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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON -- OR GOOD MORNING, EXCUSE ME.
WELCOME TO OUR A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:10 A.M. ON MAY 1, 2025.
HAPPY MAYDAY. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYONE. WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY
FRIENDS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY AND VIVA FIESTA. >> VIVA!
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE ARE GOING TO START TODAY, THE MEETING IS
GUEST OF COUNCILMEMBER MARC WHYTE. >> MCKEE-.
>> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. HE IS MARRIED TO LORI SCHMIDT AND THEY HAVE TWO KIDS TOGETHER, DR. VANESSA AND SON PHILLIP. FOLLOWING HIS YEARS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HE GRADUATED IN 1978. ONE YEAR LATER, PASTOR SCHMIDT ENTERED THE CONCORDIA SEMINARY, GRADUATING IN DECEMBER OF 1983 .
FROM 1985 TO 1986 HE STUDIED PHILOSOPHY AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY IN BRAZIL.
IT WAS IN THE STATE OF PRANA THAT HE RECEIVED HIS CALL, COMMISSIONED BY THE SEMINARY TO SERVE IN THE TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. IN DECEMBER OF 1994, PASTOR SCHMIDT BEGAN SERVING CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH IN SOUTH ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.
HE WAS ELECTED CIRCUIT COUNSELOR IN 2003 AND IN 2006. IN OCTOBER OF 2006 HE ACCEPTED THE CALL TO SERVE THE ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH IN MINNESOTA AND IN 2017 ACCEPTED THE CALL TO SERVE THE KING OF KINGS LUTHERAN CHURCH RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
PASTOR SCHMIDT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE . >> MY PLEASURE.
DEAR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, MAYOR RON NIRENBERG, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM PASTOR NELDO SCHMIDT SERVING KING OF KINGS LUTHERAN CHURCH SAN ANTONIO.
IF ANY ONE OF YOU WOULD AT THIS TIME DRIVE TO OUR CHURCH PARKING LOT, YOU WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING PARKING BECAUSE WE SERVE BETWEEN 130 TO 140 PEOPLE THIS MORNING, EVERY THURSDAY, SO OUR FOOD PANTRY IS BUSY. THE PARKING LOT IS BUSY.
THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH IS OCCUPIED. THIS IS A GREAT MINISTRY OF COMPASSION AND MERCY. IT'S CHALLENGING. IT'S A LOT EASIER TO PREACH ABOUT COMPASSION THAN TO ACTUALLY PRACTICE IT. WE SERVE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS
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OF LIFE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. WE WANT THEM TO LEARN THAT JESUS LOVES THEM.LET ME ISSUE A CHALLENGE TO ALL OTHER DENOMINATIONS AS WE SERVE PEOPLE FROM OTHER CHURCHES THAT COME TO US. IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE FOR THEM THAT THE MORE WE HELP AND REALLY LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS, THE EASIER IT WOULD BE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DOING SOMETHING.
THAT IS ONE ASPECT OF OUR MINISTRY. NEXT, ALLOW ME A FEW SENTENCES ABOUT OUR DENOMINATIONS -- THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, KNOWN AS LCMS. WE HAVE 6,000 CONGREGATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES SERVED BY 9,000 PASTORS.
AND OUR DENOMINATION HAS A SOLID FOUNDATION. WE CONFESS THAT SCRIPTURE IS INFALLIBLE, UNCHANGEABLE, THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD. THAT SETS OUR FOUNDATION.
WE PROCLAIM CHRIST JESUS THE LORD WHOSE RESURRECTION WE CELEBRATED AS THE ONLY SAVIOR WHO LOVES ALL PEOPLE INDISTINCTBLY, NATIONALITY, TRIBES, LANGUAGES.
THAT HAS KEPT OUR DENOMINATION FOR SO MANY YEARS. WHAT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE AND CHURCH? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE BEEN PRAYED BY OUR CHURCH AND YOU CITY OFFICIALS. IT IS OUR PRACTICE COMMONLY, NOT JUST LAST WEEK, THAT WE PRAY FOR YOU. IT'S A PART OF OUR WORSHIP SERVICE THAT WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY OVER US BECAUSE GOD CALLS US TO PRAY FOR YOU, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, NO MATTER WHAT PARTY YOU BELONG, IT IS A PRACTICE BY OUR PASTORS THAT WE PRAY FOR YOU. WHY DO WE DO THAT? THE WORD OF GOD SAYS CLEARLY IN ROMANS, ALSO 2 TIMOTHY, THAT WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABOVE US AND THAT WE TEACH OUR PEOPLE TO SHOW RESPECT. IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE AND IF YOU WANT TO BE A PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY AND LOVE OUR PEOPLE, WE NEED TO GIVE THE EXAMPLE TO DO THAT AND SO WE DO IT IN OUR WORSHIP SERVICES. NEXT ELEMENT. IN OUR PREACHING AND TEACHING, OUR PASTORS AND DENOMINATION, NOBODY ESTABLISHES DOCTRINE. WE CONFESS DOCTRINE.
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE IN SCRIPTURE.
SCRIPTURE ESTABLISHES DOCTRINE. THE WORD OF GOD ESTABLISHES TRUTH. WE ARE CALLED TO PROFESS AND TO PROCLAIM.
THAT HAS BEEN FOUNDATIONAL IN OUR DENOMINATION AND SO OUR CONGREGATION IS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING THAT YOU KNOW A FEW OF THEM.
WE HAVE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH, 8,000 MEMBERS, THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE.
THEN IT'S US, KING OF KINGS, MT. CAVALRY, CROWN OF LIFE, ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
THAS I SAID, IT IS A PRIVILEGE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND SHARING A FEW WORDS WITH YOU THIS MORNING. AND WE WILL DO HERE RIGHT NOW, PRAY WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE DO IN OUR WORSHIP SERVICES ON A REGULAR BASIS .
LET US PRAY. LORD GOD, HEAVENLY FATHER, YOU ESTABLISH ORDER AND YOU PLACED ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GOVERN THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OF OUR CITY. WE PRAY YOU TO LEAD AND GUIDE OUR MAYOR RON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE OF OUR STATE AND ALL WHO MAKE, ADMINISTER, AND JUDGE OUR LAWS. PROTECT AND DEFEND THOSE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ENFORCE THE RULE OF LAW. WHO RESPOND IN EMERGENCY AND DISASTER. GUARD OUR LIBERTY HERE AND ABROAD.
SURROUND WITH COMPASSION AND COURAGE THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, THOSE WHO NEED OUR HELP, WE PRAY THAT YOU DIRECT PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THE MISSION OF HELPING OTHERS, WHO GIVE US SELFISHLY OF THEIR TIME AND THEIR RESOURCES TO SHOW COMPASSION. TO SHOW CHRISTIAN FAITH IN ACTION.
YOU CALL ON US TO HONOR THE AUTHORITY SET OVER US. LOOK WITH FAVOR UPON THOSE WHO HOLD OFFICE IN THIS CITY. GRANT THEM WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND GOOD JUDGMENT IN ALL MATTERS AFFECTING THE LIVES OF EVERY INHABITANT OF SAN ANTONIO.
BLESS THEM IN BODY AND SOUL TO REFLECT YOUR CARE AND YOUR COMPASSION FOR ALL PEOPLE.
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IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, AMEN. THANK YOU.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR. OUR FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS ITEM NO. 3, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 9, 10, 16, AND 17 IN YOUR PACKET. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 3. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 3.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.
