Apr 03, 2025 Sesión A del Consejo de la Ciudad

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 11:10 A.M. ON THE THIRD DAY OF APRIL, 2025. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. TO GET US STARTED TODAY, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.

>> GAVITO: I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE FATHER JUDE. HE SERVES AS PAROCHIAL VYE CAR IN DISTRICT 7. BORN IN A SMALL VILLAGE IN NIGERIA, FATHER JUDE WAS TAUGHT HARD WORK, COMPASSION AND DEVOTION TO HIS CATHOLIC YOUNG AGE.

HE BEGAN HIS JOURNEY TOWARDS PRIESTHOOD AT THAT TIME. HE WAS EVENTUALLY OR TAINTED IN 1999 AND HAS BEEN SERVING VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS AND PARISHES EVER SINCE.

ESTABLISHING YOUTH PROGRAMS IN UNDERPRIVILEGED AREAS, PROVIDING SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE TO PRISONERS AND ADVOCATING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AND DEDICATING YOUR LIFE TO SELFLESS SERVICE. WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER

TO FATHER JUDE. >> IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN. HEAVENLY FATHER, GOD OF BOUNDLESS LOVE, MERCY AND COMPASSION, WE GATHER BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS.

WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OUR GREAT CITY AS WE CONVENE THIS SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL, WE ASK FOR YOUR DIVINE GUIDANCE AND WISDOM. THAT WE MAY WALK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD, PROTECT AND BLESS OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO TIRELESSLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

REMEMBER THOSE AMONG US WHO ARE STRUGGLING THAT WE MAY BE INSTRUMENT OF YOUR MERCY AND COMPASSION. GRANT US THE WISDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT PROMOTE JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND PEACE. MAY OUR ACTION BE GUIDED BY YOUR HEAVENLY PRINCIPLES AND MAY WE ALWAYS SEEK TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW DAY. FILLED WITH POSSIBILITIES AND PROMISES.

MAY WE MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. WE OFFER ALL THESE PRAYERS THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.

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OUR BELOVED DISTRICT 6 MEMBER. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS TRULY A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT MY FRIEND TODAY, TO HONOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT JUST A PART OF OUR DISTRICT 6 TEAM, BUT HE WAS FAMILY. OUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE MARTIN TREVINO.

I MET MARTIN EIGHT YEARS AGO AND HE ASKED TO MEET WITH ME AND WE TALKED ABOUT SAN ANTONIO, THE CITY HE LOVED SO MUCH. EVEN THEN I COULD TELL HE IS SOMEONE WHO TRULY CARED MUCH HE WAS A MAN OF QUIET WISDOM.

WHEN YOU SPOKE YOU LISTENED BECAUSE WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ALWAYS MATTERED.

WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, MARTIN WAS THERE FROM DAY ONE. HE'S THE ONLY STAFFER I'VE HAD SINCE THE FIRST DAY IN OFFICE. HE SAW ME THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, WINTER STORM URI, PROTESTS, DIFFICULT BUDGET DECISIONS.

HE WAS A STEADY PRESENCE IN THE ROOM. HE AROUND SOUND COUNSEL AND THE OCCASIONAL SHARP-WITNESSED RESPONSE. HE DIDN'T SEEK THE SPOTLIGHT. HE JUST DID THE WORK BECAUSE THAT'S WHO HE WAS.

MARTIN PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 8 AND WHILE I MISS HIS ADVICE, WHAT I MISS MOST IS HIS HUMOR. MY STAFF AND I WERE SHARING OUR MEMORIES, WE FOUND OURSELVES LAUGHING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MARTIN DID. EVEN NOW HE IS KEEPING US LAUGHING. HIS SON ANTHONY SHARED SOMETHING THAT STUCK WITH ME. HE SAID HIS DAD WAS ALWAYS A BEHIND THE SCENES GUY, NOT LOOKING FOR CREDIT BUT ALWAYS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

BEFORE HE EVER STEPPED INTO PUBLIC SERVICE IN SAN ANTONIO, MARTIN SERVED OUR COUNTRY. IN 1974, HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY SERVING AS A NURSE IN A BURN UNIT. HE CARRIED THAT SAME SENSE OF DUTY WHETHER AT VIA OR DISTRICT 6 WHERE HE SPENT OVER A DECADE MAKING OUR LIVES BETTER.

HE WORKED FOE THREE DISTRICT 6 COUNCILMEMBERS AND WAS LOVED IN OUR DISTRICT.

OUR COMMUNITY KNEW THAT WE COULD COUNT ON HIM. TO LISTEN, TO FIND SOLUTIONS AND BE OUR FRIEND. MARTIN LOVED COFFEE. HE LOVED BLUEBONNET PISTACHIO ICE CREAM AND TEJANO MUSIC, BUT MOST OF ALL HE LOVED HIS FAMILY.

ALL OF HIS LOVED ONES, KNOW MARTIN WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF THE DISTRICT 6 FAMILY TOO. TODAY I ASK ALL OF YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT, SEND UP A PRAYER, A JOKE AND REMEMBER OUR FRIEND MARTIN TREVINO. MARTIN TREVINO.

TODAY WE HAVE VIRGINIA AND ANTHONY AND WE HAVE STATE REPRESENTATIVE RAY LOPEZ WHO WAS A FORMER DISTRICT 6 COUNCIL PERSON AND BOSS TO MARTIN, AND FORMER COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE WHO MARCH TEEN ALSO WORKED FOR. I'LL INVITE THEM UP.

AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AS WELL, RAY AND AGREEING.

-- GREG. DO YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS, ANTHONY?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR RON, MELISSA FOR THIS GIFT IN RECOGNITION.

I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO HIT ME MORE WHEN I GET INTO THE CAR.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS TODAY. TO MR. BROCKHOUSE AND STATE REP LOPEZ, THANK YOU FOR VALUING THE WORK HE DID IN THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS NEIGHBORHOODS AND CARED VERONICA GARCIA DEARLY ABOUT

WHAT HE DID. THANK YOU. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU.

THAT IS VERY TRUE. GREG, DO YOU WANT A FEW WORDS?

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THIS ROOM IN SIX YEARS AND I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT MY FRIEND THE VALUE OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE US ON OUR STAFFS.

IF YOU DO THE JOB RIGHT, YOU HIRE THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THEY BECOME GOOD EMPLOYEES.

AND OVER TIME, IF YOU GET IT RIGHT, THEY BECOME FRIENDS. AND THEN IF YOU REALLY GET IT RIGHT, THEY BECOME FAMILY. MARTIN WAS THAT.

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I LOVED MY FRIEND. I'M HERE TO HONOR HIM TODAY AND JUST TO REMIND YOU THE BEST WAY I CAN THAT THE VALUE OF THESE PEOPLE, THE HUMILITY WHICH THEY SERVE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT'S VALUABLE TO THEM BEATS ALL OF THIS STUFF WE WORRY ABOUT. PLEASE HONOR MARTIN BY HONORING YOUR STAFF AND BE THANKFUL FOR THE AIDES AND MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE THERE FOR US.

GOD SPEED, MARTIN. I LOVE YOU, MY MAN. >> FIRST OF ALL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I THINK YOU ALL RECOGNIZE THAT OUR STAFFS ARE REALLY AN EXTENSION OF OUR VALUES AS WELL. WHEN YOU FIND SOMEONE THAT YOU SHARE A VALUE WITH, YOU GIVE THEM A PROMINENT ROLE IN YOUR DECISION-MAKING, YOUR OUTREACH, AND MARTIN HAS BEEN THAT. YOU CAN SEE OVER SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIONS, IF YOU WILL, MYSELF, GREG AND MELISSA ALL EMBRACING NOT ONLY HAVING HIM COME TO WORK AND DO THE KINDS OF THINGS HE DID AND ENJOYED TO DO AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE HOAS, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE DEALT WITH ALL THE TIME, THE INDIVIDUALS APPRECIATED HIS SIGN SEAR TIRZ FUNDING AND COMMITMENT TO DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND YOU CAN ALSO MAKE SURE THEY ARE YOUR FRIENDS, A LIVING TRIBUTE.

IN A VERY SMALL WAY I WANT TO READ A PROCLAMATION HERE. YOU KNOW, KIND OF RECOGNIZING SOME OF MARTY'S EFFORTS. BASICALLY IT'S A RESOLUTION FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. WHEREAS WEAPONS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL WE'RE GATHERING ON THIS DAY TO HONOR THE LIFE OF A LIFE-LONG PUBLIC EFFICIENT AND BELOVED RESIDENT MARTIN TREVINO. AND WHEREAS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, MR. TREVINO SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 OFFICE WHERE HE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE CONSTITUENTS THAT HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH. PRIOR TO JOINING DISTRICT 6, MR. TREVINO ENJOYED A REWARDING CAREER IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHICH INCLUDED 26 YEARS WITH VIA, METROPOLITAN TRANSIT, SIX YEARS WITH CORPUS CHRISTI REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND IN ADDITION HIS PREVIOUSLY -- HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY AS A NURSE IN A BURN UNIT AS A U.S. ARM MEDICAL SPECIALIST.

AND -- ARMY MEDICAL SPECIALIST. WHEREAS ALL OF THE ABOVE MR. TRE SPENT WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HE DREW THE STRENGTH FROM HIS FULFILLING MARRIAGE TO HIS LOVELY WIFE VIRGINIA AND TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR SON ANTHONY. IN HIS LEISURE HOURS, HE ENJOYED GOING ON CRUISES AND LISTENING TO THE TEJANO MUSIC WE ALL HAVE LEARNED TO APPRECIATE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. A DEVOTED FAMILY MAN AND DEDICATED CIVIL SERVICE, HE WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED, BUT THE PROFOUND DETERMINATION, AWIDING HUMILITY AND RESOUNDING SELFLESSLY WHICH HE LIVED HIS LIFE WILL FOREVER INSPIRE ALL OF US.

BE IT RESOLVE THAT THIS TRIBUTE BE PAID TO THE MEMORY OF MARTIN TREVINO AND THAT SEEN SEAR CONDOLENCES BE EXTENDED TO ALL WHO MOURN HIS PEACEING AND THEY ARE MANY. WHAT'S NOT ON HERE IS A FRIEND.

HE TRULY WAS A FRIEND AND WILL BE MISSED AND I JUST CAN IMAGINE HICK SITTING UP THERE RIGHT NOW WATCHING DOWN AND ENJOYING LIFE AND HAVING A COMMENT OR TWO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A LITTLE TIME WITH YOU REMEMBERING MARTY. AND IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THAT TO VIRGINIA.

WHAT I ALSO HAVE AS WELL, ANTHONY -- >> I'M RIGHT HERE.

>> THERE YOU GO. THERE'S A COPY OF THAT SAME RESOLUTION.

WHAT I ALSO WANTED TO DO, THESE RESOLUTIONS GET READ INTO THE BOOK IN THE JOURNAL

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MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BEST OF LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU DO

FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

TO THE WHOLE TREVINO FAMILY INCLUDING THE DISTRICT 6 COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE OUR PRAYERS. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA. WE WILL START WITH ITEM 3 WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 19, 20, 2025. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR

ITEM 3. >> HAVRDA: MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 3.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE MINUTES? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 4. >> CLERK: ITEM 4, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WILL BE SWORN IN AS MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE PERIOD OF APRIL 3,

2025, THROUGH MAY 31, 2025. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HEARING NO MOTIONS TO WITHDRAW, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA BEFORE WE GET TO A FEW CEREMONIALS. WE HAVE AN ACTUAL CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 5 ARE LISTED FOR CONSENT CONSIDERATION.

I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL

CONSIDERATION. >> 12 AND 13. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEMS 11, 12 AND 13. ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 5, 11, 12, 13

AND 21. >> CASTILLO: I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. EVERYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS ON ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY THERE ARE NO CITIZEN COMMENT.

IS THERE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION? >>

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S NOT BEEN PULLED. OH, I'M SORRY.

I APOLOGIZE. ON ITEM 20, WE HAVE CHARLENE HITAGAR.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT. ONE IS ITEM 14. I'M SO EXCITED TO VOTE TO APPROVE 14 APPROVING CONTRACTS TO HIRE VETERINARIANS FOR THE EAST AND WEST SIDE SPAY-NEUTER HUBS. OUR CITY FACES A DIRE SAFETY

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THIS NEXT CRITICAL STEP TO STAFF VETS FOR THE SURGERIES IS HUGE AND ONE STEP CLOSER TO OPENING THE HUBS FOR FULL OPERATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPACT ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDE, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AS A WHOLE.

ITEM 17 DESIGNATEING BENEFICIARY JOB DONNIE BANKS.

TODAY VICTORY CHAPEL WILL SYSTEM GREATER THE FINAL STEP FOR BELOVED BISHOP DONNIE BANKS. HE WAS A LEADER ON THE EAST SIDE FOR DECADES AND HELPED COUNTLESS LIVES THROUGH THE BATTLES OF DRUG ADDICTION AND ALCOHOLISM.

HE KNEW INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVISION FOOD AND MENTOR AND SPIRITUAL. HE IS DEEPLY MISSED BY ALL WHO LOVED AND KNEW HIM.

OUR HOPE IS THIS MEMORIAL DESIGNATION WILL SERVE AS AN HONOR TO A GREAT MAN AND ALL HIS WORK FOR THE EAST SIDE AND BEYOND. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 8, THE ORDINANCE APPROVING CONTRACTS WITH CENTRAL ELECTRIC ENTERPRISE AND COMPANY AND ZACHMAN ENTERPRISES FOR ON-CALL SERVICES FOR THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE STINSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. AND WE WERE THERE LAST WEEK FOR RECOGNITION OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMAN DAY AT STINSON AND MAKING SURE WE ARE CONTINUING TO TAKE CARE OF BOTH OF OUR AIRPORTS AND HAVING THESE CONTRACTS EVEN THOUGH WE SEE THEM IN AUDIT

AND NOT VERY EXCITED, BUT I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 5 AND OVERALL WORK OF ANIMAL CARE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK TO CONTINUE WE -- THIS WORK AND THESE CONTRACTS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS SAFE FROM LOOSE AND ROAMING STRAY ANIMALS AND THAT OUR PETS ARE KEPT SAFE AND MELT I. LOOKINGFOR FORWARD TO THE NEW EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND EVERYONE OVER

AT ACS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEM SAVE FOR 5, 11, 12, 13 AND 21. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY. WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS BEFORE WE GET TO ITEM 5 THAT WILL -- THAT ARE JUST FOR PROCEDURAL PURPOSES BEING PULLED.

LET'S GET TO ITEM 121. >> CLERK: ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTERESTS IN PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PARCELS OF LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES OF PRIVATELY-OWNED REAL PROPERTY AND DECLARING THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM DISTRICT 9 TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS TO BE A PUBLIC USE PROJECT AND A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF SIX RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENTS AND FOUR TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS FOR THE DISTRICT 9 TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, STONE OAK

AREA, PROJECT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: AS YOU HEARD THE CLERK READ OFF, THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT AREAS WE'RE ADDRESSING FOR TRAFFIC IN THE NORTH SIDE IN DISTRICT 9.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE SIT DOWN AND TRY TO NEGOTIATE WITH PROTESTERS, BUT IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO WE USE EMINENT DOMAIN. I MOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY FOR THE DISTRICT 9 TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS IN THE STONE ARKANSAS AREA BY AWIRING THE FOLLOW PROPERTY AND INCORPORATE AS PART OF THIS

MOTION. >> CLERK: CONSISTING OF HIS PERMANENT RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENTS AND FOUR TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION ICEMENTS LOCATED IN 19219 AND 19222, DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT MAP AND DEFINED BY THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED AND

INCORPORATED AS PART OF THIS MOTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL. OF ITEM 11 AS READ.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

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ITEM 12. >> CLERK: ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTERESTS IN PERMANENT PARCELS OF LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES OF PRIVATELY OWNED REAL PROPERTY AND DECLARING THE 2022 BOND PROJECT BROOKSIDE OUTFALL TO BE A PUBLIC USE PROJECTEN PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITIONS OF PORTIONS OF SEVEN PRIVATE PROPERTIES, THREE PERMANENT FEE SIMPLE PARCELS IN SUPPORT OF THE 2022 BOND PROJECT, PHASE 2.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I MOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROJECT OF THE BROOKSIDE OUTFALL AREA PHASE 2 PROJECT

BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY DESCRIBED BY THE. >> CLERK: CLERK LOCATED IN NEW CITY BLOCKS 10833, 10844, 10915 AND 10914. THESE PROPERTIES ARE DEPICTED IN THE PROJECT MAP AND DEFINED BY THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED AS PART OF THIS

MOTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DID I HEAR A SECOND? THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 12 AS READ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 13. >> H. >> CLERK: ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION OF INTERESTS AND PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PARCELS OF LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES OF PRIVATELY OWNED REAL PROPERTY AND DECLARING THE TWO FUNDED PROJECTS TO BE PUBLIC USE PROJECTS AND PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITIONS OF PORTIONS OF 16 PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS-OF-WAY EASEMENTS INTERESTING ALONG -- ALONG WATSON ROAD FOR THE WATSON ROAD PHASE 1 TO WEST OF PAL LOWE ALTO PROJECT AND B, ONE VARIABLE WIDTH RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT OUT OF NEW CITY BLOCK TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 2,875 ACRES FOR THE LINEAR GLEAN WAY TRAILS, SPECIFICALLY THE LEON GREENWAY CONNECTION VIA PORT SAN ANTONIO.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN. >> VIAGRAN: I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE WATSON ROAD PHASE 1 PROJECT AND LINEAR GREENWAYS PROJECT BY AWIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY DESCRIBED BY THE CITY CLERK AND INCORPORATED

AS PART OF THIS MOTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE WAS A MOTION -- I'M SORRY.

