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>> CLERK: MA'AM, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.
WE'LL START OFF WITH THE EASY STUFF AND THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MAY 20. I HOPE YOU GOT A CHANCE TO READ IT.
MAY I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A
SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>
>> GARCIA: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM THAT WILL BE QUICK AND WE CAN RELEASE SOME FOLKS, IF IT'S OKAY WITH MY COLLEAGUES, CAN WE TAKE THAT UP FIRST? ITEM NO. 5 IS A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE WILLOW BREEZE APARTMENTS. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM -- WELL, IT'S PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL START OFF WITH DAN SNIDER AND MR. SNIDER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LLOYD WELTY.
>> GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? GOOD.
GOOD MORNING. I KNOW I HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME SO I'M GOING TO GO QUICKLY AND NOT GIVE MY BEST PRESENTATION HERE. BUT I'VE GOT THREE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. NUMBER ONE IS GOING TO BE A QUICK INTRODUCTION. NUMBER TWO, THE BENEFITS OF THE AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLING INDUSTRY AND THEN, LASTLY, THE BENEFITS OF OUR PARTICULAR FACILITIES THAT ARE INSIDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. MY NAME IS DAN SNIDER.
OUR TWO LOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE INSIDE SAN ANTONIO. I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS SINCE 1988 . WE STARTED AS A SINGLE LOCATION IN HOLLAND, TEXAS, AND WE HAVE NINE LOCATIONS IN THE STATE WITH ABOUT 400 PLEASE. 400 EMPLOYEES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK INSIDE THE AUTO PARTS INDUSTRY AND THEY DON'T REALIZE WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT INVOLVED IN IT BUT INSIDE OUR INDUSTRY IN THE U.S. ECONOMY CURRENTLY THERE'S 140,000 PEOPLE INVOLVED AS EMPLOYEES IN THE INDUSTRY AT ABOUT 9,000 LOCATIONS. AND THAT BRINGS ABOUT $32 BILLION IN SALES INTO THE U.S. ECONOMY. ENVIRONMENTALLY, VERY KEY PART OF OUR INDUSTRY, WE CONSIDER OURSELVES THE ORIGINAL RECYCLERS AND IN 2017 AN INSTITUTE PARTNERED TO STUDY THE INDUSTRY'S CARBON FOOTPRINT IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS . WPI DETERMINED THAT RECLAIMING AUTO PARTS FOR REUSE THEN RECYCLING THE STEEL AND ALUMINUM LEFT IN THE VEHICLE REDUCED THE STATE'S CARBON FOOTPRINT BY AT LEAST 2.2 MILLION TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE ANNUALLY.
ATTACHED IS THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THAT STUDY. THEY ALSO FOUND THAT 86% OF END OF LIFE VEHICLES ARE RECYCLED AND THAT USING SCRAP IRON AND STEEL REDUCES THE USE OF NEW IRON ORE. FOR EVERY NEW TON OF STEEL THAT'S MADE WITH RECYCLED SCRAP WE SAVE 2500 POUNDS OF IRON ORE, 1400 POUNDS OF COAL, AND 120 POUNDS OF LIMESTONE. IN ADDITION TO CONSERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLING REDUCES AIR AND WATER POLLUTION AND SOLID WASTE GENERATION.
EACH YEAR THE INDUSTRY COLLECTS AND REUSES AND RECYCLES 8 MILLION GALLONS OF GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUEL, 24 MILLION GALLONS OF MOTOR OIL, 8 BILLION GALLONS OF ENGINE COOLANT, 5 MILLION GALLONS OF WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID, AND 96% OF ALL LEAD ACID BATTERIES. THERE'S A LINK ON HERE -- OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT AN ELECTRONIC VERSION BUT IF YOU WANT TO TYPE IT IN
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THERE, THERE'S A VIDEO. LASTLY, BENEFITS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FROM JUST OUR LOCATIONS, WHICH I CAN SPEAK TO. BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHERS THAT WILL TALK ABOUT THEIRS. WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONSCURRENTLY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO -- >> GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MR. SNIDER. >> I'D LIKE TO GIVE THIS HANDOUT, IF YOU GUYS CAN GET
THAT. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. MR. WELTY.
>> I'M LLOYD WELTY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PICK AND PULL. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR 38 YEARS . WE ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER LOCATIONS RIGHT BEHIND US ON HIGHWAY 16. LIKE MR. SNIDER WAS TALKING, WE BENEFIT THE CITY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT WAY THE CODE IS WRITTEN.
I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO STAND UP HERE AND TELL YOU YES, THERE IS.
THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECYCLER IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT GETS A PREINSPECTION. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE USED WITH.
THERE'S CURRENTLY ANOTHER RECYCLER IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT CODE COMPLIANCE CANNOT GO IN AND INSPECT. THEY CURRENTLY HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 500 TO 4,000 TIRES SITTING OUT, GIVING US A BAD NAME. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED TO THIS IS WHOEVER IS ON THIS COMMITTEE CANNOT CURRENTLY BE IN A LAWSUIT WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT ARE.
BACK TO THAT PRE-INSPECTION, IF I CAN GET AN E-MAIL FROM SOMEBODY, I WILL GLADLY SHARE THAT WITH YOU BECAUSE I HAVE A COPY OF IT ON THE RECYCLER IT HAPPENS.
WE NEED TO TREAT EVERYONE IN HERE -- AND THERE'S A LOT OF US.
WE NEED TO TREAT US ALL WITH THE SAME COURTESY. THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY HAPPENING. IF YOU'RE GOING TO ATTACK ONE OF US, DON'T LET TWO
OTHER ONES GET BY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MR. WELTY. DEBORAH PONCE AND DEBBIE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A GROUP.
>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR HEARING THE VOICES FROM ONE SIDE OF TOWN THAT RARELY GETS HEARD. ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 I REMEMBERED FEELING IMMENSE FRUSTRATION. ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO VIDEOTAPE A FIRE AT THE SAME BUSINESS IN THE SAME SPOT BEHIND THE SAME FENCE.
IT WAS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE MY BROTHER, NEPHEWS, AND TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS ALL LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT BESIDE THE BUSINESS. FIRES SEEM TO ERUPT EVERY FEW MONTHS WITH NO OVERSIGHT FROM AUTHORITIES. WE DISCUSSED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS HOW IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS IN SAN ANTONIO HAD THREE FIRES IN ONE YEAR, ARSON INVESTIGATORS, THE POLICE, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE INVESTIGATING. THIS NEVER HAPPENED IN OUR CASE AND WE QUESTIONED WHY.
WHAT WAS DIFFERENT? WHY WERE WE SUBJECTED TO THIS REPEATEDLY? WHILE VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS REGULARLY DISCUSSED THESE ISSUES, THE THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION .
ITS MEMBERS, BEING DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE SMOKE AND PARTICULATE MATTER HAD ENOUGH AND WENT TO THE PRESS. THE CORE GROUP LED BY VICE PRESIDENT RUDY LOPEZ, JOEY, A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE, A RESTAURANT OWNER, NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT OF ESPERANZA CENTER, AND MYSELF SPEARHEADED THE EFFORT FOR MORE. SINCE NOVEMBER 2023, WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF COLLABORATING WITH NOW 11 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP REGARDING THESE ISSUES WITH THE TOXIC AIR. SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TERI CASTILLO DESERVES CREDIT FOR TAKING UP OUR CAUSE.
SHE LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY'S OUTCRY AND FILED THIS COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST BEFORE YOU RESULTING IN A POWERFUL PROPOSAL. OUR GROUP IS PLEASED WITH THE TASK FORCE IMPLEMENTATION. AS THE CLIMATE JUSTICE ORGANIZER FOR PUBLIC CITIZEN IN SAN ANTONIO, I'M DEEPLY INVESTED IN COMBATING CLIMATE REDLINING, ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE CITY'S SOUTHWEST AND EAST SIDES WHERE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT OURSELVES WAS TAKEN FROM US.
THE CREATION OF THIS COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST WHERE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IS A STEP IN ALLEVIATING THE SITUATION. WITHOUT ANY PROTECTIONS OR ABILITY TO SPEAK FOR OURSELVES. AND WATCHING DECISIONS BEING MADE BY PEOPLE WHO WILL NEVER WATCH THEIR OWN FAMILIES INHALE THE TOXINS
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THAT WE MUST INHALE OR DIE FROM THE CANCERS THAT WE SUSPECT ARE CAUSED BY WHAT WE INHALE. OUR COALITION OF LEADERS IS POLITELY BUT FIRMLY DEMANDING THAT THIS TASK FORCE INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING THE METAL RECYCLERS.WE NEED VOICES FROM THOSE IMPACTED WHO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK.
WE ALSO WANT BUSINESS OWNERS WHO OPERATE RESPONSIBLY AND UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEIR WORK TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THOSE OWNERS AREN'T AFRAID OF FAIR CODES AND REGULATIONS. IN FACT, THEY WELCOME THEM.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE AIR WE BREATHE AND THE SOIL AND WATER BENEATH IT ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS TASK
FORCE. THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.
THE GROUP WITH JOHN JOHN JOHNSON >> YES, MA'AM. MR. HACK AND JUSTIN, THEY'RE GOING TO CEDE THEIR TIME TO ME. NINE MINUTES, I'M GOING TO HAND THESE.
SO MY NAME IS JOHN MICHAEL JOHNSON. I'M A LAWYER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I HAVE MY OWN LAW FIRM, THE JOHNSON LAW FIRM.
I ALSO WORK WITH JOHN POWELL AT THE POWELL LAW FIRM. WE REPRESENT OUR CLIENTS HERE, TEXAS AUTO SALVAGE, INC. AND DANIEL HACK. TEXAS AUTO SALVAGE, INC. IS LOCATED ON SOMERSET ROAD. THEY HAVE SPENT PROBABLY ABOUT 14 YEARS NOW IN LITIGATION TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, CONVINCE THE CITY TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE CHAPTER 16 EQUALLY AND EFFECTIVELY ACROSS ALL OF THE 75 UAPRS.
IN THE HANDOUT I HAVE GIVEN YOU A LITTLE SYNOPSIS OF WHAT THE CASE WAS ABOUT.
I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS ROOM, MR. MICHAEL SHANNON, AMIN TOHMAZ, WE HAVE TAKEN THEIR DEPOSITIONS IN THIS CASE SO IT SHOULDN'T BE COMING AS A SURPRISE TO THEM BUT WHAT I WANTED TO OFFER TO THE PLANNING COMMITTEE TODAY IS WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EXHIBITS OR EVIDENCE THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED IN THIS CASE. A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE EVIDENCE THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE CITY. IT HAS BATES LABELS WITH THE CITY STAMP ON IT AND IT'S GOING TO SHOW THE VIOLATIONS AND THE DIFFERENT NON-CONFORMING RIGHTS USE ISSUES THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH ALL THIS STUFF. AND SO IF ANYONE HERE, AFTER I SPEAK WANTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT EVIDENCE, I'D BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT TO YOU VIA A LINK AND THERE'S ALMOST 200 EXHIBITS. THERE'S A LOT THERE AND SO WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS TASK FORCE. WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THAT. I'M GOING TO READ THEM FOR YOU BECAUSE WE TOOK TIME TO PUT THESE TOGETHER. IT'S A NUMBER OF ISSUES WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN THE LAWSUIT AND THESE ARE SOLUTIONS THAT WE THINK, YOU KNOW, IF THEY COULD BE IMPLEMENTED THEY WOULD SOLVE ALL THESE ISSUES.
I'LL READ THOSE OUT TO YOU. ONCE I HAVE DONE THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW SUGGESTIONS ON WHO I THINK SHOULD BE ON THE TASK FORCE. ISSUE NUMBER ONE IS GOING TO BE THAT THE COSA DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS TO IDENTIFY AIR, SOIL, AND WATER CONTAMINATION AT MRES AND UAPRS.
PROVIDE THE CODE OFFICERS THE TOOLS, SEND THEM TO A LAB AND HAVE THEM ANALYZED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY GO TO A MUNICIPAL COURT HEARING THEY HAVE THE EVIDENCE OF THE VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 16. THAT'S ISSUE NUMBER ONE. THEY DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO TAKE THE SAMPLES. ISSUE NUMBER TWO, COSA DSD DOES NOT COORDINATE WITH OTHER STATE AND LOCAL INSTITUTIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT OF MRES AND UAPRS. THE ONE I'M FOCUSING ON IS SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM AND THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. THE SOLUTION FOR THIS IS TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT ALL SUSPECTED AND AN ADDITIONAL SOLUTION FOR THIS IS TO CREATE AN SOP, A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR WHEN COSA DSD SHOULD BE CONTACTING SAWS AND WHEN THEY SHOULD BE CONTACTING TCEQ. ISSUE NUMBER TWO, COSA DSD DOES NOT TRAIN ITS EMPLOYEES ON CHAPTER 16, SPECIFICALLY. THEY DO TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES SOME BUT NOT ON CHAPTER 16 SPECIFICALLY. AND THE REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS IS IF THEY'RE NOT TRAINED, COSA DSD APPLIES CHAPTER 16 IN AN UNFAIR MANNER.
THE SOLUTION -- THERE'S MANY SOLUTIONS BUT THE SOLUTION FOR THIS TRAINING IS TO
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RETAIN EXPERTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE OR TO RETAIN LAWYERS MAYBE THAT ARE EXPERTS IN THIS AREA OF THE LAW. RETAIN THOSE LAWYERS AND THEN HAVE THEM DO A TRAINING FOR THE DSD FOLKS. THAT'S THE SOLUTION WE'RE PROPOSING. IN ADDITION TO THAT TRAINING, BEFORE YOU CAN COMPLETE THE TRAINING, YOU NEED TO TAKE A TEST THAT SAYS, HEY, I HAVE PASSED THIS TEST. I UNDERSTAND CHAPTER 16 AND NOW I'M AUTHORIZED ONLY AT THAT POINT TO ENFORCE IT. THAT'S ISSUE NUMBER 3 ON TRAINING.ISSUE NUMBER FOUR. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 75 UAPRS AND MRES IN SAN ANTONIO BUT ONLY TWO CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO INSPECT THESE YARDS. THAT IS TESTIMONY THAT I HEARD RECENTLY BUT I KNOW AT TIMES THERE MAY BE FOUR OR FIVE BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.
