[00:00:09]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION. THE TIME IS 2:06 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2024.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK?
>> CLERK: RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYBODY. WE'VE GOT THREE DEPARTMENTS FOR BUDGET BRIEFINGS TODAY, SO ERIK, OVER TO YOU TO GET US
STARTED. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF -- ACTUALLY, JUSTINA'S GOING DO A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FROM A REVENUE STANDPOINT. WE'LL TRANSITION INTO CRYSTAL AND ARTS AND CULTURAL, AND THEN PATRICIA WITH CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES, AND THEN MARK ANDERSON WITH VSA WILL WRAP UP US
THIS AFTERNOON. >> TATE: THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S JUSTINA TATE. I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND TODAY E'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. SO THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX RATE IS 16.75%, AND OF -- THAT 16.75% IS LEVIED ON ELIGIBLE HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS IN THE CITY. THE CITY RECEIVES ABOUT 9% OF THAT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX RATE. 7% SUPPORTS OUR CONVENTION FACILITIES, WHICH INCLUDES THE CONVENTION CENTER AS WELL AS THE ALAMODOME.
VISIT SAN ANTONIO, HISTORY PRESERVATION AND ARTS.
THE REMAINING 2% IS A RESTRICTED SOURCE OF REVENUE THAT FUNDS THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION DEBT AS WELL AS FUTURE PROJECTS.
THIS NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE FIVE YEAR FROM 2019 TO 2023.
IT INCLUDES OUR ESTIMATE 42024 AND PROPOSED PROJECTIONS FOR FISCAL 2025. YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE THAT WE HAVE RECOVERED FROM THE IMPACTS OF COVID ON THIS INDUSTRY, AND WE ARE PROJECTING $113 MILLION IN REVENUE COLLECTIONS FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. THIS IS ABOUT A 6.9% INCREASE COMPARED TO OUR ESTIMATE, AND THIS IS DRIVEN BY ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY THAT WE ANTICIPATE FROM HOSTING THE NCAA FINAL FOUR, AN INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE FROM HOTELS, AS WELL AS INCREASED COLLECTIONS FROM SHORT-TERM RENTALS. SO THIS CONCLUDES THE OVERVIEW OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KRYSTAL JONES FOR ARTS AND
CULTURE PRESENTATION. >> JONES: THANK YOU, JUSTINA.
OKAY. MY NAME IS KRYSTAL JONES.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR ARTS AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO DO A DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO LOOK AT, AGAIN, THE '25 -- FISCAL YEAR '25 PROPOSED BUDGET. OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR IN 2025, AND THEN JUST AGAIN AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE PLAN DO FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THIS BEAUTIFUL MURAL THAT'S AT THE AIRPORT BY SANDRA GONZALES. SO THE DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW, WE WORK TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY LEADING AND INVESTING IN SAN ANTONIO'S ARTS AND CULTURE, AND QUITE SIMPLY WHAT I LIKE TO TELL MY NIECE AND NEPHEW ABOUT WHAT I DO IS WE HELP ARTIST AND NONPROFITS CREATE ARTS PROGRAMMING IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THAT ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING.
WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON MAKING THAT ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING ACCESSIBLE TO AS WELL. WE DO THAT THROUGH FOUR CORE DIVISIONS, GRANTS MANAGEMENT WORKING WITH ARTISTS AND NONPROFITS, GRANTING THEM FUNDING.
WE'LL GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS FUNDING A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SLIDE PRESENTATION. WE HAVE OUR CULTURAL EVENTS AND EXHIBITS.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH OUR TWO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE ART GALLERIES, ONE AT MARKET SQUARE AND ALSO CULTURE COMMONS RIGHT BEHIND CITY HALL IN PLAZA DEARMES GALLERIES. WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE AGAIN ABOUT THAT LATER. PUBLIC ART IS A HUGE PORTION OF WHAT WE DO IN SAN ANTONIO TO CREATE, AGAIN, ACCESSIBLE ART FOR ALL. AND SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
AND THEN OUR MARKETING FILM AND MUSIC DIVISION KEEPS BUSY WITH MAKING
[00:05:04]
SURE ARTISTS KNOW ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND NONPROFITS KNOW ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH US. AND ALSO, AGAIN, SHOWCASING TO VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ABOUT WHAT ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING IS AVAILABLE TO THEM. SO HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. WE'RE LOOKING AT A COMPLETE PICTURE OF $14 MILLION, LOOKING AT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX OF $13.5 MILLION, AND THEN $500,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR PUBLIC ART MAINTENANCE, WHICH, AGAIN, WE'LL GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THIS PRESENTATION. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE FULLY STAFFED, WHICH IS A HUGE DEAL FOR US, AND THAT'S WHY WHEN WE GOT THROUGH SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND A LITTLE BIT OF HIGHLIGHT OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN '24, WE'VE BEEN REALLY ABLE TO MAXIMIZE OUR DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAMS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM OF 24 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO THIS WORK, NOT ONLY JUST FROM THE 8:00 TO 5:00 TIME FRAME, BUT THEY'RE OUT AT EVENTS, ON THE WEEKENDS AND NIGHTS MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN CONNECT TO CULTURAL PROGRAMMING IN OUR CITY. AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE FOLKS, I ALSO WANT TO IDENTIFY THAT WE HAVE OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HERE WHO HELP LEAD OUR PROGRAMS AND I'D LIKE THEM TO STAND UP VERY QUICKLY. DIANA HIDALGO IS OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND WE HAVE JENNY CHOWNI, STACEY MORGAN, STACEY NORTON, -- I JUST MENTIONED HER, KIMBERLY MORALES, CARLOS GEUTIER ES, OUR DFA AS WELL. WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TRANSITION.CARLOS HAS BEEN GREAT HELPING US WITH THE BUDGET, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THOSE FOLKS FOR THEIR HELP. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ARTS COMMISSIONER HELP. YOU EACH APPOINT AN ARTS COMMISSIONER WHO WE WORK WITH, AND THEY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME EVERY MONTH TO GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAMMING AND APPROVING OUR ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT, AGAIN, WE HAVE SO MANY DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM, AND I'M VERY THANKFUL TO WORK WITH THEM. SO THIS IS JUST A SNIPPET OF OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT I'M GOING TO GO A LITTLE BIT IN MORE DETAIL IN THE NEXT SLIDES. SO THIS FISCAL YEAR IN 2025, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT $7.3 MILLION IN GRA GRANTS AWARDED TO ARTISTS AND NONPROFITS TO CREATE CULTURAL PROGRAMMING.
ONE THING WE LOOKED AT IS WHAT ELSE CAN WE ASK OUR ARTISTS AND NONPROFITS ABOUT WHAT THEY DO THAT CAN HELP US, AGAIN, JUST LOOK AT HOW ARE THEY HELPING OUR ARTISTIC COMMUNITY? SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THEM TO, AGAIN, DETAIL HOW MANY PROGRAMS THEY'RE PUTTING ON WITH THE FUNDING THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM US, BUT ALSO HOW MANY ARTISTS ARE THEY SHOWCASING? OUR ARTISTS ARE THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY ARE ALSO EDUCATORS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY ARE INCREDIBLE ASSETS TO OUR COMMUNITY, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DETAILING HOW MANY ARTISTS ARE BEING SUPPORTED BY OUR GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMS. WE'RE ALSO TRACKING, AGAIN, ATTENDEES AT GRANTEE PROGRAMS, ATTENDEES HAVE CATAPULTED SINCE THE PANDEMIC, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING 2.9 MILLION VISITORS AND RESIDENTS GO TO ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED BY OUR DEPARTMENT. AND THEN OUR PUBLIC ART MAINTENANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE'RE LOOKING AT 27 PROJECTS THAT WE WILL MAINTAIN THROUGH THE FUNDING ALLOTTED TO PUBLIC ART.
AND, AGAIN, I'LL GO THROUGH THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDES.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO HELP 2.9 MILLION VISITORS AND RESPECTS GO TO ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMS? WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT THROUGH OUR GRANT-FUNDING PROGRAM, AND ONE WAY IS OUR OPERATIONAL FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDE.
WE HAVE 38 GRANTEES THAT ARE ARTS AND CULTURE NONPROFITS THAT ARE RECEIVING OPERATIONAL GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING. THESE NONPROFITS MUST HAVE THREE-YEAR EXPERIENCE IN CREATING THESE ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM, THEY MUST HAVE THREE YEARS OF IRS 990S. THE GRANTS ARE BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR OPERATING EXPENSES. IT'S A GRADUATING SCALE THAT REALLY LOOKS AT EQUITY THROUGHOUT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. WE DO HAVE 10 GRANT T EES RECEIVING CULTURAL SPECIFIC FUNDING. THEY MUST HAVE A MISSION THAT'S SPECIFIC TO PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN, LGBTQIA PLUS AND THE GRANTS, THE MAX AMOUNT ALLOWABLE IS 20% OF THE TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES.
THIS IS ON TOP OF THEIR OPERATIONAL GRANT. AND, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF A THREE-YEAR GRANT CYCLE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CITY COUNCIL VOTED ON TO APPROVE THOSE NEW GUIDELINES LATE LAST YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE EVENTS
[00:10:01]
GRANTS WHICH SUPPORT NONPROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE EVENTS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS AND RESPECTS. AGAIN, THEY MUST BE A SAN ANTONIO-BASED NONPROFIT, THEY ARE PRODUCING AN ARTS AND CULTURAL EVENT IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THEY GET A MAX AMOUNT OF 20% OF THEIR TOTAL EVENT BUDGET. WE HAVE 25 GRANTEES RECEIVING THOSE GRANT FUND DOLLARS. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR ARTIST GRANTS PROGRAM, WHICH WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD. WE HAVE 30 GRANTEES THAT ARE LOOKING AHEAD FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 FUNDING.THESE MUST BE SAN ANTONIO-BASED ARTISTS, THEY WILL RECEIVE $7,500 OR WE DO HAVE GRANTEES THAT ARE GETTING $15,000 GRANTS TO CREATE NEW WORKS. AGAIN, THESE MUST BE NEW WORKS AND THEY MUST BE AVAILABLE TO VISITORS AND RESPECTS TO ATTEND WHEN IT COMES TO A PRESENTATION TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. THIS IS A COMPETITIVE GRANT, JUST LIKE OUR EVENTS GRANTS ARE. PUBLIC ART MAINTENANCE.
NOW, YOU CAN'T SEE IT ON THE PRINTED PRESENTATION, SO I WOULD LIKE TO POINT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN, THAT THIS IS LIGHT CHANNELS UNDER HOUSTON STREET. AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE PREMAINTENANCE. AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE USE THESE MAINTENANCE DOLLARS TO IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC ART, MAKE SURE IT'S LONG-LASTING. NOT ONLY IS IT GORGEOUS, IT'S BEAUTIFICATION, BUT IT'S ALSO CREATING LIGHTING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND A CONNECTION WHERE WE HAVE DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT TWO CONNECTING THROUGH THIS AREA, AND PROVIDING LIGHTING THROUGH ART. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO NEW PROJECTS AND HOW WE CAN HAVE ART CREATE -- HAVE OTHER EXPERIENCES, WHETHER IT BE INTERACTIVE OR WHETHER IT BE SHADE, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR PUBLIC ART. FOR THE PAIPT INNOCENCE PROJECTS, AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT 27 PROJECTS. WE HAVE -- AS I MENTIONED, IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR, WE HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT REALLY -- OUR ART IS LONG-LASTING, AND THAT, AGAIN, AS YOU SAW WITH THE LAST PUBLIC ART MAINTENANCE PROJECT, THERE'S SOME OTHER ASPECTS OF PUBLIC ART WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING LIGHTING, PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT WE REALLY HAVE IN MIND WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING A LONG-LASTING ART PROGRAM. WE WILL BE LAUNCHING IN 2025 OUR COLLECTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THIS IS PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY, AGAIN, TO VISITORS, RESIDENTS, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LOOK AT HOW DID THIS PUBLIC ART PROJECT COME ABOUT, HOW WAS IT FUNDED, WHAT YEAR, WHAT ARTIST, AND WHAT'S ITS STATUS IN OUR COMMUNITY? WE DO HAVE NEW PUBLIC ART COMING ONLINE IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC ART DEDICATIONS WE HAD IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 ON THE SLIDES, BUT WE HAVE SEVEN DEDICATIONS PLANNED. OUR 2022 BOND PROJECTS ARE ON TRACK. WE'VE GOT THREE-FOURTHS OF THE 36 PROJECTS BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025, AND WE HAVE FOUR OF THOSE PROJECTS SO FAR INCORPORATING SHADE INTO THAT PROGRAM. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL, THAT YOU REALLY WANT US TO LOOK AT AND WE'LL ALSO BE DOING A BRIEFING IN OCTOBER ABOUT PUBLIC ART AS SHADE, SHADE AS PUBLIC ART, TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE.
AND THEN I DO WANT TO JUST MENTION, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT PUBLIC ART.
KNOWING ABOUT SURVEYS, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SURVEYS, BUT ALSO TO DEDICATIONS AND ARTIST SELECTION PANELS AND REVIEWING DESIGNS. OUR TEAM HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO GETTING TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ON ARTIST SELECTION PANELS. AND ONE THING THAT IS EXCITING ABOUT OUR SEVEN DEDICATIONS PLANNED IS THAT THESE ARE ALL BY LOCAL ARTISTS, AND WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS RESPECTS WANT TO IDENTIFY THE ARTISTS IN THEIR DISTRICT TO HAVE THEM CREATE PUBLIC ART. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT THROUGH OUR ROBUST LIST OF PUBLIC ARTISTS, AND THAT'S BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL SUCCESS POINT AND ANOTHER CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY TO THAT PIECE OF ART. THEY CAN COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THEIR NEIGHBOR'S WORK. I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR DEPARTMENT EVENTS. IT'S SOMETHING NEW THAT WE'RE REPORTING ON.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, NOT ONLY ARE WE PROVIDING GRANTS AND ARTISTS TO CREATE GRANTS PROGRAM, BUT OUR TEAM WORKS VERY HARD TO CREATE PROGRAMS LIKE THE PUBLIC ART DEDICATIONS, EXHIBIT OPENINGS, ARTIST TALKS AND WORKSHOPS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ARTISTS, JUST LIKE SMALL BUSINESSES, ARE PREPARED TO LOOK AT HOW TO BUDGET, LOOK AT HOW TO PUT A PROJECT PROPOSAL TOGETHER, LOOK AT HOW TO FILE TAXES. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO DO THESE KIND OF WORKSHOPS. WE ALSO HAVE FILM COFFEE TALKS, MAKING SURE FILMMAKERS ARE PREPARED WHEN THEY COME TO TOWN OR TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN PROJECTS. OUR GALLERY IN HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE HAD A 23% INCREASE IN ATTENDEES AND HAD A BANNER YEAR.
[00:15:01]
IT WAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF ATTENDEES. SO NEXT YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, WE'RE LOOKING AT JUST IN OUR DEPARTMENT EVENTS ALONE, HAVING 23,000 ATTENDEES WITH 76 ARTIST SHOWCASED AS A PART OF THOSE EVENTS.I DO INVITE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT TO THE GALLERY TO JOIN US IN THE OPENING OF THE ROLANDO RESENO EXHITION. IT'S AT 6:00 TO 9:00 P.M. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
I DO WANT TO GIVE A HIGHLIGHT TO FILM. WE'VE BEEN VERY HARD AT WORK IN THE FILM DIVISION, AND WE HAVE HAD 404 DAYS OF FILMING REPORTED BY FILM PRO PRODUCTION? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, FILM PRODUCTIONS FILMS OUT A PROJECT THAT SAYS I'M FILMING FOR FIVE DAYS ON THE RIVERWALK.
IN AND FILMING IN SAN ANTONIO. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE NEWS, BUT WE'RE HOSTING 1923, THAT'S THE YELLOWSTONE TV SERIES, IT'S THE PREQUILL TO YELLOWSTONE AND THEY'RE COMING IN IN TWO WEEKS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO FILMING.
IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING BUSINESSES ALONG THE ROUTE TO FILM IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR EXTRAS IF YOU FEEL LIKE GETTING IN 1923'S ATTIRE. IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCITING TIME TO BE DOWNTOWN IN SAN ANTONIO HAVING THIS MAJOR PRODUCTION B, AND IT'S THE WORK OF OUR FILM TEAM WHO'S BEEN WORKING SINCE JANUARY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, AND IT'S A BIG INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHTS A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT SHOWCASING ARTS AND CULTURE THROUGH FILM AND YOU'LL SEE JOHN LEGWAZAMO FOR IMAGE, HE CAME IN HERE FOR HIS TV SERIES SHOWCASING SAN ANTONIO AND STOPPED AT OUR GALLERY. WE HAD A KIA COMMERCIAL ON THE WEST SIDE. WE ALWAYS HAVE FILM PRODUCTIONS HAPPENING.
THE NICE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE REALLY WORK TO LIAISON BETWEEN THOSE FILM PRODUCTIONS, JUST MAKING SURE WE HAVE A SMALL FOOTPRINT, NOT IMPACTING ANY KIND OF BUSINESS OR ACTIVITY. THIS ARTICLE ACTUALLY CAME ABOUT BY A RESIDENT POSTING ON TWITTER, THERE'S SOMEONE FILMING A CAR COMMERCIAL IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WE ALSO HAVE LEBRON JAMES, HE IS DOING A DOCK CUE SERIES CALLED IT'S A WRAP. WE'LL BE WORKING WITH HIM RIGHT AFTER YELLOWSTONE LEAVES, THEY'RE COMING ON IN. SO WE'VE BEEN BUSY AND WE HAVE OUR SIXTH YEAR ON THE MOVIE MAKERS M MAGAZINES TOP PLACES TO LIVE AND WORK AND WE'RE FOCUSED ON GETTING THAT AGAIN IN 2025.
SO AS A SUMMARY, WE HAVE $7.3 MILLION IN ARTS FUNDING GOING TO 95 NONPROFITS AND ARTISTS TO CREATE ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMMING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND VISITORS, 2.9 MILLION ATTENDEES IS OUR GOAL WITH 2,500 EVENTS FEATURING 1,290 ARTISTS. WE HAVE 27 PUBLIC ART MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT OUR TEAM WILL BE WORKING ON, SEVEN NEW PUBLIC ART PROJECTS, 23,000 ATTENDEES AT OUR DEPARTMENT EVENTS, WHICH WILL FEATURE 76 ARTISTS, AND ONE HIGHLIGHT I DO WANT TO MENTION, BECAUSE I LOVE PRESENTING WITH MY COUNTERPARTS HERE, IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO TELL SAN ANTONIO'S CULTURAL STORY. WE WORK ON MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, WE HAVE A REALLY HEALTHY MIX OF OUR ADVERTISING MIX, WE HAVE PRINT, WE HAVE DIGITAL, WE WORK REALLY WELL WITH INFLUENCERS HERE. WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THE INFORMATION, AGAIN, WHERE THEY ARE. WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO. VISIT SAN ANTONIO SO FAR HAS FEATURED 97 ARTISTS IN THEIR EFFORTS. WORKING WITH OUR TEAM TO FIND THOSE ARTISTS AND WORKING WITH OUR ARTISTS DIRECTORY THAT WE HAVE ONLINE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO WORK WITH ARTISTS.
AND THEN, AGAIN, FOSTERING PROMOTING FILM PROJECT.
FILM TOURISM IS A THING. YELLOWSTONE WILL COME, THEY'LL LEAVE, BUT THE VISITORS WANT TO SEE WHERE DID THEY FILM, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME SUPER FANS OUT THERE. SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I'LL PASS THE MICROPHONE OFF TO PATRICIA.
>> THANK YOU, KRYSTAL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '25.
BUT BEFORE I START THE PRESENTATION, I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF MY STAFF, THE ENTIRE STAFF. NONE OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HOST IN OUR FACILITIES WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEIR DEDICATION AND THEIR HARD WORK. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP STAFF THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
I'M GOING TO CALL OUT THEIR NAMES AND ASK THEM TO STAND.
FIRST MRS. MONICARA MOWS IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OVER THE DEPARTMENT. MR. ELLIE FON SO IS THE
[00:20:01]
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER THE CONVENTION CENTER OPERATIONS.MR. STEVE DIDO IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER THE ALAMODOME.
MRS. CASSANDRA PARKER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CARVER CENTER AND MRS. JENNIFER GALINDO IS THE PHYSICAL ADMINISTRATOR TO THE APARTMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND FOR HELPING PUT TOGETHER THIS PRESENTATION FOR TODAY.
SO IN MY PRESENTATION TODAY, I WILL PROVIDE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE FACILITIES, GO OVER THE DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET, AS WELL AS SHOW THE TRENDS OF EVENTS AT BOTH THE ALAMODOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER, REVIEW SOME OF OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES, DISCUSS OUR PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGES IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. I WILL ALSO HIGHLIGHT SOME MARQUEE EVENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED AT OUR FACILITIES IN FISCAL YEAR '25, AND FINALLY, TALK ABOUT OUR EFFORTS TO INCREASE ECONOMIC IMPACT THROUGH OUR EVENTS AND TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR FACILITIES.
