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>> WE'RE GOING TO START. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US. YOU . OUR CLERK IS GOING TO TAKE ROLL.
[Approval of Minutes ]
WE HAVE TO APPROVE OUR NOVEMBER MINUTES. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
PLEASE SAY AYE. THAT WAS UNANIMOUS. OUR FIRST ITEM IS SALLY BASURTO TALKING TO US ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTSTODAY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
WELCOME TO THE 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING AND MONITORING FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S SIDE OF THE HOUSE SINCE MID-NOVEMBER. AS YOU WILL SEE HERE, TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF THE 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
LOOKING A LITTLE BIT INTO THE FORECAST, THE GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO SHARE HIS PRIORITIES OF THE STATE OF THE STATE IN FEBRUARY.
SO WE'LL HAVE A WAITING GAME THERE. THE SPEAKER SELECTION AND VOTING PROCESS WILL BE INITIATED TODAY. SO WE HOPE TO KNOW BY END OF DAY OR SOMETIME TONIGHT THE PENDING COMMITTEE -- I'M SORRY -- THE SPEAKER SELECTION IS UNDERGOING RIGHT NOW, AND WE WILL KNOW OF THE SELECTED SPEAKER HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE. SOON AFTER THAT, WE EXPECT TO HEAR THE SPEAKER SELECTIONS FOR THE COMMITTEES SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THOSE KEY APPOINTMENTS FOR THOSE KEY COMMITTEES THAT WE WILL BE TRACKING THAT WILL BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO THE CITY.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE WILL RELEASE HIS BUDGET UPDATE. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, HOT OFF THE PRESS, HE PROJECTED THAT THE STATE WILL HAVE $195 BILLION FOR GENERAL PURPOSE SPENDING THIS SESSION. THAT INCLUDES A $23.8 BILLION SURPLUS.
THE RAINY DAY FUND IS EXPECTED TO REACH ABOUT $29 BILLION FOR 2027.
TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 2500 BILLS FILED. BILL FILING STARTED NOVEMBER 12. SO IT'S BEEN A COUPLE MONTHS OF BILL TRACKING AND RESEARCHING AND REVIEWING THOSE BILLS. THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM ALONG WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFYING THESE BILLS, REVIEWING THESE BILLS AS TO THE POSSIBLE IMPACT TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THOSE LIAISONS TO DETERMINE ESPECIALLY THE NEGATIVE IMPACT, WHETHER IT'S FISCAL POLICY AND ANY OTHER ACTION ITEMS REGARDING STRATEGY THAT WE WILL BE COORDINATING WITH OUR STATE CONSULTANTS AND BRINGING TO YOU FOR ANY ADDITIONAL ACTION. LEADERSHIP PRIORITY ISSUES HA HAVE NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED. WHEN THOSE EMERGENCY ITEMS ARE RELEASED BY THE GOVERNOR, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE THOSE WITH YOU.
WE ANTICIPATE AS WE'VE HEARD IN THE PAST THAT SCHOOL VOUCHER BILLS AND BORDER SECURITY WILL BE AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST.
IN THE MEANTIME, NO BILLS CAN BE PASSED. THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE FILED FOR THE NEXT 60 DAYS THROUGH MID-MARCH. WE'LL REPORT BACK TO YOU ON THOSE BILLS. AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE EAST-WEST BUSINESS CORRIDOR IS A TOP PRIORITY. SINCE THE APPROVAL OF THE PROGRAM A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, WE HAVE HOSTED SEVERAL STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS THAT HAVE INCLUDED OUR MANUFACTURING PARTNERS, LOCAL SAN ANTONIO CHAMBERS AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER STAKEHOLDERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY LIKE GREATER SATX, UNIVERSITY HEALTH, TEXAS A&M, AND OTHERS. OF COURSE, AT THE TOP OF THE CHAMBER'S LIST LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS A SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP.
WE HAVE ADDITIONALLY AS WE WERE DOING OUR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
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OF OUR STATE DELEGATION MEMBERS' OFFICES AND STAFF, WE BRIEFED EVERY SINGLE OFFICE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE AND THE PRIORITY ASPECT OF THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY AND OUR PARTNERS, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. OUR NEXT STEPS INCLUDE KEY MEETINGS WITH STATE LEADERSHIP, AND AS SOON AS THOSE HAPPEN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO YOU THE OUTCOME OF THOSE MEETINGS AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS WHICH WILL INFORM OUR NEXT STEPS IN OUR ACTION ITEMS IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME. JUST A QUICK GLANCE AT THE MAP THAT YOU SEE HERE. THIS IS A PRELIMINARY DRAFT, AS YOU CAN SEE.IT CONNECTS THIS MAJOR ROADWAY THOROUGHFARE BETWEEN INTERSTATE 35 AND INTERSTATE 37. TO INFORM YOU, WE INCLUDED THOSE MAJOR MANUFACTURING ENTITIES AND THE OTHER PARTNERS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS ROADWAY. UNDER THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED SINCE NOVEMBER THAT IMPACT THE CITY'S ABILITY TO PRESERVE THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE ESSENTIALLY, AS I'VE SHARED BEFORE, SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT MAINTAINS YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE LOCAL DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE BILLS FILED THAT PROHIBIT MUNICIPALITIES FROM HIRING ADVOCATES OR JOINING ASSOCIATIONS ON BEHALF OF CITIES AND OTHER ENTITIES THAT DO THEIR WORK AT THE CAPITOL. THIS IS WHAT YOU'VE HEARD US DISCUSSED BEFORE IS A TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING BILL. THE LANGUAGE IN THIS BILL DOES EXTEND TO STATE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS TML. SEVERAL OTHER BILLS ADDRESS LAND USE, INCLUDING CITY REGULATIONS ON ADUS AND OTHER LOT DENSITY AND PLATS AND ETJ ISSUES. THESE ARE TYPICAL LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT BILLS THAT WE TRACK EVERY SINGLE SESSION.
