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MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE PCD MEETING FOR FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025. WE'LL START WITH A ROLL CALL.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. WE ONLY HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY THE 7TH, AND SO WE WILL START WITH THAT AND YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM IN YOUR PACKAGES AND I'LL ENTERTAIN
A MOTION NOW? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: A MOVE TO APPROVE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
SECTIONAYE[AYINGS] WE HAVE FOURO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2 WHICH IS CCR, WITH CHAPTER 11 AND CHAPTER 16 LICENSE AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS FOR USED AUTOMOTIVE PART RECYCLERS AND METAL RECYCLING ENTITIES. SO WE'LL START WITH THE PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL GO ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. OR -- SORRY, WE'LL DO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL GO WITH THE PRESENTATION. SO WE'LL START WITH DEBORAH BOSA, AND FOLLOWED BY LARRY GARCIA. AND, MS. FONTA, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
EVERYBODY WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> HI. MY NAME IS DEBORAH BONSAI AND I'M A DISTRICT FOUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE AUTO -- FOR THE USED AUTO AND METAL RECYCLING TASK FORCE.
I'M HERE -- I HAVE KIND OF SENT INFORMATION TO ALL OF YOU THAT ARE ON THE PLANNING AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM ABOUT THE, UM, I GUESS THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE HAD ON THE TASK FORCE THUS FAR, WHICH HASN'T BEEN PLEASANT OR EQUITABLE. AND I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO ASK FOR MOVING FORWARD, UM, AS WE DO THIS VERY IMPORTANT TASK OF UPDATING THE MUNICIPAL CODES THAT WE ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACTUAL AFFECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THE TABLE AND, UM, WHICH -- WHICH WE WERE GIVEN TO BEGIN WITH, AND THEN WE WANT TO -- WE'RE ASKING AND PLEADING FOR, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY GET TO THE TABLE AND REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S NICE -- IT'S NICE TO BE INVITED, BUT THE OBSTACLES THAT WE'VE HAD, LIKE THE, UM, HOURS ARE NOT COMMUNITY FRIENDLY -- IS A HUGE FACTOR.
WE'VE LOST, UM, FOUR PROFESSORS, UM, MOST RECENTLY. ALL OF THEM HAVE LEFT OUR TASK FORCE. WE ALSO LEFT -- WE LOST THE ANA SANDOVAL RIGHT AWAY, I MEAN, THE HOURS AREN'T CONDUCIVE TO PEOPLE THAT WORK'S SCHEDULE. AND SO I'M PUSHING AND PLEADING THAT WE GET THAT FIXED RIGHT AWAY. THE OTHER THING IS THE MANNER IN WHICH OUR, UM, SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS AND INPUT ARE ACCEPTED DURING THE PROCESS, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, ARE ACTUALLY HEARD AND THEIR SUGGESTIONS ARE -- ARE INTRODUCED. I KNOW THAT I'VE ONLY GOT THREE MINUTES AND I'M RUNNING INTO A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I WANT TO DO IS THAT THERE ARE THREE PARTICULAR, UM, CODES THAT I WANT ALL OF YOU TO TAKE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO LOOK AT. ONE OF THEM IS, UM, THE LIST FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.
THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND THESE METAL RECYCLING FACILITIES HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW, UM, WHAT IS AROUND THEM. AND, UM, ZONING -- WE'RE NOT WANTING TO SEE ANY MORE OF OUR NEIGHBORS' HOUSES TURN INTO INDUSTRIAL SITES. AND THE ZONING IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING. DURING THIS TASK FORCE, THE, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL -- THERE'S BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO REMOVE CITY COUNCIL DECISION-MAKING OUT OF THE PROCESS OF ZONING.
AND THAT'S -- BASICALLY TAKING THE ENTIRE ZONING PROCESS OUT AND GIVING IT OVER TO A BOARD OF ADJUSTORS AND THAT SENT OK IS N, BECAUSE THE BOARD OF ADJUSTORS DO NOT HAVE CONSTITUENTS TO REPORT BACK TO. SO THAT'S ANOTHER FACTOR. AND THEN THE ABILITY OF OUR DIRECTOR TO CEASE AN OPERATION HAS TO BE GIVEN AT HIGHER CAPACITY.
THANK YOU. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. LARRY GARCIA AND FOLLOWED BY
JOHN POWELL. >> HELLO, LARRY GARCIA. I WANT TO MIRROR A LOT OF WHAT DEBORAH SAID FROM AN OUTSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE, BEING AT EVERY MEETING, I DO SEE THAT, UM, WHEN
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IT COMES TO VOTING, IT'S ALWAYS -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY ALWAYS -- BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT'S UNBALANCED. TO EVEN IF 100% OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOTE NO AND 100% OF THE BOARD VOTES YES THEY TAKE THAT AS A WIN FOR THE INDUSTRY SIDE. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE FAIR REPRESENTATION. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. JOHN POWELL, FOLLOWED BY
CHEYENNE RENTON. >> I'M JOHN POWELL, I'M AN ATTORNEY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND I REPRESENT TEXAS AUTO SALVAGING WHICH IS ONE OF THE GOOD APPLES IN THE METAL RECYCLING INDUSTRY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'VE BEEN IN A LONG-RUNNING SUIT WITH THE CITY TO TRY TO GET THE CITY TO ENFORCE THE CURRENT CHAPTER 16. THE CITY IS ALLOWING ILLEGAL EXPANSIONS OF CURRENT METAL RECYCLING ENTITIES AND SALVAGE YARD AGAINST THAT CODE AND THEY'RE ALLOWING A GREAT AMOUNT OF POLLUTION IN THE FORM OF OIL AND GAS AND RADIATOR FLUID AND PCB CONTAINING MATERIALS AND AS A GOOD APPLE WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT STOPPED.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE COUNCIL FOR THE CCR REQUEST. IT'S FANTASTIC.
REMEMBER THAT THE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE IS THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE ALARM FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS AT A LOCAL MRE FACILITY, WHICH HAD A DRASTIC BAD IMPACT -- NOT ONLY ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT -- BUT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AND THAT'S WHY THE CCR REQUEST WAS MADE. THAT CCR REQUEST, I HAVE BEEN AT ALMOST EVERY TASK FORCE MEETING MYSELF HAS BEEN HIJACKED. THEY WON'T LET THE GOOD APPLES ON THE TASK FORCE.
THEY ONLY LET THE POLLUTERS. AND SO THEY'RE ALL VOTING DOWN THE LINE TO STRIP THE STATUTE AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS OF ALL OF THE POLLUTION PREVENTION MECHANISMS, THE ZONING MECHANISMS, THAT PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. SO I WANT TO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT BACK ON THE COMMITTEE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUSINESST THEY BE ALLOWED AND I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY PUT IN PLACE FOR EVERYONE'S GUIDANCE WHAT THE VOTING RULES ARE.
BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET A CHAPTER 16 THAT IS STRIPPED DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING -- THE WAY THAT IT'S CURRENTLY GOING, WITH THE INDUSTRY VOTING AS A BLOCK TO REMOVE ALL OF THESE POLLUTION AND ZONING PROTECTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THE CCR, WHAT IT WAS TRYING TO REQUEST IS FANTASTIC. I'VE TRIED TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, DEFINITIONS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND THINGS FROM THE EPA AND THINGS FROM TCQ TO HELP.
THEY WOULDN'T LET ME ON THE TASK FORCE EITHER. AND THEY WON'T LET ANYBODY ON THE TASK FORCE THAT IS EITHER AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OR AN ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT.
AND SO IF THAT CONTINUES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A VERY GOOD CHAPTER 16 UPDATED.
ALL YOU BASICALLY HAVE IS INPUT FROM THE INDUSTRY SAYING STRIP EVERYTHING.
SO I WOULD EVEN ENCOURAGE YOU TO SAY ASK JOHN POWELL TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
IF YOU DON'T WANT ME, ASK ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ORDER TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT IDEA AT LEAST PUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSOR ON THE COMMITTEE.
IN OUR LAWSUIT WHERE THE CITY DECLARED THAT ONE OF THE ENTITIES WAS A NUISANCE, A PUBLIC NUISANCE IN POLLUTING, WE HAD A VERY GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSOR OUT OF UTA AND I COULD RECOMMEND OTHERS. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMMUNITY VOTES, AND ALSO GET SOME EXPERTS ON THERE -- ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECYCLING.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME TO NOT HAVE EXPERTS ON -- ON THOSE ISSUES FOR THIS TASK FORCE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AGAIN, WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO IS GREAT.
IT'S BEEN HIJACKED AND I HOPE --
POWELL. CHEYENNE? >> HI, Y'ALL, I'M SHINE RODAL, AND SO FIRST, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY CRUCIAL CONVERSATION. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IRREGULARITIES, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE MEETINGS -- THE DEFINITIONS, VERSUS THE ACTUAL VOTING PROCESS.
IT'S ALL BEEN BECAUSE OF THE IRREGULARITIES AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PARTICIPATION AND SEAT HOLDERS FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THIS HAS CAUSED A DEFICIT THAT IS VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THE PROGRESS OF THE CCR. SO A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE DEFINITION OF MAJORITY VOTING VERSUS CONSENSUS. WE HAVE HAD THE LAST MEETING SEVEN INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES VERSUS THREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WE TOOK A VOTE. THAT IS NOT EQUITABLE AND THAT IS NOT FAIR. THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR THAT TO BE STOPPED.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF PROCEEDINGS, WE CONTINUED FORWARD WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THAT MEETING.
WE WOULD LIKE FOR OUR LIST OF EXPERTS AND REPLACEMENTS THAT WE OFFERED TO BE CONSIDERED AND ENFORCED. THE INDUSTRY HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR EXPERTS TO BE ON DURING THESE MEETINGS AND WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY.
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WE DID HAVE DEBORAH SENT AN EMAIL I BELIEVE TO DISTRICT 5 WITH THE EXPERT WITNESS AND THEN WE AGAIN HANDED ANOTHER EXPERT WITNESS UPDATED WITH MR. AMIN AND MIKE.SO, PLEASE, CONSIDER THAT. THIS IS DIRECT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY HERE. WE'RE PROVIDING ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN.
SECOND, WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE REAL CONSIDERATION OF REMOVAL OF SEAT H HOLDERS WHO ARE JUST TAKG UP SPACE. THERE'S TWO MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND -- WE AT LEAST AT MINIMUM WANT AN EXPLANATION WHY SOMEONE WHO HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH BOTH THEIR CAREER AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TO HAVE FINANCIAL GAIN TO HAVE A WEAK CODE THAT GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AT THESE MEETINGS.
AND NOT PARTICIPATE -- EVEN IF THEY DO PARTICIPATE THEY LEAVE EARLY AN HOUR AND A HALF.
AGAIN, JUST FOR THE HOPES OF TRANSPARENCY THAT IS IN THE LETTER ALONG WITH THE FINDINGS OF THE ATTENDANCE ROSTER. WE HAVE BEEN MET WITH A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT, QUOTE, I DO NOT WANT TO BE HERE, BUT THEE IS THERE. AND THAT IS SETTING A BAD TASTE IN OUR MOUTH AND NOT LEADING US TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S TRUE PARTICIPATION FROM THAT SEAT.
SO RE-EVALUATING EACH CHAIR AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE ARE ACTUAL PARTICIPATIONS THAT WANT TO BE THERE, THAT WANT EFFECTIVENESS AND THAT WANT A STRONGER CODE THAT MEETS THE CCR'S REQUIREMENT. LASTLY, ENFORCEMENT LANGUAGE THAT WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE CCR, Y'ALL HAVE HEARD THIS -- AND IT'S BEEN A LONG LITIGATION, I FEEL LIKE, WITHIN THE MEETINGS ITSELF. AND IF WE CANNOT HAVE A STRONGER ENFORCEMENT LANGUAGE DUE TO THE CITY CONCERNS OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS JUST AS STRONG BUT CAN GIVE YOU A LOOPHOLE, PER SE. BECAUSE -- BECAUSE WITHOUT THIS, THEN THE CCR IS NOT GOING TO BE
EFFECTIVE OR MET. THANK YOU. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH THE PRESENTATION.
IS THAT GOING TO BE YOU, MIKE SHANNON? OKAY, WONDERFUL.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE] OKAY WITH ADDING ONE MORE? COUNCILMAN PELAEZ YOU ARE GOOD? YEAH, COME ON UP.
UM-HMM. COUNCILMEMBER, WE'RE ADDING ONE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN
CONTINUE ON. >> MY APOLOGIES, I SIGNED UP ONLINE.
I LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT 2, AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE TASK FORCE SINCE THE BEGINNING.
I -- THIS IS MY FIRST TASK FORCE WITH THE CITY. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT IT'S BEEN A VERY FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, UM, ISSUES WITH THE VOTING, THE WAY THAT THE VOTING -- LIKE, MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAD CONSENSUS VERSUS MAJORITY AND WE WERE ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR THE SEATS -- THE EMPTY SEATS TO BE FILLED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE EQUITABLE PROCESS BETWEEN -- BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS FRUSTRATION WITH -- I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS -- I WANT TO EXPRESS FRUSTRATION WITH, UM -- WE HAD, LIKE, SEVEN MEETINGS OVER HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND THE DEFINITION. IT WASN'T EVEN PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT CODE AND IT WAS SIMPLY DEFINING IT. WE KEPT HITTING ROADBLOCKS WITH INDUSTRY AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS CAUSING SO MANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND APPOINTEES TO STEP DOWN, OR NOT ATTEND, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FEELING HEARD. EVERY TIME THAT WE WOULD ASK FOR AN INCH WE WERE PUSHED BACK A MILE. IT'S JUST BEEN A VERY SLOW, SLOW PROCESS. I WOULD LIKE US TO READDRESS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPECIFICALLY. I THINK THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH THE
PRESENTATION, MIKE SHANNON, IT'S ALL YOURS. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M MIKE SHANNON, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND I'LL JUST KIND OF WALK THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF WHERE WE'RE AT. YOU HAVE HEARD SOME OF IT.
