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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING.
PLEASE TAKER YOUR SEATS AND WE'LL BEGIN OUR SESSION. THE TIME IS 10:45 A.M. ON THE FIRST DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION ON THE PROPOSED SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN THE HEMISFAIR AND SURROUNDING AREAS. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME FOLKS TO OUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF OUR PARTNERS IN SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM TODAY.
MOST CERTAINLY PRESIDENT TAYLOR AMY FROM UTSA. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF JOINING US TODAY. ON WHAT WE'RE INVEILING. WHICH IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HOW WE THINK ABOUT AND EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.
ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE CENTER CITIES IN THE COUNTRY IN A GROWING AND DYNAMIC CITY ON THE RISE. MUCH OF WHAT HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT, BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY LARGELY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR TODAY HAS BEEN THE WORK OF VERY GOOD AND SOLID DUE DILIGENCE.
WE STARTED WITH THE BASIC QUESTION CAN THIS BE DONE. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE VISION.
THE ANSWER IS YES, AND SO NOW THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS BEGIN.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY IS WELL BEYOND A SIMPLE FACELIFT. IT IS NOT JUST A COLLECTION OF PROJECTS.
IT IS A UNIFIED AND COMPREHENSIVE VISION FOR HOW WE TRANSFORM THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR CITY FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S TIME WE GO ALL IN ON A VISION TO BUILD A DOWNTOWN THAT IS THE ENVY OF THE WORLD. UPGRADES AND SEVERAL ASSETS HAVE PROVIDED US WITH A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO ASSIGN OUR EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE THE OLD AND BUILD A NEW TOWARD A MORE UNIFIED, MODERN AND DESIRABLE DOWNTOWN. ONE THAT'S ALSO MORE LIVABLE.
THIS CAN'T BE ONE SINGLE DECISION WE MAKE AT CITY HALL, THE COUNTY, VIA, PRIVATE SECTORS, NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO WILL BE NECESSARY PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE THIS VISION. BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO IS A CITY THAT WORKS TOGETHER. WE'RE AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO LIVE, START A BUSINESS AND FAMILY. WE'VE MADE LANDMARK INVESTMENTS TO INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PRE-K 4 SA, HIGHER EDUCATION, PUBLIC TRANSIT AND MORE. THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE CITY ARE BECOMING SOLID.
MUCH OF MY TIME IN CITY HALL HAS BEEN SPENT WORKING ON POLICIES TO HELP RESIDENTS BETTER AFFORD A GOOD LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY. OUR POPULATION IS LOOMING, OUR ECONOMY IS RISING IN A MORE INCLUSIVE WAY AND IT'S SAFE TO SAY DOWNTOWN IS BECOMING THE PLACE TO BE. I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ERIK, LORI, BEN, ANDY AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FOR COLLECTIVE VISION TO GET US TO THIS DISCUSSION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK AHEAD TO REALIZE WHAT MOST OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS IF NOT DECADES. ERIK, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
YOU TO GET STARTED. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS MORNING A VISION AND UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE AS THE 7TH LARGEST CITY IN THIS COUNTRY. THE VISION BUILDS UPON THE INCREDIBLE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY, OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. IT BUILDS UPON ALL THE TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN DOWNTOWN NOW. THE ALAMO, UTSA'S CONTINUED EXPANSION AND OTHERS.
ALL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE RIVERWALK AND 15,000 HOTEL ROOMS. WE'VE DARED TO PLAN BIG. OUR DELIBERATE GOAL WAS TO CREATE A VIBRANT HUB OF ACTIVITY THAT FOSTERS OUR CIVIC PRIDE. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN LORI'S PRESENTATION. WE'VE SPENT TIME TO UNDERSTAND HOW OTHER CITIES HAVE APPROACHED SIMILAR EFFORTS. WE'VE DONE ALL OF THIS DUE
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DILIGENCE IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A INFORM A VISION AND PLAN AND WITH OUR GOES WAS DEVELOP THE STRATEGY FIRST. THAT DUE DILIGENCE ALSO GETS US TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN BEGIN ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND THAT BEGINS TODAY. THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.BUT TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT DAY TO SHARE THAT VISION AND I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS GOING TO TAKE AN ENTIRE TEAM EFFORT WITH DEDICATED PARTNERS. SO WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY, I'LL TURN THE PODIUM OVER TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LORI HOUSTON. LORI?
>> HOUSTON: THANK YOU, ERIK AND GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TO PRESENT THE SAN ANTONIO SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. MY PRESENTATION WILL PROVIDE THE CONTEXT ON HOW WE GOT HERE. WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE AND TALK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS RELATED TO OUR FUNDING PLAN AND WHAT WE'LL BE REQUESTING IN TERMS OF FEEDBACK. ERIK, BEN, ANDY AND MYSELF HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK BUT IT TAKES COLLABORATION AND PARTNERS AND WE HAVE SEVERAL PARTNERS WITH US TODAY. FIRST WE HAVE CORINA AND PETER HOLT.
PETER IS CHAIRMANNEN MAJORITY OWNER OF THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS.
WE HAVE RC BUFORD, THE COE OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. BOBBY PEREZ.
WE HAVE TAYLOR AMY, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE ALSO HAVE JUAN LANDA WHO IS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE HEMISFAIR PARK REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THE WORK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TODAY IS A RESULT OF MANY CONVERSATIONS AND PLANNING. WE ARE STILL IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES OF THIS VERY LAYERED AND COMPLICATED PROJECT. BUT WE BELIEVE WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT THAT WE CAN EXPAND DISCUSSIONS AND PLAN MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY WHO IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT PARTNER. BEFORE I OFFICIALLY START, I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE SAN ANTONIO SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS.
IT IS A COMMUNITY SPACE ANCHORED BY FOUR PARKS THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY ACTIVATED.
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY SPACE ARE ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION FACILITIES LIKE THE HENRY B CONVENTION CENTER, THE ALAMODOME, A MID SIZED EVENT VENUE, NEW CON INVESTIGATION CENTER AND HOTEL AND A NEW ARENA FOR THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS.
THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS CREATE A DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT THAT COMBINES SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, DINING, SHOPPING AND RESIDENTIAL USES THAT ATTRACT LOCALS AND TOURISTS, DRIVES ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND IS ACCESSIBLE TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. NOW, HOW DID WE GET HERE? IT REALLY STARTED WITH PRESIDENT AMY COMING TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND SHARING WITH US HIS PLANS TO DO THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP EFFORT THEY'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT DOING ON THE SITE UTSA OWNS WITHIN HEMISFAIR. THAT IS A 14-ACRE SITE. AND THEY'VE ALWAYS INTENDED TO MONETIZING THAT SITE AND WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO WAS ISSUE A P3.
THIS IS AWESOME. BUT WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE SURE WE COULD BE
GREAT PARTNERS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE HAWKINS.
HOUSTON. >> HOUSTON: WITH THAT INFORMATION FROM DR. AMY, ERIK AND I WERE THINKING HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH THEM AND ACCOMMODATE OUR NEEDS.
WE FOUND OUT THAT AUSTIN AND DALLAS WERE DOING NEW CONVENTION CENTERS, TEARING THEIRS DOWN AND GOING BRAND NEW. WE ALSO KNEW THAT OUR ALAMODOME WAS GETTING OLD, ABOUT TO TURN 30, WHICH IS PRETTY OLD IN INDOOR ARENA STANDARDS. WE KNEW THAT WE NEEDED MORE HOTEL ROOMS TO ACCOMMODATE OUR VIBRANT CONVENTION BUSINESS. AND THEN WE WANTED TO CONNECT DOWNTOWN TO THE EAST SIDE. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEAR, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT AND DO IT RIGHT.
AND FINALLY LET'S ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEMISFAIR.
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WE'VE BEEN DOING IT EVERY FIVE YEARS WITH OUR GENERAL BOND OBLIGATION, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT FASTER, AND AT THIS RATE IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DEVELOPED UNTIL 2032 OR BEYOND. WITH THIS INFORMATION, WE APPROACHED THE SPURS AND ASKED THEM WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN COMING DOWNTOWN. AND THERE WAS A RESOUNDING YES.THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO ENHANCE THEIR FAN EXPERIENCE AND THE AIR TEAM EXPERIENCE. AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SPURS FANS, THAT ENERGY IS AMAZING AND IT COULD ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THIS ENTIRE DISTRICT.
FINALLY, OUR PARTNER AT BEXAR COUNTY. THEIR PRIORITY IS WHAT THEY DO TO THE CURRENT FROST CENTER AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.
WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN AS THEY PURSUE THE VISION FOR THAT SITE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL WORKING ON AND FOCUSED ON FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS. NOW, NO DOUBT IN MY MIND A SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S GOING TO INCREASE TRANSPORTATION, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. WE WILL HAVE ADJACENT DEVELOPMENTS COMPATIBLE WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT SOCIALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY. SO WHAT DO WE KNOW? WE DO KNOW THAT OUR CONVENTION CENTER TODAY IS LOSING OUT ON CON INVESTIGATION CENTER OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE LOST ABOUT 90 OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS FOR SUCH LARGE CONVENTIONS THAT WE COULD NOT PURSUE MAINLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EXHIBIT HALL SPACE.
THOSE 90 CONVENTIONS WOULD HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT 450,000 VISITORS TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD HAVE SPENT OVER $700 MILLION. NOT ONLY ARE WE LOSING OUT ON THAT, WITH VISITATION WHEN THEY COME TO SAN ANTONIO, THEY FIND OUT WE'RE A CULTURALLY RICH COMMUNITY AND WANT TO COME BACK.
OUR ALAMODOME IS KIND OF A DINOSAUR AND WE NEED TO IMPROVE IT.
IT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS AND WE RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT NCAA IS NOT GOING TO BE DOING ANY MORE FINAL FOURS IN SAN ANTONIO BEYOND THEIR COMMITMENT FOR WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR IN 2029. THE REASON IS OUR FACILITY IS TOO OLD AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO GO INTO NEWER FACILITIES THAT HAVE PREMIUM SEATING AND SUB SPACE OPPORTUNITIES THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
WE ALSO KNOW WE NEED MORE CONVENTION CENTER ROOMS. WE NEED HOTELS THAT CAN PROVIDE US BLOCKS FOR THESE LARGE CONVENTIONS. WE HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING PROBLEM IN SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S THAT WE HAVE CONVENTION CENTER CENTER AND HE'S YOU ARE TRAVEL. WE ARE A FAMILY DESTINATION AND SOMETIMES OUR LARGE HOTELS CAN MAKE MORE MONEY IF THEY SELL A ROOM TO A FAMILY VERSUS A BLOCK ROOM FOR A CONVENTION. WE DON'T WANT TO BE CAN IN A BALANCEIZING ON EACH OTHER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE NEW HOTEL ROOMS FOR BOTH MARKETS.
FINALLY A NEW ARENA IN DOWNTOWN WITHIN A SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WOULD ELEVATE THAT FAN AND TEAM EXPERIENCE CONNECTING BOTH TO AN ACTIVATED DISTRICT FULL OF AMENITIES WITHIN A QUARTER MILE WALK. I DON'T -- I THINK WE'RE ALL SPURS FANS IN THIS ROOM. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY IS SPURS FANS.
IF WE HAD A HOME WITHIN A SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT JUST FOR OUR SPURS, THE ENERGY IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE AMAZING. WHAT HAVE WE DONE? WE HAVE DONE A LOT. WE HAVE WORKED ON PROPERTY ACQUISITION.
WE APPROACHED TAYLOR AMY ABOUT RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.
WE HAVE THAT EXECUTED MOU ABOUT ACQUIRING THEIR PROPERTY WHICH IS THE FEDERAL BUILDING AND THE SURROUNDING LOTS. WE ALSO WITH EVERYONE'S HELP ON THE DAIS ESTABLISHED LEGISLATION REFERRED TO AS SENATE BILL 2220 THAT PROVIDED THE CITY ACCESS TO CREATE A PROJECT FINANCE ZONE SIMILAR TO WHAT DALLAS HAS AND HOW THEY FUNDED SOME OF THEIR CONVENTION CENTER FACILITIES.
WHAT IS IT? A PROJECT FINANCE ZONE IS A ZONE THAT TAKES A THREE-MILE RADIUS FROM A CENTER OF A SPECIFIC FACILITY, DRAWS THAT BOUNDARY AND ALL THE HOTELS WITHIN THAT THREE-MILE RADIUS OF THAT FACILITY WE CAN CAPTURE THE INCREMENTAL STATE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX WHICH IS 6% AND THE INCREMENTAL STATE SALES TAX FROM RETAIL WITHIN THOSE HOTELS WHICH IS ANOTHER 6%.
THAT'S A MAJOR TOOL. CITY COUNCIL WENT FORWARD AND CREATED TWO ZONES, ONE FOR THE ALAMODOME AND ONE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER. WE ALSO SECURED A PLANNING GRANT OF ABOUT $3 MILLION FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INITIATE
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PLANNING EFFORTS TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO CONNECT THE NEAR EAST SIDE TO DOWNTOWN. AND SO WHAT THAT COULD DO IS IT COULD REALLY, YOU KNOW, FIX THE WRONG THAT WAS MADE BY THE HIGHWAY GOING THROUGH AND DIVIDING THE COMMUNITY.AND WE CAN DO THAT BOTH AT THE STREET LEVEL AND ELEVATED LEVEL.
BUT IT NEEDS TO CONNECT THE COMMUNITY AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT COULD BE FOR THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES. FINALLY CONSULTANTS.
IT IS A LOT OF WORK TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WE COULDN'T DO IT ALONE.