THE INSPECTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO OCCUR MONTHLY BUT THEY DON'T OCCUR MONTHLY BECAUSE THEY ONLY HAVE TWO CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET OUT THERE. THE SOLUTION TO THIS, PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
HIRE MORE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OR ASSIGN -- REASSIGN EXISTING COSA STAFF TO HELP WITH THE INSPECTIONS SO THEY CAN BE DONE ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
ISSUE NUMBER FIVE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF UAPRS AND MRES THAT HAVE REPEATEDLY VIOLATED CHAPTER 16 BUT THEY CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN VIOLATION OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAWS. THIS IS FROM COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S PROPOSAL BUT DSD PROVIDED A PRESENTATION IN JUNE OF 2023 WHERE THEY FOUND 100 VIOLATIONS AT THESE FACILITIES. AND THEY WERE RECURRING.
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO ALSO POINTED OUT THAT BAD-ACTING INDUSTRIES THAT EMIT HAZARDOUS POLLUTION THAT HARMS PUBLIC HEALTH SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RACK UP CODE VIOLATIONS AND SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RELY ON THE CITY SERVICES TO ROUTINELY CLEAN UP THEIR MESSES AND SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HARM OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. AND SO HERE IS THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR THESE REPEAT OFFENDERS. SOLUTION NUMBER ONE.
FIRST WE NEED TO CREATE A LIST OF REPEAT AND TOP-OFFENDING UAPRS AND MRES AND APPLY INCREASED SCRUTINY TO THEM. THEY ARE HAVING MORE VIOLATIONS SO THEY NEED INCREASED SCRUTINY. WE NEED TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT THESE REPEAT OFFENDERS. THIRD SOLUTION WOULD BE TO DECLARE THEM PUBLIC NUISANCES DEFINED AS CHAPTER 16.
I HAD MENTIONED THIS ONGOING LITIGATION. WE HAD A DIFFERENT G CASE IN 2018 AND THE CITY WAS NEGLECTING ITS DUTIES. THEY WEREN'T DECLARING THESE MRES AND UAPRS AS PUBLIC NUISANCES. PLEASE DECLARE THE OFFENDERS PUBLIC NUISANCES AS CHAPTER ALLOWS YOU TO DO. ANOTHER SOLUTION I HAVE HERE FOR THE REPEAT OFFENDERS. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE TECHNICAL BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY CLEAN UP ONE OF THESE YARDS, IF IT'S BEEN CONTAMINATED FOR TEN YEARS. THERE'S BEEN OIL AND STUFF GOING TO THE GROUND.
HOW DO YOU CLEAN THAT UP? I HAVE MET WITH A TOXICOLOGIST OR ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, PROFESSOR AT UTSA AND SHE WORKED WITH ME IN THE PAST TO COME UP WITH THIS AND RECENTLY. IF YOU HAVE A REPEAT OFFENDER, THIS IS THE SOLUTION TO FIX THAT. I'M GOING TO GO OVER THIS WITH YOU. THE FIRST THING THEY NEED TO DO IS CONDUCT A PHASE 2 ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT THAT INCLUDES SOIL SAMPLING AND LAB TESTING. THOSE NEED TO SATISFY THE STANDARDS PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS . THE NEXT THING THEY NEED TO DO IS IF THOSE LAB RESULTS FROM THE SOIL TEST REVEALS THE SOIL IS CONTAMINATED, THEN THE OFFENDER SHALL REMEDIATE THE SOIL AT THE CONTAMINATED PROPERTY.
THAT MEANS DIGGING IT OUT, GETTING RID OF IT. THIRD, IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN THAT SATISFIES THE STANDARDS PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT AND ORGANIZED ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE SYSTEM. THAT INCLUDES SCREEN TESTING, ENVIRONMENTAL COMPANY OVERSIGHT, AND PERIODIC ONGOING ASSESSMENTS WITH LAB TESTING. THEY ALSO NEED TO IMPLEMENT AN EFFLUENT DISPOSAL AND MANAGEMENT PLAN. THEY NEED TO PROVIDE THE STAKEHOLDER COMMISSION, ASSUMING THE STAKEHOLDER COMMISSION IS IN PLACE. THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, WE'RE PUTTING INCREASED SCRUTINY ON YOU GUYS. THEY NEED TO PROVIDE TO THE STAKEHOLDER COMMISSION WITH QUARTERLY ASSESSMENTS. NOW, IN THIS PROGRAM THEY ARE UNDER REPEATED SCRUTINY AND THEY HAVE A VIOLATION. THAT'S WHAT THIS BULLET POINT 6 IS TALKING ABOUT HERE. IF THE REPEAT OFFENDER IS CITED WITH THREE OR MORE VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 16 COSA DSD MAY, ON THE FIRST OCCASION THEY CAN GO TO COURT AND SEEK THAT THE PROPERTY CLOSE FOR 30 DAYS.
AND SO ON A SECOND OCCASION, THEY CAN GO INTO COURT AND THEY CAN TAKE A PERMANENT CLOSURE OF THEIR PROPERTY. THAT'S A PERMANENT INJUNCTION.
THAT'S A SIMILAR THING THAT ME AND MR. POWELL AND MY CLIENTS HAVE TRIED TO DO IN
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THE PAST. LET'S GO ON TO ISSUE NUMBER SIX.THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR COSA DSD REQUIRES THEM TO APPEAR AT MUNICIPAL HEARINGS. UNDER CHAPTER 16, TWO CONVICTIONS IN MUNICIPAL COURT IS GROUND TO REVOKE AN MRE OR UAPR LICENSE. HOWEVER, THE CITATIONS DO NOT DETER THE UAPR OR MRE BECAUSE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO NOT APPEAR AT
THE HEARING AND PRESENT EVIDENCE OF THE VIOLATION. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MR. JOHNSON. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU.
>> GARCIA: WE WILL HEAR FROM MARVIN HASINI. >>
>> GARCIA: JAY AND THEN FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER JACKSON.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JAY AND I RESIDE IN DISTRICT 1 .
I MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO FIVE YEARS AGO UPON RETIREMENT FROM MY POSITION AT PRESIDENT OF SAMSON STEEL CORP. IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS. A POSITION I HELD FOR 18 YEARS. PRIOR TO THAT, I MANAGED THE METAL RECYCLING FACILITY FOR 20 YEARS. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHILE ALSO A PROFITABLE BUSINESS AND CREATING GOOD JOBS. IT WAS CLEAR TO ME WHEN I ARRIVED IN SAN ANTONIO THAT OUR CITY HAS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO RECYCLING. THE CURBSIDE PROGRAM IS OUTSTANDING AND VISITS TO THE RECYCLING CENTERS ARE IMPRESSIVE WHEN ONE IS AWARE OF THE MANY TYPES OF MATERIALS ACCEPTED AND THE EFFICIENCY AND CLEANLINESS OF THE OPERATION. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE METAL RECYCLERS WERE THE ORIGINAL RECYCLERS. RECYCLED METALS ARE A PART OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES IN THE PRODUCTS WE USE AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
RECYCLED METALS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COUNTRY. I'M CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AS A CONSULTANT FOR AN AGRICULTURAL CONCERN AND AM AWARE OF THE ISSUES CREATED BY INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS AROUND US. WE ARE REGULARLY TESTING OUR PRODUCTS AND WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. EQUIPMENT COSTS IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. A FIRE IS THE LAST THING THAT A BUSINESS OPERATOR WOULD WANT. METAL RECYCLERS, LIKE ALL REPUTABLE BUSINESS OWNERS, WANT TO BE GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNERS. I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON THE AD HOC COMMUNITY TO EVALUATE SAN ANTONIO CODE OF ORDINANCES REFERRING TO USED AUTOMOTIVE PARTS RECYCLERS AND METAL RECYCLING ENTITIES.
MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDUSTRY AND ITS CHALLENGES BALANCED WITH MY AWARENESS OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY QUALIFIES ME AS AN HONEST BROKER FOR FINDING THE BEST SOLUTION FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
I WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY WHILE LIVING IN BEAUMONT AND LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. JENNIFER JACKSON FOLLOWED BY ALLEN SWAYZE.
>> JENNIFER JACKSON. I HAVE WORKED FOR LONGHORN RECYCLING FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS. WE ARE ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO IN DISTRICT 2 .
WE HAVE STRIVED REALLY HARD TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. WE'VE GOTTEN ALONG REALLY WELL WITH THE EAST GATE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE. WE HAVE NOT HAD ISSUES WITH OUR SCRAPYARD BUT WITH THE BAD NAMES WE'RE GETTING FROM SO MANY OTHERS THAT ARE NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING OUT OF COMPLIANCE, IT'S MAKING US ALL LOOK BAD.
I HAVE SERVED ON THE RECYCLING COUNCIL OF TEXAS FOR OVER TEN YEARS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I WAS THE TREASURER FOR OVER TEN YEARS.
I FEEL LIKE I'M HIGHLY QUALIFIED TO BE ON THIS TASK FORCE AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE INPUT IN IT JUST TO PROVIDE RECYCLING TO CONTINUE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WITHOUT THE EXTRA REGULATIONS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO CONTINUE ADDING ON.
I THINK THEY NEED TO BE ENFORCED WITH WHAT'S OUT THERE.
THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MS. JACKSON.
ELLEN SWAYZE. >> GOOD MORNING. ALLEN SWAYZE WITH CMC RECYCLING. CMC HAS TWO LOCATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO.
ONE IN DISTRICT 2, ONE IN DISTRICT 5. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY FOR OVER 100 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED BY CMC FOR THE LAST 38 YEARS. WE OWN 43 RECYCLING FACILITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FROM CALIFORNIA TO FLORIDA. WE HAVE 17 IN THE STATE OF
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TEXAS. I OVERSEE 11 OF THOSE FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN CODE COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST AND HAVE BEEN ON COMMITTEES TO HELP ESTABLISH REGULATIONS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, CORPUS CHRISTI, AND COMMERCIAL METALS WAS PART OF THE AIR MONITORING STUFF IN HOUSTON, TEXAS THAT HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO.SO I AM HERE TO VOLUNTEER, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMITTEE.
I THINK COMMERCIAL METAL BEING A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY, WE DO THINGS DIFFERENT THAN THE INDEPENDENTS. OUR RESOURCES AND FOLKS WE HAVE WORKING WOULD BE GREAT RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH THESE NEW REGULATIONS. I AGREE THAT THESE REGULATIONS NEED TO BE REVIEWED ON A REGULAR BASIS BECAUSE THINGS CHANGE.
THE INDUSTRY CHANGES, THE PRODUCTS THAT WE RECEIVE AT OUR FACILITIES HAVE CHANGED, WHICH IS CAUSING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW WITH THESE FIRES. I MEAN, ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. EVERY RECYCLER BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ME AND EVERYBODY SITTING IN THIS ROOM THAT USE ON A DAILY BASIS THAT CAUSE PROBLEMS. WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO PREVENT THAT STUFF. I'M JUST HERE TO VOLUNTEER MY TIME TO HELP AND COMMERCIAL METAL'S TIME TO HELP WITH THIS COMMITTEE WHEN IT MOVES FORWARD.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. SWAYZE. DEE DEE FOLLOWED BY DAVID
WEXLER. >> THANKS. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M A CLEAN ENERGY ADVOCATE WITH PUBLIC CITIZEN.
I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR LEADING THIS WORK ON THE CCR AND ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE SUPPORTING HER AS WELL.
AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I'M ASKING THIS COMMITTEE TO FORM A TASK FORCE OR ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS' CONCERNS FOR AUTO AND METAL RECYCLING FACILITIES. THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT LIVE NEAR THESE FACILITIES ARE HAVING TO ENDURE FIRES AND POLLUTION THAT CAN HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH IMPACTS.
THE NOISE FROM EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES COMING FROM THESE FACILITIES ARE ALSO A NUISANCE AND SCARY AND DANGEROUS FOR THEM. LIKE MANY OTHER TOXIC INDUSTRIES IN OUR CITY, THESE METAL RECYCLING FACILITIES ARE OVERWHELMINGLY LOCATED IN VULNERABLE AND WORKING-CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE RESIDENTS NEED COUNCIL MEMBERS' HELP USING EXISTING CITY ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY AND TO UPDATE CITY CODES SO THAT THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE AFFECTED WILL BE HELPED.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THERE IS A NEED FOR AUTO AND METAL RECYCLING FACILITIES.
HEARING THE COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THE FOLKS HERE TODAY IS SHOWING THAT THEY ARE WANTING TO WORK WITH COUNCIL IN GOOD FAITH AND I HOPE THAT WILL HAPPEN THROUGH THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PASSING THE CCR. IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT DEBORAH PONCE, MY COLLEAGUE FROM PUBLIC CITIZEN BE APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE. PUBLIC CITIZEN HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WORKING AROUND METAL AND AUTO RECYCLING FACILITIES IN OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MS. DEE DEE.
DAVID WEXLER FOLLOWED BY RUDY LOPEZ. >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS DAVID VEXLER. I'M A FOURTH GENERATION RECYCLERS AND WE EMPLOYEE ABOUT 80 FOLKS THAT MOSTLY RESIDE IN DISTRICTS 4 AND 5. I FIRST WANT TO THANK THIS COMMITTEE FOR ITS EFFORTS TO REVIEW CHAPTER 16. WE BELIEVE IT IS TIME FOR THE CODE TO BE REVIEWED AND ENSURE ALL INDUSTRY PLAYERS ARE OPERATING IN A SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS WAY. MUCH HAS CHANGED IN THE INDUSTRY SINCE MY SISTER, JORDAN VEXLER AND OTHERS HERE PARTICIPATED TO CRAFT THE CODE 12 YEARS AGO. I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT JORDAN'S REQUEST TO BE A PART OF THE CODE REVIEW COMMITTEE. JORDAN IS INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF METAL RECYCLING, ESPECIALLY TO ITS POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. HER FOCUS IS FRONT AND CENTER ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SAFETY. SHE'S HIGHLY REGARDED BY HER PEERS, IS A LONGTIME LEADER ON THE RECYCLING FRONT, ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING WITH THE TRADE ASSOCIATION AND SERVING ON THE BOARDS OF THE RECYCLING COUNCIL OF TEXAS.
