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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL B SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:02 A.M. ON THE FIRST DAY OF AUGUST 2024.
MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:03 A.M.
TODAY IS A DISCUSSION AND FINALIZATION OF THE LANGUAGE OF A PROPOSED CHARTER ELECTION WHICH WILL BE ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK. I'LL ASK ANDY TO STEP TO THE
PODIUM AND HE'LL DELIVER OUR PRESENTATION . >> SEGOVIA: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY ROLE THIS MORNING, I WAS GOING TO USE THE TERM TEE UP FOR DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL TIRED OF SPORTS ANALOGIES AT THIS POINT, SO I'M GOING TO SET THE TABLE FOR PROPOSITIONS. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED . AS BACKGROUND, LAST NOVEMBER THE MAYOR FORMED THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND HE OUTLINED THE THINGS THAT HE WANTED THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT, WHICH I HAVE OUTLINED HERE ON THIS CHART. THE THINGS THEY WERE FOCUSED ON WAS LOOKING AT OUR ETHICS REVIEW BOARD AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THAT GROUP. THEY WERE ALSO TAKING A LOOK AT CITY COUNCILMEMBER COMPENSATION. ALSO THE CITY MANAGER TENURE AND COMPENSATION.
THEY WERE LOOKING AT COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND REDISTRICTING. LANGUAGE MODERNIZATION FOR THE CITY CHARTER AND ALSO ADDED LATER WAS A LOOK AT THE SPECIAL MEETINGS LANGUAGE IN THE CITY CHARTER. THAT WAS AGAIN SET UP IN NOVEMBER. ON JUNE 5, 2024, THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THEY DELIVERED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, AUGUST 19TH IS THE DEADLINE THAT WE HAVE FOR PLACING PROPOSITIONS ON THE BALLOT FOR THE VOTERS TO CONSIDER IN NOVEMBER.
OBVIOUSLY, A LOT HAPPENED BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND JUNE 5. AND, AGAIN, THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION STARTED THEIR WORK IN DECEMBER OF 2023.
ALL THE WAY THROUGH MAY OF 2024. THEY HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS, A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT, TEN COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS, AND ONCE AGAIN I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE ENTIRE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, COVERING SOME VERY HEAVY-DUTY TOPICS.
WE DO HAVE ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS WITH US, DAVID ZAMMIELLO AND ALSO DWAYNE ROBINSON FROM THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. IF THERE'S OTHERS I MISSED, I APOLOGIZE, BUT AGAIN I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL DID IN TERMS OF TAKING ON A VERY DIFFICULT TASK. SO AS I MENTIONED, THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMUNITY INPUTS THAT WERE MANAGED THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS AND
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ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIAL, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, A LOT OF GRASSROOTS EFFORTS IN TERMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, ET CETERA.SO, AGAIN, BASED ON ALL THAT, THAT WAS WHAT DROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE DELIVERED TO THE CITY COUNCIL EARLIER THIS SUMMER. SO, WHERE ARE WE AT TODAY? WE ARE GOING TO OUTLINE SOME PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE BASED ON PRIMARILY, ACTUALLY, THEY'RE BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO YOU BY THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. BUT, IN ADDITION, WE HAD A B SESSION IN WHICH THEY PRESENTED AND THERE WERE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. SO WHAT THE PROPOSITIONS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TODAY ARE BASED BOTH ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE DISCUSSION THAT COUNCIL HAD WHEN THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION PRESENTED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY IS FURTHER INPUT ON SOME OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED, SO WE HAVE A MORE DEFINITIVE FRAMEWORK IN TERMS OF WHAT PROPOSITIONS WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE YOU TO CONSIDER NEXT WEEK AS YOU CONSIDER WHETHER TO PUT THOSE PROPOSITIONS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT OR NOT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. AGAIN, A REMINDER WE HAVE MONDAY, AUGUST 19 IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE COUNCIL TO PUT ANY PROPOSITIONS ON A BALLOT IF THEY WANT TO BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GET INTO THE ACTUAL PROPOSITIONS. AND JUST A NOTE ON HOW THEY'RE ORGANIZED, THEY ARE ORGANIZED BY TOPICS. WE HAVE PROPOSITIONS LETTERED BECAUSE ON THE BALLOT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LETTERED. THAT'S REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. AND SO THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS THE ONE THAT COVERS THE ETHICS RECOMMENDATIONS. SO THE PROPOSITION A WOULD ADD A DEFINITION FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IT REMOVES THE TERM LIMITS FOR THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD.
IT PROVIDES THAT THE COUNCIL WILL NEED TO ADEQUATELY FUND THE OPERATIONS OF THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD SO THEY CAN ADEQUATELY PERFORM THE TASK THEY'RE ASKED TO PERFORM UNDER THE CITY CHARTER. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IT PROVIDES THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD TO ACCEPT OR DECLINE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN RESOLVED BY OTHER MEANS.
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS YOU MAY HAVE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT THAT'S FILED AGAINST A CITY EMPLOYEE IN WHICH WE'VE ALREADY HAD AN HR REVIEW OR INVESTIGATION AND THE MATTER HAS BEEN RESOLVED THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO IT GIVES THE ERB THE ABOUT TO DECLINE OR ACCEPT THAT COMPLAINT.
PROPOSITION B REVICES THE LANGUAGE OF THE CITY CHARTER TO ACCOUNT FOR OUTDATED OR SUPERSEDED PROVISIONS. A GOOD EXAMPLE WE LIKE TO USE FOR THAT IS THE TERM INDELIBLE PENCIL. WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THAT. THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS IN THE CITY CHARTER THAT'S GOING TO BE A "HE." GOOD EXAMPLE IS CITY PLANNER. WE ALL KNOW THE CITY PLANNER IS NOT A HE.
WE'RE MAKING THOSE CORRECTIONS AS WELL. PROPOSITION C, AGAIN PROVIDED THE CITY COUNCIL THE FULL AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE BOTH THE COMPENSATION AND TENURE OF THE CITY MANAGER. PROPOSITION D -- I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ONE BECAUSE MOST OF THESE PROPOSITIONS WERE BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. THIS IS ONE THAT THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND BUT BASED ON THE DISCUSSION AT THAT MEETING, THIS IS THE ONE THAT ALLOWS CITY EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY CONSISTENT WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. AND REALLY WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS OBVIOUSLY STATE LAW SAYS WE CAN'T PARTICIPATE -- NONE OF US CAN PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES DURING WORKING HOURS. SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THAT LANGUAGE THERE. SO STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS.
IT ALSO PROTECTS EMPLOYEES FROM ANY RETRIBUTION FROM NOT PARTICIPATING.
THERE'S ONE EXCEPTION THAT WE HAVE AND THAT'S FOR THE CITY LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHICH IS REALLY ERIK, HIS EXECUTIVES, AND THOSE THAT REPORT DIRECTLY TO HIS EXECUTIVES. PROPOSITION E, THAT'S THE ONE FRANKLY WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION, THAT COUNCIL HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND I THINK THERE PROBABLY WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSION TODAY ON WHERE THIS ONE LANDS.
PROPOSITION E SETS THE COMPENSATION FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AT $58,000 AND FOR THE MAYOR AT $73,000 WITH ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HOUSEHOLD'S AMI. THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION, AS I SAID ON THE LAST MEETING, SO WE WOULD EXPECT THERE WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE TODAY. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PROPOSITION F CHANGES THE TERMS OF CITY COUNCIL FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS WITH THE SAME EIGHT-YEAR LIMIT
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THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY FOR FULL SERVICE. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, UNLESS WE MADE A MODIFICATION, WOULD HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED. WE WILL STRUCTURE THE LANGUAGE SO THAT NO CURRENT CITY COUNCILMEMBER WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO SERVE LESS THAN EIGHT YEARS.SO NO ONE WILL BE ADVERSELY IMPACTED AS CURRENTLY SITTING ON CITY COUNCIL.
THAT'S PROPOSITION F. SO WITH THAT, THOSE ARE THE PROPOSITIONS AS THEY STAND TODAY. AS I SAID, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS FURTHER DISCUSSION SO THAT WE HAVE A MORE DEFINITIVE FRAMEWORK THAT WE CAN POSE FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL NEXT WEEK. WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'LL TURN
IT BACK OVER TO YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANDY.
THANKS ALSO TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION CHAIRED BY DAVID ZAMMIELLO AND BONNIE PROSSER ELDER, WHO IS NOT HERE, ALONG WITH THE DOZEN CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES ON THAT COMMISSION THAT REPRESENTED SECTORS, ORGANIZATIONS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY DIVERSITY AND A CROSS-SECTION OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.
THEY SPENT LITERALLY MONTHS GLEANING FEEDBACK AND DOING RESEARCH AND POURING INTO THE DATA ABOUT THESE RECOMMENDED CHARGES. THE CHARGES THEMSELVES, AGAIN, I OFFERED IN -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG AGO BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE NOW.
BASED ON CONVERSATIONS THAT THIS DAIS AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HAVING OVER THE LAST DECADE OR MORE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER IDEAS AND PERHAPS POSITIONS ON THESE PROPOSITIONS BUT THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM ANDY WAS OUR BEST EFFORT TO ASSEMBLE ALL THAT FEEDBACK, LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AROUND THIS DAIS IN LIGHT OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND FIND WHERE PERHAPS WE COULD FIND CONSENSUS FOR PROPOSING TO THE BALLOT. SO IN MOST CASES I WOULD ASSUME THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE READING THESE PROPOSITION LANGUAGE PROFESSIONALS AND SAYING I DON'T AGREE 100% WITH THAT . I DON'T EXPECT THAT BECAUSE I THINK THERE WAS A DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS ON EXACTLY THE LANGUAGE BUT THE REALITY IS IN ORDER FOR US TO CALL AN ELECTION WE'VE GOT TO FIND THE SWEET SPOT THAT EVERYONE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT REPRESENT THE POSITIONS THAT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE ADVANCING THE CITY'S GOVERNANCE FOR THE NEXT MANY YEARS, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS COUNCIL WOULD CHOOSE TO CHANGE THEM OR ADD THEM OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO WE ARE SET TO FINALIZE THIS CONVERSATION AS A RESULT OF THIS CONVERSATION WE WILL HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM POSTED FOR NEXT WEEK. AND THAT'S WHEN WE WILL CALL OR NOT CALL AN ELECTION AND WHICH PROPOSITIONS WILL BE ON THE BALLOT. IN PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HEAR FEEDBACK PARTICULARLY ON -- I WILL TELL YOU THE ITEM THAT WAS MOST DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE COUNCIL ENDED UP WAS THE ITEM RELATED TO TERMS. SO IF YOU CAN PARTICULARLY TALK ABOUT THAT ONE SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT IF THAT ONE'S GOING TO MAKE THE BALLOT AND IN WHAT SHAPE AND FORM IT WILL.
I THINK THERE WAS GENERAL CONSENSUS, I MAY BE WRONG TODAY ABOUT THE INDEXING OF COUNCIL PAY TO A REASONABLE TERM SUCH AS AMI. SO WE FOUND THAT AND SET THAT POINT AT AMI FOR A HOUSEHOLD IN SAN ANTONIO AND INDEXED AGAIN THEREAFTER.
ALL THE OTHER PROPOSITIONS ARE FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND WE'LL GET UNDERWAY. LET'S START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'LL START OFF BY THANKING THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND EVERYBODY HERE TODAY AND DAVID FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. OF COURSE, ANDY AND ERIK AND THE TEAM AND JOHN PETEREK AS WELL FOR BEING AT ALL OF THE MEETINGS.
I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH THE A FOR THE DEFINITION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF REMOVING THE TERM LIMITS FOR THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS. I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD OPEN AREAS OF CONFLICT FOR ME. LIKE HAVING SAT ON THE CITY'S ETHICS REVIEW BOARD I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF TERM LIMIT FOR THOSE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EVEN HAVING -- THEY WERE CALLING IT AN ETHICS CZAR. THAT WAS ONE OF MY DECISION POINTS FOR NOT WANTING TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SOMEONE THAT WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE IN THAT POSITION AND SO I FEEL THAT IF WE REMOVE THE TERM LIMITS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE BEEN THERE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. AND IF THEY ARE HAVING SOME SORT OF A TERM LIMIT OR CHANGES BUT NOT REMOVING THEM ALL TOGETHER .
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I ALSO AGREE WITH THE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD.I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE HIRING A NEW CITY AUDITOR. AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ADVERTISING FOR AN ETHICS AUDITOR -- I'M SORRY. KEVIN'S POSITION.
CITY AUDITOR. WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD MENTIONED IN THAT JOB DESCRIPTION INITIALLY AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL AND I VOICED MY OPINION. THERE'S NOW ONE LINE ABOUT IT BUT IN REALITY THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I FEEL SHOULD BE MOST CRITICAL ABOUT THAT JOB SO I DON'T FEEL THAT IT GETS ENOUGH ATTENTION.
YES, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING MORE FUNDING FOR THAT.
