Nov 09, 2023 Sesión A del Consejo de la Ciudad

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.

THE TIME IS 9:10 A.M. ON THE 9TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2023. WE'LL CALLL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

AND WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF SPECIAL GUESTS WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING VERY SHORTLY.

BUT TO GET US STARTED THIS MORNING I'D LIKE TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ TO WELCOME

OUR INVOCATOR. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO JOHNNY DEACON FLORES, WHO IS OUR DEACON AT ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH WHERE HE'S BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THAT COMMUNITY. AND HE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE LIVED IN DISTRICT 8 FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND THEY ARE DEDICATED MEMBERS THIS ENTIRE TIME OF THE ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH COMMUNITY. HE RETIRED FROM UTSA IN 2019 AND ORDAINED AS A DEACON BY OUR FRIEND, ARCHBISHOP GUSTAVO GARCIA-SILLER IN 2020 AND HE CONTINUES TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY AT ST. FRANCIS AND HE AND HIS WIFE RECENTLY CELEBRATED 44 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND THEY HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, FOUR GRANDSONS.

AND HE BRAVED THE RAIN AND FOUND PARKING DOWNTOWN TO COME AND SHARE SOME WORDS FOR US.

DEACON, THIS MORNING I TOLD YOU AND YOU THOUGHT I WAS KIDDING, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GIVING COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE A LITTLE MORE EYE CONTACT BECAUSE HE NEEDS MORE PRAYERS THAN THE

REST OF US. [LAUGHTER] >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. LET US PRAY.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. DEAR LORD, HELP US TO REMEMBER ALWAYS THAT WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN. THAT WE ARE COMPANIONS OF CHRIST. THAT WE LIVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

MAY WE TREAT EACH OTHER WITH THE SAME RESPECT WE DESIRE FOR OURSELVES.

MAY WE SEE IN EACH OTHER THE IMMEASURABLE VALUE OF OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

MAY WE CONTINUE IN PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE PRAY THAT THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD CAN RESOLVE THEIR CONFLICTS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY, GLORY BE TO THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

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

WE HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA. TWO ITEMS ARE LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING.

THAT'S ITEM NO. 3 AND ITEM NO. 4. THERE'S NO MINUTES TO APPROVE.

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AND I BELIEVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE HIGHLIGHTING ITEM NO. 17.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, I WOULD ASK IF WE COULD PULL IT FOR DISCUSSION INSTEAD.

SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'LL PULL ITEM NO. 17 SO EVERYONE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE COMMENTS. ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL OTHER THAN 3, 4, AND 17? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 3, 4, AND 17. WE DO HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS. JACK FINGER. ON ITEMS 26 AND 30, JACK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH THE GOOD FEELING THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. THE FEELING OF LOVE JUST EXUDES ALL AROUND. SO MUCH SO THAT I SEE ON THE ITEMS HERE THAT WE HAVE WHAT I CALL A NUMBER OF SWEETHEART DEALS HERE. YES.

ITEM NO. 30 IS ABOUT -- OH, APPROVING THE BIG LOAN AND GRANT TO THE -- FOR THE GRANT KRESS BUILDING REHABILITATION PROJECT . THIS IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM FOLKS THERE.

AND AS I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE AGENDA MEMORANDUM, THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS ON THIS, ONE THING THAT REALLY INTERESTED -- WELL, I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING WAS WHAT I'M ABOUT TO DISPLAY TO YOU HERE. THE UNDERLINED AREA SAYS THE CITY WILL PROVIDE THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,350,000 FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE BUILDING AND SO FORTH.

THE LOAN WILL BE FORGIVABLE. THE LOAN WILL BE FORGIVABLE AT 20% PER YEAR IN YEARS 6 TO 10.

THANK YOU. RETURN THE -- YEAH. THIS IS WONDERFUL.

I'M SO GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, THIS IS IN YOUR AREA, THE DOWNTOWN AREA HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANYONE WHO ALSO NEEDS A LOAN FOR SUCH PROJECTS IN YOUR AREA TO GET A SIMILAR SWEETHEART DEAL. YES.

LOANS BE FORGIVEN AFTER SO MANY YEARS THERE, YOU KNOW. YEAH.

LIKE I SAID, LOVE JUST EXUDES EVERYWHERE. ALSO, ITEM NO. 26.

YES. IT'S ABOUT IF YOU LIVE IN THE -- IF YOU LIVE IN THE FAR NORTH SIDE, YOU'VE EARNED YOUR INCOME THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. YOU WANT TO RETIRE.

YOU WANT TO LIVE WAY OUT IN THE NORTH SIDE AND YOU'RE HIGHWAY 281 AND BORGFIELD ROAD, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE BLESSING YOU WITH THE HELP OF HELPING SOME POOR PEOPLE NEXT TO YOU THERE. YES. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN APARTMENT WHEREBY IF SOME FOLKS WHOSE AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS ONLY ABOUT 60% OR BELOW, THEY'LL BE GETTING THE HELP OF SOME APARTMENT UNITS TO LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.

YES. I'M REALLY IMPRESSED BY THAT THERE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL OFFERING ITS BLESSING TO SUCH A SWEETHEART DEAL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK

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

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO INTO DISCUSSION NOW. MAKE SURE I'VE GOT THE PROPER QUEUE. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO WE'LL GO JUST BY SHOW ME A HAND.

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

I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 30. I WANT TO START OFF BY LAST SESSION I EXPLAINED THAT ONLY ONE PERSON CAN SPEAK ON AN ITEM WITHOUT IT BEING PULLED AND I WAS GOING TO CHALLENGE EVERYONE TO ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS FROM NOW ON.

I WON THIS TIME. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THIS CITY COUNCIL THAT WILL APPROVE $6 MILLION FOR FUNDING TOWARD THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM. THE KRESS BUILDING IS THE LOCATION OF SEVEN DOWNTOWN LUNCH COUNTERS DESEGREGATED IN 1960 . IT'S OFTEN SAID

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CAN Y'ALL STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? [APPLAUSE] I'M THANKFUL TO YOU AND ALL OF THE LEADERS THAT ARE INVESTING IN BLACK HISTORY SO WE MAY ALL BENEFIT FROM OUR STORIES BEING TOLD AND KNOWN THROUGHOUT OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.

ALSO A SHOUT OUT OF COURSE TO COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. AS AN EDUCATOR AND ACADEMIC SHE IS SUPER EXCITED FOR THIS TO BE IN HER DISTRICT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER ROLE IN THIS AND ALL THE SUPPORT SHE HAS SHOWN AND WILL SHOW TO SAAACAM.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON CONSENT AGENDA?

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT A FEW APPOINTMENTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE FOR DISTRICT 1. ART VE LIZ, CARLOS ACOSTA AND THEN DANIELA SERNA TO THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD. NENIF ANY OF Y'ALL ARE HERE, PLEASE SUBSTANTIATE. STAND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ FUNDING TO PROVIDE $100,000 OF DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION AND INVESTING IN $100,000 OF ART EVERYWHERE PROGRAM.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC ART WE CAN GET IN AND AROUND HOUSTON STREET. THANK YOU, CENTRO FOR YOUR INITIATIVE ON THIS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. FOR ITEM 14 I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITS FUNDING POSITION FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCY POSITION. WE KNOW AS WE EXPERIENCE MORE EXTREME SUMMERS AND WINTERS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT SAN ANTONIO WORK TO WITHSTAND THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

OUR CITY HAS A HISTORY OF STRUGGLES WITH CLIMATE DISASTERS DUE TO LACK OF PREPAREDNESS SUCH AS THE 1921 AND THE 1974 FLOOD. AS THE FLOODPLAIN PREPARES TO EXPAND THROUGHOUT THE CITY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ASSIST RESIDENTS AFFECTED THROUGHOUT THE FLOODPLAIN AND ASSIST WITH HOME REHAB, WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS, AND OTHER RELATED EFFORTS TO MAKE THEIR LIVES MORE RESILIENT. SECOND, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 20 AND I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUE, DR. ROCHA, WOULD LOVE TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM BUT I WANT TO BE SURE AND THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE SERVED ON THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST AND WELCOME DR. KAUR TO THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST.

THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR CREATING SUCH A POWERHOUSE OF A TEAM ADDRESSING SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING ISSUES. THE WORK THAT'S BEEN TAKEN ON WITHIN THE HOUSING TRUST HAS BEEN VERY IMPACTFUL SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND THE CHAIR, DR. ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

WE HAVE MOVED SO MANY THINGS FORWARD AND IT'S SO EXCITING TO SEE THIS SHIP BEING STEERED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND MY COLLEAGUES AND CONTINUING TO MAKE HOUSING AND HOUSING INVESTMENT A PRIORITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME FOLKS SITTING OUT THERE WONDERING WHY NOT EVERYBODY'S CHIMING IN ON THE GOOD NEWS.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD NEWS ON THE AGENDA. IF MORE THAN ONE COUNCILMEMBER TALKS ABOUT A SPECIFIC ITEM, WE PULL IT OFF THE AGENDA AND Y'ALL ARE SITTING HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING EXECUTED ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS WHO CAME AND SPENT SOME TIME WITH US THIS MORNING. WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 3, 4, AND 17. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS TODAY, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF SPECIAL GUESTS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE DEPARTING, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO STICK AROUND. IF NOT, PLEASE EXIT QUIETLY. I'LL START BY INVITING THE

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>> I AM SO GLAD TO BE WITH YOU ALL THIS MORNING TO SHARE THESE EMPTY BOWLS.

EMPTY BOWLS IS A LONG-STANDING TRADITION IN OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING THIS EVENT FOR 23 YEARS AND WE HAVE RAISED MORE THAN $800,000 THROUGH THIS EVENT TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING OR FACING HOMELESSNESS.

THE EMPTY BOWL IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TRADITIONAL MEAL THAT'S SERVED IN A SOUP KITCHEN.

OF ART. THESE WILL BE ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC.

THE EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SUNDAY BUT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS HOW THE ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER GO HAND IN HAND. HOW FOOD INSECURITY CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FAMILY WHO IS TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF HOUSING DISASTER.

AND SO SAMMINISTRIES IS THRILLED TO CONTINUE THIS TRADITION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO BRING AWARENESS TO THESE TWO VERY LARGE ISSUES FACING SO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.

PLEASE ENJOY YOUR BOWLS AND IF YOU HAVE TIME ON SUNDAY TO COME OUT AND JOIN US, WE WOULD LOVE

TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NIKITA AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM. LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] THIS IS A DAILY, HOURLY, MINUTE BY MINUTE EFFORT BUT WE DO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK THIS SATURDAY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NIKITA. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM HERE TODAY AND I WOULD ASK THEM TO COME FORWARD AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL OBSERVE -- EXCUSE ME. WHERE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL OBSERVE THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS NATIONAL DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THE ESTIMATED 37.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE DIABETES.

AND LOCALLY FOR THE ONE OUT OF NINE ADULTS IN BEXAR COUNTY THAT HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES BY A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. AND WHEREAS DIABETES IS THE SEVENTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY.

APPROXIMATELY ONE IN FIVE RESIDENTS DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE THE DISEASE.

WHEREAS HISPANIC AND AFRICAN AMERICANS LIVING IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA HAVE AN INCREASED RISK FOR DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES IN THE EAST, SOUTH, AND WEST SIDES OF THE CITIES HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES DUE TO COMPLICATIONS FROM DIABETES. WHEREAS DIABETES IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CHRONIC DISEASES AMONG YOUTH AND INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION RATES FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES IN BEXAR COUNTY CHILDREN AGES 10 TO 17 ARE INCREASING.

WHEREAS COMPLICATIONS INCLUDE HEART DISEASE, STROKE, BLINDNESS, KIDNEY DISEASE, HEARING LOSS, AND AMPUTATION AND TYPE 2 DIABETES CAN BE PREVENTED OR DELAYED THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN A DIABETES PREVENTION LIFESTYLE CHANGE PROGRAM.

WHEREAS AN INCREASE IN COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF RISK FACTORS AND SYMPTOMS RELATED TO DIABETES CAN IMPROVE THE LIKELIHOOD FOR PEOPLE WITH OR AT RISK FOR DIABETES THE ATTENTION THEY NEED. WHEREAS THROUGH THE SA FORWARD PLAN, THE METRO HEALTH HEALTH DISTRICT PROVIDES DIABETES EDUCATION TO OUR COMMUNITIES WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF DIABETES AND OTHER HEALTH DISPARITIES TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS CAN THRIVE IN A HEALTHY, SAFE COMMUNITY.

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023 TO BE DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND FOR BEING

HERE. MARJORIE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS MARJORIE WHITE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HEALTH SAFETY DIVISION WITH THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT. TO OUR MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT DIABETES, WHICH IS THE SEVENTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN BEXAR COUNTY. NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH. THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE IN OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO INCREASE AWARENESS ON THIS GROWING EPIDEMIC AND PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT AND MANAGE THIS DISEASE. METRO HEALTH'S VISION IS TO

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AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY AS WELL AS METRO HEALTH'S DIABETES PREVENTION TEAM. WE HAVE THE YMCA, SAN ANTONIO VASCULAR CLINIC, U.T. HEALTH, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, H-E-B, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US .

AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR 2023 YOUTH ART AND POETRY CONTEST WINNER TO THE PODIUM. SHE'S A NINTH GRADER IN THE NORTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER PARENTS. THIS CONTEST WAS CREATED TO INCREASE DIABETES AWARENESS AMONG OUR YOUTH AND PROVIDE AN OUTLET FOR THEM TO USE THEIR CREATIVITY. HER WINNING POEM IS TITLED LIVING.

WE HAVE FEATURED IT ON OUR HEALTH FAIR FLIER AND IT WILL BE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA

THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. [APPLAUSE] >> THROUGH HOSPITAL VISITS AND EMPATHY, THROUGH CONSTANTLY WORRYING MY FAMILY. THROUGH EVERYBODY BEING ASHAMED OF ME, I AM STILL LIVING. THROUGH HUNGER AND HEART ATTACKS, THROUGH COVERING UP INSULIN PACKS.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY. THEY DESERVE A VERY LONG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD-WINNING POETRY TOO AND WE WILL LOOK FOR HER IN OUR FUTURE SA POET LAUREATE COMPETITIONS,

RIGHT? >> YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. AND WHILE THE PHOTO IS BEING TAKEN, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU DON'T GO TO YOUR SEATS YET BECAUSE WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANKS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS AREN'T AWARE -- AND I GUESS THEY'RE GOING TO BE NOW. I'M A DIABETIC. I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH DIABETES FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. MY DAD'S A DIABETIC. IT'S SOMETHING YOU KIND OF INHERIT. AND I COME AT THIS FROM A POSITION OF PRIVILEGE.

I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE SURROUNDED BY PHYSICIANS IN MY FAMILY. MY OWN FATHER IS A PHYSICIAN AND MY FATHER-IN-LAW AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW. AND HAVING GROWN UP WITH WATCHING MY DAD STRUGGLING WITH THIS AND THEN MYSELF, YOU KNOW, JUST BEING LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE SURROUNDED BY GOOD INFORMATION. I'M AWARE THAT A LOT OF WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED IS NOT SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF OTHER SAN ANTONIANS GET TO EXPERIENCE. I'LL TELL YOU THAT WHEN I WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED IT WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT. NOT BECAUSE YOU GOT DIABETES BUT BECAUSE THEY GIVE YOU THIS MANUAL AND THEY JUST GIVE YOU -- THEY LOAD YOU UP WITH SO MUCH INFORMATION AND IT'S DAUNTING. AND IN MANY WAYS AND VERY QUICKLY YOU HAVE TO BECOME A BIOCHEMIST TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THESE MOLECULES INTERACT. YOU HAVE TO BECOME YOUR OWN

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THAT'S REALLY THE PROBLEM. SET ASIDE THE FACT THAT WE LIVE IN A CITY WHERE ALL OF OUR WEDDING RINGS GET SMALLER AND SMALLER EVERY YEAR BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS DEEP FRIED AND MADE WITH FLOUR AND SUGAR. BUT IT'S JUST THE LACK OF INFORMATION AND THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IN HELPING BRING THAT AWARENESS THAT, ONE, IT'S A PROBLEM AND, TWO, THAT IT'S A MANAGEABLE DISEASE. AND, THREE, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE FEELING SICK ALL THE TIME AND DIZZY AND SWEATING. ALSO IF YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, YOU CAN DIE.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING. I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU, YOUNG LADY. THAT WAS REALLY MOVING. I LOOK AT YOU AND I THINK YOU WOULD MAKE A -- ONE DAY YOU'RE GOING TO BE A GREAT MAYOR OR MAYBE EVEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WITH A VOICE AND PRESENCE LIKE YOURS. YOU'RE DESTINED FOR GREAT THINGS. THANK YOU TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN SAN

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

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S WORK.

I DO WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ'S COMMENTS. YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY HAS A LOT OF DIABETES. MY FATHER-IN-LAW, QUOTE, UNQUOTE REVERSED HIS DIABETES DIAGNOSIS BUT IT IS THROUGH ACCESS TO GOOD INFORMATION AND A SUPPORT NETWORK.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR NOT ONLY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 7 BUT FOR OUR CITY AS A WHOLE. AND I ALSO DID WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID. IT IS BECAUSE OF LACK OF GOOD INFORMATION THAT THAT IS A PROBLEM, BUT IT'S ALSO FOOD DESERTS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR AREAS.

