Sep 14, 2023 City Council A Session

[PROCEDURAL  ]

[00:01:25]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THE TIME IS 9:04 A.M. ON THE 14TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023.

WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

TODAY'S BUDGET DAY, SO HAPPY BUDGET DAY, EVERYBODY. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US TODAY AND WE'LL RECOGNIZE THEM MOMENTARILY BUT FIRST TO GET US STARTED, LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.

>> VIAGRAN: TODAY WE HAVE FRIAR ANTONIO, A DEVOTED PRIEST DEDICATED TO PROVIDING PASTORAL CARE AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE TO HIS PARISHIONERS. HIS JOURNEY OF FAITH AND SERVICE IS MARKED BY A DEEP COMMITMENT TO HIS VOCATION AND A RICH EDUCATION BACK BACKGROUND , WHICH INCLUDES A BACHELOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM THE OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. SINCE 2013, FRIAR ANTONIO HAS HELD VARIOUS POSITIONS.

HE'S BEEN IN OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH IN HELOTES, HOLY CROSS IN D'HANIS, TEXAS.

HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND PRESENTLY HE SERVES IN MY PARISH, ST. LEO THE GREAT CATHOLIC CHURCH RENEWING HIS MISSION TO BRING THE WORLD OF GOD TO THE FAITHFUL. ST. LEO'S IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD WITH A DIVERSE AND ECLECTIC COMMUNITY -- BECAUSE I BELONG TO IT. IN HIS DAILY LIFE, FRIAR ANTONIO IS APPROACHABLE, HE'S WELCOMING, HE'S READY TO GREET MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY , TO COME IN AFTER THE PANDEMIC. HE HAS SHOWED LEADERSHIP AND VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY OF ST. LEO'S. IT'S MY HONOR TO WELCOME HERE TODAY TO GIVE US OUR INVOCATION

FOR BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. TODAY'S AN IMPORTANT DAY. WELL, EVERY SINGLE DAY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE HERE. WE ARE BREATHING. WE ARE ALIVE.

BUT TODAY, FOR THIS MOMENT, THERE IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED THE BUDGET.

THERE IS A PERSON THAT I ADMIRE, NOT ONLY AS A RELIGIOUS PERSON BUT AS A PERSON WHO WAS ABLE TO GUIDE AND RULE OVER PEOPLE WITH THE LAW ON THIS EARTH AND IT IS KING SOLOMON, WHO ASKED GOD FOR WISDOM TO RULE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. SO I TOOK THE PRAYER OF SOLOMON FOR EACH ONE OF YOU WHO ARE IMPORTANT IN OUR -- TO PRESERVE THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT THAT IS LIFE AND ALL THAT IS COMING WITH IT. SO I WILL INVITE YOU TO MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF THE LORD. EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS

[00:05:02]

AND TO GOVERN THE WORLD IN HOLLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TO RENDER JUDGMENT IN INTEGRITY OF HEART. GIVE ME WISDOM AND DO NOT REJECT ME FROM AMONG YOUR CHILDREN FOR I AM YOUR SERVANT, THE CHILD OF YOUR MAIDSERVANT. LACKING IN COMPREHENSION OF JUDGMENT AND OF LOSS, INDEED NO ONE BE PERFECT AMONG MORTALS YOU HAVE CHOSEN ME KING OVER YOUR PEOPLE, MAGISTRATE OVER YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS.

YOU HAVE BID ME BUILD A TEMPLE OF YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN, AN ALTAR IN THE CITY THAT IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE. A TABERNACLE WHICH YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED.

NOW, WITH YOU IS WISDOM WHO KNOWS YOUR WORKS AND WAS PRESENT WHEN YOU MADE THE WORLD, WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS PLEASING IN YOUR EYES AND WHAT IS CONFORMABLE WITH YOUR COMMANDS. SEND HER FORTH FROM YOUR HOLY HEAVENS AND FROM YOUR GLORIOUS THRONE DISPATCH HER SO SHE MAY BE WITH ME AND WORK WITH ME THAT I MAY KNOW WHAT IS PLEASING TO YOU. FOR SHE KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS ALL THINGS AND WILL GUIDE ME PRUDENTLY IN MY EFFORTS. THUS MY DEEDS WILL BE ACCEPTABLE AND I WILL JUDGE YOUR PEOPLE JUSTLY AND BE WORTHY OF MY FATHER'S THRONE. FOR WHO KNOWS GOD'S COUNSEL OR WHO CAN CONCEIVE WHAT THE LORD INTENDS, FOR THE DELIBERATIONS OF MORTALS ARE TIMID.

FOR THE CORRUPTIBLE BODY BURNS IN THE SOUL AND THE EARLY TENT WEIGHS DOWN THE MIND WITH ITS MANY CONCERNS. SCARCELY CAN WE GUESS THE THINGS ON EARTH AND ONLY WITH DIFFICULTY GRASP WHAT IS AT HAND. BUT THINGS IN HEAVEN, WHO CAN SEARCH THEM OUT. OH, WHO CAN NOW [INAUDIBLE] UNLESS YOU GIVE WISDOM AND SEND YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ON HIGH. THUS WHERE THE PATHS OF THOSE ON EARTH MADE STRAIGHT AND PEOPLE LEARNED WHAT PLEASES YOU AND WERE SAVED BY WISDOM. WE STAND BEFORE YOU, HOLY SPIRIT, CONSCIOUS OF OUR SINFULNESS. COME WITH US, REMAIN WITH US AND ENLIGHTEN US. GUIDE US BY YOUR WISDOM, SUPPORT US BY YOUR POWER FOR YOU ARE GOD, SHARING THE GLORY OF FATHER AND SON. YOU DESERVE JUSTICE.

ENABLE US TO UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS. DO NOT ALLOW US TO BE MISLED BY IGNORANCE. UNITE US IN YOURSELF IN THE BOND OF LOVE AND KEEP US FAITHFUL TO ALL THAT IS TRUE AS WE GATHER IN YOUR NAME, MAY WE TEMPER JUSTICE SO ALL OUR DECISIONS MAY BE PLEASING TO YOU AND EARN THE REWARD PROMISED TO GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS. WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON, ONE GOD FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FATHER. ALL RIGHT.

THE FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 29, 30, AND 31. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE.

[00:10:01]

BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR RECOG RECOGNITIONS TODAY, WE DO HAVE THE BIG ITEM TODAY, WHICH IS OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FY24 BUDGET. WE ALSO HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA. NO ITEMS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION OTHER THAN THOSE BUDGET ITEMS. SO I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR ANY CONSIDERATION. FOR THE RECORD, ITEMS 21 THROUGH 23 WILL BE CONTINUED TO SEPTEMBER 21ST. SO BEFORE I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON CONTINUANCE OF THOSE ITEMS.

>> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE ITEMS 21, 22, AND 23.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CONTINUE ITEMS 21 THROUGH 23 TO SEPTEMBER 21ST. WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 21, 22, AND 23.

I'LL CALL THAT PERSON NOW. JOE MOST, ARE YOU HERE? JOE MOST.

WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEMS 21 THROUGH 23? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CONTINUE THOSE TO SEPTEMBER 21ST. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

FOR ITEMS 10 THROUGH 20. >> THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 10 THROUGH 20.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS SO I'LL GO IMMEDIATELY TO COUNCIL CONVERSATION. IF THERE'S ANY ITEMS TO HIGHLIGHT, NOW IS YOUR TIME TO DO THAT. I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE SO SIGNAL ME.

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT -- AND I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE WHICH ITEM IT IS. IT'S THE ITEM HONORING OR RENAMING ONE OF OUR FACILITIES, IT'S 19. ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE NAMING OF THE WALKER RANCH SENIOR CENTER DINING HALL AS THE HONORABLE JOE AND CYNDI KRIER DINING HALL. AND JOE KRIER'S TIME ON CITY COUNCIL AND SERVICE TO DISTRICT 9 PROVIDES A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS BUT NONE MORE VALUABLE THAN OUR COMMUNITY'S LONG STANDING INVESTMENT IN SENIOR CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.

FROM MILITARY VETERANS TO CIVIL SERVANTS TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND STAY AT HOME PARENTS WHO RAISE CHILDREN MATRICULATING THROUGH THE NORTH EAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, OUR SENIORS COMPRISE A GROUP OF TREMENDOUS VALUE . JOE KRIER RECOGNIZED THIS, TELLING FACT AND WORKED TO PUT THE FIRST DISTRICT 9 SENIOR FACILITY ON THE 2017 BOND.

ALTHOUGH IT INITIALLY FACED SOME PUSHBACK FROM SOME WHO BELIEVED THE PROJECT WAS NOT NEEDED IN DISTRICT 9, JOE WAS NOT DETERRED, IN FACT, AND BECAME MORE DETERMINED TO ENSURE SERVICES FOR OUR SENIORS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM TO ENJOY. TODAY THAT SENIOR CENTER HAS 5,300 MEMBERS FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE JOINED THAT CENTER.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT JOE KRIER SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE . SO HE MADE A LOT OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COMMUNITY. HIS WIFE HAS HER OWN RICH LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO SAN ANTONIO. CINDY WAS THE FIRST WOMAN AND FIRST REPUBLICAN TO REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO IN THE TEXAS SENATE AND SHE WENT ON TO BECOME OUR

[00:15:05]

I WANT TO THANK THE NAMING COMMITTEE, MELODY WOOSLEY, CARLOS, PAMELA, AND LOUIS FOR HEADING UP THE EFFORT TO NAME THE NEW DISTRICT 9 SENIOR CENTER HALL, THE HONORABLE JOE AND CYNDI KRIER DINING HALL. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST HAD A QUICK HIGHLIGHT. TONIGHT DISTRICT 10 IS GOING TO BE HOSTING OUR SECOND PUBLIC SAFETY TOWN HALL AT THEDORIS GRIFFIN SENIOR CENTER. THIS TOWN HALL IS GOING TO GIVE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 7 AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS CONCERN AND ENGAGE WITH CHIEF MCMANUS , DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOE GONZALES, OUR SAFE SERGEANTS, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CODE ENFORCEMENT.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: SAN ANTONIO COMMISSION ON STRENGTHENING FAMILY WELL-BEING.

JENNIFER NEAL IS A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE AND HAS A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES. SO HONORED TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I NEGLECTED TO SEE IF JOE AND CYNDI KRIER FOR ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY. I DIDN'T SEE THEM IN THE CROWD.

IF YOU'RE HERE, COULD YOU LET US KNOW? NO, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

IF THEY WERE, THEY MIGHT HAVE A WORD TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME

AGAIN, MAYOR. THAT'S ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S COMMENTS ON JOE AND CYNDI KRIER. THEY HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WE REALLY CAN'T UNDERSTATE THEIR SIGNIFICANCE AND HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 10 THROUGH 20? OKAY.

HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE ITEMS. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

AND WITH OUR LATINO HERITAGE. AS PART OF THAT, WE RECOGNIZE EVERY YEAR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION AND ASK OUR CONSUL GENERAL TO PLEASE COME FORWARD. WHEREAS HISTORY RECORDS SHOW THAT FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE ARE ATTAINED BY THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF PEACE-LOVING INDIVIDUALS AT A GREAT SACRIFICE AND OFTEN AFTER YEARS OF TURMOIL. AND WHEREAS SEVERAL LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES DECLARED THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER INCLUDING COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, CHILE, AND MEXICO INITIATING THEIR FIGHT FOR FREEDOM ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1810 WITH FATHER MIGUEL HIDALGO RINGING THE CHURCH BELLS FOR EL GRITO DE DELORES. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS, DIVERSE CULTURES AND EXTENSIVE HISTORIES AND WAS EXPANDED BY PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN IN 1988 TO COVER A 30-DAY PERIOD . WHEREAS IN 1994 SAN ANTONIO ESTABLISHED THE HERITAGE MONTH. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN

[00:20:01]

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AND RUBEN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A FEW COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE OR INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO EL GRITO THIS WEEK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TO THIS WONDERFUL COUNCIL. VERY FRIENDLY TO US ALWAYS. YES, YOU'RE ALL INVITED.

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW AT 6:00 P.M. AND WE'LL HAVE THE CIVIC CEREMONY AT 8:00 AND IT'S GOING TO BE FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY. WE HAVE LULAC AND ALL OUR ALLIES, FAMILIA CORTEZ AT MARKET SQUARE. PLEASE JOIN US.

YOU KNOW IT'S A FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT WHERE WE CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE WITH ALL OUR ALLIES AND FRIENDS AND WE REALLY ENJOY THIS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BECAUSE WE HAVE ALWAYS SHARED AN IDENTITY WITH SAN ANTONIO. WE ALL CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE TOGETHER AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR THIS JOINT AND SHARED IDENTITY IN CULTURE THAT WE ALWAYS FIND IN SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. INVITE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OUT TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION.

LIKE I SAID, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE DO HAVE IN THIS CITY.

NOW, IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE TO ANNOUNCE THAT TODAY THE CITY COUNCIL AND I ARE CELEBRATING WITH OUR UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, THE 76TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.

[APPLAUSE] AND TO RECOGNIZE THE HONORABLE SERVICE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN OUR AIR FORCE. HERE IN MILITARY CITY, USA, WE WANT TO SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE THE NEARLY 18,000 AIRMEN SERVING IN JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO.

IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO HOST THEM DURING THEIR TOUR WHILE THEY CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE APPROXIMATELY 525 CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES WHO ARE AIR FORCE VETERANS OR RETIREES WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF THE AIR FORCE RESERVE OR AIR NATIONAL GUARD. TODAY THEY CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE WORKING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. I MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE ONE AIR FORCE VETERAN SERVING ON OUR CITY COUNCIL, FORMER SECURITY FORCES DEFENDER JOHN COURAGE, COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT 9.

[APPLAUSE] ALSO FORMER SAN ANTONIO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER CARLOS CONTRERAS, WHO IS NOW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GOODWILL INDUSTRIES WAS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY BUT WAS UNABLE TODAY. HOWEVER, HIS CHIEF OF STAFF IS HERE WITH US ALONG WITH SEVERAL VETERANS FROM GOODWILL INDUSTRIES. [APPLAUSE] GOODWILL BUSINESS SERVICES PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT TO DISABLED VETERANS, MANY WHO WORK ON CONTRACTS WHO DIRECTLY SUPPORT AIR FORCE MISSIONS COURAGEOUS AMERICAN AIRMEN AND WOMEN HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE AIR FORCE'S MISSION IN EVERY CORNER OF THE EARTH. THE AIR FORCE HAS IS SPECIAL PLACE IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION AND IN SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY. IN 1910, THEN-ARMY CAPTAIN CLIMBED ABOARD ARMY AIRPLANE NO. 1 AND ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET AND A SPEED IN AUDIO] BECAME KNOWN AS THE BIRTH OF MILITARY FLIGHT AND FLOYD BECAME KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF MILITARY AVIATION. FORMER KELLY AIR FORCE BASE, NOW KELLY FIELD WAS NAMED IN HONOR OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL GEORGE E.M. KELLY, THE FIRST AMERICAN AVIATOR TO LOSE HIS LIFE WHILE PILOTING A MILITARY AIRCRAFT. HE PERISHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AN AIRCRAFT AT FORT SAM HOUSTON IN 1911. AIR POWER STARTS IN SAN ANTONIO AS EVERY ENLISTED AIRMEN IN THE AIR FORCE BEGINS THEIR CAREER ATTENDING BASIC MILITARY TRAINING OPERATED BY THE 37TH TRAINING WING AT JBSA LACKLAND.

ALL AIR FORCE SECURITY FORCES PERSONNEL OR DEFENDERS SUCH AS COUNCILMAN COURAGE AND ALL THE DEFENDANT OF DEFENSE'S MILITARY WORKING DOGS ALSO RECEIVED THEIR TRAINING AT LACKLAND.

WE ARE ALSO PROUD OF THE AIR FORCE MISSIONS CONDUCTED IN SAN ANTONIO THAT SHAPED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AIRMEN AND SUPPORT GLOBAL MILITARY OPERATIONS.

WE HOST THE LARGEST JOINT BASE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WHICH IS COMMANDED BY BRIGADIER GENERAL RUSSELL DRIGGERS. AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE HAVE AN UNPARALLELED CIVIL MILITARY

[00:25:05]

AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND, THE FIRST COMMAND COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL BRIAN ROBINSON IS HEADQUARTERED AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO RANDOLPH.

AETC IS THE PRIMARY AVIATION TRAINING AND COMMAND IN THE AIR FORCE.

THE DEPUTY COMMANDER OF AETC, MAJOR TODAY AND WE'LL HEAR FROM HIM MOMENTARILY. THE 16TH AIR FORCE COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL KEVIN KENNEDY, JR., IS LOCATED AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO LACKLAND AND INTEGRATES ELECTRONIC WARFARE AND INFORMATION CAPABILITIES TO ENSURE OUR AIR FORCE IS FAST, LETHAL AND INTEGRATED TO DEFEND OUR NATION.

MANY AIRMEN PERFORM CRITICAL MISSIONS AND PROUDLY CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME .

THESE UNITS INCLUDE THE AIR FORCE RESERVES' 433 AIR LIFT WING.

THERE ARE OTHER OFFICERS MISSIONS EXECUTED IN OUR GREAT CITY.

WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF ALL OF THEM AND WE ARE HONORED TO HOST THEM IN OUR CITY.

FINALLY, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO CELEBRATE THE 76TH BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER AIR FORCE HERE IN MILITARY CITY, USA. WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR CITY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AIR FORCE'S MOTTO TO FLY, FIGHT, AND WIN.

AIR POWER ANY TIME, ANYWHERE. TO THE NEARLY 590,000 RESERVE, NATIONAL GUARD AIRMEN, AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL EVERYWHERE, WE WISH YOU A HAPPY 76TH BIRTHDAY.

JOINING US IS MAJOR GENERAL JIM. AETC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECRUITING, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION OF AIR AND SPACE FORCE PERSONNEL.

AETC OPERATES 11 BASES, 24 WINGS, AND400 TRAINER, FIGHTER, AND MOBILITY AIRCRAFT AND COMMAND 60,000 ACTIVE DUTY RESERVE, GUARD, CIVILIAN, AND CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL, TRAIN MORE THAN 293,000 STUDENTS PER YEAR. MAJOR GENERAL SEARS IS A GRADUATE OF THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND A PILOT WITH MORE THAN 3600 FLYING HOURS TO INCLUDE TIME AS AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND THE F-16 FIGHTING FALCON.

GENERAL SEARS HAS AN EXTENSIVE COMBAT RECORD. SO, MAJOR GENERAL SEARS, WELCOME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD AND PROVIDE REMARKS. AGAIN, FROM ALL OF US TO YOU, A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

[APPLAUSE] >> MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVITATION, FOR THE WARM WELCOME, AND FOR THE WORDS ON THIS 76TH BIRTHDAY FOR THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF BEING WELCOMED INTO SAN ANTONIO WAS ACTUALLY IN MY FIRST PILOT INSTRUCTOR TRAINING CLASS IN 1997 AND SINCE THEN I HAVE SPENT NEARLY 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE LIVING AND MY CAREER HERE IN MILITARY CITY, USA GETTING TO EXPERIENCE THAT WARM WELCOME. AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE EMBRACED BY THE COMMUNITY AND TO HAVE PEOPLE AROUND ME ALL THOSE TIMES WHO REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT IT IS WE DO. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THE VETERANS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR OPENING AND ALSO THE AIR FORCE VETERANS WHO ARE HERE IN THE ROOM WITH US TODAY CELEBRATING OUR 76TH BIRTHDAY. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEM AND THEIR HONORABLE SERVICE, WE WOULD NOT BE THE WORLD'S GREATEST AIR FORCE TODAY. WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO CONTINUE THAT LEGACY. THANKS TO ALL OF THEM. IF EVERYONE WOULD JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE VETERANS TODAY. [APPLAUSE] THE AIR FORCE IS 76 IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND IS ACTUALLY 81 TRAINING HAS COME A LONG WAY FROM A YOUNG MAN SENT TO FORT SAM WITH THE GUIDANCE TEACH YOURSELF HOW TO FLY. AND ON THAT FIRST DAY, WHEN HE HOPPED INTO SC-1 AND GOT HIS FIRST SOLO TAKEOFF AND FIRST SOLO LANDING AND FIRST CRASH. AVIATION WAS BORN.

BUT AVIATION HAS COME A LONG WAY. THE RELATIONSHIP HERE IN SAN ANTONIO HAS COME A LONG WAY AND IN A COUPLE OF YEARS THE NEXT AIR FORCE TRAINING WILL BE RIGHT HERE AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO RANDOLPH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING NOT JUST THE 113 YEARS SINCE CAPTAIN FLOYD WAS HERE BUT THE NEXT 113 YEARS IN MILITARY CITY, USA . WHEN MY STAFF TOLD ME TO COME HERE THEY SAID THERE WAS CAKE.

[00:30:03]

MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN ME TO CUT THE CEREMONIAL CAKE. >> RETIRED FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL NOW WHEEL IN THE CAKE . AS THE CAKE IS WHEELED IN WOULD ALL AIR FORCE VETERANS COME FORWARD AND FORM UP BEHIND THE MAYOR AND MAJOR GENERAL SEARS.

I KNOW THERE'S MORE THAN ONE. YOU WERE ALL UP HERE THIS MORNING.

[APPLAUSE] TODAY'S AIRMEN HAVE PERFORMED ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THE FACE OF MULTIPLE CHALLENGES SUCH AS A PANDEMIC, NATURAL DISASTERS. THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND ITS MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED TO LIVING ITS MOTO AND CORE VALUES.

HAPPY 76TH BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE! [APPLAUSE]

>> WE'LL CONTINUE TO ENJOY SOME BIRTHDAY CAKE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

[APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT WAS ALL PART OF THE PLAN. SO LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AGAIN. TO OUR UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.

[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE TODAY FROM EDGEWOOD, I BELIEVE. AND I COULD ASK THEM TO STAND.

WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR GREAT EFFORTS ON VOTER REGISTRATION DURING HIGH SCHOOL VOTER REGISTRATION WEEK. WHEREAS YOUTH DO VOTE WILL OBSERVE HIGH SCHOOL REGISTRATION WEEK FROM OCTOBER 2 THROUGH 6, 2023. TO RAISE AWARENESS ON THE STATE'S HIGH SCHOOL VOTER REGISTRATION LAW AND ENCOURAGE CAMPUSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE VOTER REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS AND PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL DUTY AND PRIVILEGE TO EVERY TEXAN, INCLUDING OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. WHEREAS ALL ELIGIBLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR CITY ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXERCISE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE, WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE CORNERSTONE OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2 THROUGH 6 TO BE HIGH SCHOOL VOTER REGISTRATION WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. I BELIEVE -- SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

[00:35:01]

EDGEWOOD STUDENTS. COME ON UP. >> HI.

THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG. I'M HEATHER AND I'M HERE WITH ONE OF MY BOARD MEMBERS, WHO IS A TRINITY UNIVERSITY SOPHOMORE. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR HIGH SCHOOL VOTER REGISTRATION WEEK.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN COURAGE, HIS STAFF, AND APPOINTEES FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF TWO SAISD GRADUATES AND I'M A THIRD-GENERATION POLL WORKER. IN 1971 THE UNITED STATES RATIFIED THE 26TH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION LOWERING THE VOTING AGE FROM 21 TO 18 . IN 1983, STATE REP PAUL RAGSDALE, A STAUNCH CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE, INTRODUCED THE LAW WHICH REQUIRES HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE TO REGISTER ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TWICE PER YEAR.

