Apr 11, 2024 City Council A Session

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

[00:01:20]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. TIME IS 9:04 A.M. ON THE 11TH DAY OF APRIL 2024.

WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME. WE HAVE AN ESPECIALLY FESTIVE DAY TODAY. ONE OF THE DAYS IN THE CHAMBERS THAT WE'RE ALL OUTRANKED UP HERE, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO

COUNCILMEMBER MARC WHYTE TO INTRODUCE OUR INVOCATOR. >> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR FOR THE WEEK, FATHER PHIL MASON OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF RECONCILIATION.

THE CHURCH IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT 10 ON STAR CREST DRIVE AND IT SERVES HUNDREDS OF OUR NEIGHBORS EVERY WEEK . THE CHURCH IS REALLY A CATALYST AND A CONNECTOR FOR UNLEASHING GOD'S ABUNDANCE AND BLESS -- GOD'S WORD.

AND IT REALLY RESONATES THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT AND OUR NEIGHBORS IN DISTRICT 10.

FROM HOSTING THE YOUTH REHABILITATION SESSIONS, SCHOOL TUTORINGS AND EVEN TAI CHI, THE CHURCH HAS REALLY TRANSFORMED THE LIVES OF MANY IN THE DISTRICT.

SO FATHER MASON, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS .

>> ACTUALLY, MAYOR, I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO HAVE A SEAT, WOULD YOU? WOULD YOU? WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO? EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW.

TO BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE, MAYOR AND EVERYONE IN THE ROOM, TO RELAX.

LET THERE BE A LITTLE PEACE AND SILENCE ON SUCH A BUSY, BUSY EXCITING MORNING.

SO NICE TO HEAR THE QUIET. LET YOUR MINDS BE QUIET, EVEN IT WOULD BE COMFORTABLE AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO SOFTLY CLOSE YOUR EYES. O GREAT GOD, THANK YOU FOR

[00:05:03]

THE SPIRIT OF LOVING KINDNESS AND COMPASSION. THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT. THE SPIRIT OF HUMILITY AND THEIR FAITHFUL SERVANT.

THE SPIRIT OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. THE SPIRIT IS STRONG AS A DIAMOND. MAY THESE FAITHFUL SERVANTS FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THE TASK THEY HAVE BEEN SENT HERE BY THEIR NEIGHBORS TO SHOULDER, THE CARE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THEIR CITY, ONE OF THE GREAT CITIES OF THE WORLD. TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR VERY LIVES. MAY ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO SUPPORT THEM IN THIS GREAT TASK SERVE THEM WITH FAITHFUL DEVOTION. HELP US ALL BECOME A COMMUNITY THAT SHARES EACH OTHER'S WEIGHTS OF BURDENS. MAY YOUR HOLY SPIRIT, O GREAT GOD, BE OUR STRENGTH AND OUR GUIDE. KNOWING YOU HEARING US BETTER THAN WE ARE SPEAKING, WE OFFER THESE PRAYERS IN ALL THE HOLY NAMES OF GOD, AMEN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR MASON.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU AGAIN, PASTOR. ALL RIGHT.

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

>> CASTILLO: 19. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 19. ANY OTHERS? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WE DO HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS. JACK FINGER.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OUR MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. I KNOW I FEEL RATHER OUT OF PLACE AMONG THIS CAVALIER CELEBRATION OF THE ANNUAL BEER-DRINKING BASH BUT WE GOT TO PAY THE FREIGHT SOMETIME SO HERE IT GOES. YOU KNOW, ITEM NO. 29, ABOUT WELFARE HOUSING -- AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARDON ME. YOU KNOW, THE -- PERHAPS YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE HAVE SAVED UP FOR YEARS TO MOVE, AS THEY SAY IN GEORGE JEFFERSON'S PROGRAM, MOVE ON UP TO THE EAST SIDE. AND THAT DAY COMES AND YOU SELECT A NICE RESIDENCE ALONG IN

[00:10:11]

YOU DO A LITTLE CHECKING AND FIND OUT ALONG THE LOCATION OF PERRIN BEITEL, WHAT DOES IT SAYS? THE YELLOW AREA THERE. THERE IT GOES .

OKAY. LET'S SEE, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS FOR THIS HOUSING WAS THE VILLAGE AT PERRIN BEITEL. IT WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL EARLIER. YEAH, RETURN THE SCREEN, IF YOU WOULD.

YEAH, MR. WHYTE, THAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT, AS I RECALL. YEAH.

AND YOU FIND OUT THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET A BIG BENEFIT, DEPENDING ON THEIR INCOME.

HOW BAD IS THIS -- ARE THEY GOING TO GET? FLIP THE PAGE, IF YOU WOULD.

NO. YEAH. THERE YOU GO.

WHAT DOES IT SAY THERE? 30% OF THE AMI, THAT'S AREA MEDIAN INCOME, AND 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. THAT MEANS PEOPLE WHO ONLY MAKE 30% AND 60% OF THOSE IN THE AREA ARE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO MOVE INTO THE SAME RITZY AREA THAT YOU'RE MOVING INTO.

AND, YEAH. THEREBY DASHING YOUR DREAMS THAT YOU HAD TO ESTABLISH LONG AGO.

YEAH, YOU MAY WANT TO -- SOMEBODY MAY WANT TO PULL THAT AND ASK WHY ARE WE STILL DOING THIS, YOU KNOW. ALSO, ITEM NO. 31 -- YEAH, KEEP GOING THERE.

YOU'VE GOT A SELF-MONITORING PROGRAM FOR THE CITY PARKS AND RECREATION KIDS' SUMMER CAMPS.

YEAH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

>> FOX GUARDING THE HENHOUSE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME GO TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL ON ITEMS 1 THROUGH 31, SAVE FOR 19.

OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE ITEMS. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

[ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING]

WHEREAS THE TEXAS-SIZED FESTIVAL IS COORDINATED BY THE FIESTA COMMISSION, A NONPROFIT VOLUNTEER SELF-SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION AND THROUGH SUPPORT OF ITS PARTICIPATING MEMBER ORGANIZATION WORKS YEAR ROUND TO MANAGE THE THOUSANDS OF DETAILS AND DAY-TO-DAY TASKS ESSENTIAL TO PLANNING AND EXECUTING THE HUGE CITYWIDE CELEBRATION . WHEREAS WHAT BEGAN IN 1891 AS A ONE-PARADE EVENT HAS GROWN INTO AN 11-DAY EXTRAVAGANZA. LIVELY AND LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT AND THE LONG-STANDING TRADITION OF OBTAINING AND WEARING AS MANY FIESTA MEDALS AS POSSIBLE.

WHEREAS THIS FUN-FILLED PARTY WITH A PURPOSE GENERATES A TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE CITY, BENEFITS NUMEROUS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CAUSES AND PROVIDES A SAFE EDUCATIONAL CELEBRATION OF THE DIVERSE HERITAGE AND SPIRIT OF SAN ANTONIO FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO ENJOY. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 18 THROUGH 28, 2024 TO BE SAN ANTONIO'S OFFICIAL FIESTA SEASON IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND OFFER BEST WISHES TO THE SAN ANTONIO FIESTA COMMISSION FOR A SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATION . WELCOME, Y'ALL, AND VIVA FIESTA.

>> VIVA! >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR.

I THINK ON BEHALF OF THE FIESTA SAN ANTONIO COMMISSION WE WOULD LIKE TO BE THE FIRST TO WISH YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY. NOW, WE WON'T DO THE SONG BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MAYOR.

[00:15:05]

I'M HERE WITH THE COUNCIL. HE'S ARE ALL THE OFFICERS THAT HELP PUT IT ON.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THIS YEAR'S THEME, FIESTA FOR ALL. THAT MEANS EVERYONE SHOULD BE PART OF FIESTA. YOUNG, OLD, DOESN'T MATTER. WE WANT EVERYBODY TO COME FROM ALL PARTS OF TOWN, ALL WALKS OF LIFE. THAT'S BEEN OUR THEME WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING AROUND SAN ANTONIO. SECONDLY, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AVERAGES 33-PLUS MILLION DOLLARS AND MANY OF THOSE DOLLARS GO TO THE CHILDREN MOST IN NEED. FOR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GIVING US THROUGH THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS US TO PUT ON FIESTA, RAISE THIS MONEY, AND MAKE A BETTER CITY AND PUT A UNIQUE STAMP ON WHAT WE DO. VIVA FIESTA!

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE FIESTA COMMISSION. [APPLAUSE] SINCE YOU GUYS ARE THE ADMINISTRATIVE WING OF THIS BIG PARTY, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO STAY PUT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CELEBRATING TO DO. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMENTS, I'M SURE, FOR EVERYBODY AT THE END OF ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT RECOGNITIONS HERE. BUT I DO WANT TO NOW TURN TO SOME OF THE ROYALTY THAT'S IN THE HOUSE. WE'LL START FIRST WITH THE LEGEND OF REY FEO WHICH DATES BACK TO THE MEDIEVAL TIMES DURING THE WHICH THE KING OF SPAIN DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM HIS SUBJECTS CHOOSING TO FILL HIS COURT WITH ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL, RICH, AND ARISTOCRATIC AND THE ORDINARY CITIZEN WAS NEVER INVITED TO THE PALACE OR RARELY SAW THE MONARCH. WHEREAS THE COMMON PEOPLE RESENTED THE KING AND ONE DAY A CROWD GATHERED IN THE PLAZA AND PROCLAIMED ONE OF THEIR OWN TO REIGN AS THE PEOPLE'S KING.

REY FEO WAS FORMERLY INVITED TO BE PART OF THE FIESTA IN 1980 WITH THE FUNCTION OF RAISING FUNDS TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING, UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH.

WHEREAS JOHN MCFADDEN HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS EL REY FEO 75 AND WILL REPRESENT THE EL REY FEO SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION DURING THE 2024 FIESTA ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT THE MISSION AND FUNDRAISING MISSION. WHEREAS DURING HIS REIGN, REY FEO AND HIS COURT WILL VISIT NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS, ORPHANAGES, AND MORE THAN 60 60ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO ENCOURAE STUDENTS TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND BE GOOD CITIZENS. HE WILL SERVE AS A GOODWILL AMBASSADOR. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT THE CITY RECOGNIZES JOHN MCFADDEN TO BE REY FEO 75 AND EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR A MOST SUCCESSFUL REIGN.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. KING . [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT BUT THERE'S A TYPO. WE'RE SITTING ON SCHOOL VISIT 97, HEADED FOR 115.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT POINT. WE ARE REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE AND WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AS A DIAMOND JUBILEE TEAM, WE HAVE SET ALL SORTS OF NEW FIRSTS. INSTEAD OF FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS WE'RE DOING TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS IN TRADE SCHOOLS.

WE'LL DO OVER 100 TRADE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS THIS SUMMER AND WE'RE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER A MESSAGE TO OVER 50,000 STUDENTS SO FAR THAT, LIKE A DIAMOND, THEY HAVE VALUE BASED ON GENESIS 1:27. THEY ARE STRONG, PHILIPPIANS 4:13 AND I HAVE MORSE CODE TO REMIND EVEN ME THAT THEY CAN SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND AND DO ANYTHING THEY CAN SET THEIR MIND TO . THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING AND VIVA

FIESTA! >> VIVA! [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND ALSO, PLEASE, IF YOU COULD TAKE YOUR THRONES JUST FOR A MINUTE, AS I BRING UP KING ANTONIO. WHEREAS, SINCE 1927, THE TEXAS CAVALIERS HAVE HONORED THE MEMORY OF OUR ALAMO HEROES, KEEPING ALIVE THE SPIRIT OF TEXAS HISTORY AND THE PART SAN ANTONIO PLAYED IN THAT HISTORY. WHEREAS TO ACHIEVE THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES THE CAVALIERS CREATED KING ANTONIO TO BRING POSITIVE MESSAGES TO SCHOOL CHILDREN REINFORCING THE VALUES OF EDUCATION AND SELF-RESPECT.