WE USED TO LIVE FURTHER UP NORTH AND NOW WE'RE ON THE WEST SIDE CLOSER TO WOODLAWN LAKE AND TRYING TO EAT HEALTHY THERE, GOOD LUCK. A LOT OF TACO SHOPS.

AND SO WHEN YOU DO HAVE GOOD INFORMATION ON HOW TO COOK HEALTHY AT HOME AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, THAT'S HELPFUL, OR WHAT GROCERIES TO BUY. I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. YES, THAT POEM WAS IMPRESSIVE. THANKS SO MUCH.

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

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

AS Y'ALL KNOW, DISTRICT 3 HAS ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THE DIABETES ISSUE THAT WE HAVE THERE. DR. OCHOA HAS HER CLINIC THERE BECAUSE SHE SAW THE NEED.

AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO CHAMPION IT AT THE YOUTH AND AT THE SENIOR LEVEL AND EVEN MIDWAY TO KIND OF GET THIS UNDER CONTROL AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

BUT I WANT THE TEAM THAT'S IN THE SENIOR CENTERS AND IN THE COMMUNITY CENTERS TO STEP UP.

I SEE SOME OF Y'ALL HERE. IF YOU GUYS COULD JUST STEP UP AND RAISE YOUR HAND.

[APPLAUSE] YOU GUYS ARE IN THE -- AND I KNOW MY SENIORS.

I THINK I AGAIN THIS IS A SOMETIMES FOOD. THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WITH THE KIDS. I WALK IN AND I ASK THEM, COOKIES ARE SOMETIMES FOOD AND THEY'RE LIKE, YES. I KNOW IF I GAVE YOU A COOKIE RIGHT NOW, YOU WOULD TAKE IT. SO YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

YOU'RE THERE FRONTLINE. THE DOCTORS WORKING AT METRO HEALTH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE DATA, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED.

AND I HOPE THAT TO CHECK THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE OR THEIR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS. PLEASE LET US KNOW BECAUSE WE CAN USE OUR VOICES TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR ACKNOWLEDGING IT. THAT WAS AN AMAZING POEM. I HAD A STUDENT THAT HAD DIABETES AND I KNOW THAT HE STRUGGLED. HE'S AN ADULT NOW AND THAT WAS VERY INSPIRING. THANK YOU FOR CAPTURING THAT VOICE AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD YOU WILL LIVE AND YOU WILL LIVE FULLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND

CONGRATULATIONS. >> HAVRDA: I'M GOING TO TAKE IT.

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I KNOW DR. OCHOA IS HERE SOMEWHERE. IN MY OTHER JOB I'M A DISABILITY ATTORNEY AND I WAS SAYING TO SOME OF YOU THAT PROBABLY 90% OF MY CLIENTS, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR IMPAIRMENTS ARE, THEY HAVE A CO-MORBIDITY OF DIABETES.

AND I THINK THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THE SAN ANTONIO AVERAGE BUT PROBABLY NOT A LOT. AND A LOT OF IT IS MANY OF MY CLIENTS DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES AND IT'S, AS COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO SAID TODAY IT'S LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. A LOT OF WHAT WE WORK OFF HERE IS TRYING TO BRING HEALTHY PRODUCE TO THESE COMMUNITIES. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. THE CITY DOES WHAT IT CAN WITH HEALTHY FOOD CORNER STORES AND I SEE PEOPLE GO IN FRONT OF JUDGES WHO WILL -- NO PUN INTENDED, JUDGE THEM FOR ALLOWING THEMSELVES TO GET DIABETES.

AND I KNOW IT CAN BE A VERY PREVENTABLE, AT LEAST TYPE 2 CAN BE VERY PREVENTABLE BUT NOT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE RESOURCES THAT CAN PREVENT YOU FROM HAVING DIABETES. AGAIN, THEY HAVE SO MANY OTHER THINGS SOMETIMES WRONG.

SOMETIMES THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, WHEN IT'S IN DECLINE, THEY'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR PHYSICAL BODIES AND IT LEADS TO DIABETES. I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. NUMBER ONE, ALL THE INFORMATION, THE AWARENESS.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE WORK TOWARDS BRINGING HEALTHY FOOD TO A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN SAN ANTONIO. AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. I THINK THAT IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT FIGHT YOU'RE IN BUT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE FIGHTING IT EVERY DAY IS WORTHWHILE.

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

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS. DIABETES IS A KILLER. TOO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE DIED FROM DIABETES. IT WAS ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO THAT I LEARNED I HAVE TYPE 2 DIABETES AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ALL THESE YEARS TO TRY AND IMPROVE MY HEALTH AND TO OVERCOME THE FACT THAT I'M A DIABETIC.

BUT WHAT BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION OVER 15 YEARS AGO WAS I WAS TEACHING AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND I HAD AN ASSISTANT TEACHER THAT WORKED WITH ME AND THAT ASSISTANT HAD DIABETES AND HE GOT SICK AND HE WAS OUT FOR A WHILE AND HE HAD HIS FOOT AMPUTATED BECAUSE OF HIS DIABETES. AND THEN A FEW YEARS LATER HE DIED.

AND IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME THAT I STARTED TO UNDERSTAND I NEEDED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MYSELF AND HOW I COULD TAKE CARE OF MYSELF. SO IT WAS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT LESSON FOR ME AND I'M SURE IT IS FOR MANY, MANY FAMILIES IN THIS CITY.

SAN ANTONIO PROBABLY HAS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF DIABETES AMONG MAJOR CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

IF WE'RE NOT ONE, WE'RE TWO. AND IN TEXAS, CERTAINLY. BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, YOUR WORK IS IMPORTANT BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF GREAT WORK BEING DONE TO FIND TREATMENTS AND CURES FOR DIABETES IN THIS CITY. OUR BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY AND OUR MEDICAL AND HEALTH INDUSTRY ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR NEW METHODS FOR TREATMENT AND FOR CURES FOR DIABETES. AND I HOPE SOME DAY SAN ANTONIO WILL BE THE CITY THAT DISCOVERS THOSE GREAT TREATMENTS AND CURES AND HELPS EVERYBODY IN OUR CITY BECOME HEALTHIER.

BUT UNTIL THAT DAY WE COUNT ON YOU TO BE THE FRONTLINE OF DEFENSE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY TO HELP THEM HELP THEMSELVES IN THEIR FIGHT FOR DIABETES.

SO, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO ADD TO ON TO THE THANKS AND HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR YOU CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO RESOURCES AND INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY WITH THE GARAGE APPROACH TO ENCOURAGE MEN IN PARTICULAR TO LEARN MORE AND TO SHARE MORE, RIGHT? LAST WEEK I HAD A SCARE WITH MY DAD AND WE WERE THERE AT THE HOSPITAL AND I WAS THERE HAVING TO TELL THE DOCTOR WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE BECAUSE HE WAS KEEPING SOME THINGS GUARDED. I WAS LIKE, DAD, YOU HAVE TO BE HONEST.

YOU HAVE TO SHARE THESE CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE IT COULD IMPACT THE TYPE OF MEDICATION THEY GIVE YOU AND SO MUCH MORE. JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THE THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU ALL DO IN CONNECTING OUR CONSTITUENTS TO SERVICES AND ALSO PRESENTING IT IN A WAY THAT IS PALATABLE AND FOLKS THAT UNDERSTAND AND JUST REALLY GRATEFUL THAT NO MATTER WHAT COMMUNITY EVENT I'M AT, ONE OF YOU ALL IS THERE PRESENT AND JUST SHARING THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

[00:35:07]

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

DIABETES AN ISSUE I'VE BEEN VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT SINCE I GOT ELECTED.

AND I TOO HAVE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY WHO HAVE DIABETES AND I THINK WE KNOW THAT YOUNG MEN, YOUNG BOYS, YOUNG PEOPLE GENERALLY FEEL THEMSELVES TO BE INVINCIBLE AND ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT I WAS REALLY SCARED OF WAS DIABETES. AND I THINK THAT SHAPED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD AND I PROBABLY HAD SEVERAL EATING DISORDERS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

I THINK THAT COUPLED WITH LACK OF ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PREVENTION MEASURES AND IMPACTS AND WHATNOT. I AM GOING TO TAKE THIS MONTH AND USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A COUNCIL TO REFLECT AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO US RIGHT NOW. IT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO US ALL THE TIME.

I WAS VERY PROUD TO GET THE INSULIN COST SHARE PROGRAM APPROVED AS PART OF THIS FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET. I HOPE THAT WHEN INITIATIVES RELATED TO FOOD ACCESS AND DIABETES PREVENTION AND CARE AND ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE AND ACCESS TO ALL THE THINGS, I HOPE THAT WE INVEST AT THE LEVEL THAT WE SHOULD BE AND TO THE DEGREE THAT WE'RE ALL SPEAKING ABOUT THIS TODAY. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE SENDING A LOT OF RESOURCES Y'ALL'S WAY VERY SOON.

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

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

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. THE THING THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHEN EVERYONE WAS UP HERE TALKING WAS HOW DIABETES AFFECTS DIFFERENT POPULATIONS DIFFERENTLY. SO YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE INDIAN POPULATION IS AFFECTED VERY SIGNIFICANTLY WITH DIABETES AND A LOT OF IT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FOOD THAT WE EAT.

IT'S SO HEAVY. IT'S SO GREASY THAT SO MANY OF US DON'T KNOW WE HAVE DIABETES. AS MUCH AS THE EDUCATION COMPONENT IS IMPORTANT, I KNOW THAT DIAGNOSIS IS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPORTANT. WE HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN RESOURCES THERE BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY JUST THINK WE'RE OVERWEIGHT AND DON'T CORRELATE THAT. THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DEATHS INCREASING AS A RESULT OF THIS. YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF YOU BUT THANK YOU ALL

FOR YOUR EFFORTS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS AS WELL. I DON'T NEED TO REITERATE EVERYTHING ALL OF THESE FOLKS HAVE SAID BUT, YOU KNOW, DIABETES AFFECTS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS.

EVERY CORNER OF SAN ANTONIO IS AFFECTED AND SO ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND ALL THE INFORMATION YOU GIVE FOLKS IS REALLY INVALUABLE. SO THANKS SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I THINK MY COLLEAGUES SAID EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE SAID.

I'LL JUST SAY ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU. I DON'T THINK WE CAN THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO PROTECT SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES.

WE WILL BE BEHIND YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WITH THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOBS WELL. BUT CONTINUE TO MAKE US PROUD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] GET BACK TO MY PLACE HERE. I APOLOGIZE.

ALL RIGHT. NOW I'D LIKE TO READ A PROCLAMATION.

WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL FAMILY TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HERE AND REALLY TO THE STATE OF TEXAS AND SOON TO OUR NATION AND THAT IS OUR MOLAK FAMILY. I WILL BE TURNING OVER THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE TO INTRODUCE THEM. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL OBSERVE SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY DAY ON NOVEMBER 9, 2023 TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE BENEFITS, RISKS, AND CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA . WHEREAS SOCIAL MEDIA HAS EMERGED AS A VITAL ELEMENT OF TODAY'S SOCIETY AND WHEN USED IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER CAN BE A FORCE FOR THE GREATER GOOD AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO STAY CONNECTED TO SHARE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS AND HEALTH-RELATED INSIGHTS. WHEREAS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN FACILITATE CYBERBULLYING, VIOLENCE, PRIVACY INVASION, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL PREDATION, HATE, AND MISINFORMATION. WHEREAS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN TARGET CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS, FOSTER YOUTH, LGBTQ, INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH DISABILITIES AND CHILDREN OF DIVORCED PARENTS.

IN TEXAS OVER 19% OF STUDENTS REPORTED BEING BULLIED ON SCHOOL PROPERTY AND NEARLY 14% EXPERIENCED CYBERBULLYING. DUE TO THE EMBARRASSMENT OR FEAR THAT THE BULLYING WOULD GET WORSE, NEARLY 90% OF YOUTH WHO HAD BEEN CYBERBULLIED DID NOT TELL ADULTS.

WHEREAS STUDIES SHOW THAT CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN CYBERBULLIED ARE MORE LIKELY TO

[00:40:01]

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 9, 2023 TO BE SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

AND I'LL PASS THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE . >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MAYOR WHO WORKED WITH ME ON THIS PROCLAMATION.

APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST 10, 15, 20 YEARS IT'S BECOME HARDER THAN EVER TO BE A KID, IN MY OPINION. AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND TEXTING AND ALL THAT IS A BIG PART OF IT BECAUSE IT USED TO BE YOU COULD COME HOME FROM SCHOOL AND THEN YOU WERE THERE IN YOUR HOUSE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND YOU WERE SOMEWHAT INSULATED FROM ALL THE NOISE IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD. AND NOW, OF COURSE, IT'S NOT THAT WAY ANYMORE. IT'S TOUGH TO BE A KID THESE DAYS.

IN 2016, MAUREEN AND MATT LOST THEIR SON, DAVID, AFTER A LENGTHY BATTLE WITH BULLYING.

AND FROM THERE THOUGH THEY STARTED THE DAVID'S LEGACY FOUNDATION, WHICH HAS DONE SO MUCH WORK IN JUST A SHORT REALLY SIX YEARS. THE DAVID'S LEGACY FOUNDATION, THEIR MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE CYBER AND OTHER BULLYING OF CHILDREN THROUGH EDUCATION, LEGISLATION, AND LEGAL ACTION, IF NECESSARY. AND ONE OF THEIR SIGNATURE ACHIEVEMENTS WAS THE DAVID'S LAW, WHICH REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON HELPED GET THROUGH OUR STATE LEGISLATURE. IN WHICH COMMISSIONER DE BERRY HAS BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE FOR AS WELL . IT ALLOWS SCHOOLS TO COMBAT BULLYING BY CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS WHEN THE BULLYING REALLY AFFECTS A SCHOOL'S CAMPUS.

AND SO MAUREEN AND MATT, YOU DO SUCH GREAT WORK. I WANT TO INVITE YOU UP TO THE PODIUM TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ACTUALLY SENATOR MENENDEZ AS WELL, WHO IS HERE. I KNOW HE HAS BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE AS WELL FOR DAVID'S LAW AND MAUREEN AND MATT. PLEASE JOIN US AT THE PODIUM AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE

WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THIS AREA. >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY AND RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 9 AS SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY DAY .

I HOPE THIS DAY WE CAN HONOR THIS DAY EVERY YEAR MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT GOING AWAY. IT IS A PLACE WHERE OUR KIDS SPEND HOURS EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT IS A GREAT PLACE FOR CONNECTION WHEN IT IS USED WISELY AND WHEN THERE ARE BOUNDARIES AND LIMITS TO THAT BUT THERE ARE ALSO MANY DANGERS TO SOCIAL MEDIA. AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THAT AND TO COME TOGETHER AT THE CITY AND ALSO TO RECOGNIZE REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON AND SENATOR MENENDEZ FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH US AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND AS YOU ALLUDED TO, WE ARE WORKING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL NOW TO GET THE KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT PASSED AND WE HAVE SENATOR JOHN CORNYN IS A SPONSOR AND WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH SENATOR CRUZ'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THAT BILL PASSED THIS YEAR.

SO I WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME ALONGSIDE US AND JOIN US AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE IT IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE AND IT TAKES ALL OF US MAKING AN

EFFORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WHYTE: YEAH, THE WORK NEVER STOPS AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT MY OFFICE CAN DO -- AND I'M SURE ANYBODY ELSE UP HERE CAN DO TO ASSIST YOU ALL WITH THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION OR ANYTHING ELSE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

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

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

[00:45:03]

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND WILL DO ON THIS SUBJECT.

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TIMING. I JUST DELETED MANY OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA APPS OFF OF MY PHONE, PARTICULARLY X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER.

I GREW UP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND I REMEMBER IT FEELING LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD WHEN YOU FOUND OUT SOMEONE WAS SHARING STUFF ABOUT YOU OR TARGETING YOU OR TALKING ABOUT YOU OR BULLYING YOU. AND AT A YOUNG AGE YOU STRUGGLE TO PROCESS YOUR OWN PLACE IN THE WORLD AND THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE LEARNING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THAT YOU'RE BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AND NAVIGATING NEW TYPES OF FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS.

THAT ALONE IS A LOT FOR CHILDREN TO DEAL WITH AND TO NAVIGATE.

BUT TO NOW HAVE ACCESS TO ANY INFORMATION IN THE WORLD AND FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOUR GLOBAL LEADERS DON'T HAVE IT TOGETHER. THE ADULTS IN YOUR LIFE DON'T HAVE IT TOGETHER. THE WORLD IS CRUMBLING AND THERE MAY NOT BE A FUTURE.

ALL OF THAT IS A LOT FOR STUDENTS. I SHARE THIS ALL THE TIME THAT I HAD MANY STUDENTS WHO ATTEMPTED SUICIDE DURING MY LAST YEAR OF TEACHING BEFORE I GOT ELECTED. AND THAT STICKS WITH ME. AND A PART OF THAT IS ISSUES OF IDENTITY. A PART OF THAT IS ISSUES OF, YOU KNOW, THE WORLD AND STUDENTS NOT FEELING HOPEFUL OR OPTIMISTIC IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE GRANTED.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS ISSUE, COUNCILMAN WHYTE.

