, UM, THAN STATE LAW, WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL.
T M L IS REFERRING TO THIS BILL AS THE, UM, OCCUPATION OCCUPATION'S LICENSING BILL, UM, OF HB 2127.
IT HAS PRETTY MUCH THE EXACT SAME PARAMETER PARAMETERS.
IT'S VERY BROAD, IT'S BADLY WRITTEN.
IT WOULD ALLOW ANY PERSON REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A TEXAS LICENSE, UM, TO CONDUCT BUSINESS SUCH AS BARBERS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO FI TO BE ABLE TO FILE A LAWSUIT, UM, UH, SUING A CITY, UH, FOR ENFORCING ANY CITY REGULATION THAT IMPOSES A RESTRICTION ON THEIR BUSINESS ACTIVITY, UM, THROUGH AN ADDITIONAL PERMIT, UM, THAT WOULD RESULT IN AN ADVERSE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
CITY REGULATIONS COULDN'T BE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN STATE LAW IF THIS BILL PASSES.
AND THIS BILL WOULD, UM, OVERWHELM CITIES WITH POTENTIAL LAWSUITS JUST LIKE 2127, UM, AIMS TO DO.
UM, ALSO, THERE ARE, THERE'S A DAMAGES PROVISION IN THIS BILL AS WELL THAT WOULD ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO, UH, FILE FOR COURT COSTS AND ATTORNEY FEES.
SALLY, I'LL INTERRUPT REAL QUICK TOO.
CAN, CAN YOU JUST GIVE US EXAMPLES OF HOW THAT WOULD PLAY OUT? YEAH.
SO ONE EXAMPLE IS, UM, UH, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, UH, ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE.
WE HAVE A REGISTRY HERE WHERE YOU NEED TO BE REGISTERED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
IT'S A CONSUMER PROTECTION FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
WE WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT.
THE ARGUMENT FROM THE CONTRACTING INDUSTRY WOULD SAY, NOPE, WE ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE.
YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT GOES BEYOND IT.
UM, SOME OF THE LOOSER ARGUMENTS, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, WELL, SOME OF THE LOOSER ARGUMENTS AROUND IT ARE, SAY, A BUSINESS THAT, UH, HAS, HOLDS A ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE AS A LICENSE TO SERVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BY THE STATE, UH, COULD POTENTIALLY ARGUE THAT, WELL, YOU CAN APPLY YOUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS OR YOUR, UM, SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS, OR, YOU KNOW, OTHER LOCAL ORDINANCES BECAUSE WE ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE.
THAT THOSE SORTS OF THINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE FOUGHT OVER IN COURT.
BUT THAT'S THE REASON WHY T M L HAS SAID THIS IS REALLY KIND OF JUST AS BAD AS THE SUPER PREEMPTION IN A LOT OF WAYS.
AND, AND SIMILARLY CREATES A LOT OF GRAY AREAS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE LITIGATED.
UH, THIS IS A VEHICLE REGISTRATION, UH, FEE BILL.
WE FOUND OUT, UM, RECENTLY, I BELIEVE LAST WEEK, BEAR COUNTY COORDINATED WITH, UM, OUR, UH, DELEGATION, I BELIEVE SPECIFICALLY, UH, MEMBER LUJAN, UM, TO ATTACH, UH, BEAR COUNTY TO AN EL PASO BILL, WHICH IS THIS ONE, HB 78.
UM, IN 2013, THERE WAS A SIMILAR BILL THAT DID PASS, UM, THAT ALLOWED BEAR COUNTY TO, UM, ADD, UH, THE 10, THE ADDITIONAL $10 FEE, UM, TO THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION.
IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL $10 FEE TO THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION, UM, GETTING IT TO A MAXIMUM OF, UH, $20.
AGAIN, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY AN EL PASO BILL, UM, IN BEAR COUNTY, UH, WAS A SUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO GET, UM, THEIR AMENDMENT ON TO ADD, UH, BEXAR COUNTY.
THE FUNDING FOR, UM, THESE EXTRA $10 WOULD BE GOING TO THE R M A, THE REGIONAL MOBILITY GROUP, UH, FOR ROADS, UM, AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
UM, I DO UNDERSTAND JEFF CAN PROBABLY PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND INTEL ON THIS.
I DO BELIEVE BEXAR COUNTY HAD ATTEMPTED A SIMILAR, UM, LEGISLATIVE PASSAGE IN PAST SESSIONS AND UN AND THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, SO THEY DECIDED TO SEE IF THEY HAD BETTER CHANCES.
ATTACHING TO THE EL PASO BILL BACK AND FORTH HERE, UM, HB 2239, THIS IS A REMOVAL OF ASH JUNIPER TREES OR CEDAR TREES.
IT PROHIBITS MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF REMOVAL OF, UM, CEDAR TREES ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
UM, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, UM, MILITARY AFFAIRS, UH, J B S A NEGOTIATED THE REMOVAL OF ASH JUNIPER TREES ON RESIDENTIAL, UH, NEGOTIATED THE REMO THAT ONLY THE REMOVAL OF THESE TREES WOULD BE TO APPLY TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ONLY, NOT TO DEVELOPERS, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, OR CONSTRUCTION ENTITIES.
IT'S PASSED THE HOUSE AND IT'S BEEN REFERRED TO SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
[00:15:01]
OUR COORDINATION WITH JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO.UM, AND OUR MEMBERS, UM, AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS IN MILITARY AFFAIRS, UH, H B 2265.
THIS IS A SHORT TERM, UM, RENTAL BILL.
UH, THIS ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISHES A TASK FORCE, UM, TO DO A STUDY ON STR.
IT'S BEEN MOVING, IT PASSED THE HOUSE ORIGINALLY.
THIS WAS A REALLY BAD BILL, WHICH WOULD'VE, UM, PREEMPTED OUR, UH, S T R ORDINANCES.
BUT SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN REDUCED TO A STUDY.
SO WE WERE DISCUSSING IT YESTERDAY.
INTERNALLY, WE'LL TAKE THE STUDY OVER ANY OTHER MUCH LARGER ATTACK ON, ON PREEMPTION ON CITIES.
SO THIS ONE, I WOULD CONSIDER A WIN AS WELL.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'M GONNA PASS IT ON TO JEFF NOW.
WE DO HAVE SOME GUESTS IN, IN THE ROOM, AND SO I'D LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO YOU AND JEFF TO MAKE THE INTRODUCTION.
SO, I, I DO WANNA MENTION ONE THING BEFORE I, I PASS IT OFF TO JEFF.
IT STANDS OUT, UM, IN THIS MEETING THAT YOU KEPT MENTIONING J B SS A OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS BEING VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
UM, I'VE NEVER HEARD A MEETING WHERE, YOU KNOW, UH, THERE'S SUCH GOOD NEWS, UH, COMING OUT OF, UH, OUTTA YOUR REPORT WHERE J B S A HAS GOT THEIR FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT, AND I LOVE IT.
UM, AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE COMING TO THE RESCUE, AND THAT'S, THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.
UM, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT GENERAL AYALA WAS HERE.
BUT ANYWAY, PLEASE PASS OFF MY, MY, UH, MY, MY ADMIRATION AND THANKS TO HIM, UH, JEFF.
SO, UM, AT THE START OF, FROM THE START OF THE SESSION, SCHOOL SAFETY WAS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE LEGISLATURE, FOR THE LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
UH, OF COURSE, WE CONSIDER THE ISDS A STRONG PARTNER OF OURS AND, AND COMMIT TO WORK WITH THEM AND SUPPORT THEM AT ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN.
UH, CHAIRMAN HAD REQUESTED DURING ONE OF OUR ONE-ON-ONE BRIEFINGS A FEW WEEKS AGO, UH, AN UPDATE ON WHERE THE SCHOOL SAFETY LEGISLATION STOOD.
AND SO, UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF REPS FROM OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
I KNOW YOU SEE SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES HERE.
UH, JULIA GRARD IS GONNA GIVE THE PRESENTATION.
SHE'S A, A LEGISLATIVE VETERAN, WORKED IN REPRESENTATIVE VERNAL'S OFFICE, UH, THE YEAR THAT THEY PASSED THE, UH, GROUNDBREAKING, UH, EDUCATION FUNDING BILL, HB THREE, I THINK IT WAS THAT YEAR.
UM, I'VE KNOWN HER AND WORKED WITH HER CLOSELY FOR YEARS.
AND SINCE LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE, SHE'S CREATED A COALITION, UH, TO, TO UNIFY ALL THE LOCAL ISDS TO BE OPERATING IN UNDER ONE, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO ADVOCACY ISSUES.
SO, JUST WANTED INTRODUCE HER BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THAT.
THERE'S ONE, UM, IS RECOGNIZED THAT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE SIT SITTING, UM, YES.
UH, I MEAN, AND THIS WAS A RUSH REQUEST ON, ON OUR, OUR PART TO JUST COME AND TALK TO OUR COMMITTEE.
UM, WE'VE GOT TWO OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE ROOM.
MORENO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR BEING HERE.
BEFORE WE DO THAT, JULIA MM-HMM.
AND I JUST WANNA IMPOSE UPON YOUR PATIENTS, OF COURSE, TO SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF SALLY REGARDING SOME OF THE S OF BILLS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT.
UM, AND SO, COUNCILMAN BER THANK YOU CHAIR, UM, SALLY, THE, THE HB 42 13.
UM, WHEN YOU SAY IT'S TARGETING AUSTIN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT? IS, IS THERE A SPECIFIC LA LANGUAGE SAYING IT'S LIMITED TO THE MUNICIPALITY AUSTIN'S MUNICIPALITY? THERE, THERE IS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT DESCRIBES THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, AND AS WELL AS 42 0 8, IT'S SPECIFICALLY, UM, IS TARGETING THE TRANSFER OF MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, UM, FROM THE, THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE MODEL.
SO THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BY SEPTEMBER ONE.
SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY DESCRIBING AUSTIN AS WELL.
AND THEN I, I THINK YOU MADE MENTION THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY EXPAND NEXT TIME INTO OTHER CITIES.
SO ALL THESE TYPE OF BILLS, YOU'RE CORRECT.
IT, THEY, THEY ARE OF GREAT CONCERN, WHICH IS WHY WE OPPOSE THEM.
'CAUSE THIS OPENS THE DIALOGUE FOR NEXT SESSION HAVING A MUCH BIGGER FIGHT.
AND THEN, UH, LASTLY, THE 2266, UM, I WAS GONNA ASK FOR AN EXAMPLE.
SO I THANK YOU CHAIR FOR, FOR DOING THAT.
BUT, UM, COULD THAT AFFECT ZONING? I DON'T, I DON'T THINK SO.
I BELIEVE THIS IS ASSOCIATED, IT'S UNDER THE OCCUPATIONS CODE.
AND THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR OCCUPATIONS, LICENSING AND PERMITS.
I DO HAVE A CONCERN THAT IT MIGHT LEAK OUT OR STRETCH OUT INTO ZONING, OR THEY MIGHT TRY TO EXPAND THAT.
UM, AND, AND I'M, I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU UN UNDERSTAND FROM THIS BILL, COULD THEY TRY TO GET, I MEAN, IS IT, THIS IS ESTABLISHING A CAUSE OF ACTION, I UNDERSTAND, CORRECT? IT DOES ALLOW FOR CAUSE OF ACTION, YES.
SO COULD THEY GET POTENTIALLY SUMMARY JUDGMENT JUST BY VIRTUE OF, OF HAVING THAT, THAT ORDINANCE? UM, OR, OR IS IT SOMETHING WE COULD ARGUE AGAINST IN COURT? I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THAT WOULD, IS THAT'S KIND OF STOP, I'M PULLING UP THE BILL LANGUAGE, BUT YES, WE'D BE ABLE TO ARGUE IN COURT FOR SURE.