LET'S GET STARTED. SO I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE THAT WE HAVE BEEN TO THIS COMMITTEE BEFORE A COUPLE OF TIMES FOR THE CCR THAT WAS SPONSORED BY DISTRICT 5 COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND REALLY THE REQUEST WAS THAT WE NEED TO RELOOK AT POSSIBLY UPDATING OUR CHAPTERS 11, CHAPTER 16 REGULATIONS AS IT RELATES TO USED AUTO PARTS, RECYCLERS AND METAL RECYCLERS. WE HAVE REGULATIONS AND THE LAST TIME THAT THEY WERE UPDATED WAS ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS AGO. YOU ASKED US TO CREATE A STAKEHOLDER TASK FORCE THAT INCLUDED THE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES, INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES AND THOSE THAT ARE LICENSED, ETC.. SO THAT'S HOW WE GOT STARTED. AND SPECIFICALLY, I'M JUST RELISTING THE FOCUS HERE IS THAT THE CCR, A REMINDER IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS THAT WE HAVE A CODE AND WE WANT THE TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT AND TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDED CHANGES ON THINGS LIKE THE TIMELINE AND PROCESS FOR ISSUING OR RESOLVING CITATIONS, FINES FOR OCCURRING
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VIOLATIONS. CERTAINLY, ANYTHING THAT WOULD TRIGGER ANY HEAVIER ENFORCEMENT.SO MAYBE A REPEAT VIOLATION OR SOMEONE THAT IS CONTINUING TO HAVE VIOLATION OF THE ORDERS, TO HAVE A NEW THRESHOLD TO TRIGGER HEAVIER ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER CEASING OPERATIONS TEMPORARILY OR SHUTTING THEM DOWN OR REMOVAL OF NON-CONFORMING RIGHTS, ETC., ETC..
SO THOSE WERE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT AND GIVING US A BIT OF A CHARGE FOR THE TASK FORCE.
SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE DID WITH YOUR HELP WAS TO IDENTIFY WHAT THIS SHOULD LOOK LIKE. WE TRIED TO START WITH 10 AND 10, UM, THINKING OF 10 INDUSTRY MEMBERS -- THOSE THAT ARE FROM LICENSED FACILITIES HERE IN OUR TOWN AND A MIX OF METAL RECYCLERS AND USED AUTO PART RECYCLERS. THEN WE'D HAVE 10 -- KIND OF APPOINTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS -- FROM DIFFERENT COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
CERTAINLY, ONE THROUGH SIX, WHERE THESE ARE LOCATEED. AND THEN SOME AT-LARGE MEMBERS TO BALANCE THAT OUT. SO WE HAD TO HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE WITH COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN AND COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND LOOKED AT THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND MADE SOME SELECTIONS. CERTAINLY, THE CITY STAFF WOULD BE THERE AND SAWS AND CTEQ ARE ATTEND SOMETHING OF THESE MEETINGS. THE SAME ON THE INDUSTRY SIDE, AND WE WANTED ABOUT 10 SEATS, IF YOU WILL, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 70 PROPERTY -- I THINK IT'S 69 PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE IN THIS BUSINESS. WE ASKED FOR APPLICATIONS.
GOT THOSE. WE SELECTED. AND WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP WITH EIGHT. SO WE ENDED UP WITH AN EIGHT AND EIGHT TASK FORCE TO TRY TO KEEP IT BALANCED. CERTAINLY, THEY'RE ALL OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE MEETINGS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT. THERE WAS SOME SELECTION CRITERIA THAT THIS COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED. IT HAD TO BE NO VIOLATIONS AND WHEN WE PUT THIS TOGETHER -- IF YOU WERE A BUSINESS, NO CURRENT CITATIONS AND NOT IN LITIGATION WITH THE CITY. THEY HAD TO BE LICENSED. WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOME GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY AS WELL. AND WE DIDN'T WANT THEM ALL IN ONE SINGLE LOCATION, UM, BUT THAT WAS KIND OF SOME OF THE GUIDELINES. AND SO WE STARTED BACK IN SEPTEMBER. ME AND MELISSA HERE LED THAT DISCUSSION FOR THE SERVICES AND WE HAD A LOT OF TEAM MEMBERS THERE AND REALLY 10 MEETINGS THERE.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE. A LOT OF TOPICS OF DISCUSSION, AND AS YOU CAN HEAR -- BLESS YOU -- AS YOU HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS, THESE ARE CHALLENGING DISCUSSIONS. A LOT OF DEBATE AND A LOT OF TOUGH DISCUSSIONS AND NOT A LOT OF AGREEMENT ON A FEW THINGS, BUT WE LOOKED AT DEFINITIONS AND NON-CONFORMING LICENSES AND HAZMAT AND MATERIALS THAT DID LAST. IT PROBABLY FELT LIKE SEVEN MEETINGS, BUT I THINK THAT IT WAS THREE OR FOUR AT LEAST. JUST TO GET THAT RIGHT -- I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE THERE YET. AND THEN THINGS LIKE FENCING AND FIRE PROTECTION.
I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONSENSUS ON SOME SMALLER ITEMS, BUT STILL SIGNIFICANT DISAGREEMENT ON OTHERS. AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE -- WE'RE HERE.
SO WHAT HAPPENED? RECENTLY, CERTAINLY, THERE WAS A MEETING IN JANUARY -- I THINK THAT THE LAST ONE ON THE LIST, WE GOT SOME FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS THAT THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ON THE IMBALANCE OF THAT. AND WE KNOW THAT.
THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF KNEW AS WE GOT STARTED THAT THE ATTENDANCE -- WHICH STARTED AT ABOUT 16 EACH MEETING, AND STARTED DWINDLING DOWN TO ANYWHERE FROM 11 TO 13.
AND IT WASN'T BALANCED, RIGHT? THERE WERE SOME THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SIX AND SIX BUT OTHERS WERE EIGHT AND THREE IT JUST GOT HARDER AND HARDER. AND SO THAT -- WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS TO PUT A PAUSE ON IT THIS MONTH. I COMMUNICATED THAT OUT TO SEVERAL OF YOU.
