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>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MEETING FOR MAY 20, 2024. WE'LL START WITH THE ROLL CALL.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL START WITH THE EASY STUFF, AND WE WILL START WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 25, 2024. YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM IN YOUR PACKAGE. MAY I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[Approval of Minutes ]
MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. AWESOME.WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM -- ACTUALLY, IF IT'S OKAY WITH MY
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE COLLEAGUE HERE, DISTRICT 7, GAVITO, AND SHE'S ASKED IF WE COULD TAKE UP ITEM 5, SENIOR ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM. IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE OKAY.OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN.
WE'LL GIVE YOU THE FLOOR AND THEN HAVE THE FORMAL PRESENTATION BY MIKE
SHANAHAN. SO THANK YOU. >> ALDERETE GAVITO: PERFECT.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. ONE SECOND. I'M DISAPPEARING.
I'M JUST KIDDING. THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT ITEM AGAIN.
LAST YEAR, MY TEAM AND I IDENTIFIED A SERIOUS ISSUE REGARDING HOW OUR CITY ADDRESSES COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITHIN OUR DISABLED AND SENIOR CITIZEN COMMITTEES. I DEVELOPED AND INITIATED THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT SHOWING THE SAME TYPE OF COMPASSION FOR OLDER ADULTS THAT WE LEARNED GROWING UP WHEN WE ASSISTED NEIGHBORS DOWN THE STREET. I THINK WE ALL HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN HEARTBREAKING STORIES OF OLDER ADULTS AND RESIDENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN YARDS AND THEN BEING CITED FOR IT.
OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS, THIS PROGRAM HAS HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY. IN MY DISTRICT, WE'RE ASSISTING MR. THAT TREVINO WITH REMOVING DEAD TREES LOOMING OVER HIS AND HIS NEIGHBOR'S HOME, AN ACTIVE APPROACH REDUCING INJURY TO RESIDENTS.
I'M OPTIMISTIC WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE WITH REMAINING $35,000 IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE INTENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PREVENTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FROM BEING PUNISHED FOR MINOR CODE ISSUES, SUCH AS TALL GRASS OR FALLEN TREE ON THE PROPERTY, AND I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY WE'VE TAKEN BIG STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I WANT TO THANK MIKE AND HIS TEAM FOR PARTNERING WITH US ON THIS PROGRAM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER TO BRIEF RELIEF TO OUR SENIOR AND DISABLED RESIDENTS LEADING UP TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN.
WE'LL HAVE THE FULL PRESENTATION BY MIKE SHANNON NOW.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
GOOD MORNING. AND, YEAH SO I'LL JUST GO OVER BRIEF UPDATE ABOUT THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT COUNCILWOMAN JUST TALKED ABOUT, BUT OVERALL VERY EXCITED TO BRING THIS TO YOU TODAY.
AS A REMINDER, LAST YEAR DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE, THERE WAS AN APPROVED 1 $1,000 GOING TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM WITH THE INTENT TO HELP PEOPLE WITH CODE POPULATIONS. SO ELDERLY AND DISABLED RESIDENTS IN THE CITY, AND IT PROVIDES REALLY ABATEMENT ASSISTANCE IF THEY HAVE A CODE VIOLATION. NOW, WE LOOKED AT THINGS LIKE OVERGROWN VEGETATION, OUTSIDE PLACEMENT, LAWN AND MAINTENANCE TREE REMOVAL WHEN POSING AH-HA DISCARD. THOSE THINGS.
WE WERE HERE IN NOVEMBER OF '23, WE BRIEFED YOU AND WENT OVER WHAT WE THOUGHT THE PILOT PROGRAM WOULD LOOK LIKE. WE ADVOCATED $10,000 PER COUNCIL DISTRICT, AND AT THAT TIME COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN PLEDGED AN ADDITIONAL 5K IN DISTRICT 3. SO WE CAME UP WITH A SIMPLE ELIGIBILITY AND REVIEW PROCESS. THE REVIEW WAS TO KEEP IT SIMPLE, WE DIDN'T WANT A LOT OF BIG, HAIRY STEPS TO GET IN THE WAY OF THE HELPING PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.
SO WE SAID ELDERLY OR DISABLED, SO SOME SORT OF HARDSHIP, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, SO MAYBE FIXED INCOME, WE RUN INTO THAT QUITE A BIT, SINGLE FAMILY REZ DENSES, MAYBE DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, QUAD, IT COULD BE TENANT AND/OR PROPERTY OWNER, AND THEN WHAT WE CREATED WAS A SIMPLE INTAKE REQUEST FORM, IT WAS VERY
[00:05:02]
SIMPLE, WE DIDN'T WANT A REALLY BIG APPLICATION PROCESS THAT WOULD TAKE WEEKS AND WEEKS TO REVIEW, BUT SIMPLE AND BASIC, AND WE SAID WE WOULD LIMIT TWICE A YEAR PER HOUSEHOLD IF WE RAN INTO THAT SITUATION. AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN -- SO THINK, OUR CODE OFFICER GOES UP AND GETS CALLED OUT OR STOPS, WE FIND A CODE VIOLATION, BUT WE ACTUALLY TALK TO THE RESIDENT OR THE RESIDENT HEARS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, WE ACTUALLY JUST ASKED THEM TO FILL OUT THE FORM.WE WILL REVIEW IT. I HAVE STAFF, NOT ONLY OUR CODE STAFF, WE HAVE ONE OF OUR MAIN PERSONNEL THAT COORDINATES THESE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR US IS HERE, SO WE CONFIRM THERE'S A CODE VIOLATION, AND THEN REALLY ALL WE DO IS WORK WITH THE CITY CONTRACTOR TO FIX IT. WE ABATE IT. WE PAY THE CONTRACTOR, AND VERY KEY IS WE DON'T ISSUE A CITATION, AND WE DO NOT BUILD A RESIDENT FOR THOSE ABATEMENT SERVICES, SO REALLY A TREMENDOUS PROGRAM. SO IN JUST A FEW MONTHS -- HERE ARE THE RESULTS AS JUST EARLIER THIS MONTH, MAY 9, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE HELPED OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HELPING 58 HOUSEHOLDS, S, SO 48 INDIVIDUAL, HAVE ABOUT $35,000 LEFT.
WE DO BREAK IT DOWN RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN SEE. DISTRICT 2, 3, AND 5, RAN OUT OF MONEY, WE SPENT THAT MONEY ALREADY. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE BALANCE THERE IN THE RED FOR THOSE THREE DISTRICTS, SO SOMETHING WE LEARNED IN THE PILOT PROGRAM, WE HAD SOME MONEY LEFT OVER, THE REMAINING BALANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THOSE DISTRICTS, BUT WE RAN INTO A RESIDENT THAT NEEDED HELP, AND INSTEAD OF SAYING NO, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH, WE WENT A LITTLE OVER, HOWEVER WE'RE STILL UNDERBUDGET IN THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WATCH AS WE CONTINUE THE PROGRAM AND IF WE DO CONTINUE IT IN THE YEARS THAT COME.
BUT YOU CAN SEE, SOME DISTRICTS, WE RUN INTO IT MORE THAN OTHERS, QUICKER THAN OTHERS, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY SEE AND REPORT AT THE END WHEN WE RUN THROUGH ALL THE MONEY. SO JUST AN EXAMPLE QUICKLY, THERE'S THE 37 HOUSEHOLDS THAT ALREADY RECEIVED IT, WE HAVE SOME IN QUEUE, WE HAD 11 IN QUEUE AT THIS TIME.
