4. Councilmember Ana Sandoval will be sworn-in as Mayor Pro-Tem, serving the term January 17, 2019 – March 21, 2019.

[5. Ordinance approving an Economic Development Agreement in an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 with Victory Capital Management, Inc. for the establishment of a corporate headquarters, the retention of 300 full-time jobs, and the creation of an additional 57 full-time jobs. Funding is available from the Economic Development Incentive Fund FY2019 Adopted Budget. [Carlos Contreras, Assistant City Manager; Rene Dominguez, Director, Economic Development]]

MOTION CARRIES.

MOVE NOW TO ITEM NO. 5.

>> ITEM NO. 5 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 WITH VICTORY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, THE RETENTION OF 300 FULL-TIME JOBS, AND THE CREATION OF AN ADDITIONAL 57 FULL-TIME JOBS.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND FISCAL YEAR 2019 ADOPTED BUDGET.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

BEFORE I GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION, I DO WANT TO THANK VERY QUICKLY THE INDUSTRY TEAM.

DURING THE BREAK WHEN WE WERE ENJOYING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, IT WAS THIS TEAM CRASHING ON SOME OF THE ANALYSIS AND DEAL POINTS, IN PARTICULAR JESSICA HARRIS, OUR INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RAY RODRIGUEZ FROM THE CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE, AND AMY CONTRERAS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, JOINING US THIS MORNING IS FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION.

THIS PROJECT REALLY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AT WORK AND IN ACTION.

FINALLY, BEFORE I PRESENT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO MIKE PELLACAR POTRANCO.

HE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE .

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

REALLY PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VICTORY CAPITAL.

IT PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR.

AND IT REALLY DOES PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

I'LL GET INTO THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.

VICTORY CAPITAL IS A MANAGEMENT FIRM HEADQUARTERED IN CLEVELAND, OHIO.

THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A 100 YEARS.

THEY HAVE 275 EMPLOYEES AND NINE DIFFERENT INVESTMENT FRANCHISES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

THEY MIGHT SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU ALL BECAUSE BACK IN NOVEMBER, VICTORY CAPITAL ACQUIRED USAA'S ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, WHICH EMPLOYS AROUND 300 PEOPLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THE ACQUISITION EFFECTIVELY DOUBLED VICTORY CAPITAL'S ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT.

SO IT WAS A BIG ACQUISITION.

THIS ACQUISITION IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE IN 2019 IN Q2 AND REPRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR VICTORY.

BUT, AS I MENTIONED, THIS ALSO REPRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE WHEN ACQUISITIONS HAPPEN, WHEN MERGERS HAPPEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, LED BY JENNA AT EDF REALLY JUMPS INTO ACTION AND STARTS TRACKING THESE ACQUISITIONS.

WE WERE OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE 300 EMPLOYEES AND THE RETAINING THOSE EMPLOYEES.

BUT WE ALSO SAW THIS AS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY.

JENNA IN PARTICULAR HAD BEEN TRACKING THE ACQUISITION, TRYING TO GET IN FRONT OF THEIR C.E.O.

AND LEADERSHIP AND GOT THAT CHANCE RIGHT BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS BREAK.

HER AND OUR CITY MANAGER WENT UP THERE AND PITCHED SAN ANTONIO, MET WITH THEIR C.E.O.

DURING THE BREAK THE TEAMS REALLY JUMPED INTO ACTION.

WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE VICTORY CAPITAL WITH AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE THAT I'LL BE PRESENTING TO YOU ALL TODAY.

AND THIS INCENTIVE PACKAGE REALLY REPRESENTS VARIOUS DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THE RETENTION OF THOSE 300 EMPLOYEES, THE RELOCATION OF A CORPORATE HEADQUARTER, PUBLICLY TRADED.

VERY EXCITED.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ONE OF THOSE IN A WHILE.

NEW JOB CREATION.

FOR THIS EXPANSION AND

[00:40:01]

RELOCATION, RECOMMENDING A $500,000 PERFORMANCE-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND GRANT CONTINGENT ON THE HEADQUARTER'S RELOCATION.

C-SUITE EXECUTIVES MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO.

THE RETENTION OF THOSE 300 EMPLOYEES, PAYING NO LESS THAN $50,000 ANNUALLY.

AND UP TO 51 NEW JOBS, AROUND HALF OF WHICH PAY NO MORE THAN $100,000 A PIECE.

THE OTHER HALF OF THOSE EMPLOYEES MAKE NO LESS THAN $65,000 A PIECE.

ADDITIONALLY, VICTORY CAPITAL IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO OUR LOCAL TALENT TO INTERN WITH THEM.

THEY ALSO ARE VERY ADAMANT ABOUT HELPING OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL LITERACY.

LASTLY, THEY INTEND TO INVEST A MINIMUM OF $500,000 AS PART OF THAT RELOCATION.

IN GENERAL ON A VERY HIGH LEVEL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 357 JOBS WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF $96,000.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE, AS MENTIONED.

IT IS PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND.

THE FY19 APPROPRIATION.

IN ADDITION TO THIS PROJECT BEING FISCALLY POSITIVE FOR THIS CITY, WE DID RUN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- EXCUSE ME, AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS WHERE WE LOOKED AT DIRECT, INDIRECT, INDUCED IMPACTS.

IN OVER TEN YEARS WE ANTICIPATE THIS PROJECT TO CREATE $945 MILLION WORTH OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OVER THAT TERM.

FINALLY, RECOMMENDING THAT WE APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND.

WITH THAT, MAYOR, COUNCIL I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AND MIKE IS HERE.

HE'S HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RENE.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.

RENE, MOVE OVER.

I NEED TO TALK TO VICTORY.

[LAUGHTER] HEY, VICTORY.

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVESTING IN SAN ANTONIO.

YOU DIDN'T JUST BUY AN OPERATION AND SOME ASSETS, YOU ACTUALLY MADE AN INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE.

AND YOU ARE GOING TO DISCOVER THAT YOUR INVESTMENT IS GOING TO PAY WAY MORE DIVIDENDS THAN YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU'D GET.

AND SAN ANTONIANS ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST.

SO GO TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS.

>> WILL DO.

>> PELAEZ: AND, TWO, YOU DECIDED TO NOT JUST INVEST IN SAN ANTONIO AND BUY OPERATIONS, YOU GUYS DECIDED TO MOVE YOUR OPERATIONS HERE, WHICH IS SKIN IN THE GAME.

AND FOR THAT, ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS, THANKS A LOT.

AND I STAND READY TO HELP YOU GUYS SUCCEED IN MY WAY.

BUT YOU GOT TO LET ME KNOW HOW THAT IS.

SO LET'S BEGIN TODAY BY MAKING THE COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER THAT WE'RE PARTNERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: MIKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY COMMENTS HERE AS CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE AS TEAM SAN ANTONIO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN, ONE, WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU, BUT ALSO MAKE IT THAT WE BECOME FAMILY.

AND SO I WANTED TO SEE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES TALKING ABOUT NOW AND MOVING INTO YOUR NEW HEADQUARTERS.

>> SURE.

WELL, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.

WE ARE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

THE TEAM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, CITY MANAGER, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC AND WELCOMING TO US.

IT'S REFRESHING AND WE'RE EXCITED TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY.

THE EMPLOYEES ARE EXCITED.

IT'S PROBABLY IN THE TEENS IN CLEVELAND, OHIO TODAY.

FOLKS SAY IT'S COLD HERE BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THE WARMTH AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING OUR HEADQUARTERS HERE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO US.

WE'RE EXCITED TO GROW WITH THE CITY, TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US, NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE.

BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO GROW OUR COMPANY.

WE'VE BEEN PUBLIC FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.

WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

AND WE SEE TREMENDOUS GROWTH AHEAD OF US AND WE'RE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M VERY PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO PROMOTE THE SAN ANTONIO'S ASSETS, INCLUDING OUR FINANCIAL GROWING OF OUR I.T., OUR CYBERSECURITY AREA.

AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF ALL OF US COMING AND WORKING TOGETHER.

MUCH KUDOS TO SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, TO YOUR TEAM AND THE LEADERSHIP OF EVERYONE THERE.

MANAGER SCULLEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GETTING UP THERE AND GOING TO CLEVELAND DURING THE COLD SEASON AS WELL.

AND THIS PROJECT IS A WIN-WIN.

BECAUSE WHEN WE CREATE, WE HAVE THIS EXAMPLE.

WHEN WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL SAN ANTONIANS.

AND KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE C-SUITE EXECUTIVES HERE, THAT EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT AS A MODEL, AND WHAT THIS WILL THEN GENERATE FOR THE SAN ANTONIO TO COME.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

[00:45:01]

THANK YOU FOR LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A SOURCE OF A TRAILBLAZER IN THE WAY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PEOPLE AND THE FAMILIES MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO AND REALLY HAVING THIS HOSPITALITY THAT WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO.

SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5.

COUNCILMAN HALL.

>> JUST A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

FIRST, MIKE AND VICTORY CAPITAL, WELCOME I WILL TELL YOU WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL A FEW YEARS BACK, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN INVESTMENT AND EQUITY BACKGROUND.

WE DID AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AND STEVE NIVIN WAS THE ONE THAT HELPED US AND AUTHORED THAT.

THAT FOUND THAT FINANCIAL SERVICES IS ACTUALLY OUR NUMBER ONE ECONOMIC GENERATOR IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO .

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, AND IT'S NOT SEEN AS SUCH, BUT IT OUTIMPACTED EVEN HEALTHCARE BY SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS.

WE ACTUALLY EVEN LOOKED AT A FINANCIAL DISTRICT AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS.

BUT I HOPE THIS MOVE MIGHT REIGNITE THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN SO WE CAN PUSH THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE IMPACT THAT FINANCIAL SERVICES HAS ON A COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE BIG CITIES WITH FINANCIAL DISTRICTS, NEW YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO AND OTHER PLACES.

THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT DISCUSSION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO REIGNITED.

AND FOR US TO RECONSIDER FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE IMPACT WE CAN HAVE IN A COMMUNITY VIA THAT ROUTE.

BUT LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HALL.

COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT VERY SMART DECISION TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO.

AND I WANT TO THANK OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

I'M SURE THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF HELPING YOU UNDERSTAND THE AMENITIES THAT WE OFFER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH USAA AND JUST -- AND I'M SURE YOU KNOW THIS, BUT JUST REMIND YOU THEY HAVE BEEN AN OUTSTANDING PARTNER FOR THIS CITY SINCE THEIR INCEPTION.

AND YOU'RE TAKING ON A BIG RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MY MONEY THROUGH USAA INVESTMENTS THAT NOW YOUR COMPANY WILL BE HANDLING.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT USAA HAS ALWAYS BEEN MEMBER-DRIVEN AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING THEY DID WAS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR MEMBERS.