WE BROUGHT ON POP YOU HUSBAND FOR OUR MASTER PLANNING, THE GROUP THAT DID THE ALAMODOME DESIGN 30 YEARS AGO AND THEY'VE DONE THE IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. WE ALSO USED THEM ON OUR CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.
SO WE HAD A TEAM THAT KNEW OUR AREA THAT CAME IN AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
WE ALSO BROUGHT IN PAPE-DAWSON, ONE MODEL FOR SAN ANTONIO, BROUGHT THEM IN TO DO THAT IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRAFFIC MODELING. CSL FOR FINANCING PROJECTIONS AND FEASIBILITY AND ROB TO HELP WITH COST ESTIMATING. ALL OF THIS IS NECESSARY TO HELP DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY FOR THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND FIGURE HOW WE CAN FUND IT. WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW? WE'VE DONE A LOT.
WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON THE PAST YEAR. WE'VE BEEN DOING SITE PLANNING, CONCEPT PLANNING. WE ARE WORKING ON A FUNDING PLANNEN DOING MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR EACH OF THOSE ITEMS, THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE ALAMODOME, THE HEADQUARTERS HOTEL, THE RETAIL AND MIXED USE OPPORTUNITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, NEW CONCERTS AND EVENT VENUE, AND THEN AN ARENA.
SO FIRST, THE SITE PLAN. ANYONE THAT DOES DEVELOPMENT WILL TELL YOU THIS IS REALLY A PERFECT SCENARIO WHEN YOU HAVE A SITE THAT HAS THREE PUBLIC PARTNERS AND THEY ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER. WE HAVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WHICH OWNS THE LAND, THE MAJORITY OF THE LAND, PROBABLY ABOUT 80%. YOU ALSO HAVE THE GENERAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT THAT CONTROLS THE FEDERAL BUILDING AND THE SURROUNDING LOTS. AND FINALLY THE HEMISFAIR-UTSA SITE THAT IS CONTROLLED BY U.T. REGENTS. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WHAT IS AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. I WANT TO STRESS FIRST THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THERE ARE FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING THIS AREA. WE CANNOT FORGET THAT THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS PLAN IS ABOUT COMMUNITY. SO YOU HAVE THE FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO ANCHOR THIS PARK WITH PUBLIC SPACE. JUST LIKE THE MISSION ENVISIONED IN THE HEMISFAIR MASTER PLAN, IT IDENTIFIED THREE DISTINCT PARKS THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY ACTIVATED AND SURROUNDED BY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO DO JUST THAT. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HEMISFAIR MASTER PLAN AND WE HAVE THREE PARKS IDENTIFIED.
THE FIRST ONE, YANAGUANA, STARTED IN 2015. HUGELY SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM DIFFERENT COUNCIL DISTRICTS GOING TO THAT PARK. THE CIVIC PARK, PHASE 2 WILL OPEN IN FEBRUARY OF 2025.
THE TOWER PARK IS THE THIRD PARK IN THE MASTER PLAN. WE HOPE TO START PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK IN THE NEXT YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE RIVERWALK. THE RIVERWALK, THE CONVENTION CENTER AND HEMISFAIR CURRENTLY CONVERGE AT A POINT BUT YOU REALLY WOULDN'T KNOW IT.
HOW CAN WE ENHANCE THOSE CONNECTORS. THIS WILL BE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT TO THE EAST SIDE. SO WE HAVE THOSE FIVE COMMUNITY SPACES, AND THEN ON TOP OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE OUR ANCHOR ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES. WE HAVE THE HENRY B GONZALES CONVENTION CENTER.
THE PROPOSED CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL WITH THE UTSA SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY.
IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHERE THAT IS, THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE PROPOSED -- OR THAT IS ON THE SAWS CHILLER PLANT THAT'S CURRENTLY OPERATING. WE WOULD HAVE TO RELOCATE THE CHILLER PLANT TO A DIFFERENT SITE. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE ALAMODOME, HOW WE REIMAGINE THAT FACILITY. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE ARENA AND THE EVENT VENUE. THE THIRD INGREDIENT IS POTENTIAL MIXED USE OPPORTUNITIES. THOSE WOULD BE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE INITIATE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY. AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. WHAT DO THEY WANT TO SEE IN EACH OF THESE SPACES.
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WE HAVE ABOUT 62 ACRES AND THAT INCLUDES THE FEDERAL PROPERTY.IT ALSO INCLUDES PROPERTY AROUND THE PROPOSED ARENA SITE.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE PARKING LOTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT THE ALAMODOME.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WHAT MAKES HEMISFAIR AND SAN ANTONIO SPECIAL IS OUR AUTHENTICITY. WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN HEMISFAIR AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND GROW.
SO WE HAVE JAZZ ALIVE, WE HAVE THE WALLY, WE HAVE MUERTES FEST AND WHAT'S ALSO SPECIAL ABOUT SAN ANTONIO IS OUR PUBLIC ART AND LOCAL ARTISTS, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER AND DO WORK WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
FINALLY SMALL BUSINESS. YOU GO TO HEMISFAIR TODAY, IT HAS SMALL BUSINESSES, OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THAT SITE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THAT FEEL BECAUSE THAT IS WHY SAN ANTONIO IS SUCH A TOURIST DESTINATION, WHAT SETS US APART FROM DALLAS AND HOUSTON.
FEASIBILITY. EACH OF THESE ANCHORS NEEDS TO HAVE A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO TELL YOU WHAT CAN WE DO, CAN THE MARKETS SUPPORT IT AND THEN IDENTIFY THE SPACES THAT NEED TO BE IMPROVED SO WE CAN DEVELOP COST ESTIMATING.
SO THE FIRST IS THE CONVENTION CENTER. AND THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY IS THE FURTHEST ALONG, WE'RE ABOUT 75% COMPLETE. AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING CSL TO DO IS IDENTIFY MARKETABLE SPACE NEEDS. THAT INCLUDES WHERE SHOULD WE GROW, BY HOW MUCH, AND WHAT AREAS SHOULD GROW. WE ALSO NEED TO BENCHMARK FACILITIES IN TEXAS WHICH WE HAVE DONE IN LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES GLOBALLY.
WE NEED TO INTRODUCE SPACES THAT ARE NEW, THAT INCLUDE AMENITIES AND AUDIO] TO FUTURE CONVENTION CENTER ATTENDEES, AND THEN DEVELOP INDUSTRY CONCEPTS THAT PROTECT MARKET SHARE AND ALLOW US TO PROTECT FUTURE MARKET GROWTH.
WE PLAN ON RETURNING TO CITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 4TH IN A B SESSION TO PRESENT THIS FULL STUDY TO YOU. BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THE STUDY SAYS BEFORE WE COME BACK TO YOU WITH A FUNDING PLAN FOR THIS ANCHOR. THIS IS THE PROGRAM OVERVIEW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO WHERE WOULD THE CONVENTION CENTER SPANS OCCUR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PLACE IT SOMEWHERE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE DOWN OUR CONVENTION CENTER. PLACING IT SOMEWHERE THAT ALLOWS THE CONVENTION CENTER TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND THEN US TO GROW. THIS IS ON THE AREA WHERE YOU ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE LONE STAR ROOM. IT'S AT THAT RIVER LEVEL.
IT'S WHERE THE MEMBERS FAIR CONVENTION CENTER AND -- HEMISFAIR CONVENTION CENTER AND RIVER MEET. MEETING ROOM SPACE AT THE ENTRY LEVEL, EXHIBIT HALL SPACE ON TOP. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 500,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBIT HALL SPACE. WANT TO GROW BY ABOUT 150,000 SQUARE FEET.
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GET THE INTERNATIONAL CAR SHORES AND LARGE VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES AND DIVIDE THE SPACE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, BALANCE ROOM SPACE. WE WANT ANOTHER STARS OVER TEXAS BALLROOM.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU USE THAT BALLROOMS IT TAKES TWO NIGHTS.
IF WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE, YOU COULD HAVE AN EVENT 365 DAYS A YEAR GOING ON AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. EMPTY MIZEING THAT SPACE AND --.
OUR MARKET STUDY NEEDED TO LOOK AT HOW MANY ROOMS, WHAT TYPES OF MEETING SPACE, HOW MANY PARKING SPACES, HOW MANY SQUARE FEET OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE, WHERE SHOULD THE UTSA SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY GO AND OTHER COMMUNITY AMENITIES.
I DID MENTION THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT PUTTING THIS HOTEL ON THE SAWS CHILLER PLANT. WHAT WOULD THAT REQUIRE? IT WOULD REQUIRE US TO BUILD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAWS A BRAND NEW CHILLER PLANT. A COUPLE BLOCKS NORTH OF THE EXISTING ONE BECAUSE WE WANT TO SERVICE HEMISFAIR, SERVICE THE PROPOSED SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND HAVE CAPACITY TO SERVICE GROWTH GOING ON IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, SPECIFICALLY THE NORTH SIDE. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH SAWS ON THAT AND LOOKING HOW WE CAN EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY BUT ALSO USE THE CURRENT SITE AS AN ECONOMIC GENERATOR. OUR PROGRAM OVERVIEW OF THIS HOTEL IS ANOTHER THOUSAND ROOMS. WE HAVE THE GRAND HYATT.
THIS WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE GRAND HYATT. WE'LL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL THOUSAND ROOMS, WE DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD OPERATE THAT. THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS. BUT A THOUSAND KEYS, 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF BALANCE ROOM
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AND MEETING SPACE, 26,000 OF BEVERAGE AND RETAIL, 25,000 FOR THE SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND 1030 PARKING SPACES. NOW THE ALAMODOME.I'M NOT SURE IF PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE ALAMODOME IS THE LARGEST INDOOR CONVERT VENUE IN SOUTH TEXAS. WE HAVE 65,000 SEATS. WITH THOSE 65,000 SEATS, WE ARE ABLE TO ATTRACT LARGE ACTS LIKE BAD BUNNY. SEVERAL OF YOU WERE THERE AND SAW THE ENERGY. WHAT WAS INTERESTING THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL MAJORITY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THAT ROOM THAT WERE FROM BEXAR COUNTY.
THE MAJORITY WERE FROM SOUTH TEXAS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND MEXICO.
WE REALLY HAVE ESTABLISHED OURSELVES AS THE VENUE THAT CAN CAPTURE THAT SOUTH TEXAS AND MEXICO MARKET. WE ARE THE THIRD LARGEST CENTER BEHIND AT&T IN DALLAS AND HOUSTON. WE NEED TO IMPROVE THIS FACILITY SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT FOOT HOLD IN SOUTH TEXAS. NOW, WE ALSO NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY AS WHAT DO WE WANT TO BE WHEN WE GROW UP. WHAT ARE THE NEXT 30 YEARS FOR THE ALAMODOME. DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE CONCERTS.
WE WOULD NEED TO DO MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS. DO WE WANT TO DO CONSUMER EVENTS. WE COULD DO THAT NOW WITH MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS.
UTSA FOOTBALL. IT WORKS GREAT IN THE ALAMODOME.
BUT IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO USE THE ALAMODOME FOR FINAL FOURS, COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS, OR LARGE EVENTS LIKE INTERNATIONAL SOCCER, THAT'S A DIFFERENT SCOPE OF WORK. AND I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL TODAY IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT. JUST FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES, THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR COMING HERE APRIL 4 THROUGH 7, WE EXPECT THAT TO BE A $250 MILLION RETURN TO OUR COMMUNITY. THESE LARGE EVENTS DO PROVIDE A LARGE RETURN. NOW, WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT OUR PREMIUM OPPORTUNITIES.
SUITES, TECHNOLOGY, VIP SEATING, CLUB SPACE, LOUNGE SPACE.
THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE SEEING IN THE NEWER ARENAS COMING ONLINE.
NEXT ENTERTAINMENT VENUE. SOMETHING THAT WE LEARNED THROUGH THE ALAMODOME FEASIBILITY STUDY IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF USES IN THE ALAMODOME THAT ARE FOR ATTENDEES OF 6,000 OR LESS. ABOUT 45 DAYS ARE USED FOR THAT TYPE OF ATEND ANSWER.
THE ALAMODOME IS 65,000 SEATS. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON. AND SO WHAT WE THOUGHT IS LET'S CREATE A NEW VENUE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THE -- THAT TYPE OF MARKET SO WE DON'T PUT THAT STRESS ON THE ALAMODOME AND WE CAN SELL THOSE NIGHTS TO LARGER ACTS. WE'RE LOOKING AT CONVERTING THE COURTHOUSE INTO A 5,000 SEAT EVENT VENUE. WHAT WE COULD DO IS ENHANCE THE COURTHOUSE WHICH IS HISTORIC, A ROUND CONCRETE BUILDING WITH NO WINDOWS.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF USES THAT CAN GO IN THERE BUT THIS TYPE OF VENUE.
WE CANNOT DEMOLISH IT. THERE'S A DEED RESTRICTION ON THE PROPERTY WHEN WE ACQUIRED IT FROM THE FEDS. 5,000 SEATS THAT CAN BE REMOVED, IT COULD BE ANOTHER EVENT SPACE FOR CONVENTIONS. THEY DO LIKE TO COME OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER SOMETIMES, AND THIS WOULD BE A SPACE THAT'S ADJACENTCE TO MIGRANT PLAZA THAT HAS BEEN ACTIVATED MORE AND MORE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD ACCOMMODATE 5,000 SEATS FOR A MID-SIZED CONCERT.
RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE PROPOSED DISTRICT YOU HAVE 65,000 SEATS, MAYBE 18 TO 20,000 SEATS IN A PROPOSED ARENA. YOU HAVE LILA COCKRELL WITH 3,000, MAJESTIC, 2500. WE COULD REALLY DO A LARGE MUSIC EVENT IN SAN ANTONIO NOT TO MENTION ALL THE PUBLIC SPACE. THIS WOULD BE A HUGE GENERATOR FOR SAN ANTONIO AND WE DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED ENTIRELY BY THE PUBLIC. THE RETAIL AND MIXED USE, THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AND, OF COURSE, YOU AND OUR MARKET STUDIES.