THE ISSUE THERE IS THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE DISCUSSED TECHNICALLY, IF THE PROCESS OR TASK FORCE ISN'T BALANCED, IT REALLY DOESN'T HELP PRODUCE A GOOD RECOMMENDATION MOVING FORWARD. SO IN TALKING WITH STAFF AS I GET BACK TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND TALKING NOW, I TALK TO EVERY ONE OF THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS MINUS A COUPLE THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO REACH, UM, BUT EVERYONE FELT THAT, HEY, WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS BALANCED SO WE CAN CONTINUE THE DISCUSSIONS AND BRING YOU BACK A QUALITY RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TASK FORCE. WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR EVERYBODY TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN PART OF A TASK FORCE LIKE THAT. BUT WE WANT GOOD BALANCE AND GOOD INPUT AND EVERYBODY TO BE HEARD AND EVERYBODY LISTENED TO. I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S ANYONE'S FAULT WHY THE ATTENDANCE SLIPPED AND WE DO HAVE TO GET THAT BACK ON TRACK.
SO HOW DO WE GET IMPROVED BALANCE DISCUSSION? HOW DO WE INCREASE ATTENDANCE? SO, I HAVE PERSONALLY MET WITH A FEW OF THE MEMBERS ON THE COMMUNITY SIDE TO HEAR SPECIFICALLY SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS, SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT SPOKE TODAY.
I WILL BE MEETING WITH -- I HAVE TALKED TO THE INDUSTRY TASK FORCE MEMBERS AND I'LL BE
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MEETING WITH THEM HERE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO ALSO HEAR FROM THEM DIRECTLY WHAT'S GOING WELL, WHAT'S NOT GOING WELL. AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TO START UP IN MARCH WITH A WAY TO ADDRESS THOSE. I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS.THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT HAVE DROPPED OFF DUE TO TIME COMMITMENTS.
WE WILL PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT DAYS AND TIMES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS HAVE BEEN, UM, ON FRIDAYS FOR LIKE A FOUR-HOUR MEETING.
IT SOUNDED GOOD, WE MADE A LITTLE PROGRESS BUT THAT IS A VERY CHALLENGING ONE FOR SOME OF OUR TASK FORCE MEMBERS TO SUSTAIN. SO WE'LL BE TALKING WITH THEM TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT WE CAN GET. MOST EVERYBODY -- OR EVERYBODY THERE, UM, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADD SOME ALTERNATES TO THE SEATS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I'M MIKE SHANNON AND I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT SIGNED UP FOR THIS BUT THERE WILL BE A MEETING THAT I CAN'T MAKE I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN ALTERNATE THAT MAYBE I'M IN CONNECTION WITH. WE KIND OF SEE EYE-TO-EYE ON THINGS SO THEY CAN BE THERE SO THAT MY QUOTE/UNQUOTE SEAT IS REPRESENTED WELL. WE HAVE USED THAT IN THE PAST ON OTHER TASK FORCES SUCCESSFULLY. SO THAT MIGHT BE PART OF THE SOLUTION I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT THE KEY, AGAIN, HOW DO WE GET BACK TO BEING BALANCED AND HAVE GOOD QUALITY DEBATE. THESE ARE HARD DISCUSSIONS. THERE'S DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON ALL OF IT. BUT WE -- WE DEFINITELY WANT THAT CONVERSATION TO MOVE FORWARD IN A MORE BALANCED WAY. SO HERE'S OUR NEXT STEPS. WE ARE HERE TODAY BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS. I'LL BE CONTINUING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TALKING WITH TASK FORCE MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY, AND/OR AS A GROUP. AND WE WILL CERTAINLY -- I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH COUNCILMEMBERS, IF WE CONTINUE WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS OF COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT APPOINTMENTS AND SOME OF THE VACANCIES THAT ARE ON THE SEATS AND MAYBE SOME ALTERNATES.
I'D LIKE TO RESUME IN MARCH AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED A SIX-MONTH DELAY AND WE REALLY ONLY NEED A SHORT DELAY TO GET IT BACK ON TRACK. I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GET BACK TO PCDC IN LATE SPRING. OUR TEAM, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND I KNOW THAT THIS PAUSE WILL DELAY IT BECAUSE WE WERE HOPING TO BE BACK ABOUT NOW WITH A GOOD RECOMMENDATION LIST FOR THE COMMITTEE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME CHANGES THAT WERE APPROPRIATE. BUT I THINK THAT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO GET IT RIGHT THAN TO DO IT SUPER FAST. BUT I DON'T WANT TO DELAY IT, YOU KNOW, TOO MUCH LONGER.
I THINK THAT LATE SPRING IS STILL A GOOD TARGET FOR US. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT AND THAT'S THE UPDATE. AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, MIKE, SO MUCH. AND SO FIRST I WANT TO JUST THANK THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE AND THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN GENERAL FOR THEIR TIME. I KNOW THAT IT'S DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO GET AWAY FROM WORK AND LIFE, ETC.. SO THANK YOU ALL. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELPING YOUR FELLOW NEIGHBORS. I KNOW THAT THOSE MEETINGS COULD BE A LITTLE LONG SOMETIMES, OFTEN THERE'S DISAGREEMENT. SO IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S NO MOVEMENT. AND THAT'S WHY MIKE WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE RE-SET AND I AGREE WITH YOU, I THINK THAT WE CAN, UM, MOVE A LITTLE BIT FASTER THAN PEOPLE THINK OF IT RECENTLY. AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEW COUNCIL IS SEATED AND I'D LIKE TAKE THAT UP WITH THIS CURRENT COUNCIL. SO DEFINITELY THE MARCH DEADLINE THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT -- THAT WOULD BE GREAT. SO WE'VE ADDED SEVERAL PCDC MEETINGS OFTEN BECAUSE WE CARE SO MUCH. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF WORK.
SO I DO WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK.
AND WE ARE GOING TO ADD THE EXTRA MEETING IF WE NEEDED TO, MIKE, LIKE AN EXTRA SPECIAL MEETING AGAIN TO GIVE YOU SOME ADDITIONAL TIME. BUT I DO THINK THAT THE MARCH TIMEFRAME IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL. I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT RIGHT OFF THE BAT YOU MENTIONED THE COMMUNITY MEETING HOURS. AND SO TRYING TO LEVERAGE WORK ON DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEETING HOURS IS CRITICAL, I THINK FOR A LOT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT WANT TO BE A PART OF THE COMMITTEE AND MAYBE CAN'T DURING THE WORK DAY BECAUSE THEY JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO LEAVE WORK, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW. THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS GOING ON THAT THEY JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO EVEN LEAVE A COUPLE OF HOURS.
AND EVERYTHING IS SO EXPENSIVE, THEY JUST CAN'T TAKE THAT. SO, UM, THE OTHER THING THAT YOU MENTIONED WAS ALSO ALTERNATES. AND I THINK THAT IS A GREAT IDEA AS WELL.
AND SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP EXPEDITE WITH THAT PROCESS WITH ALTERNATES SO THAT THE COMMITTEE WORK DOESN'T COME TO A STANDSTILL, IF YOU WILL, IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ALREADY. CAN YOU, UM, ALSO MAYBE GIVE US A SLIDE NEXT TIME -- OR MAYBE JUST SU SEND IT US TO THE COMMIE ON ATTENDANCE? AND MAYBE IF THERE'S -- WHO IS MISSING NOW, LIKE WHAT COUNCIL OFFICES?
