Aug 15, 2024 City Council A Session

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

[00:01:24]

WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. IT'S 9:10 A.M. ON AUGUST 15, 2024. WE WILL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.

MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE TO BEGIN US TODAY.

I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER GAVITOTO WELCOME OURINVOCATOR.

>> GAVITO: I WANT TO INTRODUCE PASTOR JOHN PYLETODAY.

I WANT TO WELCOME HIS LOVELY WIFE, AMANDA. YOU CAN COME UP, TOO, IF YOU WANT. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING YOUR FAITH WITH US. PASTOR JOHN CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE COMMUNITY CARE PASTOR AT CITY CHURCH SAN ANTONIO. CITY CHURCH HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS. IN THAT TIME, THEY HAVE OPENED THEIR DOORS TO THOUSANDS OF DISTRICT 7 RESIDENTS AND HELPED THEM FIND A CIRCLE TO BELONG IN.

PASTOR JOHN MAKES IT HIS MISSION TO ENSURE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME AT THE CHURCH.

REGARDLESS OF THEIR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. JOHN WORKS WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, LEADING TO ANNUAL FEED SA INITIATIVE AND SERVES AS BOARD MEMBER FOR VARIOUS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. JOHN AND AMANDA HAVE TWO WONDERFUL SONS AND AS YOU CAN TELL, HE IS A PILLAR IN OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS AND HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SERVICE. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR HIS PRESENCE HERE IN DISTRICT 7 AND FOR THE WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE HE AND CITY CHURCH BRING TO SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, HONORED CITY COUNCIL. PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME AND PRAY.

ALMIGHTY GOD, PLEASE BLESS THOSE WHO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN OUR WONDERFUL CITY WITH WISDOM, COMPASSION AND A SENSE OF JUSTICE. HELP THEM TO CONTINUE FAITHFULLY FULFILL THEIR IMPORTANT ROLE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE.

HEAVENLY FATHER, YOU GIVE US A VISION OF A CITY WHERE ALL NATIONS COME TOGETHER IN HARMONY. WE PRAY THAT YOU WATCH OVER AND BLESS SAN ANTONIO.

STRENGTHEN THE BONDS OF RESPECT AND COMMUNITY THAT ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CIVIC LIFE. BLESS AND INSPIRE OUR LEADERS, OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR MAYOR, THEIR TEAMS AND EVERYONE WHO SERVES OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY FROM THE FACILITIES TEAM ALL THE WAY TO THE MAYOR. LET US NEVER NEGLECT THE EVILS OF POVERTY, PREJUDICE AND OPPRESSION SO THAT JUSTICE AND PEACE CAN THRIVE.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND ALL YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO IN US, THROUGH US, AND FOR US. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR AND MRS. PYLE. ALRIGHT.

FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 1ST, 2024. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. ITEM NUMBER THREE, COUNCIL

[00:05:06]

ALRIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. MANY OF YOU ARE HERE FOR THE PRESENTATIONS ON THE BUDGET. THOSE WILL BE ITEMS 4, 5 AND 6.

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

CONSIDERATION? ITEMS 10 AND 11. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: 14.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. WE HAVE ITEMS 10, 11, 14 AND 22 FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED? OKAY. IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, SO ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA?

>> ROCHA GARCIA: I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 4, SHE HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE HER A SHOUT-OUT AND SAY HOW PROUD WE ARE FOR HER WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO?

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16, THE APPOINTMENT OF TRINITY LOPEZ TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 5 ON THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION. TRINITY IS A CURRENT STUDENT AT HIGH SCHOOL AND THROUGH THE NURSING AND HEALTH CARE EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM WITH ANIMAL COLLEGES, SHE'S COMMITTED TO THE CITY'S HEALTH. I KNOW SHE WILL DO GREAT WORK SUPPORTING THE HEALTH OF OUR CITY'S YOUTH AND BEING ON THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER? >> CABELLO HAVRDA: HIGHLIGHTING ITEMS 12 AND 13, THE AUTHORIZATION OF ACCEPTANCE AND GRANT FUNDS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR FOR RIFLE RESISTANT BODY ARMOR TO MAKE SURE OUR OFFICERS ARE SAFE, ESPECIALLY IN THE EXECUTION OF KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT'S EVERYTHING SAVE FOR 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 14 AND 22. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. WE HAVE GOT TWO ITEMS THAT ARE QUICK TO DISPENSE OF. THEY ARE FOR COMBINATION PURPOSES, ITEMS 10 AND 11.

[10. Ordinance approving the acquisition, on behalf of the San Antonio Water System, through negotiation or condemnation of interests in land sufficient for project purposes involving two permanent sewer easements and two temporary construction easements in NCB 15180 and 15139 on privately owned real property located in the southwest quadrant of Bexar County, in Council District 4, beginning 400 feet north of the intersection of Valley Hi Drive and SW Loop 410 Northbound Access Road, traveling west under Loop 410, and ending 400 feet north of the intersection of Valley Hi Drive and SW Loop 410 Southbound Access Road, related to the Loop 410 @ Valley Hi Drive Bore Project; declaring the project to be for public use and a public necessity for the acquisition. [John Peterek, Interim Assistant City Manager; Razi Hosseini, Director, Public Works]]

>> CLERK: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTERESTS IN LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES INVOLVING TWO PERMANENT SEWER EASEMENTS AND TWO TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS IN NCB 15180 AND 15139 ON PRIVATELY OWNED REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF BEXAR COUNTY IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 4, BEGINNING 400 FEET NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF VALLEY HI DRIVE AND SOUTHWEST LOOP 410 NORTHBOUND ACCESS ROAD TRAVELING WEST UNDER LOOP 410 AND ENDING 400 FEET NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF VALLEY HI DRIVE AND SOUTHWEST LOOP 410 SOUTHBOUND ACCESS ROAD RELATED TO THE LOOP 410 AT VALLEY HI DRIVE BORE PROJECT, DECLARING THE PROJECT TO BE FOR PUBLIC USE AND A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCIL MEMBER? >> ROCHA GARCIA: I MOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO USE THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROJECT BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY THAT WAS DESCRIBED

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>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> CLERK: I NEED TO READ THE REST OF THE CAPTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

>> CLERK: THE PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY CONSISTING OF TWO PERMANENT SEWER EASEMENTS AND TWO TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS LOCATED IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 BEGINNING 400 FEET NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF VALLEY HI DRIVE AND SOUTHWEST LOOP 410 NORTHBOUND ACCESS ROAD TRAVELING WEST UNDER LOOP 410 AND ENDING 400 FEET AUDIO] AND NCB15139. THIS PROJECT -- THIS PROPERTY IS DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT MAP AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS A PART OF THIS MOTION. T

THE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALRIGHT. YOU HEARD THE MOTION AND THE SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

[11. Ordinance approving the acquisition, on behalf of the San Antonio Water System, through negotiation or condemnation of interests in land sufficient for project purposes involving three permanent water easements and three temporary construction easements in CB 4381, 4382, 4401, 4353, 4367, 4378, 4383, 4379, 4380, and 4402 on privately owned real property located in the northwest quadrant of Bexar County, in the City of San Antonio’s ETJ, beginning at the south side of Talley Road near the intersection of Talley Road and Tahoe Vista, then traversing in a southwest direction before proceeding in a southerly direction to a point along Stevens Circle, related to the Stevens Ranch 24-Inch Water Main Project; declaring the project to be for public use and a public necessity for the acquisition. [John Peterek, Interim Assistant City Manager; Razi Hosseini, Director, Public Works]]

>> CLERK: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTERESTS IN LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES INVOLVING THREE PERMANENT WATER EASEMENTS AND THREE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS IN CB 4381, 4382, 4401, 4353, 4367, 4378, 4383, 4379, 4380, AND 4402 ON PRIVATELY OWNED REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF BEXAR COUNTY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S ETJ BEGINNING AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF TALLEY ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF TALLEY ROAD AND TAHOEVISTA, PROCEEDING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION TO A POINT ALONG STEVENS CIRCLE RELATED TO THE STEVENS RANCH 24 INCH WATER MAIN PROJECT, DECLARING THE PROJECT TO BE FOR PUBLIC USE AND PUBLIC

NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION. >> ROCHA GARCIA: I MOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZE THE USE THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROJECT FOR THE SAWS STEVEN RANCH 24 INCH WATER MAIN PROJECT BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY DESCRIBED BY THE CITY CLERK AND INCORPORATED

AS PART OF THIS MOTION. >> CLERK: THE PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY FOR THREE PERMANENT WATER EASEMENT INTERESTS AND THREE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS LOCATED IN THE CITY'S ETJ NEAR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 AND COUNTY BLOCKS 4381, 4382, 4401, 4353, 4367, 4378, 4383, 4379, 4330 AND 4402 ON PRIVATELY OWNED REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE KNOT WEST QUADRANT OF BEXAR COUNTY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ETJ BEGINNING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TALLEY ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF TALLEY ROAD AND TAHOEVISTA.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU HEARD THE MOTION, WAS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 11. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT. BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR -- THE

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE ALAMO U.S. -- U.S. POSTAL SERVICE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS ALAMO BRANCH 421 WITH US TODAY. HOMER, DAN, THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP TEAM. LET'S GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, IF YOU GUYS COME FORWARD. THE REASON WHY THEY ARE HERE TODAY AS MANY FOLKS PROBABLY RECOGNIZE THE BROWN PAPER BAGS EVERY YEAR THAT ARE BY YOUR MAILBOXES AS THE LETTER CARRIERS IN THE COUNTRY COLLECT CANNED GOODS AND OTHER FOODS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. OUR ALAMO BRANCH LOCAL 421 HAD THE MOST SUCCESSFUL STAMP OUT HUNGER DRIVE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

ALL TOLD, HOMER IT SAYS 490,107 POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO

[00:15:06]

>> FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE I START APPRECIATING THE COUNCIL FOR INVITING US HERE, MY NAME IS HOMER. I'M THE BRANCH PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS AND WE HAD A TRAGEDY HAPPEN TO ONE OF OUR LETTER CARRIERS A COUPLE DAYS AGO, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF WE TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ONE OF OUR SISTERS, JESSICA MENDOZA THAT WAS BRUTALLY KILLED.

CAN WE HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE BEFORE WE CONTINUE? THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE AND INVITED BY YOU GUYS IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. WE THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR EVERY YEAR, SECOND THURSDAY OF MAY, THAT THEY COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR ONE-DAY BIGGEST FOOD DRIVE. WE HAD SO PROUD OF OUR MEMBERSHIP AND I HAVE MY FOOD DRIVE COORDINATORS RIGHT BEHIND ME IN UNIFORM. THEY DID A GREAT JOB FOR THE LETTER CARRIERS IN GETTING THE BAGS OUT AND PARTNERING UP WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK AND WE JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING US LETTER CARRIERS. THIS TIME, THEY WENT OVER AND BEYOND IN MAKING US NUMBER ONE IN THE UNITED STATES. SO MAYBE NEXT YEAR, WE CAN BE NUMBER ONE IN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN. WE WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL, AND THE CITY OF

SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CONGRATULATIONS, YOU GUYS. PLEASE DON'T GO ANYWHERE. MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO

SHARE SOME REMARKS AND ACCOLADES AS WELL. >> ROCHA GARCIA: CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT. I HOPE THAT WE ARE HERE AGAIN NEXT YEAR CELEBRATING YET AGAIN. I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZE THIS EVENT AND ALSO, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.

IT IS SO LOVING AND GIVING IN A TIME OF NEED. WE KNOW FOOD INSECURITY'S A CRITICAL ISSUE IMPACTING THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL, AND SO WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT AND WITH ALL OF THE PARTNERSHIPS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE FOOD BANK AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. WE ALSO HAVE SOME FOOD DRIVES OVER THE SUMMER THAT YOU ALL WERE A PART OF. A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT ESPECIALLY TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS IN EVERY CAPACITY THAT HELPED YOU ALL ACHIEVE THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS. I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS MORNING AS WE WERE PREPARING FOR THIS AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON HAVING YOU ALL HERE FOR A FEW WEEKS, WE KNEW THAT YOU ALL HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED AND IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT MORNING BECAUSE OF THE NEWS OF YOUR COLLEAGUE, MISS MENDOZA. I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE REACHED OUT TO OFFER OUR CONDOLENCES AND TO ASK IF WE NEEDED TO POSTPONE THIS TO A LATER DATE, AND YOU ALL WERE VERY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF UNFORTUNATELY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SAN ANTONIO, THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THE MENDOZA FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH. THERE ARE TWO CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN -- TWO KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND AND IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY TO JUST TAKE IN. IT'S A MOMENT OF CELEBRATION BUT IT'S ALSO A MOMENT OF SADNESS AND I WANT TO TH THANK -- SHE WORKED HER WAY UP TO A SUPERVISOR AT THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN WOMEN. WE SEE WOMEN THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY AND I DO THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND JUST REMIND EVERYBODY ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT OUR COMMUNITY FACES, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: HOMER, I KNOW YOU BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MEET THE

TEAM. CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF? >> GOOD MORNING.

I'M ERIN MCLOUGHLIN. >> STEFAN RAMIREZ. >> LETTER CARRIER SARAH

MIDDLETON. >> HI. LETTER CARRIER THERESA FROGG.

I WORKED FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE FOR ALMOST 24 YEARS NOW.

[00:20:01]

>> DAN TORRES, DIRECTOR OF RETIREES. >> I'M HERE REPRESENTING TEXAS AFL-CIO UNDER THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BRANCH OF THE STATEWIDE AFL-CIO.

>> VIAGRAN: THANKS. I WAS LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU.

MARIO, EVERYBODY KNOWS MARIO. COME ON UP. REMIND US.

>> CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.

ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, OUR ORGANIZATION, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE US

TO NOURISH THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: I WAS NOT SURPRISED AT THIS AWARD BECAUSE YEARS AGO, I WAS AT AN EVENT AND HOMER WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER BECAUSE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE BROWN BAG, THE FOOD BANK EFFORTS THAT THEY PUT FORWARD. HE GAVE A REALLY GOOD SPEECH AND THIS IS WAY BEFORE I WAS IAGRAN. I SAID YOU DID SUCH A GREAT JOB, YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR VOICE. HE'S LIKE I KNEW WE COULD DO THIS.

HE JUST BRAGGED ON THE LETTER CARRIERS. SO Y'ALL WILL BE EXPECTED THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO GIVE A SPEECH ONE DAY LIKE HOMER DOES.

THAT WAS THE DAY I THINK LAURA WAS THERE ALSO. NOT ONLY DID I GET TO HEAR HOMER BUT I GOT TO MEET MY IDOL. I WAS LIKE THIS IS -- I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS. HERE WE ARE, FAST FORWARD, AND HOMER IS STILL USING HIS VOICE. HE'S STILL MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING IN COMMUNITY.

HE'S BROUGHT YOU ALL ALONG TO HELP THEM AND I KNOW THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT.

AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE JESSICA AND USE YOUR VOICE THERE.

I KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO HELP YOU AS 421, THE UNION, WHERE YOU GUYS WANT TO USE YOUR VOICE, HOW YOU WANT TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE. YOU ARE OUR FRONT-FACING PEOPLE. EVEN IF YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THE RESIDENTS, I SURE KNOW WHEN Y'ALL COME TO THE DOOR. IF I NEEDED HELP, I KNEW I COULD OPEN THAT DOOR AND ASK FOR IT. BUT YOU GUYS DO THE JOB AND THEN YOU DO THIS WHERE YOU ARE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS WHAT THE HEART OF SAN ANTONIO IS ABOUT. THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THAT AND SHOWING PEOPLE THAT ANYBODY CAN WRITE A CHECK, BUT YOU GUYS ARE OUT THERE, FRONT LINE, FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN HOW YOU NEED HELP AS WE GO THROUGH THIS TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO DR. GARCIA FOR BRINGING LOCAL 421 TO BE HONORED TODAY. WHAT A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND TREMENDOUS IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY. I DO WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO HOMER AND THE NALC ALAMO BRANCH 421 FOR BRINGING THIS RECOGNITION AND SERVICE TO ALAMO CITY. HOMER AND NALC 421 HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE POLICY DISCUSSIONS WITH MY OFFICE AND ARE A CRUCIAL VOICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LETTER CARRIERS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL BUT OFTEN UNDERAPPRECIATED ROLE IN SOCIETY. THEY WORK RAIN OR SHINE AND ENSURE THAT OUR LIVES STAY ON SCHEDULE AND THEY ALSO DOUBLE AS THE EYES AND EARS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE FACT THAT THESE FOLKS WHO WORK SO HARD OFTEN IN 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURES AND FACING MANY POTENTIAL HAZARDS TOOK THE TIME NOT ONLY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS DONATION DRIVE BUT TO COMPLETELY KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK IS SO HONORABLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO DONATED SOME FOOD ITEMS. NAS

THANKS SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE?

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE FACT YOU ALL ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME.

YOU SEE THINGS AND I KNOW WHEN YOU SEE THINGS, YOU SAY THINGS.

THAT CAN SAVE LIVES AND CAN HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE THE MOTTO OF THE LETTER CARRIERS.

NEITHER SNOW NOR RAIN NOR HEAT NOR GLOOM OF NIGHT STAYS THESE COURIERS FROM THE SWIFT COMPLETION OF THEIR APPOINTED ROUNDS. I'M SURE THAT'S BEEN TRUE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE AND IT WILL BE TRUE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO IN DELIVERING THE MAIL. >> THANK YOU.

ESPECIALLY IN COVID-19. WE WERE THERE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, GUYS, VERY MUCH, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO THE ACCOLADE THAT YOU ARE RECE RECEIVING, AND ALSO TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY OF THE LETTER CARRIERS WHO WILL BE IN OUR PRAYERS AS THE FAMILY GRIEVES.

[00:25:03]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

[22. Ordinance approving the naming of the Sports Complex at Old Spanish Walking Trails Park to Edward D. Garza Soccer Complex located at 3668 Fredericksburg Rd. [David W. McCary, Assistant City Manager; Homer Garcia III, Director, Parks & Recreation]]

LET'S TAKE IT UP. >> CLERK: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE NAME OF THE SPORTS COMPLEX AT OLD SPANISH WALKING TRAILS PARK TO EDWARD D. GARZA SOCCER COMPLEX

LOCATED AT 3668 FREDERICKSBURG ROAD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I WILL

ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 22. COUNCIL MEMBER?

COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR? >> KAUR: WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HELP RENAME THE OLD SPANISH WALKING TRAILS PARK TO THE EDWARD D. GARZA SOCCER COMPLEX AT OLD SPANISH WALKING TRAILS PARK. THIS PARK WAS ESSENTIALLY A DRAINAGE DITCH THAT WAS REPURPOSED AS A SOCCER COMPLEX AND PREVIOUS MAYOR GARZA HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB REVITALIZING THIS AREA AND MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SOCCER AND EXTRACURRICULAR SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER ARE GETTING THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A VERY, VERY LOW COST. HE HAS A LOT OF KIDS THAT COME OUT THERE AND ENJOY THEIR SUMMERS AND SOME OF US HAVE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THESE STUDENTS, AND I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET ONE OF THEM AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND HE'S NOW AT UNIVERSITY HERE AND CREDITS HIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE ACADEMY FOR HIS SUCCESS AND HIS ABILITY TO GET THROUGH COLLEGE.

SO THIS PROGRAM IS TRULY CHANGING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SO IT WAS AN HONOR TO HELP LEAD THIS EFFORT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO HELPED PUSH THIS FORWARD. I KNOW PREVIOUS MAYOR GARZA WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY BUT WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO MOVE THIS.

THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ALSO WROTE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS

RENAMING. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER? >> CABELLO HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO DR. KAURFOR BRINGING THIS ITEM TO US.

THANKS TO MAYOR ED GARZA FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID AND CONTINUE TO DO FOR SAN ANTONIO. ED IS NOT HERE TODAY. HE'S AN SAISD TRUSTEE AND HAD A COMMITTEE MEETING. I SAW HIM YESTERDAY AND GAVE HIM A HARD TIME FOR NOT BEING HERE. IN TYPICAL FASHION, HE SAID HE HAD WORK TO DO FOR THE STUDENTS. IT'S ALSO TRUE ED ISN'T HERE TODAY BECAUSE WHILE HE'S GRATEFUL FOR THE ACCOLADE, HE'S A MAN OF GREAT HUMILITY AND DIDN'T WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE STUDENTS AND THE PROGRAMS HE WORKS WITH.

I WORKED FOR ED YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS A DISTRICT 7 COUNCIL MEMBER AND WHEN HE WAS THE MAYOR AND I WAS A KID AT THE TIME. HE ALWAYS TOOK -- I SAY KID, I WAS EARLY 20S, RIGHT? BUT HE TOOK THE TIME AS MAYOR OF THIS CITY TO EXPLAIN SO MUCH TO ME, TO MENTOR ME AND ULTIMATELY TO SUPPORT ME IN MY POLITICAL ENDEAVORS AND I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR THAT. THIS IS A MAN WHO INVESTS IN OUR YOUTH. I'M ONE OF MANY THAT ED DID THIS FOR.

THE FORMER OLD SPANISH WALKING TRAILS SOCCER FIELDS HAVE HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. THESE FIELDS HAVE BEEN MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO PLAY.

THEY HAVE BEEN A CORNERSTONE WHERE KIDS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS COME TOGETHER TO BUILD CHARACTER, FRIENDSHIPS AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. WE OWE A GREAT DEAL OF THIS TO FORMER MAYOR EDWARD D. GARZA. HIS VISION WENT BEYOND BIG PROJECTS LIKE TOYOTA AND TEXAS A & M SAN ANTONIO. HE SAW THE POTENTIAL FOR SAN ANTONIO TO BECOME A HUB FOR SOCCER. HE'S WORKED WITH THE URBAN CHAMPION SOCCER ACADEMY, REALLY BRINGING THAT VISION TO LIFE, HELPING THOUSANDS OF KIDS GROW INTO STRONG LEADERS AND TEAM PLAYERS THROUGH THE SPORT.

THIS PROGRAM MEANS EVERYTHING TO ED. SINCE I HAVE KNOWN HIM, HE'S BEEN A DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR YOUTH, NAMING THESE FIELDS FOR HIM IS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FROM THE COMMUNITY YOU HAVE INVESTED IN SO MUCH. SO ED GARZA, WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU ARE APPRECIATED AND VALUED, NAMING THESE FIELDS IN HIS HONOR IS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO HIS DEDICATION AND LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S A WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AND RECOGNIZING THE ROLE HE PLAYED IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF

YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WAS EXTREMELY PROUD TO WRITE THIS LETTER TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT EXPRESSING MY SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM. MAYOR ED GARZA HAS KNOWN ME PROBABLY SINCE I WASYEAHIGH.

I HAVE SEEN HIM NOT ONLY BE THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT 7 BUT ALSO THE MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO AND TRUSTEE FOR SAN ANTONIO SAISD. I SEE ALSO REBECCA IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S EFFORTS IN SUPPORTING

[00:30:04]

I'M CONFIDENT THAT THIS GESTURE WILL BE WARMLY EMBRACED BY OUR RESIDENTS, SYMBOLIZING OUR COLLECTIVE APPRECIATION FOR MAYOR GARZA'S SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP. I BELIEVE THIS DES IING NATION WILL BE A FITTING TRIBUTE AND I FULLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM. I'M SURE I WILL GET A TEXT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS LIKE HEY, THIS THING IN DISTRICT 7 NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP. HE'S ON ME QUITE OFTEN. THANK YOU TO MAYOR GARZA FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR PUSHING FORWARD THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE? >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WORK THAT OUR FORMER MAYOR ED GARZA HAS DONE ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND IN MANY OTHER WAYS. I USED TO LIVE AROUND THE CORNER FROM THIS AREA WHEN IT WAS AN OLD WORN-OUT SHOPPING CENTER AND A REAL PROBLEM WITH DRAINAGE IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND HE WAS COMMITTED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS THERE. I ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HIM AS A BOARD MEMBER WHEN I TAUGHT AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. NO ONE THAT I KNEW OF WAS MORE COMMITTED TO YOUNG PEOPLE SERVING ON THAT BOARD WHILE I HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH HIM. HE'S TALKED I THINK TO ALL OF US ABOUT GETTING SUPPORT FOR YOUTH SOCCER AND WORKING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF KIDS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAMS OVER AT THE TRAIL. I THINK IT'S VERY WORTHWHILE FOR THIS CITY TO RECOGNIZE HIS CONTRIBUTION BY NAMING THIS SOCCER COMPLEX AFTER HIM. SO ED, WHEREVER YOU ARE, THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND ALL YOU CONTINUE TO DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN?

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR ITEM 22 WHICH PROPOSES NAMING THE SPORTS COMPLEX AT OLD SPANISH WALKING TRAILS PARK AS THE EDWARD D. GARZA SOCCER COMPLEX. I ALWAYS LIKE TO TELL ED THAT HE WILL ALWAYS BE MY MAYOR BECAUSE HE REALLY WAS KIND OF A FIRST IN THIS GENERATION THAT WE SAW RISE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. HIS VISION FOR YOUTH, HIS VISION TO MAKE SURE TO INCORPORATE EVERYONE IN THE URBAN AREA HAS CONTINUED AND HE WOULD GO ON TO SERVE AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND THEN IN 2010, TO HAVE URBAN CHAMPIONS ACADEMY. I WANT TO THANK REBECCA FOR BEING HERE AND WE WILL COMMUNICATE ALL OUR GOOD WISHES TOWARDS HIM ON THIS. IT'S IMPORTANT WE RECOGNIZE HIM WHILE HE'S STILL DOING HIS GOOD WORK AND NOT WAIT. WE HAVE DONE IT WITH MAYORS BEFORE AND I THINK IT'S FITTING THAT WE DO IT WITH MAYOR ED GARZA NOW.

WHAT HE HAS DONE IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE EXPENSIVE PAY-TO-PLAY MODEL PREVALENT IN YOUTH SOCCER WHICH MANY OF OUR CITY RESIDENTS CAN'T AFFORD, ESPECIALLY DURING CHALLENGED ECONOMIC TIMES LIKE THIS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE GROUP.

THEY ARE STUDENTS FROM EAST CENTRAL, STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY THAT PARTICIPATE IN THIS EFFORT. I THINK THIS IS FITTING AND TIMELY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT RIBBON CUTTING AND UNVEILING THE SIGN WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 22. HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY.

THE I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY TO HEAR THE BUDGET.

SO HERE WE GO, ERIK. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. ERIK, THIS IS GOING TO BE

[4. Presentation of the City of San Antonio 2025 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2024. [Erik Walsh, City Manager]]

>> WALSH: YES. THERE'S NO PRESENTATIONS ON 5 AND 6.

THOSE ARE FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR THE ORDINANCE AS SCHEDULED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOT IT. >> WALSH: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

[00:35:02]

WHAT BEGINS NOW AFTER I LAY OUT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET ARE THE COUNCIL WORK SESSIONS THAT BEGIN NEXT WEEK, AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT BUDGET TOWN HALLS THAT ALSO BEGIN NEXT WEEK AND WILL CULMINATE IN THE COUNCIL APPROVING THE BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.

SO WHAT IS THE, AS WE WENT INTO THE BUDGET -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: PUT NEW BATTERIES IN THAT BUDGET, TOO, ERIK. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> WALSH: BUDGET CUTS, MAYOR. SO AS HE'S PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, THE PROPOSED BUDGET GOES, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS WE'RE DEALING WITH. WE WILL GET INTO A LOT MORE DETAIL IN THIS PRESENTATION AND I SUSPECT IN THE BUDGET WORK SESSION.

BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF ISSUES AND REALITIES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.

O ONE, OUR OVERALL REVENUE GROWTH IS WHAT I WOULD CALL BACK TO NORMAL. WHEN I SAY BACK TO NORMAL, I'M TALKING ABOUT PRE-PANDEMIC RATES. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, POST-PANDEMIC, OUR REVENUE GROWTH OVERALL HAD BEEN NORTH OF 7%. IN NEXT YEAR'S GENERAL FUND, WE ARE PROJECTING 3.7%. THE IMPACT OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, '24, IS 2.2% ABOVE WHERE WE BUDGETED SO WE ARE STARTING TO SEE MORE NORMAL GROWTH IN EXPENSES.

