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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. IT'S 2:08 P.M. ON AUGUST 14TH, 2024.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WE HAVE ONE ITEM FOR OUR B SESSION TODAY, AND THAT IS THE BRIEFING ON A NEW DOWNTOWN MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM FOR SAN ANTONIO, SO TO GET IT STARTED, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER,
ERIK WALSH. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, AND I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO KIND OF LAY THE GROUNDWORK HERE. THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS ARE A AA AFFILIATE OF THE SAN DIEGO PADRES, AND HAVE PLAYED THEIR GAMES AT NELSON WOLFF STADIUM SINCE 1994. IN 2022, THE MISSIONS WERE ACQUIRED BY A LOCAL OWNERSHIP GROUP CALLED THE DESIGNATED BIDDERS, LLC.
AND DUE TO THE AGE OF NELSON WOLFF STADIUM AND NEW STANDARDS THAT MLB CAME UP WITH IN TERMS OF GRADING THE EXPECTATIONS AND -- BOTH FROM A FACILITIES STANDPOINT, A PLAYERS' STANDPOINT, MLB REQUESTED OF THE NEW OWNERSHIP GROUP A PLAN FOR A FACILITY THAT MET THEIR STANDARDS.
WOLFF STADIUM DID NOT MEET IN A NUMBER OF AREAS THE STANDARDS THAT THEY EXPECTED A MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS TO BE PLAYING IN. SO THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE OWNERSHIP GROUP OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS ON A PROPOSED PROJECT TO INCLUDE BOTH THE FINANCING AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW DOWNTOWN MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM, A NEW HOME FOR THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS. AND A SURROUNDING PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT WILL BE PART OF TODAY'S CONVERSATION.
THE NEW OWNERSHIP GROUP, AS WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, HAVE IN PAI PARALLEL BEEN HAVING SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY. AND IN PARALLEL, REALLY WITH THE SAME GOAL IN MIND TO BE ABLE TO GET TO A FINAL PROPOSED PLAN THAT CAN BE EXECUTABLE, AND SO IN JULY, I REPORTED TO ALL OF YOU AND SENT YOU A COPY OF THE LETTER, THE MAYOR AND THE JUDGE, IN ADVANCE OF AN AUGUST 1ST DEADLINE THAT THE TEAM HAD WITH MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO LAY OUT WHAT IS THEIR PLAN FROM A FACILITY'S STANDPOINT, THE JUDGE AND THE MAYOR COSIGNED A NONBINDING LETTER OF INTENT THAT WAS DELIVERED, THAT EXPRESSED THE CITY AND THE COUNTY'S AGREEMENT TO THE FUNDING, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF A NEW BALLPARK BASED ON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT REPRESENT A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. AND SO PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DID AS STAFF WAS GET TO A POINT, AND WE'VE KIND OF KEPT YOU GUYS UPDATED, THERE WERE SEVERAL AREAS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE WE WOULD -- BEFORE I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE SIGN A NONBINDING LETTER OF AGREEMENT, AND I WANT TO THANK -- AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM THEM IN A SECOND -- THE RESPONSIBLE, DILIGENT WORK OF BOTH WESTERN URBAN AND THE OWNERSHIP GROUP, BECAUSE WE ROLLED UP OUR SLEEVES, WE RESET, AND BEN WILL WALK YOU THROUGH DATE TER ON IN THE PRESENTATION -- LATER ON IN THE PRESENTATION, THE CONCEPT AND PROPOSED AGREEMENT. SO IT IS CERTAINLY A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE. IT'S NOT DONE.
I MEAN, THIS IS OUR FIRST PUBLIC CONVERSATION, SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING FOLLOW-UP AND A LOT OF NEXT STEPS, BUT TODAY'S AN IMPORTANT DAY, AND I WANT TO THANK THE -- BEN AND GLOR GLORIA AND RANDY AND WESTERN URBAN FOR JUST THE THOUGHTFULNESS. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME SEEING HOW THESE ARE STRUCTURED IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, AND WE SAW
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THINGS WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO. WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS AND HOW YOU MANAGE THAT RISK IS CRITICAL FROM ALL SIDES, AND I THINK WE'VE COME UP WITH A GOOD, SOLID PROPOSAL THAT WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH TODAY.SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO BRUCE HILL, WHO WILL OPEN IT UP, AND THEN RANDY SMITH, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE BEN WALK THROUGH THE PROPOSED
PROJECT. >> THANK YOU, ERIK. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING US HERE TODAY.
AS ERIK MENTIONED, MY NAME IS BRUCE HILL, I'M THE CONTROL PERSON FOR THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS WHICH IS A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TERM.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE RUN THE TEAM. WE RUN THE TEAM AS A BOARD, WE HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AS ERIK MENTIONED NEAR THE END OF 2022, WE PUT A GROUP TOGETHER, LOCAL GROUP, ALL LOCAL OWNERSHIP, PLUS THE NOLAN RYAN FAMILY, WHO ARE THE GOLD STANDARD IN OPERATIONS IN BASEBALL. WE PUT THAT GROUP TOGETHER IN ORDER TO BUY THE TEAM FROM ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP WHO TREATED THE FACILITY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'D WANT AS SAN ANTONIANS. OUR VISION IS TO BUILD THE BEST IN CLASS BALLPARK THAT PAYS FOR ITSELF.
WITH SUBSTANTIAL NEW DEVELOPMENT. BECAUSE THAT DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO BE BUILT AT THE SAME TIME, MOST OF IT AS THE BALLPARK ITSELF, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE -- FUND THE BALLPARK THROUGH THAT DEVELOPMENT AND WILL NOT REQUIRE ANY NEW OR INCREASED CITY OR COUNTY TAXES.
AND FRANKLY, THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION OR HARD WORK HAS GONE INTO TO GET TO THIS POINT. I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY, THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO SPEAK, AND ALSO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN NOT ONLY BUYING THE TEAM, BUT PUTTING THIS GROUP TOGETHER. HERE WITH ME TODAY TO PRESENT OUR PLAN IS RANDY SMITH, WHO WILL TALK HERE IN A SECOND, REED RYAN, HOPE ANDRADE AND BOB COWEN. THAT'S THE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD, AND PETE CORTEZ IS HERE WITH US AS WELL TODAY AS ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, ALSO APPROPRIATELY ENOUGH A LONG-TIME BUSINESS LEADER IN THE WESTERN PART OF SAN ANTONIO AND DOWNTOWN. SO TOGETHER WE HAVE -- AND IF YOU COULD SHOW THE NEXT SLIDE, IT WILL SHOW SOME OF THE PICTURES OF OUR OWNERS. WE REPRESENT MORE THAN 30 OWNERS, INCLUDING THE FOLKS YOU SEE HERE, ALL OF THEM READY TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO ADD TO THE 136 YEARS OF LEGACY OF BASEBALL IN SAN ANTONIO.
136 YEARS. THAT'S THE LONGEST. THERE'S NOT ONE ANYWHERE ELSE CLOSE. SAN ANTONIO'S OUR HOME. WE ARE HERE AS YOUR PARTNERS. WE'RE GRATEFUL OF THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO PRESENT OUR PLAN IN THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION THAT THE STAFF HAS DEMONSTRATED THROUGHOUT THIS JOINT PROCESS. THEY'VE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH. AND FRANKLY, I'VE GOT A LOT OF ADMIRATION.
THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN BUT FOR THEIR HARD WORK. SO RANDY IS GOING TO SPEAK ON -- AS OUR DEVELOPER FOR WESTERN URBAN.
WE'LL SHARE OUR VISION AND OUR PLAN. HE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY REED, WHO'S AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IS OUR OPERATOR, WHO'S BUILT MULTIPLE BALLPARKS, THIS IS NOT A HOPE WE GET THIS RIGHT.
WE HAVE A GROUP THAT'S BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. AND HOPE ANDRADE WILL SUMMARIZE OUR BRIEF PRESENTATION AND WHEN THE TIME IS APPROPRIATE, WE'RE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
RANDY? >> THANK YOU, BRUCE. MAYOR, COUNCIL, STAFF, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
AS BRUCE MENTIONED, WE ARE A LOCAL GROUP THAT IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE URBAN CORE OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE EQUALLY DEEPLY PROUD TO COME ALONGSIDE THE CITY ON THIS PROJECT. IT'S -- IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WAS BORN OF A VISION OF COLLABORATION. AND THE THING THEY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TAKE AWAY IS THAT OUR VISION IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN BASEBALL. WHILE THIS SHOULD BE FAMILIES DOWNTOWN 70 NIGHTS A YEAR FOR MISSIONS GAMES, THIS VISION NEEDS TO BE FAR GREATER THAN THAT. THIS DESERVES TO BE A LANDMARK FOR FAMILIES OF SAN ANTONIO. SO, SURE, THERE WILL BE 70 BASEBALL GAMES, BUT THERE WILL BE IN EXCESS OF 100 OTHER EVENTS A YEAR WHERE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER AND HAVE FUN WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN KEEPING BASEBALL IN SAN ANTONIO.
IN A LITTLE WAY, AS A DAD, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS KEEPING AFFORDABLE FAMILY SCREEN-FREE ENTERTAINMENT IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
WE'VE WORKED HARD WITH STAFF AND THE TEAM AND ERIK AND LORI AND BEN,& THANK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WOOD TO CHOP, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN REAL LEADERS IN THIS REGARD. TO ENSURE THAT AS BRUCE
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SAID THIS IS THE BALLPARK THAT PAYS FOR ITSELF; THAT NO GENERAL FUNDS ARE A PART OF THIS PROJECT; AND THAT FIRST THE TEAM, AND SECOND THE DEVELOPMENT IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING THE BALLPARK, IS WHAT PAYS FOR THIS BALLPARK. WE'VE ALSO WORKED EQUALLY DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY. HOPE IS A GREAT PARTNER, BUT HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY, AND SO THIS IS NOT A PLAN BUILT ON HOPE.IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT AS IT RELATES TO ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT, THIS IS NOT BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME. WE HAD TO REMOVE THAT OBJECTION.
AND SO OUR FIRM WILL COMMIT TO $300 MILLION OF SIMULTANEOUS DEVELOPMENT IN ADDITION TO THE BALLPARK, ADJACENT TO THE BALLPARK.
AND IN MY MIND, THAT GOES SUCH A LONG WAY TO MAKING SURE THAT OPENING DAY IN 2028 IS MAGICAL FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY, THAT A SENSE OF PRAISE PLACE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND THIS STARTS TO BE ANCHOR IN THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN FOR FAMILIES, FAMILIES FROM ALL CORNERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS AFTER -- AFTER STAFF PRESENTATION, BUT FOR NOW, I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OFF TO SOMEONE WHO'S BECOME VERY SPECIAL TO ME. I FEEL LIKE REED RYAN HAS FORGOTTEN MORE ABOUT BASEBALL THAN ANY OF US IN THIS ROOM WILL EVER KNOW. HE GREW UP AROUND IT, BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE'S JUST A WISE AND KIND MAN AND FATHER AND HUSBAND, AND HE'S GOING TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DYNAMIC WITHIN THE MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM, SOME OF THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN AA AND AAA IN MAJOR LEASE BASEBALL.
REED? >> THANK YOU, RANDY. MAYOR, COUNCIL, STAFF, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY. AS RANDY SAID, MY NAME IS REED RYAN SH I'M ONE OF THE MISSIONS BOARD MEMBERS AND THE OPERATING MEMBER OF THE SAN ANTONIO MISSION. I HAVE SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE IN THE GAME OF BASEBALL. MY DAD NOLAN RYAN PLAYED 27 YEARS. I LITERALLY WAS BORN WHEN HE WAS PLAYING FOR THE NEW YORK METS. I WAS A MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER MYSELF.
I WASN'T QUITE GOOD ENOUGH TO GET TO THE BIG LEAGUES, GOT TO RIDE THE BUSES AROUND A LITTLE BIT. SINCE 1998, I HAVE OWNED AND OPERATED MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS. STARTED IN ROUND ROCK IN 2000, OUR FAMILY BUILT AND OPENED THE DELL DIAMOND FOR THE ROUND ROCK EXPRESS. IN 2005, WE BUILT AND OPENED WHATABURGER FIELD IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS. IN 2008, MY DAD WENT UP TO ARLINGTON AS THE CEO IN THE RANGERS AND OUR FAMILY INVESTED IN THE RANGERS AND THEY GOT TO THE FIRST EVER WORLD SERIES IN '10 AND '11.
I WENT TO HOUSTON TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON ASTROS AND PROUD TO SAY WE WON THE FIRST EVER WORLD SERIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
HAVE BEEN TWO MORE SINCE THEN, ONE WITH THE ASTROS AND ONE WITH THE RANGERS. IN 2022, I WAS HONORED TO GET TO BECOME PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS OWNERSHIP GROUP. BESIDES ALL THIS TIME IN BASEBALL OPERATING TEAMS, I'VE ALSO SERVED ON MANY BOARDS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PLAYING GAMES IN MEXICO, BOTH IN MONTERREY AND MEXICO CITY, AND CURRENTLY I SERVE AS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S PLAYER DEVELOPMENT LICENSED BOARD MEMBER. AND SO THE INDUSTRY'S SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES POSTCOVID. MLB UNIFIED -- OR REALLY KIND OF UNIFORMED THE SYSTEM AND WENT FROM 160 TEAMS TO 120 TEAMS WHERE EACH MAJOR LEAGUE CLUB NOW HAS FOUR AFFILIATES. SO UNFORTUNATELY 40 CITIES LOST THEIR TEAMS. AND OF THE 120, WE WERE ALL GIVEN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD TO GET OUR STADIUMS INTO A UNIFORMED COMPLIANCE ACROSS MAJOR LEAGUE AND MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE ALL OF OUR PLAYERS NOW ARE PART OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION.
ALL OF THESE PLAYERS WITH THE MISSIONS ARE PART OF THE UNION, AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE NOW, THE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS AND CITIES, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION.
AS CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, NELSON WOLFF STADIUM IS CURRENTLY NOT COMPLIANT. I KNOW EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF THAT.
AND WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIP AND MY CONNECTIONS, AND THEY ARE EXCITED THAT WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE. AND I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY TO SAY ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, WE'RE HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP, HONORED TO BE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF KEEPING AFFILIATED PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL IN SAN ANTONIO FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THANK YOU. >> I FORGOT TO SAY THE CLOSER.
[LAUGHTER] >> SO MY NAME IS HOPE ANDRADE AND I'M ALSO A
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BOARD MEMBER FOR THE MISSIONS BASEBALL. I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT BASEBALL, HOWEVER WHAT I DO KNOW IS MY COMMUNITY. AND I'VE SPENT A LIFE TIME WORKING ON PROJECTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE. SO MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS AND CITY STAFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR PLAN THIS AFTERNOON. YOU KNOW, IT'S TAKEN US NEARLY TWO YEARS SINCE WE, THE LOCAL OWNERSHIP, TOOK OVER THE MISSIONS TEAM TO BRING YOU A PLAN WHICH HAS BEEN CAREFULLY CRAFTED BY THE MISSIONS AND CITY STAFF.I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER, MR. CITY MANAGER, I PROMISE NOT TO STALK YOU ANYMORE. EVERY TIME I'D SEE HIM AT A MEETING, I'D FOLLOW HIM, AND HE'D SAY, I'M WORKING ON IT.
I'M WORKING ON IT. BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR TEAM OF EXPERTS LED BY BEN GORZELL. BEN, YOU KEPT US AT THE TABLE, YOU BELIEVED IN US, AND WE STAYED THERE UNTIL WE CREATED A PLAN THAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF BOTH THE CITY AND T THE MISSIONS.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THAT IT IS SUCH AN INNOVATIVE PLAN, WHICH MAY ACTUALLY SERVE AS A MODEL FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.
