Jan 30, 2025 City Council A Session

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.

THE TIME IS 9:07 A.M. ON THE 30TH DAY OF JANUARY 2025, AND WE'RE CALLING OUR A SESSION TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. BEFORE WE GET STARTED TODAY, IT'S BEEN A LONG YEAR ALREADY AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR SHOWING UP A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO OUR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MARCH.

I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR ALL HIS EFFORTS AS WELL AS THE MLK COMMISSION FOR THEIR WORK. THERE ARE MANY NAMES THAT BELONG ON THE LIST OF PILLARS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAVE HELPED SAN ANTONIO BECOME A PILLAR, A LANDMARK IN THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WE LOST LAST WEEK. DR. JOE BERNAL, MANY YOU KNEW AS A STATE LEGISLATOR, CHAMPION FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION, A WORLD WAR II VETERAN, BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY SOMEONE WE ALL LOOKED UP TO AND HELPED THE STATE OF TEXAS AS WELL AS OUR COUNTRY BECOME A FREER AND MORE EQUAL PLACE. SO IN MEMORY OF HIM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK US IF WE CAN TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO BEGIN OUR DAY TODAY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR FRIEND, REVERENREVEREND JAMES AMERSON. HE IS THE PASTOR OF THE OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN CONGREGATION IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE HAS SERVED THE METHODIST IN CORPUS CHRISTI, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND RIGHT HERE AT HOME .

HE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE.

IN ACADEMIC PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY HE EARNED A MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. IN ADDITION TO SERVING HIS CONGREGATION, PASTOR AMERSON WORKS ON CIVIC AND DENOMINATIONAL PROJECTS. HE SERVED IN VARIOUS LEADERSHIP CAPACITIES, BLACK METHODIST FOR CHURCH RENEWAL AND STRENGTHENING THE BLACK ST. PAUL FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. HE IS A MEMBER OF CLASS 13 OF THE MASTER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OF GREATER SAN ANTONIO AND HIS PAST IN SERVICE INCLUDES THE CALHOUN COUNTY UNITED WAY, CALHOUN COUNTY MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE, SOUTH TEXAS COUNCIL OF BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. HE SERVES AS A MENTOR, ADVISER, SPIRITUAL LEADER, AND I'M PROUD TO CALL HIM A FRIEND.

WELCOME, REVEREND. >> GOOD MORNING. IT IS MY HONOR TO BE HERE AND TO REPRESENT THE EASTSIDE. I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS

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ALSO ST. PAUL AND THE EASTSIDE AND MY COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SHALL WE PRAY? GRACIOUS GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, A VIBRANT COMMUNITY FILLED WITH DIVERSE CULTURES AND DEDICATED CITIZENS. WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THEY CARRY OUT THEIR IMPORTANT WORK TODAY.

AS THEY FACE CHALLENGES, EMPOWER THEM WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND A HEART FOR THOSE IN NEED. GRANT THEM CLARITY AND DECISION MAKING, STRENGTH, AND LEADERSHIP, AND COMPASSION FOR THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.

WITH HUMBLE HEARTS SEEKING JUSTICE, WE ASK FOR YOUR STRENGTH TO ACT JUSTLY, TO LOVE MERCY AND WALK HUMBLY WITH YOU. HELP US TO HEAR THE CRIES OF THE POOR AND TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUR LEADERS WHO STRIVE FOR EQUITY AND TRUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. MAY WE UPHOLD THE VALUES OF LOVE, COMPASSION, AND KINDNESS IN OUR DAILY LIVES. CONTINUALLY SEEK AS WE NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES AND CONFRONT THE INJUSTICES. GRANT US THE COURAGE TO BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS AND THE WISDOM TO FOSTER UNDERSTANDING AND HEALING. LORD, WE PRAY FOR SAFETY, PROSPERITY, HEALING, AND PEACE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND FOR THOSE WHO MOURN, YOUR COMFORT. MAY OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE AND GROW STRONGER TOGETHER.

HELP US TO LISTEN WITH OPEN HEARTS TODAY, TO EMPATHIZE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND TO SEEK COMMON GROUND AMIDST OUR DIFFERENCES. INSTILL IN US THE COURAGE TO EXPRESS KINDNESS AND LOVE. MAY WE FOSTER YOUR UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PROMOTE PEACE IN OUR INNER ACTION. IT IS IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, REVEREND AMERSON. BEFORE I BEGIN THE BUSINESS TODAY, IN REFLECTION ON DR. BERNAL AS WELL AS AS WELL AS A RECOGNIZABLE AND IMPORTANT MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO PASSED AS WELL.

MANY OF YOU KNEW SOPHIA. SHE WAS BETTER THAN KNOWN IN SAN ANTONIO AS THE SPURS LADY. SAN ANTONIO LOST HER JANUARY 11W SHE IS DEARLY MISSED BY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SHE WAS HERE ALL THE TIME AND WE ENJOYED HER PRESENCE ON MANY OCCASIONS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SPURS.

IN MEMORY OF HER AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I WANT TO ASK THE FAMILY TO ACCEPT OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF SOPHIA.

THE MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL JOIN HER ENTIRE FAMILY AND THAT INCLUDES THE ENTIRE SPURS AND SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY IN OUR SORROW AND EXTEND OUR DEEPEST, SINCEREST EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE DEAR TO US. THIS IS PRESENTED THIS 30TH DAY OF JANUARY 2025.

I'M NOW GOING TO TURN TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE LIFE OF DR. JOE BERNAL AS WELL AS

SOPHIA. COUNCIL MEMBER. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY HEART GOES OUT TO SOPHIA AND HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS HER NUMBER ONE FAN. SHE WAS THE SPURS LADY, WAS A DISTRICT 5 RESIDENT AND WAS ALWAYS CALLING TO CHECK IN ON OUR TEAM. WITHIN MY FIRST MONTH OF OFFICE, SHE CAME IN AND GAVE ME THIS BELL. SHE SAID, COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU EVER FEEL LIKE ANYONE IS WASTING YOUR TIME, YOU RING THAT BELL.

WHEN SHE WOULD VISIT OUR COLLINS GARDEN OFFICE AND SHE WOULD BE DISCUSSING WHATEVER NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN OR PRIORITY THAT SHE HAD, SHE WOULD SAY I BET YOU WISH YOU HAD THAT BELL, HUH, TERI? WE SEND OUR LOVE TO HER AND

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HER FAMILY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY CONDOLENCES TO SOPHIA AND HER FAMILY. I ALSO DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES TO THE BERNAL FAMILY. SENATOR BERNAL WAS A PILLAR OF SAN ANTONIO. HE WAS ALSO A FAMILY FRIEND. I HAVE KNOWN HIM SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND SO WHETHER IT'S MEMORIES OF HIM RECALLING HIS POLITICAL LIFE AND HIS POLITICAL CAREER OR HIM PLAYING SCRABBLE WITH MY MOM OR US GOING DOWN TO THE COAST EVERY LABOR DAY , HE HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON MY LIFE.

HE ALSO RISKED POLITICAL BACKLASH TO FIGHT FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED WHEN HE PUSHED LEGISLATION TO ALLOW SPANISH SPEAKING IN SCHOOLS. THIS IS A LESSON OF HEROIC ADVOCACY WHICH HAS REAL IMPACTS THAT WE SEE AND FEEL TODAY IN SAN ANTONIO.

I ALSO DO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO HONOR SENATOR BERNAL'S GRANDDAUGHTER, BIANCA, WHO IS A FRIEND OF MINE, WHO ALSO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEKEND.

AND SHE LEAVES BEHIND HER HUSBAND, HER DAUGHTER, AND HER PARENTS, PAT AND LISA

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

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I WAS HONORED TO KNOW JOE BERNAL.

I FIRST MET HIM PROBABLY IN 1976. AND HE TRULY REPRESENTED THE EARLY URGENT MEXICAN AMERICAN HISPANIC LEADERS WHO WERE DOING MORE TO LIFT THEIR PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAN MANY PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND.

WE ALL REMEMBER HENRY B. GONZALEZ AND WE ALL KNOW HENRY CISNEROS AND THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. BUT JOE BERNAL WAS ONE OF THOSE EARLY LEADERS, THOSE FIGHTERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS. YOU KNOW, I WOULD OFTEN TALK WITH HIM ABOUT POLITICAL THINGS AND HE WAS JUST SUCH AN IMPORTANT PERSON IN HELPING SAN ANTONIO'S COMMUNITY DEVELOP TO BE WHAT IT IS TODAY.

I ACCEPT IT AS A PERSONAL LOSS AND I THINK ALL OF US SHOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT JOE AND HIS WIFE, MARY ESTHER, WHO WAS DEDICATED TO EDUCATION AND DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY OFFERING MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF DR. BERNAL.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE AND THEY SAID SAN ANTONIO SHOULD HAVE MORE PLAQUES, MORE STATUES, JUST MORE LANDMARKS THAT REPRESENT OUR HEROES WHO FOUGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN GENERAL.

AND WITH THE PASSING OF DR. BERNAL, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES THAT WE SHOULD BE REMEMBERING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE HONOR THE LEGACY OF THOSE LEADERS THAT HAVE REALLY FOUGHT FOR AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR CITY AS A WHOLE. SO, AGAIN, MY CONDOLENCES HAVE MADE FOR OUR FAMILY. OVER TO SOPHIA, THE SPURS LADY.

LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, SHE IMMEDIATELY EMBRACED ME AND WELCOMED TO CITY HALL. IT WAS REALLY NEAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT, WOW, THIS IS SO COOL. SHE JUST COMES.

ONE OF THE MOST TOUCHING MOMENTS I THINK -- AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND I THINK AHED AT THE SAME TIME WAS WHEN WE RECOGNIZED ROSEMARY AND SHE GAVE HER A HUG AND WAS SO EXCITED WE WERE RECOGNIZING THE HARD WORK THAT ROSEMARY HAD DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO ME THAT WAS JUST A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF SAN ANTONIANS JUST BEING TO PROUD OF ONE ANOTHER. THE HELP, THE UNITY, THE SPIRIT THAT WE BRING TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT HAVE CROSSED PATHS BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S OUR JOB TO HELP REIMAGINE OUR FUTURE. AND SHE IS ONE OF THOSE JOYS, TO ME, THAT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN IN CITY HALL AS I THINK ABOUT THE MEMORIES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HERE. SO THANK YOU TO HER HUSBAND AND FOR ALWAYS BEING WILLING TO TAG ALONG. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN VIDEOS OF HER HOME, BUT IT'S EVERYTHING SPURS. AND SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. IN HONOR OF HER, I WILL ALWAYS SAY, GO SPURS GO! AT THE END OF THOSE GAMES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO SEND MY

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IT IS A LOSS THAT WE GRIEVE BUT IT IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE WE CAME FROM AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OF THEIR SERVICE.

SO I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS LONG LIFE IN SERVICE AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE MISSING HIM, UNDERSTAND THAT HIS LEGACY LIVES ON. TO THE SPURS LADY'S FAMILY, SYLVIA, SHE LIT UP A CITY AND SHE SHOWED US HOW TO END YOUR DAYS GRACEFULLY.

SHE WAS HERE AT CITY HALL AND SHE KNEW SHE WAS NOT FEELING WELL.

SHE KNEW SHE WAS SICK BUT SHE STILL CAME TO SMILE. AND SHE TOOK PICTURES WITH ANYBODY THAT WANTED TO TAKE PICTURES WITH HER. AS WE GO THROUGH THESE DAYS, I JUST REMEMBER HER AS THE SPURS LADY WITH A SMILE AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT GOING TO LET SICKNESS AND ILLNESS AND NOT FEELING WELL STOP HER FROM LIVING LIFE.

I WANT TO HONOR HER TODAY. I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY OF MY STAFF THAT ARE MISSING HER ALSO. AND THE FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING HER WITH US AND WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND WITH BASKETBALL LOVERS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. BEFORE I GET TO OUR CEREMONIAL ITEM FOR TODAY, WE DO HAVE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 15 AND 16, 2025. THAT'S ITEM NO. 3. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 3.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT.

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

ITEM 20? >> 24. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 24. ANY OTHERS? 16, 37, AND 38 AND 24.

ANY OTHERS? 41 AND 46 ARE WITHDRAWN. LET ME READ THAT AGAIN.

FOR THE RECORD, ITEMS 41 AND 46 ARE WITHDRAWN. THE ITEMS 4, 5, 24 -- SORRY.

16, 37, AND 38, ALL OF THOSE WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY. I'LL HEAR A MOTION.

THERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. THERE'S A SECOND.

>>

SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON IT. ANDY. >> SEGOVIA: WHAT WAS THE

QUESTION? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 45, THERE'S A DOZEN FOLKS

SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. IS THERE A NEED TO PULL IT? >> SEGOVIA: THERE'S NO

NEED TO PULL IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

SO ITEMS 16, 37, 38, 24, 41 -- I'M SORRY. LET ME START OVER.

THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY. ITEMS 4, 5, 16, 24, 37, AND 38. 45, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO WILL BE HEARD IN JUST A MOMENT ON CONSENT. AND 41 AND 46 ARE WITHDRAWN. IS THERE AN AGREEMENT? WE DON'T NEED TO FIX THE MOTION? LET ME TAKE FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THEN. WE'LL START WITH ITEM NO.

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SORRY, LIONEL. I'LL CALL YOU UP WHEN IT'S CALLED.

IT'S INDIVIDUAL. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. THAT'S MY FAULT.

ALL RIGHT. ITEM 43 WE HAVE [INDISCERNIBLE] JARAMILLO ON 43. AFTER MS. JARAMILLO WE'LL HAVE JOSEPH BRAY ON ITEM 45.

>> EXCUSE ME, MAYOR. IT'S ITEM 45. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU'RE

ON ITEM 45? >> YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO

AHEAD BECAUSE WE'RE ON ITEM 45 NOW. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

RECOMMENDATION FOR THE NAMING OF THE PARK LOCATED IN DISTRICT 6 TO LUIS GOMEZ JUNIOR. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DECISION AND IT IS ESSENTIAL IT WITH RESIDENTS FROM THE DISTRICT 5 AND 6 COMMUNITY AND THESE RESIDENTS BELIEVE THIS PARK SHOULD HONOR A HERO OR MAYBE BE NAMED AFTER AN ENTIRE GROUP OR COMMUNITY OR SOMEONE WHO HAS TRULY BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION TO BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY. SOME CONSTITUENTS FEEL THE NAME SHOULD REFLECT AND RECOGNIZE OUR ENTIRE ARMED FORCES, PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED TO PROTECT OUR NATION.

IN ADDITION, THE PROCESS WAS BIASED SO IT COULD BE A PRE-DETERMINED OUTCOME OF OUR DISTRICT 6 REPRESENTATIVES. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE CRUCIAL, ENSURING THIS PROCESS IS FAIR AND REFLECTS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY. THE PARK REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNITE OUR COMMUNITY, SO PLEASE CONSIDER IN HONORING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING MEANINGFUL THAT REFLECTS THE SHARED VALUES OF DISTRICT 6.

I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO THE INPUT OF THE RESIDENTS AND MAKE A DECISION THAT IS FAIR, TRANSPARENT, AND TRULY REPRESENTATIVE AS THE CITY ORDINANCE REQUIRES IN THE NAMING PROCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR

TIME AND CONSIDERATION, SIR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. JARAMILLO.

JOSEPH BRAY. MR. BRAY, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HENRIETTA

LAGRANGE. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

I'M ALBERT MIRELES, JR. AND I CAME PREPARED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE --

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? >> ALBERT MIRELES, JR.

I'M HERE TO READ A LETTER ON BEHALF OF JOSEPH BRAY. JOSEPH BRAY IS A CIVILIAN AID TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY OF TEXAS, SOUTH TEXAS. AND IT GOES AS FOLLOWS.

THE LETTER SAYS I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF NAMING THE DESTINATION PARK IN HONOR OF MR. LUIS GOMEZ. I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR MORE THAN 12 YEARS.

WE ARE BOTH MILITARY VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN VIETNAM IN THE VERY EARLY '70S. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MR. GOMEZ'S IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CITY IN OUR FOUR IMPORTANT AREAS: EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. IN THE AREA OF EDUCATION, MR. GOMEZ IS VERY ACTIVE IN HIS MISSION TO ENSURING THAT ALL EDGEWOOD STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE MANY OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AS THEY PLAN FOR THEIR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL IN THE AREA OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, MR. GOMEZ'S ASSISTANCE, HE IS ENGAGED IN THE JROTC AND LOTC CADETS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS AND PROJECTS . THIS PROMOTES THE EDGEWOOD EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY BRAND. THOUGH MR. GOMEZ'S MEMBERSHIP IN THE EDGEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT VETERANS, THE EDV HOLDS VARIOUS

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HIS CHILDREN ARE GRADUATES OF EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. TWO OF HIS GRANDCHILDREN ARE EDGEWOOD GRADUATES AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY ATTENDING EDGEWOOD SCHOOLS.

HE HAS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN PTA. MR. GOMEZ IS A VFW LIFETIME MEMBER AND HELD SEVERAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT THE VFW POST 76 WHERE I AM A LIFETIME MEMBER AS WELL AND GREATLY VALUE HIS GUIDANCE IN EDUCATION.

IN PUBLIC SERVICE, LUIS IS A SERVANT OF OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS.

HAVING WORKED FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR 30 YEARS. HE IS AN EDGEWOOD DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER AGAIN, YOU KNOW, SINCE 2017, AND HE IS AN ENTREPRENEUR, HAVING

OWNED HIS OWN BUSINESS AND OPERATED HIS OWN BUSINESS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE THE HARD COPY, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IS

DISTRIBUTED TO COUNCIL. >> YES, I DO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE CAN GET THAT OVER THERE. ALL RIGHT. HENRIETTA LAGRANGE.

MS. LAGRANGE, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HECTOR SANTOS. >> FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS HENRIETTA LAGRANGE. VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND LET ME TELL YOU I HAVE DONE THAT AND MORE THAN MR. GOMEZ HAS DONE. BUT ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THE PRESIDENT OR THE CEO OF SAWS, MR. PUENTE -- AND I'M GLAD TO SEE HIM HERE.

AND THEN GAVINO, WHO IS ONE OF THE BEST WORKERS FOR SAWS.

THANK YOU. AND ALSO I MYSELF WORKED PERSONALLY WITH SENATOR BERNAL. I WAS WORKING WITH HIM WITH THE COMMISSION FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS BY SIDE BEFORE THE BARRIO CLINIC. TODAY I AM CONFIRMED IN MY ISSUE OF THIS COUNCIL TO VOTE DOWN ON THE NAMING OF LUIS GOMEZ.

WHY? LET ME TELL YOU. IF YOU'VE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK, DO OPEN RECORDS AND YOU'LL FIND IT VERY INTERESTING WHAT'S IN OPEN RECORD. LIKE I DID. I WAS SHOCKED.

SHOCKED. BUT LIKE I'M GOING TO QUOTE. IT SAYS STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, EVEN IF IT MEANS STANDING ALONE. AND WHY I'M HERE IS I LIKE TO WRITE MY COMMENTS OR SAY MY COMMENTS IS BECAUSE I AM ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I SAY, NOT FOR HOW YOU UNDERSTAND IT. BUT I LOVE BEING HERE BECAUSE I LOVE SAN ANTONIO. AND MAYBE ONE OF MY INSPIRATIONS, WHY? BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND I THINK MY NAME SHOULD BE IN A PARK WITH SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE I SPEND MORE THAN $100 A WEEK IN GAS INSPECTING INSPECTIONS.

AND ALSO RIGHT THERE AT 1800 BROADWAY YOU SHOULD SEE HOW THE THICK WIRE LINES OF AT&T. AND THIS IS WHAT BREAKS OUR INTERNET SERVICE.

AND GOOGLE BROKE THE SAWS' WATER LINES YESTERDAY. THAT IS NOT GOOD.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND I SAW JOE FRANK, A GREAT LEADER IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WORKER. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. IT'S NOT EASY FOR YOU AND IT'S NOT EASY FOR ME BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE AND BEING A GOOD LISTENER.

AND, REMEMBER, I AM FIRM IN MY COMMITMENT TO BE NAMED AFTER VETERANS.

IT COULD BE A HEALING PLACE, NOT FOR ONE PERSON BUT THE WHOLE TOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE VETERANS ALL OVER. SOME THAT ARE LAID TO REST ELSEWHERE AND SOME THAT ARE

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. LAGRANGE. HECTOR SANTOS MR. SANTOS,

YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL COREMANS. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, MAYOR. MY NAME IS HECTOR SANTOS. I RUN THE EDGEWOOD YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AT CUELLAR PARK. I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 35 YEARS AND I COME HERE BEFORE YOU NOT WITH AN IPHONE, I COME TO SPEAK TO YOU FROM THE HEART. MR. LUIS GOMEZ HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR THE KIDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND HE'S A TREMENDOUS MAN THAT DOES THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO I REPRESENT A THOUSAND CITIZENS THAT USE THE PARK AND I CAN'T TELL YOU ONE THAT I CALLED LUIS FOR HELP AND HE DID NOT SHOW UP.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND IF Y'ALL VOTE TO NAME THIS PARK AFTER HIM, HE CAN ADVOCATE FOR THAT PARK, CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE BECAUSE LIKE ANY PARK FUNDING AND THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO MAKE THE PARK FULL, TAKES TIME.

SO I WANT TO ADD MY SUPPORT FOR NAMING THE REGIONAL PARK IN OUR COMMUNITY LUIS GOMEZ.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. SANTOS.

MICHAEL COREMANS. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TIMOTHY PAYNE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF LUIS GOMEZ, MY FRIEND. HE GRADUATED OUT OF EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND ENLISTED INTO THE MARINE CORPS AND GOT SENT OFF TO SAIGON. HE SERVED AT THE EMBASSY IN SAIGON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. CAME BACK, JOINED THE RESERVES, AND HE MADE SERGEANT IN '76. HE STARTED WORKING FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. HE WAS AN INSPECTOR FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

THEN AFTER THAT HE WENT OUT TO WORK FOR HOMELAND SECURITY FOR FEMA FOR FIVE YEARS. HE'S BEEN OVER -- GOING ON SEVEN YEARS WITH THE EDGEWOOD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SOME OF HIS KIDS ARE STILL IN THE EDGEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'VE KNOWN HIM ABOUT 42 YEARS.

LIKE I SAID, I HAD A BUSINESS ON THE WEST SIDE FOR ABOUT 45 YEARS.

AND SO YOU GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY ON THE WEST SIDE. AND HE USED TO COME INTO THE SHOP AND I REMEMBER SOME OF MY CUSTOMERS ASKING HIM ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THEY NEEDED HELP WITH IN THE CITY, AND HE WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO TALK WITH THEM, LET ME GET YOUR NUMBER AND I'LL CALL YOU BACK AND SEE WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU.

EVEN WHEN HE WASN'T WORKING, HE WAS HELPING OUT THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THIS PARK BEING NAMED AFTER HIM WOULD HELP A LOT OF THE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FINDING OUT WHO THIS GUY WAS THEY NAMED THE PARK AFTER AND MAYBE THEY CAN FOLLOW HIS ROLE MODEL OF GOING TO THE MILITARY AND SERVING YOUR COUNTRY.

LOOK AT HIM, HE'S OVER 70-SOMETHING YEARS OLD AND HE'S STILL ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND STILL SERVING HIS COMMUNITY. HOW MANY OF US CAN SAY THAT? AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT PARKS IN THE CITY, DIFFERENT DISTRICTS HAVE PARKS NAMED AFTER CITIZENS. PITTMAN-SULLIVAN PARK, ALDERETE, DIFFERENT PARKS NAMED AFTER PEOPLE FROM THAT SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND IT'S A GOOD THING SAN ANTONIO DOES. I THINK WHEN YOU HONOR A VIETNAM VETERAN, ESPECIALLY ONE FROM THE EDGEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU HONOR ONE, YOU HONOR ALL OF THEM.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. LUS MILITARY SERVICE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. HIS SERVICE TO THE EDGEWOOD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HIS SERVICE TO THE WESTSIDE COMMUNITY.

AND I AGREE THAT THIS PARK IS GOING TO BE NAMED AFTER SOMEBODY THAT KIDS CAN LOOK UP TO AND FIND OUT WHO HE WAS AND MAYBE BE A ROLE MODEL.

SO, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. COREMANS.

TIMOTHY PAYNE. MR. PAYNE, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LAURA DE LEON.

>> FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS BE TO GOD FOR YOU AND FOR THE LOVE OF THIS COUNTRY AND MY PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY WHO WAS IN THE PLANE CRASH.

AND MY DEEPEST PRAYERS GO OUT TO THEM AS WELL. I'M JUST HERE JUST TO MAKE A

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AND I KNOW NO MUNICIPALITIES, NO STATE OR LOCAL AGENCIES ARE GOING TO EVER RECOGNIZE GOD'S CONTRIBUTION TO US. THE PARK REALLY SHOULD BE NAMED GOD'S GLORIFICATION PARK USA. THAT'S MY THOUGHT .

AND IT'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO IN THIS LIFE THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOVE WHAT GOD DOES.

BUT IF YOU GUYS WOULD PRAY ABOUT IT, LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND PRAY ABOUT THE DECISION THAT YOU'RE MAKING AND LOOK INTO YOURSELVES BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. WHEN YOU GET A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, IT'S GOING TO START CHANGING YOUR LIFE AND KNOW WHAT THIS THING IS ALL ABOUT.

BECAUSE IT'S NOTHING WE CAN DO. THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO LAST FOREVER IS WHAT GOD HAS ASKED YOU TO DO. HIS PURPOSE.

SO MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, WHATEVER DECISION THAT YOU MAKE.

I'M GOING TO PRAY FOR YOU. I'M GOING TO PRAY FOR THIS COUNTRY.

I'M GOING TO PRAY FOR ALL MY COUSINS, WHICH IS EVERYBODY IN THIS HERE WORLD, BECAUSE ALL OF US CAME OUT OF THE SAME BLOODLINE. THANKS BE TO GOD AND GOD

BLESS YOU AND TAKE CARE. BYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. PAYNE. LAURA DE LEON FOLLOWED BY MELODY HERRERA.

>> MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL PERSONNEL, MY NAME IS LARO DE LEON JR. AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN DISTRICT 6 FOR 60 YEARS.

SO I'M WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MY ADVICE IS THAT YOU HOLD ON IN NAMING THIS PARK UNTIL YOU GET ALL THE FACTS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE.

AND THEN DECIDE ON WHAT TO DO. I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HONOR ALL THE VETERANS IN DISTRICT 6, NOT JUST ONE. AND I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR THE VETERANS THAT ARE NOT HERE THAT LOST ALL. AND EVEN THE EDGEWOOD ASSOCIATION FOUGHT HARD TO GET A SOLDIER THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO BECOME TEXAS MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER. IF WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO INDIVIDUALS, LET'S NAME OF SOMEONE THAT IS NOT HERE. IF YOU READ THE CHARTER AND THE AUTHORIZATION THAT GIVES US THE RIGHT TO NAME THE PARK, IT SAYS BE CAREFUL ON WHAT YOU DO IN NAMING THE PARK WITH A LIVING PERSON. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY DEROGATORY COMMENTS BUT I STRONGLY AM AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL THE VETERANS, NOT JUST ONE, ALL THE VETERANS.