THANK YOU, JOHNNY. THE SECOND THING WE ARE DEALING WITH AS WE GO FORWARD WILL BE RISING EXPENSES. IN SOME CASES, OUR EXPENSES ARE RISING FASTER THAN OUR REVENUE SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MANAGE THOSE ISSUES OF RISING EXPENSES? WE ARE NOT STRUCTURALLY BALANCED SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE SET THAT FRAMEWORK CLEARLY AND I WILL WALK THROUGH WHAT THE PLAN IS, AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE THAT. WE DO ALL THAT RECOGNIZING THAT AS THE LARGEST, FASTEST-GROWING CITY IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE ARE DEMANDS FOR BASIC SERVICES AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES IMPROVEMENTS IN THOSE KEY AREAS THAT YOU ALL IDENTIFIED IN APRIL AT YOUR WORK SESSION. THEY ARE REALLY CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH THE BUDGET SURVEY WE PRESENTED TO YOU IN JUNE.

THEN FINALLY WE DO THAT WITH NO CHANGE TO THE TAX RATE. I WILL TALK ABOUT TAX VALUES IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES. BUT THIS 32ND YEAR WHERE WE HAVE NOT INCREASED THE TAX RATE IN SAN ANTONIO AND THAT'S ALL PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

SO PART OF WHAT WE DO, WE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU IN JUNE WHEN WE RECEIVED IT FROM THE CONSULTANT, BUT THE PROVISION OF SERVICES AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE ASPECT AND THE SATISFACTION ASPECT IS CRITICAL. I HAD A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF EMPLOYEES THIS MORNING, CLOSE TO 2,000 EMPLOYEES, AND PART OF IT IS THAT DAILY INTERACTION THAT EVERY ONE OF US HAS.

REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU WORK, IN OUR 13,868 MEMBER ORGAN ORGANIZATION. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND I SHARED WITH THE EMPLOYEES THAT IN THIS YEAR'S SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC, OUR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION OF CITY SERVICES ROSE 13 PERCENTAGE POINTS TO 87%, AND AS YOU HEARD THE CONSULTANT IN JUNE, THAT'S ALMOST DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF CITIES OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION IN THIS STATE, IN THIS COUNTRY, AND NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE.

THAT'S CRITICAL. AND THE PROVISION OF SERVICES IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE DO REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE WORK IN THIS ORGANIZATION.

SO JUST A QUICK RECAP ON THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES AND THE COMMUNITY SURVEY.

AS I MENTIONED, THEY CLOSELY ALIGN WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOMELESSNESS, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, SMALL BUSINESS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ALL ASPECTS THAT WE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE DEVELOPED THE PROPOSED BUDGET. SO THE PROCESS WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. WE STARTED EARLIER INTERNAL. THE BUDGET THAT THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION THAT YOU HAD IN APRIL ALSO CULMINATED WITH MY DIRECTION TO EXECUTIVES AND

[00:40:06]

I DON'T THINK WE'RE DONE. BUT I THINK AS YOU GO THROUGH THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS AND QUESTION DEPARTMENTS AND STAFF, YOU WILL GET A BETTER SENSE OF US QUANTIFYING WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT THE DEPARTMENT MAIN FUNCTIONS ARE.

I THINK THE NEXT ITERATION OF THAT IS CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TIE THAT TO ORGANIZATIONAL OR DEPARTMENT GOALS AND CERTAINLY OUTCOMES. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HOPE YOU WILL SEE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT AND IN THE PRESENTATIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENTS WILL GIVE AS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON AND HOPEFULLY, IT'S A BETTER TOOL TO COMMUNICATE WHAT WE DO TO THE PUBLIC.

SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES, AND YOU ALL WILL REMEMBER THIS, WE HAVE A SERIES OF MULTI-YEAR PLANS WITH MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENTS.

EVERYTHING FROM PLAN, THE SHIFT IN MORE PROACTIVE PATROL TIMES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOMELESSNESS AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, SA FORWARD PLAN, SA TOMORROW PLAN AND PLAY GROUND STRUCTURE. THIS IS JUST A COUPLE OF THOSE MULTI-YEAR PLANS THAT WE HAVE SET IN MOTION EITHER THIS FISCAL YEAR OR IN PRIOR FISCAL YEARS, AND STAYED TRUE TO THAT CONSISTENT APPROACH TO IMPROVING IN ALL OF THESE AREAS.

I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING THE BUDGET IS BALANCED AND THE TOTAL CITY GENERAL -- TOTAL CITY BUDGET ALL FUNDS IS $3.96 BILLION, 5.8% INCREASE.

I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT TOWARDS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.

MOST OF THAT IS BEING DRIVEN BY WORK IN THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM.

THAT WILL MOVE INTO THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND ALSO, WORK OUT AT THE AIRPORT.

OUR GENERAL FUND IS PROPOSED TO BE $1.67 BILLION, A 4.3% INCREASE.

PRIOR TO MAKING ADJUSTMENTS IN SPENDING, THAT PERCENTAGE WAS 5.8%.

4.3% ACTUALLY IS A 15, IF WE LOOK BACK, IS CLOSER TO OUR 15-YEAR AVERAGE GROWTH AND SO PART OF THAT WAS THE NECESSITY TO MANAGE OUR EXPENSES AND MAKING SURE WE ARE INVESTING IN THOSE PRIORITY AREAS. SO THE INFAMOUS SPINNING WHEEL HAS BEEN UPDATED FOR OUR GENERAL FUND OF $1.67 BILLION AND YOU SEE OUR THREE MAIN REVENUE SOURCES ALONG THE OUTSIDE, SALES TAX. WE WILL SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT SALES TAX. CPS AND PROPERTY TAX AND WE HAVE POLICE AND FIRE AT $1.03 BILLION IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. BUT ALL TOLD, A BALANCED EFFORT. I WILL CALL ATTENTION AND I WILL TALK ABOUT IT TOWARDS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, THE VERY TOP OF THAT CIRCLE. THE LAST OF WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED TO UTILIZE IN ARPA FUNDS OF $4.4 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES OR A NUMBER OF UPDATES IN TERMS OF ARPA THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT WITH THE COUNCIL DURING THE WORK SESSIONS, BUT THAT PHASE OF WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THROUGH COMMITTEES AND SOLICITATIONS AND HEARINGS AND CONTRACTING OR ALLOCATING DOLLARS WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION, ARPA-WISE, TO THE TUNE OF $1.3 BILLION OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, THAT PHASE IS ENDING.

WE WILL NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS. THERE ARE SOME ACTIONS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT COUNCIL TAKE AS WE NEAR THE BUDGET ADOPTION.

OUR OVERALL REVENUE GROWTH, THESE ARE OUR MAIN REVENUES, YOU SEE OVERALL IN OUR PROPERTY TAX, THERE'S $23.7 MILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT THE CITY WILL BE RECEIVING. I WILL TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAX AND VALUES HERE SHORTLY.

[00:45:03]

I THINK PART OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS A SOFTENING OF SALES AND SPENDING. OUR CPS REVENUE IS SCHEDULED OR WE ARE PROJECTING TO BE 14.6 MILLION MORE NEXT YEAR TO THE TUNE OF 3.3%, WHICH IS MORE NORMAL.

I WILL TALK ABOUT CPS HERE COMING UP. LET'S TALK ABOUT SALES TAX.

SALES TAX GROWTH CONTINUES BUT CERTAINLY AT A SLOWER PACE THAN PRIOR YEARS.

FROM 2010 TO 2019, THE AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH WAS 5%. FROM 2015 TO 20 -- SORRY, FROM 2021 TO 2023, WE SAW AN AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH OF 9.7%.

SO OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE PROJECTING THAT THIS YEAR'S ESTIMATE OVERALL, WE ARE 1.4% RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE FISCAL YEAR IS NOT COMPLETED. WE ARE ESTIMATING WILL BE 2.3% UP THIS YEAR AND THEN NEXT YEAR, THE 3.5%. WHEN WE DID THE FORECAST WITH YOU SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THAT 3.5% WAS PROJECTED AT 4%, SO WE PULLED THAT BACK A LITTLE BIT GIVEN WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT OUR COLLECTIONS ARE TO DATE.

TAXABLE VALUE OVERALL, THERE WAS A 7.5 BILLION OR 5% INCREASE IN BASE VALUES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE EXPERIENCED OVER THE SUMMER WAS THE ORIGINAL -- WE GET PERIODIC UPDATES FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. THE INITIAL UPDATE WE RECEIVED FROM THEM, WE SHARED WITH YOU DURING THE FORECAST CONVERSATIONS AND AS WE WENT THROUGH THE SUMMER, EVERY UPDATE WE RECEIVED FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, THAT TAXABLE VALUE NUMBER DECREASED. IT DECREASED FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. I THINK PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE METHODS AND ALLOWANCES TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES OF PROPERTY TAX. THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT SAW 4% INCREASE IN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS, 6% INCREASE IN APPEALS AND EVEN A 3% INCREASE IN OVER 65 EXEMPTIONS. SO ALL THOSE EXEMPTIONS AFFECT OUR TAXABLE VALUE. AS WE SAW ULTIMATELY WHEN WE RECEIVED THE CERTIFIED ROLL AT THE END OF JULY, IT WAS LOWER THAN WE PROJECTED IN MAY.

NOW, OVERALL BASE VALUE GROWTH FOR FY '25 IS AT ALMOST 5%, 4.98%.

NEW VALUES, NEW IMPROVEMENTS THAT OCCURRED ARE 1.58 AND YOU LOOK BACK AT 2024 AT 2.11, WHAT'S BEEN MORE NORMAL FOR US IS CLOSER TO 2%. SO 1.58 WAS LESS THAN WE PROJECTED BACK IN APRIL AND MAY. THAT'S PROBABLY INDICATIVE OF INTEREST RATES. THERE ARE PROJECTS AND SPENDING THAT HAVEN'T BEEN EMPLOYED YET BECAUSE OF INTEREST RATES, BUT AS THE FASTEST GROWING BIG CITY IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT GROWTH WILL COME AND WE ARE BEING CONSERVATIVE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THERE'S A TOTAL OF $147 MILLION THAT IS INCLUDED IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, AND THOSE ARE AS PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS THAT COUNCIL'S APPROVED, THE OVER 65, THE DISABLED EXEMPTIONS AND WE HAVE 36 CHILD CARE FACILITIES WHICH IS PROBABLY IN LINE WITH WHAT WE WERE PROJECTING WHEN THE COUNCIL APPROVED THAT EXEMPTION EARLIER IN THE SUMMER.

THE AVERAGE RESIDENT HOMESTEAD TAXABLE VALUE IN NEXT YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, IS $226,000. LITTLE OVER $226,000.

THAT'S A 9.9% INCREASE FROM THIS YEAR OF $205,000. SO IF YOU LOOK AT AT LEAST THE RECENT HISTORY OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE GROWTH YEAR OVER YEAR, WE ARE LOOKING AT A PROPOSED 5.2% INCREASE IN THAT REVENUE. I HAVE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE HAVE ALL TOLD, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE TAX RATE, YOU HAVE NEW IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES IN BASE VALUES AND AN INCREASED REVENUE OF $23.7 MILLION, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THAT REVENUE DUE TO NEW IMPROVEMENTS.

75% OF IT IS DUE TO BASE CHANGES. SO HERE'S OUR CPS REVENUE

[00:50:05]

WHICH ALL IMPACTED OUR REVENUE. THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF STEPS TO SET POLICIES IN PLACE BECAUSE SPIKES LIKE THIS THAT OCCURRED IN '23 ARE UNSUSTAINABLE FOR US TO MAKE PERMANENT TYPE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR ORGANIZATION. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE ARE PROJECTING WITHIN OUR BASE REVENUE A 2.9% DECREASE IN OUR REVENUE AND NEXT YEAR, A CONSERVATIVE GROWTH OF 3.3% WHICH IS MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY SEEN OVER TIME.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FEE INCREASES THAT WE ARE PROPPROPOEF I POSING IN THE BUDGET. DURING COVID WE STAYED AWAY FROM THESE BUT IN LOOKING TO CHANGE AND ENSURE WE ARE STRUCTURALLY BALANCED, THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY ONES WE LOOKED AT. THE FIRST IS THE EMS TRANSPORT FEE WHICH IS CURRENTLY $1,000. THE COST TO PROVIDE, THE AVERAGE COST TO PROVIDE TRANSPORT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY NEED IT IS ABOUT $3700. LITTLE NORTH OF $3700. WE SURVEYED OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES THAT HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS OVER TIME AND THERE ARE A NUMBER BETWEEN $1400 AND $1500. WE HAVEN'T ADJUSTED THIS SINCE 2019.

WE ARE PROPOSING THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE IT TO $1500 BUT DO IT OVER TWO YEARS. $250 IN 2025 AND $250 IN 2026.

NOW, THE MAJORITY OF MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE FROM TRANSPORT FEES, ALMOST 69%, COMES FROM COMMERCIAL INSURANCE. THE NEXT LARGEST CATEGORY IS MEDICARE AT 25%. YOU ALL, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THREE YEARS AGO A CHARITY CARE POLICY WHERE, IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS UNINSURED OR DOES NOT HAVE THE MEANS, THERE'S A PROCESS BY WHICH WE CAN WAIVE THOSE FEES. WE BUILD THAT INTO OUR ESTIMATES, WE HAVE BUILT IT INTO OUR ESTIMATES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THE IDEA THAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS MONEY COMES FROM COMMERCIAL INSURANCE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO ATTEMPT TO KEEP UP.

REMEMBER, THE COST IS $3700 AND WE WILL EVENTUALLY OVER TWO YEARS GET TO $1500 WHICH IS MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN MAJOR CITIES IN THIS STATE.

THE SECOND IS AN INCREASE IN THE UNPERMITTED BURGLAR FALSE ALARM FEE.

THESE ARE UNPERMITTED RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ALARMS IN THIS CITY AND WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF LEGWORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO 68,000 UNPERMITTED FALSE ALARMS A YEAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO 11,000 UNPERMITTED FALSE ALARM CALLS A YEAR. THE EQUIVALENT OF THE NUMBER -- THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT BOTH THOSE DEPARTMENTS SPEND ON THOSE CALLS, IT'S EQUIVALENT TO 20 POLICE OFFICERS FULL-TIME ON PATROL THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IT'S EQUIVALENT TO THE AVERAGE CALL VOLUME OF FOUR ENGINE COMPANIES. SO OBVIOUSLY, THAT AFFECTS AVAILABILITY, THAT AFFECTS RESPONSE TIME AND YOU PROBABLY COULD ASK ANY FIREFIGHTER OR PATROL OFFICER WHERE ARE THE UNPERMITTED FALSE ALARMS IN THEIR AREAS, AND THEY KNOW THEM LIKE THE BACK OF THEIR HAND. SO THE IDEA IS WE WANT THOSE ALARMS, THOSE ALARMS SHOULD BE PERMITTED AND MAINTAINED. NOT GOING OFF EVERY TIME THE WIND BLOWS. SO WE ARE PROPOSING THAT WE INCREASE RIGHT NOW THE FEE ON RESIDENTIAL IS $75 AND INCREASING THAT TO THE STATE MAXIMUM $250 AND INCREASING THE COMMERCIAL FROM $125 TO THE STATE MAXIMUM OF $250. BOTH THOSE COMBINED WILL GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL $4.5 MILLION IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT REDUCTIONS AND HOW WE ATTEMPTED TO MANAGE OUR EXPENSES AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS. I TALKED ABOUT THE INSTRUCTIONS I GAVE TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE WORK THAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE BUT ALL TOLD, OVER THE TWO-YEAR PLAN THAT WE ARE LAYING BEFORE YOU

[00:55:04]

TRANSFERS TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND OTHER FUNDS, I WILL GIVE YOU A COUPLE EXAMPLES HERE. WE HAD LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE'VE HAD THE FUNDS WITHIN OUR OPERATING BUDGET TO CONTINUE TO DO SIDEWALKS. THAT'S $6 MILLION A YEAR.

THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE CAPITAL EXPENSE SO WE'RE MOVING THAT TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET.

OUR SHADE STRUCTURE PLAN THAT WE GAVE, WE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL THIS FISCAL YEAR WAS A FIVE-YEAR PLAN. THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THAT PLAN WERE TO USE OUR OPERATING BUDGET AND THEN MOVE TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WE ARE MOVING IT EARLY. BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO REDUCE EXPENSES.

POLICE EVENT OVERTIME, WE WILL BE ADDING A $1 FEE ON ANY AND EVERY TICKET THAT IS SOLD AT THE ALAMODOME TO HELP OFFSET THE GENERAL FUND EXPENSE OF PROVIDING TRAFFIC CONTROL. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT DISPATCH CENTER DEBT.

WE ARE MOVING THAT, WHICH HAD BEEN ORIGINALLY CAST AS AN OPERATING EXPENSE WHEN THE CITY BUILT THAT FACILITY 12, 13 YEARS AGO. WE ARE MOVING THAT TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET. THEN IN TERMS OF REDUCTIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION, AND THESE -- THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT YOU CAN SEE ONLINE, THESE REDUCTIONS AND THE LIST OF THE 36.6 MILLION BEGIN ON PAGE 129, BUT WE ARE PROPOSING A REDUCTION IN OUR DEVELOPMENT, NOT ELIMINATION, BUT REDUCTION. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT DURING BUDGET SESSIONS.

WE'RE NOT SPENDING WHAT WE BUDGET SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, TO CONTINUE TO BUDGET AT A LEVEL THAT WE'RE NOT SPENDING IS TAKING MONEY OUT OF PRODUCTION IN HIGHER PRIORITY AREAS. WE ARE REDUCING A $1 MILLION GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY AND A $1 MILLION FUEL CONTINGENCY THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT NOT HAD TO TAP, SO WE WILL BE REDUCING THAT. WE ARE ALIGNING SOME WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT SPENDING THAT WAS HEAVILY USED IN 2023 WITH THE BEGINNING OF READY TO WORK AND PRIMARILY TO SET INDIVIDUALS UP WITH HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCE KY SERVICES SO THEY BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR READY TO WORK. THIS YEAR, WE DIDN'T SPEND MUCH OF THAT MONEY SO WE ARE ELIMINATING IT FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND THE '26 BUDGET.

READY TO WORK IS, HAS TAKEN OFF AND THE PLANE IS HIGH. SO AT A WHOLE NUMBER OF OTHER BUDGET SPENDING, YOU WILL SEE A LONG LIST BEGINNING ON PAGE 129, WE WILL INCORPORATE THOSE IN THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WE WILL BE GIVING TO YOU AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL AND GO THROUGH THERE. A PART OF THIS IS, I SHARED THIS WITH YOU IN -- DURING THE FORECAST CONVERSATIONS, AND I SUSPECT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS TOMORROW AS IT DISCUSSES COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE'S CCR. I HAVE A SLIDE LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE OUR EXPENSES.

THIS IS NOT A ONE-YEAR DEAL. WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE THAT.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN DO IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO REEMPLOY, WE STARTED THIS THIS SUMMER, PRIOR TO COVID, WE USED TO DO COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEWS BETWEEN THE INNOVATION OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE.

WE PICKED THREE OR FOUR DEPARTMENTS AND IT IS A TOP DOWN LOOK AT PROGRAMS AND INVENTORY OF SERVICES, WHAT WE ARE SPENDING BY INVENTORY, HOW THAT MATCHES UP AGAINST METRICS, HOW THAT MATCHES UP AGAINST PRIORITIES, AND AT TIMES LINE ITEM REVIEW.

WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. I SUSPECT GOVERNANCE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT EMPLOYING BUDGET METHODS. I WILL SAY THAT WE WILL BE PREPARED TOMORROW TO TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP ALIGNED WITH COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND TAKE ALL MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE INNOVATION OFFICE FOUND WAS A REDUCTION IN OUR BOARDING HOME PROGRAM. ABOUT 11 OR 12 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A FIRE WHERE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WERE KILLED AT A BOARDING HOME BECAUSE OF BLOCKED EXITS. THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL RESPONDED BY CREATING AN INSPECTION PROCESS FOR BOARDICENG HOMES. BACK THEN, WE HAD ANTICIPATED, BACK THEN THERE WERE A LOT MORE BOARDING HOMES THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WERE UNREGULATED BY THE STATE. WE HAD ANTICIPATED UP TO 300 BOARDING HOMES THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WOULD NEED TO BE INSPECTED.

SO THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWED US TO REGULATE, INSPECT, SET FEES IN MOTION AND THEN WE ADDED EXPENSE. WE ADDED A CITY ATTORNEY, WE

[01:00:05]

WELL, TODAY WE ONLY HAVE SEVEN BOARDING HOMES. SO WE HAVE REDUCED THAT EXPENSE GOING FORWARD. THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO INSPECT THE SEVEN. IT'S THAT WE DON'T NEED FOUR INDIVIDUALS TO INSPECT SEVEN PLACES. THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER HIGHER PRIORITIES IN ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS. THAT TYPE OF REVIEW IS A KEY PART OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROGRAMS AND INVENTORY OF SERVICES. SO IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. THE SINGLE LARGEST INCREMENTAL SPEND THAT WE HAVE BUILT INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET ARE FOR THE EMPLOYEES. A TOTAL, A LITTLE OVER $55 MILLION OVER ALL FUNDS. THE CIVILIANS, $23.9 MILLION. THE PROPOSED WAGE ADJUSTMENT IS 3% ACROSS THE BOARD. THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THE ENTRY WAGE.

I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED TO YOU EARLIER IN THE SUMMER ABOUT ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE UPCOMING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RULES AROUND FLSA AND OVERTIME.

WE HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS IN THAT PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $2.5 MILLION TO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE FLSA OVERTIME RULE CHANGES. WE ALSO HAVE $18.3 MILLION OR THE EQUIVALENT OF 7% SET ASIDE FOR THE FIRE ASSOCIATION.

THOSE CONVERSATIONS STILL CONTINUE. THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR LAST PROPOSAL TO THE FIRE ASSOCIATION SO WE HAVE TAKEN THAT MONEY AND CARVED IT UP AND INCLUDED IT WITHIN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. THEN A 4% ADJUSTMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS WHICH IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR COLLECTIVE BARRINGGAINING AGREEMENT. ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES, THE TOP PRIORITY IN THE BUDGET SURVEY WAS INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL TOLD, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL $8.1 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE PRIMARILY INCREASES IN STREET MAINTENANCE AND IN THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR NON-SERVICE ALLEY MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND. IN TERMS OF STREET MAINTENANCE, WE MAINTAIN ALMOST 4300 CENTER LINE MILES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE TOUCH ABOUT 370 MILES OF THOSE STREET NETWORK, OF THAT STREET NETWORK, EVERY YEAR.

IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WE HAVE A TOTAL OF A LITTLE OVER 1600 PROJECTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO BE FUNDED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THAT'S AN INCREASE OVER 1467 WE HAD IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. OUR GOAL IS STILL TO ACHIEVE A PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX OF 80 OR ABOVE AS WELL AS 10% LESS OF F STREETS 10% OR LESS FOR ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS.

WHEN RAZI GAVEIVES HIS PRESENTATION, WE WILL SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WE WILL DO WORK DURING THE FISCAL YEAR TO ENSURE WE HIT THOSE GOALS.

THERE ARE CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES WE ARE EMPLOYING THAT BETTER SCAN AND VIEW THE STREETS AND ARE THERE PROGRAMATIC SHIFTS WE NEED TO MAKE ON OUR YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HIT OUR GOAL THAT WE HAVE SET.

SO WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE GET INTO RAZI'S BUDGET.

OUR SIDEWALK ASSESSMENT THAT WE FUNDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, PHASE ONE WHICH WAS REALLY THE CORE PART, THE ORANGE PART OF THAT MAP, WILL BE COMPLETED AND PRESENTED TO COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY OF '25. NEXT FISCAL YEAR WE WILL BE BEGINNING PHASE TWO, WHICH IS REALLY WITHIN 410, THAT BLUE AREA, AND THAT IS FUNDED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

OUR SIDEWALK PROGRAM, WHICH IS REALLY FOR BOTH LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, REALLY HIT ALL OF ITS METRICS ON TIME AND EMPLOYED NOT ONLY NEW SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION BUT ALL OF YOU CERTAINLY KNOW THAT SIDEWALK REPAIR HAS BEEN A PART, HAS BEEN ADDED INTO OUR SERVICE LOAD. NEXT YEAR, WE ARE PROPOSING 28.9 MILES OF CONSTRUCTION FOR SIDEWALKS AND REPAIRING 15.7 MILES, WHICH WILL BRING BACK INTO USABILITY 43 MILES OF OUR SIDEWALK NETWORK. I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, THERE'S AN INCREASE OF FUNDING TO TAKE ON PHASE TWO OF OUR ALLEY PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, JUST AS A REMINDER, WE FOCUSED ON ALL THE D AND F RATED ALLEYS. NEXT YEAR, OUR FOCUS WILL BE

[01:05:01]

SO TRAFFIC ENGINEERING. A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP IN THE PAST AND WE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, RAZI AND HIS TEAM HAD TO COME BACK AND SEE ME FOUR TIMES ON THIS. WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION. WE RECEIVE 5,000 NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL SIGNS AND MARKING REQUESTS FOR STUDIES A YEAR. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM COME FROM OUR 311 SYSTEM. AS WE -- AS RAZI WILL PRESENT TO YOU, OUR PROPOSAL IS REALLY GOING TO BE TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS. THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY REQUESTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THAT ARE HIGHER PRIORITIES. THE INTERSECTION THAT HAS HAD FOUR ACCIDENTS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS PROBABLY SHOULD BE A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN JUST A REGULAR CALL. AND RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T DISTINGUISH.

SO WE SPENT TIME THIS SUMMER THINKING THROUGH HOW TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS, HOW TO PRIORITIZE THAT PROCESS, AND GET THROUGH IN A TIMELY MANNER SO THAT WE KNOW IN AUDIO], HOW DO WE DO IT, WHEN DO WE DO IT, HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT.

WE ARE ADDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAVE A BACKLOG OF TRAFFIC STUDY. SO HELPING THE STAFF GET THROUGH THAT ASPECT OF THOSE REVIEWS WILL BE CRITICAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE, THAT IMPROVED PROCESS WHEN RAZI GIVES HIS BUDGET PRESENTATION.

OUR TRANSPORTATION BUDGET IS $9.2 MILLION IN NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND WHEN KATHERINE PRESENTS HER BUDGET TO YOU, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE BIKE MASTER PLAN WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL AT THE BEGINNING OF 2025.

WE HAVE $3.5 MILLION IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND IMPLEMENTATION AROUND THE BIKE MASTER PLAN. WE WILL ALSO BE BRINGING YOU AN UPDATE, UPDATED PLAN AS WELL AS WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF OUR PROJECT COMPLETION TO COUNCIL NEXT MONTH. WE ARE RECOMMENDING WE SET ASIDE MONEY, $250,000, TO HELP WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSPORTATION ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. THAT WORK IS ONGOING RIGHT NOW.

THE IDEA IS WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO NEED FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE POLICIES THAT WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL. THAT UPDATE TO COUNCIL ON THAT POLICY FRAMEWORK ON TOD WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

SO ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. WE HAVE -- WE MADE CERTAIN COMMITMENTS THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET SET PRETTY HEADY GOALS AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT WE HAVE MET ALL THOSE GOALS. WE'RE NOT DONE YET. I KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE THAT NEED BE DONE. OVERALL, OUR LIVE RELEASE IS UP.

OUR INTAKE IS UP. AND OUR CITATIONS ARE UP. EVERYTHING, EVERY MEASURE WE HAVE IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEASURES THAT WE HAVE THAT WE FUNDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WAS ENSURING THAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO CRITICAL CALLS, WHETHER THEY ARE NEGLECT OR CRUELTY OR BITE CALLS, AND AS I REPORTED TO YOU LAST YEAR, WE WERE WOEFULLY UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDERRESOURCED AND ONLY RESPONDED TO 4 OUT OF 10 CALLS WE WERE RECEIVING IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THIS YEAR'S ALLOTMENT AND OUR TARGET WAS TO IMPROVE AND BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WILL BE AT 64.1%. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 14 FIELD STAFF TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR PATH TO GET TO 86% NEXT YEAR, WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING TO 100% BY 2026. OVERALL, IN THIS AREA, ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, THE STAFF RESPONDED TO 50% MORE CALLS THIS YEAR THAN THEY DID LAST YEAR, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT CALL VOLUME GOING UP AND WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL STAFF TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE.

THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. WE HAVE A TRAINING CLASS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW AND ANOTHER CLASS THAT WILL BEGIN THIS MONTH, BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, SO THAT WE CAN FILL THESE POSITIONS AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE STARTING THAT CLASS AHEAD OF THE BUDGET ADOPTION, BECAUSE I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THE COUNCIL'S GOING TO APPROVE THESE 14 POSITIONS AND THE SOONER WE FILL THEM, THE SOONER WE MOVE ON TO IMPROVING THESE STATS. ANIMAL CARE SERVICES IS SPAY/NEUTER.

[01:10:03]

THEY WILL BE ONLINE BY THE END OF THE YEAR OR EARLY JANUARY.

WE ARE GOING TO STAFF AND OPERATE THEM AS CITY CLINICS. THE IDEA IS TWO-FOLD.

ONE, I THINK I SHARED WITH MOST OF YOU, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES HAVE BEEN DONE IN A LOT OF OUTREACH IN TERMS OF HAVING A NONPROFIT OPERATE THIS.

LAST WEEK, THE SOLICITATION CLOSED AND THERE WERE NO APPLICANTS.

SO ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING, WITHIN THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM, WE ARE BUILDING A LARGER HOSPITAL FACILITY OUT AT ACS SO AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO INCREASE OUR OPERATING STAFF. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO HURRY AND RENOVATE THE EAST AND WEST SIDE CLINICS AND NOT HAVE ANYBODY TO OPERATE THEM. WE ARE ADDING THAT STAFF EARLY. THAT WILL GIVE US TWO THINGS. REALLY, ONE, WE CAN BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AND HIT THE GROUND. THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN SPAY/NEUTER AND WE ARE ESTIMATING A 24% INCREASE IN SPAY/NEUTER. BUT THAT WILL ALSO GIVE US TIME TO FIND A NONPROFIT.

EVENTUALLY WITH THE ADDITION OF THE HOSPITAL, THAT STAFF IS GOING TO BE NEEDED.

SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL $2.7 MILLION THAT'S BUDGETED. WE ARE ESTIMATING THAT WE WILL INCREASE SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES TO 41,000, LITTLE OVER 41,000 NEXT YEAR WHICH IS A 24% INCREASE. SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET, ALMOST $604 MILLION, INCLUDES 65 NEW OFFICERS. WE HAD A GOAL OVER FIVE YEARS TO ADD 360 OFFICERS.

TO REALLY CHANGE OUR PROACTIVE TIME AT THE OFFICER LEVEL.

IF YOU WILL RECALL THE ANALYSIS THAT WAS DONE SHOWED THAT OFFICERS SPENT 60% OF THEIR TIME ON CALLS OR HANDLING PATROL DUTIES AND 40% PROACTIVE.

THE GOAL IS TO FLIP THAT, AND WITH THE 117 WE ADDED THIS YEAR, 65 IS PROPOSED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE THAT. LIKE THIS YEAR, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SCHEDULE AND BUDGET FIVE CADET CLASSES FOR AN ESTIMATED 255 NEW OFFICERS. THAT STILL ACCOMMODATES FOR NORMAL RETIREMENT AND CHANGE AS WELL AS THE 65 NEW OFFICERS. THEN WHEN THE CHIEF GIVES HIS PROPOSED BUDGET, WE WILL TALK ABOUT A PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH CENTRO TO EXPAND AND UPGRADE OUR DOWNTOWN CAMERA NETWORK IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRO.

NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL $3 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL STREET LIGHTS. YOU ALL WILL REMEMBER THAT WE WENT THROUGH AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHERE WE NEEDED ADDITIONAL STREET LIGHTS.

PRIMARILY FOR SAFETY REASONS. THERE WERE A LITTLE OVER 1200 LOCATION TS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AND WE HAD MONEY BUDGETED FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

276 OF THOSE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. CPS HAS NOW EMPLOYED A NEW CONTRACTOR WHO HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND WITH THIS $3 MILLION, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER 758 ADDED THIS YEAR AND THEN IN FISCAL YEAR '26, WE WILL BUDGET AND ALLOCATE TO INSTALL THE REMAINING 193 AS PART OF THIS MULTI-YEAR EFFORT.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET, LITTLE OVER $401 MILLION. THE PRIMARY IMPROVEMENT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET IS REALLY INCREASING STAFFING AT FOUR OF OUR BUSIEST ENGINE COMPANIES, FIRE STATION 44, FIRE STATION 4 AND FIRE STATION 19.

THAT'S REALLY TO PROVIDE PERMANENT ON-DUTY STAFFING TO THOSE SQUAD UNITS TO BE ABLE TO REALLY RESPOND TO THE MEDICAL CALLS. THOSE ARE THEIR BUSIEST ENGINE COMPANIES. WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MEDICAL CALLS THAT REALLY REQUIRE FOUR FIREFIGHTERS AND A BIG RED TRUCK TO RESPOND TO.

YOU ALL APPROVED A SIMILAR STAFFING FOR FIRE STATION 24 ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND WE SAW A REAL DECREASE IN THE ENGINE RUN TIME, WHICH MEANS IT'S AVAILABLE FOR SIGNIFICANT EMERGENCIES AND WE'RE TRYING TO REPLICATE THAT AT THOSE THREE FIRE STATIONS AND HOPEFULLY, REDUCE THAT CALL LOAD FOR THAT ENGINE COMPANY.

WE ARE ALSO ADDING WITHIN THE BUDGET $15.4 MILLION TO COMPLETE THE REPLACEMENT OF

[01:15:08]

THE PROPOSED BUDGET, $44.2 MILLION IN DIRECT INVESTMENT. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE INDIRECT EXPENSES THAT WE SEE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND WE WILL ■TALKABOUT THATBROADER VIEW WHEN WE GET TO THAT BUDGET WORK SESSION. BUT PART OF WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR WAS SET VERY SPECIFIC GOALS AND TARGETS FOR US IN THIS YEAR, AND REMINDER, WE HAD SET A GOAL OF SHELTERING 400 UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS, A CLEANING UP 700 HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS WITHIN 14 DAYS, AND OUR ESTIMATES OR OUR RESULTS SO FAR THIS YEAR IS THAT WE HAVE SHELTERED 530, WE HAVE CLEANED UP 1100 HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, AND WE ARE AT AN AVERAGE FOR THE YEAR OF 18 DAYS. LAST MONTH, WE WERE AT 11 OR 12 DAYS.

WE STARTED THE FISCAL YEAR, BEFORE WE SET THESE TARGETS, OUR TURN-AROUND TIME WAS 44 DAYS. SO WE HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNICATION INTERNALLY. WE'VE GOT A DASHBOARD THAT GETS UPDATED MONTHLY.

IT'S EASY TO SHARE AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC AND OUR GOALS NEXT YEAR ARE TO SHELTER 500 UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS, ADDRESS 1300 HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THAT AVERAGE 14 DAYS FOR THE YEAR NEXT YEAR.

PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE ON THE TRACK OF OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. BECAUSE DEALING WITH HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND EMERGENCY SHELTERS IS JUST THE FRONT END OF THAT SPECTRUM. ULTIMATELY, WE WANT INDIVIDUALS TO WORK THROUGH AGENCIES LIKE HAVEN FOR HOPE AND OTHERS TO GET ON A PATH OF BEING HOUSED. AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE IN IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT REALLY, A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, AS WE HAVE DEPLOYED MONEY FROM THE HOUSING BOND APPROVED IN MAY OF 2022.

SO BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THERE WILL BE 4350 HOMES OR UNITS CONSTRUCTED. NEXT YEAR, OUT OF THE $150 MILLION THAT THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED, ABOUT $91 MILLION, $92 MILLION OF THAT TO BE DEPLOYED ALREADY, AU AUDIO], IN '25. WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER 2,000 UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND A LITTLE OVER 1800 IN THE PIPELINE.

AT THE END OF '25, BE AT 11,238 UNITS. THAT'S 40% OF OUR GOAL.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF EFFORTS OVER THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO CONTINUE TO EMPLOY THOSE METHODS, THAT FUNDING, AND THAT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE THAT'S THE BACK END OF DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABILITY IN THIS CITY, AND AS YOU ALL HAVE DEBATED AND APPROVED UNITS LIKE -- OR DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THAT'S THE BACK END OF THE SPECTRUM THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO HOLD UP.

THE OTHER ASPECTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, $35.5 MILLION IN TERMS OF HOUSING STABILITY AND HOMELESS PREVENTION, WE HAVE FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR ASSISTANCE TO OVER 1400, ALMOST 1500 FAMILIES. OUR HOUSING REHAB AND PRESERVATION AND I KNOW I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OF YOU, THERE IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF NEED AND DESIRE FOR MORE AND WE HAVE GOT FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR OVER 500 BOTH MINOR AND MAJOR REPAIRS TO HOUSEHOLDS NEXT YEAR. THEN WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THE FUNDING FOR OUR PROGRAMS FOR RENTERS' RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND PROPERTY TAX EDUCATION. IT HAS WORKED BECAUSE AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION, THERE ARE A RECORD NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TAX EXEMPTIONS AND OVER IN TERMS OF SMALL BUSINESS AND BRENDA WILL TALK ABOUT THIS WHEN WE WALK THROUGH OTHER BUDGET, REALLY THE FOCUS IS ON FOUR STRATEGIC

[01:20:06]

$1.4 MILLION FOR THE CONTINUATION FOR ANOTHER ROUND AROUND THOSE AREAS THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANTS.

ACCESS AND NETWORKS, SUPPLY SA, THIS IS A REDUCTION IN BUDGET.

THIS YEAR WE HAD $500,000 SET ASIDE, BUT AS WITH OTHER PUBLIC RENT SITS THAT ARE PART OF THIS, EVERYBODY'S COSTS WENT DOWN. AND IF THERE WASN'T A BETTER EXAMPLE OF WHY PUBLIC ENTITIES SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER ON THINGS LIKE PROCUREMENT, THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE. LITERALLY WE WERE REDUCE OUR ALLOCATION BY $300,000 BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THOSE 13 OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES.

IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, LAUNCH AS, ADDITIONAL $586,000, THAT PROGRAM YOU APPROVED AND OFF AND RUNNING, AND THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP WITH THAT COORDINATION AND ECOSYSTEM AND THE ASSISTANCE THEY MAY NEED. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IN THE BUDGET, YOU WILL RECALL THAT WE UTILIZED ARPA FUNDS, YOU APPROVED THE USE OF ARPA FUNDS TO EXTEND SENIOR CENTER HOURS IN JANUARY OF '23 FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M. AND THAT HAS BEEN HUGELY POPULAR, AS SOME OF YOU PREDICTED, AND THE NEED HAS BEEN THERE. I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS LATER ON IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT YOU ALL KNOW WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS IN CHECKING IN WITH AGENCIES THAT WERE AWARDED ARPA DOLLARS AND ENSURING THEY ARE ON TRACK TO SPEND WHAT THEY COMMITTED TO.

BECAUSE THAT MONEY HAS A TIME LINE. THOSE FUNDS HAVE TO BE ENCUMBERED BY QUESTIONS OF '24 AND SPENT BY '26. AGENCIES CAME BACK WITH DOLLARS THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEND. WE'LL HAVE A BUDGET WORK SESSION TO GET INTO MORE DEPTH, BUT PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION IS UTILIZE # $.1 MILLION OF ARPA FUNDS TO AUSTIN THE EXTENSION OF HOURS AT SENIOR CENTERS IN FISCAL YEAR '25 AND '26. IN TERMS OF CODE ENFORCEMENT, YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN YOU DEALT WITH THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL CODE OFFICER TO HELP IN THAT EFFORT, AND MIKE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THAT IN JUNE.

WE'RE ALSO SETTING ASIDE $50,000 FOR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH WE'LL NEED TO DO TO FORECAST OUT WHAT ARE THE CHANGES IN DEMANDS FOR SERVICES. WHAT THINGS SHOULD WE BE MORE PROACTIVE WITH, HOW DO WE BE -- HOW ARE REACTIVE FORCES EMPLOYED AND WHAT'S OUR GOAL AND MEASURING STICK AS WE GO FORWARD. WE ALSO HAVE $100,000 TO CONTINUE THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. SO AS I MENTIONED, THE BUDGET IS BALANCED OVER TWO YEARS, ACCORDING TO OUR FINANCIAL POLICY.

I WANTED TO END THIS PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND PRESENTATION TO KIND OF RECAP. FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 AND I KNOW WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH FISCAL YEAR '25 FIRST, WE ARE PROJECTING 3.3% REVENUE GROWTH, WHICH IS CONSERVATIVE AND LESS THAN WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING FOR '25.

WE'RE ALSO ESTIMATING A 3.3% EXPENSE GROWTH. REMEMBER, OUR PROPOSED GROWTH IN FISCAL YEAR '25 IS 4.3%. SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING NEEDING TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE OUR EXPENSES AS WE GO THROUGH FISCAL YEAR '25.

WE'RE INDICATING THERE THAT ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL RIGHT NOW, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL $8.2 MILLION THAT WE'LL NEED TO REDUCE IN SPENDING FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

AND THE CITY HASN'T BEEN IN THIS POSITION SINCE AFTER THE RECESSION OF 2009 WHERE WE LOOKED TO SEE WHERE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE REDUCTIONS OVER TWO YEARS.

AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT $8.2 MILLION THAT I ENVISIONED AS WE GIVE YOU

[01:25:01]

THIS IS THE PROJECTION AS OF RIGHT NOW. AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE OF IT AND I CERTAINLY KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE SITTING BEHIND ME ARE WELL AWARE OF IT, NOTHING STAYS THE SAME. WE'LL CONTINUE TO MANAGE THAT BUT I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THE CITY HADN'T BEEN IN THAT POSITION SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2010 AND WE'LL MANAGE THROUGH IT. OUR SOLID WASTE BUDGET PROVIDES SERVICE TO 375,000 HOMES TWICE A WEEK, AND YOU'LL RECALL IN THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY WE SHARED WITH YOU IN JUNE, THE MOST BELOVED EMPLOYEES IS NOT THE CITY MANAGER, IT'S THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES AND THE LIBRARIANS.

AND SO THEY DO A GREAT JOB. WE HAVE MODERATE GROWTH IN EXPENSES IN THIS AREA.

WE ARE ALLOCATING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ANOTHER ILLEGAL DUMPING CREW IN SOLID WASTE.

ANDREW AND HIS TEAM DO A FANTASTIC JOB, AND FRANKLY COULD WORK SEVEN DAYS A WREAK BECAUSE THERE ARE NUMEROUS -- WEEK BECAUSE THERE ARE NUMEROUS INDICATIONS AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE GOAL SETTING ABOUT CLEANLINESS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AS A CITY WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.

IT AFFECTS ALL OF US. IT AFFECTS THE IMAGE AND WALT OF -- QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE ARE ADDING TWO POSITIONS WHICH IS A MINOR INCREASE TO CONTINUE TO BALANCE THE LOAD OF OUR ROUTES. TO DO THIS WE'RE STILL KIND OF CLAWING OUR WAY OUT OF NOT INCREASING RATES DURING COVID. THIS IS -- WE ARE THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A 50-CENT INCREASE PER MONTH IN OUR IMMEDIATE YAM CART AND LARGE CART. THIS IS LOWER THAN WHAT WE PROJECTED WHEN WE SHARED THE FORECAST WITH YOU. WE WERE ABLE TO MANAGE SOME EXPENSES DOWN AND THEN WHAT I AM PROPOSING IS THAT ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS PIECE THAT WE BEGIN A RATE REVIEW EVERY OTHER YEAR. WE HAVE -- THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF NOT DEALING WITH EXPENSES AT THE MOMENT THEY MULTIPLY. AND WE DID THAT DURING COVID, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO ENDURE ADDITIONAL SOLID WASTE INCREASES AT THAT TIME. WE'VE HAD A STEADY EFFORT TO GET OURSELVES OUT OF THAT HOLE. AS YOU WILL SEE WHEN DAVID NEWMAN GIVES HIS PRESENTATION, WE ARE STILL FAR BELOW WHAT OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES PROVIDE AND WHAT WE CHARGE AND THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

OUR RESILIENCY AND SUSTAIN ABILITY BUDGET OF $4.6 MILLION IS REALLY A TARGETED EFFORT, AND YOU'LL SEE THIS WHEN DOUG PRESENTS THE BUDGET.

REALLY A TARGETED EFFORT TO EMPLOY THE DATA THAT WE RECEIVE FROM UTSA WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND IN SAN ANTONIO LAST YEAR.

AND WE PRESENTED THAT TO YOU EARLIER THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE'RE ALSO REDIRECTING SOME AIR QUALITY PERSONNEL, AIR POLLUTION PERSONNEL AND HEAT MITIGATION PERSONNEL CURRENTLY FUNDED WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND IN METRO HEALTH INTO THE REES FUND.

WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THAT AND THERE WERE SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS DURING THE WORK SESSION. OVERALL IN TERMS OF URBAN HEAT ISLAND, THERE ARE 22.3 MILES OF COOL PAVEMENT OVERLAY THAT WE'LL BE EMPLOYING AND DOUG WILL HAVE A MAP FOR YOU TO SHOW WHERE WE'RE DOING THAT SPECIFICALLY IN HEAT ISLAND AREAS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY UTSA. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE INCREASING REPLACING HVAC REPLACEMENT AT FOUR RESILIENCY HUBS AND DOING UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAMS, AGAIN CONCENTRATED WITHIN THOSE URBAN HEAT ISLAND AREAS. PROBABLY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE ARE ALLOCATING MONEY OUT OF THIS PROGRAM TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND AND POTENTIALLY INCLUDE IN IT ROARK WITH CRYSTAL AND HER OFFICE, BUT BUS SHADE STRUCTURES.

AND LOOKING AT THOSE HEAT ISLANDS AND THOSE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS, I DRIVE BY THEM JUST LIKE YOU DO, AND A LOT OF PLACES THERE IS NOT A LOT OF SHADE.

[01:30:05]

HE WILL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON PROGRESS FOR THE TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE HOPING TO BREAK GROUND LATER THIS YEAR ONCE WE RECEIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ONE OF THE NEW THINGS THAT WE'RE ADJUSTING AND PIVOTING ON IS AN ACCELERATED LARGER PARKING FACILITY, OUR GROUND TRANSPORTATION FACILITY. CERTAINLY THE NEED IS THERE. WE CAN'T -- WE'VE OUTGROWN WHAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED BUILDING AND SO FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A PLAN TO BUILD, FUND AND CONSTRUCT A LARGER FACILITY THAT WILL BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE NEW TERMINAL IN 2028. SO I TALKED ABOUT ARPA A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF IS OUR LAST UPDATE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN JUNE, WE SPENT 69% OF THE $327 MILLION OF ARPA FUNDS. WE UPDATE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT QUARTERLY.

WE HAVE $5.8 MILLION THAT WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT IS AVAILABLE EITHER IN INTEREST EARNINGS OR IN AGENCIES THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO SPEND WITHIN THE TIME NEEDED.

3.1 MILLION OF THAT I SAID WE'RE RECOMMENDING WE USE TO EXTEND SENIOR CENTERS FOR THE HOURS -- HOURS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL $2.7 MILLION THAT NEEDS TO BE, THAT SHOULD BE ALLOCATED BY CITY COUNCIL THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE WORK SESSIONS.

WE NEED TO EMPLOY THAT MONEY ON A PRETTY FAST TIME LINE. SO WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING RFPS OR SOLICITATIONS. AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR DELIBERATIONS, THERE ARE GOING TO BE AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PERFECT CANDIDATES FOR THIS $2.7 MILLION AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE PROPOSE THAT -- OR THAT WE ADOPT THAT AS PARK OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO ENCUMBER THOSE FUNDS.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'LL NEED TO MAKE SURE BEER ON TRACK FOR -- WE'RE ON TRACK FOR SPENDING. I'M TALKED TO SEVERAL OF YOU ABOUT THIS IN ENSURING THE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR PROGRAMS IS GOING TO BE SPENT IN TIME. WE MAY MAKE SOME TIMING ADJUSTMENTS, BUT ALL OF THAT IS BEING DONE OR WOULD BE DONE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SPEND ALL OF THAT $327 MILLION THAT WAS INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO OUR CAPITAL BUDGET NEXT YEAR IS $860.2 MILLION. 518, A LITTLE OVER 518 MILLION OF THAT OR 60% OF IT IS STREETS AND THE AIRPORT.

WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR FACILITIES, 117.

$112 MILLION. AND AS WE GO INTO NEXT YEAR, THE $860.2 MILLION, 23% OF IT IS DUE TO THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM OR $194 MILLION. SO AS WE'RE ENDING THE DESIGN PHASE, WE'LL BE MOVING INTO THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE DO THE CAPITAL BUDGET WITH YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF CAPITAL BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS, AND WE'LL INCORPORATE THESE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTAL PRESENTATIONS.

I MENTIONED THE LARGER GROUND TRANSPORTATION CENTER AT THE AIRPORT.

I TALKED ABOUT BOTH KENWOOD AND THE FATHER ROMAN CENTERS AT THE WORK SESSION AS BEING TOP PRY ORDERS. THOSE -- PRY ORDERS. DUE TO STRUCTURAL ISSUES, THOSE TWO FACILITIES ARE CLOSED AND ARE MUCH NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY SO WE'VE GOT $12 MILLION FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF FATHER ROMAN. AND WITH THIS BUDGET -- WITH THIS PROPOSED BUDGET WE'LL HAVE A TOTAL OF $9 MILLION FOR THE KENWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER. WE HAVE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE REDBERRY DAM, REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE THERE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DESIGN PROJECTS THAT WE'LL BE MOVING OUT ON IN ANTICIPATION OF FUNDING, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH THE NPO OR THE 2027 BOND PROGRAM, AND THEY INCLUDE

[01:35:04]

WE'VE GOT CAPITAL FUNDS FOR OUR WARRANTED TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH DESIGN AND THAT WARRANTING PROCESS SO WE CAN EMPLOY AND CONSTRUCT THEM NEXT YEAR. SO AS OF 9:00 THIS MORNING, OUR OPEN GOV BUDGET TRANSPARENCY SITE IS LIVE. IF YOU ARE CURIOUS OR WANT TO KNOW THE LINE ITEM BUDGET OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THAT IS ONLINE AS OF RIGHT NOW, AND ALL OF OUR HISTORICAL LINE ITEMS, SO YOU CAN COMPARE. SO ALL OF THAT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AS OF 9:00 THIS MORNING. IN ADDITION TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT. IT'S A LITTLE OVER 700 PAGES.

WE DID NOT PRINT IT FOR YOU THIS MORNING, BUT WE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO IF YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO UTILIZE YOUR IPADS OR COMPUTERS TO PREPARE FOR OUR WORK SESSIONS. OUR BUDGET TOWN HALLS BEGIN NEXT WEEK, AND WE'LL BE RUNNING THOSE THROUGH AUGUST 29. AND OUR ADVERTISEMENT, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK FOR C AND E AND WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE TO BEGIN THE ADVERTISEMENT AND PROMOTION OF THOSE. LIKE LAST YEAR WE'RE EXPECTING A BIG TURNOUT.

SAME FORMAT, SAME STYLE. ALL OF US HAVE GIVEN THE INPUT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. NEXT STEPS, AND I STARTED THE PRESENTATION THIS WAY, BUT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, BOTH TOWN HALLS HOPEFULLY WRAPPED UP BY THE END OF AUGUST, AND THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS WHICH WILL BEGIN NEXT WEEK THROUGH SEPTEMBER. WE HAVE TAX RATE, AND THIS IS THE NEXT ITEM THAT YOU WILL BE APPROVING, MAYOR, THE TAX RATE PUBLICATIONS AND BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 4TH AND 12TH.

WE HAVE A WORK SESSION SCHEDULED THAT WE'LL BE SENDING THE DEPARTMENTAL WORK SESSIONS PROBABLY LATER TODAY, AND WITH BUDGET ADOPTION ON SEPTEMBER 19TH WE ARE BUILDING IN TIME AND YOU'LL SEE ON THE BUDGET WORK SESSION SCHEDULE FOR THE COUNCIL TO HAVE FREE TIME TO DISCUSS BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS A GROUP AS WE MARCH TOWARD SEPTEMBER 19TH. SO MAYOR, JUST A QUICK NOTE OF THANKS, THERE'S A NUMBER OF FOLKS BEHIND ME. THE BUDGET OFFICE HAS SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM, BOTH BUDGET AND FINANCE, JUSTINA AND FREDDIE CONTINUE TO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF MANAGING THIS PROCESS AND WORKING WITH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS. SO THANK YOU TO BOTH OF THEM. TROY AND MARGARET AND THEIR TEAMS ARE CRITICAL PART OF WHAT WE DO IN ENSURING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT THOSE REVENUES IN THE PROJECTIONS.

THANK YOU TO THE FINANCE TEAM. THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ALL THE EXECUTIVES AND FISCAL STAFF. I TOLD THE EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE CITY'S FINANCES AND IT'S BEEN AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE STARTED EARLIER KNOWING THAT WE WERE RETURNING BACK TO A NORMAL FINANCIAL PROGRESSION S THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM I MENTIONED. AND, OF COURSE, MARIE AND BEN IN MANAGING THOSE TWO ASPECTS CONTINUE TO -- FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT TEAM THAT WORKS WELL TOGETHER, UNDERSTANDS THE GOAL AND PREPARES ACCORDINGLY AND WE'RE READY FOR THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK, FOR THE THOROUGH PRESENTATION. ALL OF US ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BIG BOOK AND WE CAN GO THROUGH MORE DETAILS.

I DO ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CITY STAFF, DEPARTMENTS, BUDGET AND FINANCE OFFICE FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST MONTH PLUS.

THIS IS ONLY ONE STEP IN THE PROCESS, BUT ALSO COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO GET TO A TRIAL BUDGET. SO AGAIN, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSEMBLING THE FY '25 BUDGET. WE'LL COMPENSATION WITH THE BUDGE -- COME MEN'S WITH THE BUDGET TOWN HALLS. I KNOW MY QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, BUT LET ME START BY SAYING THE OBVIOUS. WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER.

BEFORE I DO THAT, LET'S CALL UP KELLY ANN GONZALES. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND

[01:40:14]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. GONZALES. [APPLAUSE] I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE STARTED WITH THAT, THANK YOU, MS. GONZALES.

THIS BUDGET IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR GRATITUDE TO OUR CITY WORKERS WHO ACTUALLY GET THE WORK DONE FOR THIS CITY. SO MUCH OF OUR CONVERSATION IS ABOUT THE AGENCIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WORK WITH AND WE FUND, BUT SO MUCH OF THE WORK IS DONE BY OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. GONZALES.

SO WHAT MY READING OF ALL THIS, ERIK, IS THAT WE'VE BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS PARTICULARLY AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC BEEN DEALING WITH AN OVERHEATED ECONOMY AND A LOT OF THE ASSISTANCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE NEEDED JUST TO GET BY, AND AS OUR ECONOMY NORMALIZES AND WE GET TO SORT OF WHAT EVERYONE HAS CALLED A SOFT LANDING, WE'RE ALSO THAT WITHIN OUR CITY BUDGET. SO ADJUSTING OUR EXPENSES AND REVENUES ACCORDINGLY AS THEY BECOME LESS VOLATILE IS WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS BUDGET. I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYBODY'S LANDING IS THE SAME. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO REFLECT ON A LITTLE BIT IS AS WE NORMALIZE SOME OF THESE BUDGET LINES PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND EFFORTS IN HOUSING, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THIS IS, IN PARTICULAR WITH THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND WITH THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE, IS A LIFE LINE FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT BE AT NORMAL YET.

AND SO, ERIK, JUST A SMALL NOTE, TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND OTHERS ABOUT THIS AS RELATES TO ARPA IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE $2.7 MILLION RECOMMENDED TO BE ALLOCATED BY CITY COUNCIL AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE LOOK AT OUR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO BALANCES AND RENT IN ARREARS.

OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM STILL NEEDS MORE RESOURCES AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE FEELING THE MOST TRAUMA AS WE GET TO A MORE NORMAL RECOVERY AND A MORE NORMAL BUDGET ECONOMY MOVING FORWARD.

SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS FOR US TO CONSIDER USING THAT 2.7 FOR OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE. I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION. I JUST AGAIN WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO OUR CITY STAFF FOR BEING RESPONSIVE AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

THIS IS NOT AN EASY BUDGET. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS WE'RE LOOKING AT CUTS RATHER THAN ADDITIONS, BUT I THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE AND I THINK YOUR PRESENTATION BY AND LARGE IS REFLECTIVE OF PRIORITIES OF THE COMMUNITY.