WHAT IT DOES IS WAIVE GOVERNMENTAL
[00:20:01]
IMMUNITY.UM, I'M NOT LOOKING AT THE LANGUAGE, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE CASE IN THIS ONE.
SO WE'D STILL HAVE OUR OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT WE WOULD BE, WE WOULD BE FENDING OFF A LOT OF LITIGATION FROM INDUSTRY SAYING, WELL, NO, WAIT A SECOND, I'M LICENSED BY THE STATE MM-HMM.
AND THEN IS IT AT ALL RETROACTIVE? I DON'T RECALL IF IT'S RETROACTIVE.
SO ANYTHING ON THE BOOKS WOULD NOT BE, UM, WE'VE GOT LEGAL REPS HERE, CAM MATTHEW, WHO HELPED DO THE BILL ANALYSIS.
IF, UM, THERE'S ANYTHING Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO ADD, UM, OKAY.
TO HELP ANSWER THE COUNCILWOMAN QUESTION, NO.
WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH A BETTER EXPLANATION OF, OF THE BILL ITSELF.
IF IT'S JUST SORT OF THE, THE MINUTE THEY FILE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DONE.
BUT YOU SAID WE COULD ARGUE IT.
UM, BUT WE'D HAVE TO BE IN COURT IS THE POINT, RIGHT.
WHERE RIGHT NOW, WE, WE WOULDN'T.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM SALLY ABOUT HER PRESENTATION? CASTILLO? YES.
THANK YOU, SALLY, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I WAS JUST NOTIFIED THAT HOSPITAL 17, WHICH WOULD EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF MISCONDUCT FOR, UM, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS, UM, AND RIGHT.
A A COUPLE OF CONCERNS WITH THAT IS THAT IT UNDERMINES, UH, THE CONTROL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR THE COUNTY MM-HMM.
UM, I GUESS MY ASK IF, IF THE CONVERSATION HASN'T ALREADY BEEN HAD IS IF WE CAN CHECK IN WITH, UM, OUR DELEGATION TO SEE IF THEY ARE, UH, IN OPPOSITION OF THIS BILL AND THAT IT RESTRICTS, UH, LOCAL AUTHORITY, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PREEMPT THE PREEMPTION BILL.
UM, SO THAT'S MY REQUEST, IF YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME ON THAT ONE.
UM, THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.
AND I THINK WHAT WE WOULD DO, COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN IS, UH, WORK WITH THE COUNTY MM-HMM.
THERE'S, I HAVE NO DOUBT THE COUNTY TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT ISSUE AND COULD PROBABLY TELL US WHERE OUR, WHERE OUR MEMBERS ARE.
AND, AND I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A ONE TWO PUNCH, RIGHT.
WITH THE, THE HIP AND THE SHOULDER, THE, THE COUNTY AND THE CITY RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, JULIA, THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR, UH, FOR ALLOWING US SOME TIME TODAY TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN AUSTIN ON SCHOOL SAFETY.
UM, I HAVE A LOT OF GUESTS IN THE ROOM IN CASE THERE ARE SUBJECT, UM, MATTERS THAT I CANNOT, UM, ANSWER.
I DID WANNA HIGHLIGHT, WE HAVE ALAMO HEIGHTS, UM, FRANK STRANGE.
UM, UH, UH, WE DO HAVE HARLANDALE, UH, CHIEF HERNANDEZ, UM, UH, DR.
MORENO FROM SOMERSET, UM, AS WELL AS HIS CHIEF OF POLICE.
UM, PAUL DURAN, UM, UH, FROM NORTHEAST I S D, ALONG WITH CHIEF CAMPBELL.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OLGA ULIS, UM, FROM EDGEWOOD, I F D, THEIR CHIEF OF STAFF.
UM, AND I KNOW, AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I'VE, I'VE MISSED OTHER FOLKS.
UM, BUT SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERTISE IN THE ROOM.
UM, I DO WANNA OFFER THAT BEXAR COUNTY EDUCATION COALITION WANTS TO CONTINUE TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ON THINGS THAT IMPACT OUR ISDS.
UM, I WOULD BE REMISS WITHOUT REVIEWING WHAT WE DO AS AN ORGANIZATION, AS JEFF MENTIONED, UM, WE ARE, ARE FAIR LEADERS.
AND REALLY OUR MISSION IS TO ELEVATE THE VOICE OF ALL OF OUR BEXAR COUNTY AREA ISDS, TO ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF, UM, AND TO CONNECT, UM, SIMILAR TO THIS PRESENTATION HERE, BUT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THE BEXAR COUNTY AREA.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, UH, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OVER FIVE AREAS.
UM, OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, WHICH I'VE PASSED, UM, AROUND, THAT'S THAT ONE PAGE DOCUMENT.
SO IT'S, IT'S COMING AROUND, UM, HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY ALL 18 AREA ISDS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
UM, WE LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, UM, PART BECAUSE, UM, UH, WE HAVE IN OUR, UH, BACKYARD IN BEXAR COUNTY, A MICROCOSM OF DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.
SO IF SOMETHING IMPACTS, UM, DISTRICTS IN THE BEXAR COUNTY REGION, IT MORE THAN LIKELY IS IMPACTING EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT, UM, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND SPECIFICALLY, UM, TODAY, WE WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMAN ELIAS FOR THE INVITATION TO TALK ABOUT, UM, HOW WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF.
UM, WE UNFORTUNATELY, AS A STATE, HAVE EXPERIENCED, UM, SOME, UH, FAIRLY, UH, SIGNIFICANT AND TERRIBLE TRAGEDIES, UM, HERE IN OUR AREA.
UM, I WOULD BE REMISS WITHOUT HIGHLIGHTING THAT ALMOST ALL OF OUR ISDS AND OUR MEMBERSHIP RESPONDED TO UVALDE WITHIN, UM, 24 HOURS.
IN FACT, MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS WERE THERE THE SAME DAY TO OFFER, UM, COUNSELING, UM, RESPONSE, UM, SAFETY BACKUP, AS MANY OF OUR FOLKS CAN ATTEST TO.
UM, AND THAT'S THE CL THAT SPEAKS TO THE CLOSE-KNIT,
[00:25:01]
UM, UH, UH, OR, YOU KNOW, UM, ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE, UM, AMONG OUR SCHOOL SAFETY, UM, OFFICERS AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.UM, I'LL GO QUICKLY THROUGH THESE SLIDES, AND THEN I'D LOVE TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR, OR QUESTION OR, OR ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO FOLLOW UP ON.
I MIGHT CALL ON SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IN CASE THERE IS A QUESTION I CANNOT ANSWER.
UM, BUT THE REQUEST WAS TO REALLY TALK ABOUT, UM, CURRENTLY WHAT, WHAT DO WE SEE FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR, UM, SCHOOL SAFETY, SCHOOL SAFETY, WHICH CAME, UM, THE SCHOOL SAFETY ALLOTMENT SPECIFICALLY CAME ABOUT VIA SENATE BILL 11.
UM, THAT WAS DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE SANTA FE, UM, TRAGEDY, UM, UH, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
NOW, CURRENTLY, THAT FUNDING IS $9 AND 72 CENTS PER STUDENT IN STATUTE.
UM, IT STATES THAT IT CAN BE USED FOR SECURING SCHOOL FACILITIES, PROVIDING SECURITY SCHOOL SAFETY, AND SECURITY TRAINING AND PLANNING.
THAT IS THE BUCKET THAT, THAT, UM, HANDLES A LOT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ELEMENTS.
UM, BUT IT ALSO, UH, LAST SESSION WAS ADDED SUICIDE, UH, PREVENTION, AND ALSO POSTVENTION.
UM, SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I GOT A KIND OF A, A HANDFUL OF OUR DISTRICTS.
UM, SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT TRANSLATES TO IN TOTAL FUNDING.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S, UH, NOT A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT, UM, TO COVER ALL OF THOSE ITEMS. THIS REALLY PALES IN COMPARISON TO WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, UM, FOR OUR ISDS WHEN THEY'RE HANDLING, UM, ROBUST NEEDS, NOT ONLY OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND STAFF, BUT ALSO, UM, HARDENING, UM, AS, UH, AS WE HAVE ALSO AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGING BUILDINGS.
UM, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF THOSE HARDENING COSTS, UM, I'VE COME UP WHERE I'VE, I'VE INCLUDED, UM, JUST AGAIN, A SAMPLING OF THINGS THAT OUR ISDS ARE TASKED WITH, UM, UH, UH, FACILITATING IN OUR CAMPUSES.
UM, THESE ALSO, I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT, AND, AND HOPEFULLY YOU DID GET A LINK TO THE NEW, UM, T E A SCHOOL SAFETY STANDARDS THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UM, HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH IMPLEMENTING OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, THIS, BY THE WAY, THESE NUMBERS ARE PROVIDED BY NORTHSIDE, I S D.
UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE NORTHSIDE I S D IS ABLE TO HAVE A LARGE PURCHASING POWER.
SO OFTEN THESE ARE DONE WITH A, I'M GOING TO A, SAY FOR EXAMPLE, THE FENCING.
THEY BOUGHT FENCING FOR 11 CAMPUSES THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GET A BETTER DEAL THAN SOME OF OUR SMALLER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO HAVE THREE CAMPUSES, UM, OR JUST NEED FENCING FOR ONE CAMPUS, RIGHT? SO THERE IS A SCALABILITY AND A COST SAVINGS THERE.
BUT THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE, UH, THE OVERALL COST, UM, FOR SOME OF THE SCHOOL HARDENING EFFORTS.
AND OFTEN AS A PARENT, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU'RE ASKING, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THAT, WHERE IS THAT SCHOOL VESTIBULE? UM, AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THE, THE STEEP COST THAT IS ASSOCIATED, UM, WITH, UH, WITH THOSE, UM, ITEMS. SO, UM, THAT BEING, UH, OH, SORRY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE SCHOOL HARDENING ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.
THESE WERE JUST PUBLISHED LAST NOVEMBER, 2022.
PRIOR TO THAT, WE DO HAVE A SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER THAT IS BASED IN TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY THAT PARTNERS WITH T E A.
WE JUST ALSO, THERE IS A, A SCHOOL SAFETY CZAR THAT WAS HIRED, UM, IN RESPONSE TO, UM, THE TRAGEDY IN VALDI.
UM, BUT BEFORE THAT, THERE WERE GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT VARIOUS SCHOOL SAFETY AND SCHOOL HARDENING EFFORTS.
UM, AND SO REALLY, WE HAVE, AND WE, WE REQUESTED AND, AND SUBMITTED COMMENTS MULTIPLE TIMES TO SAY, THERE IS, CONTINUES TO BE, UNFORTUNATELY, THESE TRAGEDIES.
AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE TRAGEDIES AFTERWARDS, THERE IS A GIANT MAGNIFYING GLASS ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS ABOUT WHAT THEY DID AND DID NOT DO.
SO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS, WHAT THOSE MINIMUM SAFETY STANDARDS SHOULD BE.
AND OH, BY THE WAY, PLEASE FUND IT FOR US.
UM, AND SO ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS, UH, TOGETHER, YOU'RE ASKING CLAY, WELL, WHAT DO OUR SCHOOLS ACTUALLY SPEND ON SCHOOL SAFETY? SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL THOSE NUMBERS THANKS TO AGAIN, THESE PARTNERS, UM, IN THE AUDIENCE TO GETTING ME THOSE NUMBERS.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THE VERY, VERY LARGE GAP COMPARED TO WHAT IS PROVIDED BY THE STATE AND WHAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACTUALLY SPEND, UM, ON SCHOOL SAFETY.
SO I WANNA ASSURE YOU THAT THIS IS NOT, WE ARE NOT STOPPING WITH JUST THE AMOUNT THAT WE ARE GIVEN IN THE SCHOOL SAFETY ALLOTMENT.