SO I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, CAN YOU LICENSE THAT OR CAN YOU PATENT THAT AND TAKE SOME CREDIT FOR IT? BUT WE KNOW IT'S A NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS, BUT WE SO GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR GUIDANCE ON THIS. AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TOOK OVER, THE TEAM WAS MANAGED BY ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP AND THE STADIUM WAS NOT CAPABLE OF MEETING THESE STANDARDS. IN FACT, OUR STADIUM HAD THE LOWEST RATING IN THE MLB. SO WE IMMEDIATELY SET OUT TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THEY WERE STILL NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET MLB STANDARDS. OUR NEW STADIUM PLAN WILL ENSURE THAT WE KEEP THE MISSIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR US TO DO THAT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FUTURE MLB OPPORTUNITIES. THIS WORLD-CLASS STADIUM WILL ENHANCE THE FAN EXPERIENCE, WILL PROVIDE OUR FAMILIES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE LASTING MEMORIES, ENSURE GREAT STORIES OF OUR BALL GAMES. I HOPE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BASEBALL SO I CAN ALSO SHARE SOME OF THOSE GREAT STORIES, BUT I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THAT NO CITY FUNDING WILL BE TAKEN FROM ITS GENERAL FUND.
THERE WILL BE NO ALLOCATION OF CITY DOLLARS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY INCREASE FOR TAXPAYERS.
AND THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO SPUR NEW DEVELOPMENT IN A MUCH NEEDED AREA OF NORTHWEST DOWNTOWN. THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION BEFORE THE STADIUM. IT WILL GENERATE THE NEW REVENUE THAT IS NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE STADIUM DEBT. THE STADIUM WILL ALSO SERVE AS A DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY VENUE, HOSTING FAMILY CELEBRATIONS, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ATHLETIC FUNDS, AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD, WE'LL INVITE PARTICIPATION FROM YOUR DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THE DESIGN, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE SUCCESS OF THIS ESSENTIAL PROJECT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON OUR CONTINUED COOPERATION, OUR CONTINUED TRANSPARENCY, AND OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE SHARED GOAL OF ENHANCING SAN ANTONIO'S SPORT CULTURE, WHILE DRIVING POSITIVE GROWTH FOR OUR CITY. OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO DELIVER A STATE OF THE ART STADIUM THAT'S DESERVING OF OUR BELOVED CITY. ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF OUR LOCAL OWNERSHIP, WHICH WAS WHY I WAS INVOLVED, WAS TO KEEP THE MISSIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND TO OFFER AN AFFORDABLE SPORTING EVENT FOR ALL IN A NEW BALLPARK, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY. YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED ATTENDING THESE GAMES, AND YOU ALL HAVE AN OPEN INVITATION TO ATTEND ANY GAME, AND THE REASON WE WANTED YOU TO COME, NOT JUST TO ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL EVENING OUT THERE AND WATCH A GREAT GAME, BUT YOU'VE GOT A FEEL.
YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THE FAMILY FUN. EVERYBODY LAUGHING, THE KIDS RUNNING BACK AND FORTH WITH SNO CONE, FAMILIES CHEERING UP AND STANDING. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THAT. IT'S AFFORDABLE FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, THEY CAN AFFORD TO TAKE THEIR FAMILIES, ENJOY SOME GOOD HOT DOGS AND SOME ADULT BEVERAGES, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE KEPT IN SAN ANTONIO. AND EVERY TIME THAT I GO TO A GAME AND I SEE THAT AND I WITNESS THE KIDS RUNNING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEIR SNO CONES AND THEIR BAHAMA BUCKS, WHICH I EVEN HAVE ONE, TOO, IS IT MAKES ME COME BACK AND SAY, OKAY, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE STALKING THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER THIS PLAN.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP IN SAN ANTONIO AND THAT WE'RE KNOWN FOR, HAVE FOR, HAVE -- HAVING GOOD, FAMILY FUN EXPERIENCERS. SO WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT AND TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO BRING THIS PLAN TO FRUITION THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS FOR YEARS TO COME. AND AS OUR GOOD FRIEND
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RECENTLY SAID, LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR THE LOVE OF AMERICA'S GAME AND FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.>> GORZELL: ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'VE GOT THE PLEASURE OF PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY THE FRAMEWORK FOR PROPOSED BALLPARK IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A NUMBER OF FOLKS HERE, SO BEAR WITH ME FOR A SECOND, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOLKS INVOLVED IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. AND I'VE GOT THE GREAT PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE EVERY DAY, TO MAKE GREAT PROJECTS LIKE THIS COME TO FRUITION, SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM, LORI HOUSTON, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, TROY ELLIOTT, OUR DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MARGARET VILLEGAS, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN FINANCE, ALEX, ANDY SEGOVIA, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, RAY RODRIGUEZ IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, OUR OUTSIDE BOND COUNCIL CLAY BENFORD AND OTHERS.
AND ON THE TEAM SIDE, I WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE TIM KELLY WITH PIPER SANDER, HE'S THE UNDERWRITER THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AS WE'VE BEEN PUTTING THE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A BOND DEAL.
BLAKELY FERNANDEZ WITH GRACE WELL, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE OWNERSHIP OF THE TEAM. AND HOPE AND BRUCE AND RANDY AND EVERYONE, ERIK MENTIONED IT AT ONE POINT, WE NEEDED TO RESET THE CONVERSATION.
WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM, AND THEY WERE COMPLETE OPEN TO DOING THAT. IT'S BEEN A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH.
THEY HAD A NUMBER OF OBJECTIVES THEY NEEDED TO ACHIEVE, THERE WERE OBJECTIVES WE NEEDED TO ACHIEVE, WE GOT IN A ROOM, WE FIGURED IT OUT.
AND I BELIEVE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY IS A VERY SOLID FRAMEWORK FOR A PROPOSED DEAL ON A DOWNTOWN BALLPARK.
AND THEN I WANT TO THANK ALSO OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY.
THEY'RE A PART OF THIS TRANSACTION, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE PART OF THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ AND AN IMPORTANT PARTNER AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. SO WITH THAT, I WILL JUMP INTO THE DETAILS ON THIS PROPOSED FRAMEWORK. SOME OF IT IS A LITTLE BIT GETTING INTO THE WEEDS AND A LITTLE BIT TECHNICAL. I WILL TRY NOT TO GET TOO TECHNICAL AND TRY TO KEE TO WHAT POINTS ARE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.
IN SUMMARY, THE TEAM IS PROPOSING TO CONSTRUCT A DOWNTOWN MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK WITH APPROXIMATELY 4500 FIXED SEATS AND TOTAL CAPACITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 7500. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THAT BALLPARK IS $160 MILLION INCLUSIVE OF LAND, AND IT IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR PRIMARILY FROM TEAM EQUITY, TEAM REVENUE, TAX ASSESSMENT REVENUES AND NEW TAXABLE DEVELOPMENT. THERE IS NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT HOSPITALITY AND MULTIFAMILY, THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN FOUR PHASES THROUGH 2031. NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT HAS A PROJECTED TAXABLE VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY $1 BILLION. AND THE BALLPARK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR OPENING DAY IN APRIL OF 2028.
THIS NEXT SLIDE GIVES YOU A MAP OF WHERE THE BALLPARK IS LOCATED.
YOU CAN SEE IT LISTED THERE IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF DOWNTOWN ON SOME PROPERTY CURRENTLY OWNED BY SAISD. ALL THE PROPERTIES FOR THE BALLPARK SITE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SAISD SITE. THE TEAM IS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOARD, AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE MOVING FORWARD.
OUR TEAM -- TERM SHEET IS OBVIOUSLY CONTINGENT UPON THAT PROPERTY BEING ACQUIRED FOR THE BALLPARK. THE FOUR PHASES OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ARE LISTED THERE ON THE LEFT.
PHASES 1 THROUGH 4. PHASE 1 IS AT A PROJECTED TAXABLE VALUE OF $300 MILLION. IT'S COMPLETION DATE IS ANTICIPATED IN 2027.
PHASE 2 IS $275 MILLION OF TAXABLE VALUE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2029.
PHASE THREE IS 275 MILLION IN 2030 AND PHASE 4 IN 2031 AT $150 MILLION, A TOTAL OF ALL OF THAT IS $1 BILLION OF PROJECTED TAXABLE VALUE IN THAT NORTHWEST PART OF DOWNTOWN. THE PHASES ARE ALIGNED THERE, YOU CAN SEE THEM BY COLOR CODED. YOU CAN SEE ALL THAT DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING AROUND THE BALLPARK SITE, WE'RE PRIMARILY TALKING ABOUT THE INTERSECTIONS THERE AT WEST MARTIN AND FLORES STREET.
AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT BALLPARK FUNDING, THE WAY THIS WOULD WORK IS THE
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CITY AND COUNTY WOULD CREATE THE SAN PEDRO CREEK DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. IT WOULD BE JOINTLY CREATED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY . THERE WOULD BE MEMBERSHIP ON THAT BOARD FROM THE CITY, COUNTY AND THE TEAM.THE AUTHORITY WILL OWN THE BALLPARK, AND THAT AUTHORITY WILL BE THE ONE THAT WILL ISSUE THE BONDS FOR THE PROJECT. AS I MENTIONED, THE BALLPARK COST IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $160 MILLION.
IT'S GOING TO BE PAID FOR FROM A $34 MILLION EQUITY CONTRIBUTION FROM THE TEAM, AND THEN THERE WILL BE BONDS ISSUED THAT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY WITH A PLEDGE OF REVENUE FROM THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ, THAT WILL GENERATE PROCEEDS OF ABOUT $126 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT, AND THEN THE TEAM WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CONSTRUCTION OVERRUNS.
SO THEY WILL BEGIN DESIGN ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, ROUGHLY IN THE FALL OF 2025, WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE.
THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OVERRUNS ABOVE THAT GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE OR GMP. SO TO BE VERY CLEAR, YOU HEARD IT SAID BY THE TEAM, I'M GOING TO SAY IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, THAT GENERAL TAXPAYER WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR THIS BALLPARK. THIS BALLPARK -- AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF A BOND FINANCING, BECAUSE THERE'S PARTS OF IT THAT WE CAN COUNT ON IN A BOND FINANCING, THERE'S PARTS OF IT WE CAN'T. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
THE TWO PHASES OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ARE WHAT WE HAVE A GUARANTEE ON.
THAT IS WHAT THE BOND FINANCING IS PREDICATED ON.
THAT, PLUS THE TEAM REVENUES AND THE EQUITY CONTRIBUTION PAY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE BALLPARK ITSELF. THE REMAINDER WOULD COME OUT OF THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ. IN THE EVENT THE VALUES FROM PHASE 1 AND 2 DON'T EXCEED PROJECTIONS OR PHASES 3 OR 4 DON'T GET BUILT. SO IF YOU TAKE THE REALLY, REALLY CONSERVATIVE OPTION OF WHAT'S IN THE BOND FINANCING, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF IT GETS PAID FOR BY THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, A SMALLER PORTION FROM THE EXISTING HOUSTON STREET TIRZ, AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHAT THE TIRZ IS IN A SECOND. IF YOU CONSIDER THE PHASE THREE AND 4 DEVELOPMENT BEING BUILT, THEN THE BALLPARK IS COMPLETELY FINANCED BY NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.
A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE PROPOSED BOND FINANCING, THERE WILL BE A SERIES OF BONDS TO BE ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY, SOME TAX EXEMPT, SOME TAXABLE.
THOSE BONDS WILL BE REPAID, AS I MENTIONED, BY TEAM REVENUE.
THE TEAM WILL BE MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENT TO THE AUTHORITY FOR PLAYING IN THE BALLPARK. THERE WILL BE A $2 TICK ETHETTE FEE THAT WILL BE ADDED THAT WILL BE HELPING PAY FOR THE DEBT SERVICE, AND WE'VE GOT GUARANTY CITY AND COUNTY TAX INCREMENT FROM THE GUARANTEED DEVELOPMENT, ALONG WITH MUNICIPAL DISTRICT.
THEN I MENTIONED FROM A BOND FINANCING PERSPECTIVE, WE'LL BE USING A LITTLE BIT OF EXISTING CITY AND COUNTY HOUSTON STREET TIRZ CAPACITY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BOND FINANCING.
IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE SOURCES OF REVENUE, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF THE BALLPARK, ABOUT 86% IS BEING FUNDED FROM THAT TEAM EQUITY CONTRIBUTION, THE TEAM REVENUES, GUARANTEED CITY AND COUNTY PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT FROM PHASES 1 AND 2 OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, AND THE GUARANTEED MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENT FROM FACEZ 1 AND 2 OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. THE REMAINING 14% WOULD COME FROM EXISTING CITY AND COUNTY HOUSTON STREET TIRZ CAPACITY, SHARED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY, AND THAT, AGAIN, ASSUMES THAT PHASES 1 AND 2 DON'T EXCEED OUR PROJECTIONS AND THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENTS AFTER 1 AND 2. THE LIKELIHOOD IS THOSE WILL MOVE FORWARD, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE GUARANTEE ON THEM AND CAN'T COUNT ON THEM FOR BOND FINANCING PURPOSES, BUT AS THOSE MOVE FORWARD, THAT 14% NUMBER EITHER REDUCES OR IS ELIMINATED AND THE BALLPARK IS ENTIRELY FUNDED BY REVENUES FROM THE TIRZ.
IN TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND WHY THIS WAS IMPORTANT WAS YOU WILL SEE MANY TIMES WHEN YOU LOOK AT MANY DEALS, COULD BE MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM OR IT COULD BE OTHER TYPES OF DEALS, THERE ARE RELIANCES DEVELOPMENT BEING BUILT, SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS, SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T.
SOMETIMES THERE'S AN EFFORT, BEST EFFORT TO BUILD THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT, BUT SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS DON'T COME TO FRUITION.
ONE OF OUR OBJECTIVES WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WANTED TO USE AS LITTLE TIRZ CAPACITY AS WE NEEDED TO FOR THE BALLPARK.
