[00:00:05]
I AM FRANCINE ROMERO, THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE U.T.
COLLEGE OF PUBLIC POLICY AND IT'S MY GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN CAMPUS.
AND WE HAVE A LONG TRADITION HERE OF PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS TOPICS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HOST THIS EXCITING COMMENCEMENT TONIGHT.
THIS ISN'T OUR USUAL COMMENCEMENT AT THE ALAMODOME.
BUT ONE THAT DOES BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER FOR OUR CITY.
THE FORUM TONIGHT WILL BE INFORMATIONAL BUT IT'S ASPIRATIONAL FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE EITHER IN THE AUDIENCE OR WATCHING ON LIVESTREAM.
ANY STUDENTS WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE SHOUT AND LET US KNOW THEY'RE HERE?
SO GETTING TO KNOW OUR NEW CITY MANAGER AND HIS PATH TO THIS POINT IN OUR CAREER WILL GREATLL GREATLY INSPIRE THOSE STUDENTS WHO HOPE TO WORK IN CITY MANAGEMENT UPON GRADUATION.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO DO HAVE THAT DREAM.
EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY THIS WILL BE THE NIGHT WHEN MANY STUDENTS WILL BE MOTIVATED TO CONSIDER THIS CAREER PATH FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND YEARS FROM NOW THEY WILL REMEMBER THIS DISCUSSION.
SO TO GET THIS ALL STARTED, IT IS NOW MY GREAT HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR MAYOR.
HE GREW UP IN AUSTIN, WENT TO COLLEGE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND SINCE HIS ELECTION AS MAYOR IN 2017 HE HAS BEEN A STRONG LEADER ON ISSUES, CIVIC PARTICIPATION, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ACCOMMODATING OUR RAPID MUNICIPAL GROWTH, INFRASTRUCTURE, SUSTAINABILITY AND MORE.
HIS VISION IS ONE OF A PASSIONATE COMMUNITY WITH A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE ECONOMY.
WE KNOW HIM AT UTSA AS A PARTNER FROM WAY BACK, EVEN BEFORE HE RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL.
WHEN HE JOINED IN OUR SA 2020 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
AND OF COURSE FAST FORWARDING TO RECENT MONTHS WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY STAFF TO SUPPORT OUR INNOVATIVE VISION FOR THE UTSA DOWNTOWN CAMPUS.
OUR CAMPUS AS A WHOLE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE MAYOR, OUR NEW CITY MANAGER, AND HIS TEAM TO MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MAYOR RON NIRENBERG.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD EVENING! FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.
I THINK IT WILL BE ENLIGHTENING.
AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE INSPIRING AS WELL.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK UTSA FOR HOSTING US.
DR. ROMERO AND ALL THE FOLKS HERE AT THE ADMINISTRATION.
I SEE ALBERT FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
ARE THERE ANY UTSA STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS AND PARTICIPATION IS TO THE HEALTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY, AND THAT'S WHAT TONIGHT IS ALL ABOUT.
IN FACT, I AM VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT ME AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL HERE -- AND I KNOW SEVERAL OF THEM ARE HERE.
COUNCILMAN TREVINO, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, COUNCILMAN HALL IS HERE.
I'M SORRY IF I MISSED ANYONE ELSE.
BUT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WORKING HARD IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, WHICH IS EVER EVOLVING AND CHANGING AND THE STANDARDS EVER INCREASING WITH REGARD TO PARTICIPATION AND TRANSPARENCY, THAT WE ARE PIONEERING THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE ARE SEATING OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER.
RIGHT NOW THIS PROCESS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TWO-WEEK PERIOD OF TIME WHERE OUR CHOSEN FINALIST, ERIK WALSH, HAS BEEN MEETING WITH DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OF COURSE HERE IN A SYMPOSIUM IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR DOWNTOWN UTSA CAMPUS TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE PUBLIC THAT WE SERVE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE KNOW THAT THE WORK OF THE CITY MANAGER IS HARD.
AND NOT ALL THE TIME WILL A CITY MANAGER BE ABLE TO SEE AND HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL IN A DIRECT WAY AS THIS.
BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE NEXT ERA FOR SAN ANTONIO.
SO, I DO WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR CO-HOST FOR THE EVENING, WHICH IS THE SA SPEAK UP PROGRAM.
I'M NOT SURE IF JEFF -- I SEE THEA AND LAURA ELIZABETH MAYS, JEFF COYLE.
OUR SA SPEAK UP PROCESS, OUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR YOU TO HAVE DIRECT INPUT ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY ON THE WHOLE.
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GOING TO HAVE A GREAT CONVERSATION TONIGHT .I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE MODERATOR FOR THIS EVENING.
MANY OF YOU REMEMBER HER AND HER BYLINE WHEN SHE WAS WITH THE "SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS." SHE WAS A FORMER PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST.
SHE IS NOW THE FOUNDER OF THE GREATER GOOD.
I HAVE KNOWN MARIA FOR A LONG TIME AS A COLLEAGUE BUT NOW AS SHE EMBARKS ON HER OWN CAREER.
I AM VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT SHE'S CURRENTLY DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, MARIA LOUISA CESAR.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND COMMUNITY DIALOGUE.
AND HELLO TO THOSE AT HOME WATCHING LIVE ON SASPEAKUP.COM, FACEBOOK, OR TVSA.
THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL, SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE U.S.
