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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. IF YOU CAN PLEASE BEGIN TO TAKE YOUR SEATS, WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:15 A., 2024.
MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WELCOME, EVERYONE. IT IS A BUSY MORNING AND SO TO GET US STARTED, LET ME TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S MY HONOR THIS MORNING TO INTRODUCE OUR INVOCATOR, WHO IS MARSHA WARREN, WHO IS THE PASTOR AT METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF SAN ANTONIO. I HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET REVEREND WARREN DURING MOTHER'S DAY WHEN WE WERE GOING AROUND TO SEVERAL OF THE CHURCHES AND PASSING OUT FLOWERS AND ROSES TO ALL THE WOMEN WHO ARE HELPING RAISE OUR NEXT GENERATION OF CITIZENS. AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THE LOVE AND INCLUSIVITY IN THE ROOM. I'VE NOT ALWAYS FELT THAT WHEN I WALKED INTO A PLACE OF WORSHIP AND SO IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE, WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN YOU ARE WELCOME IN THIS SPACE.
I THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE A WONDERFUL PERSON TO HELP US GET OUR MORNING STARTED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE SETTLE YOUR MINDS AND YOUR HEARTS AS WE REQUEST THE GOD OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING PRESENCE. GREAT SPIRIT OF OUR INDIVIDUAL UNDERSTANDINGS, WE ASK THAT AS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED, DISCERN WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CITY. THAT YOUR PRESENCE RESIDES WITH EACH PERSON WHO SPEAKS IN THIS CHAMBER. WE CALL UPON YOUR MIGHTY WISDOM TO BE GIVEN TO OUR LEADERS AS THEY PONDER AND MAKE DECISIONS, WHICH WILL HAVE LASTING EFFECTS UPON US ALL. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR MERCY AND FOR YOUR GOODNESS. WHAT YOU HAVE SHOWN IN ALL OF OUR LIVES.
MAY WE SHOW THAT SAME MERCY AND GRACE TO ONE ANOTHER TODAY AND MOVING FORWARD.
WE LOWER OUR HEARTS AND OUR HEADS TO RECEIVE YOUR WISDOM IN THIS PLACE.
WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR MANY NAMES IN WHICH YOU ARE CALLED AND MAY IT BE SO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REVEREND. SO I FAILED TO ANNOUNCE OR TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT BEHIND THE MUSIC THAT WAS PLAYING. AS YOU KNOW WE HIGHLIGHT LOCAL ARTISTS AS WE BEGIN OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS EACH MORNING.
THIS WAS A NEW PIECE THAT WE HAD PLAYED TODAY AT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AS IT OPENED. A SONG WITH ROOTS IN THE SAN ANTONIO MUSIC SCENE, THE
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MEMBERS HAVE ALSO PERFORMED WITH LOCAL FAVORITES. ADDITIONALLY, THE BASS PLAYER IS A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEE WHO WORKS FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS A RECIPIENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST GRANT. THE SONG WE HEARD THIS MORNING IS ALMAS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE ARTS AND AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE'S LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT PROGRAM WE CONTINUE TO FEATURE LOCAL MUSICIANS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND ON TVSA.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AT SANANTONIO.GOV/ARTS.
ALL RIGHT. SO THE FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AND ITEM NO. 3, THAT'S SEPTEMBER 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, AND 19. THOSE ARE IN YOUR PACKET AS ITEM NO. 3.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 3. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, CALL THE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
BEFORE WE GET TO OUR SPECIAL GUESTS TO BE RECOGNIZED TODAY, WE DO HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS 4 THROUGH 25.
NO ITEMS ARE LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION SO I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
AND, IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS 4 THROUGH 25.
WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ANTONIO DIAZ ON ITEMS 7 AND 14.
>> I WAS JUST WANTING TO SPEAK -- I DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE -- THE TREE ORDINANCE
FOR CEMETERIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S ON CONSENT SO YOU'RE WELCOME
TO SPEAK ON THOSE NOW, ANTONIO. >> AGAIN, I HAVE CONCERNS OVER OUR TREES THAT ARE NOT BEING CARED FOR AND ALLOWED TO PERISH.
SO IF THERE'S MONIES TO BE INVESTED IN THAT, WHETHER IT BE IN CEMETERIES OR IN THE PARKS, I WOULD WHOLLY BACK THAT UP FOR AND APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING THIS.
BECAUSE THERE IS A LACK OF CONCERN TOWARDS OUR TREES. MORE CONCERN IS TAKING THEM DOWN INSTEAD OF MAKING SURE THEY CONTINUE TO LIVE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING SOME MONEY TOWARDS THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. DIAZ. OKAY.
I'LL TAKE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS TODAY.
FIRST IS ITEM 15, APPOINTING MARIA WILLIAMS AND REAPPOINTING MOHAMMED RASOOL AND STEVEN LUCKE TO THE INNER CITY TIRZ BOARD. WE HAVE EXCITING PROJECTS AND COLLABORATION. I HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH STEVEN AND MOHAMMED AND I'M EXCITED TO WELCOME MARIA WILLIAMS. SHE BRINGS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE EASTSIDE, SMALL BUSINESS PRACTICES, THE ARTS COMMUNITY, AND CITY PROCESSES. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR AGREEING TO SERVE FOR THE ART COMMUNITY IN THIS CAPACITY. SPEAKING OF EXCITING PROJECTS, I AM THRILLED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 21. TODAY WE ARE APPROVING FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN OF A BRAND-NEW DISTRICT 2 SENIOR CENTER.
AND THAT WILL INCLUDE A CONCEPT PLAN, MASTER PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IMPROVEMENTS TO COPERNICUS PARK. OUR OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS, AND DHS HELD A NEW MEETING ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER AFTER SECURING THE LAND AND OVER 300 SENIORS SHOWED UP TO GIVE FEEDBACK. IT WAS A WONDERFUL AND EXCITING MEETING. OUR SENIORS DESERVE THE BEST AND TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF THEIR DECADES OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
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I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SENIORS SHOULD BE CELEBRATED NOT JUST FOR WHAT THEY'VE GIVEN AND DONE IN THE PAST TENSE, THEY DESERVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD NEW RELATIONSHIPS, LEARN NEW THINGS, AND MAKE NEW MEMORIES.I'M EXCITED TO BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY I KNOW WILL SERVE AS A HUB FOR OUR SENIORS TO CONTINUE TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS.
THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF, THE INNER CITY TIRZ BOARD, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBERS DR. KAUR AND CASTILLO. DHS AND OUR SENIOR CENTER ALL-STARS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON
THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: BRIEFLY JUST HIGHLIGHTING ITEM 12, THE IMPROVEMENTS TO MCALLISTER PARK.
ADDITIONAL BIKE PATH ENHANCEMENTS, WILDLIFE WATER TROUGH, SHADED EXERCISE EQUIPMENT. MCALLISTER PARK IS ONE OF THE JEWELS OF OUR CITY.
SO MANY FOLKS ENJOY IT, NOT JUST IN DISTRICTS 10 AND 9 WHERE IT RESIDES BUT FROM ALL OVER. VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS 4 THROUGH 25.
PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A PACKED HOUSE TODAY AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE BUT I'M GOING TO USE MY PREROGATIVE TO RECOGNIZE IN THE BACK FIRST BECAUSE THESE ARE OUR CREW MEMBERS FROM CPS ENERGY. AND I KNOW THE ENTIRE WORLD RIGHT NOW IS GRIPPED WITH THE IMAGES AND THE STORIES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA AND ALL THE DEVASTATION OF HURRICANE HELENE .
WHAT PEOPLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE IS THERE ARE FOLKS ON THE GROUND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE BACK UP AND RUNNING. IT HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES BUT ALL ACROSS THE WORLD. PUERTO RICO, THE ISLANDS, REALLY EVERYWHERE. AND ONE OF THE ESSENTIALS IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE RUNNING WATER AND WORKING ELECTRICITY FOR FUNCTIONING IN SOCIETY.
FURTHER, WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE IS THAT WHEN THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, NOT ONLY IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY BUT ALSO ACROSS THE WORLD, IT'S QUITE OFTEN CPS ENERGY CREWS THAT ARE SENT TO GO HELP THOSE COMMUNITIES GET RESTORED.
AND SO I WANT TO ASK OUR CPS TEAM MEMBERS, INCLUDING OUR CEO, RUDY GARZA, TO COME FORWARD TO RECOGNIZE THESE FOLKS FOR THE GREAT WORK THEY DO TO PROVIDE LIFE AND SAFETY. CPS ENERGY IS A PUBLICLY-OWNED UTILITY.