ALSO, SO I FEEL LIKE WITH THE OUTDATED AND SUPERSEDED POSITIONS, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL -- I HAVE MY OLD BOOK -- WHERE I DELETED THE REFERENCES TO "HIS." I GET IT. WE HAVE TO CHANGE ALL OF THOSE SMALL THINGS IN THE CHARTER. AND THEN I DO AGREE WITH THE AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY MANAGER. OR FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO SET THAT TENURE AND COMPENSATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT, AND IT'S PROBABLY FOR BEN, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT OUR BOND RATINGS ARE AFFECTED IN PARTICULAR BASED ON THE CHANGES IN GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES. SO WE JUST CHANGED THIS LAST GO-AROUND, THREE YEARS AGO I THINK. WHAT DOES THAT FLIP-FLOP DO TO OUR BOND RATINGS? I WOULD ASSUME IN THIS CASE IT WOULD AFFECT IT POSITIVELY.
LAST TIME THERE WAS ONE CREDIT AGENCY THAT DOWNGRADED BY LIKE -- AND I THINK IT WAS FITCH BY A MINOR AMOUNT, RIGHT? AND THEN THEY CAN REEVALUATE AS OFTEN AS NEEDED. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, ERIK.
>> WALSH: THE DRIVING FACTOR IN 2018 BEHIND THE FITCH'S DOWNGRADE TO THE CITY WAS REALLY PRIMARILY BASED ON THE PROPOSITION REGARDING FIRE ARBITRATION.
AND THAT ISSUE THAT WAS POINTED TO WAS THAT IF THE FIRE UNION CHOOSES ARBITRATION, THEN THE GOVERNANCE OR CONTROL OF THAT MAJOR EXPENSE IS TAKEN OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE COUNCIL. SO THAT WAS REALLY THE DRIVING -- I MEAN, AT THE TIME THAT WAS THE ONE THAT THEY WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON.
>> GARCIA: OKAY. SORRY. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS IN THE GOVERNANCE.
I KNOW THAT ALL OF THE AGENCIES HAVE DIFFERENT PROPRIETARY WAYS OF DETERMINING THE CREDIT SCORE --T RATING. AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
AND SO WE'RE BASING ON ASSUMPTIONS. >> WALSH: YEAH.
SO MOST OF THE COUNCIL WILL KNOW THAT EVERY JULY WE GO THROUGH OUR BOND RATING PRESENTATIONS, AND WE DID THAT IN MID-JULY. AND THEY WATCH EVERYTHING.
BUT AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT MODELS AND THEY ALWAYS UPDATE THEM.
THANK YOU, ERIK FOR THAT. AND THEN I AM IN FAVOR OF PUTTING ON THE PARTICIPATION FOR LOCAL POLITICAL ACTIVITY FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. I THINK THAT IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND I WOULD THANK AFSCME FOR THEIR ADVOCACY. ON THE COMPENSATION AS WELL FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR'S SALARY, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE -- I FEEL A STRONGER JUSTIFICATION NOW THAT IT'S TIED TO AMI. I APPRECIATE THAT CITY STAFF WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THAT. ON THE EXTENSION OF THE TERM LIMITS, I'M FINE WITH THE TWO YEARS OR UP TO FOUR YEARS AND PUTTING THAT ON THE BALLOT, SPECIFICALLY. I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR -- I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE MAYOR SENT OUT LAST NIGHT A MEMO IN REGARD TO YOUTH FUNDING.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE IN SUPPORT OF THAT YOUTH FUNDING.
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS SINCE LAST OCTOBER.
THERE WAS A CONFERENCE THAT WAS CONVENED AND IT WAS EDUCATORS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. AND EDUCATORS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT INTO THE CHARTERS ACROSS THE CITIES IN THE U.S. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO BE COUNTED, FOR YOUTH TO BE INVESTED IN.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE IN THAT. I BELIEVE THAT LONG TERM IS BETTER THAN SHORT TERM AND I FEEL INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUTH WOULD BE THAT LONG-TERM SOLUTION. I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES WE'RE SHORT SIGHTED, LIKE CREDIT RATINGS, THAT'S SHORT TERM. INVESTMENT IN OUR KIDS IS INVESTMENT IN THE FIRST STRUCTURE OF THE FUTURE AND THAT'S OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE. HOW WE DEVELOP AS A CITY WILL BE CRITICAL AND I DON'T FEEL THAT THE STATE IS DOING ENOUGH TO SUPPORT OUR
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CHILDREN. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO LOSE AT LEAST $3.2 MILLION IN INVESTMENT FOR NONPROFITS AND THEN WE ALSO COMPILED TO THAT THE ARPA DOLLARS.THIS IS WHY I'M GRATEFUL YOU ALL ARE DOING THE WORK, THAT ARE LETTING US KNOW HOW IMPORTANT KIDS ARE TO OUR CITY. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALL ARE WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING.
SO STARTED OFF WITH WE SAID 20%. BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS. WE KNOW THERE'S A NEED FOR MORE THOUGHTFUL PROCESS. WE NEVER TAKE SOMEBODY'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND JUST APPLY THEM. THERE'S ALWAYS TIME FOR CITY STAFF TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, ET CETERA. IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES IT'S CRITICAL TO ALSO CONTINUE TO DO THAT HOMEWORK. I APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE PERCENTAGE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS RIGHT AND ALSO, LIKE, WHAT WE CAN TAKE ON INITIALLY.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT CITY STAFF ULTIMATELY IS THE ONES --N CITY STAFF AND I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN BEN GORZELL AS OUR CFO AND I THINK WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE RATINGS. I FEEL THAT YOUR PROPOSAL, BASED SPECIFICALLY ON INCREASED REVENUE BY YEAR, IS FAIR AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ALL HAD SO MANY PARENTS COME OUT TO THESE DIFFERENT MEETINGS OF THE CHARTER.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD. WE DO PAY ATTENTION ON THE DAIS AND WE DO AGREE WITH YOU THAT CHILDREN SHOULD MATTER AND SHOULD COME FIRST. I DO THINK THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE SOME ANALYSIS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY ANALYSIS CAN HAPPEN, RIGHT, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S MORE PERMANENT AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING FOR. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND I JUST WANT TO HEAR THE DISCUSSION ON THAT. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND THE MEMO AND I KNOW THAT ZACH IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WAS WORKING WITH RYAN AND CHRISTINA ON TRYING TO FIND WHAT THAT SOLUTION IS.
I WANT TO HEAR SOME MORE OF THE CONVERSATION TODAY AND I'LL ADD SOME ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON MY NEXT GO-AROUND. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT SEVERAL OF THE ISSUES.
I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE BUT I JUST WANT TO HAVE A FEW THINGS CLARIFIED. WITH PROPOSITION A, WE DON'T HAVE ANY REFERENCE IN WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'LL REFER IT, IF WE NEED TO, IN A BALLOT INITIATIVE. WHAT IS THE LEADERSHIP OR ADMINISTRATION OF THE ERB?
>> SEGOVIA: IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMAN, THEY HAVE A CHAIR. THE ERB HAS A CHAIR AND WORKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WE HELP MANAGE THAT FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE.
BUT IN TERMS OF THEIR LEADERSHIP, IT'S A CHAIR. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
NOW, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE AUDITOR, THEN, IF WE HAVE A CHAIR FOR THAT COMMITTEE?
>> SEGOVIA: I'M SORRY. ALSO THE AUDITOR AND COMPLIANCE AUDITOR PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH THE CHAIR IN MANAGING THE OPERATIONS OF
THE ERB. >> COURAGE: OKAY. WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION
ABOUT AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS REVIEW BOARD LEADER? >> SEGOVIA: I THINK SOMEBODY FROM PROBABLY THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION IS IN A BETTER POSITION.
CAM? >> YES, THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION DID TALK ABOUT AN INDEPENDENT COMPLIANCE OFFICER, SOMEONE HIRED WHO WOULD BE OUTSIDE.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE CAN, UNDER CURRENT STATE LAW, PUT SOMEBODY IN THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD POSITION THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE CONTROL AND DIRECTION OF THE LAW THAT IS GRANTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. SO THERE'S NO LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND STATE GOVERNMENT THAT WE COULD PUT SOMEBODY IN THAT PLACE, UNTIL STATE LAW IS CHANGED. SO WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW IN THE STRUCTURE IS THE COMPLIANCE AUDITOR REPORTS TO THE AUDITOR, WHO IS INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY MANAGER'S DIRECTION AND IS SOLELY UNDER THE CONTROL AND DIRECTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. BUT IS INDEPENDENT IN HIS
ACTIONS AND WORK. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. ITEM D, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ENABLING EMPLOYEES TO BE ACTIVE POLITICALLY OUTSIDE OF THEIR DUTY.
HOW DOES THIS PROPOSITION PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM RETRIBUTION FOR THEIR
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POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT? >> SEGOVIA: THERE WILL BE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, COUNCILMAN, IN THE PROPOSITION AND IN THE CHARTER LANGUAGE THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THERE WILL BE NO RETRIBUTION FOR EMPLOYEES ELECTING NOT TO PARTICIPATE. AND THEN THE REMEDIES FOR THAT WOULD BE REMEDIES FOR
VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER CHARTER PROVISION. >> COURAGE: GOOD.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S VERY CLEARLY STATED SO THE PUBLIC WILL FEEL SECURE THAT ANYONE WHO DECIDES ON THEIR OWN TO BE INVOLVED POLITICALLY, AND THEY'RE A CITY EMPLOYEE, ISN'T BEING COERCED OR WON'T FACE ANY KIND OF RETRIBUTION.
>> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILMAN. AS I SAID, IT WILL BE INCLUDED, BOTH IN THE PROPOSITION -- THAT NOTION WILL BE INCLUDED BOTH IN THE PROPOSITION AND THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE. LIZ REMINDED ME WE ALSO HAVE, IN OUR ETHICS RULES, THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO RETRIBUTION FOR EMPLOYEES
ELECTING NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
GOOD. WITH PROPOSITION F -- AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER TERM LIMITS HERE, HOW DO WE ESTABLISH THAT IF IT'S PASSED THAT NO CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBER'S TERM WILL BE EXTENDED BEYOND EIGHT YEARS.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE TWO-YEAR TERMS. IF SOMEBODY IS ELECTED LAST ELECTION FOR TWO YEARS, HOW DO YOU FIGURE EIGHT YEAR INTO WHAT MIGHT BECOME
FOUR-YEAR TERMS? >> SEGOVIA: WE WILL HAVE LANGUAGE, COUNCILMAN, SO, AGAIN, THE OBJECTIVE HERE WAS NOT TO LIMIT ANYONE CURRENTLY SITTING ON CUNCIL, TO LIMIT THEM SO THAT THEY WOULD SERVE LESS THAN EIGHT YEARS.
NOW, WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THERE WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY WHERE SOME CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY SERVE UP TO TEN YEARS. YOU MAY HAVE A CITY COUNCILMEMBER THAT SERVES SIX. WE SHIFT FROM TWO TO FOUR AND TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT ADVERSELY IMPACTED, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE UP TO
TEN. >> COURAGE: THAT WILL BE WRITTEN IN THERE THAT SAYS A
COUNCIL MEMBER CAN NOW SERVE UP TO TEN YEARS. >> SEGOVIA: CORRECT.
>> COURAGE: WHY DON'T WE HAVE THOSE PEOPLE SERVE A TWO-YEAR TERM AND THEN A FOUR-YEAR TERM OR A FOUR-YEAR TERM AND THEN A TWO-YEAR TERM?
>> SEGOVIA: THEN YOU WOULD HAVE STAGGERED TERMS AND ONE OF THE STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION WAS NOT TO HAVE STAGGERED
TERMS. >> COURAGE: SO WE WON'T HAVE STAGGERED TERMS FOUR
YEARS? >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT.
>> COURAGE: I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT STAGGERING THE TERMS SO YOU DON'T HAVE A WHOLE COUNCIL UP FOR RE-ELECTION EVERY TIME, THAT YOU HAVE
MAYBE HALF A COUNCIL. >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT.
THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT AND ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THAT. PROBABLY JOHN CAN GIVE YOU
INSIGHT. >> ABSOLUTELY THAT WAS DISCUSSED.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND COMMISSION THEMSELVES SETTLED ON KEEPING THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE TO WHERE THE MAYOR IS PLACED IN THAT STAGGERED TERM STRUCTURE. SO THE MAYOR WOULD HAVE TO BE WITH ONE-HALF OF THE COUNCIL AND THE OTHER HALF OF THE BECAUSE OF THAT BIG DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING TURNOUT OF FOLKS GOING TO
THE POLLS. >> COURAGE: AND SO THE WORDING THEN IN THIS PROPOSITION WILL BE EXPLICIT THAT THIS COULD LEAD UP TO TEN YEARS OF SERVICE FOR
SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> SEGOVIA: IT WILL BE VERY CLEAR IN THE CHARTER LANGUAGE. WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PROPOSITION LANGUAGE, FRANKLY, COUNCILMAN. WE DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE THE VOTERS.
AGAIN, THIS WILL BE JUST A SHORT TERM. ONCE WE GET PAST THE CURRENT COUNCIL AND THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE, THEN IT WILL ALL BE FOUR-YEAR TERMS, MAXIMUM OF EIGHT. SO THE KEY IS WE DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE VOTERS BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT PUBLICLY, IT DEFINITELY WILL BE ACTUAL CHART.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. SEEMS A LITTLE ODD, THOUGH. SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS -- AND I LOVE MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT SOME MAY SERVE TWO YEARS AND OTHERS, NO ONE ELSE WILL EVER SERVE MORE THAN EIGHT. THAT'S KIND OF ODD, I THINK, THE WAY IT'S BEING
STRUCTURED. >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILMAN.
