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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
THE TIME IS 10:06 A.M. ON JANUARY 15, 2025. WE'LL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA TODAY.
[Approval of Minutes ]
START WITH ITEM NO. 1, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 16R PACKET. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.>> GARCIA: MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 1.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT A SERIES OF CCRS THAT WE'LL HEAR A PRESENTATION ABOUT AND REFER THOSE AS NECESSARY.ERIK, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THEM? >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE'VE GOT FIVE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUESTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND WE'LL KICKOFF WITH JOHN COVERING THE FIRST THREE AND THEN
MARIA WILL COVER THE FINAL TWO. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMITTEE. SO WE'LL START WITH THE BUILDING REGULATIONS ENHANCING ANTI-VAPING TRENDS AND HABITS, ALSO KNOWN AS B.R.E.A.T.H.E.
SO THIS CCR, FILED BY COUNCILMAN COURAGE, REQUESTS THAT WE WORK TOWARDS ESTABLISHING A PROHIBITION OF TOBACCO RETAIL STORES INCLUDING VAPE SHOPS WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DAYCARES, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING. AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE NEED AUTHORITY FROM STATE LAW TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT SO THERE IS A SENATE BILL THAT HAS BEEN FILED BY SENATOR CAMPBELL THAT WOULD GIVE THE CITY THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. OUR RECOMMENDATION ON THIS CCR IS THAT IT WOULD MOVE FORWARD TO IGR TO BE CONSIDERED.
THERE WAS SOME INITIAL CONVERSATION YESTERDAY AROUND THAT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE TOWARDS HAVING THAT ABILITY. THAT IS UNDERWAY AND WITH YOUR APPROVAL TODAY WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE IGR TAKE FULL CONSIDERATION OF THIS AND MAKE IT A PART OF OUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORT AT THE STATE LEVEL SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE A LOCAL ORDINANCE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
THAT'S THE FIRST ITEM THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THE SECOND CCR IS A LARGE-AREA REZONING. THIS WAS FILED BY COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ IN DISTRICT 2. I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE THE AREA GENERALLY SO EVERYONE KNOWS. GENERALLY IT'S BOUNDED BY FROST BANK AND WILLOW SPRINGS GOLF COURSE TO THE SOUTH . SO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AREA AND BRING FORWARD A LARGE-AREA REZONING TO ALIGN ANY ZONINGS THAT EXIST CURRENTLY THAT NEED TO BE REALIGNED. THIS ITEM IS PRESENTED TO YOU AND AS NORMALLY WOULD HAPPEN COME BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. THE NEXT STEPS, IF APPROVED TODAY, ARE THAT AFTER DSD'S REVIEW, THAT LARGE-AREA REZONING WOULD COME BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. THAT'S THE NEXT STEP ON THIS ITEM. THE THIRD CCR, FILED BY COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA, IS AROUND ENHANCING PERMITTING TRANSPARENCY AND EXPEDIENCY.
IT WORKS TO IDENTIFY GAPS AND WORK ON APPROVING PERMITS FOR DEVELOPERS .
SO THIS CCR REQUESTS A MULTI-SECTOR PERMITTING REVIEW AROUND OPERATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AROUND EXPEDIENCY, IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS TO PERMITTING AND CODE CHANGES . SO A FULL REVIEW AROUND A PERIOD OF 30 DAYS.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THIS ITEM BE REFERRED TO THE PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR MORE DISCUSSION. THOSE ARE THE FIRST THREE
AND I'LL HAND IT OVER TO MARIA NOW. >> VILLAGOMEZ: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. ITEM NO. 5 IS A CCR THAT WAS FILED BY COUNCIL DISTRICTS 5 AND 7 WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE AND ESTABLISH A PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY.
