May 16, 2024 Sesión A del Consejo de la Ciudad

[00:01:17]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. TIME IS 9:14 A.M. ON THE 16TH DAY OF MAY 2024.

WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE ROLL? CABELLO HAVRDA IS HERE VIRTUALLY.

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WELCOME, EVERYONE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE MANY OF OUR SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. TO GET US STARTED, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

I AM SO EXCITED TO INTRODUCE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST AND FRIEND OF MINE.

SHE IS ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE DRAG PERFORMERS, AYSIA RAWZE WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. SHE WENT TO SCHOOL FOR HER COSMETOLOGY LICENSE AND IS ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING HER REAL ESTATE LICENSE NOW. AYSIA IS A LOCAL DIRECTOR AT LET'S BE HONEST AND HAS BEEN PERFORMING FOR SEVEN YEARS IN HER CAREER OF ENTERTAINMENT.

SHE HAS BEEN BLESSED TO BE A PART OF MANY AMAZING EVENTS SHARING THE ART FORM OF DRAG. SHE WANTS TO LEAVE A LEGACY AND OPEN DOORS TO EMBRACE WHO THEY ARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND ESTEEMED COUNCILMEN. AND ALL WHO ARE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE TODAY'S INVOCATION. IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AS WE PREPARE TO TAKE ON SOME SIGNIFICANT ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTH RESIDING WITHIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

WE STAND HERE NOT JUST AS INDIVIDUALS BUT AS A COMMUNITY UNITED AND DIVERSITY AND SHARED HUMANITY. IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, WE REMAIN IN OUR COLLECTIVE DUTIES TO PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US. IN THE HALL OF POWERS, DECISIONS ARE MADE THAT CAN IMPACT THE LIVES OF OUR BROTHERS, SISTERS, SIBLINGS, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS WHO FACE DISCRIMINATION SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE. AS A TEXAS STATE LEGISLATOR WE ARE AWARE OF THE THREAT POSED TO OUR DRAG ENTERTAINERS AND OUR QUEER FOLK BUT IN THE FACE OF SUCH HOSTILITY WE MUST REMAIN STEADFAST AND CONNECT TO ONE ANOTHER . FOR WE ARE NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS, WE ARE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH WHEN ALL OF US COME TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY AND LOVE.

IN A TIME SUCH AS THIS WE CALL UPON OUR CITY COUNCIL TO STAND WITH US, TO CHAMPION OUR CAUSE TO ENSURE THAT NONE OF US IS LEFT BEHIND.

LET US NOT FORGET THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR SOCIETY, HOW IT TREATS ITS MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS. LET US BE THE BEACON OF HOPE, THE VOICE OF REASON, AND THE HAND OF COMPASSION TO REACH OUT AND LIFT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE.

SO LET US GO FORWARD FROM THE CHAMBERS TODAY WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF DETERMINATION. LET US BE THE CHANGE WE WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD AND LET US NEVER WAIVER IN OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECT AND UPLIFT ONE ANOTHER.

THANK YOU AND MAY WE CONTINUE TO STAND TOGETHER UNITED AS A QUEST FOR

[00:05:03]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AYSIA. THE FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 1 AND MAY 2.

THAT'S ITEM NO. 3. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 3.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. WE'LL NEED A VOICE VOTE FROM

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: AYE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. FOR OUR AGENDA TODAY WE HAVE TWO ITEMS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING. ITEMS 4 AND 5.

THE REST ARE UNDER CONSENT. SO ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT TO HEAR INDIVIDUALLY? ITEM 15? ANY OTHERS?

>> GAVITO: 7, PLEASE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 7.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 5, 7, AND 15. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS. JACK FINGER ON ITEM 15. ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY, JACK.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT UP ON INDIVIDUAL SO YOU DON'T NEED TO COME UP NOW.

WE'RE NOT HEARING THAT RIGHT NOW. ITEM 22 WE DO HAVE FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 22. THIS IS REMAINING ON CONSENT SO IF I CALL YOUR NAME AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO FOREGO YOUR TIME, JUST SIGNAL ME.

MARTY GARZA. TIFFANY DAR. NATHAN PETERSON.

CHRIS BECKER. CLAYTON RUSSELL. YOU'RE WAIVING YOUR TIME?

>> MARIO BARRERA. AURORA GUISE. ERROL SIKES.

JOELINSON. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, IT'S ON CONSENT.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. JOE, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M JOE LINSON FROM DISTRICT 7. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT READY TO WORK, SA READY TO WORK. I SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WOULD CONTINUE TO FUND IT, KEEP IT GOING FORWARD AT THIS TIME. I THINK THAT I'M MORE INTERESTED IN THE OJT APPRENTICESHIP PIECE OF IT. I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT WAY TO GET PEOPLE ON THE JOB RIGHT AWAY. THAT'S IMPORTANT AND I LIKE THE WAY THE DOCUMENT WAS FASHIONED SO THAT IT ALLOWS YOU GUYS SOME TIME TO TWEAK IT WHERE YOU CAN. I THINK THAT EVERY JOB YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN AND LEARN HOW TO DO IT, WHATEVER IT MAY BE. I JUST THINK THAT OJT, PARTICULARLY IN THE HOSPITALITY ARENA, IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK SMALL FIRMS CAN BENEFIT BY HAVING FOLKS COME IN AND WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THEIR STAFF. SO ANY SUBSIDY ALONG THOSE LINES -- I DON'T SEE IT AS A SUBSIDY, I SEE IT MORE AS AN INVESTMENT IN HUMAN CAPITAL. IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE ON THE JOB AND HELP THEM GO AGAIN, I THINK WE WOULD BE DOING A GOOD JOB.

SO I URGE AT LEAST SIX OF YOU TO VOTE YES AND MOVE THAT AGENDA ITEM.

[00:10:02]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. JACK FINGER. JACK, YOU'RE SIGNED UP ON 21

AND 22 SO YOU CAN SPEAK ON BOTH OF THOSE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YEAH, I THOUGHT THAT PRO HOMOSEXUAL INVOCATION WAS RATHER INTERESTING. ITEM 22 I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IS, WELL, WHAT DOES IT SAY? APPROVING SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, AROUND 49 MILLION BUCKS THERE. AND STAFFING BY THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION? YEAH.

I LOOKED AT THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS. IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE.

YEAH. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, LOOK AT THOSE UNDERLINED AREAS THERE. YEAH. APPROVING THE SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK FISCAL YEAR BUDGET -- DROPPING DOWN TO THE OTHER PART.

AS ADOPTED BY THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MUNICIPAL EARLY CHILDHOODEDUCATION MUNICIL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD. MY QUESTION IS ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD -- EXCUSE ME.

WHAT DOES THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CORPORATION HAVE TO DO WITH READY TO WORK? UNLESS OF COURSE Y'ALL ARE GOING TO BE TRYING TO PROMOTE CHILD LABOR. HA, HA, HA. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT BUT, I MEAN, WITH SAN ANTONIO WHO KNOWS HERE. YEAH.

CONTINUE TO DROP DOWN TO THE FURTHER PARTS OF THAT I HAVE UNDERLINED.

YEAH. WHAT DOES IT SAY? YEAH.

AROUND 6,920 PARTICIPANTS. AS THEY SAY THERE ARE LIES, DAMN LIES, AND STATISTICS.

1,611 PARTICIPANTS HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING WHICH REFLECTS A 75% SUCCESSFUL TRAINING . I PUT THE QUESTION MARK THERE.

I'M SORRY. ONE OUT OF SIX OR SEVEN THERE, YOU CAN RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM AGAIN. THAT, TO ME ONLY TELLS ME IT'S ONE OUT OF 7, MAYBE 14%. I DON'T THINK 14% MATCHES 75% SUCCESS.

I MEAN, MAYBE MY MATH IS WRONG. ADMITTEDLY IT'S A LONG TIME AGO I STUDIED THIS THING. I'M SORRY. THAT DOESN'T COMPUTE TO ME.

SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE ON THE PAGES THERE, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.

OKAY. PROBABLY NOT. BUT ALSO ALSO, YOU KNOW, READY O WORK ALSO HAS SOME OTHER BIG PROBLEMS. BUT ALSO THE OTHER BIG THING IT SAYS IN THE NEWSPAPER HEADLINE ABOUT HOW THE FUNDING THAT WE THE VOTERS HAD OFFERED FOR IT. IT'S GOING TO COMPANIES WHO HAVE ALREADY HIRED EMPLOYEES INSTEAD OF THOSE WHO NEED IT.

HA, HA, HA! >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

KERRY ALVARADO. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT SO WE'LL GO TO --

>> I WAS ASKING IF FOLKS WANTED TO KEEP THEIR TIME. IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR TIME,

MR. PETERSON, COME ON UP. >> I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT MY COMFORT ZONE.

THIS IS NOT WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. I'M A TRAINER AND I TRAIN SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND INSTALLERS FOR AIR-CONDITIONING WORK.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I GREW UP DOING THIS.

MY DAD, BROTHER, GRANDAD, UNCLE, WHOLE FAMILY. THE COMPANY I WORK FOR NOW IS ATLAS AC REPAIR . THEY'RE ALSO A FAMILY-RUN COMPANY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE EVERY DAY IS TO STAFF OUR TRUCKS, PUT GOOD-QUALITY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TRAINED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, HAVE GOOD CHARACTER AND WORK ETHIC INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO REPAIR THEIR AC EQUIPMENT. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN THAT RESPECT IS TO GET PEOPLE TRAINED. PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THERE IS A HUGE GAP IN EDUCATION HERE.

[00:15:03]

AND THE FIRST STEP OF THAT JOURNEY, THEY DO. I MYSELF WENT TO TRADE SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH I STARTED WORKING IN THE FIELD WHEN I WAS A KID.

I WORKED WITH MY DAD, BASICALLY ON-THE-JOB TRAINING BY THE TIME I COULD WALK. EVEN SO, AFTER I WENT TO TRADE SCHOOL, I WAS 17 YEARS OLD. I HAD MY OWN TRUCK WHEN I WAS 16 RUNNING SERVICE CALLS IN PEOPLE'S HOMES. EVEN SO, WHEN I CAME OUT OF TRADE SCHOOL AND I ACTUALLY WENT INTO SERVICE IN PEOPLE'S HOMES DOING REPAIRS, NOT JUST MAINTENANCE, I FOUND OUT JUST HOW LITTLE I KNEW. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING NOW WITH TRADE SCHOOLS. AS THESE GUYS COME OUT, ONLY THEN DO THEY REALIZE WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW. AND IT BECOMES A CYCLE OF TRYING TO GET THE JOB TO GET THE EXPERIENCE TO GET THE JOB.

AND IT GOES AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND. THIS PROGRAM, THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM WILL HELP US IMMENSELY BECAUSE IT WILL BRING BACK THE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM, WHICH HAS BEEN ABANDONED, AND WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.

WHEN YOU TAKE A YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN WHO HAS NO EXPERIENCE -- THEY HAVE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE BUT THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY EXPERIENCE IN THE REAL WORLD. AND YOU PUT THEM WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS, IT JUST PUSHES THEM FORWARD SO MUCH FASTER AND IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU CAN'T REPLICATE WITH TRAINING ALONE. I WOULD SAY THIS. FROM TRAINING PEOPLE, THE ONE THING YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN TEACH PEOPLE KNOWLEDGE BUT YOU CAN'T ESTABLISH SKILLS WITHOUT EXPERIENCE. THAT'S WHERE THIS COMES INTO EFFECT.

THE SECOND PART, THE INTERIM WORKER IS IMPORTANT AS WELL. THEY CAN'T MOVE UP, THEY CAN'T IMPROVE THEIR INCOME, CAN'T IMPROVE THEIR WAY OF LIFE AND THEY CAN'T BUILD OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITIES UP. I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS PROGRAM . IT'S VERY, VERY HELPFUL, IN MY FIELD, PARTICULARLY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PETERSON. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO, YOU MEANT TO PULL THIS ITEM?

>> I THINK COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO IS GOING TO CORRECT. WE'LL HEAR THIS ONE INDIVIDUALLY AND I'LL CALL YOU UP. ANYBODY ELSE'S NAME I CALLED, WE'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT WHEN THAT ITEM IS PRESENTED.

BY AFFIRMATION, LET ME JUST CHECK WITH THE MOTION AND A SECOND.

THE ITEMS THAT ARE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ITEMS 4, 5, 15, AND 22.

THAT'S GOOD? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO COUNCIL

DISCUSSION. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I HOPED EVERYONE LIKED THE PRO HOMOSEXUAL INVOCATION AS MUCH AS JACK FINGER DID. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16, REAPPOINTING JOANNA HARRIS. DISTRICT 2'S LIBRARIES ARE CENTRAL AND SERVE AS GATHERING SPACES FOR ALL AND MS. JOANNA HARRIS HAS REPRESENTED OR DISTRICT WELL AND WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT SHE WILL CONTINUE HER PASSIONATE DEDICATION TO OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 20, THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE REAPPOINTMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS.

AS CHAIR OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT COMMITTEE IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE TO APPROVE ITEM 20 AND TO APPOINT AND REAPPOINT THESE INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONALS TO SERVE THE MUNICIPAL COURT. THEY MUST MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH A COMPASSIONATE YET FAIR PERSPECTIVE. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK THEY DO AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR SERVICE. THANK YOU.

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

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

THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, BEGINNING WITH 17.

YESTERDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF JOINING THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM AND THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY UPDATES WITH THE LAS PALMAS LIBRARY TO TALK ABOUT SOME BELLS AND WHISTLES WE CAN ADD. AND THE CONVERSATION EVOLVED INTO ARTS AND PUBLIC ARTS AND LOCAL ARTISTS AND I WAS EAGER THAT, YOU KNOW, ITEM 17 IS APPROVING A PRE-QUALIFIED LIST AND THE COMMUNITY WAS ASKING HOW CAN WE ENSURE WE'RE HIRING DISTRICT 5 ARTISTS FOR THE COMPONENT FOR THE LAS PALMAS LIBRARY . HOW CAN WE LOOK AT HIRING EDGEWOOD ISD STUDENTS FOR THE ART FOR THE BOND PROJECT. WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC ART IS ESSENTIAL AND IT'S NEVER EASY FOR UPCOMING LOCAL ARTISTS TO BREAK OUT AND ON TO THE ART SCENE BUT THIS ITEM PROVIDES THAT OPPORTUNITY.

I KNOW DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY THE FOLKS ORGANIZED AROUND THE LAS

[00:20:06]

IF THE FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO STAND. ITEM 19 DESIGNATES A STREET MEMORIAL OF ROBERT B. GREEN WAY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ICON. AFTER THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION JOVITA MOVED TO THE WEST SIDE. SHE PROVIDED BILINGUAL EDUCATION TO WORKING-CLASS MEXICAN AMERICANS AND MEXICAN FAMILIES IN LAREDO AND SAN ANTONIO THROUGH METHODIST CHURCHES EVEN STARTING HER OWN FREE KINDERGARTEN CLASSES IN OUR CITY. AS A JOURNALIST, JOVITA WROTE IN SEVERAL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS IN LAREDO ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE, REPORTING ON THE TEXAS RANGERS AS WELL AS MEXICAN AMERICANS THROUGHOUT TEXAS AS WELL AS UNION ORGANIZING. LASTLY, AS AN ACTIVIST, SHE ORGANIZED COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE ON MEXICAN AMERICANS IN LAREDO AND SAN ANTONIO. SO THE JOVITA FAMILY, WE WANT TO THANK YOU, AS WELL AS MACRI, WHO HELPED CHAMPION THIS STREET NAMING. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO CELEBRATE FIVE YEARS OF MACRI AND FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF SARAH FOR MOVING THESE INITIATIVES FORWARD. I WANTED TO THANK JOVITA'S FAMILY AND MACRI AS WELL.

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

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO PROVIDE A QUICK HIGHLIGHT ON ITEM 10 AND I WANTED TO THANK RAZI AND THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM SPECIFICALLY FOR WORKING TOGETHER WITH US. I GOT A WALK THROUGH OF THE HERITAGE MULTIGENERATIONAL CENTER AND ADDING THE PARK ADDITIONS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK EVERYBODY WORKING ON IT, ESPECIALLY F.A. NUNNELLY FOR THEIR WORK.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 8 AS PART OF THE BOND PROGRAM, IMPROVEMENTS TO HIGHLAND AND BELLAIRE PARK WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF INCLUSIVE PLAY ELEMENTS. THE PLAYGROUNDS ARE DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES TO PLAY, LEARN, AND GROW, WHICH I'M SO EXCITED THAT THEY'LL BE PLAYING SIDE BY SIDE AT THESE PARKS. SHADE WILL BE PROVIDED VIA INTEGRATED SHADE INTO THE PLAY STRUCTURE AND EXISTING TREES AROUND THE PLAYGROUND AND WE'LL HAVE OTHER PARK AMENITIES SPECIFIC TO EACH PARK.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONSTRUCTION THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN IN THE SUMMER OF 2024 WITH BELLAIRE AND FOLLOWED BY HIGHLAND AND IT IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE SPRING OF 2025. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

>> WHYTE: FIRST ITEM 9, WHICH IS APPROVING A JOB ORDER CONTRACT TO IMPROVE OUR CITYWIDE PUBLIC AND HEALTH SAFETY AND RESILIENCY FACILITIES AROUND THE FACILITY, ONE OF WHICH IS IN DISTRICT 10. METRO HEALTH OPERATES THE CLINIC, WHICH PROVIDES PRIMARY AND ACUTE MINOR CARE FOR ALL AGES.

PRENATAL AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH SERVICES. THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO PROVIDE VALUABLE IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS FACILITY, INCLUDING ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS, DRINKING FOUNTAINS, REPAIRS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE FACILITY. VERY HAPPY THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.

THE SECOND ITEM I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS ITEM 16. DISTRICT 10 IS MAKING ITS APPOINTMENT TODAY OF ITS REPRESENTATIVE TO HAVE THE LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ANTONIO GONZALEZ-MARTINEZ. CAN YOU WAVE? THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANTONIO FOR AGREEING TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD.

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

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: COUNCILMAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE MARTINEZ IS A POPULAR NAME TODAY FOR APPOINTMENTS. I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE TWO REAPPOINTEES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SERVING DISTRICT 9 ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

MARIBEL MARTINEZ IS ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN OUR BOARDS. AND THEN JOSE MARTINEZ IS BEING REAPPOINTED TO THE DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. JOSE HAS BEEN A CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO WORKING ON DISABILITY ISSUES FOR THE CITY. I THANK BOTH OF THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE TO DISTRICT 9

AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

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

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 25, WHICH IS THE $4 MILLION BOND, MULTIFAMILY BOND FROM THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST PUBLIC FINANCE CORPORATION AND IT'S GOING

[00:25:02]

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

ALL RIGHT. THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 5, 15, AND 22.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL. PLEASE VOTE.

>> HAVRDA: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES.

BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, WE DO WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME TO RECOGNIZE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS NOW. IF YOU ARE LEAVING THE CHAMBER, IF YOU COULD DO SO QUIETLY. YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE I THINK ALL OF OUR SAFFE OFFICERS HERE. HOPEFULLY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GOOD, CHIEF, WHILE THAT'S HAPPENING. IF I COULD HAVE OUR SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT PLEASE COME ON UP SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE A VERY IMPORTANT DAY AND MEMORIAL THAT WE DO HERE EVERY YEAR. WHEREAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS DESIGNATED MAY 12 THROUGH 18, 2024 AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK AND MAY 15E OFFICERS' MEMORIAL DAY. WHEREAS POLICE OFFICERS SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES DAILY TO UPHOLD THE LAWS ENACTED BY ITS PEOPLE AND WITHOUT THEIR DEVOTION TO DUTY AND THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE, OUR MANY FREEDOMS AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS COULD BE CIRCUMVENTED BY PERSONS INTENDED ON HARMING SOCIETY. WHEREAS IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE NECESSITY OF COOPERATING WITH THEM IN MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER.

