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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:05 A.M. ON THE 25TH DAY OF JANUARY 2024.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME AGAIN.
TO START US TODAY, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ TO WELCOME OUR
INVOCATOR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ESTEEMED GUEST JOINING US TODAY. WE HAVE REVEREND BUTCH SEWARD, THE PASTOR OF -- I DON'T WANT TO PRONOUNCE THIS INCORRECTLY. ECLETO MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH IN TEXAS. HE WAS BORN IN NEW YORK AND ATTENDED UNIVERSITY IN THE BRONX. HE DEDICATED TEN YEARS TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND HE EARNED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE. HE'S HAD AN AMAZING AND DIVERSE LIVED EXPERIENCE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD INCLUDING SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ELLA AUSTIN HEALTH CENTER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE SERVED AS CHAIR OF BEAT AIDS FOR TEN YEARS.
HE IS THE FATHER OF THREE AND GRANDFATHER OF THREE GIRLS AND SERVES AS A MENTOR TO 26 YOUNG PEOPLE . THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, REVEREND SEWARD.
>> THANK YOU. SHALL WE PRAY? OUR LORD AND OUR GOD, HOW WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS OF YET ANOTHER DAY. WE INVITE YOU, O LORD, INTO THIS SPACE. TOUCH OUR CITY OFFICIALS, EMBOLDEN THEM AND EMPOWER THEM TO WORK WITH YOUR DESIGNS IN MIND. WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS CITY THAT EACH OF US LOVE SO DEARLY. WE ASK, O LORD, THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT EACH OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM THE HARD LIFE AND GRANT TO THEM THE ABILITY TO DRIVE OUR CITY SUCCESSFULLY, CAUSE IT TO BE PROSPEROUS, CAUSE UNITY TO REIGN SUPREME.
BLESS, O LORD, AS ONLY YOU CAN AND WHEN THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY FACE IMPOSSIBILITY, REMIND THEM THAT THEY CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH YOU WHO STRENGTHEN EACH OF THEM.
BLESS THE HOMES FROM WHICH THEY COME, CAUSE THEM TO BE A PLACE OF PEACE AND OF GOOD HEALTH THAT THEY MIGHT LEND THEIR FULL ATTENTION TO THE DUTIES TO WHICH THEY'VE BEEN ELECTED.
WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ALL THAT YOU WILL DO WITH THEM AND THROUGH THEM IN THIS NEW YEAR.
HEAR OUR PRAYER IN THE PRECIOUS, PERFECT, AND POW POWERFUL NAME OF JESUS.
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, REVEREND SEWARD. ALL RIGHT.
OUR FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 10, 11, AND 14, 2024. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA ON CONSENT TODAY. THERE'S NO ITEMS PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION SO I'LL ASK NOW IF THERE ARE ANY TO PULL, TO LISTEN TO BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. OKAY. IF THERE'S NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS 4 THROUGH 21.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 4 THROUGH 21.
WE HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. JACK FINGER, 16 AND 19.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YES, ONE OF TWO ITEMS I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON TODAY'S AGENDA THAT MIGHT BE SAILING THROUGH FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET. ONE OF THEM IS ITEM NO. 19. IT'S ABOUT, WELL BASICALLY ABOUT A PERSON WHO THINKS HE IS ABOVE THE LAW, LITERALLY. THIS IS ON SOUTHWEST W.W. WHITE ROAD AND THE PERSON WANTS TO PUT UP A SIGN ON HIS PREMISES. THAT'S FINE.
BUT WE HAVE STANDARDS WHEREBY SIGNS CANNOT REACH ALL THE WAY UP TO THE STARS, YOU SEE.
THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THAT -- WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT IT SAYS HERE.
APPEALING A DECISION BY THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TO PUT UP A SIGN, A 40-FOOT TALL SIGN.
40 FEET ON 1956 SOUTH W.W. WHWHITE ROAD THERE. IT SAYS REQUEST A SIGN AT 74% TALLER THAN PERMITTED . IF YOU WOULD FLIP THE PAGE, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
SEE WHAT ELSE IT SAYS THERE. YEAH, THERE YOU GO. YEAH.