REALLY, THE OPTION IS, BASED ON THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE COUNCIL HAS THE OPTION OF EITHER ALLOWING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE UP TO TEN SO THAT THERE'S NO ADVERSE IMPACT. OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO IMPOSE A FOUR-YEAR TERM WITH A RECOGNITION YOU MAY HAVE SOME CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS
THAT WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO SERVE SIX YEARS. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
I STILL WONDER WHY WE DON'T LOOK AT STAGGERED TERMS. TO ME, WHENEVER YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN ENTIRE ELECTION FOR 11 MEMBERS, AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE AN ELECTION EVERY TWO YEARS FOR JUST FIVE OR SIX MEMBERS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF RETAINING THE CONSISTENCY OF MEMBERSHIP. WHEN I WAS ELECTED, THERE
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WERE SEVEN NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE ELECTED THAT YEAR.A DRAMATIC CHANGE. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS DETRIMENTAL OR PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL, BUT IT CERTAINLY WAS PRETTY DRAMATIC.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF I MAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, JUST TO EMPHASIZE A POINT THAT JOHN ADDED AT A END, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS UP HERE.
THE REASON WHY IT WAS DISCUSSED NOT TO SEPARATE A MAYORAL ELECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION OBVIOUSLY IS BECAUSE IF THERE'S A MAYORAL ELECTION HAPPENING AT THE DISTRICT AS WELL, IT DRIVES TURNOUT. AND SO IT DISADVANTAGES THOSE YEARS IN WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT ON THE BALLOT WITH A MAYORAL ELECTION AT THE SAME TIME. THAT'S THE LOGIC.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. I DON'T KNOW THAT I AGREE BUT I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC THAT WAS EMPLOYED. AND PROPOSITION E ADDRESSES POTENTIAL COUNCIL PAY.
AND I'LL ASK CITY MANAGER, HOW MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS DO WE HAVE, MR. MANAGER?
>> WALSH: 42. >> COURAGE: I THOUGHT THERE WERE 40 OR SO.
42 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. SO AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, WE ARE ELECTED TO WORK ON PRIORITIES AND WE WORK WITH 40 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS -- AND I CAN SAY I HAVE WORKED WITH EVERY ONE OF THEM SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL, OVER EIGHT YEARS.
WE ALSO OVERSEE THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
WE ALSO OVERSEE CPS ENERGY, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. WE ALSO OVERSEE THE AIRPORT, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS GET PAID OVER $100,000 A YEAR -- AND I DON'T MEAN TO IMPLY THEY DON'T EARN WHAT THEY GET.
BUT THE EXTENT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CITY COUNCIL, I THINK, IS A GREAT COMMITMENT OF TIME, ENERGY, AND THOUGHT PROCESS. AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW FOR A POTENTIAL INCREASE IN PAY, IN COMPENSATION TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS REALLY A LITTLE LOWER THAN I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD HAVE BEEN. THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION. EARLY RECOMMENDATION WAS MUCH HIGHER BUT I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THOSE MYSELF AND I LET THAT BE KNOWN.
BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS SAYING, BASICALLY, THAT WE'RE OFFERING A LOT LESS THAN WE'RE WORTH. SO I MIGHT ELABORATE ON THAT
A LITTLE BIT MORE LATER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY NOTES ARE KIND OF ALL OVER THE PLACE. I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION WHO LED THE CHARGE TO ADDRESS AND BRING IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR CITY CHARTER AND ANSWERED THE QUESTION WOULD EACH OF THESE IDEAS BE EFFECTIVE FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF OUR CITY. I'M PROUD TO HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND AFSCME TO ADD A PROPOSITION THAT WILL ALLOW OUR CITY EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS, WHICH I WOULD ARGUE ARE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL TO THEM. SHOUT OUT TO AFSCME.
REGARDING YOUTH FUNDING, I AGREE WITH THE CONCEPT OF INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUTH.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHEN WE'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO ALLOCATE FEDERAL FUNDING, INCLUDING ARPA DOLLARS, AND WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS EVERY YEAR FOR THE CITY BUDGET. YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT IN YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAMS, TRAINING FOR YOUTH I BELIEVE ARE ALSO TOOLS FOR CRIME PREVENTION.
I AGREE MORE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE HAD, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE STRUGGLE WITH GROWING CHARTER SCHOOL ENCROACHMENT.
I THINK THAT'S A DUPLICATION OF FUNDS TO HAVE A CHARTER SCHOOL ADJACENT TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL. IT CAUSES SO MUCH WASTE IN SPENDING THAT COULD GO TOWARDS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND EVEN OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS. I WOULD ASK AS A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION HOW CAN WE ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF INCREASING OUR INVESTMENT IN YOUTH IN THE MOST IMPACTFUL WAY POSSIBLE.
AND RIGHT NOW IF WE'RE LOOKING AT BUDGET DEFICITS, THAT'S A FUND THAT IS NOTHING. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT.
I THINK I'LL PROBABLY STICK TO THE THINGS I THINK ARE MOST MAYBE CONTROVERSIAL OR MOST DISCUSSED ABOUT RIGHT NOW. I'LL START WITH CITY TERM LENGTHS AND LIMITS. CAMPAIGNING IS A SUPPORT. I LOVE IT AND PARTICIPATE IN IT YEAR ROUND AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSTANTLY RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON OUR PERFORMANCE. FAIRLY QUICKLY YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO MAKES A MISTAKE OR TWO WHILE THEY ADJUST TO THE ROLE AND THE LIFESTYLE CHANGE THAT COMES WITH BEING A PUBLIC FIGURE VERSUS A COUNCIL
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MEMBER THAT DOES NOT TAKE THE JOB SERIOUSLY, MISSES DOZENS OF MEETINGS, DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE WORK THAT MATTERS MOST TO THEIR CONSTITUENCY. SO I DO WONDER, WITH PROPOSITION F, YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOME INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO SEE TERM LENGTHS REMAIN THE SAME.I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY THE PROPOSITION OUTSIDE OF CITY EMPLOYEES' RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS THAT I CARE ABOUT THE MOST AT THE MOMENT.
I HAVE A DEEPER CONNECTION TO THE ISSUE IN THAT I INHERITED A SEAT THAT HAD SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS IN A SIX-YEAR PERIOD. YOU SEE THE EFFECTS OF THAT SORT OF TURNOVER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO NEVER QUITE GET THEIR FOOTING.
SINCE TERM LIMITS HAVE BEEN SET, THE LONGEST-SERVING COUNCIL MEMBER WE HAVE HAD HAS BEEN IVY TAYLOR, WHO SERVED ABOUT FIVE YEARS . THAT IS NOTHING IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF ALL OF THIS. THE REST OF MY PREDECESSORS SERVED FOUR YEARS OR TWO YEARS EVEN. AND SO I WONDER, YOU KNOW, IS IT THAT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE ONE-OFF COUNCIL MEMBER WHO ISN'T REPRESENTING THEIR CONSTITUENCY THAT, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO COULD DO A RECALL ELECTION FOR OR ARE WE WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING GREATER. DO WE BELIEVE THAT OUT OF EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT THERE'S THIS WIDESPREAD ISSUE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT REPRESENTING THEIR CONSTITUENCY. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE AND I DON'T THINK THAT FOUR-YEAR TERMS ARE GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE REPRESENTATION OF OUR CONSTITUENCY AND I THINK IT WOULD ACTUALLY DO BETTER IN THAT OUR CONSTITUENCY WOULDN'T BE SO BURDENED BY ELECTION FATIGUE.
WE HAVE ELECTIONS EVERY SEVERAL MONTHS AT THIS POINT AND HOW OFTEN ARE YOU ABLE TO GET VOTERS TO TURN OUT. THAT'S A QUESTION WE HAVE WHEN WE HAVE A GENERAL ELECTION AND A RUNOFF. DOES OUR CAMPAIGN HAVE THE MOMENTUM TO GET SOMEONE TO COME OUT A MONTH LATER. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERY OTHER YEAR, IN ADDITION TO BATTLING THE BIGGER RACES THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT WHEN THEY CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL OR MIDTERMS. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD ADJUST THAT BEYOND THE TWO FOUR-YEAR TERMS. I DO COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS SERVING TEN YEARS IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CONSISTENT.
I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD MAX OUT AT EIGHT YEARS AND HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION AND EVENTUALLY THOSE SEATS WILL REALIGN. BUT IN THAT CASE WE'LL ONLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ONE-OFF ELECTIONS RATHER THAN A TRULY STAGGERED COUNCIL.
I WOULD JUST THROW THAT IN THERE. REGARDING CITY PAY, YOU PAY, YOU KNOW, WE COULD PLAY THE GAME, SHOULD COMPENSATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR BE SET AT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND COUNTY JUDGE AND SEE HOW THAT WOULD GO. I WOULDN'T BE MAD AT IT BUT ON THE BALLOT I WOULD BE WARY OF FOCUSING TOO MUCH ON A SPECIFIC FIGURE. I THINK IF WE ASK FOLKS TO APPROVE A SPECIFIC DOLLAR FIGURE, IT COULD GET MESSY . I BELIEVE WE'D FIND SUPPORT FOR THAT IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CONTEXTUALIZES THE HOUSE.
I BELIEVE IN SHARING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND DEMYSTIFYING THE ROLE OF CITY COUNCIL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR OFFICE I WAS A 25-YEAR-OLD MAX TEACHER MAKING 55K. I TOOK A $10,000 PAY CUT TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER AND I DID SO WILLINGLY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY. HOWEVER ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR OFFICE IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE NEED MORE REGULAR EVERYDAY PEOPLE IN OFFICE AND RIGHT NOW IT WOULD BE A HUGE STRETCH TO ASK WORKING TO BE COMPETITIVE AND THEY'RE DOING $60,000, ARE THEY GOING TO LEAVE THAT JOB FOR 45K IF THEY HAVE A FAMILY, IF THEY'RE THE SOLE PROVIDER IN THEIR HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A HUGE STRETCH. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE, AS A COUNCIL OF MAJORITY EDUCATORS, YOU KNOW, SHOULD GET INTO OUR SEATS AND CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND US, PREVENTING PEOPLE LIKE US FROM BEING ELECTED.
I ALSO WONDER IF WE SAID -- THIS IS ONE I WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN.
I'M INTERESTED IN 100% FOR MAYOR AND 80% FOR COUNCIL. I DON'T HAVE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THIS. IF WE SHOULD SHOULD COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMPENSATION BE SET AT THE MEDIAN INCOME OF AN EMPLOYEE HOW THAT WOULD GO OVER .
I BELIEVE THAT GIVES COUNCIL MEMBERS AT ANY POINT, YOU KNOW, ADDED INTEREST IN SEEING THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE THEY'RE LIVING AT THE SAME RATE THAT THEIR MEDIAN EMPLOYEE IS. I WANT TO ADD THOSE FOR CONSIDERATION. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MY COLLEAGUES' FEEDBACK AND I
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WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS ADVOCATED FOR AMENDMENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON THE BALLOT. I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND IT'S A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO EVERY SINGLE PROPOSAL. SO THANK Y'ALL A TON.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. I'M SORRY.
MY QUEUE JUST WENT OUT. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANT TO ALSO THANK THE CHARTER COMMISSION FOR ALL Y'ALL'S WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR INCORPORATING THE FEEDBACK. JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I'M ACTUALLY JUST GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WAS SAYING.
I ALSO SUPPORT THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR A FOUR-PERSON HOUSEHOLD FOR THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AT 80% OF THAT PAY. I FULLY SUPPORT THAT AS WELL. PROPOSITION C, DEFINITELY AM SUPPORTIVE.
THIS ALLOWS US TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST CITY MANAGER.
WE ALSO STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO REMOVE CITY MANAGER IF WE'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE PERFORMANCE. PROPOSITION D, THIS IS ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL POLITICAL ACTIVITY. FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. PROPOSITION F, I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I AGREE. I DON'T THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SERVE TEN YEARS. I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD CALL FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THOSE CASES. AND I ALSO AM IN FAVOR, TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S POINT, OF STAGGERING THE ELECTION CYCLES, JUST BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF A WHOLE NEW COUNCIL IS SCARY. YOU KNOW, THERE'S LACK OF CONTINUITY. THERE'S LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON COUNCIL AND I HAVE LEANED ON MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAD BEEN HERE TO LEARN THE ROPES ON HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC OF, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR ONLY BEING ON ONE OF THE CYCLES.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE RUNNING CAN TURN OUT THE VOTE ACCORDINGLY. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF STAGGERING AS WELL.
THAT'S ALL OF MY COMMENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON THIS IN A SESSION AND
LETTING THE VOTERS DECIDE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> THE CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO
OFFER A COMMENT ABOUT THE TRANSITION PERIOD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO
AHEAD, DAVID. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A QUICK CLARIFICATION.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TEN-YEAR COUNCIL TERMS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT'S A TRANSITION STATEMENT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL RIGHT NOW. SO AS NEW MEMBERS ARE ELECTED TO COUNCIL, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HONORING THE TWO --O FOUR-YEAR, EIGHT-YEAR CYCLE. DEPENDING ON WHAT CYCLE YOU'RE IN, THE IDEA IS NOT TO DISENFRANCHISE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SHORT CYCLE THEIR TERM LIMITS TO SIX YEARS. TAKING INTO ACCOUNT, THAT'S JUST A TRANSITION STRATEGY THAT WILL WORK ITSELF THROUGH AS THE COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD IN TIME. SO WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TEN YEARS. IT IS AN EIGHT-YEAR COMMITMENT BUT WE'RE IN A TRANSITION PERIOD, BEGINNING WITH THE 2025 ELECTION. SO, IF APPROVED, THAT'S HOW
IT WILL WORK ITSELF THROUGH. >> GAVITO: YES. IF I MAY, MAYOR -- NO, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT AND I KNOW IT WOULD JUST BE FOR A TRANSITION.