THE DEPARTMENT OVERSEES THE OPERATION OF THE ALAMODOME, THE HENRY B.
GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER AND THE CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURE CENTER. JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THESE FACILITIES.
THE HENRY B. GONZALEZ HAS OVER 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBIT SPACE.
THE CONVENTION CENTER HOSTS ABOUT 275 EVENTS A YEAR, WITH OVER 700 CONVENTION DELEGATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS CHARGED WITH SELLING THE CONVENTION CENTER 12 MONTHS OUT, AND THE CONVENTION CENTER STAFF SELLS THE BUILDING 12 MONTHS IN.
THE ALAMODOME IS A MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY WITH 65,000 SEATS.
THE ALAMODOME HOSTS AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 120 EVENT DAYS A YEAR, WITH OVER A MILLION PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. AND THEN THE CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER IS COMPRISED OF THE JOELONG THEATER AND THE LITTLE CARVER. BOTH HOST ABOUT 200 EVENTS A YEAR WITH ATTENDANCE OF OVER 30,000. THE PROPOSED FY '25 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR ALL CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES FUNDS TOTAL 119.1 MILLION. OF THIS, 63.2 MILLION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS FACILITIES FUND, IS DEDICATED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE ALAMODOME DOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER. AND IT ALSO INCLUDES FUNDING UTILIZED BY VISIT SAN ANTONIO FOR HOSTING OBLIGATIONS TO INCENTIVIZE BUSINESS TO THE CENTER. SOME INCREASES FROM FY '24 TO '25, THIS ONE WITHIN THE ALAMODOME INCLUDES A ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO HOSTING THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR.
AND IT ALSO INCLUDES RECURRING FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN ADDED TO COVER THE COST OF SAPD TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES FOR EVENTS AT OUR VENUES.
LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO PRESENT SOME REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TOTA DEFRAY THE COST OF THESE TRAFFIC CONTROL COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE BUDGETED.
OTHER INCREASES WITHIN THIS FUND INCLUDE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION INCREASES, INCREASES TO OUR SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
THE PROPOSED BU BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES $600,000 IN SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AND 1.6 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND SUPPORT FOR THE CARVER CENTER.
NEXT, THE STATE REBATE FUND INCLUDES 18.1 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR '25 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE'S REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAMS. THE MAJORITY OF THE INCREASE WITHIN THE FUND INCLUDES THE CITY'S INVESTMENT TO HOST THE NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR NEXT SPRING.
100% OF THE CITY INVESTMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE AFTER THE EVENT. THERE'S ALSO 35.6 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET TO FUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT OUR FACILITIES, AND WE'LL PROVIDE MORE ON THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT S LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. AND LASTLY, THE CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITY DEPARTMENT PERSONAL COMPLIMENT NEXT YEAR WILL HAVE AN INCREASE OF ONE POSITION, ONE VACANT POSITION DEDICATED TO PROCESS PAYROLL IS BEING RECOMMENDED TO BE REDUCED, AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO ADD TWO POSITIONS TO SUPPORT THE BOX OFFICES AT OUR VENUE. SO THE AUTHORIZED POSITIONS IN FY '25 INCLUDE 271 POSITIONS AT THE CENTER, 67 AT THE ALAMODOME, 14 AT THE -- EXPHE67 AT THE ALAMODOME, 14 AT THE CARVER CENTER FOR A TOTAL OF 352 POSITIONS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS YOU THE TREND OF EVENTS AND REVENUE AT OUR FACILITIES. OVERALL, AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, WE ARE SEEING THAT THE AND THE NUMBER OF EVENTS ARE INCREASING YEAR OVER YEAR. THE CENTER IS PROJECTING
[00:25:05]
$24.7 MILLION IN REVENUE IN FISCAL YEAR '25. THIS IS UP FROM 23.6 THAT IS EXPECTED THIS YEAR. THE ALAMODOME IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE ABOUT 21.7 MILLION IN '25. THESE REVENUES ARE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN IN '23, AND 5 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO END FISCAL YEAR '24.FISCAL YEAR '23 FOR THE ALAMODOME WAS A BANNER YEAR, WITH EIGHT MAJOR EVENTS SUCH AS WWE ROYAL RUMBLE, WE ALSO HAD THE SPURS CELEBRATION, AS WELL AS THE ELTON JOHN CONCERT. CONVERSELY, FY '24 ONLY -- WE'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE ABOUT FOUR MARQUEE MAJOR EVENTS AT THE ALAMODOME. THE NUMBER OF LARGE EVENTS PROJECTED IN '25 WILL BE SIMILAR AS THOSE IN '23; HENCE, THE INCREASED OR HIGHER REVENUE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE PROJECTING LESS EVENT DAYS IN '25.
THIS NEXT SLIDE REFLECTS OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR THE ALAMODOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER. I WILL HIGHLIGHT A FEW INCLUDING THE REVENUE PER ATTENDEE AT THE ALAMODOME, AS WELL AS THE OCCUPANCY LEVELS AT BOTH FACILITIES. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT SOME HEADLINE EVENTS THAT WE'VE HOSTED HAVE PRODUCED SOME GREAT DIVIDENDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN FISCAL YEAR '23, AS I MENTIONED, WE HOSTED EIGHT EVENTS AT THE ALAMODOME. THE ALAMODOME REVENUE PER ATTENDEE HIT $17.05.
WE ALSO SAW THAT THIS YEAR'S REVENUE PER ATTENDEE TARGET OF $12.60 GROW TO $16.40. THIS WAS DUE TO THE INCREDIBLE RESPONSE TO EVENTS SUCH AS THE LUKE COMBS CONCERTS AND THE RECENT DEF LEPPARD JOURNEY CONCERT. FOR '25, $15.41, THIS NUMBER IS LOWER IN OTHER YEARS EVEN AS WE ACCOMMODATE ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN THE COUNTRY. LANDING MANY OF THESE CONCERTS IN COMPETITIONS SOMETIMES MEANS ARRANGEMENTS THAT INFLUENCE THE REVENUE POTENTIAL FOR THE ALAMODOME, EVEN AS WE WITNESS INVALUABLE IMPACT, SOMETIMES HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAT THOSE EVENTS BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY. NEXT, ANOTHER MEASURE THAT I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE OCCUPANCY LEVEL.
THE OCCUPANCY LEVEL AT THE CONVENTION CENTER AND ALAMODOME ARE PROJECTED TO BE 66 AND 80% RESPECTIVELY IN FY '24. THAT SHOWS THAT WE'RE CLOSE TO CAPACITY WITH ONLY 57 OPEN DATES AT THE ALAMODOME AND 85 AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. NOW, 85 MIGHT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF DAYS TO YOU, BUT MANY OF THESE DATES ARE OVER HOLIDAYS AND INCLUDE GAPS THAT DON'T OFFER ENOUGH CONSECUTIVE DAYS TO BE ABLE TO HOST AN EVENT.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, INCLUDES THE ADDITION OF TWO POSITIONS TO SUPPORT THE MANAGEMENT OF TICKETS FOR EVENTS HELD AT THE ALAMODOME, CONVENTION CENTER AND LILA COCKRELL THEATRE.
THESE PRETIONS WILL BRING OUR FULL-TIME BOX OFFICE SUPPORT STAFF TO AN INCREASE OF FOUR. THE INCREASE IS NEEDED TO MEET THE CURRENT WORKLOAD AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD THAT WILL BE ADDED FROM THE INCREASED NUMBER OF TICKETED EVENTS IN FUTURE YEARS. THE ADDITION OF THESE TWO POSITIONS WILL ASSIST IN MANAGING DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, PROVIDE ENHANCED CUSTOMER SUPPORT, AND OVERSEE 42 TEMPORARY BOX OFFICE ATTENDANTS THAT PROVIDE ON-SITE SUPPORT DURING EVENTS.
AS I MENTIONED ALSO EARLIER IN MY PRESENTATION, THE BUDGET INCLUDES SOME REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS PROPOSED TO DEFRAY THE COST OF THE SAPD TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES FOR EVENTS HELD AT THE VENUES.
BOTH THE ALAMODOME PARKING FEE INCREASE WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE 1,718,000 AND THE TICKET FEE WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE 318,000 WILL BE USED TO COVER THOSE COSTS. THE ALAMODOME PARKING FEE WILL GO FROM CURRENTLY 10, TO $40 PER SPACE, AND IT JUST DEPENDS WHAT WE CHARGE, DEPENDING ON THE EVENT TYPE, TO 10 TO $60 PER SPACE WITH THE BIGGEST INCREASE TO THE CONSUMER BEING FOR PARKING DURING MAJOR EVENTS AT THE FACILITY. MANY OF THE SURROUNDING LOTS AND HOMES ARE ALREADY SELLING PARKING FOR SOME OF THESE MAJOR EVENTS THAT ARE AT MUCH HIGHER PRICES THAN THE $60 THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING.
THE TICKET FEE IS CURRENTLY $5.50 FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE ALAMODOME EVENTS AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO INCREASE IT TO $6.50 NEXT YEAR.
THE ALAMODOME TICKET FEES ARE COMPARABLE WITH OTHER MAJOR VENUES IN THE STATE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES AN INCREASE TO
[00:30:03]
THE CONVENTION CENTER -- CONVENTION CENTER PARKING FLAT RATE FROM $8 TO $15. THE RATE INCREASE WILL ONLY APPLY TO CLIENT WHOSE ARE BUYING OUT THE PARKING LOTS FOR THEIR ATTENDEES AND THEIR EXHIBITORS. THE PROPOSED $15 RATE IS IN LINE WITH SURROUNDING LOTS AND GARAGES. MOREOVER, THE CURRENT HOURLY RATE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE WILL REMAIN THE SAME FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC USE OF THESE LOTS. YOU WILL HEAR FROM US SEVERAL TIMES TODAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE ABOUT REMAINING COMPETITIVE. AND WITH ECONOMIC IMPACT AND REVENUE GENERATION BEING A FOCUS. EVEN AS WE CHART OUR COURSE FOR THE FUTURE, WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF THE PRESENT, AND THAT MEANS CONTINUING TO BE A DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR EVENTS.WE MUST ENSURE THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE STILL VIABLE AND VALUABLE, INVESTING CAPITAL DOLLARS WHERE NEEDED AND IN AREAS THAT CAN MOST LIKELY LIVE BEYOND AN EXPANSION OR RENOVATION. WITH THAT IN MIND, IN F FISCAL YEAR '25, THERE IS $35.6 MILLION IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, 13.4 MILLION AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND 22.2 MILLION AT THE ALAMODOME. AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS IN THE 1998 SPACE WILL BE REPLACED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS WITH $2.7 MILLION BUDGETED IN FY '25 TO BEGIN THE PROJECT.
1.7MILLION WILL BE USED TO REPLACE THE OBSOLETE FIRE PANELS AND EQUIPMENT. 1.6MILLION IS ALLOCATED FOR RENOVATIONS TO THE WEST BUILDING PARK ENTRANCE. 1.2MILLION TO RESTORE CRITICAL COMPONENTS TO THE EXISTING AIR HANDLING UNITS ALSO IN THE '98 SPACE. AND 800,000 FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE LILA COCKRELL THEATRE, INCLUDING NEW CARPET AND OUTDOOR SIGNAGE. AT THE ALAMODOME, 13.9 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO HOST THE 2025 MEN'S FINAL FOUR WILL BE COMPLETED, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF 18 SUITES.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE UPPER CONCOURSE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ARENA PA IN THE BUILDING. THERE'S ALSO 1.6 MILLION FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FOOTBALL TURF, 700,000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL BOILERS IN THE BUILDING, AND THERE'S ALSO 1.5 MILLION TO COMPLETE THE STRUCTURAL REPAIRS TO THE FACILITY THAT ARE UNDERWAY, AND WHICH INCLUDE REPAIRS TO THE CONCRETE MASS AS WELL AS THE STEEL CABLES.
ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, 2025 WILL BE A VERY, VERY BUSY YEAR FOR US IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY. ALL OF OUR FACILITIES HAVE INCREDIBLE SCHEDULES PLANNED AND A FEW HEADLINE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO PURSUE.
I HOPE THAT YOU'LL BE PART OF MANY OF THESE MOMENTS WITH US.
THE ALAMODOME'S FISCAL YEAR '25 CALENDAR, LIKE I SAID, INCLUDES THE NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR IN APRIL, A POWERFUL EVENT THAT WILL DRAW A WORLDWIDE SPOTLIGHT ON SAN ANTONIO, AND IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE MORE THAN $250 MILLION IN DIRECT FISCAL IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS OF NOTE AS WELL. THE ALAMODOME, AS I KNOW YOU KNOW, IS A REMARKABLE -- IS REMARKABLE IN ITS DIVERSITY AS AN EVENTS VENUE. AND NEXT YEAR, IT WILL SHOWCASE THAT ONCE AGAIN. IN OCTOBER, WE WILL HOST INTERNATIONAL SOCCER WHEN THE MONTERREY PRO TEAMS WILL FACE OFF AT THE ALAMODOME. FOLLOWED A FEW DAYS LATER BY APPEARANCES BY GLOBAL SUPERSTARS BILLY JOEL AND STING. MEANWHILE, AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, WE'RE COMING OFF A RECORD-SETTING YEAR FOR CITYWIDE EVENTS. AND 2025 IS SHAPING TO BE EVEN BETTER.
MEETINGS INCLUDE THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION, THE TEXAS MUSIC EDUCATORS AND ACE HARDWARE, WHICH TOGETHER WILL BRING IN APPROXIMATELY 60,000 ATTENDEES AND MORE THAN 75 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT. NOT LONG AGO, WE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE NEXT -- OCTOBER TO JUNE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE AS WELL WHEN SUCH LEGENDARY ACTS SUCH AS SINGER PATTY AUSTIN AND LAURA FISHER TAKE TO THE JOE LONG THEATER STAGE. THE CARVER WILL ALSO BE TAKING ITS EDUCATION -- ARTS EDUCATION PERFORMANCES AND ENGAGEMENT ONTO THE COMMUNITY THANKS TO THE RECENT UNVEILING OF ITS NEW MOBILE ART LAB. IT'S A CUSTOMIZE 16-FOOT SPRINTER VAN THAT WILL ENABLE THE CARVER TO HEAD OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE
[00:35:01]
THEY WORK, LEARN AND PLAY, INCLUDING SENIOR CENTERS, PARKS AND LIBRARIES AND MANY OTHER PLACES IN ALL OF YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS.MORE TO COME AS THE SCHEDULE IS MAPPED OUT. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THE MOTTO FOR -- AND THAT CERTAINLY EXTENDS TO OUR WORK ALONGSIDE SOME GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT COMPLIMENT OUR EFFORTS FOR SUCCESS.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WHO HAD MADE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MEETINGS THAT THEY BRING TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, INCLUDING A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON THE QUALITY OF THOSE EVENTS. FOR INSTANCE, VISIT SAN ANTONIO HAS COMMITTED TO INCREASING A NUMBER OF EVENTS THEY BRING TO THE CENTER FROM 89 THIS YEAR, TO 99 IN 2025. WITHIN THESE PROJECTIONS, CITY MEETINGS -- CITYWIDE MEETINGS WOULD GROW FROM 43 THIS YEAR TO 52 IN 2025. MOREOVER, CORPORATE MEETINGS WOULD GROW FROM SEVEN THIS YEAR TO NINE NEXT YEAR. THE BENEFIT OF THAT COMMITMENT BY VISIT SAN ANTONIO WILL BE SEEN IN THE RESULTING ECONOMIC IMPACT GENERATED BY THESE EVENTS AS WELL AS THE REVENUE GAINS TO THE FACILITY. THE ALAMODOME HAS ALSO CONTINUED TO SEE STRONG RESULTS FROM OUR EFFORTS. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH A BOOKING AGENCY THAT IS NOW BRINGING US LEADS, AND WE ARE COMMITTED MORE THAN EVER TO INCREASING OUR EXPOSURE AT IMPORTANT INDUSTRY NETWORKING EVENTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUE TO BOLSTER OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH PROMOTERS WHO HOLD THE KEY TO BRINGING HEADLINE PERFORMERS TO THE FACILITY. THOSE EFFORTS CARRY SIZABLE ECONOMIC IMPACT. CONSIDER THE BACK-TO-BACK SOLDOUT NIGHTS WITH COUNTRY STAR LUKE COMBS WHICH GENERATED $1.3 MILLION IN REVENUE TO THE ALAMODOME. AN ASTOUNDING 82% OF THE ROUGHLY 90,000 FANS THAT WERE ON HAND BOTH NIGHTS AT THESE CONCERTS CAME FROM OUT OF TOWN.
AND 46% OF THOSE CAME FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE. SIMILARLY, THE DEF LEPPARD/JOURNEY CONCERT LAST MONTH SPURRED $874,000 TO THE ALAMODOME, ABOUT HALF OF THE 40,000 IN ATTENDANCE CAME FROM OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, AND A THIRD OF THOSE CAME FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE.
NOW -- NEXT SLIDE. AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE HAVE REACHED A CRITICAL PERIOD IN THE TIMELINES FOR BOTH THE ALAMODOME AND THE HE HENRY B. GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER. TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN ATTRACTING MAJOR EVENTS AND CONVENTIONS, SUBSTANTIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS REQUIRED FOR BOTH FACILITIES. STAFF IS COMPLETING THE DUE DILIGENCE FOR BOTH AN EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND A MAJOR OR SIGNIFICANT RENOVATION OF THE ALAMODOME.
THIS EFFORT INCLUDES THE ANALYSIS, THE NEW FUNDING OPTION.
WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE DURING THE LAST STATE'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WITH THE PASSAGE OF SB 2220, THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE STATE'S INCREMENTAL HOTEL ASSOCIATED REVENUE WITHIN A THREE-MILE ZONE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR A 30-YEAR PERIOD TO FUND ELIGIBLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. BOTH OF OUR FACILITIES ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER THIS STATUTE, AND THIS STATE FUNDING WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FUNDING SOURCE FOR US. AT STAKE IS THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT MAJOR EVENTS THAT CAN GENERATE INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. CONSIDER THE ALAMODOME IS HOSTING THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR THIS APRIL, BUT THE NCAA HAS ALREADY NOTIFIED THE CITY THAT THE DOAM NO LONGER MEETSETTES STANDARDS AT HOSTING NCAA EVENTS.
THE DOME FACES TOO MANY CHALLENGES THIS POINT AND SAN ANTONIO RISKS LOSING FINAL FOURS, COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS, WORLD CUPS AND MANY OTHER PROMINENT EVENTS. THE CONVENTION CENTER ALSO FACES GROWING COMPETITION. CLOSE TO HOME , MAJOR CITIES ARE INVESTING HEHEAVILY IN THEIR MEETING VENUES WITH DALLAS, AUSTIN AND HOUSTON ALREADY MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANS FOR A BILLION DOLLARS MAKEOVERS OF THEIR CONVENTION CENTERS THAT WILL CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE NOT ONLY IN THE STATE, BUT THE NATIONAL MEETINGS INDUSTRY.
DUE TO ITS CURRENT LIMITATIONS, VISIT SAN ANTONIO ESTIMATES THAT THE HENRY B. GONZALES CONVENTION CENTER AND OUR COMMUNITY HAVE MISSED OUT ON HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN POTENTIAL REVENUE FROM MAJOR CONFERENCES. STAFF IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A DETAILED PUBLIC DISCUSSION THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE VERY,
[00:40:06]
VERY SOON. IT WILL BE A CRUCIAL LOG.DIALOGUE AS WE MUST BE FORWARD THINKING IN ENSURING OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS AS A DESTINATION OF CHOICE. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MARK ANDERSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU.
>> HI, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, PATRICIA AND TO KRYSTAL.
MY NAME IS MARK ANDERSON WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO. ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO, INCLUDING OUR CHAIR, HOPE ON DRA DAY, MEMBERS OF OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND CORE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, WE'RE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I'M HONORED TO PRESENT VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S PROPOSED FY '25 BUDGET AND HIGHLIGHT NEW STRATEGIES TO MARKETING AND PROMOTING OUR CITY TO BOTH DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL LEISURE AND BUSINESS TRAVELERS.
TOURISM IS NOT JUST ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TO OUR CITY.
IT IS ABOUT DISPLAYING OUR VERY ESSENCE OF WHAT MAKES SAN ANTONIO UNIQUE. OUR PEOPLE, OUR STORIES AND OUR RELENTLESS SPIRIT. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN US, AND BELIEVING IN OUR MISSION OF BRINGING THE WORLD TO SAN ANTONIO.
