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>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION .
EXCITEMENT IS IN THE AIR TODAY. THE TIME IS 9:09 A.M. ON THE 6TH DAY OF JUNE 2024. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.
MADAME CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: SIR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. TO GET US STARTED TODAY, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE'LL START OFF WITH PASTOR JOSH LOPEZ AND PASTOR JOSH'S LIFE IS A TESTAMENT TO RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION. BORN AND RAISED IN THE SOUTH BRONX, NEW YORK, HE FACED HOMELESSNESS AS A TEENAGER. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, JOSH PERSEVERED AND EMERGED AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS. HIS JOURNEY LED HIM TO BECOME THE VALEDICTORIAN OF HIS COLLEGE CLASS, A GRAMMY-NOMINATED MUSIC ARTIST AND A THRIVING ENTREPRENEUR OWNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES IN SAN ANTONIO.
ALSO AN ESTEEMED AUTHOR AND SERVES AS A CAMPUS PASTOR FOR COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH SOUTHSIDE. DURING HIS LIFE, JOSH ATTRIBUTES HIS GREATEST SUCCESSES TO HIS UNWAVERING FAITH IN GOD AS WELL AS THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF HIS WIFE, MARTHA, WITH WHO HE HAS SHARED 19 YEARS OF MARRIAGE WITH HER AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN. JOSH IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE MISSION OF CBC SOUTHSIDE HELPING INDIVIDUALS DISCOVER FAITH, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND ADDRESS PRACTICAL NEEDS. THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION HE AIMS TO EMPOWER OTHERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR OWN SUCCESSES AND FIND FULFILLMENT IN LIFE.
I'M EXCITEMENT TO SHARE THAT COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH IS NOW IN THEIR NEW LOCATION ON THE SOUTHSIDE. IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE BROOKS CAMPUS.
ON BEHALF OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, PHYLLIS VIAGRAN, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, WE INVITE YOU BACK TO CITY HALL WHENEVER YOU WANT AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO VISIT YOU AS WELL. BUT THE FLOOR IS YOURS, PASTOR.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
YOU'RE SO KIND. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL.
WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO PRAY FOR YOU TODAY AND TO ENCOURAGE YOU.
I'LL SHARE A QUICK STORY. RECENTLY, MY WIFE AND I AND OUR THREE KIDDOS TOOK A TRIP TO NEW YORK. WE'RE IN A VERY BUSY TIME IN THIS SEASON WITH CLUB SPORTS AND RUNNING A BUSINESS AND STARTING A NEW CAMPUS, CBC SOUTHSIDE ON THE SOUTHSIDE.
AND ON ONE OF THE EXCURSIONS WE WERE AT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY AND WE WERE JUST REFLECTING ON ALL OUR BLESSINGS. AND MY SON, WHO IS HERE TODAY, CHRISTIAN, HE'S OUR SOCCER STAR. I'M ACTUALLY CHRISTIAN LOPEZ'S DAD. THAT'S MY TITLE. AND HE SAID, HEY, DAD.
I THINK THAT'S THE MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO. AND SO THERE WAS THE MAYOR WITH HIS FAMILY. MAYOR, I HAVE TO SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND ALSO IT WAS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU JUST RELAXED, DISCONNECTED.
YOU HAVE A HUGE TASK AND IT COMES WITH A LOT OF SACRIFICE AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE. AND SO ON BEHALF OF CBC, OUR FAMILY, AND AS A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND ALL YOU DO FOR OUR CITY. CITY COUNCIL, I KNOW THAT YOU TAKE THAT SAME SACRIFICE AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE AND SO ALL THE VERY HARD DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE. AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY AS A CHURCH, CBC SOUTHSIDE, CBC AS OUR FAMILY, WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU.
I'M GOING TO SAY A PRAYER NOW AND I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME IN THIS PRAYER.
LET'S BOW OUR HEAD. FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS TO IMPACT WHAT I FEEL IS THE BEST CITY IN TEXAS, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. GOD, I THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US IN THIS CITY WITH THE IMMENSE GRIT THAT THEY HAVE, THE TENACITY, THE RESILIENCE THAT THEY HAVE. FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR OUR LEADERSHIP. I THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR, THIS CITY COUNCIL.
GOD, I PRAY OVER THEIR FAMILIES RIGHT NOW. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT THEM. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM THOSE MOMENTS OF
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RECHARGE AND REST. AND, GOD, THAT THEY WOULD NEVER GIVE UP.AND ESPECIALLY NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PURPOSE THAT YOU HAVE PLACED THEM ON THIS EARTH FOR. AND JUST SHINE THROUGH THEM IN EVERY SINGLE DECISION.
GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD COME, THAT YOUR PRESENCE WOULD BE HERE EVEN AS WE MAKE DECISIONS TODAY TO FURTHER AND BETTER OUR CITY AND THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO, TEJAS. GOD, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND THANK YOU FOR EVERY SINGLE BLESSING. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR JOSH. ALL RIGHT.
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 8, 9, 15, AND 16. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE.
OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE MEETING MINUTES AS LISTED IN ITEM 3. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA TODAY. BEFORE WE GET TO OUR CEREMONIALS, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL ITEMS ARE LISTED FOR CONSENT CONSIDERATION SO THERE ARE NO INDIVIDUAL
ITEMS TODAY. >> HAVRDA: 23. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 23. ANY OTHERS? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. THERE'S A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT. LET ME CALL THOSE FOLKS NOW.
ONE SECOND. ALL RIGHT. SO ON MULTIPLE ITEMS, JACK FINGER. MR. FINGER, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY RAYMOND ZAVALA.
>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE THEY JUST SAIL RIGHT ON THROUGH. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT REGARDING OUR ISSUES WITH THE -- ALL THOSE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER THAT WE SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S A FEDERAL OFFENSE AND WE SHOULD LET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THAT. WE SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THAT ONE BIT. WELL, I NOTICE THAT ON ONE OF THE ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, ITEM NO. 26 IS ABOUT, WELL, OUR SHELLING OUT -- OR TRYING TO GET AT LEAST $40,000 FOR WHAT? MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, SEE WHAT IT SAYS THERE.
IT'S FOR WHO? IT'S FOR THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE IMMIGRANT YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT GROUP THERE. IT'S FROM THE ANNIE CASEY ORGANIZATION. NOW, $40,000 AND WHAT IS IT FOR? WELL, TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 16 TO 24 WHO HAVE RECENTLY MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO WITH AN ADDED FOCUS ON YOUTH FROM WHERE? AFGHANISTAN, SYRIA, AND OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES. THANK YOU, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
WHY DON'T WE ASK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GIVE THEM $40,000 INSTEAD OF US TRYING TO DEAL WITH THAT? HUH? ANOTHER ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA, SPEAKING OF SOUTH OF THE BORDER, ITEM NO. 36 IS ABOUT OUR GIVING ABOUT HOW MUCH? $100,000 TO A PLACE -- WHAT IS IT CALLED? LET'S LOOK AT THE UNDERLINED ITEMS THERE, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
WHAT DOES IT SAY? $100,000 TO WHERE? QUERETARO, MEXICO.
WHERE IS IT? IT'S ABOUT 700 MILES FROM SAN ANTONIO.
WHAT IS IT FOR? WELL, TO HELP SOME SORT OF ARTISTIC PRODUCTION CALLED THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR OVER THERE IN QUERETARO, MEXICO.
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WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, JUST TO SAY IF WE GOT A SENSE OF COMMON SENSE AND SAID, NO, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T SPEND $100,000 ON SUCH A THING, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? TURN THE PAGE OVER, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN AND SEE WHAT ELSE IS UNDERLINED THERE. I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE ALTERNATIVE IS THERE.CITY COUNCIL COULD ELECT NOT TO APPROVE THIS ACTION, LIMITING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE TOURISM, CULTURAL EXCHANGE AS WELL AS LIMITING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO ARTISTS TO BE SHOWCASED ABROAD FOR PROFESSIONAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD.
EXCUSE ME, I WANT THEM -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
GUTIERREZ HOMER ON ITEM 34. YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 34. THE AGENDA ITEM WILL SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE FUNDS FOR SNIPSA AND THE CONTINUED EFFORTS FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE NECESSARY SERVICES TO SPAY AND NEUTERING SAN ANTONIO PETS.
OFFERING COST-SAVING SERVICES TO ■THE MOST NEEDY&-ÚS, IT WAS UNWARRANTED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DENISE. >> I'M GOING BACK TO SNIPSA BECAUSE THEIR RESPONSE TO HIM DURING THIS PUBLIC MEETING REFLECTS ON THIS CITY COUNCIL AND THE NEED TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUAL LIKE DR. ESPY PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGH SNIPSA WITH FUNDING HOPEFULLY IN AGENDA 34.
THE FACT THAT THIS GENTLEMAN, THIS PROFESSIONAL DOCTOR, RENOWNED IN THE UNITED STATES FOR HIS EXPERTISE IN EQUINE VETERINARIAN MEDICINE, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE UNITED STATES WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER AND STAND THERE AND LISTEN TO SOMEBODY BE DEGRADED BECAUSE THEY NEED TO HAVE A SPECIAL CONSULTANT
BROUGHT IN TO FULLY INVESTIGATE -- >> PELAEZ: POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR. I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SNIPSA.
THIS IS A WASTE OF OUR TIME. >> SIR, MANNY. >> PELAEZ: POINT OF ORDER.
>> THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE ACS AND SNIPSA WORK TOGETHER.
THE FACT THAT WE NEED THE FUNDING TO ADDRESS SPAY AND NEUTERING IN SAN ANTONIO IS NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS SITUATION THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW, NOT ONLY WITH SHELTER DOGS BUT WITH ACS ISSUES. WE'RE GOING TO BE FUNDING A NECESSARY PART OF OUR FUNDING FOR ACS AND SNIPSA AND IF DR. ESPY DECIDES TO LEAVE SAN ANTONIO AND NOT OFFER THOSE SERVICES, WHERE WILL WE BE TODAY? THE FACT THAT YOU ARE DISRESPECTING PROFESSIONAL VETERINARIANS --
>> PELAEZ: POINT OF ORDER. I ASKED A SPECIFIC QUESTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.
I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER. >> I WOULD HOPE THE COUNCIL --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY
ATTORNEY FOR -- >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPRECIATE THE TIME.
AS LONG AS IT REMAINS SOLELY FOCUSED ON SNIPSA AND DOESN'T GET INTO ANY INDIVIDUALS OR SPECIFIC PEOPLE, IT WILL BE WITHIN THE PROPER SCOPE.
>> IT IS THE PROPER SCOPE BECAUSE DR. ESPY ACTUALLY IS SNIPSA AND SO IS SHANNON --
>> IF WE REMAIN ON THE TOPIC OF THE ORGANIZATION -- >> IT'S SNIPSA.
>> MAYOR, AND NOT SPECIFIC PEOPLE, IT WILL STAY GERMANE TO THE ITEM.
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>> DR. ESPY IS SNIPSA. >> DENISE, YOU HEARD OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO PLEASE KEEP
YOUR COMMENTS GERMANE. >> I WOULD HOPE YOU RESPECT SNIPSA AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT RUN SNIPSA, BOTH INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO BE RESPECTED FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND EXPERTISE. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY. GABRIEL VELASQUEZ ON ITEM 35.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. MR. WALSH.
I'M HERE JUST TO SHARE SOME COMMENTS ON ITEM 35, WHICH IS THE REVISING OF THE COMMISSION FOR THE DIEZ Y SEIS. I REPRESENT THE ASSOCIATION WHERE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION AND I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THIS NEW REVAMPING OF THIS COMMISSION IS TO US BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS A MILESTONE.
AND WHAT BEGAN FOR AVENIDA AS REALLY AN EVENT THAT WAS TO BRING ATTENTION TO OUR AREA, THE WESTSIDE. IT'S BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THAT MOVEMENT FOR THE DIEZ Y SEIS SEPTIEMBRE. OVER THE YEARS THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO THAT MOVEMENT AND THE GOOD THING WE DO IN SAN ANTONIO. I WANT TO MENTION SEBASTIAN GUAJARDO BECAUSE HE'S BEEN A LIAISON FOR THE CITY WITH THE COMMISSION AND HE'S DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB AND SOMETIMES WE'VE GIVEN HIM SUCH A HARD TIME.
HE'S GOT TO BALANCE THE PERSONALITIES OF EVERYBODY ON THE COMMISSION AND HE'S DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB. I WANT TO THANK KRYSTAL JONES AS WELL, WHO HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY OVER THIS PERIOD TO COME UP WITH A COMMISSION METHODOLOGY THAT WE THINK IS GOING TO WORK FOR US AND I JUST ALSO FEEL THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MENTION TWO SPONSORS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US ALL THESE YEARS TO MAKE SURE WE PUT ON GOOD EVENTS. I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE FORGOTTEN.
FROST BANK HAS BEEN WITH US MANY YEARS AND THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ACTIVITY THAT WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO TEACH THE CITY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MEXICO AND THAT HISTORY THAT WE SHARE. AND H-E-B.
H-E-B HAS BEEN THERE WITH US FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND IT SEEMS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. THAT THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE APPRECIATE MOST. NOT ONLY THE PARTNERS THAT WE REACH OUT TO BUT THE PARTNERS THAT REACH OUT TO US AND SAY HOW CAN WE HELP.
SO THANK ALL OF YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD JUST TELL YOU, SEND YOU MY CONDOLENCES AND THE HEART OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VELASQUEZ. WE'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION ITEMS? I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE AND OUR QUEUE BUTTON IS NOT WORKING SO SIGNAL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT 29. WE'RE APPOINTING ISABEL GARCIA TO THE HISTORIC AND DESIGN REVIEW COMPLIANCE AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD, DIANA RODRIGUEZ AND EMILIE HERRERA TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMISSION.