THIS GROUP UP HERE IS PART OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND I'M REFERENCING CITY COUNCIL. BUT REALLY IT'S THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
IT'S THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT OWNS AND OPERATES THIS UTILITY, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. AND THEY REALLY DO ESSENTIALLY FUNCTION AS ONE OF THE BACKBONES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY JUST THIS LAST WEEK AND WE GOT TO HEAR SOME OF THE STORIES AT THE BOARD MEETING THIS WEEK. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WANTED TO -- WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IN AND CERTAINLY OUR CITY COUNCIL THAT IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE DOING AT CPS ENERGY.
OFFICIAL COMMENDATION IS HEREBY PRESENTED TO CPS ENERGY CREW MEMBERS FOR THE NAVAJO PROJECT AND THE HOUSTON RESTORATION PROJECT. IN RECOGNITION FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING TEAMWORK DURING THE LIGHT UP NAVAJO 5 INITIATIVES, CPS ENERGY CREW MEMBERS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO CONNECT 170 HOMES TO THE ELECTRIC GRID FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BRINGING ELECTRICITY TO FAMILIES IN NEED THAT HAVE NEVER HAD POWER BEFORE IN THE NAVAJO NATION AND IN RURAL ARIZONA. FOLLOWING A POWERFUL CATEGORY 2 STORM THAT WREAKED HAVOC IN 2024, CPS ENERGY CREW MEMBERS PROVIDED THEIR EXPERTISE, WORKING IN THE MOST CHALLENGING AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TO HELP RESTORE POWER TO COMMUNITIES, HELPING THEM TO QUICKLY START THE RECOVERY PROCESS. THE SWIFT RESPONSE AND CALL TO ACTION OF THESE CPS ENERGY CREW MEMBERS SHOWCASES THEIR DEEP COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO BRING COMMUNITIES BACK TOGETHER AGAIN WITH STEADFAST COMMITMENT, COMPASSION, AND PRAISE-WORTHY TEAM WORK.
WE PROUDLY COMMEND THE CPS ENERGY CREW MEMBERS ON THESE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATION WITH BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS ON THIS 3RD DAY OF OCTOBER 2024.
THANK YOU, GUYS FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR COMMUNITY AND SO MANY COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD .
RUDY, IF YOU COULD TAKE THE PODIUM AND JUST TELL US WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING.
>> WELL, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT -- FIRST OFF, RUDY GARZA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
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CPS ENERGY. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. I THANK OUR TEAMS IN THE FIELD EACH DAY BECAUSE THEY WORK HARD FOR THIS COMMUNITY. WE'RE THE BACKBONE OF THE ENERGY, PROVIDING THE ENERGY NEEDS THAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS OUT OF US AND I BELIEVE WE'RE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION, PRESIDENT AND CEO CAME DOWN TO OUR BOARD MEETING THIS WEEK TO PRESENT US WITH A MUTUAL AID COMMENDATION . THIS YEAR ALONE WE HAVE BEEN TO HOUSTON TWICE AND HELPED THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS GET BACK ON AFTER SOME REALLY DIFFICULT STORMS. GARLAND CALLED. THEY COULD NOT GET HELP.THE CITY OF GARLAND COULD NOT GET THE HELP THEY NEEDED AND THEY HAD THREE QUARTERS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS OUT AND CPS ENERGY SHOWED UP WITH EQUIPMENT AND WITH PEOPLE AND WE HELPED THEM GET BACK ONLINE. THE LIGHT UP NAVAJO PROGRAM , WHICH I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF, WE WILL SEND YOU THE LINK TO THAT VIDEO.
AND I PROMISE YOU IT WILL BRING A TEAR TO YOUR EYE. TO THINK THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT THE BASIC NECESSITIES, IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE. WHEN I LEARNED OF THIS PROGRAM, THERE ARE PUBLIC POWER UTILITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHICH SEND THEIR APPRENTICES TO THE NAVAJO NATION TO HELP. BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD MILES OF LINE MAYBE TO GET TO ONE HOUSE. AND WE WERE THERE FOR FIVE DAYS.
AND TO A PERSON I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY OF OUR PEOPLE WHO CAME BACK FROM THAT EXPERIENCE WHO DON'T WANT TO GO BACK, AND WE WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR TO DO IT AGAIN.
MAYOR, NOT ONLY SHOULD YOU BE PROUD OF OUR TEAM FOR THE WORK THEY DO HERE, I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE GO ELSEWHERE WE'RE REPRESENTATIVES OF SAN ANTONIO. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED. WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO WHO SHOW UP AT OUR CREWS WITH FOOD AND WITH DRINKS AND WITH WATER WHO ARE JUST SO HAPPY TO SEE THE CPS ENERGY TRUCKS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SO PROUD OF THESE GUYS.
THEY WORK HARD FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND IT'S NICE FOR THEM TO GET RECOGNIZED EVERY NOW AND THEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. I WISH WE HAD THE VIDEO QUEUED UP BUT RUDY CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT VIDEO LINK.
SEND IT TO EVERYBODY. THE WORK AT THE NAVAJO NATION MIGHT COME AS A SURPRISE TO A LOT OF FOLKS BUT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY PROVIDING ELECTRICITY IN MODERN-DAY AMERICA FOR THE FIRST TIME. SOMETHING I BELIEVE OUR U.S.
GOVERNMENT PROMISED A CENTURY OR MORE AGO THAT'S FINALLY GETTING DONE BY CPS ENERGY. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RUDY AND TEAM.
NOW, YOU MIGHT NOTICE WONDER WOMAN IN THE BACK, WHICH IS ON PURPOSE.
WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THIS APPROPRIATELY. SO IF I CAN ASK HERE IN THE LARGEST LATINO AND HISPANIC-MAJORITY CITY IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH THROUGH THE 15TH OF OCTOBER. IF I CAN INVITE THE PAN AMERICAN LEAGUE, MACRI, AND VISIT SAN ANTONIO SO COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND WORK. AND ALSO TELL US WHAT'S ON THE CALENDAR.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, MARGARET. YOU ALWAYS LEAD. >> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARGARET MORALES. I'M CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF PAN AMERICAN LEAGUE AND I HAVE WITH ME SOME OF THE MEMBERS AND OFFICERS WITH US TODAY.
WE ARE OVER 250 MEMBERS. THEY WEREN'T ALL ABLE TO COME BECAUSE THEY'RE AT WORK. NOT THAT THESE LADIES DON'T WORK BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO COME. BUT WE DO ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER, AND ONE OF YOUR ATTORNEYS, LIZ PROVENCIO, WHO IS ALSO ONE OF THE MEMBER S OF PAN AMERICAN LEAGUE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND FOR RECOGNIZING OUR ORGANIZATION. WE'RE ALSO KNOWN AS PAL BECAUSE WE'RE PALS TO EVERYBODY. THE WOMEN ON THIS DAIS, GROUP WITH ME HERE, ARE PASSIONATE WOMEN ABOUT SUPPORTING ALL THE NEEDS THAT SAN ANTONIO NEEDS.
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WE APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION OF PROVIDING US WITH THIS AWARD OR HONOR FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THE PAN AMERICAN LEAGUE IS AN ORGANIZATION OF CIVIC-MINDED WOMEN FOUNDED OVER 77 YEARS AGO TO SERVE THE MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE WEST SIDE. MS. CHACON, A CITY HEALTH NURSE, SAW A NEED FOR A HEALTH CLINIC ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.SO SHE REACHED OUT TO SOME OUTSTANDING WOMEN, WHO HAPPEN TO BE MARRIED TO DOCTORS, DENTISTS, AND LAWYERS. THESE OUTSTANDING WOMEN FOUNDED PAL. BACK THEN, THE WOMEN WERE LISTED AS MRS. ROY BARRERA SR. MRS. GEORGE DENNIS. MRS. FERNANDO GUERRA AND OTHERS. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE MEN IN THE AUDIENCE, PAL HAS COME A LONG WAY AND THE WOMEN MEMBERS TODAY ARE LISTED AND ADDRESSED WITH THEIR OWN FIRST NAMES. THAT'S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THESE FOUNDING WOMEN HELD ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT PROJECTS SUCH AS THE RENOVATIONS TO THE CLINIC THAT THEY OPENED UP. THEY PURCHASED A 100-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX.
THEY STARTED A DAYCARE CENTER, TO NAME A FEW. IN THE YEAR 2000, PAL SOLD THE PAN AMERICAN APARTMENTS AND PLEDGED A MILLION DOLLARS TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAN FERNANDO CITY CENTER DOWN THE STREET. THERE'S A PLAQUE THERE WITH OUR NAME. IN ADDITION THE PAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION ENDOWED A $250,000 SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT UTSA TO ASSIST STUDENTS.
