Dec 12, 2024 City Council A Session

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

[00:01:24]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:05 A.M. ON THE 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2024.

WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

ONE OF THE MATRIARCHS OF BUSINESS AND IN PARTICULAR THE CATERING INDUSTRY BUT SOMEONE WHO IS ADEPT AT FUNDRAISING, PHILANTHROPY, AND FRIENDSHIP TO JUST ABOUT EVERYONE SHE MET. ROSEMARY PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK AND I WOULD LIKE US TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HER HONOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO BEGIN TODAY, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF WELCOMING JEROME ODDO AS OUR INVOCATOR. PASTOR JEROME SERVINGS AS THE EXECUTIVE PASTOR FOR CITY CHURCH IN DISTRICT 7. CITY CHURCH AIMS TO PROVIDE A SAFE COMMUNITY WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOME. PASTOR JEROME FIRST STARTING ATTENDING CITY CHURCH IN 2011 WITH HIS WIFE AND THEIR SONS.

HE SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FOR NEARLY 23 YEARS AND ACHIEVED THE RANK OF SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT. DURING HIS TIME IN SERVICE, HE SERVED TWO DEPLOYMENTS SERVING IN IRAQI FREEDOM AND THROUGHOUT CENTRAL ASIA.

IN 2016 HE RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE AS A SUPERINTENDENT OF THE UNITED SATES AIR FORCE BAND OF THE WEST . IT WAS HIS LOVE FOR MUSIC AND HIS SERVANT'S HEART THAT LED HIM TO SERVING ON THE CITY CHURCH WORSHIP TEAM SHORTLY AFTER JOINING THE CHURCH. CURRENTLY PASTOR JEROME IS LIVING HIS GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE AT CITY CHURCH WHERE HE USES HIS LEADERSHIP AND HUMAN RESOURCE SKILLS. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING STAFF AND VOLUNTEER TEAMS TO ACCOMPLISH THE CITY CHURCH MISSION AND VISION LOCALLY AND WITH CITY CHURCH'S GLOBAL MISSION PARTNERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AS OUR INVOCATOR TODAY AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITY.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING PASTOR JEROME ODDO. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE PRAY WITH ME. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR GRACE AND MERCY. I LIFT UP OUR WONDERFUL CITY THAT YOU MAY DWELL AMONG US AND FILL THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE AND LEADERS OF SAN ANTONIO WITH YOUR LOVE AND HOPE. WATCH OVER US ALL AND PROTECT US FROM THOSE THAT WISH TO DO US HARM. LORD, I PRAY FOR OUR CITY LEADERS, THE STAFF PRESENT TODAY THAT SERVES THIS BODY, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THEY SERVE THEIR PEOPLE, AND THE MAYOR AS HE SERVES THE ENTIRE CITY.

[00:05:05]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR JEROME.

OKAY. WE HAVE NO MINUTES TO APPROVE TODAY AND SO WE HAVE

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

ANY OTHERS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS. JACK FINGER.

18. JACK FINGER. OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS 7 THROUGH 25 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 19. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.

HEARING NONE, CALL THE VOTE. INGS COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YES.

MOTION CARRIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A FEW CEREMONIALS TODAY, RECOGNITIONS . I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH -- IS JEFF WEBSTER IN THE HOUSE? MARIO.

MARIO BARRERA, THE CHAIR OF THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER AND ANY OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL MARK ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY AND HOST ITS GALA DECEMBER 13, 2024, THE CELEBRATION WILL BE ATTENDED BY MANY BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WHEREAS SINCE 1894 THE GREATER CHAMBER HAS BEEN A POSITIVE CHANGE MAKER IN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY AND BEYOND AS THE PRIMARY VOICE OF BUSINESS IN THE CITY THE GREATER CHAMBER HAS MOBILIZED ITS MEMBERS TO PROMOTE AND DRIVE IMPORTANT INITIATIVES THAT BENEFIT SAN ANTONIO. IT BRINGS TOGETHER MEMBERS AND LEADERS FROM ALL AREAS OF THE CITY TO ADDRESS THE REGION'S ISSUES AND UNIQUE CHALLENGES.

WHEREAS OVER ITS HISTORY, THE CHAMBER HAS ASSISTED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SAN ANTONIO'S MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, ENSURED ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S GROWTH, BROUGHT THE 1968 WORLD FAIR TO SAN ANTONIO, HELPED CREATE THE RIVER WALK, PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN FORMING THE SOUTH TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, SECURED LEGISLATION CREATING BROOKS CITY-BASE, SPAWNED THE CREATION OF THE FIESTA COMMISSION AND MORE. WHEREAS HOLDING THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE OLDEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SOUTH TEXAS, THE GREATER CHAMBER IS ALSO THE LARGEST WITH THE WIDEST REACH AND TODAY HAS APPROXIMATELY 1700 MEMBERS.

AND WHEREAS AS IT WAS 130 YEARS AGO THE CHAMBER REMAINS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PRO-BUSINESS ORGANIZATION IN THE REGION AND ITS CONTINUED FOCUS IS ON SUPPORTING SAN ANTONIO'S GROWTH AND PROGRESS AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ITS RESIDENTS BY PROMOTING ITS RICH CULTURE ALONG WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC AND CIVIC PRIORITIES. WHEREAS ON A DAILY BASIS THE CHAMBER CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE AND CHAMPION THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND HAS

[00:10:01]

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 13, 2024 TO BE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER'S 130TH ANNIVERSARY DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND EXTEND HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS AND APPRECIATION FOR ITS PROFOUND POSITIVE IMPACT, BOLSTERING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, AND ENHANCING SAN ANTONIO'S GLOBAL PROFILE FOR OVER 130 YEARS . WELCOME, MARIO. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE

FLOOR IS YOURS, SIR. AND YOUR TEAM. >> ALL RIGHT.

MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. IT'S BEEN MY HONOR TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE CHAMBER ON THIS 130TH YEAR. I THINK WE'VE DONE SO MUCH IN THE PAST.

WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY THE FUTURE TO LOOK FORWARD TO AND I THINK THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS YEAR IS DO A COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION WITH ALL THE OTHER SISTER CHAMBERS. AND SO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE'VE BEEN GETTING TOGETHER WITH THE NEWLY-MINTED METRO CHAMBER, THE HISPANIC CHAMBER, THE SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SAN ANTONIO NEEDS IS MORE COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION. ON BEHALF OF OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, DIEGO, AND GABBY.

JEFF COULD NOT BE HERE, KATY COULDN'T BE HERE EITHER BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE RECOGNITION AND HOPE TO SEE YOU TOMORROW AT OUR GALA OR AS MANY OF YOU AS CAN BE THERE. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK THANK YOU, MARIO. WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS.

WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MARIO AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I THINK YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD IN TERMS OF COLLABORATION AND AS WE LOOK AND SEE OURSELVES, I THANK YOU AND THE CHAMBER LEADERSHIP FOR BEING TEAM SAN ANTONIO.

WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE CHALLENGES READ AND I THINK THE MORE WE COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES, THE MORE THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND REGIONALLY ALSO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I WILL SEE YOU ON FRIDAY AND IT'S A GREAT CELEBRATION.

130 YEARS UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUSINESS AND SMALL BUSINESS, IN

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

>> GAVITO: I JUST WANTED TO SAY -- THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE. I'M EXCITED TO CELEBRATE WITH Y'ALL TOMORROW NIGHT AND Y'ALL HAVE PUT TOGETHER A FANTASTIC TEAM AND SO YOU HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF. LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU.

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

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND MARIO AND THE TEAM, CONGRATULATIONS ON 130 YEARS. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL TOMORROW. BUT I WANTED TO FOCUS IN ON ONE OF YOUR COMMITTEES, THE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE. I HAVE BEEN REGULARLY ATTENDING FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND I DO MISS SOME OF THEM.

I TRY TO ZOOM IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO THE ONES I CAN'T MAKE IT.

Y'ALL ARE MAKING SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT. I'M SORRY I MISSED YESTERDAY'S MEETING BUT THE EDUCATORS THAT YOU ALL HAVE THERE COMBINED WITH THE WORKFORCE, THE EXPERIENCE THAT BOEING HAS BROUGHT IN IS JUST CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR GRADUATES AS THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AND TRY TO FIND A JOB.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS THERE WITH READY TO WORK AND WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO. Y'ALL TRY TO BRING THE WHOLE GAMUT IN. THAT'S ONE OF THE COMMITTEES THAT DOESN'T GET AS PUBLICLY RECOGNIZED AND I FIGURED I COULD TALK ABOUT IT AND SAY WHAT A GREAT JOB YOU ALL ARE DOING IN THAT REGARD. BUT IN GENERAL, ALSO THANK YOU TO YOUR SUPPORT FOR CYBERSECURITY. THANK YOU, MARIO FOR COMING WITH US TO THE PENTAGON LAST DAY WITH THE PORT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT AND I KNOW YOU WILL. LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT MORE ADVOCATING WITH YOU ALL. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

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

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BARRERA FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE ORGANIZATION AND THE COMMUNITY. THE CHAMBER HAS DONE SO MUCH TO EDUCATE AND MOTIVATE AND UNITE BUSINESSES ON A LOT OF KEY ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CITY.

AND SO FOR YOUR WORK AND THE WORK OF YOUR ORGANIZATION, I THINK THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY OWES A LOT OF APPRECIATION. AND HOPEFULLY YOU CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND THE ORGANIZATION THRIVES FOR ANOTHER 130 YEARS. THANK YOU.

[00:15:01]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. AND MARIO TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE LEADERSHIP TEAM, REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WE WERE DOING LAST WEEK, IN PARTICULAR. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE SOME TOUGH DEBATES UP IN AUSTIN BUT ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, WE ALL HAVE TO GET BEHIND OUR STATE'S YOUTH AS WELL AS OUR INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S YOUTH IN TERMS O PUBLIC EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT. AND APPRECIATE THE CHAMBER'S POSITION ON THAT.

THANK YOU, MARIO. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] AND ON THAT NOTE, WE HAVE SOME CHAMPIONS IN THE HOUSE.

SOME VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS. MAKE SOME NOISE IF YOU'RE FROM LAS PALMAS OR PERALES.

WE HAVE THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS RECOGNIZED HERE.

IF I COULD CALL ALL OF Y'ALL FORWARD TO BE RECOGNIZED BY OUR CITY COUNCIL.

YOU CAN COME ON UP, LADIES. YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE NAMES.

I'LL LET COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO INTRODUCE SOME VIPS ON YOUR TEAM.

BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE FOLKS. THEY ARE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO TO

WELCOME. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, TODAY WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US FROM EDGEWOOD ISD. WE HAVE BEEN GRACED WITH THE PRESENCE OF SOME VERY SPECIAL CHAMPIONS FROM THE PERALES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SECOND AND THIRD GRADE, THE LITTLE RUNNERS, AND THEIR ROYAL TEAM AS WELL FROM THE LAS PALMAS LEADERSHIP SCHOOL OF GIRLS . THEY ARE SIXTH-GRADE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS.

LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THESE TEAMS ARE FROM THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE WHICH AIMS TO FOSTER BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND YOUTH BY ENGAGING IN SPORTS. WE APPRECIATE THIS EFFORT BEING PUT THERE EDGEWOOD'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM AND THE BOBCATS MAY HAVE A BIT OF A POWERHOUSE TEAM AS THIS IS THEIR SECOND TIME THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT THEM HERE TO THE A SESSION . I HOPE Y'ALL ARE ENJOYING THIS VISIT TO THE CITY HALL CHAMBERS. A SHOUT OUT TO THE COACHES FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND CONTINUING TO WIN TIME AFTER TIME AGAIN. SO THERE'S A HANDFUL OF COACHES HERE. I APOLOGIZE IF I MISS ANYONE.

WE HAVE COACH OLIVERES, SMITH, GARCIA, AND OF COURSE OUR SAPD OFFICERS.

SO JUST CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WOULD ONE OF THE COACHES OR MAYBE CAPTAINS WANT TO JUST INTRODUCE THE GROUP FOR US? YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY EVERYBODY'S NAME.

>> HELLO. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MR. RICHARD PEREZ. I'M A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER AT PERALES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ALSO ACADEMICALLY AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR THEM. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE OFFICERS NOT ONLY KEEPING US SAFE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES BUT PROVIDING US OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR ATHLETES TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN. AS AN EDUCATOR, THIS TIME WE HAVE A YEAR WITH THESE KIDS AND SPORTS HELPS BUILD THAT CONNECTION WITHIN WATCHING THEM LEARN AND GROW.

AS A MATH TEACHER, I LIKE TO COLLECT DATA AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN SOME OF THESE KIDS, THEY CAN SEE THEIR PROGRESS AS THE SEASON GOES ON.

AND HOW THEY CAN IMPROVE WITHIN THEMSELVES AND WITHIN THE SCHOOLS.

I'VE ALSO BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE FORMER ATHLETES WHO STARTED AT THIS LEVEL NOW PLAYING IN COLLEGE. SO GETTING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW WITHIN WHAT WE PROVIDE HERE WITH THE FOUNDATION AND JUST KEEP AT IT. HELP THEM THROUGH, YOU KNOW, TEACHING THEM THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN ENGAGEMENT IN LIFE AND HOW TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES, SET GOALS, AND KEEP PURSUING. WE THANK EVERYBODY HERE. WE THANK ALL OF YOU AND ESPECIALLY THE PARENTS THAT COMMIT THE TIME TO BRING IN THE KIDS AND GETTING THEM TO PRACTICES AND TRUSTING US WITH THEIR STUDENTS AS WELL. SO, THANK Y'ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND WE'LL DEFINITELY BE BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CONGRATULATIONS.

[00:20:06]

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AND THE CAMERAMAN CAN GET BACK TO THE WHOLE SCENE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT -- LET'S GET THE WHOLE CROWD.

IF YOU COULD SHOW THEIR FACES. I KNOW THEIR FAMILIES ARE WATCHING TVSA RIGHT NOW AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL GET ON THE CAMERA.

THERE YOU GUYS ARE. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR EACH OTHER.

BUT CONGRATULATIONS. YOU GUYS HAVE DONE SOME GREAT WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU CONTINUE TO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOUR FAMILY IS VERY PROUD OF YOU. YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU.

SO CONTINUE THE WORK. THANK YOU, TEACHERS AND COACHES.

AS A FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, I KNOW IT IS NOT EASY TO DO THIS WORK AND YOU GUYS, IT'S A CALLING AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE CALL AND INVESTING SO MUCH. SO CONGRATULATIONS. MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR FAMILY TO GO ON TO TVSA AND WATCH THIS VIDEO BECAUSE YOU'LL BE ON TV.

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

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN SEE NOW THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS TO ACTUALLY TAKE OFF. THERE'S NOW GOING TO BE A PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION SO YOU CAN PLAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AND GET A SCHOLARSHIP AT WHATEVER UNIVERSITY YOU WANT TO GO TO AND YOU CAN PLAY AFTER YOU GRADUATE.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT WOMEN ATHLETES TO LOOK UP TO TODAY AND I'M REALLY GLAD YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. KEEP UP THE HARD WORK. THANKS, MAYOR.

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

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IT'S SO NICE TO SEE ALL OF Y'ALL'S SMILING FACES AND Y'ALL'S CONFIDENT POSES.

GOOD JOB! THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THEM HERE TODAY. I HAVE TWO LITTLE GIRLS AND THEY ALSO PLAY VOLLEYBALL TOO SO MAYBE WE CAN GO WATCH SOME OF THE GAMES. BUT IN SPORTS YOU LEARN SO MUCH. YOU LEARN ABOUT TEAMWORK AND HOW EACH OF YOU PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE. I'M GLAD YOU ARE LEARNING THOSE LIFE LESSONS NOW AND I WANT YOU TO KEEP GOING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. I WAS A TEACHER FOR 25 YEARS AND MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING I DID PE. AND I ALSO BECAME THE COACH.

AND I DID VOLLEYBALL. AND I SAW YOUNG PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES. AND SO YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ONE, MAYBE YOU'RE INVOLVED IN MORE THAN ONE, BUT STAY INVOLVED.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE EXCITING AND INTERESTING THAN ATHLETICS AND SO I HOPE ALL OF YOU DO WELL AND ENJOY WHAT YOU DO. LISTEN TO YOUR COACH AND LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS AND HAVE A LOT OF FUN. THANK YOU.

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

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. YOU ALL MAKE US PROUD. YOU ELEVATE SAN ANTONIO AND IN PARTICULAR I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL WANT TO LISTEN TO YOUR COACHES.

THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU. THEY WANT TO HELP YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO GOOD TO ONE ANOTHER AND SUPPORTIVE.

TEAMWORK IS HOW WE MAKE EVERYTHING WORK EVERYWHERE. SO YOU ALL ARE LEARNING AT A VERY EARLY AGE WHAT THE POWER OF TEAMWORK IS. CONGRATULATIONS.

BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL AGAIN NEXT

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

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

AND I WANT TO REITERATE JUST HOW PROUD WE ALL ARE OF YOU. I WANT EVERYONE TO GIVE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.

[APPLAUSE] I HAD TO THINK VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY NEXT BECAUSE I WAS A TEACHER AS WELL. AND I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT SPORTS ARE WHERE THE MOST GROWTH HAPPENED. BUT IT'S TEAMWORK IS WHERE THE MOST GROWTH HAPPENS. AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AS A COMMUNITY.

AND SO YOU GUYS ARE EMBARKING -- HAVE EMBARKED AND CONTINUE TO BE ON A JOURNEY OF GROWTH AND OF FRIENDSHIP AND OF COMMUNITY AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT, CONTINUE TO HAVE FUN, CONTINUE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER TO BE YOUR BEST. AND OF COURSE I HAVE TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, JULIAN GARCIA.

YOU GUYS KNOW HER AS THE COACH. I KNOW HER AS THE BOSS.

CONGRATULATIONS. KEEP DOING WHAT Y'ALL DO AND KNOW WE'RE ALL HERE ROOTING

FOR YOU AND CHEERING FOR YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE'LL SEE Y'ALL BACK HERE AT THE NEXT CHAMPIONSHIP.

CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] OKAY.

LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME D1 STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE HERE OBSERVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THEY WILL BE COMPARING HOW WE DO BUSINESS WITH THE COURTHOUSE LATER. SO WE'LL TRY TO PUT OUR BEST

[00:25:03]

CASS AND L.A., SORRY. THIS IS A PROUD D1 SCHOOL SO LET ME ASK COUNCILMEMBER

KAUR TO DO THE PROPER WELCOME. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ATTENDING AGAIN THIS YEAR. I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO HEAR AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION TODAY AND I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE THE WAY WE AFFECT AND CHANGE OUR SOCIETY FOR THE FUTURE. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL UP HERE ON THE DAIS. ENJOY CITY COUNCIL AND, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID LATER, THE

COURTHOUSE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR STUDENTS. [APPLAUSE] WE'RE GOING TO GO NOW INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL AGENDA . WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM FOR CONDEMNATION SO LET'S CLEAR THAT ONE OUT FIRST. I'M SORRY. LET ME RECOGNIZE

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

I WOULD LIKE TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BECAUSE I NEED TO

PULL ITEM 23 FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE CAN

HAVE YOU MOVE TO RECONSIDER ITEM 23 AND WE CAN JUST -- >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR RECONSIDERATION OF ITEM 23.

ANY DISCUSSION? AGAIN, THIS WILL BE FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES.

PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES.

SO LET'S TAKE UP ITEM 23. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 23 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO FOR SCHOOL-BASED COUNSELING SERVICES AS PART OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT'S SA FORWARD PLAN AND THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCE IN AN INITIAL AMOUNT UP TO $1,119,000 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT UP TO $1,919,000.

