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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 30, 2019.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALES WILL NOT BE HERE.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY
[1. Invocation]
COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.TODAY WE HAVE AN INVOCATOR, GUEST OF COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
TODAY IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE PASTOR MICHELE JECH.
SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE PASTOR AT CITY CHURCH, WHICH HAS A TREMENDOUS CAMPUS IN DISTRICT 7 ALONG BANDERA ROAD.
THE CHURCH HAS TWO PHYSICAL CAMPUSES IN SAN ANTONIO, AVERAGING OVER 4,800 PEOPLE WEEKLY AND THEY ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE CAMPUS THAT HAS ANOTHER 1200 PEOPLE WATCHING GLOBALLY.
SHE HAS BEEN IN MINISTRY FOR THREE YEARS AND TRANSITIONED FROM BEING AN EXECUTIVE AT USAA, A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY, AS WE KNOW.
SHE'S BEEN A LEADER FOR OVER 18 YEARS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED.
SHE HAS A DEGREE IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS FROM UTSA.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND, CARLOS, ARE RAISING THEIR SON, GAVIN, WHO IS A LOCAL MARIACHI AND ABOUT TO GRADUATE FROM THE JOHN JAY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ACADEMY.
THEY HAVE ALSO GOT BOWEN, WHO IS SEVEN, AND LOVES TO HUNT, AND THEIR DAUGHTER, JADEN, WHO IS INCREDIBLY CREATIVE AND AN INSPIRING ARTIST.
I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE THAT CITY CHURCH IS WORKING WITH THE FOOD BANK THIS SUMMER TO PROVIDE 400,000 MEALS TO SAN ANTONIO KIDS IN SAN ANTONIO -- WELL, OBVIOUSLY IN SAN ANTONIO.
WHO WILL BE OUT OF SCHOOL THIS SUMMER.
SO I WANT TO THANK HER AND THE ENTIRE CONGREGATION FOR HER HEART OF SERVICE TO OUR PEOPLE.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.
FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.
WE ALSO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT ALLOWS US TO PUBLICLY INVITE YOU INTO A MEETING SUCH AS THIS.
IT IS NOT LOST UPON US AND WE DO NOT TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.
SO, FATHER, RIGHT NOW WE DO JUST THAT.
WE ASK YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS MEETING TODAY.
I ASK THAT YOU GIVE EACH OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LEADERS THAT WILL BE HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY A RENEWED SENSE AND A FRESH OWNERSHIP OF THE GREAT PEOPLE, COMMUNITY, AND CITY THAT THEY SERVE.
I THANK YOU FOR EACH LEADER HERE FOR THE TALENTS AND GIFTS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM.
I PRAY THAT YOU BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
GIVE THEM DISCERNMENT FOR THE CONVERSATIONS THEY'LL HAVE AND THE DECISIONS THAT THEY WILL MAKE.
GIVE THEM A PEACE AND A RELIEF FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE BURDEN OF THE ROLES THAT THEY CARRY.
I PRAY FOR PROTECTION OVER THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE IN THEIR LIVES.
AND YOUR PURPOSE FOR THE GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
[2. Pledge of Allegiance]
IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR JECH.
WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES.
[3. Approval of Minutes of the City Council Regular Meetings of May 1 - 2, 2019.]
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AT THIS TIME I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM MAY 1 THROUGH 2.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM MAY 1 THROUGH 2.
[Additional Item 1]
MOTION CARRIES.THERE'S A COUPLE OF POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TODAY.
NORMALLY IT'S WITHIN THE CITY MANAGER'S PURVIEW TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE HAD AMASSED A TENURE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO OF A DURATION ENOUGH THAT WE SHOULD BE PROUD AND TO RECOGNIZE THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, ERIK CANNOT DO THAT BECAUSE ERIK IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE RECOGNITION TODAY.
[LAUGHTER] SO IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE TO PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE IN RECOGNITION OF ERIK WALSH FOR HIS 25 YEARS OF FAITHFUL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
[APPLAUSE] ERIK, IF YOU'LL JOIN ME DOWN THERE FOR A PICTURE WITH THE CERTIFICATE, I ALSO WANT TO ASK BOBBY PEREZ TO COME UP FOR HIS OWN RECOGNITION.
FOR THE RECORD, BOBBY PEREZ, AT&T CENTER PARKWAY, SPURS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
WE ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR 400 EMPLOYEES AND 1,018 PART TIME EMPLOYEES TO CONGRATULATE THE MANAGER, CONGRATULATE THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR THEIR STEADFAST SERVICE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT ALSO EVERYTHING THAT YOU WENT THROUGH TO GET TO THIS POINT TODAY.
AND SO AS WE'VE DONE WITH CITY MANAGERS IN THE PAST, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE, AS THE 20TH CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, HONOR YOU WITH THIS JERSEY.
A LITTLE FITTING THAT IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF THE NBA FINALS.
WE'RE SORRY WE'RE NOT IN IT BUT WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING ON IT AND DO THE BEST WE CAN.
BUT WE WANTED TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO THE SPURS' ORGANIZATION.
THAT WILL GO UP ON THE WALL NEXT TO THE TRINITY JERSEY, BUT I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
[LAUGHTER] AND BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND THE FIRST 75, 80 DAYS OR SO HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THIS GREAT COUNCIL AND GREAT ORGANIZATION.
[Consent Agenda]
A SECOND POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE -- AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS AS WELL, AND I'M GOING TO ASK RENE TO COME UP HERE IN A MOMENT TO WELCOME OUR GUESTS FOR AN ITEM THAT WILL LIKELY REMAIN ON CONSENT.
THAT IS TO WELCOME TEAM TOYOTA HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE DO HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT I THINK IS WORTH RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION.
IT'S A POTENTIAL INVESTMENT THAT IS NOT YET A DONE DEAL WHICH IS WHY WE'RE PUTTING FORTH A COMPETITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE.
IT DOES REPRESENT AN IMPORTANT ADDITION TO THE LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES.
TOYOTA IS MUCH MORE THAN A MAJOR EMPLOYER IN OUR CITY, WITH OVER 7,000 JOBS, INCLUDING ITS SUPPLIERS.
YOU GUYS ARE CHAMPIONS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND FOR SAN ANTONIO'S RISE AS A CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE.
16 YEARS AGO TOYOTA MADE A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR BET ON OUR PEOPLE AND OUR FUTURE AND TOGETHER OUR PARTNERSHIP AND INVESTMENT HAVE YIELDED FANTASTIC RETURNS.
WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS NEW POTENTIAL INVESTMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, ADDED FLEXIBILITY AND GREATER CAPACITY TO COMPETE WITH ALMOST ANY COMPANY IN ANY CITY IN THE WORLD.
SO THANK YOU TO KEVIN AND THE ENTIRE TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING TEXAS TEAM FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR BELIEVING
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IN OUR CITY.THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR LOYALTY, AND PARTNERSHIP.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK RENE TO KICK US OFF WITH A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
KEVIN, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD AND MAKE SOME REMARKS AS WELL.
VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
BEFORE I KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THE PROJECT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE INTERNAL TEAM THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS DILIGENTLY.
ALEX LOPEZ, AMY, ISAAC, AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN SOME LONG HOURS PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS REALLY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TOYOTA AS THEY CONSIDER ANOTHER MAJOR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY ON THE HEELS OF THEIR BIG 2003 ANNOUNCEMENT TO MOVE THEIR MANUFACTURING PLANT HERE TO SAN ANTONIO.
THAT SINGLE INVESTMENT REALLY TRANSFORMED SAN ANTONIO, AND PARTICULARLY THE SOUTH SIDE.
IT'S TRANSFORMED THOUSANDS OF LIVES, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT.
AND REALLY CREATED A LOT OF ECONOMIC MOMENTUM, PARTICULARLY IN THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY FOR US.
THAT WAS REALLY THE INCEPTION OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND OR OUR 312 PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW.
SO IT WAS REALLY A MOMENT IN TIME THAT TRANSFORMED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS CITY.
AS I MENTIONED, TODAY THEY ARE CONSIDERING ANOTHER MAJOR INVESTMENT.
WE FULLY SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE THIS REALLY POSITIONS SAN ANTONIO FOR FUTURE PRODUCTION INVESTMENTS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT WHY I REALLY LIKE THIS PROJECT IS BECAUSE IT SPEAKS ABOUT OUR WORKFORCE.
I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED IF WE SECURE THIS PROJECT, OUR RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO BE TRAINED ON THE MOST ADVANCED STATE OF THE ART ASSEMBLY PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT IN THE WORLD, AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR OUR WORKFORCE.
WITH THAT, LET ME INTRODUCE THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA MANUFACTURINGFA TEXAS, KEVIN VOKEL.
>> MAYOR, COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING.
I'M HUMBLED AND PROUD TO STAND BEFORE YOU HERE TODAY AS THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING TEXAS.
IT WAS 15 YEARS AGO WHEN I JOINED TOYOTA AS A MANAGER TO SUPPORT THEN THE 21 ON-SITE SUPPLIERS THAT WOULD COME TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOW 23 ON-SITE SUPPLIERS.
SEEING THE PLANT BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY, WE EMPLOY SOME OF THE COMMUNITY'S FINEST EMPLOYEES ON THE SOUTH SIDE, BRING ME GREAT HONOR TO BE BACK HERE TODAY TO SERVE AS PLANT PRESIDENT.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE APPRECIATED THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S A CITY AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE VALUE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF OUR COMPANY.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT RELATIONSHIP OF OUR COMPANY THAT WE EVALUATE A SUBSTANTIAL AND COMPREHENSIVE INVESTMENT TO REFASHION A STATE OF THE ART LINE TO GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.
TODAY WE'RE HERE MEETING WITH YOU AND SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT PROJECT INVESTMENT GIVEN OUR OPERATIONS.
WE WOULD LIKE YOU SUPPORT TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION, BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KEVIN.
I DO HAVE COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME REMARKS AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KEVIN, LOUISA, AND TOYOTA MANUFACTURING TEXAS.
THANK YOU TO RENE AND THE TEAM.
I THINK THIS IS JUST ANOTHER INDICATION OF HOW WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TOYOTA TEXAS AND HOW WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING AND HOWEVER YOU ARE ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATION, WE WANT TO BE THERE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU.
AND WE HOPE THAT WHEN YOU GO PITCH TOYOTA TMTX THAT THEY SEE THAT AS WELL.
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE CHEERING YOU ON.
WE ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP AND WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES A LOT, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE'VE BUILT WITH JAPAN, TOYOTA IN JAPAN, AND HOPE THAT THAT CONNECTION WILL CONTINUE TO RESONATE.
PERSONALLY, MYSELF BEING ABLE TO GO THERE AND THEN TO SEE THE NEW MANUFACTURING SITES, THE NEW ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY USING AND THAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THE FUTURE, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT POTENTIAL THAT CAN BRING TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, THIS IS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND HOW SAN ANTONIO AND TEXAS COULD BE THE LEADER IN THAT TECHNOLOGY FOR THE ENTIRE NATION AND MANUFACTURING WORLD.
THIS IS WHAT IS AT STAKE AND THIS IS WHAT I HOPE YOU ALL CAN BRING ON HOME HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
[00:15:01]
COUNCILMAN SALDANA.AND THANK YOU TO KEVIN AND LOUISA AND MELISSA.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR FOR WHAT WE HOPE IS GOING TO BE A SUCCESSFUL ANNOUNCEMENT AND APPLICATION.
BUT IT'S GREAT THAT WE ARE SEEING TOYOTA DOUBLE DOWN ON SAN ANTONIO AND THE PEOPLE WHO EVERY SINGLE DAY MAKE UP YOUR WORKFORCE.
I'M GLAD TO CALL MY NEIGHBORS SOME OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.
I LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND I'M GLAD TO CALL TOYOTA ONE OF THESE STEPPING STONES TO THE MIDDLE CLASS.
