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>> COURAGE: OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I'M JOHN COURAGE, CHAIR. YOU ARE AT THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE FOR JANUARY 16TH. WE'LL BEGIN WITH ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
QUORUM. >> COURAGE: VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A QUORUM TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BRAVING THE CONDITIONS. WE HAD ONE PERSON ON OUR AGENDA WHO WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT BECAUSE OF CONDITIONS, SO WE WILL NOT BE HEARING FROM THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AT THIS MEETING AFTER ALL.
THAT PRESENTATION HAS BEEN POSTPONED. THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT.
>> ITEMS FOR TODAY. BUT FIRST OF ALL LET ME ASK WAS THERE ANYONE WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. THEN FOR THE BRIEFING, WE'RE GOING TO BE -- AND THESE ARE ALL BRIEFINGS, NO ACTION IS EXPECTED ON ANY OF THESE.
WE'RE GOING TO FOREGO NUMBER 2, WHICH WAS THE BRIEFING FROM UNION PACIFIC.
>> CLERK: SIR, COULD WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES?
>> COURAGE: YES. MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 29TH TO APPROVE.
OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE NOVEMBER 29TH MINUTES, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
OKAY. SO ITEM NUMBER 3 IS A BRIEFING ON THE 2024 GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING ALL THE MONEY COMING INTO THE AIRPORT FOR ALL OUR GREAT PROJECTS.
SO KATHERINE, ARE YOU -- EXCUSE ME, WHO IS GOING TO BE DOING THE PRESENTATION? MELISSA RIVERS. I'M THE GRANT MANAGER FOR THE AIRPORT.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW ON THE TYPES OF GRANT PROGRAMS THROUGH THE FAA. WE HAVE THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, TRADITIONAL FAA PROGRAM. IT'S FUNDING BASED ON EMPLANEMENTS, BASICALLY A 25/75% MATCH OF THE. SUPPORTING SAFETY CAPACITY AND NOISE. THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT'S THROUGH FY '26. WE'RE IN OUR THIRD YEAR.
AND SO THERE ARE TWO PROGRAMS UNDER THAT. WE'VE GOT THE AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT, WHICH IS AN ALLOCATION, MEANING BASED ON EMPLANEMENTS, WE GET A SET AMOUNT ANNUALLY. AND THEN THE AIRPORT TERMINAL PROGRAM WHICH IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PROGRAM. THIS GIVES A BREAKDOWN OF THE TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. ATP IS COME AT THE TIME ACTIVE. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS UNDER THE AIG PROGRAM, WE GET APPROXIMATELY 11.6, 11.7 MILLION.
THAT IS REIMBURSABLE SO THAT'S A FLEXIBLE PROGRAM MEANING WE CAN START OUR PROJECTS AND GET REIMBURSED FOR ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS. THE ATP IS SUPER COMPETITIVE. THERE'S ABOUT $150 MILLION ANNUALLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM. AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING -- WE'VE GOT PROGRAMMED THROUGH FY '26 TO AT LEAST APPLY FOR $26 MILLION ANNUALLY THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
WE COMMUNICATE ONGOING WITH OUR FAA/ADO OFFICES ABOUT PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE, OTHER DISTINGUISHABLE DIFFERENCE IS THE MATCH PORTION FOR AIG. WE HAVE MATCH. 20% MATCH. SO FOR FY '22 AND FY '23 UNDER THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THESE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THROUGH THEM. TRADITIONALLY IP IS 26.5, AIG13.3.
ANOTHER POINT THAT I CAN MAKE ABOUT AIG IS THAT MONEY, WE CAN ROLL FORWARD.
IF WE DON'T SPEND IT ALL IN ONE YEAR, WE CAN MOVE THAT FORWARD TO OTHER PROGRAMS
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THAT -- OR OTHER PROJECTS WE'VE GOT PROGRAMMED. AND ATP IS THE $20 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE GROUND LOAD FACILITY LAST YEAR.SO GOING INTO FY '24, WE'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED ALMOST $12 MILLION, JUST SHY OF $12 MILLION IN GRANT APPLICATIONS. WE'VE RECEIVED AND SIGNED A GRANT AGREEMENT FOR 750,000. FOR TAXIWAY N10, THAT IS THE REMAINING MONEY THAT WE NEED TO DO COMPLETE THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. AND THEN WE'VE GOT A $11.2 MILLION REQUEST IN FOR AIG TO SUPPORT UPGRADE OF TERMINAL A ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND EXPANSION. THAT'S GOING TO GIVE ADDED REDUNDANCY AND ALLOW US FOR INCREASED FUTURE ELECTRICAL CAPACITY THERE IN TERMINAL A.
WE'RE EXPECTING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT HOPEFULLY MARCH --, FEBRUARY.
I WAS ON A CALL THIS MORNING, DEPENDS ON THE CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS AND HOW CONGRESS MOVES FORWARD WITH THAT NEGOTIATION, THAT CAN IMPACT THE TIMING OF THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS. BUT AGAIN, THESE BOTH ARE AIG SO THAT IS MONEY ALLOCATED FOR SAN ANTONIO. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHEN THEY RELEASE IT.
SO THIS IS OUR ATP GRANTS THAT WE ARE IN DEVELOPMENT OR THESE WE HAVE SUBMITTED.
WE SUBMITTED THEM IN THE FALL. THE $44 MILLION IS FOR THE ROADWAY -- FOR THE TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT, EXCUSE ME, PRE-CONSTRUCTION.
30 TO 60% DESIGN PHASE ALONG WITH CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, PRE-CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. AND SO WE ACCEPT THIS AWARD, IF WE ARE AWARDED IT, WILL BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 AND 20 MILLION. THAT'S THAT SECOND BULLET POINT THERE. BUT WE WENT AHEAD AND APPLIED FOR THE FULL 80% OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES SO THAT IF FOR SOME REASON FAA COMES BACK AND CYST CAN YOU TAKE -- SAYS CAN YOU TAKE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, WE ARE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL FUNDS. THE NEXT PROJECT IS 2.85 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF STINSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. DEVELOPMENT OF A SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.
THE TWO MAIN OUTCOMES OF THIS IF AWARDED WOULD BE THE COMPLETION OF A STORMWATER DRAINAGE PROGRAM THAT WE FELT WE NEEDED ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR AS WE'RE DEVELOPING THE AIRPORT LAYOUT PLAN. THERE AT STINSON, ALONG WITH REPLACEMENT OF SINGLE PANE WINDOWS THAT ARE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.
THE POINT OF NOTE THERE IS FOR GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS, YOU'VE GOT A 90/10 SPLIT, SO YOU ONLY HAVE A 10% MATCH REQUIREMENT THERE. SO WE'RE -- NOW THIS IS OUR-LOTTOS SEE, I'M SORRY. THIS IS SUPPLEMENTAL DISCRETIONARY.
THIS IS 18 PLUS. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT'S IN DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION.
WE ANTICIPATED THIS NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY TO BE RELEASED IN DECEMBER; HOWEVER, IT'S STILL ON, IT DEPENDS ON THE NEGOTIATION OF CONGRESS.
SO WE'RE WAITING ON THIS. WE THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE RELEASED IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH. BUT THIS WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REMAIN OVERNIGHT PARKING FOR AIRLINE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS TO SUPPORT THE GROUND LOAD FACILITY, AND ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REMAIN OVERNIGHT PARKING AS WE BEGIN TO CONSTRUCT THE TERMINAL ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO IF AWARDED, WE EXPECT THIS AT THE TIME THAT WE CREATED THIS PRESENTATION, SPRING.
BASED ON THE CALL THIS MORNING, I'M THINKING EARLY SUMMER IS WHEN THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED. AND SO DISCRETIONARY ENTITLEMENTS ARE BASED ON EMPLANMENTS FOR CARGO AND PASSENGERS, THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THROUGH FAA.
THESE ARE GOING TO BE AIR FIELD PROJECTS. THIS IS IN DEVELOPMENT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION PLANNED WITH FAA IN EARLY FEBRUARY TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT WHAT THIS PROGRAM WILL LOOK LIKE AND ALSO THE TIMING OF THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THIS PROGRAM. BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 18.2 MILLION THAT WE ANTICIPATE BUILDING INTO FY '24 FIRST PHASE PACKAGES.