SO THE SPECIFIC REQUEST IS THAT A PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN BE DEVELOPED WITH TWO PURPOSES: ONE, TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE IS
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ILLEGAL IN SAN ANTONIO AND THAT SAPD WILL ENFORCE THAT, AS WELL AS ALSO TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO CALL IN WHEN THEY HEAR GUNSHOTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, ON A DAILY BASIS, THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES ABOUT 102 CALLS RELATED TO GUNSHOTS HEARD IN OUR COMMUNITY. THOSE NUMBERS SPIKE SIGNIFICANTLY DURING JANUARY 1 E AND NEW YEAR'S DAY, AS WELL AS JULY 4TH. FROM 102 AVERAGE PER DAY GOES UP TO 361. SO THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT STARTED SOME OF THAT EDUCATION AS PART OF OUR HOLIDAY PUBLIC SAFETY TIPS, BUT WE RECOMMEND THAT WE MOVE FORWARD THIS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SO WE CAN DISCUSS A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM 6, IS A CCR THAT WAS FILED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO IN DISTRICT 7. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO CLUSTER MAILBOXES. WE HAVE SEEN, IN OUR COMMUNITY, TARGETED THEFT IN THOSE AREAS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADDRESSES THOSE SPECIFIC CRIMES. THE CCR SPECIFICALLY REQUESTS THAT WE DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS WITH INSTALLING NIGHT SECURITY LIGHTING AROUND MAILBOXES, THAT WE WORK WITH CPS ENERGY USING THEIR EXISTING PROGRAM TO DO SO, AND THAT WE ALSO CREATE A MAIL THEFT TASK FORCE THAT IS COMPRISED OF LOCAL AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BETTER COORDINATE AND ADDRESS THESE CRIMES.
SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THIS ITEM ALSO BE MOVED FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATIONS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
YOU HEARD THE PRESENTATIONS, SEVERAL DIFFERENT CCRS, SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. LET'S HAVE ONE FULL DISCUSSION. WE'LL GO SEVERAL ROUNDS, IF NECESSARY, BUT WE'LL JUST CONSIDER ALL OF THESE AT ONCE AND I'LL ASK FOR A SERIES OF MOTIONS ON EACH OF THE ITEMS SEPARATELY AS WE GET TO THE END. SO COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON THE FIRST ITEM THAT'S COME BEFORE US ON THE B.R.E.A.T.H.E. CCR, I WANT TO SUGGEST THAT THE STAFF MAY NOT HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH THAT OUR STAFF HAD DONE TO DETERMINE THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE WE ACT ON THIS. I UNDERSTAND THE LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING AT A BILL TO REGULATE SOMEWHAT VAPING, BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA IF OR WHEN THAT WILL PASS BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE. BUT WE DO KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT SUGAR LAND HAS PASSED A COMPLETE BAN ON SMOKE SHOPS THAT INCLUDE VAPING .
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE CITY OF LEANDER PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT LIMITS VAPE SHOPS FROM BEING LOCATED WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
BOTH OF THESE WERE PASSED EARLY LAST YEAR, HAVE NOT HAD ANY KIND OF REACTION FROM BUSINESSES OR THE COMMUNITY IN OPPOSITION. NO KIND OF COURT ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. SO I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD NOT JUST BE SITTING BY WAITING FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO DO SOMETHING. I THINK THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CAN DO SOMETHING, SO I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT THIS BE PASSED ON TO THE CHEC COMMITTEE AS A HEALTH ISSUE, A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, AND THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO EXAMINE THIS FURTHER AND COME UP WITH A CITY RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO ABOUT THIS. OBVIOUSLY, IF OTHER CITIES HAVE ACTED, WE SHOULDN'T FEAR THAT BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO ACTS WE'RE GOING TO BE TREATED ANY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CITIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN ACTION ON THIS. SO I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THIS ITEM GO TO A CITY COMMITTEE FOR ITS ACTION. AND THEN BRING TO COUNCIL THE RESULTS OF THAT ACTION OF THAT COMMITTEE. AS FAR AS THE OTHER ITEMS ON OUR LIST TODAY, I HAVE NO DISAGREEMENT WITH ANY OF THEM OR THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF WHERE THEY SHOULD GO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M JUST MAKING SURE WE'RE SPEAKING ON ALL OF THEM, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT TAKING TWO ROUNDS? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROPOSALS THIS MORNING
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I'M EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE EACH ONE OF THEM IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN.I'VE HEARD ALL OF THESE CONCERNS IN NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT 6 BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY, SO IT'S EXCITING TO KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE PROPOSALS ARE IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS WE'VE HEARD FROM NEIGHBORHOODS, FROM BUSINESSES.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE. I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE VAPING CCR THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE BROUGHT FORWARD. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND ONE OF THE TOP THINGS I'M HEARING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AS WELL AS THE MAILBOX CLUSTERS. THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH THEFT AROUND THE CITY WITH MAILBOX CLUSTERS AND I'LL TAKE IT A COUPLE OF STEPS FURTHER AND I KNOW IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN A MAILBOX HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO, THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY'S KIND OF POINTING AT EVERYBODY ELSE TO WHOSE PROBLEM IS THIS. IS IT THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, THE POLICE? IT'S A LOT OF -- I'M GOING TO JOKINGLY SAY IT'S A BIT OF A CLUSTER.
