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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:12 A.M. ON APRIL 10, 2025.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR A SESSION.
TO BEGIN US TODAY, I'M GOING TO TURN TO FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ TO WELCOME OUR
INVOCATOR. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM, ARCHBISHOP GUSTAVO GARCIA-SILLER. MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD HIM BEFORE AND THE ACCENT, YOU MAY THINK HE'S FROM AMARILLO, BUT HE'S NOT.
HE'S FROM MEXICO. HE MADE HIS WAY ALL THE WAY UP HERE AS A YOUNG PRIEST AND WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE HIM LEADING US AND TO BE THE CONSCIENCE OF THE CITY.
HE'S MY FRIEND. HE'S A MENTOR AND I LOVE HIM VERY MUCH.
AND SO, TAKE IT AWAY, ARCHBISHOP. >> POPE FRANCIS HAS REMINDED THE CITY OFFICIALS THAT SERVICE TO THE COMMON GOOD IS A FORM OF CHARITY.
COMPARABLE TO THAT OF PARENTS IN A FAMILY. IN THIS CITY TOO, IT IS NECESSARY TO RESPOND TO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS WITH DIFFERENT FORMS OF ATTENTION.
THEREFORE, FATHERLINESS, MOTHERLINESS IS IMPLEMENTED FIRST AND FOREMOST THROUGH LISTENING, END OF QUOTE. LET US PRAY. BLESSED ARE YOU, O GOD, OUR CREATOR AND SUSTAINER . SHOSOURCE OF ALL GOODNESS AND LIFE.
WE GATHER TODAY, HEARTS BRIMMING WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE THE COUNTLESS GIFTS YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SPIRIT THAT HAS INSPIRED LEADERS TO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO PUBLIC SERVICE, PROTECTING THE INHERENT DIGNITY OF EVERY HUMAN BEING AND PROMOTING THE COMMON GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. GRACIOUS LORD, WE ARE DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR THE LEGACY OF FAITH AND SACRIFICE THAT HAS PAVED OUR PATH.
BY THE EARLY MISSIONARIES, PIONEERS, AND CITY LEADERS WHO LAY THE FOUNDATION OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY MAY THEIR WORK ALWAYS REFLECT A DEEP COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND SERVICE, RECOGNIZING THE SACRED DUTY TO UPLIFT THE VULNERABLE AND UNITE US IN SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY.
WE HUMBLY ASK THAT YOU IGNITE IN OUR CIVIC LEADERS A FERVOR FOR SERVICE AND A PASSION FOR EQUITY SO THAT EACH DECISION, EACH ACT OF LEADERSHIP BE INSPIRED BY YOUR ETERNAL LOVE.
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GRANT THEM THE STRENGTH TO FACE CHALLENGES WITH HOPE AND TO TRANSFORM ADVERSITY INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND HEALING. MAY THE LIGHT OF YOUR DIVINE TRUTH GUIDE THEM IN EVERY DELIBERATION AND INITIATIVE. IN GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFTS OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND UNITY WE LIFT OUR VOICES TOGETHER IN THIS INVOCATION.WE ASK ALL THIS THROUGH YOUR SON, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ARCHBISHOP. ALL RIGHT.
THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY FOR ACTION IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 26 AND 27, 2025. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE.
ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 3.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
BEFORE WE GET TO SOME FOLKS WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY, I AM GOING TO CALL UP THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ITEMS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, SO AT THIS TIME ARE THERE ANY TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL ACTION? ITEM 17 AND 18.
ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION.
WAS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 17 AND 18. THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS, SO IS
THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT 13.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SAN ANTONIO PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AT PUBLIC WORKS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND THEIR AMAZING PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS.
WHILE I DIDN'T COUNT, I BELIEVE IT WAS OVER 150 DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT TO GIVE THEIR INPUT ON WHAT THE PARK CAN LOOK LIKE. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THE SUBMISSION OF THIS GRANT BECAUSE IT MEANS THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO MATCH DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR THE $5.7 MILLION INVESTMENT -- $4.7 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS ALREADY PUT IN PLACE THROUGH THE 2022 BOND. JUST REALLY EXCITED AND WANT TO ENCOURAGE DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS THAT MAY BE WATCHING NOW AT THE NORMOYLE PARK SENIOR CENTER THAT THEY CAN VISION SA SPEAKUP.COM TO GIVE THEIR INPUT .
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I'M HIGHLIGHTING 5 AND 6. ITEM 5 APPROVES THE PURCHASE OF TWO HAND-HELD LIQUID IDENTIFIER SYSTEMS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT'S HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE TEAM.
THESE DEVICE ALLOW SFD TO IDENTIFY DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES. IT'S VITAL TECHNOLOGY THAT ENHANCES OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HELPS KEEP OUR CITY STAFF. ITEM 6 COMPLEMENTS THAT INVESTMENT WITH THE PURCHASE OF TWO HAND-HELD GAS IDENTIFIER SYSTEMS. THEY'RE NOT JUST TOOLS, THEY ARE LIFELINES. THEY PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND PROTECT UTES AS A COMMUNITY. I'M THANKFUL THAT WE'RE
ACCEPTING THESE FUNDS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M HIGHLIGHTING THIS MORNING ITEM NO. 11, WHICH IS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES FOR FIESTA. SO AS WE ALL GET EXCITED TO CELEBRATE FIESTA, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO A GREAT JOB OF COMMUNICATING ALL OF THESE CLOSURES TO OUR RESIDENTS SO THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY CAN GET TO THEIR HOMES FROM AND LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL 24 HOURS BEFORE TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW IF THEIR STREET'S GOING TO BE CLOSED. SINCE WE'RE APPROVING THIS TODAY, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO EVERYONE TOMORROW. THANKS, MAYOR.
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? FOR THE RECORD, ITEM 9 ALSO HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND SO WILL NOT BE HEARD OR CONSIDERED TODAY. SO JUST FOR THE RECORD WHAT WE WILL VOTE ON IS ITEMS 4 THROUGH 20 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 17 AND 18, WHICH WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY.
AND THEN ITEM 9, WHICH WAS WITHDRAWN. ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, BEFORE WE GET TO OUR BUSINESS ITEMS, WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF GROUPS HERE TODAY WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS WAYS VERY, VERY WELL. OVER MANY YEARS, IN FACT. IF YOU WERE READING THE BLUE SHIRTS, IT SAYS 80 YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION AS I ASK THE LEADERSHIP OF GOODWILL SAN ANTONIO TO COME FORWARD . WHEREAS THEY HAVE BEEN A PILLAR IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR 80 YEARS PROVIDING JOB TRAINING AND OTHER VITAL PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS FACING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. WHEREAS SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1945, GOODWILL HAS REMIND STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION, EQUIPPING THOUSANDS OF SAN ANTONIANS WITH THE SKILLS AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND SUCCESS.
WHEREAS GOODWILL HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ECONOMIC VITALITY BY CREATING JOBS AND REINVESTING IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY WHILE PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH ITS COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE REPURPOSING AND REUSE EFFORTS.
WHEREAS THE ORGANIZATION'S DEDICATION TO INCLUSIVITY HAS STRENGTHENED THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF SAN ANTONIO ENSURING ALL PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE. IN RECOGNITION OF GOODWILL'S EIGHT DECADES OF IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY WE CELEBRATE THIS MILESTONE AND COMMEND ITS LEADERSHIP, TEAM MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO UPLIFTING LIFE THROUGH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 25, 2025 TO BE GOODWILL SAN ANTONIO'S 80TH ANNIVERSARY DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN CELEBRATING AND SUPPORTING THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF GOODWILL AS IT CONTINUES TO BUILD A STRONGER MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR ALL . WELCOME, CARLOS, AND CONGRATULATIONS GOODWILL SAN ANTONIO . [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, MY COLLEAGUE, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, MR. CITY ATTORNEY. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS CARLOS CONTRERAS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GOODWILL SAN ANTONIO. ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND OUR 1800 EMPLOYEES, I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS COMMISSION. WE ARE HONORED TO COMMEMORATE GOODWILL'S 80TH HISTORY IN SAN ANTONIO. IT WAS FOUNDED ON THE BELIEF OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES AND HOPE TO INDIVIDUALS FACING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GOODWILL SAN ANTONIO WAS INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL GOODWILL MOVEMENT LAUNCHED IN 1902 BY A METHODIST MINISTER IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
HE BELIEVED IN PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS WITH A HAND UP AS A WAY TO HELP THEM GAIN SKILLS, REMOVE BARRIERS, AND GIVE THEM THE CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO FIND EMPLOYMENT AND PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN 1945, NEARING THE END OF WORLD WAR II, PROMINENT BUSINESS LEADERS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND CIVIC LEADERS, TO INCLUDE NOTABLE NAMES THAT MANY OF US RECOGNIZE TODAY. GS MCCRELESS, O.P. SCHNABEL AND MANY OTHERS ESTABLISHED GOODWILL SAN ANTONIO AS A PLACE WHERE VETERANS RETURNING FROM WORLD WAR II AND WHO HAD SUSTAINED DISABLING INJURIES WOULD HAVE A PLACE TO COME TO WORK.
FROM OUR FIRST STORE ON THE SOUTH SIDE WITH 22 TEAM MEMBERS, 18 OF WHOM WERE PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN AND OUR MISSION HAS EVOLVED.
WE ARE STILL PROUDLY SERVING VETERANS BUT WE ALSO SERVE OTHERS WITH DISABILITIES AND BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. OVER THE PAST EIGHT DECADES, GOODWILL HAS GROWN INTO THE LARGEST AND MOST RESPECTED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROVIDERS IN THE SOUTH TEXAS.
WE HAVE 26 RETAIL LOCATIONS, 38 BUSINESS SERVICE CONTRACTS, MULTIPLE ACADEMIES AND CAREER
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CENTERS, AND, AS I SAID, OVER 1800 EMPLOYEES. THROUGH THE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF GENTLY-USED ITEMS SOLD IN OUR STORE AS WELL AS THE CONTRACTS WE ENTER INTO WITH GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES LIKE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT, CAREER TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE STRUGGLE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. OUR MISSION IS TO CHANGE LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF WORK AND WE'RE ONLY ABLE TO DO THAT THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, OUR GENEROUS DONORS, CITY LEADERS LIKE YOURSELVES, AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY.I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE CITY AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT OF GOODWILL SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CARLOS, INTO THE EFFORTS FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN THE CITY. GOODWILL HAS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING PARTNER IN ALL OF OUR EFFORTS AND PEOPLE KNOW THE FRONT DOOR OF GOODWILL AND THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE TO CONSUMERS AND TO DONORS. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION BEYOND THAT IS SO MEANINGFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
I HAVE BEEN ENLIGHTENED TO THE PROCESS AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TRADITION AND LONG WORK OF GOODWILL SAN ANTONIO AND UPLIFTING SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES. YOU KNOW HOW THIS WORKS. MY COLLEAGUES ALSO WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS. IF YOU CAN BEAR WITH US. BUT THIS IS ALL FOR YOU GUYS AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. CAN I GET EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE FOR GOODWILL TO STAND UP? [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU, CARLOS. THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING BILL, BECAUSE HE IS SO MISSED AND SUCH A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT LOOKED AT THE WHOLE OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE SOUTHSIDE INCLUDED. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING HIS WORK, FOR CONTINUING THIS GOOD WORK. I TELL CARLOS THIS STORY ALL THE TIME.
WHEN I TRAVEL DENVER, TAMPA, I ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK FOR THE GOODWILL BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THEIR WHOLE STORY BUT I KNOW PART OF THEIR STORY WHEN THEY'RE WORKING IN THOSE STORES. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JUST PROVIDING THAT, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU MAKE SAN ANTONIO STRONGER BY WHAT YOU DO. SO I'M VERY THRILLED TO CELEBRATE THE 80 YEARS.
