[00:01:25]
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 
          WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. 
          I AM CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:14 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2024. 
          MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL? 
          >> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SESSION. AS YOU CAN TELL, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US TODAY AND A FEW RECOGNITIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. 
          [
PROCEDURAL
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LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR. 
          >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. IT'S MY HONOR THIS MORNING TO WELCOME PASTOR JIMENEZ. 
          HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN PUERTO RICO AND HOLDS A MASTER'S IN DIVINITY. 
          THE PASTOR AND HIS SPOUSE WERE RELOCATED TO SAN ANTONIO IN 2019. 
          THEY HAVE BEEN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE THE FIRST DAY THEY ARRIVED . 
          THE PASTOR WAS A VICAR FOR TWO YEARS AND CALLED TO BE THE SENIOR PASTOR AT MACARTHUR PARK LUTHERAN CHURCH WHERE HE CONTINUES SERVING FOR THE -- WHERE HE HAS BEEN SERVING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. PASTOR RICARDO LOVES SPENDING TIME WITH HIS FAMILY, MUSIC, RUNNING, AND ENJOYS BEING IN CONTACT WITH NATURE. A GUIDING QUOTE FOR HIS LIFE IN MINISTRY COMES FROM GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ. NEIGHBOR IS NOT HE OR SHE WHOM I FIND IN MY PATH. 
          BUT RATHER HE OR SHE WHOSE PATH I PLACE MYSELF. HE OR SHE WHO IO  APPROACH AND ACTIVELY SEEK. PASTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. 
          >> LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY GOD, WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED TO LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY. 
          HELP THEM AS LEADERS TO NOT ASK FIRST HOW DO WE FIX THIS BUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO LEARN. HOW MIGHT WE NEED TO CHANGE AND TO WHOM DO WE NEED TO LISTEN. REMIND THEM BECAUSE WE ALL FORGET FROM TIME TO TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THE NOISINESS OF WHAT PASSES FOR POLITICAL DEBATE TODAY, THAT THEY ARE NOT ONLY LEADERS BUT ALSO SERVANTS AND THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND OURS TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL. REMIND THEM THAT NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE, LORD, EVERYONE, EVERYONE BLACK OR WHITE, LATINA, ASIA, GAY, STRAIGHT, MUSLIM, HINDU IS OUR NEIGHBOR. THROUGHOUT THE AGES PROPHETS HAVE CALLED THE LEADERS TO RESPECT AND PROTECT THE LEAST OF THOSE AMONG US. 
          OUR CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, THE POOR, THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY, THOSE WHO HAVE NO 
          [00:05:07]
HOMES, THOSE WHO ARE ILL IN BODY, MIND, OR SPIRIT. THE STRANGERS AND IMMIGRANTS IN OUR MIDST. THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE MARGINS, THOSE WHO ARE ALONE, THOSE WHO ARE FORGOTTEN. GRANT THEM AND US THE WISDOM AND COURAGE TO KNOW AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD AND TRUE. 
          MAY THEY AND WE SPEAK OUT WHEN IT IS TIME TO SPEAK OUT AND LISTEN. 
          LISTEN PATIENTLY AND RECEPTIVELY WHEN IT IS TIME TO LISTEN. 
          MAY THEY AND WE ALWAYS BE GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, BY THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE, AND BY THE SPIRIT OF LOVE. THIS WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR REYES. AS YOU KNOW YESTERDAY OUR COUNTRY STOOD IN SILENCE FOR A REMEMBERANCE CEREMONY FOR THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST 23 YEARS AGO ON SEPTEMBER 11TH. BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING BACK AS A COUNCIL AND RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE MOMENTS AND THE SERVICE AFTERWARDS TO OUR COMMUNITY, I WOULD ASK US ALL TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. 
          CEREMONIALS TODAY WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA. 
          SO FIRST WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 27, 28, AND 29, 2024. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE ITEMS. 
          >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES IN ITEM 3. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. 
          [CONSENT AGENDA
 ]
WE HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA TODAY. ITEMS 7 THROUGH 26 ARE ON CONSENT. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING AND A PUBLIC HEARING. AS YOU CAN TELL, WE HAVE A FULL CHAMBER. 
          WITHOUT OBJECTION TO MY COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO ADD ITEM 6 TO CONSENT. 
          IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS TO THAT. SO -- THAT'S THE AIRLINE LEASE. I DON'T SEE ANYONE. WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ADDING THAT TO CONSENT? SO WE'LL ADD ITEM 6 TO THE CONSENT VOTE. ITEMS 4 AND 5 WILL BE SEPARATE. SO AT THIS POINT WE'LL TAKE UP FOLKS WHO WANT TO SPEAK WHO HAVE SIGNED UP ON ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING ON CONSENT. 
          WE HAVE, ON ITEM NO. 6, AIDEN ROBINSON. AIDEN ROBINSON. 
          OKAY. ITEM 13. MR. ROBINSON, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KEITH SMITH ON ITEM 13. 
          >> SORRY. TOOK ME A MINUTE TO GET UP HERE. 
          YES. AIDEN ROBINSON. I AM HERE REPRESENTING CITY WORKERS, AFSCME. WE ARE VERY HONORED FOR YOU TO ALLOW FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS WHERE WE CAN SPEAK BEFORE YOU AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR GENERAL WILLINGNESS TO OF COURSE MEET US IN PERSON OUTSIDE OF THESE CHAMBERS. 
          I'M MOSTLY HERE TO OF COURSE --E APPROVING ALL THESE BUDGETS, WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE 
          [00:10:03]
CONTINUING THIS DILIGENT WORK AND OF COURSE WE'RE HOPING -- 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MR. ROBINSON, SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE SPEAKING ON ITEM 14. 
          DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL YOU UP AT THAT POINT? >> I BELIEVE SO. 
          I'M NOT SURE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY. 
          YOU'RE SPEAKING ON THE BUDGET? THAT'S ITEM 4. 
          YOU'RE SPEAKING ON 6. IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ADD YOU TO THE BUDGET HEARING, I CAN DO THAT NOW. I'LL CALL YOU UP ON ITEM 4. KEITH SMITH ON ITEM 13. 
          KEITH SMITH. ALL RIGHT. JACK FINGER ON MULTIPLE ITEMS. ARE YOU MR. SMITH? OKAY. 
          >> ALSO ON ITEM 5. ARE YOU INTENDING TO SPEAK ON 13? OKAY. I'LL CALL YOU UP IN JUST A MINUTE. 
          JACK FINGER. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. 
          FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. THERE ARE ONE OR SO ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          ITEM NO. 17 IS ABOUT, OH, APPOINTING A NUMBER OF PERSONS TO THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER AND QUEER -- ACTUALLY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE QUESTIONING SINCE QUEER IS A REDUNDANCY OF THE TWO. JUST LIKE TO MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2011 THAT THE THEN-CITY MANAGER HERE GAVE DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS TO ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES. IT WAS IN 2013 THAT THE THEN-CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO GIVE SPECIAL RIGHTS TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE HOMOSEXUAL COMMUNITY. I THINK MR. NIRENBERG WAS A MEMBER OF THAT GROUP THAT VOTED FOR THAT. IN 2015 THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED THAT HOMOSEXUALS COULD MARRY EACH OTHER. INSTEAD OF BEING AN OUTCAST, DOWNCAST, DOWNTRODDEN MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, YOU KNOW, THE HOMOSEXUAL COMMUNITY, YOU CAN HARDLY WALK TWO STEPS WITHOUT SOMEONE SHOUTING WE'RE QUEER AND WE'RE HERE IN CONSEQUENTLY -- BUT NONETHELESS THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO MAKE ITS OWN ADVOCACY COMMITTEE FOR THE HOMOSEXUAL MOVEMENT AND BY GOLLY THEY HAVE, AMONG SEVERAL PEOPLE, THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT EACH MEMBER OF YOU THE COUNCIL GAVE A CHANCE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY TO THAT ADVOCACY GROUP AND THE MAYOR GETS NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT THREE CHOICES TO PLACE ON THAT GROUP THERE. I AM HERE TO -- BY GOLLY, I'M HERE TO HONOR. HONOR SOME VIPS, VERY IMPORTANT PERVERSIONS -- PERSONS TO THIS GROUP RIGHT HERE. ONE OF THEM IS BEING APPOINTED, MR. -- I THINK IT'S FROM DISTRICT 6, MS. HAVRDA IS APPOINTING MR. MIS NAME? SCROLL DOWN A BIT. MICHAEL RENDON. 
          AND HIS BIG CLAIM TO FAME IS --. YELLOW PART SAYS HE LOVES TRAVELING WITH HIS HUSBAND, MICHAEL MORALES. YEAH. I'M SURE OUR COUNCILMAN 
          JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ CAN RELATE TO THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JACK, I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO ATTACK PEOPLE PERSONALLY HERE. 
          IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ACTION AND THE POLICY, I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU THE 
          REST OF YOUR TIME. >> BY GOLLY, WE'RE HONORING THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE APPOINTED TO THE HOMOSEXUAL ADVOCACY GROUP HERE. AND THESE ARE THEIR VERY OWN BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. SO, YES. AND, FINALLY, ONE OTHER PERSON I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION -- SO MANY SCANDALS. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4 AND 5. I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE YET SO I'LL GET MY COLLEAGUES COLLECT THEIR THOUGHTS. WE DO NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4 AND 5. AND I'LL PAUSE A MOMENT SO WE CAN GET QUEUED UP FOR DISCUSSION. ANY DISCUSSION? 
          ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. 
          [00:15:07]
BRIEFLY, ON ITEM 6, THE AIRLINE LEASE AGREEMENT RELATED TO OUR AIRPORT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE AIRPORT AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED. AND THE NEW TERMINAL THAT'S COMING IN A FEW YEARS IS GOING TO BE GREAT FOR THIS CITY IN TERMS OF ALLOWING OUR CITIZENS TO TRAVEL FOR LEISURE. IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE GREAT ECONOMICALLY IN TERMS OF OUR FOLKS HERE BEING ABLE TO DO BUSINESS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD AND FOLKS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BEING ABLE TO COME HERE AND DO BUSINESS. 
          I WILL SAY THAT IT DOES CONCERN ME THAT OUR LARGEST AIRLINE PARTNER, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, IS NOT GOING TO -- AT LEAST AT THE PRESENT TIME, GOING TO BE A SIGNATORY TO THE LEASE. I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE WE VALUE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IN THE FUTURE. 
          THEY ARE A VALUABLE PARTNER FOR THE CITY. OUR CITIZENS LOVE FLYING SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND WE WANT THAT TO CONTINUE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE BUSINESS WITH SOUTHWEST AND WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE COMFORTABLE AND MAKE 
          SURE OUR AIRPORT IS INDEED THE RIGHT SPOT FOR THEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. 
          >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M HIGHLIGHTING THE APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL RENDON. I KNOW YOU'RE HERE. 
          STAND UP. THERE YOU ARE, MICHAEL. THANKS SO MUCH FOR DEVELOPMENBEINGHERE. I'M PROUD TO APPOINT YOU TO THE POSITION OF THE LGBTQ+ ADVISORY COMMITTEE. YOU HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO . 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. I HONOR YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND TODAY AND I THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO SERVE. IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF JOB BUT YOU STEPPING UP MEANS A LOT TO DISTRICT 6 AND TO OUR CITY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> HAVRDA: I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT 14, WHICH IS THE LEASE APPROVAL WITH UNAM USA. 
          I'M HAPPY TO HIGHLIGHT THIS. SAN ANTONIO IS LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A GALLERY SPACE AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITY OFFERING CULTURAL EXCHANGE. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SAN THROUGH THE YEARS TO INCLUDE SPECIAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS CITIZENSHIP CLASSES, GED, AND SPANISH ORAL PROFICIENCY TESTS. AS A WINDOW TO MEXICAN CULTURE, UNAM HAS MADE AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR ITS PARENT INSTITUTION IN MEXICO CITY. IT'S A TWO-WAY BRIDGE FOR THE FLOW OF IDEAS IN MEXICO CITY AND SERVING AS A LINK BETWEEN DIVERSE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITY AND ORGANIZATIONS AND THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, INSTITUTES, AND CENTERS OF UNAM. ITS BRANCH CAMPUS FOCUSES ON TEACHING RESEARCH AS WELL AS SPREADING THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. 
          >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 9, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE BLOOD SERVICES FOR SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE CENTER. USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GIVE BLOOD. IT TAKES ONLY 20 MINUTES. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY 
          THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I DO ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MY APPOINTMENTS TO THE LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS NOW MOVING TO A COMMISSION. 
          CHRISTIAN SANCHEZ, VICE CHAIR OF THE PRIDE CENTER AND EMPLOYED BY THE TEXAS IMMIGRATION LAW. CHRISTIAN BRINGS AN INTERSECTIONAL LENS TO HIS WORK IN ORGANIZING POLICY GUIDANCE AND PROGRAM CREATION. 
          CHRISTIAN HAS LED A PRO BONO PROGRAM THAT HAS ASSISTED TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ON THEIR IDENTITY DOCUMENTS. JAMIE ZAPATA IS A BOARD MEMBER AT THE PRIDE CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO, LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TRANSGENDER EDUCATION NETWORK OF TEXAS, AND TRANSPOWER SA. LIVING WITH HIV, JAMIE IS A REAL ESTATE AGENT WORKING TO COMBAT THE CHALLENGES THAT COME TO THE QUEER COMMUNITY WHO WE ALL KNOW IN MULTIPLE RESPECTS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PASSING THE 
          [00:20:02]
CITY'S NDO. VICTORIA ALSO SPENT OVER A DECADE ADVOCATING WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN. SO WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. [APPLAUSE] SO WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE'LL NOW TAKE UP THE VOTE. 
          WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4 AND 5. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: AYE. 
          [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
 ]
          MOTION CARRIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: BEFORE WE GET TO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS TODAY , AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE. AND I'M GOING TO START OUR CELEBRATIONS WITH OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE IN UNIFORM IN THE FRONT. 
          AS YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO IS THE HOME OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. 
          WE TAKE THAT ROLE VERY SERIOUSLY. AND TODAY THE CITY COUNCIL AND I ARE PROUD TO CELEBRATE THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE'S 77 BIRTHDAY. 
          TO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE PAST. 
          [APPLAUSE] SO YOU KNOW ALL THAT ALREADY, GENERAL. I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU BUT THERE IT IS AGAIN. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND THOSE PRESENTLY SERVING THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD'S GREATEST AIR FORCE. 
          HERE IN MILITARY CITY, USA, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE NEARLY 18,000 AIRMEN SERVING AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO. IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE TO HOST THEM AND WHILE THEY CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE APPROXIMATELY 500 CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES WHO ARE AIR FORCE VETERANS, RETIREES, OR WHO ARE A PART OF THE AIR FORCE RESERVE OR AIR NATIONAL GUARD. AS I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST YEARS, I MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE AN AIR FORCE VETERAN SERVING AS OUR COLLEAGUE ON THE CITY COUNCIL. FORMER SECURITY FORCES DEFENDER, COUNCILMAN JOHN COURAGE. HE REPRESENTS DISTRICT 9. SINCE THE CREATION OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1947, COURAGEOUS AMERICAN AIRMEN HAVE SKILLFULLY ACCOMPLISHED THE AIR FORCE'S MISSION IN EVERY CORNER OF THE EARTH. 
          FOR US IN SAN ANTONIO THE AIR FORCE HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HISTORY AND IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. IN 1910 THEN-ARMY CAPTAIN FULLOY CLIMBED ABOARD AND CIRCLED FORT SAM HOUSTON ATTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FE. THAT FLIGHT BECAME KNOWN AS THE BIRTH OF MILITARY FLIGHT AND HE BECAME KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF MILITARY AVIATION. 
          AIR POWER DOES INDEED START IN SAN ANTONIO AS EVERY LISTED AIRMEN BEGINS THEIR CAREER BEGINNING BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT JBSA LACKLAND. 
          NOT ONLY DO ENLISTED AIRMEN START THEIR CAREERS IN SAN ANTONIO BUT ALL AIR FORCE SECURITY FORCES PERSONNEL OR DEFENDERS. WE ARE ALSO PROUD OF THE AIR FORCE MISSIONS CONDUCTED IN SAN ANTONIO THAT SHAPED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AIRMEN AND SUPPORT GLOBAL MILITARY OPERATIONS. WE HOST THE LARGEST JOINT BASE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, COMMANDED BY BRIGADIER GENERAL RANDY OAKLAND AND SUPPORTING 266 MISSION PARTNERS. 
          WE HAVE AN UNPARALLELED CIVIL MILITARY RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP , ESPECIALLY WITH JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO LEADERSHIP. THIS BOND WAS TESTED AND STRENGTHENED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AS WE RESPONDED TO A PANDEMIC AND NATURAL DISASTERS. AETC, THE FIRST COMMAND, COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL BRIAN ROBINSON, IS HEADQUARTERED AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO RANDOLPH. 
          IT IS THE PRIMARY TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL COMMAND IN THE AIR FORCE. 
          THE 16TH AIR FORCE, COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL THOMAS HENSLEY IS LOCATED AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO LACKLAND AND INTEGRATES INFORMATION OPERATIONS CAPABILITIES TO ENSURE THAT THE AIR FORCE IS FAST, LETHAL, AND FULLY INTEGRATED TO DEFEND OUR NATION . MANY OF OUR AIRMEN PERFORM CRITICAL MISSIONS AND PROUDLY CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME. 
          THESE UNITS INCLUDE THE AIR FORCE'S RESERVES' 433RD AIR LIFT WING AND THE NATIONAL GUARD'S FIGHTER WING. THERE ARE OTHER OFFICERS MISSIONS EXECUTED IN OUR GREAT CITY AND WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF ALL OF THEM AND HONORED TO HOST 
          [00:25:03]
THEM IN OUR CITY. FINALLY, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO CELEBRATE THE 77TH BIRTHDAY OF THE AIR FORCE HERE AT MILITARY CITY, USA AND WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR CITY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AIR FORCE'S MOTTO TO FLY, FIGHT, AND WIN. 
          AIR POWER ANY TIME, ANYWHERE. TO THE NEARLY 590,000 ACTIVE, RESERVE, AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL EVERYWHERE, HAPPY 77TH BIRTHDAY. JOINING US IS BRIGADIER GENERAL RANDY OAKLAND. 
          AS A COMMANDER OF JBSA, BRIGADIER GENERAL OAKLAND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 39 AUDIO] AND INFRASTRUCTURE WORTH $37 BILLION. BRIGADIER GENERAL OAKLAND IS A GRADUATE OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY, EARNED HIS DIRECTOR OF PHILOSOPHY. HE IS A COMMAND PILOT WITH MORE THAN 2600 HOURS IN THE F 15CD T 37 AND T 38. THE GENERAL WAS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS AT HEADQUARTERS EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND. 
          IN OTHER WORDS, HE MAY BE NEW TO COMMANDER OF JBSA ROLE BUT HE IS NOT NEW TO SAN ANTONIO AND TO MILITARY CITY, USA . SO, GENERAL OAKLAND, PLEASE COME ON UP. WELCOME BACK TO OUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. 
          I INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD AND PROVIDE REMARKS. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WARM WELCOME. AND YOUR EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT OF OUR NATION'S MILITARY. 
          AND PARTICULARLY OUR AIRMEN AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 77TH BIRTHDAY. 
          THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS CELEBRATION AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED CONCERN FOR OUR AIR FORCE FAMILY. SAN ANTONIO HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEART OF AMERICA'S AIRMEN, NOT JUST BECAUSE MANY OF THEIR CAREERS START HERE BUT BECAUSE OF THE VALUE THIS COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES IN OUR MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. SAN ANTONIO'S ENDURING RELATIONSHIP WITH AMERICA'S SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN IS REFLECTED IN THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION AND CAMARADERIE THAT CHARACTERIZES OUR COMMUNITY. THIS MUTUAL RESPECT ARE A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM WORKING TOGETHER. 
          SOME MAY NOT REALIZE IT BUT YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ENHANCES JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO'S MISSIONS AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. 
          BY TAKING CARE OF OUR MILITARY FAMILIES YOU HELP US FOCUS ON OUR JOBS. 
          I'M PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS TO ENSURE OUR COMBINED SUCCESS. THANK YOU. TODAY AS WE GATHER TO CUT A CAKE, WE COMMEMORATE NOT JUST 77 YEARS OF REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT BUT ALSO THE INTEGRAL ROLE THAT THE SAN ANTONIO AREA HAS PLAYED IN OUR AIR FORCE JOURNEY. FROM THE EARLIEST AVIATION MILESTONES TO TODAY'S MISSIONS ACROSS THE JOINT BASE, THIS CITY HAS BEEN A WELCOMING HOME FOR OUR AIRMEN. FOSTERING GROWTH, INNOVATION, LEADERSHIP, AND FRIENDSHIP. AS WE CELEBRATE THIS MILESTONE, LET US NOT FORGET TO RECOGNIZE THE COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS, PAST AND PRESENT, WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO BOTH THE AIR FORCE'S SUCCESS AND THE PROSPERITY OF THIS GREAT CITY. THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND DEDICATION HAVE HELPED FORGE A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENJOY AND TO DEVELOP. 
          ON BEHALF OF THE AIRMEN STATIONED AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO AND OUR MISSION TO FLY, FIGHT, AND WIN WITH AIR POWER ANY TIME AND ANYWHERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO HONORING OUR AIR FORCE AND INVESTING IN OUR SHARED STORY. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO A FUTURE FILLED WITH CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND OPPORTUNITY AS WE CONTINUE TO AIM HIGH. NOW, MAYOR NIRENBERG, I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE A CAKE AND I'M READY TO CUT IT WITH YOU. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> AS THE CAKE IS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD BY CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BARRY JETER, RETIRED, WOULD ALL VETERANS AND RETIREES OF THE AIR FORCE, OUR MEMBERS IN UNIFORM, AND ESPECIALLY OUR VETERANS WHO ARE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FORM UP BEHIND MAYOR NIRENBERG AND BRIGADIER GENERAL OAKLAND . [APPLAUSE] TRADITIONALLY, REGARDLESS OF LOCATION, MILITARY MEMBERS WILL PAUSE TO OBSERVE THEIR SERVICE BRANCH'S BIRTHDAY BY SHARING A CAKE. A SWORD OR SABER IS USED TO A REMINDERE AS THAT SERVICE MEMBERS ARE A BAND OF WARRIORS, COMMITTED TO CARRYING THE SWORD SO THAT OUR NATION MAY LIVE IN PEACE. 
          MAYOR NIRENBERG AND BRIGADIER GENERAL OAKLAND WILL NOW CUT THE CAKE. 
          [00:30:19]
[APPLAUSE] ALTHOUGH THE TRADITION OF THE OLDEST AIRMEN SHARING A PIECE OF CAKE WITH THE YOUNGEST IS NOT BEING PERFORMED TODAY, THE CITY DOES RECOGNIZE THAT NOT THE OLDEST AIRMAN BUT THE MOST EXPERIENCED, CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT KIMBERLY, THE SENIOR ENLISTED LEADER FOR THE 383RD TRAINING SQUADRON. 
          SHE IS THE FUNCTION MANAGER OF THE AEROSPACE MEDICAL SERVICE CAREER FIELD . 
          THE YOUNGEST AIRMAN PRESENT TODAY, WHO IS 19 YEARS OLD IS CASEY HURLEY. 
          SHE IS EXCEPTIONAL BECAUSE SHE IS A MEMBER OF BRIGADIER GENERAL OAKLAND'S STAFF. 
          [APPLAUSE] TODAY'S AIRMEN HAVE PERFORMED ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THE FACE OF MULTIPLE CHALLENGES SUCH AS A PANDEMIC, NATURAL DISASTERS, AND SUPPORTING WORLDWIDE CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS. THESE AIRMEN CONTINUE TO LIVE THE AIR FORCE MOTTO THAT YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY. AIRMEN EVERYWHERE PERFORM SPECIALIZED ROLES 24/7, 365 IN PURSUANCE OF THIS MOTTO. HAPPY 77TH BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE! [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NOW, AS I ASK OUR SPECIAL GUEST TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS HISTORY SHOWS THE IDEAS OF EGALITARIAN AND JUST SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS SIMONE SAENZ, FATHER MIGUEL HIDALGO, AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL SOCIOECONOMIC STATUSES MADE GREAT SACRIFICES TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN. WHEREAS LYNDON B. JOHNSON ESTABLISHED HERITAGE WEEK AND PRESIDENT REAGAN ESTABLISHED THE OBSERVANCE IN 1988. WHEREAS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH HONORS THE MONTHS-LONG SPAN AND COMMEMORATES THE RESILIENCE, INNOVATION, AND CONTRIBUTIONS AT LATINO PEOPLE. AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES THAT THE CITY'S FOUNDATION WAS BUILT BY HISPANIC PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS EUROPEAN, AFRICAN, ASIAN AND ALL THOSE THAT COMPOSE TO CELEBRATE THE CITY'S SKINSHIP AND ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE NATION OF MEXICO. WHEREAS THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE WILL HOST A SERIES OF CULTURAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER TO COMMEMORATE FIESTA AND HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15 TO OCTOBER 15, 2024 TO BE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN THE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THAT CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF OUR CITY'S RICH AND DIVERSE HISPANIC HERITAGE . 
          [00:35:02]
[APPLAUSE] 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M MARI SANDOVAL. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE COMMISSION THIS MORNING AND ALLOWING ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS. 
          THIS YEAR WE COMMEMORATE 30 YEARS OR 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMISSION, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1994 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILMAN JUAN SOLIS. 
          THE CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZED THIS IMPORTANCE AND RE-ESTABLISHED THE COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT CELEBRATE LATIN AMERICAN HISTORIES, CULTURES, AND ART. EVENTS INCLUDE TOMORROW'S PROGRAM AND THIS WEEKEND FIESTA, BOTH AT THE HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE AND SATURDAY'S PARADE ALONG GUADALUPE STREET. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE THE ANNUAL MARIACHI FESTIVAL. IN THE CALENDAR WE HAVE ALL OUR EVENTS AND WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AT THESE WONDERFUL CELEBRATIONS. THANK YOU. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MARI. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 
          MAYOR NIRENBERG, MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. 
          DEAR FRIENDS, ON BEHALF OF THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO IN SAN ANTONIO, IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO JOIN YOU AS WE COMMENCE THE CELEBRATION OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. PLUS, WE CELEBRATE MANY BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES AS WE JUST WITNESSED. ALSO THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY IN SAN ANTONIO AND OUR 214TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY. LOTS TO CELEBRATE, LIKE YOU SAID, MAYOR. THIS MONTH IS NOT ONLY A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE RICH CULTURAL TAPESTRY THAT HISPANICS HAVE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS SOCIETY BUT IT IS ALSO A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE THE ENDURING AND VIBRANT CONNECTION BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND MEXICO. SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY IS DEEPLY INTERTWINED WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WHOSE INFLUENCE IS SEEN IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS CITY, FROM THE ARCHITECTURE TO THE MUSIC TO THE WARMTH AND RESILIENCE OF ITS PEOPLE. 
          THIS CITY STANDS AS A BEACON OF CULTURAL PRIDE FOR THE TRADITIONS, LANGUAGES, AND CUSTOMS CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND EVOLVE. OUR SHARED HERITAGE IS NOT JUST A LINK TO THE PAST BUT A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE, FOSTERING STRONG ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL TIES BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND MEXICO. 
          THIS BOND STRENGTHENS BOTH OUR COMMUNITIES. REMINDING US THAT OUR HEARTS BEAT AS ONE. AS WE EMBARK ON THIS MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION, LET US REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO HONORING OUR SHARED HISTORY, EMBRACING OUR COMMON IDENTITY, AND WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD A FUTURE THAT REFLECTS THE STRENGTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR COLLECTIVE HERITAGE. PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW AND THIS WHOLE WEEKEND WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OF COURSE, FOR FIESTA WITH OUR ALLIES AND FRIENDS. PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR 214TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          AND WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF HISPANAS UNIDAS AND I WANT 
          TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I WANT TO SAY DIEZ Y SEIS IS COMING UP. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FROM DIEZ Y SEIS FOR BEING HERE. 
          I TEACH AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE AND I'M LUCKY BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN TERI CASTILLO REPRESENTS OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON WHAT WOMEN ARE DOING, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT THAT MEXICO HAS A NEW PRESIDENT AND IT'S A WOMAN. AND SO VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THAT'S -- THAT HER INAUGURATION IS GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE IN JUST A 
          [00:40:02]
COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND JUST CAN'T TELL YOU ENOUGH HOW MUCH THE WORK THAT LATINAS IN SAN ANTONIO HAVE DONE TO ENSURE REPRESENTATION AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A FEMALE-MAJORITY COUNCIL TODAY. AND THE LIKES OF WOMEN WHO ARE PART OF THAT CONFERENCE THIS WEEKEND, WHO ARE ACTUALLY CHAIRS. I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IS GOING ON. I BELIEVE THERE'S STILL AVAILABILITY FOR ANYBODY TO ATTEND THE SESSIONS. I LOOKED AT THE SESSIONS AND THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO CHECK IT OUT AT SOME POINT THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. 
          >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANTED TO THANK MARI AND THE ENTIRE DIEZ Y SEIS COMMISSION FOR THE CONTINUED ADVOCACY TO ENSURE THIS EVENT AND COMMISSION CONTINUES TO RECEIVE THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES. IT'S SO FULL OF RICH CULTURE AND COMMUNITY AND I'M EXCITED THE PARADE TAKES PLACE IN DISTRICT 5 ON THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THAT CORE MEMORY OF THIS PARADE GOING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BRINGING COMMUNITY OUT FROM THEIR HOMES AND TO THE STREETS TO CELEBRATE THIS RICH CULTURE AND HISTORY AND FOR CONTINUING TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE WORK THAT WE HAVE AHEAD AND JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO MARI AND THE ENTIRE COMMISSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: A LITTLE BIT OF MUSICAL CHAIRS, WHICH IS A PRELUDE 
          TO ME TURNING THE FLOOR BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I GET THE FIRST WELCOME BECAUSE I LOVE MARIACHI MUSIC. AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO TO MAKE SURE WE GET A PROPER INTRODUCTION OF WHO YOU ARE. IF YOU GUYS WANT TO START MAKING YOUR WAY UP TO THE FRONT. MARIACHI IS KIND OF MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS AND, COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU WANT TO TELL US WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM. 
          >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I HAVE A FUN ONE TODAY. I'M HONORED TO HELP KICKOFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BY WELCOMING MARIACHI SOUL, THE AMAZING MARIACHI BAND FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. JOINING THESE TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SOME OF THE ADULTS WHO SUPPORT THEM DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO BE HERE TODAY. 
          I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO MR. G., THE MARIACHI INSTRUCTOR AND THE CREATOR OF MARIACHI SOUL. IRENE ALVAREZ IS AMAZING. 
          I'M SO GRATEFUL TO KNOW HER. IRENE IS THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR AT SAUL ROSS AND OUR APPOINTEE AND THE PRINCIPAL OF SAUL ROSS. THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS HERE TO SUPPORT THESE STUDENTS AND FOSTER THEIR EDUCATION AND GROWTH. MARIACHI SOUL HAS DEDICATED ITSELF TO REPRESENTING OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND CULTURE THROUGH THE MUSIC OF MARIACHI. 
          MARIACHI SOUL AND SAUL ROSS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ AND TEXAS STATE SENATOR MENENDEZ FOR ENRICHING THE CULTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. MARIACHI SOUL IS A THE MUSIC IS A SYMBOL OF JOY, CELEBRATION, AND PRIDE IN THE HISPANIC CULTURE. 
          PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MARIACHI SOUL TO PLAY A SONG FOR US IN CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. [APPLAUSE] ♪ 
          [00:46:43]
          >> GAVITO: I TOLD Y'ALL THEY WERE AMAZING. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE AND FOR MISSING CLASS TO BE WITH US HERE TODAY. KEEP UP THE HARD WORK AND THANK YOU FOR CARRYING ON THIS PIECE OF HISPANIC HERITAGE. THANKS SO MUCH. 
          THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. ALL RIGHT. STAYING IN THEME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE GOOD DOCTOR TO COME UP. BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO ALSO, DURING THIS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, RECOGNIZE THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH AN IMPORTANT INSTITUTION. AND IT'S TRULY MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DISTINGUISHED DELEGATION ARRIVED YESTERDAY FROM MEXICO AND WILL BE HERE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WITH A FULL PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES UNDERPINNED BY THE CELEBRATION OF EIGHT DECADES OF THE PRESENCE OF ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE AMERICAS. 
          MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION GOES TO PAULA FOR HER TREMENDOUS EFFORTS AND OUTREACH FOR THIS IMPORTANT CEREMONY. I KNOW THERE ARE FORMER DIRECTORS OF UNAM OF SAN ANTONIO WHO ARE JOINED BY OTHERS. WELCOME ALSO TO THE CONSUL GENERAL OF MEXICO WHO DOES A GREAT JOB OF BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO AND MEXICO AND HIS TEAM THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY. I VISITED THE WORLD HERITAGE UNAM MAIN CAMPUS SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND FOR THE RECORD IT WAS MY SON'S FIRST COLLEGE VISIT. I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY WHAT I SAW AND WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY. I ONLY GOT TO SEE A FRACTION OF THE 1800 CAMPUS, WHICH INCLUDES MORE THAN 28 MUSEUMS THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS. 
          I LEARNED THAT THE UNAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 360,000 STUDENTS, OFFERS MORE THAN 120 UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS AND 40 POST GRADUATE PROGRAMS. IT'S TRULY A MAJOR RESEARCH INSTITUTION PRODUCING MORE THAN 30% OF THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ALL OF MEXICO. AND RECTOR, YOUR PRESENCE HERE IN OUR CITY IS NOT MERELY A VISIT, IT IS A CELEBRATION OF OUR COLLABORATION. 
          A TESTAMENT TO THE BOND THAT HAS FLOURISHED OVER THESE 80 YEARS. 
          THE TIMING OF YOUR VISIT COULD NOT BE A BETTER TIME, COINCIDING WITH THE CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN A PROUD PARTNER WITH UNAM AT THE HEMISFAIR SINCE 1968. 
          AS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE CITY OF UNAM'S PARTNERSHIP, UNAM PROVIDES VALUABLE LANGUAGE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES AND THIS WEEK UNAM SIGNS A NEW LEASE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS TEN-YEAR LEASE CONTINUES THEIR CULTURALLY-SIGNIFICANT WORK WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND UNAM WILL RELOCATE TO A BUILDING ALSO IN HEMISFAIR THAT WAS BUILT TO CELEBRATE 
          [00:50:06]
A CONFLUENCE OF CULTURES WITHIN OUR COUNTRY. THE CONFLUENCE EXHIBIT HALL WAS ERECTED FOR THE 1968 WORLD'S FAIR. I'M DELIGHTED THIS WEEK WILL MARK YOUR CONTINUATION OF THE WORK AND EXCHANGES YOUR UNIVERSITY HAS HAD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO GRATE YOU ON THE MOUS YOU PLAN TO SIGN WHILE HERE WITH ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO NURTURING THE BONDS OF OUR UNITED COMMUNITIES. TOGETHER WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD A BRIGHTER AND MORE CONNECTED FUTURE FOR US ALL. IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO PRESENT IN ALCALDE PROCLAMATION, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST A VISITOR CAN RECEIVE FROM THE CITY GOVERNMENT. SO RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTONOMA DE MEXICO IS APPOINTED AT ALCALDE IN THE COUNTY OF BEXAR, SAN ANTONIO, STATE OF TEXAS. YOU WILL PERFORM THE DUTIES OF MAYOR IF AND WHEN YOU ARE PRESENT WITHIN THESE CITY LIMITS AND AT TIMES AGREE TO TELL THE STORY OF LA VILLITA, ITS BEAUTIES, ATTRACTION, AND CULTURE. YOU FURTHER AGREE TO EXTOL THE PRESENT SAN ANTONIO AS A PLACE TO LIVE, WORSHIP, WORK, AND PLAY AND YOU SHALL RETAIN THIS OFFICE AS LONG AS YOU PERFORM YOUR DUTIES FAITHFULLY AND CARRY OUT THE LAWS OF SAID CITY OF LA VILLITA AND THIS APPOINTMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE TODAY, THE 12TH OF SEPTEMBER 2024. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> NACIONAL AUTONOMA DE MEXICO I APPRECIATE THIS AWARD FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE THESE 80 YEARS OF PRESENCE HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          BESIDES THAT, WE HAVE SITES IN FOUR DIFFERENT PLACES: IN CANADA, EUROPE, AND OTHER PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE BECAUSE IT WAS OUR FIRST SITE ABROAD. 
