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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:11 A.M. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER ON THE 13TH OF JUNE 2024. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: SIR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WELCOME, EVERYONE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. TO GET US STARTED THIS MORNING, LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO TO WELCOME OUR
INVOCATOR. >> CASTILLO: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
TODAY OUR OFFICE'S INVOCATOR IS DEACON ADRIAN SORIANO FROM ST. TIMOTHY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. DEACON SORIANO IS A PERMANENT DEACON FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO ASSIGNED TO ST. TIMOTHY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE HEART OF THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. HE AND HIS WIFE ARE LIFELONG PARISHIONERS OF ST. TIMOTHY'S. DEACON IS MARRIED TO HIS WIFE OF 27 YEARS AND THEY ARE BLESSED WITH THREE CHILDREN.
HE AND JENNIFER HAVE SERVED IN VARIOUS MINISTRIES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AT ST.
TIMOTHY'S AND ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE GROWTH OF THE COMMUNITY AUDIO]. ORDAINED AS A D DEACON SO BEFORE I HAND IT OFF, I WISH TO WISH YOU A CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE MILESTONE OF YOUR SON
GRADUATING TODAY. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION AND I WANTED TO THANK RON NIRENBERG AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
ON BEHALF OF ST. TIMOTHY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO, I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR ALL THE CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT CITY. BEFORE I BEGIN, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY'S DATE IS THE 13TH OF JUNE. IT HAPPENS TO BE THE FEAST DAY IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY DE PADUA. IF ANYBODY SEES A STATUE OF HIM, HE IS USUALLY CARRYING A BABY AND THAT IS BABY JESUS.
WE ARE REMINDED BY ST. ANTHONY TODAY AND EVERY DAY THAT WE ARE TO CARRY CHRIST WITH US EVERYWHERE WE GO IN OUR LIVES, HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
WE BEGIN IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE GIVEN US TODAY.
BECAUSE YOU LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. HE SENT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO COME TO OUR AID AND IN GENTLE KINDNESS TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE WEAK, SICK, OR UNFORTUNATE. IN HIS GREAT LOVE FOR ALL OF US, CHRIST SAID THAT WHATEVER WE DO FOR THE LEAST AMONG US WE DO FOR HIM. HE CALLED THOSE WHO SHOWED MERCY BLESSED OF HIS FATHER AND PROMISED THEM ETERNAL LIFE.
THE AUTHORITY GIVEN TO THE SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO COMES FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. MAY THEY BE GRANTED WISDOM, COMPASSION, PATIENCE, AND UNDERSTANDING. MAY THEIR AUTHORITY BE USED FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL COMMUNITIES OF SAN ANTONIO AND FOR ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE. LET US PRAY FOR THE LORD'S BLESSINGS ON THE MEMBERS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE DEVOTED TO HELPING THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. BLESSED ARE YOU, LORD GOD OF MERCY WHO THROUGH YOUR SON
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GAVE US A MARVELOUS EXAMPLE OF CHARITY AND THE GREAT COMMANDMENT OF LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. SEND DOWN YOUR BLESSINGS ON THESE, YOUR SERVANTS, WHO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO HELPING OTHERS WHEN THEY ARE CALLED ON IN TIMES OF NEED.LET THEM FAITHFULLY SERVE YOU AND THEIR NEIGHBOR AND MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEACON. ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE NO MINUTES TO APPROVE ON THIS AGENDA SO LET ME ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. NOTE FOR ITEM 3, THAT WILL BE INDIVIDUAL SO ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY.
ITEM NO. 5. ANY OTHERS? ALL RIGHT.
IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 3 AND ITEM 5. OKAY.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEMS 3 AND ITEMS 5. WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON CONSENT. SO LET ME CALL UP GINGER TRAINOR. IS GINGER TRAINOR HERE? ITEMS 17 AND 26.
OKAY. IF NOT, THEN WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEMS ON CONSENT? COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE TWO ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT. FIRST IS ITEM 14, THE ORDINANCE AWARDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO TCL CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES FOR THE JUPE MANOR PARK.
WE HAVE SEEN PHASE 1 COME TO FRUITION AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT PHASE 2 AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND THE OTHER IS ITEM NO. 20A, MY APPOINTEE TO THE LGBTQ COMMITTEE WILL BE BRAD VELOZ, WHO HAS SERVED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND HAS REPRESENTED THE COMMUNITY. NOW IS REPRESENTING AS AN OLDER SENIOR ADULT.
AND I'M SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE TAKING THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 26, THE YWCA WOMEN'S LIVE AND LEARN CAMPUS IS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS BRINGING WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF THE SHADOWS OF AN ABUSIVE HOME AND EMPOWERING THEM. THIS PROJECT IS PRIMARILY FOR YOUNG WOMEN AGE 17 TO 25 WHO ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND/OR EXITING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN VITAL SKILLS WHILE RECEIVING THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING THAT THEY NEED TO GET AHEAD IN SAN ANTONIO. SOME OF THE SERVICES WILL INCLUDING ON-SITE CHILDCARE, JOB TRAINING, ACCESS TO FOOD, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND PREVENTIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. I WANT TO THANK THE DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS WHO PROVIDED INPUT, THE YWCA FOR SHARING THEIR VISION, AS WELL AS THE WESTSIDE TIRZ AND ALL OF ITS COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SAN ANTONIO IS SERIOUS ABOUT ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOUSELESSNESS AND THIS PROJECT PROVES IT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.
ONE IS ITEM 24, WHICH IS FUNDING FOR THE EASTSIDE YOUTH CONTENT CREATORS PROGRAM. I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THIS ITEM COME BACK FOR A THIRD YEAR IN A ROW . AS MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, I CAME TO COUNCIL WITH THE IDEA TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM THAT WOULD CONNECT YOUTH ON THE EASTSIDE WITH A PROFESSIONAL FILM STUDIO TO DEVELOP THEIR TALENT AND UPLIFT THEIR VOICES.
OUR COMMUNITY IS PROUD OF WHAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACHIEVED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROGRAM AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A BIG PART OF THAT SUCCESS IS THE LEADERSHIP OF DEANNA BROWN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR YOUTH. THE SECOND IS ITEM 25, FUNDING TO OPEN A LEARNING CENTER. I'M ENTHUSED ABOUT EXPANDING THEIR PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. LOCALLY-GROWN NUTRITIONAL PRODUCE IS A NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEIR GARDEN-BASED EDUCATION MAKES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR LAND AND OUR FOOD AND FURTHER HELPS PEOPLE SEE
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SO THANK YOU TO STEVE AND LUCKY AND THE TEAM FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND I CAN'T WAIT TOSEE WHAT YOU BUILD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS TODAY.
ITEMS 21 AND 27. SO AS WE KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUT KEEPING PEOPLE IN HOMES IS ONE WAY TO ADDRESS THAT.
ITEM 21 IS FUNDING FOR A CONTRACTOR TO SUPPORT REHABARAMA WHICH GIVES CONSTITUENTS UP TO $25,000 TO HELP SUPPORT REHABBING THEIR HOME.
AND THEN ITEM 27 IS AN ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE AN INCOME OF 80% AMI OR LESS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF OLD HOMES IN DISTRICT 1 THAT ARE AFFECTED BY LEAD. WE'RE EXCITED THESE TWO CONTRACTS ARE GETTING
APPROVED TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS NO. 8, 9, 19, AND 22. I'M BRINGING ATTENTION TO THESE ITEMS TO REITERATE MY COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S IMPORTANT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN TOP-NOTCH EQUIPMENT AND WE WELCOME GRANT PROGRAMS AIMED AT GROWING AND IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY. ADDITIONALLY, ALLOCATING FUNDS TO OUTSOURCE CERTAIN TASKS LIKE THE PROPERTY ROOM AUCTIONS IN ITEM 8 FREES UP OUR FRONTLINE STAFF.
APPROVAL WILL SERVE TO SHOW OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THEM. IT WILL SERVE TO HELP THEM DO THEIR JOBS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND SAFELY WHILE KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE AS A WHOLE.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THESE ITEMS AND TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO, YOU WANTED TO ASK QUESTIONS ON ITEM 10?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WITH THE CONSENT OF THE FOLKS WHO MADE THE MOTION, WE'LL PULL ITEM 10 AS WELL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION . IS THAT ACCEPTABLE? OKAY. SO JUST AGAIN FOR THE RECORD, THE MOTION WILL BE ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 3, 5, AND 10. ITEM 10 WILL ALSO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY. WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WITH A MOTION AND A SECOND, AS I JUST STATED, PLEASE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY.
BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF CELEBRATIONS TODAY. THE FIRST IS THE CELEBRATION OF THE 249TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.
SO IF I CAN ASK OUR LEADERSHIP TO COME FORWARD. COLONEL STACKLE, I WANT TO WELCOME A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNER AND FRIEND, THE COMMANDER OF BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER AND DEPUTY MARKET DIRECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO MARKET.
HE AND THE OTHER GUESTS YOU SEE IN UNIFORM AND PRESENT TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE U.S.
ARMY'S 249TH BIRTHDAY. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ARMY VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE CITY EMPLOYEES. YOU HONORABLY SERVED YOUR COUNTRY WHILE IN UNIFORM AND TODAY YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY.
FORMER SAN ANTONIO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, CARLOS CONTRERAS, NOW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SAN ANTONIO IS HERE TODAY AS WELL AS HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, JULIA HAINES. GOODWILL BUSINESSES PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT TO DISABLED VETERANS. THE GOODWILL INDUSTRY VETERANS ARE PART OF THE VETERANS GROUP. MANY OF THESE VETERANS WORK ON CONTRACTS THAT SUPPORT ARMY MISSIONS. WHILE THE ARMY HAS MORE THAN 150 INSTALLATIONS WORLDWIDE, WE ARE MOST PROUD OF THE ARMY'S LONG PRESENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE ALAMO, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DONATED 92 ACRES OF LAND IN 1875 TO THE ARMY, CREATING TODAY WHAT IS FORT SAM HOUSTON.
SINCE THEN SOLDIERS STATIONED IN OUR CITY HAVE BEEN THE FOCAL POINT FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS IN TEXAS, MOST OF THE SOUTHWEST, AND IN THE LAST 150 YEARS, AROUND THE WORLD. GENERALS MACARTHUR AND GRANT SERVED HERE.
THEN-LIEUTENANT EISENHOWER PROPOSED TO HIS WIFE AT A BUILDING STILL STANDING.
JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE, TEDDY ROOSEVELT ORGANIZED THE ROUGH RIDERS.
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ONE COULD CLAIM THAT OUR OWN FORT SAM HOUSTON IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF MILITARY AVIATION. ON THE SECOND OF MARCH 1910 OVER THE ARTHUR MACARTHUR FIELD, A FIRST FLIGHT WAS MADE IN AN AIRCRAFT. LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN EVANS, COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE U.S. ARMY NORTH HAS HOSTED A CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF MILITARY FLIGHT DURING THE LAST CENTURY, THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO WERE TRAINED HERE PARTICIPATED IN CAMPAIGNS AROUND THE WORLD TO INCLUDE SERVING BRAVELY IN COMBAT DURING THE WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM, AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR.TODAY ARMY UNITS STATIONED IN SAN ANTONIO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE NATION'S DEFENSE. BROOK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER IS THE ONLY STATESIDE LEVEL TRAUMA AND BURN CENTER SPECIALIZING IN THE CARE OF WOUNDED WARRIORS AND NON-VETERAN MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. TEAMS TRAINED AT BAMC HAVE DEPLOYED TO IRAQ AND OTHER HOT SPOTS TREATING AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN COMBAT OPERATIONS. THEY ENSURE THAT OUR SERVICE MEMBERS RECEIVE WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL CARE. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY SAVE AMERICAN LIVES.
U.S. ARMY NORTH CONCENTRATES ON THE DEFENSE OF NORTH AMERICA THROUGH SECURITY OPERATIONS ACTIVITIES WITH MEXICO AND CANADA. HERE IN THE U.S. THEIR MISSION INCLUDES HOMELAND DEFENSE AND DISASTER RESPONSE.
DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, ARMY NORTH DEPLOYED MORE THAN 9,000 SERVICE MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON CIVILIAN HOSPITALS AND NATION. U.S. ARMY SOUTH ALSO STATIONED AT FORT SAM RETAINS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ARMY ENGAGEMENTS AND SECURITY COOPERATION IN 31 COUNTRIES TO INCLUDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND PARTNER-BUILDING MISSIONS.
THROUGHOUT ITS EXISTENCE A CLOSE AND HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN THE NORM BETWEEN THE ARMY AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS CAN BE BEST EXEMPLIFIED BY THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT CAMP BULLIS, THE LARGEST TRAINING BASE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF A LARGE CITY. TODAY WE CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE TO HOST THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN SAN ANTONIO, OUR CITY EMBRACES ITS SOLDIERS AS FAMILY. I KNOW THAT PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO GROW FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AND MILITARY CITY, USA, HAPPY 249TH BIRTHDAY, U.S. ARMY. HOOAH! SO COLONEL STACKLE, WELCOME, WELCOME BACK AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT IS A REAL PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE. I WAS TALKING WITH THE MAYOR JUST BEFORE WE MET TODAY AND IT WAS ACTUALLY JUNE 21ST WAS THE LAST TIME I WAS IN THIS ROOM AND THAT WAS WHEN ALL OF YOU WERE INAUGURATED AND, REALLY, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A YEAR HAS GONE BY SO QUICKLY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING SUCH GREAT SERVANTS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR REALLY DOING SO MUCH TO MAKE THIS ONE OF I THINK THE BEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LIVE IN QUITE A FEW OF THEM. I'LL TELL YOU THAT I CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPRESS THE APPRECIATION FOR THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
POLITICAL LEADERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT WE HAVE, MANY BEHIND US, FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU PROVIDE TO MILITARY MEDICINE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, WE TRAIN ENLISTED AND OFFICER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES AND REALLY DO SO IN SUCH A WAY THAT ENABLES US TO SERVE WHEREVER OUR COUNTRY NEEDS US, WHETHER IT'S IN COMBAT, WHETHER IT'S HUMANITARIAN IN SUPPORT OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OF YOU AS WELL AS FOR ALL THE ARMY VETERANS THAT ARE HERE BEHIND ME AND THAT AREN'T ABLE TO BE WITH US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AT THIS TIME, MAYOR NIRENBERG, IF YOU'RE WILLING, I THINK WE'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU COME DOWN AND HELP CUT A CAKE TO HELP COMMEMORATE THIS BIG
ANNIVERSARY. >> CAKE AND SABER WILL BE BROUGHT FORTH BY NATHAN ROBERTS. NATHAN IS AN ARMY VETERAN AND SERVED AS AN ARMY OFFICER. THE UNITED STATES ARMY SOLDIERS AND ANYONE WHO SERVED IN THE ARMY THAT ARE PRESENT TODAY, TO INCLUDE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES, OUR GUESTS FROM GOODWILL AND ANYONE ELSE, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FORM UP BEHIND MAYOR NIRENBERG AND COLONEL STACKLE.