DEFINES THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS.
ONE, THE CITY COUNCIL OVERSEES GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, MAKES POLICY, AND SETS A BALANCED BUDGET.
TWO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL APPOINT A PROFESSIONAL CITY MANAGER TO CARRY OUT THE DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS.
WITH THAT IN MIND, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE SAN ANTONIO'S PROPOSED FINALIST FOR THE NEXT CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH.
ERIK BRINGS WITH HIM MORE THAN 24 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
HE WAS APPOINTED CITY MANAGER IN 2006 AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER IN 2011.
IN HIS TIME AT THE CITY, HE'S MANAGED MANY MAJOR DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING POLICE AND FIRE, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, THE METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT, SOLID WASTE, AND THE 311 CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.
HE CURRENTLY OVERSEES DEPARTMENTS REPRESENTING AN $862 MILLION SLICE OF SAN ANTONIO'S $2.82018 BILLION ADOPTED BUDGET.
THERE WILL BE A QUIZ AT THE END.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, ERIK WOULD LIKE TO START OUT BY TELLING YOU A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HIMSELF.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING YOUR PROPOSED FINALIST FOR CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH .
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND DR. ROMERO AND MARIA.
IF I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME I'VE DONE THIS IN FRONT OF MY PARENTS.
[LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO LOOK OVER THERE.
[LAUGHTER] WHO AM I? FIRST OF ALL, I'M HONORED AND HUMBLED AND REALLY EXCITED TO BE THE PROPOSED FINALIST FOR THE NEXT CITY MANAGER POSITION.
IN MY PROFESSION AND THOSE OF YOU STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT, YOU'LL LEARN IT IS NOT COMMON TO BE IN CITY MANAGEMENT AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE CITY MANAGER IN THE CITY WHERE YOU GREW UP AT.
I FEEL LIKE I'M EXTREMELY IN A GREAT POSITION TO DO SOMETHING IN A COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE AND IN A COMMUNITY THAT I CALL HOME.
SO, MARIA TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO I AM.
AS SHE SAID, I WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS.
I STARTED WITH THE CITY, FOR YOU GRADUATE STUDENTS, I STARTED WITH THE CITY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER I GRADUATED FROM GRADUATE SCHOOL.
AND YOU KIND OF BLINK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE ON A STAGE AND YOU'RE A PROPOSED FINALIST.
I WORKED MY WAY UP THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION.
AND, AS MARIA TALKED, I WAS PROMOTED BY SHERYL SCULLEY IN 2006 AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER IN 2011.
I HAVE HAD THE FORTUNATE POSITION TO BE -- IT'S SO NICE TO SEE FAMILIAR FACES OUT HERE.
>> HI, ERIK! CONGRATULATIONS! [APPLAUSE]
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SITUATION.MY WIFE IS A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN, MY WIFE SANDRA, WHO IS OVER HERE.
AND IT MEANS A LOT MORE TO ME.
AND I WANT THIS COMMUNITY AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE ORGANIZATION THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, TO DO GREAT THINGS AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON THEIR PRIORITIES IN EXECUTING THEIR DIRECTIVES.
NOW LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
WHAT DOES A CITY MANAGER DO? THE CITY MANAGER'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO FACILITATE CONVERSATION, INFORM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF OPERATIONAL OR FISCAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH DECISIONS THEY MAY MAKE.
THE CITY MANAGER OVERSEES THE ORGANIZATION AND THE PERSONNEL AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
AND WITH OVER 12,000 EMPLOYEES AND A 2 POINT SOME ODD BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
SO THE CITY MANAGER OVERSEES THAT.
THE CITY MANAGER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING -- GIVING THE COUNCIL ALTERNATIVES AS THEY HAVE THEIR POLICY DISCUSSIONS.
AND WHEN THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MAKE A POLICY DECISION, IT'S THE MANAGER'S JOB TO LINE EVERYBODY UP IN THE ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO EXECUTE IT.
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL POINT AND WE TAKE IT.
AND I'M CERTAINLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE THIS EVENING.
BUT IT'S A CLEAR SIMPLE CONCEPT, AND I THINK SOMEHOW THAT GETS LOST OVER TIME.
I AM EXCITED TO BE TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WITH THEIR PRIORITIES, BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND CERTAINLY AS A GROUP.
AND I'VE GOT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO JASON HERE.
SO WITH THAT, I'M READY FOR QUESTIONS.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
I LOVE THAT YOUR PARENTS ARE HERE.
SO OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE HAVE ASKED RESIDENTS WHAT BURNING QUESTIONS THEY HAVE FOR YOU.
THEIR QUESTIONS WERE SUBMITTED THROUGH EVENT BRITE AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED SOME FROM TONIGHT'S AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING ENGAGED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WITH THIS PROCESS.
I KNOW WE CAN'T COVER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT BUT WE'LL TRY TO GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN.
LET'S TAKE OUR FIRST QUESTION NOW.
OUR FIRST QUESTION WAS SUBMITTED ON EVENT BRITE BY REBECCA.
SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE SAN ANTONIO'S CITY MANAGER?
>> SO I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
IT'S A CAREER ACHIEVEMENT FOR ME TO BE IN THIS PROFESSION AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CITY MANAGER.
IT'S EXTRA SPECIAL BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO IS HOME.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF HARD WORK BUT I THINK I'M DEM DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY.
