[ PROCEDURAL  ] [00:01:27] >> KAUR: OKAY. GOOD MORNING. WELCOME TO CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS NOW 9:14 A.M. ON THE 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? >> CLERK: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE IS HERE VIRTUALLY. MAYOR PRO TEM, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> KAUR: I'LL PASS IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S INVOCATOR. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. SO TODAY WE HAVE SISTER ADELIA AND SHE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE HEART OF SERVICE AND VISION AND CHANGE FOR THE SOUTHSIDE. SHE IS MY CHILDHOOD PRINCIPAL. SHE WAS HERE IN THE '70S, '80S AT ST. LEO'S AND SHE LED THAT SCHOOL AS A SISTER OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT AND NOW SHE IS HERE AT BLESSED SACRAMENT ACADEMY. HER WORK AT BSA IS DEDICATED TO LIFTING UP THE MOST VULNERABLE. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THERE HAS BEEN SUCH SUCCESS. THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROVIDES LOVING CARE AND EDUCATION FOR AT-RISK INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS, SHAPING THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING. THANKS TO UNITED WAY, THE SENSORY CHILDREN GARDEN OFFERS AN IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT SPARKS CURIOSITY AND JOY AND THROUGH THIS SHE WAS ABLE TO GET ROSEMARY AND HER FAMILY BACK TO THEIR ROOTS. SHE ATTENDED BLESSED SACRAMENT ACADEMY. THE ACADEMY HOSTS PLAY-BASED EVENTS. AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD FOR BSA'S ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM, SHE'S SEEN THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE STRUGGLED GET BACK ON TRACK AND FEEL LOVE AND FEEL SUCCESS. AND SHE WAS JUST SHARING THAT THEY'RE OFF TO U.T. AUSTIN, THEY'RE OFF TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT EFFORT. FOR SISTER ODELIA, THIS MINISTRY IS A CHOICE, A COMMITMENT SHE RENEWS DAILY. I'M PROUD TO HAVE HER HERE TODAY TO PRAY OVER US AND PRAY FOR US. AND THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE SISTER ODELIA TO LEAD US IN PRAYER. >> LET US PRAY. GOD OF ALL OF US, WE PRAY TO YOU TODAY SEEKING FOR OURSELVES THE GIFT JESUS GAVE TO A MAN IN THE SCRIPTURE WHO COULDN'T HEAR. WHEN JESUS SAID BE OPEN, THE MAN'S EARS WERE OPENED. FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE, HE COULD HEAR. BY YOUR GRACE, WE PRAY FOR THAT ONCE IN A LIFETIME ENLIGHTENMENT. GOD, YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT [00:05:01] CAN BE FOR US TO BE OPEN TO EACH OTHER IN OUR CONVERSATIONS AND OUR BEHAVIORS. AS WE LIVE NEXT DOOR TO MANY RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES AND POLITICAL PREFERENCES, WE PRAY THAT IN OUR FEAR AND GROANING OVER THESE DIFFERENCES, WE TOO CAN HEAR, BE OPEN, AND JOIN IN THE BLESSING OF THIS GOSPEL SENTIMENT. GOD OF US ALL, WE PRAY FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING OPENNESS ONE OF THE VIRTUES WE PRACTICE AS WE TRY TO RESOLVE OUR DIFFERENCES. THANK YOU FOR THE MANY PEOPLE YOU SEND INTO OUR LIVES WHO REACH OUT IN KINDNESS WHEN WE AND OTHERS NEED EVEN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THAT KINDNESS. BLESS WITH COURAGE AND OPENNESS THOSE AMONG US WHO ARE SEEKING ELECTED LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. WISHING TO OFFER THEIR SKILLS AND TALENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY. WE PRAY ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE PRESENTLY SERVING AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OF OUR COUNTRY, OUR STATE, AND OUR CITY. TEACH US TO WALK HUMBLY AND WISELY TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. BLESS OUR FAMILIES, PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. MAY WE ALL GROW IN COMPASSION, LAUGHTER, AND MUTUAL CARE AS WE ENGAGE IN LIFELONG LEARNING. WHEN WE INEVITABLY TRIP AND FALL, CATCH US AND SET US UP RIGHT AGAIN. LOVING GOD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, YOUR INSPIRATION, YOUR LOVE, AND YOUR PEACE. AMEN. THANK YOU. >> KAUR: OKAY. FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM CITY COUNCIL MEETING FROM FEBRUARY 5, 2025 AND FEBRUARY 6, 2025. DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> I MOVE TO APPROVE MINUTES. >> SECOND. >> KAUR: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS? OKAY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE, WE NEED A VOICE VOTE. >> COURAGE: AYE. >> KAUR: MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. WE DO HAVE A FEW CEREMONIALS [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] TODAY. WE GET TO RECOGNIZE BLACK HISTORY MONTH THIS MORNING AND WE HAVE DR. LAWSTON HERE, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE, TO SHARE WITH US A FEW WORDS. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL, MADAME MAYOR PRO TEM, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS. TO THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE BODY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IT IS TRULY A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO PROVIDE A REFLECTIVE MOMENT ABOUT BLACK HISTORY. AS I STAND HERE AS A TESTIMONY FOR HISTORY STILL IN THE MAKING AND IN APPROXIMATELY NINE DAYS I WILL HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE FOR 18 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, 126 YEARS, WITH A STORIED HISTORY OF EXISTENCE, ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE STANDS AS A BEACON FOR EDUCATIONAL ACCESS, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, CAREER ADVANCEMENT, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE SKILLS THAT WILL ENSURE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE, VIABILITY, AND ESTABLISHING A STRING OF DIVERSE WORKFORCE MEMBERS. IN THE RELIGIOUS SECTOR, IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR, IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY WE PIERCED THE VEIL OF SEGREGATION. AS WE APPROACH THE TURN AND COMING OUT OF THE 19TH [00:10:04] CENTURY, GOING INTO THE 20TH CENTURY, THE ST. PHILLIP CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1895 TO CREATE A SPACE FOR THE BLACK EMANCIPATED EPISCOPALIAN SLAVE COMMUNITY TO WORSHIP . IN 1989 THE BLACK EPISCOPALIANS KNEW THAT ECONOMIC VIABILITY COULD ONLY EXIST THROUGHOUT PEOPLE ACQUIRING MARKETABLE SKILLS. THE DAUGHTERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS OF FORMER SLAVES WERE ASSEMBLED TO ATTEND A SATURDAY EVENING SEWING CLASS THAT WOULD PROVIDE THEM WITH ECONOMIC VIABILITY. BY 1902, WE NEEDED TO ADVANCE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF OUR PEOPLE, FROM THE SATURDAY EVENING SEWING CLASS TO A GRAMMAR SCHOOL, BOWDEN, A SERVANT LEADER, SAID HERE AM I. SEND ME. WHEN WE NEEDED AND RECOGNIZED THAT BLACKS AND BROWNS IN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY WERE BEING MARGINALIZED, THEY FOUND SAFE HAVENS IN AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE THAT VALUED AND WELCOMED ALL. THIS GAVE WAY TO THE RECOGNIZED DISTINCTION OF BEING AN HBCU AND AN HSI, SOME 100 YEARS LATER. WHEN WE NEEDED TO ADVANCE YET AGAIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SOCIETY INTO A NEW LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, BOWDEN, HERE AM I, SEND ME, ESTABLISHED THE ST. PHILIPS NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE THEREBY SECURING A PLACE IN THE NATIONAL HISTORY BOOKS FOR THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY AS A VIABLE OPTION FOR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND HAS NOW BECOME THE LARGEST HBCU IN THE NATION. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. WITH THE SEGREGATED FACE IN THE WORKFORCE COMMUNITY, WE SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE STUDENTS, OUR NURSING STUDENTS, TO INTEGRATE THE ROBERT GREEN HOSPITAL AND FURTHER EXPANDED THE INTEGRATION OF THE WORKFORCE BY TURNING OUT NOT JUST COOKS AND CAREGIVERS BUT ALSO AUTO MECHANICS, PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS, AND OUR PTA PROGRAM IS THE OLDEST PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE HAVE LED THE WAY IN OUR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, AND OUR WORKFORCE. AND AFTER 52 YEARS OF JOURNEYING ON THE MISSION FIELD, OUR FOUNDING PRESIDENT, BOWDEN, BECAME A SAINT, A HOLY WOMAN. YET AGAIN PLACING ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY WITH THE DISTINCTION OF HAVING THE ONLY HBCU PRESIDENT TO BECOME A SAINT. A HOLY WOMAN. AND AS EVIDENCE OF OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS SOCIETY, IN THIS WELL WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE OR ATTENDED ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE, SO WE HAVE MADE CONTRIBUTIONS. I'LL ASK THEM TO PLEASE STAND. THEY DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO ASK THEM TO STAND BUT, YES. THANK YOU. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] WITH HISTORY STILL IN THE MAKING, NOW OFFERING A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE, ENROLLING 18,000 STUDENTS, ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE IS STILL AND WILL ALWAYS BE A POINT OF PRIDE ON SAN ANTONIO'S EASTSIDE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] AND NOW, TO EXPERIENCE THAT HBCU CULTURE, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE JEFF MAY WITH SAAACAM, THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. JEFF. >> GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, AND ESTEEMED GUESTS. IT IS AN HONOR TO REPRESENT THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM WHERE OUR CEO IS THE ILLUSTRIOUS DEBORAH OMWALE JARMON. WE CAN CLAP FOR THAT. AT LEAST I'LL GET SOME POINTS FOR THAT. SO IT IS CERTAINLY AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND RECOGNIZE A POWERFUL LEGACY OF SCHOLARSHIP, SERVICE, AND CULTURAL PRIDE. [00:15:05] THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, WHICH WE KNOW AS HBCUS UNIVERSITY IN 1837 TO THE THRIVING INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE THAT WE SEE TODAY, HBCUS HAVE BEEN THE BEDROCK OF BLACK EXCELLENCE, PRODUCING GENERATIONS OF LEADERS, EDUCATORS, AND CHANGEMAKERS. WITHIN THESE HISTORIC INSTITUTIONS THE DIVINE NINE, OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL P PANHELLENIC COUNCIL WAS BORN. THIS WAS FOUNDED DURING A TIME WHEN AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE DENIED A MAINSTREAM YET THEY PERSEVERED. WE CONSIST OF NINE ORGANIZATIONS. KAPPA