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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:06 A.M. ON THE 1ST DAY OF FEBRUARY 2024.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYONE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR MIDST, AND WELCOME TO THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE EACH INDIVIDUALLY VERY SOON. BUT FIRST, TO GET US STARTED, LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THIS MORNING WE HAVE VISITING US AGAIN IS PASTOR DAVID CAMERON. HE SERVES AS A DEDICATED LEADER OF THE REFUGE CHURCH, A CONGREGATION HE FOUNDED WITH HIS WIFE, JACKIE IN 2017. ORIGINALLY HAILING FROM SCOTLAND, DAVID MADE SAN ANTONIO HIS HOME SINCE 2005 AND HAS BEEN A DEVOTED MINISTER FOR OVER 12 YEARS. THE HEART OF REFUGE CHURCH IS TO PRESENT THAT THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IN A LOVING WAY. HE ACTIVELY ENGAGES WITH THE COMMUNITY TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL AND EXTEND ACTS OF KINDNESS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. HIS CHURCH WAS ESSENTIAL DURING COVID-19 AND HAS BEEN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WITH NOT JUST HIS MESSAGES BUT HIS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, THE REFUGE CHURCH ORCHESTRATED TOY DRIVES TO ENSURE FAMILIES FACING CHALLENGES CAN EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS, GIVING AWAY OVER 300 CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO CHILDREN AND FEEDING OVER 560 FAMILIES FOR FREE. DEMONSTRATING REMARKABLE DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY, PASTOR DAVID CAMERON EMBARKED ON THE NOTEWORTHY CHALLENGE CALLED SEVEN IN SEVEN, RUNNING SEVEN MARATHONS IN SEVEN DAYS. HE DIDN'T DO THIS FOR FUN.
HE DID THIS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR A COMMUNITY FACILITY WHILE PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT TO OUR SOUTHSIDE FAMILIES. WE CAN'T MOVE OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC, WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE AND I'M SO GLAD I HAVE PARTNERS ON THE SOUTHSIDE LIKE PASTOR CAMERON WHO DELIVERS POWERFUL MESSAGES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU HERE AGAIN. AND ARE SO GLAD THAT YOUR THREE SONS, JUDE, JACKSON, AND NEWTON
SHARE YOU WITH THE COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY KIND AND VERY HONORING WORDS.
IT IS OUR HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE SOUTHSIDE. MR. MAYOR, RAN SEVEN IN SEVEN BUT STILL DON'T LOOK AS IN SHAPE AS YOU DO. CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. I REALLY MEAN THAT. AS A LEADER, AS A PASTOR, I'M AWARE THAT THERE ARE MANY PARTS OF YOUR JOB THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T SEE.
MR. MAYOR, YOUR WORK ETHIC. I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR AND WHETHER IT'S TAKING PICTURES WITH WMBE OR GOING TO THE U.S. SOCCER GAME OR BEING HERE ALL DAY.
NOT SO JEALOUS OF THAT ONE. YOUR WORK ETHIC IS ADMIRED AND SEEN.
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THAT GOES OUT TO THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL . THANK YOU.I MEAN THAT FOR WHAT YOU DO. I'M A DAD, LIKE THE COUNCILWOMAN SAID, OF THREE BOYS. 6, 3, AND 1. I HAVE LEARNED MANY THINGS AND GOT A LACK OF SLEEP THROUGH THAT AS WELL. BUT I'VE LEARNED THAT THREE PEOPLE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THEM TO AGREE ON ANYTHING. THAT CAN BE A TV SHOW.
THAT CAN BE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO EAT. THAT CAN BE ANYTHING.
AND I'M AWARE IN THIS ROOM TODAY ON THIS COUNCIL, I HAVE SAT IN THIS ROOM A FEW TIMES WHEN I'VE NOT BEEN SPEAKING HERE. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT BELIEFS AND OPINIONS THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE CITY. AND WHEN I ASKED GOD WHAT CAN I COME AND SHARE TO THE CITY COUNCIL, TO OUR MAYOR TODAY, I'M AWARE THAT MANY WILL COME IN HERE AND TELL YOU WHAT THEY DISAGREE ON. THEY'LL TELL YOU WHERE YOU GUYS CAN IMPROVE OR THEIR DIFFERING OPINIONS. BUT I CAME TODAY THAT I WANT TO SAY ONE THING. WE ARE HERE TO SAY THAT WE LOVE YOU.
THAT WE BELIEVE IN YOU. THAT WE ARE PRAYING FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
THE BIBLE SAYS BY THIS THEY WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER. AND AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, I'M FULLY AWARE, MY WIFE COULD SAY AMEN TO THIS, THAT AS A LEADER, AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, YOU GUYS SACRIFICE SO MUCH.
BUT SO DO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR FAMILIES. SO WE COME AND WE JUST SAY, HEY, WE'RE HERE TO HONOR YOU TODAY. REFUGE CHURCH, MY WIFE, JACKIE AND I ARE PRAYING FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. WE REALLY MEAN THAT.
I'M NOT HERE TO SOUND LIKE A GOOD CHRISTIAN SAYING THE RIGHT THING.
WE REALLY ARE PRAYING FOR GODLY WISDOM, BLESSING TO BE UPON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
ONE MORE TIME BEFORE WE PRAY. THANK YOU. MAY JESUS GRANT YOU PEACE, GRANT YOU JOY, GRANT YOU STRENGTH AND HEALTH AND WISDOM, IN JESUS' NAME.
CAN WE PRAY? JESUS, TODAY WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE INCREDIBLE LEADERS. THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS. FATHER, I PRAY TODAY, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THEM AND KEEP THEM. YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR FACE TO SHINE UPON THEM. YOU WOULD BE GRACIOUS TO THEM, JESUS, AND YOU WOULD GIVE THEM YOUR PEACE. AND TODAY I ASK THAT YOU BLESS AND UNITE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LIKE NEVER BEFORE. IT'S IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY. AMEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR CAMERON. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MINUTES TO APPROVE TODAY. WE DO HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA.
AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. I DO WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT ITEMS 19, 20, AND 21 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN, WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY.
SO OUTSIDE OF THAT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> 9. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM NO. 9.
ANY OTHERS? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR ITEM 9. ALL RIGHT. I'LL GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. WE HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO ARE SPEAKING ON ITEMS THAT REMAIN ON CONSENT. JACK FINGER ON MULTIPLE ITEMS.
>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND THIS BEING RODEO WEEK, WE WELCOME ALL THE RODEO FANS OUT THERE. THE CATTLE CALL HAS SOUNDED AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ASSEMBLED AND WE ARE HERE TO WALK THROUGH IT.
A FEW ITEMS I SIGNED UP ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA TO SPEAK ABOUT.
ITEM NO. 10 THROUGH 22. BASICALLY ARE ABOUT WELFARE HOUSING.
YEAH. THAT'S MY TERM FOR IT. YOU'RE GOING TO CALL IT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT ESSENTIALLY THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS SIMPLY SAY THAT THIS IS HOUSING THAT IS GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ONLY MAKING MAYBE 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. 30%, 50%, 60%. AND THIS IS -- ALL THE ITEMS
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HERE, 10 THROUGH 22 HERE ARE IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY. I MEAN, FROM THE POOREST AREA TO THE -- WELL, THE WELL TO DO TO THE RICHEST AREA . I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT SOMEBODY WOULD WANT TO LAMENT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. BUT MAYBE SOMEONE FROM A CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT BUT DISTRICT 10, THE ONLY CONSERVATIVE HERE, HE, MR. WHYTE, YOU HAVE WELFARE HOUSING IN YOUR VERY OWN DISTRICT THERE, BY GOLLY.YEAH. IT'S RIGHT THERE. SO ITEM NO. 22, I THINK IT IS THERE. YEAH. SO, ANYWAY, WHAT'S A PERSON TO DO? AND I LOOK AT THIS AND WHEN A PERSON APPLIES FOR HOUSING OVER HERE, ARE THEY ASKED ARE THERE ANY ACTUAL SET ASIDE FOR THE ELDERLY? I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY. HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY. HAVEN'T READ OF ANY.
ANY SET ASIDES FOR THE MILITARY, THE VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY, DEFENDING OUR NATION. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SETASSIZED THERE.
GOD FORBID THERE ARE ANY SET ASIDES FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS. WHO NEEDS THEM? THEY ARE JUST THE GUYS WHO PAY THE FREIGHT ON THIS THING. SORRY TO SEE THIS IS HAPPENING BUT YOU LUMPED THEM ALL TOGETHER. I SAY IT'S IN EVERY AREA OF THE CITY ESPECIALLY THOSE WITHDRAWN IN DISTRICTS 8 AND 9, THE AREAS WHERE THE TWO MAYORAL WANNABES ARE RUNNING THERE. WE CAN'T HAVE THOSE EMBARRASSMENTS TOO EARLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS HOUSING THAT WE ARE ALL GOING
TO PAY FOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. VIRGINIA RUTLEDGE. OKAY.
WALLACE REED. ITEM NO. 12. MR. REED, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY
BRADY ALEXANDER. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS WALLACE REED.
I REPRESENT TX MISSION APARTMENTS AND TX CULEBRA APARTMENTS.
WE ARE IN DISTRICT 3 AND DISTRICT 6. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, GUYS AND THANK NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND ALL THE NEIGHBORS WE HAVE WORKED WITH.
THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME IN SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S THE FIRST PROCESS I HAVE GONE THROUGH IN SAN ANTONIO AND I CAN SAY, FOR A MATTER OF FACT, THAT IT'S BEEN A DELIGHTFUL PROCESS WORKING WITH THE CITY AND WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORS. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. WE HAVE HELD MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH BOTH SITES AND IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF REFRESHING ONE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTENTIOUS THAN THE OTHER BUT OVERALL I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON EITHER, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANYTHING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. REED. BRADY ALEXANDER.
OKAY. WE'LL GO NOW INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 3, THE CONTRACT AMENDMENT ON FIRE STATION 52 AND FIRE STATION 53. FIRE STATION 53 IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT 3 AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN OUT TO DUNLAP OFF OF I 37 UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR UPGRADES TO THIS FACILITY .
THE ORDINANCE APPROVES FOR ADDITIONAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE, SERVICES RELATED TO DESIGN REFINEMENTS NEEDED FOR THE FIRE STATION, REPLACING THE TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATION AND HOUSING AREAS AT EACH STATION. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT WITH THE EXTREME HEAT AND THE GRASS FIRES COMING OUT THAT WE NEED ALL OUR STATIONS UPDATED AND WORKING AT THEIR BEST AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ITEM 5 IN PARTICULAR, WHICH IS A GRANT TO KENNEDY PARK LIGHTING RETROFIT. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO THE PARKS TEAM AND HOMER AND I WILL BE DOING A WALK-THROUGH WITH SOME CONSTITUENTS TO LOOK AT IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED AT KENNEDY PARK. I'M PLEASED TO SEE WORK IS ALREADY BEING DONE. FURTHER, ITEM 15 AND 16 ARE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FOR FISHPOND AND THE NATIONAL GROCER BUILDING. IF THESE APPLICATIONS ARE SUCCESSFUL WE WILL SEE A DRASTIC INCREASE IN SENIOR HOUSING IN THE URBAN CORE.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AND WE HOPE THESE PROJECTS ARE SUCCESSFUL.
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THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO.
6, APPROVING FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS. WE'RE REAPPOINTING DR. CLARK TO THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO PRAISE HER WORK. DR. CLARK HAS BEEN A PILLAR IN OUR COMMUNITY, PAVING THE WAY FOR MANY LATINA LEADERS AND CHAMPIONING THE PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH MENTORSHIP, ACADEMIA, AND ADVOCACY. SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY THROUGHOUT HER CAREER AT UTSA TO ADVANCE BICULTURAL AND BILINGUAL EDUCATION.
SHE RECEIVED THE HONOR OF THE ELLEN RIOJAS CLARK IN BILINGUAL STUDIES AT UTSA .
SHE'S A FEARLESS ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND CULTURAL AWARENESS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE HER CONTINUE TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 7 AND THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION. ADDITIONALLY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 19, IN SUPPORT FOR THE CAIRN POINT WURZBACH APPLICATION. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON TODAY'S AGENDA. I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WILL CATER SPECIFICALLY TO OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. MY TEAM AND I WERE ABLE TO OPPORTUNITY IN OPPORTUNITY HOME'S POINT IN TIME COUNT LAST WEEK AND WE ENCOUNTERED A NUMBER OF UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE EITHER OLDER ADULTS OR HAD DISABILITIES OR BOTH. IT GIVES ME HOPE THERE ARE PROJECTS IN THE WORKS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GET SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE CONNECTED WITH OFF THE STREETS AND INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE LOCATION OF THIS IS IDEAL BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE TO BUS STOPS, GROCERY STORES, AND TO THE MEDICAL CENTER.