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THE SECOND BULLET POINT THERE IS THAT THIS IS -- THE AIR FIELD IS GOING TO BE A VERY LARGE PROGRAM OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS. AND SO WE ANTICIPATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEGA GRANT APPLICATION THROUGH U.S. D.O.T. IN FY '26 TO SUPPORT THAT CONSTRUCTION BUILDOUT. AND SO THE AVERAGE AWARD THROUGH THAT PROGRAM IS 130 MILLION. AND THE UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS TO COMPETE FOR THAT IS THAT IT IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL OR REGIONAL IMPACT. AND THIS AIR FIELD PROGRAM WILL BECAUSE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JBSA AS WELL AS THE DEMAND ON THE AIR FIELD.SO WE WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT, MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THAT WAS IN OUR PROGRAMMING FOR THE COMING YEARS. SO THEN WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF PACKAGING A $7.7 MILLION U.S. D.O.T. RAZE GRANT MAKES FOR PLANNING, IT IS A PLANNING GRANT APPLICATION, NINOT A CONSTRUCTION APPLICATION. ONE OF THE BIG PACKAGES TIED TO THE TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS THE ROADWAY SYSTEM IN AND OUT OF THE TERMINAL COMPLEX. AND SO STRATEGY HERE D.O.T. PLANNING -- RAISE PLANNING GRANTS AVERAGE AROUND 5 MILLION SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THE 7.7 MILLION, 80% OF THE TOTAL PACKAGE. WE KNOW IF WE ARE AWARDED, THIS IS A HEAVILY COMPETITIVE OVERPRESCRIBED FEDERAL PROGRAM. IF AWARDED, WE EXPECT IT WOULD BE IN THE $5 MILLION NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT STRATEGICALLY IT WOULD PLACE US IN A PREFERABLE POSITION FOR CONSTRUCTION GRANT IN THE MOLLY.
SO THAT'S THE STRATEGY THERE. ANOTHER POINT OF NOTE IS THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH COSA GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, COSA OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND COSA OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY TO PARTNER AND ALIGN ON THIS APPLICATION. SO FUTURE FY '25 AND FY '26 OUTSIDE OF THE MEGA FRONT THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ANTICIPATE A MINIMUM OF $20 MILLION IN ATP APPLICATIONS. THROUGH FY '26, AS WELL AS THE $25 MILLION RAZE GRANT FOR TERMINAL ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION. AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING HAND AND GLOVE WITH OUR TDP TEAM AS OTHER PROJECTS AND MODULES OF THIS PROGRAM EMERGE, WE'RE CONSTANTLY ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ELIGIBLE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.
BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MELISSA. I HAD ONE QUESTION GOING BACK TO ONE OF THE -- SLIDE 8. ARE ANY OF THESE COLORED RUNWAYS OR TAXIWAYS NEW TO
BE ADDED THAT DON'T EXIST RIGHT NOW? >> THERE IS -- SO IN THE ORANGE AREA, THAT'S PART OF THE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH FAA, IS WHAT DOES THE ONGOING AIR FIELD CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM LOOK LIKE.
AND I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON TO ANSWER THAT SPECIFICALLY, SO WE'LL LET
THE DIRECTOR -- >> PART OF WHAT IS IN THE LOWER END IS THAT PURPLE OR BLUE COLOR SHE THAT'S RUNWAY 15, 31 LEFT, THAT'S GOING TO BE REBUILDING TO BE DONE.
THE ONE WAY IS PROBABLY EXCEEDING 40 YEARS OLD AND JUST NEEDS EXTRA WORK OUT,
PRIMARILY ON THED THE THE TOUCHDOWN ZONES. >> COURAGE: WOULD THAT BE
ADDING A SECOND PARALLEL RUNWAY? >> LONG-TERM GOAL, THAT'S THE -- THE AREA WOULD BEING THAT THAT RUNWAY TO -- THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE
MASTER PLAN DID AND WIDENING TO 150 FEET WIDE. >> COURAGE: BUT I THINK
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THERE'S ALSO BEEN DISCUSSION WE REALLY DON'T NEED THAT. WE CAN FLY EVERYTHING THAT COMES IN AND OUT OF SAN ANTONIO WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT TODAY, RIGHT?>> WHAT WE'VE GOT TODAY WE'RE DOING VERY WELL. THE IDEA IS WHAT DO WE DO
WITH THE OTHER RUNWAY, THE 422. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS PRESENTATION IS GOOD, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE MAYBE ALL OF THESE PUT TOGETHER IN KIND OF A G.
NT CHART OR SOMETHING THAT SHOWS ALL THE DIFFERENT ONES YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH AND MAYBE THE TIME FRAME AND AMOUNTS INCORPORATED. IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND INSTEAD OF FLIPPING THROUGH 15 DIFFERENT PAGES.
THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO ASK ABOUT IS CAN YOU TELL US WHAT WE'VE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE DO AS A NEXT STEP TO SOME OF THOSE?
>> SO I CAN TELL YOU TRADITIONALLY THROUGH FAA WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I BELIEVE IN '22 THERE WAS AN APPLICATION TO ATP THAT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, FOLLOWING IN '23 IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. AND SO I THINK PART OF OUR STRATEGY IS ONGOING ENGAGEMENT WITH FAA. I THINK THAT'S IMPROVED OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND OUR CHANCES FOR SUCCESS WITH THEM. BUT THEN LOOKING AT U.S.
D.O.T. AND OTHER GRANTS, THAT'S ALL NEW TERRITORY FOR US.
AND SO THE RAZE GRANT THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING IS OUR FIRST TIME OUT OF THE GATE.
>> COURAGE: JEFF, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? >> SURE, AND MELISSA SAID IT PERFECTLY, BUT TO YOUR COMMENT ABOUT A GANT CHART, IT IS A LOT OF INFORMATION.
THE AIRPORT IS CHASING ALL OF THE TRADITIONAL FAA-RELATED GRANTS.
THE AIP, AIG, ATP. AND WHAT SHE'S SHOWING YOU IS THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SUBMITTED IN THE COMING YEAR. THEY SAID WE THINK WE CAN APPLY FOR AIRPORT-RELATED MONEY THROUGH MEGA, WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY A SURFACE TRANSPORTATION, RAILROADS, MAJOR HIGHWAYS, THAT SORT OF THING.
WE ALSO THINK WE CAN GET SOME OF THE ROADWAY POTENTIALLY FOLD THAT INTO RAZE. WE'VE BEEN UNSUCCESS FELL WITH RAZE PROJECT APPLICATIONS AS A COMMUNITY. THE PORT AND BROOKS AND THE CITY HAVE ALL APPLIED AND BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. IT'S ALL THE REGULAR FAA AND THEN THE TEAM IS SAYING LET'S CHASE EVERY OTHER OPPORTUNITY WE CAN. THOSE MAY BE SWINGS AND MISSES, BUT THEY ARE BEING CREATIVE TO TRY TO GENERATE MORE MONEY FOR THE AIRPORT THROUGH SOME OF THOSE OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT AREN'T TRADITIONAL FAA.
>> COURAGE: JEFF, STAY THERE A MINUTE BECAUSE THIS IS RELATED TO THE AIRPORT.
WE'VE GOT A SA TO DC TRIP. PART OF THE EFFORT IS TO TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON AIRPORT, VIA, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IS THERE ANYTHING THE COUNCIL OR IN COLLABORATION WITH THESE OTHER GROUPS SHOULD FOCUS ON TO HELP WITH ANY OF THESE ASKS THAT WE'VE GOT PENDING RIGHT NOW?
>> YES. THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE --N ISSUE TEAM OF THE 13SA TO DC ISSUE TEAMS TYPICALLY INCLUDES AVIATION IN IT. THEY ARE FOCUSED ON TXDOT STUFF, VIA STUFF, COUNTY STUFF AND THE AIRPORT. BUT I BELIEVE -- I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH COUNCILMEMBER, I THINK YOU'VE ALL PICKED YOUR ISSUE TEAMS, WE'VE TALKED TO THE CHAMBER ABOUT MAKING SURE EACH COUNCILMEMBER WHO IS ON EACH TEAM HAS BEEN PREPPED AND READY FOR THE TOPICS. SO WE'LL SUPPORT THAT EFFORT WITH THE CHAMBER BY MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE ASKS FROM THE AIRPORT.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, I DON'T BELIEVE THE CHAMBER TYPICALLY SCHEDULES FAA VISITS, SO WE MAY GO DO SOME MEETINGS WITH THE FAA WHILE WE'RE THERE.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THAT'S PERMISSIBLE WITH PENDING GRANT APPLICATIONS COMING AND POTENTIALLY OPEN NOTICES OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY WINDOWS.
LONG, RAMBLING WAY OF SAYING WE'LL MAKE SURE WE'RE ARMED WITH YOU ESPECIALLY CHAIRMEN
WITH WHAT THE ASKS ARE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE AIRPORT. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS?
YES. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I THINK GANT CHART WOULD BE MORE HELPFUL TO SEE OR UNDERSTAND HOW THESE THINGS ARE COMING UP TIMING-WISE. I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A GOOD TRACK RECORD WITH GETTING SOME OF THESE FEDERAL GRANTS SO FAR, BUT
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I'M CURIOUS HOW CONFIDENT WE'RE FEELING FOR SOME OF THESE UPCOMING GRANTS.OR WHAT DO WE AS A CITY NEED TO DO TO POSITION OURSELVES BETTER IN ORDER TO SECURE
SOME OF THAT FUNDING? >> YEAH, SO GREAT QUESTION. I WILL TELL YOU, FY '23 WE HAD 100% YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH IN GRANT REVENUE AT THE AIRPORT.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN DEVELOPMENT LIKE THE THE RAISE APPLICATION. I THINK OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCACY FROM YOU ALL TO HELP SUPPORT THAT. THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK TO FY '25 AND FY '26. FY '25 LOOKING AT THE LARGER U.S. D.O.T. RAISE APPLICATION. THOSE LARGER APPLICATIONS ALONG WITH THE MEGA APPLICATION ARE GOING TO REQUIRE NOT JUST THE PACKAGING OF AN APPLICATION, BUT THE ONGOING COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY IN ADVANCE OF THE APPLICATION. AND THAT'S GOING TO MEAN ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU AS OUR COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND AIRLINES.