I CAN'T WAIT TO WORK ALONGSIDE THEM . THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA BEFORE WE APPROVE IT. ITEM NO. 7. ITEM NO. 7 IS THE CULMINATION OF A THREE-YEAR EFFORT TO HELP FLOODING IN THE ENCINO PARK AREA.
THE SIENNA BASIN REVISION PROJECT IS UP FOR APPROVAL TODAY .
I HOPE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. ALSO ITEM NO. 8.
SINCE BEFORE I WAS ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL I NOTED THAT SONTERRA ROAD IN DISTRICT 9 CAME TO A DEAD END, DIDN'T CONNECT TO MUCH OF ANYTHING. WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPED TO DO WAS HELP SONTERRA BOULEVARD CONNECT TO 1604 AND WITH THE DEDICATION OF THE CITY AND THE STAFF THAT'S NOW COMING TO FRUITION SO THE SONTERRA ROAD EXTENSION WILL BE HOPEFULLY APPROVED TODAY. I WANT TO THANK CBC FOR
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BEING A PARTNER. COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH IS LOCATED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF WHERE SONTERRA WILL CONNECT WITH 1604.AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY DID TO HELP THIS COME ABOUT.
FINALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AN APPOINTMENT. GLEN STERLING ZINSMEYER, WHO IS HERE TODAY REPRESENTING DISTRICT 9, IS TO BE APPOINTED TO THE LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD. I WANT TO THANK STEPPING UP AND SERVING IN
THAT CAPACITY . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, STARTING WITH ITEM 5, WHICH IS INVESTMENT AT THE CALDERON BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBHOUSE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR POOL. THIS POOL IS SUCH A COMMUNITY ASSET BECAUSE IT INCLUDES PROGRAMMING WHICH OFFERS SWIM TRAINING AND HEALTH WELLNESS CLASSES FOR OUR YOUTH. THE SECOND ITEM THE ITEM 26, WHICH IS INVESTMENT WITH NEXT LEVEL. THOUSANDS FROM INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT NEXT LEVEL SERVES YOUTH FROM A VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND TO INCLUDE HOMELESS YOUTH, LGBTQ+ YOUTH, FOSTER YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE NOT WORKING AND HAVE NOT BEEN IN SCHOOL BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 24 .
THIS IS INSTRUMENTAL INVESTMENT AND YESTERDAY I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN OUR AT RISK YOUTH. LASTLY THE ITEM I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS ITEM 28, THE APPOINTMENT OF MIA. SHE WORKS WITH OTHERS TO DROP LONG-TERM STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS ALL OF OUR HOUSING NEEDS.
BEEN THAT SHE WORKED AT TEXAS HOUSER WHERE SHE IMPROVED THE LIVES OF TENANTS THROUGH EDUCATION, ORGANIZING, AND DEVELOPING TOOLS LIKE THE BEXAR COUNTY EVICTION CASE TRACKER. THE WESTSIDE TIRZ WILL BENEFIT FROM MIA'S WORK ON
THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT QUICKLY THREE ITEMS. NO. 17, APPROVING THE EXECUTION OF THE ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND TXDOT. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT WILL HELP IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE ENTIRE CITY.
DISTRICT 7 INCLUDED. THIS PROJECT WILL ADD SIGNAL HEADS WITH REFLECTIVE BACK PLATES TO 106 INTERSECTIONS THROUGHOUT ALL TEN DISTRICTS.
THESE REFLECTIVE BACK PLATES MAKE THE SIGNAL HEADS MORE VISIBLE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT OR WHEN THE POWER IS OUT. TEN OF THESE WILL GO ON A STRETCH OF CULEBRA ROAD THAT TOUCHES DISTRICT 7. WE KNOW THAT CULEBRA ROAD IS DOCUMENTED AS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ROADS IN THE ENTIRE CITY. I REGULARLY ADVOCATE FOR TRAFFIC CALMING AND PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS STEP BEING TAKEN TO MAKE OUR RESIDENTS SAFER ALONG THESE ROADS. THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND TXDOT SHOWS AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL INVESTMENT FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL SAN ANTONIANS. AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THESE IMPROVEMENTS COME TO FRUITION IN A TIMELY MANNER.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 33, APPROVING THE FIVE SURGERY CONTRACTS FOR THE FERAL CAT SPAY AND NEUTER. THIS WILL PROVIDE UP TO 1500 ADDITIONAL SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES BETWEEN FIVE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. THIS FUNDING CAN ALSO HELP FREE UP SOME ADDITIONAL SPAY AND NEUTER CAPACITY FOR OWNED ANIMALS, WHICH IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR. I KNOW SOME NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE COMMUNITY CATS. I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO OF THEM. MY TEAM AND I ARE ACTUALLY TOURING THE ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE TOMORROW MORNING. I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THESE CONTRACTS AND I COMMEND THESE ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE WORK THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH THEM.
FINALLY, ITEM NO. 34. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR GETTING OUR LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOG POPULATION UNDER CONTROL. FAILURE TO STERILIZE ANIMALS LEADS TO OVERPOPULATION, INCREASED ANIMAL ATTACKS, SHELTER OVERCROWDING, WHICH RESULTS IN HIGHER EUTHANASIA RATES, AND OTHER LIFE SAFETY ISSUES FOR HUMANS AND ANIMALS.
UNFORTUNATELY THESE ISSUES ARE MOST PREVALENT IN AREAS WITH LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS. LAST MONTH I FILED A CCR AIMING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IN PART BY EXPANDING ACS'S STERILIZATION PRACTICES TO INCLUDE OWNED ANIMALS. BUT INCREASING ACS'S CAPACITY TO SPAY AND NEUTER IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN OVERNIGHT SO I WELCOME GROWING THE PARTNERSHIPS WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO ACHIEVE MORE STERILIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN LOW-INCOME AREAS. 2500 ADDITIONAL SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR IS NO SMALL FEAT. IT'S GOING TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM FOR ITS LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOG PROBLEM. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE,
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COUNCILWOMAN MELISSA CABELLO HAVRDA HAD SOME COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM AS WELL.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ITEM 33 AND 34, ALSO JUST IN SUPPORT OF ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE OF TEXAS AND SNIPSA. THE IMPACT IS EXPONENTIAL. WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE BEST REMEDIES TO OUR STRAY AND ROAMING DOG POPULATION IS SPAY AND NEUTER SO THIS MONEY IS WELL SPENT. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A COUPLE MORE ITEMS. ITEM 15 IS THE APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR THE OLD HIGHWAY 90 PHASE 2 PROJECT.
THIS WENT FROM 151 TO U.S. HIGHWAY 90 WEST. IT'S A COMPLEMENT TO THE WORK FINISHED. THERE ARE MANY LESSONS LEARNED IN PHASE 1 AND THE RESPONSIBLE BIDDER ORDINANCE CAME IN PART FROM THE PHASE 1 EXPERIENCE ON OLD HIGHWAY 90. WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER A PROJECT THAT THE RESIDENTS WANT AND DESERVE, ESPECIALLY THERE IN EDGEWOOD ON OLD HIGHWAY 90.
ITEM 17 IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF $1.5 MILLION FROM TXDOT FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT UPGRADES.
THEY ARE ACROSS THE CITY BUT THERE'S THREE PARTICULARLY IN DISTRICT 6.
MARBACH, THE CULEBRA CORRIDOR TO GENERAL MCMULLEN AND A SECOND CULEBRA CORRIDOR FROM ROGERS ROAD TO GRISSOM ROAD. THIS WILL MAKE ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST DANGEROUS THOROUGHFARES SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND
DRIVERS. THANK YOU . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE APPOINTMENTS 29B, THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. DIANA SANCHEZ LIRA TO THE LINEAR CREEKWAY ADVISORY BOARD. AND NOT JUST SERVING THE SOUTHSIDE BUT WORKING TO REPRESENT THE ENTIRE AREA THAT THE LINEAR CREEK GOES THROUGH.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT MY APPOINTMENT OF SARAH BLUEBONNET TO THE TIRZ FOR MISSION DRIVE-IN AND I WANT TO THANK SARAH FOR COMING IN AND WANTING TO SERVE IN SAN ANTONIO AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT AND FOR THESE TWO GIVING OF THEIR TIME. THIS IS A GREAT AGENDA AND THERE'S MORE I CAN HIGHLIGHT BUT I'LL STICK WITH THOSE TWO. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR ITEM 23. PLEASE VOTE.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. I KNOW WE'RE CHOMPING AT THE BIT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY HERE. I'M GOING TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM BECAUSE IT'S ONLY FOR PURPOSES OF EMINENT DOMAIN, WHICH IS ITEM 23.
SO MADAME CLERK, IF YOU COULD READ THE CAPTION ON ITEM 23, WE'LL CLEAR THAT.
>> CLERK: ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTEREST IN LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES INVOLVING FOUR PERMANENT WATER EASEMENTS IN NCB18081, 18053, 18058, 18086, 18049 AND 18086 LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF SAN ANTONIO BEGINNING NEAR CULEBRA CREEK NORTH OF GRISSOM ROAD MOVING SOUTHEASTERNLY ENDING NEAR PIPERS BLUFF ROAD IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 RELATED TO THE W-52 CULEBRA CREEK SEWER CAPACITY RELIEF PROJECT DECLARING THE PROJECT TO BE FOR PUBLIC USE AND A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION .
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROJECT FOR THE SAWS W MF-52 CULEBRA CREEK CAPACITY PROJECT BY ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY
DESCRIBED BY THE CITY CLERK. >> CLERK: THE PRIVATE PROPERTY INTERESTS LOCATED IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6. SAWS W-52, CULEBRA CREEK CAPACITY PROJECT NCB18081, 18053, 18058, 18086, 18049, 18674 AND 18695 LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF
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THE CITY NORTH OF GRISSOM ROAD AND ENDING NEAR PIPERS BLUFF ROAD.THESE PROPERTIES ARE DEPICTED IN THE MAP AND DESCRIBED IN THE EXHIBITS
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS A PART OF THIS MOTION . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. YOU HEARD THE MOTION AND A SECOND IS THERE ANY
DISCUSSION ON ITEM 23? >> GAVITO: I'LL SECOND IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 23? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR, VINCE. IF I CAN HAVE THE MAYOR OF UNION CITY, GEORGIA, ALONG WITH SHANTE FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WAS FOUNDED IN 1924 IN LAWRENCE, KANSAS AS THE AMERICAN MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION BY STATE MUNICIPAL LEAGUES SEEKING MORE COORDINATION AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATION AS CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES EXPANDED RAPIDLY.
WHEREAS THE NON-PARTISAN NLC IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST ORGANIZATION, REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF MORE THAN 19,000 U.S. CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES.
WHEREAS THE NLC WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 49 STATE MUNICIPAL LEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL LEADERSHIP, DRIVE INNOVATIONS.
AND AS THE VOICE OF CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THE NLC HAS CHAMPIONED LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT MUNICIPALITIES WORKING CLOSELY WITH CONGRESS TO EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS. AND WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE NLC AND HAS BENEFITED FROM FEDERAL ADVOCACY AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. WHEREAS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THE BEDROCK OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY PROVIDING 336 MILLION RESIDENTS WITH THE MOST ACCOUNTABLE, RESPONSIVE, INCLUSIVE, AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD. AND WHEREAS FROM THE NATION'S SMALLEST VILLAGES TO ITS LARGEST CITIES AMERICA'S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL IN TRANSFORMING THE UNITED STATES INTO THE GREATEST MOST INFLUENTIAL NATION IN WORLD HISTORY. WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO WAS FIRST INCORPORATED IN 1718 AND IS PROUDLY SERVED TODAY BY OUR MAYOR AND TEN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND A WORKFORCE OF OVER 13,000 DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 6, 2024 TO BE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND WARMLY WELCOME THE NLC ROAD SHOW TO THE ALAMO CITY.
WELCOME, Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] .>> MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU. I AM VINCE WILLIAMS, THE MAYOR OF UNION CITY, GEORGIA, BUT ALSO AN NLC PAST PRESIDENT . I AM EXCITED ABOUT BEING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I HAVE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES AND BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING I MISSED SOME OF THE ROAD SHOW. WE HAVE DONE A LITTLE OVER 70 CITIES ALREADY BUT I TOLD MY TEAM AND THE NLC TEAM WHATEVER IT TAKES, MAKE SURE I'M IN SAN ANTONIO TO SEE MY FRIENDS. SO IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO BE IN THE ROOM WHERE DEMOCRACY IS HELD. BUT IT'S ALSO GREAT TO BE HERE WHEN WE CAN DO IT WITH RESPECT. AND YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB AND CERTAINLY THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ELECTED YOU TO DO THAT WORK ON BEHALF OF THEM, I'M SURE THEY ARE PROUD OF YOU. THIS IS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. WE HAVE SOMETHING WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.
SORRY, OUR GREAT FRIEND AND CEO CLARENCE ANTHONY COULDN'T BE HERE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE LEAVE WITH YOU A MURAL THAT WE GOT WITH AN AMAZING ARTIST.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL PROMINENTLY PLACE -- I'M NOT SAYING TAKE DOWN YOUR SEAL. [LAUGHTER] BUT PROMINENTLY PLACE IT HERE IN CITY HALL SOMEWHERE SO NOT ONLY YOU CAN SEE IT BUT THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE IT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU.
I LOVE YOU. THERE AIN'T NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
SHANTE, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO SHARE WITH THEM? OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL BE HEADING OUT OF HERE. WE HAVE OTHER CITIES TO HIT BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THANK YOU FOR SIGNING THE MURAL THAT WE NEEDED FOR YOU TO SIGN SO WE CAN TAKE IT BACK TO D.C. AND PLACE IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES OFFICE AND WE WILL PLACE IT WHERE ALL OF YOU HAVE YOUR SIGNATURES ETCHED IN HISTORY.
I DO WANT TO SAY HELLO ONCE AGAIN TO MY GOOD FRIEND, FORMER MAYOR, FORMER NLC PRESIDENT HENRY CISNEROS, WHO IS ONE OF MY HUGE HEROES.