AND ALSO FOR THE ONES THAT CANNOT BE HERE TO BE HEARD. THIS IS ONE THING AUDIO] TO NAMING THE PARK, HAVE AN INPUT ON HOW TO NAME THE PARK AND THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE MADE THAT WERE NEVER BROUGHT OUT. SO THAT'S WHY I SAY LET'S HOLD ON AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET ALL THE FACTS AND ALL THE RECOMMENDATION OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. DE LEON. MELODY HERRERA FOLLOWED BY

MICHAEL VALDEZ. >> I WOULD REQUEST YOU VOTE AGAINST ITEM 45, APPROVING

[00:40:02]

AS A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN BORN AND RAISED IN THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO IN THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY, I'VE HEARD MANY CONCERNS RELATED TO THE TRANSPARENCY OF THIS PROCESS OF NAMING THE DESTINATION PARK THAT HAS YET TO BE BUILT.

I DON'T SEE WHY THERE IS A RUSH TO NAME THIS PARK. IN LOOKING AT THE BOUNDARIES OF EDGEWOOD, THIS PARK ISN'T EVEN LOCATED IN THE EDGEWOOD BOUNDARIES.

WHICH THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHICH IS MISLEADING TO OUR COMMUNITY.

READING THE CITY ORDINANCE PARK, I KNOW THE PROCESS WAS NOT FOLLOWED.

AND TO PROVE THIS, I REQUESTED OPEN RECORDS FOR ALL COMMUNICATION RELATED TO THE NAMING OF THIS PARK. I REVIEWED THE COMMUNICATION RECORDS PROVIDED TO ME EARLIER THIS MONTH AND COMMUNICATION STARTED BACK NOVEMBER 29, 2023.

ITEMS THAT STOOD OUT WHEN I WAS REVIEWING THESE DOCUMENTS WERE MAY 21.

THERE WAS ALREADY A MEMO FROM D6 STAFF ATTACHING A MEMO NAMED LUIS GOMEZ NAMING PARK. MAY 29 THERE WAS AN E-MAIL STATING THEY NEEDED TO HAVE FOUR PEOPLE TO THE NAMING COMMITTEE. THERE WAS A SUGGESTION TO HAVE FRIEND OF LUIS GOMEZ. BUT THEY WERE NEVER SELECTED.

THERE WAS ALSO AN E-MAIL THAT STATED THEY NEEDED TO APPOINT A WOMAN TO THE COMMITTEE. AND IT LISTED COMMUNITY LEADER DION YOUNG, PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY WORKERS COUNCIL AND BURT PICKLE BUT THEY WERE NEVER SELECTED.

HAD THESE PEOPLE BEEN SELECTED, I THINK THE PROCESS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE TRANSPARENT AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SUGGESTIONS OF THE NAMING OF THIS PARK.

WE DID HAVE OUR MEETINGS BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP WERE MR. GOMEZ'S FAMILY, HIS FRIENDS. WE DID HAVE ALSO A PERSONAL MEETING FOR DISTRICT 6 THAT THEY HAD AT THE TEZEL OFFICE.

AGAIN, YOU HAD HIS FRIENDS SHOW UP, HIS FAMILY. YOU DID HAVE SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THEY ASKED WHY CAN'T THE PROCESS BE PAUSED? I MEAN, THE PARK ISN'T EVEN BUILT YET? AND THEY SAID WE DON'T KNOW. AND THEN WE DID HAVE A PARKS AND REC BOARD MEETING ON THE 27TH. THERE WAS OPPOSITION TO THE NAMING OF THE PARK AND BRINGING THIS TO THE AGENDA TODAY.

I HOPE YOU VOTE AGAINST IT, SINCE THE PROCESS WAS NOT FOLLOWED AND NOT

TRANSPARENT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

MICHAEL VALDEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I WILL BE SPEAKING ON ITEM NO. 45 REGARDING THE NAMING PROCESS FOR THE DISTRICT 6 REGIONAL PARK. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THIS DECISION. THE NAMING PROCESS DID NOT SEEK MEANINGFUL INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY OR EVEN THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO ADVISE ON MATTERS RELATED TO PARKS AND RECREATION.

INSTEAD, IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A DECISION MADE SOLELY BY THE DISTRICT 6 COUNCIL MEMBER RATHER THAN AN OPEN COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROCESS. THIS PROCESS DID NOT REFLECT THAT COMMITMENT. THE PARK IS STILL BEING IN THE DESIGN PHASE, MAKING IT PREMATURE TO FINALIZE A NAME BEFORE BROADER DECISIONS TAKE PLACE.

THE LIBRARY BOARD ENSURES A STRUCTURED PROCESS WITH PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT.

WHY IS THIS APPROACH DIFFERENT FROM PARKS? A STANDARDIZED PROCESS WOULD ENSURE FAIRNESS AND CONSISTENCY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PARK IS NOT LOCATED WITHIN THE EDGEWOOD ISD BOUNDARIES, YET THE NAMING PROCESS HAS BEEN FRAMED AS IF IT SERVES THAT COMMUNITY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE ACTUAL GEOGRAPHIC COMMUNITY IMPACTED BY THIS PARK RATHER THAN HAVING A NARRATIVE THAT DOES NOT ALIGN WITHIN THE LOCATION. AND THE BOUNDARIES ARE THE NORTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. FURTHERMORE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WAS ORIGINALLY LISTED ON THE OPEN RECORDS AS BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMITTEE. THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE FINAL PROCESS.

WHY WERE THEY EXCLUDED? IF THE CITY IS FORMING A COMMITTEE TO NAME A PARK, IT

[00:45:02]

THAT LOCATION IS ALSO A SENIOR CENTER AND I THINK OUR SENIORS HAVE GOOD INPUT THEY COULD HAVE PROVIDED ON THE PARK. FOR OVER A YEAR THE PROCESS HAS LACKED TRANSPARENCY, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY THE WILL OF ONE PERSON BUT SHOULD HAVE ENSURED THAT DECISIONS REFLECT THE BROADER COMMUNITY INPUT AND FAIRNESS.

NAMING A PARK SHOULD BE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, NOT SELF-INTEREST.

IN THAT AREA, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PARKS NAMED BY INDIVIDUALS LIKE LEVI STRAUS, RODRIGUEZ PARK . BUT WE HAVE ALL THOSE PARKS AND WE HAVE ALL THESE NAMES SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO CONFUSE THE AREA. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH A TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR NAMING PARKS, ONE THAT IS LED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND INCORPORATES MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VALDEZ.

ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE. I'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: SORRY, MAYOR. PASS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 44 AND I'M GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY THIS IS THE BEST ITEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS YEAR THUS FAR. AND IT'S THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY TREE MAINTENANCE FUND. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME ABOUT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORTED THE BUDGET REQUESTS THAT OUR OFFICE PUT FORTH, WHETHER IT'S DUE TO AGE, PHYSICAL ABILITY, OR INCOME RESTRICTIONS, OFTENTIMES SAN ANTONIO SENIORS STRUGGLE WITH TREE MAINTENANCE.

WITH OUR DISTRICT 5 TEAM ALONE WE HAVE ROUGHLY 40 CONSTITUENTS IN THE QUEUE THAT HAVE CALLED AND REQUESTED THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO HELP ALLEVIATE THAT BURDEN OF TREE MAINTENANCE FOR SENIORS, IN PARTICULAR. SO I'M GRATEFUL WITH THIS ITEM 44 THAT WE WILL BE APPROVING FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE URBAN TREE CANOPY CARE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING SOME OF THE TREE MAINTENANCE SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. WITH THIS INFUSION OF FUNDS WE'LL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MORE SAN ANTONIO SENIORS. SO JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT I WANT TO THANK THE PARKS TEAM AS WELL FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE A GREAT EXAMPLE TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS THAT THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIVE TO THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR CAUSE. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS ITEM.

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

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 35A. THIS IS THE APPOINTMENT OF LINDSAY RATCLIFFE TO THE SA CLIMATE READY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SHE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY BECAUSE SHE'S ON TEACHING SUSTAINABILITY TO OUR NEXT GENERATION THAT'S REALLY GOING TO LEAD THIS WORK FORWARD. EXCITED THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THAT

COMMITTEE. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 34, THE APPOINTMENT OF CASEY WHITTINGTON TO THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD. I HAVE KNOWN CASEY FOR SOME YEARS NOW.

GREAT GUY. VERY DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY.

HE'S GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB ON THE JOB. CONGRATULATIONS TO CASEY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. I'M GOING BY THE QUEUE HERE UNDER CONSENT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON CONSENT? COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M HIGHLIGHTING ITEM 45 AND BEFORE I GET INTO MY PART OF IT, I JUST WANT TO ASK ANDY, ON ITEM 45, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT THE PROCESS, THE CITY PROCESS WAS METICULOUSLY FOLLOWED?

>> SEGOVIA: COUNCILWOMAN, YES. THE PROCESS FOR NAMING WAS

FOLLOWED IN THIS INSTANCE. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. SO I'M JUST GOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS. THE PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED. IT WAS METICULOUSLY FOLLOWED. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND BY HAVING MORE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAN REQUIRED BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE ASKING FOR IT.

THERE WAS A COMMENT THAT SOME OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ON IT WERE NOT. THOSE WERE MY PICKS. I ASKED THEM TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE. THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE. I REQUESTED WE INCLUDE A WOMAN AND SHE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I WANT TO BE CLEAR OF SOME OF THESE MISCONCEPTIONS. ALSO, THE ISSUE ABOUT THE BOUNDARIES.

THERE'S NO REAL LINES ON THE GROUND. THERE'S NO BOUNDARIES IN REAL LIFE. EDGEWOOD IS MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT IS A COMMUNITY AND IT'S ALL DISTRICT 6. IT'S REALLY MY HONOR AND

[00:50:05]

MR. GOMEZ, CAN YOU STAND UP? HIS NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH DEDICATION, ADVOCACY, AND A LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY. HE IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF EDGEWOOD.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S WHERE WE MET. I WAS BLOCK WALKING IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. HE WAS A CITY EMPLOYEE, HE WAS A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE.

HE IS NOW ON THE CITY'S ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. HIS LEGACY BEGAN AS A STUDENT IN THE 1968 EDGEWOOD WALKOUTS WHERE HE AND MANY OTHERS TOOK A COURAGEOUS STANCE AGAINST EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITY. THAT SPARKED A LASTING CHANGE THROUGHOUT TEXAS. IT WAS AN ACT OF COURAGE AND REMINDER THAT ONE VOICE CAN IGNITE A MOVEMENT. HE CONTINUED TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY AS A VIETNAM VETERAN. WE HAVE A CEREMONY EVERY YEAR TO COMMEMORATE THAT.

MR. GOMEZ WAS AMONG THE LAST U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL TO LEAVE SAIGON AT THE END OF THE VIETNAM CONFLICT, A TESTAMENT TO HIS RESILIENCE, BRAVERY, AND DEDICATION TO DUTY. MR. GOMEZ HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO HIS COMMUNITY.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE, HE RECENTLY LOST HIS DAUGHTER AND HE HAS ENDURED MUCH IN HIS LIFE. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE IN EDGEWOOD.

NAMING THIS PARK AFTER MR. GOMEZ IS MORE THAN A TRIBUTE, IT'S A REFLECTION OF THE VALUES HE HAS LIVED BY AND INSTILLED IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS PARK WILL BE A PLACE FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, NOT JUST VETERANS AND DISTRICT 6. AS HE SPENT HIS LIFE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MAKE EDGEWOOD AND DISTRICT 6 STRONGER.

WITH THAT, I PROUDLY SUPPORT THE NAMING OF THE NEW DESTINATION PARK AS LUIS GOMEZ PARK. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I'M HAPPY TO APPOINT DEBBIE PONCE.

SHE IS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS AND WORKED ON NUMEROUS ISSUES.

SHE HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HER HEART FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE.

I DON'T KNOW IF DEBBIE IS HERE BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE APPOINTMENT AND THANK HER FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE OUR CITY. SHE MEETS WITH ME REGULARLY AND KEEPS ME UPDATED. I THINK THERE'S A MEETING REQUEST RIGHT NOW THAT SHE SENT YESTERDAY. STILL WORKING ON THAT NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S EVERYTHING SAVE FOR 4, 5, 16, 24, 37, 38, AND THEN 41 AND 46, WHICH WERE WITHDRAWN.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NO. 4.

BEFORE WE GET TO ITEM NO. 4, WE DO HAVE ONE CEREMONIAL. IF I CAN ASK THE MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO RODEO TEAM TO COME ON UP. IT'S THE 76 ANNUAL SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO, Y'ALL. GIVE THEM A ROUND OF

APPLAUSE. >> Y'ALL READY FOR A RODEO? [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE ALAMO CITY WILL BE HELD FEBRUARY 6 THROUGH THE 23RD, 2025. WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO EMPHASIZES AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS. CALF SCRAMBLE PROGRAM AND SHOW PREMIUMS WITH $12 MILLION COMMITTED IN 2024.

AND WHEREAS THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE ORGANIZATION IS THE OVER 7,000 VOLUNTEERS, THE PARTNERS AND PATRONS WHO SUPPORT THE EVENT AND THE MISSION.

WHEREAS THE LAST YEAR OVER 1.5 MILLION VISITORS ENJOYED EXCITING ACTIVITIES, A CARNIVAL, EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS, FAMILY ACTIVITIES, AND ATTRACTIONS, LIFE STOCK AND HORSE SHOW AND SALES, CAM SCRAMBLE, EXTREME BULLS AND SHOPPING.

[00:55:07]

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 6 THROUGH 23, 2025 TO BE OFFICIAL RODEO SEASON AND THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025 TO BE OFFICIAL DRESS WESTERN DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS . LET'S RODEO, Y'ALL. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. ON BEHALF OF THE 7,000 VOLUNTEERS, THE STAFF AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THIS HONOR. TODAY I AM -- I GOT WITH ME A GREAT GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS FROM OUR AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE HERE TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING AS WELL.

WHAT I REALLY -- A COUPLE OF NEW VENTURES WE HAVE COMING OVER TO THE EASTSIDE.

ONE OF THEM IS OUR NEW EDUCATIONAL FACILITY FOR AG LIVESTOCK AND AUDIO] WILL HOST QUARTERLY EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH FOR THE YOUTH IN SAN ANTONIO AND ON THE EASTSIDE. THE SECOND IS OUR CREATION OF OUR VERY OWN TRAIL BOSS.

WITH THIS BEING CREATED, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DIFFERENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO FURTHER OUTREACH THROUGH REACHING OUT TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP COME DOWN AND DO SOME CONCESSIONS DOWN ON THE GROUND. THE SAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK SHOW CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST LIVESTOCK SHOWS IN THE NATION WITH OVER 24,000 ENTRIES ANNUALLY AND IT IMPACTS OVER 18,000 KIDS A YEAR. WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT OVER 76 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE YOUTH OF TEXAS. AS VOLUNTEERS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR MISSION OF EDUCATING THE YOUTH OF TEXAS AND WITH Y'ALL'S SUPPORT AND THE CITIZENS' ATTENDANCE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION. FOR ANYBODY LOOK AT SANANTONIORODEO.COM AND WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S SUPPORT.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE Y'ALL DOWN ON THE GROUNDS, INCLUDING ALL THE CITIZENS FROM FEBRUARY 6 THROUGH 23. LET'S RODEO, SAN ANTONIO! [APPLAUSE]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE, WE'VE GOT A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME

COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

I AM ALWAYS EXCITED WHEN YOU GUYS COME. Y'ALL HAVE CONVINCED ME.

I'M GOING TO GET A BLACK COWBOY HAT THIS YEAR. I THINK THE ENTHUSIASM IS BACK. EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO A COWBOY BREAKFAST NOW.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONCERT LINEUP. I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE CONCESSION AND GETTING PEOPLE PLUGGED IN AND INVOLVED THAT WAY.

AGAIN, I HAVE TONS OF STORIES FROM THE RODEO. I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING THIS YEAR AND SEEING WHAT'S NEW, SO LET'S RODEO, SAN ANTONIO! THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YEAH, THE RODEO IS EXTREMELY EXCITING. I LOVE TO TAKE MY TWO LITTLE GIRLS OUT THERE AND THEY ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING NEW. WE ESPECIALLY LIKE THE MUTTON BUSTING. I TRIED TO CONVINCE MY YOUNGEST TO DO IT THIS YEAR BUT SHE'S LIKE, NOPE. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. I KNOW IT'S A HUGE SACRIFICE DURING THIS TIME, THE HOURS AND DEDICATION, SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR MAKING IT

HAPPEN FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. LET'S RODEO, SAN ANTONIO! >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU ALL FOR INVESTING IN SAN ANTONIO'S YOUTH. I ATTENDED BURBANK HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS ONE OF THE ONLY URBAN SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDES AGRICULTURAL STUDIES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO URBAN YOUTH. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING HORSES DOWNTOWN AND ALL THAT YOU DO IN SCHOLARSHIP AND SO MUCH MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. I WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW JUST 72 HOURS AGO THERE'S 32 OF US IN COLOMBIA DOWN IN SOUTH AMERICA. WE WERE MEETING WITH DIFFERENT FAMILIES AND ONE KID IN PARTICULAR, WE WERE ASKING HIM, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TEXAS? WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE UNITED STATES? THE ONLY THING HE SAID WAS "RODEO." I WAS LIKE DAMN STRAIGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT TEXAS. ANYWAY, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. PEOPLE OUTSIDE FROM SAN ANTONIO WATCH.

PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU AND THAT'S A REALLY BIG

[01:00:02]

FUTURE, WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN STORE FOR US IS EXCITING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. ALL RIGHT. A FEW OF US UP HERE TRIED TO GET THE THING GOING. IT'S NOT QUITE AS WHO WANTS TO TAKE A PICTURE AND A VIDEO OF THIS. ON THREE, THE WHOLE CHAMBER IS GOING TO SAY, LET'S GO, RODEO! ONE, TWO, THREE.

LET'S RODEO, SAN ANTONIO! ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, GUYS. ALL RIGHT. LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

[ITEM FOR STAFF BRIEFING]

>> CLERK: ITEM NO. 4 IS A BRIEFING ON THE 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> BASURTO: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER.

I'M BACK TODAY BEFORE YOU TO PROVIDE YOU AN EARLY PRESENTATION ON THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTED JANUARY 14. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OVER TWO WEEKS AGO.

WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY TRACKING THE EARLY ACTION ITEMS OF THE STATE LEADERSHIP.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL SHARE HIS 2025 STATE OF THE STATE ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2. THAT PRESENTATION BY THE GOVERNOR WILL INCLUDE HIS PRIORITIES THAT WE WILL BE TAKING NOTE OF. THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS WELL HAS ANNOUNCED HIS SENATE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS FROM OUR DELEGATION IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES IN A LITTLE BIT. AND HE ALSO ANNOUNCED JUST YESTERDAY HIS FIRST ROUND OF PRIORITY BILLS 1 THROUGH 25, 26 THROUGH 40 WILL ALSO BE IN THE VERY RECENT FUTURE. AS YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE BURROWS WAS ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND HE HAS NOT RELEASED HIS COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS YET.

THOSE WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE WEEKS TO COME. THAT WILL DETERMINE WHERE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND WHERE OUR SENATORS LANDED. SENATOR ROLAND GUTIERREZ, MEMBER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, VETERAN AFFAIRS, WATER, AG, AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

SENATOR ZAFFIRINI. SENATOR CAMPBELL, SHE WILL BE CHAIRING THE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE. VICE CHAIR OF EDUCATION K THROUGH 16 AND A MEMBER OF BUSINESS COMMERCE AND FINANCE . SENATOR MENENDEZ.

OF SPECIAL NOTE THERE WERE THREE NEW SENATE COMMITTEES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED.

THE FIRST ONE IS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS , DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENTAL EFFICIENCY, AND THE WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AS YOU SEE HERE. OUR SENATORS ARE IN THOSE THREE NEW COMMITTEES.

AND THERE ARE NO MINORITY CHAIRS IN THE SENATE COMMITTEES.

THE COMPTROLLER ISSUES HIS BIENNIAL REVENUE ESTIMATE EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION PROJECTING THE REVENUE THAT LAWMAKERS HAVE AVAILABLE DURING THE LEGISLATURE FOR STATE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGH THE UPCOMING BIENNIUM.

THE COMPTROLLER RELEASED HIS ESTIMATE ON JANUARY 13TH AND THE STATE IS PROJECTED TO HAVE $195 BILLION FOR GENERAL PURPOSE SPENDING THIS SESSION.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THERE WILL BE A $24 BILLION SURPLUS.

IN ADDITION, THE ECONOMIC STABILIZATION FUND OR KNOWN AS THE RAINY DAY FUND IS EXPECTED TO REACH APPROXIMATELY $28.5 BILLION IN REVENUE BY 2027.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE ALSO INTRODUCED THEIR BUDGETS FOR THIS SESSION.

[01:05:02]

BOTH CHAMBERS HAVE SET ASIDE $1 BILLION FOR THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE BOTH SET ASIDE $6.5 BILLION FOR BORDER SECURITY.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE PROPOSED $5 BILLION FROM THE SURPLUS TO INCREASE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AND AT LEAST $6 BILLION FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

ON THE SCHOOL FUNDING PROPOSAL, THERE IS AN INCREASE INCLUDED THAT IS 4,000 FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND AN INCREASE OF 6,000 FOR RURAL TEACHERS.

PLUS $400 MILLION FOR SCHOOL SAFETY. CONSIDERING THAT SOME OF THESE PROPOSALS ARE NOT PERFECTLY ALIGNED, THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL HAVE EXTENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SESSION AND WE'LL BE TRACKING THOSE VERY CLOSELY. ADDITIONALLY, THE HOUSE HAS OVER $38 BILLION FOR HIGHWAY, WATER, AND FLOOD CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE SENATE HAS $5 BILLION FOR THE TEXAS ENERGY FUND . THE TEXAS ENERGY FUND PROVIDES GRANTS AND LOANS TO FINANCE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND OTHER MODERNIZATION AND OPERATION OF ELECTRIC FACILITIES. THIS SLIDE HAS AN UPDATE ON THE BILLS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY TRACKING. TO DATE, SINCE MID-NOVEMBER, THERE HAVE BEEN 3100 BILLS FILED. THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM AND CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE CURRENTLY TRACKING OVER 500 BILLS SO FAR THAT COULD HAVE A POTENTIAL IMPACT ON CITIES. WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR DEPARTMENT LIAISONS AND OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THESE BILLS ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITY ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED YET, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SO THOSE BILLS ARE YET TO BE FILED. DURING THE FIRST 60 DAYS, LAWMAKERS CAN ONLY PASS LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY OR PRIORITY ITEMS, SO THERE IS STILL TIME FOR THAT PROCESS TO UNFOLD. THE EAST-WEST CORRIDOR IS A TOP PRIORITY IN OUR PROGRAM AND OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO SECURE STATE APPROVAL AND FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EAST-WEST STATE ROADWAY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN REGION OF SAN ANTONIO, PROVIDING ACCESS TO MAJOR EMPLOYERS.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT CONCEPT MAP HERE, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN I-37 AND I-35 IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES AND SO WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH OUR LEADERSHIP HERE AT THE CITY. THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AS WELL AS WITH OUR DELEGATION. THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM PROVIDED EXTENSIVE BRIEFINGS TO OUR DELEGATION AND SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ITEM AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THEM INFORMED AS IT UNFOLDS FURTHER. IN ADDITION, THE CITY HAS HOSTED SEVERAL STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WITH OUR MANUFACTURING PARTNERS, LOCAL CHAMBERS, GREATER SATX, AND THE OTHER PARTNERS THAT YOU SEE LISTED ON THIS SLIDE. NEXT STEPS INCLUDE MEETINGS WITH KEY STATE LEADERSHIP, AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING UPDATES AS THIS ITEM UNFOLDS FURTHER AS WELL.

IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING BILLS, A FEW BILLS THAT WE ARE MONITORING TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE FLAVOR OF THE ONES BEING FILED AT THE LEGISLATURE. THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS IS A PILLAR IN OUR PROGRAM AND IT INCLUDES BILLS THAT IMPACT THE AUTHORITY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PRESERVE THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY. SPECIFICALLY, MULTIPLE BILLS, AS EXPECTED, HAVE BEEN FILED PROHIBITING MUNICIPALITIES FROM HIRING ADVOCATES OR JOINING ASSOCIATIONS THAT ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF IN AUSTIN DURING THE LEGISLATURE. THAT INCLUDES HB 309, SB 239, HB 571, HB 671, AND OTHERS. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE MULTIPLE BILLS AIMING AT THE SAME THING. HB 167 PROHIBITS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY FROM MAINTAINING DEI OFFICES AS WELL AS PROHIBITING REQUIREMENTS TO CONTRACT WITH ANYONE PERFORMING DEI ACTIVITIES AND, AS WELL, IT EXTENDS TO LANGUAGE THAT INCORPORATES PROHIBITIONS TO GIVE PREFERENCE BASED ON RACE, SEX, ETHNICITY,

[01:10:06]

HB 239 AND HB 240 REDUCES LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO CREATE POLICIES GOVERNING ACCESS TO CERTAIN PRIVATE SPACES WITHIN CITY FACILITIES SUCH AS BATHROOMS AND LOCKER ROOMS. AGAIN, HB 239 AND SB 240. AS FILED, THESE BILLS ARE OF GREAT CONCERN TO US AND WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENT HEADS AND LIAISONS AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT TO THE CITY. AS EXPECTED, EVERY SESSION THERE ARE MANY LAND USE AND PERMITTING BILLS THAT ARE FILED THAT OFTEN ARE AIMED AT DIMINISHING LOCAL AUTHORITY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. BILLS THAT COULD IMPACT THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE SEVERAL BILLS THAT TARGET THE LAND USE AND DENSITY ISSUES. IMPACT ON CITY REGULATIONS OF ADUS, ONE BILL IS HB 878. ADDITIONALLY IMPACT ON RESIDENTIAL LOT DENSITY, THAT'S DATA-SHARING NETWORK. THIS WOULD BE A STATEWIDE HOMELESS DATA SHARING NETWORK, ESSENTIALLY A TOOL TO SHARE REALTIME DATA ON HOMELESSNESS TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND ULTIMATELY REFERRING THEM TO ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES, LIKE HOUSING. LEGISLATION HAS BEEN FILED THAT WOULD FALL UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY A DANGEROUS DOGS BILL THAT WE HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING AND WORKING FOR A PAST SESSION, INCLUDING THIS SESSION, WITH REP CAMPOS AND SENATOR MENENDEZ. OUR DANGEROUS DOGS LEGISLATION WOULD PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND ADDRESS DANGEROUS DOGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S HB 1346 AND SENATOR MENENDEZ'S COMPANION, SB 155.