I SAID THIS THE OTHER DAY AT CITY HALL.
I WANT SAN ANTONIO TO BE THE TOP OF EVERY LIST.
THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, THE BEST PLACE TO WORK, THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY.
AND THOSE ARE PART OF SUPPORTING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AS THEY DETERMINE THOSE PRIORITIES.
AND SOMEBODY NEEDS TO EXECUTE THEM.
DO YOU THINK THAT IF YOU WERE IN A DIFFERENT CITY THAT YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TAKING THIS JOB?
>> WALSH: IF I WAS SOMEWHERE ELSE? SURE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAD, AS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ADVERTISED THE POSITION, WE HAD CANDIDATES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
SO WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO WORK HERE?
>> SECOND QUESTION COMES FROM GLORIA, WHO IS HERE TONIGHT.
GLORIA, ARE YOU HERE? YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR HAND? WAVE? NO.
WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY FOR THE CITY? WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET ACCOMPLISHED FIRST?
>> WALSH: THERE'S SO MANY PRIORITIES.
>> WALSH: FIRST PRIORITY FOR ME WILL BE ALIGNING MYSELF WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL'S EXPECTATIONS.
I MEAN, YEAH, THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES AND
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ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS.IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL FROM DAY ONE TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.
SO, FOR ME, THAT'S CRITICAL DAY ONE.
THE REST OF IT, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE PRIORITIES.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE DELIBERATE IN ITS APPROACH.
BUT I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT DAY ONE, IF NOT RIGHT NOW, I'M IN LOCK STEP WITH WHAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WANT.
NATALIE AND MARIA ALSO ASKED ON EVENTBRITE, WHICH IS A VERY SIMILAR QUESTION.
WHAT CHANGES ARE YOU PLANNING TO MAKE AS SOON AS YOU TAKE OFFICE?
>> WALSH: AS SOON AS I TAKE OFFICE?
MAYBE SOME DECORATIVE CHANGES, I DON'T KNOW.
>> WALSH: I'M NOT THE DECORATIVE TYPE.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FOLKS HERE ON THE FRONT ROW THAT ARE PART OF OUR TEAM.
AND I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE DELIBERATE AND THOUGHTFUL AS A BIG ORGANIZATION WITH OVER 12,000 EMPLOYEES.
WE NEED TO POTENTIALLY REALIGN SOME ISSUES.
BUT I WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GET THAT FEEDBACK.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 24.5 YEARS AND I THINK I HAVE AN IDEA OF THINGS I WANT TO CHANGE, BUT WALKING INTO A JOB LIKE THAT WITH THAT TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITY, I DON'T THINK YOU MAKE CHANGES RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS.
AND I SUSPECT THE COUNCIL WILL BE EXPECTING SOME PROGRESS REPORT OVER A 30, 60, OR 90-DAYTIME FRAME.
BUT I THINK I'VE GOT TO GET INTO THE POSITION .
I'LL TELL YOU NOW I HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT AND FOLKS CONGRATULATING ME.
AND I SAID THIS LAST NIGHT TO A GROUP I WAS TALKING TO.
FRANKLY THE MOST HUMBLING PART IS WHEN YOU'VE GOT EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE COME -- THAT YOU DON'T REALLY INTERACT WITH, THAT HAVE COME OUT AND FOUND YOU AND CONGRATULATED YOU.
OR YOU'VE GOT FORMER EMPLOYEES LIKE ROSE RYAN HERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE HUMBLING PART OF THIS.
AND I THINK THE ORGANIZATION'S GOING TO DESERVE SOME LISTENING TO.
I LIKE THE IDEA THAT YOU TAKE SOME TIME TO REALLY TAKE KIND OF A TRUE ASSESSMENT AND A PULSE.
>> SO LET'S TAKE A QUESTION FROM FACEBOOK.
I'LL LET YOU GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT IN SPANISH.
SO I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT QUESTION IN ENGLISH.
BRUNO ASKED, ERIK, CAN YOU TELL US SOME OF THE INITIATIVES YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE IN MAKING CITY GOVERNMENT MORE INCLUSIVE, SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARDS TO LANGUAGE.
AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO IS HERE, AND THAT'S BEEN A BIG PRIORITY OF HIS.
AND I THINK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE CITY HAS GONE -- AND WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE IT A LONG TIME AGO -- AND INCORPORATED SPANISH-SPEAKING SERVICES AT PUBLIC EVENTS.
WE HAVE EXPANDED THAT TO ASL FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT-TYPE SITUATIONS.
IT'S CRITICAL BASED ON THE COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN.
PRINTED MATERIAL AND ONLINE RESOURCES, BOTH IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH, ARE CRITICAL.
AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP, AS AN ORGANIZATION, A PULSE ON THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
IT'S NOT -- AND MAYBE OTHER CITIES DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT, BUT I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT.
AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PROPONENTS OF THAT AND HAS REALLY PUSHED THE ORGANIZATION TO EXPAND THOSE SERVICES.
GEORGE RSVP'D WITH THIS QUESTION.
AS THE NEW CITY MANAGER WHAT PLANS DO YOU PLAN TO PROPOSE THAT ALL CONTRACTORS DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY ARE TREATED EQUALLY AND FAIRLY?