WHEREAS SCOTT ALLEN CHRISTY HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THIS YEAR'S KING ANTONIO 101 AND WILL REPRESENT THE TEXAS CAVALIERS AND GREET ALL ROYAL SUBJECTS AT CEREMONIES AND SPECIAL APPEARANCES AND DISTRIBUTE CHARITABLE FUNDS DURING FIESTA 2024. WHEREAS KING ANTONIO WILL REIGN OVER THE TEXAS CAVALIERS RIVER PARADE ON APRIL 22, 2024 AND DELIVER MERRIMENT AND MIRTH ALONG THE BANKS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO RIVER TO THOUSANDS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITIZENS AND VISITORS. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT SCOTT ALLEN CHRISTY IS DULY RECOGNIZED AS

KING ANTONIO 101. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH .

[00:20:05]

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR HAVING US TO YOUR IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS TODAY. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RETURN A ONE, TWO, THREE, VIVA FIESTA.

ONE, TWO, THREE, VIVA FIESTA! >> VIVA FIESTA. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND THE SUPPORT. AS YOU ARE AWARE IT'S A FINANCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACT AS WELL AS IT IMPACTS THE NONPROFIT WORLD IN SAN ANTONIO. OUR PART THIS YEAR IS WE BROKE GROUND IN NOVEMBER ON THE TEXAS CAVALIERS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AT THE ALAMO.

IT WILL BE DONE IN 2026. IT'S A $7.5 MILLION DONATION TO US FOR THAT ENDEAVOR AND IT WILL HOST 250,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. THAT WILL BE THEIR ENTRYWAY INTO THEIR LEARNING OR FIELD TRIP.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROUD OF. ACCOMPANYING THAT, OUR FOUNDATION THIS YEAR IS GOING TO SUPPORT 63 CHILDREN'S CHARITIES THROUGH $1.1 MILLION IN GRANTS DIRECTLY SO OUR GIVING IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $8.5 MILLION AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR ORGANIZATION AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE THRILLED WITH. WE COULDN'T DO THAT WITHOUT THE CITY'S SUPPORT AND ALLOWING US TO HOLD OUR RIVER PARADE ON THE RIVER WALK.

THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, COUNCIL, THE MAYOR FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THAT. OUR ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED ON THREE PILLARS: THE FIRST WAS TO PROMOTE HORSEMANSHIP IN THE DAY OF THE AUTOMOBILE. WHEN OUR ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED THE HORSE AND BUGGY WERE ON THEIR WAY OUT AND THE CAR ON ITS WAY IN.

SECONDARILY WAS TO HONOR THE HEROES OF THE ALAMO. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE DOING THAT WITH OUR CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS. THAT'S WHERE WE HOLD OUR INVESTITURE.

LASTLY IS TO MAINTAIN CIVILIAN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE MILITARY HERE IN MILITARY CITY, USA.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUS AND I THINK EVERYBODY IN SAN ANTONIO APPRECIATES WHAT THE MILITARY DO AND WE CERTAINLY DO AS WELL. IN CLOSING, WE'RE HONORED TO UPHOLD THE TRADITIONS AND TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ALLOWS US TO DO.

AND, IN CLOSING, VIVA FIESTA! >> VIVA! >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE] NOW, WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD ALSO TO THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY 76TH PRESENTATION OF A NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO. YOU CAN TELL US IF IT'S NIOSA OR NIOSA. IT WILL BE HELD IN APRIL. WHAT BEGAN AS A HARVEST FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE THE HERITAGE OF THE CITY'S EARLY SETTLERS HAS GROWN INTO THE NATION'S LARGEST HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO SHOWCASE SAN ANTONIO'S UNIQUE AND DIVERSE CULTURAL TRADITIONS.

WHEREAS THE FOUR-NIGHT EVENT OFFERS 14 CULTURALLY-THEMED AREAS OVER 155 FOOD, DRINK, AND ATMOSPHERES BOOTHS TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT. WHEREAS PROCEEDS FROM THE NIOSA FUND THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY'S MISSION TO SUPPORT RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF PROPERTIES, PARKS, WATERWAYS, TRADITIONS, AND THE HERITAGE OF OUR MULTICULTURAL CITY AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, GRANTS, AND PROGRAMS. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 23 THROUGH 26, 2024 TO BE A NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO DAYS IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND OFFER BEST WISHES TO THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY FOR A SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATION FOR PRESERVATION. WELCOME, LADIES. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. A NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY BY CELEBRATING AND PRESERVING THE CUSTOMS AND CULTURE UNIQUE TO OUR REGION, WHICH IS WHY IT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE PREMIER MOST-LOVED FIESTA EVENTS. COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE PRESERVATION, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY, WHICH PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR THE RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE CITY-OWNED LA VILLITA HISTORIC ARTS VILLAGE. OVER THE PAST YEARS, NIOSA HAS GENERATED OVER $5 MILLION TO THE CITY TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY $1.8 MILLION TO THE LA VILLITA FUND.

AND LET ME SAY THIS BEAUTIFUL CEILING, WHEN THIS BUILDING WAS RESTORED, CAME FROM US.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU ALL AT NIOSA. AND BRING MONEY! >> VIVA!

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU

[00:25:02]

WHEREAS EVERY YEAR THE FIESTA FLAMBEAU PARADE ASSOCIATION SHOWCASES THE DIVERSITY AND CULTURE OF THE COMMUNITY BY PRODUCING AN ILLUMINATED PARADE THAT ENHANCES THE CELEBRATION OF FIESTA SAN ANTONIO AND ATTRACTS VISITORS WORLDWIDE. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 27, 2024 TO BE FIESTA FLAMBEAU PARADE NIGHT IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS . WELCOME, Y'ALL.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL, FOR HAVING US HERE THIS MORNING.

WE LOVE PUTTING ON THIS PARADE. IT'S THE LARGEST ILLUMINATED NIGHT PARADE IN THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE CHECKING TO SEE IF IT'S NOT IN THE UNIVERSE. AND WE'RE GOING TO START CLAIMING IT ANYWAY. I'M JOINED TODAY BY SOME OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR SUBDUED AND QUIET GRAND MARSHAL, MICHAEL QUINTANILLA, WHO HAS BEEN REALLY SHOWING LOTS OF SPIRIT ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A GREAT PARADE AGAIN THIS YEAR WITH OUR THEME. OUR FLOATS ARE GOING TO BE OUT OF THIS WORLD AND I'VE SEEN THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TOWN, THEIR MEDALS HAVE IT ON THEM. WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S BECAUSE WE STARTED IT. EVERYBODY COME AND SEE US. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NOW, WHERE IS FRED, OUR CITY PHOTOGRAPHER? FRED, COULD I ASK YOU TO GO UPSTAIRS? I'M GOING TO ASK ALL OF OUR FIESTA ASSOCIATIONS TO COME FORWARD AND IF WE COULD GET A PHOTO FROM THE TOP DOWN, IT WOULD BE GREAT.

COMMENTS FOR EVERYBODY. JOHN WILL BE UP THERE TOO. WHERE SHOULD WE BE, FRED? SHOULD WE JUST TURN AROUND?

>> I SAY WE PLAY IT WHILE WE'RE DOING THIS.

[00:31:35]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. IF I COULD HAVE THE KINGS AND CHAIR AND JUST THE LEADERS OF THE ORGANIZATION COME FORWARD AS WE MAKE COMMENTS AROUND THE DAIS TO CELEBRATE.

LET ME TURN IT OVER NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND ALL YOUR WORK. FIESTA COMMISSION, THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING THEME FOR FIESTA FOR ALL. I THINK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE ANY SORT OF DISABILITY OR ANY COMPLICATION ARE SEEING THAT FIESTA IS FOR EVERYONE AND WE'RE MAKING ROOM FOR THEM ALL. THANK YOU FOR THAT. REY FEO, YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM.

CONGRATULATIONS ON HITTING THOSE 97 SCHOOLS. YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE EXHAUSTED BECAUSE COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA VIAGRAN DID THIS TWO YEARS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND SHE HAD A GREAT TIME . IT'S GOING TO BE SO GREAT. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE TAKING ALONG MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH TO DO.

THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. AND KING ANTONIO, SCOTT CHRISTY, THANK YOU FOR SERVING.

I THINK LAST YEAR I WAS MAYOR PRO TEM AND I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE INVESTITURE.

AND THE MEANING FOR ME WAS SO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE I HAVE A DESCENDANT AT THE ALAMO AND TO GIVE THE KEY AND TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO DO, NOT JUST THE PARADE, WHICH IS AMAZING, BUT YOU CONTINUE TO HOLD THE TRADITIONS OF HOW SACRED THE ALAMO IS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO TELL THAT STORY.

THANK YOU FOR DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. NIOSA, WHAT CAN I SAY? YOU GUYS -- GET THAT RAIN ROCK UP SOON, PLEASE. AND GET A WIND ROCK THIS YEAR, TOO. AND THEN FIESTA FLAMBEAU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU HAVE A GREAT GRAND MARSHAL THERE. I THINK HE'S GOING TO KEEP THE ENERGY UP SO LET'S MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYBODY OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE WE, AGAIN, JUST CONTINUE WITH THAT THEME FOR FIESTA FOR ALL. AND I AM SO EXCITED.

I FEEL LIKE WE ARE BACK. SAN ANTONIO IS BACK AND THEY'RE READY TO PARTY AND FIESTA.

SO VIVA FIESTA! >> VIVA! >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU SHOULD COME ON UP HERE, MICHAEL. WE'RE NOT USED TO SEEING YOU IN SUCH NORMAL COLORS.

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SO EXCITED.

FIESTA IS, AS YOU KNOW, SOFT MORE THAN A PARTY. IT'S TRADITION.

IT'S COMMUNITY, FAMILY, AND OF COURSE SAN ANTONIO. WE THANK ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO AND THE NONPROFITS OUT THERE THAT WORKOR TO CREATE THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT, SCHOLARSHIPS FOR KIDS, MAKING FIESTA SO MUCH A PART OF OUR PAST, PRESENT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY OUR FUTURE. I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYBODY TO JINGLE YOUR MEDALS FOR A SECOND.

IT'S LIKE MUSIC TO MY EARS. I'VE CALLED THAT THE OFFICIAL SOUND OF FIESTA.

IT'S BEEN SUCH A PART OF MY GROWING UP IN SAN ANTONIO AND I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH.

I LOVE FIESTA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.

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

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

I AM SO EXCITED BECAUSE LAST YEAR I DIDN'T REALLY GET TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF FIESTA BECAUSE I WAS OUT BLOCK WALKING AND CAMPAIGNING SO I AM ALL IN ON FIESTA THIS YEAR AND REALLY,

[00:35:01]

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

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL PERSONALLY. I KNOW WHAT YOU DO IS REALLY A LABOR OF LOVE FOR THIS CITY FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF LOOKING AT OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT IT IS A LABOR TOO AND I WANT TO COMMEND ALL OF YOU AND EVERYBODY WHO WORKS WITH YOU FOR THE HARD, HARD WORK IT TAKES TO PUT ON A PARADE. TO GO OUT AND VISIT SCHOOLS AND RAISE MONEY AND SET UP NIOSA AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON DURING FIESTA.

VERY HARD WORK. I WAS A TEACHER FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT WAS ALWAYS HARD WORK FOR ME BUT IT WAS VERY REWARDING BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS DOING SOMETHING FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING TOO. IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN.

