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GOOD MORNING.WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 14TH, 2019.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, COUNCIL MEMBER VINNO HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER BROCK HOUSE PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
THE TIME IS 9:13 AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE'LL BEGIN OUR SESSION TODAY WITH AN INVITATION, A GUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBER ELIAS.
SO I HAVE INVITED PASTOR DAN ALLEN OF LEON SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH.
I LOVE LEON SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH 'CAUSE HE'S VERY CLOSE TO RUDY'S BARBECUE.
UM, AND, UH, HE'S BEEN PASTORING 14 YEARS AT THIS CHURCH, AND WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT IT IS THAT IT OFFERS NO COST BIBLE COUNSELING TO THE HERDING.
PASTOR DAN COMES FROM A BUSINESS BACKGROUND THAT INCLUDES UNDERWRITING, RISK MANAGEMENT AND SALES.
AND HE IS 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.
AND, UM, MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT PASTORS AND POLITICIANS KIND OF HAVE A MIXED RECORD.
SO I WANNA SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE.
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE, PROFESSIONAL, COURTEOUS RESPONSES, AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE WAY THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED YOU DOING YOUR JOB.
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.
JESUS, TO THRIVE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES.
GREAT, THANK YOU AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA START TODAY WITH, UM, OUR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 9TH AND 10TH AND THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 11TH.
SO MOVE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
MINUTES FROM JANUARY 9TH, 10TH, AND 11TH.
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MOTION CARRIES.AT THIS TIME, I'D 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 FOUR AND ITEM 23 ARE PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? ITEM 20.
AND MAYOR, I'LL PULL, UH, ITEM NUMBER NINE.
ANY OTHERS? I HAVE ITEMS 4, 9, 20 AND 23 AND 24.
ANY OTHERS? OKAY, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAY FOR 4, 9, 20 23 AND 24.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR THOSE I JUST READ.
AND THERE ARE SOME CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THOSE CITIZENS NOW.
I'M SORRY MR. HERRING, IF YOU'RE HERE, THAT ITEM IS GONNA BE ON INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
SO LEMME MOVE TO, UH, JACK FINGER.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO MAYOR NURENBERG 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.
UH, ONE OF 'EM IS ITEM NUMBER 14.
ITEM 14 DEALS WITH, WELL, IT'S ABOUT THE IDEA OF APPLYING FOR FUNDS FROM THE STATE FOR VARIOUS, FOR OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR VARIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE AROUND TOWN.
ONE OF 'EM IN PARTICULAR, I WAS LOOKING AT THE BACK OF DOCUMENTS, CAUGHT MY ATTENTION, LOOKS LIKE A REPEAT FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
IT'S ABOUT, UM, TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION.
YEAH, TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION.
AND WE ARE GOING TO SHELL OUT, WELL, I'LL LET MR. AUTO VISUAL MAN PUT THAT UP THERE.
LOOK AT THE UNDERLINED AND CIRCLED AREAS THERE.
YEAH, YOU'LL SEE, UH, YEAH, BLOW THAT UP IN 2020.
BUDGET ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AND THEN SCROLL ON DOWN.
YOU'LL SEE TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION AND THEN LOOK OVER TO THE RIGHT.
NOW WHAT ARE WE SPENDING THAT MONEY ON? THANK YOU MR. ARTY.
WHAT ARE WE SPENDING $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 GOOD THIRD, THIRD OF THE TIME.
YEAH, YOU WANT TO PUT OUR KIDS IN THAT DANGER A THIRD OF THE TIME, ORAIN PREGNANCY PREVENTION.
PERHAPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU JUST SAIL THIS THING RIGHT ON THROUGH FOLKS.
OTHER, OTHER ITEMS IN THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
WHAT I'D LOOK AT IS JUST AT LEAST ON ITEM 24 IS A, WHAT I CALL WELFARE HOUSING.
YOU CALL IT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MR. YOU MAY PUT THAT UP IF YOU WOULD.
VARIOUS PROJECTS ALL AROUND TOWN AND TWO OF 'EM ARE ON THE EAST SIDE.
MR. ART HALL, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW TWO OF THESE PROJECTS ARE WITHIN A MILE OF EACH OTHER, OF, OF OTHERS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THE PAST.
IT SAYS, I LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING AREA.
IT SAYS TWO RESPONDENTS, OUR LADY OF CHARITY AND VILLAGE AND BOY ARE LISTED WITHIN ONE MILE OF A PROJECT AWARD IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
LIKE I SAY THE OTHER WORD BE JUST BELOW, IT SAYS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT IS CODE TALK SERVE FOR WELFARE HOUSING.
NOW OUR, I JUST WANNA 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 ON THE OTHER ITEM, WELL, LIKE I SAY, SO MANY SCANDALS, SO LITTLE TIME.
[00:10:04]
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.ON ITEM 16, THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AND I DIDN'T PULL IT.
UH, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT WE RECOGNIZE NUMBER ONE, COUNCILMAN SHAW, WHO, UM, UH, PUSHED THE, THE MASSAGE PARLOR ISSUE AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, IT GOT THROUGH.
AND THEN SEVERAL FOLKS, UM, HELPED US ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
CHIEF MCMANUS, UH, LIEUTENANT SIDE FROM THE VICE UNIT, UH, FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, SAVITA RAY, UH, JOE NINO, AND THEN FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, MICHAEL SHANNON.
SO WE DID WANNA RECOGNIZE ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR HELPING TO, TO DRAFT AND, AND PUT THIS, UH, PIECE OF POLICY TOGETHER.
AND THEN AGAIN TO, TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN SHAW FOR HIS WORK ON IT.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 10 THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND, UH, IS LOCATE IS LOCATION OF CODE COMPLIANCE, UH, FIELD OFFICE THAT THE CITY OWNED AND JEFFERSON WOODLAWN LAKE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OPERATED DECO BUILDING.
UH, WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL, UH, AND HER STAFF FOR HER PARTNERSHIP IN GETTING THIS DONE.
UH, AS WELL AS, UH, ROD SANCHEZ AND MIKE SHANNON FOR SEEING THE VALLEY AND THIS IDEA AND BRINGING IT TO US TODAY, THE KEYSTONE WOODLAWN LAKE JEFFERSON, AND MONTICELLO PARK NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, WHO BORDER FREDERICKSBURG ROAD WILL SEE A POSITIVE EFFECT OF THIS OFFICE AS SOON AS IT OPENS.
AND, UH, W L C D C WILL HAVE A GREAT TENANT TO PRESERVE THE BUILDING.
I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, THANK THE JEFFERSON WOODLAND LAKE, C D C, AS WELL AS STAFF FOR ASSISTING US IN, UH, LOCATING CODE ENFORCEMENT RIGHT THERE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST REQUESTS WE GET, UH, 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.
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 SAY FOR ITEMS 4, 9, 20 23 AND 24, PLEASE VOTE.
UH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR AUDIENCE AND SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE TO LEAVE 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, UH, UPFRONT.
ITEM 23 IS APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING, TWO ACTIONS RELATED TO THE TEXAS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION'S ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VELOCITY TECH, BIO AND LIFE SCIENCES INNOVATION CENTER, AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MERCHANT'S ICE COMPLEX AT 13 0 4 AND 13 0 5 EAST HOUSTON STREET IN COUNCIL DISTRICT NUMBER TWO.
OKAY, RENEE, I THINK YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US.
VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS PROJECT TO YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STAFF LEADS FOR THIS PROJECT.
SARAH SLU THOMAS DAVIS AND OUR VERY OWN ED DAVIS HELPED OUT WITH THIS PROJECT.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, WE DO HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US TODAY, RANDY HERRICK, PRESIDENT AND C E O OF T RTF SLASH VELOCITIES.
HERE, AS IS THEIR CHAIRMAN, UH, MR. STEVE DUFLO.
IN FACT, THEY BROUGHT THEIR ENTIRE TEAM, UH, 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, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THESE AREAS.
THE SAME CAN BE SAID OF ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT, THE CREATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, THE CREATION OF STARTUPS, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT, THE REAL ECOSYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THESE STARTUPS AND THE JOB CREATION THAT THIS REPRESENTS.
HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WE'VE SEEN MARK GROWTH IN THESE AREAS.
YOU SEE ADDITIONAL VENTURE COMING IN THE RESEARCH INSTITUTES THAT WE HAVE HERE, OUR COLLABORATING MORE THAN EVER WITH OUR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.
YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH, ESPECIALLY IN THE IT 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 SWRI, TEXAS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, STRONG ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS LIKE UT HEALTH, U T S A, TEXAS
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A AND M, AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS THAT ARE STRONG IN THIS AREA AS WELL.MEDTRONICS BIOBRIDGE GLOBAL AND 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 T R T F.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
THEY WERE FORMED 35 YEARS AGO.
WE'VE 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.
THEY HAVE AROUND 150 ACRES OUT THERE.
BUT T R T F IS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN EXCITING, TRANSFORM, UH, 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, T R T F 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 INNOVATION CENTER.
T R T F IS BASICALLY DOUBLING DOWN ON THEIR PLAN TO DRIVE INNOVATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNIVERSITIES OR RESEARCHERS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE MILITARY, AND FROM A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, EVEN OUR K THROUGH 12 SCHOOL SYSTEM, THEY PLAN TO DO ALL THIS AT THE MERCHANDISE 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 10 YEARS AND A $227 MILLION INVESTMENT.
BUT REALLY WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO IS TO ENCOURAGE T R T F TO EXPAND AND TO DEVELOP OUT PHASE ONE.
THIS INITIAL PHASE THAT INCLUDES A $14 MILLION INVESTMENT INCLUDES LAB SPACE VELOCITIES HEADQUARTERS, AN INCUBATOR SPACE FOR COMPANIES TO PERMANENTLY LOCATE YOU.
UM, AND IN FACT, UH, VELOCITY'S GONNA DO A GROUNDBREAKING NEXT TUESDAY WHERE THEY'RE ALSO GONNA 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 GONNA BE EXTREMELY IMPRESSED TO HEAR ABOUT THE ANCHOR TENANT LOCATING TO VELOCITY OF TEXAS.
THEY'RE BRINGING OVER 60 JOBS OVER THE COURSE OF THAT PROJECT TO THE NEAR EAST SIDE, OR PHASE ONE RECOMMENDATION IS TWOFOLD.
RECOMMENDING A PERFORMANCE SPACE GRANT OF 150,000 PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS.
THIS GRANT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP MUCH NEEDED LAB SPACE AND INCUBATION SPACE ON SITE FOR ENTREPRENEURS.
THE GRANT ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR VELOCITY TEXAS, SO THEY CAN PROVIDE MENTORING, COACHING, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
THE RTFS ALSO COMMITTED TO WORK TO WORKFORCE SUMMITS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AND FINALLY, UH, WE ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL ACCELERATOR PROGRAM, WHICH SOURCES POTENTIAL HIGH GROWTH STARTUPS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE AND EXPOSES THEM TO SAN ANTONIO.
WE REALLY SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LINK OUR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WITH A GREAT PARTNER LIKE VELOCITY.
ADDITIONALLY, T E R T F HAS APPLIED FOR DEDICATED T FUNDING TO HELP COVER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SITE.
THE TOUR TEAM HAS EVALUATED THE REQUESTS AND SUPPORTS $5 MILLION OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS.
WITH THAT SAID, PHASE ONE ONLY INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION TO COVER IMPROVEMENTS LIKE STREETS, DRAINAGE, LIGHTING, AND SITE WORK.
UH, BY THE WAY, THE REMAINING FUNDS, UH, ARE BASED ON T F T RTFS SEVEN YEAR PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES THREE ADDITIONAL PHASES.
WE'VE BRIEFED ALL THE TOURS MEMBERS, AND THIS GOES TO THEM FOR APPROVAL ON FEBRUARY 27TH.
FINALLY, IN ADDITION TO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE CHAPTER THREE 80 AND THE TOURS FUNDING, WE DID WORK WITH T R R T F.
STEVE NEVIN 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 IMPACT OF NEARLY 23 MILLION TO BOTH THE STATE AND CITY.
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I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.AS IS RANDY AND STEVE, WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF BOTH ORDINANCES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RENEE AND, UH, RANDY.
STEVE, UH, ED, IF YOU'D LIKE TO STAND UP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE WELCOME, UH, THIS PROJECT WITH A RESOUNDING, UM, OPEN ARMS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WOULD SAY, UM, I DON'T WANT TO OVER OVERSTATE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE, 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, UH, HIGHLIGHTING, BUT ALSO STRENGTHENING OUR BIOSCIENCES AND BIOMEDICAL ECOSYSTEM IN SAN ANTONIO FOR OVER TWO DECADES.
AND FINALLY, TO SEE AN OUTGROWTH, A MANIFESTATION OF THAT WORK, UH, IN A FACILITY AND A PHYSICAL ECOSYSTEM, GROWING ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO IS, IS SIMPLY AMAZING.
UH, THE WORK THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS DONE TO BUILD A CULTURE OF E ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS NOW, UH, FULLY REALIZED IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
AND, AND WILL, AS YOU SAID, BECOME A MAGNET FOR COMPANIES TO CONSIDER SAN ANTONIO'S TALENT AND WORKFORCE, BUT ALSO TO SEE THE RESOURCES THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH A A, A COMPANY AND A FACILITY, UH, SUCH AS THE ONE AT VELOCITY, UH, TX REALLY THE INNOVATION ARM OF, UH, TEXAS RESEARCH, UH, CONSORTIUM.
SO, 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, UH, WHAT COMES OF THE NEXT ROUND AND NEXT PHASE OF, OF COMPANIES THAT WILL, UH, PARTICIPATE IN VELOCITIES, UH, ECOSYSTEM.
COUNCILMAN HALL, AND THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND LEMME SAY THANK YOU FIRST TO RENEE, UM, COUNCILWOMAN VIA GRAND AND I WERE AT A MEETING YESTERDAY WHERE WE HEARD JENNA SPEAK, JENNA SACE, THAT, AND, UM, JUST THE WORK THAT SHE DOES, AND YOU ALL DO, AND THEN WE ALL DO TOGETHER, UH, TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX IS JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
SO, I WANNA APPLAUD YOU FOR, UH, YOUR CONTINUED WORK.
AND I'VE ONLY BEEN IN THIS SEAT FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE.
SO ALL OF THIS HAS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, TAKEN, UH, A WHILE TO KIND OF SET UP.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS, IS NUMBER ONE, UH, WE'RE UTILIZING VACANT SPACE THAT, THAT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR 20 YEARS AND MIGHT'VE BEEN VACANT FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS IF, IF WE HADN'T PUSHED THIS SORT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN NUMBER TWO, IT'S ON THE EAST SIDE, IT'S IN DISTRICT TWO, IT'S IN AN AREA WHERE THAT NEEDS MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MORE, MORE JOBS AND MORE SPURRED GROWTH.
AND SO THIS IS, THIS IS PART OF THAT, THAT PROCESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, RENE AND I WERE TALKING EARLIER.
I MEAN, THIS IS KIND OF A CATALYTIC PRO, UH, PROJECT.
IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS WHERE, UH, YOU, YOU CREATE A LITTLE LITTLE BIT OF ACTIVITY, BUT THEN IT GROWS FROM THERE BECAUSE MANDATED AND, AND, UH, UH, ATTRACTS OTHER BUSINESSES, OTHER JOBS, OTHER COMPANIES, ALL TO A PARTICULAR AREA.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT JOBS.
AND AS THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, IT'S ABOUT BIOSCIENCE, BIOMEDICAL, AND ALL THOSE, UH, THOSE IN ONE LOCATION.
AND PULLED HERE TO SAN ANTONIO, I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.
UM, AND THEN THE NOTION OF 675 PLUS JOBS IN, IN, IN THE AREA.
I THINK YOU MENTIONED $730 MILLION IMPACT OVER FIVE YEARS.
UH, THERE'S AN OLD BUSINESS SAYING THAT SAYS THAT, THAT YOU'VE GOTTA SPEND A LITTLE MONEY TO MAKE SOME.
AND SO THE, WE'RE GONNA SPEND A LITTLE BIT TO, TO PULL THEM HERE, BUT AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, THE AMOUNT AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, UM, OVER TIME AND, UH, THE SIZE OF THAT AMOUNT IS, IS ABSOLUTELY HUGE.
SO, UH, WITH THAT MAYOR, AND I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO C E O, RANDY HERIG, UM, TO YORK DUNCAN, WHO'S THE E V P, UH, EMERITUS OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND TO STEVE DUFFALO AS WELL, AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE PART OF THE TEAM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR CHOOSING DISTRICT TWO, CHOOSING SAN ANTONIO AND MAKING THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION.
UH, SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'M GONNA MOVE APPROVAL FOR THIS ITEM.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 23.
COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN P SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE ABOUT TO VOTE.
UM, RANDY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ONE OF MY HEROES, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T MET RANDY, UM, AND THEN YOU HAVEN'T MET A REAL HERO, UH, RANDY IS INDEFATIGABLE.
THE GUY IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE VALUE AND THE POT OF GOLD, THE UNMINED POT OF GOLD THAT IS THE EAST SIDE.
UM, AND RANDY, YOU, YOU'VE BEEN LEADING FOR SO LONG, UH, WHEN OTHER PEOPLE WOULD'VE GIVEN UP.
AND, UH, I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW RANDY IS WALKING, TALKING LEADERSHIP, UM, AND YOU ARE WALKING, TALKING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, TODAY WE HEARD THAT THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF FOOLISHNESS THAT YOU HEAR EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
AND TODAY WE HEARD THAT THE EAST SIDE IS IN ASHES, THAT'S FOOLISHNESS WITH A CAPITAL F.
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CREATING JOBS.WE'VE GOT FANTASTIC RESTAURANTS, WE'VE GOT WONDERFUL CHURCHES DOWN THERE, GREAT SCHOOLS, AND NOW WE'VE GOT MERCHANTS ACTUALLY SUCCEEDING AND THRIVING.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE OF THE EAST SIDE.
AND RANDY, IN LARGE PART, THAT FUTURE WILL HAVE YOUR FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT.
AND I WOULD JUST ECHO A LOT OF THOSE SAME SENTIMENTS.
UH, THIS IS, UH, AND ONLY TO ADD THAT, UH, THIS ALSO SHOWS HOW DOWNTOWN IS EXPANDING NOW.
THIS IS PART OF DOWNTOWN, THIS IS PART OF OUR DOWNTOWN GROWTH, AND I WELCOME IT.
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PROJECT AND DEMONSTRATES HOW THIS CITY IS TRULY, TRULY INNOVATING ITSELF.
AND, UH, PROJECTS LIKE THIS ARE GONNA HELP EVERYONE, JUST LIKE WE SAID ALL ALONG DOWNTOWN IS FOR EVERYBODY.
AND, AND NOW WE'RE SHOWING HOW DOWNTOWN IS PART OF MANY DISTRICTS.
UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT, UH, COMING TO FRUITION.
UM, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT YOUR EYEBROWS KIND OF RAISE AND, AND SAY, WOW, THIS IS, THIS IS A GAME CHANGER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE EAST SIDE.
SO I'M, I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE, BUT RANDY, WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP? I, I, I GOT A, I GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS LAST WEEK, UH, A LOT OF US WERE UP IN, UH, DC AND, UM, AS WE SPENT, UM, IN FACT, THE MAYOR AND I SPENT A FULL DAY IN THE PENTAGON AND GOING AROUND TO THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN THERE.
AND, AND ONE OF 'EM THAT, UH, UM, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, AND I, I'M, I'M ASSUMING THAT THE MILITARY IS GONNA BE A KEY COMPONENT IN THIS, IN THIS, UH, ORGANIZATION HERE, OR THIS, THIS SYSTEM THAT YOU'RE, THIS PROJECT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, ALL THE MILITARY SERVICES ARE LOSING THEIR MEDICAL FACILITIES AND, AND, UH, IT'S ALL BEING GROUPED UNDER A NEW ORGANIZATION.
HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING FOR? BECAUSE I, I THINK IT HAS TO DO, THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESEARCH AND WHERE THAT'S GONNA GO AND HOW THAT'S GONNA OPERATE ALSO.
UH, THANK YOU CLAYTON, UH, OR COUNCILMAN PERRY.
UM, WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE MILITARY.
WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS, UH, SUPPOSED MOVE TO D H A, UH, 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 GONNA SIT.
UM, BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT AND FOLLOWING THE MEMOS THAT ARE GOING AROUND.
AND ALTHOUGH IT'S DELAYED US FROM HAVING OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH 'EM, OF THE EXPANSION OF THE I S R HERE IN TOWN, UH, WE'RE GONNA STAY ON THAT.
AND I, I THINK WE'RE DELAYED PROBABLY A YEAR TO 18 MONTHS WHILE THEY FIGURE THIS OUT AT THE DC LEVEL.
UH, BUT THE, UH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE, THAT 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, UH, BECAUSE OF SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN.
SO, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT LONG TERM, SHORT TERM.
RIGHT? AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR Y'ALL TO ACTUALLY MAKE A TRIP UP THERE AND TALK TO THE ADMIRAL AND, AND, UH, SAY, HEY, THIS IS ON THE HORIZON.
I TALK TO ADMIRAL BONO AND, UH, UM, M R M C ON A REGULAR BASIS, PROBABLY ABOUT ONCE EVERY FOUR MONTHS.
THEY KNOW WHO WE ARE, AND THEY KNOW I'M PERSISTENT.
AND SO, UH, WE WILL STAY IN FRONT OF 'EM.
THAT, THAT WAS, AND ARMY NORTH'S BEEN A BIG HELP TOO.
WELL, LET US KNOW ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP ENGAGE AND, AND, UH, PUSH THE STORY AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, EDUCATE FOLKS OUT THERE.
ALSO, RICK, I, I WILL LEAN ON YOU.
COUNCILMAN PERRY, COUNCILMAN VIA RANDY IN VELOCITY, TEXAS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND FOR YOUR WORK.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HICCUPS.
WE'LL JUST CALL 'EM THAT ALONG THE WAY, BUT CONGRATULATIONS FOR STAYING WITH IT AND FOR DEMONSTRATING WHAT CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATION CAN DO HERE.
UM, RENEE AND EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, BECAUSE THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SETTING US FOR THE NEXT 300 YEARS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND
[00:30:01]
PROVIDING FOR WHAT WE NEED IN THIS CITY, THE CREATIVITY THAT WILL BE BIRTHED HERE, THE 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 INTO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE OF VELOCITY, TEXAS IS WHAT IS BEING IMAGINED AND COMING TO FRUITION.
SO I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU, THANK YOU TO TEAM SAN ANTONIO, WHO IS CONSTANTLY WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THESE CREATIVE, UH, DEALS COME FORWARD.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE THIS FINALLY MOVING FORWARD AT THIS POINT.
COUNCILMAN GRA COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
I WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE, UH, EFFORT THAT YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER HERE.
UH, I SERVE ON A BIOMED SA BOARD REPRESENTING THE CITY.
UH, WE'VE BEEN VERY EXCITED TO FIND THAT WE'RE GOING TO, AT LAST HAVE A REAL CENTER, UH, AS AN INCUBATOR, AS A DEVELOPER, AS A, AN AREA FOR MENTORING AND SHARING OF IDEAS, UH, IN BIOMED AND SCIENCE AND HEALTH SCIENCE AREA.
I THINK IT'S, UH, LONG PASSED, OVERDUE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF A CENTER.
I, UH, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A TRIP TO CHINA ON BEHALF OF THE CITY LAST YEAR, AND WE WENT TO A COUPLE OF THESE BIOMED CENTER INCUBATORS IN A COUPLE OF THE CHINESE CITIES, AND THEY'RE HUGE.
AND THEY'RE DEVELOPING, UH, JUST DOZENS OF CO 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, UH, INITIATIVE AND THE, UH, COMMITMENT TO THIS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, UH, FINALLY TO SEE THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION.
I THINK WE SAW THIS COME BEFORE THE TOURS BOARD IN A COUPLE OF ITERATIONS, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AT LEAST IN THE LAST SIX YEARS OR SO THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.
SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS THE FIRST ITERATION WE'VE SEEN, OR MAYBE A COUPLE LATER, BUT, UH, IT'S SO EXCITING FOR THE NEAR EAST SIDE TO HAVE THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT.
I REALLY DO THINK IT'S MONUMENTAL.
UM, WE KNOW THAT ONCE WE HAVE SOME INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, IT JUST SPURS ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INVESTMENT, UH, IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE AREA.
AND IT'S, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE SO EXCITING.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT COMES NEXT.
AND I HOPE THAT, UM, THAT SPREADS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND, AND, UH, AND YOUR PERSEVERANCE BECAUSE, UM, I KNOW IT TOOK, UH, PROBABLY LONGER THAN YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED.
SO, SO GLAD TO SEE THIS, UH, FINALLY COME BEFORE US ON THE COUNCIL.
AGAIN, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM HERE AT THE CITY, UH, TO YOU, RANDY, STEVE, ED, UH, FOR PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER AND BRINGING IT TO US.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 23.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SIR, COULD I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUICK YEAH, PLEASE.
I, I'D LIKE OUR STAFF TO ALL STAND UP.
WHO'S HERE? THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
UH, I GET THE CREDIT, BUT, SO, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN PUT IN.
UM, WE'RE LOOK FORWARD TO USING THESE FUNDS TO SEE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MERCHANTS ICE AND STORAGE IN THE HEART OF THE EAST SIDE ON EAST HOUSTON STREET.
UM, OUR 200,000 FOOT CAMPUS WILL ALLOW US TO BRING FOCUS AND DEDICATION AS A CENTER POINT FOR INNOVATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
UM, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
AND I WANTED TO GET THIS ON THE RECORD.
WE'VE 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 WE'RE GONNA 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, UH, DESERVE THAT.
UM, WITH THAT, WE ARE HAVING A, UH, 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.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE SIX MONTH DOCKLESS VEHICLE PILOT PROGRAM.
SOMEBODY LEFT THEIR READING GLASSES AT THE PODIUM.
THAT MIGHT BE RANDY, DID YOU LEAVE YOUR GLASSES?
[00:35:01]
LET'S TALK ABOUT SCOOTERS.ACTUALLY, MY GLASSES ARE NOT THE BEST.
UM, SO SCOOTERS, UM, THE MOMENT Y'ALL ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, UM, COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE I GET STARTED.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THESE ARE AMENDMENTS TO A PILOT PROGRAM THAT YOU ALL APPROVED BACK, UM, IN OCTOBER.
UH, THE PILOT PROGRAM GOES THROUGH THE, UH, MIDDLE OF APRIL.
UM, BUT WE'VE NOTICED SOME THINGS THAT WE THINK, UM, THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE, UH, TODAY.
UM, SOME THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND OCCURRING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS NOW, UM, KIND OF MID PILOT, IF YOU WILL.
UM, WE'VE NOTICED A LOT OF, OF SCOOTERS ON THE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE, UH, INAPPROPRIATELY PARKED.
UM, IT'S CREATING BASICALLY CLUTTER, UM, PARTICULARLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE, UH, MOST OF THE SCOOTERS ARE DEPLOYED.
UM, WE'RE ALSO SEEING PROBLEMS WITH SCOOTERS PARKED OR LEFT IN PROHIBITED AREAS, UH, SPECIFICALLY ALONG THE RIVERWALK, UM, IN THE ALAMO PLAZA, SOME OF OUR, UM, OTHER PLAZAS AND PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE WE HAVE HIGH, UM, PEDESTRIAN, UM, ACTIVITY.
AND SO THERE'S ISSUES WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO WALK AND TRAVEL THROUGH THOSE AREAS.
UM, WE ALSO SEE, UM, THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY VEHICLES.
IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS, UM, WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH DOWNTOWN OR WALK THROUGH DOWNTOWN, UM, THAT, UH, THE PERCEPTION AND REALITY IS, IS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY VEHICLES, UM, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH MAINTENANCE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, PARTICULARLY FOR CENTRO, UM, WHO, UH, THROUGH THE PIT, UM, AND, UH, AND THROUGH CONTRACT WITH VIA, UM, DOES PRESSURE WASHING NIGHTLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA ON THE SIDEWALKS.
UM, THE SCOOTERS, UM, AND VEHICLES THAT ARE LEFT OUT OVERNIGHT ARE BECOMING A PROBLEM FOR THEM, UM, WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB, UM, CLEANING OUR SIDEWALKS DOWNTOWN.
UH, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY ASK, WHY DID WE DO A PILOT? UM, AND REALLY IT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD A, A NEW, UM, INDUSTRY, A NEW PRODUCT THAT IT WAS LAUNCHED, UH, LAST SUMMER, UM, THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT.
UM, SO WE NEEDED TO TAKE THE TIME TO STUDY IT AND ANALYZE IT, UH, AND EXPERIENCE IT SO WE COULD HAVE A BETTER, BETTER UNDERSTANDING GOING FORWARD.
UM, IT'S A RAPIDLY CHANGING INDUSTRY.
UM, IN JUST THE SIX MONTHS, UH, SINCE THE FIRST SCOOTERS WERE LAUNCHED.
UM, WE'VE SEEN CHANGES, UM, ALREADY NEW, UH, COMPANIES HAVE ENTERED THE MARKET.
UM, THE VEHICLES THEMSELVES HAVE ADAPTED SOMEWHAT.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S CHANGING VERY FAST.
UM, SECONDLY, UH, WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT THE MARKET DEMAND WOULD BE.
WOULD PEOPLE RIDE THEM? WOULD PEOPLE USE THEM? HOW WOULD THEY USE THEM? UM, WE NEEDED TO KNOW HOW DEEP THE MARKET WAS, UM, FOR THE SCOOTERS OR THE VEHICLES BEFORE WE COULD, UH, MAKE SOME DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO REGULATE THEM.
UM, WE ALSO KNEW, WE SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MONITOR, UM, THE SCOOTERS AND THE VEHICLES FROM A LESS RESTRICTIVE REGULATORY APPROACH.
UM, THE REASON FOR THAT WAS SO WE COULD GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WOULD IT ACTUALLY TAKE, UM, TO ENFORCE REGULATIONS.
UM, WHAT WOULD WE SEE? UM, WE REALLY NEEDED TO EXPERIENCE THAT IN ORDER TO, UM, MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HOW TO ENFORCE, WHAT TO ENFORCE, WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THESE COMPANIES, SO WE NEEDED TO GET THAT EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH MULTIPLE PROVIDERS, UM, TO SEE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SEVEN COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, THAT RECEIVE PERMITS.
UM, SO NOW WE'RE, WE'RE EXPERIENCING WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK WITH MULTIPLE VENDORS, UM, IN A, IN A PRETTY CONFINED SPACE RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO IT'S, THAT INFORMATION IS VALUABLE FOR US, SHOULD WE DECIDE, UM, TO GO FORWARD AND, UH, AT THE END OF THE PILOT WITH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, UM, WHERE WE WOULD MAYBE SELECT JUST A, A FEW.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, ALSO, UM, IT'S BEEN HELPFUL THROUGH THIS PILOT PROGRAM FOR US TO IDENTIFY WHAT TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED TO SUPPORT, UM, THIS MICRO MOBILITY, UM, MOVEMENT.
SO THAT WOULD BE IN THE FORM OF EITHER PARKING SPACES.
UM, DO WE NEED TO CHANGE, UH, HOW WE LOOK AT BIKE LANES AND THE SURFACES THAT MAYBE WE CONSTRUCT THINGS WITH.
UM, DO WE NEED SPECIAL RACK RACKS? WE HAVE BIKE RACKS, BUT DO WE NEED TO HAVE RACKS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES? SO IT'S, IT'S BEEN HELPFUL TO, IN THIS PILOT PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, UM, THOSE NEEDS.
SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.
UM, YOU MAY RECALL, UM, BACK LAST SUMMER, UM, WE WENT THROUGH A PRETTY QUICK PROCESS IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THE, UM, SCOOTER COMPANIES THAT WERE LAUNCHING OR, OR GETTING READY TO LAUNCH.
UM, WE HAD, UM, A, A GREAT PUBLIC MEETING, UM, AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.
WE HAD OVER 150 PEOPLE ATTEND THAT MEETING.
UM, WE, IT GAVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, MEET SOME OF THE VENDORS, UNDERSTAND HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS BETTER,
[00:40:01]
BUT ALSO PROVIDE US FEEDBACK, UM, ON THEIR EXPERIENCE, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS VERY NEW.WE HAD A LOT OF, UM, PEOPLE ATTEND THAT.
WE ALSO HAD A SURVEY, UM, THAT WAS OPEN FOR JUST A, A SHORT PERIOD, MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
UM, WE HAD AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE WITH OVER 4,400 PEOPLE RESPONDING TO THAT SURVEY.
UM, WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING HERE AT, UH, CITY COUNCIL ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
UH, WE BRIEFED THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
UM, WE BRIEFED YOU ALL IN A B SESSION.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, AT A SESSION ON OCTOBER 11TH, WE BROUGHT YOU THE PILOT PROGRAM, UH, WHICH YOU ALL APPROVED.
UM, AT THAT TIME, WE HAD SEVERAL COMPANIES OPERATING.
UM, SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OTHERS ENTER THE MARKET.
UH, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE SEVEN COMPANIES THAT ARE NOW PERMITTED OF THOSE SEVEN, TWO HAVE YET TO LAUNCH.
UM, SPIN HAS NOT LAUNCHED THEIR, UH, VEHICLES YET, AND LYFT HAS NOT LAUNCHED THEIR VEHICLES YET.
UM, BUT WE HAVE ISSUED A TOTAL OF PERMITS FOR 14,100 VEHICLES.
UM, 2000 OF THOSE ARE BIKES AND THE REMAINDER, UH, ARE SCOOTERS.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME DATA, UH, THAT PILOT.
THE PILOT PROGRAM INCLUDES A REQUIREMENT THAT THE COMPANIES PROVIDE US A MONTHLY REPORT.
UM, AND SO BASED ON THAT REPORT, AND BASED ON INFORMATION WE RECEIVED AS OF THE END OF JANUARY, UM, WE KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 1.4 TO 1 MILLION RIDES, UM, IN SAN ANTONIO.
THAT'S SINCE THE FIRST LAUNCH OF BIRD BACK IN JUNE.
UM, IN JANUARY ALONE, WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 240,000 RIDES, UM, WHICH IS PRETTY HIGH CONSIDERING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE WINTER TIME OF YEAR, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON.
UM, AVERAGE DISTANCE OF THE RIDES ARE 0.735 MILES, SO ALMOST A MILE.
UM, THE AVERAGE DAILY DEPLOYMENT OF THE COMPANIES IN JANUARY WAS A LITTLE OVER 5,900 VEHICLES DEPLOYED DAILY.
UM, THAT'S JUST SLIGHTLY DOWN FROM DECEMBER, BUT AGAIN, JANUARY IS, IS TYPICALLY A SLOWER MONTH DOWNTOWN, UM, PARTICULARLY WITH WEATHER AND, AND LESS EVENTS OCCURRING.
SO JUST REAL QUICK, UH, SUMMARY OF THE, UH, ADOPTED REGULATIONS.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, WE ADOPTED REGULATIONS CENTERED REALLY AROUND TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WOULD BE RIDING AND PARKING.
UM, FOR RIDING, WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU MUST BE 16 YEARS OR OLDER, UH, SCOOTERS, UM, ARE ALLOWED ON SIDEWALK, SO YOU CAN RIDE ON THE STREET OR ON THE SIDEWALK.
UM, HOWEVER, THAT, THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE BIKES.
THEY MUST BE, UM, ON THE STREET.
UM, HELMETS ARE ENCOURAGED, UH, BUT NOT REQUIRED.
UM, AND YOU MUST FOLLOW TRAFFIC LAWS JUST AS IF YOU WOULD, IF YOU WERE IN A CAR OR ON A BIKE.
UM, AS FAR AS PARKING IS CONCERNED, WE WERE, UM, CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THE PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS.
SO WE ADOPTED REGULATIONS THAT PROTECT THAT.
THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU MUST BE THREE FEET, UH, CLEARANCE FROM PEDESTRIANS, UM, FROM THE PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY MAY NOT, UM, PARK OR BLOCK, UH, CURB RAMP.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE RAMP, UM, SAY AT A CROSSWALK.
UM, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE PROTECTING THE ENTRANCES TO, UH, INTO AND OUT OF BUSINESSES.
SO THERE'S A REQUIREMENT, UH, TO BE, UM, EIGHT FEET FROM THOSE.
AND THEN WORKING WITH VIA, WE ESTABLISHED AN AREA AROUND THE, UM, AND WITHIN THE BUS STOPS.
UM, SO THERE'S LITTLE, IM AS LITTLE IMPACT AS POSSIBLE TO PEOPLE GETTING ON AND OFF OF THE BUSES.
UM, WE WERE ALSO, UM, INCLUDED PROHIBITED AREAS WHERE RIDING AND PARKING IS NOT ALLOWED.
UH, THAT WOULD BE ON RIVER WALK, PARK, TRAILS, CREEKWAY, PARKS AND PLAZAS, UM, SUCH AS ALAMO PLAZA OR MAIN PLAZA.
UM, AND THE, AND AGAIN, PARKING IS, 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, UH, AS WELL AS EVENTS OCCURRING.
UH, WE DID HAVE PERMIT FEES AND THOSE, THOSE, UH, PERMITS WERE VALID FOR SIX MONTHS.
UH, THERE WAS A $500 APPLICATION FEE AND THEN A $10 FEE, UM, PER VEHICLE.
UH, SO THE PROJECTED REVENUE FOR THIS SIX MONTH PILOT WAS $154,500.
THAT'S BASED ON THE, UH, SEVEN, UH, COMPANIES THAT APPLIED.
WE RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO EDUCATE, UM, AND MARKET, UM, THE VEHICLES, UM, PARTICULARLY, PARTICULARLY HOW TO RIDE THEM, HOW TO PARK THEM.
UM, WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE A, THERE WOULD BE A LEARNING CURVE.
SO WE, WE FOCUSED EARLY ON, ON EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
WE HAD RACK CARDS CREATED AND PLACED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AT CITY FACILITIES.
WE GAVE THEM TO THE HOTEL, UH, INDUSTRY AS WELL.
UM, WE INCLUDED, UH, INFORMATION ON THE NEW DIGITAL KIOSKS.
WE HAD POSTERS UP AROUND, UM, WE WENT ON MORNING SHOWS AND LOTS OF RADIO SHOWS, TV, MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA.
UM, I'VE BEEN ON THE RADIO SEVERAL TIMES.
UH, ACTUALLY COUNCILMAN TRAVINO AND I DID THAT TOGETHER.
UM, OTHER THINGS WE DID, WE CREATED, UH, PAVEMENT DECALS.
AND THAT WOULD BE, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THESE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, UH, JUST REMINDING PEOPLE OF HOW TO RIDE,
[00:45:01]
UM, HOW TO PARK.UM, WE CREATED, UM, DEDICATED PARKING AREAS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY STILL IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING THOSE.
WE HAVE A CREW OUT THIS MORNING DOING THAT.
UM, WE'RE IDENTIFYING AREAS IN DOWNTOWN, UM, WHERE THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THEM TO BE PARKED AND CREATING A, UM, A DESIGNATED ZONE.
SO IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT A DESTINATION TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK THIS SCOOTER.
UM, IF THERE'S MAYBE CONFUSION OR THEY FORGET WHAT THEIR PARKING REGULATIONS ARE.
UM, WE'RE JUST MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY PROVIDING THEM A SPACE, UM, TO PARK THE SCOOTER MUCH IN THE SAME WAY, UM, THAT WE HAVE BIKE RACKS DOWNTOWN.
UM, A BIG THING WE DID WAS WE WORKED WITH OUR THREE ONE ONE, UM, OUR CALL CENTER TO ADD, UM, THE, UM, SCOOTERS TO THE APP FOR 3 1 1.
SO NOW WHEN YOU OPEN UP THE 3 1 1 APP, THERE'S ACTUALLY A CATEGORY TO PICK, UM, TITLED SCOOTERS.
AND SO YOU CAN REPORT, UH, VIOLATIONS, UH, THOSE VIOLATIONS, UM, OR CONCERNS THAT ARE, UM, INPUT INTO THAT APP, GO DIRECTLY TO THE SCOOTER COMPANY.
SO THERE'S NO DELAY TIME IN THE SCOOTER COMPANY GETTING NOTIFIED, UH, WHEN SOMEONE REPORTS AN ISSUE.
UM, I'VE USED IT SEVERAL TIMES MYSELF, UM, AND I HAVE FOLLOWED UP AND, AND, UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS WORKING.
UM, I MENTIONED THE PUBLIC SURVEY THAT WE HAD AT THE INITIAL OUT, UH, OUTSET OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE SINCE LAUNCHED ANOTHER SURVEY, UM, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND, AND THANK YOU, ALL OF YOUR OFFICES HAVE, UM, BEEN SHARING THAT WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
UM, SO WE'RE CONTINUALLY GOING TO WORK ON GETTING THAT OUT, UH, TO THE PUBLIC.
HERE'S JUST A, A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THE DECALS.
THAT ONE ON THE LEFT IS A, A RAMP ENTRANCE TO THE RIVERWALK.
UM, IT'S JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO PEOPLE ON THE VEHICLES THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO RIDE ON THE RIVERWALK.
UH, THE MIDDLE PICTURE THERE IS A, IS A DESIGNATED, UM, SCOOTER PARKING ZONE.
IT IS KIND OF HARD TO MAKE OUT BECAUSE THERE'S SCOOTERS PARKED THERE, BUT THERE'S A, UH, A SYMBOL, A SCOOTER, UM, SILHOUETTE THERE THAT, THAT DENOTES THAT, THAT'S FOR SCOOTERS.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY THAT, UM, MAP ON THE RIGHT IS A, A, UM, EXHIBIT THAT SHOWS WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY PLACING THESE DESIGNATED, UM, PARKING ZONES.
UH, 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 A METER SPACE, UM, ON STREET THAT WE CAN ALSO USE THOSE FOR, UM, PARKING ZONES AS WELL, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE AREAS WHERE THE SIDEWALKS MAY BE NARROWER AND THERE'S LESS SPACE, UM, OFF STREET TO DO THAT.
UH, JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU, UH, A FEW OF THE EARLY SURVEY RESULTS.
UM, 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, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, PARTICULARLY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THE SCOOTERS.
BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY, UM, GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
UH, SO WE'VE HAD IT OUT FOR TWO WEEKS.
WE'VE HAD OVER 2,800, UM, RESPONDENTS.
UM, WE ASKED THEM, UH, WHY ARE THEY USING THEM? WHAT'S THE REASON YOU'RE USING DOCKLESS VEHICLES? UM, 42% HAVE SAID FOR FUN OR EXERCISE, UM, EXERCISE WOULD APPLY TO THE BIKES.
UM, AND THEN, UM, 20% WORK BASE TRIPS.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A LOT OF RESPONDENTS, UM, ARE SAYING THAT THEY HAVEN'T USED THE SCOOTERS.
SO OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO GET IT OUT TO, UM, PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY USING THE SCOOTERS.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COMPANIES TO SEND THIS TO THEIR, UH, RIDERS.
UM, WE WILL ALSO, UM, HAVE, UH, A NEW SURVEY THAT'LL BE VERY SPECIFIC TO JUST RIDERS.
SO WE WANNA KNOW HOW PEOPLE ARE USING THE SCOOTERS, WHERE ARE THEY GOING, WHAT ARE THEY USING IT FOR? HOW OFTEN ARE THEY USING IT? UM, QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.
UM, RIGHT NOW, THE, UH, RESPONSE, UM, 81%, UM, OF RESPONDENTS, UM, SAY THEY LOOK CLUTTERED.
UM, THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY, UM, AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE RIDING THEM.
UM, OVERWHELMINGLY 62% SAY THAT, UM, WE HAVE TOO MANY, UM, THAT THEY WOULD PREFER THAT THERE BE FEWER, UH, VEHICLES.
UH, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THE SURVEY.
UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, AGAIN, PARTICULARLY TO RIDERS.
WE, SO WE CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF, OF HOW PEOPLE ARE USING THEM, UM, AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND SO WE'LL HAVE MORE, UM, MUCH MORE INFORMATION AND, AND RESPONSE.
UM, AT THE END OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.
UH, ENFORCEMENT, UH, HAS BEEN A, A BIG FOCUS OF OURS, UH, AS OF RECENTLY AS PARKING ENFORCEMENT STAFF, UH, WHICH IS UNDER OUR DEPARTMENT, C C D O, UH, IN ADDITION WITH HELP FROM CENTRO.
AND THE, THE AMBASSADORS HAVE BEEN, UM, WHAT I CALL CORRECTING PARKING VIOLATIONS.
SO THAT WOULD BE IF, UH, YOU'RE WALKING ALONG AND A SCOOTER HAS MAYBE FALLEN, UM, IN A MANNER THAT IS BLOCKING, UH, THE SIDEWALK.
IT'S, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE, UM, EFFORT TO JUST UPRIGHT THE SCOOTER AND CORRECT
[00:50:01]
IT.UM, SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT PROACTIVELY JUST TO MAKE, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CLUTTER ISSUES IN THE, IN THE BLOCKING OF THE SIDEWALKS.
UH, WE HAVE IMPOUNDED SOME SCOOTERS.
UM, AN IMPOUNDMENT OCCURS WHEN WE CONTACT THE COMPANY, AND THEY DO NOT RESPOND WITHIN, UH, THE TIME REQUIRED.
UH, OF THEM IT'S TWO HOURS IF THEY ARE ON A SIDEWALK BLOCKING THE, THE SIDEWALK PATHWAY, AND IT'S AN HOUR IF IT'S IN A PROHIBITED AREA, SUCH AS THE RIVERWALK.
SO WE HAVE IMPOUNDED, UM, SOME SCOOTERS, UH, WHEN THE COMPANIES HAVE NOT RESPONDED, UM, TO OUR REPORTS.
UH, 3 1 1 HAS BEEN BUSY, UH, SINCE 3 1 1, UH, STARTED ACCEPTING THE CALLS, UH, RIGHT AFTER THE PILOT, UM, STARTED, UH, THEY'VE RECEIVED, UH, ABOUT 1300 REPORTS, UM, OF THAT, UM, ALMOST 400 HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE APP.
UM, AND THE APP WAS JUST LAUNCHED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SO I EXPECT THAT WE'LL SEE A LOT MORE, UM, PEOPLE USING THE APP.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE DID, UM, RIGHT AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, WE, I, WE, UH, DETERMINED THAT WE NEEDED DEDICATED STAFF, UM, TO JUST DO ENFORCEMENT.
UM, SO WE'VE NOW HIRED FOUR DEDICATED ENFORCEMENT, UH, OFFICERS THAT ARE PART OF OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT TEAM, UM, TO ADDRESS PARKING AND DEPLOYMENT VIOLATIONS.
UH, AND THEN FINALLY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PARKS POLICE, UH, ON ENFORCEMENT OF RIDING.
UM, TO ASSIST WITH THAT, WE HAVE BEEN USING SOME OVERTIME SHIFTS, UM, WITHIN SS A P D, UM, WHO ARE FOCUSING ON BAD, UH, RIDING BEHAVIOR.
UM, I WOULD ADD THAT ALL OF THIS CURRENTLY IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE PERMIT FEES THAT WE'RE COLLECTING, UM, FROM THE COMPANY.
SO WE'RE NOT USING ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THIS.
UM, AS OF TODAY, UH, INJURIES, UH, BACK, UH, IN SEPTEMBER, UM, FIRE DEPARTMENT STARTED COLLECTING SOME DATA FOR US ABOUT MID-SEPTEMBER.
WE ASKED THEM, UH, THROUGH CENTRAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO, UM, START TRACKING INJURIES.
SINCE THEN, 93 INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, UH, THROUGH E M S.
UM, SO THIS IS BASICALLY CALLS FOR SERVICE.
SO THIS IS WHEN SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT AND THEY CALL 9 1 1.
UH, SO WE HAVE 93 OF THOSE, OF THAT 93, 40% OF THOSE, UM, OCCURRED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11:00 PM AND 4:00 AM.
SO WE ARE SEEING, UH, A FAIRLY, UH, SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS OCCURRING, UM, IN THE LATE NIGHT HOURS.
UH, SOME OF THE ISSUES I, UH, IDENTIFIED SPECIFICALLY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THESE AMENDMENTS, UM, ARE RIDING, PARKING, AND DEPLOYMENT IN THOSE PROHIBITED AREAS LIKE THE ALAMO PLAZA AND THE RIVERWALK.
UM, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF UNDERAGE RIDING.
UM, WE SEE SOME CHILDREN SOMETIMES ALONE, SOMETIMES WITH THEIR PARENTS.
UM, WE'VE SEEN IN CASES WHERE WE HAD AN ADULT AND A CHILD ON A SCOOTER TOGETHER, UM, RIDING WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON A SCOOTER IS, IS NOT ALLOWED.
UM, WE'VE SEEN SOME ACCIDENTS, UM, DEPLOYMENT, UH, THAT'S IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, SO THAT WOULD BE A DEPLOYMENT WHERE THEY'RE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALKS OR THE CURB RAMPS.
UH, WE'VE HAD IMPACTS TO EVENTS.
UH, THE ALAMO BOWL, A LOT OF PEOPLE USE SCOOTERS TO RIDE TO THE ALAMO BOWL THAT NIGHT.
UM, SO WHEN THEY GOT THERE, WE SAW PROBLEMS WITH, UM, PEOPLE FINDING A LOCATION TO PARK THEM.
SO WE'VE, WE IDENTIFIED THAT EVENTS, UM, IS AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, AND I MENTIONED THIS EARLY ON, THAT VEHICLES ARE, NOW THAT THERE'S ENOUGH VEHICLES OUT THERE, OR SO MANY VEHICLES OUT THERE, THEY'RE NOT GETTING PICKED UP AT NIGHT.
UH, WHEN THEY WERE FIRST LAUNCHED, THE COMPANIES WERE, WOULD PICK UP THE SCOOTERS NIGHTLY TO RECHARGE THEM.
UM, 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, UM, WHICH AGAIN, IS CREATING A PROBLEM FOR CENTRO, UM, AND THEIR MAINTENANCE OF THE DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS.
UH, SO WITH THAT IN MIND, WE'RE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING SOME MIDPOINT AMENDMENTS.
AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST AMENDMENTS, UM, THAT ARE KIND OF HALFWAY THROUGH THIS PILOT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS, UM, SOME IMMEDIATE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU ALL, UM, LATER THIS SPRING, UM, WITH SOME MORE BROADER AMENDMENTS.
UH, SO WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS THAT WE IMPOSE HOURS OF OPERATION FROM 6:00 AM TO 11:00 PM.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT, UH, RIDES COULD NOT BE STARTED, UH, AFTER 11:00 PM AND NOT, AND NOT, UH, AGAIN, UNTIL 6:00 AM.
UH, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IF YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIDE, SAY YOU RENTED AT 10 50 AND YOU'RE RIDING, IT'S NOT GONNA JUST STOP AT 11.
IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU, UM, CANNOT START A RIDE AFTER 11:00 PM.
UM, SO REALLY THERE'S TWO REASONS FOR THIS.
THIS IS INTENDED, UH, TO HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF THE, OF 40% OF THE ACCIDENTS OCCURRING IN THIS TIMEFRAME.
UM, BUT IT'S ALSO TO HELP US, UM, HAVE, ADDRESS THE CLUTTER AND THE BAD PARKING THAT OCCURS AT THIS TIME.
UM, BECAUSE CURRENTLY THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT AT THIS TIME.
UM, THE COMPANIES, UM, ARE NOT OUT
[00:55:01]
THERE CORRECTING 'EM THIS AT THIS LATE AT NIGHT.I MEAN, AT LEAST NOT ALL OF THEM.
UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE ASKED THEM TO START DOING.
UH, SECONDLY, UM, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD GRANT THE AUTHORITY, UH, TO ME, UM, TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE SCOOTERS MUST BE TEMPORARILY REMOVED.
UM, AND THAT COULD BE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
ONE, UM, MOST IMPORTANTLY IS FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR CENTRO TO DO THEIR WORK.
SO IF THERE'S CONSTRUCTION AREAS WHERE THE SCOOTERS MAY CREATE A CONFLICT, UH, THERE, AND THEN ALSO FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
UM, SO THE WAY THIS WOULD WORK IS, IS WE WOULD IDENTIFY THROUGH EITHER CENTRO OR T C I, IF IT'S A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR MAYBE AN EVENT, UM, WE WOULD IDENTIFY, UM, AREAS THAT SCOOTERS SHOULD NOT BE DEPLOYED IN OR SHOULD NOT BE PARKED IN DURING A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME, IN A CERTAIN LOCATION.
UM, 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, UM, IN THAT AREA.
UH, AND THEN FOR DOWNTOWN, SO THAT CENTRO CAN DO THEIR WORK, UM, WE WORK WITH CENTRO TO IDENTIFY KIND OF THEIR HOTSPOTS.
WHERE ARE THEY SEEING THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE NUMBER OF SCOOTERS, IN ADDITION TO WHERE DO THEY NEED TO DO THE MOST PRESSURE WASHING? UM, AND IDENTIFY THOSE CORRIDORS WHERE THE VEHICLES WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED.
UM, SO WE'RE NOT TELLING THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO PICK THEM UP AND COMPLETELY REMOVE THEM FROM DOWNTOWN.
WE'RE JUST ASKING THEM TO MOVE THEM MAYBE A BLOCK OVER, UM, TO ANOTHER STREET OR TO THE SIDE STREET.
UM, ONE OTHER AREA THAT WE'RE SEEING A PROBLEM WITH IS, I MENTIONED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, 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.
UM, SOMETIMES THAT HOUR IS TOO LONG, WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM RIGHT AWAY.
UH, IF WE DO THAT, WE WOULD NOT CHARGE THEM THE IMPOUNDMENT FEE.
UM, SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE DON'T GIVE THEM AN HOUR TO REMOVE IT, THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA CHARGE THEM, UH, THE FEE.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN, UM, WE NEED TO REMOVE THEM IMMEDIATELY.
UM, SO WE WOULD JUST REMOVE THEM, CONTACT THE COMPANY, AND THEN THEY CAN COME PICK THEM UP.
UH, WE'RE ALSO ASKING YOU TO RATIFY, UM, A MORATORIUM ON THE SCOOTERS THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE, UH, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UM, AFTER THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, WE'RE ALSO, AGAIN ENCOURAGING, UM, THE COMPANIES AND RIDERS, UH, TO USE DESIGNATED PARKING ZONES.
THIS IS JUST A, AN EXAMPLE OF, UM, THE AREAS THAT CENTRO IS PRESSURE WASHING.
THOSE ARE THE ZONES, UM, IN THE DARK, UH, BLUE THAT YOU SEE THERE.
THOSE AREAS IN THAT KIND OF LIGHT LIME GREEN ARE, IS AN EXAMPLE OF AREAS WHERE WE MAY ASK THEM TO REMOVE SCOOTERS, UM, AT NIGHT.