SO I HOPE THAT -- IT WOULD BE SPECULATIVE TO SAY HOW CONFIDENT WE ARE.
I FEEL LIKE WE ARE DOING ALL OF THE RIGHT THINGS IN ALL OF THE RIGHT WAYS.
>> GAVITO: THAT MAKES SENSE, I UNDERSTAND. HOWEVER, YOU ALL NEED ME TO HELP SUPPORT, LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I'M ALL IN ON THIS. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I DID ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR OFFICE IS GOING TO BE HOSTING AN AIRPORT VENDOR THE BORDER OF DISTRICT 1 AND 7. WE'RE EXCITED FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE WAYS THEY CAN GET INVOLVED WITH WORKING WITH THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. I DID WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESS APPOINTEE FOR HOSTING BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR COFFEE SHOP. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU THAT WAY. IF THERE'S OTHER WAYS I CAN HELP WITH THE ADVOCACY BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A FULL-COURT PRESS FOR A LOT OF THIS FEDERAL FUNDING, SO LEVERAGE US HOW YOU NEED AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.
THIS WAS HELPFUL. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I HAVE TO SAY KIND OF A BROAD -- MAYBE AN OVERARCHING QUESTION. I'M INTERESTED IN THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF GRANT FUNDS WE'VE RECEIVED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIRPORT, I GUESS FOR THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. AND THE REASON I ASK, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT AND YOU ALL ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB AND THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR ALL THE ADVOCACY. BUT IN THE SAME VEIN, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP. THE OVERALL PERSONAL OF GRANTS IN COMPARISON TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE NEED -- THAT'S IT, THAT'S MY
QUESTION. >> SO I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC -- I CAN GET THAT,
LOOK FOR THAT AND GET IT BACK TO YOU. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.
>> I CAN TELL YOU WE HAVE 122 MILLION-PLUS GRANTS -- EXCUSE ME, $122 MILLION IN
GRANT APPLICATIONS PROGRAMMED FOR FY '24. >> HAVRDA: 122?
>> UH-HUH. >> HAVRDA: WOW. >> SO I EXPECT -- THAT'S NOT GUARANTEED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING 122, BUT WE WILL BE APPLYING FOR 122 MILLION. AND THEN I EXPECT AS THE TDP PROGRAM AND -- GOES THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS, LITTLE FOR THE 30 TO 60% DESIGN PORTION.
ONCE WE GET TO THE 60 TO 90% DESIGN PORTION LIKELY NEXT YEAR, THAT'S GOING TO -- IT WILL REALLY START TO BLOOM US TO THE DIFFERENT PACKAGES AND MODULES OF THE TDP AND THE TIMING. ONCE WE GET A LOOK AT THAT, WE CAN REALLY KIND OF DRILL INTO WHERE OUR HIGHEST AND BEST GRANT OPPORTUNITIES LAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE PRE-EMPTIVELY TO GET PREPARED FOR THAT IS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECEIVES A BLOCK GRANT FROM DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
WE'VE PARTNERED WITH CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABILITY MASTER PLAN FOR THE NEW TERMINAL. AND SO HAVING THAT ON THE SHELF AND AVAILABLE HELPS US PACKAGE APPLICATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
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SO IN ADDITION TO PROGRAMMING 122 MILLION IN APPLICATIONS FOR THIS YEAR, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO STRATEGICALLY POSITION OURSELVES FOR FUTURE SUCCESSAS THIS THING EVOLVES. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT INFORMATION. AND ALSO TO YOUR POINT, THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF NOT JUST WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED BUT WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO RECEIVE.
I'LL ASK YOU, WE HAVE 122 FOR FY 2024. WHAT IS THE FULL BUDGET FOR
THAT YEAR, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT? >> I WILL HAVE TO -- I WILL
HAVE TO GET THAT BACK TO YOU. >> HAVRDA: FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT LOOKED AT ME, WE HAVE THE SAME NAME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND ALL THIS WORK. GRANT WRITING IS NOT FUND. WE DON'T ENVY THE WORK THAT YOUR TEAM DOES. ALONG THE SAME LINES, I WANTED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING HOW THE GRANT -- GRANT APPLICATION PROCESSES WORK WITH THE OVERALL PROJECTION OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THE REVENUE TO FINISH THE ENTIRE PROJECT. FOR SOME OF THESE GRANTS, I SEE 20 TO 25% OF IT IS REQUIRED FOR CITY FUNDING OR COMPONENT OF IT. WHERE ARE THOSE REVENUES
COMING FROM? >> SO THAT'S PART OF THE ONGOING BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS, SO WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH OUR FISCAL TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AS FAR AS PROGRAMMING. BUT ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS THE GRANT TEAM WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO INCORPORATE INTO THE PROCESS, GRANTS -- YOU DON'T WANT TO BUILD A BUDGET BASED ON A GRANT BECAUSE IT'S BUILDING BASED ON A GAMBLE. AND SO WORKING WITH OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, OUR FISCAL TEAM, THAT'S ALL PART OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS. AND THEN GRANTS OFF SET THAT PROCESS. SO THAT MATCH IS ALREADY BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET, AND
IF WE WIN THE GRANT, THEN THAT ALLEVIATES THAT BUDGET. >> KAUR: ARE THEY USING -- IF WE'RE APPLYING FOR 122 THIS YEAR, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPLIED FOR LAST YEAR AND WHAT PERCENTAGE WE GOT? IS THAT THE HISTORICAL ASSUMPTION THEY ARE USING IN THE OVERALL BUDGETING PROCESS?
>> NO, THAT'S -- SO THAT'S -- LET'S SEE. I'M KIND OF RUNNING THROUGH WHAT WE APPLIED FOR LAST YEAR. WE DIDN'T APPLY FOR NEARLY 122, SO WE WENT THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL FAA PROCESS. AND SO THAT WAS 20 -- JUST UNDER 60 MILLION. SO WE'RE GROWING YEAR OVER YEAR, AND THAT IS PART -- IT'S AN EVOLUTION. SO WE HAVE WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH THE TDP TEAM, THE EXISTING AIRPORT TEAM TO ENSURE THAT THAT BUDGET ALIGNMENT, THAT FISCAL
ALIGNMENT IS THERE. >> KAUR: OF THE 60 LAST YEAR, HOW MUCH WERE WE ABLE
TO SECURE? >> OF THE 60 LAST YEAR, 40. WE WERE RIGHT AT 44 MILLION
IN AWARDS FOR FY '23. >> KAUR: SO CAN YOU MAKE THE ASSUMPTION WE'LL GET
LIKE 90 THIS YEAR? OR IS THAT NOT A DIRECT -- >> I MEAN --
>> COUNCILWOMAN, JUST TAKING A STEP BACK, PART OF THE AIRPORT'S BUDGET EVERY YEAR IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE CIP PORTION OF THE BUDGET.
SO THEY BUDGET OUT THE CAPITAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE COMING YEAR.
IT'S PART OF WHAT COUNCIL APPROVES OVER THE SUMMER. MELISSA AND HER TEAM GO CHASE GRANTS AND IF WE CAN OFF SET SOME OF THOSE EXPENSES, THAT'S MONEY THAT CAN GO BACK INTO THE POT FOR FUTURE CAPITAL WORK. I THINK YOU KNOW THIS, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, THE AIRPORT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND. IT'S ALL SELF-SUSTAINING, SO THE REVENUES OUT AT THE AIRPORT ARE GENERATED BY THE AIRPORT FROM LANDING FEES, FROM CONCESSIONS, FROM PARKING, FROM RENT ON THE AIR FIELD AND ALL THOSE REVENUES GO INTO THE BUDGET OF WHICH A PORTION IS THE ANNUAL CAPITAL BUDGET.
THAT CAPITAL BUDGET IS GOING TO GROW IN COMING YEARS AS WE TAKE ON THE TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, BUT IT COMES TO YOU EACH YEAR FOR APPROVAL.
>> KAUR: YEAH, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE SIMPLISTIC THAN IT IS. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE BUDGET FOR GRANT FUNDING NOT HAVING A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOCH WE'RE GOING TO GET.
-- HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO GET. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND. >> SO I THINK -- I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
THE GRANT MATCH, THE 20 OR 25% MATCH THAT I REFERRED TO IS ALREADY BUILT INTO THE -- IT'S BAKED INTO THE BUDGET, RIGHT? SO IT'S PART OF THE CAPITAL
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PLAN THAT YOU ALL APPROVE IN THE SUMMER. AND SO WHAT WE DO IS WE KNOW WHEN WE MAKE AN APPLICATION THAT WE CAN COMMIT THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS ARE ALREADY COMMITTED. AND THEN WHAT IT DOES IS IF WE WIN THE GRANT, IT REDUCES THAT CAPITAL DEMAND ON THE BUDGET BY 75 OR 80% DEPENDING ON THE PROGRAM.DOES THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION? >> KAUR: AND THAT GOES BACK INTO THE FUND AND FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS ESSENTIALLY.
