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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 15, 2019.
[1. Invocation]
MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE'VE GOTTEN STARTED TODAY.
FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA AND THE FIRST THING WE WILL DO IS WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.
AND IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO WELCOME REVEREND RAY BROWN.
HE'S A SENIOR PASTOR OF THE REDLAND OAKS COMMUNITY CHURCH.
HE'S THE THIRD OF FIVE CHILDREN BORN TO ARISTIDE AND MARY BROWN.
BORN IN HEIDELBERG, GERMANY, PASTOR BROWN ACCEPTED HIS CALL TO THE MINISTRY AT THE TENDER AGE OF NINE.
AFTER GRADUATING FROM SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, HE BEGAN HIS COLLEGIATE MATRICULATION AT BISHOP COLLEGE IN DALLAS, TEXAS WHERE HE PURSUED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN THEOLOGY.
IN THE SUMMER OF 1989, WHILE STILL IN COLLEGE, HE WAS CALLED TO PASTOR THE LIVE OAK BAPTIST CHURCH IN NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS.
IN JULY OF 1990, PASTOR BROWN ACCEPTED HIS NEXT ASSIGNMENT AT RESURRECTION BAPTIST CHURCH IN SCHERTZ.
IN 2012 A SECOND CAMPUS, REDLAND OAKS CAMPUS, WAS OPENED.
THROUGH THE TWO CAMPUSES WE NOW HAVE FOUR WORSHIP SERVICES, THREE IN ENGLISH, ONE IN SPANISH, AND SMALL GROUPS WITH OVER 2,000 WEEKLY ATTENDEES.
HE BRINGS A CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE VISION AND OUT OF THE BOX APPROACH TO MINISTRY, WHICH APPEALS TO ALL CULTURES AND AGE GROUP.
THE CONGREGATION HAS GROWN TO OVER 4,000.
PEOPLE ARE GROWING INTO MATURITY IN THEIR FAITH.
A GIFTED TEACHER AND PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL, HE IS MOTIVATED BY HIS LOVE FOR PEOPLE AND PREACHING AND HIS BELIEF THAT NO ONE IS BEYOND GOD'S REACH.
HE IS THE FATHER OF RAY JR., TJ, SPENCER, AND CRYSTAL AND A DOTING G-PA TO RAY BROWN III.
>> GOOD MORNING TO MAYOR NIRENBERG AND ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TODAY.
ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO YOU IN ALLOWING ME TO LEAD THE OPENING OF THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AS WE PRAY.
DEAR WISE AND LOVING FATHER, WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY YOU HAVE MADE.
WE REJOICE AND ARE GLAD IN IT.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ABUNDANT BLESSINGS, GENEROUS GRACE AND MERCY.
WE THANK YOU FOR UNCONDITIONALLY LOVING US AND GIVING US THE STRENGTH TO LOVE YOU, OURSELVES, AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
HEAVENLY FATHER WE COME TO YOU THIS DAY TO INVOKE YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS MEETING.
LET THIS CHAMBER BE FILLED WITH YOUR PRESENCE AS THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH HONESTY AND INTEGRITY.
WE PRAY FOR ALL THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF CITY OFFICIALS AND IN PARTICULAR TO THIS ASSEMBLED COUNCIL.
GRANT THEM THE WISDOM TO GOVERN, A SENSE OF THE WELFARE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE, LET THEM THIRST FOR JUSTICE, CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS GOOD AND FITTING AND THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY, EVEN AS THERE IS HONEST DISAGREEMENT.
WE PRAY FOR THE AGENDA SET BEFORE THEM TODAY.
GIVE THEM THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT PLEASES YOU AND WHAT WOULD BENEFIT THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE AREA KNOWN AS OUR BELOVED CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THIS WE ASK IN THE MOST BLESSED NAME OF JESUS, WE PRAY.
[2. Pledge of Allegiance]
AMEN.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
[3. Approval of Minutes of the City Council Regular Meetings of June 19 - 20, 2019]
PASTOR BROWN.OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE 19 AND 20.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 19 AND 20.
[Additional Item]
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MOTION CARRIES.I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN PERRY, WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
YOU MIGHT -- IF YOU LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM, YOU MIGHT SEE A CROWN.
SITTING RIGHT UP HERE IN THE FRONT.
AND THAT'S WHO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TODAY.
BRING WHOEVER YOU WANT, BUT COME ON UP TO THE FRONT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS HERE.
PORTLAND IS FROM DISTRICT 10 HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND SHE -- [APPLAUSE] SHE IS THE WINNER OF A NATIONAL TITLE.
AND, AS YOU CAN SEE ON HER SASH, IT'S MISS TEEN UNITED STATES.
SO SHE IS OUR NATIONAL WINNER! [APPLAUSE] SHE'S 19 YEARS OLD, SOPHOMORE ATTENDING SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE.
AND SHE'S PURSUING A DEGREE IN BROADCASTING AND COMMUNICATIONS.
IT'S PRETTY PRINCESS PORTLAND.
AND SHE IS THE FOUNDER OF CINDERELLA'S CLOSET.
THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT TAKES GENTLY-USED FORMAL GOWNS AND DONATES THEM TO OTHER YOUNG WOMEN THAT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR OWN.
SHE SAID THAT BEING A TITLE HOLDER KIND OF PUSHES HER OUT OF HER COMFORT ZONE AND GETTING UP AND SPEAKING, AND THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
AND IT'S GREAT THAT YOU HAVE REPRESENTED SAN ANTONIO AND OUR DISTRICT HERE, NO. 10.
AND COMPETING AND WINNING THAT NATIONAL TITLE.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, PORTLAND?
NICE TO SEE ALL OF YOU BRIGHT AND EARLY.
IT'S REALLY COOL TO HAVE THIS HONOR, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL.
DEFINITELY COMPETING AT THIS PAGEANT MEANT A LOT TO ME, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS A NATIONAL COMPETITION, BUT BECAUSE I GOT TO REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO.
AND THE REASON WHY I'M DOING IT.
I ACTUALLY WORK A LOT WITH THE 100 CLUB OF SAN ANTONIO WHICH, IF SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW, IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT RAISES FUNDS FOR THE FAMILIES OF OUR FALLEN FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR CHILDREN.
SO WHEN AN OFFICER PASSES IN THE LINE OF DUTY, THE 100 CLUB IS THERE TO BRING HOPE OUT OF TRAGEDY.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DIFFERENT AT THIS PAGEANT, AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO HELP ME PROGRESS AND MOVE FORWARD.
SO BEING HERE TODAY AS A NATIONAL TITLE HOLDER, BUT STILL BEING A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE, I WILL STILL MAKE IT MY MISSION TO CONTINUE PROMOTING THE 100 CLUB OF SAN ANTONIO, AND ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE PUBLICITY AND THE HELP.
YOU GUYS ARE HELPING ME DO THAT.
YOU'RE NOT JUST HELPING ME AND MY NAME AND MY REPUTATION FOR BROADCASTING, BUT YOU ARE HELPING THE FALLEN FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU THAT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU, BUT CONGRATULATIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
CONGRATULATIONS, PORTLAND AND TO THE ENTIRE TIDWELL FAMILY.
[Consent Agenda]
ALL RIGHT.WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, SAVE FOR ITEM 4.
I DO HAVE NOTED HERE ITEM 11 TO BE PULLED BY COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 8? OKAY.
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S TO PULL, NOT TO HIGHLIGHT.
>> GONZALES: WE DO HAVE SOME --
SO PULL IT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I HAVE ITEMS 8, AND 13.
ANY OTHERS? IF THERE ARE NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 8, 11, AND 13.
I HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON REMAINING ITEMS. JACK FINGER.
LIKEWISE CITY COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES FROM DISTRICT 5.
YES, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS JACK M.
YES, A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
ITEM NO. 12, APPROVING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS RELATED TO THE CITYWIDE BIKE AND [INDISCERNIBLE] PROJECTS.
THEN IT GOES FORWARD TO LIST A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FUNDED, PERHAPS THROUGH TXDOT.
VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS ALONG SAN PEDRO AVENUE.
YES, BUT UPON READING THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS I NOTICED IT ALSO MENTIONED THAT STREET LANES FOR, ACTUALLY, THE BICYCLE LANES MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN THIS.
NOW, THE ONLY WAY BICYCLE LANES CAN BE INCLUDED IN THIS IS IF YOU REMOVE CAR LANES.
YOU KNOW, THE LANES THAT WE AS MOTORISTS USE ALL THE TIME.
THEREBY CAUSING MORE TRAFFIC JAMS. YES.
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE, MR. MAYOR.
SO WHY NOT SAY NO TO THIS AND GET AT LEAST PULL IT FOR EXPLANATION FROM THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS YOU'RE VOTING ON TODAY SO THAT WE AS MOTORISTS DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH MORE BRAKE LIGHTS IN RUSH HOUR ON SAN PEDRO.
WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE HERE? NO. -- I'LL SKIP AROUND HERE, NO. 22.
AN AGREEMENT ESSENTIALLY NOT TO ANNEX AN AREA EAST OF CHINA GROVE.
THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION.
WE'RE GOING TO AGREE TO NOT ANNEX AN AREA SO SOME CORPORATION CAN DEVELOP SOME AREA OUT THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO AGREE NOT TO ANNEX THAT FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
WHAT IF THE CITY DOES GROW OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS AND WE DECIDE WE DO WANT TO ANNEX IT AND WE CAN'T ALL BECAUSE OF YOUR VOTE HERE TODAY? MAYBE WE WOULD WANT TO SAY NO TO THAT TO JUST KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN.
AND LIKEWISE NO. 16, ASKING THE FEDS FOR ABOUT $40,000 FOR, WELL, HUD HOUSING -- [BUZZER]
>> SO MANY SCANDALS, SO LITTLE TIME.
THERE IS A -- THAT'S ALL THE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.
I'LL TAKE COUNCIL COMMENT NOW, STARTING WITH COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
AND FIRST JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 18.
WE'RE APPOINTING A NEW ZONING COMMISSIONER, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT I WANT TO THANK SARA OLIVARES FOR HER SERVICE REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT AS THE ZONING COMMISSIONER.
WE WISH HER THE BEST ON HER NEW JOB.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR HER HARD WORK AND COLLABORATION WITH OUR OFFICE.
WITH THAT, WE'RE EQUALLY EXCITED TO WELCOME SUMMER GREATHOUSE.
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ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY AT BRYCEWELL.SHE HAS LIVED IN ARGENTINA AND TRAINED HORSES THERE.
AND SHE SPEAKS FLUENT SPANISH.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE IS VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK MANY FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU SERVE AS OUR D 1 ZONING COMMISSIONER, AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU ON BOARD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT IN OUR DISTRICT.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO THANK TCI FOR THEIR WORK, AS WAS MENTIONED.
THERE'S SOME GREAT WORK REGARDING PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS ON SAN PEDRO AND OTHER AREAS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE PROJECTS BEING DONE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR FOCUS ON PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY AND SAFETY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING MORE ON THE NEW PLANS FOR SIDEWALK REPAIR AND THE GREAT WORK THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING FROM TIM HAYS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 8, 11, AND 13.
[4. Resolution calling for action by the Texas Legislature and United States Congress to address gun violence; and for the City of San Antonio to review available actions and policies at the local level to enhance the safety of San Antonio residents. [Andy Segovia, City Attorney]]
PLEASE VOTE.>> ITEM NO. 4 -- JUST ONE MOMENT, MAYOR.
ITEM NO. 4 IS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR ACTION BY TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE AND FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO REVIEW AVAILABLE ACTIONS AND POLICIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MADAME, CLERK, IF I COULD HAVE YOU READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP CITIZEN COMMENT FOLLOWED BY CUNCIL.
>> THE RESOLUTION READS AS FOLLOWS: A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE AND FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO REVIEW AVAILABLE ACTIONS AND POLICIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS COMMITTED TO SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELFARE OF ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS AND WHEREAS ENSURING THE SAFETY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, AND VISITORS IS A TOP CITY PRIORITY.
AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, CDC, REPORTS FIREARM-RELATED MORTALITY IN THE UNITED STATES IS AT EPIDEMIC LEVELS, CLAIMING OVER 39,000 LIVES ANNUALLY.
AND WHEREAS THERE ARE 3,313 FIREARM-RELATED DEATHS IN TEXAS IN 2017.
AND WHEREAS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE 116TH CONGRESS HOUSE RESOLUTION 8 WAS INTRODUCED ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO REQUIRE BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL COMMERCIAL GUN SALES.
AND WHEREAS ON FEBRUARY 27, 2019 THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS APPROVED HOUSE HR8, MARKING THE FIRST TIME MAJOR GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION HAS PASSED THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
AND WHEREAS IN THE OVER 150 DAYS SINCE HR8 WAS PASSED BY THE U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE U.S. STATE SENATE HAS NOT DEBATED OR VOTED ON THIS LEGISLATION.
