Mar 20, 2024 City Council B Session

[EXECUTIVE SESSION At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the Presidio Conference Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ]

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. IS TIME IS TWO TO 5:00 P.M. ON MARCH 20, 2024. WE'LL CALL OUR B SESSION TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: RIGHT. WE DO HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

ONE DOES REQUIRE A BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THAT NOW AT 2:06 P.M. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20TH, 2024.

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, PURSUANT 551.072, AND LEGAL ISSUED RELATED TO THE LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND LEGAL ISSUED RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071. WE'LL CONVENE IN THE PRESIDIO ROOM. WE'LL

[ ITEMS  ]

WELL' RESUME OUR BSM SESSION. ERIK, OVER TO YOU.

>> WALSH: WE'VE GOT TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS AFTERNOON.

THE FIRST IS AN UPDATE, A PRO SOLICITATION PRESENTATION ON OUR LANDFILL DISPOSAL CONTRACT SOLICITATION PROCESS.

ON FEBRUARY 9TH HERE AT CONSILL, WE PRESENTED THE PRESOLICITATION BRIEFING. SOLID WASTE TODAY WILL BRIEF YOU ON THE STATUS OF THAT PROCUREMENT AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, JUST IN TERMS OF CONTEXT, THE CITY DOES NOT OWN A LANDFILL, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE 30-YEAR AGREEMENTS TO PROVIDE LANDFILL DISPOSAL SERVICES THAT WILL EXPIRE IN THE FALL OF 2025, SO THIS IS -- IT'S BEEN SOME TIME SINCE WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. THE CONTRACT WILL REPLACE THESE CONTRACTS AFTER THEY EXPIRE. AND SO DAVID IS GOING -- I'M SORRY, JOSEPHINE IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH THE POSTSOLICITATION AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AT A LATER DATE.

JOSEPHINE? >> THANK YOU, ERIK, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO START MY PRESENTATION BY GIVING YOU AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS. AS ERIK SAID, WE THE CITY DO NOT OWN OUR OWN LAND LANDFILL SO WE CONTRACT WITH THREE PRIVATE CONTRACTS. WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES, WHICH IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY, AND WASTE MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY. BOTH OF THESE CONTRACTS ARE LONG-TERM CONTRACTS THAT WERE FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 1995.

IF ALL THE RENEWAL OPTIONS ARE UTILIZED, BOTH OF THEM WILL EXPIRE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025. BOTH OF THESE CONTRACTS GUARANTEE EACH VENDOR A MINIMUM OF 50,000 TONS. OUR THIRD CONTRACT IS A COMBINED TRANSFER STATION AND DISPOSAL CONTRACT. THE CITY OWNS A TRNS FER STATION NEAR THE AIRPORT. IT IS OPERATED UNDER CONTRACT WITH TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. UNLIKE THE OTHER TWO CONTRACTS, THIS ONE HAS A MINIMUM GUARANTEED TONNAGE OF 100,000 TONS A YEAR.

THIS CONTRACT HAS TWO PORTIONS, IT HAS THE FACILITY OPERATIONS CONTRACT, SO THE OPERATION OF THE TRANSFER STATION EXPIRES IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025. THERE ARE NO RENEWAL OPTIONS.

THE MATERIAL THAT IS BROUGHT TO THE TRANSFER STATION IS TRANSPORTED TO THEIR LANDFILL, WHICH IS IN BUDA, TEXAS. THAT DISPOSAL CONTRACT ALSO EXPIRES IN SEPTEMBER 2025; HOWEVER, THAT ONE DOES HAVE SOME RENEWAL OPTIONS, WHICH, IF EXECUTED, WOULD POTENTIALLY EXTEND THE DATE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2030. SO THIS IS A HIGH-PROFILE CONTRACT. WE STARTED THIS PROCESS ALMOST -- OVER A YEAR AGO WHEN MR. NEW NEWMAN CAME TO COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY IN A B SESSION.

WE HIRED A CONSULTING FIRM TO HELP US WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPECS, AS WELL AS THE EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSAL AND THE NEGOTIATION OF THE PRICE. THAT COMPANY IS FOUNDED AND OPERATED BY RUDY RODRIGUEZ, WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW. AT OUR THREE PLUS NINE, WE ESTIMATED THAT THERE WOULD BE ABOUT 436,000 TONS COLLECTED ANNUALLY. THAT FIGURE WILL GROW AS POPULATION GROWS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE MULTIPLE CONTRACTS, AND FOR FUTURE OPERATIONAL NEEDS, WE BELIEVE WE CONTINUE TO NEED TO HAVE MULTIPLE CONTRACTS.

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THE BASE TERM OF 10 YEARS, WE WERE ESTIMATING, WILL BE A $13.3 MILLION ANNUAL COST OR 133 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS -- AUDIO] -- PRESENT VALUE BASED ON OUR CURRENT TONNAGE.

AS I SAID BEFORE, THESE FIGURES WILL GROW AS POPULATION GROWS AND OUR NEED FOR ADDITIONAL DISPOSAL.

INCREASES. AS PART OF THE RFP SOLICITATION PROCESS, WE RECEIVED SEVEN PROPOSALS. OF THOSE SEVEN, TWO WERE NO BIDS, ONE WAS DISQUALIFIED FOR BEING AN INCOMPLETE PROPOSAL.

THIS INCOMPLETE PROPOSAL WAS FROM A JANITORIAL SERVICES COMPANY, NOT A LANDFILL COMPANY, SO PERHAPS THEY MISUNDERSTOOD.

OF THE REMAINING FOUR, THEY WERE ALL -- THE REMAINING FOUR WERE MOVED TO THREE TRADITIONAL LANDFILL COMPANIES, INCLUDING FROM OUR CURRENT VENDORS BFI AND WASTE MANAGEMENT. WE ALSO RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FOR A POST OAK LANDFILL FROM A COMPANY CALLED WASTE CONNECTIONS. WE ALSO RECEIVED ONE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL.

OUR RFP ALLOWED COMPANIES A BID FROM ALTERNATIVE. A NEW FACILITY TO BE BUILT IN A YET TO BE DETERMINED LOCATION. AND INSTEAD OF BEING A TRADITIONAL LANDFILL, WOULD BE A MIXTURE OF A WASTE ENERGY AS WELL AS RECYCLE RECOVERY AND LANDFILLING ANY MATERIALS THAT WOULD BE REMAINING.

ONE THING OF NOTE, AS I SAID EARLIER, THERE IS NO GUARANTEED TONNAGE IN ANY OF OUR CONTRACTS. THIS PROPOSAL, HOWEVER, REQUESTED THAT THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE ALL OF THE GAR GARBAGE TONS, IF WE WERE NOT GUARANTEEING A MINIMUM TONNAGE, THEY WOULD RAISE THE PRICE THEY ORIGINALLY QUOTED. BASED ON FINANCE, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE SCORED SEPARATE LYSINS THEY WERE SO DIFFERENT. HERE IS THE SCORING MATRIX FOR THE THREE TRADITIONAL LANDFILLS. OUR TWO CURRENT VENDORS HAD VERY SIMILAR SCORES. THE THIRD VENDOR HAD A SLIGHTLY LOWER SCORE, AND THAT WAS MOSTLY DUE TO THEIR DISTANCE, SINCE THEY ARE NOT A LOCAL VENDOR. BUT FROM AN OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, WE BELIEVE THAT ALL THREE OF THESE COMPANIES ARE WELL QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE US LANDFILL SERVICES AND WE WREC RECOMMEND THAT WE ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH ALL THREE OF THEM. THE FINAL PROPOSAL, FROM REPOWER, SINCE IT WAS THE ONLY ONE IN ITS CATEGORY, FINANCE RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE SCORED ON A CONSENSUS BASIS, BASICALLY ON A YES/NO VOTE.

THE COMMITTEE, BY UNANIMOUS CONSENSUS DECIDED TO NOT GO FORWARD WITH NEGOTIATION WITH REPOWER. FINALLY, THIS MATRIX HERE SHOWS THE AGREED-UPON CONTRACT PRICING PER TON.

FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT AND BFI, WE HAVE A TIERED PRICING STRUCTURE.

SO AS THE AMOUNT OF TONNAGE THAT WE BRING TO THE FACILITY EXCEEDS A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, THE PRICE WOULD GO DOWN. SO FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT, THE FIRST 200,000 TONS WOULD BE CHARGED AT A PRICE OF 27.99.

FOR BFI, ALSO KNOWN AS REPUBLIC SERVICES, THE FIRST 150,000 TONS WOULD BE CHARGED AT A RATE OF $34, AND FINALLY, THE WASTE CONNECTION LANDFILL, WHICH IS IN LULING, ALL TONS, THERE ARE NO TIERS THERE, WOULD BE CHARGED AT A FEE OF $17.50. HERE, I'M KIND OF COMPARING OUR CURRENT CONTRACT PRICES TO THE NEW PRICES.

AS A REMINDER, THESE ARE TODAY'S 2024 RATES COMPARED TO THE 2026 RATES. IT'S NOT EXACTLY AN IDENTICAL COMPARISON BECAUSE OF THE YEAR'S DIFFERENCE AND BOTH OF THESE RATES, THE CURRENT ONES AS WELL AS THE FUTURE ONES ARE BOTH SUBJECT TO INCREASES BECAUSE OF CPI. SINCE WASTE CONNECTIONS IS SO FAR, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IT EXPLAINS THE LOWER PRICE, IT -- WE WOULD REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED

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AS WE MODEL ANNUALLY WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO BRING TONNAGE TO WHAT FACILITY BASED ON OUR LOGISTICS, SUCH AS POPULATION, OUR ROUTES AND MANY OTHER LOGISTICAL FACTORS, SO AS WE GET CLOSER -- WE DO THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. AS WE GET CLOSER, WE'LL START ANALYZING THE TRANSPORTATION COST TO GO TO LULING. AND IF IT MAKES SENSE FINANCIALLY TO DIVERT SOME TONS FURTHER AWAY, WE WOULD DO SO.

THIS MAP SHOWS THE LOCATIONS OF THE LANDFILLS, THE ONE ON THE -- THAT STAR ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT IS WASTE MANAGEMENT.

THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE IS REPUBLIC AND THE ONE ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT, THAT IS THE POST OAK LANDFILL NEAR LULING, TEXAS.

THOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE A FAR DISTANCE AWAY, IT IS ROUGHLY THE SAME -- THE DISTANCE FROM THERE TO OUR TRANSFER STATION IS ROUGHLY THE SAME DISTANCE FROM THE TRANSFER STATION TODAY TO THE LANDFILL TO BUDBBUDA, TEXAS.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE'LL GET RIGHT INTO IT. WE'LL START WITH

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, JOSEPHINE, FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU TO OUR SOLID WASTE TEAM FOR PROVIDING US WITH THE UPDATES.

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RFP PROCESS. CAN YOU DEFINE A TRADITIONAL LANDFILL VENDOR AND DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHO HAS BEEN IN

BUSINESS THE LONGEST IN SAN ANTONIO? >> OOH.

WHEN I SAID A TRADITIONAL LANDFILL, THIS IS -- FOR MY PERSPECTIVE -- ALL THREE OF THESE COMPANIES DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS BEYOND LANDFILLS.

THESE ARE THE THREE LARGEST SOLID WASTE COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES ACTUALLY, REPUBLIC WASTE MANAGEMENT AND WASTE CONNECTIONS ALL HAVE REVENUES IN THE MULTIBILLION DOLLARS. SO WHEN I SAID TRADITIONAL LANDFILL, I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE OLD STYLE DUMP, TO USE A LAYMAN'S TERMS WHERE WE BRING GARBAGE, THEY BURY IT IN THE HOLE AND COVER

IT. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. THANK YOU.

AND WHAT PROMPTED YOU ALL FROM EVALUATING THE WASTE TO MANAGER PROPOSAL

SEPARATELY? >> THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF FINANCE BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROPOSAL.

AND ALSO BECAUSE THEY WERE PROPOSING SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T EXIST YET.

YOU HAD THREE LANDFILLS THAT WERE BUILT TODAY AND REPOWER IS PROPOSING WE'D

LIKE TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY. >> GARCIA: HOW DID YOU

KNOW WHAT TO EVALUATE ON THAT ONE? >> WELL, WE LOOKED AT THEIR REPUTATION AND THEIR, I GUESS, PROVEN TRACK RECORDS.