IF YOU CONSIDER THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO WHERE WE'VE BEEN PINNED DOWN TO INDUSTRIES LIKE THE MILITARY OR THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, GETTING TO SEE NOT ONLY MANUFACTURING BUT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND THEN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, WHICH IS THE, YOU KNOW, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING 2.0.
THE QUESTION IS WHERE WITHIN THIS COUNTRY, AS COMPANIES LIKE TOYOTA ARE RESHORING SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE THAT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING 2.0 WILL GO.
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO KNOW THAT MY NEIGHBORS, WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING HARD AND MAKING TUNDRAS AND TACOMAS WILL BE FASHIONED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE OF THAT WORKFORCE.
AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE LEADING THE EFFORTS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY REALLY IT IS A HUGE WIN FOR SAN ANTONIO.
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE MOMENT THAT TOYOTA MADE ITS ANNOUNCEMENT IN 2003, YOU KNOW, SUCCESS HAS MANY FATHERS AND FAILURES AND ORPHANED.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE WORK THAT TOYOTA IS DOING.
BUT I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY IT REALLY IS THAT WORKFORCE WHO IS CONTINUALLY IMPRESSING UPON THE STANDARDS ACROSS TOYOTA THAT SAN ANTONIO IS THE PLACE TO DOUBLE DOWN.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD THAT I HOPE MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE CAUGHT DURING KEVIN'S COMMENTS WAS THE WORD "HUMBLED." IT'S, YOU KNOW, TOYOTA IS VERY GOOD AT WALKING VERY QUIETLY.
THEY DO VERY, VERY BIG THINGS AND THEY DON'T BRAG ABOUT IT.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I ADMIRE THE MOST ABOUT YOU, KEVIN, AND YOUR TEAM.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED HOW TO DO BETTER, AND THAT IS BE JUDGED BY YOUR ACTS, NOT BY AND I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'LL NEVER TELL YOU.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HIGHLIGHT FROM TIME TO TIME THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY MADE IN TOYOTA HAS PAID OFF BY MANY ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE.
AND I CALL THEM A BUT FOR COMPANY.
BUT FOR TOYOTA, THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH SIDE WHO WOULDN'T HAVE JOBS.
AND BUT FOR TOYOTA, THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN FELT.
WHICH MEANS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD PROBABLY NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD A NEW HOUSE OR SEND THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE OR BUY THAT FIRST TUNDRA OF THEIR VERY OWN.
THE WAY THAT YOU ALL HAVE CHANGED LIVES IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NEVER EVER DISCOUNT.
AND SO, KEVIN, IT'S US WHO ARE HUMBLED BY THE FACT THAT YOU CONTINUE TO CHOOSE SAN ANTONIO IN WHICH TO INVEST.
AND THIS IS A NO-BRAINER AND YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
I JUST WANT TO ADD MY APPRECIATION FOR WHAT TOYOTA HAS BROUGHT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND WHAT IT CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND HOPEFULLY THIS ENDEAVOR IS GOING TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXPANSION AT TOYOTA.
HOWEVER, WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED, WHAT THE COMPANY HAS OFFERED IN THE WAY OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT TO THIS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY OUTWEIGHING ANYTHING YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, MYSELF REPRESENTING THE NORTH SIDE, KIND OF A DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE TOYOTA PLANT RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF WHAT TOYOTA OFFERS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO ADD MY THANKS.
AND I KNOW THE GRATEFUL THANKS OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
KEVIN, YOUR TEAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS COME TO FRUITION.
>> MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA FOR TODAY.
WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM SET FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
PLEASE NOTE THE ITEMS THAT STAFF PULLED EARLIER IN THE WEEK.
SO I WILL TAKE -- ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
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FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR ITEM 4.WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.
>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE -- WELL, THE VERY BEST CITY COUNCIL MONEY CAN BUY.
I NEVER SAY THOSE WORDS LIGHTLY, AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHY IN A MOMENT THERE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT SOME OF THE ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA.
WELL, I GUESS THE CHICK-FIL-AS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST THERE.
THE SITUATION DEALING WITH TOYOTA.
15, 20 YEARS AGO THEY CAME TO SAN ANTONIO.
I CAME UP HERE AND THEN, LIKE NOW, I SAY TOYOTA IS AN OUTSTANDING MOTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
I RECOMMEND THEIR VEHICLES TO EVERYBODY.
IF EVER I BUY A VEHICLE, A NEW CAR OR TRUCK, IT WOULD PROBABLY COME FROM A TOYOTA MANUFACTURING COMPANY THERE.
BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND WE GAVE THEM ALL KINDS OF TAX INCENTIVES WAY BACK WHEN, TAX ABATEMENTS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS THERE.
THEY HAVE PROSPERED AND WE HAVE PROSPERED WITH THEM.
AND, YES, WE GET ABOUT 12, 13 TIMES THE AMOUNT THAT WE INVESTED IN THEM.
TOYOTA HAS GROWN ALL THAT MUCH.
IT CAN AFFORD TO DO THESE THINGS ON ITS OWN.
WHAT IS TOYOTA GOING TO DO WITH A PIDDLING $621,000 WITH ALL THE 12, $13 MILLION IT'S PRODUCING HERE? I MEAN, I KNOW $621,000 IS CHICKEN FEED THERE.
BUT, STILL, IN PERSPECTIVE WHY DO WE NEED TO DO THIS? DO WE GIVE TAX ABATEMENTS TO ANYONE ELSE WHO BRINGS IN PROPORTIONATELY THE SAME NUMBERS THAT TOYOTA DOES? PROPORTIONATELY.
I'VE NEVER SEEN IT FROM YOU GUYS AT ALL.
HALF MILLION ON ONE, HALF MILLION ON THE OTHER TO WHAT? GIVE AIR-CONDITIONING TO WELFARE HOUSING AREAS.
THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING A BIG DISCOUNT.
DO WE NEED TO GIVE THEM AIR-CONDITIONING THAT THEY COULD PROBABLY AFFORD ON THEIR OWN, INSTALL ON THEIR OWN? YES.
I THINK BACK IN THE '50S AND '60S WE GREW UP WITHOUT IT.
BUT ITEM NO. 12 IS THE ONE I'M REALLY THINKING OF.
IT'S THE ONE WHEREBY THE USAA HAS GIVEN YOU ALL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE ITEM YOU ARE ABOUT TO VOTE UPON.
WHAT IS IT? WELL, $2,000 FOR THE MAYOR.
500, 1,000, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
THE ONLY ONES WHO DIDN'T GET ANYTHING WERE MR. SALDANA AND MR. HALL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. Ordinance modifying the Dockless Vehicle Pilot Program by reducing the number of authorized vehicles and prorating the term of permits to expire on September 30, 2019 to allow for the completion of a Request for Proposals to select companies with the exclusive right to operate. This ordinance is anticipated to generate approximately $53,955.00 in revenue for prorated permit extensions through September 30, 2019 that will be deposited into the General Fund. [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; John Jacks, Director, Center City Development & Operations]]
MOTION CARRIES.>> ITEM NO. 4 IS AN ORDINANCE MODIFYING THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE PILOT PROGRAM BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED VEHICLES AND PRO RATING THE TERM OF PERMITS TO EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 TO ALLOW FOR THE COMPLETION OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO SELECT COMPANIES WITH THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO OPERATE.
THIS ORDINANCE IS ANTICIPATED TO GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $53,955 IN REVENUE FOR THE PRORATED PERMIT EXTENSIONS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 THAT WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS ORDINANCE AUTHORIZES CURRENTLY PERMITTED DOCKLESS VEHICLE OPERATORS TO APPLY FOR PERMIT EXTENSIONS FOR THE DOCKLESS VEHICLES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2019.
IT ALSO APPROVES A 50% REDUCTION IN PERMITS FOR OPERATORS WHO HAVE OVER 1,000 VEHICLES AS WELL AS ALLOW STAFF TO PRORATE THE $10 PERMIT FEE PER VEHICLE TO LAST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2019.
THIS EXTENSION IS NECESSARY TO ALLOW STAFF TO GO THROUGH A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS TO SELECT THREE VENDORS TO OPERATE
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5,000 VEHICLES.ON OCTOBER 11, 2018 CITY COUNCIL DID APPROVE THE SIX-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM FOR DOCKLESS VEHICLES, AND BY FEBRUARY OF 2019 WE HAD SEVEN OPERATORS THAT WERE OPERATING 14,100 SCOOTERS AND 2,000 SPIKES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
IN FEBRUARY OF 2019, WE RECOMMENDED SOME MID-POINT AMENDMENTS TO THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE PILOT PROGRAM.
THESE WERE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR SAFETY CONCERNS, ALSO SCOOTER CLUTTER, AS WELL AS IMPACTS TO THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAMS POWER WASHING SERVICES FOR OUR DOWNTOWN.
THERE WAS ALSO SIGNIFICANT CONCERN THAT WE HAD TOO MANY SCOOTERS IN THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET.
SO CITY COUNCIL ALSO AUTHORIZED A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL PERMITS FOR DOCKLESS VEHICLES.
THE MID-POINT AMENDMENTS ALSO INCLUDED HOURS OF OPERATION FROM 6:00 A.M. TO 11:00 P.M. AND IMPOSED STRICTER STANDARDS FOR CORRECTING VEHICLES IN PROHIBITED AREAS.
THE SIX-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM HAS COME TO AN END AND WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW DEEP THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE MARKET IS IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE LEARNED WHAT VENDORS ARE INTERESTED IN OPERATING IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE'VE LEARNED WHAT WE WANT, WHAT WE DON'T WANT, AND ALSO WHAT WE NEED TO OPERATE A DOCKLESS VEHICLE PROGRAM IN SAN ANTONIO THAT MEETS THE COMMUNITY'S DESIRES AND EXPECTATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'VE LEARNED, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF DATA COLLECTION AND SURVEYS.
WE'VE COLLECTED DATA FROM OUR VENDORS, COLLECTED DATA FROM OUR RIDERS THROUGH SURVEYS.
WE'VE COLLECTED DATA THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH A COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEY THAT HAD OVER 4600 RESPONDENTS.
WE'VE MET WITH SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE HAVE INTERVIEWED OTHER CITIES TO SEE HOW THEY ARE APPROACHING THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE ERA.
AND THEN WE'VE ALSO PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL IN AN A COUNCIL, A B SESSION, PRESENTED TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TWICE AND, MORE RECENTLY, PRESENTED TO THE AUDIT ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE.
ALL THIS INFORMATION HELPED US INFORM STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, WHICH IS TO INITIATE AN RFP PROCESS AND SELECT THREE DOCKLESS VENDORS TO OPERATE NO MORE THAN 5,000 DOCKLESS VEHICLES IN SAN ANTONIO.
WHY THREE VENDORS? WE FEEL LIMITING IT TO THREE VENDORS STILL ALLOWS US TO HAVE COMPETITION AMONG THOSE VENDORS AND KEEP THE PRICING DOWN.
IT ALLOWS STAFF TO REGULATE THE SCOOTER ENVIRONMENT AND IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO DECREASE CLUTTER IN AREAS OF CONCENTRATED DEPLOYMENT.
INSTEAD OF SEVEN SCOOTER COMPANIES WE WILL HAVE THREE SCOOTER COMPANIES.
ONCE AGAIN, THEY CANNOT OPERATE MORE THAN 5,000 VEHICLES.
WE ALSO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO INCREASE THE PERMITS ABOVE 5,000 IF THERE IS DEMAND TO SUPPORT THAT INCREASE.
AND THAT RECOMMENDATION WILL BE MADE TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION.
WE ALSO FEEL THAT 5,000 VEHICLES IS THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER.
WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT 4,000 TO 6500 VEHICLES DEPLOYED DAILY.
WE THINK THAT 5,000 ALLOWS THE SCOOTER COMPANIES TO OPERATE TO SCALE.
WE HEAR THAT THEY NEED ABOUT 1,000 TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY.
IT ALLOWS FOR THE DIVERSITY OF THE TYPES OF DOCKLESS VEHICLES.
SO NOT JUST YOUR SCOOTERS, BUT LOOKING AT DOCKLESS BIKES, LOOKING AT THE SCOOTERS YOU CAN SIT ON VERSUS THE SCOOTERS YOU CAN STAND ON.