I'M JUST GLAD TO BE HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
[00:35:05]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MAYOR, I KNOW THE TRUCK IS GETTING WARM.
YOU DO REALLY HAVE TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA,
A MEMBER HERE ON THE CITY COUNCIL. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR WILLIAMS AND TO ALL THE NLC STAFF HERE, THANK YOU FOR SELECTING SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US ON ADVOCACY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE JUST STARTING YOUR FIRST TERMS, TO GET INVOLVED WITH NLC. EARLIER MAYOR WILLIAMS MADE A COMMENT ABOUT HOW I GO HEAD TO HEAD WITH WHOEVER IT IS. MAYOR, I HAD MY PICTURE OF ME GOING HEAD TO HEAD WITH THE PRESIDENT, BROUGHT OVER TO JUST TELL YOU THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF NLC THAT I FEEL SO CONFIDENT IN GOING HEAD TO HEAD WITH WHOEVER IT IS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CITIES. SO I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU AND EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF NLC BEFORE HAS DONE, TO BE ADVOCATES FOR OUR CITIES AND TO EMPOWER US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GO OUT THERE AND DO THE JOB THAT WE'RE ELECTED TO DO ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE STAFF.
I HOPE IT'S NOT TOO HOT FOR YOU ALL FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP.
>> YOUR SHORT STAY AND I HOPE THAT YOU MIGHT GET ANOTHER TACO ON THE RUN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
ONE LAST THING, VINCE. IT WOULD BE IMPROPER PROTOCOL FOR ME NOT TO INVITE ONE OF OUR FORMER PRESIDENTS OF THE NLC FORWARD.
MAYOR CISNEROS, PLEASE COME ON UP. [APPLAUSE]
MAYOR, THE FLOOR. >> MAYOR, I'M, LIKE MAYOR WILLIAMS, I'M MOVED BY WATCHING DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD A WORD THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A DIGRESSION BUT IT IS NOT. TODAY IS JUNE THE 6TH.
AS I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, I WATCHED THE CEREMONIES IN NORMANDY.
TODAY IS THE DAY THAT AMERICAN AND ALLIED TROOPS LANDED ON THE COAST OF NORMANDY AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS DIED THAT DAY IN DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. IT WAS THE LARGEST INVASION OF ITS KIND IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD AND NOTHING LIKE IT SINCE.
TREMENDOUS PLANNING, IMMENSE COURAGE. WE ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THAT ACTION. AND OUR WAY OF LIFE IS A BENEFICIARY.
NOTHING IS MORE INDICATIVE OF THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE THAN THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE IN VILLAGES AND TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS AMERICA. WE ARE NOW AN URBAN NATION AND MOST EVERYTHING IMPORTANT AND GOOD THAT HAPPENS IN OUR COUNTRY, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION OR HIGHER EDUCATION OR RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT OR BUSINESSES, TRANSACTIONS, TRADE HAPPENS IN OUR TOWNS AND VILLAGES AND CITIES.
SAN ANTONIO IS A LEADER IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
THREE TIMES THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HAS MET HERE.
ONE OF MY GREATEST TIMES AS MAYOR WAS HOSTING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IN 1986 THE YEAR I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.
IT WAS A GLORIOUS, FESTIVE SHOWING OF SAN ANTONIO . I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE LEAGUE BECAUSE WHEN YOU SUPPORT THE LEAGUE OF CITIES YOU SUPPORT PROGRESS FOR OUR NATION AND YOU SUPPORT LIFE FOR PEOPLE IN CITIES ACROSS AMERICA. THIS IS A GREAT CITY, ONE OF THE GREATEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND ITS MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HAS BEEN KEMPLARY.
I HOPE IT WILL CONTINUE SO WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL PRESIDENTS FROM SAN ANTONIO FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. 100 YEARS AGO OF PROGRESS FOR THE COUNTRY, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DRIVE SAFELY, MAYOR. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. KIND OF FITTING, IN THAT SAME VEIN, THIS CITY FUNCTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE 13,000 VERY DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS, AS THAT PROCLAMATION SAID. ERIK AND I, EVERY MONTH GET A GIANT STACK OF AWARD, RECOGNITIONS, THAT WE HAVE TO HAND SIGN EVERY MONTH. LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF
[00:40:01]
CERTIFICATES TO RECOGNIZE FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.I JUST GOT ONE THAT ONLY HAD MY SIGNATURE ON IT AND THAT'S BECAUSE TODAY WE ARE ALSO RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR VERY OWN CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH.
HERE IN THE CHAMBERS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WELL, I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE FLOOR IN A SECOND AFTER I READ KIND OF YOUR ROAD TO CITY MANAGER, ERIK. IN THE 30 YEARS THAT ERIK HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, HE STARTED AS A BUDGET MANAGEMENT ANALYST FROM 1994 TO 1997.
THEN HE WENT OVER TO THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET FROM '97 TO '98. ANYBODY FROM THAT DEPARTMENT? [LAUGHTER] HE WAS A SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER UNDER THEN-MAYOR BRESENIO FROM 1998 TO 2001 AND ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER FROM '01 TO '06.
HE OFFICIALLY ENTERED THE CITY MANAGEMENT OFFICE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND HELD THAT POSITION FROM 2006 TO 2011 AND WAS THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER UNDER SHERYL SKULLEY FROM 2011 TO 2019 AND BECAME OUR CITY MANAGER IN 2019 AND IS STILL TODAY AND HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. ERIK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS CITY AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE FLOOR.
>> WALSH: THANKS, MAYOR. TIME FLIES. AND WHAT IS CRITICAL TO ANY ORGANIZATION, BIG OR SMALL OR ANY CITY, TOWN, OR VILLAGE IS THE TEAM YOU WORK WITH. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE AND LOVE WHAT I DO. THANKS. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED YOU TO GIVE A LONG SPEECH, ERIK.
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. ERIK, ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS OF MY LIFE IS GETTING TO SERVE AS YOUR LEADERSHIP COACH.
[LAUGHTER] HEY, JUST AN ASIDE AND AN IMPORTANT ONE.
ERIK DID GO TO TRINITY AND TRINITY HAS PRODUCED ROD SANCHEZ.
TRINITY HAS PRODUCED OUR MAYOR AND TRINITY HAS PRODUCED A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER LEADERS ON THIS CITY COUNCIL. IN THE PAST AND PRESENT.
BUT ALSO A LOT OF CITY STAFFERS AND ALL OF US WHO ARE TIGERS ARE REALLY PROUD OF YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY. YOU STARTED 30 YEARS AGO AS THE ASSISTANT TO THE
ASSISTANT REGIONAL MANAGER. IS THAT WHAT I JUST HEARD? >> WALSH: BASICALLY.
>> PELAEZ: THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ERIK, CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT A GREAT DAY TO SPEND YOUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY HERE WITH SO MANY OF YOUR FANS. THAT'S YOUR TEAM. CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE INSPIRING WORK THAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS. I ALWAYS WATCH HOW PEOPLE SPEAK. YOU NEVER USE THE WORD "I" MORE THAN A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THAT'S JUST BY SAYING I WANT TO THANK. RIGHT? AND THAT'S A TRUE LEADER AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.
AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO ADVANCE OUR SOMETIMES CRAZY EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE. AND YOU JUST MAKE THEM HAPPEN, TOGETHER WITH YOUR TEAM. CONGRATULATIONS ON 30 YEARS AND HERE'S TO 30 MORE,
RIGHT? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: ERIK, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE WORKED WITH THREE VIAGRANS. MY FATHER WAS HEADING TO HIS RETIREMENT WHEN YOU WERE STILL VERY YOUNG, WITH PUBLIC WORKS -- WHAT'S NOW CALLED PUBLIC WORKS. AND THEN MY SISTER, OF COURSE, AND NOW I AM HERE AND WE ARE BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE REAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND ALL YOUR EFFORT AND BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR WHAT WE WANT AT THE CITY. FOR SOMEONE TO BE HERE AND INVEST THEIR ENTIRE CAREER
[00:45:01]
HERE. YOU'RE LIKE OUR DAVID ROBINSON AND TIM DUNCAN.THANK YOU SO MUCH AND ENJOY THE CELEBRATION. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
CONGRATULATIONS, ERIK. I KNOW THAT WE HAD WORKED TOGETHER PRIOR TO ME JOINING COUNCIL. I THINK OUR FIRST CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT BRINGING UBER AND LYFT BACK. WHILE YOU CAN BE STUBBORN, YOU CAN ALSO BE COLLABORATIVE AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY ALL THESE YEARS AND THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.
AND I KNOW I ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU. I ENJOY THE COLLABORATION, THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD TOGETHER.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ERIK, YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN IN THE CITY ALMOST AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ALIVE AND SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR -- NO, THAT WAS -- [LAUGHTER] I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SAYING THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER] WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT IS THAT YOU HAVE NEVER ONCE MADE ME FEEL LIKE AN IDEA I BRING TO THE TABLE IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY TRIED IT. YOU MAY HAVE TESTED IT MANY YEARS AGO AND IT MAY NOT BE WORTH IT, BUT YOU ALWAYS LISTEN TO EVERY ONE OF MY IDEAS AND MAKE ME FEEL VALUED AS A LEADER IN THE CITY, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE SO MUCH WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE IN THE ROLE THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU, ERIK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE IN ATLANTA, RIGHT, AT NLC AT THE END OF LAST YEAR AND WE WERE SITTING THERE HAVING DINNER AND YOU WERE GETTING TEXTS FROM A MILLION DIFFERENT PEOPLE, STAFF, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND I JUST REMEMBER SAYING TO YOU, I DO NOT KNOW -- FIRST OF ALL YOU WRANGLE THE 11 OF US SOMEHOW AND THEN DEAL WITH EVERYTHING ELSE ON YOUR PLATE. IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU MANY YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
30 YEARS. I CAN'T WAIT TO BE 30 YEARS OLD.
[LAUGHTER] WHAT I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT YOU, ERIK, AND WHAT I THINK MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS YOU MAKE AN EFFORT TO MEET EVERY SINGLE CITY EMPLOYEE.
I HAVE HEARD STORIES OF YOU ATTENDING ORIENTATIONS AND MEETING PEOPLE AT JOB SITES.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU DISAPPEAR AND GO OFF TO DO THAT BUT IT MEANS A LOT TO EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE AND SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME TO BE THAT KIND OF LEADER AND THAT KIND OF BOSS. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND CONGRATULATIONS ON 30 YEARS, ERIK. I WANTED TO SHARE IN 2019 I WAS PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO AMBASSADORS PROGRAM AND DURING THAT ORIENTATION YOU ASKED FOLKS WHO WERE FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO RAISE OUR HAND AND YOU MADE A PITCH ABOUT HOW YOUR HOPE WAS THAT WE COME BACK TO WORK IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO SERVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND AT THAT TIME I WAS IN THIS AREA TO GO INTO A PHD PROGRAM AND I DECIDED TO STAY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND DO COMMUNITY ORGANIZING.
WITH THAT, OFTENTIMES I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY AND I TALK ABOUT WHAT A GREAT TEAM LEADER AND TEAM PLAYER YOU ARE. AND GETTING ALL OF US TOGETHER TO HELP DRIVE THE CITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IS A SKILL THAT NOT MANY FOLKS HAVE. BUT YOU DO IT. AND LAST WEEK I WAS MEETING WITH A NONPROFIT AND WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE EXTENSIVE HOURS THAT CITY STAFF WORKS. I SHARED PRIMARILY AROUND BUDGET.
YOU'LL SEE ERIK, MARIA, AND SO MANY CITY STAFFERS' CARS AT CITY HALL AT 10:00 P.M.
ONLY TO WAKE UP THE NEXT DAY TO BE HERE AT 8:00 A.M. TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THE CITY RUNS. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM.
THANK YOU FOR BEING COLLABORATIVE AND A GREAT TEAM PLAYER.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, ERIK AND I MET YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS A COUNCIL AIDE FROM MAYOR ED GARZA. YOU WERE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE ALREADY,
YEAR AGO. BUT EVEN BACK THEN. >> WALSH: I WAS LIKE A
YOUNG JOHN PETEREK. >> HAVRDA: GOOD ON YOU, JOHN PETEREK.
HE COMPARED HIMSELF TO YOU. YOU HAVE ALWAYS SERVED WITH HUMILITY, WITH PROFESSIONALISM, WITH INCREDIBLE PATIENCE AND I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW, WITH GREAT HUMOR AS WELL. I ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU AND SITTING NEXT TO YOU. WE HAVE CLASHED, WE HAVE COLLABORATED BUT WHAT I REALLY AM GRATEFUL ABOUT WITH YOU IS THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS FOUND A SOLUTION FORWARD FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
[00:50:01]
DID I MISS ANYBODY? COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL AND I TALK WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I ALWAYS -- AND OUR GOVERNMENT -- I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY AND THE STAFF UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, ERIK. PROFESSIONALISM IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO YOU THROUGH ANY OF US AND THROUGH THE REST OF YOUR STAFF AND EVERYTHING. YOU YOURSELF ARE THE EPITOME OF PROFESSIONALISM FOR THIS CITY. AND I HOPE THAT THAT MEANS ALSO THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME KIND OF TRUST IN YOU THAT I HAVE. AND THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TRUST IN THIS CITY, KNOWING THAT IT'S BEING RUN BY A COUNCIL THAT IS COMMITTED TO EVERYBODY'S WELL BEING AND COMMITTED TO THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE STAFF THAT WORKS WITH US. I TRUST YOU MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE ON YOUR STAFF AND I HOPE THIS CITY WILL TRUST YOU AS CONTINUING TO BE OUR CITY MANAGER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ERIK, IT'S A GREAT PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU EVERY DAY. I DO REMEMBER THE DAY THAT YOU WERE HIRED AND CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND YOU CAME IN UNDER PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST TRANSPARENT PROCESSES FOR NAMING A CITY MANAGER THAT WE HAVE EVER DONE AND HAVING AN OPEN INTERVIEW WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PARENTS AND ALL THAT. I THINK PEOPLE HAVE RECOGNIZED NOW ACROSS THE CITY THAT YOU LEAD WITH YOUR HEART, THAT YOU LEAD BECAUSE YOU LOVE THIS CITY. IT'S REALLY THE ONLY REASON WHY YOU DO THIS JOB.