>> WALSH: SO THE COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED, AND IT'S A POLICY OF THE CITY, TO GIVE PREFERENTIAL POINTS TO SMALL, LOCAL, SNORT, WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN A PLACE FOR A WHILE.
AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAVE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THAT.
IT IS INCORPORATED WITHIN OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
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AND IT'S HAD GREAT RESULTS.LAST REPORTING PERIOD OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OVERSEES THAT.
REPORTED THAT OUT OF THE 220 SOME ODD MILLION DOLLARS THAT THE CITY CONTRACTED FOR WHERE YOU HAD SMALL, LOCAL, MINORITY, OR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES ELIGIBLE, A LITTLE OVER 50% OF THOSE CONTRACTS WENT TO THOSE TYPES OF BUSINESSES.
I SUSPECT, AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL, AND THEREFORE INCORPORATED WITHIN OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN INVESTED IN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
YEAH, I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I'M NOT A NONPROFIT.
I'M JUST A STRAIGHT FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS.
I HAVE LEARNED A LITTLE MORE ABOUT.
>> WALSH: HAVE YOU GOTTEN CERTIFIED?
>> SO WE RECEIVED SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STILL PENDING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION.
FOR EXAMPLE, CURTIS ASKED IF THE CONTRACT WOULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR ARBITRATION.
AND CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU PLAN TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FIRE UNION.
>> WALSH: THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
I'VE GOTTEN IT EVERY PLACE I'VE GONE.
>> WALSH: THERE ARE -- THIS ISSUE HAS GONE ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND LET ME SAY THAT I FEEL THE ADDITIONAL BURDEN -- I'LL CALL IT A BURDEN BECAUSE I FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF A WEIGHT.
FIREFIGHTERS ARE CITY EMPLOYEES.
THEY DO A GREAT -- PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW AT SOME POINT IT WILL GET RESOLVED.
I THINK ALL SIDES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE FAIR.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL.
I THINK THE MAYOR ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY IN DECEMBER -- OR IN NOVEMBER TO DROP THE LAWSUIT.
THAT LAWSUIT HAS BEEN DROPPED SINCE THEN.
AND THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS.
AND I THINK FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE WE'RE PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE AND RESOLVE THAT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT TAKES TWO PARTIES TO COME TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THE OVERRIDING PREMISE IS THAT I THINK IT JUST NEEDS TO BE FAIR ALL AROUND.
IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING UNREASONABLE EITHER SIDE.
I THINK FROM A LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STANDPOINT THERE WILL BE OTHERS THAT WILL BE WATCHING US AND OTHERS THAT WILL BE RATING AGENCIES ON HOW WE DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL IN THAT.
BUT AT SOME POINT IT WILL GET RESOLVED ONCE WE GET TO THE TABLE.
I KNOW IT'S A BIG ISSUE THAT'S HANGING OUT THERE.
>> I KNOW IT'S A BIG ISSUE AND A COMPLEX ISSUE.
AND I LOVE THAT YOU SPOKE TO FAIRNESS.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS TO YOU?
>> WALSH: WELL, WHEN I SAY FAIRNESS TO ALL IT'S AWARDING FIREFIGHTERS WITH A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT THEY CAN OPERATE UNDER.
BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT'S AFFORDABLE, THAT SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE TO THE CITY.
AS WE MANAGE A WHOLE WIDE ARRAY OF EXPENSES, WHICH IS THE MANAGER'S RESPONSIBILITY, ALONG WITH THE STAFF.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO DIRECT TOWARDS THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PRIORITIES.
AND EVERY YEAR THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL WILL GO THROUGH A BUDGET WORK SESSION, YOU KNOW, MAY/JUNE TIME-FRAME TO KIND OF SET THEIR PRIORITIES.
THAT'S A HUGELY DIFFICULT TASK.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND LIMITED RESOURCES.
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE I THINK WE NEED TO BE FAIR AND MAKE SURE IT'S AFFORDABLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE FOLLOW-UP.
>> SO PROPOSITION B PLACED A CAP ON THE SALARY OF ANY FUTURE CITY MANAGER AND LIMITED THEIR TENURE TO EIGHT YEARS.
THIS QUESTION COMES FROM MARTA VIA EVENTBRITE.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST COMMITTED TO SEEING TAKE PLACE DURING YOUR EIGHT-YEAR TENURE?
>> WALSH: THAT'S A HARD QUESTION.
I THINK -- I HAD A CONVERSATION IN DECEMBER WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT A LONG TIME IN THE CITY MANAGEMENT PROFESSION.
AND THE POSITION HAD JUST OPENED UP.
AND I WENT AND TALKED TO THEM AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EIGHT YEARS.
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WE WERE EATING LUNCH AT THE TIME.I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EIGHT YEARS.
AND HE WAS LOOKING DOWN AT HIS PLATE.
OF COURSE, HE'S PROBABLY DONE THIS FOR 45 YEARS.
AND HE STOPPED AND HE LOOKED UP AND SAID "THAT'S PLENTY.
THAT'S PLENTY." THE AVERAGE TENURE OF A CITY MANAGER IN THIS COUNTRY IS PROBABLY EIGHT, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, MAYBE TEN YEARS.
I WANT TO DO THE MOST I CAN WITH THE TIME THAT THE COUNCIL WILL GIVE ME.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT WHEN I AT SOME POINT LEAVE -- IF I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB, AT SOME POINT I CAN LOOK BACK KNOWING THAT I ALIGNED THE ORGANIZATION TO ACHIEVE WHATEVER PRIORITIES THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAVE.