JORDAN HAS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE RECYCLING SPACE AND HAS A GREAT DEAL TO SHARE WHEN IT COMES TO BEST PRACTICES AND NEW ISSUES FACING OUR INDUSTRY, INCLUDING THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISPOSAL OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE RECYCLING. WE FEEL THE COMMITTEE SHOULD INCLUDE INDUSTRY LEADERS AND
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COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND RECYCLING AND WANT TO BE A PART OF A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE THAT WILL RESULT IN A POSITIVE CHANGE FOR OUR CITY. WE ARE PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A LEGACY BUSINESS WITH OVER 100 YEARS EXPERIENCE. JORDAN IS EAGER TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON CREATING AN UPDATED CCR. WE APPLAUD THE CITY ON ITS PLAN TO REVISE THE CODE AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING JORDAN VEXLER.>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. RUDY LOPEZ FOLLOWED BY JOEY SIPRIANO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR SOLUTIONS BUT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THE HUMAN SIDE OF THIS YET. ON THE 21ST OF SEPTEMBER WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE AIRPORT I COULD SEE THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS AT. AS I GOT CLOSER TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN DISTRICT 5, THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE RECYCLING CENTER THERE AND THAT SMOKE WAS FLOATING ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND OVER THE HIGHWAY ON HIGHWAY 90 NORTH AND WEST INTO THE WESTWOOD AREA.
AND IT SMELLED HORRIBLE. IT WAS BAD. I STARTED GETTING CALLS.
BEING THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION I STARTED GETTING CALLS FROM OUR MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, WHO DO THEY CALL.
WHAT DO THEY DO. MANY OF THEM WERE NOT ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES DURING THE FIRE AND EVEN AFTER THE FIRE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE WAS SO PERVASIVE IN THEIR HOMES. MANY OF THEM HAD KIDS OR CHILDREN THAT HAD BREATHING ISSUES. AND FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS THEY WERE OUT OF THEIR HOMES. IT HURTS US AS A COMMUNITY TO SEE THESE PEOPLE WHO WORK SO HARD ALL THEIR LIVES NOT BE ABLE TO COME HOME FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS AND HAVE THEIR KIDS HURTING BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE RECYCLING CENTER.
I ASK YOU TODAY IN GOOD FAITH TO CHOOSE PEOPLE FOR THIS COMMITTEE THAT ARE VESTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. INVESTED IN THE PEOPLE WHO WORK SO HARD ALL THEIR LIVES JUST TO HAVE A SIMPLE LIFE LIKE ANYBODY ELSE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS. I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ORDINANCES THAT COME THROUGH REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO GET HURT THE MOST, AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE. PEOPLE HAVE WORKED HARD ALL THEIR LIVES.
PRETTY SIMPLE. THAT'S THE HUMAN SIDE OF IT. PEOPLE GET HURT.
YOU NEED TO BE THERE FOR THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME TODAY AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK TERI CASTILLO, OUR COUNCILWOMAN FOR BRINGING THIS CCR FOURTH. IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND I KNOW THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO WALK AWAY TODAY WITH THE INTEREST OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE AFFECTED THE MOST.
THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MR. LOPEZ.
JOEY SIPRIANO IS OUR FINAL PERSON WHO IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
>> GOOD DAY, EVERYONE. I HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BECOME THE UNOFFICIAL FACE OF THIS ISSUE, AS MY FAMOUS LINE, HOW IS ANY OF THIS OKAY APPEARED ON PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE NEWS STATION IN THE CITY, SHORTLY AFTER WE MET WITH STATE OFFICIALS.
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, THE THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS SITUATION ARE NOT ANTI-BUSINESS. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IS RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSES. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE BAD ACTORS WHO HAVE FACILITATED THE NECESSITY FOR THIS CCR HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD NEIGHBORS.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO ARE VERY WELL QUALIFIED TO SIT ON THE TASK FORCE, WHO HAVE AMPLE YEARS OF SERVICE THAT I DO NOT HAVE IN THE INDUSTRY.
BUT WHAT I CAN SPEAK ON IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MY COMMUNITY. I HAVE REPRESENTED THE THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE. I HAVE DEDICATED MY SERVICE TO SPEAKING FOR THOSE WHO COULDN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
I AM HAPPY TO GO ON TELEVISION AND SCREAM FOR THEIR DEFENSE.
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I WOULD APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO SIT ON THIS TASK FORCE AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED IN THE THOMPSON COMMUNITY MY ENTIRE LIFE BUT I WOULD IMPLORE ALL OF YOU TO CONSIDER WHO YOU'LL BE PLACING ON THIS TASK FORCE. AND NOT ALLOW THOSE BAD ACTORS WHO HAVE RESULTED IN THE REASON WHY WE NEEDED THIS CCR CREATED TO BE SITTING ON THE TASK FORCE. IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO ALLOW IT.THOMPSON COMMUNITY HAS HAD TO LIVE WITH THE IMPACTS OF THE CLOSING OF KELLY AIR FORCE BASE AND THE POISONING OF OUR LAND, THE POISONING OF OUR WATER, AND NOW THE POISONING OF OUR AIR. THIS CCR WOULD EMPOWER THE RESIDENTS, NOT ONLY OF THOMPSON BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WITH THE INFORMATION THAT IT NEEDS TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE BREATHING ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS CCR WOULD SHINE A LIGHT ON THE ISSUES AFFECTING EVERYONE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.
ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN TERI CASTILLO FOR MEETING WITH US QUICKLY AND FINDING A SOLUTION THAT WOULD BENEFIT EVERY ONE OF HER CONSTITUENTS AND EVERYONE ON THE SOUTH, WEST, AND EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE WILL GET RIGHT INTO THE BUSINESS PORTION OF OUR MEETING. WE'LL START WITH ITEM 2, WHICH IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A CCR TO EVALUATE THE CHAPTER 11 FIRE PREVENTION AND CHAPTER 16 LICENSES AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS FOR USED AUTOMOTIVE PARTS RECYCLERS AND METAL RECYCLING ENTITIES. LET'S LISTEN TO THE
PRESENTATION. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAME CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AMIN TOHMAZ, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT USED AUTO PART RECYCLERS AND METAL RECYCLING ENTITIES. SO LET ME START WITH A QUICK BACKGROUND. THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED IN 2008.
IN 2012, WE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE SPEAKERS, THE ORDINANCE WAS MODIFIED A LITTLE BIT AND ADOPTED AGAIN. ONE OF THE MAIN CHANGES IN 2012 WAS TO CHANGE THE WORD SALVAGE YARDS TO BREAK IT INTO TWO BUSINESSES: UAPRS AND MRES. WHAT IS A METAL RECYCLING ENTITIES.
CHAPTER 16 DEFINES IT AS ANY BUSINESS THAT ACQUIRES, PURCHASES, OR MANUFACTURERS ANY SCRAP OR USED FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS. THE DEFINITION OF USED AUTO PARTS RECYCLERS IN CHAPTER 16 IS DISMANTLING AND REUSE OR RESALE OF USED AUTO PARTS, ALSO THE SAFE DISPOSAL OF THOSE SALVAGE MOTOR VEHICLES.
NOVEMBER 27, 2023, A CCR WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND THE BIGGEST REQUEST OF THIS CCR IS BASICALLY TO CREATE A STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO ASSESS AND PROVIDE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 11, THE FIRE PREVENTION CODE, AND TO CHAPTER 16, THE LICENSING AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS OF THE CITY CODES. ANY TIME WE DO A STAKEHOLDER, WE ALWAYS WANT IT TO BE BALANCED, SO TECHNICALLY IT'S GOING TO HOPEFULLY HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN IT, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL, AND OF COURSE WE NEED THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, THE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES TO BE A PART OF THAT STAKEHOLDER. THE CCR HAD A LOT OF ITEMS ON IT BUT SOME OF THE FOCUS AREAS IS TO REVIEW AND LOOK AT THE TIMELINE AND PROCESS OF ISSUING AND RESOLVING CITATIONS TO MAKE SURE WE REVIEW THAT AND SEE IF ANY MODIFICATIONS ARE NEEDED.
LOOK AT THE FINES FOR RECURRING VIOLATIONS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES IS TO IDENTIFY A THRESHOLD FOR TRIGGERING HEAVIER ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS SUCH AS TEMPORARILY SEIZING OPERATIONS. I GUESS IF THEY GET TO A CERTAIN THRESHOLD OF VIOLATIONS. REQUIRING AIR MONITORS AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE FACILITY, PROBABLY ON THE FENCE AREA.
AND THAT COULD BE PERMANENT OR LIMITED TIME-FRAME, DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION.
REMOVAL OF NON-CONFORMING USES. AND THEN ONE OF THE LAST ONES IS FINES TO RECOUP CITY SERVICES USED TO ADDRESS ANY VIOLATIONS OR EMERGENCY SERVICES. SO, AGAIN, THE MAIN TOPIC HERE THAT WE WANT TO GET GUIDANCE FROM YOU IS THE TASK FORCE MAKEUP. WHEN WE REVIEWED IT, OUR
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RECOMMENDATION IS TO HAVE A TASK FORCE CONSIST OF 20 MEMBERS.THE FIRST TEN MEMBERS ARE CHOSEN BY CITY COUNCIL. ONE PER EACH DISTRICT.
MORE CITIZENS OR COMMUNITY CENTERS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, IF YOU WILL.
THE OTHER TEN ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, THE OPERATORS WHO DO THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT. BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES, THE THOUGHT IS TO HAVE FIVE FROM MRE REPRESENTING THE MRE BUSINESS, AND FIVE REPRESENTING THE UAPRS. DEFINITELY WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF CITY STAFF STARTING FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, METRO HEALTH, AND SOLID WASTE. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM TCEQ AND SAWS, DUE TO THEIR VALUED INPUT INTO THIS PROCESS.
SO AS I SAID, TEN MEMBERS WILL BE SELECTED BY COUNCIL, ONE PER EACH MEMBER.
BUT THEN WE TRIED TO COME UP WITH SOME CRITERIA IN REGARDS TO THE TEN INDUSTRIAL REPRESENTATIVES. AND, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST OUR RECOMMENDATION.
NUMBER ONE IS TO BE SELECTED TO BE ON THIS TASK FORCE THEY NEED TO HAVE AN ACTIVE LICENSE. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT BASED ON THE GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY. I'LL SHOW YOU IN A SECOND A MAP AND A GRAPH WHERE MOST OF THESE OPERATORS RESIDE OR WORK. ONE OF THE CRITERIA WE'RE LOOKING AT IS NO VIOLATIONS DURING THE LAST INSPECTION THEY HAD, TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, THEY ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE CURRENT CODES. AND NO CURRENT CITATIONS AT THIS TIME. SO THIS IS A GRAPH SHOWING BASICALLY WHERE ALL THESE OPERATORS RESIDE OR WORK. SO OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T SEE FROM THE BAR HERE DISTRICT 4 HAS THE MAJORITY AND DISTRICT 5 COMES NEXT . THEN AFTER THAT YOU HAVE DISTRICT 2, 3, 6, AND 1. SO DISTRICT 7, 8, 9, AND 10 DON'T HAVE ANY OF THESE BUSINESSES IN THEIR DISTRICTS. KIND OF HARD TO SEE THE COLORS BUT THE ORANGE IS THE MRES. THE KIND OF GRAYISH OR BLUE COLOR IS UAPRS. WE HAVE SEVERAL LOCATIONS THAT HAVE DUAL LICENSES.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL AMOUNT, WE HAVE 76 LICENSES IN SAN ANTONIO BUT TECHNICALLY WE HAVE ONLY 69 LOCATIONS BECAUSE OF THOSE DUAL ONES THAT THEY HAVE TWO LICENSES BUT THEY RESIDE AT THE SAME ADDRESS. THIS IS A MAP SHOWING THE SAME EXACT DATA THAT I JUST SHOWED YOU ON THE GRAPH BUT BASICALLY IT'S IN A MAP SO YOU CAN VISUALLY SEE WHERE THEY ARE ALL LOCATED. DISTRICT 4 AND 5 ARE THE MAJORITY DOWN THERE. SO THE TIMELINE DEPENDS ON THE RECOMMENDATION FROM PCDC TODAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO START PREPARING AND CREATING THE TASK FORCE TEAM IN JULY, THIS COMING MONTH. AND BASICALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO START THAT DISCUSSION TO TRY TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN WE THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND HAVE MEETINGS FROM AUGUST THIS YEAR TO JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR. AND THEN IN JANUARY WE CAN TAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE TASK FORCE AND HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY PUBLIC MEETINGS JUST TO PRESENT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GET SOME FEEDBACK.
GATHER ALL THAT FEEDBACK AND COME BACK TO PCDC FEBRUARY 2025 WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE. SO BASICALLY, AGAIN, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO CREATE THE STAKEHOLDER BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE,
UNLESS YOU DIRECT US DIFFERENTLY. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, AMIN. I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
I'LL START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND THANKING COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR HER CCR. THE BULK OF THESE FACILITIES ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WE ARE DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF POOR CITY PLANNING AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BUILT NEXT TO RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND VICE VERSA.