I REALLY HOPE THAT -- I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE WHERE WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN HOW WE SUPPORT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND WE HAVE TO WEIGH THIS AND THE TOPIC OF MENTAL HEALTH THAT WE HAVE. JUST THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

THIS IS A ROUGH SUBJECT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU TO STATE REP ALLISON AND SENATOR MENENDEZ AND ALSO THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE UP. AS A PARENT AND ON BEHALF OF PARENTS ALL OVER THE PLACE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS FIGHT. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US.

AS COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WAS SAYING AND ALSO AS WE WERE SAYING EARLIER, IT'S TOUGH TO BE A KID SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT THEM, I APPRECIATE IT.

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

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, AS A FAMILY, FOR STEPPING UP. I BELIEVE MEMORIALIZING YOUR SON IN THIS WAY AND DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, OUR STATE, AND THIS NATION THROUGH YOUR FEDERAL EFFORTS. I REALLY COMMEND OUR LEGISLATORS WHO STEP UP AND SAY WE'LL TAKE THIS FLAG AND MOVE IT FORWARD, WHICH THEY DID.

AND I HOPE THAT WE HAVE GREAT SUCCESS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. I WAS THINKING OF MY GRANDCHILDREN WHEN WE WERE HEARING FROM YOU BECAUSE I SEE MY GRANDKIDS ON THEIR PHONE OR THEIR TABLET AND I ASKED MY GRANDDAUGHTER THE OTHER DAY, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? SHE SAYS, NOTHING. WE NEED TO BE AWARE AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.

WE NEED TO HELP OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN UNDERSTAND OUR CONCERN IS FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THEIR WELL BEING. AND I WISH ALL PARENTS SUCCESS IN WORKING WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THEM SAFE. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS A GREAT

STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY IN SHARING YOUR STORY AND COMING UP AND DOING THAT AND THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN THAT ARE OUT THERE STRUGGLING WITH THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE. I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ADVOCATE FOR THIS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHEN WE HEAD TO S.A. TO D.C. AND EVEN NOW. I WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON AND SENATOR MENENDEZ FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE STATE LEGISLATION AND NOW WE NEED TO GET IT DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING, FOR SHARING. I THINK WE NEED TO WORK ON A CAMPAIGN SO THAT NEXT YEAR WHEN WE CELEBRATE THIS DAY AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK THAT THE CHAMBERS ARE FULL OF ADVOCATES. THANK YOU.

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

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR VULNERABILITY, SHARING WHAT THEY ALL SAID. AND ALSO KNOWING THAT IN EDUCATION THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP. THAT OUR WORLD IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND OUR KIDS ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY FROM NOW UNTIL FOREVER.

[00:50:04]

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACKWARDS TO THE WORLD THAT WE ALL GREW UP IN. IT'S GOING TO CONSTANTLY BE EVOLVING.

THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK AND THANK YOU TO OUR STATE REPS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

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

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND YOUR STRENGTH TO TELL THE WORLD YOUR STORY AND WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN THROUGH, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. I REMEMBER LEARNING OF YOUR STORY AND REALIZING THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYBODY. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT PART OF WHAT YOU ARE TELLING THE WORLD IS THIS ISN'T ISOLATED. THIS IS HAPPENING.

EVEN IN OUR SWEET HOMETOWN. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TELLING YOUR STORY AND KNOW THAT THEN AND NOW THAT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU FOR YOUR SON, FOR YOUR FAMILY, AND REALLY HAVE TOLD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYBODY BECAUSE OF KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU. I DO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. MR. AND MRS. MOLAK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR SON SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE ALL TOOK A MOMENT AND HAVE LEARNED DAVID'S STORY YEARS AGO.

AND I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE MISSING A VERY BRIGHT LIGHT IN YOUR LIFE.

BUT HE DOES HAVE A LEGACY AND HIS LEGACY NOW IS PROTECTING THE LIVES OF SO MANY THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AS A RESULT OF HIS STORY. AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT AND REMINDING US ABOUT THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR. I ALSO WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON AND SENATOR MENENDEZ. RARE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE SEE BIPARTISANSHIP ON A GLOBAL STAGE IN SUCH A MEANINGFUL WAY.

I AM A BIG BELIEVER, AS A PARENT, THAT CHILDREN AND EVEN ADULTS MODEL WHAT THEY SEE.

AND SO HAVING TWO OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION WHO ARE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE WORK TOGETHER ON A PIECE OF LEGISLATION LIKE THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME.

SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THEM IF THEY'D LIKE TO COME UP AND JUST SAY A FEW WORDS TOGETHER.

REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON, SENATOR MENENDEZ. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN WHYTE. YOU KNOW IN 2015, STATE REPRESENTATIVE MINJAREZ BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION A YOUNG MAN GOING THROUGH CHEMO AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL I'M NOT GOING TO NAME, AND HE WAS BEING BULLIED BECAUSE OF THE IMAGES HIS FAMILY WAS USING TO UPDATE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AROUND THE NATION, HIS BALDNESS.

HE WAS BEING BULLIED ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT HE SHOULD COMMIT SUICIDE.

THAT GOD MADE A MISTAKE. THESE ARE QUOTES. YOU WILL NOT GET BETTER.

YOU SHOULD KILL YOURSELF. THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD DO IT. AND I CALLED A MEETING WITH A POLICE OFFICER, THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL, STATE REPRESENTATIVE MINJAREZ, THE FATHER AND THEY SAID STATE LAWS -- THEY'RE SO ANTIQUATED, THEY DON'T SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE. WE HAD SET UP A PUBLIC MEETING IN JANUARY ABOUT THE THIRD WEEK, FOURTH WEEK OF '16. AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW THE TRAGEDY THAT BEFELL THE MOLAK FAMILY DAYS AFTER THE NEW YEAR. I GOT A CALL FROM MATT ASKING IF HE AND HIS SON COULD COME SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC MEETING. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY DREW THE STRENGTH BUT FROM THAT DAY ON THE MOMENT THEY CAME AND SPOKE OF THEIR TRAGEDY THAT BEFELL THEIR FAMILY AND DAVID, THEY HAD BEEN STALWARTS.

MAUREEN, MATT, THEIR BOYS HAD BEEN AT THE STATEHOUSE. WE'VE GOT TO BE PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR NAMES ON A PIECE OF PAPER BUT THEY WORKED HARD. THEY WENT UP TO AUSTIN EVERY DAY ON THEIR OWN. THEY MET WITH OFFICES AND THEY MADE SURE THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO DAVID WOULD NOT ONLY NOT BE FORGOTTEN BUT THAT WE COULD PUT INTO PLACE, HOPEFULLY, A FRAMEWORK. AND IT'S SO HARD BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE MORALITY AND COMMON SENSE. YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE BAD OR EVIL AWAY FROM THE WORLD BUT YOU CAN

[00:55:02]

THANK GOD WE WERE ABLE TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER TO SAY OUR KIDS ARE NOT PARTY OBJECTS.

ARE KIDS ARE NOT PARTISAN. OUR FUTURE NEEDS TO BE ALL OF US IN THIS TOGETHER.

AND COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, YOU KNOW, YOU STATED A FEW THINGS.

AND I WAS THINKING FROM THE TIME WE STARTED WORKING ON THIS LEGISLATION, THE YEAR IT TOOK FROM '16 TO '17 WHEN WE PASSED IT, SO MANY OTHER KIDS -- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE NUMBER -- TOOK THEIR LIVES DUE TO BULLYING, JUST IN THAT YEAR. AND, COUNCILWOMAN, IT WAS A SPECTRUM OF KIDS FROM THE WEALTHIEST OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE POOREST.

THIS ISSUE IS PERVASIVE AND INVASIVE AND IT'S EVERYWHERE. YOU KNOW, AS A FATHER AND A GRANDFATHER, IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART. AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF Y'ALL ON THIS DAIS HAVE KIDS AND YOU WORRY ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. I JUST WANT KIDS TO BE ABLE TO BE WHO THEY ARE. LEARN WHO THEY ARE. LIVE.

GET TO BE CHILDREN. BE YOUNG ADULTS. EXPLORE WITHOUT HAVING TO FEEL THE PRESSURES OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIX THIS THROUGH ANY LAWS BUT WHAT I THINK WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS CITY AND Y'ALL ARE SHOWING IT THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP, IS THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW KIDS THAT THEY ARE SAFE TO BE WHO THEY ARE. FREE OF JUDGMENT. FREE OF PEOPLE MAKING THEM FEEL LIKE OUTSIDERS. FREE OF ANY OF THESE THINGS SO THEY CAN BE WHO THEY ARE.

THE DIVERSITY ON THIS DAIS MAKES MY HEART WARM. THE LEADERSHIP ON THIS DAIS AND THE FACT THAT Y'ALL COME TOGETHER TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE CITY.

WE'RE JUST PRIVILEGED THAT WE GET PUT IN THESE POSITIONS TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT I WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD IF THE MOLAKS TOOK THEIR PAIN AND SUFFERING AND DID SOMETHING ELSE. I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD HANDLE IT BUT THEY PUT IT TO AN EFFORT THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US A FEW MINUTES TO SAY SOMETHING. BUT THANK Y'ALL FOR RECOGNIZING THIS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE THIS DAY EVERY DAY. WE NEED TO INSTITUTIONALIZE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T JUST -- THE PROCLAMATION IS GREAT, THAT'S DRAWING ATTENTION, BUT HOW DO WE AS A CITY, LIKE WE CARE ABOUT OUR PARKS, WE CARE ABOUT OUR STREETS, WE CARE ABOUT EVERYTHING. HOW DO WE INSTITUTIONALIZE THAT IT'S OKAY TO BE WHO YOU ARE? AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHAT. THANK YOU, GUYS.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. JANUARY 4, 2016 THE MOLAKS SUFFERED JUST AN UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY AND LOSS. LIKE SENATOR MENENDEZ ALLUDED TO, THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION BUT THEY TOOK THAT LOSS AND THAT TRAGEDY AND HAVE TURNED IT INTO SOMETHING VERY PRODUCTIVE, VERY HELPFUL, AND HAVE NEVER GIVEN UP ON THAT. THEY CONTINUE TO THIS DAY AND I'M SO HONORED AND IN SUCH ADMIRATION FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR OUR CHILDREN. IT STARTED IN THE CITY AND OUR SCHOOLS, IT SPREAD AROUND THE STATE AND IT'S GONE NATIONWIDE NOW, THANKS TO THE MOLAKS.

IT STARTED WITH DAVID'S LAW. SENATOR MENENDEZ AND I PASSED ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION EXTENDING IT INTO CYBERBULLYING. THIS LAST SESSION WITH MAUREEN AND MATT'S ADVOCACY AT THE LEGISLATURE, WE PASSED THE SCOPE ACT THAT EXTENDS IT EVEN FURTHER. WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE INTERNET.

YOU KNOW, IT IS SO FRUSTRATING AT TIMES THAT SOMEONE CAN, IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR HOME OR WHEREVER, GET BEHIND A KEYBOARD AND TYPE OUT SOME UNTHINKABLE, HARMFUL THINGS WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT THAT MIGHT RESULT IN AND HOW THAT'S PERCEIVED AND RESULTING IN, UNFORTUNATELY, A HIGH INCIDENT OF SUICIDE FROM THE HARM CAUSED BY THAT.

IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, BRING MORE PARENTAL ATTENTION AND CONTROLS OVER LIKE. WE PASSED SEVERAL SESSIONS AGO CHARACTER EDUCATION THAT FITS IN WITH THIS QUITE WELL. THAT ALL EVOLVED FROM THE 2016

[01:00:05]

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. I RECOGNIZE NOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LADIES WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF DEMOCRACY FOR OVER 100 YEARS NOW. NOT YOU BUT YOUR ORGANIZATION. [LAUGHTER] SO I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO TO RECOGNIZE OUR LEAGUE OF

WOMEN VOTERS. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO AREA.

IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND COMING UP TO THE PODIUM REAL QUICK. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND FOR THE WORK WITH WHICH YOU ALL PERFORMED IN THE LAST RECENT ELECTION CYCLE.

SO GET THIS. I JUST LEARNED THIS MORNING THAT THE AVERAGE VOTER TURNOUT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS IN COMPARABLE ELECTIONS HAS BEEN 6.9%.

THIS WEEK'S ELECTION CYCLE THAT WE SAW LAST TUESDAY, IT WAS AT 11.34%, WHICH IS QUITE A LEAP.

AND I THINK THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO YOU ALL AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DID.

I KNOW THAT OVER 20,000 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTER GUIDES WERE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS OUR CITY.

I KNOW THAT YOU ALL INFORMED VOTERS, MAKE SURE RESIDENTS GET OUT TO VOTE.

Y'ALL MAKE SURE RESIDENTS ARE REGISTERED AND INFORMED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK

THAT YOU ALL DO. >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US.

ON BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF THE WOMEN VOTERS OF SAN ANTONIO, ON BEHALF OF SCORES OF VOLUNTEERS WHO DEDICATE COUNTLESS HOURS TO THE LEAGUE, AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OUR SUPPORTERS WHO HELP US FULFILL OUR LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO AN INFORMED AND ACTIVE ELECTORATE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I THANK YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING US.

WE DO NOT WORK FOR RECOGNITION. WE WORK SILENTLY TO MAKE AN IMPACT. AND AS COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO POINTED OUT, WE WERE DELIGHTED TO SEE THE VOTER TURNOUT TO BE 11.3% WHEN THE PAST SIX ELECTIONS THE AVERAGE WAS 6.9%. SO THAT'S A BIG IMPROVEMENT . YES, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE SOME CREDIT FOR THIS INCREASING VOTER TURNOUT. AND THE ONLY REASON I SAID "SOME" IS BECAUSE I WANT TO SOUND A LITTLE MODEST. [LAUGHTER] OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY IS MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK, WHICH IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.

SO VOTER EDUCATION WILL REMAIN OUR PRIME FOCUS. WE WILL TRY TO BE SURE THAT WE PROMOTE POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE TRY TO BUILD AN INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY AND WE REMOVE AS YOU ALL KNOW AND FOR THOSE SEATED BEHIND ME, IF YOU DON'T, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS A STRICTLY NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION. WE DO NOT SUPPORT OR OPPOSE ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE. NOW, I DON'T WANT TO GET THIS OPPORTUNITY AND NOT GIVE YOU ANY WORK TO DO, BECAUSE WE DO ENOUGH.

WE WANT YOU GUYS TO FIGURE IT OUT. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE THE VERY IMPORTANT FROM 11.4% TO 70%, THEN YOU HAVE SOME JOB TO DO AND THAT IS TO GET OUR VOTERS GUIDES IN EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD. THINK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT. THERE IS NOBODY WHO CAN GO AND VOTE ON THESE AMENDMENTS IF WE DON'T GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE. SO OUR VOTERS' GUIDES PROVIDE THEM THE INFORMATION, ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST FOR EACH OF THE AMENDMENTS AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL MAKE INTELLIGENT CHOICES.

OUR CHALLENGE IS THAT WE CANNOT PRINT THESE VOTERS' GUIDES. I KNOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT AS LONG AS THERE IS DIGITAL DIVIDE, WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PRINT THE VOTERS' GUIDE. AND IT WILL SENT TO EVERY

[01:05:07]

AND WE CAN PROVIDE THEM. I WILL HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL FIND A WAY -- AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU -- TO COME UP WITH A WAY FOR THESE VOTERS' GUIDES TO REACH EVERY HOUSEHOLD. WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO PROMOTE OUR DIGITAL GUIDE AND BASED ON THE STATISTICS WE ARE GETTING, IT HAS ALSO INCREASED. IN CONCLUSION, I WILL SAY THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART AND WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. IT IS A VERY TIMELY RECOGNITION AS WE APPROACH THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES IN 2024. SO WE WILL NEED ALL THE ENERGY. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE ENERGIZING ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS WITH THIS RECOGNITION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DON'T GO ANYWHERE, LADIES. I THINK WE HAVE A FEW MORE

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

I ALSO -- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO FOR RECOGNIZING THE LEAGUE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FULL ART WORK YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS FIRST RUNNING, SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I TALKED TO JUST TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD OF LOCAL POLITICS AND YOU'RE SUCH AN INSPIRATION.

THE WORK THAT YOU DO HAS ALWAYS BEEN INSPIRATION FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND WE WILL SUPPORT IN ANY WAY WE CAN. THANKS, MAYOR.

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

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. I WANT TO COMMEND THE LEAGUE AND I THINK ALL OF US HERE DO.

I'VE SEEN THE WORK CONSTANTLY AND CONSISTENTLY. AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

YOU PUT OUT 20,000 INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES ABOUT THIS ELECTION.

BUT THERE'S A MILLION VOTERS IN BEXAR COUNTY. I'LL MAKE A COMMITMENT TO HELP NEXT TIME AROUND SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE MOST VALUABLE WORK THAT THE LEAGUE DOES.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT WORK. AND CONTINUE, PLEASE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE ENTIRE LEAGUE, ALL YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS. I KNOW YOU DO A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.