AND IT ALLOWS US THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL VENDOR IN THE EVENT WE SEE THAT THERE IS A TYPE OF PRODUCT THAT'S NOT REPRESENTED OR PROVIDED FOR BY THESE VENDORS.
SO THE EXAMPLE I LIKE TO USE IS IF HOVERBOARDS BECOME A THING AND WE DON'T HAVE HOVERBOARDS REPRESENTED AMONG THESE THREE VENDORS, WE CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TO COME BACK AND SAY THERE'S MORE INNOVATION.
WE WOULD LIKE TO DO ANOTHER RFP FOR ONE MORE VENDOR TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET THAT TYPE OF A PRODUCT IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE RFP WILL BE ISSUED ON JUNE 7 AND WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR 45 DAYS WITH A DUE DATE OF JULY 22.
WE WILL HAVE A PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE ON JUNE 14 TO ALLOW FOR INTERESTED VENDORS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SOLICITATION.
NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE A 30-DAY SUBMITTAL.
WE HAVE EXTENDED THIS TO 45 DAYS SO WE CAN ALLOW THE VENDORS TO ASK THAT QUESTION AND INCLUDE THAT PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE.
THIS ITEM WILL COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL IN OCTOBER AFTER WE MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATION AND GO THROUGH THE AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE.
THESE PROPOSALS WILL BE REVIEWED BASED ON EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, AND FINANCIAL
[00:30:02]
CAPACITY.THE QUALITY OF THE PROPOSAL, THE ECONOMIC TERMS, AND WE'LL ALSO APPLY POINTS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS LOCAL PREFERENCE AND VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS. HIGHLIGHTS IN THE RFP TO INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS AND CLARIFICATIONS ARE THAT WE ARE GOING TO STATE THAT EACH VENDOR WILL BE GUARANTEED 1,000 -- 1666 PERMITS TO OPERATE IN SAN ANTONIO.
HOWEVER IF THERE IS A SMALL BUSINESS THEN WE WILL DISTRIBUTE THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WE HAVE MOONING THE OTHER VENDORS, BUT WE WILL NEVER GO OVER 5,000 DOCKLESS VEHICLES UNLESS WE HAVE THE DATA TO SUPPORT THAT AND WE MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND IT IS SUPPORTED BY THEM.
WE ARE REQUIRING THAT ALL VENDORS THE CITY.
THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN AND ALSO WE'RE REQUIRING THAT ALL VENDORS THAT ARE SELECTED PLACE ON THE VEHICLE A VISIBLE DISPLAY OF REGULATIONS.
AND SO SEVERAL VENDORS ARE ALREADY DOING THIS ALREADY.
THERE'S A TAG ON THE VEHICLE AND WE WANT THEM TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE RULES THAT YOU WOULD ALREADY SEE IN THEIR USER AGREEMENT, BUT WE WANT TO PUT THESE OUT FRONT.
AND THESE ARE THE RULES WE SEE MOST PEOPLE VIOLATING.
AND THAT IS YOU MUST BE 16 YEARS OR OLDER TO RIDE THIS VEHICLE.
YOU MUST NOT ALLOW MORE THAN ONE PERSON ON THIS VEHICLE.
AND RIDING ON SIDEWALKS ARE PROHIBITED AND RIDING ON THE RIVER WALK IS PROHIBITED.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT ON THE VEHICLE AND IT WILL ALSO BE IN THE USER AGREEMENT.
ALSO REQUIRING THEM TO PLACE THE VENDOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION RIGHT ON THE VEHICLE SO IN THE EVENT THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, THERE'S AN ACCIDENT, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, THEY HAVE THAT CONTACT.
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO SUBMIT THEIR PLANS ON HOW THEY WILL COOPERATE WITH THE CITY AND SPECIAL EVENT ORGANIZERS.
THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THEIR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE STANDARDS, THEIR RIDER USER AGREEMENTS, ADDITIONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE THEY MAY PROPOSE, PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING AN ACCIDENT, AND THEIR SAFETY FEATURES.
SO RIGHT NOW THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A HORN AND A LIGHT.
BUT WE'RE ASKING TO PROPOSE ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES THEY MIGHT HAVE ON THEIR VEHICLE.
AT THE LAST B SESSION WE HEARD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AUDIO] MAYBE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A LOUDER HORN OR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF HORN.
SO WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO PROPOSE THOSE IDEAS TO US.
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO GIVE US SOME SOLUTIONS ON HOW WE CAN BETTER REGULATE PARKING.
WE WILL BE WORKING WITH EACH OF THE VENDORS THAT ARE SELECTED ON A PARKING FRAMEWORK TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY WHERE YOU CAN AND CAN'T PARK, BUT WE ALSO WANT THEM TO TELL US WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN OTHER CITIES.
SO WHEN WE SELECT THOSE THREE VENDORS WE CAN DEVELOP SOME PARKING ZONES WHERE PEOPLE KNOW I CAN PARK IN THIS AREA AND CAN'T PARK IN THIS AREA.
THAT WILL BE DONE COLLABORATIVELY.
WE ARE ASKING THEM TO PRESENT THEIR PROCEDURES FOR CORRECTING PARKING VIOLATIONS AND ALSO SUBMIT THE PROCEDURES FOR GEOFENCING.
HOW DO THEY PLAN TO GEO-FENCE? WILL THE VEHICLE SLOW DOWN WHEN THEY ENTER A PROHIBITED ZONE OR STOP COMPLETELY? WILL THERE BE A BELL THAT RINGS? WE WANT THEM TO PRESENT THOSE IDEAS TO US SO WE CAN FURTHER DISCUSS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEM AFTER WE LOOK AT EVERYONE'S PROPOSALS.
AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A REVENUE-SHARING PROPOSAL BEYOND THE REQUIRED PERMIT FEES THAT WE ARE COLLECTING AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT -- THIS PROGRAM.
WE DEVELOPED A BUDGET BASED ON COST RECOVERY.
SO YEAR ONE OUR BUDGET IS $575,000.
THAT'S $500,000 FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET AND WE'RE REQUESTING A ONE-TIME UP FRONT FEE OF $25,000 FOR EACH VENDOR.
IT WILL BE PRORATED IF THEY RECEIVE MORE OR LESS BUT THAT $75,000 WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE DOCKLESS VEHICLE RACKS OR DO MORE SIGNAGE IN OUR PARKING CORRALS, DO MORE EDUCATION ON THE PROGRAM.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE USED AND IT'S ONLY FOR THOSE PURPOSES AND IT'S ONLY FOR YEAR ONE.
YEARS TWO AND THREE ARE $500,000.
THE ANNUAL PERMIT FEE IS $100 PER VEHICLE.
THIS IS IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH OTHER CITIES, ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 120 PER VEHICLE.
AND WE'RE USING THIS MONEY TO INCREASE OUR OVERTIME SAPD SHIFTS SO THEY CAN ENFORCE MORE.
WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFF AND OUR PARKING FACILITIES TO DO MORE VEHICLE CORRECTION AND ENFORCEMENT.
WE WILL HAVE A SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST DEDICATED TO PROGRAM
[00:35:03]
OVERSIGHT TO DO CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AND COLLECT DATA AND DO DATA ANALYSIS AND DO THE PERMITTING THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THE PROGRAM.AND THIS WILL ALSO SUPPORT OTHER DATA AGGREGATION TOOLS THAT WILL NEED TO CREATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITSD.
NOW WE HAVE AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE OF 13 MEMBERS.
FIVE OF THOSE MEMBERS ARE CITY EMPLOYEES.
THEY REPRESENT AN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER, OUR DIRECTOR OF CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT, CRAIG HAWKINS WITH ITSD, ART REINHART, THE INTERIM DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH TCI, AND CAPTAIN CHRIS BENAVIDES WITH SAPD.
WE HAVE THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE DISABILITY ACCESS AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND THEN WE HAVE STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENT OUR INDUSTRIES.
WE HAVE THE SAN ANTONIO HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION.
DAVID RAMIREZ WITH TENT AND TECH BLOC.
AND OUR DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDER GROUP WHO IS WITH USAA.
AND WE WILL MAKE SURE WE INCORPORATE NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT.
WE HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND THEN WE HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS, ONE AT THE VISTANA AND ONE AT THE SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT AT GRENADA HOMES.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT IS NON-VOTING THAT WILL PROVIDE STAFF SUPPORT OR INFORMATION AS REQUESTED.
SO THIS INCLUDES VIA, THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY, CENTRO, OUR RISK MANAGEMENT OFFICE, CCDO, OFFICE OF INNOVATION, AND FINANCE.
BUT IT'S REALLY TO HELP PROVIDE INPUT ON SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT ARE ADDRESSED IN THE RFP THAT WE MAY WANT MORE INFORMATION ON.
AND THEY HAVE THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE.
TODAY'S ITEM IS REALLY TO ADDRESS AND APPROVE THE PERMIT EXPANSION THAT WE'RE REQUESTING SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THIS RFP PROCESS.
WE'RE REQUESTING COUNCIL AUTHORIZE US TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS TO EXTEND THE PERMITS FOR THOSE SEVEN VENDORS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING IN SAN ANTONIO THAT WILL BE MADE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2019.
WE ARE ASKING AUTHORIZATION TO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF PERMITS ISSUED TO THOSE OPERATORS THAT HAVE OVER 1,000 VEHICLES WITHIN THE PERMIT PROCESS.
AND THEN ALSO REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO PRO RATE THAT $10 PERMIT FEE THROUGH SEPTEMBEE ABOUT $55,000.
IT WILL HELP US OPERATE THE PROGRAM THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30 BEFORE WE INITIATE THE NEW PROGRAM, HOPEFULLY BY OCTOBER 1.
WE PLAN ON ISSUING AN RFP ON JUNE 7.
WE'LL HAVE THE PRESUBMITTAL CONFERENCE ON JUNE 14.
WE WILL BRING THIS BACK TO THE AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE IN SEPTEMBER.
AND THEN THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN OCTOBER.
THAT'S WHEN WE'LL BRING BACK THE THREE VENDORS THAT WE SELECTED AND ARE RECOMMENDING THROUGH THE PROCESS AS WELL AS SEVERAL POLICY AMENDMENTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE ORDINANCE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TWO CHANGES TO THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE ORDINANCE.
THAT INCLUDES IMPLEMENTING A SPEED LIMIT IN THE ORDINANCE OF 15 MILES PER HOUR, AND ALSO PROHIBITING RIDING ON SIDEWALKS.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT LIFTING THE CURFEW IN THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE ORDINANCE THAT WE PLACED IN MID FEBRUARY.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT BUT WE PLAN ON LOOKING AT THIS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AND REVISITING THAT AND BRINGING BACK A RECOMMENDATION TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AFTER WE HAVE MONITORED THE PROGRAM.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE NORMALIZE THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE CHANGING THE ABILITY FOR RIDERS TO USE THE SIDEWALKS AND NOW WE'RE ASKING THEM TO GO ON THE STREETS.
WE WANT TO NORMALIZE THAT AND BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT CURFEW ISSUE AND MAKE AN EDUCATED AND INFORMED RECOMMENDATION.
WE ALSO ARE NOT MAKING A CHANGE TO THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS BUT I WANT TO MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH PARKING.
RIGHT NOW PARKING IS NOT VERY WELL DEFINED.
IT TELLS YOU WHERE YOU CAN'T PARK BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY PROVIDE YOU GUIDELINES ON WHERE YOU CAN PARK.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE THREE VENDORS AND LOOK TO MAKE SURE WE DEVELOP REGULATIONS ON WHERE DOCKLESS VEHICLES CAN PARK AND WHERE THEY CANNOT PARK.
AND WHERE THEY CAN BE DEPLOYED AND WHERE THEY CANNOT BE DEPLOYED.