IT SAYS GRANTING THE VARIANCE WILL PROVIDE THE APPLICANT WITH SPECIAL PRIVILEGES NOT ENJOYED BY OTHER PROPERTIES WITHIN THE VICINITY, MS. VIAGRAN. FURTHER IT SAYS NO, NO UNIQUE FEATURES EXIST THAT RESULT IN THE NEED OF THE VARIANCE. SO, OKAY, RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD. I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, MS. VIAGRAN, WERE YOU GOING TO ALLOW A PERSON TO HAVE THESE SPECIAL PRIVILEGES? OR WILL YOU SAY, NO, YOU'RE NO DIFFERENT FROM ANYBODY ELSE. SO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION I'D LIKE TO SEE ANSWERED WITH YOU AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. IF SOMEBODY COULD -- AFTER ALL, SINCE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WILL BE VOTING ON THIS, YOU HAVE A RIGHT AND ACTUALLY AN OBLIGATION TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, ASSUMING YOU BELIEVE THAT SOME OF US ARE JUST NOT A LITTLE BIT MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.
ALSO, ON ITEM NO. 16 IS ABOUT A PERSON BEING NOMINATED FOR THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN. MS. GAVITO, I THINK YOU'RE NOMINATING -- WHAT'S HER NAME? [INDISCERNIBLE] GARZA? IN HER OWN BIOGRAPHY IT MENTIONS SHE ENJOYS TIME WITH HER KIDS AND HER PARTNER. YEAH. THE QUESTION: WHO IS THAT?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW. I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE SO JUST SIGNAL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. DISTRICT 3 HAS A NUMBER OF
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ITEMS -- FOUR, ACTUALLY, ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVE FORWARD BUT I'LL ONLY HIGHLIGHT ONE. BUT I DO WANT TO SUBMIT LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR ITEM 19, WHICH IS THE SIGN THAT ALREADY EXISTS. CHILD ADVOCACY SAN ANTONIO.I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR WORKING WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEPT THAT SIGN UP AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE INFORMATION OUT THAT WE NEED SO PEOPLE CAN VOLUNTEER AND HELP THIS AMAZING CAUSE. BUT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MY APPOINTEE AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE APPOINTEES TO THE BOARD.
BUT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT 16D, DR. GEORGE HINOJOSA, WHO IS NOW GOING TO SERVE ON THE ZONING COMMISSION. SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF MY APPOINTEES.
VANESSA FIERRO, ARE YOU HERE TODAY? WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE VANESSA IS GOING TO BE SERVING ON OUR PARKS AND REC BOARD. COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY.
REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT US.
ALSO EXCITED TO APPOINT CARLOS MAESTAS, WHO IS A LOCAL VIDEOGRAPHER AND STORY TELLER,
TO THE BROOKS BOARD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: TODAY IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO HIGHLIGHT THE DISTRICT 7 APPOINTEE ON THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN.
CODA GARZA. CODA HOLDS A POSITION WITH THE ORGANIZATION EVERY TEXAN.
AS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE AND DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS, CODA EARNED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY. CURRENTLY PURSUING HER PHD AT UTSA, HER EXPERTISE LIES IN RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND GENDER POVERTY DISPARITIES PARTICULARLY IN THE BORDER AREAS . SHE SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF POLICY WITH FORMER COUNCILWOMAN SHIRLEY GONZALES, DIRECTOR OF ZONING AND PLANNING FOR FORMER COUNCILMAN, NOW MAYOR NIRENBERG. SHE IS VERY ACTIVE IN ORGANIZATIONS, SERVING ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AMONG HER OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE INAUGURAL CLASS OF THE LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AND SERVED AS BOARD CHAIR FOR MOVE TEXAS . IT'S AN HONOR TO ADD CODA'S VOICE TO THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR HER TO CHAMPION OPPORTUNITY, EQUALITY, AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS FOR ALL OF US IN SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CODA, FOR ACCEPTING THIS APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: YES, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO ASK IF WE COULD AMEND THE MOTION. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ITEM 19 PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL
CONSIDERATION SO I CAN VOTE AGAINST IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL HAVE ACTION SEPARATELY ON ITEM 19.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON CONSENT? I THINK CODA ALREADY LEFT BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE CODA FOR HER OUTGOING WORK ON THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD. WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS VERY SOON UP HERE. CODA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR ITEM 19. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. LET'S HEAR ITEM 19 SINCE I THINK THAT WILL BE FAIRLY QUICK. IF YOU CAN JUST READ THE CAPTION. I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED A PRESENTATION.
