Sep 05, 2024 City Council A Session

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

[00:01:24]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:07 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2024.

WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. TO START US TODAY, I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.

>> COURAGE: GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND PRESENT PASTOR JOEL GARZA. PASTOR GARZA HAS A PASSION FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH.

ALSO, THE CHURCH, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD AND IMPACTS ALL THOSE AS LEAD PASTOR OF FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

HE BRINGS ACROSS GENERATIONAL APPEAL OF MINISTRY, HAVING WORKED WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FOR OVER 25 YEARS. HE ALSO LEADS A LOCAL GATHERING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CALLED UNITE, WHICH GATHERS LEADERS, MINISTERS, AND NONPROFITS FOR NETWORKING, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND CITY-WIDE UNITY ACROSS THE DENOMINATIONAL LINES. HE IS THE DEVOTED HUSBAND AND PROUD FATHER OF FOUR AND MOST RECENTLY IS CELEBRATING BECOMING A GRANDFATHER. YOU LOOK TOOK YOUNG FOR THAT. JOE GRADUATED FROM CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS IN DALLAS, TEXAS AND IS AN ORDAINED MINISTER WITH THE TEXAS ASSEMBLY OF GOD WHERE HE SERVES AS THEIR NETWORK MEN'S DIRECTOR OF 300 CHURCHES.

PASTOR JOEL GARZA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, MAYOR NIRENBERG, CITY STAFF FOR THE HONOR OF JOINING YOU HERE TODAY.

AS WE PREPARE TO LOOK TO THE LORD IN PRAYER, I'M REMINDED THAT SCRIPTURE SHOWS US THE GOVERNMENT WAS INSTITUTED BY GOD, CREATED WITH PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITY WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED IN MY CARE, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE WEIGHT THAT YOU CARRY AS YOU SERVE THIS CITY. FOR THAT, YOU HAVE MY RESPECT.

MY PRAYER IS NOT ONLY TODAY BUT IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. LET'S LOOK TO THE LORD IN PRAYER. LORD, WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT, THIS PLACE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. YOU HAVE TAUGHT US THAT THERE IS NO HIGHER FORM OF LEADERSHIP THAN SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND WE ARE ASKING TODAY FOR YOUR HELP, FOR YOUR GUIDANCE TO LEAD WELL. NO ONE IS HERE SOLELY AT THE VOTE OF MAN BUT GOD HAS GIVEN US ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT HONOR YOU AND HELP BRING BLESSING TO ALL THOSE THAT CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME.

WE THANK YOU FOR EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION. WE THANK YOU FOR HARD WORK AND THE MERIT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS BUT WE NEED YOU TO MOVE IN OUR CITY AS WE WORK IN A SPIRIT OF UNITY TOWARDS COMMON GOALS. LORD, WOULD YOU BLESS OUR MAYOR, BLESS OUR CITY COUNCIL WITH WISDOM FOR THE UPCOMING.

MAY THEY DRAW STRENGTH FROM YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR WORD AND MAY THEY KNOW THEY ARE

[00:05:03]

TODAY WE ALSO REMEMBER FAMILIES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING TRAGIC LOSS IN GEORGIA AS STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WERE TAKEN ON ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES TOO EARLY IN THIS LIFE. WE PRAY COMFORT FOR THESE FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITY IN THIS TIME OF NEED. IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE COMMIT AND PRAY ALL THESE THINGS. AMEN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR GARZA. ALL RIGHT.

FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY, ITEM NO. 3 IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 21, 2024. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 21, 2024. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

>> 10, PLEASE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM NO. 10.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: 10, 11, AND 12. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: 10, 11, AND 12. ANY OTHERS? OKAY.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS 1 THROUGH 9. WE'LL HEAR 10 THROUGH 12 SEPARATELY.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

AND SO FIRST, IF I COULD HAVE THE MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK COME FORWARD. ONE OF THE REMARKABLE ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION .

WHEREAS HUNGER AND POVERTY ARE ISSUES OF CONCERN IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE APPROXIMATELY 49 PEOPLE OR ONE IN SIX DEPEND ON FOOD BANKS AND IN TEXAS WHERE ONE IN EIGHT PEOPLE, NEARLY 4 MILLION TEXANS STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY TO INCLUDE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS LIKE SENIORS, KIDS, VETERANS, AND WORKING FAMILIES WHO STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER AND POTENTIALLY DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM. WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK IS COMMITTED TO TAKE STEPS TO COMBAT HUNGER AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THOSE IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS IN NEED. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, A MEMBER OF THE FEEDING AMERICA NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF FOOD BANKS AND FEEDING TEXAS, THE STATEWIDE NETWORK OF FOOD BANKS AND EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE ABOUT FOOD BANKS IN ADDRESSING HUNGER AND RAISING AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES AND ATTENTION TO HUNGER ISSUES. WHEREAS NEARLY 110,000 INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS NOW RELY ON FOOD PROVIDED BY THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK. WHEREAS THE GLOBAL INSECURITY AND HIGH COSTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING IMPACTS AND IT IS PROJECTED THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE COULD FACE HUNGER. WHEREAS THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN DESIGNATED HUNGER ACTION MONTH IN ORDER TO BRING ATTENTION TO FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN ACTION, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERING SHIFTS, SOCIAL MEDIA SHARES, AND DONATIONS TO END HUNGER ONE HELPING AT A TIME.

AND WHEREAS FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK AND ITS PARTNERS WILL CREATE ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER TO BRING AWARENESS AND HELP END HUNGER IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

[00:10:05]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO HELP US NOTE

THIS MONTH. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, AND CITY STAFF. MARIO, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AT THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK AND LET ME SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST ON BEHALF OF ERIC COOPER, UNFORTUNATELY HE COULDN'T BE HERE WITH US TODAY. HE IS ACTUALLY IN AUSTRALIA ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE SO HE IS HAVING GOOD DIALOGUE WITH HIS COLLEAGUES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. SO LET ME JUST SAY WITHOUT ADVOCACY AND Y'ALL ARE ALL GREAT HUNGER CHAMPIONS AND ADVOCATES FOR OUR CAUSE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER AND TO FEED HOPE IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS. WE LOOK AT ADVOCATES TO HELP US. WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE AND THIS MORNING I HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS HERE WHO ARE JUST THAT. STRONG ADVOCATES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE MS. SMITH FROM FERNANDEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SHE IS A NURSE AND HAS A STORY TO SHARE. WE HAVE BILL SOLOMON, A BOARD MEMBER OF THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK. AND WE HAVE OUR NEW BOARD CHAIR, DR. HARRIETT ROMO, WHO IS A GREAT ADVOCATE . WE ALL KNOW HER AND HER FAMILY HISTORY. WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR FROM THEM TODAY.

