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>> COURAGE: I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE READ THE ROLL.
MUCH. WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS TODAY. THE INITIAL ITEM IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 30TH. I HOPE ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO READ THEM. DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES OR PROPOSALS FOR THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING? AND HEARING NONE, THEN I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 30TH.
OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
AGAIN, ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? IF NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
MINUTES ARE APPROVED. WE HAVE THREE OTHER ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
ITEM 2, 3 AND 4. CLERK, WOULD YOU READ ITEM NUMBER 2?
>> ITEM NUMBER 2 IS A BRIEFING ON A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER DR. SUKH KAUR ON IMPROVEMENTS ON THE ACCURACY, EFFECTIVITY AND
EXPEDIENCY OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.
I UNDERSTAND THE CITY MANAGER WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS OR KICK
IT OFF. >> SO THANK YOU, COMMITTEE. YES, I WANTED TO COME TODAY.
RAZI'S GOT A BRIEF PRESENTATION, BUT I WANTED TO SUMMARIZE SOME RECENT CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD DIRECTLY WITH REPORT FUENTE REGARDING AN MOU TO GET TO THE MATTER THAT WAS THE TOPIC OF THE ORIGINAL CCR AND PLAINLY SAID, IT IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE -- THE ROYAL WE, ALL OF US, THE PUBLIC SECTOR, HAS AN IDEA OF WHERE UTILITIES ARE AT YOU R. THE COUNCIL IS WELL AWARE THAT IN SOME OF OUR PROJECTS WE JOINTLY DESIGNED AND JOINT BID AND HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE THAT BECAUSE FROM THE PUBLIC STANDPOINT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER TO THEM WHO RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT, WE'RE ALL THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
AND GETTING THROUGH THESE PROJECTS IS CRITICAL AND WORKING TOGETHER IS CRITICAL. BASED ON OUR LATEST CONVERSATIONS WITH SAWS, THERE ARE REALLY FOUR ELEMENTS OF AN MOU THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE SAWS BOARD FOR APPROVAL AND TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL THAT CHANGES THE DYNAMICS SLIGHTLY ON WHAT I WOULD CALL HIGH RISK PROJECTS.
AND THE FOUR MAIN POINTS OF THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD WORK TO CATEGORIZE PROJECTS AS HIGH RISK PROJECTS, AND THOSE ARE LIKELY TO BE PROJECTS IN OLDER PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE FROM SAWS' STANDPOINT. AND TREAT THOSE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY SOME PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE NEWER, WHERE WE DON'T EXPERIENCE THAT ISSUE, AND WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF JOINT PROJECTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. AND IN MOST CASES DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE IMPACTS UNDERNEATH THE GROUND ARE AFFECTING THE SURFACE PORTION OF THE PROJECT WHICH WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. SO CATEGORIZING THOSE PROJECTS, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, A REQUIREMENT BY SAWS TO FIELD VERIFY AS-BUILT DOCUMENTS WITH POTHOLING AND SUBSURFACE UTILITY LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE TO KNOW AS WE GO INTO THE CONTRACT PROJECT THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE BEFORE DESIGN IN ORDER TO ACCURATELY DESIGN THE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.
AND IN ALL CASES -- IN SOME CASES THAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND IT'S IMPACTING PROJECTS WHICH AGAIN THE ROYAL WE, OUR OBLIGATION IS TO GET IN, MAKE THE REPAIRS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS, AND ON TIME, AND THEN REMOVE OURSELVES FROM THAT AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PROJECT. NUMBER THREE IS THAT SAWS WILL BECOME A SIGNATORY TO OUR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS. RIGHT NOW -- AND YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE THAT ON THESE JOINT PROJECTS WHEN THEY COME BEFORE YOU TO COUNCIL, YOU'RE AUTHORIZING THE
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EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH WALSH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO DO A 10-MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT, AND IN MOST CASES IF THERE'S SUBSURFACE WORK, IN THAT SAME ACTION YOU ARE ACCEPTING A CONTRIBUTION FROM SAWS TO ADD TO THAT CONTRACT.BUT RIGHT NOW THE CITY AND THE CONTRACTOR ARE THE ONLY SIGNATORIES.
WE'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO EACH OTHER.
AND PART OF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH SAWS AND MR. PUENTE HAS BEEN IN THOSE COMPLICATED HIGH RISK PROJECTS, THEY NEED TO BE -- SAWS NEEDS TO BE A SIGNATORY.
AND IF THAT MEANS THEY NEED TO HAVE THE SAWS BOARD APPROVAL AS PART OF THAT PROJECT THEN WE'LL WORK IT IN. I DON'T ANTICIPATE IT MAKING ANY -- THEY COULD VOTE ON IT THE SAME WEEK THAT THE COUNCIL IS VOTING ON.
BUT I WANT -- MY STRONG RECOMMENDATION AND I THINK ROBERT IS IN AGREEMENT AFTER CONVERSATION, THAT EVERYBODY HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME AND A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO RESPOND AND MITIGATE AND RESOLVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AND THEN LASTLY, OF THE FOUR MAJOR POINTS, IS A RESOLUTION, A DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROJECT ON THE BACK OF A VERY COMPLICATED PROJECT. YOU CAN IMAGINE IF WE HAVE A COMPLICATED PROJECT WHERE SOME PARTIES AREN'T SIGNATORIES, THEN THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE A LOT OF MOTIVATION TO RESOLVE AT THE END OF THE DAY.
AND I THINK FROM A PUBLIC SECTOR STANDPOINT, I THINK MR. PUENTE AND I AGREE THAT IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT EMBLEM IS ON THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK.
WE ARE THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND OUR JOB IS TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY DELIVER THESE PROJECTS. UNDOUBTEDLY ON HIGH-RISK PROJECTS THERE'S ALWAYS SOME RISK, SO WE SHOULD TREAT THEM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE CARE, AND I'M HOPING TO BRING THAT -- WE'RE HOPING, THE STAFF IS HOPING TO BRING THAT TO COUNCIL. WE COULD AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR CONVERSATION TODAY, THAT COULD MAKE A PIT STOP AT THIS COMMITTEE, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S SOMETHING AT SOME POINT THAT WILL NEED TO GO TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
THIS IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL AS WE LAUNCH OFF INTO CONSTRUCTION ON THE 2022 BOND PROJECTS NEXT YEAR IN 2025. SO THAT'S KIND OF -- AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND I WANTED TO BE HERE AND ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SAWS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US AND I'M ANTICIPATING BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVES THOSE FOUR OBJECTIVES WITH THEM AND THAT MOU WITH YOU.
HOPEFULLY I DIDN'T STEAL ALL YOUR THUNDER, RAZI. DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO REPEAT EVERYTHING. I WANTED TO REPEAT THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION AND
HOW SERIOUSLY WE'RE TAKING IT. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, ERIK. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED ONE KEY ISSUE IS SAWS AND CPS AS UTILITIES TO PLUG INTO AN ONGOING PROJECT AND MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON.
I THINK I'VE TALKED WITH YOU, ERIK AND JOHN ABOUT I THINK A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT. IT'S NOT JUST DOING A STREET BUT IT'S WITH OTHER BUILDINGS BEING BUILT ALONG OUR MAJOR ROADS AND HOW THEY WANT TO HAVE ROAD CLOSURES, HOW IT TAKES MONTHS AND MONTHS SOMETIMES. THERE'S A LOT OF PLAYERS INVOLVED. SOMETIMES IT'S TXDOT, SOMETIMES IT'S MORE THAN JUST OUR UTILITIES. AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH HEARS ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS, SOMETIMES A YEAR BEFORE ANYTHING IS EVEN DISCUSSED AS FAR AS LETTING A CONTRACT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT IT'S ALL PART OF THIS ITEM NUMBER TWO AND PROBABLY ITEM NUMBER THREE TWO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION PLAN. SO I DON'T WANT TO DELAY RAZI'S PRESENTATION AND IT WILL BE OPENED UP TO DISCUSSIONS WHEN HE'S
COMPLETED. RAZI? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M CHAIR OF PUBLIC WORKS. AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, THERE WAS A CCR THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 IN JUNE JUNE 2024. CCR AIMS TO IMPROVE DESIGN DOCUMENT TO EX-PE DIES THE CONSTRUCTION DURATION SUCH AS ALL UTILITY COMPANY ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ACCURATE AS-BUILT OF THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE INFORMATION TODAY. THE CITY TO LEAD SUBSERVICE ENGINEERING OR COMMONLY KNOWN SUE, WORK ON ALL CITY PROJECT. WE ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE, WE ARE GOING TO IDENTIFY WHERE THESE SSU NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO ASK YOU TO REIMBURSE US FOR THE COST OF IT.
UTILITY COMPANY IS TO INCREASE DOESN'T FOR -- IN CAPITAL PROJECT DELIVERY.
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IT IS MUCH, MUCH EASIER TO RESOLVE UTILITY CONFLICT DURING DESIGN BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT AFFECTING ANYBODY. DURING CONSTRUCTION YOU ARE AFFECTING TRAFFIC, YOU ARE AFFECTING BUSINESSES, YOU ARE AFFECTING STAKEHOLDERS. ENCOURAGE ALL UTILITY COMPANY TO BUDGET FOR SI WORK, THEY DO VERY LIMITED SUE WORK TODAY.CITY COORDINATES WITH ALL APPLICABLE UTILITY TO IDENTIFY CONFLICT DURING THE DESIGN PHASE OF EACH PROJECT. THEY DO LIMIT IT -- TODAY THEY DO LIMIT THE SUE WORK BY UTILITY COMPANY, DESIRE TO MINIMIZE RISK OF THE UTILITY CONFLICT AND PROJECT DELAYS. CITY STAFF, AS THE CITY MANAGER, WORKING WITH SAWS ON MOU, DURING THE DESIGN PHASE IDENTIFICATION OF ALL UNDERGROUND UTILITY CONFLICT AND RESOLVING IN ADDITION WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR CONSTRUCTIVE REVIEW BY A CONTRACTOR.
CONSULTING WITH DESIGN VERY GOOD PROJECT, BUT CAN IT BUILD IT THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED. SIGNATORY FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
TODAY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A SIGNATURE WITH THE CONTRACTOR. WE ARE THE ONE THAT IS DISPUTES, AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, AND CATEGORIZING PROJECT.
WE HAVE AT LEAST FOUR TYPE OF PROJECTS. CERTAIN PROJECTS SAWS IN AUDIO]. THE INTENTION IS MAYBE THEY DELIVER OUR PART OF THE PROJECT IS ALL WE ARE DOING IS OVERLAY. COMPLICATED PROJECT, MEANING TO REALLY PAY MORE ATTENTION OF HOW WE CAN HANDLE. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE AN ISSUE DURING CONSTRUCTION. IT IS IMPORTANT HOW WE RESOLVE THEM.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY PROACTIVE, IDENTIFY THE ISSUE RATHER THAN POINTING THE FINGER, COME UP WITH A SOLUTION AND RESOLVE THOSE. AND OF COURSE AS I MENTIONED SOME OF THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE JOINED WITH ANYWAY. STAFF REPRESENTATION IS TO PROCEED AND WITH THE UTILITY COMPANY, SAWS AND CPS ENERGY.
THIS IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. I AM AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, RAZI.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS UP TO SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO INITIATED THE DISCUSSION
ON THIS WITH THE CCR. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, RAZI AND ERIK FOR THE PRESENTATION. TODAY IS A GOOD DAY.
WE GOT TO THIS MORNING TALK ABOUT SPAY AND NEUTERING THAT COUNCILMEMBER CASAR GAVINO PUSHED FORWARD. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK ON CT AND THE DUE DILIGENCE YOU PUT INTO IT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS QUESTIONING HOW THIS CAME TO BE OR WHY THIS WAS THE FIRST THING THAT WE TACKLED IN THE OFFICE.
RIP TO ALL OF THE BUSINESSES ON ST. MARY'S STREET AND BROADWAY THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT, BUT WE WANT -- WE WANT THE FOLKS OUT THERE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS PROCESS BETTER. WHEN WE FIRST CAME IN I WAS WONDERING THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED WAS WHY ARE THESE PROJECTS JUST OPEN WITHOUT ANYBODY WORKING AT THE SITES AND WHAT I QUICKLY FOUND OUT IS WE START DIGGING AND WE REALIZE A LINE ISN'T WHERE WE THOUGHT IT WAS AND WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND REDESIGN AND THE PROCESS FOR REDESIGN CAN TAKE MONTHS. LAST OCTOBER WE WERE HUSTLING BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AN INTERSECTION, AND GRATEFULLY IN THAT SITUATION WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THE LINE WAS IN A DIFFERENT SPOT WHICH MADE IT STILL ACCESSIBLE, BUT WE ALSO HAD A REALLY BIG STRESSFUL INFORMATION WITH BUSINESSES THERE THINKING THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET ACCESS FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE LINE WAS. SO I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT -- ONE, I KNOW THIS MOU HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR AWHILE.
AND SO THE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE WITH CPS AND SAWS, PLEASE TELL MR. PUENTE AND MR. GARZA WE NEED YOU GUYS TO ACTIVATE AND HELP US GET THIS MOU SIGNED, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ACCURATELY ASSESS THE SUE AND THE PREDESIGN WORK SO THAT WE'RE NOT OPENING UP STREETS AND MAKING THEM INACCESSIBLE WHILE WE REDESIGN. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING THE NEXT STEPS TO PUSHING THIS TO WHEREVER IT NEEDS TO GO, EITHER B SESSION OR A
SESSION. >> THE SUGGESTION IS THAT WE BRING IT HERE AND GO TO A
SESSION. >> KAUR: I'M EXCITED TO MAKE THE MOTION TO MOVE THIS TO A SESSION. DO I NEED TO GIVE A DATE OR WILL YOU ALL?
>> IT WILL COME BACK TO US FOR THE FINAL REPORT. >> UP TO YOU.
IF YOU WANT US TO GO STRAIGHT TO A SESSION, WE'LL GO.
