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          >> GOOD MORNING. WE'LL GET STARTED FOR THE MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 23RD.  THE TIME IS 10:03. THANK YOU TAKE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. 
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          QUORUM. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL START WITH THE EASY STUFF. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM AUGUST 22ND, AND YOU HAVE THEM IN YOUR PACKAGE.  YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THEM. 
          I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THEM. MAY I ENTERTAIN A MOTION 
          TO APPROVE? >> MOTION. >> SECOND. 
          >> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. PERFECT. MOTION PASSES. 
          THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYONE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? 
          [Briefing and Possible Action on
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          >> WE HAVE NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP. >> AWESOME. 
          ITEM NUMBER TWO IS BRIEFING AND ACTION ON A DART COST RECOVERY PRESENTED BY -- I THOUGHT IT WAS PRESENTED BY ANDY, BUT THE MIC IS YOURS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. 
          >> ANDY IS HERE IN SPIRIT. LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING TO SNEAK OUT IN A MINUTE. JOE NINO. THIS COUNCIL -- LET'S SEE. A LITTLE BACKGROUND. THE CCR WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AN MARCH 8TH. THE CCR REQUEST THAT A COMPREHENSIVE FEE INSTRUCT AOR FOR ALL DART PROPERTIES TO BE PAID. IT DIRECTS THE ENTIRETY OF FEES TOWARD A COSA RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FUNDS. IT'S NOT INTENDED TO INCLUDE LOW INCOME. THEY ARE TO BRING THE PROPERTY UP TO CODE AND CCR REPRESENTS THE ORDINANCE AS AN EXAMPLE OF FEES. 
          THE CCR WAS PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE ON APRIL 23RD, AND THEN THE PCDC IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROCESS. 
          QUICK OVERVIEW, AS COUNCIL AWARE, DART IS A MULTI-DEPARTMENT UNIT THAT ADDRESSES THE WORST OF THE WORST NUISANCE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE A TWO-YEAR HISTORY. THE MEMBERS COMPRISE OF CODE ENFORCEMENT, DANGEROUS PREMISES, SAPD SAFE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS NEEDED, NHDS, AND THE FIRE MARSHALS, AS NEEDED. IT DEPENDS ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF. AS COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO IS AWARE HE SHOULD I HIT A DART PROPERTY WITH US. 900 SQUARE FOOT HOW'S, 8, 9 PEOPLE CAME OUT OF THE US HOUSE. THE AMOUNT OF OFFICERS DEPENDS ON THE LOCATION ITSELF. SOMETIMES IT HAS A LOT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THERE ARE MORE OFFICERS THAT LOCATION. 
          THIS BRINGS US, OF COURSE -- I WILL TELL YOU THE THREE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE THERE AT EVERY INSPECTION INCLUDE SAPD, CODE COMPLIANCE, AND NHSD. NHSD IS THERE TO ANSWER TO ANY OF THE OCCUPANTS THAT HAPPEN TO BE THERE, ASK THEM FOR -- SEE WHAT SERVICES THEY MAY NEED, GIVE THEM REFERRALS TO SERVICES DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION.  I WILL BE HONEST, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF RELOCATIONS WHEN WE HIT A DART PROPERTY. IT'S USUALLY A BAD ACTOR. 
          I BRING THAT UP. THIS YEAR WE'VE HIT 51 PROPERTIES. 
          OF THE 51, WE'VE HAD ZERO RELOCATIONS. WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THAT WAS BACK IN 2023. ONE FOURPLEX OWNER DECIDED TO EVICT THE TENANTS ON HIS OWN. WE WERE ABLE TO HELP ONE INDIVIDUAL GET SOME MOVING COSTS. SO THAT'S THE ONLY -- I GUESS WE'VE HAD ONE IN FIVE YEARS OVER THE YEARS. 
          THIS SLIDE HERE KIND OF GIVES YOU A OUTBREAK OF THE DART PROPERTIES WE HIT THIS YEAR. OF THE 51 INSPECTED AS OF SEPTEMBER 13TH, WE HAD 40 PROPERTIES WE'VE ABATED ALREADY. I SAY THAT WITH THE IDEA WE'VE DONE THROUGH COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS OR GOING THROUGH THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD. FOUR OF THE PROPERTIES OF 51, REWE MOVED AS DART PROPERTIES. THOSE PROPERTIES WERE GETTING ASSISTANCE BY OTHER OUTSIDE AGENCIES OR CITY DEPARTMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE. WE HAD ONE THAT WAS A VET AND VA DECIDED TO SAY WE CAN HELP THIS PERSON FIX THE PROPERTY. 
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WE REMOVED HIM OFF A DART LIST SO THEY COULD GIVE ASSISTANCE THROUGH OTHER AGENCIES. THAT LEAVES US WITH 7 OTHER PROPERTIES THAT WE KIND OF HAVE TO START THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. 
          OF THE 7, 4 OWNERS WERE DECEASED AND HAD NO HEIRA. 
          THEY WERE TAKEN OVER BY VAGRANTS. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU DEAL WITH THOSE PROPERTIES WHERE THERE'S NO OWNERSHIP, THOSE PROPERTIES WE JUST KIND OF DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AS WELL. 
          THE THREE OTHER REMAINING, WETTED ONE OWNER IN A PHYSICAL REHAPPEN CENTER WHO CAN'T ASSIST, ONE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY THE SOURCE OF THE NUISANCE ACTIVITY WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LITIGATION. FILE A LOU -- LAWTON THOSE. THE REMAINING THREE FALL INTO LOW INCOME STATUS. 
          ABOUT 99.5% OF THE PROPERTIES THAT DART HITS ARE LOW INCOME AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE NUISANCE PROPERTY THAT IT IS, THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY ITSELF. HOWEVER, COUNCIL DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD ON A COST RECOVERY COST. THOSE 40 PROPERTIES ARE THE PROPERTIES THAT WE CAN ASSESS AND GET SOME KIND OF OPTION TO, TO ADDRESS. 