I THINK I'M GOING TO WALK TO GOODWILL AFTER THE MEETING DOWNTOWN.
AND REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, CARLOS. YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH Y'ALL IN THE FUTURE ON NEW INITIATIVES AS WE MOVE SAN ANTONIO FORWARD.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COME ON DOWN THERE AND GET YOUR
FIESTA GEAR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
CONGRATULATIONS YOU ALL ON 80 YEARS. IT'S EXTREMELY EXCITING.
I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR ALL 80 OF THOSE YEARS.
[LAUGHTER] I MOSTLY WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, NOT JUST ON 80 YEARS OF OPERATION BUT 80 YEARS OF SERVICE AND GIVING BACK. I THINK THAT'S A TREMENDOUS FEAT AND IT DEMONSTRATES A LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THAT ORGANIZATIONS EVERYWHERE ASPIRE TO. I SAW SOMEWHERE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH CLOTHING ON THE PLANET ALREADY EXISTING TO CLOTHE EVERYONE FOR 100 YEARS. AND GOODWILL CERTAINLY DOES ITS PART FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BY OFFERING A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE EVERYTHING FROM CLOTHING, FURNITURE, AND ELECTRONICS.
IN ADDITION TO OFFERING MANY SECOND-CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SKILL-BUILDING IS SUCH A MONUMENTAL RESOURCE. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, ALL THAT YOU WILL DO, AND ALL THAT YOU INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CARLOS AND THE GOODWILL TEAM FOR ALL THAT Y'ALL DO. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE MANUFACTURING BOOT CAMP THAT OPENED UP IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT 5.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AS ALREADY MENTIONED, THOSE SECOND-CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES.
THERE IS NO BETTER LOBBYING WHEN I HEAR FROM A PARTICIPANT OF THAT PROGRAM THE IMPACT AND OPPORTUNITY THAT IT'S PROVIDED. I ALWAYS SHARE THAT GOODWILL REACHES OUT FOR ME TO HAVE A MEETING BUT I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY GOT THEIR CDL THROUGH THE GOODWILL PROGRAM. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
AND I THINK THE VALUE THAT YOU ALL OFFER IN TERMS OF THE -- ALL THAT Y'ALL OFFER BUT PARTICULARLY WITH THE MANUFACTURING BOOT CAMP IS YOU'RE TEEING UP FOLKS FOR THE
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OPPORTUNITIES HERE AND THAT ARE GOING TO GROW IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ENSURING THAT FOLKS DO HAVE A JOB LINED UP IS VERY IMPACTFUL AND VALUABLE. SO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE I'M A THRIFT STORE GIRLY AND I'M PROBABLY GOING TO WALK OVER WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. BUT THE SECOND-CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES ARE VERY IMPACTFUL, PARTICULARLY FOR MY CONSTITUENCY.THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE AN ADVOCATE HERE FOR YOUR WORKFORCE
TRAINING. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO CARLOS, WHO'S STEPPED IHAT ROLE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHO REALLY SERVED THE CITY SO WELL. BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO GOODWILL -- AND I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SO MANY LIVES. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A WHOLE BUS LOAD OF PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT 9 OUT THERE TO TOUR THE FACILITY NEAR WIND CREST AREA TO SEE BEHIND THE SCENES WHAT GOES ON IN TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO COME BY LOOKING FOR SUPPORT, LOOKING FOR MATERIAL TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.
YOU KNOW, THE QUALITY OF WHAT YOU DO AND THE STORES AND HOW THEY HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE. HECK, I SHOP THERE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL. 80 YEARS IS A LONG TIME.
HOPEFULLY EVERY YEAR YOU CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
I WOULD INVITE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TOUR AND THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO
HAVE COME TO TOUR. IT'S PRETTY PHENOMENAL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: TO THE MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE BEHIND YOU, THE FACT THAT YOU GOT CARLOS LEADING THE SHIP HERE AND STEERING YOU GUYS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, I HOPE THIS IS NOT LOST ON YOU THAT BEFORE CARLOS WORKED FOR THE CITY, HE WAS IN-HOUSE COUNSEL AND A HEAVY HITTER HERE IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY. HE CAME TO THE CITY TO GIVE SERVICE BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY.
HE COULD HAVE GONE ON AND MADE A MOUNTAIN OF MONEY BUT HE CHOSE SAN ANTONIANS INSTEAD.
AND HE LEFT THE CITY AFTER DEVELOPING A BODY OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE THAT COULD HAVE MADE HIM MILLIONS. AND INSTEAD HE DOUBLED DOWN ON HIS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND DECIDED TO SPEND HIS TIME WITH YOU, HELPING THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER SERVANT LEADER TO LEAD YOU GUYS THAN CARLOS.
AND I HOPE YOU GUYS REALIZE HOW FORTUNATE, NOT ONLY YOU ARE, BUT YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO LET MY FRIENDS HERE KNOW IS THAT GOODWILL IS NOT JUST IN SAN ANTONIO, GOODWILL IS PART OF A HUGE NETWORK. AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING, YOU GUYS ARE IN BRAZIL, CANADA, COSTA RICA, PHILIPPINES, FINLAND, TAIWAN, VENEZUELA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. AND YOUR ORGANIZATION LAST YEAR HANDED OUT -- ACTUALLY DEDICATED CLOSE TO $6 BILLION AND IT WENT DIRECTLY TO SERVING THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU'RE CREATING JOBS.
CARLOS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU AND A I DID HERE WITH THE HELP OF ALL THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND BECAUSE OF YOUR REALLY, REALLY DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THE CITY WORKS.
CARLOS CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND SAID WE'RE CREATING JOBS BUT WE'RE NOT GETTING LOCAL POINTS WHEN WE COMPETE FOR CITY JOBS OR CITY CONTRACTS FOR LANDSCAPING.
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LANDSCAPING ARM OVER THERE. AND WE CHANGED THAT ORDINANCE SO THAT WE COULD MAKE ROOM FOR THE KIND OF EFFORTS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CARRY OUT.
AND SO, CARLOS, I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. I RECENTLY GOT A MOUNTAIN OF REALLY MYOPIC HEAT FOR SUGGESTING THAT IT'S PROBABLY BETTER THAN HANDING OUT TO PANHANDLERS, TO REDIRECT THAT MONEY TO YOU GUYS AND ALL THE CHARITIES HERE IN TELL.
TELL EVERYBODY HOW YOU USE THAT MONEY. >> COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS. YOU'RE TOO GENEROUS WITH YOUR COMPLIMENTS.
FIRST, ABOUT THE LARGE NETWORK THAT IS GOODWILL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ACROSS THE GLOBE. I WAS TOLD RECENTLY THAT GOODWILL GENERATES OR CREATES A JOB EVERY 30 SECONDS IN THE UNITED STATES. EVERY 30 SECONDS, THERE'S A JOB. ALL OF THE GOODWILL NETWORKS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
AS I SAID IN MY REMARKS, GOODWILL WAS FOUNDED ON THE BELIEF THAT IF YOU WANT TO HELP PEOPLE, YOU PROVIDE SKILLS TO THEM. GIVE THEM A HAND UP.
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AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE NONPROFITS AND ENTITIES THAT ARE HELPING OTHER PEOPLE AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO THEM. A HAND UP AS OPPOSED TO A HAND OUT WAS THE EDWARD HELM'S EUPHEMISM. 91 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR WE GENERATE GOES RIGHT BACK INTO THE MISSION . WE HAVE TO PAY FOR RENT, BUILDINGS, INSURANCE, BUT 91 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR GOES TO THE MISSION, WHETHER IT'S EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES BECAUSE THEY STRUGGLE OFTEN TO FIND WORK.MANY OF THEM. OR IT'S PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU WILL MAKE IF YOU DONATE TO A GOODWILL AND
MANY OTHER NONPROFITS DO THE SAME KIND OF GREAT WORK. >> PELAEZ: HOW DO WE GIVE TO
YOU? >> WELL, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS OF YOUR GENTLY-USED ITEMS. ON OUR WEBSITE WE HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN DONATE TO GOODWILL. GOODWILLSA.ORG. BUT CERTAINLY DONATING AT OUR
STORES IS IMPORTANT. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, CARLOS.
I'M PROUD OF YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
CARLOS, TO YOUR, TO YOUR TEAM, TO YOUR BOARD, I KNOW IT TAKES A FULL TEAM EFFORT.
91 CENTS TO EVERY DOLLAR, THAT IS A TREMENDOUS ROI. I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY NONPROFITS DOING GREAT WORK IN THE CITY BUT YOU ALL STAND OUT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH Y'ALL'S WORK IN MY PREVIOUS WORK WITH SA DIGITAL CONNECTS AND ALL THE DIGITAL LITERACY THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.
AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WAS SAYING, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF SOCIETY. AND, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE JUST DOING PHENOMENAL WORK.
ME AND MY GIRLS FREQUENT THE FREDERICKSBURG DONATION STATION OFTEN, SO THERE'S A LOT OF CUTE LITTLE GIRL CLOTHES OVER THERE. I WANTED TO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. 80 YEARS IS A LONG TIME FOR A NONPROFIT TO BE AROUND SO THAT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED. BEING IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD BEFORE THIS, IT IS SCRAPPY, IT IS HARD, AND SO FOR Y'ALL DOING THAT FOR 80 YEARS REALLY SAYS SOMETHING.
CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND TO CARLOS AND THE TEAM, CONGRATULATIONS.
I'M SO PROUD THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 80 YEARS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE REFERENCED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S A YOUNG WOMAN IN THE BACK, WHO WAS ONE OF MY STUDENTS.
ANGELIQUE, I ALWAYS EMBARRASS YOU BUT I FEEL LIKE WORKFORCE HAS TAKEN OFF UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE TO EMPOWER OTHERS.
I FEEL LIKE YOU ALL HAVE AN INCREDIBLE STORY, GOODWILL, BUT THE NAMESAE IN AND OF ITSELF IS BUILT ON THE GOODWILL OF OTHERS. YOU ALL CONTINUE TO EMPOWER AND GIVE THEM HOPE. I WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A GRADUATION LAST YEAR. THE FAMILIES WERE SO EXCITED. FOR VERY MANY FAMILIES IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SAY THEY SAW THEIR LOVED ONES CROSS THE STAGE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH GREAT SUPPORTERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR UPLIFTING A COMMUNITY, GIVING THEM HOPE, AND BEING THERE FOR THEM WHEN THEY MOST NEED YOU.
THANK YOU, CARLOS. UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, I'M EXCITED ABOUT MANY, MANY MORE
YEARS OF SUPPORTING GOODWILL. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TO
SPEAK TO OUR CLASS, AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: I WAS GOING TO SHARE THAT.
I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO HEAR THE STORIES OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM, AND TO SEE THEIR FAMILIES. THEIR FAMILIES WERE ALL SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED.
I KNOW FOR SOME OF THEM IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THEIR FIRST GRADUATION CEREMONY.
AND FOR OTHERS THEY WERE ABLE TO UPSKILL AND CHANGE AND GET A CRACK AT GETTING A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT WORK YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A READY TO WORK PARTNER AND I CAN'T WAIT TO CONTINUE TO SEE YOUR WORK GROW AS YOU GROW INTO YOUR NEW SPACE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. JAY -- SORRY.
I WAS LOOKING AT JAY OVER THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CARLOS FOR ALL YOU DO. 1800 EMPLOYEES, THAT'S SOMETHING NEW I LEARNED TODAY.
YOU CONTINUE TO DO GREAT WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF YOU AS YOU SUPPORT THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANKS, Y'ALL.
CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT .
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WELL, ANOTHER GROUP THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT DOES YEOMAN'S WORK FOR OUR CITY AND FOR OUR ENTIRE REGION, REALLY, IS OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY, WHICH IS OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.AND THEY ARE PRESENT WITH US TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO DECLARE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO. WE ALL GOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM AND THEY HAVE NOT GONE ANYWHERE. AND ONLY CONTINUED TO DO IMPORTANT WORK UNDER MUCH DURESS, SOME OF IT NATURALLY CAUSED, OTHERS OF IT MANMADE. WE RELY SO HEAVILY ON YOU AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. BUT ALSO JOIN WITH COMMUNITIES IN THE WORLD BY RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK . WHEREAS THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF APRIL MARKS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK ESTABLISHED IN 1995 BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES AND PROMOTE INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN AND BUILD HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S THEME IT STARTS HERE EMPHASIZES THAT PUBLIC HEALTH BEGINS IN OUR HOMES, SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES, AND COMMUNITIES AND THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL PLAYS A ROLE IN SHAPING A MORE HEALTHIER SOCIETY. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT REMAINS DEDICATED TO ITS VISION OF HEALTHY PEOPLE THRIVING IN A HEALTHY COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZING THAT PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIRES PROACTIVE EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, PROMOTE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS THAT ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS.
WHEREAS METRO HEALTH HAS COMMITTED FOR ADVOCATING POLICIES THAT CREATE ENVIRONMENTS THAT PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR ALL RESIDENTS, METRO HEALTH PROVIDES A BROAD RANGE OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AS WELL AS MATERNAL, CHILD, AND FAMILY CARE ENSURING INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY RESPECTFUL CARE. WHEREAS METRO HEALTH PARTNERS WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY AND CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF CITY AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS, AND THE BIG CITIES HEALTH COLLABORATIONS TO FOSTER CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS THAT BRING TOGETHER DIVERSE EXPERTISE, RESOURCES, AND PERSPECTIVES TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. WHEREAS FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN AWARDED THE 2024 GOLD MEDAL RATING FROM CITY HEALTH, RECOGNIZING THE CITY'S DEDICATION TO IMPLEMENTING POLICIES THAT ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF ITS RESIDENTS. SAN ANTONIO STANDS AS ONE OF ONLY SEVEN CITIES NATIONWIDE THESE ACHIEVEMENTS UNDERSCORE THE NATIONAL THEME, IT STARTS HERE, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THAT REAL CHANGE BEGINS WITH INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS, LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE BROADER DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND CREATE LASTING IMPACTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 7 TO THE 13, 2025 TO BE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND CALL UPON THE COMMUNITY TO EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER BY HELPING OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, CO-WORKERS, AND LEADERS UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND RECOGNIZE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH STARTS HERE .
CLAUDE, TO YOUR TEAM, TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE STANDING, AND SO MANY FOLKS THAT ARE NOT STANDING THAT WORK WITH YOU, I WANT TO THANK YOU. IT'S STATED IN THERE AND I WANTED TO READ ALL OF IT BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS.
I DON'T THINK IF YOU ASKED THE AVERAGE PERSON, LEADERSHIP, OR MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH PUBLIC HEALTH IN SAN ANTONIO? DO YOU BELIEVE WE ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND WE ARE GETTING THE RIGHT OUTCOMES WE NEED? THAT ANYONE WOULD SAY WE ARE.
BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS, AND WHAT LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE MOVES THAT THIS DEPARTMENT HAS MADE HAS PLACED US IN A DIRECTION AND TRAJECTORY THAT WILL ENSURE GENERATIONS OF FUTURE SAN ANTONIANS ARE HEALTHIER AND HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY IN OUR SOCIETY. WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, THE WORK THAT WE ARE SO PROUD TO SUPPORT.
BUT IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE IT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND CONTINUE TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO THAT DIRECTION. SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND WE APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEFLY COMMENT ABOUT NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK. JUST KNOW, AGAIN, I'M STANDING HERE AND A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF, OUR INCREDIBLE PARTNERS WHO ARE CELEBRATING WITH US. OUR PARTNERS INCLUDE THE U.T.
PUBLIC HEALTH OF SAN ANTONIO, OUR PARTNERS AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH, THE BEXAR COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY, AND CITY HEALTH RECOGNIZING THE UNIQUE SPACE WE OCCUPY.
[00:35:03]
YOU RECOGNIZE THE FACES. YOU PROBABLY KNOW ALL THE NAMES OF THE INCREDIBLE STAFF.WE CALL OURSELVES A FABULOUS TEAM. FAB, BECAUSE WE ARE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED. WE ARE AN INVISIBLE SHIELD SO THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL THEME, THIS IS THE 30TH YEAR, PUBLIC HEALTH, IT STARTS HERE, IT REMINDS US THAT CHANGE BEGINS AT THE LOCAL AND COMMUNITY LEVEL. IT STARTS HERE REALLY UNDERSCORES THE CRITICAL IDEA THAT THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES BEGIN WITH THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDES. AGAIN, JUST KNOW THAT THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, WE ARE FACING MOUNTING CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I CALL THEM THE LOST YEARS OF COVID. KNOW THAT WE RELY HEAVILY ON FEDERAL AND LOCAL GRANTS TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, WE BENEFITED FROM THE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT BY THIS LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SO THIS WEEK HERE WE ARE DEMONSTRATING THE POWER OF PREVENTION FIRSTHAND THROUGH OUR VACCINATION DRIVES, OUR NUTRITION PROGRAMS, AND OUR CHRONIC DISEASE INITIATIVES.
YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT CITY HEALTH BUT KNOW AGAIN FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE ONLY CITY IN TEXAS RECEIVING THE GOLD DESIGNATION, AS RECOGNIZED .
THE AWARD YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT LATER THIS AFTERNOON, WE ARE BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE 2025 STATE CHAMPIONS FOR THE HEALTHIER TEXAS COMMUNITY CHALLENGE FROM JANUARY THROUGH MARCH EVERY YEAR TO INSPIRE RESIDENTS TO BECOME MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE.
OUR CITY LED THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH THE MOST POINTS EARNED BY ANY COMMUNITY IN THE STATE.
THIS IS THE TENTH YEAR THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS WON ITS COMPETITION.
HEALTHIER TEXAS WILL PRESENT THE CITY LATER THIS AFTERNOON WITH OUR TROPHY AT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH FEST. SO JUST KNOW THAT WE DO INVITE YOU AND THE COMMUNITY TO PUBLIC HEALTH FEST CELEBRATED AT ROSEDALE PARK FROM 4:00 TO 7:00 P.M.
PLEASE JOIN US AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR EXCITING PROGRAMS. YOU'LL RECEIVE REFRESHMENTS. THERE WILL BE ENTERTAINMENT AND, YES, FIESTA MEDALS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. WITH THAT, HAPPY NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK AND LET'S THANK OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM AND EACH AND EVERY ONE YOU THAT'S
BEING AMBASSADORS OF PUBLIC HEALTH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ALL. IF YOU CAN STAY RIGHT THERE BECAUSE I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A RECOGNITION OF THE BEST PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY, BUT I THINK, BASED ON ALL THE OTHER METRICS THAT WE HAVE AND RANKINGS THAT WE SEE, THAT IF THERE WAS ONE, WE WOULD BE IT. I WOULD JUST ALSO LIKE TO SAY, IF YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS TEAM RIGHT HERE, IT ALSO IS A DEMONSTRATION THAT DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH.
THIS IS THE BEST DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY AND YOU REPRESENT OUR CITY SO WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH FEST. I'M GLAD THAT IT'S MOVING OVER TO ROSEDALE PARK SO OTHER DISTRICTS CAN EXPERIENCE. THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE HAD IT IN DISTRICT 3. INCREDIBLE TURNOUT. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT TURNOUT THIS AFTERNOON AND MY TEAM WILL BE THERE TABLING.
THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED. JUST BEING HEALTHY, GETTING THE SCREENINGS, KNOWING YOUR STATUS, MAKING THAT DENTAL APPOINTMENT OR NOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO PALO ALTO OR THE U.T. DENTAL SCHOOL TO GET THAT, THESE ARE JUST THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IN GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT THERE. YOU KNOW THE MORTALITY RATE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH SIDE AND Y'ALL HAVE TAKEN THAT SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE NOW DOCTORS, LIKE DR. OCHOA TAKING THAT SERIOUSLY. WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR PASSION AND YOUR COMMITMENT.
SO I'M SO EXCITED. ERIK, I'M STILL WAITING FOR THAT TROPHY CASE FOR ALL THE TROPHIES THAT WE KEEP WINNING. GOT TO GET THAT DONE. BUT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS OUT, THE FACTS THAT THE 2024 STATUS OF POVERTY RATE IS THAT SAN ANTONIO RANKED SECOND AMONG THE FIVE LARGEST CITIES HERE IN TEXAS. OF THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY IS WOMEN HEAD OF HOUSEHOLDS. AND SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE MOMS, THESE GRANDMOTHERS ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THEMSELVES.
I TRULY DO APPRECIATE. AND YOU KNOW THAT I'M HERE FROM THE DAIS CONTINUALLY BEATING THAT DRUM. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY NEW INITIATIVES YOU HAVE ABOUT CONTINUING TO GET PEOPLE OUTDOORS, WALKING, GETTING THEIR SCREENINGS.
SO I'M JUST EXCITED FOR THIS WEEK, EXCITED FOR THE ACCOLADES, AND LET'S KEEP UP
[00:40:04]
THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE AS A CITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BUT CERTAINLY THE METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST KEY PLAYERS IN KEEPING THIS COMMUNITY SAFE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. I WAS JUST LOOKING BACK AT A FEW NOTES AND OF COURSE WITH COVID YOU ALL SAVED LIVES IN THIS CITY. AND YOU CONTINUED WITH PROGRAMS LIKE ACES TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLE. WOMEN'S HEALTH, YOU HAVE BEEN STANDING UP TO THOSE ISSUES. PEOPLE WITH COMMUNICABLE DISEASES OR SPECIAL CONDITIONS, IT'S BEEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THERE FOR ALL OF THEM. I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR BEING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU WORK HARD AT IT. MY HEART IS HURTING WHEN I HEAR THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME FEDERAL REDUCTIONS IN WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR US.
BUT PLEASE CONTINUE TO COME TO US AS A COUNCIL. LET US KNOW WHERE THOSE HOLES MAY START TO DEVELOP AND HOW WE CAN FILL THOSE HOLES TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO BE HEALTHY AND SAFE. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND CONGRATULATIONS. I'M ALWAYS SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ALL AROUND. I TRY TO ATTEND AS MANY EVENTS AS POSSIBLE.
THE LAST EVENT THAT I ATTENDED WAS THE ONE ON TUBERCULOSIS DAY.
AND IT WAS AWARENESS. AND YOU ALL HAD THIS INCREDIBLE SPEAKER AND I WAS TELLING EVERYBODY ABOUT HER THE REST OF THE DAY. IT WAS A YOUNG WOMAN OUT OF TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY THAT HAD AN INCREDIBLE STORY. JUST AS A REMINDER OF THE HOPE THAT YOU ALL GIVE. YESTERDAY I MET WITH AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST WHO WORKS AT U.T. HEALTH SCIENCE AND SHE WAS INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT THE WORK THAT METRO HEALTH DOES AND CONTINUES TO DO AND SHE WAS VERY, VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT WE WILL BE LOSING AND THE CUTS AND MORE POTENTIAL CUTS. I REMINDED HER THAT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THIS CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY IN GENERAL HAS FOCUSED MORE ON HEALTH AND INVESTED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN HEALTH. I AM GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, WHO CHAIRS OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE BECAUSE SHE ALSO BROUGHT UP THE MEASLES UPDATE. SHE AGENDIZED IT. THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO THE YOUNG WOMAN YESTERDAY, THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT. AND SHE SAID WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS GETS LARGER THAN WE EXPECTED, ET CETERA? AND I SEE THE GENUINE CONCERN.