LET'S GO STRAIGHT INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

>>. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ERIK AND TEAM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THE ARPA FUNDING, IN THE REALLOCATION AND I AGREE WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON HOUSING AND FIGURING THAT OUT, BUT I ALSO THINK WE RECEIVED THE ARPA FUNDINGS AND IT WAS SPECIFICALLY TO CONSIDER

[01:45:03]

AND DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE HAD A UNDER SERVED POPULATION THAT LOST THEIR LIVES MORE THAN OTHERS. AND SO I WANTED TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES FOR CONSIDERATION IN THINKING ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF WHAT ARPA WAS SPENDED TO DO. -- INTENDED TO DO. WE HAD THE CLOSING OF 347 BEDS AT VISTA MEDICAL CENTER. JUST A REMINDER OUR COLLEAGUES THAT OUR LIFE SPANS ARE AS MUCH AS 20 YEARS LESS THAN OTHERS AND THERE'S ONLY 70 ACUTE WHEN WE COMPARE THE LEVELS AND I COULD ALSO INCLUDE, OF COURSE, THE EAST SIDE.

WE HAD NOT ONLY THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF COVID DEATH RATES, WE HAVE MORE DIABETIC AMPUTATIONS. WE HAVE LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT.

WE HAVE HIGHER HOUSEHOLD POVERTY. WE HAVE MORE FOOD DESERTS AND FOOD INSECURITY AND LESS HEALTH INSURANCE, LESS PARKS AND TREES, WE HAVE A LOWER WORKFORCE AND INCOME LEVELS AND MORE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND HOUSING INSECURITY AS WELL AS MORE DANGEROUS STREETS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A CONSIDERATION, WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW ON PROPOSING AIST FOR HEALTH EQUITY IN SOUTH TEXAS, IT'S A HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVE. NOW THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLOCATE $2.7 MILLION FROM THE ARPA FUNDING THAT WASN'T USED, I'D LIKE FOR THE CONSIDERATION TO BE THAT $600,000 OF THAT BE APPEAR INDICATED FOR THIS -- ALLOCATED FOR THIS PURPOSE, $300,000 IN ONE YEAR, 300,000 IN ANOTHER. I DO THINK THAT WOULD BE A WORTHY INVESTMENT.

NOW, IN THE FISCAL YEAR '25, WE HAVE THE PROPOSED BUDGET STILL INCLUDING $10 MILLION FOR VIA FOR PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS. THAT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THOSE FUNDS. I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE COULD GET CLEAR INDICATION OF WHAT THE ORIGINAL INTENTIONS WERE AND WHAT THAT CAN BE USED ON.

AND THEN ALSO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR -- AT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID AND HOW WE NEED TO TIGHTEN THE BELT, IF YOU WILL, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU SAID THAT WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE OUR EXPENSES, AND I'M REALLY WORRIED THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2009 THE COUNCIL HAS HAD TO CONSIDER AND REALLOCATE. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HAD THE FORESIGHT SO I WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET TEAM AND CITY STAFF BECAUSE YOU ALL DID THE HARD WORK FOR US.

INSTEAD OF US DECIDING WHAT TO PUBLICLY CUT, AND WE KNOW THAT WOULD LIKELY BE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, YOU ALL TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO FIGURE WHERE WE COULD IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES. I WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST YET AT THE CUTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PROBABLY FACING IN THE FUTURE. I APPRECIATE ALSO THE FACT THAT, ERIK, YOU'VE BEEN VERY FORTH RIGHT AND BEN AS WELL IN THAT CPS REVENUE, THERE IS GOING TO BE HIGHS AND LOWS. YOU ALL WERE VERY FORTH RIGHT WITH US LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD MONEY THAT THIS MIGHT NOT HAPPEN IN COMING YEARS. I FEEL YOU ALL FULLY PREPARED ME FOR THAT AND THAT WAS ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND.

WITH THE ARPA FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO BE RUNNIN OUT, I FIGURED THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER THING COMING TO FRUITION. I DO HAVE A QUESTION, MARIA, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS YOU OR ERIK THAT DURING BY ONE-ON-ONE BUDGET MEETING,

YOU ALL MENTIONED THERE MIGHT BE A HIRING FREEZE. >> WALSH: I DON'T THINK IT

WAS EITHER ONE OF US. >> GARCIA: OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND THEN I APPRECIATE THE ILLEGAL DUMPING TEAM THAT YOU ALL ARE ADDING.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES UP TIME AND AGAIN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS.

SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALL RECOGNIZED ANDREW AND THE TEAM'S WORK AND THAT YOU ALL ARE FOCUSED ON THAT. I ALSO WAS SURPRISED THAT THERE'S ONLY $200,000 THAT ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS A BACKLOG OF SIGN -- SIGNS AND MARKINGS REQUEST. I FEEL LIKE EVERYWHERE I GO IN MY DISTRICT I'M REPORTED A SEEN THAT'S FADED OR SOMETHING. I'M REALLY HAPPY IT'S ONLY $200,000 THAT WE NEED. WHAT IS THAT BACKLOG, LIKE HOW LONG IS IT?

>> WALSH: WE'LL PROBABLY GOING INTO MORE DETAIL WITH RAZI DOES HIS BUDGET, BUT

THAT $200,000 IS ONLY FOR A THIRD OF THE BACKLOG. >> GARCIA: I THOUGHT IT WAS WAY BIGGER. I WAS THINKING IT WAS WAY, WAY BIGGER.

[01:50:02]

>> WALSH: IT'S BIG, BUT -- >> GARCIA: THAT MADE ME FEEL GOOD.

I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE BIGGER. I APPRECIATE ALSO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, I THINK IT'S NEEDED AFTER SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND THE $100,000 TO CONTINUE THE SENIOR PROGRAMS, IS THAT THE ONE -- CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT ONE, ERIK?

>> WALSH: THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND WE'RE CONTINUING THAT PROGRAM. THIS YEAR THERE WAS -- AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING IT BE KIND OF A CITYWIDE ALLOCATION. WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW THE USE OF THIS WAS GOING TO WORK SO WE ALLOCATED IT BASED ON DISTRICT.

AND SOME DISTRICTS HAD A HIGH DEGREE OF NEED AND OTHERS DIDN'T SO IT'S GOING TO BE ONE PROGRAM THAT ANYBODY IN THE CITY CAN GO TO.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE GOING TO USE IT MORE THAN OTHERS.

>> GARCIA: I APPRECIATE THAT. I WAS SITTING DURING THAT MEETING AND COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE WAS NICE ENOUGH TO SAY D3, 4, 5, THEY ARE OVERBUDGET ALREADY, TAKE SOME OF MINE, I DIDN'T USE IT.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND THOUGHT LET'S MAKE IT A PROGRAM THAT IS OPEN TO EVERYBODY. HE WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO FOR BIG THIS UP. SPECIFICALLY TO THE GONZABA FOUNDATION.

THEY CREATED THE MODEL AS WE JUST REPLICATED. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER OFTEN WITH THE FOUNDATION. I DON'T THINK THEY GET ENOUGH CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THIS AREA IN PARTICULAR, SO I QUICK I WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT-OUT. I ALSO WAS -- LIKE I SAID, APPRECIATIVE SPECIFICALLY OF THE ILLEGAL DUMPING POSITION AND I WANT TO GIVE THE SOLID WASTE TEAM A SHOUT-OUT. WE NEEDED LIKE A LAST-MINUTE HELP AND THEY SPENT LIKE 30 MINUTES AND GOT EVERYTHING DONE WITH THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL PREPARATIONS AND THAT'S STUFF THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY SEEN AND THEY VOLUNTEERED TO DO THAT.

AND THEY STILL GOT THEIR WORK DONE. I WANTED TO THANK ANDREW AND THE TEAM. THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, BUT THANK YOU,

MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA

GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.

THANK YOU TO ERIK AND HIS TEAM AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT WORKED ON THE BUDGET.

THIS IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT WORK AND A HUGE ASK AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SAY RIGHT OFF THE BAT HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM OF THAT WORK AND WHAT A GREAT JOB THAT YOU ALL DO UNDER REALLY TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES. LISTEN, THERE'S -- I GUESS I'LL START WITH THE GOOD STUFF. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN HERE THAT I REALLY LIKE, AND THERE'S A BUNCH IN HERE THAT REALLY SHOWS WE ARE BEING RESPONSIVE TO WHAT OUR CITIZENS WANT. MORE MONEY FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP. MY OFFICE GETS A NUMBER OF CALLS EVERY WEEK REGARDING GETTING THESE ENCAMPMENTS CLEANED UP. MORE MONEY FOR THE IMP PROGRAM. THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT ALL OF US HEAR ABOUT UP HERE ARE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND DRAINAGE. AGAIN, BASIC CITY ISSUES.

SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE GETTING MORE MONEY THERE. ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR MORE POLICE. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND OUTSTANDING.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY. MORE MONEY FOR FIRE AS WELL IS GREAT. I THINK I SAW 15 ADDITIONAL FIRE POSITIONS SO THAT WE CAN REALLY ADDRESS EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALLS MORE QUICKLY. I LOVE -- I LOVE ALL OF THAT. BUT WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE IN A DIFFICULT SPOT HERE AS A CITY. AND WE SHOULD NOT HIDE FROM THAT.

THE FIRST THING TO DO WHEN YOU NEED TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM. AND WE ALL UP HERE HAVE HEARD AND KNOW THAT WE'RE FACING DIFFICULT TIMES FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF DOLLARS AND WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE BUDGET OUR MONEY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

I AM REALLY SATISFIED TO SOME EXTENT WITH A BUNCH OF WHAT OUR CITY MANAGER STATED UP THERE, THAT WE ARE GOING BACK IN OUR DEPARTMENTS AND LOOKING AT HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY, TRYING TO FIND MORE EFFICIENCIES, TRYING TO HAVE -- OR MAKE

[01:55:05]

SO I AM HAPPY THAT WE ARE STARTING TO THINK LIKE THAT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO MORE.

WE'VE GOT TO DO MORE, AND AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, TOMORROW GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THE CCR THAT A NUMBER OF US SIGNED AND THAT I AUTHORED WITH RESPECT TO ZERO-BASED BUDGETING. FOR THE SAKE OF THE FINANCIAL, THE FISCAL HEALTH OF OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE TO BUDGET IN A DIFFERENT WAY. AND WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE BASICS.

WE NEED TO START FROM SCRATCH, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT SPENDING MONEY NEEDLESSLY, REDUNDANTLY ON PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT WORKING AND THAT WE ARE FOCUSING OUR CITIZENS' TAX DOLLARS ON BASIC CITY SERVICES.

AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION TOMORROW, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS $2.7 MILLION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE AROUND WHAT WE CAN USE THAT FOR, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE SOME PORTION OF THAT SET ASIDE FOR THIS NEW BUDGETING EFFORT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CCR PROPOSES THAT IN 2027 IS WHEN WE PUT FORTH A NEW BUDGET BASED ON NEW PRINCIPLES.

MAYBE WE CAN SET ASIDE SOME OF THIS MONEY FOR AN OUTSIDE CONSULTING GROUP, AND MY OFFICE HAS TALKED WITH MANY THAT CAN HELP US WITH THIS BUDGETING PROCESS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR SPENDING, WE CANNOT HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT NON-PROFIT GROUPS THAT WE GIVE MONEY TO, AS WELL AS DELEGATE AGENCIES.

AND I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR, THE WORK THAT SO MANY OF THESE NON-PROFITS DO ARE REALLY, REALLY VALUABLE. IT'S GREAT WORK. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR MANY OF THE DELEGATE AGENCIES. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR JOB AS A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT ON CITY -- BASIC CITY SERVICES. THE THINGS THAT OUR CITIZENS RELY UPON DAY TO DAY TO GET TO WORK, TO TRAVEL AROUND THE CITY, TO GET HOME. THEY WANT TO BE SAFE, THEY WANT GOOD WORKING ROADS AND SIDEWALKS AND DRAINAGE. AND LISTEN, LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS, RIGHT? THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY THAT'S TAKING FAR TOO LONG. WHY AREN'T WE IN THIS BUDGET ALLOCATING SOME MORE DOLLARS TO INCENTIVIZE THESE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES TO FINISH THIS CONSTRUCTION QUICKER. THIS LENGTHY CONSTRUCTION IS REALLY HURTING OUR BUSINESSES. I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT THERE IS MONEY IN THIS BUDGET, THE CCR THAT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I AUTHORED AT THE GOOD EVENING OF LAST YEAR RELATED TO A CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION FUND TO HELP THESE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE HURT BY THE LENGTHING CONSTRUCTION.

I'M HAPPY THAT THAT'S IN HERE. BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME MORE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SPEED UP THIS CONSTRUCTION, AND I THINK ALLOCATING SOME DOLLARS IN THIS BUDGET TO MAYBE INCENTIVIZE OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES TO GET THE JOBS DONE MORE QUICKLY WOULD BE WISE.

ERIK, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE ARPA MONEY FOR THE SENIOR CENTERS.

I BROUGHT THAT UP TO YOU LAST WEEK. I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO KEEP THE HOURS TO WHERE THEY ARE NOW. YOU MENTIONED 7:00 TO 7:00.

I BELIEVE THAT AT LEAST THE NORTHEAST SENIOR CENTER AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE REST STAYS OPEN UNTIL 8:00, FOUR DAYS A WEEK UNTIL 8:00. ARE WE PLANNING REDUCING TO

[02:00:02]

7:00 TO 7:00 OR KEEP IT OPEN TILL 8:00? >> WALSH: I'LL LET MEL

ADDRESS THAT. >> THEY DO STAY OPEN UNTIL 8:00.

>> WHYTE: THIS ARPA MONEY WILL BE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THEM OPEN UNTIL 8.

>> WALSH: YES, NO CHANGE. >> WHYTE: THAT'S FANTASTIC BECAUSE I KNOW THE SENIORS WANT TO KEEP THE HOURS RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE. HOMELESS, ERIK, $44 MILLION GOING TO HOMELESS SERVICES IT LOOKED LIKE, AND I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH YOU IN THE PAST. I'VE DRAFTED A CCR RELATED TO GETTING AN ANNUAL REPORT WHERE WE LIST ALL OF THE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN OUR HOMELESS NETWORK, AND WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY ARE GETTING, AND WHAT THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN. BUT PERHAPS RATHER THAN A CCR, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN MENTION TO YOU TODAY AND ASK IF MAYBE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR WE COULD GET A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT AND THAT THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S DONE ON AN ANNUAL

BASIS BECAUSE $44 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY. >> WALSH: YEAH, AND THAT'S JUST THE DIRECT. DURING THE PRESENTATION I MENTIONED THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE INDIRECT EXPENSES THAT ARE AFFECTING US.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S DOABLE, COUNCILMAN. AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE FRAMEWORK OF THAT WHEN VERONICA AND MEL DO THEIR BUDGET WORK SESSION.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WE DID A MIDTERM HOMELESS UPDATE TO THE COUNCIL, SO FORMALIZING IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS I THINK IS EASY ENOUGH TO DO.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT, WE ARE CONTRACTING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS OUT.

WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THAT IN-HOUSE. SO IT'S THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP IN TERMS OF EXPANDING OUR HOMELESS DASHBOARD AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN PRESENTING, AND I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO. AND SO WE'LL ADD SOME MORE THOUGHT AND FRAMEWORK TO THAT FOR THOSE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS FOR YOU GUYS TO

CONSIDER. >> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND SO [INAUDIBLE] I THINK WE'LL DO THEN IS WE'LL HOLD OFF ON THE CCR AND JUST WORK WITH YOU AND HOPEFULLY GET THAT REPORT BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND THAT SHOULD GIVE US THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED.

WELL, MY TIME IS UP FOR THIS ROUND. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE BUDGET OFFICE AGAIN AND EVERYBODY THAT'S WORKED ON IT, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE

HARD WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO THANK THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF JUSTINA AND HER TEAM DURING THE SUMMER BREAK. I KNOW YOU ALL WORK ALL YEAR LONG, BUT I FEEL LIKE SUMMER BREAK COMES AND YOU GUYS ARE IN A MAD RUSH TO GET THINGS DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COME BACK IN AUGUST AND ERIK CAN PRESENT A 52-SLIDE PRESENTATION.

TO US. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY STAFF, AND I'M NOT GOING TO START DOING A ROLL CALL, BUT KELLY, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND AND REMINDING ME BECAUSE I WAS A CITY EMPLOYEE, WE KNOW BUDGET COMES ANNUALLY AND WE LOVE OUR JOBS AND THOSE OF US WHO LOVE OUR JOBS AND ARE COMMITTED WANT TO BELIEVE IF WE DO A GOOD JOB THAT CITY COUNCIL COME BUDGET TIME IS GOING TO REMEMBER AND NOTICE THAT.

I COULD DO A ROLL CALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I'M SUPER PROUD OF, BUT I JUST WANT TO LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYBODY IS WORKING AND I DON'T GET TO SEE THAT ALL. MY TOP PRIORITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL TEN TO BE ENSURING THE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE MET.

AND IN THIS YEAR I CAN THINK BACK TO PAST BUDGETS, SOME THAT I'VE GIVEN VERY DRAMATIC SPEECHES AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS, SOME I HAVE NOT VOTED FOR EVERYTHING ON THAT BUDGET, AND SOME THAT I -- I'M SITTING HERE TODAY AND THINKING WE ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY.

THIS YEAR'S DISTRICT 3 BUDGET PRIORITIES MIMIC 2024'S WHICH WERE HOMELESS OUTREACH AND ENCAMPMENTS, ANNUAL CARE SERVICE AND POLICE SERVICES.

WE LEARNED WE WERE FACING A 10 POINT MILLION 5.5 MILLION IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR. I WORKED WITH MY TEAM TO IDENTIFY REDUCTIONS. THAT DID NOT INCLUDE DELEGATE AGENCIES.

[02:05:02]

WE ALSO CREATED A DISTRICT 3 BUDGETARY ROAD MAP TO EXPLORE SURPLUS FUNDS WITHIN THE GENERAL FUNDS WITH THE GOAL OF ALLOCATING RESOURCES TO SERVICE DELIVERY PRIORITIES THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'M GLAD THAT IN MY DELIVERIES WITH ERIK AND THE TEAM THAT SOME OF THAT WAS MET SO WE COULD COME DO AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO ON RECORD OF HERE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS, HERE ARE SOME REDID YOU KNOW DONE CYST WE CAN LOOK AT. THIS PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR IS ON TARGET BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. THE FIRST IS -- THE CITY -- WE DO NOT NEED ANY CONSULTANTS. I TRUST THE CITY STAFF, I TRUST THE CITY MANAGER'S DEPARTMENT TO GET THIS DONE AT WHATEVER BUDGET WE ASK THEM AT. AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO A BALANCED BUDGET.

AND I SIT ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, I SIT ON THIS COUNCIL FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS AND I KNOW THAT ANY TALK OF ANY SORT OF ZERO THAT, REDO THIS, I'VE SEEN THE YOU -- SEEN THE AUDIT REPORTS. YOU ARE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. CONTINUE TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES AND LOOK AS WHERE WE HAVE FEE INCREASES AND HOW DO THEY LOOK AND SEE HOW DO WE MAKE THIS AFFORDABLE.

I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, AND WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT REDID YOU REDUNDANCY. SO AT. THE FIRST IS ON SLIDE 15 WITH THE EMS TRANSPORT FEE.

I THINK WE NEED TO LEAVE -- THIS IS NOT -- WE NEED TO LEAVE IT AT $1,000.

WE CALL IT A CHARITY FUND, BUT IT REALLY IS AN EQUITY FUND.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE SECTION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT ONLY HAS 120 BEDS. THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY IN SOUTH TEXAS LOOKING AT THAT. BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN BUT PUT IN PARTS OF THE WEST SIDE AND PARTS OF THE EAST SIDE THAT WHEN THEY ARE PICKED UP BY EMS, THEY ARE TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST HOSPITAL.

SOMETIMES THAT'S THE HOSPITAL ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAT IS BLOCKS AND MILES AND MILES AWAY FROM THEM AND THEIR HOME. SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT FINDING SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GET THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND IT CANNOT BE ON EMS TRANSPORT FEES BECAUSE WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ONLY 120 BEDS, AND THE MENTAL HEALTH BEDS THAT WE LOST ARE PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WHEN TEXAS -- WHEN VISTA CLOSED DOWN.

ON SLIDE 26 -- I HAVE TO SCROLL -- THERE WE GO, NON-SERVICE ALLEYWAYS.

LOVE IT. THAT'S GREAT. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMMUNICATING THAT A NON-SERVICE ALLEYWAY WHEN PAVED IS NOT A THROUGH-WAY, A THROUGH STREET, AND PEOPLE CANNOT BE USING IT FOR THAT.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE -- OUR STATE COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET UTILITY ONLY, NO THROUGH, ONE WAY FOR THESE NON-SERVICE ALLEYWAYS.

BECAUSE ONCE WE TAKE CARE OF THEM AND PAVE THEM, PEOPLE WILL START USING THEM AS STREETS. SLIDE 29 AND 30. AND IF THIS IS YOUR DEPARTMENT, BE PREPARED FOR WHEN YOU PRESENT. 29 AND 30, I AM GLAD TO SEE THESE CRITICAL RESPONSE RATES GO UP, BUT I WANT TO KNOW IF WE ASK THE QUESTION ON CUSTOMER SERVICEWISE. HOW ARE THE RESIDENTS FEELING IN RESPONSE FROM ANIMAL CARE SERVICES BECAUSE I'M GETTING TWO RESPONSES. I TALKED TO THIS ACS EMPLOYEE, IT WAS GREAT. I TALK TO THIS ACS EMPLOYEE, IT WAS AWFUL.

AND SOMETIMES WITHIN LIKE 30 MINUTES. SO WE NEED TO START TALKING TO OUR PUBLIC AND WE HAVE THE TOWN HALLS TO DO THAT. THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3 HAVE INDICATED TO ME, IN SLIDE 30 WITH ANY NEW STAFF, THEY WANT DISTRICT OFFICERS LIKE CODE HAS THAT THEY ARE -- THAT THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE.

THEY WANT TO SEE THEM AT THE MONTHLY MEETINGS LIKE THEY SEE CODE AND [INAUDIBLE] AND WHEN INVITED PUBLIC WORKS. SO I THINK THIS NEEDS A LARGER CONVERSATION BECAUSE

[02:10:04]

THE OTHER THING IS 2.7 MILLION TO ADD 21 POSITIONS, I NEED INFLATION FOR THAT AND TO SEE WHAT AUSTIN IS PAYING THEIR VETS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A LARGER CONVERSATION BECAUSE WHILE THE NUMBERS ARE LOOKING GOOD AND WE'RE MAKING SOME TRACTION, I DON'T -- I THINK WE'RE MISSING SOME CRITICAL PIECES ON THIS ABOUT HOW WE TALK TO PET OWNERS AND HOW WE BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE. ON SIDE -- ON SIDE 32, STREET LIGHTS, I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING ON TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE STREET LIGHTS COMING IN. 36 AND 37, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THIS IS CRITICAL FOR US TO MEET OUR GOALS. AND IF WE NEED TO BUMP UP THIS TRACK, WE NEED TO START GETTING CREATIVE IN TERMS OF HOW WE DO THIS WITH SOME OF OUR CODE AND OUR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, IF WE'RE HAVING TOO MANY AIRBNBS WHEN WE COULD HAVE MORE HOUSING ON THESE TWO SLIDES. CAN YOU ALL SWITCH IT TO 37 ALSO? 37. SMALL BUSINESS.

WE REALLY NEED TO GET ALIGNED WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM AND THE VISION THAT I THINK WE HAD AT ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HOW WE'RE COMMUNICATING THAT OUT INTO THE PUBLIC. BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD SOME MAIN STREET, AND I DO NOT THINK THAT THE -- I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THAT PROGRAM REALLY GOT A VISION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO TRY AND DO IN TERMS OF BUY LOCAL AND HOW WE'RE GETTING -- HOW WE'RE CREATING SPECIFIC PLACEMAKING DISTRICTS. AND THEN 45 AND 48 -- I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

JUST MOVE TO 48. CAPITAL BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THE FATHER RAMON COMMUNITY CENTER AND I KNOW IT WAS PRESENTED ON NAP PROJECTS AND OVERRIDGES IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS IN THAT AND I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THE CAP AT 500,000 OR HALF A MILLION AS WE GO INTO PROJECTS BECAUSE I THINK RAZI HAS A LOT OF SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS. ANY CUTS PEOPLE ARE TALKING

ABOUT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT PARKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IT TOOK A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM TO GET THIS DONE. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE VOLUME OF SPREAD SHEETS AND COFFEE TO GET YOU THROUGH THIS, BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANKS TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WORK TIRELESSLY AND THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT SO FAR AND THE ENGAGEMENT IS GOING TO GET MORE INTENSE.

THE BUDGET REFLECTS WHO WE ARE. 3.7% REVENUE INCREASE MIGHT SOUND LIKE GOOD NEWS, IT'S REALLY JUST TAKING US BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AND THE CHALLENGES WE FACED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND EVEN BEFORE THE RECOVERY.

RISING COSTS AND PREDICTABLE FACTORS LIKE CPS AND ENERGY SURPLUS MEANS WE HAVE A LOT OF TOUGH CHOICES AHEAD. I THINK WE'RE STARTING STRONG.

NO MAJOR CUTS TO SAFETY OR INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S SOMETHING CONSTITUENTS WILL BE GLAD TO HEAR. THE PAST TAKE YOU TO YEARS HAVE BEEN ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY AND WE KNEW THE ONE-TIME RECOVERY FUNDS WERE GOING TO RUN OUT AND WE'RE AT THAT PLACE. THIS BUDGET MARKS THE BEGINNING OF HARD WORK OF RECOVERY AND WE HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK. THERE'S JUST NO OTHER OPTION. LOOKING AT ALMOST 6.5 MILLION IN PROJECT SPENDING FOR FY 2025 INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FIRE ACADEMY, FIRE STATION 44, THE ACS FACILITY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK NOTE, I WAS AT ACS THIS WEEK AND IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR ANIMALS IN THIS CITY, BUT I WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT-OUT BECAUSE EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS AND STAFF WORK FEVERISHLY AND PASSIONATELY TO MAKE SURE THOSE ANIMALS ARE TAKEN CARE OF SO I THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.

[02:15:01]

OUR GOAL TO MOVE TO 60% PROACTIVE TIME AND 40% ON PATROL FOR PD.

MORE POLICE OFFICERS, MORE FIREFIGHTERS. I THINK THERE'S A CALL AND NEED FOR THAT AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN OUR BUDGET. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE TO 60% PROACTIVE WITHOUT THE INCREASE IN OUR OFFICERS.

AS WE MOVE INTO THE DISCUSSIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, I'M CONCERNED WE DON'T LOSE THE PROGRESS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH HIGHWAY PATROL AND HUMAN SERVICES -- WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND WE MENTIONED BEFORE HOW IT REALLY SHOWN A SLIGHT ON ALL THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDER THE RADAR.

NOW ISN'T THE TIME TO TURN AWAY ON THOSE IMPORTANT,. WE'VE GOT TO BALANCE WHAT WE'VE LEARNED WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE POST-COVID.

THAT'S A TOUGH REALITY OF RECOVERY AND WE HAVE TO FACE IT HEAD ON.

RECOVERY DOLLARS HAVE RUN OUT AND WE'RE STILL COVERING.

I FEEL CONFIDENT IF WE LOOK DEEPER INTO ZERO BASED BUDGET WE CAN BALANCE OUR RESOURCES WITH OUR NEEDS. I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT PERFORMANCE -- TO PUBLISH PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE WHERE THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT -- WOULD BE A REALLY IMPORTANT TOOL TO OUR COMMUNITY. SOMETHING FOR US TO SHOW WHEN THEY CALL AND ASK US, WE CAN SHOW THEM THAT DASHBOARD.

I HOPE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW AT GOVERNANCE. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS. THE MONEY SPENT ON HELPING THE UNHOUSED REFLECTS A NEED. LESS EXPENSIVE THAN FIXING THE CAUSES AND I WANT THEM TO LOOK CLOSELY AND NOT TAKING THE EASIER WAY OUT BY VILLAINIZING THE UNHOUSED.

THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE ADJUSTMENT FROM HAVING PANDEMIC DOLLARS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONTINUING THAT AS WELL. ALSO CONSIDER INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR THE CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH. THE ATTENDANCE AND COSTS ARE GROWING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCREASED SUPPORT FROM THE CITY FOR THEM. A QUICK QUESTION, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ARE READY TO ANSWER THIS, BUT I'M LOOKING FOR CONFIRMATION THOSE OF US COUNCILMEMBERS WHO GAVE UP THE STAFF POSITION TO SUPPORT CASA WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGAIN THAT

POSITION IN THIS BUDGET. >> WALSH: YOU ASKED THAT EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED. IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND OTHER THAN YOUR OFFICE I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH OTHER ONES DID NOT INCLUDE THAT AND AT THE TIME WE WENT BACK AND CHECKED THE MEETING AND ACTUALLY THE TRANSCRIPT.

IF IT'S PRIORITIZED BY THE COUNCIL, IT WOULD BE ADDED BACK IN.

I DID NOT INCLUDE IT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS AN ALLOCATION GOING FORWARD.

>> HAVRDA: I DON'T RECALL WHO ELSE, I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ, THERE

WERE THREE OR FOUR OF US. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WE'LL DO THAT IN A FOLLOW-UP.

>> HAVRDA: MY COLLEAGUES TO EVEN OUT THE POSITIONS. SO I'LL CLOSE WITH THE BUDGET REQUIRED CAREFUL BELT TIGHTENING AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT THIS WAS TO DO OVER THE LAST FIVE WEEKS, BUT I'M SURE OUR COMMUNITY WILL HAVE PLENTY TO SAY AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I'M BUCKLED UP AND REALLY TO GET THESE DISCUSSIONS GOING. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM AND STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I'LL START OFF WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, OF COURSE OUR EMPLOYEES MAKE OUR CITY RUN.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. AND WHILE WE HAVE OVERALL BEEN WORRIED ABOUT THE REALITIES OF A BUDGET STRETCHING PRETTY THIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR BRUNT OF THAT. THAT INCLUDES ALL STAFF, PART-TIME ENTRY-LEVEL EMPLOYEES TO EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED 20 TO 30 YEARS TO OUR LEADERSHIP TEAMS. I HOPE THE BUDGET MEETINGS YOU'VE HAD WITH EACH DEPARTMENT WERE GUIDED BY CERTAINS OF THOSE ON THE -- EXPERIENCE OF THOSE ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK. RELATED TO ARPA, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HOME REHAB AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE MAKE SCOPE AND ACQUIRE LAND FOR FUTURE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT.

WE KNOW WE NEED MORE DEVELOPMENTS AND AS WE APPROACH THE 2027 BOND IN JUST A FEW YEARS, I WOULD HATE TO SEE US NOT BE PROACTIVE AS IT'S THE

[02:20:02]

I AM EXTREMELY THRILLED WE'RE GOING TO BE INSTALLING 758 LIGHTS MUCH QUICKER AND WAY MORE THAN PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I KNOW MY CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING TO BE THRILLED. I WOULD LOVE AN UPDATED MAP OF WHERE THESE ARE GOING AND

I WOULD ALSO, ERIK, WHAT KIND OF LIGHTS ARE THESE? >> WALSH: SO PART OF THE CONTRACT THAT I MENTIONED THAT CPS HAS BROUGHT ON BOARD TO FASTER, THEY ARE ACTUALLY USING SOLAR POWERED STREET LIGHTS WITH THE SAME WATTAGE AND LUMINS WITH WHAT WE HAVE NOW. THEY ARE A TEN-YEAR GUARANTEE.

THEY DON'T NEED TIME TO RUN POWER THROUGH LINES AND IT'S A NEW PRODUCT.

IT'S ALREADY OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS NOW AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING BEING ABLE TO

DO THAT FASTER. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I UNDERSTAND IT PREVENTS US FROM THAT REQUIREMENT TO HAVE TO ACQUIRE EASEMENT ACCESS.

HUGE TIME SAVINGS. I'M SWITCH TO ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT TONE THAT I NORMALLY TAKE.

I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE OF PRIDE ANNIE YES, WE NEED TO -- AND EGO. WE NEED TO CHECK THAT AT THE DOORMENT ESPECIALLY FOR LIVE ACTION WHO ARE BEING EUTHANIZED.

I'LL STATE ACS IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERFUNDED, BUT TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE MONEY BEING BUDGETED IS BEING UTILIZED EFFECTIVELY.

I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO MAYBE WITHIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO THE STRUCTURE OF ACS ITSELF, HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING SPENT WHERE AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR THE EAST SIDE SPAY-NEUTER HUB. THAT'S GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER AND MY CONSTITUENTS NEED IT UP AND RUNNING ASAP. I'M HAPPY TO SEE WE'LL HAVE STAFF RUNNING THE FACILITY. I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THIS GOES AND HOPEFULLY IT'S AS EFFECTIVE AS WE HOPE IT WILL BE. REGARDING HOMELESS SERVICES AND EVEN CAMPMENT CLEANUPS, MY FRIEND IN DISTRICT 10 WAS A TOP THREE REQUEST OF CONSTITUENTS. BY SPENDING MORE, WE'RE DOING MORE OF WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT. FOR REAL IT'S GREAT WE'VE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL.

IS THIS YOU HOSPITALLING OR IS THIS SHELTER? -- HOUSING OR SHELTER?

SO PERMANENT VERSUS TEMPORARY. >> IT'S SHELTERING UNSHELTERED, SO IT WOULD BE THE LOW-BARRIER SHELTER THAT WE HAVE OR PERMANENT

HOUSING. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WOULD LIKE A BREAK-DOWN OF HOW MANY OF THESE FOLK ACCESS PERMANENT VERSUS TEMPORARY HOUSING.

IF WE COULD GET THOSE NUMBERS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

AND WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF TOTAL POPULATION. I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS. UNTIL THEY COME RIGHT BACK THE NEXT DAY. I NOTICE THERE'S AN AVERAGE OF 18 DAYS TO RESPOND TO AN ENCAMPMENT. HOW QUICKLY DO WE BEGIN RECEIVING CALLS THEY ARE

[02:25:03]

BACK AND NEED TO BE CLEANED UP AGAIN? >> WALSH: DEPENDS ON THE LOCATION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD, THERE'S ABOUT 30

SITES, A LITTLE OVER 30 SITES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: LET'S

USE THE HAYS STREET BRIDGE. >> WALSH: THAT'S ONE OF THE SITES WE DON'T EVEN WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO CALL. WE GO BACK PERIODICALLY TO CLEAN UP.

THERE'S 30 SITES THAT ARE ON A NORMAL CLEANUP CYCLE. UNFORTUNATELY MULTIPLE TIMES

A WEEK. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WHAT'S THE AVERAGE CALL-BACK?

>> WALSH: I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. WE'LL HAVE TO GET THAT FOR

YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO GATHER. AT A CERTAIN POINT, WE'RE EITHER GOING TO LET THE ENCAMPMENT EXIST, ESTABLISH AND SUPERVISE WITH WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AND SWEEP THEM DAILY AND THEY ARE GOING TO KEEP COMING BACK.

THAT'S NOT COMPASSION COMPASSIONATE, NOT HUMANITARIAN.

I WOULD CHALLENGE US TO BE MORE CREATE I HAVE BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE ENCAMPMENT GONE AND THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

THE LAST THING I'LL TALK ABOUT IS THE POLICE BUDGET. BACK IN 2021, WE WOULD BE ON TRACK TO SPEND $547 MILLION BY 2025. WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT $604 MILLION. DESPITE THE SLOWING DOWN IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BUT TODAY IS A NEW DAY FOR DISTRICT 2. MY COLLEAGUES WILL BE SPLICED TO HEAR I'M GOING TO SHIFT FOCUS. I HAD A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY WITH A CONSTITUENT WHO SAID THAT A FEW YEARS AGO POLICE USED TO REGULAR PATROL AND BE VISIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY. NOW POLICE ARE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AND I LET THEM KNOW WE ADDED 100 NEW POLICE OFFICERS LAST YEAR AND SAPD'S BUDGET HAS INCREASED FROM $501 MILLION TO NEARLY $600 MILLION AND NOW SURPASSING THAT. NO LONGER WILL I EXPECT REASON OR RHYME IF THE BELIEF IS POLICE ARE GOING TO DECREASE CRIME, I'M GOING TO HOLD THE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE. THE SAME WAY WE LOOK AT ACS AND SAY YOU DON'T DO ENOUGH OR HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING ON HOMELESSNESS. I NEED YOU TO CHALLENGE THAT SAPD BE MORE EFFECTIVE WITH THE ADDITIONAL 30 TO $40 MILLION THEY ARE GETTING THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR AFTER. IF WE'RE ALLOCATING OVER $600 MILLION FOR POLICE, I BETTER NOT HEAR ANY MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT LACK OF VISIBILITY, ABOUT SAPD PARKING FOUR TRUCKS DEEP AT THE QUICK TRIP OR THREE DEEP AT THE FIVE AND BELOW. THEY NEED TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SAFE BECAUSE THAT'S THE WILL OF THIS BODY. I'M EAGER TO SEE WHAT SAPD WILL ACCOMPLISH WITH $604 MILLION AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN MAKING SURE THE REQUEST THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE FOR INCREASED VISIBILITY ARE BEING USED EFFECTIVELY AND WE AREN'T JUST ADDING MONEY TO PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK WHILE OUR COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO FEEL UNSAFE. THAT IS A CHALLENGE TO YOU

ALL AND TO MYSELF. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ERIK AND THE ENTIRE BUDGET TEAM FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

I KNOW YOU ALL DID SO MUCH WORK AND IT'S EXTREMELY APPRECIATED.

LIKE COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WAS SAYING THAT YOU ALL ARE DEFINITELY MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS FOR US SO WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE EFFORTS.

JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH I THINK WE NEED TO GET THE RIGHT DEAL FOR OUR RESPONDERS INCLUDING OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE A COMPONENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND, OF COURSE, A SERVICE ONLY THE CITY CAN OFFER. WITH COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S COMMENTS ON ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, I -- I ECHO A LOT OF YOUR SENT MANY.

I THINK -- SENTIMENT. I THINK THE RESPONSE RATE -- THE RESPONSE THAT OUR RESIDENTS GET FROM ACS IS FRUSTRATING, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THEY END UP CALLING OUR OFFICE AFTERWARDS SAYING HEY, THEY ARE GOING TO PICK UP A DOG IN THREE WEEKS.

THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. ACTUALLY THIS MORNING I PICKED UP A DOG MYSELF AND SO SHE'S IN MY BACKYARD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I FIGURE I'M NOT GOING TO CALL ACS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO TELL ME TWO WEEKS. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE

[02:30:01]

I KNOW THAT THERE IS CONCERTED EFFORTS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

I DO ALSO WANT TO NOTE OUR LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOG POLICY THAT WE PUSHED FORWARD EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S POSITIONS BEING ALLOCATED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE DOGS ARE GETTING SPAYED AND NEUTERED AND WE'RE NOT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS CYCLE AGAIN AND AGAIN.

THAT WILL DEFINITELY HELP WITH A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THE LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER CHANGE THAT DISTRICT 5, DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 7 AND I PARTNERED UP ON. I WANTED TO MENTION, ERIK, THE FALSE ALARMS -- THE PROPOSED PRICE INCREASE. I THINK THAT THIS IS GREAT. WE KNOW THAT A MAJORITY OF THESE FALSE ALARMS COME FROM BUSINESSES. I THINK THAT THIS PROCESS IMPROVES EFFICIENCIES AND IT SERVES TO CORRECT THE KINKS IN THE PROCESS.

SIMPLY PUT, I WANT TO PREVENT THIS BEHAVIOR THAT STRETCHES OUR LIMITED RESOURCES UNNECESSARILY. OUR RESPONDERS FROM FALSE ALARMS TO TRUE EMERGENCIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. ON THE INNOVATION AND BUDGET OFFICE, I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THERE'S GOING TO BE COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET AND PROGRAM REVIEWS.

TO ME THERE ARE A LOT OF INEFFICIENTS I SEE WITHIN THE CITY AND IT'S INCUMBENT ON US TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS. I DID HAVE A QUESTION.

ARE THEY GOING TO BE REPORTING TO US WHEN THEY ARE FINDING DIFFERENT

INEFFICIENTSS? >> WALSH: SO WE'LL DO THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND IF SOME ARE CONCLUDED, WE CAN INCORPORATE THEM IN QUARTERLY REPORTS.

REMEMBER I TALKED ABOUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A MARKER FOR 2026 OF $8.2 MILLION.

IF THERE'S INEFFICIENTSS OR ADJUSTMENTS WE THINK ARE WARRANTED MID STREAM, MIDYEAR, THEN WE'LL INCLUDE THEM IN THE QUARTERLY UPDATES TO YOU ALL AND MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS IMMEDIATELY. THAT'S THE SOONER WE DEAL WITH THAT, THEN THAT'S LESS

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. >> GAVITO: SO THEN AROUND

QUARTERLY -- >> WALSH: QUARTERLY, YES, MA'AM.

>> GAVITO: PERFECT. HOMELESSNESS. AS COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE MENTIONED, $44 MILLION INVESTMENT, WE SEE ENCAMPMENTS POPPING UP CONSTANTLY AND JUST MOVING AROUND TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

I DEFINITELY FEEL WE NEED TO HONE IN ON BETTER FOLLOWING UP AND ENSURING UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS ARE RECEIVING SERVICES AND HAVE A PLAN. IMENT TO REITERATE THE ASK IN MY CCR TO PRIORITIZE ENCHAMPMENTS IN CERTAIN AREAS.

THE OTHER DAY WE RECEIVED TONS OF CALLS ABOUT A ENCAMP.

AND UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS ACROSS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

RESIDENTS ARE TAKING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL SEEING A LOT OF UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS, IT CREATED A NOT IDEAL SITUATION AND PEOPLE ARE AT THEIR -- AT THEIR HIGHEST FRUSTRATION LEVEL. SO WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH VIA AND OTHERS ON JUST THE AMOUNT OF TRASH THAT WE'RE SEEING BEHIND THE MARY LOUISE BUS STOP ON FREDERICKSBURG ROAD.

NEEDLES, FECES, YOU KNOW, IT'S BACK THERE. AND IT'S FLOWING INTO NEIGHBORS' YARDS AND, YOU KNOW, OUR RESIDENTS ARE UPSET.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND WE DO NEED TO BE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THESE FOLKS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO -- IF THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE SERVICES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS ARE EDUCATED ON THE PLACES THEY CAN BE AND ALSO THE PLACES THAT ARE OFF LIMITS. YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO PUNISH UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS WHO MIGHT BE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK, BUT WE NEED TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR HOUSED RESIDENTS WHO ARE FRUSTRATE WITH THIS PROBLEM. SENIOR CENTERS, I'M PLEASED TO SEE THEY WILL STAY OPEN LATE. MANY SENIORS USED THE DORIS GRIFFIN SENIOR CENTER AND

[02:35:04]

I THINK ENSURING WE HAVE A DEDICATED OFFICER FOR OUR DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE MORE COVERAGE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. IT GIVES THEM AN OPPONENT OF CONTACT FOR CODE-RELATED ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THE SUCCESS OF THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE FOUGHT FOR LAST BUDGET.

PARTNERING WE WERE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH A WELL ESTABLISHED FRAMEWORK LIKE COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA MENTIONED. I KNOW THAT THROUGH THE SENIOR CITIZENS PILOT PROGRAM WE WORKED WITH OVER 50 SENIORS AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS OVERGROWN GRASS, DANGEROUS TREES.

WE WANT TO KEEP PUSHING THAT FORWARD. SOLID WASTE, I -- I WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU MENTIONED, ERIK, ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT HAVING A CLEAN CITY IS IMPORTANT. I ACTUALLY JUST GOT BACK FROM A TRIP TO CHICAGO, AND SEEING HOW CLEAN THAT CITY WAS, THEY OBVIOUSLY -- CHICK HAS SO MANY PUBLIC SPACES.

NOT JUST MILLENNIUM PARK, BUT SO MANY SPACES ALONG THE RIVERWALK AND THE CITY AND IT WAS SO CLEAN. IT'S EASY TOMENT TO GO BACK. IT'S EASY TO WANT TO VISIT AGAIN. IT'S EASY FOR RESIDENTS TO TAKE PRIDE IN THAT CITY.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EFFORTS WE CAN HAVE HERE TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN SO THAT WE CAN TAKE PRIDE IN IT AS WELL. I THINK THAT'S IT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD -- OH, THE -- I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE REQUEST FOR INCREASE IN FUNDS FOR THE CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH WHICH DEFINITELY FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THAT. AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DISTRICT 7 BUDGET TOWN HALL ON AUGUST 28TH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, ERIK, FOR THE PRESENTATION, AS WELL AS TO THE BUDGET TEAM FOR CONTINUED WORK. EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD AND STAFFER. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WE WERE CELEBRATING A SMALL BUSINESS THAT RECEIVED A SUSTAINABILITY GRANT AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE BDO WANTED US TO HAVE LUNCH, BUT STAFF WAS LIKE WE HAVE TO GET BACK.

THANK YOU, BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO. I WANTED TO THANK EACH OF YOU THAT CONTINUE TO ENSURE WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT'S BALANCED AND REFLECTS THE NEEDS OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. I UNDERSTAND OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE'LL DIVE INTO THE WEEDS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET, I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.

IN REGARDS TO THE ARPA FUNDING, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT SAN ANTONIANS HAVE PUT FORTH WHETHER IT'S ENCAMPMENT CLEARANCE OR HOMELESS OUTREACH OR HOUSING, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE NOT TO USE THAT REMAINING BALANCE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND/OR SOME TYPE OF HOMELESSNESS OR HOUSING COMPONENT, TO SUPPORT CURRENT CITY SERVICES. THAT WAY WE CAN CHIP AWAY AT THAT NEED AND MITIGATE AN INCREASE OF UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. SO THAT WOULD BE WHERE I WOULD HOPE WE CAN INVEST THOSE REMAINING ARPA DOLLARS.

AS THE MAYOR SAID, IT'S GETTING AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND ENSURING WE DON'T SEE AN INCREASE AND NEXT BUDGET HOPE WE SEE A DECREASE IN THE NEED FOR THEM IN UPCOMING BUDGETS. IN REGARD TO PD, THIS IS SOMETHING FOLKS ARE GOING TO HEAR ON THE OUR TOWN HALL, THERE'S ALSO FREQUENTLY REQUESTS TO EXPAND THE SAFE OFFICER TEAM. WHETHER IT'S BEYOND 5:00, AND I UNDERSTAND THEIR HOURS ARE FLEXIBLE, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITHIN THE CURRENT PD BUDGET IS HOW CAN WE ENSURE AND BUILD THAT TEAM TO WHERE THEY ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE BEYOND 5:00. AND IF THE GOAL IS 60% PROACTIVE TIME, I THINK BY EXPANDING SAFFE, THE AMOUNT OF IMPROVEMENT WORKING WITH SAFFE OFFICERS IS WILD.

WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE COMMUNITY, OUR SAFFE OFFICER AND IT REMOVES SO MUCH VICE AND ISSUES AND REALLY GETS TO THE SOURCE OF A LOT OF OUR ISSUES IN DISTRICT 5 IN PARTICULAR. SO THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW FOLKS WILL HEAR AT OUR BUDGET TOWN HALL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I EMPHASIZE THAT PIECE.

IN REGARDS TO DISTRICT 5 HAS A HUGE INFRASTRUCTURE NEED. THIS IS SOMETHING WE OFTEN EDUCATE CONSTITUENTS ABOUT. WE GET THE COMMENT THE NORTH SIDE HAS ALL THIS NEW

[02:40:04]

DISTRICT 5 IS SOME OF THE OLDEST INFRASTRUCTURE. NEW CODE REQUIRES NEW DEVELOPMENT TO HAVE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S WHY OFTEN NORTH OR WHERE THERE'S NEWER SUBDIVISIONS, IT'S BECAUSE OF THOSE CODES WHEREAS WHEN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE BUILT THAT DIDN'T EXIST. BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE CIP AND NAP FUNDING.

HOW CAN WE ALSO HAVE A REAL EQUITABLE BUDGET IN THAT WE LOOK AT HOW MANY COUNCIL OFFICES ARE USING THEIR FUNDING AND HOW CAN THAT BE REALLOCATED TO DISTRICTS THAT HAVE ZEROED OUT FUNDS OR HAVE PROJECTS IN THE QUEUE THAT HAVE NEED.

WE ALSO HAVE AGING CONSTITUENCY AND I WANT TO ENFORCEMENT SURE WHETHER YOU LIVE ON CARROLL OR THOMPSON STREET, YOU CAN SAFELY WALK TO THE BUS STOP AND GET TO POINT A AND POINT B, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS A KEY PIECE.

AND IT'S EVIDENT THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

AGAIN, GOING BACK TO ARPA, GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT THE SENIOR CENTERS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE EXTENDED HOURS. THESE SERVE AS A COMES TO THE NEED FOR SOCIALIZATION. I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH SENIORS WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH ISOLATION AND THEY ARE JUST GRATEFUL TO HAVE ACCESS TO NORMOYLE PARK OR THE FRANK GARRETT CENTER, JUST BEING AROUND INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES. OF COURSE, WITH THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICE PIECE, I'M GRATEFUL FOR DR. KAUR AND COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO OVER THE LAST BUDGET, CONVERSATIONS HAVE ADVOCATED THERE IS A CENTRAL AND WEST SIDE SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC AND GADHAFI -- AND GLAD TO SEE STAFF HAS MET THAT GOAL OF GETTING MORE ANIMALS SPAYED AND NEUTERED. I SHOWED ERIK MY 311 APP.

I'M ON A MISSION TO BE ON THE LEADER BOARD, BUT THE MAJORITY OF MY FLAGS ARE ILLEGAL DID YOU HAPPENING AND POTHOLES. OFTENTIMES THE ILLEGAL DUMPING ARE AT THE SAME LOCATIONS, AND IT'S WITHIN THE NEXT DAY.

I REPORT IT, IT GETS PICKED UP. GRATEFUL TO SEE THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL ILLEGAL DUMPING CREW. I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THERE'S THE FIGHT DIRTY CAMPAIGN THE CITY HAS TAKEN ON, BUT I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE PLUG IN THE COVERT UNIT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CATCHING THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FREQUENTLY ILLEGAL DUMPING. IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD AND FOLKS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR DROPPING THIS STUFF IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. OF COURSE, THE SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, GRATEFUL TO SEE THE ZERO THAT MANY D5 SMALL BUSINESSES RELY ON. AGAIN, I KNOW WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE'LL GET INTO EACH DEPARTMENT, BUT I WANT TO BE SURE I EMPHASIZE THE NEED TO WORK TOWARDS -- US WORKING TOWARDS ADDRESSING COMPRESSION FOR MANY CITY EMPLOYEES. CODE OFFICERS HAVE SHARED SOME FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN A NEW HIRE AND MAKING 15 CENTS MORE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS COMMITTED TO THE CITY RECEIVE THAT FAIR COMPENSATION AND I'M SURE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL SEE IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET CONVERSATIONS.

OF COURSE, THERE IS SUCH A HUGE NEED FOR CONTINUING TO INVEST IN HOME REHAB, MINOR REHAPPEN AND THE UNDER ONE ROOF HAPPEN, GRATEFUL TO SEE THERE'S CONTINUED FUNDING THERE. HOW CAN WE LOOK AT POTENTIALLY INCREASING THAT FUNDING? IT'S ALWAYS DISAPPOINTING, WHETHER IT'S NHSD OR CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM HELP COMPLETE THE APPLICATIONS AND RESIDENTS LEARN THEY WERE DENIED BECAUSE THE FUNDINGS HAVE BEEN EXCEEDED.

THERE'S NO FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT. AND I WOULD ASK IF WE COULD EXPLORE HOW COULD POTENTIAL TIRZ, THE WEST SIDE TIRZ, IS THERE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR HOME REHAB. THAT WAY WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF MANY OF OUR SENIORS. ON MONDAY, HAD OPEN OFFICE HOURS AND THAT WAS THE PRIMARY ASK, WHEN DOES THE APPLICATION OPEN, HOW DO I APPLY, DOES THE PROGRAM EXIST. THERE'S HIGH DEMAND AND NEED, BUT ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR WORK OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO UPCOMING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS TO GET MORE INTO THE WEEDS OF THE BUDGET. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

>> PELÁEZ: SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN SITTING HERE PATIENTLY LISTENING TO US TEAR APART YOUR HARD WORK. I ALWAYS REMIND PEOPLE AND I SAID IT LAST WEEK, SAY IT AGAIN THIS WEEK, WE HAVE 13,000 SAN ANTONIANS WHO

[02:45:05]

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IN THE TIME. EACH OF YOU DESERVE A VACATION SOMETIME SOON. THE SECOND THING IS, ERIK, WHY DO YOU THINK -- AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT WHY DO YOU THINK THE SALES TAX REVENUE IS DOWN? THE REASON THAT MAKES ME SCRATCH MY HEAD IS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK SPENDING IS DOWN, MAYBE IT IS. JUST JUDGING FROM WHAT MY KIDS AND WIFE BUY ON AMAZON, I FEEL LIKE SPENDING IS UP. TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT?

>> WALSH: SO IT'S JUST NOT US EITHER. EVERY MAJOR TEXAS CITY HAS SEEN THIS SHIFT. PART OF IT IS I THINK UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE. I THINK IT'S LESS DISPOSABLE INCOME.

I THINK WE'RE COMING OFF OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE SPENDING WAS ABNORMALLY HIGH IN TERMS OF OUR HISTORICAL ASPECT. YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF IT IS FEAR OF RECESSION OR THE ELECTION. BUT THERE DEFINITELY -- I THINK PEOPLE ARE EATING OUT LESS. I THINK IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD. AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO US.

THE OTHER ASPECT THAT I THINK IS CRITICAL IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE -- WE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME THE LAST TWO SUMMERS TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER OF '22 AND '23 WERE IMPACTING SALES AND PEOPLE GOING OUT. IT HASN'T BEEN THAT BAD OF A SUMMER, KNOCK ON WOOD, FROM A HEAT PERSPECTIVE, AND SALES TAX IS DOWN. AND SO A LOT OF THAT IS DRIVEN I THINK THROUGH THE ECONOMY AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

I THINK GENERALLY CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS CAUTIOUS RIGHT NOW.

>> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HATE DISAGREEING WITH COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE BECAUSE I HEAR YOU AND I KNOW YOU ARE SINCERE AND THESE POINTS THAT YOU EXPRESS, BUT I DO HAVE TO PUSH BACK. YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO BASIC CITY SERVICES, THAT IS ACTUALLY DEFINED FOR US IN OUR CHARTER.

AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE CHARTER, IT SAYS THAT WE SHALL ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH SUCH ACTS AND REGULATIONS IN ORDINANCES AS SHALL BE NEEDED FOR THE GOVERNMENT INTEREST, WELFARE AND GOOD ORDER OF THE CITY AND INTEREST, WELFARE, HEALTH, MORALS, COMFORT, SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE OF INHABITANTS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT PAGE, THEY PROVIDE A LIST THAT SETS OUT OUR DUTIES AND POWERS.

IT STARTS OFF WITH ONE, STREET INSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, FOUR, DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE, AND THEN FIVE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY SAY IN THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROVISION OF OUR CITY CONSTITUTION, IT'S VERY EXPLICIT.

IT INSTRUCTS US TO QUOTE, APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF NEEDY PERSONS TO PROVIDE FOR THEM THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CATEGORIES AS MAY BE IDENTIFIED IN OUR ORDINANCES. SO IF THE VOTERS DIDN'T EXPECT US TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, THEN THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ENSHRINED THAT MANDATE IN OUR CONSTITUTION. IF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T WANT US TO CONTINUE SPENDING AND INVESTING IN PEOPLE THIS WAY, THEN THEY COULD AMEND THE CHARTER, BUT THEY HAVEN'T, RIGHT? SO BECAUSE IT IS OUR CHARTER, OUR CONSTITUTION, WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO JUST PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH ONE OF THESE MANDATES WE FOCUS ON AND IGNORE, RIGHT? THE ONLY DISCRETION WE HAVE IS TO DECIDE AS A GROUP HOW TO EXECUTE ON THESE MANDATES AND WHERE WE ALLOT AND HOW MUCH WE ALLOT TO EACH ONE OF THESE BUCKETS. AND THAT'S A GOOD DEBATE THAT YOU'RE SEEING PLAYING OUT HERE. CITIES T WAY WE HAVE CHOSEN AS A MODEL HERE IN THE CITY AS FAR AS HOW TO HONOR AND LIVE UP TO THAT MANDATE TO DO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS BY WAY OF THE DELEGATE AGENCY MODEL, WHERE WE SAY LOOK, THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO IN-HOUSE BUT

[02:50:03]

FARMING THAT OUT HAS ALWAYS WORKED AND I DON'T SEE A REASON TO CHANGE THAT.

THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE GOT ISN'T ONE OF DEFINING WHAT IS AND WHAT ISN'T CITY SERVICES.

THE PROBLEM WE'VE GOT IS ABOUT FUNDING THE SERVICES THAT ARE SET OUT THERE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER, ERIK, YOU TELLING US WHEN WE STARTED SEEING THE ARPA FEDERAL FUNDS COMING DOWN FROM D.C., I REMEMBER YOU TELLING US, I'M WARNING YOU COUNCIL THAT THIS IS NOT FOREVER MONEY. DON'T BANK ON THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR AN INDEFINITE AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS SPIGOT WILL BE SHUT OFF ONE DAY. AND EACH ONE OF US ON THIS COUNCIL AND PRIOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TRIED OUR BEST AT DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND IN THE PUBLIC TO REMIND FOLKS THAT ONE DAY, THE ARPA FUNDS WOULD BE IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND WE WOULD HAVE TO REVERT BACK TO PRE-COVID BUDGETING. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY FROM THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN UP AND WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS COMING AFTER ME IS THAT THE SALAD DAYS OF HANDING OUT LARGE CHECKS IN THE FORM OF FEDERAL MONEY, THOSE SALAD DAYS HAVE COME TO AN END. AND THAT WE ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE SOBER AND COME TO TERMS WITH THE BUDGET CUTS THAT ALL OF US PREDICTED WOULD COME. SO TO THAT END, I THINK, ERIK, YOU HAVE DONE A MASTERFUL JOB AND THE TEAM HAS DONE A MASTERFUL JOB AT PUTTING FORTH A BUDGET, A PROPOSED BUDGET, THAT DOESN'T CUT BASIC SERVICES, THAT BASICALLY JUST LOOKS FOR EFFICIENCIES IN-HOUSE. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS BELT TIGHTENING WHILE AT THE SAME TIME NOT REDUCING THE QUALITY OR QUANTITY OF SERVICES. AND I HOPE THAT'S NOT LOST ON OUR FRIENDS IN THE MEDIA WHO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REMIND THE PUBLIC WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE AND HOW WE GOT THERE.

BUT ADDITIONALLY, THE INCREASE IN THE POLICE BUDGET IS REALLY IMPORTANT NOT JUST FROM A PRESENCE AND VISIBILITY PERSPECTIVE OR A CRIME REDUCTION THING, YOU KNOW, PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO, LET'S REMEMBER THE PUBLIC THINKS THAT SIX MINUTES AND CHANGE IS TOO LONG FOR A 911 RESPONSE TIME. SO ADDING POLICE OFFICERS HAS A CAUSAL EFFECT ON REDUCTION OF 911 RESPONSE TIMES AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A NET BENEFIT TO EVERYBODY OUT THERE WHO RELIES ON FAST RESPONSE TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE FACING WORSE TRAFFIC IN A CITY THAT CONTINUES TO ADD PEOPLE TO ITS ROLLS AND THOSE FOLKS ARE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO, THEY ARE BRINGING THEIR CARS, BRINGING THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS, BRINGING THEIR JOBS, BUT THEY ARE ALSO BRINGING THEIR PROBLEMS. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY RESPONSIVE TO THAT.

LASTLY, SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT AND I WISH SALLY WERE HERE, MAYBE SHE IS HERE, BUT HEY, SALLY, SHE AND I AND THE LEGISLATIVE TEAM SPENT SOME DAYS IN AUSTIN THIS WEEK WITH THE TEXAS MUST BENICIPAL LEAGUE AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM EVERY CITY IN TEXAS VISITING WITH OUR EXPERTS IN AUSTIN TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WHAT THEY TELL US LOUD AND CLEAR IS THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAVE THEIR KNIVES OUT FOR CITIES, PARTICULARLY BIG CITIES.

AND THEY ARE DEAD SET AND INTENT ON CONTINUING TO ERODE THE ABILITY OF BIG CITIES TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKED BY OUR VOTERS TO DO.

SO THAT WILL ALSO CERTAINLY HAVE A BUDGET IMPACT POSSIBLY FOR US.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO ALSO BE VERY MINDFUL THAT MID-YEAR, THESE BUDGETS GET ADJUSTED IN REACTION TO NEW FACTS AND WE REACT TO THE WINDS THAT ARE BLOWING IN NEW DIRECTIONS AND I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND THE TEAM FOR BEING READY FOR THAT DAY WHEN YOU GUYS HAVE TO BRING US AN ADJUSTED BUDGET. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. I AM ALSO WONDERING ABOUT THE EXTRA POSITION COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDAMENTIONED. AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO

[02:55:03]

THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR?

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CITY STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER. I KNOW IT'S AN IMMENSE TASK. I THINK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SHARED THEIR GRATITUDE AS WELL FOR YOUR WORK OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS ON THIS.

AND ALSO, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR MEDIA REVIEW.

A LOT OF THE THINGS WE EXPRESSED THERE WERE REFLECTED.

I WANT TO START OUT BY SHARING SOME DATA. SO YOU ALL HAVE CONTEXT FOR MY COMMENTS TODAY. WE ANALYZED ALL THE CALLS WE HAVE GOTTEN IN OUR OFFICE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE ALMOST HAD 3,000 CALLS FOR SUPPORT AND SERVICE COME IN, AND 80% OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE CODE, SAPD AND OUR HOMELESS SERVICES. THOSE ARE THE MAIN AREAS THAT WE SEE GETTING CALLS IN FOR REQUESTS FOR SERVICE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT'S PRETTY WELL ALIGNED WITH THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE SURVEY AS WELL. SO THAT BEING SAID, OUR OFFICE HAS LAID OUT FIVE PRIORITY AREAS AND I WILL PROVIDE MY COMMENTS WITHIN THOSE FIVE PRIORITY AREAS, PUBLIC SAFETY, SMALL BUSINESS, HOUSING, PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. STARTING OFF WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, THANK YOU FOR GETTING THROUGH THOSE BACKLOG OF TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STUDIES.

I KNOW DISTRICT 1 RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED FOR A LOT OF THEM AND I KNOW WE HAVE SHARED AREAS WHERE FOLKS FEEL WE COULD HAVE INCREASED STOP SIGNS AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. WE ALSO REALIZE THE CHALLENGE IN ACTUALLY MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S THE RIGHT SET OF RULES IN PLACE FOR WHEN A TRAFFIC SITUATION CAN CHANGE SO I'M GLAD WE ARE UPDATING THAT. BUT ALSO, REALLY WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS BACKLOG SO WE CAN GET TO A FRESH, CLEAN STATE FOR WHAT'S REQUIRED.

ALSO, REQUESTING AS A PART OF THAT PROCESS THAT WE LOOK AT MAKING SURE WE CAN INCLUDE TENANTS' APPROVAL FOR TRAFFIC STUDIES AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ELECTRONICALLY SUBMIT THEIR APPROVAL FOR A TRAFFIC STUDY OR A CHANGE IN THE TRAFFIC SITUATION ON THEIR BLOCK. THE ONE REQUEST I HAVE FOR WHEN WE DO GET THE INFRASTRUCTURE OR WHICHEVER DEPARTMENT THIS FITS UNDER IS OUR SIGNAGE FUND.

I KNOW THIS CURRENTLY SITS UNDER EDD BUT WE USE IT FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS IF WE CAN GET A REPORT ON HOW THAT SIGNAGE FUND IS BEING USED, AND JUST THE OUTCOMES AND METRICS ON THAT. THEN THE REQUEST FOR ARPA FUNDS, I'M GOING TO INTEGRATE THE ARPA FUNDS REQUEST BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS POSSIBLE, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF UNFUNDED DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE IF WE COULD CREATE A PLAN FOR HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND THOSE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN ABILITY TO HIRE, AND I KNOW THOSE FUNDS HAVE TO BE EXTENDED BY DECEMBER, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ABILITY TO HIRE SOMEONE TO HELP US CREATE A PLAN TO HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND ALL OF THOSE DRAINAGE PROJECTS BECAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT WE DO AGREE INFRASTRUCTURE AND STREETS AND SIDEWALKS IS OUR NUMBER ONE BIGGEST PRIORITY THAT I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.

AS FAR AS PUBLIC SAFETY GOES, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRO BEING INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AND THE FALSE ALARM CALLS THAT WERE MENTIONED, ALSO EXCITED TO SEE THAT THAT WAS RECOGNIZED AND WE ARE CREATING A PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT. THE ONE THING I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT CREATING A BIKE PATROL SAFE OFFICER NETWORK DOWNTOWN.

WE WANT TO SEE IF SAPD WOULD CONSIDER THAT OPTION WHERE PARTS OF DOWNTOWN, EACH QUARTER OR SECTION OF IT HAS A FEW OFFICERS THAT ARE BIKE PATROL SFOFFICERS THEY CAN RELY ON AND BUILD COMMUNICATION AND CONTACT WITH, SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DO.

THAT WOULD REALLY HELP BECAUSE BIKE PATROL VISIBILITY HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE OVER THE LAST YEAR BUT STILL HAVING THAT POINT OF CONTACT WOULD HELP THAT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. AS FAR AS THE ACS SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC, EXCITED TO SEE THIS FINALLY MOVE FORWARD. IT WAS A FISCAL YEAR ITEM FROM LAST YEAR AND IT'S GOING TO BE HOPEFULLY OPEN BY THE END OF THIS FALL. I'M GLAD WE ARE OPERATIONALIZING IT OURSELVES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT -- BECAUSE OF THE RFP RESULTS.

BUT AS I LEARN IN THE BUDGET CYCLE LAST YEAR, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE PUTTING OFFICER POSITIONS OR PUTTING POSITIONS TO START THAT WORK DOESN'T MEAN THOSE WILL GET EXPENDED IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE COULD HIRE THOSE POSITIONS MAYBE IN SIX MONTHS. SO MY REQUEST FOR THAT IS WHEN WE GET OUR ACS PRESENTATION, CAN WE SEE IF WE CAN HIRE THOSE POSITIONS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR SO THAT WE CAN TRULY GET THAT SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC UP AND RUNNING BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THE NEXT PRIORITY AREA IS AROUND SMALL BUSINESSES.

THIS IS GOING TO STEM FROM THE CCR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE PUT OUT FOR THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE CONSTRUCTION GRANTS. SO WITH THOSE GRANTS THAT

[03:00:01]

I KNOW WE ARE WAITING FOR A REPORT FROM EDD TO T SEE HOW THOSE GRANTS ACTUALLY TURNED OUT BUT WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT THEM IS GET OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS DONE EARLIER AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

BUT ALSO, IT WOULD BE GREAT I THINK IF WE COULD SUPPORT THEM WITH SMALLER GRANTS JUST TO HELP WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE TO GET THEM THROUGH AS WE FINISH UP SOME OF THESE BIG RECONSTRUCTION STREET PROJECTS IN DOWNTOWN.

IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN. MOVING OVER TO HOUSING, I WANTED TO ASK REALLY QUICKLY, HOW MUCH SPACE DO WE STILL HAVE IN OUR LOW BARRIER SHELTER THAT WAS OPENED AND IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THOSE ARPA FUNDS, WHEN WE INITIALLY LAUNCHED THAT SHELTER WE WERE NEVER GOING TO HOUSE, USE ALL OF THE SPACE IN IT FOR FOLKS THAT WERE UNHOUSED. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE SOME OF THESE FUNDS TO EXPAND HOW MANY PEOPLE WE ARE SERVING? AS LORI COMES UP TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, OR SORRY, WHOEVER IS COMING UP, THE OTHER QUESTION OR OTHER THING I WANTED TO SUPPORT WITH THE ARPA FUNDS IS MENTAL HEALTH BEDS.

A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY IF WE CAN GET ONE OF OUR PARTNERS FROM THE CITY TO HELP SUPPORT WITH ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH BEDS. IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION REAL QUICK.

>> HICKS-SOR >> SO THE LOW BARRIER SHELTER HAS 200 ROOMS WE ARE OPERATING AS SHELTER. THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 100 ROOMS THAT WE ARE NOT USING IN THAT FACILITY BUT OF THE 200, 150 -- SORRY, 147 ARE OCCUPIED.

THERE ARE 53 VACANT. WE HAVE INCREASED THE OCCUPANCY QUITE A BIT OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS AND THAT NUMBER GOES UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE LEAVE, BECAUSE WE FOUND THEM MORE PERMANENT HOUSING OR HOW MANY PEOPLE COME IN DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER OR OTHER REASONS. YES, IF THERE WAS FUNDING, WE COULD INCREASE THAT CAPACITY BUT WE DON'T THINK WE NEED TO RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE ARE CURRENTLY AT A COMFORTABLE PLACE OF 150. THAT GOES UP OR DOWN DEPENDING ON PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENTS OR THE WEATHER.

WE FEEL THAT 200 IS A GOOD NUMBER. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH HAVEN TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY AT THEIR COURTYARD AND ACTUALLY BUILDING MORE DORMS WITH BEDS VERSUS HAVING MATS ON THE FLOOR. SO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH

OUR LOW BARRIER HOUSING UNITS RIGHT NOW. >> KAUR: I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO LOOK AND SEE, SINCE WE DO HAVE SOME ARPA FUNDS, IF THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR USAGE BUT IF YOU ARE SAYING WE FEEL COMFORTABLE, I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GROW. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT COULD BE OPERATIONAL DOLLARS THAT MAY NOT BE EXPENDED BY DECEMBER. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT, THE NEXT PRIORITY I WANTED -- WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING?

>> WALSH: I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE END SO I'M NOT USING YOUR TIME.

>> KAUR: GREAT. THE NEXT PRIORITY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. I THWANTED TO THANK YOU AND CITY STAFF.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS UP AND RUNNING.

I ALSO WANTED TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON GETTING A COMMUNITY ADVISORY TEAM ON THAT. WE GOT OVER 45 APPLICANTS FROM DISTRICT 1 RESIDENTS THAT WERE EXCITED TO PARTNER IN A COMMUNITY DESIGN TEAM TO HELP REIMAGINE WHAT KENWOOD COULD BE FOR THEM. I THINK THERE'S EXCITEMENT AROUND THIS.

I WAS EXCITED, TOO. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THE FUNDING, I KNOW CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE GONE HIGHER WHICH IS WHY WE HAD TO INCREASE A LITTLE BIT IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. DISTRICT 1 RESIDENTS REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THE LAST THING I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR, I FEEL I HAVE ASKED A LOT FROM THIS $2.7 MILLION. THE LAST THING IS THE C & E TEAM.

THE TEAM IS SMALL BUT MIGHTY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND IS COMMUNICATION AND GETTING ACCESS TO CONTACT INFORMATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS IS REALLY CHALLENGING.

WE HAD A CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGE THAT HAPPENED AND WE WEREN'T SURE EXACTLY IF THERE WAS ANYBODY ON THAT STREET THAT MIGHT NEED SPECIFIC EMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICES, BECAUSE THE ONLY INFORMATION WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS IS PEOPLE WHO CALL US AND WE DOCUMENT IN OUR IQ SYSTEM. SA SPEAK UP HAS A LOT OF GREAT CONTENT IN TERMS OF, AS A CRM, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD FUND A PLATFORM THAT CONNECTS SA SPEAK UP TO 311 BACK END SO WE COULD GET TRUE GOOD CONTACT INFORMATION

[03:05:04]

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE C & E TEAM A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT A STRONG CRM COULD LOOK LIKE BUT I FEEL THAT COULD REALLY HELP WITH OUR COMMUNICATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE REALLY WANT TO PUSH FOR. THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY STAFF.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE?

>> WALSH: LET ME JUST ADD SOMETHING TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KAURSAID.

THE ARPA DOLLARS HAVE TO BE ENCUMBERED BY DECEMBER OF '24.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE SPENT BY DECEMBER '24. THEY HAVE TO BE SPENT BY

DECEMBER '26. JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SORRY.

I SKIPPED JOHN. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'M NOT EASY TO SKIP. I APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE TODAY OUR DISCUSSION TALKING ABOUT A BUDGET AND I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR BUDGET GETS BACK TO BASICS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BASIC SERVICES, I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC SAFETY, ALWAYS FIRST AND FOREMOST. BUT THEN I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING A DECENT, SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

THAT'S HOUSING ISSUE. I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITY HEALTH THAT THERE AREN'T DISEASES OR ILLNESSES SPREADING AROUND OUR CITY THAT YOU CAN GO TO A RESTAURANT AND EAT THE FOOD AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT MEANS ROADS AND STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.

WE WANT TO ATTRACT, THE CITY'S JOB IS TO ATTRACT DEVELOPMENT FOR JOBS AND GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND ALSO, TO BE SUPPORTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE THRIVING IN THE CITY.

ALSO, IT'S THE CITY'S OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THERE IS AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE WATER AND ENERGY, PARTICULARLY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT OWNS THOSE UTILITIES. I THINK FINALLY, WE NEED TO PROVIDE GOOD GOVERNMENT.

THOSE ARE THE BASICS, I THINK, THAT WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING IN THIS BUDGET.

BUT A BUDGET IS MORE THAN DOLLARS AND CENTS. I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE.

A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT. IT OUTLINES WHERE THIS CITY WANTS TO GO FOR ITS CITIZENS.

I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD STARTING POINT WITH THE BUDGET THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TODAY. I THINK ALL OF US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND WILL WANT TO UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THE DETAILS BEHIND THIS BUDGET.

I HAVE GOT JUST A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SO THAT I KNOW THEY WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE FUTURE. ONE THING I NOTICED IN SLIDE SEVEN WAS WITH THE GENERAL FUND, IT WAS PROJECTED AT $70 MILLION INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND AND THAT SOUNDS LIKE ABOUT $30 MILLION LESS IN GROWTH THAN WHAT THE CITY STAFF PROJECTED AT NEARLY $100 MILLION WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS BUDGET IN '24 AND '25, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT A TWO-YEAR BUDGET. I BELIEVE IN '25, WE WERE PROJECTING $100 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE. SO I THINK THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF THE PROBLEMS WE THINK WE'RE SEEING WITH THE GROWTH OF REVENUE IN THE CITY.

ON SLIDE NINE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND DOES THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET INCLUDE THE FIREFIGHTER CONTRACT INCREASES AND I BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER SAID IN THEIR MOST RECENT PROPOSAL, IT IS INCLUDED.

NOW, IF THERE'S AN AGREEMENT AT THAT, THEN WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE KIND OF KNOW WHERE WE ARE. BUT IF WE DON'T REACH THAT KIND OF AN AGREEMENT YET, THERE MAY BE MORE CUTS TO MAKE OR TRY TO FIND ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOMEHOW.

ON SLIDE 16, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ADDITIONS TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET BUT WE DIDN'T GET INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT THOSE ADDITIONS. THERE WERE A FEW THAT WERE MENTIONED. BUT WHEN YOU TRANSFER DIFFERENT PROVISIONS FROM THE REGULAR BUDGET INTO THE CAPITAL BUDGET, I WONDER, HOW DO WE PAY FOR THOSE ADDITIONS? SO THERE'S SEVERAL MENTIONS OF THINGS, WE WILL MOVE THEM INTO THE CAPITAL BUDGET SO IT'S NOT A GENERAL FUND ISSUE, BUT I STILL DON'T

[03:10:04]

I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THE BUDGET.

SLIDE 22, YOU TALKED ABOUT OR YOU PRESENTED PAVEMENT MAR MARKINGS, $11.3 MILLION. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW, IS THAT STILL IN LINE WITH THE UPDATES THAT WE HAVE PLEDGED TO MAKE EVERY THREE YEARS FOR OUTDATED MARKETINGS?

>> WALSH: YES, SIR. THAT ENCOMPASSES THE PLAN THE COUNCIL APPROVED THIS YEAR AND EXTENDS THAT PROGRAM AND DECREASE OF FREQUENCY GOING FORWARD.

>> COURAGE: BASICALLY, EVERY SET OF MARKINGS OUGHT TO BE UPDATED EVERY THREE YEARS?

>> WALSH: YES. >> COURAGE: OKAY, THANK YOU. ON SLIDE 31, WE MENTIONED THERE ARE 65 NEW OFFICERS, POLICE OFFICERS, PROJECTED. HAVE WE BUDGETED TO PAY EVERYTHING FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS BUDGET YOU PRESENTED TODAY?

>> WALSH: YES. THAT FIRST YEAR OF A POLICE OFFICER IS A LITTLE BIT LESS IN TERMS OF EXPENSE BECAUSE THEY ARE CADETS BUT ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND SO FORTH,

ABSOLUTELY. >> COURAGE: I GUESS I'M WONDERING AS WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST, IF FEDERAL DOLLARS COME THROUGH TO HELP US BRING IN 25 OR 50 POLICE OFFICERS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY THAT WE BUDGETED FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS OUT OF OUR

OWN GENERAL REVENUE? >> WALSH: SO YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED IT WHEN I DID THE PRESENTATION.

I SHOULD HAVE REMINDED THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR A COPS GRANT. LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED 50 OFFICERS AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED FOR ANOTHER 50. WE WON'T HEAR UNTIL OCTOBER, EARLY NOVEMBER.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL ABOUT ALLOCATING OR MAKING ADJUSTMENTS. BUT WE ARE NOT ASSUMING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET WE ARE GETTING ANY MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

>> COURAGE: WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IF IT CAME THROUGH, WHETHER IT'S 10O20 OR 50, THAT MIGHT BE SUBJECT FOR REALLOCATION TO OTHER NEEDS THE CITY HAS?

>> WALSH: ACTUALLY, WHAT THE CITY MANAGER WOULD SAY IF THAT HAPPENED IS WE GOT AN $8.2 MILLION CUT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE FOR '26 AND IT WOULD GO TOWARDS THERE FIRST.

THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.

SLIDE 44, I NOTICED IT SAID THERE WAS A $1 MILLION COST FOR BUS STOP SHADES, STRUCTURES. WHY IS THE CITY PROVIDING SHADE STRUCTURES? WHY ISN'T THAT THE TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF VIA AT BUS STOPS?

>> WALSH: THAT'S A REALLY GOOD YOU. >> WALSH: A LOT OF YOUL MEMBERS ABOUT BUS SHADES FOR YEARS NOW AND WE ARE UTILIZING THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND REPORT THAT WAS DONE, THAT THE CITY FUNDED, AND IDEALLY WE ARE GOING TO -- WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A DENT IN THOSE PARTS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE A HIGHER INDEX.

I WOULD HOPE THAT ANY COORDINATION OR INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF SHELTER THAT THE CITY MAKES, BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF A ONE-TIME IMPROVEMENT, THAT IT SERVES AS A MODEL FOR VIA TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND PROVIDE SHELTER THROUGHOUT

THE CITY AT BUS STOPS. >> COURAGE: WELL, I WOULD JUST ASK US ALL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR OWN BUDGETS BECAUSE WE GET OVER $400,000 FOR IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE FOR TRAVEL AND SAFETY IN OUR BUDGETS AND WE GET $1 MILLION TO SOMETHING OF THOSE IN A DISTRICT, WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT OUR OWN INTERNAL FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE RATHER THAN $1 MILLION OUT OF THE CITY BUDGET.

WHICH PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH. ANYWAY, THAT WAS A QUESTION I HAD ON THAT. SLIDE 46, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE $2.7 MILLION OF UNALLOCATED ARPA FUNDING. I REMEMBER JUST THE OTHER DAY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE WANTED TO PUT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER AS FAR AS CHARTER REVISIONS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT SPENDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON YOUTH PROGRAMS. AND TO ME, $2.7 MILLION COULD BE VERY VALUABLE IN DOING SOMETHING MORE WITH OUR YOUTH. ONE EXAMPLE IS WE ARE CUTTING BACK ON ONE OF THE YOUTH

[03:15:01]

HAVE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: I'M GLAD COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ BROUGHT UP PARAGRAPH 12 IN THE CHARTER REFERENCING ASSISTANCE OF NEEDY PERSONS. I WANT TO BE REAL CLEAR. I AM NOT -- AS I SAID BEFORE, IT'S VALUABLE WORK THAT CITIZENS IN OUR CITY NEED. BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T POINT OUT THAT THIS SECTION HERE THAT WAS CITED, NUMBER ONE, THIS IS TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO OUR RESIDENTS, CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND SECONDLY, YES, WE NEED TO BE DOING THIS, BUT MY POINT EARLIER WAS THAT WE GIVE MONEY TO SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT QUALIFY AS NONPROFITS OR DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT FRANKLY, ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY. A LOT OF THESE ARE JUST NICE TO GIVE TO ORGANIZATIONS BUT THEY'RE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO PROVIDING FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR CITIZENS.

SO ADDITIONALLY, I SHOULD SAY, THERE'S ALSO A BUNCH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE NO OVERSIGHT OF, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH OUR MONEY, AND THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN RESULTS FROM. AGAIN, IT'S OUR DUTY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT CITY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT WISELY AND NOT FRIVOLOUSLY.

SO THAT WAS MY POINT, WHEN IT COMES TO ANY ORGANIZATION, NONPROFIT, DELEGATE AGENCY, WHOEVER IT IS, HOWEVER WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OVERSIGHT THERE.

WE NEED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND ALL OF THAT CAN BE OBTAINED AGAIN, IF WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGETING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, DO IT IN A DIFFERENT MANNER, AND AGAIN, I THINK WE WILL PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC AND ALSO BETTER SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS. QUICKLY, ERIK, WITH REGARD TO THE ARPA DOLLARS RUNNING OUT, CAN WE GET A LIST OF WHICH PROGRAMS I GUESS WILL NO LONGER BE FUNDED AFTER THE

MONEY RUNS OUT? >> WALSH: SURE. YEAH.

THAT'S PRACTICALLY ALL OF THEM. MAYBE WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE HAVE GOT A WORK SESSION THAT'S GOING TO COME UP ON ARPA, I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO ALSO SHOW TO THE COUNCIL THE AGENCIES THAT CAME BACK TO US AND SAID LOOK, WE AGREED TO THIS AMOUNT, WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO X, WE ARE GOING TO DO Y, WE ARE GOING TO FREE UP THIS MONEY. SO WE WILL PULL TOGETHER A REPORT. I SENT A REPORT TO THE COUNCIL ON THE SPENDING SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHEN WE SUBMITTED IT TO THE TREASURY REPORT SO WE WILL PULL THAT BACK UP AND GET IT AT THE TOP OF YOUR E-MAIL AND PULL TOGETHER A COMPLETE REPORT.

>> WHYTE: THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS JUST CIRCLING BACK BECAUSE I FAILED TO MENTION MY SUPPORT FOR INVESTING IN A PLAN FOR THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE EQUITY IN SOUTH TEXAS. OFTENTIMES FOLKS INCORPORATE THE SOUTH SIDE AS WELL, THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM SOUTH PARK MALL AND MANY OF MY SOUTHSIDE RESIDENTS RELY PRIMARILY ON EMS WHEN THEY FALL OR ANY MAIN SOURCE, REALLY, FOR HEALTH CARE IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS BUT WHEN THEY DO NEED TO GET TRANSPORTED, I WANT TO ENSURE

[03:20:02]

THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU.

I WILL START OFF BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ WHO REFERENCED PARAGRAPH 12, WHERE THE CITY CAN APPROPRIATE ITS FUNDS IN THE EXERCISE OF A GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF NEEDY PERSONS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

NOT NECESSARILY CITIZENS. AND THE FIRST TIME THAT I REFERENCED THAT WAS WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL AND THE SESSION WAS CALLED CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AND I TOLD ANDY, A LOT OF MY RESIDENTS ARE NOT CITIZENS AND THEY NEED TO FEEL WELCOME.

THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

ALSO, I FEEL LIKE JUST INSINUATION THAT THERE'S NO METRICS WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY TO SOME OF OUR NONPROFITS IS FRIVOLOUS IN AND OFITSELF.

WE HAVE QUARTERLY REPORTS. I USED TO WORK AT A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

THAT WAS THE MOST STRESSFUL TIME EVER. IT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD TO PUT TOGETHER THESE REPORTS AND SEND THEM TO THE BIG BOSSES AT THE CITY, AND THE CITY COUNCIL WAS GOING TO LOOK AT THEM SO WE ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ENSURED THAT THAT REPORTING WAS ACCURATE.