BUT IT'S REALLY ANNOYING AND BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT. WE'RE TALKING IDENTITY THEFT. WE'RE TALKING A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
I WANT TO ALSO MENTION THAT AS WE LOOK FORWARD INTO THAT CCR, IT'S COMING TO MY COMMITTEE, SO I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT APARTMENTS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE CLUSTER MAILBOXES IN NEIGHBORHOODS, WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT APARTMENT HOMES. WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE RENTING AND THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE ISSUES TOO. JUST MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE THAT. FOR MY CCR, IT REALLY WAS BORN FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD A LOT OF BUSINESSES COMING TO US SAYING -- ESPECIALLY SMALL, EVEN HOUSE FLIPPERS, DEVELOPERS COMING TO US AND SAYING IT WAS DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE CITY SYSTEM. MANY, MANY YEARS AGO I WAS A COUNCIL AIDE FOR ED GARZA AND IT WAS AROUND THE TIME THAT THE CITY IT'S A ONE-STOP AND IT'S INCREDIBLY USER FRIENDLY AND EVERYTHING I THINK AT THE TIME THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY NEEDED. BUT THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
SO I THINK WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS IT TO BE MORE MODERNIZED AND MORE USER FRIENDLY TO TODAY'S DEVELOPER. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE SMALLER DEVELOPER. AGAIN, I'M IN FAVOR OF ALL OF THESE AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THEM AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONSIDERING THEM ALL. THANK YOU.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE WONDERFUL CCRS THAT PUT FORWARD. I'LL START OFF BY THE ONE THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE SUBMITTED. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SIGN ON, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
I SIGNED ON TO IT BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PARENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED IN OUR AREA THAT HAVE APPROACHED OUR OFFICE, ET CETERA.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT TEENS ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE ADDICTION OF NICOTINE AND I'M JUST WORRIED THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE SO MANY SOCIETAL PROBLEMS THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO FACE, THAT THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THEM.
I'M IN AGREEMENT, COUNCILMAN, THAT THIS SHOULD PROBABLY BE DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY COMMITTEE.
IT'S AN ALARMING TREND AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE PRESENT IN SCHOOL.
LIKE I SAID, THEY ALREADY HAVE SO MANY DISTRACTIONS AND IT'S EASY FOR THEM TO HAVE MOOD SWINGS AND ANXIETY IF THEY ARE HOOKED ON THIS TYPE OF STUFF.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND IT'S FOR AMIN. AMIN, IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT IS THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF A RETAIL TOBACCO STORE? THE REASON I'M ASKING IS WOULD WE BE INCLUDING CONVENIENCE STORES THAT SELL
VAPING PRODUCTS? >> GOOD MORNING. BASICALLY IT'S ZONED AS C-3, COMMERCIAL LEVEL THREE. TECHNICALLY, A CONVENIENCE STORE IS A RETAIL/GAS STATION, I GUESS NORMALLY. IT MIGHT BE INCLUDED BECAUSE IT'S WITHIN THE C-3.