I WANT COUNCILMAN TREVINO OR COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES OR COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL OR COUNCILMAN HALL TO LEAVE OFFICE WITH THOSE BOXES CHECKED AND FEELING LIKE WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING.
AND I THINK MORE TO THE POINT -- AND I MENTIONED IT EARLIER, THE HUMBLING PART -- I WANT EMPLOYEES TO THINK WE'RE GOING TO MISS THEM.
>> YOU WANT TO BE A GOOD BOSS.
[LAUGHTER] AMONG ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO DO.
>> WALSH: WELL, HOPEFULLY I WILL BE, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A TEAM APPROACH, I BELIEVE.
AND THAT'S KIND OF MY MENTALITY ANYWAY.
AND EVERYBODY'S GOT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, BUT FROM A TEAM PERSPECTIVE THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN'T ACHIEVE.
AND I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THAT.
THAT'S PROBABLY FROM MY OLD SPORTS DAYS.
AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY I'M BUILT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GET TO YOUR SPORTS DAYS A LITTLE BIT LATER.
>> SO A RESIDENT FROM DISTRICT 8, WHO ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, ASKED VIA E-MAIL WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TO PROPERLY REPRESENT AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO ALL PARTS OF THE CITY? EQUITY HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS AT THE CITY RECENTLY IN THE BUDGET PROS.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD ENSURE FOR ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.
>> WALSH: WELL, PART OF THAT IS TWO YEARS AGO , INITIAL WORK THAT WAS DONE BY COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES ON THE FRONT END REGARDING STREET MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE CITY STARTED TO LOOK AT ALLOCATING RESOURCES THROUGH OUR ANNUAL BUDGET WHERE WE HAD THE GREATEST NEED.
AND THAT'S BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE LAST TWO BUDGETS.
THE CITY HAS AN OFFICE OF EQUITY AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT INTERNAL TO THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE SHIFT SO THAT DEPARTMENTS RECOGNIZE THAT AND ALIGN THEIR REQUESTS THROUGH THE BUDGET APPROPRIATELY.
THE CONCEPT IS THAT WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN THOSE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE HAD CERTAIN HISTORIES OR CHALLENGES OR HAVE CERTAIN NEEDS, AND NOT JUST A PEANUT BUTTER APPROACH WHERE YOU'RE JUST SPREADING IT ALL.
AND I SEE THAT AS A CONTINUED POLICY DIRECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL.
TODAY WE HAD OUR MONTHLY DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING AND THE OFFICE OF EQUITY CAME IN AND BRIEFED ALL THE CITY EXECUTIVES.
THERE'S A WHOLE SERIES OF TRAININGS THAT WILL BE GOING ON THIS YEAR.
BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO ALIGN THE ORGANIZATION TO THINK THROUGH THAT.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, LET ME GIVE A SIMPLE EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE DID -- WHAT THE CITY DID TWO YEARS AGO.
RATHER THAN INVEST A BUNCH OF MONEY IN STREET MAINTENANCE EQUALLY THROUGH ALL TEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS, THE STAFF TOOK THE APPROACH THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CITY -- I'M SORRY, EVERY STREET IN THE CITY HAD AT LEAST A SCORE OF 70.
NOW, OR TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT DEPARTMENT SCORES STREETS.
AND THE IDEA WAS LET'S RAISE EVERYBODY UP.
AND THAT MEANS IN SOME AREAS OF TOWN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INVEST MORE.
IT'S A SIMPLE CONCEPT AND A LOT OF CITIES ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT AS REALLY TACKLING THE ISSUES THAT CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY MIGHT HAVE BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN THE TYPE OF INVESTMENT.
NOT JUST IN INFRASTRUCTURE BUT IT COULD BE IN SOCIAL SERVICES, POLICE SERVICES.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE ALIGNED WITH WHERE THE GREATER NEED IS AT.
I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUED PRIORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY WILL BE INCORPORATED WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
AND IS IN FACT HAPPENING TODAY.
AS A RESIDENT IN SAN ANTONIO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS CERTAINLY A POINT OF PRIDE FOR ME.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I TALK TO MY FRIENDS ABOUT WHEN I'M TALKING TO FOLKS WHO LIVE IN DIFFERENT
[00:30:01]
CITIES.>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
HE ASKED HOW DO YOU PLAN TO MAKE CITY GOVERNMENT MORE TRANSPARENT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC? GREAT QUESTION.
>> WALSH: LAST THURSDAY, DEXTER, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL -- DO YOU FOLLOW THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS? YOU DO? SO COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, WHO IS SITTING HERE IN THE SECOND ROW, INITIATED A PROPOSAL THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED IN RESOLUTION FORM THAT SET ASIDE A NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
AND HOW THE CITY, REGARDLESS OF DEPARTMENT, BUT HOW THE CITY CONSISTENTLY ENGAGES THE PUBLIC FOR INPUT, THE FLOW OF COMMUNICATION, TRANSPARENCY, CONVENIENCE FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND A LOT OF EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST.
AND THE PART ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK IS -- AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD BRIEFING THIS MORNING IS WE'RE CONVERTING THAT INTO AN ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE SO THE DEPARTMENTS SEE THAT.
IT'S PART OF THE CITY'S POLICY.