>> KAUR: CAN WE MOVE IT STRAIGHT TO A SESSION? >> IT'S COMPLETELY UP TO THE COMMITTEE. I MEAN, I THINK WE COULD MOVE EFFICIENTLY.
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IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO US. AS LONG AS IT'S IN PLACE AS WE START TO DO THOSE PROJECTS. I DO THINK THAT AUDIO] AND WE CAN START TO LEVERAGE SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF THE MOU.IT'S COMPLETELY UP TO THE COMMITTEE. WE COULD ALSO DO INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS OF THIS COMMITTEE WHILE WE GO FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
BECAUSE FRANKLY IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE NEED TO BRIEF ALL THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS ON. >> KAUR: HAVE WE FIGURED OUT, I KNOW THE MOU IS IN THE WORKS, BUT HAVE WE FIGURED OUT THE FIRST PROJECT THIS COULD BE
POTENTIALLY EXECUTED ON? NOT YET? >> I DON'T HAVE A PROJECT NAME, BUT SINCE THESE DOWNTOWN PROJECT WE LEARN A LOT LESSON LENDER.
WE ARE GOING BACK AND REEVALUATING THOSE PROJECT TO MAKE SURE ANY POTENTIAL
CONFLICT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED. >> I'LL TELL YOU ONE I KNOW THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
THE CATEGORIZATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN. NOT NECESSARILY AN OLDER PART OF DOWN, BUT HAS SAWS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS IS COMPLICATE, AND IT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE LARGEST ROAD PROJECT WE HAVE IN THE '22 BOND PROGRAM.
THAT ONE IS GOING TO BE A HIGH PROFILE. >> KAUR: WHAT I THINK YOU WOULD BE GREAT AND AND WHAT I WOULD REQUEST IS FROM THE '22 BOND PROGRAM IS A LIST OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE THINK WE COULD IMPLEMENT THIS ON WHENEVER IT COMES BACK. AND I WOULD LIKE TO -- DEPENDING UPON WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAY, MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE IT TO A SESSION WITH INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS. BUT I CAN WAIT TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
>> LET ME ASK ERIK. WOULDN'T THE COUNCIL HAVE TO APPROVE THE MOU EVENTUALLY?
>> YES, SIR. THAT'S WHY WE WOULD TAKE TO THE A SESSION?
>> COURAGE: WHY DON'T WE ASK THE STAFF TO VISIT WITH EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AND LET
THEM KNOW AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION. >> THAT'S MY MOTION.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO GO AHEAD AND RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL ACTION WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS COMMITTEE.
IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMAN? >> THANK YOU. WHILE WE'RE TALKING INFRASTRUCTURE AND DELAYS AND WHATNOT, REAL QUICK, WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CONTRACTS? WE HAVE LOW BID, WE HAVE JOB ORDER.
>> ON MOST OF THE BOND PROJECT WE HAVE LOW BID, QUALIFIED LOW BID, CMR, COMPETITIVE CITY PROPOSAL AND DESIGN-BUILD. DESIGN-BUILD LARGER COMPLICATED PROJECT LIKE BROADWAY. CMR FOR PROJECT LIKE DISTRICT -- THE SAILING CHANNEL OR CSP, AND ALSO WE ARE MARBAUCH THERE'S A STRONG POSSIBILITY WE DO CMR. THE BENEFIT OF CMR IS CONTRACTOR IS WORKING FOR US AND DESIGNER WORKING FOR US. THEY'RE NOT TOGETHER, THEY ARE SEPARATELY AS A CONTRACT WITH US. CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE TO REVIEW WHAT THE DESIGNER IS BUILDING CAN BE BUILT WITHIN EFFICIENCY.
MINIMUM TIME TAKES MINIMUM COST. AND OF COURSE THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE US ABOUT GOOD COST ESTIMATE SO WE DON'T GET SURPRISED WHEN WE ADVERTISE
PROJECT TO REALIZE SIGNIFICANTLY OVERBUDGET. >> GOT YOU.
THE REASON I ASK IS, IS THERE A -- MAYBE AN ANALYSIS THAT WE COULD DO THAT -- I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHAT TYPES OF CONTRACTS HAVE GREATER DELAYS.
I WOULD WONDER IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD COMPILE THAT AND SAY HEY, ALL OF THESE PROJECTS THAT FALL UNDER THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF CONTRACT, MAYBE THEY'RE 98% OF THE TIME ON TIME, ON BUDGET. THERE'S MAYBE A PROBLEM WITH
ONE OF THESE TYPES OF CONTRACTS. >> OVERALL IS LOW BID WITHIN THE BUDGET, BECAUSE IT'S LOW BID. BUT THE QUALITY MAY NOT BE AS GOOD AS CSP. CSP, CONTRACT IS GOOD, THE PROCESS IS LONG TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE -- WE HAVE TO TWO TWO PHASES.
ONE TO INTERVIEW THEM AND THEN BASED ON THE PRICE. IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME, BUT WE HIRE QUALITY CONTRACTOR BECAUSE PRICE IS ONLY 40%. 60 IS BASED ON
QUALIFICATION. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: OKAY. I GUESS THE POINT I WANT TO GET TO IS MAYBE IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO MOVE AWAY FROM LOW BID CONTRACTS.
>> YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSAL OR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK ON THESE PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY HIGH RISK, IS CRITICAL. LOW BID, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S -- IF THE UTILITIES HAVEN'T LOCATED EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THE GROUND, LOW BID IS ABSOLUTELY THE WORST CONTRACT TO BE IN BECAUSE IT LEAVES NO FLEXIBILITY. AND IF ONE OF THE PARTIES, IN THIS CASE SAWS IS NOT A SIGNATORY TO THE CONTRACT, THEN THEY'RE NOT OBLIGATED
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TO DO ANYTHING. IT LITERALLY BECOMES A CITY PROJECT AND I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT -- AND I THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY NEWER PARTS OF TOWN WHERE THEY CLEARLY KNOW WHERE THE UTILITIES ARE AT. THOSE AREN'T THE ONES WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR. IT IS FOR A MARBAUCH OR ANYTHING INSIDE MAYBE 410WHERE WE'VE GOT MAYBE OLDER INFRASTRUCTURE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOTCHA, GOTCHA. SO I'M WONDERING IF THAT MIGHT BE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POLICY OR CONVERSATION IS ON THAT FOR SETTING THE PARAMETERS ON WHICH WE WOULD USE LOW BID AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT SHOULD BE FOR SERVICES LIKE CONSTRUCTION. I WOULDN'T GO TO -- I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT ON.
I WAS GOING TO MAKE A JOKE, BUT I'LL LEAVE THAT ALONE. I KNOW LARGELY THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN ABOUT BOND PROJECTS AND MAJOR RECONSTRUCTIONS.
I DO THINK IT'S A PROBLEM EVEN BEYOND THOSE AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US JUST STEP AWAY ENTIRELY FROM LOW BID. I THINK THAT ALSO BENEFITS MANY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE NOT COMPETITIVE FOR THOSE AND MAYBE THEY WOULD
DO BETTER QUALITY WORK. >> MOST IF NOT ALL IS NOT DONE LOW BID BECAUSE LIBRARY, COMMUNITY CENTER, POLICE SUBSTATION, ALL OF THEM IS DONE EITHER CPS -- CSP OR SOME OTHER WAY. VERY TYPICAL, SIMPLE ROADWAY PROJECT IS GOOD TO DO LOW BID BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO ELIMINATE LOW BID EITHER BECAUSE IT MAY ELIMINATE SOME OF THE CONTRACTORS. AND ALSO A SMALL PROJECT.
COMPLICATED PROJECT DOWNTOWN, HEAVILY TRAVELED AREA, ALL PART OF AREA, IT SHOULD NOT BE LOW BID. IT SHOULD BE -- DEPEND ON STAGE OF THE DESIGN, EITHER
SHOULD BE CSP OR CONTRACT MANAGER AT RISK. >> COURAGE: I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COMMITTEE OUGHT TO ASK FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION THAT HELPS US IDENTIFY THE QUALITY AND THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT MAY BE BETTER SUITED. THE CITY MANAGER WAS SHAKING HIS HEAD SAYING YEAH, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THIS. I THINK IT SHOULD BE A DISCUSSION POINT FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO HAVE A MORE THOROUGH PRESENTATION THAT ALSO INCORPORATES ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT GO INTO THE TIMING AND THE PRODUCTION OF ALL OF THESE. SO I THINK IT'S A POINT WELL TAKEN.
>> I AGREE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
I WOULD ALSO ADD UTILITIES, SPECIFICALLY SAWS, ARE NOT ALWAYS THE REASON FOR DELAYS. WHY IS THAT PARTICULARLY SAWS? UTILITIES ARE NOT ALWAYS THE REASON FOR DELAYS. WE HAVE SOME BAD CONTRACTORS WHO DON'T PRIORITIZE PROVIDING QUALITY WORK ON TIME.
WE'VE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH INSPECTORS AND SOMETIMES CONSTITUENTS HAVE TO BE THE ONES WHO THEY WOULD IDENTIFY WHEN A PROJECT HAS GONE AWRY OR IT HAS NOT GONE THE BEST WAY IT COULD HAVE AND THEN IT HAS TO BE REDONE. THAT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. SO I THINK OWE I DON'T KNOW THAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION NECESSARILY ADDRESSES A PART OF OUR DELAYS.
I THINK THIS IS GREAT FOR THE BOND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PLAGUING DISTRICT 1, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF -- I WOULD EXPECT FURTHER STEPS.
>> COUNCILMAN, YOU ARE CORRECT. UTILITY IS ONE OF THE MAJOR, BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE. FIRST GOOD DESIGN. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD DESIGN, NO MATTER HOW GOOD IS THE CONTRACT, YOU WILL GOING TO HAVE PROBLEM.
THE DESIGN IS LIKE A ROADMAP. YOU ARE GIVING DIRECTIONS FOR SOMEBODY TO GO TO POINT A TO POINT B. GOOD DESIGN YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT. UTILITIES HAS TO PLAY BECAUSE THEY ARE A FACTOR.
UNKNOWN CONDITION. SOME OF THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT WE HIT SOMETHING WE HAD NO IDEA. WE HAD UNDERGROUND TANK. WE HAD [INDISCERNIBLE], IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE UTILITY. EACH OF THOSE COST A FEW DAYS' DELAY. CONTRACTOR ONLY MAKES MONEY BY FINISHING PROJECTS SOONER. SOMETIMES WE THINK CONTRACTOR IS DRAGGING THEIR FOOT. THEY DON'T WANT TO DELAY. THE REASON THEY DELAY IS
BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING THEY COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOT YOU. AND REGARDING THIS MOU BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS MOU -- I REMEMBER HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH YOU GUYS MONTHS AGO. HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN IN THE WORKS?
>> WE START VERY SERIOUSLY THIS YEAR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ:
TRADITIONALLY WITH EACH -- >> TRADITIONALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER, THERE'S AN MOU WITH EACH UTILITY PROVIDER. WE EMBARKED ON THIS OVER THE LAST YEAR, BUT WE INTEND TO
DO IT BEYOND JUST SAWS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AND HOW LONG HAS IT TAKEN?
>> TOO LONG. THAT'S WHY THE CITY MANAGER WENT AND MET WITH PUENTE, WITH MR. PUENTE, TOO LONG. THIS ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE. SO WE'VE GOT FOUR SIMPLE POINTS. AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF PROJECTS GO FINE.
IT'S THOSE HIGH RISK LARGE PROJECTS THAT ARE JOINT BID WITH UNKNOWN UNDERGROUND FACILITIES. SO WE THINK IF WE FOCUS ON THAT GROUP OF PROJECTS,
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EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS INTO PLACE AND GOES OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO COLLECTIVELY DEAL WITH THOSE LARGER PROJECTS
BETTER, AND THAT'S WHY I'VE ENGAGED MR. PUENTE DIRECTLY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO IT
HASN'T BEEN A CHALLENGE WITH CPS. >> LESS OF AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE ONLY UNDERGROUND PORTION THEY'LL HAVE IS MAYBE SOME FIBER OR GAS LINE AND -- [BUZZER]. I THINK OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT GENERALLY THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE AWARE OF THE FACILITIES. AND SAWS HAS WATER AND SEWER LINES THAT ARE DECADES OLD AND SO IT'S DIFFERENT. BUT THE MOU WOULD COVER BOTH CPS AND SAWS, BUT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE WITH CPS.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: OKAY. JUST WAITING FOR SAWS TO GET IT TOGETHER, I GUESS.
WE MAY BE NEEDING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION FAIRLY SOON. >> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE CITY IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND BEFORE SAWS WHAT WAS THE
ORGANIZATION THAT WAS -- THE WATER SYSTEM? >> CITY WATER BOARD.
>> AND WHAT WAS IT BEFORE THAT? AND HOW FAR BACK DO THOSE RECORDS GO? IT'S HARD TO HOLD A BUSINESS THAT'S NO LONGER AROUND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE RECORDS THEY PUT IN THE GROUND 100 YEARS AGO OR EVEN 75 YEARS AGO INSIDE 410. BUT EVERYTHING THAT SAWS HAS DONE OR THE LAST OWNED CITY-OWNED WATER SYSTEM HAS DONE, WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE RECORDS.
BUT EVEN THEN I'VE HEARD IT SAID THAT SOMETIMES THINGS ARE BEING PUT IN THE GROUND AND THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY DOESN'T FOLLOW THE PLANS AND IT ENDS UP THEY GO AROUND SOMETHING OR THIS AND THAT. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOME RESEARCH OF EVERY LINE UNDERGROUND, UNDER EVERY STREET.
WHERE IT IS SO WE HAVE ACCURATE RECORDS, STARTING IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN AND WORKING ITS WAY OUT. BECAUSE AS YOU SAID; THE OUTER AREAS DEVELOPED IN THE LAST 40 OR 30 YEARS, WE'VE GOT THOSE RECORDS. IT'S ALL THE INNER CITY THAT'S 100 YEARS OLD OR 60 YEARS OLD EVEN WHERE WE'RE STRUGGLING TO FIND THE RIGHT SEWER LINE OR WATER LINE OR GAS LINE. COUNCILWOMAN?