IT'S FOR THE SENIORS. IT'S FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. BE SURE TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO WORKS WITH YOU AND PARTNERS WITH YOU TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FIESTA,

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VIVA FIESTA! >> VIVA!

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMAN COURAGE WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: YEAH, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

TO ME, FIESTA IS ABOUT COMMUNITY. IT'S ABOUT FAMILY.

IT'S ABOUT FUN AND IT'S ABOUT GIVING BACK. AND ALL OF YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS YEAR'S FIESTA IS SPECIAL FOR EVERYONE. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND

WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM SO EXCITED TO EXPERIENCE FIESTA AS THE DISTRICT 1 COUNCILWOMAN, GIVEN THAT SO MANY OF THE EVENTS ARE IN DISTRICT 1.

I'VE BEEN GOING TO NIOSA FOREVER AND CANNOT WAIT TO CRACK EGGS ON ALL OF MY FRIENDS' HEADS.

THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS WHEN I FIRST CAME TO SAN ANTONIO.

I WAS ASKING EVERYBODY, IT'S SO INTERESTING TO HEAR EVERYONE'S VARIATION OF THE STORY OF FIESTA AND WHY IT EXISTS. EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN LITTLE TWIST TO IT.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE EVENTS IN DISTRICT 1.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE NIOSA. HAPPY TO SHARE ABOUT FIESTA DE LOS REYES.

THE KING WILLIAM FAIR, THE FIESTA ARTS FAIR, WHICH IS A GREAT WAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE ARTS COMMUNITY AT UTSA SOUTHWEST, AND THEN OF COURSE CORNYATION, A GREAT WAY TO RAISE MONEY WHILE POKING A LITTLE FUN AT SOME OF US UP HERE AND SOME OF THE OTHER LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADES AND ALL THE EVENTS AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING TO PUT ALL THE AMAZING EVENTS ON FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

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

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. I KNOW THIS IS A SUPER EXCITING TIME BUT I KNOW IT'S BUSY AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO COORDINATING ALL OF THE EVENTS. EVERYONE WHO IS HERE AND EVERYONE WHO IS NOT, THANK YOU FOR CREATING SUCH A SPECIAL MOMENT EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR SAN ANTONIANS.

TO ME, FIESTA ALWAYS MARKS THE END OF AN EXTREMELY BUSY TRIMESTER, OF SORTS.

WE HAVE MLK, DREAM WEEK, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THE RODEO, AND FIESTA IS WHEN OUR JAWS HURT SO MUCH FROM SMILING EVERY DAY AND HAVING SO MUCH FUN . IT MARKS A FUN AND EXCITING TIME FOR EVERYONE. IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMEONE IN SAN ANTONIO OF THE 1.6-SOME ODD MILLION PEOPLE. IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO ISN'T PARTICIPATING IN FIESTA.

IT REALLY IS THE LARGEST PARTY IN PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE. THANK Y'ALL AGAIN FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN AND I'M SO EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR. AGAIN, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO SAID, LAST YEAR WAS A LITTLE ROUGH WITH THE CAMPAIGN SEASON BUT THIS YEAR

WE'RE ALL IN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR ALL TO BEING HERE.

I CALL THIS SCHOLARSHIP SEASON IN SAN ANTONIO. WE START WITH MLK AND DREAM WEEK, LIKE COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ SAID. THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE RODEO AND CESAR CHAVEZ AND WE HAVE FIESTA. AND SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S THE BEST TIME FOR OUR CITY BECAUSE WE'RE SO FOCUSED ON EDUCATION AND ON GIVING OTHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND IT'S ALL OF YOU THAT MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

[00:40:01]

THAT'S FIESTA DE LOS NINOS. LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO AT PORT SAN ANTONIO.

AND WE HAVE A FEST AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE SO FOCUSED ON EDUCATION AND IN LINE WITH WHAT THE FIESTA COMMISSION IS DOING. THANK YOU, STEVE.

THAT $33 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT, I KNEW IT WAS HIGH BUT I HAD NEVER ACTUALLY HEARD A NUMBER, SO I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT WITH US. I'VE GOT MY FIESTA PLANS SO I KNOW WE ALL HAVE OUR FIESTA EVENTS. THANK YOU TO YOU AND THE ENTIRE TEAM. AND THEN OF COURSE I'M A REY FEO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M WEARING MY SASH. I'LL BE TRAVELING WITH YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU TO JOHN MCFADDEN AND TO ALL OF THE TEAM. I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL WITH THEM TO LAREDO AND EVERYBODY EVEN IN LAREDO KNOWS WHO REY FEO IS, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY COOL.

AND SO OF COURSE WE'LL BE VISITING SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ON MONDAY AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. WE HAVE A THEME OF LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.

SO I'M WEARING MY BRACELET TODAY. IT GLOWS IN THE DARK.

AND SO EXCITED ABOUT TELLING THE KIDS THAT THEY CAN LET THEIR LIGHT SHINE.

I THINK IT IS VERY APPROPRIATE WITH YOUR 75TH DIAMOND JUBILEE THAT THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE INSPIRING KIDS WITH. I'LL GO OVER NOW TO KING ANTONIO AND THE CAVALIERS.

I'M SO EXCITED TO BE YOUR FELLOW LONGHORN. I'M WEARING YOUR LAPEL PIN.

YOUR THEME, BE DEDICATED, I'M ALSO WEARING YOUR BAND TODAY, HAS BEEN JUST INCREDIBLY ON DISPLAY THE PAST TWO YEARS. YOU ALL STARTED HELPING ME WITH ECLIPSE EDUCATION SINCE LAST YEAR. YOU ALL PRINTED COLORING BOOKS. WE GOT TOGETHER WITH UTSA.

WE TAUGHT THE KIDS ABOUT SCIENCE AND Y'ALL CONTINUED IT BY FUNDING TRAVEL FOR KIDS TO COME FROM THE SOUTH SIDE TO THE NORTH SIDE AND I WANT TO SAY THOSE 450 KIDS THAT WERE THERE, YOU WERE THERE, NONE OF THEM WERE SADDENED THAT THERE WERE CLOUDS. THEY WERE SO EXCITED TO BE THERE. ONLY ONE OF THEM HAD EVER BEEN TO THE ROCK AND SO WHAT YOU ALL DID, WHAT THE CAVALIERS CONTINUE TO DO INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR EFFORTS AS WELL. AND THEN NIOSA AND THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY, I THINK THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHAT YOU ALL DO TO CONSERVE AND TO PRESERVE, NOT ONLY THE CULTURE OF SAN ANTONIO BUT IN LARGE PART THOSE STRUCTURES THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO US AND SO CRITICAL FOR THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO. ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS ALSO.

MY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE A LOT IN COLLEGE NIGHT SO I ALWAYS REMIND THEM HAVE A PLAN.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW HOW YOU'RE GETTING HOME. YOU'RE NOT DRIVING.

IT'S NOT WORTH IT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND FOR HAVING THAT SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND THEN I'LL GO OVER TO LAST BUT NOT LEAST WE HAVE THE FIESTA FLAMBEAU. I'M SO HONORED THAT ONE OF MY D4 RESIDENTS, MICHAEL QUINTANILLA, IS THE GRAND MARSHAL. SO YOU ALL HAVE MADE AN INCREDIBLE SELECTION.

I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT THAT HAT MADE ITS DEBUT. MICHAEL WAS MY DATE TO THE ZOO BALL AND HE WAS LIKE -- I MEAN, EVERYBODY WAS STARING AT HIM. HE HAD EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION AND SO I'M GLAD THAT THE HAT IS MAKING A COMEBACK. BECAUSE IT'S A VERY, VERY POPULAR HAT, MICHAEL. AND SO I DRAW THE ATTENTION -- I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DRAW THE ATTENTION. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU DO.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE OUR KIDS SUCCESSFUL IN SAN ANTONIO AND OUR NONPROFITS BENEFIT.

THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GREAT FIESTA. VIVA!

>> VIVA! >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU ALL NOT JUST FOR WHAT YOU CONTRIBUTE DURING FIESTA BUT YEAR ROUND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, VOLUNTEERING WHAT NONPROFITS AND PROVIDING SUPPLIES AND SO MUCH MORE TO RESIDENTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND DESPITE ME BEING A LIFELONG SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT, THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF FIESTA EVENTS I HAVE NOT ATTENDED, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING NIOSA FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR. THAT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.

I ALSO WANTED TO DO A PLUG FOR PINATAS IN THE BARRIO WHICH TAKE PLACE IN THE GUADALUPE PLAZA ON APRIL 20. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING OUR COMMUNITY OUT THERE AND ENJOYING SOME FIESTA FUN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

>> PELAEZ: FIRST, IF WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE FIND OUT AND TELL THEM TO PLEASE STOP GIVING -- WHOEVER IT IS, STOP GIVING MICHAEL QUINTANILLA CAFFEINE. ENOUGH! CAFFEINE-FREE DIET COKE IS SOMETHING YOU MAY WANT TO SWITCH TO, MIKE.

I'LL TELL YOU, WHILE WE'RE LISTENING TO FAVORITE EVENTS, MY THREE ARE ALWAYS THE JAZZ BAND FESTIVAL AT ST. MARY'S. I THINK THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EVENTS WE HAVE

[00:45:05]

1891 IS WHEN THIS LITTLE TOWN, MORE OF A TRADING POST OF 38,000 PEOPLE, DECIDED TO HONOR THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO AND THEY RODE AROUND IN THEIR CARRIAGES AND PELTED FLOWERS AT EACH OTHER AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS NOW TO TURN INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY IS REALLY AMAZING.

I'VE GONE TO BRAZIL TO GO TO CARNIVAL AND I HAVE BEEN TO MARDI GRAS A NUMBER OF TIMES AND NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN US. YOU GUYS ARE PROS AT THIS AND I'M SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS.

THE OTHER THING I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT I DON'T KNOW WHO NEEDS TO HEAR THIS BUT ANDY, MAYBE WE COULD PUBLISH THIS SOMEWHERE. IF YOU COULD NOT CRACK CASCARONES OVER ME WHILE I'M

DRINKING MY $30 BEER, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> SEGOVIA: WE COULD DO A

PROTECTIVE ORDER, COUNCILMAN, FOR THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL. IT'S HARD WORK BUT IT'S WELL WORTH IT.

ALL THE NONPROFITS YOU SERVE, THEY ARE SUSTAINED BY THIS ORGANIZATION AND COMMISSION AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OF OUR HERITAGE AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

I DID WANT TO REFLECT A LITTLE BIT. THERE'S ALWAYS EVENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO. STEVE, I ALREADY TOLD YOU. REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RAT CONCERT. YOU GUYS DO A GOOD JOB WITH THE MUSIC LINEUPS EVERY YEAR.

THIS TIME OF YEAR HAS ALWAYS REMINDED ME NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT WE WERE PREPARING FOR PLAYOFF SEASON FOR THE SPURS. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT THIS YEAR BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF PEOPLE GOT EXCITED ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING. MY ASK IS THAT YOU USE YOUR COLLECTIVE WORK TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE, BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. THIS CITY IS ON A ROLL AND FIESTA SHOULD BE A WAY THAT WE PEP RALLY THE CITY. THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S SERVED TO DO SO MANY TIMES BEFORE.

BUT I AM VERY EXCITED THIS YEAR. WE'RE CELEBRATING A NUMBER OF MILESTONES.

101, 75. THIS HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS TRADITION.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN GRAND MARSHAL BEFORE, MICHAEL.