BUT I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO BRINGING YOU IN HERE BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT YOU DESERVE A LOT OF PRAISE AND CREDIT FOR GREAT TURNOUT, RELATIVELY SPEAKING IN ONE OF THE LOWEST TURNOUT ELECTION CYCLES EVERY FOUR YEARS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. IF ANYBODY'S NOTICING OUR MUNICIPAL TURNOUT, WHILE STILL EMBARRASSINGLY LOW, IS ON AN UPTICK AS WELL AND YOU DO A LOT OF THAT GRINDING WORK EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BE HELPFUL. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO A JOB WELL DONE.

>> RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO TURN IT NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN WITH A

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

FOR THIS WEEK'S POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE WE HAVE TWO GREAT ORGANIZATIONS HOSTING THEIR EVENTS IN DISTRICT 3 THIS WEEKEND. A FOCUS ON YOUTH AND ARE PART OF GUIDING OUR CHILDREN INTO A BRIGHT FUTURE. THE FIRST IS GIRLS ON THE RUN WILL BE HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL 5K AT COMANCHE PARK AND THEY INVITE YOU ALL TO CHEER ON THE RUNNERS AS THEY COMPLETE THEIR PROGRAM THIS YEAR. WE KNOW THAT MANY GIRLS AND CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO GENDER STEREOTYPES, SOCIETAL OBSTACLES, AND CULTURAL CHANGES THAT CAN BE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR HEALTH. SO WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST RUNNING.

IT'S AN IMPACT ON A CRITICAL AGE OF STUDENTS TO HELP THEM GET OUT THERE AND HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO FINISH -- TO GET PAST THAT FINISH LINE. BUT IF YOU'RE NOT UP FOR A RUN, FLOTILLA BOATING AND FISHING CLUB IS ALSO GOING TO BE OUTDOORS THIS WEEKEND AT SOUTHSIDE LIONS PARK FOR THE FAMILY FISHING TOURNAMENT. THIS CLUB GATHER TO FISH AND SPEND QUALITY TIME LEARNING THE BASICS OF FISHING. THIS IS FOR MEMBERS OF ALL AGES AND ALL LEVELS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A CHAMPION FISHER PERSON.

BUT PLEASE COME OUT. THIS IS A FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY AND THEY GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOCAL GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

SO GRAB YOUR FISHING POLE AND JOIN US THIS SATURDAY EITHER AT THE LAKE OR AT COMANCHE PARK.

[01:10:06]

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

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS WEEK HAS OFFICIALLY MARKED ONE MONTH SINCE THE HORRIFIC ATTACK FROM HAMAS THAT LED TO 1,400 DEATHS IN ISRAEL. AS A CITY WE ISSUED A PROCLAMATION THAT CONDEMNED THIS ATTACK AS WE RESOLVED TO PRAY FOR FAMILIES KILLED DURING THE HORRIFIC VIOLENCE AND FOR PEACEFUL AND JUST RESOLUTION. SINCE THAT HORRIFIC ATTACK FROM HAMAS WE HAVE SEEN AN ESCALATION AND THE WORLD IS NOW WITNESSING A HORRIFIC CAMPAIGN OF COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT TOWARDS PALESTINIANS LIVING IN GAZA.

I RELEASED A STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE ATTACK CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN CEASE FIRE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS INSTITUTED A BLOCKADE FOR FOOD, WATER, AND MEDICINE IN GAZA. I'M GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO ALSO DEMANDED A CEASEFIRE. SO MANY NUMBERS ARE BEING REPORTED THAT THE DEATH TOLL HAS REACHED A STAGGERS 10,000 PALESTINIANS IN GAZA WITH FOUR OUT OF TEN BEING CHILDREN.

WITH INVESTIGATIONS TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, AT LEAST 39 JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA WORKERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ISRAEL AND GAZA. IN THE WEST BANK WHERE THERE IS NO HAMAS, THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS KILLED NEARLY 155 PALESTINIANS.

THIS HISTORIC ESCALATION IS NOT PEACEFUL OR JUST. AND WAR CRIMES AND RESPONSE TO WAR CRIMES IS UNJUST. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL RECENT PUBLIC COMMENTS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. FOR THREE WEEKS IN A ROW, SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS HAVE CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE AND ASKING FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO TAKE A POSITION TO DEMONSTRATE THE HUMANITY WITHIN THE PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY. AND THE FOLKS GIVING PUBLIC COMMENT UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MAY NOT PLAY A ROLE IN PULLING A LEVER TO ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A CEASEFIRE, THEY WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE DEMONSTRATE THE COMPASSION AND HUMAN DIGNITY TOWARDS THE POLITE OF PALESTINIANS AS MUCH AS WE HAVE FOR THOSE OF ISRAELIS KILLED ON OCTOBER 7 . WE CANNOT FORGET THE PALESTINIANS HAVE UNDERGONE 75 YEARS OF OCCUPATION WHICH TRANSLATES TO CATASTROPHE IN ARABIC. IN 1948, WHICH ENTAILED ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT ETHNIC CLEANSINGS WHICH EXPOSED 700,000 PALESTINIANS, DESTROYED 450 VILLAGES, AND KILLED 15,000. WHAT WE'RE WITNESSING TODAY IS THE CONTINUATION OF A CATASTROPHE AND I ENCOURAGE AND IMPLORE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO DEMAND A CEASEFIRE.

TALK TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND YOUR CO-WORKERS. TODAY THERE IS AN ANNUAL CALL TO ACTION TO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE, CUTTING ALL AID, U.S. AID TO ISRAEL AND LIFTING THE 16-YEAR SIEGE ON GAZA. OVER THE WEEKEND WE WITNESSED SOME OF THE LARGEST DEMONSTRATIONS NOT JUST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE THERE'S BEEN A GROWING AND GROWING POPULATION OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS DEMANDING AND CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WE'RE SEEING INDIVIDUALS IN CITIES ALL ACROSS THE U.S. AND BEYOND IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES DEMANDING FOR A CEASEFIRE.

WE ARE NOT ALONE IN CALLING FOR THIS. SEVERAL LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS JEWISH PEACE FOR VOICE, SAN ANTONIO JUSTICE IN PALESTINE, THE SAN ANTONIO ALLIANCE, AND MANY OTHERS HAVE CALLED FOR THE SAME .

SO I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO PLEASE CONTINUE TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND REJECT ANY NOTION THAT A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE BOMBARDMENT OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT MY 15-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW ISN'T ON SOCIAL MEDIA OTHER THAN THE EXCEPTION OF TIKTOK AND WHAT'S POPPING UP ON THE ALGORITHM IS HORRIFIC.

AND OUR CHILDREN AND OUR YOUTH ARE EXPOSED TO SO MANY REALITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING AND TAKING PLACE IN GAZA. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING AND THIS WEEK CHILDREN OF THE HOSPITAL IN GAZA HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE. I WAS LISTENING TO TESTIMONY FROM CONGRESSMAN JOAQUIN CASTRO AND HE ASKED WHY THE BOMBING OF AMBULANCES ON THE WAY TO HOSPITALS CARRYING CIVILIANS? WHY THE BOMBING OF PROPERTIES PROVIDING CARE TO CIVILIANS.

WHY THE BOMBINGS OF REFUGEE CAMPS, WHY? THESE ARE ANSWERS THAT MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO ASK AND CONTINUE TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.

I'LL END WITH THE WORDS OF THE CHILDREN WHO HELD THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

THEY STATED THE OCCUPATION IS STARVING US. WE DON'T FIND WATER, FOOD AND WE DRINK FROM UNUSABLE WATER. WE COME NOW TO SHOUT AND INVITE YOU TO PROTECT US.

WE WANT TO LIVE. WE WANT PEACE. WE WANT TO JUDGE THE KILLERS OF CHILDREN. WE WANT MEDICINE, FOOD, AND EDUCATION AND WE WANT TO LIVE

AS OTHER CHILDREN LIVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

[01:15:07]

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS MONTH IS THIS MONTH . I WILL INVITE MR. ADRIAN RAMIREZ UP TO THE PODIUM.

NOVEMBER IS HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS MONTH. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS, APPROXIMATELY 550,000 UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS UP TO AGE 24 EXPERIENCED A HOMELESSNESS EPISODE LONGER THAN A WEEK.

43% OF HOMELESS YOUTH ARE UNSHELTERED AND MANY OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA BEFORE AND AFTER BEING UNHOUSED. I WELCOME ADRIAN RAMIREZ TO THE PODIUM TODAY. HE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SAN ANTONIO STAND UP KIDS PROGRAM. SAN ANTONIO STAND UP KIDS IS A VOLUNTEER ORGAN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO BREAKING THE CYCLE OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.

THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE 13 TO 25 WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. STAND UP KIDS WAS ESTABLISHED MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA WHEN A YOUNG LADY IDENTIFIED A NEED IN HER COMMUNITY.

IN 2006 THE STAND UP FOR KIDS SAN ANTONIO PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED.

THEY PROVIDE HOUSING AND MENTORING SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.

AS THE COUNCILWOMAN WAS MENTIONING JUST NOW, NOVEMBER IS HOMELESS AWARENESS MONTH AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STAND UP FOR KIDS PROGRAM SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE VARIOUS PROGRAMS SPANNING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FROM ORANGE COUNTY ALL THE WAY TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA AND ALL THE WAY UP TO WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY NOT KNOW, 2.4 MILLION, THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS YOUTH THAT ARE ON THE STREETS. OVER 9,000.

THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS YOUTH IN OUR STATE. OVER 3,000.

THAT'S ONE-THIRD. OVER 3,000 HOMELESS YOUTH IN OUR CITY.

AND THAT'S BASED ON THE COUNT FROM THIS PAST YEAR. I WORK WITH AN AWESOME GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING OUTREACH, HOUSING SUPPORT, AND MENTORING TO THESE YOUTH THAT ARE OUT ON THE STREETS. THE NUMBERS ARE NUMBERS BUT UNTIL YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AND HEAR THEIR STORIES, DO THOSE NUMBERS HAVE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MEANING.

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER, AND TO YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE 2024 BUDGET, FOR MAKING SURE THOSE BUDGET INITIATIVES THAT INCLUDED THE HOMELESS WERE PART OF THAT BUDGET. AND AS I SAT LISTENING TO THE BUDGET PRESENTATION BACK IN AUGUST, COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO STRUCK A CHORD WITH ME WHEN SHE MENTIONED THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT THAT OUR FOSTER YOUTH ARE NOT RECEIVING.

SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SIT-DOWN ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN AND TO DISCUSS THE PROGRAM AND THE TYPES OF SERVICES WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE. THROUGHOUT THE CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING.

AND ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS IS THE THROUGH PROJECT. AN ORGANIZATION THAT I WAS VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT . THIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION -- AND I DID PROVIDE YOU A PAMPHLET, SOME PAMPHLETS IN THE ENVELOPES THIS MORNING. THIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN OUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES TO BRING AWARENESS, NOT ONLY TO THE HOMELESS SITUATION BUT TO THE LACK OF RESOURCES TO THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AGING OUT OF THAT FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

AND THAT IS JUST ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE.

I SAID I WAS GOING TO KEEP THIS SHORT. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME STATISTICS, SOME INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAM, AND FOR HELPING TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE STAND UP FOR KIDS PROGRAM.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, ADRIAN. I ALSO HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT ADRIAN IS A HARD-WORKING CITY EMPLOYEE THAT ALSO FINDS TIME TO DO THIS VERY IMPORTANT WORK. HE'S HUMBLE ABOUT IT BUT IT REALLY IS A TESTAMENT TO ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO. YOU DO US PROUD, ADRIAN.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TO BRING AWARENESS TO A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AFFECTING OUR CITY.

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

[01:20:01]

>> GAVITO: I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU, ADRIAN, FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS.

I KNOW THAT IT'S TIRELESS AND THANKLESS WORK BUT IN OUR CONVERSATION I KNOW THAT IF WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE YOUTH, THEN IT'S GOING TO HELP US OUT IN THE LONG TERM SO THAT THEY'RE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION ON THE STREETS.

CATCHING THEM AT SUCH A PIVOTAL MOMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR

WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. FINALLY NOW COUNCILMEMBER

COURAGE WITH A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. NOT A DAY GOES BY IN THIS CITY WHEN WE DO NOT HEAR OF GUN VIOLENCE, THAT WE DO NOT HEAR OF SOMEONE BEING SHOT OR KILLED, AND MANY DAYS BOTH. AND I THINK IT'S THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF THIS CITY AND OF THIS CITY GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY. AND SO THERE IS AN EFFORT THAT IS GOING TO CURTAIN DAYS FROM TODAY ON NOVEMBER 19TH AT THE GROUNDS OF THE ALAMODOME. AND I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW IT IS A V I WANT TO THANK OUR LEAD PARTNER ON THIS, THE PEACE INITIATIVE, WHO IS ACTUALLY UNDERTAKING TO GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE HEB GIFT CARDS WHICH WILL BE EXCHANGED FOR WEAPONS ON THAT DAY. WE HAVE OTHER PARTNERS, COPS/METRO, MOMS DEMAND ACTION, THE SAN ANTONIO FAITH COMMUNITY AND OTHERS AS WELL WHO HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO EDUCATE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ASK THEM TO COME FORWARD IF THEY HAVE WEAPONS IN THEIR HOME THAT THEY NO LONGER WANT OR NEED OR FEEL SAFE TO HAVE IN THEIR HOMES. WE'VE RAISED $175,000 FROM PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND EXCHANGE HEB GIFT CARDS FOR WEAPONS. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO, COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA AND OUR MAYOR RON FOR MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS FUND. I WANT TO THANK THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS AND COACH POP WHO HIMSELF MADE A $10,000 CONTRIBUTION TO HELP US HELP PEOPLE GET HOMES -- GET WEAPONS OUT OF THEIR HOME THAT THEY DO NOT WANT OR FEEL SAFE WITH. THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM. AND OUR HOPE IS THAT THE WEAPONS THAT ARE COLLECTED WILL NEVER BE USED TO HARM SOMEBODY OR TO KILL SOMEBODY OR TO TERRORIZE ANYBODY OR TO COMMIT A CRIME. THEY WILL BE DESTROYED.

AND SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS CITY.

I'D LIKE TO JUST FINISH BY INVITING ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND A PRESS CONFERENCE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, WHEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A VERY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT AND HOPEFULLY INCLUDE EVEN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR

THIS -- THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS NOW. WE'LL START WITH ITEM NUMBER 3 WHICH IS A STAFF BRIEFING.

>> ITEM 3 IS A BRIEFING ON LEGISLATION FILED IN THE 88TH STATE LEGISLATURE'S THIRD SPECIAL SESSION AND THE STATUS OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SALLY BASS SURE TOE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING TO PROVIDE YOU A POST -- SPECIAL THIRD SESSION UPDATE FOR THE 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND AN UPDATE ON THE KICKOFF OF THE FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE GOVERNOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CALL SPECIAL SESSIONS POST THE REGULAR SESSION AND INCLUDE PRIORITY ISSUES ON THE AGENDA. EACH SPECIAL SESSION CAN LAST UP TO 30 DAYS. THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION STARTED ON OCTOBER 9TH AND ENDED ON NOVEMBER 7TH. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE GOVERNOR CALLED THE FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION, SO WE ARE A LITTLE BIT UNDER 48 HOURS INTO THE FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION. HERE'S A LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION FOR

[01:25:05]

SO OUR PRIMARY FOCUS WAS ON A COUPLE OF IMMIGRATION BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE EXPANDED THE ROLE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS. DURING THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF BILLS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S CALL THAT DID PASS.

SB 4 BY FLORES RELATED TO THE OFFENSES OF HUMAN SMUGGLING AND THE OPERATION OF STASH HOUSES. THIS BILL PASSED AND IT INCREASED PENALTIES FOR THESE OFFENSES. SB 7 BY MIDDLETON ENDED COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS.

IT PREVENTS PRIVATE EMPLOYERS FROM ADOPTING OR ENFORCING COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES OR TAKING ADVERSE ACTION AGAINST EMPLOYEES WHO CHOOSE NOT TO VACCINATE.

THERE'S ALSO A 50,000 FINE INCLUDED FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT ADHERE TO THIS NEW LAW.

A LOOK HERE AT THE CURRENT FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A PARTIAL REPEAT OF THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION.

THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES INCLUDE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEM AMONGST OTHER ITEMS SUCH AS SPECIAL ED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PROVISION OF VIRTUAL EDUCATION, PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SCHOOL SAFETY.

ADDITIONALLY YOU SEABOARDER SECURITY LISTED AGAIN. IT FOCUSES ON CREATING A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AS IT DID DURING THE STATE SPECIAL CALL FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY OR PRESENCE INTO THE STATE OF TEXAS, REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BY STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER OFFICERS. AND AS WELL AS INDEMNIFICATION AND IMMUNITY FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS. IT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR BORDER BARRIERS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. A PARTICULAR LOOK ON THE IMMIGRATION BILL THAT THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS TO TRACK AND MONITOR.

HB 4 AND SB 4. AS PART OF THE SESSION, THE BILL AUTHORS DECIDED TO FILE IDENTICAL BILLS SO THAT REMOVES THE ANTICIPATED NEGOTIATION.

SO WE'RE ASSUMING AND EXPECTING THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL LIKELY BE LIMITED.