>> GARCIA: AND THEN WILL ANY CURRENT STORES THAT RIGHT NOW FALL WITHIN THE 1,000-FOOT BUFFER BE SUBJECT TO ADHERE TO THE CHANGES OF THE ARTICLE III ZONING OR
ARE THEY GOING TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN? >> WE HAVEN'T DUG INTO THAT AT THIS MOMENT BUT NORMALLY IF WE COME UP WITH A NEW ORDINANCE IT DOESN'T GO AS RETROACTIVE. MOST LIKELY, IF THEY ARE IN EXISTENCE, THEY WOULD BE NON-CONFORMING. THEY WOULD STAY IN THAT CONDITION.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND SO I'LL GO ON NEXT TO THE CCR BY MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA. THANK YOU ALSO, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR SUBMITTING THIS. I RECENTLY MET WITH A CONTRACTOR WHO HAS HER OWN BUSINESS AND SHE DOES THE REMODELING OF HOMES AND
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MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES AND SHE REACHED OUT BECAUSE THERE WAS ONE PROJECT IN PARTICULAR THAT WAS TAKING MONTHS. AND SO I APPRECIATE MELISSA FROM DSD AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM JOINING US. AND THE PROJECT WAS ALSO DELAYED BECAUSE OF A NEIGHBOR THAT WAS HAVING SOME ISSUES.A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SITUATION. BUT IT WAS EVENTUALLY SENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND IT GOT THROUGH THE PROCESS.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE RESIDENTS.
SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HEAR EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO BUT EXPLAINING THE PROCESS, I THINK, IS VERY HELPFUL. I AM GOING TO BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM GOING TO PCDC.
YESTERDAY I HAD -- I MET WITH A DEVELOPER AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT OF A BIGGER DEVELOPER, THEY WERE EXPLAINING THEY HAVE 27 PERMITS THAT THEY HAVE TO FILE PER HOUSE AND THAT EVERY TIME THAT AN INSPECTOR HAS TO COME OUT, THAT THEY HAVE TO STOP ALL WORK ON THE HOUSE FOR THE INSPECTOR TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE.
AND THEY DON'T HAVE A TIME. LIKE, THEY'LL SAY, WELL, WE'LL COME IN THE MORNING BUT NOT A DEFINED TIME. SO THAT'S A LOT OF COST ON THEM FOR TRYING TO HAVE TO STOP. I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THE EXACT NUMBER OF PERMITTING IS, ET CETERA, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO DISCUSS THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, JUST BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE EXCESSIVE.
AND JUST TRYING TO SAVE THEM AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE. AND THEN I'LL ALSO -- I'D LOVE TO SEE JUST THE PROS AND CONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE TASK FORCES THAT WE SET UP AND WOULD DEFER TO DSD AS WE'RE THINKING OF EVEN THE METAL RECYCLING TASK FORCE AND HOW THAT'S GOING. AND SO WOULD LOVE TO SEE A PRELIMINARY PRESENTATION OF THAT. BUT THAT'S FOR THAT ONE. AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS THE CCR BY COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO WHO I JUST SAW WALK IN THE ROOM. THANK YOU FOR FILING THE CCR.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MARIA. AND I KNOW THAT CHIEF MCMANUS IS NOT HERE SO IF WE HAVE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION LATER, THEN IT'S ENTIRELY OKAY.
BUT HAVE THERE BEEN DOCUMENTED CASES -- AND I MEAN LIKE DOCUMENTED OR DO WE KEEP TRACK OF EVERY TIME THAT CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE SPECIFICALLY HAS INJURED OR KILLED PEOPLE? LIKE, DO WE KEEP RECORDS OF THAT?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: WE'LL CHECK, COUNCILWOMAN. >> GARCIA: WHEN ANONYMOUS CALLS ARE RECEIVED -- SORRY. WHEN ANONYMOUS CALLS ARE RECEIVED BY SAPD AND THEIR NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER, THE 207-SAPD, WHAT PRIORITY LEVEL ARE THEY CODED AT?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: IT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT THE COLOR SAYS, COUNCILWOMAN.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT --T THEY TELL THE CALL TAKER, IF SOMEBODY IS IN DANGER OR THE
PUBLIC IS IN DANGER, THAT WOULD BE A HIGHER PRIORITY. >> GARCIA: I THINK --
>> RICK RILEY. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR SAPD, COUNCILMEMBER.