GO AHEAD. >> CLERK: THE PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY INTEREST CONSISTING OF PORKS OF 14 PERMANENT RIGHTS-OF-WAY LOCATED ALONG WATSON ROAD FOR THE PHASE 1 PROJECT, VERANO PARKWAY. AND B, ONE VARIABLE WIDTH RIGHT-OF-WAY OUT OF NCB13975 FOR THE LINEAR CREEK GREENWAYS PROJECT, LEON GREENWAY CONNECTION VIA PORT SAN ANTONIO DEPICTED IN THE PROJECT MAP AND EXHIBITS

ATTACHED AS PART OF THIS MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 13 AS READ. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. BEFORE WE GET TO THE REST OF OUR BUSINESS TODAY, WE DO ANNUALLY RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COMMUNITY DOES.

AND ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR CITY THAT DOES THAT WORK IS AN ORGANIZATION CALLED CHILD SAFE. WHICH HAS BEEN PROTECTING CHILDREN ALL OVER THIS REGION FOR DECADES AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED SOME DECORATIVE CARDBOARD BEHIND US TODAY THAT IS MEANT TO DRAW AWARENESS TO CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO TO RECOGNIZE CARDBOARD KIDS MONTH, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

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>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM PROUD TO INTRODUCE CHILD SAFE IN HONOR OF THEIR CARDBOARD KIDS REVEAL DAY TODAY.

JOINING US HERE TODAY ARE PRESIDENT AND CEO RANDY MC GIBBY AND KAREN ADAMS. RANDY, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM. EVERY YEAR IN APRIL, CHILD SAFE CELEBRATES THEIR CARDBOARD KIDS REVEAL DAY, COINCIDING WITH CHOICE PREVENTION MONTH. THE CAMPAIGN IS A CITYWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS INITIATIVE AIMED AT DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE PERVASIVENESS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN OUR COMMUNITY. SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED CHILD ABUSE CASES. THE GOAL IS TO GET PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT CHILD ABUSE.

HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ABUSE IS CRUCIAL TO ENSURE CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS UNDERSTAND THE SIGNS AND KNOW WHEN AND HOW TO SPEAK UP.

OVER 120,000 CARDBOARD KIDS ARE CONTRIBUTED EACH YEAR AND DISPLAYED STARTING ON REVEAL DAY. TODAY YOU WILL BEGIN SEEING THESE ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY. EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS CARDBOARD KID AT THEIR SEAT.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DISPLAY THESE IN VISIBLE LOCATIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE. THEY SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD AND WE ARE ALL PART OF THAT VILLAGE. IT IS OUR JOBS TO RECOGNIZE AND REPORT CHILD ABUSE AND TO BELIEVE THE CHILDREN IN OUR LIVES IF THEY SHARE THEIR STORY WITH US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO RANDY TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>> FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR YOU'VE HAD US BACK TO SPEAK TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND WE'VE BEEN COMING UP HERE A NUMBER OF YEARS. THIS IS OUR 11TH YEARS IN LAUNCHING CARDBOARD KIDS.

APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH. AT CHILD SAFE WE HOUSE NUMBER OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY FAMILIES TO COMBAT DESCRIBES CHILD ABUSE.

NOT ONLY WE CAN LOCK UP PERPETRATORS OF THIS CRIME BUT THEN TAKE CHILDREN FROM A PLACE OF THAT JUSTICE TO HEALING. AND MOVE THEM ALONG.

I WAS ANGERED YESTERDAY AND I WAS HEART BROKEN BY A STORY OF ONE OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE BUILDING WHO WENT TO GO CHECK ON A CHILD AT THEIR HOUSE AND THE PERPETRATOR WAS THERE. THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE AT THE TIME AND HE GRABBED THAT EMPLOYEE AND BEGAN PUNCHING ON THAT EMPLOYEE TRYING TO DRAG THAT EMPLOYEE INTO HIS HOUSE AND THREATENED TO KILL THAT EMPLOYEE.

IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF A CONCERNED CITIZEN THAT WAS OUT BLOWING BELIEVES THAT INTERVENED THAT THAT EMPLOYEE'S POTENTIALLY LIFE WAS SAVED.

I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO THE WORK WE DO AT CHILD SAFE.

WHILE APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES, THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THEM, THEIR SAFETY.

WHEN ALL THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IS PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE.

WE ARE THE HIGHEST CONFIRMATION RATE OF CHILD ABUSE FOR EVERY 1,000 KIDS, EIGHT AND A HALF CHILDREN WILL BE CONFIRMED BECAUSED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LAST CALENDAR YEAR THE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED OVER 4500 CONFIRMATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE. OVER THE 11-YEAR SPAN OF CARDBOARD KIDS, THIS YEAR WE HOPE THE 82,000 THAT WE GAVE OUT THIS YEAR WILL HELP CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS NOT JUST FOR THE CHILD VICTIMS BUT THE INDIVIDUALS ON THE FRONT LINE.

WE CAN'T DO THIS WORK WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR LAS LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WITHOUT THE WORK OF CITY COUNCIL.

THE ONE STORY I SHARED WITH YOU IS ONE OF 1,000 STORIES THAT I HAVE TO LISTEN TO EVERY DAY AND THAT THE INDIVIDUALS ON THE FRONT LINE ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT THESE KIDS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. COUNCILWOMAN, I CAN'T THANK

YOU ENOUGH FOR HAVING US. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, RANDY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO AND TO THE ENTIRE CHILD SAFE TEAM, YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT AND THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU DO DAILY FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF THIS COMMUNITY.

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COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. CHILD SAFE HAS HAD SOME SUCCESS IN THE PAST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE I WENT TO -- WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE SEXUAL ASSAULT AGAINST CHILDREN. AND YOU ALL TOLD THE STORY ABOUT HOW YOU HAD TO EDUCATE A WHOLE POPULATION THAT IT WAS NOT RIGHT, INCEST WAS NOT RIGHT. THAT UNCLES AND FATHERS AND GRANDFATHERS COULD NOT USE THE WOMEN IN THEIR FAMILIES AND ABUSE THEM AS THEIR SEXUAL PLAY THINGS.

AND Y'ALL DID AN EDUCATION PIECE AND WE'VE SEEN THOSE NUMBERS GO DOWN.

AS WE HAVE ANCESTRY DNA, WE'VE SEEN NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM. AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN CURBING SOME OF THIS. BUT I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE WE'RE HAVING TO START ALL OVER AGAIN RIGHT NOW WITH OUR YOUTH, WITH OUR WOMEN, WITH OUR CHILDREN, PERIOD.

WHERE PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY OWN THEM, THAT THEY CAN USE THEM HOW THEY WANT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE CARDBOARD KIDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUALLY WORKING AND SAYING THE HARD THINGS. THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO COME UP HERE TODAY AND NOT TELL THAT STORY. BECAUSE SEXUAL ABUSE AGAINST CHILDREN IS STILL PREVALENT AND IT'S NOT STRANGERS. AND WE STILL NEED TO EDUCATE BECAUSE WHILE WE WORKED ON ONE GENERATION, WE HAVE ANOTHER GENERATION COMING UP WHERE THEY DON'T SEEM TO GET THE MESSAGE. WHERE THEY THINK IT'S OKAY, AND IT'S NOT OKAY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR MY CARDBOARD KID. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

BUT EVERY TIME I GET A CARDBOARD KID, THAT'S THE STORY I REMEMBER.

THAT THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORT SUPPOG YOU IN THE FUTURE. IT'S A HARD JOB AND I KNOW THE FIRST-LINE WORKERS GET BURNT OUT BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE SAVING LIVES AND YOU ARE MOVING A WHOLE GROUP, A WHOLE GENERATION FORWARD WHEN THEY CAN FIND HEALING THROUGH WHAT YOU DO AND YOUR SERVICES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND, AGAIN, YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT AND OUR

GRATITUDE EVERY DAY. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, GUYS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW GOING TO GET INTO THE REST OF OUR AGENDA. WE HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS TO GET THROUGH.

WE'LL START WITH ITEM 5. >> CLERK: ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN EXPEDITED PROCUREMENT FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE HEALTH CARE TO SUPPORT DOWNSTREAM REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES WHICH MAY INCLUDE OUT-OF-STATE

TRAVEL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 5. I'LL TAKE FOLKS IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP.

INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. GROUPS CAN HAVE UP TO NINE MINUTES. THE PLAYING OF RECORDINGS IS NOT PERMITTED.

AND I'LL JUST REMIND FOLKS PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PERSON WHO IS SPEAKING AT THE PODIUM. KEEP YOUR REACTION TO A MINIMUM.

IF I HAVE TO REMIND FOLKS ABOUT THIS, WE'LL RECESS AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

WE'LL GET THROUGH IN SHORT ORDER. WE'LL START WITH MARCUS DOVOLINA. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DR. TIM WESLEY.

>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARCUS DOVOLINA AND I'M A CONSTITUENT OF D1. I'M NOT HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO THOSE COMMITTED TO CUTTING VITAL SERVICES, THOSE WHO VOTE TO DEFUND MEDICAID, SCHOOL LUNCHES AND S.N.A.P. AND CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE, NOR THOSE WHO VOTE AGAINST THOSE WHO CAUSE CHILDHOOD DEATHS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES PRO CHOICE, WHO SAY THEY STAND WITH WOMEN IN MARGINALIZED WOMEN.

AS FORMER MARINE, STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES.

THAT'S WHAT COURAGE LOOKS LIKES, THAT'S WHAT LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE.

[00:40:02]

WILL YOU SERVE THE LOUDEST VOICES OR MOST VULNERABLE ONES.

A REMARK ABOUT NOT PUTTING TAXPAYERS ON THE HOOK FOR THIS FUND.

AS A TAXPAYER, I ASK TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR IT. LET'S NOT PRETEND $100,000 BREAKS THE BUDGET. YOU WON'T BILINGUAL AS TEARING DOWN HOUSING TO BUILD A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FIELD, BUT THIS IS WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO DRAW THE LINE. THIS VOTE IS NOT ABOUT 100,000, IT'S ABOUT SENDING A MESSAGE.

THE VULNERABLE AND THE FUTURE. HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, PASS THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. STOP LEGITIMATING PREGNANCY, EXPAND ACCESS, CARE AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU.

STAND WITH YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. DR. TIM WESLEY. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY

LAURA MOLINAUD. >> GOOD MORNING. I FIND IT MIGHTY CYNICAL AND HYPOCRITICAL THAT ON A DAY YOU ALL ARE RECOGNIZING THE CHILDREN, APRIL BEING A MONTH THAT'S RECOGNIZED AS CHILD ABUSE RECOGNITION MONTH, AND YOU PUT YOUR CUT-OUT THERE WHICH IS A GREAT EFFORT AND I COMMEND THAT EFFORT AND YOU WANT TO PROTECT CHILDREN, YET YOU DECIDE THIS IS ALL TO SPEND $100,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO CIRCUMVENT THE SYSTEM AND TEXAS LAWS TO FUND ABORTION. MAYBE YOU ALL DON'T REALIZE IT, BUT SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN THIS MEETING ALONE, SINCE YOU'VE STARTED MEETING, THERE HAVE BEEN ALMOST 100 CHILDREN ABORTED. SINCE WE STARTED THIS MEETING.

BY THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TALKING 2400 PER DAY. THAT'S 100 PER HOUR.

AND YOU ALL THINK IT'S PROPOSE TO GO AHEAD AND FUND THIS.

MAYBE YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT SAN ANTONIO IS MADE UP OF BOTH PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT ONE MILLION PEOPLE. THAT'S ABOUT ONE MILLION OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THAT YOU ARE SIMPLY SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONCERN OURSELVES ABOUT YOUR FAITH, ABOUT WHAT YOU REPRESENT. YOU ARE SIMPLY SAYING THAT THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T MATTER.

THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF WHO YOU REPRESENT DOESN'T MATTER.

YOU ARE SAYING WE ARE GOING TO DO AS WE CHOOSE. I WANT TO AT THE TIME YOU ALL KNOW THAT AT THIS -- TO LET YOU ALL KNOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME IT'S MIGHTY CYNICAL, HYPOCRITICAL. APRIL BEING A MONTH YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING CHILDREN. GOD INTENDED FOR THE WOMB TO BE A PLACE OF PROTECTION, BUT YOU ALL, EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE CHOOSING TO TURN THE WOMB INTO A TOMB ON MY TAX DOLLARS. I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS. IF THIS MEASURE IS NOT VOTED DOWN BEFORE I'M ELECTED MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY, I CAN ASSURE YOU ITS BETTER DAYS ARE BEHIND IT. SMILE AS YOU LIKE, AS THE NEXT MAYOR, I WILL FIGHT TO ENSURE NOT ONE DIME OF OUR HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS WILL BE SPEND TO CIRCUMVENT TEXAS LAW OR ENABLE THE DESTRUCTION OF UNBORN LIVES. WE HAD ONE QUOTE COMING FROM POPE FRANCIS. HE SAID THE RIGHT TO LIFE IS THE FIRST AMONG HUMAN RIGHTS. TO ABORT A CHILD IS TO KILL SOMEONE WHO CANNOT DEFEND HIMSELF. DR. TIM WESLEY WILL DEFEND THE CHILDREN AND PUT YOU ON NOTICE TODAY WE WON'T HAVE IT. GOD BLESS YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. LAURA MOLINAUD.

YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AIR ARIANNA RODRIGUEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS, MAYOR NIRENBERG. THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO US THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS LAURA MOLINAUD AND I'M HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY KNOWLEDGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THE $100,000 EXPANSION OF THE SAN ANTONIO

[00:45:04]

I WOULD LIKE TO ASSERT INVESTING IN REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE WILL ONLY COMPLEMENT AND ENHANCE THESE SERVICES. PROACTIVE INVESTMENT IN PREP HEALTH HELPS PREVENT FUTURE BURDENS ON AN ALREADY STRAINED MEDICAL SYSTEM AND SOCIAL SERVICES BYING INUNINTENDED PREGNANCIES, PARTNER VIOLENCE AND MATERNAL AND HEALTH COMPLICATIONS. ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE IS SPECIAL BUT TO THE BROADER PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY.

COUNCILMEMBERS TODAY, TODAY YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES LEADERS WHO STAND FIRM, WHO CHOOSE JUSTICE OVER FEAR AND COMPASSION OVER THESE POLITICAL THREATS.

BY VOTING YES ON THIS EXPANSION, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THAT PEOPLE'S REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.

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

MS. ARIANNA RODRIGUEZ, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KATE SANCHEZ.

BUT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO AN END BRIEFLY. >> SEGOVIA: JUST A REMINDER THAT SINCE WE ARE IN ELECTION SEASON, IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ITEM BEFORE THE COUNCIL, BUT INAPPROPRIATE TO TURN IT INTO A SPEECH ADVOCATING FOR THEIR CANDIDACY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MS. RODRIGUEZ, FOLLOWED BY

KATE SANCHEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I'M THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AT JAMES DUE PROCESS. WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE ACCESS THE CARE THEY WANT AND NEED. WHETHER IT'S ACCESSING STI TESTING, BEING THE SUPPORT SYSTEM OR TRAVELING OUT OF STATE FOR ABORTION CARE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, WE FOUND THAT SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ABORTION FUNDS AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT FUNDS WERE TRANSFORMATIVE IN ENSURING ACCESS TO CARE. A CLIENT DESCRIBED AFTER PAYING ALL HER BILLS, SHE HAD ONLY $100 LEFT. SO IT WAS A RELIEF. YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS FACED ADDITIONAL BURDENS AND CHALLENGES WHEN SEEKING ABORTION CARE AND TRAVELING OUT OF STATE BY PROVIDING SUPPORT ABORTION FUNDS REMOVE THE STRESS AND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE OBTAIN THE CARE THEY NEED. I HOPE EVERYONE WILL TAKE A MINUTE TO LOOK AT THE ALTAR SET OUTSIDE THAT HONORS THE PEOPLE WHO DIED WHEN UNABLE TO GET ABORTION CARE IN TEXAS. THEY WERE ROBBED OF LONG BEAUTIFUL LIVES BECAUSE OF OUR STATE'S HARMFUL POLICIES.

I THOUGHT ONE DAY IT COULD BE MY BEST FRIEND, ME OR SOMEONE WHEN THIS ROOM ADDED TO THAT MEMORIAL. THE CITY HAS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE LOCAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ABORTION ACCESS AND REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR SAN ANTONIANS. THE TEXANS ARE SUFFERING, TRAVELING FAR DISTANCES, GOING INTO DEBT AND GOING TO UNIMAGINE ABLE LINKS TO ACCESS CARE.

THE CITY CANNOT ALLOW FEAR TO DICTATE THEIR DECISIONS WHEN PEOPLE ARE DYING.

THANKS YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

KATE SANCHEZ. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CYNTHIA LUGO.

>> IS IT STILL MORNING? BENEFICIAL. GOOD MORNING, Y'ALL.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUTH TEXAS

[00:50:07]

IF THESE BILLS PASS, IT WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND IN THE NATION TO PUNISH ABORTION SEEKERS DIRECTLY AND WE'LL SEE THIS MANUFACTURED HEALTH CARE CRISIS CONTINUE TO EXACERBATE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES.

ABORTION BANS ELIMINATE SAFE AND LEGAL ACCESS. THEY HAVE NEVER ELIMINATED THE NEED FOR ABORTION. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS OUR ONE PATIENT NAVIGATOR FOR OUR SEVEN CLINICS IN SOUTH TEXAS RECEIVED NEARLY 1200 CALLS LAST YEAR PERTAINING TO ABORTION ALONE. NON-PROFITS WERE SEEING DECREASES IN FUNDING.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND. CURRENTLY OUR ORGANIZATION DEFINITELY UNDERSTANDS WHY ABORTION CAN MAKE SOME PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

IT'S COMPLEX TO EACH INDIVIDUAL, IT IS HEALTH CARE, IT IS SAFE AND THE HARSH REALITY IS THE LANDSCAPE OF ABORTION IN TEXAS IS DANGEROUS AND LETHAL IN CASES THAT WE'VE SEEN. PERSONALLY INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE AND SAN ANTONIO SEES SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES IN THE STATE. STUDIES SHOW ABORTION BANS KEEP PEOPLE TRAPPED IN THIS CYCLE OF VIOLENCE. MATERNAL DEATH MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE.