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TRADITIONALLY, REGARDLESS OF LOCATION, MILITARY MEMBERS WILL PAUSE TO OBSERVE THEIR SERVICE BRANCH'S BIRTHDAY BY SHARING A CAKE. A SWORD IS USED TO CUT THE CAKE AS A REMINDER THAT SERVICE MEMBERS ARE A BAND OF WARRIORS, COMMITTED TO CARRYING THE SWORD, SO THAT OUR NATION MAY LIVE IN PEACE.COLONEL STACKLE AND MAYOR NIRENBERG WILL NOW CUT THE CAKE.
[APPLAUSE] >> TODAY'S ARMY SOLDIERS HAVE PERFORMED ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THE FACE OF MULTIPLE CHALLENGES. THE PHRASE THIS WILL DEFEND HAS BEEN THE ARMY'S MOTO SINCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. IT REMINDS SOLDIERS THAT THEIR PURPOSE IS TIMELY AND CLEAR, TO FIGHT AND WIN OUR NATION'S WARS.
HAPPY 249TH BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES ARMY! AND ALL ARMY VETERANS,
PLEASE JOIN US IN THE FOYER FOR SOME BIRTHDAY CAKE . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COLONEL AND OUR LEADERSHIP AND VETERANS, IF YOU CAN JUST STAY JUST FOR A MOMENT, I DO WANT TO SHARE SOME COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES. SO WE'LL START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION TODAY OF THE ARMY'S BIRTHDAY. THIS MEANS A LOT TO SAN ANTONIO. OF COURSE YOU KNOW WE'RE MILITARY CITY, USA AND THE ARMY HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR ME AS BOTH MY FATHER AND MY LITTLE BROTHER ARE ARMY VETERANS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY LITTLE BROTHER WAS STATIONED AT FORT SAM AND WAS IN A MEDICAL UNIT AND DEPLOYED MANY TIMES.
THE IMPACT THAT THE MILITARY HAS HAD ON OUR CITY, OF COURSE, IS TREMENDOUS.
ALSO REMEMBER ALL OUR SERVICE MEMBERS THAT ARE ABROAD AND THEIR FAMILIES AND ALL OF THE SACRIFICE AND WORRY THAT THEY HAVE WHEN THEIR LOVED ONES ARE DEPLOYED. THANK YOU, OF COURSE, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. I REALLY ENJOYED A FEW YEARS AGO TAKING A TOUR OF THE FORT AND KIND OF LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY. I'M BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY AND YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. IT WAS REALLY FUN AND INTERESTING TO DO THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARMY. THANKS, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
I APPRECIATE IT. AND THANKS TO YOUR FAMILY AS WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT MY GRANDFATHER ALSO SERVED IN THE ARMY SO I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY THANK ALL OF OUR ARMY SOLDIERS, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT FOR PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR OUR FREEDOM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE CELEBRATION TODAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU TO CARLOS CONTRERAS FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU TO GOODWILL INDUSTRIES FOR THE SUPPORT. MY SON IS 18 YEARS OLD AND HE'S A WORLD WAR II EXPERT. EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING ABOUT WORLD WAR II HE KNOWS.
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IF EVER YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CALL HIM. >> I'LL DO THAT.
>> PELAEZ: ONE OF THE THINGS MY SON WAS TELLING ME LAST NIGHT, AFTER WE WATCHED A WORLD WAR II MOVIE, IS HE KNOWS THIS STUFF. IS THAT THE ARMY, IF IT WERE A CITY, WOULD BE THE TENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND THAT THE ARMY OWNS SO MUCH LAND THAT IF IT WERE A STATE, IT WOULD BE LARGER THAN HAWAII AND MASSACHUSETTS COMBINED. THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
THE REASON I HAVE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT THE ARMY LATELY, IN MY LAW PRACTICE I'VE BEEN CALLED ON TO PARTICIPATE IN A CASE INVOLVING MILITARY HOUSING.
AND I AM JUST AMAZED AT THE WAY THAT YOU GUYS TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILIES THAT CALL THEMSELVES ARMY. AND IT'S NOT JUST A FORCE THAT GOES OUT AND FIGHTS AND DEFENDS AND ALL THAT BUT IT'S A FORCE THAT TAKES CARE OF ITS OWN, WITH COMPASSION.
AND YOU GUYS IMPRESS ME EVERY TIME I LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT YOU.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU SHOWED UP TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, JUST WANTED TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ARMY AS WELL. THERE'S NO GREATER SACRIFICE THAT SOMEBODY CAN MAKE THAN JOINING OUR ARMED FORCES. WHAT YOU GUYS DO ON A DAILY BASIS HERE IN OUR COUNTRY AND THEN IN EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD IS REMARKABLE.
IT'S AN AMAZING SACRIFICE BY THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES. AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. OF COURSE HAPPY 249TH BIRTHDAY.
I'M HOPEFUL FOR THE BIG 250 WE'LL HAVE AN EVEN LARGER CELEBRATION HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. WHERE YOU'RE A VETERAN OR DISTRICT 5 RESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS FOR THE SERVICE AND COMMITMENT YOU ALL HAVE PUT IN SUPPORTING NOT JUST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUT THE UNITED STATES.
I AM GRATEFUL THAT YESTERDAY COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE KICKOFF FOR THE RED, WHITE, AND STRIPES EVENT DOWNTOWN.
NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOURTH OF JULY BUT THAT HISTORY AND CONNECTION TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BEING MILITARY CITY, USA. AND WE HAVE SO MANY UNITED STATES VETERANS, NO MATTER WHICH BRANCH COME INTO OUR FIELD OFFICE. JUST GRATEFUL THAT CITY LEADERSHIP IS DOING GREAT WORK AND CONTINUING TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED.
THANK YOU AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
APPRECIATE THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ARMY.
MY DAD SERVED AS A RESERVIST AND WENT OVER TO VIETNAM. MY UNCLES GOT DRAFTED AND TWO GENERATIONS LATER WE WOULD HAVE CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS ACTUALLY ATTEND WEST POINT AND BE A PART OF THE ARMY . WE HAVE A LONG TRADITION.
OF COURSE, MY STAFFER, RUBEN WAS THERE AND HE SERVED IN THE ARMY AND IS A VETERAN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JUST YOUR SERVICE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING YEAR AFTER YEAR AND CELEBRATING WITH US. AND JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT SAN ANTONIO IS MILITARY CITY, USA AND WE HAVE A LONG TRADITION WITH ALL THE ARMED FORCES, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY ARMY IS OUR FAVORITE. OR MINE, AT LEAST.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. BOTH OF MY PARENTS ARE ARMY VETERANS AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS GROWING UP HAVE NOW SERVED IN THE ARMY.
I KNOW TODAY IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AND IT CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED, THAT THAT ARE SO MANY OF US APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR SACRIFICE, AND SACRIFICE TAKES SO MANY FORMS. AS AN ARMY BRAT I KNOW HOW BIG OF A FAMILY THE ARMY IS. TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO CELEBRATE OUR INNER CONNECTEDNESS AND OUR ROLE IN PROTECTING ONE ANOTHER.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSING SITUATION EARLIER AND ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP HIM TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT. JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE'LL ALWAYS SUPPORT OUR VETS, REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER THEY NEED. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAPPY
BIRTHDAY. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COLONEL STACKLE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, A PARTNERSHIP THAT CONTINUES FROM YOUR PREDECESSORS AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I WANT TO POINT OUT THE LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT OF OUR MILITARY VETERAN AFFAIRS OFFICE, LED BY GENERAL JUAN AYALA . THEY DO GREAT WORK. I COULD BE WRONG, I DON'T
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KNOW OF ANOTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT TAKES A PAUSE IN EVERYTHING WE DO TO RECOGNIZE THE MAJOR MILESTONES OF OUR U.S. MILITARY BRANCHES THE WAY WE DO. WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SHARE WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS IN THE CITY EMPLOYEE RANKS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO OUR MILITARY FAMILIES, THERE'S NO HIGHER CALLING FOR US, AS A COMMUNITY, THAN TO SUPPORT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES OF THIS COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. NOW, AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH THIS COMING WEEK. AND THAT INCLUDES A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING ALL THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AND THE WEEKEND.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OSCAR -- I KNOW HE'S PLAYING DOUBLE DUTY RIGHT NOW -- TO COME ON UP AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS ON JUNE 19, 2024 THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL COME TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO OBSERVE JUNETEENTH IN CELEBRATION OF THE OLDEST-KNOWN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMEMORATION IN AMERICA AND REMINDING EACH OF US THE PRECIOUS PROMISES OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND OPPORTUNITY, AT THE CORE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
WHEREAS JUNE 19 IS CELEBRATED AS JUNETEENTH AND TO COMMEMORATE PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S ISSUANCE OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION ON JANUARY 1, 1863. DECLARING AN END TO SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAS IT TOOK TWO MORE YEARS FOR THIS NEWS TO REACH THE ENSLAVED POPULATION IN TEXAS. WHEN ON JUNE 19, 1865, THE GRANGER ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS GENERAL ORDER NO. 3, WAS ANNOUNCED BY GENERAL GRANGER.
WHEREAS THIS ANNUAL OBSERVANCE PROVIDES OUR COMMUNITY, OUR LOCAL AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND OUR NATION A TIME TO REFLECT AND CELEBRATE FREEDOM AND FOR EVERY AMERICAN TO PROMOTE EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND PRAY FOR PEACE AND LIBERTY FOR ALL. WHEREAS TO MARK THE OCCASION THE JUNETEENTH INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE ORGANIZED BY THE SAN ANTONIO JUNETEENTH FREEDOM COALITION WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 15, 2024 FOLLOWED BY THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL ORGANIZED BY THE SAN ANTONIO JUNETEENTH COMMISSION AT COMANCHE PARK WITH AN ARRAY OF FOOD BOOTHS, CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES AND MUCH MORE.
NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 19, 2024 TO BE JUNETEENTH DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS . NOW I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. TODAY IT IS AN HONOR TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH. AS YOU'VE HEARD, ON JUNE 19, 1865, GENERAL GRANGER ARRIVED IN GALVESTON TEXAS TO ANNOUNCE THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AND ALL ENSLAVED PEOPLE WERE FREE, WHICH WAS TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, MARKING A DELAYED BUT USUAL STEP TOWARD FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN TEXAS AND NATIONWIDE .
JUNETEENTH IS NOT MERELY A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM DELAYED BUT RATHER A TESTAMENT TO THE RESILIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND SPIRIT OF OUR ANCESTORS.
IT REMINDS US OF THE STRUGGLES WE ENDURED AND THE FREEDOMS WE NOW ENJOY.
WE SHOULD HONOR THE LEGACY OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, RECOGNIZING THEIR SACRIFICES AND THE INDOMITABLE COURAGE BUT WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROAD WE STILL HAVE TO GO, THE JUSTICE THAT REMAINS DELAYED. JUNETEENTH IS A REMINDER TO ALL OF US THAT FREEDOM AND EQUALITY HAVE NEVER COME EASILY OR SWIFTLY TO BLACK AMERICANS. AS WE LOOK AT THE HEALTH OUTCOMES LIKE RATES OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AMONG BLACK AMERICANS, THE LACK OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, THE ATTACKS ON OUR MERITS AND FRAMING OF OUR ACCOLADES AS A RESULT OF DEI. THE ATTACKS ON OUR VOTING RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY AND THE UNDERINVESTMENT AND MARGINALIZATION OF OUR BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS.
THERE'S A LOT, INCLUDING THE SYSTEMIC CRIMINALIZATION AND KILLING OF UNARMED BLACK MEN AND SO, SO, SO MUCH MORE. WE HAVE A LONG, LONG WAY TO GO SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY AS PART OF THE JUNETEENTH FREEDOM COALITION. THANK YOU FOR MAKING HISTORY AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JUNETEENTH NATIONAL HOLIDAY AND FOR HELPING SAN ANTONIO COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH.
THIS SATURDAY WE WILL HAVE OUR ANNUAL JUNETEENTH PARADE AND I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL
TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT. >> FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS OSCAR AND I'VE BEEN DOING IT --E PARADE FOR 25 YEARS AND IT'S ALL ABOUT FREEDOM.
CAN I SEE THE HANDS OF EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT BELIEVES IN FREEDOM? THE HANDS OF EVERYONE. THAT'S THE ONLY QUALIFICATION TO BE IN OUR
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PARADE. TO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU SAID YOU WOULD ASK THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCILMEN TO SUPPORT US BUT I ONLY GOT ONE CHECK.I WANT TO KNOW WHO I'M THANKING. FIRST OF ALL, THE PARADE CELEBRATION. ALL KINDS OF MUSIC, MARIACHI, COUNTRY WESTERN.
ANY KIND OF MUSIC, ANY KIND OF FOOD. JUNETEENTH IS PAYING FOR EVERYTHING. YOU JUST HAVE TO PAY FOR YOUR FOOD.
WE WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
Y'ALL VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: I WANT YOU FOLKS TO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS ON JUNETEENTH IS THAT WE, AS A CITY COUNCIL, CELEBRATE WITH YOU. AND THAT A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO KNOW WHAT JUNETEENTH IS ALL ABOUT CELEBRATE WITH YOU. IT'S RIGHT TO CELEBRATE, RIGHT? I WILL ALSO LET YOU KNOW THAT TO THIS DAY THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE LITIGATING THE CIVIL WAR. WHO STILL THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHO WAS RIGHT AND WHO WAS WRONG AND THAT THEIR SIDE WAS RIGHT AND THAT YOU GUYS WERE WRONG. THAT STILL HAPPENS IN 2024 AND WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. AND THE LIGHT THAT YOU'RE SHINING ON JUNETEENTH AND WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT HAPPENED, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT AS PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE STILL ARE HAVING AND DEFEATING THOSE FORCES OF HATE AND OF MEANNESS. AND YOU GUYS ARE ON THE VERY FRONT LINES OF THAT AND I'M
PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
YES, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH.