SOME DAYS I'M SURE YOU COME IN AND ASK YOURSELF WHY YOU CONTINUE TO DO IT BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S BECAUSE YOU REALLY HAVE A DEDICATION FOR MAKING THIS COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT'S WHAT UNITES US ALL UP HERE, THAT SAME PURPOSE. THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO, AND WE'LL KEEP MOVING THE CITY FORWARD. ONE MORE ROUND FOR ERIK.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. NOW, ON TO SOME CHAMPIONS. IF I COULD HAVE OUR LADIES FROM OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY, THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF THE NAIA COME FORWARD. WHEREAS ON MAY 29, 2024 OUR LADY OF THE LAKE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL TEAM WON THE NAIA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVER IN OLU HISTORY, THE SAINTS WON FOUR CONSECUTIVE GAMES IN THE WORLD SERIES IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA IN ITS SECOND TRIP TO THE WORLD SERIES.
WINNING OVER FOUR CONSECUTIVE SHUTOUT GAMES AND THE SAINTS' PATH TO VICTORY LED THE PROGRAM TO ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL SEASON EVER, GIVING RISE TO OLU'S VICTORY INCLUDING HOSTING AND WINNING THE OPENING ROUND UNDEFEATED WITH SHUTOUT WINS. THE CONFERENCE 24-0, NOT HAVING LOST A CONFERENCE GAME SINCE 2022. ACHIEVING UNDEFEATED RECORD ON THE ROAD IN REGULAR SEASON 12-0 WITH A HOME RECORD OF 28-1 AND FINISHING WITH A NATIONAL NATION LEADING WINNING STREAK. WHEREAS THE TEAM'S RALLYING CALL HONORS THE REMARKABLE SUCCESS OF THE OLU SOFTBALL PROGRAM DRAWING RECORD CROWDS AND SHATTERING ATTENDANCE RECORDS. WHEREAS THE HOME OF THESE TRAILBLAZERS IS THE HEAD COACH, ENTERING HIS FIFTH SEASON TO QUALIFY FOR THE NAIA WORLD SERIES WITH ALL FIVE OF HIS TEAMS EARNING SCHOLAR TEAM AWARDS. ALONGSIDE HIS ASSISTANT COACHES. THE ASSOCIATION HAS NAMED THE COACHES AS THE REGION 2 NATIONAL COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR. AND WHEREAS TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE OLU SAINTS WOMEN'S SOFTBALL TEAM FOR THEIR MOST VICTORIOUS SEASON EVER USHERING IN A STELLAR FUTURE FOR THE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL PROGRAM AND THE UNIVERSITY'S ATHLETIC PROGRAM. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 6, 2024 TO BE DESIGNATED AS OLU WOMEN'S SOFTBALL NAIA CHAMPION SERIES DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND WISH THE TEAM BEST OF LUCK IN ALL OF
[00:55:02]
THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS . CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] NOW, BEFORE I TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO OUR COUNCILWOMAN, I DO WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO WATCH THE SCREENS FOR AN AMAZING VIDEO.>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT CASSIE DROVE DOWN FROM BROWNSVILLE THIS MORNING AND SO SHE WAS LOOKING FOR PARKING. AND SO EXCITED THAT YOU COULD MAKE IT HERE.
CASSIE, A LOT OF THE PLAYERS HAVE GONE HOME ALREADY BUT WE CELEBRATE WITH THEM IN HEART. I'M SURE YOU ALL WILL LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU. BACK IN MAY, WHEN WE BROUGHT YOU ALL HERE, I THINK THE MAYOR KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BRING YOU ALL BACK HERE AS CHAMPIONS.
SO I WAS THINKING BACK IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, OH, PLEASE DON'T JINX THEM.
BUT THEN I WAS LIKE, NO, THEY'VE GOT THIS. I'VE BEEN WATCHING SOME OF YOUR GAMES ONLINE AND OF COURSE COMING OUT THERE, I GOT TO BE OUT THERE WITH YOUR FAMILY AT THE ST. MARY'S GAME. I WAS GIVING THE MAYOR AND ERIK WALSH A PLAY BY PLAY AS BEST I COULD. TODAY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT CASSIE, WHO I MENTIONED DROVE DOWN THROUGH THAT FOUR-HIT SHUTOUT AND SHE WAS NAMED NAIA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AND SHE'S BROKEN TEN OLLU CAREER AND
[01:00:04]
SEASON RECORDS. THAT'S A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE KAYLEN -- WE'LL RECOGNIZE THEM IN A BIT WITH A CERTIFICATE.WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THIS CITY THROUGH YOU ALL AND THAT'S BY SUPPORTING YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT THE CITY ON THE FIELD AND YOU ALSO REPRESENT THIS CITY ACADEMICALLY. COACH, ON THIS TEAM THERE'S THREETH OF MY STUDENTS. YOU SAW THE ENERGY IN THE VIDEO.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF ENERGY THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY PRACTICE SO HARD, THEY STILL BRING THAT SAME TYPE OF ENERGY INTO THE CLASSROOM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE GIRLS AND THEIR ACADEMIC ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR ALWAYS BEING READY AND ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUR OTHER CLASSMATES AND INSPIRE THEM TO CONTINUE TO DO THEIR WORK. AS YOU CAN TELL, LIKE I SAID, THE REST OF THE TEAM IS NOT HERE BUT THEY WILL I'M SURE GET A CLIP OF THIS VIDEO BECAUSE I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PATTY CONSTANTINE HAS BEEN THERE ALL ALONG IN SUPPORT OF THE GIRLS. AND SO TODAY WE ALSO HAVE A CITATION AND IN PARTICULAR I GET TO READ TODAY THE ONE FOR KAYLA.
KAYLA IS A MARKETING STUDENT, MARKETING MAJOR, UNDERGRAD.
DURING THE PANDEMIC THEY WERE ABLE TO EXTEND THEIR PARTICIPATION BECAUSE THERE WAS KIND OF NOTHING GOING ON DURING COVID. SHE ALSO GOT HER MBA, Y'ALL.
VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.
IN PARTICULAR, ON THE FIELD, NOT ONLY IN THE CLASSROOM. BUT SHE HAS AN INCREDIBLE CAREER. FOUR-TIME ALL CONFERENCE WINNER IS ONE OF THE THINGS.
AND SHE BROKE TWO OLLU SEASONAL AND CAREER RECORDS AND HAS INCREDIBLE ATHLETICISM. SO I GET TO GO BACK AND REPLAY SOME OF THOSE GAMES AND JUST GET INSPIRED. TODAY WE'LL BE PRESENTING ALSO TO KAYLA A CERTIFICATE.
I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT YOU WERE ONE OF MY STUDENTS, ONE OF THE PRIDE OF THE WEST SIDE TEAM. AND JUST CONGRATULATIONS. AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN
CASTILLO AS THE NEXT ONE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, DR. ROCHA GARCIA.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. IT'S SUCH AN EXCITING ACCOMPLISHMENT.
ON MONDAY I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN Y'ALL'S CELEBRATION.
I HAD MY YOUNG COUSIN WITH ME AND OTHER THAN HIM SAYING IT WAS HOT, WHEN HE WENT HOME AND HIS DAD ASKED WHAT HE DID, HE SAID I SAW CHAMPIONS, DAD.
IT WAS THE CUTEST THING EVER. I'M EXCITED TO READ THIS FOR CASSANDRA VALDEZ. THE 2024 ALL AMERICAN, THE 2024 NIA WORLD SERIES MVP AND FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. YOU LED THE OLLU WOMEN'S SOFTBALL TEAM INTO ITS FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN OLLU HISTORY.
YOU COMPLETED YOUR LEGENDARY SEASON, ACHIEVING SEVEN NIA LEADING INDIVIDUAL RECORDS AND 18 LEADING RECORDS. YOUR HISTORIC PATH TOWARDS VICTORY LED TO THE ENTIRE OLLU ATHLETIC PROGRAM TO ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL SEASON EVER. YOU HAVE ENDED YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON BREAKING 10 OLLU SEASONAL AND CAREER SCHOOL RECORDS AND EARNING MANY PRESTIGIOUS ACCOLADES INCLUDING THE NIA ALL AMERICAN FIRST TEAM IN 2023, HM IN 2024, THREE-TIME PITCHER OF THE YEAR AND THREE-TIME ALL CONFERENCE FIRST TIME. I COULD GO ON AND ON. THIS IS VERY LENGTHY.
BUT I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AND TO COACH AS WELL FOR ENSURING AND CONTINUING TO PUT THE WEST SIDE AND OLLU ON THE MAP, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA FOR BRINGING THEM HERE AND HIGHLIGHTING THAT. MY COMMENTS WILL BE BRIEF BUT JUST WATCHING THAT VIDEO YOU COULD SEE THE POWER OF SPORT, THE POWER OF GIVING IT YOUR ALL.
YOU WERE GIVING IT YOUR ALL ON THE FIELD AND I'M GLAD ALL Y'ALL'S WORK AND EFFORT WAS RECOGNIZED THROUGH THIS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THE PRIDE OF THE WEST SIDE BUT ALSO FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S AN AWESOME ACHIEVEMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I PROMISE I'LL BE BRIEF.
I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL. IN A TIME AT THE FRONT OF EVERY SOCIAL MEDIA CONVERSATION. IT'S SO EXCITING TO HAVE CHAMPIONS AND WATCHING YOU ALL AND WATCHING THE WORLD SERIES OF SOFTBALL AND SEEING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE TUNED IN. DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S HARDER THAN WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP? WINNING BACK-TO-BACKS. WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT
JUNE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
I REALIZE WE HAVEN'T GIVEN YOU THE FLOOR YET. COACH, LADIES, IF Y'ALL WANT
[01:05:01]
TO MAKE SOME REMARKS. WE DO, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, WANT TO HAVE THE WHOLE COUNCIL COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU. THE FLOOR IS YOURS, COACH.>> FIRST OF ALL, ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM AND UNIVERSITY, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. IT WAS AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR OUR TEAM AND WE BEAT TEAMS FROM MICHIGAN, OREGON, OKLAHOMA, AND CALIFORNIA IN THE FINAL.
AND THIS TROPHY LOOKS BETTER IN TEXAS THAN IT DOES IN ANY OF THOSE STATES.
SOWE WANTED TO BRING IT HOME. [APPLAUSE] WE WERE EXHAUSTED AFTER THE EIGHT DAYS OF BEING THERE IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.
BUT ON THE WAY HOME, YOU KNOW, WE SAW THE FROST BUILDING OUTLINED IN BLUE AND CITY HALL WITH BLUE LIGHTS ON IT. AND WE WERE -- WE COULD NOT WAIT TO GET HOME. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING?
SURE THEY DO. SURE THEY DO. >> HELLO.
NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS. I'M CASSIE. THANK YOU, GUYS FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US AND WHEN WE SAW THE PICTURES OF FROST BANK AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY, IT JUST MEANT SO MUCH TO US THAT THIS MEANS MORE THAN A TROPHY. AND WE'RE HONORED TO REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO AND WE --D FOR WHAT'S TO COME. BUT THANK YOU, ALL. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I SEE THEY DO ALL THEIR TALKING ON THE FIELD.
>> HELLO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, GUYS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. IT MEANS A LOT REPRESENTING SAN ANTONIO.
AS A MAVERICK GOING TO JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL AND NOW TO OLLU IT BRINGS THE WORLD TO BRING THIS BACK TO SAN ANTONIO WHERE I GREW UP PLAYING.
I STARTED SOFTBALL AND ENDED MY CAREER HERE. THANK YOU, GUYS.
>> YEAH, JUST KIND OF LIKE THEY SAID, I GREW UP HERE. I WENT TO HIGHLANDS SO I'M FROM SAISD. IT'S AWESOME TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE. I'M AT A LOSS FOR WORDS. Y'ALL'S SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY BEHIND THE SCENES FOR -- Y'ALL ARE A BIG PART OF MAKING THIS SEASON HAPPEN.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. NOW IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING PRIDE MONTH .
WHEREAS THE MONTH OF JUNE 2024 THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH AND PROVIDE ALLYSHIP TO THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES AND COMMEMORATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THIS DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND HIGHLIGHT THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED. WHEREAS JUNE 28, 1969 MARKS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, AFTER YEARS OF
[01:10:03]
DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT AND VIOLENCE, PATRONS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE STONEWALL INN STAGED AN UPRISING KNOWN AS THE STONEWALL RIOTS. THIS SPARKED THE BEGINNING OF A MOVEMENT TO OUTLAW BEGINNING OF THE CITY'S MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION OF THE LGBTQ+ IDENTITIES AND PROUD HISTORY. WHEREAS MEMORIALS WILL BE HELD THROUGHOUT THE MONTH FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN LOST TO HATE CRIMES OR HIV/AIDS AND COMMEMORATIONS TO HONOR THOSE WHO BROKE BARRIERS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.WHEREAS LOCAL PARTNERS SUCH AS PRIDE BIGGER THAN TEXAS AND THE PRIDE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO WILL HOST VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH TO CELEBRATE, PROMOTE, AND HOPE AND AWARENESS OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.
NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JUNE 2024 TO BE PRIDE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND URGE THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO TO STAND TOGETHER AND ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY BECAUSE IN OUR CITY Y'ALL WILL ALWAYS MEAN ALL .
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] I'LL TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR ONCE AGAIN RECOGNIZING JUNE AS PRIDE MONTH, ALLOWING ME TO START OFF BY SAYING HAPPY PRIDE, EVERYONE. AS THE FIRST OPENLY-GAY MAN ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE FIRST OPENLY-GAY BLACK MAN ELECTED TO ANY OFFICE IN TEXAS, JUNE IS A SPECIAL TIME FOR ME. WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH NEXT WEEK HERE ON COUNCIL. CELEBRATING THE DAY THAT THE LAST REMAINING ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN TEXAS WERE FINALLY MADE AWARE OF THEIR FREEDOM.
