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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:07 A.M. ON THE 22ND DAY OF FEBRUARY 2024.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: >> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE HAVE MANY SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE WE WILL RECOGNIZE VERY SHORTLY. BEFORE WE START, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO TO
WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
TODAY WE HAVE INVITED PASTOR JIMMY ROBLES OF LAST CHANCE MINISTRY.
JIMMY ROBLES IS A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN BORN AND RAISED ON SAN ANTONIO'S WEST SIDE.
HE WAS INVOLVED IN MANY ACTIVITIES BUT EVERYTHING CHANGED IN DECEMBER OF 2005 WHEN HE DECIDED TO ATTEND AN ACTS MEN'S RETREAT, NOT KNOWING THAT HE WOULD EXPERIENCE AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD, WHICH TRANSFORMED HIS LIFE FOREVER. RIGHT AFTER HE WITNESSED THE DRAMA AT THE RETREAT, WHICH MADE HIM REALIZE HIS NEED FOR JESUS, HE HAD A SUDDEN LIFESTYLE CHANGE AND STARTED A JOURNEY OF BRINGING OTHERS TO CHRIST. WITH A DESIRE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS WHAT THE LORD HAD DONE FOR HIM, JIMMY WROTE A DRAMA BASED ON HIS OWN LIFE.
THIS 26-PAGE SCRIPT WAS FIRST PRESENTED AT THE YMCA ON CASTROVILLE ROAD HERE IN SAN ANTONIO IN APRIL OF 2006 AND TOUCHED HUNDREDS OF LIVES. FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS THIS PRODUCTION TITLED, A SECOND CHANCE, WAS PRESENTED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES . PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO PASTOR JIMMY ROBLES. >> WHAT AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION. WHAT A BLESSING. LET US PRAY.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS MORNING, FATHER. WHAT A BLESSING THAT YOU WOKE US UP THIS MORNING. WE GIVE YOU ALL THE HONOR AND GLORY.
I PRAY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, ALL THE LEADERSHIP HERE THAT IS IN FRONT OF ME, FATHER, THAT YOU GIVE THEM SHOULDERS BIG ENOUGH TO CARRY THINGS OTHERS CANNOT EVEN CARRY, FATHER.
I PRAY FOR WISDOM HERE TODAY, THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE THEY WILL PAVE THE WAY HERE FOR OUR CITY IN CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I PRAY BLESSINGS UPON THEIR LIVES, THEIR HEALTH, THEIR RELATIONSHIPS, THEIR FINANCES IN EVERY AREA OF THEIR LIFE AND IN STEP THEY TAKE WILL BE A STEP ORDERED BY YOU. I PRAY THAT FROM THE CROWN OF THEIR HEADS TO THE SOLES OF THEIR FEET THAT YOU BLESS THEM TODAY. WE ASK EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT IS HERE AS WELL AS WE HEAR WHAT IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE, LEAD US AND GUIDE US.
WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT.
VERY MUCH, PASTOR JIMMY. ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE START WITH OUR AGENDA TODAY, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE FORMER MARY IVY TAYLOR IN THE HOUSE.
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CAN WE GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH WE ARE DEFINED BY OUR DIFFERENCES, MAYOR TAYLOR WAS FOND OF SAYING THERE IS MORE THAT UNITES US THAN DIVIDES US. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WITH THAT. SERVICE IS A SACRIFICE FOR YOU AND FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.IT'S NOT EASY WHEN IT IS APPROACHED WITH SERIOUSNESS AND SINCERITY.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ALL THE RESIDENTS WE SERVE, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR TAYLOR FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY DURING YOUR TIME AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND A MAYOR. YOU HAVE BEEN A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT AND I'M GLAD YOU WILL FOREVER BE REPRESENTED IN OUR HALL OF MAYORS. I'M HAPPY TO SEE RODNEY IN AUDIO] ALLOWING US TO SHARE IN THIS MOMENT WITH YOU AND WITH YOUR FAMILY.
SAN ANTONIO IS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND DEDICATION. CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR IVY TAYLOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ORDER OR YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ORDER IN THE CHAMBER OR WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE AND IF YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO LEAVE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ESCORTING YOU OUT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR FOR THOSE COMMENTS. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT DOES FEEL A LITTLE BIT STRANGE BEING BACK HERE IN A PLACE WHERE I SPENT SO MUCH TIME, SO MANY YEARS.
BETWEEN MY ELECTION TO CITY COUNCIL IN 2009 UNTIL MY DEPARTURE FROM THE MAYOR'S ROLE IN 2017, I REALLY DID LEARN SO MUCH DURING THE MANY, MANY HOURS THAT I SPENT IN THESE CHAMBERS.
SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED ME DURING THAT TIME. AND AS THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS PORTRAIT COMPLETED HAS REVEALED, MANY STILL DO SUPPORT ME ENOUGH TO GET UP EARLY ON A THIS MORNING -- THIS SPECIAL MOMENT. WELL, DAVID AND PAULA MCGEE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY NUDGING ME ABOUT THIS PORTRAIT SINCE 2019. BUT I DIDN'T HAVE AN ARTIST IN MIND. AND FRANKLY I WAS VERY BUSY WITH MY NEW ADVENTURES WHICH INCLUDED WORKING ON A DOCTORATE DEGREE IN HIGHER EDUCATION MANAGEMENT WHICH I EARNED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, A SCHOOL THE MAYOR KNOWS, IN 2020. AND THEN GOING ON TO LEAD COLLEGE. BUT DAVID AND PAULA PERSISTED AND SO IN 2022 I HEARD THEIR VOICES IN MY HEAD AND I WENT TO A CONFERENCE FOR COLLEGE PRESIDENTS AND I MET A COLLEGE PRESIDENT NAMED TRACY ESPEE WHO HAD HER SPOUSE WITH HER ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE.
HIS NAME IS MARVIN ESPEE AND I ASKED HIM WHAT DID HE DO FOR A LIVING.
HE SAID I'M AN ARTIST. I SAID I NEED A PORTRAIT. MARVIN, WILL YOU STAND UP AND LET SAN ANTONIO SEE WHO YOU ARE? [APPLAUSE] AND SO THAT BEGAN THE PROCESS OF GETTING US HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU TO DAVID AND PAULA AND TO ALL THE DONORS WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO ENGAGE MARVIN ESPEE FOR THIS PROJECT. COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU MAY HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE DURING THIS PROCESS PEOPLE SAY I DIDN'T FLO KNOW THE CITY DIDN'TY FOR THAT. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO GAVE SO WE COULD ENGAGE MARVIN.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO MARVIN FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU DID THAT WE'LL SEE IN A MOMENT.
IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE UNVEIL AND HANG THIS PORTRAIT IN FEBRUARY, WHICH YOU ALL KNOW IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A TIME THAT'S BEEN VERY SPECIAL TO ME.
MY INITIAL APPOINTMENT TO THE MAYOR'S SEAT IN 2014 MADE SAN ANTONIO THE LARGEST AMERICAN CITY AT THE TIME TO HAVE A BLACK WOMAN AS MAYOR. A FACT THAT -- LEADING UP TO MY APPOINTMENT. WELL, THANKFULLY SINCE THEN BLACK WOMEN HAVE TAKEN THE HELM AT OTHER LARGE CITIES WITH LOS ANGELES CURRENTLY HAVING A BLACK WOMAN IN THE MAYOR'S SEAT.
AND I CERTAINLY WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION MY CONTEMPORARY AND COLLEAGUE FROM THE MAYOR OF LIVE OAK, MAYOR DENNIS, WHO IS HERE . ANOTHER BLACK WOMAN SERVING AS MAYOR HERE IN THE SAN ANTONIO METRO AREA. WELL, THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE
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HISTORICAL NATURE OF MY APPOINTMENT AND THEN ELECTION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT CAN SERVE AS MOTIVATION FOR OTHER YOUNG MINORITY LEADERS TO KNOW WHAT IS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE MANY THOUGHT I COULD NOT BE THE MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO. I HOPE THAT SEEING MY PORTRAIT HANGING IN THE GALLERY WILL BE AN INSPIRATION, ESPECIALLY TO LITTLE BLACK GIRLS.AND CAN I JUST ADD THAT THOUGH I WAS NOT THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR, THERE WERE ABOUT 40 YEARS OR SO BETWEEN MAYOR LILA COCKRELL'S TENURE AND MINE AND I HOPE IT'S NOT ANOTHER 40 YEARS BEFORE SAN ANTONIO HAS A WOMAN SITTING IN THAT SEAT RIGHT THERE AGAIN. [APPLAUSE] WHILE I KNOW THAT MOST FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT I WAS A FIRST, I THINK IT'S EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO BRIEFLY NOTE THAT THERE WERE KEY POLICY ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING MY TENURE OF LEADERSHIP, WHICH WAS THREE YEARS. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE VICTORS WRITE HISTORY SO SOME OF THESE THINGS MAY HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN ALREADY, SO LET ME REMIND YOU OF THEM.
THEY INCLUDE ENDING THE STALEMATE AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH OUR POLICE UNION AND GETTING A NEW CONTRACT. ENDING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE. SECURING THE CITY'S WATER FUTURE THROUGH THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT.
LEADING THE EFFORT TO SECURE FUNDING FOR A NEW FEDERAL COURTHOUSE.
IN FACT, I HAD A VERY FUN MEETING WITH OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT, THEN VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IN HIS LIMO WHERE I WAS ASKING HIM FOR STRATEGY WHERE WE COULD GET THAT MONEY.
I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN WE DID GET THE MONEY FOR THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE.
ALSO, SPEAKING OF GETTING MONEY, WHEN YOU ALL GET YOUR PAYCHECKS, THINK BACK ON THE FACT THAT MY TEAM AND I PUT TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO SECURE PAY WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ALSO, THE FIRST HOUSING INITIATIVE WAS INCLUDED IN A CITY BOND PACKAGE AT MY URGING.
YOU ALL KNOW THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS WHERE I CUT MY TEETH WORKING AT NONPROFITS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND AS A CITY STAFFER, WORKING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THEN SIGNING THE FIRST SISTER CITY AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
THANK YOU, ROB, WHO IS HERE, HE'S THE HONORARY COUNSEL TO NAMIBIA.
IT WAS A BUSY THREE YEARS . I WAS ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS WITH THE HELP OF A DEDICATED TEAM IN MY OFFICE. AND SO THANK YOU TO LESLIE, YOLANDA, LEILA, JILL, RUBEN, ANDREW, AND NEIL. AND ALSO, OF COURSE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF MANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO SERVED WITH ME AT THE TIME. I SAW FORMER COUNCILMAN REED WILLIAMS HERE THIS MORNING AND I WILL ALSO INSERT AND THANK FORMER COUNCILMAN ART HALL BECAUSE REALLY HE WAS AN INSPIRATION TO ME. Y'ALL MAY RECALL THAT HE RAN FOR MAYOR AT ONE POINT, WHICH WHEN WE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR MAYOR, I THOUGHT IT WAS CRAZY. I THINK HE PLANTED THE SEED IN MY MIND.
THTHANK YOU, ART FOR BEING AN INSPIRATION. AS I CLOSE, I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY TO BE A PART OF THIS PAGE OF SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY.
THERE CERTAINLY IS NOT CHURCH FAMILY, GREATER CORINTH BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE PASTOR STANLEY SPARROW IS HERE.
