Oct 31, 2024 Sesión A del Consejo de la Ciudad

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:13 A.M. ON THE 31ST DAY OF OCTOBER.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME AGAIN.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. I'LL TURN THE FLOOR TO

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M EXCITED TODAY TO HAVE PASTOR LOUISE BRAZIEL-BENSON HERE AS OUR INVOCATOR. A MOTHER OF FIVE, INCLUDING ONE WHO HAS PASSED ON, SHE SERVED FOUR YEARS IN THE AIR FORCE AND FOUR IN THE AIR FORCE RESERVE.

PASTOR BENSON HOLDS AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, A MASTER'S IN SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION AND A DOCTORATE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. FOLLOWING A 20-YEAR TEACHING CAREER SHE RETIRED FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND FOUNDED SAFE HAVEN ALTERNATIVE YOUTH PROGRAM, A CHRISTIAN ACADEMY FOCUSED ON SPECIAL EDUCATION AND AT-RISK YOUTH.

IN MAY 2001 AFTER YEARS OF EVANGELIZING SHE ANSWERED THE CALL TO ESTABLISH GREATER NEW GENESIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH LOCATED IN DISTRICT 3.

PASTOR BENSON CELEBRATES OVER 30 YEARS IN MINISTRY, OPERATING UNDER THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY AND THROUGH DIVINE DESTINY MINISTRIES. OVERSEES A FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES THAT SPAN FROM FLORIDA TO CALIFORNIA . SHE ALSO SERVES AS A DISTRICT ELDER OF THE BAY AREA DISTRICT IN THE TEXAS STATE COUNCIL OF THE PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLIES OF THE WORLD, INC. SHE SERVES THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND THIS SUMMER WE WERE AT A REHABILITATION CENTER CELEBRATING THE OLYMPICS WITH SOME PEOPLE IN NEED AND WE KNEW THEN THAT SHE HAD TO COME AND PRAY FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY. NOW IT'S A REALLY SPECIAL DAY AND THIS COUNCIL.

SO AT THIS TIME I WELCOME APOSTLE BENSON TO THE PODIUM TO LEAD US IN PRAYER .

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AND TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG,RG AND TO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO MS. PHYLLIS VIAGRAN.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE INVITATION. MOST GRACIOUS AND KIND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU IN UNITY WITH ONE MIND AND ONE HEART, TO STAND IN YOUR PRESENCE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND OUR SISTERS IN CHRIST. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVING KINDNESS TOWARDS US AND YOUR FAITHFULNESS THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO BE HERE TODAY, GOD, TO SEE ANOTHER DAY.

A DAY THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND A DAY THAT WE'LL NEVER SEE AGAIN.

FATHER, WE ASK YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT YOU WOULD BLESS ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. BLESS ALL OF OUR CITY AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS, LORD.

WE PRAY, FATHER, THAT YOU WILL LEAD THEM AND HELP THEM TO LEAD YOUR PEOPLE, GOD.

WE PRAY, FATHER, THAT IN THIS SEASON, A SEASON OF MANY NEW CHALLENGES AND MANY UNCERTAINTIES, WE PRAY, FATHER, THAT YOU WILL GUIDE THEM.

THAT YOU WILL KEEP THEM. THAT YOU WILL COMFORT THEM, FATHER, AND THAT YOU WILL

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AND PROTECT HIM FROM ALL OF THE DANGERS THAT ARE SEEN AND THE DANGERS THAT ARE UNSEEN. AND BLESS ALL OF THOSE THAT WORK ALONGSIDE OF HIM TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE. FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU LET OUR EARS BE OPEN TODAY. LET OUR HEARTS BE OPEN TODAY.

TO HEAR AND TO RECEIVE WHATEVER IT IS, LORD, THAT YOU WILL SPEAK TO US THROUGH YOUR MAN SERVANT. FINALLY, FATHER, LORD JESUS I PRAY, AS YOU PRAY TO THE FATHER THAT WE ALL WILL BECOME ONE. LORD, WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE THAT YOU WILL ANSWER THIS PRAYER. AND, LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE THAT WILL OUTWEIGH ANYTHING, GOD, ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, ANY ISSUE, ANYTHING, LORD THAT WILL COME TO CAUSE DIVISION. WE PRAY, FATHER, THAT YOU WILL COVER US IN YOUR LOVE AND COVER US IN YOUR PROTECTION AND COVER US, LORD, IN YOUR REASSURANCE THAT YOU ARE WITH US. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS, LORD, WE PRAY THESE PRAYERS. WE ASK THEM AND WE BELIEVE, FATHER, THAT THEY ARE ALREADY DONE. YOU SAID, LORD, WHATEVER WE ASK IN YOUR NAME THAT IT SHALL BE DONE. SO IN JESUS' NAME, FATHER, WE DECREE AND WE DECLARE THIS DAY THAT EVERY PRAYER, EVERY PETITION, EVERY NEED IS ALREADY ANSWERED IN YOUR NAME. AND IT IS SO. AMEN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR. ALL RIGHT.

THE FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS, ITEM NO. 3 IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 16 AND 17, 2024. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I MAKE A MOTION. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. DO A COIN TOSS. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 3. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA TODAY ALONG WITH ITEMS NO. 4 AND 5 FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA TO HEAR INDIVIDUALLY? IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT

AGENDA. ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4 AND 5. >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A

MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALL ITEMS EXCEPT FOR 4 AND 5. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON CONSENT.

THESE ARE ITEMS 36, 43, 44, AND 47. THOSE ARE ON CONSENT AND SO I'LL CALL NAMES UP IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP. ON ITEMS 36, LLOYD

PATTERSON. LLOYD PATTERSON? >>

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MR. PATTERSON, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY NICKI

VILLANUEVA. >> HI. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A PARENT, AS AN OVERLY PROTECTIVE GRANDPARENT, AS AN EMPLOYEE OF [INDISCERNIBLE], AS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE URBAN APOSTLES AND AS A CONCERNED SAN ANTONIO CITIZEN . I'M CONCERNED THAT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS THE VAPE INDUSTRY HAS CONTINUED TO ENCROACH UPON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.

ONLY AFTER 20 YEARS HAS THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH BEGAN TO PROVE THE FALLACY OF VAPING BEING A SAFER ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKING CIGARETTES. THAT WOULD BE THE SAME AS SAYING THAT IT IS SAFER TO BE BLOWN UP WITH A HAND GRENADE THAN IT IS TO BE BLOWN UP WITH A STICK OF DYNAMITE. THE REALITY IS I'D RATHER NOT BE BLOWN UP AT ALL. SO AS WE COME BEFORE YOU TO ASK YOU TO APPROVE A CITY

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COMPLIANCE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, MR. PATTERSON. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NICKI VILLANUEVA. OKAY. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ALEK

PUENTE. >> HI. I AM NICKI ALVINE VILLANUEVA REPRESENTING THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND I AM HERE TODAY IN ALL BLACK, NOT TO BE FANCY OR AS A COSTUME FOR HALLOWEEN BUT BECAUSE I AM STILL GRIEVING THE LOSS OF MY FATHER. MY FATHER RECENTLY PASSED DUE TO HIS ALCOHOLISM.

HE WAS VERY FUNCTIONAL. HE WAS ALSO A VAPOR AND A RECREATIONAL CANNABIS USER.

MY DAD WAS NOU KNOWN TO THE CITY AS DR. DAVID, A MILITARY VETERAN OF 21 YEARS AND ALSO THE NURSE PRACTITIONER AT INCARNATE WORD PROVIDING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR THE COMMUNITY. MY DAD CHOSE HIS ADDICTION AND THAT WAS HIS CHOICE.

UNBEKNOWNST TO ALL OF THOSE AGENCIES, NO ONE KNEW THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION THAT MY FATHER BATTLED. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, EMS, EVEN THE H-E-B THAT BANNED HIM COULDN'T HELP HIM OUT OF HIS ADDICTION. AGAIN, THAT IS HIS CHOICE.

I AM HERE AS HIS DAUGHTER KNOWING THAT I TOO AM PREDISPOSED TO THOSE SAME ADDICTIVE COMPONENTS AND BECAUSE OF THAT CHOICE, I CHOOSE NOT TO USE.

HOWEVER, RECENTLY I TOO BECAME A GRANDPARENT. MY GRANDSON HAS NO CHOICE.

I HAVE HAD THE JOYS OF TAKING HIM TO THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO, HOT WHEELS AT THE ALAMODOME, TO THE WITTE MUSEUM, TO THE PARKS, AND EVEN TO THE SAME H-E-B THAT BANNED MY FATHER. AND EVERY TIME, EVERYWHERE WE GO, THERE IS SOMEONE VAPING AROUND US. EVERY TIME AND EVERYWHERE WE GO, HE IS BEING EXPOSED TO CHEMICALS AND SMELLS, AND THAT IS NOT OKAY. VAPING IS VERY CONVENIENT.

IT IS VERY PORTABLE AND IT'S VERY DISCREET. BUT IT'S NOT OKAY FOR US TO BE EXPOSED TO IT KNOWING THAT I AM PREDISPOSED AND HE IS PREDISPOSED.

ADDING VAPING AND E-CIGARETTE LANGUAGE TO THE ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY IS A START FOR ALL OF US. WE HAVE ALREADY LEARNED LESSONS FROM ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO. IT'S AN ENTRY-LEVEL GATEWAY INTRODUCTION TO ADOLESCENTS LIKE MY GRANDSON. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN WE KNOW BETTER, WE DO BETTER. AND WE KNOW BETTER.

I KNOW THAT I CAN'T BRING MY DAD BACK. I DON'T WANT CONDOLENCES.

I DON'T WANT THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, I WANT ACTION AND I WANT CHANGE AND IT STARTS HERE. THEY SAY IN RECOVERY ONE DAY AT A TIME.

TODAY IS THAT DAY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. ALVINE. AL ELALEK PUENTE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ALEK PUENTE AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TO VOICE OUR STRONG SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM DANGEROUS EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND AEROSOLS. THE AEROSOL EMITTED IS NOT WATER VAPOR.

IT'S A MIXTURE OF SUBSTANCES INCLUDING NICOTINE, VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, AND TOXINS KNOWN TO CAUSE LUNG DISEASE AND CANCER NO WORKER IN SAN ANTONIO SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO SECONDHAND AEROSOL AND PUT THEIR HEALTH AT RISK TO EARN A PAYCHECK. NON-SMOKERS EXPOSED TO CONVENTIONAL SMOKE AND AEROSOLS

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THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. PUENTE. LINDA TIPPINS. KATARINA THURMAN.

MS. THURMAN, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THOMAS EVANS.

>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KATARINA THURMAN AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE DANGERS OF AEROSOL FROM VAPES. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT SECONDHAND AEROSOL FROM E-CIGARETTES ISN'T JUST WATER VAPOR.

IT CAN CONTAIN NICOTINE AND TOXINS. ACCORDING TO THE CDC, THESE PARTICLES CAN LINGER IN THE AIR FOR MINUTES, EVEN HOURS, EXPOSING BYSTANDERS INCLUDING CHILDREN AND THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ISSUES TO POTENTIAL HARM.

A STUDY FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE REVEALED THAT NEARLY 50% OF THE TOXINS CAN REMAIN IN THE AIR LEADING TO EXPOSURE LEVELS COMPARABLE TO CONVENTIONAL SECONDHAND SMOKE IN SOME CASES. MOREOVER, DATA FROM THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION SUGGESTS THAT BREATHING IN SECONDHAND AEROSOL CAN TRIGGER ASTHMA ATTACKS, INCREASE HEART RATE, AND IMPAIR LUNG FUNCTION.

STUDIES ARE NOW EXAMINING THE LINKS BETWEEN SECONDHAND AEROSOL EXPOSURE AND ELEVATED RISKS OF CARDIOVASCULAR LUNG DISEASE OVER TIME.

KEEPING AREAS VAPE FREE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO REDUCE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INVOLUNTARY EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN SHARED SPACES. THIS NOT ONLY PROMOTES CLEAR AIR BUT SUPPORTS THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AND INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPROMISED HEALTH.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CONSIDERING THESE IMPORTANT FACTS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. THURMAN. THOMAS EVANS.

THOMAS EVANS? ALL RIGHT. ON ITEM NO. 43, JEAN LATCHA.

YOU'RE WAIVING YOUR TIME? FINALLY, ON MULTIPLE ITEMS, JACK FINGER.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS I DO WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

ONE OF THEM, A LITTLE HOLE IN THE WALL ITEM, NO. 44, IT'S ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. IT'S EASY TO GLOSS RIGHT OVER THAT AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, SOUNDS PRETTY INNOCUOUS BUT TO MY MIND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOCIALISM. I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO IT AND IT SAYS YOU THE CITY ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH ADOPTING A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST DESIGNATION POLICY. OKAY. WELL, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT? I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET JUST TO REALLY FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, JUST SHOW THE TITLE, IF YOU WOULD. THE PROBLEM WITH COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS.

IF YOU WOULD, TURN TO PAGE 3. I THINK THERE'S SOME UNDERLININGS THERE. THERE YOU GO. LET'S LOOK AT THAT.

MOST CLTS -- FOCUS ON PROVIDING AN AFFORDABLE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME OWNERSHIP OPTION IN WHICH THE ORGANIZATION -- PROBABLY THE CITY GOVERNMENT -- OWNS THE LAND UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE AND THE RESIDENT OWNS THE HOUSE AND PAYS A SMALL MONTHLY GROUND LEASE FEE. OH, ABOUT $35 OR SO TO THE COMMUNITY CLT, COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, FOR USE OF THE LAND UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE. CLTS THEN TEND TO BE DEPENDENT ON EXTERNAL FUNDING BECAUSE GROUND LEASE FEES ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH TO PAY SOMEONE TO COMPLETE THE SET OF TASKS ADMINISTERING THAT A CLT NECESSITATES, ET

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TURN THE CAMERA. THANK YOU. ONE OTHER ITEM I NOTICED, ONE OTHER ARGUMENT AGAINST IT IS THAT, QUOTE, CLTS HAVE DISADVANTAGES.

ONE OF THEM, POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS MAY BE RELUCTANT TO BUY PROPERTY IN A CLT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT ACTUALLY OWN THE LAND. THEY KNOW THEY WON'T OWN THE LAND SO YOU MAY ACTUALLY PROBABLY GET PEOPLE TRYING TO DO THIS.

BUT ONE OTHER PROBLEM I NOTICED. THIS TAKES LAND OFF THE MARKET. THEREBY MAKING SURROUNDING LAND PROPERTIES RISE FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO LOOK FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU MAY WANT TO THINK TWICE

ON THIS ONE AND PULL IT -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON CONSENT. AGAIN, EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR ITEMS 4 AND 5.

WE'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE SO IF

YOU CAN JUST SIGNAL ME. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

I HAVE TWO ITEMS I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, MAYOR. WELL, MULTIPLE ITEMS. 25, 26, AND 28 ARE FOR AN ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ROOSEVELT AVENUE AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BOND PROJECTS . THESE BOND PROJECTS ARE A WAY OF LEVERAGING OR UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE DESIGNATION THAT WE RECEIVED IN 2015. OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO THE VOTERS APPROVED $8 MILLION FOR ROOSEVELT FROM STEVES TO VFW.

IN 2022 BOND PROGRAM THE VOTERS AGAIN APPROVED $12 MILLION FOR FUNDING FOR ROOSEVELT FROM VFW BOULEVARD TO HARDING. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME AND I'M EXCITED THIS IS COMING TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR DECADES FOR THIS MUCH-NEEDED PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALK AND BIKE LANE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE DESIGNED, BUILT, AND COMPLETED. THOUGH WE KNEW THERE WERE SOME HICCUPS, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. WHILE WE KNOW BUILDING MATERIALS AND COSTS HAVE INCREASED FROM 2017 TO THE PRESENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO RISE, I ASK THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY LEADERSHIP TO USE ANY REMAINING AND UNUSED CITYWIDE BOND DOLLARS TO HELP THE DESIGN AND COMPLETION OF THE ROOSEVELT AVENUE BOND PROJECT THAT ARE LONG OVERDUE. THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL, FOR SUPPORTING THIS TO MOVE THIS ITEM FORWARD. THE SECOND ITEM, WHICH IS PERSONAL TO ME THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, IS ITEM 48. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE HOUSING AND THE REBUILD.

I KNOW I WAS TOLD DANIEL VARGAS FROM PRESIDENT FOUNDER OF OPERATION TRIAGE IS HERE . IF YOU COULD STAND. THERE HE IS IN THE BACK.

ONE THING IS WE ARE MILITARY CITY, USA AND WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR VETERANS AND THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE THERE TO DO THAT SO I'M GLAD THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH ITEM 48 TODAY AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR VETERANS THAT ARE IN HOMES THAT NEED REPAIR ARE GETTING THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED AND THAT WE'RE PART OF THAT

PROCESS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS. 27 IS MARBACH ROAD MULTIMODAL STUDY ITEM. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS ITEM COME TO COUNCIL BECAUSE THERE'S A JOINT EFFORT TO ANALYZE THE CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS OF MARBACH ROAD FROM 410 TO THE CITY LIMITS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HOSTED A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING LAST NIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA WAS THERE AS WELL.

IT'S GROWING. MARBACH IS JUST GROWING WITH COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND IN LARGE SWATHS. WE HAVE WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SOME REHABS IN THE AREA AND THIS PROJECT HAS THE ABILITY TO TRANSFORM THE CURRENT STATE OF MARBACH ROAD AND ALLOW FOR DIVERSE FORMS OF TRAVELING AND FOR DIFFERENT OPTIONS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONCLUSION OF THIS STUDY AND THE DISCUSSION WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD LAST NIGHT WAS THE MARBACH ROAD AREA DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THEY GET A LOT OF LOVE AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ONE OF THE PUNCHING BAGS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER COMMITMENT WE ARE WATCHING, WE ARE LISTENING, AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT MARBACH ROAD.

THE NEXT ITEM IS 29, THE EAST-WEST CONNECTOR REALIGNMENT PROJECT.

THANK YOU TO JOHN AND TO RAZI FOR THE WORK ON THIS ITEM.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS AT THE SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP.

I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN HAS A LETTER FROM FORMER COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN THAT

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THIS IS A LONG, MUCH-ANTICIPATED PROJECT AND SO TODAY'S ACTION REALLOCATES FUNDING FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 TO THE EAST-WEST CONNECTOR REALIGNMENT PROJECT TO COMPLETE A FEASIBILITY STUDY. IT'S THE FIRST STEP BUT WE'RE SO EXCITED.

OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR 15 TO 20 YEARS.