TODAY THE PAL CONTINUES ITS LEGACY OF GIVING . WE HAVE TWO ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS, FIESTA OLE DURING FIESTA WEEK. WE'RE PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO FIESTA COMMISSION. AND WE ALSO HAVE CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER THAT'S COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE WILL MAKE SURE YOU ALL GET AN INVITATION.
ON OCTOBER 20TH. SO YOU ASK WHAT DO WE DO TO RAISE MONEY OR WHAT DO WE RAISE THE MONEY FOR? WELL, WE RAISE MONEY TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AT EDGEWOOD ISD, KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL, MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR FUNDS ALSO GO TO OTHER PROJECTS LIKE DONATING TO THE FOOD BANK AND EACH ONE TEACH ONE AND SOME OTHER THINGS . WE STAND WITH MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU HAVE HERE TODAY THAT SUPPORT GIFT-GIVING GOALS.
WE ARE A GROUP OF WOMEN THAT MAKE THEIR OWN KIND OF MUSIC.
THAT IS WHAT WE DO, RIGHT? AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE ARE DEDICATED, FIERCE, HUMBLE WOMEN WHO WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS
RECOGNITION. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL HAVE SARAH AND VSA COME FORWARD FROM MACRI AND VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND THEN I THINK
WE'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS FOR EVERYBODY. >> GOOD MORNING.
ON BEHALF OF MACRI, WE THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE FOR CONNECTING US WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO FOR THIS EXCITING PROJECT THAT YOU CAN SEE OVER HERE.
WE THANK VISIT SAN ANTONIO FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE MEXICAN AUDIO]. WE HAVE RECEIVED SO MUCH POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING MESSAGES AND PHOTOS FROM LOCALS AND PEOPLE IN OTHER CITIES WHO ARE SAYING THINGS LIKE THIS IS SO COOL. AND THIS PROJECT, AS YOU MAY KNOW, GREW OUT OF AN ONLINE EXHIBIT WHICH HIGHLIGHTS 40 MEXICAN-AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS TRAILBLAZERS IN SAN ANTONIO. EIGHT WERE SELECTED FOR THIS PROJECT SO THIS REPRESENTS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE RAY SCARBOROUGH WHO CREATED THE ILLUSTRATIONS . AND FINALLY -- THEY LOOK WONDERFUL. FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT MACRI EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY
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FUTURE COLLABORATIONS TO HIGHLIGHT OUR CITY'S UNIQUE ROLE IN MEXICAN AMERICANCIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO WE WERE SO EXCITED TO PARTNER.
A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO OUR RIVER WALK TEAM THAT IS HERE.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR EXECUTING THIS AMAZING FEAT. AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN HISPANIC HERITAGE AND WANTED TO CONTINUE THOSE STORIES AND JOURNEYS AND TALK ABOUT THEM. AND SO WE WERE SO EXCITED TO DO THAT. AS SAN ANTONIO WE ARE HISPANIC PROUD AND WE WANT TO SHOWCASE THAT AND PUT IT ON THE FOREFRONT AND PUTTING IT ON THE RIVER WALK WAS HUGE. IT IS OUR GOAL TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT AND CELEBRATE OUR HERITAGE EVERY DAY, ENSURING OUR CITY REMAINS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND PRIDE FOR ALL WHO VISIT. THESE ARE THE BEACONS OF PRIDE, INVITING EVERY VISITOR TO BE IMMERSED IN THE HERITAGE THAT HAS SHAPED AND GUIDED US THROUGH THE PAST AND INTO THE FUTURE. BY PRESERVING THE STORIES OF OUR PAST AND HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR PRESENT, SAN ANTONIO IS A CITY THAT THRIVES ON DIVERSITY, UNITY, AND ENDURING THE SPIRIT OF HISPANIC CULTURE. SPECIAL THANKS AGAIN TO THE RIVER WALK TEAM AND THANK Y'ALL AGAIN FOR THIS AMAZING HONOR.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SARAH, CAN RAY COME FORWARD REAL QUICK? JUST A MINUTE. I THINK HE NEEDS TO INTRODUCE HIS PIECE. AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHO THAT IS BUT IF YOU CAN JUST
TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, RAY. >> JUST HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT. VERY HONORED. HOPEFULLY I'M MAKING MY PARENTS PROUD. MY DAD JUST PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY SO I WANT TO HONOR HIM IN THIS AS WELL. THE PIECES WERE JUST PART OF OUR HISTORY.
AND VERY PROUD. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND THIS IS EMMA? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Y'ALL.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT CAME TODAY.
THE PAN AMERICAN LEAGUE AND THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORY AND PRESERVE OUR HISTORY AND TAKE CARE OF BASIC NEEDS.
MACRI, REALLY TELLING THE STORY THAT CIVIL RIGHTS FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES BEGAN AND WAS ROOTED HERE IN SOUTH TEXAS, IN SAN ANTONIO, IN PARTICULAR.
AND THE CHOICE OF USING EMMA WAS JUST INSPIRED, BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONE THAT I MOST -- AT AN EARLY AGE, THAT WAS THE STORY WE TOLD. WE WOULD SEE MURALS OF HER AND WE WOULD HEAR SHE GOT ARRESTED AND WE WOULD HEAR WHAT SHE DID TO STRUGGLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD RIGHTS. AS I GOT OLDER AS A WOMAN, I WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANT FOR HER AT THAT TIME AS A WOMAN TO TAKE THOSE RISKS. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WONDER WOMAN IS DEFINITELY WHAT SHE IS AND I WANT TO THANK VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND THE TEAM.
AND IF THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO TEAM COULD STAND UP AND THE RIVER WALK TEAM STAND UP.
I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL ESPECIALLY FOR REALLY HEARING THIS COUNCIL AND UNDERSTANDING ON HOW WE NEED TO TELL THE STORIES OF OUR COMMUNITY AND GET THEM OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR HEARING US AND THANK YOU FOR COMMUNICATING IT IN SUCH A POWERFUL WAY. SO THANK YOU.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE MONTH FOR ME.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CLOSING OUT THIS
CELEBRATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. [APPLAUSE] COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU TO THE MACRI, VSA, AND THE PAN AMERICAN LEAGUE MACRI, I AM REALLY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE COUNCIL THAT STARTED THE FUNDING FOR IT SO MANY YEARS AGO AND HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME IN SUCH A SHORT TIME TO HIGHLIGHT THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE. I PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING BUT IF ANYBODY HASN'T BEEN OUT TO THE SITE OVER ON THE WEST, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE. VSA, YOU CARRY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CELEBRATING OUR CITY'S VIBRANT CULTURE IN A WAY THAT HONORS OUR CONTRIBUTION AND EVERY ASPECT OF OUR CITY'S LIFE.
YOUR GOAL IS TO PROMOTE RICH HERITAGE AND SHOWCASING A COMMUNITY THAT'S MORE THAN JUST FESTIVALS AND FOOD, IT REALLY IS PART OF OUR CULTURE.
I THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE PAN AMERICAN LEAGUE, FOR 67 YEARS THE PAN AMERICAN LEAGUE WOMEN HAVE WORKED AND FOUGHT TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. I THANK YOU, MARGARET, FOR BRINGING UP THE FACT THAT
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WOMEN COULDN'T ALWAYS USE THEIR OWN NAMES. I HAVE A QUICK STORY TO TELL YOU. I USED TO WORK FOR MAYOR LILA COCKRELL AND SHE USED TO ALWAYS TELL ME TO USE MY FULL NAME IF I EVER DECIDED TO RUN FOR SOMETHING.WHEN SHE FIRST RAN FOR COUNCIL, SHE HAD TO RUN AS MRS. SYDNEY COCKRELL.
IT'S MEANINGFUL TO SEE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
NOT JUST WOMEN BUT LATINA WOMEN. I HAVE TO SHOUT OUT TO RAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS SEEN ALL OF THAT, THERE'S THAT BEAUTIFUL EMMA BUT ALL THE SUPERHEROES HERE. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL HE DID THAT.
AND SHOUT OUT TO MARIA BECAUSE SHE WAS THE FIRST LATINA COUNCILWOMAN.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE MANY NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND I APPRECIATE YOU. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING UP AND BEING WITH US TODAY, MARGARET. YES, I'M -- WHERE DID Y'ALL GO? WHERE'S THE PAL? ARE THEY STILL HERE? THEY TOOK OFF? I'M DEFINITELY PROUD TO BE A PAL MEMBER AND IF YOU HAVE NOT GONE TO FIESTA OLE, I RECOMMEND IT. IT'S A FUN EVENT AND THERE'S REALLY GOOD SHOPPING.