ON SPECIAL NOTE, ON A PARALLEL TRACK, THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM , WE ARE ENGAGED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM TO TALK ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION AND THE IMPORTANCE TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY AND WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO DETERMINE A POSITIVE PATH FORWARD FOR THIS BILL AS IT UNFOLDS DURING THE LEGISLATURE. IN ADDITION, MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS SUCH AS HB 15, 1656 AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN FILED, ESTABLISHING A SYSTEMS SECURITY, HB 1203, ENHANCEMENT TO PROTECTIONS IN FAMILY VIOLENCE CASES. THAT'S HB 498.

IN ADDITION HB 548, WE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS IN THE IGR COMMITTEE, WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BILL AND THIS ESSENTIALLY INCREASES CRIMINAL PENALTY OF VEHICLE BURGLARY CASES. THE NEXT ONE IS PERMITTING MUNICIPALITIES TO PROHIBIT SALES OF E-CIGARETTES NEAR SCHOOLS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL BILLS FILED THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH LIMITING CERTAIN DISTANCE FROM SCHOOLS FOR SHOTGUN THESE TYPES OF BUSINESSES. CURRENTLY SB 464, HB 1183, AND HB 1816. SB 464 IS SENATOR CAMPBELL'S BILL AND THAT ESSENTIALLY WOULD PROHIBIT ANY E-CIGARETTE RETAILER FROM OPERATING WITHIN 300 FEET OF A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PRIMARY, SECONDARY, OR SCHOOL CAMPUS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO RETAILERS WHOSE E-CIGARETTE SALES ARE LESS THAN 50%.

SO THINK GAS STATIONS, CORNER STORES, GROCERY STORES, THOSE MUCH LARGER MARKET RETAIL STORES THAT HAVE OTHER RETAIL OPERATIONS WITHIN THEIR STORES.

UNDER INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY, THESE ARE BILLS RELATED TO CREATING A RESILIENT FUTURE FOR SAN ANTONIO IN A RAPIDLY-CHANGING SOCIETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. HB 17 BILL. ESSENTIALLY IT AIMS TO REGULATE DEVELOPERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND DIGITAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. IT ESTABLISHES A TEXAS AI

[01:15:02]

AS PROMISED, WE WILL KEEP YOU REGULARLY UPDATED AS THE LEGISLATURE UNFOLDS.

THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM WILL PROVIDE MONTHLY UPDATES TO THE IGR COMMITTEE.

WE WERE BEFORE THE IGR COMMITTEE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO FOR AN EVEN EARLIER UPDATE TO THEM ON THE FIRST DAY THAT THE STATE SESSION STARTED.

AND WE WILL ALSO BE PROVIDING FULL UPDATES TO YOU HERE DURING A SESSIONS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL BE LAYERING ON ADDITIONAL WRITTEN REPORTS TO YOU ON THE WEEKS WHERE THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PRESENTATION. AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE POST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S POSITIONS ON SPECIFIC BILLS THAT WE REGISTER IN AUSTIN.

AND THOSE WILL BE POSTED ON THE G.A. WEBSITE. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I AM ACCOMPANIED HERE BY THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, AS WELL AS DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, SALLY, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I ALWAYS ADMIRE SALLY'S ABILITY TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION OF THE STATE'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WITH A STRAIGHT FACE.

IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL IN A MOMENT. JUST WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE IGR TEAM.

THERE ARE ALREADY THOUSANDS OF BILLS FILED IN THE LEGISLATURE, MANY OF THEM AFFECTING YOUR LIVES AND YOUR HOMES. AND PART OF THEIR WORK, ALONG WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ASSOCIATE WITH, IS TO INTERPRET THE LEGAL LANGUAGE OF ALL THOSE BILLS SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT ADVOCACY ON YOUR BEHALF, THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, WHOSE LIVES WILL BE AFFECTED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BY CHANGING LAWS IN THE STATE. TO THE ENTIRE STATE LEGISLATIVE TEAM WHO IS GOING TO BE SPENDING COUNTLESS HOURS WORKING WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP US INTERPRET THOSE BILLS AND ALSO WORKING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE BEST POSITION. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE CHAIR OF THE IGR COMMITTEE.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, SALLY.

I DON'T ENVY YOU. EVERY TWO YEARS THEY TURN ON A FIRE HYDRANT AND YOU AND YOUR TEAM DRINK FROM IT AND YOU DO IT VERY ELEGANTLY AND GRACEFULLY.

I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS. AND SO I ALWAYS CALL ATTENTION TO THAT HEAVY LIFT THAT YOU DO BECAUSE AFTER THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION YOU GUYS, YOU LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD AND SOMETIMES WE FORGET TO REALLY RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT SAN ANTONIANS ARE DOING TO PROTECT SAN ANTONIO. YOU KNOW, IT'S A STRANGE MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN WHO WAKES UP EVERY SINGLE MORNING AND JUST SEEMS TO SAY TO ITSELF, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HURT CITIES? RIGHT? AND SOME OF THESE BILLS ARE VERY HELPFUL BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE THAT REALLY SHOULD ALARM A LOT OF US. AND ALL SO THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME VERY, VERY CYNICAL PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, PROVE TO THEIR BASE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY ARE FAITHFUL ACOLYTES OF A WORLD VIEW THAT IS JUST REALLY HURTFUL.

AND SO I'LL TELL YOU THERE IS A HOUSE BILL OUT THERE THAT HAS ME VERY ALARMED.

167, IF ENACTED INTO LAW, WOULD ANNIHILATE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS THAT HAVE CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED ENTREPRENEURS, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR EMPLOYEES, NONPROFITS, OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES.

THIS IS THE SO-CALLED -- WAS IT NO DEI BILL, RIGHT? WHAT ALARMS ME ABOUT THIS IS IT'S GOING TO PROHIBIT US FROM INCLUDING ANY CONSIDERATION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN ANY POLICIES AND ORDINANCES THAT WE PUT TOGETHER HERE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN DONE OF DECADES UPON DECADES -- EITHER INTENTIONAL EXCLUSION ON THE PART OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR EXCLUSION BY OMITTING, YOU KNOW, OMITTING

[01:20:04]

WE HAVE CREATED PROGRAMS THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED AND THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD AND DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC, JUST TO BE AWARE THAT SOMETIMES OUR DECISIONS AND SOMETIMES OUR OMISSIONS CAN HURT FOLKS.

HOUSE BILL 167 AIMS TO PUNISH CITIES FOR JUST HAVING THAT DIFFICULT CONVERSATION. AND TO SACRIFICE ON THE ALTAR OF -- SACRIFICE SOME PRETTY GOOD VALUES THAT I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM AGREES WITH.

THE FACT THAT WE WANT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES POWER. THE FACT THAT WE WANT EQUITY FOR EVERYBODY.

WE'RE NOT GIVING THINGS AWAY. WE WANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYBODY TO THRIVE. THAT OFFENDS THE AUTHOR OF THIS BILL.

THAT'S BANANA PHONES CRAZY AND THE FACT THAT WE WANT DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT AND DIVERSITY OF BACKGROUNDS AND VIEWPOINTS IS OFFENSIVE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING THIS. AND I FEEL LIKE I'M LIVING IN UPSIDE DOWN WORLD HERE BECAUSE THIS IS LITERALLY WHAT WE WANT FOR EVERYBODY, WHICH IS MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE. AND THIS BILL MAY BECOME LAW IS AN EMBARRASSMENT.

SO THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE WHO LOOK AT CITY COUNCIL AND SAY YOUR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE GETTING ALONG WITH AUSTIN AND GETTING ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR AND GETTING ALONG WITH OUR LEADERS AND GETTING ALONG WITH THE WHITE HOUSE.

TO THAT I SAY, NO. OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. WE DIDN'T TAKE AN OATH TO GET ALONG AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR VALUES. I'LL STOP THERE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD BILLS THAT ARE DEBATED AND TAKEN UP BUT THERE IS JUST SOME TERRIBLE, CRUEL POLICY COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE AND IF I'M RIGHT IT'S GOING TO BECOME LAW AND WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE THE WORSE FOR IT.

ANDY, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE NAME OF DEI JUST TO ACCESS AN OPPORTUNITY.

ANTI-DEI STUFF IS SO SPECTACULARLY STUPID AND IT'S GOING TO HURT PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT. THE CRUELTY IS THE POINT.

AND SO THANK YOU, ANDY FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR EFFORTS AS DEI.

I JUST PRAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT THIS BULLSHIT ENDS.

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

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. [APPLAUSE] >> WHYTE: WELL, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE STUFF THE COUNCILMAN SAID THERE I AGREE WITH.

A LOT OF IT I SIMPLY DON'T. AND I'LL TELL YOU JUST THE ONE POINT THAT I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THE PAST 20 MONTHS.

BUT THE ABILITY OR RATHER INABILITY OF THIS CITY GOVERNMENT TO WORK WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS, FRANKLY IS A GLARING PROBLEM AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

OUR INABILITY TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY. OUR INABILITY TO WORK WITH THE STATE. I FEAR THAT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN D.C. WHO HAPPENS TO BE OF A DIFFERENT POLITICAL PERSUASION THAN SOME MAY NOW HAVE AN INABILITY TO WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS, LET'S BE HONEST. WE NEED ALL OF THESE OTHER JURISDICTIONS. COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE NEED THEIR HELP TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO FOR OUR CITIZENS HERE SO I WOULD SAY THAT MOVING FORWARD, LET'S NOT POKE THESE OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN

[01:25:04]

WE GOT TO DO BETTER IN COMMUNICATING AND WORKING WITH ALL OF THE AGAIN, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SAN ANTONIANS. WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO FIRST CONGRATULATE MY FRIEND NEW SPEAKER DUST DUST AUSTIN BURROWS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM. SOME COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT'S COMING UP IN LEGISLATURE, FIRST OF ALL, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, I'M VERY EXCITED THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR THIS LEGISLATURE. NEXT I WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE INCREASED CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR THE VEHICLE BURGLARRY CASES WHICH DOES HAVE SUPPORT FROM CLEAT. I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A VERY WORTH WHILE BILL TO FOLLOW. ALSO ON SIDE 6, SB 466 SUPPORTING HUNDRED FACILITIES TO PROO LIBERTY SALES OF E-CIGARETTES NEAR SCHOOLS.

THIS VAPING ISSUE OUR YOUTH SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS WELL. WHEN I LOOK TO THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING UP THERE IN AUSTIN FOR THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OR MAYBE MORE, I'M EXCITED FOR US TO WORK WITH THEM, AGAIN, TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR OUR CITIZENS HERE. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO DO THAT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THANKS, MAYOR.

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

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KIND OF FEEL ODD SITTING BETWEEN BOTH OF THESE COUNCILMEMBERS GIVING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN AUSTIN. AND I'M GOING TO GIVE MY OWN BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT. WHAT'S THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY. AND SALLY, SOMETHING THAT I RECALL IN ONE OF THE FIRST PRESENTATIONS YOU MADE WAS SOME BILLS THAT WANT TO LIMIT A CITY'S GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY TO JOIN AN ORGANIZATION THAT MAY

ADVOCATE FOR CITY ISSUES. IS THAT CORRECT? >> BASURTO: YES, COUNCILMAN, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. ON SLIDE 8 I MENTIONED THAT MULTIPLE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED WOULD PROHIBIT MUNICIPALITIES FROM HIRING ADVOCATES OR JOINING ORGANIZATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. SO THERE ARE VARIOUS BILLS FILED ALREADY.

>> COURAGE: SO THEORETICALLY IF THAT PASSED TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE WOULD PROBABLY DISAPPEAR BECAUSE NO ONE COULD JOIN AND PAY MONEY TO SUPPORT THEM.

>> BASURTO: AS FILED, RIGHT. >> COURAGE: ALSO IT SAYS WE CAN'T -- THEY USED TO USE THE TERM WE COULDN'T HIRE LOBBYISTS.

NOW THEIR SAYING WE CAN'T HIRE ADVOCATES. >> THAT'S THE LANGUAGE.

>> COURAGE: DOES THAT PROHIBIT CITY STAFF FROM ADVOCATING?

>> BASURTO: SOME BILLS DO LIST, FOR EXAMPLE MY POSITION, SOME BILLS DO LIST

SPECIFICALLY INTERNAL ADVOCATES. >> COURAGE: SO WE CAN'T HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES GO UP AND TALK ABOUT CITY ISSUES THEN.

>> BASURTO: ACCORDING TO SOME BILLS, POTENTIALLY NOT. >> COURAGE: THAT'S CRAZY.

IT'S APPARENT TO ME LIVING IN THIS STATE FOR 53 YEARS THAT THE LEADERS AT THIS TIME ARE TOTALLY OUT OF CONTACT WITH ABOUT 80% OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS STATE. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE MAJOR CITIES.

AND THE ACTIONS THAT THEY ARE ADVOCATING ABOUT REDUCING OR ELIMINATING OUR

[01:30:03]

BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT HERE. THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE LIVES IN AUSTIN. AND NEITHER DOES THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND NEITHER DOES THE SENATE LEADER. THEY LIVE IN A BUBBLE.

WE ARE THE ONES WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY DAY TO DAY, AND WE KNOW THAT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ARE CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE AND DO THE MOST THAT AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES. WHAT WE SHOULD BE COUNTING ON IS THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER THESE KINDS OF IMPORTANT SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. NOT THEIR LIMITATION.

WE KNOW WHAT GOES ON IN AUSTIN. IT'S ALL OF THE BIG OIL COMPANIES AND GAS COMPANIES AND TECH COMPANIES AND INDUSTRIES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT GO AND LOBBY. THEY ARE NOT LIMITING THEM, BUT THEY ARE SAYING CITIES CAN'T DO THAT. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK AGAINST THOSE BILLS BEING APPROVED. IF I -- NOT MYSELF AS A COUNCILMEMBER, BUT IF THE CITY MANAGER OR SOMEONE IN OUR DEPARTMENT THAT IS LOOKING AT GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES GOING ON CAN'T GO AND TALK ABOUT THESE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY FEEL LIKE? DO THEY THINK THAT A MILLION AND A HALF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO TO AUSTIN EVERY OTHER YEAR TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT? AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT COMING HERE LISTENING TO US. I LOVE OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, AT LEAST MOST OF THEM, THEY SEEM TO LISTEN TO THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP, THE HEAD OF THE SENATE AND THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE AND THE HEAD OF, YOU KNOW, TEXAS GOVERNMENT THAT AREN'T LISTENING. AND SO I HAD TO SAY MY PIECE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, YOUR TEAM IS DOING ON HELPING US UNDERSTAND 500 OR MAYBE A THOUSAND BILLS THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THIS CITY AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LET OUR VOICE BE HEARD.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. [APPLAUSE]

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM. I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL'S WORK.

IN REGARDS TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS MADE EARLIER, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ, YOU AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT THAT YOU SHARED. I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE STATE, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND HONESTLY IF WE DON'T LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT COMES DOWN TO ALL OF US TO VOTE AND TO ORGANIZE EACH IN REGARDS TO DANGEROUS DOUG LEGISLATION, WE MADE GREAT HEAD WAY AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR VOTING ON MY LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOG POLICY PROPOSAL HERE.

I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW MUCH FURTHER IT WILL BE PUSHED AT THE STATE, SO THANK YOU TO SENATOR MENENDEZ AND STATE REP CAMPOS FOR LEADING THE CHARGE ON THAT.

AND ALSO I DID WANT TO THANK THE IGR TEAM FOR Y'ALL'S HELP IN MAKING SURE WE'RE UP TO DATE WITH THE DASHBOARD. THAT NOT ONLY HELPS US ON THE IGR COMMITTEE AND ALL OF Y'ALL'S BRIEFINGS TO US, BUT IT ALSO HELPS US BE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO RESIDENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS.

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

GAVITO. >>COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR WORK EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE KNOW THAT YOU TRACK THOUSANDS OF BILLS FILED AND ENSURE OUR INTERESTS AND ABILITIES TO GOVERN ARE MAINTAINED. I ASK ANYONE WATCHING WHO CARES ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE IF YOU CARE ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES OR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHAT IS CONSIDERED A CRIME AND WHAT RULES WE AS A COUNCIL FOLLOW, PLEASE KEEP YOUR ATTENTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. FURTHER IT NEEDS TO BE SAID THAT THE NEWLY ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE DEATH STAR BILL THAT WOULD HAVE STRIPPED POWERS AS A MUNICIPALITY ALMOST COMPLETELY.

IT'S CLEAR WE'RE IN FOR A VERY INTERESTING SESSION. ACCORDING TO EQUALITY TEXAS, THERE ARE 60 LGBTQ+ BILLS FILED THIS SESSION. I MAINTAIN WE CONTINUE TO

[01:35:06]

WE AS A CITY HAVE NOT TAKEN A STANCE, BUT I THINK THAT'S ONE AREA WE LIKELY SHOULD AT STOW POINT. OUR SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY SEVERELY UNDERRESOURCED AND MY DISTRICT HAS SEEN SEVERAL SCHOOLS CLOSED IN SAN ANTONIO ISD AND NORTHEAST ISD. ADDITIONALLY -- I'LL GO BACK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT, WE KNOW THAT ISSUES OF EDUCATION IMPACT OUR CITY MUCH LATER ON.

SO THE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES -- THE KIDS AND FAMILIES WHO RELY ON THESE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IF THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING A QUALITY EDUCATION, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO FOR OUR WORKFORCE, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. ADDITIONALLY, AS WE'RE FACED MORE RAMPED-UP THREATS TO OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE RESOURCES I IS A DOG WHISTLE ANYTHING THAT IS AN OTHER. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR OFFICE AND PROGRAMS BUT IT WILL TAKE MORE THOUGHT THAN RENAMING IT.

WILL IT ALSO EMBEDDING DEIA INTO CORE FUNCTIONS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR WE CANNOT RESIGN OURSELVES TO SUBMISSION. WHETHER ABOUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, ROLLING BACK DIA PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS MEANT TO PROMOTE EQUITY.

IT FEELS LIKE EVERY WEEK CHALLENGE SYSTEMS OF INEQUITY, BUT FOR SOME REASON WE DECIDE THAT COOPERATION AND COMPLIANCE WILL BE OUR NORTH STAR.

I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE THE DECISIONS WE'VE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE AND I HOPE THAT WE'LL BE -- WE HAVE LOTS MORE FIGHT IN US THAN THAT I BELIEVE I'VE SEEN.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, SALLY, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES -- I HAVE TEN, BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO ADDRESS SOME ISSUES WE HAVE HERE. IF YOU COULD PULL UP SLIDE NUMBER 4, MR. AUDIOVISUAL MAN. WHEN WE LOOK AT SLIDE NUMBER 4, AND GLENN HAGEE. R WAS HERE AND SPOKE. WE ARE A CONER STATE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. TEXAS, WE SEE THE SURPLUS, WE SEE WHAT WE HAVE FOR SPENDING. SO I DON'T THINK IT IS A PROBLEM FOR US TO DEMAND WHAT WE NEED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE ARE ASKING FOR OUR FAIR SHARE.

BECAUSE MOST OF WHAT WE DO AND WE PROVIDE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO STATES THAT ARE NOT PRODUCING AS MUCH AS WE HAVE.

WE ARE A DONOR STATE. WE KNOW THAT. WE WANT TO STAY A DONOR STATE. AND I THINK THE SOONER ALL LEADERS IN TEXAS REALIZE THAT FEDERALLY DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE THAT CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT WHAT WE DO HERE IN TEXAS, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. I'M ALL FOR WORKING WITH THOSE THAT WERE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE. MY CONCERN IS AS WE TALK ABOUT THE SPEAKER HERE, THERE IS A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALUE -- RIO~GRANDE. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY WEREN'T CHOSEN TO BE SPEAKER BECAUSE THEY ARE GROWING AT A PACE SIMILAR TO SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS AND HOUSTON. YES, DO WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTION, IS THERE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, CONCERN, THERE IS. THERE IS GOING TO BE THAT THIS SESSION.

I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT AND I DON'T WANT TO SELL THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO WE SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE WORRIED.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE DIFFERENT LEVELS, THE FEDERAL, THE STATE AND LOCAL WHICH INCLUDES THE COUNTY AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT WE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS AND WE ARE PUSHING BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE SEND TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THEN GETS DISTRIBUTED BACK TO THE STATE THAT THEN FINALLY COMES BACK HOME.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. AND TO BE AND SAY IT'S ALL POLITICALLY MINDED IT'S WRONG. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL WORK, SALLY, THAT WE HAVE TO DO. AND ON SLIDE 10, THERE'S ONE THAT WAS INTERESTING, THE VEHICLE PENALTY AND CLE AT IS ENFORCING THAT.

[01:40:07]

DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN HIGHLY POPULATED AREAS? >> BASURTO: COUNCILWOMAN, I DON'T HAVE A LIST OF THOSE PARTICULAR BILLS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE THE TEAM PULL A LIST AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY BILLS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THAT

OFFENSE. >> VIAGRAN: IF WE COULD DO THAT AND SEE IF ANYBODY FROM AROUND THE STATE IS LOOKING AT THAT, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE. THE OTHER IS IN SLIDE 11 WITH THE OTHERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS IN TERMS OF THE PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE -- AND WHAT TDHCA IS PLANNING TO DO. BECAUSE SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, AGAIN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE ACTIVE THAT DOES IMPACT US IN THE SOUTHEAST AND THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF TOWN AND THE WEST SIDE BECAUSE IT'S HARDER FOR THEM TO MEET MORE REGULARLY. SO IF IT COULD BE AS VAGUE AS POSSIBLE WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND DOESN'T REQUIRE A CERTAIN MEMBERSHIP, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THAT. I'M NOT READY TO GIVE UP ANY NAMES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY INCLUSION OR ANYTHING UNTIL WE'RE KIND OF PUSHED TO DO SO. I THINK THE -- IT'S THE USE OF VOCABULARY AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COULD BE OFFENDED BY USING THE CORRECT VOCABULARY.

BACK IN THE DAY, I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE TEAM IS -- WE USED TO CALL IT MULTICULTURAL STUDIES. BUT WHEN WE DEFINE IT AS DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION, MAYBE IF WE COULD EXPLAIN THIS IS WHAT THIS IS AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT A COMMUNITY THAT LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT. AND AGAIN, WE HAVE IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL OVER, YOU KNOW, OUR AFGHAN COMMUNITY, OUR FILIPINO COMMUNITY, OUR VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYONE. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN AUSTIN. ANY TIME YOU NEED ME TO GO, I'M AVAILABLE.

>> BASURTO: CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE IS ALREADY ILLEGAL. WE'LL STILL RUN A BILL CHECK

TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING RELATED. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

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

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB TO TRACK AND SWITCH AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT BUT I'LL THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE EAST-WEST BUSINESS CORRIDOR THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, I FEEL LIKE IT IS A PROJECT THAT WE COULD ALL GET BEHIND AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT ONLY ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF SAN ANTONIO BUT OUR ENTIRE STATE. I AM GLAD THAT WE HAVE PRIORITIZED THAT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE OF GREAT IMPACT.

AND I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE PROBABLY 20 YEARS BEFORE IT COMES TO FRUITION, JUST LIKE THE FLIGHT TO D.C. THE THINGS WE START THAT WE KNOW WILL COME EVENTUALLY, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR PRIORITIZING THAT. ON SLIDER 8, THOSE ADVOCACY EFFORTS, AND COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER, THE MULTIPLE BILLS SPECIFICALLY. SO THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM ESSENTIALLY PAYING

MEMBERSHIP DUES TO BEYOND TNL, NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS? >> BASURTO: I'M NOT CERTAIN ABOUT THE FEDERAL REACH TO THOSE TRADE ORGANIZATIONS, BUT FOR SURE

IT WOULD INCORPORATE TNL. >> GARCIA: AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE BEFORE YOU ARE

[01:45:02]

I'M WONDERING HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT. SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, I'M ON THE BOARD, I'LL BE BRINGING IT UP. ARE THOSE CHANGES IN OTHER

STATES, ARE YOU SEEING THAT AS WELL? >> BASURTO: LIKELY THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT OF CROSSOVER STATE TO STATE AND CONSERVATIVE POLICIES THAT WE'VE SEEN WAVELENGTHS. YOU ARE CORRECT ABOUT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

NLC IS THE PARENT TRADE ORGANIZATION TO THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUES ACROSS THE STATE. JUST BY THE GENERAL LANGUAGE OF PACKS PAIR FUNDED LOBBY ING PROHIBITIONS, I CAN SEE IT WOULD LIKELY INCORPORATE THE USE OF FUNDS

FOR ANY ADVOCACY TRADE ORGANIZATIONS. >> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY JUST SO WE DIDN'T MISCOMMUNICATE. THE BILL SPECIFICALLY PROHIBIT POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS LIKE THE CITY FROM HIRING CONTRACT LOBBYISTS. COUNCILMAN, THE USE OF THE WORD "ADVOCATE" WAS OUR BILL IN THE SLIDE, AND THEY PROHIBIT US FROM SPENDING ANY MONEY WITH TRADE ASSOCIATIONS THAT HIRE LOBBYISTS WHO LOBBY THE LEGISLATURE.

SO TML LIKELY WOULDN'T GO AWAY, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTRACT PROFESSIONALS TO HELP THEM IF THIS BILL WENT THROUGH AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF IT WOULD PROHIBIT HALF FROM GOING UP, WE JUST WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT WITH

PROFESSIONALS. DOESN'T CHANGE THE POSITION. >> GARCIA: WOULD WE BE

ABLE TO PAY DUES? >> IF THEY ARE NOT

>> GARCIA: SEVERAL BILLS THAT ADDRESS LAND USE. ADUS IN PARTICULAR WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT, ABOUT DENSITY AS WELL AS THE NEED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL DENSITY. WHAT ARE WE SEEING, I GUESS, THAT COULD BE OF CONCERN TO OUR RECENTLY PASSED FISH ACTIVES AT THE CITY -- FISH ACTIVES AT THE CITY

EFFICIENCIES PASSED AT THE CITY. >> BASURTO: A DUS LIMITING LOT SIZE, JUST FOR YOU TO EXERCISE LOCAL DECISION-MAKING.

WE WERE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY FOR HB 78. IT LIMITS THE LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND SO OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD OVERRIDE

DSD ORDINANCES AND POLICIES WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN PLACE. >> GARCIA: I SEE MIKE SHANNON IN THE BACK AND I KNOW HE'S RETURNING TO HIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED JOB, BUT DO WE -- ARE YOU ALL ALSO -- MAYBE IT'S A QUESTION FOR MIKE SHANNON IF YOU WANT TO SLOWLY WALK UP. ARE WE ENGAGING WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND IS THERE ABILITY TO MOBILIZE AND STRATEGIZE HOW WITH SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE GOING IN PARTICULAR?

>> SHANNON: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. YES, WE TRACK THOSE BILLS WITH SALLY. WE GO OVER THINGS LIKE LAND USE AND ZONING.

WE TRY TO LET THEM UNDERSTAND OUR POSITION AND WORK WITH THEM SO THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR UDC REGULAR REGULATION. SOME OF THOSE WOULD DEFINITELY AFFECT OURS. SPECIFICALLY THE ADUS AS WELL.