OUR PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE IS THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, OR HOT FUNDS. OTHER FUNDING COMES FROM MEMBERSHIP DUES AND OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS RIVERWALK EVENT REVENUE AND A VARIETY OF PARTNER PROGRAMS AND SPONSORSHIP. WE ALSO MANAGE THE TPID ASSESSMENT FEES FOR THE TPID CORPORATION. VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S TOTAL REVENUE IS ESTIMATED TO GROW BY 4% IN FY '25. WITH HOT TAX FUNDS AS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO FUNDING. THE CITY'S PROPOSED FY '25 ALLOCATION OF 28.4 MILLION COMPRISES NEARLY 91% OF OUR TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUE. VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY THAT IS PROACTIVELY MARKETING, SELLING AND TELLING THE MANY EXCITING STORIES OF SAN ANTONIO, AND WE WERE THRILLED TO ASSIST THE CITY IN ACHIEVING HISTORIC TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT RELATED TO TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY IN 2023 OF $21.5 BILLION. HISTORIC TAX REVENUE GENERATED THROUGH TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY OF MORE THAN $280 MILLION, 11% INCREASES VERSUS 2000 IN '22. TOURISM-RELATED JOBS EMPLOYEE ONE IN EIGHT OF OUR SAN ANTONIO RESPECTS AND HOSPITALITY NOW EMPLOYEES MORE RESIDENTS THAN EVER BEFORE WITH 147,000 TOTAL JOBS IN 2023 AND GROWING. IN TOTAL PAYROLL IN THE INDUSTRY INCREASED BY 28% VERSUS 2019. NOW, WE REALIZE $21.5 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT IS A HUGE NUMBER TO DIGEST. VISIT SAN ANTONIO CONTRACT THROUGH OUR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SIMPLE VIEW, DEVICE, ID TRACKING AND MEDIA PLACEMENTS THAT OUR ORGANIZATION DIRECTLY GENERATED AND BROUGHT TO SAN ANTONIO MORE THAN $858 MILLION IN BUSINESS IN 2023 BY BOOKING MEETINGS, DRIVING LEISURE TRIPS AND MEDIA PLACEMENTS FOR SAN ANTONIO.
BASED ON OUR FY '23 TOTAL BUDGET, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE 21 TO 1 RETURN ON INVESTMENT. FUNDING OUR ARTS AND CULTURE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. IT IT IS A BOOST TO OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND JOB CREATION THAT PUTS FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES. AND YEAR-TO-DATE FOR FY '24, OUR SALES TEAM HAS ALREADY CONFIRMED MORE THAN $550 MILLION IN NEW MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS FOR OUR CITY. EXCEEDING LAST YEAR'S PRODUCTION, AND WE STILL HAVE 26 DAYS BEFORE WE END FY '24. AS WE STAND AT THE THRESHOLD OF FY 2025, VISIT SAN ANTONIO DELIVERED TO THE CITY ON JULY 31ST A BOLD FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AIMED AT SURPASSING PREPANDEMIC MEASURES AND ESTABLISHING SAN ANTONIO AS A PREMIER GLOBAL BRAND BY 2030. THIS PLAN WAS DEVELOPED BY OUR TPID AND OUR VISIT SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 25% OF WHICH INCLUDES CITY REPRESENTATIVES, INCLUDING COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND VIAGRAN, CITY MANAGER WALSH AND MANY MORE. THE PLAN YOU ARE SEEING TODAY IS A MUCH MODIFIED CONVINCED FORM. AS YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY MANY TIMES, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GROWING SAN ANTONIO INTO A GLOBAL
[00:45:03]
BRAND KNOWN THE WORLD OVER. AS THIS CHART OF ORGANIZATIONAL KPIS LAYS OUT IN THE NEW LONG-TERM PLAN, WE AIM TO SIGNIFICANTLY SURPASS PREPANDEMIC MEASURES FOR OUR INDUSTRY.BY ATTRACTING NEARLY 46 MILLION TOTAL VISITORS AND BY BOOKING AND HOSTING NEARLY 710 MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS BY 2030.
IN ADDITION, VISIT SAN ANTONIO DEPARTMENTS PLAN TO MEET, WORK, SEED, ALL GOALS SET FORTH IN FY '24 FOR OUR ORGANIZATION.
VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S FIVE-YEAR PLAN LAYS THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH OUR INDUSTRY THRIVES AND HIGHLIGHTS KEY ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES. IN DOING SO, WE STRIVE TO EXCEED KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS BY CONTINUING OUR GROWTH AND FOCUSING ON KEY STRATEGIES, PROTECTING THE DRIVE MARKET, EXPANDING OUR REACH ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, BOLSTERING OUR INFLUENCE IN KEYING AND EMERGING GLOBAL MARKETS, AND SECURING MORE AND MORE MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS FOR OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT ALL 10 OF OUR DISTRICTS.
THAT IS WHY OUR OBJECTIVE AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS VERY CLEAR: BY INCREASING DEMAND YEAR OVER YEAR THROUGH INNOVATIVE SALES AND MARKETING INITIATIVES, MEETING AND EXCEEDING GOALS AND ENSURING EVERY DOLLAR WE INVEST IS A DOLLAR PLACED TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SAN ANTONIANS.
THEREFORE, 84% OF OUR TOTAL FUNDING ARE DEDICATED TO SALES AND MARKETING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS NOT JUST A BLUEPRINT FOR GROWTH.
IT IS A CALL TO ACTION. LET US DIVE INTO SOME SPEFNGS OF THE PLAN.
STARTING WITH THE KEY PILLAR AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO STORYTELLING. STORYTELLING ENABLES US TO ENGAGE AUDIENCES BY CONVEYING THE ESSENCE OF OUR BRAND AND HIGHLIGHTING THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AND VALUES THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE AGGRESSIVE KPIS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THOSE IN FY '25 WITH SOME OF OUR NEW MARKETING STRATEGIES WHICH INCLUDE EXPANDING REACH TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS BY TELLING THE MANY STORIES AND SECRETS OF THE REAL AND TRUE SAN ANTONIO. CREATING DINING GUIDES AND AN INTERACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD MAP, SHOW KATECASING ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS WHICH WILL LAUNCH THIS OCTOBER AND WE'RE ALSO CREATING A TOOL FOR TRAVELERS TO PLAN THEIR VISITS TO SAN ANTONIO.
STORYTELLING CONTINUES THROUGH OUR VISIT SAN ANTONIO MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS EFFORT, WHERE WE LEVERAGE STORYTELLING TO GENERATE MEDIA COVERAGE IN LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION, TELEVISION AND SOCIAL MEDIA. AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS STORY FROM OUR PROACTIVE MEDIA EFFORTS FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING WAS JUST THIS PAST APRIL WHEN SAN ANTONIO WAS FEATURED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ON CBS MORNINGS WITH GALE KING. THIS KORCHL IN MORE THAN 1100 PIECES IN INSPIRING COVERAGE IN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS WERE A RESULT OF OUR MEDIA RELATION'S TEAM CONSISTENTLY PITCHING AUTHENTIC AND UNIQUE STORIES ABOUT OUR CITY TO LEADING JOURNALISTS AND INFLUENCERS. PLEASE KNOW THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE A POSITIVE ARTICLE ON SAN ANTONIO, THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF YOUR TEAM AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO. MEDIA VALUE, PLACEMENT AND HOSTED MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ARE KPIS FOR OUR MEDIA RELATIONS EFFORTS.
IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PITCH SAN ANTONIO'S UNIQUE NARRATIVE, IDENTIFYING NEW JOURNALISTS AND INFLUENCERS TO EXPAND OUR REACH AND ENGAGEMENT. GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT IS AN IMPORTANT ENHANCEMENT TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND CONTINUES OUR STORYTELLING DOMESTICALLY AND GLOBALLY. OUR KPIS INCLUDE INCREASING INTERNATIONAL VISITATION AND DIRECT AIR SERVICE, AS WE TAP INTO GLOBAL MARKETS AND ENSURE EASY ACCESS FOR GLOBAL AND DOMESTIC TRAVEL TO SAN ANTONIO.
SOME PEOPLE WONDER WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO TO GROW OUR BLGLOBAL MARKET. NOT ONLY DO INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS SPEND NEARLY $900 MORE PER STAY, THEY ALSO STAY 11 DAYS LONGER.
AND SINCE SAN ANTONIO DOES NOT HAVE THE CORPORATE BASE OF OTHER TEXAS MAJOR CITIES, THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS ALSO HELP INCREASE HOTEL OCCUPANCY AND DEMAND FOR STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE CITY DURING THE WEEK WHEN WE NEED THE BUSINESS. THE WORK OUR TEAM DOES WITH THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND GREATER SA TX IS ESSENTIAL AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK OUR AIR SERVICE INITIATIVE TO RETAIN AND INCREASE NONSTOP AIR
[00:50:04]
SERVICE INTO SAN ANTONIO. YEAR AFTER YEAR, VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS SALES TEAM HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ACHIEVE STRONGER RESULTS. STRA TEJCALLY BRINGING NEW AND REPEAT BUSINESS TO OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND OUR CITY.A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS C VENT CONNECT 2024 WHICH WE HOSTED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME THIS PAST JUNE. A MEETING AND MARKETING PROFESSIONAL USERS CONFERENCE WITH 10,000 LIVE AND HYBRID AT 10 D ATTENDEES WAS HELD IN THE PREVIOUS DECADE PLUS IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. OUR SALES TEAM WAS ABLE TO MOVE THIS CONFERENCE TO SAN ANTONIO BY AGGRESSIVELY PROMOTING AND SELLING THE REAL AND TRUE SAN ANTONIO TO CVENT LEADERSHIP. ALSO COMING UP IN 2025 IS ANOTHER MARKET SHARE MOVE, THIS TIME FROM OUR FRIENDS IN AUSTIN.
WITH NATIONAL REAL ESTATE FIRM KELLER WILLIAMS, WHO WILL BRING MORE THAN 9,000 ATTENDEES TO SAN ANTONIO WITH AN ESTIMATED IMPACT OF MORE THAN $8 MILLION STARTING IN 2025 AND WE HAVE THEM CONFIRMED IN 2028.
WE ALSO JUST BOOKED TWO BRAND-NEW CITYWIDES FOR '25, EMERSON AND WHATABURGER, FIRST-TIME EVENTS FOR OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND CITY.
SALESKPIS ARE A DRIVING FACTOR IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
AS WE TRACK PER PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVE IMPORTANT TARGETS TO DRIVE MORE AND MORE BUSINESS FOR OUR CITY. THE SALES TEAM WILL ALSO FOCUS ON VERTICAL MARKETS ALIGNED WITH OUR CITY'S KEY ECONOMIC SECTORS.
AND OUR DESTINATION EXPERIENCE TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE AT 10 ATTEND DEES ARE WELL SERVED ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE. THIS BENEFITS LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND CITY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS ARTS AND CULTURE, AS INCOMING CONVENTION GROUPS HIRE OUR LOCAL, SMALL AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS TO ENHANCE THEIR MEETINGS AND EVENTS IN SAN ANTONIO. VISIT SAN ANTONIO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT OUR LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY. WE WORK DILIGENTLY TO CONNECT ARTISTS TO OUR MEETINGS AND CLIENTS AND WE TAKE THEM ON THE ROAD TO HELP THEM BUILD THEIR PERSONAL BRANDS. THIS YEAR ALONE WE HAVE HELPED EXECUTE NEARLY 100 CONTACTS WITH OUR LOCAL ARTISTS, MUSICIANS AND CHEFS. IN 2021, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, VISIT SAN ANTONIO MERGED WITH THE RIVERWALK ASSOCIATION TO ENHANCE OUR RIVERWALK PARADES AND DRIVE MORE DEMAND FOR DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS. AS PART OF OUR MANAGEMENT OF RIVERWALK EVENTS, WE STRIVE TO ENSURE THE DEPARTMENT IS FINANCIALLY STABLE AND REMAINS VIABLE FOR YEARS TO COME BY CONSTANTLY EVALUATING EVENT ELEMENTS AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
OUR RIVERWALK TEAM, SMALL AND MIGHTY, PRODUCES MORE THAN 10 THEMED PARADES AND MONTHLY EVENTS THAT BENEFIT LOCAL ARTISTS AND HIGHLIGHT OUR CULTURE AND HERITAGE. THIS SUMMER THE TEAM LAUNCHED A FREE MONTHLY CONFERENCE SERIES AT THE ARNESON CALLED RIVERWALK LIVE, THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH. PLEASE JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER THE 19TH FOR GRAMMY AWARD WINNING TEJANO ARTIST SONY SAUCEDA.
WE ALWAYS ENSURE THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THE TRUE ESSENCE OF WHO WE ARE AS A CITY ARE REPRESENTED. VISIT SAN ANTONIO VALUES THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY LEADERS AND CENTRO TO CREATE LEGACY EVENTS.
FOR RESIDENCES AND TRAVELERS SUCH AS STARS AND STRIPES ON HOUSTON STREET AND HOLIDAYS ON HOUSTON STREET. HOLIDAYS ON HOUSTON STREET WAS ANCHORED BY SAN ANTONIO'S FIRST HOLIDAY MARKET ON HOUSTON, AND ALAMO PLAZA AND BROUGHT MORE THAN 690,000 LOCALS AND TRAVELERS TO CELEBRATE THE ULTIMATE SEASON OF FESTIVITIES AND WE ARE DOING IT AGAIN THIS DECEMBER. GIVING BACK IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT'S WHY LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME WE CREATED OUR 501(C)3, THE SAN ANTONIO HOSPITALITY FOUNDATION FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND RAISING MONEY FOR LOCAL STUDENTS WHO ARE FOCUSED ON HOSPITALITY, CULINARY ARTS AND TOURISM. LAST YEAR, WE RAISED $56,000 IN ENDOWMENT FUNDS FOR STUDENTS AT ST. PHILLIP'S AND UTSA. TOURISM BRINGS COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, FUELS LOCAL PRIDE, AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES WHERE NONE EXISTED BEFORE IN EVERY CORNER OF OUR CITY.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO REITERATE TWO KEY FACTS I MENTIONED IN THE
[00:55:02]
BEGINNING OF MY PRESENTATION. AGAIN, VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN OUR CITY SELLING, MARKETING AND TELLING THE MANY STORIES OF SAN ANTONIO DOMESTICALLY AND ACROSS THE GLOBE.OUR INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE KEY BUSINESS SECTORS IN SAN ANTONIO, DRIVING OUR ECONOMY FORWARD. AND VISIT SAN ANTONIO SUPPORTED THE GROWTH OF HISTORIC TAX REVENUE GENERATED THROUGH TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY OF MORE THAN $280 MILLION. TOURISM-RELATED JOBS EMPLOY ONE IN EIGHT OF OUR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. HISTORIC JOBS IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY HAVE MORE THAN 147,000 AND GROWING.
THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY OFFERS A DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC RANGE OF DISCIPLINES FROM FRONT DESK TO ACCOUNTING TO I.T., TO SALES AND MARKETING TO EXECUTIVE ROLES IN HOUSEKEEPING AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE, PROVIDING JOB CAREERS AND PROFESSIONALS AT EVERY LEVEL WITH A VIBRANT AND REWARDING CAREER PATH. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE CAN MAKE THIS IMPACT EVEN STRONGER, CREATING A SAN ANTONIO THAT THRIVES ON THE POWER OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, TO ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS, AND CONGRATULATIONS, MARK, WE SAW 35 SLIDES AND WE DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH AS QUICKLY AS YOU DID.
GREAT STORY TO TELL. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES, I KNOW A COUPLE FOLKS HAVE TIME ISSUES, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST ASK ONE QUESTION TO KICK US OFF, AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE ALAMODOME.
PATRICIA, IF YOU CAN COME UP. I WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DISPEL A MYTH THAT CONTINUES TO FLOAT THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ALAMODOME. IT WAS FUNDED THROUGH A HALF CENT SALES TAX AND COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION IN 993.
I CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM FOLKS THAT T THE ALAMODOME IS A VENUE THAT WE CONTINUE TO POUR MONEY INTO THAT IS COSTING US MORE THAN IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REVENUE IT PRODUCES, WHICH IS COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE. SO COULD YOU DESCRIBE HOW THE ALAMODOME PERFORMS BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE FINANCED TO CONSTRUCT IT AND RENOVATE IT.
>> AGREE. I TOTALLY AGREE. JUST BY THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, JUST SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT I SPOKE ABOUT, ABOUT JUST TWO OF THOSE MAJOR CONCERTS THAT WE HAD. JUST THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, KNOWING THAT OF, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE, OF THOSE 90,000 FANS THAT WERE HERE FOR THE LUKE COMBS CONCERT, THAT 82% OF THOSE CAME FROM OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, MEANING THAT THEY'RE STAYING HERE, THEY'RE COMING INTO TOWN, THEY'RE STAYING, THEY'RE EATING AT OUR HOTELS -- THEY'RE STAYING AT OUR HOTELS, THEY'RE EATING AT OUR RESTAURANTS, THEY'RE GENERATING ECONOMIC IMPACT. THE SAME THING FOR MAJOR EVENTS, YOU KNOW, COMING UP IN OCTOBER. YOU KNOW, THE -- AN ASSESSMENT THAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR WITHIN -- DURING -- WHEN THE ALAMODOME CELEBRATED ITS 30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, YOU KNOW, SHOWED THAT IT HAD A $4 BILLION IMPACT OVER ITS 30 YEARS. AND JUST RECENTLY, WE STARTED ASSESSING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WITH THESE FACILITIES.
WE DON'T DO IT FOR EVERY SINGLE EVENT, BUT WE DO KNOW, JUST RECENTLY WITH THE DEF LEPPARD CONCERT, I HEARD FROM SOME HOTELIERS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO NAME, BUT THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, THE CONCERT WAS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THEIR OCCUPANCY WAS 50%, THE DAY BEFORE AND THE DAY OF THAT CONCERT, IT SHOT UP TO 80, 85%.
I HEARD THAT FROM TWO, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK AT HOTELS, SO THE ALAMODOME DOES HAVE AN IMPACT.
THIS FINAL FOUR, YOU KNOW, ELAINA, I SAID $250 MILLION IN DIRECT FISCAL IMPACT. ELAINA, YOU KNOW, LIKES TO TALK ABOUT THE 400,00 OVER 400 MILLION IN TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THAT EVENT WILL, YOU KNOW, BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO DEFINITELY, THE ALAMODOME, YOU KNOW, DOES HAVE A HUGE IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW THAT EVERY TIME THAT WE HOST, YOU KNOW, THE CHEER POWER NATIONAL EVENTS, YOU KNOW, THE MARCHING BANDS, ALL OF THESE THINGS, THE HOTELS HAVE MORE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,
SLEEPING IN THEIR ROOMS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THANK YOU.
AND I JUST -- I WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION TO LEAD US OFF, BECAUSE SIMILAR SENTIMENT IS OFTEN -- OFTEN ARISES FROM QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE INVEST IN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ENDEAVORS, AND SO THE ALAMODOME ESSENTIALLY -- I MEAN, IT'S CORRECT TO SAY IT'S A REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE CITY, BUT IT'S ALSO A BUSINESS LINE. AND SO SEPARATE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADE AND MAKE SURE IT'S A COMPETITIVE FACILITY, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE IT BE A PRODUCTIVE BUSINESS LINE FOR THE CITY THAT GENERATES REVENUE.
[01:00:03]
SO WE NEED PEOPLE COMING IN THE DOORS, WE NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THAT VENUE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT HAS THE TOP TIER EVENTS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. BUT, AGAIN, TO EMPHASIZE, THIS IS A FACILITY THAT WE OWN, THAT CONTINUES TO GENERATE REVENUE THAT SUPPORTS SO MANY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY AS WELL AS THE AVERAGE RESIDENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT, PATRICIA.I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER FIRST TO COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA BECAUSE
SHE HAS AN EVENT TO GET TO. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GLAD I GET TO GO RIGHT AFTER WHAT YOU JUST SAID. I COMPLETELY AGREE. I THINK, LIKE THE AIRPORT, WE HAVE TO KIND OF JUST CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE AND CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC GENERATOR THAT THE ALAMODOME IS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S PART OF OUR -- LITERALLY OUR SKYLINE. IT'S PART OF OUR CULTURE.
I'M THERE A LOT, YOU KNOW, FOR GAMES OR EVENTS, SO I DON'T -- WANT TO DO MY PART, OF COURSE, TO HELP DISPEL THAT MYTH, BUT I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO START TALKING ABOUT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. A LOT -- LIKE I MENTIONED OF HOW WE DID WITH THE AIRPORT. AND THE THREE PRESENTATIONS TODAY, THANK YOU, KRY SIRKTAL, PATRICIA AND MARK FOR THE PRENSZTATIONS. ALL THREE, I THINK PEOPLE KIND OF LOOK TO AS THIS IS SORT OF FUN STUFF OR INTERESTING STUFF, BUT NOT -- NOT POWERFUL THINGS AND THEY'RE ECONOMIC POWERHOUSES FOR OUR CITY. THEY'RE REALLY ECONOMIC GENERATORS. I THINK WE THINK OF THOSE THTHINGS IN A VERY FLAINARROW WAY. THEY EMPLOY PEOPLE, ECONOMIC GENERATORS, SPECIALIZED WORKFORCES, SKILLED PROFESSIONALS, OF COURSE, AND THEY OFFER SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PRETTY THINGS TO LOOK AT OUR FUN NIGHTS, RIGHT, SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. REALLY A CRUCIAL PART OF OUR CITY'S ECONOMIC FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTING TO THE TOTALITY OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND, AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED ABOUT THE DOME, BUT IT'S PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. PEOPLE COME HERE FOR DEF LEPPARD, BAD BUNNY, ALL THOSE DIFFERENT EVENTS, AND THEY LEAVE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THIS CITY AND OUR CULTURE.