WHEN WE HAVE A SHOTS HEARD COME IN, THAT'S A PRIORITY 4.
AS MS. VILLAGOMEZ SAID, IF IT RESULTS IN INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, THAT COULD
BE ELEVATED. >> GARCIA: DO OFFICERS TYPICALLY MAKE IT OUT TO INVESTIGATE AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SHOOTER IS IDENTIFIED?
>> VERY RARELY IS THE SHOOTER IDENTIFIED. OFFICERS ARE DISPATCHED.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT -- YOU MAY HEAR IT IN ONE PLACE, THE SHOT MAY BE FIRED TWO BLOCKS AWAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT HURDLE FOR THOSE OFFICERS TO FIND, UNLESS THEY'RE THERE AND HEAR IT AND CAN THEN
ZERO IN ON IT. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. AND WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR A GUN OR AMMUNITION DEALERS TO BE REQUIRED TO SHARE OUR INFORMATION, IF THIS WERE TO GO THROUGH, ABOUT THE ILLEGALITY OF CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE.
WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING WE CAN DO? SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ DID WITH THE ORDINANCE WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
HAVE A STICKER AT EVERY STORE. WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING WE
COULD CONSIDER DOING? >> I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY CONSIDER THAT AND CHECK INTO
THE LEGALITY OF THAT. >> GARCIA: OKAY. THAT'S GREAT.
I THINK AT MINIMUM, LIKE A CAMPAIGN, LIKE CALL THE SHOTS OR SOMETHING.
JUST SOMETHING THAT ATTRACTS ATTENTION. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT IT WORKS AND ANY TIME THAT WE CAN PROMOTE WHATEVER WE'RE DOING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
AND THEN, FINALLY, THE CCR BY COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO ON THE CLUSTER MAILBOX THEFT. WE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS WELL IN SEVERAL AREAS IN DISTRICT 4. JUST AS I'M TALKING ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR CITY, IT JUST KEEPS COMING UP. AND SO IT'S NOT IN PARTICULAR WITH ONE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO I LEARNED ALSO ABOUT THE MULTIFAMILY SITUATION. AND SO IF WE DO CREATE A TASK FORCE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOW WE CAN INCLUDE MULTIFAMILY IN THERE AS WELL.
BUT I DO WANT TO ASK STAFF HOW WE PLAN TO APPROACH THIS DIFFERENTLY.
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BECAUSE IN 2018, THEN COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE REQUESTED A TASK FORCE SIMILAR TO THE CCR. AT THE TIME CHIEF MCMANUS SAID IT WAS NOT NECESSARY AND THAT WE NEEDED TO PURSUE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGUREOUT WHAT THE NEW APPROACH WILL BE. >> VILLAGOMEZ: COUNCILWOMAN, WE HAVE NOT HAD DISCUSSIONS SPECIFICALLY ON THE TASK FORCE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL DISCUSS AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF THE
FEASIBILITY AND HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. >> GARCIA: WONDERFUL.
I JUST WANTED TO, AGAIN, LIKE I JUST -- I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES WE RESIT SOME THINGS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. I LOVE THE NEW NAMING CONVENTIONS FOR OUR CCRS.
B.R.E.A.T.H.E. AND CALL THE SHOTS. YOU MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CALL YOURS CLUSTER BUSTER. [LAUGHTER] BUT I REALLY JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE B.R.E.A.T.H.E. I 100% I DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY WE HAD AN IGR MEETING YESTERDAY WHERE THIS WAS DISCUSSED. SENATOR DONNA CAMPBELL DID FILE A BILL.
THE THRESHOLD FOR BUSINESSES TO WHICH THE BILL WOULD BE APPLICABLE ARE BUSINESSES THAT MAKE 50% OR MORE OF THEIR SALES FROM THE SALES OF TOBACCO AND VAPING.
I'M -- THE REASON I'M BRINGING IT UP IS BECAUSE -- ADDRESSING COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S CONCERNS. YES. THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION THAT STAFF HAS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE THIS IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THAT WE FIGHT FOR THIS AND SUPPORT SENATOR CAMPBELL'S BILL.