AND SO WE'LL BE LOOKING TO IDENTIFY AREAS FOR MAYBE ADDITIONAL CORRALS WHERE THEY CAN PARK, AND WE'LL PUT SIGNAGE
[00:40:02]
WITH THE RULES ON DEPLOYMENT AND PARKING.WE'LL BE LOOKING ON ADDING DOCKLESS VEHICLE RACKS WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY PLACE YOUR VEHICLE.
WE'LL BE ALSO LOOKING AT DEFINING THE PARKING ZONES, LIKE A PARKING ZONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE WHERE THE STREET AUDIO] AND SIDEWALK.
SO WHERE THERE'S A BENCH AND A TRASH CAN THERE CLEARLY IS ENOUGH RIGHT OF WAY FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS.
AND SO WE CAN ALLOW SCOOTERS TO PARK IN THAT AREA.
AND WE'LL LOOK AT OTHER DEFINITIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCOOTER COMPANIES KNOW WHERE THEY CAN AND CAN'T PARK AND WHERE THEY CAN AND CANNOT DEPLOY.
NOW BEFORE I CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION, I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED US COME FORWARD WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF YOUR COMMENTS AND A LOT OF YOUR CONCERNS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK SAPD AND TCI, ITSD, THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION, TECH BLOC, SARA, CENTRO, VIA, VISIT SAN ANTONIO, THE HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION, THE TOURISM COUNCIL, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CCDO, JOHN STEVENS AND JOHN JACKS.
AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, A THANK YOU TO THE VENDORS.
THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH, GIVING US A LOT OF INPUT AND EXAMPLES WHERE THEY ARE OPERATING IN OTHER CITIES AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND THEY'VE BEEN ENGAGED AS WE HAVE DEVELOPED THIS RECOMMENDATION AND MOVE FORWARD.
SO WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
BUT STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE TWO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM TODAY.
WE'LL START WITH DAVID HEARD OF TECH BLOC.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS DAVID HEARD, COFOUNDER AND C.E.O. OF TECH BLOC.
WE'RE SAN ANTONIO'S TRADE ASSOCIATION FOR TECH REPRESENTING 5,000 AREA TECH WORKERS AND COMPANIES ACROSS THE CITY.
I'M HERE TO VOICE THE TECH INDUSTRY'S SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED REGULATORY AND PERMITTING STRUCTURE PROPOSED BY CITY STAFF HERE THIS MORNING.
THOUGH THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT RFPS CAN CROWD OUT INNOVATION OVER TIME, WE DO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN FREE MARKET COMPETITION AND A REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT THAT CAN BE RATIONALIZED AND MANAGEMENT.
WE FEEL THIS WILL HELP THE CITY BETTER MANAGE THE POPULATION OF OPERATORS TO APPROVE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT DOES PROVIDE ENOUGH PERMITS TO ALLOW COMPETITIVE ENERGY AND INNOVATION TO REMAIN ALIVE INSIDE SAN ANTONIO'S MICROMOBILITY MARKET.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR HEARTILY INVOLVING THE TECH INDUSTRY AND DEVELOPING THE STRUCTURE BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING, SPECIFICALLY CITY MANAGER ERIK WALSH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LORI HOUSTON, AND JOHN JACKS AND JOHN STEVENS.
YOU KNOW, THE TECH INDUSTRY LAUNCHED TECH BLOC ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
MAYOR, YOU WERE THERE THAT DAY, OUT OF FRUSTRATION THAT DECISIONS WERE BEING MADE AT CITY HALL THAT AFFECTED OUR INDUSTRY WITHOUT OUR INPUT.
NOW FOUR YEARS LATER WE ENJOY A STRONG COLLABORATION WITH YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY STAFF.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP AND FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. HEARD.
>> WELL MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
AS WITH BICYCLISTS, I AM GETTING A LITTLE TIRED OF SCOOTER RIDERS HAVING MORE RIGHTS THAN I, THE MOTORIST.
I, A MOTORIST, AM REQUIRED TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
I'M REQUIRED TO GET INSURANCE FOR MY VEHICLES, REGISTRATION FOR MY VEHICLES.
I'M REQUIRED TO DRIVE AT A CERTAIN SPEED LIMIT AND OBEY ALL KINDS OF TRAFFIC LAWS.
BICYCLISTS AND NOW SCOOTER RIDERS, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE WILD WEST FRONTIER OUT THERE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
IN FACT, AS YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN RIDING ON SIDEWALKS FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A RULE AGAINST THAT.
BUT WHO IS GOING TO ENFORCE THAT? IS THERE -- IF A POLICEMAN AND A POLICE CRUISER SEES ONE PERSON RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK WITH A SCOOTER, IS HE GOING TO PULL UP TO THEM AND TELL THEM TO PULL OVER AND STOP SO HE CAN GIVE THEM A TICKET? WHO'S GOING TO DO -- HOW DOES THAT DYNAMIC WORK? HUH? YEAH, I NOTICED THIS REPORT DOESN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT ALL THE ACCIDENTS THAT Y'ALL HAVE HAD, ALL THE MISHAPS, THE
[00:45:02]
INJURIES.THAT COULD GIVE US A LITTLE MORE PERSPECTIVE ON JUST HOW TREACHEROUS THIS STUFF IS.
I HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE KIDS ON THESE THINGS -- YEAH -- TRIED TO BUMP INTO ME, MR. MAYOR.
I KNOW IF YOU KNEW WHO THEY WERE YOU WOULD GIVE THEM A REWARD.
ALSO, I NOTICED IT SAYS, QUOTE, PARKING.
DEVELOP A PARKING FRAMEWORK WITH THE VENDORS THAT CLEARLY IDENTIFIES WHERE DOCKLESS VEHICLES CAN AND CANNOT BE DEPLOYED AND PARK THROUGH THE CREATION OF DEFINED ZONES LIKE SCOOTER RACKS, CORRALS, AND ET CETERA.
WELL, WHAT IF A SCOOTER RIDER JUST DROPS HIS SCOOTER RIGHT ON THE SIDEWALK, LITTERS THE SIDEWALK WITH IT? YES, THE COMPANIES EVENTUALLY PICK IT UP BUT WHO IS GOING TO SPANK THAT PERSON FOR NOT PARKING IT WHERE IT SHOULD BE CORRECTLY? HUH? I DON'T SEE -- HAVE Y'ALL REALLY THOUGHT THIS OUT? MAYBE YOU CAN ARRANGE FOR THE SCOOTERS TO JUST ON THEIR OWN TO JUST HAVE RIDERLESS SCOOTERS GO RIGHT BACK TO THE CORRALS.
IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU WOULD LIMIT IT NOT TO 15 MILES PER HOUR, BUT 5 MILES PER HOUR.
THAT'S STILL PLENTY OF FAST SPEED FOR THOSE THINGS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN THOUGHT OUT.
I WANT TO THANK THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AS WELL.
AND, LORI, CAN I ASK A FEW QUESTIONS? I KIND OF WANT TO RUN THROUGH SOME OF THIS TO REALLY POINT OUT SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN SEEING.
SO LET'S JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RFP PROCESS.
THERE'S THE SLIDE ON THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE.
CAN WE PULL THAT UP? THERE IT IS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A PRETTY ROBUST GROUP AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR HELPING TO ALSO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF HAVING SAPD, TCI AND, OF COURSE, WE DID ALSO INCLUDE TWO DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS, ONE OF WHICH IS IN A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS, I THINK, A ROBUST GROUP AND HOPEFULLY WILL HELP TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE CONCERNS WE'VE BEEN HEARING.
AND SO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THESE ARE THE RESIDENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING THE MOST FROM IN DISTRICT 1.
AND I'M GLAD TO SEE SPECIFICALLY THAT WE HAVE MARY ANN MILLER FROM GRENADA HOMES TO HELP SPEAK TO THE CONCERNS A LOT OF SENIORS HAVE.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT? THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES YOU AND I HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IN TERMS OF ACCESS, HANDICAPPED RAMPS, HOW WE'RE PROVIDING MEANINGFUL PATHWAY FOR FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.
>> SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS WE HEARD THROUGH EITHER OUR TELETOWN HALL THAT WE DID OR OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY WAS BLOCKING THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FOR EITHER WHEELCHAIRS, STROLLERS, OR JUST PEDESTRIANS WALKING DOWNTOWN.
AND SO THE ADDITION OF SOMEONE FROM GRENADA HOMES WILL REALLY HELP US LOOK AT THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A SENIOR WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WALK OR USING A WALKER OR A WHEELCHAIR, BUT ALSO ADDING THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE THAT PERSPECTIVE.
BUT THAT'S ALSO WHY WE WANTED TO REALLY CREATE THESE PARKING ZONES WHERE WE CLEARLY DEFINE WHERE PEOPLE CAN AND CAN'T WALK.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR A SCOOTER TO BE BLOCKING THE PEDESTRIAN PATH.
WE DO HAVE SOME GUIDELINES BUT WE NEED TO PROVIDE SOME MORE DEFINITION.
WE'RE CALLING THAT A FRAMEWORK TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND BOTH THE OPERATORS AND THE RIDERS WHERE THEY CAN PARK THESE VEHICLES WHEN THEY'RE DONE.
>> TREVINO: AND I ALSO DID LEAVE OUT THE DISABILITY ACCESS OFFICE.
THANKS FOR INCLUDING THAT AS WELL.
I JUST WANT TO STATE ON THE RECORD THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO MAKE CLEAR IS THAT WE CAN DEFINE A LOT OF THESE PATHWAYS AND AREAS OF FREE TRAVEL SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT FOLKS THAT NEED ACCESS AND MUST HAVE THAT FREE TRAVEL WILL HAVE THAT.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE THROUGH THIS RFP PROCESS THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT FRAMEWORK IN PLACE AND WE'LL ASK THE COMPANIES TO HELP US AS WE HAVE A VERY DEFINITIVE AREA THAT
[00:50:02]
WE'RE SCOPING OUT.AND I'M TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT DOWNTOWN, AS IT IS A DENSE AREA OF WHERE THESE SCOOTERS ARE LOCATED.
I'M ALSO GLAD TO SEE THAT WE HAVE CAPTAIN BENAVIDES AS WELL FROM SAPD, YOU KNOW, HELPING US.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING IS HOW DO WE ENFORCE THIS, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE CAN ENFORCE AND CAN BE PROACTIVE ABOUT AND MAKE SURE, AS IS POINTED OUT EARLIER.
WHAT DO WE DO WHEN SOMEBODY SIMPLY LEAVES A SCOOTER SOMEWHERE.
SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED THAT I THINK IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT IS THE 311 SA APP.
AND THE 311 SA APP, I THINK, HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE STATS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS WHEN WE ADDED THE SCOOTER SECTION ON THE 311 SA APP IT QUICKLY BECAME THE NUMBER ONE ITEM ON 311 SA APP.
>> I CANNOT VERIFY THAT BUT I'LL GET THAT FOR YOU.
BUT 311 HAS BEEN A GREAT TOOL FOR US TO COLLECT DATA BECAUSE WE USE THAT TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THEY REPORTING.
IS IT PARKING VIOLATIONS? IS IT RELATED TO THE USER? IS IT RELATED TO THE DEPLOYMENT? AND SO IT'S BEEN A VERY USEFUL TOOL, NOT JUST FOR REPORTING THEM BUT HOW WE ANALYZE DATA AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> TREVINO: WELL, TO YOUR POINT, IT'S USEFUL BECAUSE IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO THE COMPANY AS WELL.
AND SO THIS IS A TOOL THAT WILL CONTINUE AND WILL BE PART OF THIS PROCESS AS WELL.
>> TREVINO: SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CONSTANTLY LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THAT IS A TOOL THAT'S THERE FOR THEM.
WE WANT THEM TO USE THE 311 SA APP BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT DATA COLLECTING TOOL FOR US.
AND THEN IF WE CAN GO TO THE POLICY ORDINANCE SLIDE.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, DEVELOPING A PARKING FRAMEWORK.
NOW THIS IS KIND OF IN LINE WITH WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER IN TERMS OF THE FREE TRAVEL.
THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THERE IS A SQUARE SPOT OF PARKING ZONES, BUT RATHER MORE OF SAFE AREAS OF FREE TRAVEL AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE SORT OF THE RESIDUAL SPACES, AREAS WHERE SCOOTERS CAN PARK THAT ALLOW FOR FREE TRAVEL AND PEDESTRIANS TO COEXIST.
CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE THAT IN THE EVALUATION PROCESS AS WE EVALUATE EACH OF THESE CONTRACTS?
>> SO IN THE RFP WE'VE ASKED COMPANIES TO PRESENT IDEAS ON HOW THEY CAN HELP REGULATE THE DEPLOYMENT.
IDEAS THEY HAVE FOR HOW WE CAN BETTER ORGANIZE THE DEPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS PARKING.
AND THROUGH EITHER CORRALS, SCOOTER RACKS, BUTTIVE US THEIR IDEAS.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN OTHER CITIES OR WHAT HAVE THEY SEEN WORK.
AND ONCE WE SELECT OUR THREE VENDORS, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM SPECIFICALLY ON THIS FRAMEWORK.
BECAUSE THE VENDORS KNOW WHERE THE MORE POPULAR AREAS ARE TO PICK UP A SCOOTER.
SO THEN WE WOULD GO TO THAT AREA.
WE COULD LOOK AT THE RESIDUAL SPACE.
WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT IDENTIFYING OTHER AREAS OUTSIDE THE PEDESTRIAN WALK WAISTS, LIKE THE FURNITURE ZONES.
WE DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY CONFUSION ON WHERE YOU CAN PARK AND DEPLOY YOUR VEHICLE.
AND THAT'S THE GOAL OF THIS REQUIREMENT IS REALLY TO WORK WITH THE VENDORS, MAKE SURE THEY CLEARLY COMMUNICATE WHERE YOU CAN AND CAN'T PARK, AND WE'LL DEVELOP THOSE TOGETHER.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING EXISTING LOCATIONS LIKE BIKE RACKS THAT CAN ALSO DOUBLE AS SCOOTER RACKS AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT.
LASTLY, IN TERMS OF SAFETY -- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP A LOT.
AND WHILE WE'RE ENCOURAGING, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY CAN'T MAKE PEOPLE WEAR HELMETS.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE BETTER BEHAVIOR AND SAFETY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY, AS A COMMUNITY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO LOOK TO ENCOURAGE HELMET USAGE OF THESE SCOOTERS -- ON THESE SCOOTERS? AND, OF COURSE, WE DO THAT A LOT ON BIKES AS WELL.
HOW CAN WE SEND THAT POSITIVE MESSAGE OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR MORE HELMET USAGE?
>> FIRST WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE VENDORS FOR THEIR IDEAS, WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN OTHER CITIES AND WHERE THEY PLAN ON PROVIDING
[00:55:02]
HELMETS FOR USERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO USE A HELMET.AND SO WE MAY NOT REQUIRE IT BUT IF THERE'S A FAMILY ON VACATION AND THEY WANT TO USE A SCOOTER, WHERE CAN THEY GO PICK UP A HELMET OR GET A HELMET IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE IT.
THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF IDEAS WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THROUGH THE RFP.
NOW, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING A LOT OF EDUCATION ONCE WE INITIATE THE NEW PROGRAM ABOUT HELMET USAGE, HOW YOU CAN GET A HELMET, WHERE YOU CAN GET ONE.
IF YOU DIDN'T BRING ONE FOR YOUR RIDE, OR JUST THE IMPORTANCE OF USING A HELMET AND THE BENEFITS.
THAT WILL BE THROUGH OUR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT WE HAVE BUDGETED IN THE $500,000.
THANK YOU CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS REALLY SHOWING THAT WE'RE TRANSITIONING TO A TRULY MULTI-MODAL CITY AND I TRULY BELIEVE IN MICROMOBILITY AS WE'RE GETTING READY TO ONLINE OUR NEW PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY OFFICER, WHICH I HOPE CAN ALSO PLAY A ROLE SOMEHOW IN THIS RFP PROCESS, IF NOT AFTER, AS WELL.
THIS IS, I THINK, ALSO AN INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE AND I HOPE THAT WE'RE REALLY TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR CITY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO, HOW WE CAN TRULY IMPROVE THAT.
ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY FEELS VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH THIS.
AGAIN, THIS IS WHY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE 311 SA APP BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IS THE RIGHT APPROACH TO COLLECTING DATA AND REPORTING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN THEN CHECK TO SEE HOW WE'RE RESPONDING.
>> MY STAFF JUST SENT ME THE NUMBER.
3500 CALLS OR INPUTS THROUGH THE 311 APP.
>> TREVINO: SINCE JANUARY, I GUESS.
AND WITH THAT I MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 4.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4.
SINCE WE'RE HERE TALKING ABOUT THE INFAMOUS SCOOTERS, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE SUN ALSO RISES IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE'LL TRANSITION NOW TO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU FOR THE TRANSITION, MAYOR.
LORI, EXCELLENT WORK FROM YOUR MOUTH TO GOD'S EARS, HOVERBOARDS, SOONER THAN LATER.
[LAUGHTER] I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GO ON RECORD SAYING TWO THINGS.
I STILL THINK 5,000 IS TOO MUCH.
AND I ONLY HAVE ONE CONSTITUENT IN MY ENTIRE DISTRICT WHO IS PRO SCOOTER, BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANOTHER ONE.
I'M HESITANT AND I'M A LITTLE SCARED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT 5,000 MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
AND I FEAR THAT 5,000 MIGHT LOOK LIKE EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
HOWEVER, I AM OPEN TO THE IDEA OF MODIFYING THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LIKE WE DO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
AND IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT THIS IS VERY THOUGHTFUL.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT ONE COMPANY IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY INTERESTED IN DOING THE RIGHT THING AND I'M SURE ALL OF THEM HAVE, BUT ONE OF THEM HAS JUST SORT OF ABOVE OTHERS, YOU KNOW, EXHIBITED EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT THESE COMPANIES TO EXHIBIT, WHICH IS A WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US AND SEEK CONSENSUS.
I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICULARLY THANK OUR FRIENDS AT LYFT FOR BEING SO COOPERATIVE.
BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET MY SUPPORT TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
I HAVE THIS STORY -- I'M JUST KIDDING.
I'M NOT GOING TO TELL A STORY.
YES, I AM GOING TO REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GEO-FENCING FOR ME IN FRONT OF THE ALAMO AND THE MISSION REACH AND ALL THOSE AREAS.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD FOR THE CHANGING OF THE NEW POLICY ORDINANCE RECOMMENDATIONS, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH ALL OF THEM, ESPECIALLY INCLUDING NOT ON THE SIDEWALK RIDING, BECAUSE THAT'S CREATED MORE ACCIDENTS THAN WE'VE WANTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT YOU'RE COMING TO AND WHEN WE NEED TO SEE SOME FLEXIBILITY, I'M GLAD WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ABLE TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY WITH WHICH EVER THE THREE COMPANIES ARE.
FOR THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THOSE NAMES.
IT'S A GREAT MIX OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE RESIDENTS AND THE
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GRENADA HOME RESIDENTS AND THE DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS TOO.ON THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND CENTRO IS A STAKEHOLDER.
BUT WE HAVE USED CENTRO IN THE PAST, THE CITY HAS, AS HELPING US WITH THE SCOOTERS.
SO WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, JUST CLARIFICATION, IF ANY OF THESE VENDORS COME TO US, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE CENTRO AS ONE OF THEIR -- ONE THAT WOULD HELP DOWNTOWN.
>> NO, WE WOULD LOOK AT THE RFP FIRST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY CONFLICTS.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO USE CENTRO AS OUR TOOL.
AND SO WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE --
>> VIAGRAN: SO HOW WOULD WE USE SEN CENTRO AS OUR TOOL? WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO DO?
SO OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING US ASSISTANCE IN CORRECTING THE VEHICLES.
BUT WITH THE DECREASE IN THE VEHICLE COUNT TO 5,000 AND THE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND MORE REGULATION, WE MAY NOT NEED THEM TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.
WHAT THEY'RE ON THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE FOR MAINLY IS TO HELP US LOOK AT THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO WORK WITH CENTRO AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO AVOID CONFLICTS LIKE WITH THEIR POWER WASHING OR WITH EVENTS.
AND SO THEY WILL BE A RESOURCE FOR THAT.
IT'S MORE TO INFORM THE COMMITTEE IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WAY WE HAVE USED CENTRO HELPING US CLEAN UP THE SIDEWALKS, ET CETERA, WHEN THEY'RE FALLING ON THE GROUND, IS THAT THEY ARE NOT THEN GOING TO DO A SUBCONTRACTING TO CENTRO, BECAUSE CENTRO IS ALREADY GOING TO BE CONFLICTED OUT OF THIS WHOLE THING.
AND BECAUSE WE'RE HOPING THAT THESE VENDORS WOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THE DUTIES THAT CENTRO IS DOING RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALREADY HAVE SOMETHING TAKEN CARE OF WITH CENTRO THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PAY CENTRO ANY MORE.
>> NO, WE HAVE HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH THEM THAT WE FEEL DECREASING THEM TO 5,000, WE WANT TO SEE IF THE SERVICES ARE NEEDED.
BUT WE THINK THROUGH THIS MORE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO NEED THEM TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL SERVICE.
>> VIAGRAN: I KNOW OUR AMBASSADORS HAVE SEEN IT AS A BURDEN AND DIFFICULT FOR THEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THEM AS THEY'RE CLEANING.
IT MAKES IT NOT LOOK NICE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY CONTINUE TO DO A GOOD JOB.
ONE THING I WOULD ASK LORI, MAYOR, ERIK, WHEN IT COMES TO THE AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS AS A B SESSION JUST AS A BRIEFING AFTER WE SELECT WHO THE VENDORS ARE TO GO TO AUDIT TO COME TO B SO WE CAN THEN GO TO A.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMANCOUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AT OUR LAST B SESSION AT PORT SAN ANTONIO.
MOST OF MINE HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
JUST A LAST COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I ALSO WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD AS REQUESTING.
PERSONALLY I THINK WE SHOULD REQUIRE HELMETS.
I DON'T BELIEVE I'LL GET THE SUPPORT ON THIS COUNCIL TO REQUIRE THAT AND THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE CONTESTED AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, SO I WON'T PUSH FOR THAT.
BUT WHAT I WILL PUSH FOR IS SEEING HOW -- IS HAVING THE BIDDERS COMPETE ON INCENTIVIZING THE USE OF HELMETS.
AND THEN MY NEXT COMMENT IS I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WOULD NOT REVISIT -- OR THE RECOMMENDATION IS NOT TO REVISIT THE CURFEW UNTIL AFTER THE RFP HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO REVISIT IT, WHICH I BELIEVE WE SHOULD.
I THINK IT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE BIDDING PROCESS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT HOURS THE OPERATORS ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE.
SO I THINK THAT'S A CERTAINTY THAT THE BIDDERS SHOULD HAVE TO THEM NOW.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT CHANGING OR ELIMINATING THE CURFEW AT THIS POINT.
SO WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? DOES THAT REQUIRE DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL IN ORDER TO DO THAT?
>> WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE CURFEW WITH SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE STAKEHOLDERS.
AND I'VE MADE VERY CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT A NO.
IT'S REALLY, WE WANT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THE NEW ENVIRONMENT IS OPERATING.
SO WITH NO MORE -- WITH THE PROHIBITION OF RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SCOOTERS RIDING ON THE
[01:05:02]
STREETS IN THE LATE EVENING HOURS.THERE MIGHT BE MORE SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT SO WE WANT TO SEE HOW THAT MANIFESTS.
AND THEN MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATION.
BUT IN DISCUSSION WITH SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THROUGH THE B SESSION DISCUSSION WE DIDN'T SEE SUPPORT FOR ELIMINATING THE CURFEW.
I'LL JUST GO ON RECORD AS SAYING I THINK IT SHOULD REALLY BE UP TO THE COMPANIES WHEN THEY DECIDE TO OPERATE THEIR SCOOTERS.
I SEE SOMEONE BEHIND YOU NODDING AT ME SO I'M GLAD TO KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS.