THESE HAVE BEEN LONGTIME INVESTMENTS THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE MADE TO KEEP OUR MOST, UH, UH, PRECIOUS RESOURCES, UM, SAFE IN OUR SCHOOL DOORS.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO GO OVER KIND OF THREE, UM, AREAS IN TERMS OF SCHOOL SAFETY.
SO WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SCHOOL HARDENING COSTS ALREADY, AND AGAIN, HAPPY TO ADDRESS, UM, ANY QUESTIONS.
I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL, UM, BECAUSE WHEN I GET TO SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT IS MOVING, UM, I WANT YOU ALL TO HAVE A, A KIND OF A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE IN BEARER COUNTY.
UM, WE HAVE MA MAJORITY OF OUR BEARER COUNTY ISDS COMMISSION PEACE OFFICERS.
UM, AND I MIGHT, UH, CALL ON SOME OF OUR FOLKS IN, IN JUST A LITTLE BIT TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAINING THAT IS OFFERED FOR
[00:30:01]
THESE, UM, PEACE OFFICERS.UM, THEY DO EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN.
THEY ARE NOT JUST, UM, OFFERING, UM, TICKETS.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT IS A A, A MINOR THING TO DO, BUT I I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE, UM, TASKED WITH DOING INVESTIGATIONS AND RESEARCH AND FOLLOW UPS AND ALL OF THE PAPERWORK, UM, UNDER THE SUN.
AND, AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE SOME OF THE BEST, UM, UH, TRAINERS OF OUR SCHOOL SAFETY PERSONNEL.
UM, AND, AND WE SEE THAT BY OFTEN, UM, OUR MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY COLLEAGUES, UH, RECRUITING, UM, SOME OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, PEACE OFFICERS.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE FOCUS ON COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING.
UM, WE, UH, TRAIN OUR PEACE OFFICERS TO UNDERSTAND THE POPULATION THAT THEY ARE SERVING AS CHILDREN.
UM, AND OFTENTIMES THAT, UM, ALLOWS THEM TO SERVE NOT ONLY ENSURING, UM, THE, THE SAFETY OF THE FOLKS THAT THEY PATROL OR THE AREAS THAT THEY PATROL, UM, BUT THEY FOCUS ON ALSO PROACTIVE RESPONSES TO THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS.
UM, THERE ARE DIFFERENT, UH, VER OR NOT VERSIONS, BUT OPTIONS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IMPLEMENT, UM, SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL.
UM, LIKE I SAID, MAJORITY OF OUR FOLKS ARE IMPLEMENTING, UH, THE PEACE OFFICERS BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN A DECISION OF THE BEST AND TRAINED PERSON TO BE ON OUR SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
WE DO ALSO HAVE, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTRACT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, ALSO ROBUST TRAINING FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND WORKING WITH STUDENT POPULATIONS.
UM, ALL OF THIS IS ALSO COVERED BY OUR DISTRICTS.
UM, WE'VE HAVE AN AVERAGE COST OF AROUND A HUNDRED K PER OFFICER THAT INCLUDES SALARY AND THE COST OF BENEFITS.
WE PAY FOR ALL OF OUR TRAINING AND ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EQUIPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION.
SO THAT IS A QUICK OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL SAFETY PERSONNEL AND SCHOOL HARDENING.
UM, NEXT I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, HOW DO WE RESPOND TO ISSUES THAT POP UP, UM, AT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
I WANNA ALSO SAY THAT THIS IS SKIMMING THE SURFACE OF THE SCHOOL SAFETY AND THE MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATION, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A QUICK OVERVIEW, AGAIN, WITH THE LIMITED TIME THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
UM, BUT HAPPY TO COME BACK, OR IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC AREA THAT YOU NEED, UM, US TO ADDRESS.
UM, I MENTIONED BEFORE, UH, SENATE BILL 11, WHICH WAS TWO, TWO SESSIONS AGO, THAT CREATED THE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL PROGRAM.
THIS ALSO IMPLEMENTED SOMETHING CALLED A BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT, ALTHOUGH I JUST SAW MY TYPO.
THAT IS, UM, THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY.
UM, SO BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT, UM, IS FOCUSED ON, UM, NOT JUST ENSURING, UM, THAT IF THERE IS ANYTHING, THIS IS THE, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, UH, IF THEIR STUDENT IS ALSO EX, UM, EXHIBITING ANY KIND OF, UM, ISSUES ABOUT SELF-HARM OR THINGS THAT THEY ARE, ARE GOING THROUGH.
THIS ALSO COMES UP, UM, AND IS HIGHLIGHTED TO, UH, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.
UM, PART OF THE RESOURCES ALSO HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE TEXAS, UH, FUSION CENTER.
THEY HELP WITH A LOT OF THE ONLINE, UM, RESEARCH.
UM, AGAIN, I MIGHT, UM, UH, TOSS THAT, UH, TO SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE INTERACTION WITH THE FUSION CENTER, IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT THEY, UH, GATHER THE DOTS AND CONNECT THE DOTS AS ONE OF OUR SCHOOL SAFETY EXPERTS HAS SAID AROUND THE BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT, UM, AND ENSURE THAT THEY'RE RESPONDING PROACTIVELY TO THAT PERSON, INTO THE FAMILY.
UM, ONE THING I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS THAT AT THE, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE EVALUATING THAT CHILD, BUT THE DECISION, AGAIN, FOR TREATMENT, UM, IS WITH THAT FAMILY OR WITH THAT CHILD'S FAMILY.
WE OFTEN, UM, WILL CONNECT THEM WITH COUNTY RESOURCES, BUT THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE WE DO HAVE FAMILIES THAT, YOU KNOW, MIGHT NOT BE INTERESTED IN, IN, UM, TREATMENT AT THIS TIME, OR MAYBE MIGHT DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE ASSESSMENTS THAT, UM, ARE OFFERED.
UM, SO, UH, THE LAST THING AROUND THE CURRENT STATE THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS AROUND, UM, MENTAL HEALTH.
UM, INSTEAD OF GIVING KIND OF OUR, UM, ASSESSMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT STRONGER FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE YEAR ONE REPORT.
THIS ALSO CAME ABOUT FROM SENATE BILL ONE, UM, THE, THE TASK, THE COLLABORATIVE TASK FORCE ON PUBLIC SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, TO DO A YEARLY REPORT ON THE, UM, STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT A, A, YOU KNOW, B C E C SAYING AGAIN, WE NEED MORE MONEY, OR IT'S ONE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAYING WE DON'T HAVE FUNDS.
THIS IS THE STATE SAYING, THERE IS NO DEDICATED STATE FUNDING ALLOCATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE PROVISION OF SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH.
THERE'S CURRENTLY NO REPORTING SYSTEM, STANDARDIZED OR OTHERWISE, UM, TO IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OR TYPE OF SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS EXISTING IN SCHOOLS.
UM, AND WE DO HAVE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS, BUT THERE'S NO METHODOLOGY.
ALSO OUR SUPPORT, UM, TO ENSURE, UM, THAT THERE IS RIGHT BEST, UH, PRACTICES, UM, BEING IMPLEMENTED.
WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE ONE OF THE BEST REGION SERVICE CENTERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
MY JULIA'S BIOS OPINION REGION 20 IS A FANTASTIC
[00:35:01]
RESOURCE.AND SO WE DO HAVE ROBUST TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BUT HIGHLIGHTING THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT UNIFIED STATE SUPPORT, UM, I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE AND WHAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT, UM, AT THE CAPITOL.
SO TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THE STATE IS, WE DO HAVE RECOMMENDED RATIOS.
THESE HAVE BEEN IN PLAY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE BEST STAFFING FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
UM, HERE IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, IN TEXAS.
WE, UM, UH, GENERALLY BEAT THIS IN BEXAR COUNTY.
UM, I WILL GET THOSE UPDATED NUMBERS TO YOU.
UM, BUT ACROSS THE STATE, AGAIN, BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT NO DISTRICT ALLOCATED FUNDING.
UM, AND ALSO WE HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT IS CURRENTLY, UM, NOT, UH, NOT FLUSH WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE WANTING TO GO INTO, UM, SCHOOL SERVICES.
UM, AND SO WE ARE LACKING, AGAIN, IN THE, UM, ABILITY TO STAFF SOCIAL WORKERS AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO, TO ADVOCATE, UM, IN THE CAPITOL FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH, UM, SUPPORT MOVING LEGISLATION.
WE'VE GOT THREE, UM, PIECES OF, OF LEGISLATION THAT ARE MOVING THIS SESSION.
AS JEFF MENTIONED, THIS IS A BIPARTISAN, UM, EFFORT, UM, TO, UH, PUSH THESE, UH, PARTICULAR, UH, UH, PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
UM, WE DID RECEIVE WORD LATE LAST NIGHT, UM, THAT HOUSE BILL THREE IS BEING SET FOR A HEARING TODAY.
SO WE DO THINK IN TERMS OF THE TWO HOUSE BILLS THAT ARE MOVING, THAT ONE SEEMS TO BE THE ONE THAT IS FARTHEST ALONG.
UM, SENATE BILL 11 ALSO HAS MOVED, UM, OVER TO THE HOUSE AND WILL BE IN THE HOUSE FLOOR IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
SO THOSE TWO BILLS WILL PROBABLY BE THE VEHICLES.
UM, TO MOVE TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT HOUSE BILL THREE IS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE VOICED SIGNIFICANT CONCERN WITH, UM, TO OUR BEXAR COUNTY DELEGATION, SPECIFICALLY IN THE REQUIREMENT OF ONE ARMED INDIVIDUAL PER CAMPUS IN THE BILL.
THIS IS NOT ONE ARMED PEACE OFFICER.
AND BEFORE, WHEN I MENTIONED ALL THE OPTIONS ABOUT WHO CAN BE ON CAMPUS WITH, UM, WITH A, A, A HANDGUN OR A GUN, UM, THAT INCLUDES A VOLUNTEER, UM, A VOLUNTEER THAT HAS A LICENSE TO CARRY CAN QUALIFY.
AND SO WHILE WE HAVE BEEN SAYING TO LEADERSHIP AND TO THE AUTHOR, THIS WILL COST OUR DISTRICTS, UM, A, A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
WE APPRECIATE THE $100 PER A D A, BUT THAT JUST GETS US UP TO OUR CURRENT NEEDS.
THIS DOES NOT HIRE COVER HIRING ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.
UM, THEIR RESPONSE IS, WELL, YOU CAN ASK SOMEBODY TO VOLUNTEER, UM, TO DO, UH, THAT ROLE.
SO THAT'S THE CURRENT CONVERSATION WE HAVE WITH LEADERSHIP, UM, AROUND, UH, SCHOOL SAFETY.
I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ON SB 11.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE HAD, UM, INSTANCES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH T E A AROUND A CONSERVATOR.
UM, THIS OPENS UP THE CON THE, UH, COMMISSIONER'S ABILITY TO APPOINT A CONSERVATOR IF THERE IS A FAILURE TO COMPLY ON SCHOOL SAFETY EFFORTS.
AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE SCHOOL SAFETY EFFORTS ARE LARGELY AMOUNT OF THE, UH, THE BUDGET THAT THE I S D HAS.
UM, AND SO THAT WE BELIEVE WILL, UM, AGAIN, HURT OUR MORE VULNERABLE DISTRICTS IN BEXAR COUNTY.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT? UM, HERE IS THE SCHOOL SAFETY PART.
THIS IS THE SCHOOL SAFETY PART OF THAT HANDOUT THAT I SENT TO YOU.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTING AND WORKING, UM, WITH OUR BEXAR COUNTY DELEGATION AND LEADERSHIP ON, UM, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF PIECES THAT WILL HELP, UM, PROTECT OUR STUDENTS.