AND YOU CAN SEE SOME BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS. I THINK THAT RIGHT THERE WAS IN DISTRICT 7. BUT, AGAIN, OUTSIDE TRASH AND DEBRIS, THEY NEEDED SOME HELP GETTING RID OF A LOT OF THAT STUFF, SO WE PAID A CONTRACTOR TO CLEAN THAT UP, GET RID OF OVERGROWN VEGETATION AND ABATE THAT CODE VIOLATION SO, AGAIN, WE'RE ALSO TRACKING THE TYPES OF WORK WE'RE DOING. SO YOU CAN SEE TREE TRIMMING, REMOVAL, 18 OUTSIDE PLAC PLACEMENT OVERGROWN WEEDS, TRASH AND DEBRIS, SO THAT MAKES UP THE 48. THAT'S NOT SURPRISING. I WILL TELL YOU, SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE LEARNING, SO THESE ARE LESSONS LEARNED IN THE PILOT, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WE THOUGHT; RIGHT? WE ORIGINALLY CAME TO YOU AND THOUGHT WE MIGHT GET A COUPLE HUNDRED CASES, MAYBE $500 A POP, WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE MORE THAT WERE MORE EXPENSIVE. SOME LEFT, REALLY WHAT WE'RE FINDING, THE TREE REMOVAL ONE, THOSE GET INTO THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS QUICKLY, SO OUR AVERAGE COST IS HIGHER, AND THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF IT, NOT SURE HOW THAT WILL WORK MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE'RE JUST TRACKING THAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT. WE ARE LEARNING, OF COURSE, SOME AREAS IN DISTRICTS ARE USING UP THE ALLOCATED FUNDS QUICKER, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY PUSHED OUT WITH THE HELP OF NOT ONLY DISTRICT 7'S OFFICE BUT SOME OF YOUR OFFICES AS WELL WAS GETTING THIS PROGRAM OUT TO PEOPLE, WHETHER IT BE VIRTUAL, ELECTRONIC, SENIOR CITIZENS, HEART PAMPHLETS, ET CETERA, BUT WE COULD USE MORE COMMUNICATION OF THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE THROUGH A LOT OF QUESTIONS, WE'RE PUSHING IT OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BUT IF WE RUN OUT WITH THIS PILOT PROGRAM, IF WE CHOOSE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE'LL WORK FOR ADDITIONAL METHODS FOR THAT. SO WE'LL CONTINUE THROUGH F FY24 UNTIL THESE ARE EXPENDED AND AS COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED TALK ABOUT IT IN
THE BUDGET. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I'LL START OFF BY THANKING MY COLLEAGUE GAVITO FOR HER WORK. THERE WAS A GREAT MODEL OF A PROGRAM THAT WE MODELED THIS AFTER, SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS, THEY'RE VERY POPULAR WITH OUR SENIORS, AND IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE OF THIS, AND I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WILL SAY ADDITIONAL THINGS IN A LITTLE BIT. SLIDE 4 IS TELLING.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY TIMES I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT MY DISTRICT IS IN THE RED, BUT THAT SHOWS THERE'S A NEED, AND WE'VE SPENT IT, AND WE STILL HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE CALLING AND ASKING FOR HELP, AND THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM EXISTS, AND SO I'M HAPPY THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL -- THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO
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COMMUNICATE, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GOING TO BE ADVOCATING FOR ANOTHER ROUND TO SUPPORT BECAUSE THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF DISTRICTS IN NEED. I KNOW 2, 5, AND 4 WERE ALREADY OVER, AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE HOW WE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE THE REST OF THAT FUNDING. AND THEN SLIDE 6 IS ACTUALLY A HOME IN MY DISTRICT, AND THERE'S A RESIDENT IN MY DISTRICT, SHE'S A SENIOR WHO'S A WIDOW, A LARGE YARD, AS YOU CAN SEE, AND SHE'S ON HER OWN, ON A FIXED INCOME, AND SO THIS PROGRAM HAS OBVIOUSLY MADE A WORLD OF A DIFFERENCE, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS OUT THERE THAT TRY TO HELP, BUT I FEEL LIKE SHE SEES HOPE FROM THE CITY, RIGHT, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THEM. SO I REALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO FOR HER TEAM AND SPEARHEADING THIS. I'LL START OFF WITH COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE BECAUSE HE'S GOT A HARD STOP FOR TASK FORCE.SO COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: YES.
THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM, AND I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN USED AS MUCH IN EVERY DISTRICT. I'M WONDERING, AT THE END OF THIS PARTICULAR CYCLE, IF EVERYTHING THAT WAS UNEXPENDED IN DIFFERENT OFFICES COULD BE POOLED TOGETHER WITH WHATEVER ELSE THE COUNCIL ADDS TO THAT AND THEN REDIVIDED SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T GO AWAY, THAT IT'S CONTRIBUTING TO THE SAM OVERALL PROJECT, JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NEED THAT MONEY IN OUR DISTRICT, IF YOU NEED IT MORE IN YOURS OR IN YOURS, WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE THAT, SO THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION, IS THAT THE MONEY NOT USED GO INTO A POOL AND ALL BE REDIVIDED SO THAT THERE'S MORE MONEY FOR THOSE AREAS THAT MAY NEED IT MORE IMMEDIATELY THAN OUR OWN.
NOT TO SAY THAT MY DISTRICT AND EVERY DISTRICT WON'T GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE NEXT ALLOCATION, BUT THAT'S ONE THING THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND SO NO PARTICULAR DISTRICT LOSES OUT ON THE WORK NEEDED IN OUR DISTRICT. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM, SO I'D BE SUPPORTING THE CONTINUATION. THANK YOU.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE SAID. THE DISTRICTS NOT UTILIZING OR NOT HELPING GETTING IT OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, IF WE COULD REDUCE THAT BUDGET AMOUNT TO MAYBE $5,000 SO WE COULD POOL FOR THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE PENDING PROJECTS OR WENT OVER, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S WHY I COMMITTED TO GIVE $5,000 MORE BECAUSE I KNEW MY DISTRICT AND I STILL HAD -- JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND I GOT ANOTHER SENIOR THAT NEEDS HELP, AND I'VE ALREADY GOT TWO PENDING, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, 2, 4, AND 5, THEY GOT OUT OF THE GATE AND KNEW THEIR NEEDS AND WERE ABLE TO SPEND, BUT OUR DISTRICTS ARE SO LARGE, THERE'S SO MANY IN NEED, I THINK IF IT'S NOT BEING USED UNTIL THE NORTHERN DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY DON'T MEET REQUIREMENTS, NOT CUT THEM OUT COMPLETELY, BUT DO A $5,000, AND THEN SEE WHAT WE CAN PULL LATER, HAVE A RESERVE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT, AND THE OTHER IS LEVERAGING THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH GONZALEZ MOW PROGRAM, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD WORK WITH TOO, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE GET MORE PARTNERS OUT THTHERE THAT WANT TO BE PART OF THIS. NO, EXCELLENT JOB. I'M EXCITED THAT THERE WAS A NEED, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE 365, AND I'M LIKE IT'S GONE, I KNOW IT, BUT THAT'S THE ONE GOOD THING -- IF WE COULD POOL THAT MONEY AND MAYBE SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW, 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, START WITH $5,000, AND THEN WE HAVE THE POOL MONEY, AND THEN WE START PULLING FROM THAT POOL OF MONEY AS MORE PEOPLE BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO FOR THIS PROGRAM THAT'S VERY NEEDED AND TO INGRID AND OUR COLD COMPLIANCE OFFICERS THAT ARE SURE TO MENTION AT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS THAT THEY QUALIFY WHEN FOLKS ARE EXPRESSING CONCERNS.
I BELIEVE GOING INTO THIS PILOT, RIGHT, WE SAW IT -- WE SAW AN EQUAL APPROACH, BUT I SEE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECALIBRATE FOR EQUITABLE APPROACH. WE KNOW WHERE THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF COLD COMPLIANCE CONCENTRATIONS ARE, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT EVIDENT WITH THE DATA WITH THE DISTRICTS MAXED OUT ON THEIR FUNDS, SO I AM -- WHAT COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE IS PROPOSING, CREATING A POOL THAT
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DISTRICTS MAXED OUT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BUT STILL ALLOWING ACCESS TO DISTRICTS THAT MAY NOT NEED IT NOW BUT MAY COME ACROSS A SENIOR THAT DOES NEED ACCESS TO ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU, CHAIR.[Consent Agenda ]
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MIKE, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
WE'LL MOVE ON, IF IT'S OKAY WITH MY COLLEAGUES NOW TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM 6, THAT WAY WE DON'T LOSE QUORUM, AND SO THAT IS THE AGREEMENT WITH SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST FOR AN AMOUNT OF UP TO $2,535,000 FOR THE ACQUISITION OF APPROXIMATELY 1.57 ACRES. 811 WEST HOUSTON. MAY I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED IN ANY ABSTENTIONS IN MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO MOVE THROUGH ALL OF THESE. WE WILL GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER 2, WHICH IS THE
[Public Comment ]
PLANTS FOR THE ONE AT LARGE BOARD SEAT TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD, AND SO WE'LL START OFF WITH PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT ITEM, AND DEWANE NELSON IS HERE. AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL. I LIVE AT 510 TEXAS POINT.