THIS IS IMPORTANT. WE CAN'T OBVIOUSLY CHANGE PAST DECISIONS BUT WE CAN ENSURE THIS TYPE OF ISSUE DOESN'T CONTINUE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY NOW. SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE. WE'VE HAD SOME OBVIOUSLY RECENT INCIDENTS AND COMMUNITY ACTION SO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER, COME TOGETHER AND REALLY SOLVE FOR PROBLEMS. SO THANK YOU TO MIKE SHANNON
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AND ALL OF THE TEAM FOR WORKING ON THIS, IN PARTICULAR.I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SPOKE AND YOU ALL TOOK TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY DAY AND ARE HERE TO REPRESENT YOUR GROUPS BUT THEN ALSO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THESE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.
AND SO I WILL -- I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS VERY SPECIFIC TO SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT I'LL START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT MY FEEDBACK'S GOING TO START WITH THE COMPOSITION OF THE TASK FORCE. AND THE COMPOSITION, I'M NOT SURE THAT A COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTING -- EACH COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTING ONE PERSON IS EQUITABLE. AND YOU ALL SEE THE NUMBER. I HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF FACILITIES IN MY DISTRICT. AND IT AFFECTS THE RESIDENTS VERY MUCH. SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY IDEAS TO CHANGE THAT UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT I FEAR THAT WE NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED AND UNEQUALLY REPRESENTED FOR SO LONG. DEFINITELY THAT'S GOING TO BE MY PUSH BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET THERE. DO YOU KNOW, BY ANY CHANCE, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE VIOLATIONS ARE COMING FROM RIGHT NOW? IF YOU CAN GIVE ME A GENERAL.
>> LIKE THE TYPE OF VIOLATIONS? >> GARCIA: JUST IN GENERAL VIOLATIONS, LIKE SO FOR INSTANCE WE HAVE TWO IN D1, SIX IN D2, FIVE IN D3.
WE HAVE 36 IN D4. WE HAVE 17 IN D5 AND WE HAVE THREE IN D6.
SO OUT OF THOSE AREAS, WHERE DO YOU GET THE MOST VIOLATIONS COMING FROM?
>> GOOD QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN. I DON'T HAVE IT TOP OF MY HEAD. I DO HAVE THE EXCEL SPREADSHEET HERE BUT I NEED TO REVIEW IT TO GET YOU THAT ANSWER. SO WE CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE
YOU THAT INFORMATION. >> GARCIA: YES. I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.
I DO THINK THAT THERE'S -- OH, MICHAEL SHANNON HAS THE ANSWER.
HE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS ALL THE TIME. >> SHANNON: I JUST PEEKED AT THE SPREADSHEET BUT IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE LOCATIONS.
IF WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS, YOU'LL SEE MOST OF THEM COME FROM OPERATORS IN DISTRICT 4 AND 5 AND THAT'S BECAUSE CERTAINLY THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THEM ARE. SO WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT THOSE A LITTLE BIT
CLOSER. >> GARCIA: COULD WE BREAK IT DOWN BY PERCENTAGE?
>> SHANNON: THAT WOULD TAKE ME A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BUT GLANCING OVER THE VIOLATION LIST YOU'LL SEE IT'S CONSISTENT WITH PROBABLY THAT GRAPH OF THERE'S MORE IN DISTRICT 4 AND 5 THAN THERE IS IN DISTRICT 2 AND 3.
>> GARCIA: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, MIKE. IF WE CAN BREAK THAT DOWN.
I HEARD SOME COMMENTS TODAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND DELIVERED PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO RESPOND BACK, RIGHT? SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY WE DIDN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING, THAT WAS THE REASON. BUT REDO LISTEN AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH QUESTIONS.
AND SO WITHIN THAT I DID HEAR A FEW FOLKS WHO I HAVE A QUESTION ON.
IN PARTICULAR, THERE WAS SOMEONE BROUGHT UP PRE-INSPECTIONS.
CAN YOU HELP ME DETERMINE HOW YOU DECIDE WHO IS GOING TO HAVE A PRE-INSPECTION AND
WHO IS NOT? >> SURE. SO THE CURRENT ORDINANCE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR PRE-INSPECTIONS. SO TECHNICALLY THEY ARE ALL AWARE OF THE ORDINANCE. THEY KNOW THE RULES. THEY KNOW WE DO COME AND INSPECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BASICALLY. BUT ONCE A MONTH, IF WE CAN.
SOME OF THE LOCATIONS, THEY ARE PASSING THEIR INSPECTIONS SO WE KIND OF PUSH THOSE BACK TO EVERY QUARTER SO WE DON'T GO EVERY MONTH.
BUT THEY KNOW THE RULES AND THE ORDINANCE DOES ALLOW
IMMEDIATELY. >> GARCIA: WHY DO WE PUSH IT BACK EVERY QUARTER?
>> IF THEY ARE PASSING, WE TRY TO FOCUS ON THE ONES WHO HAVE THE VIOLATIONS BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. WE WANT COMPLIANCE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM FOR PRE-INSPECTIONS AT THIS TIME.
NOW, PERHAPS HAVE PRE-INSPECTION INCLUDED IN THAT COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF OUTSIDE THIS ORDINANCE. BUT THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A GOOD TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS GOING THROUGH THE ORDINANCE.
>> GARCIA: AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER COMMENT ABOUT ONE OF THE FACILITIES HAS TIRES -- OR A FACILITY THAT CAN'T BE INSPECTED. WHY COULD A FACILITY NOT BE
INSPECTED? >> I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. >> GARCIA: MAYBE WE COULD GET WITH MR. WELTY I THINK WHO BROUGHT THAT UP. MAYBE IF SOMEBODY CAN GET
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OFFLINE WITH MR. WELTY, I WOULD LOVE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THAT.AND THEN I APPRECIATE MR. JOHNSON AND THE FOLKS WHO GAVE HIM THE TIME TO SPEAK. I WENT THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I THINK COULD BE A START.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOROUGHNESS THERE AND THEN YOU BASED IT ON CODE AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. THE EQUIPMENT FOR CODE, THAT'S WHY I WAS GETTING AT CAN WE BREAK IT DOWN BY PERCENTAGE. IF WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR OUR CODE OFFICERS, ANOTHER ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS THE CHAPTER 16 TRAINING OR HIRING EXPERTS. SO WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE CAN DO TO ADD MAYBE -- NO, NOT MAYBE -- IN THIS BUDGET YEAR.
WE JUST NEED TO DO IT BECAUSE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS IS AT STAKE. AND I FEEL LIKE THESE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD SUGGESTIONS THAT ARE, I WOULD CALL IT LOW-HANGING FRUIT THAT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO. I APPRECIATE THAT. ALSO THE REPEAT OFFENDERS, DECLARING THEM PUBLIC NUISANCES. I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD WORK. I APPRECIATE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, WHO IS VERY THOROUGH IN WHAT THE SCOPE OF THE TASK FORCE SHOULD BE. BUT I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD TAKE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CONSIDER HOW WE COULD ADD THEM AS WELL.
LIKE OTHER TASK FORCES THAT WE HAVE CREATED, AND MIKE SHANNON ACKNOWLEDGED THIS EARLIER WHEN I MET WITH HIM AND HE SAID COUNCILWOMAN YOU USUALLY GIVE US A DEADLINE AND THEN YOU WANT US TO REPORT. I'M LOVING THE FACT THAT WE CAN REPORT OUT. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO HEAR WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY NOW AND THEN I'LL ADD ANY CLOSING COMMENTS AT THAT POINT. BUT I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH OUR COLLEAGUE WHO
PROPOSED THE CCR AND THAT'S COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CHAIR AND AMIN AND THE TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION. A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO TAKE NOTE OF FOR US TO CONSIDER. ULTIMATELY THE CCR WAS BORN OUT OF A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH AN 83-YEAR-OLD CONSTITUENT WHO LIVES OFF OF SOMERSET. SHE EXPRESSED HER CONCERNS AND THE CONCERNS RANGED FROM DEBRIS FALLING OFF THE VEHICLES TO CONCERNS WITH THE DUST AND EVENTUALLY CONCERNS WITH SOME COMBUSTION. OUR TEAM, THAT'S WHY WE REQUESTED A BRIEFING WAY BACK ON THE PROCESS OF COMPLIANCE FOR AUTO AND METAL RECYCLERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE FOR THIS INDUSTRY. OUR OFFICE ALSO MET WITH TCEQ TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE STATE AND HOW WE ARE SOMEWHAT PREEMPTED WITH SPECIFIC PIECES OF ENFORCEMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT THAT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR A COMMUNITY.
BUT THROUGHOUT THAT RESEARCH PROCESS, WE EXPERIENCED WHAT SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS EXPRESSED. A SERIES OF FIRES THAT CAUSED GREAT CONCERN THAT HELPED, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD THIS POLICY. SO I WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS, THE THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE SOMERSET NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COALESCED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR NOT JUST D5 RESIDENTS BUT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS IN GENERAL.
NO DOUBT THE AUTO AND METAL RECYCLING INDUSTRY DOES PLAY A GREAT ROLE IN SUSTAINABILITY. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THERE'S COMPLIANCE.
AND I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE GOOD AND BAD ACTORS, SIMILAR TO OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT APARTMENT INSPECTIONS. AND THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY, THIS IS ABOUT HOW CAN WE WORK TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FOLKS WHO LIVE NEARBY THESE AUTO AND METAL RECYCLERS.
SO IN REGARDS TO THE COMMITTEE MAKEUP, I WAS LOOKING AT THE LIST -- I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS PROVIDED BY SOMEONE IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
BUT FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE DISTRICT 5 MRES WAS REDISTRICTED INTO DISTRICT 5 SO NOW OURS GOES UP AND THEY GO DOWN TO ONE. WE HAVE A HIGHER CONCENTRATION OF AUTO AND METAL YES RECYCLERS IN OUR DISTRICT.
THIS IS ABOUT HOW CAN WE BE GOOD NEIGHBORS ENSURING WE ARE TAKING CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS WORKING WITH DSD TO REVISIT THE CODE FOR THE THRESHOLD OVERSTRONG ACCOUNTABILITY. ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS SAYS THE MAJORITY LIVE IN DISTRICT 5 AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO REVISIT THESE CODES IT'S ALSO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ON SITE INHALING THESE FUMES WHEN THESE INCIDENTS OCCUR. THANK YOU FOR CITING THAT NUMBER. THAT MEANS THAT WE SHOULD MOVE EVEN WITH MORE URGENCY.
SO I'M GRATEFUL WITH THE TIMELINE THAT YOU ALL PROPOSED.
MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT, ONE, WITH THE APPOINTEES APPOINTED BY COUNCIL THAT
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OUR EXPECTATION IS THOSE APPOINTEES FOR OUR DISTRICT-SPECIFIC SEATS DON'T WORK FOR METAL RECYCLERS OR REPRESENT METAL RECYCLERS, THAT THEY ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE NEAR AN AUTO RECYCLER PROPERTY.IN REGARDS TO SHOULD WE HAVE BAD ACTORS ON THE COMMITTEE. I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO SET AN EXPECTATION IS THAT IF YOU HAVE HAD YOUR LICENSE REVOKED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, YOU CAN GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT TO GIVE NOTE IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE TO LEARN OF THE CURRENT CODE, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD LIMIT IT TO FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T HAD THEIR LICENSE REVOKED TO REPRESENT INDUSTRY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HOPE ANY COLLEAGUES CAN CONSIDER. I ALSO WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR ALTERNATIVES. FOR THE INDUSTRY SIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, FOLKS ARE GETTING PAID TO BE THERE WHEREAS COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE FAMILY COMMITMENTS, AREN'T GETTING PAID TO BE THERE. IT'S NOT THEIR JOB. I WANT TO ENSURE IF A COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT OR TAKE CARE OF A PARENT, THEY CAN HAVE AN ALTERNATE TO REPRESENT THAT SEAT OR SLOT. I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR AND THE DSD FOR COMING BACK WITH US AND ALWAYS BEING SURE TO BRIEF US ON ITEMS, TAKING IT BACK TO, I BELIEVE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE REQUESTED A BRIEFING ON WHAT COMPLIANCE LOOKS LIKE FOR AUTO AND METAL RECYCLERS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND I KNOW COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE TIRED OF WAITING, BECAUSE IT'S THE AIR THEY'RE INHALING. IT'S THE WATER RUNOFF THAT'S IMPACTING THEIR WATER QUALITY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT RANGES FROM THINGS FROM THE FIRE TO DEBRIS FALLING OFF OF VEHICLES AND PUNCTURING TIRES.
SO IT'S A HUGE SCOPE AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS GETTING
STARTED. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU,
COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE, HOW INDUSTRY AND HOW WE WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS. I THINK WHAT EXCITES ME MOST ABOUT THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET FORWARD SOMETHING THAT IS COLLABORATIVE AND INNOVATIVE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR AUTO PARTS RECYCLERS OR METAL RECYCLING HAVE BEEN RECYCLING FOR A WHILE.
IF WE DO NOT CONTINUE TO RECYCLE WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE DAMAGE COME IN TERMS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO REVIEW THIS NOW BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING. WHAT IS IN CARS, WHAT IS IN REFRIGERATORS, WHAT IS IN THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE SEEING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO RECYCLE HAS COME WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO CODE. SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO WRITE THE RIGHT CODE FOR IT. THAT'S WHY I AM OPEN TO THE TEN INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES AND THE TEN MEMBERS CHOSEN BY CITY COUNCIL. I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY PARAMETERS ON THAT TO TELLING COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO THEY CAN OR CANNOT CHOOSE.
WHAT I DO THINK WE DO IS IF WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS APPOINT INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES -- OR THAT'S WHERE THEY FALL IN, THAT WE THEN LOOK AT THIS COMMITTEE LOOKING AT-LARGE TO FILL THOSE COMMUNITY VOICES. BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO MEET THE INTENTION OF GETTING COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES THERE. BECAUSE THEY DON'T -- WE DON'T HAVE AUTO PARTS RECYCLERS AND METAL RECYCLING ENTITIES IN 7, 8, 9, AND 10, THEY MIGHT HEAR SOMETHING FROM ONE OF THESE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES AND SAY, HEY, MAYBE WE GET THIS COMPANY ON THERE. AND THEN WITH THAT, WE OPEN UP THAT SO THAT 4 AND 5 OR 3, 4, AND 5 OR 2 CAN SAY I HAVE ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SERVE, IN ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.