SARAH, YOU CONTINUE TO AMAZE ME WITH ALL THE WORK THAT MACRI DOES.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THE WORK. VISIT SAN ANTONIO, Y'ALL DO SO MANY GREAT THINGS FOR OUR CITY SO REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S HELP WITH THESE EFFORTS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE RAY WENT EITHER.
THERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT PIECE.
I'M GLAD THAT IT IS IN HONOR OF YOUR FATHER AND THAT WE CAN ALL HONOR YOUR FATHER THROUGH YOUR WORK AS WELL. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. AND SO TO THE PAN AMERICAN LEAGUE, GRATEFUL TO YOU ALL FOR ALL OF THE SERVICE. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO FOR SERVING. I'LL TELL YOU ALL A STORY.
EXPRESS MY HISPANIC HERITAGE AND THE OTHER DAY I WALKED INTO A MEETING AND SOMEBODY ASKED ME -- AND I WAS WEARING A TRADITIONAL PUEBLA DRESS.
SOMEBODY ASKED ME WHAT TIME MY SHIFT STARTED. IN 2024 WE'RE STILL HAVING THAT CONVERSATION . AND I THOUGHT THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TRAIN PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT BETTER TO RESPECT OUR CULTURE AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING THAT. THAT YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
I ALSO -- BY THE WAY, I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT MORE MEXICAN DRESSES SO I COULD BE IN YOUR FACE. SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT. AND VSA FOR BEING SO RESPECTFUL FOR OUR TRADITIONS. LOOKING FORWARD TO DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AND THE CELEBRATIONS. I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING ON MAKING THAT A BIGGER CELEBRATION. AND THEN LASTLY TO RAY, I LOVE EVERY ONE OF YOUR PIECES. IT'S INCREDIBLE. MY VERY AND SO A TRAILBLAZER IN HER RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND JUST GIVES US THE INSPIRATION TO CONTINUE. WE JUST THIS WEEK, EARLIER, MEXICO HAD A WOMAN PRESIDENT THAT WAS OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE MORE WOMEN THAT COME TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BUT JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE NEXT MACRI SITE HOPEFULLY BE IN DISTRICT 1, AS WE LEARNED IN OUR LAST PRESS CONFERENCE. WE'RE EXCITED TO HOST THAT.
ALSO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MARIA AS WELL. WHEN I WAS CONSIDERING A CAMPAIGN, SHE'S A DISTRICT 1 RESIDENT NOW. I MET WITH HER AND SHE TOLD ME ALWAYS THINK ABOUT POLICY FROM THE PEOPLE YOU'RE NOT HEARING FROM AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LEAST. SO I ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AND HEART.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
WELL, I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS THESE AS THEY GO AROUND OUR DOWNTOWN BUT ALSO ENJOYS THE REST OF THE EVENTS AND REALIZES THAT HISPANIC HERITAGE MAY BE A MONTH IN THE UNITED STATES BUT IT REALLY IS ALL YEAR ROUND FOR SAN ANTONIO.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NOW I AM GOING TO -- IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE WOMEN HERE THAT ARE RECOGNIZED BY THEIR FIRST NAME. THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE. AN ICON OF SAN ANTONIO.
HER NAME IS ROSEMARY. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW HER AS THE FOUNDER OF THE GROUP.
[00:35:01]
SHE CELEBRATED HER 100TH BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK . HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSEMARY.AND SO IN HONOR OF YOUR 100TH BIRTHDAY, ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 AS CHAIRWOMAN EMERITUS OF ROSEMARY'S CATERING AND THE ARCADE GROUP, WE RECOGNIZE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LIFELONG PASSION AND CREATIVITY AS THE PREMIER CATERING SERVICE IN TEXAS AND THE NATIONAL LEADER IN EVENT CATERING.
TOGETHER WITH YOUR HUSBAND, HANK, YOU STARTED ROSEMARY'S CATERING ON ZARZAMORA STREET IN 1946 USING HIS MUSTARD MONEY TO OPEN THE DOORS. IT QUICKLY BECAME A LEGEND AND ICON OF SAN ANTONIO'S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY OVER THE PAST 80 YEARS.
YOU HAVE SERVED SAINTS, INCLUDING POPE JOHN PAUL II, QUEENS, INCLUDING QUEEN ELIZABETH II, KINGS, KING CHARLES III, NUMEROUS U.S. PRESIDENTS, WORLD LEADERS, AND HIGH-PROFILE CELEBRATES. MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU HAVE MADE SAN ANTONIANS YOUR TOP DIGNITARIES. MAKING YOURSELF WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS SAN ANTONIO'S MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN, ONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMEN AND ENTREPRENEURS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. IN YOUR LATEST ENDOWMENT OF $1 MILLION TO THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO EXPANSION SHOWCASES YOUR CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS, LEAVING A MARK ON THE COUNTLESS LIVES YOU HAVE IMPACTED AND ELEVATING OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY IMMEASURABLE WAYS. THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE PROUD TO JOIN YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND OUR COMMUNITY IN CELEBRATING YOU ON THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION. WE EXTEND OUR BEST WISHES FOR MANY MORE ENJOYABLE AND CHERISHED YEARS. HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY ON THIS 3RD DAY OF OCTOBER 2024. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 100. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ALL. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU FAMILIAR FACES. BECAUSE I'VE SAT IN THIS AREA MANY TIMES TO HELP AND COMPLIMENT THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'M PROUD OF OUR COMPANY, EXTENDING SO LARGE. WHEN HANK AND I STARTED IT, IT WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD BEER JOINT AND DEVELOPED INTO NOW, THANKS TO MY FAMILY AND MY SON, GREG, AND THE YOUNG LADY HERE IS PART OF THE FAMILY.
SHE'S MARRIED TO MY GRANDSON. SO THE WHOLE FAMILY IS INVOLVED. EVEN COLTON IS STARTING OUT --
>> HE'S ALMOST 11. >> HE'S ALMOST 11. WE'RE PROUD OF SAN ANTONIO AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY THIS BUT I WANT TO SAY IT BECAUSE I LIKE ALL OF YOU.
AND I KNOW ALL YOU MEN. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT? I AM SUPER PROUD OF ALL THESE LADIES. [LAUGHTER] SEE, Y'ALL ARE EVEN SMILING.
[APPLAUSE] LADIES, ALL OF THE MEN ARE SMILING.
THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT, GREAT HONOR. I HOPE -- I'VE TRIED TO PICK OUT A FIGURE THAT THE GOOD LORD WOULD LET ME LIVE TO AND I WAS TALKING TO A DOCTOR THE OTHER DAY AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE SOMEONE LIVED THIS YEAR TO I THINK 108. SO MAYBE THAT MEANS I MIGHT BE THE ONE.
[LAUGHTER] THANK ALL OF YOU. [APPLAUSE]
[00:40:05]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: WELL, ROSEMARY, YOU KNOW ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THIS JOB IS YOU GET TO MEET SOME TRULY REMARKABLE PEOPLE. AND I WOULD TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. IT WAS AN HONOR TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH YOU LAST WEEK AT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND. YOU NOW HAVE YOUR OWN SONG, WHICH THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T HEARD IT, YOU NEED TO. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR SAN ANTONIO, THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY, MANY MORE YEARS WITH YOU AND ALL THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE IN OUR GREAT
CITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE BROKEN THROUGH SO MANY BARRIERS FOR US WOMEN. YOU KNOW, BEING A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR AND BREAKING THROUGH ALL THOSE BARRIERS THERE.
AND ALSO, TOO, IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO SEE YOUR FAMILY SO ENGAGED WITH THE BUSINESS AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK IT UP BUT I KNOW YOU SAID YOUR FIRST LOCATION WAS ON ZARZAMORA.
AND SO BECAUSE WE WERE AT A LOCATION ON ZARZAMORA YESTERDAY EVENING AND I HAD HEARD RUMORS THAT IT WAS Y'ALL'S ORIGINAL LOCATION. WE'LL NEED TO DIG THROUGH SOME RECORDS TO SEE IF THAT'S STILL THE SAME SPOT. BUT IT'S A TRULY REMARKABLE STORY OF FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND GRIT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INSPIRING SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSEMARY.
YOU ARE SUCH AN INSPIRATION. NOT JUST TO THE WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, ALTHOUGH YOU DID A LOT AT THE TIME THAT NOT MANY WOMEN WERE DOING WHAT YOU COULD DO.
BUT ALL OF SAN ANTONIANS. I KNOW THAT YOU AND I HAVE BONDED OVER OUR SAN ANTONIO STORIES AND HAD A WONDERFUL BREAKFAST TOGETHER TALKING ABOUT THIS CITY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE SAN ANTONIO. EVERYTHING THAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY: COMPASSION, HARD WORK, DEDICATION, YOU'RE SO MUCH MORE THAN THE GROUP, ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE SQUAD.