AND STUDIES SHOW THAT HAVING ACCESS TO ABORTION CAN HELP BREAK THESE CYCLES OF POVERTY AND TEEN PREGNANCY. SO WHILE ABORTION CAN MAKE SOME PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE, IT CAN SAVE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS $100,000 IS LESS THAN HALF A PERCENT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND IT WILL SAVE LIVES IN OUR CITY AND IT SHOWS SAN ANTONIANS THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE WILLING TO STEP IN DURING UNPRECEDENTED TIMES AND KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE AND ENSURE ACCESS TO THE HEALTHCARE AND THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED

AND DESERVE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. SANCHEZ. CYNTHIA LUGO. CYNTHIA LUGO.

YANETH FLORES. MS. FLORES, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ERICA GALINDO.

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ALLOCATING AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 TO THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND FOR ABORTION NEEDS.

I AM GRATEFUL THAT WE CONTINUE TO BUILD TOWARD THE CITY WHERE CONSTITUENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND SUPPORTED. IN A TIME WHEN EXTREMIST POLICY HAS MADE PREGNANCY THE MOST DANGEROUS IT HAS EVER BEEN IN TEXAS, IT IS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT STILL PROVIDE A LIFELINE TO ABORTION CARE FOR SAN ANTONIO. DUE TO THE CONFUSING AND AGGRESSIVE ABORTION LAWS IN OUR STATE, RATES HAVE GONE UP MORE THAN 50% AND THE RATE OF MATERNAL DEATH HAS INCREASED TO 56%. THAT IS A 44% INCREASE COMPARED TO THE NATIONWIDE AVERAGE OF 11%. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T NOTE THAT WHILE WE DELAYED DOWNSTREAM INVESTMENTS LIKE ABORTION FUNDING, MORE REPORTS CAME OUT OF TEXANS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DUE TO THE ABORTION BAN IN OUR STATE.

THESE ARE THE RARE STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO MADE IT INTO THE MEDIA WHO HAD A AUDIO]. MAY THEY REST IN PEACE. THE STATE AND THE CITY OWED THEM BETTER. IN LIGHT OF THESE PREVENTABLE TRAGEDIES I PRAY THAT EVERY TEXAS CITY WOULD FIND THE COURAGE TO MEET THE MOMENT AND SUPPORT ABORTION EDUCATION AND RESOURCES, LIKE LOGISTICAL ABORTION FUNDING. PREGNANT TEXANS DESERVE DIRECT SERVICE AND ACCESS TO CARE WITHOUT FACING ADDITIONAL BARRIERS, STIGMA, AND SHAME.

RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, SAN ANTONIANS ONLY HAVE TWO OPTIONS.

ONE, YOU SEEK ABORTION OUT OF STATE, WHICH COMES WITH MANY BARRIERS.

OR, TWO, YOU RISK YOUR LIFE WAITING FOR DOCTORS AND LAWYERS TO REACH A CONSENSUS ON WHETHER YOU ARE DEAD ENOUGH TO GET EMERGENCY CARE UNDER THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY. THIS IS NOT ONLY CRUEL, IT IS ALSO UNSUSTAINABLE.

BAD-FAITH ACTORS ARE MAKING DECISIONS FOR TEXANS. THEY BLOCK TEXANS FROM DIGNITY AND CARE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL OUR BODIES AND EMPOWER ABUSERS TO USE COERCION AGAINST THEIR PARTNERS BUT THERE ARE LEADERS LIKE YOU WHO KNOW WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LEAVE POWER ON

[00:55:05]

I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBERS CASTILLO, VIAGRAN, CABELLO HAVRDA, KAUR, AND MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP WITH REGARD TO THIS ISSUE.

WE SEE YOU AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR A BETTER FUTURE IN SAN ANTONIO.

I JUST CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS TIMELY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, ESPECIALLY ABORTION CARE. WHEN PEOPLE ARE DENIED ABORTION, THIS RESULTS IN ECONOMIC INSECURITY FOR WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND AN ALMOST FOUR-FOLD INCREASE IN ODDS THAT HOUSEHOLD INCOME WILL FALL BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. INVESTING IN REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND IS CARE, DIGNITY, AND TRUST AGAINST EXTREMIST EFFORTS TO CONTROL OUR HEALTH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. FLORES . ERICA GALINDO.

MS. GALINDO, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ROLANDO PABLOS. >> HELLO AND THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR FOR MEETING ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT MATTER TO INCLUDE LIFE-SAVING ABORTION LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AS PART OF THE HISTORIC REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.

MY NAME IS ERICA GALINDO AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND AS THE ORGANIZING PROGRAM MANAGER OF LILITH FUND BY PAYING FOR THEIR ABORTIONS IN OTHER STATES, SUPPORTING TEXANS TRAVELING BACK TO OUR STATE, AND PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD ABORTIONS. INCLUDING ABORTION LOGISTICAL SUPPORT WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN SECURING THE FUTURES OF THE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO. RECENTLY I LEARNED THAT BEING AND STAYING PREGNANT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE AND IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE PREGNANCY CAN BE DANGEROUS IN STATES WITH ABORTION BANS LIKE TEXAS.

AS WE KNOW AND CAN SEE WITH THE PEOPLE WE'RE HONORING OUTSIDE ON OUR ALTAR, THAT'S BECAUSE HOMICIDE IS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN PREGNANCY, MEANING THAT IF SOMEONE IS UNABLE TO ACCESS AN ABORTION, THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO STAY IN DANGER BY SUPPORTERS OF ABORTION BANS AND CITY LEADERS THAT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. REFUSING TO SUPPORT ABORTION LOGISTICAL SUPPORT IN THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND ENGAGES THE PEOPLE WHERE IP RATES ARE ESPECIALLY HIGH. I WANT TO THANK MY CITY COUNCILWOMAN FROM DISTRICT 5, TERI CASTILLO FOR STEPPING INTO HER POWER TO MAKE THE REPRODUCTIVE JOURNEY FOR ALL THE CONSTITUENTS POSSIBLE BY SUPPORTING THE FUND. THIS IS ESPECIALLY APPRECIATED. AS WE KNOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM DISTRICT 10 ARE GOING TO OUR STATE'S CAPITAL TO CONSPIRE ON BILLS LIKE SB 43, POWER THAT ALSO BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THEIR LOCAL TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT .

GIVEN THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING WHEN THEY DON'T GET CARE AND NOW LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR US TO MEET AND ADDRESS THESE NEEDS, THE TIME IS NOW TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. SO I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, NOT JUST BECAUSE WE AND SO MANY OF US KNOW HOW ABORTION BANS PUT EVERY PREGNANT TEXAN IN DANGER AND BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS TIME THAT WE'RE IN TO EXERT OUR POWER AS A CITY IS LIMITED, BUT I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO VOTE FOR .014%, THAT'S LESS THAN HALF OF 1% OF OUR CITY'S 2024 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AND INVEST IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M ASKING ALL OF YOU TO BE CREATIVE AND STEADFAST IN YOUR POWER AND COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURES OF ALL OF US AND VOTE FOR THE EXPANSION OF THIS FUND TO SUPPORT ABORTION LOGISTICAL SUPPORT.

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

ROLANDO PABLOS FOLLOWED BY MUHAMMAD RASOUL. >> I AM A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR AND I'M NOT HURE AS PART OF MY CAMPAIGN SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. MR. MAYOR, I SUBMITTED A LETTER TO EACH ONE OF YOU AND I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD. IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, I HAVE A COPY OF IT HERE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THIS ITEM.

LET ME TELL YOU WHY. FROM A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THERE ARE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT. YOU ALL ASK US EVERY YEAR, EVERY OTHER YEAR THROUGH A BUDGET SURVEY TO TELL US WHAT WE BELIEVE IS IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY. AND I THINK WE HAVE SPOKEN AND SAID THAT ISSUES LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY ARE IMPORTANT. INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPORTANT. HOMELESSNESS, IMPORTANT.

[01:00:03]

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

MUHAMMAD RASOUL FOLLOWED BY ALYSSA SHEPHERD. >> I'M NOT RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THESE FUNDS . I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT WHY TO BE AGAINST IT AND THEY FALL INTO TWO BUCKETS, BASICALLY.

THERE'S FEAR AND THERE'S ETHICS. THE FEAR COMPONENT COMES IN WHERE WE'RE SCARED OF BEING SUED BY A STATE THAT'S INSTATING ARBITRARY LAWS CAUSING DEATH IN OUR COMMUNITY. BEING FEARFUL OF THOSE FOLKS IS A SHAME AND Y'ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES IF THAT'S THE ARGUMENT.

ETHICS, THERE'S AN ARGUMENT THAT WE JUST HEARD THAT NOT EVERY RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO AGREES WITH THIS EXPENDITURE OF $100,000. I CHALLENGE ANY OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SHOW ME ONE SINGLE VOTE WHERE EVERY ONE OF THE TAXPAYERS AGREED WITH YOUR VOTE HERE ON THE DAIS. IT'S AN ABSURD REQUEST AND IT'S AN ABSURD ARGUMENT COMING FROM YOU ALL AS TO WHY TO NOT SUPPORT THIS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE ARE EXAMPLES ON THE DAIS FOR THOSE WHO DID THE RIGHT THING. COUNCILMAN MARC WHYTE HAD A SITUATION WHERE HE WAS NOTIFIED WHERE A WOMAN WAS IN DANGER AND INSTEAD OF ALLOWING AUDIO] OVERSTEPPING LEGAL LINES, HE JUMPED INTO ACTION AND IN HIS OWN WORDS, USED EVERYTHING WITHIN HIS POWER TO GO AND PROTECT THAT YOUNG LADY'S LIFE BECAUSE IT WAS WORTH IT. I SAW HIM STAND FOR TWO HOURS IN FRONT OF THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN ARGUE IN FAVOR OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS SEEKING THE MORAL PATH FORWARD. HE WAS DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT IN HIS CONSCIENCE TO PROTECT A RESIDENT FROM DANGER OR DEATH. I URGE ALL OF YOU TO USE HIS ACTIONS, NOT HIS WORDS TODAY, BUT HIS ACTIONS WHEN POSED WITH A SITUATION AS INSPIRATION FOR HOW TO VOTE TODAY.

SITTING UP HERE, READING WORDS THAT LIKELY WERE GENERATED BY CHATGPT TO THIS COMMUNITY IS THE EASIEST PART OF YOUR JOB BUT TAKING ACTION THAT IS GOING TO BRING CRITICISM, IT'S GOING TO BRING DIFFICULTY INTO YOUR LIVES AND IT'S GOING TO BRING A LITTLE BIT OF HARDSHIP TO YOUR RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, THAT'S THE COURAGE WE DEMAND OF OUR CITY COUNCIL.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN OUR NEW MAYOR, MR. PABLOS AND THAT'S

WHAT WE NEED FROM ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALYSSA SHEPARD. DOMINIQUE HUERTA. MS. HUERTA, YOU WILL BE

FOLLOWED BY MIKE K. >> MY NAME IS DOMINIQUE HUERTA.

I RESIDE IN DISTRICT 4. I WORK WITH THE ACLU OF TEXAS AND I'M A NEW MOM.

TODAY I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND IN REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 TO SUPPORT SAN ANTONIANS' ACCESS TO OUT OF STATE LOGISTICAL ABORTION SUPPORT. WHEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ALLOCATED A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET TO CREATE THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND, OUR COMMUNITY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH POSITIVE CHANGE AMONGST BAD AND DANGEROUS STATE POLICY.

THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND IS A BEACON OF LOVE AND WHAT SAN ANTONIANS AND TRULY WHAT TEXANS BELIEVE IN. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

TEXANS ARE SUFFERING AND DYING AND THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE LOCAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SAN ANTONIANS IN ACCESSING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR AND THEIR FAMILY'S FUTURE. RIGHT NOW TEXAS IS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST STATES TO BE PREGNANT IN. LET'S GIVE THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO THEIR DIGNITY BACK BY

FUNDING OUT OF STATE LOGISTICAL ABORTION SUPPORT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

[01:05:11]

YOU, MS. HUERTA. MIKE KANUFKE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MIKE WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FAMILY ASSOCIATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS TO OR I'M OPPOSED TO. LET'S TALK ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.

LET'S START WITH THE REPRODUCTIVE PART. OH, THERE'S NOTHING REPRODUCED HERE. WHY DON'T WE CALL IT WHAT IT IS? THE KILLING JUSTICE FUND. WHAT YOU DID FOR MARTIN WAS VERY NICE THIS MORNING.

IT WAS RIGHT AND FITTING TO DO. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARTIN, GOD REST HIS SOUL, AND HIS FAMILY AND THESE PEOPLE IS YOU'RE SNUFFING OUT THEIR LIVES AND YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR NAME, YOU HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

AND I CAN'T HELP TO HEAR THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN SOME OF THE SPEAKERS TALKING ABOUT ABORTION CARE. WELL, ABORTION'S KILLING AND IN TEXAS KILLING IS MURDER.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT CORRECTLY, IT'S MURDER CARE. JUST THINK ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO SAVE LIVES TO MURDER CARE. HOW ABSURD.

HOW ABSURD IS THAT? MURDER CARE. WHAT DO WE DO WHEN A CITY GOES ROGUE OR IS CORRUPT? WELL, WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SPEAKING HERE. WE'RE TRYING TO DO OTHER THINGS.

WE HAVE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I UNDERSTAND ALREADY SPENT $400,000 ON THIS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER TOOLS IN THE BAG. BUT WHAT WE NEED IS WE NEED YOU TO ACT LIKE A BODY THAT THINKS ABOUT DOMESTIC PROSPERITY AND FUTURE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT HAVING CHILDREN. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHILDCARE EARLIER.

THAT WAS VERY GOOD. WHAT ABOUT BABY CARE? CAN WE EXPAND THAT TO BABY CARE, PERHAPS? THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD AND WE HAVE A MORAL AND RELIGIOUS OBJECTION TO THIS AS A TAXPAYER IN SAN ANTONIO. AND CHILDREN ARE BEING ENSLAVED AND MOMS ARE BEING ENSLAVED. CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED. OUR LORD MOST LIKELY IS GOING TO ASK ALL OF US WHAT DID YOU DO TO STOP IT. BE COURAGEOUS.

HAVE HOLY COURAGE AND STOP THIS. THIS IS INSANE TO KILL.

70% OF SAN ANTONIO IS PRO-LIFE CHRISTIANS. EVEN THE NUMBERS, MAYOR, 70/30. THIS IS WRONG. I'M NOT LISTENING TO THEM, I'M GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY? WE'VE GOT TO STOP THIS. THIS IS A FAMILY CITY.

THIS IS A COURAGEOUS CITY. THIS IS A CITY OF FAITH. TO UNBELIEVERS, I WOULD SAY

THIS: VOTE TODAY, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BURST ASUNDER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. ROBERT GONZALES. MR. GONZALES, YOU WILL BE

FOLLOWED BY PATRICK VON DOLAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. NAME'S ROBERT GONZALES.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO. BORN IN SANTA ROSA HOSPITAL JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7. I WANT TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS PROPOSED FUNDING. IT'S HORRIBLE. READING THE TEXT, THERE'S REFERENCES, TERMS DOWNSTREAMING, JUSTICE. I READ THAT JUST OVER A WEEK AGO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT DOWNSTREAMING. WE HAD SOMEONE WHO IS HOMELESS IN THIS CITY. SHE WAS ON THE STREETS. PEOPLE KNEW HER.

SHE HAD A NICKNAME. MS. D. SHE DISAPPEARED.

WE HAD THESE SPRING STORMS COMING THROUGH. NOBODY KNEW WHERE SHE WAS.

GUESS WHAT. ON MARCH 25, A JOGGER WAS GOING DOWN OVER BY WOODLAWN PARK, WOODLAWN LAKE. THEY SAW A BODY IN THERE. THIS WOMAN HAD BEEN LIVING IN THE STORM DRAINS. AND SO I WONDER, YOU KNOW, IS THIS CARE? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOWNSTREAMING. THIS WOMAN WAS DOWNSTREAMED

[01:10:07]

DO WE REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY? WHERE ARE WE ALLOCATING OUR FUNDS? WHAT'S GOING ON? WHERE ARE THERE PEOPLE IN THE STORM DRAINS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS AT ALL.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LACK OF COMPASSION. WE'RE A COMMUNITY AND THIS IS A SPECTRUM. WE SHOULD CARE FOR PEOPLE. THIS HAPPENED.

HER BODY WAS FOUND ON MARCH 25. CHRISTIANS RECOGNIZE THAT AS THE DAILY CONCEPTION. THAT'S NINE MONTHS PRIOR TO DECEMBER 25.

AND IT'S IRONIC. I'M BESIDE MYSELF WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS TRAGEDY.

I THINK ABOUT THIS POOR WOMAN'S LAST SECONDS OF LIFE AS SHE WAS DROWNING.

THERE WAS NO ONE THERE TO HELP HER. THE CITY FAILED HER.

THERE'S MANY WOMEN OUT HERE THAT HAVE PROBLEM PREGNANCIES. THEY DON'T NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED TO KILL THEIR BABIES. THEIR BABIES ALSO ARE HUMAN LIVES.

THIS IS NOT NEW. LIFE UNWORTHY OF LIFE, A TERM USED IN NIRENBERG AND WE DON'T WANT THIS FUND TO BE A LEGACY OF THE NIRENBERG COUNCIL. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THIS FUNDING BE VOTED AGAINST AND THAT WE FIND -- WE BETTER ALLOCATE THESE RESOURCES.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GONZALES. PATRICK VON DOLAN.

PATRICK VON DOLAN FOLLOWED BY PAUL COMEAUX. >> GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON NOW. I KNOW THAT Y'ALL GOT TO GO CELEBRATE THE NCAA FINAL FOUR THIS MORNING. AND WHAT A GREAT TREAT THAT IS FOR SAN ANTONIO TO HAVE THE NCAA FINAL FOUR HERE. BUT ISN'T IT HYPOCRITICAL THAT WE GO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF BASKETBALL TEAMS, YOUNG MEN WHO MOST LIKELY FIT THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT YOU'RE NOW TARGETING WITH THIS MANDATED TAXPAYER-FUNDED ABORTION TRAVEL.