SO I KNOW IT SAYS "BY CITY COUNCIL" BUT I DO WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN'T MAKE ROOM THAT THE COMMITTEE -- BECAUSE WE KNOW WE ALL HAVE THOSE COMMISSIONS OR THOSE TASK FORCES WHERE WE GIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPOINT AND WE DON'T HAVE THEM APPOINT. SO THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES, ALTERNATES TO THIS COMMITTEE, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS -- I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE FOUR, BECAUSE IT'S -- I JUST NEED Y'ALL TO DO THE MATH IN TERMS OF WHAT WE NEED FOR QUORUM. BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS, YES. THIS IS ABOUT WORKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU'RE IN.
YES, BUT THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO AND THEIR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND WHAT WE DO SO THAT IF WE'RE HERE FOR ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, TEN-PLUS YEARS USING THIS CODE, WE HAVE SOMETHING SET THAT IS MOVING WITH THE TIMES.
AND THAT ONLY COMES TOGETHER IF THE NEIGHBORS AND INDUSTRY CAN COME TOGETHER
[01:00:03]
AND COLLABORATE. WE'VE DONE IT WITH OTHER TASK FORCE, I BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT WITH THIS TASK FORCE BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT 10-10 AND HOW IT MEASURES OUT. I DON'T WANT TO SHUT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER OUT BUT IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER DECIDES TO PUT AN INDUSTRY MEMBER THERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, JOHN'S LIKE, I LIKE WHAT THAT GUY SAID OR MANNY IS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO THAT, THEN WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO FILL SPOTS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.SO THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DO THAT OR IF WE WOULD NEED TO SIT DOWN IN A SUBCOMMITTEE WITHIN THIS COMMITTEE TO DO THAT BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT 10 AND 10 IS EQUAL THERE. THANK YOU.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> PELAEZ: THANKS. I'M LISTENING TO ALL THESE COMMENTS AND I'M SMILING.
MY SON MAX CAME HOME AND SAID, DAD, I THINK I'M A STOIC.
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE STOICS, DAD? ALL OF US PARENTS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS CONTINUE TO THINK THAT WE'RE THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. I LIED AND SAID I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE STOICS.
REALLY, DAD? MARCUS AURELIUS -- I GET QUOTES FROM STOICS, 365 OF THEM. THE REASON I'M SMILING IS, ONE, I SOUND REALLY SMART TO MY SON BUT STOICISM IS ABOUT THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS NOT HURTING EVERYBODY ELSE. AND SO THERE'S THIS SOCIAL CONTRACT WHERE WE EXPLICITLY AND TACITLY AGREE, BY VIRTUE OF LIVING IN A CITY, JUST TO NOT HURT EACH OTHER. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS MAKING SURE THAT THE INDUSTRY UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT THEY BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS I THINK HAVE ALSO TACITLY AGREED -- WE HAVE HEARD FROM THEM -- THEY'RE NOT ANTI-INDUSTRY.
THEY ALL WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR CARS ARE RECYCLED AND THE AIR IS CLEAN AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANT IMPACT THAT THIS INDUSTRY HAS ON KEEPING SAN ANTONIO LESS DIRTY THAN IT COULD BE BUT FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS. SO I GET THAT, RIGHT? WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER. AND, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU PUT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE FRICTION AND FRICTION PRODUCES SPARKS AND SPARKS PRODUCE FIRES. I WILL TELL YOU THAT LISTENING TO THESE NEIGHBORS AND DEBORAH PONCE, YOU CAME TO MY OFFICE.
YOU KNOW, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER FOLKS. THANK YOU FOR DRIVING ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTH SIDE. BUT WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AND THE PICTURES THEY SHOWED ME, THAT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE. THERE'S NOBODY WHO SHOULD LIVE IN A CLOUD OF BURNING RUBBER SMOKE OR IN A CLOUD OF CHEMICALS. AND SO I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND I DISAGREE ON A LOT BUT WHAT WE DON'T DISAGREE ON IS PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND QUIET AND HARMONY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THE STATUS QUO CAN'T CONTINUE. IT JUST CAN'T CONTINUE. IN ORDER FOR US TO GET OUT OF THE STATUS QUO, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SMART, GOOD-FAITH PEOPLE TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OF MUTUAL AGREEMENT WHO SERVES ON IT, RIGHT? AND WE'VE GOT EXPERTS. WE'VE GOT THE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, THE OWNERS. AND THEN THE THIRD GROUP IS THE NEIGHBORS.
ALL OF THEM ARE EXPERTS ALSO IN THEIR OWN WAY. THEIR VOICES WEIGH THE SAME.
NOBODY'S VOICE IS MORE OR LESS IMPORTANT THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE VERY MUCH SO NEIGHBORS AT THE TABLE SO THEY CAN SPEECH THEIR TRUTH AND WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALSO THE INDUSTRY AT THE TABLE, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS REGULATING THEM AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEM MATERIALLY ALSO. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHO ARE OBJECTIVE AND CAN GUIDE ALL OF US AND GIVE US SOME UNBIASED INFORMATION. ALONG THOSE LINES, THERE IS NO NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT FROM DISTRICT 8 WHO SHOULD BE ON THIS COMMITTEE. TO THE EXTENT THAT IT SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY FROM EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, THERE'S PLENTY OF HOA PRESIDENTS ON THE NORTH SIDE WHO WOULD PROBABLY WANT A PIECE OF THIS BUT THAT
[01:05:01]
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHEN IT'S YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS BEING IMPACTED AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I DEFER TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THOSE DISTRICTS WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED.HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS A PROCESS TO THE AUTO RECYCLING INDUSTRY. ONE IS THE CAR COMES IN, IT'S -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL IT'S DRAINED OF FLUIDS, THE BATTERY IS TAKEN OUT.
IT'S DISMANTLED. PARTS AND MATERIALS ARE SEPARATED OUT.
PLASTICS ARE SENT FOR RECYCLING, TIRES ARE SENT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND METAL IS SENT TO A THIRD PLACE. THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THEM METAL SHRED IT AND THEN THEY MIX IT WITH OTHER METALS AND THEN THEY SEND THAT OFF TO MANUFACTURERS SO THAT THEY CAN REUSE IT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET SOMEBODY FROM EACH ONE OF THOSE PROCESSES BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO IS DRAINING FLUIDS IS NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SAME INTEREST OR THE SAME PERSPECTIVE AS THE PERSON WHO IS SHREDDING AND SENDING OFF TO THE MANUFACTURER.
AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO THE INDUSTRY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THOSE STEPS REPRESENTED IN THE CONVERSATION. BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO REGULATE THEM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THEM.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT -- THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CHAOS IF WE GOT EVERYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN THIS COMMITTEE. THE HARD PART OF GOVERNMENT IS PICKING AND CHOOSING BUT I THINK WE'RE PRETTY GOOD AT PICKING AND CHOOSING.
THANKS, COUNCILWOMAN. >> GARCIA: THANKS, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I WANT TO CONCUR A LITTLE BIT WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ JUST SAID.
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
AND SO I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, ARE INCLUDED IN THE SOLUTIONS OR THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOLUTIONS.
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
FIVE REPRESENTING MRES AND FIVE UAPRS. I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE SHOULD ASK THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE GROUPS TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND DECIDE WHO THEY FEEL WOULD BE THE BEST SPOKESPERSONS.
LET'S HAVE ALL THE MRES GET TOGETHER AND ALL THE UAPR OWNERS AND MANAGERS GET TOGETHER. THEY MAY NOT HAVE A FORMAL ASSOCIATION BUT THIS IS A TIME FOR THEM MAYBE TO SIT DOWN AND LET THEM CHOOSE THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, RATHER THAN US GET INTO THE PROCESS OF SAYING, WELL, WE THINK THIS REPRESENTATIVE IS BETTER OR THAT REPRESENTATIVE IS BETTER. NOW, I WOULD SAY IF THEY CAN
[01:10:02]
ONLY COME UP -- IF THEY CAN'T DECIDE ON FIVE, BUT THEY SAY WE THINK THERE'S SIX OR SEVEN THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED, THEN MAYBE THE COMMITTEE SHOULD SAY THESE ARE THE FIVE THAT WE SELECT BUT LET THE OTHERS BE ALTERNATES.LET'S GO AHEAD AND THINK ABOUT HAVING ALTERNATES FOR EVERY POSITION ON HERE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S TRUE. WE CAN'T ALWAYS MAKE IT. AND SO THE ONLY QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS WOULD THE ALTERNATES MAYBE HAVE A VOTE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE? AND I WOULD SAY YOU WANT TO STICK WITH THE MAIN PARTICIPANTS BUT AN ALTERNATE CAN BE THERE, CAN LISTEN, CAN GIVE THE WORD TO THE REGULAR APPOINTEE WHO COULDN'T MAKE IT. AND THAT MAKES SENSE THAT NO SEAT IS LEFT EMPTY IN A DISCUSSION. AND THAT'S JUST MY OPINION ON THAT.
ALSO ON THE MAKEUP OF THE TEAM, WE HAVE CITY STAFF, OTHER AGENCY STAFF.
IS YOUR PRESUMPTION THEY WOULD HAVE A VOTE OR THEY WOULD
BE FOR INFORMATION? >> THEY WOULD BE FOR INFORMATION.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. YEAH, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY TO GO. AND ALSO I THINK MANNY BROUGHT IN SOME GOOD POINTS.
THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC PARTS OF RECYCLING, WHETHER IT'S AUTOMOBILES OR METAL.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO TRY AND FIND SOMEBODY FROM THAT PARTICULAR JOB TO ACTUALLY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. BUT WE NEED TO BRING IN OUTSIDE EXPERTS IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE ASPECTS OF THOSE JOBS TO OFFER THE KIND OF INSIGHT THAT IS NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE PROCESS IS COVERED IN HOW WE DEAL WITH IT. SO THAT'S MY OPINION ON THAT. ONE OTHER VIEW I WANTED TO EXPRESS IS THAT WE DON'T SEE ON SLIDE 5, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE FOCUS AREAS, ANY FOCUS ON SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE DEAL WITH VIOLATIONS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ISN'T ROOM FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL STANDARDS OR NEW CODES TO COVER THE GROWING CHANGES, THE DYNAMICS OF THE INDUSTRY THAT AREN'T IN THE CURRENT CODES.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT COULD BE PART OF THE OVERALL DISCUSSION ON WHAT CHANGES MAY BE NEEDED TO THE CODE SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT INNOVATIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED OR UNPERCEIVED PROBLEMS DUE TO CHANGES IN THE WAY THE WORK IS BEING DONE. I HOPE THAT WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE FOCUS AREAS
THAT ARE LOOKED AT. >> COUNCILMAN, YES, WE WOULD BE REVIEWING THE WHOLE ORDINANCE AND IF THERE IS ANY CHANGES DUE TO COLLEGE OR ANYTHING ELSE, WE WOULD DEFINITELY COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON THOSE. THESE ARE JUST KIND OF LIKE THE FOCUS AREAS THAT WERE LISTED ON THE CCR. THERE'S A COUPLE MORE, BUT
WE DIDN'T LIST EVERYTHING IN THE PRESENTATION. >> COURAGE: ONE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, WE'RE LOOKING AT AT SIX-MONTH PER AS PRETTY MUCH LAID OUT.
IF THEY MEET TWICE MONTHLY, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DICTATE OR MANDATE, BUT MAKES SENSE THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE MEETING EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS TO REVIEW THINGS THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S A DOZEN MEETINGS.
IS THERE ANY LIKELIHOOD THERE ALSO COULD BE SUBCOMMITTEES THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED THAT WOULD ALSO MEET TO TALK ABOUT MAYBE SPECIFIC AREAS THAT NEED MORE DISCUSSION AND INVESTIGATION? AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT SOME SUBCOMMITTEES ON ONE OF THE OTHER CITY COMMITTEES WHERE WE SAID THERE WOULD BE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE BUT ALSO DISCUSSION. I'D LIKE TO SEE US THINK ABOUT MAKING THAT PART OF THIS PROCESS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY WANT TO BREAK DOWN INTO A SUBCOMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT METAL RECYCLING AND THE KIND OF METAL AND HOW IT'S PROCESSED AND HOW IT'S TAKEN CARE OF FOR SAFETY PURPOSES AND THEY WANT TO SET UP A SUBCOMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THAT, THEN MAYBE THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC MEMBERS SIT ON THAT SUBCOMMITTEE AND RECOMMENDED WE HAVE ON ONE WE'RE WORKING ON IS THEY DON'T HAVE A VOTE, BUT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT.
THOSE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS I HOPE CAN GET FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS FROM THE GROUP AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I JUST WANTED TO PRESENT
THOSE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> GARCIA: COUNCILMEMBER
PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: ONE OTHER COMMENT.
I THINK IT WAS THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, BUT WHATEVER, WHERE YOU WERE PUTTING THE CRITERIA OF THE BOARD MEMBERS -- YEAH, SO I DO HAVE ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS.
[01:15:03]
AND I'M NOT MARRIED TO THE NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE SO LONG AS WE HAVE GOOD REPRESENTATION FROM ALL CORNERS. WHERE I'VE GOT AN ISSUE IS THE NO VIOLATIONS IN PAST CODE AND NO CURRENT CITATIONS CRITERIA.I THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND I WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION GED ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE CITY TO MAYBE PUT TOGETHER A COMMISSION OF DOCTORS, NURSES, MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS TO ADVISE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE. AND IF WE PUT A RULE IN THERE THAT NO PHYSICIAN CAN EVER HAVE BEEN SUED OR FACE THE TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD, WE WOULD HAVE NONE. THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY AND BARS AND CLUBS AND SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY TABC VIOLATIONS, WE WOULD HAVE NONE.