JUST A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON VARIOUS ITEMS. IS THERE ANY ITEM TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? NOTHING IS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION AT THIS TIME. OKAY. IF THERE'S NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS IS FOR ALL ITEMS 4 THROUGH 24. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I WILL TAKE COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW JUST AFTER WE GET TO OUR ONE SPEAKER ON ITEMS 12, 13,
18, AND 23. JACK FINGER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OUR MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND ON THIS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER I HOPE MANY OF YOU CAN JOIN US AT THE BAPTIST
CHURCH THIS MORNING. THEY'RE PRAYING FOR -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEMS 12,
13, 18, AND 23. >> OF THESE ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, MR. MAYOR, ONE OF THEM IS ITEM NO. 23. IT'S ABOUT -- WELL, WHAT DOES IT SAY? MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, SHOW THE UNDERLINED AREA, IF YOU WOULD THERE. WHAT IS IT YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE UPON? $400,000 TEN-YEAR FORGIVABLE LOAN. THIS IS FOR SOME APARTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO HOUSE -- I GUESS IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE APARTMENTS.
BUT MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, TURN THAT PAGE AND GO TO THE NEXT PAGE AND SEE WHO IS GOING TO BE INHABITING THESE APARTMENTS. WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE -- ALL 30 UNITS FOR PERSONS AT OR BELOW THE 60% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, OR AMI. IN OTHER WORDS, WELFARE HOUSING. YEAH. BY GOLLY -- AND I THINK THIS IS -- LET'S SEE. HAND THAT BACK TO ME, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
THIS IS IN DISTRICT NO. 2, MR. JALEN. THAT'S RIGHT.
BY GOLLY, I'M REALLY GLAD IT'S HERE BECAUSE I AND OTHERS WILL BE HITTING YOU UP FOR A $400,000 LOAN WHEN WE WANT TO MAKE SOME HOME IMPROVEMENTS AT OUR OWN RESIDENCES TOO.
WE CAN COUNT ON YOU TO GIVE IT TO US, RIGHT? GOOD OLE JALEN, ALL RIGHTY.
ALSO I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION -- LET'S SEE. YEAH.
MR. MANNY PELAEZ, IN YOUR DISTRICT, ITEM 8, THIS IS ENCROACHMENT.
25-YEAR TERM ENCROACHMENT PERMIT FOR, OH, IT'S THE SKYBRIDGE ACROSS OUR CITY STREETS OVER THERE. AND WHAT IS THE PARTIES GOING TO PAY? WELL, IT'S $50 A YEAR. NOT SEVERAL HUNDRED, NOT SEVERAL THOUSAND FOR THE PERMISSION TO CROSS OVER OUR STREETS BUT, YEAH. $50 A YEAR, MR. PELAEZ.
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COULD JUST MAYBE WE PULL THAT ONE AND FIND OUT JUST DECENT PRICE FOR THINGS THERE, YOU KNOW? THANK YOU.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. FOR THE RECORD, WE ARE GOING TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION ITEM 23 FOR PURPOSES OF A RECUSAL.
JUST AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION FROM MY COLLEAGUES, THE CONSENT VOTE AND MOTION IS ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 23. THAT WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION FOR ITEMS 1 THROUGH 24 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 23.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 4, AN ORDINANCE AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AREA STREETS. AS Y'ALL KNOW, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY IS LOCATED IN COUNCIL DISTRICTS 3 AND 4 AND FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE 2022 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM AND ARE INCLUDED IN THE FY2025 CAPITAL BUDGET. WE TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOME POINTS WE HAVE NO INFRASTRUCTURE. SO THIS PROJECT INCLUDES PHASED IMPROVEMENTS TO PERIMETER LOOP ROAD AND A CONNECTOR ROAD TO MARMON ROAD.
THIS WILL CONSTRUCT APPROXIMATELY 4,700 FEET OF NEW ROADWAY WITHIN TEXAS A&M PROPERTY WITH TWO TRAVEL LANES, CURB, GUTTER, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED BECAUSE IT SEEMS THIS PROJECT CONSTRUCTION IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED
BY FALL 2026. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: MAYOR, UTSA IS IN THE HOUSE AND I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THEM. WE ARE CELEBRATING THE BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL TRAINING FACILITY. THIS IS ITEM NO. 9 ON OUR AGENDA. YOU REMEMBER BACK IN 2017 AND THEN 2022 BONDS WE HAD TWO ITEMS. IN THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF $5 MILLION FOR THE FIRST BOND AND THE VOTERS APPROVED $10 MILLION LATER TO BUILD A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY WHICH IS GOING TO SERVE THE YOUNG STUDENTS THERE BUT ALSO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF CAMPS AND CLINICS AND PRACTICES AND EVENTS. I HAVE BEEN OUT THERE.
WHAT THEY'VE GOT PLANNED FOR THIS FACILITY IS SPECTACULAR AND UTSA DESERVES OUR CONGRATULATIONS FOR EXECUTING ON YET ANOTHER FANTASTIC PROJECT.
CONGRATULATIONS. BIRDS UP. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'LL START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND GIVING A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO RAZI FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS WORK ON THE UPGRADE TO FIRE STATION NO. 52. THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO 52 DESERVE A PERMANENT STATION AND UPGRADES ARE GOING TO INCLUDE A REPLACEMENT OF MODULAR LIVING QUARTERS TO PERMANENT LIVING QUARTERS, INCLUDING 12,165 SQUARE FEET OF THE ADJOINING APPARATUS BAY, SLEEPING QUARTERS FOR THE ASSIGNED CREW, SUPPORT EQUIPMENT, BUNKER, GYM, KITCHEN, AND COMMON AREA. THANK YOU SO MUCH, RAZI AND THE TEAM FOR MAKING SURE THAT THIS HAPPENS. AND THE OTHER ITEM IS ITEM 8, WHICH IS A PROJECT THAT BE IN THE PLANNING STAGES FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M HAPPY IT'S MOVING FORWARD. IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND IT'S A FACILITY WHERE WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS LEARN TO SWIM. THEY PARTAKE IN THAT PROGRAM.
AND IT'S COUNTLESS YOUTH THAT ARE BENEFITED, AND ALSO SENIORS THAT GO OUT TO SWIM AT PALO ALTO. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMPLETION OF THE MULTI-GYM CENTER FOR YOUTH AND CENTERS CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
THAT'S ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO RAZI AND THE TEAM AND OUR PARTNERS AT ALAMO COLLEGES.
CONSTRUCTION IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETE BY WINTER 2027.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR.
I HAVE THREE ITEMS TO HIGHLIGHT THIS MORNING. ITEM 12 IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ALAMO ARCHITECTS FOR THE NEW KENNEL COMPLEX AT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. THIS IS GOING TO HELP MOVE FORWARD THE DESIGN OF THE NEW KENNEL COMPLEX. THIS WILL MEAN BETTER CONDITIONS FOR THE ANIMAL WE'RE CARING FOR AND A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO HELP OUR ANIMALS. IT'S ALSO PART OF OUR LARGER EFFORT TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND HEALTHY. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE PROJECT MOVE AHEAD AND WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT BEHIND THE SCENES.
I'M ALSO HIGHLIGHTING ITEMS 16 AND 17. FIRST IS THE APPOINTMENT OF
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JOHNAVAN GUERRERO TO THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION. HE IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THE ENERGY, THOUGHTFULNESS, AND DRIVE THAT EXISTS IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.HE ATTENDS WARREN HIGH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION CAREER ACADEMY WHERE HE HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF. SO WHAT TRULY STANDS OUT ABOUT JOHNAVAN IS HIS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND APPROACHES EVERY OPPORTUNITY WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
I KNOW JOHNAVAN WILL BRING THOUGHTFUL INSITTING, FRESH PERSPECTIVES, AND A DEEP SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO THIS ROLE. ITEM 17 IS THE APPOINTMENT OF REVEREND CAROLYN PITTMAN TO THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD. SHE'S A RETIRED ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL, A FORMER CHAPLAIN, AND EDUCATOR. SOMEONE WHO HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO SERVICE, WHETHER IN THE PULPIT, THE MILITARY, OR OUR HOSPITALS. HER EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY, AND DEEP COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY MAKE HER A WONDERFUL CHOICE FOR THIS ROLE.
WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE HER AND I'M HONORED TO SUPPORT HER APPOINTMENT TODAY.
THANK YOU, REVEREND. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4 -- EXCUSE ME.
ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 23. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL PULL UP NOW ITEM 23 TO MOVE THAT FOR RECUSAL
PURPOSES. SO MADAME CLERK. >> CLERK: ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN ORDER -- SORRY. ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AWARD UP TO $400,000 FROM THE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO OPPORTUNITY HOME SAN ANTONIO FOR THE
REHABILITATION OF THE DIETRICH ROAD APARTMENTS . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. YOU HEARD ITEM 23. IS THERE A MOTION?
>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 23. FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA HAS RECUSED ON THIS ITEM. ANY DISCUSSION?
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: JUST WANT TO -- THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IT'S OUR DUTY TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN OUR AFFORDABLE AND PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK.
WE MUST ACTUALIZE EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO QUALITY, SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THESE IMPROVEMENTS TAKING PLACE AT DIETRICH ROAD APARTMENTS IN DISTRICT 2.
THEY HAVE BEEN LONG NEEDED AND WANTED SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MY COLLEAGUES' SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 23? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT IS MOST OF OUR BUSINESS TODAY SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO SOME IMPORTANT RECOGNITIONS. AND FIRST I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND ASK MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATIVE UNIT TO COME UP TO THE FRONT. MANY OF YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE, WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY, PERHAPS IN THE WORLD.
AND AS A CLASS 1 UNIT DEPARTMENT, THEY SAVE COUNTLESS DOLLARS FOR OUR TAXPAYERS EVERY YEAR FOR THEIR GREAT WORK IN PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC, BUT THEY WERE RECENTLY NAMED INVESTIGATIVE UNIT OF THE YEAR BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
LET'S GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNIT OF THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT. [APPLAUSE] AND SO CONGRATULATIONS, YOU GUYS. ONCE AGAIN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY PROUD.
I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR. TODAY WE CELEBRATE A UNIT OF OUR SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT. OUR SAFD FIRE INVESTIGATIONS UNIT HAS BEEN AWARDED INVESTIGATIVE UNIT OF THE YEAR. THE CHIEF IS OUT OF TOWN TODAY BUT WE'RE THANKFUL THAT THEY'RE HERE IN CHAMBERS. THE INVESTIGATIVE OF THE YEAR ISN'T JUST ANY AWARD, IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS IN FIRE INVESTIGATION .
IT RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING SKILL, LEADERSHIP, AND DEDICATION TO UNCOVERING THE TRUTH BEHIND SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX AND DANGEROUS CASES. WINNING IT MEANS YOU ARE NOT JUST GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO, YOU ARE AMONG THE VERY BEST IN THE UNIVERSE.
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THIS IS A HUGE DEAL AND IT'S A REFLECTION OF THE AMAZING WORK THIS TEAM DOES DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THIS UNIT HAS SET THE STANDARD FOR EXCELLENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEIR WORK IS TOUGH, IT TAKES DEEP TECHNICAL SKILLS, A LOT OF DETERMINATION, AND A WHOLE LOT OF HEART TO DO WHAT THEY DO.INVESTIGATING FIRES, KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE ANSWERS.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, PASSION, AND FOR REPRESENTING THE VERY BEST OF OUR CITY. JUST AS A SAN ANTONIAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR KEEPING US SAFE. CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF AND MEMBERS OF THE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS UNIT FOR WINNING SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS AND WELL-DESERVED NATIONAL AWARD.
VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TH THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: TANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO WISH A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATIONS UNIT FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I FOUGHT HARD LAST YEAR FOR PAY INCREASES FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY. WE HAVE THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY.
AND YOU ALL DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK.
THIS UNIT TAKES A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO INVESTIGATION. IT'S UNIQUE IN ITS EFFORTS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF EVERY FIRE, NOT JUST SUSPICIOUS ONES.
IT IS THE KIND OF WORK AND DATA COLLECTION THAT LEADS TO REAL CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MY BROTHER HAPPENS TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS TEAM AND HE SHARED WITH ME STORIES ABOUT WHAT A WONDERFUL LEADER PAUL RAMOS IS. AS THE LEADER OF THE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, HE HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE THE ULTIMATE TEAM BUILDER.
HIS LEADERSHIP HAS GROWN THE UNIT TO BE THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, LIEUTENANT RAMOS FOR YOUR IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TEAM AND TO OUR CITY. THANK YOU TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS UNIT FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL PERSONALLY. IN MY TERM THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FIRES THAT WE NEEDED INVESTIGATION THAT HAVE CAUSED PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR LIVES.
I AM SO CONFIDENT THAT I WILL GET AN ANSWER AND I WILL GET THE RIGHT ANSWER BECAUSE OF THIS TEAM. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE IT ASSURES MYSELF AND MY RESIDENTS THAT YOU ARE WORKING HARD AND WE ARE WORKING TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU AND I'M HOPING IT'S A SUMMER OF JUST YOU GUYS RELAXING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR EFFORTS AND
CONGRATULATIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL FOR RECEIVING THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. YOUR WORK OF COURSE IS NOT JUST SAVING LIVES BUT PROVIDING ANSWERS TO GRIEVING FAMILIES AND ALSO PROVIDING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MITIGATE TRAGEDIES IN THE FUTURE. SO YOU'RE JUST NOT PUTTING OUT FIRES, YOU'RE ASKING THE CRITICAL QUESTIONS, HOW DID IT START AND HOW CAN WE PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? THROUGH PROACTIVE INVESTIGATION, YOU ARE NOT JUST REACTING TO EMERGENCIES BUT WE'RE GETTING SMARTER HOW TO PREVENT THEM AND THAT'S EVIDENT IN THIS AWARD YOU HAVE RECEIVED. HIGHLIGHTING THAT NEARLY 2,000 INVESTIGATIONS IN JUST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AND 60% TO 70% WERE RESOURCES FOR OUR SENIORS ON HOW TO PREVENT FIRES AND WHAT IS MOST AT RISK IN TERMS OF ACCIDENTAL FIRES. YOUR DEDICATION AND ANALYTICAL MINDSET AND YOUR DRIVE TO DO MORE THAN WHAT'S REQUIRED IS WHAT HAS EARNED YOU ALL THIS RECOGNITION.
SO THANK YOU IMMENSELY FOR ALL YOU DO. I KNOW DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS REALLY VALUE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: BRIEFLY JUST TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' SENTIMENTS.
CONGRATULATIONS. THE WORK YOU ALL DO IS DIFFICULT.
IT'S DANGEROUS AT TIMES BUT OH SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. AS MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, WE'RE ALSO VERY PLEASED THAT WE GOT THAT CONTRACT FOR EVERYONE LAST YEAR THAT RECOGNIZES THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE INTEGRITY AND VALUE THAT YOU ALL BRING TO OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS.
I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. I TELL EVERYBODY THAT I CAN THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I REALLY SEE IT EVERY DAY.
EVERY TIME I SEE ONE OF YOUR FIRE TRUCKS, I SEE ONE OF YOUR INVESTIGATION TRUCKS, IT MAKES ME FEEL SUPER PROUD THAT I GET TO CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE BIT BY SUPPORTING YOU ALL.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE RESIDENTS THAT I REPRESENT, THEY SEE YOU ALL AS HEROES AND THEY TELL
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EVERYBODY THAT. THEY DON'T NEED TO WAIT AND SEE ANYBODY ON TV, THEY KNOW OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO SAVE THEM. CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS IMPORTANT AWARD. I THINK THAT IT MOVES THE DEPARTMENT FORWARD ON A LOT OF THE REALLY COOL THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SAY I'M ON A CITY COUNCIL THAT SUPPORTS YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU.THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN YOU HAVE SUCH HIGH FAVORABILITY IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE LOVE YOU AND IT'S CLEAR THAT NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY YOU GUYS ARE A TEAM THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS CAN ASPIRE TO. THERE'S FEW THINGS AS HORRIFYING NATURALLY AS WHAT A FIRE CAN DO AND YOU ALL AND THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT SUBJECT YOURSELF TO A LOT OF REALLY -- NOT JUST PHYSICAL AND DEMANDING LABOR BUT IT'S ALSO EMOTIONAL WORK THAT YOU DO.