I HAVE JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS PATRICIA, WITH THE P PROJECTED -- THE REVENUE PER ATTENDEE AT THE ALAMODOME WAS PROJECTED TO GO DOWN A
DOLLAR TO $15.41. WHY IS THAT? >> AGAIN, THERE'S SOME EVENTS THAT WE'RE HOSTING IN 2025 THAT DEFINITELY INFLUENCED OUR REVENUE POTENTIAL. THERE'S CONCESSIONS THAT ARE MADE TO BRING THOSE MAJOR EVENTS, AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR PRIORITY AND OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO SOMETIMES WE DO GIVE IN AND MAKE SOME CONCESSIONS THAT ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO BRING THOSE EVENTS TO OUR FACILITY AND TO OUR
COMMUNITY. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. THANK YOU.
I DID HEAR YOU MENTION TRAFFIC CONTROL. PART OF CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF THE ALAMODOME IS THE CONVENIENCE OF ATTENDING AN EVENT THERE FOR THOSE THAT DO ATTEND. YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING
ABOUT TRAFFIC CONTROL. IS THERE A CHANGE THERE? >> SO SOME OF THOSE COSTS ARE BEING SAPD TRAFFIC CONTROL COSTS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED INTO OUR BUDGET, AND WE'RE INCREASING SOME FEES IN ORDER TO DEFRAY THOSE COSTS. BUT WE'RE DOING SO MUCH MORE IN ORDER TO HELP WITH THE CONGESTION DURING MAJOR EVENTS, YOU GUYS JUST APPROVED A CONTRACT WITH PARK WEST THROUGH PARK HUB TO BE ABLE FOR ATTENDEE GOERS TO EVENTS AT THE ALAMODOME TO BE ABLE TO RESERVE A PARKING IN SOME LOTS IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS, AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT AVAILABLE.
SO THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE GOING, AND THAT CREATES -- THAT JUST DISPERSES THE TRAFFIC AROUND THE ALAMODOME DURING MAJOR EVENTS WHEN
WE HAVE 40,000, 50,000 PEOPLE COMING. >> HAVRDA: ARE ANY OF THOSE LOTS AROUND THAT WE USE, DO WE HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY CHARGE? MY CONCERN IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO PRICE OUT FOLKS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY BEING ABLE TO GO TO THESE EVENTS
BECAUSE OF PARKING? >> IT'S DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, PRICING, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO GET ALL OF THEM TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, THE CITY LOTS FIRST, BUT THERE'S DIFFERENT PRICING FOR DIFFERENT ONES. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST SOME COMPETITION AMONGST THEM.
>> HAVRDA: ALSO WE HAVE THOSE -- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY'RE CALLED, THE LITTLE VEHICLES -- WHAT ARE THEY CALLED, THE ONES THAT -- THE GO VEHICLES.
>> YES. >> HAVRDA: ARE WE TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT MAYBE PEOPLE PARKING A LITTLE FARTHER TO GET LESS EXPE EXPENSIVE
PARKING AND BEING ABLE >> WE HAVEN'T YET BUT THAT'S A REALLY GREAT IDEA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, PATRICIA. FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO, I ACTUALLY HAD THE SAME QUESTION FOR BOTH ARTS AND CULTURE AND VSA.
YOU'RE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ARTIST GRANTS IN 2025 BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE AMOUNTS ARE BIGGER FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL ARTIST, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. AS A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY PROCESS AND GRANTS REVIEW,
[01:05:05]
ARTISTS WERE SAYING THAT $5,000 GRANTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE PROVIDING, WERE NOT ENOUGH TO GET THE MATERIALS OR PAY FOR OTHER ARTISTS TO COLLABORATE.SO WHAT WE DID WAS RESTRUCTURE THE GRANTS TO $15,000 FOR ARTISTS WITH LARGER PROJECTS OR IF THEY ARE A GROUP. $5,000 JUST SIMPLY ISN'T ENOUGH TO DO A PERFORMANCE FOR THE PUBLIC WITH ALL THE VENUE COSTS AND WE'RE WORKING WITH VENUES TO REDUCE THOSE COSTS. BUT JUST MAKING SURE WE'RE SUPPORTING THEM IN HOW MUCH IT REALLY DOES TO CREATE AN ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM.
>> HAVRDA: MAKES SENSE. MATERIALS ARE GOING UP EVERYWHERE.
>> WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED OURS. WE HAVE A MAJOR FUNDRAISING EVENT OCTOBER 2 OR 3, WHICH WE'RE HOPING TO RAISE AT LEAST $50,000 FROM.
SO THE DETERMINATION, LAST YEAR WE INVESTED NEARLY $50,000.
I THINK WE COULD SURPASS THAT IN CALENDAR YEAR '24. >> HAVRDA: MY CONCERN FOR THAT IS MAKING SURE WE'RE KEEPING IN MIND EMERGING ARTISTS, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT WE KNOW AND LOVE THAT ARE ON OUR LIST. THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN NEW
>> GREAT POINT. IN OUR ARTIST GRANT PROGRAM, ALL BUT FOUR ARE NEW ARTISTS AS A PART OF THE GRANT PROGRAM. WE REALLY DO FOCUS ON REACHING OUT TO EMERGING ARTISTS. WE WANT TO WORK WITH OUR ESTABLISHED ARTISTS BUT MAKING SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE A COUPLE MORE FOR YOU, KRYSTAL. THANK YOU, MARK. ONE OF THE GOALS IN MY -- WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE WAS TO INCREASE PUBLIC ART IN DISTRICT 6.
I'M A LITTLE D5 ENVIOUS BECAUSE THEY HAVE AMAZING PUBLIC ART.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DID FOR THE TEJANO. THAT'S HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE OLD HIGHWAY 90 COMMUNITY AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
YOU GUYS REALLY BROUGHT IN COMMUNITY AND THEY LOVE IT AND PARTLY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT REALLY DOES REFLECT THE CULTURE OF THAT CORRIDOR.
SO THANKFUL FOR THAT AND OF COURSE LUIS LOPEZ, THE ARTIST.
I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE FACT THAT THESE ARTISTS OWN SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEY'RE EDUCATORS. YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THEY'RE NOT JUST CREATING PRETTY THINGS TO LOOK AT, THEY REALLY ARE GENERATING -- ECONOMIC GENERATORS FOR THE COMMUNITY BUT THEY ALSO BRING IN A LOT OF CULTURE AND A LOT OF CAMARADERIE, IF THAT'S THE WORD, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THANKFUL FOR THAT PROCESS. AND I SAW IT FIRSTHAND. ALSO THANKS TO MIKE AND JANIE. SHE'S NEW TO THE ARTS COMMISSION.
SHE ALSO DOES THE FRIEDA FEST AND, YOU KNOW, OWNS A SMALL BUSINESS.
MY LAST QUESTION IS HAVE YOU GUYS ENGAGED WITH SENIORS IN PLAY? THEY GO INTO THE SENIOR CENTERS AND THEY PUT ON PERFORMANCES.
SO I WONDER IF THEY'VE ENGAGED WITH YOU GUYS. >> WE HAVE ENGAGED IN TERMS OF WE HAVE HELPED THEM GETTING A CITY DAY FOR THAT EVENT SO WE CAN
SO JUSTINA MAY THINK ABOUT HOW WE SUPPORT THAT. >> SENIORS IN PLAY IS FUNDED
OUT OF DELEGATE AGENCIES FOR ABOUT $100,000. >> HAVRDA: 100.
SO THEY'RE TRYING TO EXPAND INTO MORE SENIOR CENTERS. THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO EXPAND INTO SENIOR CENTERS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY CITY SUPPORTED.
IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD INCREASE THAT TO 125? I WOULD ASK WE INCREASE IT TO 125, PLEASE. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL START OFF BY THANKING EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. I SEE ALL OF MY FELLOW VISIT SAN ANTONIO BOARD MEMBERS AND I SAW Y'ALL STAND UP EARLIER. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO SUPPORT THE TEAM. BUT THEN ALSO TO PATRICIA.
PATRICIA, I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH A QUESTION. IT WAS ON THE TURF FOR THE ALAMODOME. AND SO HOW OFTEN DOES THE TURF HAVE TO GET REPLACED?
>> EVERY FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.
IS UTSA PAYING FOR ANY OF THAT COST OR IS THAT ALL ON US AS PART OF THE CONTRACT? BAD BUNNY AND FUNNY ENOUGH I REMEMBERED THAT DATE AND I WAS MARKED ABSENT ON THE COUNCIL RECORDS. RECENTLY WE HAD AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST AND I SAID,
[01:10:01]
HUH-UH. I WAS HERE BECAUSE I WAS ALMOST LATE TO BAD BUNNY.SO I MADE MY STAFF GO AND LOOK AT THE RECORDS. THIS IS HOW IMPACTFUL, HOW I REMEMBER THINGS, BIG THINGS. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN, PATRICIA, FOR ALL YOU DO.
I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO JAVIER VASQUEZ. JAVIER I THINK GOES REALLY UNDER THE RADAR BUT HE HELPS OUT SO MUCH WITH OUR TEAMS. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU FOR DOING ALL YOU DO. ON THE NUMBER OF EVENT DAYS AT THE ALAMODOME, IT'S LOWER IN 2025 THAN PREVIOUS YEAR BUT THE TARGET NUMBER OF ATTENDEES IS HIGHER.
IS THAT -- LIKE WHAT IS THE REASON? IS IT BECAUSE THEY WERE
LARGER EVENTS OR JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND. >> THESE THREE EVENTS, THE TWO SEMIFINALS AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FOR THE FINAL FOUR, WE'RE PROJECTING 60,000 PEOPLE FOR EACH. THREE EVENTS WITH 180,000 PEOPLE.
>> GARCIA: GOT IT. THEN IN 2021 IT SHOWS THERE WAS 153 EVENT DAYS AT THE ALAMODOME WHERE THEY PUT $5 MILLION IN REVENUE. WERE THESE COVID-RELATED
COMMUNITY EVENTS? >> WHAT YEAR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
>> GARCIA: 2021. >> OKAY. YEAH.
2021, THAT WAS -- WE WERE STILL TRYING TO -- THAT WAS THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR.
>> GARCIA: GOT IT. THAT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU.
AND THEN ONE OF YOUR DEPARTMENT'S PERFORMANCE MEASURES IS OCCUPANCY LEVELS. WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAL OCCUPANCY LEVELS AT THE
ALAMODOME AND COULD THEY BE HIGHER THAN 84 AND 74%? >> I MEAN, 80% IS -- WE HAVE 57 OPEN DATES. MOST OF THEM, AGAIN, DURING HOLIDAYS.
>> GARCIA: I SEE THAT WE'RE ADDING TWO POSITIONS AT THE ALAMODOME AND AT THE CONVENTION CENTER BOX OFFICE. DO WE KEEP REGULAR BUSINESS
HOURS OR IS IT JUST ONLY EVENT DAYS? >> NO, WE DO.
THEY'RE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DURING REGULAR HOURS. SO THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO AVOID THOSE PROCESSING FEES THROUGH TICKET MASTER, THEY CAN GO TO THE BOX OFFICE AND
PURCHASE THEIR TICKETS. >> GARCIA: CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE PARKING INCREASE? I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY EVENTS. ARE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY
EVENTS PRICED AT $10? >> NOT ALL OF THEM. WE CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY. MOST OF THE $10 ARE THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS. BUT WE CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF THE ONES THAT ARE GOING -- MOST OF THE ONES THAT ARE GOING FROM THE 40 TO THE 60 ARE FOR MAJOR EVENTS. CONCERTS AND THE LIKE.
>> GARCIA: OKAY. DO YOU SHARE THE REVENUE WITH EVENT OR IS IT YOU GET
100%? >> IT DEPENDS ON THE NEGOTIATION.
DEPENDS ON THE TERMS OF EACH AGREEMENT. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.
THEN PARKING IS INCREASING FROM $8 TO $15. WHAT SPACES ARE THOSE?
ARE THOSE THE ONES BLOCKED OFF? >> THOSE ARE THE ONES BEHIND THE CONVENTION CENTER. THE ONE THAT LEADS TO THE ALAMODOME.
>> GARCIA: I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> SOME ARE BLOCKED OFF BECAUSE SOME OF IT IS THE EMPLOYEE PARKING. BUT THERE IS OTHER AVAILABLE SPOTS THAT WE OFFER FOR BUYOUTS AND ALSO THAT ARE USED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
>> GARCIA: GOT IT. DO WE STILL BOOK ANYTHING AT THE LILA COCKRELL THEATER? I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS JUST USED BY CONVENTIONS. AND THEN WHO IS OUR BOOKING
AGENCY? >> A VENUE COALITION IS A BOOKING AGENCY THAT WE'RE
UTILIZING AT THE ALAMODOME. >> GARCIA: ARE WE GETTING THE BIG EVENTS, LIKE THE
MARQUEE EVENTS UNDER THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT? >> THEY DEFINITELY KNOW AS SOON AS SOMETHING COMES OUT, THEY KNOW OF THOSE MAJOR EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
THEY ARE DEFINITELY HELPING US RIGHT NOW WITH SEVERAL LEADS.
YES. SO, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROMOTERS WE GET SOME OF THAT INFORMATION, BUT VENUE COALITION HAS ALL OF IT.
AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT. I THINK I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.
ON THE BUDGET BOOK, ON PAGE 343, THE REVENUE PER ATTENDEE AT THE ALAMODOME, IT WAS 1260 AS OUR TARGET IN 2024. WE'RE COMING IN AT 1640.
2023 WAS 1705 BUT WE'RE PROJECTING A TARGET OF 1541. THOSE ARE VERY, VERY
DIFFERENT. CAN YOU HELP EXPLAIN? >> LIKE I SAID DURING MY PRESENTATION, 1705 IN '23 WE HAD EIGHT MAJOR EVENTS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, GENERATED WAS THE PER CAPS OR REVENUE PER ATTENDEE FOR THOSE WERE GOOD.
IN 2024, WE'RE ONLY HAVING FOUR MAJOR EVENTS. THE TWO LUKE MCCOMB
[01:15:04]
CONCERTS, THE VALERO ALAMO BOWL AND THE DEF LEPPARD. WHEN WE DID THE 1260 TARGET WE DIDN'T HAVE SOME OF THOSE EVENTS CONTRACTED FOR A LOWER TARGET BUT WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE RESPONSE TO THOSE FOUR MAJOR EVENTS, THEREFORE IT ROSE, THE REVENUE PER ATTENDEE ROSE. IN 2025 WE DO HAVE THE FINAL FOUR BUT FOR SOME OF THESE MAJOR COMPETITIONS AND SOME CONCERTS WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME CONCESSIONS IN ORDER TOBRING THEM TO SAN ANTONIO. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, PATRICIA, I APPRECIATE IT AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE GETTING PAID EVERY TIME WE SAY LUKE COMBS .
I'LL MOVE ON TO KRYSTAL. KRYSTAL, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF THE PERMITTED USES UNDER THE PUBLIC ART MAINTENANCE FUND ARE?
>> SO THIS IS ANYTHING FROM MAJOR VANDALISM. SO WE HAD ONE INSTANCE IN DISTRICT 1, UNFORTUNATELY, WHERE SOMEONE THREW INDUSTRIAL PAINT ON A PIECE AND SO WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PIECE WAS RESTORED. LIGHTING, EXISTING LIGHTING.
ANYTHING EXISTING ON THE PIECE, RESTORE IT TO ITS NATURAL STATE.
SO IT COULD BE PAINTING. IT COULD BE A DEEP CLEANING. IT COULD BE TIGHTENING BOLTS, FIXING LIGHTING FIXTURES. IT'S REALLY RESTORING IT TO
THE WAY THE ARTIST INTENDED IT. >> GARCIA: I'LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP WITH THE MIGRANT MEMORIAL.
IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL AND PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE ALL THE TIME PAYING THEIR RESPECTS AND JUST PRAYING. I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM'S HELP WITH THAT.
COULD WE USE PUBLIC ART TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE ILLEGAL DUMPING AREAS?
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED DOING THAT? >> THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN
INVESTIGATE. >> GARCIA: I HAVE PRIME LOCATIONS THAT I CAN VOLUNTEER FOR IN D4. AND IF WE CAN GET BREAKDOWN -- THIS COULD BE A LATER, MARIA, A BREAKDOWN OF THE DISTRICT ART MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AND WHERE WE HAVE
AND MAYBE WHERE WE'RE SPENDING THE MOST MONEY. >> YES.
WE CAN ABSOLUTELY HAVE THAT. WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE. >> GARCIA: GREAT.
WHEN WAS THE LAST BUDGET YEAR WHEN YOU GOT AN INCREASE IN STAFF?
>> LAST YEAR YOU ALL APPROVED ONE POSITION, SPECIFICALLY TIED TO PUBLIC
ART MAINTENANCE. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. >> LAST FISCAL YEAR.
THIS FISCAL YEAR. >> GARCIA: I'M GLAD. HOPEFULLY YOU GET MORE IN THE FUTURE. WHAT ARE SOME TYPICAL OPERATING EXPENSES, SPECIFICALLY OF THE NONPROFITS RECEIVING SOME OF OUR GRANTS.
>> SO THE GRANTS FOCUS ON ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING, AND ALSO THE PRODUCTION OF THE EVENTS. IT COULD BE STAFF, CONTRACTED ARTISTS, VENUE FEES, EQUIPMENT FEES. IT'S REALLY WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE AN ARTS AND
CULTURE PROGRAM HAPPEN. >> GARCIA: IS THERE A LIMIT ON THE OPERATIONS
EXPENSE THAT THEY COULD HAVE ON A GRANT? >> YEAH.
SO IT'S ALL ON A GRADUATED SCALE AND IT'S BASED ON THEIR EXISTING -- THREE YEARS AVERAGE OF 990S. WE TAKE THE AVERAGE OF THE PAST THREE YEARS AND PUT THEM ON A GRADUATED SCALE. FOR INSTANCE IF AN ORGANIZATION HAS BETWEEN $50,000 AND A MILLION DOLLARS BUDGET, THEY GET UP TO 20% OF THOSE OPERATING EXPENSES. WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE EXISTING EXPENSES AND ALLOCATING GRANTS BASED ON THAT SCALE. FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE GRANT OUT, THAT ORGANIZATION FINDS 7.5 DOLLARS WITH GRANTS AND FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES. THEY'RE MAXIMIZING OUR CITY DOLLARS TO LEVERAGE FUNDS TO
MAKE THESE PROGRAMS HAPPEN. >> GARCIA: I WAS WONDERING IF WE CONSIDERING OUR ARTIST ENTREPRENEURS OR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BECAUSE THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT THEY
CAN APPLY FOR UNDER THE SMALL BUSINESS. >> YES.
THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING, TO EDUCATE THEM ON OTHER EVENTS. WHETHER IT'S CONNECTING THEM WITH LAUNCH SA, WE PARTNERED WITH LAUNCH SA IN THE PAST, SO MAKING SURE THEY KNOW THEY ARE A BUSINESS .
>> GARCIA: I LOVE THAT CONCEPT BECAUSE WE MAKE OUR ART STUDENTS AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE TAKE MY MARKETING CLASS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO KNOW BUSINESS AND HOW TO MARKET THEIR WORK. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE THERE.
I KNOW THAT IN SOME OF THE UPCOMING PROJECTS THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SHADE STRUCTURES AS WELL. WHAT ARE OTHER USES THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT? IS IT TRAFFIC CALMING, DRAINAGE? ANY OTHER USES THAT YOU CAN
CONSIDER. >> WE'RE REALLY COLLABORATING WITH MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY TO LOOK AT OTHER AVENUES FOR WHAT PUBLIC ART CAN MEET.
WE'RE LOOKING ESPECIALLY AT ACCESSIBILITY. LOOKING AT HOW CAN PUBLIC ART, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE HEMISFAIR PROJECT AND YANAGUANA PARK, KIDS ARE CLIMBING ON OSCAR ALVARADO'S PIECE ALL THE TIME AND ENGAGING WITH IT.
HOW ARE WE TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT ART AND EACH OTHER. WE'RE ALWAYS ENGAGING WITH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH SOME OF THESE ITEMS FOR THE SHADE STRUCTURES. AND WE'RE OPEN TO ANY IDEAS AND HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR ARTISTS AT THE FRONT OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR
CITY. >> GARCIA: GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, KRYSTAL.
[01:20:03]
I'LL CHIME BACK IN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: ERIK, I ECHO THE REQUEST TO THE SENIORS IN PLAY ALLOTMENT TO MATCH COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA'S REQUEST. EVERY TIME YOU MENTION BAD BUNNY, COUNCILMAN COURAGE IS HUMMING BAD BUNNY SONGS. IT'S HIS FAVORITE ARTIST. I'VE BEEN TAKING A LOT OF NOTES, KRYSTAL, WHILE YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE BREAKDOWN.