IF WE ASKED FOR A COMMISSION TO LOOK AT HOMEOWNERS AND WATERING OF THEIR YARDS AND HOW THEY ARE IMPACTED BY SAWS AND SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY WATERING CITATIONS, I'M NOT SURE THAT WOULD BE FAIR OR SMART EITHER. WE HAVE COMMISSIONS WHERE WE INCLUDE BUILDERS, THEY ALL GET SUED, LIENED, THEY ALL GET CITATIONS.
RESTAURATEURS, WE SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY COMPLAINT OR INVESTIGATION BY METRO HEALTH OR WORKER'S COMP CLAIM, WE WOULD HAVE NO RESTAURANTS.
SO I DO THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO REALLY HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION WITH THIS INDUSTRY, THEN I THINK IT'S -- THAT CRITERIA IS VERY, VERY LIMITING.
BECAUSE I DO WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED CITATIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK COULD BE IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE REGULATORY SCHEME. SO I WOULD -- I WOULD BE OPPOSED TO THAT JUST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THOSE VOICES AT THE TABLE.
>> AGAIN, COUNCILMAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY REMOVE THOSE CRITERIA IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO, BUT WE DID RUN THROUGH THE LIST AND LIST ALL THE OPERATORS AND ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LICENSES. AND A LOT OF THEM ARE MEETING THOSE REQUIREMENTS SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN END UP IN A POSITION WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ON THE TASK FORCE, BUT, AGAIN -- JUST THE IDEA OF FINDING THE
FOLKS WHO ARE COMPLYING WITH THE CODE TODAY, THAT'S -- >> THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS IN THE LAST CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTION NOT LOOKING BACK AT HISTORY FOREVER, RIGHT, SO JUST FOR CLARITY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU READ THE THIRD BULLET CORRECTLY. IT'S A TEAM'S MOST RECENT VISIT WAS THERE A VIOLATION
NOT PREVIOUS TO THAT. >> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
I JUST DISAGREE WITH IT. IF I WANTED PEOPLE PURE AS THE DRIVEN SNOW TO ADVISE AND PROCESS AND A REGULATORY SCHEME AND WHERE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, RIGHT, TALKING TO THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE NEVER RUN AFOUL OF THE SCREAM, THEY MAY BE BY NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME COMPLYING OR WHO HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO SAY ABOUT IT.
I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE CHEATING OURSELVES OUT OF AN IMPORTANT INPUT IF THAT WERE THE CRITERIA. ADDITIONALLY, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES OF MORAL TURPITUDE. PEOPLE ACCUSED OF FRAUD AND MURDERERS AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY WITH CRIMES OF MORAL TURPITUDE, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CIVIL CRIMES AND CIVIL VIOLATIONS, THOSE ARE PEOPLE IN MY CASES, NUMBER ONE, THEIR VOICESSEN CERTAINTY DISPOSABLE, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE VALUABLE INPUT TO GIVE US. I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE SO DELICATE THAT WE CAN'T HEAR FROM THE VOICES OF PEOPLE. THAT'S MY POSITION AND REASONABLE MINDS CAN
DISAGREE. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: YEAH, I GUESS I'M GOING TO TAKE AN OPPOSING VIEW WITH WHAT THE COUNCILMAN JUST SAID FROM THE POINT OF VIEW AND I THINK IT'S EXPRESSED IT'S A RECENT FINDING. AND I WOULD IMAGINE, AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, OUT OF 76 GROUPS, I IMAGINE ALMOST ALL OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER OVER THEIR HISTORY BEEN CITED FOR SOMETHING.
NOW, MAYBE I'M WRONG. >> THEY ALL BRING THE HISTORY WITH THEM OF PAST EXPERIENCES THAT CAN ADD TO THE DISCUSSION. BUT IF SOMEBODY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF BEING CITED BY THE
[01:20:04]
CITY AND HAVING TO CORRECT THAT, I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A BONE TO PICK ON THAT KIND OF A SITUATION. AND SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO STICK WITH THE FACT THAT IF RECENTLY THEY ARE CLEAN, THEY'VE BEEN ABIDING BY EVERYTHING, THEY SHOULD HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. IF THEY ARE CHOSEN BY THEIR PEERS.AND ONE OTHER THING I DON'T SEE HERE THAT I THINK SHOULD BE ADDED TO THIS LIST IS THAT INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES SHOULDN'T INCLUDE ANYONE WHO HAS ANY CURRENT LITIGATION AGAINST THE CITY. AND I DON'T SEE THAT DOWN THERE. BUT IF SOMEBODY IS ALREADY SUING THE CITY AT THIS TIME, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEM HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE GIVES US THE -- IT'S REALLY GIVING THEM A LEGAL PROCESS TO BRING INTO THE SITUATION. AND I THINK IF THEY ARE SUING THE CITY, THEY ISN'T BE IN A SITUATION TO SIT ON THIS RIGHT NOW.
BUT THOSE ARE -- YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS ON THIS, BUT IF WE'RE GOING ON THE MAKE ANY CHANGES, THEN IS THIS COMMITTEE GOING TO SAY WE SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THIS BEING ADDED OR THAT BEING ADDED, OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT IT THE WAY IT'S PRESENTED AND LET THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF DECIDE ARE WE GOING TO ADD ALTERNATES, ARE WE GOING TO ADD NO LAWSUITS, ARE WE GOING TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE LIKE MAKING SURE CODE VIOLATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN OUR FOCUS AREAS. ARE WE GOING TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE.
SO IS THIS COMMITTEE GOING TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES TO THE RECOMMENDATION OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO LET STAFF TAKE OUR INPUT AND THEY DECIDE HOW TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES?
>> COUNCILMAN, WE WOULD LIKE A CLEAR MOTION TODAY FROM THE COMMITTEE WITH DIRECTION. SO YOU SEE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
SO IF YOU HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD HEAR FROM YOU AS
A COMMITTEE. >>. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, JOHN. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: I'M SUPPORTIVE OF CONTINUE TO GO KEEP THE KNOW VIOLATIONS IN LAST CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTION. I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHILE THESE ARE CIVIL CITATIONS, THERE IS HUMAN COLLATERAL ON THE OTHER END OF THESE CITATIONS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE NEARBY THESE AUTO AND/OR METAL RECYCLING PLANTS.
THIS PUTS OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AT RISK. OUR SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO THESE FIRES AND BEING EXPOSED TO THE FUMES AS WELL.
AND I JUST WANT TO CHALLENGE THAT THESE ARE JUST CIVIL CITATIONS THAT ARE NO BIG DEAL BECAUSE THERE'S HUMAN LIVES ON THE OTHER END AND NEXT DOOR TO THESE CIVIL CITATIONS. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT WITHIN THE COMMITTEE. PUBLIC COMMENT IS VERY INFORMATIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY I HEARD A LOT OF GREAT SOLUTIONS TO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE IN THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING TODAY TO INFORM THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SO I THINK THAT'S A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT FOR FOLKS WHO MAY FIND THEMSELVES IN THE SITUATION WHERE THEY DO HAVE A VIOLATION WITH THE LAST CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTION. JUST HEARING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE COMMITTEE MAKEUP, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING THOSE DISTRICTS WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OR THE MOST IMPACT, RATHER, OF THIS INDUSTRY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPOINT COMMUNITY MEMBERS. FOR EXAMPLE, DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 6, BUT I'M OPEN TO HEARING THE CONVERSATION FROM MY COLLEAGUES IF THAT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF. AND ALSO EMPHASIZING THE NEEDS FOR ALTERNATES AS WELL. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> GARCIA: CHANGE YOU. >> ONE THING I HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES.
THE CITATIONS WE ISSUE UNDER CHAPTER 16 ARE CRIMINAL CITATIONS, CLASS C, THEY ARE
NOT MISDEMEANORS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. >> PELÁEZ: IF THAT CASE, I'M WILLING TO EAT HUMBLE PIE. IF THESE ARE CRIMINAL CITATIONS, THEN I WOULD MOVE TO ACCEPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH ONE CAVEAT AND THAT IS THE TEN-MEMBER CHOSEN BY CITY COUNCIL BE FROM THE DISTRICTS IN WHICH THESE INDUSTRIES EXIST. I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY.
NUMBER TWO, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO IS RIGHT, IT'S A BIG DEAL AND MY COMMENTS WEREN'T MEANT TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECT, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT AND RESPECT IT.
>> GARCIA: THAT'S A MOTION, BUT BEFORE COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE HAD MENTIONED NO CURRENT LAWSUITS. ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT?
>> PELÁEZ: ALSO INCLUDE THAT. >> GARCIA: HE'S PUT FORTH
[01:25:02]
A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? >>
>> GARCIA: CAN WE CLAIRE THE MOTION, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ?
>> PELÁEZ: ACCEPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES.
THAT THE TEN MEMBERS CHOSEN BY CITY COUNCIL BE FROM THE DISTRICTS IMPACTED.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE DISTRICTS IN WHICH THESE INDUSTRIES OPERATE.
AND NUMBER 2 THAT WE INCLUDE NO CURRENT LAWSUITS AS ONE OF THE CRITERIA.
>> GARCIA: IS THAT OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE? DO YOU STILL SECOND THE
MOTION? >> COURAGE: YES, I'LL SECOND THAT BUT PROBABLY ADD
ANOTHER. >> PELÁEZ: OH, COME ON. >> GARCIA: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND ON THE FLOOR. WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER
VIAGRAN AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, THE TEN MEMBERS CHOSEN BY CITY COUNCIL, SO ONLY 1 THROUGH 6 GET TO CHOOSE THE MEMBERS FOR -- FOR THAT? I DO NOT LIKE PUTTING CAVEATS ON WHO COUNCILMEMBERS CAN AND CAN'T APPOINT. THAT'S WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IN TERMS OF THE CLARIFICATION. IS IT EVERY COUNCILMEMBER HAS A CHOICE, BUT THEY HAVE NO LIVE IN 1 THROUGH 6? OR ONLY 1 THROUGH 6 GET TO
CHOOSE WHO BECOMES MEMBERS? >> WHAT I HEARD THE COUNCILMAN SAY AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG IS THAT ALL TEN DISTRICTS WOULD GET TO CHOOSE, BUT THE MEMBERS FROM
THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIVE IN DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 6. >> VIAGRAN: I HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THAT. I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT. I DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD WHO I HAVE TO PICK IF I CHOOSE A MEMBER THAT LIVES OUTSIDE OF MY DISTRICT BUT REPRESENTS AN INDUSTRY OR IS AN ENVIRONMENTALIST THAT HAPPENS TO LIVE IN 8 OR 9.
I DON'T LIKE US TELLING COUNCILMEMBERS WHO TO CHOOSE.
AND I DO NOT THINK 9 -- I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. I DON'T WANT TO SET THE PRECEDENTS FOR 9 AND 7. WHAT I'M SAYING IS 9, 3, 7 APPOINT INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, WE -- THAT FALL MORE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES THAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS, THEN WE AS A COMMITTEE FILL THOSE SPOTS AND SEE WHO HAS APPLIED FROM 5 OR 4 AND THEN DO THAT. AND THE OTHER CAVEAT I HAVE THAT I HAVE A ISSUE WITH IS DISTRICT 3 MAY ONLY HAVE FIVE, BUT WE SIT -- I BORDER 2, 4 AND 5. SO TO SAY THAT, OH, BECAUSE WE'RE RIGHT NEXT DOOR THAT DOESN'T IMPACT US AS MUCH, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH TOO BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND. AND I SIT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THESE RECYCLING PLANTS. SO THAT -- I WANT TO MOVE IT FORWARD -- I WANT TO MOVE IT FORWARD WITH -- AS WE HAVE IT NOW AND JUST MAKE SURE WE HAVE TEN INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, HOWEVER THEY GET APPOINTED THEY GET APPOINTED.
BUT I WANT TO TAKE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD TODAY, THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN GET TO AN AUGUST MEETING IF I'M ASKING MRES AND UAPRS TO DECIDE WHO THE FIVE MEMBERS ARE FOR THE INDUSTRY.
I NEED THAT TO COME FROM STAFF OR FROM THIS -- THIS COMMITTEE.
AND THE OTHER THING IS I KNOW HOW HARD AND LONG IT TAKES CITY COUNCIL TO APPOINT MEMBERS. I'M STILL WAITING FOR MEMBERS ON SOME BOAS AND COMMISSION. AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT.
SO IF OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AREN'T GOING TO APPOINT A MEMBER, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO APPOINT ALTERNATES FROM THE IMPACTED DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY I'LL GIVE 4 AND 5 BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST IMPACTED. WE NEED FOR THEM TO APPOINT THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MEETING AND THEN JUST WAIT ON THE REST TO APPOINT. SO THAT -- SO I'M LOOKING AT IF WE HAVE -- HOW MANY DISTRICTS NOT -- 7, 8, 9 AND 10:00, IF WE HAVE FOUR DISTRICTS THAT DO NOT HAVE -- 10, I THINK WE SHOULD GET FOUR ALTERNATES THAT WE CAN SPLIT BETWEEN THE DISTRICTS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OR THE DISTRICTS FROM 1 THROUGH 6 FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE
MOVE FORWARD. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
[01:30:04]
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: CHAIR, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LAST OF TRUST I THINK I HEAR SOMETIMES. I'VE SAID I'M WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT SOMEBODY THAT IS RECOMMENDED FROM ANY OF YOUR GROUPS BECAUSE I THINK THE ISSUES SHOULD REFLECT THE CONCERN OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S MOST AFFECTED. I THINK COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ IS PROBABLY PRETTY MUCH SAID THE SAME THING. AND MAYBE I SHOULDN'T SPEAK FOR HIM OR ANYBODY ELSE.