YOU SEE SO MUCH HARM AND DESTRUCTION AND FEAR AND LOSS AND SO I HOPE THAT WITH THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WHAT YOU DO, I HOPE YOU ALSO TAKE TIME TO RELAX, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. YOU GUYS FIGHT SO HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU GUYS DESERVE A CITY THAT WILL FIGHT JUST AS HARD FOR YOU ALL. IN US YOU HAVE THAT.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND AGAIN THERE'S A FEW DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A CRAZY AMOUNT -- WE'RE PROBABLY PREPARING FOR ANOTHER SUMMER OF THAT AS CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES TO TAKE ITS TOLL . THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU WILL DO AND I CAN NEVER EXPRESS ENOUGH HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE, NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, OUR DISTRICTS, BUT AS A CITY AND COMMUNITY WE ARE SO TREMENDOUSLY THANKFUL FOR YOU ALL.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. THEY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU DEMONSTRATE YOUR GREATNESS, IT BECOMES EXPECTED SO NOW WE JUST EXPECT YOU ALL TO ACHIEVE ALL OF THE AWARDS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN. THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL OF YOU, THE CHIEFS AND EVERYBODY IN THE UNIT, I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW NONE OF YOU JOINS THE DEPARTMENT FOR RECOGNITION BUT IT IS GOOD TO SEE RECOGNITION THAT IS WELL EARNED, ESPECIALLY SOME THAT BRINGS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ATTENTION TO A CITY LIKE SAN ANTONIO THAT HAS HAD THE STRENGTH OF OUR CITY BE ON THE EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT IT PROVIDES ITS CITIZENS. CONGRATULATIONS.
WELL EARNED AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. THANKS, Y'ALL.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP OUR FOLKS FROM -- LET ME GET MY NOTES HERE.
YES, OUR SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION L DESTINATION MAY 12 THROUGH MAY 17, 2025 TO FOSTER AND CELEBRATE SAN ANTONIO'S COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE. WHEREAS OVER 150,000 STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN 31 HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACCESS TO A HIGHER EDUCATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND SOCIETY. WHEREAS THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESTS IN PART ON PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPING A DIVERSE SKILLED WORKFORCE.
AND ADULTS ALIKE. ITS SERVICES INCLUDE CAREER PLANNING, COLLEGE ENTRY ASSISTANCE AND ENROLLMENT, COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY, AND FINANCIAL AID.
COLLEGE TRANSITION AND COLLEGE COMPLETION. THEY PROVIDE THEIR SERVICES AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND THROUGH CAFE COLLEGE LOCATED DOWNTOWN. ANNUALLY SAEPS PROVIDE SERVICES TO OVER 13,000 YOUTH AND ADULT LEARNERS AND AWARDS OVER 5,000 SCHOLARSHIPS.
WHEREAS THE GOAL IS DESIGNED TO MAKE COLLEGE TOP OF MIND, CONNECT STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE THEIR COLLEGE DREAMS AND CONTRIBUTE THEIR WELL-EDUCATED TALENTS TOWARDS A MORE PROSPEROUS SAN ANTONIO IN THE FUTURE. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 12 THROUGH 17, 2025 TO BE DESTINATION COLLEGE WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND ENCOURAGE
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THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO TO INVEST IN COLLEGE EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THEIR INDIVIDUAL QUALITY OF LIFE AND FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR ENTIRE CITY. CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL, ANDWELCOME TO SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM DR. VANESSA QUIROGA AND I SERVE AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
HOWEVER, TODAY I COME REPRESENTING THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO. SO FIRST, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING DESTINATION COLLEGE WEEK , A CITY-WIDE CELEBRATION OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND THE VITAL ROLE HIGHER EDUCATION PLAYS IN SHAPING OUR FUTURE. WE KNOW THE PATH TO HIGHER EDUCATION DOESN'T BEGIN ON ONE SINGLE CAMPUS. RATHER, IT STARTS IN OUR HOMES, OUR CLASSROOMS, AND COMMUNITY SPACES. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE THE MULTITUDE OF LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP, CAFE COLLEGE, AND THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE, MORE AFFORDABLE, AND MORE ACHIEVABLE
FOR ALL SAN ANTONIANS. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS CHLOE AND I'M A STUDENT AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE.
THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY FROM FOLKS LIKE BCFS THAT PROVIDE RESOURCES TO ADULTS LIKE ME WITH A FOSTER CARE BACKGROUND. MY SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND PARTNERSHIP I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE RESOURCES AND ENCOURAGEMENT I NEEDED TO MAKE MY EDUCATIONAL DREAMS A REALITY. TODAY I AM PURSUING MY DEGREE IN CYBERSECURITY AND I WILL GRADUATE THIS DECEMBER. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE I'M A PART OF A CITY THAT BELIEVES IN STUDENTS LIKE ME. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M THE CEO OF THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP. AT SAEP WE BELIEVE COLLEGE SUCCESS DOESN'T HAPPEN ALONE. IT TAKES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR WE SUPPORT MORE THAN 13,000 STUDENTS AND ADULTS WITH FREE COLLEGE ADVISING AND SCHOLARSHIPS.
AND DESTINATION COLLEGE WEEK IS A POWERFUL WAY TO KEEP COLLEGE TOP OF MIND ACROSS THE CITY.
WHILE EVENTS TAKE PLACE AT CAFE COLLEGE, THE CITY'S ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL THINGS COLLEGE, SUPPORTED GENEROUSLY BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE PROUD TO COORDINATE THIS EFFORT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. WE INVITE EVERYONE TO BE PART OF THIS CELEBRATION.
VISIT CAFECOLLEGE.ORG TO FIND EVENTS LIKE DESTINATION COLLEGE FAIR ON MAY 14 AND COLLEGE T-SHIRT DAY ON MAY 16. AND DISCOVER WAYS TO SPREAD THE WORD AND SUPPORT SAN ANTONIO'S COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE. TOGETHER WE'RE BUILDING A MORE EDUCATED, THRIVING SAN
ANTONIO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IMPACTED SO POSITIVELY BY SAEP. WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME RECOGNITIONS. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA AND VIAGRAN.
>> GARCIA: CONGRATULATIONS TO SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP.
I AM A PRODUCT OF THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP. I'M A PROUD SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT SO I WAS IN YOUR SHOES A FEW YEARS AGO, WE'LL JUST SAY.
BUT REALLY HAPPY THAT THE WORK CONTINUES AND THAT SO MANY STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES YOU ALL PROVIDE AND IT'S A RESOURCE OF HOPE.
WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU CAN GET A SCHOLARSHIP FOR STAYING IN SCHOOL AND ATTENDING AND HAVING A CERTAIN GPA, IT'S JUST AN ADDED RAY OF HOPE. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WORK YOU DO. I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE CITY COUNCIL NOW AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP, SO I'LL CONTINUE TO SPREAD YOUR GOOD MESSAGE AND HELP OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND CONGRATULATIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND SHARING.
I AM PROUD TO SIT ON THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERS BOARD.
I AM ALWAYS IN AWE BECAUSE I JUST SIT THERE AND THAT BOARD IS A WORKING BOARD THAT WORKS REALLY HARD. CHLOE, IT'S BECAUSE OF STUDENTS LIKE YOU.
