[00:00:10]
>> PELAEZ: APOLOGIES FOR KEEPING YOU WAITING AND LET'S CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
>> PELAEZ: I SAW COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, SHE STEPPED OUT MOMENTARILY?
[Approval of Minutes ]
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF OUR SEPTEMBER 6TH, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING. DID ANYBODY READ THE MINUTES AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> PELAEZ: ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
THAT WAS UNANIMOUS. AND THE SECOND IS A BRIEFING, SALLY, ON OUR LEG PROGRAM.AND YOU GOT THE PODIUM, SALLY. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY PRESENTATION TODAY IS THE SECOND BRIEFING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES INCLUDED IN THE SLIDES THAT I WILL DEMONSTRATE TODAY, MAINLY CAME ABOUT FROM THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD ON OUR SEPTEMBER 5 IGR COMMITTEE MEETING. AND I WANTED TO SHOWCASE AND SPEAK TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE PROGRAM THIS MORNING AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SECTION FOR US, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT THESE THREE PRINCIPLES ARE FRONT AND CENTER IN OUR PROGRAM. PRIMARILY, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO IMPROVE THE RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH POLICY AND FUNDING. A LOT OF OUR WORK AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION SUPPORTS THESE PRINCIPLES. THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, UM, AND OUR CONSULTANTS IN AUSTIN HELP US TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY TO SECURE THE AUTHORITY TO SECURE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO DELIVER QUALITY SERVICES TO SAN ANTONIO'S RESIDENTS. THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM IS EXECUTED AND ACCOMPLISHED IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF FIVE DIFFERENT PILLARS.
THE INITIATIVE SECTION IS A NEW SECTION THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TODAY FOR THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND RESILIENCY. STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED A PRIORITY ITEM THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY UNDER THE INITIATIVE SECTION. THIS IS NEW TO THE INITIATIVE SECTION. THE EAST-WEST BUSINESS CORRIDOR. WE ARE RECOMMENDING SUPPORT, DEVELOPMENT OF AN EASTWAY ROADWAY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN REGION OF SAN ANTONIO PROVIDING ACCESS TO MAJOR MANUFACTURING AND RETAIL EMPLOYERS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO ENHANCE THE ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY TO THESE EMPLOYERS ON THE SOUTHSIDE COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES TO THE REST OF THE CITY AND ACCESS TO THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM. AND AS YOU KNOW, THE SOUTHSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO HAS SEEN AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROWTH AND INVESTMENTS IN RECENT YEARS.
IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WE ANTICIPATE THAT APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MORE JOBS WILL BE ADDED TO THE SOUTHSIDE REGION, GROWING THIS AREA'S WORKFORCE. THE MANUFACTURING AND RETAIL GROWTH OF THE SOUTHSIDE IS MAKING IT NECESSARY FOR THIS ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH TO THIS PART OF SAN ANTONIO IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE MASSIVE GROWTH OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. ON TO THE PROTECTION OF THE COMMUNITY INTERESTS -- THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THIS SECTION IN THE PROGRAM. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT THE BUSINESSES ARE HAVING LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY TO PRESERVE THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNANCE WE AIM TO PROTECT THE CITY COUNCIL'S LOCAL AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE POLICY AND FUNDING DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY, RESIDENTS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. UNDER MILITARY CITY U.S.A. WE SUPPORT JBSAS AND THE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD'S MILITARY MISSIONS.
CURRENT AND ANY FUTURE EXPANSION. IN ADDITION, SUPPORT FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR DIAG THAT ADDS THE MILITARY VALUE TO THOSE MISSIONS.
TO DATE, WE HAVE RECEIVED OUR COMMUNITY $33 MILLION IN DIAG FUNDING AND WE HOPE TO INCREASE THAT AMOUNT IN THE NEXT SESSION. AND MUNICIPALITY-OWNED UTILITY SECTION IS A CARRYOVER ITEM AS YOU HAVE RECOGNIZED AND IT PROTECTS THE SYSTEM FOR SAWS AND CPS.
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AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDES OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SECTION, WHICH IS SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THOSE TOOLS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT INCLUDE THOSE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO MAINTAIN AND TO ATTRACT MAJOR EMPLOYERS, AND ALSO TO GIVE US THE TOOLS TO COMPETE FOR MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS AND CONVENTIONS. UNDER HOUSING STABILITY WE SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION THAT HELPS TO INCREASE NOT JUST ACCESS, BUT ALSO AFFORDABILITY TO HOUSING. WORKFORCE -- SUPPORT INVESTMENTS IN WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, TRAINING AND INCREASED ACCESS TO CHILDCARE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOS GOING INTO THE WORKFORCE TO HELP THEM REMOVE THAT BARRIER. AND THIS IS A NEW ITEM UNDER HOUSING STABILITY, SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES SUSTAINABLE AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.LAST SESSION, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY $18 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE CURRENTLY MONITORING DISCUSSIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL WHERE POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WILL BE ONGOING IN THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THESE DISCUSSIONS WILL CONTINUE AND WE WILL MONITOR THOSE VERY CLOSELY. AND UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, THIS PILLAR SUPPORTS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS UNDER HEALTHCARE AND NUTRITION, IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, FOOD ASSISTANCE AND FOOD SECURITY, FUNDING AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE, PLUS SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION THAT ENCOURAGES RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF RESIDENTS AND PETS. UNDER VIOLENCE AND CRIME PREVENTION, SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PREVENT AND MITIGATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ALSO TARGETED VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE NEW ITEM UNDER HEALTH CARE AND NUTRITION, SUPPORT FUNDING TO EXPAND SAN ANTONIO'S PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND ADDING FACILITIES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THIS SPACE.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE ALSO DISCUSSIONS HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE AN ITEM SO THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TRACK/MONITOR AND ALSO TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO COME BACK TO YOU AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU UPDATES AND ANY POLICY CONSIDERATIONS OR FUNDING CONSIDERATIONS AS THIS ITEM ADVANCES DURING THE STATE LEGISLATURE. AND ADDITIONALLY, UM, UNDER VIOLENT CRIME PREVENTION, WE ARE RECOMMENDING SUPPORT FOR RESPONSIBLE FIREARM PRACTICES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP AID IN PREVENTION OF GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE IDENTIFYING ANY POSSIBLE RESOURCES FOR SAPD. THIS IS A NEW ITEM THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING BASED ON DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE HAD AT THE IGR COMMITTEE MEETING EARLY THIS MONTH REGARDING THE MISUSE OF FIREARMS A IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN COORDINATION WITH SAPD WE ARE RECOMMENDING ADDITION OF THIS ITEM. UNDER INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY, THIS INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTIVITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF BROADBAND SERVICE ACROSS OUR CITY. TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TO HELP ADDRESS CONGESTION. AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, DUE TO OUR POPULATION GROWTH ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. AND THIS ALSO INCLUDES PEDESTRIAN SAFETY THROUGH OUR VISION ZERO INITIATIVES. PLUS, SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION TO HELP TO PREPARE FOR NATURAL DISASTER AND EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. OUR NEXT STOP IS OUR CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING ACT, B-SESSION ON OCTOBER 2ND. SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE WE ARE MOVING ALONG AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE LAID OUT THE PROGRAM TO YOU TODAY AFTER OUR INITIAL CONVERSATION ON SEPTEMBER 5TH. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM. NADIA AND CHRISTINE AND SARAH.