THEY DO HAVE TWO SMALL FACILITIES RIGHT NOW ON THE EAST COAST IN GEORGIA, AND I BELIEVE, SOUTH CAROLINA. THOSE WERE THEIR ONLY TWO SUCCESSFUL WASTE TO ENERGY FACILITIES IN EXISTENCE RIGHT NOW.

THEY WERE MUCH -- AND THEY'RE MUCH SMALLER THAN THE TYPE OF VOLUME WE GENERATE. SO EVEN THOUGH WE WERE INTRIGUED BY THE CONCEPT, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE TOO RISKY TO CONCENTRATE ALL OUR VOLUME IN ONE FACILITY, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY WERE SAYING THEY WANTED ALL THE

TONNAGE. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. HAVE THE OTHER THREE

SUBMITTED RFPS IN THE PAST? >> AS A REMINDER, THESE CONTRACTS ARE 30 YEARS OLD, SO I'M SURE AT SOME POINT.

>> GARCIA: AT SOME POINT THEY DID. >> AT SOME POINT THEY DID

TO GET THEIR CURRENT CONTRACTS. >> GARCIA: OKAY.

AND SO SELECTING ALL OF THEM, IT'S A MATTER OF CAPACITY VERSUS

EXPERIENCE, I GUESS AT THAT POINT? >> IT'S A COMBINATION OF CAPACITY AS WELL AS MITIGATING RISK FACTORS, AS WELL AS LOGISTICS.

IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MULTIPLE FACILITIES, IF THERE'S EVER, YOU KNOW, A TRAFFIC JAM, A WEATHER EMERGENCY THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT

TO ACCESS ONE FACILITY. >> GARCIA: SURE. WONDERFUL.

AND BY THE WAY, I CAN SEE THE ECLIPSE, APRIL 8TH IS COMING UP, SO I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE PREPARED FOR THAT. IS THERE A REASON FOR THE 10-YEAR CONTRACTS THAT ARE PROPOSED INSTEAD OF, LIKE, SHORTER CONTRACTS?

>> WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO LOCK IN THE DISPOSAL COST LONG TERM.

I WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE PREFERRED A LONGER TERM CONTRACT.

MAYBE NOT 30 YEARS, BUT I THINK 10 YEARS WAS A GOOD POINT THAT BOTH THE

VENDORS AND THE CITY FELT COMFORTABLE WITH. >> GARCIA: HOW DOES LICENSING AND COMPLIANCE WORK FOR BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE LANDFILLS?

>> THEY ARE REGULATED BY TCEQ, THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, LONG PROCESS OF GETTING PERMITTED TO BECOME A LANDFILL DISPOSAL FACILITY.

THERE ARE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS AND REGULATIONS, WHICH CONTINUE WAY AFTER -- EVEN APA SILLTIES CLOSE.

AS I SAID EARLIER IN THE CITY WE DON'T HAVE OPEN LANDFILLS BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT ARE CLOSE, BUT WE STILL HAVE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND PROBABLY WILL FOR AS LONG AS THOSE FACILITIES ARE IN EXISTENCE.

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>> GARCIA: THE REASON I WAS ASKING I WAS WONDERING IF ANY OF THE VENDORS HAVE BEEN FOUND OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH TCEQ?

>> SO OUR RECORDS OF REVIEW OF TCEQ DID NOT FIND ANY AREAS OF CONCERN

FOR THESE VENDORS. >> GARCIA: GOOD. A COUPLE OF BUDGET SESSIONS AGO I HAD ASKED TO LOOK FOR SOME ADDITIONAL BRUSH COLLECTION. AND SO AS WE GET READY FOR THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, ALSO LOOKING MAYBE AT NUMBER OF FREE LANDFILL DAYS OR WHERE MAYBE RESIDENTS CAN ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BULKY ITEM COLLECTION, SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT I'M BRINGING UP. BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE ESTIMATED TONS THAT ARE REQUIRED? SO DAVID'S SHAKING HIS HEAD OVER THERE. FOR THE DISPOSAL

SERVICES? >> YES. >> GARCIA: OKAY.

>> I WILL SAY BOTH OF THE LOCAL LANDFILLS OFFER QUARTERLY LANDFILL DAYS,

AND THAT WILL BE PART OF THE NEW CONTRACTS. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.

I GUESS MAYBE WONDERING SPECIFICALLY IF WE CAN LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON SOLID WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEES OVER THE -- JUST LIKE A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF LIKE EVERY TIME THAT I WAS -- I KNOW Y'ALL PRESENTED SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE BUDGET RECENTLY, BUT WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT AGAIN AS WE GET READY FOR THE BUDGET SESSION.

AND I MENTIONED THAT, BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS WHO TALKED TO ME ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING, RIGHT? AND SO WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ILLEGAL DUMPING IN DISTRICT FOUR. WE ALSO HAPPEN TO HAVE ONE OF THE LANDFILLS, RIGHT, SO NELSON GARDENS IS THERE.

AND SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE FOR SOME REASON TO JUST GO AND DISPOSE OF THEIR TRASH SOMEWHERE.

AND SO THEY JUST KIND OF DECIDE TO DUMP SOMEWHERE IN A RANDOM AREA.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEM, FOR INSTANCE, ALONG THE QUINTANA ROAD.

AND Y'ALL ARE REALLY HELPFUL. Y'ALL ARE ALWAYS OUT THERE TO COME AND HELP. BUT DURING BASUDA BASH, WE ALSO SEE A LOT OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE, RIGHT, AND SPECIFICALLY AROUND SOME OF OUR CREEKS, WE HAVE INDIAN CREEK, AND THAT'S ALWAYS, I FEEL, THERE'S DUMPING IN THAT AREA. AND OUR VOLUNTEERS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY DON'T GET IT. LIKE, THEY'RE -- EVEN SOME OF OUR YOUNGER RESPECT BS THAT ARE WONDERING, LIKE, WHY, WHY DOES THIS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN? AND I'M ALSO WONDERING ABOUT THE CPS ENERGY -- AS CPS ENERGY BILLS CONTINUE TO INCREASE, I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THESE FOLKS KIND OF LUMP US ALL TOGETHER, RIGHT? AND SO THEY SAY, WELL, IF WE CAN'T -- WE CAN'T DISPOSE OF OUR BULKY ITEMS BECAUSE WE'RE BEHIND ON OUR CPS BILL OR BECAUSE, MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS OR SOMEBODY -- OR THEY'RE LIVING IN A FAMILY WHERE THEY'RE NOT THE ONES THAT GET THE BILL. AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, LIKE HOW WE CAN GET AROUND THAT.

THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FOLKS, THEY ALWAYS ASK, AND SO I GO A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR TO DISPOSE OF MY BATTERIES, FOR INSTANCE, ON THE CULEBRA SITE, AND LAST GO-ROUND, I WAS LIKE PANICKING, BECAUSE I COULD NOT FIND MY BILL ONLINE AND I COULD NOT FIND IT FAST ENOUGH.

AND THE GUY WAS REALLY NICE AND WAITED FOR ME, RIGHT, BUT I ALSO HAD ACCESS TO MY PHONE. AND A LOT OF RESIDENTS DON'T, RIGHT? SO WHAT IF THEY LOSE THEIR BILL AND THEY GO ALL THE WAY OVER THERE AND THEY'RE TURNED AWAY. SO JUST WONDERING IF WE COULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE THINK ABOUT THAT, RIGHT, AS WE THINK OF THAT COLLECTION.

AND SO IS THERE A PHONE NUMBER WHERE THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, CALL, IS THAT ALLOWED? AND ANYWAY, SO JUST TRYING TO SOLVE FOR THAT BULKY ISSUE PROBLEM AND JUST THE DUMPING PROBLEM.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO?

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU TO THE PRESENTATION AND TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL FOR ALL THE WORK. I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE REPOWER SOUTH. IN THE EVALUATION, DID YOU ALL LEARN -- OR JUST BASED OFF OF THE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEIR GOAL IS? IS IT TO SUPPLEMENT LANDFILLS OR TO ULTIMATELY REPLACE ALL LANDFILLS? WHAT WAS THE DISCUSSION LIKE WHEN THEY WERE

INTERVIEWED? >> SO THIS FACILITY THAT THEY WERE PROPOSING HERE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THEIR EXISTING ONE, SO IT WAS KIND OF A -- IT WAS A HARD TO COMPARE THE TWO. THEIR NEW PROPOSAL, I THINK, WAS VERY AMBITIOUS IN TRYING TO DO BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL BURNING OF TRASH. THEY WERE TRYING TO COMBINE IT WITH ENERGY RECOVERY, SO THEIR PLAN WAS TO FIRST TRY TO EXTRACT POTENTIALLY RECYCLABLES AND ORGANICS FROM THE WASTE STREAM, WHICH FOR THIS CONTRACT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, SINCE WE HAVE OTHER EXCLUSIVE CONTRACTS FOR ORGANICS AND RECYCLING, BUT THEIR IDEA WAS WE WOULD TRY TO REMOVE SOME STUFF FROM THE MATERIALS, AND PLASTICS HAVE A VERY HIGH BTU VALUE, SO THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD EXTRACT THE MATERIALS AND THEN BURN THEM AS A SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY, WHICH THEY WOULD SELL IN THE OPEN MARKET AND HAVE A REVENUE SHARED COMPONENT WITH THE CITY. SO IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO EVALUATE. I BELIEVE THEIR LONG-TERM THEORETICAL GOAL WAS TO

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STILL BE A PERSON THAT HAD TO BE LANDFILLED. >> CASTILLO: THAT'S FASCINATING AFNTD I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WEREN'T SELECTED JUST GIVEN THE CAPACITY AND OUR NEED, BUT I WONDER IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH DOUG ON HOW WE COULD INITIATE A PILOT AND EXPLORE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT. ON ANOTHER NOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ILLEGAL DUMPING AND JUST WANTING TO THANK YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO IN ENSURING THAT WE TAKE DISTRICT FIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, A CONSTITUENT HAD THIS GREAT RECOMMENDATION. SHE WAS GETTING FRUSTRATED THAT PEOPLE WERE ASKING FOR NO DUMPING SIGNS. THE CITY NEEDS TO INVEST IN MIRROR THAT LOCATIONS WHERE YOU COULD DUMP YOUR GARBAGE FOR FREE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT RECOMMENDATION. BUT TH THANK YOU,

AGAIN, JOSEPHINE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION. IT WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. HOW ARE THE ANNUAL AMOUNTS OF LANDFILL WASTE

TRENDING FROM YEAR TO YEAR? >> THEY'RE PRETTY STAGNANT BASED ON POPULATION. SO ON A PER CAPITA -- ON A PER CAPITA BASIS ADJUSTED FOR NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS, DURING COVID, THEY SKYROCKETED. THEY WENT DRAMATICALLY UP.

AFTER THAT, THEY'VE KIND OF STARTED TRENDING BACK DOWN TO THEIR PRECOVID

LEVELS AND THEY'RE PRETTY FLAT. >> GAVITO: THAT'S INTERESTING. THANK YOU. ON SLIDE 11 ON THE PROPOSED CONTRACTS, HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT COST FOR OUR RESIDENTS?

>> SO WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU MORE DETAILS ON THIS WHEN WE COME FOR THE FORECAST NEXT MONTH. OVERALL, THESE FIGURES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE FORECAST FIGURES THAT WE HAD. I WOULD ALSO REMIND THAT THESE FIGURES, THE OVERALL DISPOSAL THAT WE SPEND ON LANDFILL IS ABOUT 10% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET. SO IT'S CERTAINLY A BIG PORTION OF OUR BUDGET, BUT WE HAVE MANY OTHER EXPENSES THAT HAVE A

BIGGER IMPACT ON OUR RATE. >> GAVITO: OKAY.

AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA WAS ALSO MENTIONING IT ABOUT WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN SOLID WASTE PRICE INCREASES IN THE PAST.

I THINK I REMEMBER SOMETHING ABOUT THAT IN THE BUDGET, SO IT WOULD

BE GOOD TO SEE THAT AGAIN. >> OKAY.