SO PLAIN AND SIMPLE, THE SOUTHSIDE TIME HAS COME AND GROWTH IS HAPPENING ALL AROUND FROM I-35 TO I-37 AND TO ACCOMMODATE THAT GROWTH WE HAVE TO ACT NOW.

I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE AS WE ALSO BEGAN TO SET OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND WHEN COMPLETED, THIS IS GOING TO TRANSFORM ALL OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO WHILE ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU IN ANTICIPATION.

THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO HIGHLIGHT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. DISTRICT 5 HAS QUITE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS 10 THIS AGREEMENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I WANT TO COMMEND CITY STAFF FOR THEIR SEVERAL REDESIGNS TO MAKE THIS PROJECT BEST MEET THE REQUESTS FROM RESIDENTS IN AN AREA TO MAKE THIS ROADWAY PRIORITIZED, WALKABILITY AND MULTIMODAL SAFETY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE AND ARE DEDICATED TO ALSO SEEING THIS PROJECT CONTINUE TO BE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY. IT'S NEVER EASY WORKING ON INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG A TXDOT ROADWAY AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS COMING TOGETHER TO ENSURE WE SEE THIS PROJECT MATERIALIZE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 39, THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INCREDIBLE LOCAL LABOR LEADER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, ADRIAN REYNA TO THE VIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ATU AND THEIR ALLIES ON THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL FOR THIS APPOINTMENT.

WHILE THIS APPOINTMENT DIDN'T TAKE PLACE AS VIA LEADERSHIP AND EMPLOYEES DISCUSSED THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS THIS SUMMER, I KNOW THIS APPOINTMENT AND THE FUTURE ORGANIZING OF MEMBERS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT EVERY LEADER IN OUR CITY UNDERSTANDS THAT LABOR KEEPS SAN ANTONIO MOVING. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT 42, WHICH HONORS THE LEGACY OF THREE LEADERS AND ADVOCATES.

THIS CAME FROM A CONSTITUENT WHO LEARNED THAT THE ALLEY WASN'T NAMED AND PROPOSED WE NAME THE ALLEY AFTER AMELIA FUENTES AND SANCHEZ WHO COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND HAVE PROVIDED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR STUDENTS WITH NUMEROUS ACCESS TO SCHOLARSHIPS. NAMING THIS ALLEYWAY IN WHICH MANY OF OUR STUDENTS AT LANIER WALK THROUGH WILL HONOR THEIR WORK AND SERVE AS A REMINDER FOR ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES THAT THEY WILL NEVER WALK ALONE.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE HISTORIC WESTSIDE RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT 48, A FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE HOMEOWNERS WITH SMALL-SCALE REHAB INITIATIVES. WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IS ENSURING THAT WE'RE CONNECTING OUR SENIORS WITH ACCESSIBILITY AND ADDRESSING SOME OF THEIR CODE ISSUES. IN DISTRICT 5, AS MANY OF OUR LONGTIME RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO AGE AND RETIRE, MANY OF THEM RELY ON THE SUPPORT OF OUR NONPROFITS, DELEGATE AGENCIES, AND THE CITY'S MAJOR AND MINOR HOME REHAB PROGRAM ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO APPROVE THESE ITEMS ENSURES THAT RESIDENTS ALL THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO CAN CONTINUE TO AGE IN PLACE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR DIVINE REDEEMER, WHO HELPS CONNECT OUR CONSTITUENTS TO ACCESS TO SO MANY RESOURCES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMEND THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME TODAY ON ITEM 36 ABOUT SMOKING AND VAPING AND ADDING VAPING TO OUR ORDINANCE ON SMOKING. WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND WE SEE AND HEAR ABOUT IT A LOT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CCR PENDING THAT HOPEFULLY WILL HELP THE COUNCIL TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT AREAS AROUND SCHOOLS FROM VAPING, VAPE SHOPS BEING OPENED UP.

SO THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE BUT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.

AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THAT. AND I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL JOIN ME IN MAKING SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO DETER YOUNG PEOPLE ALL THE WAY FROM LEARNING ABOUT IT AT PRESCHOOL ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JOIN COUNCILWOMAN DR. ROCHA GARCIA IN

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MARBACH ROAD DOESN'T FEEL A LOT OF LOVE. I THINK THEY SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THEY'RE THE PUNCHLINE AND THIS IS A MULTIMODAL PLANNING STUDY OF MARBACH ROAD. THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH HOMELESSNESS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD REALLY NEEDS A LOT OF HELP SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS FUNDING IN ORDER TO MAKE BOTH OUR DISTRICTS SAFER AND MORE COMPLETE.

ITEM 35 IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF A $600,000 GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I KNOW WE ALL KNOW THAT UNFORTUNATELY SAN ANTONIO IS A HUB FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SO THIS FUNDING DOUBLES DOWN ON OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. I ALSO THANK PD FOR THEIR WORK IN THAT.

ITEM 38A IS THE APPOINTMENT OF DIVYA BEERAM. ARE YOU HERE? STAND UP. THERE SHE IS. I'M APPOINTING HER TO THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION. DIVYA IS HERE WITH HER PARENTS. SHE IS A STUDENT AT TMI WHERE SHE'S BEEN AN OUTSTANDING DEBATER. IN FACT, SHE WAS ACCEPTED TO TEAM TEXAS WORLD SCHOOL'S DEBATE COMPETITION. IT'S A TOUGH COMPETITION AND THERE WERE MANY APPLICANTS SO IT'S A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE HER SITTING ON THIS DAIS HERE IN THE FUTURE. CONGRATULATIONS TO HER PARENTS. YOU HAVE RAISED A WONDERFUL DAUGHTER, I HAD A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION WITH HER, AND I'M SURE YOU ARE PROUD OF HER.

WE'RE PROUD OF HER TOO AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE YOUTH COMMISSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SUPER EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 44. THIS IS THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST POLICY.

ONE THING THAT ALL OF US UP ON THE DAIS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR IS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT THE OTHER THING WE KNOW IS THAT IF WE ONLY CONTINUE TO RENT, IF WE DON'T GIVE FOLKS THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY OWN LAND THAT THE GENERATIONAL WEALTH WILL NEVER BE ADDRESSED AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

NOT ONLY CAN SOMEONE AFFORD TO PURCHASE A HOME, THEY GET TO KEEP THAT HOME AND TRANSFER IT TO THEIR KIDS AND THEY GET TO DO SO IN AN AFFORDABLE WAY THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THEIR TAXES TO ESCALATE AT THE RATE OF OTHERS' AND ALSO GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO NOT HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON THEIR GROUND LEASE.

SO THIS POLICY IS TRULY REVOLUTIONARY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING FOR OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN OUR URBAN DISTRICTS WHERE LAND IS NOT VERY LARGE AND SO YOU CAN'T ACCESS A LOT OF BIG PARCELS. I'M GRATEFUL TO SARA, EVERYBODY AT NHSD FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THIS WORK BECAUSE THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO PUT TOGETHER A GREAT POLICY THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUSH FORWARD AND VOTE FOR TODAY AND CONTINUE TO SEE AND IMPLEMENT IN THIS UPCOMING

YEAR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.

I WANT TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE VAPING ISSUE THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE TOUCHED ON A MOMENT AGO. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT IN MY DISTRICT AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR SOME MONTHS NOW, AS WELL AS MY OFFICE HAS HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF. IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE.

WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE VAPE SHOPS THAT ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER THE CITY AND THOSE THAT ARE CLOSE TO SCHOOLS. SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.

CALL ON THE LEGISLATURE TO ACT ON THAT AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO HERE ON THE CITY LEVEL I WILL PARTNER WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN, ON THAT.

BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE GOT TO GET A HOLD ON. ALSO WANT TO TOUCH ON THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING GRANT THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER AS WELL.

LISTEN, THERE ARE GROUPS THAT HAVE INFILTRATED THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING OUR CITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, THAT ENGAGE IN THIS ACTIVITY AND IT HAS TO BE STOPPED.

I WANT TO THANK OUR SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK IN RECENT WEEKS IN BRINGING SOME OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THAT ORGANIZATION TO JUSTICE.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR ABBOTT FOR LABELING THE GROUP A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS ISSUE AS WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN AS A COMMUNITY TO LIVE UP TO OUR NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT THIS HUMAN TRAFFICKING GRANT, THESE DOLLARS CAN HELP US IN THAT REGARD. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 11. THIS IS TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT FOR THE MAVERICK LIBRARY HVAC PROJECT. BEFORE I EVEN CAME INTO OFFICE, MAVERICK LIBRARY HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THEIR AC.

WE KNOW THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE RELY ON LIBRARIES FOR INTERNET ACCESS, TO APPLY FOR JOBS, AND TO DO HOMEWORK AND READ. SO THIS IS AN EXTREMELY VITAL RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S COMFORTABLE

[00:35:03]

THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD. THANKS SO MUCH, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANKS. ECHOING SUPPORT. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO HAS EVERY REASON TO DO A VICTORY LAP TODAY. THIS COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE DO, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR IS RIGHT, WE DO FOCUS A LOT ON -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THERE'S AVAILABLE INVENTORY FOR RENT. AND THAT DOESN'T CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH. THAT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES MUCH.

WHEREAS OWNING AND BEING ABLE TO SAY THIS IS MY LITTLE PLOT OF LAND IS MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US AT ONE POINT IN THE FUTURE TO GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF SUBSIDIZING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE ON ITS AFFORDABILITY. AND MOVE TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE FOR FOLKS. CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. THIS IS A BIG DAY. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I KNOW THERE'S ISSUES ABOUT PULLING -- OH, MY GOD. I LOOK RIDICULOUS.

I WANT TO FIRST HIGHLIGHT -- I WANT TO DISCUSS BRIEFLY ITEM 36 AND ECHO MY SUPPORT.

I RECENTLY LOST MY GRANDMOTHER TO LUNG CANCER AND IT WAS VERY UPSETTING AND HURTFUL TO WATCH THAT HAPPEN SO SLOWLY OVER TIME. AND I'M SEEING NOW YOUNG PEOPLE BEING TARGETED BY VAPES AND BY E-CIGARETTES AND IT'S GOING TO LEAD MANY OF THEM DOWN THE SAME PATH THAT SHE WAS DOWN. AND SO INDICATING MY SUPPORT THERE AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AT A LARGER STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, I'M SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF. ON FUN NOTES, I'M EXCITED TO T HIGHLIGHT 37. WE ARE REAPPOINTING JUAN GARCIA AND MARIO SALAS TO THE INNER CITY TIRZ. WE'RE EXCITED FOR THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE.

I'M ALSO EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT 38, WE'RE APPOINTING YANIV ROCKET KING AND DANIELLE GARCIA. ROCKET IS A CLASS PRESIDENT, CAPTAIN OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM, AND A LEADER IN HIS SCHOOL'S LATIN CLUB. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HIS SERVICE ON THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION. DANIELLE GARCIA HAS OVER TWO DECADES OF PUBLIC SERVICE, INCLUDING HER CURRENT ROLE AS A SENIOR POLICY ADVISER AT THE U.S. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE. SHE HAS A MASTER'S OF PUBLIC LEADERSHIP AND SERVING AS A FELLOW AT HARVARD. HOWEVER, HER COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND YOUTH MENTORSHIP IS WHAT MAKE HER UNIQUELY QUALIFIED FOR THIS ROLE . THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO CONTRIBUTING YOUR LEADERSHIP TO THE DIEZ Y SEIS COMMISSION.

I'M ALSO HAPPY TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 45, WHICH IS A NOLAN STREET UNDERPASS PROJECT.

PUBLIC ART IS AN EFFECTIVE AND BEAUTIFUL TOOL AND STUDIES SHOW THAT PUBLIC ART HELPS REDUCE CRIME. IN AUGUST 2013, AS PART OF SAN ANTONIO CULTURAL ARTS AND B BLUE STAR CONTEMPORARY'S MOSAIC PROGRAM, A MURAL WAS INSTALLED ON NOLAN STREET.

YOU LIKELY HAVE SEEN COLORFUL AND WHIMSICAL SPIRALS AND COLORS WHIZ BY.

IT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE 2012-2017 BOND PROGRAM AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS. BUT ACROSS THE STREET IS A BLANK CANVAS AND SO TO MATCH AND REINVIGORATE THE NOLAN STREET UNDERPASS, THIS WILL SERVE AS AN ANCHOR.

I THOUGHT MY COLLEAGUES. AND THE LAST ITEM, REALLY BRIEFLY, I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 46, WHICH IS GOING TO BE APPROVING REPAIRS FOR ART AT SALADO CREEK. THERE IS A LOT OF NEED FOR RENOVATION, REPAIR, AND UPDATING. SO SUPER EXCITED TO SEE THIS HAPPENING FOR US TO APPROVE

IT TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I THINK YOU LOOK SHARP.

YOU JUST NEED A HAIRCUT. [LAUGHTER] A FEW CLOSING COMMENTS.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS 30 AND 31. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO WE DECLARED OR FOUND OUT THAT THE DROUGHT HAD ENDED. THE SEVERE DROUGHT, ANYWAYS.

IF YOU BLINK, HERE WE ARE TODAY. IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IS AT ITS LOWEST LEVELS AS WE HAVE SEEN IN NEARLY 35 YEARS.

[00:40:01]

AND THANK YOU FOR THE CLAP BECAUSE WE ALL DEPEND ON THAT WATER SOURCE.

ITEM 36, I DO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCE UPDATES. DR. JACOB, I CALLED YOU -- I THINK YOU WERE MY FIRST CALL AFTER THE LAST ELECTION SAYING WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS. AND YOU GUYS WENT TO WORK.

WE DIDN'T HEAR A THING ABOUT IT. USUALLY WHEN WE UPDATE A SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCE THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND PEOPLE ARE SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER. HATS OFF TO THE METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOING THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND GETTING THIS DONE WITHOUT ANY CONTROVERSY AT ALL.

[APPLAUSE] I DO WANT TO ALSO CONGRATULATE ADRIAN REYNA FOR BEING OUR NEWEST LABOR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE VIA BOARD.

YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS, AS YOU HAVE DONE IN SCHOOL.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO A TEACHER SITTING ON OUR VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD.

AS WELL AS ITEM 44, I'LL ADD MY SUPPORT AS WELL. I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN STATED. WE NEED TO SEEK PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY WHEREVER WE CAN IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE VERY LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT.

SO COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN OUR HOUSING FRAMEWORK.

THEY ARE A PRIORITY OF OUR SHIP AND SO TODAY WE ARE TAKING A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN OUR EXECUTION OF THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WHICH THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON AND I THINK RIGHTFULLY SO.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL APPLY.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO THOSE HOMES AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN SO THEY CAN ESTABLISH THEIR OWN GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND WE CAN BREAK THESE CYCLES OF POVERTY THAT WE HAVE SEEN SO LONG IN SAN ANTONIO. WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS -- ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4 AND 5.

WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY. WE DO HAVE SOME CEREMONIALS TODAY BEFORE WE GET TO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. AND SO THE FIRST ONE I WOULD LIKE TO READ, WE'VE GOT SOME JUDGES WHO ARE MISSING FROM THEIR BENCH SO THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS TODAY. IF I CAN ASK FRED GARCIA AND OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS TEAM TO COME FORWARD AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT WILL BE DEDICATING THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 4 THROUGH 8, 2024 AS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE VITAL ROLES AND SERVICES OF THE MUNICIPAL COURTS THAT FAIRLY ADMINISTER JUSTICE AND BALANCE DUE TO DUE PROCESS RIGHTS WHILE SAFEGUARDING THE WELL-BEING OF TEXAS COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE MUNICIPAL COURT OPERATES THE JUDICIAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE CITY SERVING AS THE COURT OF RECORD AND AS THE PRIMARY INTERFACE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM. AMONG ALL COURTS, IT IS THE ONE THAT THE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ENGAGE WITH THE MOST. THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL SHAPES THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF THE TEXAS JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. WHEREAS MUNICIPAL JUDGES AND COURT SUPPORT PERSONNEL UPHOLD RIGOROUS STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM WHILE RENDERING EQUAL SERVICE TO ALL IN A FAIR, EFFICIENT, AND TIMELY MANNER. WHEREAS AN OBSERVANCE OF MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK, WE SALUTE THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES AND COURT SUPPORT PERSONNEL INCLUDING CLERKS, PROSECUTORS, JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS, BAILIFFS, AND WARRANT OFFICERS. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WORK TIRELESSLY.

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 4 THROUGH 8, 2024 TO BE MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND EXTEND APPRECIATION TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT PERSONNEL COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR, ON BEHALF OF JUDGE CARLA OBLEDO, OUR JUDGE'S SUPPORT STAFF, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR YOUR RECOGNITION AND YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATION OF OUR WORK FOR THE JUDGES, COURT CLERKS, ADMINISTRATORS, BAILIFFS, WARRANT OFFICERS, PROSECUTORS, JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

NEXT WEEK, AS YOU INDICATED, WE HAVE OUR SIXTH ANNUAL C3 EVENTS.

[00:45:08]

OF COURSE WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF OUR PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS SO WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THEM. THAT INCLUDES VISION ZERO, SAPD, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, ANIMAL CARE, PARKS AND REC, SOLID WASTE, TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE, UTSA, MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVERS, TXDOT, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AND MUCH MORE . EVERY YEAR WE INVITE AN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND HIGH SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK.

ON AVERAGE, WE HAVE OVER 650 STUDENTS THAT ATTEND THAT FOUR-DAY PERIOD.

SO SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE STUDENTS AND ANY OF OUR VISITORS INCLUDES MOCK TRIALS WITH OUR JUDGES AND CITY PROSECUTORS, SAPD CRASH CAR OBSTACLE COURSE, A VIRTUAL IMPAIRED DRIVING SIMULATORS, AND KEY SPEAKERS, PRESENTATIONS. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THOSE. NEW THIS YEAR WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE A MATURE DRIVERS DAY FOR INDIVIDUALS 55 AND OLDER.

THAT WILL BE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5. ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL IN 2020 THERE WAS ALMOST 48 MILLION LICENSED DRIVERS OVER THE AGE 65 AND OLDER IN THE UNITED STATES. EACH DAY WE KNOW THAT 20 OLDER ADULTS ARE KILLED AND ALMOST 540 ARE INJURED IN CRASHES.