WHAT DOES THE BILL DO? IT AMENDS THE TEXAS PENAL CODE AND CRIMINALIZING UNDOCUMENTED INDUSTRY TO THE STATE FROM A FOREIGN NATION AS WELL AS AUTHORIZES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO ARREST ANY PERSON WHO ILLEGALLY ENTERED THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT ALSO CREATES NEW PROCEDURES FOR ARRESTS, FINGERPRINTS AS WELL AS APPEARING BEFORE A JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE.

THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL BE ORDERED TO RETURN TO THE FOREIGN NATION WHICH THEY ENTERED FROM. HB 4 IS BEING HEARD AS WE SPEAK IN HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS THIS MORNING. WE IMMEDIATELY WORKED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS THE FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION STARTED TO PREPARE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WE OFFERED TO THE BILL AUTHORS WHICH WILL YOU ADDING LANGUAGE TO LIMIT ENFORCEMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS ONLY, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US NOT TO HAVE AN EXPANDED ROLE FOR OUR MUNICIPAL CITY POLICE OFFICERS. PLUS, INCLUDE LANGUAGE SO THAT SB 4 FROM THE 85TH LEGISLATURE DOES NOT APPLY TO THE NEW OFFENSE OF ILLEGAL ENTRY OR PRESENCE INTO THE STATE FROM A FOREIGN NATION. DUE TO SB 4 WHEN THAT PASSED DURING THE 85TH LEGISLATURE, IT PREVENTS THE CITY FROM DIRECTING OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT THE STACKING OF HB 4 IF AND WHEN IT PASSES ON TOP OF THE SB 4 RESTRICTIONS FROM THE 85TH SESSION. WE CONTINUED OUR ADVOCACY

[01:30:04]

WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WE'VE WITH THEIR ASSISTANCE CRAFTED PROPOSED AMENDMENT FOR HB 4 AND SB 4.

WE SUBMITTED THAT LANGUAGE IN THE LAST 48 HOURS TO THE BILL AUTHORS SO WE ARE HOPING WE CAN ENTER INTO CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. WE'RE ALSO COORDINATING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO INFORM COMMITTEES OF JURISDICTION IN OUR RESPECTIVE DELEGATION GROUPS. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE, SALLY, AND I THINK WE WERE ALL HAPPY TO SEE THE THIRD SESSION END WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A WHIMPER, BUT AS PREDICTED THEY ARE BACK FOR A FOURTH. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION ON HB 4 WHICH HAD SOME TROUBLESOME LANGUAGE AS RELATES TO THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR OWN POLICE RESOURCES, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS STILL BEING HEARD IN COMMITTEE?

>> BASURTO: WHAT WAS THE QUESTION, MAYOR? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHY HB 4 IS STILL BEING HEARD IN THE COMMITTEE FROM THE THIRD SPECIAL.

>> BASURTO: REFILED IMMEDIATELY AND REFERRED TO THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND IT'S STILL CALLED HB 4?

>> BASURTO: IT IS. THE REFILE IS HB 4. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THEY GOT THEIR BANDS DOWN. ANY QUESTIONS FOR SALLY IN COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: YES, SALLY, WE KNOW THAT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE MEETS, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. AND WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF -- WE'VE HEARD ABOUT BILLS THAT WERE BEING PRESENTED THAT REALLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD ASKED PEOPLE TO CONSIDER. DO WE SEE ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT'S BEING BANDIED ABOUT BY SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS THAT REALLY DOESN'T MEET THE CALL THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD BUT THAT WE NEED TO BE PAYING

ATTENTION TO? >> BASURTO: COUNCIL, THERE ARE ALWAYS BILLS THAT ARE FILED OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNOR'S CALL. HOWEVER, ONLY THE PRIORITY ITEMS THAT ARE OFFICIALLY ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION ARE LIKELY TO ADVANCE.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE DO LOOK AT WHAT ELSE IS BEING FILED AND WE TRACK THAT. BUT THEY WON'T GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ON THE

OFFICIAL CALL. >> COURAGE: OKAY. THANK YOU.

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

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.

I'LL BE SHORT. I THINK THAT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I'VE EXPRESSED A FEW TIMES IN RELATION TO OUR LOBBYING EFFORTS AND WHATNOT, SOMETIMES THERE'S ISSUES OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DON'T TAKE STANCES ON THEM. I WOULD LIKE IF WE TOOK A STRONG STANCE IN OPPOSITION OF VOUCHERS. WE'RE SEE THE COMPOUNDING EFFECTS OF ALL THE ISSUES RELATED TO EDUCATION MANIFEST THEMSELVES IN SCHOOL CLOSURES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VACANT BUILDINGS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT NO LONGER HAVE THEIR COMMUNITY SCHOOL, AND I WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACT THE VOUCHERS ARE GOING TO HAVE IN ADDITION TO ALL THESE THINGS.

I THINK THE STRONGEST POSITION I WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE IS VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE VOUCHERS, BUT GENERALLY I AM OPPOSED TO ALL OF THESE -- ALL OF THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S PRIORITY. SHOULD WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPPOSE ALL OF THEM, I WOULD LOVE THAT. THANK YOU.

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

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

I JUST WANT TO AGAIN SAY THAT I HOPE THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL SPENDS TIME ON WHAT ARE CITY ISSUES AND THAT WE DON'T GO DIVING INTO ISSUES THAT ARE CLEARLY THE PURVIEW OF OUR STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ON THE OTHER ITEMS ON THE GOVERNOR'S LIST THERE, I WANT TO COMMEND THE GOVERNOR FOR WHAT HE'S DOING WITH

RESPECT TO -- >> COMMEND THE GOVERNOR ON THE STEPS THAT HE'S TAKING TO SECURE THE BORDER.

JUST IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE'VE HAD 151 MIGRANTS APPREHENDED AT THE BORDER THAT ARE ON THE TERROR WATCH LIST. THAT'S UP FROM 98 LAST YEAR.

A FEW WEEKS AGO WE HAD THE ANGEL MOMS WHO WERE BEFORE US HERE IN COUNCIL WHO WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS THAT THEY HAD LOST DUE TO FENTANYL,

[01:35:06]

SECURING THE BORDER IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY, AND FOR US HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO ARE JUST THREE HOURS FROM THE BORDER, IT'S JUST THAT MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT. SO I COMMEND THE GOVERNOR AND OUR STATE LEGISLATURE FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THAT REGARD. THANKS, MAYOR.

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

>> VIAGRAN: SO THERE'S NO TALK ABOUT FENTANYL POISONING AND THE ANGEL MOMS THAT WERE HERE HAD SOME AGENDA ITEMS THAT DIDN'T GET PASSED IN THE GENERAL SESSION.

HE'S NOT PRIORITIZING ANY OF THAT. THE TESTING OR ANYTHING.

>> BASURTO: NOT ON THIS PARTICULAR CALL, ALTHOUGH HE CAN ALWAYS AMEND OR EXPAND THE CALL. AT THIS POINT WHAT WE SEE IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> VIAGRAN: IF WE DO HAVE -- AND I KNOW YOU SAID WHAT HE PRIORITIZES GOES FIRST, BUT IF YOU COULD KEEP US UPDATED IF ANY OTHER STATE REPRESENTATIVES PUT FORWARD SOMETHING REGARDING THE FENTANYL POISONING AND THE TESTING, PLEASE KEEP MY OFFICE UPDATED AND I THINK THE ENTIRE COUNCIL WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT BECAUSE IT WAS -- THAT ONE JUST SEEMS LIKE AN EASY ASK THAT HE CONTINUES TO IGNORE.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 30

DAYS, I GUESS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

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

AND THANK YOU, SALLY AND TEAM FOR THE WORK YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN ON.

I KNOW IT'S A LOT, BUT IT'S VERY MEANINGFUL AND IMPACTFUL WORK SO THANK YOU.

NO DOUBT THAT WE'VE SEEN ANTI-SEMITISM RAMP UP AS WELL AS ISLAM MA PHOBIA AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO THAT AMENDMENTS WERE PROPOSED BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPACTFUL TO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS.

AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT -- THAT THAT AMENDMENT MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THAT AMENDMENT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE VOUCHER BILL IS FOR THIS SESSION DEAD. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> BASURTO: COUNCILWOMAN, REGARDING THE SPECIAL VOUCHERS DURING THE THIRD, THE NEGOTIATIONS FAILED SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO AGREE. BOTH HB 1 AND SB 1, THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSION OF THESE EDUCATION VOUCHER BILLS HAVE BEEN REFILED, SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND HEARINGS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> CASTILLO: GREAT. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, THIS IS SOMETHING I BELIEVE WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE AS A PRIORITY WITHIN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL CLOSURES AND EXPANSION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE USE OF VOUCHERS, THOSE DIRECTLY IMPACT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.

HAVING ATTENDED EVERY SCHOOL CLOSURE MEETING WITHIN MY DISTRICT, I HEAR MY CONSTITUENTS' CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THEIR CHILDREN HAVING TO WALK A FURTHER DISTANCE OR USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THEIR NEW SCHOOL AND INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS, AND HOW ADDING THAT ADDITIONAL 10 TO 17 MINUTES TO THEIR ROUTE IMPACTS THEIR COST OF LIVING. BECAUSE MANY OF MY FAMILIES BUDGET TO THE DOT ON HOW MUCH THEY ARE SPENDING, ALLOCATING TOWARDS GAS. ALL OF THESE ITEMS IMPACT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS DIRECTLY AND I WANTED TO THANK YOUR TEAM FOR ENSURING THAT SAN ANTONIO VOICES ARE REPRESENTED AND YOU ALL ARE DOING THE BEST THAT YOU ALL CAN WITHIN THE PARAMETERS THAT WE HAVE. SO THANK YOU.

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

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SALLY, QUICK QUESTION ON THE AMENDMENT. THE LAST TIME WE TALKED OBVIOUSLY THE AMENDMENT WAS CONSIDERED FOR HB 4. WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON WHERE THAT AMENDMENT IS

GOING TO GO FOR DPS ENFORCEMENT? >> BASURTO: IT'S HARD TO SAY RIGHT NOW, COUNCILWOMAN. SO WE OFFERED UP THE AMENDMENT TO THE BILL AUTHOR AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. THEY SEEMED OPEN TO AT LEAST RECEIVE IT SO WE'RE IN THE

INITIAL STEPS OF DISCUSSION WITH THE BILL AUTHOR. >> KAUR: IS IT RETROACTIVELY ENFORCED OR ONLY FOR FUTURE FOLKS COMING IN?

[01:40:01]

>> BASURTO: THE BILL IS BEING DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW IN COMMITTEE.

IF THE BILL AUTHOR DECIDES TO ACCEPT OUR LANGUAGE, THERE WOULD BE A COMMITTEE

SUBSTITUTE OR A SUBSTITUTE OF THE ORIGINAL BILL FILED. >> KAUR: OKAY.

THANK YOU. AND THEN FOR THE BILL THAT'S BEING HEARD TODAY, THE VOUCHER BILL, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONTEXT ON WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO OR WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE COMBINED? THE LAST I HEARD THEY ARE COMBINING TEACHER PAY WITH A

LOT OF OTHER COMPONENTS IN IT. >> BASURTO: IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY. IT'S VERY EARLY, THE DISCUSSIONS JUST STARTED TODAY. THE FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION IS NOT EVEN 48 HOURS OLD SO

THOSE NEGOTIATIONS REMAIN TO BE SEEN. >> KAUR: GREAT.

THANK YOU, SALLY. IF YOU CAN KEEP US POSTED, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES JUST MENTIONED, IT'S IMPORTANT WE STAY ACTIVE IN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE STATE.

I UNDERSTAND STATE POLICY IS NOT NECESSARILY THE PURVIEW, BUT IT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE DO HAVE A VOICE AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS REALLY IMPACTFUL HAVING VISIT THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER AND GIVING IT'S IN DISTRICT 1 THE WORK IS SO IMPORTANT. THERE'S SO MANY KIDS TRAVELING FOR MONTHS TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY DESERVE SAFE PASSAGE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHATEVER THE STATE IS TRYING TO CREATE HERE. AND ALSO ON THE ISSUE OF THE VOUCHER SYSTEM, WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT TRULY HELPING OUR MOST UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES UNLIKE SOME OF OUR OTHER PUBLIC CHOICE OPTIONS. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE

STAND TOGETHER ON THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANKS, SALLY.

I'M GOING TO CATCH YOU BY SURPRISE WITH WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR THE PAST 24 HOURS. I THINK WE MAY BE MAKING A MISTAKE WITH REGARDS TO OUR CONSULTANTS IN AUSTIN. AND I WANT TO VISIT WITH THE BOTH OF YOU AT SOME POINT TO TALK ABOUT MAYBE A DIFFERENT STRATEGY.

WE -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS IS THAT WE PAY THEM DURING THE SESSION, RIGHT, SALLY? BUT WE'RE NOT PAYING THEM OFF SESSION? IS THAT CORRECT?

>> BASURTO: ACTUALLY, COUNCILMAN, WHEN WE ENGAGE OUR STATE ENGAGE THEM AND SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE ISSUE. SO WE DO HAVE THREE OF OUR

CONSULTANTS ENGAGED RIGHT NOW THAT STARTED -- >> PELÁEZ: AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. I'M DOING A BAD JOB OF EXPLAINING MYSELF.

WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS OFF SESSION. SO WHEN, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE GOVERNOR SAYS ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DONE, YOU ALL HAVE TWO YEARS, SEE YOU IN TWO YEARS, DO WE PAY OUR CONSULTANTS IN AUSTIN TO MAINTAIN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTINUE

TO BLOCK AND TACKLE FOR US DURING OFF SESSION? >> BASURTO: I SEE.

NO, COUNCILMAN. >> PELÁEZ: AND THAT'S THE MISTAKE THAT I THINK WE'RE MAKING. I WILL TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATORS UP THERE, STOW OF THEM ARE NICE PEOPLE, BUT -- SOME OF THEM ARE NICE PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE POLITICAL ANIMALS AND MAINTAINING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IS IMPORTANT. AND JUST SHOWING UP AT SESSION I THINK IS GOOD, BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH. AND I THINK THAT CONSIDERING THAT THE BELLIGERENT THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM AUSTIN DIRECTED AT CITIES REQUIRES US TO GO ON THE OFFENSIVE ENDURING OFF-SESSION SEASONS. JUST TO MAINTAIN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO BEAT THE DRUM AND RELYING IS TYING ONE ARM BEHIND OUR BACK.

HERE'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. CHAIRMAN MAN SO AND SO CALLS LOBBYIST SO AND SO AND SAYS I NEED YOU TO SHOW UP TO MY FUNDRAISER OR TOWN HALL OR DO THIS FOR ME AND WE'RE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THEM BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT RELATIONSHIP. AND WE'RE JUST RELYING ON OTHER CLIENTS OF THEIRS TO HELP US DO THAT. I THINK WE'RE MAKING A MISTAKE, SALLY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU GUYS ABOUT INCREASING OUR BAND WIDTH AS OPPOSED TO MAINTAINING IT THE WAY IT IS. BECAUSE IT'S TURNED INTO THERMAL NUCLEAR WAR IN AUSTIN AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE APPROACHING WITH IF FERRARI PLAN, WE'VE GOT A HYUNDAI PLAN ON OUR HANDS. I THINK SAN ANTONIO DESERVES FERRARIS OR TOYOTA TUNDRAS. THAT'S IT, MAYOR. THANKS.

>> BASURTO: I JUST WANTED TO ADD PART OF THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ROLE IS

TO OUT REACH DURING THE OFF SESSION AS WELL. >> PELÁEZ: BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE OF YOU AND ONE OF YOU AND ONE OF YOU AND YOU ARE NOT THERE EVERY DAY AND WEEKEND. AND YOU ARE ALSO COVERING D.C.

ONE SALLY IS THE EQUIVALENT OF TEN OF US. BUT IN MY OPINION, I NEED

[01:45:02]

BELIEVE IN YOU THAT I WANT YOU TO HAVE A FERRARI. >> BASURTO: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMAN. HAPPY TO DISCUSS FURTHER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. I SAW SOME PRETTY IMPRESS OF HYUNDAIS IN KOREA, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH. [LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT.

I THINK THAT'S IT FOR OUR DISCUSSION, BUT WE WILL BE TUNING MORE CLOSELY IN AS THE WEEKS UNFOLD AND ALREADY WE HAVE A FEW [INAUDIBLE] THAT WE GET TIRED UP.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER 4. >> AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A MASTERS SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH GS SOLAR, LLC, DBA BIG SUN SOLAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,772,779 TO INSTALL ROOFTOP PARKING AND PARK CANOPY SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC EXPLOSIONS WITH OPTION FOR $10 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL SOLAR PROJECTS WITH ONE TWO-YEAR RENEWAL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS AND EXECUTING THE AGREEMENT AND ASSOCIATED PAYMENT TO BIG SUN SOLAR FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF SOLAR PV INSTALLED AT MUNICIPAL FACILITIES FOR A 15-YEAR

TERM WITH TWO FIVE-YEAR RENEWALS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DOUG, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION, RIGHT?