I WENT TO THE SUPPORT DOCUMENTS. HERE'S WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME. SOLI CHAMBER? $41,000.
CHILDREN'S CHORUS $132,000. MUSICAL BRIDGES, $193,000. THE YOUTH ORCHESTRA, $262,000. I SUPPORT ALL THAT. THEN WE HAVE CMI AT $64,000.
THAT'S A CLASSICAL MUSIC INSTITUTE. I PULLED OUT THE ONES DEALING IN CLASSICAL MUSIC. THEN WE HAVE THE OPERA AT $250,000 AND THE BALLET AT $164,000. IT'S GLARING THAT THE PHILHARMONIC ISN'T EVEN IN
THERE. WHY IS THAT? >> SO IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE DID FUND, BY COUNCIL ACTION, $88,000 FOR THE PHILHARMONIC.
IF YOU REMEMBER, THE PHILHARMONIC DOES NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A THREE-YEAR AVERAGE OF 990S. THEY ALSO DO NOT HAVE CURRENTLY THREE YEARS OF THAT EXPERIENCE. THEY'RE ALMOST THERE.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT STAFF HAS IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE, WHEN THEY DO HAVE TWO YEARS OF 990S, WHICH THEIR 990 WILL BE DUE BY NOVEMBER.
TO TAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHERE THAT 990 AVERAGES FOR THE TWO YEARS AND THEN USING THE FUNDING GUIDELINES AS A GUIDELINE, LOOKING AT HOW MUCH WE FUND.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, BY THE GUIDELINES, FUNDING UP TO $111,000.
DEPENDING ON HOW THOSE 990S COME IN. SO THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE WHEN THOSE 990S COME IN, THANK YOU FOR THIS. THIS IS VERY USEFUL. KRYSTAL WITH THE BACKUP SLIDES, I LOVE IT. HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW. WE KNOW THAT THE OPERA PUT ON THREE SHOWS. AND THOSE THREE SHOWS PER YEAR IS GOING TO GET THEM $250,000. WE KNOW THAT THE BALLET DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY SHOWS AS THE PHILHARMONIC DOES. THE PHILHARMONIC PUTS ON 26 CLASSIC SHOWS, SIX POP SHOWS, 25 YOUTH CONCERTS, TOTAL OF 47,000 CHILDREN WENT TO THEIR CONCERTS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. 72 MUSICIANS IN THEIR COMPANY.
98% OF THE MUSICIANS TEACH LOCALLY AS MUSIC TEACHERS. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR PAPERWORK AND ALL THAT BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WON'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR 990 ASK?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, IN TERMS OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, WE DO WORK OFF OF 990S AND ACTUAL EXPENSES.
THE EXPENSES ARE IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ARTISTS WHO ARE HIRED ARE PAID FAIRLY AS WELL. SO I GUESS I WOULD JUST SAY THAT BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH AND HAVING AN EQUITY MODEL THAT TREATS NONPROFITS IN A SIMILAR WAY, THIS WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION UNLESS
COUNCIL CONSIDERS OTHERWISE. >> PELAEZ: I'M GOING TO REQUEST WE CONSIDER OTHERWISE. IT'S THE ONLY UNIONIZE SHOP DOING THIS.
THERE'S NO REASON TO BELIEVE A UNIONIZED SHOP ISN'T PAYING THEIR EMPLOYEES FAIRLY. NUMBER TWO, THEIR REACH ECLIPSES THE REACH OF THE OPERA AND BALLET BY MANY ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE. NUMBER THREE, THE OPERA AND BALLET MONEY, THE 250 FOR THE OPERA AND $164,000 FOR THE BALLET, MUCH OF THAT IS ROUTED TO CMI. AND I LOVE CMI. BUT THE OPERA AND BALLET ARE GOING TO PAY CMI WITH THE MONEY WE'RE SENDING THEM. THIS IS KIND OF A PASS-THROUGH TO CMI SO MY REQUEST THAT WE WOULD BE WE HONOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION OF $111,055 NOW. I DON'T SEE A REASON TO DELAY.
AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR A SUFFICIENTLY-COHERENT REASON TO DENY THEM FUNDING, ESPECIALLY WHEN JUST HEARD WAS YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THEY'RE GOING TO
[01:25:01]
MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS. WITH THAT SAID, I CAN TELL YOU ALSO THAT BASED ON SOME OF THE BODY LANGUAGE WHILE I'M TALKING, IT ALMOST FEELS RETALIATORY, THE NOES THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVING THEM FOR DARING TO BE UPPITY WITH THEIR PREVIOUS BOARD.WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS NOT BE RETALIATORY BECAUSE IT ALMOST FEELS THESE ARE PRETEXTUAL. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE IN GOOD FAITH AND GO AHEAD AND
FUND THEM NOW. THAT'S MY REQUEST. >> THANK YOU.
>> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, JUST A COUPLE OF -- LET ME ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS. CERTAINLY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN RETALIATORY IN ANYTHING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET. THERE'S A PROCESS AND THERE'S GUIDELINES. WE ROUNDED THE CORNERS LAST YEAR IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THE $88,000. CERTAINLY, LIKE KRYSTAL SAID, THE COUNCIL ULTIMATELY CAN DECIDE HOW WE FUND AND WHO WE FUND AND THE AMOUNTS. WE FOLLOW THE PROCESS AND WE GAVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO THAT IN 2024. AS KRYSTAL LAID OUT, WE'RE GIVING IT DUE CONSIDERATION IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR '25.
AND ULTIMATELY THE COUNCIL CAN MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS. BUT I GUESS I DON'T WANT THOSE WATCHING ON TV, IF ANYBODY IS WATCHING BUDGET WORK SESSIONS ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THAT WE ARE BEING RETALIATORY IN THE SENSE, WITH ANY AGENCY.
WE HAVE GIVEN THEM DUE CONSIDERATION AND HAVE BEEN MORE THAN FAIR.
ULTIMATELY IT'S THE COUNCIL'S CALL. OUR JOB IS TO FOLLOW THAT PROCESS AND GUIDELINE. YOU GUYS APPROVED THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ULTIMATELY.
>> PELAEZ: I FEEL LIKE IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF CONVERSATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSES, FOR EXAMPLE. WE BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO ROUND THE CORNERS AND MAKE EXCEPTIONS. WE HAVE A BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING WAIVERS. THERE'S PLENTY OF FLEXIBILITY BUILT INTO THE DISCRETION THAT WE'VE GOT. ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS THAT WE EXERCISE THAT DISCRETION IN THIS ONE INSTANCE FOR THIS ONE GROUP. IF THAT MONEY HAS TO COME OUT OF THE OPERA AND BALLET TO GET IT FUNDED, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
ERIK, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THESE PRESENTATIONS.
KRYSTAL, I'LL START WITH YOU. THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD, I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU MENTIONED REGARDING THE LIGHTED UNDERPASS.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS FOR POTENTIALLY CREATING A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ALL OF THE UNDERPASSES. I THINK IT SAFE AS THEY'RE WALKING THROUGH. THERE'S ONE THAT I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, PARTICULARLY THE UNDERPASS ON NORTH FLORES WHERE ALA IS BETWEEN FIVE POINTS AND DOWNTOWN. SO IF WE CAN CONSIDER THAT AS ANOTHER PILOT -- I KNOW THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE WITH THE CRAYONS, THAT JUST HAPPENED, AND THAT ARTIST KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE SHADE STRUCTURES, LIKE A ROLLOUT OF WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE FOR ALL OF OUR UNDERPASSES, I THINK THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. HOW MUCH DID THAT COST, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY?
>> I CAN GET THE EXACT FIGURES. IT WAS ABOUT $200,000.
IT WAS A MORE EXPENSIVE PROJECT BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH LIGHTING.
YOU'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE. BUT I CAN GET THE EXACT COST
TO COUNCIL AS A FOLLOW-UP. >> KAUR: THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR THAT ACTIVATION.
IF YOU COULD GIVE US THE PRICES ON SOME OF THOSE, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME BECAUSE THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD FUND OUT OF CIP IF WE NEED TO.
>> YES. >> KAUR: DO WE HAVE METRICS FOR THOSE OPERATIONAL GRANTS, THAT I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WAS JUST ASKING ABOUT. DO WE HAVE METRICS FOR THOSE NONPROFITS THAT THEY SEND IT
BACK TO US? >> YES, WE DO. A LOT OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT YOU SEE, IF WE CAN GO TO THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES SLIDE.
THAT IS INFORMATION THAT WE COLLECT DIRECTLY FROM THE NONPROFITS.
SO WE KNOW HOW MANY ARTISTS THEY'RE GOING TO HIRE AND HOW MANY PROGRAMS THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE. AND WE KNOW HOW MANY ATTENDEES.
THOSE METRICS ARE COMING STRAIGHT FROM THE NONPROFITS.
THEY HAVE TO REPORT THAT. AS DO THE ARTIST GRANTEES. >> KAUR: DO THEY INCLUDE DEMOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF THEIR ATTENDEES AS WELL?
>> YES, THEY DO. AS MUCH AS THE ATTENDEES WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE.
WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT. >> KAUR: THAT WOULD BE GREAT. ONE OF THE EXAMPLES I WAS THINKING OF WAS MARKETING AND SUPPORT. ART PACE PROVIDES PAID INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE THEIR PROGRAMMING. BUT I'M ALWAYS WONDERING HOW WE AS A CITY CAN HELP
[01:30:03]
SUPPORT THAT MARKETING EFFORT. I KEEP THROWING OUT IDEAS FOR MARKETING AND THAT TEAM IS NOT BIG. BUT JUST TRYING TO THINK OF WAYS WE CAN GROW THE WORK THAT OUR NONPROFITS ARE DOING.THE LAST QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU IS DO WE ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS OR POTENTIALLY EVEN COUNCIL OFFICES THAT HAVE GOTTEN NEW FIELD OFFICES, THE ABILITY TO RENT
ARTWORK FROM OUR ARTISTS? >> WE DO. I KNOW COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ IS NODDING HIS HEAD. WE CAN MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH EACH COUNCILMEMBER ABOUT CURATORS THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE THE ARTIST DIRECTORY. CURATORS AND ARTISTS LOCATED IN YOUR DISTRICT.
AND WE CAN MAKE THAT CONNECTION SO THAT THE FIELD OFFICE COULD LOOK AT RENTING THOSE PIECES, LOANING THEM, IF YOU WILL. WE HAVE AGREEMENTS THAT YOU
CAN USE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TEMPLATES FOR. >> KAUR: I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RENTAL PROGRAM THAT WE COULD START FOR SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TOO WHERE WE'RE BASICALLY PAYING A RENTAL FEE TO OUR ARTISTS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CAN ACCESS THEM AND PUT TAGS, ET CETERA.
JUST A THOUGHT TO THINK ABOUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK,
KRYSTAL. >> THANK YOU. >> KAUR: I'LL MOVE ON TO CONVENTION, SPORTS FACILITIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION AROUND THE COMMUNITIES AND
VISITORS FACILITIES FUND. IS THAT IN THE GENERAL FUND? >> IT'S HOT.
>> KAUR: SO WHY IS THERE AN ADDITION -- >> THE CONVENTION CENTER AND VISITORS FACILITY INCLUDES REVENUES FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE ALAMODOME.
>> KAUR: AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM HOT. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> KAUR: CAN YOU SEND US THE BREAKDOWN, HOW MUCH OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING COMES
FROM HOT? >> THE AMOUNT FROM THE HOT FUND IS ABOUT $18.1 MILLION.
>> KAUR: OKAY. SO WHY IS THERE A SEPARATE ITEM, A LINE ITEM FOR THE HOSTING OBLIGATIONS WHEN THAT'S GOING TO VSA WHEN VSA IS GETTING THEIR OWN PORTION
FROM THE HOT. >> THE HOSTING OBLIGATIONS IS FOR RENT FOR WHEN WE BRING EVENTS IN. IT IS TO HELP OFFSET RENT. THAT'S FUNDED OUT OF OUR
CONVENTION AND VISITORS FACILITY FUND. >> KAUR: IT'S MORE
DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS PURPOSE. >> WALSH: AND WE DON'T
SEND THAT MONEY TO VSA. WE HOLD ON TO IT. >> KAUR: THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR PATRICIA IS CAN WE GET A BREAKDOWN OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES -- MAYBE THIS IS A JUSTINA QUESTION. A BREAKDOWN OF THE REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE ALAMODOME AND CONVENTION CENTER? I SAW THE REVENUE CHARTS BUT I WANTED TO SEE THE RELATED EXPENSES.
YOU CAN SEND THEM TO ME. ALSO YOU MENTIONED BRINGING ON A BOOKING AGENCY.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM.
>> KAUR: DID WE DO AN RFP? >> NO, IT WAS UNDER $50,000. IF WE GO OVER THAT $50,000 WE'LL TAKE IT TO COUNCIL. IF THEY BRING US ANY LEADS, WE'LL PROBABLY GO OVER THAT AMOUNT AND THEN HAVE TO TAKE IT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
>> KAUR: YEAH, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A FOLLOW UP ON WHAT THEIR RETURN IS.
WHAT WE'RE GETTING AS A RESULT OF THAT CONTRACT AND THE WORK -- LIKE THE TYPES OF CONCERTS THAT THEY'RE BRINGING US AS WELL, JUST TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING.
>> WILL DO. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE LAST THING ABOUT THE TRAFFIC. I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED BY COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA BUT I WANTED TO ECHO HER COMMENTS AND HER SUPPORT FOR DOING MORE BUSING. CESAR CHAVEZ GETS REALLY TENSE AND CROWDED AND THAT AFFECTS THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THERE. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP USE MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET PEOPLE TO THE ALAMODOME WOULD BE
GREAT. >> WE MESSAGE EVERY MAJOR EVENT THAT WE HAVE, LETTING INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT THEY CAN USE VIA PARK AND RIDE. NOW WE HAVE THIS NEW PROCESS WITH PARK WEST WHERE PEOPLE CAN RESERVE PARKING. WE WORK WITH TXDOT, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHENEVER PARKING LOTS AT THE DOME ARE FULL.
>> KAUR: AWESOME. MAYBE WE COULD WORK WITH TICKET MASTER TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO TICKET MASTER AS WELL SO WHEN THEY RECEIVE THEIR TICKETS IN THEIR
E-MAIL. >> WE SENT OUT E-MAILS TO ALL THOSE TICKETHOLDERS, IT'S A KNOW BEFORE YOU GO. PROBABLY MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE E-MAILS GET OPENED.
HOPEFULLY IT'S HELPING. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LAST I'LL GO ON TO MARK WITH VISIT SA. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK WE DO. I KNOW WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF WORK WITH THE ORGANIZATION SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE. DO YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR PERFORMANCE METRICS? I KNOW IN THE BUDGET WE GET PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
DO YOU HAVE YOURS IN A DIFFERENT SPOT? IT WASN'T IN OUR BUDGET
FOLDER. >> THE KPIS REFLECT THE ORGANIZATION-WIDE.
I CAN SEND YOU A DEEP DIVE TO ALL THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING TO OUR
WORSHIPPED ON SEPTEMBER 25. >> KAUR: THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
[01:35:02]
THANK YOU. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT SLIDE 2 AND 3 IS . I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEECONOMIC IMPACT AND THE $858 MILLION. >> A COMMENT WAS MADE LAST YEAR THAT IT'S SUCH A BIG NUMBER. THE $19 BILLION IN 2022 OF THE TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT. LAST YEAR IT'S 21.5. WHAT IS VISIT SAN ANTONIO? WHAT CAN WE TRACK THAT WE ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR? ALTHOUGH WE'RE THE ONLY ENTITY SELLING MARKETING AND PROMOTING THE CITY, THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS WHAT WE TRACK FROM OUR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR LEADS FROM MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS THAT ARE INPUT IN OUR SOFTWARE. WE ALSO DO A DEVICE I.D. TRACKING SO IF YOU ARE IN LAS VEGAS AND YOU SEE AN AD PROMOTING SAN ANTONIO FOR A LEISURE TRIP, WE KNOWIS WHEN THAT PERSON COMES AND BOOKS A ROOM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AS WELL AS WE TRACK MEDIA PLACEMENTS. SO FAR THIS YEAR WE HAVE TRACKED 1100 MEDIA PLACEMENTS ACROSS THE GROBE. THERE'S A DOLLAR VALUE WE USE THAT TELLS YOU THE VALUE
OF EVERY ARTICLE OUT THERE. >> KAUR: GOT IT. THIS IS DIRECT.
>> AND THIS IS FOR 2023. SO FOR INSTANCE WE ALREADY KNOW THAT OUR SALES TEAM ALREADY EXCEEDED THE $530 MILLION. WE BOOKED $550 MILLION IN
NEW MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR. >> KAUR: GREAT.
THANK YOU. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'RE SENDING TO YOUR BOARD THAT BREAKS DOWN SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONVENTION TEAM. I'M ASSUMING THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF THE ROI. WHAT IS THE ROI FOR THE CONVENTION TEAM.
IF YOU GUYS COULD BREAK IT DOWN LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR SALESPERSON HAS KPIS AND GOALS THAT THEY HAVE TO
ACHIEVE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. >> KAUR: I JUST GOT AN E-MAIL JUST TODAY FROM SOME OF THE OWNERS IN SOUTH TOWN RIGHT BELOW CESAR CHAVEZ TALKING ABOUT HOW THEIR RESTAURANTS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING. ONE OF THEM SAID -- IT'S A RESTAURANT WE KNOW WELL AND I WON'T CALL THEM OUT. BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RESERVATIONS TODAY. I KNOW IT'S A LOW WEEK BUT I'M WONDERING, FROM VSA'S PERSPECTIVE, WHY ARE SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER STILL STRUGGLING SO MUCH AND NOT GETTING AS MUCH OF THE KIND OF SUPPORT? BECAUSE THEY CAN'T HOST AS MANY PEOPLE?
>> THAT'S A MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME HOTELS IN THE CITY THAT ARE BREAKING REVENUE RECORDS AND YOU HAVE SOME THAT CONTINUE TO SUFFER.
IT REALLY -- I WILL SAY SPECIFICALLY TO OUR MEMBERS THAT UTILIZE THEIR MEMBERSHIP, WHO ARE INVESTING THEIR TIME AND ENERGY IN MARKETING THEIR ENTITIES TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND MARKETING, THEY TYPICALLY SEE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GIVE YOU AN AUTHENTIC ANSWER WHY SOMEONE IS SUFFERING IF I DON'T KNOW THE ESTABLISHMENT.
>> KAUR: MAYBE I CAN RECONNECT YOU WITH THEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK Y'ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE HOT TAX HAS NOW RECOVERED FROM PANDEMIC IMPACTS AND I'M EAGER TO SEE THE FINAL FOUR AND THE REVENUE THAT'S GOING TO GENERATE.
I WILL SAY UNTIL I'M RETIRED THAT COLLEGE SPORTS FANS ARE THE BEST TIPPERS.
AS SOMEONE THAT WORKED IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY DOWNTOWN DURING ONE OF THE FINAL FOUR EVENTS, IT'S JUST ONE OF THE GREATEST TIMES TO BE A SERVER DOWNTOWN.
SO MORE EVENTS LIKE THIS, PLEASE. IN REGARDS TO ARTS, I WANTED TO THANK KRYSTAL FOR HER WORK WITH THE ARTS TEAM. AS COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA MENTIONED, THE CLOSER YOU GET TO DISTRICT 6, THE MORE AND MORE REQUESTS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR PUBLIC ART.
THEY'RE EAGER TO SEE PUBLIC ART GO BEYOND THE INNER CITY AND JUST DISTRICT 5, WE HAVE THE BOOSTER ART COMPLEX, FRIGHT GALLERY AND SO MANY ARTS GALLERIES THAT NOW THE FAR WEST SIDE OF THE DISTRICT WANTS TO GET IN ON THAT AS WELL.
I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH A CONSTITUENT THAT HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH THE DELEGATE AGENCIES AND ARTISTS TO BRING THAT FURTHER DOWN FROM GUADALUPE TO CASTROVILLE ROAD. GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM. I'M ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF ART THAT'S FUNCTIONAL.