WE THOUGHT THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE SAFETY OF OUR MATURE DRIVERS. THIS DAY IS DEDICATED TO REFRESH DRIVING KNOWLEDGE ON CONCERNS SUCH AS BLIND SPOTS, SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE, CHANGING LANES, AND SAFETY BELTS. OF COURSE WE ALSO HAVE RESOURCES FOR AREAS OF THE LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY-RELATED EVENTS INCLUDING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP, RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP. SO WE INVITE THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL NEXT WEEK, IF YOU HAVE TIME, TO STOP BY THE COURTHOUSE BETWEEN MONDAY AND THURSDAY FROM 9:30 TO NOON. YOU CAN PARTICIPATE OR WATCH A MOCK TRIAL OR ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS. OF COURSE DO ONE OF THE IMPAIRED DRIVING SIMULATORS. TAKE PART IN THE CRASH COURSE OBSTACLE COURSE, OR SIMPLY VISIT OUR RESOURCE FAIR. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE

RECOGNITION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FRED AND OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS TEAM. I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO OUR CHAIR OF OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. HAPPY MUNICIPAL COURT WEEK.

A LITTLE EARLY BUT I WANT TO EXPRESS FIRST OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE IN OUR MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM.

THIS WEEK PROVIDES US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLES PLAYED BY MUNICIPAL JUDGES, COURT CLERKS, COURT ADMINISTRATORS, ATTORNEYS, BAILIFFS, WARRANT OFFICERS, ALL OF THESE FOLK WORK TIRELESSLY TO UPHOLD JUSTICE AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES IN COUNTLESS WAYS. OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PROVIDING A FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY WHILE OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY BASED IN EMPATHY AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. OFTEN OUR COURT SYSTEM IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A PERSON IS GOING TO INTERFACE DIRECTLY WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SO YOU PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SHOWING WHO WE ARE AS A CITY AND WHAT OUR VALUES ARE. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT COMMITTEE WHERE I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH MORE ABOUT YOUR IMPORTANT WORK AND HAVE GOTTEN TO MEET WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

TOGETHER LET'S CELEBRATE ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.

AND AS A COMMUNITY, ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. THANK Y'ALL AGAIN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO THANK JUDGE OBLEDO, FRED, AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. WE KNOW MUNICIPAL COURTS PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING MANY ISSUES THAT PLAGUE OUR RESIDENTS SUCH AS LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS, SPEEDING, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE VIOLATIONS.

SO YOU ALL HOLD FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, WHICH IS WHAT SO MANY RESIDENTS WANT EACH OTHER TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU ALL DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, FRED, TEAM, AND JUDGE OBLEDO.

I WILL CONTINUE TO COMMEND YOU ALL FOR THE TRUANCY COURT INITIATIVE THAT YOU

[00:50:04]

THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED TO GO IN THERE AND SEE WHAT TYPE OF RESOURCES Y'ALL CONNECT RESIDENTS TO THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS SO THANK Y'ALL AND THANK Y'ALL

FOR PLUGGING IN OUR D5 RESIDENTS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, JUDGES, FRED. I THINK THAT WE ALL KIND OF TAKE FOR GRANTED MUNICIPAL COURT JUST HANDING OUT FINES OR THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT I REALLY CONSIDER YOU ALL A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF PUBLIC SAFETY. WE LOOK AT THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, I EVEN LOOK AT PUBLIC HEALTH BUT MUNICIPAL COURTS ARE PART OF THE SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM IN THIS CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. PARTICULARLY LOOKING OUT FOR A LOT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TEND TO BE GOING ASTRAY AND NEED SOME GUIDANCE AND THAT MAKES THIS ENTIRE

COMMUNITY SAFER. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, JUDGES.

BOTH THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND THE ONES SITTING ON THE BENCH RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO NOTE, NOT JUST THE JUDGES, OF COURSE, BUT ALL YOUR STAFF, THE SUPPORT STAFF. FRED, OF COURSE, AND HOW MUCH WORK YOU HAVE DONE. JUDGE OBLEDO WAS APPOINTED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO AND WHAT A BIG TURNAROUND MUNICIPAL COURT HAS HAD IN THOSE LAST FIVE YEARS.

YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY BEEN INNOVATIVE IN MAKING THE COURT MORE ACCESSIBLE.

WE GO OVER THERE AND TALK WITH STUDENTS AND ARE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH YOU GUYS, SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE COMMUNITY INTO COURT AND NOT JUST WHEN THEY HAVE A TICKET. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, Y'ALL. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NOW, IF I COULD CALL UP OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM AGAIN, AS I GO THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION .

WHEREAS DIABETES IS THE SEVENTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY, APPROXIMATELY ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE WITH DIABETES DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE DISEASE. AND WHEREAS DIABETES IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CHRONIC DISEASES AMONG YOUTH AND INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION RATES FOR TYPE TWO DIABETES RATES IN CHILDREN AGES 10 THROUGH 17 AND INCREASING.

WHEREAS COMPLICATIONS INCLUDE HEART DISEASE, STROKE, BLINDNESS, KIDNEY DISEASE, HEARING LOSS, AND AMPUTATION. WHEREAS THE SA FORWARD PLAN PRESENTS THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT TO EXPAND DIABETES EDUCATION IN ORDER TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT ALL PEOPLE THRIVE IN HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS ALMOST A QUARTER OF THOSE LIVING WITH DIABETES RELY ON INSULIN, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH H-E-B LAUNCHED THE DIABETES INSULIN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 TO HELP CITY RESIDENTS COVER THE COSTS OF THEIR INSULIN PRESCRIPTIONS.

WHEREAS OUR COMBINED RESOURCES CAN HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON THE REDUCTION OF DIABETES RATES AND BETTER ACCESS TO CARE. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT HAVE JOINED IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO INCLUDE THE YMCA, THE SAN ANTONIO VASCULAR CLINIC, U.T. HEALTH, AND THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION.

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2024 TO BE DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO COMMIT TO INCREASING AWARENESS AND UNDERGO A PREVENT HEALTH SCREENING FOR DIABETES THROUGH A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER . DR. JACOB.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN. I'M JOINED BY OUR VILLAGE AND MEMBERS OF OUR FANTASTIC TEAM AT METRO HEALTH. AS YOU HEARD, NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH. A TIME WHERE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO CREATE AWARENESS ON THE DIABETES EPIDEMIC, GET EDUCATED, FIND RESOURCES, AND MAKE SURE ALL THOSE AROUND US ARE SEEKING HELP TO MANAGE AND PREVENT THIS DISEASE. TO RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH OF AWARENESS AND INCREASE OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUTH, OUR DIABETES PROGRAM HOSTED ITS SECOND ANNUAL YOUTH ART AND POETRY CONTEST IN SEPTEMBER. THE PROGRAM RECEIVED 21 ART AND POETRY PIECES FROM LOCAL YOUTH IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IN HIGH SCHOOL. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ, A SEVENTH GRADER AT GUS GARCIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL WHO SUBMITTED THE WINNING ART ENTRY. HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS

[00:55:02]

SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER FATHER, ARMANDO TOMAS. [APPLAUSE] AGAIN, IT TAKES A VILLAGE SO WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE KATHERINE HERNANDEZ, DIRECTOR OF OUR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR HER LEADERSHIP AS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE 2024 AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION STEP OUT WALK THAT TOOK PLACE LAST SATURDAY AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE.

SEVERAL COSA STAFF AND FAMILY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN THE WALK.

WE INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO OUR DIABETES HEALTH FAIR, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, FROM 10:00 TO 1:00 P.M. AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE.

THE EVENT WILL INCLUDE VENDORS, FITNESS DEMONSTRATIONS, A FREE PRODUCE GIVEAWAY, AND FREE TURKEY VOUCHERS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARTNERS WE HAVE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES. AGAIN, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.

THEY HELP PEOPLE LIVING WITH DIABETES RECEIVE THE BEST SERVICES POSSIBLE.

MANY OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE YMCA, U.T. HEALTH, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, UNIVERSITY HEALTH, COSA'S PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT. YOU ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, H-E-B, AND THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION THIS MORNING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THIS SATURDAY FROM 10:00 TO 1:00 AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IN A CITY LIKE SAN ANTONIO WHERE DIABETES RATES ARE HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP AWARENESS AND STAY ON TRACK TO BRING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS DISEASE. WE ALL KNOW SOMEONE WHO SUFFERS FROM DIABETES AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

WE KNOW WE LOVE OUR TACOS, OUR BIG RED BUT WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF FOOD DESERTS IN THE CITY AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS TO GO OUTSIDE AND WALK WHEN THERE'S INFRASTRUCTURE LACKING, WHEN THERE'S LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS.

AND SO WE HAVE TO KEEP ALL OF THAT IN MIND AND WORK TOWARDS INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, AND OF COURSE WALKABILITY, ALL IN ORDER TO CURB DIABETES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

EDUCATING YOURSELF AND LOVED ONES IS SO IMPORTANT AND EVEN SMALL LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU ALL DO.

IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE AND I'M PROUD TO BE WORKING ALONGSIDE WITH YOU ALL ON THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SHOW MY APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOU ALL ARE SO CREATIVE. I LOVE THE DIABETES GARAGE THAT YOU ALL CAME UP WITH AND KIND OF HOW TO COMPARE IT TO KEEPING YOUR ENGINE RIGHT, AND FOR THE MEN, I THOUGHT THAT WAS BRILLIANT. I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THE INSULIN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, WE WORKED TOGETHER ON A CCR AND IT FINALLY HAPPENED. I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE PUSHING THAT PROGRAM ON SATURDAY. WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS NEED ACCESS TO THAT BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL CARE.

I ALSO, TO COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO'S POINT, WE HAVE SO MANY FOOD DESERTS.

WE ALSO -- THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST US IN THE SOUTH, WEST, EAST, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE ALREADY THESE DIFFERENT -- THE IMPACT OF AN ENTIRE LIFETIME, I WOULD SAY, OF LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH, LACK OF ACCESS TO PLACES TO DO EXERCISE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A LOT OF THIS. AND THEN JUST THE LACK OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY. EVEN AS A WHOLE, NOT BEING ABLE TO BUY HEALTHY FOODS BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO EXPENSIVE OR HAVING EASIER ACCESS TO YOUR DOLLAR MENU AT SOME OF THE FAST FOODS, WHICH WE KNOW IS HIGH IN SUGAR CONTENT.

AND SO THESE LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT YOU ALL ARE PROMOTING BY HAVING THESE WALKS, BY HAVING THESE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING IS REALLY HELPING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE EVERYONE BE HEALTHY FOR A HEALTHY SAN ANTONIO. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ART WINNERS. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF DIABETES AWARENESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

[01:00:03]

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ THAT BROUGHT FORWARD THE PLAN TO HELP WITH THOSE THAT NEED INSULIN. AND THANK YOU, METRO HEALTH.

I FEEL LIKE I'M THANKING YOU ALL THE TIME FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR EFFORT IN MAKING SURE THAT THOSE -- THAT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS SERVED BUT ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS AND THOSE LIVING IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND ALL THE EFFORTS THAT YOU DO. AND THE CREATIVITY TO BRING TO STUDENT ARTISTS TO BE PART OF THIS -- I LOOK FORWARD TO -- I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT ART PIECE BUT IT CAN END UP IN MY OFFICE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

AND THE POETRY AND LETTING PEOPLE SEE. I THINK WHEN IT BECOMES PERSONAL, WHEN IT BECOMES VISUAL, PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN DO. THERE ARE SO MANY DISEASES OUT THERE THAT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT. WE JUST COME. BUT THIS IS ONE IF WE WATCH OUR DIET, WALK, AND KNOW SOMETIMES WHAT FOODS ARE, WE CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING ALL NOVEMBER AND MAKING SURE WE GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE CONNECTED TO SERVICES. OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ALWAYS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT INITIATIVE. I WANTED TO COMMEND OUR STUDENTS FOR USING ART IN CREATIVITY ON SHINING A LIGHT ON ISSUES THAT SO MANY FAMILIES EXPERIENCE.

AND DOING IT THROUGH THE FORM OF ART CONNECTS WITH SO MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY FEEL TIRED OR THAT THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO GET CONNECTED TO ACCESS TO CARE.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ART PIECE RIGHT THERE AND THOSE BOXING GLOVES IN THE ART PIECE. I KNOW YOU'RE A STUDENT AT GUS GARCIA AND EDGEWOOD AND I ALWAYS SHARE THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE FIGHTERS. WHETHER IT'S FIGHTING INJUSTICE FOR FIGHTING FOR FAIR WAGES AND I FIND IT SO SYMBOLIC IN YOUR ART PIECE THAT YOU HAVE BOXING GLOVES HANGING THERE. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

DIABETES IS ONE OF MANY CHRONIC ILLNESSES THAT HAS IMPACTED COMMUNITIES LIKE THOSE IN MY DISTRICT AND IT'S MADE WORSE DUE TO LACK OF ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE, WHICH HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN FAVOR OF WAREHOUSES. LACK OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE QUALITY PRODUCE MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO FIND COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE WORTHWHILE OF INVESTMENT ARE FAST FOOD CHAINS.

AND LACK OF ACCESS TO RECREATIONAL SPACE. I WAS PROUD TO CO-AUTHOR THE PROPOSAL FOR AN INSULIN COST-SHARE PROGRAM AND HAPPY TO SEE IT IS A REALITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT MORE WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES IN OUR CITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO IN THE DEPARTMENT. YOUR MISSION IS VAST AND YOUR JOURNEY IS UPHILL BUT YOU MOVE ON. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS. IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE YOUR TALENT CELEBRATED SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO CREATE AND EXPRESS YOURSELF. IT'S ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TO STOP AND LISTEN IS TO CREATE AND TO SHARE A MESSAGE THROUGH ART OR THROUGH SOME OTHER MEDIUM. SO COMMITMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE OUR YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS

THEMSELVES AND TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE INNOVATION. WE'RE ALL SICK AND TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN DIABETES FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS BUT YOU ALL ARE DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD JOB TO THE CONTESTANTS. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS.

THE 12TH ANNUAL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FEST WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 AT HEMISFAIR PLAZA AND IS OPEN TO LOCALS AND VISITORS FOR A CELEBRATION RECOGNIZED AS THE NATION'S PREMIER DAY OF THE DEAD EVENT.

WHEREAS DIA DE LOS MUERTOS IS THE LARGEST CELEBRATION OF SAN ANTONIO'S DAY OF THE DEAD EVENTS, ATTRACTING OVER 100,000 FESTIVAL GOERS, INTRODUCING NEW GENERATIONS TO THE TRADITION AS THEY WALK ALONG THE PATHS OF OVER 80 AND TAKE PART IN THE

[01:05:01]

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM SO EXCITED TO HONOR YOU ALL AS THIS IS THE 12TH ANNUAL FEST AND IT IS ESTIMATED TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST-ATTENDED EVENTS AT HEMISFAIR AT OVER 136,000 PEOPLE.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT TOLD ME WE COULD BARELY BREATHE, IT WAS AMAZING.

AS I ALWAYS SAY, MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS EVENT IS ALL OF THE SCHOOL PARTICIPATION.

SEEING SO MANY STUDENTS COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE OUR CULTURE WITH US AND CREATE THESE BEAUTIFUL AOFRENDAS. NOT ONLY DOES OUR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATE BUT WE HAVE AN AMAZING ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT, WITH OVER $6.5 MILLION ESTIMATED AT THE EARLY ONSET. I'M SURE Y'ALL HAVE BEEN CRUNCHING THOSE NUMBERS.

I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU ALL DID IN PUTTING TOGETHER THOSE 83 ALTARS. THANK YOU TO FAITH, JIM, MATT.

WE WERE GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO

SO. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR AND MAYOR NIRENBERG, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF FOR THIS RECOGNITION OF DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AT HEMISFAIR, WHICH JUST PASSED THIS WEEKEND. MY NAME IS JIM AND I'M THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR. THIS IS FAITH, OUR DIRECTOR. THIS IS MY GANG BEHIND ME.

FOR 12 YEARS WE HAVE PRODUCED THIS HEMISFAIR EVENT, WHICH HAS GROWN TO BE THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION. I WOULD LIKE TO QUICKLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE NOT THE FIRST TO DO THIS. WE ARE ON THE BACK OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO STARTED THIS, AS WELL AS THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THEM AS WELL. WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, USA TODAY , NBC, FOOD NETWORK, AND OTHER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA. AND WHILE WE HAVE FIVE STAGES AND A CURATED ART MARKET, THE HEART IS THE ALTARS MADE BY OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE MADE FROM PEOPLE FROM ALL THE DISTRICTS IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND EACH TELLS THE STORY OF A LOVED ONE WHO HAS PASSED.

>> A QUICK THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE SUPPORT FOR THE FESTIVAL.

AND I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY ALSO THANK CITY STAFF THAT HAS HELPED, SPECIFICALLY CCDO, METRO HEALTH, AND ALSO PARKS AND RECREATION AND HEMISFAIR PARK AS WELL WHO HAVE BEEN GREAT SUPPORTERS AND WHO ALLOW US TO DO THIS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE'RE A SMALL TEAM BUT WHEN THIS EVENT COMES UP, WE GROW. WE GROW TREMENDOUSLY AND WHAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS JUST A SMALL PIECE OF THAT GROUP THAT COMES TOGETHER.

THIS YEAR WE HAD 83 ALTAR BUILDERS. SOME ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.

WE ALSO HAD 82 ART VENDORS AT OUR ART MARKET. ALL OF THOSE ARE MICRO-BUSINESSES, PRIMARILY WOMEN OWNED, LATINO OWNED. CHRISTINA MARTINEZ AND CAT CONTRERAS WHO ARE HERE TODAY RAN THAT AND I WANT TO -- I BELIEVE EACH OF YOU HAVE A LITTLE TILE FROM US THAT WAS CREATED BY CHRISTINA HERE. WE ALSO HAVE OUR PROCESSION.

WE HAVE PROCESSION PARTICIPANTS HERE AND THEN WE HAVE OUR ENTIRE TEAM OF PRODUCTION STAFF WHO REALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN. MATT WOLFF, THE ENTIRE

[01:10:04]

OUR PERFORMERS, YOU ARE EMCEES, AND THEN OUR NONPROFIT BENEFICIARY FROM INNER CITY DEVELOPMENT WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS EVENT. IN CLOSING, WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO WATCH THIS SATURDAY, CBS SATURDAY MORNING WILL BE FEATURING THE FEST ON THEIR SHOW SO IT'S ANOTHER NATIONAL EYE ON SAN ANTONIO THAT WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THE EVENTS WERE INCREDIBLE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR'S FESTIVAL. BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF THE LEADUP AND THE EXECUTION OF THE EVENTS. THEY WERE PHENOMENAL.

GREAT JOB. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.

LASTLY, THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION OF 13,000, MAYBE 14,000 PEOPLE.

OF THOSE THOUSANDS, THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTLY HIRES.

AND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WE'VE HAD AND WE'VE HIRED AND REHIRED AND HIRED AGAIN.

THREE MAYORS, I THINK, OVER 40 COUNCIL MEMBERS. SOMEONE WHO HAS REALLY SET THE BAR FOR HIS PROFESSION IN WHAT WAS A FAIRLY NEW POSITION TO THE CITY.