          IN 1944, MEXICO HAD THE HONOR TO FIGHT WITH THE UNITED STATES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT LINK WE HAD WITH THE UNITED STATES AND HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 80 YEARS LATER WE REALIZED THAT THERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT LINK WITH MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. 
          AND THAT IS THROUGHOUT EDUCATION, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE LINK STRONGER. 
          I THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND I REALLY LONG FOR LONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES AND I REALLY HOPE THAT IT IS A VERY FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP FOR ALL OF US. FOR MY RACE, THE SPIRIT 
          [00:55:12]
          WOULD SPEAK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MUCHAS GRACIAS. 
          [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED CELEBRATION THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AND, FRANKLY, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 
          CHIEF, COME ON UP. DO YOU HAVE ANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES WITH YOU TO CELEBRATE NEIGHBORS TOGETHER? IF YOU CAN CALL THEM UP WHILE I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL HOST ITS UNIQUE CRIME AND PREVENTION PROGRAM KNOWN AS SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER ON OCTOBER 1, 2024 TO CREATE AWARENESS FOR STRENGTHENING ITS COMMUNITY POLICING AND NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. 
          WHEREAS THIS ANNUAL COMMUNITY-BUILDING CAMPAIGN PROMOTES POLICE-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CAMARADERIE AND IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AND BRING POLICE AND NEIGHBORS TOGETHER UNDER UNIQUE, POSITIVE CIRCUMSTANCES. WHEREAS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL GET OUT ON SA NEIGHBORS TOGETHER AND MEET WITH RESIDENTS FOR A NIGHT FILLED WITH EDUCATION, FOOD, GAMES, AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES. 
          WHEREAS THE EVENT IS FOCUSED ON FOSTERING LOCAL POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS WITH KEY CITY DEPARTMENTS AND CRIME PREVENTION TIPS, GETTING MORE CITIZENS INVOLVED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROMOTING YEAR-ROUND INVOLVEMENT. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 1, 2024 TO BE SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER NIGHT IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHT TOGETHER AND FOSTER STRONG TIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY . 
          THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> CHIEF: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND COUNCIL'S SUPPORT. 
          I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AMANDA RAMIREZ. SHE IS THE PERSON WHO DOES THE HEAVY LIFTING ALL YEAR TO GET THIS OFF THE GROUND. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR SAPD WOMEN, BECAUSE TODAY, I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE, IS NATIONAL WOMEN IN POLICING MONTH . [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALWAYS SHORT AND SWEET, CHIEF. HOLD ON A MINUTE. 
          COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW FUN OF A TIME NATIONAL NIGHT OUT OR NEIGHBORHOODS COMING TOGETHER IS FOR DISTRICT 5 AND OUR DISTRICT 5 TEAM BEING OUT ALL EVENING LONG. 
          I WANTED TO THANK AMANDA FOR HER HARD WORK IN ORGANIZING THE EVENT AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS CONNECTED TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. ALSO I HAVE TO SHARE THAT I'M SAD THAT OFFICER HENDERSON IS NO LONGER IN DISTRICT 5. HE WAS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE HONORARY D5 RESIDENTS. ULTIMATELY WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING IN DISTRICT 5 AND HITTING UP ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TO COME 
          TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. 
          >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE AMANDA KUDOS BECAUSE SHE DID SUCH A PHENOMENAL JOB OF MAKING SURE ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT 7 HAVE A GREAT TIME. WE LOVE THIS EVENT. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT BECAUSE IT FOSTERS THAT TRUST BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE OFFICERS. AND SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO MAKE 
          IT A SUCCESS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING OUT THERE WITH YOU GUYS. I KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER WORD OR ANOTHER PHRASE THAT USED TO BE USED THAT'S TRADEMARKED, BUT THIS IS OUR NIGHT TO GET OUT. COME ON OUT, MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND ENJOY THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY. KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND STRONG. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] 
          [4. 
Public Hearings on the City’s 2024 Ad Valorem Tax Rate for the FY 2025 Proposed Budget and the FY 2025 Proposed Budget. [Erik Walsh, City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Office of Management and Budget]]
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. WE'LL START WITH THE ITEM NO. 4 IS A PUBLIC HEARING, AS REQUIRED IN OUR CITY BUDGET PROCESS. AND SO WELCOME TO THE COMBINED SECOND BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE CITY'S FY2025 BUDGET IN THE SETTING OF THE TAX RATE FOR 2024. THE TIME IS NOW 10:11 A.M. AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. I WILL NOTE ALSO THAT AIDEN ROBINSON IS ALSO ON THAT 
          [01:00:02]
LIST. WE'LL START WITH CHRIS RE REYES. 
          MR. REYES, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KELLY GONZALES. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          I'M GOING TO BE READING ON BEHALF OF ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, JORGE TORRES, WHO IS AT WORK TODAY. SO, HELLO. GOOD MORNING HONORABLE CITY LEADERS AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JORGE TORRES. I COME TODAY INQUIRING WHY WE, THE HARD WORKERS, WHEN DETERMINING ANNUAL PAY INCREASES WERE NOT CAST IN THE LIGHT. HOW CAN AN ENTITY AS LARGE AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT HAS SURPASSED DALLAS IN SIZE AND CONTINUES TO GROW, NOT GENERATE REVENUE TO PAY ITS EMPLOYEES A LIVING WAGE? THE REVENUE FOR THE LAST YEAR INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY AND SHOWS CONTINUED GROWTH. HOWEVER, A LIVABLE WAGE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HOLD THE CITY ON ITS SHOULDERS GET 1% LESS THAN THE PREVIOUS WAGE INCREASE? MOST RETAIL STORE WORKERS GENERATE A DOLLAR A RAISE ANNUALLY AND DON'T PULL IN NEAR THE AMOUNT THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECEIVES FROM TAXES, PARKING, EVENTS, CITATIONS, VEHICLE TAXES, AND SO ON. HUMAN SERVICES, POLICE, AND FIRE HAVE A RATHER HONORABLE RAISE EVERY YEAR YET THOSE THAT RUN THE BACKGROUND OPERATIONS THAT EVEN GENERATE DIRECT REVENUE ARE NOT SHOWN THE SAME PRECEDENCE. FROM BACKLOGGED PAY RAISES STUMBLE TO BE CAUGHT UP. 
          WE STRUGGLE TO PAY RENT, MORTGAGES, AND UTILITIES. CITY PROFITS HAVE GONE UP SINCE 2022. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN FUNDS TO PAY WORKERS A PROPER AND WELL-DESERVED WAGE INCREASE. I ADDRESS THIS PANEL TODAY AS HONORABLE. PLEASE BE JUST THAT AND ALLOW US WHAT WE DESERVE, A LIVING WAGE. THANK YOU, RESPECTFULLY AND GRATITUDE FOR YOUR TIME. 
          I READ THAT ON BEHALF OF OFFICER TORRES, WHO WORKS FOR CCDO. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. REYES. KELLY GONZALES. 
          MS. GONZALES, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KELLY ANN GONZALES. 
          I AM A LIFELONG DISTRICT 6 RESIDENT AND AN AFSCME ORGANIZER. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL YEAR 2025, NEARLY $4 BILLION BUDGET. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF AFSCME MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE FOR A 4% RAISE ACROSS THE BOARD INSTEAD OF THE PROPOSED 3% RAISE. I KNOW WHAT YOU MUST BE THINKING. 
          WHAT IS THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 4% AND 3%? IT'S JUST ONE. 
          HOWEVER, THAT 1% TAKEN INTO THE CONTEXT OF THE AVERAGE CITY EMPLOYEE MAKING $50,000 A YEAR MEANS AN EXTRA $500 IN THE BANK FOR THEIR FAMILIES. 
          THAT'S THREE WEEKS' WORTH OF GROCERIES FOR SOME WORKERS. THAT'S A CAR PAYMENT, A STEEP ELECTRICITY BILL IN THE SUMMER. THAT IS ENOUGH TO COVER THEIR CHILD'S SPORTS FEES. THIS IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN EMPLOYEES' LIVES AND BEYOND THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THEY DESERVE THAT 4% RAISE. THIS MORNING I WAS OUT AT THE BITTERS BRUSH CENTER OFF OF WURZBACH PARKWAY. I CAN TELL YOU THE WORKERS ARE THE ONES SERVICING OUR CARTS AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING. 
          THEY ARE THE ONES SETTING UP THE CONVENTION CENTER AND CLEANING UP AFTER THOUSANDS OF GUESTS. THEY ARE THE ONES KEEPING OUR STREETS MAINTAINED AND CLEANED, PRESERVING OUR HISTORICAL DISTRICTS. THEY ARE THE ONES HANDLING 9-1-1 CALLS WHEN SAN ANTONIANS ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME EMERGENCIES. 
          BECAUSE THOSE CITY WORKERS ARE BUSY WORKING TO MAINTAIN OUR CITY AND KEEP IT RUNNING, I AM HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEM. I AM THEIR VOICE TODAY. 
          OUR CITY EMPLOYEES GENERATE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF REVENUE FOR THIS CITY AND ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR TODAY IS 1%. THAT 1% WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY EMPLOYEES' LIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. 
          WE ARE TOLD THAT EVERY YEAR THE CITY'S OPERATING COSTS INCREASE BECAUSE THE PRICE OF MATERIALS GO UP. THAT MAKES ME WONDER WHY DOES THE CITY NOT FACTOR IN THE INCREASED COST OF LABOR? WHY IS LABOR SEEN AS A COST THAT CAN BE SLASHED AND MAINTAINED WHILE COSTS GO UP. LABOR IS NOT A NUMBER. 
          LABOR IS 9,000 CITY EMPLOYEES AND 9,000 FAMILIES. 
          I HAVE A LETTER FROM ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, MR. PAUL VASQUEZ. 
          DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS PAUL VASQUEZ. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU IN SUPPORT OF NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE MANY OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. MYSELF AND OTHERS DEPEND 
          [01:05:04]
UPON THIS CITY COUNCIL TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ITS EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED IN A GREATER MEASURE. I ASK THAT YOU HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THEIR POSITIONS WITH LONGEVITY AND WHO REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE SUPPORT OF YOUR NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. THESE SERVICES ARE REQUIRED FOR THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. I ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO UPHOLD AND IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR TOTAL COMPENSATION AND ENFORCE THE CIVILIAN COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT FOR COMPRESSION PAY WITH THE ON SET OF HIGHER INFLATION. THE OBSTACLES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE TOO GREAT TO IGNORE. LET US BUILD A STRONG FUTURE TOGETHER AND SHARE IN THE 
          BENEFITS OF A FUTURE RELATIONSHIP. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GONZALES. JACK FINGER. MR. FINGER, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AIDEN ROBINSON. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. 
          FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND A FEW ITEMS ON YOUR BUDGET THAT I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION. ONE OF THEM WAS DEPICTED IN A RECENT EXPRESS NEWS ARTICLE . CAMERAS WITH AI TO WATCH OVER STREET DOWNTOWN. SECURITY CAMERAS WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES WILL BE INSTALLED AS EARLY AS JANUARY IN AN EFFORT TO DETER CRIME AND BEEF UP POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. THE TEN CAMERAS AND SOFTWARE WILL RUN ON -- THEY RUN ON -- WILL COST THE CITY $250,000 PLUS $1 MILLION TO MONITOR THEM AROUND THE CLOCK FOR A YEAR-LONG TRIAL PERIOD. 
          SCROLL DOWN. THE CAMERAS ARE BUILT INTO THE CITY'S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET, WHICH THE COUNCIL IS SET TO ADOPT SEPTEMBER 19TH. 
          TURN THE PAGE, IF YOU WOULD, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN. DISTRICT 5 COUNCILMEMBER, TERRY CASTILLO, WHO SAID SHE HAD BEEN ASSAULTED DOWNTOWN WAS FAR LESS EAGER. 
          I UNDERSTAND CRIME DOES OCCUR AND THIS SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND IDENTIFY BUT ULTIMATELY I BELIEVE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FREELY -- MOVE FREELY WITHOUT SURVEILLANCE. RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD. YEP. MS. CASTILLO, MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO SCOTCH THIS ITEM. A MILLION BUCKS GOES A LONG WAY ELSEWHERE TO CURE A FEW POTHOLES IN THE CITY. YEAH. 
          AND SURVEILLANCE LIKE THIS, WHERE DOES IT STOP? WHERE DOES IT STOP? HOW MANY MORE BLOCKS ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS? HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE YOU GOING TO SURVEY? ISN'T THIS ABOUT SOME PRIVACY ISSUES HERE? HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE YOU GO INTO SURVEIL PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS FROM PUBLIC STREET CAMERAS, HUH? RETURN THE CAMERA -- YEAH. THERE YOU GO. 
          OKAY. WE HAVE SEEN IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHERE YOU HAVE A REPEAT OFFENDER [INDISCERNIBLE]. IF WE HAD THOSE CAMERAS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY A PERSON BEFORE THEY COMMIT A REALLY HEINOUS CRIME, LIKE A MURDER. RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. 
          SO ISN'T THAT THE SAME ARGUMENT THEY USE FOR CONFISCATING OUR GUNS? IF ONLY WE HAD YOUR GUNS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY MURDERS AROUND HERE. 
          MR. WHYTE, YOU'RE A PRETTY SECOND AMENDMENT GUY, LET'S SEE YOU SECOND SUCH A MOTION. ANOTHER ITEM IN THE BUDGET IS ABOUT THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. IT WAS A BIG DEAL LAST YEAR BUT TWICE WE HEARD THAT WAS 
          NOT GOING TO BE IN THE BUDGET. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK 
          YOU, MR. FINGER. AIDEN ROBINSON. >> HELLO AGAIN, COUNCIL. 
          I APPRECIATE YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND POISE FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME AGAIN. AS STATED, I AM A CITY EMPLOYEE WITH THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT. AND I'M HERE TO OF COURSE TALK FOR ME AND MY FELLOW WORKERS WITH THE CITY ABOUT, OF COURSE, THE BUDGET YOU'RE PROPOSING. 
          I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE CONTINUING THIS DILIGENT WORK AND OF COURSE WE DO HAVE TO WORK EVERY DAY TO KEEP THIS CITY GOING AND AS GREAT AS IT CAN BE. 
          ON THAT NOTE, LIKE MYSELF AND MANY CO-WORKERS, WE DO STRUGGLE TO GET BY IN THESE INTERESTING ECONOMIC TIMES. MYSELF PERSONALLY, I AM WAITING FOR MY CHECK TO 
          [01:10:04]
CLEAR SO I CAN GET GROCERIES FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M GOING TO BE AT WORK LATER AND TAKING SOME TIME TO TRY TO GET THOSE GROCERIES BEFORE I GET THERE. WITH THAT, GROCERIES OF COURSE HAVE GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY. MORE IN THE 15% TO 20% RANGE WHILE COMPARED TO THE RATE OF INFLATION LOWER. AND YET THE 3% IS AN ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT BUT AS MANY HAVE NOTED, IT'S NOT QUITE KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF SAID GROCERIES, THE VERY ONES I'M WAITING FOR LATER. I DO HOPE, IF NOT NOW, I DO THINK IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED TO DO A COST OF LIVING ANALYSIS AND TRY TO MORE ADJUST TO THE REALITIES OF LIVING IN THIS GREAT CITY AND THE EFFECT IT DOES HAVE ON ME AND MY FELLOW WORKERS. I'LL KEEP IT SHORT AND END MY TIME NOW. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON. ALL RIGHT. 
          THE CITY COUNCIL WILL FORMALLY CONSIDER AND ADOPT ITS FY2025 BUDGET AND VOTE ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 2024 IN ITS MEETING ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, WHICH BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M. HELD IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. 
          [5. 
Ordinance approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Bexar County, Designated Bidders, LLC, and Weston Urban LLC for a proposed new downtown minor league baseball stadium. [Erik Walsh, City Manager; Ben Gorzell Jr., Chief Financial Officer]
 ]
THIS COMBINED PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. SO WE WILL MOVE ON NOW TO 
          OUR ITEM NO. 5. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 5 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH BEXAR COUNTY, DESIGNATED BIDDERS, LLC AND WESTERN URBAN LLC FOR A PROPOSED NEW DOWNTOWN MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION? 
          >> WALSH: WE DO, MAYOR. I'LL TEE IT UP. SO JUST TO KIND OF REITERATE SOME INFORMATION I SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL YESTERDAY. ON TUESDAY, AFTER THE MONDAY NIGHT MEETING OUT AT THE SOAP FACTORY, WESTERN URBAN CAME FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL TO CONTRIBUTE AN ADDITIONAL $250,000 IF MATCHED BY THE CITY TOWARDS A RENTAL RELOCATION PACKAGE FOR THE APPROXIMATELY 189 TENANTS THAT LIVE IN PHASE 1 OF THE SOAP FACTORY APARTMENTS. THAT'S -- YOU'LL SEE IN THE PRESENTATION -- THAT IS THE FIRST PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WESTERN URBAN HAS PLANNED FOR THE FALL OF NEXT YEAR. AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING DURING OUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, THERE IS $2.7 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS THAT NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED AS A RESULT OF THESE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS. SO MY -- AND THOSE DOLLARS HAVE A TIMELINE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. MY RECOMMENDATION THAT I'VE SHARED WITH YOU IS THAT WE USE $250,000 OF THOSE ARPA FUNDS, WHICH HAVE A TIMELINE, TO MATCH THAT WESTERN URBAN PROPOSAL. THAT WOULD EQUATE TO A $2500 RELOCATION PACKAGE FOR THOSE ROUGHLY 189 TENANTS THERE IN PHASE 1. 
          THE WESTERN URBAN FUNDS -- AND THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION. 
          LORI WILL WALK THROUGH IT. THE WESTERN URBAN FUNDS WOULD NOT HAVE ANY INCOME RESTRICTIONS AND WOULD APPLY TO CURRENT TENANTS AS OF OCTOBER 1ST OF 2024. 
          THE CITY DOLLARS, AS PROPOSED, WOULD BE FOR TENANTS AT 80% AMI OR BELOW. 
          AND FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LIVED THERE IN PHASE 1, AREA 1 PRIOR TO AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF RESIDENCY THERE. AND IF RELOCATING WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY. AGAIN, LORI IS GOING TO WALK THROUGH THIS. 
          ANY ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AFTER THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PHASE 2 OR PHASE 3 RESIDENTS BUT AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE PRESENTATION, THOSE PHASE 2 AND PHASE 3 OF THE SOAP FACTORY AREN'T PLANNED TO COME ONLINE OR BEGIN REDEVELOPMENT FOR ANOTHER THREE AND FIVE YEARS, RESPECTIVELY. 
          WE HAVE UPDATED THE PROPOSED MOU WITH THOSE TERMS. I WANT TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER KAUR FOR THE WORK ASSISTED WITH BY COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA. 
          ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT REALLY GENERATED OUT OF THE PUBLIC MEETING ON MONDAY. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS -- I ATTENDED THE MEETING MONDAY NIGHT -- MONDAY NIGHT AND I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED 
          [01:15:01]
AND I WAS APPRECIATIVE THAT WESTERN URBAN CAME FORWARD WITH AN OFFER. 
          BEN IS GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE FINANCING PART OF THE DEAL. 
          LORI WILL COVER THE RELOCATION PLAN AND WESTERN URBAN WILL HAVE A SHORT STATEMENT AND THEN I KNOW WE'VE GOT A WHOLE SLEW OF FOLKS HERE IN THE CHAMBERS THAT ARE READY TO TALK. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BEN. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AS ERIK MENTIONED, FOR THE BRIEFING ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WILL COME UP AND COVER THE SECOND HALF OF THE PRESENTATION. 
          THIS ITEM REQUESTS YOUR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, OR MOU FOR NEW MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. THE PARTIES TO THAT MOU INCLUDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, DESIGNATED BIDDERS, LLC, WHO ARE THE LOCAL OWNERSHIP GROUP FOR THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS MINOR BASEBALL LEAGUE TEAM AND WESTERN URBAN, LLC, WHO IS THE DEVELOPER FOR THE PROJECT . JUST A QUICK SUMMARY AGAIN HERE. ON THIS SLIDE, IN RESPONSE TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL REQUIREMENTS TO HAVE A BASEBALL FACILITY, WHICH MEETS THEIR FACILITIES FOR A MINOR LEAGUE STADIUM, THE OWNERS ARE PROPOSING TO CONSTRUCT A NEW MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO WITH APPROXIMATELY 4,500 FIXED SEATS AND CAPACITY FOR 7,500 ATTENDEES. THE ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS $160 MILLION INCLUSIVE OF LAND. THE COST OF THE BALLPARK PROJECT WILL PRIMARILY BE PAID FOR FROM A TEAM EQUITY CONTRIBUTION, TEAM REVENUES, AND PROPERTY TAXES AND THE GENERAL TAXPAYER WILL NOT BE FUNDING THIS BALLPARK PROJECT. THE PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR OPENING DAY IN APRIL OF 2028 FOR START OF THE 2028 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON. 
          THE MAP ON THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE PROPOSED SITE FOR THE BALLPARK, IT'S OUTLINED THERE IN ORANGE. THE SITE IS IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF DOWNTOWN NEAR FOX TECH HIGH SCHOOL. ALL THE PROPERTIES FOR THE BALLPARK SITE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BASEBALL FIELD PROPERTY OWNED BUOY THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND NEGOTIATIONS FOR THAT PROPERTY ARE ONGOING. NEXT I'LL TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE BALLPARK FUNDING AND HOW THAT WOULD WORK. THE CITY AND COUNTY WILL JOINTLY CREATE THE SAN~PEDRO CREEK DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. THAT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WOULD OWN THE BALLPARK. 
          THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THIS AUTHORITY WOULD HAVE MEMBERSHIP FROM THE CITY, THE COUNTY AEN THE TEAM. THE PROPOSED SITE FOR THE BALLPARK THAT I JUST SHOWED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE IS IN THE HOUSTON STREET TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE OR TIRZ IF WAS CREATED IN 19899. -- 1999. 
          IT ALLOWS FOR INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES FOR PARTICIPATING TAXING ENTITIES TO BE CAPTURED AND UTILIZED TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT WITHIN A GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARY. THIS IS THE TOOL THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO USE TO SUPPORT THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS FOR THE BALLPARK. 
          BOTH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE COUNTY ARE CURRENT PARTICIPATING ENTITIES IN THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ. FUNDING AGAIN FOR THE APPROXIMATE $160 MILLION IN COSTS FOR THE BALLPARK PROJECT ITSELF WOULD COME FROM A TEAM EQUITY CONTRIBUTION OF $34 MILLION AND $126 MILLION APPROXIMATELY IN PROCEEDS FROM BONDS TO BE ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY WITH A PLEDGE OF THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ REVENUES. THE TEAM WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CONSTRUCTION OVERRUNS. I'M GOING TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON THIS SLIDE AND TALK MORE ABOUT THE BOND FINANCING. SO REGARDING THAT BOND ISSUANCE TAXABLE BONDS WOULD BE ISSUED FOR THE BALLPARK PROJECT. 
          THESE BONDS WILL HAVE A PLEDGE OF HOUSTON STREET TIRZ REVENUES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BALLPARK, THERE ARE FOUR PHASES OF SURROUNDING NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT THAT I'M GOING TO COVER ON THE NEXT SLIDE. WE HAVE NEGOTIATED GUARANTEES FROM THE TEAM ON THE FIRST TWO PHASES OF THAT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. 
          AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THOSE TWO PHASES SUPPORT THE BOND ISSUANCE IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. ONE OF THE FIRST CONDITIONS -- THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONDITIONS THAT MUST BE MET BEFORE WE EVEN ISSUE BONDS. 
          AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THOSE NOW ON PHASE 1 OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. 
          THAT PROJECT, THAT NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT HAS TO BE DESIGNED, FINANCED AND A NOTICE TO PROCEED ISSUED TO THE CONTRACTOR, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR, BEFORE THE BONDS 
          [01:20:03]
ARE ISSUED. THE ESTIMATED TAXABLE VALUE FOR PHASE 1 IS $300 MILLION. 
          IN ADDITION TO THAT, BEFORE WE ISSUE BONDS, PHASE 2 OF THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT HAS TO BE UNDER DESIGN AND THE ESTIMATED TAXABLE VALUE FOR PHASE 2 IS $275 MILLION. 
          ONCE THOSE CONDITIONS ARE MET FOR PHASES 1 AND 2, THE BONDS TO FUND THE BALLPARK CAN BE ISSUED OR WE CAN AUTHORIZE ISSUANCE OF THOSE BONDS. 
          THE BONDS WILL BE REPAID FOR FROM TEAM REVENUES TO INCLUDE A MILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENT AND $2 TICKET FEE. WE WILL ALSO BE CREATING A MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT OR MMD SURROUNDING THAT WILL ENCOMPASS THE NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE BALLPARK. THE MMD IS SIMILAR TO A P.I.D. IT HAS SOME BROADER PURPOSES. 
          THAT'S WHY WE'RE USING IT HERE. BUT IN SIMPLE TERMS, IT IS AN ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT ON THE TAXABLE VALUE OF THOSE PROPERTIES IN ADDITION TO PROPERTY TAXES. SO THEY PAY THEIR PROXIES, THIS IS A -- PROPERTY TAXES, IN THIS CASE WE'LL BE USING THAT TO PAY FOR DEBT SERVICE ON THE BONDS. 
          I MENTIONED THERE'S A NUMBER OF GUARANTEES. THERE ARE ALSO GUARANTEES ON PHASES 1 AND 2 OF THE NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. THOSE GUARANTEES INCLUDE -- AND WE MAY BE USING A LITTLE BIT OF EXISTING HOUSTON STREET TIRZ CAPACITY AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND. THE GUARANTEE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE ON PHASES 1 AND 2 IS ON THE REVENUES PROJECTED TO BE GENERATED FROM THOSE TWO DEVELOPMENTS. SO BOTH THE PROPERTY TAXES AND THE MMD ASSESSMENTS. 
          SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE TYPICALLY IN A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THERE MAY BE SOME TYPE OF GUARANTEE TIED TO A PARTICULAR TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT BEING BUILT. IN THIS CASE WE HAVE TIED IT TO THE PROJECTED REVENUES THAT ARE TO COME OFF OF THOSE FIRST TWO PHASES. THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY WAYS WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR DEBT SERVICE ON THE BONDS. 
          TO SUPPORT THE REVENUE GUARANTEES, THE TEAM WILL PROVIDE A TWO-YEAR ROLLING LINE OF CREDIT THROUGH A BANK THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO VERIFY AND A SUBSET OF TEAM OWNERS WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LINE OF CREDIT. COLLECTIVELY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TEAM EQUITY CONTRIBUTION, THE TEAM REVENUES, THE GUARANTEED CITY AND COUNTY PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT THROUGH THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ AND THE ASSESSMENTS THROUGH THE MMD, COLLECTIVELY THAT PAYS FOR ABOUT 86% OF THE COST OF THE BALLPARK PROJECT. THE REMAINING 14% MAY COME FROM THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ AND USING EXISTING CITY AND COUNTY CAPACITY WITHIN THAT TIRZ. 
          BUT THAT ASSUMES THAT THE TAXABLE VALUE FOR PHASES 1 AND 2 DON'T COME IN ABOVE OUR PROJECTIONS AND THAT THE DEVELOPER DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH PHASES 3 AND 4. 
          IF EITHER OF THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, THE USE OF THE EXISTING HOUSTON STREET TIRZ CAPACITY IS REDUCED OR ELIMINATED ALTOGETHER. THERE ARE, AS I MESSAGED, FOUR PHASES OF NEW PROPOSED PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS SURROUNDING THE BALLPARK. 
          THE MAP ON THE RIGHT SHOWS A SITE OF EACH OF THE FOUR PHASES. 
          IT'S COLOR KEYED TO THE TABLE ON THE LEFT. -- CODED TO THE TABLE ON THE LEFT. THE ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE FOR EACH PHASE OF THAT NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. AGAIN, PHASES 1 AND 2, AS I MENTION, ARE THE ONES THAT WE HAVE THE TEAM GUARANTEES ON AND ARE TIED INTO THE BOND FINANCING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. SO WITH PHASES 1 AND 2, WE HAVE GUARANTEE OF NEW INVESTMENT WHICH WILL PRODUCE TAXABLE VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY $575 MILLION IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. IT WOULD BE ABOUT A $1 BILLION IF PHASES 3 AND 4 ARE CONSTRUCTED. THE NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, THOSE FOUR PHASES, WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY PUBLIC FUNDING OR INCENTIVES. JUST ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THE BONDS ISSUED FOR THE BALLPARK, A LITTLE MORE FROM A GRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE, AGAIN, THE BALLPARK SITE IS IN ORANGE. WE'VE GOT THE FOUR PHASES OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT SHOWN ON THE MAP THERE AS WELL. AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REPAYMENT OF THE BONDS, WE WILL BE USING THE $1 MILLION ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENT FROM THE TEAM, THE $2 TICKET FEE, AND THEN THE GUARANTEED HOUSTON STREET CITY AND COUNTY PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT AND MMD ASSESSMENT FROM PHASES 1 AND 2 OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, THE NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IS SHADED THERE IN YELLOW AND BLUE ON THE MAP THERE ON THE RIGHT. 
          AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED WE MAY USE EXISTING HOUSTON STREET TIRZ CAPACITY, BUT 
          [01:25:03]
FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY WE WOULD SHARE THAT EQUALLY. THAT MAKES AN ASSUMPTION PROJECTIONS DON'T EXCEED AND PHASES 3 AND 4 NEVER GET BUILT. 
          JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE. 
          THIS FIRST ONE IS IMPORTANT. YOU'LL HEAR THE TEAM TALK ABOUT WANTING TO BUILD THIS PROPOSED BALLPARK BEING A BEST IN CLASS MINOR LEAGUE STADIUM. 
          THERE WILL BE OTHER EVENTS HELD THERE AS WELL. SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE FACILITY AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH THAT IS TO FUND -- THIS ISN'T ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, BUT MORE SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL MAINTENANCE EVERY YEAR AND THROUGHOUT THE INITIAL TERM. SO THAT ALLOWS THERE TO BE FUNDING THERE TO BE ADDRESSED FOR FACILITY ISSUES AND CAPITAL NEEDS. 
          THAT FUND WOULD BE ESTABLISHED ONCE THE BALLPARK BECOMES OPERATIONAL. IT WOULD BE FUNDED WITH A TEAM CONTRIBUTION OF $250,000 ANNUALLY. THE CITY WOULD CONTRIBUTE $500,000 ANNUALLY AND THAT WOULD COME FROM THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ. WE TALKED ABOUT THE BEST IN CLASS FACILITY, SO WE WANT FANS AND ATTENDEES FOR EVENTS TO HAVE A GOOD FAN EXPERIENCE. PART OF THAT WE NEED TO KNOW WE NEED A GOOD TRAFFIC SECURITY AND CLEANLINESS AROUND THE BALLPARK. THE CITY AND TEAM HAVE CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE PLANS AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE BRINGING BACK IN THE FUTURE. THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONS AROUND LOCAL PARTICIPATION AND SBEDA. THE TEAM HAS AGREED FOR THEIR PRIMARY VENDORS IF THEY ARE NOT LOCATED IN BEXAR COUNTY, THAT FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE ENCOURAGED TO JOINT VENTURE WITH LOCAL PARTNERS. THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO DIVERSITY OUTREACH AS THEY LOOK TO MOVE FORWARD. ON THE CONSTRUCTION PACKAGE SIDE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE ASSIGNING GOALS FOR THEIR SBEDA SUBCONTRACTORS AND THEY ARE GOING TO WORK THE CITY'S SMALL BUSINESS OFFICE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO LOOK AT AVAILABILITY FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AND THEN ASSIGN A GOAL MUCH LIKE WE DO ON OUR CONTRACTS EXCEPT IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE A GOAL. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ON THE NEXT SLIDE SOME COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE TERM SHEET AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC AMENITIES IN THE BALLPARK THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO INCLUDE GREEN SPACE, PARK SPACE AND THERE IS A CONCOURSE INSIDE THE BALLPARK STADIUM THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE DURING THE DAY IF THERE AREN'T EVENTS GOING TO BE USED AS A WALKING TRACK. 
          THE TEAM IS GOING TO CONTINUE WITH DEVELOPING A YOUTH PROGRAM SO THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE GIVING AWAY FREE TICKETS TO DISADVANTAGED YOUTH GROUPS AND YOUTH. THERE ARE STAKEHOLDER DAYS INCLUDED FOR BOLT THE CITY AND COUNTY. -- BOTH. WE WOULD EACH GET FIVE DAYS TO USE DID FACILITY AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER EVENT. 
          STAKEHOLDER ADVERTISING, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THIS, BUT THE CONCEPT WOULD BE WE WOULD LOVE BOTH US AND THE COUNTY TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THE BALLPARK. THE TEAM HAS ASKED US IN TERMS OF MAYBE MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE TEAM. WE THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY. THE TEAM HAS ALSO CREATED THE SAN ANTONIO 1888 BASEBALL FOUNDATION WHERE THEY WILL BE CONTRIBUTING AT LEAST $200,000 ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT LOCAL INITIATIVES FOR CHILDREN AND HOMELESS VETERANS. 
          THE TEAM IS GOING TO MIKE AN EFFORT TO HIRE VETERANS FOR GAME DAY OPERATIONS. 
          AND THEN THEY ARE ALSO WORKING ON DEVELOPING A PROGRAM WITH SAISD THAT MAY INCLUDE INTERNSHIPS, BEING RECEIVES TO THE FACILITY AND STAKEHOLDER DAYS AS WELL. 
          ON THE WAGE COMMITMENT, I KNOW THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS LAST TIME SO WE WENT BACK INTO THE MOU AND TRIED TO CLARIFY WHAT OUR SPENT OUR INTENT WAS. 
          FOR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, THEY WILL BE PAID THE MINIMUM OF THE ENTRY WAGE. AS YOU ALL APPROVE THE ENTRY WAGE, THIS REQUIREMENT CHANGES WITH THAT. WE DID CLARIFY IN THE MOU THAT WE ATTACHED TO THIS ITEM ON FRIDAY. THE OTHER ITEM THAT CAME UP, THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT BEING A FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYER, AND THE TEAM DID AGREE TO INCLUDE INTO THE MOU AND THE TERM SHEET THAT THE TEAM WOULD CONTINUE THEIR PRACTICE TO BAN THE BOX AS A FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYER AND NOT CONDUCT BACKGROUND CHECKS OR -- NOT CONDUCT BACKGROUND CHECKS UNTIL AFTER AN INTERVIEW OR OFFER IS MADE. 
          SO THAT WRAPS UP MY PART OF THE PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO NOW TURN IT OVER TO LORI HOUSTON, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. LORI? 
          [01:30:09]
          >> HOUSTON: THANK YOU, BEN AND GOOD MORNING. SO AS BEN MENTIONED, THE ACTUAL STADIUM ITSELF WILL NOT RELOCATE ANY BUSINESS OR TENANT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BASEBALL STADIUM. HOWEVER, THE NEW PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SURROUNDING THE STADIUM WILL REQUIRE RELOCATION OF THE TENANTS THAT CURRENTLY RESIDE IN SOAP FAMILIARER SOAP FACTORY APARTMENTS. SO THE CITY, SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS ALONG WITH WESTON URBAN HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WHAT A RELOCATION PLAN WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WE KNOW THERE ARE THREE PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT, AND THERE'S THREE PHASES THAT WILL BE PART OF THE SOAP FACTORY APARTMENTS REDEVELOPMENT. 