GREAT TO SEE THAT THE LIGHTING THROUGH ART INITIATIVE AND TO HEAR COUNCILMAN PELAEZ'S CCR ON ART SHADE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALSO HEARING ON THE FAR WEST SIDE WHERE WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE HEAT ISLAND AND HEAT IN GENERAL IS HOW CAN WE HAVE A FUNCTIONAL BUS SHELTER THAT ARE ATTRACTIVE WITH AN ART PIECE. IN REGARDS TO THE COMMENT ABOUT THE PHILHARMONIC, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME MOVING PIECES THERE. I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF MUSICIANS REACH OUT TO MY TEAM ASKING WE SUPPORT THEM WITH RECEIVING SUPPORT IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET. THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
[01:40:03]
I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY MEET THE CURRENT PARAMETERS THAT WE HAVE BUT I DO BELIEVE, JUST GIVEN THEIR TRANSITION, THERE SHOULD BE AN EXCEPTION MADE JUST GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PERFORMING FREE CONCERTS, EVENTS, AFFORDABLE OVER AT LANIER HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND VERY ACCESSIBLE CONCERTS THEY HAVE BEEN OFFERING TO COMMUNITY. IN REGARDS TO THE CONVENTION SPORTS FACILITIES, REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE'S NOT A SPURS LINE ITEM TO BRING THEM DOWNTOWN. WITH THE PARKING TICKET FEE, IS IT GOING TO JUMP FROM 10TO 60 OR 10 TO 40? I WASN'T UNDERSTANDING. >> IT DEPENDS ON THE EVENT.
FOR SOME COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS, WE CHARGE $10.
CURRENTLY WE CHARGE $40 FOR SOME MAJOR EVENTS AND CONCERTS.
NEXT YEAR WE'RE PROPOSING -- SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO STAY AT $10.
BUT SOME OF THE CONCERTS WHERE THE ATTENDEES WERE PAYING $40, THEY'RE GOING TO
JUMP TO $60. >> CASTILLO: AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR AN INCREASE BUT $40 TO $60 SOUNDS LIKE A BIT MUCH. AND I KNOW OVER AT THE FROST CENTER IT'S $20 FOR SPURS' GAMES AND CONCERTS. I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MORE PALATABLE TO EVENT GOERS. AND IT MAY INCENTIVIZE FOLKS TO PARK WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT FOLKS PARKING AND WALKING AND IT ENCOURAGES MORE FOLKS TO PARK IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND WALK AND CAUSING THAT NUISANCE FOR NEARBY RESIDENTS. THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT US TO BE MINDFUL OF.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE KEEPING IN MIND? I KNOW THE TRAFFIC PIECE IS
PART OF IT. >> THE ALAMODOME STAFF, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERY SINGLE MAJOR EVENT WE DO COORDINATE VERY CLOSELY WITH SAPD AND TRAFFIC OFFICERS.
SO WE DEFINITELY -- WE'RE MINDFUL OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE PARKING.
BUT WHAT WE ARE NOTICING IS AROUND THOSE LOTS AROUND THE ALAMODOME AND SOME HOMES ARE CHARGING $75 TO PARK. AND PEOPLE ARE PAYING THOSE RATES.
DEFINITELY WE'LL WORK IN THE FUTURE WITH THEM TO BE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.
>> WALSH: THE OTHER THING, THE WAY THE CURRENT RATE IS STRUCTURED, IT'S $10 TO $40 SO IT DEPENDS ON THE EVENT AND IT'S REALLY BASED ON THE TYPE OF EVENT.
THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE BUDGET IS JUST GIVING PATRICIA AND THE STAFF A LITTLE BIT WIDER OF LATITUDE, UP TO $60 FOR THOSE EVENTS WHERE IT WILL STILL BE CHEAPER THAN THE AREA PARKING. I DON'T ANTICIPATE -- THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE $60. THOSE ARE OUR $10 EVENTS OR SOMETIMES THEY'RE FREE. IT'S MORE LATITUDE FOR THE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER
THOSE LARGER EVENTS. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I THINK THERE WOULD BE OVERLAPS IN VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
VALUE IN VISITING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT TROLLEYS. I KNOW OUR SOUTH TOWN AREA AND BUSINESSES HAVE HAD A DESIRE TO HAVE MORE ACCESSIBILITY.
PARKING HAS ALSO BEEN BECOMING AN ISSUE THERE. HIGH-DENSITY, NOT ENOUGH STREET PARKING, NARROW STREETS. TO ALLOW FOLKS TO GET TO AND FROM, WHETHER IT'S THE CONVENTION CENTER, TO THESE ARTS DISTRICTS, I THINK MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE. AND I BELIEVE IT WAS AT THE LAST CONVERSATION OR UPDATE YOU GAVE, I GAVE THE EXAMPLE I TOOK VIA TO AN EVENT BUT IT TOOK ALOF A LEFT AND TOOK ME FURTHER AWAY FROM THE STADIUM. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MORE ACCESSIBLE BUT I ENDED UP WALKING FURTHER THAN I EVEN WAS ON THE BUS.
I THINK CONVERSATIONS AROUND JUST TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESSIBILITY TO VENUES AND
THESE DIFFERENT ART SPACES WITHIN DOWNTOWN. >> MOST OF THE TIME VIA DOES DROP OFF AT THE ROBERT THOMPSON CENTER, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE NORTH PLAZA. SO THEY'RE DROPPED OFF AND INDIVIDUALS WALK INTO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE ALAMODOME THAT'S FOR MOST OF THE EVENTS.
>> CASTILLO: THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A ONE-OFF BUT IT WAS FUNNY.
THIS IS WHY PEOPLE KNOCK ON PUBLIC TRANSIT. >> WALSH: WHEN YOU SAY TROLLEYS, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE OLD TROLLEYS LIKE WE USED TO HAVE DOWNTOWN THAT RAN THE CIRCUIT? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PROBABLY TALK TO VIA.
I KNOW THEY'RE LOOKING TO EXPLORE HOW TO IMPROVE THAT CIRCULATION.
WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. >> CASTILLO: I THINK THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE A HANDFUL OF ISSUES WE'RE SEEING WITHIN THESE HIGHERRER DENSITY
[01:45:03]
GROWING AREAS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: HELLO, HELLO, EVERYBODY. THE ALAMODOME IS IN MY DISTRICT AND I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE THAT AND IT WAS NAMED ONE OF THE UGLIEST BUILDINGS IN AMERICA. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ANY FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS AND THE FUTURE OF THE ALAMODOME SHOULD INCLUDE GREAT, GREAT VERY LARGE ART. I'M GOING TO DROP THAT THERE.
FOR OTHER CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES, SHOUT OUT TO THE CARVER.
DURING THE SUMMER PROGRAM I UNDERSTAND THE ROOF WAS LEAKING DURING THE SUMMER CAMP. I PLEAD LET'S CONTINUE TO INVEST IN MAINTAINING THE HISTORIC CARVER COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL CENTER . IT'S AN EXCELLENT TIME TO ANNOUNCE THE YOUTH CONTENT CREATOR SHOWCASE WILL BE AT THE CARVER TOMORROW AT 6:00.
I INVITE ALL OF MY FAVORITE COLLEAGUES TO DROP ON BY AND WATCH THE SHOWS.
MOVING ON TO ARTS AND CULTURE. REGARDING ART MAINTENANCE, ARTWORK THAT IS COMMISSIONED FROM THE CITY BECOMES A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY LANDSCAPE.
THESE PIECES LIVE IN OUR PARKS, ALONGSIDE OUR ROADS, AND INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OUR CITY FACILITIES. WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO MAINTAIN THESE PIECES WITH AS MUCH INTENTION AND ENERGY AS WHEN WE CELEBRATED THE OPENING OR THEIR FIRST DAYS IN THE SUN. SO THINKING ABOUT THE MURALS DOWNTOWN OR THE MLK STATUE OR THE SCULPTURE AT MLK PARK. IF THESE ART PIECES FALL INTO DISREPAIR IT'S A BAD LOOK ON THE AREAS OF OUR CITY WHERE THEY'RE INSTALLED. I'LL USE THE NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS BRIDGE.
WE HAD SO MANY ENTRIES AND THOUSANDS OF VOTES AND PEOPLE WERE REALLY ENGAGED.
THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN HONORING THE OUTGOING ARTWORK AND ASKING THE QUESTION OF WHAT TOOK SO LONG FOR THIS ARTWORK TO BE RESTORED OR NEW ARTWORK TO BE INSTALLED. THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR ART. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS. WHENEVER I VISIT A CITY I'M INTERESTED IN THE CULTURE THAT MAKES EACH CITY UNIQUE. USUALLY THE MUSIC OR THE CULTURAL FESTIVALS AT THE TIME AND THE WORKS OF ART FROM EMERGING ARTISTS THAT ARE THE SEEDS THAT BECOME THE WELL KNOWN CULTURAL VIBE OF THE CITY. THESE ORGANIZATIONS DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND OUR SUPPORT FOR BUILDING THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AS WE KNOW IT.
ARTIST GRANTS GIVE AN ARTIST THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND OFTENTIMES IT BECOMES WELL KNOWN AND TRAVELS TO OTHER CITIES WHICH CREATES A DEEPER CONNECTION BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND OTHER CITIES AROUND THE WORLD.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE AND SUPPORT THE ARTS AND BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE CITY. THAT BEING SAID I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS EARLIER ABOUT THE PHILHARMONIC AND I KNOW -- I BELIEVE WHAT WE DID WAS INTENTIONAL TO THE PROCESS AND IT WAS MEANT TO BE FAIR AND TREATING AN ORGANIZATION AS A NEW ORGANIZATION AND HOW OTHER NEW ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE TREATED. BUT AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE MAKE EXCEPTIONS ALL THE TIME AND I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK OF THE PHILHARMONIC AUDIO]. IT WAS FULLY FORMED AT ITS INCEPTION, BASICALLY.
I KNOW THEY CAME -- THEY GAVE ME A SPECIFIC NUMBER, $400,000.
I WOULD CERTAINLY REQUEST $400,000. IF WE COULD FIND IT WITHIN EXISTING FUNDS, THAT WOULD BE WELCOME. BUT A HIGHER CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE REALLY WELCOME. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING THAT MY TEAM HAS BEEN EXPLORING, WHICH IS ASPHALT ART. SO VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE ON THE NORTH MAIN STRIP. ASPHALT ART HAS TRAFFIC-CALMING PROPERTIES AND SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT. I WANT US TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WAYS THAT THEY COULD BE BETTER MAINTAINED. I KNOW BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES HAS T THE ASPHALT ART INITIATIVE. THEY HAVE TRACKED DECREASES IN SPEEDING BY 36%. IT'S BEEN VERY SIGNIFICANT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT. I'LL MENTION FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO, DISTRICT 2 -- I SAY IT EVERY YEAR. IS AN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT BATTLING AGAINST A GROWING INDUSTRIAL PRESENCE. WE HAVE THE ALAMODOME, FRANK CENTER, THE ZOO, BOTANICAL GARDENS, JAPANESE TEA GARDEN, AND A BRAND NEW SKATE PARK, ST. PAUL SQUARE AND WE HAVE AN ART PARK BREAKING DOWN SHORTLY AND SO MUCH MORE.
I SAY ALL OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE MY CHALLENGE TO VISIT SA IS I WANT TO USE
[01:50:04]
THE WORD "CONTINUE" BUT I THINK EXPAND UPON EFFORTS IS PROBABLY THE STRONGER WAY TO SAY IT. EXPAND UPON EFFORTS TO MARKET DISTRICT 2 AND EASTSIDE AS THE ASSET THAT IT IS WITH AS MUCH INTENTION AND CREATIVITY AS POSSIBLE.I MENTION WHEN I TRAVEL I LOOK FOR WHERE THE ART IS AT BUT I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR MLK STREET, AVENUE, DRIVE, AND BOULEVARD BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE MY PEOPLE ARE AT AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WHO WHEN THEY TRAVEL, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WHERE OUR PEOPLE ARE AND I THINK WE'RE MISSING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT BLACK ARTISTS, MUSIC, SHOWS, ALL OF THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT EFFORT THERE. I THINK WE'RE REALLY MISSING A VERY IMPORTANT MARKET. I JUST WANT TO SEND THAT CHALLENGE TO YOU ALL.
THAT IS ALL, MAYOR, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE.
I HAD ANOTHER EVENT. REALLY QUICK ON THE CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES, I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS. ON SLIDE 4 I SAW THAT THE STATE REIMBURSEMENT FUND IS INCREASING BY 180%. WHY IS THIS?
>> IT INCLUDES THE CITY'S INVESTMENT FOR TO HOST THE NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR.
>> GAVITO: ON SLIDE 5, WE SAW THE ALAMODOME REVENUES ARE DOWN IN FISCAL YEAR '24 COMPARED TO '23. WHAT EFFORTS ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE WE INCREASE IN
'25? >> DURING THE PRESENTATION -- WHAT HAPPENED IN '24 IS WE ARE HOSTING FOUR MAJOR EVENTS. WHEREAS IN '23 WE HOSTED EIGHT. WE ARE PLANNING OR PROJECTING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOST ANOTHER EIGHT MAJOR EVENTS IN '25. AND DURING THE PRESENTATION I MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A BOOKING AGENCY THAT IS BRINGING US LEADS. AND WE CONTINUE TO BOLSTER OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH PROMOTERS THAT CAN BRING US THOSE HEADLINE ACTS TO THE ALAMODOME.
SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. ON SLIDE 9 I SEE $13.9 MILLION IS GOING TO NCAA FOR IMPROVEMENTS. I HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT THE FINAL FOUR FROM ALANNA'S PRESENTATION WITH THE CHAMBER.
WHAT ARE WE DOING THE MITIGATE -- THIS IS ALSO FOR THE CITY -- THAT
IMPROVEMENTS ARE DONE IN TIME? >> RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON SCHEDULE TO FINISH ALL OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS BY THE END OF DECEMBER.
THOSE INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 18 SUITES.
WE'RE PUSHING -- HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE VALERO ALAMO BOWL AS WELL AS THE UPPER CONCOURSE AND THE ARENA PA. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SCHEDULED THE NCAA COMING IN IN JANUARY AND DOING SOME TESTING ON THAT.
SO FAR WE ARE ON SCHEDULE. >> WALSH: THE ARENA PA IS ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA NEXT
WEEK. >> GAVITO: OKAY. YEAH, BECAUSE I REMEMBER VALERO'S OPEN AND Y'ALL WERE SAYING IT'S THE WEEK OF SPORTS IN SAN ANTONIO.
I'M FOLLOWING THE SLOGAN. I DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT SPORTS.
THIS IS WHY I RUN. I JUST STICK TO RUNNING. FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, KRYSTAL. YOU ALWAYS DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.
I DO WANT TO COUNCILWOMAN KAUR'S ABOUT LIGHTING UNDER THE UNDERPASS.
IT SERVES WITH HELPING OUT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. AND ALSO, TOO, IF THERE ARE WAYS TO INCREASE EFFORTS TOWARDS USING LIGHTING AS ART, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT 7, WE'RE ALL FOR IT. ON THE BUDGET PAGE, PAGE 5 -- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE DOSEUM, THE WITTE, THE GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER AND OTHERS, DO THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE METRICS
THEY MUST MEET IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING? >> THEY HAVE AN ELIGIBILITY PROCESS. SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE THREE YEARS OF OPERATIONS, THREE YEARS OF I.R.S. 990S. AND THEY DO HAVE TO BE A SAN ANTONIO-BASED NONPROFIT.
>> GAVITO: SO IT'S JUST ELIGIBILITY, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ONGOING, LIKE IF
THEY'RE GETTING A CERTAIN NUMBER OF VISITORS. >> NO.
WE DO COLLECT METRICS. AGAIN, IT'S HOW MANY PROGRAMS, HOW MANY ARTISTS THEY HIRE, AND THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE PROGRAMS GOING ON.
IT'S JUST AN ELIGIBILITY RIGHT NOW. IT'S JUST ARE YOU PROVIDING ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING AND DO YOU HAVE THE HISTORY TO MANAGE THESE FUNDS.
[01:55:03]
>> GAVITO: YEAH, THAT'S INTERESTING. I MEAN, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND LIKE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE NONE OF US WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE GIVING FUNDS -- I MEAN, ANYBODY CAN BE ELIGIBLE AT ONE POINT IN TIME. BUT THAT THEY'RE CONTINUING THE ONGOING COMMITMENT I
THINK IS ANOTHER THING. >> YEAH. SO AS A PART OF THEIR CONTRACT THEY DO HAVE TO CONTINUE THEIR ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING.
THEY HAVE TO BE HOSTING PROGRAMMING. THEY HAVE TO BE CREATING PROGRAMMING. THEY HAVE TO BE HOSTING VISITORS AND RESIDENTS FOR THAT PROGRAMMING. SO IF THEY DO FALL INTO DEFAULT, BECAUSE WE'RE MANAGING ALL OF THESE FUNDS, AND THEY'RE REPORTING ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT EXPENSES AND DOING A REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS.
THERE ARE MILESTONES THEY HAVE TO MEET. IF AN ARTS NONPROFIT JUST DECIDES -- IT'S NOT LIKE I GOT A GRANT AND NOW I'M GOING TO STOP PROGRAMMING.
IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT. THEY'RE SUBMITTING EXPENSES SO WE KNOW THE ARTS AND
PROGRAMMING IS BRINGING IN VISITORS. >> GAVITO: THAT'S HELPFUL.
THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT. Y'ALL CAN SEE IF, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF THE DOSEUM WAS BRINGING IN TWO PEOPLE VERSUS 2,000 PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S PART OF OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN TERMS OF ARTISTIC ACTIVITY.
THEY ARE COLLECTING THAT RESIDENT DATA -- RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
THEY ARE COLLECTING DATA AS THE ATTENDEE WANTS TO PROVIDE IT.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GETTING THAT NUMBER. IT'S FROM THE NONPROFITS WHO
ARE DIRECTLY REPORTING. >> GAVITO: REALLY QUICK, MARK FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO, I SAW HOPE ANDRADE AND JOHN HALL . THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. ON SLIDE 3 IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE EXCELLENT ROI FOR YOUR MARKETING EFFORTS AND I DO WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR'S REQUEST TO SEE YOUR METRICS THAT YOU SENT TO THE BOARD. WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK IS THE
MOST SUCCESSFUL PLATFORMS Y'ALL USE FOR ADVERTISING? >> ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL THINGS WE'VE SEEN, WE TOOK SOCIAL MEDIA IN-HOUSE AND OUR ENGAGEMENT IN SOCIAL MEDIA IS THROUGH THE ROOF OVER THE PAST 24 MONTHS.
>> GAVITO: THAT'S AWESOME. >> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF MARKETING PLATFORM.
WE HAVE DONE SOME REALLY SUCCESSFUL CO-OP CAMPAIGNS ON EXPEDIA WHERE WE'RE SELLING THE GOODS OF OUR HOTEL COMMUNITY AND CO-OP WITH THEM.
WE HAVE A FANTASTIC RETURN ON INVESTMENT. MOST RECENTLY WE RAN SOMETHING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND WE DID THE SAME IN MEXICO CITY AS WELL.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE TAKEN THE MAJORITY OF OUR MARKETING IS DIGITAL NOW. WE'RE DOING NEXT TO NO TV ADVERTISING BECAUSE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS HARD TO MEASURE AND PLUS IT'S SO EXPENSIVE.
>> GAVITO: AND EVERYBODY LIVES ON SOCIAL NOW, UNFORTUNATELY.
ON SLIDE 8 I DO SEE THE IRAQ RIVER WALK IS A PRIORITY. ARE THERE EFFORTS UNDERWAY
TO MAKE THE RIVER WALK MORE APPEALING TO LOCALS AS WELL? >> THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON OVER THE PAST 36 MONTHS. SINCE I MOVED HERE FROM A
LOT OF SAN ANTONIANS IS WE DON'T COME DOWNTOWN. >> GAVITO: ALSO PARKING.
>> AND WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF EFFORTS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS MARKETING OUR LOCALS -- TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. THE RIVER PARADES ARE ONE BUT THE RIVER WALK LIVE WAS REALLY CREATED FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR THURSDAY FREE CONCERTS TO ENJOY A FREE EVENT ON THE RIVER WALK.
>> GAVITO: YEAH. THAT'S HELPFUL. YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M AT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WE GET THE FEEDBACK THAT RESIDENTS WANT TO GO DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE THEY SEE DIFFERENT EVENTS, IT'S JUST PARKING IS SUCH A NIGHTMARE.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY PART OF THE REASON THAT KEEPS THEM AWAY.
AWESOME. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS I HAD.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. CONVENTION SPORTS FACILITIES.
THIS IS JUST FOR MY INFORMATION. BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S AN EASY ANSWER. ALAMODOME WE MEASURE REVENUE PER ATTENDEE.
CONVENTION CENTER PER RENTABLE SQUARE FOOT. IS THAT THE WAY OTHER CITIES
MEASURE THEIR CONVENTION CENTERS? >> THEY ALSO USE TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT BUT MOST OF THEM DO. THE REASON THAT IT'S NOT PER ATTENDEE IS JUST BECAUSE SOME OF THESE ARE CONFERENCES, SOME OF THAT INFORMATION, IT'S CONFIDENTIAL TO THEM AND THEY DON'T RELEASE IT.
[02:00:02]
WE GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THEM AS FAR AS A PROJECTION AT THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS BOOKING THE MEETING. AND SOMETIMES TOWARDS THE END OF THE EVENT OR EVENT MANAGERS GET WITH THEIR STAFF AND TRY TO GET THOSE ACTUALIZED NUMBERS. MOST OF THE TIME WE GET THEM.SOME OF THE TIMES THEY GIVE US AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THEIR ATTENDANCE WAS.