>> YES. >> KAUR: IT WOULD BE HELPFUL LIKE NEXT SUMMER WHEN WE GET THE AIRPORT BUDGET TO UNDERSTAND, HEY, WE EXPECTED THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE CONTRIBUTING THIS MUCH IN CAPITAL AND WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED THIS AMOUNT OF GRANTS WHICH WAS AN INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE CHANGE FOR NEXT YEAR. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS, ONE, I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT AIRPORT PAYS FOR ITSELF, BUT ALSO TO UNDERSTAND THE, WOULD OF GRANTS AND THE WORK THAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY GET SOME OF THESE THINGS.
AND THEN ON THIS SLIDE ACTUALLY THE LAST QUESTION I HAD WAS JUST AROUND THE EXPANDING RUNWAYS COMPONENT, ARE YOU ALL -- HOW DID YOU ALL BACKWARDS PLAN HOW MUCH SPACE THAT WE NEED ON THE RUNWAYS SO THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING BACKLOG LIKE WHEN WE HAVE AN ENTIRE OTHER TERMINAL, THINKING OF LIKE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES LIKE O'HARE WHERE THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH RUNWAY SPACE. DID YOU SAY THIS IS THE MAX AMOUNT OF SPACE WE NEED AND BACKWARDS PLAN WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE?
>> I'M GOING TO LET OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> WHAT WE DID SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE HAD THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN.
AND PART OF WHAT THEY DO IS -- WOULD ESTIMATE AND GET TRAFFIC COUNTS, GET TRAFFIC ACTIVITY WHETHER IT'S PASSENGER YOU COUNTS AND/OR FLIGHT ACTIVITY.
SO WE KNOW THE CAPACITY, WHAT EACH RUNWAY CAN TAKE AND PROJECT AND GO INTO THE FUTURE WITH THAT. FOR RIGHT NOW WHAT THAT MASTER PLAN SAID, THE FAA REQUIRES A PLANNING HORIZON OF 20 YEARS. WE WENT OUT AS MUCH AS 50 YEARS TO SAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN THE AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS UP THROUGH AT LEAST 50 YEARS IF NOT LONGER. AND THEN ALSO THE PASSENGER SIZE OR AS PASSENGER COUNTS INCREASE, THAT'S AS MUCH OF A REASON TOO IS WE'RE EXPANDING ON THE TERMINAL. WE'RE VERY TIGHT ON TERMINAL A AND B RIGHT NOW.
>> KAUR: THERE'S A LOT MORE TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHTS BAKED INTO THAT.
>> OH, YEAH. JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING GETTING MORE ACTIVITIES. WE STILL HAVE CONDOR COMING IN MAY SO GET YOUR TICKETS.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'VE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION AND I'M NOT SURE WHO CAN ANSWER IT, BUT WHEN WE PLAN FOR THESE GRANTS, AND I KNOW THE WORK THAT YOUR TEAM DOES AND THAT THE AIRPORT TEAM DOES, WHAT ABOUT OUR PARTNERS WITH THE AIRLINES OR THE FREIGHT INDUSTRY, THINGS LIKE THAT? DO THEY OR HAVE WE ASKED THEM TO PLAY A ROLE IN ADVOCATING FOR US TO GET FUNDS SO WE CAN DO THESE EXPANSIONS, OR DO THEY PLAY A GAME COMPLETELY OUT OF IT? AND ONE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD COUNTER-ACTIVITY FROM AIRPLANES IN THE PAST WHEN WE WANTED TO GET A GET IN WASHINGTON. OTHER AIRLINES HAVE SAID WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THAT UP TO SAN ANTONIO. BUT DO THEY GET ON OUR SIDE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT EXPANDING OUR FACILITIES AND THEIR ABILITY TO FLY IN OR ARE WE JUST ON OUR OWN?
>> NO, NO, WE'RE NOT ON OUR OWN, BUT I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO THE PREVIOUS POINT ABOUT THE FULL-COURT PRESS IS GOING TO BE NEEDED. SO WE ARE -- AS THE TDP PROGRAM GROWS AND BEGINS TO OPEN UP, ALONG WITH THE AIR FIELDS, THE AIRLINES ARE GOING TO BE A CRITICAL PARTNER. YOU MENTIONED CARGO.
LOOKING AT OUR CARGO PARTNERS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT DOES CARGO LOOK LIKE ON THE AIR FIELD.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE ONGOING CONVERSATION IS THAT WHAT GOES ON AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM. WE ARE IMPACTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND REGION AND WE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AND REGION.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO DO THROUGH THE GRANTS INITIATIVES IS TO COMMUNICATE WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHO IT IMPACTS, MEASURING THAT IMPACT, THAT POSITIVE IMPACT AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE, AND THEN
[00:35:04]
ENGAGING THOSE PARTNERS STRATEGICALLY AND VICE VERSA.>> COURAGE: WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS A HALF DOZEN OF THESE AIRLINE PRESIDENTS ENDORSE OUR REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE IT WILL
BENEFIT THEM AS WELL AS US. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> COURAGE: I'LL LET YOU CARRY FORWARD WITH WHAT YOU DO, BUT I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
ONE MORE QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NOISE OF TAKE-OFF AND LANDING.
ARE THERE ANY NOISE MITIGATION GRANTS WE CAN APPLY FOR?
>> WE HAVE A NOISE MITIGATION PROGRAM AND PART OF OUR ENVIRONMENT WILL TEAM DOES WORK ON THE NOISE PROGRAM. AND SO IF YOU WANT TO GET IN
TOUCH WITH ME, I CAN HELP YOU. >> KAUR: THAT WILL BE
GREAT. THANK YOU. >> COURAGE: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD PRESENTATION.
WE APPRECIATE IT. WE WISH THE AIRPORT THE GREATEST SUCCESS, SO LET US NOW HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT. THANK YOU.
TODAY, IT'S THE BRIEFING ON THE HOWARD W. PEAK GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM.
HOMER, I GUESS YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE PRESENTATION.
>> I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE IT, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HOMER GARCIA, PARKS DIRECTOR. AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A BRIEFING ON THE STATUS OF THE HOWARD W. PEAK GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM. ONE OF THE GREATEST ASSETS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WE LOVE IT BECAUSE IT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO PLACES, TO EACH OTHER AND WE BELIEVE CERTAINLY ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M GOING TO TURN THIS PRESENTATION OVER TO BRANDON ROSS.
HE HAS WORKED ON THIS PROGRAM FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
HE IS CAPITAL PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
HE WILL BE DOING THE PRESENTATION AND THE TEAM IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. I'LL GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE OVERVIEW.
LIKE HOMER SAID, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 17 YEARS AND HAVE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, WE'RE REAL PROUD OF IT, PROUD TO GIVE YOU THE PRESENTATION UPDATE TODAY. THIS PROGRAM DOES IN FACT ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE, WE HEAR THAT A LOT IN VARIOUS WAYS.
PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE, BY PROVIDING PEOPLE OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PLACES LIKE HOMER MENTIONED.
YOU KNOW, PROVIDING AN ALTERNATE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, THAT KIND OF A THING. IT'S A GROWING NETWORK OF DEVELOPED MULTI-USE TRAILS.
AND WHEN I SAY A GROWING NETWORK, THAT ALSO INCLUDES BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY TO THE STREETS WE'VE USING SIDEWALKS, BIKE LANES AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS. WE'VE ACQUIRED OVER 1650 ACRES OF CREEKWAY LAND, MOSTLY IN THE FLOODPLAIN, 95% OF IT MAY BE FLOODPLAIN PROPERTY.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PARK LAND THAT IT GOES THROUGH.
FOR INSTANCE, THE GREENWAYS GO THROUGH, OF COURSE, A NUMBER OF PARKS, PROBABLY OVER 20. HARDBERGER, OP SCHNABEL. THE CREEKS INCLUDING SALADO, LEON AND MEDINA HAVE THE LONGEST DISTANCES BUT INCLUDES THE WESTSIDE CREEKS. THEN A LOT OF TRIBUTARIES WHERE WE'VE STARTED TO BUILD CONNECTIONS INTO NEIGHBORHOODS SO THEY ALL HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SYSTEM.
SO THE DESIGN GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE PRIMARILY TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE ROUTE FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY THIS OUTDOOR RECREATION.
WE DO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS. THERE ARE A LOT OF NATURAL SURFACE TRAILS IN OUR GREENWAY SYSTEM, BUT THE CONCRETE TRAILS PROVIDE PEOPLE A WAY TO GET TO AND FROM AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS IF THEY HAVE CHILDREN OR ELDERLY PARENTS OR THEY ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR OR SOME OTHER KIND OF MOBILITY ASSISTANCE. WE MAXIMIZE THE TRAIL WIDTHS WHERE WE CAN.