YOU HAVE A BIG, BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY BUSINESS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU AND OF COURSE I'M ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
>> PELAEZ: FIRST TIME I EVER GOT TO MEET YOU, ROSEMARY, WAS WITH MY LITTLE BOY, MAX. HE WAS A BABY. WE WENT TO HARRIETT'S CHRISTMAS PARTY AND SHE GRABBED MY LITTLE BOY'S HAND AND SAID COME HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO EAT SOME OF ROSEMARY'S COOKIES. ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS WERE EATING ROSEMARY'S COOKIES. IT TOOK EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY HAD TO KEEP HIM FROM EATING MORE THAN A DOZEN THAT NIGHT. AND HE STILL REMEMBERS THE TRADITION OF EATING ROSEMARY'S COOKIES. ROSEMARY, I GOT TO TELL YOU, I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU THE MINUTE I MET YOU. YOU ARE JUST A RAY OF SUNSHINE. AND NOBODY, NOBODY HAS BROUGHT MORE JOY TO SAN ANTONIANS THAN YOU HAVE. AND,AND, YOU KNOW, THE SPURS' COYOTE MAY COME IN SECOND PLACE BUT YOU'RE NUMBER ONE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. EVERY TIME I SEE YOU YOU SHINE AND YOUR SMILE LIGHTS UP A ROOM. YOU GOT ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SENSES OF HUMOR. I ALWAYS LOVE GOING TOE-TO-TOE WITH YOU.
YOU GIVE AS GOOD AS YOU GET, GIRLFRIEND. I LOVE SEEING YOU AND HERE'S TO ANOTHER TRIP AROUND THE SUN. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. ROSEMARY, THANK YOU FOR RAISING AN INCREDIBLE FAMILY, FIRST OF ALL, THAT CONTINUES TO GIVE BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH MAKES US GREAT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITH. BECAUSE WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO BLESSED SACRED AND TO THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY PROVIDED FOR MY SISTER AND I TO HAVE A STRONG CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ON THE SOUTHSIDE, GO TO SCHOOL, AND THEN SIT HERE TODAY AND THEN GET TO MEET YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH A GOOD FRIEND TO MY SISTER AS SHE SERVED AND I WILL NEVER FORGET MY ELECTION RUNOFF NIGHT MY FIRST YEAR, JANE AND ROSEMARY WALK IN TANDEM TO CONGRATULATE ME.
[00:45:02]
THAT'S WHEN I KNEW. I KNEW THIS WAS SO IMPORTANT.IF SOMEONE THAT BELIEVED IN THE CITY AS MUCH AS YOU DO, BELIEVED IN ME, THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN IN SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORDS YOU SAID ABOUT THE WOMEN ON THIS DAIS AND THEIR HARD WORK AND FOR CONTINUING, NOT JUST TO SAY THINGS, BUT TO SHOW UP. THANK YOU.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. ENJOY. I'LL SEE YOU AT BLESSED
SACRAMENT . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I'VE GOT TO SAY I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY HAS EVER CELEBRATED THEIR 100TH BIRTHDAY THE WAY YOU DID.
IN GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND SELECTING THE 100 EVENTS YOU DID, THAT WAS SO SPECIAL AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO THINK OF THAT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR GIVING BACK ON YOUR BIRTHDAY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPECT TO RECEIVE ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS. YOU DID ENTIRELY THE OPPOSITE. YOU GAVE BACK THE ENTIRE YEAR AND SO CONGRATULATIONS.
YOUR HEART OF GOLD JUST SHONE EVEN BRIGHTER. VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL YOU DID IN SELECTING THE NUMEROUS NONPROFITS THAT YOU DID.
AND ALSO IN YOUR EMPLOYMENT OF ALL OF THE SAN ANTONIANS THROUGHOUT THE TIME THAT THE RK GROUP HAS BEEN FUNCTIONING. THE HEADQUARTERS, THE INVESTMENT IN THE EAST SIDE, WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. BY THE WAY, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. DURING THE PANDEMIC I GOT TO VISIT YOUR HEADQUARTERS.
I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THAT YOU DO SO MUCH FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.
NO WONDER YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE SUCH GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOU.
NO WONDER THEY LOVE YOU SO MUCH. NO WONDER THEY MAKE SHIRTS THAT HAVE YOUR PICTURE ON THEM THAT SAY 100. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JAMIE, OF COURSE, THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE FAMILY SO WELL.
SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON THE PORT BOARD, OF COURSE. BUT FOR ALL OF THE THINGS YOU DO THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS, ROSEMARY.
SO LET'S AIM HIGH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSEMARY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH AN AMAZING ROLE MODEL TO ALL THE FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS OUT THERE THAT KNOW THAT THEY CAN NOW START A SMALL BUSINESS AND THEN HOPEFULLY BE SERVING THE BEST STEAK IN TOWN AT THE CONFERENCE CENTER IN THEIR LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. AND LIKE COUNCILWOMAN JUST MENTIONED, I HAVE MET PERSONALLY SOME OF YOUR STAFF AND THEY ALWAYS SPEAK SO HIGHLY OF WORKING FOR YOU ALL. I KNOW YOU RUN A WONDERFUL ESTABLISHMENT OVER THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: ROSEMARY, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CITY. YOUR SUCCESS AS A BUSINESSWOMAN AND YOUR PHILANTHROPY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO TAKE WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND SHARE THAT WITH SO MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WISH YOU CONTINUED GOOD HEALTH AND THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR BUSINESS INTERESTS CONTINUE TO BE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND STAY WELL. >> THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ABSOLUTELY.
I'LL KEEP IT SHORT BUT I WANTED TO SAY HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY.
THAT'S SUCH AN EXCITING YEAR. I HOPE I CAN MAKE IT TO BE 100. BUT I WOULD NEED 100 YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE -- SO YESTERDAY I WENT TO VISIT SA'S EVENT AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND YOU WON AN AWARD. THEY PLAYED A VIDEO ABOUT YOU TALKING ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND HOW YOU GOT TO BE WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT IT'S MEANT TO YOU. I LOVED THAT YOU KEPT EMPHASIZING FAMILY AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF SAN ANTONIO. ALSO WHAT I WANT FOLK TO TAKE AWAY IS YOU ARE PROOF OF WHAT MANY OF OUR ASPIRING SMALL BUSINESSES CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL, AS MANY OTHERS HAVE SAID. THANK YOU FOR LEADING AND HERE'S TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR LIFE.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSEMARY. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO I WAS AT THE WEST END HOPE AND ACTION NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN I BLOCK WALKED, FOLKS WERE AT THE AGE OF 98 AND 101. I ASKED WHAT WAS IN THE WATER.
ONE RESPONDED COMPASSION AND A GOOD HEART . WHEN I HEAR THE STORY AND MY COLLEAGUES TALK SO HIGHLY OF YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE GRATEFUL TO BE EMPLOYED BY YOU AND YOUR TEAM, I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT PASSION, COMMITMENT, AND
[00:50:02]
GOOD HEART. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO AND FOR YOUR AMAZING FAMILY AS WELL. THANK YOU, MAYOR.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ROSEMARY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID THAT CAN BE SAID. I HOPE YOU HAVE ABSORBED ALL OF THIS ADULATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE IMPACTED SO MANY PEOPLE IN PROFOUND WAYS.
IT HAS BEEN A TRUE HONOR TO KNOW YOU AND WATCH YOUR FRIENDSHIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT WE ALL ADMIRE. I KNOW YOUR DEAR FRIEND LILA COCKRELL IS PROUD OF ALL YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAN TELL YOU TO PARTY HARD AND CELEBRATE ANY BETTER THAN YOU ALREADY HAVE BUT I JUST HOPE THAT YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR TRUE LEGACY AND IMPACT IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S UNMATCHED. THANK YOU, ROSEMARY. [APPLAUSE]
>> I'M A LITTLE EXCITED AND MIXED UP OF WHAT I'M SAYING. BUT I WANTED TO BE SURE Y'ALL REALIZE THAT THREE YEARS AGO OR FOUR? SIX YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, THIS YOUNG LADY HERE IS A SCHOOLTEACHER. AND I ASKED HER, I SAID WHY DON'T YOU JOIN THE COMPANY AND TAKE MY PLACE? AND SO, ANYWAY, WITHIN SIX YEARS SHE HAS TAKEN -- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN.
BUT IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO THINK THAT SHE HAS SO MUCH INTEREST AND THINKS ABOUT ALL OF YOU AND SHE CAN TELL ALL ABOUT ALL OF YOU WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO AND EVERYTHING. SO SHE'S MY GIFT TO SAN ANTONIO.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] >> I LOVE YOU.