THAT IS A MILESTONE IN AND OF ITSELF BECAUSE MICHAEL IS -- HE'S THE FACE OF FIESTA IN SAN ANTONIO, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. BUT THE BIG ONE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE AWARE OF, AND IT IS REALLY HARD WORK, IS THAT REY FEO AND KING ANTONIO HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT YOU HAVE RAISED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TOGETHER, BY WORKING TOGETHER, IS REALLY INCREDIBLE. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN TEN YEARS AGO BUT IT'S HAPPENING NOW. YOU GUYS ARE WORKING TOGETHER. YOU GO TO THE SAME EVENTS AND YOU'RE REALLY WORKING ON A COLLECTIVE STRATEGY TO UPLIFT THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD IT ARTICULATED THAT WAY BEFORE UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS TRADITION.

EVERY CITY HAS PARTIES. NO CITY HAS A PARTY LIKE FIESTA BECAUSE OF WHAT IT DOES FOR THE

COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS AND VIVA FIESTA! >> VIVA!

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT'S NOT YET 10:00 AND WE'RE ON TO BUSINESS.

WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM. SO AS PEOPLE FILTER OUT, I'M GOING TO CALL UP ITEM 19.

THANK YOU, GUYS. ITEM 19.

[Miscellaneous  ]

>> CLERK: ITEM NO. 19 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS WITH SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK PLEDGED EMPLOYERS FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING, TOTALING UP TO $2,985,570. FUNDING IS INCLUDED IN THE SAN

ANTONIO READY TO WORK FY2024 ADOPTED BUDGET. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

[00:50:02]

IT OVER. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL.

AFTER THAT FIESTA PRESENTATION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL EACH HAD OUR READY TO WORK FIESTA MEDALS. LORI IS GOING TO PASS THEM OUT AND THEY'LL GO AROUND AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING THE SPIRIT OF THE MORNING AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ALL WELL EQUIPPED WITH YOUR READY TO WORK FIESTA GEAR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS ITEM, NO. 19 FOR OUR INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. MIKE RAMSEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THIS READY TO WORK PILOT PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE VERY INSTRUMENTAL TO US GOING FORWARD AS WE LEVERAGE THE EXPERTISE OF EMPLOYERS TO HELP US TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE IS UPSKILLED AND TRAINED WITH THE PROPER SKILLS. READY TO WORK OFFERS TUITION SUPPORT AND COLLEGES AND TRAINING PROVIDERS. IT'S TRULY A WIN-WIN. WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYEES EARN WHILE THEY LEARN AND THEY HAVE SKILLS THAT ALLOW THEM TO BE MORE UPWARDLY MOBILE.

IN THIS PILOT, UP SKILLING IS THE PRIORITY. WE HAVE 31 EMPLOYERS THAT WILL BE AWARDED, WITH COUNCIL APPROVAL, THESE TRAINING GRANTS. AND THEY'LL SERVE 1,371 WORKERS HERE IN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. 11 OF THE BUSINESSES AWARDED ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, REPRESENTING OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE EMPLOYERS WHO WILL BE PARTICIPATING.

AND ONE-THIRD OF THE DOLLARS, NEARLY $1 MILLION WILL BE GOING TOWARDS LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES.

OUR OJT SERVICE AGREEMENTS ARE CAPPED AT $150,000 PER EMPLOYER. $10,000 PER EMPLOYEE STARTING AT AT LEAST $18 AN HOUR. THESE ARE ALL NEWLY-HIRED EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR BRAND NEW EMPLOYEES THEY BRING ON AS A RESULT OF RECEIVING THIS FUNDING.

THE FUNDING IS $1.8 MILLION. THE CITY REIMBURSES EMPLOYERS FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAINING NEWLY-HIRED EMPLOYEES AS A RESULT OF THEM RAMPING UP TO FULL PRODUCTIVITY.

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED AND THERE ARE 23 EMPLOYERS RECOMMENDED FOR THESE AWARDS AND THEY ARE TRAINING 720 INDIVIDUALS. THOSE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS WILL BE GOING TO TOYOTA, STANDARD ARROW, BD HOPE, PROJECT TILE SOLUTIONS, NEW APPRENTICESHIP, JMS CPA, REC INDUSTRIES, VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF INDUSTRY SECTORS REPRESENTED AS WELL AS SMALL, MEDIUM-SIZED, AND LARGE BUSINESSES, MAESTRO, UNIVERSITY HEALTH, GEORGE PLUMBING, K.T ELEMENT, KCI FOR A TOTAL OF 720 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED THROUGH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING .

OUR INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING, THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH THESE COMPANIES FOR GREATER THAN SIX MONTHS AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR SKILLS TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGING NEEDS OF BUSINESS SO THAT THEY DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND AS THE WORKFORCE SHIFTS.

CAPPED AT $100,000 PER EMPLOYER AND $5,000 PER EMPLOYEE. AND THE TOTAL FUNDING IS $1.1 MILLION. THE CITY WILL AGAIN REIMBURSE COST FOR TRAINING OFFERED TO EXISTING EMPLOYEES, HELPS TO ENSURE RETENTION AND ADVANCEMENT.

THAT RETENTION IS IMPORTANT. MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THE EMPLOYERS HAVE IS THAT AFTER THE INDIVIDUALS ARE TRAINED THEY CAN TAKE THOSE NEWLY-TRAINED SKILLS AND THEY CAN MOVE UP THROUGH DIFFERENT COMPANIES BUT THEIR GOAL AN INTENT IS TO KEEP THEM LOCALLY WITH THAT EMPLOYER. 651 INDIVIDUALS WILL BE UPSKILLED THROUGH THESE 21 EMPLOYERS' EFFORTS. THOSE EMPLOYERS ARE BD HOLT, TOYOTA, BELDON ROOFING, SOUTH TEXAS ALLERGY ASTHMA AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, GEORGE PLUMBING, MEDICAL HEALTH, C&G ENGINEERING, KING MAGGIE, ARAM, LOMA FOR A TOTAL OF 651 INDIVIDUALS SERVED THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO FUND TO SUPPORT THESE CONTRACTS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SA READY TO WORK FUND.

STAFF RECOMMENDS CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TO IMPLEMENT THE READY TO WORK ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND

[00:55:01]

INCUMBENT WORKER PILOT PROGRAM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE, FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 19 .

GREG CHAPMAN. MR. CHAPMAN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY LESLIE CANTU.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IF IT'S OKAY, CAN I BRING MY COLLEAGUE DAN GONZALES UP HERE AS WELL? I THINK HE'S ON YOUR AGENDA.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF YOU WANT TO DO IT TOGETHER, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES.

>> I'M GREG CHAPMAN, DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL TRAINING AT STANDARD ARROW.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE HOSTED SEVERAL OF YOU DOWN HERE BEFORE AND IT'S BEEN OUR PLEASURE TO MEET YOU AND SHOW YOU WHAT WE DO. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT STANDARD ARROW DOES, WE'RE A GLOBAL AEROSPACE COMPANY THAT HAS 7,000 PLUS FOLKS WORKING FOR US WORLDWIDE IN 50-PLUS LOCATIONS . HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WE WORK PRIMARILY ON MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL ENGINES. IN OUR 800,000 SQUARE FEET OF FACILITY THAT'S DOWN ON THE PORT AREA OF KELLY AIR FORCE BASE. SO WE WERE UNDERGOING THE BIGGEST BUSINESS EXPANSION IN OUR COMPANY'S HISTORY WHICH WILL ROUGHLY DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE WORKFORCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP OF THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, MIKE AND HIS TEAM. THIS INITIATIVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO ACCELERATE TRAINING INITIATIVES THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN UNDERGOING BUT HAVE SOME MORE PLANNED TO ADD ON HERE LATER TO'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO EXPAND THE SCOPE, SCALE, QUALITY, AND QUANTITY AND IMPROVE ALL OF THAT FOR THE TRAINING WE PROVIDE AND IMPROVED BUSINESS OUTCOMES.

IMPROVE WAGES AND SKILLS FOR PEOPLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO COMING TO WORK FOR US AS WE TRAIN THEM TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON ENGINES ON OUR PRODUCTION LINES. SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND MIKE AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR EFFORTS WORKING WITH US ON THIS NEW INITIATIVE.

AND THEN THANK THE COUNCIL AND MR. MAYOR, YOU AS WELL, AND THE CITY FOR ALL THE SUPPORT GOING

FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE CITY COUNCIL AGAIN.

WHAT GREG WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT IS TRULY IMPORTANT TO STANDARD AERO.

PART OF MY JOB IS NOT ONLY WORKING TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BUT BRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORK TO OUR FACILITIES . I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR FACILITY, WE HAVE CAPTURED NEW WORK, ENGINE MAINTENANCE WORK, THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO DOUBLE IN SIZE. WE'RE NOT DONE GROWING AND SO THIS SUPPORT THAT WE'RE RECEIVING IS TRULY FOUNDATIONAL TO NOT ONLY WHAT WE DO TODAY BUT ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONTINUE TO GROW TOMORROW.

THOUGH I DON'T HAVE ANY -- I CAN'T TALK ABOUT SPECIFICS OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR NEXT YEAR AND THE YEARS AFTER, I CAN TRULY TELL YOU THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP. AND JUST AS A NOTE, EARLIER THIS WEEK I WAS IN CHICAGO PARTICIPATING IN A CONFERENCE. IT'S ATTENDED BY 15,000 FOLKS IN AVIATION.

IT'S A FANTASTIC CONFERENCE. THE THEME OF THIS CONFERENCE WAS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION. AND I HAD THE HONOR OF HOSTING A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH MY BOSS, THE PRESIDENT OF STANDARD AERO'S MILITARY SECTOR AND JIM, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PORT SAN ANTONIO. THOUGH THERE WERE MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, A LOT OF IT WAS THEORY.

A LOT OF IT IS WHAT CAN WE DO TO DEVELOP WORKFORCE. WHAT CAN WE DO TO BETTER OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS. OUR FOCUS WAS WE HAVE A TANGIBLE EXAMPLE OF HOW TO EXECUTE SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION RESULTING IN WHAT WE SEE TODAY.

JOB GROWTH, A FUTURE NEED FOR POSSIBLY MORE SPACE. A NEED TO HIRE HUNDREDS OF MORE PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK FROM THE AUDIENCE SAYING THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HEARD OF A LIVING EXAMPLE OF HOW TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS OF OUR COMPANY WITH THE PORT, OUR COMPANY WITH THE CITY, AND IN RETURN THE RECIPROCAL. IT TAKES COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION, IT TAKES AN ABILITY TO BE FORWARDING OUR INFORMATION AND STRATEGY SO THAT YOU HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU SHOW YOU AN AN ENGINE HOW IT'S OVERHAULED AND TESTED, HAPPY TO DO THAT.

GIVE US A CALL AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. CHAPMAN AND MR. GONZALES. LESLIE CANTU.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LESLIE CANTU.

[01:00:04]

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO FIND, TRAIN, AND RETAIN TALENT THAT UNDERSTANDS THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF OUR BUSINESS. IS DETAIL ORIENTED AND EQUAL FOCUSED AND ALWAYS MAKES SAFETY A PRIORITY. FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS TOYOTA HAS BEEN DEEPLY ENGAGED IN OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ECOSYSTEM LOOKING FOR INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO DEVELOP OUR TALENT PIPELINE. WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PARTNERING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO FOCUS ON HIDDEN TALENT IN OUR COMMUNITY SUCH AS THE JUSTICE INVOLVED POPULATION, INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND INTERNS. THIS STRATEGY HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL AND HAS TAKEN OUR BUSINESS TO A NEW LEVEL. THE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT HAS DEVELOPED A COMPANY CULTURE RESULTING IN TOYOTA BEING AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED BY OUR CUSTOMER AS A MID TO LARGE-SIZE SUPPLIER WITH THE LOWEST TURNOVER ON OUR CAMPUS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. WHILE WE'RE HAPPY WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE GOING, WE KNOW THERE'S STILL MORE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES. THAT'S WHY THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING GRANTS ARE CRITICAL TO OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS.