          ABOUT 70% OF THE CASE THAT'S WE HIT CAN FALL INTO THIS -- OR MAY BE SUBJECT TO COST RECOVERY. WE CAN DO IT THROUGH COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS, ALONG WITH THE OTHER CONDITIONS ON THE PROPERTY. WE CAN ASSESS A COST RECOVERY FEE TO BE PAID AS WELL. THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD, WE HAD 16 PROPERTIES GO TO THE BSB, WHICH IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL BOARD MADE OF CITIZENS. WE CAN ASK THE BOARD TO PUT IN THEIR ORDERS, THE COST RECOVERY FEE BE ADDRESSED IN THAT ORDER. 
          OF COURSE, SOMETIMES THAT BSB ORDERS THE PROPERTY DEMOLISHED. 
          I HOPE WE DON'T ISSUE FEES ON THOSE PROPERTIES. 
          THROUGH LITIGATION AS WELL, IF WE GO THROUGH LITIGATION WITH A 54125, WE CAN TRY TO COLLECT WHATEVER COSTS WE CAN AS PART OF THAT LAWSUIT. 
          NOW, IT IS A POLICY DECISION AS TO WHERE THESE COSTS WOULD GO. 
          THE CCR REQUEST GOING INTO A RELOCATION FUND. HOWEVER, IN MOST CASES, A LOT OF TIMES THESE WOULD GO TO GENERAL FUND. 
          I TOUCHED BASE ONLY THIS EARLIER, 9 A% -- WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 17 YEARS. DART HAS BEEN AROUND THAT LONG. 
          I HAVE TWO DART MEMBERS HERE, ERIK BURNS WHO ARE MY ATTORNEYS WHO GO DOWN TO EVERY INSPECTION. THE HOUSES WE ARE HITTING ARE IN BAD SHAPE FOR THE MOST PART. SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE -- THERE'S NO QUESTION THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE LOW INCOME OWNERS. SO THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DEAL WITH. OUR MAIN GOAL EVERY TIME IS COMPLIANCE AND USING WHATEVER MONEY TO ABATE THE ISSUES. 
          IN CONCLUSION, OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION, IF COUNCIL DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A COST RECOVERY PLAN, WE CAN INCLUDE THAT IN OUR COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS, OUR BSB ORDERS, OR THROUGH LITIGATION. 
          FOR THOSE PROPERTIES THAT DO NOT AGREE TO A COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT, THEN WE CAN GO THROUGH OTHER JUDICIAL AVENUES THROUGH LITIGATION OR FILE CITATIONS ON THOSE CASES AND GO THROUGH MUNICIPAL COURT. 
          WE CAN MONITOR THE CITY OF DALLAS ORDINANCE. I DIDN'T TOUCH BASE ON THAT. THAT ORDINANCE IS KIND OF LIKE A BAD ACTOR CHRONIC ORDINANCE THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS DOES. 
          THEY USED TO HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO A DART UNIT, BUT IT'S NO LONGER -- IT GOT DISBANDED. THEY TRIED TO DO AN ORDINANCE TO COVER SOME OF THOSE DART-TYPE PROPERTIES. 
          I WILL TELL YOU SINCE 2017, WE TOUCHED BASE WITH THEM, THEY'VE HAD MAYBE 20 PROPERTIES ON THAT PROPERTY. IT'S RUN BY THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUR APARTMENT REGISTRATION. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF DUE PROCESS, A LOT OF STEPS THAT NEED TO BE DONE WITH MEETINGS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. THEY'VE HAD ABOUT 20 PROPERTIES THEY HAVE NOT COLLECTED MUCH OF ANY MONEY GOING THAT ROUTE AS WELL. COST RECOVERY FUNDS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE DESIGNATEDDED IN A COSA RELOCATION FUND IF NECESSARY. 
          FEES AND FINES WOULD GO TO GENERAL FUND. LASTLY, OF COURSE, WE WOULD RETURN TO PCDC IN ONE YEAR TO REPORT ON THE PROGRESS. 
          THAT'S THE CONCLUSION OF MY BRIEFING. IF YOU HAVE ANY 
          QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER THEM. >> GREAT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EXPLANATION AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR AUTHORING THE CCR. I SIGNED ONTO IT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE RECOVERING ALL FEES. SO I WAS ON A DART A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND I THOUGHT OH, MY GOSH. THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT IT TAKES. IT'S JUST SO MUCH. RIGHT? 
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AND SO -- BUT YOU ALL DO A GREAT JOB. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO. I LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT EXPERIENCE. 
          AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER. CAN SOMEONE MAYBE REMIND ME WHAT THE AVERAGE COST IS OF A DART AND HOW MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE INVOLVED. IT SAYS MANY, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY. 
          >> YEAH. I HAD MY TEAM -- I'M GOING TO ASK ERIK, DO 
          YOU HAVE THAT LIST? >> YES. >> I HAD MY TEAM GET THE AVERAGE COST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT GO THROUGH THERE. 
          AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE SAPD OFFICERS. WE GET ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FOUR SAPD OFFICERS AT THE MINIMUM. SOMETIMES THERE'S MORE, OF COURSE. CODE OFFERS. WE USUALLY HAVE TWO CODE OFFERS AT THE MINIMUM. TWO ACS OFFERS AT THE MINIMUM. 
          DHS IS AS NEEDED. THEY'RE ONLY THERE IF THEIR VAGRANTS OR HOMELESS. NHSD, ONE, SOMETIMES TWO IF THEY'RE JUST TEACHING AND SOMEONE HAS TO BE THERE. OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO ATTORNEYS, IF NOT ONE ATTORNEY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT CAME OUT TO -- THE INSPECTION START AT 9:00.  THEY ARE DONE IN PROBABLY TWO HOURS FOR THE MOST PART. YOU KNOW, ADD ALL THOSE NUMBERS UP. AON THE AVERAGE COST, IT COMES OUT TO CLOSE TO $800 IN PERSONNEL COST TO GO OUT THERE AND DO THIS INSPECTION. 