UM, SO IT MAY BE 10 OR 11, JUST DEPENDS, UM, ON THE TIME OF YEAR, WHAT CENTRO'S, UH, PRESSURE WASHING ACTIVITY WILL BE.
BUT WE'LL WORK CLOSELY WITH CENTRO TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS AND THEN LET THE COMPANIES KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO REMOVE VEHICLES FROM THOSE AREAS AT NIGHT.
UH, DATA, I'VE, I'VE SAID THIS A LOT.
DATA IS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, FOR THIS, UM, FOR THIS PROGRAM AND, AND FOR THE COMPANIES AND FOR US TO, UH, MANAGE IT EFFECTIVELY.
UM, SO WE ARE, WE HAVE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMPANY COMPANIES TO GET MORE DATA, UM, ABOUT, UM, VEHICLES THAT DON'T GO UNTOUCHED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
THAT CAN HELP US DETERMINE IF WE HAVE TOO MANY, UM, ROUTE INFORMATION SO WE CAN IDENTIFY WHERE, UM, POTENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT NEEDS ARE.
UM, WE CAN LOOK AT AREAS WHERE, UM, IT'S PROHIBITED, BUT PEOPLE ARE RIDING IN.
UM, ARE THESE RIDES REPLACING CAR TRIPS? UM, THAT'S A, A IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK.
HOW ARE PEOPLE USING THESE? UM, IT'LL, IT'LL HELP US IDENTIFY WHICH GEO-FENCING TECHNIQUES, UH, COULD BE HELPFUL TO REDUCE RIDES, UM, IN PROHIBITED AREAS.
UM, ALSO, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ANALYZE DATA, UH, SUCH AS TIME OF DAY OF ACCIDENTS, UH, WHERE MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS OCCURRING, UM, THAT COULD HELP US IDENTIFY MAYBE, UM, WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT MAY BE.
AND IS THERE, AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO PROACTIVELY TO HELP, UM, CURB THOSE ACCIDENTS.
UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO GATHER INFORMATION, UM, AFTER THE PILOT, UM, DATA, MORE PUBLIC SURVEYS.
UM, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A LOT OF STAKEHOLDER AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
UM, A LOT OF OTHER CITIES ARE, ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING THAT WE ARE.
SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT ARE THEY EXPERIENCING, WHAT MAYBE IS WORKING, UH, FOR THEM THAT WE COULD MAYBE LOOK AT AS, AS A BEST PRACTICE.
UM, ONE THING WE NEED TO, TO DO IS EVALUATE THE PERMIT FEES, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERMIT FEES ARE APPROPRIATE, UH, TO HELP US,
[01:00:01]
UH, TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE.UM, DO WE NEED TO EXPAND ENFORCEMENT? UM, DO WE NEED DEDICATED STAFF TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM? UM, WE'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS AFTER THE PILOTS, SO THIS WOULD BE IN THE APRIL MAY TIMEFRAME.
UM, AGAIN, DO WE NEED TO INCREASE PERMIT FEES? RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST FEES IN THE COUNTRY.
UM, DO WE NEED TO INCREASE FEES TO HELP US WITH ENFORCEMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE? UM, SHOULD WE REQUIRE VEHICLES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP, UH, WHEN ENTERING A PROHIBITED AREA.
SOME OF THE COMPANIES ARE ALREADY DOING THIS VOLUNTARILY, BUT DO WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT? UM, AND THEN KIND OF IN SYNC WITH THAT, DO WE NEED TO REQUIRE THE, THE APP TO SHUT DOWN OR SHUT DOWN THE, UH, UM, THE RIDE SO IT DOESN'T END IN A PROHIBITED AREA? UM, SOME OF THE COMPANIES HAS JUST SUGGESTED THAT THROUGH THE APP, UM, THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY, UM, THEY CAN, UH, CREATE THINGS THAT WOULD INCENTIVIZE GOOD BEHAVIOR OR BAD, OR DEINCENTIVIZE BAD BEHAVIOR, SUCH AS TAKING PICTURES, UM, OF THE SCOOTER OR THE VEHICLE AFTER YOU PARK IT TO SHOW THAT YOU PARKED IT, UM, CORRECTLY.
UM, WE PROBABLY NEED TO TALK AGAIN ABOUT, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED ON SIDEWALKS, UM, AND ONLY REQUIRED IN THE STREET, OR ALLOWED IN THE STREET.
UM, THERE MAY BE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO REQUIRE THEM TO PARK THE VEHICLES IN A DESIGNATED, UH, CORRAL, UM, PARTICULARLY IN IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE TO ADD CORRALS OR RACKS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE VEHICLES, AND THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ACTUALLY DEPLOY IN THOSE, UM, IN THOSE AREAS.
UH, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, A MAXIMUM SPEED, UH, FOR VEHICLES.
UH, WE PROBABLY WILL WANT MORE DATA.
UM, RIGHT NOW A LOT OF THE COMPANIES HAVE VOLUNTARILY, UM, GIVEN US ACCESS TO, UH, MORE DATA FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET THE DATA DIRECTLY SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT, ANALYZE IT, AND USE IT, UM, BETTER.
FOR OUR PURPOSES, UM, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GONNA LIMIT THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES TO BE PERMITTED.
UM, AND THAT COULD BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, AN R F P PROCESS AND MAKE THIS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS WHERE WE SELECT ONLY A FEW OR A COUPLE OF VENDORS AND WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THEM, UM, TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER OF VEHICLES, UM, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY OR NOT ENOUGH.
UH, I DO WANNA MENTION THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SENATE BILL THAT WAS FILED, UM, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UM, FROM A SENATOR UP IN, UM, DALLAS.
UM, RIGHT NOW, UH, IT'S PROPOSED TO, UH, REQUIRE A DRIVER'S LICENSE TO OPERATE, UH, A VEHICLE.
UM, SO YOU HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE.
UM, MAY NOT USE A, A SCOOTER, UH, FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON, WHICH IS A REGULATION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
UM, AND IT WAS SET A STATEWIDE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT OF 15 MILES PER HOUR.
UH, AND THEN FINALLY, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PARK, UM, IN A MANNER THAT OBSTRUCTS A ROADWAY PATH OR A SIDEWALK.
UH, SO MANY OF THIS WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED AND, AND WE HAVE IN OUR ORDINANCE.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE STATE, UM, UM, IS INTERESTED IN THIS AS WELL.
AND SO WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UM, AND WE'LL BE SURE TO, UM, REPORT BACK TO YOU, UM, THROUGH JEFF AND HIS TEAM.
SO, UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR, FOR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, JOHN.
UH, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
WE'LL BEGIN, UH, WITH ASHLEY HARRIS.
MS. HARRIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY WARREN WILKINSON.
MY NAME IS ASHLEY HARRIS, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS A SUPPORTER OF THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE 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 METRO AREA EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
THE DOCKLESS VEHICLES OFFER A FUN AND ENTERTAINING TRANSPORTATION OPTION FOR OUR VISITORS TO ENJOY WHILE EXPLORING THE CITY.
BUT WHILE THEY ARE HERE, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR GUEST IS VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S HIGHEST PRIORITY.
WE KNEW FROM THE ONSET THAT MODIFICATIONS, AMENDMENTS AND UPDATES WOULD NEED TO BE MADE AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS SIX MONTH PILOT PROGRAM.
ACCORDINGLY, WE STRONGLY SUPPORT CD CC'S RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY WORK TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND COMFORT OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR VISITORS.
WE ALSO WANNA THANK YOU THE COUNCIL CITY STAFF, AND C C D O 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.
WARREN WILKINSON, FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
MORNING MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS,
[01:05:01]
CITY MANAGER.UM, I'M WARREN WILKINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CENTRO SAN ANTONIO.
TO, UH, FOLLOW UP ON JOHN'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE POWER WASHING, I WANNA PUT A LITTLE BIT OF A SCALE TO THE PROBLEM WE ENCOUNTERED JUST WITHIN THE PIT.
UH, OUR PHYSICAL YEAR LAST YEAR, WE POWER WASHED JUST OVER 49 MILLION SQUARE FEET, UH, WITHIN THE PIT, UM, IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS PHYSICAL YEAR.
SO THAT'D BE OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER.
WE SAW A 40% DECREASE IN THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
UH, WE USED THE SAME HOURS, BUT THOSE HOURS CONSUMED MOSTLY BY MOVING SCOOTERS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO POWER WASH SAFELY.
UH, PARTICULARLY IN THE CURBS.
UH, THEY, YOU KNOW, WE TELL OUR AMBASSADORS NOT TO GET OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND POWER WASH WITH TRAFFIC.
SO THAT'S A, UH, DIRECT IMPACT.
AS SUCH, UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH, UH, C C D O ON, UH, A COUPLE OF OPTIONS.
UH, IDEALLY WE'D LIKE TO SEE ALL THE SCOOTERS REMOVED FROM THE PIT, UH, AT NIGHT TO HAVE OUR AREA UNINHIBITED FOR POWER WASHING.
BUT AS A SECOND OPTION, UH, 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, UH, TRASH AND AND NEED OF CLEANING.
AND SO WE, UH, FULLY SUPPORT THESE, UH, UH, AMENDMENTS, UH, MID PILOT.
UH, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH C C D O.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS, UH, AFTER THE PILOT PROGRAM TO LOOK AT, UH, JUST AS A A NOTE, SANTA MONICA, NASHVILLE, NEW ORLEANS AND INDIANAPOLIS, ALL HAVE CURFEWS, UH, THAT REQUIRE SCOOTER REMOVAL, BASICALLY IN A DAWN TO DUSK, UM, UH, TIMEFRAME.
SO I HOPE YOU, UH, APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
JACK FINGER, FOLLOWED BY ANDRESS SANJA.
WELL, MAYOR NURENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M.
WHAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING THE SCOOTER PROGRAM? WHY DO WE ESTABLISH SCOOTERS HERE IN TOWN? WHY DID WE PUT 'EM HERE? WHY DID WE ALLOW THEM TO, UH, PROLIFERATE? DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE REASONS FOR IT? HMM.
WELL, YOU JUST, I GUESS ONE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS, WELL, WE WANTED TO GET PEOPLE, HAVE PEOPLE MOVE AROUND MORE EASILY, GET, UH, POINT A TO POINT B MORE IN MORE EFFICIENT MANNER.
CARS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR FIRST A CENTURY OR SO.
THEY, THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY WELL ESTABLISHED.
BUSES AND TROLLEYS DO THAT FOR US ALREADY, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WE HAVE TROLLEY ROUTES GOING EVERYWHERE.
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, UM, BUT SCOOTERS, ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, YOU SEE, SO, WELL, WE WANTED TO REDUCE THE AIR POLLUTION HERE IN TOWN.
YOU CERTAINLY DON'T GET ANY EXERCISE ON A SCOOTER.
YOU SIMPLY STAND ON IT AND IT TAKES YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
WELL, 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 AN AFTER, UH, SCENARIO? HMM.
UH, I DARE SAY JUST MAYBE IT HASN'T HAPPENED.
AND HAS ANYBODY DONE A COST BENEFIT STUDY ON THIS WHOLE THING? I MEAN, YES.
SCOOTERS ARE A NICE FEEL GOOD WAY TO TO, TO ESTABLISH A FEW OF THE GOALS THAT YOU SAY YOU WANT TO ESTABLISH FOR OUR TOWN.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, 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 HAD A, I'VE ALREADY HAD TWO NEAR MISSES ALREADY.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE, THE STATE WANTS TO LIMIT A FEW THINGS, 15 MILES AN HOUR.
WHY DO YOU NEED ANYTHING FASTER THAN FIVE MILES AN HOUR ON A SIDEWALK THAT MIGHT REDUCE THESE? AND ALSO, THE ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE ARE, DO, DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE'S
[01:10:01]
NO LICENSE PLATE ON THESE THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO, TO JOT DOWN, TELL THE POLICE OF A NEAR MISS.ANDRESS DUAR, FOLLOWED BY STEVEN MARTINEZ, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS MATTER MANAGER.
I'M ANDRESS DU WITH HEMISPHERE.
MY COMMENTS ARE ABOUT THE PROPOSED CORU PROGRAM AMENDMENTS AND THEIR EFFECT ON HEMISPHERE.
YANA GARDEN AT HEMISPHERE 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.
HEMISPHERE HAS BECOME WHERE SAN ANTONIO MEETS AS A DESIGNATED CITY PARK.
SCOOTERS ARE PROHIBITED AT HEMISPHERE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME VEHICLES ON CAMPUS AND MANY IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
SO THE PROPOSED HOURS OF OPERATION WORK WELL SINCE HEMISPHERE CLOSES FROM MIDNIGHT TO 5:00 AM WE'RE WORKING WITH C C D O TO DESIGNATE DROP OFF AREAS, TYPICALLY WHERE WE HAVE SWELL CYCLE SOIL CYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE, ALREADY AUTHORITY TO REMOVE AND REDEPLOY SCOOTERS, AND TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN AREAS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS, WHETHER FOR CONSTRUCTION OR MAINTENANCE WILL SERVE AS WELL.
REDUCING THE SPEED OF HEMISPHERE TO SPEED SAFETY, PEDESTRIANS WILL MINI MINIMIZE THE RISK OF CRASH, PARTICULARLY WITH CHILDREN PLAYING AT YANA GUANA GARDEN.
A SCOOTER NUISANCE AT HEMISPHERE IS TIRE MARKING GRAFFITI.
WHILE THIS IS LIMITED, LIMITED TO MISCHIEVOUS RENTERS, THE MOST SKILLED WRITERS OR ARTISTS ABLE TO DRAW UNDESIRABLE SUGGESTIVE GRAPHICS ONTO 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 TRAVINO, 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 VERY MUCH, MR. DUAR.
MR. MARTINEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN CHISHOLM.
MR. CURIOUS, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE TO, I'M GONNA BE SHORT.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MR. MINUTES.
ALRIGHT, FIRST OF ALL, UH, THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYBODY.
UM, I DO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF I'M KIND OF, UH, NOT POLISHED AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, MY SPEAKING ABILITIES AND WHATNOT.
BUT, UM, I DID WANNA MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ON THIS.
UH, AND THERE ARE THREE MAIN THINGS ABOUT THE, UH, THE ORDINANCE THAT I WANTED TO COMMENT ON.
UM, THE FIRST THING IS GOING TO BE, UH, DEPLOYING 'EM IN DESIGNATED AREAS.
SECOND THING IS REMOVING THE VEHICLES, UM, WITHOUT ANY WARNING.
AND THE THIRD THING IN REGARDS TO CURFEW, OKAY.
SO IN REGARDS TO THE FIRST THING, UM, FIRST THING, LEMME POINT OUT, I'M A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
I'M ALSO A CHARGER AS WELL TOO.
SO I DO PICK UP THE SCOOTERS IN THE EVENING AND ALSO DEPLOY 'EM IN THE MORNING.
UM, IN REGARDS TO DEPLOYING IN, IN DESIGNATED AREAS, I'M ALL FOR THAT.
I MEAN, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY, UM, EVEN THE ENTREPRENEUR SPIRIT COMES TO MY MIND, AND FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, MEAN Y'ALL COULD EVEN CHARGE TO, YOU KNOW, QUANTITIES HERE.
YOU KNOW, PRIME SPACE IS HERE, BUT THAT'S KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, BEYOND THE TOPIC RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UH, DEPLOYING IN DESIGNATED, IN DESIGNATED AREAS, ABSOLUTELY.
SECOND THING, UH, REMOVING THE VEHICLES, UM, 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, AND THE CHARGERS, THE PEOPLE WHO DEPLOY 'EM.
IT'S NOT SO MUCH OUR FAULT WHY THEY'RE CROWDING THE SIDEWALKS.
IT'S ALSO THE PUBLIC'S FAULT, UH, WHETHER THEY'RE RIDERS, UH, OR WHETHER THEY'RE JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
UM, AS I HAD MENTIONED, I LIVE DOWNTOWN AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, UM, FROM MY EXPERIENCES, UM, I'VE SEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY PUT 'EM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, IN THE MEDIAN.
UM, I'VE SEEN SOMEBODY WALK BY AND JUST KIND OF KNOCK 'EM ALL OVER.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHY PEOPLE DO THIS.
UH, JUST THE OTHER DAY I SAW PEOPLE FROM THE RIVER AUTHORITY TAKE 'EM OFF THEIR PROPERTY AND PUT 'EM ON THE SIDEWALK.
UM, I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, COUNTLESS OTHER EXAMPLES LIKE THAT FROM, UH, HOTEL WORKERS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE THAT THEY WANT.
THEY JUST DON'T WANT 'EM ON THEIR PROPERTY.
AND AS LONG AS THEY'RE OFF THE PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SATISFIED.
SO HOW THEY PUT 'EM OFF THE PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF A BOTTOM LINE, IS, UH, REMOVING THE VEHICLES WITHOUT WARRANT.
YOU KNOW, I KIND OF MORE AN ADVOCATE FOR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH PAYING RIDERS OR, OR EVEN THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL.
NOW, THE THIRD THING THAT I WANNA COMMENT ON, AND THIS IS KIND OF THE MAIN THING, AND THIS IS A CURFEW, UM, ASSEMBLY PUT, I THINK IT'S VERY JUVENILE.
I KIND OF HEAR MY, UH, MY MENTOR, WHICH IS LIKE A, HE'S A JEWISH MAN, 80 YEAR OLD JEWISH MAN.
BUT I KIND OF HEAR HIS WORDS KIND OF RINGING OUT TO ME WHEN I HEAR THE CURFEW IN THAT IS, WHAT ARE WE CHILDREN? AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, 11 TO SIX, YOU KNOW, MY FIRST QUESTION WAS WHY? AND MR. JACK'S KIND OF ANSWERED THAT.
HE MENTIONED THERE'S TWO MAIN THINGS.
THE FIRST THING IS MAINTENANCE.
NOW I GET THAT CENTRAL HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB KEEPING THE DOWNTOWN STREETS CLEAN.
[01:15:01]
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THEY COULD ALSO UTILIZE, SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO UTILIZE, UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY.I MEAN, THEY KNOW WHICH STREETS WHEN THEY'RE GONNA BE CLEANED AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD COMMUNICATE TO THAT WITH THE COMPANY.
AND THE COMPANY, I'M SURE, COULD SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO KEEP THOSE AREAS CLEAN ON THOSE SPECIFIC DAYS AND TIMES WHEN THEY'RE READY TO DEPLOY.
UM, SECOND THING, UM, LET ME FAST FORWARD.
SO, SECOND THING IS WORKERS, WORKERS USE 'EM.
LIKE I SAID, I, I LIVE DOWNTOWN YESTERDAY, WITHIN FIT, WITHIN 15 MINUTES, BETWEEN 11 AND 12, I SAW FIVE PEOPLE RIDING, WHETHER IT'S SOMEBODY FROM THE WORK.
THIRD THING IS THAT I ASKED Y'ALL BEFORE Y'ALL VOTE, Y'ALL WANNA BE A VIBRANT CITY WHERE YOU WANNA KEEP ON ATTRACTING A TALENT? OR ARE WE GONNA BE A CITY THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO BE LIKE, MAINTAIN, BE A SLEEPY WORKING CLASS CITY? OR ARE WE GONNA BE LIKE A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN THAT'S GONNA HAVE, THAT'S GONNA ATTRACT THE TALENT, YOU KNOW, ATTRACT THE PEOPLE WITH THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP HERE, ATTRACT PE, YOU KNOW, ATTRACT, ATTRACT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN AND ENJOY IT.
YOU KNOW? SO I JUST THANK YOU MR. MARTINEZ.
LISTEN, JOHN CHISHOLM, FOLLOWED BY CASEY WHITTINGTON.
UH, MY NAME IS JOHN CHISHOLM, AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY.
AND WE'RE, UH, 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 PART.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT JOHN AND C C D O HAVE OUTLINED TO YOU, UH, IN, IN INCLUDING SEEING MANY OF THESE VEHICLES, UH, MOTORIZED VEHICLES BEING RIDDEN ON TRAILS WHERE THEY ARE PROHIBITED.
UM, WE ARE SEEING, UH, AS, UH, WARREN POINTED OUT TIRE MARKINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE DEFACING SOME OF THE NEW TRAILS THAT WE'RE SEEING, ESPECIALLY IN SAN PEDRO, EXCUSE ME, IN THE, UH, SAN PEDRO CREEK CULTURE PARK.
UH, WE ARE HAVING TO SPEND SOME TIME FISHING SOME OF THESE VEHICLES OUT OF THE RIVERS AND CREEKS.
AND IT'S, IT'S NOT AS EASY AS YOU MIGHT THINK.
THESE VEHICLES ARE VERY HEAVY, AND THEY ARE TIME CONSUMING.
UM, WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEE THE, UH, STEPPED UP ENFORCEMENT OF THE, UH, RULES THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT JOHN'S HAS LAID OUT FOR YOU.
AND, UH, WE ARE VERY HAPPY, UM, TO SEE THESE, THESE AMENDMENTS AND ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO TOWARD THE END OF THE PROGRAM WHEN WE HAVE SOME THINGS, OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, SUCH AS MAYBE GEOFENCING TO, TO KEEP, TO KEEP THE, UH, THE VEHICLES, UH, OUT OF SOME OF THE PROHIBITED AREAS.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
CASEY WHITTINGTON, FOLLOWED BY TREVOR WHITNEY.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, JUST A QUICK POINT OF CLARIFICATION, I THINK IN YOUR BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS THAT, UH, BLUE DUCK IS LISTED AS HAVING OUR PERMIT IN REVIEW WHEN, UH, I JUST CONFIRMED WITH CITY STAFF THAT WE ARE FULLY PERMANENT TO OPERATE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, I REMEMBER GETTING MOST OF YOU ON YOUR FIRST SCOOTER HERE IN TOWN.
UH, MANY OF YOU THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY BACK THEN, UH, SAYING THAT THEY WERE 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.
UH, WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK INS FULL SUPPORT OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN R F P PROCESS INITIATED, UH, AT THE END OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.
WE THINK THAT HAVING JUST A COUPLE OF COMPANIES TO DEAL WITH, UH, IS MUCH EASIER ON STAFF AND FOR CITIZENS.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
BUT WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
TREVOR WHITNEY, FOLLOWED BY AARON RODRIGUEZ.
MORNING MAYOR NUREMBERG AND MEMBERS OF MY HOMETOWN CITY COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO.
UH, MY NAME IS TREVOR WHITNEY, AND I REPRESENT BLUE DUCK SCOOTERS AS WELL, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE, CASEY WHITTINGTON.
UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENTS AS WRITTEN WITH ONE SMALL CAVEAT.
I'LL SAY THAT MY DAY JOB, I GO TO CITIES ACROSS TEXAS.
EVERY CITY THAT I GO TO, EVERY COUNCIL THAT I SPEAK TO IS LOOKING AT YOU, SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE EXAMPLE ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS TECHNOLOGY INTO THEIR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, 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, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT FORGET THE WORKING MAN AND WORKING WOMAN WHO DO NOT WORK NINE TO FIVE.
SO WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN THINKING ABOUT, UH, ADOPTING MORE PERMANENT REGULATIONS, UH, REGARDING, UH, CURFEW IN THE CITY.
BUT FOR NOW, I THINK THE PILOT PROGRAM WILL SERVE AS A GOOD STARTING POINT TO COLLECT DATA.
AND AGAIN, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY REALLY QUICK, THANKS FOR THE, FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PILOT PROGRAM.
I WAS OVER HERE, UH, AND I SPOKE, UH, DURING THE, UH, THE FIRST, UM, PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE SCOOTERS.
SO I AM GRATEFUL THAT THERE IS A PILOT PROGRAM.
I ACTUALLY RODE ONE DOWN HERE ON THE WAY, UM, SINCE I
[01:20:01]
PARKED A LITTLE FURTHER, UH, OUT.UM, ANYWAY, UH, ONE THING THAT'S BEEN TOUCHED ON THAT'S ALSO A CONCERN TO ME IS THE CURFEW.
UH, IT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE PILOT PROGRAM, SO I HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED, UH, WHEN THE PILOT PROGRAM IS OVER.
BUT IT DOES SEEM, UH, AS, AS THE OTHER, UH, CITIZENS, UH, SAID A BIT JUVENILE TO PUT A, A CURFEW ON THE BIRD SCOOTERS.
UM, AND MAYBE I'M BEING A BIT EXTREME HERE, BUT IF WE PUT A CURFEW ON THE SCOOTERS, THEN WE SHOULD PROBABLY ALSO PUT A CURFEW ON CARS, UM, AS WELL, CARS AND MOTORCYCLES, UH, SINCE I IMAGINE THERE'S A LOT OF ACCIDENTS AT NIGHT, UM, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S REALLY A BIT EXTREME, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I THINK.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF, I THINK WHAT, WHAT THAT SAYS TO ME.
IF THERE'S A CURFEW ON THE SCOOTERS, THERE SHOULD BE A CURFEW ON EVERYTHING ELSE.
UM, SO THAT'S ONE ISSUE I'D LIKE TO BE REVISITED IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, UH, YEAH, SO I'M, I'M, THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY ISSUE I HAD WITH THIS PILOT PROGRAM.
UH, AND LIKE I SAID, I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE IT IN ACTION.
AND, UH, I HOPE TO SEE GOOD THINGS COME FROM THIS PROGRAM.
UH, 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, I HOPE EVERYONE WILL SEE THE BENEFIT.
AND FIRST, I JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, SPECIFICALLY WANT TO THANK, UH, ERIC WALSH, LORI HOUSTON, JOHN JACKS, UH, PAUL STALCUP AND CENTRO, AND ALL THE GREAT FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
UM, I WAS EVEN AT A, AT A, AN EVENT THE OTHER NIGHT, PUT ON BY A NEW GROUP CALLED READY SA GO.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HEARD A COMMENT JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, CARS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR, I DON'T KNOW, A HUNDRED YEARS OR SO.
AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT POINT TO MAKE, THAT THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN, THERE'S BEEN REQUIREMENTS IN THE PAST.
AND, UH, WHEN THEY FIRST CAME IN, THERE WAS, THERE WASN'T A FRAMEWORK.
I CAN, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHEN THE FIRST CARS DID SHOW UP, THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS PARKING LOTS.
AND, UH, AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO CREATE THAT FRAMEWORK.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE KIND OF GOING THROUGH HERE TODAY.
SO, UH, FIRST, YOU KNOW, JUST WANNA MENTION, 'CAUSE I THINK THIS WAS, THIS WAS, UH, THIS IS ABOUT DATA.
THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE CAN RESPOND.
AND SO I, I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO THANK ERIC WALSH AND, AND PAUL STALCUP FOR ADDRESSING ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS, WHICH WAS MAKING SURE THAT SCOOTERS IS AN ACTUAL COMPONENT IN THE 3 1 1 SA APP.
IT IS, IT IS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE, UM, UH, SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING IN AND PROVIDING A LOT OF USEFUL INFORMATION FOR US.
SO THANK YOU, PAULA, THANK YOU, ERIC, FOR, FOR DOING THAT, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THAT FEATURE.
AND IN FACT, THAT ON THAT, UH, THE OTHER NIGHT, I WAS ON THAT SAME, UH, UH, MEETING WITH BETO ANO, WHO, WHO HELPS TO CREATE THE, THE, THE PROGRAM THROUGH CITY FLAG FOR OUR 3 1 1 SA APP.
AND, UH, POINTED OUT THAT THE, THE, THE, THE FEATURE IN THE 3 1 1 SA APP IS THAT YOU CAN, UH, LOOK, GEOLOCATE, TAKE A PICTURE, BUT YOU ALSO CAN, CAN, UH, IDENTIFY WHICH COMPANY IT IS AND THE COMPANIES GET THAT SAME INFORMATION.