IT'S ALSO RIGHT NEXT TO A LOCAL NONPROFIT WHICH PROVIDES REFURBISHED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THIS FEELS LIKE A NO-BRAINER WHEN YOU CONSIDER ALL OF THESE FACTORS SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT MY SUPPORT FOR THE APPLICATION AND HOPEFULLY CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 9 AND THOSE THAT WERE WITHDRAWN. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR MIDST TODAY AND I WILL BEGIN WITH A WELCOME TO DEBORAH AND HER TEAM AT SAAACAM AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL COME TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION AND THE WORLD TO COMMEMORATE BLACK, AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICANS FROM THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION TO THE PRESENT DAY.
WHEREAS BLACK AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT EMBODY THE CORE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH OUR NATION WAS BUILT. THEIR SACRIFICES AND VISION HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN CONTRIBUTING TO LIFE, VITALITY, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. WHEREAS THE THEME FOR 2024 IS AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE ARTS AND FOCUSES ON THE MANY IMPACTS OF BLACK AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE HAD ON VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC, AND CULTURAL MOVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE LIVED EXPERIENCES FILLED WITH GRACE AND DETERMINATION.
WHEREAS MANY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES ARE SCHEDULED DURING THE MONTHS' LONG OBSERVANCE TO RECOGNIZE THE ROLE THAT GENERATIONS OF BLACK AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE PLAYED IN OUR NATION'S STRUGGLE TO BECOME A MORE PERFECT UNION. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 2024 TO BE BLACK AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
[APPLAUSE] . >> THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG, HONORABLE COUNCIL PERSONS, AND OUR OBSERVERS. FOR 98 YEARS, BLACK HISTORY WEEK AND THEN BLACK HISTORY MONTH HAS BEEN CELEBRATED. AS THE MAYOR SAID, THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL THEME IS AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE ARTS. AFRICAN AMERICAN ART IS INFUSED WITH AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN, AND THE BLACK AMERICAN-LIVED EXPERIENCES.
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LOOK AROUND YOU. IN THE FIELDS OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, LITERATURE, FASHION, FOLKLORE, LANGUAGE, FILM, MUSIC, ARCHITECTURE, CULINARY, AND OTHER FORMS OF CULTURAL EXPRESSION, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN INFLUENCE HAS BEEN PARAMOUNT.AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISANS HAVE USED ART TO PRESERVE HISTORY AND COMMUNITY MEMORY AS WELL AS EMPOWERMENT, HEALING, AND JOY. AT THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM, OUR MISSION IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, AND SHARE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE SAN ANTONIO REGION. AND WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE RICH HERITAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE ARTS WITH YOU. TODAY YOU WILL WITNESS MINISTER JANET HURT FROM THE NEW BIRTH COMMUNITY CHURCH SINGING THE NEGRO NATIONAL ANTHEM, ALSO KNOWN AS LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING, WRITTEN BY JAMES JOHNSON.
YOU WILL ALSO HEAR A MONOLOGUE FROM LENA YOUNGER, THE MATRIARCH IN LORRAINE HANSBURY'S CLASSIC ARAISING IN THE SUN. RUNNING THROUGH FEBRUARY 25TH AT OUR OWN CELLAR THEATER AT THE SAN PEDRO PLAYHOUSE . AT THE REMAINING A SESSIONS THIS MONTH YOU WILL EXPERIENCE ART, MOVEMENT ARTISTS, AND THE SPOKEN WORD.
I INVITE YOU TO HEAR THE STORIES, SEE THE STORIES, AND FEEL THE POWER OF THE STORIES PORTRAYED. CONSIDER HOW AT THE CORE OUR STORIES ARE SO MUCH MORE SIMILAR THAN THEY ARE DIFFERENT. THROUGH OUR COMMON STORIES TOLD WITH A COMMON LANGUAGE, WE CAN BUILD A COLLECTIVE FUTURE. WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE THAT REALITY WITH YOU TODAY AND JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU AT OUR NEW HOME ON HOUSTON STREET. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG, TO THE ENTIRE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL PERSONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE, FIRST OF ALL, THE GIFT THAT GOD GAVE ME. AND TO SHARE IN THE FACT THAT THIS IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
♪ LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING ♪ ♪ TILL EARTH AND HEAVEN RING ♪ ♪ RING WITH THE HARMONIES OF LIBERTY ♪ ♪ LET OUR REJOICING RISE ♪ ♪ HIGH AS THE LISTENING SKIES ♪ ♪ LET IT RESOUND LOUD AS THE ROLLING SEA ♪ ♪ SING A SONG FULL OF THE FAITH THAT THE DARK PAST HAS TAUGHT US ♪ ♪ SING A SONG FULL OF THE HOPE THAT THE PRESENT HAS BROUGHT US ♪ ♪ FACING THE RISING SUN OF OUR NEW DAY BEGUN ♪ ♪ LET US MARCH ON TILL VICTORY
IS WON ♪ [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING TO THE MAYOR
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AND ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CASSANDRA SMALL. I AM AN ACTOR IN THE UPCOMING PRODUCTION AT THE CLASSICAISING. WE THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE THIS MORNING .WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THE CLASSIC THEATER AT SAN PEDRO PLAYHOUSE , LOCATED IN DISTRICT 1, IS THE LONGEST-RUNNING THEATER IN TEXAS.
THE CLASSIC BRINGS MASTERPIECES FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TO SAN ANTONIO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A RAISING IN THE SUN HAS BEEN SHARED BY SO MANY PEOPLE THIS MORNING HOW WE ARE SO MUCH MORE ALIKE THAN WE ARE DIFFERENT, NO MATTER WHAT WE LOOK LIKE TO ONE ANOTHER.
AND THAT OUR STRUGGLES ARE ALL SO SIMILAR, SO VITAL AND SO CRUCIAL.
AND IN THIS STORY OF A FAMILY STRUGGLING TO MAKE THEIR WAY OUT OF POVERTY, WE SEE THE IMPACT ON THEIR DREAMS. THE PIECE I'M GOING TO PERFORM FOR YOU IS THE AFTERMATH OF A SON HAVING SQUANDERED A LONG-AWAITED SECURITY CHECK THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE FAMILY SOME RESPITE FROM THEIR POOR SITUATION. YES, DEATH DONE COME IN THIS HERE HOUSE. THEN COME MARCHING IN MY HOUSE ON THE LIPS OF MY CHILDREN.
YOU WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MY BEGINNING AGAIN. YOU WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MY HARVEST. HOW DID WE GET TO THIS HERE PLACE? ARE YOU MOURNING YOUR BROTHER? YOU FEELING LIKE YOU'RE BETTER THAN HE IS TODAY.
WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM? THAT HE WASN'T A MAN? YEAH? YOU FEELING LIKE YOU'RE BETTER THAN HE IS TODAY? YOU GIVE HIM UP FOR ME.
YOU DONE WROTE HIS EPITATH LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD? I THOUGHT I TAUGHT YOU HOW TO LOVE HIM BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING LEFT TO LOVE. HAVE YOU CRIED FOR YOUR BROTHER TODAY? I DON'T MEAN FOR YOURSELF OR THE FAMILY BECAUSE WE LOST THE MONEY, BUT FOR HIM. WHAT HE BEEN THERE AND WHAT IT DONE TO HIM.
CHILD, WHEN DO YOU THINK IS THE TIME TO LOVE SOMEBODY THE MOST? WHEN THEY DONE GOOD AND MADE THINGS EASIER FOR EVERYBODY. WELL, THEN YOU AIN'T THROUGH LEARNING BECAUSE THAT AIN'T THE TIME AT ALL. IT'S WHEN YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF NO MORE BECAUSE THE WORLD DONE WHIPPED HIM SO. WHEN YOU MEASURE SOMEBODY, MAKE SURE YOU MEASURE THEM RIGHT. MEASURE HIM RIGHT. MAKE SURE YOU DONE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WHAT HILLS AND VALLEYS HE DONE COME THROUGH TO GET TO WHERE HE IS NOW.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
SO NOW FOR THE SHAMELESS PLUG. WE INVITE YOU TO PLEASE GO TO THE CLASSIC THEATER.ORG TO PURCHASE TICKETS. OUR SHOW ON OPENING NIGHT IS SOLD OUT SO IT IS AVAILABLE FROM THE 9TH OF FEBRUARY THROUGH THE 25TH. ON WEAPONS WE OFFER FREE PERFORMANCES FOR STUDENTS AND THERE IS ALSO A NIGHT DESIGNATED FOR ASL PERFORMANCE. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CASSANDRA. AND JANET AND THEN AGAIN DEBORAH, SHARING ALL OUR THANKS WITH YOU FOR HELPING US TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING THE PROPER HIGHLIGHTS TO THIS CHAMBER DURING THIS MONTH AND ALL THE OTHER MONTHS
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IN BETWEEN, FRANKLY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEBORAH.I'LL TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE LOVE A SHAMELESS PLUG. I'LL PLUG IT AGAIN FOR YOU.
THE CLASSICTHEATER.ORG. I WANT TO START OFF BY WISHING A HAPPY AND EMPOWERING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE ARTS.
WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE IMPORTANT HISTORY OF OUR ANCESTORS WHO HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGH VARIOUS ART FORMS OF SELF-EXPRESSION. BLACK ARTISTS HAVE CHALLENGED THE STATUS QUO AND AMPLIFIED DIVERSE VOICES AND STORIES CREATING A NARRATIVE THAT INSPIRES AND FOSTERS DIALOGUE ACROSS THE GLOBE FROM CHURCH HYMNS TO STREET ART AND EVERY OTHER MEDIUM, BLACK ARTISTS HAVE REFLECTED HISTORY AS IT IS HAPPENING IN POWERFUL AND EXPRESSIVE WAYS. I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT THE EASTSIDE, OUR HISTORICALLY-BLACK DISTRICT WHERE OUR LEGACIES LIVE ON IN THE FABRIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN THE SOUL OF OUR ARTS AND CULTURE. I INVITE EVERYONE TO VISIT AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF THE EASTSIDE ALL YEAR ROUND, NOT JUST DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH OR MLK MARCH. THE CARVER THEATER, THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER GALLERY, MIDTOWN LOUNGE AND CULINARY CREATORS LIKE CHAPMAN'S CHICKEN ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR ARTISTIC COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICT 2 . I INVITE ANYONE WITH A HEART FOR SOULFUL COMMUNITY CONTINUE DEMANDING JUSTICE. I ALSO INVITE EVERYONE TO CELEBRATE BLACK FUTURES MONTH BY LEARNING FROM THE VOICES AND LEADERSHIP OF BLACK COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTING OUR CONTINUED FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY. SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, THEATERS, PUBLIC ART SPACES, AND CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY. FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO SACRIFICED AND PAVED THE WAY FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME TO SIT AT THIS DAIS TODAY. I REFLECT OFTEN ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE FIRST OPENLY-GAY BLACK MAN ELECTED TO ANY PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND I DON'T TAKE THAT HONOR LIGHTLY. EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR IS THE RIGHT TIME TO HONOR BLACK HISTORY AND UPLIFT BLACK FUTURES AND TO NOTE THAT BLACK HISTORY IS HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE DAY. EVERY DECISION WE MAKE WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES HOW ARE WE RIGHTING THE WRONGS OF OUR PAST, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO BETTER? I ASK THAT OF MYSELF AND EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM NOT JUST TODAY AND THIS MONTH BUT EVERY MONTH. THANK YOU, DEBORAH AND ALL OF SAAACAM FOR THE ROLE YOU PLAY IN PRESERVING BLACK HISTORY IN SAN ANTONIO EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK Y'ALL FOR SHARING YOUR GIFTS WITH US. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT'S BEEN SO WONDERFULLY STATED FROM COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ALSO SAN ANTONIO HAS A RICH AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THOSE STORIES ALIVE AND TO CONTINUE UPLIFTING AND HONOR BLACK VOICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING SOME OF THOSE TALENTS WITH US TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING SOME OF THE EVENTS HAPPENING THIS MONTH AND CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AGAIN, LIKE COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ SAID, NOT JUST THIS MONTH BUT EVERY MONTH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO SAAACAM FOR COMING TODAY AND FOR SHARING WITH US THAT BEAUTIFUL WAKE UP EXPRESSION OF ART. I WANT TO SHAMELESSLY PLUG THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE SAAACAM DOWNTOWN IN DISTRICT 1 COMING SOON.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEBORAH, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A FULL MONTH FOR US HERE SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BACK EVERY WEEK AND WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS AGAIN. I KNOW THIS IS ADDED TO ALL OF YOUR OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES ALONG WITH THE SAAACAM TEAM. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. CASSANDRA, YOU HAVE GIVEN US A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IS AT CLASSIC THEATER AND REALLY LOOKING TO CATCH A PERFORMANCE.
MAGNIFICENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE ANTHEM.
THANK YOU, GUYS FOR BEING HERE WITH US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. ALL RIGHT. I'M NOW GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, AS SOON AS I READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS THE 75TH ANNUAL S SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO ONE OF THE LARGEST SHOWS IN THE CITY WILL BE HELD AT THE FROST BANK CENTER, FREEMAN COLISEUM.
WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO EMPHASIZES AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION TO
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DEVELOP THE YOUTH OF TEXAS AND WITH THE MISSION OF EDUCATING FUTURE GENERATIONS.AND WHEREAS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1949, OVER $243 MILLION HAS BEEN AWARDED TO THE YOUTH OF TEXAS IN THE FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, ENDOWMENTS, AUCTIONS, CALF SCRAMBLE PROGRAM AND SHOW PREMIUMS. EACH YEAR OVER 500 NEW SCHOLARS ARE ADDED TO THE PROGRAM AND COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM ALL 254 COUNTIES HAVE BENEFITED FROM A RODEO SCHOLARSHIP OVER THE PAST 75 YEARS. WHEREAS THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE ORGANIZATION IS THE OVER 6,000 VOLUNTEERS, THE CORPORATE PARTNERS AND PATRONS WHO SUPPORT THE EVENT AND MISSION. WHEREAS LAST YEAR OVER 1.3 MILLION VISITORS ENJOYED EXCITING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WORLD-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT, CARNIVAL, EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS, FAMILY ACTIVITIES, AND ATTRACTIONS, LIVESTOCK AND HORSE SHOWS AND SALES, MUTTON BUSTING, CALF SCRAMBLE, EXTREME BULLS, AND SHOPPING FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO ENJOY.
NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 8 THROUGH 25 TO BE OFFICIAL RODEO SEASON IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
COME UP AND COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
COME ON UP, ALBERT -- HE IS OUR SA RODEO AMBASSADOR CHAIRMAN. COME ON UP AND LET ME PRAISE Y'ALL FOR CONTINUING A 75-YEAR TRADITION. AND YOU HEARD THE MAYOR SAY IT. IT IS RODEO SEASON. COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND I HAVE OUR BOOTS ON. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN THEIR BOOTS. CENTRO IS CELEBRATING, BROUGHT OUT THEIR COW.
I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WHAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING. IT'S WHY I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR, BECAUSE I TOOK MY STUDENTS TO THE GROUNDS. BECAUSE I WAS THERE AS A KID.
BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN IT GO FROM STRICTLY NOTHING BUT COUNTRY TO VAQUERO NIGHT AND NOW YOU HAVE CHEAP TRICK AND STIX. I WANT YOU TO SHARE WHAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO AND I WANT TO HEAR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SHARE THEIR RODEO MEMORIES BUT THIS KEEPS ON GETTING GOOD.
YOU ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE TELL THE WHOLE SAN ANTONIO STORY ABOUT OUR WESTERN HERITAGE, ABOUT OUR BLACK COWBOYS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS WHO WE ARE. WE ARE TEXANS AND THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
WE RODEO. ALBERT, TAKE IT AWAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR NIRENBERG, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS HONOR HERE TO REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO. WE ARE PROUD TO BE HERE 75 YEARS LATER. YOU HEARD THE FACTS. OVER 12,000 TEXAS STUDENTS HAVE GONE TO COLLEGE. THAT'S A HUGE HONOR FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. WE HAVE A STAR-STUDDED SHOW FOR YOU GUYS THIS YEAR.
OUR AWARD-WITHINNING RODEO. WE ALSO HAVE OUR LINEUP OF CONCERTS FOR YOU AGAIN THIS YEAR, 18 DAYS, 22 PERFORMANCES. ALSO THIS WEEKEND WE'RE KICKING OFF THAT EVENT WITH OUR WESTERN HERITAGE PARADE HERE IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.
WE'LL BE GIVING A SCHOLARSHIP AWAY AT OUR VAQUERO COOKOFF OVER IN THE LA VILLITA -- NOT LA VILLITA, MARKET SQUARE. WE HAVE MOVED THE EVENT. MARKET SQUARE WILL BE GIVING AWAY A SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE YOUTH COOKOFF, SO THAT'S A FIRST THIS YEAR.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE 75 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THE CITY AND BEEN A PART OF THE YOUTH IN DEVELOPING THEM AND EDUCATING, BACK IN THE OLD DAYS WE WERE MORE OF A PRODUCTION-TYPE SKILL EVENT WHERE KIDS RAISED BEEF CATTLE. THEY RAISED SWINE, SHEEP.
IT MORE REVOLVED AROUND THAT. WE HAVE EVOLVED SO MUCH SINCE THEN IN THE 75 YEARS AS FAR AS WHAT WE OFFER THE KIDS AND YOUTH. THERE'S OVER 25 OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH, NOT JUST OUT IN THE RURAL AREAS BUT ALSO WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE MEMBERS OF FFA OR 4-H. THERE'S ALL TYPES OF WAYS THESE KIDS CAN GET INVOLVED AND I THINK THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR RODEO TO EDUCATE THE CITY AND THE OTHER SCHOOLS AROUND SAN ANTONIO THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE TO EARN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL.
SO WE THANK YOU, GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. 75 YEARS IS A BIG DEAL TO US AND WE INVITE YOU, WE CHALLENGE YOU. YOU'LL SEE THERE ARE SOME RODEO
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FLAGS THERE. IT'S A BIG DEAL AND WE'RE READY TO GET THIS THING GOING FOR YOU GUYS. THERE'S ONLY ONE MORE THING WE GOT TO SAY: LET'S RODEO, SANANTONIO! >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: Y'ALL DIDN'T DO THAT LAST YEAR SO IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR AND EXCELLENT WEATHER FOR THE KICKOFF TOO.
LET ME TURN IT NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RODEO.
WE RECEIVED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT LAST YEAR AND I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT MUCH EFFORT. AND THE FACT THAT OUR STUDENTS FROM SAN ANTONIO SCHOOLS LOCALLY BENEFIT FROM IT IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ALL GIVE UP SOME FAMILY TIME FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS WHO YOU WILL NEVER MEET, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. A LOT OF THE STUDENTS I REPRESENT BENEFIT FROM IT. A LOT OF THEM FROM SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL AND SOUTHWEST ISD . THAT IS THEIR FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY GET TO GET OUT OF CLASS BUT ALSO THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WIN SCHOLARSHIPS TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION. AND I WANT TO DEEPLY THANK YOU AND SAY THAT THE COMMUNITY IS WATCHING AND APPRECIATES YOU. I GOT TO ATTEND LAST WEEK THE COWBOY BREAKFAST AND I WENT WITH REY FEO, ANOTHER SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATION, AND IT'S TRULY SCHOLARSHIP SEASON IN SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S ALL OF THESE VOLUNTEERS THAT RAISE MONEY AGAIN FOR CHILDREN THAT THEY WILL NEVER MEET, SOMETIMES, BUT THEY KNOW IS GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
A SET OF THOSE STUDENTS WERE THERE AT THE COWBOY BREAKFAST AND IT WAS THE KIDS FROM THE ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE CULINARY ARTS AND THEY COOKED ALL THE TACOS.
THEY HAD TO GET UP AT 1:00 A.M. AND THEY WERE THERE AT 4:00 A.M. COOKING.
I NOTICED EVERYBODY WAS SO THANKFUL OF THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAD BEEN THERE COMMITTING TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE OF INSPIRATIONAL LEADERS LIKE ALL OF YOUR VOLUNTEERS. FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M WORKING ON BRINGING A RODEO ROBOTICS EVENT TO PORT SAN ANTONIO IN DISTRICT 4 BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE OUR STUDENTS NEED TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE RODEO AND THE MACHINES THAT OPERATE, SPECIFICALLY THE AGROBOTTICS SECTION.
IN DISTRICT 4 WE NEED MORE STUDENTS TO LEARN THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO
STOCK SHOW AND RODEO . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
CONGRATS ON THE 75TH YEAR. I KNOW IT'S COUNTLESS HOURS OF DEDICATION TO PULL OFF A SUCCESSFUL EVENT. IT'S AN EVENT MY FAMILY AND I GO TO EVERY YEAR.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW FROM BROWNSVILLE, HE MAKES SURE MY GIRLS HAVE NEW BOOTS EVERY YEAR. I'M GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET MY 4-YEAR-OLD
ENROLLED IN THE MUTTON BUSTING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE RODEO, THE CHARITABLE IMPACT, AND THE OVERALL WAY THAT THE RODEO CONTRIBUTES TO THE SPIRIT OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE GOOD FEELINGS THAT RUN THROUGH THE CITY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE RODEO I THINK REALLY CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED. AND NONE OF THAT WOULD HAPPEN WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK Y'ALL DO IN TERMS OF EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS.
SOMEONE WHO HELPED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STUDENTS TRYING TO ACCESS COLLEGE, FINANCIAL AID IS THE NUMBER ONE BARRIER. WE NEVER WANT THAT TO BE A BARRIER SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT WORK AND CHALLENGE YOU TO DO EVEN MORE
NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE, LIKE ALL OF US DO, THAT THE RODEO IS REALLY A PREMIER EVENT IN THIS CITY. AND ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR CULTURES, OUR TRADITIONS, AND THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO, IT ALL COMES TOGETHER TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO SO SPECIAL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE HERE.
SO THE WORK THAT YOU DO, THE COMMITMENT OF ALL THOSE VOLUNTEERS JUST HELPS IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL OF US. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF I KNOW THE CITIZENS WHO ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND REALLY ENJOY THE RODEO THIS YEAR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY REMEMBERS TO LOOK AT THE CALENDAR, AND IT IS SARODEO.COM. I WANTED TO GET THAT PLUG OUT THERE TOO.
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SARODEO.COM. I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE MY THANKS. THE WORK YOU DO TO RAISE MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I GOT A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE AUSTIN LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO YEARS AGO THAT HELPED ME GET THROUGH COLLEGE SO I KNOW THE POWER YOU GUYS HAVE THAT GOES FAR BEYOND THE RODEO. CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS.
WE'LL SEE Y'ALL OUT THERE ALL MONTH. >> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK IF JOSE CONTRERAS AND THE BEAT AIDS TEAM CAN COME FORWARD .
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM WITH THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TOGETHER WITH BEAT AIDS COALITION WILL JOIN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BLACK HIV AIDS AWARENESS DAY TO PROMOTE HIV AIDS PREVENTION EFFORTS. AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT OF THE BEAT AIDS COALITION, APPROXIMATELY 71% OF BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS DIAGNOSED WITH HIV IN 2021 WERE LINKED TO MEDICAL CARE, 62% HAVE REMAINED IN CARE, AND AT LEAST 52% ARE NOW VIRAL SUPPRESSED. WHEREAS NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY ENCOURAGES OUR LOCAL BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO GET TESTED AND KNOW THEIR HIV STATUS AND GET TREATED IF THEY ARE CURRENTLY LIVING WITH HIV OR NEWLY DIAGNOSED.
WHEREAS PREEXPOSURE PREP IS A PILL TAKEN EVERY DAY. IT PROVIDES A 92 TO 99% HIV RISK REDUCTION FOR HIV-NEGATIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO TAKE THE PILLS EVERY DAY AS DIRECTED.
WHEREAS THE NATIONAL MOBILIZATION EFFORT IS ALSO DESIGNED TO DESTIGMATIZE THE CONVERSATION AROUND HIV/AIDS AND ENCOURAGE ALL THOSE NEWLY DIAGNOSED TO BEGIN A REGIMEN.
NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 7, 2024 TO BE NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS . THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY IN OUR
COMMUNITY. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL PERSONS.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE MAYFIELD DURHAM. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEAT AIDS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1987.
TO MY LEFT IS JOSE CONTRERAS, OUR HIV PREVENTION DIRECTOR. ALONG WITH US ARE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM AS WELL AS CONSUMERS. WE ARE GOING TO YIELD MOST OF OUR TIME TO THE CONSUMERS BUT I DO WANT TO THANK SOME OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY FOR THE SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS. MAYOR NIRENBERG, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. YOU ALL, WE HAVE BRICKS AND MORTAR IN YOUR DISTRICTS. HOWEVER, WE SERVE PEOPLE IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS.
AND SO ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT IS SO -- WE'RE GRATEFUL. WE'RE VERY THANKFUL.
WE WANT TO ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE EHE GROUP THAT YOU ALL SUPPORT TO END THE HIV EPIDEMIC, LED BY BARBARA ON YOUR METRO HEALTH TEAM. WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO GIVE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO THE WORK DONE BY MS. WOOSLEY AND HER DHS TEAM OVER YOUR HOPWA DOLLARS.
BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY OUR PROJECT OFFICER, MS. MODETA. WE ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE INTO CARE AND KEEP THEM INTO CARE BUT ONLY HAVE 72% OF THE PEOPLE WITH HIV STAYING IN CARE. OUR GOAL BY 2030 IS TO GET TO 95% AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF US. I LIKE YOU GUYS AS A COUNCIL BETTER THAN ANY OTHER GROUP I HAVE KNOWN IN THE 29 YEARS. FIRST OF ALL, YOU PUT ON YOUR BUTTONS.
SECOND OF ALL, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME AND LISTENING. AND THIRD OF ALL, YOU CARE.
YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. SO JUST REALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU. WE WANT TO YIELD OUR TIME TO A COUPLE OF WOMEN WHO ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR STORY WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
FIRST WE HAVE MS. VENUS. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEN.
MY NAME IS VENUS KING AND I'M A NATIVE OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS BY WAY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. AND NOW HERE IN TEXAS. MY HUSBAND AND I, WE MOVED HERE TO TEXAS WITH A PLAN OF NEW
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BEGINNINGS, ONLY TO FIND OURSELVES HOMELESS WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF MONTHS.LEARNING THE QUALIFICATIONS ABOUT GETTING INTO SHELTERS HERE PUT US AT A STANDSTILL BECAUSE WE HAD TO BE SEPARATED IN ORDER TO GET INTO THE SHELTER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY UNDERAGE CHILDREN. NEVERTHELESS, WE BOTH WERE ABLE TO GET INTO SEPARATE SHELTERS ONLY FOR A VERY SHORT TIME. WHICH PRODUCED GROWING STRESS FOR US, AS WELL AS MYSELF.
WHY? BEING A PERSON WHO WAS CHALLENGED WITH HIV/AIDS, ONE OF MY MANY RED FLAGS THAT I KEEP IN MIND IS THE VIRUS NEEDS TO STAY UNDETECTED AND ONE HAS TO BE ADHERING TO THE MEDICATIONS AND GOING TO THE DOCTOR AT ALL TIMES.
NOT TO MENTION STAYING AWAY FROM STRESSORS, WHICH CAN ELEVATE THE VIRAL LOAD.
A DILIGENT SEARCH THAT I LED OUT TO FIND AN AGENCY WHERE I CAN GET LINKED UP TO A MEDICAL CASE MANAGER AND HOPEFULLY A DOCTOR TO KEEP ME ADHERENT. THE MEDICAL CASE MANAGER THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET LINKED UP WITH, HE WORKED VERY HARD AS TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE.
HE WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE ME TO A PLACE THAT WILL BE A GREAT FIT FOR ME AND MY SPECIAL NEEDS.
I WAS WELCOMED TO AN AGENCY CALLED NEW, WHICH IS NEWLY EMPOWERED WOMEN.
I WAS ABLE TO BE AMONGST OTHER WOMEN WHO SHARED MY CHALLENGES AND I NO LONGER HAD THE STIGMA OF FEELING STRAINED. AT NEW, I WAS ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AND DAILY GROUPS, TO HELP RESTORE AND NURTURE THE PARTS OF ME THAT HAD BECOME HINDERED DUE TO THE HOMELESSNESS, THE DEPRESSION, AND THE ANXIETY I FACED.
I RECEIVED SCHEDULED DAILY GROUPINGS AND ACTIVITIES, TEACHING, EDUCATION, AND NOT TO MENTION TO BE LINKED INDIVIDUALLY WITH A TAILOR-MADE PLAN OF ACTION TO HELP ME RETURN TO THE BEST VERSION OF ME. THEY WERE ABLE TO SECURE A MORE PERMANENT PLACE FOR ME TO BE IN AND BE REUNITED WITH MY HUSBAND.
EVEN NOW, NOT BEING A RESIDENT AT NEW ANYMORE, IT'S NOT MANDATORY THAT I ATTEND THE GROUPS THAT THEY WERE OFFERING AND I WAS A PART OF, BUT AS MY CHOICE.
I STILL MAKE IT MY BUSINESS, FAITHFULLY, TO STAY CONNECTED AT LEAST TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK. SO I CAN STAY FED WITH THE EDUCATION, THE SISTERHOOD, THE TOOLS, THE LIFE SKILLS, THE OUTINGS, THE ACTIVITIES, THE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT MOST OF ALL, THE GENUINE LOVE, THE PEACE, THE KINDNESS, THE CARING THAT NEWLY EMPOWERED WOMEN OFFERED ME. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> YOUR DHS DEPARTMENT HAS FUNDED NEWLY EMPOWERED WOMEN SINCE IT OPENED IN 2010 . AND WE HAVE MS. BEATRICE AND WE ARE DONE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, AND TO ALL THE COUNCILMEN. MY NAME IS BEATRICE MATTHEWS AND I AM THE EIGHTH SIBLING OF 12. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MY ISSUES SINCE 1999. I HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED WITH THE NEWLY EMPOWERED WOMEN SINCE 2013. I STILL REGULARLY GO LEARN THE EDUCATION AND HAVE THE SUPPORT AND THE LOVE AND THE CARE AND CONCERN THAT I GET FROM NEWLY EMPOWERED.
THEY HAVE BEEN AN OPEN DOOR FOR ME THROUGHOUT THIS BATTLE THAT I DEAL WITH.
SO I AM GRATEFUL THAT I HAVE NEWLY EMPOWERED WOMEN HOME TO COME TO AND THEY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE. I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED RIGHT THERE.
THANK Y'ALL FOR LETTING ME SHARE THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. VENUS AND BEATRICE, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND KNOW THAT YOUR CITY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE YOUR BACK AND THAT OF THE ENTIRE BEAT AIDS TEAM .
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I JUST NEED TO SHARE, BECAUSE I WANT TO THANK THE WOMEN FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO GET UP AND DO THAT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING OUR CITY STAFF AND THEIR EFFORTS.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ONE OF MY FORMER STUDENTS IS STANDING IN THE CROWD,
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CHRISTIAN. AND HE CAME TO THE OFFICE AND HE WAS LIKE, HEY, I WANT TO DO AN EVENT. I TALKED TO MY STAFF. GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT AIDS, GETTING TESTED, AND STAYING SAFE. WE GOT IT DONE AT MISSION MARQUEE, AND I RECOGNIZE SOME OF YOU FROM THERE. WE NEED YOU TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S NO HOSPITALS IN DISTRICT 2.WE HAVE ONE ON THE SOUTHSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. THE WESTSIDE IS LACKING SO WE NEED YOU TO GO OUT AND SAY THESE ARE THE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE.
THIS MEANS SO MUCH AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT HERE AND DOING THIS AND ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO IT YEAR AFTER YEAR. BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, BECAUSE YOUNGER PEOPLE AREN'T LISTENING TO ME. IT'S THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT WE'RE GETTING IT DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN DESTIGMATIZING AS WELL AS PROVIDING A RESOURCE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK Y'ALL FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES.
I HAVE BEEN OVER THERE AS A COUNCILMEMBER AND IT'S STILL INTIMIDATING SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING VULNERABLE AND SHARING YOUR STORIES AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ELEVATE THE WORK THAT YOU
ALL ARE DOING. SO, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEAT AIDS, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS HERE TO SUPPORT.
WE KNOW THERE'S A LONG, LONG WAY TO GO AND HERE WE'RE TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU NEED TO HELP BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT IN THE STREETS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] OKAY. WE HAVE ONE ITEM REMAINING ON
OUR AGENDA SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND PULL UP ITEM NO. 9. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 9 IS AN ORDINANCE ADDING THE CITY COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT TO THE CITY CODE OF SAN ANTONIO THAT OUTLINES GENERAL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND A PROCESS FOR REPORTING AND ENFORCEMENT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON NO. 9. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 9 BEFORE WE GET TO DISCUSSION. I'LL CALL JACK FINGER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND HERE ON ITEM 9, THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, YOU'RE GOING TO ADD A NEW CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WELL, WHO DOES THE CODE OF CONDUCT APPLY TO? FOCUS ON ITEM NO. 9, IF YOU WOULD THERE. YEAH. ORDINANCE ADDING THE CITY COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT TO THE CITY CODE OF SAN ANTONIO THAT OUTLINES GENERAL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND PROCESS FOR REPORTING AND ENFORCEMENT. HAND ME BACK THAT, IF YOU WOULD. YES. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT'S KIND OF VAGUE. I LOOKED AT THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS THERE AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT MUCH OF IT MYSELF THERE UNTIL I DIDN'T KNOW IT APPLIED TO THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE CITIZENS OR WHO. ONCE I READ IT I FINALLY FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR YOU, THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. AND I LOOKED AT THE TWO OR THREE PAGES OF WRITING ON IT. I NOTICED THAT, WELL, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, SHOW THOSE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED AREAS. ITEM 3.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ABIDE BY THE EXPECTATIONS OF CONDUCT OUTLINED IN CITY ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVES. I FOUND SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING.
4.15 SAYS WORK POLICE SAY MILK EXPRESSION FOR BREASTFEEDING EMPLOYEES.
YES. HERE'S THE REALLY INTERESTING PART.
4, COUNCIL MEMBERS MUST DISCLOSE TO THE CITY MANAGER AN INTIMATE, ROMANTIC, OR DATING RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEE THAT BEGAN EITHER BEFORE THE COUNCILMEMBER BEGAN WITH THEIR TERM OR THE EMPLOYEE BEGAN THEIR EMPLOYMENT, WITH THE
[01:00:07]
EXCEPTION OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT BEGAN PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT. COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM ENGAGING IN AN INTIMATE, ROMANTIC, OR DATING RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION EMPLOYEE. SEPARATELY, IF A COUNCILMEMBER IS ENGAGED IN AN INTIMATE, DATING, OR ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH A CITY STAFF MEMBER THE CITY RELATIONSHIP MUST BE DISCLOSED TO THE CITY MANAGER BY THE COUNCILMEMBER.OKAY. THANK YOU. RETURN THE CAMERA.
THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING. WHETHER YOU'RE A LOSER. GET OUT OF MY LIFE. DO THEY REPORT IT TO NOW THE CHIEF CONFESSOR IN CHARGE HERE, THE CITY MANAGER, WHO YOU EMPLOY?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. CECILIA SPENCER.
>> BUENOS DIAS MAYOR NIRENBERG. AT THIS TIME I DONATE MY TIME
TO MARIO BRAVO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MARIO BRAVO, YOU WILL HAVE NINE
MINUTES. >> HELLO, OLD FRIENDS. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I DID WANT TO SAY THAT I BROUGHT A GIFT FOR YOU ALL TODAY. IT'S RODEO MONTH SO A FARMER WHO I KNOW OUT IN ROCKDALE, TEXAS, HIS SON WORKS FOR THE AUSTIN RODEO AND HIS SON WAS THE GUY WHO WOULD TYPICALLY MILK THEIR COWS ON WEEKENDS SO THE OWNER OF THE FARM ASKED ME IF I COULD HELP MILK TH THOSE COWS. I MILKED THOSE COWS AND BROUGHT YOU MILK FROM PASTURE-RAISED COWS. I LIKE TO PUT IT IN MY COFFEE.