WHEREAS AN ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON MAY 31, 2024 TO HONOR THESE 62 MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO THROUGH THEIR COURAGEOUS DEEDS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY.

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 15, 2024 TO BE SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND EXTEND SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE SECURITY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

BEING HERE, Y'ALL. >> CHIEF: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE APPRECIATE THE PROCLAMATION AND THE SUPPORTED THAT WE RECEIVED FROM YOU AND THE COUNCIL OVER THE YEARS. TODAY WE HAVE NOT ONLY OUR SAFFE OFFICERS HERE BUT WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, WE HAVE TRAFFIC OFFICERS HERE. I'M GOING TO MISS SOME. AND OTHERS.

SO WE'RE HERE TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE GREAT JOB THEY DO DAY AFTER DAY. THANK Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] APPRECIATE IT.

YOU, GUYS. I DON'T WANT TO EXTEND YOUR STAY ANY LONGER.

I KNOW THE COMMUNITY WANTS YOU BACK OUT THERE BUT I HAVE SOME COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK BECAUSE I'M SURE MY DISTRICT IS CALLING RIGHT NOW FOR ONE YOU. OR A FEW OF YOU.

I WORKED ALONGSIDE IN THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM FOR SEVEN YEARS AND THAT WAS HARD WORK, FOLLOWING UP ON THOSE CASES. AND SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. AND THERE WERE A COUPLE INCIDENTS WHERE YOU HELD YOUR BREATH BECAUSE YOU KNEW THAT SHOTS HAD BEEN FIRED ON THE RADIO.

AND WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. SO I WANT TO COMMEND Y'ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. WE UNDERSTAND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE A CAPTAIN OR A LIEUTENANT OR ON PATROL, YOU PUT ON THAT UNIFORM AND THERE'S A RISK.

AND I APPRECIATE THE RISK YOU TAKE EVERY DAY TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO SAFE.

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

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: I'LL BE BRIEF.

I SEE A COUPLE OF DISTRICT 7 SAFFE OFFICERS WITH US TODAY.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. WHEN I GO TO A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LOVE THEIR SAFFE OFFICERS AND FOR GOOD REASON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM. IT'S MEANINGFUL. AND WHEN THEY'RE FEELING SAFE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT MAKES ME HAPPY AND THAT'S ATTRIBUTED TO THE

[00:30:02]

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

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO YOU ALL AND THE UNIT. THE RELATIONSHIPS I OBSERVE AND SEE YOU ALL BUILD WITH COMMUNITY ARE INVALUABLE AND OFTENTIMES WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND I SAY CALL 9-1-1 IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY. THEY'RE LIKE, NO, I WANT TO CALL MY SAFFE OFFICER. FOLKS HAVE PUT SO MUCH TRUST IN YOU ALL AND THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE SO INVALUABLE AND I WANT TO STRESS THAT, RIGHT? I KNOW A COUPLE OF OUR SAFFE OFFICERS AREN'T HERE. OFFICER FLORES AND OFFICER MORENO BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.

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

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TO ALL FOR ALWAYS JUST BEING OUR HEROES. I FEEL LIKE THE COMMUNITY RESPECTS YOU AND SAN ANTONIO AND KNOWS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE FOR THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.

I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT OUR SAFFE OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE BUT ALSO OUR TRAFFIC, WHO IS OUT THERE MAKING SURE WE STAY SAFE ON THE STREETS. AND SOMETIMES -- PROBABLY MORE OFTEN THAN NOT -- I HEAR THE EAGLE O OVERHEAD AND I'M THINKING STAY INSIDE BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO PROTECT ME. THAT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED BY THE RESIDENTS I REPRESENT AND MYSELF. PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY OUT THERE. STAY SAFE, WATCHING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.

I KNOW YOUR CITY COUNCIL IS APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH PART OF THE DISTRICT I'M IN, WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP I'M TALKING TO, EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT IS SO APPRECIATIVE OF OUR SAFFE OFFICERS AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO. AND IN ALMOST ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS I ATTEND THE SAFFE OFFICER ALWAYS MAKES IT THERE AS WELL AND IS READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE. YOU DO A GREAT JOB.

THE DEDICATION TO THE CITY AND TO SAFETY IS CLEAR AND SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK

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

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

MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER I WORE THE BLUE, LIKE YOU DO.

I WORE A BADGE. I CARRIED A WEAPON. I PROTECTED PEOPLE IN MY MILITARY POST AS A MILITARY POLICE OFFICER. BUT I DON'T PRETEND TO SAY I UNDERSTAND TODAY ALL OF WHAT YOU FACE IN THE TIMES WE LIVE IN.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE, AS I THINK ALL OF US DO, THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT IT'S THE ROLE OF EVERY CITY GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WITH THE POLICE AND WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND YOU REPRESENT US SO WELL AND I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 9.

THEY LOVE THE POLICE OFFICERS. THEY LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE OF YOU AND LOVE FOR YOU CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU DO.

BUT, FOR ME, I JUST SAY A VERY PERSONAL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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

>> PELAEZ: ONE OF THE THINGS I ADMIRE MOST ABOUT OUR SAFFE OFFICERS IS THAT YOU, UNLIKE ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE CITY, HAVE MASTERED THE SOFT SKILLS. AND BY THAT I MEAN THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH HUMAN BEINGS WHEN THEY'RE AT THEIR BEST AND WHEN THEY'RE AT THEIR WORST.

I HAVE WALKED IN ROOMS WITH YOU AND SEEN THESE FOLKS, THEIR FACES LIGHT UP.

SOMETIMES WHEN THEY'RE ANXIOUS THEY DROP THEIR ARMS TO THEIR SIDES AND THEY STOP BREATHING HARD. THEY CALM DOWN BECAUSE YOU ARE KNOWN QUANTITIES.

YOU ARE KNOWN BROKERS OF HONEST AND TRANSPARENT INFORMATION.

AND I REALLY ENVY YOU GUYS. WE ARE LIVING THROUGH A TIME WHERE AMERICANS DON'T TRUST THE GOVERNMENT BUT WHEN YOU GUYS WALK INTO A ROOM THEY TRUST YOU GUYS.

AND I'M ALWAYS PROUD OF THE WORK YOU GUYS DO. WE ASK YOU GUYS TO BE MEDIATORS. WE ASK YOU GUYS TO BE THE HOA BOARD MEMBERS SOMETIMES, EVEN. YOU GUYS GUIDE OUR BOARD MEMBERS IN MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS. WE ASK YOU GUYS TO BE THE EYES AND EARS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ASK YOU GUYS TO BE MENTORS TO SOME OF OUR KIDS.

AND THEN, DURING THOSE MEETINGS, I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOUR RADIO

[00:35:04]

I'VE NEVER HARD A SINGLE ONE OF MY RESIDENTS EXPRESS ANYTHING OTHER THAN PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR YOU GUYS. AS FOR MY TRAFFIC OFFICERS, THE UNSUNG HEROES THAT KEEP US SAFE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING OUT THERE. I KNOW THAT'S A DANGEROUS JOB TOO. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.

AND OFTENTIMES YOU GUYS ARE NOT TREATED WITH THE RESPECT THAT MERITS YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND YET YOU KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE. YOU GUYS DO THE JOB AND YOU WALK AWAY TRYING TO LEAVE PEOPLE IN A BETTER PLACE. I WILL SAY THAT THE TICKETS YOU GUYS ISSUE ARE LONGER THAN CVS RECEIPTS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THOSE PAPERS HAVE TO BE SO DAMN LONG BUT THAT'S SOMETHING TO TAKE UP WITH CHIEF MCMANUS

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

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, SAFFE OFFICERS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. I OFTEN SAY THAT TO THE VAST MAJORITY OF SAN ANTONIANS, YOU ARE THE FACE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND YOU OFFER THAT TRUST AND PROTECTION. BUT I WILL SAY TOO, ALTHOUGH I KNOW I SEE YOU A LOT AT HOA MEETINGS AND ACROSS THE CITY AT DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, SAFE IS NOT SOFT. I HAVE ALSO SEEN YOU IN ACTION.

YOU'RE AN OFFICER, LIKE EVERY OTHER OFFICER IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO, THE FACT THAT YOU DO PUT YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE CHECKING ON OUR SENIORS.

YOU TAKE TIME TO TAKE PHOTOS WITH KIDS AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL THAT YOU HELP TO FOSTER. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY DITTO TO WHAT ALL MY COLLEAGUES SAID. NO OFFENSE, CHIEF, BUT I THINK THE SAFFE TEAM IS THE BEST PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. I'LL NAME -- THIS MAY BE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE BUT I WAS ELECTED DURING A PERIOD OF STRIFE DURING THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION AND MY DISTRICT AND MY COMMUNITY HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THOSE WHO SERVE OUR DISTRICT IN ANY CAPACITY AND IT'S VERY JUSTIFIED FOR ALL OF US AND I WANT TO NAME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SAFFE OFFICERS WHO BUILD TRUST WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND I FEEL YOU BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT TIME TO GET TO KNOW MY RESIDENTS AND THE RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR WANTS. YOU KNOW, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT AND I HOPE THAT OTHERS IN YOUR DEPARTMENT FEEL THAT SAFE SENSE OF URGENCY TO BUILD THAT TRUST AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I'LL JUST ADD MY BRIEF TWO CENTS.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A TOUGHER TIME TO BE A POLICE OFFICER THAN RIGHT NOW AND IT ONLY CONTINUES TO GET TOUGHER, SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DO WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, DOING IT WILLINGLY, AND DOING IT WELL.

I GET THE CHANCE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY KNOW IS THE SAME THING. IT'S DIFFICULT BUT THEY DON'T DO IT NEARLY AS WELL AS SAN ANTONIO AND HAVE THE KIND OF COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE BUILT OVER TIME. TO THE CHIEF, I HAVE NOTED THAT. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, CHIEF, OVER THE LAST MANY, MANY YEARS. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANOTHER POLICE CHIEF IN THE COUNTRY DOING IT AS WELL AS YOU DO WITH ALL THE MYRIAD CHALLENGES, LEADING A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS BEEN AS HONORABLE AND EFFECTIVE AS YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT GEARS JUST A LITTLE BIT AND RECOGNIZE AN ANNIVERSARY. WE ALL KNOW THE KIELBASA NAME AND FAMILY AND THEIR INSTITUTION IS TURNING 75 YEARS OLD TODAY -- NOT TODAY BUT THIS YEAR.

IF THE KIOLBASSA FAMILY WOULD COME FORWARD AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION.

KIOLBASSA SMOKED MEATS HAS BEEN A FAMILY-OWNED STAPLE AND BELOVED INSTITUTION IN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY ENRICHING LIVES BY PROVIDING HAND-SMOKED LEAVES.

THEY HAVE EXEMPLIFIED LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, OWNERSHIP, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. WHEREAS KSM ENRICHES LIVES, PROVIDING A SAFE AND

[00:40:08]

WHEREAS KSM HAS PROVIDED SUPPORT IN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND CHARITIES THROUGH THEIR ONE-THIRD DONATION PROGRAM AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS BOBBY'S LEGACY AND THROUGH THEIR LINKS OF LOVE CREATED THE SUPPORT FOOD INSECURITY, NATIONAL DISASTER RELIEF, AND NOW ALSO SUPPORTS MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS . KSM HAS DEMONSTRATED A DEEP-ROOTED CONNECTION NOT ONLY TO THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO BUT WITH ALL PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND WHEREAS THE UNWAVERING DEDICATION OF KIOLBASSA SMOKED MEATS TO PRESERVING AND HONORING TRADITIONAL RECIPES AND TECHNIQUES COUPLED WITH THEIR IMPACT ON THE CULTURAL FABRIC AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY, ON THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY HAS RE HELPED TO PRESERVE SAN ANTONIO'S HERITAGE.

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 28, 2024 TO BE DESIGNATED AS KIOLBASSA SMOKED MEATS' 75TH ANNIVERSARY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS .

SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER

CASTILLO. >> WELL, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, MAYOR NIRENBERG, AND THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY AND RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION.

ON BEHALF OF OUR FAMILY AND OUR TEAM MEMBERS, WE WANT TO THANK THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND ESPECIALLY THE CITIZENS OF THE WEST SIDE FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR BRAND, OUR COMPANY, AND OUR TEAM. WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK TWO LEGACY SAN ANTONIO BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR SUCCESS.

THE FIRST IS FROST BANK WHO STOOD BY MY FATHER AND GRANDMOTHER WHEN MY GRANDFATHER PASSED AWAY. AND STOOD BY ME AS WE GREW THE COMPANY AND THE BRAND.

THEY'VE BEEN OUR BANK FOR OVER 60 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR SUCCESS.

AND OUR WONDERFUL AND LOCAL GROCERY STORE, H-E-B, WHO TOOK A CHANCE ON US 40 YEARS AGO AND GAVE US A CHANCE TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS IN THEIR STORES AND CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR COMPANY. WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL CORPORATE CITIZENS THAT SUPPORT LOCAL COMPANIES AND BRANDS. I'M PERSONALLY COMMITTED TO THE CONTINUED LEGACY OF GIVING THAT WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO MY GRANDFATHER AND MY DAD. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE ENRICHING LIVES A PRIORITY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR MARKETING TEAM. YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BAG, SWAG BAG FOR EACH OF Y'ALL THAT CONTAINS SOME PRODUCT THAT YOU CAN PUT ON THE GRILL THIS WEEKEND.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 75 YEARS. [APPLAUSE]

>> CASTILLO: I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS FOR THE KIOLBASSA FAMILY.

NO DOUBT KIOLBASSA AND KIOLBASSA SAUSAGE HAVE BEEN A DISTRICT 5 AND A WEST SIDE STAPLE FOR 75 YEARS. I'M REMINDED OF THE TIME MY FATHER CAME TO ONE OF THE FIRST FIESTA EVENTS AND MET MR. KIOLBASSA AND MY DAD WAS IN SHOCK BECAUSE IN OUR FAMILY ON THE WEST SIDE, IF YOU'RE EATING KIOLBASSA, YOU'RE EATING GOOD.

ANY TAQUERIA MY MOM GOES TO ASKS IS IT KIOLBASSA. IF IT'S NOT, SHE WON'T ORDER THE SAUSAGE. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THE KIOLBASSA FACTORY AND WAS FASCINATED BY HOW MANY HANDS THE PRODUCT GOES THROUGH FROM SEASONING AND HOW IT'S PACKAGED AND WEIGHED AND INTEGRATED INTO THE MEAT, IT'S JUST SO MANY HANDS AND SO MUCH SKILL NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT YOU'RE PRODUCING THE GREAT PRODUCT THAT YOU ALL HAVE. AND, AGAIN, JUST EMPHASIZING JUST THE IMPACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAD ON THE WEST SIDE COMMUNITY. I GOT TO MEET SOME OF YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS WORKING IN THE WEST SIDE AND WORKING IN KIOLBASSA. SO JUST EXTREMELY GRATEFU FOR YOUR WORK AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF KIOLBASSA. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE GIFT BAGS TOO. THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP GIVING. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST --W SPECIAL GUESTS WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.

IF I CAN CALL -- WHY DON'T OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN SALDANA COME FORWARD. I'M GOING TO READ THE HONORARY CITIZEN CERTIFICATE AS I DO . BE IT HEREBY KNOWN THAT WILLIAM BILL MILLIKEN,

[00:45:09]

TO DO THE HONORS HERE. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

TODAY, AS THEY WALK UP, IT'S MY HONOR. I GOT TO MEET A REAL-LIFE HERO OF MINE AND I HAD NEVER GOTTEN A CHANCE TO MEET YOU AND THANK YOU PERSONALLY.

BUT COUNCILMAN COURAGE LAST WEEK OR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO SAYING, MAN, YOU GOT ALL THE SCHOLARSHIPS. THE REASON THAT I GOT ALL THE SCHOLARSHIPS IS BECAUSE COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS HELPED ME APPLY FOR THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS.

HAD I NOT BEEN A MEMBER OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS, I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE MADE IT THROUGH COLLEGE. I WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT PAST HIGH SCHOOL, PROBABLY.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE AFFECTED. AND SO THIS IS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR ME AND I JUST WANTED TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE ONE OF OUR NATION'S FOREMOST PIONEERS. TO GIVE PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND GO ON TO COLLEGE. FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MR. MILLIKEN'S ACTIVISM BEGAN IN 1960 WHEN HE JOINED YOUNG LIFE, A YOUTH ORGANIZATION. HE HELPED INITIATE STREET ACADEMIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAD DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AND WANTED A CHANCE TO RESUME THEIR EDUCATION, AS WELL AS LIVE-IN PROGRAMS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE USERS IN NEED OF SHELTER AND SUPPORT.

HIS EXPERIENCES LED HIM TO SEARCH FOR A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS SEARCH CULMINATED IN THE 1970S WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL PROGRAM THAT REPOSITIONED EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES INTO SCHOOLS. THE COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS NETWORK, WHICH MR. MILLIKEN LED AS PRESIDENT UNTIL MAY OF 2004. IT HELPS STUDENTS ACHIEVE IN SCHOOL AND PREPARE FOR LIFE. I'M A PROUD ALUMNI BUT I'M ALSO A PROUD BOARD MEMBER.

CURRENTLY THE ORGANIZATION SERVES MORE THAN 1.26 MILLION STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES EACH YEAR IN MORE THAN 2700 SCHOOLS IN 28 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AWARD FROM USHER'S FOUNDATION AND THE NATIONAL JEFFERSON AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE WHICH IS WIDELY REGARDED AS A NOBEL PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE . HE SERVES ON BOARDS OF LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIONS IN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN VIRGINIA. MR. MILLIKEN ALSO SERVES ON THE BOARD OF SELECTORS OF THE JEFFERSON AWARD WHO CHOOSE THE WINNERS.

HE'S THE AUTHOR OF FOUR BOOKS: SO LONG SWEET JESUS, TOUGH TOUGH, AND FROM THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, REFLECTING ON CONNECTING THE DOTS . MR. MILLIKEN RECEIVED AN HONORARY DEGREE IN 2007 FROM BART COLLEGE. WHAT I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU ABOUT MR. MILLIKEN DOESN'T FULLY CAPTURE HIS IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THANKS TO COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS IN SAN ANTONIO YOUNG PEOPLE EVERYWHERE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE, FROM THE WEST SIDE, FROM THE EAST SIDE, AND FROM THE NORTH SIDE CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO STAY AND FINISH IN SCHOOL. AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS RAISED IN A SPANISH-SPEAKING HOUSEHOLD WITH PARENTS WHO ONLY RECEIVED A FIRST AND SECOND-GRADE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION THE ODDS WERE STACKED AGAINST ME AS THEY ARE STACKED AGAINST MANY OF OUR CHILDREN. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK AND THE WORK THAT COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS DOES, I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY BECAUSE I WAS SUPPORTED BY TRUSTWORTHY INDIVIDUALS.

SEVERAL DECADES LATER WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS IN OUR BELOVED CITY AND I'M SO PROUD AND HONORED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO RECOGNIZE MY PREDECESSOR, FORMER COLLEAGUE OF A LOT OF YOU, AND THAT'S THE DISTRICT 4 COUNCILMEMBER REY SALDANA WHO NOW SERVES AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS. AND, COUNCILMAN, I AM SO PROUD OF THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU REALLY ARE AN HONOR -- IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT YOU AND TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU.

