[00:00:02] [ PROCEDURAL  ] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:10 A.M. ON MARCH 27, 2025. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL? >> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WELCOME, EVERYONE. LOTS OF THINGS TO CELEBRATE AND TO RECOGNIZE TODAY. ONE THAT'S NOT ON THE LIST BUT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IS HAPPY OPENING DAY, EVERYBODY. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STARTS THEIR SEASON TODAY AND IF YOU'RE A BASEBALL FAN LIKE US, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. TO GET US STARTED TODAY, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER HAVRDA TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I INVITE REVEREND CAROLYN PITTMAN UP TO THE PODIUM. . SERVING AS PASTOR OF BETHEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. BEFORE THAT FROM 2008 TO '22 SHE LED HENSON CHAPEL IN GONZALES, TEXAS. SHE ANSWERED HER CALLING AS A LICENSED LOCAL PASTOR AFTER COMPLETING THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PASTOR SCHOOL IN 2008. SHE SERVED AS A CLINICAL CHAPLAIN IN THE METHODIST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND AS A CHAPLAIN ON THE SEXUAL ASSAULT TEAM OFFERING COMFORT AND STRENGTH TO THOSE IN THEIR MOST VULNERABLE MOMENTS. HER ACADEMIC JOURNEY IS JUST AS IMPRESSIVE. SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION FROM FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, A MASTER'S IN EDUCATION FROM BOSTON UNIVERSITY, AND A MASTER OF DIVINITY FROM THE ILLIFF SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. CAROLYN'S SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY IS EQUALLY INSPIRING. SHE STARTED HER ARMY CAREER IN GERMANY AND THEN WENT ON TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL IN GEORGIA WHERE SHE WAS COMMISSIONED IN THE MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS. SHE RETIRED IN THE U.S. ARMY RESERVE AND CONTINUED HER SERVICE AS A SPECIALIST WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY UNTIL HER RETIREMENT IN 2018. REVEREND PITTMAN'S LIFE HAS BEEN A SERVICE TO HER FAITH, COUNTRY, AND COMMUNITY AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER IN DISTRICT 6 AND IN SAN ANTONIO. TAKE IT AWAY, REVEREND. >> THANK YOU. LET US PRAY. DIVINE CREATOR, OUR SOURCE OF WISDOM, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. GRANT US WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND PATIENCE AS WE DISCUSS THE MATTERS BEFORE US. HELP US TO LISTEN WITH OPEN HEARTS, SPEAK WITH KINDNESS, AND SEEK WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL THOSE WE REPRESENT. MAY OUR DECISIONS REFLECT FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, AND A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD. BLESS OUR CITY, ITS LEADERS, AND ALL ITS CITIZENS. IN THIS SPIRIT WE DEDICATE OUR EFFORTS TODAY TO THE SERVICE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE BETTERMENT OF ALL. IT'S IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. [00:05:05] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REVEREND. ALL RIGHT. THE ONLY ITEM WE HAVE INDIVIDUALLY TODAY IS A BRIEFING ON OUR STATE [CONSENT AGENDA  ] LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 89TH SESSION. EVERYTHING ELSE IS LISTED FOR CONSENT CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 4 THROUGH 20. ANY DISCUSSION? I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE FOR ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NO ONE IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 6, AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT FOR THE UPGRADES AND REPLACEMENT THE ONLY LITTLE LEAGUES LEFT ON THE SOUTHSIDE. IT IS OPENING DAY AND, YOU KNOW, SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL IS KIND OF IN MY BLOOD SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE THE IDEA THAT ALL THESE LITTLE ONES ARE GOING TO GET TO PLAY ON FIELDS OF SUCH QUALITY I THINK NEEDS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED. AND I THANK MY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 5, WHICH IS THE INSTALLATION OF LIGHTS OVER AT MONTEREY PARK. I KNOW MS. AGGIE THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS GOING TO BE VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE THESE LIGHT UPGRADES. JUST WANT TO THANK HOMER AND HIS TEAM. AGGIE ALSO SERVES AS OUR PARKS APPOINTEE SO SHE'S DOING GREAT WORK THERE AS WELL. ITEM 20, I WANTED TO THANK DOUG AND THE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM FOR COMING UP WITH THIS PROGRAM AND CONNECTING SAN ANTONIANS TO E-BICYCLES THROUGH THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE CREATED, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS KICKOFF, AND GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF DOUG AND HIS TEAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 4 THROUGH 20. PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. WELL, RELATIVELY QUICK TODAY. IF YOU'RE HERE JUST FOR BUSINESS. BUT WE DO HAVE SOME RECOGNITIONS. AND IF YOU CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR, IT IS BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO IS ABOUT TO ONCE AGAIN BE THE CENTER OF THE BASKETBALL UNIVERSE WITH THE 2025 FINAL FOUR COMING TO TOWN. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AND ALL THE LEADERS WHO ARE PART OF THE EFFORT TO BRING BACK TO THE BEST LOCATION FOR A FINAL FOUR, THE 2025 GAMES. JENNY, BEFORE YOU START WITH YOUR COMMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO READ A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO SPORTS, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD, AND VISIT SAN ANTONIO WILL HOST THE 2025 NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR ON APRIL 4 THROUGH 7, 2025 AT THE ALAMODOME. AND WHEREAS THE ROAD TO SAN ANTONIO BEGAN WITH 68 TEAMS PLAYING IN A TOURNAMENT TO DETERMINE THE MEN'S NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION 1 COLLEGE BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPION FOR THE 2024-25 SEASON. WHEREAS 2025 MARKS SAN ANTONIO'S FIFTH TIME TO HOST THE EVENT. AND WHEREAS MANY FUN-FILLED EVENTS SUCH AS THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR FAN FEST AND TIPOFF TAILGATE, DRIBBLE, AND THE MARCH MADNESS MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL BE OFFERED TO GIVE THE COACHES, PLAYERS, FANS, AND VISITORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY AND HOSPITALITY OF THE HISTORIC ALAMO CITY. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 4 THROUGH 7, 2025 TO BE NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR WEEKEND IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS . WELCOME BACK. [APPLAUSE] >> WELL, GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR THAT PROCLAMATION. IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL. ERIK, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING. WE BUT SO PROUD TO BE BACK HERE. IT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO AFTER THE 2018 FINAL FOUR THAT OUR STAFF WAS HERE TO CELEBRATE THE SUCCESS OF OUR FOURTH NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'LL REMEMBER WHEN WE WENT TO BOSTON AND [00:10:03] PRESENTED TO THE DIVISION 1 MEN'S BASKETBALL COMMITTEE SEVEN YEARS AGO, IT WAS RIGHT AROUND BASEBALL TIME, BECAUSE WE WERE IN BOSTON SO WE GOT TO SEE THE RED SOX PLAY. BUT WE PUT A VERY COMPETITIVE BID TOGETHER THAT MADE SAN ANTONIO SHINE. BUT IN ALL HONESTY, OUR 2018 PERFORMANCE WAS WHAT WON US THE BID TO HOST NEXT YEAR -- OR THIS YEAR -- NEXT WEEK. EIGHT DAYS AWAY FROM TIPPING OFF IN THE ALAMODOME. AND THERE'S SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW. AND WATCHING IT ALL COME TOGETHER FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS, DOWNTOWN, THE BANNERS, THE ALAMODOME COULD NOT LOOK BETTER RIGHT NOW. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT ONE TEAM IN SAN ANTONIO, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE MANY DEPARTMENTS FROM CCDO, CSEF, PD, FIRE, EVERYBODY THAT HAS WORKED SO HARD FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS TO PUT THIS EVENT TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE SHINE NEXT WEEK, THAT WE HAVE A SAFE EVENT. I GET PUT IN CHARGE OF THE WEATHER FOR ALL OF OUR EVENTS. CLEARLY, I'M GETTING ALL OF THE RAIN OUT OF THE WAY. WE'RE WATERING THE MARCH MADNESS MUSIC FESTIVAL LAWN RIGHT NOW BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEEK . I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR JUST SUPPORTING OUR EFFORT, FOR SUPPORTING OUR FUNDING MODEL. ERIK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND BEING BEHIND US THE WHOLE WAY. EIGHT YEARS WHEN I STARTED THIS BID, EIGHT YEARS TO SEE THIS TROPHY AND TO KNOW EIGHT DAYS OUT, IS PRETTY EXCITING FOR ME. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE UTSA AND BEING A UIW ALUMNI CLASS OF '99, THAT WE NOW HAVE TWO DIVISION HOST UNIVERSITIES IN SAN ANTONIO IS VERY EXCITING FOR ME. AND TO THANK THE 2500 CITIZENS FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT SIGNED UP TO VOLUNTEER MONTHS AGO. WE'VE BEEN FULL IN ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEER SHIFTS FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS. AND SO JUST ANOTHER TESTAMENT TO WHAT THIS CITY DOES FOR THE FINAL FOUR, WHAT THE NCAA MEANS TO SAN ANTONIO AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS EVENT IS. WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN IF THE NCA LETS US. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR NUMBER ONE VOLUNTEER IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, MY BOSS FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS, OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, PAT FROST. >> THANK YOU, JENNY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW, JENNY COULD NOT SAY NAMES BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A LONG LIST OF NAMES THAT HAVE HELPED US OUT. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU. AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE EFFORTS. JENNY DESCRIBED THEM WELL BUT I AM GOING TO SAY A COUPLE OF NAMES. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT FOR ALEX AND LORI, YOUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, FOR PATRICIA WHO RUNS THE CONVENTION CENTER AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE ALAMODOME. AND STEVE IS HERE AND ALL THE GREAT WORK ON THE DOME IS GOING TO MAKE US ALL REALLY PROUD NEXT WEEK. FINALLY, JENNY ALLUDED TO THE FUNDING. BEN HAS BEEN BY OUR SIDE AND IT'S ALL LED BY ERIK. AGAIN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT CITY STAFF Y'ALL HAVE PUT TOGETHER. NOW, HAVING PARTICIPATED IN ALL EIGHT OF THESE FINAL FOURS, I CAN GUARANTEE THAT THE FINAL FOUR IS MUCH MORE THAN A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. IT IS TRULY A FOUR-DAY COMMUNITY CELEBRATION WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE WHERE WE GET TO SHOW OFF SAN ANTONIO IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. SINCE THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON TIPPED OFF IN THE FALL, SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN THE GOAL FOR EVERY TEAM THAT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON. WE'RE EXCITED TO WELCOME THE WORLD -- YES, THERE ARE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S NCA BASKETBALL FANS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE, WHETHER THEY'RE HERE IN THE CITY OR WATCHING ON TELEVISION. IT IS TRULY A GIFT TO OUR CITIZENS AND WE THANK THE NCA FOR AWARDING US. HOSTING THE FINAL FOUR ELEVATES OUR CITY. FOR MONTHS EVERY COLLEGE BASKETBALL BROADCAST HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ROAD TO SAN ANTONIO. THAT'S ADVERTISING YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE TAG ON. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS UNDENIABLE. THE PROJECTION WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN INDICATES THAT THE FINAL FOUR WILL DELIVER $440 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT. THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO OUR CITY, ESPECIALLY OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, HOTELS, AND RESTAURANTS. AND WE KNOW THAT THE FINAL FOUR CAN SPUR FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS VISITING BUSINESS LEADERS GET A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE SAN ANTONIO AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO DO BUSINESS. AND IT'S A WHOLESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES TO ENGAGE IN THE WORLD OF COLLEGIATE SPORTS. THERE ARE SO MANY EVENTS TO ENJOY BEYOND THE GAMES IN THE ALAMODOME. THERE'S A GREAT LINE BY JOANN [00:15:01] SCOTT, WHO RUNS THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR THE NCA, NO TICKET, NO PROBLEM. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN SAN ANTONIO TO COME DOWNTOWN AND WELCOME OUR VISITORS AND TAKE PART IN THE FESTIVITIES. IT STARTS ON FINAL FOUR FRIDAY, A WEEK FROM TODAY. THE ALAMODOME WILL BE OPEN FREE FOR ALL CITIZENS TO COME ENJOY FREE PARKING IN THE ALAMODOME PARKING LOT AND TO SEE ALL FOUR TEAMS PRACTICE AND AN ALL-STAR GAME OF PLAYERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE THE ONES NOT PARTICIPATING FROM THE FOUR TEAMS. THE GREAT DESCRIPTION IN THE RESOLUTION Y'ALL PASSED, THERE'S A MARCH MADNESS MUSIC FESTIVAL FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. AGAIN, FREE. THE TIPOFF TAILGATE IN THE PARK AT HEMISFAIR WHERE YOU CAN WATCH THE GAMES, BOTH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR GAMES ON THE BIG SCREEN. AGAIN, FREE. THE FINAL FOUR FAN FEST AT THE HENRY B. GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER IS FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY AND IT IS A NOMINAL CHARGE. IF YOU SHOW UP FOR THE DOME DRIBBLE AT TRAVIS PARK, WE HAVE SOLD OUT ON ENTRIES BUT NO ONE IS GOING TO STOP AND BRING THEIR OWN BASKETBALL AND DRIBBLE IN, THEY WILL BE ALLOWED IN FREE. AS WE ALL KNOW, SAN ANTONIO LOVES A RIVER PARADE AND YOU CAN COME ENJOY THE BIGGEST PEP RALLY FOR ALL FOUR TEAMS 11:00 A.M. NEXT SATURDAY IN THE RIVER CENTER LAGOON . IF YOU WANT TO STAY UP LATE AFTER THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON MONDAY NIGHT -- YEP, IT MAY BE TUESDAY MORNING, AT ARNESON RIVER THEATRE, THE WINNING TEAM GETS TO CELEBRATE. NOW I'M GOING TO BRING UP L.J. WRIGHT. HE KNOWS SAN ANTONIO AS A FINAL FOUR CITY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. HE WAS ON THE FUTURE HOST VISITING IN 1998 FOR INDIANAPOLIS AND THEN GOT HIRED WITH THE NCA AND HAS BEEN WITH US FOR NOW FOUR MEN'S FINAL FOURS. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIM COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS. >> MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, ON BEHALF OF THE NCAA AND THE DIVISION ONE MEN'S BASKETBALL COMMITTEE, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU . THIS CITY IS A SPECIAL CITY FOR OUR EVENT. THE FINAL FOUR, BOTH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S, ALWAYS ARE INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY'RE HERE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, THE EFFORT, THE ENERGY THAT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY PUT IN TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS AND TO KEEP OUR FANS SAFE. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ELENA WELLS FOR GETTING US WHERE WE ARE. WE ARE SO EXCITED TO A WEEK FROM MONDAY BE CROWNING OUR FIFTH NATIONAL CHAMPION FOR MEN'S BASKETBALL HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS. WE KEEP HEARING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IF FOLKS IN CHARGE WERE REALLY IN CHARGE, THE SAN ANTONIO FINAL FOUR WOULD BE ON A FOUR-YEAR ROTATION. WE'RE GOING TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE AN EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE AND, JENNY, I DO THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF PAST PERFORMANCE AND THE WAY THE CITY WELCOMES VISITORS AND LOCALS TO ENJOY THE SAME SPACES AND ENJOY GREAT COLLEGE BASKETBALL. BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE WHOLE TEAM, YOUR TEAM, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY'S EFFORT FOR THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR IN 2021. WE FORGET ABOUT THAT ONE BUT THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR SAN ANTONIO AS WELL. IT WAS UNDER SOME PRETTY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS AND SO THE ENTIRE FINAL FOUR EXPERIENCE FOR WOMEN WAS IN A BUBBLE. AND THE BUBBLE WAS IN SAN ANTONIO. SO NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE THE FINAL EIGHT TEAMS, WE HAD ALL 65 TEAMS AT THAT POINT SHARING THE SAME SPACE AND THE CHOREOGRAPHY AND SAFETY MEASURES AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL GAME, A FUN GAME. IT WAS OUTSTANDING AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THE KIND OF RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE THAT I THINK PEOPLE WILL LOOK BACK ON TO SEE A CITY THAT CAN PULL IT OFF, EVEN IN THE MOST CHALLENGES CIRCUMSTANCES. WE KNOW IT'S NOT ALL A CHALLENGE. THERE ARE GREAT THINGS TO CELEBRATE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE BUT WE HAVE SOME FUN THINGS TO DO, INCLUDING GOOD MUSIC. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THE FINAL FOUR IN TOWN. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO SHARE SOME REMARKS AS WELL SO WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I'M SO GLAD THEY'RE STARTING WITH ME. I WAS THERE IN 2018 AS VISIT SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE DID AND HOW WE ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET FOR NCAA, THE FINAL FOUR, JUST THE [00:20:02] EXCITEMENT THAT WAS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. I WAS THERE IN 2021 WHEN WE SAT AT THE STINSON HANGAR 9 AND WE JUST MADE SURE EVERYBODY GOT THEIR BASKETBALLS. AND WE WERE MASKING UP, WEARING GLOVES AS WE HANDED OUT BASKETBALLS. HERE WE ARE IN 2025 WITH TEXAS TECH. WHAT IS IT, L.J., LIKE FOUR GAMES AWAY, POSSIBLY? YEAH. TWO TO GET HERE. MY ALMA MATER -- L.J. YOU AND I TALK ABOUT 2019 AND THAT HEART BREAK BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE AND WE HAVE TEAMS THAT WE ARE INVESTED IN. I KNOW I'M INVESTED AND READY TO WATCH THE NEXT TWO GAMES. AND THIS IS THE EXCITEMENT IT DOES. AND IT SPEAKS TO WHAT THIS COMMUNITY ENJOYS, HOW THEY RELAX, WHERE THEY COME TOGETHER AND JUST FELLOWSHIP, BASICALLY. SO I AM SO EXCITED THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE. I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN MY DISTRICT. AND HAVING THAT, YOU KNOW, PRESENTED NEXT WEEK. SO I'M READY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I'M READY FOR IT TO GET HERE BUT I'M HOLDING MY BREATH UNTIL THEN. WELL DONE. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. THANK YOU AND WELL DONE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN SAID SHE'S WAITING FOR HER RED RAIDERS. I'M WAITING FOR PITBULL. I'M EXCITED . THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND I SERVED ON VISIT SAN ANTONIO. GOT TO SERVE WITH MR. FROST AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS AND SO IT'S FINALLY HERE. I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I SAW THE BIG BASKETBALLS BEING PUT UP AND IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE I WAS LATE TO A MEETING THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE THE STREET WAS CLOSED AND IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT BECAUSE THOSE BASKETBALLS LOOK AMAZING, BY THE WAY. I WANTED TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO MY CLASS ABOUT THE ROAD TO SAN ANTONIO. AND AS I WAS WATCHING SOME OF THE GAMES FOR THE SWEET 16, THE ANNOUNCER WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ROAD TO SAN ANTONIO MADE ME SO PROUD EVERY TIME I WOULD HEAR THAT. IN MARKETING DOLLARS, LIKE, THAT'S INCREDIBLE. SO I WAS TRYING TO TEACH MY STUDENTS ABOUT THAT AND ONE OF THEM DO IS FOLLOW ALONG AS WE GET TO THE FINAL FOUR BECAUSE IT'S COMING TO SAN ANTONIO. BUT WHAT I WAS MOST PROUD OF WAS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE A FOCUS ON. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALSO, THE CAREERS AND NON-TRADITIONAL CAREERS FOR WOMEN THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE WEBSITE. I DID A WEBSITE EXPLORATION WITH MY STUDENTS AND THEY WERE JUST SO IMPRESSED. THE COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT GOES INTO IT AND ESPECIALLY THE READING. SO I WAS LOOKING AT THE BRACKET AS THE LOOKS LIKE WERE DOING THE READING. ONE OF THEM WAS IN MY DISTRICT SO I'VE GOT TO CHECK HOW THEY DID. BUT THE EXCITEMENT WAS THERE AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL I WAS ABLE TO SAY THIS IS COMING TO OUR TOWN AND GO TO THESE FREE EVENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THAT ACCESSIBLE AND MAKING IT HAPPEN. BUT IT TAKES EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TO SHOWCASE SAN ANTONIO AND I'M JUST READY TO BE OF ASSISTANCE IN WHATEVER I CAN. ALTHOUGH I WAS ON THE B TEAM MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL SO I'M NOT REALLY GOOD AT ASSISTS BUT I'M THERE FOR YOU ALL. PLEASE, I'M THERE ROOTING FOR YOU ALL. AND I DO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE MR. FROST BECAUSE I HEARD THAT THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED YOU TO A VERY IMPORTANT BOARD FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THAT'S THE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR WORK THERE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S A REAL TREAT FOR SAN ANTONIO TO HOST FINAL FOUR. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST GOING TO BLOW MY OWN HORN A LITTLE BIT. I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO STILL PLAYS BASKETBALL EVERY WEEK. I PLAY WITH A BUNCH OF BUDS EVERY MONDAY NIGHT. BUT OF COURSE THE MONDAY NIGHT AFTER THIS COMING MONDAY WE WON'T BE PLAYING, WE'LL BE WATCHING THE GAMES. AND THEY SAID, BECAUSE THEY KNEW YOU WERE COMING, THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, IF YOU COULD GET US ALL TICKETS TO THE FINAL FOUR, WE WOULD SURE APPRECIATE IT. I TOLD THEM DON'T COUNT ON IT. BUT, ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE RESPECT AND THE APPRECIATION FOR SAN ANTONIO. WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THE ATHLETES AND ALL OF THE FAMILIES WHO COME ARE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE NCAA CONSIDERING SAN ANTONIO AND HOPE THEY WILL CONSIDER US IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THE CHALLENGE OF PLAYING BASKETBALL EVERY WEEK. WE SHOULD GO PLAY SOME TIME. I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR [00:25:05] THIS COMMUNITY. LIKE MENTIONED ALREADY, MY FAVORITE PART OF THE PROGRAM IS THE WEEK TO THE FINAL FOUR. I HAVE HAD FRIENDS TELL ME THEIR KIDS ARE READING CONSTANTLY AT NIGHT AND THAT IS, TO ME, THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WE DO SPORTS FOR . WE CALL THEM STUDENT ATHLETES AND YOU KNOW THE FIRST PART OF THAT WORD IS "STUDENT." YOUTH SPORTS FOR ME WAS A GREAT WAY TO TEACH DISCIPLINE, TEAMMATE, RESILIENCE, AND FOCUS ON ACADEMICS. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHO WINS THE COMPETITION THIS YEAR. HAS IT ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED? I WAS LOOKING FOR THE EXPRESS NEWS ARTICLES. BUT EVEN THE EXPRESS NEWS HAS BEEN FOLLOWING IT SO SUPER EXCITED TO SEE THAT PROGRESS. LAST TIME THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR WAS HERE WAS DURING COVID BUT I WAS VOLUNTEERING WITH SOME OF THOSE TEAMS AND IT WAS A WEIRD TIME. I NEVER GOT TO MEET ANY OF THE PLAYERS BUT I DID A LOT OF DAIRY QUEEN DROPOFFS . I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT THE VOLUNTEERS. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS THAT PUT THEIR TIME AND EFFORT INTO MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SHOWING OFF SAN ANTONIO AND ALL THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. AND SO I KNOW THE TRAININGS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE BEEN GOING WELL. I HAVE BEEN GETTING PICTURES ABOUT THEM. BUT THANK YOU TO THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE LISTENING, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T DO THIS -- I KNOW Y'ALL'S TEAM COULDN'T DO THIS ALONE BUT IT ALSO SHOWS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE. THAT'S WHAT FOLKS REMEMBER, THE PEOPLE, THE UBER DRIVERS, THE FOLKS THEY ARE CONNECTING WITH. SUPER EXCITED TO BE CELEBRATING. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE CONCERTS AS WELL. AND WE'LL SEE WHO MAKES IT TO THE FINAL FOUR. I JUST WANT TO -- I'M SORRY. I WANT TO END BY SAYING THAT I THINK YOU GUYS ARE THE RIGHT TEAM TO BE LEADING THIS WORK AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL IN DOING THAT EFFORT. THANKS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, JENNY AND TEAM FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. IN 2008 I WAS 16, HAD MY FIRST JOB ON THE SAN ANT SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK AND THERE WAS A FINAL FOUR. THERE'S NO EVENT THAT AUDIO]. AGAIN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE CONFERENCES OFTENTIMES FOLKS ARE ASKING FOR AN ITEMIZED RECEIPT TO GET REIMBURSED BY THEIR EMPLOYER BUT WHEN WE ARE HERE FOR COLLEGE SPORTS, FOLKS ARE HERE WITH THEIR FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS A GREAT IMPACT AND AS MY FIRST JOB ON THE RIVER WALK I WENT TO SPEND ANOTHER NINE-PLUS YEARS WORKING DOWNTOWN IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND THAT'S THE TREND. IF YOU'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE A COLLEGE SPORT OR WATCH A COLLEGE GAME, THAT'S WHERE THE GREATEST IMPACT IS. WHAT I VALUE ABOUT THE FINAL FOUR IS THE EVENTS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. SOME OF MY CO-WORKERS AT THE TIME WOULD HAVE THEIR FAMILIES AND SPOUSE GO TO THE EVENT AND MEET UP AFTER THE CONCERT. IT'S JUST ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE AND A LOT OF ECONOMIC IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE FINAL FOUR. GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO AND I KNOW THAT'S PART OF WHY I STAYED IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. BECAUSE IT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYBODY. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT WEEK AND LET'S NOW GO EXECUTE AND ENJOY SOME BASKETBALL. [APPLAUSE] >> COME OUT AND JOIN MY BASKETBALL THIS COMING MONDAY. JUST BRING YOUR SNEAKERS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S THE KIND OF CHALLENGE I LIKE TO HEAR DURING NCAA. I WILL BE THERE COURTSIDE WATCHING THIS GAME. CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. LET'S GO DOWN AND GET A PICTURE. [00:34:22] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WE DO HAVE THE REST OF OUR COUNCIL MEETING, SO IF YOU CAN BEGIN TO TAKE YOUR SEATS WE'LL GO AHEAD AND RESUME OUR MEETING. WE CAN STAGE THAT IN THE FOYER AND FOLKS CAN COME UP AND TAKE PICTURES WITH THE TROPHY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FOR BRINGING THE FINAL FOUR BACK. NOW, BEFORE WE GET TO THE REST [00:35:05] OF OUR MEETING, IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME -- IF WE COULD GET QUIET IN THE BACK AS YOU EXIT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON WITH OUR MEETING. AND I DO WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT. I WOULD BE REMISS, AMONG ALL OF OUR RECOGNITIONS TODAY, AND I MENTIONED OPENING DAY IS SOMETHING I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT AS WELL. TODAY IS ALSO -- I'M SORRY. NOT TODAY BUT MONDAY IS OBSERVED AS TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY. AND I'M GETTING A LITTLE NOSTALGIC THESE DAYS BUT ON THE FIRST DAY OF MY TENURE AND INAUGURATION, I MADE VERY CLEAR THAT AT LEAST AS FAR AS I COULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE WE LED THIS CITY WITH AN ERA OF INCLUSION AND THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYONE HAS DIGNITY AND VALUE IN OUR CITY, REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE. AND THAT WE WOULD TRULY LIVE UP TO THE IDEAL OF BEING A CITY FOR ALL PEOPLE. OUR TRANSGENDER NEIGHBORS HAVE MADE COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS, HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE, SERVE IN OUR MILITARY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THEY ARE OUR LOVING, CARE NEIGHBORS AND TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, ESPECIALLY AS OUR CURRENT POLITICS LOOKS FOR NEW WAYS TO DIVIDE PEOPLE AND CATEGORIZE PEOPLE AND PIT ONE PERSON AGAINST THE OTHER, I ASK THAT WE ARE TOGETHER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THE KIND OF LOVING, CARING NEIGHBORS FOR THEM AS YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM ANYONE ELSE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT IN AN ERA WHERE WE THINK LESS AND LESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ELEVATE THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY, AS WE RECOGNIZE TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY, WE ARE HONORING AND UPLIFTING THE RESILIENCE, BRILLIANCE, AND POWER OF THE TRANS COMMUNITY. WHILE VISIBILITY IS IMPORTANT, IT IS NOT ENOUGH. OUR TRANS SIBLINGS, ESPECIALLY BLACK TRANS WOMEN, HAVE LONG BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE LEADING MOVEMENTS AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY, FOR EQUALITY, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, AND BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY. DESPITE THEIR LEADERSHIP, THEY CONTINUE TO FACE ATTACKS FROM THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO CONGRESS, FROM COURTROOMS TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. THESE ATTACKS ARE NOT JUST POLITICAL, THEY ARE PERSONAL. THEY ARE VIOLENT ATTEMPTS TO ERASE TRANS PEOPLE FROM PUBLIC LIFE, TO DENY THEM HEALTHCARE, TO BAN THEM FROM SPORTS, SCHOOLS, AND FROM SIMPLY EXISTING AS THEMSELVES. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE HUNDREDS OF ANTI-LGBTQIA+ BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED THIS SESSION ALONE, AMONG THEM AUDIO] GENDER IDENTITY FRAUD. BILLS TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR A HEALTH PROVIDER TO PROVIDER GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE AND THE RETURN OF MANY DANGEROUS BATHROOM BILLS. FACTS REMAIN THAT MAJOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS LIKE THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SUPPORT TRANSITION CARE FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS. THIS IS LIFE-SAVING AND WE MUST REFUSE AND REFUTE THE DEHUMANIZATION AND SCAPEGOATING OF TRANS PEOPLE. SAN ANTONIO MUST SEND A MESSAGE THAT WE WILL NOT BE SILENT OR COMPLICIT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND ENSURE THAT OUR CITY IS A PLACE WHERE EVERY PERSON, NO MATTER THEIR GENDER IDENTITY, CAN THRIVE. FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A BETTER ALLY, I INVITE YOU TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH US SATURDAY, MARCH 28 FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. IN AUDIO]. USE YOUR VOICE AND OPPOSE THESE DANGEROUS AND VIOLENT BILLS. INTERACT WITH MEDIA AND CULTURE THAT UPLIFTS POSITIVE AND ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF TRANS PEOPLE AND PROTECT THE CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE AND OPPOSE DISINFORMATION. I WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING TO ALL TRANS PEOPLE, THOSE I CONSIDER FRIENDS, COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE SO BRAVE AND WISE IN KNOWING WHO YOU ARE, YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE AFFIRMED. YOU DESERVE JOY, SAFETY, AND THE FREEDOM TO LIVE FULLY AS YOURSELVES. YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A FRIEND AND ALLY IN ME AND MY TEAM. HAPPY TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY. WE SEE YOU AND WE ARE IN THIS FIGHT TOGETHER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. OKAY. [ITEM FOR STAFF BRIEFING] BECAUSE ALL OF OUR BUSINESS WAS TAKEN CARE OF ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE DO HAVE JUST ONE ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING AND THAT IS ON THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MADAME CLERK, IF YOU COULD OPEN US UP WITH THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 3 IS A BRIEFING ON THE 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF I KNEW IT WAS THAT EXTENSIVE, I WOULD HAVE DONE IT MYSELF. SORRY, MADAME CLERK. SALLY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> BASURTO: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. [00:40:03] SALLY BASURTO, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. I'LL MAKE A DEAL WITH YOU THIS MORNING. IF YOU CAN MANAGE TO STAY IN A CELEBRATORY MOOD I PROMISE THAT MY PRESENTATION WILL BE BRIEF. WE DO CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE IN SAN ANTONIO. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SO THAT IS A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE. FOR THIS SESSION, OVER 8900 BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN FILED. THAT BREAKS A RECORD FOR THE MOST BILLS FILED DURING ONE SESSION. JUST LAST WEEK ON MARCH 14, WE HIT THE LAST DAY OF BILL FILING SO THE DUST IS STARTING TO SETTLE FOR US. THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM IS TRACKING AND MONITORING APPROXIMATELY 2,000 BILLS. THE MOST EVER. SO I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL AND AS WELL AS OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND LEGISLATIVE LIAISONS WHO WILL HELP US TRAVERSE AS WE DO THE HARD WORK TO DETERMINE WHAT THE IMPACT TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ITS RESIDENTS WILL BE. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS OVER 2,000 BILLS WERE FILED, MANY OF THEM WE FEAR WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON CITIES, NOT JUST SAN ANTONIO, BUT ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO TRACK AND MONITOR THOSE CLOSELY. AT THIS POINT THE FOCUS SHIFTS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION FROM INTRODUCING NEW LEGISLATION TO NOW COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND FLOOR DEBATES, WHICH OF COURSE WE WILL TRACK AND MONITOR AS WELL. COMMITTEE HEARINGS ARE IN FULL PROGRESS FORWARD AND THE SENATE IS ACTUALLY ADVANCING BILLS AT A FASTER PACE THAN THE HOUSE. WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE CYBER COMMAND PROPOSED LEGISLATION. I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANOTHER UPDATE FOR YOU TODAY ON HB 150. AS YOU MAY RECALL, IT ESTABLISHES THE TEXAS CYBER COMMAND AS A COMPONENT OF THE U.T. TEXAS SYSTEM AT UTSA. THE NEW ENTITY WOULD ASSUME SPECIFIC CYBERSECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES CURRENTLY MANAGED BY THE DIR AS WELL AS THE TEXAS CYBER COMMAND WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CYBERSECURITY THREAT INTELLIGENCE CENTER AND A CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT RESPONSE. LAST WEEK THE BILL WAS DISCUSSED IN THE COMMITTEE OF DELIVERY AND GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND IT WAS LEFT PENDING . I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT SAN ANTONIO WAS PRESENT IN SUPPORT WITH COUNCILMAN WHYTE PRESENTING LIVE TESTIMONY IN PERSON AS WELL AS GENERAL AYALA PROVIDED WRITTEN TESTIMONY. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS AS WELL AS OUR DELEGATION IN SUPPORT OF THE SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY OR THE EAST-WEST CORRIDOR. I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO YOU TODAY ON A FEW OF THE KEY MILESTONES. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM IS DILIGENTLY WORKING TO ADD THE PARKWAY TO OUR MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN TARGETING MAY 2025 AS THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL ACTION. THE NEXT STEP IS TO ADD THE PARKWAY TO THE MPO TRANSPORTATION PLAN, CALL FOR PROJECTS IS EXPECTED SUMMER 2026. IN THE MEANTIME, PAPE-DAWSON PREPARED COST ESTIMATES FOR THIS PROJECT. THAT INCLUDED SCHEMATIC DESIGN, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT. GREAT PIECE OF NEWS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP OF REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LUJAN FOR SUBMITTING ON OUR BEHALF FOR THIS PROJECT A REQUEST INTO THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS ON THE HOUSE SIDE FOR $12.5 MILLION. ESSENTIALLY FOR SCHEMATIC DESIGN, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS IS A VERY LENGTHY AND COMPLEX PROCESS BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF SESSION. THERE WILL BE MANY DISCUSSIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL BE HAD ON THIS BILL SO REP LUJAN WILL NEED ALL THE HELP HE CAN GET AND WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR ENTIRE DELEGATION IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST THAT REP LUJAN SUBMITTED AS A WRITER. WE WILL CONTINUOUSLY KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THIS REQUEST EVOLVES FURTHER. DANGEROUS DOGS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE [00:45:02] ONGOING SUPPORT THAT OUR DELEGATION HAS OFFERED US ON THIS ISSUE. DANGEROUS DOGS IS LEGISLATION THAT WE HOPE WILL MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. A PARTICULAR FOCUS, HB 2806, AGAIN REP LUJAN. IT ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS INCREASED FLEXIBILITY FOR ACS OFFICERS TO IDENTIFY AND MAKE DANGEROUS DOG DESIGNATIONS. IT INCREASES THE PENALTY FOR MULTIPLE BITE INCIDENTS, SPECIFICALLY FROM CLASS C TO CLASS B MISDEMEANOR AND RESTRICTS OWNERSHIP OF DOGS FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS OF DANGEROUS DOG BITES. THE BILL HAS MOVED A BIT AND IT'S BEEN REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH. ALSO A SPECIAL NOTE, REP CAMPOS FILED HB 2325. CREATES A STATEWIDE REGISTRY FOR DANGEROUS DOGS, MANDATING THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO COORDINATE WITH LOCAL ACS AUTHORITIES TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A PUBLICLY-ACCESSIBLE ONLINE REGISTRY. IF THIS BILL PASSES, SINCE OUR ACS TEAM ALREADY MAINTAINS A DATABASE FOR SAN ANTONIO, IT SHOULD BE A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO SHARE THIS DATA WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS IN MIND. ON TO E-CIGARETTE PROHIBITIONS. HB 1816 BY REP LUJAN. THIS IS RELATING TO A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY TO PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF E-CIGARETTE RETAILERS NEAR PUBLIC, PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOLS. IT ALLOWS THEM TO PROHIBIT THE RETAILERS FROM OPERATING WITHIN 1,000 FEET FROM A SCHOOL CAMPUS. IT IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THOSE STORES WHOSE GROSS RECEIPTS FROM THE SALE OF E-CIGARETTES ARE LESS THAN 50%. STORES THAT SELL DIFFERENT PRODUCTS OTHER THAN E-CIGARETTES WHERE THEIR RECEIPT GROSS SALES ARE MORE THAN 50%, IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO THEM. MAYBE THE CVS AND WALGREENS OF THE WORLD. THE BILL WAS HEARD AND LEFT PENDING AT THE TEXAS HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND I AM HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. WE SUBMITTED WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT FROM COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS, IN PARTICULAR HB 377 BY REP CORTEZ. WE OPPOSE THIS BILL. THIS PROHIBITS MUNICIPALITIES FROM HAVING SERVICES AGREEMENTS WITH A PROPERTY OWNER EARLIER THAN 90 DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF ANNEXATION. IT ALSO RESISTS ANY SERVICE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS. WE OPPOSE THIS BILL AS IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE ANNEXATION AND DESIGNATION OF MULTIPLE FUTURE SERVICES. ESSENTIALLY THIS BILL WOULD STRIKE OUR AGREED-UPON SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND REQUIRE NEW SERVICE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS 30 YEARS AFTER THE AGREEMENT WAS EXECUTED. IN SHORT, AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS BILL WOULD ESSENTIALLY INVALIDATE EXISTING CONTRACTS ON AGREED-UPON ANNEXATION PROVISIONS. NEXT BILL IS HB 2345, ALSO BY CORTEZ. PROHIBITS MUNICIPALITIES FROM REMOVING TERRITORY FROM AN ESD AND BEING THE SOLE PROVIDER FOR ESD SERVICES. CREATES A SITUATION WHERE THERE COULD BE DUPLICATIVE SERVICES ON NEWLY-ANNEXED TERRITORY. AGAIN, WE OPPOSE THIS BILL. IT WOULD CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THERE COULD BE DUPLICATIVE SERVICES IN TAXATION ON ANNEXED TERRITORIES AND WOULD OBVIOUSLY CREATE TAX ISSUES FOR THE RESIDENTS FROM TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES. A COUPLE OF BILLS OF NOTE TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR. HB 2736 PROPOSES THREE MAIN RULES FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS INVOLVING BONDS OR TAX INCREASES. REQUIRES APPROVAL FOR AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS VOTERS TO MOVE FORWARD. ELECTIONS MUST BE PLACED ON THE NOVEMBER UNIFORM ELECTION DATE. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT ISSUE BONDS WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL. THIS BILL WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS, INVESTMENTS, AND FINANCIAL SERVICES SO IT REALLY HASN'T MOVED. A SPECIAL NOTE. THIS IS NOT THE LEADERSHIP BILL THAT WE HOPE WILL NOT GET FILED BUT WE WOULD OPPOSE THIS BILL AS WELL. SB 33 BY SENATOR CAMPBELL PROHIBITS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES FROM USING TAKES PAIR RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ABORTION ASSISTANCE ENTITIES OR PROVIDE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR ABORTION. SENATOR CAMPBELL ORIGINALLY FILED IT AS SB 733. IT HAS BEEN ABSORBED AS A [00:50:02] PRIORITY BILL SB 33. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AS A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PRIORITY, THIS BILL WILL LIKELY MOVE. A COUPLE OF OTHER BILLS OF NOTE. HB 727. IT ADDS ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS WHICH INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR THE CRIME OF BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE. THIS ESSENTIALLY MAKES BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE A STATE JAIL FELONY INSTEAD OF A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. IT IS PENDING IN COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE AND COSA REGISTERED IN SUPPORT. HB 548 INCREASES THE PENALTIES, SIMILAR BILL FOR CRIME OF BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE. MAKES THE BASE OFFENSE A STATE JAIL FELONY INSTEAD OF A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. PLUS IT INCREASES THE MINIMUM JAIL TIME TO ONE YEAR FROM SIX MONTHS. ALSO PENDING IN CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE AND COSA REGISTERED IN SUPPORT. COUPLE MORE BILLS TO HIGHLIGHT. HB 1866 BY REPRESENT LUJAN ADDING ADDITIONAL STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO OUR SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS NATIONAL PARK. THE FEDERAL PARK OFFICERS ALREADY HAVE THE POWERS TO ARREST SEARCH AND SEIZURE FOR ANY OFFENSE UNDER STATE LAWS COMMITTED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS. THE NATIONAL PARK. THE ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY THEY SEEK TO GAIN, IF THIS BILL PASSES, IS ABILITY TO EXECUTE ARRESTS AND SEARCH WARRANTS UNDER STATE LAW. PLUS ABILITY TO PURSUE EMERGENCY DETENTION OR COURT-ORDERED PROTECTIVE DETENTION RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SUPPORT OF COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND COLLEEN SWAIN, OUR WORLD HERITAGE DIRECTOR. WE SUBMITTED WRITTEN TESTIMONY ON THEIR BEHALF IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. ON TO HB 3345 BY REP LOPEZ. THIS INCREASES THE OPTION OF COUNTY FEE FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION. IT ESSENTIALLY INCREASES VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE FOR UP TO $20. THAT WOULD BE UP $10 FOR BEXAR COUNTY. HOWEVER, IT DOES AND WILL REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL. SO THIS ESSENTIALLY GIVES THE COUNTY THE OPTION TO APPROVAL. IT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. THIS BILL WAS RECENTLY FILED BY REP LOPEZ AND IT'S EARLY IN THE PROCESS. COUPLE MORE BILLS ON THE MOVE. BOTH THESE BILLS ARE SENATE PRIORITY BILLS AND HAVE PASSED THE SENATE. SB 15 BY SENATOR BETTENCOURT, ORIGINALLY WHEN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PUSHED OUT HIS FIRST SET OF PRIORITIES, SB 15 IS TITLED REMOVING BARRIERS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO THIS BILL BY SENATOR BETTENCOURT CAPS THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF UNPLATTED PROPERTY OF FIVE ACRES OR MORE AND CREATES ZONING RESTRICTIONS FOR SMALL LOTS. THIS WOULD ESSENTIALLY WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT CITIES CAN REQUIRE FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, ESSENTIALLY AS IT'S BEEN REPORTED AND STATED. SMALLER HOMES ON SMALLER LOTS. IN A NUTSHELL, THIS WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE CITY'S ZONING REGULATIONS. WE WOULD HAVE TO UPDATE OUR CODE TO BE REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO THESE MORE LENIENT STANDARDS. IT ALSO COUNTERS OUR ZONING REGULATIONS ON RESIDENTIAL LOTS BECAUSE IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT CITIES CAN REQUIRE FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES TO BE ON. CURRENTLY, OUR CODES ALLOW DIFFERENT LOT SIZES, DEPENDING ON THE ZONE. AND MOST SINGLE FAMILY LOTS ARE APPROXIMATELY 6,000 SQUARE FEET OR SMALLER. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE A TEAM OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS HERE AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SALLY. AGAIN, MUCH APPRECIATED PERSPECTIVE AND RUNDOWN OF WHAT IS NOW 8900 BILLS. A RECORD NUMBER. AND 2,000 IN THE LAST THREE DAYS. GREAT JOB. GREAT WORK, EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: SO THE NEW REFRAIN THAT WE'RE HEARING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS WE JUST GOT TO GET ALONG, RIGHT, AND WE'VE GOT TO, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE THAT WE GOT TO PLAY BALL, RIGHT? AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE SAW TODAY IN YOUR PRESENTATION, SALLY, IT VALIDATES WHAT I BELIEVE, WHICH IS OUR JOB ISN'T [00:55:01] TO GET ALONG. OUR JOB IS TO ADVOCATE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS AND THIS INSTITUTION, WHICH IS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AS ZEALOUSLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. AND THEN ALSO OPPOSE THOSE THINGS WHICH ERODE OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER EXCELLENT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. THAT IS OUR JOB. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR JOB, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS, YOU KNOW, IN CHARGE OF AUSTIN AND WHO IS IN CHARGE OF D.C. I THINK YOU'RE DOING A MASTERFUL JOB, A VERY ELEGANT JOB OF FIGHTING FOR US AND I DO WANT TO CALL OUT ONE ISSUE THAT KIND OF STICKS IN MY CROCK IS I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ESD-RELATED BILLS FILED AND SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE PHIL CORTEZ AND SENATOR CAMPBELL. CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME IF THEY'RE MAKING AN ARGUMENT THAT THIS MAKES PEOPLE SAFER OR THAT THIS WILL INCREASE, YOU KNOW, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT SOMEBODY WILL SHOW UP QUICKER WHEN A 9-1-1 CALL IS MADE? IS THERE AN ARGUMENT THEY'RE MAKING THAT THIS ACTUALLY HELPS PEOPLE? >> BASURTO: COUNCILMAN, THE ESDS THAT REQUESTED THESE BILLS BE FILED, THEY DO HAVE A VERY SIMILAR ARGUMENT THAT YOU'RE STATING. SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS, YES. WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFF HERE THAT CAN -- >> PELAEZ: HOW DOES REMOVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S BEST FIRE FIGHTING BODY IN THE WORLD, HOW DOES REMOVING THEM FROM THE EQUATION MAKE PEOPLE SAFER? >> BASURTO: SO WE DON'T AGREE WITH THEIR JUSTIFICATION, THAT'S WHY WE'RE OPPOSING THE BILLS. >> PELAEZ: OKAY. >> COYLE: COUNCILMAN, I SPOKE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE TWO NIGHTS AGO AND THE BILL WAS BROUGHT TO THEM BY THE ESDS. THEIR CLAIM IS THAT IF THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO ANNEX TERRITORY THAT THEY CURRENTLY SERVE, THAT IT COULD MAKE THEM INSOLVENT. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WOULD LOSE TAX BASE AND NOT BE ABLE TO FUND THEIR OPERATIONS. I EXPLAINED TO HIM TWO THINGS. THAT WHEN THE AGREEMENTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GO BACK TWO AND THREE DECADES. THE MOST VISIBLE ONE IS THE CIBOLO CANYON, TPC SAN ANTONIO. EARLY 2000S THE CITY WOULD HAVE ANNEXED THAT PROPERTY, DIDN'T, BUT HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER THAT THEY WOULD DEVELOP THE AREA, COLLECT ASSESSMENTS AND REINVEST IN THAT AREA. AT A DATE CERTAIN IN THE FUTURE, 2034, WE WOULD ANNEX THAT TAX BASE INTO THE CITY. SO THESE ARE AGREEMENTS THAT GO BACK DECADES BETWEEN THE CITY AND LANDOWNERS. THE ESD IS NOT A PARTY TO THOSE AGREEMENTS. SO THEIR EXPLANATION WAS IF THAT PROPERTY WERE ANNEXED IT WOULD MAKE THEM INSOLVENT. I REMINDED THEM UNTIL THEIR BILL LAST SESSION, ALL THE ESDS HAD TO COME TO THE CITY BEFORE THEY TOOK ON DEBT AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD LOOK AT IS WHETHER SOME OF THEIR TERRITORY WAS SET TO BE ANNEXED IN THE FUTURE. IF IT WAS, WE WOULD ASK THEM TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND ONLY TAKE ON WHATEVER DEBT THEY COULD AFFORD BASED ON THAT AGREEMENT. THAT'S A LONG COMPLICATED ANSWER BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT'S MORE ABOUT THE FINANCES FOR ESDS THAN PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN SERVE THOSE AREAS MORE THAN ADEQUATELY. >> PELAEZ: LET'S SAY THE J.W. MARRIOTT ON TPC CATCHES FIRE, THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE 9-1-1 CALLS? IS THAT MY -- >> COYLE: NOT NECESSARILY. I'M LOOKING AROUND IN CASE THERE'S A FIRE DEPARTMENT ANSWER THAT'S BETTER. WE HAVE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS. I THINK WE CAN SERVE THOSE AREAS. THE QUESTION IS WHEN THAT BECOMES PART OF THE CITY ARE THE RESIDENTS RECEIVING CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES OR ESD SERVICES WHICH WERE MEANT TO SERVE AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY WHERE THERE ISN'T FULL-TIME FIRE PROTECTION. >> PELAEZ: CAN ANYBODY TELL ME IF THIS IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFER? >> RESOURCES. IF THERE'S AN ADJUSTMENT OF BOUNDARIES, THEN THAT ALWAYS COMES WITH THE PROVISION OR SERVICE. WE DISAGREE WITH THAT AND THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT JEFF HAD WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM. BUT WE DISAGREE WITH THAT NOTION THAT IT'S ABOUT SAFETY. IT'S ABOUT DOLLARS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT. >> PELAEZ: OKAY. I GET THAT. SO JUST -- AND I'M LAYING IT ON THICK SO OUR FRIENDS IN AUSTIN CAN UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENTS THAT I'LL BE MAKING HERE LOCALLY TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS THAT OUR FRIENDS IN AUSTIN WHO RAISE THEIR HANDS AND SWEAR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE INSTEAD FIGHTING FOR THE POCKETBOOKS OF ESDS. IS THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING, [01:00:10] ERIK? >> WALSH: I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD SAY IT LIKE THAT, BUT, YES. >> PELAEZ: I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T. THAT'S WHY I HAVE NO FILTER AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE. THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, RIGHT? WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IS THAT THESE LITTLE GOVERNMENT BODIES CALLED ESDS HAVE RUN TO A SENATOR AND A STATE REP AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE BUDDIES OF YOURS SO HELP US OUT. AND INSTEAD OF SAYING HOW IS THIS GOING TO MAKE MY CONSTITUENTS SAFER, THEY'RE SAYING YOU'RE RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO RUN AND HELP YOU WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR PEOPLE'S SAFETY. AND IT BOGGLES THE MIND HOW ANYBODY CAN THEN SAY NO, NO, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFER. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING ON TO THIS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HELP ANY SAN ANTONIANS AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HELP RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY. IT JUST SEEMS TO HELP A SMALL GOVERNMENT BODY CALLED AN ESD. THE SECOND THING IS WITH REGARDS TO VAPING AND 1,000 FEET, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, HAD A LEFT-HANDED COMPLIMENT PAID TO HIM BY THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT HIS VAPING INITIATIVE. READ IT. YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO ROLL YOUR EYES. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT COMES FROM THE RIGHT PLACE. I THINK THAT 1,000 FEET IS NEVER ENOUGH. YOU KNOW, MY HOPE IS THAT IT WOULD BE 50 MILES FROM ANY SCHOOL. THAT WE BAR VAPING SHOPS. BUT IT'S A BEGINNING AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAS STARTED AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION HERE LOCALLY ABOUT KEEPING THAT POISON AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE THEY'RE REALLY MARKETING IT TO OUR CHILDREN. MY TEAM AND I WENT TO GO INVESTIGATE WITH WHAT THEY'RE SELLING AT THESE VAPE SHOPS AND IT'S BUBBLEGUM AND WATERMELON-FLAVORED STUFF AND THEY'RE WRAPPED IN CARTOONS TO MAKE KIDS WANT TO GRAB THEM. IT'S REALLY GROSS. I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT IN 2019 H-E-B DIVESTED THEMSELVES OF VAPING PRODUCTS AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL. I MEAN, IT WAS TOO LATE BECAUSE A LOT OF POISON WENT OUT THE DOORS OF H-E-B BUT THEY FINALLY GOT WITH GOD AND THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING. MY HOPE IS THAT H-E-B, AT SOME POINT, DOES THE SAME THING WITH TOBACCO PRODUCTS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IN THE SAME BUILDING AS THERE'S PHARMACIES SELLING MEDICINES TO TREAT LUNG CANCER, ONLY 100 FEET AWAY YOU'VE GOT THE COUNTER THAT SELLS THE POISON THAT CAUSES LUNG CANCER. IT'S SORT OF LIKE THOSE MOVIES WHERE THE VILLAIN WILL SELL YOU THE ANTIDOTE AFTER HE GIVES YOU THE POISON. I'M HOPING H-E-B COMES AROUND THE WAY CVS PHARMACY DID. SALLY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HEAR THAT THERE ARE 8,900 BILLS PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN WE HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE CITY SHOULDN'T BE HAVING ADVOCATES COME AND TALKING WITH