AND WHEREAS IN JUST THE FIRST WEEKEND OF AUGUST AT LEAST 31 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN MASS ACTS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN 24 HOURS.
AND WHEREAS ON AUGUST 3, 2019, 22 INDIVIDUALS WERE KILLED AND ANOTHER 24 WERE WOUNDED IN A MASS SHOOTING THAT OCCURRED IN EL PASO, TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS AFTER THE MAY 18, 2018 SHOOTING AT SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL IN SANTA FE, TEXAS WHERE TEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 13 INJURED, TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT MET WITH SUPERINTENDENT
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ADMINISTRATORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE TO DISCUSS POLICIES THAT COULD AFFECT THE SAFETY OF SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES WHILE PRESERVING SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.AND WHEREAS ON MAY 30, 2018 TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT RELEASED A SCHOOL AND FIREARM SAFETY ACTION PLAN WHICH INCLUDED A RECOMMENDATION ENCOURAGING THE TEXAS SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERS TO CONSIDER THE MERITS OF ADOPTING A RED FLAG LAW OR EXTREME RISK PROTECTIVE ORDERS ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT, A FAMILY MEMBER, A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, OR A DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO FILE A PETITION SEEKING THE REMOVAL OF FIREARMS FROM POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PERSON ONLY AFTER LEGAL DUE PROCESS IS PROVIDED.
AND WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 5, 2017 A MASS SHOOTING OCCURRED ROUGHLY 30 MILES EAST OF SAN ANTONIO IN SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TEXAS.
THE SHOOTING AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH KILLED 26 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED 20 OTHERS.
TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT'S SCHOOL AND FIREARM SAFETY ACTION PLAN DESCRIBED THE SO-CALLED RED FLAG LAWS AS A PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO PREVENT SHOOTINGS AT SUTHERLAND SPRINGS AND AT MARJORIE STONEMAN DOUGLAS.
THE 86TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGAN AND PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TEXAS HOUSE AND SENATE TO CONSIDER GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION.
AND WHEREAS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING TEXAS GUN SENSE AND LOCAL CHAPTERS OF MOM DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA HAVE ADVOCATED AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE FOR SENSIBLE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION, INCLUDING ASPECTS OF THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL AND FIREARM SAFETY ACTION PLAN WHILE ALSO CITING OBJECTIONS TO THE EXPANSION OF THE SCHOOL MARSHAL PROGRAM.
AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED WITHOUT TAKING ACTION REGARDING GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION.
AND WHEREAS TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION AND TO REDUCE THE RISK OF MASS SHOOTINGS IN OTHER TEXAS COMMUNITIES.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CALLS ON STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE EMERGENCY ACTION TO END GUN VIOLENCE AND ADDRESS THE ASSOCIATED PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS THREATENING THE COUNTRY.
SECTION TWO CALLS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO CALL ON TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT TO IMMEDIATELY CALL A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO ADVANCE PROPOSALS INCLUDED IN GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S SCHOOL AND FIREARM SAFETY ACTION PLAN CONSISTENT WITH THE RECITALS ABOVE.
AND WHEREAS CITY COUNCIL CALLS ON THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO BEGIN DEBATE AND DELIBERATION ON HR8 AND OTHER MEANINGFUL GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
CITY COUNCIL DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO SEND A COPY OF GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S SCHOOL AND FIREARM SAFETY ACTION PLAN ALONG WITH A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COUNTY DELEGATION OF THE TEXAS HOUSE AND SENATE, THE TEXAS GOVERNOR, THE TEXAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO SEND A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND TO ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH POPULATIONS OVER 500,000 RESIDENTS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONSIDER TAKING SIMILAR ACTION.
CITY COUNCIL WILL REVIEW AND IDENTIFY ACTIONS AND POLICIES AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THROUGH THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEES TO ADDRESS AND ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THIS RESOLUTION IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON THE RECEIPT OF EIGHT AFFIRMATIVE VOTES.
OTHERWISE, IT IS EFFECTIVE TEN DAYS AFTER PASSAGE.
MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES THE RESOLUTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAME CLERK.
WE DO HAVE SOME CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 4, WHICH IS OUR RESOLUTION CALLING FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE.
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AND SO I'LL CALL THEM NOW.WE'LL START WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, ROLAND GUTIERREZ.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
FIRST OFF I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TIME FROM WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TODAY.
BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO TALK SOME SENSE TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN POWER.
AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ARE COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE MOON AND WE'RE NOT ASKING TO TAKE ANYBODY'S GUNS AWAY.
AND SO FOR ALL OF THE GUN ADVOCATES IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE HAVE ASKED THE GOVERNOR FROM MY OFFICE, AS WELL AS CLOSE TO 22 OTHER STATE LEGISLATORS HAVE ASKED FOR A SPECIAL SESSION AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED AS OF YET.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE TODAY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE CITIES ACROSS THE STATE NEED TO GO OUT AND TELL THE GOVERNOR HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
SO I REALLY COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I AM NOT -- I DON'T PROFESS TO BE AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD, ALTHOUGH IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS I'VE LEARNED MORE THAN I WANTED TO KNOW.
I LEARNED THAT YOU CAN HAVE AN AR-15 OR AN AK-47 AT AGE 15.
YOU HAVE TO BE 21 TO BUY A HANDGUN.
I'VE LEARNED THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE WE ALL SAW THIS THIS YOUNG MAN'S MOTHER CALLED THE POLICE AND SHE WAS CONCERNED.
WE KNEW AFTER SANTA FE, AFTER THE REPORTS WERE ALL COMPILED AND SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE, WE KNEW THAT THE GOVERNOR ASKED FOR EXTREME RISK PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BALKED AGAINST THAT, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT HERE WE ARE.
AND THIS SITUATION MIGHT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD WE HAD A BILL TO PASS EXTREME RISK PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
SO WE'RE NOT ASKING TO TAKE ANYBODY'S GUNS AWAY.
WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS.
A BUY-BACK PROGRAM, A GUN LOCK SAFETY PROGRAM.
I'LL TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT A YOUNG MAN THAT COUNCILMAN TREVINO, HE WAS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
ABOUT 13 YEARS OLD AND HE WAS DATING A FRIEND OF MY DAUGHTER'S.
I SAY DATING LOOSELY, AS YOUNG CHILDREN CAN TEXT AND HAVE THAT PUPPY LOVE PIECE.
AND THEY WERE TEXTING AT WILL AND SAYING HAVE A GREAT DAY -- THIS WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
THIS YOUNG MAN WAS AT HIS DAD'S HOUSE, HIS PARENTS WERE DIVERSE DIVORCED, FOUND A GUN AND ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIMSELF.
IN THE WAKE OF ALL THAT, THIS LITTLE GIRL THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE SAID.
THE MOM OF THE YOUNG MAN THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THE LITTLE GIRL HAD DONE AND SAID.
THEY LOOKED THROUGH THE TEXTS AND THEY FOUND NOTHING.
TURNS OUT, AS BEST WE CAN SURMISE, WAS THAT THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT.
AND SO IF WE SIMPLY HAD A GUN LOCK GIVE AWAY PROGRAM THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE LOST MORE LIVES TO GUN VIOLENCE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY THAN THE ENTIRETY OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND ALL THE CONFLICTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
AND SO WE NEED TO GET FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, ALBEIT WELL INTENDED THEIR GOALS, WE NEED TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO INFRINGE ON SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS, WE JUST WANT TO HAVE THE MOST COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS.
THE GOVERNOR HAS BROUGHT THEM TO THE FLOOR IN THE PAST, WE NEED TO MAKE THEM LAW.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MOTHER'S DEMAND ACTION AND BECCA FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP.
THEY'RE THE EXPERTS AND THEY ARE THE HEROES THAT DO THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
I'VE PROMISED TO THEM AS I HAVE PROMISED TO MY OWN FAMILY AND MY OWN CHILDREN THAT I'M NOT GOING TO STOP.
WHEN THE NEW CYCLE DIES ON THIS THING IN THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING AND KEEP DEMANDING THE GOVERNOR DO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA.
I KNOW THAT WE WILL ALL DO THE RIGHT THING TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE GUTIERREZ.
MR. RUIZ, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY VELMA IBARRA.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M PAUL RUIZ AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF A SMALL ORGANIZATION IN TOWN KNOWN AS THE ALAMO AREA DEMOCRACY PROJECT DEDICATED TO IGNITE THE VOTE -- YOU HAVE
[00:30:01]
HEARD THE EXPRESSION IGNITE THE -- IN LOW VOTING PRECINCTS.I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE AND IN SUPPORT OF SENSIBLE GUN CONTROL LAWS.
OUR NATION HAS SEEN AN EXPLOSION OF MASSACRES IN OUR SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, OUR SYNAGOGUES, IN OUR STORES, RESTAURANTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS.
THE RECENT DOMESTIC TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST PERSONS OF MEXICAN ORIGIN IN EL PASO IS THE WORST RACIST ATTACK ON MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN GENERATIONS.
AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IN SOUTH TEXAS, MEXICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES WERE ROUTINELY TERRORIZED AND EXPATRIATED TO MEXICO.
AND IN THE 1930S, OR DEPRESSION, MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHWEST, FROM TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA, WERE SUBJECTED TO WIDESPREAD IMMIGRATION RATES AND DEPORTATIONS.
DURING WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II MORE THAN 600,000 LATINOS, MOSTLY MEXICAN AMERICANS, SERVED IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.
HOWEVER, MANY CASUALTIES WERE DENIED EVEN BURIAL RIGHTS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
AND THOSE WHO CAME HOME REQUIRING MEDICAL SERVICES WERE OFTEN DENIED THOSE SERVICES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
THE DOMESTIC TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST PERSONS OF MEXICAN ORIGIN TOOK PLACE IN EL PASO BUT IT ALSO TAKES PLACE HERE.
IT TAKES PLACE IN ALBUQUERQUE.
IT TAKES PLACE IN DALLAS, IN HOUSTON, IN LAREDO, IN THE VALLEY.
THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT OF FIGHTING DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM OF ANY SORT DIRECTED AT ANY CITIZEN.
AND THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THE EL PASO ATTACK WAS AN ATTACK ON ALL OF US.
WHITE, BLACK, BROWN, STRAIGHT, GAY, MALE, FEMALE, CONSERVATIVE, PROGRESSIVE.
IN SANDY HOOK, A DOMESTIC TERRORIST TOOK THE LIVES OF BABIES, AND WE DID NOTHING.
WHAT HAPPENED IN EL PASO BEGAN HEATING UP FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OF 2016.
IT WAS AMPLIFIED IN CHARLOTTESVILLE WHEN WHITE SUPREMACISTS KILLED THE YOUNG LADY WHEN SHE WAS RUN OVER BY ONE OF THEM.
WHAT HAPPENED IN EL PASO ALSO SHOWED ITS HEAD AGAIN IN THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB IN FLORIDA, THE IMMANUEL AFRICAN AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. RUIZ.
>> AND WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE WITH THE RESOLUTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. RUIZ.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: VELMA IBARRA FOLLOWED BY DR. GLORIA RODRIGUEZ.
MY NAME IS VELMA IBARRA AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE OF THE INSTITUTE ON MEXICAN AMERICAN HISTORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF LULAC [INDISCERNIBLE] 4383 OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION, MAYBE EVEN REVOLUTION, CALLING FOR A REPEAL OF OUR CURRENT GUN LAWS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST OF COURSE WE THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR TAKING A LEAD IN CALLING FOR THIS KIND OF REFORM THAT IS SO VERY -- JUST SO VERY MUCH OVERDUE AND NEEDED.
AS OUR COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN HAS DONE IN OUR DISTRICT 3 TO TRANSFORM AND CHANGE AND DEVELOP THAT AREA THAT WAS SO UNDERSERVED, IT DEMONSTRATES THAT WHEN OUR LEADERS COMMIT, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR OUR PEOPLE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS URGENT CALL TO SAY NO MORE ON TERROR BY GUNS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
TO OUR LEADERS, OUR MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL, GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT, AND OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, WE SAY ADDRESS GUN CONTROL NOW.
YOU ALL ARE ELECTED LEADERS AND
[00:35:01]
WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THE FOLLOW-UP HAS BEEN.THE MASS SHOOTINGS IN EL PASO POINT TO THE NEED TO TAKE SWIFT ACTION.
THE FIRST THING THAT OUR NATIONAL LULAC PRESIDENT, DOMINGO GARCIA DID AFTER THE EL PASO SHOOTINGS WAS TO DENOUNCE THE PRESIDENT AND DEMAND THAT HE CEASE PREDATORY RHETORIC AND OF COURSE PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO THE FAMILIES.