AND I HOPE THAT YOUR COMPANY WILL HAVE THE SAME OUTLOOK ON HOW IT WANTS TO GO AHEAD AND MANAGE THE MONEY FOR ALL OF THOSE FORMER MILITARY FAMILIES THAT HAVE INVESTED THROUGH USAA AND NOW INTO THE FUTURE.

AND I WISH YOU GREAT SUCCESS.

YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SAN ANTONIO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE.

BEFORE I TAKE UP THE ACTION FOR TODAY, I DID NEGLECT TO BRING UP JACK FINGER, WHO WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS AS WELL IN CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND YOU CAN RELAX FOR A MOMENT.

JACK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS JACK M.

FINGER.

WELL, YES I ACTUALLY WELCOME THE VICTORY CORPORATION COMING TO SAN ANTONIO.

THE QUESTION IS DO WE, THE CITIZENS, ESSENTIALLY DO WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO COME HERE? ALL OF Y'ALL KEPT SAYING THANK YOU.

WELL, THAT'S NICE BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND MAYBE IT'S TIME TO THANK THE TAXPAYERS, SINCE YOU WERE THE ONES THAT ARE RELAYING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO THEM.

YES.

AND THE QUESTION IS WHY? VICTORY CAPITAL SAYS IT'S COMING TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD WORKFORCE AND THE PRICES ARE LOW.

WELL, OKAY.

THAT SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH.

WHY DO WE NEED TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS? THAT'S ABOUT $1400 A JOB.

$1400 A JOB.

NOW, DO YOU GIVE $1400 A JOB TO ANY, SAY, SMALL BUSINESS HERE IN TOWN THAT CREATES A NEW JOB ON THEIR OWN? I HAVE NOT SEEN SUCH INITIATIVES HERE ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDAS HERE.

$1400.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT MAYBE JUST TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN BACKYARD BEFORE YOU COME AND JUST TRY TO RECRUIT SOMEBODY FROM OUTSIDE? ALSO, THE BIG QUESTION IS WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO LOCATE? IF THEY ARE ACQUIRING USAA, WELL, USAA IS BETWEEN LOOP 410 AND 1604.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY YOUR DEPRESSED AREA OF TOWN.

[00:50:02]

WHICH I THOUGHT WAS WHAT ECONOMIC INCENTIVES WERE REALLY DESIGNED TO DO.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING -- HAVEN'T READ ANYTHING ABOUT IT BEING LOCATED INSIDE LOOP 410.

YEAH.

SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHY SOME OF US ALWAYS REMAIN A LITTLE SKEPTICAL WHENEVER WE SEE OUTRIGHT GRANTS.

I MEAN, THIS IS NOT EVEN A LOAN WHERE THEY WOULD PAY IT BACK.

IT'S JUST, HERE, TAKE THE MONEY, VICTORY.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

WHILE I WRAP UP HERE, MIKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU IN SAN ANTONIO AND I THINK THAT THE MESSAGE THAT WE GET FROM A TARGETED INDUSTRY, A 21ST CENTURY INDUSTRY, JOBS, A 100-YEAR-OLD PUBLICLY TRADED CORPORATION CHOOSING TO MOVE FROM ONE MAJOR AMERICAN CITY TO THE HEART OF TEXAS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO IS BEING SENT LOUD AND CLEAR.

IT'S NOT ABOUT INCENTIVES.

IT'S NOT ABOUT LOW COST.

IT'S ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO HAVE BEEN BUILDING A MODERN, QUALITY 21ST CENTURY CITY.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ENORMOUSLY PROUD OF.

SO THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING SAN ANTONIO.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOUR WHOLE CREW.

I HAVE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW DAVID AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO ENJOY SAN ANTONIO AS WELL.

SO THESE MOMENTS THAT WE GET TO WELCOME CORPORATIONS DON'T COME OFTEN ENOUGH.

BUT THIS ONE IS SIGNIFICANT.

AND I THINK WE WILL MARK THE DAY.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT IS PROVING THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING SO HARD ON, BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN COUNCILMAN HALL WAS IN DISTRICT 8 IS NOW TRULY COMING TO FRUITION.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERY SAN ANTONIAN IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM.

SO WELCOME TO SAN ANTONIO.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5.

PLEASE VOTE.

[6. Ordinance approving the City of San Antonio's Federal Legislative Program for the 116th U.S. Congress. [Carlos Contreras, Assistant City Manager; Jeff Coyle, Director, Government and Public Affairs]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NO. 6.

>> ITEM NO. 6 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR THE 116TH U.S.

CONGRESS.

>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING.

JEFF COYLE, THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

THIS IS OUR PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS IN WASHINGTON.

WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GO TO WASHINGTON ALONG WITH YOU AND ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING AND PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

OFTENTIMES WHETHER THEY REALIZE THE EFFORT OR NOT.

I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM.

SALLY, MEAGAN, EDUARDO FOR THEIR WORK IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

AND CERTAINLY THE IGR COMMITTEE WHO GAVE US WONDERFUL FEEDBACK ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THAT HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

SO VERY BRIEFLY, A TIMELINE -- YOU ALL KNOW, I BELIEVE, THE NEW CONGRESS WAS SWORN IN AND BEGAN JANUARY 3.

CONGRESS IS ON A TWO-YEAR CYCLE.

TWO SESSIONS, ONE YEAR EACH.

AND SO WE HAVE ALIGNED OUR FEDERAL PROGRAMS WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL TERMS. AND SO HENCE THE TIMING.

WE STAND HERE BEFORE YOU WITH A NEW CONGRESS JUST HAVING BEEN SWORN IN AND OUR ANNUAL SA TO D.C. TRIP ON THE NEAR-TERM HORIZON.

THIS IS OUR PROPOSED PLAYBOOK AS WE HEAD UP THERE.

WE STARTED THIS PROCESS BACK IN THE LATE SUMMER.

WE MET WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND WORKED TOGETHER WITH THEM ON PRIORITIES THAT OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE WORKING FOR.

WE COMMUNICATE REGULARLY WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

BEGINNING IN THE FALL, WE REACHED OUT TO EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY ASKING THEM FOR INPUT ON THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM IN TERMS OF THE FEDERAL AGENDA.

WE'VE HAD A COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BOTH IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR.

AND THEN BEGAN THE CONVERSATION WITH THE IGR COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER WITH A MORE THOROUGH CONVERSATION THIS MONTH.

THEY FULLY APPROVED THE AGENDA THAT WE ARE NOW BRINGING TO YOU FOR FULL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.

THERE ARE FOUR CATEGORIES IN THE PROGRAM.

THE BIGGEST OF WHICH ARE OUR PRIORITIES.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

I WANT TO NOTE THE DIFFERENCE THERE.

LEGISLATIVE ARE ITEMS THAT WE'RE LOBBYING CONGRESS FOR.

AGENCY ARE ITEMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO THE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND TRYING TO POSITION OURSELVES FOR FUNDING AND/OR INFLUENCE RULE CHANGES THAT THEY MAY PROPOSE.

IN SOME CASES ITEMS INVOLVE BOTH CONGRESSIONAL ADVOCACY AND AGENCY ADVOCACY.

THE THIRD IS A STATEMENT OF OUR SUPPORT FOR OUR PARTNERS.

AND THE FOURTH IS A BROAD SORT

[00:55:01]

OF CATCH-ALL STATEMENT ABOUT PROTECTING THE CITY'S INTERESTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO OUR FOUR PRIORITIES AS PROPOSED ARE MILITARY PROTECTION, AVIATION, TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

VERY MUCH ALIGNED WITH COUNCIL PRIORITIES.

ON THE MILITARY FRONT, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE JBSA, TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF OUR BASES, TO POSITION OURSELVES FOR GAINING FUTURE MISSIONS.

AND IN THE RECENT DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE LAST CONGRESS, THERE IS A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, FUNDING PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE STATE DEAG PROGRAM WHERE COMMUNITIES CAN APPLY FOR FUNDING THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT OUR BASES.

SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN SO WE CAN COMPETE FOR THAT.

ON THE AVIATION FRONT I THINK YOU KNOW THE FAA REAUTHORIZATION PASSED LAST YEAR.

SO OUR BEST EFFORT AT A NONSTOP TO REAGAN NATIONAL HAS PASSED FOR NOW.

THERE ARE, HOWEVER, SOME MAJOR PRIORITIES WITHIN THE AVIATION FRONT, SPECIFICALLY FUNDING FOR THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT OUR AIRPORT BENEFITS FROM REGULARLY, AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE CAP.

WE CHARGE A CHARGE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR EVERY TICKET PURCHASED.

AND IT HAS NOT BEEN RAISED SINCE 2000.

SO AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOBBYING FOR THE ABILITY TO ALLOW LOCAL CITY COUNCILS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO INCREASE THAT FEE AND SUPPORT THE CONTINUED NECESSARY GROWTH AT THE AIRPORT.

UNDER TRANSPORTATION, 2019 WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSION ABOUT SURFACE TRANSPORTATION, REAUTHORIZING ESSENTIALLY THE FAST ACT, WHICH IS THE OMNIBUS PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS A NUMBER OF PROGRAM LIKE TIGER GRANTS, INFRAGRANTS, OTHER THINGS THAT WE COMPETE FOR.

ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE ARE EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A NUMBER OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS LIKE THE HOME INVESTMENT PROGRAM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS, A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS YOU ALL KNOW WELL THAT HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

UNDER OUR LEGISLATIVE AND AGENCY ISSUES -- SO THOSE WERE THE PRIORITIES.

THESE ARE A NUMBER OF THE OTHER THINGS AND I'LL MOVE MORE QUICKLY THROUGH THESE.

PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE COPS GRANT, THE BURN JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE REGULARLY BENEFIT FROM FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

EMERGENCY PREP AND HOMELAND SECURITY.

UNDER THAT IS THE FUNDING, THE URBAN AREA STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUNDING THAT WE ADVOCATE FOR REGULARLY TO SUPPORT OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS HERE.

WORKFORCE TRAINING.

THIS YEAR WILL BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT REAUTHORIZING THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT.

THAT'S THE REAUTHORIZATION OF A NUMBER OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT FUND THINGS SUCH AS ALAMO WORK SOURCE HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDITS.

THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A CORRECTION BILL TO CLEAN UP SOME OF THE TAX REFORMS. WE WOULD BE UP THERE ADVOCATING FOR TAX CREDITS FOR THOSE WHO HIRE EMPLOYEES OR CREATE BUSINESSES IN VULNERABLE AREAS.

WE ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR HISTORIC TAX CREDITS.

A NUMBER OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BENEFITED.

AND WE CONTINUE TO WANT TO SEE CONGRESS CREATE A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR DACA, FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO THIS COUNTRY THROUGH NO DECISION OF THEIR OWN AND TO GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO EARN LAWFUL STATUS.