>> KAUR: THANK YOU. CHAIR, JUST PIGGYBACKING OFF OF WHAT YOU WERE MENTIONING, I DISAGREE. YES, I DO THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR SAWS TO HAVE RECORDS FOR PIPES THAT WERE PUT DOWN HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO.
IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE. TO ME IT'S ALSO THEIR JOB BECAUSE IT HAS REAL WORLD IMPLICATIONS JUST LIKE COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR SAID FOR BUSINESSES ON ST. MARY'S STREET. SO AGAIN, I AGREE THAT IT'S
DIFFICULT, BUT TO ME IT'S ALSO THEIR JOB. >> GOING BACK TO MY ORIGINAL NOTES, I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR FOR BRINGING THIS UP.
I AGREE WITH HER IT IS A GOOD DAY BECAUSE WE'RE FINALLY GETTING PROGRESS ON A LOT OF BIG THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN PUSHING. IF WE CAN GO TO SLIDE 3 REALLY QUICK. SO IT SAYS HERE THAT THE CITY ALREADY COORDINATES WITH APPLICABLE UTILITIES AND CITY RELATED PROJECTS. I'M ALSO GOING TO BE ANTICIPATING THAT SAWS SIGN THAT -- BE A SIGNATORY ON THE CONTRACTS AND HOWEVER WE CAN HELP PUSH ON THAT I WANT TO BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL UTILITIES ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FACE A LOT OF IN DISTRICT 7 IS NOT ONLY WITH SAWS AND CPS, BUT IT'S ALSO WITH OUR FIBER COMPANIES.
WE HAVE SO MANY DISRUPTIONS, AS JOHN KNOWS, ERIC KNOWS, WHERE WE'RE STRUGGLEING TO HOLD THESE FIBER COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SAYING THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON THE INTERNET, THEY'RE SAYING OH, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY ONLY DUG THREE INCHES DEEP AND THIS AND THAT. SO IT'S ALWAYS A GAME OF BACK AND FORTH.
AND THE RESIDENTS ARE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT INTERNET.
SO I'D LOVE TO PUSH FOR US TO INCLUDE FIBER COMPANIES WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOLDING UTILITY COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THAT CAUSES MAJOR OUTAGES, IT CAUSES PEOPLE TO STOP WORKING AS WELL EVEN THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY JUST SPECIFIC BUSINESS, BUT IN THEIR OWN WORKING CAPACITY. SO I'D LOVE FOR US TO PUSH TO HOLD OUR FIBER COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE TOO. AND AGAIN, IT IS JUST -- IT GOES BACK TO THE GENERAL INTENT OF THE CCR AND IT'S BEING SMART ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE UNDERGROUND BEFORE WE START WORK INSTEAD OF US DOING WHAT WE DO AND DIG AND OOPS, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS THERE, AND HAVE RESIDENTS STUCK IN THE BACK AND FORTH. YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY -- THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENTS I HAVE. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT POLICY, A GREAT CCR.
AND THIS WILL DEFINITELY HELP TAXPAYER -- HELP US SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS BY
[00:30:02]
CONDUCTING OUR DUE DILIGENCE UP FRONT AND I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE.THANKS SO MUCH, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR STATEMENTS ABOUT IT BEING DIFFICULT TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND I AGREE IT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS 100 YEARS OLD, SORT OF MEANS TO ME THAT WE'VE HAD 100 YEARS TO FIGURE IT OUT. I THINK THAT HOWEVER WE CAN SUPPORT SAWS IN DOING THAT, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENT ENTITIES, BUT IT'S SUCH A BIG ISSUE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY AND JUST HOPE THAT IT HAPPENS. SECOND IS THE -- PEER-TO-PEER YOU MENTIONED THERE IS A DIFFERENCE FOR BOND PROJECTS.
HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT F.A.R. WHAT WE'RE BEING PROPOSED TODAY.
>> THE DIFFERENCE IS THIS IS FOR THE '22 CYCLE. FOR THE PREVIOUS CYCLE '17 AND '12 THERE HAS BEEN AN EXISTING MOU. WE'RE WORKING TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF THAT MOU AND THE THINGS NECESSARY INSIDE OF IT, BUT THAT'S THE REASON
WE EMBARKED ON IT. >> WHAT ARE THE CHANGES, THOUGH.
>> THEY'RE OUTLINED IN THE FOUR POINTS THAT ERIK BROUGHT UP.
THOSE WILL BE THE CORE OF THE MOU. >> SO THESE THINGS DIDN'T
HAPPEN IN 2020? 2017? >> CORRECT.
>> THE 2017 MOU IS A COMPLICATED DOCUMENT THAT REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE COORDINATION OF DESIGN. I THINK WE'VE TAKEN THE LESSONS LENDER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ASIDE FROM DESIGN AND MAKING SURE THAT UTILITIES KNOW WHERE EVERYTHING IS AT AS THEY DO THEIR PORTION OF THE DESIGN THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE SURFACE LEVEL, THE STREETS, THE SIDEWALKS, THE LIGHT BULBS, WHICH IS THE PORTION OF THE CONTRACT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE.
FOR. >> GAVITO: SO THE DIFFERENCE TO ME IF I HEARD
YOU CORRECTLY IS THIS COVERS IMPLEMENTATION. >> YES, PROJECT EXECUTION.
>> THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I KNOW YOU'VE SAID, BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS GOING TO INCLUDE SAWS, CPS AND IT
WILL INCLUDE LIKE TELECOM AND INTERNET PROVIDERS? >> THAT'S THE INTENT, COUNCILWOMAN. FOR INSTANCE SO SOME OF OUR DOWNTOWN PROJECTS WE'VE HAD TO COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE TELECOM COMPANIES ON THEIR LEVEL OF REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT SERVICE. SO TO PUSH THEM ALONG. WE'VE BEGUN TO DO THAT IN SMALL STEPS BUT THIS WILL BE A BIGGER STEP THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO COME TO AGREEMENT ON THE STEPS NECESSARY TO MOVE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN WE'RE DOING A PROJECT.
>> GAVITO: OKAY, THANK YOU. I THINK AT OUR LAST MUC MEETING I ASKED SAWS, CPS AND THE CITY IF WE'RE CONFERRING TOGETHER BEFORE A PROJECT STARTS. IS THIS PART OF WHAT THIS IS? EVERYBODY IS GOING TO COME TOGETHER BEFORE THE SHOVEL HITS THE GROUND AND FIGURES OUT HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER? I KNOW NOT EVERYTHING IS
FORESEEABLE, BUT AS BEST WE CAN. >> FIRST OF ALL, COUNCILWOMAN, ANY BOND, IT'S TWO YEARS FOR US TO PREPARE FOR BOND.
FOR 2022 WE SPENT TWO YEARS. WE SHARED THOSE PROJECT LISTS FOR SAWS AND CPS AND OTHERS AND EVEN TXDOT AND BEXAR COUNTY. TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALSO PREPARING NOT JUST THE DESIGN, THEY NEED TO PREPARE BECAUSE THIS IS A LOT EXPENSIVE FOR THEM. DURING DOESN'T WE HAVE INITIAL [INDISCERNIBLE], 40% DESIGN, 70 AND 90. EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED ON THAT PROJECT, HAS ANYTHING TO DO, THEY ARE ON THE TABLE DISCUSSION. REGARDING GOOGLE, WE HAVE LENDER A LOT. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE NINE INCH OR DEEPER.
UNFORTUNATELY IN CERTAIN AREA THEY DIDN'T DO DEEP ENOUGH.
LAST YEAR WHEN OUR SMP, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE PROJECT LIST, WE SHARED THOSE WITH GOOGLE. GOOGLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE AHEAD OF US.
ANYPLACE THEIR LINE IS TOO SHALLOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO AND LOWER IT.
UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO MOST OF IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES THEY MISS IT.
BUT WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE MOU ALSO.
THE FIRST MOU WE ARE PICKING UP REALLY AND CHALLENGING IS AGENCY, WHICH IS SAWS.
WHY IS SAWS CHALLENGING? GRAFFITI FLOW, THEY DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH FLEXIBILITY TO GO UP AND DOWN. GAS LINE CAN BE. WATER LINE CAN BE BECAUSE THAT'S PRESSURE FLOW. IF WE RESOLVE THE MOU, IF WE HAVE A SOLID MOU WITH SAWS THEY CAN USE THAT ONE AS A TEMPLATE USE WITH OTHER AGENCY ALSO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. OKAY.
I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE A SECOND REAL QUICK TO BRING UP, WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME. BUT THE INTERNET PROVIDERS, HOW THEY DIG UP THE STREET AND THEN THEY KIND OF LEAVE IT. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SAY THIS WITHOUT SAYING A BAD WORD, BUT HALFWAY, WE'LL SAY THAT.
>> SAY IT. [LAUGHTER]. >> GAVITO: ONE DAY, RAZI.
[00:35:04]
THEY KIND OF LEAVE IT HALFWAY DONE, I GUESS. A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WE HEAR ABOUT THAT. SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE -- THIS MOU WILL ENCOMPASS SOME OF THAT, NOT JUST WHAT WE DO BEFORE A PROJECT, HOW WE DO IT -- HOW WE'RE ACTING DURING THE PROJECT, BUT ALSO HOW WE LEAVE A YARD, A STREET, AN AREA ONCE THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED. THAT GOES TO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. ONE OF THE THINGS I HEAR THE MOST IS THE INTERNET, THE FIBER LINES, ALL OF THAT. THE LAST THING IS MARBAUCH I THINK IS GOING TO BE A REALLY DANG GOOD TEST. IT'S GOT A HUGE, HUGE PROJECT AS ERIK MENTIONED, VERY IMPORTANT. THOSE OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA WE CALL IT THE MARBAUCH RIVER, LIKE ANY TIME IT RAINS BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- THERE'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEED THERE AND IT'S NOT -- IT'S DISTRICT 6 AND 4.AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S THE BORDER. SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, A LOT OF RESOLUTION HAPPENING THERE AND I THINK IT WILL BE A REALLY GOOD TEST FOR THIS MOU. THANKS.
THANK YOU, SIR. >> COURAGE: OKAY. WE'VE HAD A MOTION MADE AND EVERYONE HAS DISCUSSED IT TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS FOR APPROVAL TO CITY COUNCIL.
OKAY. GO AHEAD, COUNCILWOMAN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION AND I WANTED TO CLARIFY.
ARE YOU GOING TO ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS DETERMINE WHICH LEVEL OF SUE NEEDS TO BE DONE SO THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS AWARE TO -- AND IS THAT GOING TO BE DONE LIKE DURING WHEN THE BOND IS APPROVED OR AS WE START THE PROJECT?
>> AS WE START THE PROJECT, SCOPING DONE, WE HAVE DESIGNER ON BOARD, WE PUT -- PUBLIC WORKS PUT MONEY ALLOWANCES FOR SEWER OR POTHOLING.
WE ARE GOING TO LEAD THAT ONE. WE ARE GOING TO DECIDE HOW MANY AND WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO LEAVE THAT FOR OTHER AGENCY BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT DO ENOUGH, BUT WE ARE ASKING THEM TO PAY THE PROJECT BECAUSE PROJECT IS PAYING FOR THEM.
WE WILL HAVE THESE DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ON THE PLAN FOR CONTRACTOR TO KNOW WHERE DID WE DIG, WHAT DID WE FIND OUT. WE NEED TO IDENTIFY HOW DEEP IS THE PIPE, WHAT [INDISCERNIBLE] AND IS IT WATER OR SEWER, WE'LL
IDENTIFY ALL THOSE. >> WHEN RAZI SAYS THAT WHEN THE PROJECT BEGINS THAT'S NOT WHEN THE STREET GETS TORN UP. WHEN THE PROJECT BEGINS FOR DESIGN. ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE REGARDLESS OF CATEGORIZATION, ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE START DIGGING ANYTHING UP.
>> PERFECT. SO WE NEED TO KNOW THIS IS THE LEVEL YOU ARE GOING TO
USE FOR THIS PROJECT AT PREDESIGN BASICALLY. >> AND IF THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT'S UNCOVERED AFTERWARDS AND THEY AS A SIGNATORY TO THE CONTRACT HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO REDESIGN WITHIN A TIMELINE THAT DOES NOT IMPACT OUR
PROJECT. >> GOT IT, OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE IT WAS MADE CLEAR.
SO THE SUE WORK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SUE WORK AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF INNOVATION WHICH YOU MENTIONED WAS POTHOLING.
>> SOME PEOPLE CALL IT POTHOLING. BASICALLY THEY DIG A SMALL HOLE IN THE GROUND UNTIL THEY FIND THE PIPE. THEY IDENTIFY THE TOP OF THE PIPE, BOTTOM OF THE PIPE, THEN THEY KNOW THE SIZE OF THE PIPE.
THEY IDENTIFY THE MATERIAL OF THE PIPE, THEN THEY DOCUMENT THAT
[INDISCERNIBLE]. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IS THAT THE METHOD WE USE NOW?
>> WE USE MOSTLY A PUBLIC WORKS SIDE, NOT AS MUCH ON UTILITY.
I THINK THE INTENTION IS THEY DO AS MUCH AS WE DO, IF NOT MORE.
AND WE ARE PREPARING TO DO MORE ALSO. >> SAWS NEEDS TO DO MORE
POTHOLEING. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO THE REASON I WAS ASKING THE COUNCILWOMAN IF THAT WAS HER UNDERSTANDING IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS -- BECAUSE WE HAD HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT DIFFERENT INNOVATIONS AND WHAT THEY COULD IDENTIFY WHERE THE UTILITIES WERE AND THAT WOULD -- THAT COULD POTENTIALLY PREVENT A LOT OF THESE ISSUES IF WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO IS THE STUFF THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING, WHAT I WOULD THEN WANT TO KNOW IS SAY FOR ISSUES LIKE NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS WHERE IT HAD TO BE DUG UP MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT WAS NOT EVEN IDENTIFIED WHERE THE UTILITY WAS. WAS THAT OUR FACILITY OR WAS IT THE UTILITY'S FOUGHT? THERE THEY NOT DO THE POTHOLING OR DO WE NOT DO THE POTHOLING?
>> WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WATER OR SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WHEN WE DO A PROJECT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROJECT AND THAT'S WHY IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. WE ALL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT THE PLANS ARE, THAT THE DESIGNS ARE SET, THAT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT GOES WRONG THAT WE'RE ALL OBLIGATED TO EFFICIENTLY RESOLVE TO GET THE PROJECT DONE. AND THE MOU ISN'T GOING TO MANDATE THAT THEY POTHOLE.
IF THERE'S SOME OTHER SORT OF TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY CAN DO THAT IDENTIFIES ACCURATELY WHERE THE UTILITIES ARE AT, FINE. AS LONG AS THE DESIGN IS CORRECT, WE'RE LESS INTERESTED IN -- WE'LL USE POTHOLING TO DO LIKE STORM
[00:40:02]
WATER. IS IT STORM WATER IS A SMALL PART OF THE OVERALL PROJECT, BUT I SUSPECT THAT THERE ARE BETTER TECHNOLOGIES THAT DON'T REQUIRE A POTHOLING, MAYBE NOT SO MANUAL, THEN THE UTILITIES CAN UTILIZE WHATEVER THEY HAVE.>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I HEAR YOU. SECOND ISSUE I THINK I HAVE, BECAUSE I THINK THIS HAS ALSO BEEN SAID SINCE I LAST SPOKE.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CCR AND THE INTENT OF THE CCR IS THOUGH IT IS PRIMARILY ROOTED AND THE FOUNDATION IS THE BOND, BOND PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DELAYED AND HAVE HAD ISSUES AND HAVE LED TO MANY A CLOSED-DOWN BUSINESS.
THE ISSUE IS NOT JUST BOND PROJECTS SO THIS MOU RELATING TO JUST BOND
PROJECTS, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT TO WHERE IT INCLUDES -- >> NO, IT IS ALL CAPITAL PROJECT. DOESN'T MATTER THE COLOR OF MONEY, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
>> SO WE JUST DO IT EVERY FIVE YEARS. IN LINE WITH THE BOND BUT IT
IS NOT JUST FOR BOND PROJECTS. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
INCONVENIENCE FOR PUBLIC DOESN'T MATTER WHAT'S THE FUNDING SOURCE.
EVEN FEDERAL FUND WE'VE GOT TO DO IT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I KNOW THE COUNCILWOMAN HAS ALREADY DONE, BUT I HAD ASKED A QUESTION PERTINENT TO HERS.
IF SHE COULD HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME I WOULD BE HAPPY TO CEDE THAT.
>> COURAGE: DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? >> YEAH.
SO MY QUESTION WAS MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IT'S NOT JUST POTHOLING BECAUSE POTHOLING ALONE HASN'T WORKED. SO MY UNDERSTANDING WAS YOU ALL ARE GOING TO RATE THE PROJECT AND USE -- DETERMINE WHETHER YOU NEEDED TO USE GPR, WHICH IS GROUND PENETRATING RADAR TECHNOLOGY OR THE TECHNOLOGY WHERE YOU FOLLOW THE WIRE, THOSE ARE THE INNOVATIONS THAT I THOUGHT WERE GOING TO BE
INCLUDED IN THAT SUBSURFACE WORK. >> YEAH.
I THINK ALL NECESSARY MEANS IS WHAT WE'LL USE. SPECIFICALLY GPR HELPS FIND VOIDS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY SPECIFIC LOCATIONS OF PIPES, WHICH IS WHY RAZI IS TALKING ABOUT POTHOLING. THERE ARE TRACER TECHNOLOGIES LIKE YOU'RE REFERENCING WHERE YOU CAN OPEN ONE MANHOLE AND OPEN ANOTHER AND SEND A TRACER THROUGH AND YOU CAN KNOW THE EXACT ALIGNMENT OF THE PIPE FROM THAT.
SO THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT EXIST BEYOND POTHOLING. I THINK ALL NECESSARY
TECHNOLOGIES. >> SO WE'RE NOT LIMITING IT TO JUST POTHOLING IS WHAT I
WANT TO CLARIFY. >> NO. WE ARE GOING TO IDENTIFY THAT UTILITY HOWEVER WE MAY. POTHOLING IS EFFECTIVE, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE. THANK YOU.
>> COURAGE: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF MOVING THIS FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ITS APPROVAL FOR THE MOU PLEASE SAY AYE.
THIS IS PASSED FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL. NOW WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 3,.
>> ITEM NUMBER 3 IS A BRIEF OWING A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND MARINA ALDERETE REGARDING A
CITYWIDE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS. >> AND RAZI, YOU'RE
SCHEDULED TO GANDY TALK ABOUT THIS. >> YES, CHAIR.
CCR WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL DISTRICT T AND 7 ON OCTOBER 17TH, 2023.
CCR REQUEST IS TO CONDUCT CITYWIDE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY IF AREAS OF THE CITY THAT EXPERIENCE TRAFFIC-RELATED ISSUE, IDENTIFY LONG-LASTING TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT. CCR WAS PRESENTED TO GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE ON MARCH 20, 2024 AND WAS ASSIGNED TO TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE. TRAFFIC AND GENERAL REQUEST, ANNUALLY WE GET 5,000 TRAFFIC CONSIDER RECEIVED ANNUALLY, 260 TRAFFIC SIGNAL REQUESTS.
2,400 SIGNAL AND MARKINGS REQUEST. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 700 SIGNS AND MARKING BACKLOG. DESIRE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN RESPONSE TO TRAFFIC AND GENERATING REQUESTS. WE ARE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC-RELATED REQUESTS.
DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR WE HEARD FROM YOU AND THE COMMUNITY AND I PRESENT TO YOU IMPROVEMENT IN TRAFFIC-RELATED REQUESTS FOR SPEED HUMP, SPEED SIGN, TRAFFIC SIGNAL. NOW WE ARE WORKING ON PROCESS IMPROVEMENT TO REVIEW TRAFFIC-RELATED REQUESTS QUICKLY. 700 BACKLOG SIGN AND MARKING REQUESTS. PRIORITIZING CRITICAL REQUESTS.
WORKING WITH 311 TO BETTER FILTER REQUESTS TO PREVENT RECEIVING DUPLICATION AND
[00:45:06]
NON-SERVICE-RELATED ISSUE AND INCLUDE ONLINE UPDATE FOR REQUEST.STAPH RECOMMENDATION IS TO PROCEED WITH THE TRAFFIC GENERATION IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THE 2025 BUDGET AND PROVIDE PROGRESS REPORTING DURING FY25 MIDYEAR BRIEFING TO CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS MY PRESENTATION AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND FOLLOWED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER GAVINO. >> I ENJOYED WORKING WITH HER ON THE CCR.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WHEN WE DRAFTED THE CCR WE WERE BOTH HAVING A VARIETY OF TRAFFIC-RELATED CONCERNS IN OUR DISTRICTS AND WE CAME TOGETHER ON WHAT WE BELIEVED TO BE A STRONG PROPOSAL AND IT WAS WITH THE INTENTION TO ALLEVIATE THE DIVERSE TRAFFIC HEADACHES THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS DEAL WITH DAILY. SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO BE THE FASTEST GROWING LARGE CITY IN THE COUNTRY WITH AN ADDITION OF OVER 22,000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR ALONE.
AND THAT'S A THOUSAND MORE CARS AND TRUCKS DRIVING OUR STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN MY DISTRICT WE ALSO HAVE MANY RAILROAD CROSSINGS THAT CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS.
WE HAVE EXPANSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS WHERE TRAFFIC ISSUES HAVE EXPLODED DUE TO LACK OF QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT THIS COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR OFFICES, MY COLLEAGUES' OFFICES AND CITY STAFF, WILL GIVE US A BETTER PICTURE AND ULTIMATELY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT INCLUDES VARIOUS MODES OF TRANSPORTATION TO BETTER ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONCERNS, INCLUDING SPEEDING. I AM A LITTLE IRRITATED BY THE RECOMMENDATION AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS BASICALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, WE APPROVED A BUDGET. LET'S GET A PRESENTATION ON WHAT WE ALREADY APPROVED IN THE BUDGET. AND THEN NOTHING. AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN WHETHER WE HAD FILED A CCR OR NOT. AND WHAT -- WHEN YOU FILE A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST AND YOU'VE STARTED A DISCUSSION LIKE THIS, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS POLICY CHANGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE WAY THAT WE OPERATE AS A CITY. AND CURRENTLY CONSTITUENTS HAVE TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC CALMING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE ARE NOT PROACTIVE AS A CITY IN ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE, WHETHER IT'S SPEEDING, WHETHER IT'S TRAFFIC CONGESTION, WHETHER IT'S ANY OF THESE THINGSMENT AND ONE COULD SAY AND HAS MADE THE CASE COUNTLESS TIMES THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY IMPEDING ON -- AS A CITY WE'RE IMPEDING ON ONE'S ABILITY TO GET TO SCHOOL OR TO WORK. SO THE HOPE WAS THAT BY BEGINNING THIS POLICY DISCUSSION THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO FIX THAT. AND SO THERE'S A FEW COMPONENTS OF THIS THAT I THINK WE COULD ADD BECAUSE IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T SAID. REALLY THE REQUEST WAS NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS PRESENTATION. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT WILL BE A VERY EXPENSIVE EFFORT TO DO A CITYWIDE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS. AND SO WHAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN AND WHAT I WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE AT SOME POINT WOULD BE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO ENDEAVOR TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT -- AT WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHANGES TO THE TRAFFIC-CALMING MEASURE CRITERIA AND THAT PROCESS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH ON THEIR OWN. I'D LOVE TO SEE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT. I'D LOVE TO SEE EVEN IF A CITYWIDE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS IS TOO BIG AND IT'S TOO COSTLY FOR OUR FINANCIAL POSITION RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE WE SAY, HEY, THESE ARE 10 NEIGHBORHOODS, ONE IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT, THAT HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF SPEEDING, CONGESTION OR CALLS FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRAFFIC.
AND WE DO AN ANALYSIS OF THAT ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEN THOSE -- THEN WE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN INFORM THE IMP OR CAN INFORM BOND PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THAT AREA. THAT'S THE INTENTION OF THE CCR AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S BEING MET BY THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION SO I WOULD ASK THAT STAFF COME BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT REQUIRES A SECOND, BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES' FEEDBACK ON THAT. WITH SOME OF THAT ANSWERED. BUT THOSE REMAIN MY CONCERNS. AGAIN, I DO APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND THE WORK THAT WENT INTO WHAT IS HERE TODAY, BUT THERE'S A LOT TO BE DONE RELATED TO THE CCR.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND YES, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR HIS PARTNERSHIP ON THIS. WHEN WE PUSHED THIS CCR, IT WAS BECAUSE SPEEDING AND TRAFFIC CONCERNS ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES NOT ONLY FOR DISTRICT 2 AND DISTRICT 7, BUT FOR ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS.
WHEN WE FILED THE CCR BACK IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, THAT IS STILL ONE OF THE TOP CONCERNS TODAY IS TELLING, THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
[00:50:06]
I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'VE ALLOWED THIS ISSUE TO BUBBLE UP TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE 700 BACKLOGGED STUDIES TO CONDUCT. TO ME PRIOR TO THIS CCR WHYDIDN'T WE PRIORITIZE THIS AS A LARGER PRIORITY BEFORE? >> WE HAVE.
THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS WE ASKED THAT -- START ASKING ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE, COUNCILWOMAN, WE HAVE POSITION IN TRAFFIC ENGINEERING. WE HAVE HARD TIME FILLING THOSE POSITION.
IT'S NOT LACK OF THE POSITION, IT'S ABILITY TO FILL.
THERE'S NOT TOO MANY TRAFFIC ENGINEERS IN SAN ANTONIO OR IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND TO BE VERY FRANK, SOMETIMES WE HAVE A HARD TIME COMPLETING.
NOT JUST WE HAVE HARD TIME FILLING. WE'RE ALSO LOSING SOME OF
THE STUFF WE HAD. >> AND I THINK THAT THAT'S FAIR FEEDBACK.
IF RECRUITING AND PAYING FOR TOP TIER TALENT IS OUR PROBLEM THEN WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ IS OFTEN TIMES ORES RESIDENTS ARE FEELING THEY HAVE TO NAVIGATE AND JUMP AND SCREEN JUST TO GET A SCHOOL TRAFFIC LIGHT FIXED OR A NONEXISTENT CROSSWALK THAT I WILL GO ON THE ROPED AND SAY THAT I SAID FOR A MILLION DOLLARS CITY THE CITY PARKING LOT AND THE WOODLAWN LAKE POOL. THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT AREN'T DONE BECAUSE THEY'RE SITTING ON A BACKLOG SOMEWHERE AND MEANWHILE ALL OF US ARE FIELDING CALLS, MULTIPLE CALLS PROBABLY, ON A DAILY BASIS ABOUT SPEEDING AND OTHER CONCERNS THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED BY TRAFFIC-CALMING MEASURES. SO I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ THAT I'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF STAFF COMING BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES TO TRAFFIC-CALMING MEASURE CRITERIA SO THAT RESIDENTS AREN'T HAVING TO GO THROUGH A FRUSTRATING CYCLE OF TRYING TO CARE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TOO. AS WELL AS BEING -- I'M SUPPORTIVE OF DETERMINING THE COST OF A PILOT PROGRAM TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN TARGET AREAS IN EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS AS WELL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA? >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU.