FOR EXAMPLE, AS FILED, HB-309 PROHIBITS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, AS I SAID EARLIER, FROM SPENDING PUBLIC FUNDS TO HIRE INDIVIDUALS REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS A LOBBYIST. ON TO HB-787, THIS WOULD PREVENT CITIES FROM PROHIBITING AD US ON LOT SIZES FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND IT INCLUDES SEVERAL LOT REQUIREMENT RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD BE CAPPED AT CERTAIN SCARE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED THESE FOR OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TEAMS, AND THEY ARE RESEARCHING THOSE BILLS AND REVIEWING AND PROVIDING AN ANALYSIS TO US. HB-369, THIS IS A LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT BILL RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF A MUNICIPALITY TO REGULATE THE NUMBER OF HOMES OR DWELLINGS ON CERTAIN PROPERTIES.
SO THIS IS ANOTHER BILL THAT, OF COURSE, IS OF CONCERN TO US THAT WE ARE REVIEWING ALONG WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. HB-282 IS ETJ-RELATED.
THIS IS SUBDIVISION AUTHORITY. A COUNTY -- SPECIFICALLY, A COUNTY OVER 370,000 POPULATION OR MORE WOULD BE ABLE TO AMEND AND ORDER NOT A AGREEMENT TO REGULATE SUBDIVISION PLATS WITHIN AN ETJ, WHICH INCLUDES PERMITTING AS WELL. ON TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THE FIRST ONE ON OUR LIST, THESE BILLS SPECIFICALLY WOULD AFFECT MUNICIPAL COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AS WE LAID THEM OUT IN OUR STATE PROGRAM. IN PARTICULAR, HB-167, THIS IS A DEI-REE RELATED BILL. IT WOULD PROHIBIT GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES FROM INCLUDING DEI BUT AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
OUR DEI TESTIMONY IS REVIEWING THIS BILL. THERE IS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT INCLUDES UNLESS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW.
SO OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE CONCERNS FOR US ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BILL.
WE WILL BE PROVIDING ONGOING UPDATES TO YOU HERE AS WELL.
FOR THIS PARTICULAR BILL, WE WILL FOCUS ON THE FEDERAL LAW COMPLIANCE AND JUST REALLY FOCUS ON THE EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF SERVICES OF THE DEI OFFICE. ICMOVING ON TO HB-239 AND ITS COMPANION BILL SB-240. THIS IS RELATED TO PRIVACY SPACES. A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION IN OUR CASE THE CITY, SHALL REQUIRE EACH PRIVATE SPACE A REST ROOM, LOCKER ROOM, CHANGING ROOM, OR SHOWER AND OTHER AREAS LOCATED WITHIN A FACILITY OR OPERATED BY THE CITY, AND IT MUST BE DESIGNATED BY PERSONS
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BASED ON THE PERSON'S BIOLOGICAL SEX. THE BILL DOES INCLUDE LANGUAGE WITH PENALTIES ATTACHED TO IT. SO OBVIOUSLY THIS BRINGS CONCERN TO US AS WELL. HB-636, THIS IMPLEMENTS A STATEWIDE HOMELESS DATA SHARING NETWORK TO SHARE REAL TIME DATA ON HOMELESSNESS.SO THIS WOULD BE ACTUALLY A BENEFIT TO THE WORK THAT WE DO ON HOMELESSNESS WITH OUR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS PARTNERS.
ON TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, THESE ARE BILLS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THE CITY'S MISSION TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AS PER THE STATE PROGRAM AS WELL. LEGISLATION HAS BEEN FILED THAT WOULD PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP.
AS YOU KNOW, THE DANGEROUS DOGS BILL FILED IN THE LAST SESSION BY REP COME POSE AND SENATOR MENENDEZ HAS BEEN REFILED.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE TWEAKS THAT WILL BE DONE TO THE BILL THAT WAS FILED BY REP CAMPOS AND SENATOR MENENDEZ TO MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE THE OPTIONS THAT WE REQUESTED IN ORDER TO NOT JUST ADDRESS THE ISSUES IN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY BUT ALSO BE RESPECTFUL AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONCERNS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS IN HIS VETO LANGUAGE UNTIL THE LAST SESSION.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND AND AS A REMINDER, THE VARIOUS SECTIONS INCLUDE THE CLASS B MISDEMEANOR FOR BODILY INJURY CAUSED BY A DOG ATTACK.
CURRENTLY, ONLY CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY HAS A PENALTY.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING THAT ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE FOR BODILY INJURY AS WELL.
SECOND PIECE ALLOWS FOR AN ANONYMOUS REPORTING OF DANGEROUS ANIMALS.
THIRD ONE ALLOWS ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICE TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS WITHOUT WITNESS SWORN-IN STATEMENTS AND THEN THE FOURTH PIECE IS INCREASE PENALTY FOR REPEAT OFFENSES. THAT WOULD ALSO BE CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. SO THOSE ARE THE VARIOUS PIECES TO IT.
WE WILL BE REPORTING BACK TO YOU AS THE BILL IS FILED AND EVOLVES FURTHER. THOSE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH KEY LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN. MVING ON TO THE OTHER BILLS THAT INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS SUCH AS HB-1656.
THIS ONE EXPANDS THE EMERGENCY DETENTION LAWS THAT ALLOWS PARAMEDICS TO HAVE EMERGENCY PROTECTIONS OF CURRENTLY ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN CONDUCT EMERGENCY DETENTIONS. THIS WILL ALLOW SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND FLEXIBILITY THERE TO ACT ACCORDINGLY.
THE DETENTION IS LIMITED TO TAKING THE INDIVIDUAL TO A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY FOR SUPPORT SERVICES AND FURTHER EXAMINATION.