AND WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR EFFORTS IN RESEARCH, WRITING AND ALL OF THE TRACKING AND MONITORING THAT IS ALREADY HEAVILY GOING ON, UM, WE COULD NOT DO THIS, UM, FOR YOU AND ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. ALSO WE HAVE A FEW DEPARTMENT HEADS PRESENT TODAY.
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I'D LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND JUST THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT.THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN FOREWARNED THAT THE SESSION IS COMING AND THINGS WILL START RAMPING UP REALLY SOON. MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND WE ARE ALL
AVAILABLE >> THANKS, I APPRECIATE YOU HIGHLIGHTING THE
DREAM TEAM OVER HERE THOUGH. >> CERTAINLY.
>> UP AGAINST THE WALL. I'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN TO SEE YOU ALL DO THE WORK UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL IN AUSTIN, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY RED BULLS YOU HAVE TO DRINK TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. ITIT'S IMPRESSIVE TO SEE HOW YOU -- SALLY, HOW YOU ACTIVATE THIS TEAM TO COVER SO MUCH GROUND. IT LOOKS EXHAUSTING, BUT YOU ALL MAKE IT LOOK SO ELEGANT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK, AND I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU'RE UP IN AUSTIN, YOU'RE AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILIES.
THIS IS ALL HANDS ON DECK. THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILIES FOR LETTING YOU GET OUT THERE AND THEM CARRYING THE BURDEN WHILE YOU'RE GONE. SO QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
>> I DO. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, SALLY, SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. OVERALL, THIS IS GREAT.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.
ON SLIDE 4, I'M GLAD WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, AND IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THOSE JOBS AND THE GROWTH PROJECTED IN THAT AREA. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS INITIATIVE MAY LOOK LIKE AND WHAT SORTS OF THINGS WE WOULD NEED TO BE
ADVOCATING FOR TO MAKE IT HAPPEN? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
WE ARE IN THE PRELIMINARY STAGES OF HAVING DISCUSSIONS NOT JUST INTERNALLY WITHIN THE CITY. OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER JEFF COYLE, AND OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ALEX LOPEZ, ARE HELPING US HEAD THIS UP. JEFF WILL CONCUR THERE'S STILL A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAD. WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AT STAFF LEVEL IS THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY. THE FIRST PIECE WILL BE COORDINATING THE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN AUSTIN AS WELL AS WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WITH INCLUSION OF LOCAL PARTNERS AND CITY COUNCIL.
>> IF I MIGHT ADD, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY IN THE SORT OF SOCIALIZING THE CONCEPT STAGE RIGHT NOW WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE HOPE THAT WE'LL HAVE FULL SUPPORT FOR EVERYONE THAT THIS IS NEEDED.
BUT WE ENVISION A PARKWAY LIKE ROADWAY, A STATE ROADWAY ACROSS THE SOUTH SIDE THAT LINKS AND RUNS FROM 37 TO 35 AND LINKS UP THE MAJOR JOB CENTERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE LIKE TOYOTA, JCB, NAVISTAR, ET CETERA.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS BADLY NEEDED GIVEN THE GROWTH DOWN THERE AND THE JOBS. THE STATE HAS BEEN A PARTNER IN ALL OF THOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OR PROJECTS.
SO WE ENVISION SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE ABOUT US COLLECTIVELY WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE THAT MUCH NEEDED CORRIDOR
ACROSS THE SOUTH SIDE. >> WELL, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT CONTEXT.
I'M REMINDED OF THIS LUNCHEON I WENT TO NOT TOO LONG AGO WHERE DAVID MARQUEZ WAS PRESENTED LIKE THE -- I FORGET WHAT HE CALLED IT.
IT'S BASICALLY THE AUTOMOTIVE TRACK OF TEXAS.
YOU NOAH, GOING THROUGH BEXAR COUNTY AND OBVIOUSLY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ON TO OTHER CITIES, TOO. I'M ALSO WONDERING HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH THEM. I CAN TRY TO GET MY HANDS ON THAT PRESENTATION JUST BECAUSE IT DID TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR US KIND OF CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR THESE MANUFACTURING GIANTS, YOU KNOW, IN OUR AREA. OF COURSE, OBVIOUSLY GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED FOR THAT, TOO. SO LET ME BE SURE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL SO WE'RE LOCKSTEP THERE.
I WAS REALLY GLAD TO SEE THE VIOLENT CRIME PREVENTION.
DO WE KNOW LIKE WHAT OTHER MAJOR CITIES, WHERE THIS WOULD BE ON THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO HELP -- WITH THE PREVENTION OF GUN
VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> COUNCILMEMBER, THAT IS DEFINITELY IN COORDINATION WITH OUR SAPD TEAM.
>> SURE. >> DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? I'M SORRY. SORRY. YEAH.
IN COORDINATION WITH SAPD TEAM FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WILL IDENTIFY KEY PARTNERS LEEK IN OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION FIELD, AT THE STATE LEVEL, MANY A TIMES TML AND THE BIG CITY CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION, WE LOOK AT THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO SEE WHERE WE CAN ALIGN AND COORDINATE AS LONG AS THERE ISN'T A CONFLICT WITH THE CITY'S LEDGE IS LIVITY AGENDA. WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR GROUPS?