I'M A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT ALSO AND I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO NAVIGATE AND WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH QUESTIONS TO ASK, LIKE ME, YOU END UP DOING A DOUBLE MAJOR BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CLASSES TO TAKE OR WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK OR WHAT ADVISERS TO GO TO.
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I'M SO GLAD THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS CAFE COLLEGE HERE , THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERS, THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.YOU CAN COUNT ME IN ON COLLEGE T-SHIRT DAY BUT I MIGHT BE DOING WARDROBE CHANGES.
I'VE GOT TO REPRESENT THE JAGUARS AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FUN DAY.
I ENCOURAGE ALL THE STUDENTS AS THEY GO AND THE FAMILIES THAT COLLEGE IS WITHIN OUR REACH.
IT'S THERE. WE JUST NEED TO ASK THE QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE THE RESOURCES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
I'M SO EXCITED YOU GUYS ARE HERE. THANK YOU, CHLOE, FOR BEING THE WHY THAT WE'RE UP HERE AND REPRESENTING. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND COMING AND REPRESENTING WHAT THE WORK YOU DO TO HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE MOVE INTO COLLEGE. DR. ACEVEDO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING AS A LEADER OF THAT COMMISSION FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS OR SO.
I SERVED ON THE BOARD FOR FOUR YEARS AND WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS IT'S REALLY A COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUNDING FOR SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP. THE CITY'S A STRONG PARTNER FINANCIALLY BUT IT'S A LOT OF THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY TOO. I WANT TO PASS ON MY COMMENDATION TO THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO PUT A LOT OF HOURS AND TIME IN TO OFFER DIRECTION AND SUPPORT FOR THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP. CAFE COLLEGE IS SIMPLY A WONDERFUL TOOL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM. BUT ALSO THE COUNSELORS YOU HAVE OUT IN THE SCHOOLS, TALKING WITH THOSE STUDENTS EVERY YEAR ALL YEAR LONG TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO MOVE INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEGE. IT'S JUST GREAT WORK.
I WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS AND I HOPE THIS COUNCIL WILL ALWAYS STEP UP AND BE FINANCIALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND THAT THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY WILL
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT IT TOO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP AND COUNCIL. THANKS, Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE]
. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
IN OUR NEVER-ENDING STRUGGLE AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR DEMOCRACY, IT GIVES ME HONOR TO RECOGNIZE OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TODAY AND DECLARE MAY 1, 2025 TO BE LAW DAY.
IF I CAN HAVE OUR ATTORNEYS OFFICE TO COME FORWARD AS I READ PORTIONS OF THE PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS THE DRAFTERS OF THE CONSTITUTION HAD THE VISION TO SEPARATE THE POWERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE EXECUTIVE AND THE JUDICIARY AMONG THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE NO BRANCH COULD RULE UNCHECKED.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF AND MANY BEFORE IT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER IN PURSUIT OF LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS THAT PROMOTE A BETTER SAN ANTONIO INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, CLEAN AIR, WATER, EMERGENCY RESPONSES, AND PARKS AND RECREATION.
LAWYERS SERVE AS CARETAKERS OF THIS LEGAL FRAMEWORK. WHEREAS THE MUNICIPAL ATTORNEYS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE FUNCTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND MUST BE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ALL AREAS OF LAW SPECIFIC TO OUR CITY INCLUDING LAND USE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, POLICE POWERS, PROPERTY TAXES, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO ADVISE COUNCIL AND DEFEND THE CITY. WHEREAS ANNUALLY THE WORK OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHICH CONSISTS OF 64 ATTORNEYS AND 30 SUPPORT STAFF PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL TO EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT DAILY RANGES FROM PROSECUTION OF CLASS C MISDEMEANORS TO RESPONSE TEAMS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS VIOLATIONS, THE TRANSACTIONAL ATTORNEYS NEGOTIATING AND DRAFTING OF OVER 4600 CONTRACTS AND OVER A THOUSAND ORDINANCES, TO ATTENDANCE OF ALMOST 600 BOARD AND CITY MEETINGS AND WILLING LITIGATION OF OVER 100 LAWSUITS, EVIDENCE THAT THE OFFICE WORKS DILIGENTLY AND OFTEN BEHIND THE SCENES TO ENSURE THE CONSISTENT AND LEGAL OPERATION OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. WHEREAS THE THEME FOR LAW DAY 2025 IS THE CONSTITUTION'S PROMISE. OUT OF MANY, ONE.
NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 1, 2025 AS LAW DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND URGE EVERYONE TO OBSERVE THIS DAY PROMOTING LAW IN EDUCATION AND FULFILLING OUR SHARED CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMITMENT TO THE VALUES OF LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE THAT MAKES OUT OF MANY ONE .
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HONOREES. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALSO OUR ENTIRE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND LEGAL DEPARTMENT. LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF
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APPLAUSE BEFORE WE ASK THEM TO SPEAK. [APPLAUSE] EVER PRESENT, OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD, BUT SO INCREDIBLY VITAL.I WOULD INVITE YOU ALL TO THE PODIUM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
OR, ANDY. >> SEGOVIA: JUST THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT. YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM OUR FIRST ANNUAL, HOPEFULLY, HONOREES FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE DEIA DEPARTMENT, WHICH ALSO PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN MAKING SURE THERE'S JUSTICE FOR ALL. SO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THESE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THEY EMBODY, BY THEIR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM AND THE COMMUNITY, WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE WHO DO BELIEVE IN JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALTHOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF DIVISIVENESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU STAND ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE JUDICIARY AND THE RULE OF LAW IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT STILL THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
ANYONE WHO HAS DEDICATED ANY PART OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREER OR ANY OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL EFFORT TO ENSURING THAT THE RULE OF LAW REMAINS STRONG, WE CERTAINLY REACH OUT AND THANK THEM TODAY FOR ALL THEY DO IN TERMS OF THAT. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND, AGAIN, THANKS TO THE TEAM FOR DOING ALL THEY DO FOR THE CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS TOO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
SITTING ON COMMITTEES AND THEN JUST HAVING SO MUCH WORK GOING ON IN DISTRICT 3, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON ANDY AND THE TEAM TO HAVE THE RIGHT ATTORNEY THAT CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND HELP ALONG THE WAY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD.
I KNOW MY STUDENTS FROM THE LEGACY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE WERE HERE YESTERDAY AND THEY SAID, ANDY, THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS LIKE THE CHEERLEADER GROUP TELLING THEM THEY COULD DO ANYTHING, BE ANYTHING. THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE THAT. CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK. SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO GROW SO THERE'S CONTINUALLY GOING TO BE QUESTIONS AND A NEED FOR ATTORNEYS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD.
ANDY, CAN WE KNOW THEIR NAMES AND MAYBE WHAT THEY FOCUS ON? I FEEL LIKE I NEVER GET TO OFFICIALLY MEET THEM. WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK BUT MAYBE --
>> SEGOVIA: YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. I WAS REMISS IN DOING THAT.
I DID WANT TO MENTION THEIR NAMES. WE'LL START WITH MARY LING AT THE END. SHE'S A PARALEGAL WHO WORKS IN OUR REGULATORY DIVISION.
AND REALLY ASSISTS ALL THE ATTORNEYS IN THAT DIVISION DOING ALL THE WORK THEY DO IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE. NEXT TO HER IS CARLA FROM OUR LITIGATION DEPARTMENT.
ALSO A PARALEGAL. MANAGES -- WORKS CLOSELY WITH DEBBIE KLEIN AND ALL HER ATTORNEYS THERE IN TERMS OF RESPONDING TO ORRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
NEXT WE HAVE ANITA HENNING FROM OUR DEIA DEPARTMENT WHO HAS BEEN WORKING VERY STRONGLY IN TERMS OF TRYING TO FILL IN GAPS AS WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT DEIA DOES ALL THE THINGS IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY DO. SHE'S PART OF OUR STAFF.
