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>> PELAEZ: ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. LET'S CALL ROLL, AURORA.
>> CLERK: BEFORE WE START, JEFF COYLE'S GOT SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR US.
YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT SOME FEDERAL GRANTS? >> COYLE: SURE.
A LITTLE BIT OF BREAKING NEWS -- OOH, THERE'S AN ECHO THERE.
OF COURSE, THIS IS SALLY AND HER TEAM'S DOMAIN, BUT I'LL JUST SHARE FROM A HIGH LEVEL. THREE NEW FEDERAL GRANT WINS TODAY THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO RELEASE THROUGH A PUBLIC PRESS RELEASE. HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT FOR -- FROM THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT PROGRAM. IT'S TO ALLOW FOR QUICK BUILD SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS ON OUR STREETS. 5MILLION FOR THE AIRPORT AND THEIR REMAIN OVERNIGHT PARKING PROJECT THAT'S PART OF THE CONTRACT THAT YOU AMENDED YESTERDAY FOR HENSEL PHELPS. AND 1.5 MILLION FOR SOME AIRFIELD WORK FOR THE AIRPORT, SO A LITTLE OVER 7 MILLION JUST TODAY, AND THE AIRPORT ALONE NOW HAS DRAWN DOWN 140 MILLION FOR PROJECTS SINCE 2020, SO WE'RE EXCITED. IT'S BEEN -- AS YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A MULTIYEAR STRATEGY OVERSEEN BY THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND CHASE EVERY REASONABLE FEDERAL OPPORTUNITY WE CAN, AND I'M PROUD OF OUR
TEAM MEMBERS FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL. >> PELAEZ: THAT'S EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> PELAEZ: THAT'S REALLY GOOD. SO JUST A REVIEW OF HISTORY AND HOW WE ENDED UP WHERE WE ARE TODAY, REMEMBER THIS COMMITTEE HAS EXISTED SINCE TIME IN MEMORIAL, AND AT ONE POINT IT WAS -- IT MORPHED INTO A CITY/COUNTY COMMITTEE. WE HAD MULTIPLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBERS HELPING TO FASHION A JOINTLY OWNED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. THEN THE COMMITTEE WAS DISSOLVED, AND FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO, RIGHT? YEAH. AND NOW WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AROUND THE CORNER, WE'VE RECONVENED THIS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US.
SALLY, I THINK YOU WON'T DISAGREE WITH -- WITH THIS ANALYSIS, AND THAT IS THAT WE ARE WALKING INTO A VERY, VERY HYPERSENSITIVE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN AUSTIN, AND THAT PART OF YOUR JOB IS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE CLIMATE AND, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT LEVERS THAT ARE BEING PULLED UP THERE THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTING US.
YOU AND I GOT TO ATTEND, WITH YOUR TEAM, THE TML POLICY SUMMIT LAST MONTH,
IS THAT RIGHT? >> PELAEZ: AND WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT ALMOST A QUARTER OF THE BILLS FILED UP THERE WERE CITY RELATED.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE BILLS WERE AIMED AT ERODING AWAY AND CHIPPING AWAY AT CITY'S LOCAL CONTROL, AND AS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES YOU CAN HOLD UP IS HB2127 WHICH IS CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF LITIGATION, BUT WE ALL REMEMBER THE MAY ELECTION, AND THOSE RESULTS.
AND THE GOVERNOR'S -- WAS LASER FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT HE PUT TOGETHER A LEGISLATURE THAT WAS FAITHFUL TO THE IDEA OF VOUCHERS FOR PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS. AND SO THERE IS EVERY EXPECTATION THAT HE'LL BE BRINGING BACK TWO OF THOSE PRIORITY ITEMS, RIGHT? SCHOOL CHOICE, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS BORDER SECURITY, AND THAT WILL PROBABLY END UP SUCKING THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE ROOM AS FAR AS MEDIA ATTENTION, BUT BEHIND THAT ARE THE BILLS AND EFFORTS THAT WE LIKE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, ALSO WORRY US FROM A MUNICMUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO START OFF IS EACH OF YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED A MEMORANDUM FROM COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, WE'LL SHARE THOSE WITH YOU.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT MEMO, SHE'S GOT SOME IDEAS ABOUT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDED TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. MY REQUEST IS THAT BEFORE WE DIVE INTO IT, THAT SALLY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM MAYBE VET IT AND DEVELOP SOME ANALYSIS THAT YOU CAN BRING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE, BUT I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO ADDRESS HER FOUR POINTS IN THERE TODAY OR IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE IT UNTIL LATER, BUT SALLY, THE PODIUM'S
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
YOURS. >> BASURTO: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
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GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.YOU WERE SPOT ON, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AT THE TML POLICY SUMMIT. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THAT WAS REALLY EYE-OPENING. THE TML POLICY SUMMIT EVERY OTHER YEAR IS A GREAT KICK STARTER FOR US TO START READYING OUR BRAINS AND OUR STRATEGIES AND OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR SISTER CITIES ACROSS THE STATE TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US. VERY QUICKLY, LET ME JUST JUMP RIGHT IN. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I WANTED TO KICK START OUR CONVERSATION TODAY BY LOOKING BRIEFLY AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW SESSION. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 31 SENATORS ON THE STATE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THERE WAS A LOT OF MOVEMENT THERE.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO HERE SHORTLY THAT WE ANTICIPATE FOR THE 2025 SESSION. WITH THOSE 31 SENATORS AND 150 PLUS THE SPEAKER ON THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN 2025. AS THE CHAIRMAN REMINDED US, THE MAY ELECTION BROUGHT VARIOUS RESULTS THAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL CARRY THROUGH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, AS WELL AS MANY TENURED MEMBERS THAT DECIDED EITHER NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION OR ARE NOT RETURNING DUE TO RETIREMENT. SO NEW MEMBERS IN THE SIDE OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSLATES INTO NEW CHAIRMANSHIPS, SO WE WILL BE TRACKING THOSE VERY CLOSELY WHEN THEY GET ANNOUNCED IN EARLY 2025, PROBABLY IN THE JANUARY AND FEBRUARY TIME FRAME.
WE'LL BE TRACKING THOSE VERY CLOSELY, NOT JUST TO SEE WHERE ALL THE GOP MEMBERS LAND, BUT ALSO TO SEE WHERE OUR OWN DELEGATION MEMBERS LAND.
OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS IS THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, SO WE WILL BE SURE TO BE TRACKING THOSE.