          I WILL ADD THAT THESE INSPECTIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IS PART OF THEIR DUTIES NOW. IT'S NOT ADDITIONAL. 
          WE'VE BEEN BLESSED THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR HAS SAID YOU'RE PART OF THE DART TEAM. THIS IS PART OF YOUR DUTIES. 
          IT WORKS IN THE LONG RUN BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE GOING AFTER THEM INDIVIDUALLY. AT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS WE'VE PUT EVERYONE TOGETHER AND HIT THEM ONE AT TIME. 
          >> BASED ON 2023 NUMBERS, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD HAVE BEEN 
          RECOVERED OR GONE INTO THE RELOCATION FUND? >> YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IF WE FOCUS ON NO LOW INCOME, THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE VERY MANY TO BE HONEST. I THINK YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH INSPECTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH DIFFERENT INSPECTIONS. 
          YOU KNOW THE HOUSES WE'RE HITTING. WE HIT FIVE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND WE HAD THOSE CLOSED DOWN, A COUPLE HOOKAH BARS. 
          WE HAD A COUPLE REGULAR BARS. THOSE ARE EASIER TO ADDRESS BECAUSE THOSE -- THERE'S MONEY SOMEWHERE. 
          BY CLOSING THEM DOWN, WE HAVEN'T ASKED FOR RECOVERY OF THE COSTS. 
          BUT IF WE'RE GOING AFTER RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTIES, THEY'RE ALL LOW INCOME. IT'S GOING TO BEING DIFFICULT GETTING MONEY FROM THOSE PEOPLE. WE WANT THEM TO ALSO ON TOP OF THAT ABATE THE CONDITION THAT HOS HOUSE IS IN. 
          THESE ARE THE WORST OF THE WORST PROPERTIES. >> GOT T THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. 
          >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU JOE AND TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE WORK WITH THE DART INITIATIVE. NO DOUBT SINCE PROPERTIES NOT ONLY IMPACT THE NEIGHBORING AND ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT THEY CAN IMPACT THE OVERALL PERCEPTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS CAME ABOUT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. 
          WHEN THERE'S RESIDENTIAL DART PROPERTIES, SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS WILL SHARE WITH US HOW THERE'S A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE LANDLORD, THAT THEY'RE NOT VETTING OR PAYING ATTENTION TO WHO THEY ARE RENTING TO. 
          IT'S JUST A REVOLVING DOOR OF NUISANCE. THEY BELIEVE THAT WITH SOME TYPE OF COST RECOVERY, THERE WOULD BE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THAT PROPERTY OWNER TO BE A BETTER NEIGHBOR WHEN IT COMES TO WHO THEY ARE RENTING OR LEASING, WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTIAL AND-OR COMMERCIAL. 
          AT THE SAME TIME, THIS ALSO CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THERE WAS A SPECIFIC MULTIFAMILY LANDLORD THAT OWNED MULTIPLE PROPERTIES, ONE IN DISTRICT FIVE WHERE IT WAS A DART PROPERTY. THEY DID COME INTO COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT. THE POINT OF THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE WAS WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE, IF THEY DIDN'T COME TO A COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT, WE WERE ABOUT TO FIND FUNDING TO RELOCATE THE TENANTS IF THAT WAS THEIR CHOICE. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE HAVE HERE, YOU KNOW, RELOCATION HAS ONLY BEEN REQUIRED ONCE, BUT I BELIEVE THE STRUCTURE WOULD ALLOW US TO PLAN WORST CASE SEN AIR QUO THAT WE HAVE TO RELOCATE FOLKS IN A MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX. THAT'S THE GOAL WITH THIS IS WE ARE ENSURING PROPERTY OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTIONS AND THE THINGS THAT TAKE PLACE ON THEIR PROPERTY AS YOU MENTIONED. THESE ARE THE WORST OF THE WORST. 
          WHAT I HEAR FROM DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS IS WHAT IS THE ACCOUNT ABILITY? DART DOES GO OUT THERE, BUT WHAT'S NEXT? IT'S A COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT OR JUST CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. 
          I BELIEVE WITH COST RECOVERY, THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND HOPEFULLY PROPERTY OWNERS WILL SHIFT HOW THEY RENT AND-OR LEASE THEIR PROPERTIES. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE ON EXPLORING THE DALLAS MODEL, BUT ULTIMATELY, I 
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HAVE CONFIDENCE IN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR COST RECOVERY. 
          IDEALLY TO GO BOTH INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND RELOCATION, BUT JUST EMPHASIZING THE PURPOSE OF THE RELOCATION PIECE WAS WE FOUND OURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF TENANTS AND LIMITED NHSC RESOURCES. GRATEFUL COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT WAS ACHIEVED, BUT I THINK PLANNING FOR THE CASE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN WILL PUT US IN A BETTER SITUATION AND PUT SAN ANTONIO TENANTS IN A BETTER SITUATION AS WELL. SO WITH THAT, A MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF'S 
          RECOMMENDATION. >> SECOND. >> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSION. 
          COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> YEAH. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THE EXPLANATION OF HOW THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD PUT THAT MONEY JUST BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED THE MONEY FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK GOING OUT THERE. WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IS WHAT THE COUNCILMEMBER WAS SAYING, ADVOCATE ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND HELP MOVE PEOPLE AS WE MAY NEED TO. I'M NOT SURE IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A RELOCATION FUND THAT WOULD BE EXCLUSIVELY FOR DART-RELATED RELOCATIONS OR IF IT WOULD GO INTO A GENERAL RELOCATION FUND THAT NHSD COULD USE FOR ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. SO IS THERE ANY 
          CLARIFICATION ON THAT? >> I DO NOT HAVE THAT CLARIFICATION AT THIS POINT. ONCE -- IF WE DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD ON A COST RECOVERY PLAN, WE'LL WORK WITH NHSD WHO HAPPENS TO BE HERE TODAY AND DETERMINE HOW WE GO AHEAD AND MOVE THOSE MONIES OVER IF AND WHEN 
          THEY'RE LOCATED. >> LOOKS LIKE ANDY WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. 