FUNDING IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND FY 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET. SUS IS CONTINGENT UPON CITY

COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND FUNDS . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 23. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 23. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. USE YOUR AUDIO,

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. LET'S TAKE UP ITEM 19, WHICH

IS A CONDEMNATION. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 19 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTERESTS IN PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PARCELS OF LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PURPOSES OF PRIVATELY-OWNED REAL PROPERTY AND DECLARING THE CLASSEN ROAD, A 2022 BOND PROGRAM FUNDED PROJECT TO BE PUBLIC USE PROJECT AND A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ONE DRAINAGE EASEMENT TOTALING .21 ACRES, FIVE RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENTS TOTALING .53 ACRES AND NINE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS TOTALING .61 ACRES ALL LOCATED ALONG CLASSEN ROAD FROM CLASSEN SPUR TO KNOLLCREEK DRIVE IN NCBS 17726 IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 10

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROJECT FOR THE CLASSEN ROAD PROJECT, CLASSEN SPUR TO KNOLLCREEK DRIVE BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY DESCRIBED BY THE CITY CLERK, INCORPORATED AS PART OF THIS

MOTION THAT THE CLERK JUST READ. >> CLERK: THE PRIVATELY-OWNED PROPERTY INTEREST CONSISTING OF ONE PERMANENT DRAINAGE EASEMENT, FIVE RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENTS, AND EIGHT TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, LOCATED ALONG CLASSEN ROAD FROM CLASSEN SPUR TO KNOLLCREEK DRIVE IN NCB17726. THESE PROPERTIES ARE

[00:30:01]

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 19.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES.

[ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING]

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO TO ITEM NO. 3. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 3 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A THREE-YEAR PLAN TO PHASE OUT THE USE OF HORSES AND HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES IN SAN ANTONIO, INCLUDING THE ABOLISHMENT OF ORDINANCES AND POLICIES AS THEY RELATE TO CHAPTER 33 PERMITTING EQUINE-DRAWN CARRIAGES.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, ERIK? >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RICK RILEY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S BRIEFING IS TO INTRODUCE A THREE-YEAR PLAN TO PHASE OUT THE USE OF HORSES WITH HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES IN SAN ANTONIO. AS YOU WILL RECALL, THE CCR WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND VIAGRAN IN NOVEMBER OF 2022. AND IT ASKS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN TO PHASE OUT THE USES OF HORSES WITH HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES IN SAN ANTONIO TO INCLUDE THE ABOLISHMENT OF ORDINANCES OR POLICIES AS THEY RELATE TO CHAPTER 33 PERMITTING EQUINE-DRAWN CARRIAGES. THE PLAN WOULD INCLUDE THREE THINGS. FIRST THE DETERMINATION OF FEASIBILITY AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE TRANSITION FROM HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES TO ELECTRIC CARRIAGES OR PEDICABS. SECOND, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROHIBITION OF THE USES OF HORSES WITH CARRIAGE RIDES. AND, THIRD, THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS -- HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE PERMITS AND SPECIAL EVENTS PERMITS SO THAT EVENTUALLY ALL VALID PERMITS, MEDALLIONS, AND SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS HAVE EXPIRED. AS A REMINDER OF CCR TIMELINE, IN APRIL IT WAS REFERRED TO THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. IN MAY, THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD DISCUSSED THE CCR AND HEARD FROM HORSE CARRIAGE BUSINESS OWNERS AND OPERATORS.

IN JUNE, STAFF BRIEFED THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE AND SAPD MET WITH HORSE CARRIAGE COMPANIES. THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD AGAIN DISCUSSED THE CCR AT ITS MONTHLY MEETING. IN JULY, C&E CONDUCTED AN SA SPEAKUP SURVEY REGARDING THE HORSE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY. AND STAFF BRIEFED THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES BOARD. IN AUGUST, STAFF UPDATED THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. MOVING TO SEPTEMBER, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MET WITH THE HORSE CARRIAGE BUSINESS OWNERS.

IN OCTOBER, THE READY TO WORK DEPARTMENT MET WITH HORSE CARRIAGE DRIVERS.

AS YOU RECALL AT SPECIAL SESSION ON OCTOBER 31ST, WE BRIEFED AN UPDATE TO THE FULL COUNCIL. TODAY'S RECOMMENDATION BASED UPON FEEDBACK RECEIVED AT THE OCTOBER 31ST CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING A THREE-YEAR TRANSITION PLAN TO PHASE OUT HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES. AS PART OF THIS PLAN, AMENDMENTS TO CITY CODE ARE REQUIRED. THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THAT HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES WILL CEASE TO OPERATE IN SAN ANTONIO, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2028. OPERATING HOURS WILL BE REDUCED ANNUALLY UNTIL THAT PROHIBITION TAKES EFFECT. AND EFFECTIVE TODAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024, NO NEW PERMITS TO OPERATE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES WILL BE ISSUED.

AND NO NEW HORSES WILL BE LICENSED BY ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS THE TRANSITION PLAN FOR REDUCTION OF HOURS? ON THE FAR LEFT OF THE SLIDE YOU SEE THE CURRENT HOURS TODAY.

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 9:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. AND 6:00 P.M. TO 2:00 A.M.

THAT 20% REDUCTION THAT WILL HAPPEN YEARLY WILL FIRST OCCUR JUNE 1, 2025 WHEN HOURS ON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ARE MOVED FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. AND FROM 8:00 P.M. TO 2:00 A.M. A YEAR LATER, ON JUNE 1, 2026, THE HOURS WILL BE ADJUSTED AGAIN MOVING OPERATING HOURS NOW TO 12:00 P.D FROM 8:00 P.M. TO 2:00 A.M.

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HORSE CARRIAGE BUSINESS TRANSITION WILL BE LED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THAT WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESS OWNERS IN NAVIGATING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE LAUNCH SA TO ASSIST WITH BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND LIFTFUND TO EXPLORE 0% INTEREST LOAN ELIGIBILITY.

ADDITIONALLY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WILL ASSIST CARRIAGE OPERATORS AND WORKERS AND WILL SCHEDULE RESOURCE FAIRS MONTHLY AND COORDINATE TO CONNECT CARRIAGE OPERATORS ARE LOCAL WORKFORCE PARTNERS AND EDUCATION INSTITUTION.

IT WILL FOCUS ON THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND WILL PRESENT PROGRAMS THAT MATCH WORKERS' INTERESTS AND THEIR ABILITIES, GUIDE WORKERS INTERESTED IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING, INCLUDING TUITION SUPPORT AND JOB PLACEMENT AT THE END OF TRAINING.

SO, AGAIN, TO REITERATE, THE RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 33 OF THE CITY CODE AS FOLLOWS: ONE, THE USE OF HORSES WITH HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES IN SAN ANTONIO WILL CEASE TO OPERATE ON JANUARY 1, 2028. OPERATING HOURS OF HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES WILL BE REDUCED ANNUALLY UNTIL THE PROHIBITION OF HORSE CARRIAGE OPERATION TAKES EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2028. THREE, NO NEW PERMITS TO OPERATE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES WILL BE ISSUED, EFFECTIVE TODAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024.

AND, LASTLY, THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL NOT ISSUE NEW HORSES TO BE -- LICENSES FOR HORSES TO BE USED WITH HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES, EFFECTIVE TODAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024. MAYOR, THAT COMPLETES MY BRIEF AND I'LL BE AVAILABLE

TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RICK.

WE DO HAVE MANY RESIDENTS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 3.

I'M GOING TO CALL NAMES IN ORDER OF SIGN UP. PLEASE NOTE YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES INDIVIDUALLY. GROUPS MAY HAVE UP TO NINE. YOU CAN EITHER CEDE YOUR TIME OR TAKE YOUR TIME. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CEDE YOUR TIME TO SOMEBODY ELSE, TELL ME BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. OTHERWISE, YOU TAKE YOUR TIME. I'M GOING TO CALL THE NEXT NAME IN ORDER OF SIGN UP SO BE ON ALERT SO YOU CAN HEAR THE NEXT NAME AND WE CAN MOVE THROUGH EXPEDITIOUSLY AND EVERYONE WILL GET HEARD TODAY. I ASK EVERYONE TO KEEP THEIR REACTION TO COMMENTS TO A MINIMUM SO PEOPLE CAN HEAR THEIR NAME HEARD AND PEOPLE CAN COME FORWARD AND GIVE THEIR COMMENTS. SO I'LL START WITH KIRA ORTIZ. KIRA ORTIZ. ART MARTINEZ NAVARRA.

MR. MARTINEZ, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE DICKINSON.

>>

GROUP. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MS. DICKINSON, IS THAT YOU? YOU'RE CEDING YOUR TIME? OH, YOU'RE SIGNED UP AS A GROUP.

KIRA REEVES, STEPHANIE DICKINSON, AND ART MARTINEZ NAVARRA ARE SIGNED UP AS A

GROUP. AM I CORRECT? >> YES, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MS. REEVES, ARE YOU HERE? MR. MARTINEZ, YOU'LL HAVE

NINE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING YELLOW ROSE HRH, LOLLIPOP, AND BLUEBONNET CARRIAGE COMPANIES . THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS TO TAKE FROM OUR CITY A BELOVED INDUSTRY. HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES HAVE TRAVERSED THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO FOR OVER 300 YEARS AND IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, AND SHOULD BE A PART OF OUR FUTURE. THE IMPACT OF THE CLOSURE OF THE HORSE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY FAR EXCEEDS TOURISM, IT IMPACTS OUR DRIVERS, OUR OWNERS, OUR VETS, OUR SUPPLIERS, AND THE HORSES. OUR DRIVERS ARE GREAT PEOPLE. WE HAVE MANY OF THEM WITH US HERE TODAY.

MANY ARE SINGLE PARENTS, VETERANS, PEOPLE SUPPORTING THEIR RETIREMENT.

THE AVERAGE SALARY OF A FULL-TIME HORSE DRIVER IS $100,000 A YEAR BECAUSE OF THE ADVANCED HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS REQUIRED OF THE JOB. THIS INCOME CANNOT BE

[00:40:06]

THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE HORSES IS THIS AGENDA ITEM. BECAUSE IF OUR OWNERS HAVE TO FILE BANKRUPTCY, THEIR STRONGEST ASSET, THEIR MOST VALUABLE ASSET ARE THE HORSES AND THEY WILL LIKELY BE AUCTIONED BY THE BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEES.

THEY WILL NOT END UP IN SANCTUARIES, AS MANY PEOPLE THINK.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAIN BUYERS OF DRAFT HORSES AT AUCTIONS ARE TRADITIONAL FARMS WHERE MANY OF THESE HORSES WERE RESCUED FROM. OTHER ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES WHERE THEY WILL HAVE A SIMILAR OR PERHAPS HARSH LIFESTYLE.

OR GOD FORBID THE INTERNATIONAL CULINARY MARKET.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE THE CAUSE OF SO MUCH PERSONAL RUIN DRIVING THEM TO BANKRUPTCY OR TO DESTROY A BELOVED INDUSTRY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

IT SHOULD BE UPLIFTING. NOW, THE ARTICULATED JUSTIFICATION FOR THESE ACTIONS THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL INCLUDE, NUMBER ONE, THE ANIMAL WELFARE. NOW, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE CITY'S OWN EQUINE VETERINARIAN THAT THESE HORSES ARE NOT BEING ABUSED IN ANY WAY.

IN FACT, WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND OTHERS THAT THIS IS PERHAPS AN IDEAL OR BEST LIFESTYLE FOR THEM. THESE ARE DRAFT HORSES. THEY'VE CO-EVOLVED.

THEY'VE BEEN BRED TO PULL. THEY HAVE CO-EVOLVED WITH HUMANS.

THEY NEED US AS MUCH AS WE NEED THEM. AND TO PUT THEM OUT, AS SOMEONE SUGGESTS, TO A SANCTUARY, WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR HEALTH, AS YOUR OWN VETERINARIAN HAS TESTIFIED TO. TWO, WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT CONGESTION PROBLEMS DOWNTOWN. I REMIND THE COUNCIL, UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT, THE HORSE CARRIAGES HAD EIGHT CAB STATIONS WHERE THEY COULD UNLOAD AND DROP OFF PASSENGERS. TODAY THERE'S ZERO BECAUSE OF ACTIONS OF THIS COUNCIL APPROVING CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING PROJECTS.

AND SO ALL FIVE COMPANIES, ALL 25 HORSE CARRIAGES OPERATING OUT OF ONE LOADING ZONE IN FRONT OF THE HARD ROCK CAFE, CAUSING CONGESTION.

AND THE OWNERS HAVE SUGGESTED NUMEROUS LOCATIONS ON THE PERIPHERY OF DOWNTOWN WHERE THEY COULD BE LOCATED TO ADDRESS CONGESTION. BUT WE'VE NOT HEARD ANY RESPONSE. AND THIRDLY WAS EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

HORSES' HEARING IS SUPERIOR TO OUR OWN. THESE HORSES ARE TRAINED, WHEN THEY HEAR SIRENS, TO PULL OVER. THEY ARE MORE AGILE THAN A MOTOR VEHICLE AND THEY ONLY OPERATE ON TWO-LANE STREETS WHERE THEY CAN PULL OVER.

THEY DO NOT OPERATE ON ONE-LANE STREETS. SO WE HAVE A FEW OPTIONS THAT WE WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO SINCERELY CONSIDER TODAY. NUMBER ONE IS TO REJECT THIS PROPOSAL EITHER OUTRIGHT OR TO WORK TOWARDS A BETTER SOLUTION.

NUMBER TWO IS TO CONVERT THIS TO A FIVE-YEAR WIND DOWN, WHICH THE OWNERS HAVE TESTIFIED AND SHOWED THEIR FINANCIAL RECORDS TO SHOW THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED MINIMALLY TO AVOID BANKRUPTCY TO BE ABLE TO PAY OFF THEIR CREDITORS AND DO THIS MORE GRACEFULLY. THREE WOULD BE IF YOU'RE GOING TO STICK WITH THE THREE YEARS, TO NOT RESTRICT THEM DURING THOSE THREE YEARS WITH SOME KIND OF TAPER DOWN. ALLOW THEM TO WORK UNRESTRICTED SO THEY AT LEAST HAVE A CHANCE OF PAYING OFF THEIR DEBT OR AVOIDING BANKRUPTCY AND SAVING THE HORSES. OR, FOUR, TO CONSIDER WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING ALL ALONG AS A COMPROMISE IS THE SEA WORLD COMPROMISE. ALLOW THE CURRENT HORSES TO REMAIN OUT THEIR WORKING LIFE AND NOT ADD ANY MORE HORSES AND THROUGH LONGER-TERM ATTRITION ALLOW PEOPLE TO TRANSITION, PAY OFF THEIR DEBTS, TERM OUT THEIR LEASES. WHAT WE ASK FOR YOU TODAY IS REASONABLENESS TO CONSIDER

[00:45:04]

THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORTGAGES. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEBT, OUR LOCAL CREDITORS, OUR LOCAL LANDLORDS, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE HORSE INDUSTRY. UNDERSTAND THAT HORSES AND HUMANS HAVE CO-EVOLVED TOGETHER AND TO REJECT THESE EXTREME VIEWS. I REMIND YOU THIS ALSO SETS A PRECEDENT. IF WORKING ANIMALS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT IN SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE TO RECONSIDER OUR RODEO. WE HAVE TO RECONSIDER MOUNTED PATROLS, WORKING DOGS THAT ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT UTILIZED, OUR HORSE DRIVES, AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PLACES THAT WORKING ANIMALS HAVE IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR CULTURE. SO WE ASK FOR REASONABLENESS AND TO CONSIDER US IN YOUR

DECISION TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ. DENISE GUTIERREZ-HOMER. MS. GUTIERREZ-HOMER, YOU

WILL BE FOLLOWED BY RACHEL WOLFF. >> I ALSO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS GIVING THEIR TIME TO ME. CAN YOU STAND UP, PLEASE?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I NEED YOU TO SAY YOUR NAME, PLEASE.

I'M SORRY? COULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? WHAT'S YOUR NAME, MA'AM?

>>

>>

COULD YOU REPEAT THAT, PLEASE? >>

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. YOU'LL HAVE NINE MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, PHYLLIS. I'M DENISE GUTIERREZ-HOMER AND I'M HERE AGAIN REPRESENTING AND SPEAKING AS A CONSTITUENT BUT ALSO AST A PARTNER OF SOUTHEAST ANIMAL HOSPITAL TO SHARE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION WITH REMOVING OUR CARRIAGE INDUSTRY. I'M ALSO VICE PRESIDENT OF INFUSE SA. THAT BEING SAID, I WILL TELL YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN MISDIRECTED IN ASSUMING THAT THE CARRIAGES ARE A NUISANCE AND THE HORSES HAVE BEEN MISTREATED. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SHARE THAT, PLEASE. PART OF OUR RESEARCH REGARDING THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN THE FACT THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN MISDIRECTED --W IF YOU CAN SEE IT.

THERE IT GOES. CAN YOU ENLARGE IT, PLEASE? THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE ACS BOARD, INCLUDING DISTRICT 8'S REPRESENTATIVE, KATY COYLE, THAT THERE IS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT ANIMAL ABUSE.

YOU CAN SEE BY HER OWN STATEMENT ON HER OWN POST IT'S DIRECTED TOWARD TRAFFIC CONGESTION, ET CETERA, WITH DOWNTOWN CONSTRUCTION. NOT ABOUT ABUSE.

THIS IS COMING FROM A LOBBYIST WHO'S ACTUALLY MARRIED TO AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, JEFF COYLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HERE KNOW SHE IS MARRIED TO JEFF COYLE, BUT HAVING A PERSON THAT'S A LOBBYIST SITTING ON OUR ACS IS A CONCERN BECAUSE THERE'S DEFINITELY A CONNECTION BETWEEN HER PURPOSE TO REMOVE THE HORSE INDUSTRY AND THE CARRIAGES FROM SAN ANTONIO.

THERE'S MORE DOCUMENTATION HERE FROM AUSTIN AND CONCERNS WITH HER LOBBYING IN AUSTIN. AND THERE WAS A LAWSUIT. NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.

YOU CAN VERIFY THAT SHE DOES SIT ON MANNY PELAEZ'S DISTRICT 8 POSITION, WHICH IS ALSO A CONCERN BECAUSE HE IS PUSHING THE EV CARRIAGES. BUT WHAT WE'RE -- YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND STOP THAT. THAT WILL BE FOUND ON OUR INFUSE SA SITE.

OUR CONCERN IS THE LOBBYING TO PUSH THIS FORWARD. THE FACT THAT WE KNOW FROM DR. ESPY THAT THERE'S BEEN NO SIGNS OF ABUSE, NO DOCUMENTED ABUSE.

BUT WE'RE STILL FOCUSING ON SOMETHING THAT IS MISLED BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU IN AUDIO] AND DEVELOPMENT. WE KNOW THAT. WE READ ABOUT IT.

WE ARE AWARE OF WHAT YOU ARE ALL PLANNING BUT THAT SHOULD NOT MEAN THAT AN INDUSTRY THAT'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1865 SHOULD BE REMOVED. THAT IS OUR HISTORY IN SAN ANTONIO. HORSES BUILT SAN ANTONIO. BROUGHT FAMILIES TO SAN ANTONIO TO SETTLE IN SAN ANTONIO. THEY HELPED BUILD THIS BUILDING FOR CITY HALL. THEY HELPED BUILD SAN FERNANDO.

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HOSPITALS REACH OUT TO THEM TO BRING THEIR CARRIAGES TO THE CHILDREN WHO WENT THROUGH MEDICAL SERVICES DOWNTOWN AND IN THE MEDICAL CENTER.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE A VIA BUS. SO THE REALITY IS THERE'S SOMETHING MORE TO THIS AND MORE WILL BE COMING OUT THROUGH OUR RESEARCH.