>> GAVITO: ON SLIDE 7, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT WASTE TO ENERGY IS? THIS IS MIXTURE OF WASTE TO ENERGY MATERIAL

RECOVERY IN LANDFILL. >> IT IS SOME FORM OF EITHER INCINERATION OR CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF GARBAGE TO CREATE ENERGY.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IT -- THE -- IT'S COME A LONG WAY FROM THE OLD HISTORICAL STEREOTYPE OF SMOKY SMOKE STACKS WHERE YOU WOULD BURN THE GARBAGE. IT'S A MUCH CLEANER PROCESS THAN IT USED TO BE, BUT IT'S STILL BASICALLY TRANSFORMING THE WASTE INTO SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICITY, EITHER MAKING STEAM, MAKING -- OR ELECTRICITY DIRECTLY

OR SOME SORT OF CHEMICAL PROCESS. >> GAVITO: YEAH, THAT'S INTERESTING. I'D BE CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE, AND ALSO SEE HOW WE COULD BE DOING MORE OF IT. YOU KNOW, IF THE COST IS

HIGH OR -- OR NOT. >> REMINDING THAT THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY HAS APPLIED FOR A GREAT TO EXPLORE WASTE TO ENERGY FURTHER. AND YOUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DAVID MCCARY USED TO RUN AN ENERGY FACILITY.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ?

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL BE FAIRLY BRIEF ON THIS. I WILL START OFF BY SAYING THAT I NOTICE THAT THE LANDFILL SITES ARE IN HIGH, UP PITY AREAS, ONE OF WHICH IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY, ONE IS ON DISTRICT FOUR ON THE SOUTHWEST.

UNDERSTANDING THE ONE IN MY DISTRICT AND IN D4 ARE RENEWALS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A RELAXING THING, BUT THIS JUST SERVES AS ANOTHER REMINDER THAT THE EAST SIDE CONTINUES TO RECEIVE THE THINGS IN SAN ANTONIO THAT NO OTHER PART OF THE CITY WANTS. AND IF YOU HEAR ME TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT IT, IT'S BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.

CAN'T GET A GROCERY STORE, RETAIL, BUSINESS GRANT, NONPROFIT GRANTS, BUT WE CAN GET WAREHOUSE AFTER WAREHOUSE, CAR WASH AFTER CAR WASH, PORT-A-POTTY, SANITATION FACILITIES AND LANDFILLS.

SO SHARING THAT MESSAGE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS. AND I WILL SAY, I AM INTERESTED IN REPOWER'S PROPOSAL AS A CONCEPT. I THINK WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BE AMBITIOUS. YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT WAIT FOR OTHERS TO INNOVATE.

AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD FIND WAYS TO EXPLORE THAT IDEA.

I KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T -- IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHY THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE AND I'M FINE AND SUPPORTIVE OF THEM, BUT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER EXPLORE AND HAVE DIEING LOG WITH THIS ORGANIZATION AND OTHERS, I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR? >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. KIND OF GOING ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER JUST SAID, THERE'S ACTUALLY NOT A PERFECT LOCATION FOR A LANDFILL BUT I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT THE TWO, AT LEAST THAT ARE LOCATED CLOSEST IN SAN ANTONIO -- SOLICITATION PROCESS INCLUDE ANY KIND OF LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH OR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK THAT THE RESPONDENTS HAD TO DO WHEN IT CAME TO

APPLYING? >> NOT FROM US DIRECTLY. THE SOLICITATION DID ASK THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT LITTER CLEANUP SPECIFICALLY, LIKE CLEANING UP LITTER WITHIN CERTAIN BOUNDARIES OF THE FACILITIES, ABOUT 2 MILES IN EITHER DIRECTION OF THE FACILITY. TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REGULATED AT THE STATE LEVEL, SO THEY DO HAVE TO SUBMIT REPORTS TO THE STATE ON WATER QUALITY,

AIR QUALITY AND VARIOUS DIFFERENT ISSUES. >> KAUR: GOT IT.

AND HAVE WE SEEN THOSE REPORTS FOR BOTH OF THESE -- OR FOR ALL THREE

OF THESE CONTRACTORS. >> WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE REPORTS BUT WE HAVE DONE A SEARCH TO SEE IF THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE REPORTS THEY'RE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT. SO INDIRECTLY.

>> KAUR: WELL, THEY COULD BE -- IS IT VIOLATION OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING OR

SUBMITTING THE REPORT? >> EITHER. SO IF THE -- IF A LANDFILL WERE TO GET WHAT IS KNOWN AS NOV, A NOTICE OF VIOLATION, THAT WOULD

BE PUBLIC INFORMATION. >> KAUR: GOT IT. AND SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY

OF THOSE? >> RIGHT. >> KAUR: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA? >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALONG THE SAME LINE, IS THE CONTRACTOR REQUIRED BY TCEQ TO HOLD ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY INSURANCE?

>> YES. >> HAVRDA: AND WHO GETS PAID ON THAT?

WOULD IT BE THE CITY? >> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE INSURANCE -- AUDIO] -- IT IS -- THERE'S TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

THERE IS THE LIEBLGHT LIABILITY INSURANCE THAT THEY CARRY AS A REQUIREMENT OF THEIR OPERATING PERMIT. SO IN CASES OF THOSE VIOLATIONS, THAT MONEY WOULD GO TOWARDS THE STATE.

WE ADDITIONALLY, FOR THESE CONTRACTS AS WE DO FOR MOST OF THEIR CONTRACTS REQUIRE THE FIRMS TO COVER LIABILITY INSURANCE AS WELL.

IN THOSE CASES, IF IT'S VIOLATING SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IMPACTS THE CITY THAT IS COVERED BY OUR SPECIFIC INSURANCE CONTRACTS, THAT PAYMENT

WOULD COME TO THE CITY. >> HAVRDA: I GUESS THAT WOULD JUST -- IT'S A BASIC LEGAL PREMISE, RIGHT, WHOEVER SUED AND PROVED THAT THEY WERE

WRONGED, RIGHT? >> SEGOVIA: IF I MAY, COUNCILMAN, USUALLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COVERAGE THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED REGULATORY-WISE WILL COVER BOTH CLEANUP AND POTENTIAL CLAIMS FROM DAMAGES FROM PEOPLE WHO WOULD SUFFER -- IF THEY DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

SEPARATELY WE HAVE UNDER OUR CONTRACTS, ADDITIONAL INSURANCE.

>> HAVRDA: OKAY. THANK YOU. >> AND IN ADDITION, MR. NEWMAN REMINDED ME, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE A CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSURANCE OF THEIR ABILITY TO CLEAN UP ISSUES.

WE AS A CITY, EVEN THOUGH OUR LANDFILLS ARE CLOSED, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THAT AS WELL. SO THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CERTAIN EMERGENCY SCENARIOS AND BE ABLE TO SAY THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, IF, YOU KNOW, THEY DISCOVERED SOME RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN THEIR LANDFILL, THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY SET ASIDE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CLEAN UP THIS EXPENSE.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. UNDER THIS CONTRACT, IS THE RECIPIENT ABLE TO

SUBCONTRACT? >> ONLY UNDER APPROVAL FROM THE CITY.

SO IF THEY CAME TO US, WE COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW IT UNDER SUBCONTRACT TO SOMEONE ELSE, BUT IT WOULD BE VERY UNLIKELY BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY LARGE -- LARGE FACILITIES. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PERMIT A NEW FACILITY, SO I DON'T SEE THEM BEING ABLE TO -- AND OUR CONTRACTS ARE BASED KIND OF ON A GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION.

SO LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS THIS NEW LANDFILL THAT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE CITY, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SAY, OH, WE'RE SUBCONTRACTING IT TO THIS FACILITY UP NORTH.

>> HAVRDA: THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OR THEY'D HAVE TO COME TO THE CITY

FIRST. >> THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO.

>> I DON'T SEE THAT SCENARIO HAPPENING WHERE IT'S A SUBCONTRACT.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST IS A COMPANY WILL BUY OUT ANOTHER COMPANY.

ALLIED BOUGHT OUT BFI, REPUBLIC SERVICES BOUGHT OUT BF IMPRISONMENT.

THEY STILL GO BY THE NAME BFI . I THINK AT THAT POINT WE WOULD HAVE -- THERE'S CONTRACTUAL LANGUAGE OF WHAT WE DO NEXT, IF

THAT'S THE SITUATION. >> HAVRDA: IS THERE SPECIFIC CONTRACTUAL LANGUAGE NOT ALLOWING THEM TO SUBCONTRACT, THOUGH? PNEUMONIA I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. WE TAKE WASTE TO THEIR FACILITIES.

>> HAVRDA: I'M NOT ASKING THAT, THOUGH. >> SEGOVIA: WE'LL LOOK AT

THE CONTRACT. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. I'M.

>> SEGOVIA: I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND THIS PARTICULAR ITEM DOESN'T TEND TO LEND ITSELF TO SUBCONTRACTING, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD BE ANXIOUS ABOUT. IF THEY CAME TO YOU TWO YEARS LATER AND SAID WE NEED TO SUBCONTRACT, WHAT REGULATES THAT? IS THERE A CLAUSE THAT DICTATES THE PROCESS FOR THAT.

>> SEGOVIA: WE'LL GET YOU THE INFORMATION. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU.

[00:30:01]

>> I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD, SINCE THERE ARE NO TON ANANNAGE REQUIREMENT IFS WE'RE NOT HAPPY WITH ANY SITUATION, WE CAN STOP USING THEM.

>> HAVRDA: STOP USING THE CONTRACTOR? >> WE ARE NOT UNDER CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO BRING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TONNAGE TO ANY OF THE

VENDORS? >> HAVRDA: I SEE. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS WHAT KIND OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ARE IN PLACE FOR THE CONTRACTORS? ARE WE EVALUATING THEM EVERY SO OFTEN AND WHAT

ARE THOSE STANDARDS? >> WE HAVE -- WE MEET WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO WE EXPECT A CERTAIN TURNAROUND THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE FACILITY, THAT WE ARE NOT WAITING IN LINE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THAT IF THERE ARE ANY COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS, THAT THEY ARE

ADDRESSED IN A PROMPT MANNER. >> HAVRDA: ARE THERE

SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, THOUGH? >> THERE ARE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR OUR TRUCKS. THE CONTRACT DOES SAY THAT OUR TRUCKS SHOULD NOT BE ON AVERAGE WAITING MORE THAN 15 MINUTES.

>> HAVRDA: OKAY. MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING I CAN -- YOU CAN FOLLOW-UP ON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE STANDARDS ARE, THE METRICS THEY HAVE TO HIT, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> HAVRDA: THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.

BUT, THANK YOU, JOSEPHINE, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND EVERYBODY AT SOLID WASTE FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. ESPECIALLY ON THIS CONTRACT. I THINK THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT IS WUND OF THE MOST IMPORTANT, MOST FUNDAMENTAL -- PERFORMS ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL JOBS THROUGHOUT THE CITY BUT I FEEL SOMETIMES THE LEAST CELEBRATED. WE THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE TAKE FOR GRANTED AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK WHEN WE TAKE OUR BINS OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO US WORKING ON THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE GETTING TAKEN CARE OF. AGAIN, TO COUNCILWOMAN'S ROCHA GARCIA, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ILLEGAL DUMPING AROUND THE SOUTHERN PART OF SAN ANTONIO THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS. OF COURSE, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT, BECAUSE WE ARE DOING A DIAL A TRAILER THIS SATURDAY ON BROOKS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T END UP IN THE RIVER OR ALONG SOME STREET, BUT IT DOES GET INTO THAT TRASH CAN. SO WE'LL BE DOING THAT THIS WEEKEND.

AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN HELPFUL ON THAT. I DO THINK, ERIK, THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE REPOWER SOUTH AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A B SESSION, IF WE COULD BRING DOUG TO SEE, BECAUSE FROM WHAT I'M -- MY UNDERSTANDING -- TECHNOLOGY AND IT'S STILL A LANDFILL AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL, IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING SOMETHING IN AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LANDFILL IN THE COUNTY WHERE -- WHERE IT GOES, BECAUSE NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, IT'S SOMEWHERE SOUTH. SO I THINK IF WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT WITH DOUG IN TERMS OF WHAT'S REALLY OUT THERE.

BUT I AM EXCITED THAT SOMEBODY CAME FORWARD WITH A NEW IDEA.

