* 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. [00:01:15] ANTONIO. [ PROCEDURAL  ] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. TIME IS 9:12 AM ON THE 18TH DAY OF MAY, 2023. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER VRAN. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER BERDA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER BELI. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESIDENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. HERE. MAYOR NURENBERG. HERE. MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE HAVE MANY GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY, SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE GET STARTED. UH, NEXT WEEK WE DON'T HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING. AND, UM, IT WOULD'VE BEEN THE OCCASION FOR US TO, UH, MARK A VERY SOD AND SOLEMN OCCASION, WHICH IS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SINCE THE TRAGEDY IN VALDI AT ROB ELEMENTARY. SO, IN HONOR OF THE VICTIMS AND THE FAMILIES WHO CONTINUE TO ENDURE THE PAIN OF THAT MOMENT, UH, IN A COUNTRY THAT'S STILL TRYING TO HEAL FROM IT, I'LL ASK US ALL TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. TO GET US STARTED THIS MORNING, UH, I'M GONNA TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA TO WELCOME OUR INDICATOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND TODAY'S GUEST INDICATORS AN INDICATOR IS FATHER RYAN. HE IS A C I C M MISSION HEARST PRIEST. HE'S ALSO MY, MY PRIEST AT DIVINE, UH, PROVIDENCE. HE EARNED A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN PHILOSOPHY FROM ST. DE LASALLE UNIVERSITY AND WENT ON TO EARN A MASTER'S DEGREE IN THEOLOGY FROM MARY HILL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. FATHER RYAN ALSO STUDIED AT THE OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY IN SAN ANTONIO. HE ATTENDED A LANGUAGE SCHOOL IN CUCA, MEXICO AND TOOK PART IN CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION AT ALBUQUERQUE PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL AS PART OF HIS FORMATION. ASIDE FROM THE PARISH MINISTRY, HE'S WORKED WITH VARIOUS GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WORLD, AND WORKED ALONGSIDE MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING IMMIGRANTS, UNHOUSED CHILDREN, AND PEOPLE WHO WERE FORMALLY INCARCERATED. HE WAS ORDAINED AS A PRIEST IN 2011 IN THE DIOCESE OF RALLY NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE HE CONTINUED TO SERVE FOR SIX YEARS IN TWO PARISHES. HE IS SERVING HIS SEVENTH YEAR AS PARISH PRIEST OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SOUTHWEST SAN ANTONIO. I'M SADDENED TO SAY THAT HE WILL BE LEAVING DIVINE PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL THE PARISHIONERS WHO HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET HIM DURING HIS TENURE. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE COMMUNITY HE HELPED BUILD AT THE CHURCH AND THE SUPPORT HE PROVIDES TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE AREA. I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS HE HAS BUILT IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE DISTRICT FOUR TEAM HAS ORGANIZED SEVERAL COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING OUR ANNUAL BASA BASH EARTH DAY CLEANUP, SENIOR SWEETHEART DANCE HEALTH EXPO, AND BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS, ALL AT THE PARISH, AT THESE EVENTS AND PLENTY OF OTHERS. FATHER RYAN IS ALWAYS READY TO LEND HIS SUPPORT, WHETHER IT'S HOSTING AN EVENT AT THE CHURCH, OR SHARING INFORMATION ON IMPORTANT CITY [00:05:01] SERVICES WITH HIS PARISHIONERS THROUGH FATHER RYAN'S LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE SEEN A GROWING FILIPINO COMMUNITY ATTEND MASS REGULARLY AT DIVINE PROVIDENCE, AND THEY'VE ORGANIZED EVENTS TO WELCOME NEWCOMERS AND BUILD A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. ONE OF THE EVENTS I VIVIDLY REMEMBER IS THE QUINCENTENNIAL CELEBRATION TO COMMEMORATE THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1521. I'M PROUD TO SAY SAN ANTONIO IS A WELCOMING CITY AND HOME TO PEOPLE FROM COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. WHEN I LEARNED THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS GOING TO APPROVE A SISTER CITY AGREEMENT WITH THE PHILIPPINES, FATHER RYAN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST INDIVIDUALS I THOUGHT ABOUT, AND I WAS ECSTATIC TO SHARE THAT NEWS WITH HIM. I FEEL SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE MET AND WORKED WITH FATHER RYAN OVER THE YEARS. I WISH YOU WELL ON YOUR JOURNEY AND HOPE YOU COME BACK TO VISIT US SOON. DISTRICT FOUR MAY NOT BE YOUR RESIDENTS ANY LONGER, BUT THE COMMUNITY WILL ALWAYS BE HERE TO WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS. FATHER RYAN, AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS TO GIVE US OUR BLESSING TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BEFORE I WILL START THEN MY VACATION. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU, THE CITY OF, UH, SAN ANTONIO, AND FOR COLLABORATION AND FOR HELPING AND ALL, ESPECIALLY DURING THE TIME OF PANDEMIC. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. ALL MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS GOD, AS WE GATHERED HERE TODAY IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER, IN THE GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR DIVINE GUIDANCE AND WISDOM TO LEAD US IN OUR DELIBERATIONS. WE PRAY FOR THE WORK OF OUR LEADERS THAT DECISIONS THEY MAKE ARE NOT ONLY FOR THESE GENERATION, BUT FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME. IN A COMPLEX WORLD WHERE BELIEVERS OR NON-BELIEVERS LIVE TOGETHER, WHERE TRUTH ARE OFTEN CHALLENGED, MAY WE SPEAK THE LOVE, INTEGRITY, AND COMPASSION. MAY WE OPEN OUR SENSES FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES OR HAVE NO WAY TO PRESENT THEIR COSTS. MAY OUR LIMITATIONS REMAIN A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT WE ARE NOT HERE FOREVER, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. UM, WE SAY THIS PRAYER WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS FOR ALL THE CITY OFFICIALS WHO HAVE LABORED TIRELESSLY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR DEDICATION, COMMITMENT, AND HARD WORK IN MAKING THE CITY A BETTER PLACE TO LEAVE, WORK AND PLAY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR TIRING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE OUR CITY AND PUBLIC SERVICES. WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR VISION AND FOR THE MANY INITIATIVES THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED TO PROMOTE GROWTH, PROSPERITY, AND SAFETY. AND SO, LORD, WE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY THAT THEY MAY BE BLESSED WITH GOOD HEALTH, PROSPERITY, AND HAPPINESS MAY DEFINE COMFORT AND SUPPORT IN TIMES OF NEED. AND MAY THEY BE SURROUNDED BY LOVE AND KINDNESS. WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THIS CITY WITH A SPIRIT OF UNITY AND COOPERATION, THAT WE MAY WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FOOD FUTURE FOR ALL WHO CALLS SAN ANTONIO HOME. IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. AND THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FATHER RYAN. ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 13, MAY 3RD AND MAY 4TH, 2023. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE. SO MOVED. OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE GET INTO [CONSENT AGENDA  ] OUR CEREMONIALS, WE DO HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA AND UH, [00:10:01] I WANT TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONLY ONE AND THAT IS ITEM FOUR. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? YES. UH, 2033. ALRIGHT. UH, I HEARD SIX, UM, 33. 33. 2020. ALRIGHT, I'VE GOT ITEMS 4, 6, 20 AND 33. ANY OTHERS? 26. ALL RIGHT. UM, THESE ARE THE ITEMS TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY TODAY. ITEMS 4, 6, 20 26 AND 33. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. OKAY. I HEARD A MOTION. WAS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. UH, AT THIS TIME I'LL TAKE FOLKS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE GONNA REMAIN ON CONSENT. I'LL ALSO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO QUEUE UP IF THEY'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS OR DISCUSS THE CONSENT AGENDA. UH, FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, IS JACK FINGER. JACK, YOU'LL BE SPEAKING ON ITEMS 15, 29, 30. AND THAT'S IT. WELL, MAYOR NURENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK FINGER AND JACK IS BACK AFTER QUITE, QUITE A FEW WEEKS OVER AND RUNNING BACK AND FORTH TO AUSTIN. GREAT. GRACING THEM WITH MY PRESENCE. YES. DID Y'ALL MISS ME? UH, YES. I'M SURE YOU DID. THE, UM, FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER, ITEM NUMBER, UH, 20, ITEM NUMBER 15 BASICALLY IS, IS ABOUT, UM, IT'S ABOUT THE IDEA OF WELL HAVE MR. AUDIO VISUAL MAN TO PUT IT UP THERE FOR US, SIR, THE, THE UNDERLINED AREA, IF YOU WOULD THERE, SIR. LET'S SEE. YEAH. WHAT, WHAT DOES IT READ THERE? YEAH, THE, BASICALLY IT'S ABOUT THE, UH, GETTING SOME FUNDS FROM, FROM, FROM THE FEDS FOR THE COVID, UH, EPIDEMIC. WE HAD, THE EAP WAS INTENDED AS A TEMPORARY, I REPEAT TEMPORARY EMERGENCY PROGRAM AIMED AT PROVIDING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES FACING EVICTION DUE TO FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS RESULTING FROM THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC. TURN THE PAGE, IF YOU WOULD. THERE YOU GO. NEXT LINE AREA. IN MAY OF 22, 2, THE CITY LAUNCHED A NEW HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE RENTAL UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR ELIGIBLE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS FACING C OVID 19 PANDEMIC RELATED FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS. THANK YOU. PLEASE RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. YEAH. UH, AS A, A GOOD PRESIDENT ONCE SAID, THERE'S NO NOTHING SO PERMANENT AS A TEMPORARY, TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. , YES. UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING FUNDS FOR, TO HELP SUPPOSEDLY PEOPLE WITH THEIR, THEIR COVID UH, DIFFICULTIES. AND, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, AS I RECALL, THE PRESIDENT, UH, JUST A, A FEW WEEKS AGO SAID, THE C I D EPIDEMIC IS OVER WITH. THE EMERGENCY IS OVER WITH. YOU CAN NOW TAKE OFF YOUR MASK. YOU CAN NOW FOREGO ALL THE PROTOCOLS IF YOU SO DESIRE. UH, AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE. SO WHY ARE WE STILL ASKING THE FEDS AND THEN, AND IN TURN, GIVING AWAY THE MONEY THAT, UH, FOR, FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SO FORTH, THAT SUPPOSEDLY SHOULDN'T BE A NEED FOR? HMM. YES. I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT THAT. UH, MR. MAYOR, DID Y'ALL PULL ITEM NUMBER 26? DID I, DID I HEAR? YES, WE DID, ZACH. OKAY, GOOD. WELL, VERY GOOD. UH, BASICALLY THAT'S, UH, THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY AT THIS TIME. UH, I, I THINK WE MAYBE JUST SAY, GET A, AN INFUSION OF BACKBONE AND SAY, HEY, FEDS, GIVE THE TAXPAYERS BACK THEIR MONEY. WE, THE, THE EPIDEMIC IS OVER WITH. LET'S, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT REALITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. I'LL, UH, CALL NOW. WILLIAM WHITE. WILLIAM WHITE, MR. WHITE, YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 21 AND 22. [00:15:12] MY NAME IS WILLIAM WHITE. I AM A, UH, BUSINESSMAN AND, UM, THANK YOU AND, AND FORMER CHAIR OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD. AND THAT WOULD NOT BE TRUE TO MY HEART IF I DIDN'T SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE SPAY NEUTER INITIATIVES, UH, THAT THEY'RE OF BEING VOTED ON TODAY. UH, I PUT 12 YEARS OF MY LIFE, UH, INTO TURNING SAN ANTONIO UNTIL INTO WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A, UM, A PRIDE OF THE NATION IN ANIMAL WELFARE AND LIKE TO KEEP THAT GOING STRONG. MY CURRENT EFFORTS ARE INVOLVED IN FUNDRAISING FOR FOSTERING AND ADOPTION. THOSE ARE TWO OTHER KEY PARTS, BUT SPAY NEUTER, UM, I KNOW, UH, I KNOW THE FACTS. I KNOW THE COMMUNITY AND IN HONOR OF MY, UH, LAY PARENTS WHO I PART OF THE GREATEST GENERATION, WHICH, UM, WHICH I DEVOTE USE AS MOTIVATION TO, TO START ON THIS, UH, DIFFICULT BUT REWARDING EFFORT. UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS GOING STRONG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. WHITE. ON ITEM 29 AND 30, WE HAVE AVIS CHASON, MS. CHASON. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR BERG, MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS AVIS HAW. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT WITH PLATT U S A. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING BEFORE YOU, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. UM, WHAT AN EXCITING INTRO FOR A CITY COUNCIL MEETING. , THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE. TO GET THE MEETING STARTED, I'M JUST HERE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. WE HAVE TWO DEVELOPMENTS. UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO COME TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO DO BUSINESS, THEIR HOUSING TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENTS. WE KNOW YOUR COMMITMENT TO DOING WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE CITY, UH, WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE. THERE ARE CHALLENGES, BUT WE'RE WITH YOUR PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE SURE WE CAN GET THESE TWO DEALS DONE. UH, BOTH OF THEM NOW HAVE RECEIVED THEIR BOND RESERVATIONS, SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS CLOSING AND WORKING WITH STAFF ON, UH, GETTING THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, AND I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK AND INTRODUCE PLATO U S A TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, MR. CHON. OKAY. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS, ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING ON CONSENT TODAY. SO I'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. I DON'T SEE A QUEUE, SO IF YOU CAN JUST, UH, SIGNAL ME. COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HABER, THIS IS FOR HIGHLIGHTS, RIGHT? HIGHLIGHTS. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS I'M GONNA HIGHLIGHT, BUT I'M GONNA GROUP THEM TOGETHER. UM, ONE OF THEM IS, UH, IS, UM, THE, THE, ACTUALLY, MR. WHITE CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT IT TODAY, AND I THANK HIM FOR COMING TO SPEAK AND, AND BEING TRUE TO HIS HEART, AS HE MENTIONED. UH, UH, AS FAR AS OUR A C S, UM, AND, UM, LIVE RATE. UM, THE ITEM THAT WE'RE, WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING, I'M SORRY, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY, IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS SOLVING OUR CITY'S CRITICAL ANIMAL, UM, CRISIS. UH, AND I, I THINK THAT'S NOT A WORD I USE LIGHTLY, BUT I THINK WE ARE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A, A CRISIS. WE'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS. WE BRING IT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, AS MUCH AS WE CAN. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAD A C S IN OUR COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, AND, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE STRAYS FREE ROAMING ANIMALS, THE LIVE RELEASE RATE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE RISEN TO THE TOP AS THE MOST COMMON SENSE REMEDIES. ONE OF THEM IS SPAY AND NEUTER. THE OTHER IS TRANSPORT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE STRAY ANIMAL PROBLEM THAT WE, WE HAVE. AND SO TRANSPORTING, UM, SOME OF THE ANIMALS HERE, HEALTHY ANIMALS TO OTHER PLACES IS, IS A SOLUTION. OVER THE PAST FEW BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, I'VE CONTINUED TO BRING UP THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORT AND THE NEED FOR OUR CITY TO INVESTIGATE FUNDING A TRANSPORT PRO, UH, PROGRAM, TO SEND OUR STRAYS TO AREAS WHERE THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF RESCUE DOGS, DOGS FOR ADOPTION. SO THE OTHER REMEDY, OF COURSE, IS TO SPAY AND NEUTER. UH, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FUND CLINICS. IT'S MY DREAM TO HAVE A, A, A FACILITY LIKE THE BROOKS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY TO INCREASE OUR SPAY AND NEUTER. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UM, CONSIDERING THAT ITEM, THIS ITEM TODAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON IT. UM, THE OTHER IS ITEM 17. IT'S A FUNDING FOR THE CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN. AND IT'S ACCORDING TO THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. SEATBELT USE IN SAN ANTONIO WAS AROUND 81% IN 2002 BEFORE THE CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN. BY 2019, THE SEATBELT USE RATE HAD INCREASED IN 92%, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE. EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THAT WE ARE, UM, AS ALWAYS, SAN ANTONIO IS A LEADER IN [00:20:01] A GOOD WAY, AND WE WOULD AGREE THAT THAT'S A HUGE SUCCESS. A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF MORE PEOPLE USING SEAT BELTS IS THAT MORE LIVES ARE BEING SAVED. IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY SIMPLE THING. THERE IS STILL A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T WEAR THEIR SEAT BELTS. SO AS MUCH AS WE CAN EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO DO IT. SO I, I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS ITEM AND OPERATION SLOWDOWN. THAT'S ITEM 17. THE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM TXDOT FOR, UM, TO, TO EDUCATE AGAIN, THE POP OUR, OUR POPULATION ABOUT SPEED RELATED ISSUES AND CRASHES. WE ALL KNOW THAT SPEED IS A NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES AND FATALITY CRASHES. OPERATION SLOWDOWN HAS BEEN A BIG SUCCESS LAST YEAR. OPERATION SLOWDOWN RESULTED IN 810, VEHICLE STOPS A TOTAL OF 320 CITATIONS. WERE ISSUED ALL OF THOSE HOPE, ALL OF THOSE HOPEFULLY, UM, HELPING PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID THAT, THAT FATE. THIS GRANT MONEY WILL PROVIDE SAFETY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND CITY EMPLOYEES WHO DO THEIR JOB DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO HIGH TRAFFIC. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES AND THEIR STAFF JUDGE ODO FOR ALWAYS BRINGING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT AND HELPING TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VARDA. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, ITEM NUMBER 13, WHICH IS FUNDING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND T O. AND THIS IS GONNA HELP SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS IN SEVERAL COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND 1, 4, 5, AND SEVEN. I'M, I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT THE SIDEWALKS ALONGSIDE SAM MORA TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY. AND THEN I'M ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 15. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS SUCH DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB THAT THE US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY HAS SENT ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AND SO THE PORTAL IS SET TO OPEN MAY 15TH THROUGH JUNE THE FIFTH. UM, IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO ABOUT 2000 HOUSEHOLDS IN SAN ANTONIO WHO NEEDED MOST, AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE UP TO THREE MONTHS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AND, UM, HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE FACING EVICTION ARE PRIORITIZED FOR ASSISTANCE. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK VERONICA GARCIA AND THE ENTIRE N H SS D STAFF FOR THEIR WORK IN PROVIDING THESE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. AND THEN FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO, UH, JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS FOR DISTRICT FOUR, DR. NDA LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD. UM, EDDIE REYES WILL SERVE ON THE STREETS, BRIDGES AND SIDEWALKS ADVISORY BOARD, AS WELL AS ZONING COMMISSION. AND, UH, JULIUS STOTTS WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE ROLE ON THE DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 27, THE REIMBURSEMENT OF FUNDING BY THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION FOR METRO HEALTH'S CHARITY CARE PROGRAM. WITH THIS PROGRAM, THE STATE WILL HELP SHOULDER THE COST OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE THAT METRO HEALTH PROVIDES TO FOLKS, INCLUDING FOR MEDICAID SHORTFALLS. THIS IS IMPORTANT STEP TO HELP ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE OR MEDICAID, UH, THAT DOESN'T COVER ALL COSTS, CAN STILL RECEIVE THEIR SHOTS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND PREVENTATIVE CARE, AND SO MANY NEEDS WITHOUT RECEIVING MEDICAL DEBT. OF COURSE, THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF EVERY PERSON WHO IS UNINSURED, BUT IT'S STILL HELPFUL FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST TO NOT HAVE TO CARRY ANOTHER COST OF DEBT ON THEIR BACKS. THIS ITEM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE IN A PAST LIFE, I ORGANIZED FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO I WANNA BE SURE THAT I THINK METRO HEALTH FOR THEIR, FOR WORKING CLOSE TO CLOSE THIS GAP AND ENSURE THAT FOLKS, UM, DON'T CARRY, UH, SO MUCH DEBT. SO I WANTED TO THANK, UH, CLAUDE AND HIS TEAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON, UH, CONSENT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO, UH, LOOK AT OR TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NUMBER 33, THE READY TO WORK. UM, AS YOU KNOW, OUR COUNCILWOMAN COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO, THAT THAT WAS, UH, PULLED. SO WE'LL HEAR THAT INDIVIDUALLY. ITEM 33. YEAH. OKAY. SO WE'LL DO THAT AT THAT TIME. IT'LL COME UP. YEAH. ALRIGHT, THANKS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS, SAY FOR 4, 6 20, 26 AND 33, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] OKAY. WELL, UM, BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GUESTS AND IMPORTANT DAYS THAT WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT. SO IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH US, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL CEREMONIALS WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. SO LET ME START THE PROCESS BY TURNING IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA FOR A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT AN UPCOMING CONFERENCE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [00:25:01] AND SINCE LAST JUNE, WHEN I TRAVELED TO ORLANDO WITH COUNCILMAN VRAN FOR I P W, I COULDN'T STOP THINKING OF ALL OF THE PLANNING AND HARD WORK THAT WE HAD TO GET READY FOR I P W HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, I'M PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO SHOWCASE THE GREAT WORK, THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN SAN ANTONIO. A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER, MY HOMETOWN, AND A PLACE THAT I THINK EVERYBODY, UM, FEELS WELCOME AT. SO I'M PROUD TO, TO BE ON THAT BOARD. I WAS STILL IN ORLANDO WHEN I CALLED ERIC WALSH. AND I, I FEEL LIKE I WAS CHICKEN LITTLE WHEN I CALLED HIM BECAUSE I THOUGHT, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO DO AND I, WE HAVE ONE YEAR. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? ARE WE GONNA GET READY? AND IT WAS GONNA, IT WAS GONNA BE A BIG UNDERTAKING, AND IT'S FINALLY HERE. UM, AND I KNEW THAT WE HAD TO GET IT RIGHT BECAUSE THIS MARKED THE FIRST TIME IN SAN ANTONIO, UH, HISTORY THAT WE HOST I P W, BUT ALSO FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT'S THE FIRST RETURN TO THE LONE STAR STATE SINCE THE EVENT WAS HELD IN DALLAS, UM, IN THE TWO IN 2000. SO OUR SAN ANTONIO DELEGATION LAST YEAR INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY, FROM ARTS, FROM AVIATION, CONVENTION, SPORTS AND FACILITIES. AND THIS YEAR'S I P W IS ALSO A CITYWIDE EFFORT. AND I WANNA THANK ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND VISIT SAN ANTONIO, OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND EVERYONE WHO'S HELPED PLAN THIS EVENT. WE ARE HONORED TO BE JOINED AGAIN BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. AND SO, UH, I'LL TURN OVER THE MIC HERE TO MARK ANDERSON IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. BUT, UM, I WISH WE COULD HAVE EXTEND WELL, WELL ACTUALLY, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL WAIT ON THAT. UM, BUT I'M JUST SO EXCITED AND I, I DON'T WANNA STEAL ANYBODY'S THUNDER. SO I THINK I'M JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND TURN OVER TO MARK ANDERSON NOW, WHO WILL GIVE SOME WORDS AND THEN HE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY SHANNON MILLER. UM, AND I BELIEVE MARK ALSO HAS A, A VIDEO PRESENTATION. SO MARK THE FLOOR'S, YOURS. THANK YOU, MAYOR NUREMBERG, THE AND THE ENTIRE CITY FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE, INCREDIBLE PARTNERS AS WE WELCOME THE WORLD TO SAN ANTONIO IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS DURING THE UNITED STATES TRAVEL ASSOCIATION'S I P W 2023. AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA AND PHYLLIS VRAN FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT IN BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL EVENT TO SAN ANTONIO FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR CITY'S TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, VISIT, SAN ANTONIO GENUINELY BELIEVES THAT SAN ANTONIO WILL MAKE HISTORY NEXT WEEK, MAY 20 THROUGH THE 24TH, 2023, AS WE WELCOME THE WORLD FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AS THE HOST CITY FOR I P W 2023. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, VISIT SAN ANTONIO. AND MANY OF YOU HAVE STRIVED TO BUILD SAN ANTONIO INTO A GLOBAL BRAND KNOWN WORLDWIDE. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME OR MORE APPROPRIATE TIME TO WELCOME THE MORE THAN 5,000 I P W ATTENDEES FOR MORE THAN 60 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING SOME OF THE WORLD'S TOP TRAVEL BUYERS AND GLOBAL MEDIA WHO WILL EXPERIENCE OUR CITY'S AUTHENTIC CULTURE FROM PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, OUR CITY IS ON A GLOBAL STAGE SHOWCASING OUR HISTORY, DIVERSITY, OUR CULTURE, AND OUR SAN ANTONIO ICONS SUCH AS THE ALAMO, THE RIVERWALK, AND OF COURSE THE SPURS. OUR THRIVING CULINARY SCENE THAT HAS POSITIONED US AS THE CULINARY CAPITAL OF TEXAS AND THE GROWTH AND EVOLUTION OF THE ALAMO CITY AS THE FASTEST MOST PROGRESSIVE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH AMERICA. NEXT WEEK DURING I P W, WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO POSITION SAN ANTONIO OUR HOSPITALITY WORKERS AND RESIDENTS AS THE BEST OF AMERICA. THE IMPACT OF I P W IS WIDE REACHING. OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD, WE ARE DUE TO GAIN 395,000 NEW INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS THAT WILL SPEND MORE THAN $610 MILLION IN OUR CITY. WE ALSO THINK WE ARE ALSO THANKFUL TO EVERYONE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE MANY BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO BELIEVED IN THIS MISSION. AND MOST OF ALL, WE ARE THANKFUL TO OUR CORE VISIT SAN ANTONIO I P W TEAM, LED BY DAVE KAPINSKY, DORA BENAVIDEZ, DIDI PETIT MICHELLE MOON, AND THE C GROUP, C E O JANET HOLIDAY, WHO JOINED ME HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF [00:30:01] EVERYONE AT VISITS SAN ANTONIO AND OUR I MANY I P I P W COMMITTEES. THANK YOU FOR ENSURING I P W 2023 IS GOING TO BE ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS, AND WE'LL FULLY ESTABLISH SAN ANTONIO AS A GLOBAL TRA BRAND THAT TRAVELERS ASPIRE TO EXPERIENCE AND VISIT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE'S SUPPORT. AND I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA SHOW A VIDEO NOW. THANK YOU. HOLA. I INVITE YOU TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKES SAN ANTONIO REAL AND TRUE, AND WHY YOU DON'T WANNA MISS I P W 2023. WE'RE NOT ONLY THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, SAN ANTONIO IS A REAL AND TRUE SNAPSHOT OF AMERICA'S VIBRANT, PAST AND EXCITING FUTURE HISTORY RUNS DEEP HERE. OUR CITY IS OVER 300 YEARS OLD AND IT'S ALIVE IN OUR PEOPLE AND TRADITIONS. NOW THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WITH A STRONG CONNECTION TO OUR HISTORIC HERITAGE. DIVERSITY IS IN OUR D N A. SAN ANTONIO IS HOME TO THE ONLY UNESCO DESIGNATED WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN TEXAS FULL OF LEGENDARY STORIES. BUT FOR EXAMPLE, OUR HISTORIC ALAMO, THE CRADLE OF TEXAS LIBERTY HOLDS A HISTORY YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS. AND JUST SOUTH OF THE ALAMO TRAILS CONNECT YOU TO THE SAN ANTONIO MISSION'S NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, SURROUNDED BY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CONTINUE TO WITNESS CHANGE AND GROWTH. AND IF YOU'RE HUNGRY FOR FLAVORFUL MOMENTS, OUR FOOD IS FOOD FOR THE SOUL. SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF TWO US CITIES DESIGNATED A UNESCO CREATIVE CITY YOGA, ASTRONOMY. THE CITY'S CULINARY SCENE IS CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING. AND MORE THAN 4,000 RESTAURANTS OFFER UNIQUE FUSIONS AND DELICIOUS EXPERIENCES. OUR LARGE 15 MILE LONG, COLORFUL RIVER WALK SINGS THROUGH THE CITY, BRINGING LIFE AND JOY TO LOCALS AND TOURISTS ALIKE. SAN ANTONIO MAKES YOUR SOUL DANCE, GIVING BIRTH TO SOUNDS THAT MAKE YOUR HEART SING AND YOUR BODY MOVE. WE CELEBRATE OUR TRADITIONAL CHARREADA, BUT ALSO OUR LIVELY RODEO. WE ARE COWBOYS AND VAQUEROS. WE ARE PROUD TEXANS AND TEJANOS SAN ANTONIO. AN EVER EVOLVING COMMUNITY WILL FINALLY BE HOME TO I P W 2023. AND WE CANNOT WAIT TO SHARE THE COLORS, SIGHT, AND SOUNDS OF A BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT WILL STAY WITH YOU FOREVER. LISTEN, YOU'RE NOT GONNA WANNA MISS WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR YOU AT I P W SAN ANTONIO. 2023 SUNDAY, MAY 21ST PRESS BRUNCH AT THE WITTY MUSEUM ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER. WE WILL BE AT THE WITTY MUSEUM, THE INCREDIBLE FACILITY DEDICATED TO TELLING THE STORIES OF TEXAS FROM THE PREHISTORIC TO THE PRESENT. SUNDAY, MAY 21ST, OPENING NIGHT. VEEVA SAN ANTONIO AT HISTORIC LATA OPENING NIGHT WILL INCLUDE A GRAND FIESTA JUST FOR I P W THAT WE ARE CALLING VIVA SAN ANTONIO. GET READY TO PUT ON YOUR BRIGHT COLORS AND BE WELCOMED. SAN ANTONIO STYLE MONDAY, MAY 22ND, FESTIVE ARIO OPEN NIGHT. YOU WILL ENJOY AN OPEN NIGHT ON OUR FAMED RIVER WALK, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A RIVER PARADE GIVEN IN YOUR HONOR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 24TH CLOSING NIGHT. LET'S TEXAS. WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT CLOSING NIGHT WILL BE AS BIG AS TEXAS TRAVEL. TEXAS IS THE I P W TITLE SPONSOR FOR 2023, AND THEY WILL PUT ON A GRAND CELEBRATION. LET'S TEXT US ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE CONFERENCE. AND OF COURSE, THERE IS NO PLACE MORE ICONIC TO DO THIS THAN AT OUR HISTORIC ALAMO. COME AND DISCOVER WHY WE ARE THE BEST IN THE UNITED STATES. IN A FOUR DAY LONG FIESTA, SAN ANTONIO IS READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD AT I P W 2023. REGISTER TODAY@IPW.COM. WE'LL SEE YOU MAY 20 TO 24. AND WE PROMISE WHEN YOU COME HERE, YOU LIVE WITH A VERY PRODUCTIVE I P W AND SAN ANTONIO ALWAYS IN YOUR HEART. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO, MARK AND SHANNON MILLER, WHO HAS BEEN THE, THE CITY REPRESENTATIVE HEADING UP THE EFFORTS. WE'LL NOW TAKE THE GO AHEAD. AWESOME. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD MORNING. AND I HAVE TO USE NOTES BECAUSE SO MANY CITY, UM, DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS THAT I DON'T WANNA FORGET ANYONE. AND I'M JUST GONNA APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF I [00:35:01] ACCIDENTALLY DO. UM, ALSO WE'VE HAD, UM, GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UH, VIA CENTRO C P S, UM, MANY OTHER ENTITIES THAT HAVE PARTNERED TO PREPARE FOR I P W. UM, IN SOME CASES, THE PHOTOS THAT I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU, UM, REPRESENT NEW PROJECTS THAT WERE DONE FOR I P W, BUT IN MANY CASES, THESE ARE ALREADY BUDGETED WORK THAT WAS COORDINATED ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT IT FINISHED IN TIME FOR I P W, UM, EFFORTS INCLUDE, OF COURSE, OUR AMAZING CONVENTION CENTER, UM, PATRICIA AND HER STAFF THAT'S WELCOMING THE DELEGATES. UM, SOMETIMES I ALMOST FORGET TO MENTION THEM 'CAUSE THEY DO SUCH AN AMAZING JOB. YOU DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT ALL THE HARD WORK THEY'RE DOING. UM, EVERYTHING THAT AIRPORT IS DOING TO WELCOME OUR GUESTS, UM, UH, OH, IT FLIPPED THROUGH FOR SOME REASON. UM, SO HERE YOU'LL SEE SOME PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY ARTS AND CULTURE AND BY THE AMAZING TEAM AT PUBLIC WORKS. UM, OBVIOUSLY ROSIE'S TEAM DOES A LOT OF GREAT WORK IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN. UM, THE I P W EFFORTS HAVE BEEN COORDINATED BY MARCUS HAMMER. UM, INCLUDES THINGS LIKE STREET SWEEPING AND NEW FAVORITE MARKINGS, WHICH YOU SEE HAPPENING. POTHOLE, PLANTER SIDEWALK REPAIR, ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT, UM, THAT WOULD BE DONE ANYWAY. BUT WE'VE JUST MADE SURE THEY WERE DONE IN TIME TO WELCOME OUR DELEGATES. UM, CRYSTAL JONES AND HER TEAM INSTALLED PERMANENT LIGHTING ON THE TORCH OF FRIENDSHIP, WHICH LOOKS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. UM, DAVID NEWMAN AND HIS TEAM SPRUCE UP ALL THE GARBAGE CANS DOWNTOWN, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT BIG OF A DEAL, BUT THEY LOOK AMAZING. UM, JORGE AND ALEX IN BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES AND THEIR TEAMS HAVE COORDINATED, UM, PAINTING OF THE PEDESTRIAN LIGHT POLES, CHANGING OUT LIGHT BULBS AND BULBS TO MAKE THEM MORE CONSISTENT AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE WORKING. UM, JOHN JACKS, JOHN STEVENS, ROBERT REN AND THEIR AMAZING TEAMS AT C C D O ARE, I'M SURPRISED STILL ANSWERING MY PHONE CALLS BECAUSE WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO SO MUCH SPRUCING UP DOWNTOWN. UM, THE BOTTOM PHOTO ON THE LEFT SHOWS LIGHTING, STREET LIGHTING GOING UP ACROSS LA OYA STREET IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS THERE. AND THAT'S GONNA BE A TOTAL GAME TRAIN CHANGER FOR LA OYA STREET. AND THAT'S A PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT. UM, C C D O IS ALSO WORKING TO ENHANCE LANDSCAPING, SPRUCING UP THE PARKING GARAGES, EVEN FIXING, UM, PUMPS FOR, UH, FOUNTAINS ON THE RIVERWALK. AND, UH, MANY OF OUR DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO BE ILLUMINATED AS PART OF THIS EFFORT THANKS TO, UH, JANET AND HER TEAM AT THE CE GROUP. BUT THE CITY IS PARTICIPATING IN THAT AS WELL BY LIGHTING OUR CITY BUILDINGS. UM, AND THANKS TO FUNDING FROM THE, UH, RIVERWALK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BOARD, UH, WE ARE ENHANCING LIGHTING ON THE RIVER LEVEL. YOU SEE TREE UP LIGHTING AND LIGHTING UNDER BRIDGES AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, ALL OF WHICH ARE PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS AND WILL BENEFIT, UM, CITIZENS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. AND THEN, UM, MY TEAM AT THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION HAS WORKED TO CREATE HUNDREDS OF LITTLE TIDBITS THAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE SIDEWALKS AROUND DOWNTOWN THAT WILL SERVE AS WAYFINDING. SOME OF THESE ARE ARE ABOUT TOURISM, SOME OF THEM ARE ABOUT HISTORY OR POPULAR CULTURE. UM, BUT A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT SAN ANTONIO. UH, WE ALSO HAVE NEW, UH, C P S LIGHTING ALL AROUND DOWNTOWN THAT IS, UH, CONSISTENT THANKS TO FINANCE AND PUBLIC WORKS AND C P S OF COURSE, UM, MURALS AND, UH, WINDOW ACTIVATIONS. THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRO AND THE ART EVERYWHERE PROGRAM, NEW CONSTRUCTION, SCRIMS, UH, C AND E AND EVEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING A NEW TEMPLATE FOR CONSTRUCTION SCRIMS THAT WILL BE USED BEYOND I P W. AND, UM, I T SS D GOT INVOLVED TO HELP US DEVELOP, UM, PURCHASE TEMPORARY WIFI UNITS FOR USE AT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR DURING I P W AND AFTER. AND SO MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS LIKE S A P D AND PARK POLICE, D H S, UM, PARKS, INSTALLED NEW GRASS AT TRAVIS PARK JUST IN TIME FOR I P W. AND SO, UM, I'M SURE THAT I FORGOT SOMEONE AND I'M VERY SORRY, BUT IT HAS REALLY BEEN AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH, UM, THIS TEAMWORK HAPPEN ACROSS THE CITY ORGANIZATION. AND I WANNA THANK LORI AND ERIC WITH, FOR TRUSTING ME WITH, UM, TRYING TO COORDINATE THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SHANNON. AND, UM, WE HAVE A, A SOMEONE ON THE DAIS WHO'S MODELING, UH, TODAY THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO OFFICIAL GUA. AND I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN ELIAS, FOR BEING THE MODEL TODAY. THANK YOU. IT'S RIDICULOUS HOW JEALOUS THE MAYOR IS OF MY SHIRT, . I LOVE IT. . SORRY, I COULDN'T HOLD THAT ONE IN. UM, BUT THEN ALSO MY COLLEAGUE, UH, IN D THREE, UH, SITS ON THE BOARD OF, OF, UH, DIRECTORS OF, UM, VISIT [00:40:01] SAN ANTONIO. AND SO I KNOW WE WISH WE COULD HAVE EXTENDED FIESTA, I'M SURE COUNCILWOMAN. UM, BUT WE ARE HAPPY AND AND PREPARED TO SHOW THE WORLD THE SAN ANTONIO TO THE WORLD. SO COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU. SO THIS IS FULL CIRCLE FOR ME. IN 2016, I MOVED OVER FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I LEFT TO GO WORK FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO. I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE MY CAREER, BUT HERE I AM ON THE DAAS. BUT I, I WAS SO PLEASED THAT THE MAYOR APPOINTED ME TO THE BOARD. AND I WAS BACK WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE IN 2016 WE WERE TALKING ABOUT I P W AND WHAT SORT OF GAME CHANGER THIS WAS. AND WHAT I LEARNED IS WHEN YOU TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE SAN ANTONIO IS. YOU TELL THEM, I'M FROM TEXAS, YOU DON'T TELL THEM YOU'RE FROM SAN ANTONIO UNLESS YOU'RE IN FRANCE. 'CAUSE THEY ALL KNOW WHO SAN ANTONIO IS NOW AND THEY DID BEFORE WITH TONY PARKER. BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO HIGHLIGHT OUR CITY AND THE SPECIALNESS OF OUR CITY. AND I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO HEAD DOWNTOWN, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THE CONVENTION. BE FRIENDLY, SMILE, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, UM, MAKE AN IMPRESSION AND THEY WANNA COME TO THE UNITED STATES, BUT WE WANT THEM TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO. WE WANT THEM TO MAKE THAT THEIR STOP ON THIS TRIP. SO I WANNA THANK, UM, MARK AND THE TEAM AND DAVID. 'CAUSE IN 2016 HE WAS HEADING THIS UP. MARK INHERITED IT, INHERITED THIS, AND HE JUST TOOK OFF WITH IT AND THE CITY DEPARTMENTS. LORI, I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR JUST LISTENING TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I ON, ON HOW WE STRESSED HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS AND IT'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND THIS IS GONNA BE A WIN FOR SAN ANTONIO. AND LET'S CELEBRATE ALL THE WINS WE'VE HAD THIS WEEK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. AND FINALLY, I SHOUT OUT, I GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ERIC WALSH EARLIER FOR TAKING ALL MY CRAZY CALLS ON I P W, BUT I THINK HE WANTS TO ADD SOMETHING AS WELL. WELL, IT WAS ONLY LIKE FOUR CALLS COUNCILWOMAN. BUT LISTEN, I I WANTED TO THANK SHANNON AND LORI FOR LEADING THE, THE TEAMS TO, TO GET READY AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH V S A. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE OVER 200 CITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED, UH, FOR NEXT WEEK'S EVENT. AND SO THIS IS, UH, NOT ONLY SUPER CRITICAL TO TO OUR, OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT UM, UH, TO THE ENTIRE CITY. AND I WANTED TO THANK THOSE 200 CITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED IN ADVANCE. THANKS, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER PIZ. THANKS. I I WISH MILLIE HOUSTON WERE HERE SO THAT I CAN HIGHLIGHT ONE MORE REASON WHY LORI SHOULD BE CELEBRATED FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK, LORI. UM, TO, TO OUR FRIENDS AT V S A I I, I JUST WANNA TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW. UM, WHEN, WHEN ALL OF US TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND WE MEET FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN TO SAN ANTONIO, THEY ALWAYS SAY THREE THINGS. AND IT'S THE THIRD ONE THAT I'M MOST PROUD OF. NUMBER ONE, THEY SAY, WOW, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. THE RIVER WALK, THE ALAMO, THE MISSIONS, RIGHT? ALWAYS TWO. WOW. THE FOOD, I'VE NEVER HAD BETTER FOOD, RIGHT? AND THREE, THE PEOPLE ARE JUST SO NICE. WHAT IS IT IN THE WATER THAT MAKES YOU GUYS SO NICE? RIGHT? UM, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT I'M MOST PROUD OF. MY CHALLENGE FOR YOU GOING FORWARD IS, UM, THAT WE INCLUDE MENTION OF THE PEOPLE, UM, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT MAKES US, US, RIGHT? I MEAN, RIVERWALK IS GREAT, FOOD IS FANTASTIC, BUT THE D N A OF THIS, WHAT WHAT MAKES THIS CITY FANTASTIC IS, IS OUR PEOPLE. AND SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, FUTURE VIDEOS WHERE MAYBE WE MENTION WHERE WE MENTION THAT BECAUSE I THINK, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING WORTH CELEBRATING. THANKS GUYS. THANK YOU. COUNCILS MEMBER PALAZ, THEY MENTIONED ONE OTHER THING. AND SO I HOPE MARK, THAT YOUR PARTNERS HAVE STOCKED UP ON SPURS JERSEYS THIS WEEK. 'CAUSE I THINK THEY'RE GONNA SELL PRETTY HOT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR V S A TEAM. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT WEEK AND SHOWING OFF OUR WONDERFUL CITY OF THE WORLD. CONGRATULATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU. OKAY, UH, WE HAVE, UH, A FEW FOLKS HERE FROM THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER, UH, HERITAGE, UH, CELEBRATION. AND SO IS NICOLETTE HERE. COME ON UP, NICOLETTE. IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO RECOGNIZE OUR ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY WITH A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF MAY 20, 20, 23, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH TO RECOGNIZE THE ENUMERABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, VIBRANT CULTURES AND RICH HERITAGE OF ASIAN AMERICANS, NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS. AND WE COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO WE HAVE LOST TO ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S THEME SELECTED BY FEDERAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN COUNCIL IS ADVANCING LEADERS THROUGH COLLABORATION, ENCOURAGING LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO PRIORITIZE COLLABORATION, DEVELOPMENT, DIVERSITY, TRANSPARENCY, [00:45:01] AND INCLUSION THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRAINING OF ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER PEOPLE. AND WHEREAS ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS CONTINUE SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN UNIFORM, ADVOCATING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, STARTING NEW BUSINESSES, AND PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN DRIVING OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD IN SHAPING ALL FACETS OF OUR SOCIETY, CULTURE AND DAILY LIFE. AND WHEREAS IN OBSERVANCE OF ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO DOWNTOWN CAMPUS WILL HOST ASIAN FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, MAY 27TH, 2023, A ONE DAY PERFORMANCE ENTERTAINMENT AND FOOD EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE ASIAN DIASPORA REPRESENTING IN SOUTH TEXAS AND SAN ANTONIO. NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NUREMBERG, THE FIRST MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER DESCENT IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2023 TO BE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. AND ENCOURAGE OUR LOCAL LEADERS TO LEND A HAND TO THOSE IN NEED AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO ADVANCE AS WELL AND REMIND EVERYONE THAT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS CITY IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NICOLETTE. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND FLOOR IS YOURS. AWESOME. GOOD MORNING. HI. HELLO EVERYONE. MOBU. HI, I'M NICOLETTE ANTE. MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HERSHA. I'M HONORED TO BE IN FRONT OF Y'ALL. UM, ON BEHALF OF ASIAN TEXANS FOR JUSTICE AND THE GREATER ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY, UM, ASIAN TEXANS FOR JUSTICE IS A 5 0 1 C THREE STATEWIDE NON-PROFIT, UH, NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION, REALLY COMMITTED TO UPLIFTING THE A E P I TEXAN COMMUNITY THROUGH CIVIC ACTION. WE DO THAT BY BUILDING UPON THE POLITICAL AND PERSONAL POWER. SO WE'RE REALLY HONORED TO BE IN FRONT OF Y'ALL AGAIN TODAY. UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE UNIQUE VASTNESS AND THE DIVERSITY OF THE A A P I COMMUNITY, WE'RE TALKING MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES, HUNDREDS OF LANGUAGES, HUNDREDS OF RELIGIONS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RICH CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR ANCESTORS, THE MOMENTS OF HISTORY THAT BUILT THIS STRONG NATION, AND EVEN MORE NOTABLY, THE DYNAMIC CUISINES THAT REALLY INVIGORATE TODAY'S SOCIETY. THE A A P I TEXAN COMMUNITY MAKES UP OVER 1.9 MILLION FOLKS IN ALL PARTS OF THIS STATE WHO WORK, LIVE AND THRIVE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE THE FASTEST GROWING RACE ETHNIC RACIAL GROUP IN THE NATION. AND THIS A A P I HERITAGE MONTH'S RECOGNITION FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO REALLY CONTINUES THAT COMMITMENT BETWEEN LOCAL CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE A A P I COMMUNITY TO KEEP THE A A P I COMMUNITY. TOP OF MIND ALL POLICY IS ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER POLICY. ALL POLICY IS BLACK POLICY, ALL POLICY IS LATINX POLICY. ALL POLICY AFFECTS EVERYONE. SO WE ALSO ASK THAT WITH THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND THE CONTINUED SPUR OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES THROUGHOUT THE NATION, WE LOOK TO Y'ALL FOR SAFETY AND FOR SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR OUR FAMILIES. AND WHILE VIOLENCE AGAINST THE THE AGE, THE A P I COMMUNITY HAS NOT STOPPED, NEITHER HAS OUR RESILIENCE, NEITHER OUR BELIEF IN IN THE POWER OF OUR COLLECTIVE ACTION. UH, WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO START, UH, CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I REMEMBER STANDING HERE A ACTUALLY ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO TODAY WITH, THERE WERE A COUPLE MORE FOLKS, SOME, UH, FAMILIAR FACES, SOME NEW FACES, BUT, UM, WE WERE JOINED BY A DIFFERENT A A P I COMMUNITY LEADERS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND EVERYDAY FOLKS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING A BETTER SAN ANTONIO FOR ALL. I MADE A POINT TO TALK ABOUT ACTUAL LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY AND HOW OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S ACTUAL LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY DEPARTMENT IS IMPLEMENTING ARABIC, VIETNAMESE, PTO AND TAGALOG. OUR COMMUNITIES WILL BE SEEN, HEARD, AND REPRESENTED EVEN MORE SO IN THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION. AND IT WOULDN'T BE A A P I HERITAGE MONTH WITHOUT THE CELEBRATION OF OUR DIVERSE HERITAGE. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, MAYOR ASIAN FESTIVAL, WHICH IS COMING BACK BIGGER THAN EVER, UM, SINCE THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY BACK IN 2019, UH, WHEN IT WAS OVER AT I T C. SO WE, WE INVITE ALL OF Y'ALL, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO REALLY JOIN US AT THE U T S A DOWNTOWN CAMPUS, CELEBRATE WITH US, LEARN WITH US, AND CELEBRATE NOT ONLY THE VIBRANCY AND JOY OF THE A A P I COMMUNITY. I WANNA TURN THE MIC OVER TO MY BESTIE, UH, CAMILLE DE LOS REYES WITH ARI, THE ENTIRE EMPIRE TO TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY, UM, OUR, UH, SAN ANTONIO A A P I HERITAGE MONTH PASSPORT PROGRAM, BUT ALSO ASIAN FESTIVAL A LITTLE BIT MORE. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU NICOLETTE, FOR THE NICE INTRODUCTION. UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, HONORABLE MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS ON ANOTHER TWO YEARS. SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE YOU AT THE HOME OF OUR CITY, ALONG WITH THE WONDERFUL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, IN YOUR COMPANY. UM, WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE AGAIN FOR THE SECOND YEAR TO PROCLAIM, UM, MAY AS A A P I HERITAGE MONTH. UM, IT WAS YOUR PROCLAMATION LAST YEAR THAT I THINK REALLY SET, UM, [00:50:01] THIS YEAR'S PROGRESS. IN COURSE. LAST YEAR I WAS BEING ASKED WHAT WAS BEING DONE TO CELEBRATE THE A A P I COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S WHEN WE FIRST CAME UP WITH, UM, THE PASSPORT PROGRAM, WHICH WAS JUST TO HIGHLIGHTS, UM, LOCAL BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA. A A P I OWNED AP, A A P I OPERATED BUSINESSES SO THAT WE CAN INVITE THE WHOLE OF SAN ANTONIO TO COME AND HEAR THE STORIES OF ALL THE DIFFERENT BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY, THAT HAVE SET UP SHOP, AND ARE HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. UM, SINCE LAST YEAR, I'VE SEEN MORE A A P I EVENTS ALL AROUND THE CITY. UM, THE ASIAN FESTIVAL IS COMING TO THE CULMINATION DURING, AT THE END OF MAY TO CELEBRATE ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES HERE. WE HAVE LOVELY, UM, A A A P I RESTAURANT OWNERS AND REALLY IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WANNA SEE THIS COMMUNITY THRIVE AND GROW. I THINK WE'RE READY FOR OUR COMMUNITY CENTER. I THINK THE ASIAN COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE YEARLY, TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLATFORM TO SHARE OUR STORIES, UM, TO SHARE OUR DANCES, TO SHARE, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR CULTURE AND OUR SPORTS WITH I P W COMING THIS YEAR AND WITH OUR NEWLY ACQUISITION WITH THE SPURS, I THINK ALLIES ARE GONNA BE ON SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE GONNA GET SO MANY MORE TOURISTS, SO MANY MORE VISITORS, AND WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THEM. WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THEM ASIAN FOOD BECAUSE IT EXISTS HERE. SO MANY COUNTRIES FROM VIETNAMESE TO CAMBODIAN TO FILIPINO, AND WE'RE READY FOR IT AND WE'RE HERE FOR IT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GIVING US THE PLATFORM AND FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR HAVING US CATER YOUR EVENTS, UM, FOR HAVING US SPEAK AT YOUR EVENTS. WE'RE VERY HONORED AND WE'RE READY FOR IT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, THIS IS ERICA AND ING, JUST REALLY QUICK. , UH, MY NAME'S ERICA SHIMA. MORA, I HAVE A NON, A SMALL LITTLE NONPROFIT FOR GOODNESS, UH, PROJECT INCORPORATED. UM, WHAT I TRY TO DO IS SHOWCASE ON A SMALL MOLECULAR LEVEL OUR LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES WHO NOT ONLY ADVOCATE, BUT ALSO HOLD SPACE FOR ASIAN OWNED BUSINESSES, CREATIVES, ARTISTS, CURATORS. AND SO WHAT I DO IS I, UH, TAKE A HUMBLE APPROACH TO HOSTING EVENTS. SO LUNAR NEW YEAR MARKETS. I'M LAUNCHING ASIAN NIGHT MARKETS ON A REGULAR BASIS MONTHLY. AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT THIS WEEKEND. I'M HAVING ONE AT JEFFERSON BODEGA FROM 11 TO THREE. SO WE'RE JUST SHOWCASING ALL OF THE AMAZING ASIAN OWNED BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS AND THE AMAZING FOOD THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE THAT'S OUR LOVE LANGUAGE, RIGHT? WE FEED YOU. AND I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AND TO REALLY BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE HOW AMAZING OUR CITY IS. YEAH, I GUESS I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY. I GUESS I'M BEING PUT ON THE SPOT. BUT , I'M LEWIS SINGH OF SINGH'S VIETNAMESE ON, UH, ST. MARY'S. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO RON. THANK YOU TO SOME OF YOU THAT WORKING PERSONALLY, WE'RE IN MARIO'S DISTRICT. Y'ALL HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF US AND, UH, BEYOND THE A A P I COMMUNITY, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THESE WONDERFUL LADIES AND, UH, THEIR DRIVE. BUT WE'RE JUST PROUD TO CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME. WE'RE PART TO BE A FABRIC, UH, OF THE CITY. AND I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR I P W. I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR A A P I, I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR WIMPY WOO WOO AND, UH, APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S SUPPORT AND, UH, HELPING US MAKE THIS CITY, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WE KNOW IT CAN BE AND KEEP ADDING TO THE STORY. SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THANKS EVERYBODY. OH, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH GUYS. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, RECOGNIZE LEWIS SINGH, WHO'S UP HERE RIGHT NOW AS PART OF YOUR GROUP, UM, WHO IS THE OWNER OF SINGH'S VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT ON NORTH ST. MARY'S STRIP. AND I, I, BUT I UNDERSTAND, LEWIS, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOUR FOOD IS NOW FEATURED AT SPURS GAMES IS OFFERED AT SPURS GAMES. AND SO I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THAT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, OFFERING GREAT FOOD OPTIONS FOR ALL OF OUR SPURS FANS HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN BRAVO. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. OKAY. UM, I BELIEVE WE HA WE HAVE OUR A A P I RESTAURANT WEEK PASSPORTS. SEE, NICOLETTE OR CAMILLE, IF YOU WANT ONE . YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. I THINK, UM, CHIEF MCMANUS IS HERE. CHIEF FAS, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. IF Y'ALL COULD COME FORWARD, [00:55:01] I'LL READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION AND THEN TURN THE FLOOR OVER. WHEREAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS DESIGNATED MAY 14TH THROUGH THE 20TH, 2023 AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK AND MAY 15TH, 2023, AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY. AND WHEREAS POLICE OFFICERS SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES DAILY TO UPHOLD THE LAWS ENACTED BY ITS PEOPLE AND WITHOUT THEIR DEVOTION TO DUTY, AND THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE ARE MANY FREEDOMS AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS COULD BE CIRCUMVENTED BY PERSONS INTENDING TO ON HARMING SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE NECESSITY OF COOPERATING WITH THEM AND MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER. AND WHEREAS AN ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON MAY 26TH, 2023 TO HONOR THE 62 MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO THROUGH, THROUGH WHO THROUGH THEIR COURAGEOUS DEEDS, HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY. NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 26TH, 2023 TO BE SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICER'S MEMORIAL DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND EXTEND SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE SECURITY AND WELLBEING OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. CHIEF, CHIEF, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL. WE, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THIS, THIS, UH, RECOGNITION, UH, AND, AND THE SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY. UH, IT REALLY IS BITTERSWEET FOR US. UH, WELL, WE, WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND, UH, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THE WORK, UH, THAT WE ALL DO. UH, ON BEHALF OF CHIEF OF MCMANUS AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT, WE TRULY APPRECIATE IT, BUT IT'S ALSO BITTERSWEET, UH, AND THAT IT'S SAD, UH, FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN OFFICERS OF 62 THAT THE MAYOR MENTIONED. IT'S, IT'S VERY SAD. UM, IT'S RELIVING, UM, THOSE, UM, INCIDENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. UH, SO IT'S REALLY SAD KIND OF WEEK AND, UM, UH, AS WE GO THROUGH THESE CELEBRATIONS AND THESE MEMORIALS, UH, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS. UM, BUT WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE APPRECIATE, UM, EVERYONE UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICES THAT THE 62 FALLEN HAVE MADE. UM, BUT WE APPRECIATE THIS PROCLAMATION, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT, UM, FROM ALL OF YOU AND FROM OUR COMMUNITY. UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL CITY MANAGEMENT, APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF CHIEF MCMANUS IN THE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR US EVERY DAY. ANOTHER ROUND FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH GUYS. ALRIGHT. UM, THERE ARE SOME FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY THAT I THINK ARE SKIPPING SCHOOL FOR GOOD REASON. JEAN RUSSELL, COME ON UP. UM, I WANT TO READ THIS FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION, THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION PROJECT W TEEN AMBASSADORS AND OTHER LOCAL PARTNERS WILL HOST TEEN TEENS DAY ESSAY ON MAY 20TH, 23 TO THE RISE REC AT THE RISE RECOVERY CENTER. AND WHEREAS THE YOUTH DESIGNED EVENT WILL CELEBRATE HEALTH AND WELLNESS BY PROVIDING FREE ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDITATION, BODY IMAGE, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND MUCH MORE IN A SAFE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT. AND WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION AND PROJECT WORTH TEEN AMBASSADORS WORK TOWARDS PROVIDING VISIBILITY TO IMPORTANT YOUTH ISSUES AND PROMOTING THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN AND TEENS IN SAN ANTONIO. AND WHEREAS THROUGH THEIR MANY ACTIVITIES, THESE RESPECTABLE ORGANIZATIONS HELP SET THE PATHWAY FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS TO LEARN ESSENTIAL VALUES AND SOCIAL SKILLS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL ADULTS. NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 20TH, 2023 TO BE TEENS DAY ESSAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JULIA DOKI AND I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION AND SERVE AS ONE OF THE MAYORAL REPRESENTATIVES. I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING MAYOR NURENBERG AND ALL OF CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR TIME AND FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT OF THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION AND PROJECT WORTH TEEN AMBASSADORS. THESE ARE TWO ORGANIZATIONS EMPOWERING YOUTH, AND IT MEANS A LOT TO SEE OUR CITY LEADERS SUPPORTING AND LISTENING TO OUR VOICES IN SAN ANTONIO. MY COLLEAGUES IN THE YOUTH COMMISSION AND TEEN AMBASSADORS HAVE PUT TOGETHER THESE GIFT BAGS AS A TOKEN OF OUR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THEY INCLUDE A GREEN RIBBON PIN ON THE BAG, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE US WEARING TODAY, WHICH STANDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND NATIONAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH MONTH. AND WE HOPE THIS PIN SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACING OUR COMMUNITY, ONE QUARTER OF WHICH IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18. FROM THE TEEN MENTAL HEALTH SURVEYS TO THE MICROGRANTS. WE JUST APPROVED THE YOUTH COMMISSION. AND TEEN AMBASSADORS [01:00:01] HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR PEERS AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED HAS PUSHED US TO ACTION. WE RECENTLY APPROVED MICROGRANTS FOR 32 SCHOOLS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS. AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS A GREAT START, THE COMMISSION'S MICRO GRANT PROJECT HIGHLIGHTED THE SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR MORE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF MIDDLE, HIGH AND ELEMENTARY AGED YOUTH. THERE ARE STILL MORE THAN 100 APPLICATIONS THAT COULD USE FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE YOUTH IN THEIR SCHOOLS. YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO RECOMMENDATIONS YOUTH LEADERS HAVE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE EMPOWERS US TO SPEAK UP FOR THE CAUSES WE BELIEVE IN, MAKES A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND PUSHES US TO BECOME LEADERS THAT WE LOOK UP TO LEADERS LIKE YOU. ON BEHALF OF THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS, WE'D LIKE TO CORDIALLY INVITE ALL OF YOU AND ANYONE 12 AND OLDER TO OUR EVENT THIS WEEKEND. TEENS DAY SA THIS EVENT IS A SUMMIT FOR LEARNING AMONG YOUTH AND IS A PASSION PROJECT LED BY HEALTHY FUTURES OF TEXAS AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION PROJECT WORTH TEEN AMBASSADORS AND MANY OTHER YOUTH-LED ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. TO ALL THE CITY LEADERS HERE WHO SUPPORTED US THROUGH THE 20 21 20 23 TERM, THANK YOU. YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL TO OUR GROUP AND HELPS US TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF HELPING YOUTH ACROSS THE CITY. FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, WE THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ELLA DANICA APE. I AM A PROJECT 14 AMBASSADOR AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT FOUR YOUTH COMMISSIONER FOR THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION. IT IS MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO SPEAK WITH Y'ALL TODAY. UM, FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN A PROJECT 14 AMBASSADOR, HELPING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THE IMMEASURABLE SKILLS AND LEARNING THAT I HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH THE PROJECT 14 AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WILL HELP ME, WILL HELP ME IN MY FUTURE. UM, AND BEING A MEMBER OF THE PROJECT 14 AMBASSADORS, I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PLAN THE TEENS DAY ESSAY SUMMIT FOR LEADERS AMONGST YOUTH EVENT THAT IS HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY, MAY 20TH. THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY HAS ALLOWED ME TO CONNECT WITH THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. AS A PART OF THE PLANNING TEAM, I HAVE WORKED TO ENSURE THIS EVENT REMAINS YOUTH-LED AND YOUTH-DRIVEN. I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR MAYOR FOR ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS OF THE YOUTH IN SAN ANTONIO AND SUPPORTING OUR ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU FOR HELPING BUILD A BETTER SAN ANTONIO FOR ALL THE YOUTH IN OUR CITY. CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND I'M GONNA ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SEE IF WE CAN DO THIS SUPER EFFICIENTLY. WE'RE ALL GONNA GO DOWN THERE AND STAND WITH OUR COMMISSION MEMBERS AND TAKE A QUICK PHOTO. AND IF WE CAN DO THAT WITHIN TWO AND A HALF MINUTES, I'LL CALL IT SUCCESS. I, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION AND PATIENCE. IF YOU ARE, ARE WAITING FOR YOUR ITEM, YOUR CEREMONIAL, UH, PLEASE KNOW THAT WITH A FULL CHAMBER. IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO HAVE [01:05:01] THESE THINGS RECOGNIZED BY A WATER, UH, WATER SWATH OF OUR, OF OUR PUBLIC. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE GET THROUGH THESE . NOW, UM, I DO WANNA MARK AN OCCASION AS WELL. FIREFIGHTER SCOTT DEEM DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON MAY 18TH, 2017. THAT WAS SIX YEARS AGO. HIS ASSIGNED FIRE COMPANY WAS DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE OF A WORKING STRUCTURE FIRE IN A STRIP MALL ON INGRAM ROAD. THE FIRE QUICKLY WENT TO MULTIPLE ALARMS AND SCOTT BECAME DISORIENTED, WAS LOST IN THE BUILDING, AND ULTIMATELY SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES FROM THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ARSON. SCOTT ENTERED THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT ON JANUARY 3RD, 2011, AND WAS ASSIGNED A LADDER 35 ON THE, A SHIFT ON THE NIGHT OF THAT FIRE. HE SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE JENNIFER, HIS DAUGHTER DAKOTA, AND HIS SON TYLER. I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, FIRE CHIEF HOOD, UH, TO GIVE US SOME REMARKS. MAYOR. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL, AGAIN, THIS IS A, UM, UH, A SCAB THAT GETS PULLED OFF EVERY DATE THIS YEAR, UH, EVERY DAY WHEN THIS COMES UP. UM, FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE THERE, UM, A LOT OF THEM ARE HURTING TODAY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT KNEW SCOTT AND LOVE SCOTT. UM, THERE'S A BIG GAP LEFT BECAUSE OF THAT. SO WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, FIRST OF ALL, TO HONOR SCOTT'S LIFE BY TAKING CARE OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE SERVE, BY TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER, TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE TRULY STILL HURTING, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME FOR US. SO I WANNA THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE BEHIND ME. THE JOB THAT WE DO IS VERY DANGEROUS. WE CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCES LIKE THIS AND THOSE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO MAKE US SAFER. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT. UH, SCOTT WILL BE SORELY MISSED, ALWAYS REMEMBERED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF HOOD, AND, AND IN RECOGNITION OF, UH, FIREFIGHTER SCOTT DEEM, AND TO HONOR HIS MEMORY, ATLAST. NOW FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE LOST ANOTHER TREASURED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY RECENTLY. UM, AND SO I'D LIKE TO CALL, UH, THE FAMILY OF RAMON VASQUEZ AS SANCHEZ TO COME FORWARD. UH, BEFORE I TURN OVER THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, I'M GOING TO RE A MEMORIAL DEDICATION. ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR DEEPEST CONSULTS ON THE LOSS OF YOUR LOVED ONE. BORN IN THE ALAMO CITY, RAMON GREW UP IN ALL APACHE COURTS, NESTLED IN THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. HE ATTENDED RIDGE ELEMENTARY AND GRADUATED FROM LANIER HIGH SCHOOL. AND FROM AN EARLY A AGE, RAMON DEMONSTRATED A GIFT FOR THE ARTS FROM REPRESENTING LANIER IN THE FIRST ALAMO DISTRICT SCIENCE FAIR AT INCARNATE WORD COLLEGE, WITH HIS AWARD-WINNING HOMEMADE ROCKET PROJECT TO, TO PAINTING FAMILY PORTRAITS AND PLAYING A VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS. RAMON WAS DESTINED FOR GREATNESS. SUCCESS WOULD CONTINUE TO FOLLOW RAMON LEADING HIS BAND, THE CHANCELLORS, TO WIN THE SAN ANTONIO BATTLE OF THE BANDS IN 1959, SOON AFTER HE ATTENDED SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, WHERE HE JOINED THE INCA. SO SOCIAL CLUB, HE WOULD GO ON TO MARY GLORIA CAMARILLO IN 1962 AND HAVE THREE CHILDREN, RAMON, JUAN VASQUEZ, EDNA MARIE VASQUEZ, AND MARISOL VASQUEZ. THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, RAMON ACCOMPLISHED MANY FEATS DURING HIS TIME AS THE BEXAR COUNTY AT THE BEXAR COUNTY ARCHIVES, ALONGSIDE HIS COMPADRE, RICARDO SANTOS, THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF MANY HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND CO-AUTHORED NARRATIVES THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MEXICAN AMERICANS IN TEXAS HISTORY. HIS EFFORTS IN PRESERVATION ALSO INCLUDED CREATING AND PUBLISHING WEEKLY CO COATS OF ARMS, MEXICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES FOR LATA NEWSPAPER AND THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS. THROUGH HIS TALENT AND ARTWORK, RAMON BEGAN TO GARNER THE ATTENTION OF SPECTATORS WORLDWIDE, RECEIVING NUMEROUS INVITATIONS TO EXHIBIT HIS ARTWORK ACROSS THE WORLD. HIS LOVE FOR THE ALAMO CITY CAN BE SEEN IN VARIOUS PROJECTS HE CONTRIBUTED TO THROUGH HIS, THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER. BUT ONE OF HIS MOST TREASURED WAS CO-FOUNDING THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION CENTRO AL ATAN. HE WAS SERVED AS A CENTRO CULTURAL ATAN ARTS DIRECTOR FOR OVER 30 YEARS, WHERE HIS CONTINUED EFFORTS TO REFLECT THE ACTIVISM AND BARRIO JUSTICE WITH HIS FELLOW CHICANO ACTIVIST AND FRAN CARLOS GONZALEZ, CENTRO AL AT ALLAN BECAME THE FIRST TO REVITALIZE THE CULTURAL PRACTICE OF DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. AND THE FIRST TO BRING THE LOW RIDER CAR SHOWS TO SAN ANTONIO. THEIR LEADERSHIP BEGAN AND HELPED RECOGNIZE AND, AND CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF THE MEXICAN [01:10:01] AMERICAN, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE ALGO ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 1848. ANOTHER NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENT DURING RAMON SERVICE AT CUL CENTRO AL ATAN WAS THE CREATION AND ORIGINATION OF THE PASEO DEMAR PARADE IN HONOR OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEXICAN AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT IN THE WORLD WARS AND SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF AMERICA. HIS PASSING LEAVES US MOURNING THE LOSS OF A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN, AN AWARD-WINNING ARTIST, CULTURALIST ACTIVIST, AND MUCH MORE HIS LEGACY WILL FOREVER LIVE ON AND HIS EXTENSIVE BODIES OF WORK. BUT MOREOVER, IN ALL THOSE, HE TOUCHED THROUGHOUT HIS IMAGINATIVE AND GOOD NATURED RYE HUMOR. ALTHOUGH YOUR HEARTS ARE LEFT WITH A VOID, WE HOPE YOUR FAMILY WILL BE CONSOLED BY THE MEMORIES OF HIS EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND THE LOVE OF HE HAD FOR HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY. WE KNOW HIS SMILE WILL FOREVER REMAIN ETCHED IN OUR MEMORIES. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL JOIN YOU IN YOUR SORROW AND EXTEND OUR SERIOUS EX SINCEREST EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS OF COMFORT TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR TO HIM, PRESENTED THIS DAY, 18 MAY, 2023, RAMON, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, UH, THERE'S ONE THING I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THE MAYOR DIDN'T 'CAUSE HE HIGHLIGHTED ALL MY THINGS, BUT, UH, WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE PROBABLY 15 YEARS AGO WE WOULDN'T DO THIS, BUT WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE USED THE VOICE AND BECAUSE YOUR LOVED ONE 'CAUSE RAMON VASQUEZ IS SANCHEZ SAID, WE NEED TO USE OUR VOICE. AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. AND WE'RE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND UNDERSTAND THAT SOMEONE WHO HELPED GET BROWN PEOPLE LIKE ME ON THIS DIOCESE HAS PASSED. AND WE NEED TO COMMEMORATE THAT. AND THE ONE THING I WANNA STRESS IS THE 1988, UTILIZING THE INDIAN REC RE REORGANIZATION ACT. RAMON HELPED REORGANIZE THE MISSION DESCENDANT FAMILIES OF NORTHEASTERN MEXICO AND SOUTH TEXAS, UM, TO THE AMERICAN INDIANS IN TEXAS AT THE SPANISH COLONIAL MISSIONS. AND THAT, THAT WAS HUGE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE AN IDENTITY BEFORE THEN. AND WE ARE WORKING TO FIND OUR IDENTITY, AND WE'RE WORKING TO FIND OUR LEGACY BECAUSE OF HIS WORK. AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR CONTINUING TO, UH, HIS WORK. AND MARIA, I SEND MY CONDOLENCES BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T EASY, BUT THIS IS LIFE AND WE CELEBRATE IT TODAY. AND RAMON, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO JUST SHARE, UM, ABOUT YOUR FATHER AND, UM, AND, AND WHAT WE, WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, COUNCIL, UM, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR BESTOWING THIS HONOR ON MY FATHER AND MY FAMILY, COUNCILWOMAN . THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS. MY FATHER WAS A LIFE LONG, UM, RESIDENT THREE, UH, MEMBER, DISTRICT THREE MEMBERS. SO, UM, SO MANY OF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MY FATHER MADE TO THIS CITY. UM, UH, HE SERVED FOR MANY YEARS ON THE HISTORIC REVIEW AND DESIGN COMMISSION AS A COMMISSION FOR THE CITY. HE WAS HIS CHAIRMAN FOR THE PUBLIC ARTS FOR THIS CITY. UM, HE WAS THE FIRST APPOINTED A MEMBER TO THE BEXAR COUNTY HISTORICAL, UM, COMMISSION FOR THIS COUNTY. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN, MY FATHER, LED MANY CHARGES, MANY CHARGES THAT TODAY THAT FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD, WILL ATTEST TO, LIKE ROGER PEREZ AND SENATOR, UH, JOSE MENENDEZ WHO'VE GONE ON TO DO OTHER GREAT THINGS, UM, HAVE VALUED MY FATHER'S, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS. AND SO IT MEANS A LOT TO MY FAMILY. UM, WE'VE CONTINUE TO, TO LIFT UP HIS NAME AND HIS WORK, UH, THROUGH THE AMERICAN INDIANS IN TEXAS, WHICH HE CO-FOUNDED, UM, COUNCILWOMAN CASTRO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE LOVE AND HISTORY THAT YOU AND MY FATHER SHARED, UM, AS LUCIA DORES IN THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES FOR, UM, OUR CIVIL RIGHTS THAT WE ENJOY AND TAKE LIBERTY TODAY. UH, YOU AND MY FATHER WERE CHAMPIONS IN THAT AREA. UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR YOUR, UM, FOR YOUR LOVE AND FOR YOUR MOTHER BABYSITTING MY DAD'S CHILDREN WHEN WE WERE LITTLE, RIGHT? SO, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN. JUST, UM, WE, WE APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UM, AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR YOUR, UM, CONFIDENCE IN MY FATHER. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. [01:15:09] ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE ANOTHER, I HAVE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. UM, AND SO IF I CAN GET THE TEAM THAT'S HERE FOR CONFLUENCE PARK TO COME ON UP. UM, SO THE, THE TEAM OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER FOUNDATION, LAKE PLATO ARCHITECTS AND MAZES, UM, HAVE WON AN AWARD. AND IT'S, IT'S NO SURPRISE, AND I COULD SAY THIS, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARKS IN DISTRICT THREE, UH, IS CONFLUENCE PARK. AND THEY WON THE A I A COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT TOP 10 AWARD OF 2023. CONFLUENCE PARK IS KNOWN AS A DESTINATION FOR LEARNING AND RECREATION. UM, IT, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO OUT TO IT, BUT I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE. IT'S, UM, IT'S SENT, IT HAS SET A STANDARD FOR DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND I LOVE TELLING THE STORY BECAUSE IT USED TO BE JUST A PARKING LOT FOR CITY VEHICLES. AND NOW IT'S THIS DESTINATION SPOT WHERE YOU, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE THERE IN THE RIVER. UH, WE'VE HOSTED SEVERAL EVENTS THERE. UH, WE DO OUR ANNUAL GLOW OUT IN HONOR OF EARTH DAY. THERE, THERE'S MOVIES THERE, UM, MUSICIANS COME AND PLAY THERE. AND IT'S JUST, IT'S A CREATIVE CONFLUENCE. AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THE BUTTERFLIES, UH, THERE ALSO. BUT, UM, IT'S CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN. IT'S IN MY BACKYARD, AND IT'S JUST AN EASY ENJOYMENT OF AMENITIES. SO I WANNA INVITE LAKE LAKE UHTO TEAM AND FREIS ARE HERE TO SHARE ABOUT THE AWARD, AND I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE. FREIS YOU WANNA SHARE. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN. AND, UH, I WANNA THANK ALL OF THIS COUNCIL PAST COUNCILS, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER FOUNDATION. AND WE ARE THE ONLY NONPROFIT WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO STEWARD OUR RIVER. UM, BUT WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM THE CITY. UM, I, BUT I ESPECIALLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE D THREE OFFICE AND THE STAFF. THEY'RE WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH. UM, BOTH COUNCILWOMEN GRO HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH. UM, WHILE I WISH I COULD TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS AWARD, UM, I THINK ALL THE FOUNDATION CAN DO IS TAKE CREDIT FOR A VISION OF TRYING TO INSPIRE STEWARDSHIP AND OF OUR NATIVE ECOLOGY AND OUR RIVER. UM, FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE BEST TEAM EVER TOGETHER. SO I'M GOING TO YIELD, UM, THIS TIME TO MY COLLEAGUE SONNY DIAZ, WHO CAN SPEAK MORE TO THE CODE AWARD THAN I EVER WOULD BE ABLE TO . THANK YOU, BRADY. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN GRO. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M SONNY DIAZ WITH LAKE PLATO ARCHITECTS, AND WE WORKED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER FOUNDATION AND, UH, MATS, WHO IS ONE OF THE ARTISTS ON BOARD TO WORK ON CONFLUENCE PARK. UM, SO WE WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT TODAY JUST ABOUT WHAT IS THE, A I WE SAY COAT AWARD, THE COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT. UM, THE CO COAT IS A COMMITTEE WITHIN THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS WHO RECOGNIZES 10 PROJECTS ANNUALLY ON A GLOBAL BASIS. SO WE ARE SO PROUD TODAY THAT CONFLUENCE PARK IS TAKING HOME ONE OF THESE AWARDS RIGHT HERE TO SAN ANTONIO. UM, THIS ISN'T AN AWARD THAT'S BASED ON HOW GOOD THE BUILDING LOOKS, OR, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW PRETTY IT IS. THIS IS AN AWARD THAT IS BASED ON NUMBERS AND MEASURED SUCCESS OF THE MOST HOLISTIC, SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS WITHIN THE WORLD. SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. UM, HERE IN SAN ANTONIO LAKE PLATO ARCHITECTS, WE HOLD THE HIGHEST RECORD NUMBER OF CODE AWARDS WITHIN ANY OTHER ARCHITECTURE FIRM IN THE WORLD. AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE VERY PROUD OF. UM, THIS BEATS OUT ANY OTHER AWARDS IN OUR PROFESSION AND ALL OF OUR PROJECTS. WE TRY TO START THE CORE DESIGN PRINCIPLES WITH HOW CAN WE BE THE MOST SUSTAINABLE AND HOW CAN WE BE RECORD BREAKING WITH OUR ATTEMPTS AND PROJECTS. THANKFULLY, WE HAVE VERY VISIONARY CLIENTS LIKE THE RIVER FOUNDATION. UM, AND THIS WAS A HUGE COLLABORATION. SO SOME OF, I WANNA TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF MEASURES THAT WE REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, TOOK AND HIT HOME WITH CONFLUENCE PARK. AND SO THE COMMITTEE TAKES A LOOK AT A NUMBER OF MEASURES FROM COMMUNITY ECOLOGY, WATER VERSUS CHANGE IN DISCOVERY. AND SO THE ONES WE REALLY FOCUSED ON FOR CONFLUENCE PARK OR ECOSYSTEMS, WATER COMMUNITY AND INTEGRATION. AND SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN, IN THE ARCHITECTURAL WORLD? AND SO ECOSYSTEMS, THIS WAS A TRANSFORMATION OF A THREE AND A HALF ACRE PARKING LOT, RIGHT ALONG THE CONFLUENCE OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AND THE SAN PEDRO CREEK. AND SO THIS WAS A INSANELY IMPORTANT PIECE OF PROPERTY, UM, IN THE D THREE DISTRICT. AND SO WHAT WE DID WAS TRANSFORM THAT WITH THOUSANDS OF NATIVE PLANTS AND FLORA AND FAUNA, AND REALLY REPRESENTED WHAT A REVITALIZATION [01:20:02] LOOKS LIKE ALONG THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER. UM, IN TERMS OF THE, UH, THE, UM, THE WATER STORY HERE, IT'S ONE OF THE RIVER FOUNDATION'S MAIN GOALS IS TO EXPRESS HOW WE ARE STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT ALONG THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WATERWAYS. AND SO IF YOU THINK OF A NORMAL PAVILION IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU THINK OF, WELL, HOW DO WE BUILD SOMETHING THAT PROTECTS US FROM THE HOT SUMMER SUN? AND YOU THINK OF, WELL, LET'S BUILD A PAVILION THAT LOOKS LIKE A, A BIG UMBRELLA AND WE CAN ALL HANG OUT AND HAVE FUN AND HAVE FESTIVALS UNDERNEATH IT. BUT FOR THIS PROJECT, WE WERE CHALLENGED TO SAY, WELL, HOW DO WE BRING WATER TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE VISITORS' EXPERIENCE? AND THE WAY WE DID THAT IS TO THINK ABOUT THIS PAVILION AS MORE OF A FUNNEL THAN AN UMBRELLA. AND THAT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE DESIGN PROCESS WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO SHOWCASE AND CELEBRATE OUR RAIN EVENTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND SO WE COLLECT OVER 300,000 GALLONS OF WATER ANNUALLY, AND WE COLLECT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE STORM WATER RUNOFF ON SITE BEFORE AND FILTER THAT ON SITE BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER. SO, SUPER PROUD TO HAVE BEEN AWARDED THIS AWARD HERE IN OUR HOMETOWN OF SAN ANTONIO, AND, UM, HOPE THAT THERE ARE MORE TO COME. THANK YOU, FREDDY. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THE, THE, UH, WORD OF THE DAY, WHICH IS SUSTAINABILITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. THANK YOU. IF, IF I MAY JUST ADD ONE POINT, UM, THE PARK OPENED IN MARCH OF 2018. UM, SO I'M REALLY PROUD TO SAY THROUGH EFFORTS WITH DISTRICT THREE, WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE RIVER AUTHORITY, WE HAVE WELCOMED MORE THAN 80,000 STUDENTS AND PARTICIPANTS. AND THAT'S LOSING A WHOLE YEAR TO COVID. SO THE PARK IS THE SUSTAINABLE, BUT THAT COMMUNITY ASPECT THAT SONNY REFERENCED, IT'S A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE CHANGING LIVES ONE LIFE AT A TIME. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. ALRIGHT. I SEE A LOT OF STUDENTS WAITING IN THE WINGS. UH, JOHN, ARE WE READY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WELL, UH, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, LEMME JUST READ, UH, JUST A MINUTE ON THIS. EACH YEAR IS PART OF ITS CELEBRATION AND FOCUS ON YOUTH AND EDUCATION. THE M L K JUNIOR COMMISSION ADMINISTER A MARTIN LUTHER KING JR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, AND THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE HELPED TO FUND A PORTION OF THE COLLEGE TUITION FOR SEVERAL DESERVING STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF RACE OR ETHNICITY. THIS YEAR'S M L K SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM COMMITTEE RECEIVED AN AWARDED $188,000 TO DISTRIBUTE SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS THIS YEAR. ANOTHER GREAT OF GREAT YEAR OF GIVING ACROSS OUR BEXAR COUNTY. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM C COMMITTEE RECEIVED 139 ELIGIBLE AND COMPLETED SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS. AND AFTER IDENTIFYING THE TOPIC AV TOPIC AVERAGE SCORES, THE COMMITTEE SELECTED 43 STUDENTS FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS. AS FINALISTS, THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM COMMITTEE INTERVIEWED, INTERVIEWED THESE STUDENTS AND IDENTIFIED 28 STUDENTS AS THE 2023 M L K SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. ALL OUR GRADUATING SENIORS FROM BEXAR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS EACH HAVE A CUMULATIVE G P A OF 2.5 OR EQUIVALENT, AND EACH HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING POTENTIAL TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. SO LET ME TURN IT OVER NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ TO WELCOME OUR GUESTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO IS A DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH A VERY STRONG CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY. AND AS, UH, THE DISTRICT TWO COUNCIL PERSON, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS HONORARY COMMISSION CHAIR, UH, FOR THE M L K COMMISSION AND APPOINTING MOST OF THE COMMISSIONERS. AND EVERY YEAR WE HOST THE LARGEST M L K MARCH IN THE NATION, THEREFORE, THE LARGEST M L K MARCH IN THE WORLD. UH, BUT THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION IS YEAR ROUND. AND I'M ALSO PROUD THAT EACH YEAR, AS PART OF THE WORK OF THE CI CITY'S M L K COMMISSION, THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE RAISES FUNDS TO DISTRIBUTE SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATING SENIORS THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO. AND I'M PROUD TO SHARE IN THE CELEBRATION TODAY AS WE WELCOME OUR SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS, UH, AND HONOR THE HARD WORK OF THESE AMAZING YOUNG LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR RECOGNIZED THAT THE GOAL OF EDUCATION WAS NOT JUST INTELLIGENCE, UH, BUT WAS REALLY TO BUILD CHARACTER AND GIVE BACK, UH, OUR COM, GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION. AND SO, AS YOU RECEIVE THESE AWARDS, MY HOPE FOR YOU IS THAT YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY WILL, UM, WE'LL ENCOUNTER LOTS OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. SO YOUR WORLD GETS JUST A LITTLE BIT BIGGER, AND AS YOU GROW, OUR COMMUNITY WILL GROW WITH YOU. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR, UH, OUR M L K SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AND GOOD LUCK. I'LL ADD THAT AS ONE OF TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO GREW UP IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, THERE'S A ELEMENT OF YOUR JOURNEY THAT I CAN RELATE TO. UM, BUT I THINK THAT AS ADULTS, SOMETIMES WE THINK OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND, UH, WE MINIMIZE THE STRUGGLES AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE. AND WE THINK KIDS HAVE IT EASY. BUT I THINK THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN, AND, UM, OUR RISE IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACE ARE UNLIKE A LOT THAT WE EXPERIENCED. [01:25:01] UM, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND SAY THAT I SEE YOU, I SEE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACE. I SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE OVERCOME, UH, AND I'M SO EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH AMAZING, AMAZING THINGS AND TAKE OUR CITY FORWARD. SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD MORNING TO THE MAYOR, TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND IN PARTICULAR TO MY CITY COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT TWO, JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS DWAYNE ROBINSON AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVANT AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON. I WANT TO ALSO PAUSE AND JUST SAY THAT THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT IN WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED. AND AS WE CLOSE OUT OUR ACTIVITIES FOR THE ML KING COMMISSION THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THE HONOR OF DOING WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO TODAY, WHICH IS ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. AS YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, TYPICALLY, ERNESTO AND CYRO WILL DONATE A VEHICLE TO THE COMMISSION, WHICH ALLOWS US TO RAFFLE AND RAISE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIPS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER THINGS. WE DIDN'T GET THAT THIS YEAR, AND WE HAD SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ON HOW WE WERE GONNA DO MAYOR WITH THE MONEY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS. BUT WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE GAVE OUT ALMOST $189,000 WORTH OF SCHOLARSHIPS. SO, OF COURSE, WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS STAFF AND HIS TEAM THAT WORKS WITH US, AND IN PARTICULAR, AND THE COUNCILMAN STAFF. UH, WE WANT TO THANK LORITA FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT SHE PROVIDES WITH US AS WELL. I WANT TO STOP RIGHT NOW AND TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR OF OUR SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE AS WELL. I WANTED TO BE A PART OF REVIEWING THE SCHOLARSHIPS. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT. WE ARE VERY BLESSED. WE ARE IN EXTREMELY GOOD POSITION IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME BRIGHT, BRIGHT YOUNG MINDS COMING UP BEHIND US. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WANT TO JUST TURN IT OVER TO DR. GEORGE WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, DWAYNE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND A SPECIAL NOD TO MY COLLEAGUE. I AM REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE WITH, UH, THESE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. UH, I'VE BEEN CHAIRING THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, AND TO CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE IMPACT THAT OUR STUDENTS RIGHT HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY ARE DOING TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES TO SUPPORT AND CHANGE THE NARRATIVE IS JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. AND SO, I DON'T WANNA HOLD 'EM UP BECAUSE THEY ARE READY TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND ALSO BE RECOGNIZED. AND SO, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL AS OTHERS THAT SUPPORT THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND. THANK YOU. I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO MANDY MENDOZA, WHO WILL NOW ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, DISTRICT TWO. UH, COUNCILMAN, CAN YOU JOIN US, PLEASE? THANK YOU. FIRST, WE'D LIKE TO START WITH EUNICE ADO FROM HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL, THOMAS SAWYER BASIS, SAN ANTONIO CHAO, LONDON HALL, MADISON HIGH SCHOOL, JONAH ESPINOSA, CLARK HIGH SCHOOL, FAINA DEL ROSARIO, HEALTH CAREERS HIGH SCHOOL, [01:30:12] FABIAN MEDINA, MCCULLUM HIGH SCHOOL. JAY LAUREN THOMAS, YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, FINLEY ALLEN, SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR HIGH SCHOOL, I IPO, OU FROM CLARK HIGH SCHOOL. DIDI TULON FROM HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL, BRADEN ETTE, TRAVIS EARLY COLLEGE HIGH. TANYA LUR, PIST BASIS, SAN ANTONIO SHAVANO ANDRES SANCHEZ, THE ATONEMENT CATHOLIC ACADEMY. MADISON DE LA GARZA, TRAVIS EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL. YAY. CAMIAN SIMPSON, ROOSEVELT HIGH TO NAME MILLER COMMUNICATION ARTS HIGH. SOPHIA GONZALEZ. BRANDIS. REVELATION DEGA DEL, I'M SORRY. DEL YES. I'M SORRY. MOM. THANK YOU IDEA. SOUTH FLOOR IS COLLEGE PREP. JOHN SHARPSTEIN, WINSTON CHURCHILL HIGH SCHOOL. [01:35:07] ELISA GONZALEZ, YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. ISABELLA GONZALEZ REAGAN HIGH SCHOOL. ZIA STOVALL. JUDSON HIGH, SAGE DE LA FUENTE, EAST CENTRAL HIGH. WOO. PAIGE BREWER, ALAMO HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL, SAN ANTONIO SHAVANO, AUTUMN MOLINA IDEA, SOUTH FLORES. THANK YOU . HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS? ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. AND A SPECIAL THANKS ALSO TO JOHN PATEK FROM OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR HELPING COORDINATE THIS ACTIVITY EVERY YEAR, UH, FOR THE CITY. UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. AND, UM, I HAD A FALSE START JUST A MINUTE AGO, BUT JEAN, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP NOW, WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE CASMED, UH, HIGH SCHOOL, THE DEPOT TEAM, IN RECOGNITION OF WINNING FIRST PLACE AT THE SPEAK UP. SPEAK OUT CIVICS FAIR IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. THIS HONOR IS A TRUE TESTAMENT OF YOUR WILLINGNESS TO USE INNOVATION AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO RAISE AWARENESS ON DIABETES. YOUR PRESENTATION ON THIS DISEASE AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH EARNED YOUR SCHOOL FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THIS IMPRESSIVE PROJECT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THE TEAM'S POISE, UNWAVERING, FOCUS, AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ARE EMBLEMATIC OF SAN ANTONIO'S EXCELLENCE. NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL PROUDLY COMMEND THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS OF THE CAST ME HIGH SCHOOL DEPOT TEAM ON THIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT. THERE'S STATE WINNERS. Y'ALL GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. FLOOR IS YOURS, LADIES MAYOR. COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, WE ARE STUDENTS FROM CASMED HIGH SCHOOL, AND THIS YEAR WE DID COMPETE AT THE UT AND NETS DRAW, SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT CIVICS AFFAIR, WHICH ALLOWS STUDENTS SUCH AS OUR, LIKE SUCH AS OURSELVES, TO WORK AS A TEAM TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FIND SOLUTIONS TO THEM. OUR PARTICULAR TOPIC WAS CHANGING LIVES WITH DEPOT, THE IMPORTANCE OF DIABETES IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. AND OUR DRIVING QUESTION WAS, HOW CAN WE AS YOUTH BREAK THE GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF INADEQUATE HEALTH EDUCATION REGARDING DIABETES AND OTHER, AND THE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES THAT COME WITH IT? NOW, OUR GROUP CONCLUDED THAT THE MAIN ROOT CAUSES TO THIS PROBLEM WERE THE DISCREPANCIES IN HEALTHCARE AND ACCESS TO TREATMENT, NUTRITIONAL INSECURITY, [01:40:01] AND THE LACK OF HEALTH AND FITNESS LITERACY. NOW THIS ALL STEMMED FROM THE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE OF RED LINING, WHICH WAS COMMON BETWEEN THE 1930S TO THE 1960S UNITED STATES. THIS LED MINORITY POPULATIONS SUCH AS THE WEST AND SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO TO BE DEEMED AS HAZARDOUS AND WERE LEFT WITHOUT ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND NUTRITIONAL FOODS. THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS OUR SOLUTION IS TO BRING STUDENTS TOGETHER WHO WISH TO HELP EDUCATE LOW INCOME YOUTH ABOUT DIABETES. SO IT CREATED DEPOT. DEPOT STANDS FOR DIABETES EDUCATION PREVENTION ORGANIZED TEAM, AND IT IS A CLUB CENTERED AROUND DIABETES EDUCATION AND PREVENTION. WE HAVE HOSTED MULTIPLE NUTRITION WORKSHOPS AND HAVE SEVERAL PARTNERSHIPS, ONE OF THEM, WHICH IS A MAYOR'S FITNESS COUNCIL. THESE NUTRITION WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN HOSTED WITH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS AND HAVE BEEN HELD AT CASMED HIGH SCHOOL, ONE OF MANY SCHOOLS LOCATED IN IMPOVERISHED AREAS WITH LACK OF NUTRITION EDUCATION. THESE WORKSHOPS HAVE HELPED EDUCATE LOW INCOME YOUTH, AND IT FURTHER HELPS OUR GOAL OF ENDING POOR HEALTH EDUCATION. OUR GOAL IN MIND IS TO FORM CONNECTIONS WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS LOCATED IN SAN, IN SAN ANTONIO'S HIGHEST PREVALENCE OF DIABETIC ZIP CODES. IN AN INTERACTIVE AND FUN WAY, WE HOPE TO CONNECT WITH YOUTH IN A WAY MOST ADULTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WITH THEIR ALL STUDENT LED ORGANIZATION. THAT INCLUDES FAMILIES IN THESE ACTIVITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HEALTH FAIRS. TO FURTHER SUSTAIN OUR SOLUTION DEPOT PLANS ON CREATING AN OFFICIAL WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM BY THE SUMMER OF 2023, THESE RESOURCES WILL ALLOW US TO CONNECT THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO AND ALLOW US TO CREATE CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN ORDER TO INFORM THEM ABOUT DEPOT AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS AS WELL AS OUR HEALTH RESOURCES. THANK YOU. Y'ALL REPRESENTED US VERY WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IF YOU, AS YOU WERE LISTENING TO THAT THOUGHT IT WAS TECHNICALLY SOUND, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS, AND THEY DID A LOT OF WORK WITH OUR METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND SO LADIES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IN REPRESENTING SAN ANTONIO. NOW, I GAVE, UM, THESE LADIES, THESE STUDENTS A LITTLE BIT LONGER OF A TIME TO WAIT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE A BREAK. WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER CH STATE CHAMPIONS IN OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS TODAY. UH, SO LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER PALAIS TO WELCOME OUR GUESTS. MAYOR, WE'VE, UH, THIS IS, UH, TOWN THAT'S BASKETBALL CRAZY. AND IT'S, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED DURING OUR V S A CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY. BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU, THE CHAMPS THIS YEAR ARE THE, THE CLARK COUGARS. COME ON UP. COME ON UP CLARK. UM, THESE STUDENTS CAPTURED THE SCHOOL'S VERY FIRST BASKETBALL STATE TITLE. UM, THIS PAST MARCH. UH, THE COUGARS TRIUMPHED OVER, WAS IT DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL? YEAH. COME ON UP, COME ON UP. UH, DESOTO HIGH SCHOOL WITH, UH, WHAT I'M TOLD WAS A REALLY DECISIVE VICTORY. UM, AND THEY BROUGHT HOME THE TROPHY IN THE U I L CLASSICS, A STATE TITLE GAME. UH, THIS WAS AN AVENGING VICTORY 'CAUSE UH, I THINK YOU GUYS HAD MET WITH DESOTO BEFORE, RIGHT? UM, AND MAYOR, WHAT I HEAR IS THAT DURING THE GAME, THESE YOUNG WOMEN CALLED THE THUNDER DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN AND, UH, BANISHED DESOTO TO THE LAND OF WIND AND GHOSTS. YOU GUYS, UH, REALLY, REALLY KILLED IT. I'M, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. UM, THIS TEAM, UH, IS NOW, UM, A CHAMPION, NOT JUST OF A U I L COMPETITION, BUT THIS IS THE HIGHEST HONOR THAT YOU CAN GET BECAUSE IT IS THE HIGHEST CLASS COMPETITION, UM, IN THE ENTIRE STATE. UH, OF COURSE IT CAN'T BE DONE WITHOUT A COACH. UM, AND SO COACH RIHANNA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, FOR, FOR BEING A LEADER TO THESE, UM, THESE YOUNG WOMEN. UM, AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR US, UH, TO GIVE YOU GUYS THE ROUND OF APPLAUSE YOU DESERVE. THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE APPRECIATE THAT. UH, MAYOR NUREMBERG CITY COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY AND CELEBRATE SUCH A MONUMENTAL SEASON WITH YOU AND WITH THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SHARE OUR JOURNEY WITH YOU. UM, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WE ACTUALLY, WE MADE SCHOOL HISTORY AT CLARK BY MAKING IT TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ACTUALLY FELL SHORT TO DESOTO BY NINE POINTS IN THE SEMI-FINAL GAME, WHO THEY WENT ON TO WIN IT. [01:45:01] BUT RATHER THAN GET DISAPPOINTED, UM, RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, GET SATISFIED WITH MAKING IT AS FAR AS WE HAD MADE IT, WE USED THAT AS SYNERGY AND, UH, FUEL TO, TO MOVE US FORWARD THIS YEAR. UM, WE JUST WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RECOGNIZE THESE GIRLS IN EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID. YOU KNOW, UH, FOR TWO YEARS WE'VE BEEN SAYING THAT WE WANTED TO BRING THE CHAMPIONSHIP BACK TO OUR SCHOOL AND TO OUR CITY, AND WE FINALLY GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. UH, I'M BEYOND PROUD OF THESE YOUNG LADIES FOR NOT ONLY BRINGING THIS BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, BUT AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE, UH, BEING ABLE TO CHAMPION THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE LONGEST SEASON WE COULD HAVE ASKED FOR. UM, AND NOT ONLY DID THEY DO THAT, BUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PLAYERS WERE ALSO NAMED TO THE ACADEMIC ALL DISTRICT TEAM. AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR SENIORS WAS NAMED TO THE ACADEMIC, UH, ALLSTATE TEAM AS WELL. UH, I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPEND EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR COACHING STAFF, JENNIFER WOODS, TO MY LEFT, AND MICHAEL BYRNE BEHIND ME. UM, THIS SEASON REQUIRED A LOT OF EFFORT FROM THE STAFF, AND FOR THAT I'M TRULY THANKFUL FOR THESE TWO. THEIR SACRIFICES NOT ONLY INCLUDED TIME AWAY FROM THEIR TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM OBLIGATIONS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. UM, OUR, OUR SENIORS WHO ARE GOING OFF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS GOING, UH, OFF TO COLLEGE. U T S A, UH, TEXAS A AND M, YALE, UH, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, UH, ST. MARY'S. REALLY PROUD OF THEM AND, AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO, UH, BEYOND. OH, AND THEN OF COURSE OUR, UM, VOLLEYBALLER, UH, CAITLIN WHO'S PLAYING AT ARKANSAS STATE, UM, THEY'RE GONNA GO ON. THEY'RE GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL. AND I THINK THIS IS JUST A BUILDING BLOCK FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE SUCCESS. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS, GUYS FOR THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF CLARK HIGH SCHOOL, WE WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE SUCH A SPECIAL MOMENT WITH YOU GUYS. THANK YOU LADIES. THANK YOU AGAIN. AND CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE SEND WORD TO THE SPURS THAT THESE YOUNG WOMEN ARE AVAILABLE TO LET THEM, UH, LEARN HOW TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP? UH, UH, AND SO HEY, BY THE WAY, DO Y'ALL KNOW RAFAEL SEGOVIA? HE IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL. HE IS. ANDY SONNY, UH, WENT TO CLARK. CLARK ALSO. SO, UM, I HAVE A FEELING ANDY'S GONNA BE CALLING HIS SON TODAY TO LET HIM KNOW THAT CLARK, UH, YOU KNOW, OR CHAMPIONS ONCE MORE. I ALREADY SENT HIM A PICTURE, COUNCILMAN. HE, BUT THEY PROBABLY DON'T KNOW HIM. HE GRADUATED FOUR YEARS AGO. OH. UH, BUT HE'S VERY PROUD OF THE TEAM AND, UH, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL CONGRAT, GO CLARK. CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. ALRIGHT, NOW, UH, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WITH POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCILMAN, WHEN THEY BRING THE CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE A COURT AND EACH COULD DO A LAYUP AS THEY COME UP TO THE PODIUM. . UM, WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I INVITED MANY AND FRANK CASTANERA TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS. MANY AND FRANK HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 56 YEARS, AND THEY'RE AVID ATTENDEES AT OUR NORM OIL COMMUNITY CENTER. SINCE THE FIRST DAY THAT NORM OIL OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC IN 2015, THE GUDAS HAVE REGULARLY ATTENDED THE CENTER, AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS, AND ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TOWARDS PUTTING THE COMMUNITY IN NORM OIL COMMUNITY CENTER. ANYTIME I VISIT THE SENIOR CENTER, I KNOW THAT FRANK AND MINNIE WILL PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, ALL THE ATTENDEES PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE. . UM, THEY'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO EXTEND A HELPING HAND TO OTHER ATTENDEES, AND MINNIE IS SO KIND THAT SHE REGULARLY OFFERS TO HUG ANYONE THAT NEEDS ONE. THEY HELP WITH DISTRIBUTING FOOD, HELP WITH ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND USUALLY CAN BE FOUND ASSISTING STAFF SET UP FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. AND MANY AND FRANK ARE ALWAYS STARTING THE MBIA CIRCLE. THERE'S ALWAYS PLENTY TO DO AT OUR SENIOR CENTERS, AND I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A TALENT SHOW SOON. SO MAY THE BEST SENIOR, UH, WIN THE TALENT SHOW. UH, I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF, OF D H SS, UM, IN SUPPORTING, UH, NORMAL SENIOR CENTER. BUT I WANTED TO HAND OVER TO YOU ALL, IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY WORDS Y'ALL LIKE TO SHARE. YES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. THANK, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND YEAR MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND ESPECIALLY, UH, MS. TERRY, UH, CASTILLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP OR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US, YOU KNOW, FOR NORMAL AND FOR THE CITY AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DISTRICT FIVE. YES. CAN I SAY SOMETHING? , I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR PROVIDING ALL OF THIS SERVICES FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR DISTRICT, FOR MS. CASTILLO, UH, PROVIDING GOOD, UH, REPRESENTATION. UH, I'M NOT MUCH OF . SHE'S DOING A GOOD JOB. , AND THANK YOU. AND WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY? UH, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR PROVIDING FOR THE CITY FOR US. AND CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING? [01:50:02] I FORGOT. . YEAH. UH, GO. SAN ANTONIO SPURS . YES. THANK YOU MR. AND MRS. CASTANEDA. AND, AND THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PRESS AND, UH, POINT AND TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE BACK WITH THE MEDIA, WE REPRESENT DISTRICT FIVE, THE SOUTH SIDE AS WELL. SO, UH, ENSURE THAT Y'ALL, Y'ALL RECOGNIZE THAT DISTRICT FIVE IS THE SOUTH SIDE AS WELL. THANK YOU'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, JUST WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO DISTRICT 10, TO THE CATHOLIC LIFE BUILDING. IT'S ON FOUR 10 AND HARRY WURZBACH. UM, YOU'LL SEE THAT HUGE FLAG. WE SAY IT'S THE BIGGEST FLAG, BIGGEST AMERICAN FLAG HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, RIGHT THERE BESIDES THE BUILDING. BUT WE'RE GONNA HOST A, A CELEBRATION THERE ON FRIDAY, THE 26TH, UH, FOR MEMORIAL DAY BEFORE FOLKS TAKE OFF AND WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, UH, A GUEST SPEAKER. UH, GUEST SPEAKER IS A NAVY VETERAN, ANDY, UH, ANDREA ORTIZ HAD, UH, SPENT A, UM, UH, TIME IN THE NAVY AND THEN WENT ON INTO, UH, UH, THE F B I AND, UH, SERVED IN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM AND IRAQI FREEDOM. SO, UH, SHE'S GONNA SPEAK AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, UH, THE FLAGS, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE THEM POSTED. UH, THAT'S GONNA BE POSTED BY, LET'S SEE WHO, WHO'S GONNA COME IN AND DO THAT. IT'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT. UH, NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEY'RE, UM, COLOR GUARD IS GONNA DO THAT. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PLAY TAPS AND WE'LL HAVE SOME REFRESHMENTS OUT THERE AS WELL. BUT, UH, THIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF THOSE THAT GAVE THEIR LIVES TO THIS GREAT COUNTRY TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS FOR, UH, MEMORIAL DAY. SO, UH, IF YOU HAVE SOME SPARE TIME, COME THERE AROUND NOON, AROUND LUNCHTIME, AND, UH, UH, COME AND HONOR OUR, UH, FOLKS THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE FALLEN FOR OUR, FOR OUR FREEDOM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HAU, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE GET TO BE WITNESS TO SO MANY AMAZING, UH, CEREMONIALS AND, AND PROCLAMATIONS TODAY. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR VETERANS PARK POLICE AND FIRE HEROES, UM, THE MOST, UH, SAN ANTONIO COUPLE I HAVE EVER MET EVER IN MY LIFE. THAT WAS AMAZING. UM, AND, UH, AND ALSO TO SEE SO MANY YOUNG FOLKS THAT ARE, UH, SUCCEEDING AND THRIVING IN OUR CITY. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THOSE, ESPECIALLY THAT ARE RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS TODAY. THERE WAS ONE TAFT RAIDER, WHICH I NEVER SEE, SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO HER, TO MY ALMA MATER. AND THERE ARE MANY YOUNG FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES. AND, UH, MAY IS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH. IT'S A MONTH DEDICATED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OUR FOSTER YOUTH. AND, UM, TO RECOGNIZE FOSTER PARENTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, ADVOCATES, AND POLICYMAKERS WHO SUPPORT THEM. THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 3000 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE IN SAN ANTONIO TODAY. CHILDREN LIKE EVERY OTHER CHILD WHO NEED A SAFE, STABLE, AND NURTURING HOME TO THRIVE. FOSTER CARE CAN PROVIDE THESE CHILDREN WITH TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT FAMILIES, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES. NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH AIMS TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO BECOME FOSTER PARENTS, MENTORS OR ADVOCATES. IT ALSO RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, INCLUDING THEIR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, MENTAL HEALTH, AND POST FOSTER CARE EXPERIENCES. I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR CITY THAT ARE FOCUSED, SO FOCUSED ON GIVING OUR FOSTER CHILDREN THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE. I ALSO THANK CITY STAFF AND, UH, MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED MY ADVOCACY FOR FOSTER CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE AGING OUTTA THE SYSTEM. YOUR SUPPORT WILL PROVIDE HOUSING AND CONNECTION TO SERVICES. MANY OF THE THINGS THAT MOST, UM, MOST FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TAKE FOR GRANTED, THOSE THINGS CAN'T BE MEASURED. PLEASE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU SUPPORT FOSTER CHILDREN, YOU'RE CHANGING LIVES FOR THE BETTER. SO MANY OF US HAVE HEARD THAT, UM, AGING OUTTA THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IS A PIPELINE TO HOMELESSNESS, TO INCAR INCARCERATION, TO SEX TRAFFICKING, SO WE CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOMES FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THEN THE FUTURE OF THEIR FUTURE FAMILIES. I CLOSE WITH A CALL TO ACTION. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN A POSITION TO BE FOSTER PARENTS OR TO ADVOCATE, PLEASE CALL, UM, CASA OR BOYS OR ANY OF THE OTHER GREAT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO BECOME A, A FOSTER PARENT OR TO ADVOCATE FOR THESE CHILDREN. I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTION SERVICES PROVIDES MONTHLY FOSTER PARENT TRAINING AS WELL. THIS IS ONE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND THIS MONTH LONG OBSERVANCE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND TO PROMOTE EFFORTS FOR US TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COBE HDA. UH, AND FINALLY, BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR, UH, AGENDA FOR TODAY, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT TODAY IS OUR LAST, [01:55:01] UH, REGULAR SESSION OF MAY, UH, AND THEREFORE THE LAST REGULAR SESSION OF THIS COUNCIL TERM, UH, PROVIDED THAT THERE'S NO RUNOFF. SO, UH, THIS WILL ALSO BE THE OFFICIAL LAST REGULAR SESSION OF OUR COLLEAGUE, UH, FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, COUNCIL MEMBER CLAYTON PERRY. AND SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE CLAYTON AND THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, TO DISTRICT 10 TO A VERY ROBUST DEBATE AROUND THIS DAIS. AND, UH, OFFER A MOMENT FOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY TO MAKE SOME REMARKS. WOW, IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS. IT'S BEEN GREAT. UM, I ACTUALLY FOUND MY SUIT AND TIE, NOT THE SHIRT, BUT THE SUIT AND TIE THAT I WORE ON THE FIRST DAY THAT I CAME TO COUNCIL, AND IT STILL FITS. IT'S GREAT. IT'S GREAT. UM, YEAH, THIS IS MY LAST A SESSION. I LOOKED AT THE CALENDAR LAST NIGHT PREPARING FOR TODAY AND, AND SAID, WOW, THIS IS THE LAST A SESSION THAT I'M GONNA BE AT. SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS, SIR. UH, FIRST IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE HERE ON CITY COUNCIL FOR SAN ANTONIO. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I, I KIND OF, UM, FLEW THE FLAG OF FISCAL CONSERVANCY AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I RAN ON, UH, THREE TIMES AND WON. AND, UM, GOT SOME GOOD, GOOD WORK DONE. YEP. UM, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS UP HERE, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO BE. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT. DO YOU AGREE? AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOT ON EVERYTHING, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, THAT'S OUR SYSTEM AND THAT'S WHAT I APPRECIATED AND ENJOYED THE MOST HERE ON COUNCIL. UM, FIRST OF ALL, ERIC, UM, YOU AND THE CITY STAFF ARE, I MEAN, ULTIMATE PROFESSIONALS. AND, UM, I APPRECIATED ALL THE SUPPORT THAT I GOT OVER THE YEARS AND, UH, JUST LOOKING ACROSS, UH, A LOT OF, UH, FOLKS HERE TODAY, I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT. AND I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU AND YOUR STAFF, UH, THAT I, I, I WOULD'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD OR NEVER KNOWN HERE ABOUT THIS CITY HAD I NOT HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU AND, AND YOUR STAFF. SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. UM, I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF OVER THE YEARS, SOME GREAT PEOPLE. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR FOCUS WAS ALWAYS CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BEING PAID FOR, IS TO, UH, PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS IN OUR DISTRICTS, AND EVEN OUTSIDE THE DISTRICTS. WE, WE GOT CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY AND WE DID OUR BEST TO HELP WHERE WE COULD. UM, FINALLY, MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN 'EM COME AND GO OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, UH, BUT THIS GROUP I THINK IS GREAT. UH, DID WE, AGAIN, DID WE AGREE ON EVERYTHING? NO, UH, ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT THE DISCUSSION AND PUTTING YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS AND WHO YOU'RE REPRESENTING ON THE TABLE HERE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THAT. AND EVERYBODY WAS PROFESSIONAL AND, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT DECORUM HERE. I CONSIDER YOU ALL FRIENDS, PERSONAL FRIENDS, AND, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME GREAT THINGS COMING OUTTA THE COUNCIL. UM, MY REPLACEMENT, MARK WHITE, HE'S GONNA FIT RIGHT IN. UM, AND I THINK Y'ALL WILL REALLY APPRECIATE HIS, HIS, UH, CAMARADERIE UP HERE ON, ON THE STAGE AS WELL. UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. UM, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WITH ME. I, UM, AS YOU KNOW, I'M RETIRED AIR FORCE AND REALLY FLEW THE BANNER FOR THE MILITARY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR THEM AND SUPPORTING THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WAVING THAT, UH, FLAG OF MILITARY CITY U S A AND THAT, THAT IS NOT A CLICHE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS THE HEART OF SAN ANTONIO HERE, OVER 300 YEARS OF CONSTANT MILITARY PRESENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO THAT, THAT WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO ME. AND SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT I'M ACTUALLY THE 10TH COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT 10. AND, UM, EH, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF NEAT. I KIND OF KINDA LIKE THAT WHENEVER I WAS COUNTING UP ALL THE PRIOR, UH, COUNCIL FOLKS. IN FACT, IF YOU GO UP TO MY OFFICE UP IN, ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, YOU'LL SEE A PICTURE OF EACH ONE OF 'EM. AND YEAH, THERE'S SOME REALLY YOUNG LOOKING FOLKS THERE ON, ON THAT SERVED AS, UH, COUNCIL 10, UM, REPRESENTATIVES. AND, UM, I, I HAVE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SIX YEARS, I'M ACTUALLY THE LONGEST SERVING COUNCILMAN SINCE JIMMY HASLAUER. REMEMBER JIMMY HASLAUER WAY BACK THEN. HE WAS ON FOR 10, BUT EVER, THEN IT WENT TO THE 2, 2, 2 YEAR TERMS. AND, UH, THEN THAT WAS CHANGED. SO I'M THE LONGEST SERVING COUNCILMAN [02:00:01] SINCE JIMMY HADLOCK. I'M PROUD OF THAT ALSO. UM, I, I WAS ABLE TO RUN ON THREE MAIN ISSUES FOR THREE TIMES. UM, AND I, I CONSIDER THOSE BOXES CHECKED. NUMBER ONE WAS PROPERTY TAXES. WE GOT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PUSHED THROUGH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE RAISED IT UP TO A 10%, UM, EXEMPTION. AND I HOPE WE CAN PUSH THAT UP AND MAX THAT OUT THIS NEXT BUDGET AND GET IT UP TO 20%. SO THAT, THAT WAS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT HERE, NOT ONLY FOR DISTRICT 10, BUT FOR THE, FOR THE ENTIRE CITY TO GET THAT THROUGH. UM, SAFETY AND SECURITY. BIG, BIG ISSUE. UH, OVER, OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, WE'VE ADDED 200 POLICEMEN ON THE STREETS HERE. AND THAT'S A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. BUT WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THAT. YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD THAT STUDY COMPLETED AND WE WE'RE STILL SHORT 360 OFFICERS. AND I HOPE THAT THOSE AUTHORIZATIONS ARE FUNDED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR, THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND, UH, THIRD NOT LEAST WAS INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN I CAME ONTO COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, STREETS WERE IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE. UH, THEY ARE IMPROVING, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE DOUBLED THE, DOUBLED THE ACTUAL MONEY IN OUR YEARLY BUDGETS FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND, UM, WE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO. WE STILL HAVE, UH, LAST TIME WE LOOKED, YOU KNOW, 10% OR ABOUT 400 MILES OF OUR STREETS HERE IN, IN SAN ANTONIO ARE FAILED F STREETS. AND WE GOTTA DO BETTER THAN THAT. WE NEED TO LIFT THOSE UP AND GET THOSE PEOPLE, UM, THAT LIVE WORK AND PLAY, YOU KNOW, TRAVELING ON THOSE STREETS TO A DECENT STREET TO GET AROUND, GET AROUND TOWN. SO, UM, I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THAT CONTINUES. UH, SIX YEARS HAS GONE BY QUICKLY, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, LOOKING AT THAT, I GOT ANOTHER BIRTHDAY COMING UP IN OCTOBER, AND MAN, I'M, I'M KNOCKING ON THAT SEVENTIES DOOR HERE PRETTY QUICK. SO, UH, I WANNA GET OUT AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN TOO. UM, I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH. AND, AND AGAIN, THAT'S BECAUSE OF THIS POSITION. I WOULD'VE NEVER GOTTEN TO MEET THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE, UH, THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, THE NUMBER OF, UH, ORGANIZATION ACROSS, UH, ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THIS CITY WITHOUT BEING IN THIS POSITION. AND, YOU KNOW, I, THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DONE THAT. WOULD'VE NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY HAD I NOT RUN FOR COUNCIL AND, UM, REACHED OUT FOR THAT. BUT, UM, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE. UH, IT'S NOT ABOUT US BEING UP HERE. IT'S NOT US ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, APPROVING THIS ORDINANCE AND THAT ORDINANCE, THAT KIND OF THING, AND POLICY DISCUSSIONS. IT ALWAYS GOES BACK TO THE PEOPLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT. WE GOTTA KEEP THAT IN THE FOREFRONT THAT EVERYTHING WE DO, AND PRIMARILY THE BUDGET, THAT'S OUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB HERE ON THIS STAGE IS, UH, UH, GETTING AND LOOKING AT THIS BUDGET AND LIVING BY THE BUDGET, UH, THAT FOLLOWING YEAR. SO, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW BEST WE CAN SUPPORT THE PEOPLE. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE ELECTED AND THAT THAT IS, UM, THEY'RE, THE PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN US TO GIVE THEM THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT AND NEED HERE IN THIS CITY. UM, I'VE BEEN GUIDED BY MY FAITH, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE MY FAMILY THAT HAS SUPPORTED ME AND FRIENDS. AND, UM, LOOKING OUT ACROSS HERE, A LOT OF FOLKS HERE HAVE GIVEN ME THEIR SUPPORT AND LOVE. AND I HOPE THAT I'VE SHOWN THAT I, I'VE, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE AND LOVE YOU. AND THAT'S, WE NEED, WE NEED MORE LOVE ACROSS THIS CITY. AND, AND WE ARE A CULTURALLY DIVERSE CITY. A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I LOVE IT. I LOVE THIS CITY. IT'S MY HOME. BEEN HERE SINCE 1991. UH, THE AIR FORCE BROUGHT ME HERE, AND, UH, I'VE STAYED AND MADE, MADE SAN ANTONIO MY HOME. UM, SO ULTIMATELY I REALLY HAVE TO THANK THE FOLKS IN DISTRICT 10 FOR ELECTING ME THREE TIMES. AND, UM, IT'S BEEN, UH, AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SERVE. AND, UM, I'M NOT GOING AWAY. I'M GONNA STAY ENGAGED. I'M GONNA, YEAH, JOHN, I'M GONNA STAY ENGAGED HERE. SO, UH, YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE ME COME TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ONCE IN A WHILE AND SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT, UH, UM, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO STAY ENGAGED AND NOT JUST FADE AWAY INTO THE SUNSET BECAUSE [02:05:02] I'M LOOKING AT MY EXPERIENCES AS SOMETHING THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY HERE AND TO MY DISTRICT AND, UH, TO THE, TO THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND, UM, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE BRINGS. UH, I'M GONNA, LIKE I SAID, I'M GONNA STAY ENGAGED AND DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING FROM HERE RIGHT NOW. UH, ONE OF THE MOST THINGS I'VE MISSED WAS TAKING A NAP AFTER LUNCH. UH, BUT I'M GONNA GET MY NAPS IN NOW AND, UH, YOU KNOW, GET SOME THINGS DONE AROUND THE HOUSE THAT I'VE NEGLECTED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS AND, AND ENJOY THE LAKE A LITTLE BIT. SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. BUT MAIN THING IS I, UM, UM, I'M GONNA STAY ENGAGED NOW. UM, I WAS GONNA SING A SONG, BUT I'LL SPARE YOU. I'LL SPARE YOU. I WAS SINGING ABOUT IT LAST NIGHT, . I WAS GONNA SING A SONG, BUT ARE THERE ANY, UH, ELVIS PRESLEY FANS OUT HERE? NOBODY LIKES ELVIS PRESLEY. ALL RIGHT, THERE'S A FEW. OKAY. ELVIS PRESLEY, UH, HE HAS A SONG MY WAY. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME VERY, VERY POIGNANT PARTS IN THAT SONG. SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, LOOK IT UP. LOOK FOR THE LYRICS OF ELVIS PRESLEY'S MY WAY AND READ THAT BECAUSE, UM, THAT'S KIND OF, THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT NOW. I DID IT MY WAY. AND, UH, I'M PROUD OF THAT. I'M PROUD TO HAVE SERVED, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AND, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY HERE. SO FOLKS, IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR, AND, UM, I'M GONNA MISS IT. ABSOLUTELY. BUT I LOVE Y'ALL AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL HERE IN THE FUTURE. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU. AND I IMAGINE QUITE A FEW FOCAL WANNA SAY SOMETHING, BUT COUNCILMAN PERRY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES. UM, BUT I REMEMBER THE ADVICE YOU GAVE ME AT OUR VERY FIRST MEETING, UM, TO ALWAYS BE 100% SURE WHEN I PRESS THE BUTTON AND CAST MY VOTE. AND THAT STUCK WITH ME. AND I VALUE THAT. I ALWAYS KNEW WHO YOU WERE, WHAT YOUR VALUES WERE. AND RARELY HAVE I EVER BEEN SURPRISED BY YOUR DECISIONS ON, ON THE DIET. AND I'M REALLY STRUGGLING TO THINK OF A TIME IN WHICH I'VE BEEN SURPRISED, UH, AND I VALUE THAT. BUT MORE SO THAN THAT, I VALUE KINDNESS. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN ONE OF THE KINDEST COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT I'VE GOTTEN THE PRIVILEGE TO KNOW IN SAN ANTONIO, AND IT'S EASY TO IDENTIFY US BY OUR DIFFERENCES OR DISAGREEMENTS. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON AND THE KINDNESS THAT YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED, UH, TO ME AND TO THOSE THAT MAYBE OTHERS EASILY PASS BY. AND WHEN I FIRST GOT MY START AT CITY HALL AS A COUNCIL AIDE, UH, THE DISTRICT TWO TEAM'S CUBICLES WERE RIGHT NEXT TO THE DISTRICT 10 CUBICLES. AND I REMEMBER THE WAY SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS TREATED COUNCIL AIDE BACK THEN. UM, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES THAT YOU BAKED COOKIES OR HAD OTHER DESSERTS AND WHATNOT, AND YOU ALWAYS MADE SURE TO BRING 'EM TO DISTRICT TWO, DISTRICT NINE, DISTRICT 10. UM, AND IT WAS A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS OF MANY THAT I ALWAYS IDENTIFY WITH YOUR CHARACTER, AND I SHARE THAT WITH OTHERS. AND SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, SOMETHING THAT WE DO HAVE IN COMMON, F STREETS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE ONE AREA THAT WE'VE HAD A SHARED PASSION FOR. UH, AND I COMMIT TO CARRYING THE TORCH. I HOPE THAT IN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE, IN YOUR NEXT JOURNEY, YOU FIND JOY, FULFILLMENT, PEACE, AND LOVE. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, FOR SIX YEARS I'VE SAT BETWEEN THIS, UH, LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE ON MY LEFT AND THIS RIGHT WING CONSERVATIVE ON MY RIGHT, . AND, UH, SO TIMES ARE CHANGING, I GUESS, GOODNESS. BUT, UH, I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH, UH, YOU COUNCILMAN, HAS BEEN VERY REWARDING FOR ME IN A LOT OF WAYS. I THINK ALL OF US ARE BETTER SERVED WHEN THERE ARE OTHER VOICES EXPRESSING OTHER POINTS OF VIEW. AND I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN OFTENTIMES WHEN IT, IT'S HELPED ME UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS THINKING, NOT JUST WHAT I MAY BE THINKING OR THE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD MAY BE THINKING. AND I THINK THAT'S POSITIVE. UH, THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT YOU HAVE REPRESENTED THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT EXACTLY THE WAY THEY WANTED YOU TO. AND, UH, YOU'VE DONE A, A GOOD JOB BEING A REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE CITY. AND SO, UH, I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. UH, MAYBE YOU CAN BE SITTING BACK THERE WITH JACK SOME MEETINGS AND HELPING US UNDERSTAND MORE OF, UH, WHAT WE'RE MISSING. UH, BUT I, I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO BE, UH, A CONTINUING IMPORTANT PLAYER IN, IN OUR CITY IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. AND, AND I'VE APPRECIATED, UH, YOUR [02:10:01] FRIENDSHIP AND I WISH YOU WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CLAYTON. THANK YOU, TODD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M, I'M REALLY SORRY TO SEE YOU GO. AS YOU KNOW, UH, I TRIED TO GET YOU TO STICK AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER. I REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU. I THINK PEOPLE SOMETIMES FORGET, UM, YOU WERE A VERY ACCOMPLISHED PERSON LONG BEFORE YOU WERE ELECTED. YOU'RE A VETERAN, OF COURSE. UM, AND, UH, YOU DID THIS OUT OF PURE SERVICE, UM, PURE LOVE FOR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SHOWN EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU'RE UP ON THE DIETS, EVERY CONVERSATION WE'VE EVER HAD. I THINK PEOPLE EXPECT SOMETIMES SOME OF US NOT TO GET ALONG. I'VE NEVER HAD THAT, UM, THAT WITH YOU. I'VE ALWAYS, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO LISTEN TO ME. UM, AND I HOPE THAT I'VE RETURNED THE FAVOR. I'M GOING TO MISS YOUR SINGING AT CHRISTMAS. I WILL SAY THAT. SO SOMEBODY ELSE IS GONNA HAVE TO TAKE THAT UP. I'M NOT IT. UM, BUT, AND ALSO, I, I WANNA SAY TOO, THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE BECOME FRIENDS UP HERE AND WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT MY CHILDREN ADORE YOU. YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, EVERY TIME WE GO TO A CONCERT, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW THIS, BUT CLAYTON IS A, UM, PRETTY HARD ROCKER. SO, UM, THEY REALLY ENJOY HANGING OUT WITH YOU. AND, UH, IT REALLY IS JUST A TESTAMENT TO YOUR, UM, WHO YOU ARE. AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN TRUE TO YOURSELF, YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMUNITY. AND FOR THAT, I THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KIO HBAR, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PERRY. AND I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU'RE MY COUNCIL BESTIE. AND SO WE'RE LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD. YOU'RE A NAGGING AND I'M A LONGHORN, BUT YOU'RE MY FAVORITE AGGIE. AND, UM, I JUST, UH, WANNA SAY THAT I, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. UM, YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME THINK A LITTLE HARDER AND PUSH BACK. AND SO YOU ARE DEFINITELY ALWAYS THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE WHEN I, I COME TO YOU WITH THINGS. AND I, I REALLY AM GONNA MISS THAT. UM, I THINK I'M ESPECIALLY GONNA MISS THAT. UH, YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO BE MY PLUS ONE AT EVENTS, AND SO DON'T WORRY, YOU COULD STILL BE MY PLUS ONE AT EVENTS . AND I THINK THAT, UH, FOR MY COLLEAGUES, I'M GONNA MISS THE FACT THAT I WAS ALWAYS ON PERRY DUTY MAKING SURE YOU GOT TO PLACES ON TIME. SO I FEEL LIKE I WAS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR STAFF IN, IN SOME WAYS. UM, BUT I REALLY HAVE LEARNED A LOT, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE MILITARY AND TO, UM, JUST CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OUR MILITARY. I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU, AND I HOPE I COULD CONTINUE TO LEAN ON YOU FOR THAT. UM, I HAVE LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE AND IN, IN DISTRICT FOUR. AND SO I NEED TO CONTINUE TO COUNT ON YOU TO GUIDE ME IN THAT DIRECTION. UM, AND THEN THE ONE THING THAT I'M NOT GONNA MISS IS THE RUMORS THAT YOU START ABOUT US DATING. AND SO, , DARN. BUT I'M SURE YOU'LL CONTINUE THOSE TWO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN, AND I'LL MISS YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER PILATES. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY. I ALSO RESENT THE RUMORS YOU STARTED ABOUT ME DATING YOU. UM, THE, UH, NOW, HEY, UH, I, I, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BROKEN AND THE COARSENESS OF POLITICAL DEBATE AND, UH, POLICY DISCOURSE IS, UM, JUST GETTING ROUGHER AND UGLIER WITH EVERY DAY THAT PASSES. AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, UM, THINK THAT THEY'RE SCORING POINTS BY, BY BEING UGLY WHEN THEY DISAGREE. I, I HAVE TO SAY THAT OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, THE ONE THING I'VE ADMIRED MOST ABOUT COUNCILMAN PERRY IS THAT HE IS THE CONSUMMATE GENTLEMAN. UH, WHEN IT COMES TO DEBATING AND, UH, EXCHANGING IDEAS AND DISAGREEING. UM, THAT IS AN EXAMPLE THAT I, I HOPE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE LOOK TO, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT CALL THEMSELVES LEADERS ARE FAILING. UM, THE, UH, THE CIVILITY TEST. AND, UH, CLAYTON, YOU'RE A MASTER AT IT. UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING I APPRECIATE A LOT ABOUT YOU. UM, AND I, I'M NOT GONNA MISS YOU 'CAUSE I INTEND TO SEE YOU QUITE A BIT. SO, UM, WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH, CLAYTON. GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PAL. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. THANK YOU. SO, UM, I'VE KNOWN COUNCILMAN PERRY CLAYTON FOR NOW SEVEN YEARS IT SEEMS LIKE. AND, UM, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SO MUCH FUN. AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SIT ON THE DIOCESE WITH YOU. AND I FELT LIKE YOU, ADRIANA, AND I WERE LIKE THE THREE AMIGOS. UM, AND IT HAS JUST BEEN, UH, A PRIVILEGE TO BE ON THIS DIOCESE WITH YOU TO WATCH YOU WORK, YOUR COMMITMENT TO NOT JUST YOUR DISTRICT, BUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND THE, AND I AND I ECHO JUST THE, UM, STATESMANSHIP THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS DECISION WAS A VERY THOUGHTFUL DECISION. AND I KNOW, THOUGH THAT YOUR FAMILY APPRECIATES IT 'CAUSE THEY WANNA SEE YOU MORE, AND IT'S, THIS IS A VERY TIME CONSUMING COMMITMENT AND I JUST THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT SURE WHEN YOU CAN COME BACK TO DIA TO THE DIOCESE TO SPEAK. IT'S TWO YEARS, RIGHT, ANDY? [02:15:03] WELL, COUNCILMAN IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HE'S COMING TO SPEAK ABOUT. OKAY. BUT YEAH, , WE'LL ALWAYS WELCOME COUNCILMAN PERRY, THOUGH. YES, WE'LL ALWAYS CALL YOU COUNCILMAN PERRY. BUT, UH, I DO LOOK FORWARD TO YOU CONTINUING TO BE PART OF THIS CITY AND BEING PART OF MOVING THIS CITY FORWARD. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP, AND I'M, UH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHAPTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER IRAN, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PERRY FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. UH, ONE THING THAT I'VE, UH, VALUED ABOUT YOU IS YOUR WILLINGNESS NOT TO WILT, RIGHT? YOUR VALUES ARE YOUR VALUES, AND YOU'RE VERY PRINCIPLED IN THOSE VALUES. AND, UH, RECOGNIZING THAT, UH, WHETHER IT'S DEBATE OR A VOTE, NEVER BEING SURPRISED ON WHERE YOU'VE STOOD BECAUSE YOU'VE ALWAYS STOOD FIRM, UH, WITH THAT VOTE AND WITH THAT VALUE. AND, AND, AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS CLICHE, RIGHT? BUT I, I THINK THAT'S, UM, VERY ADMIRABLE, RIGHT? NOT WILTING, UM, TO THE PRESSURE. UM, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO MISS THE TERRY PERRY CONNECTION AND ENSURING THAT WE DOUBLE, UH, NAMP AND I M P. UM, BUT I THINK IT'D BE GREAT IF YOU ORGANIZE THE ESSAY SPEAKUP MEETINGS TO LET FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING INFRASTRUCTURE . UM, WHO KNOWS? AND YOU MIGHT, UH, TAKE JACK FINGERS PLACE AND BEING THE NEXT PERSON SHOWING UP, UH, TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ON EVERY, UH, SESSION, . BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED SERVICE. IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU AND, AND AGAIN, RIGHT? UM, I, I VALUED YOUR, YOUR PRINCIPLES AND STANDING FIRM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MM-HMM. . THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO CLAYTON. UH, YEARS AGO I READ A BOOK ABOUT HOW CONGRESS IS BROKEN AND HOW PEOPLE FROM THE LEFT AND PEOPLE FROM THE RIGHT DECADES AGO USED TO GO ONTO THE FLOOR AND THEY WOULD DEBATE, YOU KNOW, IT, THEY'D GET INTO INTENSE DEBATES, AND THEN THE NEXT WEEKEND THERE, THE FAMILIES WOULD GO ON VACATION TOGETHER, OR THEY WOULD HAVE EACH OTHER. PEOPLE FROM THE LEFT WOULD HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE RIGHT OVER FOR DINNER. AND THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAVO. UM, I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF CALLING A LOT OF PEOPLE UP HERE, COLLEAGUES, UM, OVER THE YEARS. UM, AND WHAT I'VE FOUND IN THE LAST 10 YEARS IS JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAS THE SAME VISION FOR OUR CITY. WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS THAT WE TAKE DIFFERENT ROUTES TO GET THERE, AND THAT'S THE SOURCE OF MOST OF OUR POLICY DEBATE. UH, SO I WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, COUNCILS MEMBER PERRY. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, UH, IN ADVANCING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND WITH KINDNESS. SO, UH, ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, UH, TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK. NOW, CAN I SING ? NO, WE GOT WORK TO DO. CLAYTON, SIT DOWN. . ALRIGHT, . ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GET INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH Y'ALL, FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AS WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF CEREMONIALS TODAY. UH, WE HAVE ITEMS 4, 6, 20 26 AND 33 LEFT, UH, TO, UH, GO THROUGH. SO WE'LL [ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING] BEGIN IN ORDER. UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON LEGISLATION FILED IN THE 88 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE STATUS OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. ALRIGHT, SALLY FLOOR IS YOURS STILL? MORNING, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE IN REALLY GREAT SPIRITS AFTER SUCH A POSITIVE AND LOVELY MORNING. SO PLEASE STAY IN THERE THAT SPACE WITH ME A LITTLE BIT LONGER. HERE I AM BACK TODAY TO PROVIDE YOU THE MONTHLY UPDATE ON THE 88TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MY UPDATE TODAY WILL INCLUDE, UM, SOME BRIEF GENERAL UPDATES FOR YOU AND THE BILLS OF INTEREST THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING, MONITORING, AND WORKING FEVERISHLY. UM, AT THE PEAK OF THE, UM, SESSION WE WERE TRACKING, ALONG WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS, 1,750 BILLS. THANK YOU TO OUR SIT WITH US. THERE ARE 11 DAYS LEFT IN THE REGULAR SESSION. A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO BE DONE IN THESE REMAINING 11 DAYS. THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE FINAL DAY ON MAY 29TH. AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF FOUR PILLARS. I WILL KICK OFF TODAY'S, UH, PRESENTATION WITH THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS. SADLY, TWO [02:20:01] VERY BAD BILLS. UH, YOU WILL RECALL, HB 2127 REMAINS VERY BADLY WRITTEN AND, UH, VERY, UH, MUCH A BROAD BILL, UM, IN ITS CURRENT STATE. UM, IT WOULD PREVENT CITIES FROM ADOPTING OR ENFORCING LOCAL ORDINANCES RELATED, UH, TO THE CODES INCLUDED HERE. UM, IN A NUTSHELL, ESSENTIALLY, CITIES MAY NOT ADOPT ORDINANCES OR RULES IF THEY ARE INCONSISTENT WITH, UH, STATE LAW. AS T M L HAS REPEATEDLY STATED, UH, 2127 SCALES BACK DECADES UPON DECADES OF HOME RULE AUTHORITY. UM, THERE CONTINUES TO BE A LOT OF WORK THAT THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, UM, AND PARTNERS, UH, ALONG WITH OTHER CITIES, UH, AND THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. WE'VE BEEN IN COORDINATION WITH OUR DELEGATION TO TRY TO OPPOSE THIS BILL AT EVERY STAGE. UNFORTUNATELY, UH, WE HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS. UH, THE BILL CONTINUES TO ADVANCE, UH, HOWEVER, THIS WEEK WHEN IT WAS HEARD ON THE SENATE FLOOR, THERE WERE TWO AMENDMENTS TO GOOD AMENDMENTS, UH, THAT WERE, UH, ACCEPTED. THE FIRST ONE WAS A LOSER PAYS PROVISION. UM, THIS WOULD, UH, ALLOW IF AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, SUES A CITY AND LOSES, UM, THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COURT IN ATTORNEY FEES ORIGINALLY IN THE BILL, CITIES WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE FEES. THE SECOND AMENDMENT THAT PASSED ON THE SENATE FLOOR, UM, IS RELATED TO CITY OFFICIALS, CANNOT BE SUED AS INDIVIDUALS. AND SO THAT WAS ANOTHER, UH, GOOD AMENDMENT THAT WAS PASSED ON THE SENATE FLOOR. IT CONTINUES TO ADVANCES. IT HAS PASSED THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. UM, IT'S HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. THE GOVERNOR HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL IN THE PAST, SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT HE WILL SIGN IT, BUT HE HAS NOT AS OF TODAY ONTO H B 2266. ANOTHER BAD PREEMPTION BILL. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A BILL, UM, THAT CREATES A CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST MUNICIPAL LICENSING, MUNICIPAL LICENSING, AND MORE IF IT'S MORE STRINGENT THAN STATE LAW. SIMPLY STATED, UH, THIS IS THE OCCUPATION'S LICENSING BILL OF 2127, WHICH HAS CREATED A LOT OF CONFUSION BECAUSE 2127 THAT I JUST SPOKE ABOUT INCLUDES, UM, PREEMPTION IN THE OCCUPATIONS CODE AS WELL. SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER LAYER. UM, IN THIS PARTICULAR OCCUPATIONS CODE, THERE ARE 25 INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONS THAT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING, UH, OFFERS IS FOR UNDER THIS BILL ALMOST EVERY SINGLE OF THESE LICENSES FOR THE HOLDERS, IT WOULD GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT, TO FILE A SUIT TO PREVENT ENFORCEMENT OF A CITY REGULATION, UH, BECAUSE IT IS MORE STRINGENT THAN STATE LAW OR BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY MORE EXPENSIVE, UH, TO DO BUSINESS. UH, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT T M L UM, HAS, UM, IDENTIFIED. ONE IS A STATE LICENSED DAYCARE, UM, COULD SUE THE CITY, UH, TO PREVENT US FROM ENFORCING LOCAL AND FIRE CODES IS ONE EXAMPLE. THE SECOND EXAMPLE ARE RESTAURANTS THAT SECURE, UM, TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE, UH, LICENSES. UM, THEY COULD FILE SUIT, UH, SEEKING TO PREVENT A CITY FROM ENFORCING LOCAL HEALTH CODES, UM, AND OTHER REGULATIONS SOLELY BECAUSE, UM, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE, OR POTENTIALLY MORE STRINGENT THAN THE CURRENT STATE LAW. IT IS BEING HEARD AS WE SPEAK, UM, OR A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS MORNING. UM, IN BUSINESS AND COMMERCE, WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS IN THAT COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE ARMED WITH OUR FIERCE OPPOSITION, UM, AND JUSTIFICATIONS TO OPPOSE THIS BILL, SENATOR MENENDEZ AND, AND SENATOR SINI. AND, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO, UH, OPPOSE THIS BILL. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS HERE. I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF GENERAL AYALA AND OUR MILITARY PARTNERS, HB 2239, UH, PASSED SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON MAY 16TH. UM, HOWEVER, IT IN ITS INCLUDE IN THE BILL, THERE IS AN AMENDMENT. UH, THIS BILL IS RELATED, UH, TO MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF [02:25:01] REMOVAL OF ASH JUNIPER TREES ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. OUR GOAL WAS TO CLARIFY THAT, UH, THE MEANING OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, UH, THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL ONLY APPLIED TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND NOT APPLY TO LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT, UM, RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS. SO WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THAT AMENDMENT, UH, ON MONDAY, UH, ON TUESDAY DURING THE LARGE OPPOSITION, UM, OF, OF THE BILL GENERAL AYALA TESTIFIED IN OPPOSITION AS THE JOINT BASE, SAN ANTONIO AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. SO THANK YOU TO, UH, GENERAL AYALA AND OUR PARTNERS AT AT J B S A. THIS BILL, UM, IS HEADED, UH, DEFINITELY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM, HB 26 49. THIS IS A LOCAL PENSIONS BILL. UH, IT'S PART OF OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. PRIMARILY INCREASES THE MINIMUM DEATH BENEFIT FROM 50% TO 70% FOR ALL NINE NON-ALIGNED OF DUTY DEATHS. HAPPY TO REPORT, UH, THAT IT PASSED THROUGH THE CHAMBERS AND IT'S, UM, ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. CONTINUING ON, UH, TO HB 5 67, THE TEXAS CROWN ACT, UM, ENSURES PROTECTIONS FOR TEXANS WHO WEAR THEIR HAIR AND NATURAL STYLES SUCH AS BRAIDS, LOCKS, TWISTS, AND KNOTS. GREAT NEWS HERE AS WELL. IT'S ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. THIS BILL ESSENTIALLY AMENDS THE EDUCATION CODE, UM, FOR SCHOOLS IN HIGHER ED WITH THESE PROTECTIONS, AS WELL AS IT ALSO AMENDS THE LABOR CODE WITH EMPLOYMENT PROTECTIONS AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY CODE WITH HOUSING PROTECTIONS. SO THIS WAS A BILL THAT OUR, UM, EQUITY OFFICE AND GA TEAM WERE TRACKING, AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO REPORT, UM, THAT IT MADE IT THROUGH TO THE FINISH LINE. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT, UM, THE GOVERNOR WILL JUST PUT THE FINAL STAMP ON THAT ONE. UM, A NOTE ON SB 1 75, YOU RECALL, THIS IS A TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING BILL THAT PROHIBITS US FROM USING PUBLIC FUNDS FOR LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. UM, IT PASSED THE SENATE AND IT WAS REFERRED BACK IN APRIL. UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT CLOSELY. THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF LIFE LEFT IN THIS ONE, SO WE ARE WATCHING IT, UH, VERY, VERY CLOSELY. SB 2038. THIS IS AN E T J BILL. UM, HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THIS WAS ANOTHER BILL THAT WE COORDINATED WITH OUR MILITARY AFFAIRS TEAM, AS WELL AS WITH J B S A. AND WE INCLUDED PROTECTIONS TO EXEMPT SAN ANTONIO JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO WITH A 15 MILE BUFFER, UM, TO ENSURE, UM, THAT IT DID NOT AFFECT NEGATIVELY OUR, UH, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND, UH, THE CRITICAL TRAINING AND MISSIONS THAT OCCUR THERE. SO, CONGRATULATIONS IN A BIG THANK YOU TO GENERAL AYALA AND HIS TEAM FOR, AGAIN, HELPING US OUT, UM, ON THIS BILL ONTO ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PILLAR. UM, YOU'LL RECALL SB 2020, OUR SENATE SPONSOR, SENATOR MENENDEZ HOUSE SPONSOR, UH, REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA GERVIN HAWKINS. THIS BILL ADDS SAN ANTONIO TO A LIST OF ELIGIBLE CITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROJECT FINANCE ZONE PROGRAM. CURRENTLY, DALLAS AND FORT WORTH ARE THE TWO CITIES THAT HAVE THIS DESIGNATION. ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS, UM, IT TAKES HOTEL OCCUPANCY SALES AND MIXED BEVERAGE TAX. THEY ARE COLLECTED AND ANY GROWTH OF THE HOT TAXES OF THE STATE'S PORTION IS COLLECTED AND WOULD BE REBATED BACK TO THE CITY TO HELP COVER IMPROVEMENTS, RENOVATIONS, AND EXPANSIONS OF OUR CONVENTION CENTER IN ALAMODOME. UH, THERE'S STILL, UH, A GOOD DEAL OF WORK LEFT ON THIS BILL, BUT I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IT IS ADVANCING. UM, AS YOU SEE HERE, THIS IS A PICTURE FROM, UM, MONDAY'S HEARING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND I'M SORRY, WAYS AND MEANS. UM, MAYOR NUREMBERG AND MARK ANDERSON FROM VISIT SA JOINED REPRESENTATIVE GERVIN HAWKINS AT THIS HEARING TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT. IT WAS REPORTED FAVORABLY OUT OF THE COMMITTEE, AND IT HAS BEEN SENT TO CALENDARS NOW. SO THE NEXT STEP IS A FLOOR VOTE. SO WE WILL CONTINUE WITH AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BILL CONTINUES, UM, TO ADVANCE, UH, CONTINUING UNDER ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT H B TWO. UM, YOU RECALL, THESE ARE TWO LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES. UH, THE APPRAISAL CAPS REDUCES THE LIMIT ON ANNUAL APPRAISALS FROM 10 TO 5% AND INCLUDES ALL TYPES OF PROPERTIES, INCLUDING BUSINESSES. UM, THE NEXT ONE IS SSB THREE. THIS IS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS, UH, PROPOSAL, UH, INCREASES HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS FROM 40,000 TO 70,000. UH, THESE ARE THE TWO DUELING BILLS THAT CONTINUE TO [02:30:01] BE NEGOTIATED AND DISCUSSED. THEY HAVE EACH PASSED THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS AND, UH, NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY BILL. UM, HAPPY TO REPORT, UM, THAT REPRESENTATIVE COMPASS'S DANGEROUS DOG BILL CONTINUES TO ADVANCE. UH, THIS BILL DETERMINES IF A DOG IS DANGEROUS, INCREASES THE CRIMINAL PENALTY FROM CLASS C MISDEMEANOR TO CLASS B IF THE, UH, ATTACK CAUSES BODILY INJURY INTO SECOND DEGREE FELONY IF THE ATTACK CAUSES DEATH. UM, WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OTHER CITIES AS WELL AS WITH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES GROUPS TO EXPAND THE SUPPORT OF THIS BILL, UM, FOR REPRESENTATIVE CAMPOS. UM, ALSO, UM, SENATOR MENENDEZ, UM, IS THE SENATE SPONSOR. SO WE ARE WORKING WITH, WITH BOTH MEMBERS. IT IS, IT HAS PASSED, UM, THE, UH, SENATE CRIMINAL, I'M SORRY, IT PASSED THE HOUSE REFERRED TO SENATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN LATE LAST NIGHT. UM, WE FOUND OUT THAT IT IS SCHEDULED FOR A HEARING, UM, IN THE SENATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE, UH, FOR TOMORROW. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AND THE SENATOR TO MAKE SURE, UM, THIS CONTINUES, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD. A BIG THANK YOU TO THEM AND THEIR STAFF FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT ONTO, UM, SB SEVEN 80, UH, SAFE, UH, HAVEN BABY BOX BILL, ANOTHER HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IT CONTINUES TO ADVANCE. WE'RE MONITORING VERY CLOSELY. THIS WOULD ADD FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND LAW EN CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO THE LIST OF EMERGENCY, UH, LOCATIONS, UH, THAT WOULD CARE, UH, FOR INFANTS, UM, AND, AND CHILDREN, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR A SAFE HAVEN. UM, WE'RE MONITORING VERY CLOSELY AND WE WILL AN, WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE. IT HAS PASSED THE HOUSE, UM, UH, THE SENATE IN HOUSE AND, UM, THE SENATE NEEDS TO CONCUR ON HOUSE AMENDMENTS. UH, ANOTHER BIT OF GOOD NEWS. SB 1325. THIS IS A NOTICE TO VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. I PROVIDED YOU AN UPDATE. WE'VE BEEN TRACKING THIS ONE, IT'S MADE IT TO THE FINISH LINE HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. UM, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THIS REQUIRES HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A STANDARD NOTICE TO INCLUDE A LIST OF AGENCIES AND SERVICES, UM, THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS ABOUT THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. AND, UM, THESE, UH, NOTICES TO THESE VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, UM, IS A MUCH NEEDED, UM, LIST OF SUPPORT SERVICES THAT INCLUDES HOUSING, UM, AND SUPPORT AND OTHER, UH, INFORMATION THAT THEY, UM, WILL BE VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THEM TO, TO BE ABLE TO BE AWARE OF UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY PILLAR OF OUR PROGRAM. SB 1238. THIS IS THE BROADBAND BUILD BILL. UM, ALSO, UM, A LEADERSHIP PRIORITY. IT UPDATES THE B D O PROGRAM WITH FUNDING THAT INCLUDES 5 BILLION TO EXPAND, UH, BROADBAND AVAILABILITY. UM, IT HAS PASSED, UM, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND WE FOUND OUT LATE LAST NIGHT THAT THE SENATE ADOPTED THE CO CONFERENCE REPORT. SO IT CONTINUES TO ADVANCE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK THAT. UM, HB 2230 AND S C R TWO. THIS IS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR PROP ONE AND SEVEN. UM, THESE ARE TWO ACCOUNTS, UM, RELATED TO HIGHWAY FUNDING AND ROADS FUNDING. THIS CONSTITUTES OVER 40% OF TDOT'S CURRENT, UH, 10 YEAR PLAN. UH, BOTH, UM, HAVE PASSED, UM, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT WILL BE HEADED, UH, TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR SIGNATURE. UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK, UH, DONE BY OUR SAMCO PARTNERS ON THESE, SO WE'D LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR HELP HERE. UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION, SALLY, AND, AND OUR THANKS TO THE ENTIRE, UH, CITY TEAM. I KNOW YOU'VE SPENT A LOT OF LONG HOURS UP THERE AND COORDINATING THOUSANDS OF BILLS, SO, UH, GREAT WORK. UM, YOU DON'T MAKE THE BILLS. YOU HAVE TO TRACK 'EM. SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK. COUNCIL MEMBER, PAPA. THANKS SALLY. JEFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, I, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S AN UPDATE REGARDING SSB 2220. UM, JEFF, THIS IS THE CONVENTION BILL SALLY GAVE THE UPDATE. UH, IT, IT IS IN CALENDAR. OH, OKAY. UM, SHE ALSO MENTIONED THE ANIMAL CARE BILLS, LIKE THE, UH, DANGEROUS DOG AND THE VET CARE BILL. UM, IF I COULD TAKE THE SECOND TO JUST SAY WE'RE, WE'RE A WEEK OUT FROM THE END OF THE SESSION. DEADLINES ARE NEXT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. THE BILLS HAVE TO GET VOTED OUT OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE RESPECTIVELY. SO IF ANY OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WANNA HELP PUSH US OVER THE FINISH LINE AND [02:35:01] CALL DELEGATION MEMBERS THAT YOU HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH, WE CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF BILL NUMBERS THAT THAT COULD USE THE FINAL PUSH. AND, UH, WE WE'LL DO WITH, CAN YOU, CAN YOU GET US TALKING POINTS ALSO FOR, UH, FOR MY COLLEAGUES? ABSOLUTELY. SO THAT, YES, SIR. OKAY. WE DO. WE'LL, THANKS. UM, LISTEN, EXCELLENT WORK. I KNOW THAT IT'S A BLOODY KNUCKLE FIGHT UP THERE IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW, AND I KNOW THAT YOU, UM, SHOULD PROBABLY BE THERE TODAY, BUT INSTEAD YOU'RE HERE, UH, BRIEFING US. I APPRECIATE THAT. SO, UM, AS SOON AS THIS IS DONE, GET IN YOUR CARS AND GET BACK UP THERE AND KEEP UP. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLIE, I, I NEGLECTED. WE DO HAVE ONE, UH, CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM FOUR, JACK FINGER. MAYOR NURENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR, UH, YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL SPEND ABOUT, UH, OH, A MILLION OR SO TAX DOLLARS, OUR TAX DOLLARS ON A, UH, SOMETHING CALLED THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENTS, THE DEPARTMENT THAT DEALS WITH, UH, PROVIDING LOBBYISTS TO GO UP TO AUSTIN, AND FOR THAT MATTER, WASHINGTON TO, UH, LOBBY ON THINGS THAT, UH, UH, YOU, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY GOVERNMENT WANT TO SEE. BUT, UH, UH, WE, THE, UH, TAXPAYERS AND CITIZENS AND PROPERTY OWNERS DO NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO SEE. AND, UH, ONE BIG THING THAT, UH, WAS ON YOUR LIST, UH, LAST NOVEMBER TO TRY AND LOBBY, LOBBY AGAINST WAS, UH, OR LOBBY FOR, WAS FOR SO-CALLED WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. IT'S RIGHT THERE ON YOUR LIST. IT'S THE CODE WORD FOR ABORTION. ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE USING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO TRY AND PROMOTE ABORTION IN OUR, UH, STATE LEGISLATURE OR, OR AT LEAST, UH, TO TRY TO, TO, UH, FI FIGHT AGAINST THE PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION THAT WAS ALREADY THERE. UH, FORTUNATELY YOU DIDN'T, UH, YOU DIDN'T WIN ON THAT ONE. THANK GOD. UH, AS I RECALL, THERE'S EVEN A LITTLE RADIO CAMPAIGN THAT WE CAME OUT AND EX TOLD THE CITIZENS, WHAT WOULD YOU, WERE YOU FOLKS WERE GOING TO DO AT THE TIME? NOW THE SESSION ISN'T OVER AND ANYTHING COULD STILL HAPPEN. BUT, UH, I AM OPTIMISTIC IN THAT REGARD. ALSO, UM, YOU HAVE, UH, LOBBIED FOR, WELL, I'M, ONE THING THAT I WAS IN PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN WAS SOMETHING CALLED TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING, WHEREBY YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, TELL OUR TAX PAID LOBBYISTS TO, UH, LOBBY FOR THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN THE, UH, THE TAXPAYERS AND HOMEOWNERS AND CITIZENS' INTERESTS. UH, THAT ONE IS YET TO, UH, WE, UH, COME THROUGH. I HOPE IT DOES SUCCEED. AND, UM, FINALLY, UM, THERE WAS A, UM, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER. I CAN'T, CAN'T REMEMBER THE, THE OTHER ONE THERE. SO ANYWAY, I, UH, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING JUST HOW THE, UH, THE LEGISLATURE WILL COME FORWARD ON ALL THESE THINGS THAT I JUST NOW MENTIONED. THANK YOU. AND, UH, MR. PERRY, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR SIX YEARS OF PRESENTING A FEW CONSERVATIVE VIEWPOINTS, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA RESUME COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE URGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND THANK YOU SALLY FOR THE REPORT. AND JEFF, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY HORRIFIED AT THE, THE TWO BILLS THAT ARE GOING TO PRETTY MUCH STRIP THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO FROM MAKING DECISIONS ON WHAT THEY THINK ARE BEST FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, UH, BOTH 21, 27 AND 2266. UH, IT'S VERY WORRISOME AS A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL AND AS A CITIZEN OF SAN ANTONIO. UH, IT'S REALLY GONNA CRIPPLE MUNICIPALITIES ALL OVER THE STATE. UH, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD TAKE IT LYING DOWN DEPENDING ON HOW THEY FINALLY COME ABOUT. BUT TWO THINGS I DO WANNA NOTE, ACTUALLY, THREE THINGS. ONE IS, UH, I WANNA REALLY THANK GENERAL AYALA FOR THE WORK HE DID ON, UM, THE MILITARY PROTECTION ISSUES THAT, UH, HE REALLY, UH, CHAMPIONED FOR J B S A AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. UH, IT'S ALWAYS CRITICAL THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE LAWMAKERS IN AUSTIN UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AFFECT THE [02:40:01] MILITARY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND, AND GENERAL AYALA HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF REPRESENTING THOSE INTERESTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I ALSO WANNA THANK SALLY AND THE STAFF THAT HAVE WORKED HARD ON THE DANGEROUS ANIMALS, UH, LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN MOVING FORWARD IN AUSTIN. I THINK WE'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND THOSE DRASTIC CONCERNS AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE WELLBEING OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, OR I SHOULD SAY, PET OWNERS AND THEIR RIGHTS AS WELL. ONE THING THAT I'M VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT, UH, AND I WANT TO COMMENT ON, IS I WANT TO THANK SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE MARTINEZ FISHER FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE ON HELPING EXPAND THE TEXAS SAFE HAVEN LAW. AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT AS OF TUESDAY, SENATE BILL SEVEN 80 IS CLOSE TO GO BEFORE THE GOVERNOR TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER, UH, WHEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF LIFESAVING NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES AT EMERGENCY IN INFANT CARE CENTER, UH, PROVIDERS OR SAFE HAVEN SITES. TEXAS LEADS THE COUNTRY IN A NUMBER OF DEAD AND ABANDONED INFANTS, AND THIS IS A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR HELPING FAMILIES IN CRISIS SAFELY AND ANONYMOUSLY SURRENDER INFANTS. WE KNOW THAT AS A RESULT OF THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V WADE AND THE DRACONIAN LAWS, THE STATE HAS ENACTED LIMITING THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE. WE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY SEEING AN INCREASE IN UNWANTED PREGNANCIES, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR INFANTS. SO I LOOK AT THIS, UH, SENATE BILL SEVEN 80 AS BOTH A WOMEN'S CHOICE ISSUE AND A RIGHT TO LIFE ISSUE. THIS COUNCIL HAS SIGNED A C C R THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED AND SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENT, WE BELIEVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR BEXAR COUNTY PARTNERS CAN GO EVEN FURTHER TO PROTECT THE FAMILIES OF INFANTS BY FIRST OF ALL, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE FUNDING FOR THESE NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES, PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A LOCAL SAFE HAVEN OR BABY MOSES CRISIS HOTLINE FOR PARENTS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS UNDER THE LAW, AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TARGETED MARKETING AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ON THE SAFE HAVEN LAW, THE NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES AND CRISIS HOTLINES. AND I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE QUICK ACTION ON THESE AS SOON AS THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THIS BILL. I ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE WITH GREAT APPRECIATION THE WORK OF TWO OF MY STAFF MEMBERS, KELSEY BRANT AND ILEANA SANDOVAL, WHO TIRELESSLY DID THE WORK WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE, UH, MARTINEZ FISHER'S STAFF, AND REACHED OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNTY OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO GARNER THE SUPPORT TO PASS THIS SAFE HAVEN HAVEN NEWBORN, UH, SAFETY DEVICE LEGISLATION. AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE, UH, TO THEIR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN, IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'LL START BY THANKING SALLY AND, UM, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. UM, BUT I FEEL LIKE WITH THE DEATH STAR BILL, WE'RE GONNA NEED THE MILLENNIUM FALCON, AND SO I CAN'T WAIT, UH, TO HEAR WHAT, WHAT ANDY, UM, HOPEFULLY SOON, WE'LL, WE'LL SHARE WITH US ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO, AND I'M JUST TERRIFIED OF THE BILL AND, UM, WHAT IT WILL DOES. SO THIS WILL JEOPARDIZE TENANTS RIGHTS. UM, IT WILL JEOPARDIZE OUR, UH, RESPONSIBLE BID ORDINANCE, UH, NOISE MITIGATION THAT WE HAVE TAKEN UP LATELY, UH, HEAT RELATED ILLNESS, UH, C C R THAT WE WERE PLANNING TO TAKE UP. UM, AND THEN THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION. THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ONES THAT I THINK ARE MOST CRITICAL TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE REALLY WORKED HARD ON IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, UM, THAT I AM, LIKE I SAID, JUST TERRIFIED OF. SO, UM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO MORE CONVERSATION ON THAT. AND, UH, JUST PREPPING WITH, WITH ANDY AND THE TEAM ON THAT. I DO, UM, WANNA FOCUS, UM, TODAY BECAUSE SALLY REMINDED US TO, TO FOCUS ON, ON SOME GOOD POSITIVES. AND SO, UM, JOSIE GARCIA AUTHORED 218 BILLS, [02:45:01] UM, AND AS A FRESHMAN THAT MIGHT BE THE MOST, UH, ANYONE HAS AUTHORED ANYTHING FROM, UM, UH, SPECIAL EDUCATION TO VETERANS JUDICIAL REFORM. AND SO I WAS REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT, THAT SHE HAS DONE. AND SO SHE WAS INCREDIBLE THE OTHER DAY WHEN I SAW HER CHAMPIONING. AND SO I DID WANNA GIVE HER, UM, A SHOUT OUT, UM, ON SB 26 49 AND, UH, OR HOUSE BILL 26 49 AND, AND, UM, SB 1207 LOCAL PENSIONS. AND I SEE FIREFIGHTERS STILL HERE. AND SO, UM, THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION HAD WORKED REALLY HARD. I AM, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR FOUR YEARS, AND SO I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A PRIORITY, SO THANK YOU FOR HELPING WITH THAT AS WELL. UM, THANK YOU GENERAL AYALA FOR HB 2239. YOUR, YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT. I SAW HIM HERE EARLIER. I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S STILL HERE. UM, THE DANGEROUS DOG, UH, UM, A HB 47 59 IS ANOTHER ONE THAT I'M, I'M HOPING WILL PASS. AND I SEE SHANNON, SO I'M SURE THAT YOU, UM, AND, AND THE ENTIRE, UH, TEAM ARE SUPPORTIVE AND, AND HAPPY AND INVESTED IN THAT. UM, ON THE PROJECT, UH, FINANCE ZONE, SB 2220, I WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, SENATOR MENENDEZ FOR ADDING US TO THAT. THAT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT TO THE WORK THAT VISIT SAN ANTONIO DOES, AND HAPPY THAT WE ARE, UM, INVOLVED WITH SOME OF THE LARGER CITIES. I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE BROADBAND ON SSB 1238. DO, HAVE THEY DESIGNATED AREAS SPECIFICALLY? AND IS SAN ANTONIO INCLUDED? UM, ONE OF THE, THE, I GUESS, HESITATIONS ON THAT WHEN IT ORIGINALLY CAME OUT IS IT WAS ONLY GONNA INCLUDE RURAL AREAS, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SAN ANTONIO WOULD GET A FAIR SHARE OF THE, UM, OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WILL BE GOING TO THAT. SALLY, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN. UM, WE CAN DEFINITELY TRY TO SCRAP TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT. WE KNOW THAT, UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A ROBUST AMOUNT THAT'S GONNA BE ADDED TO THE BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OPERATIONS. UM, AND WE'VE, WE ARE IN CLOSE, UH, DIALOGUE WITH THEM. SO WE WILL, I KNOW THAT IT'LL PROBABLY RAMP UP AND ENHANCE SOME OF THEIR EXISTING, UH, PROGRAMMING, BUT WE DEFINITELY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE, UM, ONCE WE SCRUB IT FURTHER. GOOD, PLEASE. I THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT'S CRITICAL FOR, FOR RESIDENTS, UM, IN, IN OUR AREAS OF TOWN THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE DIGITAL DIVIDE FOR SO LONG. SO I FEEL LIKE WE STILL ARE RURAL IN SOME FORM. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, ON SSB SEVEN 80, AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR, FOR YOUR, UM, YOUR, YOUR ADVOCACY ON THE BABY BOXES. I'M, I'M GLAD THAT'S ADVANCING. AND THEN ON SB 31 25, THE FAMILY VIOLENCE SERVICES, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT'S, UM, UH, ALSO IN SPANISH. AND SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF, UM, THE RESIDENTS AT THAT SPEAK SPANISH ONLY, UM, MIGHT, UH, NEED SOME ADDITIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE AT THE HANDS OF THEIR ABUSERS BECAUSE THEY, THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN'T SPEAK UP AND SOMETIMES THEY JUST DON'T KNOW, AND THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY DO USE IS SPANISH. SO, UM, SO I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL HELP WITH THAT IN ACCESS IN SPANISH TO, TO A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER SERVICES. BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THE THE ONLY THING THAT I WANTED TO, TO FOCUS ON TODAY. AND I THINK JEFF WANTS TO ADD SOMETHING. YES, COUNCILMAN, THANKS SO MUCH. THE, UM, BROADBAND BILL BETTER DEFINES BOTH UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED AREAS. IT MAKES CLEANUPS FROM THE ORIGINAL BILL H P FIVE THAT PASSED LAST SESSION. IT DOESN'T SPECIFY SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, AND IT, AND IT'S FOR BOTH URBAN, RURAL, SUBURBAN ACROSS THE STATE. BUT YES, IT DOES SOME, SOME BIG IMPROVEMENTS THAT ALLOW US TO BETTER DEFINE WHAT AREAS NEED BROADBAND INVESTMENT FROM THE STATE. WONDERFUL. THAT'S GREAT NEWS. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SALLY AND JEFF AND, UH, TEAM FOR THE CONTINUED WORK AND ENSURING THAT WE KEEP SAN ANTONIO VALUES AT THE FOREFRONT AT THE CAPITOL. UM, I, I AM EXTREMELY, UM, REPULSED BY THE ADVANCEMENT OF HOUSE BILL 2127, WHICH IS EXTREMELY ANTI-WORKER AND ANTI-DEMOCRATIC AS IT WORKS TOWARDS UNDERMINING, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT. UM, WITH THAT, UM, THE, THE, THE, THE ADVANCEMENT OF THIS ESSENTIALLY CODIFIES PROFIT OVER PEOPLE, RIGHT? WHEN WE LOOK AT THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE LANGUAGE AND THE AMENDMENT RIGHT. AND, AND I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT, UH, THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS MADE BY THE AUTHOR ON, UH, UNDERMINING THE RIGHTS OF TENANTS, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE RIGHT, THAT THE AUTHOR, HIS SIDE HUSTLE IS BEING A CORPORATE LANDLORD, RIGHT? UM, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW THAT PAPER TRAIL, UH, OF WHY, UM, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS LOCAL ELECTEDS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND LOCAL, THE, THE LIBERTIES OF OUR CONSTITUENCY IS BEING UNDERMINED. UM, THE FRUSTRATION THAT I WANNA EXPRESS IS THAT RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON KEEPING OUR STUDENTS SAFE AND ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN RECEIVE THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE, UM, WE ARE BUSY PLAYING, UM, THEIR BUSY CONCERNED AND STICKING THEIR [02:50:01] NOSE IN SMALL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN TAKING CARE OF, UH, OUR CHILDREN. UM, SO I, I BELIEVE IT'S, IT'S SICKENING, IT'S FRUSTRATING, AND I'M, I'M, I'M READY TO, TO LEARN MORE HOW WE CAN LOCK AND LOAD AND HIT BACK, UM, BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR CONSTITUENCIES AND THE RIGHTS OF OUR CONSTITUENCIES. UM, ON ANOTHER NOTE, I, I WANNA COMMEND COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR HI, HIS WORK IN ADEQUACY FOR SENATE BILL SEVEN 80. UM, THAT'S GOING TO BE PIVOTAL, AND I WANTED TO BE SURE I COMMENDED YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THAT. UH, I ALSO WANNA COMMEND, UM, ANIMAL CARE SERVICE, UH, JEFF AND SALLY FOR, UM, MOVING SO QUICKLY AND MOVING WITH URGENCY TO ENSURE THAT, UH, THEIR SUPPORT AND, UM, COALITION BUILDING AROUND THE DANGEROUS ANIMAL BILL. SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. UH, WE HAVE PLENTY MORE WORK AHEAD. UM, SO I JUST WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL Y'ALL DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. SO WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT THE LIGHT BULBS THAT ARE OUT . YEAH, WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T PAY OUR ELECTRIC BILL. ERIC . I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE PAYING ATTENTION ON YOUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING. ALRIGHT. YEAH, WE WERE PAYING ATTENTION. UM, SALLY, UM, DO YOU THINK THE SESSION'S GONNA BE ? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I WON'T DARE TRY TO GUESS. HOWEVER, WE ARE HEARING THAT A COUPLE OF POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT WOULD EXTEND, UM, INTO ANOTHER SESSION WOULD BE, UM, BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AND, UM, EDUCATION VOUCHERS. SO WE ARE TRACKING THOSE TWO DISCUSSIONS, UH, VERY CLOSELY. OKAY. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO ISSUES RIGHT NOW. NOW TALK, THOSE ARE THE TWO ISSUES THAT WE'VE HEARD IN THE HALLS OF THE CAPITOL THAT WOULD, UM, CALL THE LEADERSHIP WOULD CALL A A ANOTHER SESSION. OKAY, GREAT. AND WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, UH, 21, 27, 22 66, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ANGST AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE SKY IS FALLING TYPE OF THING, BUT WHY ARE, WHY, IN YOUR OPINION, WHY ARE THEY PUTTING THESE BILLS FORWARD? SO IT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY THE, UM, JUSTIFICATION ON 2127 THAT THE AUTHOR SAID WAS TO TRY TO EVEN OUT THE FIELD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO, UH, BE ABLE TO HAVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHEN THEY'RE DOING BUSINESS FROM, UM, CITY TO CITY. AND SO THAT WAS A JUSTIFICATION MADE, UH, BY THE AUTHOR. OKAY. UM, SO RIGHT NOW IT'S, IT'S LOOKING GOOD TO PASS THESE, UH, THESE BILLS. 21, 27 HAS PASSED, UH, BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. SO WE ANTICIPATE, AS I SAID EARLIER, UM, COUNCILMAN THE GOVERNOR HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR HB 2127. SO WE DO ANTICIPATE, UM, THAT HE WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, YEAH, UH, I, WHEN I HEAR ALL OF THE CONCERNS, I I LOOK AT WHAT HAS TRIGGERED, UM, THESE BILLS AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS WE'RE, I, I THINK WE'RE MAKING IT MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS IT'S OUTLINED TO BE AND THE REASONS WHY THEY PUT THESE BILLS FORWARD, UH, IN THE LEGISLATURE. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, I LOOK AT IT, THESE ARE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE COMING OUT WITH AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE VOTING ON. AND THIS IS WHAT, UH, IF, IF THIS GETS VOTED INTO LAW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, UH, LIVE WITH AND WORK AROUND AND, AND, UH, UH, MAKE DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND I, I I, I JUST HATE TO PORTRAY IT AS THE SKY IS FALLING AND EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT TO DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE THE STATE IS GONNA, UH, UH, STEP IN AND HAVE THE, THE, UH, LAWS AND WHAT HAVE YOU THAT WE CAN'T GO OUTSIDE OF. SO, YOU KNOW, HEY, UH, I SAY IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT REPRESENTATION, THERE'S ONE WAY TO CHANGE THAT IS GET SOMEBODY ELSE ELECTED INTO THOSE, UH, POSITIONS. BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT, UH, IT'S GOING IN. AND, AND WE AS A CITY NEED TO FOLLOW LOCKSTEP. I MEAN, WE JUST HAD A RECENT EXAMPLE WITH THIS LAST ELECTION AND THIS PROP PROP A WIN AGAINST STATE LAW. AND THAT'S, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T BE DOING THAT. AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF MY CONCERNS. AND, AND, UH, SO, UM, ON IS, UH, JEFF, THANK YOU, SALLY, JEFF, ON THE, UH, JUNIPER TREES, THERE WAS ONE LITTLE ISSUE THAT WE WANTED TO CHANGE SOME LANGUAGE ON, UH, 2239. DID THAT ACTUALLY GET CHANGED? YES. CHAIRMAN, I'M [02:55:01] GONNA ASK NADIA ISLAM, SHE'S DONE A TON OF WORK WITH JUAN ON THESE, UH, TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT IT, YES. HI, COUNCIL MEMBER NADIA ISLAM WITH THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM. MM-HMM. . YES. SO THE SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT WE HAD WITH THE BILL, WE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH BOTH THE HOUSE MEMBER AND SENATOR FLORES. THE LANGUAGE IT INCLUDED WAS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, WHICH COULD MEAN, UM, HUNDREDS OF ACRES OR A SINGLE, UH, RESIDENCE PROPERTY. WE WORK TO GET LANGUAGE INCLUDED THAT NOW IT LIMITS IT TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WITH A SINGLE OR DOUBLE, UH, HOMES, SO THAT IT WOULD NOT BE A CASE OF A DEVELOPER COMING IN AND CLEARING OUT 400 ACRES TO BUILD RESIDENTIAL HOMES, WHICH TECHNICALLY IS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. OKAY. SO YES, THAT LANGUAGE IS NOW OFFICIALLY INCLUDED IN THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE. GREAT. FANTASTIC. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. YEAH. AND, UH, PASS ON MY THANKS TO GENERAL YAN GETTING THAT THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR WORKING THAT. SALLY, JEFF, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, I AM SIMULTANEOUSLY ALWAYS AND NEVER SURPRISED THAT EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION FEELS LIKE IT GETS WORSE AND EVERY UPDATE FEELS WORSE THAN THE LAST ONE. UM, I WON'T STRESS MUCH FURTHER. THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON, UH, UH, THAT WOULD COME FROM MUCH OF THIS LEGISLATION. YOU KNOW, IT, WE KNOW IT. WE'VE, I'VE, WE'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSS IT, AND WE ARE AGAIN, AFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT, UH, IN THE FIGHT. SO PLEASE SEND US CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THOSE THAT WE CAN CALL IN OUR SPARE TIME AS WELL AS, UH, MAYBE SOME DATES WHEN YOU THINK IT WOULD BE, UH, ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US TO COME TO AUSTIN. I'D BE HAPPY TO DO SO. I JUST NEED TO GET, JUST LET ME KNOW. UM, I SHARE IN THE DISAPPOINTMENT, UH, IN SOME OF OUR PARTNERS SUCH AS THE CHAMBERS WHO HAVE ADVOCATED IN SUPPORT OF BILLS THAT WILL HARM OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND STRIP US OF OUR ABILITY, UH, AND RIGHT AS A CITY TO PROTECT THE MOST MARGINALIZED IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEN WE TRAVEL TO DC OR AUSTIN, I BELIEVE WE MAY NEED TO EXPAND OUR PARTNERSHIPS IN A COLLABORATION TO INCLUDE, UM, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT THE TRUE WILL OF OUR CITY, UH, TO INCLUDE LABOR UNIONS AND WORKERS, UH, HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND MINORITY BASED GROUPS THAT ARE OFTEN NOT INVITED BY THE TRADITIONAL PARTNERS. UM, AND SO I'LL FOCUS ON SOMETHING POSITIVE. UH, ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS AS A COUNCIL PERSON HAS BEEN WHEN WE HAD, UH, THESE YOUNG BLACK WOMEN, UH, FROM AROUND SAN ANTONIO WHO CAME TO CHAMBERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, EACH OF THEM, ALL OF THEM STUDENTS, AND THEY BROUGHT 50 COUNT 50, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, ASKING US TO SUPPORT THE CROWN ACT. AND I WAS HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM AND TO CONTINUE TO DO SO AS IT'S MOVED, UH, THROUGH SESSION. AND I'M PROUD SO, SO, SO PROUD OF, UH, THESE YOUNG WOMEN FOR THEIR ADVOCACY. AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOUNG LEADERS SUCH AS THEM, UH, TO SOMETIMES WHEN, IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO SOMETHING HERE, WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO HANDLE IT, AND ESPECIALLY AS IT'S GOING TO BECOME A LOT, LOT HARDER FOR US HERE. UM, I WILL ADD THAT IT FEELS SOMEWHAT OUT OF TOUCH TO SAY THAT IF WE DON'T LIKE WHAT'S BEING DONE AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATOR TO JUST LEGISLATURE, TO JUST ELECT MORE, REPRESENT, UH, ELECT DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES WHEN IN THIS STATE WE HAVE TO FIGHT VOTER SUPPRESSION, GERRYMANDERING, AND OTHER SUPPRESSIVE MEANS TO PREVENT US FROM DOING JUST THAT. AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WHILE WE'RE HERE, WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS AND WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT AND THAT WE WANT TO FIGHT. AND, UM, I WOULD ADD THAT, MAN, I'M JUST, I'M DISAPPOINTED AND I, I I WANNA FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE, BUT PLEASE GIVE ME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN I CAN COME TO AUSTIN AND WHEN YOU WANT ME TO GO WITH YOU, AND I'LL BRING SOME PEOPLE WITH ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. UH, THANK YOU AGAIN. UH, SALLY AND NADIA, JEFF, UH, THE WHOLE I G R TEAM JUAN, UH, FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK. I DON'T HAVE MUCH ELSE TO ADD, UH, THAT WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID. OBVIOUSLY THE FOCUS, UH, CONTINUES TO BE ON, UH, BILLS LIKE 2127 SOMETIMES AMENDMENTS, SOME REVEAL THE INTENT OF THE AUTHORS AND, AND IN THIS CASE, UH, AMENDMENTS NOW THAT WOULD SUPPOSEDLY PROTECT CITIES FROM ENDLESS LITIGATION. THAT, THAT ULTIMATELY IS WHAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO HAPPEN. UM, SO BRINGS TO MIND A, A GREAT LINE IN, IN, UH, THE MOVIE PURE COUNTRY THAT I'LL SPARE YOU FROM HEARING AGAIN. BUT, UM, ANYWAY, UH, IT, IT REMAINS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE BASE LANGUAGE IN THAT LEGISLATION, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK THAT. UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, UH, I JUST WANNA ECHO MY, UH, COLLEAGUES' FRUSTRATIONS WITH, UH, HB 2127. I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM AND I THINK WE, THE MESSAGE WE NEED TO SEND TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS, THIS IS SOMEBODY FROM LUBBOCK AND NOT ANYWHERE NEAR SOUTH TEXAS THAT WANTS TO TELL US HOW TO GOVERN. AND I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THAT GOING TO SCHOOL IN LUBBOCK [03:00:01] FOR FOUR YEARS. THEY HAVE, THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT WE ARE DOING IN, IN A CITY THIS SIZE, AND THAT OUR RESIDENTS, UM, HAVE, HAVE A VOICE AND, AND WANT PROTECTIONS, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY DO. SO, UM, JUST, IT'S DISAPPOINTING. CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. BUT I THINK WHEN WE TELL THIS STORY, IT'S, IT'S PEOPLE FROM LUBBOCK, PEOPLE FROM, UM, SMALL TOWNS THAT ARE PUTTING THESE BILLS FORWARD AND, AND THAT'S THE FRUSTRATING PART. UH, BUT WE WILL, WE'LL CHAMPION ON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO AND COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, RARELY GOOD NEWS WHEN, UH, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA GET A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. AND, UH, I JUST THINK THAT, THAT A LOT OF IT COMES DOWN TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS. AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU HAVE THE BEST LEGISLATURE THAT MONEY CAN BUY. I ALSO LOOK BACK AT IT, AND I SOMETIMES THINK THIS IS A FAILURE OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM WHEN WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT, THAT OPERATES THIS WAY. AND THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. I, I FAILED TO, TO THANK OUR DELEGATION. I, I AGREE WITH, UH, SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ALREADY MADE, UH, ABOUT, UH, MEMBERS WHO HAVE JUST BEEN ROCK STARS, UH, THIS SESSION, UH, ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY. SO, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR BEXAR COUNTY DELEGATION. THEY'VE DONE A, A STELLAR JOB ADVANCING GOOD LEGISLATION AND, AND DEFENDING AND, AND AMENDING THOSE THAT WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE CITY. SO, [Purchase of Services, Supplies and Equipment  ] UH, WITH THAT, THAT IS, UH, OUR BRIEFING. WE CAN GO NOW TO ITEM NUMBER SIX. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. TO PROVIDE PORTABLE RADIOS AND ACCESSORIES TO THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR AN INITIAL COST OF $9,666,428 AND 39 CENTS, AND AN ESTIMATED $372,000 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER. FUNDING FOR THE INITIAL COST OF THIS CONTRACT IS AVAILABLE FROM CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. THIS ITEM WILL APPROPRIATE FUNDS AND AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2023. CAPITAL BUDGET FUNDING FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS IN THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $372,000 ANNUALLY IS CONTINGENT UPON CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. OKAY, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM SIX, COME UP FIRST, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER PIA. UH, FIRST, UH, CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS CJ HIJAZI. UH, MR. HIJAZI, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY DON GRIFFITHS. UH, GOOD MORNING. UH, MY NAME IS, UH, I'M, I'M SORRY, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR, UH, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MR. WALSH AND MR. M, UH, MY NAME IS, UH, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS CJ HIJAZI. I'M THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF DAILY WELLS COMMUNICATIONS, UH, RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I HAVE TO WEAR MY GLASSES AND MY APOLOGIES. UH, DAILY WELLS IS A SMALL MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE CELEBRATED 51 YEARS RIGHT HERE. WE'RE IN DISTRICT TWO, AND, UH, WE REPRESENT L THREE HARRIS, UH, THE BEST COMMUNICATION COMPANY IN THE WORLD. DAILY WELLS HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF PROVIDING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEAR COUNTY WITH COMMUNICATION FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS. EVERY RADIO FOR THE POLICE FIRE, UH, FOR THE COUNTY IS ACTUALLY AN L THREE HARRIS RADIO. IN 2018, WE WERE AWARDED $106 MILLION CONTRACT TO PROVIDE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BEAR COUNTY AND C P S WITH A STATE OF THE ART P 25 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, WHICH WE DELIVERED ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, AND I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE WILL ALWAYS SERVE THE ONES THAT SERVE US. WE KNOW COMMUNICATION IS PUBLIC SAFETY LIFELINE, AND WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. UH, I AM BEING HONEST IN TELLING YOU THAT, UH, WE ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AT THE OUTCOME OF THE FIRE RADIO, BUT WE UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT S A F D DECISION. WE WORK VERY HARD WITH L THREE HARRIS, OUR TRUSTED PARTNER, TO PROVIDE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THE BEST RADIO THEY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE. S A F D WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO HELP US DEVELOP THE EXCEL 400, WHICH MET ALL THEIR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS. THEIR INPUT WAS INVALUABLE, AND A LOT OF GREAT FEATURES CAME IN FROM RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR DOING THAT. UH, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS, UM, THE BOTTOM LINE IS S A F D RADIO IS NOT ABOUT A BRAND OR A PREFERENCE, BUT ABOUT [03:05:01] HAVING THE BEST RADIO FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND IN MY 30 YEARS, UH, IN THIS BUSINESS, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT OUR RADIO IS THE BEST FOR SAN ANTONIO. I WANT TO THANK YOU. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE, HONORED TO BE LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO, AND, UH, I CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT SAYING GO SPURS, GO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HIJAZI, DON GRIFFITHS. MR. GRIFFITHS, YOU'D BE FOLLOWED BY SYLVIA LAYTON, HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DON GRIFFITHS. I'M A PRINCIPAL PRODUCT MANAGER AT L THREE HARRIS, UH, FOR THE FIRE RADIO THAT WE DEVELOPED. UH, I'M HERE TODAY, UH, TO MAKE A REQUEST, BUT BEFORE THAT, I WANNA LAY OUT A, A, A COUPLE ITEMS FOR MY REQUEST. UH, AS PART OF THE ESTABLISHED CONTRACT BETWEEN DAILY WELLS AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, L THREE HARRIS AND DAILY WELLS WORK DIRECTLY WITH, AS CJ SAID, UH, THE, THE CITY AGENCIES HERE TO DEVELOP A FIRE RADIO, UH, OVER 30 MEETINGS IN THREE YEARS. THESE REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE DEFINED AND IMPLEMENTED INTO THE XL RADIO, THE FLAGSHIP RADIO AND SPEAKER MIC, UH, THAT WAS DESIGNED BY FIREFIGHTERS FOR FIREFIGHTERS WITH A LOT OF INPUT HERE FROM SAN ANTONIO, WAS SENT TO TWO INDEPENDENT LABS FOR CERTIFICATION. ONE SOUTHWEST RESEARCH LABS, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT'S A TRUSTED LAB. AND THE OTHER ONE, THE N F P A LAB, UH, THAT DID THE CERTIFICATION OF THE DEVICE. UH, BOTH THE FIRE RADIOS PASSED ALL THE TESTS IN BOTH THOSE LABS WITH FLYING COLORS TO MAXIMIZE USER FLEXIBILITY. WE NOT ONLY GOT THE RADIO ALONE CERTIFIED, WE HAD THE RADIO AND THE MICROPHONE, WHICH IS KEY CERTIFIED, AND THE MICROPHONE ALONE CERTIFIED THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DAILY WELLS AND L THREE HARRIS INVESTED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESOURCES TOGETHER TO DEFINE THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS FIRE RADIO. FOR YOUR FIRE RADIO. WE COLLECTIVELY DEFINED REQUIREMENTS, WE IMPLEMENTED THOSE REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN IT APPEARS THAT WE WERE JUDGED AGAINST A DIFFERENT SET OF REQUIREMENTS. AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE EXAMPLES. ONE WAS THE REQUIREMENT FOR A COLOR CODED CHANNEL SELECTOR ON THE SPEAKER MIC, THAT AS YOU CHANGE CHANNELS, YOU COULD VISUALLY SEE THE CHANNELS THAT YOU CHANGE TO. UH, THE OTHER REQUIREMENT IS THAT THE RADIO FIT IN THE TURNOUT COAT. WE TRIED VARIOUS TURNOUT COATS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND THAT IT DOES FIT. WE ARE THE ONLY RA UH, ONES WITH A FIRE RADIO THAT DOES FIT IN THAT TURNOUT COAT COMPLETELY. THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE THE CHANNEL SELECTOR WITH THE COLOR TAGGING. AND FINALLY, THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE FIRE RADIO MEET THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARD WITHOUT THE USE OF A SLEEVE. AND WE DO NOT REQUIRE THE USE OF A SLEEVE TO MEET THAT STANDARD. SO MY REQUEST IS THAT I, UH, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU TO SAY NO TO THIS AGENDA ITEM. UH, IT TOOK THREE YEARS TO DEVELOP THESE REQUIREMENTS. I'D LIKE YOU TO PLEASE STEP BACK FOR A MOMENT AND TAKE TIME TO ENSURE THAT A FAIR PROCESS IS ADHERED TO WHEN PURCHASING A RADIO FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GRIFFITHS. SYLVIA LEIGHTON. MS. LEIGHTON, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY TODD PURDUE. THANK, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS. MR. WALSH, MR. SEGOVIA AND STAFF MEMBERS FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME'S SYLVIA JANE LAYTON. I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AT L THREE HARRIS. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS PROCESS WAS NOT FAIR NOR OBJECTIVE. THE S SS A F D LETTER HIGHLIGHTING THE SELECTED VENDOR GOES INTO PAINSTAKING DETAILS ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS. YET THE DATA THAT WAS COLLECTED WAS NOT WIDELY SHARED WITH THESE SAME PARTICIPANTS. THIS IS A CLEAR LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND INCLUSIVENESS PER THE CONTRACT AND OUR COMMITMENT. L THREE HARRIS SPENT SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS TO DESIGN A FIRE RADIO THAT MET ALL AFDS REQUIREMENTS, NOT THEIR WANTS, BUT THEIR REQUIREMENTS. THEY GOT EVERYTHING THEY ASKED FOR IN A RADIO. HOW COULD THE CITY IN GOOD FAITH SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF A RADIO THAT HAS KNOWN ISSUES? OUR FIRE RADIO DOES NOT HAVE ANY KNOWN ISSUES. HOW COULD THE CITY SUPPORT IN GOOD FAITH THE PURCHASE OF A RADIO? [03:10:01] THAT'S NOT A AVAILABLE TODAY. YES, 22 WEEKS AFTER RECEIPT OF PURCHASE ORDER MEANS IT'S NOT AVAILABLE TODAY. OUR RADIOS ARE READILY AVAILABLE. WHY VOTE NOW WHEN ACCORDING TO THE SA FD LETTER, A FINAL PURCHASING AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE SIGNED UNTIL THE ISSUES WITH THE LAPEL MIC ARE RECTIFIED. THE S A F D LETTER NOTED SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS THAT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE PREFERRED RADIOS WILL BE PLACED ON A HARRIS SYSTEM. WHY WOULD THE CITY APPROVE PURCHASING RADIOS WITH LIMITATIONS AND A LIMITED FUTURE? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT RADIO TAMPERING, OR YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT RADIO TAMPERING. YES, RADIO TAMPERING ON THE RADIOS THAT WE SENT FOR TESTING. THIS IS JUST EGREGIOUS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY INDEPENDENT LABS ARE UTILIZED. THIS DECISION AFFECTS YOUR FIREFIGHTER'S LIVES. THIS DECISION AFFECTS YOUR LIVES. PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS OF THE DECISION AND ENSURE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS IS ADHERED TO. I BELIEVE THIS WILL LEAD YOU BACK TO WORKING WITH DAILY WELLS, A SMALL BUSINESS AND AN EMPLOYER IN YOUR COMMUNITY. AND AS YOU KNOW, THEY ACTIVELY SUBCONTRACT TO OTHER SAN ANTONIO BASED SMALL BUSINESSES. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. THANK YOU MS. LEIGHTON. TODD PURDUE. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS TODD PURDUE, VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTS AT L THREE HARRIS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS. LEMME FIRST START BY SAYING THE DAILY WELLS IS MORE THAN A PARTNER. THEY'RE AN EXTENSION OF L THREE HARRIS, AND THEIR COMMITMENTS ARE OUR COMMITMENTS. THE FOLLOWING ARE FACTS CENTERED AROUND SECTION 3.2 0.5 OF THE DAILY WELLS CONTRACT THAT DEFINES THE FIRE RADIO. NUMBER ONE DAILY WELLS WAS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A FIRE RADIO TO SAN ANTONIO. NUMBER TWO, SAN ANTONIO WAS REQUIRED TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH TO DEFINE THOSE REQUIREMENTS. AND FROM 2019 TO 2021, THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSIGNED A SPECIFIC PROJECT TEAM TO HELP FULLY DEFINE THOSE PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS. NOW, L THREE HARRIS WAS REQUIRED TO INCORPORATE THOSE REQUIREMENTS INTO THE FIRE RADIO, AND WE DID, WE DELIVERED THAT PRODUCT, THE XL EXTREME, WHICH HAS BEEN SHIPPING SINCE DECEMBER, 2021, AND IT RECEIVED N F P A CERTIFICATION IN DECEMBER OF 2022. NOW, AGAIN, PER SECTION 3.2 0.5 OF THE CONTRACT, IT REQUIRED SAN ANTONIO TO DEFINE SPECIFIC ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA AND ACCEPTANCE TESTS. NOW, THIS IS USED TO CONFIRM THAT THE REQUIREMENTS DEFINED ARE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED IN THE PRODUCT, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA AND THE ACCEPTANCE TEST WAS NOT DEFINED. INSTEAD, IN FEBRUARY OF 2023, THE SAN ANTONIO EXECUTED A CLOSED DOOR EVALUATION. NO TEST PLAN, NO EVALUATION CRITERIA. AND TO THIS DATE, SO FAR, NO RESULTS HAVE BEEN SHARED. AND DURING THE EVALUATION, DAILY WELLS AND EL THREE HARRIS WERE NOTIFIED THAT TWO RADIOS HAD FAILED DURING THE EVALUATION, L THREE HARRIS QUICKLY DEVELOPED A ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS AND HAD CONFIRMED CONCLUSIVELY THAT THOSE RADIOS WERE TAMPERED WITH PURPOSEFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY DAMAGED. PRIOR TO THE EVALUATION, WE ACTED QUICKLY, AND ON MARCH 30TH, L THREE HARRIS MET DIRECTLY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS AND SHARED OUR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WITH THEM. NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN SHARED SINCE THEN ABOUT, UH, ABOUT THE, THOSE RESULTS. AND THAT BRINGS US TO MAY 12TH, WHERE THE CITY ANNOUNCED A $9.7 MILLION SOLE SOURCE TO A VENDOR THAT DID NOT MEET THE ORIGINAL REQUIREMENTS, THAT HAS A LAPEL MIC WITH A KNOWN ISSUE PER THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, A SOLUTION THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE FOR 22 WEEKS AT A COST OF 30% MORE THAN OUR SOLUTION. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU VOTE NO TO THIS AGENDA ITEM AND TAKE THE TIME TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PERDUE. COUNCIL MEMBER, PLEASE. THANK YOU. I I PULLED THIS ITEM AND I DON'T NEED A PRESENTATION. I, MORE THAN ANYTHING, CHIEF [03:15:01] HOOD, I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS. UM, AND I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA ASK THEM, AND THEN I'LL LET YOU UNPACK THEM AND TAKE 'EM IN WHATEVER DIRECTION THAT YOU WANNA TAKE 'EM. BUT, UM, WE, WE DO KNOW, AND WE WERE ALL SENT A LETTER, UM, THAT, THAT YOU'D SENT CHIEF ON MAY 12TH, 2023, UH, TO CITY STAFF THANKING THEM FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN TESTING AND, UH, AND VETTING THESE, THESE RADIOS. UH, ONE THING STOOD OUT TO ME, AND I'M GONNA READ IT, BUT, UH, IT SAYS, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE RECOMMENDED RADIOS ARE P 25 CAPABLE AND COMPATIBLE WITH OUR HARRIS RADIO SYSTEM, THERE'S SOME APPLICATIONS THAT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO OUR PERSONNEL DUE TO PLACING A MOTOROLA PRODUCT ON THE HARRIS SYSTEM. THE APPLICATIONS THAT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ARE SMART CONNECT, SMART MAPPING, SMART PROGRAMMING, UM, SMART MESSAGING, A G P S FUNCTION, LIKE IT'S SMART LOCATE. AND THEN IT SAYS, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN BE AVAILABLE, UH, MAKE THESE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH MOTOROLA ON THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS. SO I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION, AND, UM, IS I, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WERE THESE NICE TO HAVES OR WERE THESE, WE MUST HAVE COUNSEL. WHAT I'M GONNA, WELL, WHILE THEY GET UP THERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I, I, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME HIT UPON THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE MADE TO THE COUNSEL. UM, THIS WAS A PROCESS. OKAY. IT WAS TRANSPARENT. THE, THE, THE CHIEF, UH, THE CHIEF AND MARIA AND, AND CHIEF NORRIS WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. BUT I, I THINK, I THINK I NEED TO SAY THAT UPFRONT, RIGHT? THE, THERE WAS ALLEGATIONS OF, WE HAD TWO, TWO ALLEGATIONS OF TAMPERING. UM, I'M CONFIDENT IN THE PROCESS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WENT THROUGH. UM, THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. UM, THIS HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT. DAILY WELLS HAS DELIVERED A RADIO SYSTEM THAT IS BETTER THAN WE ANTICIPATED AND BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD, AND WE HAVE MORE USERS ON IT. SO THE PROJECT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT, BUT I, I WANT THE COUNCIL TO KNOW AND THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT, UH, I STAND BEHIND THE TESTING THAT THE LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DID AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE, THEY, THEY BURNED THOSE RADIOS. THEY, THEY DUMPED THEM IN WATER. THEY DID ALL KINDS OF THINGS. UM, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, UNDER THE CONTRACT THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED IN 2018, WE HAD THE ABILITY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD THE ABILITY TO, TO, TO RECOMMEND, UM, THE PURCHASE OF ANY RADIO, HARRIS, MOTOROLA, OR ANY OTHER RADIO THAT THEY WENT THROUGH. AND, AND I JUST, I, I CAN'T, I DON'T WANNA LEAD THOSE, THOSE ALLEGATIONS SITTING OUT THERE WITHOUT RESPONDING TO 'EM. MARIA, THANKS, ERIC. THAT'S FAIR. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE IMPORTANT. UH, AND THEY DO MERIT ANSWERS. MARIA, WERE THEY NICE TO HAVES OR DID THEY NEED TO HAVES? GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT. AND I WANNA START BY SAYING THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS VERY GRATEFUL WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH DAILY AND WELLS, WE HAVE DELIVER A PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM THAT IS REGIONAL, THAT IS, IS ALSO NOT ONLY SERVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO BEXAR COUNTY AND THE CUSTOMERS OF C P S. UH, THE PROGRAM WAS SUCCESSFUL AS IT WAS IMPLEMENTED, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO REPORT THOSE NEWS TO YOU AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. 'CAUSE THIS, UH, SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE A MUCH BETTER SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE RESIDENTS OF BEAR COUNTY IN RELATIONSHIP. TO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMAN, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A VERY THOROUGH TESTING, WAS TRANSPARENT, AND IT WAS, UH, WELL DONE AND PERFORMED BY THE SAN ANTONIO FIREFIGHTERS THAT REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF HOOD TO TALK ABOUT IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT THIS, HOW THIS TEST WAS DONE. CHIEF, I'M SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING YOU GUYS. SO FAR, WE'VE EATEN INTO THREE OF MANY MINUTES. UM, AND I'VE ONLY GOT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME. AND SO, UH, I, I APPRECIATE WHATEVER ANSWER YOU'RE GONNA GIVE CHIEF, PLEASE GIVE THAT ANSWER TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S QUESTIONS. I ASKED A VERY DIRECT QUESTION. WERE THOSE NICE TO HAVES OR NEEDS TO HAVES? THOSE WERE NICE TO HAVES, BUT I, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE 324 FIREFIGHTERS OKAY. THAT WENT THROUGH, UH, A MULTITUDE OF EVOLUTIONS ON BOTH OF THESE RADIOS. WE DID SUBJECT THEM TO FIREGROUND CONDITIONS AS FAR AS BEING WET, AS FAR AS BEING BURNED, AS FAR AS BEING DROPPED. AND ON A DAY THAT WE CELEBRATE THE SIX YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF A FIREFIGHTER, THE SAFETY AND SURVIVABILITY OF MY MEMBERS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. SO, FOR ANYONE TO ACCUSE US OF TAMPERING A RADIO, WHICH IS A LIFEBLOOD OF OUR, IT'S ABSOLUTELY INSULTING. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND SO, ANDY SEGOVIA AND I USED TO AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY AND, UH, WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL TAMPERING IS WHAT WE CALL STANDARD PRACTICE AND STRESS TESTING ON EQUIPMENT. RIGHT, ANDY? SO WE, AT OUR DIFFERENT COMPANIES USED TO CRASH CARS. UH, WE USED TO SET 'EM ON FIRE, WE'D THROW 'EM INTO WATER, RIGHT? WE'D FREEZE THEM BELOW, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE DEGREES BELOW, UH, ZERO. UM, I HAVE NO REASON TO, TO DOUBT, RIGHT? UM, THAT THESE WERE STRESS TESTS AND THAT THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY [03:20:01] TAMPERING. UM, WHAT I, WHAT I DON'T KNOW IS IF THE EXACT SAME STANDARDS FOR STRESS TESTING WERE DONE ON BOTH RADIOS, OR IF SOME OF THEM WERE, WERE PUT THROUGH ONE KIND OF STRESS TEST AND NOT THE OTHER, WE DID IT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT DIFFERENT EVOLUTIONS OF TESTING, UH, ON BOTH RADIOS. OKAY, PERFECT. UM, THE, THE SELECTOR KNOB AND THE MIC, DOES THE MOTOROLA RADIO HAVE IT? THAT, THAT WE, WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT THE, THE SELECTOR KNOB AND THE MIC. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. IT WAS HARD TO HEAR. I'M SAYING YEAH, I'M SORRY. THEY, THEY BROUGHT UP THEIR MIC SAYING THAT THEIR MIC DOES WORK. THE OTHER ONE DOESN'T. WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THERE WAS A REQUEST EARLY ON THAT THE SELECTOR KNOB, UH, BE KIND OF BIG AND CHUNKY SO PEOPLE CAN, UH, YOUR FIREFIGHTERS CAN USE THEIR, THEIR GLOVES WHEN THEY DO IT. IS, ARE WE COMFORTABLE THAT THE MOTOROLA PRODUCT IS GONNA HAVE THE SAME FEATURE? WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. UH, THE ISSUE THAT WE DID HAVE WITH THE LAPEL MIC WAS AN ADHESIVE ISSUE, WHICH THEY READILY FIXED. OKAY. ON THE MOTOROLA. ALL RIGHT. UM, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS ALSO A REQUEST THAT, UM, THE MIC WORK, UM, WITH OPERATION OF A GLOVED WET HAND. UM, AND MOTOROLA'S GOT A TOUCHSCREEN. BUT I'M, I'M HEARING THAT HARRIS DOESN'T, CAN YOU, CAN YOU REASSURE ME THAT, OR REASSURE US THAT THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM? GO AHEAD. SO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN SELECT THE CHANNEL ON THE MOTOROLA RADIO AS WELL AS THE HARRIS RADIO. SO IT'S NOT ONLY THE TOUCH SCREEN THAT WOULD IMPACT THAT. ALRIGHT. I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A 22 WEEK DELIVERY PERIOD VERSUS A 30 DAY PERIOD THAT HARRIS SAYS THAT THEY CAN MEET. IS IT WORTH THE WAIT CHIEF? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. OKAY. UM, AND THEN THE COST DIFFERENTIALS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK A $7 MILLION COST DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN BOTH BIDS, RIGHT? MARIA MAOS, THE MOTOROLA IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE HARRIS. YES. 7 MILLION. IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT I'M, IS THAT THE DELTA? I'M LOOKING AT TROY TO CONFIRM THAT AMOUNT. IT'S NOT AN EXACT DELTA. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAPITAL APPLES AND ORANGES. OKAY. WHEN WE ACTUALLY GOT THE INITIAL BID, IT WAS FOR 1,450 RADIOS. SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE WORKED WITH MOTOROLA AND HAD MULTIPLE OFFERS ON DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS. SO IT'S NOT APPLE STABS. OKAY. BUT IT IS, IT IS, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE. CAN YOU GIMME A BALLPARK OF HOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE? UM, I, I CAN'T, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GO BACK TO HARRIS AND ACTUALLY ASKED FOR A OFFER. ONCE WE MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MOTOROLA, WE MOVED, MOVED AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL OFFER BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL OFFER WAS FOR 400, 1450 RADIOS. WE'RE NOW BUYING 1,225 AND THE MIXTURE BETWEEN THE FIRE RADIOS AND THE ADMIN RADIOS IS NOW CHANGED AS WELL. OKAY. ON THE ORIGINAL BID FOR THE FIRE RADIOS IS ABOUT A $700,000 DELTA. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANKS. SO, UM, I, I WANT TO END WITH THIS. IN NO WAY DO I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS CORRUPTION OR, UM, SKULLDUGGERY, UH, OR HANKY PANKY ON THE PART OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR YOUR TEAM CHIEF. I, I, THERE'S, I'VE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT. UM, YOU, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A STRAIGHT SHOOTER WITH ME, MARIA, YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE ALWAYS BEEN STRAIGHT SHOOTERS WITH ME. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A PARTNER THAT WE TRUST, UH, DAILY WELLS MAKING SOME IMPORTANT ALLEGATIONS. AND THAT WORRIES ME, RIGHT? BECAUSE, UM, I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN THE SIX YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN UP HERE. UM, AND SO I, I DO BELIEVE IT MERITED SOME, SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS. YOU GUYS HAVE ANSWERED THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS. AND WE HAD SOME MEETINGS. UH, ANDY AND I AND ERIC, YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS. UM, I'VE GOTTEN ANSWERS FROM EVERYBODY. UM, AND IT, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE THERE'S, THERE'S SOME BRIDGE MENDING TO BE DONE BETWEEN OUR PARTNER, UH, DAILY WELLS AND, AND COSA. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GONNA BE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT I DO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO SIT DOWN AFTER TODAY AND, AND KIND OF TALK THIS THROUGH AND TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, UM, SORT OF WHERE WE ALL WENT WRONG AND, AND HOW WE'RE, HOW WE'RE NOW TALKING INTO DIFFERENT UNIVERSES. UM, I WANT TO THANK THE 300 OFFICERS WHO TESTED THESE RADIOS, UH, CHIEF HOOD. I HAVE A FEELING THAT YOU HAVE ONE MORE WHITE HAIR ON YOUR HEAD BECAUSE OF THIS, UH, UH, OF, OF, OF THIS ISSUE. UH, BUT AGAIN, I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT, UM, I'M, I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS MADE THE TIME TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. UM, SO FORTHRIGHTLY, THANKS EVERYBODY. THANKS SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER APPLI, I'VE, I FAILED TO GET A MOTION, UH, FOR THIS TO CONTINUE DISCUSSION. COULD I GET ONE? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION FROM VERON AND A SECOND. I, I DIDN'T GET THE SECOND, BUT, OKAY. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM SIX. WE'LL CONTINUE DISCUSSION. COUNCIL, MEMBER, MEMBER. BRAVO. UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I HAD A BOSS YEARS AGO, UM, WHO TAUGHT ME TO TRUST THE EXPERTS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ADVISED ME TO DO THAT. AND, UH, THE EXPERTS I SEE HERE ARE THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO USE THESE RADIOS EVERY DAY. THEY TESTED THEM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK [03:25:01] THEY NEED, THEY DESERVE THE TOOLS, UH, THAT THEY THINK THEY KNOW THEIR JOB BEST AND THEY DESERVE THE TOOLS THAT WILL BEST ENABLE THEM TO DO THEIR JOBS. AND SO I'M GONNA BE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. COUNCIL MEMBER VILLA GRANT. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WENT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS HARD. AND WE WERE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND WE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE. UM, UH, AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS MAKING SURE THE FIREFIGHTERS FELT CONFIDENT IN THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY HAD. AND CHIEF HOOD, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP HERE AND, AND DEFENDING, UM, THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT WERE, WERE PART OF THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE I, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR FOR, FOR THEIR MORALE. AND I'VE, I'VE VISITED THE FIRE STATIONS AND THE THESE GUYS ARE ON, ON CALL AND JUST WAITING. AND I DON'T WANNA DO ANYTHING THAT HINDERS THEM WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY COULD HAVE A BETTER RADIO OR THEY COULDN'T. SO IF THIS WAS THEIR CHOICE, AND I, I FEEL LIKE IF WE EVEN TOOK IT BACK FOR TESTING, THIS WOULD STILL BE THEIR CHOICE. UM, 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S A VERY SPECIFIC LIFE, VERY SPECIFIC JOB THAT THEY HAVE. AND, AND WE DON'T KNOW IT. UM, I DON'T KNOW IT PERSONALLY. AND, UH, AND I'M, I'M CONFIDENT IN WHAT, WHAT THEY, WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT FORWARD. AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GONNA GET THEM THE BEST EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEED TO DO THE JOB, UM, AND, AND ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS TODAY AND GETTING US FULLY FUNDED. I LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT MORE, UM, HARRIS RADIOS FOR THE REST OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE TONS. SO I THINK, I THINK, UH, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS AND, AND MAKE SURE OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO LOSE OUT ON A CONTRACT, AND THAT'S FAIR, ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M SURE A A TON OF WORK WENT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR PRODUCT AND IT LOOKS COOL AND HAS GREAT FEATURES. THAT'S, THAT'S VERY MUCH WORTHY OF PRAISE AND RECOGNITION. BUT, UH, WHAT'S NOT FAIR, AND I REALLY DO HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND, IS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE ACCUSATIONS. THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS WERE RIGGING A SELECTION PROCESS BY TAMPERING, UH, WITH EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE OF WHAT'S TYPICAL IN THEIR TESTING PROCESS. UM, AND THE IMPLICATION IS THAT OUR FIREFIGHTER, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS DISHONEST, CORRUPT, AND SOMEHOW UNWORTHY OF OUR TRUST, UH, WITHOUT BASE. AND I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THIS ACCUSATION, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR. UM, IF THERE WERE A STRONGER CASE THAT OUR PROCESS WAS ATYPICAL, I COULD POTENTIALLY BE SUPPORTIVE OF A DELAY OR REEVALUATION. BUT I HAVE TRUST IN THE PROCESS AND THE WAY THAT IT WAS DONE. UH, I DO HOPE THE RELATIONSHIP CAN BE MEANT AND AMENDED AND THAT, UM, UH, FURTHER CONVERSATION IS HAD. BUT, UH, I, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER KEO. HDU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. DID THIS CONTRACT GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS THAT ALL OTHER SIMILAR CONTRACTS GO THROUGH? COUNCILWOMAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROCUREMENT OF THE RADIOS? YES, MA'AM. SO FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF THE RADIOS, WE STARTED THIS PROCESS WHEN 2018, WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONTRACT WITH DELEY AND WELLS, THE CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY CALLED AND INDICATED THAT AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY WILL CHOOSE THE RADIO THAT BEST FIT THEIR, UH, OPERATION. SO THE AUTHORIZATION WAS GIVEN AT THAT POINT BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PROCESS THAT YOU'RE APPROVING TODAY. SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL, UH, UNDERSTANDING AGREEMENT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND THEN, UH, WAS THE VENDOR GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THE RADIOS BEFORE? UM, THEY WERE TESTED, YES. OKAY. AND, UM, AND DID THAT HAPPEN? DID THEY, WAS THERE ANY FEEDBACK ON, ON THE RADIO BEFORE IT WAS TESTED? DID THEY APPROVE IT? THE VENDOR? THEY DID. OKAY. SO, UM, A QUESTION WHAT, UM, I THINK, OH, WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE SUBMITTED THAT THERE WAS TAMPERING BY THE FIREFIGHTERS HARRIS SUBMITTED TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UH, PICTURES OF THE RADIOS THAT THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE TEMPER? MM-HMM. W WAS THERE PROOF THAT, I MEAN, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME, SOME ALLEGATIONS, UM, MADE HERE TODAY. ONE OF THE SPEAKERS, UH, MENTIONED, UM, UH, INTENT AND PURPOSE, AND I, I'M JUST CONFUSED ABOUT HOW THERE SHOWING INTENT. I THINK THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO PROVE. UM, AND THE, THE, THE RADIOS MAY HAVE BEEN ALTERED IN, IN THE, IN THE COURSE OF TESTING, CORRECT? I MEAN, COULDN'T THEY HAVE BEEN WHILE THEY WERE TESTING THEM AND, AND FIGURING OUT THE, UM, HOW THE RADIOS WORK? COULDN'T THEY HAVE BEEN, UM, BROKEN OR, UM, THE CLAIMS ALTERED SOMEHOW? THE CLAIMS THAT ARE MADE BY HARRIS, THEY'RE TOTALLY UNTRUE. OKAY. SO OUR FIREFIGHTERS DID NOT, UH, TEMPERED WITH THE RADIOS, BOTH THE MOTOROLA AND THE HARRIS RADIO THAT [03:30:01] WERE PUT THROUGH THE SAME TEST, THROUGH THE SAME EVOLUTIONS. AND THE GOAL OF THE TESTING WAS TO USE THE RADIOS IN REAL LIFE SITUATIONS THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS EXPERIENCE ON A DAILY BASIS. SO THE PROCESS WAS FAIR. AND AGAIN, BOTH RADIOS WERE EXPOSED TO THE SAME STRESS TESTING. OKAY. SO THERE WAS ANOTHER QUESTION ASKED FROM ONE OF THE SPEAKERS. WHY VOTE NOW? UM, I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS EVERY DAY RISKING THEIR LIVES, PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO ARE, UH, UH, WHO NEED GOOD RADIOS RIGHT NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE RADIOS THAT THEY HAVE ARE OLDER. THIS IS WHY WE STARTED THIS PROCESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND SO WE ARE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEIR LIVES, THEIR SAFETY AND TO, UH, IMPLY, OR, OR MORE THAN THAT, TO ALLEGE THAT THEY HAVE, ARE FIREFIGHTERS, AGAIN, PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO RISK THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY ARE, ARE TAMPERING WITH RADIOS THAT THEIR FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS ARE GOING TO USE, IS, THAT, IS EGREGIOUS AND UNCONSCIONABLE IN MY BOOK. SO I, UM, I, I'M, I'M JUST REALLY HAVING TROUBLE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID HERE TODAY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY CALLING OUR FIREFIGHTERS LIARS. AND THAT, THAT AFFECTS ME VERY DEEPLY BECAUSE WE CHIEF MENTIONED, WE OBSERVED THE, THE LIFE OF A FIREFIGHTER WHO WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY JUST THIS MORNING. AND KNOWING THAT THEY'RE GOING OUT THERE DOING THAT EVERY DAY AND PEOPLE ARE COMING WITH, WITH NO PROOF OF INTENT IS JUST REALLY UPSETTING TO ME. SO, UM, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO DEFEND OUR FIREFIGHTERS. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO, UH, DEFEND OUR, OUR CITY AND THE PROCESSES THAT WE GO THROUGH. AND, UM, THERE ARE SOME FIREFIGHTERS HERE. I THANK YOU FOR THE JOB YOU DO EVERY DAY, AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT TEST IT, THOSE THAT DIDN'T TEST, UM, THESE RADIOS. YOU HAVE CHOSEN THESE RADIOS FOR YOURSELVES, FOR YOUR FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS, AND THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. AND I THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HAU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, YOU AND I AND, AND COUNCILMAN P AND AND COUNCILMAN PERRY ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO, UH, WERE HERE AT 2018 WHEN THE DISCUSSION WAS BEING HELD, UH, OF COURSE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER WERE, AND SO MY RECOLLECTION WAS FROM EARLY ON IN OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS CONTRACT, THAT THERE WERE TWO RADIOS THAT WERE BEING CONSIDERED AS, UH, AS NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE CONTRACT, BUT PART OF THE WHOLE PROCESS OF REDOING THE RADIO NETWORK AND HAVING RADIOS FOR, UH, ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND OTHER PARTNERS TO USE. AND I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IF I REMEMBER IT INCORRECTLY, WAS THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS WOULD HAVE THE FINAL DECISION ON WHAT THEY WANTED FOR A RADIO BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW THEY USE RADIOS COMPARED TO POLICE OR C P S OR SAWS OR, OR THE COUNTY. UH, AND SO WE KNEW AT THAT TIME THAT IT WAS, THAT THERE WAS A PROCESS INVOLVED IN DETERMINING WHICH ONE WAS THE ONE THAT, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FELT THEY COULD USE BEST. UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY DID SOME ORIGINAL TESTING AND THEY DIDN'T THINK THE HARRIS ONES WERE GONNA MEET THEIR NEEDS. AND SO, UH, THE HARRIS ORGANIZATION WAS TOLD, WELL, IF YOU CAN DEVELOP ONE THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, AND THEY EVALUATE THAT AND DECIDE THEY LIKE THAT BETTER THAN THE MOTOROLA, THEN THEY COULD CHOOSE THAT. UH, IT WASN'T THAT PART OF THE EARLY ON AGREEMENT. UH, MARIA, THAT IS CORRECT. COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY. SO THEY HAD SEVERAL YEARS TO DEVELOP A RADIO THAT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FIREFIGHTERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. CORRECT. AND WE ACTUALLY ALLOW THEM ADDITIONAL TIME TO, UH, DEVELOP THAT RADIO AS THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT CALL FOR A SPECIFIC TIMELINE THAT THEY DID NOT MEET. BUT WE WORK WITH THEM TO ALLOW THEM ADDITIONAL TIME TO DO SO. OKAY. LET ME ASK, DID WE DO ANY DUE DILIGENCE ON THE MOTOROLA FIRE PHONES? WERE THEY IN FACT, UH, IN USE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE, THE COUNTRY OR TEXAS AT THE TIME THAT WE LOOKED AT TO DETERMINE ARE THEY ADEQUATE FOR THE NEEDS? MOTOROLA IS A BRAND THAT IS USED BY MOST LARGE FIRE DEPAR DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FOR EXAMPLE, HOUSTON, AUSTIN AND DALLAS USE A MOTOROLA RADIO AND OTHER LARGE CITIES LIKE NEW YORK AND CHICAGO. AND THIS WAS YEARS OVER YEARS. SO, I MEAN, TODAY'S VERSION MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE LOOKED AT A FEW YEARS AGO. 'CAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS UPDATING THEIR EQUIPMENT, RIGHT? CORRECT. HOW ABOUT THE HARRIS FIRE PHONES? WERE THEY BEING USED BY ANY OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE? THE HARRIS RADIO THAT THEY DEVELOP IS A NEW [03:35:01] RADIO. I THINK THERE ARE SOME, UM, SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES THAT USE THE, THE RA, THE HARRIS RADIO FOR THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENTS. I DO WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT CHOSE THE HARRIS RADIO, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT THEY CURRENTLY USE, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY C P S AND OTHER SUBSCRIBERS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS NEW PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM. SO THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COUNCILMAN. WE'RE AWARE THAT FROM, UH, FROM, UH, THE L THREE HARRIS FOLKS, THERE ARE THREE OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE UTILIZING IT. THREE OTHER CITIES, WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, HE LOTUS TEXAS, AND MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA. OKAY. UH, IN OUR, IN OUR, UH, EVALUATION OF THE MOTOROLA FIRE PHONES, DID WE HEAR ANY NATIONAL COMPLAINTS OR COMPLAINTS IN TEXAS ABOUT THEIR EFFICIENCY OR EFFECTIVENESS? NO, SIR. AND ACTUALLY QUITE THE OPPOSITE. UM, THEY'VE HAD AN OUTSTANDING REVIEW ON ALL OF THEIR PRODUCTS. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, AS FAR AS THE N F P A RADIO, BOTH OF THEM ARE NEW. AND SO WE'LL BE THE FIRST LARGE DEPARTMENT USING THE, UH, N F P A COMPLIANT RADIO FOR MOTOROLA. RIGHT. OR FIRST LARGE DEPARTMENT, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY. OKAY. HOWEVER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND E M S, UH, ARSON RADIOS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PURCHASING ARE CURRENTLY USED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. RIGHT. SO, SO THEN I WOULD GUESS THAT THERE'S A LOT ON THE LINE FOR HARRIS OR MOTOROLA, BECAUSE IF WE ACCEPT THESE AND USE THEM, THEY'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS TO EVERY MAJOR FIRE COMPANY OR FIRE SERVICE IN THE COUNTRY TRYING TO PROMOTE HOW GOOD THEY ARE. AND YOU WANNA BUY OURS. SO THERE'S A BIG DOLLAR PRICE ON THIS, MORE THAN A 9 MILLION, UH, TO BUY THE PHONES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE USING, I WOULD PRESUME. BUT LET ME ASK YOU A, A SEPARATE QUESTION. DOES OUR DAILY WELLS CONTRACT DEPEND ON US BUYING HARRIS PHONES? NO. SO WHAT IS THE DAILY WELLS PORTION OF THIS CONTRACT, AND WILL IT CONTINUE TO EXIST BEYOND WHICHEVER PHONES WE CHOOSE? THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH DEION WELLS COUNCIL VENICE FOR 15 YEARS OF, UM, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE P 25 SYSTEM THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED. SO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH DEION WELLS HAS BEEN STRONG OVER THE YEARS, AND WE FORESEE THAT, UH, CONTINUING TO HAPPEN, UH, OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS. OKAY. ONE LAST QUESTION IN MY MIND IS, WHAT AM I HEARING ABOUT A 22 MONTH DELIVERY AS OPPOSED TO AN IMMEDIATE DELIVERY? IT'S, IT'S, IT'S 22 WEEKS COUNSEL. 22, I'M SORRY. YES. 22 WEEKS. AND SO, UH, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? WHY SO FIRST SUCH A LARGE ORDER? UM, AS FAR AS THE HAIR, THE MOTOROLA GOES, IT'S A 22 WEEK TURNAROUND, WHICH HAS BEEN STANDARD IN THE INDUSTRY, UH, COMING ACROSS. HARRIS APPARENTLY HAS MORE INVENTORY AND CAN SHORTEN THAT DELIVERY TIME. BUT FROM OUR ASPECT, WE'RE STILL HAVE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, CREATE TRAINING, IMPLEMENT, UH, AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO IT'S GONNA TAKE US SOME TIME TO DO THOSE THINGS ANYWAY. HOW EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT ARE THE CURRENT ONES WE'RE USING TODAY COMPARED TO WAITING 22 WEEKS TO GET NEW ONES? THEY'RE LIMITED IN THEIR CAPABILITIES COMPARED TO THE NEWER FIRE RADIOS. OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE, THEY'RE AN OLDER MODEL. UH, OUR PROBLEM IS GONNA BE IN INVENTORY AND SEEING, UH, HOW MANY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE LAST UNTIL WE CAN GET THE DELIVERY. OKAY. UM, I, I'M WORRIED ABOUT, UH, THE DELIVERY PERIOD, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY. BUT I THINK A LOT OF THE REST OF THIS, UH, WAS, WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DECIDED ON A FEW YEARS AGO. I, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WANT TO CHANGE WHAT WAS AGREED TO BY ALL PARTIES. I MEAN, HARRIS KNEW THEY COULD COMPETE. THEY KNEW THEY'D BE COMPETING WITH MOTOROLA. THEY KNEW THAT RIGHT NOW, OR EARLY ON, THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE FAVORING THE MOTOROLA. UH, WE GAVE THEM THE TIME. THEY, WE GAVE THEM EXTRA TIME, THEY CAME UP WITH SOMETHING. BUT OUR FIREFIGHTERS STILL PREFER THE MOTOROLA. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M INCLINED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF, UH, THE ISSUE BEFORE US TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OUR SAN ANTONIO FIREFIGHTERS RISK THEIR HEALTH, THEIR SAFETY, AND THEIR LIVES. AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS DESERVE TO HAVE TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY TRUST, AND I FIND IT EXTREMELY INSULTING TO, TO PULL ITEMS SCURRY AWAY AND LEAVE A PLATFORM FOR MISINFORMATION. UM, WITH THAT, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE FACT AND EMPHASIZE THE ROLE AND THE TRANSPARENCY IN THIS ELECTION PROCESS. RIGHT? OVER 300 FIREFIGHTERS WERE INCLUDED IN THAT PROCESS AND ALLOWED TO GIVE THEIR INPUT ON THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY [03:40:01] FEEL IS GOING TO, TO SUPPORT THEM AND, AND SUPPORT AND PROTECT THE SAFETY, NOT JUST OF THEMSELVES, BUT OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY SERVE AND PROTECT. UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE OF LOCAL SIX, UH, 6 24, UH, ON THIS ITEM AS WELL. UM, BUT HIGHLIGHTING THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO TIME TO, TO, TO PLAY POLITICS WITH THE LIVES OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS. AND I, I'M EXTREMELY, UH, INSULTED BY WHAT JUST OCCURRED. UH, I WANNA THANK OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND ENSURING THAT Y'ALL CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND HIGHLIGHTING THAT IN DISTRICT FIVE. UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE MORE FIRES THAN ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT. UH, AND IT'S OUR ROLE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THAT Y'ALL NEED, DESERVE, AND HAVE TRUST IN. SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. AND, UM, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR, UM, UM, HIGHLIGHTING THESE ISSUES TODAY. I, I DO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY CONCERNING TO ME AS WELL ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS. AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THESE, THESE ALLEGATIONS WERE BROUGHT TO YOU, ANDY, OUR OFFICE WAS PROVIDED ESSENTIALLY PICTURES AND, AND, AND SOME OTHER INFORMATION, BUT NOTHING TO THE EXTENT THEY WOULD CONFIRM THAT THERE WAS ANY TAMPERING, AT LEAST, I MEAN, INTENTIONAL TAMPERING BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OKAY. AND, AND WHO IN YOUR OFFICE MADE THAT DETERMINATION? NO, WE, WE DIDN'T MAKE THAT DETERMINATION ON OUR OWN COUNCILMAN. OKAY. WHO DID? WE WORKED WITH THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT. I THINK IT WAS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT BY THE TEAM THAT'S WORKING ON THIS, ON THIS ISSUE. OKAY. SO IT WAS A TEAM OF WHOM, COUNCILMAN, LET ME, LET ME JUMP IN. YES. I, I GUESS IF, IF I HAD A SENSE THAT THERE WAS, UM, EVIDENCE OF, UM, PURPOSEFUL TAMPERING, THEN, THEN THIS ITEM WOULDN'T BE BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE WE WOULD'VE FOLLOWED UP ON IT BASED ON THE REVIEW AND THE PROCESS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PROCUREMENT I T S D OVERSAW, KNOWING THAT THIS WAS A HOTLY CONTESTED ISSUE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THIS CONTRACT WAS BROUGHT. UM, UM, I, I DID NOT, AS WE, AS ANDY'S MENTIONED, WE, WE REVIEWED THAT INFORMATION, WE WENT BACK TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO, TO ENSURE, UM, AND, UM, HAD I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING THEN, THEN YOU, YOU WOULDN'T BE, THIS WOULDN'T BE BEFORE YOU. I'M COMPLETELY CONFIDENT IN WHAT, IN WHAT, UH, IN WHAT OCCURRED. OKAY. SO, AND I, I REMEMBER THIS GETTING KICKED OFF BACK THEN ALSO. UM, UH, SO WE PUT THIS R F P TOGETHER, WE GOT PROPOSALS, WE GOT RADIOS. UH, DID THEY BOTH PASS THE CRITERIA? DID THEY BOTH PASS EVERYTHING THAT WE LAID OUT WHEN THEY WERE EVALUATED? COUNCILMAN? IT WAS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, IT WAS A REQUEST FOR OFFER THAT IS DIFFERENT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, AND, AND BOTH, UH, RADIOS WERE PUT INTO THE SAME TEST, UH, A TOTAL OF EIGHT EVOLUTIONS. UM, THE, THE HARRIS RADIO FELL SOME OF THOSE EVOLUTIONS THAT WERE, THAT WERE, UM, UH, PRESENTED. UH, BUT OVERALL, MOTOROLA, EVEN WHEN WE TAKE THOSE EVOLUTIONS OUT WHERE HARRIS FELL, UH, THEY PERFORM BETTER OVERALL, MOTOROLA DID. OKAY. EVEN WITHSTANDING THE ISSUE WITH THE LAPEL MICS AND, AND NOT HAVING ALL THE INFORMATION THAT, AS WAS SAID, NICE TO HAVE INFORMATION, THEY STILL SURE. SO WHAT YOU SAW IN THE LETTER, THE LE THE ISSUE WITH THE LAPEL MAC, IT WAS AN ADHESIVE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY CORRECTED, UH, IN TERMS OF THE FUNCTIONALITY THAT WON'T BE AVAILABLE. THAT FUNCTIONALITY, UH, WORKS IN A P 25 SYSTEM, BUT THE CITY AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FIRE CHIEF, THAT IS NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED AT THIS POINT, BUT THAT FUNCTIONALITY IS AVAILABLE ON THE MOTOROLA RADIO, ON THE P 25 SYSTEM. OKAY. SO YOU'RE SAYING THE HARRIS FAILED MOTOROLA PASSED. IS THAT, AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? AND SO, COUNCILMAN, I DON'T THINK IT WAS A, A PASS FAIL TYPE TEST MM-HMM. . SO WE, WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAS A SATISFACTORY SCORE AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT IT FROM SAFETY CRITERION BEFORE AND FIRST AND FOREMOST. SO THE REASON THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURES THAT WE HAD ON THE HARRIS RADIOS WERE FAILURES THAT ACTUALLY LOCKED UP THE ENTIRE RADIO SYSTEM TO WHERE NOBODY COULD TALK ON THE RADIO SYSTEM AFTER THOSE THREE RADIOS FAILED. UM, THAT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS WAY MORE THAN ANYTHING WE HAD GOING ON WITH THE LAPEL MIC ON [03:45:01] THE MOTOROLA SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD JUST ACTIVATE AN EONE, WHICH IS ANNOYING OVER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. SO ALSO WITH THE HARRIS RADIO, WE EXPERIENCED WHERE THE CHANNEL WOULD JUST CHANGE ON THE RADIO FOR NO REASON, UH, WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE USER OF THAT. SO WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE TALKING ON THE WRONG CHANNEL, WHICH COULD BE CATASTROPHIC INSIDE OF A FIRE. OKAY. SO, BUT BOTH OF THEM, BOTH OF THEM CAME OUT, IF YOU WERE GONNA LOOK AT A SCORING AS FAR AS, UH, THREE IS SATISFACTORY ON A ONE TO FIVE SCALE, BOTH OF 'EM MET THE THREE, UH, HARRIS, I'M SORRY, MOTOROLA CAME OUT, UH, SUPERIOR IN THE REMARKS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS, AS WELL AS THE SCORING. OKAY. YOU WERE SAYING CATASTROPHIC, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I, I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULD PASS AND STILL HAVE CATASTROPHIC FAILURES IN THREE AREAS THAT YOU JUST SAID. WELL, AND REMEMBER WE DID, UH, OVER 150 TESTS OVER BOTH RADIOS. WE HAD THREE INSTANCES OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. SO WE WOULD STILL GET REVIEWS FROM THE OTHER 147 FIREFIGHTERS OR 120 FIREFIGHTERS THAT WEREN'T ON LOCATION AT THAT TIME OF SCORING BASED THROUGHOUT THE EVOLUTIONS. SO WE RAN EIGHT DAYS OF EVOLUTIONS AND THERE WERE DIFFERENT EVOLUTIONS EVERY DAY, BUT BOTH RADIOS WENT THROUGH THE SAME EVOLUTIONS EVERY DAY. OKAY. BUT YOU STILL HAD FAILURES YES, SIR. OF THE HARRIS RADIO? YES, SIR. AND NO FAILURES OF THE MOTOROLA, NOT CATASTROPHIC FAILURES? NO SIR. SOME FAILURES OR NO. WELL, LIKE, UH, MARIA WAS SAYING WE DID HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THE LAPEL MIC TO WHERE IT WOULD PUT OUT AN EMERGENCY TONE, WHICH IS A, A BEEPING TYPE NOISE, WHICH IS MORE OF AN ANNOYANCE, WHICH WE ACTUALLY HAD ON THE HARRIS, THE NEW, THE OLD HARRIS RADIOS FOR A LONG TIME, UM, IN THIS SYSTEM. BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT LOCKS UP THE SYSTEM TO WHERE WE CAN'T TALK ON THE RADIOS. THE FAILURE WE HAD WITH THE HARRIS RADIOS LOCKED UP THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND NOBODY COULD TALK ON IT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY POWERED DOWN THE RADIO BY REMOVING THE BATTERY. OKAY. SO THERE WERE CATASTROPHIC FAILURES AND YES, SIR. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON, OR THE REASON THAT, UH, WE SELECTED MOTOROLA OVER HARRIS, THAT THAT WAS THE LEADING REASON THAT WE SELECTED THE MOTOROLA. OKAY, GREAT. SO I GUESS WHAT I WAS GETTING TO, I, I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, OKAY, HERE'S WHERE THE PROBLEMS WERE. I, I REALLY HAVEN'T HEARD, OKAY, WELL WHY DID WE PICK MOTOROLA? GIVE ME THE SPECIFIC REASONS WHY WE PICKED MOTOROLA. SO, SO FIRST OF ALL, THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURES THAT WE HAD ON THE HARRIS RADIO VERSUS THE MOTOROLA. THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LIKERT SCORING THAT WE DID ON THE REST OF THE TESTS, MOTOROLA PERFORMED SUPERIOR TO THE HARRIS PRODUCT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. AND, UM, WILL THERE BE A, A, WILL THERE BE A DEBRIEF OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? UH, AFTER, AFTER AN AWARD IS MADE? UH, YES. AND, AND I, BUT I THINK IN THIS CASE, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME OF THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED THROUGH THE RESULTS OF THE, OF THE TESTING. BUT, BUT YES, ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, GREAT. THANKS. SO WE HAVE, I, I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHY WE SELECTED MOTOROLA, BECAUSE I'M STILL A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT WE WE'RE SELECTING A, A SYSTEM, UM, THAT COSTS MORE, HAS A LONGER DELIVERY TIME. AND, UM, UH, HOW, HOW MUCH DID THAT COME INTO THE, INTO THE PICTURE AS FAR AS MAKING THIS DECISION? I CAN TELL YOU FROM A FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDPOINT, IT DID NOT. OKAY. WE LOOKED AT THE SAFETY OF OUR PERSONNEL AND THE END USER AND THEIR OPINION, AND THAT'S WHY WE WERE FORTUNATE TO TEAM UP WITH LOCAL 6 2 4 AS, AS WELL AS THE GENTLEMAN THAT SIT BEHIND ME, UM, TO DO AND GET AS MANY OF OPINIONS OF THE END USER AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE IN A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT, UH, PROCESS. SO THAT IS WHY WE CHOSE, UH, MONEY AND TIMELINES ARE ON MARIA . YEAH. WELL, GREAT. AND, UM, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WE WANT TO PROTECT THOSE LIVES OUT THERE. THAT'S, THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL, UM, IMPACT TO THE TAXPAYER HERE ALSO HERE IN TOWN. SO, UM, I, I THINK, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UM, I REALLY HOPE THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO CONTRACT, UM, R F P. 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA MAKE ONE HELL OF A BOOK SOMEDAY. UH, THIS GOES BACK ALMOST 10 YEARS, I THINK. UH, SO, UH, TO OUR CITY STAFF, TO OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE ENGAGED IN IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY ONLY, UH, THE COMMENT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANDY AND UM, ERIC, IS THAT I DON'T THINK THIS DISCUSSION BELONGS ON THE DAIS. UM, WHEN WE APPROVE AN ORDINANCE FOR A CONTRACT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO, MY VIEW IS THAT WE SHOULD BE AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF THOSE RADIOS. [03:50:01] AND IF YOU ARE ABIDING BY THE LETTER OF THE CONTRACT IN TERMS OF PREFERENCE OF WHICH DESIGN OR RADIO, UH, THE ONLY TIME IT SHOULD COME BACK TO US IS IF, IF THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE CONTRACT. BUT I, MY EXPECTATION ONCE WE APPROVED THE, THE ROUTE WE WERE GOING IN IS THAT ERIC, YOU WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BUY THOSE RADIOS AND THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK FOR EVERY TRANCHE OF RADIOS THAT WE WOULD NEED, ASSUMING THAT WE, WE, UH, WE APPROVED IT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WOULD REQUIRE, UH, A, A CHANGE IN THE WAY WE DO THESE SORTS OF PROCUREMENTS, UM, ERIC OR ANDY. BUT, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE DISCUSSION I WANT TO HAVE ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BECAUSE THIS GETS UNNECESSARILY POLITICAL, UH, AND POTENTIALLY DELAYS, UH, SOME REALLY IMPORTANT RESOURCES THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS DID AND CAN PUT LIVES IN DANGER IF IT GOT TO AN EXTREME. SO, UM, LET'S HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER SIX. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. [Miscellaneous  ] OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 20. ITEM NUMBER 20 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH SPAY NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INC. TO MANAGE AND OPERATE THE BROOKS VETERINARY CLINIC FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $311,000 TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 6,500 SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES ANNUALLY FOR PETS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A THREE YEAR TERM, BEGINNING ON JUNE 1ST, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TERMS FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $137,000 WITH $50,000 TOWARD THE UPFRONT CAPITAL COST. $50,000 FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AND $37,000 FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO 300 FREE SURGERIES FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS IS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2023. ADOPTED GENERAL FUND BUDGET FUNDING FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS IS CONTINGENT UPON CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. THANK YOU. I, UH, PULLED THIS, UH, BECAUSE I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I, I, I'VE FELT LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS NEEDED TO HEAR, ESPECIALLY FROM THE SOUTH AND EAST AND WEST SIDE OF TOWN. SO, CAN WE GET THE PRESENTATION? DO, OH, AND I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. HEY, YOU DOING THIS AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. UM, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU, UH, A REAL QUICK UPDATE ON, AGAIN, THE BROOKS VETERINARY CLINIC, UH, AS THE COUNCILWOMAN JUST, JUST KIND OF GAVE A HIGH LEVEL ON IT. UH, NEXT SLIDE. WHERE ARE WE AT HERE, DO YOU GOT THE CLEAR? OH, SORRY. ALRIGHT. UH, SO, UH, THE CITY FUNDS THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SURGERIES. WE HAVE OUR ONSITE SURGERIES, WHICH AGAIN, IS WHAT WE'RE, UH, BASICALLY DOING FOR ADOPTED ANIMALS, UH, T N R SURGERIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE FROM, UH, AT THE ACTUAL A C S LOCATION. UH, THE OTHER TWO TYPES ARE OUR COMMUNITY SPAY NEUTER. THESE HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN REFERRED TO AS OUR ZIP CODE SURGERIES, UH, WHERE INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN DIFFERENT ZIP CODES THAT WE'VE, UH, DETERMINED AS BEING UNDERSERVED, UH, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES. AND THE THIRD ARE THE CITY OWNED FACILITIES, UH, WHICH OF WHICH RIGHT NOW WE HAVE BRACK AND, UH, UH, BRACKENRIDGE AND BROOKS AS AN OUTLINE TO THE ACTUAL, UH, THE, THE BROOKS SPAY NEUTER FACILITY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERY YEAR THEM CONTRACTING TO DO 6,500 LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES. UH, 300 SURGERIES, UH, AS THIS, AS THIS CONTRACT GOES THROUGH, WOULD BE, UH, FREE TO THE PUBLIC. UH, OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THESE, UH, CONTRACTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY WOULD ALSO SIGN THEM UP FOR THAT COMMUNITY SPAY NEUTER, UH, WHICH WOULD ALLOW INDIVIDUALS IN CERTAIN ZIP CODES TO, UH, ALSO HAVE THEIR SURGERIES DONE AT BROOKS, UH, FOR THE COMPENSATION $50,000 IN YEAR ONE. THIS HELPS 'EM STAND UP, GET ALL THE EQUIPMENT GOING AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED, UH, AS WELL AS AN ANNUAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, UH, UH, STIPEND OF $50,000 AND THAT $37,000 ANNUALLY, UH, TO PROVIDE THE 300 SPAY NTER SURGERIES AT NO COST TO THE PUBLIC AS THEY GO IN THERE. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP IN, IN, IN VIEW RIGHT NOW IS THE POINT THAT, UH, WE REALIZE THAT THE COST OF DOING THESE SURGERIES IS GOING UP, BUT WE WANT TO KEEP THEM AFFORDABLE TO THE PUBLIC. AND, UH, UH, RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHERE WE'VE KIND OF COME UP WITH THESE AMENDMENTS TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP THESE, UH, THE ONES THAT AREN'T FREE. WE DO KEEP THEM AS A, AS A TRUE LOW COST TO OUR PUBLIC AND OUR CITIZENS. [03:55:04] THE SELECTED VENDOR FOR BROOKS IS GOING TO BE SNAP. UH, THEY CURRENTLY, UH, RESIDE HERE. THEY DO OPERATE IN SAN ANTONIO CURRENTLY. UH, THEY ALSO OPERATE IN HOUSTON. UH, THEY'VE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT PARTNER WITH US IN SEVERAL OTHER, UH, ASPECTS. AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE THAT WILL AUTHORIZE THIS LEASE AGREEMENT. IT'S LONG OVERDUE. UH, WE'VE KIND OF, IT, IT'S KIND OF BEEN A PROCESS TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. AND, UH, SNAP IS READY TO, TO, TO STEP IN AND, AND, AND REALLY START GETTING US BACK TO WHERE WE, UH, WHERE WE WERE PRE PANDEMIC ON SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES, SUBJECT TO ANY QUESTIONS. THIS, THIS CONCLUDES MY BRIEF. WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGN UP TO SPEAK AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL COMMENTS. UM, WILLIAM WHITE. ALRIGHT, I THINK, I THINK HE LEFT 'CAUSE WE, WE GOT A LITTLE LONG. SO, UH, IS THERE, IF YOU WANNA QUEUE UP IF THERE'S ANY COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS, IF NOT, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UH, IF YOU WANNA COME ON UP. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS, UM, WHAT, HOW MANY SURGERIES IS IT GONNA BE? DAILY SURGERIES? SO THAT'S LIKE 27 SURGERIES A DAY, OR, UH, IT'S, I FORGET WHAT THE DAILY BREAKDOWN IS, BUT WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'VE WORKED WITH IS 6,500 SURGERIES A YEAR. UH, ANOTHER THING THAT WE'VE FOUND THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND THEM BEING ABLE TO GET VETERINARIANS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BRAC BROOKS, ALL THESE ARE FOUR DAY A WEEK SCHEDULES. SO WE STILL DON'T HAVE IT NAILED DOWN AS FAR AS WHICH DAYS THEY'LL BE OPERATING. UH, BUT ROUGHLY WAS IT 50 SURGERIES A DAY? I BELIEVE, YEAH, IT'LL, YEAH, ROUGHLY 50 A DAY. AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN, UM, THE 300 FREE SURGERIES ARE USED UP? 'CAUSE I THINK FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S GONNA GO PRETTY FAST. I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE, UH, IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THEM. UH, AS ONE OF THE ITEMS TODAY. UH, I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, SIGNING THEM UP FOR THE COMMUNITY SPAY NEUTER, UH, THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW THE FOLKS IN THOSE UNDERSERVED ZIP CODES, UH, TO CONTINUE TO GET SURGERIES THROUGH BROOKS IN ADDITION TO THAT 300. OKAY, GREAT. AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, ARE THERE GONNA BE ANY OTHER SERVICES OFFERED AT THIS CLINIC? IS IT JUST GOING TO BE SPAY AND NEUTER OR, YES, MA'AM. THEY WILL, THEY WILL HAVE SOME WELLNESS SERVICES AVAILABLE. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE ANIMALS COME IN, THEY'LL BE, UH, THEY'LL BE GIVEN A QUICK PHYSICAL, UH, THEY'LL HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, FLEE AND TICK PREVENTION, UH, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL AS VACCINATIONS AND MICROCHIPPING. THANK YOU. SO, UH, BROOKS WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL, UH, PRE PANDEMIC. YES, MA'AM. AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING A VERY LONG TIME FOR THIS TO REOPEN, SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO PULL THAT. THE OTHER THING IS, I WANNA STRESS TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT IT'S, IT'S ALL OUR PARTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE THAT THE ANSWER TO OUR, UH, POPULATION, OUR PET POPULATION IS SPAY AND NEUTERING. AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO AND THAT THE CITY CAN DO TO HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OFFER, WE CONTINUE TO OFFER THE LOW COST AND IS WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND WE WALK INTO THE BUDGET SESSION THAT THIS, THIS NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY THAT WE, WE WORK ON. UM, THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR ME. ANY OTHER, ANYONE, ANYONE ELSE WANNA, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO? THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU SHANNON, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE CONTINUE WORK AND ENSURING THAT WE, UH, TACKLE THIS, THIS ISSUE THAT WE'RE FACING. AND, UH, I KNOW WE'RE NOT UNIQUE IN SOUTH TEXAS. UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA COMMEND, UH, KAREN AND RITA FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK AND ADEQUACY, UM, AROUND ANIMAL CARE SERVICE. THIS IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE, UM, A NUMBER OF MY CONSTITUENTS, UM, GO TO BROOK CITY BASE. UM, SO I KNOW IT'S ACCESSIBLE RIGHT OFF THE INTERSTATE, UM, AND IT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED. SO I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR GREAT WORK AND, UH, CONTINUING TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO SPAN NEUTERING SERVICES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BRAVO. I JUST WANNA SHARE THAT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT INVESTMENT OF TAXPAYER RESOURCES. I THINK IT'S GONNA SAVE, UM, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LONG RUN. AND, UH, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO HELP US PUT WORD OUT ONCE IT'S, UH, OPERATIONAL SO THAT WE CAN HELP TO, UM, GET YOU SOME CUSTOMERS. THANKS. SOUNDS GOOD, SIR. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. I MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 26. UM, WHO [04:00:01] PULLED IT? ITEM NUMBER 26 IS AN ORDINANCE DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO APPROVE INDIVIDUAL CHANGE ORDERS AND AMENDMENTS FOR CONTRACTS RELATED TO THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND AN AMOUNT UP TO AND INCLUDING THE PERCENT OF CONTINGENCY ESTABLISHED AT THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT AND LIMITED TO THE CONTRACTS PROCURED UNDER CHAPTER 2269 OR CHAPTER 2254 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THANK YOU. UH, I, I PULLED THIS BECAUSE I THOUGHT, I, UH, UH, NOTICED A GLITCH IN, UH, THE ORIGINAL WORDING THAT WAS SENT TO US ONLINE AND I TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT IT AND, UH, THEY'VE MADE A CORRECTION TO THAT. AND, UH, SO I'M SATISFIED WITH ALL OF, UH, WHAT WE EXPECT IN THIS. SO I WOULD MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 26. WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. DO, DO I HAVE ANYONE IN THE QUEUE THAT'D LIKE TO SPEAK? I HAVE A CITIZEN TO BE HEARD. JACK FINGER, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AS MADAM MAYOR PRO TEM, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER. UM, YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHY DOES THE CITY COUNCIL, OR WHY, WHY IS THE, ARE SAN ANTONIO CITY GOVERNMENT ARRANGED WHERE WHEREBY CERTAIN DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THE CITY MANAGER AND CERTAIN OTHER KINDS OF DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THE CITY COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DOLLAR AMOUNTS, SAY IN LITIGATION OR THE SCOPE OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WELL, IF THE, UH, IF THE PROJECT IS A VERY MONUMENTAL ONE, THAT MEANS IT'S GOING TO HAVE MONUMENTAL CONSEQUENCES IF ENOUGH, NOT ENOUGH DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE DELIB THAT DELIBERATION ON IT BY THOSE IN POWER. AND YES, I, UH, I THINK THE IDEA IT, TO ME, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH, HOW LOADED IN CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY A CITY MANAGER CAN BE WHEN YOU, OH, UH, WHEN YOU HAVE, I NOTICED SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF DOCUMENTS REGARDING THIS DECISION RIGHT HERE, MR. VIS MAN SHOW THE UNDERLINED AREA THERE. BASICALLY IT SAYS MOST TERMINAL EXPANSION PROGRAMS SIMILAR IN SIZE OF THE ONE AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT THEIR PEAK HAVE AN ANTICIPATED, AND I CIRCLED THE WORD DAILY, IF YOU CAN SEE IT, HAVEN'T ANTICIPATED DAILY, DAILY SPEND RATE OF APPROXIMATELY $800,000. THAT'S $800,000 A DAY. THANK YOU. UM, THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS A VERY BIG NUMBER. AND LIKE I SAY, I, IT DOESN'T, TO ME, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO THE CITY MANAGER IS, HOW COMPETENT HE IS, HOW TRUSTWORTHY HE IS. WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING AS BIG AS EIGHT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY, YOU, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO BE THE ONES MAKING THAT DECISION, NOT THE CITY MANAGER. AM I ALL WET ON THAT? YOU TELL ME. 800. THAT'S NEARLY A MILLION BUCKS A DAY. I, UH, I THINK, UH, YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS ONE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. FINGER. UH, THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER K. AND WE'VE ALREADY MADE THE MOTION AND JUST PENDING HIS COMMENTS. OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. ALRIGHT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 26. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL GO NOW TO ITEM 33. ITEM NUMBER 33 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ESSAY READY TO WORK FISCAL YEAR 2024, BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024 IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,192,498. AND PERSONNEL COMPLIMENT AS ADOPTED BY THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD [04:05:01] EDUCATION, MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON MAY 9TH, 2023. AND APPROVED FOOD APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SOCIAL FINANCE INC. AND THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 IN CONNECTION WITH THE PAY IT FORWARD INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THANK YOU. UM, WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 33. JACK FINGER, MAYOR NURNBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER AND, UH, I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND OF, UH, TROUBLING TO ME. I WANT YOU TO READ CLOSELY THE, UH, THE ORDINANCE AS IT IS STATED THERE, ESPECIALLY THE UNDERLINED AREAS. THERE. IT READS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING SA READY TO WORK, READY TO WORK FISCAL YEAR 2024, BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 20, JULY 1ST, AND ENDING 2024 IN THE AMOUNT OF, UH, $35 MILLION. AND A PERSONNEL COMPLIMENT IS ADOPTED BY THEE, AS ADOPTED BY THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD, AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. THANK YOU. TURN THE CAMERA. UM, TO ME, WHY IS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CHILDHOOD, WHY IS THAT BOARD'S FUNDS GOING TO SOMETHING CALLED SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK FOR ADULTS AND THEIR EMPLOYMENT? SOMETHING, SOMETHING DOESN'T JIVE HERE. IT, IT, TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE A BIG MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS. WHAT, I'M SORRY THAT THERE JUST, JUST DOESN'T SEEM, SEEMS LIKE SAN READY TO WORK HAS ITS OWN FUNDING MECHANISM. WHY IS IT USING THIS RIGHT HERE? SOMETHING THAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO TO SUPPOSEDLY KIDS? I'D LIKE TO HEAR SOME DECENT ANSWERS ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MO MOTION TO, FOR APPROVAL OF THIS, OF ITEM 33, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND ALEX, MIKE, AND THE REST OF THE READY TO WORK TEAM ON WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION, BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO TALK TO SPEAK TO REGARDING HOW WE MIGHT INCREASE PARTICIPATION. AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL'S FOCUS AREAS WAS SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. AFTER LOOKING THROUGH THE CURRENT READY TO WORK TARGET AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT, I DIDN'T SEE ANY FACTORS IN THESE TWO AREAS. IS THAT ACCURATE? THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT, COUNCILWOMAN. UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TRAINING THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION AND CLEAN ENERGY, PRIMARILY SOLAR, UM, PANEL INSTALLERS, AS WELL AS, UH, THE SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION RESTORATIVE, UH, CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY THAT OUR OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION RUNS. AND WE HAVE SEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME GOOD ENROLLMENT IN THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE SKILLED TRADE AREAS SUCH AS, UM, CARPENTERS AND ELECTRICIANS, UM, AND ROOFERS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE, UM, THAT SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION CAN OCCUR IN OUR CITY. WELL, I THINK THERE'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY IN THAT. UM, SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAYBE MOVE FORWARD IS A POSSIBILITY TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE JOBS TARGET AREA, POSSIBLY WITH THE CAREERS IN WEATHERIZATION AS AN INITIAL PILOT, IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO EXPLORE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE HAVE A SURPLUS OF HOMES THAT ARE NEEDING WEATHERIZATION NOW, BUT THERE IS A DEFICIT IN THE AVAILABLE WORKERS IN THIS FIELD. UM, LASTLY I'D LIKE TO MENTION WHAT I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, WHICH IS THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CITY INCENTIVIZING FOR THE BUSINESS, FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE BY AWARDING PREFERENCE POINTS TO ANY COMPANY THAT IS SEEKING A CITY CONTRACT AND CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAVE HIRED READY TO WORK GRADUATES. IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? YES, MA'AM. AND, AND, AND YOU BROUGHT THAT UP AT B SESSION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. I THINK THE MAYOR HAS ALSO INQUIRED ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK AS, AS, UM, WE BRING FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL, [04:10:01] UM, AT THE END OF SUMMER, EARLY FALL, UH, UPDATES TO OUR, UM, PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS OF, OF HIGH INTEREST THAT, UH, I THINK A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, AND WE'LL BE SURE TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. MIKE GOT A, GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE FOR YOU, UH, ON ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET HERE FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, YOU HAD A PERSONAL COMP PERSONNEL COMPLIMENT AND, UM, YOU'RE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL PERSON TO YOUR STAFF, RIGHT? SO MAKE IT A TOTAL OF 12. YES, SIR. BUT THERE WASN'T ANY COST ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR, YOUR PERSONNEL, YOU KNOW, 12 PEOPLE. HOW MUCH IS THAT COSTING? WHAT'S YOUR COST FOR THE ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER? WELL, NO, FOR YOUR WHOLE ADMINISTRATION. GOTCHA. LEMME SEE YOUR WHOLE OFFICE. COUNT ME ON THAT ONE. COUNCIL MEMBER. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT QUESTION. ASK MARIA . ALL RIGHT, SO OUR PERSONNEL EXPENSES, UM, FOR TOTAL FOR THE PROGRAM FOR F Y 23 ARE, I'M SORRY, FOR FFY 24 ARE 1.474 MILLION. SO ONE AND A HALF MILLION. ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION. YES, SIR. OKAY. UM, AND THEN, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASKING FOR $35 MILLION FOR THIS NEXT YEAR? YES, SIR. AND WHAT IS OUR, WHAT IS OUR EXPECTATION? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE GONNA PLACE IN NEW JOBS? I REALLY LOVE THAT ONE GRAPH THAT STARTED DOWN HERE AT THE, AT ONE END AND AT THE OTHER END IT SHOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PLACED. SO DO YOU HAVE THAT AS A BACKUP SLIDE WHERE WE'RE AT? UM, WE DO HAVE THAT BACKUP SLIDE. YEAH, IF YOU COULD PULL THAT UP, THAT'D BE GREAT. ABS. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, AMY. THANK YOU. AMY. SLIDE 17 SHOWS WHAT OUR PROGRAM METRICS ARE FOR F Y 24 WITH 8,160 INDIVIDUALS, UH, BEING TO 24, AMY, NOT THAT ONE. THE, THE F Y 24 NUMBERS. UM, 8,160, UM, INDIVIDUALS INTERVIEWED BY OUR PARTNERS AND 3,888 ENROLLED IN APPROVED TRAINING PROGRAMS. AND, UM, OF THAT NUMBER 70%, UM, COMPLETING THEIR TRAINING PROGRAMS. AND OF THAT 70% THAT COMPLETE 80% PLACED IN JOBS. SO DOING THAT MATH WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE VOLUME, UH, FROM FFY 23 AND GOING INTO F Y 24, WE EXPECT THE NUMBER TO BE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT AROUND 2,500 INDIVIDUALS PLACED IN JOBS IN F Y 24. OKAY. AND HOW MANY HAVE YOU PLACED IN JOBS TODAY? TODAY, 121 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN PLACED, UM, IN JOBS WITH A MEDIAN HOURLY WAGE INCREASE OF $16 AN HOUR. UM, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, TRULY LIFE CHANGING FOR THE PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY HAVE A HOUSEHOLD INCOME ON THE AVERAGE OF ABOUT $19,000. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DOUBLING, NEARLY DOUBLING THAT HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS MAKING A HUGE IMPACT ON THOSE FAMILIES. SO RIGHT NOW, 121 PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE PLACED YES, SIR. AND BY THE END OF F Y 24, HOW MANY ARE YOU GONNA PLACE BY THE END OF FFY 24 ARE PROJECTIONS TO HAVE OVER 2000 PEOPLE PLACED IN JOBS. SO 2000. SO, UM, MAN, YOU GOT A LOT OF, LOT OF WORKING TO DO TO GET UP TO THAT 2000 BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF NEXT YEAR. WELL, IT'S, IT'S NOT AS MUCH WORK AS YOU WOULD THINK COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY, GREAT. THEY'RE, THAT SOUNDS, THEY'RE IN THE PIPELINE ALREADY. YOU GOT OVER 2,500 PEOPLE ENROLLED IN TRAINING, JUST GOTTA GIVE 'EM TIME TO FINISH. AND THEN ONCE THEY FINISH THAT TRAINING, THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE, UM, AVAILABLE FOR THOSE OPENINGS THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, SO IF YOU NOTICE, NOTICE THAT, UM, THE, THE NUMBERS KEEP GROWING WEEK AFTER WEEK, MONTH AFTER MONTH. THE PIPELINE KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER. THE TOP OF THAT FUNNEL IS EXPANDING AND IT JUST TAKES TIME FOR PEOPLE TO MATRICULATE THROUGH. YEAH. WELL, UH, AGAIN, UH, I GO BACK TO THE, THE ORIGINAL, UH, PROGRAM THAT, UH, WAS VOTED ON BACK THEN. WE, WE SAID, WE HAVE THIS THING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE TERMINOLOGY, WHETHER IT WAS 40,000 OR UP TO 40,000 FOR $150 MILLION. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED. IT'S DOWN TO 15,000 AND, UM, UH, ON THE EXPECTATION TO GET PEOPLE THROUGH. AND THEN, UH, BUT THE DOLLAR FIGURE HAS GONE UP BASED ON OUR SALES TAX PROJECTIONS UP TO OVER $250 MILLION NOW. SO, UH, I'M STILL, UH, THAT STILL GETS ME THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND, UM, UH, [04:15:01] NOT HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS AND SAY, HEY MAN, UH, WE GOT SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN THIS PROGRAM. BUT, UM, UM, 121 PEOPLE TODAY. YES, SIR. AND YOU'RE PROJECTING 2000? YES, SIR. BY THE END OF 24, SIR. OKAY. YES, SIR. GREAT. WELL, I'LL, UH, I'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT AT THE END OF 24. SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT, MIKE. ABSOLUTELY. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. ERIC, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO JUMP ON THE MIC. DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? NO, NO. I WAS JUST GONNA, I WAS JUST GONNA, UM, ADD, AND MIKE JUST SAID IT, THAT THERE'S ALMOST 2,500 INDIVIDUALS IN EDUCATION OR TRAINING RIGHT NOW, SO THAT GOES BACK TO THAT PIPELINE AND WE GET THEM PUSHED THROUGH. SOME OF 'EM ARE HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE GETTING DONE, UH, THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. YEAH. AND AGAIN, I, I MEAN, I, I'LL I'LL SPARE REPEATING EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE SAID, UH, MONTHS AT A TIME, UM, ON THIS. BUT I MEAN, IF WE LOOK AT, JUST EVEN TAKE THE SMALLEST NUMBER, THE 1 21, UH, AND LOOK AT THAT NOT AS WIDGETS THAT WE'RE COUNTING OR, OR NUMBERS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, GROW, BUT ACTUAL FAMILIES THAT, THAT REPRESENTS HOUSEHOLDS IN SAN ANTONIO NOW THAT ARE NO LONGER LIVING IN POVERTY, THAT NO LONGER HAVE TO, UH, APPLY OR, OR DEPEND ON ASSISTANCE IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS. PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO SEE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, UH, OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, PROGRAM. AND, AND OBVIOUSLY WE WANT IT TO CONTINUE TO SCALE UP, BUT, UH, THE, THE ENORMITY OF THE IMPACT ON AN INDIVIDUAL FAMILY IS JUST, UM, SOMETHING THAT I THINK, UH, MAKES US ALL VERY PROUD, MIKE. SO KEEP KEEP DOING THE GREAT WORK. UH, YOU'RE DOING SOME GREAT THINGS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S GONNA HAVE GENERATIONAL IMPACT, SO I APPRECIATE IT. UM, I DID WANT TO, OCCASIONALLY MR. FINGER ASKED A, UH, POIGNANT QUESTION THAT I THINK DESERVES AN ANSWER. UH, AND SO I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CLARIFY FOR EVERYBODY THAT WAS LISTENING, WHY IT IS THE SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT COURT BOARD, UH, THAT AUTHORIZES THE, THE, THE BUDGET. ANDY, COULD YOU, COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT? THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S ACTUALLY A EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER. SO, UNDER THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY THAT THE CITY HAS TO USE TAX DOLLARS FOR BOTH, UM, PRE-K AND FOR THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM FALL UNDER THE SAME STATUTE, AND UNDER THAT STATUTE, YOU CAN ONLY HAVE ONE CORPORATION. UH, IN HINDSIGHT, AND WE, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED PRE-K, WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE NAMED IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT IF WE HAD HINDSIGHT, WE WOULD'VE BOUGHT SPURS SEASON TICKETS LAST WEEK INSTEAD OF THIS WEEK. UH, BUT THAT'S THE ANSWER. WE CAN ONLY HAVE ONE CORPORATION UNDER THE SAME STATUTORY AUTHORITY. GREAT. THANK YOU ANDY. AND, AND FINALLY, I DO WANT TO CONCUR WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO'S COMMENTS, UH, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF PREFACING DURING OUR PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING THOSE COMPANIES THAT, THAT DO HIRE FROM THE READY TO WORK PIPELINE, BUT ALSO, UM, UH, THE CREATION OF SORT OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY. WE DO KNOW THERE'S AREAS OF OUR, UH, ECOSYSTEM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO IMPACT IN OTHER WAYS. WEATHERIZATION, UH, SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS ARE ONE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, UH, VERY EARLY LAST TERM ALSO TALKED ABOUT, UH, SALVAGE AS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION, UH, WORKFORCE AND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRAINING IN THOSE AREAS. I THINK THERE'S HUGE OPPORTUNITY AND APPRENTICESHIPS, UH, YOU KNOW, SO LOOKING AT THOSE CAREER FIELDS THAT MAY NOT COME TO MIND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIGH WAGE CAREERS, BUT IN FACT OUR ECONOMICALLY MOBILE HIGH WAGE CAREERS, UH, I THINK WOULD BE A VERY GOOD THING FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE. MIKE, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT. THERE IS A MOTION TO SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 33. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR MORNING AGENDA. I, I SEE SOME FOLKS ARE STARTING TO TRICKLE IN FOR ZONING. WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO, UH, WE MAY BE JUST A LITTLE BIT LATE FOR THE ZONING MEETING. I'D SAY PROBABLY TWO 15. [City Manager's Report  ] BUT ERIC, BEFORE WE GO TO EXEC, UH, DO WE HAVE A MANAGER'S REPORT? YES, SIR. UH, JUST REAL QUICK, I'LL, I'LL KEEP IT THIN. UM, I DID NOT, UH, RING IN EARLIER WHEN COUNCILMAN PERRY WAS, UM, SAYING HIS GOODBYES TO EVERYBODY. AND COUNCILMAN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND, AND HONESTY AND, AND, UH, GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR CONSISTENCY. RIGHT? UM, THE, YOUR, YOUR THREE PRIORITIES HAVE NOT CHANGED FROM THE, FROM THE FIRST DAY I MET YOU AT COUNCIL ORIENTATION. UM, AND, UM, AND, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE RELATIONSHIP WE'VE HAD WITH YOU AND I'VE, I'VE, UM, UH, APPRECIATED, UH, YOUR DIRECT APPROACH. UM, BUT EVEN MORE SO I THINK THE VALUE, AND YOU HEARD SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES SAY THIS, THE VALUE THAT YOU PLACE ON PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, UM, AND HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF. SO, UH, WE'LL MISS YOU AND GOOD LUCK AND, AND, UM, IF YOU, UM, REMEMBER IF [04:20:01] YOU COME DOWN HERE TO COUNCIL, WE STAMP PEOPLE'S PARKING, UH, IF THEY WANT TO. SO BE SURE TO SEE EMILY, AND WE'LL STAMP YOUR PARKING IF YOU WANT TO COME DOWN. UM, MAYOR, THE, UM, I WANTED TO, IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR I'D EVER PARTICIPATED, BUT LAST FRIDAY, UM, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, UH, HAD THEIR FOURTH ANNUAL, UH, AMAZING PRESERVATION RACE. AND, UH, WE HAD A CITY MANAGERS TEAM, UH, LORI HOUSTON, JEFF COYLE, MYSELF AND MARIA. WE CAME FIF WE CAME IN 15TH OUTTA 45, BUT, UM, BUT A GREAT EVENT. UM, IT WAS THE LARGEST EVENT THEY'VE HAD TO DATE. THEY PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT. WE WERE ALL OVER DOWNTOWN. AND, UH, NEXT YEAR AS WE NEAR THAT, UM, I'LL ENCOURAGE YOU AND REMIND YOU ALL TO HAVE TEAMS, UM, BUT, UH, HATS OFF TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID. I, I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT DOWNTOWN ASPECTS OF DOWNTOWN THAT I, THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF. UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT THAT HELPED. OUR LAST, UH, OUR EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT IS, UH, UM, HIGHLIGHT, UM, HIGHLIGHTS, UH, AN INSPECTOR WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. HE'S A SENIOR ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR, UM, AND HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS, BUT PREVI IN HIS PREVIOUS LIFE WAS A CONTRACTOR. SO LET'S, UH, LET'S ROLL THIS VIDEO. MY NORMAL DAY, I START USUALLY AROUND, UH, 6:00 AM IN THE MORNING. ONE OF MY ASSIGNMENTS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOTAL INSPECTIONS ACROSS CITYWIDE ARE PRETTY MUCH BALANCED OUT EVENLY AMONG ALL THE INSPECTORS. THEN FROM THERE, I ACTUALLY HAVE INSPECTIONS THAT I, UH, DO ON MY OWN, RANGING FROM A RESIDENTIAL, UH, INSPECTION WHERE THEY MIGHT BE DOING A LITTLE REMODEL TO, UH, YOU KNOW, HIGH RISE BUILDINGS. I WAS A CONTRACTOR FOR YEARS AND YEARS. LONGER THAN I, I MIGHT WANT TO ADMIT. BUT, UH, KIND OF BEEN DOING THAT MOST OF MY LIFE. IT WAS GETTING A LITTLE DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, CARRYING HEAVY LOADS UP A LADDER ONTO A ROOF, OR, YOU KNOW, DOING THE PHYSICAL WORK. I BECAME AWARE OF AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE CITY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA APPLY. ONE OF THE REASONS FOR DOING THAT WAS I COULD CONTINUE WORKING AND, AND DRAW UPON MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND PASS THAT ALONG IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE THERE'S NO CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN HERE. SAN ANTONIO'S SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE'RE GROWING AND BUILDING IS A LARGE PART OF THAT. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDING, ESPECIALLY ELECTRICAL IS DONE, UH, PER NATIONAL CODE. YOU KNOW, THINGS AREN'T DONE CORRECTLY. A BUILDING CAN, YOU KNOW, BURN DOWN, UH, PEOPLE CAN GET ELECTROCUTED. AND SO I TAKE MY JOB VERY SERIOUSLY AS THE CITY GROWS, IS IT GROWS SAFELY. WE STRIVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BEST DEVELOPMENT SERVICE IN THE COUNTRY. GREAT. THAT'S IT, MAYOR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY. THANKS EVERYBODY FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE ARE GONNA PLAY THROUGH, SO, UH, GRAB LUNCH. WE WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM THERE. UH, AND FOLKS, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE HERE FOR ZONING ALREADY, WE ARE GONNA BE SLIGHTLY DELAYED. WE'LL TRY TO GET BACK TO YOU ABOUT TWO 15, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. THE TIME IS [Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the B Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ] NOW 1:34 PM ON THURSDAY, MAY 18TH, 2023. CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.087, PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE, OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.072, AND CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 FOR LEGAL ISSUES OR ADVICE RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THE TIME IS 2:32 PM ON THE 18TH DAY OF MAY, 2023. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN. OUR A SESSION, MORNING SESSION IS NOW 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.