UM, WE HAVE CURRENTLY, UM, ON, UH, SOME OF THE WORK BETWEEN T W C, TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD AND T E A, THERE ARE SOME, UM, TUITION, UM, REIMBURSEMENT, UM, BILLS THAT ARE, ARE CURRENTLY MOVING.
SO WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL, UM, HELP WITH WORKFORCE INITIATIVES.
WE DO HAVE, IN THE SB 11, THERE IS A PART WHERE IT, UH, IT ENCOURAGES THE INTEROPERABLE DATA SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE VOICED OR HAVE HAD BEHAVIOR OR THREAT ASSESSMENTS DONE BEFORE TRAVEL WITH THEM TO THE NEXT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
NOT IN TERMS OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION, BUT IN TERMS OF IF THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THAT PARTICULAR STUDENT.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE CONTINUE TO PUSH IF YOU WANT US TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL SAFETIES, AND WE ABSOLUTELY WANNA MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING, UM, THAT IT TAKES, UH, FOR US TO DO THAT.
SO I WILL, UM, TAKE QUESTIONS AND THEN OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES IN CASE I'VE MISSED ANYTHING, UM, ON THOSE ITEMS. UM, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TIME, UM, TODAY AND TO TALK ABOUT THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
LET ME, UM, LET ME REMIND MY, MY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO'S WATCHING, UM, THE INVITATION TO, TO COME AND TALK TO US, UH, COMES ON THE HEELS OF A MEETING THAT, UH, I, I GOT TO ATTEND WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO, WHO WERE ATTENDING TODAY AND, AND OTHERS WHO, WHO COULDN'T SHOW UP TODAY.
BUT, UM, THE PICTURE THAT WAS PAINTED FOR ME DURING THAT MEETING, IT'S VERY
[00:40:01]
SIMILAR TO THE PICTURE THAT WAS PAINTED FOR ME TODAY, AND THAT IS THAT THE STATE HAS HANDED DOWN MANDATES AND SAFETY STANDARDS, UM, AND THAT IS NOT MATCHING THOSE, UH, WITH, UH, COMMENSURATE FUNDING.RIGHT? UM, SO THESE ARE KIND OF UNFUNDED MANDATES.
UH, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SENT CHILLS THROUGH MY BLOOD, UH, AND, AND COUNCILMAN HBAR, I KNOW THAT YOU SENT YOUR KIDS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOO, UM, IS THAT MY KID WHO GOES TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND COUNCILMAN HOVER DOES KID ONLY GETS $9 AND 72 CENTS OF SECURITY AND SAFETY.
UM, AND THAT, THAT'S SOMEHOW OKAY WITH PEOPLE UP IN AUSTIN.
UM, IT'S NOT OKAY, UH, FOR TO ANY PARENT I'VE TALKED TO SINCE OUR MEETING.
UM, I, I, IN FACT, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD FIND IT ALARMING THAT THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT TEXAS SETS ASIDE FOR THE, TO KEEP OUR KIDS ALIVE WHILE THE REST OF US ARE AT WORK AND EARNING ENOUGH MONEY TO SEND TAXES UP TO AUSTIN.
AND SO WHAT, UM, I OFFERED, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TALK TO US SO THAT YOU CAN SCARE THE CRAP OUTTA MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ALSO, UH, AND SO THAT WE CAN ALL KIND OF WALK INTO, UM, TOMORROW WITH EYES WIDE OPEN AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS IT THAT CITY COUNCIL MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO TO HELP.
RIGHT? UM, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT YOU'RE HERE AT THIS MEETING TODAY WHERE WE'RE TALKING WITH SALLY ABOUT THE BILLS THAT WE'RE MONITORING AND PUSHING, AND THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE MAKING UP THERE TO SWAT AWAY THREATS TO, TO SAN ANTONIO.
ONE OF THE LOW HANGING FRUIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US IS, AND, AND I, I INVITE, YOU KNOW, UH, COMMENTS ABOUT THIS FROM MY, FROM MY COLLEAGUES, ONE OF THE LOW HANGING FRUIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US IS TO ADD HB THREE, HB 13, SB 11 TO OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, UM, AND HAVE OUR PEOPLE UP THERE ALSO POUNDING THE DRUM AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, THAT WE'RE BRINGING HOME THE FUNDS, AND THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE LEGISLATURE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, NOT JUST TO, YOU KNOW, A GROUP OF SUPERINTENDENTS, RIGHT? BUT THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE PARENTS THAT ALL OF US REPRESENT.
WE REPRESENT 1.5, 1.6 MILLION PEOPLE.
SO, WITH THAT, I'LL STOP HERE.
UM, AND I'LL, I'LL, UH, ASK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO TO JUMP IN IF, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
UH, THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, AS A FORMER EDUCATOR WHO COMPLETED MY STUDENT TEACHING DOWN THE STREET AT FOX TECH HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, UH, I COMPLETED MY STUDENT TEACHING.
I WAS OFFERED THE POSITION, AND WITHIN MY FIRST MONTH, UH, WE HAD A SCARE.
UH, THE SCHOOL WENT ON LOCKDOWN.
BUT GUESS WHAT? THE, THE DOOR DIDN'T LOCK IN THE CLASSROOM I WAS IN, UM, I THINK IN THE SERGEANT CONVERSATION, UM, RIGHT.
UH, ENSURING THAT WE RECOGNIZE HOW LOCKED DOORS DO SAVE LIVES.
AND IT'S BEEN, UH, NOTED AFTER SANDY HOOK AND AFTER THE TRAGIC INCIDENT OF ROB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MM-HMM.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT, I, I APPRECIATE AND VALUE THE EMPHASIS ON MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT MM-HMM.
UH, AND HOW THIS IS ALSO PART OF A LARGER CONVERSATION, NOT JUST WITH SCHOOL FUNDING, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE LOSING THEIR FUNDING TO, TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS THAT DON'T FOLLOW THE SAME STANDARD'S, PROVIDE THE SAME PROTECTIONS OF OUR KIDS.
UM, AND I, I HEAR THIS FROM PARENTS WHO HAVE SENT THEIR KIDS TO SPECIFIC CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT, UM, CROSSING THE STREET, THERE'S NOT THE SAME SAFETY PROTECTION MEASURES.
SO I THINK HAVING THIS LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND HOW THAT IMPACTS FUNDING FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND I WANTED TO COMMEND, UH, COUNCILMAN
UM, BUT, BUT THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.
I, I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY EDUCATION COALITION, UM, IS ORGANIZED.
UM, AND, UH, I, I KNOW THE SAN ANTONIO ALLIANCE, THE A F FT MM-HMM.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE OLGA AND EDGEWOOD, I S D, UM, WHO ALMOST EXPERIENCED AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT, BUT THEIR TEAM RESPONDED SO QUICK.
UM, THEY RESPONDED QUICKLY AND THEY PREVENTED POTENTIALLY SOMETHING TRAGIC FROM HAPPENING.
UM, BUT, UH, JUST WANTED TO BE SURE.
THANK YOU OLGA, VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, CHAIR MENTIONED THAT I HAVE KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE MORNING WHEN I DROP THEM OFF AT SCHOOL.
UM, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT WE ALL SAY THE LITTLE PRAYER OVER THEM.
BUT THERE'S A LITTLE SHOCK OF FEAR EVERY SINGLE TIME.
UM, AND I STILL MONITOR MY PHONE ALL DAY MM-HMM.
EVEN MY OLDEST WHO'S IN COLLEGE, I WORRY ABOUT THAT WHERE HE IS ABSOLUTELY.
UM, IN A, IN A PUBLIC INSTITUTION.
SO IT'S, AND, AND THEN I THINK, YOU KNOW, HOW IT'S AFFECTED MY MENTAL HEALTH, UM, FOR MY CHILDREN.
HOW, BUT, BUT THINK ABOUT THE KIDS
[00:45:01]
EVERY DAY, GOING TO SCHOOL, NOT KNOWING.UM, THERE WAS AN INCIDENT AT MY CHILD'S SCHOOL LAST WEEK WHERE SOMEBODY TOOK A GUN TO SCHOOL, A KID TOOK A GUN TO SCHOOL.
AND IN, IN MY TIME, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A BIG STORY.
EVERY WOULD'VE BEEN, WOULD'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A GUN AT SCHOOL.
AND, UH, NOBODY HEARD ABOUT IT.
WE GOT THE LETTER, AND THANKFULLY TO, UH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THEY, THEY INFORM US.
UM, BUT IT WAS THANKFULLY WITHOUT INCIDENT.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY GUNS ARE IN SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW AS WE SIT, THERE IS A GUN IN SCHOOLS, UM, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, SO MY KIDS GO TO NORTH SIDE AND, UM, EDGEWOOD IS ALSO IN, IN MY DISTRICT, BUT NORTHSIDE HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB, I THINK, OF DOING WHAT THEY CAN WITH THE MONEY THAT THEY HAVE.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE COURT, THE, UM, THE ENTRANCES WHERE I HAVE THOSE REALLY SECURE ENTRANCES IN, IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
UM, BUT NOT IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CAN, BUT, UH, AND I, I THANK YOU FOR BUILDING THIS COALITION AND, AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT IT AND HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS, UM, MORE THAN THAT.
UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PARENT'S MENTAL HEALTH, THE CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH, OUR TEACHER'S, MENTAL HEALTH.
MY HUSBAND ALSO HAS TO BE, HAPPENS TO BE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT A HIGH SCHOOL AND SEEING WHAT THE TEACHERS ARE GOING THROUGH EVERY DAY WORRIED, UM, WHEN THEY'RE DISCIPLINING CHILDREN.
NOW, I THINK ANY EDUCATOR IN THIS ROOM WILL SAY, HAS KIND OF GONE WILD AFTER THE PANDEMIC.
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, DIFFICULT.
ON TOP OF THAT, BEING AFRAID THAT SOME KID HAS A GUN IN THEIR, IN THEIR BAG.
UM, SO I THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE TO ALL OF US, AND NOT JUST PARENTS, ALL OF US, THAT, THAT LOVE A CHILD OUT THERE.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THE, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, UM, AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO INCREASE FUNDING, I THINK IS, UM, IMPERATIVE.
I TOO HAVE, UH, GRANDCHILDREN OF PAIR AND S A I S D AND A PAIR IN NORTHSIDE.
UM, SO I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED MM-HMM.
YOU DECIDE YOU WANT AN INTERVENTION MM-HMM.
DOES A CHILD AND THE PARENT HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPT OUT OR WHAT HAPPENS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I MIGHT ASK ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO WALK THROUGH, UM, OLGA.
UM, AND WHILE OLGA'S COMING UP, I DID WANNA SAY, UM, THAT IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE RESPONSE.
40 SECONDS, EDGEWOOD, I S D POLICE OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO RESPOND, UM, TO SOMEBODY WHO DID HAVE A FIREARM, UM, ON CAMPUS.
SO I'LL TURN, TURN IT OVER TO OLGA.
MY NAME'S OLGA MU AND I'M WITH EDGEWOOD.
I SS D SO PARENTS DO, UM, IF A CHILD IS BEING REFERRED, THE PARENT DOES HAVE THE OPTION.
WE CAN GIVE THEM ALL THE TOOLS, BUT ULTIMATELY THE PARENT CAN SAY, I'M NOT SENDING MY CHILD TO GO SEE A PSYCHOLOGIST OR TO GO TALK TO A COUNSELOR.
'CAUSE LEGALLY THEY'RE THAT CHILD'S PARENT, BUT THEY DO HAVE THE, THE OPTION TO OPT OUT FROM GETTING SERVICES FOR THEIR CHILD.
SO WHAT HAPPENS, I MEAN, IF THEY, THEY SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T, I'M NOT SENDING MY CHILD.