BUT IF YOU HAVE PAID LOBBYISTS WORKING AGAINST SMALL BUSINESSES WHO NEVER ASKED ANYTHING OF THE CITY COUNCIL DURING THE COVID SHUT DOWNS BUT THIS COUNCIL IS PURPOSELY SHUTTING THEM DOWN BECAUSE OF POLITICS. THAT IS JUST DISGUSTING AND YOUR RECORD WILL PROVE THAT YOUR LEGACY ON THIS COUNCIL IN 2024 WOULD BE THAT YOU ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SHUT DOWN A HISTORICAL PART OF SAN ANTONIO, A HISTORICAL PART OF TEXAS HISTORY. AND RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE STILL OFFERING THANKS TO PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT IN THEIR HORSES TO HELP PEOPLE DURING HURRHURRICANE HELENE BECAUSE THOSE HORSES BROUGHT THEM. DURING COVID WE KNOW IT WAS ALL FAKE. WE KNOW IT NOW THAT THE MANDATES WERE FAKE .

WE KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL RECEIVED PPE LOANS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS DIDN'T. THEY SURVIVED. BUT GUESS WHAT.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE THE EUTHANASIA THAT EACH OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE EUTHANIZING A CARRIAGE INDUSTRY AND FOR WHAT? BECAUSE SOME OF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR? SOME OF YOU ARE WORKING WITH WESTON AND THE SPURS? AND WE KNOW THAT. THERE'S BEEN NO SIGN OF ABUSE, JALEN. NONE WHATSOEVER. AND WE HAVE IT DOCUMENTED.

AND YOU CAN LOOK AWAY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND YOU CAN GIVE ME THE THUMBS UP. AND THAT'S HOW YOU TREAT YOUR CONSTITUENCY. EACH ONE OF YOU RIGHT NOW, HIS RESPONSE IS YOUR RESPONSE, GIVING ME THE THUMBS UP. SO I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT KNOWS TOO. THERE'S NO RECORD OF ABUSE. BUT THEY'LL DO WHATEVER YOU TELL THEM TO DO. AND WE KNOW THAT. SO, MAYOR, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE LEAVING AS YOUR LEGACY. WE KNOW THERE'S QUITE A FEW MISSTEPS, INCLUDING READY TO WORK WHERE YOU WANT TO SEND THESE PEOPLE.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR LEGACY WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY. THEY FOUGHT WARS. THEY WERE HERE DURING WORLD WAR I, II, AND EVERY OTHER INCIDENT THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE U.S. AND THEY HAVE SURVIVED BUT THEY CAN'T SURVIVE THIS CITY COUNCIL, AS YOU LOOK AT YOUR WATCH,

JALEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GUTIERREZ-HOMER. RACHEL WOLFF. MS. WOLFF, YOU WILL BE

FOLLOWED BY CARTER GRAHAM. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS RACHEL WOLFF. I'M WITH AN ANIMAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION CALLED VOICE FOR ANIMALS. WE HAVE STAFFED AN ANIMAL HELP HOTLINE FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND IN RECENT YEARS WE HAVE HAD MORE AND MORE CALLS ABOUT PEOPLE CALLING IN WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE HORSES. THIS IS JUST AN INEVITABLE PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE BECOME SENSITIVE TO ANIMAL ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY A TRANSITION WILL BENEFIT THE HORSES. THAT'S OBVIOUS. BUT WHAT'S NOT SO APPARENT IS THAT THIS CAN ALSO BENEFIT THE BUSINESSES. CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD EARLIER TODAY, AS REPORTED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, BUSINESSES THAT HAVE ALREADY TRANSITIONED INTO THIS IN OTHER CITIES HAVE BENEFITED BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF FARES HAS REMAINED STABLE. THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE TIME OF WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR FARES BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.

THEY WON'T HAVE THAT ISSUE. AND WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, THAT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE AS THE HEAT INCREASES. THEY'RE ALSO NOT GOING TO BE REQUIRED ANYMORE TO BEAR THE

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SO WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE FOR AN IMMEDIATE TRANSITION TOWARDS THE BAN.

WE NO LONGER LIVE IN THE 1800S. IT'S TIME TO MOVE TO THE

21ST CENTURY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. WOLFF. CARTER GRAHAM. MS. GRAHAM, YOU WILL BE

FOLLOWED BY JAO HERNANDEZ. >> GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO YOUR COMMUNITY TODAY. MY HOPE IS THAT AS EACH OF US SPEAKS THIS MORNING WE CAN ALL REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH OF A PRIVILEGE IT IS THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE HERE, ASKING FOR OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD.

SOME DO NOT HAVE THIS PRIVILEGE AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I AND MANY OTHERS ARE HERE. THE HORSE CARRIAGE BAN HAS BEEN IN DEBATE FOR QUITE SOMETIME. THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS ON THE BUSINESS ASPECT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ANIMAL WELFARE. SOMETHING STUCK WITH ME THE MOST THROUGHOUT THE NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS AND THAT IS THE FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE HORSE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY HAS VICTIMS INVOLVED. AND WHERE IS THEIR VOICE IN THIS? BECAUSE WHEN THERE IS A VICTIM INVOLVED, THEIR VOICE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS. CARRIAGE BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE CLAIMED THAT THEY TREAT THEIR HORSES WELL AND SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE VOICED THAT THEY BELIEVE THEM. A MISTAKE HAS BEEN MADE EACH TIME THAT DISCUSSION HAS OCCURRED AND THAT IS NOT TAKING THAT DIALOGUE ONE STEP FURTHER AND ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT CRUELTY DOESN'T HAVE TO ALWAYS BE PRESENT IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING TO BE STILL CONSIDERED EXPLOITATION. HORSES ARE SENTIENT INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPERIENCE REALITY. THEY HAVE A WILL TO LIVE.

THEY SHARE A LOT MORE SIMILARITIES TO US THAN THEY DO DIFFERENCES.

WHEN WE CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON THE DIFFERENCES, EVEN IF THIS HAPPENS SUBCONSCIOUSLY, OPPRESSION AND EXPLOITATION CAN MANIFEST. SOMEONE PRESENTING DIFFERENTLY THAN US, HAVING A DIFFERENT WAY OF COMMUNICATING THAN US OR BEING MORE VULNERABLE THAN US ARE NOT EXCUSES TO DISMISS AND DISMANTLE SOMEONE'S EXPERIENCE AND THEIR RIGHTS. NO MATTER HOW WELL THESE HORSES ARE CLAIMED TO BE TREATED, THEY ARE STILL BEING VIEWED AS A USE, A MEANS OF PROFIT, NOT AS THE SENTIENT BEINGS THEY ARE. IT IS OUR DUTY TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT AND THE VULNERABLE, NOT MAKE A COMMODITY OUT OF THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE THE OPTIONS THAT DON'T INVOLVE THE EXPLOITATION OF OTHERS SUCH AS ELECTRIC CARRIAGES. THE SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR US TO ACT WITH COMPASSION AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE HORSES. BANNING HORSE CARRIAGES, IMPLEMENTING ELECTRIC CARRIAGES, AND DOING SO WITH URGENCY IS STANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. WHEN WE ARE DECIDING ON MATTERS SUCH AS THIS WHERE THERE ARE OTHERS INVOLUNTARILY INVOLVED, WE MUST NOT DECIDE BASED ON HOW DOES THIS AFFECT US BUT INSTEAD HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THEM, THE ONES BEING USED AND THE ONES WHO CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GRAHAM.

JAO FERNANDEZ FOLLOWED BY ROLAND DOWNS. >> GOOD MORNING.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY, SOCIETIES HAVE CLUNG TO TRADITIONS OFTEN WITHOUT QUESTIONING THEIR MORAL FOUNDATIONS. TRADITION IS NOT A JUSTIFICATION FOR INJUSTICE. IF THEY WERE, THOSE PRACTICES BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT CONFLICTED WITH FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE. THE USE OF HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES IS ONE SUCH TRADITION THAT MUST BE ABOLISHED. FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE EXPLOITED HORSES TREATING THEM AS TOOLS OF LABOR OR ENTERTAINMENT RATHER THAN RECOGNIZING THEM AS SENTIENT BEINGS. HORSES ARE NOT OBJECTS.

THEIR VALUE DOES NOT DEPEND ON THEIR UTILITY TO US. THEY ARE SUBJECTS OF THEIR OWN LIVES. LIKE US, THEY ARE SOMEBODIES NOT SOME THINGS.

BREEDING THEM TO EXISTENCE AND FORCING THEM INTO SERVITUDE STRIPS AWAY THEIR AUTONOMY AND REDUCES THEM TO MERE COMMODITIES. CONTINUING THIS PRACTICE SENDS A HARMFUL MESSAGE THAT TRADITION TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER JUSTICE.

TO ALLOW THIS PRACTICE TO PERSIST IS TO IGNORE THE MORAL OBLIGATION WE HAVE TO TREAT ALL SENTIENT BEINGS WITH RESPECT AND FAIRNESS. SAN ANTONIO HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD NOT BY PRESERVING AN OUTDATED TRADITION AND JUSTICE. THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FERNANDEZ. ROLAND DOWNS FOLLOWED BY

ILIANA POOR. >> HI. HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? SO I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS TO BRING UP THAT'S LIKE THE CONSISTENTLY THE

[01:00:05]

BUT IT'S NEVER REALLY BROUGHT UP AROUND WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON TO THE INDIVIDUALS, THE VICTIMS OF THE CHOICES OF THIS INDUSTRY.

THE FIRST TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE UP HERE TALKING WERE THREATENING TO SEND THEM TO BE KILLED IF Y'ALL VOTED FOR BANNING THIS IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S JUST AN IDLE THREAT.

THERE'S PLENTY OF SANCTUARIES THAT WOULD KEEP THEM THE REST OF THEIR LIVES DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN THEIR OWN NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS.

THE ABUSE FACTOR KEEPS BEING BROUGHT UP. THE ABUSE IS THE EXPLOITATION AND THE ENSLAVEMENT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.

THAT IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME ALWAYS. THEY DIDN'T HELP US BUILD THE UNITED STATES. THEY DIDN'T HELP US BUILD THIS BUILDING.

THEY WERE FORCED TO AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THAT THEY WERE FORCED INTO EVERY SITUATION THAT HUMANS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN WITH THEM. SO WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE'RE DECIDING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH AN INDUSTRY THAT MAKES PROFIT ABOVE ALL ELSE OVER THEIR LIFE AND EXPERIENCE. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE VICTIMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY WHATEVER DECISION Y'ALL DECIDE AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING FOR THEM. BECAUSE THOSE IDLE THREATS THAT THEY'RE JUST THROWING AROUND ARE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF WE WHO ARE STICKING UP FOR JUSTICE ON THEM ARE ALLOWED ON OUR END TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AS WELL. PLEASE DON'T PLAY INTO ANY OF THOSE WORDS.

THAT'S JUST NONSENSICAL THREATS AND FEAR MONGERING. THESE ANIMALS NEED HELP RIGHT NOW BUT IF THREE YEARS IS THE BEST THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT TO DO, THEN THAT WOULD BE IDEAL TO END THIS EXPLOITIVE, CORRUPT INDUSTRY THAT DOESN'T MAKE THE CITY BETTER, IT JUST HOLDS IT BACK TO HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO WHEN EXPLOITATION WAS STILL WRONG BUT EVEN LESS TALKED ABOUT. NOW LET'S ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND CHANGE FOR THE FUTURE. THANK Y'ALL.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. DOWNS.

ILIANA POOR. MS. POOR, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TYLER PERISKY.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO ASK OURSELVES WHAT KIND OF CITY DO WE WANT SAN ANTONIO TO BE. A CITY STUCK IN THE PAST CLINGING TO OUTDATED PRACTICES OR ONE THAT LEADS WITH COMPASSION, PROGRESS, AND INNOVATION? TODAY WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES, A PRACTICE MANY CONSIDERING CHARMING BUT BENEATH THAT VENEER LIES A TROUBLING REALITY. SOME ARGUE THAT HORSES ARE BUILT FOR THIS KIND OF WORK BUT LET'S BE CLEAR. STRENGTH DOES NOT MAKE THEM IMMUNE TO SUFFERING.

DRAFT HORSES WERE BRED FOR CONTROLLED, STEADY LABOR IN FIELDS, NOT TO BE PULLED THROUGH SAN ANTONIO'S CHAOTIC STREETS. THESE HORSES ENDURE IN EXTREME CONDITIONS PULLING CARRIAGES ON ASPHALT WITH TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 135 DEGREES. THEIR JOINTS AND HOOVES DETERIORATE FROM WORKING ON THE HARD PAVEMENT AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT IS A SOURCE OF STRESS WITH LOUD TRAFFIC, UNPREDICTABLE MOVEMENTS, AND POOR AIR QUALITY THAT DAMAGES THEIR RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. EVEN ROUTINE VETERINARY CHECKS DON'T TELL THE FULL STORY. HORSES INSTINCTIVELY HIDE PAIN, MEANING HEALTH ISSUES OFTEN GO UNNOTICED UNTIL THEY ARE SEVERE. NOW LET'S TALK ECONOMICS.

OPERATORS OFTEN CLAIM THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES. BUT HERE'S THE REALITY. TRANSITIONING TO ELECTRIC CARRIAGES WOULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT THEM. IT WOULD SAVE THEM MONEY BECAUSE HORSES ARE EXPENSIVE. THEY REQUIRE CONSTANT CARE, VET VISITS, FOOD, WATER, HOUSING. WHEN A HORSE GETS SICK OR INJURED, THOSE COSTS SKYROCKET. ELECTRIC CARRIERS DON'T NEED FOOD, WATER, VETERINARY CARE OR HOUSING. THEY ARE HOUSED UNDER I-35 AND EAST HOUSTON STREET. FOR THE HORSE, THE PASSENGERS, AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, REMOVING HORSES ELIMINATES THIS RISK ENTIRELY.

CITIES HAVE TRANSITIONED TO ELECTRIC CARRIAGES HAVE REPORTED INCREASED TOURISM IN THEIR REVENUE. VISITORS ARE DRAWN TO THE NOVELTY, ECO-FRIENDLY RIDES WHICH FIT WITH THE RISING DEMAND OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM.

BY SWITCHING, OPERATES CAN REDUCE COSTS WHILE MAINTAINING IF NOT INCREASING THEIR PROFITS. CHANGE DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

THIS IS A PRACTICAL THREE-YEAR PLAN. LET ME SKIP TO THE END.

[01:05:01]

NO MORE PAID FOR CRUELTY. LET'S TRY THINKING FORWARD. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. POOR. TYLER PERISKY.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. SO I'M GOING TO BE TELLING YOU GUYS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A RIDE SHARE DRIVER. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, CAN GET CONGESTED ONE EVENING I PULLED OVER DOWNTOWN TO PICK UP A PASSENGER.

I PARKED BRIEFLY IN A GAP NEAR THE CARRIAGES BUT DESPITE THERE BEING NO SIGNAGE RESERVING THE SPACE, I WAS MET WITH HOSTILITY FROM THE OPERATORS.

THEY CAME UP TO ME, RECORDING ME TELLING ME I CAN'T PARK HERE.

I HAVE TO GO, I WAS IN THE WAY. I WAS IN THE WAY IN MY CAR THAT CAN DO 100 PLUS MILES PER HOUR. NOW THESE CARRIAGES ARE DRIVING AROUND AT 1-MILE-PER-HOUR NEARLY CAUSING TRAFFIC JAMS. SOME ARGUE THAT THE BANNING OF HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES WOULD HARM AND HURT THE ECONOMY BUT HOLDING ON TO THE INDUSTRY THAT'S ALREADY FAILING DOES NOT CREATE STABILITY. IT DELAYS PROGRESS. AS OTHERS CLAIM, THE PRACTICE IS PART OF SAN ANTONIO'S IDENTITY BUT TRADITION SHOULD NOT OUTWEIGH PUBLIC SAFETY, TRAFFIC EFFICIENCY, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

FINALLY, WE DO NEED TO CONSIDER THE WELFARE OF THE HORSES.

NOW THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS DRIVING SOME PASSENGERS AND THERE WAS AN OPERATOR WHO BROUGHT A HORSE RIGHT ON MY TAIL END OF MY CAR. I HAVE STOOD BEHIND MY CAR AND FELT THE EXHAUST HITTING MY LEG. THAT MEANS THAT HORSE WAS GETTING A FACE FULL OF EXHAUST. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A STANDSTILL TRAFFIC. I ASKED THE OPERATOR, HEY, DO YOU MIND BACKING IT UP SO YOUR HORSE CAN GET SOME FRESH AIR? HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS A CRAZY PERSON. THESE ARE THE OPERATORS. WE NEED TO EMBRACE PROGRESS.

WITHDRAWING HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES WOULD PREVENT UNNECESSARY CONFLICTS AND REPRESENT A STEP FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND

CONSIDERATION. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. EMILY DOHERTY. EMILY DOHERTY.

MS. DOHERTY, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JOE STRAUS, JR. >> HI, COUNCIL, MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. STAFF. I LEFT MY NOTES WITH THE BABY. I'M SORRY. HE'S BACK THERE.

I GUESS I WANT TO START OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I AM A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 10.

I ALSO OWN A PROPERTY IN DISTRICT 2. I WAS A RESIDENT THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS. IN ADDITION, I HAVE BEEN A CARRIAGE OPERATOR SINCE 2016. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ BROUGHT UP IN OUR OCTOBER 31 MEETING. HE SAID THAT HE IS VERY PROUD OF OUR SAN ANTONIO TOURISM BRAND. I ALSO AM VERY PROUD OF OUR BRAND. HE SAID A HORSE DYING OR FALLING DOWN IN THE STREET WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THIS BRAND THAT WE HAVE. WHILE I AGREE, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED HERE. THERE IS ZERO DOCUMENTATION OF THAT AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OUR HORSES.

WE KNOW HOW TO DRIVE OUR HORSES AND WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES AND ANY SORT OF ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE DUE TO TRAFFIC OR SOMETHING ELSE. WHAT I DON'T AGREE WITH IS THE FACT THAT SHOOTINGS IN DOWNTOWN. SHOOTINGS OF TOURISTS AND FIESTA GOERS, THAT HAS HAPPENED THIS YEAR IN 2024. SOMEONE WAS BEATEN TO DEATH IN FRONT OF THE GRAND HYATT. THAT DAMAGES OUR TOURISM BRAND.

HORSE CARRIAGES DO NOT. IN ADDITION, YOU ARE SO PROUD OF THE FACT THAT HOW FAST WE DID AN AIRPORT DID, HOW FAST WE DID PROJECT MARVEL AND THE BASEBALL STADIUM. YET WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT HORSE CARRIAGES.

WE ARE ARGUING BECAUSE YOU ARE VOTING TO CLOSE SMALL BUSINESSES.

MINORITY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES. PUTTING 81 PEOPLE OUT OF JOBS THAT PROVIDE A LIVING WAGE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT THIS. THAT'S WHY THIS MATTERS. IN ADDITION, WE TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC. WE HAVE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS BECAUSE THERE'S LACK OF PLANNING. I'VE BEEN ATTENDING MEETINGS SINCE 2016 WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE ALAMO RENOVATIONS, CLOSING ALAMO STREET.

[01:10:04]

THEY DID A TRAFFIC STUDY TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TRAFFIC THERE IS DOWNTOWN DURING THOSE DAYS? ZERO. THERE'S NO TRAFFIC. WHY DIDN'T YOU DO A TRAFFIC STUDY WHEN IT MATTERED? LACK OF PLANNING IS THE REASON WE HAVE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. WE DON'T HAVE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF HORSE CARRIAGES. Y'ALL HAVE A CHOICE TODAY. YOU CAN SAVE OUR CARRIAGES.