THE LAW WAS ENACTED IN 1985. THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT LED STATEWIDE RESEARCH INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS VOTER REGISTRATION LAW AND IDENTIFIED NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO VOTER REGISTRATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TEXAS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE EARLIER IN AGE A PERSON VOTES, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO BECOME LIFELONG VOTERS. YOUTH DO VOTE, PARTNERED WITH UTSA, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION, AND BEXAR COUNTY TO HOST THE INAUGURAL YOUTH VOTER FEST, A CELEBRATION OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. AT THE UTSA DOWNTOWN CAMPUS TO KICKOFF HIGH SCHOOL VOTER REGISTRATION WEEK. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AN OPEN INVITATION TO ALL OF YOU TO ATTEND THE YOUTH VOTER FEST AND TAKE PART IN THE OPPORTUNITIES THE EVENT WILL OFFER AND ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AS THEY LEARN ABOUT THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ELECTIONS PROCESS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A LOCAL GROUP TO WHOM WE ALL OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE. EDUCATORS VOTER REGISTRATION INITIATIVE.

MY COLLEAGUE, DAN BOWLEN IS SOMEWHERE HERE. IT WAS FOUNDED IN 2014 BY A GROUP OF RETIRED EDUCATORS WHOSE MISSION IS TO REGISTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO VOTE.

I BEGAN VOLUNTEERING WITH THEM AND I'M SCHEDULED TO VISIT THREE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS IN THREE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. EVERY HAS REGISTERED MORE THAN 30,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SINCE 2014. THANK YOU. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING.

WITH THAT, LET US REMEMBER IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A VOTER.

WHEN WE TAKE THE TIME TO TEACH AND MENTOR AN EMERGING ADULT AND CITIZEN, YOUTH DO VOTE.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE YOUTH VOTER FEST. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I DID MISSPEAK. THERE ARE MULTIPLE DISTRICTS INVOLVED IN SCHOOL CAMPUSES.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO YOUTH DO VOTE. NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE RESTORE EDUCATION AND THEIR WORK THIS WEEK. WHEREAS RESTORE EDUCATION WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY WEEK, SEPTEMBER 18 THROUGH 23, 2023 TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEED FOR AND VALUE OF ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY. AND WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND 21% OF RESIDENTS 18 YEARS AND OLDER ARE WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED AND 62% OF ALL TEXAS JOBS REQUIRE SOME LEVEL OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR TRAINING. WHEREAS RESTORE EDUCATION, WHO HAS SERVED MORE THAN 19,000 INDIVIDUALS SINCE 2008 SERVES AS A LEAD PROVIDER FOR THE ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY ALAMO CONSORTIUM THAT INCLUDES THE ALAMO COLLEGES, EACH ONE TEACH ONE, NORTH EAST ISD, NORTHSIDE ISD, SAN ANTONIO ISD, SOUTHWEST ISD, AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE.

WHEREAS THE AEL ALAMO CONSORTIUM PROVIDES HIGH-VALUE, LOW-COST ADULT EDUCATION AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS THAT INCLUDE PATHWAYS FOR CITIZENS TO BREAK THE CYCLES OF POVERTY THROUGH LITERACY AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 18 THROUGH 23, 2023 TO BE NATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.

AND FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND LITERACY EFFORTS IN SAN ANTONIO THROUGH THIS PROCLAMATION. I'M KELLY RHODES, THE CEO OF RESTORE EDUCATION AND I'M HONORED TO CELEBRATE THIS ALONGSIDE OUR WONDERFUL PARTNERS BEHIND ME, WHO YOU MENTIONED. ALAMO COLLEGES, NORTH SIDE, NORTHEAST, SAN ANTONIO, SOUTHWEST ISD, AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE. OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR CONSORTIUM WORK INCREDIBLY HARD TO SERVE OVER 5,000 INDIVIDUALS IN SAN ANTONIO.

[00:40:03]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. GREAT WORK.

ALL RIGHT. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WITH A RECOGNITION. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR ONE OF MY PREDECESSORS TODAY, FORMER COUNCILMAN JOE WEBB. THERE HAS BEEN A VOID HARD TO FILL FOR DECADES AND A STANDARD THAT'S BEEN RAISED THAT HAS BEEN HARD FOR MANY TO MEET. THERE ARE MANY GIANTS IN THE COMMUNITY, MANY WHO ARE LIVING TODAY AND WHEN THEY'RE GONE THEY CAN NEVER BE REPLACED AND IF YOU DON'T GET TO MEET THEM, SHARE SPACE WITH THEM, HEAR THEIR STORIES, LEARN HISTORY FROM THEM, AND HONOR THEM WHILE THEY'RE HERE, YOU'LL REGRET WHAT YOU HAVE MISSED.

ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 WE LOST COUNCILMAN JOE WEBB SENIOR WHO SERVED DISTRICT 2 FOR 14 YEARS. HE IS THE LONGEST-SERVING COUNCILMAN NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT 2 HISTORY BUT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY. COUNCILMAN WEBB WAS THE FIRST COUNCILMEMBER ELECTED TO DISTRICT 2 UNDER SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS.

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY THIS SATURDAY TO CELEBRATE JOE WEBB DAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME VINCENT WEBB UP TO ACCEPT THIS CERTIFICATE HONORING HIS FATHER AND TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON BEHALF OF JOE WEBB SR.

FOUNDATION. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE THIS DAY.

PLEASE COME OUT SATURDAY 16TH AT COMANCHE PARK, JOE WEBB DAY.

WE INVITE YOU ALL. GOD BLESS YOU. NOON TO 10:00 P.M. AT NIGHT.

NOON TO 10:00 P.M. HAVE A BLESSED DAY. [APPLAUSE]

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH AND EVERYBODY MAKE SURE TO COME OUT NOON TO 10:00 P.M.

IT IS ALWAYS A FUN TIME ON THE EAST SIDE. COME HONOR ONE OF OUR DISTRICT

2 LEGENDS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA

GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS MORNING I WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF AVANCE.

TODAY MARKS EXACTLY 50 YEARS SINCE AVANCE WAS INCORPORATED AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

TWO WEEKS AFTER DR. GLORIA RODRIGUEZ BECAME THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE AVANCE PROGRAM IN SAN ANTONIO. THE FIRST AVANCE CLASSES WERE HELD AT THE MIRSOL FEDERAL HOUSING PROJECT. TWO CORNELL GRADUATE STUDENTS PILOTED A MOTHER-INFANT PROGRAM IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF DALLAS, TEXAS. IMPRESSED BY THE PROGRAM, MR. WILLIAM ZALE PROVIDED SEED FUNDING TO REPRESENT THIS PROGRAM IN SAN ANTONIO.

THEY FOUND 25-YEAR-OLD DR. GLORIA G. RODRIGUEZ, A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE AND LOCAL TEACHER WHO WAS COMMITTED PARENTING EDUCATION, A RELATIVELY NEW CONCEPT IN THE '70S, AS A WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. SHE HAPPENED TO BE THE FIRST CERTIFIED BILINGUAL TEACHER AT NORTHSIDE ISD AND DEVELOPED HER OWN CURRICULUM. THROUGHOUT AVANCE'S HISTORY, THE ORGANIZATION HAS RECEIVED BROAD RECOGNITION FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

NOTABLE VISITS FROM NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DIGNITARIES INCLUDE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, KING CHARLES III AND HILLARY CLINTON, BARBARA AND LAURA BUSH.

AVANCE HAS BEEN FEATURED IN NEW YORK TIMES, WORLD NEWS TONIGHT AND GOOD MORNING AMERICA ALONG WITH SEVERAL SOCIAL DOCUMENTARIES SUCH AS OUNCE OF PREVENTION, SCARED SILENT, AND NO SMALL MATTER. AVANCE HAS BEEN A TRUSTED PARTNER, MEETING INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY ARE ON THEIR JOURNEY TO EMPOWER THEM TO SUCCEED AND TO KICKOFF A YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION, AVANCE WILL BE HOSTING AN EVENT TONIGHT TO HONOR DR. GLORIA RODRIGUEZ, RECOGNIZING HER DECADES OF TIRELESS SERVICE. THE YEAR-LONG FESTIVITIES WILL CONTINUE AT EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN AUSTIN, THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, WASHINGTON,

[00:45:01]

WORDS. WE WOULD WELCOME THEM. >> GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR.

WE ARE SO THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS VERY MOMENTOUS EVENT IN OUR HISTORY, 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY BUT ALSO TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE WERE BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND TODAY WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST EARLY CHILDHOOD ORGANIZATIONS SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONOR AND WE ALSO THANK YOU FOR HONORING DR. GLORIA RODRIGUEZ AND THE WORK THAT SHE DID TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. WE'RE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE HER THIS EVENING AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE HONORING HER IN THE DIEZ Y SEIS PARADE. SHE'S THE HONORABLE MARSHAL FOR THAT EVENT SO WE INVITE FOLKS TO CELEBRATE WITH US AS WE EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY TO SET THE PATH FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS OF SERVING YOUNG CHILDREN, OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN, WHO WE KNOW WITH OUR INVESTMENTS AND AS A COMMUNITY AS WE SURROUND THEM AND GIVE THEM THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED, THEY BECOME OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THIS EVENING OR AT THE PARADE.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

LOOK FORWARD TO THE BIG GALA NEXT YEAR AS WELL. NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE DR. GOLD WHO JOINS US HERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU AND MACRI HAVE DONE TO UPLIFT OUR MEXICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

I AM CERTAIN THAT MANY OF YOU ALL ARE ALREADY WELL AWARE OF THE EXCITING NEWS THAT [INDISCERNIBLE] WILL GRACE OUR UNITED STATES CURRENCY. IT'S SIGNIFICANT NOT ONLY FOR PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO BUT FOR MEXICAN AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS.

JOVITA WAS A DEDICATED EDUCATOR BORN TO A NEWSPAPER EDITOR AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST SHE SPENT HER FORMATIVE YEARS IN LAREDO. AS A JOURNALIST SHE DEDICATED HERSELF TO SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICE FACED BY MEXICAN AMERICANS IN THE HEART OF TEXAS . JOVITA PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST MEXICAN CONGRESS. DURING HER TIME IN SAN ANTONIO SHE ESTABLISHED A FREE KINDERGARTEN, EXTENDING HER INFLUENCE TO THE REALM OF EDUCATION.

THIS WEEKEND MARKS THE COMMENCEMENT OF A SERIES OF EXCITING EVENTS AND I'M THRILLED TO BE PART OF THE CELEBRATION ALONGSIDE MACRI AND DRESS FOR SUCCESS SAN ANTONIO.

TOGETHER WE WILL COMMEMORATE THIS RECOGNITION WITH THE LAUNCH OF A COMMUNITY MURAL HONORING THE LEGACY OF JOVITA. LET US ALL COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE ENDURING LEGACY OF A CHAMPION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO INVITE DR. SARAH GOLD IN SHARING SOME OF THE EVENTS. >> GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME HERE, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.

THIS IS AN AUSPICIOUS DAY. ON THIS DAY IN 1911 CONGRESS GATHERED FOR A WEEK-LONG SYMPOSIUM, OUR CONFERENCE, IN LAREDO, TEXAS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND EDUCATIONAL ISSUES. CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES IMPACTING PEOPLE OF MEXICAN DESCENT IN TEXAS. THE GATHERING WAS ORGANIZED BY THE IDAR FAMILY, INCLUDING JOVITA, WHO LATER MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO WHERE SHE SPENT THE SECOND HALF OF HER LIFE ON PEREZ STREET IN DISTRICT 5 . TODAY THAT AREA DOESN'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE IT DID WHEN JOVITA LIVED THERE. BUT SHE LEAVES A LEGACY THAT WE

[00:50:07]

SHE IS NOW THE VERY FIRST TEJANA FEATURED ON ANY U.S. CURRENCY.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AT MACRI AND I WANT TO THANK THE U.S. MINT AND THE SMITHSONIAN FOR SELECTING US TO BE THEIR PARTNER IN HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL NONPROFITS

ACROSS THE CITY . >> CASTILLO: GREAT. THANK YOU, SARAH.

[APPLAUSE] >> CASTILLO: AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK DR. GONZALES, WHO IS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO WHO HAS

UNCOVERED THE HISTORY OF JOVITA. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND THANK YOU, SARAH TO YOUR STAFF AND YOUR ENTIRE BOARD AS WELL FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. NOW BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. SORRY, I TOOK THAT FROM YOU FASTER THAN I THOUGHT.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. IT'S ANOTHER FUN ONE. SINCE THE FIRST SAN ANTONIO GRIDIRON SHOW IN 1985, MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO PRO CHAPTER -- PROFESSIONAL CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS HAVE ENTERTAINED US WITH A SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE-STYLE MUSICAL COMEDY WITH WITTY, ORIGINAL SKITS, BAD JOKES, DANCING JOURNALISTS, HILARIOUS VIDEOS, AND LIVE MUSIC. THE PROCEEDS OF GRID-IRON TICKET SALES AND SPONSORSHIPS GO TO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATIONS. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS AI, ABSOLUTE INSANITY.

I'M SURE THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS AND DANCES WILL BE IMPRESSIVE AND THE RECENT WORK SESSIONS HAVE PROVIDED THE PRODUCERS WITH PLENTY OF MATERIAL FOR INSPIRATION.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS YEAR'S EVENT. THERE WILL BE TWO SHOWS, THIS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16 AT THE BUENA VISTA THEATER AT THE DOWNTOWN CAMPUS OF UTSA.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO PLAN THIS EVENT. THERE'S BEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE OVER THE PAST DECADES WHO HAVE HELPED ORGANIZE AND PRODUCE GRIDIRON AND THERE'S SO MANY TO NAME BUT WE THANK THEM ALL.

SEVERAL CURRENT AND FORMER JOURNALISTS HAVE MADE THE SHOW MEMORABLE AND A FUN WAY TO KEEP OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS GROUNDED. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A SPECIAL D4 RESIDENT, MICHAEL QUINTANILLA. FOR TEN YEARS FOR CREATING SOME SPECTACULAR VIDEOS FEATURING ELECTED OFFICIALS DANCING TO POPULAR HITS AT THE GRIDIRON SHOW.

WE MAY NOT ALL BE GREAT DANCERS OR FASHIONISTAS BUT HE MAKES SURE WE HAVE FUN AND REMINDS US HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO TAKE A MOMENT TO LAUGH. HE JUST IS POSITIVITY AND I WANT TO THANK HIM AND RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. MICHAEL, I THINK YOU'RE HERE TODAY.

I THINK I SAW YOU -- THERE YOU ARE, MICHAEL. PERFECT! [APPLAUSE] SO HE'S DANCING WITHOUT MUSIC. MICHAEL, OFFICIALLY INVITE US.

>> CAN I BORROW YOUR JACKET? [LAUGHTER] IT'S A DEAL.

IT'S A DEAL, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. ALL OF YOU, YOU GUYS ARE SO FABULOUS.

I AM SO DEEPLY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION, THIS DECADE OF DANCING.

BY THE WAY, THIS SUIT I'M WEARING, 150 YEARS OF HEADLINES FROM THE "SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS." SO IT'S A FUN THING TO WEAR. SO AT THE START OF ALL THIS, MAYOR, I CHALLENGED MYSELF TO DANCE FOR TEN YEARS ACROSS SAN ANTONIO AND TO DO IT WITH JOY.

AND I'VE DONE IT WITH SO MANY OF YOU. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE, YOU STOOD ON YOUR TABLE WITH A DISCO BALL ABOVE YOUR HEAD. THE MAYOR AND ERIKA, OUR LOVELY FIRST LADY.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN LAST YEAR, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND OF COURSE COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA. WE DANCED WITH 300 HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS DURING COVID. WE WERE ALL MASKED UP, OF COURSE.

ANYWAY, ACROSS MY HOMETOWN, OUR BELOVED RESIDENTS, AND DURING THE COVID YEARS.

THAT VIDEO ITSELF LED TO -- FROM DANCING WITH HEROES TO MARCHING WITH HEROES AND WE WERE FEATURED IN THE FLAMBEAU PARADE. 300 FIRST RESPONDERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AS A RESULT OF THAT. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND I OFFER MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THIS

[00:55:02]

TEN YEARS OF DANCING, A DECADE OF DANCING. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE EVERYONE TO FUNKY TOWN FOR THIS MASH UP AND WE'RE DANCING TO GLORIA GAYNOR'S I WILL SURVIVE.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT. UH-HUH.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHAEL. WE'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MICHAEL. GOOD LUCK TO THE CAST AND CREW. WE CERTAINLY ENJOY THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT THEY DO. [LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT.

[ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING]

AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS AND ANYONE WHO HAS SAT IN THE CHAMBERS DURING A BUDGET MEETING BEFORE KNOWS THAT IT'S FAIRLY SCRIPTED. WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF THINGS WE'VE GOT TO GET THROUGH, PROCEDURALLY, TO BRING THIS BUDGET TO FRUITION. WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION PERIOD. ITEMS 4 THROUGH 9 WILL BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER WITH SEPARATE ACTION. DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BEFORE WE GET EVERYTHING STARTED? AND THEN I'LL GET INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> WALSH: MAYOR, I THINK DEBBIE'S GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT THERE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MADAME CLERK. >> AGENDA ITEM NO. 4.

ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL CONSOLIDATED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FISCAL YEAR 2024 THAT BEGINS OCTOBER 1; APPROVIN PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE FY 202 TO FY 2028 FIVE-YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PLAN; APPROVING THE FY 2024 TO FY 202 SIX-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO; APPROVING CERTAIN CONTRACTS; PROVIDING FOR A ONE-TIME ANNUITY INCREASE FOR RETIREES AND THEIR BENEFICIARIE AND A REVISION TO THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION RATE IN CONNECTION WITH THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM; AUTHORIZING PERSONNEL COMPLEMENTS; APPROPRIATING FUNDS; AND

AMENDING RELATED ORDINANCES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S ITEM NO. 4.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO INTO ITEM 4. ERIK.

>> WALSH: LET ME WALK THROUGH THE MEMO THAT WAS SENT TO THE COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.

BUT BEFORE I DO, LET ME PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE HAVE GOTTEN TO TODAY BEGAN IN APRIL WITH THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET WORK SESSION AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITIES. THAT WE MOVED INTO A MAY PRESENTATION OF THE COUNCIL ON THE TRIAL BUDGET AND OUR FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST.

IN JUNE -- IN MAY AND JUNE WE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL OUR FIRST INDEPENDENTLY-COMMISSIONED COMMUNITY SURVEY ON BUDGET PRIORITIES AND WE SHARED THAT WITH YOU IN JUNE. WE TOOK THAT INFORMATION AND DEVELOPED THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOCUSED IN FOUR MAIN AREAS THAT ALIGNED WITH THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES IN APRIL AND THE PUBLIC'S FEEDBACK FROM THE BUDGET SURVEY.

ONE, PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WHICH THE COUNCIL TOOK ACTION IN JUNE TO DOUBLE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. AND THEN WITH A PROPOSED SLIGHT DECREASE IN OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE. TWO, CONTINUING TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO SAFE.

THREE, CONTINUING TO ENHANCE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. AND, FOUR, IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE'RE EMBARKING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN A NUMBER OF AREAS WHERE WE HAVE NEVER DONE WORK AND IMPROVED AND MAINTAINED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT'S THE ALLEY MAINTENANCE PLAN, INCLUDING SHADE STRUCTURES OVER PLAYGROUNDS AND INCLUDED TRAFFIC MARKINGS, WHICH WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR IN OUR CONVERSATIONS BEGINNING IN THE SPRING. THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES NEW TECHNOLOGIES LIKE RADAR SPEED SIGNS AND POTENTIALLY FLASHING STOP SIGNS AS POTENTIALLY WILL BE AMENDED BY YOU HERE SHORTLY. AND THOSE ARE ALL NEW ASSETS TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE HOW WE'RE

[01:00:05]

FIVE POLICE ACADEMIES. THE CITY HAS NEVER ADDED THIS MANY POLICE OFFICERS AT ONCE SO IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ADHERING AND ON TRACK TO GET TO A 60% PROACTIVE TIME FOR PATROL OFFICERS IS WELL UNDERWAY. THERE ARE 41 FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND IN THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE YOU TODAY.

IMPROVING EMS RESOURCES, BOTH ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF TOWN AND THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF TOWN. BETWEEN POLICE AND FIRE, DEPENDING ON THE AMENDMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE, WE'LL BE EXPANDING THE SA CORE SERVICES AND AVAILABILITY TO 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT IT, HAS A 26% INCREASE IN ACS, 29 POSITIONS.

THE PRIMARY FOCUSES ARE ENFORCEMENT, SPAY AND NEUTER, AND HELPING OUR RESCUE PARTNERS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU SETS ASIDE FUNDING TO OPEN UP TWO ADDITIONAL SPAY AND NEUTER STOREFRONTS IN PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE IN DIRE NEED OF THOSE TYPES OF FREE AND LOW-COST SERVICES.

AND WE'RE EAGER TO WORK TO IMPLEMENT THOSE INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

HOMELESSNESS WAS A TOP ITEM WE HEARD, BOTH AT THE COUNCIL IN APRIL AND THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WE HEARD IN THE BUDGET SURVEY. SO AS WE LAID OUT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND YOU HEARD IN THE BUDGET WORK SESSION, WE ARE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT POSITION THAN WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST WHERE WE HAVE AVAILABILITY OF PLACES TO TAKE PEOPLE.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO REPORT ON WITH THE COUNCIL BUT IT IS CLEAR WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT, COMPASSIONATE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THE OUTREACH, THE ASSESSMENT, AND HELPING THOSE FOLKS GET INTO SHELTER.

WE'RE USING A LITTLE OVER $15 MILLION OF ARPA DOLLARS TO LEASE AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT ITEM TO THE COUNCIL AGENDA HERE IN SEVERAL WEEKS, TO LEASE A FACILITY AS A LOW-BARRIER SHELTER OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT AND ONLY THE FIRST STEP OF MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DECISIONS THAT THE COUNCIL'S MADE THAT ARE UNDERWAY REGARDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND CONTINUING TO CLOSELY WORK WITH OUR PARTS LIKE SAM, HAVEN FOR HOPE, AND OTHERS.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THIS BUDGET AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE BEFORE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT BEGAN IN APRIL.

IT DIDN'T BEGIN IN AUGUST. IT BEGAN IN APRIL AND I THINK THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY CONSISTENT FROM A FOCUS AREA. SO THE MEMO THAT I SENT OUT LAST NIGHT IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR TWO-YEAR -- OUR FINANCIAL POLICY TO MAINTAIN A TWO-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU SEE THAT WE'LL WALK THROUGH HERE SHORTLY MAINTAIN A PROPOSED BUDGET BALANCED FOR FY24 AND IN OUR FY25 PLAN. A TOTAL OF 25 AMENDMENTS ARE RECOMMENDED, OF WHICH 23 ARE FUNDED FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $20 MILLION.

FROM BETTER THAN ANTICIPATED CPS REVENUE IN AUGUST AND OUR SEPTEMBER PROJECTIONS.

AND THAT DOES TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE OFFSET FROM OUR LOWER THAN EXPECTED SALES TAX. TWO OF THE PROPOSED ITEMS ARE BEING FUNDED THROUGH OUR CONSTRUCTION INFLATION RESERVE ACCOUNT -- AND I'LL POINT THOSE OUT WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE LIST. SO FOR EVERYBODY -- FOR THE PUBLIC, AND AS WE TALKED EARLIER IN THE WEEK, WE UPDATED THE COUNCIL AND HAVE RECEIVED SALES TAX THROUGH THE MONTH OF AUGUST. IT WAS $1.6 MILLION BELOW OUR ESTIMATED PROJECTION.

AS I HAVE INCLUDED IN THE AUGUST 10 OPERATING BUDGET. 10 PROPOSED BUDGET.

WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ON TUESDAY FROM OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

THE CITY PAYMENT FROM CPS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST WAS $17.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN BUDGETED. AS WE SHARED WITH YOU ON TUESDAY, THAT INCREASE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY BEING DRIVEN BY OFF-SYSTEM SALES WITH THE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN AUGUST AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THE STATE AND ERCOT SYSTEM HAD TO MEET DEMANDS ACROSS THE STATE.

[01:05:05]

ADDITIONALLY, BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, AS WE SHARED WITH YOU ON TUESDAY, WE REEVALUATED AND INCREASED OUR EXPECTED SEPTEMBER PAYMENT BASED ON THIS INFORMATION BY $4.3 MILLION.