AND, MR. MILLIKEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIONARY LEADERSHIP.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME TAMALES AT COUNCILMEMBER SALDANA'S MOM'S HOUSE LATER AND I WAS HOPING WE COULD GET THROUGH THE COUNCIL MEETING EARLY SO I COULD JOIN Y'ALL BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BEFORE TURNING OVER THE MIC TO YOU, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS

[00:50:01]

WE HAVE THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. AS AN EDUCATOR I DO BELIEVE IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF EDUCATION. I'M SURE YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MEET ALL OF THE STUDENTS BUT I'M SO HONORED THAT I WAS ABLE TO MEET YOU TODAY AND SHAKE YOUR HAND AND SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. SO THE MIC IS YOURS, MR. MILLIKEN.

>> THANK YOU. AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE AN ALUMNI INTRODUCE ME.

SO THANK YOU. THAT GIVES ME HOPE. MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WARM GREETING THIS MORNING. IT STARTED MY DAY REALLY WELL. IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN TO YOU MY FEELINGS TODAY.

THROUGH MY MARRIAGE, MY INCREDIBLE WIFE, ST. JEAN, WHO HAS LIVED WITH ME THROUGH 58 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, AND TO BE UP HERE WITH TWO OF THE PEOPLE I LOVE MOST, NEXT TO MY FAMILY. ON MY 80TH BIRTHDAY, JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, I GOT TO WATCH MY FRIEND BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS AND I THANK GOD THAT I LIVED LONG ENOUGH. I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE AN ALUMNI CARRY ON THE MISSION. BECAUSE WE'RE IN THIS FOR LIFE. AND THE TWO THINGS THAT WE'VE STOOD ON, IT'S BEEN VERY SIMPLE. I'M REALLY HERE TODAY BECAUSE WHEN I FAILED -- IT'S INTERESTING TO MENTION MY DOCTORATE BUT I HAVE THREE FRESHMAN YEARS OF COLLEGE. I NEVER MADE IT. BUT SOMEONE CAME INTO A POOL HALL WHEN I WAS KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL THAT STARTED MY LIFE'S JOURNEY BECAUSE I SAW THAT IT WAS RELATIONSHIPS THAT CHANGED PEOPLE. IT'S THE TRANSFORMATIONAL THING. THE KIDS DON'T NEED MORE FACEBOOK, THEY NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THEIR FACE, WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF ADOLESCENCE AND LOVING THEM INTO CHANGE. THE SECOND THING THEY DID WAS GET ME -- THIS CARING ADULT -- OUT OF A BAD ENVIRONMENT AND CREATED A SAFE COMMUNITY FOR ME TO CHANGE FROM A VERY NEGATIVE GROUP TO A POSITIVE. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE ABOUT, IT'S THOSE TWO THINGS. A CARING ADULT AND A CARING COMMUNITY. I LOVE SAN ANTONIO. I TRAVELED QUITE A BIT.

MY FIRST WAS GETTING TO MEET YOUR MAYOR -- I CALL HIM SECRETARY BECAUSE I WORKED WITH HIM AND WAS A BIG SUPPORTER, CISNEROS. I WISH HE WAS HERE FOR ME TO THANK HIM. THIS WAS OUR THIRD CIS IN THE COUNTRY AND NOW BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP OF JESSICA, WHO IS ONE OF MY HEROES, TO SEE HER TAKING THIS AS ONE OF THE TOP TWO OR THREE CISS IN THE COUNTRY, TO SEE THIS THING GROW FROM A COUPLE OF THOUSAND KIDS -- ACTUALLY I JUST FOUND OUT COMING HERE WE NOW HAVE 2 MILLION KIDS IN THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR WITH 98% STAYING IN SCHOOL.

I THANK GOD TO BE ALIVE TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE. I THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR.

AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR CHILDREN AND YOUR EMPHASIS ON CARING.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MILLIKEN. DON'T GO TOO FAR. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MR. MILLIKEN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECALL BUT MY FIRST WORK WITH SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS AT HARRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I CAME TO WORK FOR CIS IN 1991.

AND I BELIEVE I MET YOU THEN. AS I WAS INTRODUCED TO CIS, I WORKED AT HARRIS FOR ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AND THEN A TEACHER LEFT AND THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE THAT POSITION. BUT I'LL NEVER REGRET MY INITIAL WORK THERE AND ALWAYS SEEING CIS STEPPING UP AND HELPING STUDENTS IN ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL I TAUGHT AT IN SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 25 YEARS. THE WORK THAT CIS DOES TO HELP CHILDREN GET THROUGH SCHOOL, TO HELP THEM GO HOME WITH FOOD OVER THE WEEKEND. TO GO AHEAD AND COUNSEL THEM ON GETTING READY TO GO FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL INTO HIGH SCHOOL AND ON TO COLLEGE. THE WORK THAT CIS CONTINUES TO DO HAS SO MUCH VALUE AND IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE EDUCATION FOR SO

[00:55:02]

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

MR. MILLIKEN, YOU'RE NOW AN HONORARY CITIZEN SO YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALSO THE PRIVILEGES OF A SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT, SO WE HOPE

TO SEE YOU MORE OFTEN. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] OKAY.

IS BLAIR BENNETT HERE? WE ARE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING BLAIR BENNETT, A STUDENT AT BRANDEIS HIGH SCHOOL, A GUEST OF COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

AND WE ARE HONORING YOU IN THE REPRESENTATION OF OUR REGION IN THE MISS TEXAS PROGRAM THIS SUMMER . CONGRATULATIONS, BLAIR, AND I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR

OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: COLLEAGUES, IT'S RIDICULOUS HOW JEALOUS YOU ARE THAT THIS YOUNG LADY LIVES IN DISTRICT 8.

SHE'S A BRANDEIS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. SHE'S ALSO A NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY HONOREE. THAT IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.

SHE'S ON THE BRANDEIS HIGH SCHOOL HONOR SOCIETY AS WELL.

SHE'S A MEMBER OF THEIR BALLET COMPANY. SHE'S ALSO A DEDICATED THESPIAN AT BRANDEIS AND WHEN SHE'S NOT DOING THAT, SHE'S A VARSITY DANCE TEAM MEMBER. AND SHE IS OUR VERY OWN SOUTHEAST TEXAS TEEN FOR THE MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION . AND WHEN SHE'S NOT DOING ALL OF THAT, SHE'S PREPPING TO COMPETE LATER THIS MONTH IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS TRACK AND FIELD COMPETITION AND ALSO AT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND. AND I THINK YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SCHOOL AND YOU GOT A FULL LOAD OF CLASSES. AND SO, COLLEAGUES, AUDIENCE MEMBERS, THIS IS ONE OF OUR RISING STARS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I'M PROUD OF YOU, BLAIR.

WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME CONGRATULATE HER FOR HER

ACCOMPLISHMENTS? [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO START BY EXPRESSING MY IMMENSE GRATITUDE TO BE IN A ROOM LIKE THIS. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE MISS AMERICA OPPORTUNITY I WOULDN'T GET TO STEP INDOORS LIKE THIS. IT'S THANKS TO THIS CROWD AND THIS SASH THAT I GET THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE MY HEART AND MEET PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO ARE DEDICATED TO CHANGING OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING IT BETTER.

I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE TO YOU GUYS A MYSELF IS MY IMPORTANCE IN CHARACTER AND AUTHENTICITY. AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF YOU REALLY REFLECT THAT. AS I SHOOK SOME OF YOUR HANDS AND MET YOU THIS MORNING, I CAN SEE IN YOUR EYES THAT YOU'RE DEDICATED TO MAKING OUR COMMUNITY BETTER AND I KNOW THAT THE HEART OF THAT IS AUTHENTICITY AND BEING HONEST IN OUR CHARACTER. BEING HONEST IN OUR INTENTIONS AND REALLY BEING HONEST IN OUR HEARTS ABOUT WHAT WE WANT FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE RECOGNIZED NEXT TO ALL OF THESE OTHER WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, BLAIR. GOOD LUCK IN THE NEXT STEPS.

ALL RIGHT. LASTLY, WE ARE OFFICIALLY COMMEMORATING THE FIRST-EVER REXERCISE FUNDRAISER. THIS WILL HONOR REXTON WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT TOO SHORT BY NEC. THE FUNDRAISER WILL BENEFIT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE GUESTS OF COUNCILMEMBER KAUR ARE HERE. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HER.

>> KAUR: I'M EXCITED TO HONOR THE FIRST ANNUAL REXERCISE FUNDRAISER.

IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE AT 9:30 A.M. ON SATURDAY, I'LL BE TEACHING YOGA AT CIVIC PARK. THE EVENT IS GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO COMMEMORATE REX. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SEE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I KNOW THIS EVENT COMES FROM HARDSHIP AND LOSS BUT I LOVE THAT WE GET TO REMEMBER REX FOREVER THROUGH DOING EVENTS LIKE THIS.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH SMALL BUSINESSES, ENERGY X FITNESS AND HEMISFAIR PARK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I'M EXCITED TO TEACH YOGA ON

SATURDAY. >> THANK YOU. DR. KAUR, MY FRIEND, COUNCIL, WE'RE THRILLED TO BE WITH YOU TODAY IN HONOR OF OUR SON, REX

[01:00:04]

WE WERE HONORED TO BE WITH HIM FOR 20 DAYS UNDER THE SKILLED CARE OF THE BAMC NICU. WE'RE A MILITARY FAMILY. WE COULD NOT FEEL MORE SUPPORTED AND WELCOMED BY MILITARY CITY, USA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

I WANTED TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND, DR. KAUR, OF COURSE, ALL OF MY LEADERSHIP SAN ANTONIO THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM AND WATCHING OTHERWISE.

UNITED WAY OF SAN ANTONIO. ANY BABY CAN, WHO WERE SUPER INFLUENTIAL IN OFFERING US CARE AND SUPPORT DURING THIS TIME. ALLISON GALVAN, OWNER OF ENERGY X FITNESS. HEMISFAIR, OF COURSE, AND TRUE FLAVORS CATERING , ALL LOCAL SAN ANTONIO BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMMITTED AND INVESTED IN THE AREA AND THE PEOPLE IN IT. AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY LONG LIVE THE KING, REX REVEL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR SHARING REX'S STORY, Y'ALL'S STORY.

KNOW THAT OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND THE LEGACY YOU'RE SHARING WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO GO FAR BEYOND WORDS TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO GO NOW INTO OUR BUSINESS ITEMS, THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS FOR TODAY.

WE WILL START WITH ITEM 15. >> ITEM NO. 15 IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF REIMBURSEMENT FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, FEMA, SHELTER AND SERVICES PROGRAM, SSP, IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $3 MILLION AND THE APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS UPON AWARD IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $18,798,474 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT UP TO $21,798,474 FOR LOCAL COSTS TO ASSIST MIGRANTS TRAVELING THROUGH SAN ANTONIO IN COORDINATION WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND

SECURITY DHS . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 15. JACK FINGER.

>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER, YOUR UNDOCUMENTED GADFLY HERE. YES, YOU KNOW, FOR WEEKS, MONTHS YOU WERE LAMENTING WHEN WILL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REIMBURSE US FOR OUR SHELTER ON SAN PEDRO AVENUE. FINALLY. FINALLY THE FEDS HAVE COME THROUGH AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE US? WELL, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, LOOK AT THE UNDERLINED AREA ONCE AGAIN THERE. $3 MILLION WITH OUR ATTEMPT TO APPLY APPLICATION UPON AWARD FOR $21 MILLION. RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. SO, IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE GOING TO GET MAYBE 1/7, ABOUT 14% OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR. HEY, THAT'S WHAT IT IS, MR. COURAGE THERE. YEAH. AND WHEN WILL WE GET THE REST OF IT? I GUESS IT'S ANYBODY'S GUESS.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, JACK, YOU NEED NOT WORRY.

THIS IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THIS.

NO, QUITE FRANKLY YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT OF ALL OF THIS.

ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOLLARS THAT WE GET IS FROM -- STILL FROM US, THE TAXPAYER. BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, MANY OF US ARE STILL EXTREMELY UP IN ARMS WITH THAT CENTER ON SAN PEDRO. I'M SORRY.

THEY ARE NOT ASYLUM SEEKERS. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT? IF THEY WERE TRULY ASYLUM SEEKERS, THEY WOULD HAVE GONE BY THE LAW. THEY WOULD HAVE GONE TO VARIOUS COUNTRIES BEFORE THEY GOT TO THE UNITED STATES.

UP TO A DOZEN OF THEM. YET THEY COME HERE, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. NOW, I'M SORRY. THAT'S NOT THE DEFINITION OF ASYLUM SEEKER. THAT'S NOT THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT.

HOW ELSE DO WE KNOW? BECAUSE ABOUT 90% FAIL TO SHOW UP FOR THEIR HEARINGS.

[01:05:03]

NO, I'M SORRY. THIS DOES NOT CUT IT. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET RID OF THIS PLACE? STOP IT, OKAY? TELL THEM TO OBEY THE LAW.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM

15. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.

IS THE MIC ON? I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AND THERE'S A FEW REASONS WHY, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT BY SUPPORTING THIS ITEM WE ARE PROMOTING A FAILURE OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PASS WHAT WE ALL KNOW IS NEEDED, WHICH IS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

THAT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL JUDGES TO RULE ON THESE ASYLUM ISSUES AS WELL AS BORDER SECURITY. I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT -- BECAUSE THE MEDIA HAS, IN MY OPINION, FAILED TO REPORT MY POSITION ON THIS ISSUE CLEARLY.

I AM ALL FOR US BEING A COMPASSIONATE CITY AND A COMPASSIONATE CITY COUNCIL.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT. COMPASSION IS A VALUE THAT OUR CITY SHOULD LIVE BY AND THAT THIS COUNCIL SHOULD STRIVE FOR. BUT MY PROBLEM IS WHEN OUR QUEST TO BE COMPASSIONATE BLEEDS OVER INTO MAKING DECISIONS THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO.

MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED CALLS FROM NOT JUST DISTRICT 1, WHERE THE MRC RESIDES, BUT FROM EVERY DISTRICT IN THIS CITY ABOUT THE MRC. AND THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THOSE CALLS HAVE REQUESTED THAT I CONTINUE TO PUSH THE CONVERSATION OVER WHETHER OR NOT HAVING THIS MRC IN SAN ANTONIO IS A GOOD IDEA.

AND AS I HAVE STATED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, I WANT US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, AND HERE'S WHY. YES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW, AFTER MANY MONTHS OF US WONDERING IF THEY WOULD, THEY'VE SENT -- THEY'RE GOING TO SEND SOME MONEY DOWN HERE TO HELP US OPERATE THE MRC.

THIS MONEY ISN'T IN THE AMOUNT THAT THEY'VE SENT IN THE PAST AND I FEAR THAT IN THE FUTURE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GETTING THIS MONEY. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK WHERE WE WERE SIX OR EIGHT WEEKS AGO WHEN WE SAT AROUND THIS DAIS AND HAS A CONVERSATION OVER WHETHER WE WOULD USE CITY FUNDS, LOCAL TAX DOLLARS, OUR GENERAL FUND MONEY TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE MRC. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM ADAMANTLY AGAINST AND I BELIEVE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF OUR CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO DO NOT WANT US TO USE OUR LOCAL MONEY TO OPERATE THE MRC.

AND THEN WE TURN TO PUBLIC SAFETY. I'VE BEEN TO THE MRC AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT 98% OF THE FOLKS THAT TRAVEL THROUGH THE MRC ARE GOOD PEOPLE, THEY'RE FAMILIES.

THERE'S A LOT OF CHILDREN AND I HAVE NO QUESTION THAT EVEN THOUG THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THR

[01:10:06]

BUT THERE IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT.

AND IF WE ARE INCREASING THE RISK TO OUR CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW AND I THINK EVEN IF WE'RE INCREASING THE RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY JUST SLIGHTLY, THAT IT'S A REAL CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO? SO IT'S FOR THOSE REASONS THAT I AM GOING TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM 15 AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT AND ANALYZE THE WISDOM OF OUR CITY CONTINUING TO FUND AND PROMOTE THE OPERATION OF THE

MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I NEED TO CONCUR WITH THE OPENING REMARKS THAT MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBER STATED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. IT'S NOT THE ROLE OF THE CITY TO MANAGE THE BORDER.

IT'S NOT THE ROLE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS TO MANAGE THE BORDER.

BUT IT IS THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THEY HAVE NOT LIVED UP TO THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO THIS COUNTRY. I THINK THAT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN CONCERNED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ABOUT GENERAL HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I HEAR ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

ALL OF US DO. AND WE DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE. BUT IMAGINE, IF YOU WILL, IF THE MRC IS CLOSED DOWN TOMORROW AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER AND BEING DIRECTED TO SAN ANTONIO TO GO FROM HERE TO OTHER PLACES.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DISORDER, THE PUBLIC DISORDER WE WOULD BE FACING WITH HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO SAN ANTONIO EVERY DAY WITHOUT ANY PLACE FOR THEM TO HAVE SHELTER OR ANYWAY OF HELPING THEM MOVE FORWARD, OTHER THAN ON THEIR OWN DEVICES. AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD CREATE MORE PUBLIC DISORDER.

AND I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO WOULD BE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT.

AS LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER AND CONGRESS DOESN'T MANAGE THAT SITUATION BETTER, PEOPLE ARE EITHER GOING TO GO FROM THE BORDER OF TEXAS TO EL PASO OR SAN ANTONIO TO FLY OR RIDE A BUS TO WHEREVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ORDERING THEM TO GO. THEY'RE NOT STAYING IN SAN ANTONIO.

THEY ARE MOVING ON. BUT I THINK IT'S UP TO US TO MAKE SURE THAT IS AN ORDERLY TRANSITION THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK IT'S UP TO US TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE MRC UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A BETTER MANAGEMENT OPERATION IS PUT FORWARD BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. AND WE NEED TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM DISORDER. AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND WHAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO. I WILL SUPPORT REIMBURSEMENT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THIS CENTER AS LONG AS IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

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

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I SUPPORT OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITY AND THEIR GOAL OF FINDING A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES. WE KNOW THAT A LARGE MAJORITY OF THESE MIGRANTS THAT PASS THROUGH -- THEY PASS THROUGH SAN ANTONIO AND ON TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION. THAT BEING SAID, IT WOULD BE A HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR THE CITY TO MANAGE THIS PROBLEM ON ITS OWN, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY CURRENT RESIDENTS IN SAN ANTONIO WHO DO NEED OUR HELP. THIS IS A FEDERAL ISSUE THAT REQUIRES FEDERAL DOLLARS TO ADDRESS. SO THIS ITEM IS TO AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL FUNDS OF $21 MILLION-PLUS TO HELP SUPPORT THESE MIGRANTS ON THEIR JOURNEY.

I HAVE NO QUESTIONS AND WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU.

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

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

AND, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO JUST SAID, THIS IS

[01:15:04]

I HAVE ASKED A FEW TIMES IF WE COULD HAVE A PLAN B AND C OF WHAT HAPPENS.

AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION. BUT UNTIL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FIXES -- AND WE CAN BE IDEALISTIC ABOUT WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN OR WE CAN BE REALISTIC AND ACCEPT THE FUNDS THAT WE ARE ALLOTTED. AND CONTINUE PUSHING FOR MORE. THE REALITY IS GIVEN TO US. THAT WAS BASED ON PROJECTIONS THAT WE WORKED ON WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES. I'LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS DONE IN HELPING THE MIGRANTS THAT ARE TRAVELING.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SCOPE OF THE UNITED STATES, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE BEHIND.