ALPHA CY FOUNDED IN 1911. DELTA SIGMA THETA FOUNDED IN --S AUSPICIOUS OCCASION. PHI BETA SIGMA FOUNDED IN 1914. SIGMA GAMMA ROSE FOUNDED IN 1922. AND LASTLY IOTA PHI THETA FOUNDED IN 1963. THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY BUT THEY'RE HERE IN SPIRIT. HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND OUR VERY OWN CITY OUR LOCAL CHAPTERS CONTINUE THIS RICH TRADITION, IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH MENTORSHIP , SCHOLARSHIP, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES. I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS MORNING AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS THE DIVINE NINE UNITY STROLL, AN ELECTRIFYING DISPLAY OF SYNCHRONIZED MOVEMENT AND EXPRESSION DEEPLY ROOTED IN AFRICAN TRADITIONS TURNING A MEANS OF STORYTELLING AND UNITY INTO A DEFINING FEATURE OF BLACK GREEK LIFE. MORE THAN JUST A PERFORMANCE, STEPPING IS A CELEBRATION OF OUR IDENTITY, OUR HISTORY, AND MOST OF ALL, OUR RESILIENCE. IT IS A LANGUAGE OF EMPOWERMENT AND IT UNITES US ACROSS ALL GENERATIONS. AS WE TAKE THIS MOMENT TO HONOR BLACK EXCELLENCE AND CULTURE, LET US REMEMBER THE IMPACT OF HBCUS AND THE DIVINE NINE. THEY EXTEND FAR BEYOND CAMPUSES. IT'S INTERWOVEN INTO THE VERY PROGRESS OF OUR NATION. TO MY FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS BEHIND ME OF THE DIVINE NINE, THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO HONOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, TO CELEBRATE WHERE WE ARE AND TO BUILD FOR THOSE WHO ARE YET TO COME. LET'S SHOW THEM WHAT UNITY, TRADITION, AND PRIDE TRULY LOOKS LIKE. SAN ANTONIO, LET'S MAKE HISTORY. [00:21:25] [APPLAUSE] MUCH. THTHANK YOU. THE SHOE GAME WAS REAL STRONG. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. LAWSON FOR THOSE WORDS AND THE BEAUTIFUL INTRODUCTION AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE DIVINE UNITY PRESENTATION. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL FOR US TO HAVE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS THIS MORNING. I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR A SURPRISE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CEREMONIAL. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: NOT NECESSARILY A SURPRISE AT THE MOMENT BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING UP TODAY, ESPECIALLY DR. LAWSTON, S SAAACAM AND OUR DIVINE NINE. I INVITE YOU TO COME EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR. WE WILL ALWAYS MAKE IT BLACK HISTORY MONTH. [APPLAUSE] A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED, COUNCILWOMAN MARINA TOLD ME HER SORORITY WORE PINK AND GREEN. SHE IS NOT A MEMBER BUT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NEWS TO ME. YOUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE DEM ALLOW US. AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN WITH MEMBERS OF THE MLK COMMISSION, IF YOU GUYS WOULD MIND COMING UP. THE TEXAS RECREATION AND PARK SOCIETY D DESIGNATED MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK. A BIT OF HISTORY. MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK OPENED IN 1972. THAT MAKES 53 YEARS THAT THE EASTSIDE COMMUNITY HAS ENJOYED THIS BEAUTIFUL AMENITY. MANY OF US PASS BY THE PARK ON THE WAY TO THE START OF THE MLK MARCH. IT HAS A LOT OF NATURAL AND HISTORIC VALUE. IT IS HOST TO A LARGE-SCALE SCULPTURE BY A LOCAL ARTIST. IT FEATURES WORDS FROM DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S SPEECHES AND PAYS HOMAGE TO HAIR AS A SYMBOL OF PRIDE AND HERITAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS WHO JOINED US TODAY TO REMIND US OF OUR GEM ON THE EASTSIDE. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF HIDDEN CELEBRATION. WE HAVE INVITED THE COMMISSION TO ALSO VOICES A LEADER WHOSE DEDICATION AND VISION UPHOLD THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DWAYNE ROBINSON HAS SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE MLK COMMISSION AND WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS TIRELESS LEADERSHIP. WHEN I SAY TIRELESS, I REALLY DO MEAN IT BECAUSE THE MARCH COMMISSION MEETINGS WERE A MARATHON OF COORDINATION AND EVENT PLANNING. DWAYNE HAS NOT ONLY CARRIED THE TORCH OF JUSTICE. DWAYNE LOVES THE EASTSIDE AND IS INVESTED IN SEEING THE EASTSIDE PROSPER AND BE RECOGNIZED AS A VALUABLE PART OF OUR SAN ANTONIO COMM COMMUNITY . HE VOLUNTEERS HIS TIME NOT ONLY ON THE COMMISSION BUT TO MANY BOARDS TO RAISE SCHOLARSHIPS AND BRING AWARENESS TO THE BRIGHT PROMISE OF SAN ANTONIO'S EASTSIDE. TODAY, DWAYNE, I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR YOUR SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO OUR DISTRICT 2 COMMUNITY AND TO THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMMISSION AS ITS FEARLESS LEADER FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. [00:25:01] [APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] >> WOW. WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE. I THOUGHT I WAS HERE FOR SOMETHING ELSE. BUT COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. OFTENTIMES I DO NOT FEEL DESERVING OF THEM BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HERE TO JUST SERVE. WE'RE NOT HERE FOR PATS ON BACKS, WE'RE JUST