SO TWO OTHER THINGS THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IN THE MEMO THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY AMENDMENTS, THEY'RE JUST REALLOCATIONS. A $350,000 REALLOCATION FROM A LIGHTING PROGRAM TO CONSTRUCT FOOD STALL COURTS AT THE BONNIE CONNOR PARK WITHIN DISTRICT 8. AND THIS CAME UP SEVERAL TIMES DURING SOME OF OUR WORK SESSIONS. WE ARE SETTING ASIDE $1.4 MILLION IN THAT AVAILABLE ARPA DOLLARS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS ON CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION. AND THAT CONVERSATION THAT WILL BE OCCURRING, I SUSPECT, SHORTLY. BASED ON SOME OF THE CONVERSATION THIS WEEK AND SOME OF THE CONVERSATION I HAVE HAD WITH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WILL BE DIRECTING THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION TO PERFORM A PROCESS REVIEW OF OUR NAMP PROGRAM TO TRY TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS. NOW, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF REQUEST, SOMETIMES THOSE DO TAKE LONGER THAN OTHERS. BUT I'M CERTAIN THAT WE CAN UNKINK SEVERAL PARTS OF THE HOSE TO MAKE THAT MOVE A LITTLE BIT QUICKER. IT'S LIKELY BEEN SOMETIME BEFORE WE'VE REALLY -- IT'S LIKELY BEEN SOME TIME SINCE WE REALLY LOOKED AT THAT PROCESS.

SO, I'LL WALK THROUGH THE ITEMS ON HERE. ITEM NO. 1 IS EXPANDING THE SA CORE TEAMS TO 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THAT DOES INCLUDE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING A FOCUS ON THE PEAK PERIODS. AND I KNOW WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL AS WE REPORT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND THE FULL COUNCIL ON THE EFFECTIVENESS. AS A REMINDER, TWO TEAMS ARE IN THE QUEUE AND SCHEDULED TO START IN JANUARY OF '24. THESE THREE WILL BEGIN NEXT SUMMER. NUMBER TWO, THE ACS STOREFRONT SPAY AND NEUTER CENTERS.

ONE IN THE AREA OF 1, 5, AND 7 AND ANOTHER ONE IN DISTRICT 2. NUMBER THREE, THE BALLISTIC BLAS FOR POLICE VEHICLES. FOUR, A $100,000 INCREASE PER COUNCIL DISTRICT FOR NAMP.

ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PRINT BUDGET RESOURCES BY COUNCIL DISTRICT.

OPPORTUNITY HOME ACCESSIBILITY AND OPERATIONS FUND. AND AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED YESTERDAY OR ASKED ME YESTERDAY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND THAT THROUGH OUR CDBG ALLOCATIONS AND POTENTIALLY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AS WE GO INTO FISCAL YEAR '24. THE CHILDREN'S REHABILITATION INSTITUTE TELETON USA, A MILLION DOLLARS, $500,000 OVER EACH FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

NO. 8, MORGAN'S WONDERLAND INCLUSION FOUNDATION . THAT WAS ADJUSTED TO $950,000, BASED ON YESTERDAY'S CONVERSATION. ACCELERATING OUR ACS PLAN.

AS I LAID OUT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WAS A THREE-YEAR PLAN TO GET TO OUR 100% OF OUR CRITICAL 3-1-1 CALLS. THIS AMENDMENT ACCELERATES MY ACCELERATED PLAN BUT STARTS THAT IN FISCAL YEAR '25. NO. 10, AIR SERVICE INCENTIVE FUND TO BE COUPLED WITH THE PROGRAM THAT THE AIRPORT CURRENTLY HAS WITH THE USE OF UNDER FAA GUIDELINES.

NO. 11, THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. NO. 12, ASSIST CHILD SAFE IN THE DEBT PAYMENTS THAT THEY HAVE AS AN ORGANIZATION. NO. 13, 100 FLASHING STOP SIGNS. NO. 14, URBAN CHAMPIONS ACADEMY.

[01:10:03]

IT'S THE $50,000 FOR THE STUDENTS OF SERVICE PROGRAM. NO. 23, A CHANGE FROM YESTERDAY AT ZERO COST. WE'LL MOVE A VACANT POSITION FROM METRO HEALTH FOR A GRANT COORDINATOR. THAT INDIVIDUAL I'M RECOMMENDING REPORT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES COORDINATOR AND NOT THE INNOVATION DEPARTMENT AS PROPOSED TO THE COUNCIL. BUT I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO KEEP ALL THOSE TOGETHER. NO. 24 AND 25 ARE BEING FUNDED FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION INFLATION RESERVE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET. AND THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS FOR CUELLAR PARK AND A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO THE KELLY HERITAGE FOUNDATION FOR THE ONGOING WORK THEY'RE DOING THE RAISE MONEY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MUSEUM THERE AT KELLY.

SO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THAT IS THE $20.014 MILLION IN AMENDMENTS THAT I PROVIDED TO YOU AND THAT IS BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK FOR THAT. AS YOU KNOW, ITEMS 4 THROUGH 9 ARE BUDGET RELATED, PROCEDURAL, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ENTIRETY OF THE BUDGET NOW. AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION ALONG WITH OUR ACTION. SO I'LL CALL FOLKS IN ORDER OF SIGN UP.

INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. GROUPS CAN HAVE UP TO NINE.

I'LL CALL IN ORDER OF SIGN UP AND ALSO CALL THE NEXT NAME ON THE LIST.

IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO COME FORWARD. SO, FIRST, WE HAVE ROSE HILL

FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, DISTRICT 2, JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. MY NAME IS ROSE HILL, PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE ASSOCIATION. I'M A SENIOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE ROUNDTABLE DISTRICT 2.

I FEEL THAT DISTRICT 2 HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET .

WE HAD TWO BUDGET MEETINGS IN DISTRICT 2 BUT NO NUMBERS WERE ACKNOWLEDGED TO US AND IT'S A 600-PAGE COMPLEX BUDGET, AS Y'ALL EXPLAINED HERE. AS LEADERS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE BE EDUCATED AND WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BUDGET SO THAT WE, AS LEADERS, VOTED IN BY OUR COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE TO GO BACK AND ALSO EXPLAIN, SIMPLIFY THE BUDGETS TO OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. I THINK TRANSPARENCY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY LENS. WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY LENS LOOKING THROUGH THAT LENS AS A COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

TODAY I'M NOT HERE TO ATTACK OR CRITICIZE OUR COUNCILMAN, I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN REACHING OUT TO US AS LEADERS OF GOVERNMENT HILL AND ALL THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT 2. I BELIEVE SINCE YOU'VE COME IN IN JUNE YOU HAVEN'T COME TO ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT'S MEETINGS AND WE ARE THE LEADERS THAT WORK WHOLEHEARTEDLY, JUST AS THE CITY COUNCIL DO AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE ARE VOLUNTEERS. WE DON'T GET PAID. AND ALL WE ASK IS FOR FULL COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FROM MY COUNCILMAN TODAY IS THAT YOU STEP UP AND LEAD TOGETHER WITH US IN HAND AND FOLLOW THE PATH OF ALL THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 2. WE MUST COME TOGETHER IF WE WANT TO SUCCEED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND SENIORS.

THOUGH MANY OF THESE BUDGET MEETINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS

[01:15:02]

SO THEREFORE, COUNCILMAN, I'M ASKING AND PLEADING WITH YOU TO CREATE A CITIZENS OVERSIGHT BUDGET COMMITTEE WHERE WE THE LEADERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY THAT WORK WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOU IN THE DISTRICT 2 CAN COME TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND THAT. I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SERVE ON THAT BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. HILL. JACK FINGER.

YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY GUILLERMO VASQUEZ. >> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YES.

IN OUR BUDGET IT'S LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POTHOLES. IT'S LIKE WE HAVE TOO MANY POLICEMEN ON OUR FORCE. TOO MANY FIREMEN TAKING CARE OF ALL OUR FIRES AND SO FORTH.

SO CONSEQUENTLY YOU, AS A CITY COUNCIL, HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AND PLACE IT INTO A SO-CALLED REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. THE IDEA OF THIS FUND IS TO -- WELL, MS. CASTILLO, EARLIER, ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO YOU SAID WE NEED NOT WORRY THAT THIS MONEY IS NOT GOING TO HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION AND LODGING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET ABORTIONS OUT OF STATE. WELL, I'M SORRY, MS. CASTILLO BUT KSAT TV NEWS PUT THE LIE TO THAT, EXPOSED IN YOUR VERY OWN LITERATURE. SO WHAT EXACTLY -- DO Y'ALL REALLY REALIZE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS? YOU SAY IT'S GOING TO GO TO CONTRACEPTIVES, BIRTH CONTROL DEVICES. DO YOU REALIZE THAT BIRTH CONTROL PILLS AND THE ABORTION PILL, THEY ESSENTIALLY DO KILL OFF THE FETUS IN MOTHER'S WOMB? DO YOU -- MR. AUDIO-VISUAL -- HERE'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WHAT DOES THE TAXPAYER FINANCE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND, WHAT WILL IT ACTUALLY PRODUCE? WELL, IN A NUTSHELL THAT RIGHT THERE. ABORTION.

A DEAD BABY. AND IF THAT LOOKS FAIRLY OUTRAGEOUS TO YOU, WELL, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. PLEASE RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. ABORTION. THAT'S THE REALITY OF IT ALL.

WHY NOT -- WHY NOT TAKE THIS MONEY AND PLACE IT INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL TRULY HELP WOMEN THROUGH THEIR PREGNANCIES? YES.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS PREGNANCY CARE CENTERS AROUND TOWN THAT COULD USE THIS MONEY.

NUMEROUS INITIATIVES TO HELP WOMEN THROUGH THEIR PREGNANCY AND AFTERWARDS.

WE HAVE -- MR. COURAGE, YOU MENTIONED THE BABY -- SAFE BABY INITIATIVE AT THE FIRE STATIONS. WELL, THAT'S GOOD. PLEASE DON'T HYPOCRITICALLY VOTE FOR ABORTION INITIATIVE. OKAY? IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS. CONSEQUENTLY, THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW COPIES OF ALL

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

GUILLERMO VASQUEZ. MR. VASQUEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY FAITH AWONGER.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GUILLERMO VASQUEZ AND I'M THE AREA FIELD SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES HERE IN TEXAS. WE'RE THE THIRD LARGEST UNION IN THE UNITED STATES.

LOCAL 2021 IS OUR LOCAL CHAPTER THAT REPRESENTS ROUGHLY 10,150 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES HERE.

[01:20:01]

BEFORE I GET INTO MY PRESENTATION, THOUGH, I DO WANT TO BRAG A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR GREAT, AWESOME CITY EMPLOYEES. LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM.

CITY EMPLOYEES DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP OUR CITY RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

AND I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB. MOST OF THE TIME THEY WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO PICK UP YOUR GARBAGE, TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC WITH ALL TYPES OF SERVICES. THEY MAINTAIN OUR STREETS, OUR PARKS, AIRPORT, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND CONVENTION CENTER. I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON.

THERE'S MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MENTIONED HERE.

BUT CITY EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO CLERICAL, PROFESSIONAL, SKILLED CRAFT, EDUCATORS, LIBRARIANS, ATTORNEYS. PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND SO MANY MORE JOB TITLES.

THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE CITY AND I GUARANTEE MOST OF THEM LOVE WORKING HERE.

THE KEY MATTER, THOUGH TODAY IS OBVIOUSLY THE CIVILIAN COMPENSATION PLAN AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY EMPLOYEES' CONCERNS. AND OBVIOUSLY HOW IT IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSED WITHIN THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL. IF IT IS APPROVED TODAY, IT WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE FAMILIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE PACKAGE WILL PROVIDE A 4% ACROSS THE BOARD FULL-TIME PAY RAISE.

IT WILL INCREASE THE ENTRY WAGE LEVEL TO $18 AN HOUR. AND, JUST AS IMPORTANT, THIS PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE COMPRESSION ISSUE BY ADJUSTING THE MID AND MAXIMUM PAY RANGES FOR ALL JOB TITLES. THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE STEP FORWARD. ALSO, THE PERFORMANCE PAY EMPLOYEES WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO SEE INCREASES IN THEIR PAY RANGES FROM 25 TO 50%, DEPENDING ON THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE. ADDITIONALLY, WHICH IS ALSO A MAJOR, MAJOR IMPROVEMENT AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WORK THAT WAS DONE HERE, THE CITY IS FREEZING THE HEALTHCARE PREMIUM COST. MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS WE KNOW HOW CRITICAL IT IS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH WITH SAN ANTONIO COSA CARES PROGRAM.

I MUST MENTION THAT THE PROPOSED PAY PACKAGE BEFORE YOU IS WHAT AFSCME CALLS FAIR PAY FOR SA. WE CALL IT THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE BELIEVE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A BETTER PAY SYSTEM APPLICABLE TO ALL CITY EMPLOYEES.

BUT IT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE SEVERAL, ABOUT 11 OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES WORKED DILIGENTLY TO MOVE FORWARD TO WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM TO ADDRESS THESE FACTORS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VASQUEZ. >> DO WE HAVE THE NINE

MINUTES? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF YOU HAVE THREE FOLKS CEDING TIME TO

YOU, YOU CAN. >> THEY'RE NOT SIGNED UP, THOUGH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THREE MINUTES FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

MR. VASQUEZ. >> THANK YOU AND WE HOPE WE CAN COUNT ON Y'ALL'S SUPPORT

TODAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. FAITH ALWONGER FOLLOWED BY

ROYCE CLOUGH. >> THANK YOU. HELLO.

MY NAME IS FAITH AND I AM THE TEXAS REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR STUDENTS FOR LIFE OF AMERICA.

WE SERVE OVER 1,400 STUDENT GROUPS IN ALL 50 STATES INCLUDING 101 IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS FOR LIFE ACTION TO OPPOSE FUNDING FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE WHICH DOES NOT PROVIDE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THOSE OF US WHO INVEST IN SAVING LIVES FACE THE ABUSE OF OUR TAX RESOURCES AND THOSE OF US YET TO BE BORN FACE DEATH. AS A WOMAN AND AS A MOTHER TO AN $8 MILLION BABY AND AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS TIRELESSLY TO CREATE A CULTURE OF LIFE ON CAMPUSES, THIS ISSUE MEANS A LOT TO ME. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, ARE NOT BEING STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH SAN ANTONIO VOTERS.

YOU CAN SAY THE WORDS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AS THOUGH YOU ARE HELPING YOUR PEOPLE, BUT THE REALITY IS THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL RECEIVE THESE FUNDS IF THIS ITEM IS CONFIRMED, ARE PRO ABORTION. THEY ARE PRO STARVING, DISMEMBERING, AND ENDING LIVES OF THE MOST INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS. ALL IN THE NAME OF CHOICE.

IF PASSED, SOME IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL NEVER BE BORN. AND FUNDS THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE PUT TOWARD EMPOWERING WOMEN WILL BE LOST. TEXAS ALREADY HAS $100 MILLION GOING TOWARDS PREGNANCY HELP ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE HOUSING, COUNSELING, ULTRASOUNDS, FREE BABY PRODUCTS, ANYTHING THAT SOMEONE IN AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY MIGHT

[01:25:05]

THEY WILL LEAD TO SAN ANTONIAN BABIES BEING KILLED IN THE WOMB WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST. I ASK THAT YOU NOT PASS THIS ITEM AND INSTEAD SUPPORT WOMEN AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WILL TRY TO BE BY THEIR SIDE AND ENSURE THAT THEY CAN STILL REACH THEIR GOALS AND THAT THEY CAN STILL REACH THEIR DREAMS EVEN IN AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY. JUST BECAUSE A BABY IS UNEXPECTED DOESN'T MEAN THEY SHOULD BE UNWELCOME. HELP OUR COMMUNITY WELCOME CHILDREN INTO THE WORLD AND

PROTECT LIFE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS BECKER.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND FELLOW CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ROYCE CLOUGH, A GRADUATE STUDENT AT UTSA STUDYING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. I COME IN OPPOSITION OF THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.

I BELIEVE THAT FUNDING PEOPLE TO GO OUT OF STATE TO GET ABORTION IS IN VIOLATION OF TEXAS LAW. I BELIEVE THE CITY ALSO HAS NO JURISDICTION TO PROVIDE SUPPORT ON SUCH A RESOURCE THAT WOULD USUALLY BE MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

I CAN EASILY COMPARE THIS TO SMUGGLING ABORTION BILLS FROM MEXICO WHICH IS ALSO UNLAWFUL. IF YOU DO PASS THIS AMENDMENT, I RECOGNIZE IT WOULD NOT BE VALID UNDER TEXAS LAW AS IT WOULD CONTRADICT POLICY UNDER THE STATE ABORTION BAN. I ASK YOU TO NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS AMENDMENT THAT IS ILLEGITIMATE IN THE EYES OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. CLOUGH. CHRIS BECKER.

YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BETTY ECKHERT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CHREIS BECKER. IN ADDITION TO A REGULAR JOB AND HEADING UP THE ROADY CREW FOR MINE AND COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA'S KIDS BAND THE PURPLE PRIDE, I TEACH ECONOMICS AT NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE IN DISTRICT 76 -- DISTRICT 6 AND POLICY DIRECTOR OF INFUSE USA.

I CAME DOWN HERE IN JUNE, I THINK JUNE 22ND, WHEN YOU ALL WERE CONSIDERING RAISING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR PROPERTY TAXES TO 20%. A MOVE THAT WAS ARGUABLY OVERDUE BY A FEW YEARS. I STUCK AROUND AND LISTENED TO THE DISCUSSION AFTERWARD.

THERE WAS A FEW GOOD POINTS ABOUT LEADING OR PUSHING OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO FOLLOW SUIT. THERE WAS SOME SELF-CONGRATULATIONS.

THERE WAS SOME GETTING RELIGION ABOUT HOW YOU DON'T ACTUALLY OWN YOUR HOME IF YOU HAVE TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT. AND AT THE END OF IT, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO SEEMED TO BE GETTING IT. THEY SEEMED TO BE GETTING CLOSE TO A TRUE PROBLEM THAT THE REVENUES ARE GOING TO KEEP GOING UP LARGELY DUE TO FACTORS OUT OF OUR HANDS. I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. AND THERE WAS A CONSENSUS AFTERWARD THAT SOMETIME SOON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER TO KEEP SPENDING OR KEEP TAKING FROM SIT CONVENIENCE. ALAS HERE WE ARE TODAY WITH A BUDGET THAT'S ABOUT 9% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, WHICH IS ABOUT 9% HIGHER THAN THE YEAR BEFORE. I'M NOT REALLY SURPRISED. THE SPENDING WOULD LIKELY GO TO LESS SOCIAL PROGRAMS. WE HEARD AT THE BUDGET TOWN HALLS THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BUY INTO THAT. CIVIL RIGHTS 5:00 ACTIVE VASE DOCTOR -- ROBERT WOODSON SAID 730% OF SUCH SPENDING -- 70% OF THE SPENDING GOES TO BUREAUCRACY. SOME OF THE REVENUES WILL GO TO INCENTIVES, LIKE THE ARENA FOLKS ARE GOING TO COME CALLING PRETTY SOON.

AND THEN THERE'S GRANTS MUCH SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN MENTIONED ALREADY.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BASIC STUFF, BASIC SAFETY, RATHER THAN -- BASIC STUFF LIKE THIS AND WE NEED TO HAVE RESPECT FOR THE TAXPAYER, THE ONE WHO FOOTS THE BILL FOR ALL OF THIS. I READ READY TO WORK HAS APPROPRIATIONS OF 134 MILLION, REVENUES OF 135 MILLION AND A NET BALANCE OF 99 SITTING IN THE

[01:30:03]

WE HEARD ALSO IN THE BUDGET TOWN HALLS THAT WE ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 21% OF PROPERTY TAX BILL. WHEN YOU ARE GETTING ROBBED BY FIVE MUGGERS, ONE GUY SAYING DON'T BLAME ME, I'M JUST ONE GUY IS COLD COMFORT TO THE PEOPLE WHO FOOT THE

BILL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BECKER. BETTY ECKHERT. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JR

TREVINO. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND ERIK FOR WORKING ON A BUDGET. THE MAIN CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS WOULD COME UP. I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE UNCALLED FOR. I DON'T THINK THE OLDER PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO WOULD VOTE FOR THIS. I THINK THAT THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO REPRESENT THE OLDER POPULATION, WHICH IN 2035, EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 65 WILL BE MORE THAN ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18. WHY ARE WE TRYING TO ADD TO IT AND SEND PEOPLE TO OTHER STATES TO RECEIVE ABORTIONS? WHY? WHY IS THAT EVEN ON OUR AGENDA? I DON'T THINK THE TAXPAYERS OF SAN ANTONIO WANT TO DO THIS. BUT WE'VE GOT A CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING IT.

IT'S WRONG. IT'S WRONG, MAYOR NIRENBERG. IT'S WRONG, ERIK.

IT'S WRONG, CITY COUNCIL. IF YOU WANTED TO DO THIS, GIVE IT OUT AND TELL THE PUBLIC AND SEE HOW THEY FELT FIRST. NOT BRING IT DOWN HERE AND VOTE ON IT ONE DAY AND IT BECOMES A RULE AND A LAW. YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTING.

YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE WHEN YOU DO THAT. ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT? ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO HAVE YOUR OWN OPINION AND DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO? I WONDER. I CAN TELL YOU OLDER AMERICANS IN SAN ANTONIO WOULD NOT VOTE FOR THIS. CONCENTRATE MORE ON YOUR OLDER AMERICANS. PROVIDE SOME TRANSPORTATION. JUST MAKE SURE THAT NUTRITION IS COVERED. I DON'T HEAR ANY OF THAT IN THIS BUDGET.

BUT THERE'S A GREAT NEED. THERE'S A GREAT NEED IN A COMPASSIONATE CITY WHERE WE HAVE SENIORS THAT ARE DOING WITHOUT FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION.

I TELL YOU, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE PEOPLE.

DON'T VOTE ON THIS TODAY. IT NEEDS TO BE PULLED FROM THIS BUDGET AND FROM THIS AGENDA. AND I'M BEGGING YOU, DON'T DO IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. J.R. TREVINO. MAYOR TREVINO? DIDN'T SEE YOU ON THE LIST, MAYOR, I WOULD HAVE CALLED YOU BACK EARLIER SO YOU

COULD GET TO WORK. >> NO PROBLEM, I AM HERE WORKING.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, CITY MANAGER.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, FOR YOUR WORK DURING THE 2024 BUDGET PROCESS.

I KNOW IT'S TIME CONSUMING, TAXING AND HARD TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, BUT I KNOW YOU ALL ARE DOING YOUR BEST WITH THE CITY'S BEST INTERESTS IN MIND.

I'M THE INTERIM CEO FOR THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND I WANTED TO BE HERE BRIEFLY AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THE INTEREST LOAN BUY-DOWN PROGRAM. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT IN PUTTING DOLLARS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE SO CRITICAL.

THE INTEREST LOAN BUY-DOWN PROGRAM WILL BE ABLE TO HELP BUSINESSES AND PARTNER WITH LYFT FUND ON THAT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND KNOW WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE CITY OF SAN

ANTONIO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MAYOR TREVINO.

NEXT WE HAVE ANITA ZOO LA. ZAVALA. >> I GIVE MY MINUTES TO

[01:35:10]

DENISE GUTIERREZ. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MS. GUTIERREZ, I'LL CALL YOU UP. YOU WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES. PATRICK VON DOLEN.

OKAY. JOHN BACHMAN. ALL RIGHT.

LUIS GUTIERREZ. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DENISE GUTIERREZ.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS LUIS GUTIERREZ AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK -- I'M HERE IN OPPOSITION FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND AND I BELIEVE THAT FUNDING FOR ABORTION, WHICH IS MURDER, IS WRONG AND IMMORAL.