BUT YOU ALL DO BEHIND THE SCENES THINGS EVERY SINGLE DAY, THE DIABETES GARAGE.
SO GRATEFUL FOR IT. ALSO, THE INSULIN PROGRAM THAT COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I WERE ABLE TO GET THROUGH DR. LISA OCHOA. SHE SEES AN INCREASE IN THAT. BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING AT THAT GRASSROOTS LEVEL FOR THAT EDUCATIONAL PIECE THAT WE'RE SAVING LIVES TOGETHER. I LOVE THE MEDAL. IS THIS THE STD MOBILE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE ON IT? I LOVE IT. IT'S SO CUTE.
BUT CONGRATULATIONS ALSO ON HAVING THE BEST FIESTA MEDALS, BY THE WAY.
HANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
>> PELAEZ: I ALWAYS TELL MY KIDS THAT THE REAL HEROES DON'T WEAR CAPES.
AND IT'S TRUE. AND YOU GUYS ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF SAN ANTONIO AND I'M SO GLAD THAT WE GOT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON YOU TODAY AND TO RECOGNIZE YOUR WORK.
AND I SEE YOU AND I SEE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO AND THE BENEFIT YOU BRING TO MY CONSTITUENTS. AND LATER TODAY I HAVE A PHONE CONFERENCE WITH MAYORS AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL AND I GET TO TELL THEM MY METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN BEAT UP YOUR METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SERIOUSLY, WITHOUT YOU GUYS PEOPLE DIE . AND I RECOGNIZE THAT AND I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT MY CONSTITUENTS KNOW, RIGHT, WE HAVE AN ARMY OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WATCHING OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S FEWER CADAVERS ON OUR WATCH.
THAT'S ULTIMATELY OUR JOB, RIGHT? AND ONE WAY THAT I WANT TO THANK YOU IS BY HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DID ON THE PURPLE STICKERS.
ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO. WE SEE THEM NOW IN EVERY CONVENIENCE STORE, IN EVERY RESTAURANT, ALL COFFEE SHOPS, THE GYMS AND NAIL SALONS. THAT'S YOU AND I THINK YOU
[00:45:01]
SHOULD BE PROUD EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU SEE THOSE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO GIVE YOU AS A REWARD. I WOULD GIVE YOU NCAA TICKETS BUT, YOU KNOW.SO WHAT I CAN GIVE YOU IS MY ETERNAL GRATITUDE INSTEAD. I LOVE YOU GUYS.
THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: I WON'T BE GIVING NCAA TICKETS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL Y'ALL'S HARD WORK AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE PARTNERSHIPS, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF US. AND I REALLY LIKE THAT TERM ABOUT BEING THE INVISIBLE SHIELD. YOU KNOW, I THINK WAS IT COUNCILMAN COURAGE WHO MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND GIVE KUDOS TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS BUT Y'ALL ARE RIGHT THERE ON THE FRONTLINE WITH THEM.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. YOU TRULY ARE OUR UNSUNG HEROES AND I DO COUNT YOU AS FIRST RESPONDERS. I REMEMBER THE EARLY DAYS, ESPECIALLY OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOW YOU GUYS WERE WORKING. YOU'RE LIKE THE DUCK ANALOGY. EVERYBODY WAS COLD BUT YOU WERE WORKING REALLY HARD. EVERY DAY YOU GUYS WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE OUR WATER IS DRINKABLE, OUR FOOD IS SAFE TO EAT, OUR CHILDREN ARE DRIVING, AND OUR COMMUNITY IS HEALTHY.
FOR THAT, WE'RE ALL VERY GRATEFUL . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, DR. JACOB FOR ENSURING THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO ARE SAFE. NOT ONLY IS IT INVESTING IN THE WELL-BEING AND HEALTH OF OUR CONSTITUENCY BUT IT'S ALSO INVESTING IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA IN TERMS OF THE REDUCTION OF VIOLENT CRIME, I BELIEVE IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH Y'ALL'S WORK COUPLED WITH SAPD, ENSURING THAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THE GREAT WORK OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH WORKERS AS WELL AS STAND-UP SA AND THE GREAT WORK THEY'RE DOING . THE WORK YOU DO IN TERMS OF BIG MOMMA'S SAFE HOUSE. AND THEY HAVE A HUB IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I BELIEVE IT'S ALL THOSE COUPLED TOGETHER THAT WE'RE SEEING A REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME.
OFTENTIMES WHEN I HEAR HOW DO WE SOLVE AND LEARN ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME? I PLACE IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF LIFE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT WORK THAT YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO DO AND I'M EAGER FOR US TO CONTINUE IMPLEMENTING THOSE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE SA FORWARD PLAN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT -- AND COUNCILMAN PELAEZ WAS SAYING -- WITHOUT YOU, OUR MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES DIE. THAT'S WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT THE WORK YOU DO.
WE ARE GETTING THE MEASLES UPDATE RECENTLY AND WE ARE LOOKING AT WHO IS MOST AFFECTED. I THINK THE MINDSET YOU GUYS BRING TO THE WORK IS SO IMPORTANT.
IT'S BEEN REALLY WONDERFUL TO GET TO WORK SO CLOSELY WITH SO MANY OF YOU.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, Y'ALL. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, EVEN THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.
>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
I HOPE OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM CAN APPRECIATE WE ALSO HAVE SOME OF THEIR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE WAY FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY HERE. IF I CAN ASK ZEKE AND JAY AND THE ENTIRE TEAM TO COME FORWARD. BEXAR BEXAR COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY BRINGS THE MISSION OF MEDICAL CARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST IN SAN ANTONIO BUT ACROSS THE WORLD. AND WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY AND CONGRATULATE THE LEADERSHIP, OUTGOING AND INCOMING. I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR
OVER NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK, I FIND IT NATURAL TO WELCOME SAN ANTONIO INTERNIST, WOUND CARE SPECIALIST, DR. JAY SHAW, INSTALLED AS THE 160 PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. DR. SHAW HAS BEEN THE FIRST INDIAN AMERICAN TMA PRESIDENT -- WILL BE -- WHICH HE CALLS AN IMMENSE HONOR. NOT JUST FOR HIM BUT FOR THE ENTIRE INDIAN AMERICAN PHYSICIAN COMMUNITY, WHICH IS VERY LARGE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. A FORMER SECRETARY OF THE TMA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR. SHAW HAS SERVED ON SEVERAL TMA COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES. IN HIS 25 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP TO THE ORGANIZATION . DR. SHAW IS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF A PATIENT ALLIANT CARE TEAM AT THE NORTHWEST VA HEALTH CLINIC AND A STAFF WOUND CARE PHYSICIAN AT AUDI MURPHY
[00:50:08]
VA HOSPITAL. HE IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF TIME WILL HEAL.A BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY, DR. SHAW RECEIVED HIS DOCTOR OF MEDICINE DOCTOR AND COMPLETED AT COLUMBIA, ST. LUKE'S IN NEW YORK. HE RECEIVED A MASTER OF HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION FROM TRINITY UNIVERSITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO .
CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF TRINITY GRADS RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AND OF COURSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. DR. SHAW VALUES TIME WITH HIS WIFE, WHO IS -- I'LL HAVE TO GET THIS ONE. A LYMPHEDEMA AND CANCER REHAB THERAPIST. HIS DAUGHTER IS A MEDICAL STUDENT, HIS SON A CYBERSECURITY SPECIALIST IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HE ALSO ENJOYS HIKING, BIKING, PLAYING CRICKET, AND RACKETBALL AND HE TEACHES YOGA AND RELIGION.
DR. SHAW IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN LEADERSHIP FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF TMA. AND WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE HIM HERE WITH US TODAY, AS WELL AS TO CELEBRATE DR. SHAW'S INSTALLATION. I ALSO WANT TO THANK DR. ZEKE SILVA WITH THE TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOR JOINING US TO RECOGNIZE DR. SHAW TODAY.
DR. SHAW. >> THANK YOU, OUR DISTRICT 9 COUNCILMEMBER JOHN COURAGE FOR THE KIND INTRODUCTION. RESPECTIVE MAYOR RON NIRENBERG, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS AND FELLOW SAN ANTONIANS, AND MY MEDICAL SOCIETY TEAM, WHICH IS STANDING RIGHT BEHIND ME. AND 5,000 BE BEXAR COUNTY MEDICAL PHYSICIANS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR AND RECOGNITION.
I'M TRULY HONORED AND HUMBLED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS INCOMING PRESIDENT OF TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING 59,000 PHYSICIANS.
SAN ANTONIO IS MORE THAN JUST WHERE I LIVE AND WORK. IT'S MY COMMUNITY.
MY INSPIRATION AND MY HOME. THE PHYSICIANS HERE AND PEOPLE THEY HAVE SHAPED THE WAY I PRACTICE MEDICINE AND ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE.
ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL CHAPTERS OF MY LIFE WAS WATCHING MAYOR RON NIRENBERG DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND HIS TIRELESS COMMITMENT.
HE WAS AVAILABLE AROUND THE CLOCK, MAKING SURE EVERY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT WAS PROTECTED. HE TOOK SEVERAL OF MY CALLS DURING THAT TIME.
HE CONSISTENTLY TURNED TO PHYSICIANS FOR GUIDANCE, VALUING SCIENCE, AND COMPASSION IN EVERY DECISION. HIS LEADERSHIP DURING THAT TIME DEEPLY IMPACTED ME AND REMINDED ALL OF US OF WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE WITH HEART. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE HIS WORK ON THIS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK. THANK YOU, MAYOR RON NIRENBERG. [APPLAUSE] MORE RECENTLY, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF JOINING THE MAYOR AND SEVERAL OF YOU FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE TRIP TO INDIA AS PART OF A SISTER CITY COLLABORATION. IT WAS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF A GLOBAL IMPACT OF LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND HOW SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO BUILD BRIDGES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. I STEP INSIDE THE STATEWIDE ROLE, I CARRY THE VOICES AND VALUES OF THIS CITY WITH ME. MY GOAL, AS A TMA PRESIDENT, IS VERY CLEAR: LET DOCTORS BE DOCTORS. TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO PROTECT PHYSICIAN WELL-BEING AND ENSURE THAT EVERY TEXAN HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY AND COMPASSIONATE CARE.
AND I AM THRILLED TO SHARE THAT TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE HELD RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FROM MAY 8 TO 10. I WARMLY INVITE YOU TO JOIN US. IT IS A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE OUR CITY'S LEADERSHIP IN MEDICINE,
[00:55:02]
INNOVATION, AND COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR.I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO ACROSS TEXAS AND EVEN MORE TO CALL IT MY HOME.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. SHAW.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE IN THE CHAMBERS WITH YOU. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I'LL BE BRIEF. I WANT TO SAY I'M VERY PROUD
AND HONORED TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU, DR. SHAW. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. THANK YOU AGAIN TO COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE FOR BRINGING YOU IN AND HIGHLIGHTING THIS NEW CHAPTER FOR BEXAR COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY AND FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. SHAW. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO THE ENTIRE TEAM.
>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS NOW FOR ACTION BY COUNCIL. WE'LL TAKE THEM UP IN ORDER.
ITEM 17. >> CLERK: ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING CONTRACTS WITH A, BIG TEX CONTRACTORS LLC. B, IDA PONCE.
C, JEREMY POWERS. D, LEGACY VISION PRESERVATION, LLC.
E, MAURO MONITA, MJC CONTRACTING, LLC, DBA ALAMO UTILITY SERVICE, H, RAUL M.
CERDA, AND SYLVIA R. MENDOZA FOR VACANT LOT ABATEMENT SERVICES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT BEGINNING MAY 1, 2025 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2026 FOR AN ESTIMATED COST OF $791,678 ANNUALLY WITH A COST OF UP TO $3,958,390.