SO, ONCE AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DOWNLOAD THE 3 1 1 SA APP THAT IS SUCH A, SUCH AN IMPORTANT, UH, COMPONENT TO HOW WE AS A CITY CAN RESPOND TO A LOT OF YOUR CONCERNS.
SPEAKING OF WHICH, WE ALSO ADDED SIDEWALKS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I EXPECT A LOT OF, A LOT OF, UH, CONCERNS, UH, COMING, UH, BY THE WAY OF THAT CATEGORY AS WELL.
AND A QUICK LITTLE SHOUT OUT, I DID, I DID, UH, UH, DO A COUPLE OF, UH, THREE WANT TO SAY APPS, UH, UH, CONDITIONS OR, UM, UH, REPORTS.
AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN ADDRESSED WITHIN 24 HOURS.
UM, SO I WANT TO GET TO A COUPLE OF THESE, THESE, THESE POINTS HERE.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMPANIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND I, AND THEY'VE BEEN RESPONSIVE.
AND WHAT WE WANT HERE IS A BALANCED APPROACH.
BOTTOM LINE IS THE LIGHT TOUCH IS, HAS NOT WORKED OUT.
UM, WE, WE NEED A FRAMEWORK AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF SCOOTERS SPECIFICALLY IN DOWNTOWN, AND, UH, MANY OF THEM ARE, OR CAN CAUSE, UH, A LOT OF ISSUES FOR, FOR PEDESTRIANS WHO ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, THOSE THAT MIGHT CAUSE A, A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE OR AN ISSUE OF ACCESSIBILITY.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COMPANIES TO ADDRESS WHAT WE CONSIDER A BEHAVIORAL
[01:25:01]
ISSUE.UM, BUT ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I THINK IS HELPING, OR ONE OF THE THING KEY FEATURES THAT I, THAT THIS, THESE AMENDMENTS ARE, ARE HELPING WITH IS, IS SOMETHING I, WE DID ASK FOR IS THESE PARKING ZONES.
AGAIN, I GO, GO BACK TO THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE ONCE HAD WITH CARS.
UH, YOU KNOW, 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, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS OF PARKING ZONES AND, AND HOW WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.
AND THAT IT, IT'S NOT ABOUT CREATING A, A SINGLE PARKING ZONE IN FOR AN ENTIRE AREA, BUT RATHER HOW THE PARKING ZONES CAN ACTUALLY BE VERY FLEXIBLE AND JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, AND PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK THAT, THAT HELPS TO KEEP AT LEAST THE PARKED SCOOTERS FROM LITTERING SIDEWALKS OR, OR BECOMING A, A HAZARD ON A RAMP OR ON AN ENTRYWAY.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT, UM, A LITTLE OVER 30, UM, DESIGNATED PARKING, UM, ZONES, UM, IF YOU WILL, OR PARKING SPACES THAT WE'VE CREATED, UH, THROUGHOUT KIND OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO CREATE THOSE.
UM, THE WEATHER HAS NOT BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE WITH US THIS MONTH.
UM, IT'S BEEN A STRANGE, UH, FEBRUARY SO FAR, I THINK.
BUT, UM, WE'RE DOING REALLY KIND OF A LIGHTER, FASTER, CHEAPER APPROACH TO THIS.
UM, WE'RE USING A, WHAT I WOULD CALL A SEMI TEMPORARY KIND OF CHALK SPRAY PAINT.
UM, WE DON'T WANNA CREATE ANYTHING PERMANENT UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE IT'S WORKING, UM, AND FOR SURE THAT IT'S IN THE RIGHT LOCATION.
UM, SO WE'VE, WE'RE USING THAT TYPE OF PAIN.
WE'VE CREATED OUR OWN STENCILS.
UM, SO WE CAN QUICKLY KIND OF APPLY THEM IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
UM, AND THEY COULD BE USED DURING EVENTS.
UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, FOR FIESTA PARADE, WE'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT CREATING THESE ZONES AROUND THE PARADE ROUTE.
UM, THAT COULD BE EASILY PUT DOWN A DAY OR TWO BEFORE THE PARADE, AND THEN REMOVED A DAY OR TWO AFTER.
UM, 'CAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE PRETTY EASILY REMOVED, UM, WITH PRESSURE WASHING THEM.
UM, SO THE IDEA IS TO BE FLEXIBLE, UM, TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND OR CONTRACT, UM, THOSE SPACES WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED.
UM, BUT IT'S ABOUT IDENTIFYING THOSE LOCATIONS, UM, EITHER WHERE WE KNOW THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL CONFLICT, UM, WITH PEDESTRIANS, BECAUSE IT'S A HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AREA.
ARE WE NOT LOOKING AT PARKING SPACES? WE ARE.
AND SO WE'RE ALSO LOOKING, SO IT'S REALLY TWO THINGS.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S OFF STREET, SO IT'S WHERE THE SIDE WHERE WE HAVE WIDE SIDEWALKS, UM, THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A KIND OF AN ON SIDEWALK PARKING OPPORTUNITY.
BUT THEN, UM, ALSO IDENTIFYING, UM, PARKING SPACES ON STREET PARKING SPACES WHERE IT'S EITHER, TODAY'S EITHER A METER, IT MIGHT BE A COMMERCIAL LOADING ZONE AND CREATING MORE OF A, A CORRAL, IF YOU WILL, IN THOSE AREAS.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA, I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THESE.
WE GOT ALL OTHER THINGS ON OUR AGENDA, BUT I, I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS AND THERE'S WAYS TO, TO MAKE THESE PARKING ZONES WORK ALL OVER DOWNTOWN, ALL OVER THE CITY.
UH, I WANT TO THANK CENTRO AS WELL BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, I'VE ASKED FOR CENTRO TO BE VERY MUCH INVOLVED.
WE KNOW THAT, UH, THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT A LOT OF THE PUBLIC SPACES, BUT ALSO, UH, ALL THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN THAT CAN HELP PROVIDE SOME OF THESE RESIDUAL, UH, LOCATIONS, UH, THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN THAT COULD, THAT CAN AFFORD US HUNDREDS OF LOCATIONS FOR, FOR PARKING ZONES.
AND LASTLY, REGARDING PARKING ZONES, WE CANNOT FORGET NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND, UH, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT SPECIFICALLY, UM, THE, THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND DOWNTOWN AND, AND HOW, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE, THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS IS, IS CRITICAL.
THE, THE SIDEWALKS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN HOW THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS CHARACTER IS PROTECTED AND, AND ADDRESSED.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SOME IDEAS AND CREATIVE APPLICATIONS REGARDING PARKING ZONES.
AND, UH, IN FACT, I CALL IT THE NEW BIKE RACK, RIGHT? RIGHT.
THERE'S BEEN, THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENT KINDS OF DESIGNS FOR THIS, AND, AND I KNOW, AND I KNOW WE CAN GET HERE, GET THERE.
AND THERE'S, THE COMPANIES I THINK HAVE ALSO BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO THAT.
UM, THE NEXT PIECE IS, IS OBVIOUSLY THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE.
UH, TELL US WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE, OF THE VIOLET.
WELL, UM, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.
WE'VE, UM, ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR NEW, UM, PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN HIRED TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS, UH, SCOOTERS.
SO THAT WOULD BE PARKING REPORTING VIOLATIONS TO THE COMPANIES FOLLOWING UP AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE MAKING THOSE CORRECTIONS, BUT ALSO CORRECTING, UM, PARKING PROBLEMS, UM, OURSELVES PROACTIVELY.
UH, THAT DOESN'T MEAN ALL FOUR OFFICERS ARE ALL WORKING AT THE SAME TIME, UM, BUT IT, IT'S FOUR OFFICERS TO COVER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, UM, AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
THEY'RE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN, UM, WHERE WE SEE THE MOST, UM, SCOOTERS.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, UM,
[01:30:01]
IF, IF THEY SEE A PROBLEM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO IGNORE IT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED TO IT.UM, SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ENFORCING RIDING.
UM, PARK POLICE HAVE BEEN ENFORCING, RIDING AND PROHIBITED AREAS SUCH AS ALAMO PLAZA, UH, DOWN ON THE, UH, RIVERWALK.
UM, THEY'RE USE CURRENTLY USING SOME, UM, OVERTIME, UM, HOURS TO HAVE OFFICERS SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO THAT.
SO HOW DOES SOMEBODY REPORT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE, UH, PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE GIVEN, UM, UH, STORIES TO ME ABOUT, UH, PEOPLE BEING HIT BY MM-HMM.
IN FACT, OUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHER HERE GOT HIT.
UM, WHEN SOMEBODY IS, IS, IS HIT, AND AGAIN, I I, THIS IS, THIS TO ME IS A BEHAVIORAL ISSUE, RIGHT? BUT WHEN SOMEBODY, WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, WHAT, WHAT CAN THE COMMUNITY DO? HOW DOES A COMMUNITY RESPOND TO SOMEBODY BEING HIT AND THEY, AND, AND THE, THEY, THEY KEEP RIDING OFF ON THE SCOOTER? SURE.
WELL, IT, I WOULD EQUATE IT VERY SIMILAR TO MAYBE A CAR ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THAT ACCIDENT.
UM, IT MAY, MAY, BUT THERE'S NO LICENSE PLATE ON THESE SCOOTERS.
THERE'S A LICENSE PLATE ON A CAR, RIGHT? SO, I MEAN, I, I GUESS PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED AND I GOTTA ADMIT, I AM TOO SURE.
THERE'S NOT, UM, SO I WOULD, UM, I WOULD FIRST TRY TO IDENTIFY OBVIOUSLY WHO'S, WHO'S RIDING IT, UM, AND THEN THE, AND THEN WHAT COMPANY THAT SCOOTER BELONGS TO, UM, WHETHER IT'S, IT'S GREEN, IS IT BLACK AND WHITE? SO IT BELONGS TO BIRD.
UM, THE COMPANIES HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB ABOUT KIND OF DISTINGUISHING THEMSELVES FROM EACH OTHER, MAYBE A A AND THEY CAN IDENTIFY THE TYPE OR THE COMPANY THAT, UM, 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.
COULD THE 3 1 1 S A APP HELP WITH THAT, OR DO THEY JUST SIMPLY CALL POLICE? UH, I THINK IF IT'S AN ACCIDENT, I THINK THE FIRST DEPEND, AGAIN, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE A CALL TO NINE ONE ONE, OR IT MAY BE, IF IT'S NOT TOO BAD, IT MAY BE A CALL TO THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY MAYBE REPORT THAT TO 3 1 1.
UH, YOU MENTIONED SPEED LIMITS.
AND, YOU KNOW, DIFF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY REQUIRE DIFFERENT SPEED LIMITS.
AND SO I, I, I THINK, UH, IS, IS THERE, IS THERE NOT A WAY TO, TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT ZONES AND DIFFERENT SPEEDS IN THOSE ZONES DEPENDING ON, UH, WHAT, WHAT, UH, RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE, HOW WIDE THE SIDEWALKS ARE, HOW, HOW MANY BIKE LANES ARE AVAILABLE? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T WE WANT TO, TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT'S THE TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IN PLACE THAT ALLOWS FOR, UH, A SCOOTER TO, TO TRAVEL AT ITS MAX SPEED? YEAH, I, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS TO APPROACH THAT.
UM, THERE, THE SCOOTERS THEMSELVES COULD BE LIMITED.
UM, UM, THERE'D BE A GOVERNOR, IN OTHER WORDS, THAT WOULD PREVENT A MAXIMUM SPEED.
RIGHT NOW, THE, THE, 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, UH, DEVICE WILL BE LIMITED, UM, TO A CERTAIN SPEED.
UM, WE CAN TRY TO LEVERAGE THE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP WITH THAT.
SO IF YOU'RE IN A CERTAIN AREA, IT MAY BE IT THE USING THE, THE GEOFENCING AND THE, THE, UH, G P S BASED SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO SLOW THAT SPEED DOWN, UM, THAT CAN BE CHALLENGING JUST BECAUSE OF THE ACCURACY OF G P S.
SO, UM, IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD USE THAT FOR SIDEWALKS VERSUS STREETS.
THE PROBLEM IS THE G P S IS NOT ACCURATE ENOUGH TO KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE ON A SIDEWALK OR A STREET.
UM, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE REQUIREMENTS TO HAVE SPEED LIMITS ON SIDEWALKS VERSUS STREETS, JUST LIKE WE DO ON, ON STREETS THROUGHOUT TOWN.
UM, THE PROBLEM THEN BECOMES ENFORCEMENT.
HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE REGULATE SOMEONE TO A MAXIMUM SPEED ON A SIDEWALK VERSUS STREET? WELL, I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT, LOOK, LOOK AT ALL OF THIS.
WE ARE, AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK THE, THE CITY DOES PLAY A MAJOR ROLE BECAUSE IT IS PART OF SORT OF OUR SOCIAL CONTRACT THAT, THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY.
AND, UH, WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THERE, THERE IS, UH, MORE ACCESS OR MORE RESOURCES TO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAN OTHER AREAS.
UH, AS AN EXAMPLE, I MEAN, AND AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE OF THE BIG TOPICS THAT WAS EXPRESSED, UH, THE OTHER NIGHT AT THIS TRANSIT ON TAP WAS THE LACK OF BIKE LANES, RIGHT? AND, UM, AND HOW WE, WE MAKE ROOM FOR THAT IN, IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WE DO HAVE BIKE LANES IN, BUT WE ONLY HAVE BIKE LANES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR CITY.
AND HOW CAN WE, YOU KNOW, ADD TO THOSE RESOURCES AND, AND EXPAND THAT AVAILABILITY TO, TO, UH, MORE AREAS.
AND I GUESS PART OF WHAT I, I, I'M HOPEFUL OF IS THAT IN THIS DATA SHARING, WE CAN SEE WHERE, WHERE THERE IS MORE, UH, TRAFFIC THAT, THAT WE CAN USE THAT TO ALSO APPLY TO HOW WE'RE PLANNING OUR SIDEWALKS, HOW WE'RE PLANNING FOR BIKE LANES, HOW, HOW, UH, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MAY BE LACKING IN CERTAIN AREAS, AND PLAN FOR THAT SO THAT WE CAN BUILD THAT OUT ACCORDINGLY.
[01:35:01]
UH, IN FACT, I'VE SAID IT ALL ALONG.THE ONE GOOD THING THAT THESE SCOOTERS HAVE DONE IS IT'S REALLY SHOWN OUR WEAKNESS IN TERMS OF THAT MM-HMM.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE A SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN.
WE, I THINK WE DID HAVE A BIKE MASTER PLAN, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT APPLYING IT.
AND, UM, I, I THINK WE CAN, WE CAN WORK, UH, TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT THAT A LOT, UH, MORE THOUGHTFULLY AND, UH, AND PROVIDE A, A FRAMEWORK THAT THAT'S GONNA WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT I, I THINK IT'S LOUD AND CLEAR.
PEOPLE ARE, ARE, ARE SEEING THIS, UH, PEOPLE ARE USING THEM.
AND, UH, THERE ARE THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE FOR, UH, THE CITY TO RESPOND IN SOME, SOME WAY TO CREATE A FRAMEWORK THAT, THAT ALLOWS THERE TO BE A BALANCE FOR, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND, UH, THE USE, UH, OF OUR RESOURCES BY EVERYONE, WHETHER THEY'RE WALKING OR USING A SCOOTER OR RIDING A BIKE OR TRAVELING BY CAR.
UM, BUT WITH THAT, I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK, THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS, UH, WE'RE STILL IN A PILOT PROGRAM, UH, AND I BELIEVE THAT A PILOT PROGRAM SHOULD ALLOW TO ALLOW THERE TO BE SOME CHANGES WITHIN IT SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE THE, THE, THE FIRST HALF WITH THE SECOND HALF.
UM, WITH THAT, I, I, MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, JACK.
UH, I'M SORRY, JOHN, DID I SAY JACK? THAT'S OKAY.
ANYWAY, JACK IS A GOOD GAME FOR JOHN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK, EVEN IN DISTRICT 10.
YOU WOULD THINK THIS IS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, A, A CRISIS, YOU KNOW, OUR BIGGEST CRISIS HERE IN TOWN, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE UPSET ABOUT THESE, UH, SCOOTERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE, THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, THE OBSTRUCTIONS, THE PEOPLE GETTING HURT, ALL OF THAT COMES TOGETHER.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WHAT WHERE THE CONCERNS ARE RIGHT NOW.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M LOOKING AT IT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ANOTHER TECHNOLOGY JUST LIKE, UH, THIS DREADED CELL PHONE.
YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA, HOW ARE WE GONNA, UM, EMBRACE IT? HOW ARE WE GONNA IGNORE IT? ARE WE GONNA PUSH IT AWAY? YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY IN DOING A TEST AND, AND GATHERING THE DATA TO MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH ON THIS.
UM, BUT I WAS UP IN DC THIS LAST WEEK AND, AND SURE THEY HAVE WIDER SIDEWALKS, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF AMENITIES THERE THAT CATER TO THIS, BUT THEY WERE SPARINGLY OUT THERE, THERE, THERE, THEY WEREN'T CLUTTERED.
THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE NICELY NEATLY ORGANIZED.
AND, AND THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT OVER THERE IN DC.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TESTING THIS OUT, BUT HAVE WE REALLY BENCHMARKED WITH OTHER CITIES ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING? BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY, UH, STARTED BEFORE US.
THEY, THEY'VE GOT RULES AND REGULATIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU THAT HAVE, UH, UH, ADOPTED THAT HAVE EMBRACED 'EM? UH, HOW, HOW HAVE WE BENCHMARKED WITH OTHER CITIES? SURE.
SO WE'VE BEEN, UM, REALLY, SINCE WE KIND OF FIRST HEARD ABOUT, UH, THIS KIND OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, UM, ACROSS THE NATION.
A LOT OF CITIES HAVE TAKEN, YOU KNOW, VARIED APPROACHES.
UM, SOME OF THEM ON EITHER EXTREME.
UM, SOME CITIES OUTRIGHT PROHIBITED THEM.
UM, SOME CITIES TOOK A VERY, UM, KIND OF METERED, VERY CAUTIOUS CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, UM, AND MAYBE ONLY ALLOWED ONE COMPANY IN WITH A VERY FEW, UH, VEHICLES SO THEY COULD, UM, KIND OF EASE INTO IT, IF YOU WILL.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE TOOK THE APPROACH OF A LIGHT TOUCH.
UM, I THINK THE ADVANTAGES OF THAT, IF WE HAVE SEEN WHAT COULD BE, IF WE HAVE TOO MANY, WE KNOW, WE NOW KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE MULTIPLE, UM, SCOOTER COMPANIES OR, OR OUR VENDORS IN OUR, IN OUR, UM, CITY.
SO WE SEE THE CHALLENGES WITH, WITH, UM, WORKING WITH TOO MANY OR MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, THAN A FEW.
UM, SO I THINK IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT EACH CITY HAS DONE AND WHAT'S WORKED, UM, 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 ARE DEFINITELY, UM, ROUTINELY CONTACTING, TALKING TO OUR, OUR, UM, OUR KIND OF COLLEAGUES UP IN DALLAS AND AUSTIN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF US ARE DOING DIFFERENT STUDIES AND, AND SOME OF THE, UH, NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, TRANSPORTATION TYPE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING STUDIES TOO.
SO, UM, SHORT ANSWER, YES, WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
[01:40:01]
LOOKING AT THE FUTURE.I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT TECHNOLOGY IS.
UH, BUT IT'S, IT'LL BE OUT THERE, IT'LL BE COMING.
AND I GUESS FOR US AS A CITY, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT AS A, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT COMES, UM, CONTINUING THIS LIGHT TOUCH THING? BECAUSE I TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN WE JUST OPENED IT UP AND THAT'S WHAT CREATED A LOT OF THESE ISSUES RIGHT UP FRONT, RIGHT.
AND DID WE, THERE'S SOME LESSONS LEARNED THERE FOR US ON FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES THAT MIGHT BE COMING OUR WAY.
I, YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN, I THINK THE ADVANTAGE OF DOING THIS IS, IS THAT WE HAVE SEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, TO WHAT LEVEL IT COULD BE.
UM, SO WE'VE NOW EXPERIENCED IT, UM, AND WE HAVE THAT NOW.
WE ARE, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF KNOWING WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE THIS MANY, THIS MANY VEHICLES.
WHEREAS OPPOSED TO, UH, THE, THE CITIES THAT STARTED VERY CONSERVATIVELY, MAINLY WE ONLY ALLOWED ONE COMPANY WITH 250 VEHICLES.
UM, I THINK IT'S KIND OF TAKE THEM LONGER TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
UM, IT MAY BE THE PERCEPTION MAY BE IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE PAINFUL, UM, THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT, BUT I THINK WE'VE LEARNED VERY QUICKLY, UM, WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADAPT, UM, HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY PROS AND CONS OF DOING IT BOTH WAYS, I THINK.
UM, GOT A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS HERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAD MENTIONED, UH, GEOFENCING MM-HMM.
WHAT'S THE COST OF GEOFENCING? UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MAKING IT SOUND VERY EASY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN EASILY DO.
IS, IS THAT, UH, IS THAT COST PROHIBITIVE OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, UM, VERY CHEAP? UH, SEVERAL OF THE COMPANIES ARE AL ARE ALREADY DOING THAT.
UM, SO THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALREADY THERE.
IF, 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.
UM, SO THAT, OBVIOUSLY G P SS HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, AND SO THAT TECHNOLOGY IS NOT, UM, NEW.
UM, AND SOME OF THE COMPANIES ARE ALREADY DOING IT, AND SOME OF THE COMPANIES HAVE SAID WE, UM, WE WILL DO IT.
UM, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S, IT'S CROSS PROHIBITIVE FOR THEM TO DO IT.
I THINK IT, UM, FOR SURE FOR, FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, IT'S MUCH MORE COST EFFICIENT TO HAVE GEOFENCING THAN IT WOULD BE TO, TO PLACE STAFF IN THOSE LOCATIONS TO PREVENT, UM, INDIVIDUALS FROM RIDING IN THERE.
IF WE CAN JUST, IF THE VEHICLE DOESN'T WORK IN THAT AREA, THEN THERE'S NO REASON FOR ANYONE TO WRITE IT, UM, IN THAT AREA.
SO IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFICIENT FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE FOR SURE.
UM, YOU ALSO TOUCHED ON E M S SERVICES THAT WE'RE, WE'RE PROVIDING TO FOLKS THAT GET INJURED ON THESE ARE, ARE IS OUR E M S SYSTEM, UH, I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AMBULANCES, UH, RESPONDING, RIGHT? ARE, ARE THEY SENDING OUT BILLS LIKE THEY DO TO CAR ACCIDENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ON RECOVERING, UH, COST ON THOSE E M S SERVICES? SURE.
IT WOULD BE JUST THE SAME AS IF YOU WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER ACCIDENT.
IF, UM, EES E M SS RESPONDS AND, AND THE TRANSPORTATION IS REQUIRED, THEN THE, THEN THE, THE PATIENT WOULD BE BILLED FOR THAT.
AND THEN, UH, UH, TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, UH, IS THIS TO COVER OUR BASIC COST OR ARE WE GONNA BE MAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY OFF, OFF OF THESE, UH, OFF THESE COMPANIES? UH, I THINK RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS COST RECOVERING BECAUSE IT IS A, IT IS, IS A PERMIT, UM, THAT IS ISSUED.
SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE PERMIT FEE, UM, TO COVER THE APPROPRIATE COSTS AS IT RELATES TO STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE TIME, UM, ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER THAT'S PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OR, OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, IF WE NEED TO ADD MORE PARKING SPACES, SIGNAGE, UM, MARKETING AND, AND EDUCATION.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT IS THAT? UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT A, A MODEL REALLY THAT COST RECOVERS.
UM, POTENTIALLY IF WE DID AN R F P PROCESS, A COMPETITOR PROCESS, UM, WE COULD, WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT IT.
IS THERE A, A REVENUE, UM, SHARE PERHAPS LIKE WE DO SOME OTHER, UM, SOME OTHER CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.
BUT RIGHT NOW, UM, OUR FIRST, UH, UM, PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COST RECOVERING AND WE'RE NOT SUBSIDIZING THIS THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND OR ANY OTHER SOURCE.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR IS THAT WE'RE NOT SUBSIDIZING THIS PROGRAM OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN ON SLIDE NUMBER EIGHT, IF YOU COULD PULL THAT UP
[01:45:05]
EARLY, SURVEY RESULTS, SLIDE EIGHT.UM, YOU HAVE THESE PERCENTAGES OF WORK-BASED TRIPS, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL-BASED AND SO FORTH.
DO WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF MILES THAT HAVE BEEN TOTAL MILES THAT WE'VE, THEY'VE BEEN USED SO FAR? UH, I DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REQUEST FROM THE COMPANIES.
UM, WE KNOW AVERAGE TRIP DISTANCE IS 0.7 OF A MILE, BUT THAT'S, UM, TOTAL MILES.
I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THAT, BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY DATA THAT WE CAN GET.
I, I WOULD BE SURELY THEY HAVE THE NUMBER OF MILES, UH, THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE USING AND, AND YOU HAVE 'EM BROKEN OUT IN THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
I, I WANNA SEE HOW MANY MILES ARE BEING USED FOR EACH ONE OF THESE BREAKOUTS.
HOW MANY, HOW MANY MILES THAT WE'RE SAVING IN, IN CAR, CAR VEHICLES, ANY KIND OF OTHER TRANSPORTATION THAT, THAT 20%, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY MILES IS THAT? RIGHT.
AND, UH, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE SAVING IN IN THOSE AREAS? KEEPING CARS OR BUSES OR WHAT ELSE OFF THE ROAD? SO, UH, I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO TRACK THAT AS WELL.
SO NEXT TIME Y'ALL START PULLING THESE, UH, FIGURES TOGETHER, IF YOU COULD ADD THAT ON THERE AS WELL.
WE'LL, UM, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, ESSENTIALLY HAVE A SEPARATE SURVEY FOR JUST RIDERS.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO, UM, ASK THEM SOME VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE RIDING.
WE CAN ASK THEM ON AVERAGE HOW FAR IS A RIDE? UM, WE'LL WORK WITH THE COMPANIES.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THAT EXACT DATA FROM A TRIP.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY THROUGH SURVEYING RIDERS, I THINK WE CAN START TO, TO, UM, MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HOW FAR PEOPLE MAY OR MAY NOT BE.
WELL, EVEN, EVEN THESE PERCENTAGES AREN'T, AREN'T EXACT.
AND, AND IT'S TWO WEEK OLD SURVEY AND WE'LL HAVE IT OPEN FOR QUITE A WHILE.
SO, UM, AND AS WE REACH OUT TO MORE PEOPLE, UM, THESE RESULTS MAY, MAY START TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT TOO.
I, YEAH, I THINK THAT'S, UH, ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COMPANIES FOR BEING, UM, RECEPTIVE AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH US ON THIS AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL, UH, COMMENTS AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE END OF THIS PILOT TIME THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IN THE FUTURE.
SO, UH, JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE, YOU'RE WELCOME.
UH, RIGHT NOW I'M KIND OF RESERVING JUDGMENT ON, UH, THE OVERALL VALUE I THINK THIS PROVIDES TO OUR CITY.
I'M REALLY UNDECIDED AND I HAVE, UH, UH, GREAT APPREHENSION, UH, ABOUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND WHAT I HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT LET ME ASK, UH, A FEW QUESTIONS ON, UM, SLIDE NUMBER THREE.
I BELIEVE WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, A PUBLIC INPUT MEETING AND 150 PEOPLE ATTENDED.