[00:30:04]
IT WAS REALLY FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE MARRY A PROPOSED $1 BILLION DEVELOPMENT PLAN OVER FOUR PHASES WITH THIS NEED TO BUILD A BALLPARK. HOW DO WE PUT THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER? HOW DO WE CREATE A STRUCTURE TO TRANSACTION THAT WOULD WORK? PART OF IT WAS IN THE GUARANTEES. SO SOMETIMES YOU WILL SEE IN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT A GUARANTEE FROM A DEVELOPER ON A DEVELOPMENT, MEANING I AGREE OR I COMMIT TO BUILD X NUMBER OF UNITS OR AN X AMOUNT OF TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT, BUT ONCE THAT DEVELOPMENT IS BUILT, THEIR GUARANTEE IS DONE. IN THIS CASE, WE WENT FURTHER, AND WHAT WE HAVE ASKED THE TEAM TO COMMIT TO IS A GUARANTEE ON THE -- 2 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT INCLUDES BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT, AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL TAX ASSESSMENT THAT WOULD BE COMING THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, OR THE MMD.IN THE EVENT THAT REVENUES ARE LESS THAN WHAT WE PROJECT NEXT YEAR WHEN THIS BOND ISSUE HAPPENS, THEN THE TEAM WOULD HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE. AND SO THE GUARANTEE ISN'T ON THE DEVELOPMENT, IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE REVENUES COMING OFF OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE TWO LEVELS OF GUARANTEE OR LIQUIDITY. I'M GOING TO CALL ITALY QUIDDITY FACILITY BEHIND THAT GUARANTEE. ONE IS A TWO-REAL ROLLING CREDIT FROM THE TEAM. THE VALUE OF THAT LINE OF CREDIT WE WOULD SIZE BASED ON WHAT WE LOOK AT WHAT WE THINK THE RISK OF A SHORTFALL AGAINST THE PROJECTED REVENUE IS IN THE EVENT THAT TWO-YEAR LINE OF CREDIT WASN'T RENEWED OR WE DREW ON IT, HAD TO DRAW ON IT AND IT WASN'T REPLENISHED, THERE IS A SECOND LINE OF CREDIT IN PLACE FROM A SUBSET OF TEAM OWNERS THAT WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO US. THE LINE OF CREDIT IS VERIFIABLE, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH -- IT WILL BE AT A BANK, WE'LL BE ABLE TO VERIFY IT AND ENSURE THAT IT STAYS IN PLACE DURING THE TERM. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE RISK OF DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT DEVELOPMENT CHANGES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. PHASE 1 HAD TAXABLE VALUE PROJECTED AT ABOUT $300 MILLION. THE COMMITMENT ON PHASE 1 INCLUDES THAT WE WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE ABILITY FOR THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS UNLESS THE FINANCING AND THE ABILITY TO ISSUE A NOTICE TO PROCEED ON THE PHASE 1 NEW DEVELOPMENT WAS IN PLACE. THAT HAS TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE WE ISSUE OR WOULD AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS. SO THAT REALLY OUR RISK ON PHASE 1 IS WHAT IS THAT VALUE THAT'S GOING TO COME ON THE -- WHAT IS THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT GOING TO COME ON THE TAX ROLL AT, THAT'S REALLY A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT RISK, BUT THIS LINE OF CREDIT AND THIS GUARANTEE WOULD COVER THAT. PHASE 2 WOULD BEGIN DESIGN AT THE TIME WE'RE ISSUING BONDS, AND, AGAIN, OUR RISK THERE IS THAT THAT PROJECT MOVES FORWARD. BUT, AGAIN, THAT GUARANTEE IS COVERED BY THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT A LINE OF CREDIT AND A GUARANTEE ON THE REVENUES THAT ARE PROJECTED TO COME OFF OF THOSE FIRST TWO PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT. WE DON'T HAVE GUARANTEES ON PHASES 3 AND 4 BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT IN, LIKE, 2030 AND 2031. FROM A BOND FINANCING PERSPECTIVE, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT BOND HOLDERS AND GETTING THEIR INTEREST IN BUYING BONDS, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A LOT OF WEIGHT PUT ON SOMETHING THAT IS THAT FAR OUT THERE, EVEN IF IT'S GOT A GUARANTEE ON IT, SO THAT IS WHY WE REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE FIRST TWO PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT. WE DID ALSO PUT IN A MODIFIED -- WHAT WE'RE CALLING MODIFIED FORCE MAJUR PROVISION THAT ALLOWS THE TEAM TO BE REPAID FROM REVENUES FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT AS LONG AS THEY EXCEED THE TOTAL DEBT SERVICES ON THE BOND, MEANING THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH PHASES 3 AND 4 AND THEY'VE MADE GUARANTEES PAYMENTS FOR THINGS OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTROL. TRYING TO GET FINANCING FOR PHASE 2, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THERE'S SOME TYPE OF BANKING CRISIS, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET A LOAN OR THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PROCEED WITH THAT, THAT'S OUT OF THEIR CONTROL, THEY WOULD STILL MAKE THE GUARANTEES PAYMENT, BUT THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO RECOVER THAT AS LONG AS THEY COME ALONG LATER AND BUILD THAT DEVELOPMENT AND IT EXCEEDS THE REQUIREMENTS TO COVER DEBT SERVICE ON THE BONDS.
AND WE PUT IN THE ABILITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AS LONG AS THE DESIGN AS STARTED AFTER AUGUST 2024. IT COULD INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE PHASES OF THE FOUR PHASES WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS LONG AS IT IS INSIDE THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ. A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS
[00:35:02]
TO HIGHLIGHT, A BALLPARK MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND WILL BE IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY THEY'LL SPEND A LOT OF TIME DESIGNING THIS FACILITY TO MEET MLB STANDARDS. WE OBVIOUSLY WHAT THIS BALLPARK TO MAIN THAIN THAT LEVEL OF STANDARD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THERE'S UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE ON THE FACILITY. THE TEAM WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE FACILITY. THIS FUND IS REALLY TO COVER MORE SIGNIFICANT -- CONTRIBUTE $250,000 TO IT, AND THEN THE CITY WILL PUT IN $500,000 ANNUALLY. THAT WILL ALSO COME OUT OF THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ. I'LL PAUSE HERE FOR JUST A SECOND TO ALSO TALK ABOUT WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS DEAL AND TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROVISIONS HERE. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU SEE THE TEAM PUTTING IN 250 HERE, THE CITY'S PUTTING IN 500.THE COUNTY'S GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE TEAM ON A POTENTIAL PARKING GARAGE SOLUTION DOWNTOWN, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE TAKING ON.
WE TRIED TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING -- ALL THE PROVISIONS TOGETHER COMPREHENSIVELY AND HOLISTICALLY, AND THAT INCLUDED, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LEASE PAYMENT THAT THE TEAM IS MAKING. IT'S A MILLION DOLLARS.
OUT OF THE TEAMS THAT WE LOOKED AT, THAT IS AT THE HIGHER END.
MANY OF THE ONES THAT WE SAW WERE PROBABLY IN THE 450, $500,000 RANGE THAT HAD ESCALATION ON IT. THIS ONE IS STARTING AT A MILLION DOLLARS DAY ONE, SO TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT. ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT AGAIN WHEN YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THESE DEALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU DON'T TYPICALLY SEE GUARANTEES IN PLACE LIKE THOSE THAT WE HAVE ON PHASES 1 AND 2. SO WE TRIED TO LOOK AT ALL THE TERMS TOGETHER AND COLLECTIVELY AS WE PUT THIS DEAL TOGETHER TO BRING YOU A FRAMEWORK THAT WE COULD RECOMMEND. WE CERTAINLY THINK WE ACHIEVED THAT.
ON TRAFFIC STURT AND CLEANLINESS PLAN, THE CITY AND COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PLAN.
OBVIOUSLY FROM A TRAFFIC AND SECURITY PERSPECTIVE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE ATTENDING GAMES OR EVENTS AT THE BALLPARK, THAT THEY'RE HAVING A GOOD EXPERIENCE, IT'S A GOOD FAN EXPERIENCE, WHETHER THEY'RE CHOOSING TO COME TO A GAME, EVENT AND THEY LEAVE, OR WHETHER THEY'RE CHOOSING TO STAY AND ATTEND OTHER THINGS DOWNTOWN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM AND A GOOD FAN EXPERIENCE, SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON. I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIRZ AND MMD AGAIN, KIND OF GOING BACK TO, AGAIN, NO GENERAL FUND, NO GENERAL TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR THE BALLPARK.
IT IS BEING REALLY FUNDED BY THE TEAM AND THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.
PART OF THAT COMES FROM THE FACT THAT IT IS BEING DONE IN A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, OR TIRZ. A TIRZ, AGAIN, IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DESIGNATE A GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY AROUND AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, WE SET A BASE VALUE ON PROPERTY TAXES WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY. THAT BASE VALUE AND REVENUE FROM THAT BASE VALUE, CONTINUES TO COME INTO THE CITY, BUT THE INCREMENT ABOVE THAT IS CAPTURED IN THE TIRZ, AND CAN BE USED TO FUND PROJECTS THAT FURTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THOSE AREAS. THIS IS A PERFECT FIT FOR THAT. WE'VE GOT A BALLPARK COMING WITH GUARANTEED $575 MILLION IN TAXABLE VALUE, AND ANOTHER 425 MILLION BEYOND THAT IF PHASES 3 AND 4 GET BUILT IN THAT NORTHWEST PART OF DOWNTOWN THAT WE SHOWED YOU ON THE MAP. HOUSTON STREET TIRZ WAS CREATED IN 1999.
THE MAJORITY OF THAT PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT TO SUPPORT THE BALLPARK IS GUARANTEED AND WILL BE GENERATED FROM THE NEW DEVELOPMENT FROM PHASES 1 AND 2. MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, OR MMD, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE A PID, EXCEPT IT HAS BROADER USES IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN USE THE REVENUES. IN THIS CASE, A PROPOSED MMD AND BOUNDARIES WOULD BE CREATED THROUGH THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WITH THE CONSENT BY YOU ALL AS THE COUNCIL. THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THAT DESIGNATED BOUNDARY PAY AN ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT IN ADDITION TO THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, SO THEY'RE KIND OF SELF-ASSESSING THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CASE.
AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO USE THOSE ASSESSMENT FUNDS TO PAY FOR DEBT SERVICE ON THE PROJECT. IT'S A LITTLE BIT, AGAIN, LIKE A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AGAIN, BROADER USES THAT ALLOW US TO USE IT FOR THE BALLPARK.
THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY FOR THE MMD WILL ACTUALLY BE THE BALLPARK AND THE FOUR PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT THAT I SHOWED YOU ON THAT SECOND SLIDE, THOSE WILL BE THE BOUNDARIES FOR THE MMD. THIS IS A MAP OF THE CURRENT HOUSTON STREET TIRZ. YOU CAN SEE -- A LITTLE
[00:40:01]
HARD TO READ ON THAT MAP, BUT TO THE NORTH IT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO I-35.TO THE SOUTH, DOWNTOWN TO CESAR CHAVEZ, TO THE EAST, JUST PAST BROADWAY AND LOSOYA, AND TO THE WEST, ALMOST TO SANTA ROSA.
SO -- AND THEN THERE IS A YELLOW BOX YOU SEE THERE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TRACTS OF -- WHERE NEW DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED TO BE BUILT THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE WEST SIDE TIRZ THAT WE WANT TO AMEND THE BOUNDARIES AND INCLUDE THOSE TRACTS IN THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ. WE WANT TO DO THAT TO BE ABLE TO DO A PLEDGE AGAINST THE BONDS FROM A SINGLE TIRZ INSTEAD OF TWO TIRZ. IT WILL MAKE IT A MORE EFFICIENT BOND TRANSACTION IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND THEN AS WE MAKE THE AMENDMENT OF THE BOUNDARIES, WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOING IS INCREASING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION FROM 90% OF THE TAX RATE IN THE WEST SIDE TIRZ UP TO 100% TO OFFSET THAT TRANSFER OF THOSE TRACTS FROM WEST SIDE OVER TO HOUSTON STREET. SO, AGAIN, ALL OF THE PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR THE BONDS, THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, HOW THE BALLPARK'S GETTING FUNDED, IT'S ALL WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE MAP THAT YOU SEE HERE, IT'S ALL COMING FROM THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ, EITHER FROM THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT GETS BUILT OR IF ALL OF IT DOESN'T GET BUILT, THERE COULD BE A SMALL PORTION OF CAPACITY THAT COMES OUT OF THIS, BUT THE GENERAL TAXPAYER WILL NOT BE FUNDING THIS BALLPARK. ON THE PLAN THAT YOU SAW, THE MAP DOES INCLUDE NEW DEVELOPMENT ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE DEVELOPER TODAY, THE SOAP FACTORY APARTMENTS. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE ASKED THEM TO WORK WITH AND TO PUT IN PLACE WAS A RESIDENT DISPLACEMENT PLAN.
SO THEY'VE DONE THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT'S OUTLINED HERE ON THIS SLIDE.
SO TENANTS IMPACTED BY PHASE 1 WILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELOCATE TO OTHER SOAP FACTORY UNITS. TENANTS IMPACTED BY PHASE 2 CAN GO TO OTHER SOAP FACTORY UNITS, OR AT THAT POINT IN TIME, ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT JUST HERE TO OUR WEST, THE CONTINENTAL BLOCK DEVELOPMENT HERE ON WEST COMMERCE WILL BE COMPLETE, AND THERE'S 145 UNITS THAT ARE THERE THAT ARE RESERVED FOR RESIDENTS WITH AMI BETWEEN 60 AND 80%, SO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS FROM SOAP FACTORY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO MOVE INTO THOSE UNITS AT THE CONTINENTAL BLOCK DEVELOPMENT.
FOR THOSE TENANTS THAT DON'T WISH TO MOVE TO CONTINENTAL BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OR THAT ARE -- DON'T WANT TO MOVE TO ONE OF THE OTHER SOAP FACTORY UNITS AND ARE AT OR BELOW 60% AMI, THE DEVELOPER WILL OFFER THEM HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR THEIR INCOME LEVEL AND WILL ACCOMMODATE THEIR NEEDS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WERE NEGOTIATED AND PUT IN PLACE AS WELL. THOSE INCLUDE PUBLIC AMENITIES LIKE ADDITIONAL GREENSPACE THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THERE IS A CONCOURSE WITHIN THE BALLPARK THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE 9:00 TO 5:00 TO BE USED ALMOST AS A WALKING TRACK, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH OTHER EVENTS GOING ON AT THE FACILITY. THEY'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A YOUTH PROGRAM, THAT YOUTH PROGRAM WILL ALLOW YOUTH PROGRAMS TO RECEIVE A NUMBER OF FREE TICKETS, AND THEY'LL BE GENERATING -- OR GIVING THOSE OUT EACH YEAR. THERE WILL BE STAKEHOLDER DAYS, WHERE THE CITY AND COUNTY SHALL EACH HAVE ACCESS TO THE FACILITY FOR FIVE DAYS PER YEAR, AS LONG AS WE DON'T CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER EVENT.
WE'VE GOT SOME STAKEHOLDER ADVERTISING THAT WE'RE EXPLORING WITH THE TEAM; THAT INCLUDES OUR ABILITY TO -- THE CITY AND THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO ISSUE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THE BALLPARK, BUT ALSO ON OUR END, WHAT CAN WE DO TO ANNOUNCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TEAM.
AND USING SOME OF OUR MEDIA VENUES TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THERE, SO WE'RE EXPLORING THAT. THE TEAM ALSO CREATED THE 1888 BASEBALL FOUNDATION, WHICH IS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST $200,000 ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT LOCAL INITIATIVES REGARDING CHILDREN AND HOMELESS VETERANS, AND SAISD PROGRAM THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED, SOME OF THE INITIAL CONCEPTS INCLUDE INTERNSHIPS, ACCESS TO THE FACILITY AND STAKEHOLDER DAYS.
AND THEN THEY'VE ALSO MADE A WAGE COMMITMENT THAT THE TEAM WILL PROVIDE FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME POSITIONS THAT WILL BE PAID AT THE CITY'S MINIMUM ENTRY WAGE WHICH IS CURRENTLY $18 PER HOUR.
AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO HIRE VETERANS FOR GAME DAY OPERATIONS. ON LOCAL PARTICIPATION AND SBEDA, FOR SOME OF THE PRIME CONTRACTS, IF THEY'RE NOT LOCATED IN BEXAR COUNTY FOR DESIGN, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ENCOURAGED TO JOINT VENTURE WITH A LOCAL PARTNER. ON DIVERSITY OUTREACH, THE PRIMARY VENDORS WILL PROVIDE OUTREACH PLANS FOR LOCAL, SMALL, MINORITY, WOMEN OWNED SUBCONTRACTORS, WE'LL WORK WITH THEM TO
[00:45:07]
IDENTIFY GOALS FOR SAN ASBEDA SUBCONTRACTS AND WE'LL PROVIDE THAT TO THEM SO THEY CAN ISSUE THEIR PACKAGES WITH THOSE GOALS IN MIND, OF TRYING TO HIT THAT LEVEL OF SBEDA PARTICIPATION.JUST A REAL QUICK SLIDE ON THE CURRENT NELSON WOLFF SITE, THE CITY MANAGER TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT. SO THIS IS THE CURRENT SITE FOR NELSON WOLFF ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THAT SLIDE.
WE DO OWN A LOT OF PROPERTY AROUND THE STADIUM AS WELL.
JUST TO THE NORTH THERE, WE HAVE A PARKS AND RECREATION CENTER, THERE IS ALSO A PARK NEXT TO THAT RECREATION CENTER, AND SOME OPEN SPACE.
SO ALL TOLD, THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR REDEVELOPMENT.