FUNDING IS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET. FUNDING FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS IS
CONTINGENT UPON CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MADAME CLERK, I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS HAVE ONE PRESENTATION FOR 17 AND 18.
IF YOU COULD READ 18 AS WELL. WE'LL HAVE ONE DISCUSSION BUT VOTE INDIVIDUALLY.
>> CLERK: FUNDING IS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 GENERAL FUND ADOPTED BUDGET.
FUNDING FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS IS CONTINGENT UPON CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. TO GET US STARTED, LET ME
ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 17 . >> COURAGE: SO MOVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM 17.
I'LL DO THE SAME FOR ITEM 18. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM 18 AS WELL. SO WE'LL TAKE THE PRESENTATION, MIKE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ONE
DISCUSSION ON BOTH ITEMS. >> SHANNON: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MIKE SHANNON, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. TWO ITEMS FOR YOU TODAY.
THESE ARE CONTRACTS THAT WE USE IN CODE ENFORCEMENT TO REALLY ENSURE THAT WE GET QUICK COMPLIANCE WHEN WE HAVE VACANT LOTS OUT OF COMPLIANCE, WHETHER WITH TALL GRASS, OVERGROWN WEEDS, OR ILLEGAL DUMPING ON THEM. SAME THING WITH VACANT STRUCTURES THAT NEED TO BE BOARDED UP, SO I'LL GO OVER THESE VERY QUICKLY.
AGAIN, WE ISSUED A SOLICITATION TO MOW AND CLEAR PREMISES, REMOVE RUBBISH, ROCKS, BRICKS, TRASH, A LOT OF OTHER STUFF. IT WAS AN RFP. I THINK IT WAS READ ALREADY.
THIS WOULD BE A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT FOR THESE VENDORS WITH FOUR-YEAR ONE-YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS. ALMOST $800,000 A YEAR ON VACANT LOT ABATEMENTS IS WHAT WE DO. WE ACTUALLY DO ABOUT 1200 OF THESE A YEAR THROUGHOUT THE CITY. REMEMBER, THIS IS WHEN CODE ENFORCEMENT GOES OUT AND TALKS TO AN OWNER AND THE OWNER DOESN'T CLEAN UP THEIR VACANT LOT.
AND THE SAME THING WHEN WE HAVE THE DANGEROUS VACANT STRUCTURE.
WHEN THEY DON'T DO IT, THE CITY HAS TO DO IT SO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS SAFE.
THOSE AROUND THAT VACANT LOT OR THAT STRUCTURE IS SAFE. IT IS A GENERAL FUND ITEM EVERY YEAR IN OUR BUDGET. THE CURRENT CONTRACTS BOTH EXPIRE THIS YEAR.
IF WE APPROVE THESE TODAY, BOTH OF THEM WILL GO INTO EFFECT STARTING MAY 1.
THE TIMELINE, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE SEPTEMBER.
[01:00:01]
WE DID AN RFP. WE HAD 15 PROPOSALS FOR THE VACANT LOTS.WE DID THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE. WE SCORED THEM.
WE'LL SHOW THOSE. AND WE WENT TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY.
WHAT WE DID HERE WAS LOOKED AT ALL THESE, LIKE WE DO OUR TYPICAL DUE DILIGENCE WITH FINANCE IN OUR DEPARTMENTS. WE ACTUALLY NOTIFIED OVER 800 VENDORS FOR THIS ONE.
WE HAD SEVEN OF THEM SHOW UP FOR OUR PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE.
15 RESPONSES AND NO ISSUES WHEN WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THE REQUIREMENTS REVIEW, ET CETERA. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION -- AND THERE'S A SCORING MATRIX THAT WE CAN SHOW YOU. OF THE 15 WE SCORED, THERE WERE NINE WE PROPOSED TO SELECT FOR VACANT LOTS. THOSE NINE, FIVE OF THEM ARE EXISTING VENDORS.
THEY ALSO BID AGAIN. THEY DO GOOD WORK. THEY WERE RANKED AND SCORED HIGH. WE HAVE FOUR ADDITIONAL VENDORS.
THE KEY HERE IS THE MORE VENDORS WE HAVE, THE FASTER WE CAN GET TO THESE WORK ORDERS.
AGAIN, WE'RE GOING ABOUT 100 A MONTH THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND IF WE HAVE LESS CONTRACTORS, THEY BACKLOG AND THE COMMUNITY WAITS FOR COMPLIANCE.
SO I'LL GO THROUGH THESE. SIMILAR FOR OUR DP CONTRACT ON NO. 18.
THE PROCESS WILL BE VERY SIMILAR. I'LL JUST GO THROUGH SOME DIFFERENT NUMBERS. THANK YOU. AGAIN, RFP, THE CONTRACTS ARE VERY SIMILAR. O THINK OF A VACANT STRUCTURE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. IF IT'S OPEN, IT ATTRACTS REALLY DANGEROUS ELEMENTS.
PEOPLE CAN GET INSIDE, IT CAN BE UNSAFE. SO THE REQUIREMENT FROM CODE IS TO BOARD THAT UP. WE SEE THAT WITH PLYWOOD. AND WE HAVE CONTRACTORS THAT DO THAT. WE MAY ALSO HAVE TO CUT THE GRASS AND REMOVE TRASH AND DEBRIS ON THOSE AS WELL. WE DO THAT, BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE.
THE AVERAGE COST OF AN ABATEMENT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE SO THIS CONTRACT IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER AT ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. SAME TIMELINE.
WE PUT THEM OUT ON THE STREETS AT THE SAME TIME. WE ACTUALLY GOT EIGHT PROPOSALS RECEIVED ON THIS ONE. AND WE SELECTED SEVERAL VENDORS.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE THREE WITH US THAT DO THE WORK THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SELECTING FIVE THROUGH THE PROCESS, THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THE CAPTION BY THE CITY CLERK.
WE WENT TO AUDIT IN FEBRUARY WITH THIS ONE. AGAIN, WE HAD SEVEN PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THE PRE-SUBMITTAL. EIGHT RESPONSES. ONE OF THEM WAS DEEMED NONRESPONSIVE SO THEY WERE NOT SCORED. AND THEN WE HAD NO MATERIAL FINDINGS FOR THESE AS WELL. AGAIN, OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR BOTH OF THESE IS TO SELECT THE NINE OF THE 15 THAT WERE SCORED HIGH ENOUGH THAT WE FELT COMFORTABLE GOING, NINE CONTRACTORS FOR VACANT LOTS, AND FIVE FOR THE DP CONTRACTS. AGAIN, THAT WOULD INCLUDE MORE CONTRACTORS SO WE CAN GET TO THINGS QUICKER. IT ALSO HAS SOME NEW COMPANIES. WE THINK THEY CAN DO THE WORK TO HELP US CLEAN UP THESE NEIGHBORHOODS QUICKER. WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. MIKE, DO YOU HAVE THE SLIDE
THERE ON THE FIRST PRESENTATION ON THE MATRIX? >> SHANNON: I THINK WE DO.
>> WHYTE: SO WHILE MIKE'S FINDING THAT, THE REASON I PULLED THIS IS TO REITERATE SOME COMMENTS THAT I MADE DURING AUDIT COMMITTEE. WE GO ABOUT THE PROCESS OF SCORING THESE GROUPS -- AND I'LL SAY IT AT THE OUTSET. MIKE'S BEING GREAT AT PROVIDING US WITH ALL THE INFORMATION, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS DONE. BUT MY ISSUE HERE IS ALL OF OUR OFFICES GET SO MANY CALLS ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S DONE, CODE ENFORCEMENT, STREET PROJECTS, ET CETERA.
WE JUST HAD A DISTRICT 10 PROJECT WHERE THE CONTRACTOR WALKED OFF THE JOB THREE TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT. WE KNOW WE'RE HAVING THESE ISSUES WHERE CONTRACTORS ARE NOT PERFORMING HOW THEY SHOULD.
AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO OUR RESIDENTS. AND SO WHEN I TOOK A LOOK AT THIS DURING AUDIT, IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY, WHAT IS BEFORE US, IS TO APPROVE SEVERAL VENDORS HERE THAT SCORED VERY, VERY POORLY, IN MY OPINION. AND SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO EXPERIENCE AND PROPOSED PLAN. AND SO I THINK WHAT MIKE HAS ON THE SCREEN HERE -- LET'S SEE, MIKE. CAN YOU FLIP IT TO THE NEXT ONE
[01:05:05]
ON THIS? YEAH. SO IF WE TOOK A LOOK HERE AT -- IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT VENDOR F -- AND IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS I THINK YOU HAVE THE ACTUAL NAMES OF THESE, BUT THAT'S REALLY NOT RELEVANT. BUT IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT VENDOR F HERE, EXPERIENCE POINTS: 13 OUT OF 35. THEIR PROPOSED PLAN: 13 OUT OF 30. THEY'RE GETTING LESS THAN HALF OF THE POINTS ON THOSE TWO, I WOULD SAY, CRITICAL SCORING METRICS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM, THEIR TOTAL SCORES OUT OF 100, THAT VENDOR F BARELY MAKES IT OVER HALF.51 OUT OF 100. IF YOU LOOK DOWN AT VENDORS H AND I, THEY DON'T EVEN GET HALF OF THE POINTS. SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SCORING THESE ENTITIES AND SOME OF THEM SCORING VERY, VERY LOW, AND PARTICULARLY LOW ON EXPERIENCE AND PROPOSED PLAN. IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE ARE INVITING ISSUES HERE BY GIVING THESE ORGANIZATIONS CONTRACTS TO GO OUT AND DO WORK FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND MIKE AND I HAVE TALKED OFFLINE ABOUT THIS AND I AGREE THAT THE MORE VENDORS THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS WORK, THE BETTER, IN THEORY. BECAUSE WE CAN GET THE WORK DONE QUICKER. BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT GIVING CONTRACTS TO GROUPS THAT ARE JUST SCORING SO LOW. TO ME, IT'S INVITING ISSUES AND I'M NOT SURE WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT. MIKE, I DON'T KNOW -- IT LOOKED LIKE ON ONE OF THEM WE SENT THIS OUT TO OVER 800 ORGANIZATIONS. ARE WE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING
GOOD GROUPS TO DO THESE JOBS? >> SHANNON: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
WELL, CERTAINLY I THINK WE WERE EXCITED TO GET THE 15 VENDORS. THAT WAS PRETTY HIGH FOR US, HISTORICALLY. SO I THINK OUR PROPOSAL, WE BELIEVE IN LOOKING AT ALL THESE THAT WHILE SOME OF THEM SCORED DEFINITELY LOWER THAN OTHERS, MOST OF THAT IS DUE -- AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE -- SOME OF THOSE VENDORS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE 8TH AND 9TH VENDOR, THEY HAVE THREE OR FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, RELATIVELY TO SOME OF THE OTHER COMPANIES THAT SCORED HIGHER, THEY HAVE 25, 24, 18 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
CERTAINLY WE WISH EVERYBODY HAD 25 YEARS OF DOING THIS BUT I THINK WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THESE ARE QUALITY COMPANIES -- A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, A LITTLE BIT NEWER -- THAT CAN DO THE WORK WELL. AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CONTROLS IN PROCESS TO ENSURE QUALITY. FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T PAY THEM UNTIL, ONE, WE HAVE VERIFIED THE WORK MEETS OUR STANDARDS. AND, TWO, WE HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH EVERY CONTRACT TO NOT GIVE THEM ANY WORK AND TERMINATE THEM BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
IN OUR EXPERIENCE, MY 12 YEARS OVER AT CODE, WE'VE USED THAT FOUR TIMES ON THESE TYPES OF CONTRACTS WHERE WE HAVE HAD A POOR-QUALITY VENDOR PERFORMED NOT TO OUR STANDARDS AUDIO]. SO I THINK WE SHARE THE SAME CONCERN, COUNCILMAN, BUT I THINK WE HAVE ALL THE CONTROLS TO GIVE THESE NEWER COMPANIES, A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, A LITTLE BIT NEWER, A CHANCE TO DO THE WORK, AND WE HAVE THE CONTROLS TO ENSURE ITS QUALITY.