MAYBE THERE ARE FOLKS THAT DROPPED OFF, ETC. -- >> YEAH, WE CAN SEND THAT TO YOU. I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE IT ALL AS A WHOLE AND WE CAN GIVE YOU, LIKE, THE ATTENDANCE REPORT, YOU IF YOU WILL. WE TRACK ATTENDANCE AND WE CAN
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SAY WHO DROPPED OFF, LET'S SAY, SINCE THE LAST MEETING. WE CAN DO THAT.>> ROCHA GARCIA: GOT IT. SO YOU KNOW THAT I DO THIS AS A PROFESSOR.
SO AFTER THREE CLASSES YOU'RE OUT AND, LIKE, I DROP YOU FROM MY CLASS.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT POLICY, RIGHT? LIKE, IF YOU'RE NOT SHOWING UP, THEN LET SOMEONE ELSE GET IN THE WAY AND, AGAIN, I'M SORRY THAT IT COMES OUT -- THE PROFESSOR IN ME -- BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT ONE. AND THEN ALSO ON THE -- ON THOSE THAT ARE HAVING ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS, WOULD WE BE ABLE -- OR HAVE YOU ALREADY CONTACTED, FOR INSTANCE, OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO AREN'T SHOWING UP? OR WHOSE FOLKS AREN'T SHOWING
TO CALL THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS FIRST. >> ROCHA GARCIA: SURE.
>> AGAIN, I THINK THAT OF THE 16 I HAD ON THE LIST AND I THINK THAT I REACHED OUT TO ABOUT 14.
THERE ARE TWO THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH. AND SOME OF THEM HAD ATTENDANCE ISSUES AND THEY TALKED TO ME THROUGH THOSE AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DECIDE IF THEY CAN, AND STILL WANT TO BE IN THAT COUNCILMEMBER THAT SELECTED THEM AND STILL WANTS TO BE.
SO THAT'S STILL PART OF MY DISCUSSION MOVING FORWARD SO I'LL DEFINITELY DO THAT.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: GOT IT. THANK YOU, MIKE. AND I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED -- WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING PRETTY FAST AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO HAVE -- I GUESS THE APPLICATION PROCESS REOPENED AND SEE IF THERE'S STILL INTEREST FROM THE SAME PEOPLE, ETC., WITH THE DIFFERENT DATES. LIKE, WOULD SOME PEOPLE BE WILLING TO REENGAGE? SO THAT WOULD BE IN CONSIDERATION.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AWERE ON IT LAST TIME AND ASK THEM IF THEY'D HAVE THAT SAME AVAILABILITY OR WE NEED TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO VOLUNTEER. BUT I'D LIKE TO STICK TO THE SAME COMMITTEE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE SHAKING THEIR HEADS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE
THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK, MIKE, AND PUT IN THE WORK. >> THANK YOU.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: WE'LL START OFF WITH COUNCIL COLLEAGUE COMMENTS AND I'LL START WITH THE
COUNCILWOMAN FIRST. >> THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL TO THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS FOR THEIR TIME AND THEIR DEDICATION TO WORKING TOWARDS CHANGING THIS POLICY OR THIS CODE, RATHER. AND I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS WHY WE'RE HERE AND I WANT TO GIVE DR. ROCHA GARCIA KUDOS. OVER SEVERAL YEARS AGO, RESIDENT HAVE SHARED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT DUST, DEBRIS, AND REGARDING METAL AND AUTO RECYCLERS AND HOW IT IMPACTS THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. WHETHER IT'S METAL ON THE STREETS POPPING THEIR TIRES OR DUST ON THEIR CARS OR HOMES AND HOW IT IMPACTS THEIR RESPIRATORY HEALTH.
BECAUSE OF THAT DR. ROCHA GARCIA AGENDIZED AND MIKE PRESENTED ON WHAT ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE FOR AUTO AND METAL RECYCLERS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MY TEAM HAS BEEN RESEARCHING AND THE BARRIERS WITH TCEQ IN PARTICULAR AND THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS, RIGHT, THERE WERE FIRES. BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE WORK HAD STARTED BEFORE THOSE INITIAL FIRES WITH THE SPECIFIC METAL RECYCLER.
BUT HERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW DISCUSSING THIS CODE THROUGH THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS -- NOT JUST FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION -- BUT ALSO BRINGING TO OUR ATTENTION THE ISSUE WITH ATTENDANCE, RIGHT? AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SEE ALL THROUGHOUT OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT ATTENDANCE, WHETHER IT'S A COMMITTEE FOR, UM, FOR ANY OTHER COMMITTEE BEYOND THE METAL RECYCLING TASK FORCE, THE TREND IS, RIGHT, FOLKS ARE STRUGGLING TO WORK AROUND THEIR WORK SCHEDULE OR CHILDCARE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING WITHIN THIS COMMITTEE, AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT SOME OF THE PROFESSORS THAT DID SERVE, RIGHT, THEY HAVE OTHER COMMITMENTS AS WELL. AND DIFFERENT COURSEWORK THAT CHANGE PER SEMESTER AND THIS IS A LENGTHY TIMELINE AND PROCESS. BUT I WANT TO MENTION THAT THERE WERE FOLKS WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL LENS ON THE TASK FORCE BUT DID HAVE TO DROP OFF.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO CREATE ALTERNATES TO ENSURE THAT IF A COMMUNITY MEMBER -- AND I KNOW THIS IS FAIR AND BALANCED -- SO IT APPLIES TO BOTH INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY. IF THEY CAN'T BE PRESENT THAT THEY COULD CALL A SUB IN TO ENSURE THAT SEAT IS FILLED. I THINK IS GOING TO ALLOW FOR MORE PARTICIPATION.
I DO VALUE THAT IF THERE ISN'T A BALANCE IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE, THAT THERE'S NO VOTING THAT IS TAKING PLACE, AND IF YOU COULD JUST WALK US A LITTLE THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE -- BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S CONCERN THAT IF IT'S -- YOU KNOW, BALANCED, THAT THINGS ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD. CAN YOU STILL WALK US THROUGH Y'ALL'S PRACTICE.
>> SURE. I THINK WITH THIS COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, EARLY ON WE TALKED ABOUT THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO TRY TO BUILD CONSENSUS, RIGHT? IF WE CAN GET CONSENSUS ON AN ISSUE OR A PARTICULAR CHANGE, THAT'S THE BEST ONE. WE DON'T NEED A VOTE.
CERTAINLY IF WE CAN'T GET CONSENSUS, WE HAVE TO VOTE AND THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT WE DO.
WE TRY TO STICK TO THAT. IT GOT A LITTLE -- GOT A LITTLE HAIRY WITH THE IMBALANCE OF ATTENDANCE AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. I KNOW THAT OUR TEAM REALLY TRIED TO SAY, HEY, WE WON'T VOTE TODAY BUT WE ALSO HAD WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER LIKE A DEADLINE, IF YOU WILL, OF ABOUT THIS TIME. WE WANT TO WRAP UP SOON AND GET SOMETHING TO THE COUNCIL.