I THINK IT'S UP TO THOSE COMPANIES TO DECIDE WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO OPERATE THEIR SCOOTERS.
AND IF WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, HELMETS ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AND I DON'T SEE US PRIORITIZING THAT AS MUCH.
SO IN A SENSE I THINK THOSE TWO THINGS DON'T MAKE SENSE.
SO I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
AND ULTIMATELY WHEN WE DO DEVELOP THE PARKING ZONES, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO REDUCE ANY PEDESTRIAN SPACE.
SO WHEN WE COME BACK TO LOOK AT THOSE I WOULDN'T BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
I DIDN'T SEE THIS IN THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RFP, BUT REGARDING WHERE SCOOTERS WILL BE.
WILL THAT BE SOME SORT OF ARRANGEMENT THAT YOU'LL HAVE WITH THE VENDORS? AND I DON'T MEAN LIKE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE PARKED BUT WILL THEY BE REQUIRED TO OPERATE BEYOND DOWNTOWN? IF WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SCOOTERS OUT IN THE NORTHWEST OR ON THE SOUTH SIDE, HOW WILL WE ENSURE THAT?
>> SO WE WILL BE MONITORING THAT.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO BOUNDARY OF WHERE YOU CAN OPERATE.
YOU CAN OPERATE THE 5,000 SCOOTERS CITY-WIDE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE INCLUDED IS THAT FLEXIBILITY TO WHERE IN THE EVENT WE SEE THERE'S DEMAND IN AN AREA OUTSIDE OF WHERE MOST OF THE SCOOTERS ARE CONCENTRATED, WE CAN EXPLORE INCREASING THAT PERMIT COUNT, PROVIDED THEY SERVICE THAT AREA.
BUT MOST SCOOTERS ARE GOING TO PLACE THE -- MOST COMPANIES ARE GOING TO PLACE THE VEHICLES WHERE THERE IS DEMAND, BUT WE WANT TO ALLOW THAT OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE PERMITS TO WORK WITH THE VENDORS.
WE MAY LIMIT THOSE PERMITS TO THAT SPECIFIC AREA IF THERE IS DATA THAT SUPPORTS THAT DEMAND.
>> SANDOVAL: AND IS THAT INFORMATION THAT WILL BE SHARED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS?
WE PLAN ON PRESENTING THAT TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
SO, SORRY, AGAIN, THE REGULATION REGARDING SIDEWALKS, THAT ORDINANCE.
THAT WOULD BE CHANGED IN OCTOBER.
>> SANDOVAL: TELL ME AGAIN WHAT IS THE INFORMATION YOU NEED BEFORE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION ON THE CURFEW.
>> ON THE CURFEW, WE'RE LOOKING AT ACCIDENTS.
WE MADE THE CURFEW DECISION BASED ON THE ACCIDENTS OCCURRING BETWEEN THOSE AREAS OF 11:00 P.M. AND 6:00 A.M.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS GO FORWARD WITH THESE AMENDMENTS, CHANGE THE ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT SIDEWALKS.
AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE THE 5,000 DOCKLESS VEHICLES OPERATING IN SAN ANTONIO, THEN WE CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND DO WE NEED TO DO MORE EDUCATION, DO WE NEED MORE LIGHTING, TO SEE IF THERE'S SUPPORT TO LIFT THAT CURFEW.
WE FEEL IF WE WERE TO GO FORWARD AND CHANGE THE CURFEW ALONG WITH CHANGING THE SIDEWALKS, THEN THERE MIGHT BE SOME CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE HOW THEY'RE OPERATING WITH OUR POWER WASHING SCHEDULE, BECAUSE THAT OCCURS AFTER 11:00 P.M.
AND SO WE'RE JUST REQUESTING THAT WE MONITOR IT SO WE CAN MAKE A MORE INFORMED DECISION.
SO IS THERE A DATE CERTAIN THAT YOU WOULD COME BACK?
>> IF WE WERE TO GO TO COUNCIL ON THIS, LET'S SAY OCTOBER 1, WE WOULD MAKE OUR REPORT AND BRIEFING TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WITHIN SIX MONTHS ON THAT.
>> SANDOVAL: WITHIN SIX MONTHS ON WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS?
>> AFTER WE COLLECT THE DATA AND LOOK AT WHERE PEOPLE ARE RIDING.
WE WANT TO SEE WHERE ARE THE MAJORITY OF RIDES HAPPENING.
AND THAT WILL HELP US INFORM THE DECISION AS WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
LORI, ON THE FEES AGAIN -- AND I EXPRESSED A LITTLE CONCERN ABOUT THAT UP-FRONT COST.
I THINK YOU SAID IT WAS $20,000 FOR EACH COMPANY AND THAT'S RIGHT UP FRONT IF THEY GET AWARDED THAT CONTRACT.
HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO THE COMPANIES TO GET THEIR INPUT ON THAT OR WHAT'S THE STANDARD ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
>> WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMPANIES, BUT OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A COST RECOVERY PROGRAM AND THE GENERAL FUND DOES NOT SUPPLEMENT
[01:10:02]
THIS PROGRAM.AND SO WE DEFINITELY SEE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SCOOTER INFRASTRUCTURE OUTSIDE OF THAT $500,000 OPERATING BUDGET.
AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME COMPANIES IS THEY PREFER WE PURCHASE IT AND THEY NOT PROVIDE IT BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT PERMITTING OR MAKING SURE IT'S UNIVERSAL.
AND SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE CITY TO PURCHASE IT, WORK WITH THE THREE VENDORS TO HELP US DECIDE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE BEST SCOOTER RACK, WHAT'S THE BEST CORRAL, AND USE THAT FUNDING TOGETHER TO PURCHASE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> PERRY: WOULD WE NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE THAT MONEY RIGHT UP FRONT? OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD SPLIT UP ACROSS THE YEAR TO GIVE, LET'S SAY A SMALLER COMPANY AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOVER THOSE COSTS INSTEAD OF RIGHT UP FRONT THAT 25 GRAND.
THE SMALLER COMPANIES MIGHT NOT HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM.
>> AND IT WILL BE PRORATED IF IT'S A SMALLER COMPANY.
IT'S $25,000 IF YOU RECEIVE 1,666 PERMITS.
AND THEN IF YOU RECEIVE MORE, THEN THAT WILL INCREASE.
AND IF YOU RECEIVE LESS, THAT WILL DECREASE.
>> PERRY: COULD YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND REACH OUT AGAIN TO THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE OPERATING HERE NOW, JUST TO LET THEM KNOW THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS AT THIS POINT.
AND WE HAVEN'T SENT OUT -- WE HAVEN'T SENT OUT A DRAFT RFP OR ANYTHING ON THIS YET.
WE WILL BE ISSUING THE RFP NEXT FRIDAY ON JUNE 7TH.
AND WE WILL HAVE A PRESUBMITTAL CONFERENCE ON JUNE 14 TO ALLOW VENDORS TO ASK QUESTIONS OR SUBMIT QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE.
AND WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY OF VENDORS TO ASK OR SUBMIT QUESTIONS THROUGH THE 19TH OF JUNE.
BUT WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 15 DAYS TO REALLY ALLOW US TO GET THAT FEEDBACK FROM THE VENDORS.
IF THEY DO COME UP WITH LANGUAGE OR CONCERNS, THAT KIND OF THING, ABOUT THE RFP, THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND MAKE CHANGES.
THEY CAN SUBMIT THOSE IN WRITING AND WE WILL RESPOND AND WE WILL RESPOND TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS REQUESTED THE RFP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> VIAGRAN: A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.
SO THE CHANGE OF THE POLICY TO GET OFF OF SIDEWALKS IS NOT GOING TO START UNTIL OCTOBER?
>> VIAGRAN: EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE PERMIT EXTENSION THIS COMING MONTH?
AND SO WE NEED TO DO MORE FUNDING AND -- WE NEED MORE FUNDING TO PROVIDE FOR MORE EDUCATION.
WE WERE GOING TO DO ALL THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS AND AMENDMENTS WHEN WE COME BACK WITH THE SELECTED VENDORS.
BECAUSE MOST OF THE VENDORS' PERMITS THAT WE HAVE TODAY, SOME OF THEM EXPIRE IN LATE JULY.
AND SO WE'RE ONLY EXTENDING THEM FOR MAYBE ONE OR TWO MONTHS.
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY MY BIG CONCERN IS THAT THEY'RE STILL RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE ACCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THE SIDEWALKS.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO BE EXTENDING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THEM OFF THE SIDEWALKS.
THAT IS MY CONCERN, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM TAKEN OFF THE SIDEWALKS SOONER.
>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT BECAUSE THE ISSUE WE HAVE IS YOU HAVE SOME VENDORS WHOSE PERMIT EXPIRES THIS MONTH.
AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME VENDORS WHOSE PERMIT EXPIRES IN JULY OR AUGUST.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE RFP, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP THE DISCUSSION JUST TO TERMS OF THE RFP.
>> VIAGRAN: BUT THAT INCLUDES THE PERMIT EXTENSION THOUGH TOO?
>> THE REASON WHY WE DIDN'T DO THE AMENDMENTS TODAY IS BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE SOME OPERATORS OPERATING UNDER THE PREVIOUS PERMIT THAT ALLOWED THEM TO BE ON THE SIDEWALKS AND THEN SOME OPERATORS WHO HAD THE NEW PERMIT WHERE THEY WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED ON THE SIDEWALK.
AND SO IT WOULD BE A MIXED MESSAGE TO THE USER WHETHER OR NOT YOU COULD OR COULD NOT BE ON THE SIDEWALK.
AND SO THE BEST APPROACH WAS TO AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE THREE VENDORS IMPLEMENT THE ORDINANCE CHANGES AT THAT TIME.
I SAY OKAY AS THAT'S YOUR EXPLANATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> COURAGE: THIS LAST DISCUSSION REALLY DISTURBS ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT IN DISCUSSIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH AUDIO] AND WHAT I'VE HEARD WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET THOSE SCOOTERS OFF THE SIDEWALK RIGHT NOW AS SOON AS WE CAME OUT AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME EXTENSIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUT THIS RFP.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET THE SCOOTERS OFF THE SIDEWALK RIGHT NOW.
[01:15:03]
MOTION TO AMEND THE CURRENT MOTION BROUGHT FORWARD THAT THESE SCOOTERS BE REMOVED FROM SIDEWALK USE, EFFECTIVE THE TIME THAT WE OFFER EXTENSIONS TO ALL OF THE CURRENT LICENSEES.AND THAT IF WE HAVE TO ADJUST THEIR CURRENT LICENSE TO TAKE THEM OFF THE SIDEWALK THAT WE CONSIDER DOING THAT.
I THINK THE SAFETY FACTOR IS VERY CLEAR AND WAITING UNTIL SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER TO INITIATE THIS IS JUST A CASE FOR MORE ACCIDENTS TO OCCUR.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A DEADLINE FOR REMOVAL OF THE SCOOTERS CURRENTLY FROM THE SIDEWALK OF TODAY.
MAYOR, THERE WAS ONE OTHER COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE BEFORE I MADE THAT MOTION.
AND THAT IS JUST ON THE SUBJECT OF THE TIME LIMIT, SAYING PEOPLE COULDN'T RIDE AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WORK DOWNTOWN AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE SCOOTERS FOR MOBILITY AFTER THEY WORK.
MAYBE THEY GET OFF AT 12:00 OR 2:00.
JUST LIKE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF LEGAL RESTRICTIONS ARE GIVEN CERTAIN RIGHTS TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.
I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY COULD ADD SOME KIND OF EXCEPTION TO THAT LIMITATION FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK DOWNTOWN SO THAT THEY COULD GET A SPECIAL PERMIT TO GO AHEAD AND RENT A SCOOTER AFTER HOURS SO THAT THEY COULD GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED IN THIS RFP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> REALLY, A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE COUNCILMAN IN TERMS OF HIS MOTION.
IF THERE IS AN AMENDMENT TO RESTRICT THE SCOOTERS FROM THE SIDEWALKS, THE VENDORS WILL AT LEAST SOME PERIOD OF TIME TO MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT.