WHAT TYPE OF RETAIL CAN BE SUPPORTED IN THIS DISTRICT. SO IS IT RESIDENTIAL, IS IT PARKING, IS IT RESTAURANTS, IS IT SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT RETAIL, OFFICE, INSTITUTIONAL OR HOTEL. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF USES WE NEED TO KNOW.
BUT ALSO IT'S GOING TO DEPEND WHAT THE MARKETS CAN SUPPORT.
AND THEN INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS IS THE THING THAT CAN MAKE OR BREAK THIS PROJECT.
SO HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAFFIC FLOWS WHETHER YOU HAVE LARGE EVENTS.
WE ARE RUNNING MODELS ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ALAMODOME IS COMPLETELY SOLD OUT. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ALAMODOME IS DARK BUT THE
[00:30:01]
ARENA IS SOLD OUT. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BOTH ARE SOLD OUT.WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BOTH IS SOLD OUT AND YOU HAVE MUERTES FEST.
THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INTERSTATE.
SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT TO MAKE SURE WE MINIMIZE THAT DISRUPTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ALSO LOOKING AT PARKING THAT IS STRATEGICALLY PLACED NOT JUST WITHIN THE DISTRICT BUT WITHIN A QUARTER MILE RADIUS. WE HAVE 10 TO 15,000 PARKING SPACES WITHIN THIS AREA WITH THE RIVER CENTER MALL, SOME OF THE HOTELS AND OFFICES. WE'LL NEED PROBABLY 10,000 MORE. WHERE DOES THAT GO AND WHERE DO WE PLACE IT AND WHAT TYPE OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
WE HAVE THE EAST SIDE CONNECTOR, UTILITIES, A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
IT COULD BE SAWS INFRASTRUCTURE, TXDOT INFRASTRUCTURE, FEDERAL HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES IN THIS.
AND THEN FINALLY A SPURS REASON. THERE'S NO DOUBT A SPURS ARENA WOULDN'T TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY. IT WOULD BE HUGE TO HAVE A SPURS ARENA IN DOWNTOWN INTO SAN ANTONIO'S SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
YOU JUST CAN'T DUMP A REASON ON THAT SPACE -- AN ARENA ON THAT SPACE WITHOUT THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT THAT MAKE THE ENERGY WE WANT TO SEE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT WILL BRING OUR LOCALS TO DOWNTOWN AND WHAT DO LOCALS DO, THEY BRING VISITORS. SO HOW DO WE FUND IT. I KNOW THAT'S ON EVERYBODY'S MIND. SO THE ANSWER IS WE DON'T KNOW YET AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL ON THAT. SO WE HAVE SEVERAL POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES. SOME ARE NOT CITY CONTROLLED.
BUT HERE'S A LIST. WE HAVE PRIVATE SECTOR. AND THIS IS FOR THE BEER SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, NOT JUST THE ARENA OR DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
SPURS PRIVATE EQUITY PHILANTHROPY, TAX CREDITS, NAMING RIGHTS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE HOTEL AND RENTAL CAR USERS. SO YOU HAVE THE COUNTY VENUE TAX. THEY COMPLETELY CONTROL THAT, BUT THAT TAX IS FED BY RENTAL CAR USERS. THAT COULD BE A POTENTIAL SOURCE, BUT THAT IS UP TO THE COUNTY. WE ALSO HAVE OUR PROJECT FINANCE ZONE, SENATE BILL 2220. COUNCIL ESTABLISHED TWO ZONES IN DECEMBER OF 2023 AND IDENTIFIED TWOIBLE PROJECTS. THAT WAS THE ALAMODOME AND CONVENTION CENTER. WE ALREADY HAVE SOME FUNDING SOURCES DEDICATED TO SOME OF THOSE ARRANGE COURSE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO PRECLUDE US TO ANOTHER PROJECT WITHIN THESE ZONES. SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ZONES, THEY ARE COMPLETELY FUNDED THROUGH STATE INCREMENTAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND STATE INCREMENTAL SALES TAX.
SO IT'S NOT CITY FUNDING, IT IS FUNDING THAT USERS OF HOTELS AND RENTAL CARS PAY AND THE STATE WOULD REIMBURSE US THAT WOULD HELP US FUND THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THEN OUR CITY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TEXAS. WE HAVE THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS. THE GENERAL TAXPAYER, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THE GENERAL TAXPAYERS WILL PAY FOR ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OTHER THAN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. THAT WOULD GO TO THE VOTERS FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
NOW, I ALSO WANT TO STRESS THAT THE ARENA WILL NOT BE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL TAXPAYERS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ONLY THING THE GENERAL TAXPAYERS PAY FOR IS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO SOMETHING WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SAY UP FRONT AND CLEAR THAT THIS WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES, THAT THE ARENA WILL NOT BE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL TAXPAYER OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE MAY, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO TODAY. THAT IS WHEN WE GO FOR PROJECTS FOR HEMISFAIR, YOU HAVE INTERIOR ROADS, EXTERIOR ROADS, PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
ALSO NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED TO DO. THOSE TYPES OF THINGS COULD BE FUNDED AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
THE SAME WITH THE COUNTY VENUE TAX. THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE ELECTION AND THAT WOULD GO TO THE VOTERS. FINALLY YOU HAVE VISITORS TO THE DISTRICT THAT COULD PAY FOR PARKING AND THAT COULD HELP FUND SOME OF THIS.
AND ALSO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WITH STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.
WHAT IS OUR TIME LINE? WE ARE BEING VERY AGGRESSIVE, BUT YOU SEE
[00:35:07]
EVERYTHING IN BLUE AND GREEN COLOR, TEAL, YEARS 1 TO 5 WE ANTICIPATE THOSE PROJECTS WILL EITHER BE COMPLETE OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THAT INCLUDES THE HOTEL AND UTSA SCHOOL FOR HOSPITALITY. THE CONVENTION CENTER. THE TOWER PARK.THE P3 OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE JOHN WOODS COURTHOUSE AND FEDERAL PROPERTIES, AND THE ARENA AND DEVELOPMENT SURROUNDING IT. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE HAVE SOMETHING AND SPECIFICALLY A CONVENTION CENTER, THE TOWER PARK AND A SPURS ARENA FOR 2030. WE BELIEVE THAT'S A REASONABLE TIME FRAME AND WE'VE TALKED TO POPULOUS AND OTHER CONSULTANTS AND OTHER MULTIPLE ITEMS SUCH AS SEQUENCING. YEARS 5 THROUGH 15, THE ALAMODOME AND SURROUNDING LOTS. THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE NCAA THAT WE WOULD HOST WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR IN 2029. WE NEED TO KEEP THAT COMMITMENT. SO WE CAN'T WORK ON THE ALAMODOME UNTIL AFTER THAT COMMITMENT. WE CAN BE DOING DESIGN WORK AND START SHORTLY AFTER, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE SEQUENCING THAT MAY BE ABLE TO BE RESOLVED BUT YOU NEED STAGING FOR THE ALAMODOME CONSTRUCTION, SO THOSE SITES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNTIL THE ALAMODOME IS COMPLETE. AND THEN IF WE WERE TO DO ALL OF THIS, THIS WOULD PUT US ON THE NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL MAP.
THERE WOULD BE NO OTHER CITY IN THE U.S. THAT WOULD HAVE THIS DENSITY OF EVENT VENUES IN SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY SPACE. WE COULD GO OVER FINAL FOURS, WEDNESDAY AND WOMEN'S ON THE SAME WEEKEND. WE HAVE NOT FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. WE ALSO HAVE ENOUGH PARK PACE AND HOTELS.
WE COULD GO AFTER THE NBA ALL STAR GAMES, INTERNATIONAL SOCCER, LARGE MUSIC FESTIVALS. WE CAN'T DO THAT TODAY AND WHAT WE COULD DO THAT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS DISTRICT. HERE'S A COMPLICATED TIME LINE TO SHOW YOU THIS IS LAYERED AND COMPLEX AND YOU COULD PROBABLY LIKE HOPEFULLY ZOOM IN TO SEE THAT, BUT IT REALLY SHOWS YOU EACH OF THE DESIGN PHASES AND CONSTRUCTION PHASES FOR EACH OF THESE ANCHORS AND EXTENDS BEYOND 2035 RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY DESIGN, WE'RE NOT EVEN A PRELIMINARY SOCIAL DISTANCE. THAT MAY CHANGE ONCE WE BRING IN CONSULTANTS.
I'M READY TO MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, GET APPOINTMENTS ON THEIR SCHEDULES SO I CAN START PRESENTING IN DECEMBER, JANUARY.
GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THE GENERAL COMMUNITY, SEVERAL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, LARGE MEETINGS, SMALL MEETINGS, WORKING WITH HEMISFAIR AND THE USERS.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY SPACE. WE NEED TO RETAIN THAT FEEL. WE ALSO HAVE ANCHOR PARTNERS. YOU HAVE THE CONVENTION CENTER.
ITS PARTNERS ARE VISIT SAN ANTONIO, CSEF AND THE HOTELS.
THOSE ARE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS. WHAT DO THEY WANT TO SEE, BUT ALSO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE SAME FOR EACH OF THOSE ARRANGE COURSE THAT YOU SAW IN THAT TIME LINE, THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN SCHEDULE.
FEASIBILITY AND COST ESTIMATING. SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WE'RE ONLY AT 75% FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER. WE SHOULD BE COMPLETE WITH A DRAFT AND BE ABLE TO COME TO YOU DECEMBER 4TH WITH THAT FULL PRESENTATION.
AS FEASIBILITY STUDIES ARE COMPLETE, WE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR THAT BRIEFING. ONCE WE HAVE THOSE FEASIBILITY STUDIES, THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT FUNDING. FUNDING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY.
WE NEED TO DO A FUNDING ANALYSIS FOR THIS ENTIRE DISTRICT PLUS THE INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS. CONTRACTOR ENGAGEMENT, WORKING WITH AIA SAN ANTONIO TO DO A CONTRACTOR OPEN HOUSE SO THEY UNDERSTAND EACH OF THESE COMPONENTS HAS THEIR OWN PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND THEY WILL ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. WE NEED TO SOLICIT A PROGRAM MANAGER.
I CANNOT DO IT. THE SPURS CAN'T DO IT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT ENTITY TO CONTROL THIS AND THAT THEY HIRE A PROGRAM MANAGER SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SEE AT THE AIRPORT. AND THEN MOVING FORWARD. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING AND DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON A SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY, DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, DO YOU WANT US TO KEEP GOING. WE ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH AN MOU FRAMEWORK WITH THE CITY, COUNTY AND SPURS TO SUPPORT THE VISION BETWEEN EACH OF OUR PARTNERS AND THAT VISION IS FOR BOTH THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE FROST CENTER AND SURROUNDING AREA. THERE IS GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US EACH TO
[00:40:02]
PARTNER ON EACH OF OUR PRIORITIES. AND THEN WE NEED TO DEVELOP A FUNDING PLAN FOR THE SPURS ARENA IN COORDINATION WITH THE SPURS AND THE COUNTY THAT INCLUDES MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES. BUT WE'LL INCLUDE A CITY FUNDING SOURCE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FEEDBACK TODAY ON THAT.I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE ALAMODOME AND SEVERAL OF THE OTHER FEASIBILITY STUDIES THAT WE PRESENTED. HERE'S A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE, THIS IS A RENDERING ONLY, NO DESIGN HAS BEEN DONE, BUT THIS IS TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE. WE WANT TO SHARE A VIDEO TO REALLY GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT A SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. DAVID, GO AHEAD AND CUE THAT VIDEO.
>> SAN ANTONIO IS THE HEART OF TEXAS. BUT THE SOUL COMES FROM ITS PEOPLE. IT IS TIME TO SHOWCASE THE RICH HISTORY AND DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF SAN ANTONIO ON A GLOBAL SCALE.
TIME TO USHER IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF SPORTS TECHNOLOGY AND ENTERTAINMENT IN TEXAS. WOVEN THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC BUILDINGS IN BUILDINGS. ALLOWING VISITORS AND LOCALS TO CONNECT WITH THE CULTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. A CONNECTION THAT WILL REKNIT THE CITY FABRIC, BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, A VIBRANT URBAN AREA THAT COMBINES ENTERTAINMENT, DINING AND RETAIL ALL WITH OUR SAN ANTONIO CHARM. THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OUR FANS, VISITORS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AN EXPERIENCE THAT WILL LIVE ON FOR GENERATIONS.
NO CITY IN THE COUNTRY CAN OFFER THE RANGE OF EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF ONE PLACE. FROM THE FINAL FOUR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS AND THE WORLD CUP TO LOCAL EVENTS DUTCH AS DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. LET THIS TRANSFORM THE
FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. [APPLAUSE] >> HOUSTON: THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. ERIK, MYSELF, ANDY AND BEN ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LORI.
A COMPREHENSIVE, INSPIRED, ALBEIT COMPLEX VISION, AND I'M REFLECTING ON THE FACT THAT WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT SAN ANTONIO'S SECRET STRENGTH BEING COLLABORATION. I WOULD SAY IT'S A VISION ACHIEVABLE IN A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE OF THAT KIND OF COLLABORATION AND TEAM WORK.
SO WITH THAT, EXCELLENT PRESENTATION. WE'LL GET NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, THAT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.
I SEE SO MUCH STRONG COMMUNITY LEADERS SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ATTENDING AS A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR THIS EXCITING PRESENTATION. FOR YEARS THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN AND DRAWING PEOPLE TO THE HEART OF THE CITY.