          SO PHASE 1 IS ACTUALLY STARTING RIGHT NOW AND IT WILL GO THROUGH OCTOBER 1, 2025. AND IT INCLUDES THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY THAT YOU SEE ON THE BOTTOM PART OF THAT SLIDE. AND WHILE WE SAY REDEVELOPMENT, I WANT TO STRESS THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEMOLISHING OR THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEMOLISHING THE HISTORIC 1850S LIMESTONE PROPERTY THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PROJECT. PHASE 2 INCLUDES REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY AT 601 NORTH SANTA ROSA. 
          AS ANTICIPATED TO START IN SEPTEMBER OF 2027. SO THREE YEARS FROM NOW. 
          AND IN PHASE 3 IS THE PROPERTY AT 600 NORTH SANTA ROSA AND WILL START IN SEPTEMBER OF 2029. NOW, FOR THOSE TENANTS THAT ARE PART OF PHASE 1, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 2024 TO SEPTEMBER 2025, WESTON URBAN, WHO IS THE PROPERTY OWNER OF SOAP FACTORY APARTMENTS, HAS AGREED THAT WANT TO STAY ON PROPERTY AND MOVE TO ONE OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES IN PHASE 2 OR 3. 
          THEY WILL PAY FOR THE MOVING EXPENSES. THE APPLICATION DEPOSIT FEES WILL BE WAIVED. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY RENT I BELIEVE CREASES AND THERE WILL BE NO EARLY TERMINATION FEE. NOW, IF THEY WANT TO RELOCATE TO A NEW UNIT AT THE CONTINENTAL BLOCK APARTMENTS, THEY WILLTH PAY FOR THE MOVING EXPENSES AND THE APPLICATION AND DEPOSIT FEES WILL BE WAIVED. 
          AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE CONTINENTAL BLOCK ALSO INCLUDES SOME INCOME-RESTRICTED UNITS AT 60% TO 80% AMI. SO SOME TENANTS MAY QUALIFY TO RESIDE IN THOSE UNITS. THE OTHER OPTION IS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME SAN ANTONIO AND THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR BEACON COMMUNITIES PROPERTIES. TENANTS WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELOCATE TO A UNIT ATTIRE FUGIO OR 100 LABOR HEMISFAIR. AND THE FIRST MONTH RENT WILL BE FREE AND THERE ARE INCOME-STRICTED UNITS. THERE ARE SOME SMALL PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, THERE ARE 50% AMI UNITS AB THEN 60 AND 80% AMI UNITS AS WELL ALONG WITH SOME MARKET RATE. THERE ARE OTHER BEACON PROPERTIES OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO THE ACCEPT FACTORY APARTMENT TENANTS RELOCATION AND THOSE APPLICATION FEES WILL BE WAIVED AND THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE ONE MONTH'S RENT FREE, AND THOSE ARE INCOME RESTRICTED. 
          NOW, THERE ARE MANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO -- FOR OTHER RELOCATION, BUT THIS IS THE ONE WE PARTNER WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE A PARTNER THERE AND THEY ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE THESE INCENTIVES. BUT WE KNOW THROUGH OUR DATA BASE THERE ARE SOME EFFICIENCIES AVAILABLE LESS DOWNTOWN LESS THAN $700 A MONTH AS WELL. PHASE 2, THE SOAP FACTORY LOCATION PLAN IS AUGUST 2026 THROUGH 2027. THEY WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO STAY ON THE PROPERTY AND MOVE TO ANOTHER BUILDING. THEY WILL STILL HAVE THEIR MOVING EXPENSES PAID, APPLICATION DEPOSIT FEES WAIVED. NO RENT I BELIEVE CREASES AND NO EARLY TERMINATION FEE. THEY CAN RELOCATE TO A NEW UNIT OF THE CONTINENTAL BLOCK. MOVING EXPENSES WILL BE PAID AND FEES WILL BE WAIVED. THOSE DO HAVE INCOME-RESTRICTED UNITS AT 60 TO 80% AMI AS WELL AS SOME MARKET RATE. THEY CAN RELOCATE THAT IS CONTROLLED AND THEY HAVE SEVERAL UNITS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE AND THEY MAY BE 
          [01:35:05]
ELIGIBLE FOR AND THAT WOULD ALSO OFFER THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR APPLICATION AND DEPOSIT FEES WAIVED. THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT IS FREE AND INCOME RESTRICTED. THEN RELOCATE TO ANOTHER BEACON COMMUNITY'S PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN. ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE MENTIONING OPPORTUNITY HOME BECAUSE THEY ARE SOMEONE WE PARTNER WITH, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PARTNERS THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP TENANTS RELOCATE. I WANT TO STRESS RESIDENTS ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR THESE PACKAGES IF THEY HAVE A LEASE THAT'S BEEN EXECUTED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1, 2024. AND SO ANYONE THAT HAS A LEASE EXECUTED AFTERWARDS, THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A DISCLOSURE FORM NOTING THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THEY HAVE TO MOVE BY A TIME CERTAIN DATE. PHASE 3, THERE WILL BE NO OTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE INTO THE SOAP FACTORY APARTMENTS PROPERTY, BUT YOU COULD RELOCATE TO THE CONTINENTAL BLOCK. YOU COULD ALSO RELOCATE TO ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITY HOME UNITS IN DOWNTOWN. OR YOU COULD RELOCATE TO ANOTHER BEACON COMMUNITY PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN. 
          ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS ONLY FOR THOSE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE A LEASE THAT WAS EXECUTED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1, 2024. IF YOU WERE TO GO ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WE HAVE A HOME BASE NETWORK THAT WE USE AND THEN THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER APARTMENT SEARCH ENGINES YOU CAN GO TO THAT PULL UP WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN DOWNTOWN. 
          SO THERE ARE OTHER UNITS AND BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS A CONSULTANT THAT WESTON URBAN HAS BROUGHT ON AND THEY ARE PAYING FOR. 
          RELOCATION NEEDS. BUT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HELP SEARCH FOR A PROPERTY FOR THEM BASED ON TRANSPORTATION. MAYBE THEY PREFER TO BE CLOSER TO A FAMILY MEMBER, A DIFFERENT SCHOOL, BUT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HELP FIND THEM A PROPERTY THAT MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR NEEDS. 
          BUT IF THEY WANT TO STAY DOWNTOWN, BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES WILL HELP WITH THAT AS WELL. BUT WESTON URBAN IS GOING TO KEEP THEM ON FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS THROUGH THE ENTIRE PHASE 1, 2 AND 3 PROCESS FOR SOAP FACTORY APARTMENTS. 
          AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY MEETING WITH EVERYONE ABOUT FIVE TIMES A WEEK, HAVING STANDING MEETINGS FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME INTO THE OFFICE AND CONSULT WITH THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY OF THAT FIVE TIMES A WEEK. NOW, AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY WESTON URBAN HAD WORKED WITH SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 6, AND THEY COMMITTED TO FUNDING A $250,000 RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PACKAGE AND THE CITY WOULD MATCH THAT. 
          WE'RE PROPOSING TO MATCH THAT WITH ANOTHER 250,000 FROM ARPA FUNDS FOR A TOTAL OF 500,000. THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PACKAGE WOULD ALLOW FOR PHASE 1 TENANTS TO RECEIVE A 2500 RENTAL PACKAGE FOR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAVING THE PROPERTY. AND SO THE SOAP FACTORY APARTMENTS RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES AND FUNDED BY THE FOLLOWING. 250 FROM WESTON URBAN, AND FOR THE MONEY THAT WESTON URBAN PROVIDES, THERE ARE NO INCOME RESTRICTIONS. AND IT ONLY APPLIES TO CURRENT TENANTS. SO ANY TENANT WITH A LEASE EXECUTED AFTER OCTOBER 1 WILL NOT QUALIFY. AND THEN -- FOR THE CITY'S FUNDING WHICH IS COMING FROM ARPA, THERE WOULD BE A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO BE 80% AMI OR BELOW AND MUST HAVE LIVED IN THE UNIT FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1, 2024. 
          BUT IF A PHASE 1 TENANT DECIDES THAT THEY WANT TO STAY ON PROPERTY AND THEY WANT TO GO TO ONE OF THE BUILDINGS THAT IS SET FOR PHASE 2 OR 3 REDEVELOPMENT, THEY CAN DO THAT. THEY CAN STILL GET THE $2,500 FOR RELOCATION, BUT THEY WOULD GET THAT UPON EXIT OF THE ENTIRE PROPERTY. SO THEY MAY SAY YES, I WANT TO STAY HERE, I WANT TO GO TO THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET, AND THEN WHEN I'M READY TO LEAVE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PACKAGE FOR MY MOVING EXPENSES AND FIRST MONTH'S RENT AND EVERYTHING. 
          IT ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE TIME TO PLAN AND THEY WILL HOLD THE MONEY UNTIL THEY ARE LEAVING THE PROPERTY. ANY REMAINING FUNDING AFTER ALL PHASE 1 TENANTS HAVE BEEN SERVED MAY BE USED FOR PHASE 2 OR 3 TENANTS, BUT ONLY IF THAT TENANT IS 
          [01:40:01]
WILLING TO LEAVE BEFORE SEPTEMBER 2025. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING THE ONES THAT REALLY ONLY HAVE A YEAR TO PLAN FOR. 
          THE OTHER PHASES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN 2027, THAT'S THREE YEARS, 2029, ANOTHER FIVE YEARS, SO THERE'S PLANNING TIME THERE, BUT THIS YEAR I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HELPING THOSE BE ABLE TO PLAN FOR THEIR NEXT MOVE. 
          AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM THROUGH BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY THAT NEW LOCATION AND HELP THEM IDENTIFY ANY MOVERS OR ANY OTHER STAFF THAT THEY MAY NEED TO HELP THEM WITH THAT MOVE. SO OUR NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TO DO A FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES. 
          IT WOULD BE A FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THE $250,000 THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET ORDINANCE, THE CLOSING BUDGET ORDINANCE. AND THEN CREATION OF SAN~PEDRO CREEK DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THAT WILL BE DONE IN 2024. 
          THE CREATION OF THE MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IN 2024. 
          THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ, WE NEED TO ADJUST THE BOUNDARY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT PARCELS CURRENTLY IN THE WEST SIDE TIRZ AND EXTEND THE TERM. THE WEST SIDE TIRZ WE NEED TO INCREASE THE CITY PARTICIPATION RATE FROM 90 TO 100% AND EXTEND THE TERM IN 2024. WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE AND DEVELOP OTHER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS. THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO. WE HAVE TO DO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN 2024, THE TEAM LEASE IN 2025, THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN 2025, BOND INDENTURE AND OTHER FUNDING DOCUMENTS IN 2025 AND THE FIRS AGREEMENTS IN 2025. WE -- TIRZ. WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT EXPANDING THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AROUND THE STADIUM AND THE NEW DEVELOPMENT SO THEY CAN GET THOSE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT OTHER PARTS OF DOWNTOWN BENEFIT FROM. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR TODAY IS TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, DESIGNATED BUILDERS LLCEN WESTON URBAN. MANAGEMENT LLC AS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 12. SO MYSELF, BEN GORZELL, ERIK WALSH ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP WESTON URBAN, RANDY SMITH, TO SAY A FEW CLOSING REMARKS AND, OF COURSE, THE TEAM AND WESTON URBAN ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL AS WELL. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I WANT TO GET TO SOME COMMITMENTS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE IN A MINUTE, BUT I WANT TO JUST TAKE TWO STEPS BACK. 
          COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO, THOSE WOMEN FROM ROSS ARE SPECIAL. 
          WE WANT TO COMMIT TO HAVING THEM OUT TO BALL GAME. I THINK MORE SAN ANTONIANS SHOULD HEAR THAT YOUNG LADY'S VOICE. THAT WAS SPECIAL. 
          [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU, COUNCIL, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ERIK AND LORI AND BEN AND ALL OF YOU FOR THE TIRELESS WORK ON THIS OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE GROUPS THAT TOOK TIME TO MEET WITH US AND VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. 
          ON BEHALF OF THE 30-SOME-ODD OWNERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS NOT ONLY OUR GRATITUDE BUT OUR ENTHUSIASM. 
          WE'VE SPENT THE LAST TWO WEEKS DOING TWO THINGS, WHICH IS LISTENING AND LEANING IN. YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW, THAT THIS IS A PROCESS AND NOT AN EVENT, BUT TODAY I'M REALLY SAYING THAT TO OURSELVES. 
          THE LISTENING AND THE LEANING IN DOES NOT STOP AT THE CONCLUSION OF TODAY'S VOTE. ON IN YOU HAVE THE COMMITMENT OF OUR ENTIRE GROUP, ALL OF US. THE PLAN THAT BEN AND LORI LAID OUT FOR YOU TODAY IS IS A PLAN THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF. IT'S A PLAN EACH OF YOU AND STAFF HAVE WORKED AND FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR. AND IT SETS A NEW STANDARD FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY. THAT SAID, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S NO PERFECT PLAN. AND EVEN IF THERE WAS, THERE ARE NO PERFECT HUMANS ON OUR TEAM TO EXECUTE THAT PLAN. BUT WE HEARD YOU AND WE HEARD THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE COME ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER TO ARRIVE AT WHERE WE 
          [01:45:07]
ARE TODAY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE HERE ON THIS POINT, THIS POINT OF COMING TOGETHER. I DON'T THINK THAT I CAN ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE LEADERSHIP OF YOU, MAYOR, AND THE WHOLE COUNCIL, AND IN PARTICULAR COUNCILWOMAN KAUR AND COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA. WHEN YOU ASKED IF WE WOULD FOLLOW YOUR LEAD TO PROVIDE MORE HELP TO THESE FAMILIES, THAT IS WHAT SET THE TONE FOR THE UNPRECEDENTED PLAN BEFORE YOU. AND SO THANK YOU. 
          IN CLOSING, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND OPENING DAY OF 2028. 
          AND THAT MIGHT SEEM REALLY FAR OFF TO SOME, BUT WE FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE HERE IN A MINUTE AND THAT WORK MUST START TODAY AND WE HAVE TO HUSTLE. 
          AND ALL 30 OF US ARE PROUD TO HUSTLE FOR YOU AND FOR THIS COMMUNITY. 
          BUT AS YOU KNOW, OUR COMMITMENTS TO YOU ON PAPER GO FAR BEYOND 2028. 
          BUT EVEN THAT DOESN'T REALLY CAPTURE WHAT I'M TRYING TO EXPRESS TODAY WHICH IS THAT WE ARE A LOCAL GROUP. WE ARE FROM HERE. AS YOU HAVE SEEN, WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. AND SO OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU AS SAN ANTONIANS AND THIS COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIANS HAS NO EXPIRATION DATE. AND SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, RANDY. THANK YOU, BEN AND LORI FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY. MANY FOLKS. 
          SO IN LIGHT OF THAT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS HEARD, SPEAKERS INDIVIDUALLY WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES, GROUPS UP TO SIX MINUTES. I'LL CALL NAMES IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP. I'LL CALL THE NEXT NAME ON THE LIST. 
          I'LL START WITH CHARLIE AMADO. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY 
          RALPH GARZA. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. MY NAME IS CHARLIE AMADO, CHAIRMAN OF FINANCIAL FIRM HEADQUARTERED IN SAN ANTONIO. ALSO I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SPEAK AS A BUSINESSMAN AND RESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. 
          OUR CITY IS A TRUE GEM AND TIME TO HARNESS DOWNTOWN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN A WAY THAT WILL PRODUCE SAFE AND THRIVING DOWNTOWN. THE ALAMO, UTSA, FROST, WESTON URBAN, ALL ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN DOWNTOWN. 
          BUT TO HAVE PROSPERITY IT TAKES ALL OF US IN THE COMMUNITY TO COMPLEMENT THEIR INVESTMENTS. I PERSONALLY ALONG WITH CHUCK GRIM GOING TO MAKE A PERSONAL INVESTMENT DOWNTOWN. WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A DREAM HOTEL ON SOL DAD STREET AND BREAK GROUND IN 2025. HAVING SPORTS WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT. A NEW STADIUM WILL NOT ONLY BRING MORE VISITORS TO OUR AREA BUT ALSO RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN LIVING IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER. I UNDERSTAND WESTON URBAN HAS PROMISED AS PART OF THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY TO PUT A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE GROUND IN AND AROUND THE BASEBALL PARK INCLUDING MORE THAN 1500 APARTMENTS, HOTEL, PARKING AND RESTAURANT AND STORAGE SPACE. 
          HAVING THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT TO COMPLEMENT AFFORDABILITY THAT BASEBALL WILL BRING TO SO MANY FAMILIES OF ALL INCOMINGS IS A TRUE -- INCOMES IS A TRUE WIN-WIN. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN, PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS WILL NOT BE USED TO FINANCE OR CONSTRUCT THE BALLPARK. 
          AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS NEW DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US. APPRECIATE IT. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU MR. AMADO. 
          RALPH GARZA. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SERGIO DICKERSON. 
          >> HELLO, I WISH TO GIVE MY MINUTES TO MONTICELLO GARZA. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU ARE NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK -- 28? OKAY. YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES, MS. GARZA. 
          [01:50:08]
          >> HELLO, MY NAME IS MAURICE GARZA. I AM WITH THE GUARD EVEN DALE COMMUNITY. I AM PRESIDENT OF THIS GARDENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, BORDERLINES THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPOSED MISSION STADIUM BASEBALL FIELD AND THEY ARE HERE TO SHARE OUR SUPPORT WITH HAVING THE STADIUM BUILT IN THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL WEST SIDE AREA. WHEN WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS NEW PROJECT, WE GATHERED WITH SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND GOT FEEDBACK AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THERE ARE SEVERAL BENEFIT BITS THAT WOULD COME FROM OUR AREA. 
          ONE OF THOSE THINGS WOULD BE IT WOULD BRING INCREASED REVENUE FOR THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL WEST SIDE AREA. A SECOND THING IS THAT IT WOULD BRING JOB CREATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN WALK TO WORK BACK AND FORTH. IT CAN ALSO BRING BEAUTIFICATION AND SAFETY TO THE AREA BY DEDICATING ATTENTION TO THE MAINTENANCE AND THROUGH THE HEIGHTENED POLICE SECURITY AND PRESENCE THAT IT WOULD BRING. NUMBER 4 IS THAT IT WOULD BRING BUSINESS GROWTH BOY ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES TO OUR AREA AND ALSO BOOSTING THE SALES OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN OUR AREA FOSTERING THEREFORE ECONOMIC GROWTH. AS NUMBER 5, WE FEEL THAT IT WOULD BRING APPROPRIATE AND GOOD PROGRESS TO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT. 
          YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE AREAS IN SAN ANTONIO THAT ARE ALREADY THRIVING WITH GOOD DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE THE PEARL BREW ARE, SOUTH TOWN AND MANY OTHER AREAS THAT ARE POSITIVE GROWING WITH GOOD PROJECTS. WE ARE ASKING THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE IT IS DOWNTOWN CENTRAL'S TIME FOR APPROPRIATE GROWTH. AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE DO ALSO ASK THAT THE COMMUNITY BE KEPT INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND THAT EVERY DECISION MADE -- BE MADE WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN MIND. 
          STAND BY YOUR COMMITMENTS THAT ARE BEING SAID AND PROPOSED AND THIS IS WHAT WE ASK FOR AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GARZA. 
          SERGEI DICKERSON. MR. DICKERSON, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID ADDLEMAN. 
          >> MR. MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME TODAY. 
          I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE AMERICAN GI FORUM. WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO VETERANS, NON-VETERANS. WE PROVIDE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE PAST 51 YEARS. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT. 
          I AM GROUND ZERO FOR WHERE THE NEW STADIUM IS GOING TO BE. 
          WHEN RANDY SHOWED UP AT MY OFFICE, I SAID I BETTER START PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE MOVED. BUT RANDY SAT DOWN AND HE LISTENED TO WHAT OUR MISSIONIST AND WHAT WE NEEDED AS AN ORGANIZATION AND HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE VETERANS. THEN HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU. I'M A SHOW-ME STATE KIND OF GUY SO I WAS GOING TO DO WHAT HE ACTUALLY SAID AND HE CAME THROUGH AND THEN SOME. WE MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION WITHIN THE SAME STRATEGIC LOCATION TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING THAT IN THAT FACILITY. SO HE HONORED HIS WORD. 
          IN ADDITION TO THAT, HE SAID THAT HE WOULD HELP US GET JOBS FOR VETERANS. 
          NOT JUST THE VETERANS THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE VETERANS THAT ARE TRANSITIONING FROM MANY INSTALLATIONS FROM FORT BLISS ALL THE WAY TO LACKLAND AND FORT SAM. AND SO THAT FOR US WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO PLACE THOSE VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND NOW YOU HAVE VETERANS THAT WANT TO COME TO MILITARY CITY BECAUSE THERE ARE JOBS, THEY ARE A PROSPECT FOR THOSE JOBS FOR THEM TO COME TO. ON BEHALF OF THE NVOP, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MYSELF, I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE TO MOVE MISSION TO THE HEART OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DAVID ADDLEMAN. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OMAR 
          GONZALES. >> THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. I DON'T NEED TO REMIND YOU, BUT WE'VE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES IN THE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. WE JUST LOST VISION WORKS, 150,000 SQUARE FEET ON HOUSTON STREET. WE PERSONALLY LOST PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS. 
          USAA VACATED NEARLY 500,000 SQUARE FEET DOWNED. WE NEED SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. 
          [01:55:06]
WE NEED SIGNIFICANT VISION. YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLY COMPETENT CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT HAS NEGOTIATED AN UNBELIEVABLE AGREEMENT. BUT WHAT WE NEED IS VISION AND LEADERSHIP FOR DOWNTOWN IN A BIG, BIG WAY, AND WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS MORE DOWNTOWN HOUSING. HOUSING IS WHAT'S GOING TO TRANSITION US FROM AN OFFICE ENVIRONMENT TO A THRIVING DOWNTOWN THAT'S NOT ONLY TOURISM, NOT ONLY THE GREAT THINGS THAT UTSA IS DOING DOWNTOWN, BUT IS OPEN FOR MANY, MANY MORE RESIDENTS TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY DOWNTOWN. FOR THAT LEADERSHIP, I BROUGHT THIS AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU GUYS TO SET A GOAL. 
          10,000 NEW RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN BY 2030. TO GET THERE, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SET SOME POLICY, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY ENCOURAGE THE CITY LEADERSHIP TEAM TO WORK HARD AND SUPPORT THIS DECISION TODAY FOR WHAT WESTON URBAN AND THE BASEBALL TEAM ARE DOING. IT WILL BE CATALYTIC FOR DOWNTOWN AND IT WILL HELP TO ACHIEVE A REAL GOAL. THANK YOU. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. 
          OMAR GONZALES. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY NOLAND SHEA. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS OMAR GONZALES. 
          I WORK AS THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR OBJECTION DENTAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP. 
          I'M A SAND LOT BASEBALL PLAYER WHO CELEBRATE THE CULTURE OF BASEBALL AND AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL STARTED IN SAN ANTONIO IN 1888. AND SO WHAT A GREAT HONOR TO CONTINUE THAT TRADITION OF BASEBALL. I THINK IT'S PART OF OUR CULTURE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND AS A BASEBALL PLAYER, AN ADVOCATE, BIG FAN OF HAVING THE STADIUM DOWNTOWN. SO MY SECOND POINT IS I WAS THE FORMER CHAIR OF ULI, THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE, SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS STUDIED URBANISM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, YOU DO SEE SUCCESSFUL DOWNTOWNS HAVE AREAS WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN GATHER AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IN DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE [INAUDIBLE]. ANOTHER BIG CHECK FOR WHY A STADIUM WOULD MAKE SENSE IN AN URBAN SETTING AS OPPOSED TO IN A SUBURBAN SETTING. FINALLY AS A LOCAL DEVELOPER IN TOWN, I WOULD SAY VERY FEW PEOPLE, AND YOU'VE KIND OF HEARD THIS BEFORE, BUT VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE THE COURAGE, THE HONESTY AND INTEGRITY THAT WESTON URBAN DOES. I'M A VERY BIG FAN OF RANDY SMITH AND HIS GROUP. 
          THEY ARE COMMITTED TO SAN ANTONIO, PASSIONATE ABOUT SAN ANTONIO AND HAVE ASSEMBLED SUCH A GREAT TEAM THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE US SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. 
          HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALL APPROVE THE MOU AND CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION TOWARDS BASEBALL IN DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GONZALES. 
          NOLAND SHEA. NOLAND SHEA. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY 
          PATRICK STOLEMEYER. >> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. 
          I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GOOD DAY. MY NAME IS NOLAND SHEA, 20-YEAR-OLD STUDENT WHO GOES TO UNIVERSITY OF INCAR RATE WORD AND I'M ORIGINALLY FROM MINNESOTA. I ALWAYS LOVED GOING TO BASEBALL GAMES WITH MY DAD. 
          SOME OF THE BEST MEMORIES I HAD AS A CHILD WAS GOING TO A TWINS GAME, GETTING A HOT DOG AND PEANUTS AND TRYING TO CATCH A FLY BALL. RECENTLY WHEN MY FRIENDS TOLD ME ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY A BASEBALL STADIUM WILL BE BUILT IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO AND HEARING THE IDEA BRINGS BACK ALL THE MEMORIES I HAD AS A CHILD. AS A STUDENT ATHLETE WITH FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST BASEBALL. IT'S ABOUT BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. IT'S ABOUT SHOWING THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO -- SHOWING THE STUDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO WHAT THIS CITY HAS TO OFFER. 
          AS I SAID, I'M A STUDENT ATHLETE AND AT TIMES MY SCHEDULE ISN'T THE MOST FLEXIBLE. I CAN'T WORK A REGULAR JOB BECAUSE I HAVE MANY THINGS I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. SO BASEBALL GAMES, IN MY OPINION, ARE AN AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THAT. I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO SPEND ON SPURS GAMES AND OTHER COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES SO TO WRAP IT UP, I BELIEVE THAT THIS STADIUM WOULD BRING A STRONG INCENTIVE FOR STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF TO STAY IN SAN ANTONIO POST-GRADUATION AS IT OFFERS 
          [02:00:01]
A PLETHORA OF VARIOUS THINGS FOR US TO DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. 
          PATRICK STOLEMEYER. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DANIEL ZAMORA. 
          >> I HAVE CHRIS WHO COULDN'T TOM AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HIS -- COME AND I WOULD LIKE 
          TO TAKE HIS TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF CHRIS IS HERE, HE COULD CEDE 
          HIS TIME. >> HE'S NOT HERE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU 
          HAVE TWO MINUTES. >> THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I HAVE QUESTIONS ON ON THE FINANCING. ONE OF THOSE IS HOW MANY YEARS IS THE TIRZ DEDICATED FOR THIS PROJECT. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TIRZ IS ALLOCATED TO THE STADIUM. AND I'VE GOT SOME REASONS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. FIRST THING, ON THE WELCOME BACK STADIUM, I DID RESEARCH --L STADIUM, I DID RESEARCH HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST FOR A TOP TIER DOUBLE A STADIUM. 
          COLUMBUS, GEORGIA'S BASEBALL PARK IS GOING TO BE RENOVATED, IT'S 98 YEARS OLD, BY POPULACE, THE TOP STADIUM ARCHITECT IN THE WORLD. 
          MANY OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS STADIUM ARE RIGHT OUT OF THE PRESS RELEASE FROM THE STADIUM IN GEORGIA, WHICH IS GOING TO HOUSE THE -- I BELIEVE IT'S THE ATLANTA BRAVES DOUBLE A. IF YOU LOOK AT THE RENDITIONS, THEY ARE BRILLIANT. HAVE EVERYTHING, COMPLIES WITH MAJOR LEAGUE. 
          IT'S LUXURY AND IT'S $50 MILLION. NOW I'M GOING TO MOVE ON QUICKLY TO THE REASONS WHY I'VE GOT CONCERNS. I'M PRESIDENT AND CEO OF STOLEMEYER HOLDINGS. OUR FAMILY HAS A HIGH PEDIGREE FROM M.I.T. 
          SINCE 2005 WE'VE BEEN BRINGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESSES TO SAN ANTONIO. 2005 WE BROUGHT THE TOP-RATED UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD FOR THE LAST CONSECUTIVE YEARS TO SAN ANTONIO. 
          AN AGREEMENT MY FAMILY CREATED, COOPERATE I HAVE, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT. 
          YOU VERY MUCH. >> DON'T I GET TWO MORE MINUTES? 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NO, SIR. CHRIS HAS TO BE HERE TO CEDE TIME. WE CAN GET IT TO COUNCIL IN WRITING. 
          YOU CAN GET IT TO OUR CLERK. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. DANIEL ZAMORA. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY 
          JENNA SAUCE SAID DOUGH. >> I'M A RETIRED SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICER. 
          I RETIRED IN 2021. AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH AND HONORED TO DURING MY TIME WITH THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT OR AT LEAST ABOUT THE LAST 20 YEARS TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF ABOUT THE PAL PROGRAM. IT WAS AN OUTREACH TO INNERCITY CHILDREN THROUGH SPORTS PROGRAMS, PRIMARILY THROUGH SPORTS PROGRAMS, AND I HAD THE FORTUNE OF HAVING THE TOTAL SUPPORT OF CHIEF CHIEF MCMANUS BECAUSE HE GREW UP AS A PAL KID MUCH I WAS ALSO VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE VERY GOOD PARTNERSHIPS AND ONE OF THE SHIPS IECC HAD TO INNERCITY CHILDREN -- WAS WITH A THE MISSIONS BASEBALL ORGANIZATION. 
          WE RAN THE ROOKIE BASEBALL LEAGUE THROUGH THE MISSIONS ORGANIZATION. 
          THEY PAID FOR EVERY SINGLE EXPENSE EVERY YEAR. WE DID THAT OVER THE LAST CLOSE TO 30 YEARS. THAT'S WHAT IT'S BEEN. AND IT WAS AN EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP WE HAD. THEY WOULD PROVIDE ALL THE MONEY, WE WOULD BUY ALL THE KIDS THEIR UNIFORMS. WE WOULD BUY THEM WHATEVER THEY NEEDED FOR THE GAMES, THEIR WATER, ANYTHING THAT THEY NEEDED. AND IT WAS AN EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAD WITH BURRELL YARBROUGH. ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THE MISSIONS WOULD DO, WHATEVER OUR GAME SITES WERE, THEY WOULD BRING OUT A LOT OF THEIR BALL PLAYERS AND THE BALL PLAYERS GOT TO INTERACT WITH ALL THE KIDS AND THAT WAS A DREAM FOR A LOT OF THESE KIDS. THE MISSIONS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR CLOSE TO 30 YEARS NOW. AND I HAVE TOTAL SUPPORT FOR THE OF A NEW STADIUM BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WOULD CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE. 
          [02:05:04]
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JENNA 
          HERRERA, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY -- >> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHER BASEBALL STADIUM. I AM PROUD AS A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN AND OUR REGION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADER THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ON SOMETHING THAT IS SO SIGNIFICANT FOR SAN ANTONIO AND HUMBLY I JUST THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR -THINKING BIG AND THINKING FORWARD. WE ARE AT A CRITICAL POINT IN THE ECONOMIC TRAJECTORY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THESE TYPES OF DECISIONS WILL INFORM FOR DECADES TO COME. THIS PROJECT WILL INJECT A WHOLE LOT MORE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAN THE BILLION DOLLARS THAT'S BEEN QUOTED. THIS WILL CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL GENERATIONS. IN MY LINE OF WORK I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SELLING SAN ANTONIO TO CEOS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND WE KNOW THERE ARE ONLY TWO THINGS THAT MATTER IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURSUITS. 
          IT'S OUR PEOPLE AND OUR PLACE. THIS CITY COUNCIL AND OUR CITY LEADERSHIP CONTINUE TO INVEST BOLDLY IN OUR PEOPLE THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE READY TO WORK AND IN OUR PLACE THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT EXPANSION, WHICH BY THE WAY DON'T SLEEP ON THAT AGENDA ITEM YOU APPROVED BECAUSE THOSE REVENUES FROM LEASE AGREEMENTS WILL FULLY FUND OUR AIRPORT EXPANSION PLANS. 
          NOW, WITH THESE BIG INVESTMENTS IN PEOPLE AND PLACE, OUR PRIVATE BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE STEPPED UP EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO ENGAGE WITH READY TO WORK, HIRE PARTICIPANTS, FUND ALAMO AND BOLD PROMISE INITIATIVES AND ALSO TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT AIR SERVICE EXPANSION. THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE ONE TEAM. WE ARE ONE COMMUNITY. WE ARE ONE SATX. 
          THIS PRIVATE PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY IS NO DIFFERENT. IT'S AN INVESTMENT THAT TIES BACK TO BROADER ECONOMIC MOBILITY STRATEGY. RESIDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE A VIBRANT URBAN CORE. I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THIS GROUP OF OWNERS WHO ARE STAYED THE COURSE, I KNOW THEM AND THEY ARE PEOPLE OF CHARACTER COMMITTING TO BUILDING A BETTER SAN ANTONIO FOR YOU, ME AND 
          OUR FAMILIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. 
          ALAN GONZALES. MR. GONZALES, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID MCGEE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, NEIGHBOR, MAYOR, NEIGHBORS OF MINE AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND FIRST TIME SPEAKING UP HERE SO INCREDIBLE DAY SO FAR. HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND THANKS FOR HONORING THAT. MARIACHIS WERE BEAUTIFUL. WE BUILD MULTI-FAMILY. 
          WE'RE A LOCAL SAN ANTONIO BUILDER, BEEN HERE 33 YEARS. WE BUILT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND ALL OVER TEXAS, BUT WE WORK WITH DEVELOPERS AND WE FOCUS ON LOW-INCOME, WE FOCUS ON WORKFORCE, WE FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE FOCUS ON MARKET RATES AND JUST BASICALLY PROVIDING MULTI-FAMILY LIVING OPPORTUNITIES. 
          ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'M SECOND GENERATION SAN ANTONIAN, MY DAD WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE. I GRADUATED FROM CHURCHILL HIGH SCHOOL. 
          WHEN MY DAD WAS IN SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, GOING PAST LOOP 410, THAT WAS LIKE GOING TO THE BOONDOCKS. DIRT READS. WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, DEVELOPMENTS OF THE QUARRY, THE PEARL. AND AFTER MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL UP NORTH, WE DECIDED TO MOVE DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO AND A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE LOOKING FOR REASONS TO MOVE DOWN HERE. NOW, I CAN WALK HERE FROM MY HOUSE. 
          I CAN WALK FROM MY HOME. DOWNTOWN IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. 
          SOME EXPERIENCES AND MEMORIES OF ME GROWING UP ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO OTHER CITIES BECAUSE THEY HAD SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES. 
          JUST RECENTLY WITH MY SON IN SEATTLE, SAN DIEGO, DENVER, THESE ARE MAJOR CITIES THAT WE CAN LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION IN LEADERSHIP. AND I'M CERTAINLY A HUGE FAN OF BASEBALL AND A FAN OF WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING HERE SO THANK YOU. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GONZALES. DAVID MCGEE. 
          YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DERRICK BASEY. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER. I'M CEO OF AMIGJ BANK IN SAN ANTONIO. I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE IN FAVOR OF IT. THE INVESTORS, THE OWNERS OF THE TEAM, THESE ARE ICONIC MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE 
          [02:10:05]
US WHO HAVE SET EXAMPLESS OF SERVANTHOOD AND SACRIFICE AND LEADERSHIP. 
          IF MANY WAYS THE PROMINENCE SAN ANTONIO HAS ACHIEVED HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTABLE TO THESE LEADERS. NO QUESTION ABOUT THEIR HEART FOR SAN ANTONIO. 
          ON THE DEVELOPER, THIS ISN'T SOME DEVELOPER FROM OUT OF OUT OF TOWN THAT WE DON'T KNOW FROM LOS ANGELES OR HOUSTON OR DALLAS, IT'S PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW. 
          AND THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A HUGE CARE FACTOR FOR DOWNTOWN AND THEY'VE PROVEN THAT. BUT I'M A BANKER AND I HAVE THE REMIND YOU THEY ARE BEARING THE FULL FINANCIAL RISK FOR THIS AND IT'S AN ENORMOUS TRANSACTION. 