AND IF WE GET REALLY LUCKY AND CONTINUE TO SEE SOME OF OUR MEMBERS IN THE APPROPS COMMITTEE, ANOTHER GOOD COMMITTEE THAT BENEFITS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED FROM THAT FRONT.
WE'VE BEEN VERY BUSY DURING THE 88 INTERIM SESSION.
AS YOU WILL RECALL, THERE WERE FOUR SPECIAL SESSIONS THAT TOOK US THROUGH EARLY DECEMBER OF 2023. SO WHEN WE CAME BACK IN JANUARY OF 24, WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A PAUSE. IN BRIL -- IN APRIL -- THEIR CHARGERS, SO IMMEDIATELY THE GA TEAM BEGAN TO WORK ON TRACKING AND MONITORING THE WORK THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY, PART OF OUR WORK HAS BEEN ENGAGING AND REACHING OUT TO KEY MEMBERS OF KEY COMMITTEES WHERE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILLS GET USHERED THROUGH. WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE DUE TO THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND THAT OUTREACH THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL INVITATIONS FOR INVITED TESTIMONY. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE THROUGH THE PICTURES, LORI HOUSTON, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, TESTIFIED AT THE SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT OUR COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH THE GLO AND THE STATUS OF THE ALAMO PROJECT. THEN WE HAD CRAIG HOPKINS, OUR CIO, TESTIFY AT THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ADVISORY COUNCIL TO SPEAK ABOUT THE WORK THE CITY IS DOING IN THE AI SPACE.
AND MORE RECENTLY, AT THE HOUSE DEFENSE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, OUR VERY OWN GENERAL AYALA TESTIFIED ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIPS IN COLLABORATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROTECTION FOR JBSA AND OUR ONGOING COLLABORATION
ON THEM. >> COYLE: AND BEFORE, SALLY, IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT CRAIG IS ACTUALLY WEARING A SUIT IN THAT PHOTO. THAT'S A RARITY, SO WE WANTED YOU ALL TO --
>> BASURTO: WE'RE VERY PROUD OF CRAIG. HE DID AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB. NEXT, HOT OFF THE PRESS THIS MORNING, THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM IN AUSTIN THIS MORNING.
WE WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS ROUND TABLE BY INVITATION OF SENATOR PARKER, WHO OVERSEES SEVERAL VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEES DURING THE LEGISLATURE. AND HE'S LIKELY TO LAND ON THOSE SAME COMMITTEES AS WELL. EARLIER IN THE SUMMER WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SENATOR MENENDEZ, WE COHOSTED A MEETING, ALONG WITH CHIEF MCMANUS AND MELODY WOOSLEY, DIRECTOR OF OUR DEPARTMENT OF
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HUMAN SERVICES, TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH SENATOR PERIOF L PER PERRY OF LUBBOCK TO TALK ABOUT HOW SAN ANTONIO ADDRESSES HOMELESSNESS ISSUES. AND IT WAS A REALLY GOOD MEETING WE WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE RESOURCES OF SAN ANTONIO, SHARE THOSE WITH THE SENATOR, AND THERE'S BEEN ONGOING CONVERSATION AND DIALOGUE WITH HIS TEAM.SO REALLY GREAT RELATIONSHIP TO ESTABLISH EARLY IN THE SUMMER.
SORRY, THIS IS VERY SENSITIVE. OKAY.
AND SO ONTO THE TML POLICY SUMMIT. IN AUGUST EVERY OTHER YEAR, TML KICKSTARTS THE WORK OF THE SESSION. YOU CAN SEE HERE CHAIRMAN PELAEZ IN CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF OUR CONSULTANTS WITH SOME OF THE TML LEADERSHIP AS WELL ENGAGED WITH THE GROUP ASKING QUESTIONS, ENGAGING WITH OUR SISTER CITIES. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEARN AND STRATEGIZE ON OUR EFFORTS -- COLLECTIVE EFFORTS, I SHOULD SAY, IS A VERY IMPORTANT PARTNER FOR US DURING THE SESSION, AS WELL AS OTHER SISTER CITIES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS. SO THIS WILL BE ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH TML.
THIS WAS THE KICKSTART OF OUR WORK FOR THE 2025 SESSION.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THERE ARE SEVERAL MAIN PILLARS, OR FOCUSES, FOR THE -- THAT COMPRISE THE 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S PROGRAM AIMS TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS, THE QUALITY OF OUR RESIDENTS THROUGH POLICY AND FUNDING. THIS ESSENTIALLY IS THE GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, BUT ALSO FOR OUR CONSULTANTS IN OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN AUSTIN, AS WELL AS THIS DICTATES AND ALLOW US TO DO OUR COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WITH OUR DELEGATION, WITH THIS COMMITTEE, THIS BODY AS WELL AS WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE AIMING FOR VARIOUS DATES OF INTEREST AND MILESTONES. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS A MULTIMONTH ENDEAVOR. WE KICKSTARTED OUR INTERNAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT IN MAY, TOOK US THROUGH THE SUMMER IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS. FAST-FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER, BRINGS US TO THIS IGR COMMITTEE, WE WILL COME BACK IN OCTOBER AND REVISIT THE PROGRAM AND GET YOUR APPROVAL FOR THE RECOMMENDED PROGRAM THAT WE WILL TAKE TO THE FULL COUNCIL B SESSION, AS WELL AS LATER IN OCTOBER, AND THEN WORK TOWARDS ADOPTION OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL TOWARDS THE END OF OCTOBER DURING AN A SESSION. THE ELECTION DAY IS IN NOVEMBER. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES.
THAT WE'LL BE TRACKING ON THAT DAY. THE DUST WILL START TO SETTLE A LITTLE BIT ON THE RACES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING THE SPEAKER'S RACE, AND ONE IN PARTICULAR FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY DELEGATION, SINCE WE LOST OUR REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON IN THE MAY RACE. NOVEMBER 11TH IS THE DAY WHERE BILL FILING BEGINS, AND THEN WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY FOR THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH KICKSTARTS THE 140 DAYS, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE 140 DAYS, IF THERE'S ANY SPECIAL SESSIONS AFTER THAT.
HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT A DIAGRAM WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE FLOW OF THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. AS I MENTIONED IN MAY, WE START GAINING INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENTS ON WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE, THE GA STAFF BEGINS TO FORMULATE A DRAFT PROGRAM, WE BRING THAT TO IGR, AND WE START GATHERING INPUT FROM THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER, AND WORK TOWARDS THAT COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE FINAL DOCUMENT TO READY US FOR THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2025.