WE ARE OPPOSED -- IN OPPOSITION TO A PUBLIC CHARGE EXPANSION.

PUBLIC CHARGE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A FEDERAL RULE FOR A LONG TIME AND ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT SOMEONE WHO IS PRIMARILY DEPENDENT ON PUBLIC BENEFITS WILL HAVE THAT CONSIDERED WHEN THEY APPLY FOR PERMANENT LAWFUL STATUS.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED EXPANDING THAT SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND WE HAVE GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, CHIP AND MEDICAID BEING USED AGAINST SOMEONE WHO MIGHT GAIN PUBLIC STATUS, PERMANENT LAWFUL CITIZEN STATUS.

WE'RE NOT ALONE.

CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE WEIGHED IN.

THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, HAS SEVERAL HUNDRED MAYORS, INCLUDING OURS, WHO HAVE SIGNED ON THEIR OPPOSITION AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXPRESS HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT US AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WE WANT TO SUPPORT ANTI-TRAFFICKING AND SMUGGLING FUNDING.

OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND HAS USED FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT IDENTIFYING TRAFFICKING AND SMUGGLING.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS. WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL

[01:00:01]

PARTNERS, THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER AND OTHERS, AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT THOSE PROGRAMS. SAME WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

THE COUNTY RECEIVED THREE DIFFERENT OPIOID GRANTS THROUGH THE OPIOID TASK FORCE THAT IS A CITY-COUNTY INITIATIVE.

HOMELESS PREVENTION.

YOU ALL HAVE DISCUSSED THAT AT B SESSION SIGNIFICANTLY IN OUR HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH SAPD TO IDENTIFY FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT WE COULD PURSUE UNDER THE NEXT CONGRES.

AND OUR MIXES -- MISSIONS HAVE A $7.5 MILLION OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, TO HAVE THOSE ADDRESSED AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO SO.

AND THEN UNDER AIR QUALITY.

WE WILL SUPPORT ANY POLICIES, PROGRAMS, OR FUNDING THAT WILL HELP US TO GET BACK IN ATTAINMENT.

WE ALL KNOW THE CHALLENGE WE'RE FACING AND THE 2020 DEADLINE.

AND THEN UNDER BROWN FIELDS, WE CONTINUE TO FACE CHALLENGES WITH SITES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY RIPE FOR REDEVELOPMENT BUT HAVE CLEAN UP NEEDS.

WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SOME YEARS IN THE PAST OF SECURING GRANTS AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THOSE, BOTH IN THE ASSESSMENT, IDENTIFYING WHAT THE CLEAN UP NEEDS ARE, AS WELL AS THE CLEAN UP ITSELF, WHICH ARE THE MORE COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO PURSUE.

AND THEN GENERALLY OUR PROTECTION OF MUNICIPAL STATEMENT SAYS WE'LL SUPPORT REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATIONS THAT CLEARLY BENEFIT THE CITY AND COMMUNITY AND OPPOSE THOSE THAT WOULD BE ADVERSE TO SAN ANTONIO.

THIS GIVES US FLEXIBILITY TO WEIGH IN ON ISSUES THAT MAY NOT BE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT IN THE PROGRAM NOW.

BUT WE DO SO WITH CLEAR COMMUNICATION WITH OUR IGR COMMITTEE AND DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL WHEN NECESSARY.

OUR PARTNERSHIPS FALL UNDER THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

OUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, DELEGATE AGENCIES, HIGHER ED COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH ALL OF THEM.

WE HAVE SOUGHT THEIR INPUT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR FEDERAL PROGRAM.

SO LONG AS THEIR PRIORITIES DON'T CONFLICT WITH OURS, WHICH THEY RARELY DO, WE EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THEIR INITIATIVES AND PLEDGE TO WORK WITH THEM.

AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE VERY BRIEFLY, COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS ARE COMING OUT AS WE SPEAK.

WE'VE HAD TWO POSITIVE BENEFITS.

WE'VE HAD A HOUSE MEMBER ON APPROPRIATION HAS BEEN IN A GREAT POSITION ON ESSENTIALLY THE FUNDING COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE.

A REPUBLICAN AND A DEMOCRAT, WHICH WE HOPE TO USE TO OUR ADVANTAGE FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.

AND THEN IN THE SENATE, BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP THERE, SENATOR CRUZ HAS BEEN APPOINTED THE CHAIR OF THE AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE.

THAT'S THE TRANSPORTATION AND AVIATION COMMITTEE.

SO WE HAVE HIM IN A SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ON AVIATION ISSUES.

AND SO WITH THAT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, JEFF.

ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

JACK FINGER.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY, IN A CITY OF A MILLION AND A HALF PEOPLE I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE TIME TO COME UP HERE AND DO THIS STUFF.

MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER, YOUR ILLUSTRIOUS UNDOCUMENTED GADFLY.

YES.

LOOKING THROUGH THE BACK UP DOCUMENTS I HAVE SEEN ALL THESE ITEMS THAT YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL WISH TO PRESENT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND, EVEN FOR THAT MATTER, THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

I LOOKED AT SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

SOME OF THEM ARE OKAY.

SOME OF THEM I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT.

AND OTHERS I REALLY DO HAVE ISSUES FOR.

I GUESS WHAT THAT YOU ARE SPENDING MONEY ON TAX PAID LOBBYISTS FOR THESE FEDERAL INITIATIVES, OUR DOLLARS, TO PROMOTE CERTAIN THINGS THAT, WELL, I FIND VERY -- AT THE VERY LEAST CONCERNING.

YEAH.

YOU THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU THE CITY GOVERNMENT, WHEN THE FEDS COME DOWN AND SAY, SAN ANTONIO, STOP BEING A SANCTUARY CITY.

YOU COME RIGHT BACK AND SAY, OH, NO, MR. PRESIDENT, ALL YOU FEDERAL OFFICIALS, WE'RE NOT A SANCTUARY CITY.

OH, NO.

WE HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING LIKE THAT OFFICIALLY AT ALL.

YET IN YOUR VERY OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDBOOKS YOU TELL THE OFFICERS NOT TO QUESTION SUCH QUESTIONABLE INDIVIDUALS.

AND I HOLD HERE IN MY HOT LITTLE HANDS SOMETHING YOU JUST PRESENTED A MOMENT AGO,

[01:05:02]

INFORMATION THAT PRETTY MUCH PROVES IT THERE.

YES, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, BLOW UP THAT CIRCLED AREA DOWN BELOW THERE.

YEAH.

HERE'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE WANTING TO TELL THE FEDS ABOUT.

DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS.

SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL ACTION THAT ENABLES UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME TO THE U.S. -- SHIFT OVER A LITTLE BIT.

AS CHILDREN TO EARN LAWFUL STATUS.

YOU KNOW, I GET A LITTLE UPSET WHEN I SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE LINE OVER OTHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO PLAY BY THE RULES.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY HAS A RULE ON THE BOOKS, MAYBE LONG IGNORED, THAT SAYS PEOPLE COMING TO THE U.S., THEY CAN'T AUTOMATICALLY GET BENEFITS.

THEY HAVE TO SHOW SOME NEED TO IT AND ALSO SOME WILLINGNESS NOT TO BE A PUBLIC CHARGE.

MEANING THAT WE SUPPORT THEM.

LOWER, IF YOU WOULD, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN THE PUBLIC CHARGE RULE.

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY NOT TO INCLUDE PARTICIPATION, ET CETERA, ET CETERA FOR BENEFITS THAT WOULD WEIGH AGAINST AN INTENDING IMMIGRANT.

YEAH.

WEIGH AGAINST AN INTEND IMMIGRANT AS RELATED TO THE PUBLIC CHARGE RULE.

PLEASE RETURN THE CAMERA .

THIS SHOWS TO ME THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OR CITY GOVERNMENT REALLY ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED WHEN IT COMES TO SUCH THINGS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU TO JEFF, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS DOCUMENT WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE.

THE ONLY FORGIVENESS I WILL ASK IS OF COUNCILMAN HALL WHO HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE FEDERAL AGENDA, BUT I HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SKIM THROUGH.

AND IF NOT, I HOPE YOU'LL AGREE THAT WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS COVER AS MANY BASES AS POSSIBLE WITH REGARD TO WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BRING SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE ENHANCING THE WORK THAT WE DO AS INTERAGENCIES, AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

IN THE WORST CASE WE MIGHT HINDER SOME OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING HERE LOCALLY.

YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, EXAMPLES THAT WE CAN POINT TO WITH REGARD TO BEING ABLE AND PREPARED FOR DISASTERS, BODY CAMERA ENHANCEMENTS THAT WERE AFFORDED BY GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SOME FEDERAL GRANTS THAT HAVE HELPED US WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AND A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE WANT TO TAKE INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALSO GOING TO JOIN US FOR THE SA TO D.C. TRIP WHEN WE MEET WITH OUR DELEGATION AND OTHER MEMBERS OF DELEGATIONS WHO ARE CHAIRS AND SITTING RANKING MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES WHO HAVE HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUPPORTING OR NOT SUPPORTING.

IN THE EVENT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OPENS AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S MIND GOING UP TO D.C.

HERE PRETTY SOON.

WE HAVE TRIED OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE REFLECT THE WANTS AND THE NEEDS OF THIS COUNCIL AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANY COMMENTS FROM THOSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS I KNOW WHO MAY NOT SIT ON THE IGR COMMITTEE, THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, MIGHT WANT TO WEIGH IN TOO.

BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO FEEDBACK IN GETTING THIS TO OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, JEFF AND THE TEAM AND SALLY FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK.

AND CARLOS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU HEARD SOME OF OUR CONCERNS TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKFORCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS PART OF THE PRIORITIES.

SO WITH OUR WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

ONE THING TO NOTE TOO WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN AND WITH THE IMPACT, IF YOU COULD SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN AND THE IMPACT.

BECAUSE THIS IS LONGER THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD.

AND THE GRAVITY AND THE SERIOUSNESS THAT THIS HAS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR CITIZENS.

COULD YOU PLEASE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> SURE.

LET ME BREAK THOSE INTO TWO CATEGORIES.

THE IMPACT ON OUR AS AN ORGANIZATION AND THE IMPACT ON FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

JUSTINA TATE AND THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET SENT A MEMO OUT RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY IN ANTICIPATION OF THE SHUT DOWN.

AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S GONE ON MUCH LONGER THAN I THINK ANYONE WOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED.

WE HAVE A NEW MEMO READY TO RELEASE TO YOU ALL, TO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ'S REQUEST, THAT THE IGR COMMITTEE TO DEMONSTRATE THE CASCADING EFFECT OF THE IMPACT.

WE AS AN ORGANIZATION RECEIVE $128 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING ANNUALLY.

ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT, $31.5 MILLION IS FUNDED FROM AGENCIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE SHUT DOWN.

SO IT'S A PARTIAL SHUT DOWN.

THERE ARE 12 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.

SEVEN OF THEM -- I'M SORRY, FIVE OF THEM PASSED THROUGH THE CONGRESS.

SEVEN OF THEM HAVE NOT.

SO IT'S THE FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT FALL UNDER THOSE BILLS THAT

[01:10:02]

ARE IMPACTED.

IN EACH OF THOSE CASES WE'RE STILL RECEIVING AN ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE FEDERAL FUNDING WE USE FOR OUR PROGRAMS. IN MANY CASE THEY WERE FUNDED IN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.

BUT THE TIMELINE ON THOSE IS STARTING TO COME UPON US.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, HUD-FUNDED GRANTS.

WE DON'T EXPECT AN IMPACT UNTIL APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

BUT HUD IS NOT THERE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND APPROVAL OF NEW HOUSING -- OF NEW PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, WE WOULD POTENTIALLY BE ON HOLD SHOULD WE SEEK THEIR APPROVAL FOR NEW PROJECTS.

OUR WIC PROGRAM FUNDS -- LET ME SEE, 32,000 WOMEN, INFANT, AND CHILDREN ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WE HAVE 84 POSITIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THAT.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT.

BUT IF THIS SHUT DOWN EXTENDS BEYOND FEBRUARY 28TH WE WOULD BE IN A POSITION OF POTENTIALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

OUR COPS HIRING GRANT IS PAID OUT QUARTERLY AND THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH JANUARY 31ST, BUT THERE COULD BE A DELAY IN REIMBURSEMENTS IF WE EXTEND BEYOND THAT.

AND THEN SORT OF OUTSIDE OF THE CITY THERE ARE ALMOST 300,000 SNAP RECIPIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANT PROGRAM.

THAT ALSO WILL RUN THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH AT THIS POINT.

BUT IF WE GO BEYOND THAT, THERE COULD BE SOME SO WE ARE WATCHING THIS WITH CONCERN ABOUT SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.

NOW, OUTSIDE OF THE CITY ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE MANY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE ALL SORT OF SUPPORTED BY THE ALAMO EXECUTIVE -- FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD, WHICH IS A LOCAL SORT OF COORDINATING BODY FOR ALL THE FEDERAL AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM.

THEY ARE PREPARING COMMUNICATIONS TO FEDERAL WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN FURLOUGHED HERE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.

AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IS WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY OFFERS THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THEM AS THEY CONTINUE TO GO WITHOUT PAYCHECKS.

SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM AND CERTAINLY KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING OVERALL WITH THE SHUT DOWN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JEFF, FOR THAT UPDATE.

AND I KNOW ONE OTHER THING THAT WE HAD PUT A RESOLUTION FORWARD AS A COUNCIL BODY WAS REJECT THAT CITIZENSHIP QUESTION ON THE CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRE.

AND THAT HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY A FEDERAL JUDGE.

>> RIGHT.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CENSUS BUREAU AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER THE PROPOSAL TO ADD A CITIZENSHIP QUESTION TO THE CENSUS.

YOU RECALL WE BROUGHT A RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU ALL AND APPROVED IT IN THE PAST.

ONE OF THOSE LAWSUITS WAS RULED ON BY A NEW YORK JUDGE THIS WEEK.

ESSENTIALLY SAYING NO THAT THAT CITIZENSHIP QUESTION CAN'T BE USED BECAUSE THE PROPER PROCESS WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED TO GET THERE.

IN OTHER WORDS, TESTING AND RESEARCHING WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE IN TERMS OF PEOPLE RESPONDING.

WE EXPECT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL APPEAL THAT, AND IT COULD MAKE ITS WAY ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT.

BUT THAT'S ONE DEVELOPMENT IN ONE OF THE SUITS.

WE MADE CLEAR TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION THAT WE'RE OPPOSED TO IT PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE WON'T PARTICIPATE.

WE'VE ALREADY GOT A GREAT CHALLENGE AHEAD OF US IN GETTING PEOPLE TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.

WE'RE GOING TO INVEST SIGNIFICANT LOCAL MONEY IN GETTING THE WORD OUT AND GETTING PEOPLE COUNTED AS PART OF THE CENSUS AND WE DON'T WANT ANY OBSTACLES TO DOING THAT.

>> VIAGRAN: JUSTINA.

>> I'M JUSTINA TATE THE BUDGET DIRECTOR.

AND I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE WIC FUNDING.

WE A CONFIRMATION E-MAIL FROM THE STATE THAT WE WILL HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE THROUGH THE END OF MARCH.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

THANK YOU TO OUR CHAIRMAN COUNCILMAN SALDANA AND EVERYONE IN IGR AND TO ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

I THINK IT REALLY SHOWS US WORKING TOGETHER AS A CITY AND NOTHING WE CAN'T STOP.

AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ON.

SO LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING OUR ISSUES AND OUR PRIORITIES UP TO OUR DELEGATION INTO D.C.

SO WITH THAT, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 6.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.

QUICKLY, JEFF, ITEM NO. 15 TODAY IS ABOUT A NEW PROJECT THAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING FOR K-9 FOR WARRIORS.

MY REQUEST IS THAT YOU AND SALLY

[01:15:02]

AND HEBER PUT YOUR HEADS TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO GO AFTER ANY FEDERAL MONEY OR ANY STATE MONEY.

BUT IF THERE'S ANY GOVERNMENT FUNDS THAT MIGHT HELP SUPPORT THAT AND MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

WE WILL DO THAT.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, JEFF.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR WORKING WITH ME AND ALL THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED, AND TO THE IGR COMMITTEE FOR TAKING SOME OF MY INPUT ON THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

GREAT WORK, JEFF, SALLY, AND TO THE IGR COMMITTEE.

LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THEM SEE US COMING.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 6.

PLEASE VOTE.

[15. Ordinance approving a 10 year Lease Agreement with K9s For Warriors, a 501(c) nonprofit organization, for $1 per year with a renewal option for two additional 5 year terms and an option to purchase the land located adjacent to the City’s Animal Care Services campus on 4710 Highway 151 for the use of operating a facility to rescue and train 200 local qualifying dogs per year as services animals for adoption and placement with Disabled American Military Veterans. [María Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Heber Lefgren, Director, Animal Care Services]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 15.

>> ITEM NO. 15 IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A 10-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH K9S FOR WARRIORS, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO BUILD AND OPERATE A FACILITY ADJACENT TO THE CITY'S ANIMAL CARE SERVICES FACILITY FOR THE USE OF RESCUING AND TRAINING DOGS FROM ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AS SERVICE ANIMALS FOR ADOPTION AND PLACEMENT WITH DISABLED AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS WITH OPTIONS TO RENEW FOR TWO ADDITIONAL FIVE-YEAR TERMS AND TO PURCHASE THE LAND LOCATED ON 4710 HIGHWAY 151 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

PRIOR TO THE PRESENTATION ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY.

FROM K-9S FOR WARRIORS, THE ORGANIZATION WE ARE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH, WE HAVE RORY DIAMOND, C.E.O., AS WELL AS BRETT SIMONS, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF K-9S.

ALSO HIDING BEHIND THE CHAIRS, LINCOLN, WHO IS A GRADUATE OF ONE OF THEIR PROGRAMS, A RECENT GRADUATE.

WE ALSO HAVE HERE TODAY WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM THE PETCO FOUNDATION.

SUE COSBY, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF LIFE-SAVING OPERATIONS, AND THEY ARE REPRESENTING THE SUPPORT THAT PETCO HAS FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP.

WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM OUR ADVISORY ADVISORY BOARD.

WE HAVE RITA, THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 4, AS WELL AS OUR CHAIR.

WE HAVE HERE SUSAN BELDON, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT 9, AND KAREN SPEARS, OUR SECRETARY OF THE BOARD.

SO THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH K-9S FOR WARRIORS IS AN ORGANIZATION LOCATED NEAR JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

THEY RESCUE PETS FROM SHELTERS.

THEY SPEND ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TRAINING THOSE PETS TO BECOME SERVICE ANIMALS FOR INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM PTSD OR OTHER SIMILAR ILLNESSES.

AND THEN THEY WILL SPEND ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS WITH THE VETERANS, THE MILITARY VETERANS, SELECTED MILITARY VETERANS TO TEACH THEM HOW TO EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE THE CANINES THAT ARE PAIRED AND PARTNERED WITH THEM.

K-9S FOR WARRIORS CURRENTLY HAS MORE QUALIFIED VETERANS APPLYING FOR THEIR PROGRAM THAN THEY HAVE THE QUANTITY OF DOGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE, WE MET WITH THE K-9S FOR WARRIORS ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

WE WERE INTRODUCED.

K-9S FOR WARRIORS, THEY DO NOT E FOR THOSE WHO PARTNER, THE VETERANS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.

WE MET WITH THEM ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND WHEN THEY INDICATED, HEY, WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE QUALIFYING FOR THE PROGRAM THAN WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF PETS, I REMINDED THEM THAT I HAVE PLENTY OF THEM.

SO K-9S FOR WARRIORS, THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE PETCO FOUNDATION, WHICH IS HERE TODAY.

THEY HAVE ALSO PARTNERED WITH PURDUE UNIVERSITY OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF THEIR PROGRAM.

THE STUDY WAS PRODUCED OR WAS MADE AVAILABLE LAST YEAR.

AT WHICH POINT THE STUDY DEMONSTRATED THAT 92% OF PARTICIPANTS OF THEIR PROGRAM WERE ABLE TO EITHER REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE MEDICATION AFTER GRADUATION OF THE PROGRAM.

THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE ABLE TO ATTEND WORK OR SCHOOL ROSE FROM ONLY 20% TO NEARLY 50% AFTER GRADUATION.

[01:20:02]

AND 75% OF THE PARTICIPANTS WHO FELT THAT PTSD PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THEIR ABILITY TO ENJOY LIFE, STOPPED EXPRESSING THAT CONCERN AFTER GRADUATION.

THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE PROCESS OF THIS PARTNERSHIP, WE DID DO A DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW AND SHOWED THE ORGANIZATION AND STRONG FINANCIAL STANDING WITH NO NEGATIVE FINDINGS FROM FINANCIAL OR LEGAL REVIEWS.

SO K-9S FOR WARRIORS, AS I MENTIONED, THEY CAME AND APPROACHED US LAST YEAR TO TALK ABOUT A PILOT PROGRAM WITH OUR ORGANIZATION.

THE PARTNERSHIP WOULD INCLUDE K-9S FOR WARRIORS INITIALLY BUILDING A HOLDING FACILITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH THE INTENT TO PULL PETS FROM OUR SHELTER, TRANSPORT THEM TO THEIR FLORIDA LOCATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM.