          >> IN OUR DISCUSSIONS -- ANDY SEGOVIA, CITY ATTORNEY. 
          I THINK THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE THAT GOING INTO OUR CURRENT RELOCATION FUND THAT'S HANDLED BY NHS RATHER THAN HAVE A SEPARATE FUND BUT SIMPLY 
          AUGMENT THAT ONE. IS THAT CORRECT? >> CORRECT. 
          >> OKAY. >> WE COULDN'T GREAT A NEW ONE. 
          IT WILL GO INTO THE ONE WE CURRENTLY HAVE. >> OKAY. 
          WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. I THINK IT'S 
          WORTHWHILE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? 
          >> NO QUESTIONS FOR ME. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. 
          WELL, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE THEN. I'LL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ, IS THAT AN AYE? 
          >> SORRY. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES? AYE. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.  WE'LL MOVE ON TO THREE, C CR FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EQUITY TREE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. THIS IS SUBMITTED BY -- I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S HERE YET. THERE YOU ARE, COUNCILMEMBER. 
          WELL, I'LL LET YOU -- LET'S LET THEM DO THE PRESENTATION AND THEN YOU. OR DO YOU WANT TO COME UP FIRST. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR TIME LIMIT IS. PERFECT. 
          IT IS ALL YOURS. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM URBAN FORESTRY MANAGER IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. THIS MORNING I'M HERE TO BRIEF YOU ON A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST TO CREATE AN EQUITY TREE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. THIS CCR WAS SUBMITTED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR BY DISTRICT 7, COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING. THIS REQUEST WAS ASSIGNED TO PARKS. 
          MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT ASKS FOR THE USE OF THE TREE MITIGATION FUNDS WHICH ARE MANAGED BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO REPLACE TREES THAT HAVE DIED FROM THE DISEASE. THEN IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, WE PRESENTED THIS ITEM TO GOVERNANCE, AND IT WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO THIS COMMITTEE. 
          A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE DISEASE ITSELF. IT IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE THAT'S CAUSED ABOUT I A FUNGUS THAT AFFECTS OAK TREES. 
          IT KILLS ALMOST ALL OF THE TREES THAT BECOME INFECTED. 
          IT IS TRANSMITTED IN TWO PRIMARY WAYS. THE FIRST IS WHAT WE CALL BELOW GROUND THROUGH ROOT CONNECTIONS. 
          THIS RESULTS IN TREE TO TREE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING INFECTION CENTERS. THE SECOND WAY IT'S TRANSMITTED IS ABOVE GROUND. THAT'S FACILITATED BY NATURALLY OCCURRING BEETLE. THESE BEETLES CARRY THE FUNGUS SPORES TO NEW TREES. THIS IS HOW NEW INFECTION CENTERS ARE FORMED. BECAUSE OF THESE TWO WAYS OF TRANSMISSION, IT MAKES IT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. 
          SO THE VERY BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IS PREVENTION. 
          LET'S SEE HERE. THERE WE GO. THE MAP ON THE RIGHT WHICH IS MAINTAINED AND UPDATED BY THE TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE SHOWS 
          [00:20:03]
EQUITY WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY. IT'S FOUND IN THING INS WEST QUADRANT. WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS, IT OCCURS IN AN AREA WE WOULD DESCRIBE WEST OF 281 NORTH OUTSIDE OF LOOP 410. 
          NOW, SINCE SOME OF THESE LOCATIONS ON THIS MAP ARE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OR WITHIN OTHER INCORPORATED AREAS, I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MAP THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN JUST A BIT THAT SHOWS LOCATIONS OF THE DISEASE SPECIFIC TO SAN ANTONIO. SO SINCE PREVENTION IS KEY, THE CITY HAD ONGOING EFFORTS IN PREVENTING OR SLOWING THE DISEASE. IN 2003, COUNCIL APPROVED AN EQUITY ORDINANCE WHICH DOES SEVERAL THINGS. FIRST, IT REQUIRES THAT ALL CUTS OR WOUNDS BE PAINTED WITHIN 30 MINUTES AND SO THE REASON FOR THIS IS IS THAT WHEN TREE LIMBS ARE CUT OR WOUNDED, THERE'S AN EXPOSED SAP AND IT ATTRACTS THAT SAP FEEDING BEETLE, AND THEY CAN SPREAD IT FROM TREE TO TREE. THE PAINT MAKES THE CUT UNATTRACTIVE TO THE BEETLE AND IT IS VERY EFFECTIVELY STOPS THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. THE SECOND THING IS PROHIBITS FIREWOOD FROM INSPECTED TREES FROM BEING BROUGHT INTO THE CITY. 
          EQUITY IS EXTREMELY PREVALENT IN THE HILL COUNTRY. 
          WE KNOW ANY FIREWOOD BROUGHT IN IS A COMMON WAY THE DISEASE GETS SPREAD. WHAT IT DOES IS REQUIRES ANY INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF TREE CARE -- IN 2016. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CREATED AN EQUITY PREVENTION PROGRAM WHICH INVOLVED TWO MAJOR THINGS. FIRST, WE CREATED INFORMATIONAL DOOR HANGERS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. 
          INFORMATION FOR HOMEOWNERS ON BEST PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO PREVENT THE DISEASE WHEN THEY ARE PRUNING THEIR TREES. SECOND, WHAT WE WORKED WITH SOLID WASTE TO DO WAS TO ADJUST THE BRUSH COLLECTION CYCLES TO AVOID AREAS IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE CITY BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1 AND JUNE 30. 
          THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S THE TIME WHEN THE DISEASE SPREAD IS AT ITS GREATEST. OTHER ONGOING EFFORTS, CURRENTLY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS A RESIDENTIAL TREE PLANTING PROGRAM. 
          THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON COMMUNITIES OF NEED, WHICH HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BASED ON THE EQUITY AND HEAT SCORES. THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO INCREASE CANOPY COVERS FOR LOWER AND AVERAGE CAPPY COVERAGE.  THEY HAVE UTILIZED A CONTRACT VENDOR WHO SUPPLIES AND PLANTS THE TREE IN A TURN KEY MANNER AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $800 PER TREE. 
          BECAUSE OF THE SKILL OF THIS PROGRAM, WE OFFER RESIDENTS IN THIS -- WE OFFER A RESIDENTS A LIMITED SELECTION OF TREES. 
          SO THIS MAP SHOWS AREA WHERE WE HAVE TARGETED FOR RESIDENTIAL TREE PLANTING. AGAIN, THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON EQUITY AND HEAT. OUR EFFORT HAVE BEEN IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CITY AS YOU CAN SEE. OUR EFFORTS HAVE ALMOST BEEN COMPLETELY CONTAINED WITHIN 410. HOWEVER, WHEN WE COMPARE TO WHERE EQUITY IS FOUND, WE SEE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE. THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE OAK WRIT IS LOCATED HAVE LOWER EQUITY AND HEAT SCORES. 
          AS WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, WE CAN SEE THAT OAK WILT IS ISOLATED. 
          IT SHOWS INFECTION CENTERS FOUND WITHIN SAN ANTONIO ITSELF. 
          EACH CIRCLE ON THAT MAP REPRESENTS WHAT WE CALL OAK WILT INFECTION CENTER. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 20 OF THESE CENTERS ACROSS FIVE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS. KIND OF DEFINE WHAT THIS OAK WILT CENTER, WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT, WE TRACK THE DISEASE WHICH INFECTION CENTERS AND THEIR UNIQUE LOCATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. OUR PARTNERS WITH THE TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE IDENTIFY IN THE BOUNDARIES. THEY MAKE THE MAPS FOR US. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE SIZE CAN VARY GREATLY JUST DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE. 
          AGAIN, FROM THE DATAER DATA HERE, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 25 CENTERS. BASED ON THE DATA THE STATE HAS PROVIDED, WE SAY THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 700 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.  THE SIZES ARE DIFFERENT. IF YOU NOTICE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 8, IT HAS THE MOST OAK WILT CENTERS BUT THE LEAST NUMBER OF RESIDENTS INVOLVED WHEREAS SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE LARGER NUMBERS OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS. THAT'S A FACTOR OF THE 
          [00:25:02]
SIZE OF THE CENTERS THEMSELVES. AS WE'VE EVALUATED THE REQUEST, WE'RE PROPOSING A COUPLE OF OPTIONS. THE FIRST IS TO REVISE ALL OF OUR EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH MATERIALS THAT WE'VE BEEN USING SINCE 2016. THIS WOULD INCLUDE UPDATES TO THE DOOR HANGERS DISTRIBUTED BY SOLID WASTE AS WELL AS A REFRESH ON THE EDUCATION MATERIALS THAT WE PROVIDE AT OUR EVENTS AND TO YOUR OFFICES. 
          IN ADDITION, WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL OUTREACH THAT'S TARGETED SPECIFIC TO RESIDENTS WHOSE TREES HAVE BEEN OR SOON WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE DISEASE. THE SECOND PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE IS TO CREATE A VOUCHER PROGRAM. THIS WILL BE USED TO HELP REPLACE TREES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST TO THE DISEASE. 
          SO THIS WOULD BE A VERY TARGETED APPROACH TO RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE DISEASE. THE VOUCHERS WOULD BE REDEEMABLE AT SELECT NURSERIES. THE OPTION WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE VOUCHER TO BE SELECT THEIR OWN TREE WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE DO IN OTHER PROMS. PROGRAMS. IT WOULD HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF NON-OAK SPECIES. 
          THEY WOULD HAVE A VALUE OF $800 AND COULD BE USED TO PURCHASE MULTIPLE TREES DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE TREES THEY SELECT. 
          THE COST OF THE VOUCHERS WOULD BE COVERED THROUGH THE TREE MITIGATION FUND. TO PROVIDE SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THE TREES THAT COULD BE PURCHASED, THIS GRAPHIC JUST KIND OF SHOWS RELATIVE SIZE OF COMMONLY AVAILABLE TREES.  MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE OF OUR TREE GIVE AWAY OR ADOPTION PROGRAMS. WE'VE WELL-KNOWN FOR GIVING TO THE PUBLIC ONE GALLON AND FIVE GALLON ON THE SMALLER END OF THAT SPECTRUM.  THESE VOUCHERS COULD BE USED TO PURCHASE MUCH LARGER TREES, IF POSSIBLE. THE $800 COULD BE USED TO PURCHASE TREES IN ANY COMBINATION, OR IT COULD BE USED AS A CREDIT TOWARD LARGER PURCHASES IF THEY PREFER. AGAIN, THIS WOULD ONLY BE FOR THE COST OF THE TREE, NOT FOR THE PLANTING. THE RESIDENT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PART. SO TO SUMMARIZE, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE CREATE A VOUCHER PROGRAM JUST AS I'VE DESCRIBED TO ASSIST HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY IMPACTED. IN ADDITION, WE WOULD COORDINATE WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE SOL ISTATION FOR THOSE VOUCHERS. 
          IT COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR TO COMPLETE. SO THE PROGRAM WOULDN'T AGAIN UNTIL FY '26. THAT CONCLUDES OUR BRIEFING. 
          WE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. NOW, COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO IS HERE TO DELIVER A FEW WORDS TO THE COMMITTEE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A CCR. SO THIS PROPOSAL CAME ABOUT BECAUSE EVERY QUARTER, WE GATHER OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND PRESIDENTS TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT ISSUES IMPACTING AREAS OF DISTRICT 7. SO THIS IS ACTUALLY AN IDEA FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT WHERE HE WAS SAYING, HEY, THERE'S OFTEN EDUCATION. 