OUR OUTREACH, AS I HAVE SPOKEN THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, IS ONGOING, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE AS THE MONTHS PEAL AWAY THROUGH THE SESSION AS WELL. HERE IS A LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. AS WE HAD IN THE LAST SESSION, THERE ARE FOUR MAIN PILLARS THAT ARE PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
I CONSIDER THE VERY FIRST PILLAR, THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTEREST, ONE OF THE -- ACTUALLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT PILLAR FOR US.
THIS IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADVOCACY EFFORTS ARE CONCENTRATED IN, BECAUSE IT ESSENTIALLY GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY AS PER THE CHARTER, THE ORDINANCES, ARE PROTECTED AND ENSURE THAT YOU KEEP THAT
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AUTHORITY, AND MORE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.THE NEXT PILLAR IS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT INCLUDES VARIOUS ISSUES -- AND THEN A BROAD PILLAR, WHICH INCLUDES INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY. AND RESILIENCY IS A PRIORITY THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT DURING THE INTERIM CHARGES WORK, A PRIORITY FOR STATE LEADERSHIP. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE FIRST PILLAR ENCOMPASSES THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS.
THIS ENCOMPASSES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT -- GOVERNANCE SECTION. THIS IS THE CITY'S OVERARCHING LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY TO PROTECT THE VOICE OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CITY CHARTER, VOTER-APPROVED AMENDMENTS, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN A FISCALLY SOUND WELL-MANAGED ORGANIZATION. OF COURSE, ALL WORKING TOWARDS THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS AND OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. SO THE LOCAL GOVERNANCE SECTION IS AN AREA THAT, AGAIN, OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN. OF COURSE, MILITARY CITY USA, THIS IS THE AREA WHERE WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR MILITARY PARTNERS.
OUR MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, TO PROTECT OUR CURRENT MISSIONS, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO EXPAND ADDITIONAL MILITARY MISSIONS TO SAN ANTONIO THAT WILL BENEFIT THE SUSTAINMENT AND GROWTH OF OUR BASES. THE MUNICIPALLY-OWNED UTILITIES SECTION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROTECT THE UNICIPALLY-OWNED MODEL FOR OUR PARTNERS, SAWS AND CPS, WHICH WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH DURING THE STATE SESSION. THE NEXT PILLAR IS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THIS ONE IS IN SUPPORT OF EXPANDED STATE INCENTIVES TO GROW ECONOMIC INVESTMENTS, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO COMPETE AS A LARGE CITY FOR MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS AND CONVENTIONS. AND IT ALSO INCLUDES A SECTION FOR WORKFORCE. OF IMPORTANT NOTE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE INCLUDES VARIOUS LOCAL AND STATE INCENTIVES IN THAT TOOLBOX, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INCENTIVES REMAIN IN PLACE.
AND IF POSSIBLE, TO ALSO EXPAND THOSE INCENTIVES SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING EMPLOYERS -- ATTRACT EMPLOYERS TO SAN ANTONIO AND RETAIN THE ONES THAT WE HAVE. PART OF THE MESSAGING UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/GROWTH IS THAT WHAT'S GOOD FOR SAN ANTONIO IS GOOD FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO THAT IS AN AREA OF ALIGNMENT THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY MESSAGE K ACCORDINGLY WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN. IN THE WORKFORCE FRONT, WE SUPPORT LEGISLATION, OF COURSE, THAT SUPPORTS WORKFORCE, OPPORTUNITIES, JOBS, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AS WELL AS INCREASE ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY OF CHILDCARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR GROWING WORKFORCE POPULATION.
THE NEXT PILLAR IS PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. WE SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY OF ALL SAN ANTONIANS TO THRIVE IN A HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT. HEALTHCARE AND NUTRITION IS A BIG MISSION PART OF THE SA FORWARD PLAN THAT OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM WORKS ON ON A DAILY BASIS. WE SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT IMPROVES ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR ALL SAN ANTONIANS, AND THAT INCLUDES FOOD ASSISTANCE ACCESS, ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOODS, AND AS WELL AS PROMOTING FOOD SECURITY ACROSS THE CITY.
UNDER THE VIOLENCE IN CRIME PREVENTION, WE -- THIS IS A CARRYOVER ITEM AS WELL. WE SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PREVENT AND WORK TOWARDS ELIMINATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY. INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY, THIS PILLAR HAS A VERY BROAD LENS. WE SUPPORT EXPANDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE CONSIDER AFFORDABLE HOUSING A NEED UNDER T THE INFRASTRUCTURE UMBRELLA BECAUSE THERE'S A NEEDING THERE THAT ALIGN WITH THE REST OF THE PROGRAM.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES OUR WORK BEHIND SUPPORTIVE DIGITAL INCLUSION, BROADBAND ACCESS, GENERAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AREAS OF THE CITY WE CAN PARTNER WITH OTHER TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS IN AND EFFORT TO EXPAND OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY SECTION, AS WELL AS PREPARING FOR EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND
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NATURAL DISASTERS. THIS LAST SEGMENT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO COORDINATING WITH THE STATE AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS TO HOPEFULLY PURSUE POSITIVE LEGISLATION AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO PREPARE THE CITY FOR EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. SO THESE ARE THE VARIOUS AREAS UNDER INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY. LASTLY, ALMOST TO THE FINISH LINE, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND HIGHLIGHT OUR ONGOING WORK WITH PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH. THIS INCLUDES VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, THE IGR COMMITTEE WILL BE RECEIVING REGULAR UPDATES FROM THE GA STAFF, NOT JUST THROUGH OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS, BUT ALSO THROUGH REGULAR UPDATES ONCE THE SESSION BEGINS. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR COSA DEPARTMENTS, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, KEY STATE COMMITTEES, DELEGATION MEMBERS, OF COURSE. THE IGR STAFF ROUND TABLE IS A GROUP OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OR IGR STAFF ACROSS THE CITY FROM OUR COUNTERPART STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, AS WELL AS STATE TRADE ORGANIZATIONS.THERE ARE VARIOUS STATE TRADE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE VERY SPECIFIC MISSION STATEMENTS AND ITEMS THAT THEY PURSUE, WHERE THE CITY MAY HAVE MULTIPLE AREAS TO FOCUS ON, TRADE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE VERY SPECIFIC MISSION STATEMENTS AND WE LEAN ON THEM TO HELP US WORK ON AREAS THAT THEY ARE EXPERTS IN. ONE LAST SLIDE. THIS IS A NONININ NONINCLUESIVE L LIST OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
IT'S NONININCLUDESIVE. THERE'S A LOT OF INTERACTION, COORDINATION WITH THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU SEE HERE.