>> WHYTE: BUT WE JUST KEEP THE NUMBERS BASED ON RENTABLE SQUARE FOOT?
>> YES. >> WHYTE: REGARDING THE ALAMODOME, I'M ALL FOR EXTENDING THE LIFE SPAN OF THE ALAMODOME BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT'S 30 YEARS OLD -- 31, ALMOST. AND THE LIFE SPAN OF THESE DOMES IS USUALLY IN THAT 30 TO 40-YEAR RANGE. THE METRODOME IN MY IN MINNEAPOLIS, 31 YEARS OLD.
COUNCIL JUST PASSED SOMEWHAT RECENTLY FUNDING FOR $30 MILLION IN RENOVATIONS FOR THE ALAMODOME. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT CONTINUALLY DUMPING MONEY INTO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ALAMODOME WHEN PERHAPS ANOTHER PATH IS, YOU KNOW, COULD BE MORE ECONOMICALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR US.
THE ALAMODOME IS GREAT. IT HOUSES MANY EVENTS. IT'S NEVER, IN MY OPINION, IN THE FUTURE GOING TO HOUSE A COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANT US TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE PUTTING IN THERE. MOVING TO ARTS AND CULTURE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION HERE. I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, OUR ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY, IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CITY AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.
I BROUGHT IT UP LAST YEAR SO I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. YOU KNOW, THE $500,000 ON THE ART MAINTENANCE FOR 19 PIECES OF ART COMES OUT TO ABOUT $26,000 PER PIECE.
IT'S A LOT OF GENERAL FUND MONEY SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I THINK COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA ASKED THE QUESTION -- AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I HEARD THE ANSWER SO I'M GOING TO ASK IT AGAIN. THE GRANTS FROM 50 TO 30, YET WE'RE INCREASING THE AMOUNT PER GRANT. WHAT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND
THAT? >> WHEN WE MET WITH THE COMMUNITY, AS A REQUIREMENT FOR UPDATING OUR GRANT GUIDELINES, COSTS HAVE RISEN, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OR ANY OTHER KIND OF PROGRAM THAT'S PRODUCED THAT HAS EXPENSES.
AND SO ARTISTS THEMSELVES, WE TALKED TO ARTISTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS AND ARTISTS WHO WANT TO RECEIVE GRANTS, AND NONPROFITS. THE IDEA WAS THAT $5,000 BEFORE WAS NOT QUITE CUTTING IT IN TERMS OF THE EXPENSES TO DO A PUBLIC PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHY I INCREASED THE AMOUNT TO $7500 AND $15,000. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU FOR THAT. MOVING ON TO VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
MARK, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK HERE. YOU AND I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS I GUESS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO TO DRIVE BUSINESS TO THE CITY.
I ALSO WOULD LOVE TO SEE THOSE METRICS THAT THE COUNCILWOMEN REFERENCED SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE. OVER THE PAST YEAR -- AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY THE MAJORITY OF THE TRAFFIC COMING TO SAN ANTONIO IS VIA DRIVING.
HAVE WE SEEN ANY UPTICK IN FOLKS FLYING INTO SAN ANTONIO?
>> YEAR OVER YEAR IT'S A 2% INCREASE IN AIR SERVICE VERSUS WHAT WE SAW BEFORE.
10% AND THE LATEST NUMBERS WERE 12% OF OUR VISITATION WAS FLYING IN.
>> WHYTE: INCREASE IN DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL? >> PRIMARILY DOMESTIC.
WE WERE 20% UP INTERNATIONAL YEAR OVER YEAR BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE INCREASE IS IN DOMESTIC NONSTOP SERVICE, DUE TO THE SUCCESS THE AIRPORT IS SEEING.
>> WHYTE: SO THAT'S WHAT YOU ATTRIBUTE IT TO IS MORE DIRECT FLIGHTS AVAILABLE
HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. >> I THINK SO. WE ARE JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE WHEN WE LOOK AT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO AND FROM SAN ANTONIO.
YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT PRIOR TO 2022 OUR ONLY REPRESENTATION OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES WAS IN MEXICO.
NOW WE'RE IN THE U.K., GERMANY, AND IT'S A SLOW PROCESS. WE LEARNED DEFINITELY WITH THE AIRPORT AND GREATER SATX
[02:05:02]
THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO BRAND AWARENESS IN GERMANY ON TEXAS, LET ALONE SAN ANTONIO. SO WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT INTO BRINGING THOSE FOLKS AND EDUCATING THEM WHY THIS IS A HOME FOR THEM IN THE UNITED STATES.>> WHYTE: MY GUESS IS THAT PEOPLE WHO FLY IN, EVEN DOMESTICALLY, SPEND MORE
THAN FOLKS WHO DRIVE HERE. >> YEAH. >> WHYTE: IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT OUR DOLLARS WOULD PROBABLY BE BEST SPENT TARGETING DOMESTIC TRAVEL TO
SAN ANTONIO. >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MARKETING SPEND IN KIND OF A PIE CHART THAT I CAN SHOW YOU, WE'RE SPENDING MORE MONEY REGIONALLY AND MORE MORE DOMESTICALLY WHILE WE'VE INCREASED THE INVESTMENT IN INTERNATIONAL.
BUT THE INVESTMENT IN INTERNATIONAL IS STILL SUCH A TINY OVERALL PIECE.
>> WHYTE: DOMESTICALLY YOU SAID WE HAVE HAD AN UPTICK. WHERE ARE THOSE FOLKS COMING
FROM? >> THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID THREE YEARS AGO IS WE WENT ALL ON IN IN OUR MARKETING .
WE USED TO BE SEASONAL MARKETING. WE WENT TO MARKETING EVERY MONTH. AND WE BRING THE EXPOSURE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES TO CITIES WHO HAVE NONSTOP SERVICE TO AND FROM SAN ANTONIO.
I'LL SEND YOU THE BREAKDOWN OF THE INCREASES WE HAVE SEEN IN 2023.
>> WHYTE: DO WE KNOW WHY THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE, IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY
WANT TO DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO? >> CULTURE, DIVERSITY.
THE SAN ANTONIO ICONS LIKE THE RIVER WALK AND THE ALAMO CONTINUE TO BE GREAT BRANDING AWARENESS FOR US DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
>> WHYTE: HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE COMING HERE FOR?
>> THE DATA WE USE IN THE THIRD-PARTY DATA COMPANY WE USE BREAKS DOWN WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE PERSON'S STAY. IT BREAKS DOWN WHAT ARE THEIR FAMILIES, COUPLE, SINGLE, TRAVEL, ET CETERA. I CAN SEND THAT ALL TO YOU.
>> WHYTE: WHAT IS THE AGE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT MOST LIKELY IS COMING TO THE CITY?
>> WE SKEW A LITTLE BIT OLDER, TO BE HONEST. IT'S PROBABLY THE AVERAGE -- THE PEAK IS BETWEEN 45 AND 53, WHICH IS GREAT. BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BOOST
THE YOUNGER AUDIENCE AND THE MILLENNIAL TRAVEL AS WELL. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I APPRECIATE SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE MADE ABOUT THE SAN ANTONIO PHILHARMONIC. I KNOW I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. AND I SUPPORT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING BEYOND AN $85,000 GRANT. AND I HOPE THAT THE CITY MANAGER TAKES THIS TO HEART IN WORKING ON ANY OTHER ASKS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. AND WE ALSO -- I'LL GO THROUGH ARTS COMMISSION TO ASK ABOUT THIS. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FINANCING OR THE BUDGET THAT WE GET FROM THE CITY. AND THE PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. BUT YOU DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE BOND PROJECTS THAT CREATE PUBLIC ART. AND WERE THOSE LISTED IN
SOMETHING? >> YES. SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE PUBLIC ART SLIDE, IT SHOULD BE SLIDE 9. SO I ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THE BOND 2022 BOND PROJECTS BEING ON TRACKED. WE HAVE 36 BOND PROJECTS.
>> COURAGE: 36 BOND PROJECTS? >> 36 BOND PROJECTS WITH A FOCUS OF BEING OUT IN DISTRICTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AS REQUESTED.
>> COURAGE: FROM '17 AND '22, PROBABLY, THOSE BONDS? HAVE YOU FINISHED ALL OF THE
'17 BOND PROJECTS? >> THE BOND PROJECTS REALLY ALIGN WITH PUBLIC WORKS' SCHEDULE. IF YOU THINK ABOUT A SCULPTURE, FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE IS A BUILDING ON THE BOND, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FOUNDATION TO PUT THAT SCULPTURE SO WE'RE WORKING IN TANDEM WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO MAKE SURE THEIR DESIGN OF THE BUILDING OR THE STREET OR THE DRAINAGE PROJECT IS AT A STAGE WHERE WE CAN THEN INSTALL THE ART. WE JUST FINISHED THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR MANY OF THESE PROJECTS WITH PEOPLE IDENTIFYING THEMES.
ARTIST SELECTION FOR FOLKS IN THE DISTRICT SELECT THE ARTISTS THEY WANT US TO WORK WITH. AND THEN THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION.
>> COURAGE: ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN IS THE EXTENSION OF SONTERRA CONNECTING 1604 NEAR CBC CHURCH.
HAVE WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT PUTTING ANY PUBLIC ART IN THE ROUNDABOUT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE BUILDING IN THAT AREA? >> YES, WE ARE.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THAT CHURCH. THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO
[02:10:05]
PARTICIPATE TO GET THE SURVEY OUT TO THEIR CONGREGATION.WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM EXACTLY ON THAT PROJECT IN THE ROUNDABOUT.
>> COURAGE: THAT'S GOOD. I HADN'T HEARD ABOUT THAT. I HOPE YOU'LL INCLUDE ME IN ANY FUTURE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. I WANT TO NOW TALK ABOUT THE ALAMODOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER. PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER. THERE WAS NO INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE LILA COCKRELL THEATER, THE NUMBER OF DAYS IT'S USED, THE KIND OF REVENUE IT BRINGS IN.
DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION? >> WE CAN PROVIDE THAT, SIR.
YES. >> COURAGE: IS IT USED 100 DAYS A YEAR?
200 DAYS A YEAR? ABOUT. >> DEFINITELY OVER 100.
IT'S USED FOR CONFERENCES, FOR MEETINGS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE MANY SHOWS
IN THE FACILITY. >> COURAGE: I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS DO PLAYS THERE AND HOLIDAY-THEMED EVENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT AND HOPEFULLY IT'S BRINGING IN WHAT IT NEEDS TO CARE FOR ITSELF FINANCIALLY. THAT'S JUST SOMETHING ELSE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
RELATED TO THE DOME ITSELF, HOW ARE THE BONES OF THE ALAMODOME?
HOW GOOD IS THE STRUCTURE? >> THE STRUCTURE IS GOOD. THE STRUCTURAL REPAIRS PROJECT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY --S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MAKING SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY, THE STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF THE ALAMODOME. THE BUILDING ITSELF REALLY CAN LAST, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER 100 YEARS. THE PROBLEM IS THE AMENITIES.
IF WE COMPARE OURSELVES WITH OTHER STADIUMS IN THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, IT'S
THOSE AMENITIES THAT WE'RE LACKING. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
DO YOU OR VISIT SA OR SA SPORTS FOUNDATION GO OUT AND SOLICIT NATIONAL EVENTS THAT
COULD USE THE ALAMODOME? >> WE DO . WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP -- YOU KNOW, VISIT SAN ANTONIO BRINGS US A LOT OF MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT HAPPEN AT THE ALAMODOME. LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE THIS BOOKING AGENCY.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE REACH OUT TO PROMOTERS FOR SOME OF THESE MAJOR CONCERTS AND SPORTING EVENTS AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH SAN ANTONIO SPORTS TO BRING IN AMATEUR
EVENTS TO THE BUILDING. >> COURAGE: WHEN ANYONE USES THE FACILITY, WHAT IS
THE COST TO THEM FOR USING THAT FACILITY? >> USUALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE WHOLE STADIUM IT'S DIFFERENT RATES. AGAIN, IT'S NEGOTIATED BASED ON, DEPENDING ON THE PERFORMA FOR EACH PARTICULAR EVENT.
THE RENT FOR THE STATEMENT IS ABOUT $50,000. >> COURAGE: WHAT DOES IT COST TO CLEAN UP AND MAINTAIN AFTER EVERY EVENT? WHAT'S THE EXPENSE?
>> OUR MAINTENANCE COSTS TO MAINTAIN THE ALAMODOME ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IS ABOUT $7 MILLION. BUT AFTER AN EVENT, IT JUST DEPENDS WHAT AREAS WERE USED. BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY GET YOU AN AVERAGE OF THAT.
>> COURAGE: I GUESS I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO EXPAND MORE LOCAL USAGE OF THE DOME. YOU KNOW, IF IT COSTS $50,000 TO RENT IT OR IT'S $25,000 TO CLEAN IT UP, THAT'S PROBABLY PRETTY PROHIBITIVE FOR MOST LEGAL GROUPS TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS. DO WE HAVE ANY KIND OF SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS OR NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHER ENTITIES? >> DEFINITELY.
I MEAN, WE CURRENTLY, FOR ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS, ALL OF THE COLLEGE, THE ALAMO COLLEGES GRADUATIONS, IT'S A SPECIAL RATE.
THE SAME THING FOR PARKING THERE. IT'S VERY ACCESSIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S MANY OTHER EVENTS THAT WE HOLD FOR THE
COMMUNITY THAT SOMETIMES WE PROVIDE FREE RENT. >> COURAGE: I KNOW THE PARKING FACILITIES ARE GREAT. WE USE THOSE FOR OUR WEAPONS EXCHANGE LAST YEAR AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN THIS NOVEMBER.
THERE'S A LOT OF PARKING THERE. AND SO IF AN ORGANIZATION WANTS TO USE IT, THEY SIMPLY REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND EXPLAIN WHY AND YOU GIVE
THEM THE PARAMETERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? >> YES, SIR.
>> COURAGE: GOOD. NOW, I WOULD IMAGINE, THOUGH, YOU WANT TO TRY AND KEEP AS MANY DATES OPEN FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN FOR MAYBE A BETTER-PAYING RENTER, IS
THAT RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. SO MANY OF THESE LOCAL EVENTS WE DEFINITELY WAIT UNTIL SIX MONTHS OUT, JUST BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE
[02:15:06]
CONCERT PROMOTERS, THOSE ARE BOOKED PROBABLY WITHIN NINE MONTHS.SOME OF THESE COMPETITIONS, BOXING COMPETITIONS OR SOCCER, THERE'S LESS TIME BETWEEN THE EVENT. AND SO USUALLY SIX MONTHS. BUT IF WE HAVE THE SPACE AVAILABLE WITHIN SIX MONTHS, WE OPEN IT TO THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS.
>> COURAGE: THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. THANK YOU..
I THINK THAT'S IT. THANKS A LOT. AND, FINALLY, VISIT SA.
I HEARD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT OFFICES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. YOU SAID CHINA, GREAT
BRITAIN, GERMANY, MEXICO CITY. >> WE HAVE REP FIRMS THAT WE ARE UNDER CONTRACT WITH IN MEXICO CITY, IN GERMANY, IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND THEN WE HAVE A COMPANY CALLED EAST/WEST THAT HELPS US CURRENTLY WITH A SMALL FOOTPRINT IN CHINA. AND THEN WE'VE ALSO EXPANDED OUR PRESENCE FROM A SOCIAL MEDIA FRONT IN CANADA AS WELL TO INCREASE VISITATION FROM CANADIANS.
>> COURAGE: HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS WOULD BE FROM
THOSE OFFICES? >> EACH OF THE OFFICES HAS KPIS AND THE KPI IS GENERALLY BROKEN DOWN BY AN INCREASE IN VISITATION YEAR OVER YEAR.
AN INCREASE IN THE MEDIA VALUE OF MEDIA THAT THEY HELP US PLACE IN THOSE COUNTRIES. AND THE NUMBER OF PLACEMENTS.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. GOOD. NOW, ONE THING THAT WAS MENTIONED A LITTLE WHILE AGO THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS AS TO WHY IT'S NOT MORE PROMOTED, AND THAT'S ST. PAUL SQUARE. IS THAT INCLUDED IN ANY OF
YOUR MARKETING ABOUT SAN ANTONIO? >> IT IS.
>> COURAGE: GOOD. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. NOW, THE AIRPORT ALSO HAS A MARKETING PROGRAM OF ITS OWN. THEY HAVE A FIRM THEY'VE HIRED. DOES VISIT SA COLLABORATE WITH THE AIRPORT EFFORT FOR
MARKETING THE AIRPORT? >> WE HAVE AN INITIATIVE THAT WE WORK WITH THE AIRPORT AND GREATER SATX. THEY USE A LOCAL MARKETING FIRM TO REALLY HANDLE MORE OF THEIR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING PIECES LOCALLY. BUT OUR ORGANIZATION IS REALLY THE ONE OUTBOUND THAT'S PROMOTING TRAVEL TO AND FROM SAN ANTONIO.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. WELL, THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR .>> COURAGE: THANK YOU,
MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL START WITH THE ARTS AND CULTURAL DEPARTMENT. KRYSTAL, THANK YOU FOR THE ART MAINTENANCE.
I THINK THAT IS KEY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO. I AM INTERESTED IN SEEING -- I KNOW WE KIND OF PAY FOR OPERATIONAL AND THEN PROGRAMMING IN SOME OF THE CENTERS. I THINK SENIORS IN PLAY IS NOT GETTING ANY OPERATIONAL COSTS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THEY COULD POSSIBLY GET OPERATIONAL COSTS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND EVEN GOING OUT TO LIKE THE MADONNA CENTER TO OFFER SERVICES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN'T DO THAT. I NOTICED ONE OF THE ARTS PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY GETTING -- BILL HOUSE ARTS, INC. GETS OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAMMING FUNDS SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FAIR AND EQUITABLE . IN TERMS OF THE ART PIECES, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A LIST OF WHAT ACTUALLY BELONGS TO THE CITY IN TERMS OF CURATE ART PIECES AND SEE IF WE CAN'T USE THAT IN THE CONNECTIONS WE'RE MAKING WITH THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND WORKING WITH THEM. SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET A LIST OF THAT. AND THEN THE CONVERSATION -- THERE'S JUST SO MANY AGENCIES THAT NEED OUR FUNDS AND I DO NOT KNOW IF WE CAN GET WHAT THEY ACTUALLY RAISE VERSUS WHAT WE GET. AND WHAT OUR MATCH IS. DO WE HAVE THAT ON FILE?
>> SO WE DO HAVE -- THEY ARE THREE-YEAR AVERAGE OF 990S, THEIR EXPENSES.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE HAVE GRANTED OUT, THEY ARE GENERATING ABOUT 7.5 -- SORRY. $7.50 BACK FROM THEIR EFFORTS.
EITHER FUNDRAISING, TICKET SALES, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
WE ARE USING THE PREVIOUS THREE-YEAR AVERAGE. THE DATA IS A LITTLE BIT LAGGING SO WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TO COLLECT THAT DATA. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE FUND AND THE 990 EXPENSES THAT WE'RE EVALUATING THAT FUNDING FROM.
WE'RE SEEING 7.5 INVESTMENT. >> VIAGRAN: >> VIAGRAN: BECAUSE I
[02:20:01]
KNOW THAT SOLI IS DOING THEIR EFFORTS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN TERMS OF EXPERIMENTAL AND CREATING THE NEW MUSIC, I REALLY APPRECIATE HERE.BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE CUTTING EDGE. I KNOW THE BALLET, AND THAT'S -- ANY CUT FROM THE BALLET OR OPERA, I'M GOING TO HEAR FROM BALLET AND OPERA FANS, AND I KNOW THE BALLET, EVEN THOUGH THEY ONLY DO, SOMEONE WAS SAYING THREE PERFORMANCE, THEY'RE SELLING ITEMS AT EACH PERFORMANCE. THEY'RE TRYING TO FUNDRAISE AT EACH OF THE PERFORMANCE, AND I'M SURE IT'S THAT WAY AT THE OPERA ALSO.
CMI IS TRYING TO DO THAT. I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT BEFORE WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE PHILHARMONIC, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND -- AND I KNOW YOU SAID YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO MEET THAT, BUT THERE ARE JUST SOME GUARANTEES I WOULD LIKE BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER NEEDS THERE IN TERMS OF THE THEATERS, MAGIK IS ALWAYS IN NEED. YOU KNOW, SAN PEDRO, THE CLASSIC THEATER, IF WE WANT TO GET THEM TO THE NEXT EDGE, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR OTHER COMPANIES KIND OF SAY, WELL, WHAT ABOUT ME? AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING. SO I REALLY WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL IN TERMS OF WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAKING EXCEPTIONS, AND I KNOW WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE -- THAT THIS HAS HIT A LOT OF -- AFTER THE PANDEMIC HAS HIT A LOT OF OUR ARTS, SO THANK YOU, KRYSTAL. AND IF YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR ME. LET'S TALK CONVENTION CENTER.