AS COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WAS SAYING, WE MUST NEVER FORGET THE UNCOMFORTABLE PAST OF OUR COUNTRY. DESPITE HOW SOME PEOPLE IN POWER WANT TO ERASE THESE FACTS, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEARNING FROM THOSE MISTAKES AND MOVING FORWARD WITH COMPASSION, KINDNESS, AND LOVE.
WE ARE STILL FIGHTING TO UNDO RACISM AND HATRED. I AM PROUD THAT THE GRASSROOTS CELEBRATION THAT STARTED HERE IN TEXAS AND SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IS NOW RECOGNIZED AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY. THANK YOU TO THE JUNETEENTH FREEDOM COALITION FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND PREPARATION FOR THE PARADE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. AND ALSO THANKS TO OUR CITY STAFF. WE MADE IT A PRIORITY JUST A FEW YEARS AGO TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS RECOGNIZED AS A CITY HOLIDAY. SAN ANTONIO, I THINK ONE OF THE FEW AT THE TIME. BUT I'M GRATEFUL THAT OUR CITY LEADERSHIP STEPPED UP AND MADE IT A PAID CITY HOLIDAY FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES SO THEY COULD PARTICIPATE AND RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF JUNETEENTH.
THANK YOU, MARIA, ERIK, AND THE WHOLE TEAM. THANK Y'ALL AND WE'LL SEE
YOU. >> THANKS A LOT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
THANKS, OSCAR. >> THANK YOU, SIR. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE NOW TO OUR
BUSINESS AGENDA. GET QUEUED UP HERE. >> GAVITO: MAYOR, THERE
WAS ONE MORE QUICK HIGHLIGHT FOR DORIAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHO
DID I MISS? >> GAVITO: FOR ME. THAT I HAD WANTED TO MENTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. MOVE NOW TO ITEM NO. 3.
>> CLERK: ITEM NO. 3 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, LICENSES AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS, ARTICLE XXII, SHORT-TERM RENTALS .
>> SHANNON: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MIKE SHANNON DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR PRESENTATION AND PROPOSAL TO UPDATE OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE. I HAVE A LITTLE PRESENTATION FOR YOU. SO JUST LOOKING BACK, SO BACK IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ASKED MY STAFF TO
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GIVE A BRIEFING ON THE STATUS OF THE CURRENT SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE AND WE DID SO AND BASED ON THAT CONVERSATION THE COMMITTEE ASKED US TO GO BACK AND MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE. THE ORDINANCE IS WORKING BUT IT COULD USE SOME TWEAKS. IT'S OVER FIVE YEARS OLD. AND THEY ASKED US TO FOCUS ON SOME VERY SPECIFIC AREAS. SO WE WENT BACK. WE COORDINATED A TASK FORCE.AND THAT TASK FORCE MET OVER FOUR MONTHS, WORKING THROUGH THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND REALLY TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE ORDINANCE. WE'LL GO OVER SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS IN A SECOND. WE WENT BACK IN APRIL TO THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. THEY LIKED WHAT THEY SAW. THEY DID HAVE ONE PROPOSED MODIFICATION TIED TO PERMIT FEES. LET'S GO BACK A LITTLE BIT.
SO IN 2018, THE CITY ADOPTED ITS FIRST SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.
SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AS WE ALL KNOW, AIRBNB, VRBO, EXPEDIA, ALL THOSE.
THEY WERE EXPLODING AT THAT TIME. THEY'RE STILL A POPULAR OPPORTUNITY, NOT ONLY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BUT AROUND THE WORLD, FOR VACATION RENTALS. THOSE PROGRAMS APPLY TO ANYONE WHO RENTS OUT RENTALS FOR UNDER 30 DAYS IN SAN ANTONIO. IT DOES REQUIRE A PERMIT.
IT ALREADY REQUIRES PAYMENT OF THE STATE, LOCAL, AND CITY AND COUNTY HOT TAX.
THE ORDINANCE ACTUALLY HAS TWO DIFFERENT TYPES -- THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON IN ORDINANCES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. WE HAVE TYPE 1 SHORT-TERM RENTALS. WE HAVE TYPE 2 SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
SO TYPE 1S ARE THE ONES WHERE YOU LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE BUT YOU MAY SHORT-TERM RENTAL OUT A PART OF YOUR HOME. IT MAY BE A BEDROOM BUT YOU LIVE THERE. IT MAY BE A SECONDARY GRANNY FLAT.
AGAIN, YOU LIVE THERE. IT'S YOUR RESIDENCE, YOU HAVE CONTROL OF IT.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL TYPE 2S ARE PROPERTIES ARE NOT -- YOU DON'T LIVE THERE.
YOU OWN IT, YOU RENT IT OUT BUT YOU RENT IT OUT TO ANYONE EVERY WEEKEND AND IT'S JUST A RENTAL PROPERTY FOR YOU. THOSE HAVE A DENSITY CAP OF 12.5% PER BLOCK FACE. WE DO HAVE A CURRENT PERMIT OF $100 FOR A THREE-YEAR PERMIT AND IT'S RENEWED AT THE SAME RATE. THAT'S THE CURRENT ORDINANCE THAT'S BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR FIVE YEARS. JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE LANDSCAPE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AS OF JUNE 1 OF THIS YEAR, 3100 TOTAL ACTIVE PERMITS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS. YOU'LL SEE THE RED ON THOSE GRAPHS REPRESENT THE TYPE 1S. THE BLUE IS THE TYPE 2S.
YOU'LL SEE CERTAINLY THAT DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 2 HAVE ALMOST THE MAJORITY OF THEM, ALMOST 1500 OF THEM IN SAN ANTONIO. THE REST ARE SHARED BY THE OTHER DISTRICTS. DISTRICT 3 BEING THE LEAST. BUT THE OTHERS, SOMEWHAT SIMILAR. WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON. SOMEWHAT BEING DOWN IN THE URBAN CORE AREAS, HAVING THE MOST NUMBERS. SO I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TASK FORCE AND THIS TASK FORCE WAS AMAZING. SO WE LEFT THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE BACK IN NOVEMBER. WE REACHED OUT AND WE CREATED A TASK FORCE OF 24 VOTING MEMBERS. IT WAS SPLIT.
IT WAS BALANCED. WE HAD ABOUT HALF OF THEM REPRESENTING SHORT-TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY. OWNERS, OPERATORS, REAL ESTATE COUNCIL, ET CETERA.
WE SEE SEVERAL OF THE INDUSTRIES THERE. WE ALSO HAD A BALANCED REPRESENTATION FROM NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS. WE ASKED EACH OF YOU TO GIVE US A COUPLE OF NAMES, A PRIMARY AND AN ALTERNATE. WE HAD PEOPLE REPRESENTING FROM THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT, TEXAS HOUSERS, STR OPERATORS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS AND ET CETERA. IT WAS A REALLY BALANCED GROUP.
THIS GROUP DID A GREAT JOB. I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH BECAUSE THEY WENT THROUGH OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE, THE CHALLENGES WE WERE ALL FACING, AND THEY REALLY WORKED TO BUILD CONSENSUS ON A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS. I WAS REALLY PROUD OF WORKING WITH THEM AND MY TEAM. IT WAS A REALLY GREAT GROUP.
SO THE FOCUS AREAS THAT WE WERE CHARGED WITH LOOKING AT ARE THESE.
REALLY PERMIT COMPLIANCE. WE KNOW THERE'S 3100 PERMITS RIGHT NOW BUT WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT THAT DON'T HAVE PERMITS. THEY'RE STILL NOT GETTING THEIR PERMITS SO HOW DO WE INCREASE PERMIT COMPLIANCE. WE HAVE HOT COMPLIANCE.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PERMIT, YOU'RE NOT PAYING YOUR FAIR SHARE OF THE CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE HOT TAX, AS WELL AS MAYBE SOME UNDERREPORTING OF THOSE THAT DO PAY SOME.
ENFORCEMENT AND VIOLATION STRATEGIES, CAN WE PUT MORE TOOLS IN THE TOOLKIT FOR THE CITY FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T DOING IT RIGHT? WHAT ABOUT THOSE PARTY HOUSES? THERE'S A FEW OF THEM AND THEY CAN BE A REAL PROBLEM IN NEIGHBORHOODS SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE THERE? CERTAINLY THE PERMIT FEES. THE COMMITTEE ASKED US TO LOOK AT PERMIT FEES.
THE PERMIT FEES WE HAVE NOW DO NOT COST RECOVER WHAT WE SPEND ON OUR PERMITTING
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PROGRAM SO WE LOOKED AT THAT. A COUPLE OF OTHERS, BRINGING LLC COMPLIANCE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LLCS, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY OF THEM, WHETHER THEY'RE AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON WHO CREATED AN LLC FOR ONE PROPERTY OR WE HAVE A FEW THAT HAVE MULTIPLE, UP TO A DOZEN PROPERTIES.WE ALSO HAVE THE PLATFORM. THINGS LIKE AIRBNB AND EXPEDIA GROUP THROUGH VRBO, WHAT ARE THEIR OBLIGATIONS? A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT FOCUSING ON THESE AREAS.
HERE ARE THE PROPOSED CHANGES. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM FAIRLY QUICKLY. WE HAVE A CONSENSUS ON REALLY ALL OF THEM.
PERMIT COMPLIANCE. SO WE ARE GOING TO MANDATE THE PLATFORMS, AIRBNB AND VRBV, TO REMOVE ANY LISTINGS THAT DON'T PUT UP THEIR SAN ANTONIO NUMBER.
IF WE FIND THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMIT NUMBER, WE CALL AIRBNB, VRBO, THEY WILL TAKE IT DOWN. THEY WERE AT THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THEY AGREED TO THIS. WE ALSO CAN APPLY A ONE-YEAR REVOCATION FOR THOSE TRYING TO DO IT ILLEGALLY WITHOUT THE PERMIT NUMBERS. HOT COMPLIANCE -- THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS IF THE AIRBNB OR THE VRBO, THEY ALREADY COLLECT THE STATE HOT TAX AUTOMATICALLY. THEY REMIT IT, MEANING THE GUEST PAYS IT AND THE PLATFORM REMITS IT TO THE STATE AUTOMATICALLY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF OUR ORDINANCE. IF THEY DO IT AT THE STATE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT LOCALLY. THAT COVERS ABOUT 90% OF THE LISTINGS. THOSE ARE THE BIG-LISTING OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE HERE IN TOWN. THAT ONE'S GOING TO BE ALMOST AN AUTOMATIC INCREASE IN THE HOT FUNDS THAT COME OUR WAY, AND THAT WAS AGREED UPON FAIRLY QUICKLY.
THE OTHER ONE HERE IS ENFORCEMENT AND VIOLATION STRATEGIES.
WE ADDED A FEW ADMINISTRATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER FOR VIOLATIONS. WE INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE THREE STRIKES RULE THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS NOW.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WAS EXCITED ABOUT THOUGH IS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE THE COURTS. AS YOU KNOW SOMETIMES THE COURT PROCESS, GETTING IN LINE, GETTING THOSE THREE COURT CASES DONE, IT TAKES SOME TIME. WE GET EVIDENCE FROM NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GIVE US AND SEND US E-MAILS AND PICTURES AND VIDEOS. IF WE GET THOSE TYPE OF EVIDENCE, I WILL CALL A COMPLIANCE MEETING WITH THAT AIRBNB -- SORRY, THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL OPERATOR. I'LL CALL THEM IN AND THEY'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN HOW THEY'RE GOING TO FIX IT OR STOP DOING IT WITH THE PARTY HOUSES.
OTHERWISE, I'M GOING TO REVOKE THE PERMIT. THERE'S BUILT-IN DUE PROCESS WITH THAT BUT THAT COMPLIANCE MEETING IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL ADDED TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE PARTY HOUSES. AGAIN, EVENTS AND PARTY VIOLATIONS.
WE CLARIFY THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY FOR THESE HOUSES. WE DO ALLOW OWNERS TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATED OPERATORS FOR THOSE LLCS WITHOUT REAPPLYING FOR A PERMIT.
THAT'S STREAMLINING THE PROCESS. NOW WE'RE REQUIRING THE PLATFORMS TO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME TO HELP US WITH COMPLIANCE.
SOME OF THAT I TALKED ABOUT. THEN LASTLY, JUST THE PERMIT FEES.
SO THE TASK FORCE, WE DID A LOT OF CALCULATIONS AS TO OUR EXPENSES.
RIGHT NOW THEY CAME UP WITH INCREASING IT FROM $100 FOR A THREE-YEAR PERMIT TO $300 FOR A THREE-YEAR PERMIT TO TYPE 1 AND 2. WHEN WE PRESENTED THAT TO THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION THAT MAYBE IT WASN'T ENOUGH AND SHOULD BE HIGHER. PCDC RECOMMENDED A CHANGE UP TO $975 FOR A THREE-YEAR, TYPE 2 PERMIT. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF PERMIT FEES IN OTHER TEXAS CITIES, WE'RE STILL ON THE LOWER ENDED BUT WE ARE ON THE LIST NOW. AUSTIN HAS A VERY HIGH PERMIT FEE, $800 PLUS.
AND THEN MCALLEN WITH $100 AND IT RANGES IN BETWEEN. THE TASK FORCE REVIEWED ALL THAT AS WELL. SO JUST TO SUMMARIZE THE PERMIT FEE VERSUS EXPENSES.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A COST RECOVERY MODEL FOR OUR PERMIT FEES.
OUR CURRENT EXPENSES, WHICH IS THREE STAFF MEMBERS PLUS WE PAY A THIRD-PARTY VENDOR, IS $432,000 ANNUALLY. THAT'S PART OF MY BUDGET. THE FEES THAT COME IN NOW OFFSET THAT BUT THE CURRENT FEES, AS YOU CAN SEE, $149,000 DO NOT COST RECOVER. THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDARETION OF THE $300 PERMIT FEE FOR THREE YEARS, DOES COST RECOVER OUR CURRENT EXPENSES.