THIS PLAN IF EXECUTED PROPERLY CAN BE AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS REALIZING THAT VISION. THE MOST CRUCIAL PART OF THE PLAN IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON OUR CITY. WE CAN SEE SOME OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS THIS PLAN WILL HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY. THE OTHER ITEM I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT CONVENTIONS BRING A TON OF BUSINESS TO THE CITY AND WE'RE MISSING OUT ON A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER LIMITATIONS.
I'M GLAD THE CONVENTION CENTER IS ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS BEING STUDIED.
THE OTHER ITEM I'M ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW SPURS ARENA. NO ONE CAN DENY WE LOVE OUR SPURS IN SAN ANTONIO.
THEY ARE CENTRAL TO OUR CULTURE HERE. SO I HEAR SOME CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT RELOCATING THE SPURS ARENA AND WE NEED -- AND I SAY TO THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THE FRANCHISE HAS WHAT IT NEEDS TO GROW AND REMAIN ONE OF THE BEST SPORTS FRANCHISES IN THE COUNTRY. FUNDING WILL COME FROM A
COMBINATION OF STATE VISITOR TAX, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. >> HOUSTON: WE DON'T KNOW WHERE FUNDING FOR THE ARENA COULD COME FROM. THAT SLIDE IS POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES. THE FUNDING SOURCES YOU IDENTIFIED THAT COULD BE USED FOR THE ARENA, IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF SEVERAL, BUT ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE PROJECT FINANCE ZONE. SENATE BILL 2220. SAN ANTONIO ALREADY
[00:45:02]
ESTABLISHED TWO ZONES. WE COULD IF COUNCIL CHOOSES ADD THE ARENA AS AN ELIGIBLE PROJECT FOR THAT PROJECT FINANCE ZONE. THAT'S ONE WAY.THE COUNTY VENUE TAX, THAT'S THE COUNTY'S, AND IF THEY CHOOSE SO, THEY CAN DO THAT AND THEY WOULD BRING THAT TO THE VOTERS. AND THEN THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE TAX INCREMENT FANNING AND OTHER REVENUE THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO IT.
WE WILLNA TO THE VOTERS. THERE WILL BE NO GENERAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS GOING TOWARDS THE ARENA. THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR, LOOKING AT WOULD BE THE TIF AS WELL AS THE SENATE BILL 2220 AND OTHERS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED, BUT NOT ON THE BACKS OF CITY TAXPAYERS.
>> GAVITO: SO RESIDENTS WOULDN'T BE FUNDING THE ARENA UNLESS THEY ARE
STAYING IN HOTELS OR RENTING CARS; IS THAT CORRECT? >> HOUSTON: YES.
>> WALSH: THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE OF THE PRESENTATION, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS YEAR RECOMMENDING WE DEVELOP AN MOU WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SPURS AND JOINTLY WORK ON WHAT ARE THOSE FUNDING PLAN OPTIONS. THOSE ARE ALL GOING TO BE CRITICAL AND THERE'S PROBABLY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN SLICE IT. NUMBER ONE, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE ENGAGEMENT STANDPOINT IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT FROM A STRUCTURE STANDPOINT, WE'RE STRONGLY RECOMMENDING WE DEVELOP THAT FRAMEWORK TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE.
>> GAVITO: ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE WHEN WE GO TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, OUR RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO ASK US THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS. THERE'S A LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT IN THIS PRESENTATION, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE TALKING POINTS TO ANSWER TO OUR RESIDENTS ON HOW THIS WON'T IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND, ON -- UNLESS THEY ARE RENTING A CAR OR STAYING IN A HOTEL THEN THEY COULD BE POTENTIALLY IMPACTED. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION WHEN WE GO BACK OUT.
THE LAST POINT IS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INVOLVE VIA IN THE DISCUSSION AND INCORPORATE PARK AND SIDE. WE HEAR SO MUCH FROM RESIDENTS THEIR CONCERN AND HOW MUCH THEY AVOID COMING DOWNTOWN BECAUSE PARKING IS DIFFICULT. AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ATTRACTION WITH THIS NEW PLAN AND WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH VIA AND A GOOD TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO GO WITH IT SO THAT WAY WE CAN ALL GET DOWN HERE TOGETHER. LOOKING AT THIS PLAN, IT'S EXCITING, BUT IMAGINING EVENTS, GAMES, ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE
STUCK IN DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC. >> HOUSTON: THAT IS A PRIORITY, THE ONE THING THAT COULD MAKE OR BREAK THIS IF WE DON'T DO IT RIGHT. I'VE HEARD FROM YOUR COMMUNITY YOUR COMMUNITY DOESN'T LIKE TO COME DOWNTOWN.
PARKING IS EASY TO ACCESS, AFFORDABLE AND EASY TO FIND. THAT IS ALSO A PRIORITY WITHIN THIS PLAN. I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH VIA TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN PARTNER ON PARK AND RIDE. ALSO WORKING WITH THEIR GREEN LINE AS AN OPPORTUNITY. AND THEN OTHER MULTIMODAL AND SCENARIOS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THAT VIA CAN PARTNER WITH US.
VIA ALSO OWNS SOME PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE ALAMODOME WITH THE ROBERT THOMPSON CENTER AND WHAT CAN IT DO TO THAT SPACE TO MAKE SURE IT'S PART OF THIS
OVERALL DISTRICT. >> GAVITO: SOUNDS GOOD. I LIKE WHAT I SEE TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION. THAT'S ALL HAVE I.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND LORI, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND TO EVERYBODY HERE. THERE'S SO MANY TO NAME BY NAME.
I ALSO WANTED TO GEEK OUT AND SAY THAT HERE NAKED PROJECT MARVEL -- HOOVER NAMED PROJECT MARVEL, IT'S THE ONLY DAY I COULD BRING MY JACKET.
A YEAR AGO I WROTE A COMMENTARY IN THE "SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS" ABOUT HOW THE TIME IS NOW FOR A DOWNTOWN STADIUM DISTRICT. IT WAS INSPIRED BECAUSE LAST SEPTEMBER I TOOK MY SON ON AN EXTENDED WEEKEND GET-AWAY.
HE WORKS FOR A SENIOR CENTER AND SOMETIMES HE IS STRESSED ABOUT WHAT HE SEES.
I TOOK HIM TO BACK TO BACK MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS GAMES IN SEATTLE.
IT BEGAN WITH A SEAHAWKS GAME ON SUNDAY. WE WENT TO A KRAKEN GAME, ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK WE COULD GET NHL IN SAN ANTONIO, ARREST MARINERS GAME TUESDAY. I'M NOT ALONE IN MY LOVE FOR SPORTS.
OUR CITY HAS UNITED AROUND THE ROAD RUNNERS AND UTSA. WE SEE THE EXCITEMENT IT BROUGHT AS WE WERE RECOVERING FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC.
WE LOVE HONKING DOWNTOWN FOR OUR SPURS. WE HAVE MORE PARADES.
WE CELEBRATE EVERYTHING WITH A RIVER PARADE THAT INCLUDES A LOT OF SPORTS TEAMS.
[00:50:05]
SHOUT OUT TO OLUL. BUT AS THESE CELEBRATORY MEMORIES THAT HAPPEN TO OCCUR IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY, IT LED ME TO THINK WHAT WE COULD DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENVISIONED A FUTURE FOR OUR KIDS. AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND TO HANG OUR HOPES JUST ON A SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT SHOULD BE SHORT-SIGHTED. I WROTE WE SHOULD BUILD AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT THAT LEVERAGES CULTURAL ASSETS SUCH AS THE ICONIC MISSIONS. THE ONLY SITE IN TEXAS.HEMISFAIR AND OUR UNIQUE DESIGNATION AT A UNESCO. YOU SAW WHAT OUR CHEFS DID BRINGING TOGETHER EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO SHOWCASE THEIR CULINARY TALENT TO THE WORLD. WHERE BETTER TO BUILD THAT THAN AT THE HEART OF OUR CITY. WE'RE A WALKABLE CITY. I HEAR THAT AS I TRAVEL.
THE NEW LINKS US TO THE RIVERWALK. WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED SIGNIFICANTLY IN OUR DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH MULTIPLE BOND PROJECTS.
ALSO NEED PRIVATE CAPITAL. AND HERE'S WHERE I THINK SAN ANTONIO HAS A UNIQUE VALUE. ESPECIALLY AS WE POSITION OURSELVES TO BECOME THE LEADER ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER CITIES ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS. I SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF BUSINESSES FROM SOUTH TEXAS ADOPTING SAN ANTONIO AS THEIR HOME TEAM. THERE'S AN ESTIMATED 10 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN THE EMERGING TRANSNATIONAL MEGA RAN THAT MAKES UP THE SOUTH TEXAS TRIANGLE. IT GIVES ME GREAT CONFIDENCE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU ALL PARTNERING WITH THE SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP, AND MAYOR NIRENBERG HAS BEEN WORKING WITH MAYORS ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS.
THIS IS THE TIME TO LEVERAGE THAT. WHY STOP THERE WHEN WE CAN EXPAND OUR LONG-EXISTING TIES WITH GUADALAJARA, INTERNATIONAL SPORTS DESIGNATION WHICH WE KNOW TRAVELS WELL. AND WHY NOT PARTNER WITH THE HISPANIC CHAMBER WITH ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE THERE.
THOSE INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES NEED TO SHOWCASE THINGS TO THEIR OWN MARKETING AND WE ALREADY HAVE THE MOMENTUM, BY THE WAY, WITH WEMBY HERE.
LET'S HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A BURROW MARKET THAT IS SURROUND 9 BY THIS ENTERTAINMENTMENT AREA. LET'S HAVE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES PARTAKE AND PARTICIPATE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BUSINESS THAT WE WILL BE BRINGING.
LET'S SET UP A PLACE FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO ROTATE AND SHOWCASE WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER. BUT LET'S BE THOUGHTFUL, PURPOSE USFUL AND VISIONARY ABOUT IT. LET'S BE THOUGHTFUL WITH COMMUNITY INPUT TO REDEVELOPMENT THE FROST BANK CENTER AND NOT LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND.
LET'S BE PURPOSE USFUL WITH SHARING OUR CULTURE WITH OUR VISITORS.
AS A PROFESSOR, I'M SO EXCITED THAT UTSA IS PARTNERING UP ON A SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY. WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL FIVE YEARS AGO, I TALKED TO MR. C AND ASKED WHY CAN'T WE HAVE A SCHOOL OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY AT UTSA.
WHY CAN'T WE TURN THE ITC INTO A SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY.
A YEAR LATER THE MAYOR POINTED ME TO VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
AS A MEMBER OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO, I HEAR REGULARLY ABOUT THE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR CITY HAS MISSED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO SECURE SOME OF THESE LARGER CONVENTIONS, AND I HATE LOSING BUSINESS TO AUSTIN. AS PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, I ASK THAT WE INVOLVE THE HOUSING TRUST AND ANY OTHER PARTNERS IN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT ANY DISPLACEMENT THAT CAN OCCUR AS A RESULT OF WHAT WE DECIDE AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY. AND SELFISHLY, LORI, YOU ASKED ABOUT ANY PLANS FOR THE ALAMODOME. I'VE SAID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA IN SEATTLE HAS BEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR REUSE AND ADAPTABILITY. MY SHAMELESS PLUG FOR IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED THAT ARENA, THAT IS THE ARENA OF THE FUTURE AND WHAT SAN ANTONIO SHOULD BE LOOKING TO DO.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSION, BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE NOT HERE TODAY THAT SHOULD BE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE MOST SAY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL SAY. I INVITE YOU TO LEVERAGE ALL OF US, EVERYBODY HAS UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO REALLY MAKE THIS A REALITY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WHERE
[00:55:05]
EVERYBODY WINS. THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE TEAM.LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU.
LORI, THAT PRESENTATION WAS PRETTY SPECTACULAR. IT'S ONE OF YOUR BEST AND BLEW MY SOCKS OFF. IT ALSO BLEW TAYLOR AMY'S SOCKS OFF.
LITERALLY, RIGHT, TAYLOR? ONE THING STOOD OUT, YOU ASKED THE QUESTION DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, RIGHT, AND DO YOU WANT US TO KEEP GOING, RIGHT? I CHALLENGE PEOPLE WHO ASK THE EXACT SAME QUESTION ABOUT THE EAST SIDE OF HEMISFAIR RIGHT NOW. AND THE ALAMODOME. DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING BETTER? I HAVE YET TO MEET ANYBODY WHO SAYS I LOVE WHAT I'M SEEING ON THE EAST SIDE OF HEMISFAIR PARK.
AND TO ME IT LOOKS BLIGHTED. AND OUR CITY CENTER DESERVES BETTER.
OUR ALAMODOME AREA DESERVES BETTER. I AM TRUE BELIEVER IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOME TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE HERE AND THERE'S TWO PEOPLE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NOT OVERLOOK. ONE IS STATE REP HAWKINS AND THE OTHER IS SENATOR SENATOR MENENDEZ. BOTH FOUGHT TO PASS THE LEGISLATION AND PULL THIS OFF. NONE OF THIS COULD BE DONE WITHOUT THEM. THERE WILL BE A DAY WHERE EVERYBODY IN SAN ANTONIO STANDS IN FRONT OF THIS NEW PROJECT AND PATS THEMSELVES ON THE BACK AND SAID I BROUGHT THIS TO SAN ANTONIO. NOT TRUE. IT WAS MENENDEZ AND HAWKINS WHO MADE THIS ALL POSSIBLE AND THEY DESERVE AN ENORMOUS DEBT OF GRATITUDE.