THESE PROGRAMS WILL ALLOW OUR COMPANY TO ENHANCE OUR EXISTING INTERNAL TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR NEW HIRES AS WELL AS STRENGTHEN OUR INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ENTRY-LEVEL PRODUCTION POSITIONS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN FOR OUR MULTISKILLED MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN PROGRAMS. TOYOTA FIRMLY BELIEVES IN INVESTING IN OUR WORKFORCE.

WE NEED TO ENSURE OUR EMPLOYEES FEEL SUPPORTED AND VALUED AND KNOW THEY HAVE A CAREER PATH WITHIN OUR COMPANY THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO GO PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES. THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR RETENTION STRATEGY, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS AND GROWTH OF OUR BUSINESS.

THE SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU WILL VOTE ON TODAY WILL HELP STRENGTHEN LOCAL COMPANIES AND FAMILIES, WHICH WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION THIS MORNING.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. CANTU. ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE WE GET INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 19.

MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 19. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MIKE.

I WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND SINCE INITIATION OF THAT CONVERSATION I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH SOME DISTRICT 5 MANUFACTURERS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH WORKFORCE TRAINING AND THE OVERALL MARKET.

I SHARED WITH THEM THIS PILOT THAT WAS COMING THROUGH AND THEY SHARED THEIR NEED FOR EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE MECHANICAL CERTIFICATIONS. THEY'RE SEEING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT PIPELINE AND THEY WANT TO GET CONNECTED TO THAT PIPELINE TO ENSURE TO KEEP THE DAYS GOING WITH THEIR BUSINESSES. NO DOUBT IN LOOKING AT THE REFLECTION OF THE APPLICANTS THAT ARE PART OF THIS PILOT, I'M PLEASED TO SEE THERE ARE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE. BUT WHEN I HEAR FROM D5 MANUFACTURERS THAT ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT THEY WEREN'T APPROACHED OR KNEW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK WHAT DID OUTREACH OR SOLICITATION LOOK LIKE FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS, LOCAL BUSINESSES HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE?

>> BUT IT WAS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF OUR PLEDGED EMPLOYERS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO READY TO WORK.

WE HAD PRESENTATIONS AT SBAC AND PRESENTATIONS AT MAESTRO TO HELP TRY TO SPREAD THE WORD TO LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT PLEDGES, IT DOESN'T COST YOU A TIME.

SO WE CLEARLY HAVE TO CONTINUE AS WE ITERATE THIS PROGRAM, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF

MAKING THOSE COMPANIES AWARE. >> CO.>> CASTILLO: WHILE LOOKINT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THIS PILOT. NO DOUBT MANY OF THESE INDUSTRIES PROVIDE IMPORTANT PIECES TO THE SAN ANTONIO ECONOMY BUT ULTIMATELY SOME OF THESE ARE BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESSES WITH A B AND WE'RE ESSENTIALLY SUBSIDIZING INTERNS. I SAY INTERNS BECAUSE MY

[01:05:02]

EMPLOYERS HAVE AGREED TO KEEP FOLKS ON BOARD? >> THAT'S A GREAT, GREAT QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN. I CAN TELL YOU THEY'RE NOT INTERNS.

THEY ARE PERMANENT EMPLOYEES. AND THEIR DESIRE IS TO KEEP THEM FOR AS LONG AS THEY'RE PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEES WITHIN THAT BUSINESS, WHICH IS WHY THEY'RE INVESTING IN TRAINING THEM SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND ATTACHED TO THAT COMPANY.

I THINK THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THEY'LL GET UP SKILLED AND HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY KEEP THEM WITHIN THAT ORGANIZATION. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE I SEE THAT UP TO 651 CURRENT FULL-TIME WORKERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AS PRESENTED TO VOTERS WAS TO PROVIDE THAT UPSKILLING THROUGH ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S PROJECT QUEST OR THE ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROGRAM HAS PIVOTED FROM WORKING WITH THOSE INSTITUTIONS THAT PROVIDE THOSE CERTIFICATIONS TO THE EMPLOYER. SO WITH THAT, THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY EMPLOYED WITH

THESE INDUSTRIES, CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> CASTILLO: AND THE WORKFORCE TRAINING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RECEIVE, THE EMPLOYERS -- SOME OF THESE BILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESSES THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PROVIDE THOSE TRAININGS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR

EMPLOYEES TO GROW? >> IT'S REALLY AN INVESTMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE COMPANIES BECAUSE WE NEED THEM TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE EMPLOYED. IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM EMPLOYED AND PREVENT LAYOFFS, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE PROPERLY SKILLED AND TRAINED. THE CITY IS PARTNERING WITH THOSE EMPLOYERS BECAUSE THEIR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS. IF THEY'RE SUCCEEDING AND GROWING AND EXPANDING, THAT CREATES MORE OPENINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO GET EMPLOYED.

IF WE CAN HELP THEM GROW, IT HELPS THE COMMUNITY OVERALL. >> CASTILLO: I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A SMALL BUSINESS FORUM AT THE MAESTRO CENTER AND WHAT I HEARD FROM SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES WAS A NEED FOR A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THE NEED AND PLEASED TO SEE THERE ARE D5 BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING BUT WHEN I SEE BILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESSES GETTING SUBSIDIZED CERTIFICATIONS, IT WORRIES ME AND IT'S ALARMING BECAUSE THERE ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT NEED THE SAME ASSISTANCE BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU ALL HAD A LIST OF FOLKS WHO HAVE PLEDGED. BUT WHEN I SEE THOSE BILLION-DOLLAR FOLKS APPLYING FOR ESSENTIALLY THESE RESOURCES THAT I THINK COULD BE BETTER SERVED GOING TO THE SAN ANTONIO AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, INCLUDING AND EXPANDING TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED, LIKE THE CITIES LIKE CHICAGO HAVE DONE.

BUT I WANTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE PILOT PROGRAM, CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH A BIT OF WHAT TRACKING THE METRICS LOOKS LIKE AND CAN WE HAVE AN EVALUATION AT ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON HOW THEY'RE TRACKING. DID THEY RETAIN THE FOLKS THAT WERE THROUGH THE PROGRAM. DID THEY GET PROMOTED AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS READY TO WORK PROGRAM? ARE WE GOING TO BE TRACKING THAT AND WHEN CAN WE EXPECT UPDATES?

>> YES. WE'LL BE TRACKING THAT. MONTHLY WE'LL GET REPORTS BACK FROM THE EMPLOYERS. THEY WILL BE COVERING THEIR TRAINING PLANS, WHAT CREDENTIALS ARE EARNED, WHAT THEIR STARTING WAGES ARE, WHAT THEIR SUBSEQUENT WAGES ARE, POST-TRAINING, IF THAT EMPLOYEE IS RETAINED BY THAT COMPANY, WHICH IS THE INTENTION.

WE WANT TO KEEP THEM ON BOARD. WE WILL BE ABLE TO TRACK THE INFORMATION AND REPORT BACK TO EWDC. ONCE THE PROGRAM IS OFF AND RUNNING, WE CAN HAVE A VOLUME OF

DATA TO REPORT BACK. >> CASTILLO: I THINK THIS DEMONSTRATES, AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE APPRENTICESHIP PIECE BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHEN FOLKS GO THROUGH AN APPRENTICESHIP, PARTICULARLY WITH THE LABOR UNION, THE LABOR UNION IS PAYING THEM WHILE THEY'RE GETTING THIS CERTIFICATION, WHEREAS THE CITY IS PAYING FOR THAT CERTIFICATION BY BILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESSES. AND THAT'S THE CONCERN. WITH THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING, THE 651 CURRENT TO FULL-TIME WORKERS AND THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, WILL THEY

BE REQUIRED TO BE READY TO WORK? >> LET ME MAKE SURE I PHRASE THIS CORRECTLY.

THEY WILL BE A PART OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. THESE COMPANIES ARE A PART OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. WE WILL TRACK AND POST TO THE PUBLIC THOSE NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS. INDIVIDUALS WITH THESE READY TO WORK DOLLARS.

>> CASTILLO: I'M THINKING OF THE BROADENING OF THE PROGRAM AND THE SCOPE AND OF COURSE, AS I MENTIONED, DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETING. HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THAT ALSO SEE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROFESSIONALIZE THESE FIELDS THAT MAKE WELL ABOVE $15 AN HOUR. I WAS SPEAKING TO A CHEF OVER IN SOUTHTOWN WHO SHARED HIS LOWEST-PAID EMPLOYEE AS A SERVER MAKES ROUGHLY $45,000 A YEAR, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL. SO I THINK I WOULD HOPE TO SEE IN DISCUSSION A POTENTIAL PILOT

[01:10:03]

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

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL START OFF BY THANKING EVERYBODY WHO CAME AND SPOKE. I APPRECIATE YOU. I SELDOM HAVE PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT 4 SPEAK AND SO I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN I SAW D4 LISTED.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THEN I WANTED TO THANK MIKE AND THE TEAM FOR ALL OF THE WORK. I KNOW THAT SOPHIA FROM PORT SAN ANTONIO IS HERE REPRESENTING JIM, WHO IS DOING SOME HEAVY LIFTING IN D.C. FOR US TODAY. EARLIER THIS WEEK WE HAD A COMMITTEE MEETING FOR READY TO WORK. WHEN I CAN'T MAKE IT, I ALWAYS SEND ONE OF MY STAFFERS AND SO SHE BRIEFS ME RIGHT AFTER AND LETS ME KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A PROMOTION PLAN THAT'S GOING TO ROLL OUT. AND SO TO THE COUNCILWOMAN'S POINT, MY FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON REACHING THE RIGHT AUDIENCES. PEOPLE WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM AS PARTICIPANTS BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM THAT ARE OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. THAT ARE THE ONES THAT REALLY NEED SOME ADDITIONAL HELP.

I WOULD LOVE TO MAYBE FOCUS IN. I AM ONLY ON THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ IS ON THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE SO I WON'T STEP INTO HIS WORK BUT I'M SURE HE CAN HELP US DO SOMETHING IN THAT AREA. BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THESE AREAS THAT WE KNOW HAVE THESE TECHNICAL NEEDS, ET CETERA.

AND SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU THERE, MIKE, WOULD BE CRITICAL.

DURING THE PANDEMIC -- AND THIS WAS -- AND ACTUALLY BEFORE YOU GOT HERE.

A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE YOU GOT HERE WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PREDECESSOR, WHICH WAS A PILOT PROGRAM AND THAT WAS TRAINING FOR JOBS SA. WE SHARED AT THE TIME HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR PAID ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIPS.

IT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE YOU GOT HERE. I TOOK THE SUMMER TO DO RESEARCH. I WORKED WITH COPS/METRO AND MET WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHAT SAN ANTONIO WAS PREPARING TO DO. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND IT SPECIFICALLY WORKED FOR WOMEN AND THAT WAS UNDER MAYOR MARTY WALSH AND BECAME SECRETARY OF LABOR AND NOW IS OVER NHL.

BUT ALL OF THEM WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT DIRECT-PAID PROGRAM AND THE APPRENTICESHIPS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE CONNECT WITH EMPLOYERS. THAT WAS ACROSS THE TABLE, EVERYBODY SAID WE HAVE TO GET THIS. AND SO THEY EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR WRAPAROUND SUPPORT AND THEN TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS WERE ALSO A PART OF THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS. I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF GETTING EMPLOYEES INVOLVED.