WE CAN, WE, WE STILL DOCUMENT, WE MONITOR THE STUDENT, WE PROVIDE WHAT WE CAN IN SCHOOL.
UM, BUT TO, IF THERE'S A SITUATION WHERE WE SEE THOSE FLAGS AND WE TRY TO GET THEM THE OUTSIDE HELP, IT'S UP TO THE PARENT ULTIMATELY.
OH, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF, UM, LET'S LOOK AT VOLUNTEERS.
THIS IDEA OF VOLUNTEERS WITH A HANDGUN.
ARE THERE, IS THE STATE SETTING UP PARAMETERS FOR WHAT THIS VOLUNTEER IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE? OR, SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD IS AS LONG AS THEY'RE A LICENSED, UM, PERSON THAT HAS A LICENSE FOR A GUN, THEY'RE, THEY CAN, BUT YOU HAVE AN OPTION, RIGHT.
AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SAY NO.
IS THAT CORRECT? OUR BOARD WILL BE THE FINAL APPROVAL ON THAT.
AND I, I CAN'T SEE MANY BOARDS.
UM, AGAIN, PERSONAL OPINION, I CAN'T SEND, I CAN'T SEE MANY SCHOOL BOARDS THAT WOULD ALLOW SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE PROPER TRAINING.
UM, TO BE IN A SCHOOL AND HANDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO WALK AROUND A CAMPUS WITH A GUN.
IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN A PERSON OFF THE STREET COMING IN AND, AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF STUDENTS.
'CAUSE ULTIMATELY OUR OFFICERS THAT WE HIRE, THAT IS THEIR JOB.
THEIR JOB IS TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS.
AND EACH ONE OF OUR OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ALL THE OTHERS KNOW THAT THAT'S THEIR JOB.
THEY'RE GONNA RUN IN REGARDLESS.
I CAN'T SAY THAT SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WELL, AND I THINK IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN, UM, JUST RECENTLY, YOU HAD A SECURITY GUARD WHO'S TRAINED THAT OPENED FIRE ON PEOPLE.
UM, SO EVEN, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD MAKE YOU AFRAID TO HAVE ANY KIND OF VOLUNTEER DO THAT.
IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON TO BE A SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE OFFICER.
NOW, IN TERMS OF CONTRACTING, YOU MENTIONED, UM, CONTRACTS, UH, TO THAT YOU SOMETIMES YOU ARE
[00:50:01]
ABLE TO, IF ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MORE SCHOOLS, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET A BETTER RATE.NOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS COALITION, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THE COALITION CAN GO GET CONTRACTS OR DO CONTRACTS THAT YOU CAN USE THE COALITION AND, AND NUMEROUS SCHOOLS YEAH.
TO HAVE A BIGGER PURCHASING POWER? IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
OUR FOCUS IS NOT TO DO THAT IN THE I S D LINGO IS CO-OPTING FOR PURCHASING OF ITEMS LIKE THAT.
SO THAT OFTEN HAPPENS THROUGH REGION 20.
UM, WHERE THEY WILL, UM, HELP, UM, KIND OF TALK ABOUT SCALABILITY OF PURCHASES.
UM, I, I WILL SAY ALL OF OUR, OUR DISTRICTS ARE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS IN TERMS OF WHAT THEIR PURCHASING NEEDS ARE.
UM, AND SO WHEN BONDS COME UP, THEY'LL EVALUATE WHERE THEIR CAPABILITIES ARE.
SOMETIMES THAT ALLOWS FOR, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR DISTRICTS TO WORK TOGETHER, UM, TO, TO PURCHASE, UM, ITEMS TOGETHER.
UM, BUT A, A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS, UM, RADIOS AND RADIO PURCHASES.
UM, AND THE COST OF RADIOS AND UPDATING THOSE, ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS ARE, ARE AT DIFFERENT, UM, SOME OF THEM ARE SIMILAR, UM, TECHNOLOGICALLY, UH, UH, PLACES.
UM, BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF RADIOS THAT THEY NEED TO UPDATE OR MAINTAIN.
UM, I WILL ALSO SAY THAT, UM, IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE WITH SS A P D AND COUNTY, THEY NEED A PARTICULAR KIND OF RADIO.
SO THAT'S A, AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER FOR PURCHASES IN THE PAST.
UM, AND, AND UTILIZE REGION 20 AS A WAY TO KIND OF OPT FOR THAT.
UM, SCALABILITY, OUR, OUR FOCUS SPECIFICALLY IS AROUND POLICY AND GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
WELL, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT THIS NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DO A LOT OF THIS SECURITY STUFF, IT WOULD SEEM TO MAKE SENSE THAT IF YOU COULD COMPOUND THE POWER OF THE DISTRICTS RIGHT, TO PURCHASE MM-HMM.
LEMME SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I THINK SCHOOL SAFETY IS ON EVERYONE'S MIND RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE'VE WITNESSED TOO MANY TRAGEDIES, AND I KNOW IT MUST BE SO DIFFICULT FOR Y'ALL THAT HAVE TO COME UP WITH STRATEGIES AND PEOPLE AND WORKING IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY.
BUT I KNOW THAT AS A COUNCIL, UM, WE ARE, WE'RE HOPEFUL.
MANNY HAS TRIED TO STEER US IN THE DIRECTION OF SEEING HOW WE CAN HELP MM-HMM.
SO I, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, UM, WITH A LOCAL LEADER, UM, AND I SAID, LOOK, THE GOAL HERE IS TO, TO BEGIN RIGHT, EXPLORING WHAT THE CITY'S ROLE IS IN KEEPING ITS CHILDREN SAFE.
UH, I THINK FOR WAY TOO LONG, WE HAVE BEEN VERY COMPLACENT, UM, AND COMFORTABLE POINT, YOU KNOW, SAYING, HEY, THAT'S THE, THAT IS THE PURVIEW OF THE 17 KINGDOMS, UH, KNOWN AS ISDS.
UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, GO TALK TO THEM.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS IT'S OUR CONSTITUENTS KIDS WHO ARE GOING TO BE KILLED.
UH, AND WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS TRAGEDY IN U VALLEY HAPPENS, THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO COME AND ASK THESE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER, WHAT DID YOU DO? RIGHT.
AND IF ALL WE DID WAS SAY, GO TALK TO YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND I MEAN, THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AFTER THE FACT.
AND SO, I'M, I, I CAN'T AS A PARENT, RIGHT.
AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU JUST HEARD THEM SAY IT AS PARENTS AND AS GRANDPARENTS.
AND SO THIS ISN'T THE BEGINNING OF, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A CONVERSATION, AN IMPORTANT ONE, UM, WHERE WE ARE ASKING THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO TELL US WHERE YOU THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO, TO HELP OUT.
'CAUSE WE ARE ALSO NOT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN SCHOOL SAFETY.
BUT, UH, IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TELL YOU WHERE WE MIGHT BE HAVE, WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO, YOU KNOW, PULL THE LEVER AND HELP OUT.
SO LET ME MAKE A SUGGESTION TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
UM, WOULD YOU BE OPEN, AT THE VERY LEAST, TO WRITING A DOCUMENT OR A LETTER SO THAT WE CAN ARM THEM WITH, UM, A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS, AND IT'S NOT JUST US SUPERINTENDENTS, BUT IT'S THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WHO IS INSISTING THAT YOU GUYS, THE LEGISLATORS DO THE RIGHT THING.
I I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, WE HAVE BROAD LANGUAGE THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE I S D.
SO I THINK THAT THIS, THIS IS WITHIN OUR AGENDA TO, UH, RIGHT? YES.
I MEAN, WITHIN THE, WITHIN WHAT, WHAT WE HAVE SET OUT, WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO IN AUSTIN, UM, THIS ISN'T WITHIN OUR ROLE, RIGHT? TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS.
SO, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN SUPPORT, I, I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE US, AT THE VERY LEAST, RIGHT? UM, HAVE OUR SIGNATURES ON A PIECE OF, ON A PIECE OF PAPER, BUT ALSO,
[00:55:01]
YOU KNOW, TASK SOME OF OUR PROFESSIONALS UP THERE WHO WE ARE PAYING, RIGHT? UM, TO ALSO BE FORCE MULTIPLIERS IN THE MEETINGS THAT YOU'RE HAVING UP THERE, RIGHT? AND SO, I MEAN, ANYBODY, ANYBODY AROUND THE TABLE WOULD OBJECT TO THAT, UH, TO JEFF WRITING SOMETHING, UH, UP TO PRESENT TO US SO THAT WE CAN VERY QUICKLY DEPLOY IT.I THINK IT WOULD BE THE MOST EXPEDIENT, WE'RE THREE WEEKS OUT FROM THE END OF THE SESSION.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, AND, AND IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE THE BILLS THAT JULIA MENTIONED, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A FOUR OR AGAINST, IT'S, UH, THIS HAS SOME GOOD ELEMENTS, BUT YOU HAVEN'T CONSIDERED THIS, OR WE'D LIKE THIS TWEAKED.
SO I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA REALLY GET TO THE CRUX OF WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE, A LETTER THAT WE WORK WITH THE COALITION TO DRAFT AND DISTRIBUTE QUICKLY IS, IS PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE BEFORE THEY MAKE SOME FINAL DECISIONS HERE.
SECOND, ALL OF US AROUND THE TABLE HAVE BEEN REELECTED FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.
UM, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT AT THE VERY LEAST TO SPEND THE NEXT TWO YEARS, UM, YOU KNOW, BEATING THE DRUM ON HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AND HOW, YOU KNOW, UM, DRAG QUEENS AND SCARY BOOKS AREN'T THE ONES SHOOTING OUR KIDS, RIGHT? THAT IT'S SHOOTERS SHOOTING OUR KIDS, AND THAT WE'RE ONLY GETTING $9 AND 72 CENTS TO, YOU KNOW, PER KID TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, RIGHT? UM, I, THAT'S MY COMMITMENT.
AND MY, MY SUGGESTION IS, IS THAT YOU SET UP INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH EACH ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WALK AWAY FROM A MEETING WITH YOU UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PLEA, RIGHT? THAT YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, DELIVERED TO ME, WHICH IS MY GOD, WE, WE, WE NEED YOU GUYS TO STEP UP AND SHOW UP AND HELP US.
UM, LASTLY, I, I WILL TELL YOU THIS, C C R IS GOING TO GOVERNANCE, RIGHT? AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IS GONNA DECIDE WHERE, YOU KNOW, UH, THE C C R LIVES AS FAR AS THE COMMITTEE GOES.
UM, I, I NEED YOU GUYS TO MONITOR IT, RIGHT? AND BE PARTICIPANTS WHEREVER THIS ENDS UP, RIGHT? TO TALK, TO KEEP REMINDING US THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON AND, AND, AND STAY ABREAST OF.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UM, AGAIN, WE ARE NOT THE EXPERTS, RIGHT? YOU GUYS ARE.
AND SO IN MANY WAYS WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF IN YOUR HANDS AND WE'RE ASKING YOU GUYS TO HELP LEAD US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, RIGHT? SO, WITH THAT SAID, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT TO ME, MORE IMPORTANT THAN SIDEWALKS, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, PUBLIC ART AND, YOU KNOW, BITE STICKS FOR DOGS, UH, AND ALL THAT IS THIS, UH, THIS IS NUMBER ONE, RIGHT? UH, AND I'M GONNA BE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ERIC WALSH ABOUT MY ALLOTMENT OF BUDGET DOLLARS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE TAKING MONEY OUT OF THOSE OTHER INITIATIVES I JUST LISTED RIGHT? TO REDIRECT TOWARDS SCHOOL SAFETY.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, MAYBE DOING SOMETHING WILL PREVENT, UH, A, UH, YOU KNOW, A TRAGEDY, RIGHT? BUT, BUT GOING HOME AND LOOKING AT MY KIDS IN THE EYE AND SAYING, HEY, I DID NOTHING TODAY, IS, IS JUST NOTHING I CAN'T CONTINUE DOING.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, UM, IN, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE.
SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR VISITING US.
SOTO, YOU DROVE ALL THIS WAY, YOU PAID FOR PARKING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE, UM, YOU DIDN'T SAY YOUR PIECE.
UH, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO JULIA'S PRESENTATION? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT US TO HEAR BEFORE YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU GO BACK AND CONTINUE TEACHING OUR KIDS AND KEEPING 'EM SAFE? NO.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SPEAK ON, ON BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AT SOMERSET, I S D AS WELL AS THOSE, OF COURSE, WITH OUR COLLEAGUES.
BUT I THINK ONE OF THE MESSAGES THAT Y'ALL JUST GAVE OUT WAS ON POINT NUMBER ONE.
SO YES, WE ARE 17 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT WITHIN THAT WE HAVE OUR GOVERNING BOARDS, OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
BUT THE ALIGNMENT, 'CAUSE I COULD TELL YOU SUPERINTENDENTS, WE ALL HAVE THE SAME FOCUS AS THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS FIRSTHAND.
BUT IF WE HAVE A UNIFIED MESSAGE AS A CITY AND THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO AREA AS WELL, THAT'S A VERY POWERFUL COMPONENT THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.
AND ONE THING TO THINK ABOUT AND CONSIDER IS THIS, IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A BOND, YOU'RE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THE SAFETY ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU NEED.
IF YOU'RE IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAS OLDER BUILDINGS THAT CAN'T GO THROUGH A BOND, THEN THAT'S A BIG DISADVANTAGE AT THAT POINT.
SO I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, A UNIFIED MESSAGE IS IMPORTANT.
LOOK AT THE VARIANCE OF THE ECONOMICS OF CERTAIN COMMUNITIES, UH, THE BOND CAPABILITY OF CERTAIN COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO MEET SOME OF THESE, UM, I WOULD SAY UNFUNDED MANDATES AND REQUIREMENTS, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA DO WHATEVER WE CAN AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO, TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS SAFE.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A NEWER BUILDING COMPARED TO AN OLDER BUILDING, AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE BONDING CAPACITY, THAT'S WHERE IT BECOMES AN EQUITY PROBLEM.
THERE'S SOME SOMETHING BEFORE YOU STEP DOWN.
I, I, THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT IT PROBABLY TOUCHES COUNCILMAN MCVEY HOVER IS MEETING MORE THAN, THAN ANY OTHER COMMITTEE.
UMM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU GUYS HAVE I S D POLICE,
[01:00:01]
RIGHT? CORRECT.UM, WELL, NOT ALL DISTRICTS, BUT YES.
BUT THAT I S D POLICE DURING THE DAY, RIGHT? IDEALLY, I, I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK THE I S D POLICE IS THERE DURING THE DAY GUARDING SCHOOLS, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
RIGHT? FOR ME, WHEN I HEARD THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALL THESE I S D POLICE OFFICERS AT NIGHT, WHEREAS, I MEAN, MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE HAVE I S D POLICE OFFICERS JUST WORKING DAYTIME WHILE MY KID IS AT SCHOOL, AND IF A NINE ONE ONE CALL COMES IN OR A ALARM GOES OFF BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S, YOU KNOW, DOING SOMETHING STUPID IN THE SCHOOL AT NIGHT, RIGHT? MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE HAVE SS A P D, DO WHAT WE DO FOR VALERO, FOR U S A A FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, HEBS.
UM, AND THEN HAVE YOU GUYS DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO JUST TAKING CARE OF KIDS DURING THE DAY? RIGHT? I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN UNREASONABLE ASK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? WELL, WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS THAT WHEN WE DO SCHOOL FUNDING, AND WHEN WE BALANCE, YOU KNOW, HAVE A, A BALANCED BUDGET, WE'RE LOOKING AT A BUDGET OF PROJECTION.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE PROJECTING ALREADY WHAT WE'RE GONNA NEED POLICE OFFICERS THERE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
BUT NOW WITH A, YOU KNOW, CONSCIOUSLY, WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA DO WHATEVER WE CAN, EVEN ON SCHOOL EVENTS.
SO ANYTHING AFTER SCHOOL, ANYTHING THAT'S BEYOND THE POLICE OFFICER HOURS, THAT'S ALL OVERTIME THAT'S NOT COUNTED IN THE BOOKS.
BUT THERE'S NO WAY AS A SUPERINTENDENT THAT I'M GONNA ALLOW FOR A BIG GROUP OR COMMUNITY EVENT AND NOT HAVE A POLICE OFFICER OR TWO THERE AT THE EVENTS.
SO AT THAT POINT, OF COURSE, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE THAT EXTRA TIME.
WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE THAT EXTRA RESOURCE, BUT THOSE ARE THE, THE TIMES THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY OVERTIME, WHICH IS NOT NORMALLY, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE COUNT ON.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ALONE, AND WE'RE NOT IN COMPARISON TO NORTHSIDE I S D AS FAR AS SIZE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS, JUST THIS PAST YEAR ALONE, WE'RE ABOUT $400,000 OVER WHAT WE PROJECTED JUST BECAUSE OF OVERTIME PAY.
BUT WE'RE GONNA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE.
SO, SO I'M TALKING OUT OF TURN HERE 'CAUSE THIS IS THE I G R COMMITTEE, AND IT'S NOT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, BUT I'M, I'M GONNA JUST LET YOU WEIGH IN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? UH, I, I, I'M, I, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS I THINK THAT WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING RIGHT NOW.
UM, I, I, I MEAN, REALISTICALLY, DO WE HAVE A, UM, CAN PD DO THAT? I, I DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW.
UM, I MEAN, WE HAVE ENOUGH TROUBLE WITH THEM PATROLLING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
A $400,000 COST WHEN YOU DON'T NEED THAT.
MY, MY FIRST QUESTION WAS, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA IF WE COULD HAVE THE NIGHT PATROL OFFICERS BE THERE DURING THE DAY, BUT I'M HEARING YOU SAY THAT IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S AN EXTRA SET OF, OF EYES THAT WOULD BE ON, I WOULD LOVE IF THE, THE PEOPLE PATROLLING AT NIGHT COULD ALSO BE THERE DURING THE DAY AND YOU HAVE DOUBLE EYES ON, ON A CAMPUS.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HEARING, RIGHT? NO.
UH, I THINK, I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING IS THAT WE ALWAYS WORK WITH ONE FOCUS IN MIND.
AND, AND THAT'S STUDENT SAFETY.
I THINK THAT THE GREATEST THING THAT WE CAN DO MM-HMM.
IS WORK IN PARTNERSHIP AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
YOU KNOW, THAT EXTRA SUPPORT IS ALWAYS GONNA BE NECESSARY.
UH, YOU KNOW, FOR US IN IN SOMERSET, I S D WE DO HAVE A, I THINK A VERY ROBUST, UH, POLICE, UH, DEPARTMENT WHO'S JUST CONTINUING TO EVEN GET MORE ROBUST.
OUR BOARD IS GONNA PUT THE FUNDING ASIDE TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
UH, I THINK THOUGH THAT AS SEPARATE AGENCIES ALWAYS WORKING TOGETHER AND BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT PHONE OR FRIEND CALL WHEN NEEDED, UH MM-HMM.
FOR THINGS LIKE THAT, I ABSOLUTELY, I MEAN, THAT'S GOTTA BE AN EXPECTATION ACROSS THE, THE SAN ANTONIO, UH, AREA AS WELL AS THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO AREA, IS THAT WE ALL HAVE TO BE THERE WITH, TOGETHER WITH THE SAME MISSION OF BEING ABLE TO KEEP STUDENTS STAFF SAFE.
AND ALSO, NOT TO SPEAK FOR, UH, SS A P D, YOU KNOW, IF, IF CHIEF WAS HERE, I, I IMAGINE HE MIGHT SAY THE SAME THING, BUT THEY ALREADY ARE PATROLLING THE, THE CAMPUSES.
I MEAN, THEY, I, I'VE SEEN POLICE OFFICERS, UM, THAT PATROL THE CAMPUSES.
SO IT'S A DOUBLE EFFORT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, I GUESS THE FACILITIES ARE SAFE.
UM, BUT, BUT I AM CURIOUS, WHAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE PATROLS AT NIGHT? IS, IS IT FOR GRAFFITI AND, AND, YOU KNOW, BREAKING INTO THE SCHOOL? I MEAN, THAT COULD BE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE OFF WE DO AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE, IN SOMERSET, WE DO HAVE TO, TO CONTINUE GOING AROUND OUR FACILITIES.
AND WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, LET'S JUST SAY WHEN WE START GETTING INTO FOOTBALL SEASON YEAH.
WHICH IS GONNA BE DRAW BIG CROWDS, UH, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE POLICE OFFICERS PLUS SOME SURE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT ONLY OUR, OUR COMMUNITY THERE, WE HAVE OTHER COMMUNITIES.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE.
UH, IT'S JUST, WE'RE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE IT'S JUST, WE'RE LIVING WITH THE UNEXPECTED.
SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA REALLY PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED MM-HMM.
BUT WE'RE GONNA BE PROACTIVE IN WHAT WE DO AND, AND OUR SCHOOL, UH, OUR, UH, UH, FOOTBALL GAMES AND, AND VOLLEYBALL GAMES.
IS THAT OVERTIME FOR THEM AS WELL? ABSOLUTELY.
WE WILL STAGGER WHAT WE NEED MM-HMM.
AND I'M NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT ATHLETICS.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN WE'RE HAVING A, A ROBOTICS SESSION? ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE'RE DRAWING IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMING IN AS WELL.
OR ANY TYPE OF HEALTH, UH, ACTIVITIES, ANYTHING THAT WE'RE DEALING, WE HAVE TO, AT THIS POINT,
[01:05:01]
UH, REALLY CONSCIOUSLY KNOW THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE AN OFFICER THERE.WE HAD A, UH, A SPRING CONCERT JUST ABOUT A FEW DAYS AGO.
WE HAD AN AUDITORIUM FULL OF PARENTS.
LUCKILY WE HAD, WE PRE-PLANNED, WE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, BUT THAT WAS OVERTIME.
BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE, WE HAVE THERE.
SO YOUR 400,000 THAT YOU SAID WAS OVERTIME, THAT ALSO INCLUDES EVENTS, THOUGH, NOT JUST THE PATROLLING OF THE FACILITIES.
SO I'M CURIOUS OF ANOTHER TIME YOU CAN GIVE US THE COST FOR, UH, WHAT, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE YOU, YOU'RE LOOKING AT, UM, PATROL AND I GUESS IT'S SOMERSET, SO MAYBE IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT AT C P D.
BUT, UM, IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE COUNCILMAN JUST INVITED YOU GUYS TO ALL COME AND PRESENT AT SAFETY YEAH.
I GUESS WE'LL HAVE THAT, THAT CONVERSATION.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR, UM, THE COST THAT ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IF POLICE OFFICERS WERE PATROLLING, HOW THAT WOULD DISPLACE, UM, YOUR OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO DO OTHER THINGS, BUT ALSO SAVE YOU SOME MONEY.
SOTO, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, HE, HE WAS OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
JULIA, YOU WANNA MAKE A CLOSING ARGUMENT BEFORE WE GO? UM, NO.
I JUST WANTED, UH, UH, CHIEF, UM, UM, MCWILLIAMS IS ALSO HERE FROM, UM, UH, FROM NORTHEAST I S D, IF YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE OVERTIME IF WE HAVE TIME.