THERE'S A BIT OF A BALANCE THERE THAT I CAN TALK ABOUT. WE'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE FOOTPRINT THAT WE HAVE ON THE OUTDOORS, TRYING TO SAVE AS MANY TREES AS WE CAN AND TRY TO PRESERVE THE GEOLOGY OF THE CREEKWAY. IMPERVIOUS COVER IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, BUT WE DO TRY TO PROVIDE A WIDE SURFACE SO THAT MULTIPLE USERS CAN USE IT COMFORTABLY. CONNECTIONS TO NEIGHBORHOOD AND DESTINATIONS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS. WE HAVE AS AN ORGANIZATION
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THE GOAL TO PROVIDE EVERYONE A WALK TO A PARK WITHIN TEN MINUTES, A TEN-MINUTE WALK GOAL. THAT'S PART OF THIS IS TO PROVIDE AS MANY CONNECTIONS DIRECTLY TO NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GET IN THEIR CAR.WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PARKING LOTS, BUT PREFERABLY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DIRECT CONNECTION SO THEY CAN GET THERE ON BICYCLE OR FOOT.
WE TRY TO PROVIDE TRAIL HEAD LOCATIONS CONVENIENT FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T WALK OR BIKE DIRECTLY INTO THE GREENWAY, PLENTY OF PLACES TO PARK. INCLUDING THE PARKS THEMSELVES. WE PROVIDE OR WE TRY TO PROVIDE MORE OR LESS DESIGNS AND CONSTRUCTIONS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND.
WE'VE GOT TO EXCLUSIVELYLY DOING IMPERVIOUS PARKING AREAS, BIOSWELLS, NATIVE LIMESTONE BOULDERS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF CEDAR AND DIFFERENT THINGS WE USE THAT ARE NATIVE TO THE SAN ANTONIO AREA. THEN WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE AS MUCH OPEN SPACE AND HABITAT AS WE CAN ALONG THESE AREAS.
YOU KNOW, IN THE FLOODPLAIN, THE FLOODPLAIN AND THE RIPARIAN ZONES, IF YOU HEARD THAT TERM, ARE SOME OF THE MOST PRECIOUS ENVIRONMENT IN THE CITY.
THAT'S WHERE WE GET THE BIGGEST HARDWOOD TREES AND SO FORTH AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE ANIMALS HAVE THEIR HABITAT AND SO FORTH, SO WE TRY TO PRESERVE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND IT'S PART OF THE REASON THE PEOPLE ENJOY AND LOVE THE GREENWAY SYSTEM IS BECAUSE IT'S GOT SHADE AND IT'S ENJOYABLE FROM A NATURE PERSPECTIVE. SO WE'VE COMPLETED 101 MILES OF TRAIL TO DATE.
WE HAVE 31 MILES IN PRODUCTION RIGHT NOW. WE'VE GOT 30 MILES IN DESIGN AND JUST OVER ONE MILE IN CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE ANOTHER 25 ADDITIONAL MILES THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE BOND, THROUGH SALES TAX, THROUGH THE COUNTY AND SO FORTH THAT WE'RE WORKING ON DEVELOPING. THOSE HAVEN'T STARTED DESIGN YET, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE AS WELL. AND THERE WAS A BROCHURE HANDED OUT AND THE SOLID LINES ARE THE TRAILS ALREADY BUILT AND THE ONES DASHED LINES ARE ONES NOT CURRENTLY BUILT BUT CURRENTLY WORKING ON THEM.
SO THE SYSTEM WIDTHS, WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE, I KNOW THIS WAS SOMETHING YOU WERE INTERESTED IN BACK WHEN WE DID THE FY '24 BUDGET PRESENTATION. THERE HAS BEEN -- THERE HAVE BEEN MORE BICYCLISTS USING THE TRAILS RECENTLY AS THE TRAILS GROW AND SO FORTH. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 8 TO 10-FOOT-WIDE TRAILS OUT THERE. MEDINA RIVER GREENWAY IS ONE ON THE OUTSIDE, IT'S MORE RURAL. IT DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY RESIDENTS, THAT ONE IS 8 FEET. WE'RE REPLACING IT AT 10:00.
WE HAVE ONE LONG SECTION OF TRAIL THAT'S 12-FOOT WIDE. WE SAW THE TRAFFIC WAS GOING TO BE A CONCERN IN ADVANCE SO WE BUILT THE TRAIL FROM EISENHOWER PARK DOWN TO THE RIM AS 12-FOOT KNOWING THAT WAS A VERY POPULAR SEGMENT. OTHER THE OTHERS HAVE 10-FOOTWIDE MULTI-USE PATHS. IN THE FUTURE, FUNDED TRAILS IN THE FUTURE, A LOT OF THEM ARE 10-FOOT BUT WE'VE GONE TO 12-FOOT AND BASED TO FEEDBACK YOU GAVE US AND FROM OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS WIDENING SOME OF THE HIGHEST USE AREAS, EITHER TO MAKE THEM 14 FEET WIDE OR TRY TO SEPARATE THE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC FROM THE BICYCLE TRAFFIC OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO PROVIDE MORE OF A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. FOR THE FUTURE, I KIND OF POINTED OUT THE ROAD CYCLISTS ARE SOMETHING THAT HAVE BEEN MORE ABUNDANT. MAYBE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO. THE REASON I THINK BEHIND THAT IS THAT THE LONGER THE CONNECTIONS BECOME, AND THE CONNECTIONS HAVE BECOME REALLY LONG IN SOME CASES.
THE CONNECTION FROM LEON TO SALADO AT THE TOP OF THE MAP, NOW THIS IS ONE 40-MILE-LONG SYSTEM ALL THE WAY FROM FORT SAM ON ONE SIDE OF THE CITY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE MILITARY DRIVE AND LOOP 410 INTERSECTION ON THE OTHER.
AND SO CYCLISTS I THINK REALLY ENJOY THESE VERY, VERY LONG DISTANCES AND THEY WANT TO DO THEM FAST. SO THEY RIDE QUICKLY AND IT'S VERY HARD TO CONTROL
[00:45:06]
THE SPEED OF THE CYCLISTS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE RECOGNIZED AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MITIGATE. WE HAVE DONE SOME OUTREACH TYPE OF PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS. WE PUT OUT SOME SUGGESTED SPEED LIMIT SIGNS.WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SHARE THE TRAIL AND BE COURTEOUS TO ONE ANOTHER, BUT WE RECOGNIZE IT'S AN ONGOING CHALLENGE AND WE TRY TO ADDRESS THAT BY WIDENING OR SEPARATING IT AND DOING SOME OF THOSE THINGS IN HIGH USE, CONGESTED AREAS. BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH DOING THE PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF ANY OF THE EXISTING GREENWAYS, WE'RE GOING TO DO A STUDY CITYWIDE TO TAKE TRAIL COUNTS SO THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE WE CORRECTLY UNDERSTAND THOSE HIGHEST USE AREAS. AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AND SEE KIND OF WHAT THOSE RESULTS ARE AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS. HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO START SOME OF THAT DESIGN, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEAR TERM SO THAT WE'RE READY FOR 2027 BOND TO TRY TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS HAPPEN. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE 20 MILES-PLUS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY FOR THE 2027 BOND TO TRY TO ADD TO THE NETWORK AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW. SO JUST WANTED TO PUT SOME PICTURES IN HERE SO YOU GUYS HAVE KIND OF A SENSE OF SOME OF THE RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THIS IS THE CONNECTION AS I MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO, THIS IS A MAJOR MILESTONE THAT WE REACHED A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT THE LEON CREEK TO EISENHOWER PARK. WE HAD A BIG CELEBRATION, THE MAYOR WAS THERE, MANU GENOBLI. IT WAS PERSONALLY REWARDING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. THESE ARE PICTURES OF THAT. THE IN DINA RIVER TO SAN ANTONIO TRAILS WAS A MAJOR -- MEDINA -- VICTORY FOR THIS PROGRAM.
THIS IS ONE THAT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. THIS TIES THE MEDINA RIVER GREENWAY SYSTEM WHICH IS 17.5 MILES UP TO THE EXISTING 1 MILES THAT ARE ALONG THE MUSEUM REACH, THE RIVERWALK, THE MISSION REACH AND SO FORTH.
SO YOU CAN BASICALLY GO ALL THE WAY FROM THE MUSEUM REACH PART OF THE RIVERWALK DOWN THROUGH DOWNTOWN, THROUGH THE EAGLE LAND AREA, TO THE MISSION REACH AND THEN DOWN TO THE MEDINA RIVER NATURAL AREA. WEST SIDE CREEKS IS ANOTHER REALLY NOTABLE INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE PUT A LOT OF INVESTMENT INTO RECENTLY.
THERE'S 14 MILES ON THE WESTSIDE CREEKS. APACHE IS THE MAIN SYSTEM THERE. AND THEN YOU HAVE TRIBUTARIES THAT ALL FLOW INTO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER. APACHE CREEK, SAN~PEDRO CREEK, ZARZAMORA, ALL CREEKS THAT FLOW TOGETHER AND GO INTO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WHICH CONNECTS TO DOWNTOWN.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESIDENTS ON THE WEST SIDE THAT ESSENTIALLY HAVE A BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION TO DOWNTOWN. AND THEN WE'VE ALSO TRIED TO ENHANCE THE PROGRAM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHEREVER WE CAN. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH PUBLIC ART SAN ANTONIO TO PUT IN THESE BLOOM FLOWERS IS WHAT THEY CALL THEM FROM THE ARTIST THAT DOES THESE, THIS IS CALLED THE BLOOM COLLECTION.