WE MEET REGULARLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND WE'RE TRYING TO PARTNER WITH

THEM AND HAVE THE SAME POSITION. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. JUST LIKE FROM THE PCDC PERSPECTIVE, I THINK MAYBE DWELLING A LITTLE MORE INTO THAT AND MAYBE WE CAN GIVE AN UPDATE SO WE CAN BE AWARE OF WHAT POSSIBLY BE COMING. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE HOMELESS DATA SHARING NETWORK. CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT? WE RECENTLY DID THE POINT IN TIME COUNT AND LAST YEAR I HAD A LOT OF RECOMMENDED CHANGES. THIS YEAR SOME OF THOSE WERE IMPLEMENTED, NOW I HAVE MORE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BEING ASKED, ET CETERA.

[01:50:02]

PLAY INTO THE NATIONAL POINT IN TIME COUNT. >> BASURTO: IF THIS BILL BASS, IT WOULD IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE HOMELESSNESS SHARING REALTIME ABILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK IN THE HOMELESSNESS SPACE TO BE ABLE TO DO REALTIME DATA SHARING. THIS WOULD -- FROM WHAT THE BILL STATES, THERE WOULD BE PRIVACY ISSUES INVOLVED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE SURE THAT CRITICAL INFORMATION, OF COURSE, WOULD BE KEPT PRIVATE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS A POTENTIAL TOOL THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR HOMELESSNESS PARTNERS NOT JUST WITHIN THE CITY BUT ACROSS THE STATE.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE INDIVIDUALS INCLUDED IN THIS DATA BASE WOULD BE IDENTIFIED FOR THE DELIVERY OF POTENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS HOUSING AND

OTHER TYPES OF SERVICES THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THEN THE AI, I APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON THAT.

I THINK WE JUST HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DISCUSSION. I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT UTSA IS ON BOARD WITH AND HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH IT.

I DO SEE ALBERT IS HERE OR WAS IN THE ROOM EARLIER. I KNOW THEY ARE DOING A LOT AROUND THAT SPACE. THE TDHCA GRANT FOR HOAS TO APPLY, I'M HAPPILY IN FAVOR OF THE CREATION OF GRANTS. I HEAR THAT A LOT FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY WISH THEY COULD JUST BUILD SIDEWALKS.

SO THE ABILITY FOR GRANTS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS IS CRITICAL FOR ME. ONE THING THAT I DIDN'T SEE ON HERE WAS ONE EFFORT I HAD MENTIONED THAT WAS COMING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE LAST YEAR AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND IT WAS A FOCUS ON THE DEMENTIA.

AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH UNFORTUNATELY IN DEMENTIA DIAGNOSES ACROSS OUR CITY. AND SO I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT THAT IN REGARD TO ANY POSSIBLE CHANGES AND ACCESS TO CARE AND ACCESS SPECIFICALLY TO

HELP CAREGIVERS OF PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA. >> AND I THINK I'M GOING TO MAYBE CALL MY TEAM. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A MENTION IN ONE OF THE PRIORITIES ON DEMENTIA FUNDING. DO YOU RECALL, NADIA?

I'M GOING TO CALL A LIFE LINE. >> WE CAN GIVE YOU EXTENSIVE INFORMATION, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE FUNDING FOR CREATEING A DEPRINT LIKE OF THE CANCER RESEARCH. WE DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE YET, BUT WE'LL BE TRACKING IT TO SEE AND BE IN TALKS WITH U.T. HEALTH AND ALL OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN GAIN OUT OF IT AS WELL.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. THERE WAS SOMETHING REFERENCING ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. AND I'M WONDERING SPECIFICALLY IF FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS LIKE COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS THAT DO THE WORK AND PARTNER AGENCIES LIKE SOCIAL WORKERS, ET CETERA. ARE YOU SEEING SOME

ADDITIONAL TRACTION ON THAT AS WELL, SALLY? >> BASURTO: I WILL GO BACK AND WE'LL DO A SPECIFIC SEARCH TO LOOK FOR THOSE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS,

COUNCILWOMAN. >> GARCIA: GREAT. I KEEP HEARING THAT FROM CONSTITUENTS AND YOUTH THAT THAT'S A NEEDED SERVICE. THANK YOU.

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

GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I SAW A PICTURE OF SENATOR MENENDEZ SHOWING THEY WERE LEAVING ABOUT MIDNIGHT. THEY ARE PUSHING REALLY GREAT LEGISLATION.

WE JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO KEEP TRACK OF.

THE FIRST, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT OF TIMES, THE DANGEROUS DOG ONE THAT REPRESENTATIVE CAMPOS AND SENATOR MENENDEZ HAVE REFILED.

WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE FINISH LINE THIS YEAR.

SENATOR MENENDEZ FILED FOR FUNDING FULL-DAY PRE-K AND THAT WOULD REALLY HELP.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS REALLY TOUGH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS WOULD BE A CONTINUED MOMENTUM. THERE'S A COUPLE OF INFRASTRUCTURE ONES, HB 542 WHICH IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO USE MONEY IN THE STATE HIGHWAY FUNDS FOR

[01:55:04]

THAT I THINK IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S FUNDING, IT'S A GRANT PROGRAM FOR THAT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF NEED FOR PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY.

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT REPRESENTATIVE HAWKINS FILED THAT RIGHT NOW FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE SEPARATED FROM THE MILITARY BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUALITY TO BE ABLE TO DISCHARGE THEM HONORABLY. SO HOPING WE WILL SUPPORT THAT ONE UNDER ALL THE CONVERSATION WITH IGR EARLIER THIS YEAR. AND THEN FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE'S TWO BILLS, SB 208 AND SB 234. THIS IS SOMETHING THE HOUSING TRUST, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE HOUSING, MAKING SURE WE ARE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE AS WELL. THE LAST ONE THAT I JUST HAD A QUESTION I WAS HOPING YOU COULD CLARIFY IS SENATOR MENENDEZ FILED SB 178 ABOUT

USING SALES FOR MAINTENANCE. HAVE WE LOOKED AT THAT ONE? >> BASURTO: WE'RE TRACKING HUNDREDS OF BILLS. I'M LOOKING TO NADIA. IF WE DON'T IMMEDIATELY BRING UP THE INFORMATION, AS YOU KNOW WE SHARED A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL THE DELEGATION MEMBERS BILLS THAT THEY ARE FILING. WE WILL MAKE SURE TO UPDATE THAT, BUT THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT BILL IN PARTICULAR.

IF WE CAN'T FULL IT UP FAIRLY QUICKLY, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW UP.

>> KAUR: IS CURIOUS WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE. OBVIOUSLY WE ALWAYS NEED ADDITIONAL FOR STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS. I JUST WANTED TO GET CLARIFICATION WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.K.

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

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. IN TERMS OF A COUPLE OF BILLS BEING FILED, OF CONSIDERATION THE DANGEROUS DOGS BILL IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD APPS. I THINK THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN THE DIRECTOR OF ACS GOING TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE TO AMPLIFY THE NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF THIS. OF COURSE I COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO FOR ENSURING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO PROTECT RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON THE HOMELESS STATUS SHARING.

MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT THE CITY AND COUNTY USE TO TRACK FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY RECEIVING SERVICES, CORRECT? THANK YOU FOR THAT.

LASTLY I KNOW IT'S ALREADY BEEN EXPRESSED AND I THINK FOLLOWING THE BILLS THAT ATTACK OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOULD BE PRIORITY FOR US. I THINK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SHOULD TAKE A PUBLIC STANCE WHETHER IT'S THROUGH RESOLUTION OR WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE ULTIMATELY OVER THE LAST YEAR WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH A LOT OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO SAN ANTONIO YOUTH. AT THE CORE OF THEIR ARGUMENT IS THAT THE STATE IS FAILING TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO THE CITY TO ALLEVIATE THAT COST BURDEN WITH PROVIDING SERVICES AND ACCESS TO CARE.

IF WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE STATE TO ATTACKS EDUCATION, IT'S GOING TO BE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT IS GOING TO FILL THAT GAP. I'M HOPING THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE TOP PRIORITY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENSURE KIDS, FAMILIES AND TEACHERS GET THE RESOURCES THEY DESERVE AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ABSORB THOSE COSTS ENSURING THE SAN ANTONIO KIDS GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. I THINK IT'S MORE THAN WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH FOLKS, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER TO THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. IF WE FAIL TO OPEN THE DOOR I BELIEVE IT'S A DISSERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. WE GET WORK DONE THROUGH DEBATE, DISCUSSION AND SOMETIMES DISSENT. I THINK AN OPPORTUNITY OF COLLABORATION IS GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS SUPPORTIVE OF LEGALIZING FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS. THIS IS A CRISIS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH OPIOID AND STIMULANT OVERDOSES. ENSURING WE CAN CONTINUE THAT WORK TO ENSURE WE CAN LEGALIZE THE FENTANYL STRIPS.

[02:00:02]

OF COURSE ANYTHING THAT CONTINUE TO ATTACK OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

I KNOW YOU ALL ARE EXPERTS AT THIS, BUT IF THERE IS OPPORTUNITY ARE WE CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT AND REINFORCEMENT WHETHER IT BE THROUGH US AS COUNCILMEMBERS OR THE COALITION, PLEASE LEAN ON US LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE'LL BE DEBATING AND DISCUSSING THE SAME ISSUES, BUT HOPEFUL WE CAN IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS OF SHARED INTEREST FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO

CONTINUE TO DELIVER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SALLY, I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU TO KEEP AN EYE OUT AND AT LEAST I WOULD LIKE A REPORT ON THIS AND MAYBE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD TOO. THERE ARE SOME REAL CRITICAL ISSUES THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF BILLS OR WHAT KIND OF EFFORT IS BEING PUT FORWARD FOR FINDING LOWER RISING HOME INSURANCE COSTS.

WHAT THE STATE BILLS FOR THAT. OR LOWER RISING AUTO INSURANCE COSTS. WHAT STATE BILLS ARE BEING PUT FORWARD, OR EXPANDING MEDICARE, MEDICAID INSTEAD OF REDUCING IT. OR IMPROVING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, WHICH CONTINUE TO BE IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT LACK OF SUPPORT PORE -- SUPPORT FOR THAT. FULLY FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION. WHAT DO WE HEAR ABOUT THAT? HOW ABOUT EXPANDING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. WHAT KIND OF BILLS ARE THE STATE WORKING ON THAT? HOW ABOUT EXPANDING CHILDCARE SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH TAX BREAKS FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. ARE IS THERE ANY SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING HOUSING BILLS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD? THESE ARE THINGS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO EVERY DAY. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU HEAR AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL THAT IS ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS AND I HOPE TO HEAR MORE AS THE SESSION GOES THROUGH. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 4? I QUITE LIKED COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE'S LIST OF AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE HEAR FROM THE DOORS OF OUR RESIDENTS' HOMES ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE THOSE ON UPDATES AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TML TO DELIVER THE FACT THOSE ARE NOT JUST SAN ANTONIO PRIORITIES, BUT JUST ABOUT FOR EVERY TOWN AND AND VILLAGE.

I'M GOING TO BRING UP ITEM NUMBER 24 AND I'M GOING TO TAKE UP 37 AND 38, THEN

WE'LL COME BACK. >> CLERK: ITEM 24 IS APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND -- FOR COORDINATION OF BOND

PROJECTS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M NOT SURE WE NEED A PRESENTATION. I JUST GIVE THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU JOHN AND RAZI AND ERIK FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

SUB SURFACE ZEROING IN SPANISH.

EVER WANTED TO KNOW THAT, TELEMUNDO HAS BEEN ASKING ME TO TRANSLATE HARD TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE. ASIDE FROM UNDERSTANDING THE HEAVY HARDNESS THAT WE HAVE AS WE CAN FOCUS ON THE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL LOCALLY. AND SO WHEN I WAS ELECTED, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD OF ST. MARY'S STREET, BUT THAT STREET WAS VERY CHALLENGING FOR MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT WE'VE LOST IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH PROJECTS, BROADWAY STREET, ALAMO, ZONA CULTURAL, FROM THE 2017 BOND, STILL CHALLENGING FOR RESIDENTS WHO FELT LIKE YES, ERIK ALWAYS SAYS PROGRESS IS PAINFUL BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS PAINFUL.

[02:05:03]

THE OTHER TWO WERE REALLY TIMING OF THE PROJECTS IN TERMS OF HOW LONG THEY TAKE AND THE FRUSTRATION WHEN FOLKS DRIVE BY AND SEE NOBODY WORKING ON A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY. AS AN EDUCATOR THEY SAY THE BEST SOLUTIONS ARE FOUND BY ASKING WHY. WE STARTED TALKING TO ENGINEERS AND ASKING WHY.

WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING.

WE FOUND OUT FOR SOME PROJECTS CONTRACTORS ARE REQUIRED TO POTHOLE AT A MINIMUM. THEY OFTEN MAKE ASSUMPTIONS WHEN THEY DON'T SEE UTILITY LINES WHERE THEY THINK THEY SHOULD BE. WITH THOSE ASSUMPTIONS, DESIGNS ARE DEVELOPED INACCURATELY. WHEN THEY START DIGGING AND THINGS ARE NOT WHERE THE DESIGN SAY THEY SHOULD BE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE REDESIGN PROCESS. THAT'S THAN BEEN A -- THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN TAKING A LOT OF TIME. WE STARTED THINKING WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO REQUIRE CERTAIN PROJECTS TO HAVE MORE DILIGENCE. NOT EVERY PROJECT NEEDS TO USE THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY THAT IS AVAILABLE BECAUSE THERE IS SOME RADAR TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER USAGEES THAT COULD BE USED. WHAT SUBSURFACE ENGINEERING UTILITY MEANS IS EVERY PROJECT DEPENDING UPON HOW SEVERE IT IS WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT RATING, AND BY THAT RATING THE CONTRACTORS WILL GET A DETERMINATION OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO USE TO ACCURATELY DEPICT WHAT'S UNDERGROUND.

THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY GOING TO IMPROVE THE TIMING OF PROJECTS, WE HOPE.

IT WILL ALLOW FOR RESIDENTS NOT TO HAVE TO SEE OPEN STREETS WITHOUT ANY PEOPLE WORKING THERE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE BEST PART WAS WE HAD TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR UTILITY COMPANIES BECAUSE THE CITY ONLY ACTUALLY MANAGES A FEW LINES UNDERGROUND. TOKER THAT REASON, WE HAD TO WORK WITH SAWS AND CPS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE ON BOARD.

I KNOW MR. PUENTE IS HERE AND SO GLAD YOU PUSHED THIS FORWARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

RESIDENTS DON'T REALLY CARE WHOSE LOGO IS ON THE SIDE OF THOSE CONSTRUCTION -- I'M SORRY, MARC, I'LL LET YOU THAN THAT ONE. THAT'S WHY THIS WORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE LONG TERM -- IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE MONEY AND TIME ON THE FRONT END, BUT ON THE BACK END WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE SAVING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WHICH IS WHAT WE CAN CONTROL RIGHT NOW TODAY. SO ALL OF THAT TO SAY I WANT TO AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE SAWS TEAM, THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF FOR YOUR DILIGENCE WORK ON THIS.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. WRITING AN MOU AND GETTING IT SIGNED IS THE EASY PART, BUT HOLDING ALL OF OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, EVEN US UP HERE TO EXECUTING ON THAT MOU, HOPEFULLY THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 5 WILL SEE THE BENEFITS WITH MARCH BACK, THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 1, VANCE JACKSON THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE EXECUTED WITH 2022 PROJECTS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK.

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

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCILWOMAN FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. WE'VE TALKED SINCE YOU AND I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE ABOUT THE SLOW NATURE OF CONSTRUCTION AROUND OUR CITY, IT'S AFFECTING BUSINESSES, IT'S AFFECTING OUR RESIDENTS, AND WE JUST -- WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER. AS YOU STATED, YEAH, THE PEOPLE DON'T CARE WHETHER IT'S SAWS OR WHETHER IT'S THE CITY OR, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST DON'T CARE. I GUESS IT WAS A MONTH OR SO AGO NOW, MAYBE TWO WE HAD OUR FIRST MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING AND WE HAD A BIG DISCUSSION THEN JUST ABOUT THAT, ABOUT HOW THE CITIZENS DESERVE TO HAVE THESE PROJECTS DONE IN

[02:10:03]

AND MR. PUENTE, IF YOU HAVE A MINUTE AND MY QUESTION IS REALLY SIMPLE.

FIRST, IT'S A THANK YOU FOR GETTING TOGETHER WITH OUR CITY TO GET THIS MEMORANDUM DONE. MY QUESTION IS REALLY DO YOU BELIEVE NOW THAT WITH THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN PLACE THAT WE ARE ON A BETTER PATH TO BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR CITY AND SAWS AND WE'RE ON A ROAD WHERE EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE PROJECTS DONE

IN A TIMELY MANNER FOR OUR CITIZENS? >> YES, I DO, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. AND SPECIFICALLY I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF -- EXCUSE ME, THE LEADERSHIP OF ERIK, OUR CITY MANAGER.

YOU KNOW, CITY STAFF, SAWS STAFF, WE'RE NEGOTIATING A LOT OF THESE THINGS.

THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BUT ALSO THE MOU. AT A CERTAIN POINT, THEY DON'T HAVE AND SHOULDN'T HAVE THE DISCRETION TO GO BEYOND WHAT THEIR JOB DUTIES ARE SO IT WAS UP TO ERIK AND I TO GET INVOLVED AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE -- THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE CITY COULD GIVE AND COMPROMISE AND WHERE WE COULD GIVE AND COMPROMISE, THAT IT CAME FROM THE TOP, CAME FROM ERIK AND FROM ME.

ERIK AND HIS TEAM, I AND MY TEAM REPEATEDLY MET SOMETIMES HERE AT CITY HALL, SOMETIMES AT MY OFFICE, AND WE WORKED IT OUT. AND I THINK THE KEY TO THIS MOU IS COMMUNICATION. I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT COMMUNICATION.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S REALLY JUST -- NOT JUST COMMUNICATION, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DIFFERENCES OF OPINION. SO IT ALSO SETS OUT, AGAIN TALKING ABOUT SCHEDULE AND LENGTH OF PROJECTS, IT SETS OUT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CITY STAFF AND SAWS STAFF AS TO HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

DON'T JUST SIT ON IT AND START WORKING ON ANOTHER PROJECT AND NOTHING HAPPENS.

AND THEN WE HAVE A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE WE CAN THEN BRING IN A DISPUTE RESOLUTION THAT'S PART OF THIS MOU, THIRD PARTY TO LOOK AT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. THAT WAY THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT IT'S THE PUBLIC, SAWS AND THE CITY ON THE SAME SIDE ON WHATEVER ISSUES ARE ARISING.

SO THIS IS A -- WE'VE ALWAYS HAD MOUS ON PRIOR BOND PROJECTS AND -- BUT THIS ONE IS MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE. IT DEALS WITH A LOT OF STUFF THAT HAS HAPPENED.

COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED BROADWAY, ST. MARY'S, ALL WE LEARNED ON A BETTER WAY TO

HANDLE IT. >> WHYTE: GREAT. THANK YOU.

THE LAWYER IN ME NOW SAYS WE'RE ON THE RECORD THAT WE'VE GOT A COMMITMENT FROM EVERYBODY HERE AND THERE'S A BELIEF ON BOTH SIDES THIS IS GOING TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD IN GETTING THESE PROJECTS DONE IN A MANNER THAT OUR CITIZENS EXPECT.

I THANK YOU AGAIN, ROBERT, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I THANK CITY STAFF AS WELL.

THIS TOOK MONTHS AND MONTHS TO GET DONE. BOTH SIDES REVIEWED IT METICULOUSLY. THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THIS RECOMMEND RANDOM.

>> YOU WILL SEE THEM ON BILL DRIVE, WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE WEATHER TO CLEAR TO

PAVE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

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

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

I'LL START OFF WITH KUDOS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR ESPECIALLY ON THE ISSUE OF POTHOLING. I WANT TO SAY I HAVE APPRECIATED WATCHING YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS AND PROPOSING THOUGHTFUL SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO SOLVE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO FOR ALL OF OUR LEADERS.

THIS IS ISSUE I'VE DEALT WITH AT NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS. I'M HAPPY WE'RE AT A NEW SPACE. SAWS WAS ON MY NAUGHTY LIST LAST YEAR, I'M HAPPY WE'RE

[02:15:01]

I DO WANT TO NAME, WE HAD AN MOU IN MY UNDERSTANDING IN 2017.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE, ERIK, AND WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT, BUT CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE KEY

DETAILS THAT ARE DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS MOU? >> WALSH: SURE, COUNCILMAN. I WOULD SAY THIS MOU IS A LITTLE BIT MORE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES AT HAND. LITERALLY THERE'S FOUR PARTS TO IT.

ROBERT MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THEM. THE FIRST IS THAT THERE ARE HIGH-RISK OR HIGH VALUE TYPE PROJECTS AND DOWNTOWN STREETS BECOME CHALLENGING IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING WHERE THE CPS AND SAWS INFRASTRUCTURE IS AT.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE JOINTLY CATEGORIZING THEM AND APPROACHING THEM DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TREAT THEM ALL THE SAME. TOO, IN THE MOU, IT REALLY NAILS DOWN AND PHONE US ON THE ISSUE THAT -- FOCUSES ON THE ISSUE COUNCILMEMBER KAUR TALKED ABOUT WHICH IS COMPLETE LOCATION OF ALL THE UNDERGROUND FACILITIES.

THE DESIGN THAT IS DONE TO MOVE THOSE FACILITIES OR UPGRADE THEM IN MOST CASES HAS TO BE RIGHT. AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE PARTS THAT I THINK THE SAWS TEAM AND THEN THE CITY TEAM SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON TO MAKE SURE WE GOT RIGHT.

THE THIRD MAJOR CHANGE, AND I WOULD SAY THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR US ALL GOING FORWARD INCLUDING SAWS IS THAT YOU WILL RECALL AS YOU GUYS HAVE APPROVED CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS IN THE PAST, GENERALLY IF THERE IS UPGRADE WORK FOR BOTH CPS OR SAWS, YOU ARE AWARDING THE CONTRACT, YOU ARE APPROPRIATING CITY DOLLARS AND YOU ARE ACCEPTING A CONTRIBUTION FROM THE UTILITIES TO PAY FOR PART OF THAT. IN THOSE CASES WHERE THERE'S THAT TYPE OF WORK, SAWS AND THE SAWS BOARD WILL BE SIGNATORIES SO WE'VE ALL GOT A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO GETTING THE WORK DONE AND BEING AS EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE. THOSE ARE FOUR IMPORTANT PORTS.

AND MR. PUENTE MENTIONED THE LAST PROBABLY DIFFERENCE, THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

AND I THINK MR. PUENTE AND I MADE SURE FOR US AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE BEHIND US, I HOPE NEVER TO HAVE TO USE A THIRD PARTY TO SETTLE OUT OUT A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE CITY AND ONE OF OUR MUNICIPAL AGENCIES, BUT THAT POWER IS CLEARLY DELYNN LATE IN AUTHORITY TO THE MANAGER AND SAWS TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES.

ONE OF THINGS THAT ROBERT AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS MOU IS GATHERING UP OUR RESPECTIVE STAFFS AND GETTING EVERYBODY CHARGED UP.

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE NEED TO BE IN ALIGNMENT.

AND I'M THANKFUL FOR ROBERT'S HELP AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS TO RESET AND

RECAST THE MOLD GOING FORWARD. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. MY HOPE IS WHEN PEOPLE HEAR A CITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS COMING THAT SENSE OF JOY COMES BACK. THAT PEOPLE ARE EXCITED THAT A STREET IS GOING TO BE PAVED AND RENOVATED OR A CORRIDOR IS GOING TO BE REVITALIZED AND IT'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR THEIR BUSINESS.

THEY SHOULD NEVER FEAR A CITY CONSTRUCTION CREW COMING ON TO THEIR STREET AND GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT ST. MARY'S AND NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS AND BUSINESSES THAT HAD TO CLOSE AND PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS, THEIR LIVELIHOODS, THEIR ABILITY TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND PROVIDE STABLE HOUSING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THAT IS COMPLETELY COUNTER TO OUR OVERALL GOALS AS A THE IS WHETHER IT'S OUR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS OR QUALITY OF LIFE GOALS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THESE MAJOR INVESTMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOOD AND BAD, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC WORKS OR WHETHER IT'S SOME OTHER TYPE OF INVESTMENT, ENSURE WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY OUR CONSTITUENTS AND EVERYTHING WE DO IS DONE WITH THOUGHTFULNESS AND CARE.

THANK YOU TO SAWS LEADERSHIP FOR COMING TO THE TABLE AND GETTING TO THIS POINT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY CITY MANAGER WALSH, AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO

[02:20:07]

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS CCR. CONSTRUCTION DELAYS ARE A CONSTANT ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WHY I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS MOU TO ADDRESS ALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, I THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF SAWS BEING AUDIBLE ALONG WITH THE CITY -- WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING TO DO WE'RE COMPLETING PROJECTS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THESE MEASURES, FURTHER COORDINATION IS NEEDED.

YESTERDAY A CONTRACTOR WORKING ON A FIBER INSTALLATION IN DISTRICT 7 STRUCK A WATER MAIN AND CUT OFF WATER TO JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THIS OBVIOUSLY CAUSED A LOT OF CHAOS.

STUDENTS WERE GIVEN WATER BOTTLES, IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF FLU SEASON.

IT WAS A MESS. SO I'M THANKFUL TO SAWS FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE, BUT I ASK THAT WE HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATION ON HOW WE CAN PREVENT THESE TYPES OF THINGS MOVING FORWARD. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

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

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND DR. KAUR FOR HER LEADERSHIP ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

I KNOW THE TEAMS AT SAWS AND PUBLIC WORKS WORK VERY HARD AND LONG AND EXTENSIVE HOURS TO ENSURE THEY ARE PROVIDING THE BEST PRODUCT. I'M GRATEFUL THIS MOU IS GOING TO ADDRESS COMMUNICATION AND A CLEARER PROCESS WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES THAT EITHER PARTY RUNS INTO. AND THEN ENSURING THAT THE LINES ARE IDENTIFIED WELL IN ADVANCE AND MANAGING THE JOINT BID AND HIGH-RISK PROJECTS IS IMPORTANT. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT JUST SUPPORTS AND BENEFITS DISTRICT 1, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR. THAT WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF LARGE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 5. I WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF RAZI, MR. PUENTE FOR ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND CODIFY THAT WORK IN PROCESS TO ASSURE PROJECTS MOVE ALONG APPROPRIATELY.

THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I'D LIKE TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR FOR ALL OF HER HARD WORK.

I'M SO JUST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

AND ALSO TO THE STAFF AND SAWS AND EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS.

I'M GLAD WE'RE FINALLY USING ADVANCE SUBSERVICE TECHNOLOGY.

WHAT CAN AI DO TO IMPROVE AND SAVE ON COSTS IN THE FUTURE.

I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO THAT. I KNOW YOU HAVE INNOVATION DEPARTMENT PEOPLE AT SAWS.