BUT, UM, IT'S JUST ANOTHER RESOURCE OFFICER, SO, YOU KNOW, LET, LET'S, LET'S RESERVE THAT FOR MAYBE OUR NEXT MEETING SO WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND.
I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, YEAH, TODAY WAS THE BEGINNING OF A CONVERSATION.
IF WE'RE GONNA GET GRANULAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, POLICING AND ALL THAT STUFF, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE APPROPRIATE, UM, EXPERT ON THAT.
MY, MY COUNCIL, COLEMAN COLLEAGUE HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, GETS, GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THIS AND UNDERSTAND THIS A LITTLE BIT BETTER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A ABSOLUTELY MORE INFORMED CONVERSATION.
AND SO, AND ALSO WE'VE, WE'VE ABUSED OF ALL OF YOUR TIMES.
AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UM, THAT BRINGS US TO, I BELIEVE, THE END OF ANOTHER I G R MEETING.
AM I RIGHT? WE ACTUALLY HAVE FEDERAL, OH, FEDERAL.
WE GOT A FEDERAL BRIEFING WHERE, WHERE WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT ALL THE BILLS UP THERE AND SO DO OUR I S D FRIENDS.
UM, AND, UH, YOU'RE NO, NO HURT FEELINGS IF YOU GUYS TAKE OFF AND, AND GO DO WHAT YOU GUYS DO BEST,
I'M GOING TO FLY BY THROUGH THIS SLIDES AND THEN BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST, UH, DOUG MELNICK, OUR CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, AND HE'S GONNA COVER A COUPLE OF THESE ITEMS. UH, FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I WILL BE PROVIDING YOU AN UPDATE, UM, FROM OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
THIS IS OUR CURRENT A HUNDRED AND 18TH CONGRESS PROGRAM, AND I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SOME, UH, NEW, UM, ITEMS AND AN UPDATE ON OUR EFFORTS FOR SS A T TO D C A OR OUR AIRPORT TO THE REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, NONSTOP FLIGHT EFFORTS.
UM, IN ADDITION, LIKE I SAID, UH, DOUG MELNICK WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE E E C B G GRANT AND THE CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT.
UM, THESE ARE BILL AND, UM, I R A GRANTS.
AS YOU RECALL, BILL IS A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, AND I R A IS THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.
UM, THE GA TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE REMAINED ENGAGED, UH, TRACKING AND MONITORING THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, TO SUPPLEMENT ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY.
UH, LOOKING AT, UH, THE SAN ANTONIO NONSTOP FLY TO REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT EVERY FIVE YEARS, CONGRESS TACKLES THE F A A REAUTHORIZATION BILL.
UM, THE F A A REAUTHORIZATION BILL IS ESSENTIALLY, UH, FAS OPERATING, UM, AND AUTHORITY.
THIS YEAR, IT EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.
UH, WE ANTICIPATE, OR AT LEAST CONGRESS HAS THE WILL TO TRY TO REAUTHORIZE IT BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 30TH DEADLINE THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, IN PAST, UH, FIVE YEAR INCREMENTS, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY MEET THAT DEADLINE.
AND A, AN CONGRESSIONAL EXTENSION, UM, WILL BE REQUIRED.
THERE ARE FEDERAL, UH, REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN IN AND OUT OF NON-STOP FLIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT IN WASHINGTON.
D C UH, THE FIRST ONE THAT YOU'LL BE FAMILIAR WITH IS THE PERIMETER RULE.
UM, THE PERIMETER RULE LIMITS NON-STOP SERVICE TO AND FROM REAGAN NATIONAL IN DC OUTSIDE OF 1,250 MILES, UM, ANY AIRPORT OUTSIDE OF THE PERIMETER, THESE 1,250 MILES NEEDS A CONGRESSIONAL EXEMPTION, UM, THAT CONGRESS WOULD PASS IN THIS POTENTIAL F A A, UH, LEGISLATIVE VEHICLE.
REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT IS SEEN AS THE SHORT HAUL AIRPORT FOR WASHINGTON DC REGIONAL AREA.
AND DULLES AIRPORT IS SEEN AS THE LONG HAUL AIRPORT.
[01:10:01]
UH, IS A SLOT RULE.UH, CONGRESS MUST APPROVE ADDITIONAL SLOTS, UM, TO AND FROM REAGAN NATIONAL.
UM, THERE WAS A, UM, PREDETERMINED, UH, NUMBER OF SLOTS, UH, DECADES AGO, AND THERE'S BEEN TWO ADDITIONAL ROUNDS THROUGH THE F A A REAUTHORIZATION THAT HAVE AUTHORIZED ADDITIONAL SLOTS.
IN 2012, THERE WERE, UM, FOUR OUTSIDE OF THE PERIMETER SLOTS.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU, UM, SOME CONTEXT ON THE SLOT, EACH SLOT IS ONE, ONE FLIGHT, ONE TRIP.
SO ESSENTIALLY, SAN ANTONIO WOULD NEED, UH, TWO SLOTS IN ORDER TO HAVE A DAILY ROUND TRIP FROM SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT TO REAGAN NATIONAL.
UM, IN DC THIS IS A, UH, FEDERAL PRIORITY THAT YOU APPROVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IN OUR CURRENT LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
UM, WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UM, OUR DELEGATION.
WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED A BIPARTISAN HOUSE DELEGATION SUPPORT LETTER.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE TWO MEMBERS, ONE FROM HOUSTON, ONE FROM BROWNSVILLE, UH, THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY THAT, UM, WAS, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THE NONSTOP FLIGHT BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND REAGAN NATIONAL.
WE KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A HEAVY LIFT.
IT'S BEEN THE CASE IN PAST F A A REAUTHORIZATION ATTEMPTS.
IT'S THE ONE THAT'S, THAT'S MORE KOSHER, THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE, UH, BECAUSE THE F A A REAUTHORIZATION BILL CONTAINS ALL AIRPORT, UM, RELATED, UH, LEGISLATION.
AS I SAID, THIS IS A, A ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE F A A AS POTENTIAL OPTION.
WE ARE IN DISCUSSION WITH OUR HOUSE, UH, DELEGATION AND BOTH OUR SENATORS TO IDENTIFY, UM, THE APPROPRIATE STRATEGY, UH, MOVING FORWARD.
THAT COULD INCLUDE, UM, ADDITIONAL SLOTS, AS I MENTIONED, UH, TWO ROUND TRIP, UH, SLOT SWAP, WHICH WOULD ALLOW IF CONGRESS, UM, ALLOWS THIS PARTICULAR LANGUAGE IN THE F A A REAUTHORIZATION BILL, UH, FOR AIRLINES TO APPLY FOR INSIDE THE PERIMETER, UH, FLIGHTS TO OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER FLIGHTS, WHICH WE'VE TRIED IN PAST F A A ROUNDS ADDITIONALLY, UM, MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS OR UPDATES TO, UM, THE PERIMETER RULE, THAT 1,250 INVISIBLE LINE OUTSIDE OF REAGAN NATIONAL.
WE, UH, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, TAKE THE LEAD OF OUR HOUSE AND, AND SENATE MEMBERS, UM, WHICH IS WHY WE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET THIS BIPARTISAN LETTER SENT TO THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, COMMITTEE.
AND SO, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS, UM, A GREAT MILESTONE THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM ON OUR FUTURE.
UM, ACTION ITEMS AND STRATEGY, UM, AS WELL AS OUR, UM, AIRPORT TEAM.
HE, SCIENCE AND HIS TEAM ARE ENGAGED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AND THEY'RE HAVING THEIR OWN CONVERSATIONS, UM, WITH THEIR AIRLINE PARTNERS ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE NONSTOP FLIGHT TO REAGAN NATIONAL.
UH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL EFFORT, UH, BEING BROUGHT BY THIS CAPITAL ACCESS ALLIANCE GROUP.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A CAMPAIGN, UM, TO BRING, UH, LIGHT TO THE IMPORTANCE TO INCREASE, UM, IN AND OUT NONSTOP FLIGHTS INTO REAGAN NATIONAL.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE C A A CAPITAL ACCESS ALLIANCE WAS LAUNCHED IN, IN ALL SOCIAL, UH, MEDIA OUTLETS.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR, UM, CAMPAIGN IS, UH, BACKED BY DELTA AIRLINES.
UM, IT'S BEEN VERY VISIBLE AND VERY TRANSPARENT.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR COALITION IS COMPRISED OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUPS, UM, FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, MANY OF THEM IN, IN TEXAS, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO, TO GROW IT.
UM, THEY'RE CALLING FOR GETTING RID OF THE PERIMETER RULE, WHICH WOULD BE A VERY, UH, LARGE LIFT, UM, THAT WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE, AND ADD ADDITIONAL 20 TO 25 SLOTS IN AND OUT OF REAGAN NATIONAL.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE A LOT OF SLOTS BY CONTEXT.
IN 2012, THERE WERE EIGHT SLOTS AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS.
SO DOUBLING THAT NUMBER IS, IS, IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT TASK.
IN ADDITION, UH, DELTA AIRLINES ALSO CALLED FOR A STUDY TO BE DONE BY A BOSTON BASED, UM, RESEARCH TEAM.
ESSENTIALLY, THE STUDY SHOWED THAT THE PERIMETER RULE, UM, IS OUTDATED, OUTDATED, AND THAT IT'S MAKING, UH, TRAVEL IN AND OUT OF, UM, D C A MORE EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING.
WE'VE, UH, ALLUDED TO, TO THOSE CONCERNS IN THE PAST.
AND AS WELL AS D C A IS UNDERUTILIZED.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE GREAT, UH, OPPOSITION TO THIS NATIONAL EFFORT, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE
[01:15:01]
THE ATTENTION BEING BROUGHT TO IT, UM, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.AND WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR CONSULTANTS AND OUR DELEGATION TO MOVE FORWARD IN LOCKSTEP WITH THEM AND UTILIZE THEIR LEADERSHIP, UM, IN WASHINGTON D C.
SO, OVERALL, WE, UM, APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION BEING BROUGHT TO THIS.
WE'LL BE COORDINATING, UM, I'LL MENTION THEM AGAIN, UH, OUR MILITARY PARTNERS THROUGH, UH, GENERAL AYALA'S LEADERSHIP, UM, AND OTHER LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, ON THESE EFFORTS.
WE WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE, AGAIN, OF THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT LETTER IN THIS NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE NONSTOP FLIGHTS, UM, IN AND OUT OF REAGAN NATIONAL.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S PART OF OUR FEDERAL PROGRAM.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU, UH, UPDATED AS, UM, THIS CAMPAIGN, OUR EFFORTS AND OUR ACTION ITEMS, AND WHERE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HELP, UM, WITH OUR DELEGATION TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP, WE ADVANCE THESE EFFORTS FURTHER.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, FROM HAVING TALKED TO JEFF AND JEFF, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP EXPLAIN TO THE, THE COMMITTEE THAT, UM, WE WERE INVITED, UH, OR GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGN AND BE MEMBERS OF THE CAMPAIGN.
UM, AND, UH, WE, WE, WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION INTERNALLY AT, AT STAFF LEVEL.
BUT TELL ME, TELL ME WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE, UM, TO, TO NOT BE SIGNATORIES TO THE DELTA CAMPAIGN ACCESS ALLIANCE.
VERY SIMPLY, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF THEM DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE.
UH, AND WE ARE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
WE'VE HAD SOME MEETINGS WITH THEM, AND WE CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE.
UM, WE'RE NOT MARRIED TO A PARTICULAR STRATEGY.
AS SALLY MENTIONED, OUR DELEGATION, UH, HAS NOT DETERMINED HOW THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO SOLVE THIS FOR US, AND WE WANT TO DEFER TO THEM.