THE THING IS, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO GROW THE LANDFILL IS MINIMAL, IF WE NEED ONE. AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT. SO I UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T RECOMMENDED, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET DOUG IN HERE TO TALK ABOUT OPTIONS WE HAVE. SO I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE -- AUDIO] -- IF WE COULD JUST DO A GREAT JOB ABOUT CONTINUING TO TRY AND GET PEOPLE -- TO GET THAT SMALLER TRASH CAN WOULD BE GOOD.

AND THEN ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT -- LOOKING AT HOW WE COMMUNICATE WHAT WE RECYCLE IN THE GREEN AND THE BLUE.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. THOSE ARE ALL MY

REMARKS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE?

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB IN LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES TO WHAT WE'VE HAD.

I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF GUARANTEES FOR TONNAGE WITH THESE CONTRACTS. YES, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, BUT THEY'VE BEEN IN PLACE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, SO THEY'VE BEEN LOCKED INTO LOWER RATES THAN PROBABLY THE COMPANIES WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD FOR MANY YEARS. AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE TOO HIGH. ONE THING THAT IMPRESSES ME ABOUT IT IS HOW FAR AWAY ONE OF THE PROJECTED LANDFILLS ARE, ALL THE WAY OUT INTO LULING.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ALL OF US WOULD -- WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LANDFILL IN OUR BACKYARD, AND ONE QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT THAT -- OR TWO QUESTIONS I HAVE, IS WHAT IS THE CAPACITY THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM -- FROM THAT COMPANY THAT WILL BE COMING OUT OF THE LULING AREA?

>> THEY STARTED ACCEPTING ACCEPTING WASTE IN 2021.

THEY ARE PROJECTING THEIR CAPACITY -- THEY HAVE OVER A FIVE-HUNDRED YEAR

[00:35:05]

CAPACITY TO TAKE A LOT OF WASTE. >> COURAGE: IS THAT SAYING WE COULD SEND THEM EVERYTHING IF WE WANTED TO.

>> WE COULD. FROM A CAPACITY STANDPOINT, THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO TAKE ALL OF OUR WASTE, AND WE'LL BE DOING SOME FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ON WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION COST WILL BE.

>> COURAGE: YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THE MISSING COMPONENT.

LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE WITH TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEM.

THEY CHARGE $37.65 WHEN WE UNLOAD AT THEIR LOCATION, AND THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND RELOAD IT AND TAKE IT TO THEIR LOCATION.

>> YES. >> COURAGE: AND WE DON'T PAY ANY MORE

TRANSPORTATION. >> CORRECT. >> COURAGE: BUT IT'S $20 MORE PER TON DROPPING IT OFF THERE. DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT FIND IT'S GOING TO COST US ANOTHER $10 A TON TO MOVE THIS TO LULING?

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO EARLY TO SAY, BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL

BE A COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS. >> COURAGE: OKAY.

>> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, YOU SOUND LIKE THE CITY MANAGER ASKING QUESTIONS TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT WHAT JOSEPHINE SAID, THE $17.50 IS ATTRACTIVE.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CURRENT CONTRACT AND THIS POTENTIAL PROPOSED IS THAT WE WOULD TRUCK IT. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE STAFF, THE TRUCKS, THE CAPACITY, THAT'S THE ANALYSIS THAT JOSEPHINE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT. BUT IT CERTAINLY HAS THE POTENTIAL, IF COUNCIL APPROVES ALL THREE, IT GIVES US A THIRD LEG OF THE SCHOOL THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RELY UPON, ASSUMING WE CAN COVER

THOSE TRUCKING COSTS. >> COURAGE: YEAH, I GUESS WE'D BE LOOKING AT WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLES, MAKING A MUCH LONGER TRIP, AS WELL AS THE COST

OF FUEL, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. >> UH-HUH.

>> COURAGE: AND I -- I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA THAT IT WOULD BE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY. SOMETIMES, THOUGH, WE LOSE TRACK OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD OTHER LANDFILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILLED, AND WHAT HAVE WE

TURNED SOME OF THEM INTO? >> WALSH: WELL, WE TURNED THEM INTO PARKS BUT NOT ALL OF THEM. THE PARK IN DISTRICT 4, PEARSALL PARK.

WE HAD A NUMBER OF SMALLER CLOSED FACILITIES IN YOUR DISTRICT, NEAR THE BORDER OF DISTRICT 1 AND 2 BUT THE REUSE OF THOSE LANDFILLS WE TRIED TO INCORPORATE BUT THERE'S PROBABLY MORE WE COULD DO. JOSEPHINE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD.

DAVID. >> COURAGE: HE DOESN'T REALLY NEED TO.

I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT A LOT OF TIMES WE SAY THAT LANDFILLS ARE UGLY.

WE DON'T WANT THEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVENTUALLY WE MAY BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A BETTER USE FOR THEM HAVE AS MANY LANDFILLS UP NORTH BUT WE SURE HAVE A LOT OF QUARRIES AND THEY DIG A LOT OF HOLES IN THE GROUND BUT THEY'RE DIGGING INTO ROCK. SO YOU REALLY CAN'T PUT A LANDFILL WHEN IT'S FULL OF ROCK FOR A COUPLE OF HUNDRED FEET DOWN.

SO SOMETIMES WE CREATE THESE IN AREAS THAT WERE VERY UNPOPULATED.

PEOPLE DIDN'T LIVE AROUND THEM. BUT THE CITY TENDS TO GROW AROUND LANDFILLS AND METAL RECYCLERS AND CAR PARTS RECYCLERS THAT WHEN THEY WERE CREATED NO ONE LIVED THERE.

NOW PEOPLE ARE LIVING THERE AND WE PAY A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO THOSE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. LIKE I SAID, THE FURTHER AWAY WE CAN MAKE THEM FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I THINK IT'S WORTH THE INVESTMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TH THANK YO, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS

ITEM? COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: I WAS HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. I WASN'T ABLE TO PUSH THE BUTTON.

MY COLLEAGUE FROM D2 IS EXACTLY CORRECT. FOR MANY GENERATIONS THE SOUTHSIDE, THE EAST SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE HAVE BEEN THE BENEFICIARIES OF OUR RECYCLING FACILITIES. HAVE BEEN THE BENEFICIARIES OF PLACEMENT OF LANDFILLS AND IT'S NOT MUCH SOLACE TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE TO HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW -- EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE RIGHT, THE NORTH SIDE IS JUST AN IMPOSSIBLE PLACE TO DIG HOLES THAT REQUIRE THAT.

BUT WE STILL OWE IT TO THEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AND SO I AM CURIOUS TO GET SOME IDEA FROM STAFF ABOUT SOME KIND OF PLAN FOR NOT JUST THE NEXT FIVE, TEN YEARS BUT 20, 30, 40 YEARS FROM NOW. WE KNOW THE CITY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUTWARD. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR NOT JUST

[00:40:03]

FRONT OF IT NOW? >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, WE HAVE A REES AND IRA UPDATE IN MAY AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GRANT WE'VE APPLIED FOR. DOUG WILL BE PRESENTING.

A LOT OF THAT IS EXPENSIVE AND NOT PROVEN. WHEN DAVID RAN THE WASTE FACILITY, THE WASTE ENERGY FACILITY IN TAMPA, IT PROBABLY COST FOUR TIMES WHAT WE'RE DOING TO DUMP UNDER OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS. THAT TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE APPLIED FOR THE IRA GRANT. IT WILL DEVELOP AND CERTAINLY THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO MAYBE PILOT PROGRAMS TO BE ABLE TO REFINE THAT BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY WILL UNDOUBTEDLY ADVANCE THAT. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN MAY WHEN WE GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE AND GIVE COUNCIL A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I THOUGHT YOU WERE BACK IN THE QUEUE.

ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS? SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY I AGREE WITH THE STATEMENTS ABOUT FUTURE PLANNING. IN FACT, I FEEL LIKE AT THIS POINT, 30 YEARS AFTER THE START OF THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, WE SHOULD GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CREDIT TO MAYOR NELSON WOLFF.

IT'S NOT A FIVE-ALARM FIRE IN THE PLANNING FOR LANDFILL SPACE BECAUSE BACK THEN IT WAS AND THEY HAD THE WISDOM OF MAKING THIS A LONGER-TERM VENTURE FOR THE CITY.

GLAD WE'RE HERE AND ABLE TO HARNESS OUR OWN DESTINY, SO TO SPEAK.

IN THAT SENSE, I DO AGREE WITH THE COUNCILMAN'S STATEMENTS AND ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY PUSH THE ENVELOPE IN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION AND IF WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FROM A COMPANY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CONTENT IS OR FEASIBILITY OF IT BUT CERTAINLY WE SHOULD AT LEAST EXPLORE CONCEPTS THAT COULD BE TESTED. THERE'S MANY OPPORTUNITIES WITH PARTNERSHIP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY PUT RESOURCES TOWARDS SMALLER-SCALE PILOTS THAT COULD EVENTUALLY END UP TO BE A SOLUTION THAT'S BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.

I WOULD FULLY ENDORSE THAT IDEA IN GOING FORWARD. STAFF'S DONE GOOD WORK ON THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS ON IT. ALL RIGHT, ERIK, BACK TO YOU FOR ITEM NO. 2.

>> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. OUR SECOND ITEM IS A PRESENTATION ON CHILDCARE FACILITY PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. JUST IN TERMS OF BACKGROUND, ON NOVEMBER 7, VOTERS HERE IN THE STATE APPROVED TEXAS PROPOSITION 2, WHICH IS A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR CHILDCARE FACILITIES , WHICH AUTHORIZES CITIES AND COUNTIES THE OPTION TO EXEMPT QUALIFYING CHILDCARE FACILITIES FROM PROPERTY TAXES. TROY'S GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE REQUIREMENTS.

HE'S BEEN WORKING PRETTY CLOSELY WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WHO IS RAPIDLY TRYING TO IMPLEMENT.

AND WE TYPICALLY -- EXEMPTIONS ARE APPROVED UP UNTIL JUNE. THE ITEM TODAY IS BASED ON THE FIRST-YEAR APPLICATION. THE TIMELINES ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SO IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO, WE'RE DOING THIS PRESENTATION TODAY SO THAT WE COULD GET IT ON THE AGENDA THE FIRST WEEK IN APRIL. TROY'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DEADLINES.

THE DEADLINES ARE ACTUALLY ON MAY 15 SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT QUALIFYING CHILDCARE FACILITIES HAVE TIME TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT PROCESS TO APPLY FOR THE

EXEMPTION. TROY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TROY ELLIOTT, DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

I THINK ERIK SUMMED UP MY PRESENTATION IN A NUTSHELL. I'LL KIND OF GO THROUGH IT HERE VERY, VERY QUICKLY. BUT MY PRESENTATION TODAY, AS ERIK SAID, IS PROVIDING A RECOMMENDATION ON PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR QUALIFYING CHILDCARE FACILITIES.

IT WENT THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE FORM OF SB1145 LAST YEAR.

IT WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND WAS APPROVED AS A LEGISLATIVE-REFERRED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, REQUIRING IT TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR THEIR APPROVAL.

THE VOTERS APPROVED IT IN THE NOVEMBER 3 ELECTION AND AMENDED THE CONSTITUTION.

WHAT THAT DOES IS IT MAKES A LOCAL OPTION AVAILABLE FOR YOU AS COUNCIL TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT

[00:45:02]

AUTHORIZES A CITY OR MUNICIPALITY THE ABILITY TO GRANT A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION TO A QUALIFYING CHILDCARE FACILITY. I'LL GO OVER WHAT A QUALIFYING CHILDCARE FACILITY. THE EXEMPTION MUST BE AT LEAST 50% OR HIGHER.

IT COULD BE 50% OR ANY LEVEL UP TO 100% OF THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE REAL PROPERTY.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE EXEMPTION MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BASED ON STATUTE BEFORE APRIL 30. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THAT AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS AT THE ELECTION OF THE CHIEF APPRAISER. WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BCAD AND THE CHIEF APPRAISER AND HE IS WILLING TO DO THAT. SO THE DEADLINE WOULD BE EXTENDED TO MAY 15. AS MENTIONED, TYPICALLY WHEN WE BROUGHT EXEMPTIONS TO YOU IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD A JULY DEADLINE BUT THE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE THE APPLICATIONS TO BCAD BY APRIL 30 FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR THE TAX YEAR 2024 AND EFFECTIVE FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025. AS PART OF THIS PROCESS THERE'S AN APPLICATION.