          ON MORE OF A SELFISH NOTE, WE TALKED ABOUT THESE AMENITIES BEING A WAY TO ATTRACT TALENT AND RETAIN TOP TALENT TO SAN ANTONIO. IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, I RECENTLY ANNOUNCED WE ARE MOVING THE CENTRAL TEXAS HEADQUARTERS OF THE BANK TO DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. THESE ARE THE -- [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THE POSITIVE CHANGE THAT GOES FORWARD IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO AND WE THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND SHOW LEADERSHIP BY OUR HUGE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO DOWNTOWN. AND SO IT WILL REALLY HELP US AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO REALLY ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT IN SAN ANTONIO. OKAY, SO AS COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT HAVE I MISSED. IF YOU HAVE MISSED SOMETHING, IT'S GOING THE TAKE 15 TO 20 BANKS TO DO THIS PROJECT AND THEY ARE 
          NOT GOING TO MISS ANYTHING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MCGEE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DERRICK BASEY. 
          YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TAYLOR AMY. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, DERRICK BASEY, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY AND HEAD OF THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR SAN~PEDRO CREEK. 
          ALONGSIDE THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE CELEBRATED THE GRAND OPENING OF THE CULTURE PARK LOCATED IN THIS HISTORICALLY WESTERN CORNER OF DOWNTOWN AND THE BIRTH PLACE OF SAN ANTONIO. THE CULTURE PARK SYMBOLIZESS TRANSFORMATION, HAVING CONVERTED A CONCRETE DRAINAGE DITCH INTO A VIBRANT CULTURAL SPACE THAT DIVERSITY. AS THE AGENCY SPECIAL FOR THE OPERATIONS, -- RESPONSIBLE, THE RIVER AUTHORITY HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THE STADIUM ON THE BANKS OF THE CREEK. OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, THE CREEK HAS LED TO SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS UTSA'S EXPANSION, THE FROST TOWER AND THE NEW FEDERAL COURTHOUSE. PARTNERING HAS BEEN KEY TO THIS SUCCESS. 
          THE RIVER AUTHORITY WELCOMES THE OPPORTUNITY THAT A PROPOSED BALLPARK AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COULD FURTHER BRING TO THE CULTURE PARK, CONTINUING THE TRANSFORMATION THAT BEGAN SIX YEARS BY LOCALS AND VISITORS. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS AND THE OWNERSHIP GROUP TO ENSURE THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS THAT PRIORITIZE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, WATER QUALITY AND TRASH MITIGATION THAT PROTECT THE COMMUNITY'S PRIOR INVESTMENTS AND THE CREEK'S HEALTH AND CLEANLINESS. COOPERATION SUCH AS THIS UNDERSCORES SAN ANTONIO'S COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BASE. DR. TAYLOR AMY, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A GROUP. WE HAVE FATHER JIMMY, MIKE PHILLIPS AND TAMARA 
          BENAVIDES. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ON BEHALF OF UTSA AND PRESIDENT OF THAT WONDERFUL INSTITUTION, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS. 
          IT REMINDS ME OF THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE HAD IN INVESTING IN UTSA'S GROWING PRESENCE DOWNTOWN. WE ARE ALL IN ON DOWNTOWN. 
          WHY ARE WE ALL IN ON DOWNTOWN? IT'S FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR EFFORTS AROUND DRIVING WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT TO US AND TO ME FOR THREE REALLY IMPORTANT REASONS. 
          ONE, OUR BASEBALL PROGRAM IS RESURGENT AND COACH HALLMARK HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF MAKING US RELEVANT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE TOURNAMENTS, PLAY SOME OF OUR REGULAR SEASON GAMES AND TO HOST NCAA REGIONAL GAMES IN THIS STADIUM WOULD BE MARVELOUS FOR OUR PROGRAM. THAT'S A HOME RUN FOR US, NO 
          [02:15:03]
PUN INTENDED. NO ONE LAUGHED. [LAUGHTER] IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE DEEPLY INVESTING IN DOWNTOWN AND THIS STADIUM WOULD BE ADJACENT TO OUR SOUTHWEST CAMPUS. YOU KNOW WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PURCHASING ONE RIVERWALK PLACE. WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PLACEMAKING, HAVING THE STADIUM NEXT DOOR TO THAT IS CRITICAL TO OUR PLACEMAKING EFFORTS. FINALLY, YOU ■ALL KNOWTHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AND OPEN UP OUR NEW COLLEGE OF AI COMPUTING, DATA AND CYBERSECURITY IN JANUARY OF '26, WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING 6,000 STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF DOWNTOWN WHO ARE GOING TO BE RESIDING DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THE HOUSING SIDE. I GO BACK TO MY DAYS AS A COLLEGE STUDENT IN BOSTON, IF YOU WERE TO GO TO FENWAY PARK IN MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST, ALMOST HALF THE STADIUM WAS FILLED WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS. THE ABILITY TO PLACEMAKE FOR THE STUDENTS WE'RE BRINGING DOWNTOWN TO LIVE DOWNTOWN WILL BE PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED. 
          THANK YOU AND PLEASE SUPPORT THIS. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. ON THE NAMES OF THE GROUP, WE HAVE FATHER JIMMY AND MIKE PHILLIPS AND START BLANTON. 
          YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM STEWART BLANTON, GREATER JOY CHURCH OF GOT AND CHRIST ON THE WEST SIDE. COPSCOPS/METRO IS NOT OPPOSED TO THE MISSIONS STADIUM AND/OR GROWTH IN SAN ANTONIO BUT NOT AS THE EXPENSE OF THE BENEFITS IS IN THE MOU. WE MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND OWNERS OF THE MISSIONS BASEBALL TEAM AND DEVELOPERS TO DISCUSS OUR FIVE PARAMETERS FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS. THESE ITEMS WERE PRESENTED IN THAT LAST COUNCIL MEETING TO IDENTIFY WHAT WE MUST HAVE IN THAT MOU INCLUDING THE 2500 MOVING ALLOWANCE TO ENSURE THAT THE SOAP FACTORY RESIDENTS ARE MADE WHOLE AND ALL PROJECT DECISIONS ARE PRESENTED OPENLY. AND THERE MUST BE AN INDEPENDENT OMBUDSMAN THAT MONITORS HOW THE RESIDENTS ARE BEING RELOCATED TO ENSURE NO ONE FALLS BETWEEN THE CRACKS. TODAY'S VOTE WILL APPROVE THE MOU, BUT COPS/METRO WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH EAST OF THE PHASES OF PROJECT AND HOLD THE CITY AND DEVELOPER TO THE PLAN WE AGREE ON. THANK YOU. 
          >> MIKE PHILLIPS, COPS/METRO LEADER. COPS/METRO IS PROUD TO CLAIM VICTORY FOR OUR COMMUNITY ENSURING COMMUNITY BENEFITS ARE NOW PART OF THE TAX-FUNDED DOWNTOWN MISSION STADIUM PROJECT HUSBAND CREATING A FAIR DEAL -- THUS CREATING A FAIR DEAL INSTITUTIONAL LEADERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS. 
          AT THE AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING, COPS/METRO LEADERS PUT FORWARD A LIST OF BENEFITS, COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE WANTED TO BE PART OF THIS DEAL AND ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE LED TO OUR DEMANDS BEING REFLECTED IN THE MOU WHICH WILL BE VOTED ON TODAY. 
          THESE INCLUDE A COMMITMENT TO ASSIST SOAP FACTORY RESIDENTS WITH FREE LOCATION SUPPORT TO DEVELOPER-OWNED APARTMENT COMPLEX OR OPTION OF THEIR CHOOSING. 
          A PROVISION OF 2500 TO COMPENSATE FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES RELATED TO LEE LOCATION AND ASSURANCE THE CITY MANAGER WILL REPORT ON THE RELOCATION PROCESS REGULARLY. THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CITY REQUIREMENTS REGARDING LIVING WAGES FOR WORKERS AT THE STADIUM COMPLEX. 
          >> FATHER JIMMY DRENNAN, PASTOR OF ST. MARGARET MARY WITH COPS/METRO ALLIANCE. 
          I WANT TO STATE ONE MORE TIME THAT COPS/METRO ALLIANCE IS IN FAVOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WE ARE ALSO FANS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE MISSIONS. SO WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT. 
          BUT WE ALSO WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITIZENRY OF SAN ANTONIO, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERED IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE HERE AS MEMBERS OF COPS/METRO ALLIANCE REPRESENTING EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF 
          [02:20:01]
SAN ANTONIO AND OUR ORGANIZATION IS -- HAS DEEP ROOTS HERE AND WILL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I COME TO YOU JUST A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER VISITING WITH HIS HOLYNESS APPROPRIATE FRANCIS. 
          I WAS INVITED AND MET WITH POPE FRANCIS WHERE HE REMINDED US THAT THE WORK WE ARE ABOUT IS TO MAKE SURE THOSE WHO ARE SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT AND ON THE PERIPHERY OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE ALWAYS CONSIDERED AS ESSENTIAL AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS EXPERIENCE, WE ARE KEENLY AWARE THAT DOORS WERE OPENED, CONFERENCE ROOMS WERE MADE AVAILABLE, AND SEATS WERE PLACED AT THE TABLE FOR BILLIONAIRES, MILLIONAIRES AND DEVELOPERS. 
          WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING SO QUICKLY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO INVITE THE RESIDENTS, COPS/METRO ALLIANCE AND THE CITIZENS TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS. 
          I WANT US ALL TO BE AWARE THAT FOR 12 YEARS NOW WE HAVE BEEN VERY AWARE THIS HAS BEEN UNFOLDING. IN AN ARTICLE IN THE "EXPRESS NEWS" DATED THE 17TH OF DECEMBER IN THE YEAR 2012, EVERY SINGLE PLAYER THAT IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN THIS PROPOSAL AND EVERY LOCATION WAS NOTED. 
          WE WERE FULLY AWARE THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING AND IT WAS BROUGHT AGAIN TO US TWO YEARS AGO. WE ARE KEENLY AWARE THAT ALL OF US NEED TO BE INVITED TO THAT TABLE AND WE WILL ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN THAT. 
          THE CITIZENRY OF SAN ANTONIO NEEDS TO BE TREATED IN THE SAME WAY THE DEVELOPERS AND BILLIONAIRES AND MILLIONAIRES ARE TREATED IN THIS COMMUNITY. 
          WE HAVE BEEN -- [APPLAUSE] -- FOR 50 YEARS THE CONSCIENCE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. YOU REMEMBER OUR HISTORY. 
          THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ALLOWED. THERE WAS NOT EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          JUST WAGES WERE OVERLOOKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. COPS AND METRO ALIGNS HAVE WORKED -- ALLIANCE HAVE WORKED TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE THE HALLMARKS THAT WILL MAKE SAN ANTONIO GREAT. IT WILL NOT BE IN BUILDINGS, HIGHRISES, IT WILL BE IN HOW WE TREAT OUR PEOPLE. 
          THE UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS FOR THE SPURS ARENA AND WE WANT TO HAVE THE FIRST SEATS AT 
          THAT TABLE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] FATHER JIMMY, STEWART AND MIKE. NEXT WE HAVE JOHN BOCAMP. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY 
          LAUREN SHARP. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. 
          I WILL BE BRIEF. I'M JOHN BEACHAM, I'M ALSO THE CURRENT SHARE OF CENTRO PARTNERSHIP. I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THIS PROJECT AND I WANT TO COMMEND NOT ONLY THE MISSIONS OWNERSHIP BUT THE DEVELOPMENT GROUP AND THE CITY FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SUCH A CREATIVE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE THAT SHOULD WORK FOR ALL. MY MESSAGE IS THIS. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT NOW FOR OVER 25 YEARS. IT IS HARD. 
          AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND MAKING CHANGES TO DOWNTOWN ONE PROJECT AT A TIME VERY, VERY DIFFICULT, VERY, VERY CHALLENGING. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU GET THAT RARE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT'S STRATEGIC AND TAKES US TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE VERY, VERY RARE OPPORTUNITIES. 
          I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE IT. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BEACHAM. LAUREN SHARP. PETE PEÑA. 
          MR. PEÑA, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANDY TIDWELL. >> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I JUST COME TO YOU AS A LIFE-LONG RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 1, SPECIFICALLY FIVE POINTS. WE WILL BE THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH OF THE STADIUM. LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE. 
          ABOUT 600 STEPS FROM THE FIRST PROPERTY LINE OF THE STADIUM. 
          I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THE STADIUM AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF IT. 
          THE MISSIONS HAVE A LIFE-LONG HISTORY HERE. GROWING UP I FOLLOWED WHEN THEY WERE THE DODGERS PLAYING AT ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY. 
          [02:25:01]
I REMEMBER SEEING EARL, MIKE PIAZZA AND FERNANDO VENEZUELA PLAY HERE. 
          THE MISSIONS HAVE BEEN A DOOR STEP OR A CAREER STARTER FOR MANY MLB PLAYERS AND I HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY, ESPECIALLY IN DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. PEÑA. 
          ANDY TIDWELL. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DEVON ELDER. 
          >> HELLO. I'M A 19-YEAR RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ALREADY. I DON'T NEED TO REPEAT OF THE BENEFITS COMING, THE ARENA BEING RELOCATED TO DOWNTOWN, OF ALL THE ADDITIONAL HOTEL, RESTAURANTS THAT WILL BRING. NOT ONLY WILL ALSO I WANT TO POINT OUT BE A CENTRAL LOCATION AND NOT WHERE ALL THE METROPLEX CAN GET TO IT VERY EASILY. 
          I'M A NORTH RESIDENT, BUT WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF DOWNTOWN. 
          WE FREQUENT DOWNTOWN QUITE A BIT BECAUSE THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN. 
          IT'S A TOURIST ATTRACTION TOWN AND THAT'S ANOTHER ADDITION, A BALLPARK. 
          IT WILL BRING A LOT OF TOURISTS. MOST PEOPLE STAY MORE THAN ONE NIGHT SO THERE'S ADDITIONAL REASON, LET'S STAY AROUND AND WATCH A BALL GAME. 
          STAYED NEXT TO IT, WITNESSED IT, A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. THE TOE TELLS, THE RESTAURANTS. BEEN -- HOTELS, RESTAURANTS. AMARILLO, THEY HAVE A BALLPARK DOWNTOWN BRINGS PEOPLE IN, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS. 
          THE BENEFITS IS UNBELIEVABLE. I DON'T NEED TO REPEAT ALL THAT'S ALREADY HEARD. ONE GENTLEMAN STOLE MY LINE, IT'S A HOME RUN FOR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND I SUPPORT IT TOTALLY 100%. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. 
          DEVON ELDER. MR. ELDER, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN PATUSA. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL AND NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. 
          I AM THE CEO OF DEA TEXAS MANAGEMENT ROOM. BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO. MY FIRST JOB WAS AT RACKSPACE AND HE WANT -- AND I WANT TO THANK GRAHAM. TODAY WE MANAGE HOUSING FOR ABOUT 5,000 RESIDENTS. 
          WE'RE HEADQUARTERED ACROSS THE STREET IN A VACANT BUILDING WE MADE OUR HEADQUARTERS. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OTHER PROJECTS DOWNTOWN CREATING MORE HOUSING DOWNTOWN, HOSPITALITY CONCEPTS AND SOME OTHER BUSINESSES DOWN HERE. SO WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE THE PROGRESS HERE ON THIS NEW STADIUM AND WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING 
          IT COME TO FRUITION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ELDER. JOHN PANTUSA. FOLLOWED BY ALI GUERRA. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY. 
          MY NAME IS JOHN PANTUSA, PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN SOCIETY IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH AS YOU MAY KNOW IS RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY THAT IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED. I WANT TO BRING A LITTLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE TO YOU. THAT AREA DOWN THERE WAS LITTLE ITALY, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DID NOT KNOW. IT WAS THE ORIGINAL LITTLE ITALY. 
          ALL OF MY FAMILY, MY ANCESTORS GREW UP, CAME HERE FROM THE OLD COUNTRY, GREW UP IN THAT AREA. AND ALL THAT'S LEFT RIGHT NOW AFTER WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER URBAN RENEWAL IN 1970S PROMISED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          ALL THAT'S LEFT RIGHT NOW IS SOME MULTI-FAMILY UNITS AND MOSTLY PARKING LOTS. 
          MY FATHER AND THE REST OF THE ITALIANS GREW UP PLAYING IN THAT AREA AND THEY WOULD BE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO KNOW OF THIS REVITALIZATION. AND ON BEHALF OF THEM, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BASEBALL BACK TO THE AREA. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. ALI GUERRERO, FOLLOWED BY JJ 
          JIMENEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. 
          I AM ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR GREATER HELOTES LEAGUE. 
          I AM -- I HAVE BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING SINCE 2011 AND I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS SINCE THAT TIME. GREATER HELOTES LITTLE LEAGUE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE THREE TOP LITTLE LEAGUES IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          IN THE SPRING WE TYPICALLY HAVE LIKE 1100 CHILDREN THAT PLAY AT OUR LITTLE LEAGUE. 
          WE'RE LOCATED FAR NORTHWEST BEXAR COUNTY AND WE ARE A 100% VOLUNTEER AND A 100% 
          [02:30:06]
SELF-FUNDED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. WE GET NO HELP FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OR CITY OF HELOTES OR BEXAR COUNTY. WE RELY SOLELY ON DONATIONS, SPONSORSHIPS AND CONCESSION STANDS FOR INCOME. MICKEY HOLT CAME TO ME WITH A NEW IDEA ABOUT A FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY. WE WERE TO SELL TICKETS TO ONE SPECIFIC NIGHT SET ASIDE FOR GREATER HELOTES LITTLE LEAGUE AND WE WOULD GET HALF THE PROCEEDS. THE MISSIONS WOULD GET HALF THE PROCEEDS, BUT TECHNICALLY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ACTUALLY GOT A DOLLAR OFF FROM EACH TICKED WE SOLD. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE KIDS. 
          THEY HAVE A KIDS CLINIC PRIOR TO EACH GAME. ALL OF THE PLAYERS COME OUT ON TO TO FIELD AND HELP THE KIDS LEARN ABOUT FIELDING AND BATTING AND PITCHING. 
          IT'S AMAZING. THE KIDS LOVE IT. WE ALSO HAVE LIKE A COMPETITION IN BETWEEN WHERE ALL THE KIDS LIKE TRY TO SELL THE MOST TICKETS, TOP SELLER GETS TO THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH. IT'S AWESOME FOR THESE KIDS. 
          THEY ALSO -- THE TOP TEAM GETS TO RUN OUT DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. 
          IF WE SOLD X AMOUNT OF TICKETS DURING THIS PILOT PROGRAM IN 2017, THEY WOULD DO A FIELD MAKEOVER. THEY WOULD ALL TAKE CARE OF THAT. 
          IT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO OUR LITTLE LEAGUE. NECESSITATED LESS TO SAY, EVERY SINCE -- NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE'VE RAISED OVER $115,000 WITH THE MISSIONS. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. JJ JIMENEZ. 
          YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DEMASO ALEDO. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. I'M DIRECTOR OF TICKET SALES WITH THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS BASEBALL TEAM. I LOVE THIS CITY AND I LOVE THIS BALL CLUB. 
          I GREW UP IN SAN ANTONIO AND WENT TO MADISON HIGH SCHOOL. PLAYED SOFTBALL AND RECEIVED BOTH MY BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S AT UAW. I BEGAN MY CAREER WITH THE MISSIONS IN 2014. I KNEW THE ORGANIZATION WAS WHERE I WANTED TO BE. 
          I FOUGHT FOR AN INTERNSHIP AND RECEIVED THAT IN 016. SINCE -- 2016. 
          I HAVE WORKED AND GROWN INTO MY POSITION WITH THE TEAM TODAY. 
          I BELIEVE CREATING UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES FOR ALL FANS. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER. STRANGERS WALK INTO A GAME AND LEAVES AS FRIENDS. 
          PARENTS GROW CLOSER TO THEIR CHILDREN. COMPANIES BUILD STRONGER BONDS WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES AND CHARITIES ARE ABLE TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR RESPECTIVE CAUSES. SPORT IS EVERYTHING TO ME. THIS TEAM MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. PLAYING SPORTS IS WHERE I LEARNED INTEGRAL LIFE SKILLS. COACHING GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE GAME THAT GAVE ME SO MUCH, BRAKE BARRIERS AND BUILD UP THOSE AROUND ME. 
          THIS NEW BALLPARK IS NOT JUST A BUILDING, IT IS THE PLATFORM FOR UNITY TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS BALLPARK IS A PILLAR OF RESTAURANT AND A BEACON OF HOPE FOR SAN ANTONIO. IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THE POWER OF SPORT FOR GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE TO PROVIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY, OUR FANS AND ALL OF OUR BUSINESS AND CHARITABLE PARTNERS, A NEW HOME, A NEW BALLPARK IS ESSENTIAL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. JIMENEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DR. ALEDO JR., A LOCAL PSYCHIATRIST WHO HAS BEEN TREATING PATIENTS SINCE 1996. I OWN AND OPERATE MY MEDICAL PRACTICE IN ONE OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS OF THE ALAMARE. 
          AND RIGHT OFF WEST HOUSTON. I HAVE VESTED INTEREST IN THIS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY. AS A PART OF THIS IMPROVEMENT, I WOULD FULLY BE AWARE THAT I AM SUBJECT TO CURRENT TAXES AND BE LEVIED IN THE AREA DOWNTOWN AND WEST HOUSTON STREET. ALONG WITH THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS AREA, I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THOSE PLANS FOR THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN OUR DOWNTOWN. AND WILL WILLINGLY PAY THE TAXES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE WILL BENEFIT FROM. THIS VALUE WHAT GIVES IT TO 
          [02:35:04]
MY BUILDING AND TO THE HISTORICAL MEDIA BUILDING. THE PLANS WILL BRING NEW LIFE AND BUSINESS TO THE AREA. IT WILL ELEVATE THIS AREA OF DOWNTOWN AND ELEVATE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A WHOLE. 
          A LOCAL MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT ON THIS HOUSTON STREET DEVELOPMENT AND THE EXPANSION OF THE SAN~PEDRO CREEK RIVERWALK. THE FACT THAT THE RIVER NOW REACHES THIS AREA MEANS FURTHER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT TO THIS AREA. 
          THE MISSIONS HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR CITY AND THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO INTERTWINED SINCE 1888. THIS HAS BEEN A PLACE MY FAMILY HAS BEEN AND GROWN UP SINCE I'VE BEEN A MISSIONS SEASON TICKET HOLDER SINCE 1994 AT THIS STADIUM AND IN SAN ANTONIO AS A FAMILY SINCE 1972. 
          SO MY KIDS HAVE CHASED THE PUFFY TACO, RUN THE BASES, THEY'VE BEEN THERE AND THEY WOULD LOVE FOR YOU GUYS TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. 
          HEATHER O'NEILL. HEATHER O'NEILL. JOHN CARLO LUERA. 
          MARK LEDFORD. I'M SORRY, YOU ARE HEATHER O'NEILL? IS JOHN CARLO LUERA HERE? OKAY, MS. O'NEILL, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MARK LEDFORD. 
          >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS HEATHER O'NEILL AND I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. CALLED SWEAT EQUITY AND FRED'S SAUNA. I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THIS PROPOSAL. 
          AS OF NOW, THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS BASEBALL FIELD IS POSITIONED TOO FAR AWAY TO DRAW IN THE LARGE CROWDS IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DUE TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION. 
          THE ATTENDANCE RATE IS TOO LOW AND JUST KEEPS GETTING -- IS TOO LOW TO JUSTIFY KEEPING THE BASEBALL FIELD WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS. BY MOVING THE MISSIONS DOWNTOWN, IT WILL DRAW PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE CITY TO OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY BRINGING MORE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMMERCE TO THE ALREADY EXISTING AND NEW BUSINESSES TO THE DOWNTOWN AND SOUTH TOWN AREA THAT ARE NEEDED -- THAT IS NEEDED AND MORE DESERVED FOR EXPOSURE. THIS GIVES FROM ALL CORNERS OF SAN ANTONIO YET ANOTHER REASON TO COME TO OUR WONDERFUL DOWNTOWN WITH AN AFFORDABLE OPTION TO ATTEND A FAMILY FUN SPORTING EVENT IN CENTRALIZED AREA OF SAN ANTONIO. WE NEED TO EVOLVE AS A MAJOR U.S. CITY AND THIS WOULD BE A GREAT STEP FORWARD. CHANGE IS HARD AND GROWTH TAKES TIME AND CREATIVITY TO NAVIGATE. TRUST ME, I KNOW, I OPENED MY BUSINESS FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. BUT IN TIME, I BELIEVE WE WILL SEE THIS AS A POSITIVE AND LUCRATIVE DECISION THAT WILL DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND BEAUTIFUL HOUSING TO OUR 
          DOWNTOWN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. 
          MARK LEDFORD, FOLLOWED BY JEFF WEBSTER. >> HOW IS EVERYONE DOING TODAY? I'VE BEEN A SEASON TICKET HOLDER OF THE MISSIONS FOR 14 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF OTHER STADIUMS AROUND THE STATE AND EVERYTHING WHERE THEY HAVE THE BASEBALL STADIUMS DOWNTOWN. 
          THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THERE AND THEY ALL LOVE IT. 
          THEY SAY PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE DOWN THERE JUST BECAUSE THE STADIUM IS THERE. 
          THE MISSIONS HAVE BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE 1888. THAT'S 136 YEARS. 
          I HOPE Y'ALL DON'T -- I HOPE Y'ALL VOTE THIS THROUGH BECAUSE MIGHT DROP IT. SO I WANT THE MISSIONS TO BE AROUND FOR ANOTHER 136 YEARS AND IT'S UP TO Y'ALL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. LEDFORD. JEFF WEBSTER. 
          YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MARCO BAROS. >> MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY TO TALK. IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO ALL THE COMMENTS, THE RED CARDS, THE GREEN CARDS, THE CLAPPING. 
          I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KICK AROUND THIS BUILDING FOR OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS. 
          I'VE BEEN PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS THE LAST 30 YEARS ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH DOWNTOWN. HOUSING, INVESTMENT, EDUCATION. 
          WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A QUALITY OF LIFE AND ARGUED ABOUT IT 30 YEARS. 
          I HAD DIFFERENT COMMENTS, BUT AS I LISTENED TO THINGS, IT CAME TO MIND I AM SO 
          [02:40:04]
IMPRESSED THAT COUNCIL SAT DOWN AND TALKED TO THESE DEVELOPERS AND CAME UP WITH SOME ISSUES THAT WERE SERIOUS IS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED REGARDING HOUSING AND PEOPLE'S LIVES. THEY'VE DEALT WITH THE BANK COMING DOWNTOWN, THE ALAMO REDEVELOPMENT, UTSA'S INVESTMENT. WE ARE DOING WHAT WE SAID WE WANTED TO DO FOR 30 YEARS AND THAT'S INVEST IN DOWNTOWN. 
          IT DOESN'T COME WITHOUT DISRUPTION. AS WE REDO HIGHWAYS AROUND THIS CITY, I-10 AND 1604, 410 ON THE SOUTH, IT'S DISRELATIVE HUMIDITY I HAVE, BUT WE HAVE TO -- DISRUPTIVE BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. 
          I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER. WE JUST CELEBRATED OUR 130TH ANNIVERSARY. WE STARTED SHORTLY AFTER THE MISSIONS STARTED IN 1888. 
          WE STARTED IN 1894. WE WILL BE HERE FOR ANOTHER 130 YEARS. 
          WE WILL BE BACK IN THIS CHAMBER OR SOMEPLACE SIMILAR ARGUING OVER HOW WE DEVELOP OUR DOWNTOWN AND COMMUNITIES. BUT THE TRUTH IS WE'RE TAKING A REAL STEP FORWARD. WE'VE GOT A DEVELOPER WHO HAS MADE COMMITMENTS NOT TO BET ON THE COME, I'LL BUILD IT AND MAYBE THEY WILL COME, THEY ARE STEPPING UP AND MAKING INVESTMENT THAT INVESTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IN JOBS, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND SMALL BUSINESSES. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE MOU. 
          IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE HAVE ARGUED FOR 30 YEARS AND IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WEBSTER. MARCO BARROS FOLLOWED BY 
          MARK ANDERSON. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME IS MARCO BARROS. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE HEARD A LOT OF SUPPORT TODAY. 
          I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE OWNERS OF OVER 20 RESTAURANTS, THE RIVERWALK BUSINESS GROUP TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR ITEM NUMBER 5. LET'S PLAY BALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR 
          SUPPORT. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. MARK ANDERSON. MARK ANDERSON. 
          >> 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS STEFAN -- 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ARE YOU SIGNED UP? I'M. 
          >> I'M READING A LETTER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I NEED SOMEONE TO READ IT WHO HAS SIGNED UP. ARE YOU SIGNED UP? AN UNFORTUNATELY, NO. 
          MARK HAD TO GO AND I HAVE HIS LETTER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT TO COUNCIL, BUT IF YOU WANT TO READ IT ALLOWED, I NEED SOMEBODY TO OFFER STEFAN THEIR TIME. I CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON, BUT WE'LL TAKE THE 
          LETTER AND DISTRIBUTE IT TO COUNCIL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. 
          WE'LL GO NOW TO ANITA SCHAEFFER. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY 
          CHARLES WOODEN. >> I'LL TRY TO SPEAK QUICKLY AND NOT REPEAT. 
          I AM ALSO -- MY HUSBAND AND I ARE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS OF 11 YEARS. 
          MOVED TO DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO SPECIFICALLY. WE WANTED AN URBAN LIFESTYLE. WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT, AND IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING IT, IT'S A WIN-WIN HOME RUN. AND IT'S I WOULD SAY MORE ECONOMICAL THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT THINK. I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA. 
          IMAGINE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD YOU DRIVE PAST A LOT, OH, IF THEY WOULD ONLY PUT IN A GARDEN THERE OR, YOU KNOW, THIS NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP. WELL, I FEEL THAT WAY. 
          THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND, OF COURSE, IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US. 
          I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA. 
          STRONG LEADERSHIP, WESTON URBAN, I DON'T KNOW ANYONE PERSONALLY, THEY DON'T KNOW WHO I AM, HUGE FAN, I FOLLOW THEM. I KNOW WHAT PROPERTIES THEY ARE BUYING. I SNEAK THROUGH, I GET IN TROUBLE BECAUSE THERE'S STILL CONSTRUCTION GOING ON. I AM CURIOUS AND I'M AN EXPLORER. 
          THERE IS AN EXCITEMENT DOWNTOWN. PLEASE CONTINUE IT AND WITH UTSA MOVING IN, I WANT TO SEE LOTS OF STUDENTS, ENERGY, ACTIVITY. 
          [02:45:06]
AND CENTRO IS WITH IT WITH A GREAT LEADER. SO THINGS ARE HAPPENING DOWNTOWN. PASS THIS, YES, IT'S A GO. ALL RIGHT. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. 
          CHARLES WOODEN. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK EVERYBODY AGAIN TO KEEP THE AUDIENCE REACTION TO A MINIMUM. PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE HEARING THEIR NAMES CALLED. IF YOU DON'T HEAR IT, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON. 
          >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          I STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AS A CITIZEN OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS. 
          I'M ORIGINALLY FROM MICHIGAN. BORN AND RAISED NORTH OF DETROIT. FOR THE FIRST 19 YEARS OF MY LIFE, THE MAJORITY OF THAT WAS SPENT IN AND AROUND DETROIT WATCHING AS THOSE STADIUMS AND ARENAS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND NOT DIRECTLY IN DOWNTOWN HAVE THEIR OWN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GO AND PLAY. ONE THING YOU WOULD NOTICE WAS THAT DOWNTOWN WAS NOT REALLY DOING THE BEST OVER THAT 20-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME. OVER THE LAST 20-PLUS YEARS, YOU'VE SEEN STRONG INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY OF DETROIT TO MOVE ALL THOSE TEAMS AND STADIUMS TO DOWNTOWN AND NOW WHEN YOU VISIT, WHICH MY MOST RECENT VISIT WAS LAST YEAR, YOU CAN REALLY FEEL THE DIFFERENCE. AND I THINK IT IS IN -- IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO THAT MOVEMENT. AND I HIGHLY SUPPORT THIS MOVEMENT BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING TO DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. I AGREE, IT IS A HOME RUN. THANK YOU. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. 
          TAMARA BENAVIDES. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY >>  MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY. YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY LUIS RODRIGUEZ. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS TAMARA BENAVIDES. I'M THE FORMER CHAIRWOMAN OF THE LODGING ASSOCIATION. ON BEHALF OF OUR NEARLY 300 MEMBERS, REREPRESENT THE FACE OF HOSPITALITY TO MILLIONS OF VISITORS TO OUR GREAT CITY EVERY YEAR. WE WISH TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM. 
          THE MISSION IS TO PRESENT A UNIFIED VOICE ON ISSUES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN OUR COMMUNITY. HAVING A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM DOWNTOWN ALONG WITH A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT GROWTH AND SUCCESS BY ADDING TO THE VIBRANCY OF OUR CITY'S CORE AND GIVING LOCALS NEW OWNERSHIP OF THEIR DOWNTOWN AS LOVERS OF SPORTS. AS AN INDUSTRY THAT EMPLOYS ONE IN SEVEN SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND PAYS OUT OVER $4 BILLION ANNUALLY IN WAGES, ONE OF OUR BEST WAYS THE CITY CAN SUPPORT OUR HOSPITALITY WORKFORCE IS TO HAVE A STRONG DOWNTOWN WITH A VARIETY OF ATTRACTIONS, GREEN SPACES, AND EVENTS. THE STADIUM WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL VENUE DOWNTOWN THAT EXPANDS OUR PORTFOLIO OF CONVENTION AMENITIES, WHICH MAKES US MORE ATTRACTIVE AS A DESTINATION FOR CONVENTIONS AND GROUPS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE NEED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR THEIR MEETINGS AND EVENTS. 
          ADDITIONALLY, CREATING A BROADER CONVENTION DISTRICT GROWS THE WALKABLE FOOTPRINT OF OUR DOWNTOWN ALLOWING VISITORS TO FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO THE CITY AND INTRODUCING THEM TO PROJECTS LIKE SAN PEDRO CREEK THEY WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE NOT DISCOVERED ON THEIR OWN. 
          WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY, THE TEAM, AND THE DEVELOPER FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN FOR THIS BALLPARK THAT ALLOWS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM THIS ROUNDING DEVELOPMENT TO PAY FOR THE INVESTMENT. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED PROGRESS FOR OUR TRAVEL AND TOURISM COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BEN SEED 
          HE IS. LUIS RODRIGUEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO.  YOUR HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ESTABLISHED IN 1929 RIGHT NEAR SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN 800 MEMBERS ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. WE SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH BEXAR COUNTY DESIGNATED BIDDERS, LLC, FOR A PROPOSED DOWNTOWN MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM. AS SAN ANTONIO PREPARES FOR THIS MAJOR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, THIS PROJECT PRESENTS AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO ELEVATE OUR CITY BEYOND SPORTS. 
          [02:50:02]
IT OFFERS A PLATFORM TO SHOWCASE LOCAL CULINARY TALENT AND RETAIL BUSINESSES FOSTERING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE REQUIRE THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS BE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN TO ENSURE INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIFICALLY WE ADVOCATE FOR THE USE OF LOCAL PRIME CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS IN CASES WHERE PRIMARY VENDORS FOR DESIGN, ENGINEERING, OR CONSTRUCTION WILL NOT BASED IN BEXAR COUNTY, WE URGE LOCAL PARTNERS. FURTHERMORE, WE REQUEST OUTREACH PLANS TO IDENTIFY SMALL MINORITY VETERAN AND WOMEN OWNED BASES TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME PRIME AND SUBCONTRACTORS FOR THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN CORE. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW ADDITION TO DOWNTOWN'S CORE AND THE DEVELOPMENT'S IMPACT ON LOCAL BUSINESSES, INCLUSION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. 
          THE HISPANIC CHAMBER IS READY TO COLLABORATE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RECOMMENDATIONS AND BRING LOCAL MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES TO THE TABLE TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A SUCCESS. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. RODRIGUEZ. 