BECAUSE, AS PRESIDENT GARCIA HAS SAID RECENTLY, THE KILLINGS IN EL PASO WERE DIFFERENT BECAUSE LATINOS WERE KILLED, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE U.S. CITIZENS OR UNDOCUMENTED OR MEXICAN NATIONALS, THEY WERE KILLED SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE LATINO, DUE TO THE TARGETED HATE RHETORIC THAT WAS SPEWED BY OUR PRESIDENT AGAINST LATINOS.
AND FINALLY, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF OUR CURRENT GUN LAWS.
SO TODAY WE IN LULAC SAY THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT NATIONALITY YOU ARE, PEOPLE ARE BEING TARGETED.
AND BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND THE HATE TALK, PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED AND INJURED.
LET US BE CLEAR WE, LULAC -- AND I KNOW EVERYONE ON OUR COUNCIL WILL NOT BACK DOWN.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING US OUT ON THIS ISSUE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. IBARRA.
DR. GLORIA RODRIGUEZ FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
MY NAME IS DR. GLORIA RODRIGUEZ, MAYOR NIRENBERG, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEED FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE.
THERE HAVE BEEN 250 MASS SHOOTINGS IN THIS COUNTRY.
NO OTHER COUNTRY COMES CLOSE TO HAVING THE MASSIVE KILLINGS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS HAD.
JUST YESTERDAY I LEARNED THAT WE HAVE LOST MORE PEOPLE IN THE PAST 50 YEARS FROM GUN VIOLENCE THAN WE HAVE LOST FROM EVERY WAR COMBINED, FROM THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO THE PRESENT, AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
EVERY DAY 100 AMERICANS ARE KILLED AND MANY MORE ARE SHOT AND INJURED.
AS A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER OF 6-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN AND FOUNDER AND PAST PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF AVANCE, WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, I THOUGHT IT COULD NOT GET ANY WORSE THAN KILLING 20 5 AND 6-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN SANDY HOOK.
SOME OF THESE SMALL BODIES GOT SEVERAL, SEVERAL BULLETS.
NOW 95% OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS PRACTICE HUDDLING IN SILENCE AND HIDING FROM AN IMAGINARY GUNMAN.
WE HAD COLUMBINE AND SUTHERLAND SPRINGS CHURCH, JUST 50 MILES AWAY.
49 KILLED AND 53 WOUNDED IN A GAY NIGHTCLUB IN ORLANDO.
AND JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD 21 KILLED IN EL PASO WITH AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON BECAUSE THE KILLER HATED PEOPLE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME.
AND HE WANTED TO STOP IMMIGRANT INVASION, MOTIVATED BY THE SAME WORDS OUR PRESIDENT USED IN 2,000 FACEBOOK ADS.
WE NEED TO CREATE A CULTURE THAT IS FREE OF HATE, RACISM, AND DISCRIMINATION AND WE NEED TO HAVE COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS.
THE FIRST THING IS TO GET RID OF THOSE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
JUST AS THEY ARE DOING IN AUSTRALIA.
WE ARE LITERALLY LOSING OUR FREEDOM.
WE ARE LOSING OUR CIVIL RIGHTS.
WE ARE BEING TERRORIZED AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE AN EPIDEMIC IN MORALITY AND A HEALTH CRISIS.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIONS AND FOR DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS HORRIFIC NIGHTMARE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
[00:40:01]
DR. RODRIGUEZ.>> WELL, MR. MAYOR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
WELL, IN VIEW OF THE SHOOTINGS IN EL PASO AND DAYTON, OHIO, YOU AND OTHER ELECTED BODIES ARE GETTING ALL THESE REQUESTS, DEMANDS TO DO SOMETHING.
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS VIOLENCE, EVEN IF IT'S WRONG.
BUT YOU MUST DO SOMETHING QUICKLY, IMMEDIATELY, IF NOT SOONER.
WELL, I HAVE AN IDEA, SINCE MANY THINK IT WAS DUE TO RACISM AND SO FORTH, GO AHEAD.
WHY NOT? THAT WILL DO IT, WON'T IT? HA, HA, HA.
YOU KNOW, YOU WANT -- PEOPLE WANT LAW AND ORDER.
THEY WANT TO STOP THESE KILLINGS AND SO FORTH.
YOU WANT TO STOP THESE KILLINGS AND YOU PROBABLY WITH THIS RESOLUTION WANT TO SAY YOU, OUR ELECTED LEADERS, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
WE WANT LAW AND ORDER! BUT I DO NOTICE YOU ARE THE SAME CITY COUNCIL THAT ROUTINELY ALLOWS SANCTUARY CITIES.
ALLOWING ILLEGAL ALIENS TO JUST RUN ABOUT FREE.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF HYPOCRISY HERE.
THE MYTH HERE IS THAT THE VIOLENCE DONE BY GUNS.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT IS BY SUICIDE.
SUICIDE, NOT PEOPLE SHOOTING OTHER PEOPLE, PEOPLE KILLING THEMSELVES.
YOU KNOW, ALL THESE LAWS BEING PROPOSED, THE EL PASO AND DAYTON, OHIO SHOOTERS, THEY FULFILLED ALL THE LAWS.
NONE OF THESE LAWS BEING PROPOSED WOULD EVEN HAVE STOPPED THEM.
SUPPOSE YOU TAKE AWAY -- GO AHEAD.
SUPPOSE YOU TAKE AWAY ALL OUR GUNS.
THAT WILL SOLVE IT, WON'T IT? WELL, WHO'S GOING TO BE FIRST? WHO AMONG YOU WILL GIVE UP YOUR GUNS? MR. MAYOR? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE YOUR SECURITY GUARD JUST DO AWAY WITH THEM.
TELL THEM TO GIVE AWAY THEIR GUNS AND STOP TELLING THEM TO GUARD YOU? YOU REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? THE REAL UNDERMINING REASONS FOR THIS IS THE LACK OF FATHERHOOD.
THERE WERE NO -- THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE SHOOTERS DIDN'T HAVE FATHERS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SANDY HOOK, VIRGINIA TECH, PARKLAND, EL PASO, COLUMBINE, GILLROY, SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, DAYTON, VIRGINIA BEACH, ORLANDO, SAN BERNARDINO, AURORA.
YOU NEED NO WRITTEN OR SPOKEN CONTEXT.
YOU NEED NO EXPLICIT FOLLOW UP TO UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION, THE HEARTBREAK OUR NATION AND COMMUNITIES HAVE ENDURED AND THE STRENGTH WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DISPLAY, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE DEALING WITH A MULTITUDE OF PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN CRISES.
WE COULD ARGUE FOR DAYS ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE, BUT THAT'S NOT OUR JOB.
IN THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THEIR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AND MUST BE THEIR STRONGEST ADVOCATES.
THIS CITY, OUR SAN ANTONIO, HAS DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT IT CAN RISE TO ANY CHALLENGE.
WE QUICKLY REBUILT AFTER TWO RECORD-SETTING FLOODS IN A FOUR-YEAR SPAN.
WE'VE OVERCOME POWERFUL STORMS, INCLUDING A TORNADO, JUST TWO YEARS AGO.
WE'VE ALWAYS ANSWERED THE CALL TO HELP OUR TEXAN NEIGHBORS OVERCOME STORMS AND STRATEGIES
[00:45:01]
OF THEIR OWN.AND THIS YEAR WE STOOD TALL AT THE FRONT LINES OF A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.
WE STILL DO TO TREAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LEGAL ASYLUM-SEEKING RESIDENTS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AS THEY'VE MADE THEIR WAY TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATIONS.
SAN ANTONIO IS CONSISTENTLY SHELVED POLITICS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IN ADDRESSING THE RISE OF GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA TODAY SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT.
THE PREVALENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS DEVELOPED WORLD.
IN JAPAN, FAMILIES SPEND MORE MONEY ON VIDEO GAMES THAN ANY OTHER FAMILY ON EARTH BUT THEY ALSO BENEFIT FROM ONE OF THE LOWEST GUN VIOLENCE RATES OF ANY NATION.
LET'S BE DELIBERATE IN OUR APPROACH TO DO ALL WE CAN TO PROTECT EVERYTHING WE KNOW AND LOVE ABOUT OUR CITY, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
CERTAIN FIREARMS CONSTITUTIONALLY GRANTED FOR THE SAKE OF A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA HAVE TRAGICALLY BEEN AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER ACROSS OUR NATION.
FOR ALL OF US THIS HAS BECOME PERSONAL.
WE MUST REFUSE TO SIT IDLY BY WHILE COMMUNITIES ARE SHATTERED.
WE MUST REFUSE THE PATH MOST TRAVELED.
WE MUST REFUSE TO ACCEPT BLOODSHED AS AN INEVITABILITY.
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN, WE MUST MAKE A COMMITMENT HERE AND NOW TO DO BETTER.
WE NEED UNDERSTANDING, BUT CERTAINLY WE NEED ACTION.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AGREE THAT WE NEED TO PASS COMMON SENSE GUN LEGISLATION AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.
SO TODAY WE'LL RESOLVE TO CALL ON ALL GOVERNMENTS TO ASSIST US IN PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'LL RESOLVE TO BE CREATIVE AND COMPASSIONATE IN OUR LOCAL EFFORTS BECAUSE IT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE.
WE MOURN THE LOSS OF SAN ANTONIANS TAKEN FROM US FAR TOO SOON BY SENSELESS ACTS OF VIOLENCE THAT HAPPEN ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
WE STAND UNITED WITH OUR GRIEVING NEIGHBORS.
WE HERE WILL USE OUR DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, OUR CULTURES, AND EVEN OUR BELIEFS TO DRIVE THIS SCOURGE FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND ALL ACROSS AMERICA NEIGHBORS ARE LOOKING EACH OTHER IN THE EYE AND SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING.
WE ARE THE SAN ANTONIO THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN, SO TODAY WE'LL CHOOSE A PATH THAT'S BEEN LESS TRAVELED, DEVOID OF POLITICS AND PETTY GRIEVANCES.
TODAY WE WILL CHOOSE OUR CITY, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FAMILY AND EACH OTHER ABOVE ALL ELSE.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR COLLABORATION AND INPUT ON DRAFTING A RESOLUTION THAT SPEAKS FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE'RE AT A CRITICAL MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY.
WE ARE PARENTS, WE ARE NEIGHBORS, WE ARE RESIDENTS FIGHTING FOR EACH OTHER AND FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES.
AND WE WILL NOT STOP AND WE WILL ACT.
THIS MOMENT IS A SOMBER ONE BUT IT'S ALSO ONE OF HOPE AND ONE OF ACTION FOR ALL OF US TODAY.
OUR RESOLUTION, AS READ BY OUR CITY CLERK, TOOK SIX MINUTES AND 41 SECONDS TO READ.
IN DAYTON, OHIO IT TOOK 32 SECONDS TO INJURE 26 PEOPLE.
WE KNOW THAT THIS WEEK MANY FAMILIES HAD THEIR CHILDREN GO OFF TO SCHOOL TODAY, AND NO DOUBT MANY PARENTS HELD THEIR CHILDREN TIGHTER, HUGGED THEM LONGER, WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHERE THEIR CLASS WAS, AND MAYBE EVEN LOOKED AT WHERE ARE THE WINDOWS, WHERE ARE THE DOORS.
THIS IS THE REALITY OF WHERE WE ARE LIVING RIGHT NOW IN THE UNITED STATES.
BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE NORMALIZED, BUT WE'VE HAD TO MAKE IT NORMALIZED.
WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO A LOT OF RHETORIC, A LOT OF PUNDITS, A LOT OF OTHER ITEMS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ON THE TELEVISION, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT, AS ONE PERSON PUT IT, THE UNITED STATES IS A COUNTRY OF TO TRY.
LIKE AFTER 9/11 WE CHANGED THE WAY WE TRAVELED IN THE AIR.
[00:50:04]
WAY SEAT BELTS ARE PUT IN OUR CARS.WE TRY AND WE TRY TO MAKE THINGS SAFER AND BETTER.
WE MUST NOT FORGET ALSO -- LET ME READ ONE STATISTIC HERE.
SINCE JULY 14, 2019 TO AUGUST 14, 2019 WE HAVE HAD, IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, 39 GUN-RELATED DEATHS CITYWIDE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND THIS NUMBER CAN BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER AS THERE'S A TWO-WEEK LAG IN REPORTING INTO OUR CITY SYSTEM.
THIS IS JUST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO IF PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT, OH, THIS MASS SHOOTING HERE, THIS MASS SHOOTING HERE, THIS IS GUN-RELATED DEATHS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH WE KNOW PUTS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AT HARM, BUT ALSO WE KNOW IT HAS TO DO WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE.
ALL THESE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT WE TODAY ARE TAKING A STEP FORWARD TO ADDRESS.