I JUST DON'T THINK ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, EVEN DURING A TRANSITION, SHOULD BE ABLE TO SERVE TEN YEARS. I THINK WE COULD, YOU KNOW, FIX THAT WITH A SPECIAL
ELECTION, POTENTIALLY. >> SURE. AND THE COMMISSION DID EXAMINE IF WE DID NOT DO THAT THEN YOU WOULD PUT COUNCIL MEMBERS IN SIX-YEAR BUCKETS, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY SIT IN THEIR PARTICULAR ELECTION CYCLE.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT POINT. WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING TEN YEARS. IT'S JUST A TRANSITION IN NATURE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, ANDY. AND THANKS, BONNIE AND DAVID FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DID, AND THE COMMISSION FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
I UNDERSTAND Y'ALL WERE GIVEN A SPECIFIC AND NARROW SET OF TASKS TO FOCUS ON.
AND I DO APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS. THIS MORNING I WANT TO DISCUSS THOSE TASKS FIRST. I NOTICE WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING A LOT ON PROPOSITIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT CITY HALL OPERATIONS. AND SO THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THIS BODY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND OF COURSE THE BUSINESS OF COSA.
I THINK THERE'S SOME MISSED OPPORTUNITIES THERE. I'LL ADDRESS EACH OF THE FIRST PROPOSITIONS FIRST. I SUPPORT PLACING THE CITY MANAGER'S TERM AND SALARY ON
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THE BALLOT AS WELL AS THE ISSUE OF CITY COUNCIL TERM LIMITS, ALLOWING VOTERS TO DECIDE. I AGREE ALSO THAT THE TERMS SHOULD BE STAGGERED.I DO QUESTION, JUST WONDERING. I UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR JUST BROUGHT UP THE REASONING BEHIND IT, THE ADVANTAGE THAT A MAYOR'S RACE MIGHT HAVE. AND I CAN SEE HOW THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
I'M WONDERING IF WE HAVE DATA ON THAT, IF THE CITY CAN PULL -- IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO PROVE THAT, TO SHOW THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE.
AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT WEEK. IN THE PAST, I SUGGESTED THAT ANY CHANGES TO THE COUNCIL SALARY SHOULD AFFECT ONLY FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE RIGHT WE WERE VOTING ON OUR OWN RAISES. NOT THOSE CURRENTLY SERVING.
HOWEVER, THERE'S 250,000 FAMILIES IN OUR CITY DEALING WITH POVERTY AND FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. THE MINIMUM WAGE IN TEXAS HAS BEEN STUCK AT $7.25 SINCE 2009 AND IN THOSE 15 YEARS THE COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASED BY 20%. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR US AS A CITY COUNCIL TO GRANT OURSELVES A RAISE, EVEN FOR FUTURE COUNCILS. AT THIS POINT IN TIME I DON'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE CITY COUNCIL SALARY ITEM.
HOWEVER, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ JUST BROUGHT UP SOME DECENT POINTS THAT SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD BE DEALING WITH WHAT THE REST OF THE CITY IS DEALING WITH. SO I'LL SAY THAT I'M OPEN TO THAT.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT DISCUSSION. I HAVE LONG SUPPORTED THE CITY EMPLOYEES' PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL POLITICS.
I THINK FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME TO ME THAT WE HAVE BEEN SORT OF WAITING FOR A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS. AND SO THANKFULLY IT'S ON THE DISCUSSION TABLE NOW.
I SENT A MEMO TO THE MAYOR IN JANUARY AND THANKFUL THAT PROCESS PLAYED OUT AND WE'RE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW. REGARDING THE CHANGES TO THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THE FUNDING FOR THE ERB, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALSO HAVING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS NOW AND WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT CUTTING AND DEFICITS. WITH THIS DISCUSSION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD. WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?
>> SEGOVIA: COUNCILWOMAN, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS SPECIFIC DISCUSSION AS TO SPECIFIC BUDGET ALLOCATIONS. I THINK THAT NOTION WAS THEY WANTED THE CHARTER TO EXPLICITLY STATE THAT THE ERB WOULD BE GIVEN WHATEVER RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO CARRY OUT THEIR TASK.
THERE WAS NO FIXED AMOUNT OR PERCENTAGE. BUT I THINK THEY JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT CONCEPT WAS CAPTURED WITHIN THE CITY CHARTER.
>> COUNCILWOMAN, I THINK THE ERB IS FUNDED NOW. THIS IS JUST ENSHRINING THE FACT THAT IT WILL CONTINUE. THE CITY COUNCIL COULDN'T, AT A WHIM, UNFUND THE ERB.
>> HAVRDA: I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. IF WE'RE HAVING THE VOTERS TO VOTE ON IT, WE NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC. I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE IT ON THE BALLOT. AT THE SAME TIME I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GIVE THEM UNLIMITED TERMS. IT DOESN'T JIVE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE WE TALK ABOUT. THE ERB SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT TERM LIMITS HERE TODAY AND TO ASK THE VOTERS DO EXTEND TERM LIMITS BUT THEN ASK THEM TO REMOVE ANOTHER BODY'S TERM LIMITS ALL TOGETHER DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT ONE. SO AS I SAID BEFORE, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON PROPOSITIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT CITY HALL OPERATIONS AND OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
WHILE THESE ARE IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE CITY CHARTER, WE'RE MISSING OPPORTUNITIES TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR RESIDENTS' DAILY LIVES.
WE NEED PROPOSITIONS THAT EMPOWER THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, NOT JUST THE WAY WE SERVE THEM. I'M SPEAKING TODAY NOT JUST AS A COUNCIL MEMBER BUT SOMEBODY BORN AND RAISED ON THE FAR WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE KNOW THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY CPS ENERGY AND SAWS AND HOW THEY IMPACT OUR DAILY LIVES. LIKE MANY OF YOU, MY FAMILY -- WE HAVE ALL BEEN LIFELONG RATEPAYERS AND THESE SERVICES CAN BE OUR LARGEST MONTHLY EXPENSE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE LIVE OR HOW MUCH WE EARN. FOR THAT REASON I THINK IT'S TIME OUR COMMUNITY HAS A DIRECT LINE OF TRANSPARENCY AND A REAL SEAT AT THE TABLE. WITH THAT IN MIND, I PROPOSE ADDING A NEW CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT MANDATES THE INCLUSION OF TWO ELECTED RATEPAYER REPRESENTATIVES TO THE BOARDS, ONE AT CPS AND ONE AT SAWS. THESE REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE ELECTED BY THE PUBLIC, ENSURING THAT OUR RESIDENTS' VOICES ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN GOVERNING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THIS AMENDMENT IS IMPORTANT FOR A FEW REASONS. TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND OF
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COURSE OUR RESIDENT VOICES. TRANSPARENCY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND TO HAVE THAT ELECTED POSITION AT SAWS AND CPS ENSURES THAT TRANSPARENCY. OF COURSE ACCOUNTABILITY, ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT. AND THEN OUR CITY IS DIVERSE AND VOICES OF ALL ITS RESIDENTS DESERVE TO BE HEARD.THERE'S A LOT OF CONTENTION OVER THE RAC AND WHEN IT WAS THERE AND CAME AND WENT AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THIS ELECTED POSITION SO WE HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE ALWAYS COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY. THOSE ELECTIONS I PROPOSE WOULD BE HELD WITH THE CITY ELECTIONS. AND WE WOULDN'T BE ALONE IN DOING THIS. OTHER LARGE CITIES HAVE ADDED MEMBERS TO IMPORTANT BOARDS. MCALLEN, THE KANSAS CITY BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, SACRAMENTO PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT. I THINK THE BOARD STRUCTURE IS SOUND AS IT IS. IT JUST NEEDS THAT ADDITIONAL VOICE.
I PROPOSE ADDING A CHARTER AMENDMENT TO THE BALLOT THAT CALLS FOR CHANGES IN HOW THE CITY ATTORNEY IS APPOINTED. CURRENTLY THE CITY MANAGER HIRES AND FIRES THE CITY ATTORNEY WITH THE COUNCIL'S ADVICE AND A VOTE. THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY DISCONNECT BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE VOTERS SHOULD HAVE AN ATTORNEY ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE NOW .
AS IT STANDS, WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITY MANAGER THERE'S A RISK THAT LEGAL OPINIONS ARE FILTERED OR LAUNDERED BEFORE THEY GET TO THE CITY COUNCIL. WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY AND ELIMINATE THAT RISK. THE CITY COUNCIL'S ATTORNEY SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE ONLY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I PROPOSE ONE OF TWO OPTIONS. THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY BE DIRECTLY APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL OR THAT THE COUNCIL HAVE A SEPARATE ATTORNEY APPOINTED BY COUNCIL AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COUNCIL. ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS HOME RULE CHARTERS CITY COUNCILS THAT APPOINT THEIR CITY ATTORNEYS ARE 73% OF THOSE IN HOME RULE IN TEXAS.
AND OUR CITY IS GROWING AND EVOLVING. I THINK THIS MODEL HAS WORKED UP UNTIL NOW. THE CURRENT MODEL. BUT IT'S TIME TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE. IT'S TIME TO EXPAND. IT'S TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT REPRESENTATION FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THOSE ARE MY PROPOSALS FOR THE CHARTER AMENDMENT BALLOT. ELECTED MEMBERS, ONE OF EACH, BOTH SAWS AND CPS, AND A CHANGE IN THE WAY THE CITY ATTORNEY IS POINTED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
LET ME REMIND THE COUNCIL, THIS IS NOT OPEN SEASON ON THE CITY CHARTER.
WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION. WE HAVE A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
WE HAVE A POSTED AGENDA ITEM. WE NEED CLARIFICATION AND ITEMS THAT ARE POSTED ON THE PRESENTATION. I LEFT A LOT OF LATITUDE THERE FOR THE COMMENTS ABOUT OTHER ITEMS. WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OTHER ITEMS THAT PERTAINED TO OUR CITY'S GOVERNANCE THAT WERE BROUGHT UP AT TOWN HALLS. I'M LEAVING LATITUDE FOR SOME COMMENTS ON THOSE. I THINK IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE PROCESS IF WE JUST MAKE THIS AN OPEN SEASON ON ANY IDEA THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT ON THE BALLOT. I'M JUST SAYING THAT NOW. SO LET'S FOCUS THE
CONVERSATION SO WE CAN GET TO A CONCLUSION NEXT WEEK. >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.
COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. LET'S QUICKLY RUN THROUGH WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED HERE AND MY THOUGHTS ON THAT, STARTING WITH PROPOSITION C, GIVING THE CITY COUNCIL THE ABILITY TO SET THE MANAGER'S PAY AND COMPENSATION.
I'M OKAY WITH THAT AS WRITTEN. PROPOSITION D, I'VE COMMITTED TO AFSCME THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND ALLOW THE VOTERS TO VOTE ON THAT. PROPOSITION E, COUNCIL PAY.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. I DO NOT BELIEVE OUR CITY COUNCIL SHOULD RECEIVE ANY PAY RAISE. ACTUALLY, LAST YEAR IN OUR CITY, IN OUR REGION, AMI ACTUALLY WENT DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. IT'S A PROBLEM AND THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE RAISING CITY COUNCIL PAY. REGARDING THE TERMS, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE MOVING TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS. THIS IS THE CLOSEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE AND IF YOU HAVE A CITY COUNCIL PERSON THAT ISN'T AS INVOLVED, ISN'T FIXING
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CONSTITUENT PROBLEMS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, IS NOT BEING RESPONSIVE, TO BE STUCK WITH THAT PERSON FOR FOUR YEARS I THINK ISN'T RIGHT.BELIEVE ME, NONE OF US UP HERE, MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, LOVES THE EVERY TWO YEARS CAMPAIGNING. BUT -- YOU DO TOO? BUT THE TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE FOCUSED ON THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY AND I THINK IF WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB WE SHOULD GO BEFORE THE VOTERS EVERY TWO YEARS AND LET THEM HAVE THEIR SAY. AND SO I DO NOT BELIEVE WE NEED TO MOVE THE TERMS TO FOUR YEARS. HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT IF THAT IS THE WILL OF THIS BODY TO MOVE TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS, THEN I DO AGREE WITH A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE STATED THAT THEY NEED TO BE STAGGERED. WE DO NOT WANT THE DEFICIT IN KNOWLEDGE THAT COULD COME WITH AN ENTIRELY NEW COUNCIL BEING ELECTED.
SO I AM ALSO FOR THE STAGGERED TERMS, IF WE GO TO FOUR YEARS.
NOW, I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE THERE ARE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES HERE.
HOWEVER THIS WAS SET UP, MAYOR, TO THE ISSUES YOU WANTED THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO LOOK AT, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WAS ORGANIZED.
WE WEREN'T ASKED. WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN THAT. I THINK THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, BY THE WAY, DID A GREAT JOB AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT HERE BECAUSE -- AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE SAYING IT. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT HAVE TO BE AT THE VERY FOREFRONT OF WHAT WE DO.