WHEN WAS THAT? UH, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN IN, UM, AUGUST LAST SUMMER.
AND, 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, UM, UP UNTIL, UM, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A WEEK OR A FEW DAYS BEFORE.
UM, WE CAME TO COUNCIL, UM, BACK IN OCTOBER.
SO THOSE WERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND SO, UH, IS THAT PART OF THE SURVEY ON PAGE EIGHT? PAGE EIGHT IS ACTUALLY A, UM, NEW SURVEY.
SO WE, WE KIND OF GAUGE THE PUBLIC THROUGH A SURVEY, UM, RIGHT WHEN THE SCOOTERS FIRST STARTED LAUNCHING MM-HMM.
AND WE, WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT NOW THAT WE'VE, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED QUITE A BIT SINCE THEN, RIGHT? SO WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET FEEDBACK NOW, NOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED IT, THE ONE ON PAGE EIGHT, UH, 2,800 PLUS SURVEY RESPONSES, DO WE KNOW IF THOSE WERE USERS OF THE VEHICLES OR WAS IT JUST OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC TO REPLY IT? IT'S OPEN TO ANYONE, UM, TO TAKE THAT SURVEY.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS, UM, A MAJORITY OF THE, UM, RESPONDENTS HAVE NOT USED THE SCOOTERS.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SURVEY THAT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO, UM, THE RIDER.
SO THE SURVEY RIGHT NOW, UM, HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW YOU WRITE IT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE IF YOU HAVEN'T WRITTEN IT.
UM, BUT WE, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME MORE IN DEPTH QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT TO ASK OF RIDER.
[01:50:01]
WE'LL BE, UM, WORKING ON A KIND OF A SEPARATE SURVEY JUST FOR RIDER AS WELL.I THINK IT'D BE USEFUL TO KNOW, UH, 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, UH, ARE PROBABLY TOURISTS.
UH, THEY'RE USING FUN FOR EXERCISE RECREATIONAL TRIPS TO GET OUT TO A RESTAURANT, UH, OR ENTERTAINMENT.
I MEAN, THAT SOUNDS PREDOMINANTLY LIKE TOURISM, BUT IF WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, UH, USERS WHO ARE SAYING THAT OR JUST THE COMMUNITY, IT'S HARD FOR US TO REALLY TELL.
BUT I, 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 GONNA AFFECT MORE TOURISTS COMING OR FEWER TOURISTS COMING.
UH, BUT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO KNOW THAT.
UH, 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, THE RESPONDENTS, SHOULD THE CITY CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM OR SHOULD THE CITY BAN SCOOTERS THAT WASN'T ASKED? IS THAT RIGHT? DID WE WE DID NOT ASK THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION.
NO, WE, WE KIND OF ASKED MORE GENERALLY HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THEM? RIGHT.
DO YOU LIKE THEM? DO YOU NOT LIKE THEM? WELL, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THIS.
YOU'RE GOING TO, AGAIN, SURVEY PEOPLE MORE OR LESS NEAR THE END OF, OF THIS PROCESS.
I HOPE THAT WILL BE A, A QUESTION THAT YOU PUT IN THERE.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW AS A COUNCIL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND AND TO EXPRESS ITS VOICE ON THIS MATTER.
UM, ON, LET'S SEE, I THINK IT'S PAGE 10.
WE TALKED ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AND I NOTED THAT BASICALLY WE RECOGNIZED THROUGH THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM, BOTH, UH, ONLINE AND IN DIRECT CALLS, 1700 VIOLATIONS OF, OF CITY, I PRESUME DRIVING OR PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE VIOLATED.
IT'S, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PRETTY BROAD.
SOME, SOME OF THEM ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO A, A PROBLEM AT A LOCATION WITH MAYBE A SCOOTER PARKED IN.
SOME OF THEM ARE, ARE KIND OF MORE, UM, JUST COMPLAINTS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THE SCOOTERS IN GENERAL.
UM, SO THE, THE 3 1 1, UM, UM, REPORTS ARE JUST VARY DEPENDING ON, UM OKAY.
YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE SPECIFIC OR IT COULD BE JUST GENERALLY NOT IN FAVOR OF THEM.
WELL, 1700 COMPLAINTS WE'LL SAY.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WAS REPORTED DIRECTLY TO 3 1 1.
I KNOW PEOPLE WHO'VE COME TO ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I ALMOST GOT RUN OVER.
UH, THEY'RE BLOCKING THIS AND THAT.
THEY NEVER CALLED THREE ONE ONE.
THEY CALL THEIR CITY COUNCIL PERSON.
OR THEY TALK TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.
UH, SO WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE COULDN'T BE TWICE AS MANY, THREE TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY ARE INCONVENIENCED OR THAT THERE ARE VIOLATIONS GOING ON THAT, UH, WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
'CAUSE WE'RE ONLY FOLLOWING WHAT PEOPLE TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO DO AND THAT'S TO CONTACT 3 1 1.
AND I, I THINK YOU'D AGREE MOST, MOST PEOPLE, MANY PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE SLIGHTLY ANNOYED, THEY'RE NOT GONNA CALL 3 1 1.
BUT IT'S STILL, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOMEHOW OR THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
AT THE SAME TIME IN THIS, WE TALK ABOUT, UH, COSTS, UH, OR WE REALLY DON'T REFER TO COSTS, BUT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT PARKING ENFORCEMENT.
THE AMBASSADORS HAVE CORRECTED OVER 20,000 SCOOTERS.
AND I DON'T CARE IF IT TAKES 30 SECONDS OR A MINUTE TO GO AHEAD AND PICK UP A SCOOTER AND MOVE IT SOMEWHERE.
WE'VE HAD OUR EMPLOYEES DO SOMETHING RIGHT NEXT TO THAT, WE TALK ABOUT IMPOUNDMENTS 70.
AND THEN 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 SS A P D 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'VE 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 REAL COSTS TO US AND HOW DO WE, UH, TAKE CARE OF THOSE COSTS? 'CAUSE THOSE ARE CITIZENS TAX DOLLARS ON PAGE, UH, I THINK IT'S 11.
YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, REPORTED INJURIES OR YOU REPORTED THAT, YOU KNOW, AND TO ME, THE, 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 STREETS, THE SIDEWALKS, THE DRIVERS
[01:55:01]
WHO ARE USING THOSE STREETS, YOU'VE GOT INJURIES HERE REPORTED JUST THROUGH E M S, NEARLY A HUNDRED.AND PROBABLY SINCE YOU GOT THESE FIGURES OVER THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, MAYBE A HUNDRED, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO ROUND THAT OFF.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED TO E M S.
UH, 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, UH, ANYTHING, BUT THEY DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL, DIDN'T EVEN CALL E M S, BUT THEY WERE IN INCONVENIENCED, MAYBE SLIGHTLY INJURED.
MAYBE WHAT THEY DID WAS WENT HOME AND, UH, VISITED THEIR DOCTOR.
'CAUSE NOW THEY'VE, UH, SOME KIND OF AN INJURY THAT'S STARTING, STARTING TO BOTHER THEM.
MAYBE THEY WENT TO A HOSPITAL ON THEIR OWN 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANNA CALL E M S BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID THEY'D PAY A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE SERVICE.
HAVE WE CONTACTED THE HOSPITALS AND ASKED THEM TO REPORT BACK TO US THE NUMBER OF INJURIES THEY'VE RECEIVED RELATED TO SCOOTERS? UH, WE HAVE NOT YET.
BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE COULD CONSIDER IS PARTNERING WITH SOME OF OUR HEALTH AGENCIES, MAYBE WITH A, A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF WE CAN START COLLECTING THAT DATA, UM, TO TRY TO GET A BETTER PICTURE OF, OF UH, REALLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR, OR WHAT THE, UM, HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM.
SO THERE COULD HAVE BEEN TWO OR THREE OR 400 INJURIES.
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 A GROSS INCONVENIENCE UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE GOING UN UNREPORTED.
SO I THINK, AND I, 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, OF THE WHOLE, UH, PROCESS.
UM, AND ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS ON THE AMENDMENTS.
UM, 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? UH, 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.
AND SO THAT'S, AS, UH, WE'VE PROGRESSED THROUGH THE PILOT, UM, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS STARTED TO, TO COLLECT MORE, UM, INFORMATION AROUND, UM, ACCIDENTS.
UM, TIME, TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT.
I THINK SOME OF IT, IT WOULD BE, UM, KIND OF DOING, YOU KNOW, POST INTERVIEWS WITH INDIVIDUALS OR WHERE, WHO WERE IN ACCIDENTS TO 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? UM, OR IS IT, YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE? DOES IT INVOLVE OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS? THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRACKING THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SO MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, WE HAVE THAT DATA AND THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE THOSE, UH, INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE SOMEBODY SHOULD BE ALLOWED OR NOT ALLOWED TO RIDE.
AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS.
UH, I THINK MOST OF US UNDERSTAND THAT THE GREATEST USE RIGHT NOW IS IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN, UH, WHERE MANY TOURISTS OR PEOPLE MAY BE GOING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA CAN BENEFIT FROM THOSE.
UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE, UH, STARTING, PROLIFERATE UP AROUND THE MEDICAL CENTER MM-HMM.
AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO GEOFENCING, I HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SET SOME PARAMETERS THAT, UH, WILL KIND OF CONTAIN THESE IN AREAS WHERE THEY'RE BEST SUITED.
I KNOW PEOPLE IN, IN MY, UH, DISTRICT SENT ME A PETITION SAYING THEY DON'T WANT THEM IN OUR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, THEY CONSIDER THEM A HAZARD.
SO, UH, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT.
AND AS WE GO FORWARD, UM, MAINTAINING A PROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHERE THOSE VEHICLES MAY BE, UH, 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, AND CREATE AN R F P TO FIND, UH, COMPANIES THAT WOULD CONTINUE WITH THIS SERVICE.
AND, UH, LIMITING THAT, I DON'T THINK WE NEED FIVE OR SIX OR SEVEN.
UH, I WOULD THINK THAT AN R F P THAT MIGHT QUALIFY TWO TOP PROVIDERS WOULD BE IN ORDER AN R F P THAT MIGHT LIMIT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SCOOTERS THAT THEY COULD BRING INTO THE CITY
[02:00:01]
TO 5,000 INSTEAD OF 14,000.UH, I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER AS WELL AS, UH, COST AND REVENUE SHARING, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, UH, JUST FROM LOOKING AT WHAT I SEE, THE COST IS GOING TO BE OR COULD BE MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO PAY RIGHT NOW.
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 GOTTA MAINTAIN THE SIDEWALKS, WE'VE GOTTA MAINTAIN THE STREETS.
WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN E M S SERVICES.
E M S MAY COME OUT AND HELP SOMEBODY, BUT IF THEY DON'T TRANSPORT THEM, THERE IS NO CHARGE, RIGHT? 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, UH, WITH THIS FORM OF, UH, TRANSPORTATION.
SO THOSE ARE THE COMMENTS AND THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
SO I JUST, I JUST WANNA MAKE SOME, UH, STATEMENTS ABOUT WHY DON'T SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE AND WHY DON'T SUPPORT, OR RATHER, NOT THIS ORDINANCE, BUT THIS PILOT AND WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TODAY.
YOU KNOW, I STATED SOME OF MY, UH, REASONS AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT I ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, UH, YESTERDAY WE HAD OUR BRIEFING ON CONNECT ESSAY.
I WAS REVIEWING SOME OF THE CONNECT SA HERE ON, ON, UH, ON MY COMPUTER.
AND OF THE FIVE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN CONNECT SA, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO REQUIRE SOME TYPE OF MICRO MOBILITY, WHETHER THAT'S WALKING, WHETHER IT'S USING A BIKE, UH, WHETHER IT'S USING A SCOOTER, YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE TO COVER THAT FIRST TO LAST MILE.
SO IN THE THINGS THAT WE, WE COVERED YESTERDAY IN CONNECT SA, YOU HAVE AN A R T, WHICH IS JUST A, BASICALLY A GLORIFIED BUS.
UM, AND THEN THERE WAS QUITE A BIT ON, ON CARS AND HIGHWAYS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ITS OWN STILL ITS OWN THING.
UH, BUT THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIDEWALKS, TRAILS, UH, AND MICRO MOBILITY.
THOSE WERE THE FIVE COMPONENTS.
AND THEN THE ONE COMPONENT THAT HAD TO DO WITH, UH, WITH HIGHWAYS.
AND SO I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS REALLY A STEP BACKWARDS.
IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT CONNECT SA, I THINK WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THAT IS GONNA HAVE TO BE MAKING ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION SAFE AND AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LEARN TO SHARE THE ROAD.
WE HAVE TO LEARN TO ALLOW FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF WAYS TO GET AROUND LATER.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT A PROJECT AT ALASAN, UH, AND 25% OF ALL THE RESIDENTS AT ALASAN EXCLUSIVELY USE VIA.
SO, UH, ABOUT 2000 PEOPLE LIVE THERE.
UM, MOST OF THEM HAVE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR SOME TYPE OF MICRO MOBILITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC IS IN TERMS OF, UM, UH, OF INCOME.
IS THAT STATED AT ALL IN YOUR PRESENTATION? UH, WE DO ASK SOME, UM, DEMOGRAPHIC, UM, QUESTIONS.
I, I DON'T RECALL IF THAT'S ONE OR NOT.
BUT WE'LL, UH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE CURIOUS.
UM, MY SENSE IS THAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE REALLY LOW INCOMES ARE PROBABLY NOT USING IT BECAUSE IT DOES REQUIRE A CREDIT CARD.
BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE, UH, TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE TO FIND AN APP OR SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN PRELOAD, OR MAYBE IT EXISTS ALREADY.
UM, I SUSPECT THAT DOES IN FACT, YOU KNOW, UM, JUMP, UH, LIKE AN UBER, UH, IS PART OF UBER, AND YOU CAN GO JUST TO THAT ONE APP AND SELECT WHATEVER RIDE YOU NEED MM-HMM.
UM, SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT WOULD BE ONE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE OF LIMITED MEANS ARE TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT AND THEN HAVING TO EITHER WALK OR USE SOME TYPE OF ALTERNATE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION.
UM, AND, UH, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE GOING TO BE A PROGRESSIVE CITY, WE HAVE TO BE MORE PROGRESSIVE ABOUT HOW WE ACCEPT NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
I RECOGNIZE THAT PERHAPS THIS HAS, HAS NOT BEEN A REAL SMOOTH TRANSITION, BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE WE ALLOWED FOR THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY AND THEN DIDN'T MAKE ANY OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS.
SO I THINK IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS GIVING, UH, DESIGNATED PARKING SPACES, UH, 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.
UH, 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, UH, ALL OF THOSE EXISTING.
UM, AND THIS IS JUST REGULAR MAINTENANCE.
SO WHY WOULDN'T WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD SPACES FOR ALL TYPES OF MOBILITY? UM, EVEN YOUR QUESTION HERE ABOUT YOUR SURVEY ABOUT EARLY RESULTS AND THE NUMBER RUN REASON FOR RIDING AND USING DOCKLESS VEHICLES.
IF YOU ASK PEOPLE THAT WERE DRIVING, YOU'D PROBABLY GET VERY
[02:05:01]
SIMILAR, UH, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THE FUN AND EXERCISE.UH, 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.
UM, I SUSPECT YOUNG PEOPLE STILL DO THAT.
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, UH, WHEN YOU HAD YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WERE JUST GOING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER FOR FUN, UH, MEETING FRIENDS AND THEN MOVING ALONG.
UM, I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE APPLIED THE SAME STANDARD TO PRIVATE AUTOMOBILES, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? AND, AND MAYBE THAT SOUNDS SORT OF RIDICULOUS.
WELL, OF COURSE WE WOULDN'T THAT DO THAT TO PRIVATE AUTOMOBILES.
WELL, THEN WHY WOULDN'T IT? WE DO IT TO OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
UH, AND THEN LIMIT WHEN YOU CAN MOVE AROUND AND LIMIT WHERE YOU, UM, WHERE YOU CAN, UM, UH, WHAT TIME OF DAY, UH, SO YOU CAN MOVE AROUND.
AND SO I JUST, I FEEL THAT THIS IS REALLY A STEP BACKWARDS.
UH, RATHER THAN MAKING LIMITATIONS AND MAKING RESTRICTIONS, WE COULD JUST MOVE QUICKER TO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE CAN DO.
AND THAT IS PARKING FOR THE DESIGNATED SPACES, UM, BIKE LANE, UH, MULTI-USE LANES, UH, WHERE THEY CAN, UM, ALREADY BE IMPLEMENTED.
UH, AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING THEM SAFE, UH, AS WE WOULD FOR ANY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO PEOPLE THAT ARE CYCLISTS, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO ABIDE THE SAME RULES AS, UH, AUTOMOBILE.
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 WOULD SIGNAL TURNS.
UM, IT WOULD BE THE SAME KIND OF, UH, UH, OF, OF MOBILITY.
UH, SO I, UH, I DON'T SUPPORT, UM, THIS TODAY.
AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO ADVANCING ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO REALLY IMPLEMENT CONNECT SA IF WE'RE NOT EVEN WILLING TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE, UH, ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT, THAT A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, WEIGHED IN ON THIS, AND I APPRECIATE, AND MANY OF THE CITIZENS, UH, OF COURSE DID AS WELL.
UM, BUT, UH, I DON'T SUPPORT THIS TODAY.
AND, UM, WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HOW, UH, THE FEEDBACK, UM, COMES.
I KNOW THAT I ASKED SOME FOR SOME SPECIFIC INFORMATION, LIKE, UH, WHAT IS THE AVERAGE INCOME OF PEOPLE THAT ARE USING IT? UH, ALSO, UM, IF IT'S TAKING THE PLACE OF CAR TRIPS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT'S ALREADY ON THE TABLE.
UM, AND, UM, I THINK SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED.
SO, UM, ALSO EVEN WITH AUTOMOBILES, WHEN YOU SEE LIKE THE PERCENTAGE OF ACCIDENTS OR COLLISIONS THAT OCCUR, 40% OF THEM OCCURRING BETWEEN 11 AND, UH, 6:00 AM IN THE MORNING, I THINK YOU HAVE THE SAME, UH, PERCENTAGE FOR AUTOMOBILES.
SO THEN, UH, OR IT COULD EVEN BE HIGHER.
UH, A LOT OF THE COLLISIONS OCCUR ALSO, UH, IN THE EVENINGS.
SO, UM, I WILL, UH, I'LL, I DUNNO IF YOU HAVE ANY, DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT NO, I WAS JUST GONNA ADD THAT, UM, ART AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD SORT OF HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, THESE IN CONTEXT WITH OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO WE'RE NOT JUST SINGLING OUT SCOOTERS, BUT HOW ARE WE MOVING, UM, WHAT'S THE INFORMATION COMPARED TO OTHER, UM, VEHICLES AND, AND, AND LOOKING AT IT MORE HOLISTICALLY AND COMPREHENSIVELY.
UH, THANKS, UH, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ, COUNCILWOMAN GRA.
UM, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ FOR BRINGING UP THAT, UM, INFORMATION.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT FOR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MO, UH, MICRO MOBILITY AND CONNECT SA, HOW WILL THESE POTENTIAL, UM, AMENDMENTS REQUIREMENTS OR WHATEVER WE MOVE FORWARD WITH AFTER THIS PILOT PROGRAM, HOW DO THEY WORK TOGETHER WITH MICRO MOBILITY IN GENERAL WITH OUR CONNECT SA PLAN? GREAT POINT TO BRING UP.
UM, 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.
UM, I DO HAVE, UH, QUESTIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS WHOLE CURFEW THING.
UM, MY CON 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 ALA MOBILE BECAUSE THEY WERE PICKED UP AND TAKEN AWAY.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LESS, 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.
UM, AND THEN, UM, ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INCREASED PERMIT FEESS, UH, WELL, ONE, I AM GOING TO BE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN GEO-FENCE AROUND, LIKE GOING INTO THE MISSION REACH AND OTHER AREAS AFTER THE PILOT PROGRAM, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW IT
[02:10:01]
COULD HELP OR, OR HINDER, UM, AND THE INCREASE IN PERMIT FEES AND APPLICATION FEES.YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAVING A LARGE CONVERSATION, I DON'T SEE MARIA GOMEZ HERE, BUT WE'RE HAVING A LARGE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, FUNDING, DIFFERENT CAPACITIES OF FUNDING HOMELESSNESS, UM, INITIATIVES.
MAYBE LOOKING AT THESE PERMIT FEES OF OUR DOCKLESS VEHICLES AND APPLICATION FEES.
MAYBE THAT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, UH, PUTTING SOME KIND OF DOLLARS INTO THIS HOMELESS FUNDING AS WELL.
UM, SO THOSE ARE ALL OF MY COMMENTS THAT I'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
AND CHERYL, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? OH, JUST TO SAY, MAYOR, WE DID MEET WITH, AND HAVE HAD THREE MEETINGS ALREADY WITH REGARD TO THE HOMELESS FUNDING STRATEGY.
AND, UH, THAT WAS COUNCILWOMAN ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WAS MADE YESTERDAY.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.
UH, NONETHELESS, IT IS BEING CONSIDERED.
UM, JOHN AND, AND LORI AND, AND CHERYL.
MY, MY CONSTITUENTS HATE THIS.
UM, AND I HAVE YET TO FIND A SINGLE CONSTITUENT OUT THERE WHO'S SAID TO ME, HEY, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S A GREAT IDEA? MORE SCOOTERS, UH, OR ANY SCOOTERS? AND THEY JUST HATE IT.
UM, AND, AND AT THE END OF THE, I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY IRONIC BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN THE, 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.
UM, AND SO I, THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS FILLED WITH IRONIES THAT I, I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO MENTION.
UM, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE WITH MY CONSTITUENTS START OFF WITH, OH, I DON'T LIKE 'EM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UNSAFE.
I CAN'T TRAVERSE MY, MY SIDEWALKS.
I CAN'T GET OUTTA MY NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I HAD, I HAD A FEW DAYS AGO, ONE OF THE MOST HONEST CONVERSATIONS WITH ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO CALLED ME, AND THE MAN WAS JUST APOPLECTIC WITH RAGE.
AND AFTER HE VENTED FOR A LONG TIME, I SAT DOWN AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? AND HE SAYS, LOOK, I CAN'T GET OUTTA MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I I, WHEN I WALKED DOWN THE SIDEWALK, I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, UH, WALK AROUND THESE THINGS.
LIKE, SERIOUSLY, YOU LITERALLY CAN'T GET OUTTA YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND HE WAS LIKE, WELL, NO, NO, NO, NO, BUT I MEAN, IF I WERE TO TRY, I COULDN'T GET OUTTA MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND HE GOES, AND THEN THE WHEELCHAIR, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T GET PAST IT ON MY WHEELCHAIR.
AND I SAID, SO YOU'RE IN A WHEELCHAIR? HE GOES, NO, BUT IF I WAS ON 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.
AND I WAS LIKE, HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN ONE? WELL, OF COURSE NOT, BECAUSE I'M 68 AND I CAN'T RIDE, YOU KNOW, SCOOTERS AND ALL THAT.
AND SO A LOT OF THESE ARE, UM, EMOTIONS, RIGHT? AND, UH, SO I FINALLY SAID, LOOK, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S REALLY DRILL DOWN 'CAUSE I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYBODY EXPRESS WHAT MAKES THEM REALLY MAD ABOUT THIS.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE ATTRACTIVE.
THEY'RE UGLY, AND SOMEBODY IS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF MY SIDEWALKS.
AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I I, THAT I UNDERSTAND, WHICH IS WHY, UM, JOHN AND LORI, I, I, I REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US DIVE DOWN DEEP INTO THE CONCESSION MODEL.
I MEAN, WE COULD EASILY JUST SAY ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY WHO'S GOT SOMETHING TO FLOAT ON THAT WATER CAN, YOU KNOW, KNOCK YOURSELF OUT, MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT WE DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S CHAOS.
UH, WE DON'T DO THAT AT THE AIRPORT EITHER.
AND SO WE DO A CONCESSION AGREEMENT, RIGHT? AND WE DO IT WITH A RIVER WALK, UH, I'M SORRY, WE DO IT WITH THE, UH, THE TOWER OF THE AMERICAS, RIGHT? AND OUR CONVENTION CENTER.
AND SO FOR THOSE ASSETS THAT TAXPAYERS, UM, INVEST IN, I, I DO THINK IT'S REASONABLE FOR THEM TO EXPECT SOME KIND OF RETURN WHEN SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, IS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY.
UM, AND SO I, I, I WANNA REMIND FOLKS THAT EVEN U T S A IS CONSIDERING A CONCESSION MODEL.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS AROUND AND AN INNOVATIVE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM LIKE UT, THEY'RE CONSIDERING A CONCESSION MODEL STATEWIDE.
UM, THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE ALLERGIC TO THAT.
LASTLY, UM, I, I DO WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, UH, NO, NOT LASTLY.
UH, THIS IS NOT JOHN JACK'S FAULT, AND THIS IS NOT LORI HOUSTON'S FAULT OR ANY STAFF'S FAULT.
WE ARE THE ONES WHO ASK STAFF TO TAKE THE LIGHT TOUCH MODEL, UH, OUT AND TO USE THE LIGHT TOUCH.
UH, AND WHEN CONSTITUENTS ARE ANGRY, THEY, THEY SHOULD BE ANGRY AT COUNCIL, UH, BECAUSE THE BUCK STOPS HERE, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO GIVE YOU CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO PROCEED.
AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE HEARING CONSENSUS UP HERE AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE MODIFICATIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
UM, AND THEN I KEEP HEARING, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, THERE'S SOME COGNITIVE DISSONANCE BETWEEN THE
[02:15:01]
FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INNOVATION AND TECH COMMITTEE, AND HERE YOU ARE RAILING AGAINST, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY, THIS DISRUPTIVE, YOU KNOW, INDUSTRY.UM, YEAH, I AM, RIGHT? INNOVATION, JUST BECAUSE IT'S INNOVATIVE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT'S GOOD OR THAT IT WORKS, RIGHT? AND I MEAN, WE'VE ALL GOT, WE ALL REMEMBER PRODUCTS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SUPER INNOVATIVE, BUT THAT WE HATE, UM, CAR ALARMS AND WE DON'T REMEMBER HOW MUCH WE HATED THOSE.
AND YET, A A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THEM WEBPAGE, POPUPS, ROBOCALLS, UM, VAPING, E-CIGARETTES, SUPER INNOVATIVE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE USE 'EM, BUT THEY'RE HORRIBLE.
UM, FIDGET SPINNERS, UH, THE THIGH MASTER, JOHN, YOU REMEMBER THE THIGH MASTER, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND SO, UM, SO, UH, WITH THAT, I'LL TELL YOU, I REJECT THE ARGUMENT THAT JUST BECAUSE THIS IS DISRUPTIVE AND NEW AND TECH AND THERE'S AN APPE, YOU KNOW, UH, ATTACHED TO IT, THAT SOMEHOW THIS NEEDS TO, YOU KNOW, THAT WE JUST NEED TO LET THE MARKET PLAY, YOU KNOW, ALLOW THIS TO PLAY OUT ON OUR STREETS.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, NOVEL ARGUMENT.
IT'S AN ARGUMENT AND IT'S A FALLACY.
AND SO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, UH, CONCESSION MODEL, AND PLEASE GET BACK TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS FAR AS THE VIABILITY AND, UH, WHERE ELSE, AND HOW ELSE IS THIS PLAYING OUT? THANKS.
UH, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSAL.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS.
