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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. TIME IS 9:15 A.M. ON THE 21ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023.
CALL OUR A SESSION TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE. WE HAVE A FEW CEREMONIALS THAT WE WILL GET TO SHORTLY, BUT WELCOME. TO GET US STARTED THIS MORNING, LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO TO GET US STARTED.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME REVEREND JOE BARBER, BORN IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM DISTRICT 5'S BRACKENRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL. AS A SOPHOMORE JOE WAS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A COLLEGE PROGRAM FOR INNER CITY YOUTH. REVEREND BARBER ATTENDED TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY AND SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, MAJORING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.
HE OBTAINED AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN JANUARY IN 1970. CURRENTLY, HE'S WORKING TOWARDS HIS MASTER OF DIVINITY. REVEREND BARBER HAS BEEN PREACHING THE GOSPEL FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND HE IS CURRENTLY THE PASTOR AT ST. LUKE'S BAPTIST CHURCH WHICH RECENTLY CELEBRATED 18 YEARS OF SERVICE. HE BEGAN PREACHING AT ST.
LUKE'S BAPTIST CHURCH UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REVEREND WINTERS.
HE BECAME INVOLVED IN THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING WITH A GOAL OF PROVIDING COUNSELING FOR THOSE WITHIN THE FAMILY OF FAITH. HE IS NOW A LICENSED COUNSELOR. REVEREND BARBER HAS BEEN COUNSELING FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND WAS THE OUTREACH DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITY CLINIC, INC. HE OVERSAW DAILY FUNCTIONS TARGETING SUBSTANCE USERS. HE BECAME AWARE OF THE DEVASTATION OF HIV IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. HE IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF STREET WORKS CONNECTION AND A HARM REDUCTION PROGRAM TARGETING DUG USERS. HE HAS SERVED AS FACILITATOR FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY ADULT DETENTION CENTER WORKING WITH PATCH AND MATCH, PROJECT RECOVERY, AS WELL AS OVER AT THE DOMINGUEZ STATE JAIL. REVEREND BARBER HAS FOUNDED SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVES IN THE CAPACITY ON NUMEROUS BOARDS, ENSURING THAT WE STRIVE TO MOVE THE WEST SIDE IN A BETTER DIRECTION. HE IS ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF SACRED AND PASTOR BARBER CREDITS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO GOD, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS ENCOURAGING CONGREGATION. REVEREND BARBER HAS BEEN MARRIED TO THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE FOR 36 YEARS. HE IS THE FATHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS: NICOLE, CASSANDRA, AND ANDREA. HE IS THE PROUD GRANDFATHER OF SEVEN, FOUR BOYS AND THREE GIRLS. ALSO, HE IS THE GREATEST -- GREAT GRANDFATHER OF FOUR INCLUDING ONE BABY BOY, LOGAN, WHO WENT TO BE HOME WITH THE LORD.
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PASTOR BARBER'S TESTIMONY IS SPECIAL BY SERVING THE LORD WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH, HE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE WITH GREAT HOPE AND EXPECTATION AS THE LORD CONTINUES TO ELEVATE HIM ANDTHE ST. LUKE'S COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND THOSE ASSEMBLED, LET US NOW PRAY.
ETERNAL GOD OUR FATHER, HOW WE THANK YOU AND PRAISE YOU FOR YET AGAIN ANOTHER DAY.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND WE REALIZE AND RECOGNIZE IT WAS YOU, O GOD, SUSTAINER AND GIVER OF LIFE THAT ALLOWED US ONCE AGAIN TO SEE A BRAND-NEW DAY. A DAY, O GOD, THAT WE HAD NO THOUGHT OF YESTERDAY BUT YOU ALLOWED US AND YOU USHERED INTO YOUR PRESENCE ONE MORE TIME.
WE ARE TRULY AMAZED, O FATHER, FOR THY GRACE AND THY MERCY. GRACE, O GOD THAT UNMERITED FAVOR THAT YOU BLESS US IN SPITE OF US, THAT YOU LOVE US IN SPITE OF US FOR THAT WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL. WE THANK YOU, O MASTER FOR YOUR MERCY.
FOR MERCY SUITS ALL OF OUR CASES FOR WE ALL STAND IN NEED OF YOUR MERCY.
WE PRAISE YOU NOW FOR BEING A MERCIFUL GOD FOR WE REALIZE THAT YOUR MERCY EXTENDS THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS, FOR EVEN NOW WE ARE A GENERATION THAT SEEKS YOU.
WE SEEK YOUR FACE. WE SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE. WE SEEK YOUR DIRECTION, EVEN AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT. HOW WE BLESS YOU, HOW WE PRAISE YOU EVEN NOW.
THOU WOULD CHOOSE US TO SERVE YOU IN THIS PRESENT TIME. WE PRAY, O GOD, THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH US EVEN NOW. THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THOSE ASSEMBLED.
THAT YOU WOULD SHOWER US WITH A FRESH LOVE. THAT YOU WOULD SHOWER US WITH WISDOM FROM ON HIGH. THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND GLEAN FROM THE TABLE OF FELLOWSHIP AND WE COME FORWARD TO DO THE AGENDA THAT THOU HAVE SET FORTH.
BLESS THOU THOSE THAT ARE HERE. TOUCH THOU THOUSA THOSE THAT ARE PRESENT. WE PRAISE YOU, FATHER, FOR YOU HAVE ALLOWED US TO BECOME A COMPASSIONATE CITY THAT WE HAVE AN ABILITY TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND SEE EACH OTHER JUST AS THEY ARE. THANK YOU, SIR FOR THE PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, SIR THAT YOU ALLOWED US ANOTHER DAY, FOR TRULY WE COULD TESTIFY THAT THIS IS A DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE AND WE CHOOSE TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. BLESS US NOW AS WE PRAY. IN JESUS' NAME OUR CHRIST WE PRAY, AMEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR BARBER. FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 5 AND 6 AND 7, 2023.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE. OKAY.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.
THOSE DATES I MENTIONED. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE ONE OTHER ITEM TODAY TO SWEAR IN OUR MAYOR PRO TEM FOR A TERM OF SEPTEMBER 21 THROUGH DECEMBER 6, 2023. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, IF YOU
COULD APPROACH THE PODIUM. >> CLERK: RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
>> CASTILLO: I, TERI CASTILLO DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE, SO HELP ME, GOD.
>> CLERK: CONGRATULATIONS. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA TODAY. THAT'S ITEMS 5 THROUGH 50.
I DO WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE ITEMS 56, 57, AND 58, WHICH WILL BE CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 8? OCTOBER 11TH. ITEMS 56, 57, 58 WILL BE
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CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 11, 2023 AND WILL BE TAKEN UP AT THAT TIME.ALL OTHER ITEMS ARE LISTED FOR CONSENT. I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: 56, 57, AND 58. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THOSE ARE
CONTINUED. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> COURAGE: SO MOVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS -- EXCUSE ME, ITEMS 5 THROUGH 55. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP DISCUSSION IN JUST A MOMENT. WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT. JACK FINGER. MULTIPLE ITEMS.
>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
YES, IF YOU WANTED TO FIND OUT WHO ARE SOME OF THE MOST ACTIVE, CIVICALLY-ACTIVE PEOPLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, ONE WAY TO FIND OUT IS BY GETTING PEOPLE APPOINTED TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT THEM, RECOGNIZE THEM, CITE THEM, AND MAYBE EVEN HONOR THEM, ESPECIALLY IN A WAY THAT ONLY JACK FINGER CAN DO SO. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR THIS BURIED TREASURE.
YOU KNOW, AS KIDS YOU USED TO PLAY IN THE SANDBOX AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO PRETEND WE'RE PIRATES AND LOOK FOR BURIED TREASURE. WE'RE GOING TO FIND SOME TODAY. THIS IS THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S ABOUT THE TIME. BUT YOU COME ACROSS BOARDS, COMMISSION, AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS, ITEM NO. 40. WHAT DOES ITEM NO. 40 SEE? IT SIMPLY SAYS APPOINTING, YEAH, REAPPOINTING VANESSA MARTINEZ TO THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN. WHO IS VANESSA MARTINEZ? RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD. YOU LOOK ON YOUR COMPUTER, YOU LOOK AT THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS ON THE BLUE-COLORED LETTERING THERE AND SCROLL DOWN THERE UNTIL YOU FIND VANESSA MARTINEZ'S NAME AND YOU CLICK ON THAT AND YOU -- THIS IS TRULY A BURIED TREASURE HERE.