WE HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT HELP LEVERAGE THESE MIGRANTS THAT ARE TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES AND HELP PUT THEM TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRIES THAT WE ARE FALLING BEHIND ON STAFFING. AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN MAYBE THE FEDERAL ADVOCACY FOR NOT JUST ADDITIONAL FUNDING BUT ALSO FOR CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HELP OUR ECONOMY OVERALL. I WILL BE SUPPORTING TODAY'S

ITEM AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PLAN B AND PLAN C. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR MAKING SURE WE GET THE FUNDING IS SAFE AND FEELING LIKE WE CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN FOR THESE MIGRANTS.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CHECK OUT THE DASHBOARD. YESTERDAY THERE WAS 152 MIGRANTS THAT CAME IN THROUGH OUR THREE DIFFERENT AVENUES.

WHILE THAT WAS 152 MIGRANTS THAT WOULDN'T HAVE ANYPLACE TO GO WITHOUT THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER. WE HAVE TO SERVE THESE PEOPLE SO IT'S IMPORTANT WE GET FEDERAL FUNDING. THESE FOLKS ARE COMING IN WITH ASPIRATION OF WANTING TO SEEK ASYLUM AND GOING TO OTHER PLACES. I WANT TO CHANGE COUNCILWOMAN DR. ROCHA GARCIA FOR HIS COMMENTS AS WELL.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SERVICE WE ARE PROVIDING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER OPTION RIGHT NOW SO WE MUST ACCEPT THESE DOLLARS AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR

MORE FEDERAL FUNDING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, I DISAGREE WITH A LOT OF THAT. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH SOME MEMBERS OF BORDER PATROL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FOLKS DOWN THERE, AND THERE'S A VERY REAL QUESTION REGARDING IF WE DID NOT HAVE AN MRC HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WOULD THESE FOLKS CONTINUE TO BE BUSED TO SAN ANTONIO. AND SO THE NOTION THAT, WELL, IF WE DON'T HAVE AN MRC, THEY ARE STILL GOING TO BE SENT HERE AND JUST ON THE STREET. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S ACCURATE.

REGARDING SOME OF THESE PEOPLE STAYING HERE, I THINK THE NUMBER IS SOMETHING LIKE 600,000 HAVE COME THROUGH IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. YEAH, I COULD BE OFF SOMEWHAT. BUT WHAT I WAS TOLD WHEN I WENT TO THE MRC IS THAT BETWEEN ONE AND TWO PERCENT ARE STAYING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

SO IF IT'S 600,000 AND ONE PERCENT ARE STAYING, THAT'S 6,000 PEOPLE.

IF A COUPLE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE PEOPLE HAPPEN TO BE FOLKS THAT AREN'T HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND WANT TO CAUSE TROUBLE, THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT OUR CITY NOW HAS TO DEAL WITH. WITH RESPECT TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, I AM THANKFUL FOR THEIR WORK. IT'S HARD WORK. THEY DO A GOOD JOB, AND THEY ARE JUST DEALING WITH THE SITUATION AS IT'S PRESENTED TO THEM.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN REPORTS IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES USING SOME OF THIS MONEY TO HELP FUND TRAVEL FOR THESE MIGRANTS FROM SAN ANTONIO TO DIFFERENT CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS SAID THAT ACTIVITY LIKE THAT CAN ACT AS A MAGNET FOR FOLKS TO WANT TO

[01:20:09]

BUT WHEN THESE FOLKS CROSS THE BORDER AND THEY ARE IN EAGLE PASS OR IN ONE OF THESE OTHER BORDER TOWNS AND THEY ARE DECIDING WHERE TO GO AND THEY LEARN THAT THEY CAN COME TO SAN ANTONIO AND THEN GET A PLANE TICKET TO GO WHEREVER ELSE THEY WANT, THAT, I BELIEVE, ACTS AS AN ATTRACTION FOR THESE PEOPLE TO WANT TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE THAT HAVE SAID THE EXACT SAME THING. SO, AGAIN, HE WANT US TO LOOK AT THIS CERTAINLY WITH COMPASSION, BUT I DON'T WANT US TO BE BLINDED BY COMPASSION.

I WANT US TO LOOK AT THIS CLEARLY AND OBJECTIVELY, LISTEN TO OUR RESIDENTS AND DECIDE AGAIN IS HAVING THIS MRC REALLY A POSITIVE THING FOR OUR CITY.

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

SORRY, I LOST TRACK. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THIS IS REALLY SIMPLE. IF WE DON'T VOTE YES ON THIS TODAY, THEN THAT FEDERAL MONEY ISN'T USED TO COMPENSATE US FOR THE COSTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PAID.

IF WE SAY YES TODAY, THEN THAT MONEY DOESN'T COME OUT OF OUR BUDGET.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE. IT'S NOT THAT HARD. SO WE'VE GOT TWO CHOICES TODAY. YOU VOTE YES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SENDS US THE MONEY THAT WE ARE OWED. YOU VOTE NO AND THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO ARE GOING TO SEE US SPEND THAT MONEY OUT OF OUR GENERAL BUDGET. AND I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU, TO PLEASE DON'T DO THAT TO ME. LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU ARE

DONE INTERRUPTING ME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ, YOU

HAVE THE FLOOR. >> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU. SO ANY OTHER ARGUMENTS TO THE CONTRARY IS ACADEMIC AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS MATHEMATICS.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE WE HAD AN MRC, AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WEREN'T HERE AT THE TABLE, AT THE DAIS, BUT THERE WAS A TIME WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MRC AND WE HAD CHAOS AND WE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON DOWNTOWN. THEY ARE CREATING A NUISANCE, THEY ARE CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WE'VE ALREADY LIVED THAT CHAPTER. AND WITHOUT THIS MRC, WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND SO WE HAVE A -- WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY JUST TO PREVENT CHAOS. AND I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY IN THE ROOM HERE WHO WANTS MORE CHAOS. AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET A SOLID YES FROM ME TODAY.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE DOING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

I'M NOT SURE WHO COULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION, BUT I THOUGHT CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY TO BUY TO GIVE TICKETS TO SOME PEOPLE.

>> CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS NOT BEEN PURCHASING TRAVEL TICKETS FOR INDIVIDUALS

SINCE DECEMBER OF 2023. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. SO I MEAN AND I THINK WE NEED TO TALK IN NOT HEARSAY -- IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK IN HEARSAY, I CAN DO THAT ALL DAY FOR 15 MINUTES. BUT IF WE TALK IN WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE CITY STAFF IS THAT THEY WERE NOT PURCHASING TICKETS. THANK YOU.

I THINK WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS YEARS AGO.

WE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING DOWNTOWN. WE MADE MOVES TO BE STRATEGIC AND WE -- WE DID WHAT SAN ANTONIO DOES WHICH IS BECOME PASSIONATE AND WORK IN A CRISIS BECAUSE PART OF THIS WAS HAPPENING BEFORE PANDEMIC AND THEN AFTER PANDEMIC. SO I APPLAUD CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND FOR WHAT THEY'VE CONTINUED TO DO AND HOW THEY'VE CONTINUED TO SERVE BASED TRULY ON THEIR FAITH AND THEIR BELIEF THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE CALLED TO DO.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE WE AS A CITY -- WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO DO THAT. AND I THINK THIS IS THE WAY GOVERNMENT WORKS, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PROGRAMS, WE APPLY FOR THOSE PROGRAMS AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO REIMBURSE US. SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE CONFUSION IS THERE.

WHATEVER ADMINISTRATION IS IN OFFICE, THEY WOULD BE DOING THIS.

[01:25:01]

RATHER THAN LATER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN ANSWERED BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT I THINK ANSWER MY COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 10. CAN SOMEONE ANSWER WHY DID THE MRC OPEN?

>> SO OUR CURRENT MRC OPERATION OPENED BECAUSE WE HAD AN INFLUX OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE STAYING AT THE AIRPORT FOR MULTIPLE DAYS TO CATCH FLIGHTS TO DESTINATION CITIES BASED ON THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH HOMELAND SECURITY OF WHERE THEY

WANTED TO PURSUE THE ASYLUM PROCESS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. SO WHEN WE HAD NO MRC, MIGRANTS WERE STILL

ARRIVING? >> THEY WERE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WHERE

WERE THEY GOING AND WHAT WERE THEY DOING? >> IN 2019 WITH THE FIRST MIGRANT OPERATION, THEY WERE CONGREGATING AROUND DOWNTOWN AND THE BUS STATION.

THIS LATEST WAVE THAT WE BEGAN SEEING IN JANUARY OF '21 WAS PRIMARILY UTILIZING AIR TRANSPORT AND SO THEY WERE CONGREGATING AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. SO PEOPLE WERE COMING, WE JUST WEREN'T PREPARED AT THE TIME WITH THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO HANDLE THE INFLUX OF ARRIVALS. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT.

THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE WHERE THOSE QUESTIONS, WE DON'T HAVE TO OPERATE IN HYPOTHETICALS, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S NO MRC BECAUSE WE SAW WHAT IT WAS.

WE WERE REMINDED OF THAT FACT. NOT HAVING AN MRC IS NOT GOING TO STOP PEOPLE FROM COMING HERE. AND SO I WANTED TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE THE POINT MAYBE YOU ARE RECEIVING THE CALLS THAT YOU ARE RECEIVING FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY FROM PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE KIND OF MESSAGES THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO AND THAT IS ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT AND ANTI-IMMIGRANT PROPAGANDA IS DANGEROUS AT WORSE AND HATEFUL AT BEST. I WANT US TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT BECAUSE THESE MIGRANTS AREN'T -- YOU'RE NOT JUST HARMING THEM BY INSINUATING THAT VIOLENCE OR CRIME ORDAININGER IS MORE PRESENT WHEN MIGRANTS ARE HERE.

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

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM. WE NEED THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND WE NEED THE MRC. I'M THANKFUL SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE FOLLOWED ME IN ASKING FOR CONTINGENCY PLANS. I FIRST ASKED FOR A CONTINGENCY PLAN ON MARCH 6TH. WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN THAT PLAN. I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE LOSE FUNDING. I KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN RIGHT NOW, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THIS IS SEASONAL. SO I'D LIKE TO REQUEST A B SESSION OR SOME MEETING FOR US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ALTERNATIVES CAN BE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

ERIK, DID YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT POINT? >> WALSH: WE'LL REVIVE WHAT WE'VE PRODUCED, BUT WE HAD A SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATION I THINK AT THE LARGER COUNCIL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MRC AND THIS ISSUE.

THE FIRST FALL-BACK WAS THE REALLOCATION OF ARPA DOLLARS THAT WE SHARED WITH COUNCIL.

AND THEN -- AND ANY OTHER FEDERAL SOURCES. AND THEN THE THIRD FALL-BACK WERE LOCAL SOURCES AS SOME OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT. BUT ARPA WAS THE FIRST FALL-BACK SCENARIO. SO WE'LL GO BACK AND PULL THAT AND REISSUE THAT TO

COUNCIL SO IT CAN REFRESH EVERYBODY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.

THANK YOU, ERIK. >> HAVRDA: I'D LIKE TO SEE -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF THERE IS NO ONE ELSE -- WE'RE HAVING SOME TROUBLE WITH THE QUEUE ON THE DAIS.

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

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR ENSURING MY TEAM IS WELL BRIEFED ON THIS ITEM. JUST EMPHASIZING THIS IS FOR REIMBURSEMENT UP TO $21 MILLION. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE CONVERSATION TAKING PLAYS WITH UP THE COMING BUDGET, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR US TO REJECT OR TURN AWAY FEDERAL FUNDS BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO DIP INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT THIS. I HEAR MY COLLEAGUE WITH THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM AND I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WHAT THAT CAN LOOK LIKE, BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

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

I'LL ECHO THE DESIRE TO SEEK COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, BUT WE KNOW IT'S

[01:30:06]

I THINK WE'VE DEMONSTRATED IN THIS COMMUNITY WE CAN MAINTAIN ORDER, WE CAN PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE CAN TREAT PEOPLE WITH BASIC DIGNITY AND COMPASSION AT THE SAME TIME WHICH IS WHAT THE MRC IS DOING. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 15. PLEASE VOTE.

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: AYE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 22

NOW. >> CLERK: ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SA:READY TO WORK FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $49,480,955 AND STAFFING AS ADOPTED BY THE EARLY CHILDHOOD MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF

DIRECTORS ON MAY 8, 2024. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, DEBBIE.

WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS SIGNED TO SPEAK, MIKE, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A SEAT FOR A MOMENT.

THERE WAS CONFUSION WHEN THE WRONG NUMBER WAS BEING READ. LET ME MAKE SURE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO USE THEIR TIME THEY ARE ALLOWED TO USE IT. MARTY GARZA, ARE YOU STILL HERE? YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED UP BY TIFFANY DARR.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MARTY GARZA, WITH THE CARPENTER'S UNION IN SAN ANTONIO AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.

A COUPLE OF FACTS. ONE IN FIVE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE OVER THE AGE OF 55. AT THE CARPENTER'S UNION WE PROVIDE SKILLED TRAINED LABOR FOR THE WORKFORCE TO KEEP OUR CITY GROWING AND THRIVING.

TWO, IN ROUGHLY SIX YEARS, IT'S PROJECTED THERE WILL BE ABOUT 51 TO 55% OF THE CURRENT WORKFORCE ENTERING RETIREMENT. CONSTRUCTION WORK IS HARD ON THE BODY. A LOT OF FOLKS RETIRE EARLIER THAN IS USUAL FOR OUR INDUSTRIES. AND THEN FINALLY, THREE, A SURVEY LAST YEAR BY THE ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL CONTRACTORS FOUND 68% OF EMPLOYERS SAID THAT INCOMING APPLICANTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LACKED ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR INITIAL SUCCESS, BUT BEYOND THAT LONGEVITY IN THE PROFESSION. THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM DEALS WITH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING, TWO CRITICAL PILOT PROGRAMS TO KEEP OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN SAN ANTONIO SAFE, HEALTHY AND THRIVING AND THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OUR CITY.

AS A TRADE UNION, WE PROVIDE SKILLED LABOR. WE WOULD SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE WORK IS DONE SAFE, WE'RE ABLE TO MEET DEMAND AND KEEP UP WITH AUSTIN. THE PROGRAM OF READY TO WORK, THE SUBPROGRAMS ARE ESSENTIAL. USUALLY SEE THIS WORK DONE BY STATES IN OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN. WE ARE BLESSED THAT OUR CITY IS TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO PROVIDE SKILLED LABOR INTO KEY INDUSTRIES THAT MAKE UP LARGE SEGMENTS OF OUR ECONOMY. I WOULD URGE EVERYONE ON COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AND ITS CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND BUILD ON THE

SUCCESS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GARZA. TIFFANY DARR. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY

CHRIS BECKER. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M THE HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HAS MADE SAN ANTONIO OUR HEADQUARTERS IN 2022 AND JUST LAST WEEK WE WERE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE OUR 100TH EMPLOYEE. IN THE TWO YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO, WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH MULTIPLE CLIENTS TO DO PHARMACEUTICAL WORK, TAKE A DRUG FROM INCEPTION, BUILD THE FORM YOU LAYERS, GET FDA APPROVAL AND GET IT TO MARKET. ONE OF THE EARLIER GUESTS, REX, THE DIAGNOSIS HE HAD, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT PERSONAL OF THE POPULATION THAT HAD THAT SAME DIAGNOSIS, BUT WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT BUILDS

[01:35:06]

SO WITH THAT, OUR ORGANIZATION IS COMPRISED OF MOSTLY SCIENTISTS, PH.D.S, MASTER'S, IN VARIOUS COMES OF BIOSCIENCE STUDIES -- VARIOUS FORMS. WE ARE PROUD THAT WE ARE GROWING IN SAN ANTONIO. RIGHT NOW I MENTIONED WE HAVE 100 EMPLOYEES WITH A PENDING CONTRACT THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $30 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR US TO BUILD ANOTHER FACILITY. WE ALREADY ENCOMPASS FOUR BUILDINGS. WE WILL BUILD ANOTHER FACILITY, ANOTHER LAB THAT WILL ALSO GENERATE NEW PRODUCTS TO THE MARKET. THAT WILL INCLUDE ME HIRING ANOTHER 40 TO 50 PEOPLE. IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER 50 HEAD COUNT THAT I'M SLATED TO HIRE FOR THIS YEAR. AS YOU KNOW, ALL ORGANIZATIONS, ONE OF THEIR MAIN STRUGGLES IS TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT TALENT. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO ATTRACT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SCORPIUS TO THE CITY. THE NEXT CHALLENGE IS HOW DO WE RETAIN THAT TALENT.

AND THAT'S THE IMPRESSION THAT I WANT TO LEAVE UPON YOU TODAY IS THAT WITHOUT THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM, COMPANIES LIKE OURS WHO INVEST SO MUCH IN FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, HIGH-PAYING, VERY SKILLED JOBS, WE NEED FUNDING SUCH AS THIS IN THE INCUMBENT WORKER PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO TRAIN THE TALENT THAT WE ARE BRINGING IN FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

EVERY DAY MY TEAM INTERVIEWS PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES, CALIFORNIA, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, ET CETERA. THE SAN ANTONIO HAS TO OFFER. AND OUR COMPANY IS EXCITING FOR THEM AND WHAT WE ARE BUILDING AND WHAT WE ARE DOING. SO WITH THAT, I DO ASK THAT

YOU APPROVE THIS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. DARR.

>> MAY I HAVE ONE MOMENT? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: EVERYTHING GETS THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO CED TIME TO YOU, OTHERWISE WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.

CHRIS BECKER. FOLLOWED BY CLAYTON RUSSELL. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL. A WHILE BACK I WAS IN A GROUP DISCUSSION WHEN THE SUBJECT TURNED TO READY TO WORK. MOST OF THEM WERE LAMENTING THE PROGRAM'S ROUGH START AND LACK OF PROGRESS TOWARDS STATED GOALS.

THEY TURNED TO ME AND I SAID THAT PROGRAM HAD VERY LITTLE CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING IF I RECALLLY, ANYWAY. IN A FEBRUARY 2022 ADDITION OF THE "SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS," I TOLD THEM IT'S SPONSORED BY THE CITY GOVERNMENT THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE A QUALITY PRODUCT TO EARN REVENUE, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS ANYWAY SO IT LACKS THE BASIC INCENTIVES TO DO A GOOD JOB TO BE EFFECTIVE.

SINCE THEN ELIGIBILITY HAS EXPANDED TO SOME NON-SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND NOW WE WANT TO HAND OUT CORPORATE SUBSIDIES AND ADD STAFF.

THERE'S THIS BELIEVE SOMEHOW MORE GOVERNMENT ACTION WILL IMPROVE THEMSELVES.

THESE ARE -- CAN BE FOUND IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS OF OUR COUNCIL.

NONE OF THEM NEED IT. UNLIKE THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THEY HAVE EVERY INCENTIVE TO TRAIN THEIR WORKERS. THEIR EXISTENCE DEPENDS ON IT.

BUT I GUESS YOU CAN PLAY THE CORPORATE WELFARE GAME WHEN UNDER MISTAKEN PRETENSE YOU CONVINCE SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS WORKFORCE TO ADMINISTER THIS PUBLIC SECTOR PROGRAM THAT STRUGGLES TO PUT FOLKS IN QUALITY JOBS. COSA AIMING TO BE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE IS NOT WITHOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. IT WAS RECENTLY REPORTED THAT ROUGHLY $11 MILLION WILL HAVE TO BE CUT FROM THE BUDGET SO TAX RATES WON'T HAVE TO BE RAISED LIKE PROPERTY TAXES HAVE BEEN RAISED IN RECENT YEARS.