YOU CAN SAVE OUR JOBS. MAKE US PROUD OF THIS CITY, NOT WANT TO LEAVE.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. DOHERTY. JOE STRAUS, JR. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY

KAREN DAWN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS JOE STRAUS, JR. PROBABLY THE OLDEST JUNIOR YOU HAVE EVER MET.

I'LL BE 98 YEARS OLD NEXT MONTH. [APPLAUSE] I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS HORSE CARRIAGE ISSUE. WHY? I DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THEM AT ALL. I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND THAT DOES, RON WHYTE BACK THERE. RON, WHERE ARE YOU? GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR 44 YEARS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THREE GENERATIONS OF THEM. THEY'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS. NO CITATIONS, NO PENALTIES, NO TICKETS OR VIOLATIONS OF ANY KIND.

AND HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S SO INSIGNIFICANT WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO WHAT YOU ARE CHARGED TO DO NOW, THE NEW AIRPORT, THE HOME FOR THE SPURS, THE BASEBALL. YOU NAME IT. THE PUBLIC WORKS AND SO FORTH. AND WHY ARE WE HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, I STILL DON'T KNOW. IT'S JUST AN INJUSTICE THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK UP ABOUT.

MY FAMILY WANTS TO KNOW WHY I'M DOING THIS AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE IT'S AN INJUSTICE, IN MY OPINION. WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN SAN ANTONIO, NOT SIMILAR TO THIS, BUT TO TAKE THE -- THE CITY WANTED TO TEAR DOWN THE MAJESTIC AND EMPIRE THEATERS. MY WIFE TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO RAISE THE MONEY PRIVATELY AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT .

ALSO MY BROTHER, AFTER HEMISFAIR, HE TOOK IT ON HIMSELF TO FIND A WAY TO TO REUNITIZE THE RIVER WALK. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HERE OUGHT TO BE DOING. AND HERE WE ARE, THESE HORSES RUN IN HIS FAMILY.

THEY HAVE 15 OF THESE GENTLE GIANT HORSES. THEY KEEP THEM OUT ON A FARM. I HAVE HAD SOME HORSES OUT ON THAT SAME FARM.

AND THEY USE FIVE OF THEM AT A TIME AND THEY ROTATE THEM SO THEY DON'T GET OVERUSED.

WHEN THEY GO OUT THERE, THEY GET THEIR SHOES PULLED OUT, THEIR HOOVES TRIMMED, PUT BACK ON THE SHOES. VETERINARIANS LOOK AT THEM AND SO FORTH.

THEY'RE VERY WELL CARED FOR. AND THESE CARRIAGES BRING NOTHING BUT JOY TO THIS CITY. YOU TAKE KIDS WHO HAVE BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND USE THESE THINGS, VISITORS THAT COME TO SAN ANTONIO AND THEY LOVE TO SEE THE THINGS THAT MAKE SAN ANTONIO SO UNIQUE, RIDING IN THESE CARRIAGES. INSTEAD OF ELIMINATING THEM, YOU PROBABLY OUGHT TO BE FINDING WAYS TO USE THEM MORE.

WHEN YOU GET THE BATTLE OF FLOWERS PARADE, YOU ALL OUGHT TO BE RIDING IN THESE CARRIAGES TO REACH YOUR SUPPORTERS OUT THERE FROM THESE CARRIAGES RATHER THAN

FROM AN OLD AUTOMOBILE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. STRAUS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: KAREN DAWN.

ALL RIGHT. MARC WHYTE. MR. WHYTE, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY RON WHYTE. Y'ALL ARE GOING TO GO SEPARATELY, I TAKE IT?

>> YES, WE ARE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. >> HELLO.

MY NAME IS MARC WHYTE AND I'M A TWO-TIME GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING MUSICIAN.

[01:15:04]

I'M THE GRANDSON OF LUCILLE WHYTE, WHO STARTED LONE STAR CARRIAGE COMPANY IN 1981 WHEN I WAS 3 YEARS OLD. WHO INSPIRED ME TO START MY OWN BUSINESS.

SO TODAY I'M HERE AS A SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS OWNER, DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THAT THIS PROPOSAL SETS. WHAT'S TROUBLING IS THE PROCESS THAT LED UP TO TODAY'S MEETING. IF THE CITY SCHEDULED A HALLOWEEN SPECIAL SESSION TO DISCUSS THE PHASE-OUT TIMELINE FOR HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES AND THAT MEETING WAS HELD THE SAME DAY THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY WE JUST SAW AGAIN, THAT THE RESULTS OF THAT WERE PRESENTED.

HOW CAN YOU ALREADY CALL A SPECIAL SESSION ABOUT POSSIBLE TIMELINES FOR PHASE-OUT ON THE SAME DAY THAT THE STUDY'S FINDING WERE FINALLY BEING PRESENTED? THE STUDY DIDN'T SUPPORT THE BAN WITH ANY SUBSTANTIVE FACTS BUT THE STUDY WAS MEANT TO GUIDE YOUR DECISION.

SO HOW DO YOU ALREADY HAVE THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THE PHASE-OUT WHEN YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE PROPOSAL TO HELP GUIDE YOUR DECISION? I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY BUT THIS APPEARS TO CONFLICT WITH TEXAS STATE LAW.

THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE, 5.004223 RECOGNIZES HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES AS VEHICLES GRANTING THEM THE SAME RIGHTS AS MOTOR VEHICLES ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS ALONG WITH THAT, HOUSE BILL 2127 ENACTED IN 2023 PROHIBITS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM ENACTING ORDINANCES THAT CONFLICT WITH AND ARE MORE STRICT THAN STATE LAW.

INCLUDING AREAS LIKE TRANSPORTATION. SO IF THERE'S NO STATE BAN, THERE CAN'T BE A LOCAL BAN. IF ENACTED, THIS BAN COULD DIRECTLY CONFLICT WITH THE STATE LAW PLACING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN LEGAL JEOPARDY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS THAT YOU REPRESENT. SO AS AN OWNER OF A SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS, I'M DEEPLY ALARMED BY THE COUNCIL'S ARBITRARY POWER OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES. WHAT'S TO STOP THE COUNCIL FROM TARGETING ANOTHER LAWFUL INDUSTRY NEXT YEAR BASED ON INCOMPLETE DATA OR, WORSE, AN ONLINE POLL.

EVERY SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS OWNER SHOULD BE FRIGHTENED BY THIS PRECEDENT, SHUTTING DOWN A REGULATED FAMILY-OWNED INDUSTRY WITHOUT CONCRETE EVIDENCE IS NOT ONLY UNJUST BUT IT'S RECKLESS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, BEFORE YOU VOTE, ASK YOURSELVES WHEN YOU DECIDED TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, WAS IT TO CELEBRATE AND PARTICIPATE JOB CREATION PROGRAMS WITH HAPPY CEREMONIES WITH OVERSIZED SCISSORS AND RED RIBBONS OR WAS IT TO CHOMP AT THE BIT TO KILL FAMILY-OWNED

BUSINESSES WITHOUT EVIDENCE BASED ON AN ONLINE FORUM? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, MR. WHYTE. RON WHYTE. >>

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOUR CEDING YOUR TIME TO ROSE HILL? IT SAYS MARIN SMITH . I BELIEVE THAT'S MARIAH SMITH?

>>

>> MS. SMITH, YOU WILL HAVE NINE MINUTES . >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MARIAH SMITH, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, FOR I HAVE BEEN THE LEAD ACTIVIST SPEARHEADING THIS INITIATIVE FOR A BAN ON HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES. THIS IS NO DOUBT ONE OF THE MOST PASSIONATE ISSUES IN OUR CITY. AND PUBLIC INPUT ALWAYS PROVES THIS.

I THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT THE CITY CREATED SURVEY BROKE RECORD-LEVEL PARTICIPATION WITH MORE THAN 47,000 RESPONSES. THIS WAS NO DOUBT A WIDELY TAKEN SURVEY BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING NOT ONLY OPEN TO RESIDENTS BUT TOURISTS GOT THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN AS WELL. AFTER SEEING THE SURVEY RESULTS, THE PUBLIC OPINION IS CLEAR ON THIS. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN OUT OF THE FOUR OPTIONS, ONLY ONE GAINED A MAJORITY OF THE VOTE AND THAT IS A TRANSITION AWAY FROM HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES. PUBLIC INPUT IS SHOWING YOU ALL THAT THIS IS THE WAY WE NEED TO GO. AND JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER POLL OUT THERE WE CONTINUALLY SEE THE SAME RESULT OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHICH IS THAT A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THINGS. AND THIS ISN'T JUST ANY ORDINARY BAN, THIS IS A VERY WELL THOUGHT-OUT AND DETAILED TRANSITION PLAN

[01:20:02]

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING TO A CONSENSUS ON THIS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES, AND NOT JUST ANIMAL WELFARE. I MUST REITERATE ONCE AGAIN THAT THIS IS A CITIZEN-LED MOVEMENT AND THIS HAS BEEN CITIZEN-LED FROM THE VERY START.

THE CARRIAGE OPERATORS AND MANY OTHERS KEEP TRYING TO PORTRAY ANYONE CALLING FOR A BAN AS CRAZY, ILLOGICAL, ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT THE THING WE KNOW THESE TO BE DONE. IT IS CLEAR THE PEOPLE HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT HORSES NO LONGER BELONG ON MODERN-DAY SAN ANTONIO STREETS . THERE WAS A TIME AND PLACE WHEN HORSE CARRIAGES PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SOCIETY AND TRANSPORTATION BUT SINCE THEN WE HAVE EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY. WE KEEP HEARING WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF TRADITION AND CULTURE BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE TRADITION AND THE SAN ANTONIO EXPERIENCE PEOPLE SPEAK OF ISN'T DYING. TRADITION ISN'T THE HORSE ITSELF.

IT'S THE RIDE. IT'S HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE. IT'S THE WAY IN WHICH YOU GIVE THE TOUR. IT'S THE SURROUNDING DOWNTOWN HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND THE CONNECTION YOU DEVELOP WITH PEOPLE WHICH CAN ALL BE DONE WITHOUT A DISTRESSED HORSE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS A TRADITION AND EVEN A BUSINESS DOESN'T MEAN IT'S RIGHT.

AS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN, I WILL STAND UP HERE TODAY AND TELL YOU THAT I CAN THINK OF A COUPLE EXAMPLES IN THE PAST THAT WERE ONCE TRADITION THAT WERE EXTREMELY IMMORAL AND UNACCEPTABLE. REFUSING TO CHANGE BECAUSE OF TRADITION IS VERY CLOSED MINDED. AS WE GROW AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A CITY, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EVOLVE AND ADAPT AND TO REASSESS OLD TRADITION. THIS CONCEPT OF TRADITION AND CULTURE WITH THE CARRIAGES FAILS TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS AS WELL AS THE MASSIVE URBANIZATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT SAN ANTONIO IS UNDERGOING.

AS THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AND NONSTOP CONSTRUCTION, PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND HORSE SPOOKING CONDITIONS WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO INCREASE. THESE CARRIAGES ARE A FATAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND ARE DANGEROUS FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED: THE HORSE ITSELF, THE PEOPLE RIDING THE CARRIAGE, THE CARRIAGE DRIVER, AND THE VEHICLE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS ALONGSIDE. AS PASSIONATE AS I AM ON WELFARE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR ME MAKE THIS THE BASIS OF MY SPEECH BECAUSE APPARENTLY I'M NOT AN EQUINE EXPERT. THREE MONTHS AGO A COALITION OF MORE THAN 100 TEXAS VETERINARIANS SENT YOU ALL A LETTER LISTING THE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS HORSES IN THIS INDUSTRY SUFFER FROM. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THESE ARE VETERINARIANS NOT PAID FOR BY THE CITY. THERE'S NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST INVOLVED IN THEM.

IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY AND ITS OPERATORS CONTINUING TO SPREAD LIES AND FEAR TACTICS TO KEEP THEIR PROFITS CIRCULATING.

THIS FOR-PROFIT INDUSTRY IS JUST THAT. BECAUSE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT CLAIM TO CARE AND LOVE THEIR ANIMALS AND CALL THEM FAMILY HAVE ALSO THREATENED TO SLAUGHTER ALL THEIR BELOVED FAMILY MEMBERS IF A BAN WERE TO PASS.

EVEN WHEN WE HAVE RESCUES EAGER AND ABLE TO TAKE THESE HORSES IN.

MORE INFORMATION WAS ALSO JUST SAID BY THIS GENTLEMAN, JOE STRAUS, WHO ALSO HAS TIES WITH RETAMA PARK AND WAS A PART OWNER OF THAT, AND SAID THERE'S NO VIOLATIONS WHEN SAPD CLEARLY PRESENTED TO US IN PAST MEETINGS THEY HAVE 100 CITATIONS FOR VIOLATIONS. ANYBODY THAT GOES DOWNTOWN HAS SEEN FOR THEMSELVES HOW EVERY CORNER YOU TURN THERE'S ALMOST A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT.

THERE'S HORSES TRYING TO RUN RED LIGHTS, CONGESTION BUILDING UP FROM THE CARRIAGES, VIA BUS DRIVERS GETTING FRUSTRATED, HORSES LAGGING AND DRAGGING THEMSELVES, FOAMING AT THE MOUTH, AND EXHIBITING ALL CLEAR SIGNS DEEMING AN EQUINE UNFIT FOR USE. WHICH WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE OF ONLINE.

CARRIAGE PEOPLE SAY THAT THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE IS PERFECTLY TIMED BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. THERE'S NO SUCH THING. THE PICTURES AND VIDEOS ARE WHAT THEY ARE BECAUSE IT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. SO THE OPTION IS CLEAR.

IT'S TIME FOR SAN ANTONIO TO DO THE RIGHT THING. WE ARE BEHIND ON THIS AND THIS IS LONG OVERDUE AND IS SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL IN WANTING FROM YOU GUYS FOR A VERY LONG TIME. THE FACT IS THAT HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES ARE CAUSING MORE HARM THAN GOOD AND ARE NO LONGER ALIGNED WITH THE PROGRESSING NEEDS OF SAN ANTONIO. IT'S 2024, NOT 1864.

IT'S TIME WE FINALLY PUT AN END TO THIS PRACTICE AND LEAVE THE HORSE CARRIAGES TO THE HISTORIC DAYS AND MAKE SPACE FOR MORE MODERN AND INNOVATIVE PRACTICES TO

[01:25:03]

AND THANK YOU FOR FINALLY BRINGING THIS UP. IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS DONE. I DID WANT TO MENTION OFF SCRIPT BUT YOU GUYS DO HAVE THE BRADY HUNTER FOUNDATION AT YOUR DISPOSAL, JALEN. GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM .

THEY'RE WILLING TO HELP OUT WITH THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGES FINANCIALLY.

THEY HAVE THE PLANS. STUFF IS ALREADY GETTING INTO MOTION.

SO IF ELECTRIC CARRIAGE IS SOMETHING YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO DO, THEY ARE MOST DEFINITELY THERE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. KEVIN -- I'M SORRY.

KENNETH SPRADLEY. KENNETH SPRADLEY. MR. SPRADLEY, YOU WILL BE

FOLLOWED BY LACY JESSAMINE. >> SECOND. I CALLED LACY JESSAMINE AFTER.

YOU WILL BE NEXT. MS. NEWMAN, YOU'RE GIVING YOUR MINUTES TO

MR. SPRADLEY? YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES, MR. SP. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO REACH AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN YOUR OFFICES AND THE CARRIAGE COMPANIES THAT YOUR AGENDAS HAVE SEEMED QUITE MY COWORKERS HAVE MADE NUMEROUS PLEAS.

WITH THIS IN MIND, I WILL ATTEMPT TO REACH YOUR UNDERSTANDING THROUGH A MORE LOGICAL RESPONSE. BEFORE I BEGIN, A BIT OF CONTEXT OF WHO I AM.

I'M A 27-YEAR-OLD UNITED STATES MARINE CORP VETERAN. I WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN JULY OF 2020 AFTER SERVING 4 YEARS IN THE INFANTRY UNIT OF 15.

TODAY, I AM A SELF-ENROLLED -- I AM SELF-ENROLLED AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SAN ANTONIO AND I'M REGISTERED AT 100% MILITARY DISABILITY.

SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH BLUEBONNET AND LOLLIPOP CARRIAGES AS THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH MY DISABILITIES AS WELL AS SCHOLASTIC SCHEDULES.

LET US BEGIN WITH THE CITY ISSUED SURVEY THAT RECEIVED A RESPONSE RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 50,000 PEOPLE. THEUMBERS FOR THIS PARTICULAR SURVEY, ASSUMING THEY WERE ACCURATELY CHARTED WITH AN ACCEPTABLE ERROR, DOES NOT FULLY ENCOMPASS SAN ANTONIO. THE FULL POPULATION OF SAN ANTONIO, ACCORDING TO THE WORLD POPULATION REVIEW IS 1,513,974 PEOPLE. THEY ARRIVED AT THIS PROJECTION THROUGH THE LATEST UNITED STATES CENSUS THAT WAS RELEASED IN MAY EARLIER THIS YEAR. WITH THESE NUMBERS IN MIND THESE NUMBERS REACHED 3% OF SAN ANTONIO. WITH THIS PERCENTAGE IN MIND, THE PEOPLE SUPPORTIVE OF CLOSING CARRIAGE COMPANIES THEREFORE REACH A LOWER PERCENTAGE.

ANOTHER ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, THAT IS THE COUNCIL HAS YET TO PROVIDE AN ACCEPTABLE PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT SUPPORTS CLAIM THAT THE INDUSTRY IS DETRIMENTAL TO HORSES. YOU HAVE BLATANTLY DISREGARDED OUR EXPERTS IN THE FIELD. VETERINARIANS, VETERINARIAN TECHNICIANS, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY EXPERT THAT HAS BEEN WILLING TO SUPPLY THE ANSWER THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO HEAR. THE NEXT ISSUE IS THE IDEALS THAT THE COUNCIL HOLDS AUTHORITY OVER THE HORSES THAT EACH COMPANY OWNS, THE IDEA THAT ANY KIND OF GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OWES THE POWER OF ASSET FORFEW CHUTE OF ANY KIND OF PRIVATE COMPANY IS DIRECTLY DISREGARDING THE IDEALS WE HOLD AS AMERICANS AND FREE MARKET SOCIETY. THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE. THIS IS NOT A COMMON AMERICAN STRAT GENERAL REGARDLESS OF AGENDAS. THE IDEA THAT GOVERNMENT CAN SEIZE ANY OR ALL ASSETS THAT ARE PRIVATELY OWNED IS A TOTALITARIAN AND COMMUNISTIC APPROACH.

THIS HAS NEVER BEEN OUR WAY, AND WE SHOULD NOT BEGIN THAT WAY OF THINKING NOW.

BEFORE ANYONE SHOULD OBJECT TO THIS CLAIM THAT I AM MAKING, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE AS WELL AS COUNCIL THAT JUST LAST MONTH ON RECORD, THE COUNCIL MADE INQUIRIES AND SUGGESTIONS ON WHO WOULD HOUSE HORSES OTHER THAN PROPER OWNERS AND WHAT COULD BE DONE TO SECURE THEM. THIS RECORD IS OPEN FOR ALL TO SEE AS ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN FOR PUBLIC ACCESS. THE NEXT ISSUE IS THAT THE OPPOSITIONAL VIEWS BEING BARRED FROM COMMENT. AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING,

[01:30:03]

WITH THE RODEO NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER SAN ANTONIO.

WILL SERVICE ANIMALS FOR PEOPLE NOT BE PERMITTED TO DO THEIR JOBS.