I'M THE CHAIR POINT FOR THE SAN ANTONIO BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD.
WHILE IN DISTRICT 9, I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT SERVING THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. A RETOR CAL QUESTION. PUBLIC SERVICE VERSUS FRUSTRATION, WHICH IS THE WORD AND WHICH IS THE DEFINITION.
FOR MONTHS I'VE BEEN FRUSTRATED ON RELIANCE OF THE TEXAS UNIVERSITY PAPERWORK ON THE OVERRELIANCE OF DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS IN SAN ANTONIO, MORE FRUSTRATING IS BECAUSE THAT SO-CALLED FACT PAPER IS NOT FACT CHYLE. LAST WEEK I WATCHED A NEWS REPORT ON THE STRUCTURES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT TOOK TOO LONG TO BE DEMOLISHED. THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS FRUSTRATED.
WHICH IS THE WORD, AND WHICH IS THE DEFINITION. THERE'S SOME FACTS THE COUNCIL MUST CONSIDER WITH CITIZEN ISSUES ON DEMOLITION.
DELAP STATED STRUCTURES ARE DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE BUILDING, BUT POTENTIALLY THE DIGIT TO DANGER TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT INCLUDES THE -- THIS IS BECAUSE THE DELAP DATED STRUCTURE COULD BE A DANGER TO KIDS WHO HAVE THE PROPENSITY TO EXPLORE.
IT'S INSPECTEDDED BY A CODE OFFICER. HIS OR HER REPORT HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY HIS OR HER SUPERVISOR BEFORE THE BUILDING COMES BEFORE THE BOARD. OTHER STANDARDS HAVE ALSO REVIEWED THE CASE.
THE BUILDING EXTENDERS BOARD IS THE LAST CHANCE FOR DELAP DATED STRUCTURE. THEY COLLECTIVELY PRESENT BUILDINGS TO THE BOARD. THE PRESENTATION COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO REPAIR OR DEMOLISH. THE BOARD MAKES THE FINAL DECISION WITHOUT ANY INFLUENCE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF.
A PROPERTY OWNER IS GIVEN ADVANCED NOTICE OF THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD HEARING. GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE BOARD AND GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WITNESSES.
THE BOARD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE WITNESSES. THE BOARD COLLECTIVELY MAKES THE DECISION OF REPAIR OR DEMOLITION, IF SOMEONE WERE TO DO RESEARCH ON THE DECISIONS OF THE BOARD OVER 90% OF THE DECISIONS BY THE BOARD ARE UNANIMOUS. THE BOARD DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF AT ALL TIMES.
WE VOTED TO REPAIR WHEN THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO DEMOLISH.
WE HAVE VOTED TO DEMOLISH WHEN THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPAIR. THE BOARD IS INDEPENDENT OF THE STAFF.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE BOARD BY THE COUNCIL IS DIVERSE.
MEMBERSHIP IS DESIGNED BY THE COUNCIL TO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS REPRESENT THE HEAVYWEIGHT OF AN AT-LARGE MEMBER.
LET'S LOOK AT ME AS A PUBLIC SERVICE. HOW DO I LOOK AT A CASE? ONE, IT'S A HOME OR A BUSINESS TO SOMEONE. TWO, IT'S ON THE TAX ROLE, IT CREATES INCOME TO THE CITY, TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, TO THE COUNTY, TO OTHER ACTIVITIES.
WHAT'S THE CONDITIONING OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE WALLS, OF THE WINDOWS, OF THE ROOF? THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF A BUILDING?
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, MR. NELSON. >> THREE MINUTES.
LET ME WRAP UP REALLY QUICK BECAUSE THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN IT IS TO ME. PUBLIC SERVICE VERSUS FRUSTRATION.
WHICH IS THE WORD, WHICH IS THE DEFINITION. IT DAWNED ON ME BEFORE I CAME IN THAT YOU GUYS AND GALS ARE ALL PUBLIC SERVICES.
WORSE THAN THAT YOU'RE ELECTED PUBLIC SERVANTS. WE DEMAND PERFECTION -- YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THEREFORE, PUBLIC SERVANT VERSUS FRUSTRATION. FRUSTRATION IS THE WORD. THE DEFINITION IS PUBLIC SERVICE. TO EACH OF YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
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PUBLIC SERVICE. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE FOUR FOLKS THAT HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR APPLICATION, OF THOSE, WE HAVE TWO WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK IS JOSE ASSESS HERE? OKAY.
NOT HERE. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT TROY SUMMERS? NOT HERE. OH. TROY SUMMERS WITH DREW.
OKAY. PERFECT. WESLEY JONES HAS A STATEMENT. AND SO DO YOU WANT TO START WITH THE WRITTEN STATEMENT THEN? OR DO WE HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT?
OH, WE DO. OKAY. >> GREETINGS, BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD BE PROUD TO SERVE ON THE BUILDING STANDARD BOARD IF I'M SELECTED. TO HELP MAKE YOUR DECISION, HERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT ME. I'M UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING TODAY AS I HAVE MULTIPLE APPOINTMENTS, UNABLE TO MOVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS. I'M A DISABLED VETERAN OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, SERVED IN THE MARINE CORP. AS A CHILD, I LIVED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND CHOSE SAN ANTONIO TO CALL HOME.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF MY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, AND I OWN MY OWN BUSINESS AS A HOME INSPECTOR. I'M VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION. HOMES ARE MY LIFE AND LIVELIHOOD, I ENJOY WORKING IN AND ON BUILDINGS AND HOPE TO CONTINUE MAKING THIS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. PLEASE FORGIVE MY
ABSENCE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU, CLERK.
WHEN HE WILL GO MOVE TO ROBERT VENKE. ARE YOU HERE? WONDERFUL. YOU'LL HEAR TWO MINUTES TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF, LET US KNOW WHY YOU'RE INTERESTED AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE WITH QUESTIONS. SO WELCOME. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS ROBERT BINKY.
I'M A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR 150 YEARS. I FOCUS ON REAL ESTATE FOR MY LIVING.
I'VE BEEN A LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENT, GENERAL CONTRACTOR, DEVELOPMENTER, MY LICENSES REMAIN IN GOOD STANDING.
WE'VE WORKED FROM THE LONE STAR DISTRICT, WOODLAND LAKE, I'VE COVERED A GOOD AREA IN THE CITY, AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT.
WE'VE REHAND A LOT OF THE OLD HOMES, BUILT A LOT OF NEW HOMES, THERE'S NOT MUCH WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE IN PARTICULAR. ROBERT E LEE GRADUATE AND UTSA GRADUATE, AND I STAY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, HELPING OUT, WE JUST HAD A ( INDISCERNIBLE ) FOR CHILDREN GOLF AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO I TRY TO GIVE BACK AS WELL. SO, YEAH, MAIN FOCUS BEING I DO THIS EVERY DAY FOR A LIVING, ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE, SO THANK YOU, GUYS FOR YOUR
TIME. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. WE'LL START WITH QUESTIONS. I HAVE THE FIRST QUESTION.