I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE. WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME AND I HAVE NO OPPOSITION TO -- IN FACT, I'M ENTIRELY SUPPORTIVE OF US PURSUING OUR OWN SOLUTIONS HERE AND IF THEY GET ADJUSTED BY STATE LAW, THEY GET ADJUSTED BY STATE LAW. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE QUESTION ASKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT A VAPE SHOP OR A NICOTINE SHOP OR WHATEVER ISN'T REALLY DEFINED IN THE CCR.
EXCEPT I DO SEE SOMEWHERE THAT YOU WROTE, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, THAT THIS APPLY TO RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS OF PRIMARY E-CIGARETTE, VAPE, HOOKAH, OTHER TOBACCO.
I THINK THAT'S IN KEEPING WITH WHAT SENATOR CAMPBELL IS TRYING TO DO.
WHAT I DON'T WANT IS FOR OUR FRIENDS AT H-E-B OR COSTCO OR THE CONVENIENCE STORE RETAIL TO, YOU KNOW, LIGHT THEIR OWN HAIRS ON FIRE THINKING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEM, BECAUSE THOSE PLACES DON'T MAKE 50% OF THEIR INCOME FROM VAPES. BUT WITH THAT SAID, AND WITH THE REASSURANCES TO OUR FRIENDS AT COSTCO, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WOULD KILL BOTH OF US IF WE MESSED WITH HER COSTCO. I'M SUPPORTIVE TO SEND THIS TO CHEC.
THOSE ARE MY ONLY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: YEAH, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE POSITIVE REMARKS ABOUT THIS.
AND I THINK IT IS RELEVANT TO SAY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYONE OUT OF BUSINESS WHO IS EXISTING LEGALLY AT THIS TIME. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO PREVENT A GREATER PROLIFERATION OF MORE OF THESE SMOKE SHOPS.
AND CERTAINLY I THINK THAT THE HEALTH COMMITTEE CAN PUT TOGETHER A FIRMER, FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL. AFTER ALL, THESE ARE ALWAYS CONSIDERATION REQUESTS. AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND TRY AND PUT TOGETHER THE BEST RESOLUTION THAT WE CAN DETERMINE.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS GOING TO THE CHEC COMMITTEE AND THEM COMING UP WITH SOME FIRMER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ON THIS.
AND MY STAFF WILL BE SUPPORTIVE TO HELP IN THIS EFFORT.
THE OTHER THING I DID WANT TO MENTION, AND I REALLY NEGLECTED IT AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE, IS THE REQUEST FROM COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO ABOUT THE MAILBOX THEFTS.
IT HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE CITY EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL. AND I DO THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TRY AND DO MORE OF. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE DEVELOPING A PARTNERSHIP WITH CPS ENERGY TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE COSTS THAT DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD HAVE TO INCUR WITH THE ELECTRIC COST FOR PROVIDING THIS MEASURE OF SAFETY WITH LIGHTING AROUND ALL OF THOSE BOXES. SO I HOPE THAT WILL BE PART
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OF THE CONSIDERATION. AND I THINK WE TO PARTNER WITH THE POSTAL SERVICE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE TO SEE WHAT REMEDIES THEY COULD SUGGEST.I HAVE ACTUALLY, IN MY OFFICE, OFFERED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PUT UP LIGHTING, TO PUT UP CAMERAS, TO REPLACE MAILBOXES WITH NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN JUST REALLY SUFFERING THROUGH THIS. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD AND I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THIS VERY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
ALSO, CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, EVEN OUR OWN, BECAUSE NOW THE STATE HAS EMPOWERED THEM TO DO MORE ABOUT MAIL THEFT AND PACKAGE THEFT THAN THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IN THE PAST. SO I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON OUR AGENDA? ALL RIGHT.
JUST A COUPLE OF BRIEF COMMENTS. ALL OF THESE ARE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD, I THINK THOUGHTFUL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, SO I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH ALL OF THEM. I DO CONCUR WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO TALK ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER OF ITEM NO.