THAT'S A LONG ANSWER TO YOUR SHORT QUESTION, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
>> WHYTE: WELL, I'M NOT SURE IF WE NEED SOME SORT OF NEW POLICY OR SOMETHING GOING FORWARD. I WONDER WHY WE EVEN DO SOME OF THIS SCORING IF, YOU KNOW, A COMPANY CAN SCORE 13 OUT OF 35 ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS.
OR 13 OUT OF 30 ON THEIR PLAN, YET STILL GO AHEAD AND BE APPROVED FROM THESE.
SO THAT IS MY CONCERN. THAT'S WHY I DON'T BELIEVE I CAN VOTE TO APPROVE THESE TWO ITEMS. BUT I AM INTERESTED IN MY COLLEAGUES' THOUGHTS, IF THERE
ARE ANY.Y. THANKS, MIKE AND MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MIKE FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WHEN I SIT DOWN WITH MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM, WE'RE EVALUATING THE CONSTITUENT SERVICES CALLS, THE MAJORITY ARE RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PARTICULARLY THE NEED FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT AROUND VACANT LOTS AND VACANT STRUCTURES.
I APPRECIATE YOU WALKING US THROUGH THE SCORING MATRIX AND ENSURING THAT THERE'S ALSO PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES TO GET ACCESS TO CITY CONTRACTS AND TO GROW. I'M GRATEFUL THAT THERE ARE MECHANISMS IN PLACE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, IF NEEDED. BUT GIVEN THE OVERALL NEED OF VACANT LOT ABATEMENTS IN
[01:10:02]
DISTRICT 5, WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF CODE, SOLID WASTE, AND ALL THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ASSIST OUR CONSTITUENTS IN TERMS OF MAKING THE COMMUNITY FEEL SAFE. I THINK IN TERMS OF A LARGER CONVERSATION, HAVING SOME TYPE OF ANALYSIS IN WHICH ARE THERE FREQUENT PROPERTIES NEEDING TO BE ABATED AND HOW CAN WE EXPLORE OR CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION IN TERMS OF LAND BANKING.BECAUSE THESE ARE NUISANCE PROPERTIES. THEY SERVE AS A HOST OF PROBLEMS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. AND THAT'S WHY I'M EAGER TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM, BECAUSE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION I ATTEND, THERE'S AT LEAST ONE ISSUE WITH A VACANT PROPERTY.
I KNOW CODE'S ALWAYS ON IT BUT JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT TO DEMONSTRATE THE NEED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ITEM MOVING FORWARD TODAY. BUT ULTIMATELY, FOR FUTURE CONTRACTS, I BELIEVE THE CITY OF ATLANTA, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH A WINDOW GUARD SOLUTION ABATEMENT COMPANY AND THEY PUT STEEL PLATES ON THE WINDOWS OF VACANT STRUCTURES SO IT OVERALL PRESERVES THE INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURE.
SO THAT WAY IT DOESN'T GO UP IN FLAMES AND JUST KEEPS THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE, IN GENERAL.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I COULD HOPE WE CAN EXPLORE. TO THE FOLKS WATCHING NOW, MAYBE THEY CAN INCLUDE THAT IN THEIR SERVICES MOVING FORWARD. BUT, AGAIN, JUST IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT THIS CONTRACT HELPS SUPPORT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY SAFETY.
THANK YOU, MIKE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I DO THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ALREADY DISCUSSED IT AT AUDIT AND HAD A PRETTY THOROUGH DISCUSSION. I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE, WHAT IS RATED UNDER -- WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR FOR A PLAN FOR ABATEMENTS? I KNOW IT'S JUST CLEAN UP, BUT WHAT WOULD A GOOD PLAN LOOK LIKE?
>> SHANNON: YEAH, TYPICALLY WHEN WE LOOK FOR A PLAN, WE LOOK FOR HOW YOU CAN GET TO THE SITE FAIRLY QUICKLY. THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE IN DAYS, NOT WEEKS.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MOBILIZE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT READILY AVAILABLE. SOME OF THIS IS LAWNMOWER EQUIPMENT.
SOME OF THIS IS LARGER EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF ILLEGAL DUMPING ON A PRIVATE PROPERTY. SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL, AND BE READILY AVAILABLE TO COME AT, REALLY, A MOMENT'S NOTICE. SO THOSE ARE THE GENERAL TENETS OF A GOOD PLAN. THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS BUT I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS
THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT. >> KAUR: SORRY. SO ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THE LAST THREE VENDORS THAT WERE SELECTED ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOBILIZE? MY THOUGHT IS IF ONE VENDOR -- YOU KNOW, IF ONE OF THE LOWER-SCORING VENDORS OF THE PLAN GETS SELECTED FOR A JOB, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO MOBILIZE AND GET THE JOB DONE?
>> SHANNON: YEAH. THE CUTOFF IS WITH THESE NINE. THE SIX THAT WE DIDN'T CHOOSE, THE COMMITTEE, WE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MEET THE OBLIGATIONS.
THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH RISK THERE BASED ON WHAT THEY PRESENTED IN THEIR PLAN.
WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT THEY CAN DO IT, AS WELL AS WE'RE IT, THEY WON'T BE PAID AND THEY WON'T BE WITH US LONG. SO THERE'S AN INCENTIVE THERE
TOO. >> KAUR: OKAY. AND ARE YOU GOING TO -- DO YOU SELECT -- DO YOU PICK ONE VENDOR VERSUS THE OTHER BASED ON THESE SCORES OR IS IT
WHOEVER IS AVAILABLE? >> SHANNON: NO, IT'S NOT REALLY BASED ON THE SCORES BUT CERTAINLY WE'LL HAVE A POOL OF NINE, IF WE WERE TO SELECT NINE TODAY.
WE WOULD KIND OF GO DOWN THE LINE AS WORK ORDERS COME IN. WE DO TRY TO BUNCH THEM IN IF THEY'RE IN THE SAME LOCATION, SAME AREA, SAME NEIGHBORHOODS, TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.
WE DO KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE BIGGER AND CAN MAYBE HANDLE SOME OF THE LARGER JOBS, WHEREAS A ONE OR TWO-PERSON SHOP CAN'T. WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH VENDORS. WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IS TAKE ON A JOB FROM US IF THEY CAN'T DELIVER. THERE IS SOME OF THAT BUT THEY ARE ALL ELIGIBLE TO DO IT BUT
WE JUST WORK WITH THEM KIND OF AS THE CASES COME IN. >> KAUR: DO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEST COMPANIES WHEN THEY'RE NEWER AND DON'T HAVE LIKE A HISTORY OR TRACK
RECORD? >> SHANNON: I THINK THIS SOLICITATION PROCESS IS THE CURRENT WAY TO DO THAT. I'LL TAKE THE VACANT LOT. WE HAVE FIVE EXISTING VENDORS THAT PERFORMED WELL TODAY. THEY CAME IN, WE'RE SELECTING THEM AGAIN AS ONE OF THE NINE VENDORS. THERE'S FOUR NEW ONES. WITH A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT -- WE DIDN'T DO A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT -- WITH ONE-YEAR RENEWALS EACH.
AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY, IF THEY DON'T PERFORM WELL -- EVEN IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS THEY WON'T LAST A FULL YEAR. I THINK THAT IS THE MECHANISM WE USE TO TEST THEM.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO TEST THEM IN THE FUTURE.
BUT I THINK THE MECHANISM WE HAVE TODAY IS SUFFICIENT FOR US.
>> KAUR: GOT IT. OKAY. WELL, I AGREE WITH WHAT
[01:15:04]
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID. BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH OF THE URBAN CORE THAT THIS GETS -- OUR NUMBER ONE CALL IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE, BESIDES STREET ASPHALT CONTRACTORS.I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THESE. I WAS BLOCK WALKING THIS WEEKEND AND I SAW ANOTHER HOUSE THAT WAS BOARDED UP WITH TRASH OUTSIDE AND FIRE RISK.
ALL THE THINGS. JUST WANT TO EXPRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK.
I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY BUT I LIKE THE IDEAS THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO JUST BROUGHT UP AND WOULD SUPPORT THEM. THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM.
>> WHYTE: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS. I THINK MY PERSPECTIVE, AS WE CAME OUT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, IS I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE CALLS COME FROM PROBABLY -- IS THAT TRUE, MIKE? THE MAJORITY OF CALLS, ARE THEY
COMING CITYWIDE OR THEY ARE COMING FROM 2, 3, 4, AND 5? >> SHANNON: IT'S A CITY-WIDE ISSUE BUT CLEARLY IT IS MORE IN CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN. COUNCIL DISTRICTS 2, 3, 4, AND 5 IS WHERE WE'LL FIND MOST OF THEM, IF WE LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGES.
YEAH. >> VIAGRAN: AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE GEOGRAPHICALLY 3 IS THE LARGEST DISTRICT, SO I KNOW THAT'S WHY WE HAVE QUITE A FEW.
AND THE OTHER THING IS WE ALL KNOW WE NEED TO PAY PEOPLE MORE, BUT THE CITY IS LIMITED, CORRECT, IN WHAT WE CAN OFFER? THIS IS A BEST-VALUE -- NO, WE CAN APPLY SBEDA, CORRECT, TO
THIS ONE? >> SHANNON: YEAH, SBEDA WAS PART OF THIS PROCESS.
I THINK WE TOUCHED ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN-DEPTH AT AUDIT.
I SKIMMED OVER IT QUICKLY HERE. >> VIAGRAN: AND EVEN THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT -- WE HAD A FEW THAT HAD SBEDA POINTS BUT NOT ALL.
I THINK IN TERMS OF ME KNOWING MY DISTRICT, KNOWING WHAT WE NEED IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING FAMILY THAT HAS DONE THIS WORK BEFORE, I KNEW THAT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROPOSED PLAN AND THOSE SCORES -- THAT'S WHERE WE COULD DO IT.
SOME OF THESE PEOPLE OWN THAT EQUIPMENT, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE RENT THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED BASED ON THE JOB. AND I THINK WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD HAVE A LOWER SCORE AND WHEN THEY ASKED ABOUT THE LOWER SCORE IN THE PROPOSED PLAN, IT'S ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE ON HAND AS A BUSINESS OWNER IN LAWN SERVICES. AND THEN WHO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE ON STAFF AND HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY CAN CONTRACT ON STAFF. SO THE NEED IS THERE.
I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT MAYBE PRESENTING TO THE COUNCIL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT IS. AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EXPERIENCE, IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE YEARS OF SERVICE.
BUT I THINK THEY'VE STEPPED UP WHEN OTHERS HAVE DECIDED NOT TO, IN TERMS OF LAWN SERVICE, TO BE PART OF THE CITY'S HOOPS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THIS FORWARD. AND THEN THERE'S ALWAYS THAT COMPLAINT SYSTEM WE HAVE AND IF THEY DO BECOME BAD ACTORS WE CAN PUT THEM ON A BAD ACTOR LIST, CORRECT?
>> SHANNON: IF THEY DON'T PERFORM AND WE GET COMPLAINTS FROM OUR OWN STAFF OR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IF THEY DON'T PERFORM WELL, WE'LL EVALUATE THAT.