YOU LOOK AT -- WHAT DOES IT SAY THERE? YEAH, MAYOR'S COMMISSION FOR STATUS OF WOMEN. WHAT'S THE NAME? VANESSA MARTINEZ.
SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN. IN FACT, 46 QUESTIONS, GO THROUGH ALL 46.
START AT THE TOP AGAIN, MR. -- THERE YOU GO. YEAH.
RACE, GENDER, AGE, KEEP GOING ALL THE WAY DO. ARE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY BOARD OF COMMISSIONS, CORPORATIONS? YES, SHE IS. WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN? GIVE THE TITLE OF DATES AND POSITION. SHE IS A BOARD MEMBER OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD, TEXAS VOTES. I REPEAT.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD, TEXAS VOTES. MS. VIAGRAN, YOU'RE THE NOMINE NOMINATETOR. YES, THE BIGGEST -- I MIGHT SAY THE BIGGEST BABY-KILLING OUTFIT -- NOT IN TEXAS BUT THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. AND, YES, YOU'RE NOMINATING, MS. VIAGRAN, THIS WOMAN TO A WOMAN'S COMMISSION? AND MAYOR NIRENBERG, THIS IS YOUR COMMISSION, SIR. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON A PLANNED PARENTHOOD APPOINTEE? IT'S OBVIOUS YOU HONOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD WITH A CITYWIDE PROCLAMATION --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I NEED TO HAVE YOU MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THOSE
ITEMS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
I WAS NOT ENTIRELY WRONG. I MOVE TO CONTINUE ITEMS 56, 57, 58 TO THE OCTOBER 12TH
MEETING. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE OF ITEMS 55 -- EXCUSE ME, 56, 57, 58. WE'LL TAKE UP THAT MOTION FIRST.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO CONTINUE THOSE ITEMS? IF THERE ARE NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THAT. THAT'S CONTINUE ITEMS 56
THROUGH 58 TO OCTOBER 11. >> MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CONTINUE NOW WITH
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DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS 5 THROUGH 55.SO IF COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT, JUST SIGNAL ME. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS ITEM 25, WHICH IS THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR TWO MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT STINSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT THAT WILL REPLACE THE ROOF AND HVAC SYSTEMS ON THE ORIGINAL TERMINAL BUILDING. I'M JUST EXCITED THAT MORRIS AND THE TEAM OUT THERE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THEY KEEP UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE, WITH THE BUILDING RECONSTRUCTION, WITH THE NEW ROOF. THIS IS AN AIRPORT THAT'S BEEN OPERATING FOR OVER 100 YEARS SO WHENEVER WE DO ANYTHING REGARDING STINSON, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD EFFORTS THAT CONTINUE THERE. AND I INVITE YOU ALL TO GO OUT AND VISIT IT AS SOON AS YOU CAN. THE SECOND HIGHLIGHT IS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT MY APPOINTEE, THE REAPPOINTMENT OF -- ITEM NO. 40, THE REAPPOINTMENT OF VANESSA MARTINEZ TO THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION OF THE STATUS OF WOMEN.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S CALLED THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN, WE KNOW IT IS THE CITY'S COMMISSION COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN STARTED BY OUR GREAT MAYOR LILA COCKRELL WAY BACK WHEN. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HER SERVICE TO THAT COMMITTEE AND ALSO THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WOMEN'S ISSUES AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 11 I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE IT'S A $2 MILLION HVAC CONTRACT FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. BECAUSE THIS CONTRACTOR HAS AGREED TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S NEW HEAT PREVENTION ORDINANCE. IT'S NO SMALL FEAT WHEN THE CITY STEPS UP TO PROTECT WORKERS WHO BUILD, MAINTAIN, AND FIX OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
THANK YOU FOR LABOR FOR FIGHTING TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOU AND COMMUNITY AS WE CONTINUE TO MATERIALLY IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WORKERS. 47 AND 48 ARE TWO ITEMS WORTH HIGHLIGHTING WHICH HELPS TO SUPPORT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE UNIT.
A BIG THANK YOU TO STRAC FOR PROVIDING OVER $1 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR TWO ESSENTIAL MIH PROGRAMS. THE PARTNERSHIP WITH MOLINA HEALTHCARE WILL FREE UP EMERGENCY ROOMS AND FIRE EMS RESOURCES BY DEVELOPING HEALTHCARE PLANS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO FREQUENTLY CALL 9-1-1. THESE PLANS BETTER EDUCATE THE MIH TEAM ABOUT THE PATIENT'S MEDICAL HISTORY SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THE CONCERNS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY ON SITE. THE HOSPICE SERVICES ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO ME. THESE FUNDS ALLOW MIH PARAMEDICS TO WORK WITH SEVERAL HOSPICE AGENCIES WHO THEN PROVIDE SKILLED PATIENT CARE TO ENSURE COMFORT IN THE HOME SETTING AND EDUCATE THE PATIENT, FAMILY, AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.
DOING SO ENABLES THE PATIENT TO SPEND THEIR FINAL DAYS IN FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS.
THANK YOU TO STRAC AND OUR AMAZING MIH TEAM. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S WORK. WE REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 39.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES. I'M EXCITED THAT THE VACANT BUILDINGS AND DECONSTRUCTION ORDINANCE IS GOING TO BE EXPANDED. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN COURAGE BECAUSE HE CO-AUTHORED THIS CCR WITH ME. THE PROPOSED EXPANSION IS GOING RETAIN THE CURRENT PROGRAM BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO ADD A BUFFER OF 1,000 FEET AROUND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND HIGH SCHOOLS OR STATE LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITIES. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOMETIMES WHEN THERE'S VACANCIES IN BUILDINGS, THERE MIGHT BE SOME ADDITIONAL VANDALISM AND SO THIS IS GOING TO HELP INCREASE THE PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S ALSO GOING TO, IN MY OPINION, SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE NEIGHBORS WILL HAVE PRIDE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS COUNCIL HAS STATED THEIR COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO ACTIVATING EMPTY LOTS TO PRODUCE GREEN SPACES AND CREATING SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS. I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL THE STAFF THAT WORKED ON THIS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 40 FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ASHLEE PENA ON THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD. ASHLEE, CAN YOU STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? ASHLEE HAS A LONG TRACK RECORD OF LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO OUR CITY AUDIO]. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 40 CHILDHOOD AND CAN REALLY HELP THE PRE-K 4 SA BOARD SCALE TO SERVE EVEN MORE STUDENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. I'LL HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS OF INTEREST. ITEM 37, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR DEFENSE COMMUNITY ARE RECIPIENTS OF A NEW DEFENSE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT GRANT, WHICH IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION AND WE'RE GOING TO BE COORDINATING WITH JBSA TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION INTO THE MARTINDALE HELIPORT AREA.
SECONDLY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS PARTICIPATING WITH A PRETTY GROUNDBREAKING COALITION OF CITIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT CALLED SOLAR FOR ALL WHICH IS A COALITION OF ALL THE MAJOR METROS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO BECOME A WORLD LEADER IN SOLAR, NOT JUST LEADERS IN THE COUNTRY. LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE GRANT AWARDS COMING TO FRUITION. GENERAL AYALA AND YOUR TEAM, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 5 THROUGH 55.
HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE SOME CEREMONIALS TODAY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT MOST FOLKS ARE HERE FOR SO I'LL START THE HONORS.
LET ME FIRST START BY CALLING UP ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE A PART OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO ARE ACTIVELY WORKING, PARTICULARLY YOU, CHIEF, ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION IN OUR CITY. CHIEF, ARE YOU HERE? I'LL GO AHEAD AND START BY READING A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A SERIOUS AND PREVALENT THREAT AND CRIME THAT AFFECTS WOMEN, MEN, CHILDREN, AND COMMUNITIES IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE NATION. WHERE ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION ONE IN THREE WOMEN AND ONE IN FOUR MEN HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE FROM AN INTIMATE PARTNER IN THEIR LIFETIME.
WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO JOINS OTHER CITIES IN NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO OBSERVE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH . WE UPHOLD OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ADDRESSING THOSE CONDITIONS AND RISK FACTORS THAT ALLOW FOR THE PREVALENCE OF THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE.