IN TEXAS ALONE WE HAD MASS SHOOTINGS, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
AND THIS WAS CONTINUES TO BE IN OUR BACKYARD.
ONE OF THE THINGS -- AND WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, WHICH IS THE LEADING NON-PARTISAN ASSOCIATION THAT IS COMPOSED OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOWNS AND CITIES AND VILLAGES THAT THEIR RESIDENTS LIVE IN, THAT WE TAKE QUICK ACTION -- THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS QUICK ACTION TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DRASTICALLY REDUCE MASS SHOOTINGS AND GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA.
THEY HAVE TAKEN TO TAKE ACTION.
SO THIS IS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE ARE FOR THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF ALL SAN ANTONIANS, FOR THE LOVE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I LOVE MY CITY AND I LOVE MY RIGHTS.
AND I KNOW THAT THE SECOND AMENDMENT WAS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE, NOT NECESSARILY THE PROTECTION FOR A GUN.
SO WE HERE TODAY WILL SAY AND PUT FORWARD THE PROTECTION OF OUR PEOPLE.
AND THAT PROTECTION OF OUR PEOPLE IS VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR BASIC SERVICES.
I WANT TO THANK MR. RUIZ, DR. RODRIGUEZ, MS. IBARRA FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
BECAUSE WHEN THE PEOPLE RISE UP AND CALL FOR CHANGE, IT WILL HAPPEN AND IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMEMBER, JUST YESTERDAY IN PHILADELPHIA, THOSE SIX OFFICERS THAT WERE SHOT IN PHILADELPHIA AND THAT THE MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA WAS CALLING FOR ACTION AND CHANGE AS WELL TO HELP OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
WE MUST ELEVATE OUR CONVERSATION AND WE WILL, ACCORDING TO THIS RESOLUTION.
WE WILL WORK IN OUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO GET INTO THE DETAILS AND NUANCES OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.
WE WILL ELEVATE OUR CONVERSATION TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF WHY DOES A CIVILIAN NEED A HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINE THAT COULD KILL 26 PEOPLE IN 32 SECONDS? WE WILL GET INTO THOSE DETAILS AND WE WILL BE DELIBERATE IN OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEES, TAKING ALL CONVERSATIONS AND ALL THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES.
VERY MUCH GRATEFUL FOR OUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S ALREADY STARTED HIS TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I MAKE THE MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
THANK YOU TO STAFF AS WELL AND TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN DRAFTING THE RESOLUTION.
I THINK IT SAYS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND THE SENTIMENT WE HAVE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE WHO STARTED THE TOWN HALL SERIES.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
MR. MICHAEL MONOTANYA WHO HELD THE VISUAL THAT NIGHT WHEN
[00:55:02]
EVERYONE NEEDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOURN TOGETHER.AND MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR ALL YOUR UNENDING WORK ON THIS.
AND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE FOUNDERS WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK TODAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
AND SOMETIMES WE NEED THAT PUSH, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO DO THAT.
I FOLLOWED GUN VIOLENCE, LIKE MANY OF US HAVE, AND I'VE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS.
AND TRUE TO FORM, JACK FINGER'S CORRECT TODAY IN ONE THING HE SAID THAT THE MAJORITY OF GUN VIOLENCE DOES RESULT IN SUICIDE.
AND THAT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF ACCIDENTS, AS MENTIONED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE GUTIERREZ, AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.
BUT ULTIMATELY THE DANGER OF GUNS, I FEEL, IS THAT THEY'RE SO DEADLY AND THEY'RE A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO SOMETHING THAT JUST MAY BE A PASSING FEELING OR A PASSING MOMENT.
AND THEN YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND BRING BACK THOSE LIVES.
I THINK OVER THE YEARS OF WATCHING ALL THOSE VERY TRAGIC EVENTS THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE RECOUNTED, I FELT HELPLESS.
LIKE THIS IS ALL REALLY IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE OR THIS IS ALL REALLY IN THE HANDS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU I'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO THEM THIS TIME IT FEELS VERY DIFFERENT, THAT WE HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING HERE LOCALLY THAT WE CAN DO.
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IN EL PASO AND THE MOTIVATIONS THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT SINCE THE INCIDENT TELLS US THAT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HERE.
SAN ANTONIO HAS SOMETIMES BEEN REFERRED TO AS THE NORTHERN-MOST CITY IN MEXICO.
I'LL TELL YOU SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE ONE WOMAN WHO SAID SHE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A JOB IN ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT IS NOT AS PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC.
AND SHE DECIDED NOT TO TAKE THE JOB.
SHE WAS READY TO GO IN ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME AND SHE WAS TOO FEARFUL TO GO AT A PLACE WHERE SHE WOULDN'T BE SURROUNDED BY HER OWN PEOPLE, SO SHE LOST THAT JOB OPPORTUNITY.
AND I'VE HEARD THAT EVEN HERE, OF COURSE, PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE.
ONE OF OUR LOCAL PARISHES LOST HALF OF ITS CONGREGATION AT THE SPANISH MASS THE WEEKEND OF THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE THERE ARE PARENTS WHO ARE AFRAID TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND PARISHIONERS WHO ARE AFRAID TO BE IN PUBLIC IN A MASS.
PEOPLE WHO ARE LATINOS ARE AFRAID OF THAT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANY WAY FOR US TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK IT'S ANY WAY FOR SAN ANTONIANS TO LIVE.
I WILL ECHO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE RIGHTS TO GUNS.
AND THERE'S A SAYING THAT SAYS THE RIGHT TO SWING YOUR FIST ENDS WHERE MY NOSE BEGINS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT -- WE NEED A BALANCE.
WE NEED TO FIND A PLACE IN BETWEEN.
SO TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, I TELL YOU THAT THIS RESOLUTION, WHAT I THINK WE'RE SAYING WITH IT IS THAT WE WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN LOCALLY TO HELP YOU BE SAFE AND TO HELP YOU FEEL SAFE.
BECAUSE THAT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE SEND, AS COUNCIL, SEND THE MESSAGE THAT LATINOS, MEXICAN AMERICANS, PEOPLE OF THAT DESCENT, LIKE MANY OF US ON THIS COUNCIL ARE, WE ARE WELCOME HERE.
WE ARE ACCEPTED AND WE'RE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL FEELS THE SAME WAY, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEND THAT MESSAGE TO EVERYONE AND THAT WE DON'T TOLERATE DISCRIMINATION AND THAT WE DON'T TOLERATE RACISM HERE LOCALLY.
I'LL WRAP UP BY SAYING THAT AS MUCH AS I WISH THAT JUST THE TEN OF US WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE ALL THIS HAPPEN, I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
AND, IN FACT, THAT'S WHY WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION.
WE DO NEED OUR STATE GOVERNMENT TO ACT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REPRESENTATIVE, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
AND WE DO NEED OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ACT.
BUT WE ALSO NEED THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT GUNS THAN WE DO TO HELP US.
SO, TO ME, THIS IS AN OPEN INVITATION TO ANY OF YOU WHO OWN GUNS, WHO SELL GUNS, WHO PARTICIPATE IN THAT TRADE, HELP US.
TELL US WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE
[01:00:01]
THIS COMMUNITY SAFER.WE ALSO NEED YOU IN THIS EFFORT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, FOR THAT TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THE RESOLUTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS-SULLIVAN.
>> SULLIVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1990 I WAS A SOPHOMORE SITTING IN A CLASSROOM AT SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL YOU HEARD WAS THE COMMOTION OF CHILDREN RUNNING AND BANGING ON DOORS AS GUNSHOTS RANG OUT FROM THE COURTYARD WHERE OUR CAFETERIA WAS.
SITTING IN THAT CLASSROOM WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, HOW TO FEEL, WHAT TO THINK, WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM, IF IT WAS COMING OUR WAY.
AND THE ONLY THING MY TEACHER, COACH HORNSBY KNEW TO DO AT THAT MOMENT, WAS TO GRAB EVERYONE HE COULD AND BRING THEM INTO A CLASSROOM AND LOCK THE DOOR.
AS OUR PARENTS BEGAN TO SHOW UP AT THAT SCHOOL, THE FIRST MINDSET THAT WE HAD WAS GET US OUT OF HERE.
AND THE SECOND FLOOR WAS NOTHING TO JUMP FROM, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.
I RECALL THE MOMENT THAT MY FATHER GOT THERE.
AND THE ONLY THING I WANTED HIM TO DO WAS TELL ME IT WAS OKAY.
OUR COMMUNITY REALLY DIDN'T SPEAK BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THEY NEVER SAW COMING.
EVEN THOUGH THE WARNING SIGNS OF GANG VIOLENCE WAS THERE, AND FOR US AS 14, 15, 16, 17, AND 18-YEAR-OLDS, HAVING A MOMENT OF SILENCE EVERY WEEK FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS TAKEN BY GUN VIOLENCE BECAME NATURAL.
WE BECAME NUMB AND WE BEGAN TO EXPECT IT EVERY MOMENT.
I LIVE ON THE CORNER OF HUB AND MOMAR AND IN 2017 MY CHILDREN, MY MOTHER HAD TO HIDE IN THE FRONT YARD OF OUR HOME AS A YOUNG MAN WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN THE BACKYARD RIGHT BEHIND US.
AROUND THE CORNER AT THE JOE FREEMAN COLISEUM EVERY MONTH THEY HAVE A GUN SHOW, AND I WENT JUST TO SEE WHAT DO YOU SELL, WHAT IS IN HERE AND HOW DO GUNS CONTINUOUSLY GET INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT CAN BARELY SOMETIMES AFFORD TO PAY RENT.
AS A MILITARY VETERAN, TO SEE AN M-16 A2 RIFLE FOR SELL FOR $120 AND YOU CAN CARRY THAT OUT THE DOOR MAKES ME WONDER EXACTLY WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT WILL ALLOW TO PASS THROUGH THE HANDS OF CHILDREN.
SO I STAND WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AS WE PUSH FORWARD IN THIS RESOLUTION.
BUT I STAND AND I MAKE SURE THAT I SPEAK FOR THE VOICES OF MANY OF OUR CHILDREN THAT DIDN'T EVEN GET TO SEE THE AGE OF 20.
WE'VE HAD 16-YEAR-OLDS GUNNED DOWN ON STREET CORNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE HAD WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN PARALYZED BECAUSE OF GUN VIOLENCE FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE FOUND BODIES IN BARRELS OF HOMES THAT WE ARE NOW ASKING TO BE DEMOLISHED.
THE TIME TO SPEAK HAS FAR BEEN TOO FAR COMING.
AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TAKE MASS VIOLENCE SHOOTINGS AND CONTINUE TO MARK EXTRA GRAVES FOR SMALLER BODIES IN ORDER FOR US TO SPEAK TO MAKE A CHANGE.
IT'S A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW.
AND SO, MAYOR, I STAND WITH EVERY LAST ONE OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AS WE PUSH FORWARD A RESOLUTION THAT WILL TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS-SULLIVAN.
AND I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT ON THE PART OF THIS GOVERNMENT FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT SUICIDE BEING THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FROM GUNS, AND I'M CERTAIN
[01:05:01]
THAT'S TRUE.AND THAT'S A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL AND THAT FAMILY.
AND THAT'S A CHOICE THAT THAT PERSON MADE TO TAKE THEIR LIFE.
THAT WAS A VERY INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.
BUT WHEN SOMEONE GETS A GUN AND THEY DECIDE TO MAKE A CHOICE TO TAKE THE LIVES OF OTHERS, BE THEY THREE PEOPLE, TEN PEOPLE, 20 PEOPLE, 50 PEOPLE, THEN THAT BECOMES THE BUSINESS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THAT BECOMES ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
I'M THINKING BACK TO A YEAR AGO AS A RESULT OF THE SUTHERLAND SPRINGS SHOOTING IN NOVEMBER 2017.
THERE WERE 26 PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN A MASS SHOOTING IN A DRIVE LESS THAN AN HOUR FROM THESE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THERE WERE MEMBERS OF OUR COUNCIL AFTER THAT WHO COLLABORATED TO DETERMINE WHAT WE COULD DO LOCALLY TO HELP PREVENT THESE INCIDENTS FROM OCCURRING.
AT THAT TIME MY OFFICE AND I WORKED WITH MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO BEGIN THE EFFORT OF REPORTING CLASS C OFFENSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY REGISTRY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING THOSE WITH A PROPENSITY OF VIOLENCE FROM ACQUIRING FIREARMS. AND THAT'S A POLICY NOW THAT OUR COURT IS FOLLOWING.
WE SHOULD ALSO RECALL A FORMER COUNCILMAN SHAW WAS CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND AT THAT TIME HE ALSO BEGAN EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING ZONING CLASSIFICATIONS FOR OPENING NEW GUN STORES TO PROVIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
HOWEVER, NEW STATE LAWS NOW PROHIBIT THIS ACTION FROM OUR CITY.