WE HAVE OR MAYBE HAD INNOVATION, I'M NOT SURE WE STILL HAVE THAT, BUT ALWAYS TRYING TO LOOK HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN IMPROVE. I APPRECIATE 2 FACT DR. KAUR BROUGHT THIS UP. I LOVE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

I HAVE A QUESTION ON IT. ON THE MOU ON PAGE 3, CONTINUED ON PAGE 4, IT TALKS ABOUT -- IT SAYS PARTIES WILL WORK TOGETHER TO RECOUP DAMAGES AUDIO] WORK BY CONTRACTORS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION AND I GUESS MY QUESTION, IMPACT ON ONGOING WORK, POTENTIAL DELAYS OR OTHER POTENTIAL CLAIMS UNDER CONTRACT AND LITIGATION ANALYSIS AND COST. AND SO HOW DO WE PREDICT THAT, LIKE HOW OFTEN ARE WE MONITORING THAT OR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BECAUSE

IT SAYS OTHER POTENTIAL CLAIMS UNDER THE CONTRACT. >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S GOING TO GO BACK TO THE COOPERATION THAT BOTH THE CITY AND SAWS HAVE EMBEDDED INTO THE MOU.

SURE WE HAVE A CONTRACT COMPUTE, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH SAWS SO WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT ON SAWS WORK, ON CITY WORK AND ON EVERYONE SURROUNDING THE CONSTRUCTION AREA. SO THAT WE DON'T TAKE JUST ONE PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF WHETHER IT WILL IMPACT SAWS STRICTLY OR IS CITY STRICTLY, BUT WE WILL COOPERATE AND WORK TOGETHER SO WE COME UP WITH A HOLISTIC SOLUTION THAT WORKS

BEST FOR ALL. >> GARCIA: IN THAT WOULD WE BE INCLUSIVE THAT SMALL

BUSINESSES OR RESIDENTS WOULD AFFECT? >> SEGOVIA: IMPACT ON THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

[02:25:04]

INCLUDING COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.

SO THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BE LIKE MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF TIME?

OR HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT PART. >> SEGOVIA: IT WILL DEPEND WHAT REMEDIES WE HAVE UNDER THE CONTRACT. AGAIN, OUR -- THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS TO MAKE SURE WE WORK TOGETHER WITH SAWS WHATEVER IN TERMS OF REACHING RESOLUTION, NO ONE IS PARTICULARLY ADVERSELY IMPACTED.

>> GARCIA: THAT'S PROBABLY WHY I APPRECIATE IT THE MOST.

WE HAD THE POINT IN TIME A COUPLE NIGHTS AGO, I HAPPEN TO RIDE AROUND CORAZON.

WE WALKED UP THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR AND DR. KAUR, IT LOOKS INCREDIBLE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THAT WORK. I KNOW IT TOOK A LITTLE TIME. IT WAS MESSY, THERE WAS DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPENED, ET CETERA. BUT AT THE END LIKE I FELT SO PROUD WALKING THERE AND SEEING THE WORK THAT WAS DONE. AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAPPENED DURING THAT.

I'M GLAD WE'RE LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES. I ALSO APPRECIATE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CATEGORIES LIKE -- WITH THE NORMAL AND HIGH RISKY APPRECIATE WE'RE DOING THAT AND TAKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND THEN THE HISTORIC AREAS. I WOULD HATE FOR SOMETHING REALLY BAD TO HAPPEN UNDERGROUND, FOR INSTANCE AT ONE OF THE MISSIONS OR HISTORIC PARKS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY PUT THE CITY AT RISK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHT

THOUGHTFULNESS, DR. KAUR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA

GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THE TAKE-AWAY ON THIS ONE IS THAT EVERYBODY IS WATCHING. I WAS GOING TO MAKE OTHER COMMENTS, BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, IF YOU GUYS AREN'T PICKING ON WHAT'S BEING LAID IS EVERY DOWN MEMBER IS WATCHING THIS AND WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT PLAYERS AT THE TABLE. I'M GOING TO PILE ON AND CONGRATULATE COUNCILMEMBER KAUR CORE BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS AND DOING THE JOB OF BEING A LEADER.

THAT'S IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 24? HEARING NONE, DID WE HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE NOT. OKAY.

APOLOGIZE. IS THERE A MOTION FOR 24. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR ITEM 24. HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.

DISTRICT 3 HAD THE LOUDEST SECOND. FOR THE RECORD.

MOTION CARRIES. I'M GOING TO CALL UP ITEMS 37 AND 38 TOGETHER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SINGLE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION, THEN WE'LL GET TO SOME PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE IS A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON ITEMS 37 AND

38. >> CLERK: APPROVING A SISTER CITY AGREEMENT WITH

THE ISLAND OF -- CANARY ISLAND, SPAIN. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, I AM CHIEF DIPLOMACY AND PROTOCOL OFFICER AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OVERSEEING OUR OFFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE WORLD.

I COME HERE TODAY TO BRING TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL OUR REQUEST TO SIGN CYSTER IS CITY AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY OF QUERETARO IN MEXICO AND THE ISLAND OF LANZAROTE IN THE CANARY ISLANDS. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OR

ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I THINK WE CAN JUST GO STRAIGHT TO QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT.

I PLACED THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SCHEDULED SIGNINGS THAT WOULD FINALLY CONSUMMATE THESE. WE ALREADY HAVE TWO SISTER CITIES FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS. BEFORE WE GET TO THE ACTION, WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THESE EFFORTS FOR LONG TIME. LET ME CALL LIONNEL SOSA ON ITEM 37.

[02:30:06]

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. YEAH, I FIRST REALLY WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS EFFORT OF MAKING QUERETARO AND SAN ANTONIO SISTER CITY HISTORY BETWEEN OUR TWO CITIES. THE MISSIONARIES WHO WERE -- WHO BUILT THE MISSIONS IN QUERETARO WERE TRAINED IN QUERETARO.

THEY CAME TO WHAT WAS NORTHERN SPAIN AT THE TIME TO BUILD THE MISSIONS IN SAN ANTONIO INCLUDING THE ALAMO. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IF IT NOT HAD BEEN FOR THE ALAMO AND THE CITY THAT DEVELOPED AROUND IT, THERE WOULD BE NO SAN ANTONIO. SO WE COULD SAY THAT WITHOUT QUERETARO THERE WOULD BE NO MISSIONS, THERE WOULD BE NO ALAMO AND THERE WOULD BE NO SAN ANTONIO.

I'M HERE JUST TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOU, MAYOR, TO THE CITY, TO THE CITY STAFF, TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS NOT ONLY MONETARILY BUT WITH ALL YOUR ENTHUSIASM, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SIGNING OF THE SISTER CITIES AGREEMENT ON FEBRUARY 1 # 1ST. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FEBRUARY 11TH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ITEM 38, STEVE JISCANO. FOLLOWED BY JULIO LOPEZ. >> GOOD MORNING.

MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS STEVE JISCANO.

I HAVE THE PIVOTAL OF BEING THE HONORARY OF BEING THE CONSUL IN SAN ANTONIO.

ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT OF LANZAROTE, I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU TODAY FOR CONSIDERING THE ORDINANCE APPROVING A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH HAND SANITIZER ROLE CANARY ISLANDS. I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY GIVE THANKS TO YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, CHIEF DIPLOMA OFFICER SHERRY. THIS GROUP HAS PROVIDED INCREDIBLE AND MEANINGFUL SUPPORT TO ALL OF THE PROJECTS INVOLVING SPAIN IN THE CANARY ISLANDS FOR YEARS. FOR THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL MOMENT AS THIS APPROVAL OF A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH LANZAROTE BEGAN 20 YEARS AGO. THAT THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS STARTED BETWEEN MY FATHER AND MAYOR ED GARZA. AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY CRAZY FATHER WAS FIERCELY DEDICATED TO CULTIVATING AND PRESERVING THE GREAT HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE CANARY ISLANDS WITH SAN ANTONIO. ALTHOUGH MY INFORMATION LOVED HISTORY, HE WAS A VISIONARY, AND HE FULLY APPRECIATED THAT IN ORDER TO PRESERVE HISTORY IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT HISTORY AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR FUTURE. LANES ROLE HAS A VERY -- LANZAROTE HAS A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE RELATION WITH SAN ANTONIO.

OUT OF THE ISLANDERS ARRIVED, 40 WERE FROM LANZAROTE.

THE FIRST MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO, FROM LANZAROTE. THE FIRST 120 MAYORS OF SAN ANTONIO, CANARY ISLANDERS, MAJORITY FROM LANZAROTE.

THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION OF SAN FERNANDO CONSTRUCTION WAS DONE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS FROM LANZAROTE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP THAT WE COULD GO ON AND HIGHLIGHT, BUT THIS SISTER CITY AGREEMENT IS ABOUT THE FUTURE.

LAST OCTOBER, FREDDIE HOSTED PRESIDENT BETTENCOURT AS PART OF A CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PRESIDENT BETTENCOURT BROUGHT MICHELIN CHEFS, CHEESE MANUFACTURERS, WORLD RENOWNED RESTAURATEURS AND OTHERS TO VISIT OUR GREAT

[02:35:04]

I APPRECIATE FOR YOU ALLOWING MY FATHER'S 20-YEAR-OLD DREAM HOPEFULLY

TO COME TO REALITY. THANKS TO EACH OF YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU VERY MUCH. JULIO LOPEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS JULIA LOPEZ. I LIVE IN AUSTIN.

PLEASE DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME. I'M PRESIDENT OF AN ASSOCIATION WHOSE DIRECT DESCENDANT MEMBERS TRACE LINEAGE TO THE ORIGINAL 56 PEOPLE WHO WOULD LEAVE OUR HOME LANDS. MAKE THIS YEAR-LONG ARDUOUS 5,000-MILE JOURNEY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AT WHICH THEY LANDED AT VERACRUZ AND ARRIVED TO ARRIVE IN PRESENT DAY SAN ANTONIO MARCH 9, 1731, NEARLY ONE FULL YEAR AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE SISTER CITY AGREEMENT. MY 6-YEAR-OLD ANCESTOR WHO LOST BOTH PARENTS ON THE JOURNEY ACROSS MEXICO AND HAVING ARRIVED IN PRESENT DAY SAN ANTONIO IS AN ORPHAN WITH HIS 14 AND 15-YEAR-OLD SIBLINGS AND NOT BECAUSE OF OTHER CANARY ISLANDSERS WHO FELL ILL AND DIED ON THE JOURNEY OR BECAUSE OF THE CELEBRATIONS OF MARRIAGE ORBITER ALONG THE WAY. ALTHOUGH I DO NOT ORIGINAL ADOPTION OF THE NEWLY FOUNDED CIVIL GUST IN 1731 -- CIVIL GOVERNMENT OR BECAUSE THE ISLANDERS WOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS.

AND NOT BECAUSE OUR ANCESTORS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WOULD LAY THE CORNERSTONE OF SAN FERNANDO, FACING THE PLAZA WHERE OUR FAMILIES WOULD GATHER. EN NOT BECAUSE OUR ANCESTORS WOULD BECOME RAMPERS AND SOLDIERS WHO PATRIOT SERVICES RECOGNIZED THROUGH DAUGHTERS AND SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. MY WISH TO SEE THE SISTER CITY AGREEMENT BE APPROVED IS SO OUR RELATIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH AND GROW SO THAT CURRENT AND FUTURE DESCENDANTS, SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WILL LEARN ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS WHO ARE CALLING OUT TO LOCATE DESCENDANTS AND TELLING THEIR STORIES ALIVE. SO THEY CAN TAKE THEIR PROPER LACE IN HISTORY.

THE CANARY ISLANDS DESCENDANTS ASSOCIATION ARE FAMILY AND OUR ANCESTRAL HOME IS AS MUCH SAN ANTONIO AS IT IS LANZAROTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. LOPEZ. I'M GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEMS 37 AND 38. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEMS 37 AND 38.

WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

>> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR, YOU WERE THE PREVIOUS CHAIR OF SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL AND TODAY ONE OF MY GREAT HONORS IS SERVE ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF CLOSE TO 8500 CITIES. AND IT'S -- I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY. LIONNEL AND STEVE, THIS WAS ON CONSENT AND WE MADE YOU ALL WAIT AFTER A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER BORING AMENDMENTS SO YOU CAN SEE THIS HAPPEN, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MARK THIS WITH A PUNCTUATION MARK THAT SPEAKS TO WHY THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. IN 1956, PRESIDENT EISENHOWER SAID ONE OF THE REASONS IT WAS SO EASY FOR COUNTRIES TO BOMB EACH OTHER WAS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER. WHILE NATION TO NATION DIPLOMACY IS VERY BRITTLE AND SUBJECT TO THE WHIMS OF LEADERS AT PINNACLE POSITIONS, WHAT REALLY WILL INOCULATE US FROM CONFLICT IS PEOPLE TO PEOPLE RELATIONSHIPS, CITY TO CITY RELATIONSHIPS. THIS IS SOMETHING MAYOR NIRENBERG HAS BEEN VERY SUFFICIENTLY. AND, YOU KNOW, AND MAYORS

[02:40:04]

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN IS THAT WHEN WE DO PEOPLE TO PEOPLE THE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THESE SISTER CITIES, IT HAS TO BE INTENTIONAL, THOUGHTFUL, STRATEGIC. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER CITIES THAT JUST DO IT BECAUSE IT'S ORNAMENTAL AND FUN. NOT IN SAN ANTONIO.

THE TRADE MISSIONS THAT WE TAKE ARE INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN THOSE TIES AND TO BRING OPPORTUNITIES TO SAN ANTONIANS AND THEN FIGURE OUT WAY TO MUTUALLYLY BENEFITS OUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE OCEAN OR BORDER. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY WHO WAS INVOLVED. THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO ARE SUPPORTING THIS. AND IF YOU'LL ENTERTAIN JUST FOR A COUPLE SECONDS MORE --

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS THE LIAISON FOR THE SISTER CITIES DELEGATION, I VISITED FOR THE FRIENDSHIP CITY SIGNING, I'M GLAD WE GET TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 37, THOUGH I WAS FULLY PREPARED TO LEAVE IT ON CONSENT. I'M GLAD WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH QUERETARO, MEXICO. THIS WILL BE OUR THIRD CITY IN MEXICO AND WHERE THIS AGREEMENT IS PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO AND QUERETARO BY EXPLORING EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES. LIONNEL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING A LITTLE OF THE HISTORY AND HOW THIS CONNECTION CAME TO BE. WE KNOW ABOUT MONTERREY, WE KNOW ABOUT GUADALAHARA, BUT TO THINK ABOUT QUERETARO AND THE CONNECTION WE HAVE, I KNOW THE FAMILIES OVER AT THE MISSIONS WANT TO EXPLORE MORE OF THEIR HISTORY AND THEIR IDENTITY AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY COME FROM.

THESE TIES HAVE BEEN FOSTERED WITH INCREASING ECONOMIC COOPERATION.

THE SIGNING OF THE SAN ANTONIO QUERETARO AIRPORT AGREEMENT, THE ALAMO COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM MOU AND THE SIGNIFICANT SPANISH] EXHIBITION FEATURING 23 SAN ANTONIO ARTISTS THAT OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2024. I WAS ABLE TO BE THERE AND IT WAS AN AMAZING EVENT.

AND TO SEE OUR ARTISTS THAT HAD THE CONNECTION, THAT HAVE THIS FAMILIA CONNECTION, SOME OF THEM DO TO PUT THEIR WORK OF ARTS AND TO KNOW THIS DOESN'T STOP, BECAUSE IN 2027 THE STORY WILL CONTINUE WHEN QUERETARO ARTISTS COME TO SAN ANTONIO ON THIS EXCHANGE. IT'S HOW WE STAY CONNECTED.

IT'S HOW WE UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE CAME FROM AND DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND COMMUNITY.

I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS TODAY. I'M EXCITED TO VISIT QUERETARO AGAIN. I TOLD THE MAYOR BEFORE THE NEW MAYOR GETS IN, LET'S MAKE ANOTHER VISIT OUT TO MEXICO AND MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW WELCOMING AND HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

[02:45:01]

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL START OFF BY JUST SAYING HOW EXCITED I AM TODAY AND I'LL FOCUS FIRST ON THE QUERETARO SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP. I WANT TO THANK MR. SOSA FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK IN LEADERSHIP. THAT EXHIBIT WAS INCREDIBLE. I'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT I TEACH HISPANIC MARKETING AND I HAD MY STUDENTS WATCH THE VIDEO.

WELL DONE. THEY GAVE EXCELLENT FEEDBACK.

THEY ARE EXCITED WE WOULD HAVE THIS AND THIS PARTICIPATING THROUGH SAN ANTONIANS. EXCELLENT WORK THERE. I ALSO DO -- AM VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE QUERETARO FLIGHT. A LOT OF FRIENDS TRAVELING TO QUERETARO MAYBE HADN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE. SIMILAR TO COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ -- SPAN PAN IN SPANISH] I'LL CONTINUE ON. I'M SO EXCITED AND STEVE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I FIRST MET THE DOCTOR WHEN I WAS WORKING AT THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE FIRST THING HE TALKED ABOUT WAS YOUR DAD WAS AT THE PLAZA CLUB. IT WAS AT A LUNCHEON.

AND HE -- YOU ALL HOSTED BRANDON SEAL, WHO HAPPENS TO BE A FRIEND OF COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO AND FOCUS ON TEXAS HISTORY. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW TEXAS HISTORY IS -- GENERAL. YOUR DAD SAID I WAS APPOINTED THE LIAISON AT THAT TIME TO SPAIN. WE TRY TO STAY IN OUR LANES. IF YOU ARE APOINTED, YOU DO THE WORK AND ADVOCATE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE SECONDARY. I'M GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND THANK SHERRY FOR ALWAYS INCLUDING ME BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I BUILT GREAT RELATIONSHIPS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID ART OF THAT WORK AND AS A RESULT OF JUST ME LEARNING, AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING HERE, IT'S ALL ABOUT LEARNING ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS, WAS I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE BEXAR COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. AND I BROUGHT UP SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT THAT I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT ACTUALLY THROUGH YOUR DAD AND THROUGH FREDDIE AND IT WAS THE 300TH BIRTHDAY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS IN 2018. BUT THE 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT THE WAY THE CITY IS GOVERNED TODAY IS COMING IN 2031.

I WENT BEFORE THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION AND SAID, WE HAVE ANOTHER 300TH ANNIVERSARY, A TRY CENTENNIAL THAT WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING BECAUSE THIS IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AT ITS BEGINNING. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO 2031 AND WHAT THE HISTORIC -- BEXAR COUNTY HISTORIC ASSOCIATION COMES UP, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE THAT AND YOU BRING EVERYONE ON BOARD, ALL OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS NEED TO BE AS EXCITED ABOUT THE START OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT THAT THE CANARY ISLANDERS HELPED BRING. WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING --

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

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

YOU KNOW WHAT AMAZES ME IN THIS CONFERRING NOW IS NOT JUST THE FACT -- CONVERSATION NOW, NOT JUST THE FACT WE'RE ADDING SISTER CITIES, AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO GO TO SEVERAL, BUT THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO LEFT A COUNTRY HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO AND TRAVELED THOUSANDS OF MILES AND WENT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF HARDSHIPS. WITH PEOPLE DYING ALONG THE WAY. THEY CAME TO A PLACE THEY DIDN'T KNOW BUT THEY KNEW TO BE AND LA OF OPPORTUNITY OR HOPED TO BE A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.

AND THEY FOUNDED ONE OF THE SEVEN GREATEST CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND THEY WERE IMMIGRANTS. AND TODAY IT SEEMS LIKE THIS COUNTRY IS LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME DESIRE THAT THOSE PEOPLE HAD HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO TODAY,

[02:50:05]

AND I HOPE THAT -- THAT WE REMEMBER WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE BEFORE THAT HAS CREATED THE COUNTRY WE HAVE TODAY AND HAS CREATED THE CITY. AND THAT THOSE WHO HAVE COME HERE LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY END UP FINDING THAT SOMEHOW, HOPEFULLY HERE. ANYWAY, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO ALSO THANK MR. SOSA FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND KATHY AS WELL WITH ALL THE WORK AND THE ART EXHIBITION.

I WASN'T FORTUNATE TO GO BUT IF THERE IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY I WILL VOLUNTEER AND ALSO THANK YOU TO THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THE CANARY ISLANDS AND SUPPORT OF THE MISSIONS BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG PART OF OUR LEGACY HERE

TOO. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. I'LL JUST CLOSE BY ADDING YOU SHOULD BE PROUD THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS WHAT IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST SISTER CITY PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY. AND FOR RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO, THIS IS MADE RELEVANT. THESE ARE NOT CEREMONIAL AGREEMENTS.

THESE ARE REAL RELATIONSHIPS AND BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE BETWEEN TWO CITIES, ONE IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE OTHER ABROAD THAT CREATES PATHWAYS FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE, CULTURAL EXCHANGE, BUT BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC EXCHANGE AS WELL.

SILL JAPAN AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN VIEWED AS ONE OF THE MODELS FOR DIPLOMA STAY AND THAT'S CHANGED THE SAN ANTONIO ECONOMY FOREVER AND THE TEXAS ECONOMY. THE LEADING EMPLOYER IN THIS STATE AND CITY IS MANUFACTURING. THAT DID NOT EXIST WITHOUT SAN ANTONIO'S ADVOCACY FOR GOOD TRADE POLICY AND ARRIVAL OF TOYOTA WHICH HAS KICKED OFF THOUSANDS OF JOBS THAT EMPLOY SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES.

THESE ARE LIVING, BREATHING RELATIONSHIPS. WE HARKEN BACK TO OUR HEAR AND HERITAGE, BUT ALSO BRIDGES TO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THESE RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING ACTIVITIES. SISTER CITIES IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR STRATEGY MOVING FORWARD AND I HOPE THAT REMAINS THE SAME IN THE COMING ADMINISTRATION.

WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR ITEMS 37 AND 38.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. IN MY HASTE TO GET FOLKS OUT WHO HAD BEEN SITTING HERE AND BRIEF ITEMS LIKE THE ONES WE JUST HEARD, I FORGOT THE GUY THAT'S ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK, THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE PREVIOUS SAWS DISCUSSION IS STILL SITTING HERE. SO ITEM 16 HAS TO DO WITH THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. WE WANT HIM TO GET BACK TO THE WORK.

LET'S CALL UP ITEM 16. >> CLERK: ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FOLLOWING CONTRACT AMOUNTS. DESIGN CONTRACT AMOUNTS IN THE INCREASED TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 50,020, FOR TOE PHYSICAL DESIGN CONTRACT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 16.

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

16. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: RAZI, IT'S MY FAULT. I'M THE ONE THAT PULLED IT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION

[02:55:03]

I'M PULLING IT TO SUPPORT. I JUST HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEADLINE BECAUSE THERE WAS A SLIDE THAT SAID SUMMER OF 2025 BUT THAT'S ALL IT SAYS.

AND SO CAN YOU JUST, IN 30 SECONDS, TELL ME WHAT THE DEADLINES ARE.

>> SURE, COUNCILMAN. AS YOU HEARD TODAY WE'RE WORKING THROUGH A NUMBER OF UTILITY REDESIGNS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THE SCHEDULE. WE ARE WORKING THROUGH SOME ALTERNATIVE PATHS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR A PATH TO BEING DONE SOONER. SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE ULTIMATE DEADLINES BUT AT THIS POINT THAT SLIDE IS PROBABLY INCORRECT AND IT'S BEYOND THAT DATE.

AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH WITH THAT ULTIMATE DATE IS. I WOULD EXPECT IN '26, SIR.

EITHER IN SPRING -- END OF SPRING IS OUR CURRENT EXPECTATION.

>> PELAEZ: SO MY ONLY REQUEST THEN IS AS THIS UNFOLDS, CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING LATER OFFLINE OF THE MILESTONES SO THAT I CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE ARE AS WE APPROACH THAT COMPLETION DATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> PELAEZ: THAT'S IT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 16? HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 16. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

[ACTION ITEM FOR STAFF BRIEFING]

THIS IS THE BIG ONE AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU PROPER ATTENTION.

ITEM 5. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 5 IS AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN, BNP, A COMPONENT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S MASTER PLAN.

>> GOOD MORNING, NOW AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

CAT HERNANDEZ, DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR ACTION TODAY IS ADOPTION OF THE CITY'S BIKE NETWORK PLAN, WHICH IS AN UPDATE TO OUR 2011 BIKE MASTER PLAN. SO WHY DO WE NEED A BIKE PLAN? THESE STATISTICS ILLUSTRATE WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BIKE PLAN. IN 2022 SAN ANTONIO WAS RANKED 16TH IN THE NATION FOR DEADLIEST CITIES FOR CYCLISTS. PROVIDING SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SEPARATES PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS AND MOTORISTS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE CRASHES. ALMOST 8% OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE.

MANY OF THEM ARE RELYING ON BIKES, TRANSIT, OR BOTH TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATIONS, WHETHER IT IS WORK, SCHOOL, OR DAY-TO-DAY NECESSITIES. THIS PLAN IS A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO ENHANCING OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY FOR CYCLISTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, WHETHER THEY ARE CHOOSING TO RIDE RECREATIONALLY OR OPT TO RIDE INSTEAD OF DRIVING TO THEIR DESTINATIONS.

OR CHOOSE TO RIDE BECAUSE IT IS THEIR OWN OPTION. THE PLAN PROVIDES GUIDANCE THAT PRIORITIZES SAFETY FOR ALL OF OUR USERS ON THE ROADS AS WELL AS PROVIDES GUIDANCE DURING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WITH THE APPROPRIATE TYPE OF BIKE FACILITIES DEPENDENT ON THE ROAD TYPE. LASTLY, THE PLAN HELPS PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING FUNDING MECHANISMS TO LEVERAGE THAT WILL HELP WITH IMPLEMENTATION.

WE STARTED PHASE 1 OF THE PLAN IN JANUARY 2023 WITH OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITY, DETERMINING WHAT THE EXISTING CONDITIONS WERE OF CURRENT BIKE FACILITIES AND A PULSE CHECK OF THE CITY'S OVERALL HEALTH RELATED TO BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN PHASE 2 WE CRAFTED WHAT THE VISION FOR RIDING IN OUR CITY COULD LOOK LIKE WITH A PROPOSED CONNECTED NETWORK AND GUIDANCE TO DETERMINE THE RIGHT TYPE OF DESIGN BASED ON THE ROADWAY. AS WELL AS THE FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS US TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION. PHASE 3 PROVIDES US WITH THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO RATE OUR IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS, POLICIES TO EXPLORE, A FUNDING STRATEGY SO THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE FUNDS, AND AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE HEALTH COULD LOOK LIKE WHEN A BIKE PLAN IS IMPLEMENTED. IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES I'LL SUMMARIZE THE ENGAGEMENT, THE COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN THAT WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING FEEDBACK FOR, AND THE RECOMMENDATION RECEIVED AS PART OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS.

SINCE THE START OF THE PLAN WE HELD THREE PHASES OF ENGAGEMENT.

PHASE 1 WAS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY'S THOUGHTS ON RIDING.

PHASE 2 WAS TO GET FEEDBACK ON POTENTIAL DESIGNS AND ROUTING AND PHASE 3 WAS TO RECEIVE ROAD BY ROAD FEEDBACK ON THE ROAD NETWORK.

THERE WERE OVER 3600 RESPONSES RECEIVED THROUGH 43 ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.