IF THERE ARE ANY PARTICULAR ISSUES OF INCREASE TO THE CITY THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT IN THE PROGRAM, IN MANY OCCASIONS OUR PARTNERS ARE PURSUING, SUPPORTING SPECIFIC LEGISLATION AND FUNDING REQUESTS DURING THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE SUPPORT THEM ON.
AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF THE WORK OF OUR PARTNERS AS THE LEGISLATURE UNFOLDS IN 2025.
MR. CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS, MY STAFF'S AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'LL BE BACK BEFORE YOU IN OCTOBER FOR THE APPROVAL AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE PROGRAM SO THAT IT GOES TO A B SESSION BRIEFING, AND A SESSION APPROVAL.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MET INDIVIDUALLY WITH YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO START PREPPING FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS. WE ARE ALL EARS, AND APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ONCE WE GET STARTED AND YOUR SUPPORT DURING THE LEGISLATIVE STATION. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, SALLY. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, ANY
QUESTIONS? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THIS IS LIKELY GOING TO CONSIST OF SOME OF THE MOST UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS WE'VE HAD TO NAVIGATE IN SOME TIME AND LIKELY SOME ROCKY TERRAIN AHEAD OF US.
BUT ALSO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WE'LL EXPERIENCE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE A PRIMARY SES IN THIS SESSION. ABBOTT IS HELLBENT ON MESSING WITH THE SCHOOLS UNTIL HE GETS HIS WAY. I CAN IMAGINE IT WILL BE A SERIOUSLY SWIFT SESSION OR NEVER-ENDING. OF COURSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IMPORTANT TO US THAT YOU'VE ALREADY NAMED. OUR ABILITY TO GOVERN AS THE BODY OF GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE, I THINK THAT'S PARAMOUNT.
TO ME, THAT INCLUDES NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE AND OUR RIGHT TO PASS ORDINANCES AND THAT -- THAT PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES. I SAY THAT VERY BROADLY.
THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE STILL HAVE TO DO. I WOULD ASK THAT WE BE AS PROACTIVE ABOUT THESE ISSUES, AS WELL AS ISSUES THAT WILL AFFECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE INCLUDING THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND SPECIFICALLY THE TRANS COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK FOR SEVERAL SESSIONS IN A ROW AT THIS POINT, AS WELL AS THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY, WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. I KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAVEN'T BEEN AS PROACTIVE OR TAKEN A STANCE ON MANY OF THESE ISSUES BUT -- ON SPECIFIC LEGISLATION THAT TARGETS THESE COMMUNITY. TO ME IT'S A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IF WE'RE
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NOT PROACTIVELY PURSUING LEGISLATION THAT SEEK TO HARM THESE COMMUNITIES.THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HOPE THIS BODY DOES AND ADVOCATES FOR THROUGHOUT THE SESSION. I'D ALSO ASK AHEAD OF NO NOVEMBER THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME FACETIME WITH OUR SAN ANTONIO DELEGATION, EVEN IF IT'S INFORMAL AND DOESN'T CONSIST OF A QUORUM, IT MAY BE B BENEFICIAL FOR EACH OF US TO BRAINSTORM OUR COMMUNITY CHALLENGES AHEAD OF THE BILL DATE FOR FILING. I'D LOVE TO MEET WITH SOME LEGISLATORS IN RURAL COMMUNITY, SO ANY MEETINGS THAT YOU CAN HELP ME COORDINATE WOULD BE GREATLY, GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I ALSO MENTIONED TO YOU DURING OUR MEETING THAT PROPERTY TAX AND APPRAISAL REFORM WAS IMPORTANT TO ME AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING DR. ROCHA GARCIA, WHO I RECEIVED HER LETTER TODAY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD FOR VIOLENT PREVENTION SPECIFICALLY, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS PERTINENT AND WORTHWHILE TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PREVENT GANG VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE MORE BROADLY. WE RECEIVE CALLS ABOUT PEOPLE FIRING GUNS AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT EVEN JUST INTO THE AIR, AND THAT IS CREATING TRAUMA IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS ONE OF OUR ONLY OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE IN A DIRECT AND MEANINGFUL WAY.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND AND SUPPORT VIOLENCE AND E RUP SHUN AND NONPROPER FITS THAT DO THAT WORK.
THAT BEING SAID, IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING CONSTITUENTS WITH US OUT TO THE CAPITOL TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CITIES AND THE ISSUES THAT MATTER FOR THEM, I'LL BE MORD THAN HAPPY TO COORDINATE THAT.
THERE ARE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT TWO WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, ANIMAL WELFARE AND SAFETY, AND MANY WHO ARE ALREADY ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
THERE ARE ALSO MEMBERS WHO FIND OUT HOUSING AFFORDABLE AT THE STATE, THEY'RE EAGER TO GET INVOLVED. OVERALL I'M EXCITED TO BE REAPPOINTED TO THE IGR COMMITTEE. THIS SESSION I'M ALL IN, SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN MAKE OUR CITY'S VOICE STRONGER.
THANK YOU. >> COYLE: COUNCILMAN JUST ONE -- I'M TAKING NOTES ON YOUR ITEMS YOU MENTIONED. WE DO TYPICALLY DO A BREAKFAST -- I ASSUME WE'RE PLANNING THAT AGAIN, SALLY.