LORI HOUSTON WILL LEAD THE EFFORT TO DO SOME CONCEPT PLANNING, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO LOOK AT WHAT THE BEST USES ARE, TO LOOK AT A REDEVELOPMENT. WE'VE GOT SOME TIME. I MENTIONED THE NEW BALLPARK WOULD BE OPEN -- IT'S ANTICIPATED TO BE OPENED IN TIME FOR OPENING DAY IN APRIL OF 2028, SO WE'VE GOT SOME TIME TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY THERE, TO DEVELOP A CONCEPT PLAN, WHAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND PUT A PLAN IN PLACE TO REDEVELOP THIS CURRENT SITE. SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS, WE TALKED ABOUT THE MAYOR AND COUNTY JUDGE THAT EXECUTED A LETTER OF INTENT TO MLB.
THAT WAS DONE ON JULY 26, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE'RE DOING THIS BRIEFING TODAY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO COME BACK AND HAVE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL ON IS THE DETAILED TERM SHEET, WHICH GOES INTO THE MAJOR PROVISIONS I'VE COVERED TODAY, ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS. WE'VE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED THAT FOR AUGUST 29TH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND THEN BEYOND THAT, THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE WILL NEED TO NEGOTIATE, DEFINITIVE AGREEMENTS, OTHER THINGS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PUT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT. THAT INCLUDES THE CREATION OF THE SAN PEDRO CREEK DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
IF THIS MOVES FORWARD, I ANTICIPATE THAT WOULD HAPPEN LATER ON THIS YEAR, LIKELY IN THE FALL. AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE JOINTLY CREATED BY THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WITH MEMBERSHIP OF THE CITY, COUNTY AND THE TEAM. THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ, I MENTIONED WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE BOUNDARY FOR A COUPLE OF THOSE PARCELS THAT ARE IN THE WEST SIDE TIRZ, MOVE THOSE INTO THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ, AND WE'LL NEED TO EXTEND THE TERM. WE WANT TO ALIGN THAT TERM WITH THE TERM OF THE BONDS THAT WILL BE KEY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE'LL LIKELY RECOMMEND TO YOU THAT WE GO A LITTLE BIT BEYOND THAT, AND WE'LL LIKELY ASK FOR A 35-YEAR EXTENSION ON THAT TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BEYOND THAT FINAL MATURITY ON THE BONDS. THE WEST SIDE TIRZ, I MENTIONED AS WE MOVE THOSE TRACTS OVER, WE WANT TO MAKE THAT WEST SIDE TIRZ WHOLE, AND SO INCREASING THE CITY PARTICIPATION IN THAT TIRZ FROM 90% OF OUR TAX RATE UP TO 100% OF OUR TAX RATE.
I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AS WELL. THAT LIKELY COULD HAPPEN LATER ON THIS FALL, AND WOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING A POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT OR PID, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES IN AND AROUND THE BALLPARK.
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING. AND THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS THAT WILL NEED TO BE DEVELOPED AND NEGOTIATED.
THOSE INCLUDE THE TEAM LEASE, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENT, THE BOND INDENTURE AND OTHER FINANCING DOCUMENTS AND THE TIRZ FUNDING AGREEMENT -- AGREEMENTS THAT WILL BE -- NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE AS WELL.
AGAIN, I ANTICIPATE THESE WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD IN PHASES.
THE CREATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE TIRZ BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS LIKELY LATER THIS YEAR IS OUR TENTATIVE PLAN.
I WOULD EXPECT THESE AGREEMENTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS LIKELY LATER ON NEXT YEAR, PROBABLY CLOSER TO THE FALL. THE POTENTIAL BOND ISSUE WOULD HAPPEN NEXT FALL, FALL OF 2025 IS A TENTATIVE TIMELINE.
THOSE AGREEMENTS WILL PROBABLY BE DONE CLOSER TO THAT POINT IN TIME.
SO WITH THAT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THAT IS A HIGH-LEVEL SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR THE DOWNTOWN BALLPARK. WE'RE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, BEN AND TO THE DESIGNATED BIDDERS GROUP FOR THE BRIEFING TODAY. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE CONVERSATION AND NEEDLESS
[00:50:01]
TO SAY, I'M VERY PLEASED THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY. FOR ME OF US, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS CONVERSATION'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LOT MORE THAN TWO YEARS.I THINK FOR MISSIONS FANS AND FOR SAN ANTONIANS, IT HAS.
I WOULD SAY FROM MY VIEW, WHAT CHANGED WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN A GROUP OF SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ORGANIZATION LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN NOT JUST BASEBALL, BUT THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO MORE BROADLY, ACQUIRED THE TEAM.
A VERY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF THE FRANCHISE, BUT ALSO BASEBALL'S FUTURE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY. I WOULD CHARACTERIZE THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AS ONE THAT REQUIRED A LOT OF PERSEVERANCE, SOME DETERMINATION ABOUT GETTING TO AN END POINT THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS IS A DEAL, A FRAMEWORK OF A DEAL, THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THE ENTIRE TIME WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, I'VE BEEN TELLING ERIK AND OTHERS WHO WERE INTERESTED, BRING US A PROPOSAL, BRING US A DEAL, AND WE'LL JUDGE IT ON ITS MERITS. TODAY WE'RE LOOKING AT A FRAMEWORK THAT'S INNOVATIVE, THAT PROTECTS SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS, THAT PRODUCES PUBLIC AMENITIES IN AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT FRANKLY NEED INVESTMENT, AND SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, DESIGNATED BIDDERS, THE MISSIONS OWNER GROUP, AS WELL AS WESTERN URBAN, ARE MAKING A BIG INVESTMENT IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO THROUGH THE INCREMENT OFF OF THAT INVESTMENT, WE'RE PRODUCING A BALLPARK, A BALLPARK THAT MITIGATES THE RISK TO THE CITY, TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO, AGAIN, PRODUCES WHAT I THINK WILL BE A GREAT PUBLIC GATHERING POINT FOR DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR TEAM, BEN, LORI IN PARTICULAR, ERIK, FOR YOUR DUE DILIGENCE IN MEETING, I THINK, THE STANDARDS THAT WE HAD CONTINUED TO TALK ABOUT, TO THE MISSIONS OWNERS GROUP FOR CONTINUING TO WORK AT THIS, THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE -- NOT TO CELEBRATE, BUT TO GET THE FIRST LOOK AT A FRAMEWORK THAT ONCE WE CONSUMMATE IT, WE CAN TRULY CELEBRATE THE FUTURE MISSIONS' LONG TERM IN SAN ANTONIO, BACK IN DOWNTOWN WHERE THEY BELONG. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND LET'S GET ON WITH THE CONVERSATION. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA? >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, BEN, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND TO THE DESIGNATED BIDDERS.
BY THE WAY, HOPE IS A REALLY, REALLY AWESOME CLOSER, SO THAT'S INCREDIBLE. SHE'S BETTER THAN MARIANA RIVERA.
SO THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR BEING HERE. I WAS ALSO EXPECTING THAT MAYBE TO HELP HER, Y'ALL WOULD BRING A PUFFY TACO, BUT MAYBE ON THE 29TH.
AND I WANT TO START OFF BY JUST FULL DISCLOSURE, I LOVE BASEBALL.
AND SO I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND I ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN OUR ONE-ON-ONE. I'M GOING TO REPEAT SOME OF THEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY COLLEAGUES, SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT, BUT I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING, I PUT IT AT -- COME SPARE COMPARISON TO THE EL PASO, HOME OF THE CHIHUAHUAS.
THEY DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB BRANDING, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO THE BALLPARK. AND SO THEY -- WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING, MAYBE WE COULD EMULATE AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE CAN GET TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION SPECIFICALLY IN RELATION TO THE AFFORDABILITY OPTION. AND RIGHT NOW, THE AVERAGE FAMILY GETS TO PARTICIPATE IN MISSIONS GAMES, THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD DEALS WITH HOT DOGS AND DRINKS, AND I'M WONDERING, WHAT KIND OF AFFORDABILITY CAN WE GUARANTEE, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT BEYOND THE TICKET PRICES IN
CONCESSIONS AND FOOD SPECIFICALLY? >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. YOU KNOW, THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS ARE THE OLDEST TEAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1988.
AND I ACTUALLY GOT TO PLAY AT VJ KEITH DNA OF THE MISSIONS AND THE FANS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS TEAM THROUGH THREE STADIUMS, PLUS, OVER, YOU KNOW, 130-SOMETHING YEARS HAS BEEN ONE OF MAKING SURE THAT AFFORDABILITY MATTERS.
AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WELL, WHY DO YOU HAVE CAPACITY OF 7500 SEATS AND 4500. REALLY, THE INDUSTRY'S CHANGED A LOT.
PEOPLE WANT SOCIAL GATHERING SPOTS. THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU, LET US COME IN AND IMPROVE THE BERM SITUATION AT NELSON WOLFF THIS PAST YEAR, AND YOU'RE SEEING SO MANY MORE FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING OUT. TUESDAYS ARE A BIG DAY AT NELSON WOLFF STADIUM.
WE ADDED ALL OF THE DRINK RAILS AROUND SO THAT PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO COME IN WITH THEIR LAWN CHAIRS COULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT
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AFFORDABILITY. SO IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE PART OF WHAT WE DO, I THINK. BUT MOVING FORWARD, WE ALSO HAVE TO BRING AMENITIES THAT ALL SPORTS FRANCHISES HAVE, WHETHER IT'S MAJOR LEAGUE, MINOR LEAGUE, COLLEGE, AND BE ABLE TO UTILIZE PEOPLE THAT COME TO TOWN FOR, YOU KNOW, CONVENTIONS, FOLKS THAT ARE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME OUT AND HAVE BUSINESS EVENTS.THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO OFFER AT THE CURRENT STADIUM THAT DON'T HAVE TO DO WITH THE MLB PDL REQUIREMENTS, AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A GROWTH OF THE NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT CAN COME.
AND OVER THE YEARS OF DOING THIS A LONG TIME, I HAD NO GRAY HAIR, NOW I HAVE A LOT. AND IT WAS FROM DOING PRETTY MUCH EVERY KIND OF EVENT UNDER THE SUN. SO THAT'S WHO WE ARE, IT'S OUR DNA, AND WE OR GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PART OF OUR FAN BASE IS ALWAYS
TAKEN CARE OF. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I WAS ALSO WONDERING ABOUT YOUR SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES? LIKE -- SORRY, SUSTAINABILITY -- HOW CAN YOU BE PROACTIVE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE NEW STADIUM? WHAT KIND OF FEATURES ARE
YOU GOING TO HAVE? >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WITH TRASH AND THAT KIND
OF SUSTAINABILITY? >> GARCIA: YES. >> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND I THINK ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS WILL BE GETTING TO REPROGRAM KIND OF A WHOLE NEW BALLPARK EXPERIENCE. IN ROUND ROCK, WE'VE WORKED TO HAVE THE ZERO WASTE FACILITY, AND SO THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF YOUR UTENSILS, YOUR PLATES AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU PROVIDE TO BE ABLE TO COMPOST THOSE THINGS. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE ON OUR RADAR. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS IT'S WHAT THE FAN BASE AND THE MARKET AND PEOPLE AND SOCIETY ARE CALLING FOR, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO STAY AROUND IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO THOSE FOLKS. SO DON'T HAVE THAT PLAN WORKED OUT TODAY, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S TOP OF THE LINE.
>> GARCIA: OKAY. GOOD. I FEEL FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS, THAT IS ESPECIALLY TOP OF MIND, RIGHT, AND SO IF WE WANT TO KEEP ATTRACTING -- BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT BASEBALL IS LOSING THE YOUTH. AND SO IF WE WANT TO KEEP ATTRACTING THAT GEN Z, I WOULD SAY THE ELDER GEN Y EVEN START THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE GENERATIONS AND THAT'S THE REASON I WAS ASKING ABOUT THAT.
CAN YOU REMIND ME WHERE HOME PLATE IS GOING TO BE?
>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL DEFINITELY WANT TO DO IS CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PLENTY OF SHADING. AND SO THE ORIENTATION WILL BE VERY MUCH SIMILAR TO NELSON WOLFF STADIUM WHERE YOU'LL HAVE THE BREEZE COMING IN. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IS SHORTENING THE FENCES A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE HOME RUNS AND FANS WANT TO GET PAUBALLS AND WE WILL HAVE A 360° CONCOURSE THAT WE DISCUSSED THAT PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND WALK ONION GAME DAYS. THAT'S THE FUN PART OF THIS PROJECT, HOW DO WE TAKE THESE OTHER GREAT BALLPARKS LIKE ELPAS SO AND ALL THESE OTHER PLACES AND PUT THAT INTO THIS DOWNTOWN SETTING. SHADING WILL BE IMPORTANT, AND THE BREEZE, MAKING SURE FANS STAY COOL WILL BE VERY
IMPORTANT. >> GARCIA: SORRY, FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT DON'T KNOW, I HAVE ATTENDED A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AT EVERY MLB PARK. I HAVE A LOT OF NERDY QUESTIONS I CAN ASK OFFLINE, BUT I'LL STICK TO THE ONES HERE. DOWNTOWN TUESDAY, EVERY TUESDAY EVENING FROM 5:00 P.M. TO 2:00 P.M., WE HAVE DOWNTOWN TUESDAY, HOWEVER, IT'S SUSPENDED DURING PERFORMANCES AT MAJESTIC THEATRE ON SHOW NIGHTS, AND SO I'M WONDERING WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ANOTHER AFFORDABILITY ISSUE THAT
CAN COME TO MIND. >> WALSH: I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF LIKE THAT THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO THINK THROUGH HOW
TO SOLVE AND MAKE EASIER FOR EVERYBODY. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.
THANK YOU, ERIK. AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT MRS. HOPE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT VIA IS GOING TO BRING IN THEIR SERVICE WITH THE -- YES, THE -- WHAT IS IT CALLED? THE VIA LINK. WELL, NO, ISN'T THE LITTLE RUNNER, ALSO, WEREN'T THEY GOING TO EXPAND THAT.
>> AND I THINK THAT FAMILIES WOULD GET A KICK OUT OF THAT ONE.
SO -- AND THEN ALSO I KNOW THAT BEXAR COUNTY'S CONSTRUCTING A NEW PARKING GARAGE. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY VEHICLES THAT ONE IS ACCOMMODATING? AND IF IT'S GOING TO BE IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT PRICING THAT WOLFF STADIUM OFFERS FOR PAR PARKING?
>> THANK YOU. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DETAIL YET AROUND THE DESIGN OF
THAT GARAGE. >> GARCIA: OKAY. >> BUT WE DO SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT PARKING GENERALLY. AND AS WE IN THE EARLY INNINGS OF THIS EXERCISE INVESTIGATED DIFFERENT SITES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT ABOUT THIS SITE TO ME IS ADVANTAGEOUS IS REALLY NOT JUST THE VOLUME OF PARKING WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF THE STADIUM, BUT REALLY ITS DISTRIBUTED NATURE. WE'VE ALL BEEN -- YOU APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN TO ALL OF THEM, BIG BALLPARKS THAT OFTEN TIMES HAVE ONE LARGE PARKING STRUCTURE. AND WHEN THE GAME IS OVER, THAT SURE IS A NIGHTMARE FOR YOUR FANS. AND SO WITHIN A QUARTER MILE WALK OF THE
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BALLPARK, WHICH IS SORT OF AN ACCEPTED WALK IN SAN ANTONIO IN THE SUMMER, THERE'S AROUND 5,000 PARKING SPACES. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE AMPLY PARKED. AS FAR AS PRICING GOES, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY BEYOND THE TEAM.WE WILL NOT OWN ANY OF THAT PARKING. THE CITY WILL OWN A LOT OF THAT PARKING WITHIN A QUARTER MILE, SPECIFICALLY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S PARKING GARAGE AND CLEARLY THE COUNTY OWNS THE LARGE GARAGE ON SAISD CAMPUS. THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WILL BE IN THE LEAD
THERE. >> GARCIA: WONDERFUL. AND THE OTHER THING IS THE SAFETY PLAN FOR, LIKE -- SO -- I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU WOULD
BE COORDINATING WITH WHAT COULD HAPPEN. >> I MEAN, AMEN.
AND YOU SAW IN BEN'S PRESENTATION, WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER ON A TRAFFIC CLEANLINESS AND SAFETY PLAN LEADING UP TO OPENING.