JUNE IS A TIME THAT WE HAVE TO REFLECT AND HONOR ALL OF THOSE WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR ME AND MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES, PAST AND PRESENT, TO BE HERE.
AND IT'S A TIME MANY OF US ARE ABLE TO REFLECT ON OUR INTERSECTING IDENTITIES AND HOW THEY SHAPE OUR PERSPECTIVES. PRIDE MONTH IS A TIME WHERE WE ARE ALL INVITED TO HONOR THE RESILIENCE, STRENGTH, AND DIVERSITY OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY HERE AND ACROSS THE GLOBE. WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS. THE FACT THAT I CAN RELIABLY EXPECT THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA TO RECOGNIZE PRIDE MONTH IS A SIGN OF PROGRESS.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO UNTANGLE PRIDE FROM POLITICS AND PRIDE MONTH IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR US ALL. THE ACLU IS TRACKING ANTI-LGBTQ+ BILLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE CAN'T GLOSS OVER THE FACT THAT LGBTQ+ FOLK ARE IN A STRUGGLE FOR OUR RIGHT TO EXIST. THERE IS A MORAL PANIC THAT HAS CREATED CONDITIONS FOR DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM. OUR TRANS COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE JUST AS WORTHY OF RESPECT AND LOVE AS ANYBODY ELSE.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME A STUDENT ASKED ME IF I WAS MARRIED.
I SAID YES. THEY ASKED MY WIFE'S NAME AND I RESPONDED NATHAN.
THERE ARE TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN FIRED FOR ANSWERING A QUESTION MANY TEACHERS HAVE BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED. I ENJOY GOING TO SEE BALLROOM SHOWS AND WATCHING PEOPLE EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH DANCE, SPECIFICALLY VOGUE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN YOUNG MEN BEATEN AND KILLED FOR EMBRACING THAT JOY. I'M PROUD OF THE TRANS AND NON-BINARY FOLK WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR COMMITTEE. YET THERE ARE TRANS PEOPLE NATIONWIDE WHO ARE BEING TARGETED AND MURDERED. THE ISSUE OF -- IN A SAFE, BEAUTIFUL CITY FREE OF FEAR, SHAME, OR RISK. WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR LOCAL LGBTQ+ ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE TIRELESS WORK HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO BRINGING VISIBILITY AND ACCEPTANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE UNITED NOT ONLY BY OUR IDENTITY BUT ALSO OUR SHARED BELIEF THAT WE CAN CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE IS VALUED AND RESPECTED AND WE'RE WILLING TO PUT IN WORK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. I'M STRUGGLING TO SEE. SOPHIA SEPULVEDA, MATTHEW SOLOMON OF FIESTA YOUTH, CHRIS CHUN OF FIESTA YOUTH, AND JUSTIN HOLLY OF THE THRIVE YOUTH CENTER . IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING UP.
[APPLAUSE] TOGETHER WE CAN SHAPE SAN ANTONIO'S FUTURE AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE, AND THAT MEANS EVERYONE CAN LIVE AUTHENTICALLY AND WITHOUT
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FEAR. SO I WISH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ALLIES A HAPPY PRIDE AND I WISH ALL OF THE HOMOPHOBES [INDISCERNIBLE] PRIDE IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN A PROTEST. HAPPY PRIDE SAN ANTONIO AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU .
THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR BRINGING THIS FORTH AND FOR RECOGNIZING PRIDE, JUNE AS PRIDE MONTH. AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE BEEN ATTACKED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, ESPECIALLY HERE ON THE SOUTH.
AND IT IS AMAZING TO SEE OUR CITY STILL ELEVATING OUR PRIDE FLAG IN THE CITY COUNCIL WHILE WE SEE OTHER CITIES TELLING OUR GOVERNMENT NOT TO DO THAT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING PRIDE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE LEADERS NOW AND IN THE PAST. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS
PROCLAMATION. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT, FOR THE LOVE, FOR THE HANDSHAKES, FOR THE HUGS THAT YOU GIVE US, NOT ONLY DURING PRIDE BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY OUTSIDE OF PRIDE MONTH.
SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY THE REPRESENTATION THAT Y'ALL ARE PROVIDING US TODAY BUT THE AWARENESS THAT YOU PROVIDE THROUGHOUT ALL THE YEARS. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW I'M STEPPING DOWN FROM MY ROLE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PRIDE CENTER AFTER 13 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT HAS HAPPENED. THIS IS MY LAST OFFICIAL DUTY IN CITY COUNCIL AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PRIDE CENTER AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER THAN FOR THIS MOMENT AND THIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: Y'ALL ARE ALL SHY TOO SO LET ME TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR RECOGNIZING ALL OF THE LEADERS AND ADVOCATES HERE TODAY.
EVERY YEAR I'M OVERJOYED TO WALK ALONGSIDE THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH . IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME SINCE THE STONEWALL RIOTS BUT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DO NOT FEEL WELCOME COMING AS THEY ARE. I CONTINUE TO BE OUTRAGED SEEING THE HARMFUL AND HATEFUL RHETORIC THAT CONTINUES IN PARTS OF TEXAS AND OUR STATE GOVERNMENT.
BUT I'M HERE TO TELL OUR FRIENDS IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY THAT ALL OF THOSE NARRATIVES ARE NOT REFLECTIVE OF SAN ANTONIO. I SUPPORT YOU ALL, I SEE YOU ALL AND I WILL ALWAYS FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO EXIST. NO ONE CAN DIM YOUR LIGHT AND NO ONE CAN DETERMINE YOUR IDENTITY AND EXPERIENCES IN YOUR PATH.
I'M SO PROUD THAT SAN ANTONIO IS SUCH A SUPPORTIVE AND WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING AND CONTINUING THAT LEGACY THIS MONTH AND SUPPORTING THE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, CULTURE, AND EXPERIENCES THAT THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY BRINGS TO THE TABLE.
THANK YOU AND HAPPY PRIDE. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, GUYS OF COURSE FOR BEING HERE. WE HAVE TALKED A LOT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY AND ALLIES. BUT YOU'RE HERE. YOU HAVE BEEN HERE BUT NOW YOU'RE AT THE TABLE. IT'S TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR. WE JUST, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, HEARD PEOPLE COMING HERE TO SPEAK HATE AND PEOPLE ASK ME WHY DO WE NEED AN LGBTQ COMMISSION AND WHY DO WE NEED THAT REPRESENTATION? IT'S ABOUT REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY. IT'S TIME FOR YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD LOUDER AND CLEARER.
AND MANY OF US HERE ON THIS DAIS WANT TO HELP TO PROPEL THAT FORWARD FOR YOU.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY OVER THE MANY, MANY YEARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS AND PEOPLE BEFORE YOU. AND WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACK. THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND HAPPY PRIDE. I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT WE LIVE IN THIS CITY AND THE CITY WHERE WE CAN EXPRESS OURSELVES AND LOVE WHOEVER IT IS THAT WE WANT TO LOVE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN GETTING THE THINGS YOU NEED ADVANCED FORWARD AS REPRESENTATIVES.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT OUR WORK IS NOT DONE BECAUSE YOU
[01:20:01]
ALL ARE GREAT EXAMPLES. WE, I FEEL, SAN ANTONIO IS A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR OTHER CITIES AND I THINK THAT THE WORK THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO DO, WE ALREADY HAVE GREAT PLANS FOR THE COMMISSION. A LOT OF US HAVE SOME IDEAS OF WHAT CAN BE DONE, ET CETERA. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE BIG THIS MONTH. WE WILL BE WITH YOU, I'M ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT, JUST KNOW THAT YOUR CITY COUNCIL IS HERE AND HERE TO HELP YOU. THANK YOU AND HAPPY PRIDE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WISH I COULD BE THERE IN PERSON, BUT I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING OUT, AND ROBERT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE PRIDE CENTER. Y'ALL, IT'S 2024 AND I'M STILL NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE GET THIS NONSENSE AND PEOPLE SPEWING HATE.
BUT KNOW THAT YOU ARE SEEING AND LOVED AND APPRECIATED AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT PRIDE MONTH.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
HAPPY PRIDE AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO WITH Y'ALL'S RESPECTIVE NON-PROFITS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ENSURING THAT COMMUNITIES' VOICES ARE HEARD AND REPRESENTED. ULTIMATELY WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS PLENTY MORE WORK TODAY, WE CELEBRATE AND BE SURE TO ENSURE FOLKS ARE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR. MATTHEW, THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU SERVE AND REPRESENT DISTRICT 5.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR BEING WHO HER AND SHOWING THIS COMMUNITY WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, IN YOURSELVES, IN YOUR COMMENT. WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO SERVE ON THIS COUNCIL THAT SUPPORTS YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU, CONTINUE YOUR
WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS WHEN PEOPLE ON THE -- THEY CLOAK HATE AND BIGOTRY IN THE NAME OF CONSERVATISM. AND IT'S NOT -- HATE AND BIGOTRY HAVE NO PLACE IN EITHER POLITICAL PARTY OR IN ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY.
GOD AND THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO LOVE ALL PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY LOVE. SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE FREE AND LIVE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND HAVE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED THAT ANYBODY ELSE DOES.
APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR SPREADING THAT MESSAGE.
THANKS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: SO THE ONE THING THAT ALL OF YOU AND ALL -- AND EVERYBODY WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY HAVE IN COMMON WE'RE ALL STUCK ON I-10 AND 281 IN THE MORNINGS AND AFTERNOONS. I KNOW THAT'S FUNNY, BUT I'M TRYING TO BE FUNNY, BUT IT'S A SERIOUS THING. WE ALL WANT CLEAN STREETS, A POLICE FORCE THAT WILL ANSWER OUR 911 CALLS, WE WANT RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND CLEAN PARKS AND GOOD THINGS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SAYING THAT IS CONTROVERSIAL IN SOME QUARTERS, RIGHT? SAYING THAT I WANT GOOD THINGS FOR THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE STANDING BEFORE ME DRAWS THE IRE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WRAP THEMSELVES IN THE FLAG, RIGHT? AND WHO SAY THE WORDS FAMILY VALUES, WHICH REALLY IS JUST A WAY OF CLOAKING THE REAL WORD WHICH IS HATE AND FEAR AND BIGOTRY.
NOT IN MY SAN ANTONIO AND NOT IN THIS BUILDING. AND CERTAINLY NOT IN MY HEART AND NOT IN MY MIND. I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING YOURSELVES OUT THERE KNOWING FULL WELL THAT DOING SO, YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO ATTRACT THE KIND OF HATE AND THE KIND OF MEANNESS THAT I DESCRIBED. THREE PEOPLE WHO I'M ALWAYS VERY IMPRESSED BY AND WHO I HONOR THEIR SERVICE ARE KURT MAY, DANIEL SHELDON ESPINOSA
[01:25:08]
AND FRANKIE WOLFF. I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM WATCHING THEM AND THE EXAMPLE THAT THEY LEAD. THERE'S SO MANY MORE OUT THERE, BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO FOR SAN ANTONIO AND THANK YOU FOR HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING BEHIND YOU THAT ARE STILL SILENT, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY BECAUSE YOU GIVE ME THE RIGHT TO LOVE
WHO I WANT TO LOVE, SO THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. AND MY THANKS ALSO FOR YOU TO BE HERE AND TO REPRESENT AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ TO ALWAYS PERSONALIZE WHY WE'RE DOING THIS WORK. I DO RECOGNIZE THAT WE WEREN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS TAKEN CONSIDERABLE EFFORT FOR US TO BE AT A POINT WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME TO THE TABLE. AND SO HAPPY PRIDE.
HAVE A GREAT MONTH. [APPLAUSE] AND ALSO, ROBERT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE PRIDE CENTER. WE CAME INTO OUR POSITIONS IN PUBLIC SERVICE ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME, SO I FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF A KINSHIP THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER WITH THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT ADVISER TO ALL OF US INCLUDING ME ON HOW WE CAN DO OUR JOBS BETTER AND I WANT TO SALUTE YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I THINK WE RAN THROUGH THE DAIS. THANKS, EVERYBODY. NOW, IT IS ALSO IN JUNE NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH. DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH RECOGNIZING HOMEOWNERSHIP AS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, REDUCING WEALTH BUILDING. AND CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THE RECOGNIZES THE VITAL ROLE PLAYED BY THE LOCAL REGION. AND WHEREAS SABOR IS A STEADFAST ADVOCATE ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS AND WHERE HOMEOWNERSHIP SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1910 WHEN ESTABLISHED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY WHO FORESAW THE BENEFITS OF COLLECTIVE ACTION.
AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THEY WILL COLLABORATE WITH CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND DISTRICT OFFICES TO HOST VARIOUS EVENTS EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS NEED TO DO ACHIEVE THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP.
WHEREAS SABOR'S COMMITMENT TO ITS MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY IS EDUCATE AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT -- THROUGH SERVICES AIMED AT ENHANCING HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL WHO CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME.
THEREFORE, I RON NIRENBERG, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2024 TO BE NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP ON IN IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. IF I COULD WELCOME OUR LEADERS FROM THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY TO COME UP. WILL AND REAGAN, IF YOU COULD STEP FORWARD.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO WELCOME HERE TWO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR OWN DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE PRESENT, DEBRA MARTINEZ AND SARA VERY HEAVIENS.
BOTH HAVE MADE USE OF OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANT PROGRAM. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO, AGAIN, PUT A FACE ON WHY WE DO WORK FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH AND THE BENEFITS TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
REAGAN AND WILL, THE FLOOR IS YOURS AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DEBRA.
>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE 2024 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR THE SAN ANTONIO REALTORS. AND I'M HONORED TO SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS.