ONCE THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THE ELECTIONS HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER AND WE KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE IN WHAT SEATS, WE'LL POST A MEETING THAT WE BRING THE WHOLE -- INVITE THE WHOLE DELEGATION TO COME N ALL OF YOU, TO SIT DOWN, TALK THROUGH ITEMS, HEAR THEIR PRIORITIES, THEM TO HEAR YOURS, AND THAT INTERACTION BETWEEN YOU AND OUR STATE MEMBERS IS REALLY CRITICAL. WE ENCOURAGE IT AS WELL. AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP TO THE CAPITOL WHERE SALLY AND HER TEAM ARE UP THERE EVERY DAY PRACTICALLY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOU AND INTRODUCE YOU AND TESTIFY AS WELL, WE'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THE OFFER OF HAVING RESIDENTS COME AND COMMUNICATE.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ABSOLUTELY. I GUESS MORE SPECIFICALLY QUHAI'D BE INTERESTED IN IS ALL OF THE -- ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION WHO -- AND I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU, ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION WHO MAYBE I SHARE BOUNDARIES WITH, I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ONE-ON-ONE FACETIME WITH THEM OR A GROUP, IT MAY NOT BE -- IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE A TEAM AND TO BE UNIFIED AND FOR ALL OF US TO GET TO CHAT, BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME AREAS TO EACH OF US AS COUNCILMEMBERS THAT MAYBE IT'S MORE PERTINENT TO HAVE THOSE SMALLER GROUP
MEETINGS. THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, SALLY, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M JUST GOING TO START WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY SLIDE, IF Y'ALL CAN PULL THAT BACK UP. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE, SO I REALLY WANT TO SEE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IS GETTING PEACE OFFICER DESIGNATIONS OR PRIVILEGES, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY CALL THEM, FOR OUR FEDERAL OFFICERS OVER AT THE NATIONAL PARKS, SO THEY'RE ABLE TO MANAGE THE SITUATIONS WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT ON SAPD.
AND I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING ON THE NATIONAL PARKS COALITION, ASSOCIATION, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, TOO. SO I WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN LOOK FOR LEGISLATION ON THAT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE IF ANYONE -- AND MAYBE ANY OTHER BIG CITIES THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS, IF ANY LEGISLATION ON GUN VIOLENCE WITHIN URBAN AREAS OR THE DISCHARGE OF WEAPONS, IF THERE'S ANY TALK ON PASSING STRONGER LEGISLATION, IF SOMEONE IS DISCHARGING A WEAPON WITHIN AN URBAN AREA, CLOSE TO A SCHOOL.
AND THEN IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS.
AND I'M WORKING WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE LIZ CAMPOS AND THEN WAITING TO SEE WHO MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS ALSO TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE THINKING
[00:30:04]
IN TERMS OF THE DISCHARGING OF WEAPONS. BECAUSE SHE GETS THE SAME PHONE CALLS I GET IN TERMS OF THERE WERE GUNSHOTS OUTSIDE MY HOUSE. THERE WERE GUNSHOTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY KNOW WHO THE NEIGHBOR IS. SOME OF THEM HAVE THEM ON RING CAMERA, BUT BECAUSE THE OFFICER WASN'T THERE, THEY REALLY CAN'T -- IT GETS IFFY ON WHAT THEY CAN CHARGE HIM WITH. SO IF WE COULD JUST SAY -- IF THEY COULD LOOK AT THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL.IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, I KNOW WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS BEFORE, AND THIS IS ALWAYS KIND OF A HARD PORTION, BUT REPEAT OFFENDERS WITH DIFFERENT VICTIMS. SO WE HAVE -- IF THEY HAVE ANY LEGISLATION COMING THROUGH TO KIND OF ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. I KNOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY HERE TO TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S WEAPONS IF THEY ARE ARRESTED FOR SOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES ON THE FELONY LEVEL, BUT I REALLY WANT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW HAVE PRIOR CONVICTIONS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUT WITH DIFFERENT VICTIMS. AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE NUTRITION, I THINK ANY LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES INCENTIVES TO GROCERY STORES OR MARKETS THAT PARTICIPATE IN A DESERT AREA, A FOOD DESERT AREA, THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO THAT AND SUPPORTING THAT OR FOLLOWING THAT.
AND INFRASTRUCTURE, I THINK IT'S KEY THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING STAYS WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL. I KNOW LAST SESSION WE SAW THE PROBLEM THAT THEY WANTED TO SEND STATEWIDE MANDATES FOR HOW MANY HOUSES SHOULD BE BUILT ON AN ACRE, AND THAT WAS REALLY TROUBLESOME FOR OUR NEIGHBORS OUT IN FREDERICKSBURG AND THE HILL COMPANY, SO I REALLY COUNTRY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF US, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR AREAS, BUT THAT WE ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IMPACTS OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH AND TO THE SOUTH ALSO.
I THINK WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY WITH DIGITAL INCLUSION TO WORK WITH THE STATE AND TO COMMUNICATE OUR ROLE IN WORKING WITH THE RURAL AREAS, BECAUSE, ONE, TO REMIND THEM WE DO HAVE RURAL AREAS IN AND AROUND -- IN SAN ANTONIO AND AROUND IN BEXAR COUNTY AND BOTH I THINK COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I CAN SPEAK TO THAT WHERE FIBER IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND, SO I REALLY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET THEIR SUPPORT AS WE GO AFTER FEDERAL DOLLARS AND AS THEIR SUPPORT AS WE CONNECT SOME OF THOSE SMALLER TOWNS THAT BORDER OUR AREA.
AND THEN TRANSPORTATION, OF COURSE, I'M ALWAYS EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, BUT I REALLY WANT TO BE SPECIFIC WHEN WE'RE LOOKING, BECAUSE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE EAST/WEST.
EAST/WEST HAS BEEN KIND OF TALKED ABOUT, BUT WE HAVEN'T FOCUSED ON THAT, AND THAT -- FOR US FROM GOING SOUTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST, THAT IS THE SOUTHWEST/SOUT SOUTHWEST MILITARY DRIVE, SOUTHWEST LOOP 1604 CORRIDOR, WHAT WAS THE KELLY PARKWAY, SOUTHCROSS BECOME SULFUR SPRINGS AND POTENTIAL EAST/WEST CORRIDORS AROUND I-37, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, IS THAT EAST/WEST CONNECTING. THESE -- ALL THAT I MENTIONED, WE SHARE WITH TXDOT OR TXDOT KIND OF HAS THE FINAL SAY, AND THAT CAN -- WE START MOVING -- THEY TALK TO US, THEY'RE WELL-INTENTIONED, BUT THEN AS THINGS MOVE ON, WE START GETTING LOWER AND LOWER ON THAT LIST, AND IT REALLY IS IMPACTING JUST WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE CAN BRING MORE HOUSING AND BUSINESS INTO OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE FOCUS ON THAT.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE SCHOOL CHOICE CONVERSATION, I THINK -- AS SOMEONE WHO WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE '70S, AND I'M DATING MYSELF -- I CAN SEE THAT FOR WORKING FAMILIES WHO WANTED A FAITH-BASED EDUCATION. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT. AND SOME OF THE IDEAS, AGENDAS COMING OUT OF HIS SUPPORTERS, I JUST FEEL LEAVE PEOPLE OPEN TO MORE TAXES, BECAUSE IF WE DO A
[00:35:04]
SAVINGS ACCOUNT, IF WE DO A VOUCHER, I REALLY DO THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO COME AND SAY -- AND TAKE THEIR -- TAKE THEIR PORTION, WHETHER IT'S WHEN WE DO OUR IRS TAXES OR A FEE FOR DOING THAT.SO I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN FULLY THOUGHT THROUGH, BUT I KNOW FOR SOME REASON HE JUST THINKS THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
SO I REALLY JUST WANT TO ASK THE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I -- AND I DON'T CARE WHO'S IN THE WHITE HOUSE AFTER NOVEMBER -- I MEAN, I DO CARE, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IT IS, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT THEIR PORTION IF WE TELL THEM YOU CAN HAVE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR YOU CAN HAVE A VOUCHER.