AS A RESULT OF THE SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING WHERE TEN PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES IN MAY 2018, GOVERNOR ABBOTT CREATED WORKING GROUPS AND ROUNDTABLES TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, AT THE END OF THE LAST LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED BILLS THAT GREATLY RESTRICTED LOCAL AUTHORITY ON THE SAME ISSUE.
WE GET ROUNDTABLES FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS ACTION.
HERE IN SAN ANTONIO I FURTHER PROPOSE, BEYOND THIS RESOLUTION, THAT WE INITIATE A GUN BUY-BACK PROGRAM AND ADVOCACY FOR MEANINGFUL BACKGROUND CHECKS TO OUR STATE LEGISLATURE AGENDA IN 2021.
AND, FURTHERMORE, REQUEST OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT A BAN ON THE SALE OF MILITARY-STYLE WEAPONS TO THE PUBLIC.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WAS IN SANTA FE AND I WAS IN A LITTLE STORE THAT SOLD BOOKS AND ARTICLES.
AND I WAS BROWSING THROUGH THE BOOK SECTION AND AT THE COUNTER I HEARD A WOMAN SAY DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES? AND I LOOKED AROUND THE CORNER, BECAUSE THE TITLE CAUGHT MY INTEREST, AND IT WAS SANDRA CISNEROS, A VERY FAMOUS AUTHOR.
AND I SAID, OH, YOU'RE SANDRA CISNEROS.
I SAID I'M SHIRLEY GONZALES, I'M A COUNCILWOMAN IN SAN ANTONIO AND I'M A BIG FAN OF YOURS.
AND THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK REALLY STRUCK ME.
I WONDER IF THERE ARE OTHER COPIES.
AND SHE BOUGHT THE LAST COPY OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES BUT SHE SAID IT'S ON MY WEBSITE, YOU SHOULD READ IT.
SO WE WERE TRAVELING AND LISTENING TO AUDIOBOOKS AS WE WERE DRIVING THROUGHOUT OUR VACATION.
AND SO I DOWNLOADED A COPY OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND FELT ALMOST TRAUMATIZED BY WHAT I LEARNED IN AN ALTERNATIVE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.
AND IT TALKED ABOUT THE ORIGINATION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
AND THE SECOND AMENDMENT READS, AS MOST OF YOU ALL KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE, READS A WELL-REGULATED
[01:10:03]
MILITIA BEING NECESSARY FOR THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE, THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.BUT THE ORIGINAL REASON FOR THIS AMENDMENT WAS BECAUSE OUR FORE FATHERS, THE ORIGINAL WHITE MEN WHO CREATED THE LAWS FOR OUR COUNTRY, WERE SUPPORTING GENOCIDE AND THE MASS MURDER OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY AS IT RELATES TO RACISM, AS IT RELATES TO PEOPLE OF COLOR.
WE KNOW THAT GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY IS NOT JUST AGAINST LATINOS, AS WE SAW IN EL PASO, BUT IT REALLY DOES AFFECT EVERY PART OF THIS COUNTRY.
EVERY SINGLE SMALL TOWN, METROPOLITAN AREA.
WE KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WERE A RESULT OF GUN VIOLENCE.
GUN VIOLENCE IS A PART OF OUR CULTURE IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE BY THESE LAWS THAT WERE CREATED UNDER A VERY DIFFERENT STRUCTURE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING DECISIONS, ELECTED PEOPLE WHO CAN CHANGE THEM.
AND WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
I AM VERY PROUD OF THE MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR INITIATING THIS RESOLUTION, ESPECIALLY TO REPRESENTATIVE GUTIERREZ, DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN ON THE STATE LEVEL.
AND ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TRYING TO CHANGE THESE LAWS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
ONCE WE REALIZE, AS A COMMUNITY, HOW THIS VIOLENCE ORIGINATES, WE CANNOT BE SILENT.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY THE WAY OUR COUNTRY WAS DESIGNED.
AND WE CAN DO THAT STEP BY STEP, CITY BY CITY, MUNICIPALITY, STATE LEVEL.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, THE WOMEN IN ACTION, THE MOMS IN ACTION, OUR REPRESENTATIVES.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN SULLIVAN FOR SHARING HER STORY.
I, MYSELF, HAVE BEEN HELD UP AT GUNPOINT AND I KNOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE EXPERIENCED GUN VIOLENCE IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.
AND SO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALES.
FRIENDS, I'D LIKE TO READ SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY SENT ME RECENTLY.
THE FIRST THING IS A LINK TELLING ME THAT THE NEW JAN SPORT BACKPACK, THAT IS LEVEL THREE BULLET PROOF, COSTS $209.
THERE'S A CHEAPER ONE THAT COSTS $55 BUT I RAISED THIS AND I CALL THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE THERE ARE BACKPACKS ON THE MARKET FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE BULLETPROOF.
THAT IS OBSCENE IN AND OF ITSELF THAT SOMEBODY WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S A NECESSARY THING .
BUT IT IS BECOMING A NECESSARY THING.
I'D LIKE TO READ TO YOU ALSO JUST AN EXCERPT FROM AN ARTICLE SOMEBODY SENT ME.
AND HERE'S THE TITLE: NO WAY TO PREVENT THIS, SAYS THE ONLY NATION WHERE THIS REGULARLY HAPPENS.
IN THE HOURS FOLLOWING A VIOLENT RAMPAGE IN OHIO IN WHICH A LOAN ATTACKER KILLED 10 -- REPORTEDLY CONCLUDED SUNDAY THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO PREVENT THIS MASSACRE FROM TAKING PLACE.
QUOTE, THIS WAS A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY BUT SOMETIMES THESE THINGS JUST HAPPEN AND THERE'S NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO TO STOP THEM.
ECHOING THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY TENS OF MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO RESIDE IN A NATION WHERE OVER HALF OF THE WORLD'S DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTINGS HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST 50 YEARS AND WHOSE CITIZENS ARE 20 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF GUN VIOLENCE THAN THOSE OF OTHER DEVELOPED NATIONS.
AT PRESS TIME RESIDENTS OF THE ONLY ECONOMICALLY ADVANCED NATION IN THE WORLD WERE ROUGHLY TWO MASS SHOOTINGS HAVE OCCURRED EVERY MONTH FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS WERE REFERRING TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR SITUATION AS HELPLESS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT A SERIOUS ARTICLE.
THIS WAS WRITTEN IN THE ONION,
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WHICH IS A SATIRICAL NEWSPAPER.WHEN THEY SENT IT TO ME I READ IT AND SAID MY GOD.
THAT'S SO TRUE! AND THEN I REALIZED WHERE IT WAS FROM AND I SAID THAT IS NOT FUNNY.
THAT'S ACTUALLY TRAGIC BECAUSE IT'S SO TRUE.
YOU KNOW, THIS RESOLUTION CALLS FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND FOR OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST TO GET TOGETHER AND HAVE A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY NAIVE TO THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR HASN'T HEARD CALLS FROM CITIES LIKE THIS RECENTLY.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE REALLY STUPID TO THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR HASN'T HEARD THE 22 CALLS FROM THE LEGISLATORS.
THEY'VE BEEN SAYING IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND THE CALL IS FOR ONE SIMPLE THING.
HOW ABOUT A SPECIAL SESSION WHERE WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION? THAT'S IT.
YOU'D HAVE TO BE SPECTACULARLY NAIVE TO THINK THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
THAT HE COULDN'T DO IT TOMORROW OR YESTERDAY.
YOU'D HAVE TO BE COLOSSALLY DUMB TO THINK THAT YOUR SENATOR CAMPBELL DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THE GOVERNOR AND REQUEST A SPECIAL SESSION.
SHE COULD BE HERE TODAY IF SHE WANTED TO.
WE ALL KNOW SHE'S GOT VERY STRONG OPINIONS REGARDING CHICKEN SANDWICHES AT AIRPORTS.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT SHE'S GOT VERY STRONG OPINIONS REGARDING CONFEDERATE STATUES AT PARKS.
SHE'S HERE TO COME AND TELL US WHAT SHE THINKS.
SHE KNOWS HOW TO PUT OUT PRESS RELEASES AND DEMAND FOR ACTIONS REGARDING RULES.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHICH TREES WE NEED TO NOT GET RID OF IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR MILITARY BASES.
OH, THAT LADY KNOWS HOW TO SEND OUT A PRESS RELEASE.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEATHS OF OUR OWN CONSTITUENCY, HER SILENCE IS DEAFENING AND SO IS THE GOVERNOR'S AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S.
YOU HAVE TO NAIVE THAT GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT WANTS TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION, BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE AND HE HASN'T.
NUMBER ONE, ENOUGH WITH THE SILLINESS.
SOMEBODY GOT UP HERE EARLIER AND SAID, WELL, REALLY THE SOLUTION IS TO BAN RACISM OR BAN HATE.
YOU KNOW, AND IF WE REALLY WANTED TO DO THAT, IF WE COULD BAN RACISM AND BAN HATE, SOMEHOW WE'D FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BAN THE BAD DINNER THEATER THAT VISITS US EVERY WEEK IN THE NAME OF JACK FINGER.
WE WELCOME DISSENTING OPINIONS HERE BECAUSE THAT'S OKAY.
THROWING BARBS AT EACH OTHER AND DISAGREEING LOUDLY WITH EACH OTHER, THAT'S OKAY.
THROWING SUPERSONIC PIECES OF LEAD AT EACH OTHER FIRED FROM ASSAULT WEAPONS AT MY CHILDREN? NOT OKAY! SO I'M BEGGING MY COUNCIL MEMBERS -- AND I MEAN SERIOUSLY IN CAPITAL LETTERS BEGGING.
IF SOMEBODY WERE TO EVER SHOOT AND KILL ME, IF SOMEBODY WERE TO EVER SHOOT AND KILL MY CHILDREN OR MY WIFE, PLEASE POLITICIZE THE HELL OUT OF IT.
TO NOT DO THAT IS UNFORGIVABLE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ.
YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, YOU AND I JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND I KNOW YOU'RE FROM EL PASO, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE FROM EL PASO.
AND YOU WERE TELLING ME THIS STORY AND YOU WERE VERY, VERY UPSET.
AND I THINK WE'RE ALL HEARING A LOT OF PERSONAL STORIES.
AND WHEN YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT STORY I WAS IMAGINING WHAT YOU JUST SAID, RIGHT? I WAS IMAGINING, MY GOSH.
MAYBE ON ONE OF YOUR TRIPS YOU COULD HAVE BEEN THERE.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY? I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SULLIVAN FOR YOUR STORY.
I THINK EVERYBODY HERE COULD REALLY CONNECT WITH THAT PAIN.
AND AT THE HEART OF THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT IS THAT WE ALL HAVE SOME STORY THAT HAS AFFECTED US SOME WAY, SOME HOW.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE DAY I WAS TALKING WITH SOMEBODY ABOUT POLITICS AND THEY SAID, OH, THAT'S JUST POLITICS.
[01:20:02]
YOU KNOW, POLITICS SHOULD BE POLICY, NOT GAINING A SYSTEM, NOT TRYING TO PROTECT AN INDUSTRY.AND I'M PROUD TO BE ON THIS COUNCIL THAT IS DOING SOMETHING.
SO THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
BECAUSE AT THE HEART OF THIS I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT MORE AND MORE CITIES ARE SAYING, HEY, THAT'S ENOUGH.
WE'RE OFTEN TOLD THAT THIS JOB HERE IS ONE OF THE BEST JOBS THERE IS BECAUSE WE'RE CLOSEST TO THE ISSUES.
WE'RE CLOSEST TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEREFORE I THINK THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS LOUD AND CLEAR.
AND WE'VE ALL GOT OUR PERSONAL STORIES.
I REMEMBER ONE WHEN I WAS A KID WHERE MY FATHER LEFT OUT A 357 AND MY BROTHER PULLED IT OUT AND POINTED IT AT THE BACK OF THE HEAD OF MY COUSIN, AND LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED.
BUT MY FATHER RUSHED IN JUST IN TIME TO GET IT OUT OF HIS HANDS.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS HAVE CEASED TO BE A STRATEGY IN THIS.
LAST YEAR I WENT TO GO SPEAK TO SOME KIDS OVER AT ALAMO HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT? PROTECTION FROM GUNS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO.
AND THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR HELPING WITH THE DRAFTING OF THIS RESOLUTION.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY PRESENT AND THE AUDIENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION.
ACCORDING TO THE GIFFORD'S LAW CENTER SIX OF TEN OF THE DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTINGS HAVE HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.
1500 CHILDREN ARE KILLED WITH GUNS EVERY YEAR.
I'M A MOTHER AND I'M AN EDUCATOR.
I'VE TOLD MY SON TO RUN, HIDE, OR FIGHT EVERY MORNING WHEN I'VE DROPPED HIM OFF AT SCHOOL.