          THEY DO SEE THE EDUCATION EFFORTS BY PARKS ABOUT OAK WILT. 
          ALL THAT TREE CANOPY IS GONE. WE KNOW THAT, LIKE WAS SAID, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO CURE FOR OAK WILT, BUT THERE ARE METHODS TO MANAGE THE DISEASE, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO GUARANTEED SUCCESS. WE KNOW THAT THIS DISEASE DOES PRIMARILY AFFECT NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF TOWN. 
          BUT ALSO TO -- WHEN WE HAVE THIS DISAPPEARANCE OF TREES, THIS IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT INCREASES HEAT ISLAND EFFECT. 
          IT ALSO IMPACTS PEOPLE'S PROPERTY VALUE. IT ALSO DEFINITELY IMPACTS THE CHARACTER OF NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAVE OAK HILLS WHICH IS A VERY POPULAR NEIGHBORHOOD NOT TOO FAR OUTSIDE OF 410. 
          THEY ARE CALLED OAK HILLS, YOU KNOW. SO WE KNOW THAT THE TREES ARE VERY TIED CLOSELY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHARACTER. I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN THE IDENTITY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALSO TO MAINTAIN AN INCREASE OUR TREE CANOPY.  I AUTHORED THE CCR TO DO JUST THAT, COMBAT THE ABSENCE OF TREE AND NO COST TO THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS. 
          WE WOULD BE USING THE TREE MITIGATION FUND. I WAS DEFINITELY PLEASED WITH THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS JUST MADE RIGHT NOW. 
          I APPRECIATE PARKS GUIDANCE ON THE CCR AND WORKING ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARTNERSHIP GOING FORWARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSION ON IT. 
          THANKS SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. 
          THANKS FOR YOUR IMPORTANT WORK ON THE LOCAL TREE CANOPY. 
          I DON'T THINK THAT IT COULD BE UNDERESTIMATED ESPECIALLY WITH THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF 
          [00:30:03]
THIS INITIATIVE. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. 
          THEN IF YOU CAN REMIND ME HOW THE FUNDS ARE COLLECTED RIGHT NOW AND PLACED INTO THE TREE MITIGATION FUND. AND THEN ALSO HOW MUCH 
          IS COLLECTED ANNUALLY. >> OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE -- SO IT'S COLLECTED THROUGH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. 
          IT'S PART OF A PROCESS. SO WHEN DEVELOPERS REMOVE TREES, THEY HAVE TWO OPTIONS. IF THEY FALL BELOW A THRESHOLD, THEY CAN PAY INTO THE FUND OR REPLACE TREES ON THAT SITE. SO THOSE FUNDS ARE LOCATED BY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES BY ORDINANCE. THEY ARE THEN MANAGED BY PARKS AND SPENT. THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR IN 
          FY '25 IS $14 MILLION COMING OUT OF THE FUND. >> THAT'S WHAT'S 
          AVAILABLE IS $14 MILLION? >> 14 MILLION IS OUR CURRENT FY 25 BUDGET. THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A CARRY FORWARD BALANCE REMAINING ON IT. I THINK IT'S LESS THAN A MILLION. 
          >> OKAY. AND SO I'M NOT A TREE EXPERT. 
          SORRY. GO AHEAD, HOMER. >> SO GOOD MORNING, HOMER GARCIA, PARKS DIRECTOR. SO ROSS IS CORRECT.  IN THE PROPOSED '25 BUDGET, 13.8 MILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM PROTECTED FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF FY 25. I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND 
          1.1 MILLION. >> HOW ARE THE FUNDS ALLOCATED RIGHT NOW, 
          HOMER? >> THAT IS BY PARKS. PRIMARILY, IT'S OUR RESIDENTIAL TREE PROGRAM. IT IS OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS RIGHT-OF-WAY PROJECTS. WE USE THE HEAT VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT TOOL, WHICH INCLUDES THE EQUITY COMPONENT AS WELL AS THOSE ELEVATED HEAT ZONES. FOR EXAMPLE, I BELIEVE IN THE PROPOSED FY '25 BUDGET, WE HAVE ABOUT $7 MILLION, MAYBE MORE, TIED TO CAPITAL RIGHT-OF-WAY PROJECTS. 2/3 OF THOSE ARE IN ELEVATED HEAT ZONES UTILIZING THAT HEAT VULNERABILITY TOOL. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, AGAIN, I'M NOT A TREE EXPERT. 
          HELP ME UNDERSTAND, WHEN WE FIND OAK WILT, IS THERE AN OPTION TO HELP WITH MEDICATION, OR IS THERE TRIMMING, OR IS IT LIKE A TAKE IT DOWN COMPLETELY? JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT. 
          >> GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHEN TREES BECOME INFECTED, AT THAT POINT IT'S TOO LATE TO TREAT. TREATMENT KNEES TO BE PROACTIVE. 
          THERE IS A FUNGICIDE. IT IS EXPENSIVE. USUALLY HOMEOWNERS COVER THAT COST. I BELIEVE THE STATE MIGHT HAVE A COST SHARE PROGRAM TO HELP SOME HOMEOWNERS AS WELL. ONCE A TREE GETS INFECTED, THE MAJORITY OF THE TREES DO DIE. SO THEY DO REQUIRE 
          REMOVAL. >> HOW MUCH DO OAK TREES COST? 
          >> COST IN TERMS OF PLANTING? >> WELL, LIKE TO BUY ONE. IS IT DEPENDENT ON THE SIZE AND THEN, OF 
          COURSE, THE PLANTING, ET CETERA. >> CORRECT.  THE COST OF A TREE WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE SIZE. THE LARGER TREES I SHOWED ON THE GRAPHIC, THAT 45 IS PROBABLY RUNNING IN THE $500 TO $600 JUST FOR THE COST OF THE TREE. THE 30 GALLON IS 
          RANGE. >> DOES THE SPECIES CHANGE THE PRICE? 