THEY'RE GOING TO WANT THEIR PIECE OF THE PIE, AND THAT IS JUST GOING TO HURT OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. OR WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER GETS PASSED ENSURES THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE PARENTS THAT CHOSE SCHOOL DISTRICT -- DISTRICT SCHOOLS, DO NOT GET PENALIZED FOR THAT AND HAVE TO PAY. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THIS. IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING SESSION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> PELAEZ: SALLY, JEFF, YOU WANT TO UNPACK SOME OF THAT, OR DID YOU TAKE ALL THE NOTES.
>> CONOTES. >> COYLE: I'M TAKING THOATS ON ALL OF IT.
THE ONE I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, WE AGREE WITH YOU ON THE EAST/WEST PARKWAY, NOT ONLY DOES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN, IT'S ON THE CITY'S MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN AND HAS BEEN, BUT IT REALLY IS AND SHOULD BE A STATE PROJECT. WE ENVISION SIMILAR TO A WURZBACH PARKWAY AND IT'S LINKING UP NOT COINCIDENTALLY A NUMBER OF JOB CENTERS THAT THE STATE HAS PAID A BIG ROLL IN HELPING US LAND, TOYOTA, NAVASTAR AND J.C.
WHEAT. SALLY AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING, WE VERY WELL WILL CALL THAT OUT AS AN INTENDED EFFORT WE WANT TO PURSUE, AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT, AND THE JOB ON THE NEAR TERM IS FOR US TO REALLY SOCIALIZE THE ISSUE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE NEED THE PARTNERSHIP OF MANY OTHER GROUPS TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH US. I KNOW YOU'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVE LUJAN, SO THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ON OUR RADAR. THERE'S ONLY A FEW THINGS EACH SESSION THAT WE CAN SPEND A LOT OF OFFENSIVE ENERGY ON, BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT TO GET A BILL THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS, AND I THINK AT THIS STAGE, OF COURSE, WE'LL TAKE DIRECTION FROM YOU ULTIMATELY, BUT I THINK AT THIS STAGE, WE SEE THAT AS ONE OF THE FEW THAT WE WOULD SORT OF, ON OUR OWN, LEAD THE
CHARGE TO PURSUE. >> PELAEZ: GREAT. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SALLY, FOR THIS PRESENCETATION.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. FIRST, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF HB 2127, I KNOW WE HEARD ABOUT THAT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT'S THE LATEST. >> BASURTO: YES, COUNCILWOMAN. WE TRACK 2127 VERY CLOSELY.
AS YOU CA RECALL, IT WAS REFERRED TO AS THE DEATH STAR BILL.
ACCORDING TO TML, THE BILL IS LIKELY TO RETURN.
LIKELY TO GET SOME KIND OF A CLEANUP. IF IT DOES COME BACK, IT WILL PROBABLY BE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE STATE, NOT THE CITIES.
THE CURRENT STATUS, IT IS STILL IN LITIGATION, SO THERE WAS A STAY, A LEGAL STAY ON IT, AND THEN THERE WAS AN APPEAL BY THE STATE, AND THEN I UNDERSTAND FROM OUR IN-HOUSE LEGAL TEAM THAT IT'S IN EFFECT, BUT RIGHT
NOW IT IS CAUGHT IN LITIGATION. >> GAVITO: OKAY.
>> BASURTO: SO IT'S STILL OUT THERE. WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON IT, ESPECIALLY IF IT RETURNS IN 2025, IF IT GETS REFILED.
>> GAVITO: OKAY. THANK YOU. PERFECT.
THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I ALSO KNOW THAT LAST SESSION THEY WERE REALLY PUSHING -- THE STATE WAS PUSHING FOR CONTROL OVER OUR MUNICIPALLY-OWNED UTILITIES. I'M ASSUMING WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE THAT PUSH AGAIN -- SORRY, I KNOW YOU JUST SAT BACK
DOWN. >> BASURTO: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, TOO.
THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT OFTEN COMES BACK DURING EACH SESSION OF CONVERSATION. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH OUR CPS COUNTERPARTS LAST WEEK. THE GOVERNOR LAUNCHED A COMMISSION, A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RESEARCHING AND ANALYZING AND ASSESSING THE RESU RESULTS OF HOW HURRICANE BERYL WAS HANDLED, AND OFTEN THERE'S LEAKAGE WHEN THERE'S THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES DURING THE INTERIM SESSION. WE'LL BE KEEPING A VERY CLOSE EYE ON.
IT'S PART OF THE PROGRAM FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT OUR
MUNICIPALLY-OWNED MODELS FOR SAUCE AND CPS. >> GAVITO: ABSOLUTELY.
[00:40:02]
THANK YOU. THANKS FOR TRACKING THAT THIS TIME.I DID HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I DID WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE'S COMMENTS ON GUN CONTROL, WHICH I KNOW FALLS IN THE VIOLENCE AND CRIME PREVENTION BUCKET. I KNOW METRO HEALTH IS LOOKING AT THIS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO ATTACK THIS AT ALL ANGLES, AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO DO IN TEXAS, BUT I DO FEEL IT'S STILL WORTH OUR EFFORT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR EFFORTS TO BETTER ADDRESS THE OWNERS OF LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS.
OBVIOUSLY WE SAW, YOU KNOW, THAT INCIDENT YESTERDAY.