NEXT QUARTER TO GET OUR NUMBERS BACK UP. THERE WAS ALSO A PLAN, THERE WAS ALWAYS A CHECK IN PLACE. THE CITY WOULD TELL US YOU NEED TO GET YOUR NUMBERS MET BY THE NEXT REPORT. I APPRECIATE CITY STAFF THAT DOES THAT.

THEY USED TO SEND THEM TO US REGULARLY. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL DO. I THINK THEY DO. I CHECKED WITH ALEX.

I KNOW THOSE QUARTERLY REPORTS ARE STILL CONDUCTED. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THE CITY DOES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

I WAS WONDERING, WE DIDN'T MENTION BABY SAFETY BOXES. WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT?

IS THERE THE BABY SAFETY DEVICES AND -- GO AHEAD. >> WALSH: WELL, CHIEF, WHY

DON'T YOU COME UP? >> ROCHA GARCIA: WHILE HE COMES UP, THIS IS GREAT, I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE INTERIM CHIEF OF FIRE COMING UP BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK MARIA, I KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT APP FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WE GIVE THEM TIME TO DECOMPRESS. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THAT FOR SAPD AND IF WE DO, THE APP IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS.

I HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH SA100 CLUB PRESIDENT AND HE MENTIONED THIS.

I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE TREATING ONE CHILD DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER.

AS A MOTHER, I WOULD NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN. I DID WANT TO ASK AUDIO]. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT.

GO AHEAD. >> ON THE BABY BOXES, WE ACTUALLY MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE A WHILE BACK. HE KIND OF SPEARHEADED THAT. AS YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR.

IT'S BEEN A SLOW PROCESS BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ISSUES LEGALLY ON WHO ACTUALLY RETAINS OWNERSHIP OF THE BOX AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BOXES BUT WE DO HAVE LOCATIONS PICKED OUT. THAT'S STILL IN THE PLAN. WE DO WANT TO MAKE A VISIT TO ONE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT ACTUALLY HAS ONE IN PLACE AND SEE HOW THAT'S WORKING AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING THAT WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S

OFFICE TO PAY THAT VISIT BEFORE WE COMMIT 100%. >> ROCHA GARCIA: I APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF FIREFIGHTERS SO LET'S GET THEM OUT ASAP.

THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAD MENTIONED ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING AND I'M IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH THAT. I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, I FORGOT TO SAY, FOR THE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO SOME OF THE FIRE STATIONS. ONE OF THEM IS IN MY DISTRICT. THEY ARE A BUDGET REALLOCATION, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING WILLING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND KNOWING THAT SOMETIMES IF YOU DON'T USE YOUR FUNDS, MAYBE SOME OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY WOULD NEED THEM.

I ALSO HAVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE CENTRO TEAM. WE GOT CAMERAS FOR CENTRO.

THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS. WE HAVE GOOD INFORMATION THEY PROVIDED. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND DR. KAUR,S AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN BECAUSE WE MET WITH BUSINESS LEADERS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO NOW AND THAT WAS TOP OF MIND. ERIK AND MARIA WERE THERE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THIS. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFE, ESPECIALLY FOR VISITORS THAT BRING IN SO MUCH MONEY BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY ALSO, FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO WE ARE TRYING TO BRING BACK DOWNTOWN. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

[03:25:07]

I'VE GOT A LOT OF BUS SHELTERS IN MY DISTRICT. THANK YOU, DR. KAUR.

I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO THAT.

ERIK, WILL COMPRESSION ADJUSTMENTS BE DELAYED? >> WALSH: NO, MA'AM.

AS I MENTIONED, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE DID THE COMPRESSION ADJUSTMENTS FOR PAY PLAN A. ALL PAY PLAN A EMPLOYEES AND ONLY HALF OF PAY PLAN B.

NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES ACROSS THE BOARD T OTHER HALF OF PAY PLAN B

EMPLOYEES FOR '25. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ? >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU TO COUNSELWOMAN HAVRDAFOR MENTIONING THE CESAR CHAVEZ ISSUE. I HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND CAN'T VOTE ON IT BUT I APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR VOICES ON THAT.

NUMBER TWO, ERIK, WE HAVE TALKED IN THE PAST AND IT WAS ON THE BUDGET, PROPOSED BUDGET LAST YEAR. WE MOVED THAT MONEY OUT FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE.

BUT THERE IS A VERY LARGE COMMUNITY OF CRICKET PLAYERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO ARE REQUESTING LIGHTING IN ONE OR ALL OF THOSE COURTS SO THEY CAN PLAY AT NIGHT.

I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO HAS ONE AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TWO AT YOUR PARKS.

I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY REASONABLE REQUEST. LASTLY, I HAD A QUESTION.

MARIA AND JUSTINA, GET THE ANSWER TO ME LATER. HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND AND HOW MUCH OF THIS BUDGET IS DEDICATED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS OF OUR EMPLOYEES? I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT SPEND IS.

THANK YOU. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR? >> KAUR: I JUST HAD A COUPLE GENERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING OVERALL REVENUE. IS THERE ANY CONCERN WITH TRANSFERRING TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET OUR OVERALL BOND RATING WE JUST RECEIVED?

>> WALSH: NO. BUT WE HAVE GOT TO BE BALANCED IN THAT SENSE.

SIDEWALKS WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ITEMS WE ARE MOVING, LAST COUPLE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FUND OUT OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET. THAT'S A LEGITIMATE CAPITAL EXPENSE. WE HAVE GOT TO BALANCE THAT AND MANAGE THAT DEBTLOAD ON

AN ANNUAL BASIS. >> KAUR: OKAY. THANK YOU.

THEN ALSO FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEWS, I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT BY DEPARTMENT, HOW ARE WE -- WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR ACCOMPLISHING THAT? IS THAT GOING TO BE LEAD BY THE DIRECTOR? ARE WE HIRING SOMEONE TO HELP COME IN AND DO AN ANALYSIS? WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE

METRICS AND OUTCOMES THAT ARE GOING TO BE USED FOR THAT? >> WALSH: MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT MORE BUT IT WILL BE LED BY THE BUDGET OFFICE AND MARIA.

>> KAUR: GREAT. IF YOU CAN SHARE IN THE UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS MORE DETAIL ON THAT, I THINK WE WOULD BE EXCITED TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

ALSO JUST WITH REVENUE CHANGES, LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO DO 4% FOR CIVILIAN INCREASE SO WOULD LOVE TO SEE US GET BACK TO THAT. I KNOW WE ARE AT 3% THIS YEAR. FOR THE EMS FEES IN OUR BRIEFING, I HAD ASKED ABOUT DID WE GET ANY MORE DETAIL ON THOSE SELF-PAY FOLKS AND WHO THAT REALLY REPRESENTS? THAT'S THE ONLY GROUP THAT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT. I KNOW WE DO HAVE THE CHARITY

PROGRAM BUT JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE. >> WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING

THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. >> KAUR: GREAT, THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.

THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE? >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SOME OF THIS MORNING'S COMMENTS ON OUR NONPROFIT AND DELEGATE AGENCY PARTNERS SEEM TO ME TO BE THE MOST UNINFORMED OR ILL-INFORMED OR TROUBLESOME STATEMENTS I'VE HEARD EXPRESSED ON THIS DAIS BY A COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE LEARN A LOT ON THIS COUNCIL AND IT TAKES TIME, AND SOMETIMES A YEAR OR 18 MONTHS ISN'T ENOUGH TO LEARN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY ORGANIZATION AND AGENCY THAT THE CITY PARTNERS WITH. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MELODY WOOSLEY TO COME UP AND HELP US ALL WITH A QUICK REVIEW OF OUR NONPROFIT

[03:30:02]

FOR. >> WOOSLEY: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

EVERY TWO YEARS WE ISSUE A COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS FOR DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING.

AND WE LOOK AT THE RFP IS VERY DETAILED, WE ASK THEM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEIR PLAN IS FOR THE PROGRAM, WHAT THEIR PERFORMANCE METRICS ARE AND WHAT THEIR SCOPE OF WORK IS.

THEY ALSO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE WHAT BENEFITS DO THEY OFFER THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES, WHAT ARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE POPULATION THEY INTEND TO SERVE, AND YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE IN THE AREA, HUMAN SERVICES AREA OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH, HOMELESSNESS AND ALSO ADDRESSING SENIORS. THEY ARE ALL HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES AND THEY ALSO ALL PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES. WE DON'T FUND AGENCIES THAT DON'T PROVIDE DIRECT

COMMUNITY SERVICES. >> COURAGE: AND WHAT KIND OF METRICS DO WE EXPECT, HOW OFTEN DO WE HEAR THAT THEY HAVE LIVED UP TO THOSE METRICS?

>> WOOSLEY: THEY DO THAT AS PART OF THEIR PROPOSAL AND THEN WE NEGOTIATE IT BEFORE WE EXECUTE THE CONTRACT. WE ASK THEM TO PROVIDE INPUT, EFFICIENCY MEASURES, OUTCOME MEASURES, AND OF COURSE, OUTPUTS. SO FOR OUR YOUTH PROGRAM, THEY MAY PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE TYPE OF SERVICES, COUNSELING SESSIONS, AND THEN

ULTIMATELY, GRADUATION OR COLLEGE ATTENDANCE. >> COURAGE: AND DO WE 100% FUND ANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS? WHAT'S KIND OF THE FUNDING

THAT WE DO PROVIDE? >> WOOSLEY: ANYWHERE FROM A SMALL AMOUNT, 10% TO 20%, AND WE DO HAVE SOME AGENCIES THAT ARE FUNDED OVER 50% OF THEIR PROGRAM BUDGET.

>> COURAGE: HAVE WE EVER HAD SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVEN'T LIVED UP TO OUR

EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE DENIED CONTINUING SERVICE? >> WOOSLEY: WE HAVE.

WE HAVE HAD ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE DON'T RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR FUNDING, THEN WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS, THEY ARE AGAIN ASKED WHAT IS YOUR PAST PERFORMANCE LOOK LIKE AND WE WILL MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT.

>> COURAGE: I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION OF ALL OF THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN?

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. ERIK, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T WANT THAT TO GO UP. WOI WOULD IT BE BEST TO MEET WITH YOU OR MARIA OR JUSTINA ON WHERE WE COULD LOOK AT

CUTTING IN OTHER LOCATIONS AND PLACES? >> WALSH: ALL THREE OF US.

ANY OF US OR ALL OF US. >> VIAGRAN: ALRIGHT. I THINK THERE'S SOME -- I THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE BUT I WOULD LIKE ANDY TO WEIGH IN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT IS SOMETHING LIKE CONFIDENTIAL.

I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY. ONE THING IS I'M ALWAYS LOOKING ABOUT HOW THE CITY CAN EARN A LITTLE MORE, GET A LITTLE MORE. I UNDERSTAND THE TREND WITH SALES TAXES AND -- BUT WHEN WE HAVE A HOT TAX THAT DOES SO WELL, WE DO REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THE CONSUMER IS SPENDING AND WHY AREN'T THEY SPENDING AS MUCH.

IT LEADS TO QUESTIONS OF THE RESTAURANTS. I'M GOING TO PLEDGE TO YOU RIGHT NOW, TO THOSE WATCHING AND TO THE MAYOR, THAT I WILL NOT USE THE TERM BACK TO BASICS, BECAUSE WHO WANTS TO BE BASIC? THE OTHER THING IS, MY RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT TERM AND BE LIKE WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BACK TO REDLINING? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? BACK TO, BECAUSE I DON'T PAY AS MANY TAXES AS THEY DO ON THE NORTH SIDE THAT I GET LESS? I'M GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM THAT TERM. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO GO EXTRA BECAUSE I KNOW EXTRA'S NOT A TERM WE USE EITHER. BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STICK WITH OUR PRINCIPLES OF BEING EQUITABLE, OF NOT JUST SURVIVING THIS PANDEMIC BUT LEADING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC, WHICH WE HAVE DONE, AND WHICH THAT MOMENTUM CONTINUED BECAUSE WE WORKED TOGETHER AS A TEAM. SO MY CHALLENGE AND MY PROMISE TO YOU AS THE BUDGET TEAM, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE ALL HERE, TO MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD DOING THE BEST WE CAN KNOWING THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A LEADER NATIONWIDE AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND BUCKLE UP TO DO THAT.

I'M NOT USING THAT TERM ANYMORE. I WOULD ADVISE MY COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT TO USE THAT TERM ANYMORE AND LET'S GET INTO THIS WORK SESSION.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN.

[03:35:05]

I WILL TELL YOU THAT BASED ON OUTSIDE MONITORING, PLACES LIKE THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE, WE ARE, CONTRARY TO SOME OF THE RHETORIC YOU MIGHT HEAR OTHERWISE.

SAN ANTONIO, THIS REGION, HAS CLOSED THE INCOME GAP BETWEEN THE RICHEST AND THE POOREST AT A FASTER RATE THAN NEARLY EVERY CITY IN THE COUNTRY. WE ALSO ARE NOW RANKED FIRST FOR GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION IN LAST YEAR'S METRO REPORT. MEANING NO MATTER WHAT PART OF TOWN YOU ARE LIVING IN, WHETHER IT'S 78207 OR 209, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO CITY SERVICES THAT ARE VITAL TO LIVE YOUR LIFE. THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING AND THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING IN THIS CITY EQUITABLY.

WE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT IN THE FIRST YEAR TO PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO THE EAST SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE INFRASTRUCTURE, KNOWING THERE HAVE BEEN GENERATIONS OF NEGLECT. THAT IS A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE TO STAY COMMITTED TO. BUT I WILL TELL YOU ALSO, IT'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING SOMETIMES WHEN I HEAR ACCUSATIONS ABOUT NONPROFITS BEING UNACCOUNTED FOR OR LACKING ACCOUNTABILITY. YEAH, THERE ARE NONPROFITS THAT DIDN'T MEET OUR STANDARDS THAT ARE NO LONGER BEING FUNDED, BUT WE ARE HOLDING ORGANIZATIONS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE SERVICES BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE SERVICES THAT WE AS A CITY CANNOT DIRECTLY PROVIDE. BUT THEY ARE IMPORTANT BASED ON STUDIES LIKE OUR POVERTY REPORT IN ORDER FOR US TO KEEP MOVING THIS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT I DID WANT TO JUST TELL YOU THAT IN LARGE PART, WE ARE JUST REARRANGING THE DECK, REARRANGING THE FURNITURE ON THE DECK. WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL REVENUE. SO WHERE CAN WE BE MORE EFFICIENT.

THIS CITY HAS A BUDGET, ANNUAL BUDGET OF $3.9 BILLION FOR A CITY OF 1.6 MILLION PEOPLE. CITIES RELATIVE TO OUR SIZE, YOU LOOK UP THE ROAD, AUSTIN HAS A CITY BUDGET OF $5.9 BILLION. I KNOW THEY ARE NOT APPLES TO APPLES BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING. PHOENIX, 5.1.

PHILADELPHIA, 6.37. SAN DIEGO, 5.6. MY POINT IS WE ARE DOING MORE WITH LESS IN THIS CITY THAN I WOULD SAY AMONG ANY OF OUR PEERS.

THE DIFFICULTY OF ADDRESSING THESE LONGER TERM SYSTEMIC ISSUES IS NOT LOST ON ANYBODY UP HERE. SO YOU CAN DISAGREE PERHAPS WITH SOME OF THE PRIORITIES IN THIS BUDGET BUT LET'S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO SPENDING EVERY LAST DOLLAR THAT WE ARE ENTRUSTED WITH BY THE PUBLIC IN AN EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE WAY. MY HOPE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IS THAT WE WILL STILL HAVE AN EYE TOWARDS EQUITY. WE WILL STILL HAVE AN EYE TOWARDS BREAKING THE CYCLES OF POVERTY BECAUSE FRANKLY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE ANY OF THE NICE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE FOR THE CITY UNLESS WE DO THAT.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE AGAIN, RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR US TO BE BALANCED BUT ALSO FOR US TO FOCUS IN ON SOME OF THESE OTHER AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED THAT THE CITY CAN'T PROVIDE.

AGAIN, WE CAN HAVE DEBATES ALL DAY LONG ABOUT PRIORITIES BUT WE ARE GOING TO BIRDDOG THIS BUDGET AS WE HAVE FOR THE LAST EIGHT PLUS YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN SITTING UP HERE. WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT DONE, WE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE DISCUSSIONS AND WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ACTION ITEMS RELATED TO THIS BUDGET. ITEMS 5 AND 6.

I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CITY CLERK TO GO AHEAD AND PROMPT US.

[5. Ordinance setting the City’s proposed maintenance and operations tax rate at 33.009 cents per $100 of taxable valuation and the City’s proposed debt service tax rate at 21.150 cents per $100 of taxable valuation as recommended in the FY 2025 Proposed Budget. There is no increase in the city’s property tax rate. [Erik Walsh, City Manager]]

>> CLERK: ITEM 5 IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE CITY'S PROPOSED MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX RATE AT 33.

[03:40:04]

CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALRIGHT. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 5. WE HAVE HAD OUR DISCUSSION ON THESE RELATED ITEMS SO WITH THE MOTION AND SECOND, ON ITEM NUMBER 5, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

[6. Ordinance setting the date, time and place for two Budget Public Hearings and two Ad Valorem Tax Rate Public Hearings. [Erik Walsh, City Manager]]

ITEM 6. >> CLERK: AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE FOR TWO BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TWO AD VALOREM TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE HEARD THE DISCUSSION ON ITEM 6.

IS THERE A MOTION? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 6.

LET THE HEARINGS BEGIN. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM FOR OUR AGENDA, ITEM 14. >> CLERK: AN ORDINANCE

[14. Ordinance amending Section 22-28 of the City Code of San Antonio, Texas, Public Parks Hours of Operation and Curfew, to provide the curfew applies to HemisFair Park; to establish affirmative Defenses; and with penalties for violations. [David McCary, Assistant City Manager; Homer Garcia III, Director, Parks and Recreation Department]]

AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES AND WITH PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALRIGHT.

HOMER, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US? DO WE NEED THE PRESENTATION? IS ANYONE REQUESTING A PRESENTATION? OKAY.

ALRIGHT. WELL, CAN YOU HANG TIGHT IN CASE WE HAVE QUESTIONS? WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 14. LET ME CALL HER UP.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK AS A CITIZEN AGAIN, SOMEONE THAT'S LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO MY WHOLE LIFE THAT HAS SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AT HEMISFAIR PARK.

I BELIEVE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE A CURFEW AT HEMISFAIR PARK BUT I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING THE PRESENTATION ON WHY. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE ARE EVEN PROPOSING THIS.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GONZALEZ.

ALRIGHT. LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 14 AND THEN WE WILL GET

ON WITH OUR DISCUSSION. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 14 WITH AN AMENDMENT OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE, FOR PERSONS WALKING THROUGH THE PARK TO

A -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

LET'S GET THE BASE MOTION. THEN IF THERE'S ANY AMENDMENTS AFTER THAT, WE CAN DO THAT. IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 14? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 14. LET'S COMMENCE OUR DISCUSSION.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO SHARE WHY THIS REQUEST CAME ABOUT.

IT ACTUALLY CAME FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE LIVING BOTH AT THE 68 AND THE BUSINESSES IN AND AROUND HEMISFAIR. FOLKS CAME TO US AFTER A SERIES OF VIOLENT CRIMES THAT OCCURRED IN THE SPRING AND WERE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR HEMISFAIR PARK. AS HEMISFAIR AND CIVIC PARK IS GROWING, THERE HAS BEEN INCREASED TRAFFIC BOTH FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND FOR FOLKS THAT ARE VISITING. SO WE LOOKED AT CITY STAFF LOOKED AT WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO ACTUALLY INCREASE SAFETY AT THE PARK, AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS ITEMS THAT WERE LISTED WITH A CURFEW BEING ONE OF THEM. CIVIC PARK IS ONE OF VERY FEW PARKS THAT DOES NOT HAVE A CURFEW STILL, AND ALONG WITH A CURFEW, ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT WERE LOOKED AT WERE INCREASED STREET LIGHTING AND AS I UNDERSTAND, THE CITY HAS ALREADY FIXED THE STREET LIGHTS THAT WERE OUT THAT WERE CITY RESPONSIBLE AT HEMISFAIR PARK. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING INTO ADDITIONAL LIGHTING AT CESAR CHAVEZ THAT WAS TURNED OFF AS A RESULT OF CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING THERE BECAUSE WE KNOW STREET LIGHTING IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT INCREASING PATROL AND OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF SUMMER, WE HAVE SEEN INCREASED PATROL AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS AT THE PARK SHARE WITH ME THAT THEY SEE THAT AND APPRECIATE THE INCREASED VISIBILITY THAT'S THERE.

ALSO, H-PARK IS WORKING ON INCREASING COMMUNICATION IN AND AROUND OR WITH FOLKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY THERE. THEY ARE STARTING A GROUP MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATION THREAD SO WHEN AN INCIDENT DOES OCCUR, THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO QUICKLY COMMUNICATE AND HELP PEOPLE ENSURE THEY ARE SAFE DURING THAT TIME. SO THE OTHER PARKS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, THERE ARE OTHER PARKS THAT ALSO ALREADY HAVE CURFEWS AND THE IDEA IS THAT

[03:45:02]

SO I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS AROUND MARKET SQUARE NOT HAVING CURFEWS BUT AT MARKET SQUARE WE ARE ADDRESSING, WE ARE MAKING A PLAN TO ADDRESS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO FOR FIESTA NEXT YEAR AND THE DIFFERENCE FOR CIVIC PARK IS THERE ARE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE AT THE 68 IN THAT BUILDING, AND THERE ARE FOLKS THERE THAT ARE ASKING FOR THIS. IN ADDITION, I WANTED TO JUST ASK CHIEF, IF YOU COULD ANSWER A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR PARK POLICE OFFICERS.

IF I'M A RESIDENT, WE HAVE SHARED THIS, THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SUPPORTIVE.

THEY ARE THE NEIGHBORHOODS DIRECTLY SOUTH OF HEMISFAIR. IF I LIVE THERE AND I'M WALKING, I'M A SERVICE WORKER AND I'M WALKING AFTER HOURS THROUGH THE PARK JUST TO HAVE A STROLL TO GET FROM MY HOME TO MAYBE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL FOR A PARK

POLICE OFFICER? >> THE PROTOCOL WOULD BE TO USE DISCRETION IN ENFORCE THAT, IN THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE. I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IF SOMEONE WAS WALKING A DOG OR IF THEY HAVE SOME LEGITIMATE BUSINESS IN THE PARK, THEN THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT, WHERE PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE CITED. I THINK, I MAY NOT BE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION HERE.

I MAY BE GOING A LITTLE BIT OVERBOARD BUT I THINK ANY STIPULATIONS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED AS FAR AS DOG WALKING OR I THINK THAT MAY BE NEEDED TO BE ENTERED INTO THE ORDINANCE AS OPPOSED TO JUST LEAFVING IT OPEN. JUST MY OPINION.

>> KAUR: DOG WALKING IS INCLUDED IN THE ORDINANCE. DO WE NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO AN ESTABLISHMENT IN THE PARK OR OUTSIDE OF THE PARK, THAT YOU ARE STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR ACCESS?

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING NEEDS TO BE MORE SPECIFIC? >> YES.

>> KAUR: OKAY. SOME OF THE OTHER PARKS, HOW DO THE PARK RANGERS ACTUALLY MONITOR? WHAT IS THE ACTION THAT THEY TAKE?

>> IF THEY COME ACROSS SOMEBODY, THEY WILL CITE THEM.

>> KAUR: IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT ASKING THEM TO LEAVE FIRST? >> I MEAN, IT DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION. THEY MAY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE PERSON.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. >> I DO WANT TO ADD THE ORDINANCE HAS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AND THE ORDINANCE READS FOR HEMISFAIR PARK, IT IS AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THAT THE PERSON WAS WALKING THROUGH THE PARK TO A DESTINATION IN THE PARK, OUTSIDE THE PARK OR THE PERSON WAS WALKING A DOG.

SO IF YOU ARE GOING FROM A RESTAURANT TO YOUR PARKING GARAGE OR A CAR, THAT IS AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO YOUR PLACE OF RESIDENCE OR TO THE HOTEL, THAT IS A DEFENSE. IF YOU ARE WALKING YOUR DOG. AS LONG AS YOU ARE GOING SOMEWHERE, THERE'S ENOUGH IN THE ORDINANCE TO ALLOW THE POLICE TO MONITOR THAT AND

USE THEIR JUDGMENT. >> KAUR: AND SO THE ORDINANCE THAT I HAVE SAYS WALKING THROUGH THE PARK TO A DESTINATION OUTSIDE THE PARK. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT

SAYS INSIDE THE PARK OR OUTSIDE THE PARK. >> WELL, THE PARK BOUNDARIES ARE -- SO THE HOTELS AND RESIDENTS ARE OUTSIDE THE PARK.

SO WE CAN CLARIFY THAT IN THE ORDINANCE TO READ INSIDE THE PARK, OUTSIDE THE PARK, JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES. BUT LEGALLY, IT'S FINE BECAUSE THEY ARE RIGHT

OUTSIDE THE PARK. >> KAUR: YEAH. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE TOWER WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE THAT ARE STAYING LATE. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO AFFIRM THAT A POLICE OFFICER ISN'T GOING TO GO UP TO A RANDOM PERSON THAT'S THERE AND JUST AUTOMATICALLY CITE THEM, THAT THEY WILL ASK A QUESTION AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE PROPER PROTOCOL AND AS LANGUAGE IS LISTD IN THIS.

>> YES. >> KAUR: GREAT. I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE, DO I NEED TO CHANGE, MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE?

>> WALSH: LORI IS SAYING WE DO HAVE THE SPECIFICITY? >> WE DO, BUT THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE THAT STATES OUTSIDE THE PARK AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE IS DESIGNATED PARK BOUNDARIES AND THERE'S BUSINESSES BUT SHE'S CORRECT, THE TOWER IS WITHIN THE PARK. SO SO IF SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO THE FIRE, THAT WOULD BE

[03:50:03]

SHOULD IT BE CLEARER? >> WALSH: I GUESS I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DO SPECIFY IN THE ORDINANCE THAT IT WOULD BE ALLOWABLE FOR SOMEONE TO WALK THROUGH THE

PARK TO GET TO THE RESIDENCE WITHIN THE PARK. >> IT SAYS THAT RIGHT NOW.

THE WAY IT READS RIGHT NOW, IS FOR HEMISFAIR, IT IS AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THAT THE PERSON WAS WALKING THROUGH THE PARK TO A DESTINATION OUTSIDE THE PARK OR WAS WALKING A DOG. SO OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE PARK.

>> KAUR: I NEED TO JUST AMEND -- CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THEN, JUST TO MAKE IT REALLY SPECIFIC? OKAY. I MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE LANGUAGE SO THAT IT SAYS FOR PERSONS WALKING THROUGH THE PARK TO A DESTINATION IN OR OUTSIDE THE PARK, INCLUDING THE TOWER AND OPEN BUSINESSES AND RESIDENCES.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE AMENDMENT. YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL IS FOR US TO SHOW WHAT'S BEING WRITTEN FIRST SO WE CAN SEE HOW THE AMENDMENT PLAYS OUT.

I WILL BE CANDID, I HAVE NOT EVEN SEEN THE LANGUAGE OTHER THAN WHAT WAS IN THE PACKET.

CAN WE PUT IT UP ON THE SCREEN? >> IT'S NOT IN HERE.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF WE C CAN -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER, COULD YOU REPEAT THE AMENDMENT? >> KAUR: YES.

THE AMENDMENT WOULD SAY FOR PERSONS WALKING THROUGH THE PARK TO A DESTINATION IN OR OUTSIDE THE PARK, INCLUDING THE TOWER, RESIDENCES AND OPEN BUSINESSES.

>> THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN UPDATED. I APOLOGIZE.

I HAD THE WRONG LANGUAGE. RIGHT NOW IT SAYS FOR HEMISFAIR, IT IS AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THAT THE PERSON WAS WALKING THROUGH THE PARK TO A DESTINATION IN THE AREA, INCLUDING THEIR HOTEL, PLACE OF RESIDENCE OR CAR.

SO IT DOES COVER THE AREA AND IS NOT SPECIFIC TO THE PARK BOUNDARIES.