BUT THE BAD ACTOR LIST IS THEY WON'T WORK FOR US NAME. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO USE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND JUST -- LIKE IF THERE IS A CONCERN, GET A LIST OF WHAT ABATEMENTS ARE HAPPENING. BUT I FEEL LIKE -- DISTRICT 3 WE HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON WHEN Y'ALL ARE IN OUR DISTRICT AND WHERE WE NEED YOU GUYS.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THIS FORWARD TODAY. THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN VERY
INSIGHTFUL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR PULLING THE ITEM. I GUESS -- BECAUSE I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO SAY A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY SAID BUT I NEED TO HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME BEFORE I CAST A YES OR NO VOTE. WHAT I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON IS THAT THE REASON WHY THESE PARTICULAR CONTRACTORS SCORED LOW WAS DUE TO THE TIME AT WHICH THEY HAVE PROVIDED A SERVICE, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE -- NOT BECAUSE OF
CAPABILITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> SHANNON: ONE OF THE MAIN DRIVERS I THINK THE SCORES CAME LOW, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THEIR YEARS IN BUSINESS DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, A DECADE OR TWO DECADES WORTH OF YEARS IN BUSINESS. SOME OF THEM AT THE LOWER END OF THE SCORES THAT WE'RE SELECTING HAD THREE OR FOUR YEAR -- TWO TO FOUR YEARS, I THINK IT WAS. YEAH, THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN DOING IT LONG ENOUGH.
SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPERIENCE, IF THEY HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD FOR 20
[01:20:03]
YEARS, YOU'RE GENERALLY GOING TO GET SCORED HIGHER THAN SOMEONE WHO HAS A>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO I JUST SEE THE MATRIX THAT SAYS EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS. WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY SCORING IS LENGTH OF SERVICE A SET OF POINTS AND THEN THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT THEY HAVE -- OTHER QUALIFICATION, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU GUYS ARE SCORING AND IS THAT THE SAME FOR
EVERYBODY ON THE SCORING PANEL? >> SHANNON: IT'S NOT BROKEN UP INTO HERE'S FIVE POINTS FOR THIS, SIX POINTS FOR THAT.
YOU'LL GET A CATEGORY OF THE 35 POINTS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND WE S IT, WE GO OVER THINGS THAT ARE VERY SPECIFIC BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THEIR SUBMITTAL.
THEY HAVE TO SHOW US HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY HAVE ON STAFF, ARE AVAILABLE TO DO THE WORK, HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN MOBILIZE, WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT.
HOW MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS LINE OF WORK THEY HAVE, THEY PROVE ALL THAT AND THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION. EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER, WE'RE IN GENERAL CONCERT BUT THERE'S NOT A PERFECT RUBRIC OF FIVE POINTS FOR ZERO TO
FIVE YEARS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES -- I THINK THIS IS A POLICY DISCUSSION AS RELATES TO SCORING AND CONTRACTING OVERALL, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT POINTS ARE AWARDED BASED ON ONE'S CAPABILITY, CAN THEY BE RELIABLE, DO THEY HAVE A STAFF, HAVE THEY PAID THEIR TAXES, CAN THEY DO THE WORK IN A COMPLETE AND HIGH QUALITY WAY.
BECAUSE IT DOES FEEL -- IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT TO GRANT CONTRACTS TO THOSE WHO SCORED IN MY HEAD 50% OR BELOW AS A FAILING GRADE. IT SEEMS ODD TO AWARD A CONTRACT IN THAT WAY. HERE'S THE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK.
DO THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY AND DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT THEY WILL BE RELIABLE,
TIMELY, THE WORK WILL BE COMPLETE AND HIGH QUALITY? >> SHANNON: YES.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IN THE EVENT THAT THEY DO NOT MEET THESE EXPECTATIONS, YOU WILL
NOT BE HAVING THEM PERFORM WORK. >> SHANNON: CORRECT.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I THINK BEING AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT'S BROUGHT UP A FEW OTHER POINTS I THINK IT'S WORTH ASKING ABOUT. MIKE, CAN YOU COME ON UP AND LET ME KNOW, YOU SAID THAT THE NUMBER OF LOTS DEALT WITH BY YOUR DEPARTMENT WAS AROUND 1200. MAYBE AN AVERAGE OVER A FEW YEARS.
>> SHANNON: IT'S AVERAGED ABOUT 1,000. WE EXPECTED ABOUT 1200 THIS
YEAR, SO IT'S DEFINITELY -- >> COURAGE: AND HOW ABOUT HOUSING THAT'S, YOU KNOW,
THERE, NOT JUST -- VACANT HOMES, HOW MANY OF THOSE? >> SHANNON: WE HAVE A CATEGORY OF VACANT LOTS, OTHER THAT'S CALLED DANGEROUS PREMISE LOTS, THAT'S ANOTHER THOUSAND. IT'S WELL OVER 2,000 OF THESE WORK ORDERS WE HAVE TO
WORK THROUGH EACH YEAR. >> COURAGE: OUT OF BOTH OF THOSE CATEGORIES, HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU GO BACK OUT TO A PIECE OF PROPERTY IN A YEAR? BECAUSE WE KNOW THINGS GROW, TRASH FLOWS. HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU HAVE
REPEAT PROPERTIES? >> SHANNON: I DON'T HAVE THE REPEAT PROPERTIES IN AUDIO] I'D SAY IT'S ABOUT 10% OF THE PROPERTIES ARE REPEAT JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS OVER THE YEARS. THAT SEEMS PRETTY STEADY. MOST OF THE TIME IT'S ONE AND DONE, BUT VACANT STRUCTURES MAYBE A LITTLE MORE.
>> COURAGE: WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCE FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THESE CASES?
>> SHANNON: IF WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK, WE HIRE A CONTRACTOR, PAY THE CONTRACTOR, THAT GETS BILLED TO THE PROPERTY OWNER. THERE'S ALSO AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. IT COULD BE A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS OR 10% OF THE WORK ORDER OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
IF THEY DON'T PAY THAT WITHIN I THINK IT'S A MONTH OR TWO, WE WORK TO PUT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY AND WE WOULD GET PAID WHEN THAT PROPERTY IS SOLD.
>> COURAGE: THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TALK ABOUT THE WORK BEING DONE FIRST AND THEN OUR INSPECTORS GO OUT AND THEY VERIFY THE WORK. IF THEY FIND THAT IT ISN'T SATISFACTORY, WHAT DO THEY
DO WITH THAT CONTRACTOR? >> SHANNON: YOU ARE RIGHT. WE GO UP THERE FIRST, VERIFY THE FOR, RELEASE THE CONTRACTOR TO DO THE WORK, THEN WE GET CALLED OUT TO TAKE THE PHOTO TO DO THE WORK. WE CAN'T PAY THEM, MY FINANCE STAFF CAN'T PAY THEM UNTIL THAT'S SIGNED OFF WITH EVIDENCE.
[01:25:04]
IF THEY DON'T DO IT, WE CALL THE CONTRACTOR BACK AND SAY HEY, YOU MISSED SOMETHING.GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND FIX IT. THAT HAPPENS ON OCCASION AND THEY COME BACK AND FIX IT. BUT IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T OR WE ROUTINELY HAVE
TO MAKE THAT CALL, WE WORK THEM OUT OF THE PROGRAM. >> COURAGE: SOMEBODY THAT'S NEW, FIRST-TIMERS, IF THEY DON'T DO THE JOB TO OUR EXPECTATIONS, WE GIVE THEM A
CHANCE TO COME OUT AND FIX IT. >> SHANNON: YES.
>> COURAGE: THE SECOND TIME AROUND HOPEFULLY WE'VE TOLD THEM WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE AND HELP THEM IMPROVE. AND IF THEY COME OUT A SECOND TIME BUT STILL FAIL TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS, IS THAT KIND OF THE DIVIDING LINE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO SAY, OKAY, YOU'VE HAD TWO CHANCES, YOU'VE FAILED BOTH
TIMES AND YOU TAKE THEM OFF THE LIST? >> SHANNON: WE'LL USUALLY PAUSE THEM AND HAVE A MEETING WITH MYSELF OR DEPUTY DIRECTOR TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR.
IF THEY THINK THEY CAN FIX IT, WE TRY TO GET THEM BACK IN THE PROGRAM.
BUT IF THERE'S NO REASON, THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD TAKE THEM OUT.
>> COURAGE: I WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE MORE THAN THREE STRIKES, BUT IT IS GIVING NEW COMPANIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO SOME CITY BUSINESS AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS, WE'RE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A SIDEWALK OR REDOING A STREET OR BUILDING A CITY BUILDING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOTS. SO SOMETIMES I WOULD THINK OUR EXPECTATIONS SHOULD BE HIGH, BUT ALSO I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. AND I THINK I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE THAT WE WOULD BE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE HIGHEST EXPECTATION FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH US.
BUT I THINK WE'RE STARTING OFF WITH LOTS IS KIND OF A LOW BAR.
I WOULD LIKE US TO SEE HOW WE DO WHEN PEOPLE -- EXCUSE ME, WHEN ENTITIES ARE DOING STRUCTURAL WORK FOR US. TO ME, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE IF THEY ARE DOING A SIDEWALK, IF THEY ARE DOING A STREET, DRAINAGE, IF THEY ARE BUILDING A BUILDING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY BE LOOKING AT WHO IS QUALIFIED AND ARE WE PUTTING PEOPLE IN THERE THAT ARE MAYBE NEW TO THIS AND HOW CLOSE ARE WE GOING TO WATCH THEM. IF IT WAS A LOT NEXT TO ME, I WOULD WANT IT CLEANED AND KEPT THAT WAY. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED AT KIND OF A HIGHER LEVEL IF WE'RE GOING TO BE QUESTIONING THE QUALITY AND SELECTION PROCESS THAT'S GOING FORWARD. YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTION SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> WHYTE:
>> WHYTE: BRIEFLY TO SUM UP, AND I AGREE WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT WORK AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID. MY ISSUE IS JUST WITH HOW OUR CONTRACTORS WERE SELECTED. AND TO COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE'S POINT, YES, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY TODAY IS JUST LOTS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE SELECT OUR CONTRACTORS ON ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT JUST LIKE WE DO HERE. AND SO THIS IS NOT JUST UNIQUE TO THIS PARTICULAR CATEGORY OF VENDORS. AND THAT IS MY POINT IS -- AND LET'S TAKE IT FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT? SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS OUT THERE AND THE CITY GETS SUED, RIGHT, FOR NEGLIGENCE, THESE SCORING MATRIXES AND THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE CONTRACTORS IS PROBABLY DISCOVERABLE. SO THIS IS GOING TO COME OUT AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAY, HEY, YOU GUYS GAVE A JOB TO A COMPANY THAT SCORED LESS THAN 50 OUT OF 100. SOMEBODY WHO SCORED LESS THAN HALF THE POINTS FOR EXPERIENCE OR QUALIFICATIONS? THAT WILL NOT LOOK GOOD IN ANY SORT OF LEGAL PROCEEDING. AGAIN, IMPORTANT WORK.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS. I DO THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE SELECT THESE CONTRACTORS MOVING FORWARD. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, IF I COULD ADDRESS THE LEGAL ISSUE SINCE THE COUNCILMAN RAISED IT, WE HAVE PROVISIONS IN THE CONTRACT AS WAS CONVEYED HAVE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOBS. WE HAVE INDEMNITY PROVISIONS THERE. ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE CREATED AS PART OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS ARE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. SO I THINK WE'RE ABLE TO MANAGE THE LEGAL RISK EFFECTIVELY GIVEN THE OVERSIGHT THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
[01:30:03]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ANDY. COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
I WOULD WONDER BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER WANT TO PENALIZE A SMALL, GROWING BUSINESS AND PREVENT THEM FROM HAVING ACCESS TO COUNTY CONTRACTS. THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US. BUT I THINK WHEN WE CAST OUR VOTES FOR CONTRACTS LIKE THESE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SCORING, WE ALSO HAVE TO FEEL CONFIDENT THEM DO THE WORK. SO IF THERE WAS A WAY TO DISTINGUISH THIS -- A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POINTS WERE DEDUCTED BECAUSE THEY'VE ONLY BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS, I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL.