THAT FAMILY PRAYED MIGHTILY FOR ME WHILE I WAS AT CITY HALL. I'M SO HUMBLED THAT THE PASTOR OF RODNEY AND I'S CURRENT CHURCH FLEW IN FROM MISSISSIPPI TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU PASTOR BARTHOLOMEW. AND THANK YOU TO MY SORORITY FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THE LADIES IN RED, IN CASE YOU MISSED . YOU HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING AND INSPIRING ME SINCE MY INITIATION INTO THE SORORITY IN 1991 AND I'VE ALSO ENJOYED BEING A MEMBER OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED AND THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER HERE AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT OF JACK AND JILL OF SAN ANTONIO WHERE I WAS ALSO FORMERLY A MEMBER. THE MEMBERS OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PRAYED AND LAUGHED WITH ME ON MANY OCCASIONS. OF COURSE THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND, RODNEY, FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT DURING MY TIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
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AND IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, YES HE STYLED ME TODAY. [LAUGHTER] YOU ALL KNOW THAT'S MY STYLIST. WE'RE MISSING MORGAN TODAY. SHE IS IN COLLEGE IN FLORIDA AND I DIDN'T WANT HER TO MISS CLASS TO TRAVEL TO BE HERE. BUT, OF COURSE, YOU ALL REMEMBER HER. SHE WAS 5 WHEN I GOT TO CITY HALL AND SHE SPENT MANY DAYS HERE. IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT SHE'S MAJORING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.AND I AM -- [APPLAUSE] GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR ALLOWING ME TO USE MY SKILLS AND TALENTS TO SERVE SAN ANTONIO FOR A SEASON. TODAY IS A FITTING END TO THIS CHAPTER IN OUR LIVES, THE TAYLOR FAMILY. OH, THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE TAYLOR FAMILY HERE. MY IN-LAWS ARE HERE. WAVE YOUR HAND.
AUNT LOIS AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW AND FATHER-IN-LAW. THANK YOU ALL FOR EMBRACING ME WHEN I MOVED HERE FROM SAN ANTONIO. DID Y'ALL EVER THINK THAT SOMEBODY BORN IN BROOKLYN AND RAISED IN QUEENS WOULD BE HANGING ON THE WALL IN SAN ANTONIO CITY HALL? NO, YOU DIDN'T. BUT GOD.
BUT GOD. AND SO THIS IS A FITTING END TO THIS CHAPTER IN OUR LIVES.
ALTHOUGH WE LEFT SAN ANTONIO FOR ME TO TAKE A POSITION IN MISSISSIPPI IN 2020, WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR ME TO TAKE A POSITION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM OFFICE. AND ALSO I'LL HAVE THE CHANCE TO TEACH AT MY GRADUATE SCHOOL ALMA MATER, CHAPEL HILL. IT FEELS LIKE A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT BECAUSE I MET RODNEY AT CHAPEL HILL AND HE'S THE PERSON WHO GOT ME TO MOVE HERE TO SAN ANTONIO.
WE'RE HEADED BACK TO CHAPEL HILL AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE WON'T BE RETURNING ANY TIME SOON, IF AT ALL, BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL TIMES THAT WE SHARED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO BEFORE WE UNVEIL THE PORTRAIT, I JUST WANTED TO ASK PASTOR ORE OF BROWN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
I WANTED TO CALL TO SEE IF HE COULD DO THE INVOCATION BUT WE DIDN'T GET TO THAT.
I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO HEAR FROM THIS DYNAMIC PUBLIC SERVANT WHO IS VERY ENGAGED.
HE TOTALLY EMBODIES WHAT I REALLY BELIEVE SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN MANY OF OUR CHURCHES, WHICH IS FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU, PASTOR ORE FOR BEING
HERE. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, DR. TAYLOR AND TO MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL. PROVERBS 22:28 SIMPLY SAYS REMOVE NOT THE ANCIENT LANDMARK.
IT HAS BEEN A JOY OF MINE JUST WALKING FROM THE HOTEL THIS MORNING, SEEING ALL OF THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY AND KNOWING THAT THE PICTURE OF DR. TAYLOR WILL HANG ON THE WALL. WHAT A BLESSING. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR RICH HISTORY AND I PRAY GOD'S BLESSINGS UPON YOUR BRIGHT FUTURE.
GOD BLESS YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> IS THIS THE MOMENT?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET'S MAKE SURE FRED IS IN THE RIGHT POSITION.
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. BEFORE MAYOR TAYLOR AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY WILL PROCEED TO A RECEPTION, WE HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AROUND THE DAIS. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT NOW.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING.
I HAVE TO SHARE A SEAT WITH COUNCILWOMAN KAUR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE BIT BLOCKED IN. SORRY FOR MY TARDINESS. I WAS BLOCKED BEHIND AN ACCIDENT ON 35. EVERYBODY PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY. I WANT TO SAY I CAN'T MAKE EYE CONTACT RIGHT NOW BUT WELCOME BACK TO CHAMBERS, MAYOR. AND HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
IT'S WORTH NOTING 100 TIMES THAT YOU WEREN'T JUST THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN MAYOR BUT THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR IN OUR CITY. AND THAT'S HUGE. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT MANY OF US ARE ABLE TO BE UP HERE IS BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A SALARY AND THAT'S A WORKING-CLASS ISSUE. IN ORDER TO HAVE REPRESENTATION THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO MORE AND MORE PEOPLE. AND WHILE IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO LIVE ON RIGHT NOW, IT'S THERE. IT'S THERE AND IT'S POSSIBLE FOR A HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER OR A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER OR A COLLEGE PROFESSOR TO BE UP HERE AND TO REPRESENT WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY JUST AS REPRESENTATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SO MANY OF US AND WE HAVE KNOWN IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. WHEN WE WALK THROUGH THE HALL TO GET OVER HERE, IT'S A BUNCH OF WHITE MEN, IT'S A BUNCH OF WHITE FACES. AND THAT'S INTIMIDATING WHEN YOU'RE SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT 2, WHEN YOU'RE THE ONLY BLACK REPRESENTATIVE AND YOU'RE REPRESENTING NOT JUST THE BLACK FOLK IN YOUR DISTRICT BUT BLACK FOLK AROUND TOWN OR YOU'RE A LATINA AND YOU'RE REPRESENTING A CITY AND YOU DON'T SEE YOUR FACE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS' FACES IN THAT HALLWAY. REGARDLESS OF THE WAY FOLK LEAN POLITICALLY, THERE'S NOW GOING TO BE THE FACE OF A BLACK WOMAN HERE. AND THAT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT.
IT'S MONUMENTAL. CONGRATULATIONS. I'M GLAD THAT IT WAS ABLE TO HAPPEN. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE DONORS WHO MADE IT HAPPEN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED BY A LOT OF THE THINGS THE CITY DOESN'T PAY FOR AND THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT MATTERS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT MATTERS TO SO MANY OF US.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. I KNOW WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY -- WELL, I'LL SEE YOU IN A SECOND. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR TAYLOR, I AM SO EXCITED THIS MORNING.
IT'S JUST SO INCREDIBLE. I'LL LET YOU KNOW IN 2019 WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED TO OFFICE, I HADN'T NOTICED. AND SO WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY I WAS LIKE, WHERE'S MAYOR TAYLOR'S PORTRAIT. AND I ASKED WHERE'S MAYOR CASTRO'S PORTRAIT? THEY SAID, WELL, IT'S BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A FUNDRAISING EFFORT.
THEY ARE MINORITY EFFORTS, THIS IS A SHAME. AND THEN COVID HAPPENED SO I DIDN'T GET TO FOLLOW UP ON IT. SO I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYBODY WHO CONTRIBUTED TODAY AND IN PARTICULAR TO THE MCGEES WHO ENCOURAGED THIS. I THINK WE DO NEED TO HAVE THAT REPRESENTATION. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO AND I WERE AT A CONFERENCE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WE WERE ON THE BOARD AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT AS BEING ONE OF THE MODEL PROJECTS. AND COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO AND I WERE JUST SHOCKED.
AND SO WE WERE THINKING, WOW! THIS IS INCREDIBLE! AND JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE. AND THEN, LIKE COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ SAID, IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU THAT WE GET TO SERVE UP HERE. BECAUSE OF YOUR STAFF THAT ADVOCATED FOR A SALARY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD STILL TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT AND HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. I ALSO HAD THE FORTUNE AS ETHICS REVIEW BOARD CHAIR TO WELCOME A DELEGATION FROM NAMIBIA. THAT WAS ONE OF THE SISTER CITY AGREEMENTS THAT YOU HELPED START. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ETHICS AND THEY TOOK OUR MODEL AND THEY WERE GOING TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO AND APPLY IT IN THEIR AREAS. AND SO I WAS SO PROUD OF THAT WORK AND THAT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF THE SEEDS THAT YOU PLANTED. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR MINORITIES AND IN PARTICULAR MINORITY FEMALES EVERYWHERE WHO SEE YOU AND KNOW THAT THEY TOO CAN BE MAYOR ONE DAY OF A MAJOR CITY. AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MAYOR OF LIVE OAK. YOU ARE SO SWEET, MAYOR DENNIS. I LOOK FOR HER EVERYWHERE I GO BECAUSE SHE HAS SUCH A WONDERFUL SOUL AND A PRESENCE AND A SMILE THAT IT JUST LIFTS ME UP.
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SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO LIFT WOMEN UP AND ENCOURAGE THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO IT. CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE FEMALE MAYORS' PICTURES BEINGHUNG UP, PORTRAITS VERY SOON. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, MAYOR, I ALSO WANT TO OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS. I THINK WE WERE ON THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD TOGETHER DURING YOUR TIME IN OFFICE AND I REMEMBER YOUR TERM WELL.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TODAY BECAUSE THEY WERE MANY AND VERY SIGNIFICANT AND THEY WILL BE LASTING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND I GUESS YOU'RE HEADED BACK TO NORTH CAROLINA, HUH, WHICH I KNOW THAT AREA WELL. HAVING GONE TO WAKE FOREST. YOU'RE JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM THERE. ENJOY IT AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN THE FUTURE.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR TAYLOR FOR BEING HERE TODAY. IT'S SO NICE TO SEE SO MANY FAMILIAR FACES IN THE AUDIENCE.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND ITS LONG-LASTING IMPACTS, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN DR. ROCHA GARCIA WAS SAYING, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THAT TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND IT'S SO NICE SEEING ALL OF Y'ALL.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR TAYLOR.
I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MEET YOU YET BUT YOU TRAINED MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND SO I KNOW YOU WERE A GREAT LEADER AND REALLY APPRECIATIVE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN HELPING ANDREW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, MAYOR . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'M SURE YOU'LL AGREE THAT TODAY'S POLITICS IS BROKEN AND IT'S CHARACTERIZED A LOT BY PEOPLE CHEST POUNDING AND USING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PEOPLE AS A CUDEL TO HURT EACH OTHER.
THE ONE THING I HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED ABOUT YOU IS YOU REJECTED THAT EVERY DAY OF EVERY WEEK AND EVERY TIME YOU WERE HERE ON THE DAIS AND I REALLY ADMIRED YOU FOR THAT.
YOU REALLY KEPT IT ABOUT WHAT IT IS AND I PLAGIARIZED A QUOTE FROM YOU AND I USE IT QUITE OFTEN. I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT COMMON VISION.
THAT'S A PHRASE YOU USED QUITE OFTEN AND YOU ALWAYS SAID OUR COMMON VISION, THE ONE THAT UNITES US, IS THAT WE ALL WANT GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE ALL WANT OUR KIDS TO BE SAFE AND BE PROVIDED LADDER OF OPPORTUNITIES. I GO AROUND PRETENDING LIKE I SAID THAT AND I SOUND SO SMART WHEN I SAY IT.