I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HAVRDA FOR THE CONTINUED ADVOCACY AROUND ENDING HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN

OUR DISTRICT, AND ACROSS OUR CITY. >> HELLO.

GOOD MORNING. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS SO EXCUSE ME.

SO I'M MARIA SMITH. I'M AN R.N. AT RAUL FERNANDEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN NORTHSIDE ISD. I HAVE BEEN A NORTH FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.

HAVE WORKED AT WHAT USED TO BE CALLED BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL AND SANTA ROSA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND NOW I'M A SCHOOL NURSE. ALL THIS TIME, I'M ORIGINALLY FROM THE VALLEY. I GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF NINE CHILDREN.

MY PARENTS WERE REALLY POOR. HEAVEN KNOWS HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT US ALL THROUGH COLLEGE. WE GREW UP HELPING ALL OUR COMMUNITY.

I GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN WITH A POPULATION OF 1,000. THAT'S INCLUDING CATS, DOGS, CHICKENS, AND COUSIN. COWS. IT WAS PRETTY SMALL.

CAME OVER HERE IN '86, DECIDED TO WORK HERE AND WORK FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WORKING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WE, AS A SCHOOL NURSE, WE NOT ONLY HELP CHILDREN FIND MEDICATION, HOW USING THE COMMUNITY AGENCIES. WE HELP THEM WITH PRESCRIPTIONS FOR THEIR GLASSES. AS YOU KNOW A LOT OF FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE. OF COURSE WE HELP THEM FIND FOOD.

WE HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOL THAT ACTUALLY WANT MORE THAN ONE TRAY.

THEY'RE ONLY ALLOWED ONE TRAY. SO WE KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING ON AT HOME. SO WE DECIDED LET'S HELP. HOW CAN WE HELP THESE FAMILIES. SO LATINOS YEAR WE DECIDED TO WORK WITH DISTRICT 6 AND THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THIS TEAM WORKED SO QUICKLY IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. WITHIN THREE WEEKS WE GOT 20 FAMILIES A FULL TURKEY , FOOD, AND EVERYTHING FOR THEM WITHIN THREE WEEKS. THAT WAS PRETTY AWESOME.

BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK. WITHOUT THEM, THIS COLLABORATION COULD NOT HAPPEN. THIS IS WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT. THIS WAS A VERY HUMBLING GESTURE BETWEEN THEM TOO.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET AGENCIES TO WORK TOGETHER BUT THEY REALLY SHOWED THE COMMUNITY HOW THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS CAN GET HELP IF WE WORK TOGETHER.

WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT'S

POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS BILL SOLOMON. I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK FOR MAYBE TOO MANY YEARS. AND A FREQUENT VOLUNTEER. THE NEED IS STILL GREAT.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE SERVICED 58,000 INDIVIDUALS A WEEK.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, 120,000. AND STILL TODAY WE SERVICE 105,000 FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE A WEEK. SO WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE FOOD BANK AND WE CERTAINLY INVITE YOU ALL TO

[00:15:01]

THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. >> WELL, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BECOME THE CHAIR OF THE FOOD BANK BOARD THIS YEAR.

I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD. IT IS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.

WE SERVE 29 COUNTIES IN TEXAS, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT IS.

AND WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST FOOD BANKS IN THE COUNTRY AND IT IS SO WELL RUN.

THEY HAVE DATA -- I'M A SOCIOLOGIST. THEY KEEP DATA ON EVERY SINGLE FOOD DELIVERY, EVERY SINGLE FAMILY THAT THEY SERVE.

ALL THE OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED. AND WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY OUR LEADERSHIP AT THE NATIONAL FOOD BANK FOOD FOR AMERICA, FEEDING AMERICA AS ONE OF THE BEST-RUN, BEST-ORGANIZED FOOD BANKS. AND IT IS SUCH A NEED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AS A PROFESSOR, I'VE SEEN HUNGRY CHILDREN, HUNGRY FAMILIES, HUNGRY FACULTY. SO THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO THAT NEED THE HELP OF A FOOD BANK. AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. WE SERVE EVERY ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS, SO THANK YOU VERY

MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE FOOD BANK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK. THE NEW BOARD CHAIR, CONGRATULATIONS, DR. ROMO. BOARD MEMBER BILL SOLOMON. AND OUR GOOD FRIEND, MARIO OBLEDO FROM THE FOOD BANK. HUNGER ACTION DAY AND HUNGER ACTION MONTH REMIND US THAT HUNGER IS NOT HAPPENING FAR AWAY, IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

WE SAW THAT VERY WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE WEAR ORANGE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND OF COURSE TO BRING AWARENESS THAT HUNGER IS HAPPENING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES. MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE KIDS AND OVER 15% OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FOOD INSECURE IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT MEANS THAT WAY TOO MANY FAMILIES ARE UNSURE WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS LOWERING. YOU MENTIONED OUR VERY SUCCESSFUL THANKSGIVING EVENT LAST YEAR. I INVITE ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR JUST TO BE ABLE TO GROW THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT WE CAN GIVE A GOOD THANKSGIVING MEAL TO. THE FOOD BANK OF COURSE IS DOING INCREDIBLE WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT. MY TEAM HAS VOLUNTEERED MANY TIMES. WE LOVE GOING UP THE ROAD TO PARTICIPATE AND PACK FOOD AND OF COURSE I KNOW A LOT OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN TO DISTRIBUTION EVENTS AND IT'S VERY HEARTWARMING. IT'S DIFFICULT SOMETIMES.