AND I KNOW THAT LAST SESSION THE GOVERNOR -- YOU KNOW, WE HAD SETBACKS BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR, BUT I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE OUR MOMENTUM ON THAT, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT SAN ANTONIO IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS, AND SO WE JUST NEED TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD ON THAT. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING SOME FRUSTRATION -- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SAID IT, IF IT WAS COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ OR COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP CAN BE TRICKY, IT IMPACTS OUR RESIDENTS A LOT, BECAUSE THEY'RE FRUSTRATED WITH PARCELS OF LAND THAT AREN'T OWNED BY US, SO HOWEVER WE CAN BETTER HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION MODEL WITH TXDOT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL OF US IN DAY-TO-DAY RESIDENT CONCERNS. ONE OF THE OTHER BIG ISSUES FOR OUR RESIDENT BS ARE MAIL THEFT AND WE GET -- THE MIDDLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MAILBOXES ARE OWNED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SAPD CAN'T DO ANYTHING, PEOPLE ARE JUST LEFT WITH THEIR MAIL.
AND WE WANT TO HELP THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WE LITERALLY CAN'T DO VERY MUCH. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE CAN GET A GRASP AROUND THAT ISSUE. BUT I'M JUST RAISING THE RED FLAG THAT IT IS AN ISSUE FOR A LOT OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I, AND SO SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DIG INTO. I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT.
I'M EXCITED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, AND I'M EXCITED TO DIG IN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> PELAEZ: COUNCILWOMAN
KAUR? >> KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I WASN'T QUITE READY TO BE CALLED FIRST. I WAS LIKE, OH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. HOW AGGRESSIVE ARE WE WITH OUR AGENDA IN TERMS OF, LIKE, IF THERE'S SPECIFIC POLICY NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, DO WE GO OUT AND TRY TO FIND CHAMPIONS OR ARE WE MORE LIKE ON THE SIDE OF -- BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY POLICY BILLS THAT ACTUALLY ARE ALREADY BEING PROPOSED THAT WE'RE SAYING, OKAY, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ALREADY ALIGN WITH OUR GOALS AND THESE ARE THE ONES WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SUPPORT.
>> BASURTO: SURE. THAT'S A MULTILAYERED QUESTION.
IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO FILE BILLS FOR, PROPOSED LEGISLATION, THEN WE NEED TO GO OUT AND SHOP OUT THE ISSUE AND IDENTIFY ONE OF OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS ON THE HOUSE, SENATE, BOTH, TO BE ABLE TO CARRY THAT LEGISLATION FOR US. IF WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A MEMBER ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE GER VIN HAWKINS WHO IS, AND IT'S A FUNDING ISSUE, THEN WE LEAN ON THEM TO HELP US USHER THOSE REQUESTS THROUGH THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. IT'S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH. WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, DEPENDING ON THE ISSUE. WE WORK CLOSELY AS WELL AS WITH OTHER SISTER CITIES ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH OUR BIG CITY LOBBYISTS, AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE AN EXTENSION OF THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM WHICH ARE OUR STATE CONSULTANTS.
>> KAUR: THERE'S AN ISSUE UNDER HOUSING, WHICH WE CAME JUST TO KNOW THAT REGARDING THE COMMUNITY WE ENTRUST THAT WE'RE TRYING TO START AT THE CITY, WHERE BY STATUTE, WE CANNOT GET LAND DONATED TO A NONPROFIT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND SO THAT IS BY STATUTE.
IF A PROPERTY IS GOING TO FORECLOSURE, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE FORECLOSURE PROCESS -- SHIP PROPERTY RIGHTS ISSUE, BUT IF THERE WOULD BE A WAY WHERE IF IT'S GOING TO A NONPROFIT, WE'RE ABLE TO DONATE VACANT LAND THAT -- WITH AGREEMENT FROM THE COUNTY, THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, RIGHT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES RECEIVING THE PROPERTY TAXES, IF WE CAN WAIVE BACK PROPERTY TAXES AND THEN DONATE THAT LAND TO COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS, I THINK IT WILL GIVE US A LOT OF LEGS TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE ON OUR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST POLICY. SO THAT'S ONE THAT I THINK -- I -- IT WOULD BE A LONG SHOT, BUT IT WOULD BE REALLY -- AT LEAST WE COULD TWR TRY TO START THE CONVERSATION. THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD WAS, DO WE HAVE, LIKE, A PLAN A AND PLAN B FOR LIKE, OKAY -- BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS I THINK WOE COULD STILL WIN REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER. THESE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO GO AFTER IF THIS HAPPEN, THESE ARE THE BASE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PROTECT
[00:45:02]
AT LEAST? >> BASURTO: SO AS YOU CAN SEE THE PROGRAM UNDER THE PILAR OF COMMUNITY OF PROTECTION FOR THE COMMITTEE THAT IS WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF OUR ADVOCACY WORK. THERE ARE A LOT OF LAND USE, PERMITTING, THE AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP THEIR ORDINANCES, EXECUTE NEW ONES. THAT'S WHERE WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS, SO THOSE ARE RECURRING EVERY YEAR.
WE KNOW AS THE CHAIRMAN MENTIONED, TML GAVE US THAT DATA POINT THAT UP TO OR APPROXIMATELY 25% OF THE LEGISLATURE'S BILLS ARE AIMED AT CITIES, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE TO DIMINISH OUR AUTHORITY.
SO WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THAT SPACE. IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE AND TELL YOU WHAT STRATEGY A AND B WOULD BE.
THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES, IT DEPENDS ON THE ISSUE, BUT WE AIM AT NOT DOING ANYTHING ALONE. THERE'S A LOT OF POWER IN NUMBERS, SO WE LEAN ON OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS A LOT. JEFF HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WORKING, YOU KNOW, AS MY PREDECESSOR WITH -- THROUGH A LOT OF VARIOUS SESSIONS BEFORE ME, AND SO HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEND A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE. >> PEL >> COYLE: WE DON'T HAVE A CLOCK HERE, RIGHT? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T EAT UP YOUR TIME. FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE VERY MUCH DO WAIT TO SEE HOW THE ELECTION TURNS OUT. BECAUSE IT CHANGES PARTIES ALL THE TIME, THE CONGRESS DOES, THE WHITE HOUSE DOES, AND OUR AGENDAS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ARE VERY MUCH GUIDED BY WHAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS, THE LANDSCAPE IS, THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THERE.
THE STATE RARELY CHANGES. IT'S -- AS YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A VERY CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURE FOR 30, 40 YEARS AT THIS POINT.
SO WE MOVE OUR PROGRAM FORWARD, EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTION, KNOWING THAT EVEN IF SOME OF THE FACES CHANGE, THE OVERALL TENOR IS THERE.