THIS WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE DONE

[03:00:01]

OUR INTERNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSISTED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, LANDING. OUR TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS SUCH AS TXDOT, VIA, AND THE ALAMO AREA MPO. MOBILITY WORKING GROUPS INCLUDED COMMUNITY MEMBERS REPRESENTING A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, BICYCLE GROUPS, AND ASSOCIATED NONPROFITS AND OUR HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND DISABILITY ADVOCACY COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, WE HELD FIVE STAKEHOLDER ROUNDTABLES TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, PARTNER CITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT'S ORGANIZATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS AND OTHERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS TO HELP WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN. THE NEXT FEW SLIDES SUMMARIZE THE COMPONENTS OF THE PROPOSED PLAN. IN THE EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT WE DOCUMENTED THE CURRENT STATE OF THE BIKE FACILITIES AND WHERE THEY WERE LOCATED.

THERE WERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED INCLUDING TRADITIONAL BIKE LANES, BUFFERED BIKE LANES, PROTECTED BIKE LANES, TO SHARED USE PATHS. ALL OF THESE DESIGNS ARE IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE BIKE NETWORK BUT THEY NEED TO BE APPLIED WITH SENSITIVITY TO ROADWAY CONTEXT INCLUDING MOTOR VEHICLE SPEEDS AND VOLUMES, ROADWAY CLASSIFICATIONS SUCH AS LOCAL ARTERIAL CLASSIFICATIONS, AND LAND USE.

THE PLAN INCLUDES OPTIONS OF THE BIKE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE DEPENDING UPON THE ROADWAY. THE PLAN INCLUDES CONSIDERATIONS FOR BIKE FACILITIES SUCH AS BIKE BOULEVARD WHERE IT IS USEFUL FOR SLOW-SPEED NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS. AND FOR BIKE BOULEVARDS TO BE TRULY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE THE ROADWAY MUST BE TRAFFIC CALMED AND PROTECTED BIKE LANES FEATURE PROTECTED BARRIERS BETWEEN BIKES AND CAR TRAFFIC. THESE PROTECTED LANES CAN FEATURE POURED CONCRETE BUT ALSO INCLUDE MORE FLEXIBLE MATERIALS.

THE PLAN PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO GET THROUGH INTERSECTIONS AND WE'RE SEEING MORE OF THAT ON OUR ROADWAYS SO THAT BIKES CAN GET SAFELY ACROSS MAJOR INTERSECTIONS.

DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF ROADWAYS INTERSECTING, MANY TREATMENTS ARE APPROPRIATE.

THE PLAN PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS RIGHT TURN SLIP LANES. THE PLAN INCLUDES SPECIAL GUIDANCE IN OTHER AREAS INCLUDING ADA PARKING WITH BIKE LANES THAT PROVIDES ACCESSIBLE OPTIONS FOR BOTH INTERACTING WITH PROTECTED BIKE LANES. AND WHEN BUSES ENTER BIKE LANES TO LOAD PASSENGERS IT IS OFTEN DANGEROUS FOR BIKE USERS.

FOR BUS STOPS WITH BIKE LANES THE PLAN PROVIDES DESIGNS FOR AVOIDING THAT INTERACTION WITH FLOATING BUS STOP ISLANDS. AND RELATED TO BIKE PARKING GUIDANCE THE PLAN RECOMMENDS STANDARDS FOR THE PLACEMENT, DESIGN, AND FUNCTIONALITY OF BIKE PARKING. THE PLAN PROVIDES A RECOMMENDED NETWORK THAT INCLUDES A PRIMARY NETWORK OF OVER 600 RECOMMENDED MILES WHICH ARE DIRECT BIKEWAYS THAT ARE CONNECTIONS TO KEEP DESTINATIONS THAT SERVE THE MOST PEOPLE ARE ALREADY POPULAR AND ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE COMPLETE NETWORK.

A NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK INCLUDES OVER 500 MILES OF NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS THAT SERVE AS ALTERNATE CONNECTIONS TO GREENWAYS AND MAJOR ROADS.

AND VISIONARY FACILITIES OF OVER 600 MILES THAT ARE LESS DIRECT SERVE FEWER CONNECTIONS OR CHALLENGING BUT OPTIMISTIC NETWORK. JUST AS WE APPROACH FILLING IN SIDEWALK GAPS WE NEED TO ADDRESS BIKEABILITY. AND THAT'S THROUGH A CONNECTED NETWORK. THE PLAN ALSO INCLUDES PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ON THE FEASIBILITY OF THE NETWORK. TIERS WERE CREATED IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY AND TIME IT WOULD TAKE TO DEPLOY AND COMPLETE. FOUR TIERS VARYING FROM ONE TO 25 YEARS ARE DETAILED IN THE PLAN AND AS WE IMPLEMENT WE ARE ABLE TO OVERLAP THESE PROJECTS BUT THAT GIVES US THE HEAD START THAT WE NEED TO HELP SET US UP FOR IDENTIFYING PROJECTS FOR IMMEDIATE DEPLOYMENT OR IDENTIFYING PROJECTS FOR LARGER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROJECTS STILL NEED TO GO THROUGH THE DESIGN PHASE WITH COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT TO ENSURE INCLUSIVE BUY-IN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION.

WE PROVIDED TO YOUR OFFICES A PROFILE FOR EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS.

THIS PROFILE ILLUSTRATES HOW WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF TIER 1 AND TIER 2 PROJECTS ACCESS TO KEY DESTINATIONS ARE IMPROVED ON OUR PRIMARY NETWORK.

AS A RESULT OF IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY ON LOW-STRESS STREETS.

SHOWING IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY MEANS DIRECTING TO EMPLOYMENT CENTERS,

[03:05:04]

THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES HOW THAT CONNECTIVITY HAS IMPROVED IN EACH DISTRICT FOCUSING ON LOW-STRESS BIKE RIDES AND IMPLEMENTING THE TIER 1 AND TIER 2 PROJECTS IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN. THE INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE SHOWS HOW MANY MORE RESIDENTS ARE SERVED WITH IMPROVING THEIR ACCESS TO THESE DESTINATION TYPES.

HAVING THESE PROJECTS ALREADY IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN ALLOWS US TO GET TO IMPLEMENTATION FASTER WITH BETTER RESULTS. NOW IMPLEMENTATION DOES OCCUR IN VARIOUS WAYS. IT OCCURS DURING THE NORMAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

AS NEW PROPERTIES ARE DEVELOPED AND PLATTED, RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR STREETS AND BIKE FACILITIES IS PLANNED FOR AND STREETS AND BIKE LANES ARE CONSTRUCTED.

IMPLEMENTATION ALSO OCCURS DURING OUR NORMAL STREET MAINTENANCE PROCESS THROUGH THE CITY STREET IMP PROGRAM. IMPLEMENTATION ALSO OCCURS DURING OUR BOND PLANNING PROCESS. FOR EXAMPLE THE 2022 BOND-FUNDED $997 MILLION IN ROADWAY PROJECTS MANY INCLUDE BIKE FACILITIES. AS WE DO WITH OUR STREETS AND PARKS IT'S NOT FEASIBLE TO IMPLEMENT ALL NEW INFRASTRUCTURE ALL AT ONCE.

AND THAT IS NOT THE INTENT OF THE PLAN. THESE FACILITIES ARE BUILT OVER TIME AND THROUGH DIFFERENT METHODS. FUNDING THE PLAN AS IT IS IMPLEMENTED OVER TIME IS DONE THROUGH DIFFERENT MEANS.

LOCALLY WE USE OUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS SUCH AS OUR BIKE FACILITIES, IMP DOLLARS, OR BOND AND IMP DOLLARS FOR STREETS. WE ALSO LEVERAGE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES. WE LOOK AT STATE FORMULA FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS TRANSPORTATIONAL ALTERNATIVE GRANTS WHICH FUNDED THE COUNCIL RECENTLY APPROVED. AS FEDERAL FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE, WE WILL APPLY TO LEVERAGE THESE FUNDS AS WELL AS WE HAVE DONE PREVIOUSLY WITH OUR SAFE STREETS FOR ALL. OUR PLAN PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO TARGET OUR PROJECTS FOR THE DIFFERENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. THE PLAN ALSO INCLUDES POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE EXPLORATION AND IMPLEMENTATION TOUCHING OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND OUR MUNICIPAL CODES AND POLICIES TO ADVOCATE FOR AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING THE SPEED LIMIT AND OUR IDAHO STOP IS YIELD.

YOU SEE HOW POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE GROUPED. THE PLAN INCLUDES PERFORMANCE METRICS AND TARGETS THAT WE CAN ASSESS IMPLEMENTATION.

HAVE WE IMPROVED OUR SAFETY FOR OUR USERS? ARE THERE GREATER HEALTH OUTCOMES? AND HAVE INTERSECTIONS IMPROVED? THE PLAN PROVIDES US THE NEEDED GUIDANCE TO GET TO THESE POSITIVE OUTCOMES.

AS PART OF THE ADOPTION PROCESS, SINCE THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN IS A COMPONENT OF THE CITY'S MASTER PLAN, WE PRESENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION LAST MONTH IN THE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE UPDATE OF THE PLAN WITH THE ADOPTION OF THIS BIKE NETWORK PLAN. FIRST I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM, INCLUDING HARLEY AND ISAAC FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO LEAD THIS PLAN TO COMPLETION, AS WELL AS OUR CONSULTS AND THEIR SUBS WHO DID A GREAT JOB GETTING US TO THIS FINISH LINE. AND LASTLY I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES IN THE AUDIENCE THAT STAYED AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO STAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR INPUT AND ALL OF THE FIGHT THROUGHOUT THE TWO YEARS WE WENT THROUGH THIS TO GET THEIR INPUT AND GET TO A GREAT PLAN. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CAT FOR THE PRESENTATION. VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS AND THE DISCUSSION.

WE DO HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 5 SO I'LL CALL NAMES IN ORDER.

WE HAVE A GROUP FIRST, JOEY POLLACK AND FELICIA FLEISCHER.

AND YOU'RE YIELDING YOUR TIME? OKAY.

SO JOEY WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES. THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM TINA.

>> GOOD MORNING. ALMOST GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

BRIAN MARTIN WITH BIKE SAN ANTONIO. I WILL BE READING JOEY'S SPEECH ON HIS BEHALF AS HE COULD NOT BE HERE WITH HIS SCHEDULING CONFLICT.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ONE SEC.

LET ME GET THE QUEUE STRAIGHT. SO YOU HAVE TIME FROM FELICIA. YOU ARE SIGNED UP SO YOU'LL HAVE NINE MINUTES.

>> I MAY NOT NEED ALL THAT, MAYOR, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE CITY COUNCIL HERE FOR LISTENING AND TAKING THE

[03:10:06]

AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SAY ALSO, YOU KNOW, PUBLICLY THAT BIKE SAN ANTONIO DOES SUPPORT THIS BIKE NETWORK PLAN AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING IT IMPLEMENTED. ALSO LIKE TO TAKE JUST A FEW SECONDS TO THANK ALL THE FOLKS HERE WHO ARE ALSO ADVOCATES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT ARE HERE. WE HAVE BLACK GIRLS DO BIKE, BABIES ON BIKES, THE SATX SOLO RIDE, WE HAVE THE CYCLING INITIATIVE. I'M SURE I'M FORGETTING OTHER FOLKS. AMPO. JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR TIRELESS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.

AND REAL QUICK I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S FOLKS THAT COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY LIKE TITO BRADSHAW, LIKE BEATRICE GONZALES AND DR. ROOS WHO LOST HER LIFE DUE TO A DRUNK DRIVER AND LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE. THEY COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BUT WE'RE PUSHING ON IN THEIR NAME. THAT'S KIND OF MY SPIEL.

JUST REAL QUICKLY, I'M A FATHER AS WELL AND WHEN MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE TO SAN ANTONIO WE SHARED A CAR AND SO I GOT AROUND BY BIKE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

COMING FROM AUSTIN IT WAS A LITTLE HUMBLING WITH THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN OUR CITY BUT I WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD THE CITY ON THEIR AMAZING WORK ON THE TRAILS.

WE HAVE WORLD-CLASS TRAILS AND I THINK THIS BIKE NETWORK PLAN IS WORLD CLASS AND I THINK THAT THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO DESERVE WORLD-CLASS TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. VIA IS AMAZING. IT'S GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR. OUR TRAILS ARE GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR.

NOW WE NEED TO GET INSIDE THE CITY TO DOWNTOWN WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE.

WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE ON TO READ MR. POLLACK'S SPEECH BECAUSE IT'S MUCH MORE WELL WRITTEN THAN WHAT I JUST SAID. THIS IS FROM JOEY POLLACK, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF ACTIVATE SA . SORRY.

I GOT THIS OUT OF ORDER. MAYOR NIRENBERG AND CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JOEY POLLACK. I'M A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.

YOUR AVERAGE BIKE COMMUTER AND TRANSIT USER. I'M A NEW-ISH DAD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ACTIVATE SA, A LOCAL TRANSIT NONPROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO ACTIVATE A CONNECTED, EQUITABLE, RESILIENT, AND SAFE COMMUNITY FOR ALL THROUGH TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY AND CONSCIENTIOUS BUILDING AND EDUCATION.

I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED BIKE NETWORK PLAN.

AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP RIDING THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO'S EASTSIDE, I WORKED AS A TRANSPORTATION PLANNER AND WORKING NOW AS AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATE.

I CAN TELL YOU -- I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CYCLING IN OUR CITY. AS A DAD OF A BEAUTIFUL 10-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER I CONTINUE TO BE MORE HOPEFUL AS SHE GETS OLDER THAT I WILL GROW BRAVER EVERY YEAR IN LETTING HER RIDE TO SCHOOL, HER FRIEND'S HOUSE AND WHEREVER SHE WANTS TO GO ON A BIKE. THANKS IN PART TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BIKE NETWORK PLAN THAT Y'ALL ARE ADOPTING TODAY. AS LEADER OF A LOCAL ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION, I AM REMINDED DAILY THE CHALLENGES PEOPLE FACE WHEN CYCLING ON THE STREETS WITH EVERY CYCLIST FATALITY OR SERIOUS INJURY THAT IS ANNOUNCED ON THE NEWS. THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR FRIENDS, OUR NEIGHBORS, AND OUR FAMILY. WE SHOULD NOT BE RANKED AS THE 16TH DEADLIEST CITY FOR CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS SHOULD NOT FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES WHEN NAVIGATING OUR CITY STREETS. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO BECOME THE SAFEST CITY BUT THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN WOULD HELP US MOVE THE NEEDLE TOWARDS A MORE WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE SAN ANTONIO WITH LEGISLATIVE SESSION LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS. AS YOU KNOW THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN CREATES FOCUSED AND SAFE CORRIDORS THAT LEAD TO OUR GREENWAY NETWORKS.

THESE ARE CALLED THE TRUNK ROUTES AND ARE NECESSARY. DAILY DESTINATIONS ADDRESSES

[03:15:12]

I AM SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE RIDING THEIR BIKES TO WHEREVER THEY WANT TO GO. WE ARE PROUD OF THIS BIKE NETWORK PLAN AS A RESULT OF EXTENSIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL ANALYSIS PROVIDING STRONGER ROAD MAPS TO CREATE A MORE CONNECTED, COMFORTABLE, EQUITABLE, AND SAFE BIKE NETWORK FOR ALL SAN ANTONIANS AND USERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.

THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A MOMENTOUS YEAR FOR TRANSPORTATION IN SAN ANTONIO WITH THE LAST YEAR ALONE SAN ANTONIO HAS ADOPTED A NEW GOLD-LEVEL COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, NEW VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN AND THE TOD FRAMEWORK POLICIES AND NOW WITH THIS BIKE NETWORK PLAN. TOGETHER THEY WILL CREATE A MORE PROSPEROUS, RESILIENT, EQUITABLE, HEALTHY, SAFE, WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE AND TRANSIT-FRIENDLY SAN ANTONIO FOR DECADES TO COME. NOW THE REAL WORK COMES IN IMPLEMENTING THESE POLICIES. WHILE ADOPTING THIS PLAN IT'S A HUGE STEP TOWARDS A BIKEABLE SAN ANTONIO. WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING AND TAKING ACTION TO MAKE SURE THE PROPOSAL OF THIS PLAN ARE FULLY FUNDED AND IMPLEMENTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT DECADES TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS PLAN.

LET US WORK ON ADOPTING RECOMMENDED POLICIES IN THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN SUCH AS THOSE THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM PARKING IN BIKE LANES AND THAT WOULD NOT DECRIMINALIZE THE ACT OF CYCLING ON A SIDEWALK. OUR FELLOW CYCLISTS SHOULD NOT FEAR OR BE HARASSED BY POLICE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO RIDE TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. BEFORE I CLOSE, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREDIBLE BIKE NETWORK PLAN WHICH INCLUDES THE MANY TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT STAFF. FROM ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS TO THE BEAUTIFUL AND IMPACTFUL PLAN ITSELF. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS PLAN. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE WORK IN CREATING A MORE PROSPEROUS, RESILIENT, EQUITABLE, HEALTHY, SAFE, WALKABLE, BIKEABLE, AND TRANSIT-FRIENDLY SAN ANTONIO. LET'S CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THESE GRAND IDEAS OF POLICIES A REALITY. I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE WITH SAYING THIS IS NOT ABOUT TAKING SPACE AWAY FROM CARS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHATEVER YOU MIGHT THINK IT MIGHT BE. IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES AND GETTING PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND NOT EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD A CAR. AT TIMES THE BUS ROUTES DON'T WORK AND YOU NEED TO FIND THAT LAST MILE. WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MARTIN. TINA BEECHUM FOLLOWED BY

AUSTIN KELM. >> GOOD DAY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS TINA BEECHUM, I'M HERE TODAY AS A PROUD ADVOCATE FOR THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF BLACK GIRLS DO BIKE, SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER, ACTIVATE SA, AND BIKE SAN ANTONIO. AS A FREQUENT CYCLIST IN THE

[03:20:05]

THESE INCLUDE ABRUPT TERMINATIONS OF BIKE LANES, IMPROPER PARKING OF VEHICLES, LITTERED LANES WITH DEBRIS, AND UNFORTUNATELY A NUMBER OF FELLOW CYCLISTS WHO HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES DUE TO INADEQUATE PRIORITIZATION OF THEIR SAFETY BY OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE ISSUES SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE NAVIGATION OF OUR CITY AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY AFFECT MANY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ALSO SERVE AS A DAILY MOTIVATOR FOR ME TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE AS I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT SAN ANTONIO POSSESS THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM INTO A THRIVING CITY FOR CYCLING AND PEDESTRIANS.

I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN AS IT REPRESENTS A PIVOTAL STEP TOWARDS CREATING A SAFER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE INTERCONNECTED SAN ANTONIO. THIS PLAN ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN JUST A CONSTRUCTION OF BIKE LANES, IT ENCOMPASSES THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE, THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION MODES, AND EQUITABLE PROVISION OF SAFE STREETS FOR ALL, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR PREFERRED MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT BE CYCLING, WALKING, OR DRIVING.

WHAT CAPTIVATES ME IS THE PLAN'S ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN BY SAN ANTONIO SUCH AS THE COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, THE VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN, AND THEIR TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK.

THESE POLICIES COLLECTIVELY AIM TO CREATE A FUTURE WHERE STREETS ARE SAFER, MORE EQUITABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, NOT MERELY CYCLISTS BUT ALSO PEDESTRIANS, TRANSIT USERS, AND DRIVERS. THIS INITIATIVE TRANSCENDS THE NEEDS OF CYCLISTS. IT ENVISIONS A SAN ANTONIO WHERE FAMILIES FEEL SECURE WALKING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, WHERE LOCAL BUSINESSES THRIVE FROM INCREASED BICYCLE TRAFFIC AND WHERE THE CITY BECOMES A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE AND MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION. I URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.

TOGETHER WE CAN COLLABORATE TO CONSTRUCT A SAN ANTONIO THAT IS FORWARD THINKING, EQUITABLE, AND SAFER FOR ALL OUR INHABITANTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. AUSTIN KELM FOLLOWED BY

EMILY HUTCHINSON. >> I'M A RESIDENT OF WOODLAWN LAKE IN DISTRICT 1.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND STRONG TOWN SAN ANTONIO. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY TELLING YOU ABOUT ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I HAVE MADE IN MY LIFE. FIVE YEARS AGO I SOLD MY CAR, WALKED INTO A JEWELRY STORE WITH THE PROCEEDS, AND BOUGHT MY WIFE'S ENGAGEMENT RING. THANKFULLY SHE SAID YES AND SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN A CAR FREE RESIDENT OF TEXAS. I PRIMARILY BIKE TO GET AROUND, WHICH IS UNEXPECTEDLY ALLOWED ME TO GET EXERCISE, MEET NEIGHBORS, SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENCOUNTER ALL SORTS OF WILDLIFE ON OUR TRAILS.

I CAN SAY I'M A BETTER PERSON AND MY LIFE HAS BEEN IMPROVED.

DESPITE THIS THE INFRASTRUCTURE I DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH CARS AND TRASH CANS, STRAY DOGS CHASING ME, DEBRIS THAT POPS MY TIRE, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT STOPS AND ENDS IN NONSENSICAL PATTERNS.

THESE GAPS MEAN THAT HUGE SWATHS OF OUR CITY ARE INACCESSIBLE TO ME.

COUNCIL, FOR THE LAST 70 YEARS SAN ANTONIO'S TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS HAVE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON MOVING CARS AROUND. DESPITE GOOD INTENTIONS, THIS HAS LEFT OUR NETWORK DEADLY AND LESS ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER.

IN THREE, AAA CALCULATED THAT 41,000 PEOPLE DIED IN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS.

THAT SAME YEAR NEW CAR OWNERSHIP IN THE U.S. HAD RISEN TO 12,000 A YEAR.

ACROSS OUR CITY, ROADS ARE BECOMING MORE CONGESTED, MORE EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO USE. IT'S TIME TO TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CAN HANDLE OUR INCREASE IN POPULATION.

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES IN 2023 STUDY FOUND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A PERSON TO TRAVEL BY BIKE RATHER THAN CAR WAS AFFECTED BY THE QUALITY OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

PAINTED BIKE LANES HAD A SMALL EFFECT ON THE LIKELIHOOD WHEREAS PROTECTED BICYCLE LANES HAD A LARGE EFFECT, ESPECIALLY WHEN ROADS WERE WIDE AND DANGEROUS. AN EASIER WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS IF YOU WOULDN'T SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL OR YOUR GRANDPARENTS TO THE GROCERY STORE USING THE BIKE ROUTE,

[03:25:01]

IT WILL TAKE TIME, MONEY, AND DISCOMFORT DURING CONSTRUCTION BUT PROVIDE A GREATER RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAN OUR CURRENT CAR INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN THE INTERIM IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE RECOGNIZE THERE IS NO BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE THAN THE GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM. EVEN OUR MOST PROTECTED BIKE LANES WILL NEVER ACHIEVE SEPARATION FROM TRAFFIC AND EASE OF USE THE TRAILS PROVIDE US. IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE TO ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO US SUN UP TO SUN DOWN. AFTER ALL, THE ROADS FOR CARS DON'T SHUT DOWN AT NIGHT. LIGHTING THESE TRAILS AND OPENING THEM 24/7 WOULD BE EXPENSIVE FOR SURE BUT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF

BUILDING COMPARABLE INFRASTRUCTURE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, EMILY HUTCHINSON FOLLOWED BY VERONICA SALAS.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS LILY TRAN. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF EMILY HUTCHINSON. SHE WAS HERE EARLIER . I PERSONALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE SUPPORT FOR THIS BIKE NETWORK PLAN.

I'M CURRENTLY WITH THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION AND I AM GOING RIGHT INTO EMILY'S SPEECH HERE. SHE'S A RESIDENT OF BEACON HILL, A MOM OF THREE, AND DEFINITELY A CYCLING ADVOCATE.

I ORGANIZE WEEKLY KIDS' CYCLING MEETUPS IN BEACON HILL, A BIKE BUS TO MY SON'S SCHOOL. THIS IS TO THE MARK TWAIN DUAL LANGUAGE ACADEMY.

EMILY IS IN CHARGE OF A BIKE MEETUP GROUP AND STARTED ADVOCATING FOR BETTER BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THE LAST TWO SCHOOL YEARS. TWO WEEKS AGO SHE MET WITH STAFF FROM SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DISCUSS FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMMING RELATING TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. SO EMILY SHARES HOW HER SON, WHO IS NOW 7 AND IN THE FIRST GRADE STARTED RIDING TO SCHOOL LAST SPRING. WHEN SHE SHARED THIS, IMMEDIATELY THE SAISD PERSON SAID, WOW, THAT'S BRAVE. AND SHE WAS TAKEN BACK BY THAT STATEMENT BUT SHE REALIZED THAT SHE WAS RIGHT. WE DO HAVE TO BE BRAVE TO PUT OURSELVES AND OUR KIDS OUT ON THE ROAD IN TRAFFIC. THERE IS NOT A GREAT INFRASTRUCTURE, EVEN IN PLACES THAT ARE HIGHLY BIKEABLE.

SO I AM HAPPY TO SEE THE CARE AND EFFORT PUT INTO THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN UPDATES.

PROTECTED BIKE LANES WILL MAKE BUYING A REAL OPTION FOR FAMILIES TO ALLOW THEIR KIDS TO GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY. IT WILL ALLOW PARENTS TO SAY YES WHEN THEIR KIDS WANT TO GET AROUND, NOT ONLY TO SCHOOL BUT ALSO AROUND WITH FRIENDS. ALREADY THE UPDATE HAS MADE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FUTURE BIKEWAYS BEING EASIER WITH MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, AS WE IN D1 AND D7 ENVISION THE NEAR NORTH NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, OTHER PARENTS AND CYCLISTS HAVE DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR AN EAST-WEST BIKE PATH OR PROTECTED BIKEWAY. THIS MIGHT INCLUDE FULTON, SUMMIT, AND WOULD CONNECT TO THE MONTICELLO PARK WITH THE PEARL AND LANDA LIBRARY. BECAUSE OF THE CLARITY OF THE PLAN MY INITIAL DISCUSSION WITH OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT LIAISON WAS WAY EASIER AND SMOOTHER. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: VERONICA SALAS FOLLOWED BY KELLY SLUDER.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL. MY NAME IS VERONICA SALAS, BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 1.

I AM A CYCLIST AND THE FOUNDER OF SA BABES ON BIKE, AN ALL FEMALE AND LGBTQ BIKE RIDE. I'M HERE TODAY TO GIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT SAN ANTONIO'S NEW BIKE NETWORK PLAN . WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW EASY FIXES THAT CAN BE DONE. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE COULD BE MORE LIGHTS ON THE TRAIL TO MAKE IT MORE VISIBLE AND SAFE. MORE SIGNS ON THE ROADS WITH FLASHING LIGHTS WARNING DRIVERS THAT THERE IS A BIKE LANE COMING UP AND TO WATCH FOR CYCLISTS. NEXT, THERE IS THE BIKE LANES.

IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT BUT THEY HAVE SO MUCH DEBRIS AND GLASS IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID GETTING A FLAT WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR WITH VEHICLES OR OTHER CYCLISTS.