I THINK ALL OF US YEARN FOR A DAY WHERE EVERYBODY WHO COMES TO POLITICS TALKS THAT WAY.
AND REALLY WALKS THAT WALK. I ALSO GOT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU KNOW A PERSON'S QUALITY BY THE FOLKS THAT SURROUND THEM. AND YOU CHOSE TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GENUINELY GOOD PEOPLE WHO REALLY CARE. JILL AND LEILA AND ANDREW, PEOPLE THAT I ADMIRE VERY MUCH.
YOU KNOW, YOU SURROUND YOURSELF BY SMART PEOPLE BUT PEOPLE WITH GOOD HEARTS.
ALSO YOU KNOW A PERSON BY THE QUALITY OF THEIR CHILDREN. YOU AND I AND THE GROUP GOT TO GO TO SPAIN AND YOU BROUGHT YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER MORGAN WITH YOU.
I GOT VERY LUCKY. I GOT TO SIT NEXT TO THAT YOUNG WOMAN ON A TRAIN FROM BARCELONA TO MADRID OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I FORGET THE CITIES.
I GOT TO TALK TO HER. WHAT AN INSIGHTFUL, SMART, STRONG YOUNG WOMAN YOU HAVE RAISED. AND THAT KID IS DESTINED FOR BIG THINGS.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR HUSBAND.
AND YOU'VE SET AN EXAMPLE THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO DO SMALL THINGS AND TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL LITTLE GIRLS YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT ONE LINE THAT I PLAGIARIZE OFTEN. CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR TAYLOR.
I GOT TO KNOW YOU WHEN WE WERE FIRST KIND OF RUNNING ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER IN 2017.
I'LL NEVER FORGET WE WERE IN DISTRICT 6 AT AN EVENT AND YOU WERE ALWAYS IMPECCABLY DRESSED, YOU HAD THIS SUIT ON AND TENNIS SHOES. I SAID, MAYOR TAYLOR, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN SNEAKERS? YOU SAID, I'M RUNNING, GIRL. I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT BECAUSE
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IT SHOWED ME SUCH TENACITY. I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH TO YOUR LEGACY AND WE FEEL IT EVERY DAY BUT NOW WE GET THIS VERY IMPORTANT VISUAL REMINDER OF A WOMAN OF COLOR THAT HAS LED THIS CITY. I'LL TELL YOU THAT I'M GOING TO DO MY DAMNEST TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT ANOTHER 40 YEARS BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER WOMAN MAYOR. WHAT I ADMIRE ABOUT YOU IS YOU ALWAYS STUCK TRUE TO YOUR CONVICTIONS AND SO MUCH OF THAT IS BECAUSE YOU BASE THEM IN YOUR FAITH. IN THAT YOU COULDN'T GO WRONG AND YOU COULDN'T FALTER FROM IT.THAT'S ANOTHER LESSON I TAKE FROM YOU. I'LL SHOUT OUT LEILA POWELL.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS HERE EARLIER BUT I THINK SHE'S A SMALL KEY TO BOTH OF OUR SUCCESSES.
I'M GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO WALK DOWN THESE HALLS AND SEE OUR SECOND WOMAN MAYOR, OUR FIRST BLACK MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR TAYLOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THIS CITY. YOU KNOW, YOU ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN YOUR EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE AND YOU REMINDED US A LOT OF THAT. BUT THE REMINDERS ARE STILL WITH US FOR MANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU INITIATED AND THAT ARE CONTINUING.
YOU KNOW, YOU DEMONSTRATED REALLY THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE CULTURAL HARMONY THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US HERE.
YOU DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE AND THAT HAS HELPED MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY LIVE THEIR LIVES BETTER BECAUSE OF YOUR COMMITMENT AND THE THINGS THAT YOU STARTED.
I HOPE THAT WHEREVER YOU GO YOU WILL CARRY SAN ANTONIO IN YOUR HEART BECAUSE WE KNOW IT WILL ALWAYS BE THERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT SERVICE. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ADVOCACY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND ENSURING FOLKS ARE REPRESENTED. I'M AT A LOSS OF WORDS HEARING THE CONVERSATION, HEARING THE COUNCILMAN SAY THE SECOND FEMALE MAYOR IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND HEARING YOU HIGHLIGHT 40 YEARS SINCE THE PREVIOUS FEMALE MAYOR.
AND EVERY TIME MY TEAM AND I WALK THROUGH THE HALLS PAST THOSE PORTRAITS I ALWAYS MAKE JOKES. WHERE'S THE REPRESENTATION? WHERE ARE THE WOMEN? WHERE ARE THE WOMEN OF COLOR? AND WITH THIS PORTRAIT HANGING I WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SAY THAT. REPRESENTATION ABSOLUTELY MATTERS TO I WANTED TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COULD WE GET THE ARTIST TO STAND UP ONE MORE TIME? LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. MR. ESPEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE ANOTHER ARTIST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO DISPLAYING A VERY BEAUTIFUL WORK.
MAYOR TAYLOR, RODNEY, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YEARS OF PEOPLE ADMIRING THIS PORTRAIT AND BEING INSPIRED BY IT. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE ARE GOING TO -- I THINK A LARGE PORTION OF THE AUDIENCE IS GOING TO GET UP AND GO TO A RECEPTION FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND SO WE'LL DO THAT. I'LL JUST TELL MY COLLEAGUES, THE NEXT STEP FOR US IS WE HAVE TO SWEAR IN A NEW MAYOR PRO TEM. SO I GUESS WE WILL SLOWLY TRANSITION.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, IF YOU WILL START TO APPROACH THE PODIUM.
[00:35:35]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL IS STILL IN SESSION SO IF I CAN HAVE MY COLLEAGUES RETURN TO THEIR SEATS AND COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA MAKE HER WAY TO THE PODIUM.
WE HAVE A QUORUM, DEBBIE. ITEM NO. 2 FOR US -- EXCUSE ME, 3 IS THE SWEARING IN OF COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA FOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM TERM OF FEBRUARY 22 THROUGH MAY 1, 2024.
>> CLERK: RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. >> GARCIA: I, ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, FROM FEBRUARY 22 THROUGH MAY 1, 2024 FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS
OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE, SO HELP ME, GOD. >> CLERK: CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. AND THANK YOU FOR COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA FOR THE DISTINGUISHED REIGN, TENURE OF MAYOR PRO TEM.
WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. ALL RIGHT.
NOW I THINK IF WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF -- I THINK THERE COULDN'T BE A MORE APPROPRIATE WAY FOR SAN ANTONIO TO RECOGNIZE BLACK HISTORY MONTH THAN WHAT WE JUST DID. SO SERENDIPITOUSLY AND I'M SURE PLANNED BY MAYOR TAYLOR TO BE THAT WAY AN WE DID THAT. IT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WE HAVE MORE TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEMORATE. I WANT TO INVITE HEATHER WILLIAMS TO THE PODIUM .
YOU ARE RIGHT. I'M SORRY, HEATHER. I'M A LITTLE DISORIENTED TODAY BUT WE'RE GOING TO CLEAR OUT OUR CONSENT AGENDA SO STAFF MEMBERS CAN GET BACK TO WORK.
WE DO HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS TIME. EVERYTHING IS LISTED ON CONSENT.
THERE ARE NO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM CONSENT TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY? LET ME HEAR THOSE NOW. ITEM NO. 8.
ANY OTHERS? OKAY. HEARING NONE, I'LL TAKE A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 8. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION? JUST SIGNAL ME. SURE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M BRINGING ATTENTION TO ITEMS 15 AND 16.
ON THE SURFACE THEY SEEM LIKE ROUTINE FUNDING ITEMS BUT THEY CALL FOR ACCEPTING 18 HEALTH GRANTS AND AUTHORIZE METRO HEALTH TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING IN THE STATE HEALTH WAIVER PROGRAM. WHEN YOU PUT THE TWO TOGETHER IT ADDS UP TO 233 POSITIONS AT METRO HEALTH, MORE THAN $22.5 MILLION FROM THE STATE WILL PROVIDE ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR COMMUNITY KNOW WE'RE WORKING 24/7 TO CARE FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR SENIORS, CHILDREN, AND THOSE MOST IN NEED, ESPECIALLY NOW AS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING THROUGH THE HIGH COST OF HEALTHCARE.
THERE'S SO MANY SAN ANTONIANS THAT HAVE COME TO US TALKING ABOUT HEALTHCARE.
THESE ITEMS ARE ABOUT HEALTH AND JOBS. TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT FROM OUR COMMUNITIES. CLAUDE AND HIS TEAM AT METRO HEALTH WILL PUT THESE 18 GRANTS AND THE 1115 WAIVER PROGRAM TO GOOD USE ADDRESSING IMMUNIZATIONS, DENTAL HEALTH, DIABETES PREVENTION, HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AS WELL AS MANY THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED LIKE MAKING SURE SOMETHING SO BASIC AS MILK IS
[00:40:05]
SAFE TO DRINK. KEEPING TABS ON FLU CASES ACROSS THE CITY AND THAT HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE UP TO DATE ON THE SPREAD OF DISEASES. THIS WILL ADDRESS TEEN PREGNANCY AND WORKING TO ENSURE THAT HEALTH SERVICES ARE BASED ON EQUITY NOT INCOME.HEALTHCARE IS IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PART OF TOWN YOU LIVE IN.
SAN ANTONIO IS A TOWN THAT LOOKS AFTER EACH OTHER AND THAT BEGINS WITH FAMILY AND AUDIO]. IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE WOMEN AND MEN WHO WORK TO KEEP
US HEALTHY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR ITEM 8. PLEASE VOTE.
WHY DON'T WE GET A VOICE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NOW, HEATHER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD. I KNOW YOU ARE HERE TO HELP US RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY BLACK HISTORY MONTH BUT A VERY IMPORTANT ARTISTIC GUEST THAT WE HAVE
HERE. HEATHER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG, OUR HONORABLE COUNCIL PERSONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT'S AN HONOR TO STAND HERE TODAY BEFORE YOU FOR THIS COUNCIL SESSION AS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM TO TALK ABOUT THE CELEBRATION, THE JOY, AND JUBILATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AS YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW, THIS YEAR'S THEME IS AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE ARTS, WHICH TO ME IS QUITE SYMBOLIC OF THE METHOD OUR ANCESTORS HAVE ALWAYS USED TO HELP US MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY.
FOR CENTURIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE USED THE ARTS TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY AND TO TRANSCEND OUR CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TIMES IN BOTH GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES, THROUGH JOYOUS CELEBRATIONS, AND THROUGH THE DEPTHS OF GRIEF. WE HAVE USED SONGS, STORIES, POEMS, AND PROSE TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE DARKEST HOURS OF OUR THROUGHOUT, THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WORDS, BOTH SPOKEN AND WRITTEN, TOLD AND THEN RETOLD , WHICH HELP US TO -- HOLD US, I SHOULD SAY, ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR PAST AND GIVE US HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. WE HAVE EMBRACED AND HELD DEAR THOSE STORIES AND WRITINGS, LIKE THOSE FROM THE FORMERLY ENSLAVED BUT WORLD-RENOWNED AMERICAN SOCIAL REFORMER, ABOLITIONIST FREDERICK DOUGLASS, A GROUND BREAKER OF HIS TIME. WE HAVE CLUNG TO THE WORDS OF A FORMERLY ENSLAVED YOUNG WOMAN BY THE NAME OF PHYLLIS WHEATLEY. THEY SAID SHE COULDN'T, WOULDN'T, THEY SAID SHE SHOULDN'T, BUT SHE DID. IN HER PROFOUND DISDAIN FOR THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY AND WITH HER USE OF ART TO UNDERMINE ITS PRACTICE, HER POETIC WORKS WILL LIVE IN INFAMY. LATER IN HISTORY THE YOUNG BROOKS WAS THE FIRST BLACK POET TO WIN THE PRIZE. JUST RECENTLY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WE WERE GRACED WITH THE CHARISMA AND WISDOM OF NONE OTHER THAN THE AWARD-WINNING POET, MS. NICKI GIOVANNI.