BUT JUST ANOTHER AREA WHERE I WANT TO REASSURE YOU, WE'RE TOTALLY ALIGNED. WE ALL NEED FOLKS TO KEEP COMING BACK TO THE
BALLPARK. >> GARCIA: ABSOLUTELY. AND THE USEFUL LIFESPAN FOR BALLPARKS SEEMS TO BE JUST DWINDLING DOWN, AND SO I THINK THE LAST TIME THAT I READ, IT WAS 23 YEARS AVERAGE. AND SO I'M WONDERING WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? AND I ASKED YOU ALL THIS QUESTION, BUT I JUST WANTED AGAIN FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY COLLEAGUES.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WE ASPIRE TO BE FAR GREATER THAN AVERAGE. SAN ANTONIO'S NOT AN AVERAGE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK ONE OF THE REAL DESIGN CHALLENGES HERE IS TO DESIGN SOMETHING THAT'S ENDURING IN AN ICONIC SPOT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THE EXAMPLES THAT I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ON THE MAJOR LEAGUE LEVEL IS THERE'S NOBODY IN CHICAGO TALKING ABOUT TEARING DOWN RIDLEY FIELD.
AND THERE'S NOBODY IN BOSTON TALKING ABOUT TEARING DOWN FIN WAY, AND WE CAN KEEP GOING. BUT ON A MINOR LEAGUE STANDPOINT, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE RYAN'S PARK IN ROUND ROCK IS ABOUT TO BE 25 YEARS OLD, AND I WOULD BET YOU A HOT DOG I COULD CONVINCE YOU IT'S FIVE YEARS OLD.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEE THE CITY AND THE TEAM INVESTING IN THAT MAINTENANCE FUND, SO THAT THIS BALLPARK IS
CONTINUALLY BEST IN CLASS FOR OUR CITIZENS. >> GARCIA: GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, RANDY. THOSE ARE FOR NOW ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. I WANT TO HEAR WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER HAVRDA? >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS GOOD FOR DOWNTOWN, IT'S GOOD FOR THE CITY, THE FINANCING PLAN WORKS, YOU MADE THE POINT IT'S NOT COMING FROM THE PUBLIC, SO MY THANKS TO THE MISSIONS OWNERSHIP GROUP THAT CONTACTED ME SOON AFTER THEY PURCHASED THE TEAM, THEY SHARED THEIR CONCERN FOR THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY WITH ME AND CONTINUED TO BE IN CONTACT WITH ME SINCE THAT DAY. I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU GUYS TOOK THAT TIME EARLY ON TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH ME.
THIS DISCUSSION, THIS PLAN TO BUILD A NEW BALLPARK DOWNTOWN IS HAPPENING IN PART BECAUSE WOLFF STADIUM IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION IS NOT SUITABLE FOR BASEBALL. THERE'S A NEED FOR THE NEW STADIUM AND WE NEED IN ORDER TO KEEP THE MISSIONS. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY WHERE WOLFF STADIUM IS LOCATED, IT'S REALLY BEEN A PILLAR OF CULTURE, HERITAGE FOR GENERATIONS, IT'S MANY IN WAYS STRONGER THAN A BRICK AND MORTAR STADIUM.
BACK WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN 1994, THERE WAS TALK AS THERE IS NOW WITH FINANCING AND DEVELOPMENT. LIKE THE DOME, THERE WERE PROMISES MADE TO THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS AND PROSPERITY. THAT'S THE MANTRA OF SELLING SPORTS FACILITY IN SAN ANTONIO, THE PROMISE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BUT WE'VE LEARNED SO MANY LESSONS SINCE THE ALAMODOME AND WOLFED STADIUM WERE IN A TEU DAY IN OUR CITY. THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF SPORTS FA SILLIFIS THAT HAVE PROSPERITY WERE NEVER FULFILLED FOR EDGEWOOD. THE RISK NOW THAT 30 YEARS LATER, WE'LL BE LEFT WITH AN EMPTY, TOO OUT DATED, TOO SMALL BASEBALL STADIUM WITH REALLY NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT.
SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THIS SPORTS DEVELOPMENT RIGHT, THE OPPORTUNITY TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WE LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE STADIUM AND BUILD THEM TOGETHER, WHICH IS, I THINK, A LOT OF THE LESSONS LEARNED AND WHAT I'M HEARING HERE TODAY, AND NOT AS A PROMISE FOR DEVELOPMENT TO COME LATER. SO THAT'S WHAT'S EXCITING TO ME ABOUT THIS PLAN.
THIS PAST MARCH, I TOOK THE NEW MISSIONS OWNERSHIP -- I GUESS IT WAS A COUPLE OF MARCHES AGO, NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S BEEN A WHILE. I TOOK YOU GUYS ON A GROUP TOUR OF THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY, SECRETARY ANDRADE, BRUCE SMITH, WE TOOK YOU ON A
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BUS, DROVE YOU AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE YOU WERE SO INTERESTED IN THIS STADIUM WHERE WOLFF STADIUM IS. YOU SAW FOR YOURSELF THE NEED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. YOU SPOKE TO LEADERS LIKE MR. GOMEZ, REMEMBER WE SAT IN THIS DRIVEWAY, HE'S A VIETNAM VETERAN, A MEMBER OF THE EDGEWOOD SCHOOL BOARD, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF EDGEWOOD, AND Y'ALL TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE FAMILIES AND THE HOPES IN THE GENERATIONS OF PROUD EDGEWOOD RESIDENTS. WE SAT IN AN AUTO PART SHOT, IN BETWEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH US, HE WAS TENDING TO HIS CUSTOMERS, BUT ALL THE WHILE TALKING ABOUT THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY AND THEIR SPIRIT. AND YOU GUYS, I KNOW, FELT THE ENERGY AND THE UNITY. AND THAT'S THE TRUE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION, AS YOU MENTIONED HERE TODAY, RANDY. AND INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SO, AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT TIME SO MANY MONTHS AGO, MAYBE ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, AND MAKING THAT INVESTMENT AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS EARLY ON, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY IS NOW SUPPORTIVE OF THIS -- OF THIS MOVE.TTHE MISSIONS OWNERSHIP I THINK WAS INSPIRED BY THAT COMMUNITY AND WHAT YOU SAW AND HEARD. AND PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THEIR RESILIENCE, THE TALK ABOUT A FUTURE DOWNTOWN BASEBALL WILL CONTINUE TO INCLUDE EDGEWOOD AND FILL UNFULFILLED PROMISES. I'M EXCITED THAT THERE'S 40 ACRES WE CAN DO A WHOLE LOT WITH. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUYS INTEREST AND TAKING TIME OUT THERE. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD. WE HAVE MORE THAN THAT -- THE 40 ACRES, AS I MENTIONED. SO, AGAIN, THIS IS A WIN FOR DOWNTOWN, IT'S A WIN FOR BASEBALL. IT ALSO HAS TO BE A WIN FOR E EDGEWOOD, AND I THINK AT THIS POINT, THE DIRECTION WE'RE I'VE BEEN GOING TO SEE THIS CLUB PLAY BASEBALL SINCE I WAS A KID. THEY WERE CALLED THE DODGERS BACK THEN. I HAVE AN OLD DODGERS CAP FROM WAY BACK THEN.
I CAN'T COUNT HOW MANY TIMES I GOT TO CHASE THE PUCKY TACO AROUND.
AND THEY MOVED TO NELSON WOLFF STADIUM. NOW LIKE SO MANY VENUES IT'S TIME TO GROW AGAIN. AS WE'RE GROWING, I'M THANKFUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GROWING WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, THE INVESTMENT YOU'VE MADE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I MEAN MORE THAN THE MONETARY INVESTMENT, I MEAN ALL THE INTEREST AND ENGAGEMENT. I'M 100% IN SUPPORT AND THANKFUL IT'S NOT PUBLIC MONIES. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT'S INVOLVED.
APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WAS IN A HUMANITY CLASS A LONG TIME AND THE INSTRUCTOR WAS TALKING ABOUT SPORTS. AND HE TALKED ABOUT FOOTBALL BEING THE SPORT OF THE URBAN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU COVER YOUR FACES AND YOU ARE THERE. AND HOW BASEBALL WAS THE SPORT OF THE RURAL.
AND AS -- NOW AS I AM OLDER, I'M LIKE BASEBALL ISN'T THE SPORT OF A RURAL COMMUNITY.
IT'S A SPORT, AND MY AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES, OF THE NATIVE COMMUNITY.
IT IS THE SPORT OF SAN ANTONIO. WE WANT TO TAKE OUR TIME, AND THAT'S WHAT BASEBALL DOES. WE WANT TO SEE FACES.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHO IS PITCHING, WHERE THE CATCHER IS AT, WHO IS IN THE OUTFIELDS. AND IF THE WEATHER DOESN'T WANT US TO PLAY, WE DON'T PLAY. UNLESS WE HAVE A RETRACTIBLE ROOF, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING THERE. [LAUGHTER] THIS IS WHO SAN ANTONIO IS.
AND HOPE, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING HOW BEN KNEW WHAT WOULD WORK FOR THIS COUNCIL AND FOR THIS CITY. BECAUSE WHEN THE CONVERSATIONS FIRST CAME OUT, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE DESIGNATED BIDDERS.
I KNEW THEY WERE LOCAL. I KNEW SOME HAD COME FROM OTHER PLACES.
THE RYAN FAMILY, I KNEW THEY KNEW BASEBALL, BUT AT THE END IT'S STILL MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. AND ARE THEY GOING TO WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO, WE NEGOTIATE.
AND YOU CAME IN AND YOU DID. AND I KNOW THERE'S STILL THINGS THAT WE NEED TO WORK OUT, BUT THIS IS WHO OUR COMMUNITY IS. MY DAD RAN A SOFTBALL COMPLEX ON THE DEEP SOUTH SIDE FOR YEARS. YOU KNOW, MY GRANDFATHER PLAYED AT BERG'S MILL. MY AUNTS AND UNCLES PLAYED. THIS IS WHO THIS COMMUNITY IS. EVERYBODY WATCHED THE CUBS BECAUSE OF WGN IN
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SAN ANTONIO. SO HERE WE ARE, AND THIS IS WHO WE ARE, AND I KNEW BASEBALL WOULD COME TO SAN ANTONIO. WHETHER IT'S YOU GUYS OR CORPORATE IN FIVE YEARS IF WE DON'T GET THIS DEAL DONE. THEY ARE GOING TO COME BECAUSE THIS IS THE MARKET, THIS IS THE RIGHT MARKET FOR IT.SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY AND WE WERE ABLE TO REACH THIS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD, WE TAKE THIS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND START GETTING THEIR INPUT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE OPINIONS AND THEY WANT TO SEE THIS GET DONE.
I THINK THE ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO DO LOGISTICALLY IS THE TRAFFIC.
AND I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS PROBABLY SINCE I GOT ELECTED WITH ERIK IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR DOWNTOWN AREA, WE NEED TO LOOK LOGISTICALLY, AND THIS IS A KEY PIECE AND YOUR INPUT ON SAYING WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT TRAFFIC, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT PARKING ON THE NIGHTS WE HAVE BILLY JOEL AT THE -- AT OUR CENTER, WHEN WE'VE GOT THE BASEBALL TEAMS PLAYING, WHEN WE'VE GOT SOMETHING GOING ON AT LILA COCKRELL HELP, AND I SEE SOME THAT YOU GET OUR VISION WITH THE 1888 FOUNDATION IN VETERANS AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH. BUT WE KIND OF NEED YOUR ALL-IN COMMITMENT FOR OUR HOUSING AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO LIFT THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE PARK BY BUYING INTO SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THE CITY DOES WHERE IT'S UNDER ONE ROOF OR MINOR HOME REPAIR, I THINK YOU GUYS COULD BE GREAT ADVOCATES AND VOICES FOR THAT.
AND I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT KIND OF TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO WITH --W FACILITY. THE SIGNAGE INSIDE I GET, IT NEEDS TO BE BASEBALL DRIVEN.
BUT OUTSIDE, IF WE COULD DO DIGITAL ART, IF WE COULD PROMOTE WHAT WE'RE HAVING LOCALLY ON THE OUTSIDE SIGNAGE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE COULD GET HERE. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TAKING THIS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WHAT DISTRICT 3 IS GOING TO SAY. THEY ARE GOING TO BE LIKE WHY DIDN'T YOU BRING THIS TO DISTRICT 3 OR 4. YOU TELL THEM YOU DON'T WANT THE TRAFFIC HEADACHES THAT COME WITH THAT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T WANT IT.
AND I KNOW MY D1 AND D5 ARE JUST LOOKING AT ME LIKE STOP TALKING, BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE TRAFFIC. BEN, WELL DONE. IT'S MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SO I'M GLAD THEY WERE FLEXIBLE AND I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO GET CREATIVE IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER WE ARE GOING TO BE THAT MODEL FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. THESE STADIUMS ARE VERY, VERY EXCITING TO TALK ABOUT AND THEY CAN DO SO MUCH FOR THE COMMUNITY. BUT ONLY IF THEY ARE DONE RIGHT. AND WHEN I -- AND IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GROUP OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND AFTER LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATION TODAY, I AM OF THE FIRM BELIEF THAT WE ARE DOING THIS ONE RIGHT. AND I'LL TELL YOU, BRUCE, RANDY, HOPE AND REED, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S -- I KNOW IT'S NOT A BASEBALL TERM, BUT I SORT OF SAY THAT WE'VE KIND OF GOT THE DREAM TEAM HERE OF FOLKS WHO I WOULD WANT THIS CITY TO PARTNER WITH ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND FOR ME, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE THINGS, THE FIRST TWO THINGS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ARE, NUMBER ONE, WHO ARE YOU PARTNERING WITH TO GET THIS DONE. DO YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE SMART, STRATEGIC, TRUSTWORTHY AND HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY IN MIND, AND HERE I THINK WE CHECK THE BOX REALLY EASILY.
AND I'LL SAY ON THAT NOTE TO MR. RYAN, I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO TO ROUND~ROCK AND SEE GAMES THERE. I'M A BIG ASTROS GUY AND SO IT WAS FUN GOING TO SEE THE EXPRESS OUT THERE BACK WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
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I'VE ALSO BEEN TO THE PARK THAT YOU ALL DID IN CORPUS, BUT REALLY AMAZING FACILITIES AND IT EXCITES ME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT A FACILITY LIKE THAT COULD DO FOR US HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO NUMBER ONE, WHO ARE WE PARTNERING WITH.VERY, VERY HAPPY THERE. AND THEN THE SECOND PART OF IT IS IT COMES DOWN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY ASKING ME AND I'M SURE THE REST OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IS YEAH, THIS ALL SOUNDS GREAT, BUT WHO THE HECK IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT. BECAUSE WE'RE IN A FINANCIAL TIME HERE IN OUR COUNTRY THAT, FRANKLY, ISN'T GREAT. IN SAN ANTONIO I HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE COST OF GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND GAS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, AND FOLKS IN A LOT OF CASES ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT AND SO THEY WANT TO KNOW, THEY WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT AS EXCITING AS THIS IS, THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR.
AS HAS BEEN MADE REALLY CLEAR TODAY, I THINK WE'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY IN THAT OUR CITIZENS GENERALLY WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS NEW STADIUM AND THE DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THIS ARE GOING TO COME FROM THOSE BUSINESSES THAT DEVELOP RIGHT AROUND THE STADIUM. AND SO THAT'S REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW ALL OF US WILL BE TALKING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT.
SO, AGAIN, THE PARTNERSHIP THERE BETWEEN THE MONEY THE TEAM IS BRINGING TO THE TABLE AND THE TAX REVENUE FROM THOSE BUSINESSES SURROUNDING THE STADIUM.
THE FACT THAT'S HOW WE'RE FINANCING THIS IS I THINK, AGAIN, THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT. THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO COME FROM THIS WHEN IT'S COMPLETED. FOR ME, NUMBER ONE, LIKE SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER, I THINK RANDY, AFFORDABLE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT.