ALSO, THANKS TO COPS/METRO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND DISCUSS READY TO WORK WITH MIT PROFESSOR PAUL AND HE HAD AN ANALYSIS THAT SAID THE RFP IS CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT PROCESS AND MANAGEMENT BUT THAT HE THOUGHT THAT VISION AND STRATEGY WAS MISSING.

AND IF THERE WAS SUCH A MISSION DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED THEN THE RFP WOULD BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH FOR SUCCESS. HOWEVER, ABSENT SUCH A VISION THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE RFP WILL LEAD TOSPREADING OUT THE MONEY TO A COLLECTION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND SO I WANTED TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE WE PULLED IT BACK UP. BECAUSE SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I MENTIONED THESE THINGS THREE YEARS AGO. ANYBODY CAN GO BACK AND PULL THE MINUTES AND SEE I MENTIONED THIS THREE YEARS AGO. I ASKED FOR A HOSPITALITY PROGRAM. COUNCILMAN PERRY AND I MET WITH SOME OF THE STAFF AND ASKED IF WE COULD CREATE A HOSPITALITY PILOT. IT NEVER HAPPENED.

I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE THIS IS ONLY A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM. I MET WITH SOME OF THE CHEFS AND SERVERS AND I DO MY HOMEWORK A WHOLE LOT BECAUSE I'M A PROFESSOR AND I EXPECT MY KIDS TO DO MY HOMEWORK AND I DO MY HOMEWORK AS WELL. I'M NOT SURE WHY WE JUST ADDED THE ON THE JOB AND THE INCUMBENT PROGRAM BUT I THINK WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY MISSED A FEW YEARS NOW AND WILL BE CATCHING UP. I'M GLAD IT'S FINALLY THERE BUT LIKE THE MAYOR SAID IN THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, READY TO WORK IS TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE ONE PERSON AT A TIME AND IT DOES REQUIRE PATIENCE. BECAUSE I'M A PROFESSOR I KNOW IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO

[01:15:02]

I HAVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE FAILED ENTIRE SEMESTERS AND GET BACK UP ON THEIR FEET.

I UNDERSTAND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME AND SO I'M VERY PATIENT, RIGHT, AND SO I UNDERSTAND. BUT, HOWEVER, WE HAVE RESIDENTS IN SAN ANTONIO THAT HAVE EXPRESSED THE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR FELLOW SAN ANTONIANS BECAUSE THEY OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED.

IT WAS 73%, I THINK, THAT WE GOT IN SUPPORT. BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THIS WRONG AND SO IF THIS IS A COURSE CORRECTION, PART OF THE COURSE CORRECTION NEEDS TO TALK TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES. NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY BECAUSE THAT'S TIED TO TOURISM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST INDUSTRIES IN SAN ANTONIO.

WE KNOW AEROSPACE IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST INDUSTRIES IN SAN ANTONIO.

THEY ARE SOME OF THE ONES MOST READY TO RETIRE. THEY'RE THERE AT THAT 55-PLUS AGE GROUP. THE MAJORITY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT AS WELL. BUT FAMILIES HAVE ENTRUSTED US TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND SO THE RESIDENTS THAT I REPRESENT, I'VE SAID MANY TIMES CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE OR THEY'LL LOSE HOPE. AND SO I'M CERTAIN THAT NOW THAT WE'RE CHANGING, WE'RE MAKING THESE CHANGES THAT IT WILL HELP. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION EVEN THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO HAS SAID.

AND THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE HER AND I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS.

WE DIDN'T COMPARE NOTES OR ANYTHING BUT WE'RE KIND OF ON THE SAME PAGE.

IT WAS SPECIFICALLY REGARDING MARKETING AND OUTREACH AND IT'S TO THOSE POPULATIONS WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO. BUT I DO WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK OF THE BOARD SO FAR.

I KNOW THAT SEVERAL OF YOU ALL ARE HERE. I WANT TO THANK IN PARTICULAR BEN PEAVY FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. BEN AND MIKE RAMSEY AND I DID GO BLOCK WALKING.

THERE IS A WHOLE TEAM THAT WENT OUT BLOCK WALKING IN BRIGHT HIGHLIGHTER YELLOW SHIRTS.

I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT. I LOVE THE FIESTA MEDALS.

MAYBE WE COULD GET SOME TO PASS OUT AND PROMOTE. BUT I DO THINK THAT AGAIN THAT WE NEED TO MAYBE MOVE A LITTLE FASTER. I KNOW THIS IS A HUGE PROGRAM, THE UPSKILLING TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BUT I BELIEVE IN PROGRAMS LIKE PROJECT QUEST AND SO I HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH DR. STEVE NEVIN ON THE IMPACT REPORT AND THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS $26 PER ONE DOLLAR. I THINK IT HAS PROBABLY INCREASED SINCE THEN AND I'M SURE DR. NEVIN CAN CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AGAIN BUT I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING TAKES SO LONG AND LIKE I SAID IF SOMEBODY LOOKS AT THE MINUTES YOU SEE I SAID THIS THREE YEARS AGO. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MAGIC NUMBER.

SOMETIMES I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I FEEL IT'S BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN THAT PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN. SOMEBODY ELSE SAYS IT AND IT'S A MAN AND FINALLY THREE YEARS LATER A MAN SAYS IT AND IT'S DONE. THERE, I SAID IT.

I HAD TO SAY IT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING THROUGH THOSE MINUTES. SOMEBODY IS GOING THROUGH THOSE IDEAS AND SOMEBODY IS IMPLEMENTING THEM. BUT, AGAIN, IT WASN'T FULLY MY IDEA, IT WAS REALLY THE IDEAS OF CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE.

I STILL HAVE MY NOTEBOOK WITH MY NOTES AND EVERYTHING, MIKE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT AND I'LL BE READY TO SUPPORT. AGAIN, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ MAYBE CAN HELP US WITH ON THE BUSINESS ASPECT OF IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IT'S HARD FOLLOWING YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO SAY A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU JUST SAID AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE GIVING ME CREDIT FOR THINGS THAT YOU'VE JUST SAID. ANYWAY, I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THESE EFFORTS HERE. I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT READY TO WORK IS EVOLVING. IT'S LIKE ANY PROGRAM. YOU HAVE CERTAIN GOALS, ASPIRATIONS, TARGETS. AND AS YOU WORK TOWARDS THOSE YOU FIND THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ALSO VALUABLE TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. WE'RE TRYING TO HELP EDUCATE, EMPLOY PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN THEY MAY HAVE GOTTEN TO ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT THE EXTRA TRAINING, WITHOUT THE EXTRA OPPORTUNITY, WITHOUT THE EXTRA SUPPORT.

AND SO WHEN WE FIND SOMETHING LIKE THESE PROGRAMS TO ADD, I THINK THEY'RE VERY POSITIVE.

ABSOLUTELY. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, THAT'S THE BEST IT CAN BE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HANDS ON DOING THE WORK AND THEY'RE BEING EVALUATED WHILE THEY'RE DOING IT AND IT HELPS THEM DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS MUCH MORE QUICKLY. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND INTERNSHIPS AND THINGS OF THAT

[01:20:05]

AND I THINK ALSO THAT WE UNDERSTAND READY TO WORK, WHEN ORIGINALLY SET UP, HAD IDENTIFIED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF REVENUE THEY THOUGHT THEY'D BE GETTING.

BUT THEY'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN MORE IN SALES TAX REVENUE THAN THEY ANTICIPATED, WHICH MEANS THEY SHOULD HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO MORE TO HELP GET PEOPLE EMPLOYED AND TRAINED, ET CETERA.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE DISCOVERED THERE ARE BARRIERS TOO AND SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS ARE THAT A WOMAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO HAS CHILDREN, HOW CAN SHE GO TO TRAINING FOR 12 OR 16 OR 18 WEEKS AND STILL MAKE SURE HER CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR? CHILDCARE IS BIG BARRIER FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO THROUGH READY TO WORK. AT THE SAME TIME, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH TRAINING FOR 12 OR 16 WEEKS OR SIX MONTHS, HOW DO YOU SUPPORT YOURSELF IF YOU'RE TRAINING? ANOTHER BARRIER THAT I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW OF WAYS OF ADDRESSING THAT. AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IS ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE WAYS OF DOING BOTH OF THOSE THINGS, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

ON THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PART OF THIS, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING HAVE GONE THROUGH ANY KIND OF READY TO

WORK TRAINING ALREADY? >> THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IS ELIGIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE YET TO BE HIRED BY THESE COMPANIES AND ALSO INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE HIRED WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. SO WHAT OUR HOPE IS THAT MANY OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AS THEY FINISH THEIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS AND THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE RECEIVING THEIR AWARDS, AS THEY'RE BUILDING THAT WORKFORCE THAT THAT POOL IS RIPE FOR THE PLUCKING FOR THEM TO LEVERAGE THESE DOLLARS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT

>> COURAGE: SO WE'RE REALLY NOT SAYING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE 720 READY TO WORK CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE THESE JOBS. THEY COULD BE JUST ANYBODY THE

COMPANIES HIRE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. BUT WHEN THE DOLLARS SUPPORT THEM, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT READY TO WORK PUBLICIZES THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE

SUPPORTED WITH THESE FUNDS. >> COURAGE: AND I PRESUME IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THE

IN-SERVICE WORKER TRAINING? >> THAT'S CORRECT. YES, SIR.

>> COURAGE: THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY READY TO WORK CANDIDATES, THEY'RE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HIRED BY THE COMPANY AND WE'RE ASSISTING THEM IN GROWING THEIR TRAINING PROGRAM

AND ASSISTING THEIR EMPLOYEES IN BEING MORE SUCCESSFUL. >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> COURAGE: TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, I THINK THAT IS A READY TO WORK CHALLENGE THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING ON. I THINK WE'VE GOT, AS I SAID, THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT'S BEEN COMING IN THAT ENABLES US TO DO THAT. AND SO I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THESE. I HOPE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD AND OTHER WAYS OF OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES THAT MANY PEOPLE FACE TRYING TO GET INTO OUR READY TO WORK PROGRAM. AND I HOPE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE ACTUALLY HIRING OUR READY TO WORK TRAINEES.

I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A CONCERN OF MINE. WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS AND I HOPE ALL OF THEM WILL GIVE THE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION TO READY TO WORK-TRAINED PEOPLE TO HIRE. THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE THAT SOMEONE ELSE WHO'S COMPETING FOR A JOB MAY HAVE, BUT THEY PROBABLY HAVE THE REAL COMMITMENT TO TAKE THAT JOB AND DO A LOT WITH IT. SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE WEIGHED BY SOME OF OUR EMPLOYER PARTNERS. BUT, ANYWAY, I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND I THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE EFFORT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUE TO FIND MORE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS, PARTICULARLY ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND INTERNSHIPS THAT IMMEDIATELY GET SOMEBODY A JOB, GET SOMEBODY A SALARY THAT THEY CAN LIVE WITH AND IT HELPS THEM GROW IN THEIR

WORK TRAINING. SO, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE THE GOALS OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS PROPOSED EXPANSION THAT WILL HELP SMALL BUSINESSES. WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO SEE US MOVE THE NEEDLE IN GENERATIONAL POVERTY, IT IS GOING TO TAKE PARTNERSHIPS LIKE YOU MENTIONED.

THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, SO WE KNOW THAT. I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND AM GLAD TO SEE THE SEVERAL WHO ARE PLEDGED EMPLOYERS FOR THESE PILOT PROGRAMS. I DO WANT TO ENSURE THAT ANY DOLLARS WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD TO

[01:25:04]

>> FOR THESE PILOT PROGRAMS, I THINK THE KEY MEASURE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL IS THAT THE EMPLOYERS ARE DOING THE TRAINING. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SKILLS THESE WORKERS HAVE TO HAVE FOR THEIR BUSINESS TO LEVERAGE THAT AND THEY'RE HEAVILY INVESTED IN MAKING SURE THOSE EMPLOYEES CAN GET THE JOB DONE. ONE OF THOSE LESSONS LEARNED IS THAT THE EMPLOYERS ENGAGE WITH

UPSKILLING THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT WILL LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES. >> GAVITO: IN READY TO WORK, THE CITY WAS DOING THE TRAINING AND NOW WE'RE HAVING THE EMPLOYERS DOING THE TRAINING.

>> THE CITY ISN'T DOING THE TRAINING. THE COMMUNITY TRAINING PROVIDERS ARE DOING THE TRAINING. WE FUND THE TRAINING. THEY GET CASE MANAGED AND THEY GO TO ALAMO COLLEGES OR UTSA AND THEN THEY ENTER THE WORKFORCE. THEY SEEK A JOB AFTER THEY FINISH THAT TRAINING. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE CONNECTED TO THE EMPLOYER AT THE FRONT

END. >> GAVITO: THAT'S GOOD. HOW EXACTLY WILL THE SUCCESS OF

THESE PROGRAMS BE MEASURED? >> BY THE INDIVIDUALS BEING RETAINED IN THOSE POSITIONS, HAVING UPWARD MOBILITY WITHIN THOSE POSITIONS AS EVIDENCED BY WAGE EARNINGS.

>> GAVITO: HOW LONG WILL THE AFTERNOON TRAINING BE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS? IT VARIES FROM EACH EMPLOYER.

IT COULD BE UP TO ONE YEAR OF TRAINING WITHIN THAT ORGANIZATION.

>> GAVITO: SO AN EMPLOYER OKAY POTENTIALLY BE -- COULD POTENTIALLY BE TRAINING AN

EMPLOYEE UP TO ONE YEAR? >> CORRECT. >> GAVITO: LET ME SEE.

NO, THAT'S ALL. SO I'M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH THAT WILL BE PROVIDED FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES. I DO WANT US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENSURE THESE PROGRAM SUCCESSES.

I KNOW THAT READY TO WORK HAS AN IMPORTANT MISSION, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE BEING USED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELIT'S NOT AN EASY TASKO TACKLE GENERATIONAL POVERTY. AND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE MENTIONED BEFORE HE HAD TO LEAVE, WE WOULD LIKE A BRIEFING ABOUT READY TO WORK IN GENERAL AT AN

UPCOMING B SESSION. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> GAVITO: THAT'S ALL MY

COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR THIS PRESENTATION WHICH WE HEARD AT EWDC. I WAS VIRTUAL, BUT I THINK THERE WAS A LOT MORE OF THE BUSINESSES THERE IN THE CROWD.

BUT I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO CAME UP AND SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF IT.

I NEED TO GIVE A KUDOS TO TOYOTA TEXAS AND BD HOLT COMPANY THAT EMPLOY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND HAVE REALLY BEEN ON THE TOUR.

IF YOU HAVEN'T, I SUGGEST YOU GO. REALLY ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAPPENED DECADES AGO AS INDUSTRY CAME TO TEXAS. DALLAS GOT THE AIRPORTS. WE RELIED ON OUR MILITARY BASES. AND WITH THAT WE CREATED A LATINO, HISPANIC MIDDLE CLASS AND THEN WE LOST OUR MILITARY BASES. AND NOW WE'VE WORKED WITH THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY. BUT AS WE GROW, WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY.

SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS PILOT PROGRAM. I BELIEVE THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, WHILE I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE FLOOD, IT'S NORMALLY DONE BY AN INDUSTRY THAT COMES IN AND SAYS THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.

BUT BRINGING THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER IS KEY, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS MORE HOW WE BRING IN UNIONIZED JOBS. AND IN DEFENSE OF WHY THIS HOSPITALITY ISSUE DIDN'T GET STARTED SOONER, BUT AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO FAST TRACK IT.

I JUST -- I DON'T BELIEVE IN SOME ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAD THE LEADERSHIP THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROPONENT FOR THIS. I THINK NOW WE DO, THAT WE CAN REALLY LOOK AT THAT HOSPITALITY AND LOOK AT THAT PROGRAM.

SO NOW WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP. WE CAN START THAT AND I THINK I'D LIKE TO SEE IT FAST TRACKED, BUT I KNOW WHEN I SAY FAST TRACKED IN THE CITY THAT COULD MEAN A LOT. BUT ANDY, I'M LOOKING AT YOU TO TELL ME IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION HOW FAST WE CAN ACTUALLY GO WITH THAT.

[01:30:03]

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

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY STILL TO OPEN UP THE BUSINESS COMPONENT SO THAT WE COULD INCREASE THE SUPPORT OR ALLOW MORE SMALL

BUSINESSES TO APPLY? >> FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THE PILOT?

ABSOLUTELY. >> KAUR: BUT NOT FOR -- >> NOT FOR THIS ONE THAT'S UP FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY, BUT IN THE FUTURE WE HOPE TO BRING MORE.

>> KAUR: I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' SENTIMENTS THIS SHOULD BE OPEN TO MORE SMALLER BUSINESSES. WE WANT FOLKS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT CAN'T AFFORD THIS WITHOUT THESE DOLLARS.

A LOT OF TIME LARGE COMPANIES HAVE BUCKETS OF MONEY THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR THIS. SO I WANT TO ECHO THAT COMMENT THERE.

I ALSO WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE HOSPITALITY SUPPORT. WE HAVE A LOT OF HOSPITALITY ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES IN DISTRICT 1 AND WE'VE HEARD THAT THEY NEED PEOPLE, EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW AND NEED THAT SUPPORT. THEY SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM, SO IN THE NEXT ROUND OR PHASE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT ALSO HAPPEN AS WELL.

AND THEN THE OTHER GROUP THAT'S ASKED US FOR SUPPORT IS VIA IN TERMS OF MECHANICS AND DRIVERS AND THEIR PAY IS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN WHAT I WAS THINKING THAT IT WOULD BE. AND THEY ALSO OFFER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS FOR THEIR FOLKS, SO WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER TO SEE IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THERE.

ALSO IF THEY GET VIA TRAINED, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALSO REALLY STRUGGLE WITH BUS DRIVERS AND THERE'S THAT MOBILITY AND CHANGE THERE.

THE LAST THING I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT, ARE THESE WORKERS THAT ARE RECEIVING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, ARE THEY GETTING CERTIFICATES? THAT WAS PART OF THE INITIAL THOUGHT OF THE PROGRAM THAT IF YOU GET GOOD ALAMO COLLEGES, YOU GET A

CERTIFICATE TRANSFERABLE FROM ONE JOB TO THE OTHER. >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I WANT TO START WITH HOSPITALITY AGAIN, THAT'S A POPULAR QUESTION.

HOSPITALITY QUESTIONS ARE PLEDGED EMPLOYERS READY TO WORK AND WE REACHED OUT TO THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR SO THEY COULD APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS.

WE'LL MAKE A CONDITION CERTIFIED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE WE GO TO THEM ONE ON ONE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE PART FOR THE NEXT GO-ROUND. CERTIFICATIONS, EVERYTHING FROM EMTS TO PLUMBING LICENSES, TO CERTIFICATIONS IN THE AREAS OF BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT AND CANINE KNOWLEDGE. AMERICAN REGISTRY OF RADIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS, A PLETHORA OF CERTIFICATION WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH

THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS. >> KAUR: GOT IT. YEAH, I'LL JUST CONCLUDE MY THOUGHTS WITH SAYING OBVIOUSLY THIS WORK IS IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY.

WE KNOW WE NEED TO HAVE MORE ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO IT. I WANT TO 'EM COMMITTEE THE COMMENTS ALREADY MADE -- ECHO THE COMMENTS ALREADY MADE GIVEN THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE.

ON THE NEXT ROUND WOULD LOVE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE SHARED HERE EXPRESSED AND I ALSO WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO COMMENTS ABOUT GETTING A FULL BRIEFING AT B SESSION. FOR THOSE OF US THAT JUST JOINED, GET A FULL BRIEFING AND SOME OF THE AREAS WE'RE PIVOTING AND CHANGING.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU START PROGRAMS, THEY ARE NEVER PERFECT ON THE FRONT END, BUT GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING GOING TOWARDS IT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING PURPOSEFUL. I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE COMMENTS FROM TODAY ARE

COMING FROM. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> KAUR: THANK YOU.

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

COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE PRIZE. AND THE PRIZE IS GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK IN GOOD JOBS, GETTING PEOPLE TRAINED UP SO THAT THEY CAN ACQUIRE PORTABLE SKILLS THAT THEY CAN TAKE FROM JOB TO JOB, AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING THEMSELVES OUT OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY AND BEGINNING TO ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND SO FOR ME IT'S LESS IMPORTANT WHICH EMPLOYER DOES THAT SO LONG AS THEY DO IT. IT WOULD BE AN ADDED PLUS IF WE COULD ALSO HELP VULNERABLE BUSINESSES ALONG THE WAY.

[01:35:01]

AND IF THEY WORK AT STANDARD ARROW, IF THEY WORK ON THE TOYOTA, ANY OTHER COMPANY IN TOWN THAT IS CORRECT IS A GOOD THING. THAT IS A EMPIRICALLY GOOD THING. AND O I THINK WHENEVER CITY COUNCIL BETS ON KNOWN QUANTITIES LIKE EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE WITH SUBSTITUTE THE TEST OF TIME AND REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO, WE ALWAYS WIN. THE SECOND THING IS I DO RESPECT AND HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S COMMENTS AND CONCERNS. AND THE REASON I RESPECT THAT IS BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE'S NO -- THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS ON THIS DAIS BE ALLERGIC TO THIS IDEA THERE ARE SACRED COWS. THERE ARE NO SACRED COWS AND READY TO WORK IS NOT A SACRED COW. THEY SHOULD BE EXAMINED BECAUSE IT'S ONLY WITH CONTINUANCE CHECKING IN AND ANSWERING OF QUESTIONS THAT WE CREATE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. SOMEBODY TOLD ME DON'T CRITICIZE THE THING AND DON'T LOOK AT IT ASKEW, YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT IN FOUR YEARS.

THAT'S A TERRIBLE BIT OF ADVICE. I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT EVERY DAY. MIKE, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO QUESTIONS AND OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO DOUBTS AND THE ANXIETIES THAT THIS CREATES.

NOW, YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT THE SISTENE CHAPEL, IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE AS PERFECT -- WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE THE SISTENE CHAPEL BY WAY OF COMMITTEE.

ANYBODY OUT THERE EXPECTING PERFECTION IS GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED EVERY TIME AND WE CAN'T GET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD. IN THIS INSTANCE, I THINK WE'RE REALLY HITTING THE BALL OUT OF THE PARK WITH REGARDS TO -- OR AS IT RELATES TO THESE KINDS OF SPENDS ON BETTING ON EMPLOYERS TO DO WHAT THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHICH IS CREATING THOSE JOBS. YOU KNOW, I WAS CRITICAL IN THE NEWSPAPER AND IN OTHER PLACES RECENTLY THAT I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE WERE DOING THAT ENOUGH. I THINK THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO POUR MORE OF OUR ENERGY INTO. AND GETTING EMPLOYERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BET ON THEM TO DO WHAT THEY ARE EXCELLENT AT. AND SO YOU GOT MY SUPPORT ON THIS ONE AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, CITY CLERK, I LISTEN TO EVERYTHING COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA SAYS. [LAUGHTER] SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. HOW MANY BUSINESSES IN

DISTRICT 2 ARE BEING AWARDED? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ON MY STAFF TO PULL THAT NUMBER.