AND I HOPE YOU GUYS KNOW WHEN I WAS IN THE BACK, I WAS PRAYING A ROSARY THAT I HAVE RIGHT HERE BECAUSE I'M A STRONG BELIEVER THAT THROUGH PRAYER AND HAVING FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WE CAN PUSH BACK ABORTION ONCE AND FOR ALL.

AND I REALLY ASK THAT YOU CAN RETHINK THIS. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GUTIERREZ. DENISE GUTIERREZ.

>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, MAYOR. YES, I AM DEN KNEES GUTIERREZ AND I'M NOT RELATED TO THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN BUT THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF US FROM SAN ANTONIO. I THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO LISTEN TO MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE CITY BUDGET. SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN ME AND MY ORGANIZATION INFUSE OF WHAT S NEEDED AND ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO BE EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE BEAT COP TO CODE COMPLIANCE TO PARK POLICE, AWARE OF THE DUMPED ANIMALS WANDERING AROUND CITY PARKS. THE EPIC FAILURES OF THE ACS RESULTING IN THE DEATH AND MAIMING OF PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, IN THEIR OWN FRONT YARDS IS A RESULT OF MULTIPLE FAILURES DUE TO THE CALLS TO ACS THAT WERE LEFT UNATTENDED OR CLOSED PREMATURELY. IT'S A FAIL -- FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP ALL THE WAY THROUGH CITY GOVERNMENT.

WE'RE PLANNING ON THIS CITY BUDGET THROWING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ACS.

THIS BUDGET AND PROBABLY REPEATING IT AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH NO REAL SOLUTIONS BECAUSE NO ONE HAS STUDIED THE PROBLEM. NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THE DEMOGRAPHICS. NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THE EDUCATION LEVEL.

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THE VETERINARY NEEDS OF THIS GROUP AND NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THE [INAUDIBLE]. THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED AND WE HAVE TAKEN A LAIZE FAIRE ATTITUDE TOWARD ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY AND IT WON'T GET BETTER UNTIL YOU ENFORCE THE LAW AND SPEND THE MONEY LOGICALLY. NOT TO COMPETE WITH A FEW VETERINARY CLINICS THAT ARE VIABLE IN THIS AREA OF WHICH THERE ARE MARGINAL CLINICS SUCH AS THE EAST SIDE IN DISTRICT 2. WE HAD CITY VET WHO RECENTLY CLOSED, NOT DUE TO LACK OF NEED BUT BECAUSE OF ECONOMICS.

SPAY AND NEUTERING HAS NEVER AND EVER WILL BE ENOUGH IN THIS CITY.

AT ANY TIME IT'S NEVER WORKED IN ANY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE PROBLEM IS ALWAYS GETTING WORSE AND ALWAYS GROWING.

CODE ENFORCEMENT NEEDED WILL NEVER SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT'S LIKE FEEDING OR SHELTERING THE HOMELESS, YOU ONLY GET MORE. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH SAN ANTONIO, WITH THE POPULATION, THE DEMOGRAPHICS, THE VETERINARY NEEDS OF THE EAST SIDE, THE WEST SIDE AND THE SOUTH SIDE.

THE NEEDS OF THE NORTH SIDE ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BUT NOT MUCH.

MOST OF THE PROBLEMS ARE IN THE SOUTH SE IDE OF THE CITY. THE KNOWLEDGE OF PEOPLE THAT COULD HELP IN THIS AREA CAN HELP YOU AS WELL. AS MY HUSBAND HAS SUPPORTED ME IN MY EFFORTS TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, HE HAS OFFERED HIS HELP TO ACS THROUGH THE BUDGET MEETINGS AND THE CITY BUDGET MEETINGS TO NO AVAIL. NOT ONE CALL FROM THE ACS

[01:40:05]

CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE OF OUR MEMBERS ATTENDING MUNICIPAL COURT ON BEHALF OF A FAMILY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A VICIOUS ATTACK. SINCE FEBRUARY THE CITY HAS WITNESSED NEWS REPORTS OF A PACK OF DOGS ATTACKING INNOCENT VICTIMS RESULTING IN A DEATH, SEVERAL GRUESOME ATTACKS AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO TWO DIFFERENT VICTIMS HAVE HAD THEIR ARMS AND LEGS AMPUTATED. I HAVE THE PICTURES.

I WILL NOT SHARE IT WITH THIS -- I WANT TO SAY COURT, BUT WITH THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE YOU WILL SEE THEM IN COURT. AND IT'S SOMETHING NOBODY HERE WOULD WANT TO SEE OR EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN DANGER.

THE CITY HAS SPENT MILLIONS IN CITY BUDGETS AND -- HOW DOES THE CITY COUNCIL EXPECT RESIDENTS, CHILDREN WALKING TO SCHOOL AND ELDERS WAITING FOR THE BUS TO SAFELY WALK THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN PACK OF VICIOUS DOGS ROAM AND ATTACK INNOCENT PEDESTRIANS. OUR ACS FAILS TO ADDRESS REPEAT OFFENDERS.

ACS IS A FAILED DEPARTMENT WITH SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE INCIDENTS.

CITIZENS EXPECT THE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THESE FAILURES STARTING WITH THE ACS DIRECTOR. CITIZENS EXPECT THE CITY NOT TO WASTE TAX DOLLARS BUT TO WISELY FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A PROPERLY TRAINED STAFF. USE READY TO WORK TO TRAINED PERSONNEL. USE THE EVALUATE TECH PROGRAM AT PALO~ALTO WHICH MY -- SIR, I'M ADDRESSING YOU. WHICH MY HUSBAND CREATED AT PALO~ALTO. WE ARE NOT USING READY TO WORK THE RIGHT WAY.

SO AS WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE WITH ACS, I ALSO AM AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS REPRODUCTIVE ACT AND FUNDING THAT YOU WANT TO DO.

IN D2, YOU HAVE A CCR WITH SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU PUT MORE EFFORT IN NOT EUTHANIZING VICIOUS DOGS BUT PLACING MORE IMPORTANCE AT EUTHANIZEING BABIES, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THOSE DOGS WILL CONTINUE TO ATTACK MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY,

YOUNG AND OLD, SERVANTS, DELIVERY AND MAIL PERSONNEL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GUTIERREZ. GO TO GALAXY ACTON. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY

RAYMOND ZAVALA. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.

I FIND MYSELF STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY AS YOU ARE ONCE AGAIN PLANNING ON FAILING THE WOMEN OF SAN ANTONIO. THE LAST TIME I STOOD BEFORE YOU WAS WHEN I TESTIFIED IN OPPOSITION TO THE HORRENDOUS RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT AN INDIVIDUAL'S SO-CALLED RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ASK THAT YOU VOTE AGAINST THE AMENDMENT FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.

ALTHOUGH I'M IN AWE THIS IS EVEN UNDER CONSIDERATION. THIS PLACING OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS COULD BE USED TO DO SO MUCH GOOD IN SAN ANTONIO.

YET YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE TO CONTINUE TO SELL THE LIE THAT WOMEN NEED ABORTION TO SUCCEED. WHY ARE WE NOT SHOWING OUR WOMEN HOW STRONG THEY TRULY ARE? IN PREPARATION FOR MY TESTIMONY, I READ ALL YOUR WEBSITES AND SOME OF YOUR INTERVIEWS AND A COMMON THEME WAS HELPING AND SERVING THE VULNERABLE. NOW IS THE TIME TO LIVE UP TO YOUR PROMISE.

THIS $500,000 TO THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND WILL HARM MORE WOMEN THAN DO GOOD. FOR EXAMPLE, IT COULD LEAD TO ABORTION [INAUDIBLE] BEING PLACED IN THE HANDS OF TEENAGED GIRLS. TO ALLOW WOMEN WITH -- TO BE COERCED INTO ABORTION AND SERVES NO PURPOSE BUT TO END THE HUMAN LIFE AND PROVIDES NO TRUE ASSISTANCE. WHY NOT ALLOCATE THIS $500,000 TO FREE DIAPERS, ULTRASOUNDS, BABY FOOD, PARENTING CLASSES, SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENT PARENTS OR INCREASE PREVENTIVE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN CAN REMAIN SAFE THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY. YOU ARE CHOOSING THIS ROUTE.

YOU COULD DESIGNATE THIS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ONCE AGAIN TO PREGNANT AND PARENTING ASSISTANCE. THE $500,000 COULD HAVE GONE TOWARDS APPLYING APPROXIMATELY 4,000 FAMILIES WITH DIAPERS FOR THE MONTH, PROVIDING 1,200 FAMILIES WITH FORMULA FOR THE MONTH. THIS SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE NEAR 30 PREGNANCY

[01:45:02]

I HAVE SEEN THE POSITIVE IMPACT PREGNANCY [INAUDIBLE] HAVE AND THEY WILL SUPPORT THE MOTHERS FROM THE MOMENT HE WALK IN THE DOOR. I REPRESENT RESOURCES FOR TRUE RESOURCES FOR WOMEN INSTEAD OF THE LIFE-ENDING ALTERNATIVE OF ABORTION.

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

RAYMOND ZAVALA. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LISTEN TO WHAT I HAD TO SAY DURING THE BUDGET MEETINGS IN YOUR COUNCIL AREAS, I HOPE THAT YOU PAID ATTENTION BECAUSE WE, THE UNWILLING TAXPAYER, LED BY THE ENDLESS SPENDING CITY COUNCIL TO DO THE UNJUST FOR THE UNGREATFUL. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

HAVEN FOR HOPE WAS ORIGINALLY STATED TO BE FUNDED BY THE CITY FOR TEN YEARS. THAT WAS IN 2001. HERE WE ARE 2023 AND WE'RE JUST GIVING THEM ANOTHER BUNCH OF MONEY. WHY? WHY CAN'T THEY BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT? I'VE GIVEN THOSE THAT HEARD ME SPEAK AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT TRULY DOES WORK FOR THE HOMELESS AND THAT IS THE RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA HOMELESS SHELTER. MAKES THIS LOOK LIKE SILLY PUTTY. THE POVERTY BUSINESS IS PROFITING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THEY LOOK AT SAN ANTONIO AS A CASH COW AND YES, THEY LAUGH AT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEY LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK BECAUSE THEY ARE PROFITING. THIS THING HERE IS NOT WORKING.

IT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 2009. SO WHY ARE WE IN A BAD RELATIONSHIP? WE KEEP THROWING MONEY AWAY INTO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT WORKING. THE BUDGET DOES NOT ALLOW FOR AMENDMENTS.

AND I TRULY DO BELIEVE THAT THE BUDGET WILL PASS. YOU ARE HERE TO LET US SAY WHATEVER WE WANT TO SAY BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. AND FOR ME, I'M AN OLD MAN. I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND I REMEMBER WHEN CITY COUNCIL HAD MEMBERS AT LARGE.

AND THEN THEY STARTED PAYING $40 OF A MEETING. GUESS WHAT? YOU ARE GETTING MORE MONEY, YOU ARE MAKING WORSE DECISIONS.

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

I HAVE CALLED EVERYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK SO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 4 AS AMENDED AND PRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER SAVE AND EXCEPT FOR SAISD, OLDER ADULTS, TECHNICAL SERVICES, COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS, FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SRVICES, MEXICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE, GIRL SCOUTS, MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD, PROJECT QUEST AND WITTE MUSEUM. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO

HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE

BUDGET AS AMENDED TODAY. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE BUDGET AS AMENDED. WE'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 4? LET ME PULL UP A QUEUE.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. BEFORE I DIG IN, I WANT TO THANK ERIK WALSH ALONG WITH HIS TEAM AND EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT THAT HAS PARTICIPATED IN GETTING US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS BUDGET EXPERIENCE AND TO HAVE LISTENED AND LEARNED INTO THE MANY CHALLENGES OUR CITY FACES AND HOW WE CAN CONFRONT AND OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES. LEADING OFF, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS BUDGET HAS PLACED PRIORITY TOWARDS FUNDING RESIDENTS' SAFETY AND SECURITY.

IN COORDINATION WITH DISTRICTS 1, 2 AND 5, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THE ADDITION OF THE SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC AS WELL AS THE ADDITION OF THE ACS OFFICERS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY ON THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. IT'S A PROMISE I MADE TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 7. THE SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC MAKES ME OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS TOWARDS GETTING OUR STRAY ANIMAL POPULATION UNDER CONTROL AND MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. THIS IS A HUGE STEP IN GETTING US TO THE ROOT OF THE DANGEROUS LOOSE DOG ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN PLAGUING

[01:50:02]

THE DUAL APPROACH OF PROVIDING OUTREACH SERVICES PAIRED WITH A FASTER RESPONSE TIME FOR CLEANING UP HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS WILL HELP EVEN SURE NEIGHBORS HAVE PEACE OF MIND IN THEIR BACKYARDS. THE ADDITION OF POLICE OFFICERS WILL ENSURE OUR STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS REMAIN SAFE AND THAT OUR RESPONSE TIME WILL GROW QUICKER AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW.

AFTER THE RECENT POLICE INCIDENTS, I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

THE ALLOCATED ADDITION FOR FUNDING THE BALLISTIC GLASS SUPPORTS THAT MISSION AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THOSE WHO WORK TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

I'M ALSO GLAD THAT WE YOU A UNITED AND PUSHED FOR INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE SA-CORE TEAM. 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS AND WEEK AND WHEN CALLS ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST. THANK TO YOU EVERYONE'S EFFORTS IN ENSURING WE'RE GETTING THAT RIGHT. MY EFFORTS TO ENSURE FUNDING FOR A SENIOR ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT AND ENSURE THAT OLDER ADULTS HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDS THAT ALLOW THEM FOR LAWN CARE WHEN THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO SO.

THE PILOT WILL HELP ENSURE SENIORS DO NOT HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER PAYING FOR FOOD OR GAS OR CODE COMPLIANCE CITATION. IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF COMPASSION WE SAW GROWING AND AND WHEN WE WOULD CHECK ON ELDERLY NEIGHBORS TO SEE THEY WERE BEING TAKEN CARE OF. NOW IT'S OUR POLICY.

I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE NEXT. TO ADOPTION OF THE THIS BUDGET, WE WILL FUND 246 STREETS, SIDEWALKS, DRAINAGE AND ALLEYS, PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND OTHER PROJECTS BRINGING MUCH NEEDED INVESTMENT TO THE DISTRICT 7 COMMUNITY. WE WILL REPAIR THREE FAILING STREETS IN DISTRICT 7, AMOUNTING TO 1.5 MILLION AND BRING SIDEWALKS TO TEN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NEVER HAD SIDEWALKS BEFORE IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. THIS WITH THE $100,000 INCREASE TO NAMP WILL ALLOW OUR -- TO ADDRESS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUESTS WE HEAR EVERY DAY FROM RESIDENTS. ADOPTING THIS BUDGET WILL SERVE AS A STARTING LINE TO ADDRESS THE 223 MILES OF SIDEWALK GAPS IN DISTRICT 7 AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FAILING STREETS IN COMING YEARS.

I'M ALSO HAPPY TO KNOW THAT OUR OFFICE PRINT BUDGET WILL BE EXPANDING.

WITH THE DISTRICT FUNDING, IT WILL EVEN SURE OUR OFFICE REMAINS TRANSPARENT AND COMMITTED TO REACHING OUT TO EVERY RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 7 REGARDLESS IF THEY HAVE A COMPUTER OR NOT. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS TO ERIK AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND DEDICATION REALLY TO OUR CITY. THE WORK YOU DO TO MAKE THIS DOCUMENT COME TOGETHER, I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE SPINNING PLATES BLINDFOLDED, YOU ARE ON A HIGH WIRE AND ALSO ON HORSE BACK AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE THINGS WE THROW AT YOU WHEN YOU ARE ON THAT HIGH WIRE. THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING DAY OF THE YEAR. LIKE THE NERDIEST THING TO SAY, BUT OUR NUMBER ONE JOB IS PASSING THE BUDGET. I SAID THIS AT OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT SESSION, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. I REALLY BELIEVE THIS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS HAS BEEN THE YEAR OF THE EDGEWOOD BUDGET. EDGEWOOD IS REALLY COMING OUT ON TOP, ONE OF OUR CITY'S LEGACY COMMUNITIES, RICH HISTORY AND CULTURE AND IT'S BEEN FOR MANY YEARS LEFT BEHIND. ANY WIN FOR EDGEWOOD IS CELEBRATED, BUT THIS YEAR THE WINS ARE REALLY BIG. I THANK COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR HER SUPPORT ON TWO MAJOR FUNDING ISSUES, THEY ARE GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY AROUND. I CAN GO ON AN ON ABOUT THESE TWO PROJECTS, AND HOW REALLY THEY ARE GOING TO TRANSFORM THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY AND THE LIVES OF OUR SENIORS AND CHILDREN, BUT I THINK I ONLY HAVE TEN MINUTES SO I'M GOING TO CUT IT SHORT. ONE OF THEM IS THE SENIOR CENTER, THE FUNDING FOR SENIOR CENTER, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE MILLION DOLLARS FOR CLAIRE PARK.

THERE'S A PONY LEAGUE OUT THERE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEIR SOFTBALL TEAM CAME IN THIRD IN THE WORLD SERIES. THEY ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH VERY LITTLE RESOURCES. THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO HELP FUND THEM AND WHAT THEY DO FOR THE CHILDREN AND OUR SENIORS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

I'M GOING TO LIST A COUPLE OF THE DISTRICT 6 AND CITYWIDE BUDGET PRIORITIES

[01:55:02]

WE WENT TO A COMPETITION WEEKEND AND I THINK -- I THINK PD WON, RIGHT? I'M SURE. NOBODY IS GOING TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO THAT.

BUT THEY DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. THE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE CLIMBING OVER THINGS, IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO SEE THAT DISCIPLINE THAT THEY LEARNED. I'M EXCITED ABOUT FUNDING URBAN CHAMPIONS.

THEY DO WORK THAT ENCOURAGES RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SPORTSMANSHIP, SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ALL WHILE LEARNING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCCER. I'M HAPPY TO SEE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WHICH SERVICES STUDENTS NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT 1 BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

I'M ELATED TO SEE A FUNDING PLAN TO INDEX SIDEWALKS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

I'M PRETTY SURE, ERIK, YOUR STAFF GOT TIRED OF ME BRINGING THIS UP BUT THIS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE GOING TO START LOOK AT GRADING OUR SIDEWALKS AND PRIORITIZING THEM FOR MAINTENANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION.

THE BEER CITY HAS AGING SIDEWALKS THAT NEED CARE AND THE SIDEWALK INDEX PROJECT IS A SOLID ONE TO GET THAT DONE. WE'VE ALLOCATING TO ENSURE SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE IN DISTRICT 6, BUT RESIDENTS CLOSE TO GRISSOM AND OLD GRISSOM ROAD WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WILL SOON GO UP.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION. I GREW UP RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND MY WHOLE LIFE THERE'S AND ACCIDENTS AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME DEATHS THERE SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT LIGHT GO UP AND HOPEFULLY MAKE THE AREA SAFER FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE SO I'M CELEBRATING BIG WINS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH FRONT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FIRST RESPONDERS. FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE HAVE VERY STRESSFUL AND RIGOROUS JOBS AND DEAL WITH THE WORST CIRCUMSTANCES IN SOCIETY, TRAGEDIES AND UNTHINKABLE SITUATIONS. THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT TO DO THEIR JOBS.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. EXPANDING THE CORE TEAM, ESPECIALLY ADDITIONAL HOURS, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES THAT SOMETIMES CALL.

AS WAS MENTIONED TODAY, COSA CARES SUPPORTING THE MINUTE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE INCREASE IN FIRE AND EMS PERSONNEL.

THE BUDGET CALL FOR AN INCREASE OF ABOUT WAS IT 117 POLICE OFFICERS AND 41 FIREFIGHTERS. THIS IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE SEEN AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS, SURVEYS, DAILY CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALWAYS ON THE TOP OF THEIR LIST, A MAJOR CONCERN AND THIS BUDGET RESPONDS TO THAT NEED.

ALSO FUNDING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CELLEBRITE. THIS WILL MODERNIZE THE INVESTIGATIVE WORK FLOW AND MAKES OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BETTER, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO IN TURN HELP OUR COMMUNITY. ANOTHER TOP COMMUNITY PRIORITY WAS MORE ACS OFFICERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT DANGEROUS DOG ATTACKS. THIS INCREASE IS URGENT. THE FUNDING ALSO INCLUDES VETERINARIAN POSITION AND I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS WITH THE NATIONWIDE SCARCITY, BUT IT'S A GOOD STEP TOWARDS KEEPING THAT VET -- A VET ON STAFF. THE ENHANCED SPAY AND NEUTER INITIATIVE FUNDED IN THIS BUDGET IS A HUGE WIN AS IS THE STOREFRONT WHICH TECHNICALLY SERVES FOUR DISTRICTS, BUT THE LONG-TERM IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY IS GREAT.

EVERY AND NATURAL SPAYED OR NEUTERED IS THAT MANY LESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE BEST RESPONSE TO THE CITY'S STRAY DOG PROBLEM IS AN AGGRESSIVE SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM AS WELL AS EDUCATION WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON AS WELL.

I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE TAKING THE CHALLENGE SERIOUSLY. ANOTHER SERIOUS CHALLENGE IS REGARDING WOMEN'S HEALTH. THE CHALLENGE IS THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS WOMEN'S HEALTH, BUT DOING SO COULD BECOME SUCH A HEATED ARGUMENT AND I THINK THAT SERVES NO ONE. I'M HAPPY TO SEE FUNDS GO TOWARDS WOMEN'S HEALTH AND STRONGLY SUPPORT THE FUNDING OF A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE RIGHTS FUND AND THANK DISTRICT 6 CONSTITUENT ARIANNA FOR HER ADVOCACY. I SUPPORT ANY PROGRAM THAT HELPS OUR RESIDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. I DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY IN MY PRACTICE. THAT'S WHY I GIVE MY FULL AND STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE FULL FUNDING OF MORGAN'S WONDERLAND.

THERE'S NO OTHER WAYS IN THE WORLD THAT PROVIDES ENTERTAIN, LEGAL HELP, HEALTH SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE. IT'S A MODEL FOR THE WORLD

[02:00:02]

I KNEW MY LIBRARY CARD AGO POWERFUL. IT TOOK ME TO PLACES I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD BE. IT CAN BE USED AS IDENTIFICATION AND WILL HELP MANY DISADVANTAGED FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. THIS IS A SOL SOLID BUDGET.

A BLUEPRINT, A WAY FORWARD, A VISION. EVERY SAN ANTONIAN TO TOOK PART IN BUDGET SURVEYS, FOLKS WHO CAME INTO THE OFFICE, WHO CALLED, EMAILED AND SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE AFSCME, POLICE AND FIRE, ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS, JANE'S DUE PROCESS AND THE GREATER HISPANIC CHAMBERS, YOUR INPUT IS IN MOST IMPORTANT VOICE IN THIS PROCESS. I LIKE TO THINK OF THIS BUDGET, THIS DOCUMENT AS A REFLECTION WHO WE AREHO AS A CITY.

THIS IS HOW WE AS SAN ANTONIANS BET ON OURSELVES, HOW WE SUPPORT OUR FUTURE.

IT'S HOW WE SEE OUR POTENTIAL. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WORD FOR ALL OF THAT, BUT I DO KNOW WE ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT A YEAR. THIS IS THAT TIME TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES, TO INNOVATE WHILE MEETING OUR CITY'S BASIC NEEDS. AS I SAID BEFORE, PASSING THE BUDGET IS OUR NUMBER ONE JOB. IT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AND I'M PROUD OF ALL OF THIS COUNCIL, ALL OF OUR CITY FOR GETTING TO THIS DAY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CASTING MY VOTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

DARE -- >> KAUR: I FEEL LIKE MANU GENERAL NOBODYLY.

THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY CITY STAFF. I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DIVE IN AND LEARN ALL PARTS OF THE BUDGET. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR CITY MANAGER.