WE HEAR SO OFTEN THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR OR FIVE OR HOWEVER MANY CAN GO OUT AND HAVE A NICE EVENING OUT AND DO IT AFFORDABLY. MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS AFFORDABLE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. NUMBER TWO, AGAIN, FOR THE TAX REVENUE THAT WILL BE CREATED WHEN THIS WORKS IS GOING TO BE MONEY THAT OUR CITY CAN USE TO DO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND WE'RE HAVING BUDGET TALKS AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW I'M PUSHING AND OTHERS ARE PUSHING IS A RETURN TO A FOCUS ON BASIC CITY SERVICES, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF OUR BASIC CITY SERVICES.
MAKING SURE WE PUT MORE MONEY IN THIS BUDGET FOR STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND, YOU KNOW, DRAINAGE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT OUR CITIZENS WORRY ABOUT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. AND THE TAX REVENUE THAT WE GAIN WHEN THIS IS SUCCESSFUL, AGAIN, THAT'S MONEY THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE TO HELP OUR CITY IN SO MANY WAYS. AND NO. 3, YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M TALKING TO BUSINESSES AROUND TOWN, OFTEN HEAR ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE HAVE A -- THEY ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO HIRE. A LOT OF TIMES OUR TALENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU KNOW, THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR THEY GRADUATE FROM ONE OF OUR GREAT UNIVERSITIES AND THEN THEY GO OTHER PLACES.
WELL, TO ME, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO ONE OF THESE CITIES THAT HAS A MINOR LEAGUE STADIUM LIKE THIS AND YOU SURROUND IT WITH GREAT RESTAURANTS AND BARS WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO GO BEFORE THE GAMES, AFTER THE GAMES, IT'S A REALLY FUN ATMOSPHERE.
THERE'S A COOL FACTOR TO IT. SO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I BELIEVE, CAN HELP OUR YOUNG FOLKS, AGAIN, GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE, TO SAY THERE IS A LOT TO DO IN SAN ANTONIO. THERE ARE FUN THINGS TO DO HERE AND HOPEFULLY KEEP THEM IN OUR CITY AND THEN THEY WILL GO ON TO BE GREAT EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT I SEE WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHETHER IT WORKS, AND I DO BELIEVE WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT FOLKS IN PLACE TO MAKE IT WORK. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR INVESTING IN THE CITY AND WORKING WITH US AND OBVIOUSLY ALSO OUR STAFF. THESE ARE NOT -- THESE ARE NOT SIMPLE DEALS TO PUT TOGETHER. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT GREAT FOLKS HERE THAT I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE WORKED WELL WITH, SO I THANK EVERYBODY FOR HELPING PUT THIS
[01:20:05]
TOGETHER. I'M OPTIMISTIC AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A BALLPARK IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO THAT IS GOING TO PAY FOR ITSELF AND THAT IT'S REALLY GOING TO BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIZENS. THANKS.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. MECHANICAL.
-- COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I THINK AFTER HEARING A COUPLE OF MY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS TALK ABOUT BASEBALL, I NEED TO ESTABLISH MY STREET CREDIBILITY.
I LOVE BASEBALL. WHEN I WAS A KID, I PLAYED BASEBALL.
WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I COACHED BASEBALL. WHEN I WENT IN THE MILITARY, I PLAYED BASEBALL. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE MILITARY AND WAS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, I GOT BEHIND HOME PLATE AND I WAS AN UMPIRE FOR CYO BASEBALL.
SO BASEBALL IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US. AND ESPECIALLY TO ME SINCE I GREW UP AROUND BOSTON AND I'LL ALWAYS BE A RED SOX FAN, BUT I'LL ALSO BE A MISSIONS FAN. SO I HOPE THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT SUCCESS.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW AND MAY HAVE HEARD SOME OF MY ORIGINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT BASEBALL AND A STADIUM AND BUILDING A NEW STADIUM. IT'S SOMETHING I HADN'T HIDDEN, SOMETHING I EXPRESSED VERY CLEARLY WAS I WOULD NOT SUPPORT ANY STADIUM WHERE THE TAXPAYERS IN SAN ANTONIO WERE GOING TO BE BUILDING IT.
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED IT SHOULD BE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE TEAM THAT BUILDS THE STADIUMS. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO, FROM ALL THAT WE HEAR, ARE THE GREATEST BENEFICIARIES OF OWNING A BASEBALL STADIUM. AND SO I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL, BUT I ALSO HAVE BEEN THE BENEFICIARY OF HEARING FROM BEN, FROM OUR CITY STAFF, FROM MEMBERS OF YOUR TEAM WHO HAVE COME AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT HOW THIS IS BEING PUT TOGETHER. AND ONE OF THE KEY TERMS I LEARNED WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL IS THAT GROWTH PAYS FOR GROWTH. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS PLAN IS. IT IS A WHOLE NEW PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPING A LOT OF GROWTH IN THAT AREA, INCLUDING THE BALLPARK. AND THAT GROWTH I TO PAY FOR THE BALLPARK AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN TAXES TO ANY OF OUR TAXPAYERS. AND TO ME THAT'S A GREAT PLAN.
IT'S A PLAN I HOPE WE CAN REPEAT IF WE START TALKING TO THE SPURS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO BUILD A SPORTS FACILITY. AND SO I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH WHAT I'M HEARING. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD ASKED FOR, THOUGH, BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL. I SAID WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS THAT I WANT TO KNOW HOW COMMITTED THE OWNERS ARE.
ARE THEY WILLING TO BACK IT PERSONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, IS THE CITY GOING TO END UPHOLDING THE TAB FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE THE BEST-LAID PLANS OFTEN GO ASTRAY. AND I'M REALLY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT INDIVIDUAL OWNERS ARE STEPPING UP AND SAYING WE'LL BACK THIS PLAN, WE'LL BACK OUR PLAN TO MAKE SURE IF THERE ARE SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD, WE'RE THERE TO SMOOTH THEM OUT. AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER TOO.
IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE IT'S A REAL COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BECOME A PARIAH SOMEHOW TO THE CITY.
SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF THE PARTNERS WHO HAVE AGREED TO WORK ON THIS.
I STILL AM WORRIED ABOUT A FEW THINGS AND I HOPE THAT WE GET ALL THOSE IRONED OUT SOON. SAISD IS GOING THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF ARRANGEMENTS WE CAN MAKE WITH THEM TO GET THAT PROPERTY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE TIRZ AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE TIRZ MEMBER BOARD ARE ACCEPTING OF THAT CHANGE.
WE'RE REALLY COUNTING ON THE COUNTY TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE.
THIS WASN'T TALKED VERY MUCH, A LITTLE BIT, BUT IS THE COUNTY WILLING TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE FOR 500 OR 800 CARS OR HOWEVER MANY. AND TO GO ALONG WITH THAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE, THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR STREETS AND FOR TRAFFIC AROUND A NEW FACILITY. I'VE ALWAYS SAID WHEN I SAID I WOULDN'T PAY FOR A STADIUM THAT THE CITY SHOULD PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE SHOULD BE THERE TO HELP SUPPORT THE STREETS OR THE LIGHTING OR THE TRAFFIC THAT WE NEED TO MANAGE FOR PEOPLE
[01:25:04]
TO COME AND GO. AND I STILL BELIEVE THAT, BUT WE REALLY HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY ESTIMATES ON WHAT MIGHT BE THE STREETS COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND ALL OF THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO BE GOOD.SO I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW, IS ANY OTHER PROPERTY INCLUDED THAT MAY BE TAXED OR PAY A FEE IN THIS NEW MMD.
I SAW THE MAP, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS PROPERTIES WITHIN THAT MAP THAT ARE PRIVATELY OWNED THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET SOME KIND OF AN ASSESSMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW WITHIN A NEW DISTRICT THAT'S BEING CREATED.
BEN, DO YOU KNOW THAT OR IS THERE AN ANSWER TO THAT? >> GORZELL: THE SHORT ANSWER IS THE MMD, THE BOUNDARIES WILL INCLUDE THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT WE KIND OF WENT OVER THE FOUR PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S WHAT'S INCLUDED IN
THE MMD. >> COURAGE: SO NO OTHER PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT ISN'T PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WOULD END UP PAYING A FEE OR TAX.
>> GORZELL: THAT'S CORRECT. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE, IT WOULD INCLUDE THE BALLPARK SIDE, ALL THE PROPERTY SHADED THERE FOR DEVELOPMENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GREEN PARCEL THAT IS A LITTLE WEST OF THAT. THAT WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE MMD BECAUSE IT'S NOT CONTIGUOUS. THOSE ARE THE ONLY PROPERTIES THAT WOULD BE
PICKED UP. >> COURAGE: OKAY. WELL, THANKS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PROJECTION I HEARD IS 70 GAMES A YEAR. MAYBE ONE OR TWO MORE AND THEN THERE'S PRE-SEASON AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW, EXAMPLE, WHAT IS THE ANTICIPATED AVERAGE ATTENDANCE? I'M SURE THAT YOU HAD TO ESTIMATE THAT TO MEET WHATEVER FINANCIAL EXPECTATIONS YOU HAD. I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE AVERAGE ATTENDANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT DO YOU FORECAST TO BE THE AVERAGE EXPENDITURE OR COST PER ATTENDEE.
YOU ARE GOING TO BE COUNTING ON THEM SPENDING MONEY. WHAT IS THAT THAT YOU'VE CALCULATED INTO DETERMINING ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER STADIUM REVENUES ARE YOU PROJECTING BESIDES TICKET FEES OR SELLING PRODUCTS OR DRINKS OR WHATEVER AT THE GAMES. ARE THERE GOING TO BE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING TO GENERATE MONEY THAT YOU ARE COUNTING ON AND WHAT IS THAT GOING TO BE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THAT OVERALL STADIUM REVENUE PROJECTED TO BE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. BECAUSE THIS HAS TO BE PAID FOR, AND IF YOU FALL SHORT, I KNOW WE'VE GOT A GUARANTEE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE, WHAT THOSE EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR3 ATTENDANCE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THERE. AND DO PEOPLE INVEST THEIR MONEY SAYING MAYBE I'LL GET A 5 OR 6% RETURN, OR ARE THEY SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO WORK THIS AUTOMAKER SO I GET --% RETURN ON MY INVESTMENT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF RETURN THE INVESTORS ARE EXPECTING BECAUSE WE'RE GUARANTEEING THAT RETURN TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE USING TIRZ MONEY BASED ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE BUILDING. WE DID SAY THE FIRST TWO PHASES ARE -- WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT, BUT IF WE DON'T DO PHASE 3 OR PHASE 4, ARE THE INVESTORS GOING TO GET THEIR RETURN. I WOULD LIKE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT BEFORE I GIVE THIS THE BLESSING OF SAYING, OH, YEAH, YOU GOT MY VOTE.
I WOULD SAY I'M VERY, VERY INCLINED TO BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY FROM WHAT I WAS THINKING WHEN WE FIRST HEARD THIS PRESENTED TO US, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'LL ALWAYS BE A LITTLE SKEPTICAL UNTIL I GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I CAN. BUT I COMMEND YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I'VE COMMENDED OUR CITY STAFF FOR SAYING HEY, YOUR FIRST PLAN ISN'T GOING TO WORK AND THIS IS PLAN B AND PLAN B SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD TO ME.
BEN, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? >> GORZELL: I JUST WANTED TO CLAIRE WHETHER WE TALKED -- CLARIFY WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE BALLPARK AND ISSUANCE OF BONDS. DID ONLY THING WE ARE COUNTING ON TO REPAY BONDS FROM TEAM REVENUES IS THE MILLION DOLLAR LEASE PAYMENT FOR THE BALLPARK AND THEN A TWO DOLLAR TICKET FEE WHICH IS A SMALLER AMOUNT THAT IS EMBEDDED IN THE BOND FINANCING. THE OTHER REVENUES IN THE BALLPARK THAT ARE GENERATED
[01:30:04]
BY THE TEAM, THE TEAM WOULD RETAIN, THAT WOULD BE PART TO FUND OPERATIONS OF THE TEAM. IN FEMURS OF PAYING FOR THE BONDS, -- TERMS OF PAYINGFOR THE REVENUES, IT'S THOSE TWO. >> COURAGE: BUT HOW MUCH ARE THE OWNERS GOING TO BE MAKING. THAT'S WHY I ASKED THOSE
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANKS.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME UP HERE CONCERNING OURSELVES WITH -- AND WE SHOULD AND I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB OF CONCERNING OURSELVES WITH SAN ANTONIANS AT WORK, HELPING SAN ANTONIANS AT HOME, HELPING SAN ANTONIANS ON THE ROADS AND HELPING SAN ANTONIANS IN CRISIS, BUT I'VE NEVER REALLY SAT DOWN TO THINK ABOUT HOW INADEQUATE A JOB WE DO AT FOCUSING ON SAN ANTONIANS AT LEAST YOU ARE AND SAN ANTONIANS AT PLAY. AND WE SHOULD BE BETTER ABOUT THAT.
AND ALL OF US AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER ARE GOING TO HEAR CITY COUNCILMEMBERS UTTER THE WORDS LIVE, WORK, PLAY. WHEN WE DESCRIBE THE NEIGHBORHOODS WE WANT, THE KIND OF CITY WE WANT. LIVE, WORK, PLAY, YOU WILL FIND IT IN THE SA TOMORROW MENTIONED. WHERE DOWNTOWN AND -- MUSEUMS, PARKS AND COLLEGES, MIDTOWN IS WHERE DIVERSE SAN ANTONIANS LIVE, WORK AND PLAY. AND I'M NOT SURE THAT'S ENTIRELY TRUE.
BUT I DO THINK THIS PROJECT GETS US A LOT CLOSER TO MAKING THAT A TRUE STATEMENT. AND WHILE OTHER CITIES HAVE EXECUTED ON BUILDING OUTCOME CITIES WHERE PEOPLE REALLY DO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SAD THAT FOR MANY YEARS WE'VE TAKEN OUR GAZE OFF THAT LAST COMPONENT.
BUT THAT'S WHY I'M INSPIRED BY THIS PROJECT, RANDY AND HOPE AND REED.
I THINK THE PROJECT MEETS THE MOMENT. I THINK IT RESPECTS THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES WHO LIVE THERE. I THINK IT RESPECTS THE TAXPAYER. I THINK IT WILL BRING THAT PART OF NORTHWEST DOWNTOWN OUT OF BLIGHT. I THINK THAT IT WILL PROVIDE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE INDELIBLE MEMORIES WITH KIDS.
AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT HONORS OUR HISTORY. BECAUSE IT COULD JUST BE A PARK, RIGHT? AND A ENTERTAIN DISTRICT. BUT HAVING SPOKEN TO YOU ALL BEFORE, I DO BELIEVE YOUR VISION FOR HONORING THE VERY LONG TRADITIONS OF SAN ANTONIANS TEAM THAT'S EXECUTING ON THAT. YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU GUYS COME UP WITH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
SO [INAUDIBLE] IS REALLY GROWING WITH YOUNG FAMILIES. I CAN IMAGINE A DAY WHERE A FAMILY FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD GETS TO WALK THREE BLOCKS, TAKE THE GROWN LINE DOWN SAN~PEDRO, GET OFF AT CENTRAL LIBRARY, MAYBE READ A A BOOK AND HEAD TO THE PARK FOR LESS THAN $100 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR. I THINK THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY WE'RE MISSING IN THE CITY THAT WE CAN TRULY CREATE FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY. I'M NOT A BASEBALL PERSON, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
I KNOW THAT'S SHOCKING TO FOLKS BECAUSE I'M A SPORTS PERSON, BUT BASEBALL WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO US GROWING UP. I HAD NEVER GONE TO A GAME BEFORE AND I WENT THE A GAME LAST SUMMER IN CHARLOTTE TO SEE THE CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS. IT HAPPENED TO BE JULY 4TH AND THE SAID YUM -- STADIUM WAS PACKED. WATCH THE MOST AMAZING FIREWORKS, EVEN FOLKS AROUND THE CITY GOT TO EXPERIENCE THE FIREWORKS AS WELL AND IT WAS A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE. DID A GREAT JOB HAVING LOCAL FOOD AND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN MENTIONED WE'VE HAD A CHANGE
[01:35:05]
IN WHAT DOWNTOWN LOOKS LIKE. THROUGH COVID-19, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE WORKING DOWNTOWN ARE NO LONGER HERE SO WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH INNOVATIVE WAYS TO BRING PEOPLE BACK AND I THINK THIS COULD BE ONE OF THEM. WE ARE EXCITED BECAUSE TO HAVE A THRIVING CITY WE HAVE TO HAVE A THRIVING DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN IS ALL OF OURS, BELONGS TO EVERYONE. I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE IS SOME SPECULATION. WHEN COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA MENTIONED TOO WITH CHALLENGES WITH THE WOLFF STADIUM AND EDGEWOOD ISD.LIKE MENTIONED, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO THIS DIFFERENTLY.