>> KAUR: COULD WE ADD OPEN BUSINESS THERE? INCLUDING AN OPEN BUSINESS,

THEIR HOTEL, PLACE OF RESIDENCE OR CAR? >> YES.

>> KAUR: THAT WOULD BE THE AMENDMENT, THEN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

>> SEGOVIA: I WOULD SUGGEST IF YOU CAN RESTATE THE MOTION ON WHAT SPECIFICALLY YOU WANT

TO ADD. >> KAUR: COULD YOU PUT THAT SCREEN BACK UP SO I CAN READ IT? I APOLOGIZE. YES.

I'M WITHDRAWING MY PREVIOUS MOTION. MY NEW MOTION IS TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE SO IT SAYS FOR HEMISFAIR PARK, IT IS AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THAT THE PERSON WAS WALKING THROUGH THE PARK TO A DESTINATION IN THE AREA INCLUDING AN OPEN BUSINESS, THEIR HOTEL, PLACE OF RESIDENCE OR CAR.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR AN AMENDMENT AS STATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR. THE AMENDMENT IS GENERAL ENOUGH THAT WE ARE STILL I THINK, ANDY, OKAY TO TALK ABOUT LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE DISCUSSION WE'RE ON. WE DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE IT AT JUST THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE YOU YIELDING THE FLOOR? OKAY.

WE WILL, FIRST, BUT FEEL FREE TO TALK ABOUT THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE BEFORE WE HAVE THAT VOTE. AGAIN, LET'S CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.

I WILL CALL THAT VOTE, ONCE THAT VOTE HAS BEEN CLEARED, FEEL FREE TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKIE-RODRIGUEZ?

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE ISSUE OF DISCRETION MEANS THE POLICE CHOOSE HOW, AND WHEN TO ENFORCE THE CURFEW. WE CAN SAY THIS IS THE EXPECTATION, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IT'S UP TO THE OFFICER AT THE END OF THE DAY.

EVERYONE IS NOT TREATED THE SAME. THAT'S POINT BLANK PERIOD.

AN OFFICER CAN SEE A LITTLE OLD LADY AND DETERMINE SHE'S NOT A THREAT, THEN DECIDE I'M NOT GOING TO APPROACH HER, SHE HAS A REASON TO BE HERE. YOU SEE A YOUNG BLACK MAN IN

[03:55:01]

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I ORIGINALLY PULLED THE ITEM WAS TO ASK FOR A CONTINUANCE AND THIS IS FURTHER EVIDENCE DUE DILIGENCE HAS NOT BEEN CONDUCTED. BUT I MORE SO WANT TO MAKE THE POINT OF WHY I WANT A CONTINUANCE. I'M A BIT DISCOURAGED BY THE DIRECTION WE ARE HEADED ON THIS ISSUE AS IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT'S GUIDED BY FACTS OR DATA AND HASN'T RECEIVED MEANINGFUL PUBLIC INPUT FROM THE CITYWIDE USERS OF OUR PARK.

WE SAY ALL THE TIME THAT THESE MAJOR PARK SPACES ARE ALL OF OURS BUT THIS IS A STEP TOWARD ENSURING THAT ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND OWN BUSINESSES IN THE PARK HAVE A SAY ON ITS FUTURE, INCLUDING WHO CAN AND CAN'T ACCESS THE PARK AND WHEN.

I FEEL A CLOSENESS TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE MY RESIDENTS IN DENVER HEIGHTS AND EVEN FURTHER OUT, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WORK DURING THE EVENING, THEY ENJOY THE PARK AT NIGHT.

SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER, LATE NIGHT IS THE ONLY TIME THAT IT'S TOLERABLE TO BE OUTSIDE. THE REASON I'M ASKING FOR A CONTINUANCE IS THAT I HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE THE IMPACT OF WHETHER OR NOT THE OTHER MEASURES, INCREASED LIGHTING, INCREASED PATROL WHICH ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, IF THOSE WILL LEAD TO INCREASED SAFETY AFTER A MONTH OR TWO. AT OUR LAST PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING IN JUNE, WE HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME THE REQUEST TO IMPOSE A CURFEW AT HEMISFAIR PARK.

THIS IS A REQUEST BY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AT HEMISFAIR PARK.

WE MOVED THIS ITEM ALONG FASTER THAN NEARLY ANY OTHER POLICY REQUEST I HAVE SEEN, EVEN THOSE THAT ARE MORE TIME-SENSITIVE. I HAVE RECEIVED MIXED RESPONSES ON WHAT PROMPTED THIS REQUEST AND WHAT I HEARD FROM COUNCILMAN WHYTE AND COUNCILWOMAN KAUR IS A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED NEAR HEMISFAIR PARK BUT IN RESPONSE TO WHETHER INCREASED PATROLS WERE NEEDED TO INCREASE SECURITY AT THE PARK, ON MAY 26, IN AN INTERVIEW, THE CHIEF SAID IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THAT IS NOT AN AREA OF HIGH CONCERN. IMPORTANT TO NOTE, PARK POLICE HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED IN HEMISFAIR PARK SO THE EXPECTATION SHOULD BE THE POLICE PRESENCE AND FAST RESPONSE TIMES ARE AN INHERENT REALITY.

WHEN CITY STAFF PRESENTED THE PROPOSED CURFEW, THEY MENTIONED THEY HOPE TO ADDRESS CALLS FOR DISTURBANCES AND I ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN AND WHAT KIND OF DISTURBANCES AND IT WAS MOSTLY PEOPLE DRINKING ALCOHOL AT NIGHT IN THE PARK.

THAT IS ILLEGAL AS IS. SO IF POLICE ARE PATROLLING THE AREA, THEY CAN CURRENTLY ISSUE A WARNING, A CITATION OR EVEN MAKE ARRESTS RIGHT NOW.

NOTHING STOPS POLICE FROM ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS AND CALLS FOR SERVICE.

OVER THE PAST YEAR AT HEMISFAIR PARK, THERE WERE ABOUT 1157 CALLS FOR POLICE.

ABOUT THREE CALLS PER DAY. THE CALLS WITHIN THE CURFEW WINDOW MAKE UP ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT. WE SEE ROUGHLY ONE CALL FOR POLICE PER DAY DURING PROPOSED CURFEW WINDOW OF 11:00 P.M. TO 5:00 A.M. I DON'T KNOW WHY PARK POLICE AGAIN HEADQUARTERED A FEW STEPS AWAY CAN'T ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE TOP CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE 10:00 P.M., 6:00 A.M., 7:00 A.M. AND 2:00 P.M. ALL TIMES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THIS WINDOW.

SO OUTSIDE OF THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY DURING THE CURFEW WINDOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THE PARK IS ACTUALLY SAFE DURING THE TIMES WHEN WE ARE RECEIVING MOST OF OUR CALLS? AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT TO GIVE THIS MESSAGE, IMPART THIS MESSAGE UPON MY COLLEAGUES. IF YOU FEEL LIKE A CURFEW IS INEVITABLE AND NEEDED, CAN WE FIRST JUSTIFY IT BY SEEING IF THE INCREASED LIGHTING AND PATROLS WORK TO DETER CRIME OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, AND BRING IT BACK TO US IN TWO MONTHS OR SO WITH THIS DATA. THAT'S STILL FASTER, THREE MONTHS IS STILL FASTER THAN ANY CCR EVER MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH TO IMPLEMENTATION. I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT CLOSING A PARK AT NIGHT THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND USED BY HOSPITALITY WORKERS, SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND OTHER LATE SHIFT WORKERS WHO ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES AT NIGHT IS A DRASTIC STEP FOR US TO TAKE STRAIGHT TO AN A SESSION. I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT TO MAKE IT OKAY TO WALK QUICKLY THROUGH THE PARK BUT THE PARK ITSELF IS A DESTINATION. GOING TO OUR PARKS IS A TASK, IS SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE HAS A RIGHT TO DO. THIS IS SAYING THAT PEOPLE EXISTING IN THE PARK IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THAT'S FALSE.

THERE'S NO DATA THAT SUGGESTS THAT. I BELIEVE THAT I'M MAKING A VERY REASONABLE REQUEST AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT IT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING EVERYBODY ELSE'S REMARKS AND THOUGHTS ON THE ITEM.

ONCE WE VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT I WILL BE MAKING A MOTION TO CONTINUE IT.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. YOU MAY MAKE THAT MOTION. IT'S PRIVILEGE SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT ON THE FLOOR, THAT WOULD BE VOTED ON FIRST.

>> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT. I JUST WANT TO ASK THE COUNCILMAN TO STATE A DATE CERTAIN. I WILL SUGGEST OCTOBER 17TH, COUNCILMAN, OR OCTOBER 3RD, SINCE THOSE ARE SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETINGS. WE NEED A DATE CERTAIN FOR

YOU TO CONTINUE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WAS GOING TO SAY OCTOBER 17TH.

[04:00:03]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE OF ITEM 14 TO OCTOBER 3RD. AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS ALL PART OF THE SAME CONVERSATION. I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN THE QUEUE AND FEEL FREE TO DEFER YOUR COMMENTS, IF YOU JUST WANT TO MOVE ON. COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ?

>> PELAEZ: I'M CURIOUS WHY THE RUSH TO BRING IT TO US AS QUICKLY AS DESCRIBED? WHY ARE WE DOING THIS SO FAST? OR AM I WRONG? IS THIS TAKING THE SAME TRAJECTORY AS OTHER INITIATIVES?

>> WALSH: IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT CAME UP, WAS DISCUSSED AT PUBLIC SAFETY EITHER IN MAY OR JUNE. GOT OUT OF COMMITTEE BUT DIDN'T COME TO COUNCIL BECAUSE OF THE JULY BREAK. SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS NOT A CCR.

IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT CAME OUT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, DISCUSSED.

THE CHAIR ADDED IT TO THE AGENDA. POLICE DEPARTMENT TALKED ABOUT IT. THERE WAS A CONVERSATION AND THEN IT WAS APPROVED TO COME TO COUNCIL. I WOULDN'T CALL THAT A RUSH. I THINK THERE'S SOME LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT'S HOW I WOULD

CHARACTERIZE IT. DID I MISS ANYTHING? >> NO.

THAT IS RIGHT. THAT IS AN ISSUE WE DISCUSSED AT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

AND THE COMMITTEE VOTED TO BRING THE ISSUE TO A SESSION. >> PELAEZ: CAN I GET A FEEL FOR WHETHER THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY OR ARE YOU ALL OKAY TO KICKING THIS BACK TO

OCTOBER 3RD? >> WHEN THIS ISSUE CAME TO PUBLIC SAFETY, ACTUALLY, LORI HOUSTON AND MYSELF, THE CHIEF, WE MET WITH TENANTS AT HEMISFAIR AND ALSO WITH OTHER DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS THAT WANTED US TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES, SO WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS BEFORE AND AFTER WE WENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, SO IT WAS A REQUEST FROM THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE THIS CHANGE. AS I MENTIONED, WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE VOTED TO BRING THIS

OVER TO THE A SESSION. >> PELAEZ: WHAT PROBLEM IS THERE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT A CURFEW? ARE WE SEEING ANY ACTIVITY THAT WOULD REQUIRE IMMEDIATE

CONCERN FOR PEOPLE'S SAFETY? >> WALSH: THE ANSWER IS NO, COUNCIL MEMBER.

>> PELAEZ: OKAY. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD FROM THE TENANTS WAS THE PERCEPTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE OF THE PARK BEING SAFE. WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE THERE WAS A SHOOTING AND AN INDIVIDUAL DIED WHILE PASSING BY THE PARK.

SO THERE WAS THAT SENSE OF HAVING TO HAVE MORE PRESENCE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE ADDRESSED THAT. WE HAVE ADDED MORE RESOURCES AND MORE VISIBILITY.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND TENANTS FELT THAT THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT MOVE TO DO FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A CURFEW FOR HEMISFAIR.

>> PELAEZ: SO COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE WAS IN CHICAGO. MILLENNIUM PARK HAS A CURFEW, BELIEVE. I MAY BE WRONG. I KNOW CENTRAL PARK HAS ONE ALSO. I DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE TO HAVE CURE FUSE. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF PIECING THIS TOGETHER ON THE FLY TODAY.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH KICKING IT BACK TO OCTOBER 3RD.

I WILL PROBABLY SUPPORT A VOTE FOR A CURFEW, IF THAT'S WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED BY THE TENANTS AND SURROUNDING ST STAKEHOLDERS. I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION. IF MY COLLEAGUES FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE LOOKING AT THIS IN OCTOBER, I'M GOOD WITH THAT. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE?

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I REALLY DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THIS A LOT WHEN I SAW IT ON THE AGENDA. BUT THE MORE I THINK BABOUT IT, THE MORE I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE IT ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION. I PRESUME THAT THE MAIN POINTS ARE WE WANT TO PRESENT LOITERING, WE WANT TO PREVENT HOM HOMELESSNESS, SLEEPING OR CAMPING OUT THERE AND OF COURSE, WE WANT TO DETER ANY KIND OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THOSE, THEY ALL HAVE A LOT OF MERIT.

I THINK THOSE NEED TO BE CONSIDERED. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PARK NOW AND IN THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE SURROUNDED BY HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS AND BARS. I THINK WE ENCOURAGE TOURISTS TO COME HERE AND ENJOY THE

[04:05:03]

THIS PARK CATERS TO RESIDENTS, ALL RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO TO TOURISTS. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE CARRIAGES THROUGH THE PARK RATHER THAN ON OUR CONGESTED STREETS. SO I THINK THERE'S MORE TO GIVE A LITTLE CONSIDERATION TO. WE DO HAVE THE SAN ANTONIO PARK POLICE HEADQUARTERS RIGHT THERE. SO PROVIDING THE KIND OF SECURITY SHOULDN'T BE MUCH OF A PROBLEM. YOU HAVE WALKING PATROL AROUND THERE. I JUST LOOKED AT CENTRAL PARK NEW YORK.

THEIR HOURS OF BEING OPEN ARE FROM 5:00 A.M. UNTIL 1:00 A.M.

THAT'S EVERY DAY. SO YOU KNOW, IF THEY FEEL PRETTY SAFE, I THINK WE CAN MAKE HEMISFAIR PARK PRETTY SAFE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US COMPROMISE AND LEAVE THE PARK OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT AT LEAST ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND CERTAIN HOLIDAYS SO PEOPLE CAN ENJOY IT AFTER A LATE DINNER OR A SHOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I WOULD SUPPORT A CONTINUANCE SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. >> ROCHA GARCIA: I'M LIKING WHERE COUNCILMAN COURAGE WAS GOING. IF THIS PARK DOESN'T FEEL SAFE WITH PARK POLICE HEADQUARTERS THERE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PARK WOULD FEEL SAFE. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO MENTION THAT WE HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT PERCEPTION EARLIER. I BELIEVE THAT PERCEPTION INFLUENCES HOW PEOPLE FEEL.

THE EAST SIDE'S PERCEPTION IS THEY HAVEN'T FELT SAFE IN THEIR HOMES FOR MANY YEARS AND WE HAVEN'T ACTED AS QUICKLY SO I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S DECISION TO DELAY AND TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I WILL LIKELY ULTIMATELY BE SUPPORTIVE BUT I WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM THE RESIDENTS.

I WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHO THIS CRIMINALIZES AND WHO IT DOESN'T.

I ALSO THINK THE APARTMENTS WERE BUILT ON PUBLIC LAND AND THE RESIDENTS AT HEMISFAIR HAVE THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE RESIDENTS, FOR INSTANCE, OF THE EAST SIDE. SO I DON'T WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE THIS WAS RUSHED THROUGH OR PUSHED THROUGH FOR CERTAIN AGENDA PURPOSES OF CERTAIN PEOPLE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THIS. I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT OTHER PARKS. FOR INSTANCE, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM SOUTH SAND LAST WEEK AND HE WAS LOOKING FOR A CURFEW AT ONE OF THE PARKS IN THE SURROUNDING -- THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO ONE OF THE SCHOOLS. HOMER, WE WILL TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT IT.

I KNOW YOUR TEAM AND MY TEAM WENT OUT ALREADY OR ARE SCHEDULED TO GO OUT THERE BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO APPEARANCE OF UNDUE INFLUENCE AND FASTER RESPONSE IN OTHER AREAS OF TOWN.

I ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING THIS BACK TO A PUBLIC CONVERSATION BECAUSE I FEEL THAT SOMETIMES, CCRS THAT ARE WRITTEN ARE WRITTEN VERY SPECIFICALLY AND INCLUDING ONE CCR I RECENTLY SAW, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE IT WAS, BUT IT SAYS WE SHOULD SEND IT DIRECTLY TO THE COUNCIL WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE PROPER COMMITTEE TO VET IT. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MULTIPLE COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE, IT DOESN'T JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH ONE COMMITTEE.

IT COULD GO THROUGH MULTIPLE COMMITTEES, AND WE WOULD RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM OF DELAYING ON THE DAIS. THEN A FINAL QUESTION ON THIS.

IS THE UTSA GAME, IF SOMEONE GOES TO A UTSA GAME OR TO A CONCERT, DOES THAT MEAN THE ALAMODOME IS CONSIDERED A BUSINESS THAT'S OPEN OR DOES IT TECHNICALLY CLOSE AT THE CONCERT? LIKE WHEN THE CONCERT ENDS? BECAUSE THE COUNCILMAN MADE A POINT ABOUT OPEN BUSINESSES. DOES THAT MEAN THE ALAMODOME IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED WHEN THE CONCERT ENDS AND HOW ARE WE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION?

>> SEGOVIA: I WILL TAKE A STAB AT THAT. RIGHT NOW AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, I THINK IT WOULD ACCOMMODATE THAT IN THAT IT WOULD BE SOMEBODY TRAVERSING EITHER TO THEIR CAR OR TO THEIR HOME OR TO A LOCATION TO GET HOME.

BUT SO AS WRITTEN TODAY, I THINK IT WOULD ACCOMMODATE THAT.

>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

[04:10:02]

>> CABELLO HAVRDA: AS I UNDERSTAND THIS PROPOSED CURFEW MIRRORS THAT OF OTHER CITY PARKS, IS THAT CORRECT? MY MAIN CONCERN INVOLVES THE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK AT THE VARIOUS RESTAURANTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES IN HEMISFAIR. SOME RESTAURANTS SPECIFICALLY CLOSE LATER THAN 10:00 AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE COOKS, FOOD SERVERS, GETTING TICKETED OR ACTUALLY THAT'S ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. WHAT'S THE PENALTY? IS IT A TICKET, IS IT AN ARREST? I'M GOING TO FINISH MY THOUGHT. I DON'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING AT HEMISFAIR AND THE PATRONS GETTING THAT PENALTY JUST FOR KIND OF GOING FROM WORK TO THEIR CAR.

>> IT WOULD BE A TICKET. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE LANGUAGE SAYS AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE SUPPOSES THEY HAVE BEEN -- I GUESS TICKETED. THAT PRESUMES OF COURSE THAT THEY ARE ALREADY IN COURT FOR A TICKET. IS THERE AN OPTION FOR KIND OF PROVING THAT YOU WORK AT THE TOWER OF AMERICAS, YOU WORK AT A PLACE THAT'S A BUSINESS SO THAT THE TICKET

DOESN'T HAPPEN? >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I'LL TAKE A STAB AT THAT AS WELL. YOU ARE VERY CORRECT IN THAT DISTINCTION. IT'S AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE WHICH MEANS THEY CAN STILL BE CITED BUT IT WILL BE AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AFTER THE CITATION.

BUT THE PARK POLICE OR ANY OTHER ENFORCEMENT WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, THE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES. YOU ARE CORRECT, LEGALLY IT'S AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE WHICH MEANS AFTER THE CITATION, THEY CAN ASSERT THAT AS A DEFENSE.

>> CABELLO HAVRDA: SO THERE'S NOT AN OPTION OF I UNDERSTAND IT'S UP TO THE OFFICER'S DISCRETION BUT YOU ARE ALREADY GETTING TO COURT

BY THE TIME YOU ARE ABLE TO PROVE -- >> SEGOVIA: THERE WILL PROBABLY BE OPTIONS, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE AND DEVELOP SOME OPTIONS IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE NO CITATIONS ARE ISSUED FOR THOSE

EXCEPTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO CITE. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

THEN I'M GOING TO ASK ERIK TO CHIME IN HERE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE SURFACED SO IF IT WOULD PLEASE THE COUNCIL, WE COULD WITHDRAW THE BASE MOTION AND JUST PULL THIS FROM THE AGENDA FOR A FUTURE CONSIDERATION. WE CAN MAKE THAT DATE DETERMINATION LATER.

BUT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF REVISITING THIS CONVERSATION. I WOULD ALSO BE COMFORTABLE VOTING NO TODAY. I THINK WHILE WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SPORTS DISTRICTS AND BASEBALL STADIUMS AND YESTERDAY WE WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO BRING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN TO SPEND THEIR DOLLARS, SPEND THEIR LEISURE TIME AND HERE WE ARE, APPLYING A CURFEW TO A PARK THAT NOT JUST GIVES RESIDENTS ACCESS BUT RESIDENTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

MY CONSTITUENTS OFTENTIMES FREQUENT HEMISFAIR PARK AND THEY ARE ALWAYS ASKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE REPLICATE THIS IN DISTRICT 5 PARKS, BECAUSE IT IS A SAFE PARK, IT IS A DESIRABLE PARK. GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE APPLIED CURFEW, PROPOSED CURFEW, ISN'T EVEN WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIGH CAUSE MAKES THIS A VERY MOOT POINT.

FURTHER, THE APARTMENTS ARE BUILT ON PUBLIC LAND AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING ESSENTIALLY IS FURTHER PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC SPACES. IF ANY OTHER APARTMENT COMPLEX IN MY DISTRICT HAS ISSUES WITH PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, WE WORK WITH PD BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THAT LANDLORD TO HIRE THEIR OWN SECURITY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR TENANTS FEEL SAFE. I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR WEST AND URBAN TO HIRE SECURITY FOR THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEX JUST LIKE ANY OTHER LANDLORD HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF MY KEY CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT LANGUAGE. I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN WITHDRAWN BUT THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT MANY OF THE RESIDENTS AND HOSPITALITY WORKERS WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO AND THE WORKING PEOPLE THAT HELP KEEP THIS PLACE GOING, THEY RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THEIR HOSPITALITY JOB BECAUSE PARKING IS SO EXPENSIVE. THAT AMENDMENT WOULDN'T INCLUDE MY CONSTITUENTS AND SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO AND FROM WORK.

AS A FORMER HOSPITALITY WORKER AT A PLACE THAT WAS OPEN 24 HOURS, AFTER WORK, WE WOULD WANT TO WALK AROUND DOWNTOWN. WE WOULD WANT TO HANG OUT JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE DOES. THIS PARK AGAIN, RIGHT, IS CENTRAL TO THE CITY AND IS A PLACE OF LEISURE. I THINK FURTHER PRIVATIZIING IT IS A DISSERVICE TO TAXPAYERS WHO MAY JUST WANT TO GET THEIR STEPS IN. FOLKS SHOULD BE ALLOWED, THEY PAY THEIR TAXES, COSTS CONTINUE TO GO UP, NOW WE ARE TELLING YOU NO, YOU CAN'T ACCESS THESE PLACES THAT YOU PAY FOR. IT'S A DISSERVICE.

IT'S INSULTING. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

[04:15:01]

THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: YEAH. SO I'M IN DISAGREEMENT WITH A LOT OF THAT. LOOK, THIS IS ABOUT -- FIRST OF ALL, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR PARKS IN SAN ANTONIO, AS WE KNOW, ALL HAVE CURFEWS. OKAY? SO LET'S START THERE. NUMBER TWO, THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS CAME TO BE BECAUSE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AREA WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE PARK, REQUESTED A CURFEW, BUT THAT ALSO LAW ENFORCEMENT BELIEVED AND CHIEF, YOU CAN CORRECT ME HERE IF I'M WRONG, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT BELIEVES THAT A CURFEW CAN ASSIST IN PUBLIC SAFETY WITH RESPECT TO THAT AREA. I MEAN, IS THAT NOT THE CASE

ANYMORE? >> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN ISSUE IN THAT AREA. THE CALLS FOR SERVICE DON'T BACK THAT UP, SO YOU'VE GOT THE STATISTICAL PART OF THIS THAT SAYS CURFEW'S NOT NECESSARY.

YOU'VE GOT THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WHERE IT'S PERCEPTION THAT'S DRIVING THIS RIGHT NOW. BUT FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, TO PUT A CURFEW IN A PARK THAT'S IN THE URBAN HUB OF THE CITY WITH A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN THERE AND A LOT

OF OTHER ACTIVITY, IN MY OPINION, NOT A GOOD IDEA. >> WHYTE: OKAY.

SO WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT A CURFEW AT THIS PARK WILL ASSIST IN ANY WAY WITH THE

PUBLIC SAFETY IN THAT AREA, IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> WHYTE: OKAY. WELL, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I GUESS MY OPINION ON THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE. BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS LAW ENFORCEMENT BELIEVED THAT HAVING A CURFEW WOULD ASSIST IN HAVING A MORE SECURE AREA DOWN THERE, WHETHER THE STATISTICS WERE THERE OR NOT, EVEN IF THE PERCEPTION WAS THAT THIS WAS A MORE SECURE AREA, THAT THAT WOULD HELP POTENTIALLY

DECREASE CRIME. >> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT CALLS FOR

INCREASED SECURITY. >> WHYTE: YOU DON'T BELIEVE --

>> AT LEAST IN TERMS OF ADDING A CURFEW IN THERE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME IN THAT AREA FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE MERIT

IMPLEMENTING A CURFEW IN THAT PARK. >> WHYTE: OKAY.

WELL, MY ONLY -- WHEN I LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, IT'S REALLY SIMPLE.

I WANT TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, RIGHT, WHICH IS YOU AND YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. AND IF Y'ALL ARE SAYING THAT YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT A CURFEW WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AT ALL, WELL THEN, I'M NOT SURE WE NEED TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD. SO I GUESS WE DO NEED FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ON THIS, AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I WILL SUPPORT THE COUNCILMAN'S PROPOSAL FOR A CONTINUANCE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALRIGHT. LOTS OF CONVERSATION. I THINK WE CAN PULL IT OR WE CAN VOTE ON IT, AND I'M GETTING THE SENSE FROM SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT GIVEN THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHIEF ON PERCEPTION ISSUES NOT BEING SOLVED BY WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED BEFORE US, WE CAN TAKE CARETA OF THIS RIGHT NOW OR WE CAN BELABOR THE POINT ABOUT BRINGING CURFEW BACK THAT REALLY DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE. SO WE HAVE NOBODY ELSE IN THE QUEUE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO

GO NEXT. COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: SORRY.

I WAS IN THE WRONG ITEM. YEAH, I THINK YOU SHOULD PULL IT.

I JUST BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS CITY TO PUT FORWARD ANOTHER SURVEY LIKE YOU DID WITH THE HORSE CARRIAGE SURVEY, BECAUSE IF WE ARE GOING TO SAY HEMISFAIR IS A PARK THAT IS A CITY-WIDE PROJECT THAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE, I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PUT, TO REALLY GET THE INPUT FROM THE PEOPLE ON

[04:20:04]

I WILL PUT SOME BECAUSE I THINK WE REALLY DO NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE THAT USE THAT PARK AND THAT USE -- THAT WANT A CURFEW OR DON'T WANT A CURFEW AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE QUESTIONS.

I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO ONE OTHER COMMITTEE, PROBABLY PLANNING, AND I THINK IF WE LOST OUR SECOND -- BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE CHANGED HIS MIND, I THINK IT'S BETTER TO PULL IT PROTOCOLWISE.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO PULL THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE STAFF WORK ON THIS BECAUSE CLEARLY THIS IS NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME. IF AND WHEN THIS EVER COMES BACK, WE THEODOSIA TO MAKE SURE IT COMES BEFORE THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE IN A B SESSION AND IF IT GETS BEYOND THAT, WE SCHEDULE SOME PUBLIC HEARINGSE GOT A LOTO DO. GOOD? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ME TABLING ALL THE MOTIONS? AND JUST PULLING THIS FROM THE AGENDA IN? GREAT. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE'RE DONE WITH THAT DISCUSSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

>> WALSH: NO CITY MANAGER'S REPORT TODAY, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE MIRACLES KEEP COMING. THANKS, ERIK.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE, WE ARE CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEKEND.

IT'S COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA'S BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY.

BEFORE WE ADJOURN, LET'S SING HER HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WITH EVEN MORE GOOD NEWS, THERE IS NO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.