[00:00:06] > >>> GAVITO: I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. >> PELAEZ: ON OUR FED AGENDA, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BIRTHDAYS FIRST, SALLY? >> BASURTO: COUNCILMAN, I CANNOT TAKE THAT PRIVILEGE AWAY FROM YOU. IF YOU SO DESIRE, WE DO HAVE A TON OF BIRTHDAYS TODAY. >> PELAEZ: NADIA, CHRISTINE, WALTER, AND JEFF ARE FINALLY OLD ENOUGH TO BUY CIGARETTES. CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. >> HALLELUJAH. AND SARAH'S BIRTHDAY WAS NOVEMBER 1ST. LOTS OF NOVEMBER BABIES. >> PELAEZ: CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. >> BASURTO: MY STAFF SAID THAT THEIR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON THEIR BIRTHDAY WAS COME TO IGR, COUNCILMAN, SO LET'S KICK THIS OFF AND GET THE PARTY STARTED. HAPPY ELECTIONS DAY, EVERYONE. >> PELAEZ: COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO WAS LATE BECAUSE SHE WAS OUT THERE BUYING GIFTS FOR ALL OF YOU. >> BASURTO: HAPPY ELECTIONS DAY. GOOD MORNING, SALLY BASURTO, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT, NERVES, AND IN MY CASE NAUSEA AS WELL FOR TODAY, SO LET'S DIVE RIGHT IN. MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, TODAY'S PRESENTATION INCLUDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE FEDERAL 119TH LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, NOT NECESSARILY BEHIND THE SCENES BUT ON A PARALLEL TRACK MY TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 119TH FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AS WE WERE UNFOLDING AND UNPACKING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AS WELL BY WAY OF THE AGENDA, WE WILL ALSO REVIEW THE VARIOUS PILLARS THAT ARE COMPRISED -- THAT ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR 2025 ANDND 2026, INCLUDING KEY DATES OF INTEREST AND MILESTONES TO ACCOMPLISH. THE 119TH PROGRAM LAUNCHED ITS PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT BY THE GA TEAM IN JULY OF 2024, COORDINATED CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, SO THANK YOU TO THEM AND THEIR STAFF FOR HELPING US TO PUT TOGETHER A DRAFT PROGRAM FOR YOUR REVIEW AND ULTIMATELY THE FULL COUNCIL'S APPROVAL. WE PULLED TOGETHER THIS PROGRAM BASED ON JUST THE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS BUT ALSO CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CONSULTANTS, OUR DELEGATION, TRACKING AND MONITORING THE ITEMS THAT ARE PART OF THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES , ULTIMATELY HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU HERE AT IGR, OVERVIEW AND REVIEW WITH THE MAYOR, FULL COUNCIL, AND THE CITY MANAGER FOR THEIR INPUT, WHICH WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ONGOING DRAFT OF THE PROGRAM. ULTIMATELY COUNCIL APPROVAL, WE ARE AIMING FOR JANUARY OF 2025, ESPECIALLY IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM. THE INAUGURATION IS NOT UNTIL JANUARY 20TH AND THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER KEY DATES IN JANUARY THAT WE WILL TRACK AND MONITOR AND REPORT ON, SO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO WAIT FOR THE ELECTION RESULTS TODAY, SEEING AS THE DUST SETTLES AS THE COMMITTEES ARE BEING FORMED. CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES ARE VERY IMPORTANT. SOME KEY COMMITTEES THAT I WILL MENTION LATER LIKE THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE THAT WE TRACK VERY CLOSELY . AND THEN OF COURSE SESSION IN 2025 FOR A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM. HERE ARE THE SEVEN PILLARS THAT ARE PART OF THE DRAFT FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. KICKING IT OFF IS INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION, AND RESILIENCY. THIS IS A CARRYOVER PILLARS. HOUSING WE KNOW IT'S A PRIORITY FOR, NOT JUST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR RESIDENTS. WORKFORCE, EDUCATION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MILITARY CITY, USA MILITARY PROTECTION, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND ADVANCED OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS IS OUR FINAL PILLAR . KICKING IT OFF INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND POLICIES TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S SUFFICIENT FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES COMING TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST FOR GENERAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE LAYERING ON THE FEDERAL INVESTMENTS FOR OUR AVIATION PROJECTS. THIS ALSO EXTENDS TO [00:05:03] RESILIENCY PROGRAMS THAT HELP MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, AND FLOODING. AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EVOLVING PROJECTS IN DOWNTOWN NEAR EAST SIDE. OF COURSE OUR EAST-WEST CONNECTOR AND OTHER TRANSIT-ORIENTED PROJECTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE SUPPORT FUNDING AND PROGRAMS TO INCREASE SAN ANTONIO'S RESILIENCY AND PREPARE AND MITIGATE FOR THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, ESPECIALLY FLOODING IN SAN ANTONIO IS AN AREA OF GREAT INTEREST THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE AND COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SPECIFICALLY FEMA, TO PURSUE THOSE FUNDS. WE SUPPORT PRESERVATION OF REVITALIZATION OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR PARKS TEAM TO IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE FUNDING GAPS AND THOSE NEEDS ARE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE SAFE AND THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THE USE OF OUR PARKS. ALSO, FUNDING AND POLICIES TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO RELIABLE INTERNET IN OUR COMMUNITY. OF SPECIAL NOTE, INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCY AND TRANSPORTATION, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PILLAR FOR US. IT'S ALSO SERVED TO BE VERY LUCRATIVE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION. IN FY '23 AND FY '24 WE RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $110 MILLION IN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANTS SO WE HOPE TO CONTINUE ON THAT TRACK RECORD AND BE ABLE TO COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS WITH THOSE KEY AGENCIES THAT ARE RECEIVING LARGE NUMBERS OF FUNDING. ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE IS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, EPA. ONE OF THE LATEST GRANTS WAS APPROXIMATELY $22 MILLION FOR OUR COALITION INITIATIVE SOLAR FOR ALL WITH OTHER KEY CITIES ACROSS THE STATE. THAT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE FUNDS THAT WILL GO TOWARDS ENERGY-BURDENED HOUSEHOLDS IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE STATE. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO ESSENTIALLY TRACK THE DOLLARS, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE RESULTS BRING TODAY, NOT JUST FOR THE WHITE HOUSE BUT ALSO CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP. AND WE WILL BE IDENTIFYING WHAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE. ON TO HOUSING. WE SUPPORT LEGISLATION AND FUNDING THAT EXPANDS THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK THROUGH PRODUCTION INCENTIVES AND TAX CREDITS AND OTHER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS, FEDERAL TAX SUBSIDIES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB OF PROPERTIES. WE SUPPORT FUNDING FOR VERY IMPORTANT KEY HUD PROGRAMS. WE ARE AN ENTITLEMENT CITY WHERE WE RECEIVE HOME FUNDS. THIS IS THE LARGEST BLOCK GRANT FOR BUILDING AND REHAB TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS WELL AS CDBG THAT SUPPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. ESG HELPS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, IN FY '25, OUR HUD ENTITLEMENT GRANTS QUALIFIED ALMOST $23 MILLION FOR CDBG, HOME, ESG, AND HOPWA COMBINED. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM THAT OFTEN GETS TARGETED DURING THE APPROPRIATIONS CYCLE. THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET CURRENTLY INCLUDES AN INCREASE. HOWEVER, IT WILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN, AGAIN BASED ON ELECTION RESULTS AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP, THE TRAJECTORY AND WHAT THE FUTURE BRINGS FOR HUD-RELATED GRANT PROGRAMS. ON TO WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION. WE SUPPORT FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, WORKFORCE PROGRAMS THAT TARGET HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS. OF COURSE GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THIS WOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE FEDERAL INVESTMENTS TO OUR SA READY TO WORK LOCAL PROGRAM. THERE ARE CURRENT FEDERAL PROPOSALS TO FUND CHILDCARE BIRTH TO KINDERGARTEN. EXISTING CHILDCARE FUNDING IS REALLY NOT ENOUGH SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT WILL DEPEND ON THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP. BECAUSE THERE ARE PROPOSED BILLS THAT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REFILED IF THEY DO LIVE ANOTHER CONGRESSIONAL CYCLE, WE WILL TRACK THOSE CLOSELY AND WORK WITH OUR DELEGATION TO TRY AND BRING SOME SUCCESS FOR CHILDCARE FUNDING. ADDITIONALLY, WE SUPPORT THE CREATION AND EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION TO PREPARE [00:10:05] PARTICIPATE IN WORKFORCE MORE EASILY. THIS IS AN EXPANDED ITEM RECOMMENDED IN OUR FEDERAL PROGRAM. WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH OUR SA READY TO WORK FOCUS, ESPECIALLY THAT THE LACK OF CHILDCARE COULD AND IS AN OBSTACLE FOR SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION AND WORKFORCE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. SO WE EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE ENGAGED IN THESE TYPE OF WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. LASTLY, THIS FOCUSES ON EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE COST OF POSTSECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES TIED TO JOBS AND CAREERS. EFFORTS INCLUDE INCREASING ACCESS TO FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS THROUGH SUBSIDIZED TUITION FOR MIDDLE AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. THIS IS ANOTHER NEW RECOMMENDED ITEM. PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. WE SUPPORT INCREASED ACCESS TO FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS AND REDUCED FOOD INSECURITY. OUR COORDINATED EFFORTS WITH OUR FOOD BANK PARTNERS INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR THE PASSAGE AND THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FARM BILL. CURRENTLY THE FARM BILL IS IN LIMBO. IT DID ADVANCE IN 2024 BUT UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS POINT CONGRESSIONAL DISCUSSIONS LED THEM TO PUT A PAUSE ON IT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION AS WELL. THE FARM BILL INCLUDES SNAP BENEFITS, WHICH IS A SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES AND THIS IS AN AREA OF GREAT INTEREST TO OUR FOOD BANK PARTNERS. ADDITIONALLY, SUPPORT FOR EXPANSION OF PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING TO CONTINUE PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS HEALTH ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY SUCH AS DIABETES, ORAL HEALTH, STD, HIV, AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. $9 MILLION WORTH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED OF FUNDING-FUNDING NEEDS FOR THESE PROGRAMS SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AREA OF GREAT NEED FOR US TO COORDINATE WITH THEM AND WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL AGENCY PARTNERS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY AND PREVENT THAT THESE GAPS HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE TOWARDS THE END OF 2025. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WE KNOW THAT THE NEGATIVE EFFECTIVES OF DIABETES ARE HIGHER IN SAN ANTONIO THAN ACROSS THE STATE AND EVEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ON TO MILITARY PROTECTION. AS MILITARY CITY, USA, WE WILL CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT AND PRESERVE THE WORK OF OUR MILITARY PARTNERS, INCLUDING VARIOUS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OR COORDINATED OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE PENTAGON IN ORDER TO TRY TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT WE GROW OUR MILITARY MISSIONS AND OUR INSTALLATIONS AND ULTIMATELY TO PRESERVE AND EMBRACE OUR MILITARY FAMILY AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO. PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY. THIS IS A CARRYOVER ITEM OF OUR 118TH PROGRAM. THIS IS CONTINUOUSLY A PRIORITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WE SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HELP LOWER CRIME, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY, PLUS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT. ANTI-TRAFFICKING AND ANTI-SMUGGLING PROGRAMS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO PURSUE THE NEEDED TOOLS AND TRAINING FOR OUR SAPD OFFICERS. ADDITIONALLY, SUPPORT INCREASED FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAMS TO HELP FUND PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY EFFORTS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE ALL-FAMILIAR PROGRAM, THE REGIONAL CATASTROPHIC PLANNING GRANTS AND THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS PROGRAM, WHICH WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PURSUE AND HAVE HAD SUCCESS IN THE PAST THAT FUNDS EQUIPMENT, EMERGENCY VEHICLES, AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS. ADDITIONALLY, SUPPORT IMMIGRATION REFORM LEGISLATION THAT BUILDS A HUMANE AND JUST ASYLUM SYSTEM THAT RELIEVES THE HUMANITARIAN BURDEN ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THIS IS IN GREAT PART WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING IN COORDINATING OUR EFFORTS WITH THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE EXISTING ADMINISTRATION. AS YOU KNOW OUR MRC IS FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO REQUEST FUNDING AS LONG AS IT IS NEEDED. IN 2024 THERE WAS MOMENTUM FOR A BIPARTISAN BORDER AGREEMENT BILL THAT WAS WIDELY SUPPORTED, INCLUDED BY THE WHITE HOUSE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT FELL APART ON THE HOUSE SIDE. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE IS [00:15:03] A POSSIBILITY THAT A VERSION OF THIS BILL WILL BE FILED IN THE NEW CONGRESS. IT DID ADDRESS SOME FORM OF COMPREHENSION IMMIGRATION AND ULTIMATELY INCLUDED SUFFICIENT FUNDING, AT LEAST IN THE NEAR FUTURE, TO FUND RESOURCES NEEDED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTERS AND SUCH. THE ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY OUR OVERARCHING PILLAR. THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS PER SE IN OUR STATE PROGRAM. WE SUPPORT FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD CLEARLY BENEFIT THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS AND OPPOSE ANY REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CLEARLY BE ADVERSE TO THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. AT TIMES THERE ARE EMERGING ISSUES THAT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE SO THIS GIVES THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM AND OUR CONSULTANTS THE ABILITY TO ACTIVATE AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, WE SUPPORT PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND FEDERAL NON-DISCRIMINATION STATUTE AND REGULATIONS BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, VETERAN STATUS, AGE, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. THIS IS AN EXPANDED NEW ITEM IN OUR FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING. HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR PARTNERSHIPS. THESE ARE THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES. TOO MANY TO MENTION BUT I EMBRACE AND APPLAUD THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE WORK THAT WE DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH OF COURSE INCLUDES OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, OUR UTILITIES PARTNERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NOT JUST INCLUDING OUR LOCAL REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS BUT ALSO CITIES LIKE SAN ANTONIO SMALL AND LARGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OUR MILITARY PARTNERS HERE AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THE VARIOUS CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, OUR HIGHER-ED STAKEHOLDERS. TOO MANY TO MENTION. TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS, BUSINESS, PRIVATE SECTOR, PRIVATE, PUBLIC PARTNERS AS WELL AS THE WORKFORCE AND THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORKFORCE THAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE CONFERENCE OF MAYORS. DATES OF KEY INTEREST AND MILESTONES. AS I SHARED EARLIER, THIS HAS BEEN A MULTIMONTH DEVELOPMENT TO GET HERE TODAY TO THE IGR COMMITTEE BRIEFING. WE WILL WORK TOWARDS A DECEMBER B SESSION FOR A BRIEFING FOR THE FULL COUNCIL. JANUARY 3 WHEN CONGRESS BEGINS, THE INAUGURATION IS ON JANUARY 20, WHICH GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM. WE'LL AIM FOR FULL COUNCIL APPROVAL IN JANUARY OF 2025. AGAIN JANUARY, BECAUSE IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHERE THE DUST IS SETTLING, WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE KEY CHAIRMANSHIPS IN THE VARIOUS KEY CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES THAT WE TRACK AND MONITOR VERY CLOSELY, SUCH AS THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ENERGY COMMITTEE, AND OTHERS. MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE IS ONE MORE SLIDE THAT I WANTED TO SHARE BUT THIS ESSENTIALLY CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON A PARALLEL TRACK, WORKING ON THIS DRAFT PROGRAM. EDUARDO AND SARAH. WE HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUCCESS THE LAST TWO YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO ADD THAT POTENTIAL POSITION IN THE GRANTS MANAGER THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT TO SAN ANTONIO OVER $182 MILLION WORTH OF FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE LAST TWO YEARS FOR FY '23 AND '24. $182 MILLION THAT WE DID NOT HAVE BEFORE SO IT IS MY COMMITMENT TO YOU THAT WE WILL KEEP PUSHING FORWARD AND IDENTIFYING AND CHASING WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE, REGARDLESS OF THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL START IN JANUARY. WE WILL IDENTIFY THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY TO CARVE OUR SPACE AND OUR SEAT AT THE TABLE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, I KNOW YOU MISSED SOME OF THIS, BUT WE'LL CHIME IN WITH YOU LAST. YES. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M JUST GETTING VERY NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS ABOUT TODAY. AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT TO FIND OUT BEFORE WE FINALIZE THIS AGENDA. [00:20:02] I GUESS I'LL START OFF BY SUMMARIZING IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ON A GOOD TRACK. I FEEL CONFIDENT IN THIS PROGRAM. THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I THINK ARE REALLY HIGH PRIORITIES FOR ME AND WE'LL START WITH INFRASTRUCTURE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE RAILROAD CROSSING ELIMINATION GRANT PROGRAM. WE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF RAILROAD CROSSINGS IN THE CITY AND THEY'RE IN MY DISTRICT AND THEY'RE A HUGE BURDEN FOR FOLK GOING TO WORK, GOING TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, GOING TO SCHOOL. THEY'RE A HUGE BARRIER AND THEY FALL VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH HIGHWAYS AS TOOLS OF SEGREGATION AND RED LINING AND SO WOULD LOVE TO SEE SUPPORT FOR THAT. CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE BURIAL OF UTILITY LINES. I'LL PUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF WEATHER DISASTERS, EMERGENCIES ABOVE-GROUND POWER LINES ARE OLDER AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND THERE ARE A GREATER NUMBER OF OUTAGES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE BURIED LINES AND THEY ARE MORE FRAGILE TO WEATHER AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. HOUSING, I DO WONDER DOES SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS -- WHAT I'M WONDERING IS I SEE EXPANSION BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY ADDRESS PRESERVATION FOR ME. AND SO AS A PART OF THE HOUSING AGENDA, DO WE INTEND TO ADVOCATE FOR FUNDS TO PROTECT, REMODEL, UPGRADE, AND EXPAND PUBLIC HOUSING? >> BASURTO: YES. THAT IS PART OF IT, COUNCILMAN. I WASN'T SURE IF YOU WERE GOING WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION OR JUST PRESERVATION AND REHAB. THERE ARE PARTS OF THE HOUSING PLANNING EFFORTS, EXECUTION EFFORTS THAT INCLUDE PRESERVATION AND REHAB, INCLUDING OF RENTAL PROPERTIES TO INCREASE THE HOUSING STOCK, NOT JUST FOR HOME OWNERSHIP BUT RESIDENTS THAT RENT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: PRETTY ALL INCLUSIVE? WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL. FOR WORKFORCE EDUCATION, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT STRONG ADVOCACY FOR QUALITY CHILDCARE FUNDING. THAT CONTINUES TO BE A NEED AND IT IS A NEED THAT I DON'T KNOW IS BEING ADDRESSED VERY EASILY. PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. MORE FUNDING FOR THE INSULIN COST SHARE PROGRAM, PLEASE, AND MORE LIKE THAT. THERE WAS AN INTERESTING LINE IN THE HOMELAND SECURITY -- THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY. THERE WAS A LINE THAT I LIKE. RELIEVES HUMANITARIAN EFFORT ON THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. WE CAN LOOK AT ISSUES OUTSIDE OF IMMIGRATION AND THERE'S A LOT OF CRISES HAPPENING AT ONE TIME AND SO AS MUCH AS WE CAN USE THAT SORT OF POSSIBLE, TO CLARIFY LANGUAGE ON THE KIDS' ONLINE SAFETY ACT . IT INTRODUCES A DUTY OF CARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOCIAL PLATFORMS, FORCING THEM TO HIDE CONTENT THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED HARMFUL TO MINORS. AT ITS MOST BASIC INTENT, THAT'S AN AGREEABLE POLICY, THE REALITY IS THAT IT INTRODUCES -- COULD CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTISAN RIGHT-WING SENSORS TO SILENCE THOSE ONLINE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME OR LOVE SOMEONE LIKE I LOVE . THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT WITH ME AND I THINK IT'S IN LINE WITH OUR AGENDA. I THINK THAT'S ALL. OVERALL, I'M HOPING TO GET THE DAY DONE WITH. THANK YOU. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SALLY FOR THE PRESENTATION. I JUST HAD A FEW COMMENTS. ON SLIDE 5 FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCY AND TRANSPORTATION, WHERE ARE WE AT WITH SAN ANTONIO TO AUSTIN RAIL TRANSIT? I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING IT IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT, HOLISTICALLY. >> BASURTO: SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT EFFORT, INCLUDING WITH OUR DELEGATION. I THINK THE HARDEST PART, COUNCILWOMAN, IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE ALONG THE PATH AND SO CONVERSATIONS START AND THEN THEY PICK UP MOMENTUM AND THEY FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AGAIN. BUT THERE DEFINITELY IS A DESIRE IN ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW HAD SOME FUNDING BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PIECES THAT DIDN'T FALL INTO PLACE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. >> COYLE: I'LL ADD TO THAT. WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL MOSTLY DID WAS FOCUS ON FUNDING FOR -- SORRY. WHAT IS THE -- AMTRAK. THE FEDERAL RAIL. IT WAS TO INCREASE AMTRAK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO THERE'S BEEN SOME PUSH TO TRY TO DO THAT. [00:25:01] IT REALLY WOULDN'T BE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE INNER CITY RAIL BETWEEN THE TWO. THERE'S BEEN RENEWED DISCUSSION BY OUR COUNTY JUDGE AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE BUT THAT SAID THE ORGANIZATION THAT LED THAT EFFORT, THE FUNDING THAT CAME FROM THE MPOS IN EACH REGION WAS DISCONTINUED BACK IN 2015 TIME-FRAME. AND THE REAL HANG UP WAS TO USE THE EXISTING UNION PACIFIC LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH ALL THE CITIES THAT HAS ALL THESE CROSSINGS THAT COUNCILMAN JUST MENTIONED THAT ARE SLOW AND NOT EFFICIENT AND MOVE ALL THAT OUT TO A NEW LINE, FREIGHT BYPASS LINE TO ALLOW THAT UP LINE TO OPEN UP FOR COMMUTER RAIL. AND I THINK UP AND THE LONE STAR RAIL DISTRICT COULD NEVER GET TO THE POINT WHERE UP COULD NEVER SUPPORT A MAJOR INVESTMENT. I THINK IT WAS A $2 BILLION COST TO BUILD THE BYPASS. THAT'S WHERE IT ENDED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY DISCUSSION AND INTEREST IN IT BUT FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL MOST OF THE PROGRAMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON AMTRAK AND THE EXISTING NATIONAL SYSTEM. >> GAVITO: YEAH. I WONDER IF THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DEPARTMENT IN ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS TO BAN TOGETHER TO APPLY FOR SOME FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THAT. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S COSTLY AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'VE ALL BEEN SAYING WE WANT TO BE CONNECTED, YOU KNOW, THAT THE CONNECTION IS NEEDED. I THINK WE'VE BEEN SAYING THAT SINCE PROBABLY LIKE 1970S. AND SO WHO IN THE CITY WOULD SPEARHEAD THAT EFFORT? IS IT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT? IS IT GOVERNMENT RELATIONS? >> COYLE: I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY BE TRANSPORTATION. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN ADVOCATE FROM A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SIDE BUT I'LL BE FRANK. I THINK CAT AND JOHN PETEREK WOULD PROBABLY SAY IT ISN'T A PRIMARY FOCUS. THERE ISN'T THE SAME ORGANIZED EFFORT THAT THERE WAS 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO BEFORE THAT EFFORT SORT OF FIZZLED. I THINK ULTIMATELY IF THAT BECAME A PRIORITY AND THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ACTIVELY MOVING FOR THE CITY TO GET BEHIND, IT PROBABLY WOULD BE THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ENGAGED IN THAT. >> GAVITO: THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP IN THAT. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT YOU ALL ARE SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR -- ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SPACES AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. I THINK THAT'S SUPER HELPFUL. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR FEDERAL GRANT THAT WE WERE AWARDED FOR WOODLAWN LAKE PARK. THAT'S GOING TO BRING SOME LARGE NEEDED INVESTMENT TO AN AREA -- TO A PARK THAT SERVES A LOT OF HIGH-POVERTY ZIP CODES. I DEFINITELY WANT TO CHALLENGE ALL OF US, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME SO WE CAN KEEP LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S HELP WITH LANDING THAT ONE FOR US. ON SLIDE 6 FOR HOUSING, PUBLIC HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO, WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN DISTRICT 7, WHICH I'M OPEN TO. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO STRESS IS MAINTAINING THE CURRENT HOUSING STOCK. AND, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY HOME WAS LETTING ME KNOW ABOUT YES THEY GOT SOME FEDERAL FUNDS BUT IT WASN'T A WHOLE LOT. IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A LOT OR ENOUGH TO UPKEEP THE HOUSING STOCK THAT WE NEED. AND I THINK THERE WAS THREE INSTANCES IN DISTRICT 7 ALONE WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY HOME HOUSING STOCK IS REALLY SUBPAR. SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, AND I OFFERED MY HELP TO THEM, YOU KNOW, DURING S.A. TO D.C. OR OTHERS -- OR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GO AND ADVOCATE FOR THIS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE ALL KNOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT I THINK MAINTAINING IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. >> BASURTO: WE KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SO WE WILL SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME TO IDENTIFY WHAT THEIR FUNDING GAPS ARE. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT TYPE OF FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEW CONGRESS WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. BUT I COMMIT TO YOU THAT WE WILL COORDINATE WITH THEM AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT AND STRATEGIZE SOME OPPORTUNITIES. >> GAVITO: OKAY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS OFTEN AN OVERLOOKED GROUP OF PEOPLE AND OBVIOUSLY WITH [00:30:01] BABY BOOMERS AGING WE HAVE A LARGER GROUP OF PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. ON SLIDE NO. 10, PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY, I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THE CRIME REDUCTION EFFORTS THAT WERE LISTED. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR US AND A LOT OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IS THE ADDRESSING MAIL THEFT. YOU KNOW, AT EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD I HAVE BEEN AT RECENTLY IT'S A FRUSTRATING THING. THEY KNOW THAT THE MAIL DELIVERY IS A FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY. THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANSWERS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY -- I JUST PUT OUT A CCR THAT SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AT THE CITY LEVEL. BECAUSE THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND IT'S JUST FALLEN ON DEAF EARS. AND PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES ARE IMPACTED BY THIS, WHETHER THEY'RE NERVOUS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION BEING STOLEN, GIFT CARDS BEING STOLEN. YOUR MAIL NOT BEING THERE IS A JARRING EXPERIENCE. SO THEY -- A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORS -- NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS HAVE FELT THAT THEY ARE PUSHING FOR THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE BEING MET WITH NOTHING. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THEM. >> BASURTO: WE DO HAVE THE EARS OF OUR DELEGATION. WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SENATOR CORNYN'S TEAM, AS WELL AS CONGRESSMAN CASTRO. CONGRESSMAN CASTRO IS LOOKING AT PROPOSING LEGISLATION BUT IT IS ON PAUSE RIGHT NOW. WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH HIM AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE FIND OUT. >> GAVITO: WHILE THAT'S GREAT AND WE'RE HAPPY THAT THE CONGRESSMAN IS ACTIVATING ON IT, THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR TWO YEARS. AND THERE'S VERY MUCH TACTICAL THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS OR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ARE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIND $2,000 OR $4,000 TO REPLACE A CLUSTER MAILBOX, IT'S OFTEN THE SAME TECHNOLOGY WITH A MASTER KEY THAT GETS BROKEN INTO A COUPLE WEEKS LATER. THIS IS JUST AN AGGRAVATING CYCLE FOR THEM AND THERE ARE RESIDENTS TOO -- AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP OUT BUT ISSUE. >> BASURTO: I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THERE IS A FEDERAL FUNCTION. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION THAT OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL AGENCIES IS THAT IT'S MORE OF A LOCAL ISSUE. THEY ARE DELIVERING BUT THEN THE MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCALS. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AS WELL. THE CONGRESSIONAL POSSIBLE FIX IS A LONG-TERM FIX BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST THEY DON'T LOSE SIGHT, THAT IT IS AN ISSUE OF INTEREST. >> GAVITO: YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IS THAT IT'S LIKE THAT SPIDER-MAN MEME AND THREE SPIDERMEN AND THEY'RE POINTING AT EACH OTHER. NO ONE IS TAKING OWNERSHIP AND IN THE MIDDLE RESIDENTS ARE LEFT WITH THE FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE OF NOT GETTING THEIR MAIL . AGAIN, WITH THE CCR WE JUST PROPOSED, WE'RE TRYING TO HELP WITH ADDITIONAL LIGHTING AND ALSO CREATING A TASK FORCE. WE HAVE HEARD SO MANY MIXED MESSAGES. WHEN I WAS ELECTED THIS WAS ALREADY A PROBLEM AND THERE'S JUST -- YEAH. I CALL IT THE LAND OF MIXED MESSAGES AND SO WITH THE TASK FORCE WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR IS THAT WE CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, GET TO SOME SOURCE OF TRUTH AND THEN MAKE POLICY DECISIONS AROUND THEM. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I KNOW ELECTION DAY IS GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON OUR STRATEGY GOING FORWARD BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S HELP AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THIS. THANKS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR. SALLY, THANK YOU. JEFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. FOR THE TEAM THAT'S HERE AND THE CHAMBERS I SEE REPRESENTED, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THIS IS A VERY ANXIOUS DAY. I AGREE WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE. BUT WHATEVER HAPPENS TODAY WE KNOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE TOMORROW AND IF WE ARE PREPARED AND WE HAVE A PLAN, THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. SO THE FIRST THING I WANT TO START WITH IS OUR PARTNERSHIPS -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIPS, SALLY, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT STARTING TOMORROW WE LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES OF THE CHAMBERS, WHERE WE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO ALIGN WITH THE CITY, WHERE WE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DIVERGE BASED ON [00:35:02] BASICALLY WHO IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. THE OTHER THING IS WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS KIND OF ALLUDED TO IN ALL THESE ISSUES IS THE CLIMATE AND WEATHER EXTREMES THAT WE'RE FACING AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET THOSE DOLLARS AND WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THOSE. WE SAW A VERY HOT SUMMER. TEXAS SAW TORNADOES COME THROUGH OTHER PARTS OF SOUTH TEXAS. REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE TALK ABOUT HOMELAND SECURITY THAT WE'RE SENDING OUR -- AND OUR CPS AND SAWS EMPLOYEES -- THAT THEY ARE GOING OUT TO THESE DISASTER LOCATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS RECOGNIZING THAT AND BASICALLY HELPING WITH THE BUDGET THERE. THE OTHER IS THE PARKS AND THE INTERIOR. SPECIFICALLY, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE MISSIONS IN THE ALAMO IS A NATIONAL PARK AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT IS STILL FUNDED AS WE GO FORWARD. I KNOW THAT'S AN AREA THAT PEOPLE TEND TO FORGET. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT WITHIN OUR DELEGATES. AND THEN THE OTHER THAT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION IS WHAT FEDERALLY THEY'RE DOING WITH SSI AND THOSE THAT ARE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES. BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO START A READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED AND GET THEM BETTER-PAYING JOBS. BUT THEY ARE FACED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S KIND OF HURDLES THAT IF THEY MAKE TOO MUCH THAT COULD REDUCE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY THAT THEY'RE GETTING. I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE -- THAT THEY'RE UNDERSTANDING OUR EFFORTS AND HOW WE CAN FIND A BALANCE SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE INTO THAT OUT OF POVERTY AND INTO LIVING COMFORTABLY AND INTO GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND UNDERSTAND THAT BY SOME OF THEIR POLICIES THAT THEY HAVE FEDERALLY REGARDING SOCIAL SECURITY, REGARDING DISABILITY AND MEDICARE ARE KEEPING INDIVIDUALS IN POVERTY AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM WITH THAT. I AGREE ALSO WITH COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S ADDRESSING THE CHILDCARE ISSUE. AND REALLY RELATING THAT AS WE GO UP FEDERALLY THAT THIS IS RELATED TO OUR 20% POVERTY LEVEL AND THE FACT THAT IN THE MAJORITY OF OUR 20% IT IS WOMEN, WOMEN WITH CHILDREN, WOMEN HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD. I GUESS, SALLY, I KNOW WE SAW THE TIMELINE BUT MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS WHEN DO WE THINK WE CAN GET WITH OUR PARTNERS AND KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE THIS FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND HOW THEY AGREE WITH OURS IN PREPARATION FOR THAT BIG S.A. TO D.C. TRIP. >> BASURTO: I THINK DECEMBER FOR SURE WILL BE A PERFECT STARTING POINT. MANY OF THEM ARE TAKING THEIR FEDERAL AGENDAS TO THEIR BOARD, THEIR GOVERNING BOARDS IN DECEMBER AND IT WILL PROBABLY SPILL INTO JANUARY. SO WE CAN REPORT TO THE IGR COMMITTEE. THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING THROUGH THE IGR ROUNDTABLE THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE CITY. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CHAMBERS SO WE MEET ON A MONTHLY BASIS. SO WE CAN HAVE AN IDEA BEFORE DECEMBER AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, AS MANY OF US HEAD TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IN TAMPA, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM SMALL, MID-LEVEL, AND BIG CITIES THAT MAY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY WANT. SO THIS IS KIND OF A HOW DO WE GET THERE AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE RESULTS ARE. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WASHINGTON DOESN'T FORGET THAT WE HAVE A LOCAL COMMUNITY TO RUN AND THAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ULTIMATELY IS TO THE RESIDENTS IN THAT LOCAL COMMUNITY. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ANSWERS. I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF STILL QUESTIONS THOUGH TOO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO LOCALLY AND WHERE WE ALIGN TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD. AND I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT ALL OUR PARTNERS UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ABOUT MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD AND DOING THE BEST FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY WITH ALL THE [00:40:01] COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE. THANK YOU, SALLY FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> COYLE: COUNCILWOMAN, I WANT TO CHIME IN BECAUSE THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT THAT YOU ALL WILL BE AT NLC NEXT WEEK AND NO DOUBT THEY ARE WATCHING THE ELECTION TOO TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS POSSIBLE AND WHAT ISN'T, DEPENDING ON WHO WINS. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT MOST OF THE GENERAL, THE PILLARS AND THE PRIORITIES IN THE PROGRAM LARGELY REMAIN THE SAME. WHAT CHANGES, DEPENDING ON THE ELECTION OUTCOME, IS HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCILMAN POINTED OUT SOME OF THE GRANT PROGRAMS ON SLIDE 6, THE HOUSING PROGRAMS. IN A PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME, PRESIDENT TRUMP PROPOSED REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THOSE PROGRAMS. WE WERE ARM IN ARM WITH OTHER CITIES FIGHTING IN CONGRESS WITH WHY WE NEED TO KEEP CDBG, FOR EXAMPLE. WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAME INTO POWER, THOSE PROGRAMS WEREN'T AT RISK BUT OF COURSE WE'RE COMPETING THEN AT FEDERAL AGENCY LEVEL TO TRY TO SECURE GRANT FUNDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAD LARGELY BEEN SUCCESSFUL OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. I THINK AS YOU ALL GO TO NLC, I THINK OUR MESSAGE FROM THE STAFF WOULD BE THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD. I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY FAIR GAME FOR YOU ALL TO BE DISCUSSING THOSE WITH OTHER CITIES. AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO COME DOWN TO HOW WE APPROACH THOSE ISSUES DEPENDING ON THE ELECTION OUTCOME TODAY, BOTH IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, SALLY FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO GO THROUGH A FEW OF THE THINGS MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED BUT ARE PRIORITIES FOR DISTRICT 1 AS WELL. STARTING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE. ALL OF THOSE THINGS YOU LISTED ON THERE I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING TO THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAMS ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO FIX ALL OF OUR STREETS RIGHT NOW AND IT'S UPWARDS OF $2 BILLION. WE DON'T HAVE $2 BILLION IN CAPITAL MONEY SITTING AROUND. ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO COMPETE FOR SOME OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT I KNOW IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY CALLED OUT ON THE SLIDE BUT FOCUSING ON 35 AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR WHATEVER COMPETITIVE GRANTS THAT MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. ON THE HOUSING FRONT, I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE. WE HAD A SIMILAR CONVERSATION AND WE FOUND OUT FROM OH THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE ALL THEIR HVACS AT ONE OF THEIR PROPERTIES AND THAT'S NOT FUNDED. THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF MONEY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR. FIGURING OUT A WAY TO ADDRESS MAINTENANCE ISSUES IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO INCREASE SUPPLY BUT IF WE'RE NOT MAINTAINING OUR PROPERTIES IT SEEMS UNJUST TO THE PEOPLE LIVING ON THOSE PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW. THE VFW REACHED OUT AND SHARED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE VOUCHERS THAT GRANTS A PER DIEM PAYMENT AND A PILOT PROGRAM TO COMBAT VETERAN HOMELESSNESS. LIE TECH IS ONE WHEN WE WERE AT S.A. TO D.C. LAST TIME WAS BEING CONTENTED UPON. LIE TECH IS GREAT BECAUSE IT GENERALLY GETS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BUT IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SEE IF THE HOUSING TRUST AND LOCAL PARTNERS CAN GET PRIORITY WOULD BE WONDERFUL AND FIGURING OUT WAYS TO DO LIE TECH DEALS FOR REHAB. I KNOW THEY DID THAT IN THE PAST -- THIS WAS ON THE DALLAS AGENDA BUT THEY WERE CALLING IT BLIGHT REMEDIATION. IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN COLLABORATE AND ADVOCATE FOR, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE -- AND WE ASKED FOR THIS AT THE STATE AGENDA TOO. BUT JUST INCREASED SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH BEDS AND CENTERS. WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A BIG ISSUE THAT LEADS TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH HOMELESSNESS THAT WE'RE FACING. AND SO SUPPORT FOR THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. I JUST WANTED TO CALL OUT ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY FRONT, THANK YOU FOR ADDING THE COMPONENT ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION AND THE LANGUAGE AROUND HUMANE AND JUST. WE SAW A LOT OF FOLKS SEEKING ASYLUM IN DIFFERENT STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT LEFT SAN ANTONIO AND WERE BEING USED AND ABUSED IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE AND WHILE THEY ARE WAITING FOR THEIR PROCESS TO TAKE PLACE. WE HAVE THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER IN DISTRICT 1. WHILE WE HAVEN'T HAD AS MANY FOLKS COMING THROUGH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE [00:45:02] TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT SERVICES FOR THOSE FOLKS. AND THEN THE LAST THING ON THE WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION COMPONENT, DEFINITELY WANT TO ADVOCATE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR HEAD START. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE BUT FIGURING OUT SOME MORE OF A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE WORK HEAD START AND PRE-K 4 SA IS DOING I THINK WOULD BE WONDERFUL AND IF THAT COULD BE TIED TO A FUNDING INCENTIVE. AND THEN ALSO WORKING WITH OUR EDUCATION -- THIS WOULD BE A PARTNERSHIP ONE THAT TIES TO EDUCATION BUT WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERS TO SEE IF WE COULD GET INCREASED FUNDING FOR ANY OF OUR TITLE WORK, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. CONSIDERING THERE ARE SO MANY UNFUNDED MANDATES COMING FROM THE STATE FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEP UP ON SOME OF OUR TITLE FUNDING FOR THOSE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS OR EVEN JUST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, GIVEN THE DIFFERENT DYNAMIC THAT EDUCATORS HAVE TO WORK IN TODAY. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. YES, ANXIOUS DAY. THANKS, CHAIR. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, SALLY. WE HAD A MOMENT -- MULTIPLE MOMENTS IN KOREA WHEN WE WENT WITH JENNA'S TEAM. WE WERE VISITING WITH THE CEOS AND THE CHAIRS OF THE DIFFERENT BOARDS OF THESE BIG COMPANIES AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WITHOUT EXCEPTION EXPRESSED ANXIETIES OVER TODAY'S ELECTION. AND MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT ALL OF THEIR PLANS, BUDGETS, AND FUTURE PROJECTS ARE ON HOLD PENDING WHAT HAPPENS THIS WEEK. AND IF SAMSUNG, LG, AN HYUNDAI ARE SAYING THAT, IT'S NO SURPRISE IF OUR AGENDA CHANGES. THANK YOU FOR SUMMARIZING WHAT YOU CAN SUMMARIZE RIGHT NOW. I DO THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US THAT WE SHOULD TAKE UP AND THAT IS A BRIEFING ON THE PROGRAM FOR SENIORS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES IN CASE OF CATASTROPHIC WEATHER EVENTS. AT SOME POINT IF WE CAN GET SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THAT PROGRAM, BECAUSE TO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S POINT THAT'S BECOMING A MORE AND MORE ACUTE PROBLEM FOR US. ASIDE FROM THAT, I HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO CHIME IN ONE MORE TIME. THAT IS THE END OF OUR BRIEFING, SALLY. YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEED FROM US? OKAY. AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT ENDS THE MEETING AS WELL. WE'RE ADJOURNED. Y'ALL HAVE A NICE WEEK. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.