AND SPEAK TODAY ON CELEBRATING NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH.
NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH IS A TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE VIOLATES ROLE OF HOMEOWNERSHIP PLAYS IN STRENGTHING THE ECONOMY. AND REMAINS A CORNERSTONE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. REALTORS ARE A CENTRAL PART OF THE HOME BUYING AND SELLING PROCESS, BRINGING EXPERTISE, LOCAL MARKET KNOWLEDGE AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE TO ENSURE TRANSACTIONS ARE SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL.
BEYOND TRANSACTIONS, REALTORS ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTING CHARITABLE CAUSES. HOMEOWNERSHIP IS A POWERFUL ECONOMIC DRIVER. IT STIMULATES THE ECONOMY, REAL ESTATE AND OTHER RELATED ENTITIES. MORE OVER, HOMEOWNERSHIP CONTRACTS TO THE ECONOMY
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THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES AND FOSTERING VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SABOR WILL CLAP RATE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS TO HOST VARIOUS EVENTS EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS NEED TO DO ACHIEVE THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP.
TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE HOMEOWNERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ONGOING SUPPORT OF HOMEOWNERSHIP IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO TURN THE CHAIR OVER TO REAGAN WILLIAMSON.
>> THANK YOU, WILL AND GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH. I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS THE 2025 CHAIR-ELECT OF THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE BOTH THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE ONGOING CHALLENGES IN OUR HOUSING MARKET. HOMEOWNERSHIP REMAINS A KEY PATH WAY TO ACHIEVING WEALTH AND ACHIEVING FINANCIAL STABILITY TO MANY FAMILIES.
WE MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE THE BUILDING GAP OF 5.5 MILLION UNITS, EQUALING TO A $4.4 TRILLION UNDER ESTIMATE IN HOUSING. ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES IS CRUCIAL TO MAKING HOMEOWNERSHIP TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. ONE OF OUR MANY GOALS IS EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS NEED TO DO NAVIGATE THE HOME-BUYING PROCESS. INCLUDING OFFERING EDUCATIONAL SABOR IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU TO SUPPORT POLICIES AND INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE HOMEOWNERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING HOMEOWNERSHIP IN SAN ANTONIO.
TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD AN OPERATOR -- A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. IF I CAN ASK DEBRA TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH IT.
>> HI, DEBRA MARTINEZ. I LIVED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, I WAS BORN HERE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I BOUGHT ME A HOME.
IF I KNEW THERE WAS A -- LIKE THE HOMEOWNERSHIP A LONG TIME AGO WHEN I HAD MY FIVE CHILDREN, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ME A HOUSE, BUT I ALWAYS RENTED FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE UNTIL MY KIDS GREW UP. I'M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE ME A HOUSE. I COULD SAY IT'S MY HOME. I HOPE YOU CONTINUE WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED A HOME TO LIVE IN. TO SAY THAT THIS IS HAIR HOME.
SO I JUSTMENT TO SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR HELPING ME GET MY HOME.
I'M VERY HAPPY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF YOU.
PLEASE CONTINUE THIS TO HELPING THE COMMUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO LOW-INCOME LIKE ME. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING ME GET A HOME.
I APPRECIATE IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SARAH. >> I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU ALL. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE TO BE A YOUNG HOMEOWNER AND THANKS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR HELPING ME, MY DREAM CAME TRUE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH SARAH AND DEBRA.
AND OUR COLLECTIVE THANKS TO THE GREAT WORK OF THE COMMUNITY AND MOST SPECIFICALLY THE WORK OF NHSD, THE STAFF MEMBERS VERONICA AND HER TEAM AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CITY COUNCIL WHO HAVE PRIORITIZED HOUSING FOR THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. THAT'S REALLY THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER WHICH IS WHAT MAKES THOSE OPPORTUNITIES POSSIBLE FOR YOU AND SO MANY OTHERS. CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH
TO ALL OF US. COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, WILL AND REAGAN. I SEE ALL THE FOLKS HERE FROM SABOR.
SARAH AND DEBRA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US.
IT'S A POWERFUL ONE. I SEAVER RONICA GONZALES IN THE FACT.
IT IS ALWAYS OF US COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE THESE POWERFUL STORIES HAPPEN.
WE KNOW HOMEOWNERSHIP IS A WAY TO ESTABLISH GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND PASS IT ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS SO I'M EXCITED TO WORKING ALONGSIDE SABOR TO MAKE SURE
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HOMEOWNERSHIP IS AVAILABLE FOR SAN ANTONIANS. HOMEOWNERSHIP BENEFITS, NOT ONLY THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE OWNERS, BUT THE OVERALL ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ON OUR TITLE CLEARANCE EVENT IN SEPTEMBER. THIS EVENT WILL BE INCREDIBLY IMPACTFUL FOR MANY RESIDENTS. THANK YOU TO SABOR FOR THE WORK YOU DO HELPING PEOPLE ACHIEVE THEIR DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES GETTING IN THE WAY OF THAT DREAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH.THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU GUYS FOR MAKING THIS A POINT TO BE HERE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT HOMEOWNERSHIP THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR SO MANY FAMILIES AND WILL CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.
>> PELÁEZ: JUST ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER. WHEN WE WERE ALL IN SCHOOL, REMEMBER THEY TAUGHT US ABOUT MAZLO'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS.
FOOD WAS ONE BUT SHELTER WAS THE OTHER ONE. AND THIS IS -- HOMEOWNERSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO MANY FAMILIES BECAUSE THOSE HOMES ARE THEIR MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS. AND THEY ARE THE PATH TOWARDS CREATING GENERATIONAL WEALTH. AND SO YOU DON'T HAVE GENERATIONAL WEALTH UNLESS YOU'VE GOT A HOME YOU CAN PASS ON TO YOUR KIDS. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO POINT OUT AND COURTNEY ROSEN AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, IF EVER YOU WANTED TO SEE WHICH SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY IS THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE, IF YOU WANTED TO MEASURE THE HEALTH OF YOUR ECONOMY, IS IT SONG OR WEAK, GO LOOK TO YOUR REALTORS.
MONEY, YOU GOT A STRONG AND HEALTHY ECONOMY. IF THE REALTORS AREN'T TURNING OVER HOUSES AND GOING TO CLOSINGS, THEN SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY WRONG WITH YOUR ECONOMY. THANK YOU SABOR FOR HELPING ALL OF US STAY AWAY OF THAT
FACT AND THANKS, MARTIN, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU HERE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS AND TEAM. YOU HAVE A POWERHOUSE TEAM.
I SEE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT DO SO MUCH NOT JUST WITH SABOR BUT WITH PERSONAL CAPACITY. I'M GIVING A PERSONAL SHOUT-OUT TO SARAH WHO SERVES ON THE SAN ANTONIO COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE EXPERIENCE TOGETHER. EACH OF ALL SERVE IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES AND REPRESENT THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS. AS FOLKS HAVE MENTIONED, IT'S ALL ABOUT THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND I WANT TO THANK MARTIN FOR ALWAYS VISITING WITH OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN CONVERSATION ON
SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING NEEDS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT GET TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF DEAD INDICATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY SO I'M GOING TO START WITH THE FIRST ONE, NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL RECOGNIZE THE FAMILY IS THE FOUNDATION OF ANY STRONG COMMUNITY.
MAKING IT SECOND ONLY TO CALIFORNIA FOR THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS IN THE COUNTRY. WHEREAS EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO GROW UP IN A SUPPORTING LOVING HOME. DURING TIMES UNFORTUNATE TIMES THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO OPEN HEARTS AND HOMES PROVIDE A VITAL SERVICE TO COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS THEY PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO COMMUNITY IN CARING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY SUCCESS TOUR IS BEST SERVED -- AS OPPOSED TO GROUP CARE.
WHEREAS THE STABILITY AND PERMANENT UNANIMOUS SIX-YEAR CAPITAL OF OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND EVERY CHILD FOSTER CARE DESERVES TO FIND PERMANENCY WHICH IS DEFINED AS A PERMANENT CONNECTION WITH AT LEAST ONE COMMITTED ADULT WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE BIOLOGICAL PARENTS THROUGH REUNIFICATION OR WITH ANOTHER ADULT FAMILY MEMBER, KIN, ADULT SIBLINGS OR IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS IN THE CHILD OR YOUTH'S LIFE WHO COMMIT TO THE CHILD THROUGH ADOPTION OR GUARDIANSHIP. I HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2024 TO BE DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO.
I KNOW WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR FOSTER COMMUNITY.
PLEASE COME UP ANGELA FROM CASA AND I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELCOME TO COURTNEY FROM THE THROUGH PROJECT AND EMILIO
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AND TODD TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. YOU GUYS COME ON UP.THANKS FOR JOINING US AND FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. IT WASN'T LONG AGO THAT FOSTER CHILDREN WERE NOT PART OF THE CITY'S THINKING. THERE WASN'T A PATH TO CITY SUPPORT.
THE CITY HAS ALLOCATED MORE THAN $7 MILLION TO FOSTER KIDS, IT'S A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT BUT WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THE FINISH LINE.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE THAT CAN BE DONE. NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH IS A TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE THOUSANDS OF 13 AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE.
THE SELF-LESS FAMILIES WHO ARE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK TO SUPPORT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. WHAT YOU SEE DAY IN AND OUT IS SOMETIMES HEARTBREAKING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT OF HOPE.
COURTNEY, AND GEE, EMIL I DON'T AND TODD, THE THROUGH PROJECT CASA EACH PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE IN THE LIVES OF FOSTER YOUTH PROVIDING MENTORSHIP ADVOCATING FOR RIGHTS OR OFFERING CRITICAL SUPPORT SERVICES, YOUR WORK MAKES A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE ON ALL OF OUR CITY. COURTNEY, THE THROUGH PROJECT'S COMMITMENT TO GUIDING FOSTER YOUTH AS THEY TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD IS --R VOICES ARE HEARD AND THEIR BEST INTERESTS ARE REPRESENTED. CELESTE AND TODD, PROVIDE THE STABILITY AND RESOURCES ESSENTIAL FOR WELL-BEING AND SUCCESS.
I HAVE TO JUST NOTE TOO THAT YOU ALL ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A LOT MORE NON-PROFITS OUT THERE, AT UTSA, PEGGY HAS THE FOSTERING FUTURES PROGRAM. ALL KINDS OF AGENCIES WORKING ON THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATIONS FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
SAN ANTONIO IS A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF YOUR DEDICATION.
I'LL ASK YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT BCFS AND BROUGHT MY TEAM WHO PROVIDES PREPARATION FOR ADULT LIVING SERVICES TO THOSE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE PREPARING TO AGE OUT AND THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY AGED OUT. THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND PROVIDE JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION.
BUT WITHOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS HERE, THESE YOUNG ADULTS WOULD NOT HAVE THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM SO THEY TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD AND LIVING INDEPENDENTLY.
SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH AND FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, AS SHE SAID, FOR RECOGNIZING THIS IMPORTANT MONTH BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 500,000 YOUTH CURRENTLY GROWING UP IN FOSTER CARE IN OUR COUNTRY, AS WELL AS THE FAMILIES WHO ARE CARING FOR THEM, ADOPTIVE PARENTS, CASA VOLUNTEERS, MENTORS, ALL THE CASEWORKERS WHO GO TO WORK TO HELP THESE YOUTH THRIVE. I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SUCH A COLLABORATIVE NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT REALLY WRAPS ITSELF AROUND THESE YOUTH FROM THE TIME THEY ARE SMALL AND THEY HAVE AN OPEN CASE IN COURT AND CASA IS REPRESENTING THEIR BEST INTERESTS. AS THEY GET OLDER THEY CAN SEEK SERVICES SO WE CAN HELP THEM TAKE THAT STEP INTO ADULTHOOD AND BECOME INDEPENDENT. I'M ALSO GAINFUL WE LIVE IN A CITY LED BY PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE TIME TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND CELEBRATE THE RESILIENCE AND HOPE THESE YOUTH EXEMPLIFY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY, AND I WILL KEEP THIS QUICK.
WHAT YOU BOTH SAID. BUT WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE MELISSA AND JUST STEPPING INTO THE ROLE OF PROMOTION FOR FOSTER CHILDREN AND ALSO PHYLLIS VIAGRAN AND ALL THE COUNCIL WHO HELPED US REDO THE CASA BUILDING SO WE CAN SUPPORT THESE CHILDREN MORE EFFECTIVELY. IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO BEFORE CASA WAS TOLD FOSTER CHILDREN IS A STATE ISSUE, MAY BE A COUNTY ISSUE, BUT YOU HAVE CHANGEED ALL THAT.
AND FOR THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. YOU'VE STEPPED INTO A ROLE WE'VE NEVER SEEN THE CITY STEP INTO AND BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS, BCFS WITH PEGGY. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE WRAPPED AROUND THE CHILDREN THAT DID NOTHING TO BE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY. AND YOU HAVE MY HEART FOR THAT FOR SURE. EMILIO WROTE A LOT OF NOTES, I WON'T SAY THEM, WE'VE BEEN
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GOING A LITTLE BIT. JUST THANK YOU. COME AND SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE BUILDING. EVERYBODY, COME AND SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE BUILDING AND EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CASA BECAUSE IT'S FOR ALL OF US AND YOU MADE THAT POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT ALL OF YOU DO. MY WIFE, AS ANGIE KNOWS, CHLORINE AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CASA FOR YEARS AND WHAT A GREAT ORGANIZATION IT IS.
YOU KNOW, PROTECTING CHILDREN AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UP AND FLOURISH AND SUCCEED, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN DO AS A SOCIETY. AND ALL OF YOU ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THAT. REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING AT ALL THAT MY OFFICE CAN DO, YOU ALWAYS KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA FOR BRINGING THIS UP AT OUR CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. ALSO TOO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU ALL DO. I THINK SOMEBODY MENTIONED THAT THESE FOSTER CARE KIDS ARE -- THEY ARE IN A SITUATION AT NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
AND IT REALLY DOES TAKE A VILLAGE AND IT TAKES SO MUCH WORKDAY IN AND DAY OUT.