IN MY CLASSES, I SHARE A VIDEO SO THAT MY STUDENTS ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH AN EMERGENCY.
MY STUDENTS ASK QUESTIONS AND I WANT THEM TO BE PREPARED IN CASE THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.
60% OF TEENS SAY THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT A SHOOTING AT THEIR SCHOOLS.
AND RESEARCH ESTIMATES THAT GUN VIOLENCE COSTS OUR AMERICAN ECONOMY AT LEAST $229 BILLION PER YEAR, OF WHICH $8.6 BILLION ARE DIRECT EXPENSES.
OTHER CITIES ARE TAKING A HYBRID APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM.
IN RICHMOND, FOR INSTANCE, THEY'VE CREATED AN OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.
COOPERATION WITH STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS IS REFERENCED IN ARTICLE I SECTION III PARAGRAPH 3 OF OUR CITY CHARTER AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO COOPERATE WITH THEM TO ACCOMPLISH ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE FOR THE INTEREST, WELFARE, HEALTH, MORE OR MORALS, COMFORTD SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS.
THIS RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN DOES EXACTLY WHAT OUR CITY CHARTER CALLS US TO DO, ADVOCATE FOR THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR RESIDENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA-GARCIA.
FIRST OFF, VIOLENCE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY.
WE HAVE MANY, MANY LAWS PROTECTING US, OUR FAMILIES AND OTHERS COMING TO VISIT OUR COUNTRY, BUT THERE'S AN ELEMENT IN OUR SOCIETY THAT DISREGARDS THOSE LAWS.
THAT'S ALWAYS HAPPENED, AND IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT VIOLENCE IS WHAT STIRS UP THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TODAY AND THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD JUST WIPE IT ALL OFF THE MAP.
IT WOULD MAKE OUR JOBS A LOT EASIER.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
[01:25:03]
THAT COMMON GROUND, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT REPRESENTATIVE GUTIERREZ SAID ABOUT THE COMMON SENSE.COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO FIND A WAY TO CURB THIS VIOLENCE.
PART OF THE ISSUE IS WHAT -- WHOSE COMMON SENSE? WHERE IS THAT COMMON SENSE? WHERE IS THAT MIDDLE GROUND? WHERE IS THE AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN GET TO TO ACTUALLY DO THAT CURBING OF THIS VIOLENCE? YOU KNOW, THOSE WERE DEVASTATING LOSSES IN EL PASO, DAYTON, AND SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, SANTA FE, ALL OF THESE PLACES.
YOU KNOW, INNOCENT LIVES WERE TAKEN, AND THAT'S WHY I'M AGREEING TO THIS TO CALL ON OUR STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SOMETHING IS, HR8 IS OUT THERE, WE MENTIONED IT IN THE RESOLUTION. IT'S UP TO THE SENATE TO TAKE THAT UP IF THEY WILL.
SO, YES, THAT IS WHERE THE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKING PLACE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THESE LAWS ARE CREATED TO PROTECT US.
AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ACT THIS ROOM, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
SO I, TOO, AM CALLING ON THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO WORK ON THIS, TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS, TO HELP PROTECT US.
BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT ON EVERYBODY'S PART, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL SAID ABOUT BRINGING IN BOTH PARTIES, YOU KNOW, GUN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, SECOND AMENDMENT ORGANIZATIONS, ALONG WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, WANT SOME KIND OF ACTION.
WHERE CAN WE GET TO THAT MIDDLE GROUND TO AGREE ON THAT? AND WE NEED REAL SOLUTIONS, NOT PLATITUDES, NOT -- NOT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING PUT ZERO THERE THAT KIND OF WORKS TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY OR FEEL MORE SAFE.
WE DO NEED SOME REAL ACTION IN THIS.
WE REALLY NEED THE ACTION TO PROTECT US FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMITTING THESE AT ATROCITIES.
THAT'S THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.
WHERE THAT SOLUTION IS GOING TO COME FROM, HOW IT'S GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED, I DON'T KNOW.
LOTS OF THEORIES, LOTS OF EMOTION.
YOU HEARD THE EMOTION UP HERE ON THE COUNCIL TODAY.
BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK, WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH, AND LOOK FOR THOSE REAL SOLUTIONS TO THESE ISSUES OF VIOLENCE, GUN VIOLENCE, IN OUR SOCIETY.
SO I, TOO, AM SUPPORTING THIS FOR THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET ON WITH IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PERRY.
I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE WHAT A LOT OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.
I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH THE VICTIMS OF THESE VIOLENT CRIMES, THEIR FAMILY AND OUR CITIZENRY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I WILL IMPLORE YOU -- IT SEEMS TO ME WHAT HAPPENS IS WE ALL EXPERIENCE THESE TRAGEDIES FROM DIFFERENT CITIES AND EVEN FROM AS CLOSE AS SUTHERLAND SPRINGS AND THEN IN A FEW DAYS, IT -- LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, IT BECOMES NORMALIZED AND WE GO ON WITH OUR LIVES.
I'LL IMPLORE YOU TO NOT LET -- TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THE EMOTION OF IT AND THEN LOSE THAT FIGHT, THAT WILLINGNESS AND DRIVE TO WANT TO CHANGE THINGS.
THIS WAS -- THE EL PASO TRAGEDY WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME, AND IT'S -- FOR MANY OF US, IT SEEMED LIKE A PERSONAL ATTACK, BECAUSE I'M, YOU KNOW,
[01:30:01]
OF MEXICAN DESCENT, AND IT'S DIFFICULT.IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US TO SEE THAT.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME -- LIKE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID TO SEND MY KIDS TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY EXPLAINING TO THEM WHAT THEY NEED DO IF THERE'S A SHOOTING IN THEIR SCHOOL.
AND, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY THESE DAYS, IT'S NOT EVEN JUST THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE TO TALK TO MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILD ABOUT THIS.
SO I -- AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES, I STAND WITH OUR CITIZENS IN SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION, BUT I IMPLORE US ALL TO NOT JUST LET THIS GO, TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S RIGHT IN PROTECTING ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CABELLO HAVRDA.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP THE MOTION NOW.
I JUST WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE DAIS.
WE COME FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND BACKGROUNDS AND EVEN POLITICS ON A NUMBER OFFISH SHOO U.S. AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST VOLATILE ISSUE OF ALL THAT WE COULD BE TACKLING, BUT WE'VE COME TOGETHER IN UNITY TO SHOW A COMMITMENT IN GETTING THINGS DONE.
I KNOW THIS COMES WITH A HEALTHY DEGREE OF CYNICISM BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT GUNS AND GUN VIOLENCE OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NOTWITHSTANDING, BUT THIS VOTE SIGNIFIES A COMMITMENT TO ACTION, AND I THINK THAT GRAVITY HAS ALL SET IN FOR ALL OF US.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO ACHIEVE THOSE ENDS.
SO WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4, PLEASE VOTE.
[8. Ordinance approving a contract with Vanguard Modular Building Systems, LLC to replace an existing modular office building located at the Animal Care Services Department facility for an amount not to exceed $103,841.00. Funding for this contract is available through the FY 2019 General Fund Budget. [Ben Gorzell, Chief Financial Officer; Troy Elliott, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Finance]]
MOTION CARRIES.WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
>> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH VANGUARD MODULAR BUILDING SYSTEMS, LLC, TO REPRAISE AN EXISTING MODULAR OFFICE BUILDING LOCATED AT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FACILITY FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $103,841.
FUNDING FOR THIS CONTRACT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2019 GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN KA BAY OWE HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
THE MODULAR STRUCTURES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE WERE INSTALLED IN 2012, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> SO THE CURRENT FACILITY WAS A USED MODULAR UNIT THAT WAS INSTALLED IN 2020, YES -- OR 2012.
>> HAVRDA: AND HOW OLD WAS THE STRUCTURE AT THAT TIME?
>> AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH HOW OLD IT WAS PRIOR TO THAT.
PRIOR TO THAT, IT WITH US BEING USED AS A FIRE -- TEMPORARY FIRE STATION.
DOES THE LONG-TERM PLAN INCLUDE REPLACING THESE MODULAR STRUCTURES OVER TIME?
>> SO THIS MODULAR UNIT HAS A LIFESPAN OF 20 PLUS YEARS, AND SO IT IS NOT -- RIGHT NOW IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE IT ANY TIME QUICKLY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE YOU PROVIDE -- ACS PROVIDES MANY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND DISTRICT 6 IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE ACS AS A NEIGHBOR.
I'LL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT ACS DOES EVERY DAY, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR THE GROWTH OF ACS FACILITIES TO CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING AND BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT, THE SERVICES FOR OUR CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: SORRY, MOVE TO APPROVE.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
[11. Approving the following items related to the Applewhite Intersection (South of Watson Road) Project located in Council District 3: [Roderick Sanchez, Assistant City Manager; Razi Hosseini, Interim Director, Transportation & Capital Improvements]]
MOTION CARRIES.>> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 11A IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A DONATION AGREEMENT WITH HAN FORD SOUTH FORT LLC, INTERIOR TECHNOLOGIES LTD IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE APPLEWHITE ROAD INTERSECTION SOUTH OF WATSON ROAD PROJECT, A 2017 THROUGH 2022 BOND-FUNDED PROJECT.
AND ITEM NUMBER 11B IS AN ORDINANCE AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT INCLUDING AN ADDITIVE ALTERNATE IN THE AMOUNT OF $976,587..79 CENTS TO EZ BELL CONSTRUCTION LLC, A 2017 THROUGH 20 TW BOND-FUNDED PROJECT.
>> VIAGRAN: COULD YOU GIVE THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE.
[01:35:03]
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS PROJECT LOCATION IS LOCATED ON APPLEWHITE ROAD SOUTH OF WATSON ROAD, WHICH IS NOT TOO FAR FROM TOYOTA.
PROJECT SCOPE INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCT AND WIDENING WEST SIDE OF APPLEWHITE ROAD, ADD DUAL SOUTHBOUND LEFT-TURN LANES, WIDENING WEST SIDE OF APPLEWHITE ROAD TO ACCOMMODATE A SOUTHBOUND RIGHT-TURN LANE.
PROJECT BENEFIT IS ADDITIONAL SOUTHBOUND LEFT-TURN LANES TO ACCOMMODATE TRAFFIC, NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL UPGRADES, EASE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THIS AREA.
CONSTRUCTION'S GOING TO START SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR AND WILL BE COMPLETED MARCH IN 2020.
RECOMMENDATION IS A DONATION AGREEMENT WITH THE HANFORD SOUTHPORT LLC AND AVANZAR INTERIOR TECHNOLOGIES IN THE AMOUNT OF 200,000 AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH E-Z E-ZBEL FOR $976,000.
I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I WAS LOOKING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE.
THE REASON I WANTED TO PULL THIS FOR AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE THIS WAS PART OF A VOTER APPROVED BOND, BUT PART OF THIS PROPOSAL IS FUNDED BY PARTNERSHIPS WITH AVANZAR, I THINK WHAT WE LOOK FOR HERE IN THIS AREA IS WE ALREADY KNOW SPECIFICALLY AROUND ESPECIALLY DISTRICTS 3 AND 4, WE SHARE A LOT OF THESE NORTH/SOUTH CORRIDORS.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMING AND WE'RE ALREADY, WE, AS A CITY, ARE ALREADY PUTTING OUR INVESTMENTS AND OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS IN ORDER TO HELP ALLEVIATE THIS TRAFFIC CONGESTION, BUT ALSO, MAYOR, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS US WORKING TOGETHER WITH TOYOTA AND THEIR SUPPLIERS TO SHOW THAT WE ARE INVESTED IN TOYOTA AND EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN AND AROUND THE AREA, BUT IT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE ISSUE OF WE STILL DO NEED AN EAST/WEST CONNECTOR TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE CONGESTION THAT IS THERE.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS JUST ONE PROJECT OF OTHERS ALONG APPLEWHITE ROAD AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH TOYOTA AND OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE USING THESE AREAS, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT, TO BE PROACTIVE IN ALLEVIATING CONGESTION AND NOT JUST REACTIVE.
SO WITH THAT, I MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 11.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 11.
[13. Approving the following items related to the Quintana Road Project (Harmon Avenue to McKenna Avenue), a federally funded project, located in Council District 5: [Roderick Sanchez, Assistant City Manager; Razi Hosseini, Interim Director, Transportation & Capital Improvements]]
MOTION CARRIES.>> CLERK: NUMB TB 13A IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN THE INCREASED AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,129,671.83 FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS FOR PORT AUTHORITY FOR ITS SHARE OF CONSTRUCTION-RELATED EXPENSES.
THE QUEEN TAN THAT ROAD HARMOND AVENUE TO MCKENNA AVENUE.