SO, COUNCILMAN, IF I COULD SUGGEST AT LEAST SOME DATE CERTAIN WHEN THEY WOULD BE EFFECTIVE.
THAT WOULD GIVE THEM AT LEAST SOME DAYS TO PREPARE FOR THAT.
>> COURAGE: THAT'S FAIR, AND I WOULD SAY BY JUNE 30TH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN ON THE SECOND? GREAT.
SO THERE IS AN AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR WE'LL TAKE UP FIRST TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH WOULD BE THAT THE SCOOTERS WILL BE RESTRICTED FROM SIDEWALK ACCESS EFFECTIVE JUNE 30TH.
JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FROM ME.
FIRST OF ALL, I LIKE THE AMENDMENT.
I HAD SUGGESTED TWO VENDORS AS OPPOSED TO THREE.
I'M OKAY WITH THE THREE, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CONSTANT CHURN OF -- OR THE TWO-YEAR CONTRACT, THE SHORT TERM OF THE CONTRACT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN PLACE, THE VENDORS THAT ARE IN PLACE, THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE INCENTIVE TO CONTINUE TO INNOVATE.
BUT I'M OKAY WITH THE THREE THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING.
AND I DO THINK WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARD FEWER OF THE VEHICLES.
I KIND OF TEND TO SIDE WITH COUNCILMAN PELAEZ THAT, YOU KNOW, 5,000 MAY BE TOO MANY BUT IT'S CERTAINLY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THE FUTURE COUNCIL CAN ADJUST THAT AS NECESSARY.
JUST GENERAL I THINK IT'S A GREAT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, HOWEVER, THEY ARE JUST MESSY AND IT JUST LOOKS BAD, PARTICULARLY FOR A CITY WHERE A BULK OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM TOURISM.
THAT SORT OF LOOK JUST DOESN'T WORK, AT LEAST FOR ME.
AND SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS MOVEMENT AND THE FUTURE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO CLEAN UP THIS MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE MOTION TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HALL.
I JUST WANT TO CHECK IN ON THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS OFFERED.
THE ABILITY TO GET THESE SCOOTERS OFF OF THE SIDEWALKS IS REALLY A BURDEN THAT IS PLACED ON THE PERSON WHO IS RIDING THEM.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM THOSE WHO WOULD BE ENFORCING IT, BECAUSE I SUPPOSE THAT'S PROBABLY THE WAY YOU GET SCOOTERS OFF.
IT'S NOT A MAN DATE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL THAT'S GOING TO CONSCIOUSLY GO INTO THE MIND OF A PERSON WHO IS RIDING ON JUNE 30TH .
SO IF WE ARE GOING TO ENFORCE IT I'D LIKE SOMEBODY TO COMMENT ON WHETHER WE COULD DO THAT, ROLL IT OUT, EDUCATE COMMUNITY
[01:20:02]
MEMBERS IN SOME WAY SO THAT BY JUNE 30TH, ON JULY 1ST FOLKS ARE LIKE I KNOW GOVERNMENT IS MANDATING THAT WE TAKE IT OFF THE SIDEWALKS BUT AT LEAST GIVE US A HEADS UP.CAN WE EXECUTE IN TIME TO ENFORCE AND, TWO, IS THAT ENOUGH FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO BE CALLING US ABOUT THEIR TICKETS.
>> SO THE -- THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
SO RIGHT NOW WE CURRENTLY DO THREE HOURS OF SAPD ENFORCEMENT EVERY DAY.
IT'S SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO OUR BUDGET SUPPORTS THOSE THREE HOURS.
AND SO WE WON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT OTHER THAN THOSE THREE HOURS.
BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE EDUCATE THE MEMBERS, THE COMMUNITY SAPD ON THAT IT IS NO LONGER ALLOWED TO RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK AND THEY CAN ISSUE TICKETS BASED ON THAT.
THE OCTOBER 1, THE NEW SCOOTER VENDORS, WILL BE PAYING AN ADDITIONAL FEE OR HIGHER FEES TO SUPPORT MORE ENFORCEMENT.
BUT WE CAN WORK WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET TO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT.
SO TELL ME WHAT CHANGES WITH THE AMENDMENT IF IT WERE TO PASS?
>> IF IT WERE TO PASS, STARTING JUNE 30 WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH THOSE PERMIT HOLDERS WHO HAVE PERMITS BEYOND THAT TIME TO AMEND THOSE PERMITS.
AND THEN ANYBODY WHO IS SEEKING A NEW PERMIT, IT WILL STATE THAT STARTING JUNE 30 THEY CAN'T RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK.
THEY ARE STILL ONLY PROVIDING US A $10 FEE THAT WILL BE PRORATED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH.
AND SO WE'LL HAVE ABOUT $55,000, AND THAT'S THE MONEY WE USE FOR EDUCATION.
WE'LL DO MORE EDUCATION AND WE CAN DEFINITELY EDUCATE ON PROHIBITING -- PROHIBITION ON THE SIDEWALK.
THAT'S ALSO FUNDING WE USE FOR THE SAPD OVERTIME.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THAT BUDGETED.
IT'S ONLY THREE HOURS BUT WITH THIS LAW IN PLACE THEY WILL DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO ENFORCE FOR THE SIDEWALKS.
IT JUST WON'T BE ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT UNTIL WE GET THE ADDITIONAL FEES.
I SAID ON THE RECORD I AM ON THE SIDE OF THE DECISION THAT WOULD SAY LET'S REMOVE THE SCOOTERS FROM THE SIDEWALKS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO IT WE EXECUTE ON THAT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS OUR TEAM THE ABILITY TO CREATE WHAT IS THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM FOR THAT.
WE GIVE PROPER NOTICE AND HEADS UP TO THE CONSUMER WHO IS USING IT.
AND I'M ASSUMING ALLOWING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR THE COMPANIES TO, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENT THIS INTO THEIR APPS OR TO THE PROGRAM OR TO THEIR MARKETING.
I THINK JUNE 30TH MAKES A LITTLE MORE SENSE THAN JUST TOMORROW OR AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THE VOTE.
LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING SCOOTERS OFF THE SIDEWALKS FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT, THE ASPECT THAT IT DOESN'T RISK THE PEDESTRIAN AT THE EXPENSE OF THE SCOOTER.
I KNOW WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE STREET PIECE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
ERIK, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE PENALTIES WOULD BE?
>> I'M GOING TO ASK ED GUZMAN, WHO IS OUR CITY ATTORNEY, WORKING WITH US ON THIS.
>> GENERALLY THE PENALTIES ARE UP TO $500 FOR VIOLATIONS.
BUT IT CAN BE, FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, MAYBE $100.
WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT THAT WILL BE, CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CODES THAT WE HAVE.
THAT'S WHAT SOME OF US ARE KIND OF GETTING AT HERE.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE MOVED IT TO THE END OF JUNE, BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF A GRACE PERIOD AS THIS IS A BIG CHANGE.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE PENALTIES ARE SOMETHING THAT ARE WELL-COMMUNICATED AND CAN HELP PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A NEW RULE OR ORDINANCE IN OUR CITY.
SO I'LL ASK FOR A ROBUST COMMUNICATION OF WHAT THOSE FEES AND PENALTIES WILL BE.
AND AS FURTHER CLARIFICATION, BEFORE WE CAN IMPOSE ANY OF THOSE PENALTIES OR FINES, WE HAVE TO PUBLISH THOSE IN THE PAPER, MAKE THAT PUBLIC.
AND THEN THOSE FINES WON'T BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL FIVE DAYS AFTER THAT PUBLICATION AS WELL.
SO WE'LL BAKE THAT INTO THIS, IF IT IS APPROVED, AS WELL.
I JUST WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T CREATE A PUNITIVE ISSUE THAT'S REALLY NOT EQUITABLE TO SOME.
SO THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT CAN IMPACT SOMEONE A LOT HARDER THAN OTHERS.
SO DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THIS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND MY FELLOW
[01:25:03]
COUNCIL MEMBERS -- AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL KNOW -- PROBABLY 75% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RIDING ON THESE SCOOTERS ARE TOURISTS WHO JUST COME HERE ONE TIME A YEAR, IF THAT FREQUENTLY.I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE, ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ONE OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE DO RIDE THE SCOOTERS DOWNTOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THAT HIGH.
BUT STILL WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING THEM WEEKS' WORTH OF NOTICE AND I THINK MOST OF THEM WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE ALREADY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THAT RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ALLOW A LOT OF OTHER VEHICLES TO DO, LIKE BICYCLES.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A FAIRLY EASY TRANSITION, ALTHOUGH UNDERSTANDABLY NOTIFICATION NEEDS TO BE GIVEN.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE MOSTLY FOR TOURISTS.
AND IF THEY GET HERE AND FIND OUT THEY CAN RIDE A SCOOTER BUT YOU HAVE TO RIDE IT ON THE ROAD, IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY EASY FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT.
I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A MATTER OF SAFETY.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE RECENTLY.
BUT LAST TIME WE SAID THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE 70,000 THAT WERE REPORTED.
HOW MANY 311 CALLS DID WE JUST SAY WE HAD THAT HAVE COME IN? THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF 311 CALLS THAT WERE JUST BROUGHT FORWARD.
SO OBVIOUSLY IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM ON THE SIDEWALKS.
AND LET'S ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU'RE MAKING.
THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVEN'T ANSWERED YET ABOUT HOW IT WOULD BE ENFORCED AND HOW WE WOULD EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT IT.
MAY I SUGGEST THAT, MAYOR, WE REVISIT THE TOPIC MAYBE AT OUR NEXT B SESSION OR OUR NEXT A SESSION, IF STAFF COULD COME WITH -- I STILL SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STAFF COME FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSAL FOR THE EDUCATION AND THE ENFORCEMENT AND ALL THE OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS.
AND MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE WILL BE SUBJECT TO COUNCIL APPROVAL, BUT I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF THEY WERE.
IF THE IMPLEMENTATION WERE SUBJECT TO COUNCIL APPROVAL, THE SAME WAY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE RFP AND THE PIECES OF IT AND PROVIDING INPUT ON THAT.
>> WALSH: I WAS GOING TO OFFER TWO SUGGESTIONS, COUNCILWOMAN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
ONE, IF THE ORDINANCE OR THE AMENDMENT IS PASSED TODAY, THEN IT'S ALREADY IN EFFECT.
AND I THINK SOME OF THE MESSAGES THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE A WELL-THOUGHT OUT COMMUNICATION PLAN NOT ONLY TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS AND THE SCOOTER COMPANIES AND DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO FROM AN ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM, I THINK ONE OF THE EARLY UPDATES THAT WE GAVE THE COUNCIL, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PARK POLICE HAD ISSUED GOBS OF WARNINGS AND LIKE THREE TICKETS.
AND SO I THINK WE WOULD TAKE THE SAME TYPE OF APPROACH IN THAT WE EDUCATE, WE NOTIFY, WE COMMUNICATE.
BUT THEN WE ALSO RELY UPON THE POLICE OFFICERS AND PARK POLICE TO, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS CHANGE FROM A REGULATORY STANDPOINT, USE DISCRETION TO ADVICE PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE APPROACH WE TAKE.
SO ONE SUGGESTION IS THAT WE CAN GIVE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE IN A MEMO FROM ME TO YOU KIND OF OUTLINING THAT.
BUT IF YOU VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT TODAY, IT'S BEING ENACTED AND WE'RE GOING TO START WORKING ON IT THIS AFTERNOON.
AND AT LEAST THAT GIVES THE COUNCIL, AS A GROUP, HERE'S THE PLAN FOR COMMUNICATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK WE'LL DO IT THE WAY WE DO EVERYTHING ELSE FROM AN ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT WHERE YOU GIVE A LEAD TIME.
YOU EDUCATE, YOU GIVE A LEAD TIME.
THERE'S WARNINGS AND THEN YOU GET TO A FULL-BLOWN ENFORCEMENT.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I'LL JUST MAKE A FEW OBSERVATIONS BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE VOTE.