UH, JOHN, I APPRECIATE THAT, UH, YOU'VE PRETTY MUCH GOTTEN EVERYTHING READY TO GO FOR THE MOMENT THAT, THAT WE APPROVE THIS.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT ABOUT 20% OR 21% OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS USED THE SCOOTERS FOR WORK-BASED TRIPS.
UM, IN, IN YOUR SURVEY YOU PUT UP, UH, YES.
UM, I ALSO HAD SOME CORRESPONDENCE TO MY OFFICE ABOUT THAT, ABOUT THE CONCERN REGARDING THE CURFEW MM-HMM.
SO, UH, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
UM, I DO UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO, TO KEEP THE SIDEWALKS CLEAN.
UM, YOU KNOW, IN AREAS WHERE THE STREETS ARE SWEPT IN OTHER CITIES, WHEN THEY SWEEP STREETS AND THEY HAVE TO MOVE THE CARS OUT OF THE WAY, THERE'S BASICALLY, UH, THEY DO IT BY LOCATION, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT, RIGHT.
THEY'RE NOT SWEEPING ALL THE STREETS EVERY NIGHT.
UM, BUT THEY ROTATE WHERE THEY'RE, WHERE THEY'RE BEING SWEPT.
SO I'M WONDERING IF THAT WAS A CONSIDERATION.
IT, IT WAS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE ASKED, SEVERAL OF THE COMPANIES SUGGESTED THAT, UM, SOME OF THE RIDERS MAY BE USING THAT TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.
UM, IF THEY WORK MAYBE A LATE SHIFT, UM, OR A NIGHT SHIFT, UM, WE ASK FOR THAT DATA, THAT INFORMATION WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT.
UM, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, UM, FOR US TO CONSIDER, UM, THAT WE TRY TO DETERMINE HOW ARE THEY BEING USED, WHO'S USING THEM, AND WHY.
UM, SO WE KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, IS IT TRULY, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE, ARE WORKING LATE OR IS IT PEOPLE WHO ARE MAYBE, UM, JUST RIDING AROUND LATE AT NIGHT? UM, SO I, I THINK WHAT WE NEED, AND MY ANSWER TO THAT, I THINK IS WE NEED MORE INFORMATION TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.
SO I, I THINK THE DATA'S ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT, BUT I 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, UH, A BUS LINE RIGHT.
SO I WOULD, UM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AFTER THE END OF THE PILOT PHASE.
UH, TO, TO ROTATE THE, THE LOCATIONS, RIGHT.
UM, AFTER WE GO INTO THAT PHASE, I, I WOULD PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT FIRMER ON THAT AND SAY, YOU WON'T HAVE MY SUPPORT UNLESS BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
I THINK THE NEXT THREE MONTHS WILL BE A LOT OF INFORMATION WILL BE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE STARTING OFF, THE INFORMATION IS KIND OF FLOWING TO US SLOWLY.
SEVERAL OF THE COMPANIES WERE JUST STARTING.
SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T, HADN'T ENTERED THE MARKET YET.
UM, 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.
UM, SO I THINK, UM, IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME MORE BETTER INFORMED DECISIONS.
BUT YEAH, I DO, UH, I THINK MR. WHITNEY WAS CORRECT SAYING IT WAS AN ISSUE OF, OF EQUITY.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, WE WOULDN'T PUT A CURFEW ON, ON OTHER VEHICLES.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS WE JUST HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHERE TO PARK ALL OF THESE.
RIGHT? I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE, THE CRUX OF, OF THE ISSUE.
UM, UH, SO YOU SHOWED A PICTURE OF THE, ON THE RIVER WALK, THE SIGNAGE MM-HMM.
AND I KNOW I, UH, BROUGHT THIS UP TO YOU BEFORE WHERE THERE WAS A LITTLE, UM, WHAT LOOKED LIKE A YARD SIGN AND THE LITTLE SCOOTER WAS WAY AT THE BOTTOM.
UM, I, I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND TESTING SOME OF THESE, BECAUSE FROM HERE, IT
[02:20:01]
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE INVITING SCOOTERS ONTO THAT PATH.UM, IF YOU DON'T REALLY READ, UH, INTO THE, INTO THE WHAT'S IN THE RIBBON, AND OF COURSE, IF YOU'RE MOVING AT 10 MILES AN HOUR, YOU, YOU CERTAINLY WILL NOT READ WHAT'S IN THAT RIBBON.
AND WE'VE, UM, A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES ARE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.
RIVER AUTHORITY HAS SOME OF THEIR OWN SIGNAGE, SO WE'VE, UM, H PARK HAS DONE SOME THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO MAYBE TRY TO STANDARDIZE THAT SO IT'S, UM, RECOGNIZABLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING NOT TO DO A, UH, YOU KNOW, A CIRCLE WITH A CROSS THROUGH IT THAT LOOKED VERY NEGATIVE.
AND WE DID ALL THIS KIND OF IN A TEMPORARY WAY, SO WE WEREN'T, UM, USING TOO MUCH RESOURCES, UM, JUST TESTING IT TO SEE IF IT WOULD WORK OR NOT.
YEAH, I'M NOT SURE THAT ONE PASSES THE, THE TEST.
UM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF, OF THE DATA, UM, 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, UH, IN TERMS OF THE MILES OR THE START AND THE END LOCATIONS, UM, I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RETICENCE IN SHARING THAT.
AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A CONSIDERATION WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE POSSIBLY THE, WHAT DID YOU CALL IT? IT STARTS WITH A C, OUR HOBBY.
THE, THE, YEAH, THE R F P, THE CONCESSION CONCESSIONARY, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW ABLE ARE COMPANIES TO SHARE THE DATA, HOW, UH, HOW COLLABORATIVE AND COOPERATIVE WERE THEY DURING THIS PILOT PHASE? RIGHT.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT SHOULD BE A CONSIDERATION.
UM, ULTIMATELY, I, I SUPPORT, UM, SCOOTERS BEING USED AS AN OPTION, AS A TRANSPORTATION OPTION, UH, FOR US.
SO I DON'T REALLY WANT TO, TO SEE THAT KILLED, BUT I, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, WE KEEP DOWNTOWN, UH, LOOKING GOOD AS WELL AS AREAS OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
AND I'LL NOTE THAT IT'S 1130, SO I WILL BE, I WILL BE RELATIVELY SHORT.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, DOUBLE DOWN ON, ON THE MESSAGE THAT I THINK IS THE CONCEPT THAT WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS.
SO IN ORDER TO GIVE, UH, THE FOLKS FROM THE INDUSTRY, UH, HEADS UP OR A FORECAST, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANT TO DO A CONCESSION, I WANT TO DO A CONCESSION MODEL.
COUNCILMAN PALIS WANTS TO DO A CONCESSION MODEL.
AND I THINK THE REASON WE BOTH WOULD AGREE AND NOTD OUR HEADS, UH, TO THAT CONCEPT IS THAT 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, IN, YOU KNOW, THE PRESCRIPTIONS THAT WE WOULD TALK ABOUT WITH REGARDS TO CAP AND NEED NOT APPLY, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, 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, UH, TO KNOW THAT, LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO COME INTO THE HOUSE, YOU GOTTA TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT THE RULES, UM, THAT WE WANT TO, TO PUT UP ARE BEING ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT NOT ONLY, UM, THE TONS OF CALLS AND THE EMAILS THAT WE GET ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT REALLY BECAUSE JUST A GENUINE BELIEF THAT THERE'S A, A SET OF RULES THAT MIGHT WORK, UH, TO, TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THIS.
SO JUST CONSIDER ME ON, ON THAT LIST OF, OF AFTER WE GET PAST THE PILOT, THE CONCESSION, I THINK IS THE MODEL THAT WE, WE, WE DO NEED TO MOVE TO.
BUT I, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF COMMENT ON WHAT I THINK IS ALSO WITH REGARD TO NEW TECHNOLOGY OR INNOVATION OR, OR A NEW TRANSPORTATION OPTION, UH, IS A LITTLE BIT OF, OF THIS DOUBLE STANDARD THAT I, I THINK WE GET SOMETIMES, AND I THINK IT GETS A LOT OF EMPHASIS, UH, BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT INJURIES OR WE TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL RISK OF, OF, OF PEDESTRIANS.
UH, AND I'M REALLY RIFFING OFF COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ'S POINT, WHICH IS THAT VEHICLES DON'T ALSO GET THE SAME KIND OF TREATMENT OR BACKLASH, OR WE DON'T GET THE SAME QUESTIONS WHEN, UH, YOU KNOW, MY, MY WIFE AND I WILL GO WALKING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE CAN'T WALK THROUGH A SIDEWALK WITHOUT HAVING TO GO ON THE STREET BECAUSE A VEHICLE IS PARKED, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK, UH, OR, OR RIGHT UP ABOVE IT.
AND WE HAVE NO ISSUE, UH, WITH, WITH DISCUSSING THAT POINT.
BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THAT I WOULD SATISFY A WHOLE LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IF I WENT AROUND OR MAYBE DISSATISFIED A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IF I WENT AROUND AND TICKETING EVERY ONE OF THOSE, ENSURING THAT EVERY SIDEWALK WAS CLEAR.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT SAME KIND OF DISCUSSION ABOUT VEHICLES, BUT WE ARE HAVING THAT DISCUSSION, UH, ABOUT, ABOUT, UH, SCOOTERS.
AND WE NEED TO, UH, IT'LL COME DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE WE'LL STILL TALK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT, AND IT'S NOT REALLY REACHING THE LEVEL OF OUR SATISFACTION, UH, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LET'S, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY ASKEW THE IDEA OF ALLOWING, UM, YOU KNOW, AN OPTION HERE TO EXIST.
THEY SHOULD PLAY BY OUR RULES, WHICH IS WHY, AGAIN, I THINK MOVING TOWARDS THE CONCESSION, YOU GOTTA, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANNA PLAY IN THE SANDBOX, THESE ARE THE PARAMETERS OF WHICH WE WANT YOU TO LIVE BY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT.
UH, JOHN, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING A TON OF WORK, UH, HERE IN THIS SPACE, AND, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GET A GRIP ON, ON HOW WE GO ABOUT, UH, FORMULATING THE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
SO AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT US TO GET TOO FAR OFF THIS, THIS BIGGER POINT
[02:25:01]
THAT IT'S FORCING US TO HAVE.UH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ EVEN, I'M GLAD, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WHEN SHE'S ON THE COUNCIL BEYOND, UH, 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, UH, PROTECTED BIKE LANES THAT WOULD NATURALLY BE USED BY THESE SCOOTERS.
AND SO I, I THINK THAT THAT DATA, THIS IS WHY I'M MAKING THE POINT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT DATA THAT WE GOT, WE GOT, ESPECIALLY FROM THIS PILOT SUBMIT TO, I SUBMIT TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY OUT THERE SUBMIT TO THE FACT THAT THIS PILOT MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, RAISED PEOPLE'S EYEBROWS AND HAD PEOPLE PULLING THEIR HAIR OUTTA THEIR HEAD BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE THERE WAS TOO MANY.
BUT WHAT THAT AFFORDED US WAS AN AVAILABLE RICH RICHNESS OF DATA, NOT JUST IN THE AMOUNT OF COMPANIES WHO WERE INTERESTED IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT A A SENSE OF A TRANSPORTATION ROUTE THAT, UH, WAS BEING CREATED BY FOLKS WHO WERE POINTING US IN THE DIRECTION OF WHERE THEY NEED BIKE LANES OF WHERE THEY NEED PROTECTED, UH, ROADWAYS.
BECAUSE I DO THINK, UH, THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS A CLAIM THAT WE ALL WANNA MAKE, THAT WE WANT THESE SCOOTERS OFF OF OUR SIDEWALKS.
WELL, IN THAT CASE, WE WANT TO PUT THEM ON STREETS THAT ARE SAFE FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE USING THEM.
AND, AND THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT, THAT WE HAVE, UH, AT THE COUNCIL, NOT JUST FOR SCOOTERS, UH, BUT FOR BIKERS, PEDESTRIANS AND, AND FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING AROUND, UH, IN A WAY THAT IS SHARING THE ROAD WITH VEHICLES, UM, VEHICLES, BY THE WAY, WHICH IN TEXAS KILLED ABOUT 3,700 PEOPLE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF ALARM TO BE HAD ABOUT THAT, AND I'D RATHER SEE SOMEBODY, UH, 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 THAT COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL IS WE CREATE THESE CONCESSIONS.
IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO ME, UH, FOR FOLKS WHO, WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, MAY BE USING THESE PAST HOURS, PAST 11, UH, WHEN, WHEN RESTAURANTS ARE CLOSING LATE AND SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS ARE, ARE TRYING TO GET TO, TO, AND FROM A LOCATION THAT IT IS EXTENDED BEYOND THOSE HOURS OF CURFEW, BECAUSE I'D RATHER THEY BE ON A SCOOTER AND, AND PERHAPS GET A BRUISED KNEE OR, OR, OR, YOU KNOW, SKINNED ELBOW, UH, RATHER THAN GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR IF THEY'RE INEBRIATED OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND ENDING UP TAKING THEIR LIFE OR THAT LIFE OF SOMEONE ELSE.
SO, UM, CURFEW MOVING TOWARDS CONCESSIONS, MOVING AWAY FROM, FROM SIDEWALKS, BUT CONSIDERING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION ARE MY POINTS.
COUNCILMAN SALANI, COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE.
UH, I GUESS I'M, I'M TRYING TO CHECK THE LIST OF IT.
I THINK I'M THE LAST ONE, JOHN, SO ALL THE GOOD QUESTIONS ARE ALREADY ASKED.
SO I WANNA TELL YOU, I THOUGHT YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
I THINK YOU'VE BEEN FLEXIBLE IN, IN TRYING TO WORK THROUGH, UH, A LOT OF COMPETING PRIORITIES.
UH, WHEN THE, WHEN THE PILOT PROGRAM ROLLED OUT, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS INUNDATION AND WHAT THAT MEANT FOR THE RESIDENTS, RIGHT? IT WAS REALLY, UH, IT TOOK PEOPLE BY SURPRISE, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE SURE I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE, YES, THERE ARE A TON OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING, AND I RECOGNIZE THEY WERE COMPLAINING OUT IN DISTRICT SIX.
UM, BUT WHEN I SEE THE ONE AND A HALF MILLION RIDES, I DO THINK THERE ARE PROBABLY INFINITELY MORE, IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE SATISFIED WITH THE PRODUCT.
UM, SO NORMALLY WE DO HEAR FROM THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF IT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN, RIGHT? UM, SO I'M TRY, I, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT TO, MY GOAL WAS TO GET TO SOMETHING THAT WAS BALANCED, THAT STILL ALLOWED FOR THE USE OF THE TECHNOLOGY, RIGHT? BECAUSE I THINK IT MAKES SENSE, IT'S COST EFFECTIVE, IT ANSWERS A LOT OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT AT THE M P O ON LAST MILE, FIRST MILE, UH, ACCESS TO VIA, UM, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED FOR THE SCOOTERS I SEE OUT ON 1604.
LIKE, I HAVE NO IDEA WHY SOMEBODY'S RIDING A SCOOTER OUT ON 1604, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S ANSWERING A LOT OF ISSUES, UH, THAT I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO, TO, TO LEGISLATE THAT.
SO I THINK HE CAME BACK, UH, WITH SOME OF THESE THAT HAVE, I'LL JUST CAUTION THAT SOME OF 'EM CAN GET A LITTLE RESTRICTIVE THAT I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, WHERE YOU GEOFENCE, I WOULD JUST, JUST PUT OUT THERE THAT SOME OF THAT TECHNOLOGY IS VERY EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO PRICE PEOPLE OUTTA THE MARKET EITHER, LIKE A DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY LIKE THIS.
UM, THE COST OF ENTRY DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, THESE PRODUCTS ARE DISPOSABLE, RIGHT? THE SCOOTERS LAST 30 DAYS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN AND OUT, SO THE MARGINS ARE TIGHTER THAN PEOPLE WOULD IMAGINE.
SO IF YOU ADD A, LIKE A GEOFENCING, YOU MAKE THINGS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.
UH, 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 'EM OUTTA BUSINESS.
I MEAN, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE.
'CAUSE I THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN I THINK YOUR PICKUP LAWS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT ARE GREAT.
THE CURFEW PIECE, I WOULDN'T MIND IT MAYBE GOING TO MIDNIGHT, BUT 11 O'CLOCK WAS A GOOD, UH, COMPROMISE.
I THINK YOU WANTED 10, AND THEY WANTED MIDNIGHT, RIGHT? WE, WE HAD ORIGINALLY HAD 10, AND WE MOVED IT TO 11.
SO I THINK YOU WORKED WELL ON THAT.
AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF, UH, EASING INTO SOMETHING THAT, UM, IT COULD'VE GONE SOUTH REALLY FAST AND IT DID.
AND THEN YOU, YOU CORRECTED, NOW YOU'RE BACK AND YOU'RE GONNA GO FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PARTNERSHIP FROM THE SCOOTER COMPANIES.
THE ONE THING I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS,
[02:30:01]
UH, AND THE DATA, TO COUNCILMAN SAL'S POINT, THE DATA IN THESE ITEMS ARE GOING TO, UH, PROVE OUT WHO'S DOING THE JOB AND WHO'S NOT.AND IF THEY DON'T ADHERE TO IT AND THEY CAN'T DO THE JOB, THEN GET RID OF THE BAD ACTOR IN THE, IN THE BUSINESS.
UM, 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.
UM, 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 THEIR, WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, I THINK THAT THAT, THAT THAT'S A PARTNER WE WANNA DO BUSINESS WITH, WHETHER IT'S TWO OR THREE IN THE FUTURE, OR WE R F P AT WHATEVER.
UM, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, I THINK YOU'VE DONE THE RIGHT, RIGHT BY THE CITY AND THE CONSTITUENTS BY LISTENING TO IT.
UM, BUT I DO JUST WANT TO RE REMIND PEOPLE THAT THERE ARE FAR MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROBABLY USING THE, WHO AREN'T TELLING US THAT.
AND THE SURVEY DATA, WHILE SOLID NEEDS TO MAKE SURE IT ENCO, IT ENCOMPASSES EVERYBODY.
UM, I DID SENSE THAT A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK WAS DRIVEN MORE TOWARDS THE NEGATIVE AS OPPOSED TO THOSE, UH, OVERRIDING AMOUNT OF RIDERS THAT ARE HAVING, UH, A LOT OF BENEFIT IN.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO, WE DON'T WANNA LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.
AND I THINK ABOUT RESIDENTS, UM, I'VE, I'VE SEEN 'EM RIDING UP AND DOWN OLD HIGHWAY 90, AND I SAW, AND I SAW THAT, AND I'M LIKE, MAN, THAT'S A, THIS TECHNOLOGY'S GETTING A LITTLE FURTHER THAN EVEN I THOUGHT, RIGHT? THAT, THAT COULD BE UTILIZED, BUT THERE WAS NO BIKE LANE MM-HMM.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, I PIGGYBACKED OFF SOME OF THAT TOO WITH, WITH COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ BRINGS DOWN, UH, BIKE LANES ALL THE WAY DOWN COMMERCE, AND THEN IT ENDS AT MY CONNECTION RIGHT THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE PROTECTED, UH, ALSO FOR THE, FOR ANY RIDER USING THAT SPACE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK.
AND YOU COME A LONG WAY ON IT, MATT.
LET'S GET THE VOTE GOING HERE.
AND JOHN, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD.
I JUST WANTED TO REFLECT ON A COUPLE THINGS.
I HAVE TWO MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM ALL THIS RIGHT NOW.
AND THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THIS CITY MISSED THE BOAT 25 YEARS AGO AND NOT LISTENING TO, UH, THEN CITY MANAGER ALEX ENOS CALL TO UPDATE OUR U D C AND REQUIRE WIDER SIDEWALKS.
SO I, I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S A HARDIER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AS IT RELATES TO MULTIMODAL, UH, TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, I, I AGREE, I DISAGREE WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ ARRIVED AT, BUT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE SHE JUST SAID.
UM, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAVE TO EMBRACE INNOVATION.
UH, 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 THIS IS THAT THIS CITY, UH, THIS COUNCIL IS DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY.
YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THE PRESSURE POINTS, WE HEAR 'EM ABOUT, HEAR ABOUT 'EM IN OUR INBOXES AND OUR PHONE CALLS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UH, BUT I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE ARE BEING CAUTIOUS ABOUT OVERREGULATION.
UM, IN THAT VEIN, I WOULD ALSO TO URGE CAUTION BEFORE WE JUMP TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE NEED A CONCESSION AGREEMENT TO SOLVE THIS.
UH, 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 GOING IN THAT DIRECTION, AND I HOPE THAT 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, COUNCIL IMPLIES IS RIGHT, AND NOT ALL THE INNOVATION IS GOOD.
WE FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE IT WORK FOR US, UH, BUT THAT WE ALSO, UH, TRY TO ENSURE THAT THE REGULATION IS NOT OVERLY DONE TO RESTRICT THAT KIND OF, UH, MARKET DRIVEN SOLUTION FROM, FROM COMING TO SAN ANTONIO.
THANKS FOR, UH, 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 NUMBER FOUR.
ITEM NUMBER NINE IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A 10 YEAR 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 BUILD CONTRACTING CONCOR INCORPORATED, DAVILA CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED, JAMAL AND SMITH CONSTRUCTION, LP, KEN CONN LIMITED, L M C CORPORATION, THE SAVANAUGH GROUP, AND TEJAS PREMIER BUILDING CONTRACTOR INCORPORATED FOR THE PROVISION OF JOB ORDER CONTRACTING AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROJECT DELIVERY METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, REHABILITATION, AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS IN CITY FACILITIES.
[02:35:02]
COUNCILMAN HALL.WE HAVE, UH, ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER NINE.
I'LL CALL HIM NOW, CHRIS HERRING, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN HALL.
MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M CHRISTOPHER HERRING.
UH, I CHAIR, UH, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL CHAMBER OF SAN ANTONIO, AND I CHAIR THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I COME THIS MORNING, UM, JUST TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT, UM, T C I EXPAND THEIR LISTS THAT THEY'VE PRESENTED TO YOU TO 13 COMPANIES AS OPPOSED TO 10, UH, IN OUR CITY'S ANNUAL REPORT, UM, THAT YOU ALL HAVE SEEN, UH, WE HAVE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS THAT WERE SET.
AND IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, UM, SEGMENT, UH, WE HAVE NOT ACHIEVED OUR GOAL, ASPIRATIONAL GOAL FOR THE PRIME CONTRACTOR LEVEL.
UH, AND THE SUBCONTRACTING LEVEL, SIMPLY PUT, EXPANDING THIS LIST PER WILL ENABLE COMPANIES THAT ARE ON, CURRENTLY ON THE JOCK, UH, CONTRACT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD CAPACITY.
AND THAT WAS A BIG THING BACK IN 2012 WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES EARNING $0 IN THE CITY BOND.
AND WHAT THE COUNCIL DID AT THAT TIME IS WE CAME BACK AND WE CREATED A DIVERSITY ACTION PLAN.
UH, WE BEEFED UP OUR S BETA ORDINANCE AND WE'VE BASICALLY BEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ISSUE.
THIS ISSUE TO ME IS VERY SIMPLE.
IT'S NOT TO, UH, SAY THAT, UH, THE TOP 10 ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
UH, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS THAT WE HAVE THE, 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.
UH, SIMPLY PUT, UM, AND THIS IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND I'M ALSO REMINDED THAT IN 1865, THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, FINALLY, UH, GOT THE WORD THAT WE HAD, UH, TRUE FREEDOM.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESSES HAVE ALWAYS STARTED LATE IN THE RACE.
WE DIDN'T START THE SAME TIME AFTER, UH, SOME IMMIGRANTS CAME HERE IN 1776.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO IS STILL LAGGING BEHIND.
IT WILL TAKE AN ACTIVE, UH, DECISION THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, TWO OF THE COMPANIES THAT ARE IN THAT 13 LIST, UH, ONE IS A VETERAN, UH, AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESS, CONSOLIDATED INSTALLATION SUPPORT.
IN FACT, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THAT WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT AFTER THE 20, UH, 12 ISSUE.
UH, THEN WE ALSO HAVE STRAIGHT LINE MANAGEMENT WHO HAS BEEN PERFORMING UNDER THE CURRENT, UH, CONTRACT AND HAS ACTUALLY RAMPED UP A STAFF.
AND I WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED TO SEE, UH, THAT COMPANY WOULD HAVE TO, TO TAKE, UH, THEIR STAFF AND REDUCE IT.
I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, GREAT FOR COUNCILMAN HALL TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND TO SAY THAT, UH, WE MADE A DECISION BASED OFF OF THE PEOPLE.
I KNOW THIS IS A PROCESS, UH, BUT LET'S NOT, LET'S NOT BE CONFUSED.
THE PROCESS SOMETIMES JUST DOESN'T WORK TO THE DEGREE.
AND I DO HAVE TO APPLAUD THE, UH, CITY FOR HAVING SUCCESS WITH THE LAST YEAR'S ANNUAL PLAN.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT AND THE EFFORT OF THE, THE MAYOR AND THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT MINORITY BUSINESSES ARE SUCCESSFUL.
UH, UH, I'M GONNA INVITE RAZZIE, UH, FORWARD, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
AND RAJA, I'M NOT GONNA STRESS THIS OUT TOO MUCH, BUT, UH, IF YOU COULD JUST GIMME A LITTLE BIT OF, OF BACKGROUND ON THE, THE NUMBERS OF THE FOLKS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WERE 16 APPLICATIONS, UH, WE CHOSE 10, SO TEN'S ON THE LIST, UH, TODAY FOR THIS MORNING.
SIX OF THOSE 10 WERE PREVIOUS, PREVIOUSLY, UH, UNDER THE, THE OLD, UH, AGREEMENT.
AND THEN FOUR HAD BEEN, SO FOUR ARE NEW.
UM, UH, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RANKING OF THE 16 AND, UH, PARTICULARLY THE, PARTICULARLY THE BOTTOM SIX? UM, DO WE KNOW, CAN, CAN YOU GIVE THAT RANKING OF YES, THAT'S WHERE THOSE COMPANIES FELL.
LET ME JUST GO OVER MY PRESENTATION.
I'M REZI HOSSEINI, INTERIM DIRECTOR AND CITY ENGINEER FOR TRANSPORTATION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT DEPARTMENT.
JOB ORDER CONTRACT, AS WE KNOW WITH JOCK, IS A DESIGNED FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED PROJECT.
PROJECT IS INCLUDE FOR CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, MAINTENANCE, TAX ORDER BASE, TAX ORDER BASE, PERFORMANCE BASED.
AND ONE OF THE ADVANTAGE THIS PROGRAM HAS, WE CAN START PROJECT MUCH, MUCH QUICKER.
[02:40:01]
MANY DEPARTMENT IN CITY OF SAN ANTONIO USES THIS ONE.THESE EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT USE, MOST OF OUR JOCK ANIMAL CARE CENTER AVIATION DEPARTMENT USE SIGNIFICANTLY C D O C CENTER DEVELOPMENT, BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICE DEPARTMENT, HUMAN SERVICE AND PARK AND RECREATION.
THE SELECTION PROCESS, WE HAVE A HUNDRED 0.4 SELECTION EXPERIENCE INCLUDES 30 POINTS.
UNDERSTANDING OF THE JOCK PROGRAM IS 20 POINTS EXPERIENCE WITH THE REGION, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, PERMITTING, TRAFFIC, SOIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, 20 POINT COST COEFFICIENT IS 10 POINT, AND OF COURSE AVIDA IS 20 POINTS.
EVALUATION COMMITTEE WAS CONSIST OF CITY MANAGER'S, OFFICE, T C I, DIRECTOR'S, OFFICE AND PROJECT TEAM BUILDING, EQUIPMENT SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND PARKS DEPARTMENT.