THE APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE BCAD WEBSITE. IF ANYBODY IS LISTENING, IT CAN BE FOUND ON THE BCAD WEBSITE UNDER THEIR FORMS TAB UNDER THE EXEMPTIONS.

THERE ARE TWO APPLICATIONS THERE. BUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE YOU MUST BE HIRED BY THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM.

AND THERE'S THREE LEVELS UNDER THE TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM WHERE YOU MUST QUALIFY FOR THE LOWEST LEVEL. ALSO AT LEAST 20% OF THE CHILDREN ENROLLED MUST RECEIVE SUBSIDIZED CHILDCARE SERVICES OUT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION PARTICIPATING WITHIN THAT FACILITY. THOSE THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE THE EXEMPTION, IF YOU ARE AN OWNER OF A CHILDCARE FACILITY AND YOU OWN THE REAL ESTATE ITSELF, THEN YOU CAN FILE THAT EXEMPTION BASED ON THOSE REQUIREMENTS ON THE LEFT. ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU ARE A OWNER OF THE BUSINESS AND YOU LEASE YOUR FACILITY, YOU ARE AVAILABLE FOR A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION TO BE PASSED DOWN FROM YOUR LANDLORD OR LESSOR THROUGH THEM SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION AND THEN THERE'S AN AFFIDAVIT THAT ANY EXEMPTION RECEIVED FOR THAT PROPERTY BE PASSED THROUGH TO THE CHILDCARE FACILITY IN THE TERM OF A CREDIT OR ADJUSTMENT TO THEIR RENT.

IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF IMPLEMENTING THIS EXEMPTION, IN BEING A NEW EXEMPTION WE HAD TO WORK WITH DHS. THE ESTIMATES I'M SHARING WITH YOU TODAY ARE ALREADY CHANGING BASED ON BEXAR COUNTY APPROVING IT LAST WEEK AND SOME OF THE EXEMPTIONS BEING RECEIVED AND THE NUMBER OF TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE INCREASING AS WE SPEAK. BUT WE DID THIS AS OF FEBRUARY. AS OF 2023 THERE WERE 714 LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITIES IN SAN ANTONIO. AS OF FEBRUARY, THERE WERE 133 IDENTIFIED AS PARTICIPATING IN THE TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM. IN TALKING TO MELODY THIS MORNING, THAT HAS ACTUALLY GROWN TO 188 PARTICIPANTS. SO IT IS CHANGING.

OF THAT 133, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT. FOUR OF THOSE ARE HOMESTEADS.

HOMESTEADS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE FOR THIS EXEMPTION BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HAVE A GENERAL RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD AND QUALIFYING CHILDCARE EXEMPTION.

36 WERE AMOUNT EXEMPT. 17 ARE LEASED FACILITIES. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PORTION THAT WOULD BE TAXABLE VALUE. AND ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF UNKNOWNS ON THESE ESTIMATES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF THESE FACILITIES SO OF THAT, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT, OF THE 76 FACILITIES, $84.5 MILLION OF THAT IS THE TAXABLE VALUE. WHAT THAT RELATES TO IN FOREGONE REVENUE.

IF WE WERE TO DO A 50% EXEMPTION AT $42 MILLION IN TAXABLE VALUE, ABOUT $228,000 IN REVENUE LOSS ARE OF BENEFIT TO THE QUALIFYING CHILDCARE FACILITIES . IF WE WENT TO 100% ESTIMATED VALUE EXEMPTED OF $84 MILLION, THAT'S ROUGHLY GOING TO BE $457,000.

THAT $457,000 IS THE TOTAL TAX RATE. THAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT TO OUR GENERAL FUND AND TO OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND. ROUGHLY 60% TO THE GENERAL FUND, 40% TO THE DEBT SERVICE FUND. ABOUT $278,000. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE ARE ESTIMATES. THIS NUMBER IS WRONG AS I'M PRESENTING IT TO YOU AND IT'S GOING TO CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN BUT WE THINK THAT $500,000 WOULD BE KIND OF A GOOD STARTING

[00:50:05]

AS FAR AS OUR RECOMMENDATION, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE MOVE TO 100% PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR QUALIFIED CHILDCARE FACILITIES. IF AGREEABLE BY Y'ALL TODAY, WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AND PUT AN ITEM ON AGENDA FOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL ON APRIL 4. WE ARE PREPARED TO REACH OUT TO THE CHILDCARE FACILITIES I MENTIONED ON THE PRIOR PAGE AND JUST PROVIDE THEM NOTICE THAT CONTINGENT UPON COUNCIL APPROVAL ON APRIL 4, THIS EXEMPTION IS OUT THERE AND LISTED ON B BCAD.

THE DEADLINE WILL BE MAY 15 FOR OUR 2024 TAX YEAR WHICH WOULD HAVE THE IMPACT ON OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025. ESTIMATED IMPACT SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $500,000 IN REVENUE THAT WOULD BE FOREGONE, OF WHICH ABOUT 60% OF THAT IMPACTS OUR GENERAL FUND.

I PROMISED A SHORT PRESENTATION SO, MAYOR, AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL MAY HAVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TROY AND TO YOU AND BEN AND ERIK AND THE TEAM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EXPEDITING THIS, GIVEN THE DEADLINE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS NEW PROPOSITION. SO I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE RECOMMENDATION.

I THINK IT'S A SMALL STEP BUT A MEANINGFUL STEP THAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THE CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH ARE ONLY MOUNTING AS WE SPEAK.

LET ME TURN IT FIRST OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE, WHO WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING THIS TO OUR COLLEAGUES. BUT AS YOU SEE WE'RE MOVING FORWARD VERY QUICKLY.

SO, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY STAFF. WE SPOKE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO ABOUT THIS AND I ASKED THE CITY STAFF TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE HOW QUICKLY WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESPOND BECAUSE OF THAT MAY 15TH FILING DEADLINE. AND I'M VERY PLEASED THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE HAVE. YOU KNOW, I ASKED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SIGN A CCR, AND SEVERAL OF YOU DID. BUT WHEN I STARTED TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT PRESENTING IT, WE REALIZED IT WOULD PROBABLY EVEN DELAY THE ACTION BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW A CCR IS GOING TO GO THROUGH GOVERNANCE, THEN IT VERY WELL COULD BE SENT TO A B SESSION OR IT COULD BE SENT TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE.

AND WITH THE TIMELINE WE WERE FACING AND THE DIRECTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER WAS GOING IN, IT SEEMED TO MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE JUST TO GO AHEAD AND BRING IT FORWARD.

I JUST WANT TO OFFER THE BRIEF BACKGROUND THAT WE SHARED WITH THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS-BASED CHILD WELFARE ORGANIZATION TEXAS AT RISK, TEXAS LOST 21% OF THE PROVIDERS FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER OF THESE PROGRAMS WHICH CLOSED DURING THIS PERIOD, 41% OF THE PROVIDERS SERVED INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

79% WERE CLASSIFIED AS CHILDCARE CENTERS. WHEN THESE PROVIDERS COULD NO LONGER OFFER THEIR SERVICES, THE PARENTS TO THESE INFANTS AND THE TODDLERS HAD TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE OR FIND ALTERNATIVE CHILDCARE. MORE LIKELY WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

FOR THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THAT DID FIND A WAY TO REMAIN OPEN, EVERY DAY WAS A STRUGGLE.

WITH VERY THIN MARGINS DUE TO INCREASING COSTS, WAGES, SUPPLIES, AND RENT.

THESE COSTS WERE CERTAINLY PASSED ON TO YOUNG WORKING FAMILIES.

SO SB1145 REALLY PROVIDED A PATHWAY TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT TAX RELIEF, AS WE'VE GIVEN MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THIS CITY WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE EITHER THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE OR DO THE BUSINESSES THEY DO OR BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE HOMES THAT THEY LIVE IN.

AND SO THIS REALLY IS A VERY IMPORTANT AVENUE FOR THE CITY TO TAKE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF EVERYDAY LIFE FOR PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, HAVING CHILDCARE SERVICES AND RESPONSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE CHILDCARE SERVICES. THERE WAS A LETTER THAT WAS CIRCULATED TO COMMUNITY LEADERS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER HERE BUT I WANT TO JUST MENTION SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SIGNED THIS LETTER. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE JOHN GATHERWITZ, JOHN HOLT, MICHAEL KABASA. HARVEY NAJIM. FRANCESCA FROM THE YWCA.

[00:55:07]

I THINK IT MAKES A BIG IMPACT ON PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK, WHO ARE WORKING, WHO ARE GOING THROUGH OUR TRAINING PROGRAM THROUGH READY TO WORK. AND SO MANY OTHER DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALWAYS STRUGGLING TO FIND RESPONSIBLE CHILDCARE.

SO I JUST WANT TO URGE US, AS A CITY COUNCIL, TO APPROVE THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THIS IS OUR FIRST STEP, HAVING A HEARING ABOUT IT. I HOPE ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS WILL ASK THOSE AND CAN SATISFY THEMSELVES AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS SOMETHING WELL WORTH OUR

DOING AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: IF I HAVE A MINUTE OR SO, A FEW MORE MINUTES.

I WANTED TO CALL OR MARK WITH EARLY MATTERS WHO PUT THIS FORWARD TO GET THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY ON THIS, IF I MAY. MARK .

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILPERSON. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS IN FRONT OF YOU HERE. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO IS A KEY PIECE OF OUR EDUCATION PIPELINE GOING ALL THE WAY UP.

AND IT'S A KEY PIECE OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES CAN GO TO WORK.

WE ARE AT A CHALLENGING TIME. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS HAVE BY AND LARGE RECOVERED FROM COVID ENROLLMENT. BUT WHAT THEY HAVEN'T RECOVERED FROM IS THE INFLATION OR THE RISING IN WAGES THAT JOBS THAT PEOPLE CAN SWITCH TO WITHOUT FURTHER EDUCATION.

IT USED TO BE THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD PAID $11 AN HOUR. BILL MILLERS WAS $12.

WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND TI. WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS WITH UNITED WAY AND EARLY MATTERS, WE ARE THE ONES WHO TOOK THE LEAD ON CIRCULATING THE LETTER THAT WE HOPE YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT TO GET A LOT OF BOTH CITY LEADER NAMES AS WELL AS CHILDCARE PROVIDER NAMES. THE TIME THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR YOUNG -- FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN DID A SURVEY TO SAY WITH THE LOSS OF THE ARPA FUNDING THAT WAS AVAILABLE AND HAS EXPIRED, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT A CHILDCARE CENTER WILL CLOSE IN THE NEXT YEAR TO 18 MONTHS. WE HAD 27% OF OUR CENTERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE LIKELY OR VERY LIKELY TO CLOSE WITH ANOTHER 42% THAT SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO EARLY CHILDHOOD SECTOR BUT EVEN MORE SO TO THE -- IN ADDITION, AS A RIPPLE EFFECT, THE WORKFORCE THAT RELIES ON THE CENTERS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK. SO, WITH THAT, I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL ADDRESSING IT TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF A NUMBER OF YOU ON THIS.

AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DIG IN AND HOPEFULLY VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE FULL 100% EXEMPTION.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MARK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> SEGOVIA: YES, THANK YOU.

JUST TO CLARIFY, THE COUNCIL IS NOT DECIDING ANYTHING TODAY. THIS IS A BRIEFING PROVIDING INFORMATION. THE ABILITY FOR COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS.

AND IF AND WHEN IT DOES GET PUT ON THE AGENDA, THAT'S WHEN THE AGENDA WILL BE MADE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR MAKING SURE THAT YOU PUT THIS AT THE FOREFRONT.

ALSO THANK YOU, TROY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR THOROUGH PRESENTATIONS. WE KNOW THAT CHILDCARE IS A CHALLENGE AND I FEEL THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST TASKS FOR THE CHIEF APPRAISER, THE NEW ONE.

I'M HAPPY. HE HAS PASSED THE FIRST TEST WITH THE EXTENSION TO MAY 15.

I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF CHILDCARE CENTERS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THIS OPTION.

I'M GLAD THAT WE AFFORDED THAT ADDITIONAL TIME SO THAT THEY COULD LEARN ABOUT IT.