[APPLAUSE] I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME AND WE MUST DO THAT. WE CAN ADDRESS HOUSING, WE CAN ADDRESS POVERTY, WE CAN ADDRESS GENTRIFICATION AND ALSO HAVE NICE THINGS. AND WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SOME BIG, BOLD, VISION VISIONARY THINGS LIKE WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US TODAY.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF JOURNALISTS AND NAYSAYERS THAT TROT OUT THIS TIRED NARRATIVE, AND THEN FOR SOME REASON YEAR ALLERGIC TO PUSH BACK.
THERE'S SOME FLAWED ASSUMPTIONS AND IT ALWAYS REVOLVES AROUND TWO THINGS.
EVERY ECONOMIST SAYS THIS DOESN'T PAY OFF FOR CITIES. THAT WHEN PUBLIC SPENDING IS INVOLVED, IT NEVER PRODUCES A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR ROI THAT FAVORS THE SEX PAIR.
THE -- TAXPAYER. STADIUM DEALS THAT INCLUDE SOME KIND OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT REALLY ARE JUST A TRANSFER OF PUBLIC DOLLARS TO THE POCKETS OF BILLIONAIRES AND MILLIONAIRES. IT'S NOT TRUE.
AND THERE'S SOME VERY INCONVENIENT FACTS THAT MANY OF THE JOURNALISTS, OP-ED WRITERS AND NAYSAYERS CAN YOU CHOOSE NOT TO INCLUDE. ONE OF THEM IS THAT WHEN PLACED IN A CITY CENTER, A STADIUM IN WHICH YOU ALREADY HAVE A WINNING TEAM BRINGS ABOUT AN IMPORTANT RESURGENCE OF THAT DOWNTOWN. AND IT BRINGS ABOUT A RESURGENCE DRIVEN BY LOCALS WHO FINALLY COME BACK TO THEIR DOWNTOWN TO ENJOY NEW FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPTIONS. TO ENJOY THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF THAT STADIUM. IT BENEFITS ALWAYS HOTEL REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM, THE REV-PAR THAT EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT. IT INCREASES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE STAYING IN YOUR HOTELS. IT INCREASES TAX REVENUE EVERY TIME FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT INCREASES THE -- IT INCREASES INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU WERE TALKING, LORI, AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONVENIENTLY PROPOSAL THAT TAX DOLLARS GO TO PAY FOR BRICK AND MORTAR OF A STADIUM.
WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY THE PROPOSAL IS THE CITY UPGRADE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BENEFIT A
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WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS INCLUDING THE JOHN WOOD, SOON TO BE CONCERT FACILITY, A MAJOR HOTEL WITH A UTSA COMPONENT TO IT AND ALL THE DIFFERENT BENEFITS TO THE HEMISFAIR PARK EXPENSE AND OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND ALAMO.AND THE STREETS AND SEWER AND DRAINAGE THAT COME WITH THAT, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THAT PART OF TOWN DESERVES A VERY IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE. AND I THINK THAT'S VERY FINDFUL.
-- MINDFUL. IT INCREASES WALKING TRAFFIC.
PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC TO AND AROUND THE DISTRICT TO BENEFIT LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND THEN THERE'S THE INTANGIBLES, BUT THEY ARE SUPER IMPORTANT.
WHEN JENNA SAUCE SAID DOUGH'S SEEM AND I WERE IN KOREA AND TRAVELED AND WHEN WE GO TO JAPAN, ALL THESE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT WEMBY AND POPOVICH AND TIM DID YOU DUNCAN. THAT'S HUGE BECAUSE IT'S AN OPENING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THEM MOVING TO A CITY THAT FEATURES THOSE GREATS AND THAT BRAND. THAT SHOULD NOT BE DISCOUNTED.
THE REPUTATIONAL WIN IS ENORMOUS BY HAVING THE SPURS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT ALSO I THINK ADDS TO THE LOVE AND THE PRIDE THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR CITY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S -- HOW MANY TIMES -- JUST DRIVE AROUND SAN ANTONIO AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WEARING SHORT-SLEEVE TANK-TOP JERSEYS WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE IS NOT SURPRISES BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH LOVE THEY HAVE FOR THIS TEAM.
THAT HAS AN INTANGIBLE VALUE THAT SHOULD NOT BE DISCOUNTED.
THERE'S REALLY ONLY THREE BRANDS IN THE CITY THAT I THINK ARE BEE LOVED.
ONE IS THE SPURS, HEB, AND THE THIRD IS CHIEF MCMANUS. AND THERE'S THAT BRAND VALUE FOR THE CITY AND THE WAY IT MAKES MY CONSTITUENTS FEEL IS NOT UNIMPORTANT AND SHOULDN'T BE DISMISSED. AND THEN WHAT IS THE DOLLAR VALUE, RIGHT, THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THE EXPERIENCE FOR GRANDPARENTS TO SEE THE GREAT SPURS PLAY.
TO BE ABLE TO WEAR THAT JERSEY. TO HAVE A DAY AT HEMISFAIR.
WHAT IS THAT WORTH BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WAS TALKING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE. CAPITAL EXPERIENCE. SAN ANTONIANS DESERVE THOSE SPECTACULAR, MEMORABLE, FOREVER MEMORIES. AND I THINK THAT WE'VE MISSED THE MARK. I REALLY DO. I THINK WE MISSED THE PARK BY NOT HAVING THAT STADIUM AND AMENITIES DOWNTOWN A LONG TIME AGO.
I ALSO THINK PEOPLE IGNORE THE FACT THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM THE TRADES. WELDERS, ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, MASONS, THAT'S A GOOD THING. THEN THERE'S THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT.
WE KNOW THAT BROOKS, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD A FOUR B MULTIPLIER, AND TOYOTA A FIVE X. THERE IS KNOB THAT CAN CONTEST THIS WON'T HAVE A SIMILAR MULTIPLIER EFFECT BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS DO. I DO RECOGNIZE THE ARGUMENTS AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT AGAINST HAVING SOME KIND OF INVESTMENT BY THE CITY.
ERIK, I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM TO DO SOME THINGS OTHER CITIES HAVEN'T DONE. I WON'T VOTE FOR A DEAL UNLESS IT INCLUDES A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT WITH THE NON-PROFITS HERE IN TOWN AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES. THAT HAS TO BE, THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
I WON'T ALSO ENTERTAIN A DEAL THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE A MANDATORY COMPETITIVE MINIMUM WAGE AT THE STADIUM AND INCLUDING THE JANITORS AND EVERYBODY WHO WORKS THERE. THAT HAS TO BE A STADIUM FOR SAN ANTONIANS OPERATED BY SAN ANTONIANS AND HAS TO BE DIGNIFIED, WELL-PAID WORK. LASTLY, I DO WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AT SOME POINT THIS IS NOT JUST A DEAL ABOUT PRIDE AND EXPERIENCES AND AMENITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE SPORTS TEAMS, THEY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY FROM BROADCAST AND LICENSING REVENUE AND I'D LIKE LORI TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IF IT'S GOING TO INVEST IN THIS DESERVES TO BE A PARTICIPANT THE WAY OTHER INVESTORS WOULD BE IN BROADCASTING AND LICENSING. AND SO WHAT I ENVISION AND I THINK IT'S WHAT EVERYBODY HERE ENVISIONS IS A DOWNTOWN THAT BELONGS TO SAN ANTONIANS AS MUCH AS THE TOURISTS. FOR WAY TOO LONG WE'VE BEEN DESIGNING DOWNTOWN JUST FOR THE TOURISTS, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS, THEY WANT THEIR DOWNTOWN TO BE THEIR DOWNTOWN AGAIN. I THINK THAT THE MISSION STADIUM WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. I THINK THIS CONCERT VENUE
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AT JOHN WOODS STADIUM, THE HOTELS, CONVENTION CENTER, THE ALAMO, I THINK THAT RETURNS DOWNTOWN IN LARGE PART TO MY CONSTITUENTS. SO I WILL UNEQUIVOCALLY SAY RIGHT NOW I DO THINK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO NEEDS TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME KIND OF FINANCIAL WAY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT YOU PRESENTED TODAY, LORI.AND THAT'S NOT A POSITION THAT I'LL WAIVER FROM. YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THE SHORT ANSWER ABOUT MOVING FORWARD IS YES. I'M 100% IN SUPPORT OF MOVING FORWARD WITH IDEAS FOR THIS. TODAY COUNCIL HAS BEEN ABOUT BIG THINKING.
THIS MORNING WE HAD THESE GREAT CULINARY MASTERS THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE IN OUR AIRPORT AND NOW THIS INCREDIBLE BRIEFING. THIS IS A START OF WHAT I EXPECT TO BE AMBITIOUS AND I BELIEVE VERY INCLUSIVE CONVERSATION FROM THE GROUP ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO AND DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO, BUT REALLY OUR ENTIRE CITY. WE TALK ABOUT TRANSFORMATIONAL VISION, BUT I THINK REAL VISION LIKE THAT WILL UP LIFT US ALL. I THINK WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT. WE MUST BE RESPONSIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY'S INPUT AND QUESTIONS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AND MAJOR IMPACTS ON RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND OTHERS, EVEN OUR VISITORS.
HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE MORE OF THEM. I WANT TO SEE WHERE THIS CAN GO AND ASK YOU TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES WITH CONCEPTS IN MIND AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. I THINK THAT ALL SUCCESSFUL DISTRICTS HAVE MASS TRANSIT FACTORED IN, I THINK THAT'S CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT.
HOW THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO AFFECT NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS.
I DON'T LEAVE OUT THE EAST SIDES WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM, PARTICULARLY KNOWS IN UNDER REPRESENTED NEIGHBORHOODS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE PLAN FORWARD, WE'RE ENSURING RESIDENTS AREN'T DISPLACED FOR LEFT BEHIND AS THE DISTRICT EVOLVES. AND HOW TRANSPARENT THIS IS GOING TO BE.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF STUDIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMPLETED, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING THE COMMUNITY INFORMED AND ENGAGED.
IT'S EASY TO COME AT THE BEGINNING AND END WITH COMMUNITY.
I WON'T SEE IT'S EASY, IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS. HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS NOT JUST IN JOBS AND TOURISM DOLLARS, BUT MAKING SURE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE THRIVING. IT'S GOING TO HAVE A BROADER IMPACT.
HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE SMALL BESIEGE COMMITTEE SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER. THAT'S GROWTH. THERE'S GROWING PAINS.
BUT I ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT'S UNCOMFORTABLE FOR SOME MEANS QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OTHERS.
I THINK THAT'S WHY THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT.
AND I DO EXPECT THAT THE FEASIBILITY BRIEFING WILL SHED LIGHT ON HOW THIS PROJECT FITS INTO OUR BROADER GOALS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO BE THRIVING, INCLUSIVE IN A RESILIENT SAN ANTONIO. UNTIL WE GET THAT BRIEFING, I HOPE THIS CAN BE A TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT AND IT'S DONE RIGHT, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
WE DO WANT TO TALK TO NON-PROFITS AND ADVOCATES, BUT WE NEED TO GO TO WHERE THE RESIDENTS ARE. ONE IN EACH QUADRANT OR ONE IN EACH DISTRICT -- NOT JUST ONE, SOME IN EACH DISTRICT. WE CAN'T EXPECT THE RESIDENTS TO COME TO US.
THEY ARE WORKING, RAISING FAMILIES. WE HAVE TO GO TO THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WITH ALL THAT IN MIND, I SAY GO FIGURE IT OUT.
WORK THIS OUT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR GREAT CITY. I WANT TO LOOK BACK IN TEN YEARS AT THIS HOMETOWN I LOVE SO MUCH AND WANT TO SEE A DOWNTOWN ON PAR WITH ANY GREAT CITY IN THE WORLD. WE ARE JUST ON THE CUSP OF THAT AND I THINK THIS IS PART OF THE KEY TO THAT. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I WANT TO SEE IT LIFT US
ALL AS A CITY. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS, LORI, BEN, EVERYBODY THAT'S WORKED ON THIS THING, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR IT. DREAM IT BIG. DREAM IT BIG.
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MY STAFF IS TIRED OF ME SAYING IT. WE TALK ABOUT IT EVERY WEEK, DREAM IT BIG. THAT'S WHAT OUR CITY NEEDS TO DO, AND THIS POTENTIAL PROJECT, THIS IS BIG. OUR CITY IS ALREADY GREAT, AND OUR CITIZENS, THOUGH, THEY DEMAND THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO BE EVEN BETTER THAN WE ARE.WE VERY HARD-WORKING PEOPLE, FANTASTIC FOOD, AND A CULTURE THAT IS SPECIAL AND UNIQUE. AND MOVING FORWARD WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A UNIQUE DISTRICT IN OUR CITY THAT REALLY DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE SHOULDN'T MAKE ANY MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
THIS IS TRANSFORMATIONAL. THE RIVERWALK IS ALREADY ICONIC.
AND CONNECTING THAT WITH HEMISFAIR PARK, A REIMAGINED ALAMODOME, A CONVENTION CENTER, NEW HOTELS, AND YES, BRINGING THE SPURS BACK DOWNTOWN WHERE THEY BELONG IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE IF DONE PROPERLY THIS SHOT WILL BE PROUD OF.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE -- CITY WILL BE PROUD OF.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SPURS, PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WHO CAN AND WHO ATTENDS THE GAMES, BUT THE SPURS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT THE TEAM ON THE COURT AND WHO FILLS THE ARENA. THE SPURS ARE SAN ANTONIO. THE LOVE, THE CELEBRATION, THE COMMUNITY GATHERING, THE CAMARADERIE, THE GOOD WILL, THE SPIRIT THAT WE ALL HAVE WHEN WE GATHER AROUND A TV OR AT A RESTAURANT OR ANYWHERE ELSE AND WATCH OUR BELOVED SPURS PLAY IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NEVER EVER [INAUDIBLE].