>> KAUR: RIGHT. >> COYLE: SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE TOO MUCH IN TERMS OF PLAN A OR PLAN B. OUR PLAN A IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH REGARDLESS.
GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO YOUR OTHER QUESTION, WHICH SALLY WAS ANSWERING WELL, I -- JUST TO GIVE YOU THE COMMITTEE SOME CONTEXT HERE, WE END UP TRACKING PROBABLY 1500 TO 2000 BILLS THAT COULD HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THE CITY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. PROBABLY 80% OF OUR TIME AND ENERGY UP THERE IS PLAYING DEFENSE, IS PROTECTING THE AUTHORITY OF YOU ALL SITTING AROUND THE TABLE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
OF THAT REMAINING 20% THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACTUALLY GET THINGS DONE AT THE STATE, MOST OF IT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS.
FOR EXAMPLE -- WELL, YOU BROUGHT UP A GOOD EXAMPLE, THAT COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ISSUE MAY WELL BE A GREAT POLICY IDEA. THERE'S A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE STATE WHO PLAY IN THAT SORT OF SANDBOX, SO I THINK WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO IS BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT ISSUE AND START TALKING TO SOME OF THE GROUPS, SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES, SOME OF THE PARTNERS AND SEE WHERE WE ARE, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T -- IT DOESN'T SERVE US WELL TO GO SPEND A LOT OF TIME UP THERE ON SOMETHING THAT ALL OF SORT OF OUR FELLOW FOLKS INTERESTED IN THAT ARE FIGHTING US ON.
>> KAUR: YEAH. >> COYLE: SO MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, AND A LOT OF THESE ISSUES, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED JUST TODAY AS BEING IMPORTANT, WE'RE GOING TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH OTHER GROUPS, WHICH OFTEN MEANS REGISTERING SUPPORT WHEN A BILL IS SET FOR A HEARING OR SENDING A WITNESS UP TO TESTIFY, AND THEN THE REMAINING 5% PROBABLY WE'LL USUALLY DEDICATED TO ONE OR TWO MAJOR ISSUES TO TRY TO MOVE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND THOSE ARE ONES THAT ARE REALLY -- SHOULD BE JUST ABOUT US, WHERE WE'RE THE RIGHT ONES TO BRING IT FORWARD. I'M NOT SURE THE CITY SHOULD BRING FORWARD A STATEWIDE MENTAL HEALTH POLICY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD WANT TO PARTNER WITH, BUT SOMETHING LIKE AN EAST/WEST PARKWAY, OR YEARS PAST, A HEMISFAIR PARK, OR LAST SESSION, THE PROJECT ZONE THAT WE CREATED, THOSE ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO US, AND THOSE WILL THE ONES THAT WE'RE THE ONLY ONES AND WE'RE THE RIGHT ONES TO BE ABLE TO CARRY THAT FORWARD. SO THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW WE STRUCTURE OUR TIME AND ENERGY UP THERE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> KAUR: YEAH S. ABSOLUTELY, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES THAT AREN'T INTEREST DZ ON HERE AND I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THE TIME IS SPENT ON PROTECTION. I SPOKE WITH YOU ABOUT THIS, TOO, BUT WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE RIGHTS, PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ONLY AND NOT SUPPORTING VOUCHERS, THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTLY, BUT THEY DO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY, SO I WANTED TO SHARE SUPPORT FOR THAT. AND THEN ALSO THERE WAS A BILL THAT ALMOST MADE IT THROUGH LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS THE DANGEROUS DOG LEGISLATION ONE WHERE IT GOT VETOED AT THE VERY END. SO IF THERE IS LEGS -- AGAIN, OBVIOUSLY IF ANYTHING OPENS UP WHERE THERE'S A POSSIBILITY TO BRING THAT BACK, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT, TOO.
BUT I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT I'M SURE THESE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS ARE GOING TO
[00:50:04]
BE REALLY TOUGH FOR YOU, AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HELP US GOVERN.SO THANK YOU FOR THE DAILY DRIVE UP 35 THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPERIENCE. THANKS, SALLY. THANKS, CHAIR.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, SALLY. UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY FURTHER COMMENTSES, I'LL CLOSE IT OUT. WHICH HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, SALLY. I KNOW YOU ACTUALLY LIVE UP THERE IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU LIVE OUT OF A HOTEL OR APARTMENT WE RENT OR SOMETHING, JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT AROUND-THE-CLOCK COVERAGE -- YOU HAVE AROUND-THE-CLOCK ACCESS TO OUR LEGISLATORS AND STAFF UP THERE.
I KNOW WE ALSO HAVE A VERY ROBUST TEAM OF TALENT THAT WE HIRE DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO HELP BACK YOU UP.
I THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME BENEFIT TO BRINGING THEM DOWN TO MEET THE COMMITTEE, SO THAT WE CAN ASK THEM SOME QUESTIONS AND MAYBE THEY CAN GIVE US SOME PERSPECTIVE FROM -- FROM WHERE THEY SIT.
AND THEN SERIOUSLY, SALLY, WE MENTIONED THIS -- AUDIO] -- ABOUT THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT THESE PEOPLE TO MY LEFT AND MY RIGHT GOT ELECTED IS BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT SYNTHESIZING COMPLEX IDEAS AND REALLY EXPLAINING, RIGHT, IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. SO PLEASE RELY ON THAT, ON THOSE SKILLS AND FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO TESTIFY, BECAUSE WHEN WE DO THAT, I THINK PEOPLE LISTEN. AND EVERY ONE OF US BRINGS A DIFFERENT STORY TO TELL UP IN AUSTIN THAT I THINK SHOULD BE HEARD. AND SO IF ANY OF YOU DO SPOT OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU WANT SALLY TO PLUG YOU INTO SO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TESTIFY ON ISSUES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE LET HER KNOW ALSO, BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST, TOO, RIGHT, SALLY? ANYTHING ELSE? YOU WANT TO MAKE A
CLOSING ARGUMENT. >> BASURTO: I WILL JUST SAY THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES WE FACE DURING THE LEGISLATURE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU DURING THE SESSION AND LEADING UP TO THE SESSION. WE TOOK NOTES, MY TEAM AND I TOOK NOTES.
WE'RE GOING TO REPORT BACK TO THE CHAIRMAN AND TO THE COMMITTEE B BASED ON OUR FINDINGS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY GETTING YOUR VOTE TO ADVANCE THE PROGRAM TO THE FULL COUNCIL DURING OUR NEXT IGR MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS TO EACH OF YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> PELAEZ:
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.