          ALISON COHEN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALISON COHEN, AND I'M THE MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WITH THE SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION. THE SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION IS A 501C6 ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING MORE THAN 240,000 HOUSING UNITS ACROSS SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED BASEBALL STADIUM AND SURROUNDING MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING APPROXIMATELY 1500 UNITS OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING INTO THE DOWNTOWN CORE. WE BELIEVE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOWNTOWN, AND THIS PROJECT WILL BE CATALYTIC IN THE AREA. WE ASK THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. COHEN. RARUSKA. 
          BROOKLYN RAMOS. MS. RAMOS, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES 
          BOCHER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BROOKLYN RAMOS.  I'M A RESIDENT, AND I'M A STUDENT AT THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT. 
          WE RECEIVED A PLAN PRESENTED TO US. THIS IS A PLAN THAT WAS COME UP FOR US. REFELT RUSHED AS IT GAVE US LESS THAN A DAY TO SPEAK IT OVER WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND NO TIME TO PROCESS IT. 
          MOST NOTABLY, THE RESIDENTS HAD NO SAY IN THE CREATION OF THIS PLAN. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT WE AS RESIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN IN A FORMAL MEETING WITH WESTERN URBAN OR THE COUNSEL WHEN DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE. 
          WE UNDERSTAND EVERY HOUSEHOLD WILL RECEIVE 2500. 
          IF YOU HAVE LIVED AT THE FACTORY FOR LESS THAN A YEAR, YOU DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDS BEING OFFERED. THE PLAN BEING LESS THAN A SHEET OF PAPER DOES NOT MAKE US FEEL SECURE. 
          WE WERE QUITE LITERALLY JUST PRESENTED WITH THIS PLAN YESTERDAY. 
          SOME SMALL DETAILS WE LEARNED JUST NOW. THAT SAYS SOMETHING. 
          THE FIRST PRESENTATION WAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED SINCE WE LAST SAW IT. THE RESIDENT RELOCATION SLIDE WAS PREVIOUSLY CALLED THE RESIDENT DISPLACEMENT PLAN AND ONLY CONSISTED OF ONE SIDE. THESE CHANGES WERE MADE BECAUSE WE AS A GROUP STOOD UP AND 1ST SOMETHING. WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S WESTERN URBAN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE TENANTS CONCRETE INFORMATION IN THIS PROCESS THAT AFFECTS MANY. 
          PLEASE INCLUDE US AT THE TABLE WHEN NEGOTIATING PLANS THAT DIRECTLY HAVE TO DO WITH US. WE ARE HUMANS, NOT A BUSINESS DEAL. 
          WE THE WORKING PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKES SAN ANTONIO AND ITS ECONOMY AND IS VERY UPSETTING TO SEE SO MANY HERE UP HERE NOT CONSIDERING HOW THIS WILL AFFECT SO MANY LIVES. THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THE LACK OF QUALITY HOUSING AFFORDABLE IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS. 
          THANK YOU, MS. RAMOS. JAMES BOCHER. MR. BOCHER? 
          YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY SIERRA LEE. >> OKAY. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JAMES BOCHET. I'M ALSO A STUDENT. NOW, I NEED TO SAY, IF WE HAD NEVER ORGANIZED -- NEVER SPOKEN UP, WESTERN URBAN WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY HAPPY TO NOT COMPENSATE US AT ALL. 
          IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT DISPLACEMENT PLAN PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER KAUR -- I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR HELPING US. 
          I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE AGREED AMOUNT BETWEEN THE COUNCILMAN AND WESTERN URBAN OF $2,500 PER QUALIFYING TENANT HAS STILL NOT INCLUDED AN OFFICIAL DISCUSSION WITH THE TENANTS. 
          SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD AN UNOFFICIAL MEETING AND EVENT WHERE RESIDENTS 
          [02:55:02]
VOICES COULD BE HEARD AND YET 2,500 IS STILL NOT SOMETHING WE AS TENANTS HAVE AGREED UPON. SO FAR, YOU HAVE BEEN WILLING TO LISTEN AND WE APPLAUD YOU FOR IT, TENANTS NEED A SEAT AT A TABLE WHEN AGREEING UPON A PLAN. TO REITERATE, THE NUMBER 2,500 IS NOT SOMETHING WE'VE AGREED UPON, ABOUT YOU THIS NUMBER HAS BEEN THROWN AROUND BEFORE. IT HAS BEEN THROWN AROUND AT A PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING, BUT NOT BY A TENANT. IT HAS BEEN THROWN AROUND ON MONDAY'S EVENT BY ONE TENANT, NOT BY ALL OF US. 
          WHY IS IT THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS TO SPEND MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO FULFILL HALF OF THE AMOUNT AGREED UPON WITH WESTERN URBAN. WHY IS IT THAT WESTERN URBAN REFUSES TO HELP ITS OWN TENANTS? IT PUSHED IT OFF WITH BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES AND IS DOING SO WITH THE CITY HAVING THEM SPEND RESOURCES GOING TO THOSE IN NEED. LASTLY, WE NEED TO REMIND CITY COUNCIL AND CONCERN URBAN THIS ISSUE BEGINS WITH US. WHEN BUILDING, WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THE IMPACT THEY HAVE WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BOCHET. 
          CL LEE. OKAY. VIVIR. 
          DAVID LUCK. MR. LUCK, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ARRESTIAL 
          ALVAREZ. >> SO IN EVERY COMMUNITY, THERE ARE NORMS WHICH CONSIST OF UNWRITTEN LAWS. THOSE UNWRITTEN LAWS TEND TO SUPPORT VALUES AND COLLECTIVELY THIS MAKES UP WHAT IS KNOWN AS A COLLECTIVE MORAL DOCTRINE. SOME COMMUNITIES VALUE ORDERS.  SOME COMMUNITIES VALUE PROFITS. 
          WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THAT WE VALUE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT THAT DISPLACES HARDWORKING PEOPLE OVER KEEPING SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS HOUSED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOUSING CRISIS. I KNOW IT IS A HOUSING CRISIS BECAUSE IN 2017, YOU MADE A COMMITTEE THAT IS AIMED AT SOLVING WHAT YOU DESCRIBED AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. 
          WE'VE THE TAXPAYER ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS SITUATION, THE STADIUM. 
          EVEN IF IT ISN'T DIRECTLY, IT COULD BE INDIRECTLY AS WELL. 
          YOU INCREASE THE VALUE OF A PROPERTY, IT INCREASES PROPERTY TAXES, NOT ONLY OF THAT LOCATION BUT THE LOCATIONS AROUND IT. 
          IT INCREASES THE THAT'S WHY OUR RENT HAS DOUBLED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS FROM 500 TO 1,000. NOW, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS TOO MUCH ON WHAT SHOULD BE. 
          I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT IS. THESE GUYS ACTUALLY DO KEEP THEIR WORD. I'VE SEEN THAT MYSELF. THEY ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH US. SO THANK YOU. I THINK THAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD A 1500 UNIT APARTMENT, THEY CAN SOME OF THOSE UNITS SHOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR -- SOMEWHAT AFFORDABLE ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, MR. LUCK. 
          ARIEL ALVAREZ. YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY LETTI ROCHA. 
          >> OKAY. HELLO. MY NAME IS ARIEL ALVAREZ. WHEN I WAS 12, MY FAMILY MOVED INTO THE APARTMENTS. WE LIVED IN BUILDING THREE ON THE THIRD FLOOR IN AN ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT. I COULDN'T IMAGINE BACK THEN HOW HARD MY MOM HAD TO WORK TO MAKE IT BACK FROM MINNESOTA TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HER GENERATIONAL LAND. SOMEHOW I ALWAYS KNEW HER HARD WORK WAS FOR US. IT GAVE US A BETTER LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE I EVER SAW FIESTA, AND IT WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AT SANTA ROSA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. I UNDERSTAND WESTERN URBAN'S VISION FOR SAN ANTONIO, ONE THAT WILL ALLEGEDLY BRING IN I AM MEASURABLE PROFIT AND PAY FOR ITSELF BY RAISING THE PROPERTY TAXES ON THE AREA IT DESIRES DOWNTOWN. BUT SOMETHING HAS BEEN TERRIBLY WRONG IN THE INVESTMENTS THAT THEY HAVE MADE ALREADY IN SAN ANTONIO. LIKE THE BUSINESSES IN FROST TOWER THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE RENT OR THE BANK THAT IS BARELY OPEN. 
          I KNOW THAT BECAUSE IT'S MY BANK. I FEAR THAT THE MONOPOLY ON REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY BY US HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO DOWNTOWN AND TO OUR VIBRANT WORKING COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES. SELLING PEOPLE'S APARTMENTS, THEIR HOMES, IS CRUEL AND UNJUST. JUST LIKE THE INVESTMENTS, THEY DO NOT HOLD UP TO THE HYPE WHILE THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO SUFFER THE LOSS OF THEIR OWN RESOURCES, BEING BURNED BY INVESTOR PROJECTS WHERE THE CITY COULD BE HELPING ITS PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN SAN ANTONIO WHO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION AND RISING COSTS IN OUR CITY. 
          THE SAN ANTONIO THAT MY MOTHER MISSED AND SO DECEMBER PLAT RE TOLD ME TO APPRECIATE AND HOLD ON TO WAS ROOTED IN OUR FRIENDLINESS, COMMUNITY, CULTURE FOR SHARING AND SHOWING COMPASSION AND EMPATHY. 
          THESE HOMES MEAN MORE -- MEAN A FRUITFUL AND LOVING LIFE FOR EVERYONE 
          [03:00:07]
AND WHO HAVE LIVED THERE AND AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBILITY. 
          WHILE THE CITY THAT SURROUNDS THEM CONTINUES TO GO GRAY AND SELL OUT. 
          THEY ARE THE LIGHT THAT KEEPS THE PEOPLE FROM RIGHT-HAND A THE WORLD FROM COMING BACK, NOT MAJOR CORPORATIONS AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO MAY PROFIT OFF THEM. I URGE OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CEASE THE PLANS AND TO INVEST INTO OTHER RESOURCES FOR OUR CITY. 
          THANK YOU, MS. ALVAREZ. LETTI ROCHA. VELMA PENA. 
          GILES R. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU AREN'T SPEAKING, TAKE A SEAT SO FOLKS WHO ARE SPEAKING CAN COME TO THE PODIUM. 
          THANK YOU. >> HELLO. HOW ARE YOU DOING? YEAH. A LOT OF GOOD TALK HERE. 
          I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED. I DO LIVE IN GARDEN DALE OVER HERE. I WORK WITH THEM AND THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE'VE HAD HAVEN FOR HOPE IN OUR AREA FOR ABOUT -- I DON'T KNOW -- 10, 17 YEARS, SOMETHING AROUND THAT. 
          SO HAVING THIS STADIUM -- I'M ACTUALLY FOR IT, BUT WE SAW DEVELOPMENT OF THAT FACILITY OVER THERE. SO ON OUR SHOULDERS, WE'RE HOLDING THE STRESS OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY COMING OVER THERE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE AND HELP. THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE HAVEN'T EXACTLY GOTTEN THE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH SERVICES THAT WE SHOULD BE GETTING. EVEN TO THIS DAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF Y'ALL STRAP ON LIKE NON LETHAL AND LETHAL EVERY MORNING. 
          THIS AIN'T NO JOKE. OR HOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE TO GO TO YOUR YARD AND SHOE AWAY DRUG MULES OR WHATEVER BECAUSE WE HAVE A HIGH DRUG TRAFFICKING ISSUE IN OUR AREA RIGHT NEXT TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          IT HAS NO DEDICATED SECURITY OFFICER OR ANY REAL SECURITY IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO IF THIS STADIUM IS GOING TO COME DOWN HERE AND DO SOME NICE DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR AREA, ESPECIALLY CATTLE MAN SQUARE, WE HAVE FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES FOR GENERATIONS, AND THEY'VE GETTING THE SHAFT. THEY HAVE PEOPLE GOING IN THERE, CUTTING UP THEIR EMPLOYEES, DASHING AND DINING. 
          THIS AIN'T NO JOKE AND WE HAVE THEM RIGHT THERE. 
          SO IF THIS STADIUM IS GOING TO COME HERE INTO OUR AREA AND DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, PLEASE DO, BECAUSE THE LAST TIME SOME KIND OF BIG DEVELOPMENT HAPPENED, IT DIDN'T TURN OUT SO GOOD FOR US. 
          THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU, GILES. KEITH SMITH. 
          MR. SMITH, BE FOLLOWED BY PHILLIP ADCOCK. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR ET WILLING ME BE HERE. 
          I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING HERE. I'M NOT A PRESIDENT OR CEO FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN MY FAMILY.  I HAVE BEEN A SEASON TICKET HOLDER SINCE 1994 WHEN THE STADIUM OPENED. I LIVED IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, FOR THREE YEARS. THERE WAS A BRIEF PAUSE. I WAS A SEASON TICKET HOLDER THERE. 
          THEIR STADIUM WAS 45 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE CITY AND ATTENDANCE WAS AWFUL. THEY BUILT A NEW STADIUM DOWNTOWN. 
          IT SOLD OUT EVERY YEAR PROBABLY SINCE. GENERATION OF REVENUE THAT HELPED PAY FOR EVERYTHING. THIS STADIUM IS NEEDED BY THE CITY, NOT TO REITERATE EVERYTHING EVERYBODY HE WILL SAID. 
          BASEBALL IS PART OF SAN ANTONIO. A NEW STADIUM WILL DO WOLF THINGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          MR. SMITH. PHILLIP ADCOCK. YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY 
          ANTONIO DIAZ. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS A PHRASE I SAY HUNDREDS OF TIMES WHEN I CROSS DAILY IN OUR DOWNTOWN THAT I LOVE. 
          AS A CURRENT RESIDENT. THE SOAP FACTORY, I AM EXPRESSING GRAVE CONCERNS REGARDING THE LACK OF TRANSPARENT PLANNING AND COMMUNICATION. I HEAR TALK OF BASEBALL BEING A FUN NIGHT OUT, BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO RETURN TO AFTER A GAME. 
          SAN ANTONIO'S APPROVAL OF A NEW AA BASEBALL COMPLEX WILL HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FOR US THE RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES OF DOWNTOWN. 
          THE DISPLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY ESPECIALLY WITHOUT INPUT FROM THOSE IMPACTED. I'VE HEARD GUARANTEED TOSSED AROUND ABOUT MONEY, BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE RESIDENTS. 
          THAT'S JUST TALK AT THIS POINT. I HEAR TALK OF PAID EXPENSES AND NUMBER OF RELOCATION PACKAGES. ARE THOSE INCLUDED IN THE 25 OR WHATEVER NUMBER YOU TALK ABOUT OR IS THAT A SEPARATE FUND? WHY ARE SO MANY RESTRICTIONS REQUIRING ONE YEAR LEASE IN ORDER TO GET REAL ASSISTANCE AND MOVING EXPENSES? IT'S DEBILITATING TO MOVE IN AND PAYING THEM IN LESS THAN A YEAR, WHETHER YOU'RE MOVING TO THE SAME FACILITY OR SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
          WE'RE NOT JUST UNITS IN THE COMPLEX. WE'RE PEOPLE. 
          WE LIVE AND WORK HERE. DISPLACEMENT WILL HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, SAFETY, AND ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR LIFE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. 
          [03:05:01]
THIS PROJECT LIKE ALL THE OTHERS RECENTLY PRIORITIZES TOURIST REVENUE OVER COMMUNITY NEEDS, THREATENING TO ERASE THE CULTURE OF THIS CITY. ALL WE'RE LEFT WITH IS COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES AND THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE KICKED OUT. I DON'T WANT A CITY THAT'S JUST COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES AND MEMORIES. 
          I WANT PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THEIR HOMES AND BE ABLE TO CALL THIS CITY HOME FOREVER.  THIS IS MY HOME. IT'S BEING STRIPPED AWAY FROM ME. I REQUEST RESPECTFULLY THAT RESIDENTS BE GIVEN A SEAT AT THE TABLE REGARDING RELOCATION PLANS AND ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY TO COMMITMENTS TO MEETING HOUSING NEEDS, A DELAY IN THE VOTE TO ALLOW FOR UNDERSTANDINGS OF OUR FUTURE, AND A GUARANTEE THAT RENT AND FEES WILL BE FROZEN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. ADCOCK. ANTONIO DIAZ. 
          MR. DIAZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY DONALD DEGALLADO. 
          >> I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING. AS FAR AS THE -- THAT WAS A REVOLUTION AGAINST SPAIN, AGAINST COLONIALISM. 
          YET, WE CELEBRATE AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. 
          WHAT A JOKE. WE'RE STILL CALLING IT. ANYWAY, THAT'S OUR CITY. THAT'S THE MENTALITY. I'VE HEARD PHRASES WHICH I AGREE WITH, THAT GENTRIFICATION IS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF VIOLENCE AND THAT KEEPS ON. THAT IS OUR HISTORY. THAT IS OUR FUTURE. 
          RIGHT? I'LL BE ONGOING. SO VIOLENCE PERPETRATED TO START THIS CITY WILL CONTINUE MARCHING ON REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OR THE CURRENT RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP AGAINST. DOESN'T MATTER. BUREAUCRACY ENGAGE WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY OR PRIVATE ENTERPRISES DON'T CARE. 
          AS LONG AS THEY KEEP ON UPRISING. THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSTON TERS AND THEN THE SAN PEDRO CREEK RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 
          IT'S ABOUT MONEY AND MORE MONEY. COSTING MORE FOR THE LAND. I SEE A NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE OVER HERE VERY CLOSE TO ME. I HAVE A HOME IN BEACON HILL. 
          THEY'RE ALL FOR IT. THEY SHOULD BE AGAINST IT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISPLACED BY IT. THEY WERE TALKING AGAINST THE HAVEN FOR HOPE HOW BAD IT IS, AND I AGREE ON THAT. BUT POOR PEOPLE NEED A PLACE TO LIVE. EVERYBODY KEEPS SAYING, NOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          NOT IN MY AREA. WHERE THEN? WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO BE RESIDING IN IF NOBODY WANTS POOR PEOPLE OR PEOPLE OF LOW INCOME IN THEIR AREA AT ALL? HOPEFULLY HOUSELESS AND HOMELESS VETERANS WILL BE GIVEN JOBS AT THIS NEW STADIUM. 
          THANK YOU, MR. DIAZ. >> HOPEFULLY. THERE'S NO GUARANTEE. 
          NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU SAY I GUARANTEE? DONALD DEGALLADO. 
          YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY RUDY LOPEZ. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M WITH CLEARINGHOUSE. 
          WE'RE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. 
          WE HAVE A PRESENCE HERE IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO RECENTLY FINISHED THE REDEVELOPMENT OF A BUILDING.  IT'S A HISTORICAL RENOVATION. 
          WE DO PROVIDE PRIMARILY COMMERCIAL FINANCING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RELATED PROJECTS. JUST HERE TO SAY WE SUPPORT THE PROJECT. 
          WITH THE UNDERSTANDING AS WELL, I THINK I WANT TO ECHO COMMENTS MADE BY HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THAT LOCAL BUY-IN. EVEN TAKING IT FURTHER, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES BROUGHT UP, DEFINITELY I KNOW THOSE ARE BEING ADDRESSED AND JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE THAT THEY WILL BE ADDRESSED AND EVEN VENDORS AT THE BASEBALL STADIUM, AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE IMPORTANCE FOR LOCAL VENDORS, CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE CURRENTLY MAKING SAN ANTONIO A GREAT PLACE. 
          WE'RE COMING HERE TO INVEST AS WELL. WE LOVE THE TRAJECTORY OF SAN ANTONIO AND DOWNTOWN. WE JUST FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT IN MIND. 
          AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. APPRECIATE IT. 
          THANK YOU, MR. DEGALLADO. MR. LOPEZ, YOU'LL BE 
          FOLLOWED BY GRACIELA SANCHEZ. >> I'M GOING TO GIVE MY 
          MINUTES TO MR. STEFAN. >> THANK YOU, MR. LOPEZ. 
          >> YOU HAVE TO BE SIGNED UP TO BE A SPEAKER.  HE HAS TO READ THE LETTER. 
          [03:10:16]
          >> OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO. 
          I AM WRITING TO YOU TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT OF THE BASEBALL STADIUM AND RELATED DEVELOPMENT BEFORE YOU NOW.  AS YOU KNOW, OUR MISSION AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS TO WELCOME THE WORLD TO SAN ANTONIO. 
          THIS INCLUDES ATTRACTING THE 40 MILLION PEOPLE THAT CAN DRIVE TO SAN ANTONIO FROM 500 MILES RADIUS. A STRONGER MORE ROBUST DOWNTOWN IS KEY TO CONTINUE WIDENING THE APPEAL OF OUR CITY. 
          SAN ANTONIO IS KNOWN FOR MANY THINGS, INCLUDING BEING A YEAR-ROUND WARM WEATHER DESTINATION, THE RIVERWALK, UNFORGETTABLE ALAMO AND ENTERTAINMENT GALORE, IN CERTAIN CIRCLES, WE ARE KNOWN AS A GREAT SPORTS TOWN. 
          HOME TO THE SPURS. SAN ANTONIO FC, UTSA, UIW, AND, OF COURSE, MISSIONS BASEBALL. IN ADDITION TO OUR HOME TEAMS, SAN ANTONIO'S ALSO KNOWN TO HOST GREAT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS AT THE ALAMODOME AND UIW STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. 
          BOTH LEISURE TRAVEL AND MEETING GROUPS SEEK OUT DESTINATIONS THAT OFFER DIVERSE AMENITIES. YOU MUST HAVE A GOOD BALANCE OF HOTEL PROPERTIES, ATTRACTIONS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS WALKABILITY AND INNOVATIVE SPACES. SAN ANTONIO IS FORTUNATE TO CHECK ALL THESE BOXES AND WILL GET BETTER WILL THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS DEVELOPMENT AND WILL GROW OUR CITY AND IMPROVE OUR DOWNTOWN. SIGNED MARK ANDERSON. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, MR. LOPEZ. GRACIELA SANCHEZ. 
          YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY SIERRA HONEY CUT. DON'T START. 
          DON'T START. DON'T START. I HAVEN'T STARTED TALKING AND I'VE ALREADY LOST -- CAN WE RESTART? CAN YOU RESTART THE 
          CLOCK? GO AHEAD, MS. SANCHEZ. >> I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER. I WAS HERE ON THE 29TH AND SINCE THAT TIME, I'VE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. 
          MOST PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT. PARTLY BECAUSE IT WREAKS OF CORRUPTION. IT'S RIDICULOUSLY CLEAR THAT THIS PLAN IS DESIGNED TO PUT PUBLIC DOLLARS INTO THE POCKETS OF GRAHAM WESTON AND HIS PARTNERS AND THE 17 WHITE MEN THAT RUN THIS CITY AND THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE THAT HAVE ALL BEEN HERE AND ALL THEIR ALLIES. 
          PART OF THE PLAN IS TO GIVE PUBLIC FUNDS, TERS FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          MY GOD, WE BARELY HAVE ANY MONEY AND YOU'RE TAKING IT AWAY FROM US. 
          DO NOT TAKE THIS MONEY FROM THE WEST SIDE TERS WHICH IS ALREADY THE POOREST TERS IN THE CITY. THEN I TOLD -- I ASKED THE COUNCILMEMBER A FEW MONTHS AGO ABOUT SOME ARPA FUNDS FOR HOUSING, AND SHE SAID ALL THE ARPA MONIES ARE GONE. THEN TODAY WE FIND OUT THERE'S $250,000 THAT WE CAN ONCE AGAIN GIVE TO SUPPORT THIS PLAN BY THE BILLIONAIRE, BY THE BILLIONAIRE GRAHAM, WESTON AND HIS PEOPLE. 
          THIS IS A DROP IN THE PAPOCKET FOR HIM TO SET ASIDE HALF A MILLION. THIS PLAN IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF YOUR SHIP PLAN WHICH CALLS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 381 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, DISPLACING 381 FAMILIES AND WE DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT WE DO KNOW THEY ARE BLACK AND BROWN WORKING CLASS PEOPLE. 
          SO THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE REPLACED BY MARKET RATE HOUSING. 
          THIS PLAN WREAKS OF CORRUPTION AND TODAY YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO JOIN THE CORRUPTION TO APPROVE THIS SHAMEFUL FARCE. 
          YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO CARRY OUT THE CORRUPT PAYOFF, AND THEN YOU WILL WONDER WHY PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU. WHY THEY CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE. ASK YOURSELF, WOULD YOU SUPPORT SUCH CORRUPT COUNCILMEMBERS? I WON'T, AND THE PEOPLE WON'T. 
          THOSE OF YOU RUNNING FOR MAYOR, WE'RE WATCHING YOUR VOTE. 
          THANK YOU, MS. SANCHEZ. SARAH HONEYCUT. MS. HONEYCUT, YOU'LL BE 
          FOL. >> MY NAME IS SH SHARE A HONEYCUT. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF THE WORDS IN THE OPENING PRAYER. 
          [03:15:01]
OUR CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, THE POOR, THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY, THE SICK, THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOMES, FORGOTTEN, THE MARGINALIZED AND IMMIGRANTS. GRANT US THE WISDOM AND COURAGE TO KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT AND TO DO IT. THOSE OF US AT THE SOAP FACTORY WOULD FALL INTO THAT LIST. I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER NOT JUST THE LEGALITY OF YOUR DECISION ON THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, BUT THE MORALITY. I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK EACH ONE OF US IN THE EYE AND KNOW OUR NAMES, NOT JUST OUR UNIT NUMBERS, AND HEAR OUR STORIES AND IMAGINE IF WE WERE YOUR CHILD, YOUR SISTER, OR FATHER OR GRANDPARENT OR BEST FRIEND AND I WONDER WHAT YOU WOULD DO FOR THEM. I WONDER IF YOU COULD FIGHT FOR THEM AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE VALUE OF A HUMAN LIFE. 
          WHAT IS THE COST OF A HUMAN LIFE? 2500 DOLLARS? I BELIEVE THE GREATEST INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE IN THIS CITY IS INVESTING IN ITS PEOPLE AND WHEN YOU INVEST IN PEOPLE, EVERYONE WINS. 
          ALL OF ITS PEOPLE, EVEN THE ONES LIKE US WHO ARE INCONVENIENT. 
          THE PLAN PRESENTED TO US, AT 8:00 P.M. LAST NIGHT WAS NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT, WAS HASTILY WRITTEN AND NOT DOESN'T KEEP THE BEST INTEREST IN MIND. UP UNTIL TODAY, THE WRITERS OF THIS PLAN COULDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE NONPROFIT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO PARTNER WITH. THEY KEPT SAYING IT'S BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES, BUT IT'S BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES. 
          FRANKLY, WE DESERVE BETTER, AND YOU CAN DO BETTER. 
          THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A REAL POSITIVE IMPACT IN PEOPLE'S LIVES AND ULTIMATELY THE CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE. YOUR LEGACY CAN BE SO MUCH GREATER THAN A AA MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM. 
          WHAT DO YOU BENEFIT IF YOU GAIN A BASEBALL STADIUM, TAX BREAKS, KICK BACKS, HIGH-RISE CONDOS AND LOSE YOUR HUMANITY? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. HONEYCUT. 
          MS. SANTA BANEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY LUIS ALVARADO. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. AGAIN, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M THE COALITION COORDINATOR FOR THE COALITION FOR DIG IDENTIFIED HOUSING AND I WAS LISTENING TO LORI HOUSTON ASSURE RESIDENTS THEY WOULD BE OFFERED RELOCATION ASSISTANCE TO QUALIFYING FAMILIES. THAT TAKES AWAY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER TO ASSUME FULL COST AND BURDEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISPLACEMENT THAT THEY ARE CAUSING WHICH WILL BE WELL OVER $3,000, NOT TO MENTION THE PRICELESS EMOTIONAL STRAIN AND SOCIAL RUPTURE MOVING OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY WILL CAUSE. 
          THE CITY'S RELOCATION FUND IS A RESOURCE FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY FACING UNTIL AND UNDUE OR UNFORESEEN HARDSHIP, BUT FOR THE CITY TO OVEREXTEND THEIR RESOURN UNNATURAL SITUATION IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CORPORATE BAILOUT AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS HARD EARNED MONDAY HE OTHER. I AGREE WITH THE COUNCILMEMBER TERI CASTILLO THAT THIS WILL NOT COST THE CITY ANYTHING IS DISHONEST AND A LIE. ALLOW ME TO READ KAYLA MIRANDA'S LETTER SHE WROTE. SHE'S A PUBLIC HOUSING TENANT AND THE DIRECTOR OF COALITION FOR TENANT JUSTICE AND IS PROUDLY SERVING AT THE BUILDING THIS MORNING. SHE COULDN'T BE HERE. 
          I'M COULD NOT US TOOD. AFTER YEARS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE CITY'S EFFORTS OF A COMPASSIONATE CITY, THE FACT WE HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE FOR ME AGAIN ASTOUNDS ME. I'VE PARTICIPATED FOR INITIATIVES. SERVED ON 2022 HOUSING COMMITTEE, TWO CITY SCORING COMMITTEES AND ONE OTHER COMMITTEE. WE ARE PROMISED A LOT OF THINGS AND NOW EVERY SINGLE PROMISE HAS BEEN BROKEN. 
          FOOD FOR THOUGHT, RISK MID OCCASION TURNED EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM NOW RENT ASSISTANCE WAS A RESPONSE TO THE DISPLACEMENT. THEY ARE AGAIN IN DANGER.  EVERYONE WE HAVE -- EVERYTHING WE HAVE WORKED TO CHANGE IS BEING REVERTED. 
          OUR WAITING LIST IS HIGHER THAN EVER, FOR GREED. 
          THIS IS NOT FOR THE COMMUNITY OR BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE RESIDING THERE. IT'S FOR PROFIT. IT'S THE SAME STORY OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS GOING TO DO X, Y, AND Z AND HELP EVERYONE BUT FOR WHO? CERTAINLY NOT FOR THE RESIDENTS BEING DISPLACED. THANK YOU. LOULUIS ALVARADO. 
          YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JAKE TUCKER. >> HELLO.  MY I'M IN IS LUIS ALVARADO. I'LL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ME AND MY WIFE.  I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO NOT VOTE FOR THIS YET AGAIN. 
          I URGE YOU TO NOT VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT WESTERN URBAN WANTS TO SWEEP US UNDER THE RUG. WHY ELSE WOULD THEY HAVE RUSHED IT ON THE 29TH. OTHER THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION IS, LIKE OTHER RESIDENTS HAVE SAID, WE ARE PEOPLE. WE WANT TO STOPPED BEING CALLED UNITS BECAUSE THAT'S ALL WE'VE READ. WE'RE INDIVIDUALS. EVERYBODY IN THOSE UNITS HAS LIVES, HAS DREAMS, HAS KIDS OR WHATEVER. I URGE YOU TO NOT MAKE THE WRONG DECISION AND CHOOSE TO DESTROY ALL THESE PEOPLE'S LIVES, 
          [03:20:05]
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE'S LIVES, THEIR FUTURES, EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE BUILDING UP. CAN'T IMAGINE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 30 YEARS THAT NEED A CHANGE. NOW FOR US THAT WE NEED TO REBUILD OUR LIVES. I WANTED TO HAVE MY CHILDREN THERE. 
          I WANTED TO GRADUATE COLLEGE HERE IN DOWNTOWN. 
          I WANTED TO CONTINUE TO WORK HERE IN DOWNTOWN. NOW BECAUSE OF THIS, IT'S LEFT A COMPLETELY SOUR TASTE IN ANY MOUTH. 
          IT IS NOT A BEACON OF HOPE. IT'S HATE, I DON'T WANT TO BE IN SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO IS A PLACE THAT HAS MADE ME HOMELESS TWICE BECAUSE OF THE CHOICES OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME. 
          SO I URGE YOU, PUT YOURSELF IN THE POSITION OF US. 
          HOW WOULD YOU FEEL, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE DONE? DO NOT LET THEM GIVE US $2,500. 
          WE DO NOT QUALIFY AND IT COST ME $2,000 TO GET INTO THE SOAP FACTORY JUST FOR THEM TO GIVE ME THE KEY. THAT DOESN'T COUNTER ELECTRICITY, GAS, MOVING EXPENSES, EVERY OTHER THING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF THAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU'RE RECOVERING FROM HOMELESSNESS. 
          SO I URGE YOU, $2,500 IS NOT ENOUGH. 4,000 500 IS NOT ENOUGH. 10,000 IS PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH EITHER. 
          THERE ARE SO MANY EXPENSES. SO I URGE YOU TO TAKE MORE TIME WITH THIS THAN TO HURRY UP AND SWEEP US UNDER THE RUG LIKE HOW THEY WANTED TO. THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU. 
          >> JODI: THANK YOU, MR. 
          THANK YOU. >> I'M SPEAKING FOR THE PROPHET. 
          WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE TENANTS FIGHTING THEIR DISPLACEMENT AND THE DEMOLITION OF THEIR HOME. 
          WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS CITY. COUNCIL IS RUSHED WITH THE BACK ROOM DEAL WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, MILLIONAIRES, CORPORATIONS AGAINST THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. MMAYOR, YOU'RE SELLING OUT YOUR CITY. DOING THIS THROUGH A GENTRIFICATION POLICY, LIKE THIS STADIUM DEAL, ORCHESTRATING THE ATTACK ON PUBLIC HOUSING AND PUSHING TO CHANGE THE CITY CHARTER WHICH INCLUDES GIVING A RAISE TO THE CITY MANAGER. THIS GREEN LIGHTS THE STADIUM AND UPROOTS THE RESIDENTS. THESE TENANTS MODEL THE LIFESTYLE THAT TOD CLAIMS IT DEVELOPS, LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY DOWNTOWN. 
          BY VOTING YES, YOU ARE DISRESPECTING THEM AND DEMONSTRATING YOU DO NOT VALUE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE WORKING POOR. MISSION STADIUM HUSTLE HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING. WE FAIL TO SEE WHAT OUR CITY GAINS FROM THIS DEAL. THE PRICES GO UP. 
          WE LOSE SAISD LAND AND LOSING PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL DUE TO THE CURRENT STADIUM IS NOT A CREDIBLE THREAT. WE DEMAND YOU VOTE NO BECAUSE THIS WAS NO NEGOTIATION.  IT'S A HANDOUT TO MEGA DEVELOPER WESTERN URBAN, AND THE MISSION'S OWNERSHIP GROUP WHICH INCLUDES A STAKE BY GRAHAM WESTON HIMSELF. DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER VOTE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE A BACKBONE TO DEFEND YOUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          IF YOU HAVE RESPECT FOR THE CONTROL OF PUBLIC POLICY, YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY REJECT THIS CORPORATE FRIENDLY GIVE AWAY. 
          IF WESTERN URBAN WANTS TO SCREW OVER THE PEOPLE, IT MUST BE ON HIS DIME AND IN A PLACE WHERE IT DOES NOT ALREADY HAVE A COMMUNITY. PUT PEOPLE OVER FORECAST AND VOTE NO. 
          THANK YOU, MR. TUCKER. DEANNA FOLLOWED BY PARKER DIXON. 
          >> I'M HERE SPEAKING ON THE STADIUM. SIR AND COUNCIL, I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING FROM THE HEART. YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE FROM HERE, FROM SAN ANTONIO, YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT WANT THE BASEBALL FIELD STADIUM. 
          YOU KNOW, IT'S OKAY. WE DON'T MIND. YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS HE PAYS HIS WAY TO BUILD IT. NOT WITH OUR TAX MONEY. 
          I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE SAYING IT'S NOT OUR TAX MONEY. 
          IT IS. IT'S PART OF IT. IT'S ON THAT BOND, THAT TIRZ. IT'S IN THERE, OUR MONEY, OUR TAX MONEY FROM HERE. WE NEED DRAINAGE. WE NEED LIGHTING. 
          YOU EXTENDED THE CITY -- SAN ANTONIO CITY ALL THE WAY TO 1604. 
          THEY NEED ROADS OVER THERE. THEY STILL GOT DIRT ROADS. Y'ALL ARE BUILDING HOUSES OUT THERE. 