HB-1203 ESTABLISHES AN OFFICE OF FOOD SYSTEMS SECURITY AND RESILIENCY WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ENSURE THAT THE STATE'S FOOD SYSTEM IS CONTINUOUS WITHOUT DISRUPTION, PROMOTES FOOD SECURITY, AND EXPANDS LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD MARKETS IN ACCESS. SO THAT IS ACTUALLY A GOOD BILL THAT WE'LL BE TRACKING CLOSELY AS WELL.
HB-4 THE 8 PROHIBITS FAMILY VIOLENCE OFFENSES AND SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS OR EMERGENCY PROTECT COURT ORDER FOR PO AT THE SCENING FIREARMS. WE HAVE LANGUAGE IN OUR PROGRAM THAT COVERS ALL THESE ITEMS THAT WE ARE TRACKING AND LAYING OUT FOR YOU TODAY.
ON TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY, THESE ARE THE BILLS.
CREATING A RESILIENT FUTURE FOR SAN ANTONIO SPECIFICALLY, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE FIRST ONE IS PREEMPTING ANY ORDINANCE, RESOLUTION, RULE, OR REGULATION ADOPTED BY CITIES REGARDING THE USE OF HIGH RISK ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR AI. THAT'S HB-1709. WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS AND IT'S UNDER REVIEW WITH OUR CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER.
THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS TO THIS BILL THAT WE ARE REVIEWING RIGHT NOW.
FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LEAD BILL AUTHOR, OUR CIO DID PARTICIPATE IN A HEARING A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH KEY LEADERSHIP ON THIS BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AIM HOPEFULLY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.
THE NEXT BILL IS HB-407. THIS ESSENTIALLY MANDATES CITIES TO UPDATE THEIR CODES TO REQUIRE CERTAIN
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RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE INSTALLATION OF SPECIFIC SOLAR ENERGY DEVICES. THE NEXT ONE IS HB-769 ESTABLISHING A PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT ADMINISTERED BY TDHCA TO PROVIDE GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS SIDEWALKS, CURBS, AND BED LIGHTING. THE NEXT SECTION OF MY PRESENTATION INCLUDES SOME PENDING ITEMS THAT WE WANTED TO BRING BEFORE THE IGR COMMITTEE. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE FIRST ITEM IS THE SALE OF E-CIGARETTES NEAR SCHOOLS. THE NEXT ONE IS RELATED TO VEHICLABLIS. THE THIRD ONE IS MUNICIPAL PROCUREMENT PROCESSES. THE LAST AND FINAL ITEM IS FIRE AND POLICE RETIREE HEALTHCARE FUND. SO FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY, I WILL PROVIDE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME BILLS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED AT THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE FEEL WOULD BE BILLS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESOLVE OR ADDRESS THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO US BY THE VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS. THE FIRST ONE IS THE SALE OF E-CIGARETTES NEAR SCHOOLS. WE ARE TRACKING SEVERAL BILLS HERE, SB-464, HB-1183, AND HB-1816. THESE ESSENTIALLY ALL HAVE VARIOUS LANGUAGE THAT IS VERY SIMILAR. THE FIRST ONE 464 LETS CITIES -- ALLOWS FOR CITIES TO PASS ORDINANCES PROHIBITING E-CIGARETTE RETAILERS FROM OPERATING WITHIN 300 FEET OF A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL OR CAMPUS.
SO 300 FEET WITHIN A PRIMARY SCHOOL OR SECONDARY CAMPUS WOULD BE PROHIBITED UNDER THIS BILL. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO RETAILERS WHOSE E-CIGARETTE SALES ARE LESS THAN 50%.
SO A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE GAS STATIONS, CORNER STORES, GROCERY STORES, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH HAVE A VERY DIVERSE RETAIL OPERATION THAT'S NOT JUST E-CIGARETTES. HB-1183, THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY, AGAIN, INCLUDES LANGUAGE OF THE 300 FEET FROM A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL CAMPUS. THIS ONE ALSO INCLUDES 1,000 FEET, IF REQUESTED BY GOVERNING BODY OR SCHOOL.
IT ALSO DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE LARGE RETAIL STORES AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, GROCERY STORES, CORNER STORES, FOR EXAMPLE.
HB-1816, SAME ABILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PASS ORDINANCES FOR OPERATIONS WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF A PUBLIC OR PRIMARY SCHOOL.
THIS IS BUSINESSES THAT HAVE 50% OR LESS OF THEIR TOTAL SALES THAT ARE NOT E-CIGARETTES. THE NEXT ITEM IS VEHICLE BURGLARIES.
IN COORDINATION WITH SAPD, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CENTRO SAN ANTONIO, AND THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS REQUESTED THE CITY'S SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR CAR BREAK-INS. THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM IS TRACKING THESE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED, FILED AT THE STATE LEVEL. IN PARTICULAR, HB-548 INCREASES THE CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR VEHICLE BURGLARY CASES. THIS IS A CLEAT-REQUESTED FILING OF THIS BILL, AND WE ARE -- WE HAVE LANGUAGE IN THE PROGRAM, IN THE COUNCIL-APPROVED PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES VIOLENCE AND CRIME PREVENTION AS A TARGET AREA IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY THAT WE FEEL IS SUFFICIENT LANGUAGE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED TO ALLOW US TO GIVE SUPPORT TO THIS PARTICULAR BILL THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED. SO THAT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY. UNDER THE MUNICIPAL PROCUREMENT PROCESSES, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT CAME TO US AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT VARIOUS FIXES IN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THEIR FINANCE OPERATIONS UNDER THE PROCUREMENT PROCESSES.
WE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL BILLS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED RELATED TO THESE AREAS THAT YOU SEE HERE THAT ARE UNDER DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW.
FOR EXAMPLE, HB-790 INCREASES COMPETITIVE BIDDING THRESHOLD.