>> CLERK: ITEM NO. 19 IS APPROVAL OF AN APPEAL OF A DECISION BY THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TO DENY A 29-FOOT, 8-INCH VARIANCE FROM THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED SIGN HEIGHT OF 40 FEET FOR A SINGLE-TENANT DIGITAL SIGN LOCATED AT 1956 SOUTH W.W. WHITE ROAD.
APPROVAL OF THIS WOULD ALLOW THE REQUESTED VARIANCE FOR THE APPLICANT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 19.
>> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 19 . ANY DISCUSSION?
>> COURAGE: MAYOR? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE CASA AND THE WORK IT DOES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
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BUT I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE IT'S KIND OF SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT I'M CONCERNED THAT A LOT OF OTHER BUSINESSES OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS MIGHT ASK FOR THIS KIND OF AN EXCEPTION. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST A 30-FOOT DIFFERENCE IN THE ORDINANCE WE HAVE IN PLACE. SOMETIMES THERE MAY BE GOOD REASONS FOR EXCEPTIONS BUT I'VE LOOKED AT THIS. I THINK THAT IN ORDER NOT TO SET THE KIND OF PRECEDENT THAT WOULD ALLOW ANY KIND OF BUSINESS TO ASK FOR A VARIANCE IN THE FUTURE, I HAVE TO VOTEAGAINST THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TH THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.
WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR MIDST TODAY SO TO WELCOME A FEW OF THEM, LET ME
TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TODAY. I'LL START WITH GIVING MY THANKS AND GRATITUDE OF THE DISTRICT 6 COMMUNITY TO THE EMILY FLEISCHER.
EMILY HAS BEEN THE APPOINTEE TO THE ARTS COMMISSION FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
TIRELESSLY REPRESENTING US ON THAT COMMISSION. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HER FOR HER SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND IT PAINS ME TO SAY THAT EMILY IS STEPPING DOWN TO DEVOTE MORE TIME TO HER ART AND TEACHING. EMILY IS A GIFTED ARTIST. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE OFFICES ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF CITY HALL SEE HER BEAUTIFUL WORK, HER SCULPTURE, AS SOON AS YOU GET OFF THE ELEVATOR. IT HAPPENS TO BE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT 6 OFFICE.
HER WORK HAS BEEN SHOWCASED IN AUSTIN, BROOKLYN, SYRACUSE, AND OF COURSE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
EMILY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL VISION, YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORT, AND FOR GUIDING OUR CITY'S ARTISTIC PATH. FOR YOUR UNCOMPROMISING CONVICTION TO YOUR ART AND PROUDLY REPRESENTING DISTRICT 6.
WE'RE SAD TO SEE YOU GO BUT I KNOW THAT OUR CITY'S ART COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY YOUR STUDENTS WILL BENEFIT NOW THAT YOU'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO DEVOTE TO THEM.
YOU WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> SURE.
IT'S REALLY BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE THE CITY IN DISTRICT 6. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE OVERWHELMING LINGERING FEELING THAT I'M LEFT WITH IS JUST THE WARMTH OF SAN ANTONIO.
AS A TRANSPLANT TO THE CITY, I MOVED HERE ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, IT'S BEEN UNIQUELY STRIKING FROM CITY OFFICES AND JUST THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HOW WARM AND EMBRACING PEOPLE ARE HERE.
THANK YOU. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, EMILY.
APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. SECOND, COMES WITH AN INCREDIBLE SENSE OF AWE. DR. KAUR INVITED COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO AND I TO PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO THE ORGANIZERS OF THE RED CARPET BRAWL FUNDRAISING EVENT THAT SUPPORTS THE JESSE JAMES LEIJA FOUNDATION.
THEY'RE HERE THIS MORNING. INVITE YOU TO THE PODIUM. THE LEIJA FAMILY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THEM IN A MOMENT.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR SAN ANTONIO. YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE US PROUD.