SOME OF THE CASES THAT COME TO YOU ALL AND INVOLVE FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES. WHAT WILL GUIDE YOUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AS IT PERTAINS TO ORDERS TO VACATE, DEMOLISH OR
REPAIR. >> I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A FINE BALANCE ON THINGS LIKE THAT. I KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE IN LOWER INCOME SITUATIONS, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELOCATOR DEMOLISHING A HOME WOULD NOT BE A GOOD CHOICE SO IT WOULD BE CASE BY CASE AND HOW ANALYZING THAT, TOOK
THAT IN AND THEN GAVE IT A DECISION FROM THERE. >> ROCHA GARCIA: ARE THERE ANY CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO THE PROCESS THAT YOU WOULD BRING WITH YOU TO THE BOARD.
>> I'VE GONE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT, AND I'VE GONE THROUGH REZONING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I COULD PROBABLY MAKE A HANDFUL OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF MAYBE TRYING TO STREAMLINE THOSE ITEMS AND MAKING IT EASIER ON A CONTRACTOR OR HOMEOWNER TO GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS AS NEEDED. GOOD QUESTION, THANK YOU.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: AND PART TWO OF THAT QUESTION WOULD BE HOW YOU REMOVED BARRIERS, SO I'M GLAD YOU STARTED WITH IT. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE NOTICES, MEETING TIMES, AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN GENERAL, AND HOW YOU WOULD MAKE IT EASIER WITH RESIDENTS WITH VIOLATIONS TO
UNDERSTAND. >> HAVING GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, OBVIOUSLY, NOT JUST SLAPPING A NOTICE ON THEIR DOOR IF THEY'RE IN VIOLATION, HAVING SOMEBODY REACH OUT, MAKE A PHONE CALL, EXPLAINING WHAT'S GOING ON. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THIS RED NOTICE ON MY DOOR, WHAT DID I DO WRONG? IT'S SOMEWHAT CLEAR-CUT, NOT ALWAYS, AND THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE, SO MAYBE HAVING SOME COMMUNICATION VIA PHONE CALL OR SOMETHING WHERE THEY COULD ASK QUESTIONS MIGHT HELP.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.
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MANY HOMES THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO WERE BUILT IN THE 1960S, WOULD YOU EVALUATE HOMES BASED OFF OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT.>> ABSOLUTELY. I'M A HISTORIC HOMES SPECIALIST SO I APPRECIATE THEM FROM COOL STAINED GLASS, FRONT DOORS, TO OLD PITCH LINES, FUN STUFF THEY DON'T DO ANYMORE, SO ABSOLUTELY, I WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. 100%.
>> CASTILLO: GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. COUNCILWOMAN VYIING A GRAN. DIE DIE DO YOU HAVE THE TIME TO ATTEND MEETING?
WILL YOU MAKE THE TIME? >> NOT A PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE I OWN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS. I'M ABLE TO SCHEDULE IN ADVANCE.
A COUPLE HOURS A FEW TIMES A MONTH. I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FOR YOUR INTEREST. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT INTERVIEW, AND THAT'LL BE JOHN BONIZ. IS HE HERE?
>> WE'VE GOTTEN, LIKE, MORE THAN HALF THE AGENDA WAS DONE BEFORE 15 MINUTES. I'M SO PROUD. HI, YOU HAVE -- DID I SAY TWO MINUTES OR THREE MINUTES? TWO MINUTES TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST IN YOUR PERMISSION.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ME HERE THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS JOHN, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME, I'M BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, DEPARTMENT GROW UP TOO FAR FROM HERE, AND IN AN OLD DELAP DATED HOME THAT WOULD BE ON THE DEMOLITION LIST, BUT THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW.
I WAS BORN HERE, RAISED HERE, LEFT FOR COLLEGE AND GOT MY DEGREE IN KINESIOLOGY AND EDUCATION. WORKED IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR FIVE YEARS, AND THEN MOVED TO THE CORPORATE WORLD, DID THAT FOR FIVE MORE YEARS AND MANAGING BUSINESSES, AND THEN WHEN I WAS 33 DECIDED TO OPEN UP MY OWN BUSINESS, A RESIDENTIAL, REMODSELLING AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, SO I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH REMODELING, CONSTRUCTION, CITY CODES, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH CITY SERVICES, PULLING PERMITS AND THOSE THINGS.
SO MY KNOWLEDGE AND MY EDUCATION IN WHAT STANDARDS SHOULD BE FOR HOMES IS -- YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT VERY, VERY WELL.
LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN RUNNING THAT BUSINESS NOW FOR SIX YEARS HERE, AND I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EXTRA TIME NOW TO COMMIT TO GIVING BACK TO THE CITY, AND I CHOSE THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARDS BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M KNOWLEDGEABLE ON, AND I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY AND SERVE ON THIS BOARD, AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND ALL OF THESE MEETINGS, SO MY COMMITMENT IS TO ATTEND EVERY MEETING, THAT WAY WE ALWAYS MEET A QUORUM, AND I WILL NEVER MISS A MEETING. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I SIT ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS. I WAS ELECTED LAST YEAR AS AN ALTERNATE.
I'VE STILL BEEN ABLE TO SERVE FOR 9 MEETINGS, SO MY COMMITMENT TO THE CITY AND SO THIS BOARD IS THERE. MY BACKGROUND AND MY KNOWLEDGE IN RESIDENTIAL REMODELING AND CONSTRUCTION IS THERE, AND I THINK I'D BE AN IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION. I POLITELY
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU.
WE'LL START WITH QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE, AND SO I'LL START. SOME OF THE CASES THAT YOU ALL WILL HAVE INVOLVE SOME FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES.
WHAT WILL GUIDE YOUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AS IT PERTAINS TO --
ORDERS TO VACATE, DEMOLISH, OR REPAIR. >> RIGHT.
SO GROWING UP FROM A STRUGGLING FAMILY, I UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS SOMETIMES TO REPAIR HOMES, AND TO COME UP FOR THE MONEY WITH THOSE THINGS, THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH I SAW EARLIER, A GREAT PROGRAM THAT HELPS OUT PEOPLE. BUT PEOPLE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, IT COSTS A LOT, IT'S NOT CHEAP, ESPECIALLY WHEN TALKING THOSE THINGS, FOUNDATIONS, ROOFS, STRUCTURAL ISSUES ARE EXPENSIVE. I THINK THE FIRST SHOULD TRY TOO IS HELP SOMEONE BECAUSE THAT HOME IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. YEP?
>> ROCHA GARCIA: WE'VE LOST A QUORUM, SO WE HAVE TO TAKE A MOMENT, I'M SORRY.
>> OKAY. >> ROCHA GARCIA: YOU CAN CONTINUE.
GO AHEAD. >> OKAY. YES, MA'AM.
LIKE I SAID, WHEN A FAMILY IS STRUGGLING, THOSE BURDENS TO FIX HOMES, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE BURDENS ARE NOT CHEAP.
[00:30:04]
THOSE ARE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE. THEY NEED A PLACE TO LIVE. I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO IS FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ASSIST THEM. GET THEM BACK TO PAR, FIGURE OUT WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE, TO BE SAFE, I DON'T THINK FAMILIES SHOULD BE REMOVED, BUT IF IT'S DANGEROUS TO THE FAMILY, THAT'S THE OTHER ISSUE, BY KEEPING THAT FAMILY IN THERE, IS IT A DANGER TO THE KIDS, THE SENIOR, WHOEVER IS IN THE HOME, SO THAT'S NOT A BLACK AND WHYTE QUESTION, EACH ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE BASED ON THE SITUATION. THE -- WHAT THE HOME IS IN, IT'S IN RIGHT NOW.IF IT'S DANGEROUS AND IT'S GOING TO FALL IN, THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT ON THE OTHER END, HOW DO WE HELP THESE PEOPLE, NOT JUST REMOVE THEM AND DEMOLISH THEM. SO IT'S NOT BLACK AND
WHYTE. IT'S CASE BY CASE. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU.
WOULD THERE BE ANY CHANGES YOU PROPOSE TO THE CURRENT PROCESS.
>> NO. I THINK THE PROCESS WORKS VERY WELL THE WAY IT IS NOW. NO. I LIKE THE WAY THE PROCESS IS.