HOW FAR WILL THIS CITY COUNCIL ALLOW THE PEOPLE WITH NO PROFESSIONAL INPUT GO IN REGULATING THE POPULATION. WILL WE NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO POSSESS PETS. WILL SAN ANTONIO GO CEASE THE LAND OF RANCH OWNERS AS WELL AS ANIMALS THEY REQUIRE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AGAIN I ASK HOW FAR WILL THIS GO. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON SENSITIVE MATTER, AND I PRAY YOU FIND A SOLUTION NOT HARMFUL TO THIS INDUSTRY OR SAN ANTONIO OR HER HISTORY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU MR. SPRADLY. LACEY JESSAMENE.

AGAIN, FOLKS, I'M ASKING YOU TO LIMIT REACTIONS SO PEOPLE CAN HEAR THEIR NAME CALLED SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS HEARD. LACEY YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED WITH ROSE HILL.

>> I'M LACEY, WITH RESCUE AND REHABILITATION, A NONPROFIT SERVING SAN ANTONIO FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

THIS STATEMENT IS ON OUR BEHALF. NOW THE DECISION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING FOR THE HORSES WHO HAVE WORKED HARD TOTING TOURISTS AND WORKED HARD IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. CAN THERE BE ANY GOOD REASON TO CONTINUE DELAYING TAKING ACTION. THESE HORSES HAVE PUT IN THEIR TIME.

THEY HAVE DONE ENOUGH, AND THEY HAVE MORE THAN PAID THEIR WAYS.

LET US NOT WAIT TO REWARD THEM. LET US LOOK FOR A WAY TO PROVE THAT THERE ARE TIMES THAT COMPASSION IS OKAY -- IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY. EVERY ACT OF KINDNESS IS WE -- ONE, MAKES THE WORLD IS BETTER PLACE. NOW THE DECISION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE TO CEASE THE USE OF THEM, SURELY WE CAN AGREE NOT TO WAIT YEARS, BUT TO ACT NOW AND GIVE THESE NOBLE ANIMALS THE RELIEF THEY DESERVE.

LET US THINK OF THEM, THE HORSES WHO WOULD NEVER ASK TO DO THIS JOB, WHO CARRIED IT OUT WITH DIGNITY IN SILENCE, AND THEY HAVE WORKED LONG AND HARD ENOUGH. PLEASE, IN THE INDUSTRY OF KINDNESS TO ALL ANIMALS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ACT NOW ON THEIR BEHALF AND END THIS PRACTICE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ROSE HILL. YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY DEV VON VANAMEN. AND YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES.

ROSE. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.

AND MY COUNCILMAN, JAY LEVEL MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. I'M ROSE HILL, IS 35 YEARS COMMUNITY LEADER IN DISTRICT 2, AND I'M ALSO A PREVIOUS SMALL OWNER OF BUSINESS OF A BUSINESS THAT I HAD, CONSTRUCTION, I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THESE FIVE LOCAL HORSE AND CARRIAGE INDUSTRY.

WHY? BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION.

WE TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING THESE ANIMALS.

THEY HAVE BEEN -- FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO SAY TODAY I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO. SECOND OF ALL, I ASK YOU, JALEN, TO CONSIDER THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT BEFORE YOU.

THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT FAMILIES, PUT THESE PEOPLE IN BANKRUPT, AND POSSIBLY DO THIS AT A MOST HORRIBLE TIME, AT CHRISTMAS TIME, WE COULD WAIT UNTIL JANUARY, FEBRUARY. BUT WE CHOSE CHRISTMAS TIME, THESE PEOPLE WON'T HAVE A JOB TOMORROW, WHICH IS SAD.

SECOND OF ALL, WE TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING ANIMALS.

WHAT ABOUT THE BEAR COUNTY HORSES BEING WORKED.

WHAT ABOUT OUR ANIMALS FOR SAPD, WHAT ABOUT THE RODEO THAT WORKS TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT. SO WE HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO ABUSE, AND THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT I ASK YOU, JALEN, TO CONSIDER, NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE PUT FORTH BY THESE PEOPLE ASKING YOU. AND SECOND OF ALL, I ASK YOU, HAVE YOU DONE YOUR RESEARCH, HAVE YOU REALLY GO ARE GONE DOWN THERE JALEN TO LOOK AT

[01:35:04]

DISTRICT 2. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU'RE HERE TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. >> SO I -- AGAIN, THE NEGOTIATION EACH OF YOU WITHIN THE DISTRICT TALK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES, WE'RE ALWAYS PROMOTING THAT AS SMALL BUSINESSES HERE, BUT TODAY I ASK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, DEEP DOWN, AS YOU CONSIDER YOUR DECISION TODAY, TELL YOURSELVES HOW YOU TELL PEOPLE IN YOUR BUSINESSES -- IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS THAT YOU SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

TODAY, IT'S ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS -- THIS IS A BIG DEAL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. BECAUSE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE WHAT MAKE SAN ANTONIO GROW. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

TALKING ABOUT BRINGING MONEYS. THIS HORSE INDUSTRY, IT FALLS IN DISTRICT 2, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'RE ALWAYS -- WE HAVE TO PRACTICE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT WE PREACH, EACH ONE OF YOU WERE VOTED IN BECAUSE OF SMALL BUSINESSES. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, HAVE COMPASSION, UNDERSTAND AND THINK ABOUT THE DECISIONS YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE TODAY, HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE NOW, SOME OF YOU -- THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN YOUR DISTRICT, BUT IF IT WAS IN YOUR DISTRICT, WOULD YOU WANT THIS TO HAPPEN? I DON'T THINK SO.

MR. MAYOR, THIS IS YOUR LAST TERM, I ASK YOU AND ALL THE CITY COUNCIL TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY THINK ABOUT WHAT YA'LL ARE GOING TO DO TODAY, AND IF WE CAN'T DECIDE ON NOT VOTING ON IT TODAY, YES OR NO, PLEASE, THINK ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE BEING PUT FORTH FROM YOU. THEY DIDN'T ASK ANY MONEY FROM YOU DURING THE PANDEMIC. THEY STOOD ON THEIR OWN TWO LEGS. THEY WORKED HARD. THESE PEOPLE WORK HARD FOR A DAY'S WORK, AND THOSE HORSES ARE WORKING HORSES. THEY'RE NOT BEING ABUSED.

THEY'RE NOT BEING -- A LOT OF THINGS BEING SAID ABOUT THEM.

I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, I WANT TO COMMEND TERRY CASTILLO AND MARC WHYTE FOR BEING OUT THERE AND SHOWING US THAT -- WHAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IF THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THEIR DISTRICT, THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS, AND I COULD TELL YOU THAT BASICALLY, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE IMPORTANT.

THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND TODAY, IT'S A SAD DAY THAT I HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU TO ASK AND PLEAD WITH YOU TO CONSIDER NOT TO DO THIS.

THIS IS CHRISTMAS TIME. THIS IS A TIME OF JOY. MAYBE EACH ONE OF US AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE SAY IT'S JOY, BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING. LET'S NOT DO THIS, SAN ANTONIO. LET'S NOT LET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU -- ELECTIONS COMING UP. MAYORS, PEOPLE RUNNING FOR MAYORS, I HOPE STAND BEFORE YOU GOING FOR ELECTIONS AND SAY THIS IS NOT THE LEGACY I LEFT BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I'M WILLING TO DO IS NEGOTIATE TODAY. SO PLEASE DON'T DO THIS, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, DON'T DO THIS TO THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE WHAT -- YA'LL WORK FOR US, WE DON'T WORK FOR YOU. PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. DON'T DO THIS TO HARD WORKING FAMILIES THAT WORK EVERY DAY WITH THOSE HORSES, THEY BRING PASSION AND LOVE TO THESE ANIMALS.

THEY DO NOT ABUSE THEM. LET'S STOP THE FALSIFICATION AND BE HONEST.

LET'S DO THE RESEARCH, AND LET'S NEGOTIATE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU MS. HILL. DEVVON VANAMAN. YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY

GRACE ROSE GONZALEZ. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DEV VON.

I'VE BEEN A CARRIAGE DRIVER IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO FOR OVER 8 YEARS NOW. I BOG OF YOU NOT TO TAKE OUR JOBS AWAY FROM US. I BEG OF YOU TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES IF YOU DO THIS, NOT JUST MY FAMILY, BUT COUNTLESS FAMILIES.

THE FAMILIES THAT FIX OUR WHEELS, THE FAMILIES THAT WE BUY OUR HAY AND OUR FEED FROM. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. WE LOVE OUR HOURS HORSES AND SO DO THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO VISIT THIS BEAUTIFUL, HISTORICAL CITY. I HAVE FIVE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND A NEW GRANDBABY THAT THIS JOB HELPS ME SUPPORT THEM. PLEASE, AGAIN, I BEG OF YOU NOT TO DO THIS. TO US, OUR FAMILIES, OR OUR HORSES.

DEAR LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU OPEN THE MINDS AND THE HEARTS OF THE CITY

[01:40:02]

SAYING, AND I PRAY THIS IN JESUS NAME, I AMEN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

GRACE ROSE GONZALEZ. LISA BARNS. OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. MS. GONZALEZ, YOU'LL

HAVE SIX MINUTES. >> HELLO. I'M GRACE ROSE GONZALEZ, AN APPOINTEE FOR THE BEAR COUNTY SERVED ON S BACK FOR THE CITY ON SMALL BUSINESS AND HISPANIC CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR SMALL BUSINESS, AND SO I HAVE A PASSION FOR SMALL BUSINESS BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LACK OF JOY THESE DAYS. THE PRESSURE FROM THE MACRO AND MICRO ARE BUILDING, THE DISMANTLING OF SMALL BUSINESS AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLANS ARE A MANTRA OF LEADERSHIP WHILE PROJECT 25 LOOMS. WE'RE FACING AN AI TSUNAMI CHANGING THE EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE WITH THE DISPLACEMENT OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS. BECAUSE MOUNTING DAILY PRESSURES, WE NOW HAVE SUPPORT ANIMALS, SUCH AS COUNCILWOMAN'S KAUR'S DOG HARRA WITH HER DAILY TO GIVE HER COMFORT AND JOY.

THESE HORSES ARE SUPPORT ANIMALS FOR THEIR OWNERS, WOKING ALONGSIDE THEM EVERY DAY. HORSES ARE KNOWN FOR HEALING ABILITIES, NOW INVITED TO HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES FOR COMFORT FOR THE SICK AND THOSE IN HOSPICE AND THEY'RE W WORKING. WHAT WOULD YOU TOLD IF YOU WERE TOLD HEARRAINEDDED TO BE REPLACED BY A STUFFED ANIMAL BECAUSE SHE'S ABUSED GOING TO WORK WITH YOU.

AS DR. TESTIFIED, THERE'S NO HORSE ABUSE WHATSOEVER.

ALSO, THE CCR WAS UNINFORMED AND IRRESPONSIBLE AND THE ABUSE CONTINUED. THIS VOTE WILL KILL 5SMWLGBTQ CARRIAGE COMPANIES AND REPLACE THEM WITH A DRIVERLESS, HORSELESS ALTERNATIVE.

AS COUNCILMAN KAUR -- I WOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE IS TAKING YOUR DOG AWAY AND REHOMING THEM BECAUSE AN MALL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAY LIFE IN A POUCH IS ABUSIVE. THE DECISIONS OF A PLAN THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED HAVE BEEN DISMISSED BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN NO REAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BUSINESSES, AND AS SOMEBODY WHO'S SERVED ON THE PORT AUTHORITY, THE HISPANIC CHAMBER, A ZONING COMMISSIONER, AND CHAIR OF THE CULTURAL ARTS BOARD, THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN COME TO GOOD DECISION-MAKING IS BY WORKING TOGETHER.

AND AS OF TODAY, THESE BUSINESSES HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT TO A TABLE TO MEET WITH ANY OF YOU COUNCIL PEOPLE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

TO SAY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SAPD WORKED WITH THEM, WELL, I WILL TELL YOU AS SOMEBODY WHO WORKED ON THE PREJUDICEN RIDGE PARK, THE COMMITTEE, WE WERE TOLD THE PARK'S DEPARTMENT HAD UMPTEEN MEETINGS WITH US AND WE HAD THEM OVER AT THE WITTY AND WEREN'T GIVEN A MICROPHONE TO SAY WHAT WE THOUGHT, AND YOU HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED OVER 7 TO 10 MONTHS, THIS IS A TRAVESTY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION, AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL CONSIDER TABLING THIS ITEM SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE REAL COLLABORATION.

THESE HORSES ARE NOT ABUSED. THESE HORSES ARE IN FACT, SUPPORT ANIMALS. THEY'VE ALL BEEN, ALREADY, REHOMED ONE TIME, AND THEY HAVE COME TO THESE CARRIAGE BUSINESSES FOR SANCTUARY, AND THEY ENJOY THEIR WORK. THOSE ARE PER SONS AND CLYDESDALES, THE WORLDS RECORD, 59,000 POUNDS THAT ONE CLYDESDALE CAN PULL. YOU DON'T TELL ME THIS IS ABUSIVE TO BULL A TINY CAGE WITH THREE PEOPLE IN IT. SO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT, AND START ACTING WITH LEADERSHIP GOALS OF SITTING DOWN WITH THESE PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY WORKING THIS OUT.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GONZALEZ.

KATHY STEVENS. >ALL RIGHT. KATHY STEVENS.

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS. WILL YOU -- YOU'RE KATHY STEVENS.

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS. YOU'RE GIVING THREE MINUTES TO KATHY.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES,

[01:45:01]

MS. STEVENS. >> I'VE GOT SOMEBODY FOR AUDIO-VISUAL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YES, MA'AM. YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED, MS. STEVES, BY JACK

FINGER. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS KATHY STEVENS, WE COME HERE TODAY OF COURSE ABOUT THE CCR FOR THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES.

I WORK FOR BLUEBONNET AND LOLLIPOP CARRIAGES. BEEN AN OPERATOR SINCE 2008. I'VE CAME BEFORE COUNCIL MANY TIMES DISCUSSING CHANGE AND COMPROMISES THAT COULD BE CHANGED TO THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES INDUSTRIES AND ORDNANCES. IN ALL OF THIS TIME, COMPROMISE HAS BEEN DONE. WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS.

THERE HAVE BEEN TALKS AND UNTIL THIS TIME, THERE'S BEEN ONE DRIVEN PLAN, AND THAT IS TO ESSENTIALLY BAN THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IN SAN ANTONIO. YOU TALK ABOUT IN THE CCR HOW THERE'LL BE COMPROMISES, OTHER LOCATIONS THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT AND CHANGES MADE. AT NO POINT HAS THAT EVER HAPPENED WITH THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY. THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE CAME TO SPOKE WITH US HAVE SPOKEN ON ONE DRIVEN PLAN BY COUNCIL AND THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD. EVEN SAID THAT THEY PUT RECOMMENDATIONS, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE NEVER LOOKED AT BY COUNCIL. YOUR LAST MEETING, OCTOBER 31, YOUR PROPOSAL WAS BROUGHT TO YOU GUYS, WHEN MANY OF YOU WERE ASKED FOR QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY YOUR FACILITY TO COME BACK AND MAKE A PRESENTATION ON THOSE, WHERE'S THAT PRESENTATION.

WHERE ARE THOSE ANSWERS. YOU TALK ABOUT SANCTUARIES OUR HORSE CANS GO TO. ARE THOSE SANCTUARIES GOING TO PAY OFF OUR DEBTS TO PAY OUR DEBTS. THESE HORSES ARE ASSETS TO OUR COMPANY.

WHERES THAT MONEY COMING FROM. BECAUSE THESE HORSES, YOU'RE RIGHT, DO COST A LOT OF MONEY. THEY'RE IN A SANCTUARY WITH US, WE ARE PAYING FOR THAT UPCARE, THAT UPCARE.

WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THAT. DO YOU THINK BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A FIELD THAT CARE IS NO LONGER REQUIRED.

WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THOSE THINGS. WE TALK ABOUT THE HORSES CAN BE EUTHANIZED AND PUT DOWN THAT'S BECAUSE BANKRUPTCY COURT WILL COME OVER AND TAKE OUR ASSETS BECAUSE OUR LARGEST ASSET ARE OUR HORSES AND THEY'LL BE SOLD. DO YOU KNOW WHO THE HI HIGHEST BIDDER FOR HORSES ARE, MEAT MARKETS BECAUSE 1600 POUNDS TO OVER 2,000. MY LARGEST IS 2380 POUNDS.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY HE'D MAKE ON THE MEAT MARKET.

QUITE A BIT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

WE'RE NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO PUT THESE HORSES DOWN.

EXPLOITATION IS NOT THERE. I DRIVE A 2020-POUND DRAFT HORSE.

THERE'S NOT A DARN THING I CAN DO TO THAT HORSE TO GET HIM TO DO SOMETHING HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO. I ASK HIM, HE OS.

MY HORSE ENJOYS EVERY PART OF WALKING AND GETTING THAT EXERCISE.

UNTIL YOU COME EXPERIENCE THAT, YOU CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS. E CARRIAGES -- YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CUE THAT.

E CARRIAGES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP ON MANY OCCASIONS.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT PERMITS WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THAT.

HOWEVER IN THE LAST MEETING, THE MAYOR SAID THERE WAS A ( INDISCERNIBLE ) UP RIGHT NOW WHEN THERE'S A CONGESTION PROBLEM THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ADDRESSING, SO WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT THAT.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE E CARRIAGES OPERATING IN DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW WITHOUT PERMITS. THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE CITY'S ATTENTION MANY TIMES, AND HE'S STILL OPERATING FOR MONEY, FOR PASSENGERS TAKING RIDES. I TOOK A RIDE MYSELF AND PAID FOR IT, BUT IT'S BEEN OVERLOOKED. IT'S HAPPENING ON A NIGHTLY BASIS IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO WHERE THIS GENTLEMAN IS OPERATING WITHOUT PERMITS AND WE'RE STANDING HERE LEGALLY OPERATING IN CITY COUNCIL WE DO HAVE DEBT. WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE IN WAYS TO PAY THIS OFF, HOWEVER, WE NEED TIME. AND IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THAT'S OVERLOOKED, AND IT JUST SAID, WELL YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN OVER TIME. WE DO HAVE OVERHEAD. WE DO HAVE LEASES.

THOSE LEASES DON'T AWAY BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL SAID SO.

THOSE LOANS DON'T GO AWAY BECAUSE CITY COUNCIL SAID SO.

THAT'S WHAT WE AS OWNERS ARE LOOKING AT SAYING WE NEED TIME.

SO IF THIS WON'T BE TABLED TO BE LOOKED AT TO BE REVISIONED.

[01:50:02]

WE'VE SUBMITTED IT TO ALL THE RIGHT DEPARTMENTS AND HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING IN RETURN. ISN'T THAT THE JOB OF THIS COUNCIL.

ISN'T THAT THE JOB OF THE COUNCIL TO LOOK AT SMALL BUSINESSES, SEND SOMETHING BACK AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE COULD DO. THERE WASN'T EVEN A NO.

IT WAS NOTHING. SO HOW IS COUNCIL DOING THE PROPER JOB IN ITS DEPARTMENTS IF WE'RE NOT EVEN GETTING THOSE SMALLEST MINUTE ANSWERS.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED, LOOK AT YOUR PROCESS AND CHECK TO SEE IF YOU'RE CHECKING THE BOXES THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FOLLOWING THE RULES.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. STEVENS.

JACK FINGER. ALL RIGHT. CARLOS VAVENO.

>> A QUICK COMMENT. IF YOU MAKE YOUR WAY DOWNTOWN ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, FRIDAY NIGHT, WHICHEVER IT IS, AND YOU WALK THAT -- YOU WALK THOSE STREETS, EVERYBODY IS SHARING THOSE STREETS. THE NIGHT LIFE COMES OUT.