WE DID PUT UP HERE, IF WE WENT WITH THE PCDC RECOMMENDATION, IT WOULD REALLY BE A LOT MORE THAN EVEN OUR CURRENT EXPENSES, WHICH BRINGS IN SOME KIND OF ISSUES WITH MAYBE BEING TOO HIGH OR NOT. SO THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION THERE. KIND OF TO SUMMARIZE, WE BELIEVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS DO EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE ASKED. THEY ENHANCE THE CURRENT ORDINANCE. THERE WILL BE INCREASED EFFICIENCY AS WE ADMINISTER IT BUT IT REALLY DOES HIT WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS INCREASE PERMIT COMPLIANCE,
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INCREASE HOT COMPLIANCE AND IT PROPOSES TO INCREASE FEES TO COVER WHAT WE'RE DOING .WE RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE UPDATES AS PROPOSED BY THE TASK FORCE.
WE HAVE SOME LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE A PART OF THAT TASK FORCE. THEY ARE LISTED THERE. WE DID GET ONE YESTERDAY THAT'S NOT LISTED THERE FROM THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS.
NOW CITY COUNCIL HERE TODAY YOU CAN CHOOSE TO ADOPT THE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FEE OR THE PCDC'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FEE OR SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT'S ABOUT IT AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 3 SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND COMMENCE WITH THAT.
SHELLY GALBRAITH. MS. GALBRAITH, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BIANCA
MALDONADO. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
I'M SHELLY GALBRAITH, CHAIR OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ASSOCIATION OF SAN ANTONIO .
THANK YOU. OUR ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN THE PAST YEAR TO PROMOTE COMPLIANCE WITH THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
I WAS PLEASED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUCCESSFUL TASK FORCE TO REVISE THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND I'M THANKFUL TO DIRECTOR MICHAEL SHANNON AND EVERYONE AT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WHO FACILITATED OUR WORK. IT REALLY WAS THAT FULFILLING. WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM EVERY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT AND OTHERS, WE PRODUCED REVISIONS THAT ADDRESS THE PRIMARY CONCERNS RAISED BY BOTH HOSTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. THESE INCLUDE THE PREVALENCE OF UNPERMITTED STRS IN THE CITY THAT ARE ALSO NOT COLLECTING OR REMITTING HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND THE NEED FOR STRICTER ENFORCEMENT OF CITY ORDINANCES AGAINST VIOLATORS. THE REVISED ORDINANCE AIMS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE THROUGH MANDATORY HOT COLLECTION BY THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PLATFORMS. IT ALSO REQUIRES PLATFORMS TO REMOVE ANY LISTINGS THAT DO NOT HAVE A VALID PERMIT NUMBER. THESE CHANGES WILL IMPROVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR COMPLIANT SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS AND SECURE THE CITY'S RIGHTFUL REVENUE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORDINANCE'S ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN EXPANDED AND STRENGTHENED, PROVIDING NEW TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT. THERE REMAINS ONE OUTSTANDING ISSUE AND THAT'S THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN PERMIT FEES.
BEYOND THE $300 RECOMMENDED BY THE TASK FORCE. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR COST RECOVERY, RAISING THE FEE ON ONE TYPE OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT SEEMS PUNITIVE AND MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT ACTUAL COST.
DIFFERENTIATED FEES COULD ALSO INCENTIVIZE NON-COMPLIANCE.
AND THERE ARE MORE APPROPRIATE TIMES IN THE FUTURE TO REASSESS PERMIT FEE COSTS, NOTABLY DURING THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND ARE VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS IS
MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GALBRAITH. BIANCA MALDONADO FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE MATSON.
>> MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS BIANCA MALDONADO AND I SERVED ON THE TASK FORCE FOR THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL REVISIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TODAY AND COME TO OFFER MY SUPPORT. I KNOW MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OF MONTICELLO PARK SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT AND I'M PARTED TIER 1. THE FOUNDATION OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE IS TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS BUT TO ALSO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS AS THEY STAY ON THESE PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO THAT IS THE INTENTION BEHIND THE SEVEN CHANGES PROPOSED , TO REALLY ADDRESS THE PARTY HOUSES, TO GIVE STAFF MORE TOOLS, TO GIVE THE COST RECOVERY FOR THE AMOUNT OF STAFF IT'S TAKING TO ADMINISTER THIS ORDINANCE. THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION BEHIND THE $300 FEE FOR TYPE 1. AND FOR TYPE 2, THAT WAS WHAT CAME OUT OF THE TASK FORCE. I KNOW PCDC HAD AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION AND I KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE A THIRD RECOMMENDATION THAT MAY BE MENTIONED TODAY. FROM A STANDPOINT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WHO REALLY IS RELIABLE ON THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TO PROTECT A NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY HAS THE ABILITY FOR LOCAL CONTROL. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ANY FEES THAT WE PASS ARE TIED TO OUR COSTS SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR ABILITY TO CONTROL AND TO ALSO REGULATE THIS INDUSTRY. BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO A NEIGHBORHOOD IF WE DID NOT HAVE THAT DENSITY REQUIREMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE ORDINANCE TODAY.
SO VERY EXCITED THAT WE'RE GETTING THE PLATFORMS ON BOARD TO COLLECT AND REMIT THE HOT TAX. THE CITY HAS MISSED OUT ON MILLIONS BUT THAT'S WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE. MOVING FORWARD, LET'S HOPE THAT WE COLLECT ALL THAT MONEY AND THAT EVERY OPERATOR IN THE CITY IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE HOT TAX AND MEET THE OTHER COVENANTS WITHIN THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL
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ORDINANCE, BECAUSE THAT DOES IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY AND PLEASE PASS ALL SEVEN OF THESE.AS THE PRIOR SPEAKER SAID, YOU CAN ALSO CHANGE THE PERMIT FEE DURING THE ANNUAL BUDGET. SO EVERY YEAR YOU CAN LOOK AT IT, IF THERE IS A NEED.
RIGHT NOW, THE $300 IS WHAT THE TASK FORCE IS RECOMMENDING.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS ON THAT POINT.
THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER -- EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU, MS. MALDONADO.
MICHELLE MATSON. MS. MATSON, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ERIN HAHN.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MICHELLE MATSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION AND ON BEHALF OF OUR NEARLY 300 MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT THE FACE OF HOSPITALITY TO MILLIONS OF VISITORS TO OUR CITY EVERY YEAR, WE WISH TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED UPDATES FROM THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE. THE TASK FORCE WORKED DILIGENTLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO DRAFT CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE THAT ALIGN WITH THE INITIAL OBJECTIVES SET FORTH BY CITY COUNCIL.
THE GOAL WAS TO ENSURE THE EQUITABLE COLLECTION OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AMONG CITY MANAGER OPERATORS AND WE BELIEVE THE DRAFT WILL RESULT IN GREATER COMPLIANCE. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WORKING WITH PLATFORMS SUCH AS AIRBNB AND VRBO TO COLLECT LOCAL TAXES ALONGSIDE THE STATE TAXES THAT THEY ALREADY COLLECT WILL RESULT IN FAIR APPLICATION OF THE TAX AND A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN DOLLARS FOR OUR CITY. EVERY YEAR THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTS, HISTORY, AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS AND TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE CONVENTION CENTER.
VISITORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE HOT TAX ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS BY FINANCING LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS TO AMATEUR SPORTS FACILITIES AS WELL AS THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK. IT WAS DRAFTED TO ADDRESS CONCERNS FOR OPERATORS WITH REPEATED VIOLATIONS. WE WISH TO APPLAUD CITY STAFF FOR FACILITATING A VERY WELL-INFORMED, ENGAGED, AND DIVERSE GROUP. THE PROPOSED UPDATES TO THE ORDINANCE WILL ENSURE VISITORS STAYING AT BOTH HOTELS AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS EQUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO AND PROVIDE A SAFE AND FAIR PRACTICE FOR ALL LODGING OPERATORS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. MATSON.
ERIN HAHN. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LAUREN POPA.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ERIN HAHN. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5 AND A RESEARCH ANALYST WITH TEXAS HOUSERS, A NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TENANTS' RIGHTS. I REPRESENTED TEXAS HOUSERS ON THE STR TASK FORCE AND WE APPRECIATE MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE GROUP PUT FORWARD TO INCREASE COMPLIANCE AND BETTER PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT LIKE IT'S BEEN PRESENTED, SAN ANTONIO'S STR PERMIT FEE IS DRASTICALLY LOWER THAN ELSEWHERE IN TEXAS. MOST TEXAS CITIES CHARGE MORE THAN 2.5 TO 8 TIMES AS MUCH FOR AN STR THAN WHAT THE TASK FORCE HAS PROPOSED FOR SAN ANTONIO AND REQUIRE ANNUAL RENEWAL. RECENTLY GALVESTON AND CORPUS CHRISTI INCREASED THEIR STR PERMIT FEES $250 PER YEAR.
MARFA INCREASED THEIRS TO $500 AND DALLAS INCREASED THEIRS.
WE UNDERSTAND UNDER STATE LAW THE STR PERMIT FEE HAS TO BE SET IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT IT COST THE CITY TO ADMINISTER THE ORDINANCE. INCREASING THE PERMIT FEE THAT COULD FUND A DEDICATED CODE OFFICER COULD GO A LONG WAY IN TERMS OF PREPARING STAFF TO RESPOND TO THE RISING NUMBER OF STR PERMITS IN SAN ANTONIO AND VIOLATIONS AND BETTER PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE WOULD SUGGEST CHARGING A HIGHER FEE FOR TYPE 2 OPERATORS BECAUSE TYPE 2S CONTRIBUTE THE VAST MAJORITY OF VIOLATIONS. AND THUS REQUIRE THE CITY TO EXPEND MORE RESOURCES, SENDING CODE OFFICERS OUT TO INSPECT THE PROPERTY AND HEARING THESE CASES ULTIMATELY IN MUNICIPAL COURT.
WE DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE WAY OF RESIDENTS WHO USE THEIR EXTRA ROOM OR THE CASITA OUT BACK AS A TYPE 1 STR TO EARN SOME EXTRA INCOME BUT WE SHOULD BE WARY NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE SHOULD ENSURE THAT CITY STAFF IS BETTER ABLE TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BY RAISING THE TYPE 2 PERMIT FEE AND CREATING A DEDICATED CODE OFFICER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. HAHN. LAUREN POPA.
I APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
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I'M A TYPE 2 SUPER HOST SINCE 2017. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH WHAT I SEE RIGHT NOW IS WE ARE TRYING TO GET MORE TAXES BUT WE DON'T SOLVE THE UNLICENSING OF HOSTS THAT ARE THERE RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE PROBABLY A THOUSAND-PLUS LISTINGS BUT WE HAVE REGISTERED MAYBE 150, 200.IT'S NOT FAIR TO INCREASE THE TAXES AND THE FEES UNTIL YOU GUYS RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND IT'S NOT OKAY.
WE NEED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FIRST. I CALL LIKE THREE TIMES.
THERE'S TWO UNLICENSED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE MY OWN UNIT.
NOBODY GET BACK TO ME TO LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. SO I BELIEVE THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM. AND I BELIEVE THAT AIRBNB, EXPEDIA, BOOKING.COM, VRBO SHOULD RELEASE THE LISTINGS TO YOU GUYS, TO NOT GIVE YOU A HARD TIME TO CHASE THESE PEOPLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RUBEN URRIBE FOLLOWED BY
ELIZABETH LUNA. >> HELLO, COUNCIL. I'M ALSO A HOST FOR AIRBNB AND OTHER PLATFORMS. I ASSISTED AT THE OTHER MEETING THAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK. THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT AIRBNB IS REALLY ABOUT. NOW, I CAN SHOW YOU MY ACCOUNT.
THEY'VE BEEN ATTACKING US. SUPPOSEDLY WE'RE PUTTING UP PARTY HOUSES.
NOW, THIS IS WHY I SAY THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHORT-RENTAL HOUSES IS FOR.
THEY DO NOT ALLOW PARTIES AT ALL. SO IF I RENT MY HOUSE FOR SOMEBODY FOR A GUEST THAT COMES FROM A NEIGHBOR CITY, SOMETIMES WITHIN THE CITY, AND THEY THROW A PARTY, IT IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY. I'M NOT THE ONE WHO THREW THE PARTY. I DON'T KNOW WHY THESE PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING US HOSTS. SO I THINK THAT ASKING MONEY WOULD BE GOOD IF THAT'S WHAT THEY EXPLAINED TO THIS GENTLEMAN IN RED HERE TO PRESENT, LIKE AN UPDATE ON COMPUTERS, A PROGRAM WHERE THEY GO TO OUR HOUSES AND CHECK THAT EVERYTHING IS ONLINE. BUT HERE THEY ARE AGAIN ASKING FOR MORE MONEY WITH NOTHING. JUST SAYING THERE'S A PARTY HOUSE.
OH, THEY'RE BOTHERING THE NEIGHBORS. I HAVE A VERY GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH MY NEIGHBORS. I OWN MULTIPLE HOUSES AROUND THE CITY. I JUST -- I'M JUMPING UP WHAT I HAD TO SAY FIRST BUT THIS IS -- I JUST WANTED TO JUMP INTO THE POINT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT IS NOT FAIR THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY JUST BECAUSE. NOW, I PROPOSE THAT IF THEY WANT TO CHARGE THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS WHAT THEY'RE CHARGING RIGHT NOW, I'VE HAD ENCOUNTERS WITH MY GUESTS. I HAVE, LIKE I SAID, I'LL SHOW YOU MY ACCOUNT THAT SAYS NO PARTIES OF ANY KIND. ANY KIND. AND I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO PARTIES WHERE MY GUESTS DO THAT. I HAVE CALLED AIRBNB OR WHATEVER PLATFORM SO IT STOPS. SOMETIMES I GET A BACKUP, SOMETIMES I DON'T. AND I END UP CALLING THE POLICE.
AND, GUESS WHAT? NOTHING HAPPENS. SOMETIMES I WANT TO CANCEL THE BOOKING FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE VIOLATED THE HOUSE RULES, WHICH IS NO PARTIES.
I HAVE A POOL ON SOME OF THEM. THERE'S NO GLASS PERMITTED AND THEY THROW GLASS ON THERE. I HAVE CAMERAS THAT ARE GUARDING SO NOBODY DROWNS IN THE POOL. I HAVE CAMERAS IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE TO I COULD PROVIDE SAFETY FOR -- MAINLY ALL MY HOUSES ARE IN A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. SOME OF THEM ARE IN AN OKAY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE IS VIOLENCE. THERE HAS BEEN GUNSHOTS HEARD HERE AND THERE BUT
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AROUND MY HOUSES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, MR. URRIBE. EVERYONE GETS THREE MINUTES. >> I HAVE MORE TO SAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ELIZABETH LUNA. MS. LUNA, YOU WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY GLORIA. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH LUNA.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7. I AM A SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT, BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I GREW UP ON SECTION 8 HOUSING. I HAVE MOVED IN AND LIVED IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR
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DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT MY CHILDHOOD. AS A YOUNG PERSON, I WAS COMMITTED TO BREAKING THE POVERTY CYCLE IN MY FAMILY. AND IN ALL OF MY RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE WAY TO DO THIS WAS THROUGH EDUCATION AND BY INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE. I GRADUATED FROM HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL.I EARNED MY DEGREES FROM SAC, UTSA, AND OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY.