[00:30:02]
SO I THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT WE'RE HEARING, WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO BETTER DEFINE THAT AND SAY, LOOK, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CONSENSUS TO BE BUILT. AND BOTH SIDES TO COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION. AND IF WE CAN GET THAT, WE WILL. BUT WHEN WE HAVE TO VOTE I THINK THAT WE NEED A BALANCED REPRESENTATION. SO, UP KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR EIGHT PLUS EIGHT OR SEVEN AND SEVEN, LIKE, IF THAT'S THE ANSWER.BUT IF IT'S A FIVE TO EIGHT OR SOMETHING -- THAT'S NOT WORTHY OF A VOTE AND I THINK WE CAN JUST PUT THAT ASIDE AND COME BACK TO IT. AND THEN WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AS A GROUP OR WE JUST SAY THAT WE COULDN'T GET A RECOMMENDATION AND WE BRING IT TO YOU WITH MAYBE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE HEARD THAT, AND SEEN IT AND OUR STAFF HAS SEEN IT AS WELL AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
BUT I'M JUST STANDING HERE AGAID TO SAY HERE'S OUR RECOMMENDATION, BUT YET IT WAS STILL UNBALANCED. I DON'T THINK THAT IS FAIR TO ANYBODY.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I APPRECIATE THE PAUSE AND TO ADJUST AND TO ENSURE THAT AS WE COME FORWARD WITH THE POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS PARTICIPATION ON BOTH ENDS AND THERE AREN'T ISSUES WITH ATTENDANCE, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING THOSE ALTERNATES TO SUPPORT THIS WORK. BUT ALSO, RIGHT, JUST EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOWING UP, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOUR COMMUNITY IS LITERALLY COUNTING ON YOU AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS ARE COUNTING ON THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE PRESENT AND TO ADVOCATE AND TO USE THEIR VOICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND IN TERMS OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND AIR QUALITY AND WATER QUALITY, UM, I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE PIECES ARE BEYOND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SCOPE. WOULD THERE BE OPPORTUNITY -- AND Y'ALL MAY ALREADY BE DOING THIS -- TRACKING THINGS THAT ARE BEYOND THE SCOPE BUT MAY FALL WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF TCEQ OR THE STATE LEG. ARE Y'ALL TRACKING THAT?
>> WELL, WE ARE TRACKING IT AND WE'RE TAKING NOTES ON EVERY PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
THERE'S CERTAINLY THINGS -- YOU'RE RIGHT -- THAT IS NOT PART OF, LET'S SAY, THE CITY SCOPE AND MAYBE HAS TO DO WITH STATE. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THAT BACK TO THE GROUP.
AS WE TALK WITH THE COMMITTEE I THINK THAT WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE AND SAY, LOOK, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF OUR SCOPE MAYBE THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO WORK THROUGH EITHER THE OTHER AGENCY, UM, AND TRY TO GET SOME MOVEMENT THERE.
BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT -- THAT WE CAN DO, THAT IS WITHIN OUR SCOPE, OF COURSE.
BUT, YEAH, WE CAN TRACK THAT AND PRESENT THAT WHEN WE COME BACK WITH FINAL PRESENTATIONS.
>> CASTILLO: THAT WAY THE COMMUNITY AND OUR TEAMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THAT POLICY RECOMMENDATION CAN BE OR WHAT AT THE LEG NEEDS TO BE AMENDED WOULD BE HELPFUL, WITH US WORKING ACROSS DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT FOR OUR SHARED CONSTITUENCY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AGAIN, I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATION, MOVEMENT, PARTICULARLY AROUND ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE INCREASED ENFORCEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO FOLKS THAT ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE. BUT I JUST WANT TO THINK AMIN AND MELISSA AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING AND DEREK AND RICK ON MY TEAM WHO ARE AT THOSE MEETINGS AS WELL, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TAKING APPROPRIATE NOTES AND I'M KEPT UP TO SPEED ON WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED OR DEBATED OR MAYBE HOLDING THINGS UP WITHIN THE COMMITTEE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, I THINK THAT THE TASK FORCE IS A GREAT IDEA AND AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED WHEN WE WERE PART OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE WE TRIED TO GET THOUGHTFUL REPRESENTATIVES THAT HAD THE -- YOU KNOW, THE PROFESSORSHIPS AND THE BACKGROUNDS TO DO THIS. HOWEVER, WHEN WE DID HEAR THAT THERE WAS A DROP-OFF WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS KIND OF AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE NEEDED TO RELOOK AT THIS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING AND SHARING YOUR CONCERNS. I THINK THAT ALTERNATIVES IS A GREAT IDEA. IS THIS MEETING CURRENTLY, UM, PART OF THE TELEVISED MEETINGS?
>> WE DO NOT TELEVISE THESE MEETINGS, LIKE, LET'S SAY THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OR THE
PLANNING COMMISSION, WE DO NOT. >> VIAGRAN: AND DO THEY HAVE A WEBEX LINK TO POSSIBLY COME IN
IF THEY CANNOT COME IN PERSON? >> WE DO NOT, NO. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.
I THINK THAT AS WE MEET AS A SUBCOMMITTEE WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS, UM, AND THE ONE THING ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE THAT I FEEL THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE INTO THIS NEW ERA OF THE WAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING POLITICS, IS THAT IF WE SEE ANY DEREGULATION COMING FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON THIS ISSUE, HOW CAN WE CREATE CODE TO IMPACT THIS? AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD BENEFIT THE CURRENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE SITTING ON IT AS WELL -- AS WELL AS THE COMPANIES THAT ARE THERE.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAYBE RECORDING IT AND THEN NOT LIVESTREAMING BUT MAYBE RECORDING IT SO THAT WE CAN GO BACK TO IT POSSIBLY LATER. SO I'M NOT SURE THAT WE NEED TO
[00:35:01]
CHANGE THE LOCATION. THAT COULD ALSO HELP WITH ACCOUNTABILITY.SO WE CAN GO BACK AND SAY WHAT DID WE ADDRESS, AND THIS WOULD -- AND THIS WOULD PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ALTERNATES TO -- IF THEY'RE NOT AT THE MEETING, THE ALTERNATES COULD GO BACK AND WATCH THE RECORDINGS OF THE VIDEOS. SO IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE -- IT'S NOTHING LIKE HRDC -- I DON'T NEED IT LIVE STREAMED, BUT IF WE COULD HAVE IT RECORDED, BECAUSE THIS IS VERY NUANCED, TO SAY THE LEAST. AND I KNOW THAT WAS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD IS THAT IT'S JUST TOO MUCH INFORMATION.