I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT CHILDCARE TODAY IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS PART OF OUR WORKFORCE ECOSYSTEM BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET TALKED ENOUGH ABOUT AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT AND SO THE BUILDING THAT FUTURE WORKFORCE. WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO AND THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO A PROBLEM THAT HAS A THRILLED TO SEE THERE'S ACTUALLY NOW A BUSINESS CASE WHERE CHILDCARE PLAYS INTO THE EQUATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND SO IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT MORE WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE. IT MIGHT BE THAT MAYBE EVEN THAT

[01:00:02]

SHE OVERSEES THE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. I ACTUALLY LEARNED ABOUT THE CHILDCARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND STATE PLAN THROUGH ONE OF HER E-MAILS.

AND SO THERE'S A PLAN THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW AT THE TEXAS WATERTEXAS WORKFORCE COMMD THAT INFORMS CHILDCARE POLICIES IN TEXAS. IT TALKS ABOUT STRATEGIC POLICIES THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT TO IDENTIFY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CHILDCARE ACROSS THE STATE. AND SO LAST FALL, TO THAT POINT, THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION HOSTED THE NATIONAL BUSINESS LEADERS IN ACTION SUMMIT HELD IN DENVER, COLORADO.

THEY DID THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER, WHICH MANY OF US HAVE BEEN TO ROUNDTABLES WITH THEM AND WITH THE EXECUTIVES PARTNERING TO INVEST IN CHILDCARE, IT'S EPIC. THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES.

IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM SOME INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND INNOVATETORS LOOKING AT THIS WORKFORCE RETENTION AND KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES AND SO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE HELPING ADDRESS THAT. THE CHAMBER FOUNDATION HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS. IT'S A TWO-GENERATION APPROACH. IT'S DEFINITELY THE TWO-GENERATION WORKFORCE ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE TODAY FOR OUR WORKFORCE BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO THRIVE TOMORROW. AND SO OUR STATE LOSES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR BECAUSE OF CHILDCARE BREAKDOWN SO IMAGINE THE CHUNK THAT COMES FROM SAN ANTONIO.

I APPRECIATE OUR LOCAL CHAMBER FOR KEEPING US ABREAST OF THE DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I HOPE THAT TODAY, AS WE TALK ABOUT IT, WE INVOLVE OUR CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CHILDCARE DIVISION BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS.

EARLIER TODAY I THANKED MELODY BECAUSE HER TEAM DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

I WAS REVIEWING THE LIST OF QUALITY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND READING ABOUT THE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY, INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY CHILD SERVICES.

I'D LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLLABORATION WITH DHS AND THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS THAT CHALLENGE OF CHILDCARE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, AS AN ELEMENT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR CHILDCARE. SOME ALIGNMENT OF STRATEGIC GOALS, MAYBE THROUGH DHD, EDD AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING TODAY, IT'S LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IT'S A GOOD TOOL BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY TOOL THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT CHILDCARE CHALLENGE. SO I HATE WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THIS, BUT TASK FORCE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF THERE'S A TASK FORCE THAT CAN BE CONVENED -- MAYBE IT CAN BE CONVENED BY THE GREATER CHAMBER WITH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR TO DISCUSS CHILDCARE.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE OUR FOLKS AT THAT TABLE. THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP THAT I THINK SHOULD BE INCLUDED SHOULD REPRESENT OBVIOUSLY THE CHAMBER BUT WSA.

WSA LEAVES A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE FOR CHILDCARE. I HAVE QUESTIONED IT YEAR AFTER YEAR AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. HOW DO WE GET THAT MESSAGE OUT? GREATER SATX, THIS SHOULD BE THEIR CALLING. THIS IS OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE AS WELL. AND THEN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS OUR LARGE LOCAL EMPLOYER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I FEEL LIKE MAYBE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS, ALL OF THESE GROUPS, BUT THEY'RE WORKING IN SILOS AND I THINK WE CAN INFLUENCE POLICY FOR THESE FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THEY'RE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND IN TURN IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A GREAT BENEFIT TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. LOOK TO HAVE MAYBE THAT DISCUSSION OF WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO AND JUST REALLY ENCOURAGE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF TASK FORCE COME AS A RESULT OF THIS BEING ONE TOOL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M DOWN.

LET'S GET IT ON THE AGENDA. MY PRIORITY IS CHILDCARE FACILITIES AND CHILDCARE DESERTS. THESE ARE ALSO AREAS WHERE PROPERTY TAXES ARE SKYROCKETING SO THERE'S A CORRELATION BETWEEN THIS EXEMPTION AND THE ABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF AN ENTITY THAT WANTS TO OPEN A CHILDCARE FACILITY. I KNOW ONE ISSUE IS THE VIABILITY OF CHILDCARE FACILITIES AS A BUSINESS. THIS MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THAT VIABILITY BUT MY EXPECTATION IS ALSO THAT WE WORK TO FIND WAYS THAT THE COST OF CHILDCARE BE DECREASED SO IT'S AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE. BECAUSE THAT CONTINUES TO BE A CONCERN OF MY CONSTITUENTS. AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD AT PUBLIC COMMENT FOLK COME AND SAY THEIR

[01:05:08]

THAT WAS SOMETIME LAST TERM SO THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR QUITE SOMETIME NOW.

I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO THINK OF SERVE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. I DO WONDER -- AND THIS WILL BE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.

DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH CHILDCARE CAPACITY IS ADDRESSED AT NON-COMMERCIAL FACILITIES? BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WON'T QUALIFY FOR THE TAX EXEMPTION. I'M WONDERING WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDCARE FACILITIES THAT ARE NON-COMMERCIAL FACILITIES.

I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA JUST MENTIONED A COUPLE. >> WE KNOW HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED AND HOW MANY ARE RECEIVING THE SUBSIDY, WE'RE FUNDED TO SERVE 12,000 TO 13,000

THIS YEAR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THAT'S NON-COMMERCIAL?

>> THAT'S LICENSED FACILITIES, WHETHER THEY'RE PRIVATE. WHETHER THEY'RE PUBLIC.

NONPROFITS. THAT'S OUR TOTAL. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, FOLK WHO WILL NOT QUALIFY ARE PEOPLE WHO THE PROPERTY IS THEIR HOMESTEAD. WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLK WHO PROVIDE CHILDCARE IN HOMES AND SO WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE OUTSIDE OF THIS TO SUPPORT THERE, I GUESS IS THE GIST OF MY

QUESTION. >> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK WITH YOU WITH. WE'LL DO SOME RESEARCH AND TALK TO SOME OF OUR OTHER

STAKEHOLDERS AND LOOK AT HOW WE ACCOMPLISH THAT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: OKAY.

>> THIS IS PART OF OUR STUDY WE HAVE WITH TEXAS A&M. IT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS.

WE DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW SO WE'RE LOOKING AT FAMILY HOME PROVIDERS, CENTER-BASED PROVIDERS, AND FINDING OUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF THEIR ACTUAL CAPACITY AND HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY HAVE ENROLLED. THINGS LIKE WAGES, COSTS SO THAT WE'LL HAVE A BETTER ANSWER.

THAT SHOULD BE OUT SOMETIME THIS SUMMER. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WONDERFUL.

I THINK ONE OF THE TELLS OF AN EXCELLENT STAFF IS WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION, THEY HAVE AN ANSWER AND IF THEY DON'T, THEY'RE ALREADY LOOKING FOR IT. THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR AND I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO EXPLORE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE FACILITIES THAT MAYBE WON'T BE

ASSISTED IN THIS WAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR INITIATING THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL AS TO CITY STAFF FOR MOVING IT WITH URGENCY. THE TEXAS RISING STAR CERTIFICATION -- AND THE SLIDE 4 IS VERY HELPFUL IN UNDERSTANDING HOW MANY ARE LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITIES AND HOW MANY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THE UNITED WAY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS IDENTIFIED THAT WITHIN DISTRICT 5, IN PARTICULAR, ONLY 17 OUT OF 39 HAVE THEIR TEXAS RISING STAR CERTIFICATION.

SO I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY THAT WHILE WE'RE INITIATING THIS WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO THESE FACILITIES THAT AREN'T CERTIFIED ON WHAT THAT PROCESS IS LIKE. AND HOW WE CAN HELP THEM INITIATE THAT PROCESS TO THEN SEEK THIS TAX EXEMPTION. BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION ON PROPERTY TAXES, THE WEST SIDE, WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL, OUR REAL ESTATE IS GETTING EATEN UP BY NONPROFITS AND I WANT TO ENSURE THAT FOR OUR CHILDCARE FACILITIES THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO HOLD ON AND OPERATE AND

PROVIDE THAT CARE TO OUR CHILDREN. >> RIGHT.

WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO, PRE-K 4 SA, AND UNITED WAY AND EARLY MATTERS, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT TO IDENTIFY WHERE ARE ALL THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE NOT IN TRS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT OVERLAPPING SERVICES BECAUSE THOSE CENTERS THAT TEND TO BE GO GETTERS AND KNOW ABOUT THE SYSTEM, THEY TEND TO GET MULTIPLE SUPPORTS FROM MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS AND WE'RE TRYING TO ALIGN OUR EFFORTS TO DO JUST THAT.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A LACK OF INTEREST IN CENTERS GETTING INTO TRS, IT'S A LACK OF KNOW-HOW OR TIME TO DO IT. AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS KNOW HOW TO DO THAT AND WE'RE PROVIDING THAT DIRECT SUPPORT. AS WELL AS FUNDING TO HELP THEM GET THE EDUCATION AND THE

MATERIALS THEY NEED TO BECOME TRS CERTIFIED. >> CASTILLO: THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR AND THE TEXAS RISING STAR HAS A LIST OF THOSE WHO ARE AND AREN'T CERTIFIED.

WE PULLED FOR DISTRICT 5. I'M CURIOUS TO SEE THE ENTIRE CITY.

IF A HEAT MAP COULD BE PROVIDED TO US ON WHERE ARE THE TEXAS RISING STAR CERTIFIED, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN UNDERSTANDING WHICH PARTS OF THE CITY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR

[01:10:03]

THIS TAX EXEMPTION. >> WE DO HAVE A HEAT MAP FOR THAT AND WE'RE PUTTING THAT TOGETHER TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR OTHER FOLKS. MEL, EVERYBODY IS WORKING ON

THIS. >> I JUST WANTED TO ADD. THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES HAS A GRANT FROM WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO ON TOP OF THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM GRANT TO DO MENTORING FOR TEXAS RISING STAR QUALITY INITIATIVES. AND SO ACTUALLY THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW. YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER APPROVING THAT WE APPLY FOR THAT GRANT FOR THE FOURTH TIME, I THINK. AND SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE HELPING AGENCIES. WE ALSO HAVE THE HEAT MAP THAT WILL SHOW WHERE THOSE CENTERS ARE AND ARE NOT TEXAS RISING STAR CERTIFIED BUT THEY ARE MANDATED TO BE TEXAS RISING STAR BY OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR. AND SO THAT PROCESS IS MOVING VERY QUICKLY.

WE DO THE MENTORING AND THEN THE STATE DOES THE CERTIFICATION AND THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH THOSE

RAPIDLY. >> CASTILLO: THAT'S HELPFUL AND IF YOU COULD SEND THAT HEAT MAP, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH, AS WE PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE COST OF CHILDCARE IS HIGH.

I KNOW PERSONALLY WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR CHILDCARE FOR MY GIRLS, STICKER SHOCK.

ALSO TOO, AS COUNCILMAN COURAGE WAS SAYING, SO MANY OF THEM CLOSED.

AND SO THEN YOU'RE ON A WAIT LIST. YOU HAVE TO GET ON A WAIT LIST LIKE WHEN YOU'RE PREGNANT, WHICH IS A WHOLE OTHER BARRIER TO ALL OF THESE THINGS.

OBVIOUSLY THIS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS WOMEN AND SINGLE PARTS.

PARENTS. WHILE I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS TO MAKE CHILDCARE MORE ACCESSIBLE, I WANT THE TAX BREAK TO BENEFIT THE OPERATORS OF THE FACILITIES BUT I ALSO WANT IT TO BENEFIT THE FAMILIES WHO USE THE FACILITIES. ARE THERE INSTANCES WHERE THE LANDLORD IS THE SOLE BENEFICIARY OF THIS TAX BREAK. HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN? >> AS FAR AS IF YOU OWN THE FACILITY AND OWN THE REAL ESTATE, YOU'LL GET THE EXEMPTION. IF YOU'RE A LESSEE THEN THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THAT LANDLORD PASS THAT EXEMPTION DOWN TO YOU AS A BENEFICIARY.