WHEREAS FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY HOME IS A PLACE OF SECURITY AND SAFETY SURROUNDED BY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND TRANQUILITY BUT TRAGICALLY FOR MANY OTHERS HOME LIFE IS ANYTHING BUT PEACEFUL AND FILLED WITH VIOLENCE AND FEAR VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, REGARDLESS OF GENDER, AGE, SEXUALITY, RACE, RELIGION, OR IMMIGRATION STATUS BUT BE IT KNOWN THE BURDEN OF VIOLENCE FALLS HEAVIEST ON BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND LGBTQIA COMMUNITY. WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IS A TIME TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF VICTIM ADVOCATES OF THOSE ENSURING THAT ALL SURVIVORS HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES.
WHEREAS AS PART OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH THIS OCTOBER WE'RE ASKING SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO JOIN US IN THE PURPLE PORCH CAMPAIGN TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ASK THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY SWITCH THEIR PORCH LIGHT FOR PURPLE OR DECORATE THEIR PORCH WITH A PURPLE WREATH TO SIGNIFY THEIR SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS.
NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023 TO BE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND CALL UPON THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, EFFECTIVE AND POSITIVE COMMUNICATION, AND LOVE AND RESPECT FOR ALL. CHIEF AND MARIA, CLAUDE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
PLEASE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> VILLAGOMEZ: MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO OUR FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE DON'T DO THIS ALONE.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, METRO HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN OUR ORGANIZATION, ALONG WITH BEXAR COUNTY AS WELL AND MANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, WE CONTINUE OUR FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC
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VIOLENCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO MAKING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OUR PRIORITY IN OUR BUDGET AND IN EVERYTHING WE DO IN THE CITY.THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MARIA AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THE COMMISSION, CHIEF, CLAUDE, INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO UNDER SOME PRETTY INTENSE CIRCUMSTANCES. WE DO HAVE COMMENTS UP HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IN SAN ANTONIO, ONE IN THREE WOMEN HAVE OR WILL HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STORY TO TELL. THAT'S HEARTBREAKING AND IT'S OBSCENE BUT IT'S ALSO AN ALL HANDS ON DECK CALL TO ACTION FOR EVERYBODY. YOU ALL ARE THE FRONTLINE OFTEN, WAY TOO OFTEN, AND THE WORK YOU DO IS -- QUITE SIMPLY IT SAVES LIVES.
I WILL REMIND YOU ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL TOO OFTEN WE LOOK AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE REALITY IS THAT IT'S THE COMMON DENOMINATOR. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAJORITY OF THE SOCIAL ILLS THAT WE TRY TO TACKLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND RACIAL DISPARITIES AND, YOU KNOW, SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION AND THE BURDEN THAT OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY CARRIES WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES, THE ABILITY DISCRIMINATION, AGE DISCRIMINATION, ISSUES WITH GENDER, ETHNICITY, LANGUAGE, JUVENILE CRIME, LITERACY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, THE ONE COMMON DENOMINATOR AMONG ALL OF THOSE IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THIS IS NOT JUST A MONTH WHERE WE TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LITTLE LOUDER THAN ALL THE OTHER MONTHS. IT'S ALSO A MONTH WHERE WE KNOW THAT A WOMAN WILL BE ASSASSINATED AT THE HANDS OF ONE OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS OR A CLOSE INTIMATE PARTNER.
IT'S A MONTH WHERE WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN WILL BE TURNED INTO FUTURE ABUSERS OR FUTURE VICTIMS AT THE HANDS OF THE MAN WHO HITS MOM. AND FORCES THESE CHILDREN TO WITNESS THAT KIND OF VIOLENCE. THE WORK YOU GUYS DO IS SOMETHING THAT I SEE AND I WITNESS THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY YOU POUR INTO IT. I HOPE THAT YOU ALL KNOW THAT -- AND THE CHIEF AND MARIA WILL TELL YOU THAT I AM UNAPOLOGETICALLY OBSESSED TO THIS ISSUE TO THE EXCLUSION OF A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES, MANY TIMES.
MARIA, YOU HAVE BEEN THE POINTY END OF THE STICK ON CITY STAFF AND THANK YOU TO CONTINUE TO POKE PEOPLE ALONG WHO NEED THAT POKING IN ORDER TO MAKE US WALK LOCKSTEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU, TEAM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. YOU'VE ALL HEARD MY STORY. I DID THIS FOR SEVEN YEARS, STARTING IN 2009 WITH THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM AND I SEE FAMILIAR FACES THAT ARE STILL THERE. AND I AM JUST -- I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I THANK YOU FOR COMING TO CITY COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAVE A ZIP CODE OR A SIDE OF TOWN OR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY ATTACHED TO IT. THAT IT HAPPENS CITYWIDE AND THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT AND WE NEED TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT OKAY. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING KIND OF THAT LAST LINE OF DEFENSE AS WE GET TO THIS POINT. AND WE KNOW THAT IT WILL BE TRAGIC AND WE KNOW THAT IT WILL BE HARD BUT WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK BECAUSE WE CAN SAVE AND CHANGE LIVES OF FAMILIES. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A SUPPORTER HERE ON THE COUNCIL FIRSTHAND AND I KNOW YOUR STORIES AND I KNOW HOW LONG YOUR DAYS GO. BUT IT IS WORTH IT AND YOU KNOW THAT.
AND FOR THOSE THAT WE DO LOSE -- BECAUSE WE WILL LOSE PEOPLE TO THIS VIOLENCE -- THAT WE PICK UP, WE MOVE ON, AND IN THEIR NAME WE TRY AND DO BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TH THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE HERE AND ALL OF THE POLICE OFFICERS EVERY DAY RISKING THEIR LIVES.
WE ALL HAVE HEARD AND UNDERSTAND THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS ARE THE TOPMOST DANGEROUS CALL THAT YOU GUYS CAN MAKE WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE.
YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY IN A LOT OF WAYS BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE
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ANSWERING THIS KIND OF CALL. WE HAVE ACTUALLY LOST A NUMBER OF OFFICERS, SPECIFICALLY TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS. SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT BRAVERY.MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE, THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE, AND IT'S EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE NONPROFITS SUPPORTING US ALL. THE PEACE INITIATIVE WITH PATRICIA CASTILLO FOR HER BLUE CARES AND MANY OTHERS . AGAIN, I THANK YOU, GUYS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY OUT THERE. YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOBS BUT EVEN WHILE YOU'RE DOING THEM YOU'RE ADVOCATING AND YOUR COMPASSION SHOWS THROUGH. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO THANK EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT THAT TAKES ON THIS HUGE PUBLIC SAFETY ROLE AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMAN MANNY PELAEZ AND MY PREDECESSOR SHIRLEY GONZALES WHERE METRO HEALTH IDENTIFIED KEY PARAMETERS THAT WE OFTEN SEE TRENDS AND MOST FORMS OF VIOLENCE SHARE COMMON RISKS .
COMMUNITIES THAT LACK ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES SO I WANTED TO COMMEND EVERYONE FOR THE COLLECTIVE WORK THAT IT TAKES TO ENSURE THAT WE ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND I WANTED TO SHARE A STORY OF A WOMAN THAT I MET OVER AT SAN PEDRO PARK. SHE WAS THERE, LOOKED VERY DISTRESSED AND I ASKED IF SHE WAS OKAY. SHE OPENED UP AND SHARED THAT THE PARK SHE GOES TO IS WHERE SHE GOES WHEN THINGS ARE GETTING HEATED AT HOME AND THAT'S HER SP SAFE SPACE UNTIL THINGS COOL DOWN AT HOME. ACKNOWLEDGING THE ROLE THAT THESE PLACES PLAY FOR FOLKS TO ESCAPE FROM POTENTIAL DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
SO EVERYONE UP HERE, THANK YOU ALL. WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND I THINK ALL OF US HERE DO. BUT IT'S ALSO TIME FOR ACTION.
AND SO ON NOVEMBER 19TH THERE'S GOING TO BE A WEAPONS EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THREATENED BY WEAPONS IN THEIR HOME, TO GO AHEAD AND EXCHANGE THOSE WEAPONS FOR SOMETHING THAT CAN MAYBE BRING MORE HAPPINESS AND JOY INTO THEIR HOME. GIFT CERTIFICATES FROM H-E-B. ANYONE WHO FEELS THREATENED, INTIMIDATED, WHO HAS BEEN HARMED WITH A WEAPON IN THEIR HOME, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT WEAPONS EXCHANGE PROGRAM. AGAIN, ON NOVEMBER 19TH.