THE INITIAL REQUEST INCLUDED ACS PROVIDING THE QUALIFIED RESCUE DOGS.

A QUALIFIED RESCUE DOG IS A DOG OVER 50 POUNDS.

THAT IS OVER 22 INCHES TALL AS WELL AS IS ROUGHLY AROUND TWO YEARS OF AGE.

FOR COMPARISON, WHEN WE DID A QUICK ANALYSIS TO LOOK INTERNALLY, THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 3,000 DOGS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR CAMPUS EACH YEAR.

THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE ON IDENTIFYING A LOCATION WHERE THEY CAN BUILD THE FACILITY.

AND AS WE WERE TAKING A LOOK AT IT, RIGHT NEXT TO OUR FACILITY WE HAVE ABOUT 3.3 ACRES OF UNUSED AND UNDEVELOPED LAND THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO OUR CAMPUS.

SO AS WE LOOKED AT IT, THE GOAL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP IS TO EVENTUALLY, AS WE PROCEEDED, TO GROW THE ORGANIZATION TO WHERE THE FACILITY OR K-9S FOR WARRIORS CAN PROVIDE EVEN MORE SERVICES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

SO WHAT'S COMING TO YOU TODAY FOR YOUR APPROVAL IS A PROPOSED LEASE WITH K-9S FOR WARRIORS.

THE TERMS OF THE LEASE CONSIST FOR A TEN-YEAR PERIOD, LEASE OF THE PROPERTY JUST SOUTH OF OUR MAIN FACILITY.

I PROVIDED A MAP SHOWING YOU THE PROPOSED AREA.

THE UNDEVELOPED AREA.

THE LEASE WOULD BE FOR TEN YEARS WITH TWO FIVE-YEAR OPTIONS TO RENEW AT A CHARGE OF A DOLLAR A YEAR.

INCLUDED IN THE LEASE IS THE OPTION FOR K-9S FOR WARRIORS TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AT FAIR MARKET VALUE AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE.

K-9S FOR WARRIORS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM.

AND THAT ONCE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE, K-9S FOR WARRIORS WILL BE PULLING 200 QUALIFIED DOGS FROM OUR FACILITY EVERY YEAR.

THE PROPOSED TIMELINE, WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, TODAY WITH THE LEASE, WE PRESENT TO YOU THE APPROVAL OF THE LEASE.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THAT K-9S FOR WARRIORS WILL BEGIN A PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING AND SELECTING STAFF AUDIO] FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO START PULLING FROM ACS.

WE ANTICIPATE OR K-9S FOR WARRIORS ANTICIPATES TO BE ABLE TO DO THE DESIGN AND THE PREPARATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SO THAT CONSTRUCTION CAN BEGIN IN THE WINTER OF 2019 WITH THE INTENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPLETED BY THE SUMMER OF 2020.

COUNCILMEN, AT THIS TIME WE WOULD PROPOSE OUR RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE WITH A TEN-YEAR LEASE WITH TWO ADDITIONAL FIVE-YEAR TERMS AND THE OPTION TO BUY FOR K-9S FOR WARRIORS FOR THE 3.3 ACRES OF UNUSED AND UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY LOCATED SOUTH OF OUR FACILITY.

I, AS WELL AS K-9S FOR WARRIORS ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, HEBER.

WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

I'LL CALL HER NOW.

SUSAN COSBY.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SUSAN COSBY AND I BOTH LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT 6.

AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING NOT JUST MYSELF AS A RESIDENT, BUT ALSO THE PETCO FOUNDATION WHERE I AM THE DIRECTOR OF LIFE-SAVING PROGRAMS OVERSEEING OUR GRANT MAKING.

I'M HERE TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ACS AND THE LEASE OF PROPERTY FOR K-9S FOR WARRIORS.

THE PETCO FOUNDATION IS A STRONG BELIEVER IN THE MISSION OF K-9S FOR WARRIORS AND AS SUCH WE HAVE RECENTLY COMMITTED A $2 MILLION INVESTMENT TO FURTHER THEIR ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY.

THE PROJECT WILL IMPORTANTLY SAVE THE LIVES OF DOGS WHO FIND THEMSELVES HOMELESS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

BUT ALSO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR VALUED VETERANS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR SERVICE TO OUR NEED AND OUR NEED FOR SERVICE ANIMALS AT A GREATER RATE THAN THOSE ANIMALS ARE AVAILABLE.

[01:25:01]

AND THEY DESERVE OUR ONGOING SUPPORT.

SO AS A RESIDENT, HAVING K-9S FOR WARRIORS OPERATING LOCATION IN OUR GREAT MILITARY CITY, USA IS AN IDEAL LOCATION IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR HOMELESS ANIMALS, OUR VETERANS, AND SOMETHING WE CAN ALL BE VERY PROUD OF.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. COSBY.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.

HEBER, IT'S GOOD THAT THERE'S A PODIUM AND A DAIS BETWEEN US BECAUSE I'M THIS CLOSE TO JUST COMING OVER THERE AND KISSING YOU ON THE LIPS.

YOU'RE FANTASTIC AND I THINK WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS AMAZING.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU TOOK UP A CHALLENGE AND YOU DELIVERED IN A WAY THAT EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS.

FOR EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM, COUNCILMAN SALDANA REMINDED ME THAT I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT INNOVATION AND THAT I USE THAT WORD OFTEN.

LET ME JUST REMIND FOLKS, INNOVATION DOES NOT MEAN TECH CYBERSECURITY, SCOOTERS, TRACKLESS THINGS LIKE THAT.

INNOVATION SIMPLY MEANS FINDING NEW WAYS TO SOLVE OLD PROBLEMS. AND ONE OF OUR OLD PROBLEMS IS THAT WE'VE NEVER REALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO MOVE THE SAN ANTONIO BROWN SPECIAL, WHICH IS THE DOG YOU MOST COMMONLY -- IT'S A NEW BREED, BY THE WAY, RORY.

IT'S A SAN ANTONIO BROWN SPECIAL.

OUT OF YOUR SHELTER AND INTO FOREVER HOMES.

AND YOU'VE INNOVATED WITH THE HELP OF K-9S FOR WARRIORS AND RORY DIAMOND, A NEW WAY.

THOSE DOGS NEED HOMES AS MUCH AS THE CUTE PUPPIES DO.

AND, MAN, I THINK THERE'S ONE OF THOSE BIG MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVE OUT THAT SAN ANTONIO DOES THINGS BIG AND SAN ANTONIO DOES THINGS RIGHT.

BUT THAT WE'RE SUPER CREATIVE WHEN WE FIND SOLUTIONS.

AND I'M ALSO VERY PROUD THAT THE END CUSTOMER IS GOING TO BE THE WARRIORS WHO NEED THIS HELP THE MOST.

SO, WITH THAT, PETCO, HIGH-FIVE.

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME AND YOU DESERVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND A LOT OF THANKS.

I LOVE YOU GUYS.

THE THIRD THING I'LL MENTION, AND I'LL BE QUIET, IS THIS GROUP OUT OF FLORIDA, THIS IS BECAUSE OF A FRIENDSHIP THAT I ENDED UP FORGING WITH A GENTLEMAN NAMED RORY DIAMOND.

RORY, CAN YOU COME UP HERE REAL QUICK? RORY IS A CITY COUNCILMAN-ELECT FOR JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

HE JUST GOT ELECTED AND HE ASSUMES HIS SEAT AND GETS SWORN IN IN JULY.

AND HE REMINDED ME THAT SAN ANTONIO AND JACKSONVILLE ARE VERY SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS.

BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS IS WE'VE GOT A VERY SERIOUS HOMELESS PROBLEM.

A VERY SERIOUS VETERAN, WOUNDED PTSD PROBLEM OVER THERE AND WE'RE TRYING TO TACKLE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO TACKLE.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME TWO SISTERS WITH A SIMILAR PROGRAM ARE LOOKING AT A WAY TO SOLVING A PROBLEM, THERE'S GOT TO BE OTHER WAYS FOR US TO DO IT.

MY INVITATION TO YOU IS LET'S FIND A WAY TO DO SOME INTERGOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION TO SOLVE OLD PROBLEMS IN NEW WAYS.

THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU SO

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING PUT THIS TOGETHER AND RORY, WELCOME HERE TO SAN ANTONIO, AND IT'S GREAT WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING THERE IN JACKSONVILLE.

I JUST WANT TO ADD MY TWO CENTS' WORTH ON THIS.

YES, IT'S GREAT TO HELP OUT OUR -- OUR ANIMAL SITUATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT TO ME THAT'S -- THAT'S NOT THE IMPORTANT PART.

TO ME IT'S ALL ABOUT THE VETERANS, AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM PTSD, AND WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN HERE IN THIS CITY TO HELP THEM, AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO THAT.

AND I AM VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE.

I WAS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL AT FIRST ABOUT HOW THIS WORKED, BUT LOOKING AT THE FINANCIALS OVER THE YEARS AND A VERY STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION AND THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING IS THE RIGHT THING, AND THAT'S WHY I'M VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST MILITARY POPULATIONS HERE IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT OUR VETERANS, OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS, OUR FOLKS THAT ARE SUFFERING OUT THERE, WE NEED TO BE DOING THAT HERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS OPERATION HERE TO SAN ANTONIO AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH Y'ALL EVEN MORE CLOSELY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.

COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO ADD MY APPRECIATION.

I'LL START AT THE TOP WITH HEBER, AND, YOU KNOW, THE INITIATIVE THAT YOU TOOK WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS TO GO AHEAD AND BRING THIS TO

[01:30:01]

FRUITION.

RORY, IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION WANTS TO PARTNER WITH US HERE.

I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND MY BOARD MEMBER, SUSAN BELDON, FOR MAKING ME AWARE OF THIS AND, YOU KNOW, BEING SO SUPPORTIVE WITH ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND WE NEED TO THANK THE PETCO CORPORATION, THE FOUNDATION, FOR BEING SUCH A STRONG FINANCIAL SUPPORTER, TO REALLY HELP PUT ALL THESE PIECES TOGETHER.

SO OBVIOUSLY IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE MYSELF.

I'M A VETERAN, AND I WAS A K-9 HANDLER, A DOG HANDLER.

I KNOW THE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT ALL OF US HAVE WITH DOGS, WHETHER WORKING DOGS, WHETHER THEY'RE SUPPORT ANIMALS, WHETHER THEY'RE JUST PETS, AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS STEP TO GIVE A LOT MORE ANIMALS A REAL FOREVER HOME AND TO HELP A LOT OF VETS.

ONE THING I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, RORY, IS THAT WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT'S BEGINNING TO TREAT MILITARY PEOPLE WITH PTSD GOING THROUGH THE LAUREL RIDGE TREATMENT CENTER, WHICH IS IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT 9.