HER POLITICAL POETRY WORKED TO UPLIFT THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN THE ARTS AS A PART OF THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT. WHAT AN INDELIBLE FORCE SHE IS. LOCALLY WE HAVE ONE OF OUR OWN ACCOMPLISHED 2020-2023 POET LAUREATE. YOU ALL KNOW HER, VOCAB SANDERSON. AND ALL SHE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SAN ANTONIO ARTS AND CULTURE WILL LIVE IN I IN INFAMY. BECAUSE THIS LIST MERELY SCRATCHES THE SURFACE OF THOSE WHOSE WORDS, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT HAVE PROVIDED US ALL WITH STRENGTH, COMFORT, AND HOPE. THEIR MESSAGE IS UNIFORM IN THAT WE ALL DESERVE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. I SINCERELY THANK EACH OF YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO SHARE A SNIPPET OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE ARTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND DEFINITELY SHARING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE SOUTH TEXAS REGION AT SAAACAM'S NEW HOME ON HOUSTON STREET. I'LL SEE YOU IN THE HISTORY
[00:45:01]
BOOKS. I WANT TO ALSO INTRODUCE TO YOU TODAY HERE WITH ME IS MS. GLOW MILES. YES. [APPLAUSE] WHOSE PASSION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND SPOKEN WORD IS CLEARLY EVIDENCED BY THE MANY WORKS SHE HAS PRODUCED. SHE CO-FOUNDED SAN ANTONIO'S OWN SECOND VERSE, WHICH WAS NAMED THE BEST OPEN MIC PRODUCTION IN THE NATION BY THE NATIONAL POETRY AWARDS .AND SHE HAS MANY OTHER ITERATIONS OF SPOKEN WORD ACHIEVEMENTS.
I BRING TO YOU MS. GLOW MILES. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. GOD IS A GREAT AND OMNIPOTENT BEING. LOVED US SO MUCH, SENT HIS ONLY SON TO BE OUR LIVING AND RISEN KING. HE'S THE GREAT I AM, ALPHA AND OMEGA.
HE'S OUR AUTHOR AND CREATOR. HE'S THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE EXISTING THROUGH ALL SPACES IN TIME. THERE'S NOTHING THAT GOD DOESN'T KNOW.
AND LORD KNOWS THAT I'M FINE. HE KNOWS BECAUSE I'M CREATIVELY CRAFTED IN HIS IMAGE.
THERE'S NOTHING TO DISLIKE BECAUSE HE AND I, WE LOOK ALIKE. AND YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY GOES MAY TAKE A MOMENT OR TWO FOR YOU TO COMPUTE BUT LORD KNOWS THAT I'M FINE.
CONCEITED IS WHAT SOME WOULD SAY WHEN THEY HEAR ME TALK LIKE THIS.
I WOULDN'T CALL MYSELF CONCEITED, I WOULD SAY THAT I'M CONVINCED.
CONVINCED THAT I'M ALL THAT HE WOULD HAVE ME TO BE, THOUGHTS OF INTELLECT BUT A SPIRIT WHO SPEAKS POETRY. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT.
REAL BEAUTY BEGINS ON THE INSIDE AND THEN IT WORKS ITS WAY RIGHT ON OUT.
IT STARTS IN THE HEART, THE SOUL, AND THE MIND. I HAVE THE LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE THAT HE GIVES TO ME. AND LORD KNOWS THAT I'M FINE. AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS: I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOR EVER WILL BE A SIZE 6. I MIGHT NOT EVER MAKE THE 50 MOST PEOPLE LIST. AND IF YOU HAVE A PATTERN FOR WHAT YOU DEEM ATTRACTIVE, I MIGHT NOT FIT. BUT ACCORDING TO HIM, I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE SO SAY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY. Y'ALL ARE GOING TO TALK ANYWAY. I'LL JUST GIVE MYSELF A PAT ON THE BACK, IF YOU DON'T MIND. DON'T NEED YOU TO AGREE OR CO-SIGN BECAUSE LORD KNOWS THAT I'M FINE. SO WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? I'M GOING TO KEEP ON A CUTE OUTFIT AND A CUTE PAIR OF HEELS. MY FLIP-FLOPS SAY FASHION. I'M GOING TO WORKOUT TO BECOME HEALTHY, NOT TO BE WHAT YOUR DEFINITION OF BEAUTIFUL IS. I EMBRACE MY IMPERFECTIONS.
CLAIM THEM. LOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE MINE. FROM ALL I GOT GOING ON UP FRONT TO EVERYTHING I GOT I AM DIVA, DIVINE. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, NOW YOU KNOW -- Y'ALL SAY I'M FINE.
>> I'M FINE. >> GOD BLESS YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WO-MAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GLOW AND HEATHER FOR THAT.
I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO CONTINUE TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I'LL KIND OF BLEND TWO TOGETHER AND I'LL START BY SAYING THAT I DON'T KNOW A BLACK PERSON WHO ISN'T AN ARTIST. WHETHER IT'S THE CREATION OF FOOD, JEWELRY, CLOTHES, HAIR CARE, STYLING, POETRY, DANCE, SONG, AND SO MUCH MORE.
ART IS BLACK HISTORY. THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING THAT AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR GIFTS WITH US. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND EVERYTHING WE GOT GOING ON BEHIND.
I RIPPED MY PANTS THIS MORNING TOO. EVERYTHING IS A DISASTER.
EVERYTHING. I WANT TO TODAY WELCOME A SPECIAL GUEST TO INVITES OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND HONOR DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WE WERE ALL DISHEARTENED BY THE CANCELLATION OF THE MARCH LAST MONTH DUE TO FREEZING AND DANGER WEATHER. WE WERE UP AT 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 IN THE MORNING TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN BUT WE'RE DISAPPOINTED.
THIS WEEKEND WE ARE EXCITED TO INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE MLK COMMISSION TO CELEBRATE WORKING BEYOND THE MARCH ON SATURDAY FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M. ALL DAY AND SUNDAY FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. THE CELEBRATION WILL BE A TIME OF CONNECTION THROUGH RESOURCES FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND WILL INCLUDE MUSIC, YOUTH ACTIVITIES, AND PLENTY OF FOOD. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE AND I'D LOVE TO INVITE OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COMMISSION TO COME UP AND SHARE
[00:50:04]
A FEW. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, MY FAVORITE REPRESENTATIVE, JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ IN D2, WE ARE SO PLEASED TO INVITE YOU OUT THIS WEEKEND TO CELEBRATE WITH US. I KNOW CANCELING THE MARCH WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISION THAT I'VE HAD TO MAKE. I COULD FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THE CITY ON MY SHOULDERS BECAUSE I KNOW HOW PRECIOUS AND DEAR THE MARCH IS TO ALL OF US. AND SO IT IS WITH PLEASURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY AND BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE IN UNITY WITH OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE WANT TO PUBLICLY INVITE EACH OF YOU TO COME JOIN US ON SATURDAY AND ON SUNDAY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHURCH IN THE PARK, MAYOR.
I KNOW YOU LIKE CHURCH SO YOU CAN HANG OUT BOTH DAYS. SO OUR COUNCILMAN HAS SO ELOQUENTLY TOLD YOU THE TIMES, WHICH IS 11:00 TO 8:00 ON SATURDAY.
11:00 TO 6:00 ON SUNDAY. IT'S GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FUN AREA FOR OUR KIDS TO ENGAGE IN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE ABLE TO DO THE YOUTH ZONE.
SO WE'VE POURED A LOT OF ENERGY INTO DOING THAT AND BRINGING SOME THINGS FUN FOR OUR KIDS.
AND WE HAVE SO MUCH ENTERTAINMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND RESOURCES.
AND WE WANT YOU GUYS TO BE OUT THERE TO TAKE PART IN EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE WORKED TO DO.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. GUESS WHAT.
IT'S GOING TO BE 80 DEGREES SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. I'M OVER THE MOON.
I WANT TO YIELD TO MY THANK YOU, DEBORAH. I FEEL SOME KIND OF WAY ABOUT STANDING BEHIND THIS MIC THIS MORNING AFTER THESE WONDERFUL AND POWERFUL WOMEN THAT CAME AND SPOKE.
SO I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AND ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK IN THE HISTORIC DAY THAT WE HAVE. MAYOR NIRENBERG TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND TO MY COUNCILMAN, JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE CHAIR OF THE ML KING COMMISSION AND THE COUNCILMAN STATED IT REALLY WELL IT WAS NOT EASY TO CANCEL THE MARCH. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU AND TO OUR ENTIRE CITY. HOWEVER, THE CONDITIONS WERE NOT SAFE.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DEBORAH TO ANNOUNCE EVERYTHING FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE VERY CLEAR THAT WE DID NOT CANCEL THE MARCH BECAUSE IT WAS COLD.
WE CANCELED THE MARCH BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS WERE NOT SAFE. I PERSONALLY GOT IN MY CAR AND DROVE OVER THAT MORNING TO THE START OF THE MARCH, WHICH WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING ACADEMY.
AND COMING ACROSS THE FREEDOM BRIDGE IT WAS ICED. IT WAS TOTALLY ICED.
GOT A CALL FROM THIS YOUNG LADY THAT MORNING THAT SAID MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE WAS ICED.
AND THEN I WENT UP TO THE PARK AFTERWARDS AND UP AT THE PARK OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAM CHAIR WAS UP THERE AND SHE SAID THE FOLKS THAT WERE UP THERE THAT WERE WORKING THE STAGE, THERE WAS ICE ON THE STAGE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED A SINGLE PERSON ON THAT STAGE.
SO WE DID WHAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY. WE THANK YOU FOR THE GRACE THAT WE CONTINUE TO GET FROM THE COUNCIL.CO BUT WE'RE ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD VERY MANY, IF ANY COMPLAINTS AT ALL.
MOST PEOPLE WERE GRACIOUS AND THEY WERE VERY UNDERSTANDING. BUT REST ASSURED THAT IN 2025 WE WILL BE MARCHING. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING. MS. DENISE LUCKY HAS SOMETHING FOR EACH OF YOU ALL FROM ONE OF OUR ACTIVITIES THAT WE DID THIS YEAR.
AND BE REMINDED THAT WE HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUCCESS IN OUR OTHER ACTIVITIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING WITH YOU AGAIN TO CELEBRATE THE YOUTH THAT WILL BE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS.
THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILMAN. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR US.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE THIS WEEKEND.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALSO A QUICK THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR CALLING ATTENTION TO THIS EVENT. I DID WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING MS. MILES FOR THAT. THAT WAS AMAZING. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BORROW THE LINE I'M NOT CONCEITED, I'M CONVINCED. I LOVE IT.