WE ALSO HAVE BUTTERFLY GARDENS AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, NATIVE TYPE OF FEATURES THAT WE TRY TO MORE OR LESS HIGHLIGHT OR ACCENT THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS A CONNECTION I WANTED TO POINT OUT ALSO. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS IS TRYING TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THESE PLACES IN A WAY THAT'S WALKABLE.
THIS PARTICULAR AREA, WILSHIRE TERRACE PARK WAS ON ONE SIDE OF THE CREEK, THE GREENWAY ON THE OTHER. THIS WAS A PROJECT SPECIFICALLY TO TRY TO TIE THAT PARK IN WITH THE GREENWAY AND TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK A WALKABLE CONNECTION TO THE GREENWAY.
OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, THE TRAIL IS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY, BUT THEY HAVE TO DRIVE IN THEIR CAR TEN MINUTES TO GO TO A PARKING LOT WHEN WE GO JUST BUILD THE CORRECTION ACROSS THE CREEK AND IT BASICALLY SOLVES THAT PROBLEM FOR THEM. THAT'S MY PRESENTATION. IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. >> COURAGE: COUNCILMEMBERS? COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I AGREE, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND WE'RE ALL PROUD OF IT.
[00:50:02]
MY FAMILY AND I FREQUENT THEM PRETTY OFTEN. SO MANY BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH HAS BEEN MENTAL HEALTH.THERE'S WHOLE ORGANIZATIONS, NON-PROFITS THAT ARE ORGANIZED AROUND USING THE TRAILS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. I THINK THAT'S A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON THE TRAILS. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, JUST A COUPLE.
I JUST WANT TO MENTION TOO DISTRICT 6 -- PRETTY SOON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW FIELD OFFICE AND WE'VE PUT IT AT A TRAIL HEAD AND IT'S SO PERFECT BECAUSE IT'S A NATURAL MEETING SPACE. WE ALREADY HAVE SOME OF THE BLOOM FLOWERS THERE.
IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT WHEN WE HAVE THE FIELD OFFICE AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS -- REALLY ONE. THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD IN MY DISTRICT AND ZARZAMORA CREEK GOES RIGHT BEHIND THEM. THERE'S A LOT UNFORTUNATELY OF -- I WILL QUALIFY THAT, I'LL REMOVE THE A LOT, BUT THERE IS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND ALSO UNSHELTERED THAT CAMP BACK THERE AND IT'S CAUSED ISSUES FOR THE COMMUNITY. THEY DON'T ALL HAVE BACK FENCES.
AT ONE POINT I UNDERSTOOD THE TRAIL WAY WAS GOING TO GO ALONG THAT CREEK WHICH I THINK WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY JUST BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITY. DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW IF THAT'S IN THE PLANS?
>> YES, ZARZAMORA CREEK GOES BEHIND THAT AND WE'RE WORKING ON DESIGN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY. THERE'S A COUNTY-FUNDED SECTION WHICH INCLUDES THAT AREA AND THEN A CITY-FUNDED SECTION THAT CONTINUES NORTH TO INGRAM ROAD.
SO CURRENTLY IT ENDS RIGHT NOW AT ALDERETE PARK. THE FIRST SECTION IS GOING FROM ALDERETE PARK TO MONTERREY PARK AND NEAR ARROYO VISTA.
IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST CITY LAND, BUT ARROYO -- I KNOW THIS IS TRYING TO PUT A MENTAL IMAGE OF A MAP, BUT A DIRECT CONNECTION ON ONE SIDE AND INDIRECT ON THE OTHER.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO WALK EASILY INTO THE GREENWAY. >> HAVRDA: CAN YOU SEND ME
THOSE PLANS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> HAVRDA: THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, BUT WE GOT DIFFERENT INFORMATION IT WASN'T GOING THROUGH THROUGH. PART OF IT WAS THE COUNTY AND CITY PARTNERSHIP, THERE WAS A LITTLE MISCOMMUNICATION, ANYTHING I'M ALLOWED TO SHARE WOULD
GO A LONG WAY. >> CERTAINLY. >> HAVRDA: LASTLY, JUST THE -- I KNOW YOU GUYS ALWAYS KEEP THIS IN MIND. WE FREQUENT THE TRAILS AND THERE'S A LOT OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS, PEOPLE THAT HAVE ASSISTIVE DEVICES FOR WALKING. I WILL ASK IF THERE'S A SOLUTION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND SPECIFICALLY THE HEARING IMPAIRED.
WHEN WE'RE WALKING ON THE TRAILS I DON'T ALWAYS HEAR IT AND I DON'T HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH HEARING SO I JUST WONDER SOMETIMES IF THERE'S A WAY TO MAYBE INSTALL -- I KNOW IT'S MAYBE UNSIGHTLY BUT A MIRROR HERE OR THERE IF THERE'S A BIG BEND OR CORNER, TO GIVE THE HEARING IMPAIRED SOME VISUAL. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S MAYBE WAYS TO HAVE -- I'VE SEEN SOMETIMES IN OTHER PARK SYSTEMS LITTLE BUMPS ON THE GROUND FOR THOSE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. I DON'T KNOW IF WE DO THAT ALREADY OR COULD CONSIDER DOING THAT. THE MORE DANGEROUS PARTS OF THE TRAIL SYSTEM.
>> SO WE DO HAVE THE BUMPS, LIKE YOU SAID, BUT THEY HAVE KIND OF A CODE MORE OR LESS OF -- YOU KNOW, WITH I GUESS YOU COULD SAY TXDOT HAS ALL THESE STANDARDS, THE ADA , THE ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS. WE HAVE TO USE THOSE IN CERTAIN PLACES BECAUSE THEY MEAN CERTAIN THINGS. THE BUMPS ARE USUALLY THOSE RED PADS WITH THE BUMPS. THOSE ARE LIKE AT SIDEWALK RAMPS AND WE WOULDN'T USE THAT ON THE GREENWAY TRAIL, BUT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO EMULATE IT IN SOME WAY SO
IT'S KIND OF A FEEDBACK TYPE OF THING. >> HAVRDA: I KNOW WE COULDN'T DO IT ON ALL THE TRAIL SYSTEM, BUT THE AREAS THAT ARE LEVEL 1 THAT ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND OBVIOUSLY ON THE CONCRETE PATH.
I WOULDN'T ASK YOU -- I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO DO IT ON THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, DIRT AND GRASS. ANY WAY, ANY POSSIBILITY WE COULD INCLUDE THAT THE THE BETTER. AGAIN FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED, THAT'S JUST MY IDEA. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE BEST IDEA, BUT SOME KIND OF VISUAL SO THEY CAN SEE PEOPLE COMING BEHIND THEM. IT'S USUALLY CYCLISTS, NOT
ALWAYS EASY TO HEAR. >> WE HAVE THOSE MIRRORS A COUPLE OF PLACES, BUT IT'S
[00:55:04]
PRETTY SELECT. IT'S AN IDEA WE COULD LOOK INTO FURTHER AND JUST -- WE WANT TO BE AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE. ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIONIS SOMETHING WE'RE BIG ON. >> HAVRDA: ABSOLUTELY. I SEE THAT.
I SEE THAT ON THE TRAIL SYSTEM. AGAIN, IN THE INTEREST OF JUST MAKING IT FOR EVERYBODY AND I THINK -- I DO THINK OUR PARK SYSTEM IN GENERAL IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF THAT. IT'S JUST IN THE MORE KIND OF LIKE YOU SAID THE MORE TREACHEROUS AREAS OF THE GREENWAY. AND SO MANY PEOPLE USE IT FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND JUST PHYSICAL HEALTH AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> COURAGE: COUNCILMEMBER
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AND I DID WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA'S COMMENTS BECAUSE EVEN IN OUR LAST PRINTED-OUT NEWSLETTER, WE DID A WHOLE FOCUS ON THE GREENWAY TRAIL BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH RESEARCH THAT SHOWS HOW IT HELPS PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH. AND I THINK -- I KNOW HOMER AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE, KNOCKING ON AS MANY DOORS AND I DID AND SUKH DID, YOU CAN SEE HOW PEOPLE NEED TO GET OUT AND ABOUT FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH.
WATCHING THE NEWS AND GETTING MAD AND PEOPLE NEED THAT ACCESSIBILITY TO IN AUDIO]. MY QUESTION MOSTLY -- AND AGAIN, IT KIND OF PIGGYBACKS OFF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA WAS SAYING IS REALLY THE SAFETY ON THE TRAIL. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AND I CAN SPEAK FIRSTHAND AND I'VE SPOKEN TO HOMER ABOUT IT EVEN WHERE YOU GET ON THE WOODLAWN LAKE, THERE ARE A LOT OF OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION THERE ON THE TRAIL THERE.