2, WHICH IS THE REGULATIONS REGARDING TOBACCO AND VAPE SHOPS.
SO ACCORDINGLY MOVING THAT TO CHEC AS OPPOSED TO IGR MAKES SENSE TO ME.
IT IS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING THAT WE SEEM TO COME BACK TO THIS ISSUE OF CLUSTER MAILBOX THEFT WITH NO REAL ACTION. WE KEEP HEARING FROM OUR POSTAL SERVICE THAT THEY'RE IN GREAT NEED OF RESOURCES. A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT DON'T GET DONE AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS, FALLING DOWN TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO TAKE CARE OF. I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES RECOGNIZING THAT AND GIVING US SOME TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
WITH THAT, LET ME GO AHEAD AND ASK PROMPT MOTIONS SEPARATELY FOR EACH OF THESE ITEMS TO MOVE THEM ACCORDINGLY. SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION
NOW FOR ITEM NO. 2 TO MOVE IT TO CHEC. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM NO. 2. ANDY, CAN I ASK FOR THE MOTIONS ALL TOGETHER AND WE
CAN VOTE ALL AT ONCE? >> SEGOVIA: ABSOLUTELY. YES, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION -- SHOULD I GET ONE MOTION FOR ALL OF
THIS AT ONCE OR JUST SEPARATELY? >> SEGOVIA: THE MOST
EFFICIENT IS ALL AT ONCE, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HERE'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND -- AND IF YOU CONCUR. WE'LL MOVE ITEM NO. 2 WILL BE MOVED TO CHEC. AND THEN THE REST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF WILL APPLY. SO ITEM 3 WILL GO TO THE A SESSION DIRECTLY FOR A LARGE-AREA REZONING. ITEM 4 WILL GO TO PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. ITEM NO. 5 WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AS WELL AS ITEM NO. 6. BOTH OF THOSE, THE CLUSTER MAILBOX THEFT AND THE CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE. LET ME GET A MOTION FOR THAT AND WE CAN VOTE ONE AT A
TIME ON THOSE. >> SO MOVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ACTION AS I JUST MENTIONED.
DO WE NEED SEPARATE VOTES OR JUST ONE VOTE? JUST ONE VOTE.
OKAY. SO YOU HEARD THE MOTION. YOU HEARD THE SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I DO SEE COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO, WHO IS A CO-AUTHOR OF BOTH ITEMS NO. 5 AND 6, SO I WOULD GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND MAKE SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT THOSE.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M REALLY HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE MAILBOX. I THINK I'M GOING TO REITERATE A LOT OF WHAT Y'ALL HAVE SAID. THIS HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING PROBLEM.
WE WERE GETTING CALLS FROM OUR RESIDENTS. THEY FACE THE RISK OF FINANCIAL CRIMES AND IDENTITY THEFT SO MY TEAM AND I THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO. ONE, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, YOU SAID WHEN THERE'S LIGHTING IT'S GOING TO DETER CRIME. THAT'S WHY WE'RE PUSHING FOR ADDITIONAL LIGHTING.
THE SECOND THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IS CREATE A TASK FORCE.
WE HEARD A LOT OF MIXED MESSAGES. PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT'S A UPS THING, THAT'S A DEVELOPER THING. WE WANT TO BRING THE EXPERTS IN THE ROOM. I REALLY LIKED YOUR SUGGESTION, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, ABOUT BRINGING MULTIFAMILY, BRINGING THE PROPER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ROOM SO WE CAN KIND OF GET TO THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE ONCE AND FOR ALL.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, AS Y'ALL SAID, THIS HAS PERSISTED FOR A LONG TIME.
IT IMPACTS RESIDENTS. THE HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS FEEL THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AND, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, IT'S A FEDERAL PROBLEM BUT THESE ARE STILL OUR RESIDENTS AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S SUPPORT WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
ALL RIGHT. THAT IS ALL THE BUSINESS TODAY.
IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, AT 10:36 A.M. ON JANUARY 15, 2025, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
[00:30:07]
THANKS, EVERYBODY. WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT 1230TH F* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.