HERE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. SO FOR THAT, I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. I THANK THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE DO THIS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO THIS MORNING, FIRST THING I WANTED TO DO IS I WANTED TO ASSURE YOU I WON'T BE DOING ANY STEP DANCES OR ANY OF THAT STUFF. WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE COVER OF THE EXPRESS NEWS ON MY BEHALF. I ALWAYS SAY THAT GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY COLD THIS MORNING. DID NOT WANT TO GET UP AND COME HERE. AND I BELIEVE 30 DAYS AGO TODAY WE HAD THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MARCH AND IT WAS THIS COLD. GOD HAS A WAY OF REMINDING US OF HOW GOOD HE IS. BUT ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM DR. JENNIFER MATA ASKING ME TO CONSIDER DOING A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMMISSION FOR THE PARK TO RECEIVE THIS DESIGNATION. AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT WE DID RECEIVE THAT. I APOLOGIZE, I MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE STANDING WITH ME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO WITH THE COMMISSION. AGAIN, I ALWAYS AM THE ONE, IT SEEMS LIKE, THAT THEY ASK TO COME UP AND SPEAK AND THANK AND ALL OF THAT BUT IT'S REALLY THEM THAT DO THE HARD WORK, SO I THANK THEM FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO -- SO I WROTE A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION TO THE PARK AGENCY TO NOMINATE THEM FOR THIS -- TO NOMINATE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK FOR THIS AWARD. AMONGST OTHER THINGS WHAT I SAID WAS THIS: THAT THE PARK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1901. THAT'S THE LONE STAR DRURY PARK. AFTER YEARS OF ADVOCACY FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS THE PARK WAS RENAMED IN 1968 AFTER REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WHO ADVOCATED FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL CITIZENS, REGARDLESS OF COLOR. TODAY THE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK STANDS AS A REMINDER THAT EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND OPPRESSION THERE CAN BE HOPE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. ML KING PARK PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE AS THE LEADING PLACE IN THE LEADUP TO THE CITY'S ANNUAL MLK MARCH, WHICH IS THE LARGEST IN THE NATION. AND WE DEFINITELY SHOULD APPLAUD FOR THAT. [APPLAUSE] AND I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE LARGEST MARCH IN THE NATION, WE HAVE THE BEST CELEBRATION IN THE WORLD. THE WORLD. SO, HAVING SAID THAT, WITH OVER 200,000 PARTICIPANTS, THE ANNUAL MARCH GATHERS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE PARK, THE ML KING ACADEMY AND THE ML KING FREEDOM BRIDGE. MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE WITH AN IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL HISTORY. WITH ITS IMPRESSIVE MEMORIAL STATUE TO THE AMAZING ART INSTALLATIONS THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS, THIS PARK OFFERS VISITORS A CHANCE TO REFLECT ON DR. KING'S LEGACY WHILE ENJOYING SOME PEACEFUL OUTDOOR TIME. THE TEXAS RECREATION AND PARKS SOCIETY LONE STAR PARK DESIGNATION WAS PLACED ON THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PARK. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK DR. MATA FOR DOING THE WORK IN FINDING THIS AWARD FOR US, THIS NOMINATION FOR US. MR. HOMER AND THE ENTIRE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK. I TELL YOU, THAT PARK IS A GEM AND A JEWEL IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THE DESIGNATION. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE KIND WORDS THAT YOU HAVE SHARED THIS MORNING, COUNCILMAN, AND [00:30:02] WE'RE CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK FROM THESE COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> KAUR: I THINK SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS, IF YOU WANT TO STAY UP. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: DWAYNE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND THE MLK COMMISSION, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YO DO. IT HAS BEEN AMAZING. FOR THOSE WHO CAME AND STEPPED, THANK YOU. ANY TIME WE CAN GET -- AND DR. LAWSTON, ANY TIME WE CAN DO SOMETHING I KNOW 50 YEARS AGO THE CITY WOULD NOT APPROVE OR OR WOULD NOT WELCOME, I LOVE. I GET SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE WE ARE SHOWING OUR VALUES, OUR COMPASSION, AND OUR INCLUSIVITY OF WHO WE ARE AS SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND SHARING. I DON'T KNOW IF WE JUST -- I MEAN, I THINK WE JUST MADE HISTORY. I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD THAT DONE HERE BEFORE. [APPLAUSE] WELL, AND WELL DONE. DWAYNE, WE COULDN'T -- AND THE MLK COMMISSION, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT IF YOU HAD NOT CONTINUED TO PRESS ON. AND EVEN IN THE LEAN YEARS WHEN THIS COUNCIL MAY NOT HAVE WANTED TO PRIORITIZE THIS, YOU PRESSED ON. AND EVEN WHEN WE HAD TO CANCEL THE OTHER YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS TOO COLD, WE PRESSED ON. AND THEN WE HAD THIS INCREDIBLE MARCH THIS YEAR AND WE'RE CELEBRATING AND WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE THAT. AMIDST EVERYTHING GOING ON WE CELEBRATE WHO WE ARE AS SAN ANTONIO AND WE UNDERSTAND YOU ARE A CRITICAL PART OF THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M SO EXCITED. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR KIND OF INITIATING THIS SURPRISE. IT'S WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. DWAYNE, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RECOGNITION AND TO ALL OF THE MLK COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. DR. LAWSTON, I'M A BIG FAN OF YOUR WORK SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DO WHAT YOU DO OVER AT ST. PHILIPS AND INSPIRING ALL THE WOMEN, IN PARTICULAR IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, TO WANT TO BE LIKE YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE MLK PARK IS JUST, TO ME, AMAZING AND SO I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH TIME TO BIKE ANYMORE BUT I USED TO BIKE ALL THE TIME. AND I LOVED THE BRIDGE AND THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS AND IT WAS ALSO JUST A REMINDER FOR ME THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE EASTSIDE AND NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. IT WAS ALWAYS SO AWESOME TO SEE SO MANY FAMILIES OUT THERE ENJOYING. AND THE LITTLE ONES AND SOME OF THE OLDER ONES AND THE ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENS IN THAT PARK WAS ALWAYS SO AWESOME TO SEE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT MORE SUPPORT FROM FUTURE COUNCILS AS WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU ALL CARRY FORWARD AN IMPORTANT MISSION. AND ALSO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT. THAT WAS JUST SO INCREDIBLE. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND I WERE LIKE, OOH, WE LIKE THAT. WE LIKE THAT ONE. YOU MIGHT SEE US PUT TOGETHER SOME MOVES ONE DAY AS THE SOUTHSIDE SISTERS OR SOMETHING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: CONGRATULATIONS, DEWAYNE FOR ENSURING THAT THE SAN ANTONIO MLK MARCH CONTINUES TO BE THE TOP MARCH PARTICIPATED IN THE NATION. AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THROUGH Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP AND WORK AND WITH THE COUNCILMAN'S LEADERSHIP AS WELL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN. LET'S CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE MLK MARCH AND I KNOW WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE 2026 BUDGET SOON AND WE'LL BE SUPPORTING THAT WORK FINANCIALLY SO IT WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN TOP IN THE NATION. CONGRATULATIONS WHEN YOU DO SO MUCH WORK. I HAVE A NOTE THAT YOU GAVE ME A COUPLE OF WEEK OR MONTHS AGO AND IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I'M NOW GOING TO HAVE A GLOW OVER MY HEAD THE REST OF THE DAY BECAUSE OF THE DANCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, DWAYNE. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. [APPLAUSE] COUNCILWOMAN DR. ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERDUE PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE. WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE CHANCE. BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE A VERY VALUABLE COMMUNITY PARTNER, AND THAT'S THE SALVATION ARMY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND IN PARTICULAR IT'S JUST TO GIVE KUDOS TO THEIR PARADE OF KETTLE COMPETITION. THE PARADE OF KETTLE [00:35:02] COMPETITION IS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN. YOU MIGHT BE MOST FAMILIAR WITH IT FROM THE DALLAS COWBOYS JUMPING INTO THE BIG KETTLE EVERY TIME THEY SCORE A TOUCHDOWN BUT THE REALITY IS EVERY YEAR AROUND THE HOLIDAYS WE SEE VOLUNTEERS AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND SAN ANTONIO ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO DONATE FOR A GOOD CAUSE. YOU HAVE HEARD THE BELLS RINGING. YOU ALMOST KNOW THAT IT'S CHRISTMASTIME WHEN YOU START SEEING THEM. REMINDING PEOPLE THAT THE FUNDS RAISED DURING THE PARADE OF KETTLES HELPS THOSE SEEKING SHELTER IN OUR COMMUNITY. MOTIVATES US TO CONTRIBUTE. PEOPLE RECEIVE WARM MEALS, HAVE ACCESS TO SHELTERS, GET HELP WITH GROCERIES AND EVEN HELP WITH FUNDING ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN, VETERANS, AND OLDER ADULTS. THE COMPETITION WAS STARTED IN SAN ANTONIO BY A FORMER SALVATION ARMY IN 2009 AND THE COMPETITION CONSISTED OF 13 KETTLES THIS YEAR. AFTER YEARS OF VOLUNTEERING AS A BELL RINGER I HAD MY OWN KETTLE THIS YEAR. I CAME IN FOURTH PLACE. IT WAS A FUN EXPERIENCE MEETING PEOPLE AND SHOWING THEM MY KETTLE WAS CLARISSE, RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER'S GIRLFRIEND. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS CLARISSE FROM SILENCE OF THE LAMBS BUT, NO. I WANT TO THANK AMY FOR HER CREATIVITY IN DESIGNING THE KETTLE AND ADDING THE EXTRA FLAIR, INCLUDING CLARISSE'S CUTE BOW AND BIG EYELASHES. COLLECTIVELY THE COMPETITORS RAISED MORE THAN $28,000 TO HELP SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. PROCEEDS BENEFIT PROGRAMS YOU SUCH AS THE SALVATION ARMY EMERGENCY FAMILY SHELTER, SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE BRAD MAYER TO THE PODIUM TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMPETITION AND ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THEIR OWN KETTLE NEXT YEAR. BRAD, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. HER KETTLE WAS CLARISSE SO I DID GET SOME QUESTIONS GETTING OFF THE ELEVATOR THIS MORNING IN THE COUNCIL PARKING GARAGE, WHY DO YOU HAVE ANTLERS, DON'T YOU KNOW IT'S FEBRUARY. WE JUST HAD VALENTINE'S DAY. I'M GOING TO CITY COUNCIL. I'M HUMBLED TO REPRESENT THE SALVATION ARMY. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK AND SUPPORT WE RECEIVED THROUGH THE YEARS. COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU. EVEN BEFORE YOU FIRST BECAME A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A SUPPORTER OF THE SALVATION ARMY AND BEEN THERE FOR US, READY TO JUST ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET INVOLVED. MAYOR PRO TEM KAUR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORTING US THIS SEASON. COUNCILMAN COURAGE, HE WAS ALSO. AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO VOLUNTEER, COME TAKE A TOUR, GET INVOLVED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THERE AT THE SALVATION ARMY. I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT PEOPLE SAY WHEN THEY COME AND TAKE THE TOUR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT US IS THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO. SO WE'RE REALLY OPEN TO EVERYONE AND WE HAVE SOMETHING. AND THE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED SHE DID FINISH FOURTH PLACE IN THE COMPETITION THIS YEAR. COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU CAN COME DOWN JUST A SECOND, I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU. WE HAVE TO COMMEMORATE THIS FOURTH-PLACE FINISH. IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. IT COULD ALSO BE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT YOU HAD YOUR OWN KETTLE IN THE COMPETITION, AFTER YEARS OF BEING A BELL RINGER. ON BEHALF OF THE SALVATION ARMY. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRAD. THE SALVATION ARMY DOES AMAZING WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I'M GLAD WE HAVE ONE OF THE SHELTERS IN DISTRICT 1 AS [CONSENT AGENDA  ] WELL. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY. ON CONSENT WE HAVE ITEMS 4 THROUGH 27. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY ITEMS THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL TODAY? PULL FIRST. WHO SAID ALL OF THEM? NO ITEMS? CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. DO WE HAVE ANY FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? MR. FINGER, YOU WILL BE SPEAKING ON ITEMS 16 AND 18. >> WELL, MADAME MAYOR PRO TEM AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR [00:40:11] ILLUSTRIOUS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE BLACK HERITAGE CELEBRATION. IN THE INTEREST OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WE CELEBRATE WHITE HISTORY MONTH. ONE ITEM I DO WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, ITEM NO. 18. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, SHOW 18 THERE IN THAT YELLOW AREA THERE. BLOW IT UP A LITTLE BIT THERE. AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AGREEMENTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES TO SUPPORT NATIONAL ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC AND THE LOCAL EHE INITIATIVES FOR AN AMOUNT OF $187,000 AND CHANGE. RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM. HIV/AIDS. THAT'S THE DISEASE, SEXUAL DISEASE, THAT OF COURSE IS CONTRACTED BY SEXUAL CONTACT. 90% OF ITS VICTIMS ARE MEMBERS OF THE HOMOSEXUAL COMMUNITY SO THE QUESTION IS WILL THESE AGENCIES -- FIRST OF ALL IS THERE A CURE FOR AIDS? NOPE. NO CURE SO FAR. A LOT OF TREATMENTS FOR IT BUT HOW DO YOU STOP AIDS? HOW DO YOU PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING? THERE IS ONE TECHNIQUE THAT WORKS EVERY TIME IT'S USED. WHAT IS IT? ALL AT ONCE. ABSTINENCE. >> KAUR: JACK, PLEASE REMAIN PERTINENT TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA. >> ON ITEM NO. 18 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH AIDS, HIV AND WHAT ARE THESE AGENCIES GOING TO DO? ARE THEY GOING TO PROMOTE THE ONE THING THAT WORKS? ABSTINENCE. I WAS LOOKING AT THEIR BACK-UP DOCUMENTS, MAYOR PRO TEM. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, IF YOU WOULD PUT THIS ON THERE. TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. THIS IS FROM THE FIESTA YOUTH COMMISSION, THAT'S ONE OF THE AGENCIES DOING THIS. WHAT DOES IT DO? CONTRACT TO CONDUCT A MINIMUM OF 60 MINUTE HEALTH HIV CLASS AGES 12 TO 18. SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, IF YOU WOULD. PROVIDE ROUTINE HIV SCREENING SERVICES. DO THE PARENTS GET A CHANCE TO LEARN WHETHER THEIR YOUTH ARE DOING THIS? ALSO THAT ONE RIGHT THERE, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN. WHAT DOES IT SAY? MSM. MEN HAVING SEX WITH MEN OR YOUTH EVERY THREE MONTHS. 100 SAFE SEX KITS AND OUTREACH MATERIALS PER MONTH. SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. YEAH. NUMBER OF SAFE SEX KITS. YES. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, JACK. >> LET'S SEE IF ANYBODY -- >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, JACK. NEXT UP WE HAVE JENNIFER PAYNE SPEAKING ON ITEM 18. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MADAME MAYOR PRO TEM. I'M JENNIFER PAYNE. I AM FROM BEAT AIDS AND I HAVE WITH ME OUR CEO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MICHELLE DURHAM. I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY AGENCY BUT I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD SOME OF MY TIME. THIS IS JOSE CONTRERAS, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF OUR PREVENTION PROGRAMMING AT BEAT AIDS. WE ARE HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AGE 18 ON THE AGENDA FOR SEVERAL REASONS . WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU VOTE TO FUND IT BUT BE MINDFUL ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS A QUESTION OF FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE FUTURE. WHAT MAY HAPPEN OR COULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE WITH FEDERAL FUNDING, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SHOULD CONTINUE TO FUND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV, AFFECTED, AND AT RISK FOR HIV. WE HAVE THE TOOLS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO END THE HIV EPIDEMIC. DIAGNOSIS, LINKAGE TO CARE, AND CONSISTENT TREATMENT. IF WE DO NOT CONTINUE PROGRAMS, WE ARE GOING TO SEE DIAGNOSES INCREASE AND A LACK OF CARE. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TREAT THE FOLKS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND TO END THE EPIDEMIC. WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO SO AND WITH FUNDING WE CAN DO THAT. THERE ARE ALMOST 8,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO WITH HIV. IF YOU ADD THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED, SO DEPENDENTS IN THE HOME, THAT KIND OF THING, AND PEOPLE AT RISK, IT'S EASILY TRIPLE THAT AMOUNT. WE STAND HERE TODAY ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE FUNDING AND CONTINUE FUNDING UNTIL WE END THE EPIDEMIC. [00:45:04] >> WE KNOW WE ARE MOSTLY SPEAKING TO THE CHOIR SO NO NEED FOR LONG SPEECHES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US STEP ON STIGMA, WHICH IS OUR THEME FOR THE BANQUET THIS YEAR, WHICH YOU WILL ALL BE INVITED TO. NEXT TIME WE SHOW UP WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A RED RIBBON SO YOU CAN WEAR IT PROUDLY AND SAY WE ARE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION. WE DON'T CARE WHERE IT COMES FROM, HOW IT STEMS, OR ANYTHING ELSE. THANK YOU, GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A BLESSED AND WONDERFUL WEEK. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. PAYNE AND THE TEAM. OKAY. [APPLAUSE] ITEMS FOR HIGHLIGHTS. COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I'M HIGHLIGHTING ITEM 13B. I COULDN'T BE MORE THRILLED TO THE APPOINTMENT OF ISRAA AJAM. SHE IS OUR DISTR DISTRICT 6 APPOINTEE. SHE BRINGS A WEALTH OF EXPERTISE IN ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY THAT WILL BE INVALUABLE TO OUR EFFORTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WITH OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE SHE HOLDS CERTIFICATIONS SUCH AS ENERGY -- CERTIFIED ENERGY MANAGER AND LEAD ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL AND HAS WORKED ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY INITIATIVES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. SHE DOESN'T JUST TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS, SHE'S IMPLEMENTING THEM. HER INVOLVEMENT IN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS HAS SOLIDIFIED HER AS A LEADER IN HER FIELD. WE'RE AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN OUR CITY'S JOURNEY TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE AND HAVING SOMEONE LIKE ISRAA ON BOARD ENSURES SAN ANTONIO WILL HAVE A VOICE THAT IS NOT ONLY KNOWLEDGEABLE BUT COMMITTED TO FINDING ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS. HER UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERTISE WILL ENSURE WE'RE MAKING INFORMED SUSTAINABLE CHOICES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SERVING, ISRAA. THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. DISTRICT 5 IS ALL SMILES TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 19, WHICH IS THE FUNDING FOR U.T. HEALTH SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR PEDIATRIC CARE AT THE SALINAS CLINIC ON GENERAL MCMULLEN. OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, OVER 46,000 PATIENTS HAVE RECEIVED DENTAL SERVICES AT THE CLINIC. LAST YEAR THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM PROVIDED ACCESS TO CARE FOR MORE THAN 642 CHILDREN WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE GONE WITHOUT RECEIVING TREATMENT. DISTRICT 5 FOUGHT HARD TO INCLUDE THIS FUNDING IN THE BUDGET AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY TEAM AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR ENSURING THAT U.T. HEALTH AND THE SALINAS CLINIC RECEIVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO CARE FOR OUR YOUTH. LASTLY I'M EAGER TO HIGHLIGHT 20. THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ALWAYS DOING GREAT WORK. THIS ENSURES DISTRICT 5 FAMILIES, SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE MUCH-NEEDED RESOURCES THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT 13A, APPROVING AVIANCA DE LA O, A BOARD APPOINT TO THE CLIMATE READY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS YOUNG AND HAS THE EXPERIENCE THAT SHE HAS WORKING WITH THE CHAMBERS, WORKING WITH THE RIVER AUTHORITY, VOLUNTEER TO SERVE, YOU FIND A SPOT FOR HER. I WANT TO THANK HER FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE ON COMMITTEES AND TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. THANK YOU. I'M DELIGHTED THAT SHE'S AGREED TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. THANK YOU. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS 24, 25, 26, AND 27. I'M GOING TO JUST KEEP THEM ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE SHORT ON TIME. IT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE SOUTH AND THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED IN HARD TO INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WE ENCOUNTER LESS THAN IDEAL SOIL CONDITIONS THAT WARRANT THE USE OF ECONOMIC TOOLS LIKE THE TIRZ IN ITEM 24 TO ENCOURAGE GROWTH STRATEGICALLY AND APPROPRIATELY. SO I'M THANKFUL TO THE PCDC COLLEAGUES FOR MOVING THIS ITEM FORWARD. AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE ORIGINAL PROPERTY OWNERS, THE GARZA FAMILY THAT'S HERE TODAY THAT ARE JOINING IN ATTENDANCE. AND WE HAVE TONS OF STORIES TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY CAME THREE YEARS AGO. THIS HAS BEEN THREE YEARS IN THE WORKING. AND MET WITH ME. AND WE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND [00:50:08] WE'VE HAD MEETINGS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SOUTHSIDE, THEIR COMMITMENT TO SEE GROWTH THERE IS REALLY ADMIRABLE BECAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT IN SOME OF OUR AREAS. AND SO REQUESTED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER, WE WILL BE ANNEXING TODAY SOME OF THAT SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU, GARZA FAMILY FOR MAKING THE TRIP. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE AND TO SEEING JUST THE FACE OF THE SOUTHSIDE AND THE SOUTHEAST SIDE GROW. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND PCDC FOR WORKING SO HARD ON THIS ALSO. THANK YOU. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY HIGHLIGHTS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE. WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE SO THIS IS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE, WE NEED A VOICE VOTE. >> COURAGE: AYE. >> KAUR: WONDERFUL. [City Manager's Report  ] MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, ERIK, DO YOU HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT? >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. JUST ONE EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS ONE OF OUR HARD-WORKING PRE-K 4 SA EMPLOYEES. AND ALSO WE HAVE AN UPCOMING SPRING JOB FAIR FOR OUR PRE-K CENTERS THIS SATURDAY ON FEBRUARY 22. LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO HIRE FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN EARLY EDUCATION, BOTH TEACHERS, TEACHER ASSISTANTS, PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO. >> I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR TEN AND A HALF YEARS AND I'M A MASTER TEACHER AT THE EAST PRE-K 4 SA CENTER. WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS THERE'S NO TWO DAYS THAT ARE THE SAME. I KNOW I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE SAME ROUTINE BUT TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE GOING TO WRITE THEIR NAME OR THEY'RE GOING TO TALK. IT'S SOMETHING NEW, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND I GET TO WITNESS A LOT OF FIRSTS. THE THING I LIKE BEST ABOUT WORKING FOR THE CITY IS THAT THE CITY REALLY VALUES TEACHERS. I FEEL THAT THE COMPENSATION FOR MASTER TEACHERS IS UNMATCHED BY ANYONE IN SAN ANTONIO. I ALSO FEEL THAT THEY VALUE OUR TIME. THEY GIVE US PLENTY OF TIME TO SET UP OUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THEY GIVE US THE BEST RESOURCES. I REALLY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND OUT OF MY OWN POCKET IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THE CHILDREN IN MY CLASSROOM. I'VE TAUGHT FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 11 YEARS -- I TAUGHT KINDERGARTEN BEFORE I CAME TO PRE-K 4 SA. I WAS EXCITED WHEN THEY INTRODUCED THE PROGRAM FOR PRE-K 4 SA. I DID COME ON BOARD THE SECOND YEAR THEY OPENED THE EAST CENTER. I SAW WE WERE DOING WHAT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AND THEY WERE LEARNING THROUGH PLAY, JUST HOW I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO WITH CHILDREN. SO WORKING -- COMING FROM THE DISTRICT AND COMING TO PRE-K 4 SA HAS BEEN THE BEST THING THAT'S HAPPENED FOR MY EDUCATIONAL CAREER. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERIK. [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:  ] ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW -- THE TIME IS NOW 10:05 A.M. ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087. PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072. AND THE LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, ALSO PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.