>> AND HOW DO YOU THINK WE COULD REMOVE BARRIERS TO THE PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS. DO YOU THINK THAT THE NOTICES OR MEETING TIMES OR DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES ARE EASY FOR RESIDENTS WITH
VIOLATIONS TO UNDERSTAND CURRENTLY? >> WELL, THE NOTICES ARE ON THE DOOR; RIGHT? AND THEY'RE PUTTING P PACKETS ON THE DOOR THAT DESCRIBE SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PROPERTY.
I THINK ANOTHER THING IS A LOT OF THESE ARE VACANT, SO THESE PEOPLE ARE NEVER SEEING THE NOTICES, THESESE PEOPLE ARE DECEASED, THERE'S NO HEIRS, OR WE'RE NOT ABLE TO FIND THEM TO LET THEM KNOW, MOM AND DAD'S HOUSE IS ON THE DEMO LIST, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO ABOUT IT.
AND THAT'S A BIG THING, A LOT ARE VACANT, NOBODY IS IN IT.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A BETTER PROCESS IN ORDER TO FIND WHO'S THE NEXT OF KIN OR NEXT OF HEIR, THAT WAY MAYBE THEY COULD STEP IN AND SALVAGE AND SAVE THE PROPERTY AND WE GET A FAMILY IN THERE.
SO THE NOTICES ARE ON THE DOOR. IF YOU LIVE IN THE HOUSE, YOU'LL KNOW. YOU'LL KNOW. THEY'RE PUT ON THERE, YOU GET SEVERAL NOTICES BEFORE. YOU KNOW WHERE THE MEETINGS ARE, YOU KNOW THE DAYS, YOU KNOW THE TIME, I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS WHEN THE HOUSES ARE VACANT, HOW DO WE FIND NEXT OF KIN AND OTHER PEOPLE TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE HOUSE, SO I
THINK THAT COULD BE IMPROVED. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST OBSERVING ON THE BOARD, MANY HOMES HAD WERE WITH BUILT BEFORE 1960, SO WHEN EVALUATING CASES WILL YOU CONSIDER THE
HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE STRUCTURE. >> YES, OF COURSE, IF IT'S IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO.
YOU KNOW, WE DO THE SAME THING WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO REMODEL HOMES, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS WITH HISTORIC CONSERVATION.
SO IF IT'S IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, A HOME, BEING ABLE TO GET THEIR INPUT AND IF WE ARE GOING TO SALVAGE THE HOME, IT SHOULD BE BUILT BACK TO THE HISTORIC STANDARDS IF IT'S IN THAT DISTRICT, YES.
THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION ABOUT ATTENDANCE, THAT'S KEY, AND SO I'M GLAD YOU GAVE THE COMMITMENT TO MAKE THE TIME AT THE MEETINGS. I THINK IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE GRAVITY OF THE DECISION THAT BUILDING AND STANDARD BOARD MAKES IS YOU OPERATE AND IT COULD IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES. SO WHAT ABOUT RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE STRUCTURE OR WANTING TO MOVE IN, DO YOU HAVE IDEAS ON
THAT OR HOW TO HELP THEM? >> SO YOU'RE SAYING IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T LIVE IN THE HOME AND THEY WANT TO MOVE IN.
>> VIAGRAN: THEY LIVE IN THE HOME OR THEY'RE TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE HOME.
>> OKAY. YEAH. GET BACK INTO IT.
SO LIKE I SAID, WE SHOULD TRY TO SALVAGE THESE HOMES IF WE CAN.
PEOPLE NEED HOMES, WE HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE, IT'S IMPORTANT WE TRY TO SAVE THEM BEFORE DEMOING THEM. NOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME HOMES THAT ARE JUST FALLING APART, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU -- SOMEONE WHO IS NOT EDUCATED IN CONSTRUCTION CAN LOOK AT SOME HOMES AND SAY, OKAY, THAT'S NOT A SAFE STRUCTURE, RIGHT, WE KNOW THAT, BUT IF SOMEONE IS LIVING IN THE HOME AND THEY WANT TO GET BACK IN THE HOME IF THEY'RE IN THE HOME AND IT'S A DANGER TO ANYONE IN THE HOME, AN IMMEDIATE DANGER, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PERSON FIRST OR THE PEOPLE FIRST. IF THEY WANT TO GET BACK IN THE HOME AND WE CAN SALVAGE THE HOME, I THINK WE CAN DO THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO FIND WHETHER IT'S ASSISTANT PROGRAMS, I REMEMBER THERE WAS AN UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S STILL GOING ON, BUT PROGRAMS LIKE THAT TO USE FUNDS TO GET THESE HOUSES BACK WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND GET FAMILIES IN THEM. OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO SAVE AS MANY HOMES AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS MAKING SURE ROOF WILL NOT FALL IN ON ANYONE. YES, MA'AM.
[00:35:03]
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. THE TIME IS NOW 10:34:00 A.M. O, MAY 20, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS RECESSING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO AS
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THE TIME IS NOW 10:56 ON MONDAY, MAY 20, AND WE'LL NOW CONVENE IN OPEN SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT RECOMMENDATION AT THE FIRST AVAILABLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ACT ON RAMIFICATIONS.
>> I CHAIR TO RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING PLANT BE FORWARDED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL. ROBERT BENKE FOR THE AT LARGE SEAT.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THERE'S A MOTION AND IS A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR.
THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL TO BOTH PLA APPLICANTS.
WE'LL BE FORWARDING THE RECOMMENDATIONS. THANK YOU, ALL, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 3, BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY AREA PLAN, AND THAT -- YAY. PERFECT.
SO ARE WE -- WE'RE TAG TEAMING THIS, I SEE MULTIPLE PEOPLE GETTING UP. NO. THEY'RE LEAVING.
SORRY, IT'S ALL YOURS. >> THANK YOU. AS NOTED ON YOUR AGENERAL DARKS I'LL BE BRIEFING ON TWO DRAFT PLANS, THE EAST SIDE PLAN, AND THE TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO AREA REGIONAL PLAN.
THESE WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR ADOPTION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME. I'LL INTRODUCE OPTIONS FROM BOTH PLANS AND TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE COMBINED PRESENTATION.
THE TWO PLANNED AREAS THAT WE'LL DISCUSS ARE CIRCLED ON THE MAP.
THE EAST SIDE IS LOCATED EAST OF DOWNTOWN AND LOCATED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 WITH A SMALL PORTION IN DISTRICT 3. THE TEXAS A&M REGIONAL CENTER IS LOCATED ON SOUTH LOOPS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY AND LOCATED IN DISTRICT 3, WITH A SMALL PORTION IN DISTRICT 4.
AN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PROCESS IS IMPORTANT TO THE SUB AREA PLANNING PROCESS, HOWEVER, THE PROCESS WAS IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC. ABOUT 3 QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH.
COVID KNEESIES AT A TIMED WE MOVE TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT.
EACH AREA HAS A PLANNING TEAM CONSISTENTING OF AREA RESIDENTS, EMPLOYERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS TO HELP GUIDE THE PLAN.
WE CONDUCTED 15 PLANNING MEETINGS, AND 17 PLANNING TEAM MEMBERS WERE HELD FOR THE TEXAS A&M AREA. IN ADDITION TO THE PLANNING TEAMS. THE PLANNING PROCESS INCLUDES FOUR PLANNING MEETINGS TO GIVE INFORMATION TO AND GATHER FEEDBACK FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. FOR EACH MEETING. THE DEPARTMENT MAILED POSTCARD INVITATIONS TO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND MAILING ADDRESS IN THE AREA. FOR EAST SIDE, AN ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MEETING WAS HELD TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE PLAN AND GATHER ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK AFTER THE PANDEMIC DELAY.
IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT SOLICITED FEEDBACK THROUGH ONLINE AND HARD COPY QUESTIONNAIRES, AND ENGAGED THE PUBLIC BY MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT POP-UPS AND COLOCATING EVENTS HELD BY OTHER STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS IN EACH AREA.
I'LL BEGIN WITH THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY AREA PLAN.
THIS AREA IS ABOUT 6.7 SQUARE MILES AND 1% OF THE OVERALL CITY.