>> I THINK I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO SEE IF THIS IS HIGH PRIORITY FOR
OTHER CITIES AS WELL. >> WE CAN DEFINITELY FIND OUT IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE WE COLLABORATE WITH THE BIG CITIES ACROSS THE
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STATE. >> YEAH, AND I'M ALSO KIND OF WONDERING, TOO, I MEAN, IS THIS JUST SOMETHING THAT THE STATE IS RECEPTIVE TO? WE CAN HAVE A FURTHER OFF-LINE CONVERSATION ABOUT IT JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE STATE FEELS A CERTAIN WAY ABOUT GUNS AND THIS
MAY NOT FULLY ALIGN. >> YOU'RE SLIGHTLY RIGHT.
WE'RE CAUTIOUS IN THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE OTHER AREAS OF FIREARM DISCUSSIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE RECEIVED AT THE STATE, BUT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS
SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH. >> YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. YEAH.
I KNOW IT'S KIND OF WALKING ON EGGSHELLS. THEN WE JUST HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH JEFF ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU.
WE DO WANT TO STILL CONTINUE THE PUSH FOR REDUCING SPEED LIMITS IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THIS IS A PROBLEM NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT 7, BUT IT'S SOMETHING FELT BY ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
THIS IS AN ISSUE. SO ANYWAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR PUSH.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE PUSHED SEVERAL YEARS IN THE PAST.
APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE EFFORTS. BUT JUST WANT TO CONTINUE THAT AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TRY
TO DO SOME THINGS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL. >> ABSOLUTELY. I'M SURE AS JEFF MENTIONED TO YOU, THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT'S FILED EVERY YEAR. WE CURRENTLY ARE RECOMMENDING LANGUAGE UNDER THE TRANSPORTATION SECTION OF THE PROGRAM THAT WILL GIVE US THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND RELATED INITIATIVES FOR
SAN ANTONIO. >> OKAY. PERFECT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.
THANKS. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT WAS INTERESTING SEEING ALL THE NEW ADDITIONS, I'M HAPPY WITH MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THEM.
GOING THROUGH THE FULL PROGRAM, THERE IS A COUPLE AREAS THAT I FEEL LIKE ARE MISSING. MY HOPE WOULD BE FOR HEALTHCARE, NUTRITION, THERE'S -- THERE'S AN ITEM THAT SAYS SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT SUPPORTS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HOPEFULLY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECT AND INCLUSIVE AND INCLUDING, PERHAPS, REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IN THAT.
I WORRY THAT HEALTHCARE IS BROAD AND SHOULD ANY -- I GUESS HERE'S THE QUESTION: DOES SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION MEAN OPPOSITION TO LEGISLATION THAT DOES NOT FALL IN LINE WITH THESE VALUES?
WOULD WE BE OUTWARDLY OPPOSED TO -- >> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION. WE FOUND LONG WHERE WE HAVE A SUPPORT STATEMENT.
TML HAS OPPOSITION TO THAT. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, THEIR WAY OF LAYING OUT THE LANGUAGE IS THAT THEY ARE OPPOSING SOMETHING IN THE LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING, BUT WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING. SO THAT PROBABLY SOUNDS CONFUSING.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES. WE'RE SUPPORTING SOMETHING, WE'RE ESSENTIALLY OPPOSING THE OPPOSITE OF THAT
SUPPORT. >> GOTCHA. TML WOULD SAY OPPOSES LEGISLATION THAT REDUCES ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. WE WOULD SAY SUPPORTS
LEGISLATION THAT INCREASES -- >> WE'RE TRYING TORY MAKE
THE PROGRAM HAVE A MORE POSITIVE -- >> I THINK IT'S WORTH SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE LOOKS AT THE PROGRAM, IT'S HARD -- YOU DON'T SEE EVERY PARTICULAR ISSUE AND TOPIC IN THERE.
THE TOPICS ARE INTENTIONALLY BROAD TO GIVE US -- TO MAKE BROAD POLICY STATEMENTS ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED, AND WE ARE TALKING WITH YOU AND PARTICULARLY THIS COMMITTEE BUT ALSO THE FULL COUNCIL THROUGHOUT THE SESSION ABOUT SPECIFIC BILLS THAT FALL UNDER THESE CATEGORIES AND THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE. THERE ARE MANY, MANY DIFFERENT DEGREES OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, AND THERE MAY BE SOME THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT AND OTHERS THAT WE DON'T. IT ISN'T SALLY AND I MAKING THAT DECISION. IT'S US TALKING WITH YOU DURING THE SESSION AND LETTING YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO SO THAT WE CAN GET DIRECTION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO I THINK SALLY'S APPROACH TO THIS -- OUR APPROACH TO THIS IS TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S GENERAL ENOUGH THAT DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY DRAW THE IRE OF SOME OF THE STATE LEADERSHIP, BUT IT CLEARLY STATES WHAT OUR POLICIES AND PRIORITIES ARE AS AN ENTITY. I FULLY EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING SOME MUCH MORE POINTED CONVERSATIONS ONCE THEY GET UP THERE AND START PROPOSING LOTS OF BAD IDEAS.
>> UH-HUH. SO IT COULD INCLUDE, I GUESS, WOULD YOU INTERPRET THE ITEM AS IT STANDS TO INCLUDE REPRODUCTIVE GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE? >> I THINK IT -- WELL, I THINK THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS IN TERMS OF WHAT THE BILL IS. AS I MENTIONED, WHEN
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COUNCILMEMBER WHITE BROUGHT UP REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AT OUR BUDGET MEETING, HE WAS IMMEDIATELY ASSUMING IT MEANT ABORTION WHEN IN FACT WHAT ULTIMATELY WAS A BIG ISSUE WAS POST-NATAL CARE, MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR POST-NATAL CARE. WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THERE MAY BE ISSUES THAT WE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THAT DON'T EVEN ADVANCE AS AN ITEM. THERE MAY BE OTHERS THAT WE HADN'T EVEN ANTICIPATED THAT END UP BECOMING A BIG DEAL. WE NEVER THOUGHT THE BATHROOM BILL WOULD BE THE BIG DEAL THAT IT WAS SEVERAL SESSIONS AGO.SO IT'S TOO EARLY FOR US TO DECIDE TO SAY RIGHT HERE YES, WE WOULD BE FOR THIS BILL, THAT BILL BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE OF EACH BILL REALLY MATTERS. THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO STUDY THOSE, GET INPUT FROM DEPARTMENTS AND COME AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THEM DURING THE
SESSION. >> THANK YOU. I GUESS I WOULD ADD THEN, I UNDERSTAND THAT I GUESS AN AREA OF CONCERN I HAVE IS I FEEL FOR THE PAST SEVERAL LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN HELPING SET THE AGENDA, I'VE MENTIONED THAT WE NEED TO SIGNAL CLEAR AND STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.