AND I SEE JEFF COYLE THERE IN THE BACK, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF HERE.
YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING INPUT CONVENIENT TO YOU IS -- THERE IS NO FINISH LINE ON THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
AND THE EXAMPLE I LIKE TO POINT TO -- LET ME BACK UP BEFORE I GIVE YOU THE EXAMPLE.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE EXTREMELY INVOLVED.
BUT I DON'T THINK THEY REPRESENT THE MAJORITY.
YOU HAVE MAYBE COMMUNITY GROUPS OR BUSINESS GROUPS OR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, BUT YOU'VE GOT EVERYBODY IN BETWEEN THAT IS WORKING, HELPING KIDS WITH HOMEWORK, LIVING THEIR LIFE, WORKING TWO JOBS.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND THE CITY HASN'T NECESSARILY MADE IT EASY TO MAKE IT CONVENIENT.
THAT'S THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND THE RESOLUTION THAT COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL RECOMMENDED AND THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED.
BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO CONTINUE TO DIG THROUGH THAT HOLE.
BECAUSE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE TO MAKE IT EASIER.
YOU KNOW, THE EXAMPLE I LIKE TO USE IS THAT MY COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN COURAGE LAST YEAR, WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY -- HOW MANY OF YOU ARE ON NEXTDOOR? ALL RIGHT.
SO WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, HAD A SURVEY ON NEXTDOOR.
AND HE SENT IT OUT AND IT WAS PROBABLY SEVEN OR EIGHT SMALL LITTLE PROJECTS.
A TURN LANE HERE, A SIDEWALK HERE.
AND IT KIND OF LAID OUT WHERE HE THOUGHT THE INVESTMENT NEEDED TO BE MADE.
THAT PROBABLY TOOK 30 SECONDS.
AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME REAL INPUT.
NOW, CAN WE BALANCE A $2 BILLION BUDGET ON NEXTDOOR? PROBABLY NOT.
AND I'M NOT SURE I WOULD WANT TO TRY.
YOU KNOW, ONE OTHER THING THAT THE CITY'S EXPERIMENTED IN WITH JEFF'S OFFICE AND MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DOWN HERE ON THE FRONT ROW, ARE THESE TELETOWN HALLS, WHICH IS NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT CALL OUT AND INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE.
AND WE HAVE HAD SOME TEST RUNS WITH THAT TECHNOLOGY.
AND IT GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOLKS TO JUST LISTEN TO AND BE PART OF PUBLIC MEETINGS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE DOWNTOWN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIND PARKING.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME IN THE EVENINGS.
YOU CAN SIT AT HOME AND LISTEN TO IT.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE ON THAT.
I LOVE THE CONVENIENCE PIECE AS WELL, JUST MAKING THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND CONVENIENT FOR FOLKS IS ALSO GOING TO INCREASE --
>> WALSH: ENGAGEMENT, ABSOLUTELY.
>> SO THIS IS A MULTI-FACETED QUESTION.
WE RECEIVED SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO ON NEXTDOOR.
MARY TOLD US HER PRIMARY INTEREST IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
SHE'S 72, EDUCATED, AND LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
ROSEMARY ASKED HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOODS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PREVENT DISPLACEMENT? THROUGH A BUDGET? THROUGH STAFFING?
[00:35:01]
MAYOR HAD CREATED A MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON HOUSING AND THEY PROVIDED A REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL LAST SUMMER.AS THEY GAVE THAT DIRECTION TO STAFF LAST SUMMER.
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET INCLUDES A LITTLE OVER $25 MILLION TOWARDS THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT REPORT.
IT IS A PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY TO THE STAFF TO BE INCORPORATING THAT INTO FUTURE PLANS.
ONE OF THE ELEMENTS IN ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS WAS A RISK MITIGATION FUND, WHICH HAS BEEN MONEY SET ASIDE TO HELP WITH THOSE FOLKS THAT FIND THEMSELVES IN A DISPLACEMENT SITUATION.
AND WHICH IS KEY AND WHICH WAS ONE OF THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TASK FORCE.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY HAS FUNDED THROUGH THERE.
IT'S PARTLY SOME NEW DEVELOPMENT BUT ALSO REHABBING THE EXISTING FACILITIES.
THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE THAT THE TASK FORCE FOUND AND CONCLUDED WAS THAT OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS HOUSING COSTS, WHETHER THEY ARE HOMES THAT ARE OWNED OR RENTS HAVE GROWN AT A FASTER CLIP THAN MEDIAN SALARIES, WAGES.
AND SO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT BEFORE THIS BECOMES A CRISIS -- NOW, THERE'S A POTENTIALLY -- THERE'S A SHORTAGE NOW.
BUT BEFORE THIS BECOMES MORE OF A CRISIS LIKE IT IS IN OTHER CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING NOW.
AND SO WE'VE INCORPORATED PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE ONE ROOF PROGRAM, WHICH WAS ALSO INITIATED -- ORIGINALLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BY COUNCILMAN TREVINO WITH HIS COLLEAGUES, WHICH IS REPLACING PEOPLE'S ROOFS.
SOME FOLKS JUST NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TERMS OF RESOURCES SO THAT THEY'VE GOT A PLACE TO LIVE AND IT'S A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AND IT'S BETTER FOR THEM FROM A LIVING CONDITION STANDPOINT.