>> MELNICK: YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

DOUG MELNICK, CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT A RECOMMENDATION FOR OUR ON-SITE SOLAR PROJECT. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROJECT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION AMONGST CITY DEPARTMENTS. FROM THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING THESE SITES TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TO PROCUREMENT, FINANCE AND BUDGET, THIS HAS BEEN A A AN EXERCISE IN COLLABORATION.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OURING IN MANAGER WHO WAS ARM IN ARM WITH ME ON THIS PROJECT.

IT WAS EXTREMELY COMPLEX AND SHE WAS INVALUABLE TO GET US TO THIS POINT.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK CPS AND ROCKY MOUNT. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE CO-FOUNDERS OF BIG SUN SOLAR, ROBIN AND JASON, THE PRESIDENT.

IN TERMS OF THE AGENDA, DURING MY PRESENTATION I WILL PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS TO WHY THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT AND WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, AN EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER FUNDING AGREEMENT, DISCUSS THE PROJECT FUNDING AND FINALLY OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? THIS IS BEING CONSIDERED BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE IT'S AN HISTORIC EVENT THAT PROVIDES A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SA CLIMATE READY PLAN THAT COUNCIL ADOPTED IN 2019. THIS PLAN MAPS AN EQUITABLE PATH WAY TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 20EN BUILDING EMISSIONS ARE A KEY DRIVER FOR ACHIEVING CLIMATE GOALS. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF OUR EMISSIONS COMES FROM BUILDING AND TO MEET OUR PRODUCTION GOALS, THE PRODUCTION AND PROCUREMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SUCH AS SOLAR MUST BE PART OF THIS EQUATION.

THE THING EXCITING ABOUT THIS PROJECT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. IT PROVIDES THE ABILITY FOR US TO SCALE UP PROJECTS.

NOT JUST DOING ONE SOLAR SITE ON ONE BUILDING, BUT DOING 42 CONDITION CURRENTLY. IT PROVIDES THE CITY REDUCED PURCHASES THAT CAN HELP MITIGATE FLUCTUATIONS IN ENERGY MARKETS. BIG SUN IS A LOCAL COMPANY AND IMPROVES COSA AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. AS FOUR OF OUR CITY DESIGNATED RESILIENCE HUBS ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING SOLAR PANELS AND DESIGNED AS STORAGE ROAD AND FINALLY IT PROVIDES AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION.

IF APPROVED BY COUNCIL, THIS WILL BE THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL ONSITE IN TEXAS AND SECOND TO NEW YORK CITY NATIONALLY. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INSTALL MULTIPLE ROOFTOP, CANOPY AND PARK -- AND PARKING LOT CANOPIES AT CITY FACILITIES. AND ON AUGUST 22, 2022, THE CITY RELEASED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE DESIGN, ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THESE PANELS. THIS WAS A TWO-PHASE PROCESS.

THE FIRST PHASE WAS REALLY TRYING TO JUST REALLY EVALUATE AND IDENTIFY A

[01:50:04]

ONCE WE WENT THROUGH THE PHASE 1 PROCESS AND WE MOVED INTO PHASE 2 WITH A LIST OF SHORT-LISTED RESPONDENTS, THEN WE REALLY SAT DOWN AND INTERVIEWED THE RESPONDENTS AND THEN FOLLOWING THOSE INTERVIEWS WE ASKED FOR A PACKAGE OF BEST AND FINAL OFFERS FROM THE RESPONDENTS. WE HAD FINAL EVALUATION AND SCORING ON AUGUST 14, 2023.

AND THEN THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED BIG SUN FOR AWARD.

A POST-SOLICITATION BRIEFING WAS PRESENTED TO AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2023. SO JUST TO GO THROUGH THE SCORING, AS MENTIONED IN AUDIO] AGAIN, THE FIRST PHASE WAS BASED UPON EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATION. AND THE SLIDE SHOWS THE RESULTS FROM PHASE 1.

THE TOP THREE RESPONDENTS WERE SELECTED TO MOVE TO THE SECOND PHASE, BUT I WOULD NOTE THAT ONE RESPONDENT WAS DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE AND AS A RESULT IS NOT REPRESENTED ON THIS SLIDE. A LEASE OPTION WAS SUBMITTED, HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE SINCE THE PURPOSE OF THE RFP WAS TO PROVIDE THE BEST VALUE FOR THE CITY AND THE LEASE OPTION DID NOT MEET THIS CRITERIA. AND THEN FOLLOWING THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PROCUREMENT, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE DETERMINED THAT THE BEST VALUE OF THE CITY IS THE PURCHASE OPTION. AND THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE FINAL SCORES WITH BIG SUN BEFORE OPTION RECEIVING THE HIGHEST SCORE. NOW I'LL SHIFT TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENTS. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES A MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT AND AN OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT.

THE MSA INCLUDES A PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF SOLAR AT 42 MUNICIPAL LOCATIONS AT A COST OF $30.8 MILLION WITH AN OPTION FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL 10 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.

THIS ADDITIONAL 10 MILLION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S INTENDED TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR ADDITIONAL SOLAR INSTALLATIONS IN THE FUTURE, PARTICULARLY FOR FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS SUCH AS NEW BUILDINGS BEING CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM. THE MSAIST A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE OPTION FOR ONE TWO-YEAR RENEWAL. THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT IS TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE PANELS AFTER THEY ARE INSTALLED.

THIS IS A 15-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE OPTION OF TWO FIVE-YEAR RENEWALS AND THE ESTIMATED FIRST COST OF THIS AGREEMENT IS $195,000. IN THIS AGREEMENT AND TO ENSURE THAT SYSTEMS ARE PERFORMING, THE VENDOR MUST MEET AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE TARGET OF 95% OF THE ESTIMATED ENERGY CAPACITY. NOW, TO SHIFT OVER TO THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE, THE MUNICIPAL ONSITE SOLAR PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEXT THREE FISCAL YEARS. IN FY BE IMPLEMENTED WITH AN ESTIMATED PROJECT COST OF $13.2 MILLION.

IN FY 25, 19 PROJECTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED WITH AN ESTIMATED PROJECT COST OF $1.5 MILLION. AND IN FY 26, FIVE PROJECTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED WITH AN ESTIMATED PROJECT COST OF $4.7 MILLION. OVERALL THESE REPRESENT 42 PROJECTS WITH A SHIPMENT COST OF 30.8 MILLION, WITH A TOTAL ESTIMATED 12,718 KILOWATTS OR 12.7 MEGAWATTS GENERATED WITH AN ANNUAL ESTIMATED SAVINGS OF $1.8 MILLION. FINALLY AS REALLY THE OVERALL PRIORITY OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, ONCE COMPLETED THIS PROJECT WILL REDUCE COSA'S BUILDING-RELATED HE COMMISSIONS FROM ELECTRICITY BY 18%, WHICH IS A REALLY NICE BITE AT THAT APPLE. FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO WALK YOU THROUGH PROJECT FUNDING. THIS IS REALLY FOR ME PERSONALLY THE EXCITING OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY TAPPING INTO SOME NEW FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDES $18.3 MILLION IN SELF-SUPPORTING DEBT. 2.5 MILLION STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION OFFICE 2% LOAN, STAR FUND LOAN, AND APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION, AGAIN IN HISTORIC INFLATION ACT TAX CREDITS INCLUDING 30% INVESTMENT TAKES CREDIT AND ENERGY COMMUNITY TAX CREDIT. WE WILL ALSO BE PURSUING AN ADDITIONAL COMPETITIVE LOW-INCOME TAX CREDIT AND PURSUING ADDITIONAL LONE STAR FUNDS IN PHYSICAL -- FISCAL YEARS 25 AND 26. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL TO EXECUTE A MASTER SERVICE FROM TIME TO TIME AND O&M AGREEMENT WITH GS SOLAR DOING BUSINESS AS BIG

[01:55:01]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOUG, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GREAT DISCUSSION HERE. WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN

SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 4, SO JACK FINGER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. MR. MAYOR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I HAVE A QUESTION. JUST HOW GOOD OF AN INVESTMENT ARE SOLAR PANELS? I MEAN FOR REAL, HOW GOOD OF AN INVESTMENT ARE SOLAR PANELS? YOU ARE GOING TO SAY, WELL OF COURSE THEY ARE GOOD, THEY ARE GOING TO HELP US REDUCE OUR EXPENSES ON ENERGY AS TIME GOES BY. REALLY.

I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY NO BECAUSE OF THE FACTS, THE FACTS THAT SOLAR AND FOR THAT MATTER WIND ARE VERY MUCH SUBSIDIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT, FINANCED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND ALSO DUE TO THE TAX BENEFITS, TAX REDUCTIONS AND SO FORTH, THEY -- THE NUMBERS JUST DO NOT ADD UP. YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE GREAT REDUCTIONS IN OUR ENERGY COSTS.

NO. LOOKING, MR. MAYOR, AT YOUR VERY OWN DOCUMENTS ON THIS, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

BASICALLY IT SAID GIVEN THE LARGE UP FRONT CAPITAL INVESTMENT NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT, THERE MAY BE A SMALL ANNUAL DEFICIT, I REPEAT DEFICIT, OF UTILITY SAVINGS OVER THE DEBT AND O&M, THAT'S OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, O&M COSTS RANGING FROM 100,000 TO 250,000 FOR THE FIRST 15 YEARS OF THE PROJECT. THE FIRST 15 YEARS OF THE PROJECT.

TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY DEFICIT EXISTS IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE PROJECT, THE RESILIENCY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUND WILL BE UTILIZED TO COVER THE SHORTFALL. SO THIS -- THAT MEANS THIS THING IS GOING TO LOSE MONEY, LOSE MONEY FOR THE -- 15 OF THE 25 YEARS. BEFORE IT STARTS MAKING ANY MONEY. AND HOW -- THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, YOUR VERY OWN PEOPLE SAY, DON'T WORRY, WE'LL COVER THAT WITH OUR VERY OWN TAX DOLLARS. IN THE FUND THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT.

DO YOU SEE HOW SCREWED UP THIS THING IS? ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE SNOW LIKE WE DID A FEW YEARS AGO, IT COVERS IT. NO.

IT DON'T WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 4. >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A

MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 4. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 4. I'LL GET THE DISCUSSION STARTED BRIEFLY.

SINCE WE'VE ALREADY HEARD IT, IT REMINDS ME THAT WHEN THERE'S NO REAL SUBSTANTIVE COUNTER ARGUMENT FOR PUBLIC GOOD AND USING OUR COLLECTIVE REVENUE FOR PUBLIC GOOD, ALWAYS ATTACK THE DEBT. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO AFTER THE DEBT. WE JUST HEARD THAT. AND WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THAT IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BENEFIT, AND IF WE ARE KEEPING OUR DEBT UNDER THE SAME CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE KEEPING OUR TAX RATE THE SAME, WE WEIGH THE BENEFIT TO THAT. AND I WOULD SAY THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR, DOUG, FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. AND SO I WISH OUR PRESS BOX -- THERE'S SOME DAYS I WISH THE PRESS BOX WAS FULL. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL. THIS HAS BEEN A SA CLIMATE PRIORITY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT

[02:00:01]

IN DOING SO, THIS WILL BE THE LARGEST SOLAR INSTALLATION BY A MUNICIPALITY IN THE ENTIRE STATE, AND AM I CORRECT THAT --D LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY EVER.

AND WHEN WE PUT IT BEHIND THE METER, WE'RE DOING TWO THINGS.

ONE, WE'RE SAVING ENERGY THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY BE PURCHASING, AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY REDUCING EMISSIONS AT THE SAME TIME. TWO THINGS WE DON'T COUNT FOR IN THE CAPITAL EXPENSE. NOW, MY FATHER IS A BIG SOLAR ADVOCATE AND HE'S ALSO AN ECONOMIST BY STRAIGHT OR BY SCHOOLING, I GUESS. HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE BREAK-EVEN POINT. THE REASON WHY SOLAR IS SO HARD TO ATTAIN FOR MANY FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS BECAUSE FOR YEARS THE BREAK-EVEN POINT WAS SO FAR DOWN THE LINE. WE'RE INSTALLING 12.5, 12.7 MEGAWATTS WITH A BREAK-EVEN POINT OF TEN YEARS. IF WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT DEAL 20 YEARS AGO, WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT, BUT WE COULDN'T.

AND SO I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU, DAVID, DOUG, THE ENTIRE TEAM, TROY, BEN FOR A VERY FORWARD-LOOKING APPROACH. I THINK THIS WILL BE ONE THING THAT WE CAN BRAG ABOUT WHEN WE GO TO OTHER CITIES WHO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INSTALLING SOLAR AND EMPTY ROOFTOPS AND WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO MEET OR EXCEED ALL OF OUR CLIMATE GOALS. LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THAT CPS ENERGY IS ALSO MOVING FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL SOLAR PRODUCTION.

WE SHOULD REMIND THE STATE THAT SOLAR AND WIND PRODUCTION IS REALLY WHAT KEPT THE LIGHTS ON DURING THIS VERY INTENSE SUMMER PERIOD.

SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO BENEFIT FROM A FORWARD-LOOKING APPROACH BY OUR AGENCY, OUR OWN ELECTRIC AGENCY. AND WHILE WE HAVE BEEN MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS, SAN ANTONIO HAS BECOME THE FIFTH LARGEST SOLAR [INAUDIBLE], ELECTRIC SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCER IN THE COUNTRY AND NUMBER ONE IN TEXAS. WITH THIS INVESTMENT AND WITH ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS COMING DOWN THE LINE, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE UP THAT LIST. SO HERE IN THE HEART OF TEXAS ON THE DOOR STEP OF THE LARGEST FOSSIL FUEL RESERVES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, WE ARE BECOMING A LEADER IN NEW ENERGY, NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY.

AND LAST THING, TALK ABOUT CIRCULAR ECONOMY, THE -- THE COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO BE DOING THIS WORK IS LOCAL. OUR NEIGHBORS. AND THEY ARE COMMITTED TO EMPLOYING OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE COMING OUT OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM.

SO THERE IS NOTHING BUT GOOD NEWS WITH THIS CONTRACT AND WITH THIS PROJECT AND I SALUTE ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY TEAM THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS TO BRING US TO THIS DECISION. SO CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYBODY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. WE'LL GO NOW TO

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SUPER, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS INVESTMENT.

AGAIN, I WANT TO REPEAT LARGEST MUNICIPAL ONSITE SOLAR PROJECT IN TEXAS, SECOND ONLY TO NEW YORK CITY, SO SECOND LARGEST IN THE NATION.

IT MAKES ME TRILLION THRILLED AD EXCITED TO BE PART OF REALLY BODY INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS THAT ARE -- THAT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL OUT OF REACH OR IMPOSSIBLE.

THIS IS PROOF THAT LARGE EFFORTS ARE WORTH INVESTING IN.

I DID WANT TO KNOW HOW WILL THE 42 LOCATIONS BE DECIDED OR HAVE THEY ALREADY BEEN?

>> COUNCILMAN, WE HAVE THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND WORKING WITH THE RESPONDENTS, WE ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH OVER 100 SITES. WE'RE DOWN TO 42.

THEY'VE BEEN -- BIG SUN HAS DONE SOME PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT.

WE ALL APPEAR VIABLE. THEY WILL START NOW GOING AND LOOKING AT ROOFTOPS, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. THERE MAY BE SITES THAT DON'T MEET PARAMETERS SO WE MAY NEED TO FIEND OTHER SITES.

THOSE SITES ARE SET. WE WILL DEFINITELY MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THAT LIST.

I WILL POINT OUT I THINK THIS IS A PROGRAM WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE.

I DON'T WANT TO JUST STICK TO THE 42. AGAIN, THESE HISTORIC TAX CREDITS ARE THERE. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE PEDAL PUSHED DOWN AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF -- ADVANTAGE OF THEM WHILE THEY CAN.

THAT'S WHAT MADE THIS ECONOMICALLY VIABLE. WE CAN GET YOU THAT LIST AND

[02:05:01]

DEFINITELY LOOK AT OTHER POTENTIAL SITES AS WELL. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS.

I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO MAYBE SAVE MONEY, GET SOME ADDITIONAL SITES IF WE WERE TO INCLUDE PROJECTS THAT ARE A PART OF OUR BOND PROGRAM.

SO THAT'S ALREADY -- >> YES, SIR. IN WORKING WITH TROY, WE MADE SURE THAT THE CONTRACT INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL $10 MILLION FOR FUTURE PROJECTS. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S LOTS OF BOND PROJECTS AND INITIAL DESIGN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE DOLLARS TO INVEST IN SOLAR

FOR THOSE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

SOME DAYS I LIKE BEING ON COUNCIL MORE THAN OTHERS. I LOVE THIS ACTION THAT WE'RE TAKING TODAY. SUPER EXCITED. THANK YOU.

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

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, DOUG.

IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION. I ECHO THE EXCITEMENT SHARED TODAY.

I'M A BIG FAN OF MEGAN AND JASON. YESTERDAY WE ACTUALLY GOT OUT OF AN INTENSE CONVERSATION ABOUT CPS RATE INCREASE.

AND SO I THINK WITH INITIATIVES LIKE THIS, WE CAN HELP PROLONG THOSE CONVERSATIONS. THOSE CONVERSATIONS PUT ALL OF US IN REALLY TOUGH SPOTS.