I REALLY DON'T SEE -- WE KNOW THAT FOR THE PAST SEVERAL -- I CAN'T EVEN THINK HOW FAR BACK IT GOES, THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A TARGET OF ATTACK AND A CLEAR FOCUS OF THE STATE.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE OUTSIDE OF PROTECTION OF OUR NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE WHICH DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT INDICATES THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
SO THAT'S CONCERNING TO ME. SO I WOULD WONDER, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT WOULD FALL, IF IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS LGBTQ PLUS
WORKERS. >> I THINK OUR GENERAL VIEW IS IT DOES FALL UNDER THE LANGUAGE OF PROTECTING NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE. THAT'S BEEN THE POLICY DECISION THAT THIS BODY HAS MADE. WHENEVER THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT ULTIMATELY DIZZINESS CRIMINATES AGAINST FOLKS THAT WOULD BE IN CONFLICT WITH OUR LOCAL POLICY, WE HAVE OPPOSED THAT STRONGLY, IN FACT.
MORE SO THAN OTHER CITIES, I THINK. WHEN I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS, THERE ARE GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF BILLS FILED.
THERE MAY BE SOME THAT FALL OUTSIDE OF THAT UMBRELLA.
I THINK WE WOULD HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS THEN.
>> WELL, THEN WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE -- BECAUSE I'M SAYING NOW VERY CLEARLY AND PLAINLY AND I'M CONCERNED THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ENOUGH EFFORT TO OPPOSE OR SUPPORT LEGISLATION REGARDING LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IS A SESSION GOES BY AND BILLS MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH AND I ASK WHAT IS OUR -- WHAT'S BEEN OUR FORMAL STANCE ON THIS LEGISLATION, AND SOMEONE RESPONDS WE HAVE NOT TAKEN AN OFFICIAL POSITION.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM TO ME. DOES THIS PREVENT -- DOES THIS, AS STATEDDED, PREVENT THAT PRE HAPPENING?
>> COUNCILMEMBER, IF I MAY, NADIA JUST BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER AND IN OTHER MEETINGS, WE DO A LOT OF COORDINATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, WHETHER THEY ARE FROM SAN ANTONIO OR ACROSS THE STATE, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SAN ANTONIO ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED WHERE ONE OF THEM IS THE COSA ADVISORY BOARD, THE ESPERANZA ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER. THEY DO AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB ADVOCATING FOR SAN ANTONIANS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE. SO THEY'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED THOSE GROUPS. WE CAN CERTAINLY IN OTHER EXAMPLES WE DO THE SAME UNDER THE EDUCATION UMBRELLA.
WE COORDINATE WITH OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS. SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT THAT WE CAN DO.
THEN TO ADD TO JEFF'S COMMENTS, UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROTECTIONS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE EXISTING ORDINANCES THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS CREATED ARE PROTECTED THROUGH OUR WORK IN AUSTIN AND ALSO TO PROTECT YOUR ABILITY TO CREATE NEW ONES. IT DOES PROTECT THE CURRENT ORDINANCES AT LEAST THROUGH OUR WORK TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TAKE -- TO RECOMMEND TO YOU AN ITEM IN THE PROGRAM THAT WE KNOW IS NOT GOING TO RECEIVE ANY SUPPORT IN AUSTIN. SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THAT OUR EXTENSION OF OUR WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS BRINGS GREAT VALUE TO THE VOICES OF ALL SAN ANTONIANS WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO EXTEND OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER LOCAL AND STATE PARTNERS.
>> CAN I -- I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF. YOU HAVE A THOUGHT.
LET ME TRY ONE MORE TIME AT SORT OF HOW WE VIEW THIS AND WHAT -- I GUESS WHAT WE'RE NOT SEEING IN THE PROGRAM. OUR NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY OR
[00:25:02]
SEXUAL ORIENTATION MANY THAT'S A POLICY THIS COUNCIL PASSED.WE TYPICALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT TO SAY THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT AND OPPOSE. WE'VE DONE THAT BY AND LARGE. TRANSGENDER FOLKS READING TO STUDENTS IN LIBRARIES, LIBRARIES ARE A CITY JURISDICTION, AND WE VERY MUCH OPPOSE THAT LAST SESSION STRONGLY FROM OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR.
THERE MAY BE LEGISLATION THAT FOLKS DEEM AS DISCRIMINATORY THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY WITHIN THE CITY'S JURISDICTION.
ONE EXAMPLE, OUR POLICIES RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND SO WE DON'T SAY HERE NOW THAT THIS IS A BLANKET OPPOSITION TO EVERY OF OFFENSIVE LEGISLATION MIGHT COME FORWARD. IT'S CENTERED AROUND OUR CITY ORGANIZATION IN THE AREAS THAT SUCH. ALL THAT SAID, THERE'S NO DOUBT THERE WILL BE CONVERSATION WHEN THE SESSION COMES, BUT FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A DIRECT ATTACK ON SCHOOLS OR A DIRECT POLICY RELATED TO SCHOOLS, WE'RE OFTEN LOOKING TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERS ON THE POSITIONS THEY ARE TAKING AND SUPPORTING THEIR POSITIONS. SO THAT'S WHY I SAY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ANSWER ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS AT THIS STAGE. WE TRY TO LAY OUT WHAT OUR POSITIONS ARE, AND CLEARLY, WE WISH TO STATE THAT WE'RE OPPOSED TO LEGISLATION THAT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST INDIVIDUALS.
>> UH-HUH. SOMEWHAT. I GUESS -- THIS WILL BE MY LAST QUESTION. LET'S SAY WE'RE LOOKING AT BILLS LAST SESSION THAT TARGET BUSINESSES THAT HAVE DRAG PERFORMERS.