MORE INFORMATION WILL BE FORTHCOMING. LET'S HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THE LIVES OF EVERY WOMAN IN THIS CITY SAFER. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND NOTE THAT KIND OF WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, THAT SO MANY OF US ARE AFFECTED BY THIS AND SO MANY FOLKS ARE NOT READY AND WILLING TO SHARE WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE OR READY AND WILLING TO GET HELP. AND WHEN THEY ARE READY FOR THAT, YOU ALL ARE THERE READY TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I ALSO JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE -- MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND NOT COMING FORWARD YET.
SO MAYBE JUST TAKING A SECOND TO THINK ABOUT SOMEONE THAT IS AND SENDING THEM SOME GOOD VIBES THIS MORNING BECAUSE THEY NEED IT MORE THAN WE DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I DO ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ FOR BEING A CHAMPION ON THIS ISSUE AND BEING UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT IT.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND, MARIA, ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS TOO. CHIEF, FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
EARLIER THIS YEAR MY TEAM AND I DID A TOUR OF HAVEN FOR HOPE WITH THE MAYOR'S TOUR ON THE HOMELESS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY. AND YOU SAW SO MANY WOMEN WITH THEIR CHILDREN AT HAVEN FOR HOPE. YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT STOP TO THINK ABOUT THEIR STORIES. I'M JUST GLAD THAT THEY FOUND A SAFE PLACE AND THAT IS LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS ON HOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS JUST THAT UNDERLYING THREAD TO SO MANY OF OUR MAJOR ISSUES.
I'M GLAD WE HAVE THIS AMAZING TEAM THAT WILL ALL TACKLE IT TOGETHER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO MY COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS HERE.
YOU KNOW, FOR US ON THE DAIS, PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND I THINK ALL TOO OFTEN THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GETS SOMEHOW OVERLOOKED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GREATER PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS. BUT THIS IS VERY MUCH AT THE
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TOP OF THE LIST I THINK FOR ALL OF US UP HERE AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU DO TO HELP, YOU KNOW, REALLY PROTECT THE WOMEN OF SAN ANTONIO.SO THANK YOU AGAIN AND WE'RE ALL VERY APPRECIATIVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, EVERYONE WHO IS UP HERE TODAY AND EVERYONE WHO IS INVOLVED. EVERYONE WHO IS AT WORK RIGHT NOW OR DOING WORK ON THE GROUND WHO IS NOT HERE TO BE RECOGNIZED. I'LL AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SAID, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF IT. WHAT I'LL ADD IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S NOT TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS DIRECTLY IS HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND SO MANY OF OUR KIDS TAKE WHAT THEY SEE AT HOME AND THEY APPLY THAT TO THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. AND SO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE AND ABUSE AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE CYCLICAL IN NATURE AND THEY REPEAT THEMSELVES AND SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU DO IN RAISING AWARENESS AND DEMONSTRATING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK AND IN YOUR PERSONAL TIME IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. IT'S AN EFFORT THAT CAN NEVER BE THANKED ENOUGH -- THAT YOU CAN NEVER BE THANKED ENOUGH FOR. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
WE APPRECIATE -- CHIEF, GO AHEAD. >> CHIEF: ALONG WITH OUR CRT MEMBERS WE HAVE OUR SVU, SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT DETECTIVES HERE AND SUPERVISORS.
AND TOGETHER, AS WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ALL OF THEM HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO
FOR OUR COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HEY, CHIEF. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE STANDING THERE SO I MIGHT AS WELL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. IF WE HAVE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD AS WELL. WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL HOST ITS UNIQUE CRIME AND DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER ON OCTOBER 3, 2023 TO CREATE AWARENESS FOR STRENGTHENING ITS COMMUNITY POLICING AND NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. WHEREAS THIS ANNUAL COMMUNITY-BUILDING CAMPAIGN PROMOTES POLICE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CAMARADERIE AND IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING NEIGHBORS AND POLICE TOGETHER UNDER POSITIVE CIRCUMSTANCES.
WHEREAS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, CITY OFFICIALS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL GET OUT ON SA NEIGHBORS TOGETHER AND MEET WITH RESIDENTS FOR A NIGHT FILLED WITH EDUCATION, FOOD, GAMES, AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES. WHEREAS THE EVENT IS FOCUSED ON FOSTERING LOCAL POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS WITH KEY CITY DEPARTMENTS AND CRIME PREVENTION TIPS, GETTING MORE CITIZENS INVOLVED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROMOTING YEAR ROUND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 3, 2023 TO BE SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER NIGHT IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
CHIEF, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> CHIEF: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THIS IS THE ONE NIGHT OUT OF THE YEAR THAT WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND WORK THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY, LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT POLICE AND COMMUNITY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGHT CRIME AND THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: FOR ANYBODY WHO IS LISTENING, SOME COMMUNITIES CALL IT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. SAN ANTONIO IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT .
WE'RE THE ONLY CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT WILL CALL IT SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER.
MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS OUT TO THEIR BLOCK PARTIES AND ENJOY A GREAT EVENING OF CAMARADERIE.
I DON'T KNOW IF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW COMMENTS AS WELL.
>> SURE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EVENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO ANY OF THESE EVENTS YOU KNOW THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THERE, SPENDING TIME WITH THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US. WE ALSO SPREAD THE FIRE SAFETY MESSAGE AT THESE EVENTS. VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE THERE.
SO WE'LL DEFINITELY BE THERE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, GUYS.
AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR MAKING YOURSELVES PRESENT AND AVAILABLE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. IT MAKES THE EVENTS THAT THEY THROW VERY, VERY SPECIAL FOR EVERYBODY. SO APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE IN OCTOBER. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.
ONE LAST ONE FOR ME AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL OBSERVE THE FIRST WEDNESDAY IN OCTOBER AS NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY DAY TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. WHEREAS FOR CITIES AND STATES LIKE OURS THAT ARE TRYING TO TACKLE HARMFUL POLLUTION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY CAN GET US
[00:40:03]
ABOUT HALFWAY TOWARDS OUR MISSION OF REDUCTION GOALS WHILE INCREASING ENERGY EFFICIENCY. WHEREAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS THE CHEAPEST, QUICKEST, AND CLEANEST WAY TO MEET THE ENERGY NEEDS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, AVOID DANGEROUS POLLUTION , PROTECT OUR PLANET, LOWER DEPENDENCY ON ELECTRICITY, AND REDUCE UTILITY BILLS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHEREAS IMPROVED ENERGY CODES FOR HOMES AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES CAN ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE UTILITY COSTS AND CREATE NEW JOBS AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SUPPORTS INCREASING THE MINIMUM LEVELS OF EFFICIENCY FOR NEW BUILDINGS THROUGH ADOPTION OF A STRICTER CODE AND MODEL 2021 ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE. WHEREAS TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS BY LEARNING AND IMPLEMENTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND OTHER CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVES THAT CAN HELP BOOST ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB CREATION WHILE CONTINUING TO MOVE SAN ANTONIO TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE FIRST WEDNESDAY IN OCTOBER TO BE NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND URGE CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN SUPPORTING OUR CLEAN ENERGY GOALS AND MOVING TOWARDS A MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY NOW AND FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS FOR BEING HERE.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. I AM THE ENERGY MANAGER WITHIN THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. I EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND COMMEND OUR ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR SETTING AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE.
AS A CITY WE HAVE EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.
OUR FIRST STEP WAS IN 2017 WHEN WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSED THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT DECLARING OUR COMMITMENT TO A FUTURE THAT'S CLEANER AND GREENER.
WE ADOPTED THE CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN IN 2019. THE CAAP PLAYS OUT MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES, GUIDING US TOWARD A REDUCED CARBON FOOTPRINT.
FURTHERMORE THIS COUNCIL ESTABLISHED THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUND ALMOST 13 YEARS AGO, SETTING AN EXAMPLE AS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN TEXAS, EXCLUSIVELY DEDICATED TO MUNICIPAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY. THE SUCCESS OF THIS FUND IN REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITHIN MUNICIPAL FACILITIES CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. THROUGH COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY EFFORTS OUR HOUSING BOND PROGRAM IS TRANSFORMING AFFORDABILITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY, THEREBY MAKING OUR CITY SUSTAINABLE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL RESIDENTS.