THE EAST SIDE AREA IS BOUND FORT SAM HOUSTON TO THE NORTH, FRONT BANK CENTER AND COLISEUM TO THE NORTHEAST. I10 TO THE SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH. AND CHERRY TO THE WEST. IN ADDITION TO THE KEY LANDMARKS SHOWN, THERE ARE SEVERAL ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA, INCLUDING DENVER HEIGHTS, GOVERNMENT HILL. JEFFERSON HEIGHTS. AND EAST WOOD NEIGHBORHOODS. ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN DEVELOPING A PLAN IS TO ESTABLISH A SHARED COMMUNITY VISION FOR THE EAST SIDE AREA.
THE PLANNING DIVISION WORKED TOGETHER WITH RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO DRAFT A DIVISION STATEMENT WHICH WAS REVIEWED AND DEFINED AT THE MEETING. THIS LAYS THE GOALS AND STRATEGIES FOUND THROUGHOUT THE PLAN. THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY THEN IDENTIFIED SIX BROAD GOALS THAT HELPED ACHIEVE THE VISION AND INFORM RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES. THE GOALS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO HISTORY, CULTURE, ART, CONNECTED NEIGHBORHOODS. THROUGHOUT THE PLAN,
[00:40:05]
NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ORGANIZED UNDER SIX MAIN TOPIC AREAS OR ELEMENTS, LAND USE, FOCUS AREAS, MOBILITY, AMENITIES AND PUBLIC SPACE, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE REFER TO THIS BUNDLE OF TOPICS AS THE PLANNED FRAMEWORK. PLANNED FRAMEWORK RECOMMENDATIONS CAN INCLUDE PHYSICAL INTERVENTIONS, POLICIES, THIS SHOWS SOME PHYSICAL INTERVENTIONS RECOMMENDED IN THE PLAN, SUCH AS TARGET EMPLOYMENT AREAS, VIA SILVER LINE ALONG HOUSTON STREET, AND FOUR FOE CUSS AREAS. HACKEL BERRY. HOUSTON STREET, COMMERCE STREET. THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY AREA DOCUMENT INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 21 RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES UNDER THE 6 MAIN TOPIC SESSIONS, AND THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES FROM EACH OF THE PLANS 6 MAIN TOPIC SESSIONS THAT THE PLANNING TEAM IDENTIFIED AS IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES. STARTING WITH LAND USE. THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THE COMMUNITY AREAS FEATURED HERE USING THE CITY'S FEATURED CATEGORIES.THINGS THAT EMERGED INCLUDES SUPPORTING THE CHARACTER OF EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROMOTING MIXED USE IN TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
THESE ENCOURAGE REINVESTMENT IN THE AREA WHILE KEEPING HIGHER DENSITY AND DENSITY USAGE IN PLACE COMPATIBLE WITH THAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAJORITY OF THE AREA IS RESIDENTIAL, THE YELLOW AND LIGHT ORANGE WITH SOME MIXED USE NOTED IN PURPLE AND TEAL ALONG THE CORRIDORS.
THE STRATEGIES HIGHLIGHT THE COMMUNITY, STRATEGY 1.1 WAS MODIFIED TO INCLUDE THE LAST SENTENCE OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES TO ADDRESS CONCERNS RESIDENTS EXPRESSED ABOUT POSSIBLE NONCONFORMING USES THAT MIGHT ARISE DURING STRATEGIES.
WHILE IT IS A PERMITTED USE IN MOST RESIDENTIAL RM ZONING DISTRICTS, STAFF WANTED TO INCLUDE THIS LAND WHICH ADDED ASSURANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
STRATEGY 62.4 IS RELATED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE EXISTING HOMES, WHILE 3.1 IS INTENDED FOR DESIGN STANDARDS IN AREAS TO CREATE A MORE PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT.
THE FOCUS AREAS ARE AREAS OF OPPORTUNITIES SUITABLE FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS.
THESE FOCUS AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THE PLANNING TEAM, AREAS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SERVE AS PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED MIXED USE CORRIDORS.
HIGHLIGHTED ON THIS MAP ARE THE MAIN ONES. HACKEL BERRY STREET, HOUSTON STREET, COMMERCE STREET, THESE ARE INTENDED TO HELP MIXED USE CENTERS WHICH HELP FULFILL GOALS OF CREATING COMPACT, WALKABLE PLACES FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.
WHEN THE CITY ADOPTED THE SA TOMORROW MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN IN 2016, THE VISION AND GOALS IN THAT PLAN WERE TO MAKE OUR CITY'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SUSTAINABLE, SAFE, CONVENIENT, INCLUSIVE. THE MOBILITY FRAMEWORK MAP FOR THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY WAS BASED ON INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT KNOWN INVESTMENTS OF THE AREA, SUCH AS THE VIA SILVER LINING ON THE HOUSTON AVENUE. THE MAPS ALSO -- THE MAP ALSO SHOWS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEVERAL INTERSECTION AND CROSSING ENHANCEMENTS AS WELL AS PEDESTRIAN FOCUS AREAS. ONE PARTICULAR MOBILITY STRATEGY RELATES TO VIA SILVERLINE, AND WITH THE SILVERLINE ANTICIPATED ALONG HOUSTON, FOUR AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITY IMPROVEMENT AREAS WITH CONSIDERATION OF VIA'S PLANNED TIMELINE. OF ALL THE 6 TOPIC AREAS, THE TOPIC AT THE TOP OF IMPORTANCE FOR COMMUNITY WAS AMENITIES AND PUBLIC SPACES, WHICH ARE FEATURES THAT ENHANCE AN AREA'S QUALITY OF LIFE. THERE WAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN FINDING WAYS TO ENHANCE EXISTING AMENITIES WHILE ALSO IMPROVING ASSETS WITH PROPOSED NEW TRAILS FOR THE RESIDENTS, WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PROJECTS IN THE AREA, THE LL AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER AND PARK, THE COMMUNITY THOUGHT THERE WERE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE EXISTING AMENITIES, AND THE PROPOSED TRAILS ON THIS MAP CAPTURE THAT RECEIVED FROM THE PLANNING TEAM AND COMMITTEE, AND IN THE SECTION, THE THEME OF IMPROVING THE EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE REFLECTED IN THE PRIORITY STRATEGIES. AND FINALLY, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
A CONCERN THAT WAS FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED BY RESIDENTS RELATED TO VALUES IN THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY AND HOW IT COULD AFFECT MIXED OR LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS, SO STRATEGY 2.1 IS INCLUDED AN ALLIANCE WITH A FEW IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES, AND THE PLANNING TEAM AND COMMUNITY ALSO PRIORITIZED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIPS
[00:45:06]
THAT WOULD HELP FUTURE INVESTMENTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.SHOULD I CONTINUE? >> ROCHA GARCIA: WE WON'T TAKE AN ACTION ON THIS ONE, RIGHT, IT'S JUST A BRIEFING? SO -- OKAY. PROBABLY NOT TOO LONG.
THANK YOU. YOU CAN CONTINUE. >> AS I MENTIONED, THIS PLAN AREA IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE, IT'S ABOUT 15 SQUARE MILES AND ABOUT 3% OF THE CITY. THE TEXAS A&M AREA REGIONAL CENTER IS BOUND BY SOUTH LOOP 410 TO THE NORTH. PLEASANT ROAD TO THE EAST. APPLE MOOR TO THE WEST. KEY LANDMARKS ARE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SAN ANTONIO, VITAE SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS IN THE TAX INCREMENTMENT ZONE, WHICH INCLUDES, THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURING TEXAS PLANT, THE MEDINA RIVER GREENWAY, AND LAND HERITAGE INSTITUTE.
NO REGISTERED AREAS IN THIS AREA. THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROCESS FOR CREATING THE VISION AND GOALS. IMPORTANT THEMES THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IN THEIR VISION WAS BALANCING GROWTH OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE AREA'S GREEN SPACE AND HERITAGE, PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH. SUPPORTING INDUSTRIES SUCH AS MANUFACTURING, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE, WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO AN EDUCATED WORK FORCE AND HIGH QUALITY JOBS. THE AREA'S IDENTIFIABLE GOALS THAT BALANCES DEVELOPMENT WITH NATURAL ASSETS.