YOU GO AND PUT THOSE BOXES IN THE BACKSEATS, IN THE PICKUP AND TO SEE THE FAMILIES THAT YOU DIDN'T THINK WERE NECESSARILY BEING IMPACTED, AND TO SEE THEM THERE FOR THEIR NOURISHMENT IS HEARTWARMING AND UPSETTING TO SEE ALL THE FAMILIES AND THE LINES. AND YOU GUYS DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

WHETHER YOU CAN DONATE, VOLUNTEER, OR ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO GIVE, CONSIDER DONATING.AT IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME, VOLUNTEER. IF YOU CAN, AT THE VERY LEAST SPEAK UP AND TALK ABOUT THE HUNGER HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. APPRECIATE YOU.

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

HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, HARRIETT, MARIA, BILL, AND MARIO FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND SHARING YOUR STORY. I WAS AT THE FOOD BANK, HARRIETT, WHERE YOU SAT THERE AND SHARED. AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATED ALL THE DEDICATION CITYWIDE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. AND THE FACT IS IT'S NOT JUST BEXAR COUNTY, IT'S 29 COUNTIES BECAUSE THAT SPEAKS TO WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THAT WE LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS AND WE KNOW IF THERE'S A NEED, WE WANT TO HELP.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. THE FIELD OFFICE FOR DISTRICT 3 HAS THEIR GREEN AND RED BINS READY TO GO. SO YOU CAN COME BY. ALSO STATE REPRESENTATIVE LIZ CAMPOS HAS HER GREEN AND RED BINS . PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE.

IF YOU ARE COLLECTING U WE CAN HAVE OUR STAFF PICK IT UP AND MAKE SURE IT HITS OUR RED BINS. IF YOU HAVE DOG FOOD, OUR GREEN BINS.

MAKE SURE YOU GET THE 12 MOST WANTED PEANUT BUTTER. THIS IS MY CHOICE TO GIVE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE WE COLLECT FOR THIS MONTH OF HUNGER ACTION. THANK YOU.

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

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY AND RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE ISSUE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK

[00:20:03]

I THINK AS COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA SAID THE RATE IS OVER 17% AND THE RATE FOR CHILDREN IS OVER 23%, WHICH WE KNOW IS UNACCEPTABLE. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO USE OUR VOICES AND OUR POWER TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, ARE HUNGRY. THANKS AGAIN TO THE MAYOR AND TO COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA FOR REMINDING US OF THIS MAJOR ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PUSH US TO ACTION. THANKS SO MUCH.

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

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I WAS WITH ERIK COOPER ON FRIDAY AND WE WERE AT A SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST MEETING AND SO WE WERE REMINDED THAT FOOD INSECURITY EXISTS AND THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PARTNER. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE AND THANK YOU FOR LENDING US ERIK COOPER. HE BRINGS A WONDERFUL VOICE TO IT. BUT I WANTED TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE MARIO OBLEDO BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS WORKING. I RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT A PARTICULAR PERSON WHO HAD BEEN ASSAULTED AND ALL OF HIS MONEY HAD BEEN TAKEN.

HE WAS AN 86-YEAR-OLD. AND IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT. AND THE FIRST PERSON THAT I COULD HAVE THOUGHT TO CALL WAS MARIO AND SO I CALLED MARIO. HE PICKED UP THE PHONE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FRIDAY NIGHT. AND SATURDAY MORNING HE HAD A WHOLE PACK READY AND I WAS ABLE TO PICK IT UP AND GO AND DELIVER IT. BUT THEN HE ALSO SENT AN ASSESSMENT TEAM ON MONDAY TO FOLLOW UP ON THE GENTLEMAN. AND SO THAT'S THE TYPE OF CARE THAT YOUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL HAVE. IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT HE WAS HAVING DINNER, PROBABLY, WITH FAMILY. HE JUST TOOK THAT CALL.

HE KNEW THERE WAS SOMEONE IN NEED. I WANTED TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY I APPRECIATE YOU. WHEN WE GOT THERE WITH THE FOOD, THE GENTLEMAN WAS JUST SO EXCITED. HE KEPT SAYING SPANISH], LIKE HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THERE WAS MORE AND MORE AND MORE COMING.

BUT YOU ALL DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. HE HAD SOMEONE WHO WAS THERE HELPING HIM AND JUST STAYING WITH HIM. HE WAS A LITTLE SHAKEN UP.

AND SO HE SAID, WELL, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH SO MUCH FOOD NOW? AND I SAID MAYBE YOU COULD SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE WHO NEEDS FOOD AS WELL.

AND THAT JUST BROUGHT A SMILE TO HIS FACE. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

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

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

JUST WANT TO REITERATE MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. THERE'S REALLY NO MORE IMPORTANT MISSION THAN FEEDING THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND YOU ALL DO SUCH GREAT WORK. OVER THE LAST YEAR, BEING IN OFFICE, HAS BEEN GREAT, MARIO, GETTING TO KNOW YOU, THE TEAM, AND EVERYONE OVER THERE.

IT'S JUST FANTASTIC WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. SO, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. I WANTED TO THANK YOU SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR WORK WITH STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS. WHEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE BERNAL FIRST TOOK OFFICE THERE'S A BILL HE PASSED, THE FOOD PANTRY BILL.

SCHOOLS WEREN'T ABLE TO DONATE FOOD BACK TO THEMSELVES AND SO THEY WOULD GET ANYONE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO EAT THEIR FOOD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO THROW IT AWAY OR DONATE IT OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL. THERE'S STILL SO MANY GAPS IN THE SYSTEM THERE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ASSESS, AND I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING HARD FOR KIDS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE FED. KIDS CAN'T LEARN IF THEY'RE

HUNGRY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE FOOD BANK, NOT ONLY FOR WHAT YOU DO IN PROVIDING FOOD BUT WHEN I FIRST WENT TO THE FOOD BANK MANY YEARS AGO AND SAW HOW YOU ALSO PROVIDE SO MUCH MORE. TODAY YOU'RE EVEN PROVIDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND FOR YEARS YOU HAVE OFFERED WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO

[00:25:04]

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR WHAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO.

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

AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I THINK I ALWAYS WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE. I THINK THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, THANKS TO "SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS" PHOTOJOURNALIST WILLIAM LUTHERAN AND HIS PHOTOS DURING THE PANDEMIC. NOW T THAT THEY DO, I'M PLEASED. I DID WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE .

RECENTLY A FEW YEARS AGO MAYORS IN THE UNITED STATES FORMED AN ALLIANCE TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER. I'M A PART OF THAT ALLIANCE. TODAY WE'LL HAVE A MEETING BUT JUST THE PERSPECTIVE IS THAT WHAT THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK DOES IS REALLY CHANGING THE COURSE OF FOOD BANKS NATIONALLY. OUR SAN ANTONIO METRO HEALTH WILL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE FROM THE HEALTH EQUITY NETWORK AND THE COLLABORATION WITH THE FOOD BANK TO HELP INFORM OTHER FOOD BANKS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, FROM CHILDREN TO VETERANS AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN.

BUT ALSO THANK YOU FOR HELPING US FEED THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AS WELL.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WE'LL BE WITH Y'ALL THE WHOLE MONTH. THANKS, Y'ALL.

[APPLAUSE] I DON'T NORMALLY TAKE A PICTURE OF THE GALLERY, BUT I DID BECAUSE IF YOU SCAN THE GALLERY, YOU'LL SEE A BOBCAT SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE, OR A JAGUAR, WHICH IS A REALLY COOL SCENE . I'M GOING TO ASK THE GENERAL AS WELL AS DR. OCHOA AND ALL THE TEXAS A&M LEADERSHIP TO COME FORWARD AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION .

WHEREAS TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SAN ANTONIO IS CELEBRATING ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROVIDING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FROM ITS FOUNDING IN 2009 AS THE FIRST UPPER DIVISION INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH SAN ANTONIO.

AND WHEREAS NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO TEXAS SENATOR FRANK MADLA ADVOCATED FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW UNIVERSITY ACCESSIBLE TO SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS AFTER YEARS OF EFFORTS THE VISION BECAME A REALITY WHEN TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY SIGNED A SENATE BILL ESTABLISHING TEXAS A&M AS A STANDALONE INSTITUTION.

WHEREAS SINCE ITS FOUNDING AS A PROUD HISPANIC-SERVING AND MILITARY-EMBRACING INSTITUTION WITH A PREDOMINANTLY FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT POPULATION, THE UNIVERSITY HAS TRANSFORMED THOUSANDS OF LIVES BY DELIVERING A HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE. WHEREAS TODAY ENROLLMENT HAS SOARED BY 215%. NOTABLY MORE THAN 19,000 HAVE GRADUATED THE UNIVERSITY WITH 70% OF STUDENTS BEING THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE. WHEREAS A&M SAN ANTONIO HAS GARNERED RECOGNITION OVER THE YEARS, CEMENTING ITS STATUS AS A LEADING INSTITUTION.

IN 2022 IT BECAME ONE OF ONLY 24 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE NATION TO EARN THE PRESTIGIOUS SEAL OF EXCELLENCE AND CERTIFICATION, A TESTAMENT TO ITS EFFORTS IN ENROLLING AND GRADUATING A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF LATINO STUDENTS. THE UNIVERSITY'S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION HAS BEEN FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE 2022 HIGHER EDUCATION EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY AWARD AND VOTED A BEST LOCAL UNIVERSITY IN THE YOUR SA 2024 READERS' CHOICE AWARDS. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COMMENDS A&M SAN ANTONIO FOR PROVIDING OUR RESIDENTS WITH AN UNSURPASSED QUALITY EDUCATION THAT EMPOWERS STUDENTS, PREPARING THEM FOR REWARDING CAREERS, RESPONSIBLE GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP, AND LIFELONG LEARNING.

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 TO BE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SAN ANTONIO'S ANNIVERSARY DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND CONGRATULATE THE FACULTY, STAFF, AND FORMER AND PRESENT STUDENTS OF A&M SAN ANTONIO FOR 15 SUCCESSFUL YEARS WITH BEST WISHES FOR MANY MORE YEARS OF CONTINUED SUCCESS . CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR MAYOR NIRENBERG AND CITY COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING OUR 15TH

[00:30:06]

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY TEAM WHO IS HERE TODAY. WE HAVE OUR -- MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND VP FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION, JESSICA. OUR NEW VP FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS, JUAN. OUR PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, MOHAMMED. DR. ARIANA GARCIA. OUR VP FOR CFO.

AND ALSO WE HAVE GWEN. GWEN IS OUR VP FOR ADVANCEMENT.

AND OF COURSE GENERAL, OUR MASCOT. AND OUR CHEERING SQUAD IS HERE TODAY. WHEN WE LOOK AT A&M SAN ANTONIO AND WE LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN 15 YEARS, TO ME IT'S SIMPLY AMAZING AND I FEEL VERY PRIVILEGED TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT AT THIS JUNCTURE IN OUR HISTORIES.

WHEN WE LOOK AT 15 YEARS WHEN WE STARTED IN PORTABLE BUILDINGS AND WE WERE OUT OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND WE WERE AT BROOKS BASE TO NOW TO SEE A CAMPUS FLOURISHING IS SIMPLY AMAZING. IN THOSE 15 YEARS WE HAVE DEVELOPED 39 UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS, 23 GRADUATE PROGRAMS, AND AWARDED 18,000 DEGREES, MANY OF WHOM, AS YOU SAID, MAYOR, ARE FIRST GENERATIONS. SO I KNOW VERY FEW INSTITUTIONS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR COULD HOLD THAT RECORD. AND TO DO THAT WITH DIGNITY AND GRACE AND PASSION. AND AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT 15 YEARS, THE TRAJECTORY I THINK IS VERY PROMISING. AS OUR CHANCELLOR, JOHN SHARPE SAID, WE'RE TAKING OFF LIKE A ROCKETSHIP. I CONCUR WITH HIS ASSESSMENT THAT IN TIME WE WILL BE THE SECOND LARGEST A&M UNIVERSITY WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

U.T. CAMPUS. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CELEBRATE THAT AND THAT WE BUILD A COMMUNITY OF COMMON PURPOSE TO ADVANCE OUR REGION AND OUR COMMUNITY.