PATRICIA, I WAS IN DENVER, AND THEY ARE STARTING TO USE EVERY INCH OF THEIR SPACE, LIKE UNDER STAIRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SOLO GIS SO LOGISTICALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY SPACE THAT WE'RE NOT UTILIZING THAT MAYBE WE CAN UTILIZE.
EVEN IF IT'S TO RENT OUT TO A INFLUENCER TO SIT AND DO A PODCAST, MAYBE DO A RECORDING. MAIN DO THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE. THE 'DOME, IN TERMS OF THE BIG EVENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE VIE VIA CANNOT GET IT TOGETHER, THE LITTLE ROAD RUNNER AND THE OLD TIME TROLLEY, THAT IS A FUN BUS THAT CAN TAKE PEOPLE TO AND FROM PLACES, SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT.
I THINK IT -- LIKE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE SAID, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A ONE-OFF, BUT I HAVE A FEELING IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN, SO LET'S KIND OF SEE HOW WE CAN DO THAT THERE. ALSO WITH THE CARVER, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET THE INFORMATION OF WHAT THEY HAVE ON THE LINEUP THAT'S DOING REALLY WELL AND SELLS OUT AND SEEING -- BECAUSE I KNOW, LIKE MAG PIE IS IN THAT AREA. THERE'S OTHER RESTAURANTS IN THAT AREA THAT WE CAN MAYBE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROMOTING THIS ALSO AND MAYBE OFFERING LIKE A DEAL OR MAYBE A RIDE TO THE CARVER OR AN UBER DISCOUNT TO GET THEM THERE. BECAUSE I -- I'VE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF SHOWS, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME BECAUSE I DO THE CITY COUNCIL GIG, BUT THE ONES I HAVE BEEN TO THERE HAVE BEEN AMAZING AND BREATHTAKING, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROMOTING THAT, BECAUSE IT IS -- IT'S A NICE VENUE AND VERY HISTORIC AND I LIKE THAT YOU CAN GO IN AND YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE AND RECOGNIZE FACES.
SO THAT'S SOME INFORMATION THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.
AND THEN VISIT SAN ANTONIO, I DO GET TO SIT ON THE BOARD.
I THINK WE HAD AN EXCELLENT BOARD RETREAT THIS YEAR.
I THINK IT WAS REALLY NEAT. WE HAVE -- I WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO KNOW, AND MAYOR, YOU HAVE REALLY ENGAGED BOARD OVER AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO. WHAT I WOULD LIKE THIS YEAR IS REALLY A DATABASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND GROUPS THAT WE HAVE IN.
WE RECENTLY HAD THE INTERNATIONAL RACQUETBALL FEDERATION IN AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT WAS 19 COUNTRIES. AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO -- OR MAYBE IT WAS LAST YEAR, AMERICAN VOKE SPORT ASSOCIATION WAS HERE, AND THAT ALSO BROUGHT OTHER COUNTRIES IN. SO W I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE WANTING THE WORLD TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO, WE LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE COMING. IT WAS AT THE THOUSAND OAKS YMCA. IT WAS STILL 19 COUNTRIES AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PEOPLE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY ONE DAY BE IN THE OLYMPICS WITH THE RACQUETBALL. I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND I INVITED THEM TO COME BACK WHENEVER THEY WANTED, JUST FY I.
>> THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THE OTHER IS BROOKSA LOT OF COMPANIES COMING
[02:25:04]
FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF -- KIND OF EUROPE AND THEY ARE INTO RUGBY.SO I THINK THAT THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF -- WE'VE HAD SOMETHING THERE AT THE -- AT THE FIELD, THE FC SOCCER FIELD, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE US LOOK AT THOSE SPORTS THAT MAY HAVE AN INTEREST HERE, AND I THINK RUGBY IS ONE OF THEM. I KNOW POSSIBLY -- I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND CRICKET, BUT I HEAR WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE THAT ENJOY CRICKET, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT. AND THEN WITH THE RIVERWALK, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE MINDFUL AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING NEW VENDORS THERE, THAT WE STILL KEEP THAT SAN ANTONIO CULTURAL FEEL AS LONG AS -- AND OUR BIG -- OUR BIG NAMES, OUR CORPORATE NAMES. AND I THOUGHT THE STARS AND STRIPES WAS A GREAT IDEA. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS EVERY -- I KNOW A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS DO THEIR OWN THING FOR FOURTH OF JULY, AND MAYBE WE COULD DO A VIDEO OF WHAT EVERYBODY'S DOING, BUT THEN GET THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND OUR VISITORS TO COME DOWNTOWN. COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, I WAS, AGAIN, IN AN OLD TOWN TROLLEY BUS, THAT DOUBLE-DECKER BUS.
SHE WAS IN A CAR SWEATING. SO IT WAS -- BUT IT WAS SO NICE AND IT WAS A SHORT -- IT WAS A SHORT PARADE, BUT PEOPLE APPRECIATED IT AND IT FELT LIKE WE WERE CELEBRATING SAN ANTONIO AND THE FOURTH OF JULY AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CONTINUE.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE NEIGHBORS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS COME AND KIND OF BRING THEIR FEEL. I HAVE A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRICT THREE THAT WILL READ THE -- THE DECLARATION OFFIN OF INDEPENDENCE. I WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO GET IN HIS GEAR AND MAYBE BE ON A FLOAT NEXT YEAR TO BE IN THAT PARADE. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT DO DOG PARADES AND DIFFERENT THINGS, TO BRING THEM DOWNTOWN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
THOSE ARE JUST MY POINTS. I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT TOURISM HAS AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS WHAT BRINGS IN A LOT OF REVENUE, AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND I'M GLAD ALEX IS HERE TO GET THIS, IS WHAT IS THOSE FULL-TIME JOBS THAT WE HAVE AND WHAT ARE THOSE PART-TIME JOBS, THOSE WEEKEND JOBS THAT A LOT OF OUR SINGLE MOTHER AND SINGLE PARENTS ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN LIVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MARK. >> THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA? >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. KRYSTAL, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
ON OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER FOUNDATION, WHAT IS THAT? WHERE IS IT GOING TO GO TO SPECIFICALLY?
>> SO IT GOES SPECIFICALLY TO THE RIVER FOUNDATION FOR THE CREATION OF ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS. SO THEY HAVE MANY ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING TO CREATE THE SAN PEDRO CREEK AND ALSO ALONG THE RIVER. THEY ENGAGE A LOT OF ARTISTS, AND -- IN THEIR PROGRAMMING, SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR, TO CREATE ARTS PROGRAMMING.
>> GARCIA: GOT IT. AND THEN THE DOSEUM, IT WAS 312,000.
HAVE WE ALWAYS FUNDED THEM AT THAT LEVEL? >> SO IT'S ALWAYS BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF THE 990S, SO IT'S ALWAYS AT ANALYSIS.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FUNDING, SO -- BUT THE AMOUNTS HAVE CHANGED EVERY YEAR DEPENDING ON THAT AVERAGE OF THE THREE-YEAR 990.
>> GARCIA: GOT IT. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I REMEMBER WE HAD A CONVERSATION, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE LAST YEAR, WE CHANGED MONEY FROM NONPROFIT TO ANOTHER, AND THE NONPROFIT WHO WE CHANGED IN FAVOR OF SAID, NO, WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ANY OTHER NONPROFIT. LIKE LET'S START THE PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH NONPROFIT IT WAS, BUT I WANT TO ASK, DID THEY APPLY OR WAS IT ARTS RELATED?
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS DHS OR ARTS RELATED. >> WALSH: I THOUGHT THAT
WAS ARPA RELATED. >> GARCIA: AH. OKAY.
THMAYBE I WAS THINKING ARTS, BUT MAYBE IT WAS ARPA, SO MY APOLOGIES.
>> WALSH: IT WAS THE ARTS PORTION OF ARPA. THERE WAS LIKE
$5 MILLION. >> GARCIA: OKAY. >> WALSH: IT MAY HAVE
BEEN THAT. >> GARCIA: WELL, SO ANYWAYS, I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT THAT AND IF THEY HAD APPLIED. BUT, OKAY, I'LL GO BACK AND CHECK ON THAT, OR MAYBE, MARIA, IF YOU CAN CHECK ON THAT FOR ME.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO BRINGING UP THE TROLLEYS, SO WHOEVER NEEDS TO HEAR THAT. I THINK, LIKE, SO MANY OF
[02:30:01]
THE SOUTH SIDE HOUSEHOLDS, IVIES IT, INCLUDING MY OWN.I HAD A KEEN SINIERRA PICTURE ON A TROLLEY. SO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO BRING THE TROLLEYS BACK, I'M ALL IN. AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION, CAN WE GET A LIST OF THE EXCEPTIONS THAT WE'VE HEARINGMADE FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. I HAD AN ORGANIZATION IN MY DISTRICT, THEY DID NOT GET AN EXCEPTION, THEY GOT FUNDS CUT AND THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING DIRECTLY FOR LEADERSHIP FOR KIDS AND ARTS RELATED THING.
I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH D DHS, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME ARE WE MAKING EXCEPTIONS, AND FOR WHAT PURPOSES? I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE'RE MAKING EXCEPTIONS, WE GET A LITTLE -- INTO A GRAY AREA, SO I WOULD PREFER THAT MAYBE CC CPF FUNDS BE USED, IF WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED MONEY TO AN ORGANIZATION, ARE THEY
STILL ALLOWED TO GET CCPF FUNDS. >> WALSH: COUNCILWOMAN, I THINK AS LONG AS IT MEETS THE GUIDELINES OF THOSE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF A [INDISCERNIBLE] CONVERSATION, IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR AN AGENCY, ULTIMATELY, THE GUIDELINES DRIVE WHAT --
THE WORK THAT THE STAFF DOES. >> GARCIA: OKAY.
>> WALSH: SO THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT, WE OR TREATING EVERY AGENCY, OLD, NEW, THE SAME. BUT THAT'S PROBABLY UP TO THE COUNCIL IN WHETHER OR
NOT IT'S AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE OF CCPF. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.
THANK YOU. SO IF WE CAN GET A LIST OF EXCEPTIONS, THAT WILL WORK. AND THEN LASTLY, TO VSA, AND I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY, FOR YOU ALL BECAUSE I'M THERE ALL OF THE TIME. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I GOT COUNTED ABSENT FOR ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE I WAS COVERING WITH YOU ALL, AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE. I LOVE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THE PAID MARKETING FOR AWARENESS IN ME MEXICO AND THE HIGHEST BUDGETED MARKET IN MEXICO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, OUR RELATIONSHIP NEEDS TO CONTINUE. BUT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE OTHER MARKETS, AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE BROUGHT THIS UP A LITTLE BIT.
WE REFERENCE UK AND GERMANY. CAN YOU MAKE SURE TO TELL THE REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES -- I THINK YOU HAVE ANSWERED ME BEFORE, BUT WHY ARE THOSE MARKETS PREFERRED OVER THE SOUTH AMERICAN OR THE ASIAN
MARKET. >> ITS 100% BASED ON DATA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GERMANY. CHINA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM PREPANDEMIC WERE THE LARGEST OVERSEAS MARKET. GERMANY, WE ARE IN, BECAUSE OF THE CONDOR FLIGHT AND THE NEED TO SUPPORT AND EDUCATING AND MARKET B AND SELLING -- PROMOTING THE STORIES OF THE SAN ANTONIO STORIES TO GERMAN TRAVELERS. IT'S ALL BASED ON DATA. IT'S THE MARKET THAT SAW THE LARGEST VISITATION PREPANDEMIC THAT WE WANT TO BRING BACK, AND NOT ONLY BRING BANG, WE WANT TO GROW IT E EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE
NEXT FEW YEARS. . >> GARCIA: OKAY.
ONE OF THE INITIATIVES IS A NEW STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR DOWNTOWN, RIGHT? AND SO ARE -- IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL -- I KNOW Y'ALL ARE PARTNERING WITH CENTRO, BUT WHERE IS THIS GOING IN OUR PLAN HERE?
>> SO IT'S IN THE LARGER PLAN, AND TRISH DEBERRY AND MYSELF AND LORI HOUSTON I THINK, WILL BE PRESENTING TO ALL OF YOU IN THE NEXT 30 TO 60 DAYS ON THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND THE FINDINGS FROM THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR? >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MARK, I JUST HAD A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FOR YOU. SORRY, I WAS CUT OFF ON MY FIRST ONE.
BUT ONE, JUST WANTED TO REITERATE AROUND THE FUNDING PIECE, SO I HAD A SPECIFIC REQUEST FOR YOU, AND COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ AND I HAD BRIEFLY DISCUSSED THIS, BUT I KNOW WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT, I KNOW SAN ANTONIO SPORTS, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, RECEIVES ABOUT 225,000 A YEAR, SO GIVEN THAT WHETHER YOU TAKE PATRICIA'S ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 250 MILLION FOR FINAL FOUR OR THERE'S THE 400 MILLION, I THINK THE REVENUE GROWTH -- OR THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING FOR THAT EVENT IS JUSTIFIABLE FOR AT LEAST CONSIDER WHAT THEY'RE GETTING BUDGETED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU ALL LOOK AT IT. OF YOUR 31 MILLION, IT'S LESS THAN HALF A PERCENT THAT THEY'RE GETTING RIGHT NOW, I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO GET TO AT LEAST A PERCENT OR AT LEAST A PERCENT AND A HALF FOR THE SOURCE OF REVENUE FUNDING FOR THEM. I KNOW THEY HAVE TO COME TO YOU ALL EVERY YEAR TO GET THAT FUNDING SO I ODE LIKE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WE CAN GIVE TO THAT ORGANIZATION. .
>> WE ALSO HAVE ONE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE THAT IS D DEDICATED TO THAT. AND ALSO THE TPID BOARD INVESTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE TUNE
[02:35:02]
OF $500,000. >> KAUR: DO YOU HAVE -- DO YOU ALL PROVIDE ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDING, SO IF WE HAD A REQUEST FOR ARNESON
SHADING COVER, IS THAT FROM -- >> THAT'S NOT FROM OUR
BUDGET. >> KAUR: DO YOU WORK WITH NATIONAL MEDIA ON OUR EVENTS LIKE FIESTA TO GET COVERAGE FOR THOSE EVENTS?
>> IT'S BEEN ONE OF MY GOALS TO MAKE FIESTA A WORLDWIDE KNOWN PHENOMENON LIKE MARDI GRAS, I MEAN, DIFFERENTLY, BUT IT SHOULD BE A BRAND WITHIN ITSELF. SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS TO BUILD IT INTO A BRAND, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THE FIESTA COMMISSION TO -- AND THEY HAVE EMBRACED THIS PLAN, THAT THEY WANT IT TO BE BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER.
SO WE'VE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS. AND THEN [INDISCERNIBLE] AND MY TEAM PRESENTED TO THE FIESTA COMMISSION A FEW WEEKS AGO ON THE
PLANS FOR 2025. >> KAUR: THE LAST THING I KNOW WE HAD THAT EXTERNAL CONSULTANT THAT DOES ALL OF THE VALUATION OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, IT'SEET CETERA, DO WE KNOW IF THEY HAVE SIMILAR EVALUATIONS FOR OUR CITIES? LIKE WE WERE DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND SOME COMPARATIVE NUMBERS FOR DALLAS AND HOUSTON, BUT I WASN'T SURE IF THE
METHODOLOGY IS SIMILAR? >> TOURISM ECONOMICS AND DI ARE THE INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR ALL DOMESTIC U.S. CITIES. IF THEY USE A LOCAL CONSULTANT, IT'S REALLY UP TO THE DMO OR THE ORGANIZATIONS TO FIND
SOME FINDING THAT'S THEY MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT. >> KAUR: AND DO Y'ALL HAVE A CROSS-COMPARISON FOR THE OTHER BIG TEXAS CITIES.
>> YES, FROM A VISITATION STANDPOINT AND EVERYTHING KA.
>> KAUR: COULD YOU SIPPED SEND US THAT INFORMATION OVER.
>> SURE. >> KAUR: YOU HAVE A STRONG GROUP OF ADVOCATES, SO YOU'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN GETTING A GREAT GROUP OF
LEADERS THERE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH
THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND THEIR SUPPORT. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ?
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
CAN THE NELSON WOLFF STADIUM ACCOMMODATE CONCERTS AS IT IS RIGHT
>> IT DOES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WHAT IS THE, I GUESS, CAPACITY OR WHAT IS THE -- WHAT IS THE TYPE OF ARTIST THAT IS ABLE TO PERFORM
THERE? >> IT JUST DEPENDS. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT BOOK THE WOLFF STADIUM, AND BY THEM, I MEAN THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS ARE THE ONES THAT BOOK IT. WE MANAGE THE CONTRACT WITH THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS, BUT THEY -- THEY REALLY BOOK THE STADIUM.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME, OR WHAT IS OF INTEREST TO ME IS THAT AS WE CONTINUE A CONVERSATION ABOUT A DIFFERENT STADIUM IS THAT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VENUES THAT WE HAVE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE A VARIETY OF ARTISTS AT THE -- AND THEIR -- THE DIFFERENT SIZES OF AUDIENCE THAT THEY MAY BRING.
WE HAVE THE SMALL VENUES LIKE CARVER TO REALLY BIG VENUES LIKE THE ALAMODOME AND SO I'M -- SO SOMETHING I'M THINKING ABOUT IS I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT, I'M GOING TO TAKE PARTIAL CREDIT FOR THIS AS THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE OF THE PINK PARTY, THAT NIKKI MA NAWJ WILL BE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO ON DECEMBER 18TH AT THE FROST BANK CENTER, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE NIKKI MANAJ COME AGAIN AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE ARTISTS OF HER SIZE AND CALIBER, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO BENEFIT FROM THAT REVENUE. I WANTED TO SHARE THAT. I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION FOR VISIT SA. I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS.
CAN YOU GO TO SLIDE 15 FOR ME? OKAY.
SO I'M LOOKING AT 2.6 ON INNOVATIVE PR. PLEASE TELL ME YOU DID
NOT HAVE PEOPLE IN THE RIVERWALK ON FLOATIES? >> NO, NO, WE DIDN'T.
WE DID A GORILLA MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO LAUNCH OUR SUMMER, THE MINI COOLS. AND WE LAUNCHED 250 INNER TUBE BYS ON THE RIVERWALK
WHICH GOT NATIONAL ATTENTION. >> WHEN WAS THAT.
>> NO, THERE WAS NO ONE ACTUALLY IN THE RIVER. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: MAYBE ONE DAY WE'LL MAKE IT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE IN THE RIVER, BUT UNTIL THEN...
>> ARE YOU VOLUNTEERING FOR NEXT YEAR? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ABSOLUTELY NOT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE?
>> WHYTE: YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THAT TO ME LATER, JALEN.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WHAT DID YOU SAY? >> WHYTE: I SAID YOU'RE GOING TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THAT TO ME LATER. YEAH, ALL OF THAT.
ERIK, I'M JUST CHIMING IN TO SAY I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORT RELATED TO THE PHILHARMONIC. I THINK MANNY MENTIONED SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT
[02:40:04]
MAYBE MONEY COULD BE MOVED FROM TO HELP FUND THE PHILHARMONIC, AND SOI'M IN FAVOR OF THAT, THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN?
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND THIS IS FOR MARK AND PATRICIA.
WE NEED TO MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO GET BOXING BACK IN THE 'DOME AND IN SOME OF OUR -- I KNOW -- I KNOW PORTS, TED PORT IS DOING SOME OF THAT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY KIND OF PLAY TO THE -- I GOT SO EXCITED
ABOUT RUGBY AND CRICKET, I FORGOT ABOUT BOXING. >> SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A HOLD, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR LATE NOVEMBER FOR BOXING.
>> VIAGRAN: YEAH. AND I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK VISIT SAN ANTONIO CAN DO IS I HAD AN EVENT AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO PROBABLY HAS EVENTS IN HER DISTRICT, TOO, WHERE IT'S JUST LIKE LOCAL GYMS GETTING TOGETHER, AND IT GETS PACKED. LIKE THOSE ARE PACKED AND PEOPLE PAY FOR THE TABLES AND YOU'RE RIGHT THERE RING SIDE.
SO THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT THE SAN ANTONIANS ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND WEST SIDE WANT TO SEE. AND WILL PAY FOR, SO I THINK WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER MORE OFTEN AND BE LIKE, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE. WE HAVE A MARKET FOR, AND HOW DO WE TAP INTO THAT.
THE OTHER IS WORKING WITH MONTERREY, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'LL COME UP FOR A GOOD MATCH, SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO REMIND YOU GUYS OF.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? GREAT PRESENTATIONS, AND THANK YOU FOR GROUPING THEM THIS WAY, ERIK. THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY ABOUT SPECIFIC ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, I THINK I HAVE A LIST OF ONES THAT I'D LOVE TO SEE FUNDED. I WOULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TREATING ALL ORGANIZATIONS THE SAME IN TERMS OF THE DUE DILIGENCE AS EXPECTED FROM EACH ORGANIZATION, SO I KNOW FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, IT IS -- EXCUSE ME.
4:48 ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2024. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANKS,
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.