BIG MUSIC, EXHAUST EVERYWHERE. DON'T BE FOOLED WHEN THEY SAY THERE'S NO ABUSE. THAT'S ABUSE RIGHT THERE. SUBJECTING THEM TO THAT.

THERE'S DIFFERENT FORMS OF ABUSE AS WE KNOW. PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE.

I KNOW EVERYTHING IS GOING ON WITH THOSE LUNGS. THEY HAVE TO INGEST THAT SMOKE. ALL OF THAT. AND I WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT DRAGGING DOWN THE RODEO AND ALL OF THAT. YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THINKING CRITICALLY NOW, NOT ABOUT YOURSELF. YEAH.

DRAG THEM DOWN. ANIMAL ABUSE SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.

ANIMAL SLAVERY SHOULD BE ABOLISHED. THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

YOU HEAR THESE PEOPLE TAKING A BOOK OUT -- TAKING A PAGE OUT OF THE SLAVE MASTER BOOK. THEY WERE BRED FOR THIS. DOING THIS A LONG TIME.

THAT'S NOT A JUSTIFICATION. THAT'S ALL FALLACIES, THAT'S ALL UNETHICAL.

SO WE ASK YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING. VOTE FOR THE RIGHT THING.

WE'VE DONE IT. DONE OUR WORK. I'VE BEEN ARRESTED FOR SPEAKING UP AGAINST THESE. I'VE GOT FOOTAGE OF HORSE CARRIAGES BACKING UP INTO CARS. THEY'RE SO UNAWARE, THEY'RE ALWAYS ON THEIR PHONE.

THEY DON'T FOLLOW BASIC LAWS. SUPPOSEDLY HORSE CARRIAGES ARE JUST LIKE VEHICLES. YOU SEE THESE HORSES, THEY'RE FULL OF ORNAMENTS, CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. WHAT IS THAT. CAN WE DO THAT TO OUR PERSONAL CARS. OF COURSE NOT. OKAY.

CRY ABOUT IT. CRY SOME MORE BECAUSE THEY'RE ANIMALS.

THEY HAVE FEELINGS JUST LIKE YOU, LIKE YOUR DOGS. SO CRY MORE IF YOU WANT.

BUT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHETHER THEY DO IT NOW HERE TODAY.

WHETHER YOU GET THREE EXTRA YEARS. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK ABOUT THIS, AND YEAH, WE'LL SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 3. I APPRECIATE YA'LL'S OBSERVANCE OF OUR RULES SO EVERYBODY COULD GET THEIR VOICES HEARD.

WE'LL GO NOW INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. BEFORE I DO.

HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM THREE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I MOVE TO

APPROVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WE'LL GO INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. I WILL USE CUES.

SO CUE UP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING SITUATION BROUGHT BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, AND I THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF ISSUE THE COUNCIL SHOULD ADDRESS WHEN IT'S BROUGHT FORWARD TO US.

YOU KNOW, I NOTICED THE FIRST FEW PRESENTATIONS OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO THAT WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE HORSES WAS SAYING THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF ABUSE GOING ON FOR HORSES. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE LAST SPEAKER SAID HE HAS PICTURES OR VIDEOS. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE FOR, I GUESS, ALMOST A YEAR.

NO ONE SENT ME ANY PICTURES OR VIDEOS TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY SAY THEY SEE GOING ON OUT THERE. SO I HAVE TO GO BY WHAT I HEAR AND WHAT I'VE SEEN FOR MYSELF. I'VE BEEN OUT TO THE -- TO WATCH THE CARRIAGES IN ACTION. I'LL HAVE TO SAY, I'VE BEEN AS ANNOYED AS ANYBODY ELSE RIDING BEHIND ONE OF THE CARRIAGES, BUT I ALSO WENT OUT TO THE BARNS AND SAW THE ANIMALS AND

[01:55:04]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. FOLKS WE'RE HAVING A COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

>> COURAGE: DOES A -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO HOLD UP.

THIS IS A COUNCIL DISCUSSION. THE DISCUSSION IS AMONG THE COUNCIL IS THE STAFF. I'M ASKING EVERYBODY IN THE GALLERY TO KEEP COMMENTS TO THEMSELVES AND KEEP VOLUME SO WE CAN RESUME. IF NOT I'LL RECESS THE MEETING.

>> COURAGE: I WAS A MILITARY DOG HANDLER IN THE AIRFORCE. ARE MILITARY DOGS BY K9 POLICE BEING EXPLOITED. I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY WANT TO SAY YES, BUT THESE ARE FACTS OF LIVES THAT HAVE A VALUE TO OUR SOCIETY THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO HAVE DISAPPEARED, BUT THERE ARE GROUPS THAT DO. WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS.

BUT ABUSE WAS ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES. ANOTHER BIG ISSUE WAS TRAFFIC CONGESTION. AND LIKE I GUESS, I'VE BEEN BEHIND THE CARRIAGES, I KNOW THEY SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN. I'VE BEEN ANNOYED BECAUSE I WANT TO GO HOME AFTER I'VE SEEN SOMETHING DOWNTOWNED.

BUT THEY'RE DESIGNED BY TOURISTS. AND I'VE BEEN TO OTHER CITIES, AND I'VE RIDDEN IN HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES.

I THINK IT'S A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DO TO.

BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONGESTION. YES, THEY MAY SLOW US DOWN, BUT HAVE ANY OF YOU BEEN BEHIND ONE OF THE NEW HOP ON HOP OFF BUSES, THOSE BIG BUSES DRIVING AROUND THE CITY, SHOWING THE PEOPLE THE CITY WITH 10, 20, 30 PEOPLE INSIDE. THEY CAUSE CONGESTION TOO. ARE WE GOING TO SAY THEIR CONGESTION SHOULD STOP? BUT TOURISTS LIKE THOSE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THE ARGUMENT ABOUT LIVING IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, VERSUS THE 21ST CENTURY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ALAMO.

WE HAVE THE MISSIONS, WE HAVE THE SENATE TAFT. WE HAVE SAN FERNANDO CATHEDRAL. SAN PEDRO SPRINGS. THAT'S THE PAST OF SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY WHO HAS FOUGHT FOR YEARS TO HELP MAINTAIN THAT PAST THAT IS SAN ANTONIO AND THAT IS TEXAS. NOW, CERTAINLY WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE. SO YOU CAN TAKE BROOKES AIRFORCE BASE FROM 20 YEARS AGO AND LOOK AT BROOKES CITY BASE TODAY, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT KELLY AIRFORCE BASE FROM 20 YEARS AGO, BUT YOU CAN LOOK AT PORT SA TODAY. BUT THOSE WERE CAUSED BY EVOLUTION, NOT DISALLUSION. AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT.

AN EVOLUTION OF MAYBE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE OPERATIONS, HOW THEY COULD EVOLVE, BUT NOT DISSOLVE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN INFORMATION ABOUT HOUSE BILL 2127 FROM 2023. AND THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE PASSED THE REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT.

HB2127, THIS LAW PROHIBITS CITIES FROM ENACTING POLICIES THAT BAN BUSINESSES ALREADY OPERATING WITHIN THE LAW.

IT WAS WRITTEN TO STOP THE KIND OF ACTION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED TODAY. AND YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT CHANGE PRESENTED IN THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW AND THIS CHANGE IN THE CODE IS THE USE OF HORSES WITH HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IN SAN ANTONIO WILL CEASE TO OPERATE ON JANUARY 1, 2028. IF THAT ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT THIS BILL WAS LAID OUT TO STOP, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT ISN'T SUPPOSED TO STOP.

SO FOR ALL OF THOSE OBSERVATIONS OF MINE, I'M VERY RELUCTANT TO CLOSE A BUSINESS THAT'S OPERATING ILLE LEGALLY THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS, THAT IS PART OF THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THOSE ANIMALS ARE BEING MISTREATED. EXPLOITED? YEAH.

JUST LIKE WE EXPLOIT THEM AT THE ZOO OR WE EXPLOIT ANIMALS THAT WORK FOR THE POLICE, ET CETERA. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THESE BUSINESSES SHOULD BE CLOSED. SO THOSE ARE MY

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

[02:00:02]

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: ANDY, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE

TABLE; RIGHT. >> AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO, COUNCILMAN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE A MAIN MOTION ON ITEM 3. >> PELAEZ: I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND A MOTION AFTER HORSES TO INCLUDE HORSES OR E QUEEN, ANY OTHER QUEEN HYBRID TO MAKE SURE WE'RE

CAPTURING THE DRAFT ANIMALS OUT THERE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IS THAT OFFERED AS A FRIENDLY. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO OFFERING THAT.

>> NO. MAYOR. I THINK WE HAD EQUINE IN THE ACTUAL ORDNANCE, COUNCILMAN, SO IT WOULD COVER THE ANIMALS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT IS EQUINE IN THE ORDNANCE.

>> PELAEZ: GREAT. THANK YOU. SO I'VE BEEN ON THE RECORD NUMEROUS TIMES. I THINK THREE YEARS IS NOT -- IS TOO LONG, ACTUALLY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE HORSES OFF THE STREETS TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THIS EFFORT BEGAN. BUT I UNDERSTAND AND I'M OKAY WITH GOING ALONG WITH THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS FOR AN ADDITIONAL PHASE OUT PERIOD. SO I'LL BE VOTING YES ON A THREE YEAR PHASE OUT PERIOD. I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY FANTASTIC ARGUMENTS AROUND -- ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES. I RESPECT THEM. I HEAR THEM.

BUT MY -- I JUST DON'T -- I THINK IN 2024 -- IS E TO -- IS THE TIME TO DO AWAY WITH THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY DOWNTOWN. NOT FAST ENOUGH FOR MY TASTE, BUT I THINK WE'RE MOVING ON THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AS FAR AS GOOD ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES, WHICH I RESPECT, THE ONE I DON'T RESPECT IS DEFAMING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PURPOSE OF BOLSTERING THE ARGUMENT. I HAVE AN APPOINTEE WHO CAN'T BE HERE, SHE'S RECOVERING FROM SURGERY, BUT SHE WORKS FOR A COMPANY THAT ADVOCATES FOR ISSUES LIKE TELEMEDICINE FOR VETERINARIANS AND THEN TO SOMEHOW CONFLATE THAT INTO LOBBYING CITY COUNCIL AS PART OF A CONSPIRACY THEORY TO PROMOTE AL TIER YOUR MOTIVES AND ALL OF THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING BUT SERVES NO PURPOSE OTHER THAN MUDDY THE WATERS AND IT'S ONE OF THE MORE DISHONEST THING I'VE HEARD, AND THE LADY UP HERE PEDDLING THAT GARBAGE, SHAME ON YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S PARTICIPATED IN GOOD FAITH IN THIS DEBATE, AND THANK YOU FOR MY COUNCILMEMBERS FOR TAKING THIS AS SERIOUSLY

AS THIS ISSUE MERITS. THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER GAFFE. ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> ALDERETE GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO MADE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD TODAY. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG MEETING, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT.

AS I'VE MENTIONED MY CONCERN WITH THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IS THEY'RE A POTENTIAL TO HINDER PUBLIC SAFETY BY IMPEDING EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC. I'VE ADVOCATED FOR A ONE YEAR TRANSITION.

THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE SPOKEN, AND THEY WANTED THESE HORSES OFF THE STREETS. I DO UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS' NEED FOR A TRANSITION TIME. THEREFORE I'M WILLING TO CONCEDE TO A THREE YEAR TRANSITION, MY PREFERENCE IS FOR THESE HORSES TO BE FAZED OUT REGARDLESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

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

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, AND THE FIRST ONE IS ON THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGE THAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY, I NEED TO FOLLOW UP THERE. SO CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND, RICHARD, IF

YOU'VE ADDRESSED THAT MATTER YET. >> SO YES, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO BRING THAT SEPARATELY, SO THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE PROCESS DISCUSSING IT WITH THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD AND THEN THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE.

>> I'M GOING TO JUMP IN. AND THEN SHE WAS ASKING ABOUT THE REFERENCE ABOUT ONE OF THE SPEAKERS HAD ABOUT THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGE.

>> MY APOLOGIES. YES. SO WE ARE AWARE OF THAT OPERATING. WE HAVE SIGHTED THAT ELECTRIC CARRIAGE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, AND WE'VE INSTRUCTED OUR INSPECTORS IF WE CATCH THEM OPERATING AGAIN AS A VEHICLE FOR HIRE -- SO THAT'S THE -- THAT'S THE LONG PULL ON THE AT THIS TIME, SOMEBODY PAID TO RIDE IT, THAT WE WILL

[02:05:01]

IMPOUND THAT VEHICLE. >> ROCHA GARCIA: HOW MANY ARE OPERATING.

>> THE OWNER HAS TWO, ONE OF WHICH WE KNOW IS OPERATING.

>> ROCHA GARCIA: AND HOW MANY CITATIONS HAVE THEY RECEIVED. >> IT'S TWO RIGHT NOW.

>> ROCHA GARCIA: AND THEN IMPOUND. AT WHAT POINT DOES THE

IMPOUNDING HAPPEN. >> IF WE CATCH THEM OPERATING AGAIN WE'RE

GOING TO IMPOUND. >> ROCHA GARCIA: DO YOU IMPOUND THAT VEHICLE OR BOTH.

>> I'M SORRY. >> ROCHA GARCIA: IMPOUND THAT VEHICLE OR ALL OF HIS.

>> THE VEHICLE OPERATING ILLEGALLY, YES, MA'AM. >> ROCHA GARCIA: GOT IT.

AND THEN I KNOW WE'LL ASK ABOUT THE ELECTRIC ONES POSSIBLY AFTER THIS DECISION IS MADE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO -- WHOEVER IS WORKING ON IT, AND IT WILL LIKELY BE YOU, RICHARD, JUST ALTERNATIVES FOR INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY. BUT THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR NOW, AND I'LL BE LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES.

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

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR, SO TODAY I FIND TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A SAD DAY HERE IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.

IT SEEMS THE COUNCIL'S INTENT ON BECOMING THE FIRST CITY IN TEXAS TO BAN THESE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES, I THINK ALL TOO OFTEN HERE AT CITY HALL, WE FORGET ABOUT -- OR WE DON'T DO ENOUGH FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO. AS IT'S BEEN ALREADY HEARD TODAY, THIS IS A LOT OF JOBS THAT ARE ON THE LINE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE INVESTED THEIR TIME AND CAPITAL IN THESE COMPANIES, THEY PROVIDE -- THEY'RE REALLY PART OF OUR CULTURE IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY, AND IT SEEMS TO ME, THOUGH, THAT IF COUNCIL'S INTENT ON ELIMINATING THESE BUSINESSES, WE SHOULD AT LEAST DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE THE TRANSITION AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE.

I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A PAINFUL PROCESS FOR THESE FOLKS, FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, BUT WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP THEM AND THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION MOVING FORWARD. AND SO THAT'S WHY TODAY, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE HORSE CARRIAGES IN SAN ANTONIO FROM THREE YEARS TO FIVE YEARS. SO I THINK THAT WOULD PUT AN END DATE ON THE CARRIAGES AT JAN 1, 2030, AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WOULD CONSIDER THIS MOTION AND CONSIDER THE OWNERS, THE EMPLOYEES, AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THESE HORSE CARRIAGE COMPANIES, AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR LIVELIHOODS DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS OF THE

TRANSITION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN, CAN YOU RESTATE YOUR MOTION, I

HEARD JANUARY 1, 3030. >> WHYTE: I BELIEVE THAT MAKES IT A 5 YEAR TRANSITION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: 2030. >> WHYTE: YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR AMENDING THE MAIN MOTION TO BE AN END DATE TRANSITIONING OUT BY JANUARY 1, 2030. SO WE WILL HAVE A MOTION -- CONA DISCUSSION AND A VOTE ON THAT FIRST BEFORE WE GET TO THE MAIN MOTION.

IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE AMENDED? I MEAN, I WHETHER JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS SINCE WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT. TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS A MOTION ON -- FOR AN AMENDMENT TO A MAIN MOTION THAT THE COUNCILMAN WILL VOTE AGAINST. SO A LITTLE DISING DISINGENUOUS, BUT THAT'S WHAT IS ON THE TABLE. SO IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: I WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I HEAR THE DESIRE TO PHASE OUT THE CARRIAGES, AND THE CARRIAGES HAVE STATED THAT THEY -- THAT THEY ARE -- THAT FIVE YEARS SEEMS TO WORK. IT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT IT GIVES THEM A POINT, AND I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK. I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST -- AND YOU CAN CALL IT DISINGENUOUS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT. I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THE THREE YEAR PHASE BECAUSE WHEN I CAME TO THE COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 30 OR D HALLOWEEN, I TOLD YOU THAT THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME. I ASKED -- I

[02:10:02]

WHEN WE STARTED IN 2022, IT DID NOT GET HEARD BY THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE UNTIL 2024. SO TO SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO -- WE HAVEN'T. WE JUST STARTED THIS YEAR.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS I HAVE. SO I'LL BE -- BECAUSE I HEAR THE COUNCIL AND THEIR INTENT, FIVE YEARS, BUT IF THIS DOESN'T PASS, IT WILL BE A NO FOR THE NEXT ROUND. THANK YOU.

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

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THIS WILL BE UP HERE SAYING LET'S RODEO SAN ANTONIO, AND WE KNOW IT BRINGS ABOUT 1 MILLION IN TOURISTS AND $300 MILLION OF ECONOMIC INVESTMENT INTO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, CELEBRATING FIESTA AND LINING UP TO PARTICIPATE IN PARADES WITH CARS AND HORSES IN THE MIDST ABSORBING THOSE EXHAUSTS.

SO I HIGHLIGHT THE EXAMPLES TO HIGHLIGHT THE HYPOCRISY OF THIS BODY; RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO PUNCH DOWN, AND WHY ARE WE NOT HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRIES BUT WE'RE WILLING TO KILL 81 JOBS RATHER AND FIVE BUSINESSES BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO PUNCH DOWN AND HIT SMALL BUSINESS. YOU KNOW THERE WAS A GREAT ARTICLE THAT TALKED ABOUT ECONOMIC TURBULENCE WITHIN THIS ADMINISTRATION BUT IN THE LAST MONTHS THEY'VE VOTED TO REPEAL PROTECTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND HERE WE ARE KILLING SMALL BUSINESSES AND JOBS. THE FIRE IS NOT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, IT'S FROM THE CHAMBERS. I DID HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES. ARE THERE EXAMPLES IN WHICH THESE OPERATORS HAVE IMPEDED AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE GETTING TO AN EMERGENCY.

>> THERE ARE NO EXAMPLES OF THAT, COUNCILWOMAN, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY

ISSUES. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE BRIEFINGS COMMITTEES HAVE RECEIVED. CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT WHAT THE CITY'S VETERINARIAN HAS SHARED REGARDING THE CARE OF ANIMALS, DID THEY CITE ANY EXAMPLES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT WITH OPERATORS.