AND AS SALLY MENTIONED, THIS GROUP HAS OUTLINED A VERY PARTICULAR STRATEGY OF ELIMINATING THE PERIMETER RULE AND ADDING TWO DOZEN NEW FLIGHTS A DAY.
UM, THAT MAY BE TOO HEAVY OF A LIFT.
WE'LL SEE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE ALL LINED UP AND COMMITTED TO HELPING US.
UM, SECOND ISSUE IS WE'RE NOT, NOT MARRIED TO A PARTICULAR AIRLINE YET EITHER.
WE MAY ULTIMATELY WORK WITH AMERICAN OR SOUTHWEST OR UNITED OR DELTA.
AND SO WE ARE, WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY, UM, TALKING TO AND, AND APPRECIATING THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING WITHOUT GETTING AHEAD OF OUR SKIS ON THE ISSUE.
UM, WE'VE ASKED THEM WHO, UH, WHO'S SIGNED ON CITY-WISE.
I THINK AT THE LAST CONVERSATION WE HAD, IT WAS EL PASO AND HARLINGEN, THUS FAR, WHO HAD COMMITTED TO, TO FORMALLY PUTTING THEIR LOGO ON THE MATERIALS.
AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH, BUT AGAIN, SUPPORTIVE THAT THEY'RE DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE, UM, FOR CERTAIN.
COUNCILMAN CASTRO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS TOPIC? OKAY.
AND, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN, ALLY.
UM, THE ENERGY EFFICIENT EFFICIENCY, UH, BLOCK GRANT IS REALLY EXCITING.
UM, WHEN WILL CONVERSATION START TO TAKE PLACE? UH, AM I JUMPING AHEAD? QUESTION.
I SAW FACES OF LIKE, WHAT
AND HE'S GOING TO DIVE RIGHT INTO THE PRESENTATION.
GOOD MORNING, UH, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
DOUG MELNICK, CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER.
UH, I'LL PROVIDE A VERY BRIEF, UH, OVERVIEW ON TWO FEDERAL, UM, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE PURSUING.
UH, IF YOU REMEMBER, UH, AT A PREVIOUS BRIEFINGS, THE CITY RECEIVED THE DIRECT AL ALLOCATION OF ABOUT $1.2 MILLION AS A PART OF, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
THAT FUNDING IS, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN PRIMARILY THE BUILDING AND TRANSPORTATION SECTORS.
UM, AS WELL AS ADDRESSING INEQUITY THROUGH, UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S, UM, JUSTICE 40 INITIATIVE, WHICH IS REALLY TARGETING THAT AT LEAST 40% OF FUNDS GO TO LOW INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
SO, UM, WE WORKED ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT'S THE BEST USE OF THESE FUNDS.
UH, AND SO WE HAVE THREE PROPOSALS.
ONE IS, UM, WORKING WITH THE AIRPORT ON AN ENERGY MASTER PLAN.
ALL OF THE GROWTH THAT'S GOING ON THERE, UM, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.
THIS PLAN WILL COVER ENERGY EFFICIENCY, RENEWABLES, BATTERY STORAGE, RESILIENCE, JUST MAKING SURE THAT AS THE EXPANSION OCCURS, IT'S AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE AND ALSO IS AS RESILIENT AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THE SECOND PART OF THIS IS, UM, REALLY LOOKING AT THE GROWTH, UH, THAT'S GOING ON IN THE EV MARKETPLACE.
UH, THE, UM, THE MARKET IS RESPONDING.
UM, WE ARE SEEING PROJECTIONS THROUGH C P S FOR OWNERSHIP GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW ARE PEOPLE GOING TO CHARGE
[01:20:01]
THEIR VEHICLES? UH, ONE OF THE GAPS THAT WE KNOW EXIST ARE, UM, MULTIFAMILY, UH, AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES.UH, AND IF AN INDIVIDUAL DOESN'T HAVE A, UH, GARAGE OR AN ABILITY TO INSTALL THEIR OWN CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY'RE AT A DISADVANTAGE.
SO WE ARE GONNA BE SET ASIDE, SETTING ASIDE FUNDING FOR A INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR PROPERTY OWNERS OF, UM, APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND OTHER MULTI-FAMILY COMPLEXES TO INSTALL CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, THE THIRD ONE I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT, UH, IT'S MODELED AFTER A, UH, A CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER PROGRAM THAT THEY'VE HAD IN PLACE SINCE SPRING 2022.
UM, IT'S A, UH, AN E-BIKE REBATE PROGRAM.
UH, THE PROGRAM IN DENVER, UM, COVERS MARKET RATE TO LOW INCOME.
UM, AND THEY HAVE, UM, GIVEN OUT OVER 4,500 REBATES.
SINCE WE HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT WE JUST TARGET LOW INCOME AS, AS A STARTING POINT.
BENEFITS ARE, UM, WE KNOW THERE'S MANY RESIDENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD A A VEHICLE.
UM, SO THIS PROVIDES MOBILITY OPTIONS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT, UH, AN E-BIKE IS A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, UM, MODE OF TRANSPORT THAN SOMEBODY JUMPING IN A INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE VEHICLE.
UM, SO THERE'S, UH, A EMISSIONS AND AIR QUALITY BENEFITS AS WELL.
AND THEN THE THIRD BENEFIT IS, UM, WE'VE IDENTIFIED LOCAL BUSINESSES, UM, BIKE SHOPS IN SAN ANTONIO THAT WE CAN WORK DIRECTLY WITH.
UM, SO IT REALLY HITS, UH, A LOT OF IMPORTANT PRIORITIES.
THE NEXT, UM, PROGRAM, UH, IS A BIG ONE.
UH, IT IS CALLED THE CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT.
UH, THE FIRST PHASE IS A, UH, NON-COMPETITIVE PLANNING GRANT PROCESS.
UH, THERE'S $250 MILLION ALLOCATED, UH, FOR STATES, THE 67 LARGEST, UH, MSAS AND TRIBES.
UM, THE SAN ANTONIO NEW BRAUNFELS, M S A, UH, IS ELIGIBLE FOR A $1 MILLION DIRECT ALLOCATION.
THIS IS TO DO, UM, REGIONAL PLANNING.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, THE SA CLIMATE READY PLAN IDENTIFIED IS SAN ANTONIO IS NOT AN ISLAND.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS ON, ON INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, UM, FOSTER INNOVATION AND ADDRESS CLIMATE.
SO THIS IS A, A, A GREAT VEHICLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
UM, THE SECOND PART OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE HOOK.
UH, IT IS A, UH, $4.6 BILLION IMPLEMENTATION, UH, GRANT PROGRAM.
WE'RE EXPECTING GUIDANCE ON THAT LATER THIS SUMMER.
BUT IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE DOLLARS, THE M SS A NEEDS, WHAT THEY'RE CALLING IS A, A COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
BASICALLY, THINK OF THE CITY'S PLAN.
UH, IT'S A GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY, IT'S TARGETS AND ITS STRATEGIES TO MEET THOSE TARGETS.
UM, THERE'S SOME VERY AGGRESSIVE TIMELINES THAT, UM, E P A HAS.
THEY'RE EXPECTING A, WHAT THEY'RE CALLING A PRIORITY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN BY MARCH.
WE BASICALLY HAVE THAT AT THIS POINT.
UM, ON THE REGIONAL PART, WE ARE GONNA BE COLLABORATING WITH ACOG AS OUR, OUR PARTNER, AND THEY ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE M S A ON THE BROADER GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY AND HELP FLESH OUT SOME OF THE PRIORITY STRATEGIES.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED, UH, THE NOTICE, UH, OF, UH, INTENT TO PROCEED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND THE NEXT BIG MILESTONE IS THE FULL APPLICATION PACKAGE WORK PLAN AND BUDGET IS DUE MAY 31ST.
BUT, UH, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE REGION TO NOT ONLY DEVELOP SYNERGY, UH, AROUND TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, UM, BUT ALSO TO COMPETE, UM, FOR SOME, SOME DOLLARS TO IMPLEMENT.
UM, WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO, YOU'RE UP.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
UH, PARTICULARLY THE LOW INCOME E-BIKE REBATE PROGRAM.
I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH MY TEAM ABOUT PRIORITIES AND BUDGET, AND ONE WAS LIKE IN DENVER, THEY HAVE THE, THE REBOOT PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE JUST GOT INTO THIS LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT DRAINAGE AND LIKE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE,
UM, BUT ALL THAT TO SAY, UM, WITH THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUNDING, WILL THAT GO TO COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS, ARE THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN, UH, ENERGY MASTER PLAN RATHER, AND THE EV CHARGING INCENTIVE PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE LOW INCOME YOU BIKE, ARE THOSE JUST EXAMPLES OR ARE THESE, UH, THE PRIORITIES THAT, SO THOSE, THOSE ARE THE PRIORITIES THAT OKAY.
UH, THAT THAT STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED.
UM, WE STILL NEED TO FLESH OUT A LOT OF THE, THE DETAILS I COULD ENVISION GOING TO, TO COMMITTEE, UM, FOR ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS.
UM, ONCE WE, WE HAVE THOSE IDENTIFIED AND COUNCILWOMAN, I'LL ADD, SO THE WAY THIS WORKS, IT'S NOT A, UH, COMPETITIVE GRANT.
SO WE WERE NOTIFIED, I BELIEVE IN LATE DECEMBER THAT OUR AMOUNT WAS 1.2 MILLION MM-HMM.
UM, WE HAVE TO THEN SUBMIT INITIALLY A, UH, LETTER OF INTEREST, I BELIEVE IT WAS CALLED.
WHICH WE DID IN MARCH OR APRIL.
[01:25:01]
THEN WE HAVE TO, I BELIEVE BY MAY 31ST.SO BASICALLY, UM, THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CITIES ISN'T JULIE, IS IT? IT'S NEXT, NEXT JANUARY.
I, I BELIEVE IS THE LAST DEADLINE.
BUT I THINK WE WANT TO EXPEDITE IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK I, WE, WE DON'T WANNA WAIT UNTIL THAT DEADLINE TO GET OUR APPLICATION MATERIALS IN.
AND I'LL JUST ADD ONE LAST, THIS IS PART OF THE, UH, MORE COMPREHENSIVE BRIEFING, UH, AT THE B SESSION.
TO TALK ABOUT THE REESE FUND AND ALL THE VARIOUS SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES.
UH, BECAUSE THIS WAS A FEDERAL FUNDING PROGRAM, WE ASKED THAT DOUG AND TEAM COME TALK TO THIS COMMITTEE BEFORE THAT B SESSION.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE PROPOSING IT.
BUT, BUT VERY SIMPLY, THEY, DOUG'S TEAM HAS TO TELL THE FEDS HOW WE'RE GONNA SPEND THE 1.2 FOR THEM TO RELEASE IT TO US.
SO THIS IS THEIR PROPOSED, UM, ALLOCATION OF THE FUNDS.
IF, IF WE GET THIS DOUG AND I BUY AN E-BIKE, I CAN TURN IN MY REBATE REQUEST TO YOU DIRECTLY OR SURE.
SO WE'RE STARTING WITH LOW INCOME RESIDENTS FIRST.
UM, THE GOAL IS IF IT GOES WELL AND BASED UPON DENVER'S PROGRAM, DENVER OFFERS REBATES FROM $400 FOR ANYBODY UP TO $1,400 FOR INCOME QUALIFIED.
SO, UM, THEY'VE SEEN THEIR NUMBERS EXPLODE.
UM, BUT BASICALLY THE WAY THEY'VE SET THIS UP IS, UM, IT'S ALL WORKED OUT WITH THE BIKE SHOPS.
THE, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING.
YOU GO IN, YOU GET A DISCOUNTED RATE, AND THEN THE BIKE SHOP WORKS WITH THE CITY TO GET REIMBURSED.
WELL I WAS ASKING FOR A FRIEND.