I'LL TELL YOU YESTERDAY I WAS IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT AND STANDING ON A CORNER WITH A RESIDENT WHO WAS SHOWING ME THE TRAFFIC ISSUES IN THE INTERSECTION THAT ABUTS HIS PROPERTY. AND IT WAS -- HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS INTERSECTION, BUT ALSO SAID, YOU KNOW, OVER THERE TWO BLOCKS THAT WAY THIS IS HAPPENING, FOUR BLOCKS THAT WAY THIS IS HAPPENING. AND I THINK IT'S VERY TIMELY THAT I WAS TALKING WITH HIM YESTERDAY BECAUSE TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY A PILOT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, NOT JUST THIS INTERSECTION OR THAT ROAD. I WILL SAY TOO SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ABOUT -- NOT SPECIFICALLY. HE DIDN'T SAY IT IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE CRITERIA, BUT HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO GET SOMETHING APPROVED. SO I THINK THAT BOTH OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BROUGHT UP WHO AUTHORED THE CCR, TO ME I SAW THEM IN FULL EFFECT YESTERDAY IN LIVE REALTIME. SO I LOVE THE IDEA OF A PILOT THAT'S LOOKING AT AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AS FAR AS TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC STUDY, AND THEN -- WE JUST HAVE TO ADJUST EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE.
AS OUR CITY GROWS IT'S MAYBE TIME TO LOOK AT ESTABLISHING UPDATED CRITERIA FOR THE -- THE TRAFFIC-CALMING MEASUREMENTS. I WANT TO ALSO BRING UP JUST VERY QUICKLY THE 311 ON SLIDE 4, YOU MENTION WORKING WITH 311 TO BETTER FILTER REQUESTS. IS THERE -- DO YOU HAVE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THAT? >> I CAN HELP WITH AN EXAMPLE, COUNCILWOMAN.
WHEN A TXDOT ROAD IS CALLED IN, INSTEAD OF THAT BEING SENT TO RAZI'S ENGINEERING TEAM, IT COULD BE FELTERED OUT VERY CLEARLY AND SENT TO TXDOT, RATHER THAN RAZI'S TEAM HAVING TO CLARIFY AND SEND TO TXDOT. SO THOSE SIMPLE INITIAL SORT OF TRIAGING OF THE REQUESTS AND FIGURING OUT OKAY, THIS IS NOT A CITY ROAD.
>> HAVRDA: I HAVE A LOT OF OCCASION TO BE IN THE SAME SPACES WITH THE TXDOT ENGINEER. OUR DISTRICT ENGINEER FROM MPO.
AND I THINK ALSO JUST -- BUT I LOVE THE IDEA BECAUSE IT'S BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH TXDOT I THINK ON THE WHOLE, EVEN IN REGARDS TO OUR LAST CCR DISCUSSION IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THE -- AND I GO BACK TO I KNOW WE'VE SORT OF BEAT THIS DEAD HORSE AT THE BUDGET TIME, BUT THE 311 PROCESS HAS BEEN LACKING.
[00:55:01]
A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE APP, ABOUT CLOSING REQUESTS.SO THIS LAST PART OF APPROVING UPDATES TO REQUESTERS I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL. AND THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT. ANOTHER THING YOU MENTIONED, RAZI, ONE THING I SAW RECENTLY IS THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY MAKING -- THEY'RE LIKE MAKING MAKESHIFT LIGHTING. I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE UNTIL RECENTLY, BUT LIKE HOMEMADE SPEED HUMPS, UNTIL IT'S HAPPENING UNTIL RECENTLY. BUT THEY EVENTUALLY GET BUSTED AND THEY HAVE TO GET -- I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S RESOLVED. THEY HAVE TO GET REMOVED, BUT I THINK THAT'S ALL IN RESPONSE TO US NOT HAVING THIS KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN OR HAVING THE UPDATED CRITERIA. SO THANK YOU.
>> LET ME MENTION A FEW THINGS ABOUT FILTRATION. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE 311 TO DO IT. EARLY MORNING WHEN YOU'RE COMING HOME, LET'S SAYORKING.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SOMETIMES 20 PEOPLE CALL. DEPEND ON THE REPORT, SOME REPORT ON THE MAIN ROAD, SOME ON THE SIDEWALK. WE WANT 311 TO SEND US ONLY ONE, NOT 20. EVEN IF WE SPEND TWO MINUTES ON EACH OF THEM, THAT'S 40 MINUTES LOST TIME. SECONDLY REGARDING THE TRAFFIC STUDY CITYWIDE, TRAFFIC STUDY AS GOOD AS LAND USE. WE DID IT IN 2021 -- IN 2011. WE SPENT A-MILLION-DOLLAR. TODAY'S TRAFFIC IN DOWNTOWN IS NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS IN 2011. SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE.
AND IT IS GOING TO CHANGE FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
IF WE DO TRAFFIC STUDIES CITYWIDE IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY AND WHEN TIME COMES WE ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE REALIZE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS NO LONGER GOOD BECAUSE OF THE LAND USE HAS BEEN CHANGED OR BUILDING APARTMENT, OPENING THE GROCERY STORE, DOING OTHER THINGS. PEOPLE MOVING OUT AND IN. IF THERE IS A NEED WE SHOULD DO CORRIDOR OR NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC STUDY RATHER THAN THE ENTIRE PART OF CITY
SQUARE MILE. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, RAZI.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE ON BOTH, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE 311.
AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.
TWO MINUTES ON THE SAME ISSUE IS WASTED TIME WHEN YOU COULD BE WORKING ON ANOTHER ISSUE. I THINK SEPARATE AND APART FROM THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE I THINK IT'S A BIGGER 311 ISSUE IS WHAT WE HEAR A LOT IS THAT THE REQUESTERS ARE NOT -- IF YOU'RE NUMBER TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, DOWN TO 20, YOU'RE NOT HEARING ANYTHING BACK. WHATEVER HAPPENED, IT JUST GOT CLOSED.
BUT I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. >> COURAGE: COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> WE HEAR YOU, RIGHT? THERE'S CLEARLY A SET OF I WON'T USE THE WORD CORRIDOR, BUT TRAFFIC STUDIES THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN THIS 'HUNDRED NUMBER.
SO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING THOSE DONE OVER THE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO INFORM A LOT OF WHAT'S GOING DONE AND ACCORDING TO THE 311 THAT HAVE HAPPENED. THERE NEEDS TO BE INITIAL REVIEW AND LOOKED AT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THE ACTUAL SEVEN ARE ACTUAL TRAFFIC STUDIES BUT I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST STEP, RIGHT? IF WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TOWARDS A MUCH BIGGER CORRIDOR, CITYWIDE STUDY, WE NEED TO FINISH WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US FIRST. THAT'S THE REASON FOR RAZI'S FOCUS RIGHT NOW.
HAPPY TO COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S WHY HE'S FOCUSED.
>> I THINK WE CAN -- OH, THAT WAS REALLY LOUD. [LAUGHTER].
SORRY. THANKS, CHAIR. I THINK WE CAN DO BOTH AND.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A BACKLOG AND I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE ADDRESSING THAT BECAUSE I 100% AGREE, WE ARE LITERALLY WORKING RIGHT NOW IN OUR OFFICE TO INDIVIDUALLY GO OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER 60 REQUESTS FROM INDIVIDUAL CALL-INS.
INTERNS FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS GOING OUT TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE STREETS TO BLOCK WALK. AND THANKFULLY YOU ALL ARE GOING TO ACCEPT ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES NOW SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO LEAVE DOOR HANGERS WITH CODES.
BUT I'M LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO GET AN ADDITIONAL -- >> 51%, COUNCILWOMAN.
>> 51%. BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET THOSE SIGNATURES, WHICH I'M ASSUMING NOW WE WILL IF THEY'RE ABLE TO SEND THEM ELECTRONICALLY, THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF SURVEYS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE BACKLOG AS WELL. SO THAT BEING SAID, AT LEAST THEY FEEL LIKE THERE'S PROGRESS BEING MADE, RIGHT? SO WE GET THIS ALL THE TIME. THERE'S ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN AT STOP SIGNS AND FOLKS FEEL LIKE BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING AN ACCIDENT THEY WANT SPEED HUMPS OR THEY WANT LIGHTS. AND THERE'S RULES TO WHEN YOU CAN PUT ONE ON AND WHEN YOU CAN'T, BUT OUR RESIDENTS DON'T GET THAT.
ALL THEY SEE IS PEOPLE SPEEDING ACROSS. AND WHEN YOU'RE EXPANDING IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE IT FEELS LIKE PEOPLE ARE GOING A LOT FASTER THAN SOMETIMES THEY
[01:00:01]
ARE TOO. SO THERE'S SO MANY COMPONENTS TO THIS.BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE THING THAT I KEEP COMING BACK TO IS THE STREET LIGHT STUDY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ PUSHED WHEN HE FIRST GOT HERE AND HOW HELPFUL THAT HAS BEEN TO CREATE A PLAN FOR HOW TO FUND THAT, RIGHT? WE REALIZED THERE WAS A LOT OF GAPS WITH THAT STUDY. AND WE, ALBEIT SLOWLY, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THE STREET LIGHTS AND NOW WITH THE PLAN WITH CPS I FEEL LIKE WE CAN MOVE ON THAT. I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE A SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE IF WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT EVEN JUST WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO DO AN ANALYSIS, LIKE HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST? WHAT IF WE JUST BID THIS OUT TO PAVE DAWSON AND SEE WHAT THEY CAME BACK WITH AND WHAT IT COST, SO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OR HOW WE COULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, EVEN IF IT'S JUST WITHIN THE URBAN CORE WITHIN 410. I KNOW THAT'S WHERE THE MOST ARE FOR OUR DISTRICT. BUT ANYWAYS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE'S A BACKLOG AND WORKING ON THAT.
I DO THINK THAT WE CAN TRY TO DO MORE WITH EITHER -- WITH MORE WITH WHAT IT WOULD
LOOK LIKE TO DO AN OVERALL STUDY. >> IT'S A POSITIVE THING.
PART OF THE '25 BUDGET WE HAVE MONEY TO DO RADAR SPEED DETECTOR.
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM ON ANY ROADWAY, LET US TO INSTALL THAT ONE THAT DOCUMENTS HOW PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING. I HAVE REVIEWED THOSE DOCUMENTS.
IT SHOWS HOW MANY IS BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT, HOW MANY ABOVE AND WHAT'S THE SPEED LIMIT. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, I HAVE SEEN OF THE ROADWAYS, PEOPLE ARE DRIVING PROBABLY 45 MILES PER HOUR. WE HAVE A -- A TRAFFIC STUDY CAN CAPTURE ANY MONTH OR DAY OF THE WEEK HOW TRAFFIC IS MOVING ON THAT PARTICULAR
ROADWAY. >> KAUR: SO I GUESS MY RESPONSE WOULD BE LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT IS PLAN LOOKS LIKE TO -- TO MOVE THAT RADAR ON A WEEKLY BASIS OR A MONTHLY BASIS AND COLLECT DATA ACROSS SOME OF THE MAJOR ARTERIES AND
STREETS THAT FOLKS HAVE ISSUES ON? >> THAT'S A CHALLENGE.
IT [INDISCERNIBLE] FOUNDATION AND POWER IS NOT THAT CAN PICK IT UP AND GO
SOMEPLACE ELSE. >> ALL RIGHT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> AND COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE, IF I MAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
YOU KNOW WHAT COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR'S COMMENTS REMINDED ME OF IS OFTEN THE FRUSTRATION WITH WORKING -- LET ME BACK UP AND SAY THAT PUBLIC WORKS, Y'ALL ARE GREAT PARTNERS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER AND ADDRESSING OUR RESIDENT CONCERNS. SOMETIMES, AND THIS IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOU ALL, I FEEL THAT WE'RE ATTACKING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN WE END UP WITH BACK LOGS LIKE WE'RE SEEING ON THE PRESENTATION. WHEREAS I FEEL THAT IF WE TAKE A STEP BACK, YOU KNOW, AT THE 50,000-FOOT LEVEL AND SAY WHAT ARE WE DOING, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO LIKE --.
THANK YOU. WE WERE JUST TRYING TO SOLVE ALL THESE LITTLE PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF TAKING A STEP BACK AND TRYING TO SOLVE THE BIGGER PROBLEM, THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. AND SO THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I ARE REALLY ASKING FOR THOSE STUDIES BECAUSE IF WE'RE LOOKING AT TARGET AREAS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE 10 DISTRICTS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH FINDINGS THAT SAY, HEY, WE'RE ALL GOING TO DRIVE OURSELVES NUTS TRYING TO SOLVE THESE INDIVIDUAL CONCERNS. MAYBE LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK AND SEE WHAT COULD WE DO HOLISTICALLY AT THE CITYWIDE LEVEL THAT MIGHT BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE? ONE OF THE THINGS LIKE MY TEAM AND I ARE REALLY DIGGING IN ON IS WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS? RIGHT? AND SURE, WE'RE GOING TO GET MET WITH OH, IT'S GOING TO BE SO EXPENSIVE AND THE SIGNS AND THE THIS AND THAT.
WE'RE GETTING THAT WITH ALL THE REASONS WHY -- ALL THE REASONS NOT TO DO THAT.
BUT TO US IF IT MAKES MORE SENSE AND IT'S MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER AND IT SAVES RESIDENTS, THEN IT'S WORTH THAT FIGHT. SO THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT THE STUDIES AND ALL THE STEP BACK AND SEE WHAT IS NEEDED CITYWIDE
HOLISTICALLY. THANK YOU. >> COURAGE: RAZI, WHY ARE
THE SPEED LIMITS SAID THE WAY THEY ARE? >> IT'S DONE BY STATE, COUNCILMAN. IF WE CHANGE ONE WE HAVE TO PUT SIGN ON THE BEGINNING OF THE ROADWAY AND THE [INDISCERNIBLE] OF THE ROADWAY.
AND YOU KNOW SOME PLACES IN THE CITY LIMIT, OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMIT, THEY HAVE DONE IT. WE DID REQUEST TWO YEARS AGO AND THE STATE DIDN'T CHANGE
IT. >> COURAGE: RIGHT. AND I THINK THE REAL PROBLEM WE'RE FACING IS EVERYBODY IS SPEEDING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO PUT UP MORE SIGNS AND MORE CROSSWALKS AND MORE WHATEVER, AND LOOK FOR KEY AREAS WHERE THE TRAFFIC'S CONGESTED. PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING.