JUST KNOW YOUR EFFORTS ARE APPRECIATED. AS COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE SAID, IF YOU ALL NEED ANYTHING FROM ME OR MY TEAM, WE'RE HERE TO LEND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE WORK YOU --
>> COURAGE: THE WORK YOU DO HAVE SO MUCH VALUE TO CHILDREN BUT ALSO THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE FOSTERED AND CARED FOR THOSE CHILDREN, AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES IT'S A SACRIFICE.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN NON-PROFITS DON'T GET THE RETURN FOR THEIR WORK THAT THEY DESERVE. BUT YOU KNOW THE REAL REWARD YOU GET IS FOR ALL THOSE CHILDREN YOU HELP AND HOW THAT HELPS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND YOUR POINT IS NOT LOST ON THIS COUNCIL WHICH I'M GRATEFUL FOR WHICH IS THAT YOUR ISSUE IS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY'S ISSUE FOR US TO RESOLVE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING GOD'S WORK. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.
AND FINALLY, SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER FOR MOST CHILDREN AND THAT MEANS THAT WE FINALLY HAVE SOME TEACHERS WHO CAN TAKE A BREATHER, A VERY BRIEF ONE, BUT IT IS NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION MONTH IN THE MONTH OF MAY, 2024.
THANK YOU TO THE TEACHERS WHO ARE UP HERE ON THE DAIS. DURING THE MAY, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION MONTH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR TEACHERS FOR THEIR VALUABLE ROLE IN MOLDING FUTURE CITIZENS.
WHEREAS OUR STATE, CITY AND COUNTRY'S FUTURE DEPEND ON PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION TO ALL STUDENTS ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF CRISIS TO KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED AND LEARNING THROUGH UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. WHEREAS TEACHERS SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS PREPARING LESSONS, COUNSELINGEN PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICE. WHEREAS TEACHERS OPEN STUDENTS' MINDS TO THE MAGIC OF IDEA AND DREAMS AND FILL ROLES AS LISTENERS, EXPLORERS, ROLE MODELS, MOTIVATERS AND MENTORS. WHEREAS TEACHERS KEEP AMERICAN DEMOCRACY ALIVE BYE LIFING FOUNDATION FOR GOOD CITIZENSHIP AND ADAPT TO RAPIDLY EVOLVING DISTANCE LEARNING SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY, 2024 AS NATIONAL APPRECIATION TEACHER MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO EXPRESS APPRECIATES TO OUR TEACHERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND DEVOTION TO OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. IT SHOULD BE TEACHER APPRECIATION MONTH EVERY MONTH OF THE 82, BUT WE RECOGNIZE IT IN MAY AND
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PERHAPS THAT'S FITTING BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE LAST DAYS OF SCHOOL.THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM THE VERY PROUD PRESIDENT OF NORTHSIDE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS. WE'RE THE UNION REPRESENTING THE NORTHSIDE EMPLOYEES. SO I JUST WANT TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING TO AUDIO] FOR INVITING NORTHSIDE AS CITY COUNCIL CELEBRATES NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION MONTH. OUR MEMBERS DESERVE AND TRULY APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION. TODAY MARKS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL IN NORTHSIDE.
WHILE OUR MEMBERS COULD NOT JOIN US TODAY AS IT IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL AND THEIR COMMITMENTS ARE TO THEIR STUDENTS, THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THE HEART-WRENCHING TASK OF BIDDING FAREWELL TO THEIR STUDENTS AND WISHING THEM A SAFE AND JOYFUL SUMMER.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A FEW OF THEM. THIS MORNING MS. CHITWOOD RECITED THE LAST PREJUDICE WITH HER YOUNG STUDENTS WHO ARE READY FOR THE ADVENTURES OF FIRST GRADE. MISSION CURTIS WISHED HER STUDENTS SUCCESS.
MR. JORDAN CONGRATULATE SENIORS ON JOURNEY TO COLLEGE SENDING THEM OFF WITH WELL WISHES. THESE A JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF STUDENTS SITTING IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AND THE IMPACT THEY'VE MADE OVER THE PAST YEAR.
WE MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE SUPPORT STAFF. WITHOUT SUPPORT STAFF WE CAN'T DO THE WORK AS TEACHERS THAT WE DO. FROM FRED JIMENEZ WAS A BELOVED MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT. HE TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY IN THE INLOOK OF FUTURE. MR. FRED WAS COMMITTED TO STUDENTS AND HIS JOB AND TODAY WE WANT TO HONOR HIM AND THE WORK HE DID AND HIS DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS.
AS WE CELEBRATE TEACHER APPRECIATION MONTH, WE ASK EACH OF YOU TO REMEMBER THE PROFOUND IMPACT EDUCATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE THE BED ROCK OF YOUR EDUCATION SYSTEM SO LET US CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THERE'S MORE THAN 17,000 TEACHERS IN SAN ANTONIO AREA. THAT'S ENOUGH TO FILL A FROST BANK CENTER FOR A SOLD-OUT SPURS GAME. FOR EACH OF THEM, EACH ONE OF THEM, THOSE OF YOU HERE TODAY AND EVERY TEACHERS THAT'S STILL WORKING, TODAY IS THEIR LAST DAY, THEY DESERVE OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE. TEACHERS CARRY A RESPONSIBILITY THAT STARTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND GOES BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE CAMPUS. THEY ALSO LAY THE FOUNDATION OF POSSIBILITY.
THEY ENCOURAGE LEARNING AND CREATIVITY. IT IS A GRUELING JOB MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DEMANDING AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS, AS YOU MENTIONED WITH MR. JIMENEZ. I HAPPEN TO BE MARRIED TO A PERSON WHO WAS A TEACHER FOR MANY YEARS, BUT WILL ALWAYS BE A TEACHER AT HEART AND I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS NOT JUST ON THE PERSON BUT YOUR FAMILIES. YOU DON'T WORK JUST 8:45 TO 3:30. THERE ISN'T ONE PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT HASN'T BEEN INSPIRED BY A TEACHER DURING THEIR LIVES. I TOLD THE STORY OF MY INSPIRATION KIDS RAISED THEIR HAND AND HAD A STORY TO TELL. IT'S JUST REALLY A BEAUTIFUL THING. THERE ARE SEVERAL TEACHERS WITH US THIS MORNING.
MELINA FROM NORTHSIDE. ADRIAN REYNA FROM THE SAN ANTONIO ALIGNS AND LETICIA FROM THE EDGEWOOD ISD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, REPRESENTING THE 17,000 TEACHERS IN OUR CITY. YOU ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU HELP OUR CHILDREN DEVELOP INTO RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS AND YOUR INFLUENCE
LASTS A LIFETIME. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM A THIRD GRADE TEACHER AT ROOSEVELT DUAL LANGUAGE ACADEMY IN EDGEWOOD ISD AND PROUD MEMBER OF THE TEXAS STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO THINK BACK TO THAT TEACHER WHO MOTIVATED YOU TO SIT IN THE SEAT YOU ARE IN TODAY.
I'M SURE EACH OF YOU HAS THAT PERSON WHO NEVER GAVE UP ON YOU EVEN WHEN YOU FELT LIKE GIVING UP ON YOURSELF. THAT PERSON HAS THE ESTEEMED PRIVILEGE OF BEING CALLED TEACHER, AND ALL ACROSS THE CITY AS CLASSROOMS ARE BEING CLEANED UP TODAY AND
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TOMORROW, THEY SERVE AS GUIDES AND PROTECTORS, FURTHER TOURING AND SUPPORTING OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE. EVERY DAY THEY PROVIDE OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BUILD THE FUTURE THAT WILL HELP THEM LIVE THEIR WILDEST DREAMS LIKE HOMEOWNERSHIP OR EVEN CHAMPIONSHIPS.TEACHERS DON'T JUST TEACH READING AND MATH, BUT TRUST AND RESPECT AND INCLUSIVITY OF OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. HOW TO STAND AND ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT STAND FOR THEMSELVES. WE HAVE AN UNCANNY WAY OF NOT ONLY REGION -- ONLY LISTENING OUR STUDENTS CONCERNS, BUT UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS, COMPASSION AND DEDICATION FOR STUDENTS IS COMMENDABLE. TEACHER APPRECIATION IS A SIMPLE IDEA. IT SHOWS YOU VALUE THE WORK YOU DO AS YOU ALL HAVE DONE TODAY. AND AS THE SCHOOL YEAR WRAPS UP APPRECIATED THEY ARE BY SHARING YOUR STORY OF A TEACHER WHO HAS INFLUENCED
YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS ADRIAN, I AM A THIRD GENERATION PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN THE SAN ANTONIO UNDERSTAND SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO ALIGNS OF TEACHERS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHICH IS OUR UNION FOR SCHOOL WORKERS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR INVITATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF ALL SCHOOL WORKERS IN SAISD, THE OLDEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE ONE THAT SERVES OUR URBAN CORE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION AND THE ONGOING WORK PERFORMED BY TEACHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM YOUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL GIVE-AWAYING, BEING GUEST READERS IN OUR LIBRARIES AND SENDING CARE PACKAGES DURING THE DREADED STARR TESTS.
WE KNOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE BEATING HEARTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY ARE WHERE THE PATH TO THE NIA CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS. AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING AND HONORING THE INCREDIBLE AND INVALUABLE WORK OF OUR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL WORKERS, BUT NOW MORE THAN EVER IT'S CRUCIAL WE DEEPEN OUR WORK TOGETHER AND TAKE CONCRETE STEPS CREATING THE SCHOOLS STUDENTS AND STAFF DESERVE.
WHILE WE KNOW CITY GOVERNMENT DOES NOT DIRECTLY IMPACT SCHOOL FUNDING, EACH OF YOU PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE ON BUILDING ON ASSETS AND WORKING TO ADDRESS THE BROADER SOCIAL NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THAT AFFECT STUDENTS' ABILITIES TO SUCCEED.
THAT INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOOD SECURITY, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AS WELL AS SUPPORTING OUR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE SCHOOL WORKERS JOINING ME THIS MORNING. WE HAVE JUSTICE, ENGLISH TEACHER AT HIGHLANDS, DAVID GARZA, HEAD START, AND MISDEMEANOR ARE DAN WHO IS A SIXTH GRADE TEACHER.
IT IS THEIR WORK AND IT IS THE WORK OF THOUSANDS OF EDUCATORS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT THAT INSPIRE HOPE AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBERS THAT REPRESENT SAISD.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK -- LET ME BACK UP. THOSE OF YOU THAT DO REPRESENT SAISD ARE WELL AWARE WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A ROUND OF SCHOOL CLOSURES THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR YEAR LIKE NO OTHER AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT SCHOOL CLOSURES AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE ADVOCACY OF COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, A STAUNCH ALLY AND FORMER ALLIANCE MEMBER AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR TIRELESS PUBLIC SUPPORT AND SHOWING UP TO EVERYTHING.
THE ATTACKS ON PUBLIC EDUCATION WILL CONTINUE. AND IT IS ONLY WITH OUR UNITED SUPPORT THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL WORKERS AEN THE STUDENTS IN THOSE CLASSROOMS CAN CONTINUE TO DO THEIR VITAL WORK.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR RECOGNITION THIS MORNING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK TO BUILD THE CITY. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.
I'M OFTEN EVERYDAY TO HAVE YOU COME BEFORE US -- HONORED TO HAVE YOU COME BEFORE US TODAY. 20 YEARS AGO I WAS IN YOUR SHOES.
I TAUGHT FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS AT SAISD. I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE TEACHING NORTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT. I ALSO TAUGHT AT HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC SCHOOL, LITTLE FLOWER CATHOLIC SCHOOL. AND IN 25 YEARS OF TEACHING,
[02:00:03]
I ALWAYS RECOGNIZED THAT WHAT I WAS DOING WAS PUBLIC SERVICE.AND I'VE CONTINUED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS A COUNCILMEMBER.
TEACHING IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT PROFESSION.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LIVES OF EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S SUCH A SHAME THAT TEACHING IS SO UNDER RECOGNIZED FOR ITS IMPORTANCE, UNDER APPRECIATED. YOU KNOW, IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, TEACHING IS ONE OF THE MOST ESTEEMED POSITIONS IN SOCIETY.
PARTICULARLY I'M AFRAID HERE IN TEXAS IT IS HELD IN VERY LOW ESTEEM.
THAT'S SOMETHING ALL OF US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO TRY AND CHANGE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I WILL BE GOING TO AUSTIN AND I WILL BE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF TEACHERS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. IT'S GOING TO BE A CRITICAL TIME FOR ALL OF US.
BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND I KNOW THAT YOUR CHILDREN APPRECIATE YOU AND I HOPE AND BELIEVE A LOT OF THE PARENTS APPRECIATE YOU AND CERTAINLY AS A MEMBER OF
THIS COMMUNITY I DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: AT A TIME WHEN OUR LEADERS IN AUSTIN ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR BOOKS OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS, BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO. INSTEAD WE HAVE THE STATUS QUO THAT WE'VE GOT. BUT I'M REALLY HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT ON THIS DAIS YOU'VE GOT UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AND I HOPE YOU'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT.