THE RECENT RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES HAS SERVED AS A STARK REMINDER WHY ALL THESE INITIATIVES ARE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS A YEAR ROUND COMMITMENT, REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. TOGETHER, LET US PURSUE A PATH AS A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT SAN ANTONIO, ENSURING A BRIGHT AND PROMISING TOMORROW FOR OUR BELOVED CITY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
A LONG AND CONTINUOUS JOURNEY FOR US. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IF WE COULD HAVE THE CENTRO AMBASSADORS STAND AND COME FORWARD. [APPLAUSE] SO I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY WERE STARTING THEIR SHIFT. YOU ALL ARE SO EASILY RECOGNIZABLE IN YOUR SHIRTS. I'LL WAIT FOR Y'ALL TO COME UP BEFORE I KEEP TALKING.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INCREDIBLY HARD WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN SERVING DOWNTOWN, WHETHER IT'S PRESSURE WASHING, PICKING UP TRASH, TELLING AND HELPING PEDESTRIANS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. YOU GUYS SAY IT, ALL IN A DAY'S WORK. WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR HARD WORK IN HELPING US KEEP DOWNTOWN CLEAN AND SAFE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE ARE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE YOU ALL TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: Y'ALL, I THINK WE CAN DO A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN THAT.
YOU GUYS ARE THE SMILING FACES THAT GREET US EVERY DAY.
APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER KAUR FOR
[00:45:09]
ARRANGING THIS AND THANK YOU TO OUR AMBASSADORS FOR COMING OUT.WE SEE YOU GUYS TOILING IN OUR DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.
I CAN'T WALK PAST ONE OF THE YELLOW SHIRTS WITHOUT GETTING INTO A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW GREAT THIS CITY IS AND WHAT YOU ALL ARE CONTRIBUTING TO IT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND SMILING FACE THAT GREET SO MANY OF OUR VISITORS AND LOCALS AT OUR DOWNTOWN AREA EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAN ANTONIO IS KNOWN FOR, HOSPITALITY, AND IT INCLUDES SO MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING YOURS. SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO KNOWN AS A VERY COMPASSIONATE AND FRIENDLY PLACE. WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YES.
I HAVE WORKED DOWNTOWN AND NOW I'M DOWNTOWN FOR CITY HALL. YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GREAT IN CLEANING AND MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. IT'S KEY FOR OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY, OF COURSE, BUT KEY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 3 ARE SO IMPRESSED WITH YOU GUYS THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS ASKING ME TO BRING CENTRO AMBASSADORS TO OUR LOCAL PARKS. TRISH, I HOPE YOU'RE LISTENING BECAUSE WE MIGHT WANT TO SEE THEM OVER BY CONFLUENCE AND BY MISSION AND PLACES LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE NOTICE IT EVERY DAY AND IF WE DON'T SAY THANK YOU, TODAY OF COURSE IS A BIG THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I TOO WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AND I SEE A LOT OF YOU ALL FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE THAT WAS PRINTED OUT AND I KIND OF WANT TO GET AUTOGRAPHS BECAUSE I READ THROUGH THE STORIES AND Y'ALL ARE ALL AWESOME! AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO, I HEAR FIRSTHAND ALL OF THE TIME FROM VISITORS, WE GET NICE E-MAILS AND IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO COME BACK TO YOU ALL. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ON BEHALF OF THE TOURISM AND SAN ANTONIO THAT YOU ALL KEEP IT GOING AND JUST INCREDIBLE STORIES AND HEAR ABOUT YOU ALL PICKING UP LITTLE PIECES OF TRASH AFTER SOMEONE IS WALKING OR HELPING SOMEONE WHO IS IN A WHEELCHAIR FIND THE ELEVATOR SO THEY WON'T SUFFER IN THE TEXAS HEAT, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT USED TO. THE OTHER DAY -- I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE OF YOU IT WAS -- BUT YOU ALL HAD A PALETA, LIKE A PALETA CARRIER, WHERE YOU PUT THE PALETAS, THE PUSHCART. YOU ALL ARE HANDING OUT BOTTLED WATER AND I SAW ONE OF YOU ALL AND THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO MUST HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION OR SOMETHING AND YOU ALL WERE WAITING THERE PATIENTLY. I'M SURE YOU HAD CALLED 9-1-1 OR SOMETHING. BUT YOU ALL STAYED THERE AND YOU ALL WERE TRYING TO HELP THE PERSON WITH THEM AS WELL. IT'S SEEN AND ACKNOWLEDGED AND THERE WAS SOME VANDALISM A FEW YEARS AGO. YOU ALL WERE THE FIRST ONES TO RESPOND.
BY THE TIME VOLUNTEERS GOT THERE YOU HAD ALL CLEANED EVERYTHING.
THAT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T GET THIS RECOGNITION EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE DO SEE IT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE CELEBRATE YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, YOU ALL ARE REALLY THE UNSUNG HEROES FOR THIS CITY. YOU DO SO MUCH TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, WHO COME TO VISIT HERE. WHO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO GO AHEAD AND COMMIT YOURSELF TO DOING THAT FOR ALL OF THE REST OF US. AND I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT STARTS COOLING OFF AND MAKING IT A LOT EASIER FOR YOU TO DO YOUR JOB BUT I KNOW YOU'LL DO
THAT NO MATTER WHAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER DR. KAUR FOR HIGHLIGHTING THEM TODAY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. WE CAN'T OVERSTATE ENOUGH THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT Y'ALL PLAY.
NOT ONLY DO WE SEE IT BUT WE FEEL IT AND WE FEEL IT WITH THE SMILE AND THE FRIENDLINESS.
YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO IS KNOWN FOR OUR FRIENDLY NATURE AND IT'S LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO THE WORK YOU ALL DO CONSTANTLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS WORK AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT COOL WEATHER TOO SO THAT CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER ON ALL OF US. THANK YOU, AGAIN.
[00:50:04]
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: GREAT CITIES HAVE GREAT DOWNTOWNS. AND WHEN PEOPLE GET HERE TO SAN ANTONIO AND STAY IN ONE OF OUR PLACES HERE DOWNTOWN AND PUT THEIR BAGS UP AND THEN HEAD OUT AND GET ON TO OUR STREETS, YOU KNOW, THE IMAGE THAT YOU GUYS PRESENT TO THEM IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.
WHETHER IT'S CLEAN STREETS OR INTERACTING WITH YOU ALL AND SEEING THE SMILES ON YOUR FACES AS THEY START TO WALK AROUND OUR DOWNTOWN, IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
AND THAT HELPS ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME BACK THE NEXT TIME, WHICH IS A BIG ECONOMIC DRIVER HERE FOR SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S BEEN SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THE FACE OF SAN ANTONIO. I THINK YOU'RE ALSO THE SPIRIT OF SAN ANTONIO. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON COMMERCE AND I SAW A YELLOW SHIRT, ONE OF YOU GUYS WALK ACROSS THE STREET WITH A WHATABURGER BAG AND A DRINK IN HAND TO GIVE TO SOMEBODY SITTING ON A BENCH IN THE HEAT.
LOOKED TO BE A LITTLE DOWN AND OUT. AND THAT PERSON'S FACE LOOKED UP AND LIT UP WHEN THEY SAW THE YELLOW SHIRT. OF COURSE THEY SAW THE WHATABURGER BAG. HOW CAN YOU NOT BE HAPPY? BUT YOU DID THIS GUY A FAVOR AND YOU REALLY DID MORE THAN THAT. I MEAN, IT WAS VERY COMPASSIONATE AND THERE ARE THESE MOMENTS, THESE SNAPSHOTS IN TIME WHERE I THINK THAT IS SO SAN ANTONIO. THAT IS ONE MOMENT I THOUGHT THAT IS SO SAN ANTONIO.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU THE FACE OF OUR CITY, THE SMILING FACES TO TOURISTS AND LOCALS, YOU REALLY EXUDE THAT SPIRIT. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: EVERYTHING THEY SAID IS 100% TRUE. DITTO FOR ME BUT I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW, IN CASE YOU'RE EVER WONDERING WHO IS PAYING ATTENTION. FROM TIME TO TIME OVER THE YEARS I'VE HAD TO GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO PROMOTE SAN ANTONIO AND TELL THEM COME TO SAN ANTONIO. BRING YOUR BUSINESSES HERE. BRING YOUR TOURISM HERE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU APPEAR IN THE VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WE'VE SHOWN IN GERMANY, SPAIN, COLOMBIA, PANAMA CITY AND WE HAVE HEARD FROM ABROAD, OH, WE HAVE BEEN TO SAN ANTONIO. THOSE PEOPLE THAT WALK AROUND IN YELLOW ARE THE NICEST PEOPLE WE HAVE EVER MET. YOU GUYS MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT YOU ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SAN ANTONIO. GO HOME AND BRAG TO YOUR FAMILIES, HEY, I'M A BIG DEAL. I HEARD IT FROM THE COUNCILMAN.