OTHER GOALS INCLUDE INFRASTRUCTURE, LEVERAGING THE GROWTH OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, TOYOTA, AND OTHER EMPLOYERS TO ATTRACT MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVING BUSINESSES, AND PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC CONNECTIVITY WITH THE LARGER SAN ANTONIO AREA.
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, VISION AND GOALS INFORM ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES THROUGHOUT THIS REG JOHNAL SISTER PLAN. AND AS WITH THE EAST SIDE PLAN, THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES THAT HELP ACHIEVE THE OVERALL VISION AND GOALS ARE ORGANIZED THE SIX PLAN FRAMEWORK TOPICS, WHICH OF COURSE INCLUDE LAND USE, FOCUS AREAS, MOBILITY, AMENITIES, PUBLIC SPACE, HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THERE ARE ALMOST 100 TOTAL RECOMMENDATION STRATEGIES WITHIN THE PLAN, SO ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES, I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR EACH OF THE PLAN'S MAIN SIX TOPICS THAT THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED AS IMPLEMENTATION PRIO PRIORITIES. STARTING WITH LAND USE, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THE REGIONAL CENTER IS PICTURED HERE WITH USING THE CITY WIDE ADOPTED LAND USE CATEGORIES.
THE MAJORITY OF THE PLAN IS MIXED USE INDUSTRIAL. THE TEAL AREAS IN THE NORTH
[00:50:06]
INDICATE MIXED USAGE. CITY, STATE, FEDERAL, THE PINK AREAS ARE INDUSTRIAL USES. THE GREEN AREAS INDICATE PARKS, AGRICULTURAL AREAS.AND OF COURSE ORANGE, RED COMMERCIAL AREAS WITH THE YELLOW ORANGE RESIDENTIAL USES. KEY THEMES CAPTURED ARE ENCOURAGING DENSITY, AREA AROUND A&M UNIVERSITY, AND PROVIDING FOR APPROPRIATE TRANSITIONS BETWEEN THOSE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL AREAS IN THE NORTH WITH INDUSTRIAL USES IN THE SOUTH AND PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE AREA'S NATURAL ASSETS AND ENVIRONMENT.
THE FOCUS AREAS OR SIGHTS OR QUARTERS IDENTIFIED AS THE COMMUNITY AS PLACES THAT BENEFIT FROM TARGETED COORDINATED IMPROVEMENTS, THREE FOCUS AREAS IDENTIFIED FOR THE AREA.
THE TOP MAP WITH THE NUMBERS, JAGUAR PARKWAY AND UNIVERSITY WAY.
NUMBER 2, JAGUAR PARKWAY EAST, AND PLEASANT AND ROAD AT THE MEDINA GREENWAY TRAIL. FOR EACH FOCUS AREA. THE COMMUNITY WAS ASKED TO IDENTIFY ELEMENTS DESIRED. THE MIDDLE MAP SHOWS SOME OF THE KEY IMPROVEMENTS DESIRED FOR FOCUS AREA 1. SOME OF THESE ARE GREENWAY TRAIL CONNECTIONS.
MULTIUSE TRAIL CONNECTIONS, AND MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT NORTH OF UNIVERSITY ALONG UNIVERSITY WAY, AND THE CONCEPT CHYLE ILLUSTRATION WAS THE RESULT OF A VISUALIZATION EXERCISE TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THESE IMPROVEMENTS COULD COME TOGETHER. THESE VISUALS ARE MEANT TO ILLUSTRATE CONCEPTS AND NOT PRESCRIBE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT. IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES FOR THE FOCUS AREAS CREATION ZONING DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT MIXED DEVELOPMENT, AND COORDINATION WITH DEVELOPER ON DESIRED LAND USE AND URBAN FORM ELEMENTS MOVING ON TO MOBILITY. REFERS TO THE ABILITY FOR ALL USERS TO MOVE AROUND THE CITY. THIS SHOWS THE MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS THE COMMUNITY DESIRES FOR THIS AREA, THE MOST IMPORTANT MOBILITY CONNECTIONS INCLUDE MULTIUSE TRAILS, BALANCED MULTIMODAL CORRIDORS AND FREIGHT CORRIDORS, OTHERS ARE INTERSECTION ENHANCEMENTS AND GATEWAY ENHANCEMENTS. AS THESE ARE DESIGNED AND BUILT, A KEY PRIORITY WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL USERS, INCLUDING PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AUTO AND FREIGHT HAD SAFE OPTIONS FOR TRAVEL. THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED WITH TENSIONS FROM EAST, WEST, CONNECTIVITY TO MEET DEMANDS, CROSSINGS, AND ELEMENTS THAT PROVIDE SHADE AND MANAGE STORM WATER RUNOFF.
IN REGARDS TO AMENITIES. THE TEXAS A&M COMMUNITY WAS EMPHATIC ABOUT EXTENDING GREEN AREAS AND TRAIL CONNECTIONS. ON THE MAP, THEY INCLUDE USING FLOOD POINT AREAS TO EXPAND AND CONNECT TRAILS. ADDING TRAIL HEADS, SOCIAL GATHERING SPACES, AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FEATURES. THEY FOCUS ON PROACTIVELY IDENTIFYING TRAIL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE AREA'S EXISTING ASSETS, IN ORDER TO INTEGRATE ROUTES INTO NEW DEVELOPMENT ALONG WITH EARLY PLANNING TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCES FOR SUCH CONNECTIONS.
THE REGIONAL CENTER CURRENTLY HAS A SMALL BUT ACTIVELY GROWING PART OF HOUSING OPTIONS. THEY'RE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PLANT AREA, AND SOUTH SAN ANTONIO PLANNING DEVELOPMENT. THEY HAVE A WIDE SPECTRUM OF HOUSING NEEDS, TO STUDENTS TO EMPLOYEES AT THE UNIVERSITIES AND GROWING AND MANUFACTURING HUBS. THERE ARE A FEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS THAT CHALLENGE THE EXPANSION OF HOUSING IN THE AREA, INCLUDING A RAILLINE AND HIGH PRESSURE GAS LINES. WITH THIS IN LINE, THE COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTED AS PRIORITIES. MIXED USE HOUSING OPTIONS NORTH AND EAST OF THE CAMPUS, AND PROACTIVELY WORKING WITH UTILITY PRO PROVIDERS TO HELP ATTRACT HOUSING PROVIDERS. ALSO, THE REGIONAL CENTER BENEFITS FROM PEOPLE IN THEIR BOUNDARIES INCLUDING TEXAS A&M.
TOYOTA, THE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNIVERSITY HEALTH HOSPITAL.
COMMON THEMES FOR THIS AREA INCLUDE THOSE OF HOUSING. THE COMMUNITY IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE AREA'S EMPLOYERS AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, AND WANTS GROWTH TO TAKE PLACE IN A WAY THAT CONTINUES TO ATTRACT A DIVERSITY OF OPPORTUNITIES.
TO THAT END, KEY PRIORITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT FUTURE GROWTH, PRIOR INVESTMENT AND LAND USE PRIORITIES ARE IN ALIGNMENT. WITH ALL THE SUB AREA DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE ONE -- AN IMPLEMENTATION SECTION IS INCLUDED WITH TYPES.
REGULATORY POLICY, PARTNERSHIPS, AND INVESTMENTS.