IN THAT GROWTH, WE REACHED THE STUDENT RANGE BUT TO ME IT'S ALSO NOT IMPORTANT JUST TO SERVE THE STUDENTS THAT COME TO OUR CAMPUS, BUT WE NEED TO NOT JUST LOOK AT THOSE STUDENTS MYOPICALLY BUT WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE A BETTER HARVEST BY CREATING A BIRTH TO P 20 PIPELINE. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE EFFORTS WE'RE DOING IN THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET A GREATER NUMBER OF OUR STUDENTS TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY AND TO GO TO COLLEGE.

SECONDLY, WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL IN TERMS OF OUR FISCAL INFRASTRUCTURE. WE WILL BE BUILDING A BRAND NEW, STARTING IN JANUARY, NCAA EIGHT-LANE TRACK AND EXPANDING OUR SOFTBALL FIELD.

WE WILL BE BUILDING A CENTER TO SERVE -- THERE'S A DAYCARE DESERT IN SOUTH SAN ANTONIO, AND I'M GLAD THAT CENTER WILL BE OPEN FROM EARLY MORNING TO LATE AT NIGHT TO DEAL WITH FAMILIES WHO HAVE DIFFERENT WORKING NEEDS.

AND, THIRD, WE ARE GOING TO BE EXPANDING OUR ACADEMIC FOOTPRINT.

WE HAVE DONE A WORKFORCE ANALYSIS OF BEXAR COUNTY IN A 75-MILE REGION TO SEE WHAT IS THE DEGREE PRODUCTIONS PRODUCED BY OUR FELLOW INSTITUTIONS AND WHAT IS LACKING. WE WILL BE GOING TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS COMING SESSION TO EXPAND OUR ACADEMIC FOOTPRINT TO BETTER PREPARE THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY. AND I THINK IF WE CAN DO THAT WE WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO BE AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST WE'RE EXPANDING OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. THIS FALL WE WILL START OUR INAUGURAL BASKETBALL SEASON AND IN A FEW YEARS WE WILL EXTEND TO TRACK AND FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY SO WE CAN BE NCA DIVISION 2.

WE'RE DECIDED ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT IS GROWING AND IF THE FIRST 15 YEARS WERE EXCITING, I'M PROUD TO BE AT THE HELM WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT WE CAN RAISE THAT SHINING STAR IN THE SOUTH. AS YOU ENTER OUR CAMPUS, WE HAVE THE TOWER OF HOPE. I THINK THIS IS WHAT THIS INSTITUTION REPRESENTS FOR SAN ANTONIO. I'M PRIVILEGED AND HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. CAN I GET THE SPIRIT SQUAD TO COME ON UP TOO?

[00:35:06]

MY JOURNEY WITH TEXAS A&M BEGAN EARLY IN 2009 WHEN I APPLIED FOR A JOB.

BUT I WAS RIGHT OUT OF GRADUATE SCHOOL AND I WAS ALL UTSA, UTSA.

SO I THINK THEY WERE LIKE, REALLY? BUT HERE WE ARE TODAY, 15 YEARS IN GROWTH AND HISPANIC SERVING. I AM JUST -- I WANT THE STUDENTS TO COME UP BECAUSE THAT'S OUR WHY RIGHT THERE. BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE AND WE WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL. IF YOU GO AWAY, THAT'S GREAT BUT WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO STAY HEREST AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, GUYS FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT.

I WANT TO THANK THE TEXAS A&M SYSTEM FOR RECOGNIZING THIS WITH TONS OF HELP FROM DR. FARRIER, FROM DR. MATSON AND NOW WITH YOU, DR. OCHOA, TO SAY THESE STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION AND WHAT WE DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AGAIN, IS LEADING.

THANK YOU. ENJOY THE QUICEANERA. I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO MANY MORE EVENTS OUT THERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THERE ALSO TO CELEBRATE WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE SOUTHSIDE AND AT TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO.

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

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING AND THANK YOU TO DR. OCHOA FOR BRINGING EVERYONE WITH YOU. GENERAL, YOU HAVE BEEN SO WELL BEHAVED.

I WAS THANKING YOU FOR NOT CHASING ME THIS MORNING, AS I'M IN HEELS.

I APPRECIATE YOU. PAWS UP. I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT YOUR BASKETBALL SEASON. I NOTICED GENERAL IS IN A BASKETBALL UNIFORM.

YOU HAVE TWO INCREDIBLE COACHES, BASKETBALL COACHES. I'VE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH BOTH OF THEM FOR SO MANY YEARS BEFORE. INCREDIBLE.

I CALL THEM THE CHRIS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. YESTERDAY I GOT TO CHITCHAT WITH THEM AND COACH DIAL SAID YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE OCTOBER 28, RIGHT? IT'S ON MY CALENDAR. I CAN'T WAIT TO CHEER YOU ON.

ALSO YOUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR IS DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE PROGRAM, FOR THE BASKETBALL PROGRAM. BUT IN GENERAL FOR SPORTS AT TEXAS A&M. AND FOR OUR SPIRIT LEADERS. SO OUR CHEER AND OUR DANCE.

I FEEL LIKE YOU ALL ARE SOME OF THE ATHLETES THAT GO UNNOTICED SOMETIMES.

BUT WHAT YOU ALL WORK, THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN -- I WAS A DANCER IN COLLEGE AND IN HIGH SCHOOL SO I KNOW HOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO IT AND TO THE PREPARATION.

AND SO I'M SO GLAD THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN BROUGHT YOU ALL UP BECAUSE YOU ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THAT TEAM AND YOU ALL KEEP THE SPIRIT UP JUST AS MUCH AS GENERAL KEEPS IT UP. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING YOU ALL PERFORM AT THE GAMES AND CELEBRATING

THE QUICEANERA. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON 15 YEARS.

NOT ONLY DID TEXAS A&M CREATE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION ON THE SOUTHSIDE BUT ALSO IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS. IT HELPED EDUCATE A NUMBER OF LEADERS AND INNOVATORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. LIKE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, I ALSO HAVE TWO DISTRICT 7 STAFF MEMBERS WHO GRADUATED FROM THERE.

THEY BOTH SERVE AS LEADERSHIP ROLES ON MY TEAM AND ATTENDED A&M SAN ANTONIO. COINCIDENTALLY THEY BOTH SERVED AS STUDENT BODY PRESIDENTS DURING THEIR TIME THERE. SO IF THAT ISN'T PROOF THAT THE LAST 15 YEARS HAVE MADE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FOOTPRINT IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. I LOOKED IT UP.