DID WE HAVE A STANCE ON THAT? >> I KNOW -- NADIA MIGHT REMEMBER THIS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. I BELIEVE WHAT WE DO UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES IS WE WORK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ANALYZE THE BILL AND DETERMINE IF THAT IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE CITY. I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND SEE.
DO YOU RECALL IF WE TOOK A POSITION ON THAT? I KNOW THAT ALSO THE LIBRARIES, IT WAS ALSO AN AREA THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T ENGAGE IN THAT PARTICULAR ACTIVITY, WE DID NOT TAKE OPPOSITION. WE DON'T MAKE A DECISION, COUNCILMEMBER, AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE ITEMS OUTSIDE OF THE LEDGE IS LAITIIVE AGENDA WITHOUT DOING A FULL ANALYSIS WITH ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE JURISDICTION AND THEN
COMING TO THE IGR COMMITTEE AS WELL. >> OKAY.
SO -- LET ME JUMP IN HERE. THERE'S AN OLD SAYING IN POLITICS WHEN YOU'RE EXPLAINING YOU'RE LOSING, AND IN THIS INSTANCE, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF EXPLAINING AS TO WHY WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE TERM LGBTQ IN THIS DOCUMENT. RIGHT? I THINK IT'S 2024 LAST TIME I CHECKED AND IT'S OKAY FOR US TO TAKE A POSITION TO -- YOU KNOW, TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THIS REGARD AND STAND UP FOR OUR SAN ANTONIANS WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A LONG, LONG TIME TO BE SEEN. RIGHT? AND ONE WAY TO SIGNAL TO THEM -- AND WE SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC BY WAY OF THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THE GROUPS, THE PRIDE CENTER AND THE COMMISSION AND ESPERANZA. HOWEVER, SPEAKING TO THEM IS -- WHILE IMPORTANT IS NOT ENOUGH.
I THINK WE SIGNAL TO THEM WE HEARD THEM LOUD AND CLEAR BY INCLUDING THAT IN OUR AGENDA, TOO. WE SPEAK TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THEY ARE CALLED OUT SPECIFICALLY IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. RIGHT? WE TALKED ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS CALLED OUT SPECIFICALLY.
SO I THINK THAT -- I WOULD BE OKAY WITH ADDING -- IN FACT, IT'S NOT JUST OKAY. I WOULD INSIST WE ADD, YOU KNOW, THAT LANGUAGE SO THAT WE CAN SPEAK TO OUR SAN ANTONIANS FOR WHOM THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE. I WISH THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ALL SAN ANTONIANS, BUT IT'S NOT. THE SECOND THING I WILL TELL YOU IS, WE DIDN'T, SALLY. I KNOW THAT WE'RE -- THAT YOU GUYS TRIED YOUR BEST TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
WE DIDN'T STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDERED INDIVIDUALS WHEN IT CAME TIME TO SEE THEM VICTIMIZED ONE MORE WAY BY, YOU KNOW, PROHIBITING THEM FROM JUST BEING REGULAR PEOPLE IN BUSINESSES AND LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.
WE JUST DIDN'T. WE DIDN'T STAND UP FOR THEM TO THE DEGREE THAT WE COULD HAVE. SO IF YOU WOULD, CAN YOU PLEASE OFF-LINE SIT DOWN WITH COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, GO OVER THIS DOCUMENT AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THIS?
[00:30:02]
I THINK THAT'S A FAIR REQUEST. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND THEN MAYBE COME BACK TO US WHEN THIS DOCUMENT IS REFINED WITH
SOME INCLUSION AS TO THIS ISSUE. >> ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILMEMBER, WE DEFINITELY COMMIT TO WORKING ON SOME RECOMMENDED LANGUAGE FOR THE COUNCILMAN'S CONSIDERATION AND THE
COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATION. >> THE SECOND THING IS, IF AND WHEN THESE BILLS DO GET DEBATED, THE OTHER THING I WOULD ASK IS THAT YOU ALERT US SO THAT YOU CAN DEPLOY THE FOLKS AROUND THIS TABLE AND THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE NOT AT THIS TABLE TO GO TESTIFY. RIGHT? WE SHOULDN'T JUST RELY ON PAID LOBBYISTS AND THE THREE WONDER WOMEN OVER THERE.
WE NEED TO ACTIVATE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SHOW OUR FACES AND SPEAK THE TRUTH THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS SHARE WITH US.
ANYWAY, I THINK YOU'RE PICKING UP WHAT I'M LAYING DOWN.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE CONCUR. WE WELCOME THE SUPPORT DURING THE LEGISLATURE IN THOSE HEARINGS WHERE WE DEFINITELY NEED THE MUSCLE POWER OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COME AND JOIN US IN
AUSTIN. THANK YOU. >> WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. RIGHT? WE'LL HEAD UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILL UP THERE AND, YOU KNOW, THE VOICES OF REASON AND JUSTICE AND EQUITY ARE OUTNUMBERED BY THE VOICES OF MEANNESS AND UGLINESS UP THERE. IT IS RIGHT TO SPEAK OUR VALUES.
RIGHT? WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE USUAL REFRAIN WILL BE THROWN BACK AT US, WHICH I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS ARE USING TAX DOLLARS TO ADVOCATE FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT PASTOR HAGEE DISAGREES WITH.
I'M OKAY WITH ADVOCATING FOR THAT. WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS ONLINE. COUNCILMEMBER, IS THAT ALL? COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU. SORRY FOR RUNNING LATE. JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT QUESTION, I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME WE BRIEFED, YOU KIND OF MENTIONED THAT SOME OF THESE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES WOULD BE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS. IS THERE ANOTHER REASON THAT -- I UNDERSTAND YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT DO THIS WORK. BUT THEY -- IT ALSO IS A STATEMENT WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING AND WHEN YOU DON'T SAY SOMETHING. SO ARE YOU GUYS -- DO YOU THINK THAT -- WAS IT OMITTED PURPOSEFUL OTHER AS A STRATEGIC DECISION SO THAT IT DOESN'T CHANGE OUR ABILITY TO LOBBY FOR SOME OF THE
OTHER ISSUES? >> COUNCILMEMBER, LIKE JEFF SAID, THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHING IT IS UNDER THE COMMUNITY PROTECTION INTEREST FOR THE CITY COUNCIL WHICH IS THE LOCAL GOVERNANCE SECTION.