BECAUSE JUST LOOKING AT THIS, I WOULD NEVER KNOW THAT STORY AND I'M NOT A PART OF THE SCORING COMMITTEE. WHEN IT COMES HERE, THAT'S THE POLICY CONVERSATION I THINK I'M WANTING TO HAVE, AND I HEAR YOU WE NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BIGGER CONTRACTS WE HAVE FOR CONSTRUCTION.
THOSE ONES ARE MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FROM THE SMALLEST DOLLAR CONTRACTS TO THOSE REALLY LARGE ONES. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY TO SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE GET IS THE CITY GOES OUT AND DOES THIS AND NOTICE THEY SAY THE CITY GOES OUT AND DOES THIS. IT'S NOT THAT CONTRACTOR GOES OUT AND DOES THIS, THE CITY DOES THIS AND THEY ARE DOING A BAD JOB.
THAT REFLECTS ON US AND THE DECISIONS WE MAKE RIGHT HERE.
I KNOW IT'S NOT A YOU SCORING QUESTION OR YOU POLICY DISCUSSION SO I'M LOOKING IN THAT DIRECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OR WHAT CHANGES YOU THINK -- WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE FOR CHANGES.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ERIK, DO YOU WANT TO -- >> WALSH: SO THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD CONVERSATION. I THINK I LIKE SOME OF WHAT YOU ALL SAID, THIS IS A CONTRACT FOR PRE-BASIC WORK. THIS IS NOT BUILDING AN AIRPORT TERMINAL OR RECONSTRUCTING STREETS. YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND, WE WANT MORE HORSES IN THE STABLE. WE HAVE FIVE, WE WANT NINE.
I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STAFF'S WORK ON THE OVERALL SCORING OF THE 15, THERE WAS A CLEAR BREAK BETWEEN NUMBER 9 AND NUMBER 10. WHICH AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS MIKE AND THE STAFF BELIEVE THAT THE NEW ENTRANTS INTO THE WORK, WHICH IS IN SOME CASES MOWING GRASS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THAT IT'S ACHIEVABLE. AND I THINK COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE IN USER EXPERIENCE AND ASPECTS LIKE THAT, WE CAN THINK THROUGH HOW WE CAN BUILD THAT INTO THE MEMOS AND PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT IS PERTINENT. IF YOU'VE GOT A CREW OF 15 AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING COMMERCIAL WORK FOR 25 YEARS OR 20 YEARS, THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN A RELATIVELY NEW COMPANY WITH FOUR THAT HAS ONLY BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR THREE YEARS. AND SO THE SCORING SHOULD REFLECT THAT.
I THINK THE OTHER ASPECT OF THIS WHICH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU NOTICE ON THE MATRIX, THE LOCAL AND SMALL AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS POINTS PLAYED A FACTOR.
AND THAT'S REALLY THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM. AND I THINK IF -- IF MIKE WAS AT THE PODIUM, I THINK HE COULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN WHY THEY DREW THE LINE AT NINE BECAUSE AFTER TEN BASED ON THE REVIEW THAT THEY DID, THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT THOSE OTHER COMPANIES COULD BE RESPONSIVE. AND THERE IS A RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND WE WANT TO MANAGE THAT RISK, BUT AT THE END THE DAY, WE WANT TO DEPLOYMENT OF THOSE COMPANIES TO RESPOND QUICKER.
WE'LL THINK HOW WE CAN BETTER -- THERE AREN'T VERY MANY CONTRACTS LIKE THIS THAT ARE ON-CALL CONTRACTS OR ENGINEERING, ON-CALL CONSTRUCTION OR JOCK CONTRACTS WHERE WE'RE HIRING A STABLE OF COMPANIES TO DO X WORK.
I THINK WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NUMBER 3 AND NUMBER 8.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON 17 AND 18? I WILL JUST SAY I THINK FOR THE SAKE OF THE PUBLIC, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS CONVERSATION AND FEEL LIKE THERE'S A CERTAIN THRESHOLD AT WHICH COMPANIES PASS OR FAIL THE SCORING MATRIX.
[01:35:05]
YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, EACH OF THESE ARE VALUED FOR DIFFERENT PROPORTIONS AND SOME BUSINESSES MAY NOT BE EVEN ELIGIBLE FOR CERTAIN NUMBERS OF POINTS. AM I INTERRUPTING THAT CORRECTLY, -- INTERPRETING THAT CORRECTLY, MIKE? IF SOMEBODY SEES 50 OUT OF 100, IF MY SON WERE BRINGING HOME A REPORT CARD, I WOULD BE CONCERNED. BUT THERE'S NOT AN APPLES TOAPPLE COMPARISON. >> SHANNON: THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
YES, THERE'S 65 OUT OF THE 100 THAT ARE SCORED BY THE COMMITTEE.
THE OTHERS ARE YOU GET THEM OR YOU DON'T. THERE'S A PRICE ONE, WE COMPARE THE PRICES. THE OTHERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MINORITY, SMALL BUSINESS, ET CETERA POINTS. SO YOU ARE RIGHT, IT'S NOT EXACTLY 50 OUT OF 100, LIKE 50% OUT OF 100 TO SOME EXTENT SO I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU THERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JUST TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. EVERYONE'S MAXIMUM AT LEAST AS I'M LOOKING AT THE SCORE CARD WALKING IN THE DOOR, IRRESPECTIVE OF LOCAL OR NOT WAS 90 OR 95. THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE VET-OWNED BUSINESS.
BUT IF YOU DRILL DOWN INTO THE OTHER CATEGORIES WHERE THERE'S POINTS, IT COMES FURTHER DOWN FROM ANY OF THE COMPANIES. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS YES, WE HAVE PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS IN PLACE. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS A COUNCIL TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE PROTECTIONS. IF A CONTRACTOR IS NOT PERFORMING. OR IF THEY WALK OFF, MIKE, WE DON'T WANT THEM COMING BACK. AS LONG AS WE HAVE THOSE THINGS IN PLACE, I HOPE TAXPAYERS UNDERSTAND THEY WILL BE PROTECTED IN THIS PROCESS.
OF COURSE, THINGS ALWAYS BREAKTHROUGH, BUT THAT HELPS US IMPROVE OUR OWN SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY AS WELL. THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR 17 AND 18.
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON ONE AT A TIME. WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM 17 FIRST.
HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE ON ITEM 17.
MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL GO NOW TO ITEM 18. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 18. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. THAT'S ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA EXCEPT FOR OUR CITY
MANAGER'S REPORT. SO ERIK? >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONE ITEM WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WE HAVE SOME OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE.
BUT 25 YEARS AGO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LAUNCHED THE 311 DIGIT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
BEFORE 311, LITERALLY YOU WOULD CALL CODE COMPLIANCE OR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
YOU LITERALLY HAD TO CALL THE WE WANT TO MAKE REQUESTS --S TO MAKE REQUESTS.
RESIDENTS HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHO TO CALL. SINCE THEN, 311 HAS RECEIVED OVER 20 MILLION PHONE CALLS. IT'S OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. IT SERVES AS OUR FIRST POINT OF CONTACT AND THE AVERAGE WAIT TIME IS 20 SECONDS. AND PAULA AND THE GROUP HAVE DONE EXTRAORDINARILY WELL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO IMPROVE OUR BENCHMARKS. WE RECEIVE OVER A MILLION CALLS PER YEAR.
WE HAVE AN ONLINE DASHBOARD THAT TRACKS THE DEPARTMENT'S PERFORMANCE.
AND THEN SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE INCLUDED QUALITY ASSURANCE TO DO WORK AROUND THE FREQUENT CALLERS OR FREQUENT ISSUES. I'M CERTAINLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT 311 HAS DONE AND DOES EVERY DAY. AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, IT IS AN ENERGETIC GROUP. EVERY TIME I GO DOWN THERE, IT IS LIVELY DOWN THERE.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN SAN ANTONIO, IT'S NOT ONLY SERVICE CALLS THAT WE'RE GETTING, BUT IT'S QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THE 311 EMPLOYEES ARE THE -- THEY SEEM TO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY HAS GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT, INCLUDING TIMES OF EVENTS OR WHAT HAVE YOU. SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A QUICK VIDEO THAT IS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE
WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING. >> 311, HOW MAY I HELP YOU? >> I STARTED WITH THE CITY IN 1999. WE WANT TO CREATE A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT AND IN ONE
[01:40:03]
YEAR WE CREATED THE SYSTEM. HELLO, 311. >> 311 WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURES OF 911.
YOU NEED THAT THREE-DIGIT EASY NUMBER. FOR US IT'S 311.
YOU CAN CALL US FOR ALL KINDS OF SERVICES OR QUESTIONS.
WHAT I LIKE TO PROMOTE IS YOU KNOW SOMEBODY OUGHT TO BE DOING ABOUT IT, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHO, START WITH 311 AND WE'LL GET YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> WHEN WE FIRST STARTED IN APRIL OF 2000, IT WAS A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO HANDLE THAT LINE. ALL OF US ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. CUSTOMER SERVICE JUST HAPPENS TO START HERE WITH 311. WE LIKE TO CELEBRATE ALL KINDS OF THINGS, BUT IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, IT'S AN EXTRA TIME FOR US TO SAY THANK YOU. NOT ONLY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR TRUSTING IN 311, BUT I ALSO WANT TO CELEBRATE MY PEOPLE, THE STAFF HERE WORKING DAY IN AND DAY OUT. HOLIDAYS, NOT HOLIDAYS, WEATHER EVENTS, NO WEATHER EVENTS. WE'RE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. SO PART OF OUR 25 YEARS OF CELEBRATING IS ALSO CELEBRATING MY TEAM THAT MAKES IT ALL HAPPEN. VERY, VERY PROUD OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
WE STARTED WITH THAT MANTRA 25 YEARS AGO AND THAT IS STILL OUR MANTRA TODAY.
>> WE KNEW WHEN WE STARTED THE 311 SYSTEM WE WERE ON THE CUSP OF SOMETHING AWESOME. WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO MOVE CUSTOMER SERVICE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. FROM THAT PHONE BOOK TO SERVING THAT CUSTOMER WITH
CARE AND EXCELLENCE. [APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS REALLY CRITICAL TO POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, THEY -- THE WORK THAT 311 DOES DURING STORMS AND INCLEMENT WEATHER, WHERE WE ARE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS PROTECTED THE ROADS OR THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE THERE OR THAT THE HOMELESS OUTREACH FOLKS ARE WORKING TO GET PEOPLE INTO SHELTERS. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BUSIEST TIMES FOR 311 AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE CALLING LOOKING FOR HELP AND SHELTERING AND IN MOST CASES THE 311 STAFF IS WORKING DOUBLE TIME IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AND REQUESTS FOR HELP.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, PAULA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIK. WHY DON'T WE HAVE OUR 311 TEAM STAND UP IN THE BACK, PAULA AND THE TEAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO ON THE FRONT LINE OF OUR CITY. [APPLAUSE]
WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> WALSH: THAT'S NOT THE ENTIRE TEAM. SOME ARE ANSWERING 311 CALLS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU HAVE SOME MEMBERS CALLING. I WANT TO TURN TO
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO INVITE ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS OR ANYBODY ELSE TO AN ANNOUNCEMENT NEXT WEDNESDAY. THERE'S GOING TO BE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MY OFFICE AND AN ORGANIZATION CALLED UNDO MEDICAL DEBT THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCING A PROGRAM TO RELIEF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO OF THE MEDICAL DEBT THEY MAY HAVE THAT MAY BE KEEPING THEM FROM RECEIVING MORE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. IT'S GOING TO BE 1:00 IN FRONT OF CITY HALL NEXT WEDNESDAY. I HOPE ALL OF YOU CAN MAKE TIME AND JOIN US.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S IT.
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* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.