THE VERY YOUNG MEN ON THE BASKETBALL COURT IN THE ALAMODOME ARE THE SAME ONES YOU'RE TARGETING HERE DEMOGRAPHICALLY. AND IT'S A TRAVESTY.

AND HYPOCRITICAL. IT'S HYPOCRISY AT ITS FINEST, WHETHER IT BE THE PROJECTED NAME CALLING WE WERE SUBJECTED TO BY MANNY PELAEZ NOVEMBER 21.

OR IT BE THE PLANNING TO CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE LIVING CULTURE DURING FIESTA WHILE PLANNING TO HARM WOMEN WITH CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD, PLANNED DEATHHOOD. WHETHER IT BE A VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON FEBRUARY 28 BY POSTING THAT AGENDA THE DAY OF THE MEETING. IT WILL BE RULED NULL AND VOID. HENCE THIS ONE TOO. WHETHER IT BE THE CITY ATTORNEY LEGALLY CLARIFYING TO A MAYORAL CANDIDATE THAT HE CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT HIS CANDIDACY BUT HE HASN'T YET CLARIFIED FOR Y'ALL YOU ARE ABOUT TO BREAK TEXAS LAW.

WHETHER IT BE ABOUT SPAYING AND NEUTERING DOGS. YOU'RE GOING TO TREAT THEM LIKE ANIMALS, WOMEN LIKE ANIMALS? THE HYPOCRISY OF IT. WHETHER IT BE YOUR HYPOCRISY ABOUT PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSE, FROM GETTING RID OF DNA EVIDENCE, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET RID OF DNA EVIDENCE OF CHILDREN. THEY JUST HAPPENED TO BE PRE-BORN. THAT'S THE SAME DNA EVIDENCE THAT THIS CITY COUNCILMAN WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T GET RID OF. YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET RID OF IT THROUGH ABORTION TRAVEL FUNDING. WHETHER IT BE ABOUT PROTECTING SLAVES, YOU'RE TREATING THESE WOMEN LIKE THEY'RE BEING TRAFFICKED, TREATING THEIR CHILDREN LIKE THEY'RE SLAVES LIKE YOU OWN THEM WITH OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS? WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON THIS. THIS IS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY CHARTER.

YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS PARTICIPATING IN THIS. MAYOR, DID YOU NOT SEE ON NOVEMBER 21 WE'LL FIND ANOTHER WAY? THIS LEADS TO TODAY ON ABORTION TRAVEL. THIS IS YOUR LEGACY. WILL YOU BE ABOUT MAKING SAN ANTONIO LIKE BOSTON OR THE CITY OF ST. ANTHONY THAT CELEBRATES CULTURE AND WOMEN AND PROTECTS

[01:15:06]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VON DOLAN. PAUL COMEAUX FOLLOWED BY BETTY

ECKERT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT COURAGE, LIKE THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER INDICATED.

THERE'S COURAGE ON ALL SIDES, JUST LIKE THE TERRORISTS WHO FLEW INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER PROBABLY WERE EXERCISING COURAGE AS WELL. IT'S A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE, NOT COURAGE, CONSCIENCE. WE NEED TO STRAIGHTEN UP. I WAS RAISED -- I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SUCH A THING CALLED A DOUBLE STANDARD UNTIL I GET AROUND COLLEGE AGE.

BUT I WAS SIX OF 13 KIDS. WE WERE BROUGHT UP -- MEN WERE BROUGHT UP TO RESPECT WOMEN, TO TREAT THEM -- MARRIAGE WOULD BE FOR LIFE. SEX -- PREGNANCY CAME WITH SEX IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF THINGS. THAT'S THE WAY GOD MADE US.

I'M NOT APOLOGIZING TO THE WOMEN HERE THAT I'M A MAN. I DO HAVE A SAY.

WE ALL HAD MOTHERS AND FATHERS. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE WHOLE DEAL ABOUT SEX EDUCATION AND ABORTION AS A RIGHT. THE CHOICE, THE LEGITIMATE CHOICE, THE LEGITIMATE RIGHT HAS TO DO WITH HAVING SEX TO BEGIN WITH, ESPECIALLY SEX THAT WOULD LEAD TO PREGNANCY. THAT'S WHERE THE CHOICE IS MADE.

NOT AFTERWARDS. THAT'S AFTER THE FACT WHEN THE NEW LIFE IS COMING.

YOU TAKE THE RISK AND FUNDS THAT ARE TRYING TO SEND WOMEN TO KILL THEIR CHILDREN, THEY NEED TO TEACH THE MEN THAT THEY SHOULD NOT EVER GET THESE LADIES PREGNANT TO BEGIN WITH AND THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE IF THEY DO. APART FROM THAT, TEACH WOMEN ABOUT THEIR BODIES INSTEAD OF MUTILATING THEIR BODIES AND THEIR BABIES, LOADING THEMSELVES UP WITH CHEMICAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND PILLS AND ABORTIONS AND STUFF. THINGS LIKE THE NATIONAL WOMANHOOD ORGANIZATION THAT WILL TEACH WOMEN HOW TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR CYCLES, LEARN ABOUT WHETHER TO AVOID PREGNANCY OR TO ACHIEVE PREGNANCY, EITHER ONE.

BUT ALSO TEACH THEM ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. THEY CAN OFTEN, BY LEARNING THEIR TECHNIQUES, GET AN ADVANCED LOOK AT HEALTH ISSUES THAT MAY BE PROBLEMATIC THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE CAUGHT UNTIL TOO LATE. AND BETWEEN THAT AND ADOPTION AND PREGNANCY CARE CENTERS ARE ALL AROUND, WHERE IS CITY MONEY GOING FOR THAT? WHERE'S THE EDUCATION GOING FOR THESE THINGS? WHERE IS THE REAL CHOICE WOMEN ARE BEING PRESENTED OTHER THAN YOU CAN SCREW AROUND WITH ANYBODY AND WE'LL TAKE CARE OF

THAT BY KILLING YOUR BABY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. COMEAUX.

BETTY ECKERT. MS. ECKERT, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BRIELLE INSLER.

>> THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL AND TO OUR MAYOR. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY AND ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO BE -- TO LIVE 94 YEARS AND I'M STILL THINKING CLEARLY ABOUT THE ISSUE.

WHY IN THE WORLD IS THE CITY INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THEY SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED IN? IT IS NOW TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE. WE'RE GOING TO GET A NEW MAYOR. HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO GET A NEW CITY COUNCIL.

IF WE DON'T, I HOPE THAT WE CHANGE THE WAY WE DO THINGS IN SAN ANTONIO.

I HOPE A LAW IS CHANGED BECAUSE THE REPRESENTATIVES SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL IS NOT REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE. WHERE HAS THE MEETINGS BEEN? A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE HAD A

[01:20:04]

HOW RIDICULOUS. I WONDER HOW DUMB DID YOU THINK THE PEOPLE ARE OF SAN ANTONIO.

CONTINUE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. IT'S GOING TO BE STOPPED. I WILL GUARANTEE YOU.

AND I WILL WORK FOR THAT LAST MINUTE OF MY LIFE TO SEE THAT IT IS.

YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTING SAN ANTONIO, NONE OF YOU. SHAME ON YOU.

SHAME ON EACH CITY COUNCILPERSON. DID YOU GO OUT AND HOLD A MEETING? DID YOU MEET WITH PEOPLE? DID YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOU WERE GETTING READY TO DO TODAY? NO. DID YOU CALL THESE NONPROFITS IN TO SPEAK DOWN HERE TODAY? YES, YOU DID. IT'S SO OBVIOUS.

YOU WANT TO STACK THE GROUP. YOU DID. YOU BROUGHT PEOPLE IN TO TALK ABOUT ABORTION. DO YOU CARE ANYTHING ABOUT THE SENIORS IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY? DO YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE NUMBER THREE IN FOOD INSECURITY? HAVE YOU CARED? HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING? HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEETINGS ABOUT THAT? SO YOU'RE GOING TO KILL BABIES.

GUESS WHAT. YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING TO THE 240,000 SENIORS IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY. ARE YOU PEOPLE AWAKE? WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING? ALL THE EDUCATION YOU HAVE, GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

I CANNOT HARDLY BELIEVE YOU WENT TO SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND YOU'RE SITTING UP HERE AND DOING THIS. IT'S WRONG AND YOU KNOW IT'S WRONG.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. ECKERT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: BRIELLE FOLLOWED BY RUBY JIMENEZ. >> HELLO.

THANK YOU. I'M PROBABLY GOING TO GET EMOTIONAL BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN LIVES AND HUMAN RIGHTS. TODAY WE HONORED THE LIFE OF A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT, MARTIN, SOMEONE I WAS LUCKY TO KNOW. OUTSIDE THIS MORNING WE HONORED AND PRAYED FOR LIVES OF REAL TEXANS, RESIDENTS TAKEN FOR US BECAUSE LEGISLATORS ARE PLAYING DOCTOR AND PLAYING POLITICS WITH OUR LIVES. I HAVE BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO FOR 14 YEARS AS A TINY BUSINESS OWNER. WE FOCUS ON AND WORK WITH A LOT OF NONPROFITS. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.THEY E AND THEIR GRANDPARENTS MOVED HERE TOO. I SPENT TIME GETTING TO KNOW THIS COMMUNITY AND DOING WHAT I CAN TO SERVE AS BEST I CAN. I VOLUNTEERED ON BOARDS INCLUDING THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN, COMMUNITY HEALTH NONPROFIT, AND FOR FIVE YEARS. AND AS A MOM, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT ACCESS TO CARE IS.

I WATCHED THE RIGHTS I HAD AS A TEEN GROWING UP NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO MY DAUGHTER AND I'M WATCHING HUMANS DIE FROM BAD, UGLY POLITICS. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE ADVOCATES AT A LOCAL LEVEL IN A STATE THAT DOESN'T CARE IF WE LIVE OR DIE.

I KNOW THAT BEING PRO-LIFE SHOULD MEAN YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF LIVING, BREATHING HUMANS. AND IT SHOULD MEAN PUTTING HALF THE ENERGY SHOWING UP FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN AS YOU DO TO CONTROL THESE BODIES.

BEING PRO-LIFE MEANS YOU SHOULD SUPPORT DOCTORS AND THEIR MEDICAL EXPERTISE NOT THE RHETORIC OF UNQUALIFIED POLITICIANS. AN ABORTION IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT A CHOICE BUT IT SHOULD BE. AS WE SPEAK, STATE LEGISLATORS CONTINUE TO PUSH HARMFUL BILLS AND TODAY WE'RE AT COUNCIL TO TESTIFY FOR OUR LIVES AND REQUEST THAT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT STEP UP TO INVEST $100,000 TO SUPPORT ABORTION TRAVEL.

THIS IS WILDLY SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC. 85% OF TEXANS.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. IT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET VERSUS THE MILLIONS OUR CITY INVESTS IN HEALTHCARE AND NONPROFIT SUPPORT WITH OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS. THIS IS ESSENTIAL WHILE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS OVERREACH NOT ONLY OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BUT OUR BODIES, OUR MEDICAL DECISIONS, AND OUR LIVES. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY AND A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUE.

WE KNOW THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS IN TEXAS HAVE SEEN A SURGE OF PREGNANT WOMEN SINCE THESE LAWS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE. WE FUND THOSE.

SAYING LOOKING FOR HELP GOING OUT OF THE CITY LEAVING TO STATE TO HAVE AN ABORTION IS IMPOSSIBLE. THIS AFFECTS VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, THOSE EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. THIS IS THE JOB OF OUR CITY TO STEP UP AND THERE IS NOT TIME

[01:25:05]

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

RUBY JIMENEZ FOLLOWED BY LAURA RIOS RAMIREZ. >> HI.

GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE TO IMPLORE YOU TO PROTECT THE WOMEN AND PEOPLE WHO CAN GET PREGNANT IN SAN ANTONIO BY ALLOCATING THE $100,000 TO EXPAND THE

REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. CAN I TALK? >>

>> AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, LEGISLATION THAT FURTHER RESTRICTS ACCESS TO WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE IS BEING CONSIDERED. TEXAS IS LEADING THE NATION IN POOR OUTCOMES FOR THE ABORTION BAN. WE ARE LIVING IN A MANUFACTURED PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND SHOULD BE TREATING IT WITH THE URGENCY IT REQUIRES.

I AM SHOCKED TO SEE SLOGANS OF EQUITY BEGINS AT BIRTH WHEN IT SO CLEARLY ENDS THERE AT BIRTH. A STUDY LED BY JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCHERS ESTIMATES THAT INFANT DEATHS IN TEXAS INCREASED IN THE YEAR FOLLOWING THE STATE'S 2021 BAN ON ABORTION IN EARLY PREGNANCY, ESPECIALLY AMONG INFANTS WITH CONGENITAL ANOMALIES. ANOTHER STUDY FOUND THE RATE OF MATERNAL DEATHS IN TEXAS INCREASED 56% FROM 2019 TO 2022 COMPARED TO 11 NATIONWIDE. POLITICIANS ARE PLAYING A GAME WITH WOMEN'S LIVES. TWO WOMEN DIED OF SEPSIS AFTER DOCTORS DELAYED EVACUATING THEIR UTERUSES. WHEN ABORTION WAS LEGAL IN TEXAS THE RATE OF SEPSIS FOR WOMEN HOSPITALIZED WAS RELATIVELY STEADY. SAN ANTONIANS DESERVE NON-JUDGMENTAL, EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CRITICAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND SUPPORT. I'M NOT JUST HERE TO PLEAD MY HUMANITY TO YOU ALL, I'M REMINDING YOU THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BRAVE AND COURAGEOUS IN THE FACE OF OPPRESSION. SOME OF YOUR SEATS MAY BE UP FOR RE-ELECTION ON MAY 3.

WE DON'T WANT ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO BEND A KNEE TO OPPRESSANTS.

THANK YOU. >> WHYTE: THANKTE YOU, MS. JIMENEZ.

LAURA RAMIREZ FOLLOWED BY SUSAN BARNES. LAURA RAMIREZ?

NO? SUSAN BARNES? >>

>> WHYTE: HOLD ON. PLEASE COME TO THE MIC. WE HAVE SUSAN BARNES AND

JESSICA SOLIS. >> I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO SAY BECAUSE I CAN SEE, AS I HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE, JALEN HAS DISTRICT 2, WHICH PEOPLE ARE STARVING IN.

WE GOT A CHURCH OVER THERE, JALEN, THAT'S BEGGING FOR CHILDREN FOR YOU TO ALSO ADOPT BESIDES THE ONE YOU ALREADY HAVE. TERI, I GOT SOMETHING TO SAY FOR YOU BECAUSE OVER IN 5, RAYMOND ZAVALA, EVERY TIME WE GO TO SOMETHING YOU GUYS BULLY US AND WE'RE TIRED OF US. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN, MARC, TO LISTEN TO MY FRIEND BETTY BECAUSE SHE'S HUNGRY. WE VOTED ON THIS ALREADY.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT ALREADY. WHY ARE YOU WASTING OUR TIME WITH MORE MONEY FOR WHAT? ANSWER THE QUESTION. WE HAVE LAWS. THAT LADY KNOWS IT, SHE JUST SAID IT. IT'S AGAINST THE LAW. THAT SHOULD BE THE END OF STORY. TERI, STOP SNICKERING, I'M TIRED OF YOU GUYS BULLYING ME EVERY TIME. IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE TO COME AND SPEAK MY MIND WHEN I GET GANGED UP ON. STOP IT! NOW, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, MARC, BECAUSE I SAW YOU THE OTHER NIGHT AND YOU IGNORED BETTY AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU STOP GANGING UP ON US. YOU KNOW ME, SO STOP IT.

SO I'M SITTING DOWN AND THAT'S THE END OF MY TIME. I'M ASKING NICELY TO WORK WITH

THE CITY. YOU DO NOT REPRESENT US. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MS. BARNES. JESSICA SOLIS FOLLOWED BY RAYMOND ZAVALA.

>> THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ACT BECAUSE WOMEN ARE DYING FROM LACK OF NECESSARY HEALTHCARE.

[01:30:01]

LAWS CAN BE OPPRESSIVE. IT IS AN ACT OF COURAGE FOR THIS COUNCIL TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUPPORT WOMEN'S ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. AND TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE INJUSTICE THAT, YOU KNOW, IS BEING SEEN ACROSS TEXAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YOU ARE STANDING WITH WOMEN. YOU ARE STANDING WITH THE MAJORITY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

YOU KNOW, ALL ACROSS TEXAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S 80% OF PEOPLE SUPPORT ABORTION ACCESS.

UNLIKE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING. THERE'S MULTIPLE STUDIES THAT SHOW THIS. YEAH. AND WORKING-CLASS WOMEN CANNOT ALWAYS COME TO THESE WOMEN BUT YOU SEE THEM OUT ON THE STREETS.

WE KNOW INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST MARCHES THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE CITY FOR THEM TO DO. WE NEED THIS FUND TO HELP WOMEN EVERYWHERE AND TO HELP WOMEN IN SAN ANTONIO BE ABLE TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE AND TO LIVE BETTER LIVES.

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

RAYMOND ZAVALA FOLLOWED BY GRANT MOODY. >> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. THERE COMES A TIME IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE MUST MAKE A CHOICE.

A LIFE WITH HONOR AND A LIFE WITHOUT. I OPPOSE THE SPENDING OF OUR TAX DOLLARS TO FUND TRAVEL AND EXPENSES FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE ABORTIONS.

MURDER IS MURDER. ANY DECENT PERSON WOULD NOT ACT LIKE AN ANIMAL AND KILL ANOTHER PERSON. THIS IS ON YOU. I WANT IT TO STOP.