THESE ARE NOT PROPOSALS WE WANT TO TAKE TO OUR RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S EFFORTS IN HELPING US AS A CITY DELAY THAT FURTHER AND FURTHER. I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ STOLE MY THUNDER ABOUT HIGHLIGHTING HOW THIS IS THE LARGEST IN TEXAS AND THE NATION.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I LOVE THAT THE CITY IS LEADING THE WAY ON THIS.

INSTEAD OF IMPOSING THIS ON BUSINESSES, WE AS A CITY ARE LEADING THE WAY.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT FOR Y'ALL. I DID TALLY UP HOW MANY SOLAR PANELS ARE GOING IN THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND I'M JEALOUS OF COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA BECAUSE SHE HAS A LOT. WITH THAT $10 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WE WILL GRADLY ACCEPT THEM IN -- GLADLY ACCEPT THEM IN DISTRICT 7. ON SLIDE 10, I SAW SOME OF THE SHORT-TERM ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS, CAN YOU ALL HELP US UNDERSTAND THE LONG-TERM ANNUAL SAVINGS,

LIKE IN FIVE, TEN-YEAR MARK? >> TROY, DO YOU WANT TO JUMP INTO THAT?

I DON'T WANT TO MESS IT UP. >> WHEN WE DID OUR MODELING, THE SAVINGS ARE GOING TO BE GENERATED OVER A 25-YEAR PERIOD FROM 7 TO $11 MILLION.

IN THE FIRST 10 TO 15 YEARS, THERE ARE SLIGHT DEFICITS. WE'LL BE COVERING OUT OF THE REES FUND. OVER THAT TERM WE STARTED BREAKING IN IN 13 TO 15-YEAR RANGE. FROM THAT POINT FORWARD IT'S GRAVY ON TOP OF IT.

>> GAVITO: THAT'S ALSO GOOD NEWS. >> I WANT TO REITERATE, THERE'S OTHER -- THAT RANGE IS CONSERVATIVE. IF WRECK GET ADDITIONAL LOW-INTO LOANS FROM THE STATE AND TAX INCENTIVES, IT'S ONLY GOING TO REDUCE

THAT TIME. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I THINK MOST OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS I'M REALLY GLAD WE'RE FINALLY DOING THIS.

I KNOW THAT THE TIMING FOR LARGE SOLAR PROJECTS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH MARKET FLUCTUATIONS BUT THIS IS EXCITING. I'VE SEEN IT THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IN PRIVATE BUSINESS, SPECIFICALLY THE BARRIOS FAMILY HAS DONE IT AT THEIR RESTAURANTS. REALLY A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AROUND IT.

THE COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND THIS. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS HAPPENING IN SAN ANTONIO. I THINK I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COST SAVINGS.

I THINK THEY'VE BEEN ANSWERED ALREADY. I'D LIKE TO SEE -- THIS IS A 25-YEAR PROJECT, SO I GUESS WHAT COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO WAS ASKING ABOUT, THE KIND OF THE LONG-TERM SAVINGS, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT AND BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT TO THE COMMUNITY. BUT AS TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AND MORE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IS DONE, SOLAR ENERGY IS I THINK LIKELY TO BECOME THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO COST EFFECTIVE. SO TO SAY WHAT MAY BE LONG TERM 25 YEARS WE'RE GOING TO BE SAVING IS IN SOME WAYS PURE SPECULATION BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T KNOW. THE TECHNOLOGY HAPPENED SO QUICKLY.

ARE WE LOOKING AT MAYBE IN SO MANY YEARS MAKING SURE WE'RE UP TO DATE ON

TECHNOLOGY? >> YES, MA'AM. THAT WAS A QUESTION

[02:10:01]

IF NEW TECHNOLOGY COMES ALONG AND THE ECONOMICS WORK, WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT AND WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO PIVOT AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

>> HAVRDA: I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN BIG SUN THAT THEY ARE KEEPING US INFORMED.

IT'S EXCITING. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE FINANCING AGAIN SO I UNDERSTAND. IF WE CAN PULL UP THAT SLIDE. AND THIS IS NOT THE ONE. I WANTED TO SEE THE ONE THAT SHOWED THE KIND OF FINANCING THAT'S AVAILABLE. AND I GUESS IT'S BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ACTUALLY GOING OUT TO THE MARKET WITH CERTAIN FINANCING INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO GO AHEAD AND INVEST.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN BONDS THAT HAVE A TAX ADVANTAGE TO THE BUYERS.

IS THAT HOW THAT WORKS? >> THE BONDS THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING ISSUING ARE GOING TO BE TAXABLE BONDS. BECAUSE BY VIRTUE OF HAVING THE TAX CREDITS, WE CANNOT ISSUE TEMPT BONDS BECAUSE YOU ARE DOUBLE DIPPING, BUT WE WILL BE ISSUING TAXABLE

BONDS. >> COURAGE: RIGHT. SO THAT'S GOING TO ENCOURAGE INVESTORS TO GO AHEAD AND INVEST FOR US AND HELP US GET THAT MONEY.

AT A LOWER RATE THAN WHAT WE MIGHT BE IF WE WERE JUST GOING OUT ON THE MARKET.

>> OVER THE THREE YEARS WE'LL BRING TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL DIFFERENT ISSUANCE FOR THIS PROJECT. AND WE WILL HAVE INVESTORS THAT WILL ACTUALLY PURCHASE

OUR BONDS TO FURTHER SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. >> COURAGE: OKAY.

WHEN WE FORECAST THE RETURN TO THE CITY, I KNOW THAT WE ARE USUALLY CONSERVATIVE IN A LOT OF OUR FINANCIAL FORECASTS, AND I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. SO THE LONG-TERM FORECAST COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 7 MILLION TO MAYBE $11 MILLION RETURN TO THE CITY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW, IT MAY EVEN BE BETTER OR DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION IT COULD NOT BE THAT GOOD.

RIGHT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. I MEAN AS DOUG AND WORKING WITH BIG SUN, ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON 30% OF DESIGN. AS THEY CONTINUE TO DESIGN THAT OUT, WE'LL CONTINUE TO REFINE OUR ASSUMPTIONS. AND TO THE EXTENT THAT DOUG AND HIS TEAM ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING ADDITIONAL CREDITS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE'VE ESTIMATED, THAT WILL INCREASE OUR SAVINGS.

AND IF WE CAN ACTUALLY GET ADDITIONAL LOANS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THAT'S GOING TO MOVE US TOWARDS THAT $11 MILLION IN SAVINGS AS WELL.

>> COURAGE: RIGHT. BUT EVEN IF WE DIDN'T SAVE A DOLLAR, WE'RE SAVING ENERGY, WE'RE MEETING OUR GOAL AS A CITY TO CREATE, YOU KNOW, A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY SAN ANTONIO. AND EVEN IF WE BROKEN ON THAT, I THINK MOST OF US WOULD AGREE THAT IT'S WORTH DOING THAT BECAUSE WE'RE LIVING IN THE WORLD TODAY OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WAY THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING AND HOW IT'S AFFECTING US. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S -- IT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT, BUT ONE OTHER THING I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE CONSIDERED AND MAYBE YOU CAN TELL ME ON THIS, WE'RE GOING TO BE INVESTING 30 MILLION, MAYBE EVEN 40 MILLION WITH THIS COMPANY OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS. OR, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SPEND A LOT OF IT SOONER THAN THAT, BUT THEN THERE'S OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.

BUT WHAT'S THE RETURN TO THE ECONOMY ON THAT 30 OR $40 MILLION? SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE HIRING MORE PEOPLE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE PAYING PEOPLE. THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING MONEY IN OUR ECONOMY WHETHER IT'S SALES TAX OR BUYING A NEW HOUSE OR SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

SO DO WE HAVE KIND OF A RETURN TO THE GENERAL CITY BASED ON THIS INVESTMENT OF

30 TO $40 MILLION? >> WE DON'T, BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN GO BACK TO RMI TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP US. THIS IS A BIG PROJECT AND I THINK WE'RE EXPECTING THIS WILL BE A GOOD MODEL FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES NATIONALLY. SO I THINK YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

HOW DO WE QUANTIFY ALL THESE OTHER BENEFITS? HOW DO WE QUANTIFY THE DEMAND REDUCTION THAT FREES UP ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR CPS DURING HIGH-PEAK DAYS OR ALLOWS THEM TO SELL MORE INTO THE ERCOT MARKET? I THINK WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE START QUANTIFYING ALL THESE THINGS BEYOND KILOWATTS REDUCED AND

HOW MUCH WE'RE SAVING. >> COURAGE: RIGHT, AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT, WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS YOU MIGHT LOSE $100,000 A YEAR IN COST FOR ENERGY, BUT IF WE'VE GOT X AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES SPENDING THEIR INCOME IN THIS CITY EVERY

[02:15:04]

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

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A GROUND-BREAKING PROJECT, AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE WHERE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LEADS BY SAMPLE. I THINK WITH THIS -- EXAMPLE. LIKE YOU MENTIONED DOUG, OTHERS ARE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND WANT TO DUPLICATE THIS. THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL, SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, THIS WAS ALL NEW TO ME AND I LEARNED A LOT FROM THE COMMITTEE AND I'M SO PROUD I HAD SERVED ON THE CHEC COMMITTEE WITH COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND BRAVO. I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE THAT I THINK A DOLLAR IS GREAT. IF WE WERE IN DEFICIT, I WOULD BE OKAY WITH IT BECAUSE WE ARE LEADING HERE. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NOT EVERYONE IS DOING RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THE ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO MOVE IF WE WANT TO SAY WE'RE SUSTAINABLE, IF WE WANT TO ASK OUR BUSINESSES THAT COME INTO SAN ANTONIO TO LOOK AT SOLAR OR LOOK AT OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THEM REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF MY FACILITIES, EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT. WE HAVE IN TERMS OF FUTURE, THERE'S A NEW SUBSTATION GOING ON THAT I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT FOR THAT.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE, AND DOUG YOU CAN ANSWER OR SOMEONE FROM BIG SUN SOLAR. SO AS WE DO THIS, WE KNOW THAT THE INDUSTRY IS WORKING ON THAT STORAGE. SO DO YOU ANTICIPATE US GETTING ANY -- IN THE YEARS TO COME BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING 15 YEARS, THAT THIS STORAGE CAPABILITY GROWS?

>> YOU ARE SPOT ON. AND I THINK THE COST OF BATTERY STORAGE IS CONTINUING TO DECREASE. THAT'S WHY WE REALLY WANTED TO AT A MINIMUM MAKE SURE OUR RESILIENCE HUBS WERE BEING DESIGNED STORAGE READY SO WE CAN GET BATTERY STORAGE IN THERE. THERE'S FEDERAL DOLLARS WE CAN PURSUE ON THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SIDE. IT WOULD BE GREAT THAT LONG TERM OR NOT EVEN NECESSARILY LONG TERM, BUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE ALL THESE FACILITIES SHOULD HAVE BATTERY STORAGE BACKUP. AND DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, THESE WILL BE FACILITIES ALL ACROSS THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE POWER. AND I THINK THAT'S OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK TOWARDS THAT GOAL.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, DOUG. THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT WE DO HAVE SOME SORT OF MEASUREMENT ON HOW OUR LOCAL PREFERENCE MAKES A DIFFERENCE HERE. BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE AS WE LOOK LONG TERM, AS WE HAVE BIG SUN SOLAR PROVIDE JOBS LOCALLY.

THESE ARE JOBS THAT PEOPLE CAN KIND OF GROW IN AND LEARN MORE AND MOVE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY AND HOPEFULLY STAY IN SAN ANTONIO AND GROW THE INDUSTRY.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THE LOCAL PREFERENCE THAT WE DO HERE. BUT I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS DOES REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AND WE KNOW AND SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT 3 THE RESPIRATORY AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH ISSUES, YOU CAN'T REALLY PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THAT. AND SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FACT THAT WE KNOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

AND WE'RE -- AND IT IS GOING TO CAUSE HEALTH ISSUES AND HEALTH CRISIS.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING IT AND ALL THE HARD WORK 69CHECC COMMITTEE ON THIS.

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

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION AND YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS, DOUG. I WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU COME IN ON AS A NEW COUNCIL PERSON AND YOU JUST GET TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE LAID THE GROUND WORK FOR US. BUT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. I KNOW SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID THE BUSINESS CASE -- THAT WE WOULD DO THIS EVEN WITHOUT THE BUSINESS CASE, BUT I THINK THE BUSINESS CASE IS SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.

WE CAN ONLY LEAD THE WAY FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IF WE CAN SHOW THEM THIS IS NOT

[02:20:02]

PURCHASE OPTION IS IS SO MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL? >> IT BASICALLY CAME DOWN TO

THE ASSESSMENT. >> LOOK AGO THE THE ECONOMICS OF THE TWO, IT MAKES US MORE AFFORDABLE AND GENERATES GREATER SAVINGS. SO WE WENT WITH THE PURCHASE

OPTION. >> KAUR: AWESOME. THANK YOU.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE HELPING OR NOT HELPING THAT? ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLES THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT'S SO INCREDIBLE ABOUT THIS.

WE ARE COVERING PARKING LOTS. WE'LL BE COVERING ACTIVITY AREAS AND PARKS, ALL GENERATING SOLAR. EVEN PUTTING A SOLAR PANEL ON A ROOFTOP HELPS REDUCE SOME OF THE HEAT BEING REDUCING COOLING EFFECTS.

IT'S A HUGE TOOL IN MITIGATING URBAN HEAT ISLAND.

WHAT MOST CITIES HAVE DONE TO OFFSET THEIR MUNICIPAL LOAD THEY TEND TO BUILD LARGE PROJECTS SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THEY LOSE THESE LOCAL HEAT ISLAND AND HEALTH

BENEFITS. >> KAUR: YEAH. SO I THINK THERE'S SO MANY BENEFITS TO THIS, NOT ONLY THE FACT DISTRICT 1 BUSINESS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF D1 SO WE'RE EXCITED THEY WERE AWARDED -THIS CONTRACT, BUT ALSO THEY WERE THE LOWEST IN PRICE AND THEY ARE PROVIDING JOBS. THERE'S MULTIPLE ECONOMIC BENEFITS AS WELL AS THE SUSTAINABILITY BENEFITS SO THIS IS HUGE.

I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO ALREADY CALLED DIBS FOR THAT 10 MILLION, BUT WE'RE BUILDING A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER SO THAT COULD BE A POTENTIAL PLACE FOR YOU. I'LL BOX YOU FOR IT. THANK YOU ALL, DOUG, SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE SELECTION OF BIG SUN SOLAR.

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

COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: ANDY, I NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT MARC WHYTE HATES SOLAR PANELS, FOR REASONS THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU.

YOU KNOW WHEN HAIL HITS ROOFS AND THERE'S SOLAR PANELS ON THEM, MARC AND I DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY. YOU CAN TAKE A BASEBALL BAT TO THESE THINGS AND NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM. EVERY TIME A CLIENT COMES IN AND SAYS I NEED YOUR HELP

AND THEY GOT SOLAR PANELS WE SEND THEM PACKING. >> THEY ARE LIKE CADILLACS

THEN. >> PELÁEZ: OH, ANDY. [LAUGHTER] SOLAR PANELS WORK. ASIDE FROM SERVING AS AN ARMADILLO ARMOR ON YOUR HOUSE, THEY WORK. THERE'S NO DEBATE ABOUT THAT, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, AND I'LL TELL YOU JUST FROM A CAPITALIST PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, GO LOOK AT THIS DEALERSHIP, THIS AUTO DEEPERSHIP IN MY DISTRICT, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW IT, DOUG. ONE OF THE LARGEST DEALERSHIPS IN NORTH AMERICAN OWNED BY -- THEY CARPETED THE ROOF OF THIS ENORMOUS FACILITY WITH SOLAR PANELS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE HIPPIE DIPY AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT THE KIDS CALL VALUE SIGNALING OR WHATEVER THAT BS IS. THEY DID IT BECAUSE THERE'S A BUSINESS CASE TO BE MADE THERE AND THEY MAKE MONEY. AND THEY KNOW HAVING ENERGY AT ALL TIMES BY WAY OF SOLAR PANELS SAVES THEM MONEY. MY FRIENDS AT PRINCIPAL AUTO, THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE, BUT THEY ARE THERE TO MAKE MONEY. ADDITIONALLY, I'LL TELL YOU COMPANIES LIKE MICROSOFT, THEY OPERATE SOLAR FARMS NOW.

GENERAL MOTORS, VOLKSWAGEN, THEY OPERATE SOLAR FARMS. SHELL OIL, EXXON, CONOCO PHILLIPS, OUT OF HOUSTON, GE, DUKE ENERGY, THEY ALL OPERATE SOLAR FARMS. THEY ARE PRODUCING MILLIONS OF MAKE WATTS OF ENERGY AND A LOTS OF IT HERE IN TEXAS.

LOOK AT BP ALONE, BP HAS I THINK 16 SOLAR FARMS SPREAD OVER EIGHT STATES.

AND MULTIPLE SOLAR FARMS THROUGHOUT TEXAS. I DARE ANYBODY TO BET AGAINST THOSE COMPANIES. I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE LOOKING AT THEIR STOCK PRICE. YEAR TO DATE THESE PEOPLE ARE MAKING MONEY HAND OVER FIST BECAUSE OF THAT LINE OF BUSINESS. ANYBODY WHO SAYS SOLAR PANELS IS A BAD INVESTMENT EITHER HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT AND NEEDS

[02:25:05]

IN EITHER CASE, YOU KNOW, THE -- ANYONE OF THAT IS COMPELLING.