NEXT TO HER IS LAURA WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
SHE'S DONE A LOT OF WORK IN OUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE AND IS ONE THAT MANY OF OUR ATTORNEYS GO TO TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THE ADEQUATE SUPPORT THEY NEED IN TERMS OF ALL THE COMMERCIAL WORK THAT GROUP DOES. LAST BUT NOT LEAST WE HAVE ORLANDO MATA WITH OUR PROSECUTION DIVISION. THE PROSECUTION DIVISION DOES A LOT OF WORK IN ENSURING THAT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR ANIMAL CONTROL EFFORTS ARE FULLY SUPPORTED IN TERMS OF PROSECUTION. ANOTHER HONOREE NOT HERE TODAY IS MARIA TORRES.
SHE IS OUR ROCK IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT WE'RE ALL ON BOARD WITH CITY POLICY. THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS BEFORE YOU.
AGAIN, IT'S ONLY REPRESENTATIVE OF MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND DEIA WHO ON A DAILY BASIS MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY
AS BEST WE CAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND SWEAR AN OATH IN ORDER TO BECOME AN ATTORNEY,
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THERE'S THREE OF US ON THE DAIS -- ACTUALLY FOUR OF US ON THE DAIS WHO DID THAT.THERE'S A LINE IN THAT OATH THAT SAYS THAT YOU PROMISE, YOU SOLEMNLY PROMISE TO DEMEAN YOURSELF TO THE LAW AND TO YOUR CLIENT. AND BASICALLY THAT MEANS YOU PUT YOURSELF BELOW THE RANK OF THE LAW AND THE RULE OF LAW AND THAT YOU PUT YOUR CLIENT FIRST AND THAT YOU LEAVE ALL OF YOUR BEST INTERESTS SUBORDINATE TO YOUR CLIENT.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND EVERY SINGLE DEALING I EVER HAD WITH YOUR TEAM, ANDY, WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT -- 67, IS THAT HOW MANY YOU'VE GOT?
>> SEGOVIA: CLOSE TO 80, COUNCILMAN, IF YOU INCLUDE -- >> PELAEZ: YOUR PARALEGALS.
EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAVE HAD A DEALING WITH Y'ALL'S OFFICE I'M ALWAYS REMINDED THAT YOU ALL TAKE THAT OATH VERY SERIOUSLY AND FOR EVERYBODY WONDERING WHAT THIS TEAM COULD DO, THEY COULD BE OUT THERE AT OTHER FANCY PANTS LAW FIRMS EARNING THREE, FOUR TIMES WHAT WE PAY THEM HERE BUT THEY MADE A CHOICE TO SERVE THEIR CITY AND I THINK THAT CHOICE DEMONSTRATES YOUR FIDELITY TO THIS CONCEPT OF DEMEANING ONESELF TO SERVICE.
OFTENTIMES WE ONLY SEE FOUR OF THE LAWYERS IN THIS ROOM AND WE FORGET THERE'S 60-PLUS LAWYERS AND 20-PLUS PARA SUPPORT STAFF OUT THERE. I AM PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU GUYS AND CALL YOU GUYS SAN ANTONIANS TOO. THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANKS AS WELL. THE JOB YOU GUYS DO IS COMPLEX OFTENTIMES. SOMETIMES THINGS ARE JUST NOT CLEAR UNDER THE LAW AND IT TAKES A LOT OF HARD WORK, RESEARCH TO GET AN ANSWER TO ANDY AND THIS BODY SO WE KNOW THE RIGHT PATH FORWARD ON A LOT OF THESE LEGAL ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE US.
REALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO DOUBT CITY EMPLOYEES ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS CITY BUT OUR CITY ATTORNEYS ARE THE BACKBONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S DEMOCRACY, ENSURING THAT EACH OF US GOVERN WITH ETHICS AND HIGH STANDARDS. EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO IN ENSURING WE GOVERN WITH ETHICS AND OF COURSE WITHIN THE LAW.
REALLY GRATEFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS GOING ON -- AND I'LL LEAVE IT
AT THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I DO RECOGNIZE, AND I HOPE OUR PUBLIC RECOGNIZES THAT YOU COULD HAVE CHOSEN MANY OTHER PLACES TO PRACTICE LAW BUT YOU'VE CHOSEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND FOR THAT WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL. YOU KNOW, IT IS -- I WAS REFLECTING ON WHAT YOU SAID, ANDY. WE ARE VERY LUCKY INDEED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TO HAVE SUCH A HIGH CALIBER TEAM LED BY TWO INCREDIBLE PEOPLE OF THEIR OWN STATURE IN THE INDUSTRY. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DISAGREEMENTS ON OCCASION ON POLICY AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT THE VALUES BY WHICH YOU JUST ARTICULATED THIS DEPARTMENT IS LED GIVES ME TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE IN THIS CITY AND THIS ORGANIZATION THAT WE WILL ALWAYS STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE RULE OF LAW AND THAT IT APPLIES TO EVERY PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY. NOT MANY CITIES I THINK HAVE SUCH A HIGH-CALIBER TEAM DEDICATED TO THOSE SAME VALUES. FOR THAT, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR VERY OWN CE GROUP. IF I COULD JANET HOLIDAY AND HER TEAM COME UP AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION: WHEREAS FOUNDED IN 1990 THE CE GROUP, INC., TITLED AS CLEVER ENDEAVORS WAS BORN OUT OF A SHARED DREAM TO BRING MEMORABLE MOMENTS TO SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY CREATING CAMPAIGNS THAT INSPIRE, CONNECT, AND LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT. WHEREAS SINCE 1990 THE GROUP HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF EMPOWERMENT AND SERVICE, REMAINING STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION TO THRIVE THROUGH DRIVING INNOVATION AND TIMELESS BRILLIANCE, MAKING EVERY PROJECT EXTRAORDINARY THAT CONTINUE TO RESONATE TODAY. WHEREAS CELEBRATIONS OF THIS MEMORABLE MILESTONE, THE CE
[00:55:01]
GROUP WILL BE GIFTING $350,000 OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS SPONSORSHIPS AND IN-KIND DONATIONS AND SELECTING THREE LOCAL SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY NONPROFITS, ALSO CELEBRATING A MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY IN 2025 TO RECEIVE A CELEBRATORY CAKE AND A $3500 DONATION TO SUPPORT THEIR MISSION. AND WHEREAS THE CE GROUP HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN MANY OF SAN ANTONIO'S SIGNATURE EVENTS INCLUDING THE 1993 GRAND OPENING OF THE ALAMODOME AND THE 1993 OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES OF THE U.S. OLYMPIC FESTIVAL.SINCE 1998 THE CE GROUP HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN EVERY NCAA FINAL FOUR EVENT HELD IN THE CITY AND MANAGED ALL FIVE SAN ANTONIO SPURS' NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PARADES.
THEY MANAGED THE GRAND OPENING OF THE HENRY B. GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER AND SINCE 2007 IT HAS PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE AT PEARL, SERVING AS ITS EVENT AND ACTIVATION PARTNER.
AND WHEREAS AT THE HELM OF THESE ACHIEVEMENTS IS JANET HOLIDAY.
TOGETHER WITH THE TEAM OF DEDICATED, TALENTED STAFF THAT DRIVE THE ORGANIZATION FORWARD WITH THEIR EXTRAORDINARY TALENTS. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COMMENDS THE GROUP FOR ITS PARTNERSHIPS WHICH HAVE ELEVATED THE ALAMO CITY TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCE. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 1, 2025 TO BE THE CE GROUP 35TH YEAR CELEBRATION IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL .
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THIS REALLY INCREDIBLE HONOR. EVERYONE WHO KNOWS ME AND EVERYONE KNOWS THE CE FAMILY, MANY WHO ARE HERE TODAY, I HOPE WILL ALWAYS SAY HOW MUCH WE LOVE OUR CITY. TRULY LOVE TO SERVE OUR CITY. AS WE CELEBRATE 35 YEARS AS A COMPANY, WE FEEL SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH EVERY MAYOR SINCE LILA COCKRELL, EVERY CITY COUNCIL, EVERY CITY MANAGER, ALL CITY STAFF, AND ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS. AND WE DO NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED.
MAYOR NIRENBERG, CONGRATULATIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING TENURE.
WE HAVE HAD A GREAT RIDE WITH YOU AND IT'S BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO SUPPORT YOUR VISION AND YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE ARE HONORED, ACTUALLY, TO HAVE EARNED THE COLLECTIVE TRUST, NOT ONLY OF YOU, BUT ALL OF YOU AND ALL OF THE -- THROUGH THE YEARS, IN ALLOWING US TO CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT TRULY CREATE MOMENTS AND MILESTONES AND MEMORIES FOR 35 YEARS. IN RECEIVING THIS PROCLAMATION, IT'S MEANINGFUL BECAUSE IT'S REALLY YOUR WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WHAT WE DO ACTUALLY MATTERS TO OUR CITY.
EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS AND POWERFUL STORYTELLING IS WHAT ACTUALLY STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY BONDS, BECAUSE THEY COMMEMORATE ALL OF YOUR SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS.
THEY HIGHLIGHT THE WINS OF OUR CITY AND THEY FOSTER DEEP CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT AS EXPERIENCE MAKERS, STORYTELLERS, AND DESTINATION ENTHUSIASTS, WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING OTHERS TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT ENGAGE, INSPIRE, AND LEAVE LASTING IMPRESSIONS.
SO THANK YOU, SAN ANTONIO, EVERYBODY, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO A VIBRANT AND STRONG EVENT LANDSCAPE. FROM EXPERIENCES THAT WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TOUCH, LIKE FIESTA AND HOLIDAYS ON HOUSTON, TO NATIONAL PROJECTS LIKE FINAL FOUR AND U.S. TRAVELS IPW AND ALL THE THINGS ON THE BACK OF OUR T-SHIRTS, WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THESE IMPACTFUL CELEBRATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND COLLABORATIONS THAT WE FEEL UNITE US, THEY TOUCH OUR SOULS, AND MOST OF ALL THEY REPRESENT THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR WONDERFUL CITY.
SO FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, WE SAY THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I KNOW THERE'S COUNTLESS MEMORIES THAT WE ALL HAVE AND PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE THAT HAVE YOUR FINGERPRINTS -- THE CE GROUP'S FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER THEM. YOU ARE TRULY MAKING MEMORIES
[01:00:05]
FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIANS. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES.COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: 33 YEARS AGO I GOT TO MEET YOU, JANET, AND I GOT TO WORK WITH YOU ON A PROJECT CALLED THE PEACEMAKERS AWARD GALA.
BACK THEN 33 YEARS AGO IT WAS YOU AND TWO OR THREE OTHER PEOPLE THAT FORMED THE CE GROUP . AND LOOK AT YOU NOW. AND TO THINK THERE'S STILL PEOPLE AT THE CE GROUP'S OFFICES AT WORK YOU COULDN'T BRING BECAUSE THEY'RE PLANNING EVENTS. CAN Y'ALL AGREE WITH ME THAT IN WHATEVER ROOM YOU WALK, AND IF JANET HOLIDAY IS THERE, SHE IS THE BRIGHTEST AND WARMEST RAY OF SUNSHINE.
AND SHE'S THE -- [APPLAUSE] AND I'VE JUST BEEN SO IMPRESSED TO BE ABLE TO WATCH YOU, YOUR STRATOSPHERIC SUCCESS. I THINK YOU'RE GETTING STARTED, JANET, I REALLY DO. CONGRATULATIONS. I CAN'T HELP BUT COMMENT, DUDE, YOU'RE OUTNUMBERED. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I'M SO PROUD OF Y'ALL.
I REALLY AM. CONGRATULATIONS, JANET. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THIS IS SO EXCITING BECAUSE I FIRST GOT TO WORK WITH JANET WHEN WE HAD A TECH BLOCK EVENT. JANET, WHAT YOU WERE MENTIONING ABOUT THESE EVENTS REALLY SHAPE OUR STORIES AND HELPS TELL OUR STORIES, GIVES US EXPERIENCES OF JUST BIG EVENTS THAT HAPPEN IN SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY. I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED WORKING WITH THE CE GROUP BECAUSE Y'ALL'S ATTENTION TO DETAIL, THE HIGH QUALITY THAT YOU ALL HAVE EVENT AFTER EVENT AFTER EVENT REALLY GOES NOTICED AND HELPS MAKE ALL OF THESE EVENTS JUST PERFECT.
I LOVE ALL THE WOMEN HERE DOING AN AMAZING JOB TO HELP SHAPE THIS STORY FOR SAN ANTONIANS IN ALL THE THINGS WE DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS AND EXCITED TO
CELEBRATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS ON 35 AMAZING YEARS.
WE GET TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF THE EVENTS THAT Y'ALL PUT ON IN DISTRICT 1, INCLUDING ONE THAT YOU RECENTLY HELPED WITH, THE FINAL FOUR. THE FINAL FOUR, WE GOT SO MUCH AMAZING FEEDBACK IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW SMOOTHLY IT RAN, HOW EVERYTHING JUST FUNCTIONED SO WELL AND WE KNOW THAT WAS IN LARGE PART TO YOU. I KNOW YOU GUYS ALSO HELPED WITH OUR BROADWAY REOPENING, AND THAT WAS ALSO AN AMAZING EVENT TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY WHAT A STREET COMPLETELY DONE COULD LOOK LIKE. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO. ALL THE AMAZING WORK. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, DON'T SEND A MAN TO DO A WOMAN'S JOB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
[LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
NONE TAKEN. >> GARCIA: CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CE GROUP.
I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU ALL HERE TODAY TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO CELEBRATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO. YOU ALL BRING HAPPINESS TO THE COMMUNITY.
I FEEL LIKE EVERY EVENT THAT YOU ALL PARTAKE IN JUST MAKES IT FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND SOMETIMES WE COULD BE HAVING A DIFFICULT DAY OR MAYBE WE TOOK A DIFFICULT VOTE AND WE ENDED UP GOING TO AN EVENT PUT ON BY YOU ALL AND IT MAKES US FEEL IN A HAPPY SPOT AGAIN.
JANET, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU SINCE I WAS AT THE HISPANIC CHAMBER AND SO A LOT OF THE EVENTS THAT WE COORDINATED TOGETHER BACK THEN AND THEN JUST THROUGHOUT YOUR HELP. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP ON IPW. I THINK THAT REALLY HELPED PUT SAN ANTONIO ON THE MAP FOR THE TOURISM WORLD AND IT WAS ALL OF YOU ALL. I WAS SO PROUD TO SHOWCASE SAN ANTONIO. EVEN A YEAR BEFORE IPW WAS HERE AND THE PLANNING THAT IT TOOK.
YOU ALL WERE ALWAYS THERE AND SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
IF YOU ALL SEE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND WE KNOW THAT THE RESIDUAL EXPOSURE WILL COME WITHIN THE THREE TO FIVE YEARS AFTER THAT EVENT, SO EVERY TIME THAT YOU SEE HOW WELL SAN ANTONIO IS DOING WITH VISITORS, IN PART IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE OF YOU ALL AND BECAUSE OF THE STORIES WRITTEN BY THE JOURNALISTS THAT CAME HERE FOR IPW.
CONGRATULATIONS AND HERE'S TO ANOTHER 35 YEARS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
SO, JANET, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW MANY YEARS AGO IT WAS.