WASTEFUL MONEY DISTRIBUTION. YES, I HAVE HEARD OF THE ARGUMENT MY BODY, MY CHOICE.

WELL, REALLY, IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN YOU SHOULD SAVE UP YOUR MONEY IN CASE YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND GET PREGNANT AND WANT TO HAVE AN ABORTION, YOU PAY FOR IT, NOT THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. WE ARE TIRED OF GETTING STIFFED WITH UNPRECEDENTED EXPENSES.

I LOST A CHILD -- WELL, MY WIFE AND I BOTH LOST A CHILD AT BIRTH.

UNTIL THIS VERY DAY, UNTIL THE DAY I DIE, I THINK ABOUT HIM, WHAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE, WHAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL. I HAVE ADOPTED TWO YOUNG INDIVIDUALS, BOTH OF THEM ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL. WHY? BECAUSE I SHOWED THEM LOVE AND CARE AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

WE NEED TO ADOPT, NOT ABORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ZAVALA. GRANT MOODY FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.

>> THIS PODIUM'S A LITTLE LOW HERE, HUH? MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, I'M HERE TO VOICE MY STRONG OPPOSITION AND MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS' STRONG OPPOSITION THAT WOULD USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND ABORTION-RELATED TRAVEL.

I'M PRO-LIFE BUT REGARDLESS OF WHERE SOMEONE STANDS ON THIS ISSUE, USING PUBLIC FUNDS IN THIS MANNER IS A GROSS MISUSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT STATE LAW. AT A TIME WHEN SAN ANTONIO FACES CHALLENGES, PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE ON CORE CITY RESPONSIBILITIES NOT ON FUNDING POLITICALLY-CHARGED INITIATIVES.

THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO EXPECT THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO BE SPENT RESPONSIBLY NOT ON IDEAS THAT DO NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES OF THIS CITY. SAN ANTONIO IS A VIBRANT AND DIVERSE CITY, HOME TO PEOPLE WITH A WIDE RANGE OF BELIEFS AND VALUES.

USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO FACILITATE ABORTION, A DEEPLY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, CREATES FURTHER DIVISION AT A TIME WHEN UNITY IS NEEDED THE MOST. OUR CITIZENS EXPECT THEIR LEADERS TO FOCUS ON COMMON-GROUND SOLUTIONS THAT IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE.

NOT TO PUSH PARTISAN AGENDAS THAT ALIENATE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY.

[01:35:05]

THE STATE HAS MADE ITS POSITION CLEAR ON ABORTION AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO SEEK WAYS TO WORK AROUND THESE LAWS NOT ONLY DISRESPECTS THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS BUT ALSO INVITES UNNECESSARY LEGAL BATTLES THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE FUNDED BY OUR TAXPAYERS.

RATHER THAN PURSUING POLICIES THAT OPENLY DEFY STATE LAW, THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS TO ADDRESS THE REAL CONCERNS FACING OUR COMMUNITY. CITY RESOURCES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY, IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ENHANCE CITY SERVICES.

NOT TOWARD EFFORTS THAT FACILITATE ABORTION. I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU ALL TO REJECT THIS PROPOSAL AND INSTEAD PRIORITIZE POLICIES THAT RESPECT LIFE AND UNITE OUR

COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MOODY. JACK FINGER. MR. FINGER, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANGELA ORTIZ.

>> WELL, MAYOR RON NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT AND THEIR PUBLIC RELATIONS PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE SO THAT I CAN USE THEM FOR ANYBODY ELSE'S CAMPAIGN. THEY KNOW HOW TO USE EUPHEMISMS SO WELL.

WHAT DOES THIS ORDINANCE SAY HERE? BLOW IT UP THAT UNDERLINED AREA THERE. YEAH. WHAT DOES IT SAY? ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN EXPEDITED PROCUREMENT FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.

AND IF I CAN JUST READ IT. EXCUSE ME. AND SUPPORT DOWNSTREAM REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES WHICH MAY INCLUDE OUT OF STATE TRAVEL.

RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. WHAT IS THIS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE MEAN? IS IT HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH PROBLEM PREGNANCIES? NO. IT'S ABOUT ABORTION. IT'S ABOUT BABY KILLING, YOU NINNY. OH, IS IT ABOUT OUT OF STATE TRAVEL? IS IT ABOUT TOURISM? NO, IT'S ABOUT TRAFFICKING THEM TO STATES WHERE IT IS LEGAL, JACK. OH, OKAY. YEAH.

LIKE AS IN PROSTITUTION TRAVEL OUT OF STATE. OKAY.

I LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COMPANIES ARE DOING THIS? WHO ARE WE CONTRACTING WITH? I MEAN, I'VE LOOKED AT THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS HERE AND I DON'T SEE THEM HERE.

BUT RETURN -- YEAH. SEE THE SAME PAGE. THOSE VARIOUS YELLOW -- SEE IN ITEMS 3 AND 4 AND 5 AND 6 YOU HAVE YELLOW -- OUTLINED COMPANIES WHICH WE ARE CONTRACTED TO DO CONTRACTS WITH THERE. RETURN THE CAMERA HERE TO THIS PODIUM. BUT HERE IN THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS, NO COMPANIES.

WHY? WHY ARE WE HIDING THOSE COMPANIES' NAMES? WELL, IT'S SIMPLE, JACK. TODAY WE'RE NOT DECIDING ON THE COMPANIES.

WE'RE SIMPLY DECIDING TO -- ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.

THAT'S ALL. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FAR. OH, OKAY.

SO IN OTHER WORDS YOU ARE TRYING TO -- COUNCIL IS TRYING TO RUSH RUSHING THE BABY KILLING DECISION. HURRY UP, CITY COUNCIL, WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHY. WHY ARE WE GOING SO FAST ON THIS? IT WOULDN'T BE BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO BEAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO CLOSE YOUR LOOPHOLE ON THIS WOULD IT, HUH? INQUIRING MINDS WOULD LIKE TO

KNOW. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

ANGELA ORTIZ.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANGELA ORTIZ.

I AM A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN DISTRICT 6 AND I COME TO YOU TODAY AS I WANT TO EXPRESS MY

[01:40:05]

SO WHAT'S INTERESTING IS HEARING PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT THE MISUSE OF FUNDS, IRONICALLY.

WHEN, IN FACT, THIS FUND WOULD SUPPORT WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

NOW, WHAT PEOPLE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON IS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST WOMEN GOING TO GET ABORTIONS FOR THE SAKE OF KILLING BABIES. WHAT MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE MISSING IS THAT OFTEN THEY ARE WANTED PREGNANCIES AND THERE ARE COMPLICATIONS AS HAS BEEN INDICATED BY TWO WOMEN HERE IN TEXAS WHO RECENTLY LOST THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF SEPSIS, AS A RESULT OF DOCTORS FEARING LOSING THEIR LICENSE, BEING PUT IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BABY IS DEAD BEFORE THEY CAN GO IN AND DO THE PROPER MEDICAL CARE FOR A WOMAN. AS A WOMAN, AS A MOTHER WITH A DAUGHTER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FAIR ACCESS TO WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE. NOW, AS FAR AS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AGAINST ABORTION OR IF YOU ARE PRO-CHOICE, WE HAVE TO PUT THAT ASIDE AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT ULTIMATELY AS A COMMUNITY WE NEED TO SUPPORT WOMEN. WE NEED TO SUPPORT ALSO INFANTS WHO THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASED INFANT MORTALITY RATE SINCE THEY HAVE REJECTED THE ROE V.

WADE AND NOW TEXAS STANDING STRONGLY AGAINST ABORTION, WHICH IS WHY WOMEN HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE THE STATE TO SEEK HEALTHCARE FOR WHATEVER THEIR REASONS.

BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO SEE DONE WITH MY TAXES.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN HAVE FAIR AND EQUAL ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.

AND I THINK ALSO IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE HYPOCRISY OF THE IDEA OF MISUSING FUNDS --

FOR ANOTHER DAY I'LL TOUCH ON THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. ORTIZ. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 5. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING RESPECTFUL.

WE GOT THROUGH THAT WITHOUT ANY DELAYS. LET ME NOW GO TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. BEFORE WE DO THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 5.

OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 5.

WE WILL BEGIN OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME TO SPEAK TODAY.

THE FIGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE IS A FIGHT FOR WOMEN'S LIVES.

Y'ALL CAN TALK ALL THE POLITICAL RHETORIC YOU WANT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, FEAR OF LAWSUITS, I GOT ONE JOB UP HERE AND IT'S TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT. THIS FUND DOES JUST THAT. IT'S REAL.

IT'S URGENT. FAMILIES IN OUR CITY ARE BEING FORCED INTO IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS AND THE STATE HAS FAILED TO PRIORITIZE THEIR NEEDS.

THIS FUND IS HOW SAN ANTONIO IS STEPPING UP WHEN OTHER ENTITIES WILL NOT.

WE'RE MAKING A COMMITMENT TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. HEALTH, JUST THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE DOING THAT IS THROUGH THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.

REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ISN'T A POLICY TERM, IT'S ABOUT DIGNITY, AUTONOMY, AND ENSURING THAT EVERY PERSON, NO MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND, CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THEIR OWN HEALTH. THAT'S WHY WE'RE DEDICATING A FRACTION, BUT A MEANINGFUL PORTION OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET TO INVEST IN OUR RESIDENTS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL PEOPLE, REAL FAMILIES, AND REAL LIVES ON THE LINE. YOU CAN TALL ALL YOU WANT ABOUT IRRESPONSIBLE YOUNG PEOPLE BUT IT'S ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S ABOUT, AS MS. ORTIZ SAID, PLANNED PREGNANCIES, WOMEN MISCARRYING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO EXPEL THE FETUS AND THEIR LIVES BEING IN DANGER. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OF YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT THAT ARE AGAINST IT. WE'RE WATCHING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE STATE'S ABORTION BAN UNFOLD IN REALTIME AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A PUBLIC HEALTH

[01:45:03]

AND A 35-YEAR-OLD FROM HOUSTON WHO LOST HER LIFE AFTER BEING DENIED A STANDARD MEDICAL PROCEDURE FOR A HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY. THESE TRAGEDIES ARE THE DIRECT RESULTS OF POLICIES THAT PUT POLITICS OVER HEALTHCARE. AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THE UNTHINKABLE, THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MISCARRIAGE.

PATIENTS WHO EXPERIENCE THE TRAUMA OF PREGNANCY LOSS ARE BEING INTERROGATED, TREATED WITH SUSPICION, AND IN SOME CASES DENIED CARE ALL TOGETHER.

WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT STAND BY WHILE THIS HAPPENS. TEXANS ARE ALREADY TRAVELING HUNDREDS OF MILES, TAKING ON DEBT, FACING IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES JUST TO GET BASIC CARE AND WE CAN ACT BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST. WE ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BROADER IMPACT OF THESE POLICIES. HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE AFRAID TO OFFER EVEN ROUTINE CARE LIKE DNCS BECAUSE OF CONFUSING AND PUNITIVE LAWS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL BURDEN. STUDIES SHOW THAT DENYING SOMEONE AN ABORTION INCREASES POVERTY AND DEBT. WE SEE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT LOWERING POVERTY, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY. PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY. IN A CITY WHERE THE POVERTY RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE, THESE POLICIES ARE MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD STABLE FUTURES.

SOME MIGHT ASK IS THIS REALLY THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY? SOME OF YOU SAID THAT TODAY.

THE ANSWER IS REAL SIMPLE. YEAH, IT SURE IS. LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXISTS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ITS RESIDENTS. IF NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT, IT'S OUR JOB TO STEP UP AND DO IT.

I HOPE NO ONE UP HERE SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR JOB TO PROTECT THE WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS COUNCIL, THE FOLKS SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW, VOTED TO ALLOCATE MILLIONS IN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOR VACCINATIONS, FOR NURSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IF WE CAN ALLOCATE BUDGET DOLLARS TOWARDS THAT WE CAN ALLOCATE BUDGET DOLLARS TOWARDS WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE. MY JOB AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS COMMUNITY IS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE NO ONE DIES BECAUSE THEY WERE DENIED HEALTHCARE. WE OWE IT TO EVERY WOMAN OUT THERE.

WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED. WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED AND WE WILL NOT ALLOW FEAR TO DICTATE WHETHER PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO CAN ACCESS THE CARE THAT THEY DESERVE.

I STAND PROUDLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS FUND BECAUSE PROTECTING REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IS PROTECTING SAN ANTONIAN LIVES. THANK YOU.

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

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FOLKS. IF YOU COULD PLEASE KEEP YOUR REACTION TO A MINIMUM SO FOLKS CAN HEAR WHEN THEIR NAME IS CALLED.

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

YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE USING THIS TIME AND OUR RESOURCES TODAY TO DEBATE ABORTION? YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WHY? ÚIT, YET, WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS HAVING THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENE IN THIS EXACT PROCESS. WE NEED TO REALLY CONSIDER WHAT IS THE SCOPE AND THE ON GAS

[01:50:07]

SO I WOULDN'T BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA, CAN I HAVE YOUR NOTES SO I CAN REREAD THEM? I THINK COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA SAID IT PERFECTLY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: FOLKS, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RECESS US AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE ALL DAY LONG BEFORE WE GET TO ACTION. IF I CAN ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE RESPECT THE PERSON SPEAKING, WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS. PLEASE, NO REACTION TO COMMENTS MADE WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS I WAS SAYING I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK THIS WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT AREA THAT WAS MISSED IN OUR FIRST ROUND OF REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND AND I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO ON HER LEADERSHIP FOR GETTING US TO THIS SPOT WHERE WE ARE WHERE WE DO HAVE A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND IN OUR CITY'S BUDGET.

AND TO ANSWER COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE'S QUESTION, I DO BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE A BUDGET ITEM FOR EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR BUDGET YEARS FOR COMPREHENSIVE WOMEN'S RIGHTS. SO THE POINTS HAVE BEEN MADE BUT I WANT TO SUPPLY SOME DATA. THERE WERE 26 PEOPLE THAT SPOKE TODAY.

11 IN OPPOSITION AND 81% OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE MEN. I AM TIRED OF -- I'M TIRED OF MEN BEING ABLE TO, IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR CITY, AND IN OUR STATE AND COUNTRY DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND WHAT WOMEN CAN CHOOSE TO --

>> NEED YOUR RESPECT UP HERE FOR THE SPEAKERS. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO REMIND EVERYONE, WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE HERE ALL DAY LONG. WE'LL TAKE AS LONG AS IT TAKES. PLEASE RESPECT THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON COUNCIL DISCUSSION. THIS IS THE LAST WARNING. NEXT TIME, I'M RECESSING US AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: IN EFFECT, 56% OF MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES HAVE INCREASED IN TEXAS SINCE THE BAN TOOK PLACE. AND THAT RATE IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR BLACK WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR. SO IN EFFECT, WHAT WE ARE DOING BY NOT SUPPORTING THIS TODAY IS SAYING MODERN-DAY REDLINING IS OKAY. THAT HEALTHCARE FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS IS ALLOWED BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL ABILITY TO AFFORD WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY NEED TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE TO GET THE CARE AND THAT THE LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WHO CAN'T HAVE THAT WILL GO INTO SEPSIS, WILL FACE MORTALITY, AND HAVE NO OTHER OPTION. AND I JUST CAN'T STAND TO THE SIDE AND WATCH THAT HAPPEN FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FOR THE WOMEN THAT I REPRESENT IN DISTRICT 1.

I AM HONORED TO BE A PART OF A COUNCIL TODAY THAT WILL HOPEFULLY PASS THIS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT WOMEN'S RIGHTS FOR ALL OF THE WOMEN THAT LIVE IN OUR CITY AND NOT JUST THE FEW WEALTHY ONES. THANKS, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE]

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

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M PRO-CHOICE AND I BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULD HAVE ACCESS

[01:55:02]

WE ARE ALL ELECTED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. AT ITS CORE, THE JOB OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES THAT KEEP THE CITY FUNCTIONING.

THESE INCLUDE THINGS LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, STOPLIGHTS, FIRE, POLICE, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. I WOULD ARGUE THAT ACCESS TO OUT OF STATE TRAVEL FOR AN ABORTION DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE CITY'S DUTIES TO ITS RESIDENTS.

SAN ANTONIO IS FACING A BUDGET DEFICIT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

DIVERTING THIS MONEY AWAY FROM CURRENT PROGRAMS WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE AND IT WOULD BE RECKLESS TO PROVIDE TRAVEL FOR ABORTION KNOWING FULL AND WELL IT WILL OPEN UP THE CITY FOR LITIGATION. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IF BUT WHEN THE STATE DECIDES TO SUE US FOR ENACTING THIS ORDINANCE. AND IT WILL COST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYER -- OF YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN LITIGATION. SO, NO, THIS IS NOT JUST $100,000 ALLOCATION, THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT MORE ON US. THERE ARE NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DO A GREAT JOB OF PROVIDING ABORTION ACCESS SERVICES.

I HAVE EVERY BIT OF FAITH IN THEIR ABILITY TO FUND RAISE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.

I PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS. I HAVE DONATED TO THESE NONPROFITS WHO ARE DOING THE GREAT WORK FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS. THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS THAT WE ALL AS A COMMUNITY CAN SUPPORT WOMEN'S ACCESS TO ABORTION BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THE USE OF THESE TAXPAYER DOLLARS IS ONE WAY TO DO IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 5? COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO SHOWED UP TODAY. THIS ITEM WILL CERTAINLY PASS BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS WITH MY VOTE. AND I KNOW THAT REASONABLE PEOPLE, FRIENDS OF MINE ARE GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THE WAY I VOTE TODAY.

AND THAT'S THE NATURE OF DELIBERATIVE GOVERNMENT. SOMETIMES WE DISAGREE.