-- NONE OF THAT IS COMPELLING. IT'S THE RIGHT BUSINESS CHOICE FOR THIS CITY. I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. GOOD JOB, TEAM.

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

>> WHYTE: SO I DO NOT AND THIS ONE IS JUST TOUGH FOR ME. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

AND IT'S TOUGH FOR ME NOT BECAUSE I HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST SOLAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, FUNDING, FUNDING THIS. AND LET ME ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

ON THE TECHNOLOGY NOW ON SOLAR, I MEAN WHAT IT IS TODAY IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE 10, 15, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, RIGHT?

>> EVERYTHING IS CHANGING. I THINK WE COULD TALK ABOUT VEHICLES, I THINK WE COULD TALK ABOUT HVAC SYSTEMS. I THINK WHAT WE DO KNOW IS IT WORKS.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY AND WE UNDERSTAND HOW TO MONETIZE THAT. BUT TECHNOLOGY CHANGES AND WE JUST NEED TO BE PREPARED

FOR THAT. >> WHYTE: BUT SO THE SOLAR PANELS THAT MAY BE INSTALLED NEXT YEAR, THOUGH, I MEAN IN 10 YEARS COULD THEY BE DIFFERENT? WILL THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED? WILL THEY BE OUTDATED?

>> MAYBE I CAN ASK BIG SUN TO TALK ABOUT SORT OF THE TECHNOLOGY.

JASON? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

IF YOU LOOK BACK ON THE HISTORY OF PHOTOVOLTAICS THEY WERE DISCOVERED IN THE 1950'S AND FISH EFFICIENCY RATES WERE MID TO HIGH TEENS.

THE PANELS WE'RE BUYING DOWN TOP OF THE LINE LOW TO MID 20S.

THE PANELS REALLY AREN'T CHANGING A LOT. I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS A COMPLETELY NEW TECHNOLOGY. THERE ARE SOME TECHNOLOGIES OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THAT THEY CALL THEM KIND OF BENCH SCALE, SO THEY ARE USING THEM IN THE LABORATORY, BUT THEY HAVEN'T WORKED IN THE FIELD YET AND THOSE ARE IN KIND OF THE HIGH 20S, LOW 30% EFFICIENCY. WE DON'T EXPECT THERE TO BE A BIG KIND OF INCREASE IN SOLAR TECHNOLOGY OVER THE 10 YEARS.

JUST TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION. THE PANELS COME WITH A 25-YEAR WARRANTY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PRODUCE A MINIMUM AMOUNT.

SO IF -- SO WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE DERISKED THE PRODUCTION.

IF A PANEL IS NOT WORKING, WE CAN HAVE IT REPLACED UNDER THAT WARRANTY.

IF THERE'S A COMPLETELY NEW SOLAR TECHNOLOGY THAT HITS THE MARKET IN 10 OR 15 YEARS, I THINK THE AGREEMENT IS FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ASSESS THAT THAT TECHNOLOGY FROM A

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS WORTH INVESTING IN. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER AND I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS ABOUT Y'ALL'S COMPANY. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT. BUT I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED NEW TECHNOLOGIES BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR THERE'S SOMETHING NEW AND WE REALLY -- YOU KNOW, I WOULD EXPECT IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS THAT THEY WILL PROBABLY BE SOMETHING NEW IN THIS INDUSTRY. BACK TO THE DEBT, YOU KNOW, I DISAGREE WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR MAYOR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU JUST BLAME THE DEBT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. AND I WENT AND LOOKED AT THE TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION WHO JUST UPDATED THEIR REPORT ON CITIES IN TEXAS WITH RESPECT TO DEBT PER CAPITA. AND SAN ANTONIO HAS THE HIGHEST DEBT PER CAPITA, $12,557 PER -- PER RESIDENT. JUST BY COMPARISON, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN IS ABOUT $1,000 LESS. HOUSTON IS $4,000 LESS THAN THAT. AND SO IT CONCERNS ME AND I BELIEVE RIGHTLY WHEN I SEE ANOTHER $18.3 MILLION OF SELF-SUSTAINING DEBT -- SELF-SUPPORTING DEBT.

WERE THERE ANY OTHER WAYS TO FUND THIS THAT WERE LOOKED AT, GRANTS OR ANYTHING LIKE

THAT? >> I'LL HAVE TO DEFER BACK TO DOUG ON THE GRANTS.

[02:30:01]

AND I CAN'T REMEMBER IF YOU LOOKED AT GRANTS. >>

>> THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY THINGS WE LOOKED AT. >> WHYTE: I APPRECIATED COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE'S QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUSINESS IMPACT AND I WISH WE WOULD HAVE HAD SOME OF THAT HERE. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO SEE. AGAIN, THIS IS -- I APPRECIATE THE MISSION HERE AND CERTAINLY ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, AGAIN, IT'S A MATTER OF TAXPAYER -- TAXPAYER DOLLARS, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR MONEY, WHAT DEBT WE'RE TAKING ON. AND AGAIN, A LARGE AMOUNT OF DEBT, $18 MILLION WITHOUT ANY -- WITHOUT ANY VOTER APPROVAL, AND I THINK IT'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

SO IT'S -- I'M TORN ON THIS ONE, BUT THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. BEN, DON'T GO FAR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DOUG AND TEAM FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS INITIATIVE. 2024 IS QUICKLY APPROACHING AND IT'S GREAT TO HE SUE THERE ARE 18 PROJECTS IN THE QUEUE.

I'M GRATEFUL TWO OF THE PROJECTS ARE IN DISTRICT 5 OVER AT THE MELENDEZ CENTER AND THE ROSEDALE Y. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NEW FIRE STATION SOON AND I THINK PUTTING SOME SOLAR PANELS WITH HELP US GET THERE WHEN FIRE STATION 3 WHEN RECONSTRUCTED. ON THE CONVERSATION ABOUT FUNDING AND COSTS, I WANT TO BE SURE I HIGHLIGHT THERE'S ROUGHLY $4.6 BILLION IN CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANTS THAT ARE BEING ISSUED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE EPA. AND MANY OF THESE, THE WINDOW IS STILL OPEN AND DON'T CLOSE UNTIL APRIL OF 2024.

AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL APPLY TO SEEK SOME OF THAT ASSISTANCE TO HELP CONTINUE INITIATIVES SIMILAR TO THIS. REGARDING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT BRINGING BUSINESSES IN, THERE'S ALSO FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR 2 BILLION FOR A UNIQUE CO-GOVERNANCE OPPORTUNITY. THAT COULD LOOK LIKE A NUMBER OF THINGS, PARTNERING WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR MAYBE ONE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS OR THE CHAMBER.

SO THERE'S CO-GOVERNANCE OPPORTUNITIES. THERE'S A GREAT WAY TOO HELP US GET WHERE WE WANT TO GO. ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES MADE A GREAT POINT, THERE'S METRICS THAT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY TRACK IMMEDIATELY, AND I BELIEVE SEEING A REDUCTION IN RESPIRATORY ISSUES IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED.

AND I BELIEVE BY SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AND CONTINUING TO INVEST IN INITIATIVES SIMILAR TO THIS WILL HELP GET US THERE. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD

TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. BEN, IS IT POSSIBLE TO JUST BRIEFLY COME UP AND JUST EXPLAIN THE PIT FALLS OF COMPARING OUR DEBT PER PER CAPITA TO OTHER CITIES

ACROSS THE BOARD, APPLES TO APPLES VERY BRIEFLY? >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. WHEN WE'RE ISSUING THE DEBT HERE, WE ARE USING THE SAVINGS FROM THE PROJECT TO PAY FOR THE DEBT. WE TALKED ABOUT LOOKING AT THE LEASE/PURCHASE FINANCING OPTION. THAT WOULD HAVE HAD A HIGHER INTEREST RATE. WE HAVE EXCELLENT BOND RATINGS, THE HIGHEST BOND RATINGS OF CITIES, TOP 10 CITIES BY POPULATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WE'RE LEVERAGING THAT LOWER COST OF BORROWING IN ORDER TO HELP THE ECONOMICS OF THE PROJECT BE STRONGER IN TERMS OF SAVINGS, BUT USING THE SAVINGS TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR THE DEBT SERVICE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, YOU MENTIONED THE TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION REPORT. I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY, BUT I SAW SIMILAR ONES YEARS AGO COMING FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. WHEN YOU TAKE AGGREGATE DEBT AND COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES, IT'S MISLEADING. ONE, THAT NUMBER SOUNDS LIKE TOTAL DEBT SO IT'S PICKING UP ALL OF OUR DEBT. AIRPORT, CONVENTION CENTER, CPS, SAWS.

OTHER CITIES DON'T OWN THEIR ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY. SO THAT'S REALLY NOT A FAIR COMPARISON. PROBABLY NOT FAIR TO COMPARE OUR AIRPORT ON A PER CAPITA BASIS TO -- FOR EXAMPLE, DFW, A HUB. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS

[02:35:01]

OUT OF THE NINE TOP CITIES FOR POPULATION, WE'RE NUMBER 7 IN TERMS OF THE LOWEST.

WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MANAGING OUR DEBT. IT HAS TO BE USED RESPONSIBLY. WE'RE DOING THAT HERE. IT'S A WAY TO LOWER THE COST OF BORROWING ON THE PROJECT. THE SAVINGS WILL PAY FOR THAT DEBT.

I THINK IN THIS CASE IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO DO THAT.

I HOPE THAT HELPS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BEN.

GOOD DISCUSSION AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING -- ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE.

HAVING HEARD ALL THE DISCUSSION, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 4. PLEASE VOTE. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. I THINK THAT'S IT FOR OUR AGENDA.

AUTHORIZING CARRY OVERFUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT DEPARF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IN THE AMOUNT OF $179,140 TO ADDRESS YOUTH HOMELESSNESS FOR THE TERM OCTOBER 1, 2023, THROUGH MAY 31. AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACTS WITH HAVEN FOR HOPE OF BEXAR COUNTY TO PROVIDE USED SHELTER BEDS AND SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES FOR YOUTH SUPPORT CENTER SERVING DROP-IN CLIENTS AND STREET OUTREACH EACH IN THE AMOUNT

OF $89,570. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

COUNCILMEMBER -- IS THERE A MOTION -- THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 17. WE'LL GO IMMEDIATELY TO DISCUSSION NOW.

I DON'T THINK A PRESENTATION IS NECESSARY, MELODY. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ISSUE. I'LL SPEAK FAIRLY BROAD ISSUE.

THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IS COMPLEX AND THIS IS SO MUCH NEED.

THERE ARE SOME PILLS I THINK ARE EASIER TO SWALLOW THAN OTHERS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPLEX ISSUES. IT'S EASY TO PITCH SUPPORTING SENIORS.

IT'S EASY TO PITCH SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. I SAY THAT, I'M THRILLED FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE VARIOUS INVESTMENTS AND MANY SOLUTIONS.

MY HOPE WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH A LEVEL OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION AND THE WILLINGNESS TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES. I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND HAPPY TO SEE AN INVESTMENT LIKE THIS. THANK YOU.

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

ALL RIGHT. I THOUGHT THERE WAS A NUMBER OF FOLKS -- COUNCILMEMBER

CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MELODY, LAURIE AND TEAM FOR THE CONTINUED WORK YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

DROP-IN CLIENTS AND CONDUCT THAT YOUTH STREET OUTREACH. WE KNOW THAT POVERTY AND THE COST OF LIVING INCREASES CONTINUE TO DIRECTLY IMPACT EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT OUR YOUTH IN PARTICULAR AND IMPACTING THE ACCESS TO QUALITY HOUSING.

THIS INVESTMENT WILL PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, STREET OUTREACH, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, HOTEL VOUCHERS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT. WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TEAM HERE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS WELL AS HAVEN, SAMM'S MINISTRY FOR INCLUDING THESE CRITICAL FUNDS TO ENSURE WE HOUSE YOUTH.

I WANT TO THANK RACHEL WHO WORKS CLOSELY WITH CONNECTING YOU ALL'S TEAM WITH FOLKS WHO NEED HOUSING. IT'S A TEAM EFFORT. THANK YOU ALL.

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

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. WE KNOW THAT OUR YOUTH ARE AT RISK AND WE HAVE TALKED EXTENSIVELY JUST TODAY ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE FACING. I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THE YOUTH AND THE HOMELESS ISSUE.

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

[02:40:04]

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU.

ANY OPPORTUNITY WE GET TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CONCERNS OUR YOUTH IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HAVING AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR OUR UNSHELTERED YOUTH IS CRITICAL. WE MUST ENSURE THEY HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THE VICIOUS CYCLE. I DID HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR STAFF. IN THE MEMO ON THIS ITEM IT STATES IN 2019 AND 2020, FUNDS WERE SET ASIDE FOR US TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT SERVE MORE THAN 300 HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. HOW MANY YOUTH WILL THIS FUND IMPACT AND IN WHAT

WAYS? >> WE RECEIVED THE THIRD YEAR OF FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND YOU ALL APPROVED THAT. THIS IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT YEAR RECEIVING AND WILL SERVE ABOUT 200 YOUTH AT THE SAMM YOUTH CENTER, AND IT WILL FUND 52 BEDS AT THE HAVEN FOR HOPE BOTH ON THE CAMPUS SIDE AND COURTYARD.

>> GAVITO: THAT'S GRATED. I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD ME MENTION IT BEFORE, BUT ANY EFFORTS WE CAN DO TO DIRECT OUR YOUTH TO THESE SERVICES. OFTENTIMES I MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION CANNOT GET CONNECTED TO HEALTH AND RESOURCES THAT NEED IN THEY ARE IN A VACANT BUILDING OFF BANDERA ROAD.

ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO DIRECT THEM TO THIS GREAT WORK WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MEL, I APPRECIATE SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH US. I KNOW THAT WE'RE REALLY CONTINUE YOU'LLLY STRUGGLING TO PLACE PEOPLE. I'VE GOT A MEETING NIGHT ON HOMELESSNESS IN DISTRICT 9.

I HOPE YOU'LL BE THERE OR SOME PEOPLE FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THIS KIND OF INFORMATION SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT THE CITY HAS TO WORKING TO HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE FIND A WAY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND NOT REMAIN HOMELESS. AND, OF COURSE, HOUSING FIRST IS ONE OF THOSE KEY COMPONENTS. THANKS FOR THE GOOD WORK AND WORKING WITH THIS.

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

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I FAILED TO THANK PATRICK SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP AS WELL. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. SORRY YOU ALL HAD TO WAIT, BUT HOPEFULLY IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 17. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT FIRST LET ME

TURN TO ERIK FOR CITY MANAGER REPORT. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONE CITY MANAGER REPORT ITEM.

OUR SPOTLIGHT VIDEO TODAY, AS WE CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE VETERANS DAY TOMORROW, RECOGNIZES OUR PARTNERSHIP, THE VIDEO RECOGNIZES OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR HIRING OUR HEROES PROGRAM. SUPPORTED BY H.R.

THE VIDEO HAS AN EMPLOYEE BY THE NAME OF ROBIN HAWKINS WHO CAME TO US IN APRIL OF 2022 AS A FELLOW THROUGH THE HIRING OUR HEROES PROGRAM AND THE MILITARY SPOUSE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND SHE'S NOW A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES. HER HUSBAND RETIRED IN THE AIR FORCE, THEY'VE SETTLED IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE ARE THANKFUL SHE IS NOW PART OF OUR TOWN. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.

>> THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, THIS IS ROBIN.

A TYPICAL DAY ON MY JOB INCLUDES CONTACTING CANDIDATES THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR HIRE BY THE DEPARTMENTS, MAKING THEM THEIR OFFERS.

WE FACILITATE THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS BETWEEN THEM AND THAT'S THE ROUTE THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE. ATTENDING JOB FAIRS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OPEN POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. ASSISTING WITH HIRE ACTIONS AS WELL. MY HUSBAND WAS ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE, RETIRED IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR. AT THAT POINT WHEN WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO RELOCATE TO SAN ANTONIO, I LEFT THE PREVIOUS EMPLOYER THAT I WAS WITH THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO AND WAS ABLE TO GET CONNECTED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS WELL, SO THAT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH HIRING OUR HEROES AND HAVE THAT TYPE LINE TO ASSIST ME WITH BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE THE WORK I WAS ALREADY DOING IN HUMAN RESOURCES. THE THING I ENJOY MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO CONTACT THE CANDIDATES AND MAKE THEM AN OFFER, AND THOSE MOMENTS WHEN THEY ARE

[02:45:04]

ORGANIZATION. [APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: THANK YOU,

MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE PRACTICE PRESIDOO ROOM BECAUSE OF HVAC ISSUES. BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

WE'LL GO ACROSS THE STREET. GRAB SOME LUNCH IF IT'S AVAILABLE AND WE CAN HAVE LUNCH. THE TIME IS NOW 11:54 A.M., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 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 CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO 551.087, PURCHASE, EXCHANGE AND LEASE PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072 AND LEGAL ISSUES, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ALL PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON. THE TIME IS 1:14 P.M. ON THE 9TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2023. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.

NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN. OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.