AND THANKS TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY FOR CONTINUING TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
MY SENSE OF AWE AT THE RED CARPET BRAWL WAS WITH ONE OF OUR FIERCE COMPETITORS IN THE RING WAS OUR OWN DR. KAUR. SHE WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. I'M A LITTLE BIT AFRAID OF HER NOW. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN -- WE WERE IN THE RING WITH HER FOR A MOMENT BUT WE GOT OUT LONG BEFORE THE FIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS SCARY. COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR YOU WERE AWESOME IN THE RING. KUDOS TO YOU FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE BUT THE MAIN THING IS YOU ARE BRINGING AN AWARENESS TO THE LEIJA FAMILY FOUNDATION AND OF COURSE FOR HER. I WANT TO SEND A SHOUT OUT FOR HER.
A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS WOMEN THROUGH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES AND HELPS THEM OVERCOME POVERTY, TRAUMA, AND ABUSE . DR. KAUR FOUGHT TO BRING AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR HER. THANKS TO KAYLA AND HER TEAM, WHO IS HERE.
LET ME REALLY QUICKLY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. EVERYBODY IN THAT AUDIO] BUT IT WAS FRIENDLY AND WARM AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING AWARENESS AND SOME FUNDS, HOPEFULLY, FOR YOUR MISSION. WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR DOING
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THAT. MY PARTNER FOR THE PRESENTATION THAT NIGHT WAS COUNCILWOMANALDERETE GAVITO SO I'LL HAND IT OVER TO HER. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. YES, I ALSO WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE RED CARPET BRAWL AND SEE ALL OF Y'ALL'S EFFORTS COME TO LIFE. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN KAUR FOR DONATING HER TIME TO THE EVENT AND PUTTING HER BODY ON THE LINE FOR THIS AMAZING CAUSE. LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA WAS SAYING, WE WERE CHEERING HER ON AND SHE DID AWESOME. I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GO UP THERE AND -- WELL, NOT IN THE BOXING RING BUT I'LL RACE ANYBODY.
BUT TO PUT YOURSELF ON THE LINE FOR A CAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN. THANK YOU, DR. KAUR FOR DOING THAT. I WAS SO EXCITED THAT YOU TOOK THE WIN HOME.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK THE LEIJA FAMILY FOUNDATION FOR PUTTING ON THIS EXCITING EVENT. IT WAS A WONDERFUL WAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL Y'ALL DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR SAN ANTONIO.
FINALLY, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK FOR HER FOR ALL THE IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY WORK Y'ALL DO TO HELP WOMEN IN OUR CITY. I'M PARTICULARLY PASSIONATE ABOUT BUILDING UP OTHER WOMEN AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR EACH OF US TO HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I VALUE THE WORK THAT THE LEIJA FAMILY FOUNDATION DOES AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTRIBUTING ALL Y'ALL'S TIME AND EFFORTS TO HELP SO MANY CAUSES IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU AGAIN AND I'M GOING
TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILWOMAN DR. SUKH KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES. YOU GUYS ARE TOO KIND. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUPPORT AND LOVE. AND, OF COURSE, THANK YOU TO THE LEIJAS.
WHEN YOU ASKED ME I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE -- WE TALKED ABOUT IT THE FIRST TIME, SELF-DEFENSE. EVERY WOMAN, EVERY INDIVIDUAL SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SELF-DEFENSE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING PEOPLE THERE. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT FIGHTING AND WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHAT IT CAN ACTUALLY MEAN TO HELP TURN PEOPLE'S LIFE AROUND. I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE IN THE GYM WHOSE LIVES YOU HAVE TURNED AROUND AND GOT TO BE A PART OF THE FAMILY FOR A FEW MONTHS.
I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. OF COURSE, KAYLA, THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT ON YOUR BEHALF AND THE ORGANIZATION'S BEHALF.
WE HAD A VIOLENCE PREVENTION CONVERSATION AT B SESSION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS STILL ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I KNOW YOU'RE SERVING A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND WE WERE ALMOST ABLE TO RAISE $10,000 FOR YOU THAT NIGHT, WHICH I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU YET.
WE WERE EXCITED FOR THAT. AND ALSO TO THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
THERE WERE FOLKS SUPPORTING THE FOOD BANK. FOLKS THAT WERE SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER, ALSO IN DISTRICT 1, AND THEN MY OPPONENT WAS SUPPORTING HAVEN FOR HOPE AND WE HAD OUR POINT IN TIME COUNT THIS WEEK AND SOME OF US GOT TO GO OUT AND DO SOME OF THAT WORK AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED SHELTER.