THEY ARE JUST EXPANDING THEIR PROGRAM NOW TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL TREATMENT CENTER THAT'S GOING TO TREAT PARTICULARLY PTSD, AND I THINK THAT THAT COULD BE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP, BECAUSE I KNOW RIGHT NOW WE'RE STARTING A FACILITY THAT WILL BE HELPING TO TRANSFER, BUT EVENTUALLY YOU HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A FACILITY WHERE YOU CAN TRAIN RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND MAYBE WHEN THAT COMES TO FRUITION IT COULD TIE RIGHT INTO THE WORK THAT LAUREL RIDGE IS DOING ON HELPING THE MILITARY WITH PTSD.

SO YOU MAY WANT TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT DEVELOPING AN MORE IN-DEPTH PARTNERSHIP SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE WHEN WE THINK THESE PIECES CAN GO TOGETHER BETTER.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU FOR A MINUTE OR TWO.

GIVE US SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR ORGANIZATION HOPES TO DO.

>> HAPPY TO DO IT.

I WILL SAY THIS.

IT'S MUCH MORE FUN LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THESE SUITS THAN THOSE SEATS.

[CHUCKLE] , SO IT'S A LOT EASIER OVER HERE.

K9S FOR WARRERS HAVE THE NATION'S LARGEST PROVIDER OF SERVICE DOGS TO DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS.

WE'RE ALSO THE WORLD'S LARGEST SERVICE DOG AGENCY THAT'S WORKING PRIMARILY WITH RESCUE DOGS.

WE KIND OF HIT OUR CEILING IN FLORIDA, OUR HOME STATE, AND WE LOOKED AROUND FOR WHERE WE COULD GO NEXT WITH OUR FIRST OUT OF FLORIDA PHYSICAL STRUCTURE.

TEXAS MADE THE MOST SENSE.

THERE'S A LOT OF RESCUE DOGS AVAILABLE IN TEXAS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF VETERANS.

SO THAT WAS A NO-BRAINER FOR US.

WE DID A SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE LOOKED AT CITIES THAT HAVE LOSING FOOTBALL TEAMS RIGHT NOW, AND -- BUT SAN ANTONIO ALWAYS CAME TO THE TOP OF OUR LIST, AND COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ MADE THIS REAL EASY FOR US.

HE ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET ON OUR FIRST VISIT AND THEN WE MET MR. LEFGREN, WHO'S BEEN INCREDIBLE TO WORK WITH.

I WILL SAY THIS, AS SOMEBODY WHO WORKS IN CITY GOVERNMENT, YOURS MADE THIS A VERY EASY DECISION, ANSWERED CALLS, EMAILS, CONCERNS, GAVE US TOURS.

THAT'S TESTAMENT TO THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUR CITY AND THE GREAT TEAM AT ACS.

OUR PLAN IS TO ESSENTIALLY FOR THE NEXT YEAR ENGAGE THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY TO LOOK FOR VOLUNTEERS, TO LOOK FOR CHAMPIONS, LOOK FOR DONORS, AND THAT'S ALL ANCHORED BY THE INCREDIBLE GENEROSITY OF THE PETCO FOUNDATION.

I MEAN, WHEN I WENT TO MY BOARD AND TOLD THEM THAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT DOING THIS IN SAN ANTONIO, THEY WERE -- THEY WERE NERVOUS AT FIRST, AND THEN I SAID, THE PETCO FUNCTION IS DOWN THE STREET AND THEY GAVE US $2 MILLION.

AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET FOR US.

WE CAN DO THIS WITH THIS TEAM.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I WILL SAY, JACKSONVILLE AND SAN ANTONIO ARE VERY SIMILAR CITIES.

WE HAVE COMMUNITIES WITH LOTS OF VETERANS AND THE LOVE FOR VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU JUST FEEL, WE HEAR IT, WE SEE IT.

PEOPLE YELL AT US ON THE STREET AND SAY THANK YOU WHEN WE WEAR OUR K9S FOR WARRIORS GEAR.

WE FEEL AT HOME WE'RE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO ENGAGE EACH OF YOU ON THE K9S FOR WARRIORS FOR SAN ANTONIO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO?

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED AS WELL, ROY, THANK YOU, HEBER, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN AND MANNY, THANKS FOR ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET WHEREVER YOU ARE.

I WAS GIVEN A COUPLE OF QUOTES TODAY TO QUOTE MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND I THINK HERE'S ONE THAT'S REALLY APPROPRIATE.

IT SAYS, NEVER, NEVER BE AFRAID TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, ESPECIALLY IF THE WELL-BEING A PERSON OR ANIMAL IS AT STAKE.

SOCIETY'S PUNISHMENTS ARE SMALL COMPARED TO THE WOUNDS WE INFLICT ON OUR SOUL WHEN WE LOOK THE OTHER WAY.

I THINK IT'S APROPOS TODAY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER, WHO IS A DISABLED VETERAN, AND HE HAS A WONDERFUL DOG NAMED HANS, WHOM HE TREATS A LOT BETTER THAN HIS OWN BROTHER.

[LAUGHTER] BUT THAT'S -- THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

IT'S A GREAT DOG, HAS REALLY

[01:35:02]

DONE WONDERS FOR MY BROTHER, AND I CAN ALSO SEE THAT YOU HAVE A BELGIUM DOG HERE AS WELL, WHICH I USED TO HAVE MYSELF, GREAT ANIMALS, GREAT DOGS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT I CERTAINLY SOMETHING I CAN ALWAYS SUPPORT, SO THANKS FOR COMING HERE TODAY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON PUTTING THIS PARTNERSHIP TOGETHER IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, OFFERING A GREAT DATING OPPORTUNITY THAT REALLY LED TO A MARRIAGE HERE THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF.

SO THANK YOU TO ERRY AND THE K-9 FOUNDATION FOR YOUR ROLE IN BEING HERE, HEBER, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT WITH US TODAY.

AND FOR SOME OF THESE BOARD MEMBERS, RORY, WHO, YOU KNOW, HAVE GOTTEN NEW EXPERIENCE, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND THE EVOLUTION OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE ARE SO PROUD TO HEAR YOU SAY IN YOUR COMMENTS THAT PART OF WHAT MADE THIS AN EASY DECISION FOR YOU WAS NOT ONLY THE RED CARPET THAT A FEW OF -- THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAD WITH COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, BUT YOU LOOKED TO THE PETCO FOUNDATION AS ALSO BEING FOLKS WHO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME, AND IT WAS NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT WE COULDN'T COUNT MORE THAN ONE OR TWO PARTNERSHIPS AT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, AND NOW I THINK THEY NUMBER INTO THE HALF DOZEN WITH TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES, WITH FOSTER OPPORTUNITIES, WITH THE PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTORS, AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M GRATEFUL TO LEADERSHIP AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL AND THE BOARD, WHO HAVE MADE SOME OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS REALLY POSSIBLE IN THE CASCADING SUCCESS.

IT SEEMS LIKE SUCCESS BEGETS MORE SUCCESS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT FOLKS WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHEN THEY LOOK AT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES IN SAN ANTONIO, AS SUCH A GREAT PLACE NOT JUST TO LIVE AND WORK AND RETIRE, NOT JUST A GREAT PLACE FOR VETERANS OR RETIRING VETERANS, BUT A GREAT PLACE FOR ANIMALS AND FOR OUR PETS, OUR DOGS AND CATS.

IT USED TO BE THAT WE WEREN'T THE BEST PLACE FOR PETS AND OUR HOMELESS PET PROBLEM WAS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, BUT BECAUSE OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS AND BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD AT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, HAS LED US TO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE ONE WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER WITH TODAY.

SO RORY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND FOR FILLING US IN ON HOW THIS CAME TO BE.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING HERE FOR ANIMAL AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND FOR THE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO WHO LOVES THEIR PETS.

>> GONZALES: WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM.

I'M REALLY FASCINATED BY THIS -- THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER.

AND I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AND I THINK YOU MADE THESE REMARKS IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT IS THIS PROGRAM ESPECIALLY FOR LARGE DOGS?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> GONZALES: AND YOU MENTIONED HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IS THAT A REAL STRICT -- I MEAN, OR IS IT -- AND WHY THE NEED FOR LARGE DOGS?

>> YEAH, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND --

>> SURE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, BRET SIMON, THE PRESIDENT OF K-9S, HE COULD GIVE YOU THE BEST ANSWER FOR THAT IF YOU DON'T MIND.

>> GONZALES: SURE.

>> THANK YOU.

ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE SELECTION OF THE LARGER DOGS IS FOR MOBILITY ISSUES, SO WE CAN HELP A WARRIOR GET OUT OF A CHAIR, OFF THE GROUND, SUPPORT WHEN THEY'RE WALKING.

SOME OF THEM HAVE THAT.

SO IF WE'RE USING A SMALLER DOG, THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE ISSUES SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF THE VETERAN.

SOME OF OUR GUYS AND GIRLS THAT COME THROUGH, YOU KNOW, ARE BIG.

WE HAD ONE OF THE GUYS FROM THE FORT HOOD SHOOTING, ALONZO LUNSFORD, HE'S 7' 4 --

>> WOW.

>> 6'9 AND ALMOST 400 POUNDS.

I HAD TO FIND A DOG THAT WAS 130 POUNDS TO SUPPORT HIS WEIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD MOBILITY ISSUES, SO THE SIZE OF THE DOG IS FOR THAT, FOR THE DOG ITSELF, SO THEY'RE PUSHING ON THEM, WE'RE NOT HURTING THE DOG.

>> GONZALES: THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR, BECAUSE I WAS INVOLVED IN THE RESCUE COMMUNITY HERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND BEFORE CHILDREN AND BEFORE COUNCIL I RESCUED ABOUT 30 DOGS THROUGH DIFFERENT AGENCIES, AND I WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO TAKE THE LARGER DOGS BECAUSE I WAS A RUNNER AND I COULD TAKE THEM OUT AND WAS WILLING TO EXERCISE THEM.

AND THE WONDERFUL -- MY MOST POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WAS WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS WHERE I ONLY HAD TO KEEP THEM FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND THEN YOU CAN RETURN THEM TO THE ORGANIZATION AND THEN THEY WOULD ALREADY HAVE A FOSTER IN PLACE.

SO IT WAS JUST A QUESTION OF GETTING THEM HEALTHY, TEACHING THEM TO DO A FEW THINGS LIKE HOUSE BREAKING AND WALKING ON A LEASH AND THAT SORT OF THING, WHICH AT THE TIME I HAD THE TIME AND EXPERIENCE TO DO.

SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE A NEED OR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SO THAT

[01:40:01]

PERHAPS -- YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING 200 TO 250 DOGS PER YEAR, WHICH IS A LOT.