AND THAT IS OUR CITY AUDITOR, KEVIN BARTHOLD. THIS IS HIS FINAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING AS CITY AUDITOR. I WANT TO OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, WHO IS DOING AN UNENVIABLE TASK OF LEADING THE EFFORT TO FIND YOUR REPLACEMENT. KEVIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT CAREER.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I AM GOING TO GO OVER KEVIN'S BIO BECAUSE I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

I WANT TO THANK MELISSA AND YOUR DAUGHTERS FOR SHARING YOU WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR SO LONG. BUT KEVIN WAS APPOINTED SAN ANTONIO CITY AUDITORUD IN FEBRUARY 2012 AFTER SERVING IN AN INTERIM CAPACITY SINCE FEBRUARY 2011.

SOUNDS LIKE THE CITY TAKING A YEAR TO DECIDE. KEVIN JOINED THE CITY IN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND SERVED AS AN AUDIT MANAGER PRIOR TO HIS CURRENT APPOINTMENT.

AS CITY AUDITOR, KEVIN LEADS A TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING PERFORMANCE, COMPLIANCE, AND TECHNOLOGY OF ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES, AGENCIES, AND PROGRAMS. HE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND AS THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE I GET TO SEE HIM AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH, IF NOT MORE, TO TALK ON THESE ISSUES. HE HAS OVER 34 YEARS OF INTERNAL AUDIT EXPERIENCE IN MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES. HE SERVED IN MANAGEMENT CAPACITIES AT USAA, SAN ANTONIO CREDIT UNION, AND ARGO GROUP, INTERNATIONAL. HE SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE INSTITUTE OF INTERNAL AUDITORS, SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER, AND SERVING ON THE SAN ANTONIO ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE ROUNDTABLE. HE SERVED FOR NINE YEARS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL ON THE IIA COMMITTEE OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION WITH OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON THE DIRECTION OF EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH. HE ALSO FREQUENTLY SPEAKS TO ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS GROUPS AT VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES AND PRESENTED AUDIT TOPICS AT THE AUDIT GROUP LUNCHEONS AND CONFERENCES.

HE IS A BIG DEAL IN THE AUDIT WORLD, Y'ALL. JUST IN CASE Y'ALL DIDN'T GET THAT. AND THEN WE ALL KNOW HIS EDUCATION AND TONS OF PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN SAYING GOOD-BYE TO YOU FOR THE LAST MONTH. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STICKING AROUND IN THIS PROCESS. YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS I TOOK AS A CITY COUNCIL PERSON. YOU WERE SO KIND. SO NICE ABOUT MY SISTER.

AND JUST REALLY HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS A TEAM EFFORT AND THAT AUDIT WASN'T ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HEY, WE GOTCHA. IT WAS ABOUT HELPING THE CITY BE BETTER. I THINK THROUGH YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, YOU HAVE BEEN A CRITICAL PART IN MAKING SURE THIS CITY HAS ELEVATED ITS STANCE, ALONG WITH US THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER. SO YOU ARE GOING TO BE MISSED. YOU WILL PROBABLY GET PHONE CALLS FROM ME ABOUT THINGS COMING UP IN AUDITS THAT MAYBE SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES OR THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR. BUT IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE DONE. IT'S HELPED US UNDERSTAND

[01:15:04]

AND YOU'VE DONE THAT AND YOU DO THAT IN YOUR LIFE AND IN YOUR MINISTRY AND WITH YOUR FAMILY AND SO WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU BUT YOU HAVE FOUR DAUGHTERS AND GREAT GRANDKIDS AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE TIME WELL SPENT FOR YOU AND YOUR WIFE, MELISSA. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO AND I'M SURE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, SOME WHO HAVE SERVED LONGER THAN I HAVE, HAVE SOME THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ALSO. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH YOU, KEVIN, ALL FOUR OF MY TERMS. AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN WORKING WITH ME AS A COUNCILMAN, WITH OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE, AND I KNOW WITH THE ENTIRE COUNCIL AND OF COURSE WITH THE CITY MANAGER. YOU'RE HIRED BY THE COUNCIL, NOT BY THE CITY MANAGER SO YOU WORK FOR US. BUT THE WORK YOU'VE OVERSEEN AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE CARRIED OUT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I PARTICULARLY HAVE BEEN PROUD TO WORK WITH YOU ON. I KNOW IT'S JUST GREAT PROFESSIONAL WORK.

I KNOW YOU DEVELOPED A GOOD TEAM AND THAT TEAM'S GOING TO BE IN PLACE.

AND WHOEVER FOLLOWS AFTER YOU I THINK WILL INHERIT A GREAT OPERATION AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPECT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THE YEARS OF SERVICE YOU'VE GIVEN THE CITY AND I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST FOR WHAT YOU PURSUE NEXT.

THANK YOU, KEVIN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANTED TO THANK YOU, KEVIN FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND EVERY TIME I RECEIVE A MEMO ABOUT A CITY EMPLOYEE RETIRING, MY TEAM AND I ARE ALWAYS LIKE, NO! WHILE I DON'T SERVE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MEETINGS THAT I'VE LOOKED FORWARD TO IS WHEN I GET TO SIT WITH KEVIN AND GIVE A LIST OF PIECES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GO UNDER THE HOOD AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THERE.

AND THROUGH A LOT OF THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET ACCOUNTABILITY AND MAKE MUCH-NEEDED CHANGES WITH DIFFERENT PIECES.

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP AND OF COURSE THE TEAM YOU HAVE CREATED HERE.

I KNOW THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO GREAT WORK BUT YOU ARE ONE OF THE CITY'S GREATEST ASSETS AND MY TEAM, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, THEY'RE LIKE, WHY DON'T WE CONDUCT AN AUDIT? THAT'S WHEN WE REACH THANK YOU SO MUCH, KEVIN,

AND GOOD LUCK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. KEVIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'M SAD TO SEE YOU GO. I FEEL LIKE I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR SO LONG AND YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE STAFF HAVE BEEN SO PROFESSIONAL AND ALLOWED US TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO. ALSO I'M GOING TO MISS THE FACT THAT YOU ALWAYS PINCH HIT FOR US JUST IN CASE WE NEED SOMEONE TO DELIVER THE INVOCATION BECAUSE IF YOU ALL DIDN'T KNOW, KEVIN IS A PASTOR AT A CHURCH IN D4.

ANY TIME WE NEED A BACKUP, HE IS THERE. THANK YOU TO THE HILLS CHURCH FOR ALLOWING YOU TO VISIT WITH THEM AND BRING THE MESSAGE TO THEM AS WELL.

THE AUDIT PLANS THAT YOU HAVE CREATED I THINK ARE WONDERFUL.

I THINK YOU REALLY HELPED US, LIKE THE COUNCILMAN SAID, TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AT SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS. I READ ALL OF YOUR AUDITS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AND THEN I JUST EMAIL OR SET UP MEETINGS WITH THE DIRECTORS TO ASK THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT. AND SO I DO APPRECIATE THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES, SO WHOEVER YOU ARE TRAINING TO DO THAT, MAKE SURE THEY ALSO HAVE THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

SOMETIMES I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT BEFORE I DECIDE IF I'M GOING TO HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. I JUST APPRECIATE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE THOSE READY TO GO. AND I JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE YOU AS EASILY AS WE THINK THAT WE CAN, BUT I ALSO AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU BUILT A GREAT TEAM AND EVERYBODY ON YOUR STAFF IS JUST SO PROFESSIONAL, SO QUALIFIED AND SO ABLE TO DO THE WORK.

SO I'M SURE THEY ARE GOING TO MISS YOU AS WELL AS MUCH AS WE DO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M KIND OF JEALOUS COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE GOT YOU FOR ALL FOUR TERMS. I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOU WERE ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS I HAD WHEN I GOT HERE.

[01:20:08]

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE COMING IN AND CHECKING UP ON YOU, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM HERE AND FROM I KNOW ERIK AND THE REST OF THE CITY STAFF THAT THEY REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU DO THE WORK WITH HUMILITY, WITH LEADERSHIP.

NOW THAT I KNOW YOU ARE A PASTOR, I UNDERSTAND THAT ENERGY.

I'M GOING TO MISS YOU. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE YEARS OF SERVICE YOU HAVE COMMITTED TO THE CITY AND I HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK AND TRAIN WHOEVER COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN TRAINS AND TEACH THEM SOME WISDOM, IMPART ON THEM YOUR WISDOM.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: KEVIN, JUST WANT TO ADD MY THANKS AS WELL. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE AS LONG AS SOME OF THESE OTHER FOLKS, BEEN ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE A YEAR AND A HALF.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY NEED TO BE A HALLMARK OF WHAT WE DO AROUND HERE AND THERE'S SO MUCH DISTRUST IN GOVERNMENT TODAY FROM THE PUBLIC OF ALL LEVELS. AND SO THE WORK YOU DO IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, THE WORK YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY AND IT'S BEEN GREAT GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND SO

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: KEVIN, I'VE BEEN MAKING SOME NOTES.

I'VE GOTTEN TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU AND WATCHING YOU WORK AND I HAVE A SMALL REPORT TO GIVE YOU. BASED ON THE COLLECTED EVIDENT THAT I'VE ANALYZED, AND I DO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF TELLING YOU MY UNQUALIFIED OPINION ON YOUR EFFECTIVENESS IS THAT YOU HAD EXCELLENT INTERNAL CONTROLS, YOU WERE ALWAYS VERY COMPLIANT, 5:00 ACTIVE AND TRANSPARENCY AND AFTER A THOROUGH SEARCH I HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY INFIX OR VULNERABILITYS IN YOU. AKIN, I --

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT YOU YOU ARE VERY CANDID. I WOULD SAY THAT YOU WIELD YOUR PEN LIKE A SWORD, BUT IT'S MORE LIKE THE SPREAD SHEETS BUT IT'S TO PROTECT THE CITY AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR NEVER ENDEAVOR. REALLY BIG SHOES TO FILL.

THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: WELL, IT'S VERY CLEAR YOU ARE GOING TO BE MISSED.

I KNOW WE HAVE BONDED ON PREVIOUS WORK HISTORY AND IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU AND JUST WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE. MAYBE WE CAN RULE YOU IN TO

HELP TRAIN THE NEXT MEMBER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. IT WAS GREAT SERVING ON THE AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE LAST TERM WITH YOU AND I ENJOY READING ALL THE AUDITS.

AND OFTENTIMES BECAUSE CONSTITUENTS WILL COME TO US WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT DEPARTMENTS AND THERE'S A VERY NICHE AND OFTEN THERE'S AN AUDIT THAT SAYS THIS IS GOING WELL AND THIS IS THE REASON FOR YOUR CONCERN OR THIS IS GOING WRONG AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING ON A FIX TO YOUR CONCERN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN BUILDING THE TRUST WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND I CAN THINK OF --W PEOPLE MORE DESERVING OF A RETIREMENT. SO CONGRATULATIONS, ENJOY IT. I HOPE YOU GET TO TRAVEL AND VACATION WITH YOUR FAMILY.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. KEVIN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. I'VE BEEN UP AT THIS PODIUM SEVERAL TIMES.

I THINK THIS IS THE HARDEST ONE OF THOSE. AND I WAS SITTING BACK HERE THINKING THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN THESE CHAMBERS WAS IN 2002.

I APPLIED FOR THE AT AUDITOR POSITION, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST AUDITOR, I FINISHED SECOND PLACE. THAT WAS A GOOD DECISION BECAUSE HE WASN'T READY.

WENT BACK AND A FEW YEARS LATER I WAS BACK HERE. I'VE CERTAINLY APPRECIATED

[01:25:02]

I THINK THE CURRENT COUNCIL AND OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL AND SUPPORTIVE, RAY SALDANA, COUNCILMEMBER REED WILLIAMS, ALLYSA CHAN AND HELPED US BUILD WHAT WE HAVE TODAY. IT WASN'T JUST ME BUILDING IT, IT WAS WORKING WITH CITY MANAGERS AND HIS TEAM WHO HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE AND MY TEAM. WE HAVE BUILT AN INCREDIBLE AUDIT TEAM THAT I'LL PUT UP AGAINST ANY OTHER MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AUDIT TEAM IN THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE RESPECTED IN THE INDUSTRY, WE'RE RESPECTED EVEN WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE -- FOR OUR AUDIT DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE DO AS A TEAM.

I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WE DO HAVE A GREAT TEAM HERE AND IT WILL CONTINUE. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS REPLACEABLE.

IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, THERE'S GOING TO BE CHANGES, BUT WHOEVER THAT NEXT PERSON IS THAT YOU ALL APPOINT, I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THEM, HELPING THEM OUT FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND TO BUILD THIS TEAM EVEN BETTER. WE ALL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE ARE ONE TEAM AND WE WILL SUCCESSOR FAIL AS THAT TEAM.

WE ALL PLAY OUR ROLES TO MAKE US BETTER AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH GREAT SUPPORT. CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. MAYOR, I'VE TOLD YOU AND OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS BEFORE, I'M NOT GOING TOO FAR. I WAS BORN FOUR BLOCKS AWAY, THIS IS AS FAR AS I'VE MADE IT SO FAR. NOT GOING TO GO TOO FAR, BUT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE SERVING THE CITY, WHATEVER IS THAT ROLE MAY BE. BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT.

AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE VERY KIND WORDS AND IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE

SERVING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU LEAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NOW WE'LL GO TO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. WE'LL START WITH ITEM NUMBER

4. >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 4 IS AN ORDINANCE CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF VALERIE FRAUSTO AS CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF

SAN ANTONIO. [APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M PROUD TO BRING BEFORE YOU MY APPOINTMENT OF VALERIE FRAUSTO AS THE NEXT SAN ANTONIO FIRE CHIEF. THE FIRE CHIEF PROCESS BEGAN IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

WE HAD 69 APPLICATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED AND HAD AN EXCELLENT GROUP OF BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL APPLICANTS INTERESTED IN OUR FIRE CHIEF POSITION.

THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS AN UNPARALLELED REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY SO IT WAS NO SURPRISE WE WERE GOING TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION. CHIEF FRAUSTO EMERGED AS THE TOP CANDIDATE THROUGH A LONG PROCESS THAT INVOLVED -- WE THOUGHT IT WAS EIGHT DIFFERENT INTERVIEW PHASES, IT WAS ACTUALLY NINE. AND I AM -- I HAVE GOT COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN VALERIE'S ABILITY AND TRUST IN HER TO CONTINUE TO LEAD AND ELEVATE THE -- ONE OF THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY AND THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND PROVIDE THE ULTIMATE LIFE SAFETY SERVICES AS WELL AS GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. VALERIE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO. SHE STARTED HER CAREER WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN AUGUST OF 2000. AND HAS STEADILY MOVED THROUGH THE RANKS OVER HER 24-YEAR CAREER. SHE SPENT THE FIRST 15 YEARS OF HER CAREER IN THE FIRE FIGHTING AND EMS DIVISIONS AS A FIRE FIRE FIGHT AND IN 12015 SHE WAS THE DIVISION CHIEF OVER THE COMMUNICATIONS AND DISPATCH AND TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION. IN 2017 SHE WAS IN THE RANK

[01:30:02]

DURING THAT TIME SHE LAUNCHED THE HERO LIKE HER RECRUITING CAMPAIGN TO BREAK BARRIERS THAT DETER YOUNG WOMEN IN PURSUING THIS HISTORICALLY MALE DOMINATED CAREER. IN 2022 SHE -- SHE WENT ON TO GET CERTIFIED AND EARN THE SUBSEQUENT TITLE OF FIRE MARSHAL FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND AN UNDERTAKING THAT WAS NOT EASY. SINCE JANUARY OF 2024, VALUE RAY -- I APPOINTED HER AS INTERIM DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES IN A ROLE SHE'S BEEN PLAYING SINCE EARLIER THIS YEAR. I -- I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS FROM THE APPLICANTS THAT WERE INTERESTED IN BECOMING PART OF OUR FAMILY WITH THE CITY AND OUR TEAM. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE EMPLOYEES THAT PARTICIPATED IN OUR EMPLOYEE FOCUS GROUPS, OUR EMPLOYEE SURVEY.

STAKEHOLDERS THAT ALSO PARTICIPATED ON OUR INTERVIEW PANELS.

AND I AM REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I'M ABLE TO APPOINT SOMEONE FROM WITHIN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO LEAD OUR DEPARTMENT GOING FORWARD AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY FACE IN THE FUTURE.

AND I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN VAL AND HER ABILITIES.

BEFORE I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, MAYOR, I DID WANT TO THANK CHIEF CHRIS WHO HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR OF LEADING THE DEPARTMENT OVER THE LAST TEN MONTHS IN A VERY STEADY AND EFFECTIVE WAY.

AND HE WILL RESUME HIS DUTIES AS DEPUTY CHIEF OVER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TOMORROW. I AM SUPER EXCITED AND READY.

I KNOW CHIEF FRAUSTO IS AS WELL AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE ROOM TODAY TO INDICATE THEIR SUPPORT OF CHIEF

FRAUSTO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK. THE ITEM FOR US TODAY IS THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF VALERIE FRAUSTO AS CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 4. WE'LL GO INTO THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION. I'LL START BY SAYING, CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS.

WE WERE SO LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR FAMILY, BOTH YOUR OWN BLOOD FAMILY BUT ALSO YOUR FAMILY IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

YOU ALREADY MAKE US PROUD AND WE KNOW YOU WILL TAKE THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR PERSONNEL TO NEW HEIGHTS UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, SO CONGRATULATIONS.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE ALWAYS ASSERT WE HAVE THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY AND I THINK IT MAKES SENSE YOU WOULD BE SELECTED TO LEAD IT. IT'S WORTHY OF CELEBRATION YOU WILL BE THE FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT. [APPLAUSE] IT SIGNIFIES A LARGE STATE REPRESENTATIVE -- STEP FORWARD AND THERE ARE GIRLS AROUND THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY WHO WILL SEE YOU AND KNOW THEY TOO CAN SERVE IN ONE OF THE BIGGEST, TOUGHEST, MOST DEMANDING JOBS IN THE COUNTRY AS A FIREFIGHTER AND THEY ARE CAPABLE OF LEADING THE DEPARTMENT ONCE THEY DO.

BUT AND THAT SHOULD NOT OVERSHADOW THE FACT YOU ARE POISED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST QUALIFIED FIRE CHIEFS WE'VE EVER HAD AND THE FACT YOU HAVE SERVED OUR CITY FOR THE PAST 24 YEARS AND SERVED IN EVERY DIVISION EXCEPT ONE IS WILD.