IF YOU CAN GO TO QUESTION NUMBER 2. BUT WE HAVE A CHART OF EACH

IN EVERY DISTRICT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE SECOND IS HOW MANY

BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT 5 THEN? >> IF YOU ALL CAN GET ME THE

CHART. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I SHOULD BE SHORT SO I HAVE TIME. IN TOTAL THERE ARE 31 AWARDS.

>> I DON'T NEED THEM. DISTRICT 2, -- THREE IN DISTRICT 2.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THERE'S THREE IN DISTRICT 2.

>> THAT IS CORRECT AND FOUR IN DISTRICT 5. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: OKAY.

WHICH ONES ARE THOSE? CAN YOU LIST THOSE FOR ME? BECAUSE I WENT AND LOOKED FOR THE ADDRESSES OF EACH OF THE BUSINESSES AND I ONLY SAW ONE IN DISTRICT 2.

>> PROJECT TAS SOLUTIONS, AND THAT OWNER IS ACTUALLY HERE TODAY.

WE ALSO HAVE AINDICATEDDIAN AMBULANCE AND DL BANDY CON CONSTRUCTION.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SOUNDS GOOD. I THINK GENERALLY I'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM AND IT'S RECEIVED QUITE A BIT OF CRITIQUE AND I THINK THAT'S VITAL WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BIG GOALS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GENERATIONAL POVERTY, I'M THINKING OF PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 2 AND 5 AND RESIDENTS FIGHTING WITH ALL

[01:40:01]

I'M HOPE THAT IT'S NOT ONE -- HAPPY IT'S NOT ONE BUSINESS, BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A GREATER FOCUS AND CONCENTRATIONS IN DISTRICT 2 AND 5.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE YOU WITHIN IN ONE, IT'S TILL NOT A LOT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD IS WE NEED TO HAVE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO GET NOT JUST RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 AND 5 PARTICIPATING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AT OTHER JOBS AND BUSINESSES, BUT MAKING IT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ECHO A LOT OF THE SENTIMENT OF MY COLLEAGUES, BUT THAT'S MY

PRIMARY FOCUS AND CONCERN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

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

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS HAS BEEN REAL GREAT DISCUSSION. ONE THING THAT ALSO I WANT TO KEEP IN MIND WITH THE NEXT PILOT IS IF WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT OSHA VIOLATIONS. THERE ARE A LOT OF APPLICANTS ON THIS ROUND THAT HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH VIOLATION AND I WANT TO ENSURE IF OUR PRIORITY IS ENSURING THAT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITY, IT'S OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY ARE SAFE.

BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM TODAY BECAUSE THERE ARE D5 BUSINESSES THAT ARE

COUNTING ON >> WALSH: REAL QUICK, THE -- THESE COMMENTS ARE GREAT BECAUSE PART OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING TODAY IS A PILOT PROGRAM IN THIS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET. MIKE IS GOING TO BE BACK IN B SESSION ON MAY 1ST TO TALK ABOUT HIS FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET. SO A LOT OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT IS CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE TAKE THAT NEXT STEP.

JUST A REMINDER FOR THE COUNCIL, THE PRE-K 4 SA FISCAL YEAR AND THE READY TO WORK FISCAL YEAR IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF THE CITY'S.

THEY ARE ON A JULY 1, SO THE COUNCIL WILL APPROVE THEIR BUDGET IN JUNE AND SO THE MAY 1ST B SESSION IS TO TALK THROUGH NEXT YEAR AND WHAT THE GOALS ARE, WHAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE. OBVIOUSLY WE THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE INTEREST IN THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. AS WE GO THROUGH FUTURE SOLICITATIONS AS COUNCILWOMAN KAUR WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT IN SHORT ORDER FURTHER INTO 2024. JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON COUNCIL'S RADAR SCREEN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. AND I'LL JUST REFLECT ON A FEW COMMENTS.

FIRST OF ALL, MIKE, DON'T BOTHER GETTING UP. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. ALSO THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS OWNERS WHO CAME AND SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM. I AGREE AND SYMPATHIZE WITH SOME OF THE FRUSTRATIONS IN TERMS OF HOW LONG IT'S TAKEN TO GET TO A IAWT JOB AND OJF PROGRAM BECAUSE I REMEMBER THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH EMPLOY EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYERS IN SOME CASES DOING THE TRAINING.

IT'S GREAT TO BE TO THE POINT WE'RE DOING AN INVESTMENT AND I SHARE THE OPTIMISM IT WILL BE MOST PRO FUND WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES START TO TAP INTO THIS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN CLAMORING FOR A PIECE OF THIS, A WAY IN, BUT ALSO THOSE ARE THE BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO SCALE UP TRAINING PROGRAMS WITHIN THEIR BUSINESSES. AND SO THEY ARE IN SOME WAYS SWIMMING IN A SEA OF EMPLOYERS THAT ARE COMPETE ING FOR THOSE TALENT -- FOR THAT TALENT.

AND SO IT'S EXCITING THAT WE'RE HERE. IT'S ALSO EXCITING FOR THE PARTICIPANTS THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY WILL NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A CREDENTIAL THAT MAKES THEM COMPETITIVE IN THAT MARKET. BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THE LARGER BUSINESSES WHO ARE PART OF THIS BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THEM.

AND DO EMPLOY A GREAT NUMBER OF SAN ANTONIANS, THOUSANDS OF THEM, AND HELPING THEM AND LISTENING TO THEM IN WHAT THEY NEED TO HELP US ADVANCE THE CREDENTIALS AND

[01:45:01]

IN FACT, IT WAS COPS/METRO, IT WAS RESIDENTS, IT WAS VOTERS WHO SAID WE NEED TO BE LISTENING TO THE EMPLOYERS ON THIS AND BE FLEXIBLE IN THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT THEY NEED TO HELP CRAFT THE PROGRAM. NOW, THAT BEING SAID, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT ERIK, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF -- HEARD B SESSION, I'VE HEARD COMMITTEE, I'VE HEARD INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE DILIGENT ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT COUNCIL IS BRIEFED ON THE DETAILS AS WE START TO FLEX THIS PROGRAM AND AS IT CHANGES.

I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE HERE'S WHERE I AM.

WE'VE DONE SOME MASSIVE AND TRANSFORMATIONAL THINGS ON THIS DAIS OVER THE LAST 10, AND I'LL SAY 7 YEARS, AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET IT STARTED.

I MEAN, THIS CITY WAITED DECADES FOR US TO EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT MASS TRANSIT. WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT, PEOPLE LAUGHED BECAUSE WE WERE JUST HAVING ANOTHER CONVERSATION. FINALLY WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING SOMETHING. MANY, MANY YEARS. WHEN WE FIRST RATIFIED THE CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN, PEOPLE ASKED US WHEN WE WERE GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON THE MAJOR THINGS. IT TOOK I THINK TWO OR THREE YEARS AND WE FINALLY HAVE A PLAN WE APPROVED AT THE BOARD.

WE WERE SHUTTING DOWN THE COAL PLANTS AHEAD OF WHEN THE INITIAL PROJECTIONS -- OR AHEAD OF WHERE EVEN SOME OF THE ADVOCATES HAD BEEN ASKING FOR.

YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING PROGRAM, IT TOOK US IN THIS CITY HOW MANY YEARS SINCE WE STARTED THE TASK FORCE AND POLICY MAKING TO HIRE A CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER? I MEAN, THAT WAS REALLY FRUSTRATING. WE FINALLY HAVE MARK IN PLACE, THREE YEARS UNDER OUR BELT AND WE ARE ON A ROLL. SO MUCH SO THAT I THINK WE'RE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY FOR IT. SO MY POINT IS THESE MAJOR TRANSFORMATIONAL THINGS ARE TAKING TIME. THEY ARE FRUSTRATING IF WE JUST LOOKING AT THE CLOCK, BUT WHEN WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER AND BEING REALISTIC ABOUT THE CRITICISM AND INTERNALIZING IT AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS WHERE WE CAN, IT TURNS INTO WHAT WE WANT IT TO WHICH IS GENERATIONAL CHANGE.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT ON THIS. YOU ARE RIGHT, COUNCILMAN, THERE ARE NO SACRED COWS. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FACE THE CHALLENGES AND INTERPRET THE CRITIQUES IN A WAY THAT HELPS US IMPROVE THE PROGRAM.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEDICATED TO DOING. THAT'S WHAT MIKE HAS BEEN DOING, HE'S DEDICATED TO IT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE. I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT CONTINUES TO JUST TALK ABOUT GENERATIONAL POVERTY. I'M EXCITED TO BE ON A DAIS WHERE WE'VE BEEN DEDICATED TO SOLVING IT IN MANY WAYS AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE COMMITMENT TO IT. AND THIS IS ONE ASPECT OF IT.

THROUGH ALL OF THE FRICTION AND THE CHALLENGES, WE'LL MAKE CHANGES THAT ARE NECESSARY, THAT MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEDICATED TO DOING AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THIS IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY AND ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE HONEST FEEDBACK AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS.

AGAIN, MIKE, ALEX, THE WHOLE TEAM, THE BOARD, BEN PEAVY, OUR EMPLOYERS, GREAT JOB, LET'S KEEP AT IT, WE ARE CHANGING LIVES. WITH THAT THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 19. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. ERIK, WE HAVE A CITY

[City Manager's Report  ]

MANAGER'S REPORT? >> WALSH: YES, SIR, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ONE ITEM TODAY, IT'S OUR SPOTLIGHT VIDEO. WE CELEBRATED, RECENTLY CELEBRATED WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN MARCH AND HAD A NUMBER OF EVENTS FOR EMPLOYEES. ONE OF THE EVENTS WAS A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH A NON-TRADITIONAL FEMALE STAFF ROLES. WE HAD KAREN ELLIS FROM ALASKA FROM A THE AIRPORT.

BERRARA WHO IS A SENIOR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR WITH SOLID WASTE.

[01:50:04]

>> IN THE BEGINNING WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, A LOT OF MY CO-WORKERS WERE LIKE WHY, YOU DRIVE TRUCKS? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DRIVING TRUCKS. I'VE BEEN DRIVING THEM FOR QUITE A WHILE.

WOW, IT'S AMAZING THEY DON'T SEE A LOT OF WOMEN OUT HERE AND THERE SHOULD BE MORE.

WHAT INSPIRES ME OR GETS ME MOTIVATED IS ABLE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A TRUCK AND HELP OUT IN THE JOB THAT WE DO. I WOULD TELL OTHER WOMEN TO GO FOR IT.

I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, DON'T GET INTIMIDATED. TRY IT, THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES AND DON'T GIVE UP EASILY. ME AS A WOMAN, I'M PROUD TO BE WORKING HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY BE ABLE TO DRIVE A SEMI TRUCK. JUST SOMETHING THAT BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN ME, YOU KNOW. I ENJOY IT, I REALLY DO ENJOY IT.

TO TALK ABOUT HOMELESS THIS AFTERNOON ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB AND BUSY

SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIK. I WILL SAY IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO TRY THAT.

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION -- >> MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO

REQUEST A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SURE,

GO AHEAD. >> GARCIA: IF EVERYBODY COULD JOINED US ON THE COUNT OF THREE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. YOU MADE MY DAY.

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

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THE TIME IS 1:09 P.M. ON THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2024. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.

NO OFFICIAL ACTION

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.