WE ACTUALLY DID A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT TOUR WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NOT TOO LONG AGO AND THE FIRST PLACE DHS TOOK US TO WAS ON THE TRAIL, AS A PLACE WE SEE A LOT OF OUR HOMELESS. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO KEEP A LOT OF PEOPLE AWAY UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN CURB THAT. I'M NOT SAYING HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE NOT SAFE, BUT THERE IS THAT PERCEPTION AND STORY YES TYPE OUT THERE -- STEREOTYPE OUT THERE SO -- UNTIL WE CAN GET OUR UNSHELTERED PEOPLE OFF
THERE. >> YEAH, I THINK HOMER IS MORE OVER THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT THAT PARTNERS ON THIS, BUT WE DO PARTNER WITH DHS AND WITH THE PARK POLICE AND DIFFERENT FOLKS TO TRY TO ENGAGE WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION THAT WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY MAYBE ON THE WESTSIDE CREEKS. AND YOU MENTIONED AT WOODLAWN, PLACES LIKE THAT. SO THERE IS THAT ASPECT TO IT, AND I DO KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS -- YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULTY I THINK FOR PEOPLE SINCE THE PANDEMIC AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, CERTAINLY HAVING PLACES TO GO.
AND SO IT'S ENGAGING WITH THOSE PEOPLE, LETTING THEM KNOW WHERE THEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE SHELTERED AND TRYING TO ADDRESS IT AS DIPLOMATICALLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO LOOK OUT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARK USERS.
>> GAVITO: ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT SPEAKS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING TO THE CCR WE PUT FORWARD IS SAYING, HEY, OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION IS NOT GETTING CONNECTED TO HEALTH AND RESOURCES WHAT THEY ARE ON THE TRAIL OR DRAINAGE DITCHES OR OTHER THINGS. THE INTENT IS NOT TO SAY HEY YOU CAN'T BE HERE, BUT TO CONNECT THEM TO THE HELP AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED THAT THEY ARE NOT FINDING ON A TRAIL SYSTEM. AND I KNOW THAT FROM SOME OF THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE THEIR BACKYARDS ARE OPEN TO THE TRAIL SO NONE OF THEM HAVE FENCES WITH EACH OTHER AND ON THE TRAILWAY.
AND THEY'VE EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN ON, YOU NOTICE, THEY LEAVE THEIR BACK DOORS UNLOCKED LIKE MOST PEOPLE DO AND NEXT THING THEY KNOW THERE'S AN UNSHELTERED PERSON IN THEIR BACKYARD, WHICH IS A VERY JARRING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT'S NO YOUR PERSONAL SPACE. THEY ARE BY YOUR BACK DOOR WHERE IT'S NOT LOCKED.
SO I DEFINITELY -- YOU KNOW, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS, BUT I DEFINITELY FEEL THAT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY ASPECT NEEDS TO BE PRESENT SO THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN WANT TO USE IT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT,EN ALSO FOR THE RESIDENTS WHOSE HOMES BACK
UP THEY FEEL SAFE WITH IT TOO. >> ONE THING I WOULD JUST POINT OUT, WE'VE GOT PARK POLICE THAT PATROL THE GREENWAYS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE
[01:00:01]
TRAIL STEWARDS. THE TRAIL STEWARDS PROGRAM HAS BEEN HUGE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY TRAIL STEWARDS THAT WE HAVE. THEY ARE VERY PRESENT ON THE GREENWAYS AND WE GET A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE TRAIL STEWARDS AND THEIR HELPFULNESS. THEY CARRY BOTTLED WATER AND CAN PROVIDE DIRECTIONS AND FIRST AID, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.AND THEY ALSO REPORT INTO PARK POLICE AND MAINTENANCE STAFF AND SO FORTH.
THE BIGGEST SECURITY THING THAT HELPS ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF OUR TRAIL USERS.
>> GAVITO: I AGREE. >> THE MORE PEOPLE WE HAVE USING THOSE SPACES, THE LESS LIKELY SOMEBODY IS GOING TO WANT TO BE THERE, EITHER HOMELESS OR COMMITTING CRIMINAL MISS CHIEF BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD IS THE PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE IS THE BIGGEST DETERRENT.
>> GAVITO: AS A RUNNER, PEOPLE ARE LIKE WE LOVE THE RUNNERS ARE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE ARE A WHOLE SET OF EYES AND EARS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS MAKING SURE THINGS ARE OKAY. DO WE KNOW IF THE LIGHTING HAS BEEN DONE, COMPLETED WHERE THE WOODLAWN LAKE -- WHERE THE TRAIL COMES UP TO IT?
THAT WAS KEEPING A LOT OF PEOPLE AWAY. >> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT -- A PARTICULAR PROJECT OF LIGHTING, WOODLAWN LAKE TRAILS?
>> GAVITO: THE TRAIL WAS COMPLETED, THE PAVEMENT, BUT THE LIGHTING WASN'T THERE SO
IT WASN'T SAFE. >> COUNCILMAN, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE TRAIL CONNECTION THAT'S ALONG MARTINEZ CREEK UP TO CINCINNATI OR THE OTHER
SIDE, ELLISON? >> NO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS IN EVALUATING IS WHERE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE LIGHTING ON THE TRAIL SYSTEM. IN A LOT OF CASES WHERE WE HAVE ACQUIRED PROPERTIES IT WAS WITH CERTAIN UNDERSTANDINGSS AND CONDITIONS IN PLACE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE LOOKED AT EXPLORING IS LIGHTING THE WESTSIDE CREEKS THAT WOULD INCLUDE ALLISON THAT IS NOT DESIGNED, NOT PERMITTED.
WE'RE HAVING TO WORK WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER A LOT OF THOSE CREEKS. THAT IS SOMETHING STILL EVOLVING. NOT DONE YET, BUT JUST THE WESTSIDE CREEKS IN GENERAL WHERE APPROPRIATE TO DO SO.
>> GAVITO: ABSOLUTELY. LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP WITH THAT.
I KNOW THAT DETERS A LOT OF EARLY MORNING RUNNERS OR CYCLISTS FROM GOING IS THERE'S NO LIGHTING AND SO THERE'S THAT SAFETY COMPONENT.
>> YES, UNDERSTOOD. >> GAVITO: AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON THESE TRAILWAYS. I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE GEMS OF SAN ANTONIO AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL PROUD OF, AND JUST KNOW THAT MY QUESTIONS ARE DIRECTED IN HOW WE CAN IMPROVE IT SO THAT WAY
PEOPLE CAN UTILIZE IT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. IS THERE ANY UPDATE TO THE
FLYWAY TRAIL ADVOCATE BY THE QUARRY? >> THE SO THE FLYWAY WAS MORE OR LESS PROPOSED BY ACTIVATE SA AND THE ALAMO ARTS FOLKS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA.
I BELIEVE IT WOULD GO FROM OLMOS UP TO THE AIRPORT ALONG PARALLEL TO WETMORE AND 281. THAT'S NOT IN THE PLAN YET AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRY TO EXPLORE, BUT I WILL SAY IT'S A PRETTY DIFFICULT PROJECT TO IMAGINE BRINGING TO FRUITION BECAUSE OF THE -- IT WOULD REQUIRE, I WOULD JUST SAY, A PARTNERSHIP WITH TXDOT AND POTENTIALLY WITH UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO YET, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH TXDOT JUST KIND OF IN A PRELIMINARY WAY, BUT IT WOULD BE A MAJOR PROJECT. IT WOULD BE BASICALLY A CYCLE TRACK THAT WOULD CONNECT THOSE WHICH WOULD BE AMAZING, BY THE WAY.
BUT YEAH, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT REALLY GOING YET IN TERMS OF ANY KIND OF DESIGN
OR ANY OF THAT. >> KAUR: THE -- IT WOULD BASICALLY CONNECT TO THE SALADO CREEK GREENWAY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU ARE -- WHEN YOU ARE USING A TRAIL SYSTEM, YOU ALWAYS WANT A STARTING POINT AND BE ABLE TO COME BACK AROUND. CONSTANTLY THINKING WHAT DOES THAT CONNECTIVITY LOOK LIKE SO YOU ARE NOT HAVING TO GO BACKWARDS ON THE TRAIL AND RUN OR BIKE THE SAME ROUTE OVER AGAIN. THAT'S WHY I WAS THINKING LIKE WHEN WE ARE THINKING
[01:05:01]
ABOUT EXPANSION AND WHAT'S UPCOMING, DO WE THINK IF I'M STARTING FROM THIS POINT AND WANT TO DO A 5, 10, 20-MILE BIKE RIDE, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND BEST PLAN FORCONNECTION? >> ABSOLUTELY. THE USER EXPERIENCE IS FOR INSTANCE, IF WE HAVE A PARKING AREA HERE, WE LOGICALLY WANT TO END IT AT ANOTHER AREA YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PARK SO YOU CAN SHUTTLE OR BE IN A LOOP
WHICH MAKES SENSE IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AN OUTING. >> KAUR: THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING, HOW COULD WE MAKE IT MORE -- FEEL MORE CIRCULAR IN PARTS OF IT.
THERE'S AREAS WHERE YOU CAN SEE A CLEAR ROUTE, BUT FOR OTHER PARTS IT FEELS LIKE SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE QUARRY, THAT BLOCK THERE, IT STOPS THERE.
THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING. THE OTHER THING THAT WE WERE WONDERING IS AT THE TRAILHEADS, ARE YOU CONSIDERING DOING -- ASIDE FROM GROWING THE ROUTES, BENEFITS OR FEATURES FOR FOLKS LIKE BENCHES OR OTHER AMENITIES FOR USES?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ MENTIONED AT THE FY '24 BUDGET HEARING WAS ABOUT BENCHES SPECIFICALLY. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING BENCHES IN AREAS THAT WE CAN. WE'RE A LITTLE BIT LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE THE TRAILS ARE IN THE FLOODPLAIN AND SO WE CAN'T BLOCK UP THE FLOW OF THE WATER. SO WE DON'T PUT A LOT OF VERTICAL ELEMENTS DOWN -- BY THE CREEK, BUT BENCHES ARE KIND OF AN EASY WIN WE CAN DO. BUT WE ARE STILL EVEN ON THOSE LOOKING AT THE ELEVATION TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT DOWN WHERE IT'S GOING TO GET HIT BY A BUNCH OF WATER AND CAUSE A DAM BY STUFF HITTING IT. I WOULD SAY LIKE THE THINGS YOU SAW A MINUTE AGO ON THE SLIDE THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE BUTTERFLY GARDENS AND THE PUBLIC ART AND THOSE THINGS, THOSE ARE NEW. YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO, LIKE YOU SAID, KIND OF ENHANCE THE EXISTING SYSTEM SO IT'S BASICALLY MORE OF A HOLISTIC TYPE OF EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO THAT LOCATION AND YOU ARE HAVING SOME KIND OF PARK FEATURE OR SOME KIND OF NATIVE FEATURE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE A BIT LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE FLOODPLAIN, BUT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO TRY TO MAKE IT LIKE A DESTINATION IN ITSELF IN A WAY.
>> KAUR: DO WE HAVE THE ENTRANCES OF EACH, THE ROUTE YOU COULD TAKE ON THE TRAIL?
>> I'M NOT SURE BEYOND THE MAP. WE DO HAVE THE MAP.
OF COURSE, THE BROCHURE THAT'S THERE. AND THERE'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENT PARKS THAT IT CONNECTS TO. >> KAUR: THE REASON I WAS ASKING, THE OTHER THING I WAS THINKING, HOW DO WE SHARE WITH RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO AND ACCESS A TRAIL AND IN WHAT WAYS.
IF I HAVE A BIKE AND RATHER THAN BIKING AROUND MY STREETS, I WANT TO DO A 5-MILE BIKE RIDE. HOW WOULD I GET THERE AND WHAT'S THE WAY TO GO AROUND.
I KNOW WE HAVE THE GIS TRANSPORTATION MAP ON OUR WEBSITE.
THAT GIS SYSTEM NEVER WORKS SO I CAN NEVER ACTUALLY SEE IT.
I WAS THINKING OF AN EASIER WAY. I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER CITIES USE A GOOGLE MAPS FEATURE. WHAT DO FOLKS USE TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY
THEY HAVE OF USING THE TRAILS? >> THERE IS ACTUALLY -- WE'VE STARTED DOING THE STREET VIEW. YOU KNOW HOW YOU DO THE CAMERA AND THE PEOPLE KIND OF TOUR IT AND THEN WE HAVE THAT ON THE GREENWAYS.
SO YOU CAN DROP THE LITTLE YELLOW MAN IN THE CORNER OVER THERE AND PUT HIM ON THE TRAIL AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE GREENWAY LOOKS LIKE BEFORE YOU EVEN GO VISIT.
THAT'S ONE THING. THAT MAY BE THE THING YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
I'M NOT SURE. BUT WE DO HAVE A FIND A PARK APPLICATION, WHERE YOU CAN LOOK FOR THE PLAYGROUND OR CITY PARK OR A BIKE PATH, OR, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING AND SEE WHERE THEY ARE. BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK A L LOT OF PEOPLE USE GOOGLE. THERE'S ALSO DIFFERENT OTHER WEBSITES THAT SORT OF FEED INTO OUR INFORMATION, LIKE AMERICAN TRAILS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF KIND OF USER, MORE LIKE GRASSROOTS TYPES OF WEBSITES AND THINGS THAT DIRECT USERS TO OUR GREENWAY
SYSTEM. >> KAUR: DO THEY TAKE INFORMATION FROM OUR GREENWAY TRAILS AND PUT INFORMATION ON THERE, LIKE THESE ARE THE EIGHT TRAILS ON THE GREENWAY
SYSTEM YOU CAN USE? >> IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE WEBSITE.
SOME DO. SOME HAVE OUR INFORMATION, THEY DIRECTLY LINK INTO OUR WEBSITE AND THEN OTHERS ARE KIND OF LIKE THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THEIR OWN. IF YOU GO TO YOUTUBE, FOR INSTANCE, AND LOOK UP LEON CREEK GREENWAY, THERE WILL BE PROBABLY 50 DIFFERENT VIDEOS OF PEOPLE RIDING THEIR BIKES
[01:10:03]
AND THOSE ARE JUST CITIZENS WHO ARE UPLOADING THEIR DATA. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. I WILL MENTION A FEW THINGS NOW. YOU HAVE HEARD MY DISCUSSION ABOUT MY CONCERN ON THE CONGESTION ON THE GREENWAY TRAILS BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING THEIR PETS, PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN LITTLE CARRIAGES, CARTS, SENIORS AND THEN CYCLISTS OF ALL KINDS. KIDS ON TRICYCLES ALL THE WAY UP TO PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEY'RE IN A BIG RACE. AND YOU HAVE MENTIONED SOME OF THOSE TRAILS ARE EIGHT FEET WIDE. MOST ARE TEN. SOME ARE 12.
AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE WORK DONE ON DEVISING A PLAN NOT JUST FOR NEW GROWTH BUT IN RETRO FITTING SOME EXISTING TRAILS. YOU HAVE HEARD, AND I HAVE HEARD IT HERE, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DO WE WANT TO HAVE LIGHTING.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO APPROVED OR NEIGHBORHOODS WHO APPROVED TRAILS BUT THEIR AREA SAID WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE LIGHTING IN OUR BACKYARD.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THEY'RE ON THAT TRAIL.
MAYBE THERE IS A STEWARD NEARBY, SOME KIND OF SIGNS THAT COULD SAY SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, CALL PARK POLICE AT THIS NUMBER SO THEY CAN HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. YOU KNOW, SPEEDING ON GREENWAY TRAILS, BY PEOPLE ON BIKES, ARE A PROBLEM. YOU TALK ABOUT FEATURES BUILT IN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND.
HOW ABOUT FEATURES BUILT IN FOR SPEED RACERS LIKE SPEED BUMPS ALONG THE TRAIL.
THOSE ARE THINGS I HAVE HEARD ABOUT, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERING. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS TRYING TO MAKE THE GREENWAY TRAIL FRIENDLY SO PEOPLE, LET'S SAY WHO LIVE NORTH OF 1604 COULD RIDE THEIR BIKES DOWNTOWN TO GO TO WORK, OR GO HOME. BUT NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING THE TRAILS OPEN WHEN IT'S DARK, EITHER GOING HOME AT NIGHT OR COMING TO WORK IN THE MORNING, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO WORK, ARE THEY GOING TO OBEY A 15 MILE AN HOUR SPEED LIMIT ON THOSE TRAILS TO DO THAT? AND IS IT GOING TO HAVE TO BE LIGHTING FOR THEM? SO THERE'S A LOT OF, I THINK, COMPLEX ISSUES.
I LOVE THE TRAIL SYSTEM, AND EVERYBODY ENJOYS IT WHO USES IT, BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE IT MORE SUITABLE FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PURPOSES, OR TO EXCLUDE SOME PURPOSES. MAYBE IT SHOULDN'T BE PART OF A GET TO WORK SYSTEM. WE HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT'S SET UP TO LOOK AT THE GREENWAY TRAILS. I THINK JOHN KENT IS NOW THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING HOW THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES.
UP ANY SMALL COMMITTEES THEMSELVES TO LOOK AT THIS, OR DO THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT? ARE THEY JUST THERE TO HEAR WHAT THE CITY IS SAYING, BUT NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THESE THINGS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT AND GET IT WRITTEN DOWN SO I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY INPUT THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT SOME OF THESE DECISIONS DOWN THE ROAD.
>> YES, SIR. >> COURAGE: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE STATEMENTS.
THE REST OF THE QUESTIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKED BY EVERYBODY ELSE.
OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? OKAY, GOOD. THIS ENDS UP BEING A SHORT MEETING FOR US.
ONLY HAD TO DO TWO OUT OF THREE THINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE ALL THE WAY Y'ALL DO. OKAY.
EVERYBODY, DID YOU ALL RECEIVE A COPY OF THE FUTURE AGENDAS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH? YOU MAY HAVE, I LOOKED AT IT, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL DID. IN AN E-MAIL.
MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT IT, MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED THAT ISN'T ON THAT LIST, OR THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE MOVED UP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.