AND ALL TOO OFTEN IN THIS LAST YEAR IT'S BEEN UNFORTUNATE BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE. AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TRANSPARENCY AND YOU DON'T HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY, IT'S THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO THAT SUFFER.
IT SUBVERTS DEMOCRACY BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION AND WE DON'T GET IT IN A TIMELY MANNER, WE CAN'T CONVEY THAT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT BECAUSE WE EACH REPRESENT A TENTH OF THE CITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS RELY ON US TO GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN HERE SO THAT THEN THEY CAN PROVIDE THEIR INPUT TO US SO THAT WE CAN SIT UP ON THIS DAIS AND FIGHT FOR THEM. AND SO I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO REFERENCE -- AND BEFORE I DO, I WANT IT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY FEELINGS ON OUR CITY ATTORNEY. WE HAD THAT DUST UP, HOWEVER MANY MONTHS AGO IT WAS.
WE RESOLVED IT. THINGS ARE BETTER. I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN ANDY AND I APPRECIATE HOW ERIK HANDLED ALL OF THAT AND I THINK WE ENDED UP IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL PLACE ON THIS. HOWEVER, I WANT TO READ, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF AUSTIN RIGHT NOW, WHO BELIEVE ME I DO NOT HOLD UP AS THE MODEL CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW AS WELL.
AND IN THEIR DOCUMENTS, WHEN LOOKING AT WHETHER THE CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD BE HIRED AND FIRED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY. THEY SAY THAT IT'S A GOOD THING FOR LARGE CITIES AND THEY SAY THAT PROPONENTS OF HAVING THE CITY ATTORNEY APPOINTED BY COUNCIL SAY THAT THIS IS A STEP FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN, THIS IS NOT A PART OF OUR COUNCIL PRESENTATION. IT'S NOT GERMANE SO I'M ASKING YOU TO WRAP IT UP.
>> WHYTE: I'M GOING TO GET THERE, MAYOR. THEY ARGUE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHO ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE VOTERS, HAVE AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE CITY WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM.
IF LEGAL ADVICE JUST GOES THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER THEN THERE'S A RISK THAT THE ADVICE IS FILTERED BEFORE IT REACHES COUNCIL. MANY LEGAL QUESTIONS ARE SO CRUCIAL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE SURE THE ATTORNEY'S OPINION IS NOT
LAUNDERED IN ANY WAY BEFORE IT GOES TO COUNCIL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN, WRAP UP YOUR STATEMENTS OR I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> WHYTE: AND MY POINT IS THIS. WE MUST ALL GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN A TIMELY MANNER, IN AN UNFILTERED WAY SO THAT WE CAN BEST
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REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS. SO I DO SUPPORT ADDING A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER SO THAT WE ARE IN LINE WITH OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE TO WHERE WE -- THECITY ATTORNEY CAN BE SUBJECT TO THE WILL OF THIS COUNCIL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HAVE
YOU CONCLUDED YOUR STATEMENTS, COUNCILMAN? >> WHYTE: I'M CHECKING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS ENJOY HEARING FROM MY PROGRESSIVE COUNTERPARTS UP IN AUSTIN. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO ADDRESS IS THE YOUTH. WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS, WE HAVE A FIGHT AHEAD OF US. A CHARTER AMENDMENT SEEMS DOABLE, BUT THEN AGAIN WE ARE LOOKING AT MORE INVESTIGATION. I RESPECT THE MEMO OUR MAYOR HAS PUT OUT. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CHARTER AND LOOK AT HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE PRIORITIZE WHAT IS BEING -- WHAT IS IMPACTING THE CITY THE MOST. AND NOT ONLY ARE THE YOUTH IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT EVERY PART SO I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ON HOW WE CAN PRIORITIZE IT.
AND IF WE CANNOT GET IT IN THE CHARTER, I JUST WANT TO STATE I AM COMMITTED TO FIND THIS BUDGET SESSION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT BUDGET, WHERE WE CAN BEGIN TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY FOR US. BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE UNDER ATTACK. AND I WANT TO THANK THE PARTNERSHIP FOR GETTING THE PARENTS TOGETHER. SO THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK OUT THERE IN NOVEMBER AND CONTINUE TO VOTE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY ON THE YOUTH PROPOSITION, THAT I THINK THAT IS KEY. NOW, I WANT TO GO OVER TO THE PROPOSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
I KNOW IT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK AND THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT YOU COULD HAVE TACKLED.
BUT THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WE KNEW WERE IMPORTANT. NOW, WHERE THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD IS, I DO THINK WE NEED TERM LIMITS FOR THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD AND AS A COUNCIL I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT TERM LIMITS AS WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT STAY FOR EIGHT YEARS AND TERM OUT. AND THEN THE LANGUAGE FOR THE CHARTER, THE OUTDATED, THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF. THE CITY MANAGER'S EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING TENURE AND COMPENSATION, I THINK THAT BELONGS BACK INTO THE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE ARE A CITY MANAGER-LED CITY WITH A COUNCIL THAT ADVISES AND WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONTROL BACK. AND THEN A RESOUNDING YES TO THE CITY EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
SO I WANT TO -- I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE TO SAY ON THAT.
NOW, AS WE GET TO PROPOSITION E AND F, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THE COMPENSATION -- I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT TO THESE NUMBERS AND I PREFER DOING AMI. BECAUSE AS I SIT ON THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST AND OTHER COMMITTEES I SEE THAT 80% AMI, I SEE THAT WE ARE OFFERING SERVICES TO 60% AMI AND WHEN YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SITTING IN THAT 50% OR 60% AMI, IF THEY HAD NO OTHER JOBS, THAT'S NOT A GOOD PLACE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS RIGHT NOW THAT AREN'T GOING TO THE CITY AND SAYING, HEY, I WANT THOSE SERVICES FOR ME THAT I PAY TO, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF COUNCIL.
IF WE DON'T ADJUST THAT PAY, EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IN THE SHIP, WHICH IS TO SIT THAT AFFORDABILITY, IF THE COUNCIL SITS AT A 60% AMI, THEY CAN GO IN AND THEY CAN LOOK AT THAT. AND IF THEY HAVE A LARGER HOUSEHOLD, IF WE DON'T REACH THAT 80% AMI FOR FOUR PERSONS, THEY COULD EVEN BE LOWER ON THAT.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EQUITABLE AND YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT HAVING TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. THE OTHER THING, THIS IS ABOUT GETTING EQUAL TO WHAT THAT DOLLAR STATEMENT WAS. THIS IS A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND THIS IS NOT VOTED ON BY US. WE'RE JUST PUTTING IT ON THE CHARTER. IT IS THE VOTERS THAT WILL GO OUT TO THE POLLS IN
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NOVEMBER AND DECIDE IF THIS IS HOW THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY BUT I THINK THE 58 AND 73 IS STILL TOO LOW BECAUSE IT WILL PLACE US IN THAT 60% AMI WHERE WE ARE OFFERING SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH 60% AMI. SO I THINK WE NEED TO HIT THAT 80% AMI FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND 100% AMI FOR THE MAYOR. IN TERMS OF E TE EXTENDING THE TERMS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I AM IN SUPPORT OF STAGGERING THE TERMS. I THINK THE COUNTY DOES IT. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ADJUSTMENTS TO LOOK AT THAT. IF WE ALL COME IN 2025 AND WE EVERYBODY WHO CAN GET RE-ELECTED, GETS RE-ELECTED AND WE GET OUR NEW MEMBERS, THAT MEANS 2027 WE CAN BEGIN THE STAGGERING OR WE CAN HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR SIX AND FOUR.
2029, WE WOULD SEE 2, 3, 5, 8, AND 9 AND THE MAYOR TERM OUT.
AND THEN 2031 WOULD BE OUR NEXT SPECIAL ELECTION OR OUR STAGGER WHERE WE WOULD SEE 1, 10, AND 7 GO. AS IT WORKS THROUGH WE CAN DECIDE DO WE WANT TO STAGGER --Y IS GOING TO DEPEND ON -- RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING EVERY TWO YEARS AND WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE SAY, YEAH, FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS I'M GOING TO STICK WITH VIAGRAN.
BUT IF I'VE GOT FOUR YEARS IT MAY NOT BE THAT WAY. THEY MAY NOT WANT ME FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. SO I THINK THAT IS KEY IN TERMS OF SEEING HOW THAT WORKS OUT. AND THAT I THINK BY 2035 WE'LL HAVE AN IDEA OF WHETHER OR NOT WE STAGGER OR WE SEND THEM ALL TOGETHER. SO THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. BECAUSE IT'S ONLY 2027 AND 2031 AND BY THEN WE WOULD HAVE A BETTER IDEA IF WE WANT TO STAGGER. AND WE WOULD HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT A MAYORAL RACE DOES. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WHICHEVER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SITTING IN THAT NON-MAYORAL YEAR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB IN TERMS OF GETTING THE VOTE OUT FOR THOSE DISTRICTS.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR INPUT AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT ON THE CHARTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE TOO BUT THIS ISN'T -- WHAT WE WERE ASKED TO DO AT HAND IS FOCUS ON WHAT YOUR COMMITTEE SPENT SO MANY WEEKS DOING AND GOT THE INPUT FOR.
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO ENTERTAIN OTHER IDEAS WE REALLY NEED TO GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND DO THE DILIGENT WORK THAT YOU GUYS DID. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
EFFORTS AND THANK YOU, ANDY, FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THIS.
THANK YOU TO AFSCME FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. AND THEN OF COURSE THE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT ARE HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. MOSTLY I AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE PRESENTED. I DO WANT TO CALL OUT THE COUNCIL PAY COMPONENT.
I WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM BECAUSE I THINK IT'S INDEXED TO AMI.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WHY A FAMILY OF THREE WAS SELECTED AS THE MEASURE.
MY UNDERSTANDING. >> COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?
I APOLOGIZE. >> KAUR: MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT A FAMILY OF THREE
WAS USED AS THE MEASURE OF AMI FOR THE COUNCIL PAY. >> I THINK WE SPECIFICALLY USED AMI TO THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE USED THE FAMILY NUMBER OF THAT AMI, NOT AN INDIVIDUAL NUMBER, SO A HOUSEHOLD NUMBER. I THINK HOUSEHOLD RELATES TO THREE SO THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO THREE. THAT'S CALCULATIONS THAT THE CENSUS BUREAU DOES EVERY YEAR. THEY CHOOSE THAT NUMBER. IT'S JUST TO GET TO A
HOUSEHOLD NUMBER. >> KAUR: UNDERSTOOD. I THOUGHT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT AMI FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR AND SO THAT'S WHY I WAS WONDERING.
>> I CAN DOUBLE CHECK. IT'S THE HOUSEHOLD NUMBER FOR AMI FROM THE FAMILY
COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT'S PUBLISHED EVERY YEAR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU.
I DO THINK THIS ITEM IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT EQUITY OF REPRESENTATION.
IF YOU GO DOWN THE HALLWAYS AND LOOK AT THE REPRESENTATION OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL, IT DOESN'T REFLECT. IT'S DIFFICULT TO RUN THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN AND DO ALL THE WORK THAT COMES WITH ACCESSING THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK COUNCIL PAY IS REALLY IMPORTANT. IF WE WANT DIVERSITY IN REPRESENTATION WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF A FAMILY THAT YOU'RE NOT RELIANT ON EITHER A PARTNER'S PAY OR BEING INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY OR, IN
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MY CASE, HAVING A CONSULTING JOB WHERE I CAN STILL MANAGE TO DO BOTH.AND THAT ALSO CAUSES OUR CONSTITUENTS TO THINK AM I 100% COMMITTED TO THIS ROLE.
AND I AM BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I JUST CANNOT AFFORD ON THE SALARY PROVIDED. I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT IF WE REALLY WANT EQUITY IN REPRESENTATION AND INDIVIDUALS SITTING UP HERE THAT ARE COMMITTED FULLY TO THIS WORK BECAUSE IT'S GOVERNING THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, THAT WE MAKE SURE WE FOCUS ON THAT.
I DO UNDERSTAND THE IDEOLOGY OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROMOTING AMI AND PROMOTING OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AND FOR THAT REASON I DO SUPPORT IT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I CALL THAT OUT. AS FOR TERM LIMITS, I DO THINK THAT THE FOUR-YEAR TERM LIMITS WILL HELP PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOCUS ON GOVERNANCE. I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF DOING STAGGERED TERM LIMITS BECAUSE THAT ALLOWS FOR ENSURING THERE IS STILL SOME KNOWLEDGE RETENTION ON COUNCIL. I KNOW IT HELPED ME SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO HAVE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT HAD BEEN HERE, THAT HAD THE EXPERIENCE THAT COULD HELP ME KIND OF LEAD THE WAY WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE.
THE QUESTION AROUND STAGGERING TERM LIMITS IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE MAYOR COMPONENT DOES BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE BALLOT. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S IDEA WAS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS KEEP FOUR-YEAR TERM LIMITS AND THE MAYOR IS TWO YEAR AND SO THEY'RE ON EVERY SINGLE BALLOT.
THAT COULD BE AN INTERESTING ADDITION. BUT IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, I DO THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS CAPPED AT EIGHT BECAUSE IT DOES PROVIDE, AGAIN, NOT EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION.
BECAUSE WE'RE SITTING UP HERE AND WE'RE PUTTING THIS ON THE BALLOT, SOME OF US WOULD HAVE AN UNFAIR REPRESENTATION NUMBER OF YEARS, I WOULD SAY.