THEN WHEN WE WANT ALTERNATES I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND YOU CAN TELL THEM, WELL, GO TO THIS POINT IN THE VIDEO, AND WATCH WHAT WAS SAID. AND THEN THEY HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW TO COME TO THE NEXT MEETING IF THEY HAVE TO DO THAT. SO, UM, AGAIN, NOT -- IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE LIVE AND TELEVISED, IT COULD JUST BE SOMETHING THAT WE PUT ON AFTERWARD. THE -- THE VIRTUAL LINK, I'M NOT SO SURE THAT IF WE RECORD IT -- WE DON'T NEED A VIRTUAL LINK. I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THERE IN PERSON, BUT, AGAIN, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD TALK AND BRING BACK IF WE GIVE THEM A WEBEX LINK. I'M NOT SURE THAT WE NEED IT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE FOR THIS ISSUE IN PARTICULAR WE NEED EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
AND I DON'T -- I DO NOT WANT EITHER SIDE USING THAT VIRTUAL LINK AS -- OH, BUT I WAS THERE OR, OH, I COULDN'T GET IN. SO LET'S -- LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THERE IS NO -- IF I HAVE SOMEONE SITTING ON ANOTHER BOARD OR COMMISSION AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE THEM AN ALTERNATE -- BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'RE RELIABLE AND IT'S KIND OF CONNECTED IN A WAY OF SUSTAINABILITY, IS THERE A WAY THAT THEY COULD BE AN ALTERNATE ON THERE? OR ARE WE ASKING THAT THEY ONLY SERVE IN ONE COMMITTEE?
>> NO. I THINK THAT THE ANSWER IS THAT YOU COULD.
CERTAINLY, IF THEY HAD THE TIME AND ENERGY AND EFFORT, LIKE, THE COMMITMENT TO MEET THAT COMMITMENT, I THINK THAT IS FINE. WE HAVE NO -- I DON'T THINK THAT
WE HAVE RULES THAT YOU CAN'T BE ONLY ON ONE COMMITTEE OR BOARD. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY, BECAUSE I'M THINKING OF SOMEONE SITTING ON THE GREENWAY, THE HOWARD PEAK GREENWAY TRAIL MIGHT WANT TO BE
AN ALTERNATE FOR THIS ONE. >> I CAN'T THINK OF A REASON WHY THAT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
>> ALSO THERE'S NO RESTRICTION ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT SERVE ON FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS SO THERE'S NOTHING
ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS -- >> VIAGRAN: GREAT. BECAUSE WE HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE. ALL RIGHT, NO, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, UM -- AND WE'LL ALL BE BUSY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, BUT IF WE COULD GET ON THE CALENDAR FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO MEET, UM, WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS -- SO WE COULD MOVE FORWARD AND DECIDE IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS APPLICATION OUT AT LARGE OR IF WE HAVE ENOUGH MEMBERS THAT NOW WE'RE TELLING THEM, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO RECORD IT. YOU COULD WATCH IT. YOU'LL HAVE AN ALTERNATE.
AND THEY COULD DECIDE THAT, WELL, I COULD BE AN ALTERNATE. AND SO I'D LIKE TO GO WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE INITIALLY ASK AND SEE IF WE NEED TO OPEN IT UP TO NEW MEMBERS.
LIKE I SAID, I DO HAVE A LIST OF CURRENT SERVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE REALLY GOOD AT
ATTENDING AS AN ALTERNATE OR AS THE MAIN COMMUNITY PERSON. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: , NINICE TO SEE YOU L AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE.
I HEAR THAT YOU'RE FRUSTRATED, I GET IT. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WHEN WE PUT TASK FORCES TOGETHER WHERE THERE'S COMPETING INTERESTS PUT ON THOSE TASK FORCES, WE FREQUENTLY HEAR PEOPLE COME UP TO US AND SAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I -- PEOPLE WITH WHOM I DISAGREE ON THE COMMITTEE, RIGHT? YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THIS IS NOE TO THE UNIVERSE THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW BUT IT'S A PROBLEM THAT WE SEE, UM, THROUGHOUT ALL COMMITTEES. AND I -- I GET THE FRUSTRATION, RIGHT.
THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE GOT IS THAT IN AN EFFORT TO BE AS FAIR AS POSSIBLE WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO PUT THE MEMBERS. OF THE COMPETING INTERESTS ON THAT COMMITTEE AND, YOU KNOW, IF AT THE END OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS THAT EVERYBODY WALKS OUT OF THAT ROOM A LITTLE BIT UNHAPPY, RIGHT, I THINK WE STRUCK A PRETTY GOOD DEAL, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT EVERYBODY MADE SOME SACRIFICES AND MOVED TOWARDS EACH OTHER TO CREATE SOME CONSENSUS. STAFF'S JOB IS TO FACILITATE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, RIGHT, AND NOT TO FORCE, UM, ONE SIDE TO SWALLOW A PILL THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO, RIGHT? AND SO IN MANY WAYS YOU GUYS ARE THE MEDIATORS, RIGHT, MIKE? AND FACILITATORS OF THESE --
[00:40:03]
THESE IMPORTANT BUT DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT THE THREE NORTH SIDE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS DOESN'T REALLY IMPACT THE NORTH SIDE AS MUCH AS IT IMPACTS THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN. WE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR COLLEAGUES WHERE THIS IS IMPACTED BE THE ONES TO DRIVE THE SHIP HERE AND THAT THEY REALLY HELP INFLUENCE THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS AND WHO SITS ON THAT BOARD.I THINK THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND I THINK WE HAVE BEEN ACTING IN THE SPIRIT OF MAKING SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON WHERE THESE TWO INTERESTS ARE COLLIDING.
I'M WORRIED WHEN I HEARD TWO OF YOU COME UP HERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING ME TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, OR THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING ME TO BE HEARD, AND THEY ARE NOT, RIGHT. DEBORAH, WHO IS THEY?
>> ROCHA GARCIA: DO YOU WANT TO COME UP SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR YOU?
>> IF YOU'RE ASKING ME THAT QUESTION, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE I WOULD ASK FOR SOMETHING TO BE ADDED TO THE CODE, AND THEN I WOULD HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO BE ADDED TO THE CODE, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE ON LIKE THE INDUSTRY SIDE WOULD HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF SUGGESTION AND IT WOULD QUICKLY GET ADDED IN. I WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO SAY WAIT A MINUTE, HOW COME THIS WOULD HAPPEN. PROFESSORS WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, IN MY WORK THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE, WE NEED TO ADD THIS TO THIS CODE, AND IT WOULDN'T GET ADDED.
IT WOULDN'T GET ACKNOWLEDGED. AND THAT HAPPENED TO US. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS ONE TIME WHERE THEY WANTED TO STRIKE SOMETHING OUT, IT WAS -- I'M TRYING TO THINK OF EXACT WORDS. MAYBE YOU ALL CAN HELP ME WITH THIS.