THANKS, GUYS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. ALONG WITH TRAVELING TO OTHER CITIES, I THINK OTHER CITIES ARE STARTING TO PICK UP ON THE CENTRO AMBASSADOR SO THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO REPLICATE THE MODEL. NOT THAT THERE'S ANY COMPETITION OR ANYTHING BUT WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU BE THE BEST IN WHAT YOU DO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. NOW, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHER THAT'S GOING TO GO UP THERE. SO IF WE CAN ALL LOOK UP
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, GUYS! NOW THE DOWNTOWN IS IN DISARRAY WITHOUT YOU SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP YOU ANY FURTHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT.
LET ME TURN NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TODAY. MY FIRST POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TODAY IS THE GONZABA FOUNDATION. A YEAR AGO OUR OFFICE WAS APPROACHED BY THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT -- WE HAD SMOKE ALARMS. CAN THE WHOLE GONZABA TEAM COME UP? WE HAD A VAST AMOUNT OF SMOKE ALARMS AND WITH A LOT OF TIME, PLANNING, CREATIVITY, WE INSTALLED MORE THAN 200 DISTRICT 3 SENIOR RESIDENTS' HOMES WERE INSTALLED WITH SMOKE ALARMS WITH LONG-LASTING BATTERIES. AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HERE.
AND WE KNOW THAT FIRES ARE OFTEN CAUSED BY SMOKING, COOKING, AND SPACE HEATERS OR FIREPLACES IN THE HOME. WE HAVE ALL SEEN AND HEARD ABOUT THE INSTANCES WHERE OLDER ADULTS FACE FIRE-RELATED DEATHS EACH YEAR SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SMOKE ALARMS. AS MANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES STARTED TO JUMP ON THIS INITIATIVE, WE STARTED
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RUNNING LOW ON SMOKE ALARMS AND THANKS TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE GONZABA FOUNDATION FOR ANSWERING THE CALL TO ACTION. AND, OF COURSE, FOR THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS OF GETTING THOSE NAMES AND GOING INTO HOMES.OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS ARE A PRIORITY FOR US. THEY'RE A PRIORITY FOR THE GONZABA FOUNDATION. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GIVE US THE GREAT ANNOUNCEMENT OF WHAT GONZABA IS GOING TO HELP DO. AND I HOPE THERE'S OTHER
COMPANIES OUT THERE LISTENING. IT'S YOURS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS FERNANDA.
OFTEN OUR OLDER ADULTS ARE THE FORGOTTEN POPULATION. I STAND BEFORE YOU TO SPEAK ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRE SAFETY IN THE HOME, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE AT RISK SENIORS.
THE GONZABA FOUNDATION ANSWERED THE CALL TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S CALL OF ACTION AND WE'RE DONATING 250 SMOKE ALARMS TO OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP REDUCE THE FIRE-RELATED INJURIES AND DEATHS. OF COURSE THIS COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE TIRELESS WORK OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. THEIR TEAMS RUN TOWARDS DANGER WHEN WE ARE TAUGHT TO RUN AWAY FROM IT. THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKS SO HARD TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY AND KEEP OUR CITY SAFE. WE NEED EACH OTHER'S SUPPORT NOW MORE THAN EVER AND WE CAN HELP SAVE LIVES TOGETHER IN GREAT TIMES OF NEED.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT SUCH A SPECIAL INITIATIV IE AND I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT MY TEAM AND THE TIRELESS EFFORT OF OUR VOLUNTEER BOARD THAT IS
HERE WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
CAN THE TEAM AND THE BOARD INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL? YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM OUT AND ABOUT, I'M SURE, COMMUNICATING THIS INITIATIVE.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MY NAME IS ESTHER.
I'M A COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR THE GONZABA FOUNDATION.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MARINA FLORES. I'M THE COMMUNICATION MANAGER
FOR THE GONZABA FOUNDATION . >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS HENRY PUENTE AND I'M
THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE GONZABA FOUNDATION. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ESMERALDA AND I'M A COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR WITH THE GONZABA FOUNDATION AS
WELL. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE
GONZABA FOUNDATION. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M ON THE GONZABA BOARD. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M ANNA AND I'M ON THE GONZABA FOUNDATION BOARD. >> VIAGRAN: I KNOW THOSE BOARD FACES LOOK REALLY FAMILIAR, Y'ALL. OF COURSE, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TEAM WHO IS OUT THERE. GO AHEAD AND REMIND US. WE ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE BUT GO AHEAD AND TELL US WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU GUYS AND Y'ALL'S EFFORTS.
>> SURE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M CHRIS, DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF. PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS ARE GREAT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW, SINCE LAST OCTOBER WE HAVE INSTALLED SMOKE ALARMS IN OVER 1400 HOMES AND SO A LOT OF THEM HERE RECENTLY, AFTER SOME OF THE INCIDENTS WE HAVE HAD, A LOT MORE ATTENTION ON SMOKE ALARMS AND IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE THAT ATTENTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT TAKES TRAGEDIES LIKE THAT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE.
BUT THAT'S, SINCE WE INSTALLED THAT 1400, THAT'S 1400 TRAGEDIES AVERTED.
I HAVE A FEW MEMBERS OF OUR OUTREACH TEAM HERE, DANA AND JENNIFER, WHO SEE THIS EVERY DAY. THEY RECEIVE THOSE CALLS AND COORDINATE THOSE INSTALLATIONS AND EVEN GO OUT AND DO THOSE INSTALLATIONS. WE'RE THANKFUL FOR OUR TEAM AND, AGAIN, THANKFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE GONZABA FOUNDATION.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TEAM AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ADVOCATING FOR THIS INITIATIVE ALSO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MY SECOND POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE -- BECAUSE WE'RE OFF FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS -- IS DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK. AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING AWARENESS AND ACTION TO THE DIGITAL DIVIDE , I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK.
THIS IS AN ANNUAL WEEK OF AWARENESS AND RECOGNITION PROMOTING DIGITAL EQUITY.
DURING OCTOBER 2 AND 6, 2023, HAVING HIGH-SPEED AFFORDABLE INTERNET SERVICES IS AN ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION TOOL THAT ENABLES ACCESS TO WORK AND HEALTHCARE.
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LAST YEAR THEY HOSTED THEIR CONFERENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, SUPPORTING THE LOCAL DIGITAL INCLUSION COMMUNITY TO HELP THOSE POLICYMAKERS, ADVOCATE RESEARCHERS AND OTHERS FIND ANSWERS. THIS WAS THE LARGEST NATIONAL INCLUSION CONFERENCE HELD SO FAR AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING THEM IN THE FUTURE. AND U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE WAS HERE TALKING ON BRIDGING THE DIGITAL GAP . MY OFFICE IS WORKING VERY HARD AND IS THE TEAM FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION HERE? JOHN IS HERE.JOHN, COME ON UP, DEANN, COME UP. WE HAVE DEANN HERE.
SHE IS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH BROADBAND NETWORKS FOR SELF-RELIANCE AND THEY'RE WORKING NATIONWIDE TO TRY AND GET EVERYONE CONNECTED . JOHN OVERSEES OUR REALLY LARGE TEAM OF THREE PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICE OF INNOVATION THAT ARE KIND OF PUTTING ON TOGETHER OUR EVENT. SO THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK 2023 IS HOSTING AN EVENT WITH FROST BANK AND AT&T TO HOLD AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN AT THE SMART SA SANDBOX ON OCTOBER 7 FROM 10:00 TO 2:00 P.M. AT CONFLUENCE PARK.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN DISTRICT 3 DOES NOT MEAN I'M THE ONLY COUNCILMEMBER THAT NEEDS TO BE THERE. I AM CHALLENGING MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GET OUT THERE ON OCTOBER 7TH AND BE A PART OF THIS EVENT. IT'S A FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT AND OUR PARTNERS OF COURSE ARE GOING TO BE ARE PARTNERS THAT ARE THERE WITH US ALL THE TIME, FROST BANK AND AT&T. JOHN OR DEANN, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO SHARE A FEW WORDS? >> I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, COUNCILMAN ALDERETE GAVITO, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, WHO HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONS ON THIS ISSUE.