HB-386 INCREASES CHANGE ORDERS THRESHOLD TO NO MORE THAN 25% OF AN
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ORIGINAL CONTRACT PRICE FOR CERTAIN CONTRACTS. THEN HB-1080 PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION TO NEWSPAPER POSTINGS SUCH AS DIGITAL.SO THAT WOULD FACILITATE THE FINANCE TEAM TO BE ABLE TO POST THIS INFORMATION ON DIGITAL VERSION VERSUS NEWSPAPER POSTINGS.
AGAIN, THE COUNCIL-APPROVED PROGRAM SUPPORTS MAINTAINING A FISCALLY SOUND AND WELL MANAGED ORGANIZATION TO ALLOW FOR HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THIS IS THE LANGUAGE WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WOULD ALLOW US THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT THESE PARTICULAR BILLS AS FILED.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE BILLS ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE AS THEY EVOLVE WITHIN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. SO WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY EXACTLY -- CLOSE TO WHAT WE NEED THEM TO BE IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE A SUPPORT OF ACTION ITEM OF THAT BILL. FINALLY, THIS BRINGS US TO THE FIRE AND POLICE RETIREE HEALTHCARE FUND. THE FIR FIRE AND POLICE RETIREE HEALTHCARE FUND IS SEEKING TO FILE LEGISLATION TO MAKE CHANGES TO ARTICLE 6443Q.
THE STATE STATUTE THAT GOVERNS THE FUND IN ITS PLAN PROVISIONS.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES YOU SEE HERE PROPOSED WITH NOT A ESTIMATED 0.03% DECREASE IN THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY AND THOSE INCLUDE -- I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TEXT. IT'S A LITTLE SMALL. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE DUE TO THE TECHNICALITY OF IT THAT WE WERE GOING TO SPELL THESE OUT FOR YOU AND WE DO HAVE THE FINANCE TEAM THAT HAS REVIEWED THIS AND COORDINATED ACCORDINGLY WITH THE PENSION FUND REPRESENTATIVE TO PROVIDE THE RECOMMENDATION TO YOU TODAY FOR AMENDMENT OF THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE SUPPORT LANGUAGE. THE FIRST ONE -- AND I WILL PARAPHRASE -- IS PROVIDING RETIREES THE OPTION TO DIRECTLY PAY FOR THEIR POST-RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND RATHER THAN HAVE CONTRIBUTIONS TAKEN OUT OF THEIR PENSION CHECKS. SECOND ONE IS PROVIDING RETIREES THE OPTION TO PAY THEIR POST-RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION IN A LUMP SUM VERSUS MONTHLY. AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS ALLOWING THE BOARD TO CHANGE THE PLAN TO PERMIT REMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSES TO REMAIN IN THE PLAN REGARDLESS OF THE IMPACT TO THEIR UNFUNDED LIABILITY. FOURTH AND FINAL, ALLOWING MARRIED COUPLES BOTH ACTIVE UNIFORM MEMBERS OF THE CITY THE ABILITY UPON RETIREMENT OF THE FIRST SPOUSE TO WAIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN AND ANY RESIDUAL CONTRIBUTION UNLESS THEY DIVORCE. AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN REVIEWED, STUDIED, AND VETTED BY THE FINANCE TEAM AND OUR CFO.
WE RECOMMEND ADDING THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT STATEMENT TO THE CITY'S PROGRAM AS FOLLOWS: SUPPORT FOR THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE AND POLICE HEALTHCARE FUND INITIATIVES TO INCLUDE ALLOWING RETIREES FLEXIBILITY IN PAYMENT OF REQUIRED CONTRIBUTIONS, ALLOWING SURVIVING SPOUSES TO RETAIN COVERAGE IF THEY REMARRY AND ALLOWING A RETIREE TO DEFER COVERAGE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN IF THEY ARE MARRIED TO ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PLAN AND HAS NOT YET RETIRED. SO, AGAIN, VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.
WE HAVE FINANCE TEAM HERE REPRESENT HIVES TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL AS FRANK, REPRESENTING THE FIRE AND POLICE PENSION GROUP FOR ANYMORE IN THE WEEDS TYPE QUESTION. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.
THANK YOU. >> THANKS. HB-167 THAT WAS FILED THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, THE ONE THAT ELIMINATES ALL DEI PROGRAMS FROM ANY COUNTY MUNICIPALITY, IT INCLUDES NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW GOVERNMENT ENTITY MAY NOT AWARD A CONTRACT OR PROVIDE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO A PERSON SUBMITTING A BID FOR A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, ETHNICITY, ET CETERA.
THAT'S THE S THE KILLING OF IT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE ARE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM PROVIDED AN ANALYSIS. THERE ARE VERY DEFINITE ITEMS OF CONCERN ALONG THE LINES WITH WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED CHAIRMAN.
>> THANKS. QUESTIONS FROM THE DIE AS?
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> THANK YOU.
WHAT I GATHER MOSTLY THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT BEYOND THE STANDARD UPDATE IS FEEDBACK ON THE ADDITIONAL -- THE PENDING ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I BELIEVE AT LEAST NON OPPOSITION FOR ALL OF
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THESE. I'M FAIRLY SUPPORTIVE. I GUESS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE NEXT UPDATE WOULD BE COULD YOU SHARE THE WORK OF OUR DELEGATION, ANY SPECIFIC BILLS THEY'VE FILED OR HAVE SUPPORTED RELATING TO OUR AGENDA, EITHER THINGS WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF OR OPPOSED TO? WOULD LOVE THAT UP UPDATE TO SEE THE ACTION THAT OUR DELEGATES ARE DOING ON THE GROUND. BUT OTHER THAN THAT,GREAT WORK. THANK YOU ALL A TON. >> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER. >> COUNCILMEMBER, COULD WE, AS A SUGGESTION SO WE DON'T WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER MONTH FOR THAT, WE COULD PROVIDE YOU A MEMO THAT WOULD DETAIL THE BILLS FROM EACH MEMBER THAT YOU COULD CLICK ON AND LINK. I THINK SALLY IS GIVING UPDATES AS IT RELATES TO THE SPECIFIC ITEMS IN OUR PROGRAM, BUT MY GUESS IS THERE'S A LOT OF BILLS THAT OUR MEMBERS HAVE FILED THAT YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN. SO WE CAN GIVE YOU THAT FULL REPORT BY MEMO AND SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND GIVE YOU THE CONVENIENCE TO LOOK
THROUGH THEM. >> THAT WOULD BE FABULOUS.