I HAVE WORKED FOR METRO HEALTH. I WORKED FOR USAA, HUMANA AND LOCAL HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN SAN ANTONIO. TODAY MY CHILDREN AND I RUN A SMALL MOM AND POP REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT COMPANY. I OWN AND OPERATE 31 RENTALS THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS. THESE RENTAL PROPERTIES PROVIDE LONG-TERM RENTALS, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AND MID-TERM RENTALS THROUGHOUT EVERY DISTRICT IN SAN ANTONIO. OUR LONG-TERM RENTALS PROVIDE HOUSING FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. OUR MID-TERM RENTALS PROVIDE SAFE, SANITARY HOUSING FOR TRAVELING PROFESSIONALS AND ORGAN TRANSPLANT PATIENTS.
OUR SHORT-TERM RENTALS HOUSE VISITORS TO SAN ANTONIO BUT MANY OF THEM, WHO ARE IN TRANSITION BETWEEN HOUSING SUCH AS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SOLD THEIR PROPERTIES TOO QUICKLY AND NEED A TEMPORARY SAFE, SANITARY, ALL-INCLUSIVE PLACE TO THEIR CLINICAL ROTATIONS AT THE SOUTH TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER.
AND WE ALSO ACCOMMODATE TRAVELING NURSES WHO ARE HERE HELPING US DURING THE PANDEMIC. AS A SMALL BUSINESS OPERATOR, ALL OF MY PROPERTIES ARE REGISTERED UNDER AN LLC. MY NINE SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS ARE ALL PERMITTED AND WE REPORT AND PAY OUR TAXES.
I WAS ONE OF THE EARLY ADOPTERS AND THE FIRST TO JUMP ON WITH THE PERMIT REGISTRATION IN PAYING THE FEES BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IN FAIR REGULATION.
I AM HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT EACH OF YOU VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED STR 2 PERMIT INCREASE IN FEES BECAUSE THEY DIRECTLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SMALL BUSINESS OPERATORS LIKE ME AND ALL PERMIT FEES SHOULD BE EQUAL AND EQUITABLE ACROSS THE BOARD. THE LONG-TERM RENTALS THAT WE RENT TO IN LOCAL RESIDENTS DOES NOT COVER THE EXPENSES TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
LONG-TERM RENTERS DAMAGE OUR PROPERTIES EXCESSIVELY IN EXCESS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR PER PROPERTY. OUR SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT AND RENTALS AND RUNNING OUR SHORT-TERM RENTALS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFSET THOSE DISPROPORTIONATE EXPENSES AND DAMAGES CAUSED BY HOUSING LOCAL RESIDENTS.
THIS IS NOT A HUGE MONEY-MAKING OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
IT IS SIMPLY A WAY FOR US TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR A VAST NUMBER OF GUESTS IN THEIR VAST SITUATIONS DURING THEIR TIME OF NEED. PLEASE VOTE AGAINST IT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GLORIA AB DELLJELLIC.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AND MR. MAYOR RON NIRENBERG, I THANK YOU. OKAY. I AM OWNER OF TWO AIRBNB PROPERTIES. THEY'RE FULLY PAID. WE DO NOT OWE ANYTHING.
I'M HERE TO ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE I LIVE FROM RENTING ROOMS IN MY HOME.
AND THEN I ALSO RENT FOR WEEKENDS OR FOR WEEK. THIS INCOME IS NOT LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE EXTRA. I'M LIVING OFF OF THIS AND RIGHT NOW I'M HAVING TO PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES.
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I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE REGULATE ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT PAYING FOR THESE PERMITS. INSTEAD OF YOU RAISING THE TARIFF THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO PAY RIGHT NOW. I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTIONAND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION, I'LL ENTERTAIN A
YOUR NAME, SIR? >> DON'T HAVE YOU ON THE LIST, SIR. WHEN DID YOU SIGN UP?
>> WEBSITE. OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE YOU SIGNED UP, SIR. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 3.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM 3 RELATED TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS BE APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED BY CITY STAFF WITH AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE TYPE 2 RENTAL PERMIT AND RENEWAL FEES FROM $300 TO $450 AND ADOPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR TYPE 1 SHORT-TERM RENTAL
PERMITS RENEWAL FEES OF $300 EVERY THREE YEARS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 3 AS AMENDED .
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE FOLKS WHO PARTICIPATED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY AS WELL AS TO CITY STAFF AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ON THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WHERE WE HAD A ROBUST CONVERSATION, PARTICULARLY AROUND SHORT-TERM RENTALS TYPE 2.
DURING THE COMMITTEE CONVERSATION, IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO INCREASE THE FEE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. WHAT WE LOOK AT THE CASE STUDIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES -- AND IF YOU'RE A CITY STAFFER WHO HAS ATTENDED ANY D5 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING IN THE INNER CITY, YOU HEAR CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS TYPE 2 AND THE NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE. I WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC SPEAKER THAT HIGHLIGHTED THAT THERE ARE FOLKS WITHOUT THE PERMITS AND THE NEED FOR COMPLIANCE.
I AGREE WITH THAT. THERE'S A WEALTH OF CASE STUDIES RANGING FROM THE HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW, FROM THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE AND SO MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE FOUND A POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF AIRBNBS IN AUDIO] AND
>> YES, COUNCILWOMAN. WE USE EXISTING STAFF RIGHT NOW.
HE DOES A BUNCH OF ENFORCEMENT ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS BUT HE HAS OTHER
DUTIES AS WELL. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. AND WHAT WE HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS, PRIMARILY AROUND CODE COMPLIANCE IS THE NEED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER IT'S A DEDICATED ZONING OFFICER, AND IN THIS CASE A DEDICATED CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICER TO OVERSEE SHORT-TERM RENTALS. AND HEARING THAT THERE ISN'T A DEDICATED STAFF, THIS RECOMMENDED PROPOSAL OF THE MINOR INCREASE WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO HIRE AND BRING ON A FULL-ON CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICER DEDICATED TO OVERSEEING SHORT-TERM COMPLIANCE. THAT'S MY PROPOSAL.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL BE SUPPORTIVE IN ENSURING THAT IF OUR NEIGHBORS CALL 311 OR FIELD OFFICES, THERE WILL BE A DEDICATED CODE OFFICER TO OVERSEE THE COMPLIANCE OF THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR YOUR TIME. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU,
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. OVERALL, I'M HAPPY WITH THE PROPOSED REVISIONS.
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THESE MEASURES WILL UNDOUBTEDLY RESOLVE A LOT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE EXPERIENCED. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF RAISING THE PERMIT FEE FOR INVESTOR-OPERATED AIRBNBS AND I'LL NAME A DEEPER PROBLEM THAN PARTY HOUSES. 22% OF ALL AIRBNBS IN THE CITY ARE IN MY DISTRICT SO I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.WITH OUR PERMIT FEES BEING AS LOW AS THEY ARE, IT'S AN EASY AND PROFITABLE DECISION FOR INVESTORS AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES TO USE HOUSES FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS INSTEAD OF LEADING THEM IN THE HOUSING MARKET. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A SERIOUS DENT IN THE HOUSING CRISIS WE NEED TO CHANGE THE INCENTIVE STRUCTURE.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT LESS PROFITABLE FOR PROFIT-SEEKING COMPANIES TO TAKE A SCARCE RESOURCE LIKE HOUSING AND PIMP IT OUT AS A SMALL-SCALE HOTEL BUSINESS INSTEAD OF RENTING IT TO FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS DECISION MAKES CLEAR WHO OUR CONSTITUENCY IS. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO OPERATE A SINGLE AIRBNB OR TWO BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY EXPLOITED MY COMMUNITY AND ITS LAND AND PUSHED LONG-TIME RESIDENTS OUT, REPLACING HOMES WITH HOUSES THAT WILL NEVER CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURE OR VIBRANCY OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M THINKING OF DIGNOWITY HILL, GOVERNMENT HILL, THESE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED SIGNIFICANTLY BY INVESTOR-OPERATED AIRBNBS. I DO THINK I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
I HAVE A LARGER ISSUE, AS I SAID, WITH OPERATORS WHO ARE OPERATING 10, 15, 20 AIRBNBS THAN MAYBE ONE-OFF INVESTMENT. I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE MOTION AS IS BUT FOR ANYONE UPSET BY THIS MOTION, I WOULD PREFER A MUCH HIGHER FEE. MY QUESTION IS FOR THE FUTURE.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO SET A PERMIT FEE FOR A FIRST OR SECOND PERMIT AND HIGHER FEE
FOR SUBSEQUENT PERMITS? >> IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE LOOKED AT SO WE WOULD HAVE TO INVESTIGATE THAT FOR ANY FUTURE REVISIONS. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OFF THE FLY ANSWER BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE AND BRING TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY. OR IF AND WHEN THIS IS LOOKED AT AGAIN.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD BE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF.
WITH THE $450 FEE, WILL WE HAVE CAPACITY TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THE
REGULATION OF MAYBE NON-COMPLIANT AIRBNBS? >> SO I THINK THE COMMENT WAS MADE THAT WITH THE INCREASE TO 450 COULD WE USE THAT ADDITIONAL FEE IN FUNDING TO MAYBE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET PROCESS THIS SUMMER AND ADD A CODE OFFICER DEDICATED SOLELY TO SHORT-TERM RENTAL. YES, THAT WOULD COVER THE COST OF A CODE OFFICER BUT WE'LL WORK THOSE NUMBERS, MAYBE THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND BRING THAT BACK AS PART OF MY OVERALL BUDGET IF THIS IS PASSED TODAY IN
THAT FORM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
>> VIAGRAN: COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
I KNOW THERE WAS COUNTLESS HOURS COMMITTED AND SO I DO WANT TO APPRECIATE AND CALL OUT Y'ALL'S EFFORTS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK PCDC FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THIS. I'M FULLY ON BOARD WITH THE SIX RECOMMENDATIONS. I DO WANT TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PERMIT FEES. SO I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO MAXIMIZE COST RECOVERY WITHOUT CHARGING UNNECESSARY FEES.
I'M JUST GOING TO JUMP RIGHT INTO SOME QUESTIONS. WHAT IS THE AVERAGE ANNUAL
REVENUE FOR TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 PROPERTIES. >> SHANNON: FROM THE OPERATOR'S STANDPOINT? YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROBABLY ASK ONE OF THE OPERATORS
THAT MAY BE HERE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT DATA. >> GAVITO: THAT'S FINE.
WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL OCCUPANCY RATES? DO WE KNOW THAT?
>> SHANNON: I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. DO WE HAVE ANY OF THOSE? THAT MIGHT BE ONE FOR SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
>> GAVITO: DO WE KNOW IF VIOLATIONS COME FROM MOSTLY TYPE 1 OR TYPE 2?
>> SHANNON: MOSTLY TYPE 2. THERE'S SOME IN TYPE 1 BUT IT'S FAIR TO SAY THEY ARE
MOSTLY TYPE 2. >> GAVITO: THIS QUESTION IS FOR ANDY.
IS THERE ANY LEGAL CONCERNS THAT MAY ARISE FROM RAISING THE
>> SEGOVIA: AS LONG AS THE FEES ARE REASONABLY TIED ON THE COST OF THE REGULATION, NO, THERE ISN'T AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, BUT AS LONG AS THEY ARE REASONABLY TIED. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WORK WORKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES,
THAT DOES MEET THAT. >> GAVITO: I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO ABOUT HIRING A CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICER DEDICATED TO THIS BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF CALLS AND IN DISTRICT 7 TOO. SORRY, MIKE, TO CALL YOU BACK UP. WHAT WOULD THE SPECIFIC DUTIES BE FOR THIS
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ADDITIONAL OFFICER? MAYBE THEY GOT A TYPE 1 PERMIT BUT OPERATING AS A TYPE 2.ANY TYPE OF COMPLAINTS RELATED TO PARTY HOUSES, TRASH AND DEBRIS EXCESSIVE, ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT COMPLIANCE WE WOULD FIRST START WITH THAT CODE OFFICER AND MAKE SURE THEIR FULL-TIME FOCUSED ON THIS. CONCERN RAISED IN PCDC WAS PREVALENCE OF PARTIES IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS. CAN YOU TELL US HOW OFTEN
THIS HAPPENS? >> SHANNON: WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF A COUPLE DOZEN, PARTY HOUSE WE CALL AS EXCESSIVE. WHAT I THINK I TOLD THE COMMITTEEN I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, IT'S NOT A LOT WHEN YOU THINK OF 3,000 PERMITS, 3,000 PROPERTIES THAT HAVE A PERMIT. BUT THE ONES THAT HAVE A PARTY OR HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF PARTIES, THEY REALLY DISRUPT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNIFICANTLY, ESPECIALLY THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS OR THAT BLOCK.
WE THINK THAT THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE HERE AND IF WE ADD A CODE OFFICER AT BUDGET TIME, THOSE ARE THE TOOLS WE CANNOT ONLY IDENTIFY THEM BUT REMOVE THEM NOT ONLY IF THEY HAVE A PERMIT, BUT IF THEY DON'T THERE'S SOME OTHER AUTHORITY TO BREAK UP PARTIES OR DO THEY STILL NEED TO CALL SAPD?
>> SHANNON: IN GENERAL THEY WOULD CALL SAPD. IT'S GENERALLY NOT SAFE TO HAVE A CODE OFFICER TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR OF A HOUSE PARTY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT
WE WOULD CERTAINLY USE SAPD IF -- TO HANDLE THAT. >> GAVITO: SHOULD OUR RESIDENTS BE CALLING SAPD OR CODE WHEN WE KNOW OF A PARTY GOING ON?
>> SHANNON: USUALLY IT'S HAPPENING AT MIDNIGHT SO IT'S THE SAPD NON-EMERGENCY LINE, THAT'S THE FIRST CALL I WOULD MAKE. WE WOULD THEN WORK WITH THEM PROBABLY AFTER THE FACT TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED AND THEN WITH THE NEW PROPOSAL LANGUAGE, I WOULD THEN REQUIRE A COMPLIANCE MEETING WITH THAT OPERATOR, FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT CONTROLS THEY HAVE IN PLACE. IF THEY ARE NOT -- IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROLS IN PLACE OR ANY IDEA TO STOP IT, I CAN REVOKE THE PERMIT
COMPLETELY. >> GAVITO: HOW DOES THAT WORK?