IS THERE ROOM FOR MORE OF THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY IN A PROGRAM LIKE THIS ONE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HELP MILITARY VETERANS, THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

AND IF THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP THOSE DOGS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, PEOPLE MIGHT BE MORE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER.

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES, THE SAME AS WE DO IN OUR JACKSONVILLE CAMPUS.

MEDICAL FOSTERS.

SO IF WE FIND A DOG THAT'S IDENTIFIED THAT MAY HAVE HEARTWORM AND WE WANT TO TREAT THEM THROUGH THAT, THEN WE FIND A SHORT-TERM MEDICAL FOSTER FOR THAT.

SAME WITH MAYBE AN ACL SURGERY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FOSTERS THAT KEEP THEM FOR SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS, SOMETIMES SHORTER.

IF THEY'RE NOT RIGHT AT THE RIGHT AGE YET AND NEED TO GROW UP BEFORE THEY COME INTO A KENNEL ENVIRONMENT.

SO THERE IS GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED AND ASSIST WITH THESE DOGS, TO HELP OUR VETERANS.

>> GONZALES: GO AHEAD.

PLEASE --

>> JUST TO ADD TO THAT, WE SHOULD ALSO AT THE PETCO FOUNDATION K-9 CENTER, WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE DOGS THAT ARE THERE, NOT JUST FOSTERING BUT, YOU KNOW, KENNEL ENRICHMENT, PETTING THE DOGS, TAKING THEM OUT, LOVING ON THEM IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

>> GONZALES: WELL, WONDERFUL.

I THINK THAT HOWEVER, HEBER, YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION OUT, THAT THERE'S THAT POTENTIAL TO HELP WITH THIS PARTICULAR SET OF DOGS, BECAUSE IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, I IMAGINE IN AUDIO] BREEDS WERE THE HARDEST TO ADOPT OUT, AND ESPECIALLY BREEDS THAT WERE LIKE PITBULL BREEDS.

IS THAT THE CASE? DO YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR -- I MEAN, ARE ALL BREEDS WELCOME?

>> AS FAR AS SERVICE DOG INDUSTRY, THERE IS NO BREED RESTRICTION, ONCE A DOG IS TRAINED AS A SERVICE ANIMAL.

IT'S UP TO EACH ORGANIZATION.

WE DO HAVE PET BULL MIXES.

WE HAVE SOME PET BULLS COME THROUGH THE PROGRAM BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON IF THE DOG QUALIFIES THROUGH THE TEMPERAMENT TEST, SIZE, WEIGHT, TO GO INTO THE PROGRAM.

>> AND JUST FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, TYPICALLY WE DON'T DO THE MOST AGGRESSIVE-LOOKING DOGS AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS IF YOU HAVE A 6'5 MARINE WITH A SLEEVE TATTOO, PEOPLE MAY BE AFRAID TO APPROACH AND WE GIVE HIM A PITBULL, A REALLY AGGRESSIVE-LOOKING DOG PEOPLE WILL RUN AWAY.

IF WE GIVE HIM A GOLDEN RETRIEVER PEOPLE WILL IGNORE THIS AND RUN UP TO THEM.

THAT'S THE GOAL, TO INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY.

SO WE TAKE THAT ACCOUNT AS WE PLACE DOGS, BUT WE TRY NOT TO HAVE BREED RESTRICTIONS BUT OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO HELP THE VETERAN REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY.

>> GONZALES: WELL, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THOSE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNER.

I KNOW THAT THIS COMMUNITY, WE LOVE OUR VETERANS AND WE LOVE OUR ANIMALS, AND SO I THINK IT IS AN OBVIOUS PARTNERSHIP.

I MENTIONED I HAVE A CONNECTION TO JACKSONVILLE AS WELL.

I HAVE A LOT OF EXTENDED MILITARY FAMILY THAT LIVES IN THE AREA, AND WE'VE HAD MANY FAMILY REUNIONS THERE IN JACKSONVILLE.

SO IT'S -- WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM, AND I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE INSPIRED TO HELP IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A VERY LONG, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GONZALES.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THOUGHTS.

WHEN COUNCILMAN PELAEZ CAME AND TOLD ME -- I WAS WORKING ON A PROJECT IN MY DISTRICT, I WAS A LITTLE BIT -- I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

WHEN HE PITCHED THE DEAL TO ME I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS IS HUGE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, RORY, FOR WORKING WITH COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND THANK YOU, MANNY, FOR TURNING AROUND IN ANOTHER DISTRICT LIKE THAT.

WHEN YOU SAW THE OPPORTUNITY AND YOU THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING IT IN DISTRICT 6, THAT'S A SELFLESS MOVE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND OF COURSE THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES FACILITIES, ONE OF THE JEWELS OF DISTRICT 6, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE FOOD BANK AND OUR COMMUNITY SO IT'S A PLACE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY VISIT.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAY TO HEBER AND THE TEAM AND THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES BOARD AND MY APPOINTEE KATHY THAT YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH GOOD RECOGNITION FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS AND IT'S A STORY WE ALL HAVE TO TELL AS OFTEN AS WE CAN.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS WE'RE MAKING RIGHT HERE THIS IS MEANINGFUL TO ALL OF US AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO KNOCK ON THAT DOOR AND TELL THAT STORY.

YOU AND I HAVE TALKED MORE ABOUT, UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE TOUGHER ASPECTS OF YOUR ROLE, AND THEN WHEN YOU COME UP HERE AND DO THIS, HEBER, IT'S TESTAMENT TO YOUR ABILITY, AND WHEN WE HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW GOOD YOU'RE DOING FROM A PARTNERSHIP PERSPECTIVE MAKING SAN ANTONIO WELCOMING, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

WE'VE HAD [INDISCERNIBLE] CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DOG ISSUES THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND THOSE AREN'T THINGS WE WANT TO DO BUT THEN YOU COME UP HERE AND YOU DO THIS AND YOU'VE PUT A GREAT PROJECT IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A BLESSING AND BENEFIT TO DISTRICT 6 AND I WANT AS TO THANK YOU AND THE TEAM FOR THAT AND THE PETCO FOUNDATION AS WELL.

YOU DON'T CARRY AN EASY JOB.

IT'S LIKE EVERY DAY IS A CHALLENGE BUT TO SEE YOU DOING THIS KIND OF WORK IS FANTASTIC, AND COUNCILMAN

[01:45:01]

PELAEZ AND I JOKE OFTEN ABOUT THIS WHEN HE WAS PITCHING IT TO ME, BUT MAN, WE WANT TO TAKE THAT FIRST DOG OVER THERE, WE WANT TO GO ON A ROAD TRIP.

[LAUGHTER] HIT THE STREET AND DRIVE SAID DOG AND IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.

IT SPEAKS TO A COUPLE THINGS.

MOST IMPORTANT, AND I'LL WRAP UP, IT'S ABOUT VETERANS FIRST.

AS A VETERAN MYSELF THE MINUTE I SAW THAT IT WAS PERSONAL.

THE PETS ARE PERSONAL TO ME, AS A DOG LOVER MYSELF, I'VE GOT THEM RUNNING ALL OVER THE HOUSE, AND THEN JUST FROM A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE, THE THINGS IT DOES TO PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON CARING AND LOVING OUR ANIMALS AND HOW THAT EFFECTS -- IT'S A PERFECT MIX.

SO THANK YOU, HEBER AND TEAM.

THANK YOU, RORY, FOR BEING HERE AND JOINING US AND THE PET COME FOUNDATION AND ANIMAL SERVICES PETCO FOUNDATION AND ANIMAL SERVICES BOARD.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE ANIMALS AND VETERANS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

COUNCILMAN VIAGRAN?

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, HEBER, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

TO OUR VISITORS AND OUR NEW PARTNERS, THANK YOU AND WELCOME.

THANK YOU, MA MARIA AND TO ALL THE STAFF, TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING AND BEING OPEN TO THIS IDEA AND THIS CREATIVITY AND THIS COLLABORATION.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, PELAEZ, FOR MAKING SURE CONNECTIONS GET MADE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND ABOUT THOSE CONNECTIONS.

I WILL ALWAYS BE -- IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT DOGS AND PETS, I WILL ALWAYS CHIME IN TO TALK, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE, A HOMELESS PET POPULATION, THAT JUST -- THEY WANT TO BE LOVED AND THEY WANT TO HAVE THEIR FOREVER HOME, AND THIS IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE DOGS, AND THIS IS GOING TO HELP WITH OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IT IN THE PAST.

SO I'M SO EXCITED BY THIS.

AND WHAT'S SO EXCITING TOO IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE DOGS AND THE WOUNDED WARRIORS OR WARRIORS BEING ABLE TO SAVE ONE ANOTHER.

SO THIS IS WHAT I THINK IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS PROGRAM.

SO I'M GLAD TO BE HOOFG FORWARD WITH IT.

THANK YOU -- TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH IT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ?

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION AND ASK FOR A SECOND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LETICIA PUTS IN THE MINUTES THAT I'M GOING TO NEED -- I WANT HR TO REMEMBER THAT I WAS JUST KIDDING.

HEBER, I'M NOT GOING TO KISS YOU ON THE LIPS.

[LAUGHTER] IT WAS JUST A FIGURE OF OF SPEECH.

>> MY WIFE APPRECIATES THAT CLARIFICATION.

[LAUGHTER]

>> RORY, YOUR NEW LANDLORD IS COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WELCOME AND VISIT WITH HIM.

HE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT VETERAN SERVICES AND HE'S DEFINITELY A CHAMPION, AND YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SHAKE HIS HAND YET.

I WANT YOU TO MEET HIM.

MARIA, THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, AND YOU TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE, AND YOU DELIVERED, LIKE ALWAYS, MARIA DELIVERS.

SO THANK YOU.

I DO HAVE ONE REQUEST.

THERE IS -- THERE IS A CONSTITUENT OF MINE WHO WANTS TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST DOGS IN THE CLASS, AND I GOT A PHOTO, IF YOU GUYS CAN HELP ME.

[LAUGHTER] THAT'S MILLIE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT A WOUNDED VETERAN SHORT ENOUGH FOR THIS --

>> I GOT BAD NEWS FOR YOU, MANNY.

[LAUGHTER]

>> WITH THAT, MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 15, AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, MARIA, HEBER, ALL THE FOLKS THAT WORKED ON THIS, RORY AND SUSAN AS WELL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF OUR MISSION IS MILITARY CITY U.S.A.

THANK YOU.

FOR THAT IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 15.

PLEASE VOTE.