WE PROTECT YOUR ABILITY TO CREATE POLICY AND FUNDING DECISIONS.
WE WERE USING THAT AS A PROTECTION IN AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EXISTING ORDINANCES AND ANY ONES THAT YOU WERE WORKING ON, INCLUDING
OUR NDO ONE, WAS THAT PROTECTION UMBRELLA. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I'M ASKING FOR -- MAYBE YOU CAN'T SAY THIS, BUT LIKE WAS THAT A STRATEGIC DECISION FOR ANOTHER REASON SO THAT YOU CAN GO SUPPORT MORE FOR MAINTAINING CONTROL OVER OUR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES?
>> I AM NOT SURE I HEARD THE WHOLE QUESTION. >> OH, NO. I GUESS I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT -- NOT THAT EVEN IF THIS WERE TRUE, I WOULD SAY WE SHOULDN'T PUT IT IN. I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, IF WE ACTIVELY GO AND MAKE STATEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, DOES IT AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO LOBBY FOR MUNICIPAL -- SAWS AND
CPS? >> IF I'M BEING HONEST, SURE.
POSITIONS WE TAKE THAT ARE IN CONFLICT WITH THE STATE LEADERSHIP POTENTIALLY HAS CONSEQUENCES ON -- IN OTHER AREAS.
THAT IS NOT A STATEMENT ABOUT LGBTQ LEGISLATION OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT'S A BROADER STATEMENT THAT WHEN WE -- WE SAW JUST THIS PAST SESSION THAT MEMBERS WHO OPPOSED SCHOOL VOUCHERS HAD THEIR LEGISLATION KILLED BY LEADERSHIP THAT WERE ON TOTALLY UNRELATED TOPICS.
THERE IS A WHOLE OF THE MISSION THAT WE SEE TO STRIKE THE BALANCE WITH. I WOULD SAY THE BIGGER THING THAT WE TRY TO -- THIS IS A REAL SLIPPERY SLOPE, WHICH IS WHY I MAKE THIS POINT.
WE'RE TRYING TO PREPARE AND PRESENT THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. IF WE TAKE ON EVERY CAUSE OR ISSUE THAT WE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY CITY BUSINESS, IT BECOMES VERY HARD TO DISTINGUISH WHERE THAT LINE IS.
SO IN THAT ANTI-LGBTQ VAIN, FOR EXAMPLE -- AND I WANT TO RESTATE THIS BECAUSE WE SAID IT TWO DIFFERENT WAYS -- WE VERY CLEARLY OPPOSED THE
[00:35:03]
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROHIBIT TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS FROM READING TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES. THAT WE SAW AS BEING A CITY ISSUE DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR OPERATIONS, AND WE FOUGHT IT. LEGISLATION THAT PENALIZES DOCTORS FOR DOING GENDER TRANSITION OPERATIONS IS NOT NECESSARILY WITHIN OUR SWIM WING POTENTIALLY. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO HOW WE DEFINE OUR PROGRAM. SO THOSE ISSUES WILL COME UP, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SAY THAT MAY BE BETTER FOUGHT FOR THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, FOR WHOEVER. I THINK OUR GENERAL POSITION IS WE'RE OPPOSED TO LEGISLATION THAT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THE PEOPLE IN IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT I'M HEARING YOU WANT US TO TAKE. WE CAN PUT STRONGER LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT EXISTS TODAY. BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME AREAS THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WITHIN OUR SWIM LANE, SOTO SPEAK. >> COUNCILMEMBER, I'M WONDERING IF WHAT YOU'RE ALSO ASKING IS WHETHER OR NOT INCLUDING AND GETTING MORE GRANULAR WOULD HELP US OR HURT US WITH REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, OTHER ISSUES.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE TO ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING WE'RE THAT'S CONSIDERED -- WHATEVER THE HELL IT MEANS -- WOKENESS BY LIEUTENANT DAN PATRICK OR ACETAMINOPHEN ELS -- OR ANYONE ELSE UP THERE, WILL THEY PUNISH US WITH A TAX ON CPS OR SAWS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN? >> YEAH. S
>> SO THE ANSWER IS YES. WE HAVE SEEN THEM RETALIATE IN THE PAST, AND WE SHOULD NOT LOWER OUR GUARD AS TO THEM, YOU KNOW, FINDING NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO PUNISH WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE BLUE CITIES. THEIR POLITICAL GOAL BY PUNISHING BLUE CITIES JUST FOR EXISTING. SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, BUT I THINK THAT ALMOST EVERY MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS AND EVEN THE MEDIUM SIZE ONES, WITH THE ADVICE OF TML, HAVE ALL REACHED SOME KIND OF CONSENSUS AROUND MAKING SURE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS ARE MORE GENERAL THAN GRANULAR SO WE CAN REACT ALL TOGETHER QUICKLY WHEN AND IF A BILL THREATENS US COMES UP AND THEN WE CAN ALL SORT OF LIKE A SWARM OF BEES GO ATTACK THAT ONE THREAT. MAYBE THERE'S WISDOM IN THAT.
MAYBE THERE'S NOT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLY KNOWS THE ANSWER. THAT'S THE APPROACH WE'VE TAKEN.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> YEAH. YEAH.
DEFINITELY SUPPORT ADDING A LITTLE BIT MORE LANGUAGE, BUT MAKING SURE WE MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO GO AFTER ONES THAT HAVE -- I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO NOT LOSE OUR -- MAKING A STATEMENT THAT WE DON'T LOSE OUR NEGOTIATING POWER ON SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CHANCE ON, PARTICULARLY NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER. BUT, OF COURSE, AS A PERSON OF COLOR IN THAT COMMUNITY, I DEFINITELY WANT SOME LANGUAGE THERE FOR SUPPORT, BUT JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE -- >> I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, COUNCILWOMAN.
THANKS. >> I'LL JUST ADD THE ULTIMATE -- THE NUCLEAR RESPONSE AGAINST CITIES HAS BEEN THE MOVE IN RECENT YEARS TO BAN US FROM LOBBYING AT ALL. THAT'S BEEN LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT OFF FOR THREE OR FOUR SESSIONS. IT WAS BORNE OUT OF THE STATE NOT BEING HAPPY THAT CITIES, COUNTIES, AND OTHER TAXING DISTRICTS WERE OPPOSING THEIR PROPOSED SOLUTION FOR PROPERTY TAXES.