>> THANK ALL OF YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER, SO DON'T GO ANYWHERE, ROSEMARY. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE ARE ALSO VERY PROUD TODAY TO BE RECOGNIZING OUR INDIGENOUS HERITAGE IN SAN ANTONIO, AS WE DO ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT MOST SPECIFICALLY IN OCTOBER.
WHEREAS THE TEXAS INDIGENOUS COUNCIL WILL OBSERVE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY ON OCTOBER 12, 2024. AND HOLD ITS DIGNITY DAY MARCH TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF INDIGENOUS CULTURES. WHEREAS THE TEXAS INDIGENOUS COUNCIL IS A GROUP OF CITIZENS WHOSE GOAL IS TO HELP BRING A GREATER COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TO SAN ANTONIO, SOUTH TEXAS, AND THE WORLD. AND WHEREAS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE THE EARLIEST KNOWN INHABITANTS THAT PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE LONG, RICH HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO. WHEREAS WILD INDIGENOUS WHILE TE ENDURED INJUSTICE NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 12, 2024 TO BE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY IN SAN ANTONIO,
TEXAS. WELCOME . >> AGAIN FOR CONTINUING TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE EXIST. THAT IS OUR MAIN GOAL SINCE WE STARTED NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO. WAS TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE'RE STILL HERE. AND AS OTHER ACTIVISTS IN THE PAST HAVE DONE, IT MAY NOT BE SO TAKEN AS WELL AS IT SHOULD BE BUT WE ARE NOT HISPANIC.
WE WERE COLONIZED BY SPAIN, WHICH IS WHY WE EMPHASIZE WE STILL EXIST.
WE WERE MISIDENTIFIED AND CONTINUE TO BE TOLD WE'RE HISPANIC OR LATINOS IN ORDER TO BE OF ANY VALUE AS PEOPLE, AS HUMAN BEINGS. I TOLD A FRIEND, MARIO SALAS, BECAUSE I WENT TO HIS PRESENTATION, SPEAKING UP ABOUT BLACK EXISTENCE ALSO IN SAN ANTONIO. AND I TOLD HIM UNFORTUNATELY OUR ANCESTORS RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT WERE DISEMBARKING FROM THOSE SHIPS ON OUR SHORES AS HUMAN BEINGS.
BUT THOSE THAT DISEMBARKED DID NOT RECOGNIZE US AS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS UNLESS
[00:55:01]
WE ACCEPTED THEIR IDENTITY. WE WERE HUMAN THEN, WE'RE HUMAN NOW AND WE FACE MANY, MANY ADVERSITIES AS WE SEE ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER, JUST TO BE RECOGNIZED THAT WE EXISTED HERE PRIOR TO ANY GOVERNMENT THAT NOW EXISTS HERE.WE HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS AND WE CONTINUE TO MARCH TOWARDS BEING RECOGNIZED AS EQUAL HUMAN BEINGS. SO WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE THIS COMPASSION TO RECOGNIZE US AS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.
>> MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK Y'ALL AGAIN FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OUR INDIGENOUS ROOTS. JUST KNOW THAT I'M THE GREAT, GREAT GRANDSON OF A CHIEF THAT THEY DID NOT TAKE OUR PEOPLE AND OUR CULTURE STILL LIVES ON. AND THIS WILL NEVER GO AWAY. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO SAY TO YOU THAT A LOTTH OF HISPANIC CULTURE HAS NATIVE ROOTS AND I WOULD LIKE TO, FOR MORE HISPANICS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND NOT TO TAKE AWAY WHERE WE CAME FROM.
AND JUST THINK THAT WE'RE INVISIBLE SO THE SYSTEM CAN TAKE OVER.
LIKE I SAID, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY, EVERY ONE OF YOU, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT OPEN THEIR MINDS AND THEIR HEARTS TO THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SING A HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG IN OUR LANGUAGE TO THE BIRTHDAY GIRL RIGHT HERE. HERE WE GO.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE THAT, DIANA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
NOW WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY, A 40TH BIRTHDAY FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO SPORTS ORGANIZATION. SO IF I CAN HAVE SAN ANTONIO SPORTS TO COME FORWARD.
WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO SPORTS IS CELEBRATING ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORT. AND WHEREAS AFTER THE SUCCESS OF THE 1984 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN LOS ANGELES A SMALL GROUP OF LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS REALIZED THAT THROUGH SPORTS SAN ANTONIO HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BOTH GROW ECONOMICALLY AND IMPROVE IN QUALITY OF LIFE. WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO SPORTS HAS PUT SAN ANTONIO ON THE GLOBAL STAGE, HOSTING HUNDREDS OF NATIONAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE ROCK 'N' ROLL SAN ANTONIO MARATHON AND THE SWIMMING COMPETITIONS, SURPASSING OVER $1 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WHEREAS THE VISION IS TO CREATE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, PLACES TO PLAY AND HOST IMPACTFUL EVENTS THAT LINK HEALTHY BODIES AND MINDS TOGETHER AND WORK EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE SPORTS AND FITNESS INITIATIVES THAT INSPIRE ALL PEOPLE TO LIVE ACTIVE, HEALTHY LIVES. WHEREAS THROUGH THE I PLAY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, SAN ANTONIO SPORTS OFFERS ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND YOUTH, TEACHING SKILLS TO HELP BUILD CONFIDENCE, TEAMWORK, AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP. WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO SPORTS
[01:00:05]
OFFERS FREE WELLNESS PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN THE MIND-BODY CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY 5KS. WHEREAS FOR OVER 40 YEARS SAN ANTONIO SPORTS HAS ACHIEVED REMARKABLE SUCCESS MAKING A POSITIVE LASTING IMPACT ON THE SAN ANTONIO SPORTS SCENE AND REAFFIRMING ITS STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO CREATING A LEGACY OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 3, 2024 TO BE SAN ANTONIO SPORTS' 40TH ANNIVERSARY DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS . CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE]>> I DON'T KNOW WHO PICKED THE ORDER THIS MORNING BUT THAT'S HARD TO FOLLOW.
I'M JENNY CARNES, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SAN ANTONIO SPORTS AND ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 40TH CELEBRATE THROUGHOUT 2024. WHAT A MORNING TO BE HERE WITH YOU, ROSEMARY.
I HOPE SAN ANTONIO SPORTS MAKES IT TO 100 YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR BOARD, JONATHAN OWENS, JUST TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS COMING UP FOR THIS CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR ACKNOWLEDGING OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY AND THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE'RE 184 DAYS AWAY FROM THE FINAL FOUR AND ALSO EXCITED AND HOPEFULLY EVERYONE SAW YESTERDAY'S NCA ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE WILL HOST THE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL FINAL FOUR IN DECEMBER OF 2026 AND THEN IN THE SPRING OF 2027 MEN'S REGIONAL BASKETBALL. SO THANK YOU FOR THE 40 YEARS OF SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND OUR ORGANIZATION. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO 40 MORE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. JENNY, WHEN YOU TURN 100
YOU'LL STILL GO AFTER ROSEMARY. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEF MUSICAL INTERLUDE, I THINK, AND I'M GOING TO ASK OUR OPERA SAN ANTONIO TEAM TO COME FORWARD AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS OPERA SAN ANTONIO ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT.
WHEREAS THE COMPANY IS COMMITTED TO PRESERVING AND SHARING OPERA AS AN ART FORM THAT IS RELEVANT AND INSPIRATIONAL TO VISITORS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS.
OSA'S AWARD-WINNING VISION HAS SHOWCASED MASTERPIECED, CREATING AN ENGAGING EXPERIENCE PROVIDING DEPTH TO THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF SAN ANTONIO.
WHEREAS OPERA SAN ANTONIO HAS BEGUN ITS TENTH SEASON OF PROGRAMMING AT THE TOBIN CENTER BY BRINGING TOGETHER TWO MUSICAL CULTURES: MARIACHI MUSIC AND OPERA WITH THEIR PRODUCTION. AND WHEREAS OPERA SAN ANTONIO WILL COMPLETE ITS PERFORMING SEASON BY PRESENTING A CONCERT, VOICES OF BEAUTY, AT THE BASILICA NATIONAL SHRINE AND CLOSE ITS SEASON WITH THE PRODUCTION OF MADAME BUTTERFLY. WHEREAS THE COMPANY WILL PRODUCE EVENTS FOR FREE ACROSS EACH PRECINCT IN BEXAR COUNTY IN 2024-2025. ALLOWING OPERA SAN ANTONIO TO REACH 20,000 CITIZENS AND VISITORS THIS SEASON. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 3, 2024 TO BE OPERA SAN ANTONIO'S TENTH ANNIVERSARY DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LAUREN AND I'M THE GENERAL AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF OPERA SAN ANTONIO .