[01:05:02]
WHAT WE DON'T DO IS ENFORCEMENT. AND THAT IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DRIVE AS FAST AS THEY WANT, WHENEVER THEY WANT AND NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT OF OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE. SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SPEND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PUT UP MORE SIGNS OR TO MAKE A STREET WIDER OR TO GO AHEAD AND PUT A LIGHT, BUT WE NEED TO START SPENDING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM ACCEPT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, AND THAT MEANS ENFORCEMENT OF THE CURRENT EXISTING TRAFFIC LAWS IN THE CITY AND THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY SAVE US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND HOW INCUMBENT IS IT UPON THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO REMIND PEOPLE IN THIS CITY ABOUT IF THEY WANT TO SAVE LIVES, THEN EVERYBODY NEEDS TOCONTRIBUTE TO DRIVING SAFELY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE BIGGER PICTURE PART OF THIS THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED EARLIER. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SIGNS, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MARKINGS. IT IS -- SOMETIMES IT'S THE WAY THE ROADS ARE DESIGNED THAT LEND THEMSELVES TO SPEEDING.
AND MAYBE THAT'S -- MAYBE WHAT WE GET OUT OF THIS, RIGHT, IS IF WE WERE TO DO -- LOOK AT AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT. LET'S LOOK AT GOVERNMENT HILL, LET'S LOOK SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA. AND WE DETERMINED HEY, THE ROADS ARE REALLY WIDE AND IT MAKES IT EASY TO JUST SPEED THROUGH.
WHEN YOU NARROW ROADS, YOU CAN FIT THE SAME NUMBER OF CARS, BUT IT MAKES PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT MORE NERVOUS TO SPEED. MAYBE THAT INFORMS THE -- MAYBE THAT INFORMS OUR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ON THE IMP AND IN THE BOND.
MAYBE WE LOOK AT -- I'LL SHIFT A LITTLE BIT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS, STAYING ON THE TOPIC OF LIKE DESIGN OF ROADS, I DO THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF ROADS IN THE CITY THAT JUST ARE NOT WELL DESIGNED AND I KNOW IT'S NOT --N THE ROAD 200 YEARS AGO. [LAUGHTER]. BUT WE LOOK AT -- WE LOOK AT --O INTERSECTIONS, EISENHOWER AND AUSTIN HIGHWAY, WHEN WHY WHEN YOU'RE TURNING ON EISENHOWER FROM AUSTIN HIGHWAY IT'S SO WIDE YOU'RE GOING INTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, PAST THE POINT WHERE YOU SHOULD STOP BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE TURNING LANE BECAUSE IT FEELS TO AWKWARD TO TURN RIGHT FROM SO FAR AWAY OR IF YOU GO INTO THE SHOULDER. AND MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING INTO THE SHOULDER NEXT TO THE CURB WHICH IS NOT SAFE. WHY IS IT THAT WE'VE NEVER FIXED THAT. THE EAST COMMERCE AND MONUMENTAL, THERE'S A BUSINESS AT THE CORNER AND IT'S AN AREA WHERE THERE'S A LITTLE PAINTED -- THERE'S A LITTLE PAINTED TRIANGLE THAT INDICATES THAT PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TURNING RIGHT WHILE OTHERS ARE CONTINUING TO TURN STRAIGHT AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IS DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THIS BUSINESS AND IT'S HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND I'M HAVING TO USE NAMP DOLLARS TO ADDRESS THAT. THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED. IF IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR DRIVERS TO BE DRIVING A
CONCERN CERTAIN WAY, WHY ARE ROADS BUILT LIKE THAT. >>
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AUSTIN HIGHWAY AND EISENHOWER, EAST COMMERCE AND -- THEY'RE OURS. BUT IT THAT'S A BIGGER ISSUE.
BECAUSE YOU CAN DRIVE IN ANY PART OF THE CITY AND IF FEELS DIFFERENT.
I WAS SAYING EARLIER WE WERE DRIVING OUT TO THE FIRE TRAINING ACADEMY.
I HATE DRIVING TO THE WESTSIDE BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHERE I DRIVE. [LAUGHTER] IT'S JUST VERY DIFFERENT TO NAVIGATE.
SO WHY DO WE NOT DO THINGS THAT FEEL INTUITIVE. AND IF WE HAVE TO FIX ISSUES OR WE HAVE TO -- IF, SAY, I HAVE 200 REQUESTS, IF SOMEBODY FILLS OUT A THING, THEY DO THE TRAFFIC-CALMING FORM, IT GOES TO PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC WORKS SAYS, YEP, YOU'RE RIGHT, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR IT, CITY COUNCILMEMBER, DO YOU WANT TO USE YOUR -- ONE OF YOUR SIX PROJECTS, ONE OF YOUR EIGHT PROJECTS FOR THIS? AND IF I HAVE 200 REQUESTS I'M NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL WE NEED TO DO. SO IT WILL EITHER BE ABOUT FINDING A BUCKET OF MONEY THAT CAN BE USED TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS OUTSIDE OF THE EIGHT THAT WE CAN USE FOR NAMP BECAUSE $200,000 IS GREAT. I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THE TYPES OF REQUESTS THAT WE'RE GETTING FOR SIDEWALKS AND SPEED HUMPS MEDIANS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. THEY'RE JUST -- THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ENTIRE REWORKING OF THE SYSTEM AND THE HOPE IS THAT WE START OFF HERE.
IF WE CANNOT DO TO DO SECTIONS OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH ARE JUST MICROCITIES, THEN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LOVELY TO HAVE SEEN AS THE RECOMMENDATION. AND SO THE BROADER ISSUE AND THE BROADER CONCERN THAT I WANT TO RAISE TO OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM IS THAT WHEN WE FILE CCRS WE WANT A LITTLE BIT OF CREATIVITY AND THOUGHT TO GO
[01:10:06]
INTO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT COMES BEFORE US BECAUSE TELLING ME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PRESENT WHATEVER YOU ALREADY APPROVED IN THE BUDGET AT THE MIDYEAR BUDGET, IT WAS ALREADY GOING TO HAPPEN. IF NOT FOR THE CCR, THAT WOULD STILL HAPPEN. SO THAT'S THE CONCERN. I'M HOPEFUL THAT Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ENOUGH CONSENSUS FROM THE GROUP HERE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT A PILOT PROGRAM WOULD LOOK LIKE. WE'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR CHANGE IN CRITERIA FOR THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION FOR OUR CONSTITUENCY, BUT I THINK BROADLY THERE'S A -- I HOPE YOU SENSE THE FRUSTRATION IN NOT JUST THE CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM, BUT IT'S OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR I WILL END IT ON THAT NOTE.THANK YOU. >> COURAGE: ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> HAVRDA: I APPRECIATE WHAT BOTH COUNCILMEMBERS ARE MENTIONING.
AND STANDING ON THAT GENTLEMAN'S LOT YESTERDAY, WE TALKED ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT MONITORS, THE ONES WHEN YOU DRIVE BY IT TELLS YOU HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, AND THERE'S DEFINITELY LIKE A PSYCHOLOGY TO DRIVING. THAT MONITOR DOES NOTHING TO YOU. BUT WHEN PEOPLE SEE THE FLASHING LIGHT, THEY SLOW DOWN WITH IT. THERE'S A PSYCHOLOGY TO DRIVING AND I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, THE NARROW ROADS MAKE YOU MORE CAUTIOUS.
HAVE WE EVER LOOKED INTO THAT? I'M SURE THERE ARE STUDIES OUT THERE ABOUT THAT -- THOSE ARE MY WORDS, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DRIVING AND WHAT WORKS WITHOUT ACTUALLY MAKING INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES NECESSARILY.
>> ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILWOMAN. THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF METHODS USED TO CREATE FRICTION. IT'S WHAT SLOWS YOU DOWN WHETHER THAT BE A MEDIAN, PARKED CAR, A SIGN, A VISUAL NARROWING OF THE ROAD EVEN THOUGH MAYBE THE ROAD IS NOT NARROWED ROAD. RAZI'S TEAM IS A MASTER OF THAT, THEY DO IT WHEN THEY HAVE THE FUNDING. THEY ARE INTERESTED IN US HAVING A SAFE NETWORK OF ROADS FOR BOTH PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS AND VEHICLE DRIVERS.
THAT'S THEIR CORE OF WHAT THEY DO. AND THEY DO REALLY GOOD WORK. THEY HAVE LIMITATIONS, RIGHT? BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT THEY WORK HARD TO PROTECT SAN ANTONIO UNDER THE RULES
AND SORT OF ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY ARE IN. >> HOSSEINI: COUNCILWOMAN, CERTAIN ROADWAY WE BUILD ON BOTH SIDES. FIRST OF ALL TO NOT ELIMINATE ON THE STREET PARKING. IF YOU MAKE ROAD TOO NARROW, THEN YOU ELIMINATE PARKING, THEN YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO PARK ON THE ROADWAY. WITH THIS WE STILL SAVE THE ON THE STREET PARKING, BUT IT FEELS NARROW. THERE'S LIMITED ENGINEERING FOR PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR.
I HAVE SEEN THIS, PEOPLE COME STRESSED, EXIT, GOES OVER SPEED BUMP.
IT IS REALLY HARD TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S TALENTS. >> HAVRDA: YOU SEE A SPEED HUMP AND THERE'S A LITTLE ROOM TO THE LEFT AND SLOW DOWN INSTEAD OF JUST GOING OVER IT. YEAH, I MEAN WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
IT WOULD BE -- AND I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF IT IS FUNDING, BUT I APPRECIATE
THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. >> COURAGE: I THINK THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT LOOKING AT TARGETED AREAS TO DO AN ACTUAL STUDY.
AND YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT MAYBE MAKING A MOTION, BUT YOU WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOUR COUNTER PART ON THIS. I DON'T HEAR ANY RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS COMMITTEE ON ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK US TO MOVE FORWARD ON.
THE PRESENTATION WE DO HAVE SAYS THAT THEY WANT TO IMPLEMENT THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BUDGETED FIRST TO SEE IF THEY ARE GOING TO WORK, BUT I THINK IT REALLY TAKES MORE THAN THAT. SO WHAT'S THE CONSENSUS OR WHATEVER THE IDEA?
COUNCILMAN? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO WHAT I WOULD REQUEST IS STAFF COME BACK WITH AN ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION OR AT LEAST PRESENT THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD REQUESTED, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO DO CITYWIDE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO DO MAYBE TEN NEIGHBORHOODS, THE FULL BOUNDARIES OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, TRAFFIC ANALYSES.
[01:15:01]
AND THEN SOME POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO EITHER CODE OR TO THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION REQUEST SYSTEM AND THAT YOU DO THAT BY JANUARY.>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: MOVE TO DO THAT. >> I'LL SECOND IT.
>> COURAGE: NOW YOU ARE SAYING WE WANT WANT THE RESPONSE BY JANUARY WHICH --
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AND I'LL SAY A PART OF -- SO ONE OTHER THING ABOUT CCRS IS THAT WE RECOGNIZE THEY TAKE A WHILE. THIS ONE HAS TAKEN OVER A YEAR AT THIS POINT. THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE WHEN WE ASK EVERY YEAR FOR BUDGET, WE ASK EVERY DEPARTMENT WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL. WE DO A CCR, IT'S HEY, WE REALLYMENT TO COST THIS, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST. IF COUNCIL DECIDES IT'S A PRIORITY, IDEALLY WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT TOO HARD. WE ARE TACKING ABOUT HOW TO -- TALKING ABOUT HOW TO FUND SOMETHING AT A LATER DATE.
IDEALLY BY JANUARY IT COULD BE PRESENTED AND MAYBE THAT'S EITHER SOMETHING --
THOSE ARE SOMETHING WE CAN EITHER FUND OR DO -- >> COURAGE: IF WE GIVE IT A TIME FRAME, 90 DAYS, WHICH WOULD BE THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SOUNDS FAIR TO ME. >> HOSSEINI: IF THE IDEA IS TO PROVIDE THE ESTIMATE FOR TEN NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY, EITHER YOU PROVIDE US THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU LIKE OR WE CAN PROVIDE YOU THE RECOMMENDATION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE ARE GOING TO STUDY RATHER THAN US PICKING UP AND THAT'S NOT THE ONES I HAVE ISSUE WITH.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WHAT WOULD MAYBE BE HELPFUL IF YOU LOOKED AT -- THERE'S A NUMBER OF CRITERIA WE USE FOR THE LIGHTING INDEX ALREADY, SCHOOL ZONE, AREAS WITH SCHOOLS, AREAS WHERE WE GET HIGH NUMBER OF CITATIONS OR TRAFFIC-RELATED CONCERNS, CALLS. IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY A NEIGHBORHOOD IN EACH
DISTRICT AND SEE IF THAT COUNCIL APPROVES THAT. >> HOSSEINI: LAST TIME WE SENT YOU FOR THE LOCATIONS, WHY NOT WE PROVIDE YOU THE LIST, NUMBER OF THEM, YOU PICK IT AND WE WORK WITH OUR CONSULTING TO GET PRICE. WHEN WE COME JANUARY, WE IDENTIFY THIS IS THE LOCATION AND THE COST AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SO MUCH
TIME TO DO IT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR THE ANALYSIS.
>> HOSSEINI: CORRECT. >> COURAGE: THAT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOT A GENERAL AGREEMENT ON THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, IT'S BEEN SECONDED.
WE'VE LOST ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, BUT I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH OF US.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE MOTION 1 APPROVED AND WE'LL HEAR AGAIN FROM ROZY IN 90 DAYS ABOUT THIS ONE.
OKAY. WE HAVE A FOURTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA, MADAM CLERK COULD
YOU READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE PEER-TO-PEER AGREEMENT FOR VEHICLE SHARING SERVICES OPERATORS AT THE SAN ANTONIO
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.