DOES SAPD TELL THEM ABOUT THE CODE VIOLATIONS? >> SHANNON: WE ACTUALLY TRACK SOME OF THE DATA FROM SAPD CALLS FOR SERVICE. I WOULD IMAGINE IF WE HAD A DEDICATED CODE OFFICER WE WOULD DO MORE OF THAT AS FAR AS STREAMLINE THAT BASED ON SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE ADDING TODAY, BUT IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH RIGHT
NOW. >> GAVITO: OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING AND ANSWERING SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS. TO ME IF WE'RE ABLE TO JUSTIFY THE NEED AND DUTIES OF AN ADDITIONAL CODE OFFICER, I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THE $450 RECOMMENDATION. I DON'T WANT TO DISCOUNT THE HARD WORK AND THE UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT OF THE TASK FORCE. I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING COST RECOVERY AND WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ENFORCE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCES. AURORA, I HAVE A LETTER FROM THE MONTICELLO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD AS WELL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK THE TASK FORCE AS WELL FOR ALL THEIR GREAT WORK. I KNOW IT WAS A LENGTHY PROCESS AND SO APPRECIATE THAT. JUST SOME QUESTIONS QUICKLY.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM INTERESTED IN THIS PROPOSAL FOR A CODE OFFICER, BUT FRANKLY NOT FOR SOME OF THE REASONS THAT -- THAT I HEARD EARLIER.
TO THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OUT THERE THAT ARE RENTING THESE PROPERTIES AND MAKING A LIVING DOING SO, I FULLY RESPECT THAT. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN PROPERTY RIGHTS AND SO NOTHING THAT I EVER DO UP HERE, I'M ALWAYS MOST CONSCIOUS OF MAKING SURE PEOPLE FOR THE MOST PART CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH THEIR PROPERTIES AND HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A LIVING.
WITH THAT SAID, OTHER THAN PUBLIC SAFETY, MY NUMBER ONE JOB REALLY IS MAKING SURE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE A PEACEFUL PLACE TO LIVE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
SO THAT'S WHY THIS ADDITIONAL CODE OFFICER INTERESTS ME.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THE LEGAL ASPECT OF THIS AS WELL BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN LITIGATION IN PRIVATE PRACTICE RELATED TO EXCESSIVE PERMIT FEES.
BECAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS, IF THE FEES ARE TOO HIGH, CONSIDERS IT TO BE AN
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UNCONSTITUTIONAL TAX IF YOU ARE DOING MORE THAN JUST RECOVERING YOUR COSTS.THE PROPOSAL OF THE 975 THAT WAS FLOATED AT ONE POINT I THINK WE WOULD RUN AFOUL OF THE LAW THERE WITHOUT QUESTION. BUT I AM MORE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPOSAL OF THE $450 IF, IN FACT, A CODE OFFICER, A DEDICATED CODE OFFICER FOCUSING ON STRS WILL ACTUALLY PRODUCE RESULTS. THAT'S WHERE SOME OF MY QUESTIONS -- ACTUALLY ALL OF MY QUESTIONS ARE DEDICATED TO THAT POINT.
SO DO YOU BELIEVE A DEDICATED CODE OFFICER WILL HELP ENFORCE THE CODE AND
TRACK DOWN ON SOME OF THESE VIOLATIONS? >> SHANNON: YEAH, I DO THINK SO. SO CERTAINLY I THINK THE TOOLS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY, THE CHANGES IN THE LANGUAGE, BRINGING THE PLATFORMS TO HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE ENFORCE RIGHT NOW CERTAINLY, BUT ADDING A CODE OFFICER I THINK WOULD HELP. CERTAINLY IT'S SOMETHING BASED ON TODAY'S ACTION WE'LL CERTAINLY WORK THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS TO SEE IF WE WANT TO ADD THAT STAFF BASED ON THIS DIRECTION HERE. I DO THINK IT WOULD HELP.
IT WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FOCUSED DIRECTLY ON THAT. WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS PERMIT COMPLIANCE AND H.O.T. COMPLIANCE TO BE ALMOST 100%.
I'D LIKE TO SAY 100%, BUT WE NEED TO GET IT HIGHER. >> WHYTE: SO THIS PERSON WOULD BE SOLELY DEDICATED TO STR CODE COMPLIANCE, BUT HE WOULD WORK WITH THE OTHER
PERSONNEL ALREADY WORKING ON THIS ISSUE. >> SHANNON: IT WOULD BE A CODE OFFICER, MAYBE AN EXISTING CODE OFFICER INTO THIS ROLE, BUT YEAH, IT WOULD WORK WITH OTHER CODE OFFICERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
CALL US FROM 311 OR CALL US FROM INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS. SORRY SHORT-TERM OPERATORS, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. THEY WOULD WORK WITH OUR TEAM DIRECTLY.
>> WHYTE: WHAT KIND OF HOURS WOULD THIS CODE AFTER WORK?
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA? >> SHANNON: I DON'T YET. CERTAINLY WE WOULD WORK THAT OUT THROUGH THE PROCESS AS THEY CAME ON BOARD, WHEREVER THE NEED IS.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE 7:45 TO 4:30 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
WE HAVE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS FOR OTHER ENFORCEMENT ISSUES THAT WORK SOME WEEKEND SHIFTS, SOME LATER SIFTS INTO THE 6:30 EVENING SO WE'LL HAVE TO ASSESS THAT, BUT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7:45 TO 4:30.
>> WHYTE: BECAUSE THIS SO-CALLED PARTY HOUSE ISSUE, RIGHT, THOSE ARE LATE-NIGHT EVENTS, I WOULD ASSUME FOR THE MOST PART. IS IT PRETTY PREVALENT, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE PARTY HOUSE VIOLATIONS WE HAVE EACH YEAR?
>> SHANNON: AS I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT AGO, THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY.
MAYBE A COUPLE DOZEN IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS OUT OF THE 3,000 PERMITS, BUT THOSE CAN BE PRETTY IMPACTFUL FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. NOT ALL ARE ONE AND DONE.
THERE WERE PARTIES OVER AND OVER AT THE SAME PLACE, MAYBE NOT EVERY WEEKEND, BUT RECURRENCE. WHILE I DON'T THINK THE NUMBERS OF THOSE DICTATE MEATS THE MAJOR PROBLEM, IT'S A CHALLENGE TO GET THAT OPERATOR OFF THE LISTING NOW, HAVE TO BUILD THAT EVIDENCE UP WITH THE TOOLS WE HAVE.
>> WHYTE: SO YOU ARE RIGHT, I THINK IT IS VERY IMPACTFUL AND I HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 10 ALL THE TIME ABOUT THAT. I WOULD HOPE THIS CODE OFFICER IF WE MOVE FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION WOULD BE SOMEBODY THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE AFTER HOURS, IF YOU WILL, TO HELP WITH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
I APOLOGIZE IF THIS HAS BEEN ASKED PREVIOUSLY, BUT DO WE HAVE AN AVERAGE DAILY
OCCUPANCY RATE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO ON THESE STRS? >> SHANNON: I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THAT. I MIGHT LOOK TO THE ASSOCIATION TO SEE IF THEY
HAVE THAT DATA, BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT DATA. >> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. THANKS, MIKE. LOOK, OVERALL, I THINK THE $450 NUMBER, THE ADDITIONAL $150 I GUESS OVER THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION FOR A CODE OFFICER PROBABLY -- PROBABLY MAKES SENSE. I THINK AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED EARLIER, I THINK WE WOULD BE WITHIN THE LAW CERTAINLY IN DOING SO.
I THINK THAT OUR -- YOU KNOW, IF THIS HELPS EVEN SOMEWHAT TO ENFORCE THE CODE AND MAKE OUR -- YOU KNOW, THE LIVING SITUATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS BETTER AND MORE PEACEFUL AND CRACK DOWN ON SOME OF THESE CODE ISSUES THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I
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HOPE THE COUNCIL SERIOUSLY CONSIDERS. SO I THANK MY COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 5 FOR THE AMENDMENT. THANKS.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD AND DOING ALL THE HOMEWORK ON THE IMPACT OF TYPE 2. I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL TO AMSTERDAM PRE-PANDEMIC.
WORLD HERITAGE SITE, VISITING THE CITY WITH THE WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE, AND THE ONE THING I FOUND OUT IS A LOT OF HOMES IN AND AROUND THE -- WHERE WE WERE ON THE CANAL WERE TYPE 2, OWNED BY CORPORATIONS. AND THEY CAME IN AND THEY WANTED TO SEE MORE GIFT SHOPS, MORE TOURIST BUSINESSES WHICH CAME IN AND WERE THERE AND FLOODED IT. AND I WALKED INTO A CHEESE STORE AND THE LOCALS WERE VERY UPSET WITH THE TOURISTS. AND I ASKED LATER WHY AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAD MOVED THEM OUT OF WHAT USED TO BE THEIR HOME.
AND THAT ALWAYS RESONATED WITH ME BECAUSE AS I COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, WHICH HAS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE, IS I WORRY THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN HERE IF WE DO NOT MONITOR THE TYPE 2. WE THINK IT JUST STARTS WITH OH, WE'VE GOT 12%, BUT THEN THEY WANT THE TOURIST STORE AND THEY WANT THE COFFEE SHOP THAT CATERS TO TOURISTS THAT ISN'T THE LOCAL. AND WE SEE THAT HAPPENING OVERSEES IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND NEED TO MONITOR IT NOW. AND WHILE DISTRICT 3 ONLY HAS 89 TYPE 2, WHICH I THINK THAT'S A UNDER COUNT AND MIKE AND I TALK ABOUT THAT OFTEN, MY NEIGHBORS ARE ONE TO FIVE AND FOUR. AND WE SEE THAT HAPPENING AND IT'S ENCROACHING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE TRADITION, HIGHLAND PARK, HIGHLAND HILLS, ROOSEVELT, LONE STAR. AND YES, WE COULD WAIT UNTIL BUDGET, BUT WE KNOW WE NEED A CODE OFFICER. THOSE OF US WHO SIT FROM 1 THROUGH 5 KNOW THAT CODE IS OUR MAIN CALL. IF THEY CALL ABOUT ONE OF MY TENANTS, ONE OF MY RESIDENTS THAT HAS A TYPE 1 AIRBNB, I KNOW I CAN GET ON THE PHONE WITH HER AND SAY WHAT'S GOING ON, I'M GETTING THIS COMPLAINT FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS. OR HER NEIGHBORS WILL WALK OVER.
IT'S THE TYPE 2 THAT AREN'T LOCAL HERE, THAT I CAN'T CALL, THAT ARE BASED OUT OF NEW YORK OR SOME OTHER LOCATION THAT WE CAN'T GET AHOLD OF THAT IS BECOMING PROBLEMATIC. I APPRECIATE THOSE THAT CAME AND SPOKE TODAY AND I DO WANT TO LOOK WHO IS TYPE 2 IN LOCAL AND DOING A LLC. SO THAT IS A PLAN AND I THANK THE COMMISSION FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE, BUT WHEN YOU SEE THE STRS AND TYPE 2 IN THE CHART ON PAGE 4, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHERE THIS IS MOVING.
AND AS SOMEONE THAT SITS ON THE BORDER OF DOWNTOWN AND AS THE FINAL FOUR COMES IN, THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT GOING TO STICK WITH TYPE 1 BUT WANT MORE TYPE 2. SO I THINK RIGHT NOW WE INCREASE IT TO 450, WE GET THAT CODE OFFICER TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TO IDENTIFY THOSE THAT ARE OPERATING AIRBNBS WITHOUT THEIR PERMIT, AND WE REVIEW ON HOW WE HELP THOSE THAT ARE LIVING LOCALLY IN SAN ANTONIO AND HAVE TYPE 2 RENTALS AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM. MIKE, MY ONLY QUESTION IS WE HAD SOMEONE COME UP AND SPEAK AND SAID THEY MIGHT HAVE PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, MEETING THAT $300 INCREASE. WILL THERE BE A MEANS FOR US TO WORK WITH THEM IN TERMS OF -- ESPECIALLY GETTING TO KNOW MORE OF THEIR SITUATION.
TO HELP THEM MEET THAT NEED IF THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO MAKE ENDS MEET?
>> SHANNON: SURE. I THINK -- IT WOULD ALL BE REALLY MY DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE NOT JUST -- WE HAVE CURRENT CODE OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, BUT WE HAVE THREE DEDICATED STAFF TO OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROGRAM NOW.
WE TALK TO APPLICANTS, TAKE PHONE CALLS ABOUT THE PROCESS, THE REQUIREMENTS.
BUT IF ANYBODY HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FEES AND HOW IT RELATES TO AN EXISTING PERMIT, IF THIS GETS PASSED TODAY, WHEN THE NEW FEE WILL BE DUE, IF IT'S A RENEWAL, RENEWAL DATE MAY NOT BE SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, WE WOULD WANT TO TALK
[01:35:10]
WITH THEM. WE'LL SEEK THEM OUT, BUT MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE.>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MIKE. I THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND SHARING AND I DO HEAR YOU AND THERE IS A RESOLUTION OUT THERE, BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO GET THE FUNDING FOR THE CODE OFFICER AS WE -- BEFORE WE WORK INTO BUDGET BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S AN EXTRA -- BECAUSE WE'LL TAKE THAT BATTLE UP. I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND I WILL TAKE THAT BATTLE UP FOR ANOTHER CODE OFFICER, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TO IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE WITHIN THE LAW TO GET THE FUNDS WE NEED FOR AN EXTRA
CODE OFFICER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
DISTRICT 1 GETS THE PLEASURE OF HAVING THE MOST AMOUNT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS OF ANY DISTRICT AT OVER 850. I WANT TO THANK MY TWO APPOINTEES TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE AND PUSHING TO HAVE THE TASK FORCE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. FIRST OF ALL, I'M THANKFUL TO THE TASK FORCE FOR PROPOSING THE -- TO ACTUALLY REVOKE A PERMIT. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPACTFUL COMPONENT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD. THAT PLUS THE ADDITIONAL RECEIPT OF THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM THE DIRECT -- THE PLATFORMS TO OUR H.O.T. TAX, THE INCREASE THERE I THINK IS REALLY GOING TO HELP SIGNIFICANTLY IN ACTUALLY RECEIVING THE FUNDING WE HAVEN'T BEEN AND THE LOSS SHARED BY SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS TODAY.