          >> IT CAN, BUT IT'S PRETTY NOMINAL. >> GOT IT. 
          AND THEN JUST TO MAKE SURE, WHEN WE ACTUALLY GET THE -- TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TREE GET ESTABLISHED -- I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE. 
          I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR TREES. I'LL BE INCLUDED. I LOST ONE TREE ON THERE. BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH PREPARATION ON HOW TO WATER OR HOW TO CARE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF NEW TREES. SO HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE TEACH PEOPLE HOW 
          TO DO THAT? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 
          WE HAVE A ROBUST PROGRAM THAT ACTUALLY WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND UPDATING NOW. WE WOULD PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF THAT TREE PURCHASE GIVING THEM THE HOW TO. WE HAVE A LOT OF STUFF ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM ALL THAT INFORMATION SO THEY KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY ESTABLISH AND CARE FOR 
          IT. >> OKAY. WONDERFUL. 
          THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS. 
          I'LL CHECK WITH MY COLLEAGUES. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE, 
          DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE NOTICED AND I COMPLAINED ABOUT AT LEAST ONCE AND I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER NEIGHBORS, AND THAT IS ALLOT OF THE LICENSED COMPANIES THAT COME AROUND AND WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TRIM YOUR TREES, I'M CERTAIN SOME OF THE UNLICENSED COMPANIES BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE THAT WANDER AROUND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, TOO, BUT WHEN THEY ARE UP THERE TRIMMING, I NOTICE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SPRAY PAINT OR ANY KIND OF TREE COVERING WITH THEM OR TREATMENT. 
          I KNOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TREAT WITHIN 30 MINUTES, I BELIEVE, OF 
          [00:35:05]
WHEN IT'S CUT. I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE ATTENTION OF A COUPLE PEOPLE AND SAID, WELL, IT'S IN THE TRUCK.  I'LL GO GET IT LATER. 
          I WONDER IF THEY EVER DO. I PRESUME THEY PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO CLIMB BACK UP AND REDO IT AGAIN. I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD ADD TO OUR ORDINANCE THAT ANYONE WHO GOES INTO A TREE TO TRIM HAVE IT WITH THEM ON THEIR PERSON TO IMMEDIATELY TREAT THAT CUT. IN OTHER WORDS, HAVE A LITTLE BELT WITH A HOLSTER THAT HAS THE PAINT IN IT. IT SHOULDN'T BE MUCH OF A PROBLEM FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT IT'S BETTER THAN HAVING THEM CLIMB DOWN AFTER THEY'VE CUT 20 CUTS AND THEN GO AND GET THE PAINT AND TRY AND TREAT 20 CUTS AGAIN. SO I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD TREAT THAT AS -- PUT THAT IN OUR ORDINANCE AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE. ALSO, WHEN PEOPLE DISCOVER THAT THEY'VE GOT OAK WILT, IT'S ALWAYS AFTER THE FACT. BUT IS IT DISCOVERED BECAUSE THEY THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG AND THEY GO OUT AND HIRE ANN ARBORIST TO LOOK AT IT? I'M WONDERING, IF THE CITY COULD PROVIDE THAT KIND OF A SERVICE AT A MINIMAL COST TO CHECK A TREE AND SEE IF IT HAS OAK WILT. IF NOT, THAT'S GREAT. 
          IF IT DOES, THEN THEY UNDERSTAND THEY NEED TO START WORKING ON IT. 
          I THINK IT WOULD HELP THE CITY BE ABLE TO TRACK IT BETTER BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REQUIREMENT IS FROM ANY OF THE COMPANIES THAT TRIM TREES TO LET THE CITY KNOW THAT THEY FOUND OAK WILT ON A TREE SOMEWHERE. THOSE ARE A COUPLE THOUGHTS. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, HOMER, YOUR DEPARTMENT EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE 
          BIT MORE MAYBE WITH ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. >> IT'S A REAL BAD PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, IT COSTS HOW MUCH TO REMOVE A TREE? 
          >> IT CAN VARY DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE TREE. 
          EASILY $1,000 TO $2,000 PER TREE EASILY. >> YES. 
          WE'RE NOT OFFERING ANY ASSISTANCE WITH ANYTHING LIKE THAT. 
          WE'RE JUST SAYING IF YOU REMOVE THAT TREE AND YOU WANT TO PUT IN A NEW ONE 
          AND IT'S NOT OAK AND WE HAVE SOME AVAILABLE -- >> THAT'S CORRECT. 
          >> WE'LL WORK IT OUT THAT WAY. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO FOR THIS INITIATIVE. 
          IT'S BEEN INFORMATIVE. CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE $800 STIPEND CAN BE USED FOR? IT'S TO PURCHASE A 45 GALLON TREE OR IS IT UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE PARTICIPANT ON HOW THEY USE THE VOUCHER? 
          >> YES. SO IT CAN BE ONLY USED FOR TREES. 
          THAT WILL BE THE ONE THING. THERE WILL BE A SELECTED NURSERY THEY CAN GO TO. WE HOPE TO HAVE SEVERAL IN THE PROGRAM. 