IT'S A REAL TREAT. IN THE BACK ROOM FOR YOU AND STAFF, NOT JUST FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. BUT I DIDN'T COME HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MILKING COWS. I'M HERE BECAUSE, LIKE MANY OF YOU SAID WITH YOUR KIND WORDS ON MY LAST DAY IN OFFICE, I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
AND I WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF MY PERSPECTIVE AND INPUT ON THE CODE OF CONDUCT PROPOSAL THAT YOU ALL ARE DECIDING ON TODAY. LET ME START BY SAYING I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE A HIGH STANDARD OF CONDUCT. EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL AND STAFF MEMBER HERE DESERVES TO HAVE A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
SO I'D LIKE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE DISCUSS THIS. AT THE SAME TIME, I LOOK BACK AND SEE THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS HAD A CITY COUNCIL SINCE 1837. SINCE THAT TIME THE CITY HAS TRUSTED THE VOTERS TO ELECT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE WHEN NECESSARY. AND I WONDER WHY HAS THIS COUNCIL LOST TRUST IN THE VOTERS TO HANDLE THIS? CAN THE VOTERS THEMSELVES NOT DETERMINE WHEN TO CALL FOR THEIR REPRESENTATIVE'S RESIGNATION OR WHEN TO COLLECT SIGNATURES FOR A RECALL ELECTION? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK HOW DOES THIS PROPOSAL SERVE THE GREATEST NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY? IN A LIST OF PRIORITIES, WHERE DOES THIS STACK UP COMPARED TO GETTING LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS OFF THE STREET, PUTTING AN END TO GUNSHOTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OR DECREASING THE TAX BURDEN.
IS THIS WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO? IF YOU'RE STILL DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD, THEN LET'S LOOK AT YOUR DRAFT PROPOSAL. IT APPEARS TO SET UP A SEPARATE LEGAL SYSTEM FOR FUTURE TRIALS OF YOUR PEERS. THE FIRST QUESTION YOU MIGHT ASK IS DO WE NEED A SECOND LEGAL TRIAL SYSTEM? OUR COUNTRY HAS A LEGAL SYSTEM THAT, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE HONEST, HAS BEEN IMPERFECT. IT HAS DELIVERED GROSS INJUSTICES THROUGHOUT HISTORY BUT IT'S BEEN REFINED OVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND IN MANY WAYS IT HAS IMPROVED BASED ON LESSONS LEARNED FROM NOT GETTING IT RIGHT.
AND IT TOOK COUNTLESS REVISIONS TO GET US TO OUR STILL IMPERFECT SYSTEM TODAY.
LET'S SAY THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON YOU CONCLUDE THAT YOU DO WANT A SEPARATE LEGAL TRIAL SYSTEM. IF THAT'S THE CASE, LET'S DO OUR BEST TO GET IT RIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN ENSURE A FAIR PROCESS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER SOMEONE VIOLATES A PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT. WHAT WILL ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS AND TRIALS OF YOUR PEERS? WHAT GIVES ME PAUSE WHEN I READ
[01:05:05]
OVER YOUR CURRENT PROPOSAL IS THAT I DON'T SEE IT SPELLING OUT ANY RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED.WILL THE ACCUSED HAVE THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AGAINST THEM? IF NOT, HOW MIGHT THEY BE ABLE TO REFUTE ARGUMENTS PRESENTED IN SECRET? WILL THE ACCUSED BE INFORMED OF THE TIMELINE OF THE INVESTIGATION AND GIVEN ADVANCE NOTICE OF WHEN THE INVESTIGATION WILL BE CLOSED? HOW MUCH TIME WILL THE ACCUSED BE TO GATHER EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES? WILL EXTENSIONS BE GRANTED IF REQUESTED? AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS? WHEN SOMEONE STANDS ACCUSED, WHAT WILL DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION? WHO GETS TO DETERMINE WHO IS AND IS NOT INTERVIEWED AS A WITNESS? AND HOW WILL YOU PREVENT TESTIMONIES FROM BEING COERCED BY PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER? IF THE ACTIONS UNDER INVESTIGATION ARE IN RESPONSE TO A HISTORY OF HARASSMENT AND/OR THREATS, WILL THAT HISTORY OF HARASSMENT OR THREATS BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION? YOU CAN START TO SEE WHY -- PART OF WHY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG TO IMPROVE OUR COUNTRY'S CURRENT LEGAL SYSTEM AND WHEN YOU DON'T SPELL OUT THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED, WHAT I HAVE UNFORTUNATELY LEARNED IS THAT YOU RUN THE RISK OF THE ACCUSED HAVING NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER. INVESTIGATIONS ON CONDUCT VIOLATION SHOULD BE FAIR, COMPLETE, AND TRANSPARENT. TRIALS CARRIED OUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ARE NOT GOOD FOR OUR DEMOCRACY. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS WHAT THIS PROPOSAL, AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, APPEARS TO DO. IN OUR CURRENT LEGAL SYSTEM, PUNISHMENT IS PRESCRIBED BASED ON THE INFRACTION THAT WAS COMMITTED. A CRIMINAL MIGHT BE GIVEN PROBATION FOR POSSESSION OF A SMALL AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA. 5 TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR POSSESSION OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF COCAINE AND MAYBE LIFE IN PRISON FOR A VIOLENT OFFENSE.
YOUR PROPOSAL PRESCRIBES THREE LEVELS OF PUNISHMENT BUT DOES NOT DEFINE WHAT DETERMINES POLITICAL WHIMS. SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WE WERE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM.
SPEAKING OF PUNISHMENT, THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO THE GOAL THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON, CREATING A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT. WHAT EVIDENCE CAN YOU POINT TO THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT CENSURING A COUNCILMEMBER OR CALLING FOR THEIR RESIGNATION WILL LEAD TO A SAFER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT? YOUR PROPOSED ACTIONS OF ENFORCEMENT, A WRITTEN LETTER OF REPRIMAND, A CENSURE VOTE AND CALL FOR RESIGNATION ARE ALL FORMS OF PUBLIC SHAMING. THE HOLISTIC PSYCHOLOGIST, DR. NICOLE LAPERA SAID SHAME NEVER CHANGED ANYONE. INSTEAD IT MAKES PEOPLE BETTER AT HIDING THEIR BEHAVIOR.
I INVITE YOU TO QUESTION HOW THIS PROPOSAL IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE WORKPLACE, AND ALSO ASK YOURSELVES HOW IS IT THAT A POLICY THAT PRESCRIBES THREE DIFFERENT CHOICES OF PUBLIC SHAMING ALIGNS WITH OUR STATED VALUES OF BEING A COMPASSIONATE CITY? MY HOPE IS THAT YOU APPLY THE WISDOM THAT I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE AND THE ACTION YOU TAKE TODAY WILL ACCOMPLISH YOUR INTENDED GOAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WANT TO STAY, IF THIS DEBATE GOES ON FOR A LONG TIME, I MIGHT LEAVE. IT'S NOT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY, IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE TO CATCH A FLIGHT TO NEW ORLEANS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BRAVO. WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION
NOW. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT TO START BY THANKING ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DISCUSS THE CODE OF CONDUCT TODAY. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL WANTED TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE COUNCIL, THIS COUNCIL, AS WE STAND RIGHT NOW, NEED TO REINVEST IN OUR PUBLIC AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SET OF VALUES THAT WE PRESCRIBE TO, IF YOU WILL, AND PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE WILL COMMIT TO THOSE VALUES. AND SO I WANT TO START BY THANKING ANDY FOR THE WORK THAT HE PUT INTO THIS AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I THINK THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A GREAT START.
AND I WELCOME THE DISCUSSION TODAY AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THE MAYOR
[01:10:06]
AGENDIZED THIS TODAY AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS SO CONFIDENT IN THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT, THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO PUT THIS ON.I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO REPAIR SOME RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE PUBLIC AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD FIRST START. IT STARTS SOMEWHERE.
SO I THINK THIS ALSO SHOWS THAT COMMITMENT TO REGAIN THE TRUST IN MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T TRUST IN THE SYSTEM ANYMORE. WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS DIALOGUE SO WE CAN FIX THE WRONGS OF THE PAST, IF ANY. AS A A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT, REFRAINING FROM ANY HARASSING REMARKS OR FROM MAKING SURE THAT -- OR EVEN MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
I WANT TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMMENTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TODAY.
ANY INPUT IS GREAT AND APPRECIATED. AND I WILL PROBABLY CLOSE OFF AFTER THAT WITH REMARKS. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I FULLY SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE AND FRANKLY I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE.
I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH ANY OF THE GREAT WORK THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND I DO ON A DAILY BASIS. BUT AS A COUNCIL I DO FEEL WE NEED TO UPLEVEL OUR PROFESSIONALISM. I DO WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
COUNCILWOMAN DR. ROCHA GARCIA HAS BEEN PUSHING THIS FOR YEARS BEFORE THIS CURRENT COUNCIL WAS ELECTED. I COME FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD WHERE PROFESSIONALISM IS NOT ONLY EXPECTED BUT IT'S NECESSARY TO GET THINGS DONE. MOST OF US -- WELL, MANY OF US LEFT CAREERS WHERE WE'VE WORKED OUR ENTIRE LIVES TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL TO SERVE OUR CITY AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD -- SORRY. AND I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT THAT EACH OF US ARE HERE AND HONORED TO SERVE. I HOPE THAT PASSING THIS ORDINANCE REMINDS US THAT THE HIGH STANDARDS OUR CONSTITUENTS HOLD US TO AND INSPIRES EACH OF US TO HOLD OURSELVES TO THAT HIGH STANDARD AS WELL. THIS ORDINANCE SETS THE TONE FOR AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT COUNCIL MEETINGS MOVING FORWARD AND PAVES THE WAY FOR US TO FOCUS ON THE BUSINESS AT HAND WITHOUT BEING DISTRACTED WITH THINGS THAT HAVE NO PLACE IN
CITY HALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. YEAH, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS TODAY AND I ALSO APPRECIATE COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA'S WORK ON THIS. AND I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND YOU WANTED TO SEE THIS FOR YEARS. AND SO I'M HAPPY THAT IT'S HERE TODAY. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS OF COURSE CLEAR ON WHAT EXACTLY THIS CODE OF CONDUCT COVERS. BECAUSE THERE IS A VERY SPECIFIC EIGHT CATEGORIES OF COUNCILMEMBER BEHAVIOR THAT THIS CODE OF CONDUCT COVERS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME, PERHAPS CONFUSION OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE EIGHT CATEGORIES OF CONDUCT LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE, THIS IS REALLY DEALING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER INTERACTION WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH LGC STAFF. LISTEN, I HAVE BEEN HERE NOW ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AND, YOU KNOW, OVERALL I BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL REALLY INTERACTS WITH EACH OTHER PRETTY WELL.
I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER FAIRLY AND WITH RESPECT AND PROFESSIONALLY AND IF THIS NEW CODE OF CONDUCT IS GOING TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND RESPECT BY WHICH WE DEAL WITH EACH OTHER, I'M FOR IT. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS ON THIS.
THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO CITY STAFF AS WELL AS TO COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA WHO HAS BEEN REQUESTING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL EXPLORE A CODE OF CONDUCT.
IN REVIEWING THE PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT, THERE'S A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT ARE A BIT GRAY AND GIVE ME PAUSE. FOR EXAMPLE, IMPLICIT THREATS OF PHYSICAL HARM TO ANOTHER
[01:15:02]
PERSON, PERSONAL ATTACKS, AND DISCUSSION OF PERSONAL PERSONALITIES AND DISRUPT ARE NOT DEFINED WITHIN THE CODE OF CONDUCT. WITH THE LANGUAGE BEING VAGUE, IT'S UP FOR INTERPRETATION AND GIVES ME CONCERN ABOUT CENSORSHIP.WHEN WE LOOK AT CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WHETHER IT'S AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND EVEN SCHOOL BOARDS, WE'VE SEEN HOW CENSURE HAS BEEN USED TO CHALLENGE THOSE WHO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO. FOR EXAMPLE, MINNESOTA U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE OMAR IN FEBRUARY 2023 WAS REMOVED FROM THE FOREIGN AFFAIR COMMITTEE FROM PAST COMMENTS OF ISRAEL LEGISLATION. TENNESSEE STATE REPRESENT JUSTIN JONES AND JUSTIN PEARSON WERE EXPELLED FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING THE RULES OF DECORUM BY PARTICIPATING IN A PROTEST.
MONTANA REP ZOFAR WAS BARRED AND CENSURED FROM PHYSICALLY PARTICIPATING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AFTER CONDEMNING A MEASURE RESTRICTING GENDER-REFORMING CARE.
