[00:00:39] >> GOOD MORNING. WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 14, 2019. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. >> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA. THE TIME IS 9:13 A.M. [1. Invocation] THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE'LL BEGIN OUR SESSION TODAY WITH AN INVOCATION, A GUEST OF COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: SO I HAVE INVITED PASTOR DANIEL ALLEN OF LEON SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH. I LOVE LEON SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH BECAUSE IT IS VERY CLOSE TO RUDY'S BARBECUE. AND HE'S BEEN PASTORING 14 YEARS AT THIS CHURCH. AND WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT IT IS OFFERS NO-COST BIBLE COUNSELING TO THE HURTING. THAT'S THEIR MISSION. PASTOR DAN COMES FROM A BUSINESS BACKGROUND THAT INCLUDES UNWRITING, RISK MANAGEMENT, AND SALES. HE HAS BEEN MARRIED TO AMY FOR 31 YEARS AND THEY HAVE THREE GROWN DAUGHTERS. HIS CALLING IS TO EQUIP PEOPLE TO SERVE. THANK YOU, PASTOR DAN, FOR BEING HERE. >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, MANNY. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT PASTORS AND POLITICIANS KIND OF HAVE A MIXED RECORD, SO I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE. I'VE BEEN INTERACTING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL OFF AND ON FOR 14 YEARS. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE, PROFESSIONAL, COURTEOUS RESPONSES, AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE WAY I HAVE EXPERIENCED YOU DOING YOUR JOB. LET'S PRAY. LORD GOD, I COME TO YOU TO INTERCEDE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKING FOR TWO THINGS, TWO THINGS THAT REALLY EVERYONE NEEDS, BUT THEY ESPECIALLY NEED. FOR WISDOM AND PROTECTION. AND, LORD, RATHER THAN A BUNCH OF MY WORDS, I JUST PRAY OVER THEM THE WORDS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE THAT SAY YOU WILL BE A SHIELD TO THOSE WHO WALK IN INTEGRITY. SO I PRAY, LORD, FOR PROTECTION FROM SCHEMERS AND LIARS AND TROUBLEMAKERS THAT AS THEY WALK IN INTEGRITY THEY WILL HAVE YOUR PROTECTION. AND, LORD, YOU HAVE SAID THE SOURCE OF WISDOM IS REVERENCE FOR YOU. SO I PRAY THAT EACH ONE OF THESE MEMBERS WILL HAVE A REVERENCE FOR YOU, BECAUSE THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM. MAY YOU BLESS THEM. MAY YOU USE THEM. IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. [2. Pledge of Allegiance] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR ALLEN. WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU. AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE. WE'RE GOING TO START TODAY WITH [3. Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meetings of January 9 - 10, 2019 and the Special City Council Meeting of January 11, 2019.] OUR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 9 AND 10, AND THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 11. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM JANUARY 9, 10, AND 11. [00:05:01] PLEASE VOTE. [Consent Agenda] MOTION CARRIES. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION AT THIS TIME. ITEMS 4 AND ITEM 23 ARE PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? ITEM 20. >> MAYOR, I PULLED ITEM NO. 9. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 9. ANY OTHERS? ITEMS 4, 9, 20, AND 23, AND 24. ANY OTHERS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, SAVE ITEMS 4, 9, 20, 23, AND 24. THERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR THOSE I JUST READ. AND THERE ARE SOME CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THOSE CITIZENS NOW. WE'LL START WITH CHRIS HERRING. I'M SORRY, MR. HERRING. THAT ITEM IS GOING TO BE ON INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, SO LET ME MOVE TO JACK FINGER. >> WELL, GOOD MORNING. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, THE CONSENT AGENDA, A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION. ONE OF THEM IS ITEM NO. 14. YES. ITEM 14 DEALS WITH -- WELL, IT'S ABOUT THE IDEA OF APPLYING FOR FUNDS FOR THE STATE FOR OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS WE HAVE AROUND TOWN. ONE OF THEM IN PARTICULAR CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. IT LOOKS LIKE A REPEAT FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. IT'S ABOUT TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION. YEAH, TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION. AND WE ARE GOING TO SHELL OUT -- WELL, I'LL LET MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN PUT THAT UP THERE. LOOK AT THE UNDERLINED AND CIRCLED AREAS THERE. BLOW THAT UP, 2020 BUDGET ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE. THEN SCROLL ON DOWN, TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION. THEN LOOK OVER TO THE RIGHT, $746,000 IN CHANGE THERE. THAT'S NEAR A MILLION BUCKS. NOW, WHAT ARE WE SPENDING THAT MONEY ON? THANK YOU, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN. RETURN THE CAMERA. YEAH, WHAT ARE WE SPENDIG $746,000 ON? IS IT FOR SOMETHING WE KNOW THAT WORKS? ABSTINENCE ONLY, EDUCATION. OR IS IT ABSTINENCE PLUS. PLUS WHAT? WELL, PLUS THE USE OF CONDOMS THAT DON'T WORK ABOUT A GOOD THIRD OF THE TIME. YEAH. YOU WANT TO PUT OUR KIDS IN THAT DANGER A THIRD OF THE TIME FOR TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION. THAT'S WHAT IS ON TAP HERE. PERHAPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU JUST SAIL THIS THING RIGHT ON THROUGH, FOLKS. OTHER ITEMS ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, ITEM 23 AND 24. WHAT I LOOK AT IS AT LEAST ITEM 24 IS WHAT I CALL WELFARE HOUSING. YOU CALL IT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PUT THAT UP, IF YOU WOULD, THERE. YES, VARIOUS PROJECTS ALL AROUND TOWN. AND TWO OF THEM ARE ON THE EAST SIDE. MR. ART HALL. I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW TWO OF THESE PROJECTS ARE WITHIN A MILE OF EACH OTHER. OF OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THE PAST. IT SAYS -- I LOOK AT THE UNDERLINED AREA -- TWO RESPONDENTS. OUR LADY OF CHARITY WITHIN ONE MILE AWARDED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. LIKE I SAY, IT JUST SAYS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT IS CODE TALK, SIR, FOR WELFARE HOUSING. NOW, ART, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THE EAST SIDE WILL NEVER RISE FROM ITS ASHES AS LONG AS YOU KEEP PUTTING WELFARE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO SUPPOSEDLY CAN'T AFFORD ANYTHING ELSE. IT WON'T. MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY NO TO THIS STUFF. AND, FINALLY -- WELL, LIKE I SAY, SO MANY SCANDALS, SO LITTLE [00:10:03] TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. COUNCILMAN HALL. >> SHAW: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ITEM 16 IS ON THE CONSENT AND I DIDN'T PULL IT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN SHAW WHO PUSHED THE MASSAGE PARLOR ISSUE AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT GOT THROUGH. SEVERAL FOLKS HELPS US ON THIS ISSUE. CHIEF MCMANUS, LIEUTENANT SIDES FROM THE VICE UNIT. FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, SEVITA RAY AND MIKE SHANNON. WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HELPED US DRAFT AND PUT THIS POLICY TOGETHER AND TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN SHAW FOR HIS WORK ON IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HALL. COUNCILMAN TREVINO. >> TREVINO: I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE CODE COMPLIANCE FIELD OFFICE THAT THE CITY OWNED, JEFFERSON WOOD LAWN LAKE OPERATED DECO BUILDING. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND HER STAFF FOR HER PARTNERSHIP IN GETTING THIS DONE, AS WELL AS ROD SANCHEZ AND MIKE SHANNON FOR SEEING THE VALUE IN THIS IDEA AND BRINGING IT TO US TODAY. THE KEYSTONE, WOODLAWN LAKE, JEFFERSON, AND MONTICELLO PARK NEIGHBORHOODS WHO BORDER FREDERICKSBURG ROAD WILL SEE A POSITIVE EFFECT OF THIS OFFICE AS SOON AS IT OPENS IN THE DECO BUILDING AND THERE WILL BE A GREAT TENANT TO PRESERVE THE BUILDING. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO. COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL. >> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE JEFFERSON WOODLAWN LAKE AS WELL AS STAFF FOR ASSISTING US IN LOCATING CLOODE ENFORCEMENT RIGT THERE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST REQUESTS WE GET INTO OUR COUNCIL OFFICE. SO I THINK THE CONSTITUENTS WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THEM OUT OF THERE. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL. THAT'S ALL THE CITIZENS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR ITEMS 4, 9, 20, 23, AND 24. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR AUDIENCE AND SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE TO LEAVE [23. Approving the following two actions related to the Texas Research and Technology Foundation’s establishment of the VelocityTX bio and life sciences innovation center and the redevelopment of the Merchant’s Ice complex at 1304 and 1305 E Houston St in Council District 2: [Carlos Contreras, Assistant City Manager; Rene Dominguez, Director, Economic Development]] THE CHAMBERS EARLY, I'M GOING TO TAKE ON ITEM 23 FIRST. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THE REST OF THE AGENDA. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND PULL ITEM 23. >> 23 IS APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING TWO ACTIONS RELATED TO THE TEXAS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION'S ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VELOCITY TEXAS BIO AND LIFE SCIENCES INNOVATION CENTER AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MERCHANT'S ICE COMPLEX AT 1304 AND 1305 EAST HOUSTON STREET IN COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 2. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: RENE, I THINK YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US. >> VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS PROJECT TO YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF LEADS FOR THIS PROJECT, SARA, THOMAS, AND ED DAVIS HELPED OUT WITH THIS PROJECT. WE DO HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US, RANDY HERRING, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF VELOCITY IS HERE, AS IS THEIR CHAIRMAN. IN FACT, THEY BROUGHT THEIR ENTIRE TEAM. THEY'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AS WELL. SO, AS I MENTIONED, AN EXTREMELY EXCITING PROJECT AS IT REPRESENTS THE PROMOTION OF A KEY ASPECT OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN. MOST OF THE PROJECTS I BRING TO YOU ALL INVOLVE RECRUITMENT, THE EXPANSION OF COMPANIES. ALONG WITH THESE AREAS WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. THESE ARE ALL CRITICAL FOCUS AREAS. JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THESE AREAS THE SAME CAN BE SAID OF ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT STARTUPS, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT THE ECOSYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THESE STARTUPS AND THE JOB CREATION THAT THIS REPRESENTS. HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WE'VE SEEN MARKED GROWTH. YOU SEE THE RESEARCH INSTITUTES WE HAVE HERE ARE COLLABORATING MORE THAN EVER WITH OUR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH, ESPECIALLY IN THE I.T. SECTOR. AND EVEN SOME IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO COMMERCIALIZATION. HOWEVER, THE ONE AREA THAT REPRESENTS PROBABLY THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR SAN ANTONIO IS THE BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY. AS YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO HAS DEEP CRITICAL ASSETS IN THESE AREAS AND IN THIS SECTOR. STRONG, STRONG MILITARY MEDICINE PRESENCE DEDICATED TO RESEARCH. VERY STRONG RESEARCH INSTITUTES LIKE SWEARY, TEXAS BIOMEDICAL [00:15:01] RESEARCH INSTITUTE. STRONG ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS LIKE U.T. HEALTH, UTSA, TEXAS A&M, AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS THAT ARE STRONG IN THIS AREA AS WELL OTHERS. JUST TO NAME A FEW. TO SUPPORT THE PROMOTION OF ENTREPRENEURS IN THIS INDUSTRY, AS I MENTIONED, IS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS. AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SUSTAINABLE, IMPACTFUL PROJECTS. ONE OF OUR KEY PARTNERS IN THIS AREA WHO SUPPORTS THE ADVANCEMENT OF THIS ECOSYSTEM IS THE TEXAS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION, OR TRTF. THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. THEY WERE FORMED 35 YEARS AGO. WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THEM EVER SINCE. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THEY'VE BEEN DEDICATED TO EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND COMMERCIALIZATION. THEY'RE LOCATED ON THE FAR, FAR WEST SIDE. EMBARK ON AN EXCITING TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPANSION THAT WILL IMPACT NOT ONLY THE LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY, BUT IS REALLY FROM A PHYSICAL LOCATION STANDPOINT GOING TO IMPACT THE NEAR EAST SIDE. LAST YEAR TRTF PURCHASED MERCHANT ICE BUILDING RIGHT HERE ON THE EAST SIDE, RIGHT NEXT TO DOWNTOWN. THEY'VE DECIDED TO EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES BY CREATING THE VELOCITY, BASICALLY DOUBLING DOWN ON THEIR PLAN TO DRIVE INNOVATION IN AUDIO] AND FROM A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM. THEY PLAN TO DO THIS AT THE MERCHANT ICE COMPLEX, A FOUR-ACRE SITE THAT HAS BEEN VACANT AND UNDERUTILIZED FOR OVER 20 YEARS. THIS IS A BOLD VISION, INCLUDES REHABILITATING THE SITE, CONVERTING IT TO A VIBRANT REGIONAL DESTINATION, ESTABLISHING A CAMPUS THAT PROVIDES THE PHYSICAL SPACE, BUT ALSO THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THAT ECOSYSTEM. THE ENTIRE PROJECT SPANS OVER TEN YEARS AND A $227 MILLION INVESTMENT. WE'RE HERE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP OUT PHASE ONE. THIS INITIAL PHASE THAT INCLUDES A $14 MILLION INVESTMENT INCLUDES LAB SPACE, VELOCITY'S HEADQUARTERS, AN INCUBATOR SPACE FOR COMPANIES TO PERMANENTLY LOCATE TO. AND, IN FACT, VELOCITY'S GOING TO DO A GROUNDBREAKING NEXT TUESDAY WHERE THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO MAKE A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT IN TERMS OF AN ANCHOR TENANT. THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAGNET THAT REALLY ATTRACTS BIOMEDICAL COMPANIES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPRESSED BY THE ANCHOR TENANT LOCATING TO VELOCITY TEXAS. THEY ARE BRINGING OVER 60 JOBS TO THE NEAR EAST SIDE. OUR PHASE ONE RECOMMENDATION IS TWO-FOLD. RECOMMENDING A PERFORMANCE-BASED GRANT OF 50,000 PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS. THIS GRANT SPECIFICALLY IS DESIGNED TO HELP MUCH-NEEDED LAB SPACE AND INCUBATION SPACE ON SITE FOR ENTREPRENEURS. IT ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR VELOCITY TEXAS SO THEY CAN PROVIDE MENTORING, COACHING, AND OPPORTUNITIES. AND, FINALLY, WE ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR GLOBAL ACCELERATOR PROGRAM. WE REALLY THIS SEE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LINK OUR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WITH A GREAT PARTNER LIKE VELOCITY . ADDITIONALLY, TRTF HAS APPLIED FOR DEDICATED TIRZ FUNDING TO HELP COVER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SITE. THE TIRZ TEAM HAS EVALUATED THE REQUEST AND SUPPORTS $5 MILLION OF DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS. WITH THAT SAID, PHASE ONE ONLY INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION TO COVER IMPROVEMENTS LIKE STREETS, BY THE WAY, THE REMAINING FUNDS ARE BASED ON THEIR SEVEN YEAR PLAN WHICH INCLUDES THREE ADDITIONAL PHASES. WE BRIEFED OFF THE TIRZ MEMBERS AND THIS GOES TO THEM FOR APPROVAL ON FEBRUARY 27. FINALLY, IN ADDITION TO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE CHAPTER 380 AND THE TIRZ FUNDING, WE DID WORK WITH TRTF, STEVE NIVIN DID AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY FOR THIS PROJECT WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT. ITS ESTIMATED IMPACT IS NEARLY $737 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS AT FULL BUILD OUT WITH A NET FISCAL [00:20:02] IMPACT TO BOTH THE STATE AND CITY. WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS IS RANDY AND STEVE. WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF BOTH ORDINANCES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RENE. AND RANDY, STEVE, ED, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAND UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS PROJECT. WE WELCOME THIS PROJECT WITH A RESOUNDING OPEN ARMS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD SAY I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO OVERSTATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS HIGHLIGHTING BUT ALSO STRENGTHENING OUR BIOSCIENCES AND BIOMEDICAL ECOSYSTEM IN SAN ANTONIO FOR TWO DECADES. AND FINALLY TO SEE AN OUTGROWTH, A A A MAN FESSATION OF THAT WORK, THAT FACILITY ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO IS SIMPLY AMAZING. THE WORK THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS DONE TO BUILD A CULTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS NOW FULLY REALIZED IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. WORKFORCE BUT ALSO TO SEE THE RESOURCES THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH A COMPANY AND A FACILITY SUCH AS THE ONE AT VELOCITY TX. REALLY, THE INNOVATION ARM OF TEXAS RESEARCH CONSORTIUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK AND THE PERSISTENCE IN THIS PROJECT. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ITS APPROVAL. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT COMES OF THE NEXT ROUND, THE NEXT PHASE OF COMPANIES THAT WILL BE IN VELOCITY'S ECOSYSTEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS. COUNCILMAN HALL. >> HALL: LET ME SAY THANK YOU FIRST TO RENE. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND I HEARD JENNA SAUCEDA. JUST THE WORK THAT SHE DOES AND YOU ALL DO AND WE ALL DO TOGETHER TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX IS JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. SO I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK. AND I'VE ONLY BEEN IN THIS SEAT FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE, SO ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED -- YOU KNOW, TAKEN A WHILE TO SET UP. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS, NUMBER ONE, WE'RE UTILIZING VACANT SPACE THAT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR 20 YEARS. AND MIGHT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS IF WE HADN'T PUSHED THIS SORT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND THEN, NUMBER TWO, FROM THE EAST SIDE. IT'S IN DISTRICT 2. IT'S IN AN AREA THAT NEEDS MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MORE JOBS. AND THIS IS PART OF THAT PROCESS. AND, YOU KNOW, RENE AND I WERE TALKING EARLIER. THIS IS KIND OF A CATALYTIC PROJECT. IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS WHERE YOU CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF ACTIVITY, BUT THEN IT GROWS FROM THERE. IT ATTRACTS OTHER BUSINESSES, OTHER JOBS, OTHER COMPANIES ALL TO A PARTICULAR AREA. AND THEN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT JOBS. IT'S ABOUT MORE JOBS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT'S ABOUT QUALITY JOBS. AND THEN THE NOTION OF 675-PLUS JOBS IN THE AREA, I THINK YOU MENTIONED $730 MILLION IMPACT OVER FIVE YEARS. THERE'S AN OLD BUSINESS SAYING THAT SAYS YOU'VE GOT TO SPEND A LITTLE MONEY TO MAKE SOME. WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT TO PULL THEM HERE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE AMOUNT AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OVER TIME AND THE SIZE OF THAT AMOUNT IS ABSOLUTELY HUGE. SO WITH THAT -- AND I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO C.E.O. RANDY HERRING. ORGANIZATION. AND TO STEVE AS WELL. AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE PART OF THE TEAM. THANK YOU ALL FOR CHOOSING DISTRICT 2, CHOOSING SAN ANTONIO AND MAKING THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION. WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'M GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL FOR THIS ITEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 23. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: SORRY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE ABOUT TO VOTE. RANDY, YOU'RE ONE OF MY HEROES. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T MET RANDY, YOU HAVEN'T MET A REAL HERO. THE GUY IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE VALUE AND THE POT OF GOLD, THE UNMINED POT OF GOLD THAT IS THE EAST SIDE. RANDY, YOU HAVE BEEN LEADING FOR SO LONG WHEN OTHER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP. AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW RANDY IS WALKING, TALKING LEADERSHIP. AND YOU ARE WALKING, TALKING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD IN AUDIO] AND TODAY WE HEARD THE EAST SIDE IS IN ASHES. [00:25:02] THAT'S FOOLISHNESS WITH A CAPITAL F. YOU GUYS ARE CREATING JOBS. MERCHANT. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THE FUTURE OF THE EAST SIDE. I APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. COUNCILMAN TREVINO. DOWNTOWN IS FOR EVERYBODY. DOWNTOWN IS PART OF MANY DISTRICTS. SO THANK YOU, RANDY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT COMING TO FRUITION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO. COUNCILMAN PERRY. >> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT YOUR EYEBROWS KIND OF RAISE AND SAY, WOW. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE. RANDY, WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP? I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU. IT'S NOT HARD. YOU KNOW, THIS LAST WEEK A LOT OF US WERE UP IN D.C. IN FACT, THE MAYOR AND I SPENT A FULL DAY IN THE PENTAGON. AND GOING AROUND TO THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN THERE. AND ONE OF THEM THAT WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT -- AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THE MILITARY IS GOING TO BE A KEY COMPONENT IN THIS ORGANIZATION HERE, OR THIS SYSTEM THAT -- THIS PROJECT. YOU KNOW, ALL THE MILITARY SERVICES ARE LOSING THEIR MEDICAL FACILITIES, AND IT'S ALL BEING GROUPED UNDER A NEW ORGANIZATION. I THINK IT'S DHA. HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING FOR? BECAUSE I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH WHERE THAT'S GOING TO GO AND WHERE THAT'S GOING TO OPERATE ALSO. >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU, CLAYTON, OR COUNCILMAN PERRY. WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE MILITARY. WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS SUPPOSED MOVE TO DHA. THERE'S A PUSHBACK FROM THE ARMY BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SIX LARGEST LABS, AND SO THEY WANT TO KEEP IT WITHIN THE ARMY. SO WE'RE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE THAT'S GOING TO SIT. BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT AND FOLLOWING THE MEMOS THAT ARE GOING AROUND. ALTHOUGH IT'S DELAYED US FROM HAVING OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, WE'RE GOING TO STAY ON THAT. I THINK WE'RE DELAYED PROBABLY A YEAR TO 18 MONTHS WHILE THEY FIGURE THIS OUT AT THE D.C. LEVEL. BUT THE -- I WILL TELL YOU THE MILITARY UNDERSTANDS THEIR INVESTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE ATTITUDE OF SAN ANTONIO FROM THE STANDPOINT OF HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THEM. AND SO THAT GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS THEIR THOUGHT PROCESS ON EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES. MUCH LIKE YOU SAW WITH THE FUTURES COMMAND COMING TO TEXAS BECAUSE OF SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN. I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT LONG TERM. SHORT TERM, IT'S NOT IN MY HANDS. >> PERRY: RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR Y'ALL TO ACTUALLY MAKE A TRIP UP THERE AND TALK TO THE ADMIRAL AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS ON THE HORIZON, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING? >> EXCUSE ME, SIR. I TALKED TO ADMIRAL BONO AND >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: RANDY AND VELOCITY TEXAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND FOR YOUR WORK. I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HICCUPS -- WE'LL JUST CALL THEM THAT, ALONG THE WAY. BUT CONGRATULATIONS FOR STAYING WITH IT. AND FOR DEMONSTRATING WHAT CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATION CAN DO HERE. RENE, ED, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. BECAUSE THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SETTING US FOR THE NEXT 300 [00:30:01] YEARS IN SAN ANTONIO. AND PROVIDING FOR WHAT WE NEED IN THIS CITY. THE CREATIVITY THAT WILL BE BIRTHED HERE. NEW JOBS THAT WILL BE BIRTHED HERE. THE NEW INDUSTRIES THAT WILL COME OUT OF HERE. AND THE MORE PEOPLE WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT TO VELOCITY TEXAS IS YOU. >> COURAGE: A REAL CENTER AS AN INCUBATOR, A DEVELOPER, AN AREA FOR MENTORING AND SHARING OF IDEAS IN BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCE AREA. I THINK IT'S LONG PAST OVERDUE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF A CENTER. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT TO CHINA ON BEHALF OF THE CITY LAST YEAR AND WE WENT TO THESE BIOMED AND THEY'RE HUGE. AND THEY'RE DEVELOPING JUST DOZENS OF COMPANIES OUT OF THESE. AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S THE ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT YOU'LL ACHIEVE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU FOR THE INITIATIVE AND THE COMMITMENT TO THIS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES. >> GONZALES: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, FINALLY TO SEE THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION. I THINK WE SAW THIS COME BEFORE THE TIRZ BOARD IN A COUPLE OF ITERATIONS, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AT LEAST IN THE SIX YEARS OR SO THAT I'VE BEEN HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS THE FIRST ITERATION WTEE HAVE SEEN R MAYBE A COUPLE LATER, BUT IT'S SO EXCITING FOR THE NEAR EAST SIDE TO HAVE THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT. I REALLY DO THINK IT'S MONUMENTAL. WE KNOW THAT ONCE WE HAVE SOME INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IT JUST SPURS ALL KINDS OF THINGS. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE AREA, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SO EXCITING. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT COMES NEXT. AND I HOPE THAT SPREADS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND FOR YOUR PERSEVERANCE. BECAUSE I KNOW IT TOOK PROBABLY LONGER THAN YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED. SO GLAD TO SEE THIS FINALLY COME BEFORE US ON THE COUNCIL. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM HERE AT THE CITY. TO YOU RANDY, STEVE, ED FOR PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER AND BRINGING IT TO US. ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 23. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM NO. 4. >> SIR? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH, RANDY, GO AHEAD. >> I WOULD LIKE OUR STAFF TO STAND UP HERE. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THIS HAPPEN. I GET THE CREDIT, BUT -- [APPLAUSE] AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN PUT IN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO USING THESE FUNDS, TO SEE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MERCHANT'S ICE AND STORAGE IN THE HEART OF THE EAST SIDE ON EAST HOUSTON STREET. OUR 230,000 FOOT CAMPUS WILL ALLOW US TO BRING INNOVATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR. I WANTED TO GET THIS ON THE RECORD. WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE EAST SIDE. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN SAN ANTONIO IS JUST UNDER 4%. AND IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND 37% ON THE EAST SIDE. SO WE'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO TRAIN UP AND HIRE, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, FROM THE EAST SIDE FIRST. AND SO WE WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPEN CAMPUS, WHICH, I BELIEVE, IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF IT AND SEE IT AS PART OF THEM. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE DESERVE THAT. WITH THAT, WE ARE HAVING A GROUNDBREAKING ON TUESDAY AT 10:30 AT THE MERCHANT SITE. AND IT WILL BE INSIDE. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU THERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, RANDY. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION. [APPLAUSE] [4. Ordinance approving amendments to the six month Dockless Vehicle Pilot Program. [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; John Jacks, Director, Center City Development and Operations]] >> ITEM NO. 4 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE SIX-MONTH DOCKLESS VEHICLE PILOT PROGRAM. >> SOMEBODY LEFT THEIR READING GLASSES AT THE PODIUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: RANDY, DID YOU LEAVE YOUR GLASSES? [00:35:04] LET'S TALK ABOUT SCOOTERS, JOHN. >> I MIGHT NEED THOSE, ACTUALLY. MY GLASSES ARE NOT THE BEST. SO, SCOOTERS. THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. A COUPLE OF THINGS, BEFORE I GET STARTED. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THESE ARE AMENDMENTS TO A PILOT PROGRAM THAT YOU ALL APPROVED BACK IN OCTOBER. SO WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. THE PILOT PROGRAM GOES THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF APRIL, BUT WE'VE NOTICED SOME THINGS THAT WE THINK -- THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE TODAY. SOME THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND OCCURRING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS NOW, KIND OF MID-PILOT, IF YOU WILL. WE'VE NOTICED A LOT OF SCOOTERS ON THE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATELY PARKED. THEY MAY BE FALLING DOWN. IT'S CREATING, BASICALLY, CLUTTER, PARTICULARLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE MOST OF THE SCOOTERS ARE DEPLOYED. AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING PROBLEMS WITH SCOOTERS PARKED OR LEFT IN PROHIBITED AREAS, SPECIFICALLY ALONG THE RIVER WALK AND ALAMO PLAZA. SOME OF OUR OTHER PLAZAS AND PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE WE HAVE HIGH PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY. AND SO THERE'S ISSUES WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO WALK AND TRAVEL THROUGH THOSE AREAS. WE ALSO SEE THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY VEHICLES. IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH DOWNTOWN OR WALK THROUGH DOWNTOWN THAT THE PERCEPTION AND REALITY IS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY VEHICLES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. AND THEN FINALLY WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH MAINTENANCE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, PARTICULARLY FOR CENTRO WHO, THROUGH THE PID AND THROUGH CONTRACT WITH VIA, IS PRESSURE WASHING NIGHTLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA ON THE SIDEWALKS. THE SCOOTERS AND VEHICLES THAT ARE LEFT OUT OVERNIGHT ARE BECOMING A PROBLEM FOR THEM WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB CLEANING OUR SIDEWALKS DOWNTOWN. SO A LOT OF YOU ASKED WHY DID WE DO A PILOT? AND REALLY IT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD A NEW INDUSTRY, A NEW PRODUCT THAT WAS LAUNCHED LAST SUMMER THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT. SO WE NEEDED TO TAKE THE TIME TO STUDY IT AND ANALYZE IT AND EXPERIENCE IT SO WE COULD HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING GOING FORWARD HOW TO ADDRESS IT. IT'S A RAPIDLY-CHANGING INDUSTRY. IN JUST THE SIX MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST SCOOTERS WERE LAUNCHED WE'VE SEEN CHANGES ALREADY. NEW COMPANIES ENTERED THE MARKET, THE VEHICLES THEMSELVES HAVE ADAPTED SOMEWHAT. SO IT'S CHANGING VERY FAST. SECONDLY, WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT THE MARKET DEMAND WOULD BE. WOULD PEOPLE RIDE THEM? WOULD PEOPLE USE THEM? HOW WOULD THEY USE THEM? WE NEEDED TO KNOW HOW DEEP THE MARKET WAS FOR THE SCOOTERS OR THE VEHICLES BEFORE WE COULD MAKE SOME DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO REGULATE THEM. WE SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MONITOR THE SCOOTERS AND THE VEHICLES FROM A LESS RESTRICTIVE REGULATORY APPROACH. THE REASON FOR THAT WAS SO WE COULD GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WOULD IT ACTUALLY TAKE TO WHAT WOULD WE SEE? WE REALLY NEEDED TO EXPERIENCE THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HOW TO ENFORCE, WHAT TO ENFORCE, WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK. AND THEN ALSO WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THESE COMPANIES, SO WE NEEDED TO GET THAT EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH MULTIPLE PROVIDERS TO SEE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SEVEN COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN -- THAT RECEIVED PERMITS. SO NOW WE'RE EXPERIENCING WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK WITH MULTIPLE VENDORS IN A PRETTY CONFINED SPACE RIGHT NOW. SO IT'S THAT INFORMATION IS VALUABLE FOR US SHOULD WE DECIDE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS WHERE WE WOULD MAYBE SELECT JUST A FEW. AND THEN, FINALLY, ALSO IT'S BEEN HELPFUL THE FORM OF PARKING SPACES. DO WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE LOOK AT BIKE LANES AND THE SURFACES THAT MAYBE WE CONSTRUCT THINGS WITH. DO WE NEED SPECIAL RACKS? WE HAVE BIKE RACKS BUT DO WE NEED TO HAVE RACKS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES. IT'S BEEN HELPFUL IN THIS PILOT PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE NEEDS. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. YOU MAY RECALL BACK LAST SUMMER WE WENT THROUGH A PRETTY QUICK PROCESS IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THE SCOOTER COMPANIES THAT WERE LAUNCHING OR GETTING READY TO LAUNCH. WE HAD A GREAT PUBLIC MEETING AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY. WE HAD OVER 150 PEOPLE ATTEND THAT MEETING. IT GAVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THE VENDORS, [00:40:02] UNDERSTAND HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS BETTER, BUT ALSO PROVIDE US FEEDBACK ON THEIR EXPERIENCE, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS VERY NEW. BUT IT WAS A GREAT MEETING. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ATTEND THAT. WE ALSO HAD A SURVEY THAT WAS OPEN FOR JUST A SHORT PERIOD, MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS. WE HAD OVERWHELMING RESPONSE WITH OVER 4400 PEOPLE RESPONDING TO THAT SURVEY. WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING HERE AT CITY COUNCIL ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WE BRIEFED THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. WE BRIEFED YOU ALL IN A B SESSION. AND, FINALLY, AT A SESSION ON OCTOBER 11 WE BROUGHT YOU THE PILOT PROGRAM WHICH YOU ALL APPROVED. AT THAT TIME, WE HAD SEVERAL COMPANIES OPERATING. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHERS ENTER THE MARKET. AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE SEVEN COMPANIES THAT ARE NOW PERMITTED. OF THOSE SEVEN, TWO HAVE YET TO LAUNCH. SPIN HAS NOT LAUNCHED THEIR VEHICLES YET AND LIFT HAS NOT LAUNCHED THEIR VEHICLES YET. BUT WE HAVE ISSUED A TOTAL OF 14,100 VEHICLES. 2,000 ARE BIKES AND THE REMINDER ARE SCOOTERS . WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME DATA. THAT -- THE PILOT PROGRAM INCLUDES A REQUIREMENT THAT THE COMPANIES PROVIDE US A MONTHLY REPORT. AND SO BASED ON THAT REPORT AND BASED ON INFORMATION WE RECEIVED AS OF THE END OF JANUARY, WE KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 1.4 TO 1 MILLION RIDES IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT'S SINCE THE FIRST LAUNCH OF BIRD BACK IN JUNE. IN JANUARY ALONE WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 240,000 RIDES, WHICH IS PRETTY HIGH CONSIDERING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE WINTER TIME OF YEAR, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON. AVERAGE DISTANCE OF THE RIDES ARE .735 MILES, SO ALMOST A MILE. THE AVERAGE DAILY DEPLOYMENT OF THE COMPANIES IN JANUARY WAS A LITTLE OVER 5900 VEHICLES DEPLOYED DAILY. THAT'S JUST SLIGHTLY DOWN FROM DECEMBER. BUT, AGAIN, JANUARY IS TYPICALLY A SLOWER MONTH DOWNTOWN, PARTICULARLY WITH WEATHER AND LESS EVENTS OCCURRING. SO JUST REAL QUICK. SUMMARY OF THE ADOPTED REGULATIONS. WE ADOPTED REGULATIONS CENTERED AROUND TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THAT WOULD BE RIDING AND PARKING. FOR RIDING WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU MUST BE 16 YEARS OR OLD. SCOOTERS ARE ALLOWED ON SIDEWALKS, SO YOU CAN RIDE ON THE STREET OR ON THE SIDEWALK. HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE BIKES. THEY MUST BE ON THE STREET. HELMETS ARE ENCOURAGED BUT NOT REQUIRED. AND YOU MUST FOLLOW TRAFFIC LAWS, JUST AS IF YOU WOULD IF YOU WERE IN A CAR OR ON A BIKE. AS FAR AS PARKING IS CONCERNED, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS, SO WE ADOPTED REGULATIONS THAT PROTECT THAT. THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU MUST BE THREE FEET CLEARANCE FROM PEDESTRIANS FROM THE PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY. MAY NOT PARK OR BLOCK CURB RAMPS, SO THAT WOULD BE THE RAMP, SAY, AT A CROSSWALK. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE PROTECTING THE ENTRANCES INTO AND OUT OF BUSINESSES, SO THERE'S A REQUIREMENT TO BE EIGHT FEET FROM THOSE. AND THEN WORKING WITH VIA WE ESTABLISHED AN AREA AROUND AND WITHIN THE BUS STOPS. SO THERE'S AS LITTLE IMPACT AS POSSIBLE TO PEOPLE GETTING ON AND OFF THE BUSES. WE ALSO INCLUDED PROHIBITED AREAS WHERE RIDING AND PARKING IS NOT ALLOWED. THAT WOULD BE ON RIVER WALK, PARK TRAILS, CREEKWAYS, PARKS AND PLAZAS SUCH AS ALAMO PLAZA OR MAIN PLAZA. AGAIN, PARKING AND DEPLOYMENT IS NOT ALLOWED IN THESE AREAS EITHER. SO WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THOSE AREAS, AGAIN, WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY AS WELL AS EVENTS OCCURRING. WE DID HAVE PERMIT FEES. AND THOSE PERMITS WERE VALID FOR SIX MONTHS. THERE WAS A $500 APPLICATION FEE AND THEN A $10 FEE PER VEHICLE. SO THE PROJECTED REVENUE FOR THE SIX-MONTH PILOT WAS $154,500. THAT'S BASED ON THE SEVEN COMPANIES THAT APPLIED. VERY EARLY ON WE RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO EDUCATE AND MARKET THE VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY HOW TO RIDE THEM AND HOW TO PARK THEM. WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE A LEARNING CURVE SO WE FOCUSED EARLY ON ON EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. WE DID PSAS, WE HAD RACK CARDS CREATED AND PLACED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS, WE GAVE THEM TO THE HOTELS AS WELL. WE INCLUDED INFORMATION ON THE NEW DIGITAL KIOSK. WE HAD POSTERS UP AROUND. WE WENT ON MORNING SHOWS AND LOTS OF RADIO SHOWS, TV, MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA. I HAVE BEEN ON THE RADIO SEVERAL TIMES. ACTUALLY, COUNCILMAN TREVINO AND I DID THAT TOGETHER. THANK YOU. OTHER THINGS WE DID, WE CREATED PAVEMENT DECALS. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THESE IN THE [00:45:01] DOWNTOWN AREA. JUST REMINDING PEOPLE OF HOW TO RIDE, HOW TO PARK. WE CREATED DEDICATED PARKING AREAS. WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING THOSE. WE HAVE A CREW OUT THIS MORNING DOING THAT. WE'RE IDENTIFYING AREAS IN DOWNTOWN WHERE THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THEM TO BE PARKED AND CREATING A DESIGNATED ZONE. SO IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT A DESTINATION, TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK THE SCOOTER. IF THERE'S MAYBE CONFUSION OR THEY FORGET WHAT THE PARKING REGULATIONS ARE, WE'RE JUST MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY PROVIDING THEM A SPACE TO PARK THE SCOOTER, MUCH IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVE BIKE RACKS DOWNTOWN. A BIG THING WE DID WAS WE WORKED WITH OUR 311 CALL CENTER TO ADD THE SCOOTERS TO THE APP FOR 311. SO NOW WHEN YOU OPEN UP THE 311 APP THERE'S ACTUALLY A CATEGORY TO PICK, TITLED SCOOTERS. SO YOU CAN REPORT VIOLATIONS. THOSE VIOLATIONS ARE CONCERNS THAT ARE INPUT INTO THAT APP, GO DIRECTLY TO THE SCOOTER COMPANY. SO THERE'S NO DELAY TIME IN THE SCOOTER COMPANY GETTING NOTIFIED WHEN SOMEONE REPORTS AN ISSUE. I'VE USED IT SEVERAL TIMES MYSELF AND I HAVE FOLLOWED UP, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS WORKING. I MENTIONED THE PUBLIC SURVEY THAT WE HAD AT THE INITIAL OUTSET OF THE PILOT PROGRAM. WE HAVE SINCE LAUNCHED ANOTHER SURVEY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. THANK YOU ALL, YOUR OFFICES HAVE BEEN SHARING THAT WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS. WE'RE CONTINUALLY GOING TO WORK ON GETTING THAT OUT TO THE PUBLIC. HERE'S JUSHET A COUPLE OF EXAMPS OF THE DECALS. THE ONE ON THE LEFT IS A RAMP ENTRANCE TO THE RIVER WALK. IT'S JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO PEOPLE ON THE VEHICLES THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO RIDE ON THE RIVER WALK. THE SCOOTER IS A DESIGNATED PARKING ZONE. IT'S KIND OF HARD TO MAKE OUT BECAUSE THERE'S SCOOTERS PARKED THERE, BUT THERE'S A SCOOTER SILHOUETTE THAT DENOTES THAT'S FOR SCOOTERS. FINALLY, THAT MAP ON THE RIGHT IS AN EXHIBIT THAT SHOWS WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY PLACING THESE DESIGNATED PARKING ZONES. ONE THING THAT WE'RE ALSO DOING IS WE'RE IDENTIFYING ON-STREET PARKING SPACES. SO IF THERE'S A COMMERCIAL LOADING ZONE OR MAYBE A METER SPACE ON STREET THAT WE CAN ALSO USE THOSE FOR PARKING ZONES AS WELL. PARTICULARLY IN THOSE AREAS WHERE SIDEWALKS MAY BE NARROWER AND THERE'S LESS SPACE OFF STREET TO DO THAT. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A FEW OF THE EARLY SURVEY RESULTS. WE LAUNCHED THIS TWO WEEKS AGO, SO THIS IS VERY EARLY IN THE SURVEY, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THIS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THE SCOOTERS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING. SO WE'VE HAD IT OUT FOR TWO WEEKS. WE HAD OVER 2800 RESPONDENTS. WE ASKED THEM WHY ARE THEY USING THEM, WHAT'S THE REASON YOU'RE USING DOCKLESS VEHICLES. 42% HAVE SAID FOR FUN OR EXERCISE. EXERCISE WOULD APPLY TO THE BIKES. AND THEN 20% WORK-BASED TRIPS. RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A LOT OF RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING THAT THEY HAVEN'T USED THE SCOOTERS. SO OUR GOAL IS TO GET IT OUT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY USING THE SCOOTERS. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COMPANIES TO SEND THIS TO THEIR RIDERS. WE WILL ALSO HAVE A SURVEY THAT WILL BE SPECIFIC TO RIDERS. SO WE WANT TO KNOW HOW PEOPLE ARE USING THE SCOOTERS. WHERE ARE THEY GOING? WHAT ARE THEY USING IT FOR? HOW OFTEN ARE THEY USING IT? QUESTIONS LIKE THAT. RIGHT NOW THE RESPONSE, 81% OF RESPONDENTS SAY THEY LOOK CLUTTERED. THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY. AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE RIDING THEM. OVERWHELMINGLY, 62% SAY WE HAVE TOO MANY. THAT THEY WOULD PREFER THERE BE FEWER VEHICLES. BUT, AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THE SURVEY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, AGAIN, PARTICULARLY TO RIDERS SO WE CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW PEOPLE ARE USING THEM AS WE GO FORWARD. AND SO WE'LL HAVE MORE, MUCH MORE INFORMATION IN RESPONSE AT THE END OF THE PILOT PROGRAM. ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN A BIG FOCUS OF OURS AS OF RECENTLY. PARKING ENFORCEMENT STAFF, WHICH IS UNDER OUR DEPARTMENT, CCDO, IN ADDITION TO HELP FROM CENTRO AND THE AMBASSADORS HAVE BEEN CORRECTING PARKING VIOLATIONS. IF YOU'RE WALKING ALONG AND A SCOOTER HAS FALLEN IN A MANNER THAT IS BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE EFFORT TO [00:50:04] JUST UPRIGHT THE SCOOTER AND CORRECT IT. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT PROACTIVELY, JUST TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CLUTTER ISSUES AND THE BLOCKING OF THE SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE IMPOUNDED SOME SCOOTERS. AN IMPOUNDMENT OCCURS WHEN WE CONTACT THE COMPANY AND THEY DO NOT RESPOND WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED OF THEM. IT'S TWO HOURS IF THEY ARE ON A SIDEWALK BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK PATHWAY. IT'S AN HOUR IF IT'S IN A PROHIBITED AREA, SUCH AS THE RIVER WALK. WE HAVE IMPOUNDED SOME SCOOTERS WHEN THE COMPANY HAS NOT RESPONDED TO OUR REPORTS. 311 HAS BEEN BUSY. SINCE 311 STARTED ACCEPTING THE CALLS RIGHT AFTER THE PILOT STARTED, THEY'VE RECEIVED ABOUT 1300 REPORTS OF THAT. ALMOST 400 HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE APP. AND THE APP WAS JUST LAUNCHED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. SO I EXPECT THAT WE'LL SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE USING THE APP. ONE THING THAT WE DID RIGHT AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, WE DETERMINED THAT WE NEEDED DEDICATED STAFF TO JUST DO ENFORCEMENT. SO WE'VE NOW HIRED FOUR DEDICATED ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT ARE A PART OF OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT TEAM TO ADDRESS PARKING AND DEPLOYMENT VIOLATIONS. AND THEN, FINALLY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PARKS POLICE ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF RIDING. TO ASSIST WITH THAT WE HAVE BEEN USING SOME OVERTIME SHIFTS WITHIN SAPD WHO ARE FOCUSING ON BAD RIDING BEHAVIOR. I WOULD ADD THAT ALL OF THIS CURRENTLY IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH PERMIT FEES THAT WE'RE COLLECTING FROM THE COMPANIES. SO WE'RE NOT USING ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THIS, AS OF TODAY. INJURIES. BACK IN SEPTEMBER, FIRE DEPARTMENT STARTED COLLECTING SOME DATA FOR US ABOUT MID-SEPTEMBER. WE ASKED THEM THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT TO START TRACKING INJURIES FOR US. SINCE THEN, 93 INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED THROUGH EMS. SO THIS IS BASICALLY CALLS FOR SERVICE. THIS IS WHEN SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT AND THEY CALL 9-1-1. WE HAVE 93 OF THOSE. OF THAT 93, 40% OF THOSE OCCURRED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11:00 P.M. AND 4:00 A.M. SO WE ARE SEEING FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF INJURIES OCCURRING IN THE LATE-NIGHT HOURS. SOME OF THE ISSUES I IDENTIFIED SPECIFICALLY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THESE AMENDMENTS. OUR RIDING, PARKING, AND DEPLOYMENT IN THOSE PROHIBITED AREAS, LIKE THE ALAMO PLAZA AND THE RIVER WALK. WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF UNDERAGE RIDING. WE SEE SOME CHILDREN, SOMETIMES ALONE, SOMETIMES WITH THEIR PARENTS. WE'VE SEEN IN CASES WHERE WE HAD AN ADULT AND A CHILD ON A SCOOTER TOGETHER. RIDING WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON A SCOOTER IS NOT ALLOWED. WE'VE SEEN SOME ACCIDENTS. DEPLOYMENT. THAT'S IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, SO THAT WOULD BE A DEPLOYMENT WHERE THEY'RE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALKS OR CURB RAMPS. WE HAVE HAD IMPACTS TO EVENTS. THE ALAMO BOWL, A LOT OF PEOPLE USED SCOOTERS TO RIDE TO THE ALAMO BOWL. WHEN THEY GOT THERE PEOPLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH FINDING A PLACE TO PARK THEM. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED EVENTS AS A THING WE NEED TO ADDRESS. FINALLY, AND I MENTIONED THIS EARLY ON, THAT VEHICLES, NOW THAT THERE'S SO MANY VEHICLES OUT THERE THEY'RE NOT GETTING PICKED UP AT NIGHT. WHEN THEY WERE FIRST LAUNCHED, THE COMPANIES WOULD PICK UP THE SCOOTERS NIGHTLY TO RECHARGE THEM. BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS WITH SO MANY VEHICLES OUT THERE THEY'RE NOT BEING USED, SO THERE'S NO NEED TO RECHARGE THEM, SO THEY'RE LEFT OUT OVERNIGHT. WHICH, AGAIN, IS CREATING A PROBLEM FOR CENTRO AND THEIR MAINTENANCE OF THE DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, WE'RE RECOMMENDING SOME MID-POINT AMENDMENTS. THESE ARE JUST AMENDMENTS THAT ARE KIND OF HALFWAY THROUGH THIS PILOT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE IMMEDIATE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE. AND THEN WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU ALL LATER THIS SPRING WITH SOME MORE BROADER AMENDMENTS. SO WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS THAT WE IMPOSE HOURS OF OPERATION FROM 6:00 A.M. TO 11:00 P.M. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT RIDES COULD NOT BE STARTED AFTER 11:0L 6:00 A.M. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IF YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIDE, SAY YOU RENTED IT AT 10:50 AND YOU'RE RIDING, IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP AT 11:00. IT MEANS YOU CANNOT START A RIDE AFTER 11:00 P.M. SO, REALLY, THERE'S TWO REASONS FOR THIS. THIS IS INTENDED TO HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE ACCIDENTS OCCURRING IN THIS TIME-FRAME, BUT IT'S ALSO TO HELP US ADDRESS THE CLUTTER AND THE BAD PARKING THAT OCCURS AT THIS TIME. BECAUSE CURRENTLY THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT AT THIS TIME. [00:55:02] THE COMPANIES ARE NOT OUT THERE CORRECTING THEM THIS LATE AT NIGHT, AT LEAST NOT ALL OF THEM. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE ASKED THEM TO START DOING. SECONDLY, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD GRANT THE AUTHORITY TO ME TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE SCOOTERS MUST BE TEMPORARILY REMOVED. AND THAT COULD BE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. ONE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, IS FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR CENTRO TO DO THEIR WORK. AVOIDING CONSTRUCTION. SO IF THERE'S CONSTRUCTION AREAS WHERE THE SCOOTERS MAY CREATE A CONFLICT THERE. AND ALSO FOR SPECIAL EVENTS. SO THE WAY THIS WOULD WORK IS WE WOULD IDENTIFY THROUGH EITHER CENTRO OR TCI IF IT'S A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR EVENT, WE WOULD IDENTIFY AREAS THAT SCOOTERS SHOULD NOT BE DEPLOYED IN OR SHOULD NOT BE PARKED IN DURING A CERTAIN TIME-FRAME AND A CERTAIN LOCATION. THIS COULD BE ALONG, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ROUTE OF THE FIESTA PARADE ROUTE. WE WANT TO KEEP THE SCOOTERS OUT OF THAT PARADE ROUTE. SO FOR THAT DAY OF THE PARADE WE WOULD PROHIBIT THE SCOOTERS TO BE PARKED OR RIDDEN IN THAT AREA. AND THEN FOR DOWNTOWN, SO THAT CENTRO CAN DO THEIR WORK. WE WORK WITH CENTRO TO IDENTIFY KIND OF THEIR HOT SPOTS, WHERE THEY ARE SEEING THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE NUMBER OF SCOOTERS, IN ADDITION TO WHERE DO THEY NEED TO DO THE MOST PRESSURE WASHING, AND IDENTIFY THOSE CORRIDORS WHERE THE VEHICLES WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED. WE'RE NOT TELLING THEM THEY HAVE TO PICK THEM UP AND COMPLETE REMOVE THEM FROM DOWNTOWN, WE'RE JUST ASKING THEM TO MOVE THEM MAYBE A BLOCK OVER TO THE STREET OR A SIDE STREET. ONE OTHER AREA WE'RE SEEING A PROBLEM WITH IS ON THE RIVER WALK OR IN ALAMO PLAZA. CURRENTLY THE VENDORS HAVE ONE HOUR TO REMOVE THOSE VEHICLES AFTER WE REPORT THAT. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE THE ORDINANCE GIVE US THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE THEM IMMEDIATELY. SOMETIMES AN HOUR IS TOO LONG. WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM RIGHT AWAY. IF WE DO THAT, WE WOULD NOT CHARGE THEM THE IMPOUNDMENT FEE. IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE DON'T GIVE THEM AN HOUR TO REMOVE IT THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHARGE THEM THE FEE. BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE NEED TO REMOVE THEM IMMEDIATELY. SO WE WOULD JUST REMOVE THEM, CONTACT THE COMPANY, AND THEN THEY COULD COME PICK THEM UP. WE'RE ALSO ASKING YOU TO RATIFY A MORATORIUM ON THE SCOOTERS PUT IN PLACE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AFTER THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING. AND THEN, FINALLY, WE'RE ALSO AGAIN ENCOURAGING THE COMPANIES AND RIDERS TO USE DESIGNATED PARKING ZONES. THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE AREAS THAT CENTRO IS PRESSURE WASHING. THOSE ARE THE ZONES IN THE DARK BLUE THAT YOU SEE THERE. THOSE AREAS IN THAT KIND OF LIGHT LIME GREEN IS AN EXAMPLE OF AREAS WHERE WE MAY ASK THEM TO REMOVE SCOOTERS AT NIGHT. SO IT MAY BE 10:00 OR 11:00, JUST DEPENDS ON THE TIME OF YEAR, WHAT CENTRO'S PRESSURE WASHING ACTIVITY WILL BE. BUT WE'LL WORK CLOSELY WILL CENTRO TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS AND LET THE COMPANIES KNOW THEY NEED TO REMOVE VEHICLES FROM THOSE AREAS AT NIGHT. DATA. I'VE SAID THIS A LOT. DATA IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS PROGRAM AND FOR THE COMPANIES AND FOR US TO MANAGE IT EFFECTIVELY. SO WE HAVE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH COMPANIES TO GET MORE DATA ABOUT VEHICLES THAT DON'T GO UNTOUCHED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THAT CAN HELP US DETERMINE IF WE HAVE TOO MANY. ROUTE INFORMATION SO WE CAN IDENTIFY WHERE POTENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT NEEDS ARE. WE CAN LOOK AT AREAS WHERE IT'S PROHIBITED BUT PEOPLE ARE RIDING IN. ARE THESE RIDES REPLACING CAR TRIPS? THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK. HOW ARE PEOPLE USING THESE. IT WILL HELP US IDENTIFY WHICH GEO-FENCING TECHNIQUES COULD BE HELPFUL TO REDUCE RIDES IN PROHIBITED AREAS. ALSO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ANALYZE DATA SUCH AS TIME AND DAY OF ACCIDENTS, WHERE MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS ARE OCCURRING. THAT COULD HELP US IDENTIFY MAYBE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT MAY BE, AND IF THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO PROACTIVELY TO HELP CURB THOSE ACCIDENTS. WE'LL CONTINUE TO GATHER INFORMATION AFTER THE PILOT. CITIES ARE EXPERIENCING WHAT MAYBE IS WORKING FOR THEM THAT WE COULD MAYBE LOOK AT AS A BEST PRACTICE. ONE THING WE NEED TO DO IS EVALUATE THE PERMIT FEES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERMIT FEES ARE [01:00:02] APPROPRIATE, TO HELP US TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, DO WE NEED TO EXPAND ENFORCEMENT. DO WE NEED DEDICATED STAFF TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM. WE'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS AFTER THE PILOT. SO THIS WOULD BE IN THE APRIL/MAY TIME-FRAME. AGAIN, DO WE NEED TO INCREASE PERMIT FEES? RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST FEES IN THE COUNTRY. DO WE NEED TO INCREASE FEES TO HELP US WITH ENFORCEMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE? OF IN SYNC WITH THAT DO WE NEED TO REQUIRE THE APP TO SHUT DOWN OR SHUT DOWN THE RIDE SO IT DOESN'T END IN A PROHIBITED AREA. SOME OF THE COMPANIES AUDIO] OF THE SCOOTER OR THE VEHICLE AFTER YOU PARK IT TO SHOW THAT YOU PARKED IT CORRECTLY. WE PROBABLY NEED TO TALK AGAIN ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED ON SIDEWALKS AND ONLY REQUIRE STREET. MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REQUIRE THEM TO PARK THE VEHICLES IN A DESIGNATED CORRAL. FOR EXAMPLE, AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER. THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE TO ADD IN THOSE AREAS. AND THEN FINALLY A MAXIMUM SPEED FOR VEHICLES. ACTUALLY, A FEW MORE. SORRY. WE PROBABLY WILL WANT MORE DATA. RIGHT NOW A LOT OF THE COMPANIES HAVE VOLUNTARILY GIVEN US ACCESS TO MORE DATA FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET THE DATA DIRECTLY SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT, ANALYZE IT, AND USE IT FOR OUR PURPOSES, FOR THE VEHICLES TO BE PERMITTED. AND THAT COULD BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN RFP PROCESS AND MAKE THIS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS WHERE WE SELECT ONLY A FEW OR A COUPLE OF VENDORS AND WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THEM TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER OF VEHICLES, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY OR NOT ENOUGH. I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SENATE BILL THAT WAS FILED JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO FROM A SENATOR UP IN DALLAS. RIGHT NOW IT'S PROPOSED TO REQUIRE A DRIVER'S LICENSE TO OPERATE A VEHICLE. SO YOU HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE. MAY NOT USE A SCOOTER AUDIO] WHICH IS A REGULATION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. AND IT WOULD SET A STATEWIDE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT OF 15 MILES PER HOUR, AND FINALLY YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO OBSTRUCT A ROADWAY OR SIDEWALK. MANY OF THESE WE ALREADY HAVE IN OUR ORDINANCE, BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THE STATE IS INTERESTED IN THIS AS WELL. AND SO WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WE'LL BE SURE TO REPORT BACK TO YOU THROUGH JEFF AND HIS TEAM. SO, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, JOHN. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS. MS. HARRIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY WARREN WILKINSON. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ASHLEY HARRIS AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO. VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS A SUPPORTER OF THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE PROGRAM WITHIN OUR CITY. THESE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, NOT ONLY FOR RESIDENTS AND VISIT SAN ANTONIO STAFF, BUT ALSO FOR THE 37 MILLION VISITORS WHO COME TO THE SAN ANTONIO METRO AREA EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THE DOCKLESS VEHICLES OFFER A FUN AND ENTERTAINING TRANSPORTATION OPTION FOR OUR VISITORS TO ENJOY WHILE EXPLORING THIS CITY. BUT WHILE THEY ARE AUDIO] FROM THE ONSET THAT MODIFICATIONS, AMENDMENTS, AND UPDATES WOULD NEED TO BE MADE AS WE WENT THROUGH THE SIX MONTH PILOT PROGRAM. ACCORDINGLY WE STRONGLY SUPPORT CCDO'S RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY WORK TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND COMFORT OF OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, THE COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, AND CCDO FOR THE DELIBERATE AND THOUGHTFUL STEPS YOU HAVE TAKEN TO ENSURE ALL STAKEHOLDER VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED WORK TOGETHER AS WE BRING THE WORLD TO SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. WARREN WILKINSON FOLLOWED BY [01:05:01] JACK FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER. I'M WARREN WILKINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CENTRO SAN ANTONIO. TO FOLLOW-UP ON JOHN'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE POWER WASHING, I WANT TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF A SCALE TO THE PROBLEM WE ENCOUNTERED JUST WITHIN THE PID. OUR FISCAL YEAR LAST YEAR WE POWER WASHED JUST OVER 49 MILLION SQUARE FEET WITHIN THE PID. IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR -- SO THAT WOULD BE OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER -- WE SAW A 40% DECREASE IN THE SQUARE FOOTAGE WE COULD POWER WASH. MOVING SCOOTERS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO POWER WASH SAFELY. PARTICULARLY ON THE CURBS, WE TELL OUR AMBASSADORS NOT TO GET OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND POWER WASH WITH TRAFFIC. SO THAT'S A DIRECT IMPACT. AS SUCH, WE HAVE WORKED WITH CCDO ON A COUPLE OF OPTIONS. IDEALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL THE SCOOTERS REMOVED FROM THE PID AT NIGHT TO HAVE OUR AREA UNINHIBITED FOR POWER WASHING. BUT, AS A SECOND OPTION, THE MAP THAT WAS SHOWN BY JOHN SHOWED SOME SPECIFIC AREAS. AND THOSE ARE VERY TIED TO BUS STOPS WHERE YOU GET THE MOST AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC, THE MOST AMOUNT OF TRASH AND NEED OF CLEANING. AND SO WE FULLY SUPPORT THESE AMENDMENTS MID-PILOT. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH CCDO. THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS AFTER THE PILOT PROGRAM TO LOOK AT. JUST AS A NOTE, SANTA MONICA, NASHVILLE, NEW ORLEANS, AND INDIANAPOLIS ALL HAVE CURFEWS THAT REQUIRE SCOOTER REMOVAL, BASICALLY IN A DAWN TO DUSK TIME-FRAME. SO I HOPE YOU APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WILKINSON. JACK FINGER FOLLOWED BY ANDRES SANDOVAR. >> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. WHAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING THE SCOOTER PROGRAM? WHY DO WE ESTABLISH SCOOTERS HERE IN TOWN? WHY DID WE PUT THEM HERE? WHY DID WE ALLOW THEM TO PROLIFERATE? DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE REASONS FOR IT? HUH? WELL, I GUESS ONE ANSWER IS WE WANTED TO MOVE AROUND MORE EASILY, GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER. WELL, CARS ALREADY DO THAT. CARS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A CENTURY OR SO. THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY WELL ESTABLISHED. THEY CAN DO THAT FOR US. BUSES AND TROLLEYS DO THAT FOR US ALREADY, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. WE HAVE TROLLEY ROUTES GOING EVERYWHERE. BICYCLES DO THAT FOR US. AND YOU EVEN GET SOME EXERCISE WITH IT. I MEAN, I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE GOALS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO TOMORROW PROGRAMS HERE, HUH? NOW, BUT SCOOTERS. ELECTRIC SCOOTERS. WELL, WE WANTED TO REDUCE THE AIR POLLUTION HERE IN TOWN. UH-HUH. OKAY. YOU CERTAINLY DON'T GET ANY EXERCISE ON A SCOOTER. YOU SIMPLY STAND ON IT AND IT TAKES YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. HAS AIR POLLUTION BEEN REDUCED SINCE SCOOTERS HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD? HAS ANYBODY LOOKED AT THESE THINGS? HAS ANYBODY TAKEN A MEASURE OF THE AIR POLLUTION HERE IN TOWN, BEFORE AND AFTER SCENARIO? HUH? I DARE SAY, JUST MAYBE, IT HASN'T HAPPENED. YES. HAS ANYBODY DONE A COST-BENEFIT STUDY ON THIS WHOLE THING? I MEAN, YES, SCOOTERS ARE A NICE FEEL-GOOD WAY TO ESTABLISH A FEW OF THE GOALS THAT YOU SAY YOU WANT TO ESTABLISH FOR OUR TOWN. BUT, I'M SORRY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF IT ALL, I MEAN, WITH ALL THE ACCIDENTS YOU'RE HAVING. OF ALL THE BAD WILL YOU'RE HAVING AMONG THE PEDESTRIANS AND TOURISTS WHO GET HIT. THE NEAR MISSES. I'VE ALREADY HAD TWO NEAR-MISSES ALREADY. YES. YES. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE STATE WANTS TO LIMIT A FEW THINGS. 15 MILES PER HOUR. WHY DO YOU NEED ANYTHING FASTER THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR ON A SIDEWALK? THAT MIGHT REDUCE THESE. AND ALSO THE ENFORCEMENT. [01:10:02] PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO LICENSE PLATE ON THESE THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO JOT DOWN AND TELL THE POLICE OF A NEAR-MISS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. ANDRES ANDOVAS FOLLOWED BY STEVEN MARTINEZ. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MADAME MANAGER. I'M WITH HEMISFAIR. MY COMMENTS ARE ABOUT THE PROPOSED SCOOTER PROGRAM AMENDMENTS AND THEIR EFFECT ON HEMISFAIR. YANAGUANA GARDEN RECEIVED 772,000 VISITORS LAST YEAR, BECOMING THE SECOND MOST VISITED PARK PER ACRE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. OF THOSE VISITORS, 85% ARE LOCALS COMING FROM EVERY ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS. HEMISFAIR HAS BECOME WHERE SAN ANTONIO MEETS. AS A DESIGNATED CITY PARK, SCOOTERS ARE PROHIBITED AT HEMISFAIR. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME VEHICLES ON CAMPUS AND MANY IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. SO THE PROPOSED HOURS OF OPERATION WORK WELL, SINCE HEMISFAIR CLOSES. WE ARE WORKING WITH CCDO TO DESIGNATE DROPOFF AREAS. TYPICALLY WHERE WE HAVE CYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY. AUTHORITY TO REMOVE AND REDEPLOY SCOOTERS AND TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN AREAS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS, WHETHER FOR CONSTRUCTION OR MAINTENANCE, WILL SERVE US WELL. REDUCING THE SPEED AT HEMISFAIR TO SPEEDS SAFE TO PEDESTRIANS WILL MINIMIZE THE RISK OF CRASH, PARTICULARLY WITH CHILDREN PLAYING AT THE YANAGUANA GARDEN. THIS IS LIMITED TO MISCHIEVOUS RENTERS. THE MOST SKILLED RIDERS ARE ARTISTS ABLE TO DRAW UNDESIRABLES WITH JUST THE GRAPHICS ON TO CONCRETE. WE'RE WORKING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION TO ADDRESS REMOVAL BUT WE'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS THE OFFENDERS EVENTUALLY. I'M THANKFUL TO COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, CITY MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF, JOHN JACKS, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING TOUGH AND COMPLEX ISSUES SUCH AS SCOOTER MANAGEMENT IN THIS THOUGHTFUL MANNER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ANDOVAR. STEVEN MARTINEZ. MR. MARTINEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN CHISHOLM. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO EVERYBODY. I DO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF I'M KIND OF NOT POLISHED AS FAR AS MY SPEAKING ACTS AND WHAT NOT. BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ON THIS AND THERE ARE THREE MAIN THINGS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE I WANT TO COMMENT ON. THE FIRST THING, FIRST THING LET ME POINT OUT, I AM A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT AND I AM A CHARGER AS WELL, SO I DO PICK UP THE SCOOTERS IN THE EVENING AND DEPLOY THEM NO LONGER. AS FAR AS DEPLOYING THEM IN DESIGNATED AREAS, I'M ALL FOR THAT. THE ENTREPRENEUR SPIRIT COMES TO MIND, Y'ALL CAN EVEN CHARGE TO QUANTITIES HERE, BUT THAT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, SECOND THING, REMOVING THE VEHICLES WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I DO KIND OF SEE THAT AS UNFAIR TO THE SCOOTER COMPANIES BECAUSE IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE RIDERS AND THE CHARGERS, THE PEOPLE DEPLOYING THEM, IT'S NOT SO MUCH OUR FAULT WHY THEY'RE CROWDING THE SIDEWALK. IT'S ALSO THE PUBLIC'S FAULT. WHETHER THEY'RE RIDERS OR WHETHER THEY'RE JUST PEOPLE IN GENERAL. PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED. I LIVE DOWNTOWN AND, YOU KNOW, JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCES I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY PUT THEM IN THE MEDIAN. I'VE SEEN SOMEBODY WALK BY AND JUST KIND OF KNOCK THEM ALL OVER. YOU KNOW, WHY PEOPLE DO THIS, I DON'T KNOW. JUST THE OTHER DAY I SAW PEOPLE FROM THE RIVER AUTHORITY TAKE THEM OFF THEIR PROPERTY AND PUT THEM ON THE SIDEWALK. I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS EXAMPLES LIKE THAT FROM HOTEL WORKERS. THEY JUST DON'T WANT THEM ON THEIR PROPERTY AND AS LONG AS THEY'RE OFF THEIR PROPERTY THEY'RE SATISFIED. SO HOW THEY PUT THEM OFF THE PROPERTY, THAT'S KIND OF -- THE BOTTOM LINE IS REMOVING THE VEHICLES WITHOUT WARNING, I THINK IT'S UNFAIR. I'M MORE AN ADVOCATE FOR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH PAYING RIDERS OR EVEN THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. NOW THE THIRD THING I WANT TO COMMENT ON, AND THIS IS THE MAIN THING. THIS IS THE CURFEW. SIMPLY PUT, I THINK IT'S VERY JUVENILE. I HEAR MY MENTOR, HE'S AN 80-YEAR-OLD JEWISH MAN, BUT I HEAR HIS WORDS. WHAT ARE WE, CHILDREN? I MEAN, 11:00 TO 6:00, MY FIRST QUESTION WAS WHY, AND MR. JACKS MENTIONED THERE'S TOO MANY THINGS. I GET THAT. CENTRO DOES AN AMAZING JOB KEEPING THE DOWNTOWN STREETS [01:15:06] CLEAN. I'M ALL FOR IT. WAY TO GO. THEY KNOW WHAT STREETS WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE CLEANED AND WHEN. THEY CAN COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE COMPANY AND THE COMPANY COULD SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO KEEP THOSE AREAS CLEAN ON THOSE SPECIFIC DAYS AND TIMES WHEN THEY'RE READY TO DEPLOY. SECOND THING, LET ME FAST FORWARD, BECAUSE I HEARD THE BEEP. SECOND THING IS WORK. WORKERS USE THEM. I LIVE DOWNTOWN. YESTERDAY WITHIN 15 MINUTES BETWEEN 11:00 TO 12:00, I SAW FIVE PEOPLE RIDING, WHETHER IT'S SOMEBODY FROM WORK. I ASK Y'ALL BEFORE Y'ALL VOTE, DO YOU WANT TO BE A VIBRANT CITY WHERE YOU WANT TO KEEP ON ATTRACTING TALENT? OR ARE WE GOING TO BE A SLEEPY, WORKING-CLASS CITY OR A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN THAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT THE TALENT, ATTRACT THE PEOPLE WITH THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP. ATTRACT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN AND ENJOY IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ. >> THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JOHN CHISHOLM FOLLOWED BY CASEY WHITTINGTON. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JOHN CHISHOLM AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY. AND WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT. AND IN OUR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THE MUSEUM REACH, THE MISSION REACH, AND THE NEW SAN PEDRO CREEK CULTURE PARK WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT JOHN AND CCDO HAVE OUTLINED TO YOU, INCLUDING SEEING MANY OF THESE VEHICLES, MOTORIZED VEHICLES BEING RIDDEN ON TRAILS WHERE THEY ARE PROHIBITED. WE ARE SEEING, AS WARREN POINTED OUT, TIRE MARKINGS THAT ARE DEFACING SOME OF THE NEW TRAILS THAT WE'RE SEEING, ESPECIALLY IN THE SAN PEDRO CREEK CULTURE PARK. WE ARE HAVING TO SPEND SOME TIME FISHING SOME OF THESE VEHICLES OUT OF THE RIVERS AND CREEKS. IT'S NOT AS EASY AS YOU MIGHT THINK. THESE VEHICLES ARE VERY HEAVY AND THEY ARE TIME CONSUMING. WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEE THE STEPPED-UP ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES THAT ARE IN PLACE. AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THESE AMENDMENTS AND ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO, TOWARD THE END OF THE PROGRAM WHEN WE HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS WE CAN LOOK AT, SUCH AS MAYBE GEO-FENCING TO KEEP THE VEHICLES OUT OF SOME OF THE PROHIBITED AREAS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. CHISHOLM. >> JUST A QUICK POINT OF CLARIFICATION. I THINK IN YOUR BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS THAT REVIEW WHEN I JUST CONFIRMED WITH CITY STAFF THAT WE ARE FULLY PERMITTED TO OPERATE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I REMEMBER GETTING MOST OF YOU ON YOUR FIRST SCOOTER HERE IN TOWN. MANY OF YOU THOUGHT I WAS THEN E ALL COMING. AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT NONE OF US ANTICIPATED THIS LEVEL OF INTEREST FROM COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HAVING 12,000 UNITS WITHIN SAN ANTONIO IS A LITTLE MUCH, IN OUR MIND. WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK IN FULL SUPPORT OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION. ADDITIONALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN RFP PROCESS INITIATED AT THE END OF THE PILOT PROGRAM. WE THINK THAT HAVING JUST A COUPLE OF COMPANIES TO DEAL WITH IS MUCH EASIER ON STAFF AND FOR CITIZENS. WE'RE GOING TO STICK AROUND. IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET US KNOW, BUT WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WHITTINGTON. AARON RODRIGUEZ. >> MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG, AND MEMBERS OF MY HOMETOWN CITY COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO. MY NAME IS TREVOR WHITNEY AND I REPRESENT BLUE DUCK SCOOTERS AS WELL, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE, CASEY WHITTINGTON. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENTS AS WRITTEN, WITH ONE SMALL CAVEAT. MY DAY JOB, I GO TO CITY ACROSS TEXAS. EVERY CITY THAT I GO TO, EVERY COUNCIL I SPEAK TO IS LOOKING AT YOU, SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS TECHNOLOGY INTO THEIR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S TRUE. GOOD OR BAD. AGAIN, I THINK THESE ARE GOOD FIRST STEPS, BUT MY SMALL CAVEAT TO THIS IS ON THE CURFEW ITEM ITSELF. WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING THIS TECHNOLOGY FROM AN EQUITY LENS WE CANNOT FORGET THE WORKING MAN AND WOMAN WHO DO NOT WORK 9:00 TO 5:00. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE'RE ADOPTING MORE PERMANENT REGULATIONS IN THE CITY. BUT FOR NOW THE PILOT PROGRAM WILL SERVE AS A GOOD STARTING POINT TO COLLECT DATA. I'M IN FULL SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WHITNEY. AARON RODRIGUEZ. >> GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANTED TO SAY REALLY QUICK, THANKS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PILOT PROGRAM. I WAS OVER HERE AND I SPOKE DURING THE FIRST HEARING REGARDING THE SCOOTERS. SO I AM GRATEFUL THAT THERE IS A PILOT PROGRAM. [01:20:01] I ACTUALLY RODE ONE DOWN HERE ON THE WAY, SINCE I PARKED A LITTLE FURTHER OUT. ANYWAY, ONE THING THAT'S BEEN TOUCHED ON THAT'S ALSO A CONCERN TO ME IS THE CURFEW. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE PILOT PROGRAM, SO I HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED WHEN THE PILOT PROGRAM IS OVER. BUT IT DOES SEEM AS THE OTHER CITIZEN SAID, A BIT JUVENILE TO PUT A CURFEW ON THE BIRD SCOOTERS. AND MAYBE I'M BEING A BIT EXTREME HERE, BUT IF WE PUT A CURFEW ON THE SCOOTERS, WE SHOULD PROBABLY ALSO PUT A CURFEW ON CARS AND MOTORCYCLES, SINCE I IMAGINE THERE'S A LOT OF ACCIDENTS AT NIGHT. LIKE I SAID, THAT'S REALLY A BIT EXTREME AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I THINK, BUT THAT'S KIND OF, I THINK, WHAT THAT SAYS TO ME, IF THERE'S A CURFEW ON THE SCOOTERS THERE SHOULD BE A CURFEW ON EVERYTHING ELSE. SO THAT'S ONE ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO BE REVISITED IN THE FUTURE. AND THEN, YEAH. SO THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY ISSUE I HAD WITH THIS PILOT PROGRAM. AND, LIKE I SAID, I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE IT IN ACTION AND I HOPE TO SEE GOOD THINGS COME FROM THIS PROGRAM. I'VE ALREADY SEEN THE CITY KIND OF WARM UP TO THESE SCOOTERS A LITTLE BIT. I KNOW THEY'RE STILL NOT BIG WITH EVERYBODY YET, BUT I HOPE EVERYONE WILL SEE THE BENEFIT. SO, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMAN TREVINO. >> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND FIRST I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO THANK ERIK WALSH, LORI HOUSTON, JOHN JACKS, PAUL AND CENTRO AND ALL THE GREAT FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I WAS EVEN AT AN EVENT THE OTHER NIGHT PUT ON BY A NEW GROUP CALLED READY SA GO, TRANSIT ON TAP. THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST HERE. YOU KNOW, WE HEARD A COMMENT JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, CARS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR, I DON'T KNOW, 100 YEARS OR SO. AND THAT'S A GREAT POINT TO MAKE. THAT THERE'S BEEN REQUIREMENTS IN THE PAST AND WHEN THEY FIRST CAME IN THERE WASN'T THE FRAMEWORK. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHEN THE FIRST CARS DID SHOW UP THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS PARKING LOTS. AND AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO CREATE THAT FRAMEWORK. AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH HERE TODAY. SO FIRST I JUST WANT TO MENTION, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS ABOUT DATA, THIS IS HOW WE CAN RESPOND. AND SO I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO THANK ERIK WALSH AND PAULA STALLCUP FOR ADDRESSING ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS, WHICH IS MAKING SURE THAT SCOOTERS IS AN ACTUAL COMPONENT IN THE 311 SA APP. AND AS SHOWN IT HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING IN AND PROVIDING A LOT OF USEFUL INFORMATION FOR US. SO THANK YOU, PAULA. THANK YOU, ERIK FOR DOING THAT. YOU KNOW, WITHIN THAT FEATURE -- IN FACT, THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS ON THAT SAME MEETING WITH BETO, WHO HELPS TO CREATE THE PROGRAM THROUGH CITY FLAG FOR OUR 311 SA APP. AND POINTED OUT THAT THE FEATURE IN THE 311 SA APP IS THAT YOU CAN GEO LOCATE, TAKE A PICTURE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO IDENTIFY WHICH COMPANY IT IS. AND THE COMPANIES GET THAT SAME INFORMATION. SO, ONCE AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DOWNLOAD THE 311 SA APP. THAT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO HOW WE AS A CITY CAN RESPOND TO A LOT OF YOUR CONCERNS. SPEAKING OF WHICH, WE ALSO ADDED SIDEWALK. AND I EXPECT A LOT OF CONCERNS COMING BY THE WAY OF THAT CATEGORY AS WELL. A QUICK LITTLE SHOUT OUT. I DID DO A COUPLE OF 311 REPORTS AND THEY'VE BEEN ADDRESSED WITHIN 24 HOURS. SO GREAT WORK AGAIN, PAULA. SO I WANT TO GET TO A COUPLE OF THESE POINTS HERE. AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMPANIES, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN LISTENING. AND THEY'VE BEEN RESPONSIVE. AND WHAT WE WANT HERE IS A BALANCED APPROACH. BOTTOM LINE IS THE LIGHT TOUCH HAS NOT WORKED OUT. WE NEED A FRAMEWORK. THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT. WE HAVE A LOT OF SCOOTERS, SPECIFICALLY IN DOWNTOWN, AND MANY OF THEM CAN CAUSE A LOT OF ISSUES FOR PEDESTRIANS WHO ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. SPECIFICALLY, THOSE THAT MIGHT CAUSE A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE OR AN ISSUE OF ACCESSIBILITY. SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT AND WE'RE [01:25:01] WORKING WITH THE COMPANIES TO ADDRESS WHAT WE CONSIDER A BEHAVIORAL ISSUE. BUT ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I THINK IS HELPING -- OR ONE OF THE KEY FEATURES THAT THESE AMENDMENTS ARE HELPING WITH IS SOMETHING WE DID ASK FOR IS THESE PARKING ZONES. PARKING ZONES, AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE ONCE HAD WITH CARS. PROVIDING THESE PARKING ZONES I THINK CAN BE VERY HELPFUL. JOHN, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT ARE WE DOING RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK I JUST WANT TO MAKE ANOTHER CLEAR POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS OF PARKING ZONES. AND HOW WE CAN PROVIDE THAT. IT'S NOT ABOUT CREATING A SINGLE PARKING ZONE FOR AN ENTIRE AREA, BUT RATHER HOW THE PARKING ZONES CAN ACTUALLY BE VERY FLEXIBLE JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE AND PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK THAT HELPS TO KEEP AT LEAST THE PARK SCOOTERS FROM LITTERING THE SIDEWALKS OR BECOMING A HAZARD ON A RAMP OR ON AN ENTRYWAY. >> SURE. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 30 DESIGNATED PARKING ZONES, IF YOU WILL, OR PARKING SPACES THAT WE'VE CREATED THROUGHOUT KIND OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA. AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO CREATE THOSE. THE WEATHER HAS NOT BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE WITH US THIS MONTH. IT'S BEEN A STRANGE FEBRUARY SO FAR, I THINK. BUT WE'RE DOING REALLY KIND OF A LIGHTER, FASTER, CHEAPER APPROACH TO THIS. WE'RE USING A, WHAT I WOULD CALL A SEMI-TEMPORARY KIND OF CHALK, SPRAY PAINT. WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE ANYTHING PERMANENT UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE IT'S WORKING AND FOR SURE THAT IT'S IN THE RIGHT LOCATION. SO WE'RE USING THAT TYPE OF PAINT. WE CREATED OUR OWN STENCILS SO WE CAN QUICKLY KIND OF APPLY THEM IN DIFFERENT AREAS. AND THEY COULD BE USED DURING EVENTS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR FIESTA PARADE, WE'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT CREATING THESE ZONES AROUND THE PARADE ROUTE THAT COULD BE EASILY PUT DOWN A DAY OR TWO BEFORE THE PARADE AND THEN REMOVED A DAY OR TWO AFTER. BECAUSE THEY'RE PRETTY EASILY REMOVED WITH PRESSURE WASHING THEM. SO THE IDEA IS TO BE FLEXIBLE. TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND OR CONTRACT THOSE SPACES WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED. BUT IT'S ABOUT IDENTIFYING THOSE LOCATIONS EITHER WHERE WE KNOW THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH PEDESTRIANS, BECAUSE IT'S A HIGH-PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AREA -- >> TREVINO: ARE WE NOT LOOKING AT PARKING SPACES? >> WE ARE. IT'S REALLY TWO THINGS. IT'S OFF STREET. SO WHERE WE HAVE WIDE SIDEWALKS, THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A, KIND OF AN ON-SIDEWALK PARKING OPPORTUNITY. BUT THEN ALSO IDENTIFYING PARKING SPACES, ON-STREET PARKING SPACES WHERE TODAY IT'S A METER, TOMORROW MIGHT BE A COMMERCIAL LOADING ZONE, AND CREATING MORE OF A CORRAL. >> TREVINO: I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THESE. WE HAVE OTHER THINGS ON OUR AGENDA. BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS AND THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE THESE PARKING ZONES WORK ALL OVER DOWNTOWN, ALL OVER THE CITY. I WANT TO THANK CENTRO AS WELL, BECAUSE I'VE ASKED FOR CENTRO TO BE VERY MUCH INVOLVED. WE KNOW THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT A LOT OF THE SPACES BUT ALSO THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN THAT CAN HELP PROVIDE SOME OF THESE RESIDUAL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN THAT CAN AFFORD US. HUNDREDS OF LOCATIONS FOR PARKING ZONES. AND I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL. LASTLY, REGARDING PARKING ZONES, WE CANNOT FORGET NEIGHBORHOODS. AND YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THE HISTORIC IN AUDIO] KEY ROLE IN HOW THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS' CHARACTER IS PROTECTED AND ADDRESSED. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SOME IDEAS AND CREATIVE APPLICATIONS REGARDING PARKING ZONES. IN FACT, I CALL IT THE NEW BIKE RACK. THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENT KINDS OF DESIGNS FOR THIS, AND I KNOW WE CAN GET THERE. AND THERE'S THE COMPANIES, I THINK, HAVE ALSO BE VERY RECEPTIVE TO THAT. THE NEXT PIECE IS OBVIOUSLY THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE. TELL US WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE PILOT. >> SURE. WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS. WE ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR NEW PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN HIRED TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS SCOOTERS. SO THAT WOULD BE REPORTING VIOLATIONS TO THE COMPANIES, FOLLOWING UP AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE MAKING THOSE CORRECTIONS. BUT ALSO CORRECTING PARKING PROBLEMS OURSELVES, PROACTIVELY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN ALL FOUR OFFICERS ARE ALL WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. BUT IT'S FOUR OFFICERS TO COVER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS A DAY. THEY'RE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN WHERE WE SEE THE MOST SCOOTERS. ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF OUR [01:30:01] PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, IF THEY SEE A PROBLEM THEY'RE NOT GOING TO IGNORE IT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED TO IT. SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ENFORCING RIDING. PARK POLICE HAVE BEEN ENFORCING RIDING IN PROHIBITED AREAS SUCH AS ALAMO PLAZA, DOWN ON THE RIVER WALK. THEY'RE CURRENTLY USING SOME OVERTIME HOURS TO HAVE OFFICERS SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO THAT. >> TREVINO: SO HOW DOES SOMEBODY REPORT -- AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN STORIES TO ME ABOUT PEOPLE BEING HIT BY SOMEONE WHO IS RIDING A SCOOTER. IN FACT, OUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHER HERE GOT HIT. >> SURE. >> TREVINO: WHEN SOMEBODY IS HIT -- AGAIN, THIS, TO ME, IS A BEHAVIORAL ISSUE. BUT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, WHAT CAN THE COMMUNITY DO? HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY RESPOND TO SOMEBODY BEING HIT AND THEY KEEP RIDING OFF ON THE SCOOTER? >> SURE. I WOULD EQUATE IT VERY SIMILAR TO MAYBE A CAR ACCIDENT, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THAT ACCIDENT. >> TREVINO: BUT THERE'S NO LICENSE PLATE ON THESE SCOOTERS. THERE'S A LICENSE PLATE ON A CAR. >> RIGHT. >> TREVINO: SO I GUESS PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED. AND I GOT TO ADMIT, I AM TOO. >> YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE'S NOT. SO I WOULD FIRST TRY TO IDENTIFY, OBVIOUSLY, WHO'S RIDING IT. AND THEN WHAT COMPANY THAT SCOOTER BELONGS TO. WHETHER IT'S GREEN, IS IT BLACK AND WHITE, SO IT BELONGS TO BIRD. THE COMPANIES HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB ABOUT KIND OF DISTINGUISHING THEMSELVES FROM EACH OTHER. AND THEY COULD IDENTIFY THE TYPE OR THE COMPANY THAT OWNED IT AND THEN WE CAN CONTACT THE COMPANY AND LET THEM KNOW. AND SO THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THAT DATA TO MAYBE IDENTIFY WHO WAS RIDING IT. >> TREVINO: COULD THE 311 SA APP HELP WITH THAT OR DO THEY SIMPLY CALL POLICE? >> I THINK IF IT'S AN ACCIDENT -- DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT, IT MAY BE A CALL TO 9-1-1, OR IF IT'S NOT TOO BAD, IT MAY BE A CALL TO THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER. AND THEN, FINALLY, THEY WOULD REPORT THAT TO 311. >> TREVINO: YOU MENTIONED SPEED LIMITS. YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE SPEED LIMITS ALL OVER THE CITY, FOR THAT MATTER. AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY REQUIRE DIFFERENT SPEED LIMITS. SO I >> TREVINO: IS THERE NOT A WAY TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT ZONES AND DIFFERENT SPEEDS IN THOSE ZONES DEPENDING ON WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE, HOW WIDE THE SIDEWALKS ARE, HOW MANY BIKE LANES ARE AVAILABLE? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T WE WANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT'S THE TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IN PLACE THAT ALLOWS FOR A SCOOTER TO TRAVEL AT ITS MAX SPEED? >> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS TO APPROACH THAT. THE SCOOTERS THEMSELVES COULD BE LIMITED, THERE BE A GOVERNOR, IN OTHER WORDS, THAT WOULD PREVENT A MAXIMUM SPEED. RIGHT NOW THE MOTORS THEMSELVES KIND OF LIMIT THE MAXIMUM SPEED TO ABOUT 17 MILES PER HOUR, DEPENDS ON THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON RIDING IT, BUT SOME CITIES HAVE DONE THAT, THEY'VE ACTUALLY REQUIRED LOWER SPEEDS, THAT THE DEVICE BE LIMITED TO A CERTAIN SPEED. WE CAN TRY TO LEVERAGE THE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP WITH THAT, SO IF YOU'RE IN A CERTAIN AREA, IT MAY BE USING THE GEOFENCING AND THE GPS-BASED SYSTEM, TO BE ABLE TO SLOW THAT SPEED DOWN. THAT COULD BE CHALLENGING, JUST BECAUSE OF THE ACCURACY OF GPS, SO IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD USE THAT FOR SIDEWALKS VERSUS STREETS. THE PROBLEM IS, THE GPS IS NOT ACCURATE ENOUGH TO KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE ON A STREET. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE REQUIREMENTS TO HAVE SPEED LIMITS ON SIDEWALKS VERSUS STREETS JUST LIKE WE DO ON STREETS THROUGHOUT TOWN. >> TREVINO: I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THIS. >> WE ARE. >> TREVINO: AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK THE CITY DOES PLAY A MAJOR ROLE BECAUSE IT IS PART OF SORT OF OUR SOCIAL CONTRACT THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY. AND WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THERE IS MORE RESOURCES TO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAN OTHER AREAS. AS AN EXAMPLE, AND, AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE OF THE BIG TOPICS THAT WAS EXPRESSED THE OTHER NIGHT AT THIS TRANSIT ON TAP WAS THE LACK OF BIKE LANES, RIGHT? AND HOW WE MAKE ROOM FOR THAT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WE DO HAVE BIKE LANES, BUT WE ONLY HAVE BIKE LANES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR CITY. AND HOW CAN WE, YOU KNOW, ADD TO THOSE RESOURCES AND EXPAND THAT AVAILABILITY TO MORE AREAS. AND I GUESS PART OF WHAT I'M HOPEFUL OF IS THAT IN THIS DATA SHARING WE CAN SEE WHERE THERE IS MORE TRAFFIC, THAT WE CAN USE THAT TO ALSO APPLY TO HOW WE'RE PLANNING OUR SIDEWALKS, HOW WE'RE PLANNING FOR BIKE LANES, HOW OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MAY BE LACKING IN CERTAIN AREAS AND PLAN FOR THAT SO THAT WE CAN [01:35:01] BUILD THAT OUT ACCORDINGLY. IN FACT, I'VE SAID IT ALL ALONG, THE ONE GOOD THING THAT THESE SCOOTERS HAVE DONE IS REALLY SHOWN OUR WEAKNESS IN TERMS OF THAT. >> UH-HUH. >> TREVINO: WE DON'T HAVE A SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN. I THINK WE DID HAVE A BIKE MASTER PLAN, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT APPLYING IT, AND I THINK WE CAN WORK TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT THAT A LOT MORE THOUGHTFULLY AND PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK THAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR EVERYBODY. BUT I THINK IT'S LOUD AND CLEAR, PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS, PEOPLE ARE USING THEM, AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY TO RESPOND IN SOME WAY TO CREATE A FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS THERE TO BE A BALANCE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE USE OF OUR RESOURCES BY EVERYONE WHETHER THEY'RE WALKING OR USING A SCOOTER OR RIDING A BIKE, OR TRAVELING BY CAR. WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU. I KNOW WE'RE STILL IN A PILOT PROGRAM. AND I BELIEVE THAT A PILOT PROGRAM SHOULD ALLOW THERE TO BE SOME CHANGES WITHIN IT SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE THE FIRST HALF WITH THE SECOND HALF. WITH THAT, I MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR. COUNCILMAN PERRY? >> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, JACK -- I'M SORRY, JOHN. DID I SAY JACK? >> THAT'S OKAY. >> PERRY: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK, EVEN IN DISTRICT 10, YOU WOULD THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A CRISIS -- YOU KNOW, OUR BIGGEST CRISIS HERE IN TOWN. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE UPSET ABOUT THESE SCOOTERS, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, THE OBSTRUCTIONS, THE -- PEOPLE GETTING HURT, ALL OF THAT COMES TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHAT -- WHAT -- WHERE THE CONCERNS ARE RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT IT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ANOTHER TECHNOLOGY, JUST LIKE THIS DREADED CELL PHONE, YOU KNOW. HOW ARE WE GONNA EMBRACE IT, ARE WE GOING TO IGNORE IT? ARE WE GOING TO PUSH IT AWAY? YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY IN DOING A TEST AND GATHERING THE DATA TO MAKE -- MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH ON THIS. BUT I WAS UP IN DC THIS LAST WEEK, AND SURE, THEY HAVE WIDER SIDEWALKS, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF AMENITIES THERE THAT CATER TO THIS, BUT THEY WERE SPARINGLY OUT THERE. THEY WEREN'T CLUTTERED, THEY -- YOU KNOW, THEY WERE NICELY, NEATLY ORGANIZED AND THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT OVER THERE IN DC. SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TESTING THIS OUT, BUT HAVE WE REALLY BENCHMARKED WITH OTHER CITIES ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY STARTED BEFORE US. THEY'VE GOT RULES AND REGULATIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU THAT HAVE ADOPTED THAT HAVE EMBRACED THEM. HOW HAVE WE BENCHMARKED WITH OTHER CITIES? >> SURE. SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY SINCE WE KIND OF FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY, WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING. ACROSS THE NATION, A LOT OF CITIES HAVE TAKEN, YOU KNOW, VARIED APPROACHES. SOME OF THEM ON EITHER EXTREME. SOME CITIES OUTRIGHT PROHIBITED THEM. SOME CITIES TOOK A VERY KIND OF METERED, VERY CAUTIOUS, CONSERVATIVE APPROACH AND MAYBE ONLY ALLOWED ONE COMPANY IN WITH A VERY FEW VEHICLES SO THEY COULD KIND OF EASE INTO IT, IF YOU WILL. YOU KNOW, WE TOOK THE APPROACH OF A LIGHT TOUCH. I THINK THE ADVANTAGES OF THAT, WE HAVE SEEN WHAT COULD BE IF WE HAVE TOO MANY. WE KNOW -- WE NOW KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE MULTIPLE SCOOTER COMPANIES OR VENDORS IN OUR CITY, SO WE SEE THE CHALLENGES WITH WORKING WITH TOO MANY OR MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, THAN A FEW. SO I THINK IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT EACH CITY HAS DONE AND WHAT'S WORKED BEST FOR SOME IS KIND OF WHAT WE'RE ALL DOING RIGHT NOW, SO A LOT OF OTHER CITIES ARE CONTACTING US, ASKING US HOW IT'S WORKING OUT, WHAT ARE WE DOING, SO WE'RE DEFINITELY ROUTINELY CONTACTING, TALKING TO OUR COLLEAGUES UP IN DALLAS AND AUSTIN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THERE'S A LOT OF US ARE DOING DIFFERENT STUDIES AND SOME OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, TRANSPORTATION-TYPE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING STUDIES, TOO. SO SHORT ANSWER, YES. WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT WHAT [01:40:01] OTHER CITIES ARE DOING. >> PERRY: OKAY. I GUESS I'M LOOKING AT THE FUTURE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TECHNOLOGY IS, I HAVE NO IDEA. BUT IT'S -- IT WILL BE OUT THERE, IT WILL BE COMING. AND I GUESS FOR US AS A CITY, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT AS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT COMES, CONTINUING THIS LIGHT TOUCH THING. I TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN WE JUST OPENED IT UP, THAT'S WHAT CREATED A LOT OF THESE ISSUES RIGHT UP FRONT. AND DID WE -- THERE'S SOME LESSONS LEARNED THERE FOR US ON FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES THAT MIGHT BE COMING OUR WAY. >> SURE. I -- YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK THE ADVANTAGE OF DOING THIS IS THAT WE HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, TO WHAT LEVEL IT COULD BE. AND SO WE'VE NOW EXPERIENCED IT AND WE HAVE THAT -- NOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF KNOWING WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE THIS MANY, THIS MANY VEHICLES. WHEREAS OPPOSED TO THE CITIES THAT STARTED VERY CONSERVATIVELY, MAINLY ONLY ALLOWED ONE COMPANY, 250 VEHICLES, I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM LONGER TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK. IT MAY BE -- THE PERCEPTION MAY BE IT'S A LITTLE MORE PAINFUL THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT, BUT I THINK WE'VE LEARNED VERY QUICKLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADAPT, HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. SO THERE'S DEFINITELY PROS AND CONS OF DOING IT BOTH WAYS, I THINK. >> PERRY: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS HERE. YOU KNOW, YOU HAD MENTIONED GEOFENCING A COUPLE OF TIMES. WHAT'S THE COST OF GEOFENCING? YOU KNOW, WE'RE MAKING IT SOUND VERY EASY, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN EASILY DO. >> SURE. >> PERRY: IS THAT -- IS THAT COST PROHIBITIVE OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY CHEAP? >> SEVERAL OF THE COMPANIES ARE ALREADY DOING THAT. SO THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALREADY THERE. IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE, IF YOU PLAY GOLF, IF YOU'VE BEEN ON A GOLF CART AND YOU GET TOO CLOSE TO THE GREEN, THE GOLF CART WILL BASICALLY SLOW DOWN AND YOU CAN ONLY GO IN REVERSE. SO OBVIOUSLY GPS HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, AND SO THAT TECHNOLOGY IS NOT NEW. IN SOME OF THE COMPANIES ARE ALREADY DOING IT. COMPANIES HAVE SAID, WE WILL DO IT. SO I DON'T THINK IT'S COST PROHIBITIVE FOR THEM TO DO IT. I THINK IT'S NECESSARY. I THINK IT, FOR SURE, FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, IT'S MUCH MORE COST EFFICIENT TO HAVE GEOFENCING THAN IT WOULD BE TO PLACE STAFF IN THOSE LOCATIONS TO PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM RIDING IN THE AREA. IF WE CAN JUST -- IF IT DOESN'T WORK IN THAT AREA, THEN THERE'S NO REASON FOR ANYONE TO RIDE IT IN THAT AREA, SO IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFICIENT FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE FOR SURE. >> PERRY: OKAY. YOU ALSO TOUCHED ON EMS SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO FOLKS THAT GET INJURED ON THESE. IS OUR EMS SYSTEM -- I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AMBULANCES -- AUDIO] -- ON RECOVERING COSTS ON THOSE EMS SERVICES. >> SURE. IT WOULD BE JUST THE SAME AS IF YOU WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER ACCIDENT. IF EMS RESPONDS AND TRANSPORTATION IS REQUIRED, THEN THE PATIENT WOULD BE BILLED FOR THAT. >> PERRY: OKAY. SO THAT IS HAPPENING. THEY ARE GETTING BILLED? >> YES. >> PERRY: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, IS THIS TO COVER OUR BASIC COSTS, OR ARE WE GOING TO BE MAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY OFF OF THESE -- OFF THESE COMPANIES? >> I THINK RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS COST RECOVERING, BECAUSE IT IS A PERMIT THAT IS ISSUED. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE PERMIT FEE TO COVER THE APPROPRIATE COSTS AS IT RELATES TO STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE TIME, ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER THAT'S PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. INFRASTRUCTURE, IF WE NEED TO ADD MORE PARKING SPACES, SIGNAGE, MARKETING AND EDUCATION. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT IS THAT -- WE'RE LOOKING AT A MODEL REALLY THAT COST RECOVERS. POTENTIALLY IF WE DID AN RFP PROCESS, A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT IT, IS THERE A REVENUE SHARE PERHAPS, IF WE DO SOME OTHER CONTRACTS WE HAVE WITH THE CITY. BUT RIGHT NOW, OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COST RECOVERING AND WE'RE NOT SUBSIDIZING THIS THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND OR ANY OTHER SOURCE. >> PERRY: OKAY. GOOD. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR IS THAT WE'RE NOT SUBSIDIZING THIS PROGRAM OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND. >> YEAH. >> PERRY: OKAY. AND THEN ON SLIDE NUMBER EIGHT, IF YOU COULD PULL THAT UP. [01:45:17] >> SLIDE 8. >> PERRY: RIGHT. OKAY. YOU HAVE THESE PERCENTAGES OF WORK-BASE TRIPS, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL-BASE AND SO FORTH. DO WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF MILES THAT HAVE BEEN -- TOTAL MILES THAT WE'VE -- >> I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REQUEST FROM THE COMPANIES. >> PERRY: OKAY. >> WE KNOW AVERAGE TRIP DISTANCE IS .7 OF A MILE, BUT TOTAL MILES, I DON'T HAVE THAT. BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY DATA THAT WE CAN GET. >> PERRY: I WOULD BE -- SURELY THEY HAVE THE MEMBER -- NUMBER OF MILES THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE USING, AND YOU HAVE THEM BROKEN OUT IN THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. I WANT TO SEE HOW MANY MILES ARE BEING USED FOR EACH ONE OF THESE BREAKOUTS, HOW MANY MILES THAT WE'RE SAVING IN CAR, VEHICLES, ANY KIND OF OTHER TRANSPORTATION, THAT THAT 20% -- YOU KNOW, HOW MANY MILES IS THAT? >> RIGHT. >> PERRY: AND WHAT ARE WE SAVING IN THOSE AREAS, KEEPING CARS OR BUSES OR WHAT ELSE OFF THE ROAD. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO TRACK THAT AS WELL. SO NEXT TIME Y'ALL START PULLING THESE FIGURES TOGETHER, IF YOU COULD ADD THAT ON THERE AS WELL. >> SURE. WE'LL -- WE'RE GOING TO ESSENTIALLY HAVE A SEPARATE SURVEY FOR JUST RIDERS, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM SOME VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE RIDING. WE CAN ASK THEM ON AVERAGE HOW FAR IS A RIDE. WE'LL WORK WITH THE COMPANIES. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THAT EXACT DATA FROM A TRIP, BUT CERTAINLY THROUGH SURVEYING RIDERS, I THINK WE CAN START TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HOW FAR PEOPLE -- IN AUDIO] >> PERRY: YEAH, AN ESTIMATE. >> AND IT'S A TWO-WEEK OLD SURVEY, AND WE'LL HAVE IT OPEN FOR QUITE A WHILE. AS WE REACH OUT TO MORE PEOPLE, THESE RESULTS MAY START TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT, TOO. >> PERRY: YEAH, OKAY. GREAT. LET ME SEE. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE RIGHT NOW. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COMPANIES FOR BEING RECEPTIVE AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH US ON THIS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE END OF THIS PILOT TIME THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE. SO, JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY. COUNCILMAN COURAGE? >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. RIGHT NOW I'M KIND OF RESERVING JUDGMENT ON THE OVERALL VALUE, I THINK, THIS PROVIDES TO OUR CITY. I'M REALLY UNDECIDED, AND I HAVE GREAT APPREHENSION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING, AND WHAT I HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT LET ME ASK A FEW QUESTIONS. ON SLIDE NUMBER THREE, I BELIEVE WE TALKED ABOUT A PUBLIC INPUT MEETING, AND 150 PEOPLE ATTENDED. WHEN WAS THAT? >> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AUGUST, LAST SUMMER. >> COURAGE: OKAY. AND THE SURVEY RIGHT AFTER THAT, 4,400 RESPONSES. WHEN WAS THAT SURVEY CONDUCTED? >> THAT SURVEY STARTED AT THE SAME TIME AS THAT PUBLIC MEETING AND IT WENT UP UNTIL, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A WEEK OR A FEW DAYS BEFORE WE CAME TO COUNCIL BACK IN OCTOBER. SO IT WITH US FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. >> COURAGE: ALL RIGHT. AND SO IS THAT PART OF THE SURVEY ON PAGE 8? >> PAGE 8 IS ACTUALLY A NEW SURVEY. >> COURAGE: A NEW SURVEY, OKAY. >> SO WE KIND OF GAUGED THE PUBLIC THROUGH A SURVEY RIGHT WHEN THE SCOOTERS FIRST STARTED LAUNCHING, AND WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT NOW THAT WE'VE -- OBVIOUSLY THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED QUITE A BIT SINCE THEN, SO WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET FEEDBACK NOW, NOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED IT. >> COURAGE: OKAY. THE ONE ON PAGE 8, 2800 PLUS SURVEY RESPONSES, DO WE KNOW IF THOSE WERE USERS OF THE VEHICLES OR WAS IT JUST OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC TO REPLY? >> IT'S OPEN TO ANYONE TO TAKE THAT SURVEY. RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A MAJORITY OF THE RESPONDENTS HAVE NOT USED THE SCOOTERS. >> COURAGE: OKAY. >> SO THAT'S WHY WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SURVEY THAT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO THE RIDERS. SO THE SURVEY RIGHT NOW HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW YOU RIDE IT. OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE IF YOU HAVEN'T RIDDEN IT, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME MORE IN DEPTH QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT TO ASK OF RIDERS. [01:50:02] SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON A -- KIND OF A SEPARATE SURVEY JUST FOR RIDERS AS WELL. >> COURAGE: I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO KNOW, IS THIS THE RESPONSE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DO NOT OR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DO, OR THE TOURISTS WHO DO. IF I LOOK AT IT, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE ABOUT 60% OF THE RESPONDENTS ARE PROBABLY TOURISTS. THEY'RE USING THEM FOR FUN, FOR EXERCISE, RECORRECTATIONAL TRIPS TO GET -- RECREATIONAL TRIPS TO GET OUT TO A RESTAURANT OR ENTERTAINMENT. THAT SOUNDS PREDOMINANTLY LIKE TOURISTS. BUT IF WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S USERS THAT ARE SAYING THAT OR JUST THE COMMUNITY, IT'S HARD FOR US TO REALLY TELL. >> RIGHT. >> COURAGE: I WOULD SAY WE'VE HAD A VERY VIBRANT TOURISM INDUSTRY BEFORE THE SCOOTERS CAME. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE SCOOTERS, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO AFFECT MORE TOURISTS COMING OR FEWER TOURISTS COMING, BUT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO KNOW THAT. AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I DIDN'T SEE, AND MAYBE YOU ASKED IT AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT, DID WE ASK THE RESPONDENTS SHOULD THE CITY CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM OR SHOULD THE CITY BAN SCOOTERS? THAT WASN'T ASKED, IS THAT RIGHT? >> WE DID NOT ASK THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION, NO. WE KIND OF ASKED MORE GENERALLY HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THEM, DO YOU LIKE THEM, DO YOU NOT LIKE THEM? >> COURAGE: I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO, AGAIN, SURVEY PEOPLE MORE OR LESS NEAR THE END OF THIS PROCESS. I HOPE THAT WILL BE A QUESTION THAT YOU PUT IN THERE. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW AS A COUNCIL AND TO EXPRESS ITS VOICE ON THIS MATTER ON, LET'S SEE, I THINK IT'S PAGE 10, WE TALKED ABOUT ENFORCEMENT. AND I NOTED THAT BASICALLY WE RECOGNIZE THROUGH THE 3-1-1 SYSTEM BOTH ONLINE AND IN DIRECT CALLS, 1700 VIOLATIONS OF CITY -- I PRESUME, DRIVING OR PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE VIOLATED. >> IT'S -- THEY'RE PRETTY BROAD. SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY SPECIFIC TO A PROBLEM AT A LOCATION WITH MAYBE A SCOOTER PARKED INCORRECT. >> COURAGE: RIGHT. >> SOME OF THEM ARE KIND OF MORE JUST COMPLAINTS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THE SCOOTERS IN GENERAL, SO THE 3-1-1 REPORTS ARE JUST VARIED, DEPENDING ON -- >> COURAGE: OKAY. >> -- YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE SPECIFIC OR JUST GENERALLY NOT IN FAVOR OF THEM. >> COURAGE: WELL, 1700 COMPLAINTS, WE'LL SAY, BUT THAT'S WHAT WAS REPORTED DIRECTLY TO 3-1-1. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I ALMOST GOT RUN OVER. THEY'RE INCONSIDERATE, THEY'RE BLOCKING, THIS AND THAT. THEY NEVER CALL 3-1-1, THEY CALL THEIR CITY COUNCIL PERSON OR THEY TALK TO THEIR NEIGHBORS, SO WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE COULDN'T BE TWICE AS MANY, THREE TIMES A MANY PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY ARE INCONVENIENCED OR THAT THERE ARE VIOLATIONS GOING ON THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT. >> RIGHT. >> COURAGE: BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY FOLLOWING WHAT PEOPLE TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO DO, AND THAT'S TO CONTACT 3-1-1. AND I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE, MOST PEOPLE, MANY PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE SLIGHTLY ANNOYED, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CALL 3-1-1, BUT IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOMEHOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT. AT THE SAME TIME, IN THIS, WE TALK ABOUT COSTS. ORWE REALLY DON'T REFER TO COSTS, BUT WE SHOULD. TALKING ABOUT PARKING ENFORCEMENT. THE AMBASSADORS HAVE CORRECTED OVER 20,000 SCOOTERS. I DON'T CARE IF IT TAKES 30 SECONDS OR A MINUTE TO GO AHEAD AND PICK UP A MINUTE AND MOVE IT SOMEWHERE. THAT'S 20,000 TIMES WE'VE HAD OUR EMPLOYEES DO SOMETHING. RIGHT NEXT TO THAT WE TALK ABOUT IMPOUNDMENTS. 