          [03:25:01]
A LOT OF THEM. AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THE BUS DON'T RUN THAT WAY. THEIR CAR BREAKS, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT TO TAKE THE BUS. THEY DON'T HAVE NOBODY TO TAKE THEM, THEY ARE STUCK. WE NEED OUR MONEY FROM OUR TAXES TO GO ON THE CITY TO BUILD, YES, FIX IT UP, NOT TO BUILD A STADIUM FOR THIS BILLIONAIRE. HE'S A BILLIONAIRE? HE COULD PAY IT IF HE WANTS IT, JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO PAY IF WE WANT IMPROVEMENT IN OUR PROPERTIES. WE HAVE TO PAY OUR WAY. 
          EVERYBODY'S GOT TO PAY THEIR WAY, SIR. THANK YOU. 
          PARKER DIXON. MR. DIXON, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK 
          FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.  I'M PARKER DIXON AS IN BALLPARKER. THAT'S HOW MY MOM TOLD IT. 
          I'M A RESIDENT OF TOBIN HILL AND FORMER BASEBALL COACH AND SCOUT. 
          DURING MY CAREER IN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL, I WORKED FOR THE TEXAS RANGERS AND THE SAN DIEGO PADRES. HOWEVER, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS. GROWING UP IN DALLAS, I WAS A DIE HARD TEXAS RANGERS FAN. IN 2015, I GOT A JOB OFFER FROM THE RANGERS AND IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. 
          I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN I WAS WITH THE RANGERS AA AFFILIATE AND WE ROLLED INTO TOWN. I CAN'T REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT THE BASEBALL GAME, BUT I DO REMEMBER IN ABOUT THE THIRD INNING, I GOT A TAPE ON MY SHOULDER FROM A FAN IN THE STANDS. I TURN AROUND TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN WITH A SMALL BOY. HE WAS A FOSTER CHILD. 
          SHE WAS JUST A GOOD-HEARTED PERSON TAKING HIM OUT TO CATCH A BALLGAME LIKE A BIG SISTER MIGHT. I SAID HI.  THEM I FOUND A WAY TO GET HER NUMBER AND THREE MONTHS LATER, WE WERE ENGAGED. 
          ONE YEAR LATER, THIS IS THE JERSEY WE WORE WHEN WE THREW OUT OUR FIRST PITCH AT OUR WEDDING INSTEAD OF A FIRST DANCE. 
          8 YEARS LATER, WE'VE HAD OUR FOURTH BABY. I LEFT THE DREAM JOB WITH THE RANGERS AND MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO TO BE WITH HER SO WE COULD START A FAMILY. THIS IS ABOUT SOMETHING BIGGER. 
          IT'S ABOUT CONNECTION. IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A BETTER URBAN CORE FOR OUR FAMILIES. STRENGTHENING OUR DOWNTOWN AND CENTRALIZING OUR AMENITIES FOR ALL TO ENJOY. FOR ME, BASEBALL IS A LOVE STORY. 
          I WILL LEAVE Y'ALL WITH THIS QUOTE FROM THE LATE GREAT JAMES EARL JONES. 
          THE ONE CONSTANT THROUGH ALL THE YEARS HAS BEEN BASEBALL. 
          AMERICA HAS ROLLED BY LIKE AN ARMY OF STEAMROLLERS. 
          IT'S BEEN ERASED LIKE A BLACKBOARD ERASED AND BUILD AGAIN. 
          BASEBALL HAS MARKED THE TIME. THIS GAME IS PART OF OUR PAST. REMINDS US OF ALL ONCE WAS GOOD AND COULD BE AGAIN. THANK YOU. PLEASE SUPPORT THE BASEBALL STADIUM. THANK YOU, MR. DIXON. JACK FINGER. 
          MR. FINGER FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN GALINDO. >> MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER, AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. WHAT -- AS A COUPLE OF THEM ARE LEAVING US HERE, WHAT HAPPENED TO WOLF STADIUM? WHO ALLOWED IT TO FALL INTO DISREPAIR? WHO FAILED TO UPGRADE IT SO THAT THE MAJOR LEAGUES WOULDN'T FORCE US TO BUILD SOMETHING ELSE? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT ESTABLISHING SOME SORT OF STADIUM DOWNTOWN WHEREBY WHAT ABOUT THE BIG TRAFFIC PROBLEMS? THE BIG PARKING PROBLEMS THAT THIS STADIUM WOULD HAVE? WHAT ABOUT THE CONCERN ABOUT HOW SUBURBANITES DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL MANY MILES TO THAT UNDESIRABLE DOWNTOWN AREA JUST TO SEE A BASEBALL GAME? YOU KNOW, THE SAN ANTONIO CURRENT MAGAZINE HAS A JOURNALIST NAMED HAYWOOD SANDERS. 
          HE WRITES ABOUT YOUR SCANDALS BEHIND THE DAIS THERE. 
          SAN ANTONIO'S INSIDER BALLPARK DEAL INCLUDES PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND A VOTE. WHAT DOES HE SAY? FOR ONE, IT WON'T COST TAXPAYERS A DIME, THEY ASSURE US. CITY OFFICIALS FOUGHT HARD TO MAKE SURE IT'S A WELL-OFF OWNERS OF THE MISSIONS HAVE TO PAY SOMETHING. A WHOPPING 20%. THEY SAY IT ALL SOUNDS GREAT. WHAT ABOUT THE -- AND THERE WILL BE NO DIRECT USE OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES. HE SAYS IT ALL SOUNDS GREAT, BUT IT'S NOT ENTIRELY THE CASE. THE TIRZ, YEAH, WELL, 
          [03:30:08]
THAT DOESN'T -- THAT ACTUALLY GOES TO PAY FOR THAT. 
          IT DOESN'T ALLOW US THE CITIZENS, THE TAX DOLLARS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE. TELL MR. WESTON TO USE HIS OWN DIME FOR THIS AND NOT OURS. OKAY? THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. 
          MAUREEN GALINDO. >> HI. I'M MAUREEN GALINDO. 
          I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS WHO DID COME OUT ON MONDAY, UNLESS IT IS THAT YOU STILL VOTE FOR THE STADIUM TODAY. THEN IT KIND OF JUST FEELS LIKE A POLITICAL SHOW. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS SO EXCITED. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A POWERFUL NIGHT. 
          I WALK INTO H-E-B AND SEE THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS, FRONT COVER, 1500 APARTMENTS AND STADIUM PLAN, DEVELOPMENT AROUND PROPOSED BALLPARK WOULD BOOST DOWNTOWN HOUSING SUPPLY. 
          SO WE DON'T JUST HAVE A BILLIONAIRE THAT OWNS 85% OF THE LAND DOWNTOWN. BUT HE ALSO OWNS THE MEDIA, TOO. 
          THAT WAS MADISON EASLER. I WOULD FEEL A LOT OF SHAME UNLESS IT WAS THAT HER JOB WAS JEOPARDIZED BECAUSE GRAHAM WESTON HIMSELF WAS CHOKING HER OUT. I IMAGINE THAT MAY HOW A LOT OF YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW. IF YOU DON'T VOTE FOR THIS, LITERALLY A BILLIONAIRE MAY BE AFTER YOU.  I GET IT. 
          THAT'S SCARY. I STUDIED COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH IS MY EXPERTISE, AND PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH AND POLICY MEANS THAT WE LOOK AT THINGS FROM A POWER DYNAMICS LEVEL. SO WHEN PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY AN ISSUE DON'T HAVE A SAY IN THIS SOLUTION, THEN WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY SOLUTIONS. WE HAVE TO GO DOWN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED IN ORDER TO FIND WHAT THE MOST EFFICIENT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS ARE. HERE THERE WAS NO PUBLIC INPUT. AS SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID, OBVIOUSLY DUE TO A BILLIONAIRE DOING THIS. SO I JUST WANT THE TENANTS FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO RELOCATE, I SUPPORT THAT. 
          FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO STOP THE DEMOLITION OF THE SOAP FACTORY APARTMENTS, I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO SUPPORT THAT, TOO. 
          I SAY THAT AS A COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGIST. THANK YOU, MS. GALINDO. 
          >> AND ALSO AS A MOM. >>  MAYOR NIRENBERG: I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TO SPEAKED TO. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WE'LL GET TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. 
          LET ME MAKE A FEW REMARKS. FIRST, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS ON THIS ISSUE. WE KNOW THIS ISSUE TOUCHES A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONCERNS FOR THE COMMUNITY. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS TO LEVEL SET AGAIN. SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH HERE. A STADIUM PROPOSAL TO BUILD ON A CURRENTLY VACANT PART OF OUR DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS GOING TO INCLUDE MULTIPLE PHASES OF REDEVELOPMENT. 
          LET ME BE CLEAR.  THE AREAS THAT WILL BE REDEVELOPED ARE PRIVATELY OWNED PARCELS OF PROPERTY. THE AREAS THAT WILL BE REDEVELOPED ARE ALREADY GOING TO BE REDEVELOPED WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A STADIUM BUILT THERE OR NOT. THE OPPORTUNITY THAT PRESENTS US IS A PUBLIC TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS IS NOT ONLY TO DELIVER A STADIUM THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT, THAT THE PUBLIC WILL OWN, BUT ALSO TO ENSURE THAT ANY RESIDENTS AFFECTED IN THAT AREA HAVE A PLAN FOR RELOCATION. LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. 
          HAD THERE BEEN NO CITY INVOLVEMENT IN THIS DEAL, THE REDEVELOPMENT IN THAT PROPERTY COULD RESULT IN TERMINATED LEASES, COULD RESULT IN DISPLACEMENT, COULD RESULT IN A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE NO SAY IN. SO I PREFACE ALL OF THAT TO SAY THAT, NUMBER ONE, I ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY SOME FOLKS WE KNOW VERY WELL SUGGESTING THAT, PERHAPS, WE NEED A VISION FOR DOWNTOWN. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I THINK WE HAVE A VISION FOR DOWNTOWN. I THINK WE'RE INVESTING IN THAT VISION FOR DOWNTOWN. IN FACT, THIS COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE CITY IN A PROCESS CALLED SA 2020 WHICH WAS LARGELY TO REENVISION HOW WE WANTED THE URBAN CORE TO GROW. 
          THEN WE BEGAN THE DISCUSSION OF HOW WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT THAT. 
          SO THE VISION -- EXCUSE ME, MA'AM.  I'M SPEAKING. 
          THE VISION FOR THAT IS THERE. THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS HOW WE EXECUTE THAT. THE CHOICES THAT WE MAKE TO EITHER IMPLEMENT THE VISION OR PASS ON IT. NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT 
          [03:35:02]
EVERY CHOICE THAT WE MAKE IS AUTOMATIC. IN FACT, OUR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY ARE SOMEWHAT CHALLENGING. IN FACT, VERY CHALLENGING ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THINGS LIKE HOUSING. WHEN WE STARTED THAT PROCESS OF REENVISIONING WHAT THE URBAN CORE SHOULD LOOK LIKE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A HOUSING PLAN.  TODAY WE HAVE THAT. 
          WE HAVE A HOUSING FRAMEWORK AND A STRATEGIC PLAN. 
          WE ARE FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE OF THOSE PLANS WHEN WE EXECUTE A PROPOSAL LIKE THIS. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAIS, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, CAB A OWE HAVRDA ALONG WITH COPS METRO WHO CONTINUE TO REMIND US, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOW WE EXECUTE A PLAN, HOW WE ACHIEVE OUR VISION, IT'S ALSO -- IT'S NOT THAT WE DO THAT, BUT IT'S ALSO WOULD YOU WE DO THAT AND MAKING THE PLAN STRONGER WITH RESPECT TO THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE THAT IS GOING TO BE PROVIDED IN THIS PROPOSAL, ONLY STRENGTHEN THE PLAN IN MY VIEW. 
          SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR MAKING WHAT I BELIEVE IS A VERY STRONG PROPOSAL THAT IMPROVES AREAS OF DOWNTOWN THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT ALSO DOES SO IN A CONSCIOUS WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT NO RESIDENTS ARE LEFT BEHIND IN THE PROCESS. 
          I WILL REMIND YOU THAT AS THIS MOVES FORWARD, THERE IS A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT. NO ONE'S LEASE WILL BE TERMINATED. 
          THE FIRST PHASE REDEVELOPMENT DOESN'T HAPPEN FOR ROUGHLY ANOTHER YEAR. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK YET AHEAD OF US TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT HAS A STRATEGY. EVERY RESIDENT HAS THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED. YOUR CITY AND WESTERN URBAN ARE INVESTED IN THAT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS PROPOSAL IS STRONG. IT'S SOUND. IT'S ONE THAT WE STAND BY WITH RESPECT TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE PROCESS. SO I AM RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. 
          I WILL SUPPORT IT. I'LL TURN TO MY CITY COUNCIL NOW FOR DISCUSSION.  LET ME FIRST ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE. 
          >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. 
          THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FIVE. 
          COUNCILMEMBER HAVRDA. >> THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          TO STEVEN ZAMORA, I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE TODAY, WHO WAS ELECTED BY THE SOAP FACTORY RESIDENTS, RANDY SMITH, OF COURSE, DANIEL ORTIZ AND DR. KAUR FOR HELPING TO DO THE HARD WORK IN HAMMERING OUT THIS LAST PART OF THE AGREEMENT. I WANT TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE SOAP FACTORY RESIDENTS WHO SPOKE AT MONDAY'S EVENT, SOME WHO ARE HERE TODAY. I WAS THERE MONDAY NIGHT AND I HEARD YOU SPEAK, AND THANKFUL THAT YOU DID THAT, THAT YOU ORGANIZED IT. 
          IT'S CLEAR THAT WE FELL SHORT IN COMMUNICATING WITH YOU FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, AND THAT'S ON US. WHEN I REALIZED HOW BADLY THE COMMUNITY OCCASION HAD BROKEN DOWN, I DIDN'T THINK WE COULD WAIT ANOTHER SECOND TO ACT. I'VE SPENT THIS LAST FEW DAYS SINCE MONDAY NIGHT IN MEETINGS, CALLS, DOING EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO GET THE SUPPORT THAT I BELIEVE THAT YOU DESERVE, WHICH MEANT PUSHING AND THINGS OBVIOUSLY UP TO TODAY, RIGHT UP TO THE WIRE. 
          I KNOW THAT THIS ENTIRE PLAN ISN'T PERFECT. I KNOW THIS LAST PIECE OF DR. KAUR AND I WORKED ON IS NOT PERFECT. IT'S NOT -- I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU HAD HOPED FOR. BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS:  THAT I LEFT NO STONE UNTURNED. I POURED MY HEART AND ENERGY INTO GETTING WHAT WAS POSSIBLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND I'VE LED WITH MY CONSCIENCE. I'LL KEEP DOING THAT. THAT DOESN'T END TODAY, BY THE WAY. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SECURE MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU, BUT WE DID PUT THAT WORK IN. TO BE -- SO I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE QUESTION. COUNCIL IS GOING TO SPEAK TO THE COMMITMENTS. I ASK WESTERN URBAN ABOUT THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE RENTAL RELOCATION. I WONDER IF YOU MIGHT COME UP, RANDY. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. 
          MS. GARZA, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY, MENTIONED THAT WE NEED TO BE -- WE NEED TO STAND BY OUR COMMITMENTS. 
          SO I WANT TO BE REAL CLEAR JUST KIND OF A YES OR NO. 
          WESTERN URBAN IS CONTRIBUTING $250,000 AS OUTLINED IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION UNDER RESTRICTED. CORRECT? 
          >> YES, MA'AM, UNRESTRICTED ALSO IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER THINGS INCLUDED IN THE RELOCATION PACKAGE. IT'S NOT IN LIEU OF OUR 
          PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS. >> IT'S ON TOP OF THAT? >> YES, MA'AM. 
          >> I APPRECIATE, OF COURSE, COUNCILMEMBER DR. KAUR, YOUR EFFORTS TO HELP THE RESIDENTS. WE WERE IN FEVERISH COMMUNICATION WITH SOME OF YOU, AND WE'RE JUST AS EAGER TO FIND A SOLUTION. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ON THE FUTURE PHASES, AND I'M TALKING TO THE RESIDENTS NOW. AS WE LOOK FORWARD AND 
          [03:40:01]
AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNICATION SHALL DID-WELL, YOU DIDN'T MENTION IT. YOU SPOKE LOUD AND CLEAR MONDAY NIGHT, LAST NIGHT, AND THEN TODAY. I HOPE TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE. FATHER SAID TODAY THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE THE FIRST SEATS AT THE TABLE. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. 
          I COMMIT TO ENSURING THAT HAPPENS AS WE GO FORWARD. 
          SO KEEP SPEAKING UP. TOGETHER WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY MAKE SURE YOUR NEEDS ARE MET AND I'M WORKING ON THE POLICY CHANGES TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF DISPLACEMENT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. 
          THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IT MAY BE NOVEL TO US NOW. 
          IT'S NOT GOING TO TO CONTINUING NOVEL AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW. 
          I THINK WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO TALK ABOUT POLICY CHANGES TO ENSURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAIS, I HOPE TO WORK WITH YOU MORE CLOSELY ON POLICY THAT WE PREVENT THIS KIND OF THING FROM HAPPENING. AGAIN, TO SOAP FACTORY RESIDENTS, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU MORE IN THE FUTURE. 
          THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF NOISE WHERE I AM, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME. 
          I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT. I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS EDITORIAL ARE BOARD GOT IT RIGHT WHEN THEY SAID THERE'S A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT THIS BALLPARK, AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT BACK THEN THERE WERE -- THERE WERE ELEMENTS NOT TO LIKE. I THINK THAT WE HAVE CHECKED OFF A VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED OF US AT THAT TIME, WHICH IS WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DISPLACED. I WANT TO THANK AND CALL ATTENTION TO COPS METRO. COPS METRO LET NOBODY SAY THAT THEY STILL DO NOT INFLUENCE POLICY. TODAY IS EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING. 
          IT'S THAT COPS METRO CONTINUES TO BE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. 
          WHEN YOU SHOWED UP COPS METRO AND SAID WHAT WOULD BE FAIR IS $2500, I HOPE THAT YOU REALIZE TODAY THAT WE LISTENED TO YOU. 
          YOU'RE RIGHT. YOUR REQUESTS AND YOUR SUGGESTIONS WERE VERY, VERY REASONABLE. $2500 GOING TO THE TENANTS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT'S COMPASSIONATE. IT'S EQUITABLE. 
          I THINK IT WILL GO A LONG WAY IN MAKING THEM WHOLE AND HELPING THEM TRANSITION INTO NOT JUST OTHER HOUSING BUT I AM CERTAIN BETTER HOUSING. 
          I GOT TO TOUR THE SOAP FACTORY. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, FOLKS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH DUCT TAPE AND BAILEY WIRE AND STRING. THERE ARE BETTER PLACES THAT ARE MORE REFLECTIVE. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, ENJOY SOME NEWER APARTMENTS AND CONDITIONS FOR YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS. ALONG THIS DISCUSSION, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMIND OUR OWNERSHIP GROUP AND RANDY SMITH, IF I CAN GET YOU UP ON THE PODIUM, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE USE OF LOCAL FIRMS FOR CONSTRUCTION. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT Y'ALL'S COMMITMENT TO DO THAT AND WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR LOCAL CONSTRUCTION FIRMS, LOCAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT FIRMS, LOCAL ENGINEERS, LOCAL ARCHITECTS, LOCAL SUPPLIERS? I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO REASON FOR YOU GUYS TO NOT BE USING ONLY LOCAL FOR EVEN UP TO AND INCLUDING YOUR PRIME CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. 
          I MEAN, THERE'S PLENTY OF TALENT IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          SO TELL ME HOW YOU'RE GOING TO USE THAT. >> YES, SIR. 
          COUNCILMEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I WOULD START WITH SAYING NOBODY HAS BEEN ENGAGED YET. WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR ENGAGING CONSTRUCTION FIRMS IN THE PROCESS. BUT LOOKING FORWARD, I THINK IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US AS A COMMUNITY IN THE FOLLOWING WAY:  YOU HEARD IN AN EARLIER AGENDA ITEM TODAY MUCH TALK ABOUT THE AIRPORT. SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR LOCAL CONSTRUCTION GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND SUBCONTRACTOR TALENT POOL, IT'S REALLY A REGIONAL TALENT POOL. THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT WORK ALL WITHIN SAN ANTONIO AND OUR REGION. BETWEEN A COUPLE OF BILLION DOLLARS AT THE AIRPORT, BETWEEN THE BILLION DOLLARS OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'VE PLEDGED TO PUT ON THE GROUND, BETWEEN ALL OF THE MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THIS COUNCIL HAS CHOSEN TO INVEST IN, THAT'S NOT TO MENTION THOSE SAME CONTRACTORS, LOCAL CONTRACTORS GET PULLED NORTH. THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IS OFF THE CHARTS. I REALLY THINK IT'S A 
          [03:45:01]
GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES IN SAN ANTONIO TO GROW. THIS WILL BE A TEN-YEAR PERIOD OF UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT. WE WILL -- WE HAVE COMMITTED THAT ANY PRIME CONTRACTOR THAT IS NOT LOCAL WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO PARTNER WITH A LOCAL CONTRACTOR. BUT, AGAIN, TOO EARLY. WE HAVE ENGAGED NO ONE, AND OUR EMPHASIS AS A COMPANY IS ALWAYS TO WORK WITH OUR 
          NEIGHBORS. >> PELAEZ: SO, RANDY, I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          ARE I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. IT'S TOO EARLY TO NAME, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTORS AND ALL THAT. YOU ARE WAITING FOR TODAY'S VOTE. WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS, WHAT WE ARE TELLING THE PUBLIC IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A PEOPLE'S PROJECT, THAT WE'RE BUILDING A FACILITY FOR SAN ANTONIANS TO BE ABLE TO COME DOWNTOWN, ENJOY THEIR DOWNTOWN AND ENJOY A TEAM THAT'S BEEN HERE FOREVER.  I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, IT WOULD BREAK MY HEART IF A NON-SAN ANTONIO FIRM WERE TO BUILD THE PEOPLE'S BASEBALL STADIUM, BUT IT WOULD BREAK MY HEART ALSO IF LATER WE FIND OUT THAT WE DIDN'T TRY HARD ENOUGH. 
          THEN THERE'S THE OTHER PART OF THIS. RIGHT? AND THAT IS I WANT TO PUSH BACK ON YOU AND TELL YOU THAT I KNOW YOU'LL SAY YOU'LL CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE LOCAL TEAMS TO PARTNER. 
          I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU TO MAYBE CHANGE THAT TO WE WON'T PICK TEAMS UNLESS THEY'RE PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL. I NEED Y'ALL'S HELP IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES EVENTUALLY GET TO WORK ON PROJECTS SO THEY CAN BECOME NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES. 
          THEY'LL NEVER GET THERE UNLESS WE DON'T GIVE THEM THE CHANCE. 
          I KNOW YOU'RE PICKING UP ON WHAT I'M LAYING DOWN, BUT I'M REALLY GOING TO HOLD YOU GUYS ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT BECAUSE IF OUR LOCAL ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO SIT BACK AND WATCH SOMEBODY ELSE BUILD THEIR STADIUM, I THINK WE WILL HAVE BEEN -- I THINK WE'LL STRIKE OUT. SO ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. I AM CONFIDENT TODAY'S ITEM IS GOING TO PASS. 
          I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS. THANKS. 
          >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. 
          >> I REALLY WANTED TO VOTE YES ON THIS ITEM AND I'VE GONE GREAT LENGTHS TO GET TO THIS YES VOTE. TODAY IS ONE OF TODAY'S VOTES, IT'S A VOTE I HAD HOPED WOULD SET THE TONE FOR THE REST OF OUR DISCUSSIONS AND UNFORTUNATELY I BELIEVE IT'S DONE EXACTLY THAT. 
          OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS, I'VE HEARD FROM TENANTS AND HOPE TO SERVE AS A CONNECTOR BETWEEN TENANTS AND WESTERN URBAN SO THAT MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION AND DIALOGUE COULD TAKE PLACE. 
          LAST WEEK WHEN TENANTS INVITED US TO A MEETING THIS MONDAY, I REACHED OUT TO SEE IF IT WAS OKAY FOR ME TO INVITE WESTERN URBAN BOTH PARTIES ACCEPTED THE OFFER. WE THEN SET UP A MEETING ON SUNDAY BETWEEN THE TENANTS AND WESTERN URBAN AND TENANTS GOT TO HEAR FOR THEAR FIRST TIME SOME DETAILS OF AN IN-PROGRESS DISPLACEMENT PLAN.  ALL OF THAT WAS ONLY DONE WITH THE HOPE AND BELIEF WE WOULD COME TO A POINT WHERE TENANTS WOULD BE BROUGHT OFFICIALLY TO THE TABLE AND THAT THEY COULD HAVE MEANINGFUL INPUT ON WHAT WILL BE THEIR DISPLACEMENT. THOSE EFFORTS AND THE PROGRESS BEING MADE WERE HIJACKED AND CO-OPTED SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. 
          WHAT I'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS ARE TENANTS WHO HAVE BEEN HEARD AND BLINDSIDED BY THE NEWS THEIR HOMES WILL BE DEMOLISHED AND THAT THERE WAS NO PLAN IN PLACE TO ENSURE THEIR LIVELIHOODS WOULD NOT BE DISRUPTED. SOME OF THESE RESIDENTS HAVE LIVED AT THE SOAP FACTORY OVER 20 YEARS. OTHERS MOVED IN JUST DAYS AGO ARE FINDING THIS NEWS OUT JUST DAYS AFTER SIGNING THEIR LEASE AND THEY ARE STILL SIGNING LEASES TODAY. AFTER TENANTS ANNOUNCED THEIR MEETING WAS ANYONE INTERESTED IN BRINGING TENANTS INTO THE FOLD. 
          THEN THEN, THERE WAS MORE INTEREST AND NEGOTIATING A HALF-ASS DEAL RATHER THAN LISTENING TO THEIR NEEDS AND PROCESS WHATEVER PACKAGE YOU WERE THROWING AT THEM VERBALLY WITH NOTHING IN WRITING. NOTHING FOR THEM TO READ. 
          NOTHING FOR THEM TO SHARE AND DISCUSS WITH THEIR FAMILIES. 
          IT'S A CASE, AGAIN, OF THINKING THAT YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE. HAD WE JUST DONE WHAT I ASKED IN OUR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS AND THAT EVERY PUBLIC SESSION SINCE AND THE OWNERS SCHEDULED THEIR OWN ENGAGEMENT AND TRIED TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE THE TENANTS, MAYBE WE WOULD BE IN A BETTER PLACE TODAY. TO BE CLEAR, I THINK IT'S TRASH TO USE ARPA DOLLARS TO FIX A PROBLEM WE'RE MANUFACTURING. 
          ARPA WAS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND DISPARITIES FURTHER 
          [03:50:03]
EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC.  THERE IS A GREAT HOUSING NEED RIGHT NOW. THERE IS A WAIT LIST FOR HOUSING. 
          THERE ARE PEOPLE BEING DISPLACED. THERE ARE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS RIGHT NOW. WE COULD DEPLOY THESE FUNDS TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING, BUT INSTEAD, WE'RE GOING TO SUBSIDIZE THE DISPLACEMENT OF THESE TENANTS AND USE ARPA TO APPEASE THEM. AGAIN, WE ARE SUBSIDIZING THEIR DISPLACEMENT. THAT ASSISTANCE SHOULD COME WHOLLY FROM WESTERN URBAN. THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THE FINANCIAL SUCCESS OF THIS DEAL AND THE PROMISE IT MADE WAS PUBLIC DOLLARS QUOTE-UNQUOTE WEREN'T BEING USED. 
          ARPA WAS NOT CREATED OUT OF THIN AIR. THEY ARE PUBLIC DOLLARS DISTRIBUTED TO US BECAUSE OF GREAT EXISTING NEED.  MANY OF THESE TENANTS ALSO WILL NEED TO PURCHASE A CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK. 
          THEY WILL NEED TO PAY FOR CHILD CARE AND TAKE TIME OFF WORK TO MOVE. 
          THEY WILL NEED TO COVER FIRST MONTH'S RENT AT A NEW PLACE. 
          THEY WILL LOSE ACCESS TO THEIR SCHOOLS, THEIR WORK, THEIR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, ALL OF IT. $2500 IS AN ARBITRARY NUMBER. THE TENANTS ARE -- THIS IS THE MOST DISAPPOINTING PART OF IT ALL. THE TENANTS ARE AN AFTERTHOUGHT TO THE BASEBALL DEAL, AND THAT IS INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING AND INCREDIBLY DISGUSTING. WHAT I WOULD ASK -- WHAT I WOULD ASK THAT WE CONSIDER THE TENANTS' REQUEST FOR MORE TIME TO BE INVOLVED MEANINGFULLY IN THE DISCUSSION. I HEAR YOU ALL WHEN YOU SAY THIS IS A MUCH BETTER PLAN THAN OTHERS ELSEWHERE AND THAT IN A MATTER OF DAYS WE FOUND OPPORTUNITY. BUT IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD ACCOMPLISH WITH TENANTS. MOST OF THE TENANTS UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEM POLICE STATION HAPPENS WITH OUR WITHOUT THE STADIUM AND THEY WOULD HAVE -- ORGANIZED FOR A NO VOTE AND FILLED THE ROOM WITH PEOPLE OPPOSED. THEY ARE HOPING TO MAKE A HORRIBLE SITUATION LESS SO. IT'S INTERESTING TO ME. 
          IF WESTERN URBAN COULD FIND $250,000 IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO MATCH THE STIPEND FUND, I WOULD BET THEY COULD ACCOMPLISH A LITTLE BIT MORE IN A WEEK. SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION IF WE DON'T VOTE ON THIS TODAY, BASEBALL IS HE HAD DA. 
          I WOULD -- DEAD. I WOULD LIKE WESTERN URBAN TO COME UP REAL QUICK FOR A YES OR NO QUESTION.  THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO ASK. 
          I VALUE HONESTY, AND SO I WANT YOU TO BE HONEST AND CLEAR RIGHT NOW. 
          IF WE WERE TO CAST THIS VOTE WITHIN A WEEK AND A HALF, LET'S SAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, WOULD YOU NOT TAKE THAT TO MLB BEFORE THE MID-OCTOBER 
          DEADLINE? YES OR NO? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL. DANIEL ORTIZ, CO-COUNSEL. 
          WE COULD NOT TAKE THAT TO MLB. IT WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT. THERE ARE OTHER PARTIES THAT NEED TO ALSO ACT BEFORE THE DEADLINE, AND SO NOT ACTING WITH SUFFICIENT TIME TO ALLOW THEM TO ACT IN TIME WOULD BE INCOMPLETE. OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO SCHEDULE -- THEY WILL SCHEDULE BASED ON TODAY'S ACTION OR INACTION. SO THIS ISN'T THE ONLY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. 
          IT'S AN MOU BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THE TEAM. 
          SO WE COULD NOT TAKE -- THERE W WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TIME.  THE DOMINO 
          EFFECT -- >> THERE'S SOMETHING TANGIBLE THAT PREVENTS EVERY OTHER PARTY INCLUDING THE COUNTY, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM MAKING MOVEMENT WITHOUT US? 
          >> SO IN THEORY, NO, COUNCILMEMBER. >> THEY CAN STILL TAKE 
          THE DEAL? >> BUT IN PRACTICE, 26 DAYS WOULD BE WHAT WOULD BE LEFT FOR THE OTHER PARTIES TO ACT AFTER THE 22ND TO MEET AN 
          OCTOBER 15TH DEADLINE. >> THANK YOU. 
          COLLEAGUES, I KNOW Y'ALL PERSONALLY TO BE KIND, COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE WHO VALUE THE INPUT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE TO FIND A COMPROMISE. 
          I KNOW THAT YOU ALL WANT TO VOTE YES ON BASEBALL AND YOU WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. I'M WITH YOU. BUT HOW WE GET THERE MATTERS. EARLIER WE HEARD FROM PASTOR JIMENEZ AND HE SHARED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LOOKING OUT FOR THE LEAST OF US. 
          I HOPE THAT TODAY YOU CAN SHOW PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE AND DEMONSTRATE YOUR VALUES TO THOSE WHO NEED TO SEE IT THE MOST RIGHT NOW. 
          SO THAT BEING SAID, I MOVE TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM UNTIL A SPECIAL SESSION THAT TAKES PLACE BEFORE SEPTEMBER 23RD WITH EXPECTATION THAT WESTERN URBAN AND THE CITY HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING NEXT WEEK WHERE TENANTS ASK DISCUSS THE PLAN AND ADDITIONAL OPTIONS CAN BE EXPLORED INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE INTO THE NEW APARTMENT AT GRANDFATHERED RENT, REDUCING EXISTING RENT, ALTERNATIVES TO ARPA, ET CETERA. OKAY.  THERE WAS A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE 
          [03:55:03]
ITEM WITH A SECOND. SO WE WILL TAKE UP DISCUSSION ON CONTINUANCE NOW. THE CONTINUANCE DATE WAS -- 
          >> BEFORE SEPTEMBER 23RD. BEFORE SEPTEMBER 
          23RD. ANDY, WHAT'S THAT DATE. >> WE WOULD NEED A DATE CERTAIN. WE CAN JUST SAY SEPTEMBER 23RD TO DELAY -- I'M LOOKING FOR WHEN WE HAVE A MEETING, MAYOR. 
          >> BEFORE SEPTEMBER 23RD. >> SO THE MOTION IS TO DELAY UNTIL THERE'S A SPECIAL SESSION ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 23RD. WE CAN DO THAT, COUNCIL. 
          >>  MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND THAT WAS SPENTED BY COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THE DISCUSSION ON THE FLOOR NOW IS A DISCUSSION ON THE DELAY. SHOULD WE TAKE UP ONE DISCUSSION ON THE WHOLE THING BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE 
          MERITS. >> IF THE COUNCILMEMBER IS OKAY WITH IT, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION SINCE THE DISCUSSION ON THE DELAY IS TIED TO THE MERITS OF -- WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OUR DISCUSSION MANY WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE -- WE'LL TAKE UP THE MOTION FOR DELAY BEFORE THE MAIN MOTION. SO WE'LL CONTINUE NOW. 
          YOU YIELDED THE FLOOR. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. >> THANKS, MAYOR. 
          I'M GOING TO SAY AT THE OUTSET, I LOVE BASEBALL. 
          IT'S A GREAT GAME. IT'S A FAMILY SPORT. SOME OF MY BEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES ARE GOING TO ASTROS GAMES WITH MY DAD AND MY BROTHER. I'LL ALSO NEVER FORGET SITTING NEXT TO MY MOM WHEN THE FINAL OUT WAS MADE AND THE ASTROS WON THEIR FIRST WORLD SERIES. I GET WARM FUZZY FEELINGS. 
          I PLAYED FOR A THIRD OF MY LIFE, AND I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. 
          BUT ALL OF THAT IS COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT TO ME WITH REGARD TO THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY BECAUSE TODAY WE MUST LOOK AT THIS PROJECT ON ITS OWN MERITS AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS GOOD FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          TO ME, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THREE THINGS:  NUMBER ONE, WHO ARE WE WORKING WITH? WHO IS THE CITY'S PARTNER IN THIS PROJECT? I'M HERE TO TELL YOU -- AND I'VE USED THE EXPRESSION BEFORE, AND IT IS A BASKETBALL EXPRESSION, BUT THIS IS A DREAM TEAM OF AN OWNERSHIP GROUP. THESE ARE PEOPLE -- DAVID, I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR YOU SAY IT EARLIER. 
          THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT KEEP THEIR WORD. THESE ARE PEOPLE WITH BIG HEARTS. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHO OUR PARTNERS ARE IN THIS VENTURE, BECAUSE THIS IS A CITY PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, I AM VERY SATISFIED THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST AND THE MOST COMPASSIONATE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS CITY'S INTEREST AT THE TOP OF THEIR MIND. NUMBER TWO, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS AND WHAT IMPACT IS IT GOING TO HAVE? WELL, WE'RE DOING THIS ON A VERY BASIC LEVEL BECAUSE THE STADIUM THE MISSIONS PLAY IN RIGHT NOW DOES NOT MEET MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDARDS. THEY HAVE SAID THE MISSIONS MUST HAVE A NEW STADIUM. OTHERWISE, WE RISK LOSING THE TEAM. 