IN CALIFORNIA, ADAM SHERIFF WAS CENSURED FOR COMMENTS HE MADE ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.
FURTHER WE SEE THAT TEXAS CONGRESSMAN GONZALES WAS CENSURED FOR NOT VOTING WITH HIS PARTY . ULTIMATELY WHAT WE SEE, AND IN NEW YORK, FOR EXAMPLE, TIFFANY CABAN WAS REMOVED DUE TO HER VOTE AGAINST THE CITY'S BUDGET.
WE HAVE SEEN MICHAEL VALDEZ FOR QUOTE, UNQUOTE DECORUM. WHEN I SEE THESE EXAMPLES GOING TO GET ALONG. IT'S A BIT CONCERNING AND I THINK THERE'S AN EXAMPLE AND I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR THE CROWN ACT.
THAT SHOWS THE CONVERSATION AND WORK WE NEED TO DO WHEN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS PROFESSIONALISM BECAUSE IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT'S STILL TAKING PLACE AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A FIXED AND DEFINED AND IT'S EVOLVING. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DOES HAVE THEIR DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONALISM BUT IT IS AN EVOLVING SPECTRUM AND WE'RE STILL WORKING IT AT THE STATE LEVEL. I COMMEND COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR TAKING THAT FIGHT ON. FURTHER, WITH THE EXAMPLES OF THE SUBJECTIVE LANGUAGE AND ACTION, IF FOR EXAMPLE IF I WERE TO SHARE AN ARTICLE STATING THAT -- IF I WERE TO TWEET OR RE-TWEET AN ARTICLE THAT SAYS THIS IS THE LEADERSHIP SAN ANTONIO DESERVES. AND IT'S AN ARTICLE ABOUT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, COULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE INVESTIGATED? IF MYSELF OR MY STAFF COMMENT ABOUT SOMEONE ON THIS DAIS, WILL THAT BE CONSIDERED NOT SHOWING A COUNCILMEMBER RESPECT AND OPEN AND SUBJECT TO THIS PROCESS? OVERALL, ANDY, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THIS ORDINANCE IS ENFORCEABLE IF IT LIMITS OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH?
>> SEGOVIA: YES, COUNCILWOMAN. THE CODE OF CONDUCT ARE RULES THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, IF ADOPTED, HAVE SAID THEY WOULD WANT TO LIVE BY.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS THAT ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION WOULD OVERRIDE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO IT GOES AGAIN TO THE BEHAVIOR THAT'S OUTLINED IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE COUNCIL ACTION ON IT. BUT, AGAIN, YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU HAVE TO OVERLAY THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS THAT EVERYBODY HAS, INCLUDING COUNCIL
MEMBERS. >> CASTILLO: WHEN I LOOK AT THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IT ALLOWS US TO USE CERTAIN OFFENSIVE WORDS AND PHRASES TO CONVEY POLITICAL MESSAGES.
FURTHER, TO ENGAGE IN SYMBOLIC SPEECH IS ALLOWED THROUGH THAT RIGHT AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS NOT ALLOWING THIS BODY TO PRACTICE THOSE RIGHTS.
ULTIMATELY IT WILL GO THROUGH A PROCESS. I DO WANT TO ECHO THE FACT THAT I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED. A COUPLE OF KEY PIECES -- THERE WERE SOME STUFF IN HERE YOU COULD HAVE CAPITALIZED ON, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SECTION THAT GIVES THE MAYOR THE ABILITY TO DISREGARD ROBERT'S RULES, WHICH IS CONCERNING BECAUSE ROBERT'S RULES ESTABLISHES THE MEETING OF DECORUM THAT THIS BODY MUST FOLLOW AND WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED WITH THE THREE-SIGNATURE MEMO PROCESS IS EVERYTHING IS VAGUE AND UP FOR INTERPRETATION AND WITH NO SAFEGUARDING LANGUAGE, WHO KNOWS HOW THESE FUTURE MEETINGS CAN GO WITH THE NEXT MAYOR.
SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF MOVING PIECES IN HERE THAT I THINK SHOULD HAVE US ALL RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS LOCALLY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE 21ST ABOUT THE CCR PROCESS WHICH ALSO REMOVES LEVERS OF THIS
[01:20:03]
BODY TO ENACT POLICY ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENCY. HOW ABOUT THE PROFESSIONALISM BETWEEN US AND OUR CONSTITUENCIES, THE PROFESSIONALISM OF BEING ACCESSIBLE, THE PROFESSIONALISM IN ENSURING WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE BODY AND RESPONDING TO CALLS PROFESSIONALISM ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT THAN WHO LIKES WHO.AND I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACTIONS THAT IMPACT MY CONSTITUENCY.
BECAUSE I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S UNPROFESSIONAL TO ALLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE DISPLACED BY NOT INVESTING FULLY IN RELOCATION SERVICES. I BELIEVE IT'S UNPROFESSIONAL TO SWEEP ENCAMPMENTS. IT'S UP FOR INTERPRETATION AND EACH OF US WHO ARE ELECTED BY OUR CONSTITUENCY. THE PROCESS LAID OUT ALLOWS CITY COUNCIL TO BE THE JUDGE AND JURY OF EACH OTHER AND ULTIMATELY I BELIEVE THAT THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 5 AND EACH ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENCIES ARE WHO WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO. OUR CODE OF CONDUCT LIES WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ELECTED US AND ULTIMATELY THERE IS A PROCESS FOR RECALL.
IF OUR CONSTITUENCY IS DISGRUNTLED, DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE ACTIONS OF ONE OF US, THERE'S A PROCESS WITHIN THE CITY CHARTER TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE REMOVED.
SO THERE'S MECHANISMS IN PLACE. SO ULTIMATELY, LOOKING AT WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US, THE FEBRUARY 21ST MEETING ON THE CCR PROCESS, LOOKING AT THE THREE-SIGNATURE MEMO, WHAT'S NEXT? ARE WE GOING TO REDUCE PUBLIC ACCESS TO US WEEKLY? OFTENTIMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHIPPING AWAY AT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WE LIKE TO FINGER POINT AND I ONLY SEE ONE REGISTERED CONSERVATIVE UP HERE.
SO IT'S JUST REALLY ALARMING AND CONCERNING, WORTH NOTING, AND I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS
CODE OF CONDUCT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, DR. ROCHA GARCIA FOR PUSHING THIS FORWARD AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS. I THINK THERE'S A LOT YOU GAVE US THERE TO THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE INTERPRETATION OF THE LANGUAGE.
I WANT TO THANK ANDY AND CITY STAFF FOR YOUR TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I KNOW THE ONES OF US WHO ARE NEW JOINED THE CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT LATE BUT I FEEL LIKE THE PROCESS YOU ALL TOOK WAS REALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC COULD DIGEST AND ALSO COMPARING IT TO ALL OF THE OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAVE CODE OF CONDUCTS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AS LEADERS WE ALWAYS TELL STUDENTS THAT AS A LEADER YOU'RE A ROLE MODEL AND FOLKS ARE LOOKING UP TO YOU AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHOW WHAT YOU WANT OTHERS TO LEAD AND BE IN OUR CITY.
I KNOW THAT I WILL DO MY BEST TO UPHOLD THIS CODE OF CONDUCT AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL TOO. AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS FOR OUR LEARNED ATTORNEY. >> SEGOVIA: I DON'T KNOW WHO
THAT IS, COUNCILMAN. IF IT'S LEARNED. >> COURAGE: ANDY, UNDER YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A COUNCIL MEMBER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ALCOHOL OR DRUG VIOLATION OUTSIDE OF CITY COUNCIL OR NOT ON CITY BUSINESS, SUCH AS A DUI, IS THAT COVERED AS FAR AS WHAT KIND OF ACTION THIS CITY WOULD
TAKE BY THIS? >> SEGOVIA: I WOULD SAY, COUNCILMAN, THAT OF COURSE A LOT DEPENDS ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHAT THE BEHAVIOR WAS OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL. HOW IT RELATES TO THE BUSINESS CONDUCTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD SAY IT CAN BE, AGAIN, DEPENDING ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND FRANKLY, THOUGH, IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL AS TO WHETHER IT WOULD APPLY OR NOT.
AGAIN, THESE RULES ARE RULES THAT THE COUNCIL IS DECIDING THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE UP TO AND IT WILL BE ULTIMATELY UP TO THE COUNCIL AS TO WHAT BEHAVIOR IS COVERED AND WHICH ONE IS NOT.
>> COURAGE: YEAH, BUT I DON'T THINK I SEE ANYTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT ACTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OR CITY BUSINESS THAT SAYS SOMEBODY WHO IS IN THAT KIND OF A SITUATION
COULD BE HELD BY >> SEGOVIA: YOU ARE CORRECT, COUNCILMAN.
YOU ARE RIGHT THE FOCUS IS ON BEHAVIOR, INTERACTIONS BETWEEN COUNCILMEMBERS AND THEIR CONDUCTING BUSINESS ON THE DAIS OR AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
BUT I GUESS MY RESPONSE WOULD BE THAT IT DOESN'T FORECLOSURE, RIGHT, WHATEVER
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ACTION COUNCIL WANTS TO TAKE WITH RESPECT TO BEHAVIOR OUTSIDE.>> COURAGE: ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR CITY CHARTER ARE THE TERM MORAL TURPITUDE. I SEE NO DEFINITION FOR ME AS A COUNCILMEMBER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT COULD BE TO THE POINT WHERE I MIGHT WANT TO TAKE ACTION
FOR A VIOLATION OF MORAL TURPITUDE. >> SEGOVIA: ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION, COUNCIL. THE LEGAL INDUSTREM IN TERMS OF DEFINING WHAT MORAL TURPITUDE IS. BUT AGAIN, THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE A DECISION MADE BY THIS BODY IN CASE THERE IS BEHAVIOR THAT MAY OR MAY NOT FALL INTO THAT
CATEGORY. >> COURAGE: WOULD, FOR EXAMPLE, A COUNCILMEMBER PUTTING OR REVEALING -- PUTTING OUT A REVEALING DISINFORMATION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY THIS?
>> SEGOVIA: AGAIN, IT ALL RELATES TO THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, COUNCILMAN.
I WILL TELL YOU IF SOMETHING IS SENT OUT INADVERTENTLY OR IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT SENT WITHOUT THE INTENTION OF HARMING SOMEBODY OR HARASSING SOMEBODY, I WOULD
DOUBT THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THIS CODE OF CONDUCT. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
WHAT ABOUT FAILURE TO PERFORM YOUR DUTY AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER? MAYBE MISDIRECTING CITY RESOURCES. NOT TO WHERE IT'S CRIMINAL, BUT WHERE IT SEEMS TO BE A DERELICTION OF DUTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> SEGOVIA: AGAIN, I WOULD SAY A LOT DEPENDS ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, COUNCILMAN, BUT WE DO REFER TO A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVES THAT TALK ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE USE OF CITY RESOURCES. WE WOULD PROBABLY RELY ON THAT IN TERMS OF -- AND I GUESS I'LL FALL BACK ON TO IF A CITY EMPLOYEE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BEHAVIOR OF A COUNCILMEMBER MAY FALL UNDER THAT SAME SCOPE AS WELL.
>> COURAGE: WHAT ABOUT A COUNCILMEMBER ACTING IN OPPOSITION TO CITY POLICIES TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE CITY? COULD THAT FALL UNDER ANY OF
THESE CODE OF CONDUCT RULES FOR ACTION BY THE COUNCIL? >> SEGOVIA: WELL, FRANKLY, COUNCILMAN, THAT STANDARD IS APPLICABLE NOW EVEN WITHOUT A CODE OF CONDUCT.
IN OTHER WORDS, AS A COUNCILMEMBER, YOU HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE CITY AND THEREFORE -- AND NOT FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, I'M TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THE CITY IN HARM'S WAY FOR EXAMPLE FROM A LEGAL RISK STANDPOINT.
BUT CERTAINLY DISAGREEMENTS OR DIFFERENT VIEWS ON POLICY, THOSE CERTAINLY
DON'T COME UNDER THE SCOPE OF THIS CODE OF CONDUCT. >> COURAGE: ONE THING THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS BY A SPEAKER ABOUT THE RIGHT TO CALL FOR RESIGNATION.
MAYBE THAT SHOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT THAT'S LEFT UP TO THE VOTERS.