SO WE ACTUALLY TALKED TO A BUNCH OF CONSTITUENTS THAT CALLED INTO OUR FIELD OFFICE TO SHARE WHAT THEIR OPINIONS WERE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL. AND WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THEM SAID WE USE OUR HOUSE AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OCCASIONALLY TO BRING FAMILY IN AND ALLOW FOR THEM TO HELP PAY WHEN THEY ARE STAYING WITH US. WE HAD SOME FOLKS SAY THAT THIS IS THEIR BUSINESS AND THIS IS WHAT THEY NEED FOR TYPE 1S TO BE ABLE TO HELP LIKE FROM GLORIA.
WE KNOW FOR TYPE 1 SPECIFICALLY, FOR SOME PEOPLE THIS IS THE WAY THEY ARE MAKING ENDS MEET. MY FEED HIS BABY. I THINK TYPE 1S ARE A GREAT WAY TO BRING ADDITIONAL INCOME TO SOME OF OUR FAMILIES THAT NEED IT MOST AND A LOT OF CONCERNS ARE COMING WITH TYPE 2. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NEIGHBORS THAT WHEN WE GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE PARTY HOUSES, MAYBE ONLY A HANDFUL, BUT A BAD APPLE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE THIS CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICER THAT CAN BE DIRECTLY ADDRESSED TO PARTY HOUSES. EVEN IF THEY STILL HAVE TO CALL SAPD, HAVING SOMEONE SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THIS CAN MAKE A REAL IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND QUALITY OF LIVES OF RESIDENTS.
THAT BEING SAID, I WANTED TO ASK ONE THING. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR -- FOR US TO A STATEMENT THAT SAYS THAT WE WANT THIS COME COMPLIANCE OFFICER THAT'S DEDICATED TO STR -'S NIGHTS AND WEEKEND IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION?
>> SHANNON: I THINK IT CAN BE APPROPRIATE. ADDING A POSITION I THINK TYPICALLY HAPPENS THIS SUMMER SO WE COULD HAVE MORE OF THAT CONVERSATION.
I'M OPEN TO THIS CODE OFFICER BEING AWARE WHERE THE ENFORCEMENT IS NEEDED LIKE WE DO WITH SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE HAVE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WORK ON THE WEEKENDS THAT ALL THEY DO IS FOCUS ON WORKING WITHOUT PERMITS.
WE HAVE HOUSE FLIPPERS THAT DO THINGS ON THE WEEKEND BECAUSE THEY THINK WE'RE CLOSED. I THINK WE'LL FLESH THAT OUT AND PROBABLY PRESENT SOMETHING DURING MY BUDGET PRESENTATION THIS SUMMER. I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL ON THAT TO GET SOME DIRECTION.
>> KAUR: THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I THINK THE CHALLENGE BECOMES A NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS ON MIDNIGHT. SO EVEN IF THEY ARE THERE WITH THE SAPD OFFICER, AND I KNOW THAT CAN MAKE IT HARD TO STAFF AND HIRE FOR, BUT I WOULD STRONGLY REQUEST THAT YOU GUYS DO SOME RESEARCH INTO HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT
POSSIBLE. >> SHANNON: WE'LL RESEARCH THAT.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU. GIVEN THE STORIES WE HEARD FROM --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. EXCUSE ME SIR, WE ARE HAVING
COUNCIL DELIBERATION SO WE'RE CONTINUING UP HERE. >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SIR, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU NOT TO DISRUPT THE MEETING.
ING, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THE LAST THING I WAS THINKING ABOUT, GIVEN THE CONVERSATIONS FROM SOME OF OUR TYPE 1 OWNERS AND DOING THE MATH ON THE
[01:40:01]
INCREASE PROPOSED FOR TYPE 2S. GIVEN THERE'S ABOUT 2200 TYPE 2S IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW AND LIKE COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN SAID DOESN'T COUNT THE ONES THAT ARE NOT PERMITTED. IF WE INCREASED FROM 300 TO 450, THAT WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF 338,000. I THINK IF WE -- TAKING THAT 338,000, THAT WOULD MORE THAN ENOUGH CONFER THE COST OF A COME -- COVER THE COST OF THE CODE COMPLIANCE. COULD WE DEGREES THE OWNER FOR THE TYPE 1 OWNERS SO IT'S NOT AT THE 300 LEVEL, THE INCREASE IS NOT THREE-FOLD FOR THEM, BUT IT'S A SLIGHT INCREASE TO EITHER $50 A YEAR OR $75 A YEAR? SO IF WE CHANGE THE TYPE 1 FEE FROM RIGHT NOW IT'S 100 FOR THREE YEARS.IF WE INCREASE THAT TO 150 FOR THREE YEARS, THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE OF 100,000 FROM WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING RIGHT NOW. IF WE INCREASE THAT TO 225, IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE OF 50,000. I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD REALLY HELP TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN'S POINT SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT MIGHT STRUGGLE BECAUSE OF THE TYPE 1 RAISE. I'D LIKE TO PUT THAT UP TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR CONSIDERATION. I WON'T MAKE A FORMAL MOTION YET, BUT IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. I'D CERTAINLY INVITE MIKE A RESPONSE TO THAT AND I'LL HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AS MY COLLEAGUES CONSIDER
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR'S STATEMENTS. >> SHANNON: CERTAINLY IF YOU WANTED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME ADDITIONAL PROPOSED FEES, REDUCING TYPE 1 A LITTLE BIT, I WOULD CAUTION DOING THAT RIGHT NOW. I WOULD WANT TIME TO WORK WITH TEAM MEMBERS ON IT. YOU DID SOME MATH, BUT WE RAN SEVERAL NUMBERS WITH OUR EXPENSES. REMEMBER, THE TYPE 1S ARE ABOUT 22 TO 23% OF THE UNIVERSE THAT WE HAVE PERMITTED. WE ALSO HAVE AN ESTIMATE THERE'S PROBABLY ANOTHER 1,000 TO 1400 UNPERMITTED. WE RAN SEVERAL SCENARIOS WITH THE TASK FORCE TO COME UP WITH THE INITIAL $300 INCREASE ESTIMATE.
I WOULD PROBABLY WANT A LITTLE TIME TO WORK ON SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS BEFORE I GIVE YOU MY YAY OR NAY ON IT. THAT'S MY OFFICIAL COMMENTS
TO IT -- INITIAL COMMENTS TO IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, MIKE. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU.
MIKE, I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK IN THIS. I KNOW WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED AT THE CITY, YOU PROBABLY NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING LIKE THIS, RIGHT? AND WE NEVER EVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH BED AND BREAKFASTS. NOBODY EVER COMES TO CITY COUNCIL ASKING US TO REGULATE BED AND BREAKFASTS, BUT THIS SHORT-TERM RENTAL PHENOMENON HAS REQUIRED US TO ADOPT. THE REALITY IS STRS ARE HERE AND THEY ARE HERE TO STAY. AND THERE'S NOTHING CITY COUNCIL CAN DO TO RUN STRS OUT OF TOWN, PREVENT THEM FROM EXISTING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OR ADOPT ANY REGULATIONS THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO EXIST.
WE MAY WISH THAT THAT WERE THE CASE, THAT THAT WEREN'T THE CASE, BUT MARK AND MELISSA, YOU BOTH KNOW THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAVE DECLARED A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT STRS EXIST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST AND THAT THEIR EXIST HE KNOWS IS BY VIRTUE OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.
AND ALL WE CAN DO AT A MUNICIPALITY IS ADOPT REASONABLE REGULATIONS AND ENFORCE OUR REASONABLE RULES. AND ANDY SEGOVIA IN HIS POCKET CARRIES THE CITY CHARTER, I THINK OR WHAT IS IT, YOU USUALLY HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR POCKET, THE DISCUSSION OR THE CITY CHARTER.
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 3 LITERALLY SAYS, WE ARE MANDATED TO TAKE SUCH ACTION AS SHALL BE NEEDED FOR THE WELFARE AND GOOD ORDER OF THE CITY AND HEALTH, MORALS, SAFETY, COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OF OUR INHABITANTS.
SO MY OFFICE HAS A GROUP OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK ALL DAY LONG HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS BY FIELDING THEIR PHONE CALLS ABOUT POTHOLES AND ZONING INQUIRIES AND CONCERNS ABOUT STRAY DRAWINGS AND BROKEN WATER PIPES, QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL THE SERVICES THEY EXPECT FOR US AND PAY FOR WITH THEIR TAXES.
SO I AM -- I'M TERRIFIED AND I'M LOATHE TO CONTRADICT MY COLLEAGUE TERI CASTILLO, BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT. YOUR -- HER ASSERTION THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THE CITY CENTER IS CORRECT, BUT IT'S AN INCREASING PROBLEM ON THE NORTH SIDE IN A WAY THAT WE
[01:45:05]
NEVER ANTICIPATED. UTSA, WHENEVER THEY HAVE BIG GRADUATION, ALL THE PARENTS RUN TO THE NORTH SIDE SO THEY CAN BE CLOSE TO THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES AND BE AROUND THEIR KIDS. IT'S GREAT, WE WANT THAT. WE GET PEOPLE WHO WANT TO VISIT FIESTA, TEXAS OR WHO WANT TO BE CLOSE TO LA CAN TEAR ARE TO SHOP., WHAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW BAD THE PARTY HOUSE PHENOMENON HAS GOTTEN FOR A LOT OF MY NEIGHBORHOODS. FRANKLY FOLKS, I GET TOO MANY COMPLAINTS AT MY OFFICE FROM MY NEIGHBORS TELLING ME THIS IS HAPPENING.
CONTRARY TO ONE OF THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME UP TO TELL US THIS IS NOT A THING, IT'S A THING. AND I HAVE IMPERIAL EVIDENCE.
WE'VE GOT YOU, MIKE, YOUR TEAM IS OUT THERE WASTING TIME SHUTTING DOWN PARTIES AND INVESTIGATING WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY REALLY DID HAVE A PARTY.
WE'VE GOT POLICE CALLS, I'VE GOT CHIEF MCMANUS' OFFICERS BEING DIVERTED FROM 911 CALLS TO SHUT DOWN PARTY HOUSES. I'VE NOT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS HIRING LAW FIRMS TO FILE SUIT AGAINST SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS WHO ARE CAUSING NUISANCES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. MY JOB IS TO GUARD MY NEIGHBORS' RIGHT TO SOMETHING CALLED QUIET ENJOYMENT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. MY JOB IS NOT TO FIGURE OUT A NEW WAY TO CONVINCE MY NEIGHBORS THEY'VE JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STOP COMPLAINING AND LIVE WITH PARTY HOUSES NEXT DOOR BECAUSE THEY ARE HERE. I THINK IN TODAY'S PROPOSAL IS A REALLY GOOD WAY TO BALANCE INTERESTS. IT'S NOT IDEAL.
MY NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO BE UPSET THAT WE DIDN'T SHUT THEM DOWN TODAY.
OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE UPSET THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE -- THAT WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION THAT TIGHTENS THE SCREWS A LITTLE TOO MUCH. I THINK WHEN BOTH PEOPLE ARE UPSET MAYBE WE'VE STRUCK THE RIGHT CHORD IN BALANCING INTERESTS. I DO WANT TO THANK THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ASSOCIATION. YOU GUYS DO EXCELLENT WORK AND I GOT TO MEET WITH YOUR ASSOCIATION AND THE ONE THING YOU LED OFF WITH WAS WE REPRESENT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND EXIST IN HARMONY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND YOU FOLKS WERE CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT YOU WOULDN'T WANT A PARTY HOUSE NEXT TO YOUR HOME AND THEREFORE YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO YOUR NEIGHBORS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT APPROACH. THAT'S THE RIGHT APPROACH.
I HAVE A FEELING IF I ASKED ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LOVE TO LIVE NEXT TO A PARTY HOUSE, NOBODY WOULD RAISE THEIR HANDS.
USING THAT STANDARD, I'M COMFORTABLE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS WITH THE PROPOSED INCREASE FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS TYPE 2, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS STILL -- WOULD STILL HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST PERMITTING FEES FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS TYPE 1 AND 2. AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS ROUGHLY $4 A MONTH.
IF YOU GET ON AIRBNB RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN RENT A ROOM FOR $58, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT RENTING AN ENTIRE FACILITY, ENTIRE HOME, IT'S ROUGHLY $128.
JUST KEEPING IN MIND WITH THE $4 EXTRA A MONTH WE'RE STILL ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND IN CONVERSATION AND RESEARCHI WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAD THE HIGHEST RATE AND I HAVE A LETTER FROM COUNCILMEMBER VANESSA FUENTES I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER IN THE RECORD AND ESSENTIALLY COSTS ARE TO HELP KEEP UP WITH COMPLIANCE, USED TO SUPPORT CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS. I BELIEVE WITH THIS AMENDMENT IT HELPS TEE US UP AS WE SEE THE GROWTH, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE MORE SHORT-TERM RENTALS TYPE 2, THAT WE'RE PREPARED WITH ENSURING FOLKS ARE IN COMPLIANCE AND FOLLOWING REGULATIONS. I'LL ENTER THIS INTO THE RECORD AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 3? I DO WANT TO THANK MIKE, MELISSA, YOUR DSD TEAM AS WELL AS MY TEAM IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PROVIDING DATA.
MY THINKING ON STRS HAS COME FULL CIRCLE SINCE WE FIRST ESTABLISHED THE DENSITY RULES AND WE BEGAN TO GET COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT PARTY
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HOUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THIS COUNCIL AND I THINK COUNCILS AT ANY TIME IS GOING TO BE UPKEEP OF THE CHARACTER AND THE LIVABILITY OF COMMUNITIES AND THAT'S DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF OWNERS WHO DON'T LIVE IN THEIR -- IN THEIR PROPERTIES. THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE FEAR ABOUT THE OVERTAKING OF ENTIRE CITIES OF STRS HAS BEEN A LITTLE OVERBLOWN BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY AND I WANT TO THANK THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS COLLEAGUES ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR FOR THOUGHTFUL DELIBERATION WHICH LEADS TO A CAUTIOUS STEP FORWARD.I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION AND AMENDMENT TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORK ON IMPROVING THE SITUATION FOR THE OWNERS AS WELL AS THE NEIGHBORS.
WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 3 AS AMENDED BY COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM NUMBER 5. >> CLERK: ITEM 5 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH COMPASS GROUP USA, INC. TO PROVIDE FRESH FOOD, BEVERAGE AND SNACK VENDING FOR EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS FOR A FIVE-YEAR TERM BEGINNING UPON AWARD WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR ONE ADDITIONAL FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
INCLUDING OFFICE COFFEE AND TEA SERVICES FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY STAFF AND TROY FOR HELPING BRIEFING US ABOUT THIS CONTRACT THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT JUST YESTERDAY.
SO THIS CONTRACT IS FOR VENDING SERVICES, COFFEE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S SPLIT UP INTO -- IT'S DEBUNDLED SO WE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE DIFFERENT VENDORS FOR EACH OF THOSE CONTRACTS. WHEN WE LOOKED INTO THE MATRIX, WHAT OUR OFFICE WAS RESEARCHING WAS THERE WAS A LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS, MINORITY WOMAN-END BUSINESS THAT APPLIED FOR SOME COMPONENTS OF THE CONTRACT, BUT THEY WERE NOT AWARDED. IN LOOKING AT THE MATRIX, THE SBEDA POINTS DID NOT HELP THEM ENOUGH TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. SO IT MADE US WONDER AND THINK, WE HAVE THIS SBEDA POINTS, BUT IF THEY ARE NOT REALLY HELPING, WHERE IS THE GAP THAT'S OCCURRING FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. BECAUSE WE WERE THINKING ABOUT IT, IT'S NOT LIKE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, IT'S A VENDING MACHINE.
IF THIS IS A VERY DOABLE CONTRACT FOR OUR LOCAL SMALL MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.
I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK AS A CITY AND COMMUNITY.
EVERY ONE OF US UP HERE AGREES THAT A PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR CONTRACTS GO TO OUR LOCAL, SMALL MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.
YET WE'RE STILL NOT SEEING THAT AS AN OUTCOME FROM OUR CONTRACTS AND THERE IS A GAP AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT GAP.
I KNOW THAT THE WORK THAT SUPPLY USA IS GOING TO ADDRESS THAT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LOCAL COMPANY AND THE COMPANY THAT GOT IT, DAVID AND GOLIATH.
THE LOCAL COMPANY IS REALLY SMALL, THE PROPOSAL IS NOT AS DETAILED.
IS IT THE PROPOSAL THAT'S THE ISSUE FOR FOLKS OR IS IT THE ACTUAL CAPACITY TO EXECUTE ON THE WORK AND HOW CAN WE AS A CITY SUPPORT THOSE GAPS.
SO WHETHER IT'S CAPACITY BUILDING ON THE PROPOSAL SIDE OR CAPACITY BUILDING ON STAFFING UP TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE NEXT CONTRACT, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I'D LIKE FOR CITY STAFF TO DO AN ANALYSIS OF ALL THE CONTRACTS WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND SEE HOW MANY OF THEM THAT HAD SOMEONE THAT WAS ELIGIBLE FOR SBEDA POINTS NOT GET THE CONTRACT AND FIGURE OUT WHY.
I KNOW WE ALWAYS OFFER IF YOU DIDN'T GET IT YOU CAN COME TO A DEBRIEF BUT LET'S TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GAP IS. I'VE ASKED TROY TO ALLOW ME TO SIT IN ON THIS MEETING WITH ONE COMPANY TO HELP UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY FELT LIKE THE GAP WAS OR WHAT SUPPORT THEY WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO FULFILL THIS
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CONTRACT. MY REQUEST IS JUST FOR BOTH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND OUR FINANCE TEAM TO CONTINUE TO PUSH TO SEE HOW CAN WE REALLY SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE I THINK WE AS A CITY AND US AS COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE PUSHED TO FULFILL THAT CAUSE AND WE SHOULD MAKE SURE WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. WITH THAT, I MAKE A MOTIONTO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER
5. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK DR. KAUR FOR --R BRINGING THIS UP. THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS CONTRACT TODAY SIMPLY BECAUSE WE JUST -- WE NEED TO DO BETTER. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING -- I GET WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND $4 FOR A COUPLE OF COFFEE IF I CAN GET IT FOR 25 CENTS, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE LINES SOMEWHERE WHERE WE'RE LIKE THIS WE CAN DO. AND I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE DEBUNDLE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT AND TO HEAR AGAIN THAT IT'S GOING TO SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT LOCAL IS JUST -- IT'S JUST SOMETHING I CAN'T SUPPORT TODAY. THANK YOU FOR PULLING IT SO
I COULD VOTE AGAINST IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 5? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL.
PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER 10.
>> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 10 IS A ORIGINALS APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH TYLER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., TO PROVIDE E-CITATION WRITERS, PRINTERS AND SUPPORT AND ACCESSORIES FOR A TOTAL OF $373,548 FOR THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE TRAFFIC UNIT.
FUNDING IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME GET A MOTION, THEN WE'LL START DISCUSSING. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 10. IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 10?
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 10?
>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR ITEM 10. WE'LL BEGIN COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: TYLER TECHNOLOGIES HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS FOR HICCUPS IN THE NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR BEXAR COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS. I KNOW MIGRATIONS AND SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATIONS CAN BE A HUGE UNDERTAKING. I WANT TO ENSURE SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO OUR TRAFFIC I DID HAVE A FEW CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ON THAT. WERE THE REQUESTED DEVICES CREATED BY TYLER TECHNOLOGIES THEMSELVES OR WOULD THEY JUST BE THE
DISTRIBUTOR? >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO CREATE A SEPARATION THAT WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO THE -- FOR APPROVAL TODAY IS A HARDWARE DEVICE WITH TYLER SOFTWARE ON IT THAT INTEGRATES THE TYLER SOFTWARE BACK AT MUNICIPAL COURTS. SO THE SOFTWARE, TYLER ACTUALLY PURCHASED THIS FROM A PREVIOUS COMPANY CALLED BRAZOS SO THEY ARE NOW THE OWNERS OF THE SOFTWARE AND THE HARDWARE. THIS IS MORE OF A HARD WORK IMPLEMENTATION -- HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION, NOT A SYSTEMS.
>> GAVITO: I KNOW THE CURRENT CITATION SYSTEMS WERE SO OUT OF DATE THEY WOULD NOT LAST FOR THE OFFICER'S ENTIRE SHIFT. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THERE'S THE DEVICE ITSELF THAT READS THE LICENSE AND THEN A PRINTER, THOSE ARE
THE AGED HARDWARE DEVICES THAT ARE BEING REPLACED. >> GAVITO: SO WILL THE
CITATION DEVICES REQUIRE A MIGRATION? >> NO, THERE'S NO DEVICES,
IT SCANS, READS AND PASSES AS IT GOES FORWARD. >> GAVITO: WHAT SORT OF TRAINING WILL THE OFFICERS RECEIVE PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION?
>> GOOD MORNING. BOBBY BLANTON WHERE THE CHIEF'S -- WITH THE CHIEF'S OFFICE. WITHIN THE CONTRACT THERE'S SOME TRAINING AND ACCLIMATION SCHEDULED FOR THAT, BUT THE TRAFFIC SECTION TESTED THIS EQUIPMENT IN JUNE AND JULY OF LAST YEAR AND IT'S PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY HAVE
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NOW. SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A BIG CURVE ON HOW TO USE THEEQUIPMENT. >> GAVITO: THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION ABOUT BEING TESTED. WHAT WAS THE FEEDBACK THAT THEY HAD ON THE NEW
EQUIPMENT? >> SO THIS ZEBRA AND TYLER DEVICE AND TECHNOLOGY WAS A
PREFERRED DEVICE BY THE TRAFFIC SECTION FOR SURE. >> GAVITO: AWESOME.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT BACKUP PLAN IF THE DEVICES FAIL? >> IT WOULD BE A PAPER, A
TRADITIONAL PAPER TICKET PROCESS. >> GAVITO: AS I SAID, MY INTENTION IN PULLING THIS IS DETERMINE WHETHER OUR OFFICERS MAY EXPERIENCE SIMILAR ISSUES IF WE AWARD THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO LIMIT THEIR
ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOB. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 10? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 10. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THERE IS -- IS THERE A CITY
MANAGER'S REPORT? >> WALSH: YES, SIR. TWO ITEMS. ONE I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL AND WE'LL SEND OUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT AT THE AIRPLANE BUDGET WORK SESSION -- APRIL BUDGET WORK SESSION, THE COUNCIL TALKED ABOUT A CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING. I WANTED TO SHARE WE HAVE CREATED AN ILLEGAL DUMPING CAMPAIGN CALLED FIGHT DIRTY AND THAT WILL RUN THROUGH THE SUMMER, THROUGH SEPTEMBER. SO ONE OF THE TAKE-AWAYS WE HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL AT THE GOAL SETTING WAS A SENSE OF URGENCY AND SOLID WASTE AND C AND E STARTED WORKING ON A PROGRAM THAT WILL INCLUDE BOTH BILLBOARDS, COMMERCIALS ON LOCAL TELEVISION, BOTH DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
IN SELECT AREAS OF TOWN AND ON VIA BUS SHELTERS. THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IS REALLY COMBINED WITH EFFORTS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR THOSE FREQUENT ILLEGAL DID YOU HAPPENING LOCATIONS. -- DUMPING LOCATIONS.
LASTLY, MAYOR, TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT VIDEO IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
NORMALLY WE SHOW EMPLOYEES ACTIVELY DOING A JOB FOR THE CITY, BUT TODAY'S VIDEO SHARES THE STORY OF TWO EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE MADE WORKING FOR THE CITY A FAMILY AFFAIR. WALTER BARRETT, WHO IS WITH SOLID WASTE, AND KALEAH BARRETT WHO IS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES -- A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT WORK FOR THE CITY AND THIS IS ONE GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE CITY AND HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL FATHERS AND FATHER FIGURES. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO. [VIDEO] ♪
>> WELL -- >> START -- >> HAPPY FATHER'S DAY,
SAN ANTONIO. >> Y'ALL ARE GOING TO GET THIS, I PROMISE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT. BARBECUE. OX TAILS, MCRIB FROM
MCDONALD'S. >> A TACO I KNOW SHE ENJOYS IS CARNE ASADA WITH CHEESE.
>> WE HAVEN'T WORKED TOGETHER, BUT WHO WOULD BE THE BOSS?
>> I WOULD ALLOW HER TO BE THE BOSS BECAUSE SHE'S UP AND COMING, SHE HAS A BRAND-NEW PERSPECTIVE. I WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO SHOW
WHAT SHE'S LEARNED WHILE SHE'S BEEN WITH THE CITY. >> I'M WITH THE
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER. >> I'M A MEMBER OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT WHERE I WORK AT A SOLID WASTE MANAGER. WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT MY WORK IS I GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT OUR BUSINESS.
WHAT I REALLY ENJOY IS AFFORDING FOLKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR SKILL SET, LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND ENHANCE THEIR CAREERS.
>> ENGAGEMENT IS FAIRLY SOMETHING NEW TO THE ORGANIZATION SO WE'RE ABLE TO WORK TOWARDS BUILDING A CAPACITY FOR ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE CITY AND I LOVE TO MEET PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD SAY THAT OUR FAMILY IS DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO MAKING A BETTER COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IN OUR PROFESSIONAL
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LIVES, BUT ALSO IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES. >> I FEEL A DEEP BIT OF GRATITUDE TO KNOW THAT MY DAUGHTER IS WORKING IN THE SAME ORGANIZATION THAT I'M WORKING IN, MAKING A DIFFERENCE, MAKING YOUR OWN WAY, EARNING IT, AND BECOMING A REAL PROFESSIONAL BECAUSE IT MATTERS. SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT YOU, IT MAKES MY HEART SMILE THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOU.
>> A MESSAGE TO ALL CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FATHERS WOULD BE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
ALL OF THAT THAT HE TALKED ABOUT FOR EARNING, I SAW ALL OF THAT.
I KNOW NO DIFFERENT. >> I GUESS THERE'S ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO SAY.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, SAN ANTONIO. [APPLAUSE]
>> WALSH: THAT'S IT, MAYOR. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIK. BEFORE WE ADJOURN, LET ME TURN TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE A MEMBER OF MY TEAM WHO WILL BE LEAVING TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
DORIAN KELLER IS ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES.
HE STARTED WITH THE CITY IN JULY OF 2021 AND CAME TO DISTRICT 7 LAST YEAR.
HE HAS BEEN WITH MY OFFICE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MY TERM AND IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT SERVANT LEADERSHIP MEANS TO THE STATISTIC. HE NEVER FAILS TO BE THE BRIGHT SPOT AND POPULAR WITH CONSTITUENTS. WE WERE HAVING A PUBLIC SAFETY TOWN HALL, IT WAS A FULL DAY. I WAS KIND OF TIRED AND I MET WITH WOMAN WITH HER MORE AND SHE WAS SAYING SHE HELPED US SOLVE THE ISSUE ON BABCOCK. CAN I GO MEET HIM? SURE.
I TOOK HER OVER TO DEDORIAN AND THERE'S A LINE OF CONSTITUENTS WAITING TO TALK TO DORIAN. I WAS IN LINE WAITING TO MEET DORIAN AT ONE OF MY EVENTS. I DO KIND OF REGRET WRITING HIM A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR HIS LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION BECAUSE THE CITY IS LOSING SOMEONE.
I'M GOING TO BE YOUR TOP BLOCK WALKER IF AND WHEN YOU DIED TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
YOU ARE BRILLIANT AND KIND AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DORIAN'S FAMILY, HIS MOM, HIS DAD, HIS GRANDPA AROUND THANK YOU FOR RAISING SUCH A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN AND SHARING HIM WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
DORIAN, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN MAYBE WORKING FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR KIND WORDS. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS GIVEN ME THIS OPPORTUNITY, MY FAMILY AND EVERYBODY WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME AND GIVEN ME THAT LOVE AND SUPPORT. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE BOTH IN DISTRICT 7 AND DISTRICT 1.
I'M ABLE TO LEARN A LOT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE IN LAW SCHOOL AND AT ST. MARY'S, AND MAYBE HOPEFULLY WORKING FOR THE CITY AND SERVING MEMBERS OF
SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE EXCITED FOR YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, DORIAN, BEST OF LUCK IN LAW SCHOOL. DON'T FORGET WE HAVE A 1:00 SPECIAL SESSION TODAY.
TIME IS 11:17 AND OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED. NO EXEC.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.