LASTLY, THERE ARE BIKE LANES, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO, WHERE A LOT OF INDUSTRY WORKERS COMMUTE ON THESE MAIN ROADS. NORTH FLORES TO SOUTH

[03:30:03]

I HAVE BEEN RUN OFF THE ROAD AND FELT UNEASY . WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND MAKE COMMUTERS FEEL SAFE. I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL DEVELOP. I PLAN ON UTILIZING AND SHOWING MY GROUP WHERE AND HOW TO USE THESE UPGRADES FOR SAFER COMMUTE. SAN ANTONIO HAS COME A LONG WAY. OUR CYCLING COMMUNITY HAS GROWN SINCE I STARTED RIDING IN 2013. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW BIKE NETWORK PLAN AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S HELP. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE AND CREATE A SAFER COMMUTING CITY. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BE OPEN TO HEAR OUR THOUGHTS

AND CONCERNS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. SALAS. KELLY SOLIDER FOLLOWED BY LORI DAY.

>> DEAR MAYOR NIRENBERG AND SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL . I'M A BICYCLE ENTHUSIAST.

I NOT ONLY LOVE TO RIDE MY BIKE BUT IT GIVES ME JOY TO MY SOUL.

I AM REPRESENTING TWO GROUPS: TEAM TACO AND THE SAN ANTONIO SOCIAL RIDE.

I AM A NATIVE TEXAN AND HAVE RESIDED IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE PAST 44 YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN RIDING A BIKE FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS. WHILE I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS PLAN BEING IMPLEMENTED, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WORRY ME.

THERE SHOULD BE NO PARKING IN ANY BIKE LANES WHATSOEVER.

FIRST OF ALL, IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT CYCLISTS ARE LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE CITIZENS THAT DRIVE CARS. WE ARE TRYING TO NOT ONLY LEAVE A SMALLER FOOTPRINT BY NOT DRIVING BUT WE ARE CHOOSING A DIFFERENT WAY OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MANY REASONS. WHEN PEOPLE PARK IN OUR DESIGNATED LANES WE ARE THEN FORCED TO RIDE IN REGULAR LANES THAT IRRITATE THE COMMON DRIVER AND LEAVING OURSELVES OPEN TO POTENTIAL RISK OF BEING HIT OR KILLED JUST TRYING TO GET TO WORK.

SECONDLY, ALL BIKE LANES NEED TO BE CLEANED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THE STREETS ARE CLEANED OF DEBRIS REGULARLY AND THAT'S WONDERFUL EXCEPT IT PUSHES ALL THE DEBRIS TO THE BIKE LANES. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE LEAVES, STICKS, GLASS, TRASH ARE IN THE BIKE LANES AND IF YOU HAD TO CHANGE A FLAT EVERY TIME YOU RODE TO WORK YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T. I LOVE THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS THAT HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN OUR CITY. I BRAG ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO USE THEM. I SEND A MAP TO SO MANY STRANGERS THAT DON'T REALIZE HOW MANY TRAILS WE HAVE AND HOW FAR THEY REACH AROUND OUR CITY. WITH THAT BEING SAID THERE NEEDS TO BE A SAFE WAY TO MAKE YOUR WAY FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FO A TRAILHEAD SAFELY AND THAT IS A BIKE NETWORK PLAN AND SAFE, CLEAN BIKE LANES. I'M ASKING EACH OF YOU TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOUR FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF, AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS ALONG WITH THE WONDERFUL BIKE NETWORK PLAN PROJECT TEAM TO MAKE THESE PLANS A REALITY ON OUR BEAUTIFUL STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING A VISION. THANK YOU FOR BEING BOLD TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO A TRUE BICYCLING COMMUNITY AND FOR SHOWING ALL LARGE CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT THEY CAN DO IT TOO. LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, MS. SLUDER. LORI DAY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS LORI DAY AND I'M ONE OF THE PROGRAM DIRECTORS AT DISABILITY SA. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN . AT DISABILITY SA WE WORK TO EDUCATE, ADVANCE, AND ENGAGE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY BUILDING CONNECTIONS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES. AN INCLUSIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ENSURES THAT EVERYONE CAN NAVIGATE OUR CITY SAFELY AND INDEPENDENTLY. THE PLAN IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS THAT VISION. BY COMMITTING TO OVER 1500 MILES OF INFRASTRUCTURE, THIS PLAN CONNECTS COMMUNITIES, ENHANCES MOBILITY OPTIONS, AND PRIORITIZES THE SAFETY AND COMFORT OF ALL. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT AS THIS PLAN IS IMPLEMENTED, WE CONTINUE TO UPHOLD PRINCIPLES OF DISABILITY.

SMOOTH PATHWAYS, ACCESSIBLE CROSSINGS, CLEAR SIGNAGE, AND INCLUSIVE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT FOSTER A USABLE NETWORK FOR ALL SAN ANTONIANS.

WE COMMEND THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO LISTENING TO DIVERSE VOICES, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. THE PLAN HAS INCORPORATED THE PERSPECTIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, MANY WHO SHARED THEIR SUGGESTIONS BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE. WE WANT TO THANK THE BIKE NETWORK COMMITTEE FOR ENSURING THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WERE ABLE TO OFFER THEIR INSIGHTS AND CONTRIBUTE TO A PLAN THAT TRULY BENEFITS EVERYONE. AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH ADOPTION, WE STAND READY TO SUPPORT AND COLLABORATE TO MAKE SURE ACCESSIBILITY

[03:35:05]

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

ALICIA FOLLOWED BY ISMAEL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ALICIA FROM B-CYCLE.

WITH ME TODAY IS MY TEAM, JOYCE GONZALES, OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER, A RETIREE OF VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT. RICHARD GONZALES, OUR LEAD STATION TECH. OH, RICHARD GUTIERREZ. HE IS A RETIREE OF CITY PUBLIC SERVICE. OUR OTHER TEAM MEMBER IS AT SCHOOL AND HE IS IN CHARGE OF MAINTAINING OUR BIKES. WE ARE HERE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN, A WELL-CONNECTED AND PROTECTED BIKE NETWORK ISN'T JUST ABOUT BIKES.

IT'S ABOUT GIVING MORE PEOPLE A SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO DRIVING. A WAY TO BUILD COMMUNITY. AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT. B-CYCLE LAUNCHED IN 2011 UNDER MAYOR CASTRO WITH STATIONS FROM THE WITTE MUSEUM TO MISSION ESPADA.

WE HAD ABOUT 300 BIKES BUT WITHOUT SAFE, INTUITIVE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE RIDERSHIP JUST WASN'T ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN OUR OPERATIONS. PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE, THEY JUST DON'T RIDE. LAST YEAR WE FACED A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY OF SHUTTING DOWN, FORCING US TO RIGHT-SIZE OUR SYSTEM. WE'RE NOW AT 17 STATIONS AND 120 BIKES. MAJOR DIFFERENCE. TODAY IT STARTS AT THE ALAMO, GOES DOWN TO MISSION ESPADA AND IT'S QUICKLY FORGED OR CITY'S BIKE SHARE PROGRAM A PATH TO PROFITABILITY. OVERNIGHT IT CHANGES.

THE REASON WHY: THE MISSION REACH AND THE BEAUTY OF RIDING ALONG THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER HAS LITERALLY BEEN OUR SAVING GRACE. THE MISSION REACH SERVES AS A GATEWAY TO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE IT PROVIDES PROTECTIVE, INTUITIVE BIKE TRAILS WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE RIDING. THAT'S WHY WE FULLY SUPPORT THE BICYCLE NETWORK PLAN. WHEN RIDING BIKES IS SAFE AND EFFORTLESS, RIDERSHIP SHGROWS AND EMISSIONS REDUCE. WHEN RIDERSHIP GROWS OUR BIKE SHARE SYSTEM THRIVES.

B-CYCLE IS A SUBSIDIARY OF TRANSIT SYSTEM. THEIR VISION IS BIKES FOR ALL. THE THREE OF US ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS A REALITY FOR SAN ANTONIO BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP BY INVESTING IN YOUR CITIZENS BY PROVIDING US INTUITIVE, SAFE, AND WELL-CONNECTED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION. THIS PLAN IS REALLY AMAZING. I THINK IT DOES ALL THAT FOR US. PROTECTED BICYCLE NETWORK MEANS MORE PEOPLE RIDING, A STRONGER SENSE OF COMMUNITY, LOWER EMISSIONS, AND BIKES FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, GUYS FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT AND VIVA SAN ANTONIO.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

ISHMAEL HERRERA MR. HERRERA, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM LONG.

MR. LONG, YOU'RE GOING TO CEDE YOUR TIME TO SOMEONE ELSE? OKAY. AFTER MR. HERRERA, IT WILL BE JACK FINGER.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ISHMAEL HERRERA WITH AARP, A NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES SITUATIONS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP OF NEARLY 37 MILLION NATIONWIDE AND MORE THAN 100,000 HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THE UPDATED BIKE NETWORK PLAN AS WELL AS THE MANY COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CREATION OF THIS UPDATED PLAN. BIKE FACILITIES, AS DESCRIBED IN THE PLAN, ENHANCE SAFETY FOR ALL ROAD USERS. IMPROVEMENT BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE NOT ONLY PROTECTS CYCLISTS BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS BY CREATING MORE SPACE FROM VEHICLES AND SLOWING DOWN WHEN NECESSARY.

BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE CREATE MORE SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVE IN OUR CITY BY PROVIDING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE ROUTES FOR CYCLING AND OF COURSE WE ENCOURAGE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE THAT OFFERS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. OLDER ADULTS KNOW THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SUCH AS WALKING AND BIKING, CYCLING CAN IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND NEW RESEARCH KEEPS ADDING TO THE LIST OF BENEFITS. SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE STREETS

[03:40:03]

WE WOULD URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE UPDATED BIKE NETWORK PLAN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. HERRERA. JACK FINGER.

JACK FINGER?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACIOUSNESS. MY BUS WAS A LITTLE LATE THIS MORNING AND THAT'S WHY I MISSED THE SIGN UP BY A COUPLE OF MINUTES THERE. ANYWAY, YES, I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU DIRE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCUMENT YOU'RE ABOUT TO PASS.

I DOUBT THAT MOST OF YOU READ THE 100-PLUS PAGES ON THIS THING.

AND IF YOU DID, YOU NOTICED A FEW DEVILISH DETAILS. I'M ABOUT TO ALERT YOU TO SOME OF THEM. ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE ABOUT TO GRANT BICYCLISTS MORE RIGHTS THAN MOTORISTS HAVE. I KID YOU NOT. WHO DO YOU THINK PAYS FOR THE STREETS AND OUR MAINTENANCE ON OUR STREETS HERE IN THE CITY, AND OUR ROADS? WE, THE MOTORISTS PAY FOR THAT THROUGH OUR GASOLINE TAXES. BICYCLISTS DO NOT FILL UP THEIR BICYCLES WITH GASOLINE, HENCE THEY PAY NO GAS TAXES. HENCE, THEY DON'T PAY FOR OUR STREET MAINTENANCE. BUT MORE THAN THAT, BICYCLISTS DO NOT PAY LIABILITY INSURANCE LIKE WE THE MOTORISTS DO SO WHEN THEY BUMP INTO SOMEBODY'S CAR FENDER THEY DON'T HAVE THE INSURANCE FOR SUCH. THEY CERTAINLY DON'T PAY REGISTRATION FEES LIKE WE THE MOTORISTS PAY FOR OUR VEHICLES.

BUT HERE'S THE -- FROM YOUR VERY OWN DOCUMENTS, I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO HERE, MR. MAYOR. UNDERLINED AREA THERE, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.

THE YELLOW AREA THERE. EMPHASIZE THAT A BIT. PROPOSED ORDINANCE SHOULD BE UPDATED TO PROHIBIT PARKING IN ALL EXISTING AND FUTURE BICYCLE LANES.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING WITH THIS HERE. WHERE ARE WE THE MOTORIST SUPPOSED TO PARK OUR CARS IF THERE'S A BICYCLE LANE ALONGSIDE THE CURB THERE? HUH? NEXT PAGE, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, THE YELLOW AREA THERE.

WHO ELSE DOES THE PROPOSAL DO? THE BNP RECOMMENDS THE SPEED LIMIT BE LOWERED TO 25 MILES PER HOUR AND 20 MILES PER HOUR IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

RETURN THE CAMERA, PLEASE. THAT'S DOWN FROM 30 MILES PER HOUR.

YES. THIS IS WHAT YOU FOLKS ARE ABOUT TO PASS TODAY HERE.

WHY ARE Y'ALL DOING THIS? ELSEWHERE IN YOUR VERY OWN DOCUMENTS, WHAT DOES IT SAY HERE? ONCE AGAIN THE YELLOW AREA THERE.

LET'S SEE. PROHIBIT MOTOR VEHICLES FROM PARKING AND DRIVING IN BIKE LANES. ELSEWHERE IT WANTS -- [TIMER]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. FINGER. THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS THAT HAVE TO LEAVE.

I KNOW THERE ARE MEMBERS THAT WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM BUT EVERYBODY WANTS TO VOTE SO I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY OBJECTIONS TO US CALLING THE VOTE, HAVING THE VOTE, AND THEN HAVING DISCUSSION AFTER THAT, WHICH WOULD NOT IMPACT THE VOTE BUT WOULD ALLOW MEMBERS WHO NEED TO LEAVE, TO VOTE ON THIS BEFORE DISCUSSION. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO CALLING THE VOTE?

>> PELAEZ: MAYOR, I HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO MAKE AND SO, ANDY, I DON'T KNOW THE MECHANICS OF THAT. SORRY TO THROW A WRENCH IN THERE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 5. >> SO MOVED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. AND THERE WAS A SECOND. OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5.

[03:45:03]

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: YEP, THANKS. I LOVE THE PROGRAM.

I THINK THE NETWORK PLAN IS FANTASTIC. WILL LONG, THANKS FOR BEATING THE DRUM AND MAKING SURE WE GET THIS DONE. I WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT ALMOST ALL OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADVISORY BOARD OR COMMISSION OF RESIDENTS WHO PROVIDE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, WHO REVIEW THE EXECUTION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR PLANS WITH AN EYE TOWARDS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, GUARANTEEING FIDELITY TO THE PLAN AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION. I THINK WHILE THIS PLAN IS EXCELLENT, IT'S MISSING A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE AND SO I MAKE THE MOTION TO CREATE AN 11-MEMBER ADVISORY COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR WOULD BE TASKED WITH PROVIDING ADVICE TO OVERSEEING THE EXECUTION AND FIDELITY. THREE, CONDUCT PUBLIC EDUCATION. FOUR, PROVIDE BICYCLE AND MOBILITY EXPERTISE TO STAFF AND COUNCIL. SIX, DRAFT AND PUBLIC AN ANNUAL REPORT.

THIS IS NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THIS IS WHAT ALL OF OUR OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS DO AND I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE BREATHING LIFE INTO THIS PLAN AS OPPOSED TO RISKING IT COLLECTING DOES. AS A SHOW OF HANDS, WHO IN

THIS ROOM WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PLAN LIKE THAT? >> COURAGE: I SECOND YOUR

MOTION. >> PELAEZ: SHOW OF HANDS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HOLD

ON. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ -- >> PELAEZ: THAT'S IT.

>> SEGOVIA: IF IT HELPS TO EXPEDITE THINGS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I THINK IF THE MAYOR AND ERIK ARE OKAY WITH THAT, THEY CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY'LL IMPLEMENT THAT

ADVISORY COMMITTEE. >> WALSH: CAT, I GUESS SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL, REMIND THE COUNCIL WHAT'S IN THE PLAN BECAUSE SOME OF WHAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ IS

TALKING ABOUT EXISTS. >> THAT'S CORRECT. SO IT IS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN TO FORM A COMMISSION. IT WOULD TIE IN DIRECTLY WITH ALL OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE JUST ADOPTED LAST YEAR, INCLUDING

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE AMENDMENT REQUIRES THE COUNCIL TO FORM A BIKE NETWORK PLAN AS OPPOSED TO RECOMMENDING THE CREATION OF ONE.

>> YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? LET ME ASK -- GO AHEAD. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB. I THINK THE PLAN SHOULD GO AS IT IS SO I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR AN AMENDMENT THAT IS MADE LIKE THIS.

I THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A CCR. THE OTHER THING IS I REALLY WANT TO TALK TO THE STAKEHOLDERS, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED SOMEONE FROM EVERY DISTRICT. WE MIGHT NEED TO BRING SOME STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT LIVE IN THE COUNTY OR BIKE IN OTHER AREAS. SO I DON'T WANT TO EXCLUDE THE COUNTY FROM THIS BY JUST DOING A CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE.

THAT'S WHAT I HEAR. SO IT'S JUST TOO UNCLEAR. I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU EXPLORE IT SO HOWEVER MY COUNCIL WANTS TO VOTE, BUT I WON'T BE SUPPORTING IT.

I WANT TO SUPPORT IT AS-IS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK WHAT YOU GUYS SAID WAS THE SAME THING. I REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY AND WHEN WE TALKED TO SOME OF THE BIKE ACTIVISTS, THEY WANTED MORE OF A MULTIMODAL COMMITTEE, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU GUYS WERE RECOMMENDING.

THAT WAY IT'S TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION MORE THAN JUST BIKE LANES.

SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY ARE THESE DIFFERENT OR ARE THEY THE SAME?

>> WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE PLAN, AS WELL AS WHAT'S RECOMMENDED WITH COMPLETE STREETS AND TRANSIT-ORIENTED FRAMEWORK IS A -- THE FORMING A COMMITTEE OR FORMING A COMMISSION THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE MULTI MODES OF TRANSPORTATION. WE HAVE ONE COMMISSION THAT WOULD LOOK OVER ALL THOSE

INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. >> KAUR: AND COUNCILMAN PELAEZ IS SAYING SEPARATE FROM THAT YOU WANT JUST A BIKE?

>> PELAEZ: IF I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION. THE REPORT SAYS THAT IT RECOMMENDS EXPLORING AND THEN LATER RECOMMENDING THE CREATION OF A BICYCLE

[03:50:04]

THE MAYOR. >> KAUR: IT WOULD BE THE CHARGE THE COMMISSION HAS SET FORTH. I WANT TO BE SURE THE COMMISSION WOULD BE SET FOR A MULTIMODAL THOUGHT PROCESS AND COMPLETE STREETS THOUGHT PROCESS AND NOT SINGLE

FOCUS. >> PELAEZ: THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION

THAT WE DO THAT NOW. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ, CAN I ASK YOU TO RESTATE YOUR MOTION SO IT SIMPLY SAYS THAT THE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE MULTIMODAL COMMITTEE IS TO CHANGE FROM EXPLORE TO

REQUIRE. THAT WAY -- >> PELAEZ: THAT'S THE

MOTION. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME ASK THE MOTION MAKER, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

I DON'T HEAR ANY DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THAT. WOULD YOU ACCEPT THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION? IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE, WE'LL

HAVE A SINGLE VOTE ON THE AMENDED MOTION. >>

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TRYING TO DO THAT THE EASY WAY. WE'RE NOT SO WE'LL KEEP IT AS A SEPARATE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO ON THE AMENDMENT.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I VALUE THE PLACE IN WHICH THIS AMENDMENT IS COMING FROM. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN BRINGS A REALLY SIGNIFICANT POINT ABOUT COUNTY RESIDENTS AND WITHIN THE PLAN IT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT. I WANT TO ENSURE AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BRING IN OTHER PARTNERS LIKE HAVING REPRESENTATION FROM THE COUNTY. SO THAT WAY THE COUNTY CAN ALSO HELP PROVIDE SUPPORT IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR SHARED CONSTITUENCY.

SIMILAR TO THE GREENWAY TRAILS. IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE WITH THE COUNTY AND WITH THIS AMENDMENT LIMITING IT TO CITY COUNCIL APPOINTEES I FEEL LIMITS US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN BRING TO THE BIKE NETWORK. SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I WON'T BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE AMENDMENT BUT I VALUE THE PLACE IN WHICH THE AMENDMENT IS COMING FROM.

THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. I HATE TO CONTINUE TO INTERJECT BUT IN THE RESTATEMENT OF THE MOTION IS IT DICTATING THE COMPOSITION?

>> PELAEZ: NO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE MOTION IS SIMPLY TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE OF EXPLORING A COMMITTEE TO REQUIRING A COMMITTEE.

IT DICTATES NO OTHER FURTHER COMPOSITION OR MISSION STATEMENT ABOUT THE

COMMITTEE. >> PELAEZ: THAT'S RIGHT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO

THAT IS THE MOTION. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: SO IT'S SIMPLY AMENDING THE LANGUAGE OF THE PLAN THAT'S ALREADY IN THE PLAN?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S CORRECT. >> WHYTE: OKAY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: FROM EXPLORE TO REQUIRE. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> PELAEZ: CORRECT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S THE AMENDMENT.

DO WE NEED A VOTE ON THAT? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS, AGAIN, ONE WORD. ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AMEND THE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE BICYCLE MOBILITY COMMISSION FROM EXPLORE TO REQUIRE FOR THE MAIN MOTION. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE'LL GO TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH HAS BEEN AMENDED. IF THERE'S STILL AGREEMENT ON HAVING THIS VOTE, SO WE'LL HAVE THE DISCUSSION AFTERWARD SO PEOPLE CAN LEAVE, I'M GOING TO CALL THE VOTE. SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5, WHICH IS THE BICYCLE PLAN. WHY DON'T I TAKE A VOICE

VOTE ON THIS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OPPOSED? 10 WITH ONE ABSTENTION, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A BICYCLE NETWORK PLAN.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR YOUR VERY HARD WORK. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BICYCLE ADVOCACY COMMUNITY. THOSE OF YOU WHO ACTUALLY RIDE BIKES AND THOSE OF YOU WHO JUST ADVOCATE FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO DO.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, LONG PROCESS. PAINFULLY LONG FOR ALL OF YOU. WE'VE SEEN MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY LOSE THEIR LIVES IN PURSUIT OF WHAT WE JUST DID HERE TODAY. BUT I WOULD PROBABLY VENTURE TO SAY THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT JUST HAPPENED TODAY.

[03:55:03]

SO IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU TRAVEL AROUND TOWN, THE FACT THAT 200,000 SAN ANTONIANS DON'T EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO A PERSONAL AUTOMOBILE, THEY SHOULDN'T BE ANY LESS SAFE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAN THOSE WHO DO. WHETHER YOU WALK, WHETHER YOU BIKE, WHETHER YOU TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR YOUR OWN CAR, YOU SHOULD FEEL SAFE AND YOU SHOULD HAVE EFFICIENT QUALITY STREETS TO WORK WITH AND SIDEWALKS. I DO WANT TO JUST AGAIN PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON CAT HERNANDEZ. SHE'S TAKEN ON THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK.

ERIK, I HAVE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH YOU FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, I THINK 12 IN TOTAL BUT IN THIS POSITION FIVE. YOU HAVE MADE SOME REALLY GOOD HIRES. CAT IS ONE OF THEM AND IF THE WEAKNESS OF OUR BICYCLE STRATEGIES IN YEARS PAST HAS BEEN A STRATEGY WE NEVER COULD EXECUTE, THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO TURN THE PAGE BECAUSE CAT IS AN I HEARER. IMPLEMENTER AND I KNOW UNDER HER LEADERSHIP THIS PLAN WILL BECOME A REALITY. CAT, WE'RE WITH YOU.

WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS. EMILY, THE WHOLE GROUP, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS WHO WANT TO SPEAK SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND START. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. CYCLISTS, RUNNERS, ALL OF US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ADVOCATES WHO ARE HERE. THANK Y'ALL FOR STAYING IN THIS VERY, VERY LONG COUNCIL MEETING. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO CAT AND HARLEY HUBBARD. I SEE WILLIAM AND FELICIA ALONG WITH ONE OF THE NEWEST RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 7. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WAY TOO MANY LOSSES OF CYCLISTS SO THIS IS LONG OVERDUE. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MY TEAM AND I FILED A CCR YESTERDAY REQUESTING TO REDUCE SAN ANTONIO'S DEFAULT SPEED LIMIT FROM 30 MILES PER HOUR TO 25 MILES PER HOUR.

I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMAN WHYTE, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN SIGNING THIS CCR. WE'RE LOOKING TO PRIORITIZE LOWERING SPEED LIMITS IN NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS NEAR SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND PARKS.

WE KNOW THAT REDUCED SPEED LIMITS DRASTICALLY INCREASE PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST FATALITIES IF AN ACCIDENT DOES OCCUR. I LOVE THIS BIKE NETWORK PLAN. MY ONLY FEEDBACK IS THAT WE EXPEDITE IT AND WE MAKE IT HAPPEN FASTER BECAUSE WE KNOW IF IT HAPPENS FASTER LIVES WILL BE SAVED.

SO HOWEVER THE CITY CAN GET BEHIND PUSHING RESOURCES AND DEDICATING RESOURCES TO EXPEDITE THIS PLAN I'M ALL IN ON THAT. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S AN EXCITING DAY. THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR.

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

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. SO MY RIDE USED TO BE FROM MY HOUSE DOWN TO ESPADA AND THEN FROM MISSION SAN JOSE LIBRARY OVER TO DOWNTOWN. I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND THE RIDES THAT ARE GOING TO BE POSSIBLE. I WANT TO THANK WILLIAM BECAUSE HE HAS COME AND DONE RIDES IN DISTRICT 3 AND WE KNOW WE DO THIS FOR RECREATION BUT MY RESIDENTS ALSO DO THAT BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. AND THIS IS THEIR LAST MILE FROM THEIR BUS STOP TO THEIR OFFICE SPACE. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS TODAY BUT I WANT US TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE AND I WANT THE SPEAKERS TO KNOW THAT I WAS IN THE BACK LISTENING AND I HEARD YOU. LIGHTING IS KEY. THAT'S WHY WE NEED ALL OUR STAKEHOLDERS AS PART OF THE COMMITTEE TO WE CAN GET THAT FUNDING TO GET THE LIGHTS WE NEED, TO GET THE SIGNS AND THE NOTIFICATIONS THAT WE HAVE RIDERS.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO PUT OUT THERE IS GETTING THAT APP AND COMMUNICATION SO WHEN -- SO YOU ALL KNOW WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION IS, WHERE THOSE BIG TRUCKS ARE GOING TO BE AND ON WHAT DAY SO THAT YOUR 50-MILE RIDES, WHICH I HEAR ARE SHORT RIDES FOR SOME PEOPLE -- ARE DONE SAFELY. WE HEAR YOU.

WE'RE EXCITED BUT THIS IS DAY ONE AND WORK IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS DAY.

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

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THIS IS A REALLY GOOD PLAN.

I THINK IT'S THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFE FOR ALL MODES OF TRAVEL. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED ENOUGH OF THE

[04:00:02]

TWO OTHER THINGS I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO IN AUDIO]. BECAUSE THEY GO NEAR PARKS OR THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE THERE ARE RESIDENTIAL HOMES. AND PEOPLE PARK IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO OVERCOME PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO PARK A CAR IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME, EVEN IF THERE'S A BIKE LANE. A LOT OF THE TRAILS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THIS CITY WERE BUILT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE NEARBY DID NOT OBJECT, BUT IF THEY KNEW THERE WERE GOING TO BE LIGHTS ON THOSE ROADS THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THOSE TRAILS GOING IN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THEIR BACKYARD. THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LIGHTING THE TRAIL SYSTEM FOR CYCLISTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE IN DETAIL TO WORK OUT. THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT WE'VE SET UP A COMMISSION THAT'S GOING TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS.