AND I THINK TODAY'S VOTE WILL CERTAINLY BE CELEBRATED AS A VICTORY BY SOME BUT THE WAY I SEE IT IS -- I SEE IT AS A PEERIC VICTORY IN THAT THE VICTORY COMES AT A GREATER COST THAN WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING. WHERE'S KATE SANCHEZ? ARE YOU STILL HERE, KATE? THANKS FOR COMING UP HERE AND SPEAKING. I THINK YOUR COMMENTS WERE IMPORTANT AND THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU REPRESENT, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, AND THE WORK YOUR TEAM DOES IS INVALUABLE. AND YOU INSPIRED ME WHILE I WAS LISTENING TO SOME OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE SPEAKING, TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF MY OWN MONEY TO YOUR ORGANIZATION.

PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK IN D.C. AND IN AUSTIN AND IN PRESSURING FOLKS.

KATE, I AGREE WITH YOU AND I AGREE WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD. ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE AND I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IS PUTTING WOMEN AT RISK OF DEATH.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S HYPERBOLE. I THINK THAT PROTECTING WOMEN FROM BEING PROSECUTED AND THREATENED TO BE THROWN IN JAIL FOR SEEKING THAT HEALTHCARE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND I THINK THOSE PROSECUTIONS AND THREATS ARE MONSTROUS AND I THINK THAT THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IN AUSTIN IS WHOLLY UNSUSTAINABLE AND IT NEEDS TO CHANGE. WITH THE KIND OF PRESSURE THAT YOU, KATE, AND YOUR TEAM ARE PLACING UP THERE, I THINK EVENTUALLY WE WILL CHANGE IT AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE FIGHT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. WHERE YOU AND I DON'T AGREE, KATE, IS WHEN YOU ENDED YOUR COMMENTS BY SAYING THAT THE $100,000 WILL SAVE LIVES. I DISAGREE AND I DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY BECAUSE NOT A SINGLE PENNY OF THIS $100,000 WILL BE SPENT.

THE REASON I SAY THAT THE VOTE IS PEERIC IS BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY AND ANDY IS GOING TO BE FRUSTRATED THAT I SAY THIS, $100,000 WE'RE BUYING A LAWSUIT AND WE'RE BUYING AN INJUNCTION THAT WILL BE GRANTED BY SOME JUDGE UP THERE. AND THE COST OF THAT LAWSUIT WILL ECLIPSE THE $100,000 BY MANY ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE, AND WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT LAWSUIT. I'M HEARTBROKEN TO SAY THAT BUT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE IT.

DO YOU KNOW WHO'S CELEBRATING TODAY? THE LITIGATORS THAT ANDY IS GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE AND THAT THE STATE WILL HIRE WHO ARE GOING TO BE PAID HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEFORE WE GET TO A MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT HEARING.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO SPEND OUR MONEY. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO LIGHT $100,000 ON FIRE. AND, NO, I'M NOT AFRAID OF GETTING SUED.

[02:00:04]

IT'S NOT FEAR, IT'S ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY. I'M CERTAIN OF WHAT I JUST SAID. AND I'M CERTAIN THAT TODAY'S VOTE WILL AMOUNT TO US NOT JUST LOSING $100,000 AND LIGHTING IT ON FIRE BUT TRYING TO PUT OUT THAT FIRE WITH MORE MONEY AND THAT MONEY BEING BURNT TOO. AND SO I'M ALSO GOING TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE'RE MONITORING SENATE BILL 730 WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT CITIES FROM DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. I THINK THAT BILL IS AWFUL BUT IT WILL PASS.

AND IT WILL BE THE REASON THAT WE LOSE THE LAWSUIT. I'M ALSO CERTAIN THAT RIGHT NOW, UPSTAIRS ON FLOORS NUMBER THREE AND FOUR OF CITY HALL THERE ARE PRESS RELEASES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DRAFTED THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF TODAY'S VOTE.

ALL OF THEM BOASTING ON USING WORDS LIKE COURAGE AND BOLDNESS AND LEADERSHIP.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT SPENDING OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, KNOWING THAT IT IS GOING TO NEVER BE SPENT ON WHAT WE PROMISE IT WILL BE SPENT ON BUT INSTEAD IT WILL BE SPENT ON ANDY'S LAWYERS AND KEN PAXTON'S LAWYER. I DON'T THINK THAT'S LEADERSHIP. AND I DON'T THINK SPENDING $100,000 SO WE CAN HAVE PRESS RELEASES AND VICTORY LAPS CONGRATULATING OURSELVES FOR OUR BOLDNESS AND OUR COURAGE IS A GOOD USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. AND I'M CERTAIN THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO SPEND ALL THE MONEY WE'LL SPEND ON LAWYERS TO HELP PEOPLE THAT WON'T GET US SUED.

NO, I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE LAWSUIT, I'M JUST CERTAIN THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE IT AND THAT THAT MONEY WILL BE LOST TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE CHILD SAFE AND THAT TEAM OF SAINTS THAT WORK OUT THERE. SO, I'M ALSO GOING TO USE THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF MY TIME.

LAST WEEK I TOOK A BREAK, A THREE-DAY BREAK FROM CAMPAIGNING BUT ALSO FROM THE WORK WE DO HERE AT CITY HALL. I REPRESENT A FAMILY AND I SPENT MY TIME WITH THEM TO GO TO COURT AND OBTAIN A PROTECTIVE ORDER BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING TERRORIZED.

A YOUNG WOMAN AND HER ELDERLY PARENTS ARE BEING TERRORIZED BY A MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY.

WE SPENT MULTIPLE DAYS WORKING WITH HER AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH HER AND HER FAMILY OUT AT HER HOME TO SECURE THIS LITTLE TINY HOUSE ON THE EASTSIDE FROM THIS GUY CONTINUING TO TERRORIZE THEM. AND I WAS AT THEIR HOME WHEN HE SHOWED UP.

AND WE CALLED SAPD AND THANK GOD THEY SHOWED UP ON TIME. HE HAD A GUN ON HIM AND EVERYBODY TO THIS MOMENT IS STILL TERRORIZED. THANKFULLY HE'S IN JAIL RIGHT NOW. WE HAD HIM ARRESTED. NEXT WEEK I'LL BE IN COURT AGAIN HELPING THIS YOUNG WOMAN AND HER PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T CONTINUE TO LIVE IN A STATE OF TERROR. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY USING THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARGUMENT TO WEAVE INTO THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT ABORTION. YOU'RE 100% RIGHT.

YOU CAN DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FEMALE HEALTHCARE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE ALSO -- AND WE ALREADY HEARD IT -- THAT THIS IS SOME SORT OF VOTE THAT WILL REFLECT A BINARY CHOICE BETWEEN EITHER SUPPORT OF WOMEN AND THEIR HEALTHCARE AND IF YOU VOTE NO THEN YOU DON'T SUPPORT WOMEN AND THEIR HEALTHCARE.

THAT'S A FALSE CHOICE. IT'S A LITTLE DISHONEST TOO. FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO TSK, TSK MY NO-VOTE AND CHARACTERIZE IT AS A FAILURE TO SUPPORT WOMEN, SPARE ME THE LECTURES. I DON'T NEED TO SPEND OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY TO SUPPORT WOMEN. I DON'T NEED TO DO PRESS RELEASES, I DON'T NEED TO BREAK MY ARM OFF TO PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I DO THAT WITH MY OWN TIME AND OWN MONEY AND I DO THAT IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND THIS $100,000 IS GOING TO IMPACT NOBODY. IT WILL NEVER GET SPENT.

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

ANDY, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE LEGAL ISSUE? >> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, OBVIOUSLY WE GIVE LEGAL ADVICE IN EXECUTIVE SESSIONS BUT I CAN'T SAY WE HAVE PREVAILED IN DISTRICT COURT IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF THIS LITIGATION. I CAN SAY MY OFFICE DOESN'T REVEL IN SPENDING ATTORNEYS' FEES BUT OUR JOB IS TO DEFEND WHAT THE CITY IS DOING.

[02:05:02]

LEGAL ADVICE TO COUNCIL AS THINGS CHANGE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, ANDY. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ WAS VERY DIPLOMATIC IN THOSE COMMENTS AND I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BE LESS DIPLOMATIC. WE ARE HEADING DOWN A DARK, DARK ROAD HERE AS A CITY.

WE ARE NOT PORTLAND. WE ARE NOT SAN FRANCISCO. WE ARE NOT AUSTIN.

WE ARE SAN ANTONIO AND IN MY VIEW WE ARE MUCH, MUCH BIGGER AND BETTER THAN WHAT THIS COUNCIL LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE POISED TO DO TODAY. BUT MY MESSAGE TO BEGIN WITH IS IT'S NOT TOO LATE AND WE CAN STILL TURN BACK RIGHT NOW. NOW, LET'S BE REALLY CLEAR.

FOR MY FRIENDS IN THE MEDIA BACK THERE, WE GOT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE FRAME THIS ISSUE TODAY PROPERLY BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ABORTION AND EVERYBODY ON THIS DAIS HAS THEIR OWN VIEWS ON ABORTION. BUT TODAY IS NOT ABOUT OUR PERSONAL BELIEFS ON ABORTION.

TODAY IS ABOUT THE PROPER ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING WITH OUR CITIZENS' TAX DOLLARS. ERIK HAS ALREADY TOLD US, BECAUSE WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE BUDGET COMING UP. MONEY IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY TIGHT THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF AS A CITY.

PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, THE HOMELESS ISSUE, HOUSING. WHY TODAY ARE WE THINKING ABOUT SPENDING SOME OF THESE PRECIOUS DOLLARS, OUR CITIZENS' HARD-EARNED MONEY ON SENDING WOMEN OUT OF STATE TO RECEIVE ABORTIONS? COUNCILWOMAN KAUR BROUGHT UP SOME STATISTICS EARLIER AND I WANT TO BRING UP SOME STATISTICS NOW.

PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE CALL THAT WE ALL GET IN EACH OF OUR OFFICES DEALS WITH OUR STREETS AND OUR SIDEWALKS AND OUR DRAINAGE ISSUES. LET'S LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AS A CITY. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, IN YOUR DISTRICT, 30% OF THE ROADS ARE IN POOR OR FAILING CONDITION. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, IN YOUR DISTRICT, 28%.

IN DISTRICT 3, 27% OF THE ROADS IN POOR OR FAILING CONDITION. DISTRICT 4, 24% OF THE ROADS IN POOR OR FAILING CONDITION. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, IN YOUR DISTRICT, IT'S 26%.

IN DISTRICT 6, IT'S 13%. IN DISTRICT 7, 21% OF THE ROADS IN POOR OR FAILING CONDITION.

IN DISTRICT 8, IT'S 10%. IN DISTRICT 9, IT'S 9%. IN MY DISTRICT, IT'S 23%.

MAYOR, IN THIS CITY, 22% OF THE ROADS, ALMOST A QUARTER, ARE IN POOR OR FAILING CONDITION.

AND LET'S TALK ABOUT CRIME. RIGHT? THE NUMBER ONE DUTY OF THIS CITY COUNCIL IS TO KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE. RECENTLY WE GOT SOME CRIME STATISTICS BY DISTRICT FOR 2024. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, IN YOUR DISTRICT, 4,460 CRIMES LAST YEAR AGAINST A PERSON. OVER 19,000 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, IN YOUR DISTRICT, 4,572 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE. 11,234 CRIMES AGAINST OUR CITIZENS' PROPERTY IN DISTRICT 2. IN DISTRICT 3, OVER 3800 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE.

OVER 10,000 CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY. IN DISTRICT 4, 3,000 -- WELL, 2,999 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE. 9,616 CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY. IN DISTRICT 5, OVER 4,000 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE. OVER 9,000 CRIMES AGAINST YOUR CITIZENS' PROPERTY.

CITIZENS' PROPERTY IN DISTRICT 6. IN DISTRICT 7, OVER 2500 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE. 8500 CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY. IN DISTRICT 8, 2500 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE. OVER 13,000 CRIMES AGAINST OUR CITIZENS' PROPERTY.

IN DISTRICT 9, OVER 1800 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE. OVER 8600 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. AND IN DISTRICT 10, OVER 2100 CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE AND OVER

[02:10:01]

IT IS NOT WHAT THEY PUT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT HERE TO DO. WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAW EARLIER. I THINK THIS VIOLATES THE LAW AS WE SIT HERE RIGHT NOW AND IT MOST CERTAINLY IS GOING TO VIOLATE THE LAW THAT -- OR THE PENDING LAW IN THE SENATE AUTHORED BY SENATOR DONNA CAMPBELL THAT IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO PASS , WHICH STRICTLY AND EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS CITIES FROM USING THEIR TAXPAYER MONEY FOR LOGISTICS RELATED TO ABORTION SERVICES. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, IT'S NOT JUST $100,000 -- AND THAT'S RIGHT. LAST YEAR WE SPENT OVER $6 MILLION IN TAXPAYER MONEY DEFENDING OURSELVES AGAINST LAWSUITS. MORE MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT ON THIS. ABORTION IS PROBABLY THE MOST DIVISIVE ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY BUT, AGAIN, TODAY SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT ABORTION. I'VE RECEIVED CALLS FROM ELECTED DEMOCRATS, FROM FORMER ELECTED DEMOCRATS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO HAVE SAID TO ME, MARC, YOU AND I DON'T AGREE ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION, BUT I'M 100% WITH YOU ON THIS ISSUE OF USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND ABORTION IN OTHER STATES. MAYOR, EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE HAVE BEEN UP HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, EVERY SINGLE ONE, YOU ALWAYS SAY WELL I'M JUST GOING TO FOLLOW THE WOMEN. I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT TO THE WOMEN. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE WOMEN. YOU CAN'T DO THAT TODAY BECAUSE THERE ARE PRO-CHOICE MEN AND WOMEN ON THIS SIDE OF THE ISSUE.

TODAY THE POLITICS HAVE TO BE SET ASIDE. TODAY WE'VE GOT TO STAND TOGETHER AND SAY WE MAY HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS ON THAT ISSUE, BUT ON THE ISSUE OF HOW WE SPEND OUR TAXPAYER MONEY, WE HAVE TO STAND TOGETHER AND SAY THAT AS A CITY GOVERNMENT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON CITY ISSUES AND WE ARE GOING TO DO RIGHT BY THE SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYER.

AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS -- AND I'M CLEARLY -- I'M AMPED UP ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S BIGGER THAN JUST THIS $100,000. IT'S ABOUT THIS CITY.

IT'S ABOUT THIS GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR IS DETERMINE HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND OUR CITIZENS' MONEY. AND MY VOW TO YOU TODAY IS THIS: WE HAVE WORKED REALLY WELL TOGETHER OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND REGARDLESS OF HOW THIS VOTE TURNS OUT TODAY, I PROMISE YOU THAT AS LONG AS I'M SITTING IN THIS SEAT, I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH EACH ONE OF YOU ON YOUR PRIORITIES, ON THE CITY'S PRIORITIES, AND I'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THIS CITY BETTER. BUT TODAY I'M ASKING YOU BEFORE WE HIT THE YEA OR NAY BUTTON HERE IN A FEW MINUTES TO RECONSIDER YOUR POSITION IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT VOTING FOR THIS. I BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON UP HERE KNOWS THAT THIS ISN'T RIGHT. THIS IS NOT THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR TAXPAYERS WANT FROM US. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO TURN BACK

[02:15:06]

LET'S DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND LET'S VOTE THIS DOWN. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ANDY, YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE

LEGAL ISSUE? >> SEGOVIA: YES, AGAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

LET ME REITERATE MY ROLE AT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THERE IS NOTHING BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY THAT VIOLATES LOCAL STATE OR FEDERAL LAW. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT VERY

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

YOU, ANDY. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CAN I GET ALL THE TAXPAYERS IN THE ROOM TO RAISE YOUR HAND? THANK YOU. SO EQUAL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, TAXPAYERS ON BOTH SIDES.

I'M SURE COUNCILWOMAN KAUR WILL COME AND GIVE THE STATS AGAIN ON THE TAXPAYERS.

LET ME GO OVER SOME OF MY CREDENTIALS, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD THE ATTORNEYS SAY I'M AN ATTORNEY. LET ME GIVE YOU MY CREDENTIALS.

WENT TO SCHOOL, LEARNED HISTORY, FOCUSED ON WOMEN'S HISTORY.

BEFORE EVERYONE'S LIKE, OH, SOME LIBERAL COLLEGE, NO, TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY IN LUBBOCK.

GOT A MASTER'S IN BICU BICULTURAL STUDIES. I'M A WOMAN.

HAVE SAT IN THAT CHAIR FOR MY ANNUAL EXAM FOR WAY TOO MANY YEARS, BECAUSE I'M MIDDLE AGED. HAD THE CYSTS, HAD THE CONCERNS, HAD THE SECOND EXAMS. SAT IN A HOSPITAL FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE I HAVE CANCER, FOR THEM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF IT WAS CERVICAL, OVARIAN, UTERINE, VAGINAL CANCER, VULVAR CANCER.

AND IT ENDED UP BEING TUMORS BUT MY REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS WERE THERE AND READY TO TAKE THAT CANCER. SO I COME TODAY TO TELL YOU WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH AND PART OF WOMEN'S HEALTH IS THEIR REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN LISTENED TO. WE HAVE NOT BEEN RESPECTED. WE HAVE NOT BEEN PRIORITIZED BY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY OR THIS NATION REGARDING OUR HEALTH. SO WHEN ROE V. WADE WAS PULLED BACK, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID SHE HAD A PLAN. BECAUSE I WAS SPEECHLESS.

I WAS NUMB. I WAS IMMOBILIZED AND SHE WORKED AND SHE CAME WITH A PLAN. AND SHE SAID THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO.

AND WE WENT A FIRST ROUND AND WE GOT FUNDS, NOT A LOT, BUT WE GOT SOME.

AND IF WE LOOK AT WHAT HOUSTON'S PAYING AND WHAT DALLAS IS PAYING -- AND CLAUDE WILL HAVE THOSE STATS -- IT IS NOT ANYTHING NEAR THAT SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS WANT TO SEE.