THE NEXT STEP WAS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT OF CITIES AND COUNTIES AND OTHER TAXING ENTITIES FROM LOBBYING AT ALL.
>> IT ALMOST HAPPENED. >> FORTUNATELY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FEND THAT OFF. THAT'S ULTIMATELY -- A WEEK AGO, DISAGREEMENT IN POSITION IN OUR PROGRAM AND WHETHER THAT SHOULD MEAN WE SHOULD JUST NOT BE ABLE TO LOBBY AT ALL. THAT IS ALL A BALANCE.
I THINK WE COMPLETELY APPRECIATE WHAT BOTH YOU AND COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ ARE SAYING. I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE STAND FOR AS AN ORGANIZATION.
WE'LL TRY TO GET THE RIGHT LANGUAGE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT IT'S BROAD ENOUGH TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS.
>> THANKS. I HAD ONE MORE THING I REMEMBERED.
ON THE HOUSING PIECE, I NOTICE THAT WE ADDED A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ARE WE -- IS IT GENERIC ENOUGH FOR US TO OPPOSE LIKE THE GENERIC REZONING OF PROPERTIES? I REMEMBER THIS COMING UP, TOO.
>> THAT FALLS UNDER LOCAL GOVERNANCE. THOSE ARE THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PERMITTING, A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT FALLS UNDER OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WORK. DEFINITELY WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY ON MAKING SURE THAT WE OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT ERODES
[00:40:01]
THAT ABILITY FOR YOU TO DEVELOP THE SERVICES. >> WE HAVE ENOUGH
LANGUAGE IN HERE? >> WE DO, YEAH. >> ALL RIGHT, THANKS,
CHAIR. >> JUST GOING AROUND THE HORN AGAIN, DID YOU HEAR
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? >> I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THE STATEMENTS MADE, AND I SEE WHERE IT IS A BALANCING ACT WITH A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES THAT WE MAY WANT TO PUSH FOR LOCALLY, BUT WE HAVE TO BALANCE IT WITH OUR CURRENT CITY'S NEGOTIATING POWER.
I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE, ANYBODY? SO AGAIN, IT'S AN ALGEBRA THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED, WHICH KAMIKAZE MISSIONS WE WANT TO FLY.
RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPORTANT AND THEN WHERE IT IS THAT MAYBE WE DON'T INVEST OUR RESOURCES IN CHASING SOMETHING DOWN BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE A LOSING PROPOSITION AND WE'RE BETTER OFF FOCUSING ON ANOTHER LINE OF ATTACK.
THAT'S THE ART OF SCIENCE AND THE -- A LITTLE BIT OF PRAYING THAT GOES INTO FASHIONING THIS. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND, TO WHAT EXTENT ARE WE PARTNERING WITH UTSA AND UT MENTAL HEALTH AND THEIR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOLKS? THEY'RE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR EDUCATION, WORKFORCE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
I KNOW THEY PROBABLY HAVE A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY WATER CARRYING THAT WE CAN DO OR PARTNERING UP?
HAVE YOU TALKED TO THEM? >> YES.
>> WHEN AND HOW DO WE SEE SOME OF THEIR -- >> THANK YOU.
WE DO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP SECTION IN OUR PROGRAM THAT WE PROPOSE SUPPORTING ITEMS IN OUR PARTNER'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROGRAM WORK THAT WE DO.
YOU SEE A COUPLE OF OUR PARTNERS HERE TODAY. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY DURING THE STATE SESSION LEADING UP TO ADJOURN THE STATE SESSION.
THERE ARE ITEMS WE REQUEST THEIR SUPPORT ON OUR ITEMS, AND THEY REQUEST OUR SUPPORT ON CERTAIN ITEMS. SO I KNOW WE HAVE SOME SUPPORT HERE FROM THEM TODAY. THEY TRACK OUR ITEMS AS WELL AS WE TRACK THEIRS. SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS DEFINITELY, WE DO VERY CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH UT HEALTH SCIENCE
CENTER, UTSA AND MANY OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS. >> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE HAD UTSA AND UT HEALTH PRESENT TO US ABOUT TH THEIR INITIATIVES AND WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED AND YOUR PRIORITIES AND WHAT YOUR
ANXIETIES, NEEDS, AND WANTS. >> YOU'RE ON THE SPOT.
>> IT MIGHT BENEFIT US MAYBE AT THE NEXT MEETING TO GET SOMETHING SHORT FROM BOTH OF YOU GUYS WILL, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT IS YOU THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEND SOME HELP. RIGHT? THE SAME GOES FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. RIGHT? WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE CONSTITUENTS AND PARENTS WHO DEPEND ON HEALTHY, STRONG SCHOOLS. WE DID HAVE A -- I CAN
THINK IT WAS REGION 21. >> WE INVITED THE BEXAR COUNTY COALITION, AND SHE BROUGHT SOME SUPERINTENDENTS WITH HER AND THE IGR COMMITTEE THAT YEAR PROVIDED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE
ITEMS ON THEIR AGENDA. >> I REMEMBER SHE PRESENTED TO US A REALLY ROBUST OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT KEEPS THEM UP AT NIGHT, TOO. MAYBE FOR THE NEXT MEETING WE INVITE JULIA
AS WELL TO COME AND -- >> ABSOLUTELY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, NADIA PROBABLY CALLS HER WEEKLY TO CHECK IN ON THE STATUS OF THEIR AGENDA. I KNOW FROM CONVERSATIONS, IT'S NOT READY YET, BUT I'M CERTAIN THEY WILL LOVE TO COME PRESENT.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE ALSO -- I NOTICE MIKE SHANNON IS HERE.
HE TOOK A BREAK FROM CHASING DOGS TODAY TO JOIN US.
I IMAGINE THAT IS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ANIMAL COMPONENT OF THIS. I DIDN'T HEAR TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT. BUT TO WHAT -- WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN THIS
NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO HELP MIKE. >> WE HAVE AN ITEM IN SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION THAT SUPPORTS RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS AND PETS. MIKE IS ACTUALLY HERE WITH A DOUBLE HAT BECAUSE WE TOLD HIM HE COULD HELP WITH ANIMAL CARE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES QUESTIONS. SO HE'S AVAILABLE FOR
BOTH JOBS, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> OKAY.