THE FIRST MEETING I HAD WITH HIM HE RECOGNIZED I HAD JUST COME OFF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

WE HAD KNOCKED ON OVER 5,000 DOORS AND HE SAID TELL ME WHAT YOU HEARD SO WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET. THANK YOU FORGIVING ME THAT OPPORTUNITY. YOU JUST STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED BY ALL OF US, PLEASE. [APPLAUSE] SO EVERY CITY DIRECTOR HAS TO KNOW THEIR PART OF THE BUDGET, BUT JUSTINA HAS TO KNOW EVERYONE'S AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE ASSUMPTION MADE IN THE BUDGET SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. THANK YOU SO, ALL THE HARD WORK DOES NOT GO UNRECOGNIZED. I WANTED TO SAY TO ALL THE FOLKS HERE IN THE CROWD AND LISTENING THAT TO SAY THIS IS A BALANCING ACT, I'M A YOGA TEACHER AND THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO. AND THIS IS A $3.7 BILLION BUDGET, AND EVERY SINGLE DECISION MADE IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, HEAR WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND WE DON'T WANT TO PLACE AN UNDUE BURDEN BY INCREASING TAX DOLLARS. IN THIS BUDGET NOT ONLY HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS TO DECREASE THAT BURDEN, BUT PUT FUNDS TOWARDS THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN REALLY BENEFIT FROM. SO IN THIS BUDGET WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CRITICAL THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, FROM THE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS FROM BUDGET HALLS. WE'RE ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH WORKING WITH HOMELESSNESS AND SUPPORTING OUR HOMELESSNESS POPULATION, INCREASING AVAILABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING PUBLIC HEALTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND AS YOU ALL KNOW WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OUR STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS A CITY. AND SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IN THE BUDGET.

THE FIRST IS AS A DATA NERD, YOU KNOW WHEN WE SET A TARGET FOR SOMETHING, WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF HAVE SET A TARGET FOR THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHELTER AT 400. THAT'S EXCITING SO WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING AND MEASURE TOWARDS THAT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR. SECOND, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE RESPONSE TO THE CRITICAL CALLS AND ALSO WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF SPAY AND NEUTERS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. TO OUR ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SEEN DONE, BUT WITH THE ADDITION OF THIS STOREFRONT, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE PROACTIVE SPAY AND

[02:05:01]

-- SUPPORT THAT WE NEED. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE OVERNIGHT SUPPORT BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH TRAUMA DOESN'T HAPPEN JUST 7:00 TO 11:00 DURING THE DAY AND WE AS A CITY NEED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT. THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR WORKING THAT INTO THE BUDGET. THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL COST, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU HEARING OUR CONCERN ON THAT ONE.

THE PUBLIC WORKS IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CLEAN UP 80 NON-SERVICE ALLEYS.

ANOTHER THING WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEARLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF NON-SERVICE ALLEYS PARTICULARLY IN DISTRICT 1 AND UPDATING 72 MILES OF SIDEWALKS.

ALL OF OUR SIDEWALKS SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE AND WE NEED TO MAKE OUR CITY A MORE PEDESTRIAN-SAFE PLACE TO WALK AND TRAVEL. THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR. EXCITED ABOUT SUPPORTING THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. THERE ARE SO MANY UNDER SERVED WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE. SO PUTTING FUNDS FOR THAT IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT. AND THEN ALSO I WANTED TO SAY THE 1.4 MILLION IN ARPA FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANTS, WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES HERE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED BUT WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM IN THE MEANTIME. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE CITY STAFF PUT INTO THE BUDGET MONEY TO REDO OUR KENWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER.

FOR THOSE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ACCESS KENWOOD, YOU KNOW THAT CENTER HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR OVER A YEAR AND NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS, IT'S GOING TO BE BIGGER AND BETTER. WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REDESIGN THAT CENTER SO ALL OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR TO ACCESS, THAT KIDS GET A SHADED PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE AND HOPEFULLY OUR OFFICE WILL EVENTUALLY BE LOCATED THERE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT IN THE BUDGET. YOU NOW HOW I SAID WHEN I SAW THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT CENTER IS GOING TO BE REOPENED SOON. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE THING I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE IS WHILE WE'VE DONE A LOT OF LISTENING AND LEARNING TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, IT DOESN'T STOP NOW THE MONEY HAS BEENAL SKATED. I URGE OUR CITY STAFF AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO KEEP ADVOCATING FOR HOW WE WANT TO SPEND THESE DOLLARS. WHAT ARE THE DECISIONS WE WANT OUR CITY LEADERSHIP TO MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO WHO WE SELECT FOR OPERATORS FOR OUR ACS SHELTER. OR HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY SO WE'RE LISTENING AND LEARNING. WE'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS Y'ALL'S ADVOCACY.

FOR EVERY PERSON THAT SENT A TEXT OR AN EMAIL OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE NEED YOUR VOICE. WE NEED TO HEAR WHAT YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT, AND I KNOW CITY LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND SUPPORT THAT MESSAGE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN CITY STAFF AND I'M PROUD TO

SUPPORT THIS BUDGET TODAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I REALIZE I FORGOT MY WHITE BOARD TODAY.

YOU ALL KNOW THE BUDGET IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR SO TODAY IS MY FAVORITE DAY.

I'M GOING TO SAY I DON'T CARE TO DEBATE WHETHER THIS IS IS THE MOTHS PROGRESSIVE COUNCIL WE'VE HAD, BUT THE REALITY PLAYED A ROLE IN CRAFTING IT AND I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN JUST WHY IT IS.

LAST NIGHT A SPENT A LOT OF TIME GOING OVER THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED BUDGET AND LOOKING OVER THE AMENDMENTS AND WHAT WE'VE CHANGED AND WHAT I REALIZE IS IN OUR DISCUSSION IT'S SO EASY TO READ THE PAGES AND AMENDMENTS AND MEMOS AND IT'S ALL JUST WORDS ON A PAGE WITH A DOLLAR AMOUNT. WE KNOW THOSE WORDS WILL HAVE IMPACT, BUT I HAD A MOMENT OF CONNECTION. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY IN MY DISTRICT LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING WITH MOLD, BROKEN DOOR LOCKS, BROKEN HVAC UNITS, LIVING WHERE THEIR PHYSICAL AND THEIR EMOTIONAL STATE IS THREATENED AND THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE. IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE. THERE ARE SENIORS WITH LIMITED MOBILITY, GENTRIFYING COMMUNITIES WHO WILL BE MET WITH RESOURCES. THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE FUND THAT MARINA PROPOSED IS GOING TO HELP THEM AND THAT IS PROGRESS.

THERE ARE CHILDREN LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM PLAYGROUNDS THEY CANNOT USE ALL SUMMER LONG BECAUSE IT IS 110 DEGREES OUTSIDE. AND WE'RE GOING TO FINALLY

[02:10:02]

LAST CAREER WE SET ASSIGNED FUNDING TO PURCHASE A NEW SENIOR CENTER WHICH WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO FINALIZING. WE'VE SET ASIDE FUNDING FOR DESIGN AND THAT MEANS THE WORLD TO SO MANY OF MY SENIORS. DIABETES RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER IN MY DISTRICT AND WE GET CALLS ALL THE TIME FROM PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS BETWEEN FOOD, BILLS, INULINS. WE'VE CONNECTED FOR THIS INSULIN COST-SHARE PROGRAM FOR TWO YEARS AND IT'S COMING TO FRUITION TODAY.

IT WILL SAVE LIVES IN DIRE SITUATIONS I NAMED AND THIS IS PROGRESS.

WE'RE FUNDING A CRIME PREVENTION GRANT COORDINATOR WHICH WILL COMPLEMENT THE COORDINATOR WE SECURED IN THE LAST BUDGET. WE'VE BEEN MOVING WITH EXTRA INTENTION TOWARD PROACTIVE CRIME PREVENTION RATHER THAN REACTIVE CRIME RESPONSE.

RESPONDING TO THE MANY ISSUES AND CONCERNS SURROUNDING ANIMAL CARE IN OUR CITY HAS BEEN PRIORITY FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY DISTRICT FOR YEARS.

NO ONE SHOULD CALL AND NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. CERTAINLY NOT THE MOST CRITICAL CALLS. NO ONE SHOULD FEEL ITS PURPOSELESS TO REPORT, SO I'M PROUD TO HAVE CHAMPIONED ACS ALONGSIDE MELISSA ON A HOST OF ISSUES INCLUDING ACCELERATION OF STAFFING TO ADDRESS CRITICAL CALLS. I'M PROUD THIS CYCLE ADVOCATED TO SPEED UP OF THE RATE TO WHICH WE GET TO 100% OF THE CALLS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO REACH THAT GOAL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AS NOW WE'RE INVESTING IN ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AT LEVELS LIKE WE NEVER HAVE BEFORE AND WE'RE ANSWERING THE COMMUNITY'S CALL. WE WILL BE ANSWERING THE COMMUNITY'S CALL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONTINUED PROGRESS. WE ARE ALSO ESTABLISHING A ONE OF ITS KIND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND AND I KNOW WE HAVE DETAILS TO WORK THROUGH BEFORE WE SEND OUT THE SOLICITATION AND WE'VE NOT SET THE ACTUAL SCOPE NOR THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL RECEIVE FUNDS, BUT WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY ALONGSIDE A VERY TANGIBLE IMPACT BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND SUPPLIES AT LEAST AND I'LL BE FRANK, I HOPE WE ARE INCREASING ACCESS TO SAFE ABORTIONS WHERE THEY ARE LEGAL AND WHATEVER WAKE WE CAN LEGALLY PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PEOPLE PRO-CHOICE THAN THERE ARE PRO-BIRTHERS IN OUR CITY AND I STILL HAVE TO FIGHT IN THEIR INTEREST.

ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE CARE IS A WOMEN'S ISSUE, BUT IT IS ALSO A QUEER, TRANS AND NON-BINARY ISSUE. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS NEGLECTED.

THESE ARE GROUPS THAT DON'T GET QUALITY SEX EDUCATION OR ACCESS TO RELEVANT RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS NEEDED MORE NOW THAN EVER. I CAN'T WAIT TO COMMUNICATE ALL OF THESE INCREDIBLE WINS WITH MY RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR NEWLY EXPANDED COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT FUNDING. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MORE MEANINGFULLY CONNECT WITH RESIDENTS WHO HAVE FELT DISCONNECTED FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOPEFULLY GIVE THEM A BRIDGE TO CONNECT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY AND TO SHARE MORE WITH US. I KNOW MARK AND I ARE EXCITED TO SEE FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR A PERMANENT CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROGRAM AS WELL AS THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THIS THROUGH BUDGET AMENDMENT. THE BUSINESSES I MOST CARE ABOUT ARE THE LOCALLY GROWN AND OPERATED BUSINESS AND THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE. REGARDLESS OF YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF ME, I HAVE BUSINESS OWNERS IN MY FAMILY AND MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY AND ON MY M STAFF.

THEY JUST AREN'T AS WELL CONNECTED AND WELL-FUNDED AS SOME OF OUR LARGEST AND LOUDEST BUSINESSES. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THOSE WHO PROVIDE THE FOOD AND EXPERIENCES YOU CANNOT FIND IN OTHER CITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THIS IS A PROGRESSIVE BUDGET BECAUSE OUR CONSTITUENTS PUSHED US TO BE RESPONSIVE.

[02:15:03]

WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND WITHOUT THE ADVOCACY OF LABORS. WE WOULD NOT HAVE GONE AS FAR AS WE DID TO TAKE CARE OF AND PROTECT OUR WORKERS. ALSO WE CAN'T FORGET THE ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS AND ANIMAL RIGHTS ADVOCATES THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHING US TO DO BETTER FOR OUR ANIMAL POPULATION AND SHOWING UP EVERY WEEK FOR MONTHS RIGHT AFTER THEIR WORKDAY.

I HOPE THE INCREASE IN RESOURCES FOR ACS WILL BRING ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT NECESSARY TO TREE ANIMALS RESPONSIBLY AND HUMANELY. MAKE IT HARDER FOR WORKING CLASS, REGULAR PEOPLE TO SUCCEED. WE ARE THERE SUPPORTING PUBLIC HOUSING, ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, ADDRESSING HOUSELESSNESS THROUGH A LENS OF PREVENTION. COMMITTED TO EQUITY AND USING PUBLIC DOLLARS THAT SHIFTS FOCUS FROM INDIVIDUAL GAIN AND WEALTH TO WHAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE THE MOST PUBLIC AND COLLECTIVE GOOD. IT'S NOT PERFECT AND WE DISAGREE IN SOME AREAS, BUT FROM WHERE WE WERE WHEN 2021 TO NOW, IT'S VERY MUCH PROGRESS IN A FORWARD DIRECTION. AND IT IS OKAY TO RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU ARE THE MINORITY ON AN ISSUE. IT'S DEMOCRACY AND I WOULD ADVISE MANY WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO TAKE THAT LESSON WITH THEM.

WE'VE ALL INCLUDING THE COLLEAGUES I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY AS WELL AS PHYLLIS, RON AND MAJOR JOHN, WE'VE ALLOWED EACH OTHER THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD ON KEY ISSUES AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. SHOUT OUT TO MY DISTRICT FOR ALWAYS PACKING THE HOUSE. YOUR PARTICIPATION ABSOLUTELY GUIDED THIS BUDGET FROM ITS INCEPTION AFTER OUR FIRST TOWN HALL TO NOW AFTER OUR SECOND.

WE CONTINUALLY HAVE THE LARGEST TURNOUT TO OUR BUDGET TOWN HALLS AND THERE ARE SOME BIG, BIG WINS THAT YOU HELPED SHAPE. SHOUT OUT TO CITY STAFF FOR THEIR DILIGENCE. IT'S HARD TO PLEASE 11-WHAT COMPETING INTERESTS, BUT I HOPE YOU FEEL ACCOMPLISHED. I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE JUSTINA BECAUSE THEY WAS READY TO HOP OUT OF HER CHAIR TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD.

THANK YOU AS WELL TO MY TEAM, FRANKIE, LORETTA, DENISE, SHAUN AND MARIA FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S WORK. MY POLICY TEAM WORKED REALLY HARD PREPARING ME, RESEARCHING AND DIGGING, ENSURING NO STONE WENT UNTURNED AND NO DOLLAR WAS LEFT UNCHECKED IN ADVOCATING FOR OUR ANIMALS OF WHICH ALL BUT ONE OF THEM ARE HERE.

IN THE INTEREST OF DISTRICT TWO AND THE REST OF THE TEAM HELD THE FORT DOWN AT BOTH OF THE FIELD OFFICES WE MAINTAIN INCLUDING THE NEWLY RENOVATED AND EXPANDED NORTHEAST OFFICE. MY TEAM HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR MONTHS IN PREPARATION OF TODAY'S VOTE. THANK YOU ALL, I LOVE YOU, AND I COULDN'T HAVE SECURED ALL THESE WINS FOR THE DISTRICT WITHOUT Y'ALL. LET'S GO D2.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I'LL START OFF BY THANKING ERIK AND THE ENTIRE BUDGET STAFF FOR THEIR TIRELESS WORK.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE BEN GORZELL WHO SOMETIMES WE LEAVE OFF OF OUR RECOGNITIONS. I CAN CALL BEN LIKE ANY TIME AND HE WILL CALL BACK AND GIVE THE MOST DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF WHY I SHOULDN'T DO SOMETHING OR WHY I SHOULD RECONSIDER THE WAY I'M THINKING. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU WALKING ME THROUGH ALL THE REALLY COMPLICATED ISSUES. BEN, I DON'T THINK YOU GET ENOUGH CREDIT BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND YOUR OFFICE.

FOR A FEW MONTHS WE'VE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY TEAM AS WELL. AND SO TIM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, HAS LOST HIS MOM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO COVID AND HE HAS BEEN OUT FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF. WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE TOOK TIME WITH HIS FAMILY.

THE REST OF MY TEAM HAS PICKED UP AND MADE SURE WE DID EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE TIM COULD FOCUS ON HIS FAMILY AND THAT D4 RESIDENTS WOULD STILL BE WELL REPRESENTED AND ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BUDGET. THANK YOU TO RAUL AND JED AND EDWARD AND HOE HOSANNA WHO HAVE BEEN HOLDING DOWN THE WORK AT CITY HALL.

SOME OF OUR TEAM IS WORKING THROUGH EVERY DAY KNIT PICKING ON SOME OF THE ITEMS, CATCHING SOME WORDING THAT COULD BE IMPROVED, ET CETERA, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. ALSO THANK YOU MAYOR, TO YOUR LEADERSHIP IN ESTABLISHING THE -- OOPS, SORRY. [LAUGHTER] Y'ALL CAN TELL HIM I THANKED HIM. THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR YOUR

[02:20:02]

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. WE AGREE ON MOST OF WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET, BUT THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, WE CAME TO A COMPROMISE AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE VITAL CITY SERVICES MORE ACCESSIBLE.

WE DEVELOPED PROGRAMS TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. AND THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ADVOCATES AND TO EVERYBODY WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE TO EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE DONE SOME REALLY COOL THINGS IN THIS BUDGET AND I'VE GOT TO START OFF BY GIVING A SHOUT OUT TO COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS WHO REALLY HELPS WITH THE PREVENTION OF SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE SEE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I LOVE COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS. I'M A FORMER MEMBER, I PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. SO ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL SOFT PLACE IN MY HEART.

BUT I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE -- OR WE WILL BE APPROVING MORE THAN 100 NEW POLICE OFFICERS. THAT'S TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHAT THE RESIDENTS OF D4 ARE ASKING FOR. SUPPORT IN HOW THEY DO THEIR JOBS AS WELL.

IS BALLISTIC GLASS, THE SOFTWARE THEY'VE ASKED FOR. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR INCLUDING THAT. ERIK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ERIK AND I MET WITH GEORGE HERNANDEZ FROM UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM AND WE KNEW WE HAD TO PLUG IN OUR PART AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS DIDN'T SUFFER OR DIDN'T WAIT EXTENDED PERIODS, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. INCREASING THE ACS BUDGET BY 26%. RITA, I THOUGHT WE COULD NEVER DO THAT, SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LEADERSHIP. RITA IS A DISTRICT 4 APPOINTEE, CHAIR OF ACS. THANKING YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

DENISE, I HEARD I MENTION THE VET TECH PROGRAM AND I WILL FOLLOW UP TO SEE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT. IF WE HAVEN'T, WHAT A GREAT IDEA.

THANK YOU, WE ARE LISTENING TO YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

EXPANDING THE SA-CORE TEAM HOURS IS CRITICAL. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I MENTIONED WHEN I SAW THE BUDGET. SO I'M SO GLAD WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT TO -- GLAD WE ARE IN AGREEMENT TO EXPAND THE HOURS.

LAUNCHING THE GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM, TOTALLY -- I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR SOME ITEMS THAT WE HAVE THAT MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH, BUT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. TOGETHER WITH THE MAYOR AND WITH COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE OR WILL BE HOPEFULLY AN ASSESSMENT FOR THE HISTORIC VFW POST 76, SO IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO FOR HISTORIC ASSESSMENT. WE WERE ALSO -- THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, AND BY THE WAY THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. WHAT A GREAT BIRTHDAY GIFT TO THE AIR FORCE.

WE WILL BE GIVEN IN OUR VOTE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT FOR THE HERITAGE AND LEARNING CENTER FOUNDATION WHICH IS A PART OF THE KELLY HERITAGE FOUNDATION WERE THE ONES ORIGINALLY PUSHING IT. IT TELLS THE STORY OF THE FIRST CENTURY OF FLIGHT IN SAN ANTONIO WHICH PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT NECESSARILY.

IT WILL HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE EXCITING WORLD THAT LIES AHEAD ALSO SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT. I'M HAPPY IT'S IN THE PORT WITH THE PORT OF INNOVATION. AND ENGAGING OUR YOUTH SO THEY KNOW THE SKY HAS NO LIMIT. SO WE HOPE TO SEE HOW THIS SEED MONEY WILL HELP THEM AND LEVERAGE SOME OF THE NATIONAL FUNDING THAT THEY WILL NEED.

THEY WILL BE DOING A LOT OF WORK, BUT THIS SHOWS WE BELIEVE IN THEM.

SO I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE SECURED ALREADY AT NO COST EFFORTS WITH PORT SAN ANTONIO AND WITH THE AIR FORCE FOR THE LAND THAT THEY NEED TO BUILD THE MUSEUM. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR BELIEVING IN THE MISSION OF THAT. WE ALSO HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OBVIOUSLY FOR PARKS IMPROVEMENTS. THE ONE I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS THE SHADE STRUCTURE FOR ALL OF THE PARKS. WHEN ERIK WALSH TELLS ME THAT, THE FIRST THING I ASKED, IF I HAD ALREADY BUDGETED MONEY FOR THAT, CAN I USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND HE SAID YES. SO THANK YOU, ERIK WALSH, FOR SAVING THE DAY BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO HELP OTHER THINGS.

BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS, THEY ARE NOT IN THE HOUSE, THEY NEVER CALLED ME, NEVER ASKED ME TO HELP THEM, BUT I BELIEVED IN THE WORK THEY DID.

I KNOW THE WORK THAT THEY DO. I WAS A BIG SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES ALSO FOR THAT SUPPORT.

REALLY EXCITED ABOUT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND, THE ALL-ACCESSIBLE HOTEL, THE

[02:25:01]

STUDENTS OF SERVICE, IT'S CRITICAL THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT CULTURES SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE EACH ONE.

AND SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ CONTINUED TO BRING THAT UP BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S EASY TO FORGET SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS, SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

100 FLASH STOP SIGNS, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

I WAS ASKING TO SEE IF WE COULD GET ADDITIONAL BUDGET ITEMS WITH THAT EVEN WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS. I LOST A STUDENT RECENTLY AND I REALLY THINK THAT COULD HAVE HELPED, RIGHT? AND SO THE FLASHING STOP SIGNS.

I REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY THERE. THE INSULIN COST-SHARE PROGRAM WITH COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, I LOVE THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER ON SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF OUR DISTRICTS. AND IN THE OPPORTUNITY HOME, HAVE I TO SAY THAT I'M LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND SHE IS A REAL CHAMPION FOR HOUSING. AND I'M SO HAPPY SHE IS ON THE COUNCIL AND DOESN'T LET US FORGET THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN, ONE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ALSO IN REPAIRING THE HOUSING STOCK ALREADY OUT THERE.

I LOVE THAT MESSAGE THAT SHE BRINGS. THANK YOU FOR THE ADVOCACY ALSO FOR THE SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESSES. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ AND COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE AND COUNCILMEMBER KAUR AND COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN AND I WERE RECENTLY AT A TOWN HALL WITH THE ENTREPRENEUR AND ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORT SA.

WE -- YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA, WE HAVE A NEW MARKETING AGENCY, RIGHT? SO THAT HOPEFULLY YOUR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. SO WHEN YOU SPOKE UP ABOUT THEM LAST YEAR, WE DID LISTEN, MENTIONED IT, SO I'M CROSSING MY FINGERS THAT WE CORRECT IT THIS GO-AROUND.

THE BUDGET INCLUDES SPECIFIC TO DISTRICT 4 SOME FUNDING FOR OBVIOUSLY INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT $1.5 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENT AT PEARSALL PARK AND MEDINA PARK. $700,000 FOR THE -- WE GET TO SEE THE ANNUAL ECLIPSE IN APRIL BUT IN APRIL THE FULL ECLIPSE. EXCITED THE STUDENTS FROM ALL AREAS OF SAN ANTONIO WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO THAT PARK.

AND THEN JOHNSTON BRANCH LIBRARY, $375,000 DEDICATED TO THAT MUCH-NEEDED LIBRARY WHICH I FEEL HVAC SYSTEM IS ALWAYS BROKEN. THANK YOU ALL FOR BUDGETING FOR THAT. LOOKING FORWARD TO CONVERSATION AND TO FURTHER IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA

GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS MORNING ON MY WAY OVER HERE, I WAS CATCHING UP WITH AN OLD FRIEND FROM MY DAYS OF WORKING AT TOYOTA IN TIJUANA.