HOWEVER, WOULD IT BE ACCEPTABLE TO SAY THAT THE COUNCILMEMBERS CAN CHOOSE ANYONE THEY WANT EXCEPT THEY CAN'T BE PART OF THE INDUSTRY? OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE INDUSTRY? SO THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND THAT WAY I CAN APPOINT SOMEBODY FROM 5 OR 6 OR 2 OR WHATEVER AND SO CAN ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBER. OR THEY COULD APPOINT SOMEBODY FROM 8 OR 9 WHO IS A CONCERNED CITIZEN BUT MAYBE ISN'T PART OF THE INDUSTRY. SO I WOULD ASK THAT THAT BE PART OF THE CONSIDERATION OF WHERE WE GO. I RESPECT THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULDN'T TELL COUNCILMEMBERS WHO THEY SHOULD APPOINT. THEN AGAIN, WE CAN SAY THAT WE'VE GOT THE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES SET UP SO WE SHOULDN'T APPOINT ANY MORE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNCILMEMBERS. AND I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE US LOOK AT THAT.
I AGREE WITH ALTERNATES WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T BE THERE. I DO THINK WE SHOULD GIVE THE GROUPS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMEND WHO THEY THINK IS GOING TO BE THEIR VOICES ON THIS COMMITTEE, BUT I WOULD SAY THEY COME BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THEN WE -- WE BLESS THEM AND SAY YES, THAT SOUNDS GOOD. LIKE I SAID, IF NECESSITY CAN'T DECIDE ON FIVE, IF THEY HAVE SIX OR SEVEN, THEN WE DECIDE WHO THE FIVE WOULD BE.
THE OTHER TWO OR ONE COULD BE AN ALTERNATE. I FEEL THAT GIVES FAIR AND EQUAL REPRESENTATION AND ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO SIT IN IF SOMEBODY CAN'T
BE THERE. I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THAT. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. THERE MIGHT BE A COMPROMISE HERE BETWEEN WHAT ALL THREE OF YOU JUST SAID AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, THEN T BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. PERHAPS THE SOLUTION IS WE JUST APPOINT ONE PERSON FROM D1 THROUGH 6. WE GIVE THE TWO HIGHEST -- I GUESS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER, D4 AND 5, AN ADDITIONAL ONE, BUT THEN DO THE OTHER TWO AT LARGE SO THEY COULD COME FROM ANY DISTRICT.
SO THAT COULD MAYBE BE A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT LIKE COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ SAID.
IT STILL GETS TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN'S POINT AS WELL.
BUT IT ALSO, LIKE COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE SAID, ACKNOWLEDGES THAT D4 AND 5 HAVE THE RESIDENTS THAT SEE A LOT OF THIS SMOKE AND DRIVE BY IT LITERALLY.
THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOUR AMENDMENT, COUNCILMAN, TO TAKE EVERYONE IN. BUT WE'LL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.
I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, THEN COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, THEN COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ IN THE CUE. GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND. SO 1 THROUGH 6 WOULD BE THE
ONLY ONES THAT HAVE APPOINTEES. >> CORRECT.
>> VIAGRAN: OKAY. >> GARCIA: AND THEN THE OTHERS WOULD BE AT LARGE.
>> VIAGRAN: THEN THE OTHER FOUR WOULD BE AT LARGE. OR AN EXTRA ONE TO 4 AND EXTRA ONE TO 5 AND TWO AT LARGE. OKAY.
THAT -- YEAH, THAT SEEMS -- THAT SEEMS WORKABLE. AND THAT'S THE OTHER THING QUESTION. DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH DISTRICT? CAN WE AS PCDC DECIDE THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT?
>> SHANNON: THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ONE FROM EVERY DISTRICT. THIS IS A TASK FORCE THAT'S GOING TO HELP US DEVELOP SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT AS AFFORDABLALIZED AS A BOARD OR COMMISSION.
IT'S IMPORTANT IT'S BALANCED WITH INDUSTRY AND MAYBE COMMUNITY SO WE KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT ONE, THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IT HERE, BUT THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO, IT'S NOT
A LEGAL REQUIREMENT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. >> VIAGRAN: I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GETTING THE CONFUSION BECAUSE, AGAIN, GOING OUT TO THE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES AND ASKING THEM TO DO THAT, TO SEND UP THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND
[01:35:05]
THEN US APPROVING THEM, THAT -- >> COUNCILMAN, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THEIR INTENTION. THIS IS JUST A CRITERIA -- WE WEREN'T GOING TO COME BACK TO PCDC TO VET EVERY CANDIDATE. WE WERE LOOKING FOR CRITERIA TO CREATE THE TASK FORCE FROM AND THEN GET TO WORK. IF WE HAVE TO COME BACK
HERE, THAT WILL CHANGE THE TIME LINE. >> VIAGRAN: I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE TIME LINE. I LIKE THE TIME LINE WE HAVE.
LIKE AT THIS POINT I'M LIKE JUST TEN MEMBERS CHOSEN BY -- CAN IT BE -- YEAH, CHOSEN BY CITY COUNCIL AND THEN THAT'S BIG ENOUGH THAT IT WOULD BE 1 THROUGH 6.
RIGHT? >> SHANNON: I WOULD SAY YES.
THAT WAS OUR PROPOSAL. YOU ALL EACH GET A REPRESENTATIVE.
IF YOU CHOOSE IT FROM SOMEONE FROM DISTRICT 3 OR 8, THAT'S OUR PROPOSAL.
>> VIAGRAN: BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT IT'S BY CITY COUNCILMEMBERS IN 1
THROUGH 6. IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING? >> GARCIA: I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE PREFERENCE, BUT STAFF CAN IDENTIFY AND I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE EVEN WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY AND ANOTHER MEETING. IT'S JUST KIND OF A LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE EVERYBODY REPRESENTED.
>> VIAGRAN: YEAH. AND JUST BE -- I'LL TALK OFF LINE ABOUT WHY THERE'S A LACK OF TRUST, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION. YES, I HEAR YOUR COMPROMISE
AND I THINK THAT WORKS. THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOLLOWED GUY COUNCILMEMBER
PELÁEZ. >> CASTILLO: I THINK THE COMPROMISE THAT YOU PROPOSED OF 1 THROUGH 6 AND THEN -- FOUR RATHER AT-LARGE POSITIONS WOULD BE A GREAT COMPROMISE. MY IF IT ENSURES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE SAME TIME LINE, I WOULD PROPOSE A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR US TO VET THOSE APPOINTMENTS AND GIVE A RECOMMENDATION TO STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SO WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE SAME TIME LINE.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD DO? >> I DO THINK THAT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. IF YOU GUYS NEED A SUBCOMMITTEE TO WORK ON THOSE AT-LARGEST, WE COULD ADVISE, BUT WE'RE PLANNING TO GO FORWARD WITH THE INDUSTRY SIDE AND GET THE TASK FORCE SELECTED.
>> CASTILLO: I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I'M COMFORTABLE WITH AND PART OF THE DISTRUST IS OFTENTIMES COMMUNITY SEATS ARE USED TO PUT INDUSTRY FOLKS AND DROWNS OUT OR DOESN'T GIVE THAT FAIR COMMUNITY VOICE AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE HEARD FROM MY CONSTITUENCY IS MAKING SURE IF IT IS A COMMUNITY SEAT IT'S SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY OF THIS INDUSTRY RATHER THAN SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T AND
DOESN'T REPRESENT THAT COMMUNITY VOICE. >> SHANNON: LET ME STEP IN. I'VE HEARD THIS NOW. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE WILL DO AS STAFF IS ENSURE THAT IT'S BALANCED.
WE'VE HAD OTHER TASK FORCE, DSD AND LIKE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WE'VE HAD OTHERS WHEREAS IT'S BEING DEVELOPED, WE'VE NOTICED A SLIGHT IMBALANCE AND IDENTIFIED THAT WITH THE TASK FORCE AND CORRECTED IT. THAT'S ONE OF THE CORE ISSUES. SO AS THESE INDUSTRY AND/OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS GETS ELECTED, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND WE WILL LOOK AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY IMBALANCE. WE WILL JUST ALTERNATES, THAT WAS DISCUSSED.
THAT'S A COMMON PRACTICE SPECIALLY FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND THEN WE WON'T GO FORWARD WITH MEETINGS IF THERE IS AN IMBALANCE IN THOSE THAT COULD MAKE IT. IF THERE'S ONLY -- IF THERE'S TEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ONLY THREE INDUSTRY, WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD.
IT'S SOMETHING MY STAFF AND I DO AS A NORM. WITH SOME OF THE INFORMATION YOU ARE GIVING US AND MAYBE WHERE THIS IS HEADING, I WOULD SAY GIVE US A CHANCE TO WORK WITH THIS HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE FOR IT AND GIVE US DIRECTION, BUT WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL IT CAN'T GET OUT OF BALANCE.
AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN, YOUR COMMENT WE'VE SEEN THAT AND OTHERS AND QUICKLY CORRECTED THAT. WITH THE TASK FORCE WE'RE USING AND I THINK EVERYBODY IS OKAY WITH THAT. NOBODY WANTS A IMBALANCED TASK FORCE BECAUSE IT WON'T WORK. WE'LL TAKE THAT COMMENT VERY SERIOUSLY.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. SO IF WE DO CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE, SO AS CHAIR I CAN ASSIGN -- I WOULD LOVE TO ASSIGN COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN TO IT. AND SO YOU ALL CAN WORK WITH MIKE SHANNON AND AMIN AND TEAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE COME TO A COMPROMISE AND THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.
[01:40:03]
>> PELÁEZ: I DON'T THINK ANYBODY AMENDED THE ORIGINAL MOTION?
>> GARCIA: DO YOU WANT TO AMEND IT, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO?
>> CASTILLO: I PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT FOR -- AND FOUR AT-LARGE APPOINTMENTS.
ALSO THE CREATION OF A SUBCOMMITTEE CREATED BY THE CHAIR.
LAWSUITS. >> GARCIA: DID WE GET THAT?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION OR -- OKAY. >> PELÁEZ: I SECOND THAT.
>> GARCIA: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND. BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT.
>> PELÁEZ: I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T THINK COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE AND I ARE TRYING TO PLAY FOUR-DIMENSIONAL CHESS ON THIS.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TIME FIGURING OUT WHO TO APPOINT -- I'VE GOT OTHER THINGS TO DO. NUMBER TWO, I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH FOR FOUR-DIMENSIONAL CHESS. TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT, IF THIS WERE AN ISSUE HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AT LA LA CON TEAR ARE, I WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEBODY FROM DISTRICT WILL -- ARE THINGS PARTICULAR TO ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO ANOTHER. I HOPE THAT'S ACCEPTED THAT WE'RE
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? >> GARCIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'VE GONE THROUGH OUR FIRST ITEM.
ITEM 3 IS BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO UPDATE THE CHAPTER 6, BUILDING,
SECTION 6-155. AMIN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CODE REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES.
SO QUICK SUMMARY. WE ARE HERE TO PROPOSE SOME CHANGES TO CHAPTER 6 WHICH
IS THE BUILDING CODE. >> IF WE COULD HAVE ALL INDIVIDUALS LEAVING THE
MEETING -- SHHH. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
SO WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME PROPOSED CHANGES TO CHAPTER 6, THE BUILDING CODE IN REGARDS TO BUILDING STANDARD BOARD COMMITTEE AND TO CHAPTER 10, IT'S RELATED TO BUILDING-RELATED AND FIRE CODES APPEALS AND ADVISORY BOARD.
FROM NOW ON I CALL IT THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD SO I DON'T HAVE TO SAY ALL THAT.
THE MAIN REASON FOR IT IS TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE THE ABILITY FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO VOTE SO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND THEY WILL BE COUNTED AND OBVIOUSLY FOR TRANSPARENCY. I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, SO WHAT HAPPENED IS EVERY SEVERAL YEARS WE DO UPDATE OUR CODE. WE GO THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF NEW CODES. AND THIS LAST ROUND ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WE DID INVITE FOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEES TO HELP WITH REVIEW OF THE SIGN CODE, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE AND SO FORTH. BASED ON THE CURRENT WAY IT'S WRITTEN, THEY CAN ATTEND, THEY CAN PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK, BUT THEY CANNOT VOTE AND THEY DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS QUORUM. THEY DID BRING THAT UP AND MENTIONED CAN WE FIX THAT BEFORE THE NEXT CYCLE. THAT'S REALLY WHY WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE WE FIX THAT ISSUE. THE BUILDING STANDARD BOARD, IT'S A QUASI-JUDICIAL BOARD AND IT CONSISTS OF 14 VOTING MEMBERS, NONE ARE CITY EMPLOYEES, THEY ARE ALL APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL. BASICALLY THEIR JOB IS TO HEAR APPEALS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY MEANT CODE AND THE SUMMARY ABATEMENT APPEALS. ALSO THEY DO REVIEW DILAPIDATED AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURES AND ORDER REPAIRS OR DEMOLITION AS THE LAST RESORT IF THEY HAVE TO.
OBVIOUSLY AGAIN WE DO CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE CODE UPDATES AS I MENTIONED EARLIER. THE PROPOSED CHANGES, AGAIN TO CLARIFY THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE CODE REVIEW NEEDS TO BE BETWEEN INTO A WALKING QUORUM WHICH WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE. THE CHANGE IS ALLOW UP TO FOUR NON-APPOINTED MEMBERS TO BE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE. AND AGAIN, THE GOAL HERE IS TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THE VOTING RIGHTS AND TO COUNT TOWARDS QUORUM.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD. IT CONSISTS OF 17 VOTING MEMBERS AND 17 ALTERNATES THAT ARE ACTUALLY A APPOINTED BY COUNCIL AND
[01:45:05]
RELATED TO BUILDING AND FIRE CODES. AGAIN, NONE OF THEM ARE CITY EMPLOYEES. THEIR JOB IS TO HEAR APPEALS IN REGARDS TO ANY DECISION OR ORDER THAT WAS MADE BY THE BUILDING OFFICIAL OR THE FIRE OFFICIAL.SO BASICALLY ANY DECISION MADE ON CHAPTER 10 OR CHAPTER 11 IS APPEALABLE AND ACTUALLY CHAPTER 28, WHICH IS THE SIGN CODE, IT'S PART OF THAT PROCESS.