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND TO RECEIVE A PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING.
PLEASE ACCEPT MY DEEPEST THANKS ON BEHALF OF OPERA SAN ANTONIO'S STAFF AND OUR BOARD AND OUR ARTISTS, WHO ARE WITH US THIS MORNING. WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG, AND WITH ALL OF YOU ON THE CITY COUNCIL, OF COURSE ALONG WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, OPERA SAN ANTONIO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SERVE AND EDUCATE AND ENTERTAIN OVER 20,000 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ANNUALLY. TONIGHT, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF OUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY SEASON AND WITH THIS OPENING WE'RE ACTUALLY ACHIEVING SEVERAL MAJOR FIRSTS FOR THE COMPANY AND FOR THE CITY.
THIS IS THE FIRST SPANISH LANGUAGE OPERA TO BE PRESENTED ON THE MAIN STAGE OF THE TOBIN CENTER. IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE PRESENTING A MARIACHI OPERA.
AND TODAY IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'RE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCING THAT WE'RE ENTERING OUR NEXT DECADE, AFTER BEING FINANCIALLY STABLE AND IN THE BLACK FOR ALL TEN YEARS OF OUR ORGANIZATION'S HISTORY. THROUGH THE PROCLAMATION TODAY AND THROUGH OUR PRODUCTION OF THE MARIACHI OPERA TONIGHT, AND ALONG
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WITH OUR ACCOMPANYING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, WE WILL BE SHARING ARTS EDUCATION WITH APPROXIMATELY 5,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS JUST THIS FALL.BY THE END OF OUR SEASON IN JUNE WE WILL HAVE WORKED WITH 100 SCHOOLS AND SHARED OPERA WITH VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND OTHER UNDERSERVED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE TRULY BELIEVE OPERA IS FOR EVERYONE.
NONE OF THESE ACHIEVEMENTS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF A CITY AND A CITY COUNCIL AND A MAYOR WHO ARE SO COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON DEVELOPING A RICH AND DIVERSE OFFERING OF ARTS AND CULTURE. TONIGHT OPERA SAN ANTONIO BRINGS TOGETHER TWO POWERFUL ART FORMS: MARIACHI, WHICH IS EMBEDDED IN THE CULTURE OF THIS CITY, AND OPERA. I'M GRATEFUL TO SAY THAT OUR TOBIN CENTER PERFORMANCES WILL BE AT CAPACITY, THANKS TO THE EXCITEMENT THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN FOR THIS PIECE, FOR THIS ART FORM, AND FOR OUR MUSICAL PARTNERS. SO THANK YOU FOR HELPING US KICKOFF OUR 2024 SEASON IN SUCH BEAUTIFUL STYLE WITH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PROCLAMATION. WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AT THE OPERA.
AND TO GIVE YOU A TASTE OF WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO BE LIKE AND WHAT AUDIENCES ARE IN FOR THIS WEEKEND, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT A TRIO ALONG WITH TENOR WILLIAM CHAPMAN. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OH, MY GOODNESS. WOW.
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INCREDIBLE. THAT'S LIKE PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE.IT'S PERFECT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND IF YOU WEREN'T LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET TICKETS TO THAT, MAYBE YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT ABLE TO GO. BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A HOT TICKET, I CAN TELL.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO OPERA SAN ANTONIO AND TO MARIACHI COMPANAS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME GREAT SHOWS THIS WEEKEND.
THANK Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT. HARD TO TOP THAT, Y'ALL, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO TRANSITION TO NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY DAY.
AND NATIONAL DRIVE ELECTRIC WEEK. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL DRIVE ELECTRIC WEEK SEPTEMBER 27 TO OCTOBER 6, 2024 AND NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY DAY ON OCTOBER 2, 2024 TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF HYBRID AND PLUG-IN VEHICLES, HIGHLIGHT THEIR BENEFITS AND INCREASED AWARENESS AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT OF EXPANDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGHOUT THE SI. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS DEDICATED TO BEING A LEADER IN THE USE OF CLEAN ENERGY AND HAS ESTABLISHED A SUSTAINABILITY AND CLEAN ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AS OUTLINED BY THE CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN. WHEREAS ALL FORMS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL HELP IMPROVE THE ECONOMY, LOWER FUEL COSTS, AND REDUCE EMISSIONS. THE EVASA PROGRAM AIMS TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ON THE EV OWNERSHIP AND THE CITY PLANS TO ACQUIRE 100 FLEET EVS BY 2025 WITH FEDERAL TAX CREDITS AND INCENTIVES. NOW MORE THAN EVER EV OWNERSHIP IS ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. WHEREAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS THE CLEANEST WAY TO MEET OUR ENERGY NEEDS, AVOID DANGEROUS POLLUTION, PROTECT OUR PLANET, LOWER DEPENDENCY OF ELECTRICITY AND REDUCE UTILITY BILLS.
WHEREAS IMPROVED ENERGY CODES FOR HOMES AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE COSTS AND CREATE JOBS. THE CITY'S SUPPORT FOR THE ADOPTION OF A STRICTER CODE FOR THE 2021 MODEL ENERGY EFFICIENCY INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION CODE WOULD INCREASE THE MINIMUM LEVELS OF EFFICIENCY FOR NEW BUILDINGS. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS ESTABLISHED THE LARGEST ON-SITE SOLAR PROJECT BY A LOCAL TEXAS GOVERNMENT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH BIG SUN SOLAR AND HAS ENERGIZED SOLAR AT SIX CITY FACILITIES TODAY.
THIS BRINGS A TOTAL OF 1.29 MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR CAPACITY TO THE CITY.
NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2, 2024 TO BE NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY DAY AND SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 TO BE NATIONAL DRIVE ELECTRIC WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. WELCOME, Y'ALL . AND THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT
WORK YOU'RE DOING. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. DOUG IS AT A MEETING AT AACOG. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M THE DEPUTY OF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER HERE WITH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR US TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO HELP TO ADAPT AND TO MITIGATE.
SO WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. WHEN YOU DO HAVE A CHANCE, WE DO HAVE THE SOLAR PANELS TO YOUR LEFT IN THE CORNER THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED IT ALREADY, WE ASK THAT YOU DO SO. IT WAS DONATED BY BIG SUN SOLAR SUPPORT AND CONTINUED SUPPORT. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, GOLDA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU GUYS HEAD OUT, COME ON, OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. YOU KNEW I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO JUST -- YOU GUYS HAVE DONE EXCELLENT WORK. COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, IF YOU SIGNED THE SOLAR PANEL, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO. IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO VOTE FOR EVERYTHING OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY BRINGS FORWARD, BUT I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.
WHEN I JOINED THIS DAIS FOUR YEARS AGO AND WE SAW WHAT WAS AHEAD AND WHAT CHALLENGES WE HAD, I WANTED IN ON THIS BECAUSE I COULD SEE HOW IT IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY AT A LOCAL LEVEL. AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN THERE HELPING ON THE BIG-LEVEL ISSUES TO THE LET'S PLANT A TREE, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY HYDRATED.
LET'S MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT A HOT DAY IS, URBAN HEAT MITIGATION ISLANDS.
YOU HAVE DONE IT ALL AND I JUST APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE A STRONG AND MIGHTY TEAM AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING HERE THE SOLAR PANEL AND MOVING FORWARD ON THAT INITIATIVE BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND WE ARE AN EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE NATION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
SEND DOUG MY BEST AND PLEASE GIVE ANY OF THE HASHTAGS FOR THAT DRIVE ELECTRIC WEEK BECAUSE MY STAFF HAS BOUGHT IN ON THAT. THEY'RE THERE.
[01:15:04]
Y'ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB ON THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND ENJOY AND I'M SO GLAD WE CAN CELEBRATE TODAY. THANK YOU.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR ALL THAT Y'ALL DO. EARLIER WE HAD THE CPS ENERGY WORKERS WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO NATIONAL DISASTERS.
WHEN WE LOOK TO ASHEVILLE AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN NORTH CAROLINA, THAT MAKES ME EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY IS DOING BECAUSE I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT THE WORK STARTS BEFORE THE DISASTER HITS.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN AND ALL THE INITIATIVES THAT YOU ALL CHAMPION, THAT'S IN ORDER AND IN PREPARATION OF WITH THAT, YOU ALL WITH ANY INITIATIVE YOU EXECUTE DO A GREAT JOB. EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO HAVE JOINED YOU FOR ONE OF THE COOL PAVEMENT PROJECTS. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL THAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE IN OR DISTRICTS, -- OUR DISTRICTS.