>> AND WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY AS WELL IS THAT IT'S A MULTIPRONGED EFFORT THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT DISPLACEMENT AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL AS REHAB.
>> AND THAT IT'S AN ONGOING EFFORT.
AND ONE OF THE OTHER BIG RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TASK FORCE -- AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON THIS YEAR IS REALLY HOUSING SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND WE TALK ABOUT ENGAGEMENT, BUT MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR HELP AND MAKING IT EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
MICHAEL G. SENT US AN E-MAIL QUESTION REGARDING CITE AND RELEASE POLICIES.
ERIK, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO CREATE A CITE AND RELEASE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT THE CITY'S ROLE COULD BE IN ENCOURAGING NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS TO ADOPT SIMILAR PROGRAMS?
>> WALSH: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND THE POLICE CHIEF IS STANDING UP THERE IN THE BACK.
IT'S AN ISSUE THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE CHIEF HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, AT LEAST THE LAST THREE YEARS, RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN, I THINK.
AND SO IT'S -- IT'S AN INITIATIVE THAT ALLOWS OFFICERS TO DECIDE ON THE SCENE WHETHER OR NOT TO ISSUE A CITATION RATHER THAN ARREST.
AND THEY'RE GENERALLY LOWER LEVEL, NON-VIOLENT TYPE OF THINGS.
THERE'S A SERIES OF ISSUES THAT ARE ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW THAT WOULD GIVE THAT OFFICER THE DISCRETION.
AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION INTERNALLY AND WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ABOUT IT.
IT IS AN EFFICIENCY ISSUE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STANDPOINT.
BUT IT'S ALSO -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE 18 OR 19 YEARS OLD OR YOU'RE 22 YEARS OLD AND IT'S SOMETHING MINOR, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT OTHERWISE WITHOUT A CITE AND RELEASE PROGRAM MIGHT GET ARRESTED.
AND WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT THAT HAS ON THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
SO THE COUNCIL HAS LOOKED AT BOTH THOSE ISSUES.
THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE FORMULA OF CITE AND RELEASE.
THE FIRST PART OF THE FORMULA IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEREFORE I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF TRAINING THAT'S BEEN PREPARED.
THE SECOND SIDE OF THE FORMULA IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
[00:40:01]
HAS HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE POLICE CHIEF AND IS INTERESTED IN PURSUING THAT.BECAUSE WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER WRITES THE TICKET YOU'VE GOT TO TELL THE INDIVIDUAL WHAT COURT TO RESPOND TO.
WHERE DO THEY NEED TO REPORT TO.
AND SO THE NEW DA IS WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND WE HAVE A COUNCIL BRIEFING ON THAT ON FEBRUARY 13TH IN OUR B SESSION WHERE WE GIVE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO PURSUE FOR SOMETIME AND I KNOW IT'S A PRIORITY OF THE DA, AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL.
AND THANK YOU FOR GOING INTO THE DEFINITION.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T KNOW, THAT WAS GREAT.
PAUL ASKED ON EVENTBRITE WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE NEXT WAVE OF BUSINESS AND COMMERCE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO.
AND I'LL ALSO MENTION WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES LEFT OF QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR REALLY TOUGH RAPID FIRE.
SO THE CITY HAS AN ESTABLISHED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY.
AND THAT'S SET BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AND IT INCLUDES TARGETED INDUSTRIES SUCH AS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND AEROSPACE, I.T. AND CYBERSECURITY, HEALTHCARE AND BIOMED.
THOSE TARGETS ARE STILL THERE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE WHEN A NEW CITY MANAGER IS APPOINTED.
PART OF OUR ROLE IS ADVISING THE COUNCIL AND BEING PART OF THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC DISCUSSION.
WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION.
THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE ALIGNED ON THOSE KEY TARGETED INDUSTRIES.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON THAT.
BUT OF COURSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'LL TAKE OUR DIRECTION FROM THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.
BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN PRIORITY AREAS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS FOR THE CITY.
AND I SUSPECT THEY'LL CONTINUE.
YOU KNOW, ONE OR BIG ASPECT OF THAT, AND THIS KIND OF CUTS ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES, IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AND FOR ALL LEVELS OF EMPLOYEES, THAT IN THE LONG RUN PREPARES PEOPLE TO TAKE ON DIFFERENT ROLES AND POTENTIALLY HIGHER-PAYING ROLES, AND IT'S CRITICAL TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE MORE BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
TIM ASKED US ON FACEBOOK HOW WILL YOU WORK TO CREATE A BICYCLE-FRIENDLY CITY? I KNOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK AROUND THIS ON VISION ZERO.
NOT JUST BICYCLE-FRIENDLY, BUT JUST FOLKS WALKING ON THE STREET, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT YOUR VISION.
>> WALSH: YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT NEED TO CHANGE THE TERM.
BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE SCOOTERS, AND IT'S NOT JUST BICYCLES, RIGHT?
>> WALSH: YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS A BICYCLE MASTER PLAN.
AND I SPOKE TO THE STAFF EARLIER TODAY.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND IT CERTAINLY IS A PRIORITY OF THE STAFF AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SO MANY FOLKS THAT ARE USING OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
AND THAT BEGINS WITH HOW WE DESIGN PROJECTS.