AS FAR AS THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, ADDING SOMEONE TO THE SAWS AND CPS BOARD, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. I WOULD SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA'S PUSH FOR THAT. LASTLY, I WILL GO TO THE YOUTH FUND ADVOCATES THAT ARE HERE. WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING, THIS WAS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT I SAID, THAT OUR SCHOOL BOARDS, OUR COMMUNITY, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROVIDERS, THEY ARE WORKING ON A CERTAIN TIME OF OUR KIDS.
VERSUS THE CITY, WE REPRESENT THE WHOLE LIFE, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT A STUDENT AND FAMILY IS EXPERIENCING. ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT OUR OFFICE IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS LOOKING AT IN SCHOOL AND LEARNING THAT THEY WILL BE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE LITERATE BY THIRD GRADE, TO HAVE ALL THE INDICATORS WE KNOW LEAD TO SUCCESS.
HOWEVER, SAFE PASSAGEWAY IS SOMETHING WE CONTROL. STREETLIGHTS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT SO WE'RE MAPPING THEM WITHIN A QUARTER MILE RADIUS OF EVERY SCHOOL BECAUSE THE STATE DOESN'T ACTUALLY FUND OUTSIDE OF TWO MILES. BUT WE KNOW IF YOU LOOK AT TWO-MILE RADIUS WITHIN THE DISTRICT, IT'S A REALLY LARGE RADIUS. WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT A QUARTER MILE, OR IF YOU LIVE A QUARTER MILE FROM COTTON, WHAT IS THAT STUDENT LIKE FOR STUDENTS. I DO THINK A FUND WOULD BE HELPFUL IN SUPPORTING THE MISSION OF THAT. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES ALIGNED TO THE WORK THAT THE CITY IS DOING, FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR KIDS.
I APPRECIATE ZACH AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SENDING OUT THE MEMO.
MY QUESTION IS COULD THERE BE A FISCAL POLICY THAT'S IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR THAT IS AT LEAST A PILOT. EVEN IF IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CITY SERVICES THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY EXECUTE ON TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. THIS IS NOT THE INTENT, I DON'T THINK IS TO JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO GO FUND ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. HOW CAN WE REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE GAPS.
WHAT IS THE WORK WE CAN DO WITH OUR YOUTH SO WE DON'T SEE 16-YEAR-OLDS INVOLVED IN THE VIOLENCE THAT WE SEE. AND JUST NOW FOUND OUT ABOUT CESAR CHAVEZ.
THAT'S KIND OF THE PUSH I HAVE. MY QUESTION -- AND I KNOW, BEN, YOU JUST GOT HERE -- BUT MY QUESTION IS WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DEVELOP A FISCAL POLICY FOR THIS BUDGET CYCLE? >> WALSH: COUNCILWOMAN, I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION. YES. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO BE LAYING OUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY. THAT'S REALLY THE COUNCIL'S OPPORTUNITY TO START HAVING YOUR -- REENGAGING IN YOUR CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE, NOT JUST FOR THIS YEAR, THIS UPCOMING YEAR, BUT IN THE FUTURE.
YOU'LL RECALL LAST YEAR IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WE HAD A LOT OF MULTI-YEAR PLANS AND IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE PRIORITIZATION AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE AS A GROUP. SUBSEQUENTLY TO THAT, BEYOND THE ACTUAL PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WILL BE ON YOUR DESK TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY, THAT GOAL-SETTING PROCESS AND THE REVIEW OF FINANCIAL POLICIES EVERY SPRING IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
>> KAUR: THAT WAS THE SIX PLUS SIX THAT WE HAD? >> WALSH: THAT WAS THE
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GOAL-SETTING SESSION AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. AND WE DO THAT EVERY SPRING.THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AND THAT'S WHERE WE TYPICALLY WE'LL REVIEW THOSE FINANCIAL POLICIES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET PROCESS SO WE CAN HAVE THAT
GUIDANCE AS WE DEVELOP THE PROPOSED BUDGET. >> KAUR: OKAY.
WHAT I THINK YOU ALL HEAR FROM OUR COLLEAGUES IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. WE ACTUALLY -- DR. ROCHA GARCIA AND I WERE TALKING THAT WE HAVE SIX PREVIOUS OR CURRENT EDUCATORS ON THE DAIS.
AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
AND I COMMIT TO ADVOCATING TO FIGURING OUT A WAY TO GET SOME ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR ENSURING OUR YOUTH HAVE A MUCH BETTER OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS TO EVERYTHING THEY DESERVE SO THEY CAN BE SITTING UP HERE ONE DAY LEADING OUR CITY A LOT STRONGER. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, ANDY FOR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL AS TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE PUT IN IN ENGAGING COMMUNITY AS WELL AS ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. I'VE ALSO HAD A HANDFUL OF CONSTITUENTS CALL OUR FIELD OFFICE TO GIVE THEIR INPUT AND HAVE SENT A COUPLE OF LETTERS AS WELL.
WANTED TO THANKS D5 RESIDENTS FOR REMAINING ENGAGED AND SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS. IN REGARDS TO PROPOSITION A, I ALSO AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH REMOVING THE TERM LIMITS OF THE ERB MEMBERS.
WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT TERM LIMITS, WHETHER IT'S FOR CITY COUNCIL AND/OR THE CITY MANAGER AND WHEN IT COMES TO ETHICS I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TERM LIMITS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS FOR GROWTH.
TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY, IF APPOINTED, TO SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. JUST GIVEN THAT IT IS AN ETHICS BOARD, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH REMOVING THE TERM LIMITS FOR THE ERB MEMBERS.
IN REGARDS TO THE LANGUAGE IN THE CHARTER WITH PROPOSITION B, I WANTED TO THANK MARIA SALAZAR FOR SERVING ON THAT COMMITTEE AND ENSURING THE LANGUAGE IS UPDATED AND MODERNIZED. I DID HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE THREE-SIGNATURE MEMO. WOULD THAT MEAN THAT THE CITY CLERK WOULD NOT HAVE THE POWER OR THE AUTHORITY TO SCHEDULE A MEETING UPON RECEIVING A THREE-SIGNATURE
MEMO? >> SEGOVIA: THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN.
I NEGLECTED TO MENTION THAT IN MY PRESENTATION. ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION WAS TO CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE.
BUT BASED ON THE DISCUSSION OF THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAD THAT DAY, WE DID NOT INCLUDE THAT AS PART OF THE LANGUAGE CHANGES. SO THAT LANGUAGE WILL STAY
AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN IN THE CHARTER. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, ANDY. THAT PIECE HAD MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE.
IN REGARDS TO PROPOSITION C AND GRANTING CITY COUNCIL THE AUTHORITY TO SET FULL TERMS, WHILE I DID EXPRESS THAT I BELIEVE YOU CAN BE EFFECTIVE WITH TWO-YEAR TERMS, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF FOUR-YEAR TERMS. BUT I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS AND NO COUNCIL MEMBER EXCEEDING EIGHT YEARS.
AND, AGAIN, THE REASON I'M OPPOSED TO STAGGERED TERMS IS FOR WHAT JOHN PRESENTED.
THERE'S AN ADVANTAGE, DEPENDING ON WHICH CYCLE YOU'RE ON.
IF YOU'RE ON WITH THE MAYOR, IT TURNS OUT HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S EQUITABLE. IN REGARDS -- AGAIN, I MENTIONED THIS DURING THE LAST CONVERSATION AROUND THE CITY MANAGER'S SALARY AND TERM LIMITS. MAYBE I'M BIASED BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT CITY MANAGER NOW. BUT I DON'T THINK WITH THE CURRENT LANGUAGE WITHIN THE CHARTER WE'VE HAD A HARD TIME ATTRACTING TOP TALENT. AND CURRENTLY THE CITY MANAGER'S SALARY IS TIED TO TEN TIMES THE LOWEST-PAID COSA EMPLOYEE.
AND THAT MEANS THE CITY MANAGER MUST ENSURE ALL CITY EMPLOYEES ARE COMPENSATED FAIRLY, WHICH ACTS BOTH AS AN INCENTIVE TO BUILD A STRONGER ORGANIZATION AND TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST OVERCOMPENSATING BAD MANAGEMENT.
SO THAT'S THE PROPOSITION WHERE I'M NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT SOME OF THE BEST TALENT IN THE UNITED STATES TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND I THINK IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE TIED.
THE SALARY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE TIED TO THE CITY'S LOWEST-SALARIED EMPLOYEE.
IN REGARDS TO CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION, I GUESS CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND OR WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS IT TIED TO HUD'S AMI. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MADE A GREAT ARGUMENT AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FALL INTO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
WHEN WE'RE HELPING CONSTITUENTS APPLY FOR HOUSING OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE, THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE HUD AMI. I THINK BEING CONSISTENT WITH A LOT OF THOSE APPLICATIONS WOULD HAVE VALUE.
YOU KNOW, GREAT CONVERSATION AROUND EDUCATION. YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OUR OFFICE HAS SENT FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10 OVER TO HAVEN FOR HOPE TO IDENTIFY HOUSING FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AND I THINK INVESTING IN YOUTH IS
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INVESTING IN THE RELOCATION PROGRAM. INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SO MUCH MORE. SO I THINK WHILE WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT YOUTH, LET'S LOOK AT THE ASSETS WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR CITY BUDGET.WE INVESTING IN NXT LEVEL AND HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE AND DO SUCH GREAT WORK FOR SAN ANTONIO YOUTH .
I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REVISIT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE CAN SCALE UP WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS IN OUR BUDGET. FURTHER, THIS IS A BIT DEVIATING AWAY FROM WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT THE ABATEMENTS THAT WE GIVE EVERY TIME WE'RE OFFERING ABATEMENTS, THAT'S LESS FUNDING GOING TOWARDS OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER PAYING THAT PROPERTY TAX FOR THE ISD.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES FOR US TO LOOK AT AND HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH. ULTIMATELY, THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.
WITH THE STAGGERED TERMS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T HAVE STAGGERED TERMS AND WE SHIFT TOWARDS SPECIAL ELECTIONS. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE EARLIER. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY THAT WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE HAD TO BRING UP ANY IDEAS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO US BY COMMUNITY. I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO CONSIDER OTHER ISSUES BUT WE AS A COUNCIL DIDN'T HAVE A FORMAL OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THOSE FORWARD. WE HAVE A GREAT BUDGET PROCESS WHERE WE GET TO TALK ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES AND IT'S A LONG, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT FOR THE CHARTER. THIS IS THE FIRST, IN MY VIEW, THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE HAD TO BRING UP ITEMS THAT HAVE COME TO US FROM COMMUNITY. I SUBMIT THAT THESE ISSUES ARE GERMANE TODAY AND THEY WILL BE GERMANE AGAIN NEXT WEEK WHEN WE VOTE ON THESE ITEMS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I NEGLECTED TO REALLY THANK THE COMMISSION FOR THE WORK THEY DID WHEN I FIRST SPOKE. AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD THE BEST INTEREST OF THIS COMMUNITY AT HEART AS THEY SAT AND MET AND TALKED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND DID THE RESEARCH AND THE HOMEWORK THEY NEEDED TO DO TO PRESENT THIS TO US TODAY. SO I DO WANT TO EXPRESS TO ALL OF THOSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, MY GRATITUDE. IT IS UP TO THE COUNCIL, THOUGH, TO MAKE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PUBLIC BASED ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMISSION. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT I WANT TO SAY ONE ITEM THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED TOO MUCH ABOUT, AND THAT'S PROPOSITION C ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER. I TOTALLY SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT IT IS THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY OF CITY COUNCIL TO HIRE AND TO FIRE THE CITY MANAGER.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY. I THINK IT ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE THAT WAY BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER CARRIES OUT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES PUT IN PLACE BY THE CITY COUNCIL. AND IF A CITY MANAGER CAN'T DO THAT, THEN THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO REPLACE THEM. AND, AT THE SAME TIME, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE THE BEST CITY MANAGER WE CAN, BE IT A MAN OR WOMAN ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE, THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT WITHOUT LIMITATIONS OF SO MANY YEARS THEY CAN SERVE AND WHAT IS THE AFFORDABLE PRICE THIS COUNCIL COULD PAY TO BRING IN THE BEST PROFESSIONAL WE CAN.
BUT I WOULD SAY THAT ALSO REFERS TO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITY ATTORNEY.
YOU KNOW, IF WE SUPPORT AND TRUST THE CITY MANAGER, THEN WE SHOULD RELY ON HIM OR HER TO CHOOSE THE BEST PROFESSIONAL, TO GIVE US THE BEST ADVICE AND NOT TURN AROUND AND PLAY POLITICS. I SERVED ON A BOARD YEARS AGO WHERE THE BOARD HIRED THE ATTORNEY. AND I KNEW THERE WAS TOO MUCH POLITICS GOING ON IN THAT KIND OF DECISION. WE DON'T NEED TO SEE THAT HAPPEN HERE.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT COMPENSATION. I TOLD YOU IN MY VIEW THAT WE WEREN'T GIVING ENOUGH CONSIDERATION TO THE EXTENT OF THE WORKLOAD THAT WE'RE ASKING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE. I DID A LITTLE PENCIL WORK.
YOU KNOW, THE SAN ANTONIO 2024 MEDIAN INCOME I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET JUST NOW IS ABOUT $83,000 FOR 100% AMI. 80% OF THAT WOULD BE CLOSER TO $67,000 A YEAR, AS OPPOSED TO, WHAT, $58,000 A YEAR.