WITH EACH OF THOSE EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE A SKILL WHICH CANNOT BE TAUGHT WHICH IS EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING. EVERY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE DEPARTMENT HAVE IN YOU A LEADER WHO GETS THAT AND HAS LIVED IT.

I'M EXCITED TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU, CHIEF, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND CHIEF, I'M JUST SO EXCITED.

I'VE BEEN EXCITED SINCE ERIK CENTS OUT THE MEMO. MY ENTIRE TEAM WAS TO HAPPY

[01:35:04]

WE CAN'T GET ANYWHERE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR FAMILIES.

AND ALSO YOUR WIFE IS HERE. EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO SUPPORT THEM.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO GET YOU HERE AND THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO TO SUPPORT YOU IN THE FUTURE. TODAY MARKS THE HISTORIC OCCASION IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT OF A REMARKABLE INDIVIDUAL WHO WILL ENTHUSIASTICALLY LEAD OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SINCE I FIRST MET YOU, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH JUST YOUR CONFIDENCE AND YOUR ABILITIES AND I'M JUST EXCITED BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST SO BOLD AND COURAGEOUS IN A MALE-DOMINATED FIELD. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR EXHIBITING TENACITY AND DETERMINATION THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SEE THE INVOLVEMENT OF CAMP HERO LIKE HER. YOU AND THE WOMEN AT THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE WORKED TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG GIRLS TO EXPLORE A CAREER IN FIREFIGHTING. DURING MY FIRST TERM I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CAMP HERO LIKE HER AND BLOWN AWAY BY THE LEVEL OF POSITIVE ACTIVITY AND DEDICATION OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED AND I KNOW ANGELA MARIE ARE IS HERE AND THANK HER FOR SUPPORT. I'M WEARING MY SHIRT TODAY AND TO THE GIRLS EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT AND CAN'T WIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR WHEN THE PARTICIPANTS GET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY. WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY OF WOMEN IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT NEXT YEAR COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

I'M SO PROUD TO SAY WE HAVE YOU AS FIRE CHIEF AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES WHAT THEY CAN DO TO INCREASE WOMEN IN THIS TRADITIONALLY MALE-DOMINATED AREA. I COMMEND YOU FOR IT. BY SHARING YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES AND VOICING VULNERABILITIES, YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED TO BE A TRUE LEADER PREPARED TO TACKLE CHALLENGES WITH COMPASSION AND PERSEVERANCE.

YOU NEVER LET ANYONE INTIMIDATE YOU, STAND FIRMLY.

AS WOMEN NAVIGATING THIS CAN BE CHALLENGE AND WE ALL KNOW THE COUNTLESS HURDLES TO JUMP TO GET CREDIT OR RECOGNITION. THIS DAY WILL BE ONE OF MANY MEMORIES BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A YOUNG GIRL OUT THERE WHO SEES THIS AND DECIDES TO PURSUE A CAREER IN FIREFIGHTING AND ONE DAY SHE WILL BE ABLE TO BE JUST LIKE CHIEF FRAUSTO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS A POSSIBLE FUTURE FOR MANY GIRLS. TODAY WE ALL WIN.

TODAY WOMEN WIN. TODAY YOUNG GIRLS WIN AND I'M GETTING SO EMOTIONAL JUST BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITING IT IS THAT IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS FOR WOMEN. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BELIEVE AND DREAM WITH

YOU AND WE ARE HERE TO CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. VAL, CHIEF FRAUSTO, CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, TO YOUR FAMILY AND FOR ALL YOUR DEDICATION TO HER SERVICE AND ALLOWING HER TO DO WHAT SHE DOES FOR ALL OF US.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, ERIK AND THE TEAM FOR SUCH A GREAT SELECTION FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE'S A LOT TO CELEBRATE. YOU ARE THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE. YOU HAVE RISEN UP THROUGH THE RANKS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU ARE A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN, THE FIRST WOMAN, THE FIRST LATINA.

IN FACT, THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO HEAD OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S MEANINGFUL TO ALL OF US. YOUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE.

YOU'VE ALREADY SHOWN SO MUCH LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING FORTH THE HERO LIKE HER PROGRAM AND WE'VE GONE AND SPOKEN AT THOSE PROGRAMS AND SEEING ALL THE YOUNG FACES EXCITED TO DO WHAT YOU DO. I DON'T KNOW THAT NECESSARILY WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU DIDN'T START THAT PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YOU CAME THE OTHER NIGHT TO TALK TO DISTRICT 6 AND IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME SPEAKING IN FRONT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. LOTS OF PEOPLE AND YOU WERE UP THERE, A NATURAL BORN LEADER. YOU CLEARLY MEANT TO BE UP THERE AND TALKING ABOUT FIRE SAFETY AND ALL THE THINGS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES. THERE'S ONE THING I REALLY APPRECIATED TO MAKE SURE OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO DO THEIR JOBS AND BE SAFE AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AT THE END OF THE DAY,

[01:40:03]

WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF SUPPORT ONLINE, THE COMMUNITY HAS RESTEN UP TO SUPPORT YOU.

TODAY TO SUPPORT YOU AND WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO NOW THAT YOU ARE IN THE LEADERSHIP POSITION AND THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY BARRIERS IN YOUR WAY. I'M PROUD OF YOU. I TOLD YOU THAT EVENING THAT I WANT TO SEE YOU SUCCEED AND I'M GOING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO HELP YOU AND OUR

FIREFIGHTERS SUCCEED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. [APPLAUSE]

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

TODAY WE CELEBRATE A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR THE CITY AND OUR SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT. MY STAFF WENT AND DID RESEARCH AND ABOUT 6% OF THE MORE THAN 22,000 FIRE CHIEFS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE WOMEN.

WELCOME TO THE 6%. CHIEF FROES STROW, AND WELCOME TO THE 6% CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I'M HONORED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR NEW ROLE OF FIRE CHIEF. COMING FROM SAN ANTONIO, YOU UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY, YOU UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE, YOU'VE BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND YOU'VE BEEN A DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL SERVING OUR CITY FOR 24 YEARS INYE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. YOUR BACKGROUND IS A TESTAMENT TO YOUR HARD WORK, YOUR RESILIENCY AND COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY. WHILE YES, THIS WAS 24 YEARS MALE OR FEMALE, THIS WAS YOUR POSITION, BUT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING WOMEN AT THE HELM IN LEADERSHIP ROLES SUCH AS THIS.

AS YOU STEP INTO YOUR NEW ROLE AS A FIRE CHIEF, YOU WILL LEAD THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN ITS MISSION TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY WHILE PRIORITIZING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS WITH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AS A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN IN THIS MALE-DOMINATED FIELD FOR 24 YEARS.

SO BECAUSE OF THIS EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN FIRE PREVENTION, RECRUITMENT, PUBLIC OUTREACH POSITIONS, YOU WILL GUIDE THE DEPARTMENT INTO A NEW ERA. AND THIS NEW ERA WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT LEADS AS IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS NATION IN ITS PRACTICES AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE ENTIRE NATION HERE IN WHAT WE DO BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP. SO CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF FRAUSTO.

WE ARE PROUD OF YOUR CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CHIEF, ARE YOU NERVOUS? >> A LITTLE BIT. >> COURAGE: I CAN IMAGINE.

>> I'M FIDGETING. >> GARCIA: I REMEMBER STANDING BEFORE COUNCIL MANY YEARS AGO AND MY KNEES ARE SHAKING BECAUSE YOU ARE TALKING TO THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL AND YOU ARE TALKING TO YOUR BOSSES, SO TO SPEAK.

WE GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER AND HE'S THE ONE THAT MAKES THOSE KIND OF DECISIONS AND I THINK HE'S MADE A GREAT DECISION BRINGING YOU FORWARD AS THE NEXT CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. YOU HEAR A LOT OF ACCOLADES FROM MANY OF US WHO HAVE WATCHED OR LISTENED OR LEARNED ABOUT YOUR PROGRESS, AND I THINK ALL OF THAT IS WELL DESERVED. BUT I THINK THAT IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE OF YOU THAT IS ROLE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU BRING TO THIS CITY TO IN AUDIO]. USE OF EXPERIENCE AND YOUR SKILLS AND YOUR ABILITY AND YOUR CONFIDENCE. AND ALL OF THOSE ARE WHAT IT TAKES TO REALLY LEAD A GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN IN SUCH A CHALLENGING CAREER AS FIREFIGHTING.

AND I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE UP TO IT AND I HOPE TO SEE THE VERY BEST OF YOU COME OUT AS YOUR LEADERSHIP PROGRESSES WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF.

BEFORE HOW EXCITED THEY WERE YOU WERE GOING TO BE THEIR CHIEF.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I WAS THE ONE THAT STARTED THE MOVE TO INTERRUPT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, BUT IT IS SO EXCITING TO HAVE A CHIEF OF THE 7TH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY BE A FEMALE FIRE CHIEF.

AS A MAJORITY EVACUEE MAIL COUNCIL WE COULD NOT BE MORE THRILLED BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I IMAGINE YOU WERE NOT THE ONLY ONE.

[01:45:03]

>> I WAS ONE OF THREE. >> KAUR: I WOULD LOVE TO SEE EVEN MORE AND I KNOW YOU WILL PUSH THAT FORWARD. THE THING THAT EXCITED ME MOST, YOU SAID I WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD BE STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TODAY AS A CHIEF AND THAT'S HOW I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE A GREAT LEADER YOU, COME AT THIS FROM THE SPACE OF HUMILITY AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO FOR THE CITY WITH THE

COMMUNICATION AS WELL. THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF, THIS IS SUCH A HUGE DAY. SO EXCITED.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE WAS SELECTED. IT'S AWESOME TO SEE THAT YOU ARE BORN AND RAISED HERE AND THAT YOU WORKED YOUR WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS GAINING VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND RESPECT. I LOVE THAT STORY. AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS HISTORICAL AS THE FIRST FEMALE FIRE CHIEF THE CITY HAS EVER SEEN.

PART OF THE REASON I WAS LATE TODAY IS BECAUSE I HAD MY DAUGHTER'S HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL PARADE, AND IT WAS AWESOME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL MOMS ARE FOCUSED ON SCHOOL MOM STUFF, AND THEY HAD -- THEY STOPPED ME AND SAID HEY, WHEN IS THE NEW FIRE CHIEF GOING TO GET SOLIDIFIED. I WAS LIKE WOW, THEY ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND EVERYONE IS NOTICING AND IT FEELS SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU LEAD OUR -- OUR FIREFIGHTERS. AND I KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY AS A FEMALE WORKING YOUR WAY UP THROUGH A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY IS NO EASY FEAT AND YOU ARE KILLING IT. WE'RE ALL HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.

THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY FOR LENDING YOU TO US AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU NEED.

THANKS SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS.

REALLY ENJOYED OUR 20-MINUTE VISIT THE OTHER DAY. IT WAS GREAT GETTING TO KNOW YOU A LITTLE BIT. THE HISTORIC NATURE OF YOUR APPOINTMENT I THINK IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED. BUT I KNOW FOR ALL OF US, ME INCLUDED, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIRED THE MOST QUALIFIED, THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB. [APPLAUSE] AND IN TALKING WITH ERIK AND HEARING ABOUT THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'VE DONE THAT.

AND I'LL TELL YOU JUST THIS WEEK I WAS OVER AT FIRE STATION 14 IN MY DISTRICT AND TALKING TO SOME OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THERE AND THEY HAD NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOU, AND THAT TRACKS WITHIST CALLS AND THE EMAILS AND THE TEXT MESSAGES I'VE RECEIVED SINCE THIS NEWS BROKE ABOUT YOU, YOUR CHARACTER, YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, YOUR WORK ETHIC. AND SO VERY PLEASED THAT

WE'RE HERE TODAY AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. >> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

>> PELÁEZ: CHIEF, BE IT RESOLVED THAT TODAY IS DIA SPACE DE LA CHIEF.

CONGRATULATIONS. I'M LOOKING AT YOU, CAN YOU HOLD UP YOUR ARMS. LOOK AT THESE STRIPES, FOLKS. LOOK AT THIS.

[APPLAUSE] YOU'VE EARNED EVERY STRING HE WILL ONE OF THOSE -- SINGLE ONE OF THOSE. HOW MANY YEARS WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO?

>> 24 YEARS. >> PELÁEZ: AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE STRIPES IS YOURS.

NOBODY CAN TAKE THOSE AWAY FROM YOU. ASIDE FROM THE FACT YOU CAN LAND A PLANE WITH THOSE THINGS IF YOU HOLD THEM UP, YOU LOOK GOOD IN STRIPES, CHIEF. IT'S A BIG DAY. WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT WHY THIS IS AN HISTORIC DAY. IT'S HISTORIC. YOU ARE A LATINA, OUR VERY FIRST ONE. I GOT TO TELL YOU, IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE CONDUCTED A NATIONAL SEARCH.

CHIEF FRAUSTO, YOU WERE UP AGAINST THE BEST OF THE BEST OF THIS ENTIRE NATION AND AT THE END OF THE DAY RIGHT UNDER OUR VERY NOSES WE FOUND THE CHIEF WE HAVE BEEN TRAINING FOR MORE UNANIMOUS 20 YEARS TO TAKE THIS POSITION.

I CAN'T BE MORE PROUD OF YOU, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PROUD OF THE PROGRAM, ERIK.

OUR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKS.

IT BUBBLES UP TO THE TOP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING WONDERFUL THINGS AND LEADING. I SEE A LOT OF MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE AND IN WHITE OUT HERE AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU, BUT FOLKS LIKE STEVEN OVER HERE, OUR BATTALION CHIEF, IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE. AND THEN I'VE GOT PEOPLE IN THE SUBSTATIONS OVER IN MY

[01:50:01]

AND I THINK YOU BRING THAT TO THE TABLE. THOSE OF YOU THAT I'VE TALKED TO, THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING, CLASS AND HUMILITY. A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

AND LASTLY, CHIEF, I GOT TO TELL YOU, I THINK IT'S SO IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU STARTED AT THE VERY BOTTOM. PUTTING ON BOOTS AND RUNNING TOWARDS THE FIRE AND NOW YOU ARE LEADING MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS BIG ORGANIZATION. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU GOT TO PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE EQUIPMENT, THAT YOU ACTUALLY -- YOU HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE OTHER CANDIDATES FROM AROUND THE NATION WOULD HAVE EVER BEEN ABLE TO BRING TO THE TABLE AND IT MIGHT BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU BRING TO THE TABLE IS THAT YOU ARE A SAN ANTONIAN SERVING SAN ANTONIANS. TODAY IS A DAY TO CELEBRATE. YOU ARE GOING TO GET MOBBED BY EVERYBODY AFTER YOU STEP AWAY FROM THE PODIUM. TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

IT'S YOUR DAY, CHIEF. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF. THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION AND IN TERMS OF CONSTITUENT FEEDBACK, THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ONE OF THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE SATISFACTION RATES THAN ANY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT. AND IT TAKES EVERY FIREFIGHTER, EVERY PARAMEDIC, EVERY INVESTIGATOR, EVERY INDIVIDUAL AT THAT FIRE HOUSE, IT TAKES TEAM WORK. AND IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT THE MOST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL HAS WORKED THEIR WAY THROUGH THE RANKS IN THE SAN~ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL. I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL AND EAGER TO HIT THAT APPROVE BUTTON WHEN WE TAKE A VOTE, BUT TO EMPHASIZE THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE ENTIRE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT MAKES SENSE SOMEONE WHO HAS MOVED THROUGH THE RANKS IS THE MOST QUALIFIED AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU AND EMPHASIZING THE FACT YOU ARE FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND KNOW THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF EVERY ASPECT OF THE CITY. DEPENDING WHERE YOU WORK, AND I KNOW YOU MOVE TO DIFFERENT FIRE STATIONS AND THERE'S SUCH DIVERSITY AND NEED THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND YOU HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING FOLKS -- WORKING WITH FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HITTING THAT YES BUTTON. THANK YOU, CHIEF.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. CHIEF, BEFORE WE DO GET TO HIT THAT BUTTON, THIS IS

YOUR DAY SO THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> WELL, GOOD MORNING, FIRST OF ALL, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I DIDN'T WANT TO FORGET ANYBODY SO I DID BRING NOTES WITH YOU. BUT AS A NEWLY APPOINTED FIRE CHIEF, I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO LEADING THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S ALREADY AN EXCEPTIONAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT I AM GOING TO MAKE IT THE ABSOLUTE BEST.

THE ROLE OF FIRE CHIEF IS REALLY SOMETHING I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY.

IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE ASPIRED TO BE BUT I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD BE THE FIRE CHIEF OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS IS THE PROUDEST MOMENT BY FAR AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS WITHOUT CRYING, BUT I ALREADY WAS SUPER PROUD TO WEAR THIS PATCH AND NOW EVEN MORE SO. AND I EXPECT THE SAME FROM ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT I WILL BE LEADING. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU TO MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY AND EXTENDED FAMILY, THE ONES IN UNIFORM THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE HERE AND THOSE THAT WILL AT THE STATION OR AT HOME, THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING YOUR LEADER. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HOLD ON A MINUTE. LET'S MAKE IT OFFICIAL, THEN WE CAN GIVE HER A STANDING OVATION. LET'S PUSH THE BUTTON.

PLEASE VOTE. [APPLAUSE] NOW IT'S OFFICIAL.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU SO. AND I DIDN'T EVEN REFER TO

[01:55:17]

MY NOTES, BY THE WAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ONE MORE STEP AND WE GET TO SEE YOU SWORN IN, CHIEF.

[02:02:54]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ERIK, BEFORE WE GET TO OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, I WANT TO GIVE THE FLOOR BACK TO YOU FOR ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT. BUT JUST IN KEEPING WITH THE THEME OF THE LAST COUPLE OF ITEMS OF HUMILITY, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR A REMARKABLE CAREER OF ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF KAREN FOX WHO HAS SERVED WITH INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT WITH THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 35 YEARS. [APPLAUSE] SO KAREN WAS SWORN IN -- INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER OF 1989.

ACTUALLY I LEARNED YESTERDAY SHE WAS IN THE VERY FIRST CLASS THAT GRADUATED FROM THE CURRENT ACADEMY WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW. KAREN BEGAN HER JOURNEY ON PATROL AND THEN MOVING UP TO DETECTIVE. HER DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT EARLY ON AS SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY IN AREAS SUCH AS THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT AND THE GANG UNIT. THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, ASSISTANT CHIEF FOX ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS, PROMOTED TO SERGEANT IN 20002.