THE JAGUAR IS THE LARGEST AND MOST POWERFUL CAT IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS ERIK WALSH BUT IT TURNS OUT IT'S THE PANTHER IN FRONT OF US, THE JAGUAR IN FRONT OF US. HEY, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO WORK ON THE LAND DEAL FOR THE TEXAS A&M CAMPUS MANY YEARS AGO AS A

[00:40:01]

THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BLOW PAST EXPECTATIONS AND ALWAYS AMAZE US.

THE SECOND THING I WANT TO TELL YOU IS YOU GUYS ARE FAMILY NOW.

MY WIFE, AS OF THREE WEEKS AGO, HAS BECOME ONE OF Y'ALL'S ADJUNCT PROFESSORS OUT THERE AND SHE HAS TO MAKE THE DRIVE ALL THE WAY FROM THE FAR NORTH SIDE TO YOU. I GOT TO TELL YOU, SHE DOESN'T MIND IT BECAUSE OF HOW REWARDING AN EXPERIENCE IT IS OUT THERE. SHE TELLS ME THAT SHE TALKS TO THE OTHER FACULTY OUT THERE AND THAT THEY ALL EXPRESS THE SAME THING.

THEY ALL DRIVE IN FROM OTHER FARAWAY PARTS OF TOWN AND EXPRESS THE DRIVE IS WORTH IT. YOU GUYS ARE DEFINITELY WORTH IT.

THANK YOU, LADIES FOR SUITING UP AND COMING UP TO DOWNTOWN.

AT YOUR AGE IF SOMEBODY TOLD ME, HEY, SUIT UP AND LET'S GO DOWNTOWN, I WOULD HAVE BEEN, YEAH, RIGHT. I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT YOU GUYS DID IT. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO IN FOSTERING INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY AND PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN AUDIO] WITH YOUNGER CONSTITUENTS, WHETHER THEY BE JUNIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL OR FOLKS LOOKING TO RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND GAIN A NEW SKILL SET.

OFTENTIMES THEY'RE CITING TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO AS THEIR OPTION AND PATH FORWARD. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND I KNOW OUR DISTRICT 5 CONSTITUENTS OFTENTIMES HIGHLIGHT THAT UNIVERSITY AS ONE THAT THEY INTEND TO ENROLL IN.

YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU'RE IN A GREAT SCHOOL. AS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MENTIONED YOU ARE THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WE HOPE THAT WE RETAIN Y'ALL'S TALENT AND WHEN Y'ALL GRADUATE Y'ALL STAY HERE.

AND ON THE D5 TEAM WE ALSO HAVE A GRADUATE OF TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO.

SO PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY HERE WITH THE CITY AND WITH OUR COUNCIL OFFICES.

BUT ULTIMATELY JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. I KNOW IT'S BRIGHT AND GOOD LUCK TO THE TEAM ON THE BASKETBALL SEASON. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. I REALLY HOPE THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING NOTE OF THE SUCCESS OF TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO FOR OVER 15 YEARS.

YOU GUYS ARE SUCH AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE EDUCATION LANDSCAPE IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH HAS CHANGED SO DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

73% OF GRADUATES BEING FIRST-TIME COLLEGE STUDENTS IS SOMETHING WE WILL SEE DIVIDENDS YEARS AND YEARS DOWN THE LINE. I DON'T KNOW OF A COMMUNITY THAT IS DOING MORE IN TERMS OF CREATING PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION AND ULTIMATELY BE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO BE IN TERMS OF THEIR CAREER. SO THANK YOU FOR CHANGING SAN ANTONIO'S TRAJECTORY AND FOR BEING COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. CONGRATULATIONS.

HAPPY 15TH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE DECADES OF SUCCESS.

THANKS, Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] WE'LL BE THERE ON THE 28TH. ALL RIGHT. WE NOW HAVE A FEW ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ITEMS 10, 11, AND 12 WILL BE CONSIDERED INDIVIDUALLY BUT I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE A NEED TO RECONSIDER ONE ITEM. LET ME RECOGNIZE

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

I WOULD ASK FOR THE RECONSIDERATION OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA VOTE IN WHICH WE APPROVED ITEM NO. 9. I AM ASKING IT TO BE PULLED FROM THIS AGENDA FOR FURTHER

CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANDY, CAN THAT BE IN THE FORM OF RECONSIDERING THE ONE ITEM?

>> SEGOVIA: IT WOULD REQUIRE, MAYOR, A MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION FIRST.

AND IF THAT MOTION PASSES, THEN THE ITEM CAN BE RECONSIDERED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M ASKING IF IT CAN BE A RECONSIDERATION OF THE ONE

ITEM? >> SEGOVIA: YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE HAS MADE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM NO. 9.

THERE IS A SECOND TO WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM 9? COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

ACCORDING TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER THIS IS THE WAY IT HAD TO BE DONE AND IT'S AT MY REQUEST THAT WE'RE PULLING THIS. ERIK WALSH AND I HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING. AND IT REQUIRES SOME FURTHER

[00:45:04]

THAT'S IT, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I'M NOT SURE WHY ARE WE -- CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THAT?

>> PELAEZ: SURE. WE STILL HAVE TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL HOMEWORK ON IT AND WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS. THIS IS THE RFP FOR A CONSULTANT IN LATIN AMERICA AND, ANYWAY, THAT'S THE REASON. WE JUST NEED SOME ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION AND MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TEAM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF -- ERIK, DID THIS GO THROUGH COMMITTEE OR $50,000, THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH JUST YOU.

>> WALSH: IT DID NOT GO THROUGH COMMITTEE. IT WAS AN RFP PROCESS.

A SOLICITATION. IT WAS NOT A HIGH PROFILE. IT'S $50,000 A YEAR.

A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT -- ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH TWO ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS.

BUT IT DID NOT GO TO COMMITTEE. >> VIAGRAN: I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM OF CHANGING THINGS FROM THE DAIS ON THE FLY. IS THIS COMING FROM YOUR

OFFICE, ERIK? >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND I TALKED THIS MORNING ABOUT MAKING SURE WE'RE ALIGNED IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. I DID NOT REALIZE, WHEN WE TALKED THIS MORNING, THAT IT WAS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. I THOUGHT IT WAS ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA.