THERE'S A FEW THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND I SHARED THIS IN MY CALL TO YOU, BUT JUST FOR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND THE COMMUNITY WATCHING TO HEAR.
THE FIRST IS HOUSING. WE ARE GOING TO BE -- WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS IN THE CITY AND THAT'S HOUSING AT ALL LEVELS. WHILE SOME OF US WERE KIND OF BUMMED THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS, WE UNDERSTAND WHY. I WANT TO SHARE THE WHY IS BECAUSE TO BE ABLE TO BOND THIS PROJECT, TO MAKE IT BONDABLE, IT HAS TO BE MARKET RATE HOUSING FOR THE ECONOMIC RETURN. THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR MARKET RATE HOUSING IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN. WE ARE LOOKING UP, THERE IS STILL A DEMAND FOR 18,500 MARKET RATE HOUSING UNITS IN AND AROUND SAN ANTONIO. SO THAT'S MEETING ONE NEED.
BUT THE CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE FOR YOU ALL, AND I KNOW THE INTER INTERCONTINENTAL, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AROUND THIS AREA.
HOUSING FOR THE HOSPITALITY FOLKS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO.
AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE WHILE THIS IS LIKE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY AROUND THE PUBLIC SPACE THAT'S GOING TO BE IN AND AROUND THE PARK. WHAT ARE THE AMENITIES COMMUNITY MEMBERS REALLY WANT TO SEE. WHAT WOULD GET FAMILIES TO STAY ALL DAY, A SPLASH PAD, A BASK COURT. WHAT ADDITIONAL -- BASKETBALL COURT.
WHAT ADDITIONAL -- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT LOOKS LIKE BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE, MAYBE FOLKS FROM NEIGHBORHOODS, MAYBE OUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS THAT SHOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS AS A PUBLIC AMENITY THAT'S FREE FOR USE. THE SECOND THING IS I WANTED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE OTHER USES OUTSIDE OF THE 70 GAMES THAT WERE MENTIONED THAT COULD BE USED FOR THIS PARK. SO IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH UTSA GIVEN THEIR DOWNTOWN PRESENCE. CONTINUING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL BE GREAT TO MAKE SURE IT GETS USED FOR MORE THAN THE 70-PLUS GAMES AT HOME. THE NEXT THING WAS THE TIRZ COMPONENT OF IT.
AND SO THIS QUESTION CAME UP THAT THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ WILL ONLY TEMPORARILY BE HELD. HOLIDAYS ON HOUSTON STREET IS STILL FUNDED SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. BUT WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY THINK ABOUT GROWING THE TIRZ. I KNOW I HAVEN'T ASKED THIS PREVIOUSLY, BUT THE IDEA CAME UP THAT IS THERE A WAY TO EVEN INCREASE THE TIRZ TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAYBE SOME OF THE LAND AROUND GIVEN THAT TODD IS COMING UP, COULD WE USE SOME OF THAT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR OTHER OPTIONS NOT USE THIS POT OF LAND. SOMETHING TO SEE IF THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO NOT JUST EXTEND THE HOUSTON TIRZ BOUNDARY FOR THESE SPECIFIC PLATS BUT IN AND AROUND THE AREA TO MAYBE TO EVEN FIVE POINTS. THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW THE FIVE POINTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT BUT WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE COULD DO FOR THAT COMMUNITY.
SINCE IT'S SO CLOSE TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOST SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED AT LEAST IN THE DISTRICT 1 SIDE.
AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA MENTIONED THE PARTNERSHIP WITH EDGEWOOD ISD AND THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM. I'M GRATEFUL YOU ARE WORKING WITH SAISD.
I THINK THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT IS IN ALIGNMENT TO READY TO WORK, HOW WE'RE PROVIDING
[01:40:07]
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH. ALWAYS END ON THE EDUCATION PIECE.IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO NOT ONLY FOR SAISD BUT FOR SURROUNDING DISTRICTS AS WELL. COULD THIS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHILE LOCATED NEXT TO FOX TECH BE EXTENDED TO SOME OF OUR OTHER URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. CONTINUING TO PUSH YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE NOT JUST OPEN COMMITMENTS, THINGS WE WILL HOLD OURSELVES TO, WE'LL OFFER X AMOUNT OF INTERNSHIPS TO STUDENTS WHO NEED TO GET ENGAGED IN INDUSTRY AHEAD OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO YOU IN YOUR SEATS. TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK, FOR THE GUARANTEES YOU ARE PROVIDING AND FOR OPENING UP THE CONVERSATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT'S AUTHENTIC AS WELL. APPRECIATE IT. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, ARE YOU HEARING US?
>> CASTILLO: I CAN HEAR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU TAKE THE FLOOR.
WE'LL COME BACK TO JALEN. >> CASTILLO: SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU, BEN, FOR THE PRESENTATION, AS WELL AS TO THE BASEBALL OWNERS FOR WALKING US THROUGH THIS PROPOSED CONCEPT. AS DISCUSSED WITH CITY STAFF AND DURING MY ONE ON ONE WITH THE TEAM, WHAT'S OF UTILITY MOST IMPORTANCE IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MITIGATING COMMUNITY DISPLACEMENT. WHILE I'M A FAN OF SPORTS, WE'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I ENJOY PERSONALLY, BUT LAPSE AND PUBLIC LAND.
AND ENSURING WE'RE MITIGATING DISPLACEMENT OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.
I'M PLEASED TO SEE YOU ALL HAVE COME UP WITH RELOCATION PLAN, BUT THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO WORK WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION TO WORK TO RELOCATE INDIVIDUALS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
IN THE PLAN THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, IT SHOWS FOLKS WILL HAVE AN OPTION TO BE RELOCATED INTO THE REMAINING SOAP WORKS UNIT, BUT RATHER THAN SHUFFLING FOLKS AROUND, HOW CAN WE ENSURE THEY ARE BEING CONNECTED TO HOUSING IMMEDIATELY.
IT'S THEIR CHOICE, BUT HOW CAN WE ENSURE THEY ARE NOT SHUTTLED FROM PROPERTY TO
PROPERTY, BUT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE RELOCATED. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
THIS IS RANDY SMITH. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN SEE. THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY, YES, MA'AM. YOU KNOW, LORI AND TEAM HAVE BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH US ON THE -- IN THE SOAP FACTOR DISPLACEMENT PLAN, THAT LAST COMPONENT OF THE HOUSING NAVIGATION, AND WE ARE ALL TOO HAPPY TO OFFER THAT IN THIS FIRST PHASE.
I SHARE YOUR CONCERN. I TRULY -- WE LONG TO BE KNOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE AND EMPATHETIC LANDLORDS IN TOWN, IN TEXAS. AND I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT FOLKS MOVING MORE THAN ONCE. THAT IS SOMETHING WE HOPE TO AVOID AND HAPPY TO OFFER THAT HOUSING NAVIGATION UP FRONT.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. IS THERE OPPORTUNITY TO WAIVE ANY APPLICATION FEES OR DEPOSIT FEES FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE DISPLACED?
>> YES, MA'AM. ANYONE MOVING -- IN THE PROPERTIES THAT WE OWN, FOR SURE, YES. ANYONE THAT IS LEAVING SOAP FACTORY INTO A WESTON URBAN OWNED PROPERTY WE ARE HAPPY TO WAIVE APPLICATION FEES AND THE LIKE.
>> CASTILLO: CAN YOU REMIND ME, RANDY, WHY IT WOULD BE UNTIL THE COMPLETION THAT FOLKS WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE MOVED INTO WESTON URBAN
PROPERTY. >> I DIDN'T QUITE CATCH THAT.
COULD YOU REPEAT? >> CASTILLO: IF YOU COULD REMIND US WHY IN THE PROPOSED RELOCATION PLAN TENANTS WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE LOCATED TO THE NEW PROPERTY AND NOT SURROUNDING WESTON PROPERTIES?
>> CURRENTLY THE ONE WE INCLUDE IN THE RELOCATION PLAN, IT WILL BE OUR ONLY ASSET THAT OFFERS A LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY BASED ON AMI. IF WE SUBSEQUENTLY ACQUIRE
OTHER PROPERTIES LIKE THAT, IT WOULD, OF COURSE, APPLY. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.
THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT TO CHALLENGE, THE FACT WE NEED MORE MARKET RATE DOWNTOWN, BUT THE FACT TENANTS HAVE TO WAIT UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED TO BE RELOCATED IN AN AFFORDABLE UNIT DEMONSTRATES THE LACK OF
[01:45:01]
WORKFORCE HOUSING DOWNTOWN. AND I UNDERSTAND -- THANK YOU, RANDY.THAT'S MY QUESTION FOR YOU. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ULTIMATELY A PRIVATE PROJECT IN REGARDS TO THE MARKET RATE HOUSING THAT'S GOING TO BE DEVELOPED, BUT IT'S PUBLICLY FACILITATED. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY.
I BELIEVE IT'S A DISSERVICE TO -- I UNDERSTAND ON THE OWNERS AND Y'ALL'S POINT, BUT I THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE ON THIS BODY'S TO NOT HAVE A REQUEST FOR DEEP AFFORDABILITY ON THE PROJECT. WHAT WE HEAR FROM OUR SUBMITS ALL ACROSS THE CITY EVIDENT IN BUDGET SURVEYS IS HOMELESS SERVICE, HOMELESS OUTREACH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT A BASEBALL STADIUM.
BUT THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY WITH THIS BODY IS TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY BENEFITS, NO PUN INTENDED THAT WE DON'T GET PEANUTS, THAT WE'RE SECURING REAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT TONIGHT'S THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS 6789 AND I THINK WORKING TOWARDS INTEGRATOR DEEPER AFFORDABILITY CAN HAVE AN IMPACT.
YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO TEASE OUT THE NUMBERS, BUT I WANT TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE ARGUMENT WE NEED PRIMARILY MORE MARKET RATE HOUSING VERSUS ANYTHING BELOW MARKET RATE. THE FOLKS THAT LIVE AT SOAP WORKS WORK ALONG THE RIVERWALK, THEY WORK IN THE HOTELS, AND AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE CITY THAT WE'RE BUILDING AND SELLING OURSELVES AS A PLACE YOU CAN LIVE, WORK AND PLAY, WE NEED TO ENSURE THOSE WHO CURRENTLY LIVE, WORK AND PLAY AREN'T DISPLACED TO WHERE THEY CAN NO LONGER LIVE OR PLAY DOWNTOWN BUT JUST WORK.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER AS WE MOVE THESE PIECES ALONG. AGAIN, I WANTED TO THANK RANDY AND THE TEAM FOR WALKING ME THROUGH SOME OF THE CONCERNS, MAKING SURE IT'S A PLACE FOLKS WANT TO BE AND INVITING, ALLOWING US TO BE PART OF FUTURE CONVERSATIONS WITH DESIGN.
BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT IF IT'S GOING TO BE BUILT AND WHAT THIS BODY IS SUPPORTIVE OF, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S A PLACE FOLKS WANT TO BE AND CONTINUE TO GO BACK AND EXPERIENCE. IN REGARDS TO THE FUNDING PIECE, I UNDERSTAND IT'S PRIMARILY THROUGH THE FIRS, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A COUPLE -- TIRZ, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES BEYOND BASEBALL.
WE'VE SEEN PARKS IMPROVEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO A LOT OF PUBLIC SPACES. I UNDERSTAND THIS ISN'T GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, THIS IS ULTIMATELY DOLLARS THAT CAN BENEFIT THINGS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THE WEST SIDE TIRZ VESTED IN THE WESTSIDE Y.
JUST POINT BEING THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT COMMUNITY WITH THESE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ DOLLARS. AND THEN I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SHARED RISK AND THERE'S GOING TO BE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS REGARDING THE SURROUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT WHETHER YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT 10, 3 OR 5, IF THERE IS A BOND PROJECT THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS BECAUSE THERE'S NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THAT THOSE NEEDS WON'T BE BUMPED FOR A FUTURE BOND ITEM IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. QUESTION, BEN, TO CLARIFY, DO YOU ALL ANTICIPATE FUTURE BOND LINE ITEMS TO SUPPORT ANY INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND
THIS PROPOSED BALLPARK? >> GORZELL: NO, MA'AM, WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING
ASKING FOR ANY 2027 BOND PROJECTS. >> CASTILLO: AND I RAISE THAT OPPONENT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES -- THAT POINT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, THE CITY DOES HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A SIDEWALK, A DRAINAGE PROJECT OR A NEW STREET. OFTENTIMES WHAT I'VE OBSERVED IS WITH CITY BOND PROJECTS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GET PROPERTY TAXES THEIR ENTIRE LIVES, OWN GENERATIONAL HOMES AND STILL WAITING ON BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT'S A CONCERN THAT I HAVE.
BUT I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC AND I THINK I JUST HOPE WE PIVOT AWAY FROM WHAT OUR HOBBIES ARE AND STICK TO THE ISSUE AT HAND WHICH IS BEING RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF PUBLIC LAND DOLLARS AND DISPLACEMENT OF -- MAKING SURE WE'RE MITIGATING
DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS. >> VIAGRAN: COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WANT TO CONVEY OPTIMISM, BUT I WANT TO CONVEY THE QUESTION
[01:50:01]
WE HAVE HERE, WHAT ROLE SHOULD PUBLIC ENTITIES LIKE THE CITY PLAY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS FACILITIES. YOU WILL GET MIXED RESPONSES FROM PEOPLE BIDES ON WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEY GET OUT OF THE DEAL.RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WE LOOK AT STADIUMS THAT PROMISE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND TO NEARBY COMMUNITIES TO REAP THE LION'S SHARE OF BENEFITS. IT'S DEMONSTRATED BY THE NELSON WOLFF STADIUM AND FROST BANK CENTER, NEITHER OF WHICH WERE PROMISED WHEN PUBLIC DOLLARS WERE USED.
ALSO WHETHER THE CONDITIONS OF TODAY, TOMORROW, 20, 30 YEARS FROM NOW LEND THEMSELVES TO THE SUCCESS OF NOT ONLY THE BALLPARK BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
I HAVE CONSTITUENTS WHO WILL SAY HELL, YEAH, THIS IS GREAT, IT'S TIME WE START LOOKING LIKE OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN THE U.S. AND OUR DOWNTOWN IS READY.
I ALSO HAVE CONSTITUENTS WHO WILL SAY HELL, NO, WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, CONSTRUCTION IS A MESS, WHY DON'T THEY JUST PUT MONEY INTO THE SPORTS VENUES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE. BOTH ARE COMPELLING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS AND I WANT TO STRIKE A BALANCE, BUT IT'S HARDER TO IGNORE THE VOICE THAT ASKS HOW WE CAN AFFORD EVERY NEW STADIUM OR ARENA, BUT WE CANNOT AFORT THE STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND OTHER SERVICES RESIDENTS RELY ON.