OVERALL, WE HAD SIX COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE THIS.
TODAY WE HAVE 10 JOCK PROGRAM.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE EXPIRE NEXT MONTH, MARCH.
THEY WERE FOR FOUR YEARS MAXIMUM.
AND ANNUAL FOR EACH PROGRAM WAS $2 MILLION.
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING SELECTION OF ANOTHER 10 JOCK TERM WILL BE THREE YEARS RATHER THAN FOUR YEARS.
WHAT WE HAD BEFORE, WE'LL BE EXPIRING MARCH OF 2022.
WE ARE ASKING CAPACITY OF 3 MILLION PER EACH FROM THE FIRM.
WE HAD LAST TIME, COUNCILMAN TEN SIX OF THEM IS SELECTED.
AGAIN, WE HAD PREVIOUSLY 3% A, A B GOAL.
WE HAVE INCREASED 4% FOR 2015 JOCK PROGRAM, WE HAVE PAID ALTOGETHER 6.7 MILLION FOR A A B FIRM.
WE HAD ONE PRIME AND WE HAD 18 SUBS.
WE END UP INCREASING OR MEETING DOUBLING THE GOAL OF 3%.
WE END UP HAVING 6.3% A B GOLD EVEN.
ON THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE INCREASED THAT ONE 4% AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO ALSO DOUBLE THAT ONE TOO.
AS OF TODAY, OVERALL FROM 2015, WE HAVE PAID 29.7 MILLION FOR A E B PRIME AND SUB PRIME IS A LITTLE OVER 9 MILLION.
WE HAD 12 PRIME AND WE HAD 43 SUBS SINCE 2015.
BASICALLY WE ARE RECOMMENDING CONSULTS TO APPROVE THIS 10 JOCK TO WORKING FOR US FOR NEXT THREE YEARS COMING.
ALL THANK YOU FOR THAT ROZZIE.
AND SO, UH, COULD YOU JUST, UH, GIVE THE ANALYSIS FOR THE BOTTOM SIX, WHAT THAT RANKING WAS, IF THERE WAS A RANKING AT ALL? UH, AND THEN PARTICULARLY I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING THE FOUR INDIVIDUAL OR FOUR COMPANIES THAT WERE ON THE LIST PREVIOUSLY.
UH, WHAT WAS THE ANALYSIS FOR REMOVING THEM OR NOT RECOMMENDING THEM? FOR THIS NEXT LIST, WE, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAD SIX MEMBER ON THE COMMITTEE TO WORK THEM.
AND THE MAXIMUM POINT IS A HUNDRED.
THE ONE IS, WE STOPPED AT THE NUMBER 10.
THE MAXIMUM GRADE WAS 65 POINT 10, 60 POINT 10, 11 WAS 60 POINT, 61.94.
THAT WAS A GOOD BREAKING POINT FOR US TO DECIDE WHY 10 AND NOT 11 OR 12.
AND ALSO WE LOOK FOR THE WORKLOAD.
AS PROJECT COMES AVAILABLE, WE ASSIGN THESE JOCKS TO DO THE PROJECT FOR US.
IF WE SELECT MORE JOG, THEY'RE GOING TO GET LESSER PROJECT BECAUSE OUR PROJECT'S NOT GROWING BY ADDING MORE JOGS, THEN WE, OUR CONCERN, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ANY QUALITY CHOICE OF THE CONTRACTOR.
THEY MAY END UP USING US AS A FILLER AND WE DON'T GET THE ATTENTION WE WANT FROM THEM TO DO QUALITY WORK FOR OUR CLIENT.
BECAUSE MOST OF THIS PROJECT IS REALLY DONE FOR CITY OTHER THAN T C I DEPARTMENT.
[02:45:01]
THIS QUESTION THEN FOR THE, FOR THE SIX, THE THREE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, THE THREE REMAINING AFRICAN-AMERICAN FIRMS THAT WERE PART OF THE SIX, DID ANY OF THEM RANK IN THE BOTTOM THREE OF THOSE OF THE, WE ARE SELECTING ONE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PART OF THIS IS BRAND NEW.THEY HAVE GROWING UP AND PROVING THEY CAN BE PRIME AND THEY ARE PART OF THE PRIME ON THIS TIME.
THOSE OTHER, THEY WERE AFTER NUMBER 10.
SO, SO THE, SO THE THREE, THE THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN FIRMS THAT WERE NOT SELECTED, ARE THEY THE BOTTOM THREE? DO YOU KNOW? NO.
COUNCILMAN, WE ARE SELECTING ONE.
WE HAD THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN SUBMITTED.
WE ARE SELECTING ONE, TWO IS NOT GETTING SELECTED.
AND SO, SO OF THOSE TWO IN THE BOTTOM SIX, NO.
SO I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS FOR THOSE TWO AFRICAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NUMBER 12 AND 13.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND, AND, UH, CITY MANAGER FOR ALLOWING ME TO, TO PULL THIS ITEM.
UM, I APPRECIATE, UH, CHRIS HERRING'S, UH, PERSPECTIVE AND, AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO PROMOTE THAT TODAY, UH, WE ARE ABOUT BUILDING CAPACITY AND ENSURING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN FIRMS AND, AND, AND OTHER SWIM BES AS WELL, TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET CITY BUSINESS.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS HOW THIS WORKS IS YOU CREATE A POOL AND, UH, NOT ALL THE POOL HAS TO BE USED.
AND AS JOBS COME OPEN, UH, WE CAN UTILIZE THOSE, THOSE COMPANIES.
SO, UM, AND MY PERSPECTIVE ADDING COMPANIES TO THAT, UH, THAT POOL DOESN'T NECESSARILY, IT DOESN'T HURT.
AND, AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS REQUIRE THAT THEY, THEY, THAT THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE USED.
UM, ALTHOUGH THAT'S, THAT'S THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, THAT WE DO BUILD CAPACITY.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS, UH, NUMBER ONE, I'M GONNA MAKE THE MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE, UM, ORDINANCE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, UH, SO THAT AT LEAST WE HAVE A BASELINE.
AND IF I CAN GET A SECOND ON THAT, THEN I'LL, I'LL PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT FROM THERE.
AND SO NOW THAT WE'VE GOT A, A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, I'D PROPOSE A, AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, WHICH IS TO EXPAND THE LIST, UH, TO AN ADDITIONAL THREE, UH, COMPANIES, UH, NUMBER 11, 12 AND 13.
UM, KNOWING THAT, UH, WE'RE JUST EXPANDING THAT, THAT OPPORTUNITY, THAT, THAT LIST OF, OF, UH, COMPANIES THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE, UH, FOR WORK.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY WANTS TO WEIGH IN.
COUNCILMAN, JUST PROCEDURALLY I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, AND THAT WAY PROCEDURALLY, I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE MORE, UH, MORE SENSE.
AND SO ONCE WE MAKE THE MOTION TO AMEND, TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION, THEN THAT AMENDED RECOMMENDATION WILL HAVE A MOTION OR IS RIGHT THEN THERE WOULD BE ONE VOTE.
THE FIRST VOTE WOULD BE ON YOUR MOTION TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO DO I NEED TO REMOVE THE MOTION? THE FIRST ONE? YES.
SO I'LL, I'LL REMOVE THAT MOTION IF THE SECOND WILL.
ALRIGHT, SO I WILL, UH, MOVE TO RECOMMEND, UM, AMENDING THE RECOMMENDATION, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO EXPAND THE LIST TO 13 FROM 10, UH, AND ADDING NUMBER 11, NUMBER 12, AND NUMBER 13.
THAT WAS, UH, THAT THEY REVIEWED.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND, UH, WE HAVE OTHER COUNSELORS.
UM, I'M, I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON ANYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED TODAY.
UH, I, THE AMOUNT THAT I DON'T KNOW ON, UH, 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, UM, COMPETITIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, INDUSTRY.
THAT'S NOT THE PATH THAT, 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, WE NEED THIS FIXED.
AND, UH, I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS SEE BY WAY OF THIS VOTE, UM, THAT WE, WE HEAR YOU.
AND SO I'LL, THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING YOU, MR. HALL.
DOES THIS GO BEFORE OUR AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE? YES.
AND WHEN, WHEN WAS THIS PRESENTED? JANUARY WAS POST.
[02:50:01]
THAT'S OKAY.I'M GONNA BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT, UH, AT THIS TIME ALSO.
UM, YEAH, I JUST DON'T RECALL THIS ONE EITHER.
BUT ANYWAY, UH, EXPLAIN AGAIN WHAT THE IMPACTS OF THIS WILL BE IF WE ADD ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS TO THIS JOCK.
SINCE 2015, AVERAGE THE USE OF JOCK WAS A 15 MILLION LAST YEAR.
WE USED THE MAXIMUM OF 18 MILLION.
AND IF WE SELECT MORE FIRM, THE PROJECT IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE.
THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GET LESSER PROJECT.
WHAT'S GOING TO DO THEN POSSIBLE USE OUR PROJECT AS A FILLER BECAUSE GOING TO BE ONCE A WHILE, THEN REALLY 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 REQUIREMENT.
IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO ONE OR TWO OR FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PROJECT.
THIS A SMALL PROJECT, LARGE PROJECT WE DO LO BIT OR COMPETITIVE SEAL PROPOSAL.
ALSO, WHEN WE SELECT CONSULTING CONTRACTOR, WE ARE GIVING THEM SOME HOPE.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET THAT DOLLAR FIGURE WHEN WE INCREASE THE POLL.
SINCE THE PROJECT IS AGAIN, NOT INCREASING, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET WHAT THEY'VE ANTICIPATING OR PLANNING TO PREPARE TO FOR THAT WORKLOAD.
AND 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 JOCK.
LIKE YOU SAID, YOU SPREAD IT, SPREAD IT OUT, YOU PUT MORE CONTRACTORS ON IT, THAT'S A SMALLER AMOUNT OF MONEY OUTTA 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 A SELECTION.
I, I, 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 ONTO IT? WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT 16? SO, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST, THAT JUST DILUTES IT EVEN FURTHER.
I, I, I JUST, I CAN'T GO ALONG WITH THIS.
JUST ADDING, ADDING CONTRACTORS ON IT JUST, YOU KNOW, AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
AND SO, UM, I, I WANT TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES' AMENDMENT ON THAT.
UH, I JUST THINK THAT'S A DISSERVICE TO OUR PROCESS AND THE TIME AND 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 GONNA GET, THAT THEY SAW THAT IT'S GONNA BE 10 AWARDS, NOT 13, NOT 16, BUT ONLY 10 AWARDS.
SO YOU WOULD HOPE THAT YOU GET THAT PORTION OUT OF THAT POT OF MONEY.
SO, UM, SIR, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT, BUT, UH, UM, I, I JUST, I JUST HOPE EVERYBODY REALIZES, UM, WHAT, WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE ON MAKING THIS KIND OF A CHANGE.
UH, I'LL GO, UH, I SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITIES, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND GO ALONG.
I, I, I WANTED TO SECOND IT BECAUSE LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOMETIMES WE GOTTA DO UNCOMFORTABLE THINGS TO GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES YOU MAY NOT OTHERWISE SEE.
AND WHILE IT'S A SMALLER POOL OF CASH, UM, I, I DO WANT TO SEE OUR CONTRACTING PROCESSES.
UM, AND THIS BODY MAKES EXCEPTIONS UP AND DOWN.
I MEAN, WE, WE, THE COUNCIL COMES IN OVER MY TWO YEARS HERE AND THE YEARS BEFORE I'VE BEEN ON STAFF.
I MEAN, THESE ARE PRETTY ROUTINE.
WE COME IN AND WE MAKE DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS 'CAUSE WE GUIDE THE POLICY.
SO I THINK SOMETIMES WE USE THE TOOL FOR WHAT WE HAVE AND THE POWER OF OUR VOTE, UH, TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND TO TRY TO GET, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS OR WHATEVER IT IS.
UM, I THINK THEY NEED A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO FORCE THAT SEAT AT THE TABLE.
SO MY SUPPORT COMES FROM IT, UH, FROM THAT PERS PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS, I THINK THE COMMUNITY DESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY.
DOES IT MEAN IT'S A $40,000 LESS POOL PER PERSON? I THINK I
[02:55:01]
CAN LIVE WITH THAT, UM, IN, IN THE HOPES THAT A, YOU KNOW, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTRACTOR HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT SOME JOB, PUT SOME JOB ON THE BOOK.'CAUSE THAT JOB THEN LEADS TO ANOTHER JOB.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M, I'M THINKING LONGER TERM.
LIKE I, WE WANT MORE OF THAT REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR, IN OUR CONTRACTING PROCESS.
AND SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY IN CONTRACTING, YOU PUSH TO FORCE THAT AS OPPOSED TO LETTING IT BUBBLE UP.
'CAUSE YOU GOTTA 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'S ON THEM.
AND NOW WE DO HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND THINGS THAT I'M SURE RENEE WILL SPEAK TO THAT WE'RE DOING TO PROMOTE THAT.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, 10,000, 15,000, WHATEVER THE DIFFERENCE IS, WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.
BUT I THINK THAT THE, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY ITSELF AND FOR A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER TO GET IN THERE, AND WHETHER IT'S 13 OR GO TO 16, I THINK IT'S A GOOD SHOT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT AND THAT'S WHY IT'LL EARN MY, OR MY SUPPORT, MY VOTE.
IF I CAN JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF A CLARIFICATION IN THAT WE DID PROVIDE AND APPLY THE MAXIMUM SUB BETA POINTS AND THE FIRMS FROM, UH, 10 ALL THE WAY TO 16.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE NON-SELECTED FIRMS RECEIVED, UH, ALL OF THEM RECEIVED SUB BETA POINTS.
THE ONLY OTHER POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF NOT MENTIONING THE SUBCONTRACT.
I KNOW ROSIE BROUGHT IT UP, BUT THE REAL OPPORTUNITY IS, UH, IN A LOT OF WAYS THE SUBCONTRACTING, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT ON THIS FOR SUBCONTRACTING LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE IT WAS, OR THE, THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT, UH, UM, HAD A GOAL THAT WAS BASICALLY DOUBLED.
AND SO WE REALLY SEE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALLS IN TERMS OF THE SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.
COUNCILMAN ROCK HOUSE, UM, COUNCILMAN HALL.
AND, AND SO I APPRECIATE, UH, THE INFORMATION FROM RENEE AND FROM, UH, UH, RAZZI AS WELL.
AND THEN ALL THE PERSPECTIVES.
AND JUST TO, JUST TO, UH, ANSWER, UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY'S PERSPECTIVES REAL QUICK.
UH, CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DILUTION FROM 10 TO SIX TO TO 13 FOR THE $3 MILLION IS THERE.
UH, BUT ALSO I'M, I'M COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT IT, IT'S FROM WHERE WE WERE PREVIOUS IN THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT, WHICH WAS $2 MILLION.
UH, WE'VE INCREASED THE, THE POOL, UH, OF MONEY.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE INCREASING THE POOL OF, OF FIRMS, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT THE, THE IMPACT PER FIRM IS GONNA BE MUCH DILUTED SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S GONNA BE SPREAD OUT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT AS WELL.
COUNCILMAN 3 MILLION IS CAPACITY ONLY, IS NOT GUARANTEE.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PROJECT TO DELIVER 3 MILLION ON EACH.
WE NEVER HAVE MAXIMIZED ANY OF THESE JOCK CAPACITY BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION, YOU REALLY CANNOT GO EXACTLY FOR THE CAPACITY.
MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE BELOW CAPACITY.
I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA FLOAT SOMETHING HERE WITHOUT HAVING IT RUN IT BY, BY ANYBODY.
UH, BUT I, I'M NOW EXPERIENCED, UM, I'M NOW EXPERIENCING DISCOMFORT, UM, ONE BECAUSE I'M HUNGRY, BUT TWO, UH, WE, I'M HEARING THAT THIS DID NOT GO BEFORE AUDIT, RIGHT? IT DID.
IT WENT THROUGH CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, HOWEVER I'M HEARING CONCERNS EXPRESSED.
I'M HEARING THAT THERE'S A, A SIGNIFICANT POT OF MONEY.
I'M HEARING ONE OF OUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OBJECT.
UH, I'M HEARING A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND, UM, I'M GONNA MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE DELAY THIS FOR A WEEK SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A CONVERS, A A A A CONVERSATION AMONG OURSELVES AND WITH STAFF TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE AROUND THIS.
UH, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR DELAY OF ITEM NUMBER NINE.
DID YOU GIVE A TIME, UH, COUNCILMAN PLACE TIL TO THE NEXT SESSION, WHICH WOULD BE THE 21ST OF FEBRUARY? UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
I, I JUST WANTED TO COME BACK ON, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS CITY, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, UH, THE CHARTS THAT RENEE HAS DONE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, WOMEN, SMALL WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT THIS CITY HAS SUPPORTED OVER THIS LAST, UH, SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE MADE PHENOMENAL, UM, PROGRESS.
AND, UM, I AM ALL FOR SUPPORTING MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.
UH, RAZZY, DOES THIS PROHIBIT ANY OF THOSE THREE BUSINESSES FROM, UH, CONTINUING TO BID ON WORK AS SUBCONTRACTORS OR PRIMES ON OTHER CONTRACTS HERE IN THE CITY? O OF COURSE NOT.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE INCREASED THE A A B E REQUIREMENT FROM THREE TO 4% ON 3%.
[03:00:01]
6.3%, BUT 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 PROJECT, WE SELECT, ONE OF THE REASON WE HAVE JOCK TO GET PROJECT DONE TIMELY, HIGH QUALITY AND COST EFFECTIVE.
IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT RESPONSING TIMELY, THEN IT'S REALLY KILLING THE INTENTION OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT DOING GOOD QUALITY WORK, THEN WHY ARE WE DOING THE JOB? I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON THOSE SIX IS NOT BEING SELECTED.
QUALITY OF THE WORK, SLOW RESPONSE, INACCURATE RESPONSE.
IT TAKES LONG TIME FOR THEM TO PROPOSE, PROVIDE US PROPOSAL TO PROCEED WITH THE WORK.
MOST OF THE TIME, JOCK ISN'T DONE ON THE EXISTING ACTIVE FACILITY LIBRARY, COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE WANTED THEM TO WORK WITH US, IDENTIFY THE ISSUE, THEN WE CAN RESOLVE IT.
THAT'S THE REASON THOSE SIX HAVE NOT BEEN SELECTED.
I, I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KEY RAZZY, THAT, THAT WASN'T MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT THAT'S ALL PART OF THE PROPOSAL PROCESS, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
AND THAT'S WHY THE 10 WERE SELECTED.
I, I DON'T WANT TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE PROCESS IS THERE.
UH, WE HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AND, AND SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES, MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THIS 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, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME.
AND, UM, IT'S DOING THE, THE PROPOSERS THAT DID GET SELECTED A DISSERVICE.
AND, UH, JUST LIKE YOU WERE SAYING ON, ON MEETING THE CRITERIA IN THE R F P, 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, UH, YES, I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THIS FURTHER AND, AND, UH, UH, WORKING, TRYING TO WORK THIS OUT.
THE OTHERS, UH, THE 10 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, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE HERE, BUT THEY KNOW THIS, UH, CONTRACTS GOING FORWARD.
SO, UM, AND ALSO, WHO ARE THE 11, 12, AND 13 CONTRACTORS? WE HAVE THE LIST WE CAN PASS TO YOU COUNCILWOMAN.
I, I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S WHY I THINK I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, LET'S JUST TELL HER.
SANCHEZ IS CONTACTED NUMBER 11, STRAIGHT LINE IS NUMBER 12.
CONSOLIDATED INSTALLATION IS NUMBER 13.
I THINK, UM, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING AND I THINK I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE DID MOVE FORWARD WITH A CONTINUANCE FOR NEXT WEEK, JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, EVEN ON THIS LIST, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR NEXT WEEK TO, AND TO REALLY HAVE OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE.
UM, BUT Y'ALL TALK ABOUT THE IN, UM, THE, UH, IMPLICATIONS, WHAT THAT MEANS WITH THEIR BUSINESS AND THEIR PLANNING AND THEIR BUDGETING MM-HMM.
SO, UM, I'M NOT SAYING THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THE, TO THE, THE INTENT OF WHAT WOULD BE EXPANDING IT.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE OTHER TWO 10 SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, I'VE, I'VE SAID REPEATEDLY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT I, I DON'T ENJOY, UH, 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.
UM, I WASN'T HERE FOR PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, HOWEVER, I HEAR THE CALLS FOR DELAYS, SO WE CAN EXAMINE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UH, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE DELAY.
UM, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE, UH, PRIMARY MOTION FIRST, WHICH IS THE DELAY OF ITEM NUMBER NINE FOR ONE WEEK MOTION.
UM, AND A SECOND FOR DELAY OF ONE WEEK, PLEASE VOTE.
[03:05:02]
MOTION CARRIES.ALRIGHT, SO THE, SO THIS ITEM WILL APPEAR ON THE I ON THE FEBRUARY 21ST AGENDA.
IN THE MEANTIME, UM, CAN I GET A BRIEFING ON THIS ITEM, UM, FROM MY STAFF? OKAY, GREAT.
ITEM NUMBER 20 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING TWO AGREEMENTS RELATED TO SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICTS MEDICAID 1115 DEMONSTRATION WAIVER PROJECT, AN AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO TO AMEND THE SCOPE, INCREASED COMPENSATION TO $550,000 AND EXTEND THE TERM TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2020.
AND AN AGREEMENT WITH CENTRALIA FOR ENHANCEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR THE TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2019.
UM, THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES.
UM, I'M NOT SURE WHO HAD TO STEP AWAY.
UM, COUNCILMAN SALDANA WILL RECUSE.
UH, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 20.
SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 20, PLEASE VOTE.
ITEM NUMBER 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 GONNA READ ALL OF THEM, BUT THEY BEGIN WITH ITEM 24 A AND THEY GO ON THROUGH 24 L.
UH, COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ? UH, THANK YOU.
WE DO HAVE A FEW CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
LET ME TAKE THEM AND I'LL TURN THE FLOOR BACK TO YOU.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL START WITH QURA.
SWAYZE, WE DECIDED TO WAIVE ON THOSE.
GARCIA IS MS. JEANETTE GARCIA HERE? UM, JUST LIKE FIVE.
ALRIGHT, MS. GARCIA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY A COCO OVN AND WE WILL NEED, UH, TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR MS. OVN.
MY NAME IS JANET GARCIA AND I AM CURRENTLY A RESIDENT AT THE LASON COURTS OFF OF SOUTH SAN MARCOS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, UM, MY NAME IS JANET GARCIA.
I AM A PARTICIPANT OF THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENT PROGRAM, AND I'M ALSO PART OF THE RESIDENT COUNCIL.
UM, I AM THE SECRETARY AND I DO A LOT WITH, UM, OUR RESIDENTS CONCERNS.
AND, UM, I'M HERE TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I AM FOR THEM BUILDING THIS.
WHY AM I FOR THIS? BECAUSE IT'S GONNA CREATE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
AND AS FAR AS PEOPLE BRING, UH, WHEN THEY BUILT THIS, I KNOW THAT THERE PROBABLY WILL BE AN INCREASE AS FAR AS OUR SAFETY IS CONCERNED, BECAUSE THERE, AS I'VE BEEN, 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 GONNA BE, UH, BUILT.
I KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA 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 THAT I LIVE IN RIGHT NOW DOES NOT HAVE, UM, AN AC UNIT.
SO BY THEM BUILDING THIS, IT'S GONNA PROVIDE A HIGHER QUAL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS AS, AS FAR AS IT BEING A MIXED INCOME.
AND I KNOW IT DEFINITELY BENEFIT OUR RESIDENTS A LOT.
ANOTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS KIND OF LIKE, I WANNA TRAVEL TO EUROPE AND BEING, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE GIVEN THAT PRICE FOR HALF A PRICE OR SOMETHING THAT I COULD AFFORD TO BE IN A
[03:10:02]
QUALITY, HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AS SOMEBODY ELSE THAT'S ABLE TO AFFORD IT, IS GONNA GIVE ME A, A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE A NEW HOME AND HAVE AN AC UNIT LIKE MY UNIT RIGHT NOW.UM, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE, UM, DRYERS THERE ONLY A WASHER AND WE HAVE TO DRY OUTSIDE.
SO IT'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT AS RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED.
BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO AND ACTUALLY MY STREET AND MY, MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, THEREFORE THEY'RE LIKE, WE'RE ATTRACTED TO SOMETHING NEW.
WHY NOT? AND WHAT OTHER POSSIBILITIES IS IT GONNA BRING US AS RESIDENTS? LIKE WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES? WHO ELSE IS WATCHING THAT WANTS TO IMPROVE THE WEST SIDE FOR US? SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MS. GARCIA, A COCO OVN, MS. OVN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT KOVAR.
AND DO WE HAVE, UH, TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR MS. OV? HELLO? UH, MY NAME IS, UH, KO, I'M FROM AFRICA.
I KNOW MY AUNT
YEAH, I'M A, A RESIDENT, UM, ALEXANDER AND RESIDENT.
AND, UH, I'M A F S I, UH, F UH, SSS MEMBER.
AND, UH, ALSO I'M A ACTIVE, UH, UH, RESIDENT, COUNSELOR MEMBER.
I GO TO THE MEETING, UH, WHEN THEY HAVE A EVENT, I TRY TO PARTICIPATE.
UM, SO I'M HERE TODAY FOR A, A FEW REASONS.
I AM FOR THE THIS COMING, UH, PROJECT.
I THINK I'M FOR IT, UH, FOR MANY REASONS.
UH, FIRST, I, UH, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE AND THEN I'VE BEEN HEARING LIKE A SECURITY WHEN IT COMES TO SECURITY IN THIS AREA.
THEY HIDE THE, UH, WHAT THEY CALL THE CRIMES AND THE RATE IS SO HIGH.
SO I THINK WITH THE DISTANCE, HAVING A NEW BUILDING, UH, BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, I THINK IT'S GONNA BRING, IS GONNA BRING, UH, A LOT OF, UH, CHANGE WITH A DECENT MIXED INCOME.
I THINK, UH, THE SAFETY WILL BE GREAT AND, UH, THAT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS, FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THE FAMILY WITH A LOW INCOME TO LIVE BETTER LIFE, UH, AND SECURE AND EVEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A, A SOURCE THAT WE CAN BUILD A WHOLE AROUND THIS AREA, UH, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE THING WE HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR TO GET, UH, OUR NEED AND THEN EVERYTHING.
BUT I THINK WITH THAT, IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BRING A LOT OF CHANGE.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE THING AROUND US, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL THAT LONG.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THE SAFETY, UH, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE BETTER.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR FOR ALL WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE CITY.
YOU'RE WAIVING YOUR TIME, MR. KOVAR.
IS GABRIEL VELASQUEZ STILL HERE? I THINK HE WAS GONNA COME AND SPEAK.
HE JUST DIDN'T GET HERE IN TIME.
UH, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, COUNCILWOMAN MAYOR, UM, HERE, HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF, OF THIS PROJECT.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT MANY YEARS AGO, THE AIDA GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FORMED THE AIDA GUADALUPE, UM, ASSOCIATION AND OUR FOUNDING PRESIDENT, UH, BORN ON ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES AND WHAT HE CALLED A HUMAN CORRAL, SAID IN THE 19, LATE 1970S, THAT THE FIRST THING HE'S GONNA DO IS TAKE A SLEDGEHAMMER AND TEAR DOWN THIS, THIS HOUSE HERE.