THAT BEGINS WITH BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGHTFUL AS WE DESIGN THESE MAJOR CORRIDORS AND ALLOW SPACE FOR, NOT JUST BICYCLISTS, BUT SCOOTERS OR WHATEVER COMES AROUND THE CORNER SIX MONTHS FROM NOW.
AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF FORESIGHT AND THOUGHT AND PLANNING.
WE'VE GOT BROADWAY, A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT ON BROADWAY COMING UP THAT HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE DESIGN PHASE.
AND SO WE'LL NEED TO KIND OF CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT.
YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT -- AND SOMETIMES IN SOME AREAS IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY.
BUT WE NEED TO BE NIMBLE IN THAT SENSE.
BUT WHEN WE'VE GOT A $45 MILLION STREET PROJECT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DESIGNED, THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC ALL EXPECT THAT TO FINISH ON TIME AND ON BUDGET.
>> WALSH: SO THAT REQUIRES US TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE FORESIGHT AND THOUGHT.
AND I THINK, BASED ON A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT'S GONE ON OVER THE YEAR AND A HALF, OUR TRANSPORTATION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT DEPARTMENT IS REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGHTFUL.
BUT WE'RE NOT THERE, AND I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY DO A BETTER JOB.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE AS WE DEAL WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
I APPRECIATE YOU INCORPORATING SCOOTERS.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE VERY STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THOSE.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT POLICY AND COVERED A LOT OF GROUND.
BUT NOW I HAVE SOME RAPID-FIRE Q&A.
THESE ARE REALLY THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.
[00:45:01]
YEAH, SURE.WHAT KIND OF BREAKFAST TACO IS YOUR FAVORITE?
>> YOU GUYS CAN BOO OR YAY THAT.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SAN ANTONIO SPUR?
>> WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SAN ANTONIO SPUR? AND YOU ANSWERED.
>> PEOPLE ARE LUKEWARM ABOUT THAT ONE.
I'LL GET BETTER AS WE GO ALONG.
>> IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER WHICH ONE WOULD YOU HAVE?
YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
>> WALSH: NO, BUT IT WOULD BE COOL.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT? YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND IN SPORTS.
I'M A COLLEGE FOOTBALL GUY, YEAH.
>> WHAT TV SHOW DO YOU BINGE WATCH IN YOUR LIMITED SPARE TIME, IF ANY? DO YOU DO THAT?
>> WALSH: YOU KNOW, MY WIFE AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS.
[APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S WATCHING TV IN OUR HOUSE.
WE'RE NOT WATCHING A LOT OF TV.
NETFLIX MAKES IT SO EASY TO BINGE WATCH.
I'LL DIVE INTO THERE, BUT A LITTLE BIT OF YOUTUBE AND, YOU KNOW, DISCOVERY CHANNEL.
>> SO WHEN YOU'RE DIVING INTO NETFLIX, DO YOU HAVE A SHOW THAT YOU LIKE TO WATCH? THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.
>> WALSH: YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] "LOST IN SPACE" WAS KIND OF COOL.
I'M GOING TO STRIKE OUT ON THAT ONE.
WHO DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR ROLE MODEL?
>> WALSH: THAT WAS AN EASY ONE.
THAT WAS THE BEST ANSWER I'VE GIVEN.
>> WHAT'S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
>> WALSH: "MAKE YOUR BED" BY ADMIRAL MCRAVEN.
>> I'M IN TUNE WITH THAT MOTTO.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?
>> SO I THINK WE'VE COVERED A LOT TONIGHT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ANYTHING IN CLOSING? THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD SPORT WITH US.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD FUN WITH THOSE QUESTIONS AT THE END.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE SITTING RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS PART OF THE CITY EXECUTIVE TEAM.
PETER ZANONI, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, LORI HOUSTON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ANDY SEGOVIA, CITY ATTORNEY.
MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, CARLOS CONTRERAS, ROD SANCHEZ, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
[APPLAUSE] THEY ARE A GREAT TEAM AND A LOT OF US HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME.
AND I'M CERTAINLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOU GUYS BEING HERE TONIGHT.
AND WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF I SEE KIND OF SCATTERED AROUND THE ROOM THAT ARE ALL PART OF THAT CORE GROUP.
I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH THESE FOLKS DOWN HERE AND HAVE COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES AND COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND COUNCILMAN HALL AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE THOSE BOXES CHECKED, AND GET THINGS TAKEN CARE OF.
I AM CERTAINLY VERY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYBODY COMING HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
SO I TALKED ABOUT MY MOM AND DAD HERE.
I GOT THE BEST IN-LAWS IN THE WORLD HERE.
GEORGE AND LILLIAN KIELBASA RIGHT HERE.
[00:50:01]
AND I'VE GOT OTHER FAMILY HERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE AUDITORIUM.I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
[APPLAUSE] FOLLOWING TONIGHT ERIK WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH VARIOUS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON HIS APPOINTMENT ON JANUARY 31ST.
WE INVITE YOU TO KEEP UP WITH THE PROCESS BY VISITING SASPEAKUP.COM OR FOLLOWING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
YOU CAN FIND THE CITY OR FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM AT COSA GOV.
WE HAVE SEVERAL REPORTERS HERE TONIGHT.
THEY WILL ALSO KEEP YOU INFORMED AND ENGAGED.
REMEMBER THAT IT'S YOUR CITY AND YOUR CITY MANAGER.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
>> WALSH: THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.