US ABOUT THAT, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST RIDICULOUS ARGUMENTS I THINK THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAN MAKE. THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A SINGLE OFFICE IN AUSTIN THAT LOOKS AT ALL 8,900 BILLS. AND THERE'S EVEN FEWER THAT PAY ATTENTION TO EVEN THE 2,000 OR 3,000 BILLS THAT MAY GET TO A COMMITTEE HEARING. AND HOW THEY EXPECT THE CITY TO REPRESENT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE RESIDENTS ON WHAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES BY NOT SHOWING UP OR NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES SHOW UP FOR US I THINK IS A SILLY ARGUMENT. BUT I KNOW IT CONTINUES TO BE AN ARGUMENT UP THERE. SALLY, WHAT KIND OF BILLS ARE THERE RIGHT NOW TO TRY AND LIMIT THE ABILITY OF CITIES TO GO AHEAD AND REPRESENT THEMSELVES AT THE LEGISLATURE THROUGH HIRING ADVOCATES FOR US? >> BASURTO: COUNCILMAN, THERE ARE MULTIPLE BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE THAT PROHIBITION. THE ONE THAT I SHARED TODAY IS THE PRIORITY BILL. >> COURAGE: OKAY. SO THAT'S GOT THE SENATE'S BLESSING? >> BASURTO: CORRECT. >> COURAGE: WHAT ARE WE HEARING FROM THE HOUSE? >> BASURTO: IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. IN THE PAST, THOSE BILLS HAVE DIED IN THE HOUSE SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WOULD REPEAT IN 2025. >> COURAGE: WELL, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOUR TEAM FOR THE ADVOCACY. AND IT'S NOT LOBBYING, IT'S ADVOCATING AND THAT'S WHAT THIS CITY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO [01:05:02] EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE CAN. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU, SALLY AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. I KNOW IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING TO TRACK EVERYTHING. I HAVE JUST A FEW QUESTIONS. WITH THE DANGEROUS DOG BILL AND THE E-CIGARETTE BILL, IS THAT IN LINE -- ARE OUR CITY ORDINANCES CURRENTLY IN LINE WITH WHAT THOSE BILLS ARE PROPOSING? >> BASURTO: YES TO BOTH, COUNCILWOMAN. REP LUJAN'S BILL IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE COUNCILMAN'S CCR AND ALL THE WORK THAT OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES IS DOING AND WHAT CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. IT WON'T NEED MUCH ADJUSTMENT THEN. AND I ASKED ABOUT SEVERAL BILLS LAST TIME WE TALKED. ONE OF THEM WAS 2377, FUNDING FOR PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE ON THAT ONE? >> BASURTO: I DON'T BUT I KNOW THE TEAM CAN GO BACK AND TRACK THOSE FOR YOU AND SEND YOU AN UPDATE. >> HAVRDA: THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHERS. I'M GOING TO LIST THEM OUT, IF YOU COULD GET BACK WITH ME. THE SB 170 THAT REDUCES DELAYS IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS. AND THEN BILLS THAT AFFECT FOSTER CHILDREN, HB 2216, SB 1149. AND THEN LASTLY ON THE TEXAS CYBER COMMAND, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, EXCITING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK WE'RE PRIMED FOR IT. BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW THE MILITARY IS INVOLVED. I KNOW IT'S THE U.T. SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW IF GENERAL AYALA CAN MAYBE -- >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THE MILITARY IS INVOLVED BECAUSE OF THE 16TH AIR FORCE THAT'S HERE AND THE GUARD IS INVOLVED. THE ACTIVE DUTY FOLKS ARE INVOLVED AND THEY'RE ALSO A PART OF SOME OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS . ONE OF THE TESTIMONY THAT I WROTE, I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT THEY REALLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AT SAN ANTONIO AND INTEGRATE THE CYBER PIECE OF IT. BUT THE ALAMO REGIONAL SECURITY OPERATION CENTER SHARES INFORMATION WITH THE MILITARY . IT ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST CYBER FOOTPRINT OR LARGEST FOOTPRINT IN THE NATION, I THINK WITH THIS. WE MIGHT BE THE FIRST. >> HAVRDA: SECOND ONLY TO D.C. >> YES, THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION. AND NSA TEXAS IS HERE AND NSA TEXAS HAS A PRETTY LARGE FOOTPRINT. THE 16TH AIR FORCE IS GOING TO GROW IN EVERYTHING WE DO, THE MILITARY DOES INTEGRATES WITH THE CITY. THERE'S ALSO PARTNERSHIPS WITH USAA, WELLS FARGO, AND AT&T. SO THEY'RE VERY INTEGRATED WITH UTSA. WE ALSO HAVE FUTURES COMMAND RIGHT UP THE ROAD. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTEGRATION GOING ON. AND WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUT. WE HAD REACHED OUT TO THE 16TH AIR FORCE. I REACHED OUT TO JBSA TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS INCLUDED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS AS WE GO FORWARD, BECAUSE IT WILL ALSO ATTRACT OTHER CYBER UNITS, NOT ONLY FROM THE MILITARY BUT ALSO FROM OUR CIVILIAN. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. THAT REALLY CLARIFIES IT. I WASN'T CLEAR HOW THE MILITARY WAS INVOLVED BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE. THE 16TH AIR FORCE WAS ELEVATED TO CYBER COMMAND LAST YEAR. IS THAT CORRECT? >> LAST YEAR, YES, I BELIEVE. AND I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOING SOME OTHER ELEVATION, HOPEFULLY TO HAVE IT GROW. >> HAVRDA: SO THIS COULD STRENGTHEN THAT ARGUMENT IN AUDIO] >> YES. AND IT STRENGTHENS IT IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. I THINK IF THEREFORE IS A BRAC AND WE TALK ABOUT WHY WOULD THEY TAKE A LOOK AT THE 16TH AIR FORCE OR ANY AIR FORCE UNIT THAT IS HERE, IF WE HAVE INVESTED IN PARTNERSHIPS. BECAUSE PART OF THE CHECKLIST, IF YOU GO TO A BRAC CHECKLIST IN 2005, THEY ALWAYS ASK ABOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT. AND WE PROVIDE TANGIBLE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, NOT JUST YELLOW RIBBONS. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. THANK YOU. PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GENERAL. SALLY, GOING OVER TO THE -- I THINK IT WAS SLIDE 9, THE BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE. THAT'S THE BILL THAT THEY'RE INTRODUCING TO UPGRADE IT TO A FELONY? IS THAT CORRECT? >> BASURTO: I APOLOGIZE. YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN? >> HAVRDA: SLIDE 9, THE BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE BILLS. >> BASURTO: YES. HB 727 AND HB 548. >> HAVRDA: THEY'RE INTRODUCING ELEVATING THE PENALTY TO A FELONY. >> BASURTO: THAT'S CORRECT. SO 727, IT MAKES BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE A STATE JAIL FELONY INSTEAD OF A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. AND 548 MAKES THE OFFENSE, AGAIN STATE JAIL FELONY INSTEAD OF A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. [01:10:07] THEY'RE SIMILAR. >> HAVRDA: WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS OF THAT? ANY BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE? >> BASURTO: I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME. NO. JESSE, THANK YOU. >> YES, MA'AM. IT'S ANY BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE. AS IT STANDS NOW, IT IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR, WHICH IS UP TO ONE YEAR IN JAIL AND A $4,000 FINE. TO INCREASE IT TO A STATE JAIL FELONY WOULD MAKE IT PUNISHABLE UP TO TWO YEARS WITH A MINIMUM OF 180 DAYS IN JAIL AND A $10,000 FINE. IT USED TO BE A FELONY BEFORE ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. THEY CHANGED IT AND NOW LOOKING TO CHANGE IT BACK. >> HAVRDA: WHY WAS IT CHANGED? >> OVERCROWDING IN THE JAILS WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WAS CITED. >> HAVRDA: I THOUGHT I READ SOMEWHERE THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS SPECIFIC TO IF YOU WERE USING A GUN IN THE OPERATION OF A BURGLARY, SO IT'S JUST ANY BURGLARY. >> ANY BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE. THERE'S ALREADY DIFFERENT -- >> REP CORTEZ'S BILL IS SPECIFIC TO THAT. >> HAVRDA: SO IT'S THE HOUSE BILL. WHAT ARE THE OTHER QUALIFICATIONS TO MAKE IT A FELONY? >> SO 727 IS REP CORTEZ'S BILL AND THAT ONE IS SPECIFICALLY IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAD A FIREARM WHILE COMMITTING THE OFFENSE OR STOLE A FIREARM WHILE COMMITTING THE OFFENSE OR USED A STOLEN VEHICLE. SO IT COMPOUNDS DIFFERENT CRIMES INTO IT. I THINK, YEAH -- >> THE OTHER ONE IS ANY BURGLARY OF A VEHICLE AND THAT'S ANOTHER ONE AS WELL. >> HAVRDA: IF YOU KEEP US ABREAST OF THAT. I HAVE A BIT OF A CONCERN ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A FIRST-TIME OFFENDER AND GOING RIGHT TO A STATE JAIL FELONY. IF YOU'LL KEEP US IN THE KNOW ABOUT THAT. THE LAST ONE IS SLIDE 10, THE PARKS SERVICE OFFICERS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, ADDITIONAL STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY TO OUR PARKS? >> BASURTO: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT -- >> HAVRDA: SLIDE 10. 1866. >> BASURTO: YES. SO THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR THE FEDERAL OFFICERS THAT WORK ON OUR SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS JURISDICTION CURRENTLY HAVE A LIMITED ABILITY. AND SO WHAT THEY'RE SEEKING TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY FOR IS TO EXECUTE ARRESTS AND SEARCH WARRANTS UNDER STATE LAW. AND THEIR ABILITY TO PURSUE EMERGENCY DETENTIONS OR COURT ORDERED, IN PARTICULAR IN MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS. >> HAVRDA: GO AHEAD. >> THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT ALL THE PARTNERS INVOLVED IN WORLD HERITAGE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS REPORTED AN INCREASE IN VANDALISM AND CRIME AND THIS IS TO SUPPORT THEM. >> HAVRDA: YEAH, I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. I REMEMBER THEM TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEIR JURISDICTION IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THE BOUNDARY OF THE HERITAGE SITE. AND THERE WAS TALK ABOUT EXPANDING IT SOMEWHAT. IS THAT PART OF THIS BILL? >> IT'S JUST THE AUTHORITY WITHIN THE SA MISSIONS BOUNDARY PARK, YES. >> HAVRDA: AND LAST ON THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT THE CUTTING THE JOBS AND THE FUNDING OF THE PARKS EMPLOYEES. HAVE WE CONSIDERED THAT IN THIS BILL? >> THEY RECENTLY REINSTATED THE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE LET GO. SO AS FAR AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY DECREASE IN FUNDING. IN FACT, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS DEVOTED OR IN PARTICULARLY THIS PARK, MORE OF THEIR RESOURCES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO THEY HAVE FEWER RESOURCES TO DO THE PRESERVATION WORK, THE INTERPRETATION WORK. AND SO IF THEY CAN HAVE THESE EXPANDED ABILITIES THEN THEY CAN DEAL WITH THE CRIME RIGHT AWAY AND THAT WILL HELP THEM IN OTHER AREAS. >> HAVRDA: AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, SAPD HAS JURISDICTION OVER THAT AREA AS WELL, CORRECT? >> WELL, THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT. >> WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM. WE WILL ASSIST THEM AND GO INTO THE PARK WHEN THEY CALL US. BUT WHAT THEY'RE SEEKING IS THE ADDITIONAL STATE AUTHORITY TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THOSE ARRESTS ON THEIR OWN AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR US TO ARRIVE AND TAKE CUSTODY OF THE PRISONER AND DO THAT FOR THEM. >> HAVRDA: SURE. BUT WITH OR WITHOUT THAT BILL YOU CAN GO ON TO THE SITE IF YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, NEFARIOUS ACTIVITY, RIGHT? >> YES, MA'AM. THEY'LL CALL US AND WE'LL RESPOND. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS, SALLY. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, SALLY FOR THE [01:15:04] PRESENTATION. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRESS THAT YOU'RE MAKING REGARDING THE EAST-WEST CORRIDOR . I THINK THAT WE KNEW THAT THIS PROCESS WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF MEETINGS, A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS AND CONVERSATIONS AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE ON THIS. I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SEE THAT REPRESENTATIVE LUJAN AND CAMPOS ARE WORKING TOWARDS ISSUES TO ADDRESS OUR DANGEROUS DOGS. AND I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND IN A CCR I SIGNED WITH COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, IS WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FACILITIES WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THE DOGS AND HAVE THE SPACE FOR THEM. SO ANYTHING THAT'S COMING THROUGH THE STATE THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT CITIES OR CITY-COUNTY CONJUNCTIONS ARE DOING, PLEASE BRING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION ALSO. THE NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE 7 ON THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT. I'M GLAD WE'RE KEEPING TRACK OF THIS. I THINK WHAT I'VE SEEN IN, YOU KNOW, THE TEXAS REPORTS THAT COME OUT WITH SOME OF THE SMALL GROUPS IS THAT EMERGENCY SERVICES SOMETIMES SPEND THE DOLLARS THAT THEY GET IN WAYS OR IN EQUIPMENT THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED. SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE IF THIS GETS MORE SPECIFIC. BECAUSE LIKE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED ON WHAT THIS ACTUALLY MEANS. THERE ARE SOME SMALL TOWNS IN TEXAS THAT HAVE A MILITARY-GRADE, ESDS THAT HAVE MILITARY-GRADE EQUIPMENT THAT DON'T NEARLY NEED THAT. BUT A SALESPERSON HAS GONE IN AND SOLD THAT TO THEM AND THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE NOW. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING TRACK OF THAT. I THINK THE NEXT BILLS OF NOTE THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE NATIONAL PARK LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. WAS ABLE TO PUT FORWARD THAT LETTER. I KNOW WE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT WHEN A COUNCILPERSON GOES UP AND MAYBE AS A COUNCIL JUST REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE GO UP AS A RESIDENT AND WHEN WE GO UP AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. BECAUSE IF THIS NEEDS MORE TESTIMONY OR WE NEED MORE CONVERSATION REGARDING WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO EXPAND THE AUTHORITY OF OUR FEDERAL AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICES AND THE RANGERS THAT ARE TAKING CARE OF THAT, I'M MORE THAN WELCOME TO DO THAT. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO GO BACK AND DEFINE HOW WE'RE GOING SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE, YES, THEY'RE GOING WITH THE CHAMBER AS THE COUNCILPERSON AND THEY'RE GOING AS A RESIDENT TO TESTIFY ON SOMETHING. I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT, ANDY, WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE. WE CAN DO THAT ONE-ON-ONE. THE LAST I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE BILLS ON THE MOVE IS SB 15. I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR NEIGHBOR CITIES THAT MAYBE DO NOT NECESSARILY SIT IN AACOG OR THE BEXAR COUNTY REGION. I KNOW WHEN I WENT UP TO TML'S CONFERENCE, FREDERICKSBURG IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OF THIS TALK ON LIMITING THEIR AUTHORITY. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME FOR VON ARMY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME FOR FLORESVILLE . AS A NEIGHBOR THAT HAS THE INDUSTRIES WHERE PEOPLE MAYBE LIVE AND COME INTO THEIR JOBS, I THINK WE NEED TO TOUCH BASE WITH THEM AND THE TML ON HOW WE KIND OF TALK TOGETHER ON A VOICE -- ON THE SAME PAGE. THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR SO MANY HISTORICAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND CULTURAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT TELL A STORY, THAT IF WE CANNOT CONTROL THE ZONING, THAT STORY WILL BE LOST. I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THEY'RE TAKING IN ACCOUNT 300-YEAR-OLD CITIES LIKE SAN ANTONIO AND CITIES LIKE CASTROVILLE AND HONDO AND DEL RIO AND UVALDE THAT HAVE THESE LONG HISTORIES AND THIS CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE. IF WE'RE NOW TELLING THEM YOU HAVE TO DO HIGH-DENSITY. [01:20:07] BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I THINK IS -- I THINK US AS SAN ANTONIO WILL MANAGE. WE'LL FIND A WAY. BUT OUR NEIGHBORS MAY NOT AND IT'S ALWAYS HARD ENOUGH WHEN SELMA AND SCHERTZ BLAMES US FOR THINGS SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OTHER REGIONAL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ARE, WHAT THEY'RE KIND OF SAYING AND HOW THEY'RE REPRESENTATIVES ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS AT THE STATE LEVEL. THANK YOU, SALLY. LOTS OF WORK FOR YOU TO DO. GOOD LUCK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, SALLY FOR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL AS TO YOUR TEAM. IN TERMS OF DISTRICT 5 PRIORITIES, WHETHER IT'S AN ISSUE BROUGHT UP BY A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR GATHERED BY THE IQ DATA, IT'S PRIMARILY AROUND VACANT LOTS AND ABSENTEE LANDLORDS OR VACANT LOTS IN GENERAL. THESE VACANT LOTS BECOME NUISANCE PROPERTIES AND A HOST FOR ALL ACTIVITIES, WHETHER IT'S ILLEGAL DUMPING OR ATTRACTING TROUBLE. AND DURING THE PCDC COMMITTEE MEETING, I WAS GRATEFUL TO LEARN THAT STATE REP JOSIE GARCIA PROPOSED A BILL WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY EMPHASIZE AT THE CLOSING OF -- THE PURCHASE OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY THAT THERE WOULD BE A DEATH DEED GIVEN FOR THE RESIDENT FOR THAT PROPERTY AT CLOSING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD IMPACT PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING PURCHASED NOW AND NOT NECESSARILY ADDRESS THE CURRENT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH LOTS BUT I BELIEVE IT'S A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO ENSURE WE DON'T CONTINUE TO SEE THESE NUISANCE PROPERTIES THAT EXIST PRIMARILY BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A CLEAR TITLE OR SOMEONE TO TAKE ON OWNERSHIP OF THAT PROPERTY. I WANTED TO ASK MARK IF YOU CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH US ABOUT SOME OF THE BILLS THAT WERE PRESENTED AT THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, PARTICULARLY AROUND HOUSE BILL 32. AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATES REACH OUT EXPRESSING CONCERN IN TERMS OF WHILE IT'S BEING PROPOSED UNDER THE GUISE OF HELPING ADDRESS SQUATTERS, IT'S ESSENTIALLY A WIDER NET WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY -- IT ADDRESSES FOLKS WITH -- TENANTS WITH LEASES, RATHER. WHILE IT'S INTENDED TO ADDRESS SQUATTERS, IT'S VERY BROAD WHERE FOLKS ARE CONCERNED THAT IT MAY REMOVE TENANT >> THANK YOU, CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER. YES, WE DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE NOTICE TO VACATE ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP. THE CITY HAS MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THE IRRELEVANT I CAN'T OF TENANT RIGHTS, TENANT RIGHTS CAMPAIGNS. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY AROUND THIS AREA SO WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE BILL AND THE IMPACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE. YOU REFERENCED EARLIER 5642 WHICH WE THINK ON THE TRANSFER AND DEATH SIDE, THERE'S SO MANY PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE UNDER CLOUDED TITLE THAT DON'T EQUAL IDENTIFY FOR THE CITY'S PROGRAM AND SO WE THINK THIS CAN ALSO -- IT CAN HELP IN THE SHORT-TERM BY ADDRESSING SOME OF THE NEEDS ABOUT THE PROPERTIES YOU MENTIONED AS WELL AS BEGINNING THE PATH FOR GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR MANY OF THE FAMILIES WE'RE WANTING TO SERVE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. IT'S PRIMARILY THESE VACANT LOTS THAT ARE THE TOP NUISANCE ISSUES THAT THEY ARE BRINGING TO OUR ATTENTION, BUT RESIDENTS ARE CALLING US ABOUT AS WELL. STANDS RIGHT NOW, ANY TYPE OF LIHTC PROJECT CAN'T BE WITHIN TWO MILES OF EACH OTHER AND THAT WAS FILED A FEW YEARS BACK BY SENATOR WEST OUT OF DALLAS. I THINK THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS PROPERTY. I THINK TODAY IN SAN ANTONIO YOU CAN BE AT HIGH MS. AND THEN AND AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT HOW HOUSING IMPACTS ALONG TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT OR AROUND SCHOOLS, WE NEED THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO CREATE HOUSING WITHIN TWO MILES OF EACH OTHER. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR DISPLACEMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT TOOL AND OTHER TOOLS WE HAVE WE'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING THE IMPACT IT COULD HAVE AROUND DISPLACEMENT OR CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY. BUT WE THINK THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT OPTION FOR US MOVING FORWARD AS RELATES AROUND OUR HOUSING GOALS WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MARK. I JUST WANT TO THANK SALLY [01:25:04] AND TEAM FOR ALL YOU DO. THERE'S A LOT TO BE IN SUPPORT OF, SO I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THE AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE IN THIS TIME OF DIVISION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS I DIDN'T SEE AN UPDATE ON WAS IN PARTICULAR OUR EFFORTS FOR WATER AND THERE IS A BIG, I WOULD SAY, FOCUS ON THE TEXAS -- OR ARE THE STATE TO COORDINATE EFFORTS. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT SB 7 AND HB 16. I DIDN'T SEE AN UPDATE, BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG, BUT I KNOW WE'RE WAY BEHIND ON NOT ONLY OUR PIPES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT ALSO ON WASTEWATER. THOSE TWO DUCK ET CETERA ALONE. I THINK HE READ $149 BILLION FOR THE STATE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS FOR TEXAS, AND THAT'S FOR EACH ONE. >> BASURTO: COUNCILWOMAN, WE MADE A NOTE OF THAT AND TALKED TO OUR SAWS COUNTERPARTS EVERY WEEK SO WE'LL MAKE SURE AND COLLABORATE AND FIND OUT WHAT THE STATUS IS AND REPORT BACK TO YOU. >> GARCIA: LIKE MY COLLEAGUES ON HB 377, I WAS ALSO WONDERING ABOUT THE INVALIDATION OR HOW IT COULD INVALIDATE SOMETHING THAT HAS STOOD FOR DECADES. I'LL JUST ECHO CONCERN THERE. I KNOW A COUPLE YEARS AGO COUNCILMAN -- I WANT TO SAY COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO HAD DIFFERED SOME TESTIMONY, AT THE TIME I FEEL LIKE -- I SAY WE GOT SCOLD HE HAD -- WAS IT SANDOVAL. HAD I KNOWN -- I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN SAID WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT OFF LINE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANDY WHY TWO YEARS AGO IT WASN'T OKAY AND THIS YEAR IT IS. >> SEGOVIA: AS I REMEMBER IT, WE'VE BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT IN -- FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN'T PROHIBIT WHAT COUNCILMEMBERS DO ON THEIR OWN. SO THAT'S KEY TO REMEMBER. I THINK WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENT TO SAY WE HAVE THE GOVERNMENT POSITION THAT THE COUNCIL ADOPTS. IF THE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE GOING TO GO AND TESTIFY TINT I OBJECT WITH THAT POLICY THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED, YES, CLEARLY YOU CAN GO AND SAY I'M A CITY COUNCIL PERSON, I'M HEAR TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OR CONTRARY, AS LONG AS IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE PLAN THE COUNCIL PASSED. IF IT'S NOT CONSISTENT, YOU ARE GOING TO TESTIFY AS AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER. I THINK WE'VE BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT SINCE THAT INITIAL SITUATION CAME UP. ACTUALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS COUNCILMAN PERRY THAT STARTED THAT ISSUE, BUT I THINK WE'VE BEEN FAIRLY CONSISTENT IN THAT. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, ANDY. I JUST WANTED FURTHER CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THERE'S A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT. SALLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THERE'S A COUPLE OF BILLS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND ASK FOR UPDATES THE NEXT TIME WE GET A PRESENTATION. MOST OF THEM ARE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I ECHO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO'S COMMENTS. PARTICULARLY IN THE URBAN CAR, IT'S THE BIGGEST THING WE GET CALLS FOR. JUST WANTING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET MORE UPDATES ON SOME OF THE HOUSING BILLS. I'LL NAME THREE THAT HAVE ALL BEEN MOVED TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AT THE SENATE. IT'S SB 208, WHICH IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WORKFORCE HOUSING CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND PROGRAM TO CREATE MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING. SB 234, WHICH IS ALSO FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING BUT UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. AND THEN 178, WHICH IS PERMISSIBLE USE OF REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE FOR MOSTLY SUNNY SALES AND USE TAX. ACTUALLY AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL. I MENTIONED THAT A MONTH AGO, SO IF WE COULD GET AN UPDATE ON THAT. THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN IS HB 542, AND IT'S FOR USING MONEY FROM THE STATE HIGHWAY FUND FOR TOD AND GIVEN THAT WE JUST PASSED OUR TOD FRAMEWORK HOPING THAT IF THAT ONE GETS PASSED, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ACCESS FOR REVENUE FOR THAT. IF WE COULD GET AN UPDATE ON THAT OR JUST STAY UP TO DATE WITH IT AND THAT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO TRANSPORTATION. [01:30:03] THE LAST BILL I WOULD LOVE FOR AN UPDATE ON WOULD BE SENATOR MENENDEZ'S FULL-DAY PRE-K AND THAT'S 175. AND THAT'S BEEN MOVED TO COMMITTEE AS WELL AT THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. I THINK THESE ARE ALL REALLY GREAT BILLS THAT WILL HELP WITH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRANSIT ISSUES AND EDUCATION. IF WE CAN GET MORE UPDATES ON THOSE, I WOULD BE REALLY GRATEFUL. THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANK, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST HAD A QUESTION AND MAYBE AN OBSERVATION, BUT GENERAL AYALA, COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STATE'S INTENTION IS WITH THEIR EFFORT TO MOVE INTO CYBERSECURITY. AND I GUESS I'M LOOKING AT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE IF THEY BEGIN THIS PROGRAM AND TRY TO DEVELOP IT SOMEHOW, COULD THEY BE MOVING TO TRY AND HAVE AUTHORITY OVER WHAT WE DO IN SAN ANTONIO WITH OUR CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS AND THINGS? >> HAVE A WHAT SAY AGAIN? >> COURAGE: WOULD THEY BE MAYBE TRYING TO TAKE SOME KIND OF A AUTHORITATIVE POSITION OR WHAT WE DO WITH OUR CYBERSECURITY FEATURES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IN OTHER WORDS, IS IT A LONG-RANGE GOAL THAT THE STATE WANTS TO TAKE IT OVER AND BE IN CHARGE OF CYBERSECURITY FOR ALL OF TEXAS? >> I DON'T SENSE THAT BECAUSE THEY REALLY COULDN'T. THE TEXAS -- THE GUARD, WHICH IS UNDER THE -- THEIR CONTROL DOES NOT HAVE THE ASSETS OR EXPERTISE THAT THE ACTIVE DUTY HAVE. SO I REALLY DON'T THINK SO. PLUS, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE, LONG-STANDING ORGANIZATIONS, 16TH AIR FORCE, THEY COVER ALL OF CYBER AND INTEL FOR THE ENTIRE AIR FORCE AND THEY ARE VERY STRATEGIC IN NATURE. SO I DON'T THINK SO. I DON'T THINK, AGAIN, THEY HAVE THAT CAPACITY. I SPEAK TO THE MAYOR -- THE GOVERNOR'S REPRESENTATIVE, MELT REPRESENTATIVE, MR. KEITH GRAPH, WHO IS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SPEAK TO HIM ALL THE TIME AND I DON'T GET THAT SENSE AT THIS POINT. >> COURAGE: ARE THEY LOOKING AT MORE PROTECTING BUSINESSES THROUGH CYBERSECURITY? >> YES. WHEN THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT AND SIDE CYBER COMMAND, EVERYBODY ASSUMED IT WAS GOING TO BE A MILITARY ORGANIZATION. BUT I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IN MY OPINION, SO I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO GROW THAT CAPACITY HERE. I THINK THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO HAVE A -- LIKE I SAID AND HAS BEEN MENTIONED, A SECOND LARGEST FOOTPRINT BESIDES THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION AND I THINK WE WANT TO GROW IT AND THAT'S GOOD FOR OUR CITY. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. MY OTHER OBSERVATION WAS RELATED TO RAISING THE PENALTY ON AUTOMOBILE BREAK-INS, THEFTS, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND I KNOW WHEN WE SAY IT'S GOING TO BE A STATE FELONY, MOST PEOPLE PRESUME THAT MEANS SOMEBODY WHO IS FOUND GUILTY IS GOING TO STATE PRISON. BUT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION THEY END UP IN BEXAR COUNTY JAIL AND SEND UP STAYING THERE FOREVER. THE STATE IS VERY NEGLIGENT ABOUT MOVING ITS CONVICTED FELONS OUT OF THE COUNTY TO THE STATE JAILS AND IT JUST LEADS TO A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, OVERCROWDING IN OUR COUNTY JAIL SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, CAPTAIN, OR WHO WOULD KNOW HOW MANY STATE FELONS ARE IN BEXAR COUNTY JAIL AWAITING TO BE TRANSFERRED, BUT I'VE ALWAYS HEARD THERE'S HUNDREDS. >> YEAH, COUNCILMEMBER, I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW THAT. I CAN CERTAINLY LOOK TO GET THE ANSWER FOR YOU. >> COURAGE: YEAH, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT. OBVIOUSLY WE DO NEED TO RAISE THE PENALTIES BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN TOO MANY CARS BROKEN INTO AND TOO MANY STOLEN, ET CETERA, AND USED FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE STATE WILLING TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MOVING THESE PRISONERS INTO THEIR FACILITIES INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT UP TO COUNTIES TO PAY FOR THE PRISONERS TO BE THERE MONTHS, EVEN YEARS SOMETIMES. THAT'S ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE? SALLY, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I COULD ASK, BUT ONE THING THAT -- BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN A -- SORT OF CONTINUING DRUM BEAT OF CITY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS' REVENUES BEING MANIPULATED SOMEHOW BY DIFFERENT TAX POLICY, THE ONE AREA WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT COULD BE IMPACTFUL IN SAN ANTONIO POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY IS THE SALES TAX ISSUE REGARDING CHANGING FROM SALES TAX COLLECTION AT ORIGIN OF SALE VERSUS DESTINATION OF GOODS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY ANALYSIS OF THAT PARTICULAR [01:35:02] BILL DONE. I KNOW THEY ARE STILL GRAPPLING WITH IT AT THE LUG YOU ARE, BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT. AND IN LINE WITH THAT, THIS IS PROBABLY I COULD ASK TROY ABOUT, BUT I'D LOVE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE ACTUALLY DO SALES TAX COLLECTIONS IN SAN ANTONIO. ARE WE DOING THE SALES TAX COLLECTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE USING OUR SAN ANTONIO RESOURCES, THEN SENDING UP THE REVENUES TO THE STATE OR VICE VERSA? I'M NOT CLEAR ON HOW ALL THAT WORKS. >> NO, BASICALLY THE STATE COLLECTS THEIR SALES TAX AND WE COLLECT OURS THROUGH THE STATE. AS FAR AS THE SALES TAX ANALYSIS ON ABUNDANT OF ORIGINATION OR DESTINATION IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY HARD TO ANALYZE. SO THERE REALLY IS NOT ANY FINANCIAL ANALYSIS THAT WE CAN PRODUCE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN ANALYZING BETWEEN THE TWO POINTS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DO YOU GET A SENSE OF WHAT THE MOTIVATION IS FOR CHANGING IT? >> I DON'T. I CAN GO BACK AND TALK TO STAFF AND COME BACK WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATION BEHIND IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I GUESS THAT'S A RHETORICAL QUESTION, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD WHERE WE THINK IT WOULD LAND SO WE KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THAT IF IT BECOMES LAW. WITHOUT A CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT THE PURPOSE IS, JUST CATEGORIZE AGAIN AS MOVING AROUND MONIES OF THE STATE THAT COULD BE DAMAGING TO THE CITY BEING ABLE TO DO ITS BUSINESS, SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD LAND HERE. AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL. I THINK WITH THAT, THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. GREAT WORK, SALLY AND NADIA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, JEFF. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE'LL GO STRAIGHT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT AND GET OUT OF HERE A LITTLE EARLY. YOU ARE STAYING THERE'S NO CITY MANAGER REPORT. 10:46 A.M. ON THE 27TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025, WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.