I CAME UP WITH FOUR REASONS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR, WHY YOU ARE ALL DIGITAL INCLUSION ADVOCATES. IN ORDER TO STRIVE FOR ACHIEVING OUR EQUITY GOALS, YOU NEED TO HAVE A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF NETWORKS. YOU NEED TO HAVE A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF ANALYZING DATA. AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND MARKETING.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET TO THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S THE HARDEST PART IS TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE ONLY THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG, WHERE ARE THE GAPS IN SERVICE, HOW TO QUANTIFY THE PROBLEMS SO WE KNOW HOW TO CO-DESIGN SOLUTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND ALL OF Y'ALL, ALL TEN COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR, HAVE ALL FOUR OF THOSE SKILLS.
SO YOU ALL ARE DIGITAL INCLUSION CHAMPIONS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND I THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. JOHN, DO YOU WANT TO BRAG ON
THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR TEAM IS WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE GROUPS THAT DEANN HELPS LEAD AND HELPS US NAVIGATE IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE
WORK AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK AHEAD. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT.
THE CHALLENGE IS ON. WHO WILL BE THERE WITH ME AT CONFLUENCE PARK ON
OCTOBER 7TH? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
I'LL TURN NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND I HAVE A CHILDREN'S THEME GOING TODAY. SO THE NEXT ONE IS A REALLY SAD ONE. 47 CHILDREN ARE DIAGNOSED DAILY WITH CHILDHOOD CANCER.
AND 95% OF FAMILIES STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY AS THEY'RE PAYING FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO RECOVER OR SOMETIMES CHILDREN DON'T RECOVER AND SO I WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE GABRIELLA'S SMILE FOUNDATION. IT'S A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT CHILDHOOD CANCER AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH PEDIATRIC CANCER. WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY ISABEL AND CECILIA, A PROUD MOTHER OF GABRIELLA -- PARENTS OF GABRIELLA WHO WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND BRIGHT 6-YEAR-OLD WHO COURAGEOUSLY FOUGHT AN INOPERABLE BRAIN STEM TUMOR. ALTHOUGH GABRIELLA IS NO LONGER PHYSICALLY WITH US, HER LEGACY LIVES ON. TO INCREASE AWARENESS, ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GOING GOLD IN SEPTEMBER.
GOLD IN SEPTEMBER, ALSO KNOWN AS THE G 9 CAMPAIGN, WAS CREATED BY AN 11-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL WHOSE TWIN BROTHER WAS BATTLING PEDIATRIC CANCER .
HAVING FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD CHILDREN WITH CANCER, I KNOW SIBLINGS SUFFER IN SILENCE.
AND SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN WITH THE GOLD.
THE INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS SYMBOL FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER IS A GOLD RIBBON.
UNLIKE OTHER CANCER AWARENESS RIBBONS WHICH FOCUS ON A SINGULAR TYPE OF CANCER, THE
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GOLD RIBBON IS FOR ALL FORMS OF CANCER AFFECTING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.IN 1997 A GROUP OF PARENTS PICKED GOLD AS THE OFFICIAL COLOR FOR THE CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS RIBBON. THE COLOR GOLD SYMBOLIZES HOW PRECIOUS CHILDREN ARE AND THEIR RESILIENCY OF CHILDHOOD CANCER HEROES. SEPTEMBER 28 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS GOLD OUT DAY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WEAR GOLD ON THIS DAY. SEVERAL NONPROFITS ORGANIZATIONS ARE HOSTING GOLD OUT EVENTS IN SAN ANTONIO SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO GOLD OUT.
I GOLD OUT DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. I ALWAYS HAVE GOLD TIPS ON MY NAILS AND EVERYBODY ASKS OR THINKS THEY'RE VERY SHOCKING AND I GET TO EXPLAIN WHY I DO THIS EVERY YEAR. BUT I WANT TO THANK THE TORRESS FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND I WANT THEM TO SHARE THEIR STORY AND I BELIEVE THE MAYOR HAS A PROCLAMATION TO READ.
>> OUR DAUGHTER, GABRIELLA, WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2015 WITH AN INOPERABLE BRAIN CANCER AND SHE FOUGHT BRAVELY FOR 237 DAYS AND PASSED AWAY, SADLY ON NOVEMBER 8, 2015.
DURING HER JOURNEY, SHE HAD A DREAM AND SHE SAID, MOM, DAD, I HAD A DREAM THAT YOU HAD A LOT OF MONEY AND YOU WERE HELPING FAMILIES. SO FROM THAT VERY MOMENT, MY WIFE AND I, WE JUST FELT THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO GABRIELLA WE WERE GOING TO HELP MAKE AN IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH WE HAD NO FAMILY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE FELT THE BENEVOLENCE OF THE CITY AND WHEN WE RAN OUT OF MONEY GOING THROUGH ALL OF OUR SAVINGS AND CREDIT, THE CITY STEPPED UP AND PAID FOR OUR MORTGAGE, OUR HOUSE, OUR CAR. WE THOUGHT THAT RECIPROCATING THAT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE STARTED GABRIELLA'S SMILE FOUNDATION TO REMEMBER OUR DAUGHTER AND TO HELP OTHER FAMILIES WHO UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME JOURNEY
WE DID. >> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILWOMAN.
WE ARE VERY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT. AND MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT WE GET TO TALK ABOUT OUR DAUGHTER, WHO IS NO LONGER HERE. WE DO HAVE THREE CHILDREN, NOW ONE IS 17, ONE IS 15. WE MISS OUR DAUGHTER VERY MUCH BUT WE ARE PROUD OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING IN HER HONOR TO HELP OTHER FAMILIES. THIS MORNING WE HAD AN INTERVIEW AT A LOCAL TV NEWS STATION AND WE WERE WITH A NEW FAMILY THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED. 47 CHILDREN ARE BEING DIAGNOSED EVERY DAY.
SEVEN CHILDREN ARE DYING EVERY DAY FROM THE DISEASE. ABOUT 200 KIDS IN THE SAN ANTONIO REGION AREA ARE DIAGNOSED EVERY YEAR AND SO WE OPENED IN 2022 THE CHILDREN'S CANCER SUPPORT CENTER WHERE WE PROVIDE RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND REALLY JUST HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT JOURNEY WITH THEIR CHILD. AND WE ALSO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. SO THE WORK WE'RE DOING IS GREAT.
WE DO HAVE SEVERAL EVENTS THIS MONTH AND WE ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OTHER EVENTS THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO DOING. YOU CAN FIND ALL THAT INFORMATION AT WE'RE VERY HAPPY AND VERY HONORED TO BE HERE. AND TO BE ABLE TO JUST SHARE
THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA AND TO THE TORRES FAMILY. WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023, GABRIELLA'S SMILE FOUNDATION WILL OBSERVE CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH TO HONOR AND REMEMBER CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THIS DISEASE.
AND WHEREAS CANCER IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH BY DISEASE IN OUR NATION AMONG CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 19 AND IS DETECTED IN MORE THAN 15,700 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.
WHEREAS THE SMILE FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING FAMILIES AFFECTED BY PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER AND PROVIDING GRANTS FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY AN INOPERABLE BRAIN STEM TUMOR. WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 THE FOUNDATION PLANS TO HOLD A GOLD OUT DAY WHERE THEY URGE PEOPLE TO WEAR A GOLD RIBBON. THIS RIBBON SYMBOLIZES THE VALUE AND I ARE REPLACEABILITY OF CHILDREN JUST LIKE A PIECE OF GOLD.
NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 2023 TO BE CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 TO BE THE GOLD OUT DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND MISSION IN THE HONOR OF YOUR CHILD.