I WAS HONORED TO BE A PART OF IT. I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR Y'ALL FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND BELIEVING THAT I COULD DO IT. I'M CHALLENGING SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES. YOU ALL GOT TO GET IN THE RING FOR NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU. OH, YEAH, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, WE'RE PUTTING YOU
UP. VOLUNTOLD. >> THERE WAS A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS GETTING READY FOR THIS FIGHT.
OF THE LEIJA FAMILY FOUNDATION, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE. WE STARTED THE FOUNDATION BECAUSE WE WANTED TO HELP THE PROGRAMS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE DECIDED WHAT DO WE DO BEST? WE'RE FIGHTERS. WE FIGHT FOR THE GOOD.
WE FIGHT FOR WEIGHT. WE FIGHT FOR PEACE OF MIND AND MENTAL HEALTH.
WE WANTED TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND SAID LET'S PUT ON SOME FIGHTS. THAT'S WHEN WE CAME KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR AND SHE SAID YES BEFORE I EVEN SAID ANYTHING. OH, YOU WANT -- YES, I'LL DO IT.
THAT'S A TRUE LEADER THAT WANTS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY AND YOU PUT YOUR BODY ON THE LINE. IT'S STRESSFUL EVERY DAY WORKING OUT.
WE GOT TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN. THAT'S HARD FOR ME TO TELL A WOMAN YOU GOT TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN. BUT IT'S ALL IN BOXING TERMS. BUT IT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM. A GREAT NIGHT. WE HAD THREE MONTHS TO GET THIS FIGHT NIGHT AND GO IN. WE HAD THREE MONTHS TO DO IT AND IT JUST PROVES THAT OUR TEAM IS OUR FAMILY. BUT THE TEAM THAT WORKS TOGETHER JUST STICKS TOGETHER AND WE DID A GREAT JOB. WE SOLD OUT. WE DID 52, 53 TABLES.
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SOLD OUT, SPECTACULAR NIGHT. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE FIGHTERS, OF COURSE.WE WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS. I HAVE BEEN THERE SO MANY YEARS AND I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. IT TAKES SO MUCH TIME FROM YOUR REGULAR JOB, FROM YOUR DAY AND I'M HONORED YOU WERE ABLE TO FIGHT AND WIN AND COME OUT VICTORIOUS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR.
I HAVE BEEN UP HERE BEFORE ON MY OTHER STUFF BUT NOTHING -- IT FEELS MUCH BETTER SUPPORTING THE FAMILY, SUPPORTING THE CITY, SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH.
IT MEANS A LOT MORE TO ME. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JESSE. YOU CONTINUE TO BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE CITY IN A LOT OF WAYS AND WE APPRECIATE THE NEXT STEP, THE EVOLUTION OF THE FAMILY FOUNDATION IN THIS WAY AND YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE BEHIND IT, ESPECIALLY AS YOU BENEFIT SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT DESERVE OUR SUPPORT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. DR. KAUR IS A VERY KIND PERSON BUT I HEARD THAT WASN'T THE CASE IN THE RING THE OTHER NIGHT.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF OUR COLLEAGUES GETTING IN THERE AND RAISING MONEY.
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. SO I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL. I'M GOING TO ARGUE THAT THE JESSE JAMES LEIJA FAMILY FOUNDATION STARTED YEARS AGO WHEN THE BOYS WERE AT ST. PHILLIP OF JESUS CATHOLIC SCHOOL. I COACHED JAMES IN SPEECH . AND THEY WERE CONSTANTLY GIVING TO THAT SCHOOL. AND OUR MOTTO WAS WE GROW IN FAITH IN ALL WE DO.
AND OUR FOCUS WAS COMMUNITY. AND JESSE WOULD FIND BOXING GLOVES FOR THE SILENT AUCTION.
THEY WOULD SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISERS. SO THIS IS A FAMILY THAT HAS GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY FOR DECADES. AND YOUR PARENTS DID TOO.
AND NOW HERE YOU ARE AND WE GET TO RECOGNIZE YOU AS A FOUNDATION.