THANK YOU. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
QUICK COUPLE QUESTIONS. AROUND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, THE BILL THAT WAS REFILED HB-1346, WHAT ARE WE -- HOW ARE WE GOING TO -- ARE WE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS TIME TO ENSURE DIFFERENT
OUTCOME? >> COUNCILMEMBER, WHICH BILL DID YOU REFER TO?
>> IT WAS THE PET OWNERSHIP AND DANGEROUS DOGS ONE.
>> YES. SO THE BILL THAT WAS FILED, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, REP CAMPOS AND SENATOR MENENDEZ FILED FROM LAST SESSION.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE HAVE PROVIDED LANGUAGE TO THEM IN ORDER TO BE RESPECTFUL AND TRY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. WE'RE ALSO COORDINATING WITH OTHER DELEGATION MEMBERS. WHEN I DID MY BRIEFING ON OUR PROGRAM, THAT IS AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST. WE RECEIVED, FROM EVERY SINGLE MEMBER THAT WE BRIEFED, SUPPORT FOR IT. SO WE HAVE SEVERAL IRONS IN THE FIRE, AND ALL STRATEGICALLY TO TRY TO GET AT A POSITIVE OUTCOME TO GET ONE OF THESE BILLS PASSED. SO WE'RE ESSENTIALLY NOT JUST FILING ONE BILL. WE'RE GOING TO BE FILING MULTIPLE BILLS AND KIND OF DIVIDING AND NOT PUTTING ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
IT'S EARLY IN THE PROCESS. SO I CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE, THE CHAIRMAN, AND THE MEMBERS AN UPDATE AS THE
ADDITIONAL BILLS GET FILED. >> YEAH.
I WAS JUST THINKING BECAUSE THAT WENT TO THE END, IF THERE WAS A WAY TO CHANGE THAT OUTCOME OR IF WE WERE GOING TO EXPECT THE SAME THING. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE THINKING PREEMPTIVELY.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MEMBERS REACH OUT TO -- THEY REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND ARE WORKING THROUGH NEW LANGUAGE RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY. FOR THE E-CIGARETTES NEAR SCHOOLS, WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS SITUATION? OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH OUR STUDENTS. SO EXCITED THIS IS MOVING FORWARD. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WHBUSINESSES THAT
EXIST WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS? >> WELL, IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON WHAT THE BILL DICTATES WOULD HAPPEN. SO AS YOU NOTICE, A LOT OF THESE BILLS HAVE NUANCED LANGUAGE 300 FEET ALL THE WAY UP TO 1,000 FEET. SO THESE ARE THE BILLS AS FILED.
I DOUBT THEY ARE GOING TO REMAIN THAT WAY. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS SUPPORTING THESE BILLS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS OPPOSING THEE BILLS. SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT THE ACTUAL IMPACT TO THESE BUSINESSES WILL BE.
OBVIOUSLY IF THE COMMITTEE HAS ANY CONCERNS, WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK SO THAT AS WE'RE COMMUNICATING, NOT JUST WITH YOU OUR DELEGATION BUT WITH THE BILL AUTHORS, WE CAN RELY THAT.
>> THE OPPOSITION WOULD BE FOLKS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
DO ANY OF THESE BILLS HAVE CAVEATS FOR THE BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO RUN BUT NOT SELL E-CIGARETTES TO A TARGETED AUDIENCE OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT? >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
WE CAN LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU. IT'S BEING -- THEY'RE ALL BEING REVIEWED RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, AS FILED THEY MIGHT SAY ONE THING, AND AS THEY ARE BEING -- AS THEY ARE EVOLVING WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY WOULD CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE IDEAS AND CONCERNS THAT ARE BEING LAID OUT.
NOT JUST AT THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS BUT TO THE BILL SPONSORS.
GO AHEAD. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
WAS THE QUESTION THAT, WOULD THE BUSINESS BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING BUSINESS AND NOT SELLING? I THINK SALLY MENTIONED IT WHEN SHE WENT THROUGH IT INITIALLY. THE LENG IS LATION DOES NOT APPLY TO A RETAILER THAT GENERATES LESS THAN 50% OF ITS REVENUES FROM E-CIGARETTES. SO IT'S INTENDEDDED TO PROHIBIT SPECIFIC VAPING
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E-CIGARETTE STORES, NOT LIKE A GENERAL CONVENIENCE STORE THATSELLS A LOT OF PRODUCTS. >> WHAT'S THE ALCOHOL
VARIANCE RULE? IS IT 300 FEET? >> I'M NOT SURE.
YEAH. I'M NOT CERTAIN. >> YEAH.
IT IS 300 FEET. RIGHT? >> YEAH.
>> 300. >> OKAY. SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE THE 300 MINIMUM DISTANCE THRESHOLD IS COMING. I DIDN'T MEAN TO CONFUSE YOU WITH MY RESPONSE. JEFF IS RIGHT. THOSE SPECIFICALLY VAPING, E-CIGARETTE STORES WOULD HAVE TO MOVE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY GO OUT OF BUSINESS. THEY JUST WOULD HAVE TO MOVE AS PER STATE LAW IF
AND WHEN THESE BILLS PASS. >> AND I KNOW THIS IS WAY TOO PREEMPTIVE. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE BUSINESS THAT'S WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WOULD BE AFFECTED SO WE CAN GET SOME KIND OF UNDERSTANDING. AGAIN, WITH THE PREMISE BEING THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR KIDS. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW THE IMPACT.
>> IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE THING JUST FOR CONTEXT.
THE REASON IT WAS ONE OF OUR PENDING ITEMS IS BECAUSE OF THE CCR.
THAT GOES TO GOVERNANCE TOMORROW, AND I BELIEVE STAFF IS GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT IT BE SENT OVER TO IGR BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO WHAT SALLY IS RECOMMENDING IS WE'RE AHEAD OF THAT BY ONE STEP. UNLESS THE COMMITTEE DISAGREES, THEN THOSE BILLS ALIGN WITH THE INTENT OF THE CCR AND
SALLY AND HER TEAM CAN GO SUPPORT LEGISLATION. >> THIS CAME UP IN A COUPLE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS RECENTLY. JUST THINKING ABOUT, IT IS CITY PER VIEW TO BE ABLE TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE AROUND THE NUMBER OF SMOKE SHOPS WITHIN A CERTAIN AREA. RIGHT?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW.
AND THEN JUST WANTED TO ABSOLUTELY SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE VEHICLE BURGLARY LEGISLATION. I THINK THAT'S REAL 'IMPORTANT. WE SEE THE DATA THAT'S ONE OF OUR HIGHEST PROPERTY CRIME RATES. ON THE MUNICIPAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THAT WOULD BE GIVING US THE ABILITY TO INCREASE? WE DON'T HAVE TO, BUT IT WOULD BE GO I HAV
-- WOULD BE GIVING US THE ABILITY TO IN. >> YES.
AS THE BILL IS FILED RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE COMFORTABLE THIS WOULD GIVE THEM SOME ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY TO THE ORIGINAL OPTIONS
THAT THEY WERE WANTING TO PURSUE. >> OKAY.
>> I CAN ANSWER A LITTLE BIT SPECIFICALLY, TOO. THE FIRST ONE IS ABOUT THE MINIMUM AMOUNT THAT YOU HAVE -- I'M SORRY. THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMPETITIVELY BID IS CURRENTLY $50,000 RIGHT NOAH. THE BILL CHANGE IT TO 200,000.
SO ANYTHING OVER 200,000 WE WOULD NEED TO. BUT UNDER THAT, TO YOUR POINT, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR SMALLER CONTRACT IF WE WANT. THE NEXT ONE IS ABOUT CHANGE ORDERS.
IT'S THE SAME THING. IT CHANGES THE THRESHOLD.
>> CURRENTLY? >> IT'S A PERCENTAGE-BASED.
I THINK IT'S 25% IF IT'S A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE AND IT ADJUSTS TO $5 MILLION. WE CAN GIVE YOU THE SPECIFICS.
>> WHAT DO WE HAVE TO CURRENTLY POST IN NEWSPAPERS RIGHT NOW?
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT. RIGHT NOW, FOR STATUTE, WE HAVE TO POST CERTAIN PROCUREMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, LOW BIDS
ARE REALLY REQUIRED PER STATUTE TO 52. >> WE HAVE TO POST THEM
IN LIKE A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE? >> RIGHT NOW IN A NEWSPAPER. YES. RIGHT NOW IN A NEWSPAPER
PER STATUTE. >> SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO -- WHAT WOULD THE
ALTERNATIVE OPTION BE FOR THAT? >> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS POST ONLINE WHICH WE ALREADY DO. SO WE'RE TRYING TO NOT USE THE NEWSPAPER BECAUSE IT DOES COST TO POST USING OUR
TECHNOLOGY TO POST ONLINE INSTEAD. >> OKAY.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY.
GREAT. THOSE ARE THE MAIN QUESTIONS.
I SUPPORT THE RETIREMENT FUND AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK
ON THIS. THANKS, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, SALLY. SO I THINK I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THIS SESSION IN BITE SIZE PIECES. LET'S GET A SPEAKER FIRST. I THINK YOU'VE -- I MEAN, I LIKE WHAT WE HAVE HERE SO FAR. I THINK I'M VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT APPETITE STATE LEADERSHIP HAS FOR THE BILLS OTHER THAN THE
[00:35:01]
BORDER AND SCHOOL VOUCHERS. I THINK WITH WHAT YOU PRESENTED ON E-CIGARETTES AND VEHICLE BURGLARIES AND STAKEHOLDERS, THERE'S GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT UP IN AUSTIN.BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR EAST-WEST BUSINESS CORRIDOR, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE COALITION THAT'S COME TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE KEY AS WE SEE THAT TEXAS IS -- AND THE GOVERNOR IS COMMUNICATING THAT TEXAS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
I THINK AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT PRIORITY AND THEN REALLY WORK WITH OUR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS HERE IN THE CITY THAT ARE WATCHING ADDITIONAL BILLS THAT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC, WE NEED TO DO THAT.
THIS IS SO EARLY IN THE GAME. WITHOUT A SPEAKER, IT'S REALLY HARD, YOU KNOW. YOU CAN COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND ONCE WE HAVE THE SPEAKER, IT WILL BE DIFFERENT PIVOTS IN TERMS OF DIRECTIONS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE. SO IF YOU COULD JUST KEEP US POSTED AND THEN, JEFF, IF YOU COULD -- YOU KNOW THE PRIORITIES OF THE COUNCIL.