AND GIVING THEM A NICE NEW HOME DOWNTOWN IF DONE RIGHT IS SOMETHING I BELIEVE THE TEAM DESERVES AND SOMETHING THAT WILL BE GREAT FOR OUR CITY.
SO I'M STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF STAFF MOVING FORWARD AND EXPLORING WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROJECT IS VIABLE, BUT I WANT TO BE REALLY, REALLY CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING TODAY.
WE CANNOT, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THE COST OF THIS PROJECT FALL ON THE BACKS OF
THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. [APPLAUSE] >> WHYTE: I AM EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC THAT AT THE TURN OF THE YEAR OUR ECONOMY IS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF.
BUT IT'S NO SECRET THE ECONOMY HASN'T BEEN GREAT NOW FOR SOME TIME.
PROPERTY TAXES HAVE REMAINED HIGH. CPS ENERGY RATES HAVE BEEN RAISED ON OUR CITIZENS TWICE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF BEING ASKED TO PAY MORE. AND AS GREAT AND AS EXCITING AS THIS PROJECT IS, WE SHOULD NOT ASK OUR CITIZENS TO ONCE AGAIN PAY MORE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN IT.
SO AGAIN, I'M EXCITED. THIS PROJECT CAN DO SO MUCH FOR OUR CITY.
THE REVENUE CREATED BY SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IF SUCCESSFUL, CAN LIFT UP EVERYBODY IN SAN ANTONIO, IT CAN ALLOW US TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT EVERY DAY IN TERMS OF HOUSING, DOING MORE FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, EVERYTHING WE WANT TO DO CAN BE AIDED BY A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT HERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS BECOME A REALITY IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER IN A WAY THAT WILL LIFT EVERYBODY IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN A WAY WHERE ALL FOUR CORNERS AND THE CENTER OF OUR CITY WILL BENEFIT. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN WHYTE THAT WE NEED TO GET THE SPURS BACK DOWNTOWN WHERE THEY BELONG.
FIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER THE GREAT COACH POPOVICH AND, OF COURSE, WE'RE PRAYING FOR HIM DAILY, THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SO I'M REALLY HOPEFUL THAT WHAT WE'RE HEARING TODAY, LORI, I DEFINITELY WANT YOU TO MOVE FORWARD, LOOK AT MOUS. I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO ASK THE COUNTY WHETHER OR
[01:15:03]
NOT THEY CAN RAISE TAXES. TALK ABOUT FUNDING SOURCES, PARKING REVENUE, IF WE CAN GET THE PARKING GARAGES WITH THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY, WE CAN SEE OUR PARKING REVENUE GO UP AND I'M ALWAYS SAYING THAT ABOUT THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND THE FINANCE ZONE I'D LIKE TO SEE US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT WITH POTENTIAL FUNDING.AND CONSULTANTS, WE WILL NEED TO HAVE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOOK AT BRINGING PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT AREAS AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD TO COME IN AND TO SEE HOW WE MANAGE THAT. BECAUSE WE HAD, UM, SEVERAL THIS WEEKEND THAT ONE WEEKEND AND IT'S GOING TO BE HECTIC. BUT THE ONE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T HEAR THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND AS YOU TAKE THIS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IS HOUSING FOR THE WORKERS.
PUBLIC SAFETY. AND ENSURING THAT BOTH THE ARENA AND THE AREAS AROUND ARE GOING TO HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT THEY NEED IN TERMS OF, UM, FIRE AND POLICE.
YOU DID TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE. AND I JUST -- AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A COUNCIL -- WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS EQUITABLE AMONG THE DISTRICTS.
CLIMATE CHANGE -- THE COST OF KEEPING SOME OF THOSE OLDER BUILDINGS IN SOME OF IT -- WE REALLY NEED TO GET HARD NUMBERS ON THAT. BECAUSE AS MUCH AS THE COVENANTS ARE THERE, SOME OF THOSE -- THAT COULD BECOME A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE CITY THAT I REALLY WANT US TO LOOK INTO. AND TO LOOK INTO AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK THAT, UM, THAT AS WE TAKE THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM THEM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT IS SO MUCH AND IF I HAD TO PICK TWO -- IT WOULD BE THE ARENA AND THE EASTSIDE CONNECTOR WOULD BE MY PRIORITIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO THAT IS DEFINITELY THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT AS WE TALK -- AND I THINK THAT YOU'LL HEAR THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY ALSO. SO I LOVE THE ONE TO FIVE YEARS PLAN, BUT I THINK THAT WHAT DOESN'T EVER MOVE FROM THAT ONE TO FIVE-YEAR PLAN IS THE ARENA AND THE EASTSIDE CONNECTOR.
A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND REALLY EXCITED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD BECAUSE WE -- YOU GUYS ARE ALL HERE TO HEAR THE PLAN. THAT'S WHY I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE SEVEN MORE MINUTES TO TALK. AND SO THESE ARE -- THESE ARE MY SUGGESTIONS IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE DISCUSSIONS AND FOR YOU TO TAKING THIS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING THEIR IMPACT. AND THEY ARE GOING TO ASK FOR A LOT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO ASK FOR A SIXTH CHAMPIONSHIP TOO, SO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN AND
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU LOOK GREAT. WHAT I WANT TO SAY FIRST, YOU KNOW, I WISH WHEN THE FROST BANK AND THE A.M. MOW WERE FIRST DROPPED INTO THE EASTSIDE THAT THIS SAME THOUGHTFUL PLANNING WENT INTO IT. AND THIS OBVIOUSLY TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT AND PLANNING BUT IT DEMONSTRATES ANOTHER WAY THAT THE AREAS LIKE THE EAST, WEST AND THE SOUTHSIDE ARE AFTERTHOUGHTS TO THE PLANNING EFFORTS AND THE INVESTMENT THAT HAPPENS DOWNTOWN AND ON THE NORTH SIDE. AND I'M HAPPY THAT IN THIS INSTANCE THERE'S SOME EMPHASIS ON THE EAST SIDE BUT I BELIEVE THAT ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE THE FROST BANK AND ALAMO DOME CENTER ARE IN DISTRICT TWO SO IT'S HAPPENSTANCE, RIGHT? AND THE ONLY REASON THEY WOULD EXPRESS CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM IS THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDO THE WRONGS OF THE PAST THAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE DESIRED FOR LONGER THAN I HAVE BEEN ALIVE.
I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE I GOT STARTED AND SHE'S EXCITED AND I SHARED THAT I'M BALANCING A LOT OF COMPLEX REACTIONS AND EMOTIONS TO THIS PRESENTATION.
SO WHAT I WOULD CONVEY TODAY IS A BIT OF THAT CONFLICT. WELL, WHAT MOST CONFLICTS ME IS THE FACT THAT NEXT STEPS AND WHATEVER HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF TODAY'S CONVERSATION WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON MY DISTRICT. AND SO I'LL START WITH WHAT EXCITES ME MOST. Y'ALL KNOW THAT HIGHWAYS AND TRAIN TRACKS HAVE BEEN USED HISTORICALLY AS TOOLS OF SEGREGATION AND RED LINING AND OURS SEGREGATE OUR BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS FROM DOWNTOWN AND THE REST OF THE CITY. YOU GO FROM SEEING A BEAUTIFUL VIBRANT CONVENTION CENTER AND ARE IMMEDIATELY DRAWN TO A DARK UNDERPASS THAT SCREAMS, DO NOT PASS, DO NOT GO HERE. THERE'S A HUGE NEED TO CONNECT TO AREAS LIKE ST. PAUL'S AREA AND DIGNITY HILL AND DENVER HEIGHTS TO DOWNTOWN. SO THE IDEA OF A LAND BRIDGE IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING AND WITH IT COMES A ROBUST MULTIMODAL PLAN THAT HAS TREE CANOPY AND BIKE LANES. SO I'M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE EAST SIDE CONNECTOR AS PART OF THIS PLAN. THE CAVEAT IS THAT THE PURPOSE OF A LAND BRIDGE HAS TO BE COMMUNITY CENT RICK. I EXPECT THAT THERE'S OUTREACH TO DETERMINE NOT JUST THE
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DESIGN, BUT THE INTENDED IMPACT OF THE BRIDGE. DENVER HEIGHTS IS VERY SENSITIVE AREAS TO GENTRIFICATION AND RAPID CHANGE AND WITH BIG CHANGES LIKE THIS THERE IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR THINGS TO GO WRONG, AND I KNOW THAT A LAND BRIDGE MAY NOT BE THE FINAL ANSWER, BUT I'M THRILLED THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO UNDO THE DAMAGE THAT THE HIGHWAY HAS BROUGHT AND I THINK THAT IS EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT. WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE HOTEL AND THE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE AND CARE AND DILIGENCE FOLLOWS AND THOSE ARE NOT HUGE CONCERNS FOR ME AT THE MOMENT, BUT I'LL MOVE TO THE ALAMO DOME WHICH IS ALSO IN MY DISTRICT.AND I HAVE EXPRESSED MY DISMAY THAT THE ALAMO DOME IS NAMED ONE OF THE UGLIEST BUILDINGS IN AMERICA. WHILE I MAINTAIN THAT THERE ARE UGLIER BUILDINGS THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT NEEDS A FACELIFT AND HOW THAT HAPPENS I'M UNSURE BUT I WILL FOLLOW IT CLOSELY AND MY COMMUNITY IS HEAVILY INVOLVED, BECAUSE IT DOES AFFECT MY NEIGHBORS.
AND THE LASTLY TO THE SPURS ARENA. I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD WHEN VOTERS APPROVED THE PLAN FOR THE FROST BANK CENTER AND STILL I'M UNACCOUNTABLE.
AND WE WANT TO SEE NEW AMENITIES AND TOURISM TO SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES ON THE EAST SIDE AND TO EVEN OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THOSE BUSINESSES. AND WE WANT TO SPEND OUR MONEY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE LEFT BEHIND IN NEARLY EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS TYPE OF AN INVESTMENT. AND WHAT I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INTENTIONAL IN THE FULFILLMENT OF THOSE PROMISES MADE ALL OF THOSE YEARS AGO.
I THINK THAT THIS MAY BE THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT.
AND SO I HAVE CONVEYED TO THE CITY STAFF AND CONVEYED TO THE SPURS HOW YOU LEAVE A COMMUNITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOW YOU FOUND IT. AND IF AND WHEN THE SPURS LEAVE THE FROST BANK CENTER THEY NEED TO LEAVE MY COMMUNITY IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION THAN WE ARE IN TODAY. AND IT'S A SEA OF PARKING LOTS AND ON GAME-DAYS VISITORS ARE DRAWN AWAY FROM THE EAST SIDE WHILE BLOCKING THE EXISTING RESIDENTS FROM GETTING ACCESS TO ANYWHERE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. I KNOW THAT THE RODEO HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN OPERATING 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR AND I WANT TO CONVEY HERE PUBLICLY THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE THE ANSWER AND THAT IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO THE NEED FOR AN INVESTMENT AND THE PROMISES THAT HAVE STILL BEEN FULFILLED. THAT IS NOT THE PROMISE THAT WAS MADE. IT WAS A 24/7 RODEO. SO RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A CAUTIOUS ALLY AND I WILL NOT BE THAT -- UNLESS THE SAME THOUGHT AND THE CARE THAT WENT INTO THIS BROADER PLAN HAPPENS FOR MY COMMUNITY AS WELL AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. THAT SAME DILIGENCE AND THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO PUT TOGETHER THIS PLAN I EXPECT THAT TO TAKE PLACE IN THE AREAS SURROUNDING THE FROST BANK CENTER. THAT MEANS THAT WE DETERMINE A PLAN FOR THE SEA OF PARKING LOTS AND THE FREEMAN COLISEUM AND THE COCA-COLA PLANT AND THE GOLF COURSE.
I WANT TO SEE A MASTER PLAN AND I WANT COCA-COLA BROUGHT IN AS A STAKEHOLDER AND TO HAVE AN INCENTIVE. AND WE NEED TO BE STRATEGIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN ANYONE'S STRONG SUIT AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TRUST BUILDING AND WORK THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. AGAIN, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN NECESSARILY BEEN A STRONG SUIT.
AND ALL OF THAT SAID, JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WE DISCUSSED A DEFICIT.
WE WERE DISCUSSING SERVICES THAT NEED EXPANSION BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS RELY ON. AND WE HELD OFF ON THE MAJOR NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAD TO BALANCE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS, SPECIFICALLY GETTING RESOURCES TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
AND WE TALKED WHAT OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED THAT WE NEED TO CUT.
AND THE COMMUNITY IS LOCKING AND ASKING US WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT DEFICIT.
MY STREET IS AT THE END OF A FIVE-YEAR LIST IF IT'S EVEN ON IT, AND IT WILL NOT HAPPEN BEFORE THAT. AND WHAT I HEAR IS A QUESTION OF PRIORITY.
SO I WOULD SAY MY DIRECTION IS TO GO AHEAD AND TO EXPLORE NEXT STEPS BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD BE WISE TO ASK VOTERS FOR MONEY WHEN WE'RE EXPERIENCING A DEFICIT.
PEOPLE WILL CONFLATE TO THE CITY'S BUDGET WITH A TAX, NO MATTER WHO IS PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT. SO THE WARNING ALSO GOES TO THE COUNTY.