ITEM 13B INCLUDING ONE ADDED ALTERNATIVE NOT TO EXCEED $9,890,322.32 PAYABLE TO SPAW GLASS CIVIL CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,717,666 WILL BE REIMBURSED BY TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,294,528.37 WILL BE REIMBURSED BY THE PORT AUTHORITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $761,537.30 WILL BE REIMBURSED BY SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1,000,116, 489.72 WILL BE REIMBURSED BY THE CPS MANAGER FOR CONSTRUCTION OF QUINTANA ROAD.
[01:40:02]
CLOSURE VACATION AND ABANDONMENT OF A .328-ACRE IMPROVED SECTION OF LESTER AVENUE FROM THE ALLEY NORTH TO MCKENNA TO THE INTERSECTION OF QUINTANA ROAD FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE QUINTANA ROAD, HARMON AVENUE TO MCKENNA AVENUE PROJECT.COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES? GONZALEZ THANK YOU.
RO IRK RK IS, IS THERE A PRESENTATION?
THIS FUNDING WAS APPROVED IN 2014.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THE PARTNERS TO MAKE THIS PROJECT TO HAPPEN.
TXDOT PROVIDED 8.4 MILLION, PORT AUTHORITY'S 4.4 MILLION, SAWS 761,000, CP S-1 .1 MILLION, THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT IS 14.6 MILLION.
AND OF COURSE ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALSO GIVING 6/10S OF ACRE PROPERTY FOR THIS PROJECT.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP SHOWS THE PROJECT LOCATION IS GOING TO IMPROVE THE INTERSECTION AND, OF COURSE, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT IN THIS AREA.
[INDISCERNIBLE] GOING TO BE VACATE AND ABANDON .3 OF AN ACRE, PORT SAN ANTONIO AND CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ONLY ABUTTING PROPERTY FOR THIS ROADWAY.
THIS CLOSE IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT, THIS AREA.
PROJECT SCOPE INCLUDES REALIGNING QUINTANA ROAD, LEFT TURN AND ACCELERATION LANE, CONSTRUCTION OF 6'" SIDEWALKS, CONSTRUCTION OF 10-FOOT SHARE USE PAD AND OF COURSE CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT DETENTION POND AT PORT PROPERTY.
PROJECT BENEFIT WILL REDUCE THE FLOODING IN THE AREA, INCREASE THE STORAGE CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING CHANNEL, IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE AREA AND, OF COURSE, PROVIDE IMPROVED POTENTIAL CAPACITY IN THE AREA ALSO.
CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE STARTS SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR AND WILL BE COMPLETED MARCH 2021.
RECOMMENDATION IS TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH SAN ANTONIO AND PORT OF SA, NOT TO EXCEED 2.2 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION-RELATED EXPENSES.
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED 9.9 MILLION WITH SPAWGLASS AND OF COURSE CLOSING OF THE LESSER AVENUE NORTH OF MCKENNA WHICH IS .3 OF ACRE TO BE ACCOMMODATED FOR THIS PROJECT.
I AM AVAILABLE, COUNCILWOMAN, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, R RO II, I JUST PULLED THIS TO HIGH SCHOOL -- HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE SO --
>> ACTUALLY THE CITY HAS NO MONEY.
WE'RE JUST MANAGING THE PROJECT.
THE MUCH IS COMING FROM MPO AND OF COURSE CPS AND PORT DOING THEIR SHARE.
WE ARE JUST MANAGING FOR PORT.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO I KNOW A COMPLICATED PROJECT THERE, AND IS JUAN ANTONIO STILL HERE FROM THE PORT? SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR THE PORT, AND MAYBE YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, HOW THIS MIGHT IMPROVE ACCESS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, MAYOR, COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS PROJECT, FOR FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE PORT AND WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.
AT PORT SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE BUILDING A WORLD CLASS PLATFORM FOR SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TARGETED INDUSTRIES THIS CITY IS PURSUING.
AEROSPACE AND CYBERSECURITY ARE LEADING THAT.
WE HAVE OVER 13,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT THE PORT TODAY, WHICH IS TREMENDOUS WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHAT THE IMPACT WAS OF THE CLOSURE OF KELLY AIR FORCE BASE.
THE COMPTROLLER TOLD US IN 2016 THAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS ACTIVITY EXCEEDS $5.2 BILLION.
WE KNOW IT'S GREATER THAN THAT TODAY BECAUSE JUST THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE'VE CREATED 1100 NEW HIGH-PAYING JOBS AT THE PORT.
WE'VE CREATED OVER 2,000 -- WELL OVER 2,000 JOBS SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2017, SO WITH ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY, ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY, SAFE AND RELIABLE ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO THIS PROJECT IMPROVES ACCESS TO EAST KELLY.
THE EAST KELLY PARCEL OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS ALONG QUINTANA ROAD.
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR TWO REASONS: FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A LOT OF GREEN FIELD, READY FOR BUILD TO SUIT LAND AT EAST KELLY, AND SO SAFE AND RELIABLE ACCESS TO THIS FUTURE
[01:45:02]
OPPORTUNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT.BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT'S HAPPENING ALREADY THERE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND THAT IS FOR STARTERS, WE HAVE THE SOUTH -- THE ST. PHILLIP'S SOUTHWEST CAMPUS.
SO WE HAVE COLLEGE STUDENTS GOING TO -- EVERY DAY TO THIS PROPERTY, AND SO SAFE AND RELIABLE ACCESS IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
THE ST. PHILLIP'S SOUTHWEST CAMPUS INCLUDES THE ALAMO ACADEMY, WHICH IS A RENOWNED -- NATIONALLY RENOWNED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT MANY OF OUR EMPLOYERS RELY ON, SO FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS, THIS PROJECT IS VITAL.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE IN PUTTING TOGETHER, BUT IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS AND WHAT WE CAN BRING TO BEAR WHEN THERE IS COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AMONG ALL THE PARTNERS.
SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MY COLLEAGUE RAY FLORES IS WITH ME, TOO, WHO'S OVER SEEING THE PROJECT ON THE PART OF THE PORT.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED PROGRESS.
THE PORT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE, SO WE EXPECT TO HAVE LOTS MORE INVESTMENT IN THAT AREA, AS IS THE AREA OUTSIDE AROUND QUINTANA.
SO GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPANSION IN THAT AREA AND THIS WILL JUST CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND MOTION TO APPROVE.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 13.
[23. City Manager's Report]
THAT'S ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR BUSINESS AGENDA.DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT?
ONE, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, AND WE'LL INCLUDE IN THE END OF WEEK REPORT THAT YOU'LL GET TOMORROW, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED A FIRST EVER CAMP, VERY UNIQUE CAMP OVER THE SUMMER THAT WAS HELD OVER TWO WEEKENDS, JULY 20TH AND 27TH, AND COUNCILWOMAN GARCIA WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO ATTEND.
AND IT WAS A PROGRAM DESIGNS FOR GIRLS AGES 14 TO 18 TO EXPERIENCE THE FIRE ACADEMY OVER THOSE TWO WEEKENDS.
THEY WERE PARTNERED UP WITH MANY OF OUR ESTABLISHED WOMEN FIREFIGHTERS, AND GOT TO DO A WHOLE LITANY OF ACTIVITIES.
AND WE HAD OVER 50 PARTICIPANTS OVER THOSE TWO WEEKENDS, AND IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE CAREER FIELD OF FIREFIGHTING TO A DIFFERENT SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WAS EXTREMELY POPULAR.
AND I SUSPECT THAT AS WE ROLL OUT FOR NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE THAN 50 YOUNG WOMEN PART PAINT.
I WANTED TO JUST RECOGNIZE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THINKING THROUGH AND DOING SOMETHING UNIQUE, AND I'VE GOT A FEELING THAT THIS IS GOING TO TAKE OFF LIKE A FIRE, NO PUN TENDED, BUT...
BUT I WANTED TO THANK CHIEF HOOD AND HIS TEAM.
AND COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR GOING OUT THERE AND PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
THE SECOND ITEM, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, AND I DON'T SEE HIM IN THE ROOM ANYMORE, BUT DAVID MCCARY IS HAVING A GREAT YEAR.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT -- OH, THERE'S DAVID.
THE DEPARTMENT'S HAVING A GREAT YEAR.
WE WERE AWARDED ANOTHER NATIONAL AWARD BY THE SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA FOR BEST IN SAFETY INNOVATION AWARD, AND DAVID AND THE DEPARTMENT HAVE OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS MADE HUGE PROGRESS IN THE AREA OF SAFETY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE REDUCED ACCIDENTS BY 47%, INJURIES BY 50%, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN A 28% REDUCTION IN LOST WORKDAYS.
SO ALL OF THAT MEANS WE'RE BEING MORE EFFICIENT.
THE EMPLOYEES ARE SAFER, AND WE'RE ABLE TO -- WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE JOB DONE IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER, AND I WANT TO THANK DAVID AND HIS TEAM.
>> WALSH: LAST ITEM, MAYOR, AND MANY OF YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE RETIREMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WE ALL KNOW AND WORKED TOGETHER WITH CLOSELY.
HE IS A -- HE'S GOT A STALLWART PRESENCE IN OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES AND HAS THE IN THAT CASE CASE -- KNACK OF BEING ABLE TO BALANCE THE GETTING STUFF DONE WITH A LIGHT-HEARTED APPROACH TO ESTABLISHING VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
AND CHRIS CALLENAN WILL BE RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS WEEK, AND WE WILL MISS HIM.
AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND WISH HIM LUCK IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
WE WILL CERTAINLY MISS YOU, I'LL MISS YOU ON THAT SIDE, ALTHOUGH I'VE BEEN ON THIS SIDE FOR SIX MONTHS, IT'S
[01:50:03]
COMFORTING TO BE ABLE TO CALL YOU IF I NEED TO RIGHT ACROSS, BUT, CHRIS AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR -- HE'S BEEN HERE WITH THE CITY A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN ME, AND I'M -- I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO MISS HIM AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR ALL HIS WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OVER 25 AND A HALF YEARS.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DON'T GO ANYWHERE, CHRIS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU DO, BECAUSE WE ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF ERIK AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE HAVE APPRECIATED YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS BEEN ORIENTED BY YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO MAKE THIS A SEAMLESS OPERATION.
AND SO WE DO HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU SIGNED BY ALL THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.
YOU'VE BEEN CALLED SHERPA BEFORE.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW YOU AS THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH.
BUT EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL AND COUNTLESS OTHERS HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING, CHRIS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO LET ME READ THIS TO YOU.
IT SAYS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HERE BY EXTENDS ITS OFFICIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRISTOPHER CALANEN, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR 25 YEARS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AS ASSISTANT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU PROVIDED A CRITICAL LINK TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND CITY STAFF IN MEETING THE GOALS OF THE COUNCIL.
YOUR DEDICATED LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND IS TRULY WORTHY OF COMMENDATION.
THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ARE PROUD TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
MAY YOUR NEXT VENTURE OPEN UP NEW VISTAS WITH NUCHAL EVENINGS, NEW SPRESES AND ABOVE ALL CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE YEARS TO COME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND WE'LL GO AROUND THE HORN HERE AND THEN WE'LL COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.
>> GONZALES: WELL, CHRIS, WHEN I GOT HERE, THE VERY FIRST WEEKS THAT I CAME ON THE COUNCIL, EVERYBODY SAID IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, TALK TO CHRIS.
AND SO YOU HAVE BEEN A WELCOMING , ALWAYS HAPPY FACE HERE AT THE COUNCIL REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FOR MAKING THE TRANSITION REALLY SMOOTH FOR US.
I CAN STILL REMEMBER THOSE VERY FIRST DAYS AND THE LOSS THAT WE FEEL, IN FACT, WITH THE NEW COLLEAGUES, I'M SURE THEY FEEL THAT WAY.
SO YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN JUST A WELCOME AND STEADY -- STEADY, I THINK IS THE WORD THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR, AND CONSISTENT VOICE FOR US.
SO THANK YOU FOREALL YOU'VE DONE.
I HOPE YOU HAVE SO MUCH FUN IN YOUR NEXT LIFE.
I HOPE IT IS FULFILLING AND ALSO A LITTLE BIT RELAXING.
I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH JOB, SO THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE AND I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT SECOND STEP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GONZALES.
>> GARCIA: CHRIS, I ALSO JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS.
I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOUR FAMILY FOR SHARING YOU WITH US.
I FEEL REALLY PROUD EVERY TIME YOU SEE YOUR GIRLS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LEARNING FROM THE BEST AND I'VE WORKED WITH YOU IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE WITH YOU AT THE CITY, AND I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU AGAIN WHEN I GOT TO BE ELECTED TO COUNCIL.
AND NOW YOU'RE LEAVING, AND I HAD MIXED EMOTIONS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT, OH, MY GOSH, IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT, AND THEN I THOUGHT, OH, MY GOSH, HE'S LEAVING.