READY TO WORK WOULD BE AN IDEAL PLACE TO START. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BECKER. CLAYTON RUSSELL, FOLLOWED BY

AARON ALBRECHT. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS CLAYTON RUSSELL, VICE PRESIDENT OF [INAUDIBLE] DEMOLITION, A SAN ANTONIO OWNED AND

[01:40:05]

OUR COMPANY PRIDES OURSELF ON OUR ABILITY TO KEEP WORKERS SAFE AND ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FOR FAMILIES. THE EMPHASIS WE PLACE ON OUR PEOPLE OFTEN COMES AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE. OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY COMES AT A COST AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT COST IS OFTEN INCURRED BY THE EMPLOYEES WHO LACK THE SAFETY OR TECHNICAL TRAINING TO ASCEND TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING INITIATIVE IS A PROGRAM WITH A POTENTIAL TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE AND LASTING IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THE CORE OF THIS CITY. IT TRULY ALIGNS WITH OUR VALUES AND PURPOSES OF PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO THOSE WHO ARE DESERVING BUT OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

THE INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE IN THE FIELD ARE GOOD, HARD-WORKING, HONEST PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY HAVE NOT BEEN FACED WITH THE MOST IDEAL OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND DO SO AT AN EXPEDITED RATE. AS A SMALL BUSINESS, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO INCUR NOT ONLY THE LOSS OF PRODUCTION BUT THE SUBSTANTIAL COST OF TRAINING WORKFORCE. MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT THE MOST EDUCATED OR AFFLUENT OR FORTUNATE OF PEOPLE BUT THEY COME IN EVERY DAY AND DO THEIR JOB TO CLEAR THE PATH FOR THE CITY'S IMPROVEMENT. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE A CHANCE TO PROVIDE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM IS ALLOWING THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THE CITY IS FULL OF SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE YOU WILL FIND, ALL THEY NEED IS A LITTLE HELPING HAND. I IMPLORE THE CITY COUNCIL TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THESE AND ENCOURAGE THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE TO CONTINUE EFFORTS IN SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS CITY SPECIAL.

THIS IS WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS DESERVE TO BE SPENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. RUSSELL. AARON ALBERT.

OKAY. MARIO BARRERA. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY

AURORA GUISE. >> MR. MAYOR, GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

I AM A PARTNER AT A LAW FIRM CALLED NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT, ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING WHEN YOU CAN GET ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON THE SAME PAGE ON ITEM 22, IT SAYS A LOT. AND SO THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW ME WILL REMEMBER THAT I LIKE TO BRING IN A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. WHEN I MOVED TO THIS CITY IN 1987, THIS IS NOT THE CITY THAT EXISTS TODAY. I WAS FASCINATED MOVING TO THE MOST HISTORICAL CITY IN THE STATE, AND YET THE CITY OF 37 YEARS AGO IN MANY RESPECTS STILL MIRRORS THAT CITY THAT I MOVED TO. WE'RE STILL FACED WITH ISSUES OF ECONOMIC SEGREGATION, OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY, OF LACK OF SKILLS IN OUR WORKFORCE. AND THIS CITY THROUGH DIFFERENT GENERATIONS HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF BOLD MOVES. WHETHER IT WAS PRE-K 4 SA, WHETHER IT WAS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND ELECTION, AND NOW IN 2020 THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. I'M NOT ON THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM BOARD, BUT I HAVE TOILED IN THE AREA WHEN I AM NOT PRACTICING LAW. IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND IN EDUCATION. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ALL THAT THE IDEA AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS I'VE HEARD THAT THAT IS A CITY GIVE-AWAY TO BIG BUSINESSES, BIG BUSINESSES THAT DON'T NEED IT, BUSINESSES IN GENERAL, IS JUST AN ABSOLUTE MISREPRESENTATION. THE MONEY THAT IS SLATED, THE $6 MILLION FOR THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM OR THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE THAT UPSCALING NEEDED FOR OUR WORKFORCE. WE HAVE TO BE BOLD.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. AND I'M ENCOURAGING CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE THAT NECESSARY ACTION IN THE 3.1 MILLION THAT IT AWARDED IN GRANTS LAST MONTH, IT WENT TO 33 EMPLOYERS, FOUR LARGE EMPLOYERS, NO DOUBT. SOME MAY QUESTION WHETHER THEY NEEDED THE MONEY, BUT THOSE LARGE EMPLOYERS ARE ACCOUNTING FOR 37% OF THOSE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TARGETED IN THAT $3 MILLION. IMAGINE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH $6 MILLION. IT'S OPEN TO EMPLOYERS THAT ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE.

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ARE A KEY ITEM, A KEY FORCE TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE

[01:45:02]

LET'S GET PAST THAT PICTURE. THREES APPROVE THIS BUDGET ITEM.

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

AURORA GUISE FOLLOWED BY ERIC SYKES. >> HELLO, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. I'M WITH NEW APPRENTICESHIP. ON MAY 14 AT 12:35 P.M., MY CAR FLIPPED OVER AT 70 MILES PER HOUR AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM HERE TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU A GREAT STORY. AND FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE UNSUNG HEROES WHO ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS. WE KNEW IF OUR LIFE WAS TAKEN AT THAT MOMENT AT 12:35 P.M., WE WOULD BE IN HEAVEN WITH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. SO FOR THOSE UNSUNG HEROES, I WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT OTHER UNSUNG HEROES IN WORKFORCE. AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE MASTERS OF THE CRAFT. THESE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT COME ALONGSIDE OF APPRENTICES TO LEARN, THEIR COACHES, THEIR FACILITATORS, THEIR MANAGERS.

BY THE WAY, I HAVE TWO BROKEN RIBS SO I APOLOGIZE IF MY BREATHING IS IRREGULAR HERE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY FOR NEW APPRENTICESHIP AND THE WORK WE DO, WE HAVE 81% OF THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. I'LL ALSO GIVE YOU SOME SIMPLE STATS.

THE AVERAGE WAGE IS ABOUT $27.83 AND THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF $55,600 IN SALARY.

AVERAGE AGE IS BETWEEN 27 YEARS OF AGE AND 32. AND WE PROVIDE TECH APPRENTICESHIPS WHICH IS ABOUT 30% OR SKEWING TOWARD FEMALE AND WE ARE ADVANCING TO GROW THAT NUMBER. WE HAVE OVER 250 APPRENTICES THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM. WHY IS READY TO WORK SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR OUR COMMUNITY? THE WAY WITH OUR CURRENT SYSTEM AND OUR ECONOMY IS EMPLOYERS HIRE FOR EXPERIENCE, FOR SKILLS, THEY HIRE FOR DEGREES.

WHAT APPRENTICESHIP DOES IS CLOSES THAT GAP. AS SAN ANTONIO CITIZENS, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GROW A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF EMPLOYERS THAT ARE GOING TO DERISK HIRING PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A DEGREE OR INTERNS.

IN ADDITION -- EXPERIENCE. IN ADDITION WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF YOUNG TALENT IN SAN ANTONIO. I'VE HEARD WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE TALENT WITH SKILL SETS. APPRENTICESHIP AND THROUGH THE READY TO WORK IS GOING TO ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO HIRE TALENT AND ACCELERATE THE ALIENATE THROUGH AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. I WILL TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT JESSICA SOLIS WHO LIVES IN SAN ANTONIO. SHE STARTED WORKING AT A COMPANY MAKING $32,000 A YEAR. AT THE END OF SIX MONTHS, SHE WAS TERMINATED BECAUSE THE COMPANY FOLDED. SHE GOT HIRED BY BLACK RIFLE COFFEE MAKING $70,000 BECAUSE SHE HAD SIX MONTHS OF EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

THE WIN IS APPRENTICESHIP AND READY TO WORK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. NEXT IS EROL SYKES. >> GREETINGS TO THE SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL, THE HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY AMERICA.

I'M OF PROJECT TIES SOLUTIONS AND HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. MY COMPANY SPECIALIZES IN LOW-VOLTAGE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION IN BUILDING AUTOMATION. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM REPRESENTS WHAT I TERM GOOD BUSINESS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO LOSERS. THIS INCLUDES THE CITY, ITS LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE PROGRAM. THE CITY AND ITS EMPLOYEE WIN BY HAVING A LOCAL POOL OF TRAINED RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES. IF EITHER SHOULD HAVE TO SOURCE TALENT FROM OTHER CITIES OR STATES BECAUSE LOCAL TALENT ISN'T AVAILABLE, YOU CAN REST ASSURED THE INVOICES WILL REFLECT THE SAME.

NOT TO MENTION THAT THE TAX DOLLARS STAY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM STAND TO GAIN THE MOST.

I KNOW THAT EACH OF YOU CARE DEEPLY AND FIGHT DAILY FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF YOUR DISTRICTS. AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DISPLAY PASSION FOR HELPING

[01:50:01]

I HAD THE PLEASURE IN ATTENDING B AND A SESSION AND I'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ANY WAY I CAN BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR CITY.

I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR APPROVING THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR THIS PROGRAM AND BY DEFINITION OF PILOT IS A SHORT-TERM TEST THAT HELPS AN ORGANIZATION LEARN HOW TO --T MIGHT BE IN PRACTICE. AS I'VE LISTENED IN ON BOTH SESSIONS, I'M BEEN THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED WITH THE LEVEL OF SCRUTINY AND/OR SUGGESTIONS YOU'VE HAD REGARDING THE PROGRAM. MY PRAYER IS THAT AS WE LEAD THE WAY TO ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR OUR CITY THAT YOU VIEW EACH SCRUTINY AND SUGGESTION AS OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM WHICH I AM CERTAIN MIKE AND HIS TEAM ARE OPEN TO RECEIVE AND IMPLEMENTING AS THE PROGRAM IS ONLY IN ITS INFANCY. THANK YOU FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MR. SYKE. NEXT IS CARY ALVARADO.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CARY ALVARADO JOE, STAMP ENERGY.

OUR CEO AND PRESIDENT COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IWT/OJT FUNDING BUT I'M HERE NOT ONLY REPRESENTING STAMP BUT ALL OF OUR 47 EMPLOYEES.

I'VE BEEN WITH STAMP ALLERGY THREE YEARS. I CAME HERE SHORTLY AFTER OBTAIN OBTAINING MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

I OBTAINED MY DEGREE AND MY PLANTS WERE TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO THAT WOULD ALLOW ME TO GROW AS A YOUNG PROPOSAL. I BEGAN JOB SEARCH IN THE DALLAS AREA KNOWING JOB OPPORTUNITIES WERE MORE ACCESSIBLE THERE AND I EVEN MOVED TO DALLAS THIS PAST YEAR WITH THAT GOAL IN MIND. SAN ANTONIO IS MY HOME AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER CHOSEN TO LEAVE IT IF I HAD BEEN OFFERED THE CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES I WAS SEEKING. DR. GONZALES WANTED TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AT STAMP.

AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION ARE OUR CEO STRONGLY LEAVES NOT ONLY IN INVESTING IN NEW TALENT BUT NURTURING THEM.

I'M A TESTAMENT TO THE POSITIVE INFLUENCES THESE WITH HAVE.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS MOST OF THESE RESOURCES ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND THE COSTS ARE COST PROHIBITIVE TO MOST SMALL BUSINESSES. I'M FORTUNATE TO WORK FOR A COMPANY WHO LEAVES MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS ARE EMPLOYEES.

WE'VE STRUGGLED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE A MEANINGFUL WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THE IMPOSSIBLE FOR US. THIS FUNDING NOT ONLY SUPPORTS EMPLOYEES LOOKING TO ADVANCE TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL SKILLS BUT ALSO ALLOWS THEM TO HELP PEOPLE BREAK INTO THE HEALTH FIELD AND TRAIN IN THE SKILLS NEEDED TO FULFILL ROLES THEY NEED WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE THE AREA LIKE I DID.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR RON NIRENBERG AND MANNY PELÁEZ AND ALL THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS FOR CONSIDERING THAT YOU ARE STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THIS PROGRAM WHICH ARE CRUCIAL TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH IN OUR

LOCAL WORKFORCE. THANK YOU. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MS. ALVA.

THAT COMPLETES THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM 22. AT THIS TIME WE NEED A

MOTION TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH THIS FURTHER. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> COURAGE: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 22. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION?

YES, MA'AM. COUNCILWOMAN. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANT TO AGAIN APPLAUD THIS ON COMBATING GENERATIONAL POVERTY IN OUR CITY. IT'S NO EASY TASK AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A SKILLED WORKFORCE IS NOT LOST ON ME. NOTHING OF THIS KIND TO THIS SCALE HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED BEFORE HERE AND WITH THAT COMES NATURAL GROWING PAINS.

AND I GET THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I DO WANT TO REITERATE WHAT I'VE SAID BEFORE AND THAT IS VOTERS WERE SOLD AN IDEA WHAT A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE AND SO FAR READY TO WORK HAS STRUGGLED TO MEET MILESTONES OF SUCCESS. THIS INCLUDES THE FACT ONLY 52% OF FOLKS ARE PLACED WITHIN A QUALITY JOB IN SIX MONTHS. WE NEED TO SET A CLEAR PATH FORWARD TO CLOSE THAT GAP. AFTER WE DISCUSSED THIS IN B SESSION, I RECEIVED MORE

[01:55:01]

WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT A TOTAL OF 597 PARTICIPANTS OR CLOSE TO 65% OF PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE TRAINING FOR SEVEN MONTHS OR LONGER HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WORK. I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT. CLOSE TO 65% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF TRAINING FOR SEVEN MONTHS OR LONGER HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WORK. THAT'S ALARMING. COUPLING THESE NUMBERS WITH THE ASK FOR MORE MONEY TO GROW AND EXPAND THE PROGRAM FEELS QUESTIONABLE TO ME.

THAT BEING SAID, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FUNDING COMES FROM SALES TAX DOLLARS WHICH WAS ALREADY VOTER APPROVED AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THIS MONEY CANNOT BE USED TOWARDS ANY PROGRAMS OTHER THAN WHAT VOTERS APPROVED IT FOR.

I DO WANT TO VERIFY IF THAT'S CORRECT, MIKE OR ALEX OR SOMEBODY TO VERIFY THAT.

OR MAYBE IT'S YOU, ERIK. >> WALSH: THAT'S TRUE. >> GAVITO: SO THE MONEY CANNOT BE REDISTRIBUTED TO OTHER PROGRAMS IF NOT APPROVED TODAY.

>>. >> WALSH: NO, IT CANNOT BE USED FOR OTHER SOURCES.

>> GAVITO: I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST WE CONTINUE RECEIVING REGULAR UPDATES ON THIS PROGRAM SINCE IT'S NEW. I'D LIKE TO NOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE KEEPING TRACK OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING AND THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. AND THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO PIVOT IF IT'S NOT LIVING UP TO EXPECTED PERFORMANCE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THESE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE BEING USED AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. MY INTENT IN BRINGING UP THIS ITEM IS NOT TO DIMINISH THE MERITS OF THIS PROGRAM. I DO BELIEVE THE INTENTION OF READY TO WORK IS NOBLE AND NECESSARY. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND HOLDING OURSELVES TO THE STANDARD WE KNOW WE'RE CAPABLE OF. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ON GROWING THIS PROGRAM TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

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

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I WANTED TO START BY THANKING EVERYBODY WHO PROJECT QUEST AND ALL OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. BEN PEAVY IS HERE WHO CHAIRS OUR BOARD AND I APPRECIATE IT. AND THEN ALSO THE MEMBERS OF COPS/METRO WHO HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY MEETING WITH US, SHARING THEIR FRUSTRATIONS AND ALSO THEIR CELEBRATIONS WITH US, RIGHT? AND SO I APPRECIATE THE FAIR APPROACH THAT YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN IN LOOKING AT HOW WE COULD MAKE THE PROGRAM BETTER. BACK ON JUNE OF 2020, THIS WAS PITCHED AS AN IMMEDIATE APPROACH TO BUILD BACK THE LOCAL ECONOMY. THAT INCLUDED SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND FOCUSED ON PROVIDING SUBSIDIZED JOB TRAINING AND CERTIFICATES FOR IN-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS FOR UP TO 10,000 RESIDENTS.

AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OUR DASHBOARD IMPROVE.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HIT A LOT OF THE METRICS AND AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT WE SERVICE WOMEN BECAUSE WE KNOW IN PARTICULAR SERVICE WOMEN -- OR SINGLE WOMEN, SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS WERE THE ONES LEFT BEHIND DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I APPRECIATE YOUR ALWAYS FOCUS ON THAT, IN PARTICULAR ALSO SERVING RESIDENTS OF SOME OF THE NEEDIEST DISTRICTS. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, I THINK IT WAS DISTRICT 2 THAT HAD THE LEAD IN PARTICIPANTS FOLLOWED BY DISTRICT 5.

BACK THEN ALEX -- ACTUALLY IN AUGUST, AUGUST 13TH, IT WAS, SHE REPORTED THIS WOULD ALSO SUPPORT WORKFORCE TRAINING AND TWO AND FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMS. THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES INCLUDING CHILDCARE, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ACADEMIC ASSESSMENTS AND CASE MANAGEMENT. AND I THINK WE HAVE DONE THIS TOGETHER WITH THE WORK OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO AND REFERRING THEM TO THE CHILDCARE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THEM AS WELL.

SHE STATED APPRENTICESHIPS WERE HIGHLIGHTED AS A TRAINING OPTION.

WITH THE CORE OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING COMBINED WITH CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.

THE CITY IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF KNOWING HOW TO TRAIN PEOPLE FOR THESE INDUSTRIES, SO I APPRECIATE OUR WORKFORCE PARTNERS THAT DO THIS AND YOUR CITY IS HERE TO SUPPORT THAT. SHE ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WAS AN OPTION THAT THE PROPOSED INITIATIVE THEN WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER TUITION SPECIFICALLY TO EMPLOYERS THAT PROVIDED TRANSFERABLE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS. AND SO I WANTED TO REFERENCE THAT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SOME -- SOME TALK, SOME QUESTIONING. AND I APPRECIATE THAT THIS WAS SOLD TO US FROM THE BEGINNING HOW IT WAS. WE WERE TOLD

[02:00:01]

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MAYBE LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, SHE MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES.

TEENAGED BUSINESSES. I STILL THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT.

I THINK SOME OF THE CHAMBERS ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR THAT AND SO HOW WE COULD PARTNER TOGETHER. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THEM.

AND I APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE HAS OFFERED ME IN SAYING THAT THERE WILL BE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT REPORTING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT HELP TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST.

AND SO I LOVE THAT YOU ALL HAD A PILOT PROGRAM. EVERYBODY PAYS INTO THIS.

YOU ARE A TAXPAYER, EVERYBODY PAYS INTO IT. NOT EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM IT, I KNOW THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING FOR CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SEE HOW EVERYBODY CAN BENEFIT AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT. AND SO I WAS IN FAVOR OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, BUT WITH THE CAVEAT LIKE I SAID I WANTED TO FOCUS MORE ON SMALL AND MIDDLE-SIZED COMPANIES.

SO I STILL THINK THAT IT'S TRUE TO WHAT WE TOLD THE TAXPAYERS, ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE, ACCORDING TO ALL THE MINUTES, AND SO I KEEP BRINGING OUT MY BINDER WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF NOTES FROM PAST MEETINGS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M NOT SPEAKING OUT OF PLACE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY WHO HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS WAS BILLED BEFORE, THAT MAYBE JUST GOT TO OUR CITY, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE ALL THE MINUTES AND ALL THE DATES FOR THOSE MINUTES SO YOU COULD SEE HOW WE PITCHED THIS PROGRAM TO THE TAXPAYERS OF SAN ANTONIO.

THAT SAID, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COPS/METRO HAS BEEN WITH US THE WHOLE WAY AND PUSHING BACK ON SOME OF THESE THINGS. WE STARTED AT A CERTAIN SALARY LEVEL, THEY PUSHED FOR MORE. WE CAME TOGETHER AND WE WORKED. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WORK COLLECTIVELY, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEET IN THE MIDDLE. AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF OUTSIDE AGENCIES THAT HAVE ASSISTED US. SO ALAMO COLLEGES AND PROJECT QUEST, RESTORE EDUCATION, THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF DOING THEIR WORK AS WELL. AND WE SHOULDN'T GET IN THE WAY.

AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM FEEDBACK AS WELL AS TO THINGS THAT WEREN'T WORKING. I WAS CONCERNED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM IF WE WERE FOCUSED ON TWO AND FOUR-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAMS, BUT THE REALITY IS PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY WANT THOSE TWO AND FOUR-YEAR DEGREES. SOME DO NOT WANT THE IMMEDIATE WORK ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THERE'S SOMETIMES MORE VALUE IN TAKING THE LONG WAY THAN THE SHORT PATH. AND I GET IT. PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS, DIFFERENT NEEDS. OTHERS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE SMALLER TRAINING PROGRAMS AND HAVE BEEN PUT TO WORK AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR FAMILIES' LIVELIHOODS GIVING THEM ACCESS TO FAMILY PAGE AND BENEFITS.

I WANT TO THANK THE EMPLOYERS WHO SIGNED UP EARLY ON.

COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS COUNCIL LIAISONS.

I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE COME AND ASKED ME ABOUT THINGS BECAUSE I TAKE THAT BACK TO THE COMMITTEES. I TAKE THAT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE WHICH I'M THE LIAISON FOR THE READY TO WORK BOARD AND WE WORK TOGETHER ON REALLY REACHING THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST. I HAVE HAD SOME TROUBLE IN THAT SOMETIMES WE TAKE TOO LONG TO DO SOME THINGS. I FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

I'VE SAID THAT PUBLICLY. I SAY THIS IN FRONT OF MIKE'S FACE, LIKE DIRECTLY AND IN HIS ZOOM MEETINGS, I SAY IT IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY, SOMETIMES WE TAKE TOO LONG AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SAY I STILL THINK WE TAKE TOO LONG ON SOME THINGS. I WISH WE COULD MOVE A LITTLE FASTER, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU ALL ARE TRYING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. I DO THINK THE ADDITION OF ADDITIONAL STAFF IS GOING TO HELP US. AT THE BEGINNING THIS PROGRAM WAS INITIALLY PROPOSED FOR LIKE 40 OR SOMETHING POSITIONS.

THAT WAS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO STOMACH. THAT WAS TOO MUCH FOR COPS/METRO TO STOMACH. THEN WE CUT IT AND I THINK IT WAS TOO LITTLE.

NOW WE'RE TRYING TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE AND TRYING TO CHANGE THESE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IT'S PROGRAM THE PROGRAM. THIS IS TOO BIG TO FAIL.

THE COMMUNITY INVESTED BY 70-SOMETHING PERCENT. I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE WITH THE EMPLOYERS, WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS, WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COPS/METRO TO MAKE SURE THIS PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL FOR RESIDENTS. I WILL BE OBVIOUSLY SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM TODAY BECAUSE I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE ANSWERS THAT YOU ALL GAVE ME ON THE REPORTING, ON THE CHECK-IN MECHANISMS AND ON SPECIFICALLY INVESTING IN SMALL AND MID--SIZED EMPLOYERS, WE ARE TURNING THE PAGE AND TRYING TO DO AS

[02:05:06]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND CRITICISM BECAUSE IT HELPS US IMPROVE THE

PROGRAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER

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

AND JUST A QUICK QUESTION. DO WE HAVE A CLAW-BACK CLAUSE FOR BUSINESSES THAT DON'T UPHOLD -- THERE YOU ARE, WHO DON'T UPHOLD THEIR END OF THE AGREEMENT?

AND CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THAT IS? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. WE DO NOT HAVE A CLAW-BACK CLAUSE, THEY ONLY GET

REIMBURSED FOR HOLDING UP THEIR END OF THE AGREEMENT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: EVEN BETTER. SO THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANY MONEY UNTIL THE AGREEMENT IS

MET. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ:

DESCRIBE WHAT THE TERMS OF THAT AGREEMENT IS. >> NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT IF THEY ARE INCUMBENT WORKERS TRAINING THEY RECEIVE TRAINING AND UP SCALING FOR THOSE PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING APPRENTICESHIP CREDENTIALS AND FOR THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING EITHER BRING ON NEW EMPLOYEES OR TRAINING EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN WITH THAT EMPLOYER LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AND PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED -- TO HAVE UPWARD MORE BUILT WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION. FOR THIS PROGRAM, MY CONCERN AND COMMITMENT WILL BE INSURANCE OF THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. WITH THIS PROGRAM AND ITS DEEPER IMPACTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE NEED AND POTENTIAL TO BREAK CYCLES OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

DISTRICT 2 IN PARTICULAR, THE EAST SIDE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTED BY ECONOMIC AND RACIAL SEGREGATION AND IT'S CLEAR ARE EACH CONCERNED ABOUT MORE OF PUBLIC DOLLARS GOING TO PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND I SHARE IN THAT CONCERN.

I'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS CLOSELY TO ENSURE MY DISTRICT IS ABLE TO ACCESS EVERY BENEFIT AND MY EXPECTATION AS WELL IS THAT -- THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ENTER IN THIS PROGRAM ARE RECEIVING THE TRAINING OR HAVE MORE JOBS AVAILABLE TO THEM THAT PREVIOUSLY WOULD NOT BE, THEREFORE UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL -- NOT JUST POTENTIAL, BUT ALMOST GUARANTEE OF HIGHER WAGES. I ALSO EXPECT EACH BUSINESS IN OUR CITY THAT STRUGGLES WITH WORKER RETENTION IS GOING TO LOOK WITHIN BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WORKERS TO FIX. AND NO APPRENTICESHIP OR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM WILL FIX THAT. PLEASE COMMIT TO REALLY EVALUATING YOUR ROLE AS EMPLOYERS IN SUPPORTING AND UP DISTRICTING WORKERS.

A PERSPECTIVE I'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO GAIN, NOW I HAVE NINE EMPLOYEES.

AND IF THEY ARE UNHAPPY, IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS OR DON'T HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW OR FEEL UNDERPAID OR IF I'M EXPERIENCING HIGH TURNOVER, THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. THERE ARE WORKPLACE ISSUES THAT A CITY PROGRAM WILL NEVER -- WILL NEVER HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT EVERY EMPLOYER THAT PARTICIPATES IN THIS PROGRAM AND RECEIVES THOSE DOLLARS IS ALSO LOOKING WITHIN. BECAUSE YOU CAN GIVE A WORKER THE TRAINING THEY NEED AND IF THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT WORKPLACE IS GOING TO BE FOR THEM, THEY ARE GOING TO LEAVE AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT YOU HAD BEFORE. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE

PRESENTATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.

I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO FOR HER CLARIFICATION THAT THIS MONEY THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THIS PROGRAM AND NOTHING ELSE BECAUSE THAT'S HELPFUL. LOOK, COMMENTS WERE MADE EARLIER ABOUT THE WISDOM OF THE GOVERNMENT BEING INVOLVED IN THIS -- IN THIS PROGRAM.

AND I'M ALL FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, OF COURSE. BUT LOOK, I TEND TO AGREE, YOU KNOW, IF I WAS -- IF I WAS PUTTING TOGETHER A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, I DON'T KNOW THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS IN THE BEST PLACE, THE BEST POSITION TO DO IT. BUT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, AND SO AS WE'VE CLARIFIED EARLIER, THIS MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THE PROGRAM SO WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD NOW AND TRY TO MAKE THIS WORK AS BEST WE CAN. AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OFF TO A ROCKY START, BUT LET'S LOOK AHEAD. AND AS I MENTIONED AT THE B SESSION THE OTHER WEEK, WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS MONEY SPENT IS TO REALLY ATTACK THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE. AND MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE BRIEFING IS THAT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE, WHAT'S HOLDING US BACK HERE IS

[02:10:01]

SO OFTEN WE -- IN MY OPINION, WE THROW MONEY AT THINGS AND WE JUST HOPE FOR A RESULT. SPREAD IT AROUND, HOPE THAT SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENS.

WE'VE GOT TO GET AWAY FROM THAT. WE'VE GOT TO GET AWAY FROM THAT IN SO MANY AREAS WITH OUR CITY AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. BUT SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO READY TO WORK, LET'S TARGET THESE DOLLARS AT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND WHAT'S HOLDING THIS PROGRAM BACK AND LET'S SEE WHERE THAT GETS US.

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

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

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WAS PREPARED TO LEAVE IT ON CONSENT, BUT I'M GLAD IT GOT PULLED BECAUSE I CAN SHARE WHAT I SHARED IN THE B SESSION. THIS IS A PROGRAM, WE NEED TO WORK THE PROGRAM, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS PROGRAM. AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE A HISTORY, THEY HAVE STRUGGLES AND THEY ARE GOING TO NEED HELP.

SO I'M GLAD THAT COPS/METRO IS HERE, I'M GLAD THAT PROJECT QUEST IS HERE AND THE OTHER PRIMES ARE HERE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY CAN PARTNER WITH THIS PROGRAM.

AND SEE WHERE CAN WE STEP IN AND BRIDGE THE GAP. I APPRECIATE, MARTY, YOU COMING AND TALKING ON BEHALF OF THE UNIONS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU ARE PART OF A GROUP, WHEN YOU ARE PART OF SOMETHING TOGETHER, YOU CAN SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATIONS AND YOUR DOUBTS.

BECAUSE THAT IS A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE FACING. WE ARE GOING TO A GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO WERE TOLD FOR MANY YEARS, WHO WERE TOLD BY PEOPLE WITH IMPLICIT BIAS WITH RACIST ISSUES YOU WOULD BE NO BETTER THAN THIS. WE ARE COMING WITH A PROGRAM THAT SAYS YOU CAN DO BETTER. THAT IS HARD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO PROCESS.

AND THEY NEED THOSE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AND THEY NEED EMPLOYERS THAT ARE COMMITTED AND UNDERSTAND. AND AS I MENTIONED WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PILOT AND I SAW HOLT'S NAME IN THERE AND DIFFERENT BUSINESSES FROM THE SOUTH SIDE, I KNEW THESE WERE BIGGER BUSINESSES THAT UNDERSTOOD THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY WORKED IN.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS MOVE FORWARD. AND YES, THIS IS NOT TRADITIONALLY A CITY'S BUSINESS BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY WE HAVE AN INDUSTRY LIKE THE AIRPORT -- LIKE THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY THAT CAME UP IN DALLAS.

WHAT WE HAD IS WE HAD THE BASIS AND THAT'S -- THE BASES, THE MILITARY BASES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE FOCUSED ON. NOW AS WE DIVERSIFY AND BECOME A GLOBAL PLAYER, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SAN ANTONIO SHOULD BE AND WHERE WE ARE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE WORKFORCE.

IF THE CITY HAS TO STEP UP UNTIL THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CATCHES UP TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR PART. BUT IT ONLY COMES BY HAVING EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE AND WORKING AS A TEAM. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO REACH THE SUCCESS WITH THE PRIME PARTNERS WE HAVE WHEN WE KEEP OUR SETTING OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THEM, AND I KNOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN COMMITTEE OR IN B SESSION ABOUT MAKING THE CHANGES. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO CAME OUT AND SPOKE FOR AND AGAINST THIS ISSUE BECAUSE WE CAN TAKE THOSE IDEAS AND MAKE THIS A BETTER

PROGRAM. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

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

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TO TRULY ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC SEGREGATION WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. HAVING PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN EDUCATION THE LAST 15ERS 82, IT'S BEEN INTERESTED AND I'M APPRECIATIVE TO ALEX FOR HELPING LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAM. IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND YOU HEAR THAT FROM US AND COLLEAGUES. AS COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA SAYS THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT CANNOT FAIL, THERE'S TOO MUCH INVESTMENT AND NEED FOR IT TO FAIL. SO ONE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, AND TWO, WE ALSO KNOW WHEN WE'RE TRYING SOMETHING INNOVATIVE THAT HASN'T HAPPENED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT TAKES TIME TO ITERATE. THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO ALL THE QUESTIONS.

[02:15:05]

ONE, WE HAVE TO BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK EVEN IF IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS PROGRAM TO BE BETTER AND STRONGER AND MOST SUCCESSFUL FOR FOLKS WHO NEED IT MOST. THE SECOND IS WE HAVE TO TALK TO FOLKS. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST GAFFS, I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MENTIONED IN B SESSION IS QUALITATIVE DATA FROM PEOPLE.

I KNOW THAT'S DIFFERENT WHEN FOLKS ARE LEAVING AND DON'T WANTED TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT SURVEYS, BUT WE HAVE TO GET DATA ABOUT WHY WE'RE NOT MEETING THE RANGES COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO MENTIONED.

I THINK WE CAN TRULY IMPROVE THE PROGRAM TO MAKE IT STRONGER.

I'M SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT BECAUSE I KNOW THIS WORK IS SUPER IMPORTANT AND WE CAN MAKE THIS PROGRAM EVEN STRONGER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

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

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

I KNOW THAT I'VE PROBABLY BEEN ONE OF THE MOST PERSISTENT QUESTIONERS OF THE PROGRAM OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS COUNCILMEMBERS TO KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS AND EVALUATING THE RESULTS, TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS AND HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS.

I KNOW THAT WHAT WE APPEAR TO BE DOING BY WORKING IN A GREATER PARTNERSHIP WITH COMPANIES TO SUPPORT THEIR CONTINUED TRAINING IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OR THE VALUE OF. BUT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, MIKE, IF YOU CAN TELL US WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE VALUE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE GOING TO BE THE RESULTS OF THIS NEXT EFFORT OF PUTTING $6 MILLION INTO THESE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'LL HAVE COMING OUT OF THAT?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER. I WOULD AGREE YOU HAVE BEEN VERY PERSISTENT IN YOUR QUESTIONING AND I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE IT HELPS US TO GET BETTER. I THINK THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING AND -- WILL HELP STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE EMPLOYER COMMUNITY. IN DOING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THEY ARE A CRITICAL COMPONENT. WE HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE AND MOVE OUT OF POVERTY, BUT ALSO THE EMPLOYERS WHO NEED THAT TALENT TO GROW. IF WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP THROUGH ALLOWING THEM TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS, NUMBER ONE, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SKILLS THEY NEED AND NUMBER TWO THEY CAN BECOME EFFICIENT IN PROVIDING TRAINING TO PARTICIPANTS. WITH THIS INVESTMENT WE ANTICIPATE THERE BEING ROUGHLY DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE SERVE IN OUR CURRENT INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING, GOING TO AROUND 2600 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT IS

TREMENDOUS VALUE ON THOSE DOLLARS INVESTED. >> COURAGE: NOW, I THINK PART OF OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS WAS THAT THE GOAL WOULD BE TO UPSKILL A LOT OF THESE EMPLOYEES FOR THE COMPANIES THEY ARE IN. AND WHEN YOU UPSCALE YOURSELF, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE PROMOTED, FIND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT PAY YOU BETTER, BUT THAT OPENS THE DOOR FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW AFTER YOU.

YOU'VE TOLD ME YOU THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST RESULTS, IF WE HELP UPSKILL TWO OR 3,000 PEOPLE, THAT MAY OPEN THE DOOR FOR TWO OR 3,000 READY TO WORK PEOPLE TO STEP INTO THOSE. HOW CAN WE BE CONFIDENCE THAT'S GOING TO FOLLOW

THROUGH? >> AGREEMENT. THAT AS INDIVIDUALS ARE UPSKILLED AND VACANCIES OCCUR AT ENTRY LEVEL, THE FIRST CONSIDERATIONS GOES TOWARDS READY TO WORK.

YOU HEARD FROM MR. PETERSON THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE IS WHEN INDIVIDUALS EXIT TRAINING, THEY STILL NEED MORE TRAINING.

WE CAN PROLONG THAT TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS AND CREATE OPENINGS TO HELP DECREASE THEMENT A OF TIME IT TAKES FOR PARTICIPANTS TO FIND A JOB ONCE THEY FINISH TRAINING, THAT WILL BE BENEFICIARY AND THAT LOOP COMPLETED.

OUR TRADITIONAL SIDE OF READY TO WORK, INDIVIDUALS COMPLETE THEIR RANGE PROGRAMS. THEY CREATE MORE OPENINGS WITHIN THE COMPANIES WE'RE

PARTNERING WITH. >> COURAGE: I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS, MAYOR.

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

>> CASTILLO: NO DOUBT WHEN LOOK AGO THE THE METRICS, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO

[02:20:05]

AND WHILE I WAS NOT SUPPORT ITCH OF THIS INITIATIVE AT ITS INCEPTION OR THE BALLOT BOX, HERE WE ARE AND NOW I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THIS PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE MENTIONED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AND THAT I EXPRESSED CONCERN DURING THE B SESSION. A COUPLE OF THINGS, RIGHT? ULTIMATELY I BELIEVE WHEN I HEAR STORIES LIKE THE REPRESENTATIVE RAMON, THOSE ARE THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SHOULD BE CONNECTED TO READY TO WORK.

BUT ON THE CONTRAST, WHEN I HEAR THERE ARE BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRIES THAT ARE TAPPING INTO THIS PROGRAM, I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED AND ALARMED.

TO CHRIS' POINT, IT'S CORPORATE WELFARE, JUST EMPHASIZING MANY OF THESE INDUSTRIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POVERTY BY PAYING LOW WAGES AND WE ARE REWARDING THEM WITH CITY FUNDING. ACKNOWLEDGING IT'S A PILOT AND THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT METRICS AND RECALIBRATE, MY EXPECTATION IS THAT PILOT PROGRAM IS SUPPORTING LOCAL, SMALL, MICRO, MEDIUM BUSINESSES THAT CONSTITUENTS AREN'T BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WHEN WE GET THE NEXT BRIEFING THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS, AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE. HOWEVER, WHEN WE'RE PROVIDING FOLKS WITH THAT SKILL SET AND THEY ARE STILL NOT BEING HIRED, THAT'S EXTREMELY ALARMING. AGAIN, I'M HOPEFUL WITH APPROVING THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE EXTRA RESOURCES WILL HELP US MEET THOSE METRICS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, IT IS A HUGE TASK AND UNDERTAKING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE SMALL BUSINESSES GET CONNECTED TO THIS PROGRAM AND MOVE AWAY FROM GIVING BILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRIES ACCESS TO LIMITED CITY RESOURCES.

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

>> GARCIA: I JUST HEARD SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE MENTIONED EARLIER.

AND I LOVE THE IDEA OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CONTRACT LIKE A PREFERENTIAL HIRING OF SOME SORT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ALLOWED. BUT SOMETHING THAT GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR READY TO WORK PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO TAKE THAT SPOT OF SOMEONE WHO MOVED FORWARD.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE COMMENT OF MY COLLEAGUE THERE.

AND THEN ALSO DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE -- HOW MANY MONTHS IT TAKES FOR SOMEONE -- LIKE NON-READY TO WORK TO GET HIRED? LIKE WHAT IS THAT GAP?

HOW LONG ARE PEOPLE TAKING TO GET HIRED? >> THE NON-READY TO WORK IS A CHALLENGING QUESTION. IN READY TO WORK, THE PEOPLE WHO GET A JOB DO SO WITHIN THE FIRST 40 DAYS ON AVERAGE. BUT, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL JOB SEARCH, I CAN JUST SPEAK FOR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, IT TAKES A FEW MONTHS. SOMETIMES EVEN MORE THAN THAT TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT

FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL AND CIRCUMSTANCE. >> GARCIA: DO WE KNOW WHY -- DID THEY JUST NOT GET A JOB OR TURN DOWN THE JOBS? I'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS THEY ARE TURNING DOWN JOBS THAT WERE OFFERED BECAUSE MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY. ARE YOU COUNTING THOSE SEPARATE OR IS THAT STILL IN

THAT PERCENTAGE. >> THEY ARE ALL IN THAT PERCENTAGE IF THEY TURN DOWN

THE JOB. >> GARCIA: I DON'T THINK WE'RE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES AND BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS OFFERED A JOB AND CHOOSE TO TURN IT DOWN, THAT MEANS THEY WERE OFFERED A JOB. SO THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE THEY ARE APPLYING A AND WHY THEY TURNED THAT JOB DOWN.