BUT JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND ALL YOU DO.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU ARE DOING TO MOVE OUR PLAN FORWARD.PPLAUSE] LAST, SHORTEST BUT NOT LEAST, WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A CHAMPION BASEBALL TEAM IN OUR CITY. SO IF THE DIAMOND DOGS CAN COME FORWARD.
THEY ARE A 6U ALL STAR TEAM PLAYING OUT OF PROSPECT HILL PONY LEAGUE ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE. THE BOYS WENT 17-0 UNDEFEATED AND THE ALL STARS WINNING THE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BEFORE REPRESENTING SAN ANTONIO IN THE WORLD SERIES. ONCE THERE, THEY COMPETED AGAINST 20 TEAMS INCLUDING TEAMS FROM TEXAS, LOUISIANA AND FLORIDA, AND THEY CONTINUE TO GO UNDEFEATED AND WERE CROWNED OUR 2024 6U CHAMPIONS. CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS.
[APPLAUSE] AND SO COACH, IF YOU CAN INTRODUCE THE TEAM, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO GUYS, WE MADE IT FINALLY HERE AFTER SITTING THROUGH THE FIRST HOUR AND A HALF OF THIS MEETING, BUT WE'RE GLAD WE GOT YOU HERE. YOUTH SPORTS ARE SO IMPORTANT, RIGHT? NOT ONLY TO GET OUR KIDS OFF THE SCREENS, BUT FOR EVERYTHING THAT SPORTS TEACHES OUR YOUNGSTERS. TEAM WORK, HARD WORK, COMMITMENT, LEARNING HOW TO BE GOOD WINNERS, AND I'LL TELL YOU THE LAST LESSON ON MY LIST IS ALSO LEARNING HOW TO LOSE, BUT I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER SEASON, RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LOSING DONE THIS YEAR.
Y'ALL ARE AWESOME, Y'ALL ARE A GREAT TEAM. I'VE HEARD STORIES ABOUT ALL THE BIG GAMES AND HOW YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO COME THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH AND WIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THE GUYS. >> MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
IT MEANS A LOT TO THE BOYS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND BEFORE I INTRODUCE THE BOYS, I ALSO -- AMONG THEIR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UP WITH OF THEIR BEST MAY BE SITTING THROUGH THIS MEETING SO QUIETLY AND POLITELY AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THEIR PARENTS. THIS SUMMER WE PLAYED A LOT OF GAMES.
WE ALSO PRACTICED THREE NIGHTS A WEEK FOR TWO HOURS. THEY DIDN'T DRIVE THEMSELVES TO THOSE PRACTICES. WHETHER IT WAS THE GAMES OR THE PRACTICES AND WEEK-LONG TRIP TO LOUISIANA, THEY COULDN'T HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ANY OF THAT WITHOUT SUPPORT OF THEIR PARENTS WHO ARE ALL HERE TODAY. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO THEIR PARENTS. AND JUSTIN BROUGHT THIS TEAM TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND COMMUNITIES AND HAS TURNED THEM INTO A BROTHERHOOD.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE JUSTIN WHO ARE WILLING TO DEVOTE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO OUR YOUTH. HE'S BEEN AN AMAZING MENTOR AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR HIM.
SO WITHOUT ANYTHING MORE, I'LL INTRODUCE THE BOYS. FIRST WE HAVE NUMBER ONE BECKETT. HERE'S BECKETT. [APPLAUSE] NEXT WE HAVE NUMBER TWO, JALEN CRUZ. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE NUMBER THREE, JAYSY. NEXT WE HAVE NUMBER FIVE, DOMINICK PRADO.
[APPLAUSE] WE HAVE NUMBER SIX, ZION HOLLYWOOD CERNA.
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[APPLAUSE] NEXT WE HAVE NUMBER SEVEN, MY PERSONAL FAVORITE BECAUSE HE'S MY SON, CHRISTIANO. [APPLAUSE] NUMBER 10, SANTIAGO.[APPLAUSE] WE HAVE NUMBER 13, OUR SMALLEST BUT ONE OF OUR STRONGEST, RAMA. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE NUMBER 16, AIDAN MORALES. [APPLAUSE] AND WE HAVE NUMBER 21, WADE.
[APPLAUSE] AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, NUMBER 23, ANDREW IS SEPADA. THANK YOU AGAIN MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU GUYS.
AND I THINK WE HAVE OUR COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: HI, GUYS. SO HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO GO ON TO PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL? MAJOR LEAGUES? ASTROS, RANGERS? OH, YOU ALL DO. THIS IS A GREAT START AND WAY TO GO PARENTS AND FAMILY THAT HAVE GOTTEN THEM HERE. THIS IS HARD WORK, BUT YOU GUYS THIS IS SAN ANTONIO. WE ARE A BASEBALL TOWN. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THAT STORY AND COMING HERE AND SHARING YOUR VICTORY WITH US.
SO GO -- WHAT IS IT -- DIAMOND DOGS! THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: YOU GUYS ARE ON YOUR WAY TO DO GREAT THINGS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE COACHES AND PARENTS BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S JUST AS MUCH OF A COMMITMENT ON Y'ALL'S PART. STAY STRONG AND BE TOUGH.
THANKS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: YOU ALL DID IT ONCE BEFORE, BUT I NEED TO SEE THE HUDDLE AND DIAMOND
DOGS CHEER. >> DOGS ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE, DOGS!
[APPLAUSE] >> WHERE ARE MY DOGS AT? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE CAN DO THAT UP HERE, CAN'T WE? [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT.
THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR AGENDA. WE DON'T HAVE AN EXEC SESSION, BUT ERIK, DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT?
>> WALSH: YES, SIR. JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ONE I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT IN SEPTEMBER, LAST MONTH, THE CNE TVSA TEAM WAS AWARDED SIX VIDEO PRODUCTION AWARDS AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS AND ADVISERS CONVENTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON GOVERNMENT TELEVISION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT CHANNELS. AND THE CITY COMPETES IN THE HIGHEST BUDGET CATEGORY WITH OTHER LARGE CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE -- OUR WEEKLY EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT WAS AWARDED -- SERIES WAS AWARDED FIRST PLACE IN THE ASSOCIATION.
FIRST PLACE IN THE BEST USE OF VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SECOND PLACE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT. CAMPAIGNS. THIRD PLACE IN TERMS OF DOCUMENTARIES. AND THIRD PLACE IN OVERALL EXCELLENCE.
SO CERTAINLY PROUD OF THE CNE TEAM. THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND I'M EXCITED THAT THE WEEKLY EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO WON FIRST IN THE COUNTRY IN OUR CATEGORY. SECOND THING, MAYOR, TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL, I ON OCTOBER 1ST, THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED 42 INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAD BEEN SELECTED AS ACADEMY FELLOWS, AND I WAS HUMBLED TO BE NOMINATED AND ELECTED TO THAT.
ONE OF ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN TEXAS. THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IS A -- IS A NON-PARTISAN, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CHARTERED BY CONGRESS IN 1967 TO PROVIDE EXPERT ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT LEADERS IN BUILDING MORE EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENCY, ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT ORGANIZATIONS.
THE ACADEMY IS MADE UP, FELLOW MAKE UP -- ARE MADE UP OF FORMER FEDERAL
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APPOINTED OFFICIALS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AT THE STATE LEVEL, NON-PROFIT LEADERS AND SCHOLARS AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS LIKE THE CITY MANAGERS AND THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF US IN THAT ORGANIZATION. CERTAINLY HUMBLED BY THAT AND I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH COUNCIL. LASTLY, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL AND WE'LL -- IN PLACE OF THE VIDEO TODAY, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL MR. FRANK BURNS, A 18-YEAR EMPLOYEE WITH C AND E AND OUR TVSA PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK. FRANK HAS BEEN A VALUED MEMBER OF HIS TEAM. HIS SON LEON WORKS FOR US AS WELL.FRANK SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT CHANNEL AND DEVELOPING THAT, AND A LOT OF WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IS BECAUSE OF FRANK'S HARD WORK IN DEVELOPING IT. HE PROGRAMMED AND AIRED THOUSANDS OF LOCALLY PRODUCED SHOWS IN HIS CAREER AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR PEG CHANNELS WILL BE MISSED. AND HE CERTAINLY DEMONSTRATED THE CORE VALUES OF PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION AND TEAM WORK AND I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COUNCIL AND HE WILL BE MISSED IN OUR
ORGANIZATION. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK, AND I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH FRANK OVER THE YEARS. SO IF WE COULD JUST END THE MEETING TODAY WITH JUST A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF FRANK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY, WE DO NOT HAVE AN EXEC SESSION, BUT WE HAVE A 2:00 P.M. ZONING SO AT 10:40
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.