AND THEN A LISTEN -- LISTEN LIEUTENANT WHERE SHE BEGAN SHAPING FUTURE POLICE OFFICERS THROUGH THE PROBLEM ORIENTED POLICING UNIT AND AT THE AIRPORT FOR A STINT N2018 SHE WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN, TAKING THE ROLE OF THE COMMANDER OF THE CHIEF'S TECHNOLOGY TEAM WHICH WAS MAYBE NOT ONE OF HER ASPIRATIONAL DEEMS BUT SHE WAS THE PERFECT PERSON FOR IT AND LED A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES THAT HAVE FRANKLY TRANSFORMED HOW THE DEPARTMENT OPERATES TODAY. HER PROMOTION TO DEPUTY

[02:05:07]

IN MARCH 2022, ASSISTANT CHIEF FOX WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT CHIEF AND OVERSEEING THE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

KAREN LEAVES BEHIND A LEGACY OF ACHIEVEMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT INCLUDING SIMPLE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR LARGE POLICE DEPARTMENT LIKE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MARK 33 RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT PATROL OFFICERS TOUCH EVERY SINGLE DAY. SA-CORE, WHICH HAS BEEN SOMETHING YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT THAT HAD BEEN A PRIORITY THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. ESTABLISHING, HELPING ESTABLISH THE PROPERTY CRIMES TASK FORCE IN A NEW INNOVATIVE WAY. AND SO KAREN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT, YOUR LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE CITY AND ULTIMATELY THE LASTING IMPACT THAT YOU WILL HAVE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. CONGRATULATIONS ON A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT.

[APPLAUSE] MAY YOU -- MAY THE NEXT STAGE OF YOUR LIFE BE AS FULFILLING AND DON'T EVER HESITATE TO CALL US IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, BUT I'M ALWAYS POSITIVE CHIEF MCMANUS IS GOING TO BE CALLING YOU.

35 YEARS IS A LONG TIME, WE APPRECIATE THE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CHIEF, I HAVE I WE ALSO WANT TO GO AROUND HERE BECAUSE WE'VE ALL GOTTEN THE BENEFIT OF WORKING WITH YOU A NUMBER OF YEARS. AS BITTERSWEET AS IT IS TO SEE YOU LEAVE THE DEPARTMENT, THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO WORK AS LONG AS YOU DO, AS DEDICATED AS YOU DO. ACTUALLY I TAKE THAT BACK.

THE DEDICATION OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES BAR NONE IS EXTRAORDINARY, BUT THE WORK YOU DO IS ALSO DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME. AND SO YOU DESERVE SOME NEW VISTAS AND SOME VERY WELL REWARDED NEW PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF YOUR CHOOSING.

WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOUR BARBECUE AS WELL. SO I HOPE YOU DON'T GO TOO FAR, WHICH I UNDERSTAND MIGHT STILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS WELL.

WE ALWAYS HAVE APPRECIATED YOUR FRIENDSHIP AS WELL AS YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITY.

I WILL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. I WAS THINKING BACK TO THAT ONE EVENT THAT WE DID WHERE IT WAS LIKE TRAINING POTENTIAL CADETS TO GO INTO THE POLICE FORCE. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE GIVING SO MANY -- SOME COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN OUR POLICE FORCE BECAUSE WOMEN CAN COMBAT THESE ISSUES A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

AND I WOULD ARGUE SOMETIMES MORE EFFECTIVELY, YOU KNOW. >> SO WOULD I.

>> GAVITO: AND I THOUGHT THAT YOUR COMMENTS WERE SO SPOT ON.

AND I WENT HOME THINKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I DO FEEL THAT AS WE DO INCREASE THE WOMEN IN OUR POLICE FORCE, WE WILL ONLY BECOME STRONGER AND BETTER.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THOSE COMMENTS, FOR INSPIRING THOSE WOMEN, BUT ALSO SHOWING A LEADERSHIP PATH FOR THEM TOO. THEY CAN GET INTO THE POLICE FORCE, AND AGAIN LIKE WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, WHAT YOU SEE YOU CAN BE. AND THEN I THINK I STAYED FOR THE WORKOUT WITH YOU ALL AFTERWARDS, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN. BUT ALSO TOO I DID WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THE SA-CORE TEAM. I KNOW THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR ALL OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK ON THAT AS WELL AS EVERYTHING ELSE. WE ARE GOING TO MISS SEEING YOU AROUND. YOU'VE ALWAYS SUCH A WARM, APPROACHABLE SMILE AND

REALLY JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. >> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU,

[02:10:01]

HEALTH UNIT AND SA-CORE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CHIEF, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN YOU WORK OVER THE LAST SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AND I THINK YOU REALLY SET A STANDARD. NOT JUST FOR WOMEN WHO MAY WANT TO ENTER INTO THE FORCE, BUT FOR THE MEN THAT YOU SERVED WITH, THE MEN AND WOMEN YOU SERVED WITH. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

PEOPLE NEED ROLE MODELS AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU TRIED TO PROVIDE THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SET GOOD EXAMPLES FOR PEOPLE IN THE POLICE FORCE AND I THINK THE STANDARD THAT YOU SET, THE ROLE MODEL THAT YOU ARE IS GOING TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO ENTER INTO POLICE WORK.

IT'S SO CHALLENGING. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING US FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND FOR

DOING THE BEST YOU COULD TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO

HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CHIEF FOX, YOU'VE BEEN A REMARKABLE LEADER. IT'S NO WONDER YOU WERE CALLED TO SERVICE. YOU COME FROM A HISTORY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN YOUR FAMILY, BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL IT BROUGHT YOU TO SAN ANTONIO.

YOU'VE LEFT A SIGNIFICANT LEGACY OF DEDICATION AND RESILIENCE.

WE WORKED CLOSELY ON THE SA-CORE TEAM, STARTED MANY YEARS AGO, AND ACTUALLY THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, LONG BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, BUT IT'S REALLY EVOLVED UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP SO THANK YOU.

I WANT TO JUST NOTE WHILE YOU LEAVE THIS INCREDIBLE LEGACY OF SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO, I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE TO MEET YOUR DAUGHTER A WHILE BACK AND THAT'S YOUR GREAT LEGACY. IS SHE HERE? GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

FOR YOU TO SEE YOU HERE AFTER 31 YEARS OF SERVICE AND HOPEFULLY SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME WITH HER. I'M SO THANKFUL THAT YOU SHARED HER WITH US AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT STEPS. AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET OF

THAT BAR -- BARBECUE SO EASILY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. I WON'T ECHO TOO MUCH OF WHAT EVERYONE SAID, BUT AT THIS TIME TOE. THANK -- DITTO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONG SERVICE. IT'S FANTASTIC THE IMPACT YOU'VE AND ABLE TO HAVE ON THE DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THESE ARE BEASTS AND YOU'VE HAD AN IMPACT AND THAT'S PHENOMENAL AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND I KNOW SO MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE AS WELL. I HOPE BEFORE YOU DO WHATEVER IS NEXT THAT YOU

TAKE A LONG VACATION WITH YOUR FAMILY AS WELL. >> I'LL HAVE 18 DAYS OFF.

BEFORE THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: MAKE THEM LAST.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CHIEF. SO WHEN I STARTED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN CRT AS A CIVILIAN, I REMEMBER YOU WERE MOVING -- IT WAS SO MANY YEARS AGO, BUT YOU WERE WORKING AND YOU WERE WORKING TOWARDS A GOAL.

AND GERALDINE WAS STILL THERE. IS SHE HERE?

>> RIGHT THERE. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT. AND THERE WAS THAT ROLE MODEL AND I KNOW SHE WAS LOOKING FOR RETIREMENT AND I'M LIKE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN SHE'S GONE, WHO IS GOING TO STEP UP AND TAKE THE ROLE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE REALLY BEING HEARD AND SEEN.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PICKING UP THE MAN TELL AND BEING PART OF THAT CHEERING SQUAD AND MOVING IT FORWARD SO THAT WE SEE EMPHASIS ON RECRUIT.

[02:15:01]

KNOW THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE A HOME AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO COME ANDED ADVISE

AND YOU CAN ALSO SERVE ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: CHIEF, I'LL JUST BRIEFLY ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK OVER THE YEARS.

BY ALL ACCOUNTS, YOUR WORK ETHIC, YOUR DEDICATION TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SECOND TO NONE. THANK YOU FOR SERVING AND PROTECTER OUR COMMUNITY.

FOR ME IT SEEMS EVERY TIME I GET TO INTERACT WITH YOU YOU ARE UPBEAT AND HAPPY AND FULL OF JOY AND I LOVE THAT AS WELL. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ECHO THE

COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CHIEF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

JUST AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE WITH THE SA-CORE TEAM, BUT ALSO THE WOMEN IN POLICING. THOSE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE OPPORTUNITIES TO JUST GO AND SEE HOW EXCITED OTHER WOMEN ARE TO JOIN THE SAPD.

AND THEN ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU DO A LOT OF WORK THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT NOTICE OR KNOW ABOUT AND IN PARTICULAR THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU'VE ESTABLISHED WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT HOW TO HELP SECURE THEIR AREAS, THE SECURITY IN AND AROUND THEIR BUSINESSES, AND EVEN THE FINANCIAL CRIMES ASPECT OF IT. SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT HAS BEEN NOTICED BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

I GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK AND THEY MENTION YOU BY NAME. AND SO ANOTHER PLUG FOR YOUR BARBECUE. IF YOU ALL DON'T KNOW, IT'S K-BOB'S BARBECUE.

SHE HAS A FOOD TRUCK. HE'S LIKE AT EVERY EVENT POSSIBLE SO FOLLOW HER AND I RECOMMEND -- SHE DOES SEASONAL BARBECUE SAUCES. I DON'T KNOW WHICH YOU ARE WORKING ON NOW, BUT I RECOMMEND YOU TRY ALL OF THEM.

AND THANK YOU TO YOUR DAUGHTER. THANK YOU FOR WAITING SO LONG TO HONOR YOUR MOM. SHE'S A VERY SPECIAL PERSON TO US AND CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU TO YOUR EXTENDED SERVICE TO ALLOW HER TO WORK HARD ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS. WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU ARE DOING EX IN, I'M ENVIOUS, BUT I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO BRING THE SAME ENERGY YOU

BROUGHT TO SAPD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GREATLATIONS. >> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CHIEF, BEFORE I -- AS I BRING CHIEF MCMANUS UP HERE, I WANT TO SAY ONE THING. IT'S NOT LOST ON ANYONE IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME TO BE IN POLICING WORK. AND TO DO IT WITH A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO WITH UTMOST INTEGRITY IS SOMETHING WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR. CHIEF, I'VE SAID THAT ABOUT YOU, I ALSO WILL SAY THAT ABOUT YOU, CHIEF FOX, AND THE REST OF YOUR COMMAND STAFF.

THAT'S RARE TO HAVE THIS SIDE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THAT SIDE OF THE ORGANIZATION IN SUCH LOCK STEP IN A COMMUNITY, AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY IS BETTER OFF FOR IT. I'LL SAY THIS A LITTLE IN GENTLEMEN'S, WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN ANY OF YOUR OOPS DECISION-MAKING BUT THIS CHIEF TRIED TO LEAVE ONE TIME AND HE CAME BACK. THE DOOR WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN FOR YOU, KAREN AND WE ARE

VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CHIEF CHIEF MCMANUS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS MAY NOT SOUND VERY CHIEFLY, BUT I'M REALLY SAD TO SEE HER GO, I REALLY, REALLY AM. SHE HAS BEEN SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE COMMAND STAFF FOR SO MANY YEARS AND HER LEAVING WILL CREATE A VOID THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO FILL. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN TO HAVE YOU ON THE TEAM. IF THE SOMEONE WAS COMING UP, SHE WAS THERE, SHE WAS AT HER DESK READY TO GO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND SHE WILL FOLLOW THE LEGACY LEFT BY GERALDINE GARCIA, SPEAKING OF GERALDINE, RAISE YOUR HAND. KAREN WILL LEAVE HER OWN LEGACY BEHIND FOR OTHERS TO

[02:20:02]

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL GIVE YOU THE FINAL WORDS, CHIEF. GO AHEAD.

>> I SHOULD RETIRE MORE OFTEN. THIS IS VERY NICE.

NO, FIRST -- WELL, FIRST I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO VAL AND I'M GLAD MY DAUGHTER WAS HERE TO SEE THIS HISTORIC DAY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TO WITNESS THIS HISTORIC MOMENT. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF MY LIFE -- HOPEFULLY I'LL GET THROUGH THIS WITHOUT CRYING -- TO SERVE THIS INCREDIBLE CITY. I WASN'T ORIGINALLY FROM SAN ANTONIO, BUT I AM NOW.

AND IT'S BEEN JUST A PRIVILEGE OF MY LIFE TIME TO WORK ALONGSIDE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY. AND TO WORK FOR CHIEF MCMANUS WHO IS, HANDS DOWN, THE BEST POLICE CHIEF IN THE WORLD.

[APPLAUSE] AND I DON'T HAVE TO SAY THAT ANYMORE, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR AN APPOINTED POSITION BECAUSE I'VE HAD BOTH OF THEM, BUT THAT MAN IS A HERO. I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW THERE'S NEVER BEEN A LONGER STANDING CHIEF IN A MAJOR CITY EVER AND YOU CAN LOOK THAT UP.

THIS MAN IS AN ANOMALY AND IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE OF MINE, CHIEF.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO WORK FOR HIM AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS BLESSED TO HAVE CHIEF MCMANUS. AND ERIK AND MARIA, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND TRUSTING ME AND APPOINTING ME TO BOTH OF THE POSITIONS. YOU KNOW, I GOT INTO POLICE WORK, IT'S TRUE, IT IS A FAMILY BUSINESS, BUT I JOINED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

I THINK WE ALL GET INTO PUBLIC SERVICE FOR THAT REASON, WE WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT I TRULY AM LEAVING CHANGED BY THE WORLD.

I SEE THINGS SO DIFFERENTLY WHEN I FIRST CAME ON. I THINK I'M MORE COMPASSIONATE AND OPEN-MINDED. IT HAS MADE ME A DIFFERENT PERSON AND I REALLY LOVE THE PERSON I AM NOW AND I THINK THAT'S THANKS TO 35 YEARS SERVING. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE MADE TO SERVE AS WELL, BUT THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALLOWING US TO MAKE A LOT OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE AND THE BETTERMENT THAT HAS COME TO THE DEPARTMENT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR, I MEAN WE'VE DONE BETTER, WE'VE MADE BETTER CHANGES.

WHEN DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE DEFUNDING THEIR POLICE, Y'ALL STEPPED UP AND GAVE US MORE MONEY. AND SO THE ONLY WAY A DEPARTMENT CAN BE GOOD IS IF THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS US AND THE CITY LEADERSHIP SUPPORTS US AND YOU'VE DONE THAT FOR US. I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THE CITY AND PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S SUPPORTED. I'LL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL.

AND JUST THANK YOU FOR TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR -- I KNOW ALL OF YOU ALL WEREN'T HERE, SOME OF YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T EVEN BORN IN 1989, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEND MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, KAREN. BIG DEEP BREATH NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO HIS YOU, KAREN. ALL RIGHT.

I THINK WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 5 NOW. >> CLERK: ITEM 5 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CITY'S LATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR THE 89TH STATE

LEGISLATIVE SESSION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SALARY, ARE YOU GOING TO

GIVE US A PRESENTATION? I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO. >> GOOD MORNING.

[02:25:08]

WHAT AN AMAZING AND VERY HAPPY DAY FOR ALL OF US TODAY.

I PROMISE ONLY GOOD NEWS TODAY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO COME BEFORE YOU ONE MORE TIME REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL OF OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SO MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH THE CITY, WITH YOU, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO GET TO THIS POINT. IF WE CAN BRING UP THE POWERPOINT. TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE OCTOBER 2ND B SESSION WHERE I LAID OUT THE FULL 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. THE EXISTING DRAFT PROGRAM INCLUDES THE COUNCIL-AGREED UPON UPDATES THAT THE COUNCIL REQUESTED THAT THE IGR COMMITTEE WORKED ON OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, AS YOU SEE HERE, THESE ARE THE FIVE PILLARS COMPRISED OF THE PROGRAM.

OUR INITIATIVE SECTION, PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND LASTLY INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY. WITH YOUR GREEN LIGHT TODAY, THE CITY'S PROGRAM WILL BE OUR BLUEPRINT DURING THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO REPRESENT THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY IN 2025. THE INITIATIVE ACTION INCLUDES THE EAST-WEST BUSINESS CORRIDOR, AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PROJECT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE ALREADY GIVEN AND VOICED SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE.

THIS WILL INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT FOR AN EAST-WEST BUSINESS CORRIDOR IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF SAN ANTONIO PROVIDING ACCESS TO EXISTING MAJOR MANUFACTURING EMPLOYERS AND THOSE TO COME IN THE FUTURE. AS YOU KNOW, MANUFACTURING AND RETAIL GROWTH HAS BEEN IN BONES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO MAKING IT NECESSARY TO INVEST IN ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE AND MORE TO COME. THE EAST-WEST CORRIDOR WILL CONNECT MAJOR EMPLOYEES, BUSINESSES AND THE REST OF THE CITY TO THE STATE'S HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE IS PART OF WHAT WE'RE AIMING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS INITIATIVE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL SUPPORT ADDITIONAL JOBS, AT LEAST 2,000 THAT WILL COME IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. OUR PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS. PROTECTING THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY'S INTEREST IS WHERE WE SPEND THE MAJORITY OF OUR ADVOCACY TIME DURING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. OUR GOAL IS TO PRESERVE THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP SO THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP LOCAL ORDINANCES, MAINTAIN THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE, AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CREATING THE POLICY AND FUNDING DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY. AS WELL AS PROTECT MILITARY CITY USA THROUGH OUR MISSIONS AND OUR ASSETS AND CONTINUE TO GROW THE TOOLS THAT WE ACCESS TO PROTECT THOSE MISSIONS. ONE GREAT EXAMPLE IS THE DEFENSE COMMUNITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM GRANT WHERE WE HAVE ALREADY SECURED $33 MILLION.

PLUS, ADDITIONALLY PROTECTION FOR A MUNICIPALLY OWNED MODELS FOR SAWS AND CPS. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SECTION INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR THOSE LOCAL AND STATE TOOLS THAT WE BENEFIT FROM IN ORDER TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN MAJOR EMPLOYERS AND COMPETE FOR THOSE MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS AND CONVENTIONS WITH COMPETITORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ADDITIONALLY, WE AIM TO SUPPORT HOUSING STABILITY, INCREASE AFFORDABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND ADDITIONALLY WE SUPPORT ADDITIONAL RELIEF FOR SAN ANTONIANS AND TEXANS FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. THE STATE OF TEXAS LAST SESSION ALREADY INVESTED OVER $18 BILLION FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TAX RELIEF FOR SAN ANTONIANS AND THE STATE.