AND THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGE OF 25 AND 64, WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF YOUR WORKING POPULATION IN THE CITY, IS BETWEEN 61.5000 AND $68.3000
[01:25:06]
A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF THREE MEDIAN INCOME . I THINK IF WE WANT TO TREAT ANY POTENTIAL NEW COUNCIL MEMBER ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT THE MEDIAN FAMILY CAN EARN IN THIS CITY, THEN WE OUGHT TO BE PAYING THAT KIND OF COMPENSATION.AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE ON CITY COUNCIL FOR DISTRICT 9. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BENEFIT ME. THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE WHO ARE SINCERE AND COMMITTED AND WELL PREPARED TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF A CITY COUNCIL PERSON. NOT ONLY, AS I SAID EARLIER, DO YOU WORK WITH 40 DEPARTMENTS AND THREE MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS: THE AIRPORT, CPS, AND SAWS, BUT YOU ALSO MANAGE MAYBE EIGHT OR TEN PROFESSIONALS DOING WORK ALL OVER THE CITY EVERY DAY.
AND SO I REALLY WOULD WANT US TO GIVE DEEPER CONSIDERATION TO A BETTER SALARY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. NOW, YOU NOTICE I HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE MAYOR. I'LL LET ALL THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE ACCUSED OF HAVING A SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE MAYOR SALARY SINCE I'M A CANDIDATE. HOWEVER, IT DID STRIKE ME AS INTERESTING THAT THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS SO FAR, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, HAVE SAID, OH, WE DON'T NEED TO RAISE THE PAY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT ALL THREE OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE LAWYERS EARNING ADDITIONAL SUFFICIENT INCOME OUTSIDE OF BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER WHERE THEY COULD PROBABLY WORK FOR FREE. BUT THE REST OF US CAN'T DO THAT.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO ADEQUATE COMPENSATION TO
OUR FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> EXCUSE ME, COUNCILMAN. I JUST WANT CLARITY FOR YOU. SO THE PREVIOUS COMMISSION THAT ESTABLISHED YOUR CURRENT SALARIES AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR USED THE SPECIFIC AMI OF THE BOUNDARY OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THE CENSUS BUREAU DOES WORK BOTH IN OUR CITY LIMITS AND ALSO IN THE MSA, WHICH IS THE METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA. SO THE NUMBER YOU QUOTED INCLUDES NEW BRAUNFELS, ALL THE OUTLYING CITIES LIKE BOERNE, ALL THE ENCLAVE CITIES WITHIN SAN ANTONIO.
THE COMMISSION THAT PRESENTED TO YOU THIS YEAR AS WELL IS USING SPECIFICALLY THE AMI BOUNDED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY LIMITS.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER YOU'RE SEEING. >> COURAGE: FOR WHAT YEAR
DID THEY USE THAT? >> I BELIEVE IT WAS 22. >> COURAGE: I'M SEEING
RECENTLY PUBLISHED THINGS -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL EVALUATE BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO MORE ATTORNEY -- JUST PLAYING. I WANT TO REITERATE AGAIN, I APPRECIATE AND I KNOW THE WORK YOU DID WAS FORMED BY YOUR CHARGE SO I WOULD RESPECT ACTUALLY SHARE AN OPPORTUNITY HOW WE GOT TO THAT POINT. THE CHARGE WAS SET BY THE MAYOR. WE AS COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE INDEPTH DISCUSSIONS ALL THE TIME WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY OR REASONS WE CAN'T DO THIS BECAUSE OF THE CHARTER OR THIS OR THAT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE FOR COUNCILMEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE CHARGE AND HAVE THE COMMISSION MEANINGFULLY DRAWS WHAT THEY HEARD. THE UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR SINCE HE'S TERM LIMITED THAT HE'S THE APPROPRIATE VESSEL THAT HE WILL NO LONGER BE IMPACTED BY. BUT I LOVE A LOT OF THE IDEAS WE'VE HEARD. WE DIDN'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY VET THEM TO TAKE THEM TO VOTERS. WE HAD SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ON THE FRONT END.
THE NEXT TIME WE REVISIT THE CHARTER THAT COUNCILMEMBERS BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMEND A.IES TO THE MAYOR AND WE HAVE A B SESSION OR WORK SESSION.
I THINK THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CONFLICT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I AGREE WITH KEEPING TERM LIMITS FOR ETHIC REVIEW MEMBERS AND I DO WANT TO POSE SOMETHING REGARDING STAGGERED TERMS. I UNDERSTAND THE COMMISSION WANTED TO AVOID STAGGERING. I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THIS.
IN 2021, PROP B FAILED THEIR LOWLY, BUT
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CAMPAIGN TO MOTIVATE FOLK IN OTHER DISTRICTS 20 VOTE. YOU CAN SAY A SINGLE CANDIDATE IS ENOUGH TO MOTIVATE VOTERS TO COME OUT. WHO WOULD BE MAYOR IN A YEAR 1 THROUGH 5 VOTED VERSUS 6 THROUGH 10. I'M SWITCHING TOPICS.IF VOTERS APPROVE A HIGHER PAY, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS TO CHOOSE LOWER PAY FOR THEMSELVES OR REJECT THE PAY ALTOGETHER?
>> SEGOVIA: ABSOLUTELY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO A COUNCILMEMBER, THEY CAN REFUSE THAT PAY FOR THEMSELVES WITHOUT AFFECTING THOSE AROUND OR AFTER THEM.
I ALSO AGREE WITH USING HUD'S DEFINITION OF AMI. WE USE IT FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, IT MAKES SENSE, EVEN IF IT IS FOR A THREE-PERSON HOUSEHOLD.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION SO COUNCILMEMBER PAY CAN BE INDEXED ANNUALLY.
I WILL BE SPECIFIC IN MY NEXT QUESTION, ANDY. WE HAVE CURRENTLY TWO COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ONE LAST TWO-YEAR TERM IN THE NEXT ELECTION. IF THE ELECTION IS FOR FOUR-YEAR, 2024 TO 2029 TERM, IS THERE A WAY THOSE TWO COUNCILMEMBERS CAN BE ELECTED, SERVE ONLY TWO YEARS AND AN ELECTION BE HELD OR IS THERE LANGUAGE THAT CAN BE ADDED?
>> SEGOVIA: THE ANSWER IS YES. WE CAN HAVE LANGUAGE SO THAT I'M HEARING THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS RUN FOR THAT FOUR-YEAR TERM BUT RECOGNIZING THAT THEY WOULD ONLY SERVE TWO WITH A SPECIAL ELECTION AFTER THAT SECOND YEAR.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE WHAT I THINK I WAS HEARING WAS THIS WORRY THAT SOME COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD BE LIMITED AT SIX YEARS OR THEY HAVE TO GET THE TEN YEARS AND I DON'T THINK THAT HAS TO BE THE CASE. I THINK I'M HEARING SOME SORT OF CONSENSUS AROUND THE IDEA EIGHT YEARS IS FAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND CHANCE TO SPEAK AND ALL THE, WOUL, ALL THE ADVOCACY. SOME OF THESE ARE REALLY EXCITING.
THERE'S ALSO THINGS DISAPPOINTING ABOUT TODAY, BUT OVERALL I THINK WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS BETTER GOVERNANCE, SO THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ACTUALLY HAD A QUESTION, BUT I'M GOOD NOW.
I JUST FOUND IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ANDY, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS TOO. SO ON THE TERMS. WOULD THIS -- WHAT ABOUT FORMER COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT DID NOT GET TO TERM OUT AT EIGHT YEARS? COULD THEY RUN AGAIN AND THEN THEY WOULD ONLY GET TO
SERVE TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS OR DO THEY GET DO RESTART? >> SEGOVIA: AS THE CO-CHAIR POINTED OUT, COUNCILWOMAN, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IS A TRANSITION. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, FORMER COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE -- WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY SITTING ON CITY COUNCIL, THEY WOULD STILL BE LIMITED IN THAT IF THEY'VE ALREADY SERVED SIX, THEY COULDN'T RUN FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM. WE'RE TRYING TO WORK TRANSITION SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE AS BEST WE CAN COUNCILMEMBERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SITTING ON
COUNCIL. >> VIAGRAN: SO -- OKAY. THAT HELPS A LOT.
SO -- OKAY, GREAT. AND I AM FOR SPECIAL ELECTIONS AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO -- IF THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WANT TO DISCUSS STAGGERING, LIKE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD DISCUSS THAT.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S WORKED TO SEE HOW ELECTIONS WORK WITH A MAYORAL CANDIDATE. BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT -- IF STAGGERING IS COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE TOO. I -- ECONOMICAL TOO.
IF WE COULD STAGGER, IF IT'S GOING TO COST US MORE MONEY -- SURE, IT WAS.
IF IT'S GOING TO COST US MORE MONEY, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
LIKE THAT WAS THE WHOLE THING OF EXTENDING THE TERM SO WE'RE NOT SPENDING AS MUCH MONEY. SO I THINK THERE'S THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR.
AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK ON IS THE -- WHEN CAN WE GET THOSE NUMBERS, THE HUD AMI NUMBERS? WHEN WILL WE ACTUALLY GET
THEM BECAUSE WE'RE VOTING NEXT WEEK. >> WALSH: COUNCILWOMAN, THERE'S A COUPLE OF FOLLOW-UP ITEMS FROM THIS MORNING'S CONVERSATIONS.
WE'LL PRODUCE A MEMO OUT TO COUNCIL BY TOMORROW. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> SEGOVIA: IF I MAY, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF
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DISCUSSION ON STAGGERING. PART OF THAT WILL BE HOW THE STAGGERING WOULD WORK.IN TERMS OF WHAT YEAR IT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AND SOME OPTIONS AS TO HOW WE
WOULD STAGGER THEM. >> VIAGRAN: AND IF WE COULD GET A COST FOR AN ELECTION. I'M FINE WITH THE -- IN THEORY, IF 1, 10 AND 7 GET ELECTED TO FOUR YEARS AND WE HAVE TO DO A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FINISH OUT THEIR TWO YEARS, IT WOULD BE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FINISH THE TERM.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE COST BECAUSE STAGGERING WOULD ONLY WORK IF WE HAD ISSUES MOVING FORWARD AND THE COST FOR AN ELECTION.
BECAUSE WE WOULD STILL BE DOING THE COSTS EVERY TWO YEARS AND THE SAVINGS IF WE
ALL GO EVERY FOUR YEARS. >> COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, THE COST OF GENERAL ELECTION WHEN WE HAVE 11 SEATS OPEN, THE COSTS RUNOFF, IT TEMPERATURES ON HOW MUCH -- HOW MANY COUNCIL BE DISTRICTS ARE INVOLVED IN THE RUNOFF. IF WE HAVE A RUNOFF THAT INCLUDES THE MAYOR'S SEAT, IT'S GOING TO COST AROUND THE SAME AS THE GENERAL ELECTION.
SO -- AND IT COULD COST EVEN MORE BECAUSE WE GENERALLY BEAR THE ENTIRE COST OF THAT ELECTION. SO STAGGERING IF ELECTIONS ON A NON-COUNCIL -- ON A NON-MAYOR YEAR WOULD BE A LITTLE CHEAPER GENERALLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO HOLD THE ELECTION IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT. BUT IT'S STILL SUBJECT TO HAVING RUNOFFS IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT SO THE COSTS WOULD BE MORE TO DO
THAT. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, AND DEBBIE, IF YOU COULD GET THOSE NUMBERS WITH RUNOFFS WITHOUT -- FOR STAGGERED YEARS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL
TOO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANKS. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BONNIE AND DAVID FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU COULD BE DOING OTHER THINGS.
DAVID, YOU GOT FAMILY AND YOU ARE RETIRED AND YOU COULD BE SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY. INSTEAD YOU ARE SPENDING WITH US PAYING FOR PARKING DOWNTOWN AND HAVING TO WRANGLE A BUNCH 6 CATS AT BOARD MEETINGS.
BONNIE, YOU'VE GOT A DAY JOB WHERE IT'S HARD ENOUGH, BUT INSTEAD YOU KEEP SAYING YES WHEN WE ASK YOU TO STEP UP. THAT'S NO SMALL THING AND I DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED AND I'M A WITNESS TO THE HARD WORK YOU DO. I KNOW I ALSO DRIVE YOU CRAZY, BONNIE, IN PARTICULAR OVER THE YEARS, BECAUSE WE DISAGREE ON SOME THINGS, AND THAT'S OKAY, THAT'S HEALTHY. I THINK WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT BEFORE US IS HEALTHY AND I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE DAIS IS HEALTHY. I THINK THIS STRIKES A FANTASTIC BALANCE AND IT'S AN IMPERFECT LIST OF IMPERFECT THINGS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE AMENDING AN IMPERFECT DOCUMENT SO THAT WE CAN BETTER RUN AN IMPERFECT GOVERNMENT. AND THAT'S JUST THE VERY NATURE OF THINGS AND I THINK WE'RE ALL BIG BOYS AND GIRLS AND WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WALKED INTO THIS JOB WIDE OPEN KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO PLAY THE CARDS WE'RE DEALT AND THAT WE ARE HERE IN SERVICE TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T IN THE ROOM.