BUT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT THAT GO TOWARDS ANY TYPE OF REDUCED DAYCARE COSTS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS. IT STAYS AT THE OWNER LEVEL, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> GAVITO: SO THEN WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT IT'S GOING TO -- >> I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT'S

GOING TO FLOW ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE PARTICIPANTS. >> GAVITO: I DO THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE LARGE INTENT OF THIS IS TO HELP OUR WORKING FAMILIES AND OUR MOMS AND I'M WONDERING WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT COST IS PASSED DOWN TO THE FAMILIES AND TO THE

MOMS. >> I'M NOT SURE. WE CAN LOOK AT THAT.

I THINK LARGELY THE INTENT WAS TO BASICALLY MAKE SURE YOUR OPERATORS TODAY ACTUALLY HAVE

THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE. >> GAVITO: SURE.

>> AND INCENTIVIZE MORE IN THE FUTURE. >> SEGOVIA: I'M SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN. BECAUSE IT'S STATE DRIVEN, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE TAXPAYER, IN THIS CASE, UNLESS THERE'S A STIPULATION IN THE STATE LAW, WHICH THERE IS, IN TERMS OF PASSING IT ON TO A LESSEE BUT THAT'S WHERE IT STOPS.

SO WE CAN'T AUGMENT THAT BY REQUIRING IT TO GO TO THE ACTUAL CUSTOMERS OF THE FACILITY.

>> GAVITO: I THINK THE LARGE INTENT AND THE ASSUMPTION THAT A LOT OF US HAVE IS THAT IT IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL TO THE FAMILIES WHO USE THESE FACILITIES.

I THINK THAT'S -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES' BEHALF BUT THAT'S

WHO WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT. >> THIS WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS ANTICIPATED AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS. AS A DIVISION THAT WORKS DIRECTLY WITH CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE FOR THE PROVIDERS TO GET THIS TAX BREAK AND THEN WE CAN WORK WITH PROVIDERS TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU PASS THESE ON, BOTH TO WAGES FOR THE WORKERS, BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG ISSUE TOO, AS WELL AS FOR FAMILIES. AND SO FAMILIES RIGHT NOW JUST NEED CHILDCARE CENTERS TO BE OPEN AND TO BE QUALITY. THAT'S THEIR MAIN THING. WE DO KNOW THAT COST IS AN ISUE BUT I THINK FOR THIS FOR THE WORKERS AS WELL AS LOWER COSTS FOR FAMILIES. BUT THE MORE COMPLICATED WE MAKE

[01:15:04]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF I CAN ADD, I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY DESIGNED TO HELP KEEP CHILDCARE

FACILITIES OPEN. >> CORRECT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE A LOT OF CHILDCARE FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SUBSIDIZED IN VARIOUS WAYS, SOME THROUGH ARPA.

THOSE SUBSIDIES ARE ENDING AND THERE'S A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF THOSE THAT ARE IN TEXAS THAT ARE FACING A FISCAL CLIFF AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THIS IS INTENDED TO BE ONE OF

THE SOLUTIONS TO THAT. >> GAVITO: I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF KIND OF KEEPING IT SIMPLE FIRST. BUT I WOULD JUST PUSH ON US TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT THE ULTIMATE BENEFICIARIES IS THOSE MOMS AND SINGLE PARENTS. YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, THE FIRST STEP IS KEEPING THESE FACILITIES OPEN. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I CONSIDER THE PROPOSED TAX EXEMPTION TO BE A STRONG WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TOOL. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT CHILDCARE IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUT WE REALLY SHOULD. HAVING SAID THAT, I'M PRETTY DISAPPOINTED.

I HAD THE SAME QUESTION THAT COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO HAD ABOUT HOW WE'RE TRACKING OR IF THERE'S A REQUIREMENT TO PASS THAT SAVINGS ON TO THE WORKING FAMILY.

I UNDERSTAND. I HEAR KEEP THE FACILITY OPEN SO THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO THE FAMILIES BUT WITH THAT -- I KNOW WE DISCUSSED IT A LITTLE BIT TODAY -- BUT ARE WE LACKING IN CHILDCARE FACILITIES? IS THERE A GAP THERE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT NOW?

>> WE'RE LACKING QUALITY. WITH SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE CHILDCARE DESERTS, 11 OF OUR ZIP CODES ARE CHILDCARE DESERTS. WHAT WE LACK IS QUALITY CHILDCARE AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH WAGES AND THE MATERIALS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND THE TRS RATING.

>> HAVRDA: HOW ARE YOU TRACKING QUALITY IN THIS PROGRAM?

>> WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT TRS AND SEE HOW MANY OF THESE PROVIDERS ARE GETTING INTO

TRICENTENNIALS -- THERE'S FOUR LEVELS. >> HAVRDA: WHAT IS TRS?

>> TEXAS RISING STARS IS A QUALITY INDICATOR SYSTEM. FROM THIS STUDY WE'RE DOING WITH TEXAS A&M, WE'LL KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CENTERS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND BE ABLE TO TRACK OUR WAGES INCREASING, IS THE COST DECREASING. AND, REMEMBER, THIS IS AIMED AT PROVIDERS SERVING WITH FAMILIES IN THE GREATEST NEED. THEY'RE IN THE PROGRAM THAT DHS PROVIDES SO THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING LOW COST. WE HOPE IT WILL BENEFIT OTHER FAMILIES THAT AREN'T QUALIFYING FOR CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES EITHER BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THE WAITING

LIST OR TOO HIGH. >> HAVRDA: IS THERE A COST TO BE INVOLVED IN THE

TRICENTENNIALS PROGRAM? >> NOT DIRECTLY BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MATERIAL AND CURRICULUM, WHICH PRE-K 4 SA IS PROVIDING THOSE SUPPORTS DIRECTLY, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS

ALAMO PROVIDES THOSE DOLLARS. >> HAVRDA: IT SEEMS A LITTLE CIRCULAR.

THIS DEPENDS ON THAT DEPENDS ON THIS. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN PLACE. I THINK WHAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WAS TALKING ABOUT, MAYBE SOME -- I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS WHAT SHE MEANT, BUT BARRIERS TO GETTING INTO THAT PROGRAM AND WHERE THEY ARE. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE SUPPORT FOR THE

CHILDCARE FACILITIES TO EVEN GET INTO IT. >> THERE DOES.

RIGHT. >> HAVRDA: AND TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY, TO BE ABLE TO GET THE EXEMPTION, MAYBE, AND TO BE ABLE TO PASS THAT POTENTIALLY ON TO THE FAMILY.

SO, I DON'T KNOW. I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE VERY MUCH LACKING HERE. I HEAR YOU SAYING YOU'RE DOING ALL THE STUDIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IN A YEAR,

JUST REALLY CLOSELY TRACK THE PROGRESS OF IT. >> LET ME DIFFERENTIATE.

WE KNOW EXACTLY WHICH CENTERS ARE IN TRICENTENNIALS AND WHICH ARE NOT AND WHICH ARE WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION. WE HAVE A BIGGER ISSUE WITH FAMILY HOME PROVIDERS.

WE HAVE FEWER HOME PROVIDERS WHO ARE IN TRICENTENNIALS FOR THE SAME REASONS.

BOTH PRE-K 4 SA IS WORKING ON -- WE HAVE 100 PROVIDERS THAT WE ARE WORKING TO GET THEM IN TRICENTENNIALS AND UP TO QUALITY. UNITED WAY HAS COACHES.

WE HAVE EXPANDED THAT TO TRY TO ALIGN THIS . IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE BUT EVEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS PUTTING IN MONEY TO HELP WITH THINGS LIKE WHEN A PROVIDER

[01:20:01]

ACTUALLY A COUNTY-WIDE PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS. >> HAVRDA: SO YOU SAID THAT -- I THINK IT'S FUNNY THAT YOU SAID EVEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. BUT THE 100 OR SO YOU SAID

YOU'RE PROVIDING SERVICE TO, THOSE INCLUDE HOME BASED? >> HOME PROVIDERS.

>> TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. >> WALSH: THAT'S THE TAX EXEMPTION.

WHAT SARAH IS TALKING ABOUT IS THE TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM. THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> HAVRDA: YES, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I UNDERSTAND THIS TAX EXEMPTION IS NOT -- HOME CHILDCARE FACILITIES ARE NOT

ELIGIBLE. >> IF THEY HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ALREADY.

BUT THERE ARE SOME IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. >> HAVRDA: SO THAT'S A LITTLE

BIT -- OKAY. SO -- >> JUST TO CLARIFY, COUNCILWOMAN. IT CAN BE EITHER/OR BUT IT CAN'T BE BOTH.

EITHER YOU'RE GOING TO USE YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OR THIS EXEMPTION BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE

BOTH. >> HAVRDA: I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.

BUT EARLIER YOU SAID -- I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. I'M NOT TRYING TO -- THAT THERE'S 100 PROGRAMS OR SO -- YEAH, 100 FACILITIES THAT YOU'RE HELPING.

BUT IS THAT -- DOES THAT INCLUDE HOME-BASED CHILDCARE FACILITIES THAT ARE -- THAT DO HAVE THE

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION? >> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

THIS IS ALL SO NEW. >> HAVRDA: A LOT OF THESE NUMBERS DON'T SEEM REAL SOLID BECAUSE WE'RE MIXING AND MATCHING A LOT OF THEM. I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE HERE IS THE HOME-BASED CHILDCARE CENTERS. SO, ANYWAY, HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, I AM SUPPORTIVE, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MAXIMIZED AND OF COURSE I'D LIKE TO SEE RESULTS. I'M CURIOUS, DOES PRE-K 4 SA, CAN THEY TAKE AN EXEMPTION?

>> WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT. PROBABLY NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T -- WE'RE NOT PART OF CCS, ONLY BECAUSE WE'RE OFFERED FREE SO WE DON'T WANT TO USE THOSE SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS FOR MONEY THAT'S ALREADY FREE TO THE FAMILIES.

>> HAVRDA: OKAY. I HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BUT I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THIS HAS TO BE MAYBE -- MAYBE WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT AS IT'S HAPPENING.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOLID NUMBERS ON WHO ALL IS HELPING THESE CHILDCARE FACILITIES WITH THE -- GET INTO THE TRS PROGRAM THAT ARE GOING TO END UP QUALIFYING FOR THIS.

>> THERE'S TWO PARTS. THAT ONE IS BEING ELIGIBLE TO PLY.

PRE-K 4 SA AND UNITED ARE WORKING ON THAT. SOME AREN'T ELIGIBLE AND ONCE THEY'RE ELIGIBLE AND THEY APPLY, THE MENTORS FROM DHS COME IN AND HELP GET THEM INTO IT.

WE CAN LAY THAT OUT AND SAY HOW MANY, ALL OF US ARE WORKING ACROSS THE CITY BUT IT'S

DEFINITELY A GOAL FOR ALL OF US IN THIS SPACE. >> HAVRDA: AND I THINK THAT'S A BIG CONCERN BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP, AT LEAST RIGHT AWAY, A BIGGER NUMBER OF THESE FACILITIES. BUT THE PURPOSE IS TO GROW IT,

RIGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, WE HAVE 70 FACILITIES IN OUR SHARED SERVICES ALONE. UNITED WAY HAS SOME SO WE'VE GOT PROBABLY A HUGE CHUNK OF THESE 133 IN THERE. THEY HAVE TO BE SIGNED UP BY MAT GO.

WE DID WANT TO LET THE YEAR PASS AND MAKE SURE WE GET IN THERE AND FIGURE IT OUT AND THEN WE

CAN MOVE FORWARD. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND PUSHING THIS FORWARD SO FAST. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.

THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY STAFF THAT ARE HERE THAT ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH AND PARTNER WITH OVER THE YEARS. THIS IS SUCH IMPORTANT WORK.

WE KNOW THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, A KID'S ABILITY TO READ AT THE THIRD-GRADE LEVEL AND THEIR GRADUATION LEVELS.