>> I HOPE WHAT EVERYONE IS CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT PEER-TO-PEER IS ABOUT.
RYAN ROCHA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS FACILITIES AT THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. TODAY IS A PROPOSED AGREEMENT TO AUTHORIZE PEER-TO-PEER OPERATORS THE PRIVILEGE TO OPERATE AT THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND AUTHORIZATION TO COLLECT THE PRIVILEGE FEES.
WITH ME TODAY I HAVE A GUEST, AARON, HE IS WITH THE LARGEST PEER-TO-PEER OPERATOR IN THE UNITED STATES, SO HE'S JOINING US TODAY.
JUST AS A BACKGROUND, 130 COMMERCIAL AIRPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES ALREADY HAVE A PEER TO PEE AGREEMENT. EIGHT RE-- MIRROR TO MIRROR AGREEMENT.
PEER TO MIRROR. OUR GOAL IS GET AN AGREEMENT SIMILAR WITH OUR PEER AIRPORTS. YOU ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR AT THE AIRPORT OF OUR TAXIS, OUR LIMOS AND HOTEL SHUTTLES. THOSE ARE GROUND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS WE HAVE TODAY. WE HAVE PERMITS FOR TAXIS AND LIMOUSINE SERVICES AND WE HAVE AGREEMENTS AS YOU MAY RECALL WITH RIDE SHARE COMPANIES, THE T NC AND HUEBER AND LYFT. THIS NEW MODEL IS IN HIGH DEMAND AND THAT'S KNOWN AS THE PEER-TO-PEER. CURRENTLY SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT DOES NOT HAVE A SIGNED AGREEMENT FOR PEER-TO-PEER OPERATORS AND DON'T HAVE ANY TYPE OF DATA WE COLLECT NOR DO WE COLLECT ANY PRIVILEGE FEES.
SO WHAT IS A PEER-TO-PEER? IT SIMPLY IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RENTS OUT A PERSONAL
[01:20:09]
VEHICLE TO OTHERS. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO AN AIRBNB.IT'S VERY POPULAR SERVICE BECAUSE UNLIKE A TYPICAL RENTAL CAR, THE PEER-TO-PEER PLATFORM HAS CARS THAT ARE EXOTIC CARS, CLASSIC CARS AND THEY CAN BE YOUR STANDARD EVERYDAY TYPE OF GENERIC VEHICLE. IT PROVIDES A LOT MORE OPTIONS TO OUR CUSTOMERS THAN THE TRADITIONAL RECOMMEND CAR COMPANY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE -- RENTAL CAR COMPANY. IF YOU HAVE A CAR YOU WOULD LIKE TO RENT OUT TO SOMEONE AND YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO WANTS TO RENT A VEHICLE, THE PEER-TO-PEER PLATFORM IS A PLACE TO FACILITATE THAT EXCHANGE.
YOUR INFORMATION AS AN OWNER WOULD GO INTO THE PLATFORM, LIKEWISE THE RENTER WOULD PUT THEIR INFORMATION ON THE PLATFORM. THIS ACTIVITY HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN OUR AIRPORT WHERE AN OWNER AND A RENTER MEET UP AND EXCHANGE VEHICLES.
IT'S PRETTY COMMON THAT YOU SEE THAT IN OUR AIRPORT PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY.
THE PLATFORM WHICH YOU WOULD EXCHANGE IS OWNED BY A PEER-TO-PEER COMPANY, AND AGAIN, THE VEHICLE OWNER HAS ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO PUT IN THERE AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE RENTER. THESE EXCHANGES FOR THE CARS TAKE PLACE IN OUR GARAGES AND IN OUR SURFACE LOTS. THAT'S THE MOST COUNCILMAN AREA YOU SEE THESE TYPE OF EXCHANGES. THE MONTHS RECOGNIZED PEER-TO-PEER OPERATOR 1TURO, T-U-R-O. ON ANY GIVEN DAY IF YOU LOOK ON THEIR WEBSITE YOU CAN SEE UP TO 200 CARS AVAILABLE ON THEIR SITE. THE AGREEMENT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN WITH TURO.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER AIRPORTS. THE TERM IS ONE YEAR WITH TWO ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS. THE PRIVILEGE FEE IS THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD PAY 10% OF THE GROSS RECEIPTS -- I'M SORRY, THAT'S THE PEER-TO-PEER COMPANY WOULD PAY 10% OF GROSS RECEIPTS, AND ALSO DAY TO DAY THE VEHICLE DRIVER PAYS ALREADY THE POSTED PARKING FEE.
WHATEVER THE POSTED IN THE GARAGE OR SURFACE LOTS, THAT'S THE FEE THEY ARE CURRENTLY PAYING. SO WE'RE NOT COLLECTING DATA AND WE'RE NOT COLLECTING THE PRIVILEGE FEE. OTHER TERMS IN THE AGREEMENT ARE MONTHLY DATA REPORTING WHICH IS WHAT WE DO GET RIGHT NOW. THEN WE DO HAVE A PROVISION IN THERE FOR -- THAT ANY TIME WE NEED TO CHANGE THOSE LOCATIONS FOR PICKUP WE CAN DO SO. THE REASON WE PUT THAT IN THERE IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE TERMINAL BUILDING THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO INSPECT ALL OF THE VEHICLES THROUGH OUR PUBLIC ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT ANY TIME, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PROVIDED IN THE AGREEMENT. AND ANY TIME THE DRIVER OR THE OWNER VIOLATES ANY PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT THERE ARE PENALTIES UP TO DEPLATFORMING FROM THE PEER-TO-PEER EXCHANGE. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY
PRESENTATION. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY.
WHY HAS IT TAKEN TWO YEARS TO DEVELOPMENT AN AGREEMENT? >> YEAH, IT DOES TAKE A WHILE TO DO THIS. WE STARTED ON THIS INITIALLY TWO YEARS AGO AND WHAT WE CAME ACROSS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH THE PEER-TO-PEER, WITH A LOT OF AIRPORTS WE HAVE THOSE CHALLENGES. EARLY WE HAD TO ISSUE A CEASE AND DESIST AND THAT WAS NATIONWIDE. THE OPERATORS DID ESTABLISH AN AIRPORT REPRESENTATIVE LIKE WE HAVE HERE TODAY TO WORK WITH PEER AIRPORTS AND IT WAS A LOT EASIER NOW TO GET THESE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE.
>> COURAGE: HOW MANY COMPANIES ARE WE CONSIDERING BEING PART OF THIS PROGRAM?
>> THERE ARE CURRENTLY FIVE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE WELL RECOGNIZED.
SOME OF THEM ONLY OPERATE IN 30 DAYS, SOME ONLY OPERATE IN ONE STATE LIKE THE STATE OF COLORADO. ANOTHER ONE IS JUST FOCUSED ON OUTDOOR, ONE CALLED OUTDOORSY THAT FOCUSES ON RV'S AND EQUIPMENT. TURO IS THE PRIMARY EXCHANGE
[01:25:03]
FOR THIS TYPE OF OPERATION. >> COURAGE: WELL, MAYBE IT'S AN UNFAIR COMPARISON, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN WE OPENED THE DOORS FOR SCOOTERS, WE HAD TEN DIFFERENT SCOOTER COMPANIES OVER TIME. EVENTUALLY A LOT OF THEM DIED AND FELL OFF THE SIDE AND NOW WE'VE GOT TWO. IS THERE A WAY FOR COUNCIL
TO LIMIT TO X AMOUNT OF COMPANIES PARTICIPATING? >> YOU CAN LIMIT TO WHOEVER YOU WANT TO. I THINK THAT'S DRIVING THIS IS DEMAND BY THE CUSTOMER.
TURO IS THE PREFERRED PLATFORM THAT CUSTOMERS ARE USING AT THIS TIME.
>> COURAGE: WHO IS GOING TO REGULATE THE VEHICLES? YOU MENTION THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WOULD INSPECT THEM. WHAT HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE REGULAR OPERATIONS? >> IN THE AGREEMENT WE PUT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ABOUT THINGS WE WOULD REGULATE IN THAT, VEHICLE CLEANS. BUT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AT THE AIRPORT WE HAVE OUR TEAM OF PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT CAN INSPECT
VEHICLES IF NEEDED. >> COURAGE: WHAT ABOUT DRIVERS? BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO DRIVE THEM OVER THERE AND LEAVE THEM, SO I GUESS IS THERE ANY REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT ON THAT PART OF THE OPERATION?
>> SO WHOEVER IS USING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME, BUT THE VEHICLE I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DRIVER HIMSELF OR HERSELF. I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DRIVER, BUT IT'S THE VEHICLE ITSELF. MAKING SURE THAT IT MEETS
THE CRITERIA WE SET OUT IN THE AGREEMENT. >> COURAGE: SO WHAT IS THE
AIRPORT'S LIABILITY? >> SURE -- >> COURAGE: THE POSSIBLE
LIABILITIES. >> THE LIABILITY IS PUT BACK ON TO TO VEHICLE CHANGE, WHICH IS THE PEER-TO-PEER. THAT'S IN THE AGREEMENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES INTO THE AIRPORT, IT STILL UNDER THE PLATFORM, THEY ASSUME ALL LIABILITY AND THEN WHEN THE DRIVER GETS IN THE VEHICLE, ONCE OUT OF AIRPORT PROPERTY, IT GOES ON THEIR OWN INSURANCE. THE AIRPORT DOESN'T HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR THAT ACTIVITY
TAKING PLACE IN OUR PROPERTY. >> COURAGE: WELL, I DON'T KNOW, IF THEY ARE ON AIRPORT PROPERTY AND THERE'S AN ACCIDENT, THE CITY MUST HAVE SOME LIABILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING IN THE PARKING GARAGE OR A GATE OPENED OR CLOSED WRONGLY. I ASSUME WE HAVE SOME
LIABILITY IF IT'S ON THE AIRPORT PROPERTY. >> INFRASTRUCTURE OR LIGHT OUT, SURE, THAT'S AIRPORT PROPERTY. SPECIFICALLY TO THE VEHICLE IF THAT DRIVER HAS AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, THAT'S ON THE
PLATFORM EXCHANGE AND THE DRIVER OF THAT VEHICLE. >> COURAGE: THE 19 WOULD BE SIMILAR. THE CITY WOULD NOT -- THE CITY.
>> NOT IN THE CASE OF A DRIVER IN RENTING A CAR. THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT
WITH THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT OR CITY. >> COURAGE: WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD IN THE WAY OF NEGATIVES FROM SOME OTHER AIRPORTS THAT HAVE THESE, RUN INTO PROBLEMS TO MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR REGULATIONS ON, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD
ABOUT THOSE THINGS? >> I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING NEGATIVE.
THE CHALLENGE IS AIRPORT HAVE, THERE'S TWO TYPES OF SYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO THE VEHICLE EXCHANGE. YOU CAN HAVE AN OPEN PARKING SYSTEM OR A CLOSED PARKING SYSTEM. WE'RE GOING FOR THE OPEN PARKING SYSTEM, YOU CAN PARK IN THE LONG-TERM GARAGE, SHORT-TERM GARAGE AND THE SURFACE LOT.
LET THE DRIVER AND OWNER ARRANGE WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO PICK UP A VEHICLE.
IT'S EASIER. IN A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT, LET'S SAY A AIRPORT SAYS THESE 20 SPOTS ARE FOR THE PEER-TO-PEER TO HAPPEN, WHAT THEY'VE REALIZED IS NOW THEY HAVE DEMAND FOR 30 OR 40 CARS AND NOW THEY'VE -- DON'T HAVE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT THEY ORIGINALLY INTENDED AND THAT'S BECOME A CHALLENGE FOR AIRPORTS.
SO YOU SEE A LOT OF THEM LIKE US WE'RE GOING TO THE OPEN SYSTEM.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. NOW, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES SHORT TERM AND DROPS SOMEBODY OFF, GOES OVER WITH THEM, THEY PAY A CERTAIN FEE FOR PARKING SHORT TERM.
THESE VEHICLES, ONE OR TWO MAY BE THERE ALL DAY, HOW DO WE MANAGE THEIR COSTS FOR
PARKING IN A CITY OR AIRPORT PARKING SPOT? >> RIGHT.
SO ANY VEHICLE THAT PARKS IN ANY ONE OF THE LOTS IS CHARGED THE NORMAL RATE AS ANY OTHER CUSTOMER WHO WOULD COME IN. THERE'S NO DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE RATE THAT PERSON DRIVES. IF YOU ARE THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND YOU COME INTO THE SHORT-TERM GARAGE AND LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE THERE FOUR OR FIVE HOURS, THE DRIVER COMES AND GRABS YOUR VEHICLE AND ARRANGED AND EXITS. THEY HAVE 245 PARKING TICKET INSIDE 2 VEHICLE SO THEY CAN DO OUT. WHEN THEY GO OUT, THEY ARE GOING TO PAY THAT.
[01:30:01]
>> COURAGE: THE RENTER WOULD PAY THAT RATE. >> THE DRIVER PAYS THAT
RATE. >> COURAGE: I THINK THOSE ARE THE ONLY QUESTIONS I HAVE. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE A COUPLE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. >> HAVRDA: DO YOU HAVE ANY
DRIVERS? I'M CURIOUS ABOUT DEMAND. >> I WOULD HAVE TO REFER THAT TO THE PEER-TO-PEER PLATFORM. I DON'T HAVE THE DATA BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT. EL PASO, THEY ARE A SMALL HUB AIRPORT OR MEDIUM HUB. AVERAGE PER MONTH IT'S ABOUT 115,000 IN GROSS RECEIPTS.
IF YOU INTERPOLATE THAT INTO --T BASED ON VEHICLE. NOT EVERY VEHICLE IS THE SAME RATE. A GENERIC CAR IS DIFFERENT FROM A FERRARI.
BUT THEIR PARKING RATE IS STILL THE SAME. >> HAVRDA: CAN HE TALK
ABOUT THE DATA OR -- >> YEAH, AARON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT DATA?