I'D SAY THAT AS MUCH PRIVATE INVESTMENT NEEDS TO GO INTO THIS AS POSSIBLE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS STACKS AGAINST THE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING POVERTY. SO, AGAIN, THE QUESTION OF PRIORITY IS ONE THAT WE'LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO THEM. THERE'S A DELICATE BALANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE MET SO I'M RESERVING SUPPORT FOR NOW AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT TO GET IT, STARTING WITH A MASTER PLAN FOR THE EXISTING ARENA AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO PROVIDE JUSTICE TO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN WRONGED.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ,
AND COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S COMMENTS THAT IT WAS A GOOD NAME FOR THIS, BUT I'M A HUGE MARVEL GEEK AND ONE THING THAT YOU DO LEARN IS THAT WITH THE SUPERHERO POWER YOU HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL, BUT
[01:25:02]
PLACED IN THE WRONG HANDS AND USED THE WRONG WAY IT CAN BE REALLY BE DISASTROUS.SO IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS PROJECT BUT DOING IT IN THE RIGHT WAY. SO, OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR DOWNTOWN AND HEMISPHERE. AND HEMISPHERE IS ALREADY THE MOST TRAFFICKED PARK AND IT'S THE MOST TRAFFIC FROM RESIDENTS FROM ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS. OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WILL COME UP TO ME AND SAY, OH, YEAH YOU GET TO REPRESENT DOWNTOWN. BUT I THINK WHAT YOU HEAR FROM THE DAIS TODAY IS THAT WE ALL REPRESENT DOWNTOWN. WE ALL CARE ABOUT IT AND I THINK THAT IS SO AWESOME TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I KNOW THAT -- I WAS IN A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH THIS UNIVERSITY ROUNDTABLE GROUP AND ONE OF THE WOMEN ASKED ME HOW ARE YOU BRINGING PEOPLE BACK DOWNTOWN? WE ARE IN A NEW STATE POST-COVID, RIGHT? ALL OF OUR OFFICES -- SOME OF OUR OFFICES ARE RELOCATING AND WE HAVE A NEW COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO BUILD.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE NEED TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN IS BY BRINGING OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS BACK AND CREATING MORE PLAZA-LIKE SPACES THAT WILL HELP THEM TO COME BACK AND TO ENJOY THE WHOLE DAY THERE. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THIS -- THIS IDEA THAT THE SPURS GAMES ARE A LITTLE BIT EXPENSIVE AT TIMES BUT PEOPLE STILL LOVE GOING TO THEM.
ONE OF MY FRIENDS IS IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY YESTERDAY AND TOLD ME THAT SHE AND HER GIRLFRIEND WENT TO THE THUNDER GAME ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND HAD AN AMAZING TIME.
AND THEY WERE SITTING IN THE 400S BUT THEY ENJOYED THE CAMARADERIE OF THE SPURS THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY ENJOYS. SO THAT BEING SAID, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG? AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THIS.
THE FIRST IS HOUSING. WHAT WE'VE REALIZED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND WHAT I HAVE SPECIFICALLY REALIZED A LOT IS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH EFFICIENCY HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE DOWNTOWN. AND THE MAYOR AND I WERE A FEW WEEKS AGO AT THE OPENING OF A HUNDRED LABOR, THE APARTMENT COMPLEX ACROSS FROM HEMISPHERE AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX THAT IS GOING TO BE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THIS.
BUT ONE COMPLEX IS NOT GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE HOUSING NEEDS DOWNTOWN.
SO IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GOING OUT AND PROCURING THIS LAND BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT OCCURS AND WE CAN'T MANAGE WHAT KIND OF AFFORDABILITY GOES ON IT. SO I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANTA WE NOT MISS THE MARK ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWNTOWN AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH. THE SECOND THING IS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE IS THAT -- AND COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED THIS TOO THAT ERIC PI WENT TO SEE A DEVELOPMENT THAT OCCURRED IF ATLANTA. WHAT WE NOTICE SIDE THAT A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES AND THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS WERE ALL NATIONAL CHAINS. NO ONE WANTS TO GO TO APPLEBEES OWNERSHIP AND AT HEMISPHERE, RIGHT? WE HAVE SOME BUSINESSES THAT HAVE MADE HEMISPHERE TO THIS POINT. SO, ONE, WE HAVE TO PROTECT THEM AND THEY HAVE ENDURED ALL OF THIS CONSTRUCTION AND MORE CONSTRUCTION TO COME.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS FOR THEM SO THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY.
BUT ALSO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE THESE RFPS THAT GO OUT FOR DEVELOPMENT TO COME IN, THAT THEY MAKE A COMMITMENT JUST LIKE OUR AIRPORT MADE THIS MORNING -- TO LOCAL CHEFS, TO LOCAL OWNER, BUSINESS OWNERS, SO THEY CAN REAP WILL BENEFIT AS WELL. AND THE THIRD THING THAT MY NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD BE SAD IF I DID NOT MENTION BUT WE HAVE TO -- CAN WE BRING UP SLIDE 32 AND COUNCILMAN VIAGRAN SAID, AND THIS IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENT.
IF WE DO NOT INVEST IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIGHT AROUND THERE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT VIA HAS WHAT THEY KNEAD TO GET PEOPLE TO GAMES, IF WE DON'T INVEST IN THE MICROMOBILITY THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS AREA, WHAT IS GOING TO END UP HAPPENING IS THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE MADE THIS SO GREAT, AND THEY ARE GOING TO FACE A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC CHALLENGES.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS INFRASTRUCTURE RIGHT. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE BUILDING THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS EXPEDIENT AND MINIMALISTIC IN TERMS OF DISADVANTAGE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE.
AND SO IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS AND FEEDBACK, LAURA, YOU MENTIONED THE ALAMO DOME AND BAD BUNNY. I THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED INVESTMENT TO THE ALAMO DOME.
AND ON HIS SECOND STOP HE CHOSE TO NOT STOP HERE. SO WE NEED TO REINVEST IN THAT AREA TO, ONE, BRING THAT UP. AND I DON'T THINK THAT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ COULD HAVE SAID IT ANY MORE PERFECT IN ALL OF HIS COMMENTS, AND VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT HE SAID IS THAT THE LAND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO CREATE THAT CONNECTION BUT ITSELF HAD BEEN TO BE COMMUNITY CENTERED. SO IF FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO THE SPURS GAMES WHAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY CAN STILL EXPERIENCE IT AT A LOW-COST, WHILE USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE AND MAYBE BRINGING THEIR OWN FOOD AND SNACKS AND BEING ABLE TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING A TICKET TO GO INTO THE GAME.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS CREATING AN INNOVATIVE FUNDING PLAN.
I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT FROM OUR COLLEAGUES WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS FEEL ABOUT PAYING A TAX FOR GOING TO A GAME OR COMING DOWNTOWN TO AN EVENT THAT TOURISTS ARE REALLY ATTENDING.
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SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COME UP WITH AN INNOVATIVE FUNDING PLAN, WHETHER THAT MEANS EXPANDING THE PID AND THINKING WHAT OUR TERS ARE DOING AND INCREASING PRIVATE INVESTMENT INTO THIS AREA, BECAUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPURS MORE DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? SO LET'S THINK REALLY INNOVATIVELY AND CREATIVELY HOW WE'RE FUNDING THIS AND THEN FIND GREAT WORDS TO EXPLAIN AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY BEING CLEAR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN THE LAST THING -- AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MY OPINION -- IS REAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN JUST GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND MAKING THEM -- GIVING THEM A PRESENTATION.THAT MEANS THINKING WITH CNE ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO GET THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT RESPONDED TO OUR HORSE CARRIAGE SURVEY TO RESPOND TO THIS, AND TO PROVIDE THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK.
WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE? WHAT WOULD THAT COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THIS WAS BUILT FOR THEM AND NOT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, WHOM I'M SO GRATEFUL TO SEE ALL OF Y'ALL'S FACES AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS EVERY THURSDAY DURING A SESSION BUT THAT'S WHO WE ARE DOING THIS FOR AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THE CENTER POINT AND THE FOCAL POINT OF THIS WORK.
THANK YOU, LORI AND THE TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE AND THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS AND
WORDS TO SUPPORT. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. AS AN URBAN HISTORIAN, I NEED TO GROUND US IN THE HISTORY OF URBAN RENEWAL AND THE RAZING OF NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF HEMISPHERE PARK.
AND THE HIGHWAYS THAT HAVE RAN THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WERE PLACING FOLKING ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THAT'S THE STORY OF MY CONSTITUENTS, RIGHT, FOLKS DISPLACED TIME AFTER TIME IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS AND URBAN RENEWAL AND THEY ARE NOW ON THE BORDER OF D5 AND FEELING ADDED PRESSURE OF INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES AND INCREASED UTILITIES.
AND WITH THAT, RIGHT, I SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT AS MY COLLEAGUES THAT I BELIEVE THAT NO SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYER SHOULD BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SPORTS ARENA. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS MY COLLEAGUE HAS MENTIONED I THINK THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THERE'S A ROBUST COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT THAT IS ESTABLISHED. AND WHAT I WOULD CAUTION IS DO NOT DO WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE MISSIONS BASEBALL STADIUM. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT NOT TO DO.
BUT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY, AND TO ESTABLISH A LEGALLY BINDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT. AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH THE NATIONAL SOCCER STADIUM, THE MILWAUKEE BUCS ARENA AND THE STAPLES CENTER AND THEN THE CITY OF ATLANTA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SPORTS TEAM OWNERSHIP ESTABLISHED A LEGALLY BINDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD RESEARCH AND HOW WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTING SIMILAR. NOW THIS PLAN -- AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WHILE WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE FRAMEWORK THAT IT INCLUDES LOCAL UNITE HERE 23, THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS THE HOSPITALITY WORKERS AND THE HOTEL WORKERS BECAUSE THERE'S A HUGE FOCUS WHETHER IT'S THE SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW HOTEL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS THE FOLKS THAT LIVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THERE'S MANY HOSPITALITY WORKERS THAT LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEIR TAKE IS BEING IMPLEMENTEDD INTO WHATEVER ROBUST PLAN THAT COMES ABOUT WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK. I THINK THAT IN TERMS OF FINANCE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, HOW MUCH ARE WE ANTICIPATING TO COVER FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS PROPOSED PLAN? >> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL DOING THE FEASIBILITY AND WE ARE WORKING CONSTANTLY WITH OUR PARTNERS AT CPS AND AT S.A.W.S. AND AT, OF COURSE, V.I.A. AND THE CITY TO HELP US TO IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE PIECES OF INFRASTRUCTURE ARE AND WHAT THE COSTS ARE.
WE HAVE A FOAZIBILITY STUDY THAT WE WILL PROHIBIT TO COUNCIL ONCE IT'S AVAILABLE AND ONCE WE HAVE
THAT STUDY WE CAN DEVELOP THOSE COST ESTIMATES. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, AND I SHARE SIMILAR CONCERNS, RIGHT ON PRIORITIES WITH INFRASTRUCTURE. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY MUCH NEEDED, BUT WHEN I HAVE MS. HERNANDEZ CALLING OUR OFFICE ABOUT THE APPROACH AND HAVE TO RELAY THAT IS HER RESPONSE, OR ALLEYWAY MAINTENANCE THAT ABUTS HIS PROPERTY, AND HE IS CONCERNED WITH THAT MAINTENANCE. ANDY WE ARE PRIORITIZING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT WHEN WE HAVE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING FIVE, 10 YEARS FOR BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO US RECEIVING THAT PLAN ON WHAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE MAY LOOK LIKE.
AND IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ARENA, CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT PROCESS WOULD BE LIKE? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO SEND IT OUT TO A VOTE, TO BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STADIUM?
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>> I WILL KICK IT OVER TO ERIC ON THAT ONE. >> I WILL TAKE THAT ONE, COUNCILMAN. SO I THINK THEY HAVE DONE IT TWICE BEFORE.
THE COUNTY HAS A -- THE AVAILABILITY TO CALL FOR A VOTE, OF A NEW TAX, MADE UP OF TWO REVENUE SOURCES AND IT'S AN INCREMENT ON THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND AN ADDITIONAL TAX ON CAR RENTALS AT THE AIRPORT. SO THAT WOULD BE A MECHANISM THAT THE COUNTY HAS.
AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THE LAST SLIDE, WHERE WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK MOU WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SPURS TO BRING EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE COUNTY. THEY'RE AN OBVIOUS PARTNER. BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. >> CASTILLO: YEAH AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE COUNTY BUT ARE WE ANTICIPATING -- OR SOMEBODY FROM THE SPURSZ TEAM CAN ANSWER -- AARE WE ANTICIPATING THAT THE COUNTY WOULD LOOK TO THE VENUE TAX? AND I ASK THE QUESTION, RIGHT, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, MY POINT IS THAT IT WOULD GO OUT TO VOTERS AND A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS FOR THE PUBLIC TO GIVE INPUT ON THE STADIUM.
>> IF THE COUNTY CHOSE TO DO THAT, YOU ARE CORRECT -- THAT CAN ONLY GET DONE BY VOTE OF THE
COUNTY VOTERS. >> CASTILLO: OKAY. AT WHAT POINT IN THE PROCESS -- I KNOW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO COME BACK FOR A DECEMBER BRIEFING WOULD WE HAVE THE
CAPITAL STACK AND WHAT THE COUNTY INTENDS TO CONTRIBUTE? >> I THINK THAT BASED ON TODAY'S CONVERSATION SPECIFIC TO THE CONVENTION CENTER. ANY UPDATES THAT WE HAVE ON THAT FRONT WE CAN INCLUDE IN THE PRESENTATION TO YOU AT THAT POINT.