SO AFTER THE CONSENT WAS APPROVED, I ALERTED COUNCILMAN PELAEZ THAT THE ITEM WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING HAD BEEN APPROVED BY CONSENT.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GENERATING THIS MORNING'S CONVERSATION.

>> VIAGRAN: I'M FOR PULLING THIS BUT I AM NOT PLEASED ABOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS PROCEEDING THE WAY IT DID. THIS FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE TWO PEOPLE HAVE CONTROL OF THIS AND COUNCIL WASN'T CONSIDERED.

WE CAN -- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS EITHER BROUGHT TO COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE -- AND I THINK WE HAVE -- WE NEED TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ABOUT HOW THIS PROCEEDED BECAUSE THIS DOES NOT FEEL TRANSPARENT AT ALL. YEAH.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER? COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. SO ARE WE BRINGING THIS BACK IN A FEW WEEKS?

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING? >> WALSH: THAT'S WHAT I'M ASSUMING.

>> SEGOVIA: IF THAT'S WHAT THE OBJECTIVE IS, FIRST THE COUNCIL HAS TO MOTION TO RECONSIDER, WHICH MEANS THE ITEM IS BACK ON THE TABLE. AND THEN SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE. SO THAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT. IF THE OBJECTIVE IS TO

CONSIDER IT LATER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT I FULLY SUPPORT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND COURAGE IN PULLING THIS OFF.

BUT I DO WANT TO ECHO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S CONCERN ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND THE WAY SOME OF THESE THINGS MOVE THROUGH AND GET ON THE AGENDA.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? OKAY.

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO RECONSIDER ITEM NO. 9.

HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

SO WE'LL CONSIDER ITEMS 9, 10, 11, AND 12. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND

[Miscellaneous  ]

CONTINUE WITH ITEM NO. 9. >> PELAEZ: MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION WE REFER THIS TO ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AMONG THE

COMMITTEE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THERE WAS A MOTION TO MOVE IT TO EWDC BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER -- I'M SORRY.

A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE ITEM OR TO TABLE THE ITEM. >> SEGOVIA: I WOULD RECOMMEND, MAYOR, IF THE OBJECTIVE IS TO CONSIDER IT LATER, TO CONTINUE.

AND WE CAN -- ALTHOUGH IT'S REQUIRED OF A DATE CERTAIN, IF IT'S GOING TO A COMMITTEE WE CAN SAY TO AN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH WOULD ALLOW

TIME FOR THE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

>> PELAEZ: I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR THE FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN NOVEMBER.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. NO. 9. THE MOTION IS TO CONTINUE

[00:50:02]

SECOND BY ROCHA GARCIA. DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 10. ARE WE TAKING ALL THREE OF THOSE TOGETHER?

[Annexation  ]

LET'S TAKE ITEM 10, 11, AND 12 TOGETHER. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 10 IS AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE CITY LIMITS BY FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION AS REQUESTED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER, DOGGETT FREIGHTLINER PROPERTIES III LLC OF ONE PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS 16.371 ACRES OUT OF CB5088, GENERALLY LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF INTERSECTION OF WEICHOLD ROAD AND I-10 EAST, WHICH IS CONTIGUOUS WITH THE CITY LIMITS OF SAN ANTONIO AND LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, ETJ, IN EAST BEXAR COUNTY AND APPROVING A SERVICE AGREEMENT. ITEM NO. 11 IS A PLAN AMENDMENT.

STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

ITEM NO. 12 IS ZONING CASE Z-2024-10700059 CD.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL, ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS DENIALS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED

UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 12. SCOTT HARDWICK. >> GOOD MORNING.

MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SCOTT HARDWICK. I'M A HOMEOWNER THAT BACKS UP TO THE PROPERTY IN THIS ITEM, NO. 12, THE 35 ACRES. I LIVE AT 10339 FRANCISCO WAY. I SPOKE AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING.

AS A HOMEOWNER I AM OPPOSED TO THIS AND I RECOMMEND AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL AGREES WITH MY OPINION. THREE AREAS ARE A CONCERN OF MINE AND FIRST IS REALLY THE APPROACH AS A LAYPERSON IN ALL OF THIS ZONING AND PLANNING. I'M NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF AN UMBRELLA ZONING DESIGNATION AND THEN ALLOWING SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO BE ON THAT PROPERTY THAT'S NOT IN THAT CLASSIFICATION. FOR ME AS A HOMEOWNER THAT WOULD BE A CONDITIONAL USE WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU USE TO INCREASE THE VIBRANCY AND LIVABILITY OF THE RESIDENTS OF THAT AREA. IN MY OPINION THIS PROJECT DOES NOT DO THAT. IN FACT IT WALLS ITSELF OFF FROM THIS AREA.

SO MY SECOND CONCERN IS THE OPERATIONS. THIS IS A SEMITRUCK OPERATION SO THERE'S MAINTENANCE THAT IS A PART OF THIS.

AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THE ENGINES WILL BE RUNNING CONSTANTLY.

THERE WILL BE HORNS, BACK-UP BEEPING AND HORN TESTING, WHICH IS A CONCERN AS MY HOUSE BACKS UP TO THIS PROPERTY. THE SOUNDS OF THE OPERATIONS AS WELL AS JUST IN THE MEETINGS WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE APPLICANT, THERE'S TALK OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PUT AN EIGHT-FOOT BARRIER OR WALL

[00:55:04]

SO I HAVE A SIX-FOOT CEDAR FENCE. I WOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF WALL THAT WOULD GO TWO FEET ABOVE THAT. THAT WOULD BE MY VIEW.

ALL THE FOLIAGE WOULD BE CUT DOWN BEHIND THE CURRENT FENCE.

FROM AN OPERATION STANDPOINT I HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS AND THE TRUCK TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THERE, THIS IS A MAJOR INTERSECTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION, CURRENTLY.

TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL TRUCK TRAFFIC, TO ME, IS A NIGHTMARE.

AND MY THIRD CONCERN IS KIND OF THE INTENT OF THE APPLICANT.