[00:55:02]
THIS TABLE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE SECTION BECOMES ORGANIZED SO THAT THE RECOMMENDATION STRATEGIES COULD BE SHARED WITH OTHER AGENCIES, DEPARTMENTS, AND STAKEHOLDERS. THE ADOPTION PROCESS IS NOTED HERE.BOTH THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY AREA PLAN, AND THE TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO PLAN ARE SCHEDULEED FOR PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING THIS WEDNESDAY WITH CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL ON JUNE 20. IF POSSIBLE, AS THE AGENDA NOTES, BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION, STAFF IS ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER -- TO MOVE THESE ITEMS FORWARD AFTER PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDERATION ON WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU, AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ON BOTH
PLANS. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRIDGET, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE PLANS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND I FEEL LIKE THE TEXAS A&M ONE IS HERE. I'VE BEEN ASKING, WHEN IS IT COMING, WHEN IS IT COMING. SO I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE YOU ALL DID A -- WELL, ONE, YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THE PREBRIEFINGS, HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO TAKE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE STAKE HOLDERS, THERE'S A WHOLE LIST. I WON'T NAME THEM BECAUSE I'LL DEFINITELY LEAVE SOME OUT. WE'VE SEEN -- I CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE TEXAS A&M AREA. WE'VE SEEN GREAT GROWTH IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE INVESTING IN THIS AREA TO COME TOGETHER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY'S DESIRES FOR GROWTH. WE'VE HAD LACK OF SEWER, LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN GENERAL, TELECOMES HAS BEEN DIFFICULT OUT THERE AS WELL. I'M EXCITED BECAUSE LAST WEEK WE PASSED THE FIRST MULTIGEN HOUSING STRATEGY, SO WITH THE HELP OF THE HOUSING TRUST AND MY COLLEAGUES, I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE THINGS COMING OUT.
I'M ALSO VERY AWARE THAT THERE'S FREIGHT AND MOBILITY ISSUES.
SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE EAST TO WEST IS INCLUDED IN THERE.
WE HAVE ACCESS RIGHT NOW, EVEN TO THE TOYOTA PLANT HAS BEEN STALLED BECAUSE SAWS IS WORKING ON GETTING OUT THERE, SO THE INCREASED TRAFFIC AT THE THREE SHIFTS THAT TOYOTA CHANGES JUST AFFECTS EVERY OTHER TRAFFIC PATTERN BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY WERE DOWN TO ONE LANE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND SO CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA WILL BE CRITICAL, AND I ALSO HAVE TO TELL YOU, I WAS SO EXCITED BECAUSE I LOVE THE TRAILS, AND WE'RE FINALLYIN CONNECTING THEM, AND YOU ALL -- INSTEAD OF TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, YOU HAVE TRAIL ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT WAS MY FAVORITE PART OF THE WHOLE PLAN WHEN I SAW IT, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THAT'S ANOTHER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A COLLEGE CAMPUS AND OUR STUDENTS WANT TO USE THIS, AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF FACULTY ARE INVESTING IN LIVING IN THIS AREA, THE PRESIDENT OF TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO IS BUILDING A HOME IN THE AREA, SO I CAN IMAGINE STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, TAKING BIKES OVER INTO THIS AREA, SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ALL ARE PUTTING TOWARDS ON IT.
THOSE ARE ALL OF MY COMMENTS FOR NOW. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY. I'LL START OFF WITH MY
COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 3. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
I JUST -- I MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. >> VIAGRAN: I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HEAR FROM DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. HE IS IN SUPPORT OF THE
EAST SIDE PLAN; CORRECT. >> WE'VE BEEN REGULARLY COMMUNICATING WITH DISTRICT 2 ON THE PLANNING PROCESS, AND ANYTIME WE HAVE PLANNING MEETINGS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, THEY'VE BEEN INCLUDED.
>> VIAGRAN: GREAT. BECAUSE THAT LOOKS GOOD, AND HE'S ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS -- OUR NEIGHBORS -- OUR DISTRICT'S NEIGHBOR TO EACH OTHER. WHERE WE ARE WITH THE TEXAS A&M PLAN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HIGH DENSITY, BRIDGET, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT VERTICAL, AND HOW MANY STORIES ARE WE LOOKING AT GOING. HAVE WE HAD THOSE
CONVERSATIONS? >> WELL, ACCORDING TO -- LET ME GO TO 15.
CAN YOU THROW UP SLIDE 15? THANK YOU.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LAND USE OR THE ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT ITSELF, SO VITAE, SOUTH SIDE, THEY'RE DEVELOPING, AND I KNOW THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS THEY'RE PLANNING TO PUT THERE ARE ABOUT 5700, SO WE'VE DESIGNATED THAT AS MIXED USE. SO IT DEPENDS UPON THE AREA AND THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE WANT THAT PARTICULAR AREA TO BE REGIONAL MIXED USE AND URBAN MIXED USE, SO IT WOULD REALLY DEPEND UPON THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT ANY SORT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES IN ANY REGIONAL CENTER THAT'S ADOPTED, GOES TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN SOP WITH DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES TO COME
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THROUGH, SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT AND THE PLAN.>> VIAGRAN: SO I DID MY UNDERGRADUATE AT TEXAS TECH UP IN LUBUC, WHICH IS VERY FLAT, AND THEY DID HAVE A TOWER-TYPE APARTMENT LIVING, AND SO I'M WONDERING IF ANY OF THE DEVELOPERS HAVE THOUGHT THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW HIGH BECAUSE WE DO HAVE U-SHEDS, WE WANT TO GO IN THIS HIGH DENSITY -- I THINK VERTICAL IS THE EASIEST WAY TO GET HIGH DENSITY, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO PUT IN AN ELEVATOR, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE MORE ACCESSIBLE APARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING THE YEAH.
THAT'S ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, I DIDN'T HEAR ANY TALK -- AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE -- ABOUT A BRIDGE OVER THE RAILROAD.
WAS THERE ANY TALK SPECIFICALLY BY ANY OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS OF BUILDING A
BRIDGE OVER THE RAILROAD ISSUES THAT WE HAVE? >> LET ME SEE.
>> VIAGRAN: SPECIFICALLY THE ONE OVER BY JAGUAR -- I KNOW RIGHT NOW JAGUAR
PARKWAY -- >> DOESN'T CROSS OVER PLEASANTON.
>> VIAGRAN: BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THE TRAIN.
IS THAT IT? >> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN FOCUS AREA NO. 3 WHERE PLEASANTON AREA AND MEDINA. THAT'S ONE OF THE FOCUS AREAS.
AND THERE'S A BRIDGE THERE AND LOOKING AT THAT AS A FOCUS AREA.
BUT ALSO FOCUS AREA NO. 2, WHICH IS JAGUAR GOING ACROSS INTO THE NEXT SUB-AREA, WHICH IS SOUTH. GOING BACK TO THAT EAST/WEST CONNECTION OF CONNECTING
THAT AS WELL. >> VIAGRAN: I DON'T WANT TO PUT GETTING A BRIDGE OVER THE RAILROADS OFF THE TABLE. I KNOW WE SAW IT WORK ON THE WESTSIDE BUT WE DIDN'T DO IT OVER BY FRIO IN THAT AREA, WHICH MADE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR SOME RESIDENTS.
I KNOW YOU GUYS CAN TALK TO THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT COME UP AS WE TALK INFRASTRUCTURE FEDERALLY. AND THEN THE -- I GUESS THE LAST THING IS IF I COULD GET A LIST OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, BECAUSE I LOVE TO DO SHOUT OUTS AND ROLL CALLS.
IF YOU COULD GET ME THAT LIST, I'LL DO IT, IF ADRIANA DOESN'T WANT TO.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS TO GET THE INPUT ON THAT AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITY THERE.
YEAH, I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THIS PLAN FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND IT'S FLUID AND THERE MIGHT BE FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME IN IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS THAT WE CAN ADJUST IT TO AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES THAT WANT TO BE HERE NOW IN TEXAS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE. THANK YOU. >> WE CAN GET YOU THAT LIST,
COUNCILWOMAN. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU AND THE PLANNING TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I DON'T HAVE MANY QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE A COMMENT AND I THINK IT'S WORTH EMPHASIZING. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT STRATEGY 1.1 FOR THE HOUSING RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP IS ENCOURAGING HIGHER DENSITY AND MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THE TEAM SHOULD GIVE THEMSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY. THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT.
THANK YOU, BRIDGETT. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> GARCIA: AWESOME.
GOOD. SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE.
>> GARCIA: IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, BRIDGETT FOR THE HARD WORK. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR DILIGENCE IN THIS. WITH THAT, THAT BRINGS US TO THE CLOSE.
WE ARE ADJOURNED
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.