          NUMBER TWO, PUTTING THIS DOWNTOWN, MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS SOMETHING THAT IS AFFORDABLE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, SOMETHING THAT THIS CITY VERY, VERY DESPERATELY NEEDS. WE HEAR ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW SO MANY PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO THE SPURS GAMES.  THEY CAN AFFORD TO GO TO THE MISSIONS GAMES. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE HERE IN THIS CITY. NUMBER THREE, PEOPLE MENTIONED IT EARLIER. LABOR.  RIGHT? WE HEARD FROM THE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND ABOUT HOW WE HAVE FOLKS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IN COLLEGE THAT ARE DECIDING WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO STAY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO OR WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE TO OTHER CITIES. WE ALSO HEAR FROM OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW WE NEED MORTAL ENTER HERE. WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR TALENT HOME HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOWNTOWN WHERE WE GET DEVELOPMENT AROUND IT, WITH BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS AROUND THE STADIUM THAT CAN ATTRACT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO STAY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND CAN ATTRACT TALENT FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO IS VALUABLE. 
          IT WILL BE VALUABLE FOR OUR BUSINESSES AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY. 
          FINALLY, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THIS CAN HAVE. 
          [04:00:04]
RIGHT? WHEN THIS WORKS -- AND I DO BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO WORK -- THE REVENUE THAT WILL BE GENERATED BY EVERYTHING THAT'S IN AND AROUND THE STADIUM FOR THIS CITY IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO PAY FOR A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS IN THE CITY THAT WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HERE THAT WE WANT TO DO. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT HAS A CHANCE TO BE VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IF THIS IS DONE PROPERLY. 
          AGAIN, I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT THE TEAM HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS DONE RIGHT. SO WHO ARE WE WORKING? WHY ARE WE DOING IT AND WHAT DOES IT IMPACT? THIRD, CAN WE DO THIS IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER? I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT BUT FOR THIS FINANCIAL PLAN THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, I WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT. BUT THIS PLAN IS ONE THAT FRANKLY WOULD NOT WORK FOR EVERY STADIUM. OKAY. IT WORKS FOR THIS MINOR LEAGUE PARK. IT'S A PLAN WHERE NO GENERAL FUND MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED ON IT. IT'S A PLAN WHERE WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO TAX THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO AREA. IT'S A PLAN WHERE THE OWNERSHIP GROUP IS BEARING A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE COST AND THE REST WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE TIRZ AS MENTIONED, MEANING THAT THE BUSINESSES AND EVERYTHING AROUND THE STADIUM THAT ARE GOING TO GET THE BENEFITS OF BEING THERE, IT WILL BE THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO PAY THE REST. ALL OF THAT, I SHOULD SAY, IS ALSO BACKED BY NUMEROUS GUARANTEES FROM THIS OWNERSHIP GROUP. IT IS A RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL PLAN THAT WILL NOT IMPACT THE VAST, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF SAN ANTONIANS. IT'S FOR THOSE REASONS THAT I'M FOR THIS PROJECT. BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I GAVE UP THE REST OF MY TIME WITHOUT SAYING THE FOLLOWING:  NO PROJECT IS PERFECT, AS WAS STATED EARLIER. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE DO SOMETHING BIG AND BOLD FOR OUR CITY WHERE THERE AREN'T SOME FOLKS THAT UNHAPPY. I WANT ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THAT I HEAR YOU, AND I KNOW THAT THESE PEOPLE UP HERE HEAR YOU. 
          IT MAY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOT BEING LISTENED TO, BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THIS GROUP OF FOLKS HAS LISTENED. THESE PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE LISTENED AS WELL. 
          THE NUMBER ONE ROLE HERE FOR US ON CITY COUNCIL IS ALWAYS TO LISTEN AND TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. I TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY, AND I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES DO AS WELL. BUT WHAT I WILL NOT HAVE AND WHAT I BELIEVE IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY IS WHEN WE VILIFY BUSINESS PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE. 
          EVERYBODY SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE PUTTING FORTH THIS PROJECT TODAY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WE GO TO EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR FOR VARIOUS PHILANTHROPIC VENTURES, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE FOR US. THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE -- THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT EMPLOY HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS SO THAT THOSE FOLKS CAN PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. 
          THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BROUGHT FORTH A PROJECT WHERE THEY ARE RISKING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF THEIR CAPITAL TO INVEST IN THIS CITY. 
          I'M HERE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. ALL RIGHT. 
          IF WE DON'T HAVE FOLKS LIKE THIS THAT ARE WILLING TO RISK THEIR CAPITAL AND INVEST IN THE CITY, WE WILL NEVER GET THIS CITY TO WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE. THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE WATCHING. 
          THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE WATCHING. FOLKS, COUNCILMEMBER 
          [04:05:04]
WHITE HAS THE FLOOR. IF YOU CAN'T SHOW RESPECT FOR THE SPEAKER, WHETHER HE OR SHE IS AT THE PODIUM OR UP ON THE DAIS, YOU WILL BE 
          ESCORTED OUT. >> WE NEED THESE FOLKS TO CONSIDER TO INVEST IN SAN ANTONIO AND ITS PEOPLE. IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO INVEST IN SAN ANTONIO AND ITS CITIZENS. THAT'S HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE OUR GREAT CITY FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN REACH THE POTENTIAL THAT SAN ANTONIO DOES HAVE. THIS IS A GREAT CITY. IT'S MADE UP OF GREAT PEOPLE LIKE ALL OF YOU AND LIKE THIS GROUP AS WELL. 
          THIS CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE THIS VOTE TODAY, AND AFTER WE LEAVE THE DAIS, WE WILL ALL REMAIN ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THIS GREAT CITY ALL WORKING TOGETHER FOR ONE COMMON GOAL, WHICH IS TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA 
          GARCIA. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH MAYOR. 
          I WANTED TO START OFF BY THANKING EVERYONE WHO CAME TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR THE OPPOSITION FOR THE PROJECT. 
          I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS STILL, AND I'LL START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND APPRECIATED FATHER SAID REMINDING US -- STARTED REMINDING US THAT THE SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT AS EQUALS. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE JUST SAID SOMETHING THAT REMINDED ME THAT NEXT WEEK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE ABOUT HOUSING THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WOULD ALSO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL AS YOUR NEIGHBORS. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE JUST SAID WE WILL NOT VILIFY THE PEOPLE FOR THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE. SO JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WE THINK THIS THROUGH. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. 
          THIS IS -- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. 
          I HAVE TO START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING THE RESIDENTS TOGETHER, THE TENANTS TOGETHER, AT THE MEETING SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO VOICE THEIR OPINION. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU DID WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. 
          SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME INTO THAT MEETING ON SUNDAY NIGHT. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, AND IT'S PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO WHAT HAPPENS -- WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT THE COUNTY LEVEL BEFORE THAT MOVES ON? THEN ALSO, WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT SAISD AND BY WHEN? I'M ASKING BECAUSE SAISD ONLY HAS ONE BOARD MEETING, AND THAT'S ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 16TH.  THE NEXT MEETING IS NOT UNTIL OCTOBER THE 21ST. I UNDERSTAND END THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO NEGOTIATE THE DEAL JUST LIKE ERIK WALSH IS ALLOWED TO NEGOTIATE THE DEALS. IT'S STILL THE SELLING OF THE LAND STILL HAS TO COME BACK TO THE SAISD BOARD. SO I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYONE FROM SAISD THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT. 
          OR MAYBE IT'S DANIEL. GO AHEAD, DANIEL. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.  AGAIN, HERE, AS CO-COUNSEL FOR DESIGNATED BIDDERS, SO I AM OTHER NOT SPEAKING FOR SAISD. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE ARE IN ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH SAISD. WE HAVE BEEN IN ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH SAISD. THE MOU ACKNOWLEDGES WE'RE IN ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH SAISD. APPROVING THE MOU BOTTOM LINE, WHAT I COULD SAY IS APPROVING THE MOU MAKES IT INCUMBENT ON THE TEAM. 
          THE CITY WOULDN'T BE TAKING ON ANY ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER. SO TO YOUR POINT, BOTTOM LINE, THERE IS A QUESTION THERE, BUT IT'S INCUMBENT ON THE TEAM TO FINISH THE DISCUSSIONS. 
          >> SAME FOR THE COUNTY, DANIEL? >> NOT SPEAKING FOR THE COUNTY, BUT WE HAVE ALSO BEEN IN ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY. WE'RE SCHEDULED, DEPENDING ON ACTION OR INACTION TODAY, TO GET A BINDING. MOU WITH THE COUNTY AS 
          WELL. >> GOT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I'M ASKING THIS BECAUSE I WOULD ASSUME THAT THIS WOULD GENERATE A REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IF THE TIRZ IS EXTENDED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THAT'S WHY IT WOULDN'T -- SO HELP ME 
          UNDERSTAND THAT THEN. SORRY, BEN. >> COUNCILMEMBER. 
          SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN TIRZ. THERE WOULD BE IN IMPACT 
          ON SAISD. >> THANK YOU.  I WASN'T CLEAR ON THAT I DO HAVE 
          [04:10:01]
AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION ON THE TIME LINE. SO IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEVERAGE -- I'LL ASK ADDITIONAL -- ACTUALLY, LET ME ASK THIS.  THE BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES FOLKS, HAVE THEY BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO EVERY RESIDENT YET? BUT ARE THEY NOW ALLOWED 
          TO KNOCK ON EVERYONE'S DOOR? >> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THOSE ONE AT A TIME. SO NO, MA'AM. THEY HAVE NOT YET VISITED WITH EVERY RESIDENT AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THERE'S WELL OVER 300 FOLKS, AND THE BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES MEETINGS ARE INTENDED TO BE ONE-ON-ONES. SO TO FACILITATE THAT PROCESS, THEY ARE CURRENTLY MEETING OR HAVING OFFICE HOURS FIVE TIMES A WEEK, MONDAY MORNING AND MONDAY EVENING, WEDNESDAY MORNING AND WEDNESDAY EVENING, AND SATURDAY MORNINGS FROM 10:00 TO NOON. SO THOSE OFFICE HOURS ARE INTENDED TO BE INTRODUCTORY AND TO SET THE ONE-ON-ONES. SO, AGAIN, I KNOW I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD. IT'S TO MEET ONE-ON-ONE 
          WITH EVERYONE IS GOING TO TAKE TIME. >> GOT IT. 
          SO WHAT'S THE EARLIEST THAT YOU WOULD ANTICIPATE THEY WOULD MEET WITH EVERYONE? WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TENANTS HAVE THEY GOTTEN 
          TO WORK WITH ALREADY? >> I THINK BRAND ON, ARE YOU HERE? BRENNAN JOHNSON IS THE CEO OF BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES. 
          AS FAR AS ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS, THE PERCENTAGE BRENNAN CAN SPEAK TO -- AGAIN, IF YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ME FOR A DATE, IT'S HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON -- WE DON'T WANT TO FORCE THESE MEETINGS. IT'S SCHEDULING TO COMMIT.  IT'S A ONE-ON-ONE THING. THANK YOU. 
          BRENNAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL. 
          COUNCILWOMAN, SO FAR WE HAVE SIGNED UP 17 TENANTS HAVE SIGNED UP TO MEET WITH US FOR ONE-ON-ONES. WE'VE ALREADY HAD OUR FIRST ONE-ON-ONE, AND WE HAVE A TEAM MEMBER MEETING WITH DISABLED PERSON AND THAT WILL BE OUR FIRST PERSON WE PHYSICALLY TAKE TO A NEW PLACE TO LOOK AT. TOTAL, WE HAVE MET WITH 40 RESIDENTS. 
          17 HAVE AGREED TO SIGN UP AND SEEK OUR ASSISTANCE IN 
          RELOCATED. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, BRENNAN. IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM OPPORTUNITY HOME? I AM WONDERING IF YOU CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND -- IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO A FEW WEEKS AC, THEY MENTIONED 113,000 PEOPLE ON A LIST TO BE ABLE TO GET HELP FROM OPPORTUNITY HOME. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NO WAIT LIST ON THE MIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO THAT YOU HAVE, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT FAR, LIKE THE AREAS THAT YOU ALL ARE PROPOSING. THERE'S 18 APARTMENTS AVAILABLE IN MY DISTRICT. THAT'S 8.2 MILES AWAY. THERE'S 14 AVAILABLE IN D1. THAT'S 5.2 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE THEY LIVE RIGHT NOW. THERE'S 11 IN D10, 7.1 MILES AWAY.  THERE'S 143 UNITS AVAILABLE 10 MILES AWAY AT THE WOOD HILL APARTMENTS AND 39 AT VILLA DE VALENCIA, WHICH IS 15 MILES AWAY. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, I FEEL LIKE, ARE WE INADVERTENTLY MAYBE JUMPING THESE FOLKS TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE? WHY WASN'T THIS EXIGENCE PPH -- MIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO OFFERED TO PEOPLE? 
          IS IT HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC. >> OPPORTUNITY HOME IS SERVED AS AN OPTION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SOAP FACTORY. 
          HELLO, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.  IT IS THESE UNITS. 
          WHAT WE DID AS A POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE 382 UNITS AS YOU'VE READ THROUGH A LETTER. 382 UNITS AVAILABLE. THESE ARE ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND THEY ARE MEANT FOR THAT. 
          IT'S A CHOICE AMONG THE RESIDENTS. OFF THE TEN CASES, THEY SAY WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO X. HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO ACCOMPLISH. SO IN TERMS IT OF DISTANCE, THAT MAY BE EXACTLY WHERE THEY WANT TO BE. SO THEY COULD BE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE. 
          FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE 110 THAT ARE IN DISTRICTS 1, 2, 4, AND 5 THAT WOULD BE WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY THAT ARE ALL BY VIA TRANSIT. THEY ARE BY CLINICS. THEY ARE BY THE SAME SORT OF LIVING NEEDS THAT SOAP FACTORY CURRENTLY OFFERS TO THEM. SO THAT'S HOW WE CLASSIFIED IT. 
          NOW, IN TERMS OF THE WAIT LIST, THESE ARE IN OUR MIXED INCOME. 
          SO THEY ARE NOT PART OF OUR PUBLIC HOUSING. OPPORTUNITY HOME DOES OPERATE IN TWO PORTFOLIO, BEACON AND PUBLIC HOUSING. 
          IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE WAIT LIST. THESE ARE AVAILABLE TODAY TO ANY RESIDENT, AND WE WOULD OFTEN, BECAUSE IT -- BECAUSE IT 
          [04:15:03]
CAN CHANGE, 382 IS YESTERDAY'S NUMBER. IT COULD BE HIGHER. 
          IT COULD BE LOWER TODAY DEPENDING UPON WHAT OTHER RESIDENTS ARE 
          LOOKING AT OUR SYSTEMS. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: I GUESS THE REASON THAT I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE GET VERY CREATIVE WHEN WE NEED TO. SO I MENTIONED THIS LAST GO AROUND. 
          RIGHT? I SAID, MAN, I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE COME UP WITH THIS IDEA TO HELP SAVE THE HOSPITAL ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 
          RIGHT? AND SO WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOUCHERS TO BE ABLE TO PLACE PEOPLE IN HOMES, BUT YOU HAVE A PORTFOLIO THAT HAS SO MANY APARTMENTS AVAILABLE, IT'S JUST DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THAT GAP. RIGHT? FROM ONE PORTFOLIO TO ANOTHER. RIGHT? AND SO -- I KNOW IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS CAME TOGETHER VERY, VERY QUICKLY.  I'M JUST REALLY TRYING TO 
          UNDERSTAND. >> THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE AVAILABLE UNITS IS ALWAYS THERE. IT'S ENCUMBERED UPON OUR ORGANIZATION AS WE HAVE DONE SO OVER MANY YEARS. THESE ARE AVAILABLE. 
          WE DO RUN INTO SITUATIONS WHERE THOSE ON OUR WAIT LIST CHOOSE NOT TO LIVE IN THE AVAILABLE UNITS BECAUSE MAYBE IT'S NOT NEAR WHERE THEY NEED IT TO BE BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS, WHICHEVER THE SITUATION MAY ARISE. BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING RENTED OUT AHEAD OF TIME FOR THE SAKE OF THE ORGANIZATION. 
          BUT IN DOING SO, WHEN WE SAW THIS, IT PRESENTED THE OPTION THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT WILL ALLOW THEM, HERE ARE AVAILABLE UNITS THAT WE WOULD LOVE 
          TO PARTNER WITH YOU. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I JUST THOUGHT OF TWO WORDS WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO SAY AND THAT IS NOT FAIR. THIS IS NOT FAIR TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THERE. 
          YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- THERE ARE 300 PEOPLE OR MORE WHOSE LIVES ARE GOING TO BE REALLY DISRUPTED. AND I BELIEVE ALL OF US UP HERE HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT AND I THINK EVEN THE DEVELOPERS ARE RECOGNIZING THAT TOO. 
          AS I THOUGHT OF THAT, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I HAD TO MOVE IN THE 53 YEARS I'VE LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO. I WENT BACK, I'VE MOVED 11 TIMES IN THE 53 YEARS I'VE LIVED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. 11 MOVES. 
          AND THEY WERE ALWAYS HARD, THEY WERE NEVER EASY, THEY WERE NEVER FUN. 
          SOMETIMES I WAS FORCED TO MOVE, NOT THAT I WANTED TO, BUT THE RENT WENT UP COULD PAY. 
          I WAS, YOU KNOW, IN A LOCATION THAT WAS TOO FAR AWAY FROM WHERE I WORKED AND I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO, YOU KNOW, IT ISN'T FAIR, BUT LIFE ISN'T ALWAYS FAIR EITHER AND WE KNOW THAT. SO WHAT WE HERE NEED TO DO IS TRY AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT BE SO DETRIMENTAL TO YOUR LIVES. THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T MOVE ON. 
          WE ALL FACE THOSE KIND OF CHALLENGES SOMETIMES. NOW, YES, THE DEVELOPERS OF THESE PROJECTS, THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE GREAT PROFITS SOME DAY. 
          IT COULD BE IN FIVE YEARS, IT COULD BE IN TEN YEARS. THEY ARE GOING TO BE BUILDING MARKET RATE HOUSING RIGHT BY A BEAUTIFUL AREA THAT'S BEEN REDEVELOPED SO THEY ARE GOING TO GET MONEY FOR THEIR PROPERTY ONCE IT'S BUILT. 
          YES, THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD HOTELS AND HOTELS MAKE A LOT OF MONEY. 
          YES, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OFFER COMMERCIAL SPACE AND COMMERCIAL SPACE MAKES A LOT OF MONEY. SO YEAH, THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT NOT JUST THE 300 WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED, BUT WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO ALL THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF DECISIONS WE NEED TO MAKE AS A CITY COUNCIL. AND RIGHT NOW THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS I THINK I'VE BEEN ASKED TO MAKE ON THIS COUNCIL. ALSO, THOUGH, WE NEED TO THINK OF, YOU KNOW, THIS STADIUM THAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT, IT'S GOING TO BE BUILT. THAT MEANS THERE'S GOING TO BE HUNDREDS OF JOBS THAT PAY PROBABLY VERY GOOD SALARIES IN CONSTRUCTION. THERE'S GOING TO BE MAYBE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE OVER A FEW YEARS THAT ARE GOING TO BE WORKING THERE AND MAKING A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES. THERE'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FANS WHO ARE GOING TO BE GOING THERE ENJOYING THAT OVER THEIR LIFETIME, BUT YES, AT YOUR EXPENSE, IT'S TRUE. BUT WE NEED TO THINK OF THE 
          [04:20:03]
BIG PICTURE AS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'VE ALWAYS SAID WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO COUNCIL AND I SAY IT NOW, A COUNCIL PERSON FOR ONE DISTRICT IS MORE THAN JUST A COUNCIL PERSON FOR THAT DISTRICT. THEY ARE A COUNCILMEMBER FOR THE ENTIRE CITY BECAUSE EVERY DECISION WE MAKE HERE AT CITY HALL ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AFFECTS THE LIVES OF EVERYBODY. IT DOESN'T HAVE A GOOD EFFECT ON MANY PEOPLE TODAY AND THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF DECISIONS WE'VE MADE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL THAT WE KNOW PEOPLE HAVE NOT WANTED THAT KIND OF A DECISION. BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO BE BUILDING HOUSING. I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HOUSING THAT MAYBE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM MAY NOT WANT TO PAY, BUT WE NEED MORE HOUSING, HOUSING OF ALL KINDS. AND I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          I'VE SUPPORTED IN MY OWN DISTRICT, IN OTHER DISTRICTS, AND IT MAY NOT BE WHERE YOU WANT TO BE OR WHERE YOU ARE TODAY, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE BUILDING ALL KINDS OF HOUSING, PARTICULARLY WORKFORCE HOUSING. 
          THEY ARE GOING TO BE BUILDING 1500 UNITS. THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. THERE'S GOING TO BE A HOTEL. THERE'S GOING TO BE A RESTAURANT. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS ALSO? THAT MEANS HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF JOBS FOR PEOPLE. PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. 
          PEOPLE WHO YOU MAY WORK WITH IN OTHER AREAS. SO YEAH, IT'S NOT FAIR TO YOU, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FAIRNESS TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. 
          [APPLAUSE] SO, YOU KNOW, AS HARD AS THIS IS, AND I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO THINK WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE RIGHT DECISION FOR YOU. BUT I'M SORRY, I NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT IS THE RIGHT DECISION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN WHETHER IT'S A DEVELOPMENT TEAM OR THE CITY TEAM TO MAKE THIS CHANGE IN YOUR LIVES AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO PUT IT. I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER. 
          WHAT'S THE DATE THAT ARPA FUNDS MUST BE EXPENDED? >> WALSH: SO COUNCILMAN, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN OUR BUDGET WORK SESSIONS, FUNDS HAVE TO BE ENCUMBERED BY THE -- ARPA FUNDS HAVE TO BE ENCUMBERED BY THE END OF THE THIS YEAR AND SPENT BY FALL OF 2026. I WILL ADD AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ARPA, I'M GOING TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT. WE HAD $5.8 MILLION THAT WAS AVAILABLE BASED ON OUR REVIEW OF CONTRACTS THAT WE HAD. OF THAT $5.8 MILLION, $2.1 MILLION OF ARPA WAS BEING RELEASED BY AGENCIES BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T MEET THE TIME LINE. THE OTHER $3.7 MILLION IS FROM THE INTEREST ON THE ARPA. OF THE 5.8 MILLION, THE BUDGET INCLUDES 3.1 FOR EXTENSION OF SENIOR SENIORS AND THE BALANCE NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED. 
          WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING ARPA DOLLARS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY IT'S FROM THE INTEREST ON ARPA WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS WITHIN THE TIME LINES 
          ALLOCATED. >> COURAGE: NOW, YOU SAID IT HAS TO BE SPENT BY THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR OR THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR? 
          >> WALSH: IT NEEDS TO BE ENCUMBERED AND THAT'S A TERM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USES IN TERMS OF IT HAS TO BE ALLOCATED FOR USE BUT SPENT BY THE FALL OF 2026. 
          >> COURAGE: HOW COME IT'S NOT BY DECEMBER 31 OF 2026 OR SOMETHING? 
          >> WALSH: IT IS, DECEMBER OF 2026. >> COURAGE: BECAUSE I NOTICE WE SAID THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO RECEIVE OUR MONEY COULD ONLY RECEIVE IT UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR. IT COULD BE OCTOBER OR 
          NOVEMBER, RIGHT, AS LONG AS IT'S SPENT BY THEN? >> WALSH: I THINK THE CONCEPT IS THAT PHASE 1, WHICH IS THE 189 TENANTS APPROXIMATELY TO BE IMPACTED, PHASE 1 ACCORDING TO WESTON URBAN WOULD BEGIN NEXT SEPTEMBER. 
          >> COURAGE: RIGHT. >> WALSH: SO IT'S ALIGNED WITH THAT. 
          >> COURAGE: BUT AREN'T WE SAYING IF THERE'S MONEY AVAILABLE, WE CAN USE IT FOR 
          PEOPLE IN PHASE 2 ALSO? >> WALSH: IF PHASE 2 OR 3 RESIDENTS CHOOSE TO -- IF THERE'S MONEY AVAILABLE AFTER PHASE 1, IF PHASE 1 OR 3 RESIDENTS CHOOSE TO ALSO MOVE OFF PROPERTY, THEN IT'S AVAILABLE FOR THEM AS WELL, BUT BY THAT SEPTEMBER 2025 
          DEADLINE OR TIME LINE. >> COURAGE: OKAY. I'D LIKE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ACTUALLY ADDING ANOTHER 100,000 TO THAT SINCE WE HAVEN'T ALLOCATED ALL OF THAT 2.7. SO THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP MORE PEOPLE WHO MAY 
          [04:25:07]
HAVE EXTRA, EXTRAORDINARY KINDS OF PROBLEMS IN THEIR MOVE. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S ONE WOMAN WHO HAS LIVED THERE FOR 30 YEARS. 
          TRYING TO MOVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS LIVED SOMEWHERE FOR 30 YEARS COMPARED TO SOMEBODY SIX MONTHS IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE KIND OF TOOK THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE DID OUR CALCULATIONS. 
          BUT THE POINT I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS TO EXTEND THE DECISION AND I WOULD SAY AT THIS TIME NO. I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE ON THIS NOW BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THE LETTER FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. THEY NEED TO HAVE A SOLID COMMITMENT FROM ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS BY THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER AND THAT DOESN'T LEAVE THEM ENOUGH TIME TO GET ALL OF THE COMMITMENTS THEY NEED IF WE DELAY. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. 
          COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT AND AS WELL TO THE SOAP FACTORY BOARD WHO INVITED US TO SHARE EXPECTATIONS OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL. I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH A FORMER CO-WORKER WHO I WORKED WITH IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WHO STILL WORKS AT THAT SAME SPOT AND HAS LIVED AT SOAP WORKS FOR OVER 20 YEARS. AND THEY WALK TWO BLOCKS EVERY WEEKDAY TO GET TO AND FROM WORK, TO GO WORK IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GOING. WE JUST HAD OUR CENTRO BRIEFING WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE ROLE OF OUR HOSPITALITY WORKERS. AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A PLAN THAT ESSENTIALLY ISN'T PROVIDING THE FULL SUPPORT THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING AND DEMANDING. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF A DELAY GIVEN THAT THE TENANTS HAVE NOT NECESSARILY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT. 
          THANK YOU FOR HAVING THOSE OFFICE HOURS, BUT MY EXPECTATION THERE WOULD BE ONE PASS, ONE CONTACT MADE BEFORE WE GET TO THIS CONVERSATION AT THIS POINT. 
          I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK DANIEL AND ANISSA FOR BEING PRESENT AT ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. I WAS ALSO PRESENT AND I HEARD THE DIVERSE POSITIONS ON THE STADIUM AND I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, WHETHER IT'S WESTON URBAN OR CITY STAFF, CAN I GET ASSURANCES THAT THE GARDENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE INCLUDED IN THOSE 
          PUBLIC SAFETY PLANNING SESSIONS? >> COUNCILWOMAN, I THINK THAT AS WE LOOK AT THE BALLPARK TRAFFIC IMPACT, SECURITY IMPACTS, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE AREA AROUND THE BALLPARK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS 
          IMPACTS HOWEVER FAR OUT THAT GOES. >> CASTILLO: I WOULD LIKE FOR THE GARDENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE INCLUDED GIVEN MY COMMENTS AT THE LAST CONVERSATIONS REGARDING THE STADIUM IS JUST THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY BEAR SO MUCH, AND THE EXPECTATION IS THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THE BUDDING COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEIR POSITION REGARDING THE 
          PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN. >> YES, MA'AM, WE WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS 
          WE DEVELOP THAT PLAN. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. 
          ALSO INCLUDE THE FIVE POINTS NEIGHBORHOOD JUST NORTH OF THERE AS WELL. 
          ACTUALLY ANY NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT OUTSIDE THAT BOUNDARY NEEDS TO BE PART OF THAT 
          CONVERSATION. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          BECAUSE I HEAR THE CONCERNS AND I HEAR WHY THEY HAVE THE DESIRE AND I THINK JR HIT IT ON THE HEAD SAYING WE'VE BEEN PROMISED THINGS BEFORE AND THEY DO NOT MATERIALIZE. 
          AND IN PREPARATION FOR THIS CONVERSATION, MY TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN DIGGING THROUGH A WEALTH OF RESEARCH AND DATA REGARDING BASEBALL STADIUMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THESE ARE ACADEMIC RESEARCH CASE STUDIES, SO ON, SO FORTH, SOME TITLED HARD BALL IN CITY HALL, THE IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISES AND VENUES ON LOCAL ECONOMIES. SHOULD CITIES PAY FOR SPORTS FACILITIES. PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FACILITIES, FRANCHISES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THERE'S A WEALTH OF MEDIA ARTICLES THAT SHOW THAT OFTENTIMES COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE PROMISES MADE, HOWEVER, THESE CASE STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THOSE IMPACTS AND DESIRES DO NOT MATERIALIZE. I DO NOT WANT DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO GET THE SHORTENED OF THE STICK BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE ALREADY SEEING IS CARVING OUT OF PARCELS WITHIN THE WESTSIDE TIRZ WHICH IS DIVESTMENT AND NEED ASSURANCES FROM CITY 
          [04:30:01]
STAFF YOU WILL INCLUDE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THAT PROCESS. 
          THANK YOU, BEN AND ERIK, FOR MENTIONING THAT HE WILL BE. ULTIMATELY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF SPORTS STADIUMS, AND I ADMIRE THE SHIRTS THAT MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE, MISSION, WESTSIDE PROSPERITY, ASK US TO THINK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT STADIUM IN ON THE -- WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE AT&T CENTER, FROST CENTER, DID WE SEE THE PROSPERITY. THE ALAMODOME. WHAT MAKES THIS PROJECT DIFFERENT THAT OUR EXPECTATIONS SHOULD BE DIFFERENT AND SHOULD CHALLENGE THE YEARS OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THIS DOES NOT BENEFIT THE NEARBY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. HOWEVER, IT WILL BENEFIT THE PARCELS IN WHICH WESTON URBAN OWNS AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING IT WILL BE THE IMPACT ABUTTING THE WEST SIDE BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE DESIRE MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE WHICH IS IT GOES BEYOND 35. BUT ULTIMATELY, AGAIN, MY POSITION HAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE PUBLIC MONEY FOR PUBLIC GOOD. AND TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE NEEDS THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ASK FOR FROM LIGHTS, STREETS, PUBLIC SAFETY AND SO ON. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FINANCING STRUCTURE HERE WITH THE TIRZ, IT SIPHONS OFF DOLLARS THAT COULD BE GOING INTO THE GENERAL FUND. 
          THAT MY CONSTITUENTS CALL OUR OFFICE DAY TO DAY AND ASK THAT WE INVEST IN, AT OUR TOWN HALLS ASKING WE INVEST IN. I'M CURRENTLY READING THIS BOOK THAT I CHECKED OUT FROM THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY CALLED VISIBLE DOCTRINE, THE SECRET HISTORY OF NEO LIBERAL TIM. CHAPTER 13 IS LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH. NEO LIBERALS NEED TO CHOOSE TARGETS -- POORLY UNDERSTAND BY VOTERS CAN BE PRIVATIZED AND EASILY WITH LITTLE CONTROVERSY. 
          IE, THE FINANCE STRUCTURE WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TODAY. SOME FOLKS IN THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT HAVE SHARED THAT THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE GASLIGHTING THAT WE'RE SEEING, THE ARGUMENT THIS IS HELPING US MEET OUR SHIP GOALS. 
          THE SHIP ALSO SETS A GOAL TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS FROM DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT BY SEIZING FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE. I WANT TO CHALLENGE AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE WHERE THE STADIUM IS, BUT WE ARE FACILITATING THAT AS A CITY COUNCIL. SO TO PASS THE BUCK AND SAY THAT'S A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IS LYING TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS BECAUSE WITHOUT THE FACILITATION OF WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. FURTHER, THE PROJECT PLAN STATES NONE OF THE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED IN THESE PROJECT PLANS WILL REQUIRE RELEAKS OR DISPLACEMENT OF PERSONS. THAT'S THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ POLICY AND THAT HOUSTON STREET TIRZ IS GOING TO BE USED TO FINANCE THIS PROJECT. 
          FURTHER, THE COSA TAX INCREMENT FINANCING POLICY ALSO STATES A TIRZ OR A TIF-FUNDED PROJECT SHALL NOT CAUSE DIRECT RESIDENTIAL DISPLACEMENT, DIRECT RESIDENTIAL DISPLACEMENT AS DEFINED BY THE CITY INCLUDES ANY OCCUPIED, HABITABLE HOUSEHOLDS LOCATED ON THE PROJECT SITE THAT WILL REQUIRE PERMANENT DISPLACEMENT. THIS GOES AGAINST EVERY POLICY THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. AND AGAIN, I ASK WHAT MAKES BASEBALL THE EXCEPTION TO OUR HOUSING POLICY FRAMEWORK. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD ALSO ADD, I'M GRATEFUL THAT I SAW -- I HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT FROM DISTRICT 5 PROPERTY OWNER WHO OWNS A HUGE NUISANCE PROPERTY IN OUR DISTRICT. 
          AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO GET OFF OF NEUTRAL AND PUT THE GAS AND DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR PROPERTY RATHER THAN ALLOWING IT TO DETERIORATE AND CAUSE ISSUES IN MY DISTRICT. LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE A PART OF THE BLIGHT THAT FOLKS ARE CITING. I WANT TO ALSO EMPHASIZE THIS ARTICLE ENTITLED LOW OCCUPANCY, LAGGING RATE GROWTH IN APARTMENTS LIKELY TO PERSIST THROUGH 2025. THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL. WHAT THEY FOUND IS THAT WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO TO DELIVER WAY MORE APARTMENT UNITS THAN WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB THIS YEAR. 
          WHAT THEY FOUND IS THAT THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF MARKET RATE. 
          WHAT WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF OF WORKFORCE HOUSING WHICH IS THE HOUSING THAT'S GOING TO BE REPLACED WITH MARKET RATE. SO I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS AND THERE'S SO MUCH NEED AND WE HEAR IT AT OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, MONTHLY FROM EVERY ASSOCIATION. 
          AND WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS PUBLIC SAFETY, LIGHTING, INVESTMENT IN ANIMAL CARE 
          [04:35:04]
SERVICE, TACKLING DRAINAGE, SO ON AND SO FORTH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR BASEBALL. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THOSE PRIORITIES THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING US TO TAKE CARE OF. 
          SIMILAR TO MY COLLEAGUE, I CHALLENGE US TO ACT WITH URGENCY AND CREATIVITY AND THE SAME WAY THAT YOU ALL JUMPED ON IT TO SUPPORT A BILLIONAIRE'S BASEBALL PLAN. 
          IT'S POSSIBLE. I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT A LOT OF WRONGS IF WE HAVE THE SAME ENERGY THAT WE DO FOR THIS PLAN THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY. BUT ULTIMATELY HEARING THE TENANTS NOT HAVING ENOUGH TIME TO FULLY UNDERSTAND AND HEARING THAT THERE WASN'T A FULL SIT-DOWN MEETING WITH WESTON URBAN AT MY EXPECTATIONS THAT HAPPENS, AND NO MATTER WHAT THE DECISION WHETHER THERE'S A DELAY OR NOT, I WOULD BE HOPEFUL YOU ALL COULD SIT IN THE B ROOM AND WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE PIECES ABOUT WHAT THE TRANSITION MAY OR MAY NOT BE. BUT ULTIMATELY I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF DELAY BECAUSE IT'S WHAT THE TENANTS AT SOAP WORKS ARE EXAMINING. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> WALSH: MAYOR -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD. 
          >> WALSH: I WANTED TO RESPOND TO THE COUNCILWOMAN, HER QUESTION AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF HER TIME ABOUT WHY IT'S DIFFERENT. AND I WASN'T THE CITY MANAGER HERE WHEN THE ALAMODOME WAS BUILT NOR THE WOLFF STADIUM. 
          AND I DON'T WORK FOR THE COUNTY SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COMMITMENTS WERE. 