[00:55:04]
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR ENERGY WITH US TODAY. MY TEAM AND I WERE REALLY SAD WHEN THE MLK MARCH WAS CANCELED BUT WE UNDERSTOOD THE SAFETY COMPONENT SO I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT CALL. WE DO HAVE OUR MONTHLY COFFEE WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN THIS SATURDAY BUT WE'LL MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND AFTER OUR COFFEE AND WE'LL SEE YOU THERE.THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
ALL RIGHT. AND, GLOW, YOU WERE AMAZING. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HEATHER ALSO FOR THE REMINDER, IF NOTHING ELSE, OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT SAAACAM IS DOING AND WHAT A BRIGHT FUTURE IT HAS IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROJECT TOO. OKAY. I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR NOW
TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT DISTRICT 5 IS WE HAVE MANY CULTURAL TIES THAT MAKE SAN ANTONIO THE GREAT UNIQUE MEXICAN AMERICAN CITY THAT IT IS. MANY OF US KNOW THAT THE TEJANO CONJUNTO FESTIVAL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND EVERY YEAR THE YOU KNOW CULTURAL ARTS CENTER HAS A POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION . THIS WEEK THEY ANNOUNCED THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER WHOSE ART WILL BE THIS YEAR'S OFFICIAL POSTER FOR THE FESTIVAL. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD INVITE THEM TO OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO TALK ABOUT THE FESTIVAL AND THE ART PIECE AS WE FEEL.
CONJUNTO IS A SOUTH TEXAS ORIGINAL STYLE OF MUSIC AND FOLKS LIKE CHRISTINA AND SO MANY OTHERS PUT IN EFFORT TO PRESERVE AND CONTINUE TO PROMOTE OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE.
THE FACT THAT THIS FESTIVAL IS ALWAYS AT ROSEDALE PARK CONTINUES TO SHOW US HOW THE DISTRICT 5 IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO DANCE. SO TODAY WE HAVE INVITED CHRISTINA TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO SHARE ABOUT THE CONJUNTO FESTIVAL AND THE POSTER
AS WELL. >> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING COMING UP AT ROSEDALE PARK IN MAY. FIRST I WANT TO, THOUGH, BEFORE I GO INTO THAT, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CONGRATULATE SAAACAM AND THE COMMITTEE FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING MARCH FOR THEIR EFFORTS. AND TALK ABOUT JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE'RE ALL CONNECTED, CULTURALLY. TEJANO MUSIC, I'M HERE REPRESENTING TEJANO MUSIC SOUTH TEXAS, NORTHERN MEXICAN MUSIC. BUT IT DEFINITELY HAS THE AFRO INDIGENOUS INFLUENCE. WE CAN'T HAVE TEJANO MUSIC WITHOUT WE'RE DEFINITELY ALL CONNECTED WORLDWIDE AND WE LIVE THESE INFLUENCES DAILY .
WE ARE IN FULL PROMOTION MODE OF THE CONJUNTO FESTIVAL WHICH WILL BE MAY 17 THROUGH 19 AT ROSEDALE PARK. IT'S ALWAYS ON THE THIRD WEEKEND OF MAY.
WE ALWAYS LAUNCH A POSTER CONTEST AND YOU ARE SEEING THE WINNING ENTRY HERE FOR THIS YEAR. THE POSTER CONTEST HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 42 YEARS AND THIS YEAR'S WINNER IS A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE WHO IS A GRADUATE COLLEGE STUDENT AT ST. MARY OF THE WOODS UNIVERSITY. SHE'S GETTING A GRADUATE DEGREE IN ART THERAPY.
HER NAME IS ANNA AND SHE IS A GRADUATE OF ST. ANTHONY HIGH SCHOOL AND THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT WE HAVE THIS POSTER CONTEST ENTRIES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND OPEN LEVELS. AND ANA ENTERED WHEN SHE WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN 2012 AND SHE WON THE TOP SELECTION THAT YEAR. AND THEN SHE WON AGAIN IN 2015 AS THE HIGH SCHOOL TOP SELECTION. AND NOW THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT SHE ENTERS AND SHE WON THE GRAND ENTRY. SO WE WILL HAVE THIS IMAGE REPRESENTING THE CONTEST WHERE WE EXPECT OVER 10,000 PEOPLE TO DESCEND UPON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
NOT JUST FROM SAN ANTONIO BUT FROM THE ENTIRE STATE, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE WHAT I CALL THE TEJANO DIASPORA COME INTO TOWN TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR CULTURE AND ROOTS. WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM MEXICO COME, A LOT FROM MONTERREY AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR EUROPEAN FRIENDS COME FROM THE NETHERLANDS AND EVEN FROM ASIA FROM JAPAN. SAN ANTONIO BECOMES AN INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION AT THAT TIME AND WE INVITE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US. AGAIN, THE THIRD WEEKEND IN MAY
AT ROSEDALE PARK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. I WANTED TO THANK THE SAN ANTONIO PARKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE'S NO MORE PURO PARK THAN ROSEDALE. IT'S WHERE THE NB RIDERS PLAY
[01:00:07]
WHEN THEY COME INTO TOWN. THANK YOU, CHRISTINA AND THE GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I GREW UP GOING TO THIS FESTIVAL SO I'M SO EXCITED.
I ALWAYS LIKE THE QUESTION WHAT IS YOUR FIRST CONCERT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'LL BE JOINING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CHRISTINA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND TO ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AT THE GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO AND DO WITH SO FEW RESOURCES IN THIS COMMUNITY, YOU DO SO MUCH. AND THIS FESTIVAL, TO ME IN ROSEDALE, SIGNALS THE ACTUAL START OF SUMMER. IT'S A MONTH AWAY BUT IT'S BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER PERIOD.
SCHOOL IS OUT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRISTINA.
I'M GOING TO TURN NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
TODAY I'M HONORED TO CELEBRATE DR. BELINDA ROMAN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT ST.
MARY'S UNIVERSITY. SHE HAS BEEN ON THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS THESE LAST FEW WEEKS FOR HER ACCURATE PREDICTIONS IN THE U.S. ECONOMY. I THINK COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA CITED HER LAST WEEK AT OUR COUNCIL MEETING. ON FEBRUARY 3 THE WALL STREET JOURNAL WROTE AN ARTICLE NAMING HER THE MOST ACCURATE FORECASTER OF THE 2023 ECONOMY.
SHE WAS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF 71 ECONOMISTS WHO WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL'S QUARTERLY OUTLOOK SURVEY AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR.
ASIDE FROM THIS NATIONAL RECOGNITION, DR. RAMON IS A VERY ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN AND AS A FELLOW LATINA UNIVERSITY FOR 13 YEARS NOW. IN ADDITION TO HER WORK AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS, SHE ALSO RECEIVES THE MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM AT ST. MARY'S AND SERVES AS THE LEAD ECONOMIST FOR HER CONSULTING. SHE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR PAY EQUITY, PARTICULARLY AMONGST FEMALES AND OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS. SHE HAS TOUTED IMMIGRATION AS A POTENTIAL ECONOMIC ASSET, TAKING A STANCE THAT ISN'T ALWAYS POPULAR IN TEXAS' POLITICAL LANDSCAPE BUT IS RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE DIVERSE AND RICH CULTURAL MAKEUP OF OUR STATE. DR. RAMON, WE ARE ALSO PROUD OF YOUR LATEST ACHIEVEMENT AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR SAN ANTONIO, FOR ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY, AND FOR DISTRICT 7. CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY TO LET US CELEBRATE YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL CALLED ME TO TELL ME WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AS I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE TODAY, I AM REMINDED THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A CULTURAL PROJECT, A HISTORICAL PROJECT, AND WE ARE ALSO AN INTELLECTUAL PROJECT AND WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND WHAT WE CAN DO. I POSITION SAN ANTONIO IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL MY WORK BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A MODEL TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
DR. ROMAN, DON'T MOVE. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU,
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I READ THE WALL STREET JOURNAL THAT SAN ANTONIO WAS SO WELL REPRESENTED IN ECONOMICS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC. YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE US HOPE AND I KNOW THAT WE MET A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER ZOOM. I'LL BE CALLING YOU BECAUSE I WILL BE WORKING ON A COMMITTEE ON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND IT'S GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND SO I'D LOVE TO USE SOME OF YOUR NUMBERS SO THAT I CAN SHARE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES NATIONWIDE.
THAT'S COMING UP OVER SPRING BREAK. I ALSO ASKED ERIK WALSH IF WE USED YOU AS AN ADVISER FOR OUR BUDGET FORECAST BECAUSE YOU'RE SO ACCURATE.
I SAID WE REALLY NEED TO BE LISTENING TO HER AND SEEING IF WE CAN USE HER MORE OFTEN.
IF YOU GET ADDITIONAL WORK, I'M SORRY. IT'S ALL MY FAULT.
CONGRATULATIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
DR. ROMAN, THIS IS A TRULY REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT, NOT JUST FOR YOU PERSONALLY BUT IT PUTS A GREAT SPOTLIGHT ON SAN ANTONIO. I'M HEARTENED BY THE FACT THAT WHENEVER I SEE YOU YOU'RE ALWAYS VERY HAPPY. WHICH, AS AN ECONOMIST, I TAKE AS A SIGN. SO STAY HAPPY AND PLEASE DO PROVIDE US YOUR GUIDANCE AND
ADVICE WHEREVER YOU CAN. >> ABSOLUTELY. AS LONG AS I DON'T HAVE ONE ARM BEHIND MY BACK, YOU'RE OKAY. I WANTED TO ALSO THANK ERICA BECAUSE SHE TOOK AN EARLY
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INTEREST IN MY CAREER AND HAS GIVEN ME A LOT OF SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, DR. ROMAN. OKAY.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO GET INTO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA. WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM LEFT SO
WE'LL TURN NOW TO ITEM 8. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 8 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FOLLOWING CONTRACTS ESTABLISHING UNIT PRICES FOR GOODS AND SERVICES FOR AN ESTIMATED COST OF $546,800 IN YEAR ONE AND $581,748 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER INCLUDED IN THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2024 ADOPTED BUDGET. A, SMITH PRINT 2, INC., CAPITAL PRINTING COMPANY, LIMITED, CLEAR VISIONS AND RUSH AMERICAN PRINTING, INC. FOR SUPPLEMENTAL PRINTING SERVICES. B, XELA RESOURCES AND CONTRACTING, INC. FOR PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES FOR ICE AND WATER DISPENSERS. C, GO APRON, INC. FOR A GATE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE SOLUTION FOR AVIATION AND, D, KNIGHTSCOPE, INC. FOR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES FOR AN AUTONOMOUS SECURITY ROBOT FOR AVIATION .
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I DON'T THINK A PRESENTATION IS NECESSARY SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 8 AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO DISCUSSION. OKAY.
THERE'S A MOTION. WAS THERE A SECOND? SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO.
8. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
THERE'S JUST ONE PART OF THE ITEM THAT I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT AND JUST SO MY COLLEAGUES ARE CLEAR WHAT I WANT TO DO. I WANT TO SEPARATE ITEM D OUT OF IT SO THAT I CAN VOTE NO ON THAT. SPECIFICALLY IT'S A CONTRACT WITH -- TO A SUBSCRIPTION WITH KNIGHTSCOPE. TO START OFF IT'S AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS AND THE ROBOTS' PRESENCE RAISE CONCERN ABOUT PRIVACY AND RACIAL PROFILING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S A FOUNDATIONAL CONCERN I HAVE WITH THESE ROBOTS AND DEVICES.