HIS NAME IS LEO AND WE WERE CATCHING UP ABOUT WORK AND HE WAS ASKING WHAT I WAS FOCUSING ON TODAY, WHAT I WAS UP TO. AND LIKE A GOOD FRIEND, HE WAS DOING HIS BEST TO PRETEND TO BE INTERESTED IN SAN ANTONIO'S BUDGET.

AND YOU KNOW, HE WAS ASKING ALL THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND THEN HE ASKED ME, WELL, HOW MUCH IS THIS BUDGET. I SAID -- IN SPANISH WE WERE TALKING, $3.7 BILLION.

SPANISH. HE GOES MANNY, IN MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA, WE DON'T SAY INTO THOUSAND MILLIONS. THERE'S A REASON I MENTION THAT AND BECAUSE IT'S AFTER I HUNG UP I STARTED THINKING, MAN, THAT'S A LOT OF THAT'S A LOT OF YOU KNOW, THE -- AND IT REALLY HELPED ME SORT OF UNDERSTAND OR PUT IN PERSPECTIVE WITH A DIFFERENT APPROACH. THINK THAT WE THROW THE WORD AROUND BILLIONS. BILLIONS, A LITTLE TOO CASUALLY AND IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE PEOPLE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BREADTH AND SCOPE OF THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. AND IS ROSE HILL STILL HERE? SHE APPROACHED THE PODIUM

[02:30:04]

BECAUSE IF YOU READ THIS -- COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, HOW MANY PAGES? SHE KNOWS THE EXACT NUMBER. IT'S DIFFICULT TO EXPECT PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, SUDDENLY BECOME PROFICIENT IN THIS BUDGET AND DIG THROUGH IT AND FIND OUT WHAT PARTS OF THE BUDGET ARE GOING TO IMPACT THEM. AND THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BUSY OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THEIR OWN HOME BUDGETS AND GOING TO WORK AND BEING EXPERTS IN THEIR FAMILY'S ISSUES. I DO THINK IT'S OUR JOB TO EXPLAIN IT. FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT STILL HAVEN'T REALLY KIND OF UNDERSTOOD, I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST AT DISTILLING DOWN THIS BUDGET WITH A VERY, VERY BROAD BRUSH. BUT I THINK MY COLLEAGUES WILL AGREE THAT THIS IS A BUDGET WHERE WE MAKE AN HISTORIC INVESTMENT. NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE SEEN A NUMBER LIKE THIS, $963 MILLION FOR 911 RESPONSE, FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, FOR POLICE AND FIRE. ALL WITH THE GOAL OF KEEPING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER AND MAKING SURE WHEN YOU CALL 911 THEY SHOW UP SOONER THAN LATER. AN HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND DRAINAGE. A PROBLEM WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, NOT IN DISTRICT 8, BUT IN DISTRICT 5. AND THE F STREETS IN DISTRICT 2 AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT YOUR SHARE TOO, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, OF STREETS THAT NEED ATTENTION. I THINK THE INVESTMENT IS IMPORTANT.

WE'VE MADE AN HISTORIC INVESTMENT, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE COUNCILMEMBERS UP HERE HAS REALLY LEANED IN AND INSISTED THAT WE LISTEN TO ALL OF YOU AND INVEST IN OUR HOMELESSNESS SERVICE ECOSYSTEM. WE ALSO HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR WHEN WE WERE MAKING AN HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT ABATEMENTS AND CLEANUP. WE ARE MAKING AN HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN MINUTE SERVICES. WE ARE MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN SAFETY NETS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE DOING THAT BY WAY OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES. I THINK YOU'LL AGREE THAT WE'RE MAKING HISTORIC INVESTMENTS -- AND I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY ERIK HAS REALLY HELPED GUIDE US THROUGH THIS, BUT HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN SHANNON SIMS' TEAM AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. WE ARE MAKING FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I REMEMBER A REALLY HUGE INVESTMENT IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS DON'T DIE WHEN BAD GUYS SHOOT AT THEM WHILE THEY ARE IN THEIR VEHICLES AND OUT PATROLLING AND DOING THEIR JOBS. ALSO AN ENORMOUS INVESTMENT IN ART, CULTURE AND PRESERVATION OF OUR HISTORIC ASSETS. AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 2, I TOO AM PROUD OF THIS BUDGET. I THINK IT'S -- THE BUDGET OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS ABOUT WHICH I AM MOST PROUD. BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE REALLY NAILED IT THIS TIME AND I THINK THAT THIS BUDGET MORE THAN ANY OTHER REALLY PRY PRIORITIZED WHAT EVERY PERSON IN SAN ANTONIO DESERVES, WHICH IS A CITY THAT'S STRONG, THAT'S SAFE, THAT'S SMARTER AND THAT, YOU KNOW, PROTECTS ITS AUTHENTICITY QUITE ZEALOUSLY.

I THINK WE'RE HITTING THE MARK HERE. AND NONE OF THIS COULD BE DONE WITHOUT MARIA, JUSTINA AND FREDDIE AND THE MATH CLUB, WHICH IS THE BUDGET TEAM THAT YOU ALL DIDN'T BRING TODAY. THOSE POOR PEOPLE ARE UP THERE LOADING TO BUDGET FOR PRINTING WHICH IS ALSO HARD WORK.

THANK YOU, ERIK AND THE BUDGET TEAM FOR THIS IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND AGAIN, I THINK SOMETIMES IT GETS LOST IN THIS CONVERSATION THAT THIS BUDGET IS AN ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENT. IT'S HUGE.

YOU GUYS GET AN A PLUS THIS TIME, RIGHT? IT'S A BUDGET THAT'S BALANCED. WE KNOW OUR RATING AGENCIES, YOU KNOW, REALLY ARE LOOKING FOR A BALANCED BUDGET THAT'S HEALTHY AND IS SUSTAINABLE. IT'S A CONSENSUS DOCUMENT AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO GET 11 VOTES TODAY AND THAT'S DIFFICULT IN 2023 TO GET 11 VOTES ON THIS DAIS BECAUSE WE ALL FIGHT LIKE CATS AND DOGS UP HERE, BUT THE FACT YOU ARE ABLE TO DISTILL ALL OF OUR COMPETING INTERESTS DOWN INTO ONE

[02:35:01]

I REALLY DO WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT I SEE THE HARD WORK YOU DO AND I APPRECIATE IT A LOT. AT THE SAME TIME -- I'M SORRY FOR WHAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO HAPPEN THIS AFTERNOON AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW AND AFTER TOMORROW, AND I'M SORRY BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT OUR FRIENDS IN THE MEDIA ARE GOING TO COVER THIS THE WAY THAT IT MERITS. AND I LOVE THEM, I DO, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN ISSUE IN THIS BUDGET THAT IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM TODAY.

IT'S THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH COMPONENT OF THE BUDGET. IT'S A $500,000 ITEM.

IF YOU TAKE THE $3.7 BILLION, .00137% OF THIS BUDGET, AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M WORRIED AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I TRUST OUR FRIENDS IN THE MEDIA TO GIVE THE OTHER 99.987% OF THE BUDGET THE ATTENTION THAT IT MERITS. I HOPE I'M WRONG, BUT -- BUT I'VE GROWN CYNICAL AND -- ANYWAY. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TODAY.

AND IT IS, IT'S .00137% OF THE BUDGET. THAT'S NOT TO SAY, HOWEVER, THAT IT'S AN UNIMPORTANT ISSUE. IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT AND MERITS A LOT OF COUNCIL DEBATE AND MERITS A VERY ROBUST PUBLIC INPUT.

AND MY LAMENT IS NOT THAT THE ISSUE IS UNIMPORTANT AND WE'RE PAYING TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO IT, MY LAMENT IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GIVING THIS THE TIME THAT IT MERITS TODAY AND THAT -- I THINK IT MERITS, YOU KNOW, ITS SEPARATE B SESSION AND A SESSION. SO, YOU KNOW, ERIK, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING AND NOT DOING TODAY.

THIS $500,000 IS PART OF THE BUDGET, BUT TODAY, PLEASE TELL ME BECAUSE IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION, ARE WE VOTING TO PAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET ABORTIONS IN OTHER

CITIES? ARE WE DOING IS THAT? >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, BEFORE YOU IS THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AND THE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON THE AMENDMENT. THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A FULL COUNCIL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT SERVICES WE SHOULD PROCURE, JUST LIKE WE DO ON HIGH-PROFILE SOLICITATIONS.

THAT WILL COME THIS FALL, I WOULD EXPECT. >> PELÁEZ: THAT I HEARD

WAS NO. >> WALSH: THAT WAS A LONG ANSWER TO NO.

>> PELÁEZ: THAT WAS A LONG ANSWER BUT THE ANSWER IS NO. WE'RE SETTING ASIDE FUNDS SO WE CAN HAVE A DEBATE LATER. THAT'S WHAT I WANT, A ROBUST DEBATE, PUBLIC INPUT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY UP HERE WANTS AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT CHANCE. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK TODAY WE'RE TAKING A VOTE TO PAY FOR PEOPLE'S AIRPLANE TICKETS TO GO OUT OF STATE TO GO GET ABORTIONS.

THAT'S NOT HAPPENING TODAY. TODAY WE'RE SETTING ASIDE FUNDS THAT WE WILL THEN DEBATE HOW TO ADMINISTER AT A LATER DATE AND THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S HEALTHY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DEBATE.

LASTLY -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU STARTED THE SENTENCE SO I'LL

LET YOU FINISH. >> PELÁEZ: THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AFTER MONTHS OF WORK AND NEW FACES ON COUNCIL, A HANDFUL OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE'RE FINALLY HERE WITH WITH THIS DOCUMENT. I'M PROUD OF DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS TO ATTENDED INPUT SESSIONS TO OUR BUDGET 101 TO OUR TOWN HALL, AS WELL AS TO MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM WHO OFTEN TALLIES UP THE CASES WE RECEIVE BASED IN THE DEPARTMENT AND SERVES AS GUIDE, RUNNING PARALLEL TO COMMUNITY INPUT. THERE'S A COUPLE OF CONSTITUENTS HERE THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF WHO ATTENDED NOT JUST THE DISTRICT 5 BUDGET TOWN HALLS, BUT ATTENDED TOWN HALLS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. KAREN SPEAR AND RAYMOND ZAVALA ATTENDED SEVERAL TOWN HALL SESSIONS AND REPLAYED INFORMATION THEY HEARD ALLOWING ME TO CONNECT IT TO DISTRICT 5 NEEDS. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AND ENSURING DISTRICT 5 VOICES ARE HEARD. THIS IS A BALANCED BUDGET AND IT COMES WITH COMPROMISE. I'M GRATEFUL TO THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR WORKING TOGETHER ON A BUDGET THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.

I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR CITY STAFF AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH RAYMOND WHO IS ONE OF OUR NEWLY REDISTRICTED RESIDENTS, WHEN I WALKED THAT PIECE, I WAS

[02:40:01]

AND I'M GRATEFUL OUR CITY MANAGER DROVE THAT AREA AND WHEN WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BUDGET, HE WENT OUT TO SEE ABOUT THE NEED WITHIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, ERIK.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET TEAM FOR THEIR IMPRESSIVE WORK.

JUSTINA, IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED. IT'S JUST IMPRESSIVE.

I WANT TO THANK YOUR PEOPLE FOR Y'ALL'S CONTINUED WORK AND I KNOW THE WORK DOESN'T STOP HERE, IT CONTINUES INTO THE NEXT BUDGET SESSION. THANK YOU ALL.

I WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TRTO HONE IN ON A COUPLE OF DISTRICT 5 SPECIFIC THINGS THAT ARE A TOP PRIORITY AND WE'RE GRATEFUL ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THIS BUDGET. AS I'VE MENTIONED, INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN GREAT NEED IN DISTRICT 5 AND ESPECIALLY WITH REDISTRICTING AND THAT'S WHY I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE WE'RE INCREASING THE NAMP FUNDING TO ENSURE WE CAN TACKLE MORE STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PLANNING PIECES THAT ARE VERY MUCH NEEDED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S ALSO FUNDING FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON CLAGLE STREETS IN THE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS AREA AS WELL AS MONTERREY AND SMITH PARK. RENOVATIONS FOR THE NATATORIUM AND I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO CAME BY ON MONDAY WHO SAID WE NEED A NATATORIUM WITHIN THE EDGEWOOD AREA. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA FOR THE 2027 BOND THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER BECAUSE AS COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA MENTIONED, EDGEWOOD HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND FAR TOO LONG AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE IT'S FINALLY GETTING ITS INVESTMENT THAT IT'S LONG DESERVED.

BUILDING AND REPAIRING SIDEWALKS WITH ROUGHLY $137 MILLION GOING TOWARDS SAFER STREETS. 80 -- REPAIRS FOR 80 NON-SERVICE ALLEYWAYS AT 3.5 MILLION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE LASSIE YEARS GIVEN PRIOR THERE WASN'T AS MUCH FUNDING AND WE HAVE SO MANY CONSTITUENTS WHO COME TO OUR OFFICE AND WE HEAR AT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS THAT THEIR NON-SERVICE ALLEYWAYS NEED IMPROVEMENT.

A FIVE YEAR PLAN TO ADD SHADE STRUCTURES FOR CITY PLAYGROUNDS.

WE KNOW IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET HOTTER AND I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE FOR THE 100 FLASHING STOP SIGNS ENSURING WE'RE KEEPING PEDESTRIANS SAFE IS TOP PRIORITY FOR US. FURTHER, WITH HOUSING, WE'RE --, MY TEAM IS VERY EXCITED THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL LEAD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH TWO INITIATIVES WITH THE SAVES PROGRAM. THE FIRST CITY IN TEXAS WITH A PROGRAM OF THIS KIND TO ENSURE SENIORS CAN SAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO VOLUNTEER EXEMPTION FOR SENIOR PROGRAM ROUGHLY SAVING SENIORS IF THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AN ADDITIONAL $400. SO I WANT TO THANK BEN FOR HIS WORK ON THAT.

FURTHER, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY HOME ACCESSIBILITY AND OPERATIONS FUND, THERE IS VERY FEW CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT OFFER A SIMILAR FUND AND THE CITY OF D.C. IS ONE OF THOSE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT START.

IT RUNS PARALLEL WITH OUR SHIP GOALS AND FALLS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE BOND.

NO DOUBT WE HAVE PLENTY OF WORK AHEAD, PLENTY OF MORE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE, AND I WANT TO THANK RAYMOND FOR BRINGING THAT UP IN HIS COMMENT THAT THERE'S MORE CONVERSATION TO BE HAD ON THE APPROACHES THAT WE'RE TAKING.

THE TITLE CLEARANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT VACANT LOTS AND WHY SOME OF THESE LOTS ARE VACANT AND VACANT HOMES.

THERE'S FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET THE TITLE CLEAR AND WE'RE INVESTING $100,000 TO HELP FAMILIES WITH TITLE CLEARANCE.

SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. GRATEFUL TO SEE THE WORK AND, OF COURSE, THE CITY MOVED WITH URGENCY ON THE GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM.

IT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A GREAT IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I WANTED TO COMMEND COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO FOR EVACUATING FOR A SENIOR -- ADVOCATING FOR A PROGRAM TO ASSIST PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH CODE COMPLIANCE FEES. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY, I'M REALLY PROUD TO SEE WE'RE INVESTING IN REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. I WANTED TO THANK ALL THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO CAME TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE LAST FEW COUPLE OF WEEKS LETTING US KNOW THIS A SAN ANTONIO PRIORITY. FROM AVOW TEXAS, JAMES DUE PROCESS.

[02:45:05]

THIS CAN CAUSE A BACKLOG OF CASES AND NOW WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE THAT THE EVIDENCE IS COLLECTED AND THEN OUR DETECTIVES CAN SEND APPROPRIATE EVIDENCE TO THE D.A. SO I WANTED TO THANK I COULD GO ON AND ON AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO APPROVE ING THIS BUDGET.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING CITY STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR GREAT WORK. I MEAN YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR I GUESS FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AND REALLY DO A GREAT JOB.

SO TO ERIK AND HIS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. TO MY TEAM IN THE DISTRICT 10 OFFICE, THANK YOU ALL AS WELL. TIRELESSLY GOING THROUGH THIS BUDGET LINE BY LINE. Y'ALL HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.

SPECIAL THANKS TO RAUL, REBECCA AND PAULA WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN SIDE BY SIDE WITH ME LOOKING AT THIS BUDGET AND GETTING OUR MESSAGE OUT ON IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS BUDGET FOR DISTRICT 10 HAS A TON OF GREAT THINGS IN IT. AND THINGS THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF.

WHAT I HAVE WANTED -- WOULD I HAVE WANTED TO CUT TAXES IN A MORE SIGNIFICANT WAY, ABSOLUTELY. DO I THINK THERE'S MORE WASTEFUL SPENDING IN THIS BUDGET, ABSOLUTELY. I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BE UNHAPPY WITH SOME OF THE SPENDING IN THE BUDGET AND UNHAPPY THAT WE'RE NOT CUTTING TAXES MORE.

WITH THAT SAID, THERE'S GREAT STUFF IN THIS BUDGET. IT STARTS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. MORE THAN 100 OFFICERS NOW WE'RE GETTING IN THIS BUDGET. WE'RE GETTING THEM THE BULLETPROOF GLASS.

WE'RE GETTING THEM THE CELLEBRITE. SO IMPORTANT.

OUR OWN EMS UNIT IN DISTRICT 10. I HEARD ALL DURING THE CAMPAIGN ABOUT SLOW RESPONSE TIMES FROM OUR EMS SERVICES TO VARIOUS PARTS OF OUR DISTRICT AND WE'RE GETTING AN EMS UNIT RIGHT THERE IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT 10.

I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. THE HOMELESS ISSUE. WE DID A SURVEY, RIGHT, A CITYWIDE SURVEY ABOUT OUR CONSTITUENTS' TOP CONCERNS. HOMELESSNESS WAS AT THE TOP.

IN THIS BUDGET THERE IS MONEY TO CLEAN UP ENCAMPMENTS.

I THINK OUR COMMITMENT PER THE CITY MANAGER, AFTER A EN CAMPMENT IS IDENTIFIED, CLEAN IT UP IN TWO WEEKS. MAXING OUT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR RESIDENTS. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE TO JOINED ME IN THAT.

INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HEARD ABOUT IT FROM ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, I THINK, DURING THIS RECENT ELECTION AND CERTAINLY IN DISTRICT 10 WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR ROADS, FOR SIDEWALKS AND WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF THAT IN THIS BUDGET. SO I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY THERE.

THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION FUND THAT WAS MENTIONED, WE'VE GOT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE HURTING WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON OUTSIDE OF THEIR FACILITIES, SO WE WANT TO SET ASIDE MONEY TO HELP THEM THROUGH THOSE TIMES.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT DONE AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES JOINING ME ON THAT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'VE TALKED TODAY ABOUT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND. WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT CRIT, BUT THESE ARE TWO GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M PROUD TO HAVE IN DISTRICT 10 THAT HELP OUT DISABLED CHILDREN, AND THERE'S REALLY NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT AND I'M PROUD THAT WE'RE GETTING MONEY IN THIS BUDGET TO GO TO THOSE TWO GREAT ORGANIZATIONS.

SO DISTRICT 10, THERE'S A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN THIS BUDGET.

IT'S GOING TO DO A LOT FOR ALL OF YOU IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND I'M VERY

[02:50:01]

AND LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT. THERE'S PUBLIC AUDIO] AND WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE ABOUT IT TODAY. IT IS CLEAR THIS MONEY IS DESIGNED TO GO TO FUND ABORTION ACCESS. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, BUCKLE BUNNY, LILETH FUND, THE OTHERS, YOU GO LOOK THEM UP, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEY PROVIDE ACCESS TO ABORTION. ME, I WILL ALWAYS STAND FOR LIFE.

NO MATTER THE TIME OR THE PLACE. [APPLAUSE] IN OUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW, MY WIFE HAD ARE MISCARRIAGE SOME YEARS AGO.

AND YOU CAN'T TELL HER THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE LIFE GROWING INSIDE HER.

AND I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT WE FOUND OUT AND WHAT A REALLY TERRIBLE AND PAINFUL DAY THAT WAS FOR US. BUT TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES UP HERE TODAY, WHAT I SUBMIT TO YOU IS THIS VOTE, WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

AND THIS CANNOT BE ABOUT MY PERSONAL BELIEFS ABOUT ABORTION AND IT CAN'T BE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL BELIEVES ABOUT ABORTION. THIS HAS TO BE ABOUT WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO USE THE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS' HARD-EARNED MONEY.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT TODAY. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY WANT US TO USE THEIR MONEY TO FUND ABORTION. TAKE A SCENARIO WHERE TWO 25-YEAR-OLDS GO OUT TONIGHT, MEET AT A BAR, END UP GOING HOME TOGETHER.

10, 15 WEEKS LATER, THE WOMAN IS PREGNANT, WANTS AN ABORTION.

SHOULD THE SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT LADY TO GO TRAVEL TO ARIZONA OR VIRGINIA OR WHEREVER IT IS TO GET THAT PROCEDURE? WE ALL KNOW AFTER THE DOBBS DECISION THE ISSUE OF ABORTION IS GOING TO BE LEFT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL STATE. THERE MAY BE SOME STATES THAT SAY YOU CAN HAVE AN ABORTION UP TO 30 OR 35 WEEKS. AT A TIME WHEN WOMEN CAN FEEL THE CHILD MOVING IN THEIR STOMACH, THAT THE CHILD CAN ACTUALLY REACT TO SOUNDS. TAKE THE SAME SCENARIO, TWO FOLKS MEET AT A BAR NIGHT, GO HOME WITH EACH OTHER AND 30 WEEKS FROM NOW OR 35 WEEKS FROM NOW THEY WANT TO GO TO SOME CRAZY STATE THAT HAS ONE OF THESE 30-WEEK LAWS, ARE WE -- ARE OUR TAXPAYERS SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR THEM TO GO TO CALIFORNIA TO GET AN ABORTION? THE MAYOR OFTEN TALKS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CITY WE WANT TO BE.

WE'VE HEARD TODAY THAT THIS BUDGET SHOULD REFLECT OUR VALUES AS A CITY.

AND SO I WOULD ASK EVERYBODY UP HERE THAT SAME QUESTION THAT THE MAYOR ASKS US ALL THE TIME, WHAT KIND OF CITY DO WE WANT TO BE. DO WE WANT TO SPEND OUR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS' MONEY TO FUND PEOPLE TO GO OUT OF STATE FOR ABORTION? AND I'LL TELL YOU, SOME OF THESE SAME GROUPS THAT ARE AT THIS NOW WERE THE SAME ONES THAT PUSHED PROPOSITION A THIS PAST MAY. PROPOSITION A THAT, BY THE WAY, HAD A LEGALIZE ABORTION PROVISION, AND IT WAS VOTED DOWN 72-28.

AND OUR MAYOR DURING THE TIME -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN, THIS IS ON THE BUDGET. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE

ELECTION. PLEASE STICK ON TOPIC. >> WHYTE: I'M TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, MAYOR, AND HOW YOU SAID BACK THEN THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AT

THE RIGHT LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. >> I CALL THE QUESTION, THE BUDGET. CAN WE JUST VOTE ON THE BUDGET?

[02:55:04]

>> SEGOVIA: IF THE COUNCILWOMAN WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION ON THE BUDGET, IT WOULD REQUIRE A SECOND, MAYOR, AND IT WOULD REQUIRE THEN EIGHT COUNCIL

MEMBERS TO VOTE TO APPROVE THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DO YOU

MAKE A MOTION, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: ARE WE GOING TO

DEBATE PRO-LIFE AND PRO-CHOICE AFTER THIS? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE HAS THE FLOOR FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF MINUTES.

HE CAN COMPLETE HIS COMMENTS AS HE WISHES. GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN.

>> WHYTE: MAYOR, YOU SAID BACK THEN WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. I AGREED WITH YOU BACK THEN AND I WAS HAPPY THAT YOU CAME AROUND AND YOU JOINED US, ACTUALLY, IN FIGHTING IT BACK AGAINST PROPOSITION A.