THAT'S LINKED. IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION RIGHT, WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE GAPS IN OUR CITY. ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT COME TO COUNCIL. A COUPLE OF STATISTICS THAT WE WERE LOOKING UP THAT I WANTED TO SHARE IS JUST THE CHALLENGE WITH THIS WORK.

SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA WAS ASKING.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT QUALITY LOOKS LIKE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

THERE'S NO STATE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS SO VAGUE WHICH IS WHY YOU ALL STARTED THE WORK WITH THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNITED WAY, PRE-K 4 SA, EARLY MATTERS. AND SO A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM OF TRYING TO GET SUPPORT

[01:25:03]

THERE'S A WEBSITE AND IF YOU OVERLAY THE POVERTY MAP WITH THE DESERT MAP YOU'LL SEE A DIRECT CORRELATION. WE SEE THAT WITH A LOT OF STATISTICS.

ALL OF THAT TO BE SAID, IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A FAMILY A 20-MINUTE DRIVE TO GET TO A CHILDCARE CENTER AND MAYBE NOT EVEN A QUALITY CENTER. IF THIS IS ONE STEP -- AND I KNOW IT MAY NOT GO DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO THE OPERATOR, BUT IF I AM AN OPERATOR THAT CAN BARELY AFFORD TO PAY MY STAFF OR PUT THE LIGHTS ON, I CAN'T RELEASE THE BURDEN OFF OF OUR FAMILIES. THIS IS ONE STEP FORWARD THAT WE CAN TAKE IN THAT DIRECTION.

I WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU FOR THE ADVOCACY YOU ALL DID FOR THE PROP 1.

IT WAS GOING TO THE STATE AND THE STATE FOR VOTE. BECAUSE THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT.

THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY AROUND THIS IS AROUND THE OUTREACH.

AND SO IN THE NEXT SLIDE IT WAS SAID THAT ALL OF THE CENTERS ARE GOING TO GET OUTREACH FOR THIS WORK. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT RIGHT.

SO I'M HOPING YOU ALL WILL BE AT THE TABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO DO THAT.

MAYBE WE CAN HOST SOME INFORMATION SESSIONS ON HOW TO ACTUALLY APPLY FOR THE EXEMPTION BECAUSE IF I'M WORRIED ABOUT MAKING SURE MY BOOKS BALANCE, I MAY NOT EVEN BE THINKING ABOUT I HAVE MISSED THAT DATE SO MANY TIMES FOR FILING FOR EXEMPTIONS. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO REACH THEM AHEAD OF TIME. MAYBE MAKE VISITS.

OUR STAFF IS HAPPY TO HELP. MAKE VISITS OR CALLS. WE CAN DO INFORMATION SESSIONS SO THAT WE REALLY GET THIS INTO THEIR HANDS BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF WE PASSED THIS AND THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY TAKE THE BENEFIT BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MUCH ON THEIR PLATES.

SO I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT. AND THEN ALSO JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THE TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM IS A STRONG PROGRAM. YES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS SO WE HAVE TO MOVE TOWARDS THAT.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S SOME LEVEL OF QUALITY INDICATOR THAT'S GOING INTO THERE.

THE LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS THE CCS PROGRAM. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK.

WE KNOW YOU'RE GETTING SOME GRANT FUNDING FOR THAT AND THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK. WE WILL KEEP THAT THERE AND SUPPORT IT.

BUT WANTING TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT WORK TOO IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR SO IF THERE'S MORE SPACE WE CAN CREATE FOR CCS SERVICES IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS. WHAT YOU JUST SAID, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, STRUCK ME.

A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH THE FIRST STEP AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. A FIRST STEP. YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, FOR EXAMPLE, BY TEXAS A&M ON RESEARCH ON CHILDCARE, THE ONGOING WORK THAT'S GOING ON WITH PRE-K 4 SA IN SUPPORTING THAT. I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT.

AND I SUPPORT, I THINK WHAT'S BEEN SUGGESTED IS WE HAVE SOME KIND OF CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANGLES.

BUT ALSO I THINK THIS NEEDS TO GO ON OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR 2025.

AS ONE OF THE MAXIMUM EFFORTS WE CAN PUSH FOR EXPANDING STATE CHILDCARE SUPPORT.

OBVIOUSLY, I THINK WE'RE ALL MENTIONING THIS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IF PEOPLE CAN'T WORK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE FOR THEIR CHILD TO BE CARED FOR WHILE THEY'RE WORKING. IF PEOPLE CAN'T GO THROUGH TRAINING TO GET A NEW JOB BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO SAFELY AND RELIABLY PLACE THEIR CHILD, THEN THIS AFFECTS THE ECONOMY OF THIS CITY AND ALL OF TEXAS. I BELIEVE THE LEGISLATURE BEGAN TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN THEY PROMOTED 1135. AND PUT THE PROPOSAL ON THE BALLOT. BUT OBVIOUSLY IT HAS LIMITATIONS.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE ADVOCATING FOR EXPANDING THE STATE SUPPORT.

AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO SEE US, PARTICULARLY PRE-K 4 SA, CONTINUE TO EXPAND THEIR TRAINING AND THEIR OUTREACH TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE CHILDCARE FACILITIES THAT ARE KIND OF ON THE EDGE OF BEING ABLE TO MEET STATE REQUIREMENTS OR IF WE'RE ABLE TO EVEN GET THE

[01:30:02]

AND MAYBE THEY COULD PROVIDE SOME KIND OF SUBSIDY OR GRANTS TO DAYCARE, CHILDCARE CENTERS THAT ARE TAKING CHILDREN OF PARENTS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH READY TO WORK.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER AVENUES THAT CAN BE EXPLORED AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE TO DO. ONE THING SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THE FORMS ARE ALREADY OUT THERE. ANYONE WHO WANTS TO APPLY CAN GO THROUGH THE BEXAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND GET THAT APPLICATION.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN THEIR PART IN THIS AND IF WE LOOK AT SOMETHING COLLECTIVELY ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AS AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BRINGING THE COUNTY IN ON LOOKING AT EXPANDING CHILDCARE IN A PARTNERSHIP WOULD BE ANOTHER

IMPORTANT ASPECT TO LOOK AT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMAN COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

I CAN'T TELL WHO'S ALL THERE. I'M TRYING TO RECOGNIZE VOICES. BUT THIS JOURNEY BEGAN FOR ME -- I THINK IT WAS MY FIRST TERM WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT EARLY MATTERS AND YOU GUYS CAME AND VISITED WITH ME AND TALKED ABOUT THE QUALITY CHILDCARE THAT WE NEEDED ON THE SOUTHSIDE.

AND I TALKED TO Y'ALL ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN WE GET OUR STUDIES THAT WOMEN OR GIRLS, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, BROWN GIRLS, WERE NOT GETTING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD THAT THEY NEEDED TO SUCCEED. AND THEN IT WAS CONFIRMED THROUGH OUR STATUS OF GIRLS STUDY. SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP THIS ALONG -- I'M SORRY, DR. KAUR, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR MAY HAVE BEEN AT THOSE EARLY MEETINGS WE WENT TO WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT QUALITY CHILDCARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THERE IS A CHILDCARE DESERT IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR. WE KNOW THAT. AND WE HAVE NAVISTAR, TOYOTA, WE HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THAT CHILDCARE OR THAT QUALITY CHILDCARE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS. BUT I THINK THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP BECAUSE WHAT I NEED TO SEE FROM HERE AND WHAT I'M HOPING THAT WE GIVE THESE EXEMPTIONS IS THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE PROVIDERS LOOK TO NOT LEASE BUT REALLY LOOK TO PURCHASE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS SOUTHERN SECTOR, THEIR OWN PROPERTY TO HAVE THEIR OWN CHILDCARE FACILITY. BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED THE BANKS AND WE NEED TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO GIVE THEM THOSE LOANS. SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS ONE STEP IN MULTIPLE STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO ADDRESS OUR CHILDCARE DESERT IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST SIDE TOO. WE KNOW BROOKS IS WORKING AND HAS TONS OF EMPLOYERS THERE BUT WHERE ARE THEY TAKING THEIR CHILDREN. I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR MOVING FORWARD. BUT MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE COUNTY'S -- HAS THE COUNTY ALSO GIVEN US THE EXEMPTION OR DID THEY JUST GIVE FUNDS FOR EARLY MATTERS IN THIS ISSUE?

>> THE COUNTY PASSED THE EXEMPTION LAST WEEK. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT.

THANK YOU, TROY. AND I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH THE COUNTY'S -- WITH JUDGE SAKAI'S LEADERSHIP. I THINK THIS IS ONE THING WE NEED TO DISCUSS AND PUT FORWARD.

I KNOW THEY WEREN'T FIRST IN LINE FOR EARLY MATTERS IN THAT AND WHAT TEXAS A&M WAS DOING.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THEY'RE HERE FOR THE EXEMPTION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, I THINK PREARPA DOLLARS, PRE-COVID THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING AT AND SEEING THAT WE HAVE ISSUES FOR CHILDCARE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT Y'ALL BRING FORWARD. TROY, THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO FAST. I'M HOPING THAT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED SO THIS WILL BE AN EASY MOVE FOR US. THANK YOU.

[01:35:01]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THOSE COMMENTS. STAFF MOVED SO QUICKLY ON THIS AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT. ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT. THIS JUST SEEMS LIKE A WIN-WIN TO ME.

IT'S GOOD FOR MOTHERS. IT'S GOOD FOR THE CHILDREN AND IT'S CERTAINLY, AS SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER, IT IS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AND THIS IS GOING TO HELP BUSINESSES HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO A WIDER WORKFORCE AND QUALIFIED FOLKS TO GET IN THERE AND HELP THEM.

HAPPY ABOUT THIS. LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? QUESTION. BECAUSE, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS ACCURATELY DESCRIBED AS ONE STEP. BUT A NUMBER OF STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, WHICH IS CHILDCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. A TAX EXEMPTION FOR FACILITIES IS, AGAIN, A TOOL BUT IT'S ONLY ONE THING OF MANY THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. THE CAPACITY STUDY THAT'S UNDERWAY, THERE'S ALSO A NEED STUDY THAT'S UNDERWAY IN THIS COMMUNITY, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE COME BY THIS COUNCIL ALREADY. WHEN DO WE EXPECT TO HAVE THOSE RESULTS BRIEFED TO THE COUNCIL? AND THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING THAT, SARAH, IS THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS BUT WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A PREVIEW DURING THE GOOD JOBS GREAT CITY INITIATIVE SUMMIT THAT WAS HELD LEER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND READY TO WORK. AND WE GOT A FLAVOR OF SOME OF THE POSSIBLE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO LOOK AT.

THOSE WERE INNOVATIVE. SOME OF THEM WERE BIG REACHES, I THINK FOR US TO CONSIDER.

BUT ULTIMATELY IF THEY'RE COMING FROM THE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, BASED ON THE DATA THOSE WILL BE THE BEST OPTIONS FOR US TO TAKE. WHEN DO WE EXPECT TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS?

>> THE STUDY WILL BE COMPLETED THIS SUMMER BUT BEFORE THE STUDY IS COMPLETE, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE DRAFTS THAT HAVE A PREVIEW AND CERTAINLY WE'RE HAPPY TO BRING SOME OF THAT FORWARD.

IT MAY NOT COME UNTIL AFTER THE JULY RECESS BUT FOR SURE IN AUGUST WE WOULD HAVE THEM.

WE MAY HAVE SOME BEFORE THEN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND I HEAR THE CONCERNS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT WE WANT TO DO MORE. AND, AGAIN, WE CAN ONLY SQUEEZE SO MUCH OUT OF THIS ONE PARTICULAR TOOL BUT IF WE KNOW THERE'S OTHER ELEMENTS TO THIS THAT ARE COMING IN, I THINK PEOPLE WILL KIND OF UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A MORE COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT.

AGAIN, RECOGNIZING THAT CHILDCARE, AMONG OTHER MAJOR BARRIERS, LIKE HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION, IS ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT HINDRANCES TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. REALLY GREAT DISCUSSION. GOOD JOB.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING IT ON THE A SESSION. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, ERIK, NO EXEC, CORRECT, ANDY? IT IS 4:13 P.M. ON MARCH 20, 2024.

WE ARE ADJOURNED. WE HAVE A 5:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY. 5:00 P.M.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.