I BELIEVE WE'RE OPENING A DOOR THAT SHOULD REMAIN CLOSED. MANY OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE PURCHASED THESE DEVICES FROM KNIGHTSCOPE WITH A GOAL TO BE INNOVATIVE BUT THEY HAVE PROVEN INEFFECTIVE AND IN MANY CASES DANGEROUS, LEADING THEM TO END THEIR CONTRACTS.
FOR EXAMPLE IN 2016 A KNIGHTSCOPE ROBOT KNOCKED OVER AND RAN OVER A TODDLER.
IN 2019 A ROBOT RAN INTO A WATER FOUNTAIN. A ROBOT IGNORED A WOMAN WHO CAME TO IT ASKING FOR HELP AND IT MERELY TOLD HER TO STEP ASIDE. NYPD ENDED THEIR CONTRACT BECAUSE THEIR ROBOTS WEREN'T EFFECTIVE AND LEADING TO THE SAME CONCERNS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I MOVE TO SEPARATE ITEM D TO VOTE ON THAT AS A SEPARATE ITEM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR SEPARATION OF D FROM THE OTHERS SO IT CAN BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY. WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION FIRST. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION?
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I GUESS I JUST WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT.
IS THERE ANY INFORMATION ON ITEM D THAT Y'ALL CAN PRESENT? >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JESUS SAENZ, DIRECTOR OF AIRPORT, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE INFORMATION, AS WE'RE REFERENCING THE KNIGHTSCOPE PILOT PROGRAM. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE UTILIZE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE AIRPORT.
THIS IS ONE THAT'S BEING INTRODUCED. WE WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST AIRPORTS TO UTILIZE THIS AS WELL. IT'S A PILOTED PROGRAM.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE UTILIZED FOR SURVEILLANCE. THIS IS NOT TO SURVEILLANCE INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS A RESPONSE TO DOOR ALARMS THAT OCCUR AT THE AIRPORT. DAILY WE HAVE DOOR ALARMS THAT ARE OPENED INAPPROPRIATELY, INACCURATELY BY ACCIDENT. AND IT REQUIRES A RESPONSE BASED ON THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO TO MAINTAIN AN OVERALL SECURITY POSTURE OF THE AIRPORT.
SO OUR INTENTIONS OF WANTING TO PILOT THIS PROGRAM -- IT'S A SUBSCRIPTION THAT CAN BE TERMINATED AT ANY MOMENT. IT IS TO ATTEMPT TO UTILIZE THE KNIGHTSCOPE ROBOT IN SECURE AREAS ONLY TO RESPOND TO DOORS OPENED INAPPROPRIATELY AT THE AIRPORT AND COMMUNICATE IN REALTIME SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WITH OUR COMMAND CENTER TO IDENTIFY, THROUGH THE BADGE, AND COORDINATE AND ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS GONE INTO THAT AREA IS ALLOWED TO BE IN
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THAT AREA. THINGS HAPPEN, THEY'RE NOT PERFECT AND FROM OUR STANDPOINT IT ALLOWS US TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, MORE EFFECTIVE, AND IMPROVES THE OVERALL SECURITYPOSTURE OF THE AIRPORT. >> HAVRDA: HOW IS IT RESPONDING?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE IN THOSE AREAS NEAR THE DOORS WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST FREQUENTLY-OPENED
DOORS. >> HAVRDA: HOW DOES IT RESPOND WHEN THERE'S AN OPEN DOOR?
>> SAENZ: IT IS AUTONOMOUS. IT WILL MOVE ON ITS OWN. IT WILL IDENTIFY ITSELF.
THERE WILL BE A COMMAND CENTER INDIVIDUAL COMMUNICATING, AS YOU DO ON A CELL PHONE, WITH THE INDIVIDUAL. IT WILL HAVE A CAMERA TO LOOK AT THE BADGE TO ENSURE THAT THE VALIDATION IS CORRECT OFF THE BADGE THAT'S THERE AND COMMUNICATE BACK.
AS WE STARTED AND WE BEGIN THE PROCESS, IT WILL BE STAFFED WITH AN EMPLOYEE OF THE AIRPORT SECURITY TEAM TO ENSURE THAT IT IS WORKING APPROPRIATELY AND GET EVERYONE -- THE PEOPLE WHO GO
THROUGH THESE DOORS ARE BADGED EMPLOYEES. >> HAVRDA: IS IT PUBLIC-FACING
AT ALL? >> SAENZ: IT WILL NOT BE UTILIZED IN THE PUBLIC.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE SECURE AREA. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.
THANK YOU. >> SAENZ: YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS SET UP, YOU KNOW, INNOVATION DISTRICTS OR INNOVATION ZONES. WE HAVE ONE DOWNTOWN. WE HAD ONE IN THE MEDICAL CENTER. WE GOT ONE AT BROOKS. AND THE CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE PAST EIGHT YEARS ON TOP OF INNOVATION IS TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO -- MULTIPLE PLACES IN SAN ANTONIO APPROVING GROUNDS FOR TECHNOLOGY. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A DISCUSSION ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE AIRPORT IS ALSO A PROVING GROUND FOR TECHNOLOGY.
IN ORDER TO INNOVATE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO USE AS A LIVING LABORATORY.
THE AIRPORT IS THE IDEAL PLACE. COUNCILMAN WHYTE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ERIK AND I THINK YOUR TEAM ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AUTONOMOUS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT MACHINES.
BIG SORT OF, OF, YOU KNOW, ROBOS THAT GO AND CUT GRASS WHERE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE CUTTING GRASS.
AND THE IDEAL PLACE FOR THAT WOULD BE AT THE AIRPORT. WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING THAT IDEA TO YOU AS WELL. AND SO I DON'T SEE THIS TOO MUCH DIFFERENT IF IT STAYS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE PROVING GROUND IDEA THAT YOU'VE GOT. YOU'VE GOT MY SUPPORT.
>> SAENZ: YES, SIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
JESUS, WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW WITH THESE INCIDENTS, THESE DOORS?
>> SAENZ: TODAY WE HAVE WHAT IS REFERENCED AS AN AIRPORT SECURITY PLAN IN ACCORDANCE TO FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON 1540 AND 1542. WHAT THAT MEANS, COUNCILMEMBER, IS WE HAVE TO RESPOND WHEN ONE OF THOSE ALARMS IS INITIATED AT THOSE DOORS.
SO ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS MUST RESPOND TO THAT DOOR TO ENSURE THAT SOMEONE IS THERE.
IF WE'RE ABLE TO PILOT THIS PROGRAM, IT ALLOWS US TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND UTILIZE TECHNOLOGIES TO IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS INAPPROPRIATELY PUSHED THE DOOR ALARM THAT'S THERE. AND WE HAVE CAMERAS IN MANY DIFFERENT AREAS.
I WILL SHARE WITH YOU YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW MUCH INFORMATION I SHARE.
WE HAVE 1520, WHICH IS SECURITY-SENSITIVE INFORMATION. WE'RE NOT HERE TO EXPOSE AND TELL EVERYONE EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE THAT'S OUR OVERALL SECURITY POSTURE IN WHAT WE DO THERE AS WELL. WE RESPOND TO THOSE DOORS WITH AIRPORT PERSONNEL IS HOW WE
HANDLE THAT TODAY. >> COURAGE: OKAY. AND SO THIS WOULD BE USING A ROBOT. HOW DOES THAT ENVISION WORKING? IS IT GOING TO BE A MECHANICAL DEVICE THAT WILL GO FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER WHEN THIS OCCURS?
>> SAENZ: IN THE SECURE AREA THAT ROBOT WOULD BE STRATEGICALLY PLACED IN THE DOORS THAT ARE MOST FREQUENTLY, INADVERTENTLY OR ACCIDENTALLY ALARMED.
WE WILL HAVE THAT ROBOT POSITIONED THERE. ROBOT'S NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING UNLESS IT'S TOLD TO DO SOMETHING. IT WILL RESPOND AS NECESSARY.
AS WE BEGIN THE PILOTED PROGRAM, IT WILL HAVE AN AIRPORT PERSONNEL FOR THE BEGINNING TO
SEE HOW THINGS WORK. >> COURAGE:
THIS? >> SAENZ: WELL, I THINK THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS IT'S BEING UTILIZED FOR SURVEILLANCE AND THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S BEING UTILIZED FOR.
FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE HAVE DIFFERENT PROCESSES, PROCEDURES, CON-OPS, ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO TO ENSURE THE OVERALL SECURITY OF THE AIRPORT, OF WHICH I CAN GO INTO DETAIL BUT WILL NOT
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HERE, FROM THAT STANDPOINT. THE ROBOT'S NOT HERE TO RESPOND -- I'M SORRY.SO SURVEILLANCE ANY OF THE PUBLIC OR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE SECURE AREA.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS FOR. >> COURAGE: OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> SAENZ: YES, SIR. >> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, IF I MAY. I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT BUT THE DISCUSSION SHOULD FOCUS ON WHETHER IT'S SEPARATE D FROM 8 AND NOT ON THE MERITS OF D.
I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT BUT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I'VE GOT SOME COMMENTS ON THE GENERAL TOPIC.
YOU WANT ME TO SAVE THOSE? >> SEGOVIA: AGAIN, COUNCILMAN, THE COMMENTS ARE EITHER IN SUPPORT OF D OR NOT IN SUPPORT OF D. I WOULD WAIT FOR THOSE UNTIL THE
ITEM IS SEPARATED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHY DON'T WE, BECAUSE THERE'S LITTLE SEPARATION, WHY DON'T WE JUST HAVE ONE DISCUSSION ON THE WHOLE THING AND DO THE SEPARATE VOTES.
WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT? >> SEGOVIA: YES, MAYOR. THAT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: SO THE REASON WE WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM IS BECAUSE I SHARE SOME OF COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF ROBOTS. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT MY CONCERNS WERE REALLY PUT TO BED AND THAT'S THANKS TO YOU, JESUS, AND YOUR TEAM AND JEFF.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WE'VE HAD A BUNCH OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT Y'ALL HAVE GIVEN ME.
THERE'S BEEN A BUNCH OF NEWS REPORTS, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, AROUND THE COUNTRY ABOUT USE OF THESE ROBOTS THAT HAVE FRANKLY JUST GONE WRONG. THAT'S WHY WE REACHED OUT TO YOU TO SAY WHY ARE WE DOING THIS. AND WHAT I HEARD IS THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW INSTANCES EVERY YEAR -- IN THE THOUSANDS -- WHERE WE HAVE THESE AND AIRPORT PERSONNEL OR VENDORS OR WHOEVER WHERE SECURITY PERSONNEL HAVE TO RESPOND TO IT.
SO THIS IS TAKING A LOT OF MAN HOURS. AND THE USE OF THIS ROBOT IS SPECIFICALLY GOING TO BE LIMITED, AS WE DISCUSSED, TO THESE PARTICULAR CALLS.
AND SO AS YOU HAVE SAID, THESE ROBOTS WILL NOT BE SURVEILLING THE PUBLIC.
AND THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I KNOW MY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 10 ARE CERTAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. IN TERMS OF COST, WE'VE SORT OF DONE SOME MATH AND COST AND EXPENSE IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO ME.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO COST US A LITTLE BIT MORE IN YEAR ONE BUT THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS DOWN THE ROAD IF THE USE OF THIS ROBOT IS SUCCESSFUL.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE THERE'S NO SURVEILLANCE OF THE PUBLIC HERE, I CAN SUPPORT IT.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I'M HAPPY WITH HOW THE CONTRACT ON THIS ONE WAS DRAFTED.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPT OUT OF THIS CONTRACT EVEN 30 DAYS AFTER IT'S BEGUN IF WE FIND OUT THAT THIS PROCESS ISN'T WORKING. AND SO THAT IS GREAT.
ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE IS ABOUT THE DATA THAT THIS ROBOT COLLECTS.
WHERE DOES THAT GO? WHO SEES IT? WHO STORES THE DATA?
>> SAENZ: THE BEST I CAN GIVE YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, IS IT IS A SECURITY-SENSITIVE INFORMATION OF WHAT WE HAVE. AND FROM OUR STANDPOINT IT IS ABOUT THE OVERALL PROTECTION OF THE AIRPORT. SO THAT DATA WILL REMAIN WITH OUR SECURITY DEPARTMENT.
THE ENTIRE TEAM IS HERE IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THAT.
AND WE WANT TO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. BUT THAT INFORMATION IS FOR
AIRPORT PERSONNEL, AIRPORT SECURITY PERSONNEL ONLY. >> WHYTE: AND THERE'S NO PLANS IN THE WORKS, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM AT THE AIRPORT TO DO ANY SORT OF OTHER SURVEILLANCE. WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THIS LIMITED SCOPE, RIGHT?
>> ONE OF OUR CORE VALUES OF THE CITY BEING INNOVATION. THIS IS AN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AS WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, DOES WORK AND I HOPE THAT THIS DOES MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT AND SAVE US SOME MONEY DOWN THE LINE. SO I'M IN SUPPORT. WITH RESPECT TO THE MOTION TO
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SEPARATE ITEM D, YOU KNOW, AS A COURTESY TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE REQUESTED THAT, I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE SEPARATION. BUT, AGAIN, OVERALL I'M INSUPPORT. THANKS. >> SAENZ: THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. THIS, AGAIN, IS THE DISCUSSION ON THE WHOLE ITEM. SO DON'T NEED TO KEEP IT RESTRAINED TO JUST THE MOTION TO SEPARATE. SO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, JESUS FOR ADDRESSING SOME OF MY CONCERNS THROUGH CONVERSATION. FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS REPORTED TWO DAYS AGO THAT NYPD PULLED THEIR LICENSE FOR THE ROBOT WITHIN THE USE OF THEIR SUBWAYS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FIND IT TO BE EFFICIENT OR WORK IN THE WAY THAT THEY INTENDED IT TO WORK. SO I KNOW THE COUNCILMAN CITED OTHER EXAMPLES OF THEM BEING INEFFECTIVE. HOWEVER, HEARING THAT IT WON'T BE PUBLIC-FACING EASES SOME OF MY CONCERNS. BUT HEARING THE DISCUSSION, ONE THING THAT DOES CONCERN ME IS WILL THIS BE REPLACING THE EMPLOYEES? RIGHT NOW WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN, IS THERE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO GOES OUT TO THAT DOOR AND WILL THIS EVENTUALLY BE REPLACING SOMEONE'S JOB TO TACKLE THESE ISSUES? THAT'S A CONCERN I HAVE. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS IS THERE AN INDIVIDUAL, AN EMPLOYEE
CURRENTLY RESPONDING TO OPEN DOORS? >> SAENZ: THERE IS, COUNCILMEMBER. THE ASSURANCE WE PROVIDE TO YOU IS THIS IS TO SUPPLEMENT OUR OVERALL SECURITY POSTURE. IN OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND IN A MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MANNER AND IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER. SO WE HAVE X NUMBER OF PERSONNEL THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO THOSE EFFORTS, OF WHICH A LARGE PORTION ARE FALSE ALARMS. AND SO WE WANT TO POSITION OUR PERSONNEL TO RESPOND WHERE NECESSARY.
AND WHEN WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES.
THERE'S HUMAN ERROR INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. WE'RE INCREDIBLY TECHNICAL AT THE AIRPORT. WE WANT TO UTILIZE OUR STAFF WHERE IT'S MOST NECESSARY.
THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO OUR STAFF TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO IMPROVE OUR EFFICIENCY AND OUR EFFECTIVENESS AND RESPONSE TIME TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WHEN WE STRATEGICALLY PLACE THIS ROBOT IN DOOR POSITIONS THAT ARE MOST FREQUENTLY IMPACTED, IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THOSE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
AS I STATED, AND BEING COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT WITH YOU, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WITH IT AS WE START UP, AND SEE HOW IT WORKS AND SEE HOW THINGS GO.
IF IT ADDRESSES IT AND HELPS TO CREATE MORE COMMUNICATION TO OUR BADGEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THEY ARE UTILIZING THE APPROPRIATE CODES TO GET THROUGH DOORS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF LONG TERM TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DOOR ALARMS, JOB ACCOMPLISHED. WE'RE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FALSE ALARMS AND ALLOWING OUR EXISTING PERSONNEL TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE ARE NOT REDUCING OUR PERSONNEL STAFF BECAUSE WE'RE >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, THAT'S HELPFUL. I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP FOLKS EMPLOYED. AND I UNDERSTAND THIS ISN'T THAT, JESUS, BUT IT IS A CONVERSATION IN A NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE BECAUSE IT IS COMING.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE SEPARATION. IT SAYS ROBOT SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES FORVIATION $21,000. IS THAT SUPPOSED TO SAY PER
YEAR? >> SAENZ: THAT'S CORRECT. >> GARCIA: KIND OF LIKE MY COLLEAGUES IN DOING SOME OF THE RESEARCH, THEY ARE LOSING A LOT OF MONEY.
I'M WORRIED WILL THEY BE ABLE TO KEEP UP? >> SAENZ: COUNCILWOMAN, THE BEST I CAN PROVIDE TO YOU, VERY SIMILAR TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO'S COMMENTS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND WE'RE NOT INTRODUCING ALL OF THEM. BUT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT AURORA WHICH HAS BEEN INTRODUCED INTO OUR AIRPORT THAT HELPS THOSE THAT ARE VISIBLY IMPAIRED AND THAT UTILIZE THAT AUGMENTED REALITY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE EVERY DAY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE VISIBLY IMMATERIAL COMPARED TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE AIRPORT, JOB ACCOMPLISHED. WE INTRODUCED SMART RESTROOMS THAT INTRODUCE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR PEOPLE AS WE CLEAN OUR RESTROOMS AND PROVIDE A BETTER RESTROOM EXPERIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT UTILIZE
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OUR AIRPORTS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AUGMENTED REALITY.THIS IS NO DIFFERENT. IF WE FIND WHEN WE START THIS PROCESS IT DOESN'T WORK, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DETERMINE NATURE US. AT THE END OF THE DAY OUR FOCUS IS SECURITY OF THE AIRPORT AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE THAT, WE CAN TERMINATE THE PROJECT BECAUSE NEW YORK KIND OF RAISED THE RED FLAG. CAN YOU TELL ME WHO IS THE
COMPETITION? >> SAENZ: FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE DID THIS REQUEST THROUGH THE CO-OP. SO IT BEST FIT OUR NEEDS REQUIREMENTS.
I UNDERSTAND THE REFERENCE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NEW YORK, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE UTILIZING IT FOR. IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT OPERATION THAT WE'RE
UTILIZING IT FOR AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF IT WORKS. >> GARCIA: DO YOU HAVE DEMONSTRABLE EFFECTS FOR PEERS THAT ARE UTILIZING LIKE OURS OR LIKE WE PLAN TO
UTILIZE IT? >> SAENZ: IT'S UTILIZED IN MANY WAYS THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS IT CAN BE UTILIZED AND I UNDERSTAND THE COMMENTS THAT ARE BEING REFERENCED. FROM OUR STANDPOINT, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS IS TO IMPROVE OUR OVERALL SECURITY POSTURE AND HAVE REALTIME SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IN THE
AREAS WE FEEL WE NEED IT MOST. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO TALK WITH US. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THE PILOT IN GENERAL.
WHAT ARE YOU USING AS A TARGET METRIC FOR WHETHER YOU CONTINUE OR NOT? LIKE IF IT FAILS THREE TIMES OR MISJUDGES SOMEONE, WHAT IS YOUR METRIC?
>> SAENZ: YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE SPECIFIC KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THAT WE MONITOR AND KEEP DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY, YEARLY. FROM OUR STANDPOINT AS WE LOOK AT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN AND AROUND THE AIRPORT ACROSS OUR SECURE AREA, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO DISCLOSE ANY OF THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE IT IS SECURITY-SENSITIVE INFORMATION AND NOT INFORMATION WE WANT TO TELL THE ENTIRE PUBLIC. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS FOR. THIS IS FOR US TO SUPPLEMENT
AND ENHANCE OUR OVERALL SECURITY POSTURE. >> KAUR: UNDERSTOOD.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS SOME -- IS EFFECTIVE OR NOT. DO WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S TRAINED TO PROGRAM AND WILL THERE BE SOMEONE -- IS IT SOMEONE FROM THE COMPANY OR SOMEONE LOCALLY TRAINED TO
OVERSEE AND MANAGE THEM? >> SAENZ: I'LL ASK RYAN TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT WHAT
THAT TRAINING WILL LOOK LIKE. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM UP.
TO YOUR POINT, WE DO HAVE IS OUR OBLIGATION TO SERVICE IT. THINGS LIKE CLEANING THE TIRES, MAKING SURE THE OVERALL POSTURE IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
THEY ALSO DO SERVICE REMOTELY VIA THE INTERNET. BUT THEIR TECHNICIANS WILL BE HERE FOR THE START TO HELP MAKE SURE IT'S SET UP QUICKLY.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO -- CORRECTLY. WE DO HAVE TO PROGRAM IT TO
EACH OF THE DOORS. >> KAUR: ARE THEY COLLECTING DATA TO MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT. NICK LIE TIME A NEW SOFTWARE COMES OUT THEY WILL ASSESS
TO SEE IF THERE'S CHANGES TO BE MADE. >> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR KNIGHTSCOPE. WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO DELIVER ON THIS PRODUCT.
30 DAYS IS KIND OF WHAT I'M GIVING THEM TO SHOW AND PROVE THAT THEY CAN DO THIS
AND WE CAN CANCEL IT MONTHLY IF WE NEED TO. >> KAUR: GREAT.
I LIKE IT'S SUCH A SHORT TIME PERIOD THAT WE'RE ASSESSING BECAUSE I THINK WITH TECHNOLOGY IT CAN CHANGE QUICKLY AND PUT PRESSURE ON THEM AND I ALSO LIKE WE ARE TRYING MORE INNOVATIVE THINGS WITH TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY, BUT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THAT WITH RESPECT TO KEEPING ALL OUR PEOPLE SAFE.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, YOU DO BRING UP A GOOD POINT. A LOT OF THE FOLKS WORKING ON TECHNOLOGY AND AI ALL LOOK AND SOUND THE SAME SO IT IS A RISK THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE AWARE OF AND KEEP IN MIND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE HAVING TECHNOLOGY INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC. SEEING AS THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC BUT AIRPORT EMPLOYEES AND IT'S GOING TO ENHANCE OUR
[01:30:05]
AIRPORT SECURITY, I'M IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.BUT I DO WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT COUNCILWOMAN KAUR WAS SAYING.
MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME REPORTING IN EXEC SESSION SO WE'RE ALWAYS TRACKING AND
MONITORING AND MAKING SURE NOTHING IS GOING CRAZY. >> SAENZ: ABSOLUTELY, WOULD BE FINE WITH REPORTING TO YOU ON EFFICIENCY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
UTILIZATION OF THIS PRODUCT. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, SEE JUST.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR AND AGAIN I GOT TO EXPLAIN MANY OF THE REASONS WHY I WANT TO VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM AND I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY IS ABOUT INTENTION TO REPLACE EMPLOYEES, BUT IF -- IF DOWN THE LINE WE'RE LOOKING AT A ROBOT WHO IS BEING MANNED BY SOMEONE AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S AN EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE MAN THAN THE ROBOT. THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WEIGHING IN THE FUTURE AT SOME POINT.
IT'S NOT YOUR INTENTION TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE SURVEILLANCE IS HAPPENING, BUT IF THE ROBOT HAS THE ABILITY TO COLLECT INFORMATION AND THAT DOOR IS OPEN. IT MAY NOT BE THE INTENTION FOR THESE TO BE PUBLIC-FACING ROBOTS, BUT AS WE LOOK TO BE MORE INNOVATIVE JUST AS MANY CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE. SO THIS IS ABOUT THE WAY THAT I AM VIEWING THINGS, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT I BELIEVE YOUR INTENTION TO BE. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT CONDITIONS CHANGE IN FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE VIA MY VOTE FOR WHATEVER HAPPENS THEN. AND SO I'M NOT ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THE ITEM. WHAT I AM ASKING FOR IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEPARATE IT SO THAT I CAN DO THE VOTE THAT I FEEL ALIGNS WITH MY VALUES AND MY CONSCIENCE.
YOU MAY VOTE YES, I DON'T THINK YOU ARE BAD PEOPLE IF YOU DO.
I DON'T THINK THAT AT ALL. BUT I DO BELIEVE THIS IS ALSO AN EXAMPLE WHERE MY VOTE NO ON THIS SPECIFIC THING SHOULDN'T BE TIED TO ME VOTING NO ON PRINTING SERVICES OR ICE AND WATER DISPENSERS. I DON'T THINK THOSE ITEMS ARE AT ALL SIMILAR AND I DON'T FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THOSE PARTS OF THIS ITEM AS I DO ABOUT ITEM D. I'LL AGAIN ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT ME AND
VOTE YES JUST SO I CAN VOTE NO SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS. ONE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ANY SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF THIS, BUT I THINK IF WE SURVEY TRAVELERS IN OUR AIRPORT, THE THREE THINGS THEY ARE PROBABLY MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS SAFETY, CONVENIENCE, AND EFFICIENCY. AND SO EFFORTS TO INCREASE THOSE MEASURES I THINK I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT. PUT AN ASTERISK BY THAT. WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THOSE EFFORTS AS WE GO FORWARD. ON THIS ONE THOUGH, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS BEING DISCUSSED THAT ARE WORTHY OF DISCUSSION AS A POLICY.
AND ONE OF MY TAKE-AWAYS FROM A MEETING OF MAYORS WE HAD LAST WEEKEND, ERIK, I WAS GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE TIGER TEAM HERE. BECAUSE OF THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF AI AND CITIES NEED TO START CONTEMPLATING POLICIES IN PLACE AHEAD OF TIME HOW WE WILL INTEND TO USE THOSE TECHNOLOGIES MOVING FORWARD. WHAT WE WILL DO WITH IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT AREAS WILL BE PUBLIC-FACING WHAT AREAS WILL BE MORE RESEARCHED BASED AND DATA ORIENTED, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POLICIES WE NEED TO BEST PROTECT OURSELVES, THE ORGANIZATION AND THE RESIDENTS AS AI RAPIDLY DEVELOPS. THERE'S MANY CITIES THAT ARE BEGINNING TO USE -- I KNOW WE ARE HERE, TO GREAT BENEFIT HARNESSING THAT KIND OF POWER.
BUT WE NEED TO SET UP SOME EXPECTATIONS AHEAD OF TIME BEFORE IT GETS AWAY FROM US.
I SEE CRAIG STANDING IN THE SHADOWS LIKE HE'S ALREADY GOT ANSWERS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU CRAIG AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. TO ME THAT'S THE DISCUSSION WE NEED TO BE HAVING FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM TODAY SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD NOW. THE FIRST VOTE, AGAIN, IS A VOTE TO SEPARATE D FROM ITEM NUMBER 8. AGAIN, NOT ON THE MERITS D, BUT SEPARATION TO VOTE ON D SEPARATELY. SO PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. ERIK, DO YOU WANT TO CHIME IN?
>> WALSH: I'LL WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE VOTE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL
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TAKE UP THE VOTE ON 8D FIRST. AND THIS IS ON THE MERITS OF D. A YES VOTE WILL BE TO AUTHORIZE THE CONTRACT, A NOVOTE ON D -- ON ITEM D FIRST, 8D. >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE NEED A MOTION AND SECOND ON 8D.
THERE IS A MOTION FROM PELÁEZ AND SECOND
PLEASE VOTE. >> THIS IS ON THE MERITS OF 8D. MOTION CARRIES. NOW 8A THROUGH C.
PLEASE VOTE. 8A, B AND C. ERIK, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU IS IT TIMELY THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO SIGN THAT SUBSCRIPTION?
LIKE IMMEDIATELY. >> WALSH: NOT IMMEDIATELY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE ONLY GOT SEVEN VOTES WHICH IS APPROVAL, BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT TEN DAYS.
>> WALSH: WE'LL JUST WAIT TEN DAYS, YEAH. WE'LL JUST WAIT -- YEAH, IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY ITEM. OR SOMETHING THAT HAS TO GO INTO EFFECT --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT RIGHT NOW IF IT'S NECESSARY YOU SIGN IT
TODAY. >> WALSH: THAT'S UP TO YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. WELL, GO AHEAD, ERIK. >> WALSH: THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION AND I'LL SHARE WITH YOU AND WE CAN TALK LATER AT OUR NEXT ONE ON ONE, MAYOR, WE HAVE ALREADY INTERNALLY HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, IT'S A RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND PROBABLY DUE TO BASED ON SOME OF THE CONVERSATION SOMETHING WE SHOULD GATHER MORE FOR AND MAYBE HAVE A PUBLIC CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL ON IT. I'LL TELL YOU THAT MY -- AND I KNOW IT'S FEBRUARY 22ND, 2024. MY INTUITIVE SENSE IS WE SHOULDN'T BE REPLACING PEOPLE FOR STUFF. ESPECIALLY FORWARD-FACING AND PUBLIC-FACING OR DEALING WITH EMPLOYEES. IS THERE BACK OF THE HOUSE TYPE OF STUFF? MAYBE. I THINK A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS ARE GOING THROUGH THAT. I'M GOING TO PROBABLY -- I ALSO DIDN'T THINK 15 YEARS AGO WE WOULD HAVE THESE AND I ABOUT LOST MY WITS THIS MORNING BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE CELL SERVICE. THINGS CHANGE AND I THINK WE'LL GATHER UP A LITTLE MORE AND HAVE HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS.
MY POSITION, MY SENSE IS THAT IN MOST CASES, LIKE 98% OF THE TIME, WE'RE IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE BUSINESS AND THE CUSTOMERS OR THE CITIZENS ARE GOING TO WANT TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE AND WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
POTENTIALLY THE AIRPORT AND WHY WE'RE GOING TO PILOT IT, BUT THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SO MANY THINGS WE DO. BUT IT IS AN EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE AND WE'LL DO A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK AND FIND A TIME IN THE FUTURE TO BRING IT TO A B SESSION AND HAVE KIND OF A POLICY-LEVEL CONVERSATION AND GET FEEDBACK FROM ALL OF YOU.
THIS HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN TERMS OF HOW YOU ARE FEELING ABOUT THIS CHANGING
ENVIRONMENT. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELL, ERIK, DO YOU WANT TO TALK MORE?
GOT YOUR REPORT NOW. >> WALSH: THANKS, MAYOR. TWO ITEMS. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW HER, BUT DENISE HASTINGS, WHO IS A CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT
[01:40:01]
SUPERVISOR WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY 46 YEARS, WAS ON FEBRUARY 9TH RECEIVED THE 2024 CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.CODE ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION. SO CERTAINLY THIS IS NOT ONLY A RECOGNITION OF THE HARD WORK PERFORMED BY DENISE, BUT A REFLECTION OF OUR ENTIRE CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM. DENISE IS CERTAINLY WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IN NEIGHBORHOODS. SHE STARTED IN NOVEMBER 1985. SHE SPENT TIME AS A DANGEROUS PREMISES OFFICER.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF OUR MINIMUM HOUSING DEPARTMENT, MINIMUM HOUSING DIVISION WITHIN CODE IN 1992 AND BECAME A SUPERVISOR IN APRIL OF 2022.
SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY, WE WILL FIND A TIME TO BRING HER BEFORE THE COUNCIL, BUT I WANTED TO THANK DENISE FOR ALL OTHER HARD WORK, YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS ORGANIZATION AND THIS COMMUNITY AND A WELL-DESERVED AWARD. AND THEN LASTLY, MAYOR, OUR VIDEO OF THE WEEK IS HIGHLIGHTING ONE OF OUR ANIMAL CARE OFFICERS, STEPHANIE CHAPA WHO IS BEEN WITH THE CITY 26 YEARS IS ONE OF OUR ANIMAL CRUELTY SPECIALISTS AND WORKS CLOSELY TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ANIMAL NEGLECT.
SPENDS A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THE ORDINANCES AND STATE LAW, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IS A RESOURCE FOR MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND STEPHANIE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE VIDEO. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.
A HALF YEARS. I STARTED OUT AT A FIRST RESPONDER SO I WORK IN THE FIELD DIVISION WHERE WE'RE ANSWERING DIFFERENT KIND OF CALLS, BITE CALLS.
I WAS PROMOTED AS ANIMAL CRUELTY SPECIALIST. AS A CRUELTY SPECIALIST I WORK WITH SAPD, I WORK WITH CODE, DHS. SOMETIMES WORKING CALLS WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ASSIST THE TENANTS OR RESIDENTS IN REGARDS TO THEIR ANIMALS, THEIR LIVING SITUATION AND OTHER THINGS, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, WHATEVER THEY MIGHT NEED. I LOVE BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC, TO EDUCATE AND LET THEM KNOW THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CORRECTED IN REGARDS TO CARING FOR THEIR ANIMALS. I LOVE HELPING FAMILIES WHO NEED HELP, PROVIDING FOOD, WATER, TETHERS OR SHELTER AS WELL AS SAVING ANY ANIMALS THAT NEED TO BE SAVED.
WE ALL BECOME ONE BIG FAMILY EVEN IF WE'RE IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WE HELP EACH OTHER IN SOME WAY OR FORM SO NETWORKING IS VERY IMPORTANT.
LOT OF EMPLOYEES DO LIKE STEPHANIE IS WORK CLOSELY ACROSS DEPARTMENT LINES AND I THINK SOMETIMES -- SOMETIMES IT'S EASY TO FORGET ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT GOES TO OUR WHOLE TEAM MENTALITY WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION.
SO THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU, ERIK.
WE DO HAVE AN EXEC SESSION, BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT WE WANT TO SING OUR COLLEAGUE CAN MANNY PELAEZ A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. LOOKING YOUNG, MANNY.
IS BIG 5-0. CONGRATULATIONS. >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE TIME IS 10:50 A.M. ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2001.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT 551 AND DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NOTIONS AND THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PURSUANT TO 551.071.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.