IN MY CASE, I'M A CAREGIVER TO A TEACHER. THAT JUST MEANS MY WIFE IS A LIFE-LONG TEACHER AND I THINK THE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OFTENTIMES BECAUSE WHILE TEACHERS ARE AT HOME GRADING, WE SPOUSES AND KIDS ARE KIND OF ON OUR OWN HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES. I REMEMBER MY WIFE AGONIZING ON WEEKENDS AND DURING VACATIONS HAVING TO GRADE STACKS AND STACKS OF PAPER.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S CUTE IS THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A FULL-GROWN ADULT WALKS UP TO MY WIFE ANDIZATION YOU TAUGHT ME IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I REMEMBER AND THEY REGALE US WITH HOW MY WIFE INSPIRED THEM. I SAID HE TO MY WIFE, DO YOU REMEMBER THOSE MOMENTS? SHE SAID NO, BUT THAT'S LIKE EVERY SINGLE DAY BUT IT DIRECTED THEM TO DO BIG THINGS SOMETIMES. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
MY DAUGHTER SOPHIA IS A NAISD STUDENT, BUT HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN PRE-K SHE SAID I LOVE MY TEACHERS, DAD, AND THIS IS HER FIRST TIME WITH TEACHERS.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN TODAY, WHAT DID YOUR TEACHERS SAY TODAY? OH, YEAH, I REMEMBER, SOPHIA, SIT DOWN, I'VE TOLD YOU.
BUT EVEN THAT MY DAUGHTER STILL RECOMMENDS VIVIDLY AND THANK YOU FOR TOUCHING LIVES
AND CHANGING LIVES. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I WAS AT AN EVENT NOT THAT LONG AGO AT A LOCAL BAR AND SOMEONE TRIED TO BUY ME A DRINK AND I WAS NO THANK YOU, I'M GOOD. THEY ARE ONE OF MY FORMER STUDENTS.
I'M LIKE ABSOLUTELY NOT THEN. BUT I'M AT THAT AGE NOW WHERE THEY ARE 25 AND WHATNOT. THIS PAST YEAR I REJOINED THE CLASSROOM AND IT WAS REALLY ONLY 10 TO 12 HOURS A WEEK AND IT WAS WAY MORE THAN 10 TO 12 HOURS A WEEK. IT WAS UNSUSTAINABLE AND IT DID WHAT I WANTED IT TO DO, RECONNECTED ME WITH MY STUDENTS AND MOTIVATION FOR RUNNING FOR OFFICE, BUT ALSO REMINDED ME JUST HOW HARD IT IS TO BE A TEACHER AND TO BE A WHOLE PERSON.
AND RECOGNITION MONTHS ARE NICE, BUT WE NEED MORE FOR OUR TEACHERS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE DOING ALL THEY DO. PAYING TEACHERS MORE, FUNDING SCHOOLS AND FACILITIES MORE, MAKING THE WORKLOAD MANAGEABLE, SHOWING TRUST AND RESPECT THROUGH AUTONOMY OF OUR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS. AND ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF.
AND ALSO TO ME IT MEANS ABOLISHMENT OF STARR. PUBLIC EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS
[02:05:04]
ARE CONSTANTLY UNDER ATTACK AND EVEN MORE SO NOW AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO FIGHT IN AUSTIN AT THE STATE LEDGE AND BE CREATIVE IN THE WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. CAN'T BE RECOGNIZED ENOUGH, SO THANK YOU.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THROUGH THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS, DISTRICT 5 NOW INCORPORATES FIVE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NORTHSIDE BEING THE FIFTH ADDITION.
THERE'S PLENTY OF WORK AHEAD AND ADRIAN SAID IT BEST, WHILE I DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, I WENT TO SCHOOL TO BE A HISTORY TEACHER, COMPLETED AT FOX TECH WHERE I GOT MY FIRST OFFER TO TEACH U.S. HISTORY. BUT ULTIMATELY I CONTINUED MY EDUCATION AND THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE AS ADRIAN HIGHLIGHTED, YOU SEE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND YOUTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND SO MUCH MORE. THAT'S WHY I'M COMMITTED TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE YOU AND I'M A STRONG BELIEVER IN THAT SOLIDARITY IS A VERB AND I'M PROUD MY TEAM AND I WENT TO AUSTIN TO ADVOCATE ALONGSIDE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS.
AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF WORK AHEAD, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL, SUPPORT STAFF AND ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR ENSURING WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT PUBLIC
EDUCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS FOR YOU ALL'S WORK AT WOODLAWN AND LONG FELLOW, TWO DISTRICT 7 GEMS. JUST WANTED TO SHARE A QUICK STORY IS THAT YOUR COMMENTS ON WHICH TEACHER MADE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON OUR LIVES, AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT ALL THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE HAD AND MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON MY LIFE.
I HAVE TWO ALSO GIRLS AND SO IT'S SO AWESOME AND EXCITING TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THEIR TEACHERS. WE ALWAYS JUST FOSTER THAT, WHAT IS HER FAVORITE THING? GREEN AND PENS. IT WAS FUNNY WITH OUR FIRST DAUGHTER, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS, READING TO HER EVERY NIGHT.
YOU KNOW, NEW PARENT STUFF. AND IT WAS HER KINDERGARTEN TEACHER THAT JUST REALLY FOSTERED THAT LOVE OF READING. SO ALL THE WORK WE DID, NOTHING. AND THIS TEACHER, HER NAME WAS MS. RUSSELL.
NOW MY DAUGHTER IS A LITTLE BOOK WORM. YOU SEE THE IMPACT THAT THE TEACHERS HAVE MADE IMPACTS ON ME, BUT ALSO ON MY DAUGHTERS' LIVES BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THEY HEAR THAT AND FEEL THAT SUPPORT CONSTANTLY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS A 15-YEAR PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR, EVERYTHING YOU SPOKE ABOUT -- I HAD BEEN WORKING WITH EDGEWOOD AND IT WAS THAT MOMENT I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO RUN BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE SYSTEM WAS BROKEN. WHEN I START OFF TEACHING, I BELIEVED IF WE COULD JUST TEACH HARDER THAT WE COULD CHANGE THE LIVES OF STUDENTS.
BUT YOU LEARN THERE'S SO MANY SYSTEMIC BARRIERS THAT ARE PREVENTING THE OUTCOMES WE WANT AND OUR KIDS DESERVE. I THINK COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ MENTIONED YOU HAVE A GROUP OF SUPPORTERS HERE. ON ONE OF THE PROJECTS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AT THE BEXAR COUNTY COALITION TO MAP OUT SIDEWALKS AROUND SCHOOLS WITHIN A HALF-MILE RADIUS TO SEE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE SIDEWALKS ARE FAILING.
WE KNOW IF STREETS ARE FLOODED OR IF IT'S RAINING AND A KID IS WALKING TO SCHOOL. THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PROJECTS TO MAKE PROJECTS STUDENT CENTERED AND FOCUSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I WANT TO ADD MY ENTHUSIASM AND APPRECIATION FOR EVERY CYBIL ONE OF YOU.
IT DOES NOT GO LOST ON ME THAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS COMMUNITY CITY COUNCIL ARE EDUCATORS. AND I'M EXTRA PROUD THAT THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS, LIKE WE'RE ALL EDUCATORS. VERY, VERY EXCITING AND WE'LL WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE TO THIS SIDE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. MY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER WAS
[02:10:02]
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BECAUSE I DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH AND MY PARENTS HAD ONLY GONE TO FIRST AND SECOND GRADE AND SHE MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS THE SMARTEST KID IN THE ROOM. IT WAS BECAUSE OF HER I WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY. STARTED OFF I DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE, I WAS TERRIFIED LIKE EVERY KID, BUT I HAD THAT ADDED, I GUESS, UNDER ADVANTAGE THAT I COULDN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE. BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU, I FELT WELCOME.SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ CAME TO ASK ME IF HIS DEFENSIVE DRIVING TEACHER COUNTED. I TOLD HIM NO, BUT I TOLD HIM DON'T SPEAK UP ANYMORE.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I'LL JUST ECHO EVERYTHING EVERYONE SAID, ESPECIALLY THAT YOU HAVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT UP HERE.
TEACHING IS HARD, UNDER APPRECIATED, BUT THERE'S NOTHING OTHER THAN KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE, MAKING SURE THEY ARE EDUCATED IS RIGHT THERE IN TOMMORROW'S OF
IMPORTANCE. -- IN TERMS OF IMPORTANCE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. MA'AM, COULD YOU REINTRODUCE YOURSELF AGAIN FROM
EDGEWOOD. >> YOU FOR THE CALL TO ACTION FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THE TEACHERS WHO HAVE HAD INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIVES BECAUSE IT'S A UNIVERSAL STORY AND IMPORTANT TO TELL SO WE GAIN SUPPORT FOR FOLKS NOT LISTENING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND HAVE A RESTFUL SUMMER.
YOU DESERVE IT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. NOW ERIK, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
>> WALSH: TWO QUICK ITEMS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, TWO FISCAL YEARS AGO, WE INVESTED THROUGH OUR ANNUAL PEG FUNDING AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL THE UPDATE OF EQUIPMENT AT BOTH CPS AND SAWS. BEGINNING IN JUNE AND JULY, BOTH CPS AND BOARD MEETINGS WILL BE TELEVISED ON TVSA. I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COUNCIL.
THAT WILL BE IN ADDITION TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHICH WE HAVE MADE AN INVESTMENT TO UPGRADE THOSE CAMERAS OVER THERE. THEY WILL ALSO BE JOINING SO THAT ANYBODY THAT IS INTERESTED CAN NOW COUNCIL MEETINGS, SAWS MEETINGS, CPS MEETINGS, AS WELL AS COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND THEN SECONDLY, THIS WEEK'S VIDEO WHICH IS ACTUALLY PRETTY TIMELY HIGHLIGHTS OUR SCHOOL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROGRAM. AND THAT PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHEDULED AND COMPREHENSIVE
MAINTENANCE ON -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK ON A SECOND, ERIK.
I NEED OUR COUNCILMEMBERS TO RETURN TO THE DAIS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM.
>> WALSH: THE SCHOOL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROVIDES MAINTENANCE ON SCHOOL ZONE CROSSWALKS. YOU WILL SEE ON THE VIDEO ONE OF THE CREWS THAT DOES THIS WORK, ALL OF THOSE CROSSWALKS ARE ON A THREE-YEAR ROTATING CYCLE.
2,188 SCHOOL CROSSWALKS AND 729 OF THOSE ARE COMPLETED ANNUALLY.
AND WE ARE ON TARGET TO COMPLETE THIS YEAR'S SCHEDULE ON TIME AND ON BUDGET. THE SECOND PART OF THE VIDEO REALLY HIGHLIGHTS OUR STREET MARKING, PAVEMENT MARKING PROGRAM, WHICH IS COUNCIL WILL REMEMBER WE INCREASED FUNDING TO REDUCE THE CYCLE. WE'VE COMPLETED 801 LANE MILES.
WE HAVE -- WE'VE COMPLETED 65% OF THIS YEAR'S WORK. WE'LL COMPLETE THE REMAINING PORTION BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. AND THE COUNCIL -- THIS WAS A MAJOR PRIORITY THAT CAME OUT OF LAST YEAR'S GOAL-SETTING SESSION.
AND I THINK HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE SEEN A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORK OUT THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN STRIPING ANYTHING THAT ISN'T MOVING. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.
[VIDEO]. >> MY TITLE IS SIGNS AND MARKING TECHNICIAN.
WE MAINTAIN PAVEMENT MARKINGS. WE'RE DOING THE CROSSWALKS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THIS IS DONE BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE VISIBLE AND WE'RE IN BETWEEN TWO SCHOOLS AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR IT TO LOOK GOOD AND BE FUNCTIONAL.
[02:15:02]
WHEN WE FIRST GET HERE, WE PUT OUT CONES SO WE CAN SET UP OUR WORK ZONES.WE BLOW OFF THE AREA AND TAPE IT DOWN SO EVERYTHING COMES OUT NICE AND CLEAN.
THERE'S A TRAILER THAT'S PRE-HEATING ALL THE POWDERY SUBSTANCE CALLED THE THERMAL. WE TAKE IT OVER TO THE SITE. THERE'S A TECHNIQUE TO THE WALK-BEHINDS AND IT NEEDS TO BE PRECISE. IT'S A SKILL WITHIN ITSELF AND IT'S VERY HARD TO LEARN. YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR REPS IN AND LEARN IT BY DOING IT.
THE MATERIAL BURNS AT 400 DEGREES WHEN HE IS LAYING IT DOWN, MAKES SURE THE LINE IS NICE AND CRISP. AFTER WE LAY DOWN THE CROSSWALKS, WE CLEAN EVERYTHING, MAKE SURE IT'S NICE AND NEAT. THERE'S BEADS THAT WE THROW THAT CAN BE SLIPPERY SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THAT IS CLEANED UP.
BEING FAIRLY NEW AT THIS JOB, IT'S AWESOME I GET TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE TIME TO TEACH. I WANTED TO WORK FOR THE CITY BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CITY SO I TAKE PRIDE IN DOING WHAT I DO BECAUSE IT MAKES MY FAMILY SAFER.
SO I KNOW IT DOES THAT FOR OTHER FAMILIES AROUND THE CITY SO IT'S AN AMAZING
THING TO DO. [APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: THANK YOU,
MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU, ERIK.
BEFORE WE RECESS, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WITH A
POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT. A PARTICULARLY PERSONAL RECOGNITION, A BELOVED OF MY TEAM IS GETTING READY TO GO ON MATERNITY LEAVE. DENISE, IN ONE MONTH THEY WILL WELCOME A BEAUTIFUL BABY DAUGHTER. DENISE HAS BEEN WITH MY OFFICE FROM THE BEGINNING. SHE'S BEEN A SOURCE OF PERSEVERANCE AND CARE.
EVERY DAY SHE DEMONSTRATES A SPIRIT FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND GIVES ME PERMISSION TO COME TO CITY HALL WITH ALL THE FIRERY CAN. IT'S WITH A WARM HEART I WANT TO WISH A JOYFUL MATERNITY LEAVE. THE TEAM AND I ARE EAGER TO MEET YOUR BUNDLE OF JOY AND WELCOME YOU BACK. WE MISS YOU ALREADY AND I'M COUNTING THE DAYS FOR WHEN YOU RETURN IN A FRIEND KIND OF WAY.
I WISH THE BEST FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
CONGRATULATIONS, DENISE. WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION, 11:27 A.M. ON THURSDAY, JUNE 6,Y WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THE TIME IS 2:06 P.M., CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN. OUR A SESSION IS NOW
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.