I HAVEN'T HEARD THEIR QUESTIONS LEGITIMIZED UNTIL COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO SPOKE JUST NOW. THERE ARE OUR WANTS, DESIRE, ALL THE AMENITIES OF A WORLD CLASS CITY. AND THERE'S A NEED WHICH IS AN AFFORDABLE SAFE COMMUNITY WHERE NO RESIDENT IS WITHOUT FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, HOUSES AND TRANSPORTATION AND THE MEANS TO A QUALITY LIFE. MY CONSTITUENTS ARE WATCHING THIS CLOSELY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE EXISTING STADIUM FOR ALL ITS UNFULFILLED PROMISES AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE FROST BANK CENTER.
THE AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T KNOW WHAT A TIRZ IS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT A P.I.D. IS.
WHY THAT MONEY CAN BE USED ON A BALLPARK BUT NOT ON OUR EVERYDAY NEEDS.
TIRZ IS NOT FREE MONEY AND IF IT WASN'T IN THE TIRZ, IT WOULD BE IN THE GENERAL FUND. IT'S OUR JOB TO EXPLAIN IN THE SIMPLEST TERMS POSSIBLE.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC FINANCE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CITY COUNCIL IS VOTING ON IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC FUNDING OF A BALLPARK.
AT THE END, I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO GIVE -- I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A CHANCE FOR STAFF TO EXPLAIN IN TERMS OF HIGH SCHOOLER WOULD UNDERSTAND, WHEW -- WHAT IS A TIRZ, WHAT PROJECTS CAN IT FUND AND HOW THIS IS NOT FUNDED WITH OUR RESIDENTS' OR SALES TAX DOLLARS. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN IT IN TERMS THAT A HIGH SCHOOLER COULD UNDERSTAND. AND WHILE YOU ALL ARE PREPPING THAT RESPONSE, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. THERE WILL BE ABOUT 4500 FIXED SEATS WITH A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 7500. IS THAT ACCURATE? MORE OR LESS.
I'M LOOKING AT OTHER MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARKS IN MADISON, FREDERICKSBURG, WICHITA, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, KANSAS, ALABAMA, EACH OF WHICH HAVE A BUDGET BETWEEN 38 MILLION TO -- THAT HAVE CAPACITY BETWEEN 3800 TO OVER 10,000 WITH BUDGETS BETWEEN 35 MILLION TO 100 MILLION, ALL OF WHICH BROKE GROUND BETWEEN 2018 AND THE PRESENT. I'M WONDERING WHY IN COMPARISON WILL OUR FIELD
HAVE CAPACITY ON THE SMALLER END OF THE SPECTRUM. >> COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU.
PART OF THIS CONVERSATION STARTS WITH DESIGN, AND WE'RE NOT THERE YET SO I WOULD CAVEAT EVERYTHING WITH THESE NUMBERS ARE ESTIMATES. AND A BIG PART OF THE ANSWER LAST TO DO WITH THE DYNAMIC REED DESCRIBED IN HIS INTRO WITH MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S SORT OF TECTONIC SHIFT IN 2020. GONE ARE THE DAYS OF CAPACITY FOR CAPACITY SAKE. IT USED TO BE THERE WAS A SOMEWHAT ARBITRARY RULE THAT YOU NEEDED X THOUSAND SEATS IF YOU WANTED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR TRIPLE A BASEBALL.
Y THOUSAND SEATS AND SO ON. THAT IS NO LONGER THE SEATS. THERE'S NO ARBITRARY NUMBER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY LEVEL OF BASEBALL. ON THE COST ISSUE SPECIFICALLY, COSTS PER FIXED SEAT IS A GOOD METRIC FOR MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARKS AND THAT NUMBER SINCE 2018 IN THE LAST SIX YEARS, LIKE ALL OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAS ESCALATED WELL IN EXCESS OF CPI, WELL IN EXCESS OF MOST TYPICALLY THOUGHT
[01:55:03]
INFLATION METRICS. SO COSTS ARE UP -- I WANT TO TRY TO STICK TO YOUR HIGHSCHOOL -- >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
>> COSTS ARE WAY UP. ON BALLPARK CAPACITY SPECIFICALLY, OUR GOAL IS FOR THIS TO BE AN INTIMATE IT'S 7500 OR 8,000 TO HAVE A GREAT VIEW, A GREAT SEAT AND BE COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR FAMILY. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THOUGHT PUT INTO THIS.
WHILE THEY ARE DESIGN ESTIMATES, THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT WE FEEL PRETTY STRONG ABOUT. AND THEN I WOULD JUST END WITH THE PLACEMAKING OBSERVATION WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THIS PLACE TO FEEL VIBRANT.
AND SOME OF THE LEADING ATTENDANCE NUMBERS IN ALL OF MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ARE IN THE FIVE TO 6,000 RANGE. WHEN YOU VISIT THOSE STADIUMS AND THEY WAS A CAPACITY OF 10,000, IT LOOKS A SENSE OF PLACE. SO WE'LL DESIGN FOR
INTIMACY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I APPRECIATE IT.
I'LL ALSO ASK, HOW HAVE RESIDENTS OF THE SOAP FACTORY BEEN ENGAGED IN THESE PLANS AND THIS IS A PROJECT ALL BUT GUARANTEED TO CAUSE DIRECT DISPLACEMENT WHICH WOULD PREVENT FUNDING FROM THE HOUSING BOND. SO THE BROADER QUESTION IS WHAT MAKES THIS THE EXCEPTION TO ANTI-DISPLACEMENT.
ELDERS LIVING CLOSE TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, WORKERS LIVING NEXT TO THEIR JOBS. HOW HAVE YOU ENGAGED THE RESIDENTS THERE AUDIO] WHAT IS -- WHAT IS AN ACCEPTABLE DISPLACEMENT PLAN OUTSIDE OF JUST YOU CAN MOVE INTO ONE OF OUR OTHER PROPERTIES WHEN THEY ARE READY.
I GUESS THAT'S THE -- I GUESS THAT'S THE BULK OF THE QUESTION.
>> OKAY. I'LL LEAVE THE POLICY QUESTION TO LORI.
ON THE COMMUNICATION QUESTION, WE HAVE -- THIS EFFORT HAS BEEN, AS NOTED, A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING. AND UNTIL IT IS A CERTAINTY, IT IS NOT OUR POLICY TO ALARM OUR TENANTS. THE COMMUNICATION WITH THEM WILL BE TODAY AND CONSIST.
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM, WE'VE LET THEM KNOW TODAY ABOUT THIS MEETING.
AND THE REPLACEMENT -- I MEAN THE DISPLACEMENT PLAN GOING FORWARD STARTS WITH ONSITE RELOCATION. THE VERY FIRST UNITS AFFECTED BY REDEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TO A SIMILAR UNIT ON SITE.
FOR THE POLICY QUESTION, AS TO WHAT CITY POLICIES MIGHT APPLY, I'LL LET LORI SPEAK
TO THAT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WANT TO GET THROUGH A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS AND THEN I WOULD LOVE RESPONSES TO THAT AND THE TIRZ QUESTION.
I'LL GIVE A THOUGHT BEFORE MY FINAL QUESTION. THINKING ABOUT PARKING, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED THERE ARE 5,000 SPOTS WITHIN A QUARTER FILE RADIUS, BUT THOSE ARE PEOPLE TRAVELING TO SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS. I DO WONDER WHAT KIND OF ANALYSIS CAN BE DONE TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR PARKING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE BALLPARK WILL CAUSE AS IT RELATES TO EXISTING PARKING AND I'M SURE THAT WILL ALSO BE DONE AS PART OF THE GARAGE DESIGN.
BUT BIGGER QUESTION -- OR REQUEST, SO I'M NOT INHERENTLY OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT. I WANT TO BE OPTIMISTIC AND I WANT TO SUPPORT.
BUT WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT IS TO MOVE SWIFTLY, I BELIEVE THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COMPONENT THAT IS TO BE COMPLETED AND THERE IS TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY IMPACT WITH THE PROJECT LIKE THIS.
I EXPECT MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR A ZONING CASE THAN WE'VE GOTTEN AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING, BUT I'D REQUEST PROBABLY THAT WE PUSH BACK THE TERM SHEET THAT WE'RE SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON AUGUST 29 AND AT MINIMUM SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING, SURVEYOR EDUCATIONAL MEETING ON THE PROJECT. COULD STAFF OR THE PARTNERS PLAN SOMETHING LIKE THAT PRIOR TO THE AUGUST 29TH MEETING OR WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE THAT ITEM AT A
LATER DATE WITHOUT IMPACTING THE PROJECT? >>>> WALSH: WE'LL TAKE ALL THE FEEDBACK AND THE GROUP WITH HOW TO PROCEED -- SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE TALKED ENGAGEMENT AND HOWEVER IT LOOKS. I THINK WE CAN WORK THROUGH
[02:00:02]
THAT AND GIVE A REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I APPRECIATE THAT. WE ARE WORKING REALLY QUICKLY ON THIS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE MEETING IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN TWO WEEKS. IF SOMEBODY WOULDN'T MIND DESCRIBING TIRZ AND BREAKING IT DOWN A LITTLE MORE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WATCHING AT HOME AND MAYBE THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEDIA TO SHARE A
LITTLE ABOUT HOW TIRZ WORKS. >> WALSH: I'LL TAKE A CRACK AT IT AND TRY TO KEEP IT IN SIMPLE TERMS. A TAX INCREMENT REFINANCE ZONE IS ALLOWED BY THE STATE FOR CITIES TO CREATE GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF FOCUSED INVESTMENT.
AND IT IS TO BE UTILIZED FOR, AS BEN SAID, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CASES THAT YOU ALL SEE AS A COUNCIL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS APPROVING INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO PLACEMAKE, GENERATE SUPPORT HOUSING, ALL THOSE THINGS.
SO THE WAY THAT'S FUNDED IS THE DEVELOPMENT OR THE VALUE IN THESE GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS, AS THEY GO UP, THAT VALUE IS CAPTURED WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
AND FOR MOST REASONS, MOST ASPECTS, MONEY THAT'S SPENT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THAT ZONE. IT COULD BE IN CONTIGUOUS AREAS, SO WE'RE NOT THAT RESTRICTED. IN THIS CASE THE PROPOSAL YOU SAW TODAY IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED WITH NEW TAX REVENUE IN THE TIRZ. IF THEY DON'T BUILD THAT -- THOSE FOUR PHASES, THERE'S NO TAX REVENUE. MORE RESIZELY TO THE POINT, YOU SAW THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF THE HOUSTON STREET ZONE, IT'S REALLY ONLY ON THEIR FOUR PHASES. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE OR PROJECTS WITHIN THAT ZONE. AND SO IT IS -- IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL.
WE HAVE FIVE CITY-INITIATED ZONES LIKE THIS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THERE ARE -- THEY ARE ALL GOVERNED BY A BOARD. A BOARD WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND THE COUNCIL ULTIMATELY APPROVES HOW WE SPEND THAT MONEY.
BUT FOR THIS PROJECT, IF THEY DON'T DO THIS PROJECT, THERE'S NO INCREMENT.
HOUSTON STREET CONTINUES ON, IT'S GOT YEARS TO GO, THERE ARE PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE, WE'LL DEAL WITH THOSE. BUT FOR THE STADIUM, THE STADIUM IS BEING PAID FOR PRACTICALLY THE ENTIRE AMOUNT 86% ON A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE BASED ON THE VALUE OF THEIR IMPROVEMENTS. AND SO THAT PROBABLY WASN'T AS EASY AS YOU WANTED IT OR AS SIMPLE TERMS, BUT IT IS -- IT IS JUST ON THIS ZONE. MORE SPECIFICALLY THE ZONE, ON THEIR FOUR PHASES.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WOULD GIVE YOU A GOOD RATING ON YOUR CLASSROOM --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I STARTED YOUR SECOND ROUND. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I'M DONE.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. THAT WAS AP LEVEL HIGH SCHOOL, ERIK.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YES, I WOULD LIKE IN THAT CHALLENGE OF HOW TO EXPLAIN IT TO A HIGH SCHOOLER, BUT I NEED TIME TO WORK ON IT.
SO SORRY. I WANT TO TAKE MY THREE MINUTES NOW.
FIVE MINUTES. BEN OR ERIK, CAN WE JUST PUBLIC COMMENT NEXT WEEK, CAN THAT BE A MEETING WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THE BALLPARK
PROJECT? >> WALSH: SURE, YEAH. THE PUBLIC CAN COME IN AND
TALK ABOUT ANYTHING. BUT WE DON'T -- >> VIAGRAN: CAN WE PUT OUT
THE CALENDAR TO MAKE IT AN OFFICIAL MEETING? >> WALSH: YOU CAN, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT NEXT WEEK BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING NEXT WEEK. I THINK AND I'M GOING TO LOOK TO THESE GUYS.
I'M NOT SURE IF A WEEK IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING AUGUST 29TH AND BRING TO COUNCIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I THIS WE'VE PROBABLY -- THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE SWING ROOM.
>> VIAGRAN: MY PRIORITY IS THE BUDGET. IF WE CAN GO AND THEN GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR IDEAS FOR THE PARK, LIKE IF WE CAN KEEP IT ON THE 29TH AND THEN GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO EXPERIENCE AT THE PARK, I'D RATHER DO THAT THAN MUDDY IT WITHIN THE BUDGET. BUT I WOULD -- AND I'D BE WILLING TO COME NEXT WEEK AT 5:00 TO DO A COUNCIL SESSION.
[02:05:07]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SOMEBODY MOVE AROUND OR SOMETHING.
>> VIAGRAN: WE DID PAY OUR CPS BILL. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. I KNOW WE'RE HEARING THAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT I WANT -- WHEN I SAID I WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, I THINK I WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, LAYOUT, WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE DOWNTOWN. NOT WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT THAT'S WHY I WAS THINKING WE COULD DO IT NEXT WEEK.
>> WALSH: THE OTHER OPTION, WE HAVE A BUDGET WORKSHOP NEXT WEDNESDAY.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN OFF COUNCIL WEEK, WE COULD PUBLISH A PUBLIC TO BE HEARD
AFTERWARDS ON A NORMAL WEDNESDAY. >> VIAGRAN: I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. AND THEN TAKE THE VOTE ON THE 29TH.
>> WALSH: I THINK THE SENSE IS THERE'S SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE MENTIONED ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY INPUT, AND SO I ALSO BELIEVE THAT REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OR TIME, WE'RE GETTING READY TO LAUNCH OFF WITH THE TEN DIFFERENT BUDGET WORK SESSIONS IN EACH OF THE DISTRICTS. WE SHOULD BE PREPARED AT THOSE MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THIS AS WELL AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THE ROAD A LOT IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I'M NOT BACK IN THE QUEUE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? I JUST WOULD LIKE TO WRAP UP BY SAYING, NUMBER ONE, NONE OF THIS HAPPENS IN A VACUUM.
I MEAN I DO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT'S BEING MADE BY THE OWNERS GROUP AS WELL AS WESTERN URBAN, THE DEVELOPER INTO DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.
I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE CONFIDENCE PEOPLE SEEING IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. THERE'S INVESTMENTS HAPPENING IN HOUSING, IN WORKFORCE. WE TALKED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
SO THIS, IN MY VIEW, THIS DEAL IS ALSO A SIGN OF CONFIDENCE IN THE DIRECTION SAN ANTONIO IS HEADED. I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY LOOKING FORWARD FOR -- TO THE ADDITIONAL WEEKS AND COMMENTS THAT WILL BE FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO AROUND THIS I DO I CAN'T SAY. AND IN SUMMARY -- DAIS. AGAIN, WE ASKED YOU TO BRING US A DEAL WE COULD SUPPORT ON ITS MERITS AND I THINK THIS IS THAT DEAL.
GREAT COMMENTS, GREAT DISCUSSION. THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WE'LL CONVENE THAT NOW. THE TIME IS NOW 4:15 ON AUGUST 14TH.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO 551.087, THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY, AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVIN
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:21 P.M. ON AUGUST 14TH, 2024.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND SO OUR B SESSION IS NOW
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.