          ONCE THEY GET THERE, THEY HAVE $800 ESSENTIALLY CREDIT TO USE FOR THE COMBINATIONS OF THE TREES. FOR INSTANCE, IF THEY WANTED FIVE TREES, MAYBE THEY COULD AFFORD TO BUY WITH THAT $800 SEVERAL 15-GRAM TREES F THEY REALLY WANTED A BIGOTRY ANDBIG TREE, THEY CAN USE IT FOR THE OTHER. IT GIVES THEM 
          DISCRETION, BUT ONLY FOR NON-OAK TREES. >> THEY DO A GOOD JOB TO PROVIDE FREE TREES. OUR CONSTITUENTS LINE UP TO GET THEIR HAND ON A FREE TREE. WHY NOT CONNECT FOLKS TO THOSE RESOURCES AND WHY 
          THE STIPEND? >> WE CERTAINLY COULD. BUT TYPICALLY, THOSE EVENTS WE ONLY GIVE THEM ONE TREE. THEY ARE IN THAT VERY SMALL RANGE, A LITTLE ONE GALLON TREE. SO IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE VALUE AND THE NUMBER. WE KNOW IN SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES THEY'VE LOST MULTIPLE TREES. IT GIVES THE HOMEOWNER THE ABILITY TO SELECT WHAT'S BEST FOR THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION FOR 
          THEM. >> UH-HUH. AND THEN I GUESS THIS IS MORE OF A PARKS COMMENT. WITH THOSE GIVEAWAYS, I THINK THERE WILL BE VALUE IN THE 45 GALLON TREES, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE URBAN CORE WHERE THERE'S LESS TREE CANOPY AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE MATURE TREE TO HELP PROVIDE COVERAGE SOONER THAN LATER. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS BEFORE IT GETS THERE. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TREES THAT ARE GIVEN AWAY AT OUR PARKS, THE LARGER TREES WOULD HAVE A GREATER IMPACT. 
          THEN DO YOU ALL TRACK PECAN TREES AND HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE DISEASED? IS IT I GUESS I UNDERSTAND THE CCR WAS PARTICULARLY FOR OAK TREES. I'M CURIOUS IF THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN 
          EXPANDING IT TO OTHER DISEASED TREES. >> YES. 
          I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC DISEASES TO PECAN. 
          HOWEVER, SINCE THE WINTER STORM OF '21, WE HAVE NOTICED INCREASE CITYWIDE DECLINE OF PECK AN AND RED OAKS. IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS FROM THE FREEZE, THE EXTREME HEAT, AND THE DROUGHT. 
          WE HAVE NOTICED THAT. WE DON'T TRACK THAT. THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD 
          HAVE THAT IS TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE. >> LAST MONDAY, WE HAD OUR OPEN OFFICE HOURS, AND A CONSTITUENT SHARED THEY HAVE A PECAN 
          [00:40:04]
TREE -- THEY SHOWED ME A PHOTO -- THAT'S CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE AND IT LOOKS LIKE MITES ARE EATING IT.  IT'S LUSH AT THE TOP. 
          THEY ARE WORRIED IT'S GOING TO CRACK AND FALL ON THEIR VEHICLE AND THEY ARE NOW WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE BUDGET, THERE WILL BE RESOURCES FOR TREE REMOVAL.  THEY JUST ARE AT A LOSS. THAT TREE PROVIDES SO MUCH SHADE AND IT GETS -- IT ALLOWS THEM TO ENJOY THEIR BACKYARD. BUT IT'S NOT AN OAK TREE. 
          RIGHT? SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO EXPLORE IS POTENTIALLY EXPANDING THIS PROGRAM TO INCLUDE MORE TREES THAT ARE -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DISEASED OR WHAT THE CASE IS WITH THIS PECAN TREE IN PARTICULAR, BUT IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT EXPANDED TO DIFFERENT TREES AS WELL BECAUSE IN D5, WE DON'T HAVE OAK TREES. IT'S PRIMARILY PECAN TREES. 
          WE HAVE LESS RESOURCES AS WELL TO REPLACE AND REMOVE. 
          I THINK THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN EXPANDING THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S 
          GREAT AND HAS GREAT IMPACT. >> I WILL ADD THAT THE PASSAGE LAST WEEK OF THAT NEW PROGRAM FOR THE HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FOR REMOVALS, OUR INTENT SO TO WORK TO UTILIZE THE TREE FUND TO REPLACE THOSE TREES AS WELL FROM THE TREE FUND ALREADY FOR THAT. 
          OUR HOPE IS THAT AS TREES ARE REMOVED WITH THOSE MONIES FROM THE GENERAL FUND, THE TREE FUND WOULD BE USED TO HELP REPLACE THOSE 
          ALREADY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. 
          I DIDN'T REALIZED, DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THIS? IS IT JUST A BRIEFING? 
          >> BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION. >> I GUESS MAYBE THE ACTION WAS CREATING THE VOUCHER PROGRAM? SO WE SHOULD JUST IN CASE MOTION A MOTION? YEAH. SO IS THERE A MOTION? IS MANNY -- COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ DOESN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE, GO AHEAD. 
          >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHEN WE CHECK ON THESE TREES AND THEY'RE BAD AND THEY GET CUT DOWN, WHERE DOES THAT CUT TREE GO? DOES IT GO TO OUR CENTER WHERE IT'S, YOU KNOW, CHOPPED UP AND BLENDED 
          IN WITH OTHER TREES? >> IT DEPENDS ON WHO IS DOING THE CUTTING. 
          SO IF IT'S A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I DON'T BELIEVE SOLID WASTE ACCEPTS MATERIAL FROM THEM ANYMORE. 
          SO IF THEY DID IT THEMSELVES, POTENTIALLY IT COULD. 
          HOWEVER, PEOPLE OFTEN WONDER THAT IF WE TAKE A DISEASED TREE AND PUT IN LANDFILLS, IS IT SPREADING IT? THAT'S NOT THE CASE. 
          THE BEST WAY IS CHIPPING IT AND PUTTING IT IN. THERE ARE OTHER MICRO-ORGANISMS THAT FEED ON IT. IT DOESN'T SURVIVE 
          OUTSIDE OF ITS HOST. >> IT WOULDN'T AFFECT MULCH? 
          >> WHETHER IT'S MULCH, WHATEVER, IT DOESN'T SPREAD ANY OTHER WAY 
          THROUGH THAT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S ALL. >> WONDERFUL. CAN I GET A MOTION? 
          >> I'LL MOVE THAT WE CREATE A VOUCHER APPROVAL. 
          THE. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. 
          ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ, IS 
          THAT AN AYE? >> THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR PCDC AT 10:46 A.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.