BECAUSE WE ARE WOMEN IN THIS CITY THAT VOTE. AND WHAT WE NEED IS SUPPORT AND HELP BECAUSE WE HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN TREATED LIKE SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS OR MEN'S PROPERTY. AND SO WHAT WE'RE COMING HERE TODAY IS ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO, FOR GENERATIONS THIS CITY COUNCIL DID NOT DO, AND SHOW WOMEN THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE AND GIVE THEM THE HELP THEY THEY NEED IN THIS SPECIFIC FIELD, WHICH IS OUR HEALTH. BECAUSE FOR TOO MANY YEARS OUR INSURANCE, OUR HEALTHCARE WAS TIED TO OUR HUSBANDS OR OUR FATHERS. AND SO ALL WE'RE ASKING IS FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS. WE HAVE PUT THAT IF YOU COME WITH A PROPOSAL FOR OUT OF STATE TRAVEL, WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT. BUT IF THEY COME WITH PROPOSALS FOR NO TRAVEL, WE STILL NEED MONEY AND HELP. WE STILL NEED THAT 100 GRAND FOR DOWNSTREAM ISSUES. I AM NOT ON THE GROUND WORKING, LIKE THE ADVOCATES THAT CAME TO TALK TODAY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT FORWARD WITH ALL THE RHETORIC THEY HEAR. BUT WHATEVER YOU PUT FORWARD, WE NEED MORE DOLLARS.

I AM A SITTING CITY COUNCILWOMAN THAT DID THE APPOINTMENTS AND STILL DID NOT GET LISTENED TO BY HER PHYSICIANS AND DOCTORS. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO EXPECT

[02:20:03]

YOU CAN TRY AS HARD AS YOU CAN TO TAKE US BACKWARDS. YOU CAN SIT AND PRAY TO WHATEVER GOD YOU PRAY TO AND ASK HIM THAT YOU WISH COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND VIAGRAN AND KAUR WEREN'T HERE. BUT WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE USING OUR VOICES.

AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE DO NOT HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AS WOMEN WITH OUR WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES. OUR REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS ARE TIED TO OUR HEALTH. ALL WE'RE ASKING IS FOR $100,000 TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP WOMEN LIVE. AND IT IS LIFE OR DEATH. AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO SOME OF THE WORDS THAT I HAVE HEARD COMING OUT OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. AND DO NOT USE THE EXCUSE THAT I HAVE A WIFE AND A DAUGHTER.

LIKE, HISTORICALLY WE WERE TREATED AS PROPERTY. COULDN'T GET OUR OWN CREDIT CARDS. WE GO TO DOCTORS AND THEY TELL US, LOSE SOME WEIGHT, YOU'LL FEEL BETTER. SO PLEASE, WHATEVER YOU VOTE, YOU VOTE.

BUT DON'T BE CONDESCENDING ABOUT IT. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY WHICHEVER WAY IT GOES. MAYOR NIRENBERG, I EXPECT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE COMING FROM, AND WHATEVER HAPPENS TODAY, I'M HERE TO TALK ANOTHER DAY BECAUSE WOMEN'S HEALTH, HEALTH OF MY SIDE IS MY PRIORITY AND THIS ONLY HELPS THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO CAME OUT AND REALLY SPOKE SOME TRUTH. THANK YOU.

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

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

IN JULY MY HUSBAND AND I WILL BE WELCOMING A BABY INTO OUR FAMILY SO THE IDEA OF REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE HAS BEEN SALIENT IN MY MIND FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

AT THE FOUNDATION OF EVERY STEP IS THE RIGHT TO ACCESS AND CHOOSE FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. THAT'S WHERE MY MORALS CONTINUE TO GUIDE ME.

WE'VE GIVEN TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE MOST POWERFUL AND INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND CLEARED THE WAY FOR HUNDREDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND THE WEALTHIEST OF US. IT'S LIGHTER WHEN IT VAGUELY RECOGNIZES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YET THE TEXT PAIR DOLLAR IS AT ITS DOLLARS IS HEAVIEST WHEN TALKING ABOUT OUR CONSTITUENTS. A REQUEST TO CAME FOR A $500,000 FUND BECAUSE THEIR ACCESS TO SAFE, LEGAL ABORTION HAS BEEN STRIPPED AWAY. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED WITHOUT ACCESS TO SAFE BORING. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO HAVE A BABY, A BABY THEY'VE GROWN ATTACHED TO AND NAMED. THEY DO NOT GET AN ABORTION BECAUSE IT'S A FUN THING TO DO. IT'S A NECESSARY LIFE-SAVING PROCEDURE AND YOU ARE NOT PRO LIFE WHEN YOU IGNORE THE LIFE OF THE PERSON CARRYING THAT PEG SIX-YEAR CAPITAL. WHEN CONSTITUENTS COME TO US WITH PROBLEMS NOT BEING SOLVED WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION, IMMIGRATION, MENTAL HEALTH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THESE ARE ISSUES HISTORICALLY NOT BEEN VIEWED AS LOCAL ISSUES BUT BECAUSE THERE'S A NEED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WE MUST FILL IT. THAT IS A BELIEF I HOLD THAT IS CONSISTENT AND I WILL APOLOGIZE A GRAND FOE TALL OF ZERO TIMES FOR IT.

I WANT TO SAY TIME TO SAY BEYOND THESE FUNDS THERE ARE WAYS BECOMING A WORKPLACE FERTILITY AND FAMILY-BUILDING BENEFITS, STRONGER PAID PARENTAL

[02:25:05]

ALL OF THOSE. IN ADDITION TO MY VOTE OF SUPPORT TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF OUR POLICIES SO WE MAY LEAD ON THE ISSUE OF REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE HOLISTICALLY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ILLUSTRATE WHILE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, EVERY DISTRICT IS ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE AN 80% PAVEMENT INDEX SCORE BY 2032. THAT IS BECAUSE OF A CHANGE TO THE FUNDING FORMULA WE APPROVED IN 2022. WHILE WE ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, THERE ARE MEAL DISTRIBUTIONS HAPPENING TO SENIORS AND FAMILIES IN NEED. THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CULTIVATING GARDENS WITH CITY SUPPORT AND STAFF IS PREPARING A PRESENTATION FOR A GROWTH CCR.

WHILE WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TWO SPAY-NEUTER HUBS ARE PREPARING TO OPEN ON THE OWES AND EAST SIDE AND WE'VE APPROVED CONTRACTS FOR THAT TODAY.

WHILE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, THE OFFICE OF YEARS FOR IS WORKING ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME IN MANY OF THE AREAS OF OUR TOWN THAT EXPERIENCE THE MOST VIOLENT CRIME.

WHILE WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IN PRODUCTION ACROSS THE CITY INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND OUR TREAT OUTREACH TEAM IS WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE, WOULD HAVE THEM CRIMINALIZED FOR PUTTING THEIR ONLY BELONGINGS IN SHOPPING CARTS.

I WAS ELECTED BY MY CONSTITUENTS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE BIGGEST, MOST COMPLEX ISSUES AND ADDRESS THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY. TODAY I AM VOTING YES AND IT WILL BE ONE OF MANY THINGS I AND HOPEFULLY YOU ALL DO TODAY.

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

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GROUND OURSELVES AND THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS AROUND DEBATE OF $100,000 IN LOOKING AT THE SCOPE OF THE METRO HEALTH BUDGET, THIS IS BUDGET DUST. WHEN I SHEAR THE ARGUMENT THIS ISN'T FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, I THINK OF THE HYPOCRISY IN TERMS OF THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS BEING VOCAL IN TERMS OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE TYPICALLY THE ONES THAT SELL THE FARM IN TERMS OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCE ZONES AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE SYSTEMS IN PLACE, WE COULD MAKE A GREATER IMPACT INTO THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE HEALTH FUND, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, SO ON AND SO FORTH. I ASK FOR CONSISTENCY IN TERMS OF BEING A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE STEWARD OF PUBLIC DOLLARS.

THE "SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS" RECENTLY REPORTED THAT IT'S GOING TO COST UP TO $100 MILLION TO RELOCATE A SAWS WATER PLANT, ALL TO FACILITATE PROJECT MARVEL.

THAT PLANT IS SOMETHING THAT ISN'T IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, ISN'T IN NEED OF RELOCATION, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TYPICALLY THOSE THAT ARE BEING MORE VOCAL ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE VERY SUPPORT SUPPORTIVE OF.

LET'S BE SURE WE ARE CONSISTENT IN TERMS OF LARGE INVESTMENTS AND NOT $100,000. THE QUESTION WAS PROPOSED IS THIS SOMETHING WE WILL BE FUNDING IN THE FUTURE AND I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND WITH UPCOMING BUDGETS. OFTENTIMES WE'RE HAVING THIS DEBATE AND I THINK THE ONE -- BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITY SECTION 3, PARAGRAPH 12 OF THE CITY CHARTER STATES THAT THE CITY MAY APPROPRIATE FUNDS IN THE ENTER TIES OF GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF NEEDY PERSONS TO PROVIDE FOR THEM THE BASICALLY NECESSITIES OF LIFE IN ACCORD ANNUALS WITH CATEGORIES SUCH AS A PERSON AS MAY BE DEFINED BY ORDINANCE. EMPHASIZING THAT INVESTING IN BASIC NECESSITIES OF AND AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT, ENSURING WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE WHICH DOES INCLUDE ABORTION AND ABORTION TRAVEL. FURTHER, THE COUNCIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE APPROVED A RESOLUTION IN 2022 TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS WHICH STATES PEOPLE HAVE A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT TO MEDICAL SERVICES AND TREATMENT UP TO AND INCLUDING ABORTION. AND THE NEAREST CARE SOMEONE IN BEXAR COUNTY COULD TRAVEL FOR AN ABORTION WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY INACCESSIBLE TO SOMEONE WHO IS LOW-INCOME AND HAS NO RELIABLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH CITY

[02:30:03]

I WOULD HOPE IT WOULD BE MORE INVESTMENT, IT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED AND I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT THE ACTION WE'RE TAKING TODAY. AND I DID HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION FOR ANDY.

IT WAS STATED EARLIER THAT THIS FUND WOULD NOT HAVE AN IMPACT BECAUSE LIKELY WE WOULD BE SUED AND THIS $100,000 WOULD THEN BE REDIRECTED TOWARDS LEGAL FEES. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WOULD THIS $100,000 EARMARKED BE

REDIVERTED TO SUPPORT LEGAL FEES? >> SEGOVIA: NO, COUNCILWOMAN, THERE'S A SEPARATE ACCOUNT WE MANAGE WITH FINANCE THAT HANDLES

LEGAL FEES. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS $100,000 WILL HAVE IMPACT AND NOT BE REDIRECTED FOR LEGAL FEES. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

>> COURAGE: YES, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER.

CITY MANAGER, WHERE WOULD THIS EXTRA $100,000 BE FROM? >> WALSH: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILMAN. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE WILL REALLOCATE SOME NOONE PERSONNEL FUNDS IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THIS

CONTRACT -- NON-PERSONNEL. >> COURAGE: SO WE'RE GOING TO REUSE SOME MONEY THAT'S

ALREADY IN THE HEALTH BUDGET FOR THIS. >> WALSH: REALLOCATE

EXISTING DOLLARS. >> WALSH: I I. >> COURAGE: I HOPE THAT

DOESN'T MEAN SOMEBODY ELSE WILL NOT GET THIS. >> WALSH: PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND NON-SERVICE RELATED EXPENSES.

>> COURAGE: BUT ADMINISTRATORS DO JOBS. >> WALSH: WELL, IT'S NON-PERSONNEL. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYBODY'S JOBS.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL FUNDS. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.

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

I'M ALSO CONFUSED BY SOME OF THE CONVERSATION THAT'S HAPPENED TODAY.

WE'VE NEVER LED WITH POLICY THAT IN FEAR OF BEING SUED. YESTERDAY WE WERE SUED BY THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY FOR TEARING DOWN ITC. WE WERE SUED -- WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2023 FOR THE BRACKENRIDGE PARK TREES AND STILL MOVED FORWARD WITH THAT VOTE. WE'RE SUED CONSTANTLY FOR OFFICERS HAVING A FACILITIES AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND SO WE'VE NEVER LED OUR CITY DEPARTMENT OR OUR CITY POLICY BASED ON LAWSUITS. SO I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WHY THAT'S BEING USED AS AN ARGUMENT FOR WHY WE WOULDN'T SUPPORT THIS TODAY.

I DO UNDERSTAND IT'S ELECTION SEASON. WE ARE ALL UNDERGOING THAT.

SO IF YOU ARE MAKING A POLITICAL DECISION, MAKE THAT POLITICAL DECISION AND SAY I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT IS A POLITICAL DECISION I'M MAKING.

DON'T TRY TO HIDE BEHIND THE FACT WE'RE BEING SUED. IN ADDITION, 30% OF MY STREETS ARE FAILING, MARC, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

IF YOU COULD GET ME TO A SOLUTION WHERE WE COULD FIX ALL 30% OF THOSE STREETS IN THIS ONE YEAR, I WOULD GO FUND RAISE, I WOULD DONATE OUT OF MY CAMPAIGN BUDGET THIS $100,000. UNFORTUNATELY THAT SOLUTION DOESN'T EXIST.

$100,000 WILL GET YOU MAYBE A QUARTER OF A BLOCK OF A SIDEWALK FILLED.

TRUST ME, I KNOW HOW MUCH CONSTRUCTION COSTS NOW. AND SO A QUARTER OF A BLOCK OF A SIDEWALK FILLED OR MAYBE WE COULD SAVE 100 LIVES.

I DON'T KNOW, WHAT'S YOUR CHOICE? THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. ANY FURTHER -- COUNCILMEMBER

WHYTE. >> WHYTE: $100,000 GETS YOU ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER AND POLICE OFFICERS SAVE LIVES AND POLICE OFFICERS -- AND POLICE OFFICERS DETER CRIME TOO. JEFF, IF I COULD ASK JEFF COIL TO COME UP FOR A SECOND AND TALK ABOUT QUICKLY SENATE BILL 33. DONNA CAMPBELL'S BILL.

LET ME JUST READ TO YOU THE LANGUAGE FROM THIS BILL THAT IS ABOUT TO ALMOST CERTAINLY BECOME LAW AND IT SAYS THAT A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY MAY NOT ENTER INTO A TAXPAYER RESOURCE TRANSACTION FOR APPROPRIATE OR SPEND MONEY TO PROVIDE ANY PERSON LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF ASSISTING A WOMAN WITH PROCURING AN ABORTION OR SERVICES OF AN ABORTION PROVIDER. JEFF, SENATE BILL 33 IS IN

[02:35:08]

COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? >> COYLE: YES, SIR. IT WAS HEARD IN SENATE STATE AFFAIRS A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO. LAST WEEK.

>> WHYTE: IN FEMURS OF ITS LIKELIHOOD OF PASSAGE, THIS HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS ONE OF HIS TOP 40 PRIORITY BILLS.

>> COYLE: STEAKS. IT WAS LARGELY SENATE BILL 30 AND FOLDED INTO SENATE BILL 33 WHICH ARE ONE OF THE --T GOVERNOR DESIGNATES THE FIRST 40 BILL NUMBERS AS

PRIORITY BILLS FOR HIM. >> WHYTE: AND THIS IS A BILL THAT'S OVERWHELMINGLY

SUPPORTED BY THE REPUBLICANS IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. >> COYLE: IT HASN'T BEEN HEARD IN THE HOUSE SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT SITS THERE.

IN THE SENATE IT HAS 18 CO-AUTHORS INCLUDING SENATOR CAMPBELL.

SO 18 OF THE 31 SENATORS ARE SIGNED ONTO IT. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU.

THIS BILL IS GOING TO BE LAW. AS YOU HEARD THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL, IT IS CLEAR AS DAY THAT IT IS GOING TO PROHIBIT SPENDING TAX MONEY LIKE WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY ON SUCH ACTIVITIES LIKE THIS. AND SO IF WE DO, WE WILL BE IN A LAWSUIT. LISTEN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SAY ALL DAY WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT LAWSUITS HAPPEN. WELL, WE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT WHAT LAWSUITS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE DOLLARS THAT GO TO DEFENDING THOSE SUITS ARE COMING STRAIGHT OUT OF OUR CITIZENS' POCKETS. $6 MILLION LAST YEAR DEFENDING OURSELVES IN LAWSUITS. AGAIN, SOME OF THEM WE CANNOT CONTROL.

WE DO, AS COUNCILWOMAN KAUR STATED, WE DO GET SUED FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS AND MANY OF WHICH ARE FRIVOLOUS, BUT HERE WE ARE INVITING A SUIT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ON THE WRONG END OF AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING MORE TAXPAYER MONEY.

IF THIS CITY IS GOING TO GO WHERE WE ALL WANT IT TO, WE'VE GOT TO SPEND OUR RESOURCES IN A BETTER MANNER. THANKS, MAYOR.

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

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. JEFF, CAN YOU COME UP, PLEASE? IS THERE ANYTHING RIGHT NOW THAT YOU CAN DEFINITIVELY SAY IS GOING TO BECOME LAW?

>> COYLE: NO. NO, THERE'S A LOT THAT HAPPENS IN A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. I MAKE GREAT EFFORTS TO NOT PREDICT WHETHER SOMETHING

WILL PASS OR NOT. >> VIAGRAN: SO WE CAN'T SAY DEFINITIVELY THIS IS GOING TO PASS, BECOME LAW. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

>> COYLE: SESSION ENDS ROUGHLY END OF MAY. >> VIAGRAN: AND WE COULD

GET CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION >> COYLE: ABSOLUTELY. BASICALLY HE RESERVES THE

FIRST -- OH, YOU ARE SAYING ARE THEY IN RANK ORDER? >> VIAGRAN: YEAH.

>> COYLE: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW.

TYPICALLY RESERVES 40 SPOTS AND ISSUES THAT HE DEEMS AS PRIORITIES FOR HIM OR THE

SENATE IS WHERE THEY WILL FILE THOSE BILLS. >> VIAGRAN: BECAUSE -- I'M SORRY, ANDY, I'M GETTING OFF TOPIC. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THOSE OTHER 39 ARE. BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTOOD THAT NOTHING IS CERTAIN AT THE STATE LEDGE WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THIS IS GOING TO BE LAW. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE LAW OR NOT.

WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT CRIMES AGAINST -- THANK YOU, JEFF. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CRIMES AGAINST AND HEARD THOSE STATS, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING INFORMATION WHEN WE START THROWING OUT CRIMES. THE OTHER ONE, LET'S FIND OUT HOW MANY CRIMES OF THOSE ARE COMMITTED BY MEN AGAINST WOMEN. LET'S DO THAT TOO.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE A POVERTY RATE OF 20% HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND OF THAT 20%, 50% ARE WOMEN AND HEAD OF HOUSEHOLDS, WE REALLY DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP WOMEN'S HEALTH WHERE WE CAN INVEST IS A GOOD AND SOUND INVESTMENT. THE OTHER IS I -- FEDERALLY THERE ARE MONIES OUT THERE FOR MORE POLICE OFFICERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EVEN INNOVATIVE CITY STREET PROJECTS. SO I THINK IF ANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE LIKE, WELL, WE COULD USE THIS MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND WE'RE ON THE FENCE, THE TAXPAYERS WHICH ARE SITTING HERE HAVE RAISED THEIR HANDS AND A NUMBER OF THEM SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THIS. SO I THINK THE TAXPAYER ARGUMENT REALLY CAN'T BE

[02:40:05]

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

HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANKS. JUST A COUPLE OF FOLLOW-UP POINTS. LEGAL OUR MAYOR NOT TO FOLLOW THE WOMEN ON COUNCIL IS THE BIAS KILLING WOMEN AND THE EXACT REASON WE NEED THIS HEALTH CARE.

WE'RE NEVER ON THE WRONG END OF A LAWSUIT WHEN WE AS REPRESENTATIVES ARE PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES. AND TO SAY THAT WE'RE DEBATING ABORTION TODAY IS ENTIRELY INACCURATE. I HAVEN'T HEARD A SINGLE COUNCILMEMBER SAY IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG. ARE THEY HIDING BEHIND TAX DOLLARS AND SAYING THEY ARE PRO CHOICE BUT NOT WANTING TO FUND PRO CHOICE ACTIVITIES? SURE. BUT WE'RE NOT DEBATING ABORTION.

NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF EVERY WOMAN IN THIS CITY. THANKS, MAYOR.

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

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. IF JEFF COYLE COULD COME BACK UP.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SB 33. IS THERE AN EFFECT I OFFER

DATE WRITTEN INTO THE TEXT? >> COYLE: AS DRAFTED WHAT WAS HEARD IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK WOULD BE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 IF IT PASSES.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO SHOULD WE APPROVE -- I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU. THAT'S ALL I NEEDED FROM YOU.

SHOULD WE PASS THIS TODAY, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? OR THAT COULD BE ANYBODY.

>> SEGOVIA: PROBABLY HEALTH CAN ANSWER THAT BETTER.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WHEN DO WE IMAGINE FUNDS COULD BE DISBURSED?

>> SEGOVIA: THIS IS STEP ONE. THERE WILL BE A SECOND STEP WHEN CONTRACTS ARE BEING PROPOSED BEFORE COUNCIL THAT WILL COME BEFORE COUNCIL.

CLAUDE CAN GIVE FURTHER INFORMATION. >> JACOB: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. IF WE COULD GO TO SLIDE 11

OR 12. IT SHOWS THE TIME LINE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ:

PERFECT. >> JACOB: ONE MORE. NEXT STEPS.

THIS IS PART OF A MORE FORMAL PRESENTATION, BUT HERE WE'RE LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION, WE'RE LOOKING AT AN ACCELERATED REVIEW PROCESS.

WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONTRACTS AND THIS

WOULD BE SCHEDULED TO BE IMPLEMENTED THIS SUMMER. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT THEN IS -- I GUESS MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR JEFF COYLE, IF YOU COULD BRING YOURSELF BACK. IS SB 30 RETROACTIVE IN NATURE? CAN IT TARGET CITIES THAT HAVE SPENT MONEY ON TRAVEL?

>> COYLE: THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION. THE BILL ALLOWS A RESIDET TO BRING A COMPLAINT OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND ONE OF THE REMEDIES IN THE BILL WOULD BE TO HALT OR REVERSE THE FUNDING. BUT AFTER IT'S BEEN DISBURSED, I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW IF ANDY DOES EITHER.

>> SEGOVIA: IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD PASS, BUT I WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE SOME SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IF THEY TRIED TO RETROACTIVELY APPLY A LAW LIKE THAT. MY GUESS WOULD BE IT WOULD HAVE SOME APPLICABILITY AFTER THE FACT -- I SHOULD SAY IT WOULD NOT HAVE MILK CONTACT FOR ACTIVITY THAT OCCURRED BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE. WE WILL DESIGN AND WRITE OUR CONTRACTS IN SUCH A WAY WHATEVER LAW PASSES, IF IT PASSES BY THE LEGISLATURE,

WE WILL BE ABLE TO PIVOT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: HMMM.

SOUNDS -- I GUESS MY QUESTION IS THEN WOULD THE DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS BE AS SERVICES ARE PROVIDED OR IS IT ALL ON THE FRONT END? AT WHAT POINT IS IT NO LONGER CITY DOLLARS BEING SPENT AND CITY DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT?

>> WALSH: COUNCILMEMBER, I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE EXPEDITED PROCUREMENT AS THE STAFF TALKED THROUGH WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE. WE'RE GOING TO GET PROPOSALS QUICKLY FROM THOSE TENANT AT THIS TIME. LIKELY 10 ENTITIES. LIKELY FOR THESE TYPES OF SERVICES WE DON'T PAY EVERYTHING UP FRONT. IT IS ON A REIMBURSEMENT OR ON AN ACTIVITY OR WHATEVER WE'RE CONTRACTING FOR. SO WHEN THE COUNCIL -- WHEN

[02:45:04]

PAYMENT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE ROOT OF MY QUESTION, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT I THINK IS SHOULD THERE BE A WORLD IN WHICH ALL THE MONEY IS NOT SPENT BY SEPTEMBER 1, THIS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT, THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM SPENDING ANY MORE MONEY, WHAT ARE THE MECHANISMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE COMPLIANT AND THAT THE MONEY -- THAT THE $400,000 IS GOING TO BE

ALLOCATED THE WAY WE ARE INTENDING TODAY? >> WALSH: YOU ARE NOT

ALLOCATING TODAY. YOU ARE JUST AUTHORIZING -- >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR A

CAUSE. >> WALSH: YOU ARE AUTHORIZING US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EXPEDITED. YOU ARE GOING TO BE AUTHORIZING THE ACCUSE ACCUSE WHEN WE COME BACK. IF WE GET A PROPOSAL TOED X AND SECOND Y, WE'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. YOUR QUESTION IS HELPFUL BECAUSE THAT WILL BE LIKELY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STRUCTURE WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU WITH PROPOSALS.

A LOT OF THAT RESTS UPON WHAT WE GET FROM THE ENTITIES.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. >> WALSH: I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS AND A LOT OF THAT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT WE GET.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 5? OKAY. HERE'S WHERE I SEE IT.

AFTER ALL THE STRIDENT RHETORIC AND DEBATE, WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT HAS BEEN AN UNRELENTING ASSAULT ON WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE DECISIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. HEALTH CARE DECISIONS THAT HAD BEEN PROTECTED BY SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT FOR 50 YEARS. SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHOICES THAT WOMEN MAKE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH CARE, CRITICAL HEALTH CARE, I TRUST WOMEN AND DOCTORS OVER POLITICIANS WHO THINK THEY KNOW BETTER.

SO FOR ME THIS IS EASY. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 5.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL GO TO ITEM 21.

>> CLERK: ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH LIFT FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,385,000 FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S 2025 CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.

FUNDING IS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 GENERAL FUND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: IN ALL OF THAT CONVERSATION I FORGOT WE WERE GOING TO BRING UP ITEM 21. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, FOR THE TIME ON THIS AND THANK YOU TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR WORKING WITH US TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT ALL OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSESSEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN AFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION.

I THINK WE ALL HAVE A HORROR STORY ON CONSTRUCTION. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FROM OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE SOME OF OUR PROJECTS HAVE TAKEN A REALLY LONG TIME SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK WE'RE DOING THAT REALLY ASSESS THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED. IN CONVERSATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANTS, WE HAD SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT COME TO US THAT ARE INHE INELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF CURRENT STIPULATIONS IN PLACE BUT THEY ARE STILL AFFECTED BY TICKET SALES. ONE IS YOU WITHIN THAT DOES A LOT OF GREAT WORK FOR CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZE ART FOR A LOCAL OF LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS GET TO ACCESS IT. AS A RESULT FIELD TRIPS HAVE GONE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, THEY HAVE HAD 40% OF SURVEYORS SAY CONSTRUCTION

[02:50:04]

THERE WAS AN INCREASE PASSED AFTER COVID AND A DECREASE AFTER CONSTRUCTION HAS STARTED. IF YOU TRIED ACCESSING THE SPACE THERE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET TO. BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE MIGHT BE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR WHERE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY FROM THAT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT

TO THE GRANT PROGRAM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, LET ME GET A BASE MOTION AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE YOUR AMENDMENT AS A MOTION.

IS THERE A MOTION? >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE TO AMEND THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE STABILIZATION INSTRUCTION TO INCLUDE NON-PROFIT REASON

VIEWS THAT RELY SALES FROM TICKET SALES. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR AMENDING THE MOTION IN ITEM 21. WE'LL TAKE UP THE WHOLE DISCUSSION TOGETHER BUT WE'LL VOTE ON THE AMOUNT BEFORE WE GET TO THE BASE MOTION.

ARE YOU VEALING -- YIELDING THE FLOOR? ANY MORE DISCUSSION?

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM.

THIS CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO THAT COUNCILMEMBER KAUR HAS BEEN GREAT ON AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. WE ALL TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE BEGINNING. THERE'S SO MANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE HURTING BECAUSE OF THE LENGTHY TIME OF CITY-INITIATED CONSTRUCTION. SO HAPPY WE'RE MOVING THIS

FORWARD TODAY. THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. I DON'T HAVE A CUE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 21? COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I HAVE ANOTHER AMENDMENT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CHANGES PROCEDURE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO I WANT TO ADD THAT THE NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS CORRIDOR HAS BEEN IMPACTED FOR YEARS BY CONSTRUCTION, PHASE 1 AND NOW PHASE 2. LAST TIME WE DID DISBURSEMENTS, TWO OUT OF 100 ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES RECEIVED GRANTS DESPITE ROAD CLOSURES THAT LED TO FIVE BUSINESSES CLOSING DOORS. THESE ROADS WERE RIPPED UP AND REPAVED-AND OVER AGAIN. WE HAD A BAD CONTRACTOR ON THAT JOB.

MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE FAMILIAR WITH. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION -- I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO INCLUDE BUSINESSES I LONG THE NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS

AVENUE CORRIDOR, PHASE 1, 2, INTO THIS PROGRAM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR AMENDING THE MAIN MOTION AS STATED BY COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. SO WE HAVE TWO AMENDMENTS ON THE FLOOR.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING FURTHER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THROUGH A COUPLE OF VOTES FIRST. ANDY, DID YOU WANT TO ADDRESS PROCEDURE?

>> SEGOVIA: THAT IS CORRECT, MAYOR. ONLY TWO AMENDMENTS CAN BE ON THE FLOOR AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT TAKES PRIORITY IN TERMS OF CONSIDERATION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER KAUR FIRST, THEN COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S AMENDMENT UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT COMES

UP. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: I JUST HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE MAYBE I DIDN'T HEAR CORRECTLY. WERE YOU SUGGESTING AN AREA SO THAT ANY BUSINESS ALONG THAT AREA BECOMES ELIGIBLE TO REQUEST THAT FUNDING?

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: YES, ALONG THE NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS CORRIDOR.

>> COURAGE: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THERE'S A LITTLE UNDER TEN BUSINESSES AS PART OF PHASE 2, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ALONG

PHASE 1 AND THAT WILL AFFECTED BY PHASE 2. >> COURAGE: THAT REALLY

ANSWERS MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENTS OR ON THE BASE MOTION? ALL RIGHT. NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO TO VOTES. WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON COUNCILMEMBER KAUR'S AMENDMENT FIRST. DOES ANYONE NEED IT READ? OKAY.

WHY DON'T YOU REPEAT IT. >> KAUR: I MOVE TO AMEND THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE STABILIZATION CONSTRUCTION GRANTS PROFIT TO INCLUDE NON-PROFITS THAT RELY ON

TICKET SALES AT A SERIES OF EVENTS OR PROGRAMS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU HEARD IT. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THE AMENDMENT.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THE MAIN MOTION HAS BEEN

[02:55:07]

NOW WE'LL VOTE ON COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S AMENDMENT AND COUNCILMAN, IF YOU CAN RESTATE YOUR AMENDMENT.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. MOVE TO AMEND THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE BUSINESSES ALONG NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS AVENUE PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU HEARD IT. WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. SO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM 21, WE'LL TAKE THAT UP NOW. IT HAS BEEN AMENDED BY BOTH MCKEE RODRIGUEZEN KAUR.

>> WALSH: THE MOTION THAT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MADE IS THAT THERE'S THREE COMPONENTS TO THE GRANT PROGRAM.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR CLARITY. THE PRE, POST OR ACTIVE OR MAYBE A COMBINATION.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: COMBINATION OF ACTIVE AND POST.

>> WALSH: ACTIVE AND POST. OKAY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK

YOU. >> KAUR: MINE WAS ACTIVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WANTED TO THANK BRENDA AND TEAM FOR THIS INITIATIVE. DURING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING I HAD A QUESTION REGARDING DISTRICT 5 BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE BOND PROJECT. I'M PLEASED TO SEE YOU HAVE INCLUDED THAT TO POTENTIALLY RECEIVE SUPPORT THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING I MENNABLE AND INCLUDING THAT SMALL PIECE THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED.

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

YOU SAID AMENDABLE. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR ITEM 21 AS AMENDED BY COUNCILMEMBER KAUR AND COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE WE GO TO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, THERE'S ALREADY FOLKS HERE FOR THE 2:00 ZONING. WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO ZONING AND EXEC AT THE END. ANDY, WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE

I THINK EXEC IS POSTED. >> SEGOVIA: YES, WE CAN DO THAT, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AFTER THE CITYIER'S REPORT IS RECESS OUR A SESSION. WE'RE GOING TO START OUR ZONING CONSENT AGENDA.

AFTER WE GET THROUGH ZONING, WE'LL GET BACK TO OUR A SESSION, GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. IF YOU GOT CONFUSED, WE'RE GETTING TO ZONING IMMEDIATELY, I'M JUST LETTING STAFF KNOW SO THEY CAN GET PREPARED.

>> WALSH: THANK YOU. ONE OF THEM IS KIND OF RELATED TO ZONING.

MELISSA RAMIREZ, TODAY IS HER 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE CITY.

[APPLAUSE] SO HOPEFULLY ZONING GOES REAL SMOOTH TODAY.

[LAUGHTER] THE SECOND ITEM IS OUR SPOTLIGHT VIDEO, MAYOR.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND I WANTED TO HIGH LIE ONE OF OUR EXECUTIVES -- HIGHLIGHT ONE OF OUR EXECUTIVES, CHIEF FRAUSTO.

CHIEF FRAUSTO HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE TO WORK WITH THESE FIRST FIVE MONTHS.

A LOT OF WHAT I GAUGE IN TERMS OF HOW WELL SOMEONE IS DOING, USUALLY IT'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

ACTIVE FIREFIGHTERS AND REALLY A LOT OF VALIDATION. I HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH HER FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS. SHE'S GOT A GREAT STORY AND GREAT ATTITUDE AND I LOVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT SHE INSTILLS, SO LET'S ROLL TODAY'S VIDEO.

OFFICER'S SEAT, I WOULD HEAR LOOK, MOM, IT'S A GIRL. SURPRISING PEOPLE THAT UNDER THE HELMET OR THE BUNKER COAT IT'S A GIRL AND YEAH, WE DO THIS WORK TOO.

THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF WOMEN THAT WERE FIREFIGHTERS AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A CAREER THAT IT WASN'T POSSIBLE. I KNEW THAT IT WAS A MALE-DOMINATED CAREER. I LEARNED VERY QUICKLY THAT DETERMINATION AND JUST HAVING THE COURAGE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE ROLE OF A FIREFIGHTER AND TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY, I JUST KNEW I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK HARDER THAN THE OTHERS.

I HAD TO PROVE MYSELF EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. TRAINING AND JUST BEING THE BEST THAT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY BE IS MY VISION FOR THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[03:00:03]

WE TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT IS SO REWARDING. PROFESSIONALISM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

I HAVE VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT ABOUT ME.

ALSO THE INNOVATION PIECE. CONSTANTLY TRYING TO IMPROVE, IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES IS IMPORTANT TO US. REALLY THE COLLABORATION. IT AMAZING ME EVERY DAY HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER AND ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION. BEING SAN ANTONIO'S FIRE CHIEF IS TRULY AN HONOR. I TAKE THIS JOB VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY, AS DO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE TRULY DEDICATED, COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A SERVICE, SERVING AND PROTECTING IS WHAT MAKES ME

FEEL GOOD. [APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: THANK YOU,

MAYOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS, MELISSA. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS, MELISSA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK.

AT THIS TIME IT IS 2:10 P.M. ON APRIL 3, 2025. I WILL RECESS OUR A SESSION SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN OUR ZONING AGENDA. AND MADAM CLERK, ARE WE READY? WHY DON'T WE RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES SO OUR CLERKS CAN GET OUR AGENDA PREPARED, BUT WE WILL BE BACK AT 2:15 TO I'M GOING TO CALL US VIEW EXECUTIVE SESSION. 2:55 P.M., THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551 PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 INVOLVING CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

PURSUANT TO TEXAS GO >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON.

THE TIME IS 3:29 P.M. ON APRIL 3, 2025. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.