I AM SO PROUD BECAUSE THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO. AND WE DO IT ON OUR OWN WITHOUT THE ACCOLADES.
BUT I'M SO GLAD WE COULD BRING Y'ALL HERE TODAY. WE COULD CELEBRATE YOU IN THIS BRAWL. THREE MONTHS. THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
AND ALL THE WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE THAT ARE THERE TAKING THE PHOTOS ARE I KNOW SO EXCITED.
I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU AND HOW Y'ALL HAVE GROWN AND THAT WE CAN BE HERE AND HONOR YOU TODAY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE. SO I KNOW IT'S ONLY BEEN THREE MONTHS, OFFICIALLY, BUT IT'S BEEN DECADES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS ON AN INCREDIBLE EVENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY REALIZES THAT DR. KAUR, THEY WERE THE MAIN FIGHT. AND SO THERE WAS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT WHEN IT HAPPENED.
AND SO I THINK YOU HAVE A GREAT EYE FOR TALENT. AND SO IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY SHE WAS IN HER CHARACTERISTIC PURPLE AND IT WAS JUST SUCH AN AWESOME NIGHT TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER AND JUST PROUD THAT YOU DO ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO THAT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
TO BOTH THE LEIJA FOUNDATION AND FOR HER, CONGRATULATIONS. KEEP DOING THE GREAT JOB THAT
YOU'RE DOING AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW JESSE O OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO AND JUST EVERY DAY TALKING TO YOU, YOUR HEART, YOUR LOVE FOR FAMILY AND LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY ALWAYS I THINK IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYTHING YOU DO. AND IT'S BEEN GREAT GETTING TO KNOW YOU. I'M SO HAPPY THAT THIS NIGHT WAS SUCH A SUCCESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF YOUR SUCCESSES AND ASSISTANCE TO THE CITY MOVING FORWARD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. GUYS, THANKS SO MUCH.
YEAH, GO AHEAD. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE MORE THING.
FIRST OF ALL, I COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT BOTH MY SONS. EVERY DAY WITH ME AT THE GYM, TRAINING THE CLIENTS. THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE OF BOTH OF THEM WANTED TO DO THIS AND PUSHED ME. WE NEED TO DO THIS DAD. I SAID, OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
I HAVE TO COMMEND BOTH OF THEM AND OUR WIVES FOR LETTING US DO THIS AS WELL.
I TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND WE'RE GOING 12-HOUR DAYS, TRAINING CLIENTS, TRAINING GUYS FOR THE FIGHT -- AND GIRLS FOR THE FIGHT AS WELL. SO IT'S A GROUP THING.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS. FAMILY FOUNDATION. WE'RE ALL INVOLVED AND WE'RE ALL DOING OUR PART. WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO MAKE THIS THING
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SUCCESSFUL. LIKE I SAID, IN THREE MONTHS IT WAS AMAZING.AND MARK SOLIS WAS ONE OF MY DEAR FRIENDS, I MET HIM IN 1988.
WE ARE LIKE BROTHERS AND HE'S PART OF MY FAMILY AS WELL. WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ANY OF THESE GUYS, TOGETHER WITH OUR WIVES. TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN VERY SOON.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. LET ME TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO -- SORRY. I LOST MY PLACE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA, YOU'RE GOOD? OKAY. I THINK THAT'S IT.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT NOW TO ERIK FOR A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
>> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST TWO ITEMS. LATER TODAY I'LL BE FORWARDING AN E-MAIL TO THE COUNCIL FROM OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT OUR SBEDA ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR '23 AND HAPPY TO REPORT THAT $330 MILLION OR 57% OF OUR CITY CONTRACT DOLLARS WERE PAID TO 517 LOCAL BUSINESSES, LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THAT 51%, OR $293 MILLION, WAS PAID TO 433 LOCAL MINORITY OR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES. SO BOTH FIGURES REPRESENT THE CITY'S LARGEST ANNUAL UTILIZATION SINCE WE BEGAN TRACKING THIS IN 1992.
AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE MEMO THAT THE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS FOR BOTH AFRICAN AMERICAN, ASIAN AMERICAN, HISPANIC, AND NATIVE AMERICAN-OWNED BUSINESSES WERE ALL MET IN FISCAL YEAR '23.
I WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH THE COUNCIL. YOU GET THIS ANNUAL REPORT BUT I WANTED TO SHARE THIS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION AT THE END OF THE YEAR ABOUT REAFFIRMING AND ADJUSTING OUR SBEDA ORDINANCE, WHICH WE WILL BE DOING, BRINGING BACK TO COUNCIL LATER ON IN THE YEAR.
THE ONE THING THAT'S PART OF THAT SBEDA ORDINANCE THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH IS ALIGNING THE EFFORTS OF THE SUPPLY SA INITIATIVE AND FOLLOWING UP ON MANY OF THE COMMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL GAVE US IN THE LAST PART OF 2023. GOOD NEWS AND YOU'LL GET THAT MEMO A LITTLE BIT LATER ON. AND OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO IS ON 3-1-1. AND LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND BECAUSE AS YOU ALL WILL RECALL, THE FISCAL YEAR '24 BUDGET DID INCLUDE FUNDS TO STAND UP EQU QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM. YOU'LL HEAR STEVEN TALK ABOUT THAT, AS WELL AS PAULA .
THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN HIRED AND ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH TRAINING.
THEIR JOB IS TO REALLY PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL LAYER OF INTERACTION AND FOLLOW UP WITH CUSTOMERS AND ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE RESOLUTION AND PROVIDING THAT LITTLE ADDITIONAL TOUCH THAT IS NEEDED IN TERMS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.
SO WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT IN THE BUDGET AND THOSE FOLKS WERE ON BOARD.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE SAN ANTONIO 3-1-1. THIS IS LARRY SPEAKING.
HOW MAY I ASSIST? >> HERE AT THE 3-1-1 CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE WE ARE DEFINITELY THE FIRST PLACE TO CALL FOR RESIDENTS WHO NEED CITY SERVICES AND INFORMATION.
WE GET ABOUT 800,000, 825,000 CALLS A YEAR. MONDAY IS OUR BUSY DAY AND
WE'RE OPEN 7:00 A.M. TO 11:00 P.M.. >> THE MOST GRATIFYING THING ABOUT MY JOB IS I GET TO ACTUALLY TALK TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND I ACTUALLY GET TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON IN REALTIME. THEY ARE TELLING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY. EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT OUT THERE
IN THE FIELD, I'M EXPERIENCING THAT ALONG WITH THEM. >> I LOVE PUTTING A SMILE ON PEOPLE'S FACES. THE CITIZENS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF SAN ANTONIO TO US. I LOVE HELPING THEM OUT AND LISTENING TO ISSUES AND WHAT
THEY NEED. >> IT MAKES ME FEEL PROUD BECAUSE WE'RE LIKE THE VOICE AND THE FACE OF SAN ANTONIO. PEOPLE CALL INTO US AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
REPRESENTING THE CITY WELL. >> FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT ANSWERING THAT 100TH CALL LIKE IT WAS YOUR FIRST CALL. THAT SMILE ON YOUR FACE. THAT SMILE COMING THROUGH THAT PHONE, MAKING SURE THAT THAT CALL IS ANSWERED WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND EXPERTISE BECAUSE THE CITIZEN IS RELYING ON THAT INFORMATION FOR US OVER THE PHONE.
[00:35:01]
>> NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THE CODE VIOLATION OR POTENTIAL CODE VIOLATION, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RESIDENTS KNOW THE DIFFERENT STEPS ALONG THE WAY AND WHAT IT TAKES TO GET
THAT CODE ISSUE RESOLVED. >> THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO 3-1-1.
>> WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON GETTING INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS AND PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THIS YEAR WE HAVE A NEW TEAM. THE QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM WILL COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE RESIDENT, DIFFERENT STRATEGY THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR, REALLY WORKING TOWARD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
AND OUTCOMES. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ERIK. GREAT JOB TO OUR 3-1-1 STAFF.
WE DO HAVE AN EXEC SESSION. THE TIME IS NOW 9:40 A.M. ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087. PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072. LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, OPEN MEETING PROCEDURES, AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ALL PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING. THE TIME IS 10:25 A.M. ON JANUARY 25TH, 2024. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OUR MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED AT 10:26 A.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.