SO CAN YOU REMIND US WHAT SPECIFIC BILLS OR INITIATIVES WERE SUCCESSFUL AND WEREN'T SUCCESSFUL IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT HAS TO DO WITH OUR ABILITY TO CARE FOR ANIMALS?
>> THE ONE WE WORKED ON, THE DOG BILL THAT THEY CARRIED, UNFORTUNATELY -- WELL, FORTUNATELY, IT PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GOVERNOR VETOED IT AND SO IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE IS LIKELY TO FILE [INDISCERNIBLE].
>> WAS THIS PART OF THAT SWEEPING VETO OR WAS IT A VERY SPECIFIC VETO?
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I REMEMBER HE HELD EVERYTHING HOSTAGE PENDING PEOPLE'S SUPPORTFOR SCHOOL VOUCHERS. >> I DON'T RECALL THE EXECUTION OF THE VETO FOR THIS PARTICULAR BILL. I DO RECALL THAT WHEN IT WAS AT HIS DESK, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION HAD WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE, AND IT WAS ULTIMATELY VETOED. IT MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL VOUCHERS DISCUSSION TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU. >> AND EVERY BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR VETOES, HE PROVIDES A VETO STATEMENT FOR EXPLAINING WHAT HIS OPPOSITION TO IT WAS. SO WE CAN GO PULL THAT UP.
I DON'T RECALL IT. I KNOW THE BILL IN A NUTSHELL DID TWO THINGS. IT GAVE MORE DISCRETION TO ANIMAL CARE OFFICERS IN THE FIELD TO DEEM DOGS DANGEROUS, AND IT INCREASED THE PENALTIES FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS OF DANGEROUS DOGS, AS MY RECOLLECTION.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT, MIKE? >> YEAH.
THAT IS RIGHT. IT ALSO ALLOWED US TO MORE QUICKLY HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE AFFIDAVITS. THAT WAS A CHALLENGE, SOMETHING THAT WE'LL PROBABLY WORK WITH SALLY AND THE GROUP ON THAT ONE AS WELL.
I'LL JUST ALSO ADD THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SOME OPPORTUNITIES ON ONE OF THE CCRS FROM THE COUNCILWOMAN NEXT MONTH AS PART OF THAT, IF ANYTHING, IN TERMS OF STATE LEGISLATION FOR ANY CONCEPTS WE MAY NEED& BETTER TOOLS FOR DANGEROUS OR AGGRESSIVE DOGS OR ANYTHING AT ACS.
WE'LL WORK WITH SALLY TO PUT THAT PACKAGE TOGETHER MAYBE WHEN WE COME BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE. IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AND VERY MUCH WANT TO BE PART OF LEGISLATIVE
SESSION MOVING FORWARD. >> YEAH. I THINK THIS IS THE ONLY COMMITTEE WHERE WE TALK IN VERY BROAD GENERALITIES.
I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO SHARE WITH US, BUT I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE EAGER TO HEAR SPECIFIC ASKS THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO BE MAKING UP IN AUSTIN. >> I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AFTER WE GO TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE DEALING WITH THE DANGEROUS DOGS, CCR, AND SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN ASKED US TO LOOK INTO, I THINK WE'LL HAVE SPECIFICS WE CAN BRING
BACK TO YOU. >> THANKS. >> THANKS.
>> QUICK NOTE, STAFF REMINDED ME THAT PART OF THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT THAT JEFF MENTIONED FROM THE GOVERNOR REFERENCED THE UNFINISHED WORK ON
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. >> THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. OKAY.
>> TAKE THAT AS YOU MAY. >> ALL RIGHT.
SO IN CLOSING, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WILL ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE'S A TOPIC THAT YOU WANT TO BRING UP AT THIS COMMITTEE FOR FUTURE MEETINGS, PLEASE SHARE THAT WITH SALLY. LET HER KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WORRIES YOU OR THAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD ADD. ALSO, SALLY, FEBRUARY WILL BE UPON US VERY QUICKLY. THAT'S OUR SA TO DC, YOU KNOW, VISIT. I DO THINK THAT BEFORE -- NOT TOO LONG FROM NOW, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE EXPECTING THE PUSH TO BE UP IN DC. I APPRECIATE MAYBE BRINGING SOMEBODY FROM THE CHAMBER HERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THEIR VISION S WHAT THEIR INTENTS ARE, AND WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO LEND HELP.
>> GREAT POINT. 30 SECOND SEGUE TO THE FEDERAL PROGRAM I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME. THE TIME LINE FOR THE FEDERAL PROGRAM -- ON OUR NEXT IGR MEETING, I WILL PROVIDE THE BACKGROUND ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 119TH CONGRESSIONAL SESSION.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PIVOTING FROM THE STATE TO THE FEDERAL PROGRAM ON THE NEXT IGR COMMITTEE MEETING. HOWEVER, THE WORK OF THE TEAM HAS BEEN FULL FORCE AHEAD WORKING WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE STAFF TO START PUTTING A DRAFT PROGRAM TOGETHER IN COORDINATION WITH
FEDERAL CONSULTANTS. MORE TO COME ON THAT. >> THANK YOU.
>> JUST MAKE A PROCEDURAL SUGGESTION. OUR NEXT STEP FOR THE STATE PROGRAM IS A B SESSION. SO YOUR FULL COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL TYPICALLY THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN BLESSED BY THIS COMMITTEE BEFORE WE GET TO THAT POINT. NOW WE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE SOME LANGUAGE WORK TO WORK ON. DO YOU WANT TO VOTE TO MOVE THE PROGRAM FORWARD PENDING SOME REVISED LANGUAGE RELATED TO DISCRIMINATION -- DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION OR NOT OPPOSE IT AT IGR? I'M NOT SURE -- I THINK B SESSION, I DON'T THINK
THAT NECESSARILY AFFECTS -- >> WELL, MAYBE THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION IF YOU WANT TO PASS IT WITH SOME CAVEAT THAT WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO TO STRENGTHEN THE LANGUAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MY COLLEAGUES FROM DISTRICT 2 IS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT IT UP. I THINK HE'S THE APPROPRIATE VOICE ON THIS ONE. I DEFER TO HIM.
>> SURE. I MOVE TO APPROVE WITH THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
>> COPY THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. PLEASE VOTE.
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THAT WAS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, SALLY. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.