UNDER WORKFORCE, WE SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT INVESTS IN CONTINUED EDUCATION, IN JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAMS TO ADD ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE LOCAL INVESTMENT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS ALREADY MADE FOR SAN ANTONIANS IN THE WORKFORCE SPACE.

PLUS, INCREASED ACCESS TO CHILDCARE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE GROWING WORKFORCE AS

[02:30:02]

THE LAST PILLAR, WE SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT ENSURES AND FUNDS INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTIVITY, AFFORDABILITY FOR BROADBAND. WE WILL SUPPORT LEGISLATION AND FUND TO GO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS ACROSS THE CITY, REDUCE CONGESTION AND ADDRESS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY THROUGH OUR VISION ZERO INITIATIVES. THERE ARE ONGOING STATE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HELPING COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE FOR EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND NATURAL DISASTERS. WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS AND LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL TOOLS AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES AGAINST THE IMPACTS OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND NATURAL DISASTERS.

THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS AN UPDATE TO THE STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.

AFTER SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNCIL AND WITH COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, MIRROR IS THE UPDATED LANGUAGE THAT IT WILL BE PART OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNANCE LANGUAGE SECTION IN OUR PROGRAM. WE PROPOSE TO OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT IS DISCRIMINATORY BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, DISABILITY, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, VETERAN STATUSS CHANGE OR NATIONAL OR BEGIN AND/OR UNDERMINES THE CITY'S NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE. NEXT IS AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED DANGEROUS DOGS LEGISLATION. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL AS WITH OUR STATE DELEGATION TO MOVE TOWARDS BILL FILING AND EVENTUALLY THE BEGINNING OF THE ELECTIVE SESSION.

I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU TODAY. THESE ARE IN PRELIMINARY FORM WITH THE GREEN LIGHT OF THE STATE ELECTIVE PROGRAM, YOU WILL GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE HAVING THOSE ROBUST CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR DELEGATION AND FIGURE OUT OUR ACTION ITEMS AND OUR STRATEGY TO PURSUE AS MANY LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN SAN ANTONIO. THE LIST THAT YOU SEE HERE INCLUDES WITNESS AFFIDAVITS.

THIS ESSENTIALLY REVOLVES AROUND SECURING A SWORN STATEMENT FROM A WITNESS THAT WOULD INCLUDE AN OPTION FOR THE WITNESS TO HAVE THEIR INFORMATION UNDISCLOSED UNTIL NEEDED DURING COURT PROCEEDINGS. ADD A DEFINITION FOR BODILY INJURY AND A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE BILL THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVE FILED LAST SESSION. WE WILL WORK WITH OUR DELEGATION TO FIND THE BEST PATH FORWARD FOR REFILING THIS PARTICULAR LANGUAGE.

THE NEXT ONE IS CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING AND INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS.

AGAIN, THIS IS TO MAKE IT EASY FOR RESIDENTS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE TO MAKE THOSE REPORTS WHEN THERE IS A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES WHEN REPORTING. PENALTIES RELATED TO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS. WE ARE PROPOSING TO ENHANCE PENALTIES AFTER SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEN LASTLY, OWNERSHIP REGULATIONS. WE ARE PROPOSING LANGUAGE TO CREATE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF

[02:35:03]

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND OUR DELEGATION TO ADVANCE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS ELECTIVE TEXT TO BE FILED AND HEARD DURING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THIS SLIDE INCLUDES SOME DEVELOPING ITEMS THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH.

I WANTED TO MAINING SURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE THAT WE'RE TRACKING AND MONITORING THE BYOB ESTABLISHMENTS DISCUSSION. A DISCUSSION HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE IGR COUNCIL COMMITTEE. THE VAPING BUFFERING ZONES CCR IS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD NOVEMBER 20TH AT PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE WILL BE TRACKING AND MONITORING THAT AS WELL AS IT MAKES ITS WAY TO THE IGR COMMITTEE. THE THIRD IS INCREASED PENALTIES FOR LOW-LEVEL PROPERTY CRIMES. WE ARE HAVING ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH SAPD, WITH OUR PARTNERS AT SPOA AND WITH CENTRAL TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AS WELL AS DETERMINE THE BEST PATH FORWARD FOR THESE ITEMS. FOR THE LEGISLATIVE DATES OF INTEREST SLIDE, IT HAS BEEN A LONG PATH GETTING HERE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN PELÁEZ FOR HIS SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP DURING THE IGR COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS, THE FULL COUNCIL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU DURING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND I MUST THANK OUR CITY COLLEAGUES IN EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT THAT HELPED US GET TO THIS PATH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY AS WE NEED THEM AS THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS OF THE VARIOUS ITEMS THAT ARE COMPRISED AS WE REPRESENT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN. AFTER YOUR APPROVAL TODAY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS BILL FILING ON NOVEMBER 11TH AND THE BEGINNING OF SESSION IN EARLY JANUARY. LASTLY, DURING THE LAST SESSION WE WERE PROVIDING VERY REGULAR UPDATES TO THE IGR COUNCIL COMMITTEE AS WELL AS PRESENTING MONTHLY UPDATES TO THE FULL COUNCIL. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE FOR THE 2025 SESSION, AFTER DIRECTION FROM THIS BODY, AFTER THE B SESSION MEETING, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, WE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE REGULAR UPDATES TO THE IGR COMMITTEE ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WE WILL TEN TO PRESENT A-SESSION TO THE COUNCIL. THE WEEKLY TRACKING PROVIDED TO THE IGR COUNCIL COMMITTEE, WE WILL BE EXPANDING THAT TRACK AND SHARING IT WITH THE ENTIRE COUNCIL DURING THE OFF WEEKS WHEN WE ARE NOT PRESENTING LIVE PRESENTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL AND IGR COMMITTEE. THESE REPORTS INCLUDE VARIOUS ITEMS SUCH AS TESTIMONY, KEY HEARINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, HEARINGS THAT WE HAVE TESTIFIED FOR AND IN SUPPORT AND AGAINST, AND THESE REPORTS WILL BE POSTED ONLINE. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS PLACE WITHOUT YOU.

IT'S BEEN A MULTI-MONTH PROCESS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BILL FILING COMING UP IN A COUPLE WEEKS OR LESS AND THEN GETTING STARTED IN AUSTIN REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS IN TEN. THANK YOU.

-- IN AUSTIN. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SALLY AND TEAM.

WE DO HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. JACK FINGER.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. I WISH TO BYE YOUR ATTENTION TO -- BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO A FEW CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

THIS IS THE MENU THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE TO TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYISTS.

[02:40:03]

WE WHO PAY THE TAB FOR THIS. AND THAT'S WHY AT LEAST ONE POLITICAL PARTY DID THE RIGHT THING AND ACTUALLY PUT IN YOUR PLATFORM ITS OPPOSITION TO TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBING. -- LOBBYING. YOU ARE GOING TO SAY OH, NO, ALL THESE THINGS ARE GOOD. LET'S SEE JUST HOW GOOD THEY ARE.

I'VE LOOKED AT THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS ON THIS. I LOOKED AT THE MENU AND SO MUCH OF THIS IS -- IT'S LIKE IN CODE WORDS HERE. YOU HAVE TO DECODE EVERYTHING TO FIGURE OUT JUST WHAT YOU FOLKS HAVE DECIDED TO PUT IN HERE.

I AS A PUBLIC SERVICE SHALL TRY TO DECODE THIS FOR YOU HERE.

MR. AUDIOVISUAL MAN, WHAT IN THE UNDERLINED AREA, WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING HERE? OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT ESSENTIALLY UNDERMINES THE CITY'S NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE WHICH PROTECTS FROM DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY. RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD.

YOU KNOW, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOU ALL AFRAID ABOUT HERE? ARE YOU AFRAID THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE MIGHT RESCIND THE -- WELL, SPECIAL RIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THE HOMOSEXUAL COMMUNITY. ARE YOU AFRAID THAT IT MIGHT EFFORT FURTHER PROTECTIONS TO CHILDREN TO CHILD MUTEIZATION.

TURN TO PAGE 5, IF YOU WOULD. JUST LOOK AT THE BOTTOM.

WHAT DOES IT SAY IN SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT IMPROVES ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR ALL SAN ANTONIANS. NOW, THIS IS A REAL CODED LANGUAGE HERE. ALL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL SAN ANTONIANS.

WHAT KIND OF HEALTH CARE? IS IT THE KIND THAT YOU PROMOTED WHICH IS PRO-ABORTION? SUCH AS THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND? WE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN YOU TRY TO USE OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR SUCH PROMOTION THERE. ONCE AGAIN, MR. AUDIOVISUAL MAN, TURN TO PAGE 6.

YOU, MR. FINGER. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW.

COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANKS. I HAVE SHORT COMMENTS.

SALLY, NADIA, KRIS STEIN, THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK FOR GETTING US HERE AND THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THE HARD WORK AND MY CONDOLENCES FOR HAVING TO PUT UP WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON I-35 AND ALSO HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE GOOFINESS AND HAVING TO WAIT IN THE HALLWAYS BEFORE THE SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATIVE ITEMS GET HEARD UP THERE.

YOU GUYS HAVE THE PATIENCE OF METHUSELA. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT FOR OVER IN THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. IT IS VERY BROAD, INTENTIONALLY SO TO PERMIT OUR TEAM AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS THEY NEED.

DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE'LL BE HAVING WEEKLY MEETINGS IN ORDER TO TWEAK THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN ADAPT ON THE FLY BASED ON THE NEW THINGS THAT SOME OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PARTNERS UP THERE INVENT, AND SALLY, YOU'VE ALWAYS PROVEN YOURSELVES VERY ADEPT AND THE TEAM GRACEFUL AS FAR AS TURN ON A DIME AND PUT OUT FIRES UP THERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE, AND I WAS READING AND THIS IS JUST MORE I THINK -- JUST A REASON TO WATCH CAREFULLY.

YOU KNOW, I WAS READING PROPOSALS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND ON PAGE 750 OF PROJECT 2025, THEY PROPOSE AN END TO SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

THERE'S A PROGRAM OUT THERE THAT HAS PUMPED OUT $28 BILLION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND HOMES. ACTUALLY MOSTLY SMALL BUSINESSES FOR DISASTER RELIEF LOANS. IT'S THE ONLY PROGRAM OUT THERE LIKE THAT.

AND THEY ARE PROPOSING TO GET RID OF IT. THAT PRESSURE TO HELP CITIES BE MORE RESILIENT AFTER CATASTROPHIC STORMS IS NOW GOING TO BE AT THE STATE LEVEL. I NEVER SEEM TO BE SURPRISED AT THIS STATE'S ABILITY TO IGNORE THE LITTLE GUY. THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT STATE LEGISLATIVE

[02:45:03]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. WE NEED A MOTION ON ITEM NO.

5. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5. WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH DISCUSSION NOW. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM HAPPY TO SIT ON THE IGR COMMITTEE AND EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I WAS GLAD TO BE ABLE TO PUSH TO INCLUDE EFFORTS TO CHANGE LEGISLATION REGARDING LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS ON THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR PART HERE AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL SO NOW WE NEED OUR STATE TO PARTNER WITH US TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

I WAS PROUD TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHER INITIATIVES INCLUDING THOSE THAT PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP AND USE. GUNSHOTS ARE A GROWING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND WE NEED THE STATE'S SUPPORT ON THAT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE US SUPPORTING ANY LEGISLATION THAT CAN HELP US ADDRESS SPEEDING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BECAUSE THIS IS A CONSTANT CONCERN WE HEAR FROM OUR RESIDENTS CITYWIDE. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL WILL BE PROVIDING WEEKLY UPDATES TO COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC DURING THIS UPCOMING SESSION. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT CHANGE FOR US.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL THROUGH THE IGR COMMITTEE AND ADVANCE SAN ANTONIO'S INTERESTS TOGETHER. THANKS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK Y'ALL, TEAM.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW OFTEN IT IS THAT WE ARE APPROACHED WITH CONCERNS ABOUT GUN SAFETY, THE NEED THAT EXISTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE ACCESS, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND HOST OF OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION OR ARE FAR BEYOND THE SCOPE OF OUR BUDGET AND SO WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO DO SO IS DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

AT THE DATE OUR GOVERNOR'S AGENDA IS AN ATTACK ON OUR ENTIRE CITY.

OR IT'S ATTACKING OUR RIGHT TO GOVERN AS A CITY, AS A BODY THAT WORKS CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE, OR ATTACKING LGBTQ+ OR TRANS FOLK OR DRAG QUEENS WHO BRING JOY TO OUR COMMUNITY OR PROMOTE LITERACY . WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FIGHT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS IN EVERY CAPACITY THAT WE CAN AND SO I'LL CONTINUE TO STATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WHEN OUR VALUES AS A CITY ARE ATTACKED THROUGH ANY LEGISLATION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A DIRECT ATTACK ON OUR RIGHT TO GOVERN, THAT WE TAKE STRONG STANCES. WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED I ASKED WHERE THE CITY STOOD ON THE ATTACKS ON THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY INCLUDING BATHROOM BILLS AND THE RESPONSE WAS WE HAD NO OFFICIAL STANCE. MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY STATE'S INEFFECTIVENESS AND UNWILLINGNESS TO SOLVE ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE ENTIRE STATE INCLUDING RELIABILITY OF THE GRID, GUN VIOLENCE, OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE HEALTH CRISES AND SO ON. I'M HAPPY WITH WHERE WE LANDED TODAY BY INCLUDING PROTECTION OF MINORITY GROUPS AND THE REST OF THE PROTECTED CLASSES AS PRIORITIES IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

THERE IS A DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT AND A FEELING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS OKAY LETTING MARGINALIZED GROUPS FACE ATTACK AFTER ATTACK AND IT ALIGNS WITH OUR VALUES AS A CITY AND IT MEANS A LOT THAT WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE A BODY OF GOVERNMENT WILLING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES WHO ARE BEING TARGETED BY THE STATE.

I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND FOR CITY STAFF WORKING WITH ME ON THE LANGUAGE. I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR THE MUCH-NEEDED -- TO ADVOCATE FOR THE MUCH-NEEDED LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS OUR ROAMING ANIMAL POPULATION AND DANGEROUS ANIMALS IN OUR CITY AND FOR FUNDING FOR ALL OF THE AREAS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED. YOU CAN COUNT ON ME TO TAKE TRIPS TO AUSTIN IN SUPPORT

OF OUR AGENDA. THANK Y'ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN SHORT, THANK YOU, SALLY AND TEAM FOR ENSURING THAT COUNCIL FEEDBACK WAS INTEGRATED INTO WHAT WE WILL BE APPROVING TODAY. SIMILAR TO MY COLLEAGUES, I LOOK FORWARD TO ADVOCATING AND WHERE YOU SEE US FIT. I'M ALWAYS EAGER TO GO TO AUSTIN, WILL DO IT AGAIN BUT I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO IN ENSURING WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE IN HOLDING IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE.

[02:50:05]

I KNOW THERE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY LONG DAYS BUT HERE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL AND I'M HOPEFUL WE'LL SEE SOME MOVEMENT ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. THANKS, SALLY AND YOUR TEAM.

I WANT TO ECHO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S COMMENTS ABOUT BEING RESPONSIVE TO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE 11 OF US UP HERE. NOT ONLY THE SITUATION WITH THE LOOSE AND STRAY DOGS BUT THE VAPING ISSUE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, EXTREMELY EXCITED TO SEE THAT. THAT'S A BIG ONE THAT I BELIEVE THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT, ALONG WITH THE LOW-LEVEL PROPERTY CRIMES THAT WE KNOW ARE TAKING PLACE, ESPECIALLY DOWN HERE IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO AND AROUND THE CITY THAT OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM ON THE STREETS HAVE TOLD US THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME HELP WITH. EXCITED ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE OF THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMMITTING TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN THIS PROCESS. I TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT IS OUR CITIZENS' TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TOWARDS SOME OF THESE LOBBYING EFFORTS IN AUSTIN, REGARDLESS OF HOW I MAY FEEL ABOUT THAT, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS WHAT EXACTLY IT IS THAT WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR. AND SO THE COMMITMENT TO HAVE WEEKLY POSTINGS ONLINE SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT BILLS WE'RE FIGHTING FOR AND WHAT BILLS WE'RE FIGHTING AGAINST, I THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

IT GOES TOWARDS THAT ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT TRANSPARENCY AND SO I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THAT. THE FINAL THING I'LL SAY THE SOMETHING THAT I THINK JEFF SAID AND OTHERS SAID IN THE VERY FIRST MEETING WE HAD ON THIS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.

I EXPECT WE ARE GOING TO UPHOLD THE COMMITMENT THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET INVOLVED IN PARTISAN POLITICAL ISSUES. WE KNOW THAT THIS TIME UP IN AUSTIN THERE WILL BE ISSUES RELATED TO ABORTION. THERE WILL BE ISSUES RELATED TO BOYS PLAYING IN GIRLS' SPORTS AND OTHERS THAT HAVE BECOME POLITICAL LIGHTNING RODS AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON OUR FOLKS TO NOT GET INVOLVED IN THOSE PARTISAN ISSUES AND TO SIMPLY FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE SET OUT IN YOUR

AGENDA. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK THE IGR COMMITTEE AND SALLY FOR THE WORK THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER IN A PRESENTATION HERE. AND I THINK ON SLIDE 2 WHEN WE LAY OUT THE FIVE PILLARS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO UNDERSCORE THE ISSUES WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE BROAD.

AND SO IT'S PROBABLY A CHALLENGE FOR ANYBODY TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT AN ISSUE BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT AS INDIVIDUAL ISSUES COME UP DURING THE SESSION WE'LL BE BETTER INFORMED ABOUT WHAT THOSE ARE, HOW THEY FALL INTO THESE PILLARS, AND HOW WE CAN ADVOCATE. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE ADVOCATE, NOT FOR THE COUNCIL AND NOT FOR THE LOBBYISTS AND NOT FOR ANYBODY, WE ADVOCATE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. AND THERE'S A DIVERSIFICATION IN THIS CITY THAT IS WAY BEYOND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE EVEN HEAR IN THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS. AND SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO ANY OF THOSE ISSUES THAT CAN AFFECT THE LIVES OF MANY OF US IN THIS CITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOUR JOB IS. AND THEN OUR JOB IS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT WHEN WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ONE OR TWO ISSUES THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY BE DISCUSSING WITH PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY MAY SAY, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR THING? WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO YOU, SALLY, AND YOUR TEAM AND SAY CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR THING? AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND SAY, YES, IT'S BEING CONSIDERED OR ADDRESSED BECAUSE OF A DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE ABOUT BILL NUMBER WHATEVER, WHATEVER.