[18. Ordinance appointing the Chief Executive Officers or Executive Directors of the San Antonio Housing Authority, San Antonio Housing Trust, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, and VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority, or their designees; and Robert J. Abraham, Jessica O. Guerrero, Marianne Kestenbaum, Lourdes M. Castro Ramirez, and Dr. Theodore Paul Furukawa to the San Antonio Housing Commission for an initial term of office to expire May 31, 2019. [Leticia M. Vacek, City Clerk]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 18.

>> ITEM NO. 18 IS AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY, SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, AND VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY, OR THEIR DESIGNEES; AND THEY BEING THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FROM THOSE ENTITIES.

ROBERT J. ABRAHAM, JESSICA O. GUERRERO, MARIANNE KESTENBAUM, LOURDES M.

CASTRO RAMIREZ, AND DR. THEODORE PAUL FURUKAWA TO THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING COMMISSION FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF OFFICE TO EXPIRE MAY 31.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMA.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM, THANK YOU, FOR COMING UP, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT APPOINTMENT THAT

[01:50:02]

WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH TODAY, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED THIS AND THANK EVERYONE FOR MOVING FORWARD AND BEING INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE HELP -- HELP GUIDING US AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY FOR THIS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TASK FORCE AND INITIATIVES.

BUT I DID WANT TO BRING UP JUST TO ASK YOU, SPECIFICALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE APPOINTMENTS WITH THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY, IN MY OFFICE WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO LIVE IN SAHA LOCATIONS, WHO HAVE ISSUES WITH COMMUNICATION, WHO HAVE ISSUES WITH RESPONSE TIMES FROM SAHA, AND WE IN MY OFFICE -- WE HAVE TO CALL SAHA, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION AND WILLINGNESS, IS THE WORD I'LL USE, TO MAKE THOSE -- TO BRING THOSE ISSUES TO LIGHT WITHIN THIS HOUSING TASK FORCE AND WITHIN THIS HOUSING COMMISSION, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS, SERIOUS ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON IN FAIR AVENUE APARTMENTS, IN THE MAC GARCIA APARTMENTS AND OTHERS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THOSE ISSUES ARE BEING BROUGHT UP FROM THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREAS, THAT THEY ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT AT THE HOUSING COMMISSION AND BEING ADDRESSED IN THE HOUSING COMMISSION, SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT WE WILL ALSO TAKE CARE OF RIGHT NOW TOO, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE A PARTNER -- A MAJOR PARTNER IN THIS.

SO THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO VOICE.

THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO COME -- TO MAKE ON THE RECORD, FOR YOU TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO ME AS HOUSING COMMISSION.H THIS- THANK YOU.

WITH THAT I MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF 18.

ANDY, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING?

>> YES, MAYOR, SOMEBODY HAD A QUESTION ON THE CAPTION.

I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE TITLES WITHIN THE RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFIED IN THE CAPTION, BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING APPOINTED TO THOSE POSITIONS WITHIN THE COMMISSION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ANDY.

COUNCILMAN COURAGE?

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I THINK THAT THIS REPRESENTS A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I THINK ALL OF US UP HERE UNDERSTAND THAT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SO IMPORTANT FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND SETTING A COMMISSION UP COMPRISED OF A LOT OF VERY COMMITTED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT WE COME UP WITH THE BEST WAYS OF DEVELOPING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE SEVERAL OF THESE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, INCLUDING LOURDES RAMIREZ, WHO DID SUCH A GREAT JOB ON THE COMMITTEE ORIGINALLY, AND I HAVE TWO OTHER PEOPLE THAT I KNOW VERY WELL THAT I WANT TO THANK FOR STEPPING FORWARD.

MARIANNE KESTENBAUM, WHO I KNOW WILL DO AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB, AND I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT FROM MY DISTRICT PAUL FURUKAWA AGREED TO STEP FORWARD AND WORK ON THIS.

I KNOW THESE INDIVIDUALS, AND I'M SURE ALL OF THE OTHERS, WILL BE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THIS MAJOR CONCERN VERY WELL OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AND I THINK THIS IS THE START OF SOMETHING GREAT, BUT IT'S UP TO US AS A COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO FIND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY WILL NEED TO DEVELOP THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILMAN HALL, AND THEN I'M GOING TO CALL UP MR. MONTH MY OR TO MAKE COMMENTS AS WELL.

>> WHAT I'LL ADD, I'M NEW TO THIS AND ONE THING I'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THIS WILL BE A KEY ISSUE AND ITEM GOING FORWARD, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR MARIANNE AND PAUL FOR STEPPING UP.

PAUL WAS IN MY LEADERSHIP SAN ANTONIO CLASS.

SO I KNOW THE ENTITY IS IN GOOD HANDS, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HALL, AND ALLEN, THANK YOU FOR WAITING SO PATIENTLY.

FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

I'M READING COMMENTS FOR TERRY BURNS, CHAIRMAN OF THE ALAMO GROUP, SIERRA CLUB, IRGS VOTES FOR AGENDA ITEMS 18 AND 24.

I KNOW JESSICA GUERRERO FROM [INDISCERNIBLE] I KNOW HER INTEGRITY, SHE WILL BE VALUABLE ON THE HOUSING COMMISSION AS THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF HER PRIMARY AREAS OF INTEREST.

I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 24, IN THE INTEREST OF

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BREVITY.

I BELIEVE ITEM 24, THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION STEMS FROM CCR STARTED BY ANNA SANDOVAL AND SIGNED BY SEVERAL COUNCIL PERSONS, SHERRY -- WE NEED MUCH MORE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION THROUGHOUT OUR GOVERNMENT, OUR LOCAL PUBLIC UTILITIES SHOULD BE INCLUDING IN THE MEANING AND APPLICATION OF THIS RESOLUTION.

WE REMAIN FRUSTRATED ESPECIALLY WITH THE OPAIKNESS AT CPS, NO MINUTES TO BE HEARD, ET CETERA.

THE CPS CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS EVEN MORE OPAQUE THAN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WITH NO MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS, NO AGENDAS, NO MINUTES, NO PUBLIC MEETINGS, NO NOTHING.

THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPEARS TO BE DESIGNED TO CHECK THE BOX OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WHILE IT, IN FACT, DOES NOT REPRESENT CITIZEN CONCERNS BUT RATHER ADDS A LAYER OF INSULATION BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE CPS BOARD.

IT IS PAST TIME FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO STOP TREATING OUR UTILITIES LIKE PRIVATE BUSINESSES, SACRED COWS, GIVING US MUCH NEEDED FINANCIAL SU SUSTENANCE.

PUT THE PUBLIC BACK IN PUBLIC UTILITY, AND WE BELIEVE THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES INTO BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND CEO MANAGER SELECTION AND BONUS EVALUATION.

WE AGREE WITH GREG BROCKHOUSE THAT CITY MANAGER INTERVIEWS SHOULD BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, ALWAYS OF COURSE RESPECTING THE PERIODIC NEED FOR CONFIDENTIALITY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE THINK THE SAME PROCESS SHOULD APPLY FOR UTILITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND CEO NOMINATIONS AND EVALUATIONS.

THE CURRENT MANAGER PROCESS VIOLATES THE SPIRIT OF ITEM 24 RESOLUTION ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, AND ALSO VIOLATES THE SPIRIT OF LAST FILES CHARTER AMENDMENT VOTES.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO BEHIND THE SCENES INFLUENCE FROM THE MOST WEALTHY AND POWERFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEIR CHAMBER ORGANIZATIONS.

YOU CAN THANK THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING THE SIERRA CLUB, FOR OUR CITY LEADERSHIP IN WATER CONSERVATION AND AQUIFER PROTECTION, ACCOMPLISHED DESPITE STRONG CHAMBER OPPOSITION.

OUR EFFORTS HAVE SAVED THE CITY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN UNNECESSARY [INDISCERNIBLE] PROJECTS.

SOMETIMES OUR COMMON SENSE EFFORTS FAIL SO NOW SAN ANTONIO IS STUCK WITH STRANDED ASSETS AND SPRUCE COAL PLANTS.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE WITH NO FINANCIAL PROFIT INTEREST CAN PROVIDE A MORE BALANCED AND COST-EFFECTIVE OUTLOOK.

I'M NERVOUS AT PRESENTING THIS BECAUSE MY PARKING TICKET EXPIRED AT 11:07.

THIS SPEAKS TO THE ISSUES ABOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, AND I SUPPORT YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO GET PUBLIC PARKING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO TESTIFY.

SOMETIMES IT CAN TAKE HALF A DAY FOR US TO PRESENT OUR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MONTH MEYOR.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ON ITEM 18.

I WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.

I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE, WHICH CONTINUES TO THIS DAY AND IS RESULTING IN THIS ACTION.

THERE'S SOME WONDERFUL PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT ARE PART OF THIS LIST.

SEVERAL OF THEM ARE IN THIS AUDIENCE TODAY.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO JESSICA GUERRERO, WHO'S BACK THERE, WHO HELPED WITH THE INITIAL FORMATION OF THE CONCEPT OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE HOUSING POLICY.

MARIANNE KESTENBAUM, ALSO ONE OF MY FORMER CONSTITUENTS BUT NEIGHBORS AND GOOD FRIENDS, AND SOMEONE WHO'S HAD HER EYE ON THE HOUSING ISSUES FOR A GENERATION, AND OF COURSE PAUL, YOU'RE HERE AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADFAST WORK.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE COMMISSION, AS WELL AS LOURDES, WHO WILL TAKE THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION AND DO SO WITH HIGH ESTEEM.

LOTS OF WORK TO DO.

YOU GUYS HAVE A BIG TASK AHEAD, BUT WE HAVE FULL FAITH IN YOU, AND I KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE COUNTING ON YOU TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE AND KEEP OUR HOUSING EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD.

SO WITH THAT THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM NO. 18.

PLEASE VOTE.

[24. Resolution adopting guiding principles that enhance public participation in the City of San Antonio. [Carlos Contreras, Assistant City Manager; Jeff Coyle, Director, Government & Public Affairs]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 24.

>> ITEM NO. 24 IS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT ENHANCE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

>> COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO ASK STAFF TO GIVE THE PRESENTATION.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

I THINK ALL OF YOU WOULD AGREE THAT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS THE BEDROCK OF GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.

IT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO WHATT WE DO HERE, AND OUR EFFORTS AT THE CITY HAVE BEEN AN EVOLUTION OVER REALLY SHERYL'S ENTIRE TERM HERE IN TERMS OF HOW WE DO THINGS, HOW WE ENGAGE OUR PUBLIC, HOW WE INCORPORATE THE INPUT INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ALL MAKE TO YOU AND ULTIMATELY THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE, AND WE'VE SEEN A NICE ALIGNING OF THE STARS NOW WITH A COUNCIL THAT IS INTIMATELY INTERESTED, STRONGLY INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE, AND A COUNCILWOMAN WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN IT HERSELF AND HAS REALLY PUSHED US TO