I'M NOT REAL SURE. THEY CURRENTLY ARE LOCATED DOWN THE ROAD ON I-10.

THEY BOUGHT A 16-ACRE PROPERTY THAT IS ZONED PERFECTLY FOR THEIR USE.

BUT THEY RECENTLY SENT -- AND THEN THEY PURCHASED THIS 35-ACRE PROPERTY WITH HURDLES. BUT THEY RECENTLY SENT A LETTER TO OUR HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION SAYING IF THIS DOESN'T GO THROUGH OR IF THEY WITHDRAWAL THEIR APPLICATION, THEY'LL USE THE 35 ACRES ON THE BEXAR COUNTY PORTION FOR STORAGE.

TRUCK STORAGE. THAT WILL BE WHAT'S ON A 35-ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY AT

I-10 1604 EAST. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. HARDWICK. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS MY COLLEAGUES ARE AWARE, I AM AT WAR WITH MANY OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT AND I SHARE MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE SPEAKER THAT JUST SPOKE SHARED.

I DO WANT TO GIVE TIME FOR THE APPLICANT AND COMMUNITY TO FINALIZE THIS DISCUSSION AND SO THAT BEING SAID, I MOVE TO CONTINUE ITEM 10, 11, AND 12 TO

OCTOBER 17TH. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. COULD YOU RESTATE YOUR

MOTION? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: MOVE TO CONTINUE ITEM 10, 11, AND

12 TO OCTOBER 17TH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE OF 10, 11, AND 12 TO OCTOBER 17TH.

THERE WAS A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE COUNCILMAN BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE EMPHASIZE THAT THESE INDUSTRIES PROVIDE JOBS AND OCCUPATIONS TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE SENTIMENT THAT WE'RE SETTING WITH INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT WHEN THESE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS EMPLOY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.

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

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION ALSO. I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO SOME MORE TALK ABOUT, AGAIN -- I MENTIONED THIS THIS WEEK -- IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE-WISE IN SOME OF THESE AREAS. WHAT SA TOMORROW IS KIND OF LOOKING AT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND MAKING SURE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT IS ALREADY LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND WE CAN KIND OF BUILD THAT INDUSTRIAL.

IF WE CAN GET THAT -- BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME TIME BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER 17TH, IF WE COULD GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD

APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

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

I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. ONE OF THE CONCERNS I'VE HAD AND I EXPLAINED IT JUST RECENTLY IS WE SET OUT TO HAVE A MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY AND THEN BITS AND PIECES OF IT GET CHANGED BY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY SEPARATE FROM WHAT THE COMMUNITY THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE. I ALSO -- WHENEVER I HEAR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS LIKE PLANNING AND ZONING AT ODDS WITH ONE OTHER ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, I WISH WE HAD MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR SOME OF THAT REASONING. I THINK THIS GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON

10, 11, AND 12? ERIK. >> WALSH: JUST A CLARIFICATION. IT'S THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONS.

IT'S NOT THE DEPARTMENT, IT'S NOT THE STAFF THAT HAVE DIVERGENT VIEWS.

IT'S THE TWO COMMISSIONS. >>

FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AND IN LIGHT OF THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND HOW WE HAVE OUR REPRESENTATION THERE AND WHAT THEY UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR BRINGING THAT

UP. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE

[01:00:02]

AND THEN I'VE GOT A FEW FOLKS I WANT TO RECOGNIZE. >> WALSH: NO, SIR.

NOT TODAY. NOPE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> VIAGRAN: THIS IS MORE OF A CITY UPDATE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE ROLE, THE 2024 WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL, MUSIC AND MOVIE UNDER THE STARS IS HAPPENING.

DO WE HAVE THAT VIDEO? IF WE COULD ROLL THAT VIDEO.

♪

>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. Y'ALL JUST SAW WHERE WE ENDED WITH OUR MUSIC UNDER THE STARS. AND YOU ALL RECEIVED A BAG -- BECAUSE, REMEMBER, THE WORLD HERITAGE IS A CITYWIDE VENUE. AND SO I INVITE Y'ALL TO JOIN ME TOMORROW EVENING FOR MUSIC UNDER THE STARS. WE WILL BE ON STAGE SINGING AND DANCING -- NO, WE WON'T BE SINGING AND DANCING. OTHERS WILL BE SINGING BUT WE WILL BE THERE. I HAVE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ALREADY SET UP SO I WANT YOU TO JOIN US FOR THE NINTH ANNUAL WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL.

YOU DID RECEIVE A SHIRT AND A MEDAL SO IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE YOU VISIT THE SITE SO YOU EARN THAT SHIRT, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY COOL WITH THE ALAMO ON IT.

AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE KIND OF SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO THANK COLLEEN SWAIN, BLANCH, JOHN, AND CHRISTINA FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DO . MY SECOND IS A REMINDER THAT SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SENIOR CENTER MONTH, SO IT'S TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE OUR SENIOR CENTERS PLAY IN THE LIVES OF OLDER ADULTS. SO MY CHALLENGE TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IS VISIT YOUR SENIOR CENTERS AND LET'S SEE WHO COMES WITH THE BEST STORY.

AND WE CAN DECIDE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ELIGIBLE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: TO END THIS MEETING ON A POSITIVE NOTE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS PASSED ON CONSENT, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 8 FOR ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO OUR CITY AND TO ONE OF THE MEMBERS UP HERE TODAY. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL IT WOULD BE RIGHT PASSING IT WITHOUT FIRST SAYING A WORD ABOUT A COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND. DR. ROCHA GARCIA IS APPLYING TO BE APPOINTED THE VICE PRESIDENT. S.IN MY OPINION SHE IS THE PERFECT CANDIDATE TO SERVE IN HE'S ROLES. HER STORY IS ONE THAT IS RELATABLE TO SO MANY IN OUR CITY , ONE OF WORKING HARD, PERSISTENCE, AND RESILIENCE. HAVING ONE OF OUR OWN MEMBER'S VOICES REPRESENTED WILL BE BENEFICIAL IN ENSURING WE ARE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS THE UNIQUE CITY WE ARE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT THIS COMMITMENT WOULD MEAN FOR OUR CITY.

I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST OF LUCK. THANK YOU.

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

[Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the C Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ]

[01:05:03]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.