THE LIGHT ASKED HIM, WHY ARE YOU GONNA DO THAT? HE SAID, BECAUSE I WAS BORN THERE AND NO HUMAN BEING HAS ANY BUSINESS BEING, UH, BORN WHERE ANIMALS ARE KEPT.
AND, UH, OVER THE YEARS, UH, UH, DEMOLITION OF THESE, UH, UH, WHAT THEY CALLED CORRALES OR CORRALS WERE TORN DOWN.
AND THE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN VACANT EVER SINCE.
AND I KNOW WE OWNED SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES AND WE'VE HELD ONTO THEM WAITING FOR THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UM, UH, WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD DEVELOP THEM ONE DAY.
BUT, UH, SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY, UM, IS REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB IN THE CITY
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IN DEVELOPING.AND, UH, OUR OBJECTIVE IS FOR THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT TO, UH, TO TAKE PLACE.
AND, AND WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THE RESIDENT COUNCIL, THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY KNOW, UH, WHEN, UM, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY AND, UH, UH, AN ORGANIZATION THAT, THAT SERVES OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY, UH, WILL FIND THAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT IS REALLY DOING A, A WONDERFUL JOB THESE DAYS.
I MEAN, THEY, THEY, UH, ARE, ARE REALLY INNOVATIVE STEPPING UP TO THE, TO THE, UH, UH, NEW SOLUTIONS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED AS WELL.
UH, WE REALLY THINK IT'S THE RIGHT TIME.
IT'S GONNA HAVE A GRAND IMPACT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND, UH, WE'RE LOOKING VERY FORWARD TO IT.
SO WE, UH, REALLY LOOK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND SUPPORT OF, UH, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS WE, UH, ALL ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO MOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, UH, FORWARD.
OKAY, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
UH, REMEMBER THAT, THAT THIS, THIS AREA IS ON, 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, UH, THIS TOWN, UH, IN THE HISTORY OF THIS TOWN.
SO, UH, THIS INVESTMENT IS THE RIGHT INVESTMENT AND IT'S INVESTMENT THAT, UH, WE WILL GET, UH, UH, RETURNS ON FOR MANY, MANY, UH, GENERATIONS.
AND SO WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD WITH THAT PRESENTATION.
THIS ITEM ADDRESSES DEVELOPER REQUESTED RESOLUTIONS OF, UM, SUPPORT, OR NO OBJECTION, UH, FOR THE HOU 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.
UH, THE DOT, THE YELLOW DOTS OF THE LOCATION OF THE 12 PROJECTS, SIX OF WHICH ARE INSIDE LOOP FOUR TEN FIVE ARE BETWEEN LOOP FOUR 10 AND ONE IS OUTSIDE LOOP FOUR 10.
THIS YEAR AT SAN ANTONIO, UH, WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR TAX CREDIT, UH, AWARDS FROM THE STATE.
UH, THAT EQUALS ABOUT $53 MILLION OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THAT WOULD GENERATE ABOUT 325 TO 350 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE CITY.
UH, WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT ESON SO FAR, AND I KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS AS WELL.
UM, LEMME JUST GIVE YOU A FEW MORE FACTS.
AND ALLAN ALLAN WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1939.
THERE'S A LITTLE OVER 1000 HOUSING UNITS THERE TODAY.
IT IS MANAGED BY THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY.
UH, THIS HOUSING, UH, 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, THE AREA STILL REMAINS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE FULL CITY COUNCIL, AS EVIDENCED BY YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CHOICE GRANT.
WHAT I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HERE IS BASICALLY THE, THE ISSUE THAT'S AT HAND.
UH, THE, THE, THE CITY STAFF HAS MET WITH CITY COUNCIL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
UH, CITY COUNCIL HAS SPOKE WITH EACH OTHER AND THE COMMUNITY, UM, THE, THE, THE C P C, UM, HAS MET AS WELL TO DISCUSS THIS.
THERE'S TWO CHARTS HERE ON, ON THIS PAGE IN 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, UH, UH, BASED ON, ON ALL 12 AND, AND INCLUDING THESE FOUR, RECEIVING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING A CITY COUNCIL APPROVED PROCESS.
YOU CAN SEE OUR LADY OF CHARITY, WHICH IS IN CITY COUNCIL.
DISTRICT TWO WOULD BE NUMBER ONE, WE EXPECT AT THE STATE LUNA FLATS AND DISTRICT ONE WOULD BE NUMBER TWO.
UH, VILLAGE AT N ALITOS THREE, ANDON LOFTS FOUR.
THOSE LAST TWO ARE BOTH IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE.
THE C P C MADE A RECOMMENDATION IN JANUARY TO WAIVE THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED PROCESS TO ISSUE, UH, RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDED THAT ONLY AL AMAZON RECEIVE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AND THAT ALL THE OTHERS RECEIVE A LETTER OR A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION.
IN THAT CASE, YOU CAN SEE THE RANKINGS THERE IN FRONT OF YOU.
NUMBER ONE, AL AMAZON LOSS WOULD MOVE FROM FOURTH PLACE TO SECOND PLACE.
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UH, LUNA SLIDES JUST ONE FROM TWO TO THREE, AND THEN VILLAGE AT NATOS WOULD MOVE TO NUMBER FOUR, WOULD MOVE FROM THIRD TO FOURTH.LEMME JUST, UH, JUST STATE THAT, UM, THE COUNCIL APPROVED PROCESS TO ISSU ISSUE RESOLUTIONS WAS FIRST APPROVED LAST YEAR, UM, AFTER SOME INPUT FROM THE, FROM THE COMMITTEE ON THIS PROCESS.
AND SO PRIOR TO THAT, PRIOR TO LAST YEAR, UH, DEVELOPERS WOULD ASK FOR LETTERS OR 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, WERE MORE SUBJECTIVE, AND THERE WAS ALSO, UH, 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, THE DARKER BLUE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS BASED ON.
THIS ITEM ALSO HAS TWO OTHER RESOLUTIONS THAT THE, UH, DEVELOPERS HAVE ASKED FOR AS PART OF THE PROCESS.
UH, ONE RESOLUTION WOULD WAVE A ONE MILE, UH, RULE.
UH, T D H C A SAYS THAT, UH, YOU YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TWO PROJECTS WITHIN ONE MILE OF EACH OTHER, UH, WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD.
AND SO THE, OUR LADY OF CHARITY, UH, WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF EAST POINT AND VILLAGE AT BOYER, WHICH IS ALSO IN DISTRICT TWO, WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF A, A PROJECT IN DISTRICT THREE VILLAGE AT ROOSEVELT.
AND SO, UH, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT, UH, A RESOLUTION BE ISSUED TO WAIVE THAT REQUIREMENT SO THAT OUR LADY IN THE VILLAGE AT BOY WOULD, WOULD BE ELIGIBLE, UH, IN THE, IN THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS THIS YEAR.
AND THEN FINALLY, THERE ARE SIX RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED AND THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING HERE, AND WE DID AT THE C P C AS WELL.
UH, WHICH STATES THAT THE SIX INNER CITY OR OR CORE, UH, CORE OF THE CITY, UH, PROJECTS CONTRIBUTE MOST AND REDEVELOPING THE PARTICULAR AREA THAT THEY'RE IN.
THEY WOULD RECEIVE TWO POINTS FROM THE STATE, UH, IF A RESOLUTION WAS ISSUED FOR THEM.
JUST QUICKLY, THE, THE, THE STATE, UH, T D H C A TAX CREDIT PROCESS PRE-APP APPLICATIONS WERE DUE TO THE STATE IN JA IN JANUARY.
AND 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 COUNSEL TO CONSIDER THIS ITEM TODAY.
SO DEVELOPERS WILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE THEIR APPLICATION, AND THEN FINAL AWARDS WILL BE MADE IN JULY.
SO THIS SUMMARIZES WHAT I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT.
AND THIS, UH, THE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS ON THE LEFT AND THE DARKER BLUE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING FOLLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED PROCESS TO ISSUE RESOLUTIONS.
AND, AND BECAUSE OF THEIR SCORING WITH OUR PROCESS THAT COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, WE WOULD RECOMMEND 12, UH, RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FOR EACH OF THE 12 PROJECTS.
WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT TWO, UH, TWO PROJECTS RECEIVE A RESOLUTION, EXEMPTING THEM FROM THE ONE MILE RULE.
AND WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT SIX PROJECTS, UH, RECEIVE THE COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION, UH, RESOLUTION POINTS ON THE RIGHT.
THE LIGHTER BLUE IS THE C P C RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER THIS AFTERNOON, THAT RECOMMENDATION, UH, AWARDS ONLY ONE LETTER, UH, A ONE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO ESON LOFTS.
AND THE REMAINING 11, WE 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 C P C, UH, ALSO RECOMMENDED THE OTHER TWO, UH, GROUPS OF RESOLUTIONS, UH, BE ISSUED.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, MAYOR.
UH, COUNCILMAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PETER.
AND I'M GONNA START WITH MY MOTION.
I HAVE TO HAVE SOME LANGUAGE IN HERE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I GET IT RIGHT.
SO, I, I, UH, MOVE TO AMEND THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AS FOLLOWS, TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR ALLAN LOFTS PROJECT, PROVIDE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION TO ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS.
UH, WE ACCEPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THE NECESSARY LETTERS WITHIN THE THREE MILE RADIUS.
AND ALSO COUNCILWOMAN VERAN PUT FORWARD A RESTRICTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AT LEGACY AND 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.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 24.
AND I, I DO WITH AMENDMENTS AS READ.
UM, YOU, YOU STILL HAVE, I DO HAVE COMMENTS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GOT QUESTION.
AND SO, UH, I, I JUST, I DO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO THANK IN ADVANCE MY COLLEAGUES, UM, FOR SUPPORTING,
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UM, THE RESOLUTION AND THE AMENDMENT THAT I HAVE TODAY.UH, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING, UM, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, AND OF COURSE SINCE THEN TO PLEASE ALLOW FOR AAN TO GET THE MOST POINTS IN THIS SCENARIO.
UM, IT WAS REPORTED THAT IN 2017 WE WENT FOR A CHOICE GRANT AND DID NOT GET IT.
UH, WE WERE ALSO WENT IN 2015 OR MAYBE TWO YEARS SOMETIME BEFORE THEN, UH, AND DID NOT RECEIVE THE CHOICE GRANT.
UM, THAT WAS HOW WE DID THE DEVELOPMENT OF, OF WHEATLEY COURTS AND THE EAST SIDE, WAS THAT THEY RECEIVED A CHOICE GRANT AND A PROMISE GRANT.
AND SO, S HAS APPLIED A COUPLE OF TIMES, HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN THE CHOICE GRANT OR THE PROMISE GRANT.
UH, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, UM, I'VE ASKED FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT IS BECAUSE WHILE IT DOES LOOKS LIKE IT'S SCORES PRETTY WELL, UH, ON OUR SIDE, WHEN WE GO TO THE STATE LEVEL, IT DOES NOT SCORE WELL BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, VERY, UH, MUCH A BLIGHTED COMMUNITY.
UM, WE KNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN, UH, ARE NOT GOING INTO QUALITY SCHOOLS.
UH, WE HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH POVERTY RATES, UH, IN THE AREA, AND WE HAVE, UH, INCREDIBLE DISADVANTAGES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION, UM, ABOUT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS, THE REALITY IS DISTRICT FIVE IS NOT AT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
AND IN FACT, WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE.
YESTERDAY I WAS AT, UH, S A I S D BREAKFAST WITH, UM, MS. DR.
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 ALLAN, UH, HAVE AN AVERAGE INCOME ANNUAL INCOME OF ABOUT $13,000 A YEAR.
AND THERE ARE ABOUT 2000, I'M SORRY, 1000 1200 CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN ALASAN.
AND SO THE, MY REQUEST FOR THIS PROJECT IS TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING.
THERE'S THIS ONE, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, NOT IN THIS PARTICULAR, UH, 9% CREDIT, BUT THAT WE'RE HOPING THAT IF WE CAN HAVE NEW FACILITIES AT SISON LOFTS, IF WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER ONE ON PICCO, 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 THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR SCHOOL.
UH, AND WE CAN START WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF ALLAN COURTS.
WE'VE DONE THIS IN WHEATLEY, WHICH FAIRLY QUICK, UH, MAYBE FIVE PLUS YEARS, WE'VE DONE IT AT SAN JUAN, BUT IT WAS MORE THAN 10 YEARS TO REDEVELOP, UH, SAN JUAN.
UH, AND SO THIS IS JUST A, A, A VERY FIRST STEP TO TRY TO GET SOME DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEVELOPMENT, UH, IN THE WEST SIDE, UM, SINCE PEANUT FACTORY LOFTS.
UH, AND THAT WAS A VERY SMALL MARKET RATE PROJECT.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL ADAPTIVE REUSE, UH, BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOR FAMILIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO, UM, I'M, UH, GRATEFUL, UH, FOR THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE WEST SIDE.
UH, IT'S NOT UNPRECEDENTED THAT WE WOULD PRIORITIZE AN AREA THAT WAS AT IN NEED.
UH, AND I THINK AS A RESULT, WE SAW TODAY, UM, THE APPROVAL OF THE MERCHANT FACTORY, WHICH IS GONNA BE SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN ACTUALLY REALLY STATE OF THE ART IN AN AREA THAT HAD NOT SEEN INVESTMENT IN A LONG TIME.
UM, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN DO THAT, UH, FOR THE WEST SIDE AS WELL.
UM, WE'VE DONE IT FOR A DECADE IN DOWNTOWN.
WE PRIORITIZED A, A DOWNTOWN AS A PLACE THAT WE WANTED TO SEE THRIVE.
AND AS A RESULT, UM, WE'VE HAD A VERY THRIVING, SUCCESSFUL DOWNTOWN.
UH, AND SO THE ONE PART OF OUR CITY THAT CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND IN ALMOST EVERY MARKER, WHETHER IT'S HEALTH, EDUCATION, UM, EMPLOYMENT, UM, POVERTY IS STILL, UM, THE NEAR WEST SIDE.
AND SO I WOULD ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO, UH, GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THE GROWTH AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY.
UM, I AM, UM, UH, ASKING FOR A PRIORITIZATION OF, OF THIS PROJECT SO THAT WE CAN, UM, UH, HOPEFULLY SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION.
I EXPECT THIS, THIS WILL BE VERY LONG, LONG-TERM, UH, TO SEE THE REVITALIZATION OF ALASAN.
I KNOW THAT I THINK IN NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA, WE'LL APPOINT, UH, TWO, THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS TO ALASAN TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
AND WE WOULD HOPE THAT THEIR PRIORITY WOULD BE TO REDEVELOP, UM, THE REALLY OLD PROPERTIES OF THAT SAHA HAS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, STARTING WITH ALSAN, AND THEN ANO, AND THEN LINCOLN, WHICH ARE OUR REALLY OLD PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, AND WHERE WE HAVE
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A LOT OF CHILDREN, UM, AS I MENTIONED, UH, 1,200 CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN ALSAN.SO, UH, WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DEVELOPMENT HERE, UM, IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AS WE, AS WE, UH, APPOINT THOSE NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK IN ADVANCE MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING, UM, THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND THE, UH, INCLUSION OF DISTRICT FIVE, UH, IN THIS WONDERFUL GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR CITY.
AND I, I CAN'T ADD MORE THAN, UH, WHAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ ALREADY DESCRIBED AS THE CONTEXT, AS THE HISTORY, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
AND, AND I APPRECIATE PETER AND, AND, UH, VETO, UH, IS WE'RE TRYING TO USE SOME PRECISION IN, IN THE WAY THAT WE TARGET THE, THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT OUT.
SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE, IN MY MIND, A SLIGHT EDGE TO, UH, ANA PATRICK IN THE APPLICATION TO THESE FUNDS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO GETTING TO SEE THAT AS THE COUNCILWOMAN HAS DESCRIBED, THERE'S SO MANY CASE WE, WITH ALL THINGS BEING EVEN AND ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, UH, I I CAN GET BEHIND THE IDEA OF A SPIRITED COMPETITION OF FAIRNESS WHEN EVERY APPLICATION LOOKS THE SAME.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY THAT, UH, THE COUNCILWOMAN DESCRIBED, I HAVE NO HESITATION AND NO RELUCTANCE IN SAYING THAT WE SHOULD GIVE A, AN EDGE, UH, TO, TO AN AREA OF TOWN AND TO A HOUSING PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN IN AN AREA THAT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN A HEADSTART, AND IN FACT HAS BEEN HELD BACK, UH, 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, HAS DONE IN THE DISTRICT, UH, THAT, THAT I WANT TO GET BEHIND, BECAUSE I THINK IT REALLY KIND OF ALLOWS US TO INTERSECT IN SO MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, WHETHER IT'S AROUND TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND EDUCATION.
UH, AND IT'S A HOUSING PIECE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE AN EDGE TO HERE.
SO I'M, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SUPPORT, AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNCILMAN'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
COUNCILMAN SALAL AND COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN ROCK.
UH, JUST A, JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THOUGHTS.
UH, YOU KNOW, I HAD, UH, COMMITTED, UH, TO COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ THAT, UM, ALI APACHE WAS, UH, WORTH WORTHY OF THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UH, SO I'LL SUPPORT THE, THE ITEM TODAY, BUT I, I DO HAVE CONCERNS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, IT'S FUNNY, WE CAME OFF A, A CONVERSATION ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM WHERE THE PROCESS WAS SACRED, RIGHT? AND WE HEARD A COUPLE 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.
IF YOU, I MEAN, 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, AND WE FALL DOWN ON IT.
BUT I, I DO HAVE CONCERNS WHEN WE SIT HERE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M VERY CLEAR.
ONE OF MY PROJECTS IS THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION PROJECT, AND THEY'RE HERE TODAY.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A YEAR TO GET THAT ONE IN.
I MEAN, IT TOOK US MULTIPLE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
YOU WANT, ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR WORKFORCE HOUSING, OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO TACKLE FOR AS LONG AS WE HOLD THESE SEATS, IS THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET THEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT EASY PROJECTS TO BRING IN ANYWHERE IN THE CITY.
SO WE'VE HAD THAT MULTIPLE MEETINGS, AND WE KEPT GOING TO BAT TO WHERE THE DEVELOPERS ALSO MAKING CONCESSIONS.
UH, THEY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF UNITS.
THEY CREATED A COMMUNITY CENTER, THEY DID EVERYTHING.
THEY, THEY STARTED MULTIPLE PROJECTS TO, TO BUY INTO COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ALL THIS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO BE VERY CLEAR FOR THE, FOR THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION THAT, UM, I AM FULLY IN SUPPORT THAT MINE'S NOT A LETTER OF NO OBJECTION.
I'M FULL SUPPORT FOR THAT PROJECT.
'CAUSE WE'VE GONE TO BAT IN THAT COMMUNITY TO GET IT DONE.
UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL ON THIS ONE, AND I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ.
'CAUSE I KNOW SHE'S WORKING HARD AND SHE MAKES VERY VALID POINTS ABOUT, ABOUT WHAT'S GOING, UH, THE LACK OF INVESTMENT IN THE NEEDS OF THAT COMMUNITY.
BUT I HAVE TO RAISE THE BIGGER CONCERN, WHICH IS, UM, OKAY, WHAT PROCESSES ARE SACRED AND WHAT'S NOT LIKE, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL WAYS.
YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING SACRED BECAUSE IT'S A, 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.
SO, I THINK WE HAVE A BIGGER QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA GET MORE IN LINE WITH WHEN WE CAN AND CANNOT CHANGE THINGS.
BUT, UM, LOOK, I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
BUT, UH, TO THE FOLKS THAT CAME DOWN HERE FROM CESAR CHAVEZ, I WANT YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU DID THE BEST YOU COULD, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR YOU AND, AND HELP YOU OUT WHERE WE'RE AT, WHERE WE'RE AT.
BUT, UM, LOOK, IT'S, IT'S A COMPROMISE AND, AND WE'LL WORK HARD TO GET THERE ON IT.
UM, BUT I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK IN, IN VETO AND, AND THE TEAM AND PETER FOR WHAT YOU, UH, PUT INTO IT.
UM, AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT PROCESS AND IT'LL BE IMPLEMENTED, UH, WITH, WITH AS MUCH, UM, AMBIGUITY AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK YOU CAME OUT WITH THAT WHEN YOU SAID RECOMMEND ALL OF THEM.
UH, BUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE CAME BACK AND DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT, MORE TARGETED.
SO, UH, APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK.
UH, THANK YOU TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
[03:35:01]
WHO'S COMING OUT AND TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST TO PUT THESE TYPES OF HOUSING UNITS IN.AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE GONNA MAKE SENSE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I HOPE THIS DOESN'T DISCOURAGE PEOPLE, UH, FROM COMING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND DOING THE HARD WORK TO EARN THE LETTER.
SO WE EARN THE LETTER OF SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY EXPECTED IT, AND THEN, AND IT CHANGED OVER TIME.
AND THAT'S FAIR THAT THAT VOTE WILL BE HAD TODAY.
BUT I WANNA BE MUCH MORE CLEAR FOR THEM THAT ARE GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, THAT THESE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THESE THINGS CAN CHANGE.
AND THAT IS AN UNCERTAINTY FOR A DEVELOPER IN A VERY TIGHT MARGIN MARKET.
THEY'RE NOT QUITE CERTAIN THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, THERE'S A LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY.
NOW WHEN OUR GOAL, ACCORDING TO MAYOR HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE, IS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS.
UM, AND I JUST HOPE WE'RE, WE TRY TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ADHERENT TO THE POLICY, UH, GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
AND, UM, JUST WANNA EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR TODAY'S MOTION.
HOWEVER, I, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, AS WAS STATED, THERE'S, THERE'S ALSO, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ITEMS. UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD TIME TO, TO TALK TO STAFF TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, THEY'VE WORKED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK, SO I APPLAUD THEM FOR, FOR DOING, UH, THE WORK THAT THEY WERE TASKED TO DO.
WE AS A COUNCIL, UH, SET THE GUIDELINES AND THEY FOLLOWED THEM.
AND SO I CERTAINLY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THAT, UM, THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WE HAVE TO, WE DO HAVE TO ANALYZE THAT AND, AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER PICTURE AND WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO FIND A WAY TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD, WHICH IS WHY ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM, AS WAS STATED, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DID ASK FOR A DELAY.
SO I, I THINK THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE CONSISTENT WITH ONE ANOTHER, HAVING US DISCUSS THESE ITEMS. HAVING TIMES TO TALK IS, IS, IS NEEDED, BUT HAVING DISAGREEMENTS IS ALSO OKAY.
AND SO, UM, NUMBER ONE, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE.
I THINK THAT THEY DID EVERYTHING THAT, THAT WE WERE, THAT WE TASK THEM TO DO.
AND, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WE HAVE, UH, IN THIS MOTION.
UH, DISTRICT ONE IS HAS ITS, UH, HOUSING NEEDS, UH, BEING ADDRESSED, AND I'M SATISFIED WITH, WITH THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE.
I, I WAS BASICALLY GONNA SAY THE SAME THING.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU COUNCILMAN TREVINO ABOUT THAT.
UH, THERE ARE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THAT LAST DISCUSSION AND THIS ONE.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, THE STAFF DID THEIR JOB.
UH, C P C CAME OUT WITH, UH, DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND IT'S HERE FOR US TO MAKE THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS.
AND, AND I THINK WE'RE DOING EXACTLY THAT.
SO, UH, UM, UH, YEAH, THERE, THERE AREN'T, I DON'T SEE THE PARALLELS, BUT YOU DO BRING UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT, UH, PROCESSES AND, UM, YOU KNOW, US FOLLOWING THOSE PROCESSES.
BUT HERE WE HAD, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT DIFFERED, AND THAT'S WHAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S BEING BROUGHT BEFORE US.
AND, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
AND I, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UH, TIME AND ATTENTION THAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ GAVE ME IN TAKING ME ON A TOUR OF THE AREA TO SHOW ME WHAT THE SITUATION WAS, UH, NOT ONLY IN THAT AREA, BUT ALL OVER THE WEST SIDE.
AND, AND I LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHY I WOULD, UH, UH, ENJOY SUPPORTING THIS, THIS, UH, MOTION THAT YOU HAVE.
YEAH, I, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY LAST COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.
I WOULD, TO ME, IT'S, IT'S LIKE WE'RE UMPIRES AND WE CALL THE BALLS AND THE STRIKES, AND SOMETIMES WE EVEN CALL FOUL.
UH, AND I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, UH, WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT OF US.
AND SO I, I FEEL THAT EVEN THOUGH WE MAY GET RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE STAFF, OR WE MAY GET RECOMMENDATION 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 WHAT WE HEAR FROM OUR FELLOW COUNCIL PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT MAY DIFFER WITH STAFF OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UH, AND I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT, UH, THE ALLAN LOFTS DESERVE THAT EXTRA PUSH TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, HELP IMPROVE THAT COMMUNITY.
I TAUGHT ON THE WEST SIDE, I UNDERSTAND, UH, A LOT OF, 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 COUNCIL WOMAN'S UH, REQUESTS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
UM, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, UM, OF DISTRICT
[03:40:01]
THREE IN HIGHLAND PARK WHO MET LAST NIGHT WITH THE DEVELOPER AND EVERYONE THERE.AND WE MET AND THEY, UH, THE DEVELOPER DID TALK TO THE RESIDENTS AND THEY DID HAVE THEIR VOTE, AND THEY DID WANNA INCLUDE THOSE RESOLUTIONS OF SENIOR HOUSING OF, UM, NO MORE THAN 49 UNITS AND TWO STORIES THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
AND I WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ FOR ALLOWING US TO INCLUDE THOSE IN THE RESOLUTION MOVING FORWARD.
EVEN THOUGH, UM, THIS, THE C P C CAME OUT WITH A DIFFERENT, UH, RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT WAS, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RESIDENTS, I THINK WE STILL HAVE, UM, OPPORTUNITY WITH THIS, WITH SENIOR HOUSING IN DISTRICT THREE MOVING FORWARD.
UM, I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS, AND I WILL SAY THOUGH, UM, VERO, PETER, ANDY, UM, YOU KNOW, MY CONCERNS THAT I HAVE ABOUT THIS PROCESS THAT THE CITY HAS SET UP, I THINK WE HAVE TO REVIEW THIS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT BETTER AND CLEARER AND MORE UNDERSTANDING FOR THE RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPERS AND FOR COUNSEL.
UM, WHAT LETTERS OF NO OBJECTION AND, AND SUPPORT MEAN, UM, WHEN DOING THE PRE-APPLICATION AND THIS APPLICATION RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE STILL AREAS THAT NEED TO BE CLARIFIED.
UM, SO I HOPE THAT WE DO REVIEW THIS PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GONNA COME UP CLEARER AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA IT WAS MUCH BETTER AND THE DEVELOPERS DID A, A MUCH BETTER JOB THIS TIME AROUND REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING AND WORKING WITH THEM.
BUT I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 24 AS AMENDED.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR MORNING AGENDA.
UH, DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT? MAYOR, I'LL SKIP THAT.
TODAY WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, RIGHT? WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'LL CONTINUE FROM YESTERDAY.
UH, ALSO WANT TO NOTE FOR THE COUNCIL THAT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IN WHICH WE WILL HAVE LUNCH, THERE WILL ALSO BE A, UM, UTILITY BRIEFING.
SO THE TIME IS NOW 12:54 PM ON THURSDAY OF FEBRUARY 14TH, 2019.
THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WILL NOW RECONVENE ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM FEBRUARY 13TH TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY TO DELIBERATE OR DIS DISCUSS ITEMS POSTED BUT NOT FINISHED YESTERDAY.