I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM ENOUGH PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY DEMAND COUNCIL TAKE ACTION UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. AND, YOU KNOW, GIVING SOMEBODY A LETTER OF REPRIMAND OR A CENSURE, IT IS HUMILIATING, YES, IT IS SHAMING. BUT I THINK THE CONDUCT MAY BE SUCH THAT THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS THE COUNCIL TO TAKE AS FIRM AS POSSIBLE ACTION AS WE MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES. AND I WOULD NEVER TAKE AWAY THE COUNCIL'S RIGHT TO CALL FOR A RESIGNATION. I'M GLAD WE FORMALLY HAVEN'T DONE THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I HOPE WE NEVER HAVE TO, BUT I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CHOICES THAT NEED TO REMAIN IN THIS. I'VE JUST POINTED OUT SOME CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT FALL UNDER THIS CODE OF CONDUCT AND MAYBE IT JUST SIGNIFIES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE MAY HAVE TO STRENGTHEN OR ADD BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'M INTO SUPPORT WHAT WE HAVE TODAY AND ALWAYS MAKE US
BETTER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS HOPING I WOULD GET TO LISTEN TO ONE MORE PERSON. YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN ME A LOT TO THINK ABOUT AND WHAT -- HOW I ARRIVED HERE TODAY, I THINK ABOUT THIS ITEM AS MAKING A COMMITMENT NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR FUTURE COUNCILS. AND CAN WE ACTUALLY DO THAT.
WE DO THAT PHYSICALLY AND THINGS TIED TO POLICY. I DON'T KNOW THAT -- SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IS VAGUE AND IT'S OPEN TO INTERPRETATION BY FUTURE COUNCILS AND IT CAN BE USED AS A TOOL FOR POLITICAL GAIN.
IT COULD BE USED TO HARM THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH US AND TO TAKE A STEP FURTHER
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THAN THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT -- I'LL SAY IT'S A WEE BIT DRAMATIC, DON'T WE THINK? THIS CODE OF CONDUCT DOESN'T ADDRESS MAYBE HOW SOME OF US ARE PERCEIVING THIS COUNCIL.I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN OVERWHELMING THOUGHT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL CAN'T GET THINGS DONE. I THINK THERE'S A FEELING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS AND FEELINGS IN OTHER DISTRICTS ABOUT OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE CONSISTENT.
BUT THIS DOESN'T UNDO THE ACTIONS OF THE PAST 14 MONTHS.
IT MAY BE IS APPLICABLE TO ONE OF THE THREE ACTIONS THAT COUNCIL HAS TAKEN.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE'RE AIMING TO DO IS CREATE CONSISTENCY AND CONSISTENCY IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ACHIEVE THAT.
AND IT FEELS ALMOST LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO SIGNAL SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T RIGHT NOW. AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE ON THIS RIGHT NOW. BUT I'M OPEN TO LISTEN AND TO CONTINUE LISTENING AND MY COMMITMENT IS THAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE DOING EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN DOING, AND YOU CAN
SAVE MY TWITTER FOR SPICY TREATS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. NOW, ANDY, AT ANY TIME AN
ORDINANCE CAN BE CHANGED OR AMENDED, CORRECT? >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THESE ARE RULES COUNCIL IS ADOPTING AS AN ORDINANCE AND YOU CAN AMEND IT OR CHANGE IT OR FRANKLY REPEAL IT.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND I THINK I -- YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED ON COUNCIL, I KNEW COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA BEFORE I GOT ON COUNCIL HAD BEEN DISCUSSING A CODE OF CONDUCT. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN IDEA, BUT I KEPT ON THINKING THESE ARE GROWN ADULTS. BUT AGAIN, LIKE MARINA, I COME FROM THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY WHERE IT IS PAR FOR COURSE THAT YOU HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A TOOL FOR US PERSONALLY TO USE AND FOR US TO KIND OF MOVE FORWARD WITH. I THINK THERE IS SOME VAGUENESS WHERE IT WILL BE CHALLENGED AND IT WOULD JUST MAKE ME VERY UPSET -- I WANT TO BELIEVE THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO WOULDN'T ELECT A DAIS TO POLITICALIZE AND CANAL BALANCEIZE EACH OTHER, BUT THAT'S FOR FUTURE COUNCILS TO SEE. I REALLY WANT TO START WITH AT LEAST A GUIDING POST AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
IN TERMS OF US PERSONALLY TO LOOK AT HOW WE BEHAVE AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN BEHAVING. AND IF IT HELPS PEOPLE FROM HAVING SIDE CONVERSATIONS WHILE YOU ARE TALKING, I WOULD LOVE THAT ALSO. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. SORRY. WHITE IS NEXT.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHO IS AFTER YOU AND I FORGOT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE YOU ARE NEXT. >> CASTILLO: OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS. WHEN I HEAR THE PRIVATE SECTOR BEING THE MODEL OF PROFESSIONALISM, I THINK OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT WORKERS HAVE PUT AND THE ROLE OF LABOR UNIONS THAT WOULD LIKELY CHALLENGE THAT THOSE CODES OF CONDUCT SHOULD BE THE PRINCIPAL OR PINNACLE OF PROFESSIONALISM. AND IN DISCUSSION I HEARD A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH FROM COMMUNITY. THIS ITEM WAS POSTED ON FRIDAY AND WE DID NOT HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT LAST WEEK -- OR THIS WEEK AND WE'RE NOT HAVING IT NEXT WEEK. SO WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR. AND IN DISCUSSION I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE'S QUESTIONS, AND WHAT CAME TO MIND IS HOW UNINTENTIONALLY THIS PERPETUATES INEQUITY. I'M THINKING MR. EACH OF US IN OUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. SOME OF US CAN HIRE THE BEST ATTORNEY IN TOWN TO WHERE WE WALK AWAY AND CAN'T BE REPRIMANDED BY THE CHARTER.
THERE'S FOLKS ON HERE THAT WORK MULTIPLE JOBS, WE HAVE DIFFERENT INCOMES THAT LIMITS ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS ASSUMING WE HAVE RESOURCES TO HIRE THE SAME REPRESENTATION, WHICH THEREFORE IS GOING TO RESULT IN DIFFERENT OUTCOMES DEPENDING ON ACCESS TO
[01:35:05]
INCOME. SO I RESPECT EVERYONE'S POSITION ON THIS ITEM.AGAIN, I WILL REITERATE THAT LITTLE IMPORTANT THAT WE RESPECT EACH OTHER AND TREAT EACH OTHER WITH DIGNITY, BUT ULTIMATELY I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE
THAT WE'RE CREATING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: AGAIN, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS, BUT I WANT TO ECHO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S COMMENTS ON THIS ON THE SLIPPERY SLOPE. BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE HERE.
AND I THINK COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN MENTIONED WOULD THIS LIMIT SIDE CONVERSATIONS WHILE PEOPLE ARE TALKING, IF I HEARD THAT CORRECTLY. I MEAN ARE SIDE CONVERSATIONS WHILE SOMEBODY IS TALKING AT THE DAIS, DOES THAT VIOLATE ONE OF THESE EIGHT SECTIONS IN THE ORDINANCE? I MEAN ENOUGH TO WHERE THERE COULD BE A COMPLAINT? COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, WELL, WOULD THIS APPLY OR WOULD THAT APPLY, AND ONE OF ANDY'S ANSWERS WAS, WELL, YOU KNOW, NO, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN COUNCIL COULDN'T STILL TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION. I MEAN, WE HAVE A COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT, BUT SOMETHING COULD NOT BE LISTED IN HERE AS A VIOLATION, YET WE COULD STILL TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION PURSUANT TO OUR CODE OF CONDUCT OR OUR POTENTIAL PENALTIES IN HERE. I MEAN IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE, AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORDS HERE IN SECTION 221, YOU KNOW, B1, IT SAYS A POTENTIAL VIOLATION IS IF A COUNCILMEMBER SAYS SOMETHING DEROGATORY ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON. WHAT DOES DEROGATORY MEAN? IT MAY MEAN ONE THING TO ONE PERSON AND ONE THING TO SOMEBODY ELSE. I FEEL LIKE THE PROFESSIONALISM AMONGST THIS COUNCIL IS GOING TO -- IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT AFTER WE PUT THIS INTO PLACE BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST COMMENT OR EYE ROLL OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE RESULT IN WASTING CITY TIME AND RESOURCES INVESTIGATING THOSE KIND OF THINGS. WHERE WOULD WE BE THEN? JUST WASTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO, AGAIN, I HOPE THAT ALL OF US SITTING UP HERE REALLY TAKE IT TO HEART THAT THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING WE LOOK TO FOR REAL, REAL VIOLATIONS OF ONE OF THESE EIGHT CATEGORIES. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO MENTION IS, AGAIN, THE THREE SIGNATURE MEMO PROCESS AND THE CCR PROCESS THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED AND CHIPPING AWAY AT COUNCILMEMBER RIGHTS THERE.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. IT'S WHY I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT CCR PROCESS COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS, AND THE THREE SIGNATURE MEMO PROCESS AS WELL. THAT'S A TOOL THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR COUNCILMEMBERS. IT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE THERE FOR COUNCILMEMBERS AND IT NEEDS TO WORK AND IT NEEDS TO BE EFFECTIVE. SAME WITH THE CCR PROCESS.
I'M GLAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S FOR ANOTHER DAY.
I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS CODE OF CONDUCT, BUT I TRULY HOPE THAT WE WILL ALL ACT PROFESSIONALLY WITH REGARD TO WHAT'S IN THIS NEW ORDINANCE.
THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES. I THINK YOU ALL BRING UP VERY VALID POINTS AND I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE OPENLY DISCUSSED THIS AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO LISTEN TO OUR OPINIONS AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
TO ME THIS IS A STARTING POINT AND I'LL GIVE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE.
I'M REFERENCE THE ETHICS CODE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE AND I WERE ON THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD, WE SERVED FOR SOME TIME.
AND WE IN 2018 TOOK TO THE CITY COUNCIL, TO THEN-CITY COUNCIL MORE THAN 40 REVISIONS TO THE ETHICS CODE. A LOT OF THEM WERE JUST -- THEY WERE JUST HOUSEKEEPING, IF YOU WILL. THE OTHERS WERE SUBSTANTIVE IN NATURE. AND WHEN WE PROPOSED THOSE, THAT WAS THE -- THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE ETHICS CODE AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF AN ORDINANCE IS THAT IT COULD BE AMENDED AT ANY TIME. IT IS A STARTING POINT.
[01:40:03]
JUST LIKE WE DO WITH PILOT PROGRAMS, IS IT WORKING, IS IT NOT WORKING.A YEAR LATER SHOULD WE BE CHANGING THIS AS COUNCIL, WHAT CONSIDERATIONS HAVE WE MADE TO SEE IF WE COULD IMPROVE THIS. AND SO I THINK THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS THAT HAS MUCH MORE TO CONSIDER.
I FEEL THAT THERE'S SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS IN THERE THAT HELP US FEEL A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. I KNOW THAT SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SOMETIMES FEEL AND HAVE FELT UNSAFE IN THE WORKPLACE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S A DIRECT RESPONSE TO HOW WE MAKE SOMEONE FEEL SAFE IN THE WORKPLACE.
AND WITH REGARDS TO PHYSICAL SECURITY, FRAUD, WASTE, ABUSE, EVERYTHING ANDY'S TEAM PUT IN THERE THAT IS ALREADY OUTLINED IN THE AD I APPRECIATE IT.
I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE PROBABLY ALL WOULD AGREE ON.