>> HAVRDA: JUST WHAT THE DEMAND HAS BEEN HERE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M WITH TURO ON THE AIRPORT'S TEAM. DO YOU MIND REPEATING YOUR
QUESTION? >> HAVRDA: WHAT DOES DEMAND LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW
FOR PEER-TO-PEER? >> RIGHT NOW WE DON'T TRACK ANY OF THE PARTICULAR DEMAND AT POINT OF GOOD SUCH AS SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT UNTIL WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE. AS RYAN SAID, WE DO HAVE OTHER AIRPORTS IN TEXAS, DALLAS FORT WORTH, DALLAS LOVE, EL PASO, CORPUS CHRISTI, AND I'M AIRPORT SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE AIRPORT TEAM IF THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD, SIMILAR
SIZED AIRPORTS. >> HAVRDA: MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD, ARE YOU
CURRENTLY OPERATING AT THE AIRPORT? >> THE ANSWER IS YES.
AND JEFF COYLE CAN SPEAK. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO DISAGREEMENT AND
PRODUCE REVENUE. >> COYLE: I WAS AT THE AIRPORT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO GOING DOWN THE ELEVATOR AND THERE WERE TWO GROUPS OF TRAVELERS AND THEY STARTED TALKING TO EACH OTHER ABOUT WHICH CARS THEY WERE PICKING UP THROUGH TURO.
SO THEY WERE FOLKS WHO HAD FLOWN INTO SAN ANTONIO, HAD ALREADY ARRANGED ON THE PLATFORM TO RENT SOMEONE'S CAR. SOMEONE HAD PARKED IT IN THE AIRPORT GARAGE AND THEY ARE ARRIVING WITH THE INFORMATION TO PICK IT UP AND DRIVE OFF. WHAT RYAN AND THE TURO TEAM HAVE DONE IS SORT OF BRING THESE TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING EVERY DAY ALREADY INTO THE LIGHT HERE, HAVING TURO HELP SHARE SOME OF THE REVENUE WITH THE AIRPORT FOR US UTILIZING FACILITIES AND CHANGING EXCHANGES AND ULTIMATELY RYAN AND HIS TEAM HAVING THE NUMBERS AND THE
DATA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY USING IT HERE. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.
JUST REAL QUICK ON THAT, THE 10% GOES TO GENERAL FUND OR WHERE DOES THE 10% GO TO?
>> IT GOES TO THE AIRPORT. >> HAVRDA: SO I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED WHY YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR OWN DATA ON WHAT YOU ARE USING. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WON'T HAVE ACCESS UNTIL WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT, BUT I THINK WE'RE A DATA-DRIVEN DOWN, IF THERE'S A WAY YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH US AFTER TODAY, WE CAN HAVE A BASELINE ONCE WE
AIRPORT SPECIFIC. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. THANKS, CHAIR.
>> COURAGE: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> GAVITO: I THINK YOU GOT ALL MY QUESTIONS OUT. I JUST DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FUNDS THAT WOULD GO BACK INTO AIRPORT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FUNDS. ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY WE CAN USE THEM FOR? YOU'LL THE EXPENSES -- ALL THE EXPENSE ARE USED FOR
OPERATING EXPENSES. >> KAUR: I KNOW I STEPPED OUT SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ANSWERED THIS, BUT HAVE YOU DONE AN ANALYSIS FOR CITIES THAT DO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT AT THEIR AIRPORTS, THE COST OF INCREASED RENTAL CARS? LIKE IF IT IMPACTS THE OTHER
PROVIDES AT THE AIRPORT? >> I HAVE NOT DONE ANALYSIS OF IMPACT FROM OTHER AIRPORTS ON WHAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED, BUT -- NO, I HAVE NOT DONE AN ANALYSIS.
>> KAUR: IT WOULD BE CURIOUS TO DO THAT. I USED ONE OF THE PEER-TO-PEER COMPANIES BECAUSE THE RENTAL CAR COMPANIES HAD TO GO SO MUCH HIGHER TO GET THAT CORP. ADVERTISE. JUST THE -- COMPETITION.
JUST THE EXAMPLE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT ABLE TO USE THOSE SERVICES.
THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA OR ESTIMATE
HOW MUCH REVENUE THIS MIGHT BRING IN ANNUALLY? >> LIKE I SAID, ONLY WITH WHAT I MEASURED WITH EL PASO, A SMALLER HUB. JUST OVER $100,000 PER MONTH
[01:35:01]
IS THEIR GROSS. SO THEY WOULD TAKE 10% OF THAT EVERY MONTH.SMALLER AIRPORT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: STILL WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THAT WOULD BE NICE.
I AM -- SO WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT AGAIN AS SORT OF IN LINE WITH WHAT COUNCILMEMBER KAUR WAS ASKING, THE COST OF OTHER SERVICES, RENTAL CARS, TAXIS, RIDE SHARES, ALL THAT. I WOULD MANUAL AND WHAT WOULD -- IMAGINE THERE'S MORE COMPETITION SO MAYBE THEY HAVE TO LOWER THEIR PRICES TO BE COMPETITIVE.
ARE WE SEEING THAT? I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT -- I DON'T KNOW.
ARE WE SEEING ANY IMPACTS ON OTHER SERVICES? GOOD OR BAD?
LOWERED COST OR RAISE -- >> YOU MEAN GROUND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS?
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: UH-HUH. >> OUR RENTAL CARS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN ACTIVITY, BUT I CANNOT ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE
PEER-TO-PEER PLATFORM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: UH-HUH.
SO THE OTHER PART THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT WITH THIS IS THAT EVEN IF THIS IS AN AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH AN OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE BUSINESS, RIGHT, AS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY ATTRIBUTE EVERY EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE, EVERY SERVICE THEY HAVE AT THE AIRPORT WITH SAN ANTONIO.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE DRIVERS WHO WILL BE OPERATING THE VEHICLES OR RENTING THEIR VEHICLES OUT, I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM BETTER AMBASSADORS FOR SAN ANTONIO OR THE STRONGEST AMBASSADORS AS POSSIBLE OR PROVIDE A SERVICE CONSISTENT WITH THAT OF THE REST OF OUR AIRPORT.
I'M WONDERING WHAT PARTS OF THE AGREEMENT ADDRESS THAT. I SEE THE -- YOU KNOW, I SAW THE SORT OF STANDARD, VEHICLE INSPECTIONS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF --
DO WE SEE MANDATES FOR TRAINING? >> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR NOT ALL TRANSACTIONS HAPPEN IN PERSON. SOMETIMES TURO USERS ARE ABLE TO GIVE REMOTE ACCESS TO THEIR VEHICLES SO THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A FACE TO FCE INTERACTION. SOMETIMES THAT DOES OCCUR BUT NOT ALWAYS.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JOHN AND JALEN, OKAY, HERE YOU CAN HAVE THE KEYS FOR THE WEEKEND. ALSO I JUST LOOKED, I'VE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO USE OTHER PLACES, BUT THE VARIETY OF CARS IS PRETTY DIFFERENT. TURO HERE AT THE AIRPORT, YOU CAN RENT A SLING SHOT WHICH IS A MOTORCYCLE THING. YOU CAN RENT ELECTRIC CARS.
THERE'S NORMAL CARS, BUT THERE'S SOME EXOTIC THINGS I DON'T THINK NORMAL RENTAL CAR AGENCIES HAVE -- HERE IT IS. IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO A BAN ON THE TEST -- TESLA TRUCK.
I GUESS EVEN WHAT I MAY HAVE SAID MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THIS SITUATION, I DO THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THINK ABOUT HOW ANIER IS REDUCE OR AGREEMENT WE HAVE CONTRIBUTES TO THE BROADER EXPENSE OF OUR AIRPORT IN SAN ANTONIO.
I LOVE TAKING A LYFT FROM OTHER AIRPORTS IN OTHER CITIES AND SPEAKING ABOUT AND LEARNING FROM THEM. THAT'S NOT AN EXPERIENCE THAT HAS HERE, I THINK YOU DO ANY TRANSACTION IS GOING TO HAVE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'M ALSO WONDERING WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE ON THE AIRPORT?
>> WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE DAY TO DAY? YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S
HAPPENING. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IF WE DON'T KNOW IT'S HAPPENING, HOW DO WE ENSURE -- LIKE WHAT DOES COMPLIANCE LOOK LIKE?
>> WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA YET, BUT OUR -- LET'S SEE. OUR PUBLIC ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS LIKE EVEN MYSELF AS WE WALK AROUND THE GARAGE, WE CAN TELL -- I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE, ONE WAY TO POINT IT OUT AS JOHN MENTIONED. ON A CAR SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE A COMBO LOCK TO GET THE KEY IN THERE. THAT'S ONE WAY YOU CAN SAY THAT'S NOT A REGULAR OWNERS, THAT'S AN EXCHANGE HAPPENING.
THERE'S ALSO A WAY YOU CAN UNLOCK THE CAR WITH THE TURO APP.
JEFF RAN INTO PEOPLE LIKE HOW DO I GET TO MY TURO SCAR.
WE KNOW THEY ARE THERE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY. BUT ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAN SEE PEOPLE LOST, THEY WILL ENGAGE WITH OUR PUBLIC ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND ASK WHERE IS LEVEL THIS AND THAT AND THEY WILL SHOW THEM. I'M RENT AGO CAR.
[01:40:10]
THAT'S -- RENTING A CAR. THERE'S WAYS TO TELL THAT AS WELL AS THE DATA FROM THE TPT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS THOSE ARE MY PRIMARY
THINGS. IS THIS GOING SOMEWHERE? >> COURAGE: WELL, I'VE GOT
ANOTHER QUESTION OR TWO BUT THE ANSWER IS YES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE
QUESTION DOES THIS REQUIRE A MOTION. >> COURAGE: IT'S GOING SOMEWHERE. YOU KNOW, THE VERY FIRST PAGE MADE A COMPARISON TO AIRBNB. SO HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THE COMPANY IS GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITY? THERE'S PROBABLY 2,000 AIRBNB OR THOSE KINDS OF COMPANIES, HOUSES THAT AREN'T EVEN REGISTERED WITH THE CITY THAT WE'RE NOT COLLECTING ON TODAY. SO HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING THE FULL RETURN TO THE CITY WITH THE ORGANIZATION THAT'S GOING TO BE HANDLING THIS FOR US AND
GIVING US THE INFORMATION? >> IN TERMS OF TAXES, YEAH, SO THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT IS THE PLATFORM WOULD COLLECT THOSE AND THEN REMIT THEM TO THE CITY.
IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. ONCE AN AGREEMENT IS IN PLACE, THEN TURO ON A MONTHLY BASIS WILL SUBMIT TO THE AIRPORT A MONTHLY REPORT OF EVERY SINGLE TRANSACTION THAT TAKES PLACE ON AIRPORT PROPERTY, MAKES, MODELS, VINS, AND A LOT OF THIS IS ONE FOR THE PURPOSES OF REMITTING PAYMENT TO THE AIRPORT EVERY MONTH BUT TO ENSURE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP. TO MAKE SURE IF THERE'S POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS TO WORK WITH THE AIRPORT TO ADDRESS THAT SPECIFICALLY WITH HOSTS. AIRBNB, EVERYONE WANTS TO PROVIDE A GREAT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS THEIR EXPERIENCE TO GO UP SO THE SAME WITH TURO.
WATER BOTTLES, ALL OF THOSE ARE NICE GESTURES AND THE BEST PART ABOUT THE PLATFORM, ALL THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES ARE LOCAL TO THE CITY.
THEY ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE YOU KNOW. AND SO HAVING THE LOCAL AMBASSADORS ON THE PLATFORM IS WHAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE SPECIAL.
>> COURAGE: I'LL ASK, IF WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT WANT TO DO THIS, WE WOULD HAVE FOUR OR FIVE SIMILAR AGREEMENTS.
>> CORRECT, SIMILAR TO THE UBER, LYFT WINGS, WE HAVE SIMILAR.
>> COURAGE: ONE OTHER QUESTION CAME TO MIND. IF WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW MORE COMPETITION, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS, LET'S SAY THERE'S 100 CARS A DAY THAT COME THROUGH THE SYSTEM, THERE ARE A LOT OF RENTAL OPERATIONS IN MANY AIRPORTS THAT ARE PRETTY SMALL. HAVE YOU CHECKED TO SEE IF ANY HAVE BEEN PUT OUT OF BUSINESS WHERE THEY WERE BECAUSE OF THESE PEER-TO-PEER OPERATIONS THAT HAVE COME IN AND TAKEN THEIR SHARE OF THE BUSINESS? FOR EXAMPLE, OUR COMPANIES NOW PAY A FEE TO THE CITY TO BE THERE. HOW MUCH IS THAT FEE FOR THE SMALLEST LEAST EFFECTIVE COMPANY? IF THEY LEAVE, ARE THEY GOING TO LOSE MORE BUSINESS. HAS THAT HAPPENED AT OTHER AIRPORTS AND DO WE KNOW
THAT? >> I HAVE NOT CHECKED ON OTHER AIRPORTS IF THAT HAS
OCCURRED. >> COURAGE: I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST LOOK AT THAT.
THERE'S SOME AIRPORTS THAT HAVE VERY SMALL COMPANY AND IF THEY'VE LEFT, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY IN JEOPARDY OF BEING FORCED OUT WHO IS GIVING US FROM THEIR OPERATION THAN SOMEONE WHO COMES IN. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE THAT LOOKED AT, I THINK.
OTHERWISE I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THIS COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND THIS TO FULL COUNCIL FOR ITS CONSIDERATION. IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DO SO.
INTO WITH THEM. >> HAVRDA: SO MOVED. >> COURAGE: MOTION HAS
BEEN MADE. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.
>> COURAGE: THIS WILL GO TO CITY COUNCIL FORITY APPROVAL.
HEARING NONE, MOTION IS PASSED. IT WILL GO TO COUNCIL.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA FOR THE DAY. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.