>> SO THE CITY'S CONTRACT VETERINARIAN DID NOT CITE ANYTHING IN THE ONE MEETING HE ATTENDED AT THE TRANSPORTATION

INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES, AND I HEAR THE ADVOCATES AND ADVOCACY AND CONCERN WITH EXPLOITATION ON THE INDUSTRIES, BUT MY GOAL IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HYPOCRISY OF THE FOLKS UP HERE THAT ARE EAGER TO KILL JOBS WHEN WE KNOW THERE'S ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY THAT MANY FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING. THESE DRIVERS ARE PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND TAXPAYERS, AND I DON'T SEE WHY MY COLLEAGUES ARE SO EAGER TO SKILL AN INDUSTRY WHERE THERE ARE LARGER INDUSTRIES WHERE ANIMALS ARE LASSOED AND DRAGGED FOR SPORT. I DON'T HEAR THAT CONCERN HEAR. WHAT I HEAR FROM FOLKS IS LET'S PHASE OUT THE INDUSTRY TOMORROW AND SOME SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO PHASE OUT THE INDUSTRY, BUT I AM HEARING CONSENSUS OF HOW DO WE PHASE THIS OUT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T PUT SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE POSITION OF ASSET FORFUTURE AND DEBT. AND THIS IS SOMETHING I DISCUSS WE DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY BECAUSE THESE ARE TEXAS FAMILIES WE'RE PUTTING IN HARMS WAY BY PUTTING THEM AT RISK FOR DEBT AND OCCURRING DEBT. I THINK ONE SPEAKER DID A GOOD JOB OF HIGHLIGHTING A CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOT JUST KILLING THE INDUSTRY OF HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES BUT THESE FOLKS PAY TREEON OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES, AND WHATEVER ACTION THIS BODY TAKES, IT DOES NOT WAVE THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO THEIR LANDLORD FOR LEASES, DOES NOT WAIVE OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE CARE FOR THESE ANIMALS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE MOTION PUT FORTH BY COUNCILMAN WHYTE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S A COMPROMISE THAT PHASES OUT THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES BUT DOES NOT PUT OUR FAMILIES IN DEBT.

IF THAT IS NOT SUCCESSFUL. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE PHASING OUT OF CARRIAGES WITHIN 3 YEARS. THANK YOU MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER CAST. COUNCILMEMBER COWER.

>> SUKH KAUR: THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION. IN THE LAST PRESENTATION THE HORSE CARRIAGE OWNERS REQUESTED FIVE YEARS BECAUSE OF DEBT THEY HAD, AND I ASKED FOR US TO ASK FOR EVIDENCE OF THAT DEBT.

DID WE EVER RECEIVE THAT? >> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS. BRENDA HICKS. IT WAS REQUESTED, AND BECAUSE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS AND SO FORTH, THEY WERE

[02:15:03]

COUPLE OF THOSE. >> KAUR: WAS THAT AFTER THE LAST MEETING YOU SAW ADDITIONAL

EVIDENCE OF IT. >> NO. SO PRIOR TO THE LAST MEETING, I REVIEWED TWO OF THE FIVE COMPANY'S FINANCIALS.

>> SUKH KAUR: OKAY. BUT YOU HADN'T -- SINCE THEN YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FINANCIALS.

>> WE WERE NOT ABLE TO RESCHEDULE. THE REQUEST WAS TO

RECEIVE THE INFORMATION AS WELL AS REVIEW. >> KAUR: YEAH.

I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE DEBT BECAUSE HOW DO WE DEFINE SMALL BUSINESS BECAUSE 18,000 DEBT PAYMENT PER MONTH IS SIGNIFICANT DEBT PAYMENT

SO I WAS LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE FOR THAT. >> YEAH I WAS ABLE TO REVIEW INFORMATION FOR TWO OF THE COMPANIES TO CORROBORATE THE DEBT, BUT WE DID NOT RECEIVE IT DUE TO CONCERNS REGARDING PUBLIC

INFORMATION. >> SUKH KAUR: AND AS I UNDERSTAND, IT'S THREE OWNERS,

IT'S FIVE COMPANIES BUT THREE OWNERS BUT IS THAT CORRECT. >> A COMBINATION OF.

>> SUKH KAUR: SO MULTIPLE LLCS WITH TWO GROUPS OF FIVE LICENSES EACH.

>> THERE ARE SOME RELATIONSHIPS THERE, BUT FIVE SEPARATE COMPANIES,

YES, MA'AM. >> SUKH KAUR: WAS THAT DEBT ON MULTIPLE COMPANIES COMBINED.

>> NO. INDIVIDUALLY AS THEY REPORT TO THE IRS.

>> SUKH KAUR: OKAY. OKAY. >> IN TWO SEPARATE

GROUPS. >> SUKH KAUR: MY CHALLENGE HERE IS I ASKED FOR INFORMATION -- THANKS, BRENDA, YOU CAN SIT DOWN. I ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS TO HELP CORROBORATE A 3 TO FIVE YEAR TRANSITION AND DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. NEARBY THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MAY AREA YA. CAN I ASK YOU TO COME UP.

THE MOTION ON THE TABLE IS A FIVE YEAR PHASEOUT INSTEAD OF THREE YEARS RECOMMENDATION. SO OBVIOUSLY THE PHASEOUT PERCENTAGES OF HOURS WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE. CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW YOU

WOULD HANDLE THAT. >> SURE. SO FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COUNCIL FOR THAT MOTION THAT IS ON THE FLOOR, THE CURRENT PLAN THAT WE PRESENTED OVER THREE YEARS WAS REDUCED TO HOURS BEGINNING IN JANUARY OF 202425. THE COUNCIL DESIRES TO EXTEND IT TO FIVE YEARS, POTENTIALLY, THIS COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER LEAVING THE HOURS AS THEY ARE FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS AND THEN FOLLOW WHAT WE HAD PROPOSED, THE LAST THREE, FOR THE TOTAL OF THE FIVE YEAR PHASE OUT PERIODS, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A -- I'M ASSUMING THAT ADDITION

TO THE MOTION. >> AND, MAYOR, IF I COULD MAKE A SUGGESTION PROCEDURALLY, IF COUNCILMAN WHYTE IS OPEN TO THAT.

IF HE COULD ADJUST THE MOTION TO SAY -- TO EXTEND THE TRANSITION FROM 3 TO 5 YEARS AND ADJUST THE TRANSITION TIMELINES ACCORDINGLY, SO THEN WE WOULD FOLLOW THE PLAN THAT MARÍA JUST OUTLINED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. DID YOU HEAR WHAT ANDY

SAID ABOUT THE PHASEOUT HOURS. >> WHYTE: YES.

HAPPY TO AMEND AS ANDY SUGGESTED. >> OKAY.

THAT SHOULD DO IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET'S CONCUR IT BY COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS A -- AGAIN, A FIVE YEAR PHASE OUT AS OPPOSED TO A THREE YEAR PHASE OUT? OKAY. IF THERE'S NONE, THEN LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THE MOTION FOR A FIVE YEAR PHASEOUT, AND THIS IS, AGAIN, JUST AN AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBE R CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> CABELLO HAVRDA: NO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. OKAY.

MOTION CARRIES. SO IT IS A FIVE-YEAR PHASEOUT ON THE TABLE.

SO ONE -- SO WE'LL NOW GO TO DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH HAS BEEN AMENDED TO A FIVE YEAR PHASEOUT OF HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. COUNCICOUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I WANT TO START OUT BY ACKNOWLEDGING HOW WE GOT TO THIS. FOR MORE THAN A DECADE NOW SAN ANTONIOIANS HAVE WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS. SO WHEN I COAUTHORED THE CCR IN 2022 I DID IN THE HOPES THAT WE AS A CITY WOULD HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY IN DOWNTOWN.

IT'S TAKEN 2 YEARS TO GET TO THIS. AND MY HOPES HAVE BEEN FULFILLED ABOUT THE JOURNEY OF THIS PROCESS. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY

[02:20:03]

MY DECISION WAS MADE IN A DECISION OF COLLABORATION AND COMPROMISE, AND I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY. WHILE IT WAS FOR A BAN TO HAVE TAKEN AFFECT A YEAR AGO, AND THERE ARE MANY WHO WILL PREFER AN IMMEDIATE BAN AS WELL AS THOSE THAT PREFER A LONGER TIMELINE, THREE YEARS IS THE COME PROSE MISE WE GOT TO. TODAY IT SEEMS FIVE YEAR, SO I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE. AND WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT A BAN ON BUSINESS CARRIAGES IS ANTIBUSINESS, ANTILABOR, AND THAT'S A LAZY STANCE TO TAKE. THE LABOR MOVEMENT IS NOT ABOUT SECURING FAIR AND JUST WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THOSE ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES BUT PREVENTING THE EXPLOITATION OF LABOR ANYONE, BEING FORCED TO WALK DOWNTOWN 94-DEGREE WEATHER BREATHING IN THE EXHAUST OF CARS DRIVING PAST THEM, CARRYING A BAG OF URINE AND FECAL MATTER WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT IS UNJUST, AND THAT INCLUDES FOR HORSES. THERE'S A 2023 STUDY THAT SHOWS THAT HORSES ARE FORCED TO BREATHE IN THESE AND IT LEADS TO SICKNESS, AND A VETERINARIAN STUDY FOUND THAT THE DAMAGE IN LUNG DAMAGE IN CARRIAGE HORSES WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF A HEAVY SMOKER, WE'VE RECEIVED THAT FROM EXPERTS, SO WE HAVE A DUTY TO CARE FROM ALL, AND I DON'T SACRIFICE THE HUMANITY OF ANYONE, WHETHER BLACK AND BROWN FOLK BRUTALIZED BY POLICE, WHETHER PEOPLE LIVING IN UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE CITY COUNCIL DEMOLITION OF PARTICIPANTS OR PEOPLE COMING TO US WITH FOOD, UTILITIES AND RENT WORRIED ABOUT CPS RATE INCREASE, AND I'VE NEVER TAKEN LIGHTLY THE FACT WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LIVELIHOODS OF PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILY.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE ALL INTERCONNECTED AND THEY'VE BEEN A VOICE IN THE SPIRIT AND I'M DOWN TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE RODEO, FIESTA, POLICE DOGS, I'M DOWN. SO WHILE THIS IS COMPLEX, AND OF COURSE WE WON'T REACH A POINT WHERE EVERY BUSINESS OWNER IS HAPPY, AND IT MAY BE A CHALLENGE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT THAT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AND THERE MAY BE FEAR OF HOW SUCCESSFUL HORSE CARRIAGE IS AS A VENTURE, WE CANNOT LET FEAR STOP PROGRESS AND FIGHTING TOGETHER FOR A JUST TRANSITION BEYOND TODAY'S VOTE. MY COMMITMENT IS STILL THERE. WE MUST DO WHAT'S WRONG. BANNING THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES AND SUPPORTING THE NEXT FIVE YEARS SUPPORTING THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE NEXT STEP. AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT E CARRIAGES. FIND EMPLOYMENT WHETHER THROUGH READY TO WORK OR OTHER EMPLOYMENT. TRANSFER DEBT. WE HAVE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL AND TO THINK WE HAVE TO STOP PROGRESS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CREATIVE ENOUGH TO UTILIZE THESE TOOLS IS SHORTSIGHTED.

SAN ANTONIO BANNED PUPPY MILLS WHICH CLOSED DOWN SEVERAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND LEFT INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT A PLAN, NO PLAN, LOTS OF THAT.

THEY RECOGNIZED AN EXPLOITIVE BUSINESS MODEL AND SHUT IT DOWN AND I HOPE EVERY PERSON ON THIS COUNCIL STANDS BY THAT.

WE KNOW THAT IT ( INDISCERNIBLE ) EVEN WHEN IT MEANS CLOSING DOWN OR TRANSFORMING TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES THAT'S WHY A MAJORITY BELIEVE WE SHOULD TRANSITION TO E CARRIAGES, AND I DO WANT TO HELP US GET THERE. SO, AGAIN, THE ARGUMENT THAT BANNING HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IS ANTIBUSINESS, ANTILABOR, IGNORES THAT THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY ROOTED IN EXPLOITATION, AND WHILE SOME MAY EARN HIGH WAGES, IT'S AT AN OUTDATED PRACTICE. TRUE LABOR POLICIES ( INDISCERNIBLE ) WITH PROTECTIONS FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.

IF YOU BELIEVE YOURSELF TO BE PROLABOR AND THAT BELIEF HAS A LIMIT, I WONDER WHOSE LABOR YOU'RE WILLING TO SEE SUPPORTED AND AT WHAT COST. SO I'M DISAPPOINTED TO THOSE THAT STAND FOR FEAR MONOGORRING ( INDISCERNIBLE ) THE GOAL POST HAS BEEN MUTUAL FUND TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHETHER HORSES TREATED WELL BUT REGULATIONS STOP BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD DOWNTOWN, E CARRIAGES NEVER BE SUCCESSFUL. WE'LL STOP AN E CARRIAGE BUSINESS IF THE CITY LETS US, AND THEN HORSES ARE LIKE FAMILY -- TO MY HORSES COST A LOT OF MONEY IF TIMES ARE TOUGH I'LL SELL THEM AND THEN WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN OTHER LOCATIONS, WE NEED TO BE DOWNTOWN, WE'VE NEVER BEEN APPROACHED WITH THE IDEA OF ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS, I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT. HORSES DON'T BELONG DOWNTOWN, THE BUSINESS MODEL IS EXPLOITIVE AND THEY NEED TO GO. I'VE OFFERED ALTERNATIVES AND I'VE BEEN MET WITH PETTINESS AND INSULTS.

SO I LOOK FORWARD IN CASTING MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS.

THERE WILL BE THREE MORE YEARS FROM TODAY -- OR FROM JANUARY 1 TO

[02:25:05]

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

I WAS JUST REVIEWING THE CITY CODE THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US.

I JUST -- MARÍA, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND.

WITH WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING RIGHT NOW. WE WOULD KEEP ALL OF THE CODE THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE UNTIL JANUARY 1 OF 2027, THAT'S NEXT TWO YEARS, AND THEN WE WOULD IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES THAT WERE BEING RECOMMENDED TO THE CODE, STARTING IN 2028, 2029 THROUGH 2030. I DO SEE A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND IT SAYS NO NEW PERMITS TO OPERATE WILL BE ISSUED DECEMBER 12, 2024. WOULD WE STILL BE KEEPING THAT? THAT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL NOT LICENSE NEW HORSES EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 12, 2024? SO WE'RE PRETTY MUCH SAYING THAT THE STATUS QUO WILL CONTINUE, BUT NO NEW HORSES WILL BE ADDED NO NEW LICENSES WILL BE PROVIDED AS OF THE END OF THIS YEAR OR JANUARY 1 OF NEXT YEAR. IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD

SUGGEST WOULD BE THE WORDING ON THIS? >> YES.

BUT LET ME JUST CLARIFY, COUNCILMAN. SO THE CHANGES WE WOULD MAKE TO THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR THIS ACTION IS IS THAT THE BANNING OF THE HORSES WILL BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 3030.

THE OTHER CHANGE WOULD BE THE HOURS OF OPERATION.

THE HOURS OF OPERATIONS TODAY WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND THEN THE PHASE OUT PERIOD THAT WE HAD INITIALLY PROPOSED WILL START ON THE THIRD YEAR, SO THE LAST THREE YEARS WE'LL SEE A REDUCTION IN HOURS. THOSE WOULD BE THE ONLY CHANGES TO WHAT WE

PROVIDED TO YOU FOR THIS ITEM. >> COURAGE: OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT FOR ME. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. MARÍA, I DO FEW QUESTIONS NOW THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT THE FIVE YEARS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, AND THEN IN ANTICIPATION OF THE EVENTS COMING DOWNTOWN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE HORSE CARRIAGE AND THE OWNERS IN THOSE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS IF WE START TO LOOK AT WHAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR ALMOST EVERY OPPORTUNITY I GET, A BIGGER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF HOW WE DEAL WITH TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN, CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP BY THE SPEAKERS TODAY IS TRAFFIC ISSUES DOWNTOWN, AND WE NEED TO START MAKING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS IT MORE WHOLE US TICKICALLY INSTEAD OF PIECES, SAYING NO MORE HORSE CARRIAGES, CAN WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THEM IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, ALL OF THOSE THAT CAME OUT AND SHARED. I KNOW THIS ISN'T THE SOLUTION THAT EVERYBODY WANTED, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE SOLUTION IN THE CORRECT STEP TO MAKING SURE WE'RE HANDLING THIS ISSUE AND ALSO HAVING CONVERSATIONS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK GEORGE GARCIA PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD WHO WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS EFFORT, CONTINUED TO TALK WITH ME AND TALK TO THE CARRIAGE OWNERS AND MY STAFF FOR THEIR EFFORTS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS FIVE YEAR TRANSITION TODAY. THANK YOU.

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

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO THANK THEIR TEAM IN MEETING WITH US SO THAT WE'RE KEPT IN TUNE OF WHAT WAS BEING DISCUSSED AND NOT BEING DISCUSSED. I THINK THE ACTION TALK TODAY IS THE COMPROMISE YOU PROPOSED. I DON'T THINK IT'S THE ANSWER EVERYBODY WANTED BUT IT'S THE COMPROMISE WE SHOULD STRIVE FOR. I WANT TO THANK ROBERT MY TRANSPORTATION APPOINTEE SURE TO SHARE WITH ME THE COMMITTEE DID NOT APPROVE -- VOTED AGAINST THE PHASING OUT OF THE HORSE AND

[02:30:03]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION

ON THE MAIN MOTION. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH.

JUST BRIEFLY. I WANT TO ECHO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S COMMENT ON IT. I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE IDEAL OUTCOME FOR OUR HORSE CARRIAGE BUSINESSES BUT I AM PLEASED TODAY THAT ENOUGH OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE WILLING TO COMPROMISE TO GIVE THESE BUSINESSES A RUNWAY HERE TO SORT OF PHASE OUT IN A MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER. SO I DO APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES ON THAT, AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.

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

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. I'LL BE ABSTAINING TODAY.

FIVE YEARS IS TOO LONG FOR ME. I THINK IT'S WIMPY, AND IT'S REALLY JUST A WET NOODLE APPROACH TO SOMETHING THAT'S VERY

IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION? OKAY. WELL, LET ME JUST MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS REALLY QUICKLY. NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS I'VE BEEN ASKING IF WE CAN CONSIDER THIS. SO FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR MY COLLEAGUES. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN AND MCKEE RODRIGUEZ FOR BRINGING IT UP MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS. I SHARE SIMILAR SENTIMENTS WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHO WANT A FASTER TIMELINE.

WE DO WANT TO DO THIS IN A FAIR AND JUST MANNER, AND I THANK THE STAFF, AGAIN, FOR WORKING WITH THESE COMPANIES ON SOLUTIONS.

I KNOW THEY'RE NOT SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON, AND PERHAPS ARE EVEN RELEVANT FOR YOU, BUT WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR YOU AND YOUR LIVELIHOODS ARE MINIMIZED BUT THE REALITY IS I HAVE LONG BELIEVED AS OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND WE SEE THE INCREASED ACTIVITY OF DOWNTOWN THAT HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES NOVELTY RIDES DO NOT BELONG IN THE MAIN ARTERIES OF DOWNTOWN, AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ADDRESSING TODAY. WE HAVE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN NOTED UP HERE THAT WE'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS AND LOOK AT, BUT IN MY VIEW, HAVING SEEN THIS AND DEBATED IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, A FIVE YEAR PHASE IN, A THREE YEAR PHASE IN, AS LONG AS WE'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION EXPEDITIOUSLY, I'LL BE SATISFIED.

MY APOLOGIES TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR AMENDMENT IF IT GETS MORE OF THIS BODY ON BOARD WITH THIS PHASE OUT, I'LL SUPPORT THAT AS WELL. SO WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AMENDED TO FIVE YEARS, AND WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

LET'S VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YES.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBE R CAB BY A OWE HAVRDA. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: AYE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM 4. >> ITEM NUMBER 4 IS ORDNANCE APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND, EDIF, GUIDELINES PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 380 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, ORIGINALLY ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 3,

2004 -- I'M SORRY. 2004. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, BRENDA? DO WE NEED A

PRESENTATION, BRENDA. >> I WILL DEFER TO YOU. >> MAYOR, I THINK IT WOULD BE -- BRENDA CAN GO THROUGH QUICKLY THERE, THE NUMBER OF ADJUSTMENTS THAT WERE MADE BASED ON THE B SESSION CONVERSATION, AND WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THOSE AND FOCUS ON THAT IN THE PRESENTATION.