AGAIN, WE CAN CREATE SUBCOMMITTEES TO REVIEW THE CODE ADOPTION PROCESS.
SIMILAR TO THE -- THE RECOMMENDED PROPOSED CHANGES IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FOUR TO SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS WITH ALTERNATES. WE DO ALLOW UP TO FOUR UNAPPOINTED MEMBERS TO BE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE OR ONE LESS THAN THE APPOINTED MEMBERS.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO COUNT TOWARDS QUORUM, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE AS WELL.
AND REGARDS TO THIS AND CHAPTER 10, WE JUST NEED TO -- IF IT'S APPROVED, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE BYLAWS A LITTLE BIT. SO TIMETABLE, WE DID GO TO THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH. WE PRESENTED TO THEM THE IDEA. AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MEETINGS IN MARCH BASICALLY THEY APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE ARE BRINGING HERE.
AND THEN IN APRIL WE DID TWO MEETINGS. WE PRESENTED TO THE BSB PANEL A AND B AND PREEVED THEM ON IT. THEY WERE OKAY WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL AND TODAY WE ARE HERE AT PCDC. IF IT'S APPROVED, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD TO FULL CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY CITY COUNCIL IN AUGUST, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THERE IS NO MEETINGS IN JULY. THAT'S IT ACTUALLY, QUICK.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. AND SO WE WILL -- IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> MOTION TO A PROOF. >> GARCIA: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? GREAT JOB. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ITEM NUMBER 4 IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND BUDGET FOR THE CITY'S FOUR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENT GRANT INCLUDING CDBG, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THE VERONICAS IS PRESENTING.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS. IT'S VERONICA G. THEY ARE BOTH VERONICA G.
OH, MY GOSH. >> IS IT STILL MORNING? GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M VERONICA GONZALES, DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT. TODAY I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 HUD ACTION PLAN AND BUDGET. THE CITY DEVELOPS THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND BUDGET BASED ON THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL AND HUD BACK IN AUGUST 2021.
THE SAN ANTONIO RECEIVES FOUR FEDERAL ENTITLEMENT GRANTS FROM HUD WHICH YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN, THAT'S OUR CDBG, HOME AND HOPLA AND THE LARGEST IS CDBG.
HOME, HOPWA AND -- HAVE SPECIFIC PURPOSES IN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
HOPWA IS HELPING FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS.
AND FINALLY THE SMALLEST IS ESG OR EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT WHICH PEOPLE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. PRIOR TO UTILIZING THESE FUNDS, HUD DOES REQUIRE THE CITY TO DEVELOP AN ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND BUDGET.
THE FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN REALLY OUTLINES HOW WE PLAN TO SPEND THESE FUNDS OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD WHICH STARTED IN 2022. IT'S NO SURPRISE HERE THAT PRIORITY ONE CONTINUES TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS OUR TOP PRIORITY, WE CONTINUE TO PLACE MOST FEDERAL DOLLARS INTO THIS CATEGORY THROUGH THE CREATION AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS REFERS TO YOUTH, OLDER ADULTS OR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. PRIORITY 3 ON YOUR SCREEN PROVIDES HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING OUR AT RISK OF HOMELESS, FOLLOWED BY NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION ACTIVITIES AND LASTLY PROVIDING FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
AS I MENTIONED, THESE ARE THE FOUR ENTITLEMENT GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE EACH YEAR
[01:50:05]
FROM HUD WITH AMOUNTS YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN. CDBG, HOME, HOPWA.THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE TO APPLY, THEY ARE AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS AND GRANTED TO THE CITY THROUGH A FORMULA PROCESS. THE CENTER COLUMN FOR ANTICIPATED PROGRAM INCOME AND SAVINGS INCLUDES FUNDING THAT COMES BACK TO THE CITY FOR PAST LOANS, PARTICULARLY FOR MULTI-FAMILY PROJECTS THAT ARE MAKING PAYMENTS TO THE CITY. SO WE ARE THEN REQUIRED TO PROGRAM THOSE FUNDS AND SPEND THEM ON ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES GOING FORWARD. WHEN WE ACCOUNT FOR THE PROGRAM INCOME AND SAVINGS, WE HAVE A TOTAL BUDGET OF 27.7 MILLION FOR 2025.
THIS BUDGET IS 4% GREATER THAN OUR OVERALL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '24 WHICH WAS 26.5 MILLION. THE TWO LARGEST AREAS OF HOW WE SPEND ARE HOME AND CDBG GRANTS ARE FOR HOUSING REHAB AS WELL AS CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH GAP FUNDING.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE AWARDED 7.9 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO THE CITY'S MAJOR REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM. IN COMBINED WITH BOTH HOUSING BOND AND GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, THE CITY'S TOTAL HOME REHAB BUDGET IS 22 MILLION IN 2024. REHAB CONTINUES TO BE A TOP PRIORITY.
FOR 2025, WE ARE PROPOSING TO KEEP THE FUNDING LEVELS AT 7.9 MILLION.
AGAIN, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE COMBINED WITH BOTH BOND AND GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR A TOTAL REHAB BUDGET OF 30 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2025.
WE DO ALSO PROVIDE A PORTION OF CDBG TO DIRECTLY STAFF THOSE PROGRAMS. THE OTHER LARGEST AREA OF FEDERAL FUNDING ISG CREATION OF NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE USE BOTH HOME AND CDBG FUNDS FOR CREATION OF RENTAL AND FOR-SALE HOUSING.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE AWARDED ALMOST 12.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING AND THAT IS RESULTING IN 560 NEW RENTAL HOMES AND 39 HOMES FOR SALE. THE 12.5 MILLION IN HOME AND CDBG FUNDS AWARDED WERE LEVERAGED WITH OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, PRIMARILY THE HOUSING BOND. I'LL GO INTO THAT MORE ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
FOR 2025, WE PROPOSE 10.5 MILLION WHICH WILL RESULT IN NEW HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CONTINUE OUR FOCUS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE SAME SCORING CRITERIA THAT WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL WHICH ENSURES THAT PROJECTS RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING FROM PROVIDING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES EARNING UP TO 30% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND PRIMARILY UP TO 60% AMI.
THE RFP WHICH WILL BE RELEASED THIS FALL WILL REQUIRE AT LEAST 10% OF ALL UNITS TO SERVE FAMILIES EARNING BELOW 30% OF AMI. IN ADDITION TO THIS DIRECT GAP FUNDING, WE ALSO SUPPORT SEVERAL LOCAL HOUSING NON-PROFITS WITH OPERATIONAL FUNDS WHICH ARE PAID FOR WITH OUR HOME GRANT FUNDING. NO MORE THAN 5% CAN BE USED FOR THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE. THE KEY TAKE-AWAY IS THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOCUS THE BULK OF OUR FUNDING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
THANKS TO THE VOTERS WHO APPROVED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND IN MAY 2022, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE THIS YEAR'S 12.5 MILLION IN HOME AND CDBG # FUNDS WITH 7.5 MILLION IN BOND AND OTHER DOLLARS. THIS IS RESULTING IN MORE THAN 950 HOMES BUILT OR PRESERVED AND NEARLY 20% ARE CONSIDERED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE. IN ADDITION TO BOTH CREATING AND PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE DO HAVE OTHER HOUSING ACTIVITIES THAT WE SUPPORT WITH OUR FEDERAL FUNDS. ONE OF THOSE IS OUR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER'S ASSISTANCE FUNDED BY HOME DOLLARS HELPING FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS WITH DOWNPAYMENT AND CLOSING COSTS. FUNDING TWO FULL-TIME FAIR HOUSING COUNSELORS.
NEXT IS FUNDING FOR HOUSING STABILIZATION SERVICES TO PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
THIS BUCKET WILL ALSO SUPPORT TWO NEW FAMILY SUPPORT WORKERS FOR EVICTION PROTECTION WHEN A FAMILY IS DEALING WITH ANY EVICTION STATUS, IT'S IMPORTANT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND THESE WORKERS WILL BE ABLE TO HELP FAMILIES DURING THAT PERIOD OF CRISIS. LASTLY IS NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION CASE MANAGEMENT. WITH THIS BUDGET WE CONTINUE TO FUND TWO FAMILY SUPPORT WORKERS TO PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES FACING CODE VIOLATIONS AND CONNECTING THEM TO CREW SOURCES. IN ADDITION TO -- RESOURCES.
[01:55:02]
IN ADDITION TO, WE ALSO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.ONE IS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS. FUNDS GO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF SUE HUMAN SERVICES AND WORK TO DELIVER THESE TO THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO THE PARKS & RECREATION SUMMER YOUTH AND EXTENDED HOURS PROGRAM, DELIVERED AT MANY OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT ALLOW YOUTH TO COME IN DURING THE SUMMER AND LATER HOURS TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND DO SOME FUN PROGRAMMING.
FINALLY, THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IS ALSO OPERATED BY DHS THROUGH THEIR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS TO PROVIDE FREE FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND BENEFITS NAVIGATION FOR RESIDENTS. THE LAST TWO GRANTS FOR HOPWA AND ESG ARE OVER 4 MILLION AND PRIMARILY INNED BY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. HOPWA IS THE ONLY FEDERAL GRANT THAT SERVES HOUSING NEEDS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV. AND ESG HELPS PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK INCLUDING HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID REHOUSING. COORDINATES WITH NON-PROFITS AND AGENCIES TO OFFER ALL THESE SERVICES. THESE SERVICES REALLY CAPTURE PEOPLE AT MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES IN THEIR LIVES BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT. HERE IS A TIME LINE ITSELF. IN MAY NHSD PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WE HELD COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN ADDITION TO PUBLISHING ON SA SPEAK UP. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.
WE ARE COORDINATING INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS WITH NON-PROFITS AND STAKEHOLDERS. STAFF PROVIDED BRIEFINGS TO THE HOUSING COMMISSION YESTERDAY AND WE ARE HERE TODAY AT PCDC, THE FINAL HUD ANNUAL ACTION PLAN WILL GO TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION ON AUGUST 8TH.
THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE ACTION PLAN TO HUD BY AUGUST 16TH.
THAT'S NOT FLEXIBLE. LASTLY, HUD FUNDS I DESCRIBE WILL BE AVAILABLE OCTOBER 1ST. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM. I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP THEM BUSY AND HAVING FUN. THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN THAT'S REQUIRED BY HUD. WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSION. I'LL START OFF WITH THE BOYS THIS TIME.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. I CERTAINLY APPROVE OF THIS AND MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE STILL NOT ADDRESSING THE DEEP AFFORDABILITY AS MUCH AS WE NEED TO. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR DEPARTMENT IS EXPLORING ANY OTHER WAYS TO DO THAT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE ALWAYS SAYING, OKAY, AT LEAST 10% ARE GOING TO BE AT 30% AMI. WE'VE GOT 250,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE OF ABOUT 22, $23,000, WHICH IS ALL 30% HOUSING.
AND MANY OF THEM ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND HOUSING OR STAY WHERE THEY ARE.
AND WE'RE STILL ONLY DOING 10%. 10%.
NOW 50% IS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. THERE ARE SOME UNITS AT 50%.
BUT THAT ENDS UP TOO BEING HIGHER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY CAN AFFORD. SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO FIND ADDITIONAL WAYS OF SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF 30% HOUSING IN THE CITY BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A HUGE NEED FOR THAT. BUT I SUPPORT WHAT'S GOING TOWARD AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND SOME WAYS OF DEVELOPING MORE AFFORDABILITY.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> WE'LL CONTINUE TO USE OUR HUD FUNDS AND LAYER THEM WITH OTHER FUNDING SOURCES. THE MORE FUNDING WE CAN MAKE AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS, THE MORE AFFORDABILITY WE CAN EXPECT.
WE ALSO WILL BE COMING BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE AND FULL CITY COUNCIL WITH -- BEFORE WE PUT OUT ANY OF THE FUNDS FOR SOLICITATION TO GET ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK ON IF WE KEEP IT AT 10% OR IF THERE'S ANY OTHER FUNDS WE COULD FIND FOR THAT.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: I JUST HAD A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT SOMICKISM. BUT I'LL SPARE THEM FOR ANOTHER MEETING.
>> GARCIA: COUNCILMAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
FORWARD ON THIS AS THIS CONTINUES TO BECOME NECESSITY FOR THE RESIDENTS.
[02:00:02]
THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I NEED A SLICE OF THAT HUMBLE PIE. THE 30 MILLION TO SUPPORT HOME REHAB, THAT'S THE AMOUNT WE SHIP AWAY AT OUR SHIP GOALS.
I KNOW COPS/METRO GAVE COMMENT AT ONE OF THE PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS AND WHAT THEIR REQUEST IS THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OPPORTUNITY HOME THROUGH THE MEANS OF A STUDY ON HOW TO POTENTIALLY RETROFIT THE CASSIANO HOMES.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES GOING ON OVER THERE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO CONNECT THE ROLE OF OPPORTUNITY HOME AS AN ORGANIZATION WITH CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN THAT OUR MAYOR GETS AN APOINT THAT ENTIRE BOARD AND THAT'S OUR CONSTITUENCY ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT IS HOUSED BECAUSE OF OPPORTUNITY HOME AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE TO WHETHER IT'S ON THE HUD ACTION PLAN OR THROUGH OUR GENERAL FUND TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OPPORTUNITY HOME, BECAUSE IF WE FAIL TO ALLOW OPPORTUNITY HOME TO FAIL, THAT'S GOING TO FALL ON THE LAPS OF DEPARTMENT AND HUMAN SERVICES WITH HAVING TO DEAL WITH RELOCATION AND UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE TO EMPHASIZE THAT POINT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.
I FEEL LIKE TODAY WAS A KUMBAJA MEETING, OUR INTERNS ARE HERE TO SEE HOW THIS WORKS. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.