BUT TO YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT SOLVING PROBLEMS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER TODAY AS WELL BECAUSE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAS SPOKEN.

FUNDING FOLKS TO GO OUT OF STATE FOR ABORTION, IN MY VIEW, RUNS CONTRARY TO TEXAS LAW.

OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS STATED THAT AT THE LEAST THIS OPENS US UP TO LEGAL EXPOSURE AND SO WE SHOULDN'T BE TRYING TO DO AN END ROUND OF TEXAS LAW UP HERE TODAY.

I AM FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH AND I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS POINT TO AMEND THE SO-CALLED REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ITEM AND MOVE TO RESTRICT THE FUNDS THAT ARE TO BE ALLOCATED TO METRO HEALTH FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THIRD-PARTY ENTITIES FOR ONLY WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES THAT DO NOT INCLUDE ABORTION OR ACCESS TO ABORTION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE HAS MADE A MOTION TO RESTRICT THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND ITEM. AS HE STATED, ANDY, THAT'S

PERMITTED? >> COURAGE: MAYOR, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION, I

SECOND THAT MOTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR RESTRICTING THE FUND TO SERVICES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE SERVICES PROVIDED BY

PROVIDERS WHO OFFER ABORTION. DID I GET THAT RIGHT? >> WHYTE: YEAH, OR ACCESS TO

ABORTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OR ACCESS TO ABORTION.

SO THAT IS THE DISCUSSION ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW. I'M GOING TO KEEP THE QUEUE THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY, WHICH COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, YOU'RE STILL IN THAT QUEUE.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE JUST SIGNAL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ON THIS SUBJECT.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE NO ON THE BUDGET, VOTE NO ON THE BUDGET.

IF WE WANT TO HAVE A LARGER CONVERSATION, WHICH THIS IS NOT THE PLACE BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO SEPARATE THIS FROM THE BUDGET.

I DO NOT BELIEVE WE SHOULD SEPARATE THIS FROM THE BUDGET. I BELIEVE THAT A NEWS PROGRAM DID A GREAT JOB OF CAUSING CONVERSATION BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON HERE TODAY. WE ARE VOTING ON MOVING A FUND FORWARD.

WE CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IN B SESSION OR COMMITTEE AND WE CAN DEBATE YOUR MERITS THERE. BUT AS FOR TODAY, I ENCOURAGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THIS AMENDMENT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET THAT HAS TAKEN SO LONG AND STOP GIVING THIS -- THE NEWS THAT IT DOESN'T MERIT AT THIS TIME UNTIL WE ACTUALLY HAVE THIS

CONVERSATION IN B SESSION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO AND I'VE GOT COURAGE AND PELAEZ

IN THE QUEUE AS WELL. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE BEEN ASSURED THAT THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FUND FALLS WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW AND THAT THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AMENDMENT BEFORE US TODAY IS NOT CONTRARY TO STATE LAW NOR DOES IT SEEK TO OVERTURN ANY STATE LAWS. THE INTENT FOR THIS FUNDING IS TO GIVE WOMEN WHO SOMETIMES HAVE LITTLE TO NO OPTIONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION POSSIBLE REGARDING THEIR OWN HEALTH. WE WERE SAYING THAT WE'LL BE SUPPORTING NONPROFITS WHO WILL BE FOCUSED ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, NOT US DIRECTLY FUNDING OUT OF STATE

[03:00:03]

TEXAS RANKS 49 OUT OF 50 FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE TO ME IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I THINK TO MANY OF US TODAY, WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE FUND AND

I'M OPPOSED TO THIS MOTION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE MOTION MY COLLEAGUE EXPRESSED IN HIS PRESENTATION. I DON'T WANT THIS COUNCIL TO GET INTO CULTURE WAR ISSUES. BUT I SECONDED THIS FOR DISCUSSION AND CLARIFICATION.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT AS WE FACE AN ISSUE LIKE THIS. THIS AMENDMENT HAS BECOME CONTROVERSIAL.

MAKE SURE IT SHOULDN'T BE. MAYBE IT DIDN'T INTEND TO BE. BUT IT HAS BEEN.

SO I LOOK AT THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND I RECOGNIZE, NUMBER ONE, THE ROLE OF ANY CITY GOVERNMENT IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CITY RESIDENTS.

I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY WOULD DISAGREE.

THE ISSUE OF CITY FUNDS BEING USED FOR ABORTION SERVICES IN ANY WAY WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED. THE CITY IN THE PAST HAS NEVER PROVIDED FUNDING FOR ANY SERVICES RELATED TO ABORTION EVEN WHEN IT WAS LEGAL. SO I GET CONCERNED ABOUT SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT WE MAY BE DOING TODAY. PART OF MY OATH OF OFFICE IS TO OBEY THE LAWS OF THE STATE, EVEN IF I MAY NOT PERSONALLY AGREE WITH THEM.

THAT IS THE OATH WE ALL TOOK. NOW, WOMEN'S HEALTH AND WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ARE AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY, AS IS THE HEALTH OF ALL RESIDENTS. AND, YOU KNOW, I WON'T DENY A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT TO DO WITH HER OWN BODY. BUT I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO WHAT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS CAN AND CANNOT DO.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DR. JACOBS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF METROPOLITAN HEALTH . THANK YOU, DR. JACOB. COULD YOU TELL US HOW MUCH DOES THE CITY COMMIT TO WOMEN'S HEALTH AND WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, EVEN WITHOUT THIS

$500,000 AMOUNT? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS.

SO IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET, $16.4 MILLION GOES FOR OUR PREVENTION SERVICES AS WELL AS OUR CLINICAL FUNCTIONS. MOSTLY ANCHORED TO OUR STD CLINIC.

KNOW THE LION'S SHARE OF THAT REFLECTS A MIX OF GRANTS AND GENERAL FUNDS.

SO $16.4 MILLION . >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS ANOTHER $500,000. AND $500,000 CAN BE A LOT OF MONEY AND CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS A FEW MINUTES AGO AND I NEED TO CLARIFY THIS IN MY OWN MIND. ERIK, I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY THAT THIS MONEY, IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL ACTION TODAY, IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED FOR ABORTION OR ABORTION SERVICES THAT THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION OR A DECISION WOULD COME UP AT A LATER TIME FOR TUL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHICH ORGANIZATIONS THIS MONEY MIGHT GO TO. AND THAT WOULD COME WITH HELP FROM THE METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR ANY OTHER CITY COMMITTEE IT GETS ASSIGNED TO.

IS THAT CORRECT? >> WALSH: THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILMAN.

THIS IS AN APPROVAL OF A BUDGET. SO WHAT WE SPEND -- THE BUDGET

[03:05:03]

LIKE ANY OTHER SOLICITATION. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. AGAIN, MY CONCERN IS THE OATH I'VE WORN TO OBEY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WHAT KIND OF PRECEDENT WOULD WE BE SETTING AND WHETHER THERE ARE LIMITATIONS ON WHAT A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CAN OR CANNOT DO.

AND TO THEREFORE I RESPECT THE REQUEST TO GO AHEAD AND LIMIT THIS FUNDS SO THAT IT MAY NOT BE USED FOR ABORTION OR ABORTION SERVICES. AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, IF I MAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD, ANDY.

>> SEGOVIA: I DO WANT TO STATE, AS A CITY ATTORNEY, THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE COUNCIL IS DOING TODAY THAT IS ILLEGAL OR PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW.

AGAIN, AS ERIK POINTED OUT, WE WILL -- OR THE COUNCIL WILL DETERMINE, IF THIS GETS APPROVED, WHAT SERVICES, THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, AND WHAT ORGANIZATIONS WILL PERFORM THOSE SERVICES AND WE WILL WORK WITH THE COUNCIL AND WITH THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR TO ENSURE YOU, ANDY. WE'LL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT AGAIN WITH

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: ANDY, PLEASE CLARIFY -- I KNOW I'M LAYING IT ON THICK, RIGHT, ON PURPOSE BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S PERFECTLY CLEAR.

WHEN YOU SAY THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY DOESN'T VIOLATE STATE LAW, I THINK WHAT -- THE REASON YOU'RE SAYING THAT IS BECAUSE ALL WE'RE DOING TODAY IS SETTING ASIDE $500,000 TO BE

DEBATED ABOUT SOME OTHER DAY. IS THAT RIGHT? >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT,

COUNCILMAN, YES. THAT'S CORRECT. >> PELAEZ: ALL RIGHT, ANDY.

FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME YOU AND I AGREE ON OPEN MIC. I WAS TEASING COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO BECAUSE IT'S TWO DAYS IN A ROW THAT SHE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED SOMETHING I AGREE WITH. PLEASE CHECK HER FOR A CONCUSSION.

[LAUGHTER] SERIOUSLY , I KNOW I OFTENTIMES GET UP HERE AND RANT AND RAVE ABOUT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND I'M NOT SURE THAT MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TO BE AWESOMALL THINGS FOR ALL PEOPLE. I KNOW I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT ABOUT SAYING THAT WE WERE ERR ON THE SIDE OF NOT COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES BUT I REMEMBER ONE OF MY FIRST EXECUTIVE -- NO. ONE OF OUR VERY FIRST DISCUSSIONS UP HERE MANY YEARS AGO. COUNCILMAN -- NO, MAYOR NIRENBERG -- NEW MAYOR NIRENBERG REMINDED US ALL OF AN EMERSON QUOTE THAT CONSISTENCY IS THE HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS AND ADORED BY LITTLE STATEMENTS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT? AND SO I'M NOT CONSISTENT AND TODAY I THINK COUNCILMAN WHYTE -- I WANT TO HAVE THIS DEBATE. I REALLY DO.

I WANT TO HAVE IT. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT AND PEOPLE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN THIS. I WANT THERE TO BE A B SESSION, AN A SESSION, I WANT TO HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS AND I DO NOT WANT TO DENY PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH US. AND THE JOB THAT WE ALL AGREED TO DO UP HERE WHEN WE GOT ELECTED WAS TO HAVE THE REALLY TOUGH CONVERSATIONS.

I DON'T THINK -- WELL, I'M NOT ALLERGIC TO THAT. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE ALLERGIC TO DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFICULT AND THAT'S OKAY. THERE'S NEVER A WRONG TIME TO HAVE A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GO TO B SESSION AND WHEN WE GO TO A SESSION AND I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO BRING IT TOO.

AND MAYOR NIRENBERG, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IT AS WELL. SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU I'M GOING TO VOTE NO TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE COMING AT IT FROM THIS ANGLE BUT I'M GOING TO SHOW UP FOR THE --

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN, MY GESTURE WAS PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS

TOWARDS THE CHAIR. >> PELAEZ: SORRY. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO VOTE NO TODAY. BUT THANK YOU. I HOPE THAT Y'ALL UNDERSTAND

WHY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

WE'LL CONTINUE WITH COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONCUSSIONS ARE CONTAGIOUS. [LAUGHTER] THIS ONE IS CRUCIAL IS TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF RESPECTS TO SEEK THE

[03:10:01]

AGAIN, THIS IS PUTTING MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH WAS AND ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE. I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THERE'S NOTHING CRIMINAL ABOUT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED AS IS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION WHEN IT GOES TO A OR B SESSION. BUT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HARRIS COUNTY HAS A SIMILAR FUND. AUSTIN HAD A SIMILAR FUND. F THIS IS JUST AS SILLY TO ME WHEN WE'RE DEBATING THE WATER BREAK ORDINANCE. IT'S $500,000 TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT. I'M A BIT DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DIVISIVE RHETORIC WITH RIGHT AND LEFT WING. IT'S DISAPPOINTING AND NOT

NECESSARY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IT WOULDN'T BE A I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THIS DID NOT POP UP AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

MANY OF US EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR A FUND AS PROPOSED TO US FROM THE DAY WE RECEIVED THE DRAFT BUDGET AND THERE WAS A CLEAR CONSENSUS. WHETHER OR NOT ONE OF US OR A FEW OF US WERE KEEPING UP WITH THE DISCUSSION TO SEE THERE WAS A CONSENSUS IS ON THEM.

WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WHAT WE WANT THE SCOPE TO BE.

IF I WERE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT ASKING FOR IT TO INCLUDE XYZ THING OR REMOVE XYZ THING FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE BUDGET, YOU WOULD NOT LIKE IT AND IT WOULD PREVENT US FROM HAVING MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION LATER. THE SECOND IS BECAUSE OF CONTENT.

I BELIEVE THIS ITEM IS THE ROUTE OUR CONSTITUENTS WOULD LIKE US TO GO.

MANY OF US WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR THE FUND, INCLUDING BY MYSELF, WON BY A LARGE AMOUNT.

I'M GOING TO EXPRESS WHY I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING IT AS-IS.

I GOT 56%. THE SECOND-PLACE GOT 14% SO I REASONABLY BELIEVE I SPOKE TO MORE VOTERS IN MY DISTRICT THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE. I'M SURE THAT'S THE CASE WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES. COUNCILMAN WHYTE INCLUDED WHO WON HIS DISTRICT OVERWHELMINGLY. I BELIEVE YOU ARE ADVOCATING AN INTEREST FOR YOUR DISTRICT.

I WANT YOU TO BELIEVE I AM DOING THE SAME. SORRY, MAYOR.

WHAT I HEARD IN DISTRICT 2 WAS AN OVERWHELMING REQUEST THAT WE STEP UP AND TAKE WHATEVER ALTHOUGH TYPICALLY THERE IS NOT USUALLY A CONNECTION TO WHAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS DO AND THAT SORT OF ISSUE, THE EXPECTATION IS THERE FROM MY CONSTITUENTS. SO, AGAIN, YOU FEEL WHAT YOU FEEL MORALLY. I DON'T FAULT YOU BUT I CAN DO MATH AND READ A ROOM AND I CAN READ AN ELECTION RESULT AND I KNOW THAT AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF SAN ANTONIANS WOULD SUPPORT THIS FUND AS PROPOSED, SO I CANNOT SUPPORT REMOVING A KEY ELEMENT.

WE NEED TO DISCUSS THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO MAKE AN IMPACT LEGALLY.

AS FAR AS WE CAN GO, I WANT TO GO THERE OF COURSE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF STATE LAW.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SAN ANTONIO HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF STDS IN TEXAS BIG CITIES.

IN 2018 COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICT 4 HAD SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF CHLAMYDIA.

THAT SAME YEAR, OUR DISTRICT HAD A RELATIVELY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATION THAT WAS UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED. SINCE APRIL 2023, ABOUT HALF A MILLION TEXANS HAVE LOST MEDICAID COVERAGE. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SAN ANTONIANS HAVE LOST ACCESS TO CARE. FROM THIS DATA, WE CAN ASSUME THAT THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED PEOPLE HAS GROWN. THIS HELPS UNINSURED PEOPLE ACCESS STI TESTING, PRENATAL AND MEDICAL CARE. IN 2018 THE BIRTHRATE COMPETED THE OVERALL BEXAR COUNTY RATE. TEENS CAN NO LONGER ACCESS BIRTH CONTROL WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS' CONSENT . YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO ACCESS A RANGE OF CARE.

THIS PROPOSAL ALSO REDUCES HEALTH DISPARITIES BY ADDRESSING INFANT MORTALITY RATES AND COMBATING HIGH RATES OF SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS LIKE GONORRHEA, HIV, SYPHILIS, AND OTHERS THROUGH TARGETED EDUCATION AND RESOURCES.

A FEW YEARS AGO, I ALSO LEARNED THAT DISTRICT 4 HAD THE HIGHEST RATES OF SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME. I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IS EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY. THIS PROPOSAL ALSO ADDRESSES THAT.

THIS PROPOSAL ALSO ADDRESSES INCREASING ACCESS TO PRENATAL CARE BY INCREASING ACCESS TO

[03:15:09]

THAT'S NOT WHAT'S BEING TOLD TODAY. THAT WAS IN THE PROPOSAL.

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO OFFER, FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL WHO DID NOT SEE THE PROPOSAL FIRSTHAND, THE THINGS THAT I SEE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD FOR THE SAKE OF CONVERSATION.

SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATION. I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR SECONDING IT SO THAT I COULD LET OTHERS KNOW WHAT ELSE IS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA

GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YES.

I THANK COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR HIS SECOND AND ALLOWING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS TODAY.

AND COUNCILWOMAN, THOSE SERVICES THAT YOU REFERENCE THAT THIS MONEY COULD GO TOWARDS, I FULLY SUPPORT. THE STI TESTING, PRENATAL CARE.

>> SEGOVIA: JUST A DECORUM POINT AGAIN. ANY COMMENTS BY ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDER, NOT TO ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER.

>> WHYTE: I FULLY SUPPORT THIS FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE CARE THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED TODAY.

THE STI TESTING, PRENATAL CARE, EDUCATION FOR WOMEN ON THESE TOPICS.

I FULLY SUPPORT ALL OF IT. AND IT'S IMPORTANT BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR ABORTION. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT -- [APPLAUSE] THERE'S THIS TALK ABOUT, WELL, LET'S HAVE THE DISCUSSION LATER, RIGHT, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE IT LATER. NOTHING IN OUR CITY CHARTER IS GOING TO CHANGE WITH RESPECT TO WHAT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND WHENEVER WE DETERMINE WHICH ORGANIZATIONS ARE GOING TO GET THIS FUNDING.

NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE. THE SAME WILL BE TRUE THEN THAT IT IS NOW, WHICH IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING OUR CITIZENS' TAX DOLLARS IN THIS MANNER.

AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID BY MULTIPLE FOLKS UP HERE TODAY AND OVER THE PAST WEEK AS TO WHERE THEY WANT THIS MONEY TO GO. THIS IS AN ISSUE ABOUT ABORTION. THIS IS NOT THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD IN THIS BUDGET BUT I CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS BUDGET WITH THIS IN THERE, UNLESS WE CAN PASS THIS AMENDMENT. THANKS.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

I'M GOING TO CALL THE VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT NOW. I'LL JUST SIMPLY SAY ON THE SUBJECT OF WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE, I THINK WE WOULD ALL DO WELL TO LISTEN TO A UNANIMOUS FEMALE-ELECTED CITY COUNCIL. WHEN ALL THE WOMEN IN THE ROOM ARE AGREEING ON THE POINT, I THINK THAT SPEAKS VERY LOUDLY. SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT AND WILL GO AHEAD AND VOTE AT THIS TIME. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE AS STATED. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION FAILS.

WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH THE DISCUSSION ON ITEM 4 -- [APPLAUSE] YOU DON'T HAVE THE FLOOR ANYMORE SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE NOW WITH -- I BELIEVE

IT WAS COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD IMPORTANT THINGS IN THIS BUDGET AND NOW THAT THIS AMENDMENT'S BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND I HAVE THE ASSURANCE FROM OUR CITY STAFF THAT WOMEN'S

[03:20:02]

AND I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION AND THE COOPERATION THAT WE'VE HAD WITH CITY STAFF. YOU KNOW, I HAD SOME PRIORITIES IN THIS BUDGET AND I THINK THEY WERE THE PRIORITIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DISTRICT 9 AND ONE OF THE FIRST ONES WAS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DELIVERING AGAIN THROUGH THIS BUDGET.

AND IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FROM THE VERY FIRST TERM THAT I'VE SERVED ON THIS COUNCIL. AND ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT THE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IS MORE PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ADDITIONAL POLICE AND NOW WE HAVE ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS, OVER 360 OVER THE NEXT THREE, THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

THAT MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE'LL BE PROVIDING TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT HAVE SAID, HEY, WE WANT TO HAVE SAFE STREETS TO DRIVE ON. WE WANT TO HAVE THEM REPAVED.

WE WANT TO HAVE THE LINES MARKED. WE WANT TO HAVE GOOD TRAFFIC SIGNALS. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO TRAVEL SAFELY IN OUR DISTRICT.

THAT'S ANOTHER PRIORITY THAT THIS BUDGET ADDRESSES VERY DIRECTLY WITH TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT IN EVERY DISTRICT TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY.

YOU KNOW, SO THOSE ARE WONDERFUL, IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT COMPRISE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS BUDGET. YOU KNOW, THE AMENDMENTS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, THAT'S JUST $20 MILLION IN AMENDMENTS AND WHERE DID THAT MONEY COME FROM? IT IS NOT FROM THE TAXPAYER. THAT MONEY CAME FROM ADDITIONAL FUNDS EARNED BY CPS BY SELLING ADDITIONAL ENERGY THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DID NOT USE THROUGH ERCOT TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE. SO THIS EXTRA $20 MILLION IS NOT TAXPAYER MONEY.

AND WE COULDN'T EVEN RETURN IT TO TAXPAYERS BECAUSE THEY LIVE ALL OVER THE STATE.

THE PEOPLE WHO PAID THAT EXTRA MONEY. THIS IS MONEY THAT WE CAN USE TO PROVIDE AND WE ARE USING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE ASKING FOR. SO, YES, WE'RE STILL GOING TO DO POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND MUNICIPAL COURTS AND ANIMAL CARE. WE'RE STILL GOING TO DO TRANSPORTATION AND STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND ALLEYS AND ROADS.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO WORK ON HOUSING, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND HOMELESSNESS.

AND WE'RE STILL HOLDING OUR UTILITIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR UTILITIES THAT THEY PROVIDE FOR YOU. AND WE'RE STILL PROVIDING ALL OF THE BASIC SERVICES THAT YOU EXPECT IN THIS BUDGET. AND THIS COMMUNITY IS GROWING. IT GROWS EVERY YEAR.

SO THERE ARE MORE WANTS AND NEEDS AND DESIRES AND EXPECTATIONS.

AND I THINK IT'S MY JOB AS A COUNCILMEMBER -- AND I THINK EVERYBODY ELSE FEELS THE SAME -- THAT IT'S OUR JOB TO MEET THOSE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS TO THE BEST THAT THE CITY CAN. AND I THINK THIS BUDGET DOES THAT.

SO I AM TOTALLY IN SUPPORT OF APPROVING THIS BUDGET TODAY. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TH THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. TODAY WE CELEBRATE A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE WITH THE PASSAGE OF OUR CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2024 OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET. THIS ACHIEVEMENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF MANY AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THOSE WHO PLAYED PIVOTAL ROLES IN THIS PROCESS. THIS IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM WHERE WE STARTED WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, JUSTINA TATE AND THE FINANCE TEAM, AS WELL AS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS .

AND I SEE A LOT OF DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND STAFF HERE WAITING AND ANTICIPATING.

I KNOW IT'S ME AND A FEW MORE SPEAKERS BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE.

BUT IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND, ALL THE DIRECTORS THAT ARE HERE, ALL THE STAFF.

I SEE RAZI, SHANNON, KRYSTAL, MIKE. [APPLAUSE] YOU'RE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK IN CRAFTING AND HELPING WITH A BALANCED BUDGET

[03:25:01]

THROUGH CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE ENSURED THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET CYCLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROCESS. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND NOW I WILL CEREMONIOUSLY, DEBBIE, GIVE YOU THE LETTERS OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS' PRIORITIES. THIS INCLUDED TOMMY ATKINSON AND HIGHLAND HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHO ARE CHAMPIONS FOR CODE COMPLIANCE.

RYAN GARZA OVER AT HIGHLAND PARK THAT ASKED FOR THE DIAPER CHANGING STATIONS WHERE I WAS TOLD, HOMER, WE WILL GET IN OUR CENTERS. HARLANDALE ACRES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WHERE TOMAS, AFTER RUNNING, DECIDED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND START A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. ROOSEVELT PARK NA, MISSION SAN JOSE, PECAN VALLEY, ALL OF THESE WANTING TO USE THE VOICE AND GIVE BACK . A BALANCED BUDGET MEANS RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS. IT ALLOWS US TO UPHOLD BASIC CITY SERVICES ENSURING TIMELY TRASH COLLECTION TO FUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BEEN PARAMOUNT AND I AM PLEASED TO SEE HAVE 100 NEW OFFICERS AND MOST OF THEM WILL END UP AT OUR NEW SUBSTATION ON SOUTH FLORES THAT WILL BE STATE-OF-THE-ART IN A FEW YEARS.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IN THIS BUDGET, FUNDING OF CHILD SAFE, THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND, ACS, THIS IS ALL PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WOMEN OF SAN ANTONIO AND THEIR STATUS AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE, UNFORTUNATELY, RAPED AND BEATEN BY MEN, WE WILL HAVE A VERY LIVELY CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IS KEY TO KEEPING THEM SAFE. BUT MY FAVORITE PART IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE, OF COURSE.