AND SO THIS MORNING I WAS WITH 200-PLUS SENIORS AT THE MAYAN THEATER AND HOSTING THEM FOR THE DAY. NONE OF THEM, NONE OF THEM, THEY WERE TALKING TO ME ABOUT THINGS IMPORTANT TO ME AND NONE OF THEM SAID GOSH, WE JUST NEED TO PAY YOU GUYS MORE. OR WE REALLY NEED TO FIX THOSE TERM LIMITS.
OR WE NEED TO HELP ERIK WALSH MAKE SURE HE IS GETTING COMPETITIVE PAY.
NONE OF THEM SAID WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE RETURN THE POLITICAL RIGHTS TO 13,000 EMPLOYEES. THEY DIDN'T SAY THAT. THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE THEY ARE LIVING THEIR LIVES, SURVIVING, THRIVING, IN SOME INSTANCES, SOME NOT.
THEY ARE REALLY NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THINGS WE DO UP HERE.
OUR JOB IS TO COME HERE, DISTILL AND SIN THAT SIZE ALL THE FACTS THAT ARE SENT OUR WAY SO WE CAN BETTER DELIVER SERVICES TO THEM. WE PROMISE SERVICES THAT ARE EXCELLENT AND RELEVANT AND TIMELY. AND I THINK FOR THE MOST PART WE HIT THE MARK AND THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
SO WITH REGARDS TO -- AND I REALLY ONLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS.
ONE IS THE -- I'M SORRY, I'M HAVING A SENIOR MOMENT. WITH REGARDS TO THE GEAR MOW'S AND AFSCME'S REQUEST, I HOPE YOU CAN TALK TO YOUR PEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW THE
[01:40:02]
SYSTEM WORKS. WE HAVE A CHARTER COMMISSION MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN YOU GUYS SHOWED UP TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AND SHOWED UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD AND YOU ARE SEEING THE RESULT OF THAT IN THIS DOCUMENT. I HAVE A FEELING ALL OF CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO VOTE ON A PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKING US TO DO.LET NO ONE SAY THIS WAS FIXED FROM THE BEGINNING BECAUSE IT WASN'T.
THIS WAS NEVER IN THE DOCUMENT AND YOU PUSHED AND WE HEARD.
THE SECOND THING IS CONTRARY TO WHAT WE HEARD EARLIER, I HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO RECOMMEND TO THE MAYOR PEOPLE TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE.
TWO OF THE FOLKS I RECOMMENDED DIDN'T GET ON, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATED IT.
THE MAYOR IS EASY TO REACH, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL HIM AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR LISTENING WHEN I CALLED. LASTLY, I -- MY POSITION ON COUNCIL PAY IS OUT THERE.
NOT MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT IT. AND, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME, MAYBE AT SOME LATER TIME, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW WHEN WE'RE ONE OF THE POOREST CITIES IN THE STATE AND WHY WE'RE WORKING HARD TO PAY US MORE WHEN WE COULD BE WORKING TOWARD MAKING THEM BETTER OFF.
ERIK, THIS ISN'T EASY. YOU KNOW, THERE'S TWO DOCUMENTS IN AMERICA THAT ARE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO AMEND. ONE IS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION'S COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS DOCUMENTS. THOSE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO AMEND.
AND THEY SHOULD BE DIFFICULT TO AMEND. THIS SHOULD -- THIS PROCESS OF AMENDING YOUR MUNICIPAL CONSTITUTION INCLUDED SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT TAKES A LONG TIME TO CONSIDER, A LONG TIME TO KICK AROUND, CHEW ON, VET, DISCUSS WITH THE PUBLIC. IT SHOULD BE A PROCESS WITH A WHEEL THAT GRINDS VERY SLOWLY. A LOT OF FOLKS JUST WANTED TO LET'S GET TO IT AND VOTE.
IT SHOULD BE -- IT SHOULD BE A PROCESS THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF DISCUSSION, A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT. AND I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING ON THIS COUNCIL IS RESPECTFUL DISAGREEMENT. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT DELIBERATIVE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE. I'M PROUD OF COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR KEEPING IT CLASSY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS AND REALLY STAYING FOCUSED ON OUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR MEMBERSHIP.
THANK YOU, DAVID AND BONNIE, AND BONNIE YOUR BOSS FOR LENDING YOU TO US.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: IN REGARDS TO THE STAGGERED TERMS, I HAVE A CONCERN THAT STAGGERED TERMS MAY RESULT IN HAVING A REDUCED NUMBER OF POLLING SITES. RIGHT NOW WE CAN VOTE ANYWHERE IN BEXAR COUNTY OR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DESPITE YOUR PRECINCT.
IF WE'RE REDUCING PRECINCTS DUE TO COSTS DEPENDING ON IF IT'S STAGGERED OR NOT, MY CONCERN IS ACCESSIBILITY IF FOLKS ARE LEAVING WORK OR THE HOSPITAL OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THEY MAY NOT HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE SITE. I WANTED TO STRESS THAT PIECE. WHILE I WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED COUNCIL DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS OR APPOINT TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS AFSCME WAS SUCCESSFUL IN ENSURING THAT, ONE, THEY REPRESENTED THEIR MEMBERSHIP WELL, AND NOW CITY EMPLOYEES MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE WAS YOU ALL MEETING WITH COUNCIL, GOING TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP.
THANK YOU ALL AND GREAT WORK AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS ON THE BALLOT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY AND THE DISCUSSION TODAY, AND I JUST WANT TO END WITH SAYING THAT I HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE DO LOOK AT CHARTER THAT WE DO LOOK AT ISSUES THAT MORE DIRECTLY IMPACT HOW GOVERNMENT CAN RUN BETTER HERE AT THE CITY SO THAT IT MORE DIRECTLY BENEFITS THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THESE PROPOSITIONS, TWO OR FOUR-YEAR TERMS, MORE TAX DOLLARS TO BE PAID TO COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS ISN'T GOING TO DIRECTLY
[01:45:01]
BENEFIT OR IMPROVE OUR CITIZENS' DAY TO DAY LIVES. AND IT'S MY OPINION THAT MY MAKING GOVERNMENT MORE ACCESSIBLE, TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE, THAT'S HOW WE HELP THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT'S HOW WE HELP THE CITY'S BUSINESSES, AND THAT'S HOW WE HELP SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES.AND SO WHILE I APPRECIATE THIS EFFORT AND I HOPE THAT SOME GOOD COMES OUT OF IT, MOVING FORWARD, WHEN WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW WE SHOULD AMEND OUR CITY CHATTER, THE CHARGE FROM THE MAYOR SHOULD BE WHAT CAN WE DO TO THE CITY CHARTER TO MAKE THE CITIZENS' LIVES IN SAN ANTONIO BETTER, SAFER, AND MORE PROSPEROUS.
THANKS. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> COURAGE: TUMOR. ACTUALLY I HAD A QUESTION FOR MAYOR NIRENBERG. IT'S JUST A CLARIFICATION. ON THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND ITEM THAT YOU SENT OUT, THERE WAS A CLEAR DATE, WERE YOU ENVISIONING FOR THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET TO START? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I THINK ERIK ANSWERED THAT QUESTION. WE COULD PURSUE WHAT THE SUBSTANCE OF THAT PROPOSAL IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET T SUBSTANCE IS WE WOULD CARVE OUT 20% OF OUR REVENUE GROWTH THIS YEAR. WHEN WE HAVE A 20-SOME-ODD MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
THE OTHER PART OF THE PROPOSAL IS AN INDEPENDENT BODY OF PEOPLE WOULD DETERMINE HOW THOSE FUNDS WILL BE USED. AGAIN, I THINK IT JUST REQUIRES SOME ANALYSIS. I THINK WE ALL AGREE, AND COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO MADE SOME GOOD POINTS ABOUT HOW YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ARE ALREADY PRIORITIES WITHIN OUR CITY BUDGET, HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO THE PROPOSAL.
NO ONE IS ARGUING WITH THE ELEMENT. THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS YOUTH LIVE ALL OVER THE CITY. WHERE IS THE [INAUDIBLE].
PROBABLY THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DOES THAT FACTOR IN. YES, WE COULD DO IT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
I THINK DEVELOPING A POLICY WOULD REQUIRE A LITTLE MORE WORK.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. I'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH A THE LOOK OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE HERE EARLIER AND WHILE 20% I FEEL WAS THE MOON SHOT. SO WHAT WE'RE TAKING FROM ALAMO COLLEGES, I STILL THINK THERE COULD BE A PERCENTAGE THAT WE THINK ABOUT THAT'S LOWER THAT IS KIND OF A STARTING POINT. AND ALSO A DATE. SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS, AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS FOR ERIK.
I KNOW IT'S KIND OF -- SO IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A LAST MINUTE, BUT THEY'VE BEEN MEETING SINCE OCTOBER, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS.
THEY CAME -- ACTUALLY THEY WERE THE LOUDEST VOICES AT THE CHARTER COMMISSION EVEN MORE SO I FEEL THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ONES. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE THEM THEIR --? AND THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND CAN WE COMMIT TO REVEALING SOME OF THIS? LIKE HOW FAST WOULD WE BE ABLE TO -- I KNOW WE'RE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET. I'M JUST WORRIED HOW FAST. >> WALSH: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING SINCE OCTOBER. SO THE MAYOR AND I TALKED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN THAT MEMO ABOUT LOOKING AT IT. WE CAN START TO PULL TOGETHER -- I THINK ONE OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS TALKED ABOUT WHAT OTHER EXISTING PROGRAMS WE HAVE IN OUR CURRENT SERVICES AND CURRENT SPENDING THAT ARE DEDICATED TOWARDS YOUTH.
AND WE CAN WORK TOWARDS THAT. AS I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION, I PROBABLY ENVISION THOSE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED AS WE GO THROUGH OUR BUDGET WORK SESSION, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP IDENTIFY THAT. AND I THINK IT GOES BACK TO HOW I ANSWERED COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL. YOU WILL SET THE PACE FOR THAT. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING BUDGET CONVERSATIONS FOR THE NEXT 45 DAYS. BEYOND THAT, I ALSO THINK IT'S AN OPTION FOR THE COUNCIL TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DURING THE PROPOSED BUDGET CONVERSATION WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS AS A GROUP GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE. AND MAYBE TASKED EFFORTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS THE FISCAL YEAR '25 GOES ON.
IS IT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR EARLY IN 2025
[01:50:01]
IN ADVANCE OF THE GOAL SETTING OF NEXT YEAR? REALLY IT'S KIND OF AN OPEN BOOK. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A -- NECESSARILY A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT THAT'S GOT A DUE DATE. I THINK IT REALLY RESTS UPONTHE COUNCIL'S CONVERSATION AND HOW WE PRIORITIZE. >> GARCIA: WOULD WE BE ABLE TO HAVE A DEDICATED BUDGET SESSION TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE IN THEIR PROPOSAL THEY WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, LIKE, SIDEWALKS. THE MAYOR MADE HIS POINT CLEAR WHEN I TALKED TO HIM, A PORTION OF THIS DOES BENEFIT. CAN THIS MONEY GO TO HELPING PROVIDE A YOUTH CENTER OR ADDITIONAL SHADE AT PARKS, ET CETERA.
SO I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. I STILL THINK THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE AND NOT AN OUTSIDE ENTITY, OUTSIDE GROUP, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMUNITY. WOULD THIS MERIT AN ENTIRE
BUDGET DISCUSSION? >> WALSH: I SEE IT MORE AS AN ELEMENT OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC WORKS OR HUMAN SERVICES OR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES OR INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE A LOT OF ASPECTS. THE ALAMO PROMISE FUNDING WE HAVE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO MAYBE AS WE DESIGN OUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNCIL IN THE WORK SESSIONS WE CALL OUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF YOUTH AND FUNDING OF CURRENT SERVICES.
I THINK WE DO NEED A LITTLE TIME TO PULL TOGETHER THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE HAVE CURRENTLY SPENDING. I HAVE AN ESTIMATE RIGHT NOW THAT WE'VE WORKED ON, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SOLID BECAUSE WE STARTED WORKING ON IT YESTERDAY.
SO I THINK IT'S PRETTY EASILY DOABLE FOR THAT STANDPOINT.
>> GARCIA: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ERIK, DO YOU WANT TO WRAP THIS UP?
>> WALSH: I THINK THERE'S SOME FOLLOW-UP WE WILL WORK ON TODAY AND GET TO THE COUNCIL BY TOMORROW MORNING. THAT WAY YOU HAVE CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT.
WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD FEEDBACK AND OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS, BUT OUR INTENT IS TO GET IT BACK TO YOU BY TOMORROW MORNING
SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.
ALL RIGHT. PROCEDURAL QUESTION? WE'LL FOLLOW UP.
SO THE IDEA, AGAIN, NEXT WEEK WE'LL HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR COUNCIL TO CALL THE CHARTER ELECTION THAT WILL APPEAR ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
THE LANGUAGE OF THAT WILL BE SUMMARIZED FROM THIS CONVERSATION IN A MEMO FROM
THE CITY MANAGER TOMORROW. >> WHYTE: POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
FOR ANDY, WILL WE BE ABLE TO MAKE MOTIONS TO AMEND TO ADD ADDITIONAL ITEMS NEXT WEEK?
>> SEGOVIA: YES, COUNCILMAN. NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN TODAY, THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THEM NEXT WEEK AND YOU WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE
MOTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AT 10:54 A.M. ON THE FIRST DAY OF AUGUST, 2024, CITY COUNCIL IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANKS, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.