          I CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS AND I DON'T WANT TO BRING THE BOOM DOWN, BUT IF WESTON URBAN DOESN'T BEGIN DEVELOPMENT, THERE WILL BE NO BASEBALL STADIUM. WE ARE NOT ISSUING DEBT AND THAT'S A KEY PORTION. 
          THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT. I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THOSE OTHER FACILITIES AND WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT SIMILAR FACILITIES BUILT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT THAT'S UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE OF THIS MOU. 
          SO SIMPLY PUT, I THINK IF WESTON URBAN DOESN'T DO WHAT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO DOING, THEN WE WILL NOT BE BRINGING FORWARD AN ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO ISSUE DEBT FOR THAT BASEBALL STADIUM. AND I'M ALMOST POSITIVE THAT WASN'T PART OF ANY PRIOR AGREEMENT OR DISCUSSION EITHER HERE OR COMMISSIONERS COURT AS RELATED TO SPORTS FACILITIES. THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES AND I JUST 
          WANTED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: 
          COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I FIRST WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO ALL THAT CAME OUT TODAY. I HEARD SOME REALLY GREAT STORIES, PARKER, JJ, ALLISON, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. 
          I KNOW A -- ALL OF YOU ALL TOOK TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY AND THAT MEANS TIME OFF WORK TO BE HERE. I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GOING TO DIRECT MOST OF MY COMMENTS TO THE TENANTS. LIKE I ACKNOWLEDGED BEFORE, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DIDN'T -- I WILL OWN MY PART IN NOT COMMUNICATING AS -- OR SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPER TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU ALL EARLIER. YOU MENTIONED ON SUNDAY HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU FOUND OUT A YEAR FROM NOW YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE OUT. 
          I AGREE, THAT IS A TOUGH REALITY. AND TOUGH RELATE A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE FACING AND THEY DIDN'T DON'T HAVE A YEAR TO PLAN. 
          WHAT REALLY HIT ME LAST WEEK, THERE'S A FEAR OF BECOMING HOMELESS. 
          THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT I LEARNED WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST UNIQUE PARTS OF THIS PROPERTY THEY WERE SUPER SMALL EFFICIENCIES THAT ALLOWS FOR RATES TO BE AFFORDABLE. I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS THAT YOU ALL WANTED IN THIS RELOCATION DISPLACEMENT PLAN TO HELP MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT. AND THERE WAS THREE THINGS THAT I HEARD. 
          FIRST IS WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO. SECOND IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO AFFORD TO GET THERE. THE THIRD IS IS THIS GOING TO WORK. 
          THE WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO, WE ASKED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE OTHER UNITS IN AND AROUND. I UNDERSTAND FOR A LOT OF FOLKS THE CONTINENTAL AND THERE'S SOME CONFUSION WITH THE MOTEL AND NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX MAY NOT BE ACCESSIBLE. BUT I DO THINK THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OPPORTUNITY HOME, BEACON, APARTMENT COMPLEXES A FEW SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY. AND I DO THINK THAT THE WORK THAT BUILDING RIGHTER COMMUNITIES WHICH I'LL HAVE YOU COME UP WILL HELP FOLKS ADDRESS WHERE THEY WANT TO GO ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS. THE SECOND THING I HEARD CLEARLY WAS WE NEED SUPPORT GETTING THERE AND HOUSING RELOCATION WAS ONLY PROPOSED FOR FOLKS GOING TO MOVE 
          [04:40:02]
WITHIN SOAP FACTORY. I UNDERSTAND THAT $2,500 FEELS LIKE NOT ENOUGH, BUT I'M GLAD WE AT LEAST HAVE SOMETHING ON THE TABLE TO CLEAR UP AND THAT WAS SOME FOLKS LIVING THERE LESS THAN A YEAR WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT. THAT'S ONLY THE ARPA FUNDS. THE FUNDS -- THE 250K COMING FROM THE DEVELOPER WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE. IF YOU MOVED IN EVEN SEPTEMBER 12TH YOU WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO TRANSITION SOUTH SOMEWHERE ELSE. IN ADDITION, YOU CAN -- TRANSITION OUT. IF I'M A PHASE 1 RESIDENT AND WANT TO STAY UNTIL 2027 AND I HAVE A SPACE IN PHASE 2 OR 3, YOUR FUNDS WILL BE HELD FOR YOU, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE THEM TO MOVE OUT WHENEVER YOU WANT TO TRANSITION IN CASE THERE'S NO EFFICIENCY UNIT AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SOMEONE ASKED YESTERDAY AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT IF WE WANT TO LEAVE NEXT MONTH, WILL WE BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDS. ABSOLUTELY. THEY ARE GOING TO COME BACK AND HAVE A DISBURSEMENT PLAN AVAILABLE FOR YOU ALL BY END OF OCTOBER. 
          AND ALSO YOU MENTIONED LIKE WE DON'T WANT IT TO JUST GO TO MOVING EXPENSES BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED. THAT'S A SPY -- A STIPEND. 
          YOU CAN USE IT HOWEVER YOU WANT. QUITE FRANKLY, LIKE HAS BEEN SAID, IT'S BASED ON TRUST AND THAT SOMETIMES DOESN'T FEEL GOOD ENOUGH. 
          SO WHAT I HAVE REQUESTED AND, RANDY, IF YOU CAN COME UP AND VERIFY THIS, THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT I WANT TO CONFIRM ABOUT THE BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES. 
          YES, PLEASE. ABOUT THE WORK WITH BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES. 
          ONE, THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION. ARE PAYING BUILDING BRIGHTER 
          COMMUNITIES FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING? >> YES, MA'AM. 
          >> KAUR: SO THEY ARE NOT DOING THIS JUST OUT OF THEIR OWN PHILANTHROPY. 
          >> NO, MA'AM. >> KAUR: SECOND, CAN YOU COMMIT TO COLLECTING DATA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS TO BRING IT BACK TO US SO WE CAN SEE WHERE FOLKS ARE GOING, WHAT THEIR SATISFACTION RATE OF THE 
          SUPPORT THEY ARE SEEING IS? >> ABSOLUTELY. AND BRANDON -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES, BUT WE WILL COMMIT ON OUR END FOR 
          SURE. >> KAUR: I UNDERSTAND I GOT THEIR NAME WRONG YESTERDAY, I APOLOGIZE. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT Y'ALL'S EXPERIENCE DURING THIS WORK? I WAS IMPRESSED WHEN I HEARD YOU SPEAK ON SUNDAY. 
          CAN YOU GIVE MORE CONTEXT ON HOW YOU FEEL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS AND FEEL CONFIDENT IN HELPING THEM FIND A NEW HOME? 
          >> YES, COUNCILWOMAN. WE WORK WITH THE CITY ON NUMEROUS OTHER PROJECTS, INDIVIDUALS FACING CONVICTION OR HOMELESS. US MEETING WITH BROOKLYN, JAMES, SOME OTHER SOAP FACTORY RESIDENTS, WE REALLY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY LIKE TO DO. AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT FOR OUR PROGRAM BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES, THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR THE RESIDENTS. WHEN WE MEET WITH THEM, IT'S BASED ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE. AND AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S A LONG PROCESS OVER A YEAR, WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT, AND TO ANSWER YOUR OTHER QUESTION, I WOULD LOVE TO WRITE UP THOSE REPORTS ON SATISFACTION AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SOAP FACTORY. I'M AN ANALYST BY NATURE AND TRADE. 
          >> KAUR: CAN WE WORK TOGETHER ON THE SURVEY AFTER THEY ARE FINISHED WORKING 
          WITH YOU ALL? >> YES. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, BRANDON. I WANTED TO SHARE ABOUT THE HOUSING GOALS THAT WERE MENTIONED AND DAVID WAS HERE HOLDING UP A SIGN FOR HOUSING. 
          I'M ASKING YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE LOCAL FOR CONTINUE TO MAKE A COMMITMENT FUTURE HOUSING PROJECTS WILL BE WORKFORCE HOUSING, HOUSING FOR SAISD TEACHERS AND HOUSING THAT ARE EFFICIENCY UNITS. THERE IS A PLACE I THINK FOR SMALLER UNITS THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE. SO ASKING YOU ALL TO MAKE THAT CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO HELP US REACHING OUR GOAL IN BUILDING THOSE UNITS WITH US. I WANT TO THANK -- I WANT TO THANK FIVE POINTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND TOBIN HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR SHARING THEIR SUPPORT. THERE WAS ALSO A REQUEST FOR CONTINUED PRESERVATION AND SUPPORT OF SAN~PEDRO CREEK AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT ACCESS IN PHASE 2 AND 3 IS NOT LOST TO THE CREEK BECAUSE OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT IS MADE. 
          SO THAT IT IS STILL ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND THAT THERE ARE STILL FOLKS ABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT ON WHAT THEY WANT THAT ACCESS COMMUNITY SPACE TO LOOK LIKE AND I KNOW YOU HAVE MADE THAT COMMITMENT PRIOR. I UNDERSTAND THE REQUEST IS FOR DELAY HERE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST VOTE. THEY ARE GOING TO COME BACK BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR FOR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL. WE HAVE OUR NUMBERS NOW. 
          WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PLAN AND MAKE SURE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD THE COMMITMENTS THAT ARE MADE HERE TODAY WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON. 
          IF AT ANY POINT THIS PLAN AND WHAT THEY HAVE SAID IS NOT WORKING, LIKE ERIK MENTIONED, THERE WILL BE NO DEBT ISSUED. THIS IS NOT THE FUNDING 
          [04:45:03]
CONTRACT, IT'S THE INITIAL PART TO THE MOU. I COMMIT TO STAYING IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL GET EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BE REHOMED IN THE WAY THAT YOU WANT TO. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE 
          GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I WANT TO FIRST OFF THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY WHETHER YOU ARE PART OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, RESIDENTS OF THE SOAP WORKS FACTOR OR REPRESENTING AN ORGANIZATION. YOUR VOICE IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME. THIS IS A MARATHON MEETING. 
          I'LL KEEP COMMENTS BRIEF. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT OF THE DECISION AND THE IMPACTS OF APPROVING OR DENYING THIS PROPOSAL. 
          WHEN I WAS THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TECH LOCK, WE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT HOW CRITICAL IT IS FOR CITIES TO HAVE THRIVING DOWNTOWNS. 
          WE NEED TO CREATE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE, FOR PEOPLE TO WORK AND FOR PEOPLE TO PLAY, AND THIS STAYED JERUSALEM JERUSALEM ALIGNS -- STADIUM ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THAT. I WILL NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF A DELAY BECAUSE I WANT US TO KEEP THIS PLAN MOVING FORWARD. I DID HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. 
          BEN, YOU REFERRED IN YOUR COMMENTS ON SLIDE 4 OR 5 ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE THAT THIS WILL BE FUNDED BY WESTON URBAN AND THEN THE PERSONAL IT WOULD BE PAID 
          FOR BY THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ. >> YES, MA'AM. 
          SO LOOKING AT IT IN TOTAL WHAT I REFERRED TO WAS IF YOU LOOK AT THE TEAM EQUITY CONTRIBUTION OF THE $34 MILLION, THE TEAM LEASE REVENUES OF A MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR, THE $2 TICKET FEE, A LONG WITH THE GUARANTEED INVESTMENT OR GUARANTEED REVENUES FROM PHASES 1 AND 2 OF THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY PROPERTY TAX AND THE MMD ASSESSMENT ON THOSE FIRST TWO PHASES, ALL COMBINED PAYS ABOUT 86% OF THE BALLPARK PROGRAM. I CAVEATED WITH IF THE PHASE 1 AND 2 EXCEED OUR PROJECTIONS OR WESTON URBAN MOVES FORWARD WITH PHASES 3 AND 4, THE USE OF THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ DIMINISHS. 
          IF THEY BUILD ALL FOUR, THERE'S ACTUALLY A -- >> GAVITO: AND I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH OF THIS IS PRIVATE INVESTMENT. 
          AND I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE THAT WE NEED THESE PRIVATE INVESTMENTS TO CONTINUE TO UPLEVEL OUR CITY AND MAKE SAN ANTONIO THE CITY WE ALL WANT TO BE IN. AGAIN, A CITY THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE, POOR PEOPLE CAN WORK AND PLAY. I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS, LORI, FOR YOU. 
          QUICKLY, CAN YOU TELL US HOW MANY TOTAL RESIDENTS AND HOW MANY TOTAL UNITS WE ANTICIPATE ON RELOCATING. AND THEN ALSO TOO QUICKLY IF YOU CAN LET ME KNOW, NORMALLY WHEN A PROPERTY WHEN TENANTS ARE LIVING THERE, WHAT IS THE REQUIRED PROCESS FOR PROVIDING TENANTS AND WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED. 
          >> I'M GOING TO ANSWER THE LAST QUESTION FIRST. TYPICALLY WE DON'T PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IF THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING ANY INCENTIVES. THIS HAPPENS ACROSS THE CITY. IF WE'RE NOT PROVIDING ANY INCENTIVES, WE WOULDN'T KNOW. AND IT'S HANDLED BETWEEN THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT. 
          SO WE DON'T HAVE GUIDELINES ON THAT. REMIND ME OF YOUR FIRST 
          QUESTION. >> GAVITO: JUST HOW MANY TOTAL RESIDENTS AND TOTAL 
          UNITS WE ANTICIPATE RELOCATING. >> HOUSTON: APPROXIMATELY 
          389 UNITS. IS THAT CORRECT? >> 
          >> HOUSTON: 380 UNITS? >> IN THE ENTIRE PROPERTY THERE'S 381. 
          >> HOUSTON: 381 UNITS. PHASE 1 INCLUDES ABOUT 190 UNITS. 
          SO IN PHASE 1, THOSE ARE THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT WE -- OR THAT WESTON URBAN AND BUILDING BRIGHTER COMMUNITIES WILL BE RELOCATING. 
          >> GAVITO: OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. THANKS. 
          AND THE REASON I ASKED ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE IS BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT WESTON URBAN IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH THEIR OFFERS OF RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND WITH SUPPORT OF MOVING COSTS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE TYPICALLY SEE OF DEVELOPERS NOR IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S REQUIRED WHEN PROPERTY OWNERS DECIDE TO REDEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, RANDY, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE ON THIS TO HEAR RESIDENTS' CONCERNS. 
          I WAS ALSO THERE ON MONDAY NIGHT AND MAKE -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. 
          [APPLAUSE] I DO ALSO WANT TO THANK COPS/METRO FOR ADVOCATING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE SOAP WORKS FACTORY AND FOR PUSHING FOR WHAT A FAIR AND 
          [04:50:06]
JUDGMENT AGREEMENT TO THESE FOLKS LOOKS LIKE. COPS/METRO'S WORK DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED AND I'M GLAD THIS MOU HAS YOUR SUPPORT. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. 
          I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS PROJECT IS WELL THOUGHT OUT AND WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKING TIRELESSLY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. 
          THIS IS NOT EASY, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR SAN ANTONIO. 
          SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. 
          COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THIS IS -- I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS FIRST STEP IS AND THIS IS THE MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING. 
          AND I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY. I DON'T THINK THERE IS A NEED TO DELAY. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE HEARD THE VOICES. 
          THERE ARE SOME SENTMENTS THAT IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE ARE GOING TO CHANGE IF WE DELAY THIS ON THE -- ON THE SIDES. THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO CHINING IT. AND IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE MY VOTE EITHER. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT HOUSING, HISTORY, BUSINESS, BASEBALL THAT TURNED INTO APARTMENT LIVING VERSUS HOMEOWNERSHIP, MARKET RATE VERSUS AFFORDABILITY. AND WHAT WE DO WITH AGING MULTI-FAMILY UNITS. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE THROW AROUND THE AFFORDABILITY WHEN THIS IS ACTUALLY MARKET RATE. 
          WE TALKED ABOUT SHIP GOALS. WE JUST RAN THE GAMUT AND I FELT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT YES, WE HAD DEFINITE MISSTEPS FROM NELSON -- FROM THE WOLFF STADIUM TO THE AT&T CENTER, WHICH WAS THE COUNTY'S, TO THE DOME. IT HAS TAKEN SOME TIME, BUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT COUNCIL. THIS IS A DIFFERENT AGE AND THIS IS A DIFFERENT CITY MANAGER. SO I THINK THE ONE IMPORTANT THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER IN IS WITH THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TASK FORCE TO KIND OF GET ALL THESE ASPECTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY AND REALLY HONE DOWN ON HAVING REPRESENTATIVES TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE AT HAND BECAUSE THIS WAS A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WHICH TURNED INTO A LOT MORE. 
          IF WE COULD AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DIFFERENT PHASES, I WOULD LIKE GARDENDALE THERE AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE. 
          BROOKLYN RAMOS WITH THE TENANTS I FEEL SHARED SOME GOOD POINTS LAST EVENING AT PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I WAS LIKE IF HER VOICE IS AT THAT TABLE, WE COULD HEAR SOMETHING. AND THEN, OF COURSE, COPS/METRO WHO HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ALMOST AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ALIVE ALSO HAVE SOME INSIGHT AND SOME HISTORY. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET BACK INTO THIS IS A NEW DAY AND AGE AND EVERYBODY HAS STORIES, TRAGEDIES, CELEBRATIONS, FAILURES AND SUCCESSES AND WE REALLY DO WANT TO SEE THIS MOVE, THIS MOVE DOWNTOWN. 
          AND ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON ON THIS DAIS, BUT THEY HAD COME WITH A PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN FOX TECH FOR A MEDICAL SCHOOL. 
          AND THAT COUNCIL SAID NO. AND DISTRICT 3 GOT THAT MEDICAL SCHOOL ON THE BROOKS CAMPUS. AND THEY MADE IT WORK. AND MANY OF US WERE AT THE STATE OF BROOKS. SO SAN ANTONIO, SURE, WE COULD NOT -- WE COULD SAY NO TO DOWNTOWN AGAIN. YOU COULD DO THAT. BUT WHERE -- WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN? THAT WOULD MEAN JUST SOME OTHER PART OF SAN ANTONIO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS. AND I THINK DOWNTOWN, AND AS SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS EXPRESSED, THEY ARE FRUSTRATED AND THEY ARE TIRED OF SEEING THAT. 
          AND SO YOU HAVE A COUNCIL COMMITTED, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT TO GO THERE, BUT AGAIN, I LOVE SAN ANTONIO. I CAN GIVE YOU PROBABLY TEN OTHER SPOTS THAT DESIGNATED BIDDERS COULD GO, BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY'VE BROUGHT BEFORE US, THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE THE FUNDING AND BEN IS GOING TO WORK IT OUT IN TERMS OF THE MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING AND THE COUNTY, OUR COUNTERPARTS AT THE COUNTY, I KNOW HAVE DOLLARS TOO TO USE. SO WITH THOSE, I THINK WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE CONCERN. WE CAN GET CREATIVE AND LOOK 
          [04:55:03]
AT PHASE 2 AND PHASE 3 AND ASK FOR A PORTION OF AFFORDABILITY IF WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE TABLE. BUT WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS STEP. 
          SO IF TODAY WE COULD JUST GET THROUGH THIS STEP AND DO THAT MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING AND NOT DELAY AND THEN HAVE THE LARGER CONVERSATIONS. BECAUSE AS THOUGH THINGS WERE SET UP HERE THAT WERE HURTFUL AMONG THE COLLEAGUES, I KNOW WE CAN ALL COME BACK TOGETHER AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND PRESENTING AND SHARING. 
          THERE IS A SOLUTION OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE AND CHANGE IS HARD AND SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE UNHAPPY AND I GET THAT. BUT CHANGE IS WHAT'S NEEDED IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF TOWN. THANK YOU. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> CHAIR: -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. 
          >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IT SOUND LIKE WE'RE NOT GETTING IT DELAYED TODAY, BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE US TO CAST OUR VOTES ON THE RECORD AND SHOULD WE NOT I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THE ORIGINAL ITEM. I WANT TO CONVEY THAT MY FUTURE VOTES ARE GOING TO BE CONTINGENT ON STRONGER TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION AND A LOT MORE INITIATIVE ON YOUR END. I AM THINKING ABOUT WHAT OUR MAYOR SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE VISION FOR OUR CITY AND DOWNTOWN. WHAT I'M MOST WORRIED ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE ANOTHER DECADE OF FOCUSING OUR INVESTMENT AND MAKING DOWNTOWN A PLACE FOR THE WHITE AND AFFLUENT TO MAKE THEIR MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF WORKING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DISREGARD THE EXPERIENCES CONTINUE TO SAY I'VE HEARD YOUR VOICES BUT WE DON'T CARE. 
          [APPLAUSE] THAT IS NO VISION OF MINE FOR SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S NOT ONE I WISH TO BE PART OF. WHEN THE TENANTS FIRST CAME TO US TO SPEAK, I THINK THERE WAS NOTION THEY WERE ACTIVISTS CAUSING HAVOC, BUT THEY ARE THE TENANTS WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS PROCESS FROM DAY ONE. [APPLAUSE] IT IS SO EASY TO DISREGARD A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY IF THEY WEAR JEANS AND A TEAL SHIRT INSTEAD OF A A SUIT. I WANT TO THANK THE TENANTS FOR GETTING INVOLVED AND TIME AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT AND EMPOWERING THEM TO ORGANIZE THEIR SHARED VOICES AND LIVED EXPERIENCES SO THEY WOULD BE HEARD. 
          I HEAR YOU TODAY AND I AM HEART BROKEN AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND I DO WANT TO COMMIT TO YOU THAT I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I WILL NOT STOP HEARING AND WORKING WITH YOU TO ENSURE YOU ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT EVERY STEP OF 
          THE WAY. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. 
          >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAD A QUESTION REGARDING THE HANDLING OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. I UNDERSTAND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CONVERSATIONS, THIS IS STEP 1 AND WE'LL GET THERE. 
          I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SHARE CONCERNS. 
          ABOUT HOW WE'RE NAVIGATING ALL THE PROJECTS ON OUR PLATE AND I GUESS FOR THE TEAM WHAT IS Y'ALL'S EXPECTATION OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE DIFFERENT, THAT WAY WE'RE NOT DISRUPTING ACCESS TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHILE THE PROJECT IS UNDER 
          CONSTRUCTION? >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THEIR CONSTRUCTION? 
          >> CASTILLO: CORRECT. >> WALSH: OKAY, YEAH. >> COUNCILWOMAN, WAS THE QUESTION ACCESS TO SMALL BUSINESSES DURING CONSTRUCTION? 
          >> CASTILLO: CORRECT. >> SO THE BALLPARK CONSTRUCTION IS BOUND BY CAMERON ON THE WEST, FLORES ON THE EAST, MARTIN ON THE SOUTH. 
          KINGSBURY ON THE NORTH. THE SAISD HEADQUARTERS IS ACROSS TO THE NORTH. 
          THERE ARE NO SMALL BUSINESSES ALONG CAMERON OR THE CREEK AND NONE OF THAT STRETCH OF MARTIN. THERE IS ONE OFFICE THAT I BELIEVE IS VACANT ON FLORENCE ACROSS FROM THE BALLPARK. BUT ANY SMALL BUSINESS THAT WERE TO BE THERE, WE WILL TAKE EVERY STEP WE CAN, WE HAVE A PLAN TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON 
          SMALL BUSINESSES ABUTTING THE BALLPARK. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT. JUST GIVEN IT'S A LENGTHY PROCESS AND WE JUST HAD GOOD PUBLIC COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT WHO JUST CREATED A BUSINESS AND IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO CREATE BUSINESS AND THERE'S A PLAN SO IT WON'T DISRUPT. 
          [05:00:04]
THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION FOR YOU, RANDY. THANK YOU. 
          I DID ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE ONE KEY POINT THAT THE COUNCILMAN HIT ON. 
          IT WAS A CITY STAFFER NO LONGER WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THEY SHARED THAT GENTRIFICATION JUST HAPPENS, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, IT'S JUST A PHENOMENON. THERE'S SOME LITERATURE THAT ARGUES THAT AS WELL. 
          THERE IS BROKERS IN THAT PROCESS AND FACILITATORS. WE'RE SEEING THAT TODAY, FACILITATION OF THIS SYSTEM THAT CAUSES HARM TO LONG-ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY, WHERE IT CREATES MORE BURDEN FOR THE NEARBY ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS. 
          SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND ALSO SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M A BIT DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WITH ARPA DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT TO PUT OUT A FIRE THAT THIS PROJECT CREATED. I DON'T THINK IT'S INNOVATIVE OR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COMMENDED. I THINK IT'S LAZY LEADERSHIP TO NOT TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY KNEW FROM THE START THAT WAS GOING TO BE NEEDED. TENANTS NEEDED RELOCATION SERVICES. 
          I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH RANDY AND HIS TEAM ABOUT THE RELOCATION PIECE, SO IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW IS NECESSARY AND DOING THE MATH WITH THE AMOUNT OF UNITS AND FUNDING ALLOCATED, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO MAKE UP FOR THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES. I'M ASSUMING ARE ALL 361 UNITS OCCUPIED OR SOME VACANT? BECAUSE I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL 500,000 IF THERE'S ENOUGH TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AS WRITTEN. 
          IT DOESN'T ADD UP TO THE 361. WHERE WOULD THE CITY AND/OR WESTON URBAN IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE CASE THAT'S NOT ENOUGH 
          FUNDING? >> WALSH: BEYOND WHAT YOU ALL ARE DISCUSSING TODAY? 
          >> CASTILLO: COLLECT. >> WALSH: THAT'S A CONVERSATION I'LL ASK RANDY TO WEIGH IN ON, BUT UNLESS THE COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN --R COURAGE TALKED ABOUT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, BUT ANY ADDITIONAL DOLLARS WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO 
          COUNCIL. >> CASTILLO: BUT THE PROPOSAL TO SHIFT $250,000 DID NOT HAVE TO COME TO COUNCIL? FOR AN ADDITIONAL 100,000 HAS TO COME TO COUNCIL, BUT A DECISION IS MADE WITH 250,000 ARPA DOLLARS WITHOUT 
          COUNCIL DISCUSSION OR CONCENSUS. >> WALSH: THE DECISION IS YOURS THIS AFTERNOON. YOU WILL DECIDE THAT. I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. 
          >> CASTILLO: IT WAS IN A MEMO SO THE DECISION WAS ALREADY MADE AND PRESENTED TO US BEFORE COUNCIL DISCUSSION. AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE ISSUE WITH TENANTS RECEIVING THE ASSISTANCE THEY DESERVE, IT'S AN ISSUE ABOUT PROCESS AND TRANSPARENCY ON HOW DECISIONS WERE MADE WITHOUT ARPA DOLLARS -- WITH ARPA 
          DOLLARS WITHOUT THIS BODY DISCUSSING THAT FUNDING. >> WALSH: I'LL TAKE A LITTLE EXCEPTION, THE WISH, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT IT, THE ISSUE OF $2,500 PER RESIDENT HAS BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT BY BOTH THE COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE SPOKES SPEAKING TO YOU. AS THAT DEVELOPMENT OCCURRED AND AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, WESTON URBAN ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON MADE THAT OFFER. 
          I'M MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT WE MATCH TO GET TO THAT $2,500. 
          THAT'S PART OF THE AMENDED RECOMMENDATION. ULTIMATELY THAT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE. IN MY MIND -- I'M SORRY, I'LL WRAP UP. 
          IN MY MIND, THAT MET A LOT OF WHAT SOME OF YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WHICH WAS $2,500 PER PERSON INCLUDING COPS MET THROW -- COPS/METRO. 
          >> CASTILLO: WITH WESTON URBAN 
          DISCUSSING? >> WALSH: THE CITY CAN DO THAT TOO. 
          >> CASTILLO: BUT I THINK COMING FROM WESTON URBAN WOULD BE MORE IMPACTFUL IF 
          YOU ALL CAN ASK THE COUNTY TO MATCH THE $250,000. >> WE CAN ASK, YES, WE CAN 
          COMMIT TO ASKING. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. 
          COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANKS, MAYOR, AND AGAIN, I'VE LEARNED A LOT TODAY. THANKS TO ALL THE FOLKS THAT CAME OUT AND SPOKE TO US. 
          I WITNESS YOUR VULNERABILITY AND I KNOW IT WAS HARD TO TELL YOUR TRUTH. 
          I THINK THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY YOU ALL BY ACCEPTING COPS/METRO'S MEMBER EDUCATION FOR THE $2,500 -- RECOMMENDATION FOR THE $2,500 PACKAGE AND THE RELOCATION SERVICES AND THE GUARANTEES OF DIGNIFIED GOOD, CLEAN, SAFE HOUSING. 
          I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY I'M SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT IS THE RIGHT THING 
          [05:05:04]
TO DO AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO FOR FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT WHO WE ARE DEALING WITH. A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT MR. GRAHAM WESTON WHO I'VE MET ONCE IN MY LIFE IN PASSING. 
          TWO OF THE OTHER BIG PARTNERS WHO ARE PUTTING SKIN IN THE GAME AREES [INAUDIBLE] HOPE ANDRADE, THE FIRST LATINA SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE HISTORY OF TEXAS. SHE WAS THE FORMER CHAIRWOMAN OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SAN ANTONIO, A TRUSTEE OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY WHO IS A -- AS WE KNOW THAT UNIVERSITY IS AN ICONIC ADVOCATE FOR LATINA AND FEMALE EMPOWERMENT. SHE WAS OUR VERY FIRST -- I THINK THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BUT I MAY BE WRONG ABOUT THAT. ADDITIONALLY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO I THINK STANDS FOR THE RIGHT THINGS PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THE EMPOWERMENT OF PEOPLE WITH COLOR IS DAVID ROBINSON, WHO IS ALSO PUTTING SKIN IN THE GAME HERE. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN EXCUSE ANY OF THESE PEOPLE OF WANTING ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT'S GUESS. 
          PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO AND [INDISCERNIBLE] HONESTY AND GOOD FAITH AND HAVE ALWAYS DELIVERED ON THEIR PROMISES. 
          I'M CONFIDENT THE TEAM WE HAVE IS THE RIGHT TEAM AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING THE FIRST BASEBALL GAME, Y'ALL. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. 
          COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I -- >> GARCIA: I HAD ONE FINAL QUESTION AND IT WAS OPPORTUNITY HOME RELATED. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE -- WHILE YOU COME UP HERE, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE "EXPRESS NEWS" EDITORIAL BOARD DID A REALLY NICE PIECE ON THEIR -- ABOUT THE BALLPARK. AND SPECIFICALLY THEY ASKED ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AND THEY ASKED IF THERE WOULD BE COVERAGE OF ANY OF THE FIRST RENT ASSISTANCE. AND THEY ASKED RANDY THAT, AND THEY QUOTED THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE AT THE TIME THE ANSWER WAS WE DON'T PLAN TO PAY THEIR FIRST MONTH'S RENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT, THAT'S WHERE BRANDON AND THE TEAM COMES IN. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE BRANDON AND THE TEAM. HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST OPPORTUNITY HOME TO COVER THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT OR WHAT ARE YOU BUDGETING FOR? 
          >> THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. AS WITH ANY CURRENT LANDLORD REGARDLESS OF AFFORDABILITY, MARKET RATE, ANY LANDLORD WILL LOOK TO INCREASE OCCUPANCY. WE'VE OFFERED TO CLOSELY MATCH EXISTING RENTS, SOAP FACTORY TENANTS CHOOSING TO MOVE SOONER OR LATER, WE'RE WILLING TO OFFER THEM, OF COURSE, ACCORDING TO AVAILABILITY. INCLUDED IN THAT THOSE SPECIFICALLY A PART OF THIS RELOCATION, WE WILL DO THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT FREE. 
          >> GARCIA: AND THEN THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT, WAIVING THAT, BEING ABLE TO OFFER 
          THEM THAT, THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO YOUR BOARD? >> NO, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY AN 
          OPERATION OFFER THAT THEY COMMITTED TO. >> GARCIA: BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAXIMUM THAT'S GOING TO BE EXPENDED BY OPPORTUNITY HOME, THERE'S NO 
          WAY TO DETERMINE? >> WE CAN TAKE THE OVERALL POPULATION OF THE EXISTING SOAP FACTORY AND EXTRAPOLATE A NUMBER FROM THERE, BUT IT WOULDN'T ABSOLUTELY REFLECT IT. WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO DO SO. 
          THEY ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING -- CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, 60% OF EXISTING DON'T RENEW AND MAY OR MAY NOT EVEN STAY IN THE CITY. 
          IT'S AN ARBITRARY NUMBER FOR US. PHASE 1 IS UP TO 190 AND 
          WE'RE PREPARED TODAY TO DO THAT. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. 
          SO YOU ARE PREPARED TO DO THAT BASED ON MAYBE THE 40% RETENTION THAT'S BEEN TALKED 
          ABOUT POSSIBLY? >> THAT'S ENTIRELY SEPARATE. THAT'S THEIR RETENTION. 
          THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM OURS. KNOWING WHAT THE TOTAL POPULATION IS IN PHASE 1, AGAIN, WE HAVE ABOUT A YEAR AND ANY NUMBER OF THAT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. 
          AS AN ORGANIZATION, THEY MADE THE DECISION THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO. 
          >> GARCIA: GOT IT. >> THAT DID NOT NEED BOARD APPROVAL BECAUSE THAT'S 
          OPERATIONS. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. I THINK I'M STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THAT ANSWER, BUT I CAN GET WITH YOU ALL AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT -- HOW MUCH MONEY IS -- ARE A COUPLE PEOPLE ALLOWED TO SPEND WITHOUT HAVING TO 
          [05:10:01]
CONSULT WITH THE BODY AND HOW IS THE DIFFERENCE OPERATIONAL. 
          AGAIN, THAT WILL BE MORE I GUESS COMING FOR OPPORTUNITY HOME. 
          I NEED TO LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THOSE DECISIONS. THANK YOU. 
          I APPRECIATE YOU. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T PREPARED FOR THAT. 
          BUT I ALSO WASN'T PREPARED GOSH, IT TAKES COUNCIL SO LONG TO GIVE ERIK THE AUTHORITY AND I JUST DIDN'T 
          UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKED. >> EXCELLENT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 5? ERIK, I DID WANT TO ASK FOR THE RECORD BECAUSE I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES ARE INTERESTED IN THIS, IN THE WEST SIDE TIRZ, THE COUNTY DOESN'T PARTICIPATE. BUT YOU ARE FOLLOWING UP IN CONVERSATIONS TO SECURE THEIR COMMITMENT GOING FORWARD ON THE WEST SIDE TIRZ. 
          >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND I HAVE HAD SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. 
          WE WILL FOLLOW UP BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE OF THAT AND I WAS JUST SHARING WITH MR. ORTIZ THAT I'M GOING TO ALSO ASK THAT THEY HELP US WITH THE COUNTY TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT. 
          GET A DECISION FROM THE COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEST SIDE TIRZ. 
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. GREAT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, WELL, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S ACTIVE DISCUSSION ON THIS AND THE VERY HEARTFELT COMMENTS AND POINTS THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING. 
          IN MY VIEW AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE SECURING A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DOWNTOWN. AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR GOALS AND POLICIES, BUT ALSO ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS WHO ARE IMPACTED ARE ALSO ASSISTED IN THE PROCESS. 
          SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FIRST WE'LL TAKE UP ON CONTINUANCE FOR THIS VOTE TO BE CONTINUED TO A MEETING PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 23. 
          WE'LL TAKE THAT MOTION FIRST. AGAIN, A YES VOTE IS TO DELAY. PLEASE VOTE. A YES VOTE WOULD BE TO DELAY. A NO VOTE, IF THE VOTE FAILS, WE WILL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE ITEM. MOTION FAILS. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE MAIN MOTION WHICH IS A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 5. PLEASE VOTE. 
          MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE] THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR AGENDA. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK. I DO WANT TO NOLTY FOR 
          [City Manager's Report
 ]
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT FIRST A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. 
          >> WALSH: I'LL ROLL THE MANAGER REPORT TO NEXT WEEK. IT'S JUST REWARDS. 
          [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:
 ]
          >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AT 2:26 P.M. ON THE 12TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2024, CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT 551 IS -- CHAPTER 551.071 AND DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO 551.072 AND LITIGATION INVOLVING THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ALL PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071. 
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.