IT WAS SAYING THAT IT WAS A CODE AND IF THE RECYCLER DID THIS, IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW, COMPLETELY AGAINST THE LAW, AND IT HAD A WHOLE LINE THAT SAID THAT IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW. AND THEY WANTED THAT STRICKEN, COMPLETELY TAKEN OFF THERE, BECAUSE IT WAS REDUNDANT. SO WE DIDN'T WANT THAT TO BE TAKEN OFF AND WE SAID WELL, WHY, WE HAD TO EXPLAIN WHY WE DIDN'T WANT IT TAKEN OFF.
BUT THE INDUSTRY PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO JUST SAY LET'S TAKE IT OFF AND THEY'RE LIKE OKAY, TAKE IT OFF. SO WE WERE ON A CONTINUAL REPEATED PATTERN OF HAVING TO
JUSTIFY EVERYTHING THAT WE WANTED. >> PELAEZ: SO FORGIVE ME FOR INTERRUPTING, AURORA HAS A COW BELL SHE RINGS WHENEVER I GO OVER MY TIME.
I DO WANT TO SAY, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE WAY I WOULD DESCRIBE POLICY MAKING WHEN WE ARE ALL NEGOTIATING AND SOMETIMES I END UP FURIOUS BECAUSE TERRY CASTILLE O IS BEING TERRY KCASTILLO IS FURIOUS BECAUSE I'M MAN-SPLAINING AND I WALK OUT FURIOUS AND STILL HAVE TO GO TO THE NEXT MEETING. IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING. I'M NOT DISMISSING YOUR CONCERNS.
WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE PROBLEM THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH.
IT ALSO SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR MAYBE THE COUNCIL WOMAN WHOSE DISTRICT THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS AND MONITOR THEM FROM TIME TO TIME SO YOU GUYS CAN JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES.
>> I WILL SAY -- >> PELAEZ: I WILL STOP THERE. THANK YOU.
>> DISTRICT 4 AND 5 STAFFERS, DEREK AND EDWARD, SHOW UP TO ALMOST EVERY SINGLE MEETING.
I HAVEN'T GONE -- I HAVE GONE TO MAYBE ONE MEETING WHERE ONE OF THEM DIDN'T ATTEND BUT THEY HAVE -- EVERY SINGLE MEETING THEY'RE THERE AND REPORTING BACK TO BOTH DISTRICT 4 AND DISTRICT 5. BUT I'M GOING TO MENTION, I WANT TO MENTION ONE MORE THING. THERE WERE A FEW TIMES WHEN DSD PUT UP THE CHANGES.
AND THEY WANTED IT REWRITTEN AND THE CODE WAS LIKE PROBABLY THIS BIG BUT THE ONE THAT WAS PRESENTED WAS LIKE THIS LONG WITH CROSS-OUTS AND REWRITES AND EVERYTHING UP THERE. WHEN WE TRIED TO SAY NO, WE DON'T WANT THAT, WE WERE PUT
[00:45:11]
IN AN ADVERN ADVERDVERSARIAL PO AGAINST DEVELOPMENT. THOSE WERE REALLY DIFFICULT MEETINGS BECAUSE IF WE DISAGREED, WE ARE DISAGREEING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FACILITATING THE WHOLE MEETING. YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OFTHAT KIND OF THING. >> PELAEZ: THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE OKAY, TOO, BECAUSE I DISAGREE WITH MIKE SHANNON ALL THE TIME. WE STILL GET UP IN THE
MORNING AND DO THE WORK. >> ROCHA GARCIA: SO THANK YOU, AND I THINK THAT THE SOLUTION WILL BE WITH ADDING ALTERNATES. THE SOLUTION WILL LIE IN MAKING SURE THERE'S PEOPLE THERE TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT BOTH SIDES EQUALLY.
DISCUSSIONS HAVE TO CONTINUE HAPPENING. I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S THAT EMPHASIS ON FIXING WHAT HASN'T BEEN WORKING. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE PAUSE THAT WE HAVE TIME CERTAIN TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT DONE BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL IS SEATED. I ALSO WANT TO SAY, I'M VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE DEB IS MY REP. I GET E-MAILS FROM HER TWICE A WEEK, MAYBE.
EDWARD DOES ATTEND ON MY BEHALF AND COMES BACK AND TELLS ME THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED, ET CETERA. I FEEL LIKE ALMOST LIKE I'M THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY, BUT I DO. BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE OUR COUNCIL AIDES THERE, SOMEBODY WHO IS KIND OF JUST AS A REPRESENTATIVE ON OUR BEHALF. I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STAFF MEMBERS FOR SHOWING UP FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GO AROUND THE ROOM AND SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES HAD ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD. CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THE
TIMELINE? >> I THINK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, WE WILL CERTAINLY HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND DEFINITELY WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS VIAGRAN AND CASTILLO, MAKING SURE WE CAN IDENTIFY THINGS LIKE ALTERNATES, MAYBE SELECTIONS, GETTING ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS, THEN MAYBE FINALIZING SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIFFERENT DAYS AND TIMES THAT WILL WORK FOR MORE PEOPLE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. CERTAINLY CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS WITH TASK FORCE MEMBERS, THAT'S MY JOB, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING ALL OF THE ITEMS. NOT THE TECHNICAL ISSUES, BUT THE PROCESS.
I DO THINK -- I DON'T THINK WE WILL BE READY IN MARCH TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH RECOMMENDATIONS BUT CERTAINLY, IN THAT APRIL TIME FRAME IS WHAT WE WILL SHOOT FOR. I WILL ASK FOR THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS TO NOT ONLY GET BACK QUICKLY, BUT THEN SEE WHAT KIND OF RHYTHM WE CAN DO AND START HASHING OUT GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE CAN BRING TO YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO HIT THAT, WE WILL SHOOT FOR THE APRIL TIME FRAME AND LET YOU KNOW IF THAT IS DOABLE OR NOT AS WE
GET BACK. >> ROCHA GARCIA: CAN WE CONSIDER SOME EVENING TIME
PERIODS? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ROCHA GARCIA: OKAY.
>> TO BE FAIR, THAT'S PART OF OUR FIRST MEETING AT EVERY ONE.
WE DID HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, WHAT IS GOING TO WORK.
I THINK WHAT STARTS OUT WORKING THEN CHANGES OVER TIME.
SO ABSOLUTELY, WE WILL, NIGHTS, WEEK NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KIND OF GET THE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW UP. WE DON'T WANT THAT TO BE A ROADBLOCK. WE NEED PEOPLE WILLING TO DO IT AND READY TO DO IT AND
EXCITED TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THAT. >> ROCHA GARCIA: YOUR GRADE IS STILL A WITH ME AFTER APARTMENT INSPECTION SO I'M HOPING YOU STAY THERE WITH THIS ONE, TOO. I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR AURORA.
APPOINTMENTS, IS IT BY MEMO, DOES IT HAVE TO GO TO FULL COUNCIL? HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT ADD IF IT HAS TO GO TO FULL COUNCIL? HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE MORE. I'M LOOKING AT THE ALTERNATIVES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECONVENING TODAY. THANK YOU, MIKE.
MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 10:55. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.