THAT'S HOW WE'LL INDIVIDUALIZE A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT COME UP DURING THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I HAVE TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN YOUR TEAM AND I HAVE TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN THIS COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST

[02:55:05]

OR IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS. WELL, I THINK IF THEY TOUCH ON THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO SOMEHOW, THEN THERE'S PROBABLY A ROLE FOR US.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHANGES IN SOME OF THE LAWS THAT PEOPLE IN THIS CITY MAY FEEL DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THEM AS A CITIZEN, THEN WE AS A CITY COUNCIL HAVE A ROLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT. WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. WELL, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A GREATER PROLIFERATION OF GUNS AND WEAPONS AND THE ONGOING VIOLENCE THEY CAUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEN WE HAVE A ROLE AND A RESPONSIBILITY AS A COUNCIL TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES. SOME PEOPLE SAY WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AUSTIN OR THAT'S WASHINGTON. WELL, WE CAN BE INVOLVED IN GUN VIOLENCE RIGHT IN OUR OWN CITY, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERY ONE OF YOU TO CONSIDER HELPING SUPPORT THE WEAPONS EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR AND THAT WE'RE DOING AGAIN IN NOVEMBER. SO WE CAN GO AHEAD VERY LOCALLY AND PARTICIPATE IN CREATING A SAFER COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO, THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS WE CAN BE INVOLVED AND WE SHOULD BE, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO, IN MY DISTRICT AND YOUR DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE WE NEVER HEAR FROM ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE AS A CITY AND AS A GOVERNMENT ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS AND CONCERNS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, SALLY FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I NOTICED A FEW CHANGES THIS TIME AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TO PAY ATTENTION TO IN TERMS OF THE ANIMAL CARE LEGISLATION THAT ALMOST GOT THROUGH LAST YEAR.

THE FENTANYL TESTING THAT, AGAIN, ALMOST GOT THROUGH LAST YEAR.

THE KIND OF NEW THINGS I THINK, ANYTHING RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

BONDS ARE ISSUED -- BECAUSE I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT MORE SEVERE PENALTIES BUT PART OF IT IS THE BONDING PROCESS AND HOW WE DO THAT. THE OTHER IS DRIVING -- DISTRACTED DRIVING, DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, HOW WE'RE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT. HOW WE'RE DETERRING THERE AND WHAT SOLUTIONS ARE GOING TO COME DOWN FROM THE STATE LEVEL. I THINK I AM HOPING THIS SESSION WILL BE ONE OF LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS AS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PUSHES FORWARD THEIR AGENDA ITEMS ON SCHOOL VOUCHERS. BUT I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT FACE US LOCALLY, SPECIFICALLY THE ONES I MENTIONED. NOW, SALLY, MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS WE AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SIT ON BOARDS THAT MAY HAVE A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. ARE YOU COORDINATING WITH THEM OR DO WE JUST HAVE THEM CONTACT YOUR OFFICE WHEN THEY WANT TO COORDINATE WITH OUR APPEARANCE THERE? I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY THE PENSION FUND FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, VISIT SAN ANTONIO, SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERS, AND THEN THE NATIONAL -- WELL, WE DON'T SIT ON THE BOARD, WE'RE VERY ACTIVE WITH THE NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY.

DO YOU WANT US TO CONTACT YOU? >> THE ONES THAT YOU MENTIONED, WE DO COLLABORATE AND TALK WITH. MANY OF THOSE WE TRACK THEIR DISCUSSIONS OF WHEN THEY MEET MONTHLY FOR THEIR MONTHLY MEETINGS.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THEM CONTACT US, WE DEFINITELY WELCOME THE COLLABORATION

DURING THE SESSION TO WORK ON AREAS THAT WE CAN ALIGN. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ON THIS DAIS AND THEN SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS ISSUES

[03:00:06]

WHEN WE'RE INVITED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, SALLY SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. I'VE LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ FOR CHAIRING THE IGR COMMITTEE.

ONE THING I REALLY APPRECIATED IN YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY WAS IT WAS EVIDENT THAT YOU TOOK INTO ACCOUNT EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE IGR COMMITTEE BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT B SESSION AND REFLECTED THAT, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE POLICIES WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING.

THERE'S TWO THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION. THE FIRST ONE IS ADVOCATING FOR A CITY, FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL FOR ANY PROPERTY THAT'S GOING TO BE FORECLOSED ON BEFORE IT GOES TO AUCTION. THAT WOULD HELP US WHEN BANKING FIRST, SPECIFICALLY THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST STRATEGY WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

IF WE COULD GET SOMEONE TO CHAMPION THAT, HOPEFULLY FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY DELEGATION, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. THE SECOND ONE THAT'S COME UP, AS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH EDD IS SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS F&B PROVIDERS. A LOT OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN GOING OUT OF BUSINESS AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THEIR PROPERTY EQUIPMENT IS BEING VALUED AT A LIFE OF 20 YEARS FOR A FRYER OR FOR EQUIPMENT THEY ARE USING BUT THAT ACTUALLY DETERIORATES MUCH FASTER DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF USAGE.

SO TAKING A LOOK AT HOW EQUIPMENT IS VALUED FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS F&B PROVIDERS TO SEE IF WE CAN CHANGE THE DEPRECIATION RATE FROM 20 YEARS TO 5 YEARS WOULD REALLY HELP THEM WITH THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT HAVE SPECIFICALLY COME UP FOR US THAT WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO KEEP AN EYE ON AND POTENTIALLY FIND SOME ADVOCATES. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED THE PARTISAN ISSUES AND WE ARE FIVE DAYS AWAY -- I THINK EVERYBODY IS HOLDING OUR BREATH STILL. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE SO MANY DIVERSE, UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES IN THE CITY. YES, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING THE THINGS LIKE WE'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT ARE GOING TO REALLY AFFECT THE IMPACT -- IMPACT THE WORK WE CAN DO AS A CITY BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT OUR PEOPLE. JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CITY ISSUE, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE, THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED US HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE SHOULD ALSO BE ADVOCATING FOR.

SO AS A FEMALE ATHLETE, I WELCOME ALL FOLKS TO PLAY IN FEMALE SPORTS, WHOEVER WANTS

TO IDENTIFY AS SUCH. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. REALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND FOR LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS AND OUR ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS AS WELL. LOOKING FORWARD TO A STRONG LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I LET SALLY KNOW THAT I WAS ASKED TO BE ON A PANEL AND REDEMPTION FOR NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. I DO WANT TO JUST REMIND US, RIGHT, THAT THERE'S STILL A VERY REAL THREAT ABOUT THAT AND SO I'D HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE SOME STRATEGIES, INCLUDING COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES, TO FIGURE OUT

[03:05:03]

SO I APPRECIATE MAYBE A CONVERSATION OFFLINE LATER JUST TO LEARN MORE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA? I THOUGHT IT WAS WELL STATED SO I'M NOT GOING TO ADD MUCH TO IT OTHER THAN MY THANKS TO YOU, SALLY, NADIA, THE ENTIRE IGR TEAM.

CHRISTINE. IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY SESSION, I KNOW, AND A LOT STILL HANGS IN THE BALANCE, DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS GO ON TUESDAY.

BUT I DO ALSO AGREE THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY UP HERE TO CULL THROUGH THE NOISE, NOT ONLY IN AUSTIN BUT ALSO IN OUR OWN BACKYARD TO TAKE POSITIONS THAT BEST REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS OUR STATED POSITION AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, SO THIS IS NO SMALL THING THAT WE'RE ADOPTING HERE. AS WE GO AND ADVOCATE AS A CITY, WE'RE NOT AS INDIVIDUALS, WE'RE GOING AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, PROVIDED THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, BY VOTING FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WE ARE ADOPTING A CONSENSUS DOCUMENT THAT STATES OUR POSITION AS A CITY. WHETHER YOU AGREE INDIVIDUALLY ON SOME OF THE FINER POINTS OR NOT, THIS IS OUR POSITION.

I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF CREATIVE DUMB IDEAS THAT COME OUT OF AUSTIN EVERY SESSION AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ON OUR TOES IF THEY OFFEND OR SOMEHOW NEGATIVELY IMPACT OR POTENTIALLY POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE READY FOR THAT AND WE CAN TAKE POSITIONS AS THAT MAY ENCOUNTER.

WITH THAT, WE'LL CALL THE VOTE, UNLESS THERE'S A QUESTION.

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST KNOW THAT ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES LAST TIME AND ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES THIS TIME WILL BE VOUCHERS. AND I WANTED TO KNOW THAT IF OUR STAND IN WHAT WE'RE TAKING FORWARD INCLUDES OPPOSING VOUCHERS AND LETTING STATE

REPRESENTATIVES KNOW THAT WE OPPOSE VOUCHERS. >> COUNCILMAN COURAGE, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY EDUCATION COALITION. THEY HAVE ATTENDED OUR IGR COUNCIL COMMITTEE BEFORE.

LAST SESSION THE IGR COMMITTEE SIGNED A COLLECTIVE SUPPORT LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEMS THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY EDUCATION COALITION.

THEY ESSENTIALLY REPRESENT THE VARIOUS SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS SAN ANTONIO. VOUCHERS IS NOT AN ITEM SPOKEN TO DIRECTLY IN THE CURRENT STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. IT SPEAKS TO EDUCATION AND

TRAINING BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY VOUCHERS. >> COURAGE: I THINK THIS COUNCIL SHOULD CLARIFY OUR STAND ON PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND I AGREE.

WE MAY NOT NOT ALL AGREE TOTALLY BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO SAY WE DO NOT SUPPORT VOUCHERS BECAUSE IT ENDS UP HURTING OUR CITY, OUR RESIDENTS DON'T GET THE PUBLIC EDUCATION THEY DESERVE BECAUSE MONEY IS WITHHELD AND HAS BEEN AND PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE. AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A STANCE SO ALL OF OUR LEGISLATORS AND EVERY LEGISLATOR WE TALK WITH ABOUT EVERY EDUCATIONAL ISSUE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE MONEY TAKEN OUT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ORDER TO GO AHEAD AND PAY FOR PRIVATE EDUCATION.

AND I HOPE THAT THERE IS A CONSENSUS ON THIS COUNCIL THAT THAT IS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES. IT HASN'T BEEN STATED SO THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING IT

FORWARD AT THIS TIME, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

AGAIN, JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, WE ARE VOTING ON THE DOCUMENT AS WRITTEN.

THERE IS A PROCESS AND A PROCEDURE IN AN IGR COMMITTEE THROUGH WHICH WE CAN ADD OR, YOU KNOW, MODIFY ANY PARTS OF OUR AGENDA THAT WE SEE FIT AS A BODY.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TAKEN UP EITHER THROUGH THE COMMITTEE DIRECTLY OR IN OUR SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA.

I WOULD URGE US TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN, THOUGH, SO WE HAVE THE BASE DOCUMENT

TO WORK WITH. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YES, I CAN'T LET THAT GO WITHOUT A RESPONSE. I MEAN, THIS IS EXACTLY THE FEAR THAT NOT ONLY I HAVE BUT THAT THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HEAR MOST OFTEN IN THE COMMUNITY IS WHY DON'T YOU GUYS DOWN AT CITY HALL JUST FOCUS ON ALL THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HERE AS A CITY? WHY DO YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN STATE ISSUES? WHY DO YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN FEDERAL ISSUES? AND EDUCATION IS THE PURVIEW OF THE STATE. WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A VOUCHER BATTLE IN AUSTIN THAT'S COMING UP. THAT IS NOT FOR US AS A CITY

[03:10:02]

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE AS A CITY GOVERNMENT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. OKAY.

SO BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE, AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. THERE IS A PROCESS, A PROCEDURE, AND A PLATFORM TO HAVE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION. SO I'M GOING TO CUT OFF ANY EXTENSIVE DEBATE ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS WE'LL USE TO ADDRESS IT, WE CAN DO THAT. BUT I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE IF WE CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THIS IN TOO MUCH DEPTH. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN AND

THEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND SO, SALLY AND -- I DON'T KNOW IF OUR CHAIR CAN CHIME IN. SO WHAT DO WE HAVE IN TERMS OF SCHEDULE? THE NEXT UPDATE AFTER NOVEMBER 11 FOR THE IGR COMMITTEE SO WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE

BROUGHT UP HERE? >> WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR THE DECEMBER -- FOR THE NOVEMBER -- WELL, ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY. WE DO HAVE A NOVEMBER IGR COMMITTEE SCHEDULED. WE DON'T HAVE A DECEMBER IGR COMMITTEE SCHEDULED.

>> VIAGRAN: IF WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT AS SOON AS OUR CHAIR GETS THE AGENDA, WE SEND THAT OUT TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING AND IF THEY WANT TO PROVIDE ANY SORT OF COMMENT OR INPUT, WE COULD DO THAT. BECAUSE I THINK THIS REALLY IS A COMMITTEE CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO START HAVING AND WE CAN DEBATE THE MERITS THERE AND WE COULD HAVE OUR

COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. JUST IN DEFENSE OF SALLY AND TEAM AND THE WORK OF THE IGR COMMITTEE AND THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, WE CAN HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS A CITY ISSUE AND WHAT'S A STATE AND FEDERAL ISSUE BUT THEY'RE ALL INTERCONNECTED IN SOME WAY. YOU CAN MAKE THE CASE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS IF WE WERE TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE A WEAK AND ILL-FUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM YOU SEE POOR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, POOR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THAT CITY. YOU SEE POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES. YOU SEE INCREASED CRIME. YOU SEE ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT PLACE STRAINS ON OUR RESOURCES AND MORE ISSUES FOR US TO ADDRESS ON THE DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THEM AT THE ROOT, WE SHOULD TAKE THAT. THAT'S WHY EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID TODAY IS I AGREE A CITY ISSUE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AT THE IGR

COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ CLOSE US AND CALL THE VOTE?

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE, DURING THE SESSION WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING WEEKLY MEETINGS. THAT'S THE WAY WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT. AND THE OPPORTUNITY HAS ALWAYS EXISTED FOR ANYBODY ON THIS DAIS TO PROPOSE ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA. ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO BRING AN ORNAMENT TO HANG OFF THE TREE. AND ALL OF THEM WILL BE DEBATED IN GOOD FAITH AND THEN WE'LL ARRIVE AT A DECISION AND PROPOSE IT TO THIS BODY FOR ADOPTION. AND IF THEY'RE CONTROVERSIAL, THEN THEY'RE CONTROVERSIAL AND WE'LL DEBATE THEM. IF THEY'RE NOT CONTROVERSIAL, THEN THEY'RE NOT BUT THE DEBATE WILL BE HAD AND EVERYBODY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR OPINION. WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING EXOTIC OR NEW THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IN THE PAST AND WE'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN IT

RIGHT. THANK YOU, SALLY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PELAEZ. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, GUYS AND WE'LL BE SEEING YOU VERY SOON. ERIK, IS THERE A CITY

MANAGER'S REPORT? >> WALSH: YES, SIR. REAL QUICK.

I WANTED TO SHARE A COUPLE OF EVENTS WITH THE COUNCIL. OUR FIRST ITEM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR SOLID WASTE DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATES ANNUALLY IN RODEO EVENTS.

THIS YEAR IN GEORGIA OUR DRIVERS, MECHANICS, AND EQUIPMENT OPERATORS HAD A CHANCE TO SHOW OFF THEIR TECHNICAL SKILLS. I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT IN TERMS OF THE TRUCK MECHANIC FIELD WITH BEST OVERALL SCORES ON THE

[03:15:02]

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM. NUMBER TWO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS SUNDAY WE'RE HAVING OUR EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION EVENT AT THE ZOO. I'M INVITING ALL OF YOU TO BE THERE.

IT'S AN ALL-DAY EVENT. WE HAVE THE ZOO TO OURSELVES.

THESE APPRECIATION EVENTS ARE TO CELEBRATE THE FIVE-YEAR INCREMENT ANNIVERSARIES OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THIS YEAR WE'LL HAVE 1,109 EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES OUT AT THE ZOO WITH A COMBINED YEARS OF SERVICE OF 26,880 YEARS TO THE ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE 42 EMPLOYEES WITH 35 YEARS OR MORE.

WE HAVE FIVE EMPLOYEES WITH 40 YEARS. AND FOUR EMPLOYEES WITH 45 YEARS. I HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE A SPECIAL LUNCHEON WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES LAST WEEK. WE ALSO HAVE 13 EXECUTIVES WITH ANNIVERSARIES AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WONDERING, THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE MOST NUMBER OF HONOREES HAPPENS TO BE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH 584. THE HONOREES AND THEIR FAMILIES GET FREE ADMISSION INTO THE ZOO. IT'S AN ALL-DAY EVENT.

THE ZOO DOES A GREAT JOB FOR US AND HOPING TO SEE SOME OF YOU OUT THERE ON SUNDAY.

LASTLY, OUR EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO IS OF A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WORKS IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES AREA OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AMANDA REYES. SOME OF YOU MAY RECOGNIZE HER OR KNOW HER.

SHE IS VERY VISIBLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S A GREAT VIDEO SO LET'S ROLL IT.

>> HEY, GUYS. YOU DOING OKAY? THANK YOU, GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

HI. MY NAME IS AMANDA RAMIREZ WITH THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GOING ON NINE YEARS. SO OUR DEPARTMENT IS FAIRLY NEW.

IT'S ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD. IT'S CALLED THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UNIT AND MY ROLE HERE IS I SERVE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE WORK WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH

FOLKS. >> HELLO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. YOU'RE DOING OKAY? THANK YOU.

I DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY EVENTS. NO DAY IS EVER THE SAME.

ONE DAY I COULD BE ATTENDING AN HOA MEETING TO FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR OUR SENIORS TO HAVING MEETINGS WITH OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO SEE HOW WE CAN PARTNER.

CORE VALUES THAT I EXEMPLIFY WOULD HAVE TO BE TEAMWORK AND INTEGRITY.

I BELIEVE TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY IS VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT MATTERS TO ME THE MOST AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE, TO EXEMPLIFY THOSE WHEN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. BEING ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, IT'S HEARTWARMING AND IT FEELS GREAT TO BE A PART OF THAT AND TO WITNESS THAT.

GREAT JOB AND THAT IS IN OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICE, AS SHE SAID.

THAT SMALL UNIT HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS AND REALLY MEANT TO ENHANCE THE ENGAGEMENT LEVEL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THROUGHOUT

THE COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ERIK. DON'T GO FAR.

TIME IS 12:31 AND IN 28 MINUTES WE'VE GOT ANOTHER MEETING SO AT 12:32 P.M. ON THE 31ST DAY OF OCTOBER 2024, OUR A SESSION IS ADJOURNED.

WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY BACK AT 1:00.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.