[02:35:05]

>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

GIVEN THE REQUEST, I'M GOING TO SKIP THROUGH TO THE CHANGES THAT WERE DISCUSSED DURING THE B SESSION AND HAVE PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED -- I KNOW ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS THE NATIONAL AND TEXAS COMPARISONS WHICH WE DID PROVIDE TO OUR BENCHMARK COMMUNITIES.

WE ALSO PROVIDED THE PARTICIPANT ORGANIZATIONS.

IF YOU MAY RECALL, DURING B SESSION, WE HAD HIGHLIGHTED REVISIONS TO THE POLICY REGARDING A NUMBER OF ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK FORCE, THE WAGES, SPECIFICALLY POWER INTENSIVE USERS AND THEN ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT WERE MADE.

WERE ADDITIONAL SIGHT, LOCAL HIRING EFFORTS AND SAFETY RELATED REPORTING. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THOSE ITEMS THAT WE SPECIFICALLY HAVE ADDRESSED SINCE B SESSION.

IN REGARDS TO ADDITIONAL SIGHT ENHANCEMENTS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR COMPANIES LOCATED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR CITY, WE HAVE ADDED TO OUR RECOMMENDATION, THAT THOSE PRODUCTS IN ADDITION TO TIER 6 PROJECTS IN THE MATRIX, THOSE PROJECTS THAT HAVE A COMBINED EQUITY SCORE OF 7 OR HIGHER ARE ALSO POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR POTENTIAL PROJECT FUNDING TO OUR SIGHT ENHANCEMENTS. THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS REGARDING READY TO WORK, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH -- OR THAT WE WORK WITH INCENTIVE RECIPIENTS TO CREATE A CUSTOMIZED READY TO WORK PLAN THAT INCLUDES BOTH THE INTERVIEWING AND HIRING OF PROGRAM GRADUATES. WE ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT WE REQUIRE EFFORTS FOR THE INCENTIVIZED COMPANY TO HIRE AT LEAST 30% OF THEIR FULL TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES FROM WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE ETJ, OR BEAR COUNTY, AND THEN FOR BOTH THE CONTRACTOR GENERAL CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE COMPANY ONCE THEY BECOME OPERATAL, THAT THEY SUBMIT THEIR SAFETY PROGRAM THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES HEAT RELATED SAFETY AS WELL AS ORDINARY CARE IS A 10 TRAINING OR EQUIVALENT.

AND THEN AS PART OF THAT, WE'RE ALSO ASKING THAT THEY REPORT THE CONTRACTOR'S EXPERIENCE MODIFICATION READING EMR THAT IS A NATIONAL STANDARD FOR SAFETY RATING THAT IS USED BY INSURANCE, INCLUDING WORKERS COMPENSATION. SO HERE IS THE SUMMARY OF ALL OF THE REVISIONS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR BOTH CHAPTER 312 AND CHAPTER B. AGAIN, THE READY TO WORK ENGAGEMENT FOR BOTH HIRING AND INTERVIEWING AND HIRING, LOCAL HIRING OF 30% FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE ETGJ OR BEAR COUNTY. WE DID ADD FLEXIBILITY OF WORK B FORCE. THE BASE WAGES REMAIN AT 80% OF THE AREA INCOME, WHICH GO FROM 2054 TO 2292 BASED ON CURRENT DATA, THAT WILL BE INDEXED ANNUALLY AND APPLY TO ALL JOBS ON SIGHT, NOT JUST NEW JOBS ASSOCIATED WITH INCENTIVIZED PROJECT.

THE THE ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION SITE REQUIREMENTS.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, TOO, THAT WE ARE CAPPING THE ABATEMENT LEVELS BASED ON THE ESTIMATE. SO RIGHT NOW, WHILE WE MIGHT DO AN ESTIMATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE INSENT OF LEVEL AS THE INVESTMENTS OR WHATEVER INCREASES, THE INCENTIVIZE ME GO HIGHER, SO PER THE CONTRACT, WE'LL BE CAPPING THAT.

SO IT IS STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT WE ADAPT BOTH ORDNANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND AS WELL AS TAX ABATEMENT GUIDELINES, EFFECTIVE FROM JANUARY 1, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 21, 2026.

I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, BRENDA, FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE'LL GO NOW TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 4. WE HAVE A COUPLE FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

SARAH RUSH FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE, MAYOR, AND COUNCILMEMBERS, IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO STAND WITH YOU AGAIN HERE TODAY.

REALLY, THESE INCENTIVES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS TO BRING JOBS TO THE REGION

[02:40:06]

@THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE DELIVERED MORE THAN 4,000 DIRECT HIGHWAY JOBS -- HIGH WAGE JOBS ACROSS THE CITY WITH AT LEAST ONE WIN IN EACH OF YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT MOMENTUM AND PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING AS A COMMUNITY. THAT MOMENTUM IS NOT HAPPENING BY ACCIDENT. WE'RE WORKING TO GET AHEAD OF DECISION SCHEDULE WHERE SITE CONSULTANTS ARE TRYING TO NOT INCLUDE US BUT ELIMINATE US. THEIR GOAL IS TO GO FROM HUNDREDS OF SITES DOWN TO ONE, SO THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO QUICKLY CHECK OFF AS MANY COMMUNITIES AS THEY CAN, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES ARE AS BUSINESS-FRIENDLY AND EASY TO WORK WITH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN SO THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING ELIMINATED BEFORE WE EVEN HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE STAFF AND THE TEAM HAS DONE AN AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF WORKING TO SPREAD THAT NEEDLE OF THE GOALS OF THIS COUNCIL AND THIS BODY IN FINDING A POLICY THAT ALLOWS US BOTH TO WIN AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED, WE SEE SOME OF THAT WITH JCB AND TOYOTA TOYOTA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THOSE PROJECTS AND WE'LL SEE THAT ALONE. THIS YORE ALONE WE'VE RESPONDED TO REQUESTS OF INFORMATION, AND THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH YOUR TEAM ON INSENTTIVE ESTIMATES ALLOWS US TO STAY AT THE TABLE ON THOSE PROJECTS, AND WE ARE PREDICTING A VERY STRONG YEAR AHEAD.

SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WIN SAN ANTONIO, THE MESSAGE AND THE ATTRIBUTES OF THIS CITY RESONATE EVERY CHANCE WE GET TO TELL THIS STORY WITH COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD, AND I KNOW THESE INSENTTIVE PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO HELP US MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. JACK FINGER? ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. WE'LL START.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM 4. ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION. AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4.

I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY IN THE QUEUE. WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> ALDERETE GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, BRENDA FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR INCORPORATING OUR FEEDBACK FROM B SESSION.

THAT SAID, ON SLIDE 10. ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS, I DO WANT US TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE IT TOO DIFFICULT TO DO BUSINESS HERE. I THINK THERE'S A FINE LINE THAT WE HAVE TO WALK, SO WHILE I APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS, I ALSO WANT TOE MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE THE EXPERTS THE TIME AND THE SPACE THAT YOU ALL NEED TO DO YA'LL'S JOBS WELL.

SO I JUST -- I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL KNEW THAT AND THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS A COUNCIL. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE A WAY THAT COUNCIL CAN RECEIVE UPDATES FOR HOW WELL THIS IS GOING AND HOW WELL -- IF WE WERE TO IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, HOW

IT'S LOOKING. >> SO WE DO PROVIDE THE ECONOMIC AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WITH A SEMIANNUAL UPDATE ON INCENTIVES AS WELL AS THEN WHEN WE DO COME TO COUNCIL WITH ANY POTENTIAL INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEN GREATER SATX DOES ALSO PROVIDE UPDATES, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE TO -- AS PART OF ANY OF THOSE PRESENTATIONS, ADDRESS

THE REQUEST. >> ALDERETE GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THAT AND GREATER SATX FOR BEING HERE, I THIN YA'LL'S VOICE IS IMPORTANT TO THIS CONVERSATION. I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET FEED BACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS, OUR BUSINESSES WE'RE POTENTIALLY DOING BUSINESS

[02:45:03]

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

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, BRENDA. THANK YOU, ALEX. WE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS CAME OUT OF LEFT FIELD WHEN YOU FIRST PRESENTED THE GUIDELINES, AND THAT'S OKAY. AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNANTICIPATED AND RATHER SUDDEN, I THINK YOU SUFFERED ALL OVER IT, AND YOU DID SO IN GOOD FAITH, AND I SEE YOU HAVING WORKED REALLY HARD TO SEE SOME KIND OF HARMONY AND CONSENSUS AMONG THE DIFFERENT VOICES THAT WERE AT THE TABLE. I KNOW YOU MET WITH THE -- OUR FRIENDS AT LIUNA, THE ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL CONTRACTORS, LAUREN MAN DELL OUT THERE, YOU'RE DOING GOOD WORK ON BEHALF OF YOUR MEMBERS. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU LEARNED MORE ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY; RIGHT? AND THAT'S A GOOD THING, WHICH INFORMED YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY. MY REQUEST IS IF AT ANY MOMENT, SARAH, YOUR ORGANIZATION OR BRENDA, YOUR ORGANIZATION, IS TOLD, NO, I'M SORRY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE YOUR GUIDELINES ARE A LITTLE TOO TIGHT, JUST PLEASE LET US KNOW; RIGHT BECAUSE THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE NUANCE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE CONTEXT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND THEN IF ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE, WE CAN BE FLEXIBLE; RIGHT? BUT WE NEED WITH THEM AS BEST AS POSSIBLE; RIGHT? I'D ALSO LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMENTS ARE FROM SOME OF THESE FOLKS IF THEY'RE SAYING, LOOK, FINE, WE'LL GO BUT WE DON'T LIKE THESE GUIDELINES, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THEM, FROM THE CUSTOMERS YOU'RE TALKING TO ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT. BUT NONETHELESS, YOU ALL HAVE MY SUPPORT TODAY. THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK.

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

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, BRENDA, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND ALEX IN PARTICULAR FOR CONVENING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CONTRACTING INDUSTRY AND LIUNA TO DISCUSS WHAT BOTH GOALS AND VISION WAS FOR THE INSENTTIVE POLICY.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK I'VE LEARNED A LOT AND THANK YOU ALEX FOR WALKING ME THROUGH SOME OF THESE PIECES. I'M GRATEFUL.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF PIECES THAT WE'RE DISAPPOINTED WITH BUT THERE ARE CHANGES IN HERE THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAMED WITHOUT THE THE ADVOCACY. LIKE HIRING 30% OF EMPLOYEES WITHIN BEAR COUNTY AS WELL AS THE SAFETY PLAN THAT INCLUDES HEAT RELATED SAFETY AND ORDINARY CARE IS A 10 TRAINING. I KNOW THE CONCERNS -- ALEX DID A GREAT JOB OF WALKING ME THROUGH WHAT THAT ENTAILS AND OVERALL THE IMPACT OF THE EMR. SO, AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU, ALEX FOR THAT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS ITEM. I SEE CHARLES IS WITH THE WORKERS AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I WANTED TO THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, AND YOU ANSWERED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS LAST MONTH AND DURING B SESSION. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL IN FOLLOWING UP. THERE WERE ITEMS THAT YOU ALL SAID YOU WOULD REVIEW, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE FOLLOW UP, AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT YA'LL MET WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD THAT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT I THINK MAKES ME COMFORTABLE TODAY.

I BELIEVE THAT IT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE, AND I KNOW THAT NOT EVERY STAKESTAKEHOLDER IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE SATISFIED BUT I FEEL WE WERE PRAGMATIC IN OUR APPROACH AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHEN WE PASS ORDNANCES IS AND ADOPT POLICIES WE SHOULD ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE INTENDED CONSEQUENCES OR CONSIDER THAT IN PARTICULAR, AND SO I DO FEEL THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER TO BE PRACTICAL ABOUT HOW WE ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE OTHER CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE BY LIUNA AND OTHER GROUPS SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW AND INCORPORATE THESE, AND I KNOW I'LL BE MEETING -- I TRY TO MEET WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE WHEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING; RIGHT? AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL DO THAT, AND ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW

[02:50:01]

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

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YES, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, BRENDA, AND I WANT TO ECHO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE'S SENTIMENTS ABOUT READY TO WORK AND IF NECESSARY, WE NEED TO PIVOT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE TARGET INDUSTRIES IN AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH GREATER SATX TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING WHAT IS TRENDING IN TERMS OF WHAT POTENTIALLY WANTS TO MOVE HERE TO SAN ANTONIO AND JUST ALSO WITH THE CONTINUED EFFORTS TO GET US OUT THERE GLOBALLY. I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING RECENTLY WHAT I JUST MENTIONED IS IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO RELOCATE TO THE STATES, AND WHEN THEY LOOK AND TEXAS IS VERY DESIRABLE, DALLAS AND HOUSTON ARE GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO RELOCATE TO.

SO I THINK OUR EFFORTS HERE, SAN ANTONIO IS A GREAT OPTION, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THAT. THANK YOU.

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

>> SUKH KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION ON SLIDE 11, BRENDA.

FOR THE LAST ROWS OF TAX ABATEMENT VALUE. WHY ARE WE CHANGING THAT TO BASED ON THE APPLICATION VERSUS ACTUAL INVESTMENT.

>> IT'S JUST REALLY TO PROVIDE MORE ASSURANCE FOR OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

A LOT OF OTHER -- WHEN WE CHECK THE TAX ABATEMENT.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO, BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S EXPLICIT IN THE POLICY THAT WE WILL BE DOING IT.

>> SUKH KAUR: OKAY. THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE SEEN AS A -- YOU KNOW, YOU COULD PROJECT SOMETHING, BUT IF IT'S A MORE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, I WOULD THINK YOU WANT TO REWARD THAT.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING IT'S AN INDUSTRY NORM SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SEEN AS

A DISINCENTIVE. >> NO. OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE FORT WORTH, THEY DO CAP THEIR ABATEMENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND IT GIVES US FLEXIBILITY THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT BY CASE BY CASE BASIS.

>> SUKH KAUR: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I ECHO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUE'S SENTIMENTS THAT YOU DID A GOOD JOB BRINGING COLLEAGUE STAKEHOLDERS

TO THE B SESSION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 4.

OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4. PLE4.PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 45. >> AN ARE AN ORDNANCE ADOPTING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TAX ABATEMENT GUIDELINES FROM JANUARY 2025 TO DECEMBER 31, 20.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, OR?

>> PRESENTATION I PROVIDED ENCOMPASSED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

NOT SEPARATE. THANK YOU, BRENDA. WE'LL JUMP INTO ITEM 5.

FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT. ARE YOU GOING TO -- OKAY. SO WE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

LET ME HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM 5. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 5. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: JUST A BIG THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK AGAIN, TEAM, THIS IS NOT AS EXCITING AS HORSES AND IT'S NOT GOING TO GET MUCH FRONT PAGE COVERAGE, BUT VERY IMPORTANT NONETHELESS, SO I

WITNESS YOUR WORK AND I APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 5. OKAY.

HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

[02:55:02]

>> THANK YOU. AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE TODAY, BUT THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. SAN ANTONIO IS 7 CITIES NATIONWIDE THAT RECEIVED A GOLD CITY STATUS FROM CITY HEALTH, AND EACH YEAR, THEY ASSESS 75 OF THE LARGEST U.S. CITIES FOR SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AND EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH POLICIES. YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE CITY HEALTH FOLKS WERE HERE LAST APRIL, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THEM BACK NEXT YEAR, BUT SAN ANTONIO WAS AWARDED THE OVERALL GOLD MEDAL IN 6 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AND WE'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON OUR LINK ON OUR WEBSITE AND THE PRESS RELEASE. I WANT TO THANK -- IT'S NOT JUST THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GIVE THESE REWARDS, IT'S TROY AND ERICA, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CAT HERNANDEZ IN TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THE TRANSPORTATION'S WORK ON THE COMPLETE STREETS INITIATIVE REALLY SEALED OUR SCORE FOR THIS I DON'T THINK CLAUDE IS IN THE ROOM BUT THANK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK IN THAT AREA.

OUR SECOND ITEM IS ON OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

SINCE 2010, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS BEEN A RECOGNIZED BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS BEEN NOTED FOR OUR ACCREDITATION.

AND WE ACHIEVED THAT ACCREDITATION AGAIN THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION SERVICE ASSESSMENT. IT WAS CONDUCTED IN NOVEMBER THEY REVIEWED EVERYTHING THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DOES, EVERY BUSINESS PROCESS. THEY INTERVIEWED STAKEHOLDERS, PERFORMED TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS, AND DID RIDE ALONGS WITH INSPECTORS AND CODE OFFICERS. NO CORRECTIVE ACTIONS RECOMMENDED.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TEAM.

THIS WILL BE -- THIS IS IMPORTANT AS WE WORK TOWARDS OUR CODE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST SUMMER. SO I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE MIKE, AMIN, MELISSA, AND THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TEAM. FINALLY, OUR EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO. I MET THIS EMPLOYEE SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

HER NAME IS CHRISTINE HILL AND SHE IS THE FILM AND MUSIC PROJECT MANAGER IN OUR ARTS AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT. SHE STARTED IN SOLID WASTE AS A CASHIER AND HAS A VERY INTERESTING BACKGROUND AND HER JOB DUTIES INCLUDE THE FILM PERMITS AND THE LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT PROGRAM. SHE'S GOT A GREAT STORY, SO LET'S ROLL THAT VIDEO.

OF SAN ANTONIO, I DO MANAGE THE FILM PERMITTING PROCESS FOR ALL CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LOCATIONS. I MANAGE OUR LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT PROGRAM THAT FEATURES LOCAL SAN ANTONIO MUSICIANS AND THEIR ORIGINAL SONGS AND PROVIDE CITY COUNCIL WITH THEIR CITY COUNCIL ENTRANCE SONGS. THE MOST GRATIFYING ASPECT OF MY JOB IS BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH SAN ANTONIO ARTISTS, WHETHER THEY'RE FILMMAKERS, MUSICIANS, AND SEEING THEIR DREAMS AND VISIONS AND THEIR ARTWORK COME TO LIFE. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT WORKING FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS HIGHLIGHTING OUR ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITIES, WHICH IN MY OPINION REALLY MAKE UP THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY. I THINK THIS DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE DEFINITELY EMBODIES TEAMWORK. BY THE NATURE OF OUR ROLES, WE WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY. I WOULD ALSO SAY INTEGRITY BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE ARTISTS AND IT TAKES A LOT OF INTEGRITY TO CONTINUE SHOWING UP AND COMMITTING SO MUCH EVERY DAY AND DOING YOUR BEST KNOWING THAT YOU'RE NOT THE FEATURED STAR, YOU'RE JUST THE ONE THAT HELPED PUSH THE PROJECT TO LIGHT.

OUR TEAM AND OUR DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE I THINK SERVES THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BY HIGHLIGHTING OUR CULTURAL HISTORY, OUR ARTISTIC COMMUNITY.

SAN ANTONIO IS JUST A RICH TAPESTRY OF ALL KINDS OF CREATIVE ARTS AND OUR DEPARTMENT SHINES A LIGHT ON THAT AND GETS TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WALSH: THAT'S IT, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANKS, ERIK. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE LUNCH FIRST. AND THEN WE'LL DO THE EXEC AFTERWARDS.

IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND CONVENE BACK THERE, I AM GOING TO CALL THE EXEC OPEN

[Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the C Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ]

[03:00:05]

THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON.

TIME IS 2:52 P.M. ON THE 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2024. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.