AND I LIKE TO THANK FOR THE $3.2 MILLION WE'LL GET STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

$18.4MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, $2.4 MILLION FOR THE SOUTH GEVERS STREET DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT, $1.4 MILLION FOR THE FIRE STATION AUDIO] $4.3 MILLION FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS. I WANT TO THANK THE UNIONS FOR THEIR EFFORTS, FOR THEIR COMMUNICATION AND WORKING AND ALL THE POLICE AND FIRE LEADERSHIP FOR WHAT THEY DO TO KEEP IF RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3 SAFE.

QUALITY OF LIFE IS KEY TO THIS CITY AND IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OUR STEP AS ONE OF THE LARGEST, MOST INNOVATIVE, MOST PLACE TO BE CITIES, WE NEED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE HERE TODAY ON COUNCIL. TODAY WE NEED TO REFLECT ON THIS MOMENT, UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A SHARED DEDICATION TO CONTINUE TO GUIDE OUR CITY TOWARDS A BRIGHT TOMORROW.

THE THREE THINGS I PROMISE TO YOU, MY ACTION ITEMS BASED ON THIS BUDGET, IS JUSTICE FOR WOMEN, GROWTH OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS AND OUR SMALL BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND SUPPORTING THE SUCCESS OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR WORKING SO HARD AND BEING

PATIENT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS BUDGET TODAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.

IN THE SPIRIT OF CONTINUING TO LAY IT ON THICK, I'LL -- MIKE SHANNON AND I WERE AT THOSE APARTMENTS OVER IN THE MEDICAL CENTER WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT THE WORK THAT THEY WERE DOING TO BRING IT BACK UP TO SAFE CONDITIONS FOR THOSE REFUGEES THAT ALL LIVE THERE.

I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE GUY DOING THE WELDING AND THE FIXING OF THOSE STAIRS THAT COLLAPSED AND I SAID, LOOK, I REALLY NEED YOU TO LOOK AT THESE STAIRS AND WORK ON THEM AS IF THEY WERE YOUR STAIRS. AS IF THEY WERE THE STAIRS AT YOUR HOUSE. AND SOMETIMES I WONDER, RIGHT, WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE WHO DO

[03:30:07]

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA WHO ARE ALL OVER THERE IN THAT BOX, YOU GUYS ARE SAN ANTONIANS TOO AND I'M CHALLENGING YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS BUDGET AS YOUR BUDGET.

YOUR FAMILY'S BUDGETS, YOUR CO-WORKERS' BUDGETS. I'M BEGGING YOU TO PLEASE BE FAIR TO YOUR READERS -- NOT TO ME BUT TO YOUR READERS AND TO YOUR AUDIENCE -- BY GIVING THEM A FAIR REVIEW AND A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THIS $3.7 BILLION ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND I THINK THAT THE 13,000 PLUS PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE PEOPLE ON THIS DAIS WOULD AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF YOU WERE TO COVER THE .0013% WHILE GLOSSING OVER THE 99.98% OF THIS DOCUMENT THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT ALL OF SAN ANTONIO INCLUDING YOU, YOUR FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS, AND YOUR CO-WORKERS.

SO JOEY, I'M LOOKING AT YOU. PLEASE BE A SAN ANTONIO TODAY. MEGAN AND GARRET, PLEASE BE A SAN ANTONIAN TODAY AND LET'S DELAY THE CHASE FOR THE PROTAGONIST VERSUS ANTAGONIST FOR TOMORROW. I WANT TO CLOSE BY TALKING TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS . THIS BUDGET IS YOUR BUDGET TOO.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PUT YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE TO KEEP MY KIDS SAFE, THIS BUDGET IS FOR YOU. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO RUN TOWARDS FIRES AND WHO ANSWER 9-1-1 CALLS AND FOR THOSE WHO SAVED MY FATHER'S LIFE TWICE, THOSE FIREFIGHTERS, THIS BUDGET IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOU. AND IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU BETTER TOOLS.

IT'S GOING TO BE GIVING YOU BETTER ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

IT'S GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON YOUR WORK-LIFE BALANCE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE -- IT'S A BUDGET THAT HELPS YOU DO YOUR JOBS BETTER WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TAKING OFF THE BURDEN OF HAVING TO DO TASKS THAT QUITE HONESTLY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO YOU TO BEGIN WITH.IT I THINK THIS BUDGET IS A REFLECTION OF THIS COMMUNITY'S GRATITUDE FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS AND EMTS. THANKS, GUYS, FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR GUIDANCE

DURING THIS PROCESS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TH THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: I JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK IN AND THANK MY STAFF, KATY, RICK, CHRISTINE, RACHEL, ALLISON, AND JUSTIN FOR THEIR AMAZING WORK IN ENSURING I WAS WELL BRIEFED AND WHEN WE RECEIVED THOSE MEMOS -- BECAUSE I KNOW CITY STAFF WAS ALSO WORKING LATE -- FOR MY TEAM FOR JUMPING ON LATE CALLS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AS WELL AS THE EARLY-MORNING MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE I'M PREPARED. I WANT TO THANK MS. ZAVALA WHO WAS AT THE MEETINGS AS WELL AS WELL AS AFSCME FOR THEIR CONTINUED ADVOCACY.

I ALSO WANTED TO CONGRATULATE KELLY ANN ON HER NEW I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED WORK. AND WE HAVE PLENTY MORE TO DO.

AND I'M GRATEFUL WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS BUDGET WE CAN THEN GET BACK TO THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS TO CONTINUE PRIORITIZING OUR CONSTITUENTS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I WANT TO REITERATE HOW MUCH GOOD THERE IS IN THIS BUDGET AND HOW PLEASED I AM THAT ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WE'VE ALLOCATED FOR THE POLICE IS GOING TO BE THERE. FOR FIRE, FOR EMS, FOR CLEANING UP THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS. I'M JUST SO THANKFUL THAT THAT MONEY'S GOING TO BE THERE.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH WEEK AND WE'VE CERTAINLY GONE AT EACH OTHER A BIT OVER THIS WEEK AND IF THERE'S BEEN ANYTHING SAID OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVEN DAYS THAT HAS ANY WAY -- YOU FELT THAT I HAVEN'T TREATED YOU PROPERLY OR HAS BEEN INSULTING TO YOU, I CERTAINLY APOLOGIZE FOR THAT BECAUSE I RESPECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THIS BEHIND US TODAY AND WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO GET GOOD THINGS DONE FOR THE CITY. WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO VOTE FOR THIS BUDGET BUT I CANNOT

[03:35:06]

AND I WANT TO MOVE TO -- ANDY, YOU CAN GUIDE ME ON HOW TO DO THIS PROPERLY.

BUT I WANT TO MOVE TO PULL THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND OUT FOR A SEPARATE VOTE.

>> SEGOVIA: THAT'S A CORRECT MOTION, COUNCILMAN. YOU'RE MOVING TO REMOVE THAT ITEM FROM THE BUDGET SO IT'S VOTED ON SEPARATELY. THAT'S THE MOTION.

MAYOR, IF I MAY, THE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION, IF THERE IS ANY, SHOULD BE VERY STRICTLY AND NARROWLY FOCUSED ON WHETHER THAT SHOULD BE SEPARATED OR NOT.

AND NOT ON THE MERITS OF ANYTHING THAT'S ON THAT ITEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ANDY. THERE WAS A MOTION MADE. WAS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND. SO THAT MOTION IS NOW ON THE FLOOR.

SO WE'LL CONSIDER THAT MOTION. DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I APPRECIATE THE SECOND.

LOOK, STAFF HAS WORKED SO HARD ON THIS BUDGET. MY TEAM HAS WORKED SO HARD ON THIS BUDGET. WE'VE ALL WORKED TOGETHER I THINK REALLY WELL UP UNTIL THE LAST WEEK. AND, AGAIN, THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD IN THIS BUDGET THAT I'M FOR AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT. SO I APPRECIATE THE SECOND AND I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES' SUPPORT SO THAT WE CAN VOTE ON THIS AND THEN VOTE

SEPARATELY ON THE REST OF THE BUDGET. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO TWO YEARS AGO IN 2021 IT WAS MY FIRST BUDGET AND I MADE A VERY SIMILAR MOTION TO SEPARATE THE POLICE BUDGET FROM THE REST OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE FOLLOWING THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST, FOLLOWING INCREASED CALLS FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY I DIDN'T FEEL THAT I COULD VOTE FOR THE BUDGET THAT ALLOCATED RESOURCES IN THE WAY THAT IT DID.

AT THE TIME COUNCIL VOTED NO AND SO I HAD TO VOTE NO ON THE ENTIRE BUDGET.

I AM NOW FACED WITH -- SO MY CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS PRECEDENT AND WHAT WAS DONE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO SAY TO ME BUT WHAT WAS DONE TO ME, RIGHT? DO I WANT TO PERPETUATE THAT FURTHER? I DON'T WANT TO BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO SEPARATE THIS FROM THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT WAS A PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND PROCESS AND THERE WAS A CONSENSUS AROUND IT AND THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT.

AND SO I WON'T VOTE NO BUT I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THE AMENDMENT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: I'M SUPPORTING YOU FOR ONE AND ONLY ONE REASON BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS MORGAN'S WONDERLAND FOUNDATION.

I KNOW YOU WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE WE BAKE INTO THE I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO VOTE ON EXPANSION OF OUR FLEET FOR AMBULANCES AND FIRE TRUCKS AND EQUIPMENT FOR POLICE OFFICERS BY DENYING YOU THIS OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. WE'RE KIND OF PUTTING YOU IN A BOX AND I JUST DON'T LIKE IT AND I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON YOUR DISTRICT'S ISSUES.

ANYWAY, I THINK YOU DESERVE THAT. THANKS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. I THINK THE ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED QUITE A BIT.

I FEEL REASSURED, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT THIS ISSUE ON WOMEN'S HEALTH IS ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH. I AM VERY REASSURED BY THE CITY MANAGER THAT THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED BY THE COUNCIL AS A SEPARATE ISSUE.

SO I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN VOTING FOR THE ENTIRE BUDGET WITH THIS INCLUDED IN HERE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT VOTING ON ANYTHING DIRECTLY OR RIGHT NOW EVEN INDIRECTLY RELATED TO ABORTION.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST RECOMMEND TO MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBER THAT HE CONSIDER THAT TOO. SO I WILL NOT BE VOTING TO SEPARATE THE ITEM.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, I TOO, LIKE COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, WANTED TO SEPARATE THE CPS ITEM LAST YEAR AND WAS -- THAT WAS NOT VOTED FOR.

SO I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION EARLIER IF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SO CONVICTED TO SEPARATE IT EARLIER, THEN HERE AT THE DAIS, I THINK CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE OTHERWISE. I DON'T LIKE THE PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS SIDE DOESN'T GET TO

[03:40:05]

AND THAT'S JUST ME. SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I WILL JUST SAY THAT THIS IS THE NATURE OF CONSENSUS.

WE DON'T GET THE PRIVILEGE OF DEMARCATING PIECES OF CONSENSUS THEN THE CONSENSUS FALLS APART SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS PORTION. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR A SEPARATION OF THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND FROM THE MAIN MOTION.

>> SEPARATE VOTE THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. A NO VOTE IS TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THE MAIN MOTION. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION FAILS.

WE'LL CONTINUE WITH ITEM NO. 4. I LOST THE QUEUE AGAIN.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I WAS REMINDED THAT I NEED TO THANK MY STAFF FOR WORKING SO HARD. STARTING IN APRIL. ERIK DECIDES TO START THIS IN APRIL AND NOW I'M GOING TO PUSH THAT WE START THIS PROCESS IN MARCH.

BUT MY TEAM IS LIKE THE SPURS' DREAM TEAM. IF WE COULD KEEP AVERY JOHNSON AND BRING GEORGE GERVIN. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS AND I KNOW THEY'RE WATCHING TODAY. THANK YOU, TEAM FOR WHAT YOU DID TO GET US HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

I THINK I HAVE THE MAIN QUEUE AGAIN. WE'RE ON A SECOND ROUND.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH, REALLY QUICK JUST WANT TO SAY HOW COLLABORATIVE THIS BUDGET PROCESS WAS FROM THE COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS TO ALL THE E-MAILS I GOT -- I HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR RESIDENTS. THE TEAM -- THE DISTRICT 7 TEAM AND I WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS, STUDIED EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM SO REALLY PROUD OF THE COLLABORATION TODAY AND WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET OFFICE AND JUSTINA AND ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. Y'ALL MADE IT EASY FOR US TO COLLABORATE, TO HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. SO REALLY PROUD OF IT.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE MAIN BUDGET? I HAVE A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

JUST FIRST AGAIN THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF US IS A REFLECTION OF A VERY IMPORTANT AND INSPIRING MOMENT FOR OUR CITY SO I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE AND THAT IS TO THE CITY STAFF.

SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CITY STAFF, PARTICULARLY OUR BUDGET OFFICE, OUR CITY MANAGEMENT OFFICE, OUR FINANCE. LET ME SINGLE OUT A FEW FOLKS THAT I GET TO SEE ON A DAILY BASIS. ERIK, MARIA, JUSTINA, BEN, TROY.

IF YOU'RE HERE, ANY OF YOU, I JUST CALLED YOU, PLEASE STAND UP.

I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. IT'S FANTASTIC WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE. [APPLAUSE] I FORGOT.

I FORGOT. BEN DOESN'T LIKE TO STAND UP. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BEN.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN THE FINAL HOURS OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS TO HELP US NEATLY PACKAGE A BUDGET THAT WE BEGAN FIVE MONTHS AGO. I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND MY CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES TO AN EVER-EVOLVING APPROACH TO WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IF I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO CHARACTERIZE THE FY24 BUDGET IT'S INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY.

BETTER SIDEWALKS, STREETS, A STURDY ROOF OVER OUR HEADS, JOB SECURITY, A MORE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SECURITY, DECREASING EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMES, ENHANCING OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES, AND ENSURING WE HIRE AND FILL VACANCIES IN OUR UNIFORM DEPARTMENTS ALL CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING US FEEL SAFE IN SAN ANTONIO. SAFE IN THE PLACE IN WHICH WE CALL HOME.

SO A FEW HIGHLIGHTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I KNOW HAVE BEEN REFLECTED ALREADY.

OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE WILL BE CUT FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN DONE IN RECENT MEMORY. AND WE'RE MAXING OUT OUR HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION TO 20% SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENSURE OUR TAX BILLS FROM THE CITY ARE MANAGEABLE. WE'RE COMMITTING THAT WE GET 400 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS INTO HOMES. WE'LL SPEND ANOTHER $36 MILLION FROM OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND TO FACILITATE THE REHABILITATION AND RAMP UP OF PRODUCTION FOR OUR LOCAL

[03:45:04]

THERE'S SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

BECAUSE THIS BUDGET PROVES WE CAN DELIVER ON NEW PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES WHILE HONING IN AND APPRECIATING THE WILL AND TRUST OF THE PUBLIC. I'M GRATEFUL TO AN EMPOWERED COMMUNITY OF RESIDENTS, ORGANIZERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CERTAINLY EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE AFSCME. OUR NEIGHBORS PUSHED US TO REVIEW AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO DIRECT FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR A FAIR AND SAFER SAN ANTONIO.

SINCE WE WORK TO APPLY AN EQUITY LENS TO OUR BUDGETARY PROCESS IN 2017, I HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO PURSUING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN THE OVERALL BUDGET AND SO I'M VERY PROUD THAT THIS YEAR WE ARE FORMALLY ADOPTING OUR SEVENTH EQUITY BUDGET IN A ROW, FOCUSING ON THE HIGHEST NEEDS OF OUR ENTIRE CITY.

IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT UP HERE HOW TRANSFORMATIVE THIS BUDGET IS.

BUT LET'S REMEMBER THAT PROCESS HAS BEGUN AND WILL TAKE COMMITMENT GOING FORWARD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO UNWIND SOME OF THE INEQUITIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN AND THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED FROM THAT OVER THE YEARS. AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES, PAST AND PRESENT, FOR STAYING COMMITTED TO THE EQUITY APPROACH AND ENSURING THAT EVERYONE IN SAN ANTONIO, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, CAN THRIVE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TO ENSURE THAT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS' VOICES AND INPUT ARE HEARD, INCLUDED AND REFLECTED IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, WHICH I THINK -- I'M SURE IS DEBATED AMONG MY COLLEAGUES -- THE HARDEST-WORKING STAFF IN CITY HALL.

BUT THEY ARE CERTAINLY DESERVING OF RECOGNITION. MY CHIEF OF STAFF, ZACH, BRUCE, GABBY, VICTORIA, JUAN, TERESA, ALICE, J JACKIE, ALEX. I HAVE A FANTASTIC TEAM IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THEY WORK WITH YOU DIRECTLY AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THEIR EFFORTS AS WELL. I'M GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN TO DO THIS TOGETHER. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER BUDGET COMING UP.

THE WORK ON THAT BUDGET STARTS AS SOON AS WE TAKE THE VOTE ON THIS ONE.

LET'S GET ON WITH IT. WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 4, THE MAIN BUDGET ITEM. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT

VOTE NOW. >> THE RECUSALS NEXT. I'LL NOW CALL THE VOTE FOR THE MAIN MOTION THAT IS ITEM NO.

4. SAVE AND EXCEPT FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'LL HAVE RECUSALS FOR. WE'RE WAITING FOR THE SCREEN TO POP UP.

SORRY FOR THE SUSPENSE. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

WE'LL GO NOW TO OUR NEXT ORDER OF PROCESS HERE. NOW THAT THE BALANCE OF THE BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED, WE'LL TAKE UP FUNDING INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS WISH TO RECUSE. THE NEXT ITEM IS FOR RECUSAL FOR THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ

WILL BE RECUSING. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ IS RECUSED. PLEASE VOTE.

[03:50:17]

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS. OKAY. I WITHDRAW THAT MOTION.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR OATS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR OATS.

FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN IS RECUSED. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. THE NEXT ITEM FOR RECUSAL IS COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS AND COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WILL BE RECUSING. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE WAS A MOTION. DID I HEAR A SECOND? OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVING THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM -- THE NEXT ITEM FOR RECUSAL IS FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ WILL BE RECUSING.

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR

FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES, INC. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE FUNDING FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES.

FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ IS RECUSED. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE NEXT ITEMS FOR RECUSAL ARE BIOMED SA, MACRI, GIRL SCOUTS, MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD, PROJECT QUEST, AND THE WITTE MUSEUM.

>> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR BIOMED SA, LAS CASAS, MEX MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE, GIRL SCOUTS, MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD,

PROJECT QUEST AND THE WITTE MUSEUM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IT HAS NOW BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE FUNDING FOR BIOMED SA, LAS CASAS, MACRI, GIRL SCOUTS, MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD, PROJECT QUEST, AND THE WITTE MUSEUM.

PLEASE VOTE . MOTION CARRIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO RATIFICATION AND ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET. THE ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE FY24 BUDGET WILL REQUIRE RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN IN THE FY23 BUDGET.

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM 5.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5. PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NO. 6. MADAME CLERK, SORRY, I READ YOUR LINES THERE.

MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 5. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 6 IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AT 33.009 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1,

2023 AND ENDING ON DECEMBR 31, 2023. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE THAT PROPERTY TAXES BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TAX RATE OF 33.009 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A DECREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

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

[03:55:19]

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NO. 7. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 7 IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE AD VALOREM CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE FUNDED DEBT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AT 21.150 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 2023 AND ENDING ON DECEMBER 31,

2023. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE THAT TAXES BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE OF 21.150 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION WHICH IS

EFFECTIVELY A DECREASE IN THE TAX RATE. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 7. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 8. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 8 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING FEES AS INCLUDED WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND AND CERTAIN RESTRICTED FUNDS AND AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TO REFLECT SUCH CHANGES.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO APPROVE

THE FEE ORDINANCE, ITEM 8. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 8. DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. DID YOU HAVE DISCUSSION?

>> ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NO. 9.

>> CLERK: ITEM NO. 9 IS AN ORDINANCE CARRYING FORWARD CERTAIN FISCAL YEAR 2023 FUNDS, AMENDING PRIOR APPROPRIATIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR REQUIREMENTS IN CITY PROJECTS

AND DEPARTMENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL

RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO APPROVE

THE CLOSING ORDINANCE, ITEM 9. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 9, WHICH IS THE CLOSING ORDINANCE OF THE FY2024 BUDGET. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS.

ERIK, WE HAVE A BUDGET! OVER TO YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO THERE WERE A LOT OF THANKS GIVEN BUT I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CONTINUED GUIDANCE AND INPUT.

AND IT HAS BEEN A LONGER SEASON, BY DESIGN, BUT A LOT OF THE THANKS GOES TO THE COUNCIL FOR THAT CONTINUED INPUT AND GUIDANCE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK OVER 13,000 EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE AND WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY IN A VARIETY OF SERVICES AND JOBS. I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE VALUE THE COMMITMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. THIRDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. SOME OF THEM PROBABLY WENT BACK TO WORK ALREADY BECAUSE YOU VOTED ON NO. 4. BUT THE DEPARTMENTAL EXECUTIVES AND THEIR FINANCIAL STAFFS HAVE WORKED HARD TO DEVELOP THEIR PLANS, NOT ONLY THEIR FINANCIAL PLANS BUT THEIR OPERATIONAL PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR LEADING THEIR TEAMS. ALL OF YOU RECOGNIZED THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF THE BUDGET STAFF AND JUSTINA AND FREDDIE AND THE FINANCE TEAM LED BY TROY.

THEY DO HAVE -- THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR -- THEY DO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF KNOWING EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF IT. THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF IT.

I WANT TO THANK ANDY AND LIZ AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THIS WORK, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET THROUGH THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO ALL WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THEIR DEPARTMENTS, THEIR ASSIGNED DEPARTMENTS, TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND THOROUGH AND CHALLENGE THEM AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS ANNUALLY. NOT JUST ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE

[04:00:06]

AND THEN FINALLY I'LL THANK SPECIFICALLY MARIA AND BEN BECAUSE THEY DO A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALIGNED, FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT. WHAT HAPPENS EVERY SUMMER IS THE WORK WE DO WITH THE RATING AGENCIES AND THE REAFFIRMATION. THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO BUT I WANT TO CERTAINLY THANK MARIA AND BEN FOR THAT CONTINUED HARD WORK THAT THEY DO AND THE COMMITMENT TO THIS ORGANIZATION. AND THEN, FINALLY, I'LL SAY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO EXECUTE. WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMITMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE AND WE'RE READY TO START HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT AND GUIDANCE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE'LL START IN MARCH, COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU'LL VOTE AND ADOPT IN JULY.

>> [LAUGHTER] DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BAD IDEA AFTER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. ANY -- ERIK, IT'S BACK TO YOU BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NOW A CITY

MANAGER'S REPORT. >> WALSH: THAT WAS THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S -- ALL THE CITY STAFF THAT MADE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SESSION, STAND UP SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU WITH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

[Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the B Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE DO HAVE A BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION IF YOU'RE NOT THOROUGHLY EXHAUSTED. WE'LL MAKE IT QUICK. THE TIME IS 10:5 P.M. ON THE 14TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087. PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072. CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY FOR LEGAL ISSUES OR ADVICE RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PURSUANT TO 551.071.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. TIME IS 1 44:00 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 14, DE. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.

NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN. OUR MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.