OR HOW WE CAN COACH THEM TO SEE IF WE COULD LEVERAGE MAYBE IN THE -- THE JOB INTERVIEW OR IN THE NEGOTIATION, THAT THEY COULD --Y DON'T KNOW THEY CAN NEGOTIATE, RIGHT? MAYBE IT'S ONE DAY WORKING FROM HOME, ET CETERA.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE AN ACCURATE NUMBER WITHOUT THAT.

AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BREAKDOWN IF WE KNOW THEY WERE OFFERED A JOB AND TURNED DOWN. I HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE SOMEBODY WAS OFFERED TWO JOBS AND TURNED THEM BOTH DOWN. THAT UNFORTUNATELY AFFECTS OUR NUMBER, THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE GIVING SAYING THEY ARE UNEMPLOYED.

TECHNICALLY THEY WERE OFFERED TWO JOBS. I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE

BUNDLED IN AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT. >> WE'LL WORK ON IT.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON --

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

FIRST, YOU HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, NO PROGRAM IS EVER PERFECT.

[02:25:07]

ONE SICK KID AWAY FROM CATASTROPHE, SOMEONE SPEEDING TICKET AWAY FROM CATASTROPHE AND ONE BAD DAY AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS. WE KNOW TOO MANY SAN ANTONIANS LACK THE ABILITY TO THRIVE BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THOSE SKILLS TO THRIVE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT DOING NOTHING IS NOT A STRATEGY. AND I'VE HEARD -- AND I UNDERSTAND, I'VE HEARD AND I REALLY DO, I UNDERSTAND THESE FANTASTIC, UTOPIAN FREE MARKET OBJECTIONS TO THIS PROGRAM'S VERY EXISTENCE, RIGHT? AND HONESTLY, HAVING HEARD THEM, LOOKED AT THEM, TAKEN THEM AT FACE VALUE, THEY ARE WRONG AND INTELLECTUALLY LAZY. THESE FANTASIES VIOLATE TWO REALITIES.

ONE IS THAT WE ARE FACED WITH A POST-COVID MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT ALSO IGNORES THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF TOO MANY AMERICANS.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO SIMPLE, NOT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED THIS. THAT BY LAW THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO CHANGE THIS.

ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY OUR BEST TO IMPROVE UPON IT EVERY DAY THAT WE COME TO WORK. AND SO THIS FANTASTICAL -- WE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM AND IN GOOD FAITH WORK THAT PROGRAM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY SO THAT PEOPLE COULD ACQUIRE THOSE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO THRIVE. AND THOSE SKILLS ALSO NEEDED TO BE PORTABLE SO THAT THEY CAN COMPETE BETTER IN A LABOR MARKET. THAT'S OUR HALLMARK.

I THINK YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB OF BEING FAITHFUL TO THE CONTRACT WE ENTERED INTO WITH THE PEOPLE. I GET IT, THERE'S LOTS OF FOLKS WHO WISH THIS PROGRAM DIDN'T EXIST AND IF YOUR LIBERTARIAN IDEAS WERE SO GREAT YOU SHOULD HAVE WON AT THE BALLOT. INSTEAD PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR OPTIONS AND SOMETHING ASPIRATIONAL AND BOLD AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DELIVER ON.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS ON-THE-JOB TRAINING COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL TO ITS SUCCESS. I DO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE VOTERS BECAUSE WE PROMISED THEM WE WERE GOING TO PULL FROM EVERY LEVER TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO TRAIN AND THRIVE. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS AN ELEGANT AND PRAGMATIC ADAPTATION TO THE PROGRAM AND IT IS A PROGRAM THAT SHIFTS WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IT SHIFTS BECAUSE WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CHANGING REALITIES OF BUSINESSES, THE CHANGING NEEDS OF EMPLOYEES, THE SHIFTING PRESSURES PLACED UPON OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS, AND IT ADAPTS AND PIVOTS IN REACTION AND THOSE PIVOTS ARE INFORMED BY JUST REALITY.

YOU ARE GOING TO GET MY SUPPORT AND I GOT TO TELL YOU AS I'M SITTING HERE, I'M

[02:30:02]

>> WALSH: I'M SURE THERE'S BEEN SOME. I HAVE -- THE EARLY CONVERSATIONS OF READY TO WORK REMIND ME ABOUT THE EARLY CONVERSATIONS OF PRE-K 4 SA AND GETTING THAT THE PROGRAM OFF THE GROUND. THERE'S A LOT OF

SIMILARITIES IN TERMS OF WE'RE DOING SOMETHING NEW. >> PELÁEZ: SO MARIA -- MARIO WAS IN THE BACK ROOM. I'VE NEVER SEEN LABOR UNIONS, PROJECT QUEST, COPS/METRO AND YOUR GROUP COME TOGETHER AND SAY WE NEED THIS.

AND THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT TO FAIL. THAT, TO ME, VALIDATES THE CERTAINTY THAT I HAVE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO. WITH THAT, MIKE, THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, THANKS TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERSERS AND PLAYERS THAT ARE GATHERED AROUND THE CHESS TABLE HERE AND KEEP ON -- KEEP ON DOING GOD'S WORK.

THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, VERY BRIEFLY, I CONCUR, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WITH COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ THAT, YOU KNOW, AND COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO, THE MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED AND WE DO NEED TO LOOK FORWARD NOW AS TO HOW WE CAN GET THIS PROGRAM TO BE EFFECTIVE. BUT I DO WANT US TO LEARN FROM THIS. I DO WANT US LOOKING FORWARD WHEN WE START THINKING AGAIN ABOUT WHAT SORT OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN. WE NEED TO LEARN FROM WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE AND THINK HARD ABOUT IF GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE A ROLE IN SOME OF THESE THINGS.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? I'LL JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS. YOU KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ TWEAKED THE PHRASE I HEARD A LITTLE EARLIER ABOUT TOO BIG TO FAIL. YOU SAID TOO IMPORTANT TO FAIL. I WOULD TWEAK IT EVEN MORE, THAT THIS ISSUE IS TOO IMPORTANT TO IGNORE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.

YOU ARE RIGHT, THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT IN BIG NUMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM, AND WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM TRYING TO IMPROVE IT AND MAKE SURE IT'S SUCCESSFUL.

I WOULD TAKE THAT ONE STEP FURTHER AND ALSO SAY EVEN IF YOU DON'T REALLY MAYBE WANT IT TO GO TO THIS PARTICULAR DIRECTION, MAYBE HAD SOME OTHER IDEAS FOR USE, LIKE IT OR NOT YOU'RE ON THIS TEAM NOW. I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FOLKS ON THE DAIS, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FOLKS OUT HERE.

BECAUSE THIS ISSUE OF POVERTY AND ECONOMIC SEGREGATION AND GENERATIONAL POVERTY IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY UNLESS WE ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHY I'M EXCITED TO TELL THE STORY OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE CITY WHEREVER I GO. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE PRETTY SHOCKED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN A GOOD WAY. BECAUSE SO MANY COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY GROUSE AND HANG THEIR HEADS ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A HUGE AND GROWING SKILLS GAP AND TALENT GAP IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS ISSUE OF YOU ARE BEEN POVERTY HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT. THE DIFFERENCE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT'S BEEN OUR STORY FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING IN LITTLE WAYS TO DEAL WITH IT. COPS/METRO IS IN THE BACK. THEY WERE PART OF THE EFFORT TO REALLY ESTABLISH A MODEL FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING. IT'S THE BASIS IN MANY WAYS FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. BUT WHAT'S DIFFERENT THAN ANYWHERE ELSE THIS HAS BEEN DONE IS WE'RE DOING AT SCALE. I DO WANT TO CORRECT SOME OF THE COMMENTS I HEARD FROM SOME OF THE COMMENTERS. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT. WE'RE A BROKER, WE'RE A FACILITATOR.

THIS PROGRAM IS RUN BY THE TALENT, THE TALENT THAT'S IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S RUN BY THE EMPLOYERS WHO ARE WILLINGLY PROVIDING GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND WANT TO PROVIDE MORE. AND THIS PROGRAM IS BEING RUN BY THE EXPERIENCED TRAINING PROVIDERS THAT ARE OUT THERE. WE'RE FACILITATING IT.

[02:35:03]

SO I WOULD ALSO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT MIKE AND AMY AND THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM THAT'S FACILITATING THIS PROGRAM, THEY'VE BEEN LEARNING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I MEAN, SOMETIMES I HEAR CONVERSATIONS AS IF THIS PROGRAM JUST STARTED. IT STARTED OVER THREE YEARS AGO, AND THE KINDS OF CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS WE'VE BEEN MAKING ALONG THE WAY ARE PRETTY ASTOUNDING. I WOULD URGE EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC THAT'S INTERESTED IN THIS PROGRAM, REGARDLESS OF YOUR STATION IN LIFE, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH YOUR RESOURCES, GO TO THE READY TO WORK DASHBOARD, TAKE A LOOK AT IT, REFRESH IT EVERY DAY, WHICH I DO, YOU WILL BE HOPEFULLY PLEASED.

WE HAVE 7,070 PEOPLE EVEN CONTROLLED CURRENTLY IN TRAINING OR SOME WHO HAVE PLEAD. ALMOST 1700 TODAY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING AND WE'RE APPROACHING 1,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PLACED IN QUALITY JOBS.

I DON'T WANT TO STOP JUST THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TAKE A DIVE INTO WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE, WHICH I THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR THE PARTICIPANT IN THIS PROGRAM -- I'M SORRY, THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS $15,000 A YEAR. YOU HEARD THE AVERAGE AGE, THAT MEANS THAT THE AVERAGE PARTICIPANT WHO IS A WOMAN OF COLOR IS -- MAY BE RAISING CHILDREN, VERY LIKELY RAISING CHILDREN. WE KNOW THE TRAJECTORY OF THOSE CHILDREN IF THAT CONDITION REMAINS. THE AVERAGE WAGE OF THE PERSON EXITING THIS PROGRAM IS $44,000 A YEAR. SISTER, THANK YOU FOR THE CLAP.

BECAUSE I THINK IT'S WORTHY. BECAUSE YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT FAMILY NOW THAT'S NO LONGER MAKING $15,000 A YEAR IN THE HOUSEHOLD, THE SOLE PARTICIPANT IS NOW MAKING $44,000 A YEAR, HAS A CREDENTIAL THAT ALLOWS FOR CAREER UPWARD MOBILITY. THINK ABOUT THOSE 13 AND WHAT THAT FUTURE LOOKS LIKE -- THOSE CHILDREN AND WHAT THAT FUTURE LOOKS LIKE. WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM EVEN BETTER. BUT IF WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK BACKWARD AND NOT FORWARD AT WHAT THIS PROGRAM'S POWER CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE MISSING THE POINT. I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE FOLKS WHO CAME OUT AND VOTED FOR THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT SAN ANTONIO INVEST IN ITS FUTURE AND BELIEVES IN ITS FUTURE, BUT THAT FUTURE IS VERY HARD WORK. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE ENTIRE COHORT OF TEAM MEMBERS, OR WORKFORCE STAFF, OUR PROVIDERS THAT ARE HERE, THE EMPLOYERS, OVER 5 YOU HAD NOW, HAVE EMPLOYED PEOPLE FROM THIS PROGRAM. YOU ARE MAKING A GENERATIONAL IMPACT ON THIS CITY. I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

I ALWAYS TELL MIKE, KEEP YOUR CHIN UP AND GO BACK AND READ THE MAN IN THE ARENA QUOTE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A HUGE PROGRAM COMPARED TO MANY OTHERS, BUT IT IS A BIG PROGRAM. BUT JUST FOR FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY PINCHING DOWN ON THESE NUMBERS AND WANT TO KNOW THE SPECIFICS, THIS PROGRAM HAS ACCUMULATED $146 MILLION IN REVENUE. ONLY 35 MILLION OF THAT HAS BEEN SPENT.

THE AVERAGE SPEND PER PARTICIPANT IS $6,000. SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE FUNDS HAVE NOT BEEN SPENT. WITHIN THE LAST SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS, WE'VE HIRED, PLACED IN JOBS NEARLY HALF THE TOTAL I JUST READ YOU.

IT IS SHOWING WE CAN IF WE WORK TOGETHER TRANSFORM THE ECONOMIC PRACTICE INJECTER TO OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND GENERATIONS THAT COME AFTER IT.

THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE, WHO ALSO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM IN VARIOUS WAYS. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IT AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WATCH LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY CHANGE. WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 22. PLEASE VOTE.

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: AYE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL GO NOW TO ITEM NUMBER

4. >> CLERK: A PUBLIC HEARING IN CONSIDERATION OF IMPACT FEES INCLUDING UPDATES TO LAND USE ASSUMPTION PLAN, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLANS,

[02:40:04]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ARE YOU WAITING FOR ME? I'M SORRY.

OH, YES, I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THINGS IN ORDER HERE. WHERE IS MY SCRIPT HERE? ONE SECOND. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE HEARING ON ITEM 4 AS READ BY OUR CLERK. FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING, I'LL CALL THEM IN ORDER. WE'LL START WITH THAD RUTHERFORD.

YOU WILL BE -- EXCUSE ME -- FOLLOWED BY CHAD SMITH. >> HI, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 1 BUT WORK IN DISTRICT 3. I'M PART OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I KNOW I HAVE SOME OF MY MEMBERS HERE TODAY.

I'LL BE VERY SHORT. BEFORE I GIVE YOU MY COMMENTS, I WANT TO SAY SINCERE THANKS TO OUR ENTIRE COMMITTEE FOR THIS SAWS STAFF.

THEY PUT A LOT OF TIME IN. CAME FROM A GREAT PLACE. THERE WAS A LOT OF TECHNICAL SPEAK AT TIMES CAN REALLY PUT YOU TO SLEEP, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF PASSION BEHIND SAWS'S STAFF. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO TRACY AND PATRICK AND KEITH AND THE ENTIRE STAFF AT SAWS THAT GOES UNNOTICED, MAYBE IN THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR THAT I WORK IN AS A DEVELOPER AND WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM.

I AM IN THE COMMUNITY BUILDING TYPE OF FEES IS SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY ANTITHESIS BUT I'VE LEARNED A LOT AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE STAFF. I APPRECIATE THE LONG-RANGE PLANNING OF SAWS IN THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION FOR US AS A COMMITTEE. IT'S AN EVEN MORE TOUGH DECISION FOR COUNCIL. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT AND JUST THANK YOU FOR THE PROCESS OF -- TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 3 AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE

COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. JUST TO NOTE, THE HEARING IS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING IMPACT FEES INCLUDING UPDATES TO LAND USE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND IMPACT FEES FOR THE SAN ANTONIO YEAR. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH CHAD SMITH.

YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SUSAN WRIGHT. >> HI, CHAD SMITH.

I WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED TO THE SAWS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE BY DISTRICT 8, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. AND JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THANK YOU TO YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

I'LL ECHO WHAT SOME OF WHAT THAD SAID. IT WAS A LONG PROCESS, TOOK ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AND SAWS'S STAFF AND CONSULTANTS WERE PROFESSIONAL, THE PROCESS THOROUGH AND EXHAUSTED IN DETAIL. THROUGH IT ALL, THE OUTCOME WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS A 123% AVERAGE INCREASE IN IMPACT FEES.

I'M A DEVELOPER, I DEVELOP SINGLE-FAMILY LOTS, THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.

THE LAST TIME SAWS WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS WAS 2019, SO THIS INCREASE IS OVER IMPACT FEES THAT WERE SET FIVE YEARS AGO. WE'VE INCURRED A LOT OF INFLATION IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. FOR THE AVERAGE IMPACT FEE TO ONLY GO UP -- IN MY WORLD WHERE I PUT IN WATERLINES, SEWER LINES, STREETS AND DRAINAGE, I'VE SEEN AVERAGE COSTS GO UP THEY WERE FROM 50 TO 1 HONERS.

I THINK WHATTER DOING IS THE BENEFIT AND THE EFFORT THEY PUT INTO THIS AND THE STAFF AND ALSO ECONOMIES OF SCALE. SO, AGAIN, IT WAS A VERY THOROUGH PROCESS AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO VOTE YES ON THIS ITEM

NUMBER 4. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. SUSAN WRIGHT. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. I'M SORRY, JACK, YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP ON THIS ITEM.

[02:45:01]

[LAUGHTER] TOO BAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS SUSAN WRIGHT. I HAVE BEEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY AND A MEMBER OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR WHAT THEY TOLL ME TODAY IS 20-PLUS YEARS. I HAVE SERVED WITH PASSION ON THIS ISSUE. SERVED AS VICE CHAIR AND HAVE SERVED AS CHAIR DURING THIS LAST CYCLE. I WANTED TO -- WE WILL HEAR FROM MOST OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS. WE ALSO HAVE CASEY HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE IS SPEAKING OR NOT. WE ALSO -- I HAVE TO GIVE MAJOR KUDOS TO SAWS STAFF.

WE WENT FROM A COMMITTEE THAT HAD A LOT OF DISEXPRESS I THINK WHEN WE -- DISTRESS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED AND OUR SAWS TEAM HAS MADE THAT JUST SMOOTH, POSITIVE AND WE CAME WITH A UNANIMOUS DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE. SO I ALSO -- JENNIFER, WHO WAS OUR HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK AND WE COME WITH A UNANIMOUS AND WE HOPE YOU ALL WILL SUPPORT THAT UNANIMOUSLY IN MOVING FORWARD ON THESE IMPACT FEES. WHEN DEVELOPERS AGREE TO CHARGE THEMSELVES THOSE KINDS OF INCREASES AND THEY DO SO WITH PASSION, I THINK THAT THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES, PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE ALL HERE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE LARGE INCREASES, BECAUSE THEY ARE NEEDED. THAT'S IT.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. WRIGHTS. ALL RIGHT. HAVING HEARD EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 4, THE TIME IS 12:00 P.M. ON THE 16TH DAY OF MAY 2024 AND I AM NOW CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL WILL NOW CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING IMPACT FEES. AND SO TO DO THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NO. 4. OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION, BEN? COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, DO YOU WANT THE PRESENTATION?

DOES ANYBODY NEED THE PRESENTATION? >> PELAEZ: I DON'T NEED A PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY MOTION IS THAT WE APPROVE IT WITH THE IMPACT FEES TAKING EFFECT IN JULY INSTEAD OF JUNE.

THAT'S MY MOTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. DO WE NEED AN AMENDMENT OR

CAN WE JUST RESTATE THE MOTION, ANDY? >> SEGOVIA: BEN MAKES CLEAR THERE'S A CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE BEING PRESENTED.

IF BEN CAN MAKE CLEAR THE CHANGES, THEN THE MOTION CAN BE WE ARE APPROVING THE ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED. I THINK IT'S A DATE CHANGE, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT, PART, BEN, AND THEN WE'LL GET TO

DISCUSSION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO THE CHANGE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING WAS THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS GOING TO TAKE EFFECT, OR THE NEW IMPACT FEES WOULD TAKE EFFECT ON JUNE 1 AUDIO] AND SAWS DOES HAVE A PRESENTATION, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH THAT.

THERE WAS A BRIEFING BACK IN APRIL IN B SESSION WHERE THEY BRIEFED YOU ON IT.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS APPROVED THIS ITEM AS WELL AND FORWARDED IT TO YOUR FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. OUR PUBLIC UTILITY STAFF HAS APPROVED THE UPDATE AS WELL AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL AS WELL.