I DO ALSO SUPPORT MOVING THE SCOOTERS OFF THE SIDEWALK.
I DIDN'T EXPECT IT WOULD HAPPEN SO SOON BUT I THINK WITH ENOUGH TIME AND LEEWAY WE CAN DO THE EDUCATION AND EVENTUALLY GET TO A MORE ROBUST ENFORCEMENT.
I'VE DONE A LOT OF REFLECTING AND LISTENING ON THE SCOOTER DEBATE OVER THE LAST YEAR.
AND WHAT CONTINUES TO COME BACK TO ME IS THAT THIS IS OUR NEED FOR A MARKET THAT DRIVES
[01:30:01]
INNOVATION AND TRANSPORTATION AND COLLIDING WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MADE REALLY BAD CHOICES IN HOW WE BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS CITY.AND SO I REALLY HOPE WE CONTINUE TO HONE IN ON THE FACT THAT THIS CITY NEEDS BETTER MULTI-MODAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
COMPLETE STREETS, SAFE BIKE LANES, AND WIDER PEDESTRIAN PATHS.
THAT, TO ME, IS THE ULTIMATE TAKEAWAY FROM THIS ENTIRE DISCUSSION AND ALL THOSE DECISIONS OBVIOUSLY WERE NOT MADE BY PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
BUT WE CAN GO BACK AND START PRIORITIZING THOSE IN A MORE ROBUST WAY.
CONNECT SA IS PART OF THAT STRATEGY.
THE WORK THAT THE TRANSPORTATION GROUPS DO IT AS WELL.
I DID WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, THOUGH.
LORI, CAN YOU TELL ME AGAIN WHAT IN TERMS OF -- AND WE ARE GOING TO A COUNCIL DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE CAN REFINE OUR PROCUREMENT POLICIES SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, BE MORE EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE IN THIS SO I'M LOOKING AT MORE CLOSELY HOW WE DO SCORING AT THIS LEVEL RATHER THAN AT THE END.
WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC TERMS PORTION OF THE SCORING? BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THERE'S MUCH VARIABILITY FROM ONE COMPANY TO THE NEXT? WHAT ARE THOSE 10 POINTS GOING TO BE ASSIGNED TO.
>> HOUSTON: I MIGHT ASK FINANCE TO COME AND JOIN US UP HERE, BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE WHAT OTHER IDEAS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE $100 FEE OR THE $25,000 INFRASTRUCTURE FEE.
SO SOME MIGHT HAVE IDEAS, FOR ME IT MAY BE A REVENUE SHARE OF 1 PERCENT, OR SOME MIGHT SAY FOR EVERY RIDE WITHIN THIS ZONE WE WILL CONTRIBUTE A DOLLAR.
SO WE WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S A CONCESSION OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE SHARE SOME OF THAT REVENUE AND WE CAN EITHER PUT IT TOWARDS INFRASTRUCTURE OR OTHER PRIORITIES THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JUST TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOTTED OF -- A LOT OF WEIGHT TO WHAT WOULD BE MAYBE A CREATIVE ELEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF THEIR PROPOSAL; WHEREAS OTHER THINGS -- I'M VERY INTERESTED IN IS HOW DO THEY DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES OF LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS CITY, WHAT IS THEIR TRACK RECORD IN OTHER CITIES? YOU KNOW, HOW ENGAGED WITH THE STAFF HAVE THEY BEEN IN THIS ENTIRE PROCESS OF REFINING THE ORDINANCE AND SO FORTH.
>> THE ONLY THING I WAS GOING TO ADD TO LORI'S EXPLANATION IS THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ECONOMIC TERMS, AND LORI'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON THE WAY SHE EXPLAINED IT, THAT'S A VERY QUANTIFIABLE PROCESS.
SO ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND, WE HAVE A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY CALCULATE THAT AND ALLOCATE THOSE POINTS.
SO MY ORIENTATION ON THIS IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR A COMPANY TO INNOVATE BUT STAY WITHIN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARAMETERS.
YOU KNOW, NOT OPERATING ON THE SIDEWALK NOW, POTENTIALLY INCENTING THE USE OF A HELMET, MAKING SURE THE VEHICLE ITSELF IS DURABLE, WELL-LIGHTED AND SO FORTH.
I'M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL NEW CONCESSION OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE IF WE ARE TRULY TRYING TO GET TO A COST RECOVERY MODEL, WE WANT THE MARGINS THAT THE COMPANY MAKES TO GO INTO BETTER EQUIPMENT, BETTER SERVICE, LESSON POTENTIAL REVENUE-MAKING FOR THE CITY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION PAID TO THE QUALITY AND THE INNOVATION OF THE PROPOSAL, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE OF IT, RATHER THAN TRYING TO INCENT A REALLY COOL CONCESSION MODEL.
I WANTED TO BRING UP WITH REGARD TO THE SELECTION TEAM, DURING OUR B SESSION AT THE PORT, I MEAN, THE CONSTANT THEME WAS INNOVATION.
I WAS SURPRISED NOT TO SEE A MEMBER OF THE INNOVATION TEAM ON THERE.
>> HOUSTON: SO WE DO HAVE CRAIG HOPKINS WITH ITSD, WE ALSO HAVE SOMEONE WITH USAA WHO'S IN THEIR INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE BRIAN DILLARD ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE.
>> HOUSTON: WITH CCO STAFF AND SO THEY WILL BE ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE CREATION OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.
WELL, I JUST HOPE THAT THAT IS THE CASE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO FIT THE ROUND PEG INTO THE SQUARE HOLE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EMPHASIZING THE WRONG -- THE WRONG THINGS.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INNOVATION TEAM, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE THERE, THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
THE OTHER THING IS AS WE ARE EMPHASIZING THE ROLE OF DISABILITY ACCESS IN THE SELECTION OF THE VENDORS, I KNOW IT'S IN THERE, BUT IT'S NOT AT THE LEVEL I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE, THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY AS WELL AS THE CYCLISTS.
AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT PLACE FOR PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY OFFICER TO SLIP INTO.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT YET, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE PERSPECTIVES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
[01:35:01]
ACCESS AND PEDESTRIANS ARE THE REASON WHY WE'RE REMOVING THEM FROM THE SIDEWALK.THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL ON THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
YOU KNOW, I THINK ANY KIND OF MOBILITY ISSUE, TRANSPORTATION IS GOING TO HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF ACCIDENTS IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS, BUT IT'S ALSO THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE WORKERS OVERNIGHT THAT MORE DESPERATELY NEED ALTERNATIVES.
AND IF THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY REEXAMINE THAT, PUT SOME MORE SAFETY RULES IN PLACE, PERHAPS THE VEHICLES THEMSELVES GET SAFER, I WOULD LIKE US TO NOT DICTATE THAT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE RIDES SAFER FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM OVERNIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT RIGHT THIS MOMENT, BUT I DO WANT TO ZERO IN ON THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD REEXAMINE THIS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY AND MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE ONE OF OUR ADVOCACY GROUPS CONVENE A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION JUST ABOUT THAT PORTION OF THE REGULATION.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE RFP.
I ALSO AM GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO IT AS WELL TO REMOVE THE SCOOTERS, GIVEN ENOUGH TIME.
>> SEGOVIA: YES, MAYOR, JUST A CLARIFICATION, THE COUNCIL IS NOT VOTING ON THE RFP TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OH, RIGHT.
>> PELAEZ: YEAH, MAYOR, JUST FOLLOWING UP, I -- I HEAR YOU ON THE CONCESSION/REVENUE COMPONENT OF THIS, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SQUEEZE, YOU KNOW, COMPANIES THAT ARE -- THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE JUST, 89, STARTING AND -- YOU KNOW, STARTING AND THEY'RE BABIES AND REALLY NEED TO COUNT PENNIES IN ORDER FOR THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY TO WORK.
BUT DON'T FORGET WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LYFT, A COMPANY THAT'S VALUED AT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UBER, VALUED AT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND BIRD AND LIME, AND SO WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, TINY BABY COMPANIES THAT REALLY NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, TAKEN CARE OF GENTLY.
THESE ARE NOT FRAGILE ENTITIES.
THESE ARE VERY, VERY SOPHISTICATED PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING WITH OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH VERY SIMILAR CONCESSION MODELS.
AND SO I'D URGE MY COUNCILMEMBERS NOT TO BE TOO SCARED OF THE WORD "CONCESSION" BECAUSE THESE ARE BIG BOYS AND GIRLS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
TO NOW MOTIONS THAT ARE ON THE FLOOR, THE FIRST MOTION IS AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD MAKE JUNE 30TH THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF REMOVAL OF THE SCOOTERS FROM SIDEWALKS.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THAT AMENDMENT.
NOW, TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF ITEM 4, THE ORDINANCE APPROVING -- MODIFYING THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE PILOT PROGRAM.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE MAIN MOTION.
[28. City Manager's Report]
WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.IS THERE A CITY MANAGER REPORT?
[Additional Item 2]
COUNCILMAN PERRY, HAS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE?
>> PERRY: YES, SIR, I DO HAVE SOMEONE I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TODAY.
IS REBECCA HERE? AHH, THERE SHE IS.
I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT REBECCA HAS BEEN HERE, SHE WAS BROUGHT ON BY COUNCILMAN GALLAGHER, AND SHE WORKED HER WAY UP FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UP TO SENIOR POLICY ADVISER.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB.
IN FACT, SHE'S KEPT ME OUT OF A LOT OF TROUBLE.
WELL, MOST TROUBLE, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE MY THANKS TO REBECCA FOR A JOB WELL DONE AND WISH HER LUCK.
SHE'S GOING TO GO WORK AT THE DOSEUM.
SO IF YOU MAKE TRIPS TO THE DOSEUM YOU'LL SEE HER AROUND THERE AND DOING GREAT WORK OVER THERE.
GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED TO YOU.
[Additional Item 3]
CONGRATULATI ONS, REBECCA.>> VIAGRAN: MAYOR, I HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT.
IF YOU HEAR THE CRACKING IN THE SKY OR THE CRACKING RIGHT NOW THAT'S HAPPENING IN MY HEART, IT'S BECAUSE DEBRA HOSI, MY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, IS RETIRING AFTER 33 YEARS, AND SHE REFUSES TO COME OVER HERE AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
AND EVEN AFTER HER BOSS, THE CITY MANAGER, REQUESTED HER TO COME OVER, SHE HAS NOT.
[01:40:02]
APPOINTMENT, BUT I WILL SAY SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SINCE 1985.I FIRST MET HER IN 1998 WHEN SHE WAS THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY WITH TIM BANDWOLF.
SHE SERVED COUNCILMEMBERS THROUGH THAT TIME INCLUDING RICHARD PEREZ AND REED WILLIAMS AND KIKI PARTICULAR TIN AND MYSELF FOR SIX YEARS.
SHE HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO YOU ALL KNOW, EVERY SINGLE TIME OUR OFFICES HAD BEEN MOVED AT CITY HALL, DEBRA HOSI WAS THE ONE THAT HAD TO HELP COORDINATE THIS.
SHE IS ORGANIZED BEYOND COMPARE.
SHE IS ONE THAT DOES NOT SUGAR COAT THINGS AND SHE KEEPS ME IN CHECK MANY, MANY TIMES.
SHE DID TELL ME LAST TERM THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE HER LAST TWO YEARS WITH ME.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE HER, BUT TRUE TO HER WORD AND TO HER FORM, SHE IS MOVING ON.
SHE'S WORKED IN -- MANY PEOPLE KNOW HER, MANY PEOPLE LOVE HER, AND THEY REALLY RELY ON HER.
SO SHE HAS BEEN A FORCE IN DISTRICT 3 AND WITH THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3.
WE ARE GOING TO MISS HER AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND HER WORK.
SO DEBRA HOSI, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT EVEN LISTENING TO THIS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PLAY THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE HER.
SO THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU CITY MANAGER, FOR LETTING ME ACKNOWLEDGE DEBRA HOSI.
[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATI ONS, DEBRA, WHEREVER YOU ARE, LISTENING IN, I'M SURE.
HAVE A
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.