SO I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK THAT YOU'RE A WONDERFUL ROLE MODEL FOR YOUR GIRLS.
I THINK YOU'RE AN EXCEPTIONAL FATHER AND HUSBAND, AND I HOPE THAT ONE DAY THEY LOOK BACK AND THEY SEE YOUR TIME HERE HELPING THE CITY COUNCIL AND REALIZE HOW PROUD THEY SHOULD BE OF THEIR FATHER, WHICH I'M SURE THEY ARE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAW COUNCILMEMBER.
COUNCILMEMBER SANDOVAL KRIZ --
>> SANDOVAL: CHRIS, AS I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU IN WRITING I'M NOT ACCEPTING THIS
[01:55:01]
DECISION, BUT IT'S NOT MY PLACE.YOU ARE GOING TO SING KARAOKE -- AND ANY VACATION YOU'VE GOT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, LIKE THE COUNCILWOMEN SAID FROM THE MOMENT I MET YOU, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN HELPFUL AND WELCOMING AND TREATED ME LIKE I WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON EARTH THAT YOU NEEDED TO HELP, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
YOU HAVE MADE MY TIME HERE MUCH MORE WONDERFUL THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE.
AND SHERYL USED TO LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THROUGH 40 SOMETHING COUNCILPEOPLE, AND I'M SURE YOUR COUNT IS A WHOLE LOT HIGHER.
>> SANDOVAL: WELL CONGRATULATIONS ON BEATING SHERYL.
BUT -- NO, BUT WE WILL MISS YOU AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY OTHER FORMER COUNCILPEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO WISHING YOU WELL IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR.
>> SANDOVAL: AND I'M GLAD YOU'LL STILL BE IN DISTRICT 7.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SANDOVAL.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: CHRIS, I TOO DO NOT ACCEPT YOUR RESIGNATION.
CHRIS, I'M GOING TO MEET YOU SO MUCH.
I THINK I DID FIRST MEET YOU IN MY FORMER LIFE, TOO, IN 1998 WHEN I WAS FIRST AROUND THESE CITY HALLS, AND SO YOU HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT AND YOU HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS KEPT THIS CITY MOVING, BECAUSE YOU KEPT THE COUNCILMEMBERS MOVING.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU KEPT ALL OF OUR CITY MOVING.
THANK YOU FOR SOME OF THE BEST RIVER BARGE RIDES EVER, AND YOU ALLOWED US TO REALLY JUST CAPTURE OUR TRUE -- OURSELVES AND JUST BE OURSELVES AS COUNCILMEMBERS.
I THINK, YES, ERIK, WE DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT BRINGING HIM ON JUST FOR CONTRACT TO HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR RIVER BARGE RIDES.
BUT YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR CITY IS VERY EVIDENT, AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR -- TO CONTINUE THAT IN YOUR NEXT PHASE WHEN YOU MOVE ON.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITHOUT YOU OR DEBRA HOSEY MOVING US INTO THE NEW -- INTO THE RENOVATED CITY HALL, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM THAT YOU TRAINED.
THANK YOU FOR JUST TREATING US WITH THE RESPECT, AND LIKE COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL SAID, YOU DO, YOU MAKE US FEEL LIKE WE'RE THE ONLY PERSON ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT'S A LOT FOR YOU TO BALANCE.
BUT THANK YOU, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT OTHER GREAT THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
CAN WE ALL CHIP IN PART OF OUR CCPF TO COME UP WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP HIM FOR A FEW MORE YEARS.
>> WALSH: WE'LL ADD IT TO NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA.
>> COURAGE: YOU KNOW, CHRIS, YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT FRIEND, I THINK, TO EVERY COUNCILMEMBER WHO'S SERVED IN THIS CITY.
I TOLD YOU LAST WEEK WHEN I HEARD YOU GOING, I CONSIDER YOU TO BE MY DUTCH UNCLE, AND I'M REALLY GOING TO REGRET LOSING YOU.
BUT ALSO I'VE SAID TO YOUR PARTNER NOW, SHE'S OUR NEW AUNTIE EM, SO HOPEFULLY SHE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP US THE WAY YOU DID.
BUT YOU REALLY ARE A CREDIT TO YOUR COMMUNITY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO HELP YOUR CITY COUNCIL PERFORM THEIR JOBS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST WITH YOUR NEXT EFFORT, AND WE'LL ALL BE LOOKING TO SEE YOU HERE AND THERE.
AND LIKE WE'VE SAID, WE NEED TO SEE YOU AT BARGE TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
CHRIS, ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS YOU'RE JUST ONE SUPER COOL GUY.
YOU KNOW, NOT MUCH TO REALLY SAY.
I THINK IT'S BEEN OUR INTERACTIONS OVER THE LAST ALMOST FIVE YEARS NOW, I REALLY -- I REALLY APPRECIATE WHO YOU ARE, YOUR HARD WORK, I ESPECIALLY REALLY LIKED WHEN YOU BROUGHT YOUR DAUGHTERS AND YOUR FAMILY UP TO CITY HALL, WHICH IS HOW WE GOT THE CRAZY NOTION TO PUT HIM IN OUR LAST "STAR WARS" VIDEO.
>> TREVINO: I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
I DO HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE BARGE, MAYBE BRING HIM BACK FOR THE BARGE BUT WE BRING BACK DABARGE WITH CHRIS CALANEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER TREVINO.
COUNCILMEMBER ANDREWS-SULLIVAN?
>> SULLIVAN: SO CHRIS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
[02:00:01]
WHEN TIMES LOOKED A LITTLE DIM AND I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO THINK, YOU GAVE ME THE WORDS THAT KEPT ME GOING AND YOU TOLD ME, NEVER ALLOW WHAT OTHERS THINK IS HAPPENING KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THOSE THAT YOU SERVE.AND EVERY MORNING YOU WAKE UP, WAKE UP WITH A MISSION TO CONTINUE TO DO THE SERVICE.
AND EVERY DAY I SAW YOU COME IN, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID.
IN JULY, WHEN I WAS THE ONE RUNNING IN THE DOOR AND YOU WERE LIKE, WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE? IT JUST MADE ME MORE AWARE THAT YOU WERE HERE.
AND WHEN I HEARD YOU WAS LEAVING, I WAS LIKE NOW WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? AND EMILY JUST KIND OF SAID, I'M STILL HERE.
AND THE STRENGTH THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ALL OF US IS SOMETHING THAT WE TRULY WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY AS WE CONTINUE TO SERVE.
AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.
WE CONGRATULATE YOU AND I KNOW THAT THE NEXT PLACE THAT YOU GRACE WITH YOUR PRESENCE IS TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE YOU THERE.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS, MAY GOD KEEP YOU AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ANDREWS-SULLIVAN.
FIRST OF ALL, YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, YOUR HELPFULNESS AND ALWAYS BEING JOHNNY ON THE SPOT.
YOU WERE NEVER THERE THAT WE DIDN'T NEED YOU.
DID THAT COME OUT RIGHT? I THINK THAT CAME OUT RIGHT.
YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE WHEN WE NEEDED YOU, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THE BARGE -- EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THE BARGE RIDE.
AND BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR PRAY -- PLAYING THUNDER STRUCK MULTIPLE TIMES FOR YOU.
>> PERRY: AND TAKING CARE OF US OUT ON THE ROAD, THAT WAS ALWAYS VERY, VERY HELPFUL AND WE COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON YOU MAKING SURE WE GOT TO THE PLACES WE NEEDED TO BE, AND WE DIDN'T STAY OUT TOO LATE.
BUT I'LL CERTAINLY MISS YOU AND YOU'VE DONE A LOT FOR ME PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A ROLE MODEL OF MINE ON TRYING TO KEEP A COOL HEAD.
AND WORKING TO GET IT DONE, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS YOU'RE WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION, THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'LL -- THINGS WILL GET DONE.
AND I WILL TERNLY MISS YOU, CHRIS -- PERSONALLY MISS YOU, CHRIS, AND WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORMED.
I KNOW YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IN WHATEVER YOU DO BECAUSE OF YOUR ATTITUDE.
AGAIN, YOUR PROFESSIONALISM IS JUST AWESOME, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND MY STAFF REALLY APPRECIATES IT ALSO.
THEY -- EVEN PAUL, UNFORTUNATELY HE'S NOT HERE, HE'S DIGGING HIS TOES INTO THE BEACH SAND.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT EVERYBODY REALLY APPRECIATES YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PERRY.
YOU'VE GOT ONE OF THE BEST SENSE OF HUMORS, YOU ALWAYS GET MY MOST TERRIBLE AND TACKY OF JOKES.
IT'S WHAT I APPRECIATED MOST OF YOU.
ALL OF YOU -- ALL OF US WOULD HAVE TO BE SPECTACULARLY NAIVE IF WE DIDN'T THINK CHRIS DOESN'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT US.
AND IF YOU THINK THAT CHRIS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING, CHRIS ALWAYS KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE DOING, CHRIS ALWAYS KNOWS WHAT YOU DID, WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO, EVEN BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
MOST OF ALL, CHRIS ALWAYS KNOWS WHAT WE NEED BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW WHAT WE NEEDED.
AND YOUR WAY TO ANTICIPATE THAT, CHRIS, IS WHAT MAKES YOU TO CONFESS FOR THE FIRST YEAR UP HERE AT CITY COUNCIL, I THOUGHT A CCR WAS A CHRIS CALANEN RESOLUTION AND THEN I FOUND OUT LATER THAT IT WASN'T.
BUT, CHRIS, YOU REALLY HAVE HELPED ME AND GUIDED ME THROUGH SOME TOUGH MOMENTS.
MORE THAN YOU PROBABLY KNOW, AND YOU'VE GIVEN ME A LOT OF GUIDANCE.
AND YOU'VE KEPT ME FROM LOOKING MORE DUMB SOMETIMES THAN I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOUR INTERVENTION.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRIS.
I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT GOOD LUCK, AND I WISH YOU WEREN'T LEAVING.
I'M ACTUALLY SAD ABOUT THAT, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, CHRIS, FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY.
YOU'RE THE E PIT ME OF PROFESSIONALISM.
[02:05:03]
POSITIVE PERSON, SO I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT YOU, KIND OF LIFTING OUR SPIRITS.I'VE KNOWN CHRIS SINCE I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS OLD BECAUSE HIS LITTLE SISTER COURTNEY WAS MY BEST FRIEND GROWING UP, SO WE LIVED JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM EACH OTHER.
I USED TO RIDE MY SKATE BOARD TO HIS HOUSE ALL THE TIME.
HE WAS A BIG BROTHER TO ME THEN, HE'S BEEN A BIG BROTHER TO ME HERE ON CITY COUNCIL AND I'M VERY SORRY TO LOSE YOU.
I KNOW WE'RE IN THE VERY CAPABLE HANDS OF EMILY, BUT YOU WILL BE MISSED.
>> HAVRDA: AND I WISH YOU MANY BLESSINGS FOR YOUR NEW JOURNEY FOR YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> GONZALES: I JUST FORGOT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE YEARS THAT YOU PLAYED SANTA AT OUR SAN JUAN GIFT GIVEAWAY, SO IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE THE GIG OF SANTA.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT, TOO.
YOU MADE THE KIDS ALWAYS SMILE, AND IT WAS REALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME, AND I KNOW IT WAS TO YOU, TOO, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR OUR KIDS AT SAN JUAN.
SO THANK YOU, CHRIS, AGAIN, FOR PLAYING SANTA.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GONZALES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRIS, FOR EVERYTHING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO STAY RIGHT THERE.
SO AFTER WE GET DONE UP HERE, WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET UP JUST YET, BECAUSE I DO HAVE TWO THINGS.
WE HAVE ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT ALSO WE ARE GOING TO OPEN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT RECESS UNTIL 1:30.
WE'LL RECONVENE IN THE C ROOM AT 1:30 FOR OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I DID WANT TO CLOSE OUT WITH ONE ANNOUNCEMENT.
APPARENTLY WE MISSED A BIRTHDAY OVER THE SUMMER BECAUSE NOT ALL OF US WERE HERE, AND SO TODAY WE'RE CELEBRATING COUNCILMEMBER MELISSA CABELLO HAVRDA'S BIRTHDAY WHICH WAS ON MAY 17TH.
SO LET'S ALL SING HER A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> SEGOVIA: YES, MAYOR, JUST A CLARIFICATION, FOR THE 1:30 RECONVENING IF THE COUNCILMEMBERS CAN RECONVENE HERE, AND THEN WE CALL THE EXEC, WE GO TO C ROOM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOT IMENT WE'RE GOING TO RECESS NOW.
COME BACK HERE AT 1:30 AND THEN WE'LL CONVENE FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO NOW W
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.