>> PELAEZ: MY MOTION IS TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AFFIRMATION ON THE SECOND. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSION NOW.

I DON'T SEE A QUEUE IN FRONT OF ME. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO READ FROM A NOTE I GOT FROM MY MEMBER WHO SERVES ON THIS COMMITTEE, MICHAEL MOORE.

HE SAID THE CURRENT PROPOSED INCREASE IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE.

WHILE SIGNIFICANT, OUR NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE GROWTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE REVIEW PROCESS WAS CONDUCTED BY SAWS' STAFF IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL AND TRANSPARENT WAY WITH NO QUESTION LEFT UNANSWERED.

HE GOES ON TO SAY I HAVE SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER LOBBYING AGAINST FEES AND COST INCREASES WHICH ALWAYS AFFECT THE FINAL COST OF A NEW HOME OR COMMERCIAL PROJECT. ALTHOUGH I AM UNHAPPY WITH THE PROPOSED INCREASES, I SUPPORT THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE AND HEREBY ASK FOR AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE BY YOU, THE MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS RELY ON THE PEOPLE THAT I ASK TO SERVE ON THESE COMMITTEES TO DO THE JOB TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES AND TO LET ME KNOW HOW THEY PERCEIVE THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE GONE ON. AND I THINK THAT BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD AND WHAT

[02:50:01]

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

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

AGAIN, EMPHASIZING THE FACT THAT THIS PROCESS WAS FAIR AND TRANSPARENT.

I WANTED TO THANK THE INDIVIDUALS WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND KEEPING THE IMPACT FEES LOW WITHIN THE INNER CITY CAN POTENTIALLY HELP US WITH INFILL DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND, AT THE SAME TIME, NOT INCENTIVIZING SPRAWL. REALLY PLEASED WITH WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED AND I ALSO WANTED TO EMPHASIZE, RIGHT, I KNOW WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH SAWS AND WE PUT FORTH A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST ON LATERALS.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR Y'ALL'S PARTNERSHIP ON THAT WORK. I GUESS I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE DATE AND THE JUSTIFICATION FROM JUNE TO JULY. IF SOMEONE CAN CLARIFY WHY IT'S BEING PROPOSED.

I GUESS THE COUNCILMAN'S AMENDMENT TO MOVE THE DATE I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND.

>> MAYOR, VERY SIMPLY IT'S TO ALLOW THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO GET ALL THEIR PAPERWORK IN ORDER TO MEET THE DEADLINE OF THE FEES GOING UP.

SO IT JUST GIVES THEM MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR PROJECTS IN.

>> CASTILLO: THIS WAS COMMUNICATED TO THE BOARD WHEN MAKING THE DECISION?

>> PUENTE: THE BOARD HAS NOT MADE THAT DECISION. THIS COUNCIL MAKES THAT

DECISION. >> CASTILLO: MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT RECEIVED UNANIMOUS APPROVAL THROUGH THE BOARD SO IT HAS GONE THROUGH THE BOARD?

>> PUENTE: YES. >> CASTILLO: BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE MONTH CHANGE

DID NOT. >> PUENTE: CORRECT. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

NEXT COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT LESS DIRECTLY FOCUSED ON THIS ITEM BUT RATHER IN AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH SAWS AND THE -- SURE.

YES. I'VE RECENTLY HAD SOME CONSTITUENT CASES AND ONE REALLY HEAVY ONE THAT WE WERE STRUGGLING WITH FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

I GUESS A COMMITMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE FROM YOU ALL IS THAT WHEN SAWS' CONTRACTORS CAUSED DAMAGE TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OR CAUSED ISSUES FOR RESIDENTS THAT YOU'LL TAKE A MORE DIRECT APPROACH IN REMEDYING THOSE ISSUES.

FOR EXAMPLE, DEBRIS GETTING STUCK IN THE PIPES OF ONE OF MY RESIDENTS.

SHE HAD TO FIND A CONTRACTOR. SHE HAD TO COMMUNICATE QUOTES TO THE SAWS TEAM AND THEY WERE REJECTED. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A $600 QUOTE AND A $2,000 QUOTE MAY BE NOTHING FOR SAWS.

IT'S HUGE FOR MANY OF MY RESIDENTS AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IN THE FUTURE I WANT -- WHENEVER A RESIDENT COMMUNICATES AN ISSUE OR CONCERN WITH WORK THAT SAWS HAS DONE, I WANT YOU GUYS TO TAKE THE ONUS OF REMEDYING THAT.

>> PUENTE: YES, COUNCILMEMBER. YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT AND YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT TO HELP THE CUSTOMER, WHEN IT IS THE FAULT OF CONTRACTOR.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CLAIMS PROCESS BUT WE SURE CAN HELP THEM. PROVIDE THE INFORMATION, PROVIDE THE CONTACT.

ESSENTIALLY HOLD THEIR HAND IN HOW TO MAKE THAT CLAIM AGAINST THE CONTRACTOR.

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

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

AS YOU KNOW, THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED.

OTHER AREAS, SOUTHEAST AREA, SOUTHWEST, WEST SIDE, EAST SIDE.

BUT WE'RE SEEING GROWTH THERE AND WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE IN.

SO BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE CUSTOMERS. SO I THINK THIS IS HARD FOR ME BECAUSE THE FOCUS IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENTS AT MARKET WHERE WE NEED TO RAISE THESE IMPACT FEES.

AND I APPRECIATE THAD COMING HERE AND BEING HERE AND HIS SERVICE TO THE CIAC.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. THOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- MAKE SURE THAT OUR HOUSING -- AND I SEE VERONICA HERE -- IS MONITORING THAT TO SEE IF IT DOES BECOME A HINDRANCE TO OUR AFFORDABILITY THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I THINK MY QUESTION FOR -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE BEN OR ANDY. CAN WE COME BACK AND MAKE AMENDMENTS IF WE SEE THIS IMPACT FEE IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO DO

AFFORDABLE HOUSING? >> PUENTE: THE FIRST ANSWER IS IT IS NOT

[02:55:07]

IT IS NOT THE IMPACT FEE. >> VIAGRAN: I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT ANY RAISE IN RATE, EVENTUALLY OUR HOMEOWNERS ARE GOING TO FEEL THAT. AND IF WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE INTO AFFORDABLE LOW 200 HOMES, AS WE ARE IN THE COUNTY AREA -- LET ME FINISH. AS WE ARE IN THE COUNTY AREA, IT IS GOING TO TRICKLE DOWN TO THEM AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT LESS AFFORDABLE. WE JUST HAD A BIG CONVERSATION ABOUT READY TO WORK. SO IF WE HAVE TO COME BACK

TO AMEND IT, DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT? >> PUENTE: COUNCIL ALWAYS HAS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE OUR RATES. YES, YOU CAN CHANGE OUR

RATES. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I THINK THAT'S MY CONCERN. WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE INTO HOMES.

WE WANT PEOPLE THAT NEED TO DOWNSIZE INTO HOMES IN THE INNER CITY TO FIND THAT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M FOCUSED ON. BEN, I APPRECIATE YOU

WORKING WITH SAWS AND WORKING ON THE JULY DATE. >> COUNCILWOMAN, LET ME POINT OUT THAT THE IMPACT FEE WAIVER PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE WITH SAWS, THAT EXPIRES NEXT YEAR IN 2025. THAT'S A SEPARATE ORDINANCE.

THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS ACTION. BUT VERONICA GARCIA AND HER TEAM ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH SAWS ON THAT UPDATE AND WE MAY BE TWEAKING OR ADJUSTING THAT ORDINANCE AS WE BRING THAT BACK. THAT WILL PROBABLY BE LATER THIS CALENDAR YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR. THAT WOULD ADJUST THE ABILITY TO GRANT WAIVERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA.

>> VIAGRAN: I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET CREATIVE.

AND I APPRECIATE SAWS' WORK. I HAD A TON OF QUESTIONS REGARDING BEXAR MET AND YOUR TEAM PROVIDED THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN DOING THIS WE ARE NOT CAUSING A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE RESIDENTS.

AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREAS -- YOU KNOW THIS, ROBERT -- WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE ON SEPTIC TANKS

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

SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANT TO QUICKLY ECHO MY SUPPORT FOR COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S CCR AIMING TO HELP RESIDENTS IN THEITY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IMPACT FEE WAIVERS WHEN THEY HAVE TO BUILD LATERAL LINES ON THEIR PROPERTY. I DID HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION FOR Y'ALL.

DURING Y'ALL'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WHAT CONCERNS DID Y'ALL HEAR FROM THEM?

>> THEY'RE HERE SO YOU CAN ASK THEM. BUT ESSENTIALLY IT WAS JUST THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE LUAP, WHICH IS THE PLAN FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, DID INCLUDE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY NEEDED TO BE IN THERE, SUCH AS WHERE'S THE GROWTH, WHAT KIND OF GROWTH, WATER/WASTEWATER.

AT THE BEGINNING IT WAS A LOT OF JOSTLING FOR INFORMATION BUT AS WE PROVIDED INFORMATION TO THE CIAC, TO THE COMMITTEE, I THINK THEY STARTED TO UNDERSTAND AND REALIZE THAT THE PROCESS IS THE PROCESS AND WE ARE WHERE WE ARE AND THAT IS A VERY WELL THOUGHT-OUT PLAN FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS ALTHOUGH THIS PARTICULAR FIVE-YEAR PERIOD THAT WE DO IMPACT FEES. BUT THE PLAN ITSELF IS TEN YEARS. THAT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION OF WHERE WE'RE AT. THEY'RE VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THEIR RESPONSE WAS, AS ALMOST ANYONE HAS WHEN YOU RAISE RATES.

RATHER NOT BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY. AND THEN THEY ARE

SUPPORTIVE. >> GAVITO: THAT'S FAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INFORMATION AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

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

I WANT TO THANK ROBERT AND HIS TEAM FOR KEEPING ME UPDATED.

YOU CALL GAVE ME A BRIEFING. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT BEN DOES AND I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THAD FOR BEING HERE AND IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEM.

HE'S BUILDING OUT THE VITA SUBDIVISION IN DISTRICTS 3 AND 4.

ALSO CASEY CIGARROA, WHO IS HERE, SHE IS MY APPOINTEE TO THE CIAC AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER GREAT WORK. ROBERT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS BUT CASEY SENDS ME UPDATES. LIKE EVERY TIME THAT YOU ALL HAVE A MEETING.

SHE SENDS ME THE AGENDA. SHE SENDS ME THE NOTES SO I FEEL VERY INFORMED.

[03:00:02]

I APPRECIATE IT. I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE TODAY. I APPRECIATE THAT WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, IN PARTICULAR IN SOME OF THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND FOR SO LONG. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE AS WELL.

I ALSO AGREE THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S CCR IS INTERESTING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THAT. WE'VE JUST ALWAYS GOT TO BE MINDFUL WHEN THESE FEES RISE THAT THE END USER'S GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE INCREASE COST WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO. BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT AND I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION

THAT WE RECEIVED AND THE COMMENTS TODAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NO. 4?

>> PUENTE: IF I CAN, MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, IF YOU PUT UP SLIDE 11. WE TALKED ABOUT THE COST. HOUSTON HAS THE HIGHEST IMPACT FEES AND THE HIGHEST RATES. BUT THERE'S AN INVERSE.

IF YOU HAVE A LOW IMPACT FEE THAT MEANS YOUR OVERALL RATES ARE LOWER BECAUSE GROWTH PAYS FOR IMPACT FEES. ALL THESE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT YOU SEE OUT IN SOUTHEAST SAN ANTONIO OR ON THE NORTH SIDE, THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS KEEP OUR RATES DOWN. UNDER THESE IMPACT FEES, GROWTH WILL PAY FOR ITSELF.

AND ON THE ISSUE OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS, OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WANT TO BE ON A SEPTIC SYSTEM AND WHEN THEY CAN'T OR THEY DON'T, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THEM ON IT BECAUSE OF THE COST. AND SO IF WE DO THAT, THEN THE REST OF THE CITIZENS HAVE TO PAY -- RATEPAYERS HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT COST. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

BUT ALL IN ALL, APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM AND I APPRECIATE SUPPORT IN NOT HAVING TO GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION OF ABOUT 10 OR 15 SLIDES.

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

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 4.

PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 5. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 5 IS A BRIEFING ON THE ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SAN ANTONIO PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION .

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO IT.

MARIA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> VILLAGOMEZ: YES, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TODAY WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE SAN ANTONIO PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. AS A WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE CURRENT CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE ASSOCIATION IS A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT THAT WAS AWARDED THROUGH ARBITRATION AND IS SAID TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 2024.

AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, AS WE BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS , WE HAVE PROVIDED BRIEFINGS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND WE HAVE MET WITH THE ASSOCIATION A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES.

OUR FIRST MEETING WAS ON MARCH 29 TO TALK ABOUT GROUND RULES AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE HAD SEVEN NEGOTIATION SESSIONS IN THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND MAY.

IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S GOALS FOR THESE NEGOTIATIONS, OUR GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE COMPETITIVE WAGES, TO CONTINUE TO VALUE AND RECOGNIZE THE WORK AND THE EFFORT OF OUR SAN ANTONIO FIREFIGHTERS, TO REMAIN EFFICIENT IN REACHING AN AGREEMENT, AND TO ALSO AGREE TO CONTRACT TERMS THAT ARE CERTAIN AND THAT ARE ALSO AFFORDABLE TO THE CITY. JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE TAKEAWAYS FROM A COMPENSATION SURVEY THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY, OUR SAN ANTONIO FIREFIGHTERS' PAY IS COMPETITIVE AMONG THE TEXAS PEERS BECAUSE OF THE MULTI-LAYER PAY STRUCTURE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. IN THIS STRUCTURE OUR BASE PAY IS RELATIVELY LOW WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE LONGEVITY COMPONENT OF THE PAY IS ONE OF THE -- IS ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE AND WE ALSO HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL AND CERTIFICATION PAYS THAT ARE ABOVE AVERAGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEALTH BENEFITS THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE THE RICHEST IN THE STATE.

IN FACT, MOST OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS OFFER THE SAME HEALTHCARE BENEFITS AS CIVILIANS. AND, FINALLY, OUR PENSION IS THE SECOND HIGHEST IN THE

[03:05:05]

WE ALSO PROPOSE TO MOVE $2400 FROM PREMIUM PAY TO BASE PAY.

AND YOU SEE A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE COMPONENTS OF THOSE CERTIFICATION OR PREMIUM PAYS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO MOVE TO BASE. WE ALSO PROPOSE A CHANGE TO THE OVERTIME TO ADJUST FOR ACTUAL HOURS WORKED. AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CHANGE WILL GO INTO AN INCREASE TO BASE PAY. SO IN ALL, THE COST OVER FIVE YEARS OF THE CITY PROPOSAL OVER A FIVE-YEAR TERM IS $157.8 MILLION.

ON THE UNION PROPOSAL, THEY ALSO PROPOSED AN INCREASE AS TO BASE PAY AS WELL AS INCREASES TO OTHER COMPONENTS OF TOTAL COMPENSATION, INCLUDING OVERTIME PAY, HOLIDAY PAY, PREMIUM PAY, INCREASES TO LEAVE, INCREASES TO WELLNESS INCENTIVES AND HEALTH BENEFITS. MOVING THE CLOTHING ALLOWANCE TO BASE PAY AND ADDING A FOURTH SHIFT THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO 404 NEW FIREFIGHTERS. THE TOTAL COST OVER FIVE YEARS IS $520 MILLION.

HOWEVER, I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE UNION PROPOSAL IS FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM AGREEMENT.

THIS NEXT SUMMARY PROVIDES SPECIFICALLY MORE DETAILS ON THE WAGE PROPOSALS.

ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE WHAT THE CITY IS PROPOSING, BASED ON WHAT I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, IS A 21.6% ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE OVER FIVE YEARS.

AND YOU SEE ON THE TABLE FISCAL YEAR '25 IT IS 5.68. THIS INCORPORATES THE CHANGE WE ARE PROPOSING TO OVERTIME THAT EQUATES TO 1.68%. AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE HAVE A 4% ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERY YEAR. ON THE UNION PROPOSAL, THEIR PARTICULAR WAGE PROPOSAL FOCUSES ON AN ADJUSTMENT THAT EQUATES TO $14,000 OVER THREE YEARS. AND YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT DOLLAR AMOUNTS BEGINNING WITH $7500 IN 2025 FOLLOWED BY $4,000 IN THE SECOND YEAR AND $2500 IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S A REQUEST FOR A 4% ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE EVERY YEAR OF THE THREE-YEAR TERM. SO WHEN WE DO THE CALCULATION OF THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL IN TERMS OF AN INCREASE, IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGES, THE $14,000 INCREASE TO BASE EQUATES OVER THE THREE YEARS TO 18.8%. AND THAT IS THE AVERAGE OVER THE THREE YEARS.

AND THAT RANGE IS BETWEEN A LOW 12.6% FOR SOME OF THE RANKS AND STEPS WITHIN THE PAY PLAN TO A 22.7 INCREASE. AND THEN THE ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE.

SO FOR A TOTAL OF AN AVERAGE OF 30.8% OVER THREE YEARS OF THE PROPOSED TERM.

IN TERMS OF THE COST OF THE UNION PROPOSAL, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IS A TOTAL OF $520 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. AND I'M GOING TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME EXPLAINING WHY WE DID A FIVE-YEAR COST ON THE PROPOSAL. SO THE ASSOCIATION IS PROPOSING A THREE-YEAR TERM.

SO THE THREE-YEAR COST OF THEIR PROPOSAL IS $203 MILLION.

THEY'RE ALSO PROPOSING TO TRANSITION OUR FIRE OPERATIONS THAT EFFECTIVELY ADDS 404 NEW FIREFIGHTERS WHEN IMPLEMENTED.

THEY CALL FOR THIS TRANSITION PLAN TO BE COMPLETED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2027, EFFECTIVELY MAKING THAT ADDITION TO A FOURTH SHIFT IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS AFTER THE CONTRACT HAS EXPIRED. THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE WANTED TO ILLUSTRATE THE COST OF THE CITY MAKING THAT COMMITMENT TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION. AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU SEE THE ADDITIONAL COST IN 2028 AND 2029. IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S PROPOSAL, AGAIN, THE TERM THAT WE PROPOSED IS A FIVE-YEAR PROPOSAL. TO ILLUSTRATE THE COMPARISON BETWEEN OUR PROPOSAL AND THE UNION'S PROPOSAL OVER THREE YEARS, WE ARE ILLUSTRATING THE THREE-YEAR COST OF THE CITY, WHICH IS $62.3 MILLION.

[03:10:06]

THTHIS SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT WHEN THE UNION RECEIVES THE UNION LEAVE PROVIDED BY THE CONTRACT. THAT IS JUST A CLARIFICATION TO THE CURRENT PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE. AND THEN OTHER ITEMS BEING DISCUSSED INCLUDE GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINE, APPLICANT PROCESSING FOR THE CADETS, PROMOTIONS, SICK LEAVE AND VACATION LEAVE, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, AND TERMS AND EVERGREEN OF THE AGREEMENT.

TODAY WE DON'T HAVE ANY FUTURE DATES TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ASSOCIATION. WE HAVE A PROPOSED MEDIATION AND AS A NEXT STEP IN THE BARGAINING PROCESS AND WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE ASSOCIATION.

WITH THAT, MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MARIA. OKAY. THE TIME IS NOW 12:24 P.M.

ON THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024. THE SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087. PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072 AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THE TIME IS 2:56. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN.

OUR A SESSION IS ADJOURNED AND AT 2:56 P.M. WE WILL CONVENE OUR ZONING AGENDA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.