70. AND BEYOND THAT WE TALKED ABOUT YOU HAVE HAD TO DEDICATE FOUR STAFF MEMBERS TO ADDRESS PARKING AND DEPLOYMENT, SEPARATE FROM, I PRESUME, THE 20,000 THAT ARE BEING MOVED AROUND, AND THEN SAPD HAS ADDED SOME OVERTIME SHIFTS. SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE ACTUAL COST IS MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT, $150,000 SO FAR THAT WE HAVE ASKED THESE COMPANIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM. AND AT LEAST THE CONTINUING POTENTIAL FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE MUCH GREATER THAN THAT. SO I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY CONSIDER IF THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE WHAT ARE THE REAM -- REAL COSTS TO US AND HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE COSTS BECAUSE THOSE ARE CITIZENS' TAX DOLLARS. ON PAGE, I THINK IT'S 11, WE TALKED ABOUT REPORTED INJURIES, OR YOU REPORTED THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, TO ME, THE KEY ISSUE IN ALL OF THIS, EVEN THOUGH I MENTIONED OTHERS EARLIER BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST SLIDES EARLIER, IS SAFETY. PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT MEANS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RIDING THOSE VEHICLES, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING IN THE [01:55:01] STREET, THE SIDEWALKS, THE DRIVERS WHO ARE USING THOSE STREETS. YOU'VE GOT INJURIES HERE REPORTED JUST THROUGH EMS NEARLY 100, AND PROBABLY SINCE YOU'VE GOT THESE FIGURES OVER THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, MAYBE 100. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO ROUND THAT OFF. >> RIGHT. >> COURAGE: BUT THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED TO EMS. HOW MANY WERE NOT SO SERIOUS WHERE A PERSON FELL OFF A BIKE, GOT KNOCKED OFF A BIKE, GOT BUMPED ON THE SIDEWALK AND KNOCKED AGAINST ANYTHING, BUT THEY DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY DIDN'T EVEN CALL EMS, BUT THEY WERE INCONVENIENCED, MAYBE SLIGHTLY INJURED, MAYBE WHAT THEY DID WAS WENT HOME AND VISITED THEIR DOCTOR BECAUSE NOW THEY'VE HAVE SOME KIND OF AN INJURY THAT'S STARTING TO BOTHER THEM. MAYBE THEY WENT TO A HOSPITAL ON THEIR OWN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO CALL EMS BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID THEY'D PAY $1,000 FOR THE SERVICE. HAVE WE CONTACTED THE HOSPITALS AND ASK DZ THEM TO REPORT BACK TO US THE NUMBER OF INJURIES THEY'VE RECEIVED RELATED TO SCOOTERS. >> WE HAVE NOT YET, BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING I THINK WE COULD CONSIDER IS PARTNERING WITH SOME OF OUR HEALTH AGENCIES, MAYBE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF WE CAN START COLLECTING THAT DATA TO TRY TO GET A BETTER PICTURE OF REALLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR WHAT THE -- HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM. >> COURAGE: SO THERE COULD HAVE BEEN TWO OR THREE OR 400 INJURIES, WE DON'T KNOW. >> RIGHT. >> COURAGE: AND I KNOW ALL OF US RUN INTO LITTLE THINGS AND WE DON'T REPORT IT TO ANYBODY, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME KIND OF AN INJURY OR GROSS INCONVENIENCE THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE GOING UNREPORTED. SO I THINK -- AND I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU BEFORE, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND SO WE SEE THE SCOPE OF THE WHOLE PROCESS. AND ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS ON THE AMENDMENTS, THE MIDPOINT AMENDMENTS. WE DON'T -- WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY FACTOR OF SIDEWALKS OR STREETS. YOU KNOW, WHAT IS SAFER? RIDING THESE THINGS ON SIDEWALKS OR ON THE STREETS? DOES THE CITY HAVE AN OBLIGATION FOR SAFETY TO MANAGE OR REGULATE WHETHER THESE THINGS CONTINUE TO RIDE ON THE SIDEWALKS OR THEY HAVE TO RIDE IN THE STREETS? I'VE SEEN BOTH. >> UH-HUH. >> COURAGE: HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY CONSIDERATION TO THAT AS A RECOMMENDATION? >> WE HAVE. AND SO THAT'S -- AS WE'VE PROGRESSED THROUGH THE PILOT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS STARTED TO COLLECT MORE INFORMATION AROUND ACCIDENTS, TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT. I THINK SOME OF IT WOULD BE KIND OF DOING, YOU KNOW, POSTINTERVIEWS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE IN ACCIDENTS AND TRY TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY -- WHY ARE THE ACCIDENTS OCCURRING. IS IT BECAUSE THEY'RE HITTING BUMPS IN THE STREET OR ON THE SIDEWALK, OR IS IT -- YOU KNOW, IS IT SOMETHING ELSE, DOES IT INVOLVE OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS, THINGS LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRACKING THINGS LIKE THAT, SO MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE THAT DATA AND INFORMATION AND MAKE THOSE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE SOMEBODY SHOULD BE ALLOWED OR NOT ALLOWED TO RIDE. >> COURAGE: UH-HUH. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THE GEOFENCING THAT MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF WHERE WE GO IN THE FUTURE, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS. I THINK MOST OF US UNDERSTAND THAT THE GREATEST USE RIGHT NOW IS IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN WHERE MANY TOURISTS OR PEOPLE MAY BE GOING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA CAN BENEFIT FROM THOSE. BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE STARTING TO PROLIFERATE UP AROUND THE MEDICAL CENTER AND ON OUR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES. AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO GEOFENCING, I HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SET SOME PARAMETERS THAT WILL KIND OF CONTAIN THESE WHERE THEY'RE BEST SUITED. I KNOW PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT SENT ME A PETITION SAYING THEY DON'T WANT THEM IN OUR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY CONSIDER THEM A HAZARD. SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT AS WE GO FORWARD, MAINTAINING A PROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHERE THOSE VEHICLES MAY BE USEFUL AND VALUABLE AND WHERE THEY WOULDN'T BE. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO COMMENT ON, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THE IDEA THAT WE MIGHT GO OUT AND CREATE AN RFP TO FIND COMPANIES THAT WOULD CONTINUE WITH THIS SERVICE AND LIMITING THAT, I DON'T THINK WE NEED FIVE OR SIX OR SEVEN. I WOULD THINK THAT AN RFP THAT MIGHT QUALIFY TWO TOP PROVIDERS WOULD BE IN ORDER. AN RFP THAT MIGHT LIMIT THE [02:00:01] NUMBER OF SCOOTERS THAT THEY COULD BRING INTO THE CITY TO 5,000, INSTEAD OF 14,000. I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER AS WELL AS COSTS AND REVENUE SHARING, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY JUST FROM WHAT COULD BE MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT WE'RE ASKING NOW. >> UH-HUH. >> COURAGE: AND SO AN INCREASE IN FEES OR LICENSING OR WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL IT, I THINK WOULD BE IN ORDER. BUT WHY NOT REVENUE SHARING? BECAUSE THE CITY HAS TO DO MORE. WE'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN THE SIDEWALKS, WE'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN THE STREETS. WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN EMS SERVICES. EMS MAY COME OUT AND HELP SOMEBODY, BUT IF THEY DON'T TRANSPORT THEM, THERE IS NO CHARGE. >> RIGHT. >> COURAGE: YET IT'S A SERVICE THAT THE CITY'S PROVIDING. SO I HOPE WE'LL ALSO CONSIDER REVENUE SHARING IF AS A CITY WE DECIDE TO CONTINUE WITH THIS FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. THOSE ARE THE COMMENTS AND THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES? >> GONZALES: THANK YOU, JOHN. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT WHY I DON'T SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE AND WHY I DON'T SUPPORT -- OR RATHER NOT THIS ORDINANCE, BUT THIS PILOT AND WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TODAY. YOU KNOW, I STATED SOME OF MY REASONS AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT I ALSO JUST -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT YESTERDAY WE HAD OUR BRIEFING ON CONNECTSA. I WAS REVIEWING SOME OF THE CONNECTSA HERE ON MY COMPUTER, AND OF THE FIVE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN CONNECTSA, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO REQUIRE SOME TYPE OF MICROMOBILITY, WHETHER THAT'S WALKING, WHETHER IT'S USING A BIKE, WHETHER IT'S USING A SCOOTER. YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO COVER THAT FIRST TO LAST MILE. SO IN THE THINGS THAT WE COVERED YESTERDAY IN CONNECTSA, YOU HAVE AN ART, WHICH IS JUST BASICALLY A GLORIFIED BUS, WE HAVE A BETTER BUS. AND THEN THERE WAS QUITE A BIT ON CARS ON THE HIGHWAYS, WHICH THAT'S STILL IT'S OWN THING. BUT THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIDEWALKS, TRAILS AND MICROMOBILITY. THOSE WERE THE FIVE COMPONENTS WITH HIGHWAYS. AND SO I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS REALLY A STEP BACKWARDS, IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT CORRECT -- CONNECTSA, I THINK WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE MAKING ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION SAFE AND AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. WE HAVE TO LEARN TO SHARE THE ROAD, WE HAVE TO LEARN TO ALLOW FOR DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET AROUND. LATER WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A PROJECT -- ABOUT 2,000 PEOPLE LIVE THERE. MOST OF THEM HAVE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR SOME TYPE OF MICROMOBILITY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR AUDIO] INCOME, IS THAT STATED AT ALL IN YOUR PRESENTATION. >> WE DO ASK SOME DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS, I DON'T RECALL IF THAT'S ONE OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW. >> GONZALES: I THINK THAT WOULD BE CURIOUS. MY SENSE IS THAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE REALLY LOW INCOMES ARE PROBABLY NOT USING IT BECAUSE IT DOES REQUIRE A CREDIT CARD. AND PEOPLE OF LOW INCOMES TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE CREDIT CARDS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE TO FIND AN APP WHERE YOU CAN PRELOAD, OR MAYBE IT EXISTS ALREADY, I DON'T KNOW. I SUSPECT IT DOES. AND, IN FACT, JUMP LIKE AN UBER IS PART OF UBER AND YOU CAN GO TO THAT ONE APP AND SELECT WHATEVER RIDE YOU NEED. >> UH-HUH. >> GONZALES: SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT WOULD BE ONE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE OF LIMITED MEANS ARE TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT AND THEN EITHER HAVING TO WALK OR USE SOME OTHER TYPE OF ALTERNATE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE GOING TO BE A PROGRESSIVE ABOUT HOW WE ACCEPT NEW TECHNOLOGIES, I RECOGNIZE THAT PERHAPS THIS HAS NOT BEEN A REAL SMOOTH TRANSITION BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE WE ALLOWED FOR THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY -- AUDIO] -- AND GIVING DESIGNATED PARKING SPACES AS SIMPLE AS IMPLEMENTING OUR EXISTING BIKE PLAN WHICH WE'VE HAD FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAVEN'T DONE MUCH TO ADVANCE THAT. I KNOW I HAVE NOT SEEN A NEW DEDICATED BIKE LANE IN MY DISTRICT IN ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND I'M THE ONE WHO'S ALWAYS ASKING AND BEGGING FOR MORE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING OUR COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM. WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DEDICATED SPACES AND SIDEWALKS FOR ALL OF THOSE EXISTING, AND JUST REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT ANYWAY, SO WHY WOULDN'T WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SPACES FOR ALL TYPES OF MOBILITY. EVEN YOUR QUESTION HERE ABOUT YOUR SURVEY ABOUT EARLY RESULTS AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR RIDING AND USING DOCKLESS VEHICLES, IF YOU ASK PEOPLE THAT WERE DRIVING, YOU'D PROBABLY GET [02:05:03] VERY SIMILAR, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THE FUN AND EXERCISE. BUT RECREATIONAL INPUT AND TRIPS, I MEAN, AS A YOUNG PERSON I CAN RECALL GETTING IN THE CAR AND DRIVING NOWHERE WITHOUT ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. I SUSPECT YOUNG PEOPLE STILL DO THAT, MAYBE THEY JUST RIDE AROUND, THEY DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING BUT THEY'RE HANGING OUT TOGETHER, AND WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER TO HAVE AN OPTION THAT WASN'T DRIVING WHEN YOU HAD YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WERE JUST GOING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER FOR FUN, MEETING FRIENDS AND THEN MOVING ALONG. I ALSO THINK IF WE WANT THE SAME STANDARD AS PRIVATE AUTOMOBILE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? AND MAYBE THAT SOUNDS SORT OF RIDICULOUS -- AUDIO] -- YOU CAN MOVE AROUND AND LIMIT WHERE YOU CAN -- WHAT TIME OF DAY. SO YOU CAN MOVE AROUND. AND SO I JUST -- I FEEL THAT THIS IS REALLY A STEP BACKWARDS RATHER THAN MAKING US MOVE QUICKER TO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE NEED DESIGNATED SPACES, LIKE LANES -- MULTIUSE LANES WHERE THEY CAN ALREADY BE IMPLEMENTED. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MAKING THEM SAFE AS WE WOULD FOR ANY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. SO PEOPLE THAT ARE CYCLIST, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO ABIDE THE SAME RULES AS AUTOMOBILES, AND SO THE SAME WOULD BE TRUE WITH THE SCOOTERS. THEY WOULD ABIDE BY THE SAME RULES. YOU WOULD RIDE ON THE ROAD, YOU WOULD STOP AT STOPLIGHTS, YOU COULD SIGNAL TURNS. IT WOULD BE THE SAME KIND OF MOBILITY. SO I -- I DON'T SUPPORT THIS TODAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ADVANCING ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO REALLY IMPLEMENT CONNECTSA. IF WE'RE NOT EVEN WILLING TO TAKE THE STEPS TO HAVE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION. SO I KNOW THAT A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES WEIGHED IN ON THIS, AND I APPRECIATE -- AND MANY OF THE CITIZENS, OF COURSE, DID AS WELL. BUT I DON'T SUPPORT THIS TODAY, AND WILL LOOK FORWARD TO HOW THE FEEDBACK COMES. I KNOW THAT I ASKED FOR SOME SPECIFIC INFORMATION LIKE WHAT IS THE AVERAGE INCOME OF PEOPLE THAT ARE USING IT. ALSO IF IT'S TAKING THE PLACE OF CAR TRIPS, WHICH, I THINK THAT THAT'S ALREADY ON THE TABLE. >> RIGHT. >> GONZALES: AND I THINK SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED. SO... ALSO, EVEN WITH AUTOMOBILES, WHEN YOU SEE LIKE THE PERCENTAGE OF ACCIDENTS OR COLLISIONS THAT OCCUR, 40% OF THEM OCCURRING BETWEEN 11:00 AND 6:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING, I THINK YOU HAVE THE SAME PERCENTAGE FOR AUTOMOBILES. SO THEN -- OR IT COULD EVEN BE HIGHER. A LOT OF THE COLLISIONS OCCUR ALSO IN THE EVENINGS. >> YEAH. >> GONZALES: SO I'LL LET -- I DON'T KNOW IF -- DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT? >> NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT ART AND I HAVE ALREADY STARTED HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE IN CONTEXT WITH OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, SO WE'RE NOT JUST SINGLING OUT SCOOTERS, BUT HOW ARE WE MOVING -- WHAT'S THE INFORMATION COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES AND LOOKING AT IT MORE HOLISTICALLY OR COMPREHENSIVELY. >> GONZALES: OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR WORK. >> SURE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO BE QUICK ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES FOR BRINGING UP THAT INFORMATION. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT FOR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MICROMOBILITY IN CONNECTSA, HOW WILL THESE POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS, REQUIRES OR WHATEVER WE MOVE FORWARD WITH AFTER THIS PILOT PROGRAM, HOW DO THEY WORK TOGETHER WITH MICROMOBILITY IN GENERAL WITH OUR CONNECTSA PLAN. GREAT POINT TO BRING UP. I DO -- I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE RATIFYING OF THE MORATORIUM, I THINK 14,000 IN ONE PARTICULAR AREA SPECIFICALLY IS TOO MUCH, AND WE NEED TO GET OUR -- WRAP OUR HANDS AROUND THAT. I DO HAVE QUESTIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS WHOLE CURFEW THING. YOU MENTIONED EVENTS. MY -- YOU MENTIONED THE ALAMO BOWL. MY CONCERN WAS, PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO TAKE SCOOTERS TO THE ALAMO BOWL BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE SCOOTERS TO GET BACK AND LEAVE FROM THE ALAMO BOWL BECAUSE THEY WERE PICKED UP AND TAKEN AWAY. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS IN CONGESTION, WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE THESE HOURS MORE WORKABLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, EVEN IF THINGS GO BEYOND MIDNIGHT, A CONCERT, A FOOTBALL GAME, OTHER EVENTS. LET'S SEE HOW THAT CAN WORK. >> UH-HUH. >> VIAGRAN: AND THEN ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INCREASED PERMIT FEES, ONE, I AM GOING TO BE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN GEOFENCE AROUND LIKE GOING INTO THE MISSION REACH AND OTHER AREAS AFTER THE PILOT PROGRAM,, [02:10:01] WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW IT COULD HELP OR HINDER. AND THE INCREASE IN PERMIT FEES AND APPLICATION FEES, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAVING A LARGE CONVERSATION, I DON'T SEE MARIA VILLAGOMEZ HERE, BUT WE'RE HAVING A LARGE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVES, MAYBE LOOKING AT THESE PERMIT FEES OF OUR DOCKLESS VEHICLES AND APPLICATION FEES, MAYBE THAT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK AT PUTTING SOME KIND OF DOLLARS INTO THIS HOMELESS FUNDING AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE ALL OF MY COMMENTS THAT I'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. SHERYL, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? >> SCULLEY: JUST TO SAY, MAYOR, WE DID MEET AND HAVE HAD THREE MEETINGS ALREADY WITH REGARD TO THE HOMELESS FUNDING STRATEGY, AND THAT WAS, COUNCILWOMAN, ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WAS MADE YESTERDAY. IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, NONETHELESS, IT IS BEING CONSIDERED. OKAY? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ? >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. JOHN AND LORI AND SHERYL, MY CONSTITUENTS HATE THIS. AND I HAVE YET TO FIND A SINGLE CONSTITUENT OUT THERE WHO'S SAID TO ME, HEY, YOU KNOW IT'S A GREAT IDEA, MORE SCOOTERS, OR ANY SCOOTERS. AND THEY JUST HATE IT. AND AT THE END OF THE -- I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY IRONIC, BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN THE MOST CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT IN ALL OF SAN ANTONIO AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLERGIC TO ALL REGULATIONS, BUT WHAT THEY DO IS THEY CALL ME AND THEY BEG FOR REGULATIONS. AND SO THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS FILLED WITH IRONIES THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO MENTION. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE WITH MY CONSTITUENTS START OFF WITH, WELL, I DON'T LIKE THEM BECAUSE... YOU KNOW -- AUDIO] -- I CAN'T GET OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAD A FEW DAYS AGO ONE OF THE MOST HONEST CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH MY CONSTITUENTS, THE MAN WAS FURIOUS, AFTER HE VENTED FOR A LONG TIME, I SAT DOWN AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. HE SAID, LOOK, I CAN'T GET OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN I WALK DOWN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, -- I CAN'T WALK AROUND THESE THINGS. I'M LIKE, SERIOUSLY, YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. NO, BUT IF I WERE TO TRY, I CAN'T GET OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEELCHAIR, SO YOU'RE IN A WHEELCHAIR? NO, BUT IF I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET PAST IT, RIGHT? AND IF I RODE THIS THING, I'D CRACK MY HEAD OPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE SO UNSAFE. I WAS LIKE, HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN ONE? WELL, OF COURSE NOT, AND ALL THAT. SO A LOT OF THESE ARE EMOTIONS, RIGHT, AND SO I FINALLY SAID, LOOK. YOU KNOW, LET'S REALLY DRILL DOWN, BECAUSE I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYBODY EXPRESS WHAT MAKES THEM REALLY MAD ABOUT THIS. AND HE FINALLY SAID IT. HE SAID, LOOK, IT'S MY TAXES. IT'S MY SIDEWALKS. I PAID FOR THEM. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE ATTRACTIVE. THEY'RE UGLY, AND SOMEBODY IS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF MY SIDEWALKS. AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY. THAT, I UNDERSTAND, WHICH IS WHY, JOHN, LORI, I REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US DIVE DOWN DEEP INTO THE RIVER BARGE, THAT RIVER, I MEAN, WE CAN EASILY JUST SAY ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY WHO'S GOT SOMETHING TO FLOAT ON THAT WATER CAN -- YOU KNOW, KNOCK YOURSELF OUT, MAKE SOME MONEY. BUT WE DON'T DO THAT. THE AIRPORT EITHER, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE CHAOS, AND SO WE DO A CONCESSION AGREEMENT, RIGHT? AND WE DO IT WITH THE RIVERWALK. I'M SORRY, WE DO IT WITH THE TOWER OF THE AMERICAS, RIGHT? AND OUR CONVENTION CENTER. AND SO FOR THOSE ASSETS THAT TAXPAYERS INVEST IN, I DO THINK IT'S REALLY FOR THEM TO EXPECT SOME KIND OF RETURN MOST INNOVATIVE -- AUDIO] -- THEY'RE CONSIDERING A -- ALLERGIC TO THAT FAULT. AND THIS IS NOT LORI HOUSTON'S FAULT OR ANY STAFF'S FAULT. WE ARE THE ONES WHO ASKED STAFF TO TAKE THE LIGHT TOUCH MODEL OUT AND TO USE THE LIGHT TOUCH. WE OWN THIS. AND WHEN CONSTITUENTS ARE ANGRY, THEY SHOULD BE ANGRY AT COUNCIL BECAUSE THE BUCK STOPS HERE, RIGHT? AND SO IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO GIVE YOU CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO PROCEED, I THINK YOU'RE HEARING CONSENSUS UP HERE AS FAR AS THE MODIFICATIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE. AND THEN I KEEP HEARING, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, THERE'S SOME [02:15:02] COGNITIVE DISSONANCE BETWEEN THE FACT THAT YOU'RE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INNOVATION AND TECH COMMITTEE AND HERE YOU ARE RAILING AGAINST, YOU KNOW, THIS INNO VEATTIVE -- INNOVATIVE, YOU KNOW, THIS DISRUPTIVE INDUSTRY. YEAH, I AM. INNOVATION JUST BECAUSE IT'S INNOVATIVE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT'S GOOD OR THAT IT WORKS. I MEAN, WE ALL REMEMBER PRODUCTS THAT WERE SUPER INNOVATIVE BUT THAT WE HATE. CAR ALARMS, EVERYBODY REMEMBER HOW MUCH WE HATED THOSE, AND YET A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THEM. WEB PAGE POPUPS, ROBO CALLS, VAPING ECIGARETTES, SUPER INNOVATIVE, A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THEM, BUT THEY'RE HORRIBLE. FIDGET SPINNERS. [LAUGHTER] >> PELAEZ: THE THIGH MASTER. JOHN, YOU REMEMBER THE THIGH MASTER, RIGHT? SO WITH THAT, I TELL YOU I REJECT THE ARGUMENT THAT JUST BECAUSE THIS IS DISRUPTIVE AND NEW AND TECH AND THERE'S AN APP ATTACHED TO IT, THAT SOMEHOW THIS NEEDS TO, YOU KNOW, THAT WE NEED THEM ON OUR STREETS. NO, WE DON'T. THAT'S NOT A SUICIDE PACT. THAT'S AN INTERESTING NOVEL ARGUMENT, BUT THAT'S ALL IT IS, IT'S AN ARGUMENT AND A FALLACY. SO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS CONCESSION MODEL AND PLEASE GET BACK TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS FAR AS THE VIABILITY AND WHERE ELSE AND HOW ELSE THIS IS PLAYING OUT. THANKS. >> SURE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL? >> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS. >> SURE. >> SANDOVAL: -- JOHN, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE PRETTY MUCH GOTTEN EVERYTHING READY TO GO FOR THE MOMENT THAT WE APPROVE THIS. YOU MENTIONED THAT ABOUT 20% -- OR 21% OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS USED THE SCOOTERS FOR WORK-BASED TRIPS IN YOUR SURVEY, YOU PUT UP -- >> YES. I'M SORRY. 20.9. >> SANDOVAL: 20.9%. I ALSO HAD SOME CORRESPONDENCE TO MY OFFICE ABOUT THAT ABOUT THE CONCERN REGARDING THE CURFEW. BECAUSE THE BUSES DO STOP RUNNING, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 11:00 ON WEEK NIGHTS, A LITTLE BIT LATER ON THE WEEKENDS, SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL. I DO UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO KEEP THE SIDEWALKS -- AUDIO] -- AND THEY HAVE TO MOVE THE CARS OUT OF THE WAY, THERE'S BASICALLY -- THEY DO IT BY LOCATION, RIGHT, THEY'RE NOT SWEEPING ALL THE STREETS EVERY NIGHT, BUT THEY ROTATE WHERE THEY'RE BEING SWEPT. SO I'M WONDERING IF THAT WAS A CONSIDERATION? >> IT WAS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE ASKED SEVERAL OF THE COMPANIES SUGGESTED THAT SOME OF THE RIDERS MAY BE USING THAT TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, IF THEY WORKED MAYBE A LATE SHIFT OR A NIGHT SHIFT. WE ASKED FOR THAT DATA, AND THAT INFORMATION. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT. I THINK THAT'S IMPOR TO CONSIDER THAT WE TRY TO DETERMINE HOW ARE THEY BEING USED, WHO'S USING THEM AND WHY SO WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, IS IT TRULY PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING LATE OR IS IT PEOPLE WHO ARE MAYBE JUST RIDING AROUND LATE AT NIGHT. SO I THINK WHAT WE NEED, AND MY ANSWER TO THAT IS I THINK WE NEED MORE INFORMATION TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. >> SANDOVAL: OKAY. SO I -- I THINK THE DATA'S ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT, BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS TRANSPORTATION MODE AS AN OPTION FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO WORK THOSE HOURS WHO WILL NOT HAVE A BUS LINE AVAILABLE. >> RIGHT. >> SANDOVAL: SO I WOULD -- I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AFTER THE END OF THE PILOT PIECE. >> ABSOLUTELY, YES. >> SANDOVAL: TO ROTATE THE LOCATIONS. >> RIGHT. >> SANDOVAL: AFTER WE GO INTO THAT PHASE, I WOULD PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT FIRMER ON THAT, AND SAY YOU WON'T HAVE MY SUPPORT UNLESS BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, SO... >> I THINK THE NEXT THREE MONTHS WILL BE -- A LOT OF INFORMATION WILL BE -- STARTING OFF, THE INFORMATION IS KIND OF FLOWING TO US SLOWLY, SEVERAL OF THE COMPANIES WERE JUST STARTING, SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T ENTERED THE MARKET YET. I THINK WE'RE NOW AT THAT POINT WHERE WE HAVE ALL BUT ONE OF THE OPERATORS HAVE LAUNCHED, WE'RE STARTING TO GET THAT DATA, WE'RE BUILDING THAT, SO I THINK IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE INFORMATION AND BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME MORE BETTER INFORMED DECISIONS. >> SANDOVAL: OKAY. BUT, YEAH, I DO, I THINK MR. WHITNEY WAS CORRECT SAYING IT WAS AN ISSUE OF EQUITY. AND, AGAIN, WE WOULDN'T PUT A CURFEW ON OTHER VEHICLES. WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS WE JUST HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHERE TO PARK ALL OF THESE. I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE. >> YES. >> SANDOVAL: SO YOU SHOWED A PICTURE OF THE -- ON THE RIVERWALK, THE SIGNAGE. >> UH-HUH. THAT'S SLIDE 7. >> SANDOVAL: AND I KNOW I BROUGHT THIS UP TO YOU BEFORE, WHERE THERE WAS A LITTLE -- WHAT LOOKED LIKE A YARD SIGN AND THE LITTLE SCOOTER WAS WAY AT THE BOTTOM. >> RIGHT. >> SANDOVAL: I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND TESTING SOME OF THESE, [02:20:03] BECAUSE FROM HERE IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE INVITING SCOOTERS ONTO THAT PATH, IF YOU DON'T REALLY READ INTO THE -- INTO THE -- WHAT'S IN THE RIBBON. AND, OF COURSE, IF YOU'RE MOVING AT 10 MILES PER HOUR, YOU CERTAINLY WILL NOT READ WHAT'S IN THAT RIBBON. >> RIGHT, YEAH. AND WE'VE -- A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES ARE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS. RIVER AUTHORITY TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO MAYBE TRY TO STANDARDIZE THAT, SO IT'S RECOGNIZABLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. WE WERE TRYING NOT TO DO, YOU KNOW, A CIRCLE WITH A CROSS THROUGH IT, THAT LOOKED VERY NEGATIVE. >> SANDOVAL: BUT GUESS WHAT, IT WORKS. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. AND WE DID ALL THIS KIND OF IN A TEMPORARY WAY SO WE WEREN'T USING TOO MUCH RESOURCES, JUST TESTING IT TO SEE IF IT WOULD WORK OR NOT. >> SANDOVAL: ALL RIGHT. OKAY. YEAH, I'M NOT SURE THAT ONE PASSES THE TEST. AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE DATA, I -- I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL HOLDUP. I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T STARTED YET, BUT THE ONES THAT ARE OPERATING, I THINK IN TERMS OF THE MILES OR THE START AND THE END LOCATIONS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR HESITATION IN SHARING THAT AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A CONSIDERATION WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH POSSIBLY THE -- WHAT DID YOU CALL IT, IT STARTS WITH A C. THE RFP, THE CONCESSION MODEL. YOU KNOW, HOW ABLE ARE COMPANIES TO SHARE THE DATA, HOW -- HOW COLLABORATIVE AND COOPERATIVE WERE THEY DURING THIS PILOT PHASE, SO I WOULD SAY THAT SHOULD BE A CONSIDERATION. ULTIMATELY, I SUPPORT -- IN AUDIO] -- WE KEEP DOWNTOWN LOOKING GOOD AS WELL AS AREAS OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOHN. >> SURE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL. COUNCILMAN SAL SALDAÑA. >> SALDAÑA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I'LL NOTE THAT IT'S 11:30, SO I WILL BE RELATIVELY SHORT. I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE MESSAGE THAT I THINK IS THE CONCEPT THAT WE'RE MOVING TOWARD, SO IN ORDER TO GIVE THE FOLKS FROM THE INDUSTRY A HEAD'S UP OR A FORECAST, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO DO A CONCESSION. I WANT TO DO A CONCESSION MODEL. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ WANTS TO DO A CONCESSION MODEL, AND I THINK THE REASON WE BOTH WOULD AGREE AND NOD OUR HEADS TO THAT CONCEPT IS WE COULD CREATE THE RULES FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO WANT TO COME IN TO THE CITY. IF YOU -- YOU KNOW, NEED NOT APPLY IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, THE PRESCRIPTIONS THAT WE WOULD TALK ABOUT WITH REGARDS TO CAP AND NEED NOT APPLY IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN A CITY COUNCIL DECIDING ON A REGULATION THAT SAYS NO TO SIDEWALKS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL GET THERE, BUT AS WE'RE BUILDING THE CONCESSION MODEL, I THINK IT WOULD REALLY SATISFY A LOT OF US TO KNOW THAT, LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO COME INTO THE HOUSE, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES. THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT THE RULES THAT WE WANT TO PUT UP ARE BEING ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT NOT ONLY THE TONS OF CALLS AND THE E-MAILS THAT WE GET ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT REALLY BECAUSE THERE'S A GENUINE BELIEF THAT THERE'S A SET OF RULES THAT MIGHT WORK TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THIS. SO JUST CONSIDER ME ON THAT LIST OF AFTER WE GET PAST THE PILOT, THE CONCESSION I THINK IS THE MODEL THAT WE DO NEED TO MOVE TO. >> OKAY. >> SALDAÑA: BUT I WANT TO KIND OF COMMENT ON WHAT I THINK IS ALSO WITH REGARD TO TECHNOLOGY OR INNOVATION OR NEW TRANSPORTATION OPTION IS A LITTLE BIT OF THIS DOUBLE-STANDARD THAT I THINK WE GET SOMETIMES. IT GETS A LOT OF EMPHASIS BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT INJURIES OR WE TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL RISK OF PEDESTRIANS. AND I'M REALLY RIFFING OFF COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES' POINT IS THAT VEHICLES DON'T GET THE SAME KIND OF TREATMENT OR BACKLASH OR WE DON'T GET THE SAME QUESTIONS WHEN SIDEWALK WITHOUT HAVING TO GO ON THE STREET BECAUSE A VEHICLE IS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK. OR RIGHT UP ABOVE IT. AND WE HAVE NO ISSUE WITH DISCUSSING THAT POINT, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THAT I WOULD SATISFY A WHOLE LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IF I WENT AROUND -- OR MAYBE DISSATISFY A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IF I WENT AROUND TICKETING THOSE, ENSURING THAT EVERY ONE OF THOSE SIDEWALK IS CLEAR. WE DON'T HAVE THAT SAME CONVERSATION ABOUT VEHICLES BUT WE ARE HAVING THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT SCOOTERS. WE NEED TO. IT WILL COME DOWN TO THE POINT THAT WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AND IT'S REALLY NOT REACHING THE LEVEL OF OUR SATISFACTION, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LET'S NOT COMPLETELY COMPLETELYESSKEW THE IDEA ONE TO EXIST. IF YOU WANT TO PLAY IN THE SANDBOX, THESE ARE THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE WANT YOU TO LIVE BY, SO... I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT HERE IN THIS SPACE, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFIT FOR US ALL TO KIND OF GET A GRIP ON HOW WE GO ABOUT FORMULATING THE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. AGAIN, I DON'T WANT US TO GET TOO FAR OFF THIS BIGGER POINT [02:25:02] THAT IT'S FORCING US TO HAVE. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, EVEN -- I'M GLAD, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WHEN SHE'S ON THE COUNCIL BEYOND THIS CYCLE, WILL CONTINUE TO HARP ON, WHICH IS THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. AND WHY WE HAVE PAID NO ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN WITH ALARMING RATES DISCUSSING THE NEED FOR PROTECTED BIKE LANES, PROTECTED BIKE LANES THAT WOULD NATURALLY BE USED BY THESE SCOOTERS, AND SO -- ESPECIALLY FROM THE -- I SUBMIT TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY OUT THERE. SUBMIT TO THE FACT THAT THIS PILOT MIGHT HAVE RAISED PEOPLE'S EYEBROWS AND HAD PEOPLE PULLING THEIR HAIR OUT OF THEIR HEAD BECAUSE THEY FELT THERE WAS TOO MANY, BUT WHAT THAT AFFORDED US WAS AN AVAILABLE RICHNESS OF DATA, NOT JUST IN THE AMOUNT OF COMPANIES WHO WERE INTERESTED IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT A SENSE OF A TRANSPORTATION ROUTE THAT WAS BEING CREATED BY FOLKS WHO WERE POINTING US IN THE DIRECTION OF WHERE THEY NEED BIKE LANES OF WHERE THEY NEED PROTECTED ROADWAYS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS A CLAIM THAT WE ALL WANT TO MAKE, THAT WE WANT THESE SCOOTERS OFF OF OUR SIDEWALKS. WELL, IN THAT CASE, WE'D WANT TO PUT THEM ON STREETS THAT ARE SAFE FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE USING THEM. AND THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE AT THE COUNCIL, NOT JUST FOR SCOOTERS, BUT FOR BIKERS, PEDESTRIANS AND FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING AROUND IN A WAY THAT IS SHARING THE ROAD WITH VEHICLES. VEHICLES, BY THE WAY, WHICH IN TEXAS KILLED ABOUT 3700 PEOPLE. THERE'S A LOT OF ALARM TO BE HAD ABOUT THAT, AND I'D RATHER SEE SOMEBODY WITH A LESS CHANCE OF A FATALITY BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A SCOOTER THAN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY LATE AT NIGHT, WHICH IS WHY I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE POINT COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, AS WE CREATE THESE CONCESSIONS, IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO ME FOR FOLKS WHO MAY BE USING THESE PAST HOURS, PAST 11, WHEN RESTAURANTS ARE CLOSING LATE AND SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS ARE TRYING TO GET TO AND FROM A LOCATION, THAT IT IS EXTENDED BEYOND THOSE HOURS OF CURFEW, BECAUSE I'D RATHER THEY BE ON A SCOOTER AND PERHAPS GET A BRUISED KNEE OR, YOU KNOW, A SKINNED ELBOW RATHER THAN GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR IF THEY'RE INEASTBOUND -- THEY'RE IN' BRIEATED RATHER THAN TAKING A LIFE. CONSIDERING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATIONS ARE MY POINTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA. COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE? >> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M TRYING TO CHECK THE LIST HERE, I THINK I'M THE LAST ONE JOHN, SO ALL THE GOOD QUESTIONS ARE ALREADY ASKED. I WANT TO TELL YOU, I THOUGHT YOU DID A GREAT JOB. I THINK YOU'VE BEEN FLEXIBLE IN TRYING TO WORK THROUGH A LOT OF COMPETING PRIORITIES. WHEN THE PILOT PROGRAM ROLLED OUT, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS INUNDATION AND WHAT THAT MEANT FOR THE RESIDENTS, RIGHT? IT TOOK PEOPLE BY SURPRISE. BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I REITERATE, THERE ARE A TON OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN, THEY WERE COMPLAINING OUT IN DISTRICT 6, BUT WHEN I SEE 1.5 MILLION RIDES, I DO THINK THERE ARE PROBABLY INFINITELY MORE IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE SATISFIED WITH THE PRODUCT. SO NORMALLY WE DO HEAR FROM THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT TO MY GOAL WAS TO GET TO SOMETHING THAT WAS BALANCED THAT'S STILL ALLOWED FOR THE USE OF THE -- LOT OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT AT THE MPO, LAST MILE, FIRST MILE, ACCESS TO VIA. I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED FOR THE SCOOTERS I SEE ON 1604. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY PEOPLE ARE RIDING A SCOOTER OUT ON 1604, BUT FOR THE MOST PART I THINK IT'S ANSWERING A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO LEGISLATE THAT. I'LL JUST CAUTION THAT SOME OF THEM CAN GET A LITTLE RESTRICTIVE IN THE FUTURE. WHERE YOU GEOFENCE, I WOULD JUST PUT OUT THERE THAT SOME OF THAT TECHNOLOGY IS VERY EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO PRICE PEOPLE OUT OF THE MARKET EITHER, LIKE DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY LIKE THIS. THE COST OF ENTRY DOESN'T -- THESE PRODUCTS ARE DISPOSABLE, RIGHT, THE SCOOTERS LAST 30 DAYS. I MEAN, THEY'RE IN AND OUT, SO THE MARGINS ARE TIGHTER THAN PEOPLE WOULD IMAGINE. SO IF YOU ADD LIKE A GEOFENCING OR MAKE THINGS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, IT PRICES THE PRODUCT OUT, SO THERE'S A BALANCE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU'RE REQUIRING OF OUR -- OF THIS BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THIS ONE IS THAT IT DOESN'T PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS. I MEAN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE, BECAUSE I THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. >> RIGHT. >> BROCKHOUSE: AND THEN I THINK YOUR PICKUP LAWS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT ARE GREAT. THE CURFEW PIECE, I WOULDND MIND IT MAYBE GOING TO MIDNIGHT. 11:00 WAS A GOOD COMPROMISE. I THINK YOU WANTED 10 AND THEY WANTED MIDNIGHT. >> ORIGINALLY HAD 10, AND WE MOVED IT TO 11. >> BROCKHOUSE: I THINK THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF EASING INTO SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE IMON SOUTH REALLY FAST AND IT DID. AND NOW YOU CORRECTED AND YOU DID. YOU'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD. I THINK IT'S GOOD PARTNERSHIP FROM THE SCOOTER COMPANIES FOR [02:30:01] THE MOST PART. THE ONE THING I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT AND THE DATA TO COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA'S POINT, THE DATA IS GOING TO PROVE OUT WHO'S DOING THE JOB AND WHO'S NOT. YOU KNOW, I ANECDOTALLY CAN DRIVE AROUND AND SEE WHO'S NOT DOING WELL. BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT LOOK LIKE GARBAGE AND THEY'RE LAYING OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THOSE PEOPLE WE NEED TO ADDRESS. BUT THOSE SCOOTER COMPANIES AND FOLKS THAT ARE OPERATING WELL AND DOING THE BEST THEY CAN AND KEEPING US INFORMED, RIGHT, WITH THEIR DATA AND WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, THINK I THAT THAT'S A PARTNER WE WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH, WHETHER IT'S TWO OR THREE IN FUTURE OR WE RFP IT, WHATEVER. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, I THINK RIGHT BY THE CITIES AND THE CONSTITUENTS LISTENING TO IT. BUT I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THERE ARE PROBABLY FAR MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING IT WHO AREN'T TELLING US THAT. AND WHILE THE SURVEY DATA WHILE SOLID NEEDS TO MAKE SURE IT ENCOMPASSES EVERYBODY. I DID SENSE THAT A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK WAS DRIVEN MORE TOWARDS THE NEGATIVE AS TO THOSE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF RIDERS WHO HAVE A LOT OF BENEFIT TO IT. I THINK ABOUT RESIDENTS, I'VE SEEN THEM RIDING UP AND DOWN OLD HIGHWAY 90. I THOUGHT, MAN THIS TECHNOLOGY IS GETTING A LITTLE FURTHER THAN EVEN I THOUGHT COULD BE UTILIZED, BUT THERE WAS NO BIKE LANE. SO, YOU KNOW, I PIGGYBACKED OFF OF THAT, TOO, WITH COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES BRINGS BIKE LANES ALL THE WAY DOWN COMMERCE AND THEN IT ENDS AT MY CONNECTION RIGHT THERE. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE PROTECTED FOR ANY RIDER USING THAT SPACE. SO THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK. I APPRECIATE IT, YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY ON IT. LET'S GET THE VOTE GOING HERE. THANK YOU, JOHN. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE. JOHN, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD. I JUST WANT TO REFLECT ON A COUPLE THINGS. I HAVE TWO MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM ALL THIS RIGHT NOW. AND THE FIRST ONE IS THIS CITY MISSED THE BOAT 25 YEARS AGO IN NOT LISTENING TO THEN CITY MANAGER ALEX BRE SCENEIO'S CALL TO UPDATE OUR UDC AND NOT REQUIRE WIDER SIDEWALKS. SO I'M GLAD THERE'S A HEARTIER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AS IT RELATES. I ALSO WANT TO SAY I DISAGREE WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES ARRIVED AT, BUT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE SHE JUST SAID. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION. WE HAVE TO EMBRACE INNOVATION. WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T TRY TO FIT ROUND PEGS INTO SQUARE HOLES WHEN IT COMES TO NEW MARKET-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS. SO MY SECOND TAKEAWAY FROM ALL OF THIS IS THAT THIS CITY, THIS COUNCIL IS DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION. YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THE PRESSURE POINTS. WE HEAR ABOUT THEM IN OUR INBOXES, IN OUR PHONE CALLS EVERY SINGLE DAY. BUT I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE ARE BEINGG CAUTIOUS ABOUT OVERREGULATION. IN THAT VEIN, I WOULD ALSO TO URGE CAUTION BEFORE WE JUMP TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE NEED A CONCESSION AGREEMENT TO SOLVE THIS. IN AN IDEAL WORLD, THE MARKET WOULD FIGURE OUT THE NUMBER OF SCOOTERS THAT SHOULD BE OUT THERE, IF WE HAVE THE RIGHT REGULATIONS IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH AESTHETIC ISSUES, CLUTTER ISSUES, SAFETY ISSUES. I THINK WE'RE I HOPE THE REST OF THE PILOT WILL HELP US FIND OUT WHAT FURTHER TWEAKS CAN BE MADE. BUT I DO WANT TO ENSURE THAT THIS CITY CONTINUES TO EMBRACE THE FACT THAT INNOVATION'S HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ IS RIGHT, NOT ALL OF THE INNOVATION IS GOOD. WE FIGURE OUT WAYS WE CAN MAKE IT WORK FOR US BUT THAT WE ALSO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THE REGULATION IS NOT OVERLY DONE TO RESTRICT THAT KIND OF MARKET-DRIVEN SOLUTION FROM COMING TO SAN ANTONIO. SO, GREAT WORK. THANKS FOR BEING NIMBLE WITH THIS. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR A GREAT DISCUSSION. AND I'LL BE FULLY SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS TODAY. SO, WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 4. [9. Ordinance approving ten one-year Job Order Contracts in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000.00 annually per contract with the option to renew for two, one-year extensions for a total amount each not to exceed $9,000,000.00 with Alpha Building Corp., Amstar, Inc., Belt Built Contracting, Con-Cor Inc., Davila Construction, Inc., Jamail & Smith Construction, LP., Kencon, Ltd., LMC Corp., The Sabinal Group, and Tejas Premier Building Contractor, Inc. for the provision of Job Order Contracting as an alternative project delivery method for construction, renovation, rehabilitation and maintenance projects in city facilities. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Razi Hosseini, Interim Director, Transportation & Capital Improvements]] PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. ITEM NO. 9. >> ITEM NO. 9 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A TEN ONE-YEAR JOB ORDER CONTRACTS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3 MILLION ANNUALLY PER CONTRACT WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO, ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT EACH NOT TO EXCEED $9 MILLION WITH ALPHA BUILDING CORPORATION, AMSTAR, INCORPORATED, BELT BUILT CONTRACTING, CON-COR, INCORPORATED, DAVILA CONSTRUCTION, INCORPORATED, JAMAIL AND SMITH CONSTRUCTION, LP, KENCON, LIMITED, LMC, CORPORATION, THE SABINAL GROUP, AND TEJAS PREMIER BUILDING CONTRACTOR, INCORPORATED, FOR THE PROVISION OF JOB ORDER CONTRACTING AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROECT DELIVERY METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, REHABILITATION, AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS IN CITY FACILITIES. [02:35:05] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN HALL. ALL RIGHT. I'M SORRY. WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 9. I'LL CALL HIM NOW. CHRIS HERRING. THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN HALL. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M CHRISTOPHER HERRING. I RESIDE IN DISTRICT 9. I CHAIR THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL CHAMBER SAN ANTONIO, AND I CHAIR THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY FOR THE SAN ANTONIO. I COME THIS MORNING JUST TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT TCI EXPAND THEIR LIST THAT THEY HAVE PRESENTED TO YOU TO 13 COMPANIES, AS OPPOSED TO TEN. IN OUR CITY'S ANNUAL REPORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE SEEN, WE HAVE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS THAT WERE SET. AND IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SEGMENT WE HAVE NOT ACHIEVED OUR GOAL, ASPIRATIONAL GOAL, FOR THE PRIME CONTRACTOR LEVEL AND THE SUBCONTRACTING LEVEL. SIMPLY PUT, EXPANDING THIS LIST WILL ENABLE COMPANIES THAT AREN'T CURRENTLY ON THE CONTRACT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD CAPACITY. AND THAT WAS A BIG THING BACK IN 2012 WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES EARNING ZERO DOLLARS IN THE CITY BOND. AND WHAT THE COUNCIL DID AT THAT TIME IS WE CAME BACK AND WE CREATED A DIVERSITY ACTION PLAN. WE BEEFED UP OUR SBEDA ORDINANCE, AND WE'VE BASICALLY BEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ISSUE. THIS ISSUE, TO ME, IS VERY SIMPLE. IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE TOP TEN ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THEY ARE GREAT. BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER EXPAND THIS LIST TO ENABLE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS THAT YOU HAVE SET BEFORE US. SIMPLY PUT, AND THIS IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND I'M ALSO REMINDED IN 1865 THE STATE OF TEXAS FINALLY GOT THE WORD THAT WE HAD TRUE FREEDOM. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESSES HAVE ALWAYS STARTED LATE IN THE RACE. WE DIDN'T START AT THE SAME TIME AFTER SOME IMMIGRANTS CAME HERE IN 1776. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO, IS STILL LAGGING BEHIND. IT WILL TAKE AN ACTIVE DECISION THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. TWO OF THE COMPANIES THAT ARE IN THAT 13 LIST, ONE IS A VETERAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS, CONSOLIDATED INSULATION SUPPORT. IN FACT, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THEN WE ALSO HAVE STRAIGHT-LINE MANAGEMENT, WHO HAS BEEN PERFORMING UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT, AND HAS ACTUALLY RAMPED UP THE STAFF. AND I WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT COMPANY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THEIR STAFF AND REDUCE IT. I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR COUNCILMAN HALL TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND TO SEE THAT WE MADE A DECISION BASED OFF OF THE PEOPLE. I KNOW THIS IS A PROCESS, BUT LET'S NOT BE CONFUSED. THE PROCESS SOMETIMES JUST DOESN'T WORK TO THE DEGREE. AND I DO HAVE TO APPLAUD THE CITY FOR HAVING SUCCESS WITH THE LAST YEAR'S ANNUAL PLAN. IT'S BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT AND EFFORT OF THE MAYOR AND THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT MINORITY BUSINESSES ARE SUCCESSFUL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. HERRING. COUNCILMAN HALL. >> HALL: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO INVITE RAZI FORWARD, IF YOU DON'T MIND. RAZI, I'M NOT GOING TO STRETCH THIS OUT TOO MUCH, BUT IF YOU COULD, JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE NUMBERS OF THE FOLKS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WERE 16 APPLICATIONS. WE CHOSE TEN, SO TEN'S ON THE LIST TODAY FOR THIS MORNING. SIX OF THOSE TEN WERE PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE OLD AGREEMENT. AND THEN FOUR -- SO FOUR ARE NEW. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RANKING OF THE 16, AND PARTICULARLY THE BOTTOM SIX. CAN YOU GIVE THAT RANKING OF WHERE THOSE COMPANIES FELL? >> LET ME JUST GO OVER MY PRESENTATION. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I AM RAZI HOSSEINI, INTERIM DIRECTOR AND CITY ENGINEER FOR TRANSPORTATION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT DEPARTMENT. JOB ORDER CONTRACT, AS WE KNOW AS JOC, WAS DESIGNED FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED PROJECTS. PROJECTS ARE FOR CONSTRUCTION [INDISCERNIBLE], AND ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES THIS PROGRAM HAS [02:40:05] MANY DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO USES THIS ONE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS USE OUR JOC. ANNUAL CARE CENTER, CCDO, CITY CENTER DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN SERVICE, AND PARKS AND RECREATION. THE SELECTION PROCESS, WE HAVE 100 POINTS FOR SELECTION. EXPERIENCE INCLUDES 30 POINTS. UNDERSTANDING OF THE JOC PROGRAM IS 20 POINTS. EXPERIENCE WITH THE REGION, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, PERMITTING, TRAFFIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, 20 POINTS. COST EFFICIENT IS 10 POINTS, AND OF COURSE SBEDA IS 20 POINTS. EVALUATION COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, TCI DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, AND PROJECT TEAM. BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND PARKS DEPARTMENT. OVERALL WE HAD SIX COMMITTEES TO EVALUATE THIS. TODAY WE HAVE TEN JOC PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE EXPIRED NEXT MONTH, MARCH. THEY ARE FOR FOUR YEARS, MAXIMUM, AND ANNUAL FOR EACH PROGRAM WAS $2 MILLION. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, SELECTION OF ANOTHER JOC, TERM WOULD BE THREE YEARS, RATHER THAN FOUR YEARS THAT WE HAD BEFORE. IT WILL BE EXPIRING IN MARCH OF 2022. WE ARE ASKING FOR A CAPACITY OF $3 MILLION FOR EACH. FROM THE FIRM WE HAD LAST TIME, COUNCILMAN, TEN. SIX OF THEM WAS SELECTED AGAIN. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY 3% GOAL. ON THIS ONE WE HAVE 4%. WE HAVE INCREASED 4%. FOR 2015 JOC PROGRAM, WE HAVE PAID ALTOGETHER $6.7 MILLION FOR AABE FIRM. WE HAD ONE PRIME AND WE HAD 18 SUBS. WE ENDED UP DOUBLING THE GOAL OF 3%. 6.3% AB GOAL, EVEN IF THE GOAL WAS 3%, WE DOUBLED THAT ONE. ON THIS PROGRAM WE HAVE INCREASED IT FROM 4% AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO ALSO DOUBLE THAT ONE TOO. AS OF TODAY, OVERALL FROM 2015, WE HAVE PAID $29.7 MILLION FOR AEB PRIME AND SUB. PRIME IS A LITTLE OVER $9 MILLION. SUBS IS A LITTLE OVER $20 MILLION. WE HAD 12 PRIME AND WE HAD 43 SUBS SINCE 2015. BASICALLY WE ARE RECOMMENDING COUNCIL TO APPROVE THIS TEN JOC WORKING FOR US FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS COMING. >>>> HALL: THANK YOU FOR THAT, RAZI. COULD YOU GIVE THE ANALYSIS FOR THE BOTTOM SIX, WHAT THAT RANKING WAS, IF THERE WAS A RANKING AT ALL. AND PARTICULARLY, I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING THE FOUR COMPANIES THAT WERE ON THE LIST PREVIOUSLY. WHAT WAS THE ANALYSIS FOR REMOVING THEM OR NOT RECOMMENDING THEM FOR THIS NEXT LIST? >> AS I MENTIONED, WE HAD SIX MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE TO VOTE THEM. AND THE MAXIMUM POINT IS 100. WE VOTE THEM -- THE ONE WE STOPPED AT THE NUMBER TEN, THE MAXIMUM GRADE WAS 60.10. 11 WAS 61 US TO DECIDE WHY 10 AND NOT 11 OR 12. AND ALSO WE LOOK FOR THE WORKLOAD. THIS IS NOT A FUNDED PROGRAM. AS PROJECT COMES AVAILABLE, WE ASSIGN THE JOC. IF WE SELECT MORE JOC THEY ARE GOING TO GET LESSER PROJECTS, BECAUSE OUR PROJECTS ARE NOT GROWING BY ADDING MORE JOCS. THEN OUR CONCERN IS WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE A QUALITY CHOICE AS A CONTRACTING. THEY MAY USE US AS A FILLER AND WE DON'T GET THE ATTENTION WE WANT FROM THEM TO DO QUALITY WORK FOR OUR CLIENTS. BECAUSE OF MOST OF THESE PROJECTS ARE DONE FOR THE CITY OTHER THAN THE TCI DEPARTMENT. [02:45:01] WE JUST MANAGE THIS PROGRAM. >> HALL: LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION THEN, FOR THE THREE REMAINING AFRICAN AMERICAN FIRMS THAT WERE PART OF THE SIX, DID ANY OF THEM RANK IN THE BOTTOM THREE OF THE -- >> WE ARE SELECTING ONE AFRICAN AMERICAN. IT IS BRAND NEW. ONE HAS PROVEN THEY HAVE BEEN PRIME AND THEY ARE PART OF THE PRIME. THOSE OTHER THEY WERE AFTER NUMBER TEN. >> HALL: OKAY. SO THE THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN FIRMS THAT WERE NOT SELECTED, ARE THEY THE BOTTOM THREE, DO YOU KNOW? >> NO. WE HAD THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN SUBMITTED ONE. WE ARE SELECTING ONE. TWO IS NOT GETTING SELECTED. >> HALL: OF THOSE TWO IN THE BOTTOM SIX -- I GUESS FOR THOSE TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN -- >> THEY ARE NO. 12 AND 13. >> HALL: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT, RAZI. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER FOR ALLOWING ME TO PULL THIS ITEM. I APPRECIATE CHRIS HERRING'S PERSPECTIVE AND I'D LIKE TO PROMOTE THAT TODAY. WE ARE ABOUT BUILDING CAPACITY AND ENSURING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICULARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN FIRMS AND OTHERS AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET CITY BUSINESS. MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS WORKS IS YOU CREATE A POOL AND NOT ALL THE POOL HAS TO BE USED. THEY ARE JUST IN THE POOL. AND AS JOBS COME OPEN WE CAN UTILIZE THOSE COMPANIES. SO, IN MY PERSPECTIVE, ADDING COMPANIES TO THAT POOL DOESN'T NECESSARILY -- DOESN'T HURT, AND AT THE SAME TIME IT DOESN'T ALWAYS REQUIRE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE USED. ALTHOUGH THAT'S THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD CAPACITY. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS, NUMBER ONE, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED SO THAT AT LEAST WE HAVE A BASELINE. AND, IF I CAN GET A SECOND ON THAT, I'LL PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT FROM THERE. >> SECOND. >> HALL: AND SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I WOULD PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION WHICH IS TO EXPAND THE LIST TO AN ADDITIONAL THREE COMPANIES. NO. 11, 12, AND 13. KNOWING THAT WE'RE JUST EXPANDING THAT OPPORTUNITY, THAT LIST OF COMPANIES THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR WORK. SO THAT'S MY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION. >> COUNCILMAN, WE HAVE -- THE CITY ATTORNEYS WANTS TO WEIGH IN. >> YES. YES, COUNCILMAN, JUST TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION, AND THAT WAY PROCEDURALLY I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE. >> HALL: OKAY. AND SO ONCE WE MAKE THE MOTION TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION, THEN THAT AMENDED RECOMMENDATION WILL HAVE A MOTION? >> RIGHT. THERE WOULD BE ONE VOTE. THE FIRST VOTE WOULD BE ON YOUR MOTION TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION. >> HALL: GOT IT. SO DO I NEED TO REMOVE THE MOTION? >> THE FIRST ONE, YES, CORRECT. >> HALL: I'LL REMOVE THAT MOTION. SO I WILL MOVE TO RECOMMEND AMENDING THE RECOMMENDATION, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO EXPAND THE LIST TO 13 FROM 10. AND ADDING NO. 11, NO. 12, AND NO. 13 THAT THEY REVIEWED. >> TREVINO: OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND WE HAVE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. MANNY PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON ANYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED TODAY. I -- THE AMOUNT THAT I DON'T KNOW ON HOW THIS WORKS, RIGHT, AND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ONE OF THE BIDDERS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY DO THE JOB AND WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPETE IN THIS VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE, YOU KNOW, INDUSTRY. THAT'S NOT THE PATH THAT I'VE CHOSEN OR WAS CHOSEN FOR ME. HOWEVER, I DO TRUST THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN OUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, WHO ARE TASKED WITH BEING THE EXPERTS IN WHAT IT TAKES TO DO BUSINESS IN SAN ANTONIO, WHEN THEY COME TO US AND SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE NEED THIS FIXED. I TRUST THEM. AND I HOPE THAT THAT WE HEAR YOU. THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING YOU, MR. HALL. AND I'M HAPPY TO DO IT. THANK YOU. >> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. RAZI, I DON'T RECALL, DOES THIS GO BEFORE OUR AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE? >> YES, IT DOES. >> COURAGE: AND WHEN WAS THIS [02:50:02] PRESENTED? >> JANUARY IT WAS POSTED. >> COURAGE: OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT AT THIS TIME ALSO. THANK YOU. >> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN PERRY. >> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR. YEAH, I JUST DON'T RECALL THIS ONE EITHER, JOHN. BUT, ANYWAY, EXPLAIN AGAIN WHAT THE IMPACTS OF THIS WILL BE IF WE ADD ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS TO THIS JOC? >> SINCE 2015, THE AVERAGE USE OF JOC WAS $15 MILLION. LAST YEAR WE USED A MAXIMUM OF $18 MILLION. AND IF WE SELECT MORE FIRMS, THE PROJECT IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE, THEY ARE JUST GOING TO GET LESS OF THE PROJECT. IT IS POSSIBLE THEY USE OUR PROJECT AS A FILLER, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE ONCE A WHILE RATHER THAN CONTINUOUSLY. THEY HAVE TO PREPARE FOR OUR PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE DO THE PROJECT. LIKE FOR AIRPORT, THEY HAVE TO GET BADGING. IT'S NOT THAT EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET THOSE REQUIREMENTS IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO ONE OR TWO OR FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR PROJECTS. THESE ARE NOT LARGE PROJECTS. THESE ARE SMALL PROJECTS. LARGE PROJECTS WE DO COMPETITIVE BID OR SEALED PROPOSAL. THAT COULD BE AN EFFECT. ALSO WHEN WE SELECT A CONTRACTOR WE ARE GIVING THEM SOME HOPE THEY ARE GOING TO GET THAT DOLLAR FIGURE. WHEN WE INCREASE THE POOL, SINCE THE PROJECT IS NOT INCREASING, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET WHAT THEY WERE ANTICIPATING OR PLANNING TO PREPARE FOR THAT WORK. >> PERRY: YES. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. I WANTED YOU TO REPEAT THAT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL HEARS THAT. BECAUSE THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE OVERALL JOC. LIKE YOU SAID, YOU SPREAD IT OUT, YOU PUT MORE CONTRACTORS ON IT. THAT'S A SMALLER AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF THAT POT FOR EACH CONTRACTOR. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROCESS HERE. AND YOU LAID OUT THE PROCESS. YOU WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND, YES, WE HAVE THE PREROGATIVE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES BUT, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THESE LAST-MINUTE CHANGES ON SOMETHING THAT TAKES MONTHS TO PUT PACKAGES TOGETHER, BE A FAIR PROCESS WITH THE SELECTION, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I COULD SAY, WELL, SHOOT SINCE WE'RE ADDING THOSE THREE, WHY DON'T WE ADD THE NEXT THREE ON IT? WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT 16? SO, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST DILUTES IT EVEN FURTHER. I JUST CAN'T GO ALONG WITH THIS, JUST ADDING CONTRACTORS ON JUST, YOU KNOW, AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE. AND SO I WON'T SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT ON THAT. I JUST THINK THAT'S A DISSERVICE TO OUR PROCESS AND THE TIME AND THE EFFORT THAT OUR CITY STAFF HAS PUT INTO THIS, ALONG WITH THE CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, DONE A GREAT JOB PUTTING THEIR PROPOSALS TOGETHER. AND HERE WE'RE DILUTING THE PROCESS AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT EACH CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO GET, THAT THEY SAW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TEN AWARDS, NOT 13, NOT 16, BUT ONLY TEN AWARDS. SO YOU WOULD HOPE THAT YOU GET THAT PORTION OUT OF THAT POT OF MONEY. SO, SIR, I'M SORRY. I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT. BUT I JUST HOPE EVERYBODY REALIZES WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE ON MAKING THIS KIND OF A CHANGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. >> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY. COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE. >> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITIES, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND GO ALONG -- I WANTED TO SECOND IT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO UNCOMFORTABLE THINGS TO GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE SEE. WHILE IT'S A SMALLER POOL OF CASH, I DO WANT TO SEE OUR CONTRACTING PROCESSES AND THIS BODY MAKES EXCEPTIONS UP AND DOWN. THE COUNCIL COMES IN, OVER MY TWO YEARS AND THE YEARS BEFORE I HAVE BEEN ON STAFF, THESE ARE PRETTY ROUTINE. WE COME IN AND MAKE DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS BECAUSE WE GUIDE THE POLICY. SO, I THINK SOMETIMES WE USE THE TOOL FOR WHAT WE HAVE AND THE POWER OF OUR VOTE TO LEVEL THE PLAYINGFIELD AND TRY TO GET, IN THIS CASE, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS OR WHATEVER IT IS, I THINK THEY NEED A SEAT AT THE TABLE. SOMETIMES WE NEED TO FORCE THAT SEAT AT THE TABLE, SO MY SUPPORT COMES FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS I THINK THE COMMUNITY DESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY. DOES IT MEAN IT'S A $40,000 LESS [02:55:02] POOL PER PERSON? I THINK I CAN LIVE WITH THAT IN THE HOPES THAT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTRACTOR HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT SOME JOB ON THE BOOK. BECAUSE THAT JOB THEN LEADS TO ANOTHER JOB. I'M THINKING LONGER TERM, LIKE WE WANT MORE OF THAT REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR CONTRACTING PROCESS. AND SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY IN CONTRACTING, YOU PUSH TO FORCE THAT AS OPPOSED TO LETTING IT BUBBLE UP, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR. SO MY VOTE IN SUPPORT OF IT IS MAINLY AROUND LETTING THEM GET THE FOOT IN THE DOOR. AND ONCE THEY DO THEN THE WORK ETHIC AND EVERYTHING IS ON THEM. WE DO HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT RENE WILL SPEAK TO TO PROMOTE THAT, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. I DON'T THINK $10,000, $15,000, WHATEVER THE DIFFERENCE IS, WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT. BUT I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY ITSELF AND FOR A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER TO GET INTO THERE, WHETHER IT'S 13 TO 16, I THINK IT'S A SHOT. THAT'S WHY IT EARNS MY SUPPORT AND MY VOTE. THANK YOU. >> I COULD JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION. WE DID PROVIDE AND APPLY THE MAXIMUM SBEDA POINTS. AND THE FIRMS FROM TEN ALL THE WAY TO 16 -- IN OTHER WORDS, THE NON--SELECTED FIRMS, ALL OF THEM RECEIVED SBEDA POINTS. THE ONLY OTHER POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS WE'RE KIND OF NOT MENTIONING THE SUBCONTRACT -- I KNOW RAZI BROUGHT IT UP, BUT THE REAL OPPORTUNITY, IS IN A LOT OF WAYS, THE SUBCONTRACTING. THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR SUBCONTRACTING. LAST YEAR I BELIEVE -- OR THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT HAD A GOAL THAT WAS BASICALLY DOUBLED. AND SO WE REALLY SEE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALLS, IN TERMS OF THE SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. >> TREVINO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE. COUNCILMAN HALL. >> HALL: AND SO I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION FROM RENE AND FROM RAZI AND WELL AND ALL THE PERSPECTIVES. JUST TO ANSWER THE COUNCILMAN'S PERSPECTIVES REAL QUICK, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE DILUTION IS THERE, BUT ALSO I'M COGNIZANT OF THE FACT WHERE WE WERE, $2 MILLION, WE'VE INCREASED THE POOL OF MONEY. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE INCREASING THE POOL OF FIRMS, I DON'T THINK THAT THE IMPACT PER FIRM IS GOING TO BE MUCH DILUTED SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S GOING TO BE SPREAD OUT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT AS WELL. >> COUNCILMAN, $3 MILLION IN AUDIO] NOT GUARANTEED WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PROJECT TO DELIVER $3 MILLION ON EACH. UNLESS, SINCE 2006, WE NEVER HAVE MAXIMIZED ANY OF THESE JOC CAPS. BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION YOU REALLY NOT GO EXACTLY FOR THE CAP. MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE BELOW THE CAP. >> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HALL. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO FLOAT SOMETHING HERE, I HAVEN'T RUN IT BY ANYBODY. BUT I'VE NOW EXPERIENCED -- I'M NOW EXPERIENCING DISCOMFORT. ONE, BECAUSE I'M HUNGRY. BUT, TWO, I'M HEARING THAT THIS DID NOT GO BEFORE AUDIT. >> IT DID. >> PELAEZ: OH, IT DID? >> [INAUDIBLE] >> PELAEZ: HOWEVER, I AM HEARING CONCERNS EXPRESSED. I'M HEARING THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT POT OF MONEY. I'M HEARING ONE OF OUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OBJECT. I'M HEARING A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND I'M GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE DELAY THIS FOR A WEEK SO WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION AMONG OURSELVES AND WITH STAFF TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE AROUND THIS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR DELAY OF ITEM NO. 9. DID YOU GIVE A TIME, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ? TO THE NEXT SESSION, WHICH WOULD BE THE 21ST OF FEBRUARY. COUNCILMAN PERRY. >> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO COME BACK ON THIS CITY, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHARTS THAT RENE HAS DONE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, SMALL WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, ALL THE BUSINESSES THIS CITY HAS SUPPORTED OVER THIS LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE MADE PHENOMENAL PROGRESS. AND I AM ALL FOR SUPPORTING MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES. THAT'S NOT THE POINT. RAZI, DOES THIS PROHIBIT ANY OF THOSE THREE BUSINESSES FROM CONTINUING TO BID ON WORK AS SUBCONTRACTORS OR PRIMES ON OTHER CONTRACTS HERE IN THE CITY? >> OF COURSE NOT. WE HAVE INCREASED ABE REQUIREMENT FROM 3% TO 4%. [03:00:02] ON 3% WE EXCEED 6.3%. WE HAD 18 SUBS ON THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM. WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO DOUBLE THAT ONE. ONE OF THE REASON THOSE SIX IS NOT SELECTED, PERFORMANCE, TIMELY RESPONSE, HOW HELPFUL THEY ARE. THESE PROJECTS -- ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE JOC, TO GET PROJECT DONE TIMELY, HIGH-QUALITY AND COST-EFFECTIVE. IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT RESPONDING TIMELY THEN IT IS REALLY KILLING THE INTENTION OF THIS PROGRAM. AND IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT DOING GOOD-QUALITY WORK THEN WHY ARE WE DOING THE JOC? I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON THOSE SIX ARE NOT BEING SELECTED. QUALITY OF THE WORK, SLOW RESPONSE, INACCURATE RESPONSE. IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THEM FOR THE PROPOSAL TO PROCEED WITH THE WORK. MOST OF THE TIME JOC ISN'T DONE ON THE EXISTING ACTIVE FACILITIES. LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS. WE WANTED QUALITY WORK THERE. WE WANTED THEM TO WORK WITH US AND IDENTIFY THE ISSUE SO WE CAN RESOLVE IT. THAT'S THE REASON THOSE SIX HAVE NOT BEEN SELECTED. THEY GOT THE SBEDA POINTS. >> PERRY: THAT'S KEY, RAZI. THAT WASN'T MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT THAT'S ALL PART OF THE PROPOSAL PROCESS, RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. >> PERRY: AND THAT'S WHY THE TEN WERE SELECTED. I DON'T WANT TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE HERE BUT, YOU BUT, YOU KNN THE PROCESS IS THERE. WE HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS, MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THE CITY, AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT AS WELL. IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, TO COME IN AT THE LAST MINUTE AND TRY TO MAKE CHANGES TO WHAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME. AND IT'S DOING THE PROPOSERS THAT DID GET SELECTED A DISSERVICE. AND, JUST LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, ON MEETING THE CRITERIA IN THE RFP, IT'S DOING THOSE THAT DIDN'T GET SELECTED A DISSERVICE AS WELL. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T MAKE THE BAR, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR PROPOSAL IN THEIR NON-SELECTION. SO, YES, I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THIS FURTHER AND WORKING, TRYING TO WORK THIS OUT. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: QUICK QUESTION. THE OTHERS, THE TEN THAT ARE ON HERE, IS ANYONE HERE FROM ANY OF THOSE CONTRACTORS WHO CAN SPEAK TO THIS AND WHO CAN SAY IF THEY'RE -- DO THEY EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS OPTION MOVING FORWARD? >> I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE HERE BUT THEY KNOW THE CONTRACTS ARE GOING FORWARD. >> VIAGRAN: AND ALSO WHO WERE THE 11, 12, AND 13 CONTRACTORS? >> WE HAVE THE LIST WE CAN PASS TO YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. >> VIAGRAN: I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT. I THINK I WOULD BE INTERESTED I- >> SANCHEZ IS CONTRACTOR NO. 11. STRAIGHT LINE IS NO. 12. CONSOLIDATED INSTALLATION IS NO. 13. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING AND I THINK I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE DID MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTINUANCE FOR NEXT WEEK, JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, EVEN ON THIS LIST, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR NEXT WEEK TOO AND TO REALLY HAVE OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE. BUT JUST TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS WHAT THAT MEANS WITH THEIR BUSINESS AND THEIR PLANNING AND THEIR BUDGETING. I'M NOT SAYING I'M OPPOSED TO THE INTENT OF WHAT WOULD BE EXPANDING IT, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE OTHER TEN AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. I HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT I DON'T ENJOY WHEN THE COUNCIL BEGINS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACTING AND PROCUREMENT PROCESS. THAT WHEN WE DO IT HAS TO BE A VERY CLEAR POLICY ISSUE THAT'S PRESENT. I WASN'T HERE FOR PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, HOWEVER I HEAR THE CALLS FOR DELAY SO WE CAN EXAMINE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE DELAY. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE PRIMARY MOTION FIRST, WHICH IS THE DELAY OF ITEM NO. 9 FOR ONE WEEK. MOTION AND A SECOND FOR DELAY OF ONE WEEK. PLEASE VOTE. [03:05:03] MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS ITEM WILL APPEAR ON THE FEBRUARY 21ST AGENDA. IN THE MEANTIME, CAN I GET A BRIEFING ON THIS ITEM FROM MY [20. Ordinance approving two agreements related to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s Medicaid 1115 Demonstration Waiver Project, one an amendment to an agreement with Communities in Schools of San Antonio to amend the scope, increase compensation to $550,000.00 and extend the term to September 30, 2020, and an agreement with Centro Por la Justicia for enhancement and maintenance of a community garden for a term ending September 30, 2019. [Erik Walsh, Deputy City Manager; Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD, Director of Health]] STAFF? OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM NO. 20. >> ITEM NO. 20 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING TWO AGREEMENTS RELATED TO THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT'S MEDICAID 1115 DEMONSTRATION WAIVER PROJECT, AN AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO TO AMEND THE SCOPE, INCREASE COMPENSATION TO $550,000 AND EXTEND THE TERM TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2020, AND AN AGREEMENT WITH CENTRO POR LA JUSTICIA FOR ENHANCEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR THE TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2019. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES. I'M NOT SURE WHO HAD TO STEP AWAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN SALDANA WILL RECUSE. SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 20. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 20. PLEASE VOTE. [24. Approving Resolutions for the following multifamily rental housing development projects for applicants seeking competitive 9% Housing Tax Credits with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs: [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Verónica R. Soto, Director, Neighborhood & Housing Services]] MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NO. 24. >> ITEM NO. 24 IS APPROVING RESOLUTIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR APPLICANTS SEEKING COMPETITIVE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF THEM, BUT THEY BEGIN WITH ITEM 24A AND THEY GO ON THROUGH 24L. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES. >> GONZALES: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN, WE DO HAVE A FEW CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I'LL TAKE THEM AND COME BACK TO YOU. YOU'RE WAIVING YOUR TIME? THANK YOU, MS. SWAYZE. JEANETTE GARCIA. IS MS. JEANETTE GARCIA HERE? ALL RIGHT. MS. GARCIA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY COCO AMMOVIN. AND WE WILL NEED TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR MS. AMMOVIN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS JEANETTE GARCIA AND I AM CURRENTLY A RESIDENT AT THE ALAZAN COURTS OFF OF SOUTH SAN MARCOS. I'M VERY HAPPY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS JEANETTE GARCIA. I AM A PARTICIPANT OF THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENT PROGRAM, AND I'M ALSO PART OF THE RESIDENT COUNCIL. I AM THE SECRETARY AND I DO DO A LOT WITH OUR RESIDENTS' CONCERNS. AND I'M HERE TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I AM FOR THEM BUILDING THIS. WHY AM I FOR THIS? BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO CREATE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US. AND AS FAR AS PEOPLE, WHEN THEY BUILT THIS, I KNOW THAT THERE PROBABLY WILL BE AN INCREASE AS FAR AS OUR SAFETY IS CONCERNED. BECAUSE I'M SO NEW TO THE COMMUNITY. I'VE ONLY BEEN THERE APPROXIMATELY A YEAR. AND I KNOW THAT IT WILL BRING A LOT OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR RESIDENTS. AND THESE 88 UNITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUILT, I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY. IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO A LOW-INCOME PERSON AND HAVING THEM -- GIVING THEM, LIKE THE UNIT I LIVE IN RIGHT NOW DOES NOT HAVE AN AC UNIT. BY THEM BUILDING THIS IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS, AS FAR AS IT BEING MIXED INCOME. AND I KNOW IT DEFINITELY BENEFITS OUR RESIDENTS A LOT. ANOTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS KIND OF LIKE I WANT TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE. AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE GIVEN THAT PRICE FOR HALF A PRICE OR SOMETHING THAT I COULD [03:10:03] AFFORD TO BE IN A QUALITY -- HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT SOMEBODY'S THAT'S ABLE TO AFFORD IT IS GOING TO GIVE ME A CHANCE TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE A NEW HOME AND HAVE AN AC UNIT. LIKE MY UNIT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE DRYERS THERE, ONLY A WASHER AND WE HAVE TO DRY OUTSIDE. IT'S A LOT OF THINGS, AS RESIDENTS, THAT WE ARE CONCERNED. BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, AND ACTUALLY MY STREET AND MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE FOR IT. THEY'RE LIKE, WE'RE ATTRACTED TO SOMETHING NEW. WHY NOT? AND WHAT OTHER POSSIBILITIES IS IT GOING TO BRING US AS RESIDENTS? WHO ELSE IS WATCHING THAT WANTS TO IMPROVE THE WEST SIDE FOR US. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. GARCIA. COCO AMMOVIN. MS. AMMOVIN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT COVARD. AND DO WE HAVE TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR MS. AMMOVIN? >> HELLO. MY NAME IS COCO. I'M FROM AFRICA. I'M A RESIDENT, ALAZAN RESIDENT. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE. I'M A MEMBER AND ALSO I'M AN ACTIVE RESIDENCE COUNCIL MEMBER. I GO TO THE MEETINGS AND I TRY TO PARTICIPATE. SO I'M HERE TODAY FOR A FEW REASONS. I AM FOR THIS COMING PROJECT, I'M FOR IT FOR MANY REASONS. FIRST, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO SECURITY IN THIS AREA, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT? THE CRIMES AND THE RATE IS SO HIGH. SO I THINK HAVING A NEW BUILDING, A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING I THINK IS GOING TO BRING -- IT'S GOING TO BRING A LOT OF CHANGE WITH THE MIXED INCOME. I THINK THE SAFETY WILL BE GREAT. AND THAT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS, FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES OF LOW INCOME TO LIVE A BETTER LIFE AND SECURE. AND I EVEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE [INDISCERNIBLE] AROUND THIS AREA BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE THINGS. WE HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR TO GET OUR NEEDS AND EVERYTHING. IT'S GOING TO BRING A LOT OF CHANGE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE THINGS AROUND US. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL THAT LONG. AND, AS I MENTIONED, THE SAFETY I THINK IS GOING TO BE BETTER. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. AMMOVIN. ROBERT COVARD. YOU'RE WAIVING YOUR TIME, MR. COVARD? >> GONZALES: IS GABRIEL VALASQUEZ STILL HERE? I THINK HE WAS GOING TO SPEAK. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, COUNCILWOMEN, MAYOR. HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT. I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT MANY YEARS AGO THE AVENIDA GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FORMED THE AVENIDA GUADALUPE ASSOCIATION. AND OUR FOUNDING PRESIDENT BORN ON ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES, IN WHAT HE CALLED A HUMAN CORRAL, SAID IN THE LATE 1970S THAT THE FIRST THING HE'S GOING TO DO IS TAKE A SLEDGEHAMMER AND TEAR DOWN THIS HOUSE HERE. THEY ASKED HIM WHY ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT? HE SAID BECAUSE I WAS BORN THERE AND NO HUMAN BEING HAS ANY BUSINESS BEING BORN WHERE ANIMALS ARE KEPT. AND OVER THE YEARS DEMOLITION OF THESE, WHAT THEY CALL CORRALS WERE TORN DOWN AND THE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN VACANT EVER SINCE. AND WE OWN SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES AND WE'VE HELD ON TO THEM WAITING FOR THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT. AND WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD DEVELOP THEM ONE DAY. BUT SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY IS REALLY DOING A [03:15:01] GREAT JOB IN THIS CITY IN DEVELOPING. AND OUR OBJECTIVE IS FOR THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT TO TAKE PLACE. AND WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THE RESIDENT COUNCIL, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY KNOW WHEN WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY. AND AN ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY, WILL FIND THAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT IS REALLY DOING A WONDERFUL JOB THESE DAYS. I MEAN, THEY ARE REALLY INNOVATIVE, STEPPING UP TO THE NEW SOLUTIONS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED AS WELL. WE REALLY THINK IT'S THE RIGHT TIME. THIS IS THE RIGHT PROJECT. IT'S GOING TO HAVE A GRAND IMPACT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE'RE LOOKING VERY FORWARD TO IT. SO WE REALLY LOOK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THE SUPPORT OF HOUSING AUTHORITY AS WE ALL ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO MOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FORWARD. OKAY? I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. REMEMBER THAT THIS AREA IS ON THE MAPS. IT IS THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD MADE UP OF THE HARDEST-WORKING PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THIS TOWN IN THE HISTORY OF THIS TOWN. SO THIS INVESTMENT IS THE RIGHT INVESTMENT, AND IT'S AN INVESTMENT THAT WE WILL GET RETURNS ON FOR MANY, MANY GENERATIONS. THANK YOU. >> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD WITH THE PRESENTATION? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THIS ITEM ADDRESSES DEVELOPER-REQUESTED RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM THAT'S MANAGED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. AS THIS MAP SHOWS, THERE ARE 12 APPLICANTS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN RECEIVING A RESOLUTION FROM THE CITY. THE YELLOW DOTS ARE THE LOCATION OF THE 12 PROJECTS. SIX OF WHICH ARE INSIDE LOOP 410. FIVE ARE BETWEEN LOOP 410 AND ONE IS OUTSIDE LOOP 410. THIS YEAR IN SAN ANTONIO WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR TAX CREDIT AWARDS FROM THE STATE. THAT EQUALS ABOUT $53 MILLION OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THAT WOULD GENERATE ABOUT 325 TO 350 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE CITY. WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT ALAZAN SO FAR, AND I KNOW THE COUNCIL HASE FACTS ON ALAZAN. ALAZAN WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1939. THERE'S A LITTLE OVER 1,000 HOUSING UNITS THERE TODAY. IT IS MANAGED BY THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY. THIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR REVITALIZATION. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR A CHOICE GRANT IN 2017, LATE 2017. ULTIMATELY WE WERE NOT SELECTED FOR THE CHOICE GRANT, BUT THE AREA STILL REMAINS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE FULL CITY COUNCIL, AS EVIDENCED BY YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CHOICE GRANT. WHAT I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HERE IS BASICALLY THE ISSUE THAT'S AT HAND. THE CITY STAFF HAS MET WITH CITY COUNCIL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. CITY COUNCIL HAS SPOKEN WITH EACH OTHER. AND THE COMMUNITY, THE CPC, HAS MET AS WELL TO DISCUSS THIS. THERE'S TWO CHARTS HERE ON THIS PAGE. AND THE DARKER BLUE, THIS IS THE EXPECTED RANKING AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR FOUR OF THE 12 PROJECTS. THESE ARE THE FOUR TOP PROJECTS. AND THE RANKING WOULD BE BASED ON ALL 12 AND INCLUDING THESE FOUR RECEIVING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL-APPROVED PROCESS TO ISSUE SUCH LETTERS. YOU CAN SEE OUR LADY OF CHARITY, WHICH IS IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, WOULD BE NUMBER ONE. LUNA FLATS IN DISTRICT 1 ONE TWO. VILLAGE AT NOGALITOS, AND ALAZAN FOUR. THOSE ARE IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. THE CPC MADE A RECOMMENDATION IN JANUARY TO WAIVE THE CITY COUNCIL-APPROVED PROCESS TO ISSUE RESOLUTIONS. AND RECOMMENDED THAT ONLY ALAZAN RECEIVE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. AND THAT ALL THE OTHER RECEIVE A LETTER OR RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. IN THAT CASE YOU CAN SEE THE RANKINGS THERE IN FRONT OF YOU. CHARITY STILL STAYS NUMBER ONE. ALAZAN LOFTS WOULD MOVE FROM FOURTH PLACE TO SECOND PLACE. [03:20:01] WE EXPECT AT THE STATE LEVEL. LUNA SLIDES FROM ONE TWO TWO TO THREE, AND VILLAGE AT NOGALITOS WOULD MOVE FROM THIRD TO FOURTH. LET ME JUST STATE THAT THE COUNCIL-APPROVED PROCESS TO ISSUE RESOLUTIONS WAS FIRST APPROVED LAST YEAR AFTER SOME INPUT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON THIS PROCESS. AND SO PRIOR TO THAT, PRIOR TO LAST YEAR, DEVELOPERS WOULD ASK FOR LETTERS OF RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT OR NO OBJECTION AT THE TIME TO PLANNING STAFF. AND FROM DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY THEY WERE BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL ON AN AD HOC BASIS. THERE WAS NO PROCESS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MORE SUBJECTIVE. THERE WAS ALSO NOT A STRONG RECOMMENDATION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND SO WE CHANGED THAT LAST YEAR WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND DEVELOPED A PROCESS TO ISSUE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT OR NO OBJECTION. AND THAT'S WHAT THE DARKER BLUE STAFF STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS BASED ON. THIS ITEM ALSO HAS TWO OTHER RESOLUTIONS THAT THE DEVELOPERS HAVE ASKED FOR AS PART OF THE PROCESS. ONE RESOLUTION WOULD WAIVE A ONE-MILE RULE, TDHCA SAYS YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TWO PROJECTS WITHIN ONE MILE OF EACH OTHER WITHIN A THREE-YEAR PERIOD. AND SO OUR LADY OF CHARITY WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF EAST POINT. AND VILLAGE AT BOYER, WHICH IS ALSO IN DISTRICT 2, WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF A PROJECT IN DISTRICT 3, VILLAGE AT ROOSEVELT. AND SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT A RESOLUTION BE ISSUED TO WAIVE THAT REQUIREMENT SO THAT OUR LADY AND THE VILLAGE AT BOYER WOULD BE ELIGIBLE IN THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS THIS YEAR. AND THEN, FINALLY, THERE ARE SIX RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED AND THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING HERE. WE DID AT THE CPC AS WELL, WHICH STATES THAT THE SIX INNER CITY OR CORE OF THE CITY PROJECTS CONTRIBUTE MOST IN REDEVELOPING THE PARTICULAR AREA THAT THEY'RE IN. THEY WOULD RECEIVE TWO POINTS FROM THE STATE IF A RESOLUTION WAS ISSUED FOR THEM. JUST QUICKLY, THE STATE, TDHCA PROCESS, PREAPPLICATIONS WERE DUE TO THE STATE IN JANUARY. THAT'S IN PART WHY WE HAVE SOME OF THE BASELINE SCORING INFORMATION. FULL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, OR MARCH 1ST. THAT'S WHY WE ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THIS ITEM TODAY SO DEVELOPERS WILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE THEIR APPLICATION. AND FINAL AWARDS WILL BE MADE IN JULY. THIS SUMMARIZES WHAT I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT, AND THE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS ON THE LEFT IN THE DARKER BLUE. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING FOLLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL-APPROVED PROCESS TO ISSUE RESOLUTIONS. AND BECAUSE OF THEIR SCORING WITH OUR PROCESS THAT COUNCIL APPROVED, WE WOULD RECOMMEND 12 RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FOR EACH OF THE 12 PROJECTS. WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT TWO PROJECTS RECEIVE A RESOLUTION EXEMPTING THEM FROM THE ONE-MILE RULE. AND WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT SIX PROJECTS RECEIVE THE COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION RESOLUTION POINTS. ON THE RIGHT, THE LIGHTER BLUE IS THE CPC RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER THIS AFTERNOON. THAT RECOMMENDATION AWARDS ONLY ONE LETTER -- ONE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO ALAZAN LOFTS. AND THE REMAINING 11 WOULD GET A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. AT THE STATE SCORING PROCESS, THAT'S A THREE-POINT DIFFERENCE, SO THE 17 POINTS ARE AWARDED FOR RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. AND ONLY 14 POINTS ARE AWARDED FOR RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. THE CPC ALSO RECOMMENDED THE OTHER TWO GROUPS OF RESOLUTIONS BE ISSUED. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PETER. COUNCILWOMAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> GONZALES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PETER. I'M GOING TO START WITH MY MOTION. I HAVE TO HAVE SOME LANGUAGE IN HERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET IT RIGHT. SO I MOVE TO AMEND THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AS FOLLOWS. TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR ALAZAN LOFTS PROJECT, PROVIDE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION TO ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS. WE ACCEPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THE NECESSARY LETTERS WITHIN THE THREE-MILE RADIUS. AND ALSO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN PUT FORWARD A RESTRICTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AT LEGACY AT PIEDMONT PROJECT TO REFLECT THAT THE PROJECT WILL HAVE UP TO 49 UNITS, WILL BE LIMITED TO TWO STORIES, AND WILL BE FOR SENIOR LIVING, AS WAS DISCUSSED AND PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 24. >> GONZALES: AND I DO HAVE -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AS READ. >> GONZALES: I DO HAVE COMMENTS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GOT THE MOTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD. >> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK IN ADVANCE MY COLLEAGUES [03:25:01] FOR SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION -- THE AMENDMENT THAT I HAVE TODAY. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING -- I'VE BEEN TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE LEVEL AND OF COURSE SINCE THEN TO PLEASE ALLOW FOR ALAZAN TO GET THE MOST POINTS IN THIS SCENARIO. IT WAS REPORTED THAT IN 2017 WE WENT FOR CHOICE GRANT AND DID NOT GET IT. WE ALSO WENT IN 2015, OR MAYBE TWO YEARS BEFORE THEN AND DID NOT RECEIVE THE CHOICE GRANT. THAT WAS HOW WE DID THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHEATLEY COURTS AND THE EAST SIDE WAS THAT THEY RECEIVED A CHOICE GRANT AND A PROMISE GRANT. AND SO ALAZAN HAS APPLIED A COUPLE OF TIMES, HAS NOT BEEN GIVN THE CHOICE GRANT OR THE PROMISE GRANT. AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'VE ASKED FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT IS BECAUSE WHILE IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT SCORES PRETTY WELL ON OUR SIDE, WHEN WE GO TO THE STATE LEVEL IT DOES NOT SCORE WELL BECAUSE WE HAVE VERY MUCH A BLIGHTED COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT GOING TO QUALITY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH POVERTY RATES IN THE AREA. AND WE HAVE INCREDIBLE DISADVANTAGES IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION ABOUT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS, THE REALITY IS DISTRICT 5 IS NOT AT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. IN FACT, WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE. YESTERDAY I WAS AT AN SAISD BREAKFAST WITH PEDRO MARTINEZ TALKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS AND HOW 99% OF OUR CHILDREN ARE LIVING WAY BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN ALAZAN HAVE AN AVERAGE INCOME, ANNUAL INCOME OF ABOUT $13,000 A YEAR. AND THERE ARE ABOUT 101,200 CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN ALAZAN. MY REQUEST FOR THIS PROJECT IS TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING. THERE'S NOT ONE IN THIS 9% CREDIT, BUT WE'RE HOPING IF WE CAN HAVE NEW FACILITIES AT ALAZAN LOFTS WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER ONE ON TAMPICO THAT WE COULD MOVE SOME OF OUR CHILDREN FROM THE OLD BUILDINGS TO THE NEW ONES. THAT MEANS WE DON'T DISPLACE ANY OF OUR CHILDREN. THEY GET TO STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR SCHOOL. AND WE CAN START WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF ALAZAN COURTS. WE'VE DONE THIS IN WHEATLEY, FAIRLY QUICK, MAYBE FIVE-PLUS YEARS. WE'VE DONE IT AT SAN JUAN, BUT IT WAS MORE THAN TEN YEARS TO REDEVELOP SAN JUAN. AND SO THIS IS JUST A VERY FIRST STEP TO TRY TO GET SOME DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEVELOPMENT IN THE WEST SIDE SINCE PEANUT FACTORY LOFTS. THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO. AND THAT WAS A VERY SMALL MARKET RATE PROJECT. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL ADAPTIVE REUSE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOR FAMILIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE WEST SIDE. IT'S NOT UNPRECEDENTED THAT WE WOULD PRIORITIZE AN AREA THAT WAS IN NEED. WE DID IT FOR THE EAST SIDE. AND I THINK AS A RESULT WE SAW TODAY THE APPROVAL OF THE MERCHANT FACTORY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND ACTUALLY REALLY STATE OF THE ART IN AN AREA THAT HAD NOT SEEN INVESTMENT IN A LONG TIME. I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN DO THAT FOR THE WEST SIDE AS WELL. WE'VE DONE IT FOR A DECADE IN DOWNTOWN. WE PRIORITIZED DOWNTOWN AS A PLACE WE WANTED TO SEE THRIVE, AND AS A RESULT WE'VE HAD A VERY THRIVING, SUCCESSFUL DOWNTOWN. AND SO THE ONE PART OF OUR CITY THAT CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND IN EVERY MARKER, WHETHER IT'S HEALTH, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, POVERTY IS STILL THE NEAR WEST SIDE. AND SO I WOULD ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GROWTH AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY. I AM ASKING FOR A PRIORITIZATION OF THIS PROJECT SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION. I EXPECT THIS WILL BE VERY LONG TERM TO SEE THE REVITALIZATION AT ALAZAN. I KNOW IN NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA WE'LL APPOINT THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS TO ALAZAN, TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, AND WE WOULD HOPE THEIR PRIORITY WOULD BE TO REDEVELOP THE REALLY OLD PROPERTIES THAT SAHA HAS THROUGHOUT THOHE CITY, STARTING WITH ALAZAN AND THEN CASSIANO AND LINCOLN WHICH ARE OUR OLD [03:30:04] HOUSING UNITS AND WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF UNITS, 1200 CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN ALAZAN. WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DEVELOPMENT HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AS WE APPOINT THOSE NEW BOARD MEMBERS. AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND THE INCLUSION OF DISTRICT 5 IN THIS WONDERFUL GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR CITY. SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES. COUNCILMAN SALDANA. >> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I CAN'T ADD MORE THAN WHAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES ALREADY DESCRIBED AS THE CONTEXT, AS THE HISTORY AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. AND I APPRECIATE PETER AND VERO AS WE'RE TRYING TO USE SOME PRECISION IN THE WAY THAT WE TARGET THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUT. SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE, IN MY MIND, A SLIGHT EDGE TO ALAZAN IN THE APPLICATION TO THESE FUNDS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO SEE THAT, AS THE COUNCILWOMAN HAS DESCRIBED. WITH ALL THINGS BEING EVEN AND ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, I CAN GET BEHIND THE IDEA OF A SPIRITED COMPETITION OF FAIRNESS WHEN EVERY APPLICATION LOOKS THE SAME. BUT BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN DESCRIBED, I HAVE NO HESITATION AND NO RELUCTANCE IN SAYING WE SHOULD GIVE IT AN EDGE TO AN AREA OF TOWN AND TO A HOUSING PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN IN AN AREA THAT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN A HEAD START AND IN FACT HAS BEEN HELD BACK IN A LOT OF RESPECTS. AND THERE'S A LOT OF MOMENTUM AROUND WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION, A LOT OF MOMENTUM AROUND THE WORK THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN HAS DONE IN THE DISTRICT THAT I WANT TO GET BEHIND, BECAUSE I THINK IT REALLY ALLOWS US TO INTERSECT IN SO MANY DIRECTIONS, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND EDUCATION. AND IT'S A HOUSING PIECE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE AN EDGE HERE. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SUPPORT AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNCILWOMAN'S LEADERSHIP. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA. COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE. >> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THOUGHTS. YOU KNOW, I HAD COMMITTED TO COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES THAT ALAZAN APACHE WAS WORTHY OF THE OPPORTUNITY. I BELIEVE THAT 100%, SO I'LL SUPPORT THE ITEM TODAY. BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS. YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY WE CAME OFF A CONVERSATION ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM WHERE THE PROCESS WAS SACRED. AND WE HEARD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE SAY, OH, THE CONTRACTING PROCESS IS SACRED AND WE SHOULDN'T COME BACK LATER ON AND CHANGE IT. WELL, THIS COUNCIL CREATED A PROCESS LAST YEAR AND LO AND BEHOLD HERE WE ARE COMING BACK AND CHANGING IT. I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE RICH OF HYPOCRISY THERE. I'M OKAY WITH COMING IN AT THE LAST MINUTE AND MAKING CHANGES. THAT'S OUR PURVIEW AND THAT'S THE POWER OF THE VOTE. BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS WHEN WE SIT HERE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M VERY CLEAR. ONE OF MY PROJECTS IS THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION PROJECT. AND THEY'RE HERE TODAY. AND WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A YEAR TO GET THAT ONE IN. IT TOOK US MULTIPLE COMMUNITY MEETINGS. ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WORKFORCE HOUSING OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL HAVE TO TACKLE FOR AS LONG AS WE HOLD THESE SEATS. YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET THEM INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'RE NOT EASY PROJECTS TO BRING IN ANYWHERE IN THE CITY. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE MULTIPLE MEETINGS TO WHERE THE DEVELOPERS MADE CONCESSIONS, THEY CREATED A COMMUNITY CENTER. THEY STARTED MULTIPLE PROJECTS TO BUY INTO COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ALL THIS. AND IT TOOK US TIME. SO, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO BE VERY CLEAR FOR THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION THAT I AM FULLY IN SUPPORT. MINE'S NOT A LETTER OF NO OBJECTION. I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THAT PROJECT, BECAUSE WE HAVE GONE TO BAT IN THAT COMMUNITY TO GET IT DONE. BUT I'LL FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL ON THIS ONE AND I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S WORKING HARD AND MAKES VALID POINTS ABOUT THE LACK OF INVESTMENT AND THE NEEDS OF THAT COMMUNITY. BUT I HAVE TO RAISE THE BIGGER CONCERN WHICH IS, OKAY, WHAT PROCESSES ARE SACRED AND WHAT'S NOT? YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL WAYS. YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING'S SACRED WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A PUSH FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTRACTORS, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT'S A SACRED EVALUATION PROCESS BUT THE STAFF ON THIS ONE'S NOT. I THINK WE HAVE A BIGGER QUESTION THAT WE HAVE TO GET MORE IN LINE WITH WHEN WE CAN AND CANNOT CHANGE THINGS. I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. BUT FOR THE FOLKS THAT CAME DOWN HERE FROM CESAR CHAVEZ, YOU DID THE BEST YOU COULD AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HELP OUT. IT'S A COMPROMISE AND WE'LL WORK ON IT. I'M APPRECIATIVE TO PETER, VERO AND THE TEAM. I THINK YOU CAME OUT WITH THAT WHEN YOU SAID RECOMMEND ALL OF THEM, BUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE CAME BACK AND DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT MORE TARGETED . APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK. THANK YOU TO THE DEVELOPMENT [03:35:01] COMMUNITY WHO IS COMING OUT AND TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST TO PUT THESE TYPES OF HOUSING IN. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF IT. I HOPE THIS DOESN'T DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM COMING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND DOING THE HARD WORK TO EARN THE LETTER OF SUPPORT. BECAUSE THEY EXPECTED IT. AND THEN IT CHANGED OVER TIME, AND THAT'S FAIR. THAT VOTE WILL BE HAD TODAY, I GET IT. BUT I WANT TO BE MUCH MORE CLEAR FOR THEM, VERO, GOING FORWARD, IN THE FUTURE THESE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THESE THINGS CAN CHANGE. NOTHING IS SET IN STONE. AND THAT IS AN UNCERTAINTY FOR A DEVELOPER IN A TIGHT-MARGIN MARKET. THEY'RE NOT QUITE CERTAIN -- THERE'S A LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY WHEN OUR GOAL, ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE. MESSAGE SENT AND I HOPE WE TRY TO BE A LITTLE MORE ADHERENT TO THE POLICY GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE. COUNCILMAN TREVINO. >> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR TODAY'S MOTION. HOWEVER, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WAS STATED THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS ITEMS. YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD TIME TO TALK TO STAFF, TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY'VE WORKED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK, SO I APPLAUD THEM FOR DOING THE WORK THAT THEY WERE TASKED TO DO. WE, AS A COUNCIL, SET THE GUIDELINES AND THEY FOLLOW THEM. SO I CERTAINLY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THAT. THROUGH THE PROCESS WE HAVE TO -- WE DO HAVE TO ANALYZE THAT AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER PICTURE AND WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO FIND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD, WHICH IS WHY ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM, AS WAS STATED, YOU KNOW, WE DID ASK FOR A DELAY. I THINK THAT THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH ONE ANOTHER. HAVING THESE DISCUSS THESE ITEMS, HAVING TIMES TO TALK IS NEEDED. BUT HAVING DISAGREEMENTS IS ALSO OKAY. AND SO THEY DID EVERYTHING THAT WE TASKED THEM TO DO. AND CERTAINLY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS MOTION. DISTRICT 1 HAS ITS HOUSING NEEDS BEING ADDRESSED AND I'M SATISFIED WITH THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO. >> PERRY: YOU KNOW, THE STAFF DID THEIR JOB. CPC CAME OUT WITH DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IT'S HERE FOR US TO MAKE THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS. AND I THINK WE'RE DOING EXACTLY THAT. SO, YEAH. THERE AREN'T -- I DON'T SEE THE PARALLELS. BUT YOU DO BRING UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT PROCESSES AND, YOU KNOW, US FOLLOWING THOSE PROCESSES. BUT HERE WE HAD, YOU KNOW, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT DIFFERED, AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEING BROUGHT BEFORE US AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND ATTENTION THAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES GAVE ME IN TAKING ME ON A TOUR OF THE AREA TO SHOW ME WHAT THE SITUATION WAS. NOT ONLY IN THAT AREA, BUT ALL OVER THE WEST SIDE. AND I LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT. AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD ENJOY SUPPORTING THIS MOTION THAT YOU HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY. COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: YEAH, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY LAST COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN WHAT THEY WERE SAYING. TO ME IT'S LIKE WE'RE UMPIRES AND WE CALL THE BALLS AND THE STRIKES. AND SOMETIMES WE EVEN CALL FOUL. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT OF US. AND SO I FEEL THAT EVEN THOUGH WE MAY GET RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE STAFF OR WE MAY GET RECOMMENDATIONS FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE ZONING COMMISSION, IT'S UP TO US A LOT OF TIMES BASED ON WHAT WE HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AND FROM OUR FELLOW COUNCIL PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT MAY DIFFER WITH STAFF OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE. AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT THE ALAZAN LOFTS DESERVE THAT EXTRA PUSH TO GO AHEAD AND HELP IMPROVE THAT COMMUNITY. I TAUGHT ON THE WEST SIDE. I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THIS IS VERY BENEFICIAL, NOT JUST FOR THE WEST SIDE, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SO I'LL BE VOTING TO APPROVE THE COUNCILWOMAN'S REQUEST. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE [03:40:01] RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3 IN HIGHLAND PARK WHO MET WITH THE DEVELOPER. THE DEVELOPER DID TALK TO THE RESIDENTS AND THEY DID HAVE THEIR VOTE AND THEY DID WANT TO INCLUDE THOSE RESOLUTIONS OF SENIOR HOUSING, NO MORE THAN 49 UNITS AND TWO STORIES. THAT WAS IMPORTANT. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES FOR ALLOWING US TO INCLUDE THOSE IN THE RESOLUTION MOVING FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH THE CPC CAME OUT WITH A DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT WAS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RESIDENTS. I THINK WE STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY WITH THIS, WITH SENIOR HOUSING IN DISTRICT 3 MOVING FORWARD. I THINK THIS IS -- AND I WILL SAY, THOUGH, VERO, PETER, ANDY REVIEW THIS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT BETTER AND CLEARER AND MORE UNDERSTANDING FOR THE RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPERS AND FOR COUNCIL WHAT LETTERS OF NO OBJECTION AND SUPPORT MEAN WHEN DOING THE PREAPPLICATION AND THIS APPLICATION RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE STILL AREAS THAT NEED TO BE CLARIFIED. SO I HOPE THAT WE DO REVIEW THIS PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO COME UP CLEARER AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BECAUSE I THINK IN THIS AREA IT WAS MUCH BETTER AND THE DEVELOPERS DID A MUCH BETTER JOB THIS TIME AROUND REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING AND WORKING WITH THEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 24. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL THE ITEMS. [Executive Session] >> SCULLEY: MAYOR, I'LL SKIP THAT TODAY. WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WE'LL CONTINUE FROM YESTERDAY. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE FOR THE COUNCIL THAT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IN WHICH WE WILL HAVE LUNCH. THERE WILL ALSO BE A UTILITY BRIEFING. THE TIME IS NOW THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW RECONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM FEBRUARY 13TH TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS ITEMS * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.