[APPLAUSE] LET ME TURN NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO WITH A
POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 AT 8:30 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M., HARRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL BE CELEBRATING THEIR 100-YEAR BIRTHDAY. HARRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS ONE OF THE EIGHT ORIGINAL SAISD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED IN 1923 AND AS ALUMNI YOURS TRULY
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WILL BE GIVING COMMENTS THERE. THE FESTIVITIES WILL FEATURE MUSICIANS AND FOOD TRUCKS, FOOTBALL, AND MORE. RECENTLY LANIER HELD A SIMILAR CELEBRATION.IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE CELEBRATIONS BECAUSE AS WE KNOW PUBLIC EDUCATION IS UNDERGOING SOME VERY REAL DIFFICULT CHALLENGES. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE UNAWARE, THEY RECENTLY RELEASED A PRELIMINARY LIST OF 19 SCHOOLS MAY BE UP FOR CLOSURE. SADLY, SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS ON THE LIST ARE JUST AS HISTORIC AS THE STORIED LEGACY. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE WHAT REMAINS OF OUR AVAILABLE PUBLIC GOODS FOR GRANTED. THE REASONS ARE DUE TO A VARIETY OF FACTORS SUCH AS LACK OF ADEQUATE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, AN INCREASE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA, AND LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND MORE. ON TOP OF THESE COMPOUNDING FACTORS, MANY FEEL LIKE THE TIMELINE FOR THIS PROCESS IS MOVING A BIT TOO FAST AS THERE'S STILL AN EQUITY AUDIT THAT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED WHO ARE CONCERNED BY THESE DEVELOPMENTS TO ATTEND THE SECOND ROUND OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS. YOU CAN FIND THE ENTIRE LIST OF MEETING DATES THAT WILL LAST THROUGH NOVEMBER AT SAISD.NET/RIGHTSIZING. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. FINALLY, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE
WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.
AND I'M GOING TO ADD TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT HARRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT I STARTED MY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHING CAREER AT HARRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL. I REALLY ENJOYED THE YEARS THERE AND I'M VERY HAPPY FOR THEM CELEBRATING THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY. BUT I WANTED TO ALSO MENTION SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE. EARLIER THIS SUMMER WE CUT THE RIBBON ON OUR BRAND-NEW PARK, CLASSEN-STEUBING RANCH PARK IN DISTRICT 9.
THIS WAS VOTED ON DURING THE RESIDENTS DURING A 2017 BOND AND IT IS EQUIPPED WITH BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, SOCCER FIELDS, PICNIC PAVILIONS WITH RESTROOMS, DRINKING FOUNTAINS AND BOTH NATURAL AND CONCRETE TRAILWAYS. ALSO, THERE IS AN ALL-ABILITIES PLAYGROUND SPONSORED BY THE MITCHELL CHANG FOUNDATION WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2024 . BUT THAT'S THE OLD NEWS.
THE NEW NEWS IS THAT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH FROM 2:00 TO 6:00 I AM INVITING ALL OF YOU AND THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND ENJOY THE PARK AND ALL ITS AMEN AMENITIES AT OUR CLASSEN-STEUBING FEST, OUR TAKE ON OKTOBERFEST. THE EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. COME AND ENJOY MUSIC FROM THE LEDERHOSEN JUNKIES DIRECT FROM NEW BRAUNFELS, GERMAN-INSPIRED FOOD FROM MAD DOG'S RESTAURANT AND BEER SAMPLINGS, COURTESY OF
SILVER EAGLE BEVERAGES. I HOPE ALL OF YOU CAN JOIN US. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. I'M SURE THE LEDERHOSEN WILL BRING OUT A LOT OF FOLKS SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT FESTIVAL. I THINK THAT'S IT, UNLESS WE
HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. >> WALSH: WE DO, MAYOR. JUST THREE QUICK ITEMS. ONE, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU I'M CERTAINLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS DONE IN THE PAST. AND THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THEY WILL BE THE RECIPIENT OF TWO DIFFERENT AWARDS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE FIRST AWARD IS THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL'S EXCELLENCE AWARD IN THE CATEGORY OF RESILIENCY, RECOVERY, AND MITIGATION. AND THE SECOND IS THE MINORITY ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CHAIRMAN'S RESILIENCY AWARD. BOTH AWARDS ARE PROOF THAT THE TEAM HAS BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY FOR SAN ANTONIO, NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS. THE SECOND ITEM -- SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE EDD TEAM. THEY HAVE DONE YEOMAN'S WORK OVER THE LAST YEARS AND IT'S GREAT TO BE RECOGNIZED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WE KNOW THERE'S MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS WE GO INTO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. THE SECOND AWARD IS FOR HUMAN SERVICES. AND AS ALL OF YOU KNOW WE'RE AN AGE-FRIENDLY CITY AND WE INVEST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES IN PROVIDING SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING FOR ADULT -- OLDER ADULTS. DHS PARTNERS WITH A WHOLE SLEW OF LOCAL PROVIDERS LIKE WELLMED, THE AREA FOUNDATION, OATS WAS HERE EARLIER, YMCA, YWCA, MEALS ON WHEELS.
WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING WILL AWARD THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AWARD TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE WELLMED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION TO
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RECOGNIZE OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE CO-MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF OUR TWO SENIOR CENTERS, THE TREVINO LOPEZ SENIOR CENTER AND THE DORIS GRIFFIN SENIOR CENTER.DS PROVIDES MEALS AT THE WELLMED-RUN CISNEROS SENIOR CENTER.
POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP THAT CONNECTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TOGETHER.
AND ENSURES THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR AGE-FRIENDLY CITY AND ENSURING THAT OLDER ADULTS AND SENIORS ARE HEALTHY, ENGAGED, AND INDEPENDENT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM, BOTH AT DHS AND WELLMED FOR THE OUR VIDEO TODAY RECOGNIZES OUR H.R. DEPARTMENT. I SHARED WITH YOU SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THAT OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WAS SELECTED AS THE LARGE AGENCY RECIPIENT FOR THE 2023 PUBLIC SECTOR H.R. ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE.
SPECIFICALLY FOR A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS. OUR INNOVATION ACADEMY, OUR GEAR UP PROGRAM, OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. THE AWARD RECOGNIZES INNOVATION IN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES. IN THE VIDEO YOU WILL HEAR
FROM FOUR OF OURT H.R. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO. >> THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES ALL THE INTEGRITY THINGS WE'RE DOING WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO MAKE SURE WE REMAIN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE AND ALL EMPLOYEES KNOW HOW MUCH WE CARE ABOUT THEM.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR ON OUR INNOVATION ACADEMY.
WHICH PROVIDES OUR EMPLOYEES WITH MORE THAN 100 HOURS OF COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING ON STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, ON USER CENTER DESIGN AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT.
>> THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TRULY EMBRACES THE WHOLE EMPLOYEE WHICH I THINK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. GEAR UP IS ACTUALLY A PROGRAM THAT WE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR CLD DRIVERS. WE HAVE 400 OR 500 DRIVERS AT THE CITY AND REALIZED SOME OF THEM WERE HAVING DIFFICULTIES PASSING THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION FOR RECERTIFICATION OF LICENSE. A SIX-WEEK EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WOULD REALLY HELP THEM IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS TO APPROPRIATE FOR THAT
TEST. >> 15 MEMBERS OF THE H.R. RECRUITMENT DIVISION ARE CERTIFIED DIVERSIONARY RECRUITERS. WE'VE BEEN TRAINED HOW TO IDENTIFY CANDIDATES WHO ARE DIVERSE AND HIGHLY QUALIFIED FOR OUR ROLES.
WE DEVELOPED THE CITY HYPE TEAM. THEY ATTEND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND PERFORMANCES AT OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND ALAMODOME AND OTHER EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE GATHER. ANOTHER OF OUR RECENT PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS HIRING NEEDS IS THE CONSOLIDATED HIRING PROCESS. CANDIDATES ONLY NEED TO APPLY TO ONE JOB POSTING. THEN YOU HAD HUMAN RESOURCES AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL OF OUR HIRING DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT JOB TITLE.
>> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BARRIERS TO HAVING CDL DRIVERS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE REQUIREMENTS OF D.O.T. EXAMINATIONS. WHAT WE DID WAS WE CREATED A PROCESS THAT'S A ONE-STOP SHOP. WE REALLY IMPLEMENTED A PROCESS THAT'S TRULY LIFE SAVING FOR THE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING SITUATIONS RESOLVED VERY QUICKLY. THE COMMUNITY IS WINNING BECAUSE WE HAVE SAFE DRIVERS OUT ON THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO, AND THE CITY IS WINNING BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO RETAIN GOOD, QUALITY HELP.
[APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN SERVICES, WE WILL MED AND H.R. FOR JOB WELL DONE.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIK.
QUESTION DO NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT COUNCILMEMBER KAUR IS CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY. LET'S CELEBRATE WITH HER BY SINGING HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND SHE'S GOING TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR THE HEALTHIEST DESSERT IN THE BACK. THERE'S A FRUIT CUP I THINK WAITING FOR US.
SO ENJOY THAT. ALL RIGHT, IT'S 10:33 A.M. ON THE 21ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2023. OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.