WE DON'T ALL AGREE ON EVERYTHING IN HERE SHE BUT IT'S A START AND, AGAIN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CHANGE THIS AS NEEDED IF WE SOME SOMETHING IS BEING WEAPONIZED. I THINK THAT'S WHY IT TAKES 11 OF US TO DO THE WORK AND WE'RE ALL REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR OWN COMMUNITIES. WE ALL HEAR FROM DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES LIKE COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ POINTED OUT, AND THAT IS WHAT WE TAKE BACK AT THE END OF THE DAY TO OUR HOMES, TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND WHAT WE BRING BACK AND WE LISTEN TO AT OUR SEATS HERE AND SHARE WITH EACH OTHER. SO AGAIN, I'M GRATEFUL TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND TO THE MAYOR AND TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR THE THOUGHTFULNESS, FOR READING THROUGH ALL OF THIS, FOR SEEING HOW SOMETHING WOULD APPLY MAYBE -- THERE'S AREAS DEFINITELY FOR CLARIFICATION AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS ON THE CODE OF CONDUCT GOING FORWARD, BUT AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A
GREAT STARTING POINT. THANK YOU MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. SORRY, I LOST MY CUE.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT I THINK MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBER JUST SAID, THAT THERE'S STILL MORE TO LOOK AT AND I WOULD REALLY RECOMMEND THAT WE LOOK AT THE WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ANY COUNCILMEMBER ACTS ACCORDINGLY AS A FIDUCIARY FOR THE CITY AND DOES NOT TAKE AN OPPOSITE POSITION IN ANY KIND OF A LEGAL WRANGLING WE MAY HAVE WITH ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. I KNOW WE ALL HAVE INDIVIDUAL FEELINGS ABOUT THINGS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THAT FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DEVELOP THAT CAN BE PUT IN HERE, YOU KNOW, TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE AS FIDUCIARIES TO THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND I THINK I'VE -- I'LL SAY THAT PART OF THE REASON I WAS GOING TO VOTE YES TODAY IS I -- IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE FEELING OF I CAN MAKE THIS COMMITMENT FOR MYSELF AND I'M PERFECTLY COOL WITH THIS. I TRIPLE DOG DARE ANYBODY TO USE THIS AS A POLITICAL TOOL AGAINST ME, I'M DOWN FOR IT. IN LISTENING TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE WHO -- THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS TO REIN THEM IN. ZOE, MICHAEL, YOU HEAR HOW QUICKLY PEOPLE WHO WERE FRIENDS OR ALLIES, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATED IN THAT EFFORT AND WERE SILENCED AND DIDN'T ACTUALLY ACT WITH JUSTICE, THEY ACTED IN A WAY THAT WAS GOING TO -- THEM POLITICALLY AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE. AND I STRUGGLE WITH THE FACT THAT A BODY THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS -- THERE'S EFFORTS BUT DOESN'T ALWAYS ACT IN A RACE OR EPIDEMICKER CONSCIOUS WAY THAT THIS BODY, NOT JUST US, BUT FUTURER ITERATIONS OF THIS WILL NAVIGATE BEHAVIOR THAT MAKES PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE VERSUS BEHAVIOR THAT DOESN'T ENTIRELY ADHERE TO OUTDATED PROFESSIONALISM IN A TRADITIONALLY WHITE, MALE DOMINATED FIELD, VERSUS BEHAVIOR THAT PREVENTS US FROM DOING OUR JOB. WITH THAT I'LL JOIN MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE CASTILLO IN VOTING NO FOR THIS, BUT I WILL RESTATE MY COMMITMENT AGAIN TO REMAINING PROFESSIONAL IN A WAY MY COMMUNITY EXPECTS ME TO GO. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE BROUGHT UP SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO KIND OF GET YOUR
[01:45:01]
INPUT ON, ANDY. SO TODAY IF THIS PASSES TODAY, WHEN CAN WE DISCUSS SPECIFICALLY -- BECAUSE HE BRINGS UP THE FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS WE HAVE IN NOT GOING AGAINST WHAT THE CITY IS IN TALKS WITH. WOULD THAT BE TAKEN TO COMMITTEE, EXECUTIVE SESSION , OR A B SESSION, IF WE WERE GOING TO EXPAND ON THAT? BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST CONCERNING THINGS IHAVE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. >> SEGOVIA: COUNCILWOMAN, AS I STATED BEFORE THAT, AGAIN, ABSENT A CODE OF CONDUCT, THAT STILL APPLIES. IN OTHER WORDS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL COUNCILMEMBERS CURRENTLY HAVE WHICH IS A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE CITY. AS WE TALK ABOUT THE HOWLS AND CONTOURS OF WHAT THAT ENTAILS, THAT WILL PROBABLY BE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSION AND PROBABLY MORE WOULD MORE PRODUCTIVE IS IF THAT DISCUSSION, FOR EXAMPLE, PERTAINS TO A SPECIFIC LITIGATION OR ISSUE THAT THE CITY IS FACING. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSION.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT TO MAKE SURE WE KNEW WHAT SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WERE GOING TO BE HELD.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL MAKE A FEW COMMENTS. I'LL ADMIT TO BEING TOTALLY PERPLEXED BY THE CONVERSATION TODAY. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WE WOULD BE ADOPTING TODAY CREATES NO NEW AUTHORITIES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
IT CREATES NO NEW EXPECTATIONS FOR THE COUNCIL.
WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE A WRITTEN CODE OF CONDUCT DOESN'T CHANGE THE STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR THAT WE HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO JUST BY TAKING OFFICE.
AS FAR AS A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY, ANDY, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG,
BUT THAT'S CONTAINED IN OUR OATH OF OFFICE, ISN'T IT? >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S
CORRECT, MAYOR, YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THIS ALSO DOESN'T CREATE A NEW COURT SYSTEM OR LEGAL PROCESS TO CONVICT ANYONE. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, AND, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO'S COMMENTS ABOUT FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD YOU HAVE A PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT. THERE ARE MANY LEGISLATIVE BODIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED CODES OF CONDUCT. COME FROM A WORLD WHERE INTEGRITY REQUIRES NO RULES.
CODES OF CONDUCT VISIBLE OR NOT ARE NOT GUARDRAILS TO CRASH INTO AND TEST WHERE THEY ARE, THEY ARE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE AS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE WRITTEN, WE HAVE THEM. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING BY ADOPTING A CODE IS CREATING A PUBLIC-FACING DOCUMENT SO THERE'S -- THEY CAN UNDERSTAND, FOLKS CAN UNDERSTAND HOW WE DO THIS. IT'S NOT -- WHAT WE ARE ADOPTING TODAY WOULDN'T CHANGE WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. WOULDN'T CHANGE IN MY VIEW WHAT THEY DO IN THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS PROFESSIONAL, DEROGATORY, ET CETERA. SOMEBODY WANTED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A TWEET, THEY HAVE THAT ABILITY RIGHT NOW. BUT THE LAST THREE TIMES, AND THERE HAS BEEN TIMES OBVIOUSLY AND IT'S WHY IT'S A CONVERSATION, ALL THREE ACTIONS THAT WE'VE TAKEN HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUS. AT NO TIME DOES A COUNCILMEMBER CEDE THEIR ABILITY TO DISAGREE. IN FACT, A LOT OF THAT DISAGREEMENT MIGHT HAPPEN BEFORE THERE'S EVEN A CALL ON THIS DAIS TO DO ANYTHING.
IN WHICH CASE THERE WOULDN'T BE A VOTE. BUT THERE IS NO NEW AUTHORITY CREATED, THERE IS NO NEW EXPECTATIONS CREATED. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS CREATING A PUBLIC-FACING DOCUMENT THAT INVITE EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO READ, AND IT'S THERE. THE PERTINENT PARTS ARE IN SECTION 2-21, SUBSECTION B UNDER COUNCILMEMBERS. LET ME READ A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS.
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL TREAT EACH OTHER, CITY STAFF, ET CETERA, WITH RESPECT.
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL NOT SUBJECT THEMSELVES OR THEIR STAFF TO DEROGATORY OR HARASSING BEHAVIOR FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT NEW.
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL ABIDE BY THE EXPECTATIONS OF CONDUCT OUTLINED IN THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR DIRECTIONS. THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE, IS IT NOT, ANDY?
>> SEGOVIA: THE COUNCIL HAD AGREED THAT THEY WOULD LIVE BY CHOSE ADMINISTRATIVE
DIRECTIVES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I GUESS THE NEW ONE IS HOW WE DEAL WITH APPEARANCES OF NEPOTISM OR RELATIONSHIPS MIGHT INTERFERE WITH CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. THIS PARAGRAPH WAS ADDED TO CLARIFY THAT, BUT IT STILL EXISTS. ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, PRESIDING OFFICER IN THIS DAIS HAS ALWAYS HAD THE ABILITY TO ADJUST DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES.
[01:50:01]
SO I WOULD INVITE EVERYONE TO READ THIS. THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING CONTROVERSIAL HERE. ALWAYS WE WILL HAVE COMMUNITY STANDARDS, THE INTERPRETATION OF WHAT IS PROFESSIONAL IS GOING TO CHANGE FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT, IT HAS. BUT I JUST WILL CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THERE IS NO NEW AUTHORITY CREATED, THERE IS NO NEW EXPECTATION CREATED. COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE LIMITED AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO HOW WE HANDLE ISSUES THAT IN OUR VIEW BREACH STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND WE HAVE THE CHOICE OF WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT. BUT THIS IS NOT CREATE A NEW AUTHORITY TO REMOVE COUNCILMEMBERS NOR DOES IT TRY TO DEFINE WHAT MORAL TURPITUDE IS. I'M PERPLEXED ABOUT WHY THIS IS SO CONTROVERSIAL.I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT. I THANK COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA AND THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE EBBS AND FLOWS OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. I DID AGREE WHEN CONCEPT WHEN YOU BROUGHT IT UP THE FIRST TIME AS ERB MEMBER AND I'M HAPPY WITH THE DOCUMENT THAT I THINK IS OPEN AND FLEXIBLE ENOUGH FOR COUNCILS IN THE FUTURE TO INTERPRET AS THEY MAY GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE EXPECTATIONS AND WE SHOULD HAVE STANDARDS THAT WE ALWAYS UPHOLD. NOT ONLY AS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THAT PUBLIC.
SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 9. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S THE DURATION.
WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION BRIEFLY, BUT ERIK, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
>> WALSH: TWO ITEMS FOR TODAY. BOTH GREAT NEWS.
I WANTED TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL THAT LAST WEEK THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS SELECTED BY THE SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL AS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR.
THE BUSINESS JOURNAL RECOGNIZED THE TREMENDOUS YEAR IN 2023 WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM, THE LARGEST EVER.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF OUR FIRST TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT THAT WILL TAKE OFF LATER THIS YEAR. A SLEW OF ADDITIONAL NEW NON-STOPS THAT WERE ADDED HERE TO SAN ANTONIO. WE RECEIVED OVER $40 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS AND A RECORD NUMBER OF PASSENGERS, 10.7 MILLION, THROUGH 2023. THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE THE HARD WORK OF ALL 509 EMPLOYEES WE HAVE AT THE AIRPORT AND A WHOLE SLEW OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS. AND COULDN'T BE MORE PROUDER OF JESUS AND THEIR TEAM.
THEY ARE FOCUSED ON BUSINESS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DO A GREAT JOB.
WHEN THEY GOT THE AWARD AND LISTED OFF ALL THE THINGS THE AIRPORT DID IN 2023, I LOOKED AT JESUS AND SAID WHAT ARE WE DOING IN 2024. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE AIRPORT TEAM. AND THEN SECONDLY, SHANNON MILLER AND STEPHANIE PHILLIPS WITH OUR OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION WERE AWARDED THE 2023 JMK INNOVATION PRIZE FROM THE JM KAPLAN FUND. THE AWARD IS FOR OUR MATERIAL INNOVATION CENTER AND MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT THE MATERIAL INNOVATION CENTER THAT'S LOCATED OVER AT PORT SAN ANTONIO REDUCES CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE, SUPPORTS OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING REPAIR PROGRAMS, AND CERTAINLY ADVANCES THE MATERIAL REUSE THAT IS PART -- AVAILABLE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
TEN PRIZELESS AWARDED EVERY TWO YEARS, SO HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO SHANNON AND HER ENTIRE TEAM. IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, THE MATERIAL INNOVATION CENTER RECEIVED MORE THAN 10,000 POUNDS OF REUSABLE BUILDING MATERIAL, AND THAT DONATED MATERIAL WE HAVE INCORPORATED INTO SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICE DEPARTMENT MINOR REHAB PROJECTS. AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UTSA RESEARCH ON ADUS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE PRIZE WAS $175,000 OVER TWO YEARS AND THERE IS A SHORT VIDEO ON THE JM KAPLAN FUND WEBSITE ON OUR PROGRAM AND I WOULD INVITE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. CONGRATULATIONS TO SHANNON AND STEPHANIE AND THE ENTIRE OHP TEAM. THAT'S IT TODAY, MAYOR.
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE BELL IS RINGING FOR YOU, ERIK.
ALL RIGHT. THERE IS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
TIME IS 11:00 A.M. ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2024. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND QUALITY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS, PURCHASE, EXCHANGE AND LEASE VALUE OF REAL
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.