IF YOU COULD JUST SEND US MESSAGES ABOUT WHEN WE NEED TO BE READY TO HEAD UP TO AUSTIN IF IT'S MORE PRESSING THAN ON OUR SCHEDULED DAYS, PLEASE LET US KNOW. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE -- IT'S JUST KIND OF A DANCE THAT WE DO EVERY TWO YEARS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BECAUSE I THINK YOU GUYS ARE A GREAT TEAM. I THINK WE CAN GET SOME REALLY GOOD WORK DONE THIS SESSION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, SALLY, AND ALL YOUR TEAM FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING FOR US AND HAVE PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR. JUST A COUPLE QUICK COMMENTS. OBVIOUSLY, ON THE LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOG BILL FILINGS, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY THINK WE COULD BUILD OFF THE MOMENTUM THAT WE SAW AT OUR LOCAL LEVEL HERE THAT ALL OF US TOOK PART IN. SO IF THEY NEED MY HELP WITH THAT, WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP. DO WE HAVE SOME SPECIFICS? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO FILE MULTIPLE BILLS IN DIFFERENT STRATEGIES ON THAT. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING
SPECIFIC THERE YET? >> SO ESSENTIALLY, THE OVERARCHING STRATEGY, COUNCILMEMBER, IS INSTEAD OF FILING JUST ONE BILL WITH ALL THE MULTIPLE OPTIONS, THAT WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH MIKE SHANNON ON AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IS TO HAVE MULTIPLE BILLS IN HOPES THAT IF ONE OF THEM ADVANCES, EVENTUALLY AT LEAST ONE, TWO, BEST CASE SCENARIO ALL OF THEM PASS, BUT IF THEY DON'T, ONE OF THEM DOESN'T DIE WITH ALL OUR OPTIONS WE'VE REQUESTED TOGETHER.
WE'RE WORKING WITH MULTIPLE DELEGATION MEMBERS THAT WILL FILE SEPARATELY. IN THE CASE OF THE SUPPORT, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN SUPER SUPPORTIVE. LIKE THE LAST BILL THEY SUPPORTED REP COME POSE AND SENATOR MENENDEZ, BUT ALL THE LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE WAS IN ONE
BILL. ALL IT TOOK WAS ONE -- >> I THINK THAT THE STORY HERE IS THAT THERE WAS A MILLION WAYS WE WERE TOLD NO THAT THIS CAN'T BE DONE. WE WERE ABLE TO FIND WAYS AROUND IT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ACS AND OTHERS.
SO I THINK THAT THERE'S WAYS AROUND IT. I THINK THAT STRATEGY OF GIVING UP THE BILLS, SEE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT CAN STICK, WILL HELP US MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD THERE. TWO OTHER QUICK QUESTIONS. WHAT IS -- FIRST OFF, DOES THE CITY HAVE A STANCE ON GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM?
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THERE? >> THE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM, THERE'S NO LANGUAGE IN THE COUNCIL-APPROVED LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. SO WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON SCHOOL CHOICE VOUCHERS. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. WE HEARD THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS THAT IT WILL OBVIOUSLY REMAIN A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR. THOSE WILL BE UNVEILED BY THE GOVERNOR LIKELY IN AROUND EARLY FEBRUARY,
COUNCILMEMBER. >> OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.
AND DO WE -- LAST QUESTION. DO WE FORESEE ANY EFFORTS TOWARDS OUT OF STATE ABORTION TRAVEL FUNDS AFFECTING CITIES
SUCH AS AUSTIN DURING THIS SESSION? >> GOOD QUESTION.
I DON'T HAVE THE TRACKER IN FRONT OF ME. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE IDENTIFIED ANY OF THOSE BILLS, BUT WE CAN GO BACK AND SPECIFICALLY
LOOK AT THOSE AND THEN REPORT BACK TO YOU. >> OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD. THAT WILL BE HELPFUL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANKS, CHAIR. >> SORRY. I JUST HAD A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS. I DIDN'T SEE PROPERTY TAXES ON OUR LIST.
WOULD THAT FALL UNDER COMMUNITY NEEDS? >> SO WE ARE TRACKING PROPERTY TAX LEGISLATION. I ANTICIPATE THERE WILL
[00:40:02]
BE SEVERAL OF THOSE BILLS, AND WE CAN DO AN IMMEDIATE SEARCH FOR THOSE. WE'RE TRACKING RIGHT NOW OVER 400 BILLS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY REVIEWING IN QUEUE AND PROCESS.I'LL GO BACK AND WE'LL IDENTIFY ANY PROPERTY TAX RELIEF REFORM BILLS. I KNOW THAT IN PAST MONTHS, I REPORTED THAT THERE WAS AN APPETITE FOR THE SUPPORT ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WE CAN REPORT BACK TO YOU ANY SPECIFIC BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED
ALREADY. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT FALLS UNDERNEATH OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS PRIORITY.
RIGHT? >> SO LET ME SEE. I DO BELIEVE WE DO HAVE LANGUAGE THAT DOES FALL UNDER THAT THAT WOULD ALLOW US -- EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS DONE LOCALLY, AS MENTIONED WITH OTHER AREAS, WE'VE SHARED THAT WITH DELEGATION. WE WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE
OF ANY ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. >> JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS COVERED. AND THEN THE HOMELESS DATA SHARING NETWORK, DO
YOU HAVE ANY CONTEXT UNDER THAT? >> RIGHT NOW, I JUST KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE -- IT WOULD BE A BIG KIND OF NUCLEUS DATA REAL TIME SHARING DATABASE. THIS IS A BILL THAT'S BEING CARRIED BY AN AUTHOR THAT DID A LOT OF WORK DURING THE INTERIM SESSION.
I DO BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO HAVE LEGS, AND IT'S GOING TO MOVE.
I CAN GET THE DETAILS AND THEN KIND OF LAY OUT -- I DON'T THINK IT HAS A LOT OF MEAT TO THE BONE YET. BUT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS A RESOURCE OR A TOOL TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT DATA.
I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME WHAT THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THAT DATABASE WOULD INCLUDE, BUT IT WOULD BE AN INFORMATION SHARED
STATEWIDE. >> JUST LAUNCHED OUR CITYWIDE COMPREHENSIVE ONE. YOU JUST MENTIONED STATEWIDE.