>> CASTILLO: OKAY. AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT AND WITH THE ENTIRE FRAMEWORK OF WHAT MY EXPECTATIONS ARE IS THAT WE USE THE UNION CONSTRUCTION TO HELP TO FACILITATE AND MATERIALIZE THE VISION THAT STAKEHOLDERS AND COUNCIL APPROVE OF, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY, ENSURING THAT THERE'S A LIVABLE WAGE CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S WAGE THAT GOES UP. AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE RAN INTO WITH THE HYATT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THAT IT WAS A FIXED RATE SO THEIR MINIMUM WAGE IS WITH THE CITY'S WAGE AT THAT TIME AND IT HAS NOT GONE UP WITH THE INFLATION OR THE CITY'S MINIMUM WAGE SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AVOID THAT WITH ANY NEW HOTEL THAT TAKES PLACE. THAT THE CITY FUNDED.
AND THEN I WANT TO ENSURE TO THE COUNCILWOMAN'S POINT THAT WE DO IMPLEMENT THE HOUSING TRUST.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE SENTIMENT AND THE CONCERN THAT I HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY IS JUST THE DOMINO THAT WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN FALL AND THE PRESSURE THAT IS PUTTING ON THE WHOLE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING ECOSYSTEM. AND HOW CAN WE GET AHEAD OF THAT BY ENSURING THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOUSING IS DEEPLY AFFORDABLE, DOES ACCEPT VOUCHERS AND IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE HOSPITALITY WORKER? I KNOW THAT IS A CONCERN THAT I HEARD AND I HEARD TODAY IN THE CLOUCROWD, AND I WANT TO ENSURET AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT WE'RE RIGHTING WRONGS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT AND ENSURING THAT WE DO NOT REPLICATE HISTORY THAT HAS DISPLACED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE FOLKS WHO HELPED TO BUILD THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
YOU KNOW, WHILE THE EASTSIDE OF HEMISPHERE, RIGHT, A COMMENT WAS MADE THAT THEY NEED REINVESTMEND CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS ON MESQUITE STREET WHO ARE BARELY HOLDING ON TO THEIR HOMES SO WE NEED TO ENSURE WITH THE CBSA THAT WE ENGAGE FOLKS WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR DECADES, IF NOT GENERATIONS, SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT THERE'S A PLAN IN PLACE.
AND THE CITY OF ATLANTA THEY STAVE OFF THE INCREASE OF PROPERTY TAXES AROUND THE SPORTS STADIUM AND IT'S A PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP AND WE CAN REPLICATE TO MINIMIZE AS MUCH IMPACT AND RISK FOR THE ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMUNITIES AND
MY EXPECTATIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COURAGE MEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IN LISTENING TO EVERYONE ELSE'S COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, THINGS COME TO MIND AS I'M NEAR THE END OF THE LIST SOMETIMES. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I RECOGNIZE -- I THINK THAT ALL OF US DO -- AND MANY OF US DO -- THAT GREAT CITIES HAVE GREAT DOWNTOWNS. AND WE CAN THINK OF ALL OF THE GREAT CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY AND WHAT DOWNTOWNS ARE LOOK FOR THOSE CITIES AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND I REALLY LIKED THE PRESENTATION TODAY. I WISH I COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND PUT IT IN PLACE TOMORROW. SO THAT WE COULD ALL ENJOY WHAT THAT WILL OFFER, OR MAY OFFER IN THE FUTURE. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE CAN TELL WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD FOR US. CERTAINLY, NO ONE KNEW ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND NOBODY KNEW ABOUT WINTER STORM URI AND NO ONE KNOWS WHATEVER ELSE MAY COME DOWN THE LINE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS.
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AND ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND I HAVE HEARD ABOUT FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOWS WHAT GOES ON IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS -- AND THAT IS THAT GROWTH SHOULD PAY FOR GROWTH. AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO GROW A NEW ARENA, IF WE'RE GOING TO GROW A NEW HOTEL, IF WE'RE GOING TO GROW NEW BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA -- THEN THAT SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GROWING THESE THINGS. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DEVELOPERS OR THE HOTEL OWNERS OR THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SPORTS FRANCHISE, ETC.. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD -- OR I HAVE HEARD COMMENTS THAT THIS COULD BE A $3 BILLION TO $4 BILLION EFFORT OVER 15 YEARS.AND I ALSO HEARD US TALK ABOUT -- LORI MENTIONED THAT THE ESTIMATE IS THAT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT WE HAVE LOST ABOUT $750 MILLION IN TOURIST MONEY COMING TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE OUR CONVENTION CENTER ISN'T BIG ENOUGH OR WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOTEL ROOMS OR BECAUSE THE ALAMO DOME NEED UPDATES. WHEN I WAS DOING A LITTLE BIT OF FIGURING THAT IS $250 MILLION A YEAR OVER FIVE YEARS -- LOST OPPORTUNITY MONEY.
BUT MOST OF -- OR A LOT OF THAT IF WE WERE TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE COME IN TO SPEND THE MONEY, A LOT OF THAT IS JUST HOTEL TAX THAT IS RESTRICTED AND DOESN'T GO TO THE GENERAL FUND.
IT JUST CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE ALAMO DOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
A LOT OF THAT MONEY WOULD JUST GO TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPEN, THAT ARE PROVIDING A SERVICE OR PROVIDING PRODUCTS. NOW THAT HELPS TO PAY FOR JOBS BUT IT DOESN'T GIVE ANY MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND. AND OTHER THAN SALES TAX. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE TALK ABOUT $750 MILLION OR $250 MILLION A YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS, PROBABLY A LOT OF THAT GOES TO HOTELS, IT GOES TO THE BUSINESSES. HOW MUCH DOES THE CITY GET IN RETURN? LET'S SAY IN SALES TAX. WELL, YOU KNOW, WE PROBABLY GET -- IF IT'S $150 MILLION A YEAR, $250 MILLION A YEAR, WE GET 4%, 5% OF THAT RETURNED TO US.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE GET IS WHAT? $8 MILLION, $10 MILLION, $15 MILLION A YEAR ADDED TO OUR GENERAL FUND? WE DON'T GET $750 MILLION A YEAR ADDED TO OUR GENERAL FUND FOR TO US GO AHEAD AND TO DO THINGS FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
NOW THAT'S THE PAST AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AND HOPEFULLY THE RETURN WILL GREATER BUT I WANT TO KNOW BEFORE I VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THESE HOW WILL THIS DEVELOPMENT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF NEARLY 250,000 SAN ANTONIOS WHO ARE LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE? DOES $10 MILLION A YEAR, $15 MILLION A YEAR IN ADDITIONAL SALES TAX OR $20 MILLION A YEAR IN ADDITIONAL SALES TAX RESOLVE THAT? HOW WILL WHATEVER THE CITY GETS OUT OF THIS IN REVENUE -- HOW WILL THIS CHANGE HOMELESSNESS? AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE COMMUNITY SPEND $75 MILLION A YEAR FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND ALL OF THE NON-PROFITS -- FEDERAL MONEY, STATE MONEY. HOW WILL THAT PROJECT AND ANY REVENUE TO THE CITY INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY? WHICH IT'S A CRISIS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, HOW -- HOW WILL THIS PROVIDE MORE BETTER-PAYING JOBS TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS? PEOPLE WHO WILL WORK IN HOTELS AND WORK IN RESTAURANTS AND THEY WILL WORK IN CONCESSIONS AND THE ARENA AND, YOU KNOW, THE ALAMO DOME AND AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT WHAT ABOUT MORE BETTER-PAYING JOBS? AND HOW MANY FAMILIES WITH INCOME LEVELS OF, LET'S SAY, $40,000 TO $60,000, CERTAINLY NOT POVERTY LEVEL -- BUT HOW MANY OF THEM WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GO TO THE HOTELS THAT GET BUILT? THE RESTAURANTS THAT WILL BE BUILT. THE CONCERTS THAT WILL BE HELD. THE SPURS GAMES THAT WILL BE HELD. HOW MANY WILL BE ABLE TO GO THERE COMPARED TO TODAY AND COMPARING IT TO FIVE OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW? AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE
[01:45:03]
ANTICIPATED OR THE HOPE FOR FINANCIAL RETURN TO THE CITY AND HOW CAN WE COMMIT THAT REVENUE TO THE BENEFIT OF RESIDENTS IN THE FUTURE? I NEED TO SEE SOME NUMBERS ABOUT THAT AND NOT JUST THAT WE'LL GET AN EXTRA $250 MILLION A YEAR IN TOURIST MONEY AND WHAT DOES THAT REALLY EQUATE MONEY TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND WHAT WILL THAT ENABLE US TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY. SO WE NEED TO REALLY BREAK THIS DOWN INTO REAL NUMBERS AND NOT JUST SAY WELL IT'S GOING TO COST US $3 BILLION OR $4 BILLION, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE THE GROWTH THAT PAYS FOR IT -- NOT THE CITY. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WE HAVE HEARO STREETS AND ROADS AND OVERPASSES AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PART OF THIS PROGRAM THAT WON'T BE PAID FOR BY PRIVATE DOLLARS BUT WILL BE PAID FOR BY CITY DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE COST OF ALL OF THAT? AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE RETURN TO THE CITY THAT WE CAN USE TO HELP TO BETTER THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO? I LOVE THE SPURS -- I THINK THAT ALL OF OUR WANTS AND OUR NEEDS AND DESIRES IN THIS PLAN ARE GOOD, BUT I WANT TO SEE HOW IS IT GOING TO BENEFIT THE REST OF THE CITY OVER THE LONG RUN IN SOME REAL PROPOSED NUMBERS.SO THAT WE CAN BALANCE THE DECISION AND THE DREAM WITH THE REALITY OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN
OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE PRESENTATION TODAY?
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: I THINK THAT IF BRENDA SORENSON IS HERE -- MAYBE THEY'RE NOT -- I THINK THAT WE NEED TO EXPLORE CREATING A SIMULTANEOUS, UM, AND A PARALLEL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUSH, UM, TO ATTRACT, YOU KNOW, MORE EMPLOYMENT AND MORE COMPANIES DOWNTOWN. WE NEED TO ALSO TO INCLUDE HAVE VELOCITY IN THAT CONVERSATION AND WE CAN'T JUST BE TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE DISTRICT, LORI. I MEAN THERE'S SOME REALLY IMPORTANT ASSETS THAT WE CAN CONCEPTUALLY INCLUDE IN THE CONVERSATION AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, AND JENNA AND SARAH NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.
SO IF YOU GUYS COULD HELP ME TO FIGURE THAT OUT I'D APPRECIATE IT.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL M PELAEZ. AND JUST LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION, ERIC, I THINK THAT EVERYONE WHO SEES THE IMAGES AND UNDERSTANDS THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF THIS IS STRUCK BY THE ENORMITY OF IT AND THE TRANSFORMATIONAL CAPACITY OF IT. THAT'S NOT LOST ON ANYBODY.
THIS IS A CITY OF BIG DREAMS. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. WHAT SEPARATES US IN THIS DAY AND AGE, RIGHT NOW, GIVEN ALL OF THE BIG THINGS THAT THIS CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISHES THAT WE ARE WILLING TOGETHER TO WORK TOWARDS IT.
AND TO EXECUTE. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE COULD PUT ON THE LIST -- THE ONE THAT IS COMING TO MIND SINCE IT WAS ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS THE AIRPORT.
BUT IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF NO LONGER SETTLING FOR JUST HAVING AN ASPIRATION, BUT USING OUR TALENTS, OUR CAPACITIES, OUR RESOURCES, TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE. WE HAVE EVERY CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY ASSET IN THE WORLD TO LEVERAGE. ONE OF THE UNIQUE CITIES IN AMERICA -- WE KNOW THAT.
A CITY THAT HAS ENJOYED THE BENEFIT OF HERITAGE AND CULTURE THAT IS UNMATCHED IN THE WORLD.
AND WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY IS THAT THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY TO DO RIGHT BY OUR COMMUNITY, TO ACHIEVETHAT VISION IN THE RIGHT WAY. BUT ALSO WILLINGNESS TO GO OUT AND TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS. SO, ERIC, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THE MESSAGE FROM MY COLLEAGUES TODAY IS WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. BUT LET'S GET TO WORK.
ERIC? >> YEAH, THANKS, MAYOR. I WAS LOOKING AT THE WORDS THAT I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE INTRO, THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
BUT I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A GOOD SOLID CONVERSATION IN TERMS OF THE THINGS THAT ARE PRIORITIES TO YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IS THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PLANNING EFFORT IS TO LOOK AT WHAT WORKED IN OTHER CITIES AND WHAT HASN'T. AND I APPRECIATE THE EXAMPLES -- WE'RE GOING HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND I THINK THAT TODAY'S LAUNCH AND THE ENGAGEMENT, WE CERTAINLY WILL THINK THROUGH HOW WE INVOLVE ALL OF YOUR OFFICES IN THAT ENGAGEMENT AND, UM, AND IT IS TOO BIG FOR US NOT TO GET RIGHT. WE'RE COMMITTED TO IT. WE HAVE HUGE PARTNERSHIPS --
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SOME OF THEM IN THE ROOM. AND WE'RE GOING TO RELY UPON THEM.AND WE'RE GOING TO START FOLLOWING UP ON THE THINGS THAT YOU SHARED WITH US TODAY AND I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S HELPFUL FOR US TO BE ON THE
RIGHT RAILROAD TRACK. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANKS, ERIC. AND WE'LL JUST CLOSE WITH THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS COULD BE THE GOLD STANDARD OF SPORT FRANCHISES IN THE WORLD BUT LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AND I THINK THAT OUR CITY CAN DO THE SAME THING. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. GREAT PRESENTATION, LORI.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE A BRIEF FIVE-MINUTE RECESS IN ORDER TO RECALL OUR A SESSION AGENDA BACK FROM RECESS. SO AT 12:36 P.M., ON THE 21ST DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024, OUR SPECIAL SESSION IS ADJOURNED AND WE'LL BE BACK IN FIVE MINUTES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.