BUT ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY, SO I HOPE WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THOSE ASPECTS OF THE SAFETY ON A TRAIL SYSTEM AND THE

STREETS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH.

THANKS, MAYOR. THERE IS A LOT MORE DETAIL THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT.

AS I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN IN A MINUTE, THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON FOR MY ABSTENTION ON THIS ISSUE. BUT I WANT TO START WITH THE GOOD STUFF AND FIRST OF ALL SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BIKING COMMUNITY. A BIG DAY.

CAT, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND THERE IS SO MUCH ABOUT THIS PLAN TO LIKE. WE TALK ABOUT BICYCLES BEING MORE EASILY ALLOWED TO BE RIDDEN ON THE SIDEWALKS. PROHIBITING MOTOR VEHICLES FROM PARKING, IDLING, OR DRIVING IN BIKE LANES. WORKING WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR LOWERING SPEED LIMITS, LIKE THE COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO MENTIONED IN THE CCR THAT I WAS A PART OF THERE REGARDING REDUCING SPEED LIMITS IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU KNOW, IT GOES ON AND ON BUT BIKER SAFETY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT OF

[04:05:01]

BUT WHEN YOU DIVE INTO THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS, THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE CONCERN CAME FOR ME. TO THE COUNCILMAN'S POINT, I DO BELIEVE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DETAILS IN THIS PLAN AS IT SITS RIGHT NOW. IT'S TOO BIG AND IT'S TOO BROAD AND I'LL TELL YOU SOME OF MY MOST OBVIOUS CONCERNS. NUMBER ONE, IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION -- AND THERE'S A BACKUP DOCUMENT IN TERMS OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED. REDUCING LANES. IT'S TALKED ABOUT IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGE IN HERE. YOU TALK ABOUT A STREET REALLOCATION AND ACTUALLY A STREET DIET IN ONE POINT IS HOW IT'S PHRASED IN HERE. BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS A REDUCTION IN LANES. THERE'S SOME EXAMPLES GIVEN IN THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS. ONE, IN COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S DISTRICT REGARDING COMMERCE AND TAKING THAT FROM FOUR LANES TO THREE LANES.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT DISTRICT 10'S MAP AND WHERE THE PROPOSED, YOU KNOW, BIKE LANES ARE GOING TO GO, I WORRY ABOUT LOSING LANES ON SOME OF DISTRICT 10'S MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT'S GOING TO ADD TO TRAFFIC AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SO, AGAIN, SO MUCH OF THIS IS GOOD. I LOVE SOME CONNECTION TO THE TRAILWAYS. I THINK THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ON HERE AS WELL THAT MAKE SENSE. BUT A LOT OF IT IS A LITTLE BIT TOO BROAD FOR ME TO SAY, OKAY, I LIKE THIS TODAY. WHICH LEADS ME TO REALLY TO ERIK FOR A SECOND.

FIRST THING IS WE DO A CITY SURVEY EVERY YEAR, RIGHT, WITH WHAT ARE OUR CITIZENS' TOP CONCERNS AND ISSUES AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO. IS IT POSSIBLE, IF ON THIS YEAR'S SURVEY OR NEXT YEAR'S SURVEY WE COULD ADD A BIKING INFRASTRUCTURE CATEGORY TO

SEE WHERE THAT LANDS FOR OUR RESIDENTS? >> WALSH: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION? WE DO IT EVERY OTHER YEAR

BUT WE COULD ADD SOMETHING IN THERE ABOUT THAT. >> WHYTE: OKAY.

GREAT. IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION. MY UNDERSTANDING IN CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT'S ON HERE THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL, RIGHT? EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE TALKED ABOUT AND DISCUSSED INDIVIDUALLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

IS THAT RIGHT? >> WALSH: YEAH. TODAY'S AN IMPORTANT DAY BECAUSE IT SETS THE PLAN. BUT THERE WAS A SLIDE IN CAT'S PRESENTATION THAT TALKED ABOUT THE HARD WORK REALLY STARTS NOW. THERE'S A VARIETY OF FUNDING SOURCES. THERE'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THERE'S STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. WE HAVE A NEW COMMISSION THAT JUST GOT ADDED. AND SO ALL THAT PROCESS NEEDS TO GO THROUGH.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE NETWORK MAP, THERE'S SOME LOGICAL GAPS THAT CAN BE CREATED OR THAT CAN BE FILLED.

AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE MORE CHALLENGING THAN OTHERS AND THAT'S THE PART THAT IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY THE HARD PART IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION AND EXECUTION.

BUT I THINK CAT TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT -- I DN'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE THINKING THROUGH IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION. WE HAVE SOME MONEY SET ASIDE IN OUR ANNUAL BUDGET FOR BIKE FACILITIES AND IT'S NOT A LOT. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BOND PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING TO COUNCIL THIS TIME THIS YEAR OR LATER ON NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL SEE HOW WE INCORPORATE THAT AND IT'S NOT AS EASY AS THE COUNCIL ADOPTING A PLAN

AND IT'S ALL IN EXISTENCE. >> WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS THAT VISION FOR CONNECTIVITY. IT'S THAT PLAN TO GIVE US THE GUIDANCE ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO NEXT. SO AS WE EXPLORE, AS THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE AND WE EXPLORE WHETHER OR NOT TO ADD THAT BIKE LANE INFRASTRUCTURE, IT HAS TO BE AN INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY. WE'LL WORK ON THE DESIGN TO MAKE SURE IT'S INCLUSIVE.

IT'S THE SAME THING WE HAVE BEEN DOING WHEN WE PARTNER WITH PUBLIC WORKS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT ENGAGEMENT FIRST. SO IT'S NOT WE'RE GOING IN TOMORROW AND CONSTRUCTING IT. THIS STARTS THE CONVERSATION TO DETERMINE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT'S THAT SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PUT ON THE

[04:10:01]

ROAD. >> WHYTE: YEAH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU TO ERIK AS WELL. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE ONE OF THE PROJECTS IN HERE IN DISTRICT 10 THAT THEY TALK ABOUT FAST TRACKING NEAR MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL, WE TALKED TO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AND THEY SAID WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THIS OR BEEN SPOKEN TO ABOUT THIS. LOOKING AT EACH PROJECT INDIVIDUALLY AND HAVING THAT STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT I THINK IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT . NOW, YOU MENTIONED FUNDING AND YOU HAD TO KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE I CEDED MY TIME. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE FUNDING, IT SAYS THAT THE CITY, OVER A 25-YEAR PERIOD, IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE BETWEEN $540 MILLION AND $1.4 BILLION IN ORDER TO GET THIS DONE. AND THEN IT HAS A KEY LINE IN THERE AND SAYS AND THAT'S ASSUMING THAT WE GET FEDERAL GRANT MONEY.

IT'S INTERESTING WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY BECAUSE THREE HOURS EARLIER NOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS, RIGHT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE, AGAIN, I'LL MENTION IT NOW. IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY FOR A BUNCH OF ISSUES BUT HERE WE ARE TODAY TALKING ABOUT A BIKE PLAN.

WE ARE GOING TO NEED A FEDERAL ASSISTANCE. OR THAT NUMBER, THAT 540 TO 1.4 BILLION, WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE THAN THAT. THAT'S THE FIRST POINT ON FUNDING. THE SECOND POINT ON FUNDING THAT I'LL MENTION IS THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RIGHT-OF-WAY MAINTENANCE -- AND THAT'S IN THE POLICY ACTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS BACK-UP DOCUMENT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN HERE TALKS ABOUT POTENTIALLY GETTING ADDITIONAL FEES FROM YOU -- OR GETTING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FROM TAXES, ADDITIONAL TAXES OR FEES ON SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS. AND THE CITY CITES TWO OTHER CITIES IN HERE.

ONE, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. AND ONE, ITHACA, NEW YORK FOR POTENTIAL EXAMPLES OF WHERE THIS HAS BEEN DONE. THEY NEEDED TO INCREASE OVER THERE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX, GASOLINE EXCISE TAX OR THE PROPERTY TAX IS WHAT THEY MENTIONED IN ALBUQUERQUE. IN ITHACA, NEW YORK, IT SAYS EACH PROPERTY OWNER MUST PAY AN ANNUAL SIDEWALK DEVELOPMENT FEE OF AT LEAST $80 IN LOW-TRAFFIC AREAS AND $150 IN HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS. MY POINT IS THAT, LISTEN, THIS IS GREAT.

I AM FOR BIKER SAFETY AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE CONNECTIVITY AROUND OUR CITY FOR OUR CYCLISTS OUT THERE AND I CERTAINLY WANT OUR KIDS TO BE SAFE AS WELL BUT THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS RIGHT NOW AND IT WAS FOR THOSE REASONS

THAT I ABSTAINED TODAY. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: I WANT TO THANK ALL THE ADVOCATES WHO GAVE US THEIR THURSDAY -- ACTUALLY MONTHS OF THEIR TIME TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS WORK. THE ACTIVATE SA GROUP LED BY JOEY, I KNOW JOEY HAD TO LEAVE BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.

Y'ALL WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONS I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN ELECTED AND I LOVE THE COLLABORATIVE WAY IN WHICH YOU WORK WITH US.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO MOVE THIS WORK FORWARD AND I THINK THE DEMEANOR IN WHICH YOU WORK IS VERY ADMIRABLE. THANK YOU TO -- EMILY ALSO HAD TO LEAVE BUT SHE'S BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE IN BEACON HILL.

AND LILY TOO. I GOT TO HEAR FROM VERONICA TODAY TOO, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S ADVOCACY FROM DISTRICT 1 RESIDENTS. AND THE B-CYCLE GROUP AS WELL. ERIK, WE'VE GOTTEN SO MANY GREAT ACCOLADES FROM CAT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. FIRST TOD AND NOW THE BIKE MASTER PLAN.

SO THANK YOU TO ALSO HARLEY FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN YOUR BABY AND YOU HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THE THING THAT I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT THIS PLAN IS I DISAGREE.

I DO BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ALREADY THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE TO GET TO THIS PLAN. IF YOU GO TO THE AMENDMENTS THAT COUNCILMEMBER WAS REFERENCING, THERE IS -- EACH OF THE COMPONENTS HAS SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THERE WAS 20 POINTS IN THE

[04:15:02]

I THINK THIS BIKE MASTER PLAN WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO TEST OUT SOME OF THOSE QUICK-BUILD PROJECTS TO SEE IF WE COULD GET SOME OF THESE LANES UP MORE QUICKLY.

SHAMELESS PLUG FOR LAVACA WITH THE FLORIDA/CAROLINA STREET, THOSE ARE TWO PARTS OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS EXCITED TO GET UP AND RUNNING AND POTENTIAL OTHER FUTURES THAT MAY BE COMING AROUND THERE AS WELL.

I COMMEND YOU ALL ON THIS WORK. I ALSO DUG INTO -- YOU KNOW HOW I'M A DATA NERD AND DUG INTO YOUR TIER RATINGS AND HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THOSE TIER RATINGS. TIER 1 ARE THE PROJECTS THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THE NEXT ONE TO FIVE YEARS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE MOST FEASIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

I THOUGHT THE ANALYSIS Y'ALL PUT INTO THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY WELL DONE.

THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE ENGAGED US THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND THE COMMUNITY -- EVEN THE MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS ON THE WEBSITE IS BEAUTIFUL.

LIKE, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN DONE REALLY WELL.

I COMMEND THE CONSULTANTS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS A LOT.

Y'ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. I'M SUPER EXCITED THIS HAS ALREADY PASSED AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF WE REALLY BELIEVE IN THIS THAT WE ALL VOTE IN SUPPORT OF IT FULLY

WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS ASKED. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CAT AND THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION TEAM FOR YOUR WORK AND THE HOURS SPENT ENSURING THERE WAS EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INPUT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE HAVING PARTICIPATED IN THE WESTSIDE PLANNING MEETINGS PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED, I HAVE SEEN HOW THE CONVERSATION AND PERSPECTIVE AROUND COMPLETE STREETS AND BIKE LANES HAS SHIFTED THROUGH THE PLANNING TEAM HIGHLIGHTING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN LAND USE AND MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION. JUST REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF BOTH DEPARTMENTS BUT OF COURSE THE ADVOCATES THAT HAVE GIVEN INPUT TODAY AND ALONG THE WAY, ESPECIALLY JOEY IN PARTICULAR. AND DEREK ON MY TEAM, I'M GRATEFUL FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S SURE TO ASK CAN WE CHECK IN WITH JOEY AND CAN WE PLUG THEM INTO THIS WORK AND I HAVE FOUND VALUE IN Y'ALL'S INPUT. AN ANECDOTE I OFTEN SHARE IS I DIDN'T GET MY DRIVER'S LICENSE UNTIL I WAS 29 AND I MADE IT TO THE LAYOFF OF MY ELECTION. I SAID IF I WIN I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A CAR SOONER OR LATER . BECAUSE I HAD ALWAYS RELIED ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND MY BICYCLE I BOUGHT OFF OF CRAIG'S LIST -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S STILL A THING.

I WAS ABLE TO GET TO WORK AND SCHOOL DOWNTOWN. I HAD COME FROM THE POSITION THAT I HAD TO RELY ON THIS BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD A CAR OR CAR INSURANCE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF I COULD GET AROUND, EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET AROUND.

BUT NOW, BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM JOEY BEING INVOLVED IN ENSURING WE'RE KEPT UP TO SPEED. AND ALSO GOING DOWN MY ROUTE AND ACKNOWLEDGING ME HAVING TO NAVIGATE AND PICK THE SAFEST ROUTE, WHETHER TO AVOID VERY FAST CARS AND/OR DOGS, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. WE CAN CREATE PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND SAFE OPTIONS FOR FOLKS TO GET AROUND, WHETHER IT'S TO SCHOOL, WORK, AND/OR FOR LEISURE. SO JUST GRATEFUL FOR Y'ALL'S ENGAGEMENT AND INPUT.

IT'S REALLY SHIFTED MY PERSPECTIVE AND OF COURSE DEREK FOR ALWAYS ENSURING THAT I'M PLUGGED INTO WHAT Y'ALL'S PRIORITIES AND PERSPECTIVES ARE IN TERMS OF BIKE SAFETY. I HEAR SOME OF THE CONCERNS BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT THROUGH THE CONTINUED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT WE'LL HAVE BETTER BIKE LANES. I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE BUENA VISTA BIKE LANES.

WHEN I FIRST CAME IN THOSE WERE BEING CONSTRUCTED AND I HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS ON THAT AREA IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY CAN PUT THEIR TRASH BINS -- BEFORE IT WAS IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME AND THAT HAD TO MOVE.

AND THEN WHERE THEY PARK THEIR CARS AND ALSO THE MAINTENANCE.

I KNOW THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS AND REMEDY SOME OF THOSE

[04:20:04]

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE PROTECTED BIKE LANES THAN COMMITTEES AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ENSURING IT'S ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTMENT AND IMPLEMENTING THE PRODUCT LAID OUT IN THIS PLAN. THANK YOU TO CAT AND TEAM AND EVERYONE INVOLVED AND GLAD THAT WE HAVE APPROVED THIS ITEM.

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

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I GOT IN THE CAR YESTERDAY WITH COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO NOT KNOWING SHE JUST LEARNED TO DRIVE RECENTLY.

GLAD WE MADE IT. I DON'T JUDGE. BUT CONGRATULATIONS.

14 YEARS LATER. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. I KNOW THAT THE PLAN SAYS IN 20 YEARS WE'LL BE REVISING BUT I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WE DON'T BRING IT UP TO A FULL COUNCIL VOTE FOR FUNDING OR CHANGES, ET CETERA, FOR ANOTHER 14 YEARS. I WAS AN ELEMENTARY BIKE RODEO CHAMP AND SO I HAD ACTUALLY BORROWED A BIKE FROM A NEIGHBOR WHOSE DAUGHTER HAD OUTGROWN IT.

AND SO MY PARENTS HELPED ME BUY THE LITTLE BELL, LIKE COUNCILMAN COURAGE WAS SAYING EARLIER FOR SAFETY. I GOT EXTRA POINTS. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I WON A BIKE AND IT WAS A PINK HUFFY BIKE THAT I CHOSE. OF COURSE I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN THE PINK ONE. I FEEL LIKE EVER SINCE I'VE ALWAYS LOVED BIKING.

BUT SIMILAR TO A LOT OF OTHERS I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY.

AND I WAS TOLD THIS STORY BEFORE BUT WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL I ASKED IF I COULD RIDE MY BIKE. AND AT THE TIME I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN IN CHARGE IF HE COULD HELP ME DEVISE THE SAFEST ROUTE AND AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION HE SAID, COUNCILWOMAN, YOU JUST SHOULDN'T DO IT. IT'S JUST NOT SAFE.

I'M GLAD TO SEE ON PAGE 87 THAT THERE IS AN ITEM THAT SAYS WE COULD START WORKING ON RAY ELLISON, 410 TO PEARSALL ROAD. THAT MEANS I COULD RIDE TO PEARSALL PARK . I WAS SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. BEFORE I GO ON, SHOUT OUT TO CHAMOY CREATIVE. I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS THEM THAT HAD THE KID WITH THE CHANCLAS RIDING A BIKE. I KNOW IT ISN'T VERY SAFE BUT MY KID LEARNED HOW TO RIDE A BIKE IN CHANCLAS. THAT HAPPENS IN SAN ANTONIO, ONLY IN SAN ANTONIO BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE THAT YOU BROUGHT THE CULTURE IN THERE.

AS A MARKETING PROFESSOR, I HAVE TO GIVE THAT SHOUT OUT. LAST WEEK I HAD A SOBERING CONVERSATION -- AND, AGAIN, LIKE I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND BIKE RIDE, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T IN A WHILE. I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT BUSY. BUT I HAD BEEN TELLING A FRIEND, YOU KNOW YOUR STATIONARY BIKE IS GREAT BUT YOU NEED TO RIDE A REAL BIKE AND CHECK OUT OUR TRAILS.

LAST WEEK I VISITED WITH HIM IN HIS OFFICE AND HE HAD A BIKE IN HIS OFFICE AND THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT I NOTICED. HE SAID, OH, YEAH, I'M BIKING TO WORK NOW. AND I WAS LIKE, OH, MY GOSH. I WAS SO EXCITED.

AND THEN HE SAID I JUST HOPE I DON'T GET RUN OVER RIDING TO WORK NOW.

AND THAT IMMEDIATELY SHATTERED MY DREAMS. I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM AND I WAS LIKE HE FEELS UNSAFE. AND SO TODAY I SHARE THAT STORY BECAUSE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON. LIKE, WE'RE ENCOURAGING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. I NOTICED IN THE PRESENTATION, VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION, SAN ANTONIO IS RANKED 27 FOR ASTHMA. I SUFFER, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW MANY OF OUR KIDS SUFFER THROUGH ASTHMA, AND JUST SOMETHING SIMPLE THEY CAN USE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIFESTYLES, ET CETERA.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S AFFORDABLE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GAS UP, YOU KNOW, EVERY FEW DAYS, ET CETERA. AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE INVESTING IN THIS. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ALL WERE THOROUGH IN YOUR INSIGHT ABOUT HOW BIKEABILITY AREAS IMPROVE ON AVERAGE THE HOME BY ABOUT $34,000 IN VALUE. A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW AND SO IMAGINE THAT DYNAMIC SHIFTING, THAT DYNAMIC CHANGING. ALSO AS I DROVE OVER HERE THIS MORNING, I DROVE BY A REALLY NICE NEWLY-COMPLETED SIDEWALK AND I WAS LIKE THIS IS PERFECT FOR TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT, THE ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE RESIDENTS TO CONNECT IN A LOOP. BECAUSE NOW THERE'S A SIDEWALK LOOP.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THE IDAHO STOPS AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT

[04:25:02]

AND CONGRATULATIONS >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANKS TO CAT AND HARLEY AND THE TEAM.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ON TRANSPORTATION FOR YEARS.

I NEED TO GIVE A SOUTH OUT TO MATTHEW. IT'S JUST BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. I'M RALLY PROUD TO SUPPORT THE BMT.

IT'S ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE REAL TRANSPORTATION CHOICES. WE OFTEN SAY TRANSPORTATION IS ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT.

AND THIS IS A BIG PART OF IT AND IT'S A BIG STEP FORWARD. THIS WAS LAID OUT VERY CLEARLY TODAY IN THE PREPARATION, BUT THIS IS A AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND WEE DO WELL TO REMEMBER ABOUT 100,000 PEOPLE IN OUR CITY DON'T HAVE PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT RECREATION, IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE RIDING THEIR BIKES, IT'S UTILITY, A NECESSITY AND HOW PEOPLE GET AROUND.

WHEN I WAS NEWLY MARRIED WE HAD ONE CAR AND MY HUSBAND WOULD RIDE THE BUS, BUT HE WOULD RIDE HIS BIKE TO THE BUS STOP, PUT HIS BIKE ON THE BUS AND GET TO UTSA.

IT WAS STUFF AND A LITTLE SCARY BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT THESE PAINTED ON BIKE LANES. IT'S IN LINE ON THE GROUND EVERYBODY IS SUPPOSED TO PAY ATTENTION TO. WE'VE BEEN TO OTHER CITIES IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, NEW DELI, TOGETHER TAKE, NEW YORK WHERE THEY HAVE REAL NETWORKS.

BRIAN, YOU SAID IT THE BEST, WE DESERVE THAT WORLD-CLASS TRANSPORTATION, THAT BIKE NETWORK PLAN. WE SHOULD EXCEED THAT IN A CITY LIKE OURS.

IT IS A GAME CHANGER, BUT ALSO FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUITY IN OUR CITY AND THAT SAFETY IN THIS PLAN IS NOT -- IT'S APPLY OR THE, IT'S NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY KEY. FOR TOO LONG THESE PAINTED LINES HAVE BEEN OUR -- NOT REALLY A SAFETY NET, BUT WE PURPORT FOR IT TO BE AND IT'S REALLY NOT.

TO THE BIKING COMMUNITY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL OVER THE PLACE, WE'VE BEEN TO SICK LA VIA AND SEEN YOU GUYS ADVOCATING FOR THAT.

I ALWAYS JOKE YOU GUYS ARE OUT THERE WITH YOUR SUPER FANCY BIKES AND I HAVE AN ORANGE SCHWINN WITH A BASKET IN THE FRONT. IT'S A 25-YEAR COMMITMENT, SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO CARRY THROUGH MULTIPLE COUNCILS.

I SEE THIS AS THE CAP. WE BUILT THIS HOUSE, BUT IT WAS JUST A FRAMEWORK AND WE'RE TASKED WITH BUILDING IT OUT AS WE GO. IT'S IMPORTANT WE CONTINUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO CAT. YOU ARE A CERTIFIED BAD ASS.

IT'S THE TRUTH. YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS THROUGH.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF CITY STAFF AND WHAT THEY ARE WORKING ON.

AGAIN, TO THE BIKE COMMUNITY, AND JUST PROVING THAT WE CAN DESIGN A CITY THAT'S BUILT FOR EVERYONE AND THIS IS PROOF OF THAT. THANKS, MAYOR.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY APPROVED? ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE AN EXEC SESSION.

ERIK, DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE? >> WALSH: WE DO.

JUST A COUPLE QUICK ITEMS. ONE I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS MAINTAINED ITS CLASSIFICATION, CERTIFICATION OF NUMBER ONE. AND, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF FIRE SERVICE, THIS IS CRITICAL AND IT'S A REVIEW THAT'S DONE EVERY FIVE YEARS. IT IMPACTS EVERYBODY'S HOME INSURANCE. AND IT IS ONE OF THE CALCULATIONS AND WE ARE --

[04:30:04]

IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS LIFE SAFETY, BUT WE ALL BENEFIT FROM THIS AS PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE CITY WITH LOWER RATES. NOW, THAT MAY NOT ADDRESS ALL OF THE ISSUES YOU RAISED, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE, BUT IT IS HELPFUL. WE'RE ALSO ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS A NUMBER ONE.

HATS OFF TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SECONDLY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL THE EMPLOYEES OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WHO HAVE HELPED WITH THE COLD WEATHER EFFORTS. AND I'LL THROW IN THERE ALSO THE EMPLOYEES IN DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE ENGAGED IN THIS YEAR'S MLK MARCH. THE LIBRARY, PARKS & REC, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, DHS, PARTICULARLY THE OUTREACH TEAMS WITH BOTH COLD FRONTS THAT CAME THROUGH. 311 WITH EXTENDED HOURS, PUBLIC WORKS.

HUMAN RESOURCES WHICH REALLY HELPED MARSHAL ALL THE EMPLOYEES.

COMMUNICATIONS ENGAGEMENT, CERTAINLY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID.

AS THEY ARE DEALING WITH HELPING THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE ALSO MANAGING THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLDS AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT EASY AND I WANTED TO THANK THEM.

LASTLY, MAYOR, THE EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO IS ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES FROM SOLID WASTE WHO WORKS PARTICULARLY WITH ONE OF OUR BRUSH GRINDING SITES OVER HIGHWAY 90. HE'S BEEN WITH US FOR THREE YEARS.

LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO OF DUANE AND HIS CREW. >> OUR DUTY AS A LEAD IS HELP THE SUPERVISOR ON THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO SAFETY, GETTING WITH OUR GUYS FOR THE TASK FOR THE DAY, GOING TO BE OPERATING.

WE GET TREES FROM ALL AREAS OF THE CITY. WE TAKE IT AND WE GRIND IT INTO COARSE AND FINE MULCH. CUSTOMER DOES HAVE TO LOAD IT THEMSELVES, BUT IT IS A FREE SERVICE TO THEM. THEY ARE ABLE TO GET AS MUCH AS THEY CAN GET WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. THIS OPERATION REQUIRES A TEAM.

IT'S NOT A ONE MAN ON THE OPERATION AND EVERY ASPECT ONE OPERATOR MAY NOT SEE THE OTHER OPERATOR, DOWN TO FEEDING, PUSHING MATERIAL AWAY FROM THE CHUTE ITSELF.

IT'S A VERY BIG PROCESS THAT REQUIRES TEAM EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROCESS RUNS.

>> HAVE YOU ALL SEPARATED ALL THE -- >> I LOVE WHAT I DO ON BOTH SIDES. I LOVE THE GROWTH AND IT'S PUSHED FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE TO HELP PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE]

>> WALSH: IT ALSO SMELLS LIKE CHRISTMAS OUT THERE IN JANUARY BECAUSE THEY GO THROUGH A LOT OF CHRISTMAS TREES. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO THE SITE, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE AND THERE'S A LOT OF BRUSH MATERIAL THAT GOES

THROUGH THE SITE. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

[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:  ]

THE TIME IS NOW 1:39 P.M. ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, TO 25. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 51 AND DELIBERATE RAY AND DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY, PURSUANT TO 551.07 THE, AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ALL

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.