RIGHT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTING TO BE ABLE TO SEE TRANSIT BETWEEN CITIES, BUT ALSO HOW IT WOULD INTERPLAY WITH WHAT WE JUST CREATED.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO LAUNCH THIS EFFORT TO DESIGN OUR LOCAL ONE.
>> WHAT I WILL DO IS SEND YOU WHAT WE HAVE AND THEN WE'LL WORK WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS TO GET NOT JUST YOUR FEEDBACK BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT'S FEEDBACK SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE BILL AUTHOR AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS IF THERE'S ANY AREAS OF
IMPROVEMENT. >> THAT'S GREAT. AND THE LAST QUESTION THAT I HAD -- SORRY -- IS AROUND -- DO WE HAVE ANY LANGUAGE AROUND SMALL BUSINESSES FOR COMMUNITY INTERESTS, LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HELP PREVENT BARRIERS OR REMOVE BARRIERS FOR THEM?
>> PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE OUR OVERARCHING LANGUAGE THAT WOULD PROTECT ANY CURRENT AND EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THAT WOULD BE THAT GENERAL LANGUAGE.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU'RE THINKING OF, HAVE YOUR STAFF OR LET ME KNOW AND THEN WE CAN GO DOWN THAT PATH AND SEE WHAT YOU'RE
THINKING OF. >> PERFECT. IS THE TRACKER -- DO YOU
PUBLISH A TRACKER, OR INTERNAL FOR YOU ALL? >> WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING -- YES. THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
WE'RE GOING TO DO MONTHLY UPDATES, NOT JUST HERE.
WE'RE PRO VOIDING A MEMO AND THEN UPLOADING INFORMATION ON TO THE CITY WEBSITE THAT HAS THE TRACKER OF ALL THE BILLS THAT WE'VE
IDENTIFIED THAT THE GA TEAM IS TRACKING. >> THAT YOU'RE TRACKING
OR IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES? >> THAT WE'RE TRACKING.
>> OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, CHAIR. >> ALL RIGHT.
SO TWO REALLY IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS IS -- THREE. ONE IS, WE ARE PLAYING DEFENSE THIS TIME AROUND. OUR OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY TO INOCULATION OURSELVES FROM ANY ATTEMPTS TO IMPEDE OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE OUR OWN AFFAIRS IN SAN ANTONIO.
TWO, THAT YOU ARE MONITORING 400 BILLS AND WORE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WE SHOULD EXPECT , YOU KNOW, A BIG WHEELBARROW OF BILLS BEING DUMPED ON YOUR DESK EVERY DAY AS WE MOVE FORWARD DURING THESE 140 DAYS. THERE'S ONLY RE THREE OF YOU IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND THAT'S YOU, CHRISTINE, AND NADIA --
I'M SORRY. THERE'S FOUR? >> THERE'S FIVE.
>> OKAY. >> I SHOULD DEFINITELY MENTION THAT THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, AND THEIR TEAMS ARE DEFINITELY PART OF THE TEAM THAT'S HELPING TO ASSESS.
>> ALL RIGHT. AND YOU GOT YOUR INTERN, JEFF COYLE, WHO IS ALSO ON THE JOB. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF LATE NIGHTS FOR YOU. I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS PRACTICALLY LIVE UP IN AUSTIN FOR 140 DAYS. SO TO YOUR FAMILIES AND YOU, THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THE SACRIFICE YOU'RE MAKING IN ORDER TO FEND OFF THE MISCHIEF THAT HAPPENS UP THERE.
[00:45:05]
THE THIRD TAKEAWAY IS WE SHOULD FULLY EXPECT THAT THIS LEGISLATURE WILL TRY TO REVIVE HB-2127, AND THE PARALYSIS AT THE BANDS OF THE APPELLATE COURT WILL BE INITIATED BY LEGISLATION. TWO, WE SHOULD EXPECT THAT DEI IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE PLACED ON THE ALTAR OF THIS CONSERVATIVE DOGMA AND THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE TO FIND NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO HURT VULNERABLE PEOPLE. THEY'RE ADEPT AT THAT.BECAUSE WE'RE A CITY THAT REALLY DOES HONOR DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION, I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE OF THOSE WORDS OFFENDS THEM, BUT THE -- I DO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE ALSO FOR FIGHTING FOR WHAT'S RIGHT. I KNOW WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT TEAM TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE UP THERE MONITORING BUT ALSO FIGHTING BUT THEN EQUALLY DRIVING BACK DOWN SOUTH ON I35 TO BRING US THE UPDATES AND GET DIRECTION FROM US. THIS DOCUMENT, I SAY IT EVERY TIME, LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS FLUID. IT'S INTENTIONALLY FLEXIBLE AND BROAD SO WE CAN ADAPT AS NEW THINGS UNFOLD UP THERE.
JEFF, THERE'S A NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED.
>> YES. COUNCILMAN VIAGRAN RESPECTED A SPEAKER.
I CAN'T CONFIRM OR DENY IF IT WAS RELAYED, BUT THEY HAVE VOTED FOR A SPEAKER NOW. REPRESENTATIVE DUSTIN BURROS FROM LUBBOCK, THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL YOU MENTIONED ACTUALLY LAST SESSION WAS ELECTED SPEAKER. IT LOOKS LIKE -- WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE FULL VOTE COUNT, BUT I BELIEVE HIS BASE OF SUPPORT WAS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND DAVID COOK, THE OTHER CANDIDATE, HAD A SOLIDLY
REPUBLICAN VOTE AND LOST 55-85. >> OKAY: THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SALLY, YOU'RE OFF THE HOOK FOR TODAY.
GET BACK TO WORK. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. >> THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIRMAN. >> THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF ANOTHER IGR COMMITTEE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.