I WALKED INTO THE STARS AT NIGHT BALLROOM WITH MY SISTER FOR AN EVENT AND IT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY. THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED I WANTED TO WORK FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND SELL THE CITY TO THE WORLD. THAT'S HOW I KNEW.
AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE ATMOSPHERE YOU SET UP AT THAT EVENT.
AND YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN -- AND I WORKED AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND YOUR TEAM WAS ALWAYS THERE
[01:05:02]
WORKING SO VERY HARD. AND THEN LATER I WOULD GET ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL AND I WOULD WALK INTO THE PORT AND YOU TRANSFORMED THAT FOR ONE OF THE EVENTS -- I THINK IT WAS THE OPENING OF THE PORT. AND I WAS LIKE, YEAH. THAT'S JANET.THAT'S THE CE GROUP. THIS IS WHAT THEY DO. THEY CREATE A MOMENT SO THAT YOU REMEMBER. AND YOU'RE LIKE -- YOU'RE FEELING GOOD.
YOU'RE MAKING MEMORIES AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME.
TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND TO FEEL LIKE -- TO SHUT OUT THE WORLD FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. CONGRATULATIONS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO 35-PLUS MORE YEARS OF JUST CREATING THAT EXPERIENCE, MAKING SURE THAT YOU GET IT. AND THE OTHER THING, JANET, IS YOU HAVE TAKEN THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NEXT LEVEL IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU HAVE DONE THAT. AND I KNOW THAT GROUPS HAVE COME, TAKEN AND SEEN WHAT THE CE GROUP HAS DONE, AND THEY REPLICATE THAT IN OTHER AREAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AND
BEING AN INNOVATOR ON THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
THANKS FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE OUR CITY SHINE. APPRECIATE Y'ALL.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. THAT IS ALL THE AGENDAS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. WE DO HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE. ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
TODAY'S VIDEO IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. IT REALLY IN KEEPING WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL SAID REGARDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. BUT THIS VIDEO CAME ABOUT BECAUSE ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WAS HALF PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NEWS -- IT WAS FOX 29, THE 9:00 NEWS, AND IT AIRED ON APRIL 2.
IT WAS UNDER THEIR PROGRAM CASH FOR KINDNESS. AS I WAS KIND OF HALF PAYING ATTENTION AND NOT EXACTLY FOLLOWING THE STORY, WHAT UNFOLDED WAS A REALLY NICE SEGMENT ON ONE OF OUR SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS. MARY SALINAS WHO HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY A LITTLE OVER 22 YEARS. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THESE CASH FOR KINDNESS SEGMENTS , THEY ARE GENERALLY NOMINATED BY FRIENDS OR STRANGERS WHO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT AN INDIVIDUAL DOES. AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT IN THIS CASE THERE WERE PARENTS WHO HAD NOMINATED MARY FOR HER WORK.
SHE WORKS PRIMARILY AT BRISCOE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OFF OF FLORES AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.
BUT IT WAS A REALLY NICE PIECE AND I THOUGHT AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS WOULD MAKE A GREAT EMPLOYEE VIDEO TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE SEGMENT, IT LASTED ABOUT FOUR MINUTES. IT'S A REALLY NICE DISPLAY OF ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE DO, OF ALL 13,000 EMPLOYEES AND HOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE JOBS MAKES AN IMPACT SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY. SO LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.
>> COME ON OUT. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU ONE OF THESE KIDS.
COME HERE. >> IT WORKS. AND JUST IN TIME FOR SOMETHING MARY NEVER EXPECTED. VIRGINIA HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT.
SHE IS THE ONE WHO NOMINATED MARY FOR CASH FOR KINDNESS. >> I HAVE SEVEN GRANDKIDS AND I WENT TO BRISCOE. MY AUNTS, UNCLES, BROTHERS. MY SON WENT THERE AND NOW MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAS BEEN GOING THERE SO IT'S JUST BEEN IN THE FAMILY.
>> A SCHOOL PASSED DOWN FOR GENERATIONS, WOVEN INTO HER FAMILY'S STORY.
AND AT THE HEART OF THAT STORY, MARY SALINAS. >> SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS. THAT SHOWS A LOT ON HER CARING FOR THE KIDS, BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT, SHE SHOWS UP FOR THEM, REGARDLESS OF, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER SHE MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH. I'M JUST SAYING. AND SHE STILL GREETS.
WE TELL EACH OTHER HI. WHEN SHE'S CROSSING WITH THE KIDS, SHE TELLS THEM HAVE A GOOD DAY. SHE TELLS THEM SOMETHING, EACH CHILD.
>> WALSH: SO REALLY NICE SEGMENT 300 MARYS ACROSS THE CITY AND IT'S JUST A REMINDER THAT WITH THE 13,000 JOBS, A LOT OF THEM MAY NOT BE HIGH PROFILE BUT THEY ARE MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU
[01:10:03]
VERY MUCH, ERIK. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR A POINT OF PERSONALPRIVILEGE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
TODAY FOR A CAUSE CERTAINLY WORTHY OF PROCLAMATION, I WANT TO WELCOME COLONIAL MISSIONS, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN SAN ANTONIO AND HEADQUARTERED IN DISTRICT 2. THEY ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND ARE JOINING US TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE NATIONAL WEEK OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND PEOPLE. IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE HONOR SUCH AN OCCASION TO A NEAR EMPTY COUNCIL CHAMBER. THIS IS THE ANCESTRAL TERRITORY AND SAN ANTONIO IS STILL HOME TO 30,000 NATIVE PEOPLE. THIS CRISIS STEMS FROM COLONIALIZATION AND MISSIONIZATION WITH INDIGENOUS WOMEN FACING MURDER RATES THREE TIMES THAT OF WHITE WOMEN AND INDIGENOUS MEN FACING THE SECOND HIGHEST RATE OF HOMICIDE DESPITE MAKING UP A FRACTION OF THE POPULATION. WE RECOGNIZE THESE VIOLENT TRUTHS AND MAKE A COMMITMENT TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST ALL PEOPLE AND IN PARTICULAR NATIVE PEOPLES WHO STILL FACE CONTINUING COLONIAL VIOLENCE. I WANT TO WELCOME THE TEAM WHO
HAS A FEW WORDS TO SHARE WITH US ALL. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
COUNCILMAN JALEN, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RAMON VASQUEZ AND MY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE OVER 10,000 YEARS IN THIS PLACE WE CALL SAN ANTONIO AS WE KNOW AS YANAWANA.
REALLY PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
JUST SAY AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF THIS TYPE OF WORK THAT WE DO.
IT'S DIFFICULT IN THIS WORK AROUND THIS EPIDEMIC FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND PEOPLE SPANS NOT JUST ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT ACROSS THE CONTINENT, ACROSS TURTLE ISLAND. THIS IMPACT ACROSS BORDERS IS CRITICAL AND SIGNIFICANT.
IN A CITY OF ROUGHLY ABOUT 65,000 NATIVE-IDENTIFIED PEOPLE ACROSS SAN ANTONIO IN A STATE OF 800,000-PLUS NATIVE-IDENTIFIED PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE, THIS WORK IS CRITICAL. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS PROJECT IS YOUNG FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. AS WE CELEBRATE 30 YEARS, WE ONLY STARTED THIS PROJECT IN 2020, 2021 BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY ONLY ONE OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THAT'S A BIG DEFICIT. HOW CAN ONE ORGANIZATION SERVICE 800,000 NATIVE-IDENTIFIED PEOPLE. SO WE NEED MORE AND MORE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE CONSCIOUSNESS AROUND NOT JUST THIS ISSUE BUT BUILD PRACTICES, POLICY, LEGISLATION THAT HELPS SUPPORT THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF THE FIRST PEOPLES OF NOT JUST SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, BUT THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ACROSS THIS LAND.
OPPORTUNITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT EVENTS WE HAVE COMING UP THIS WEEK. PARTICULARLY WE KICKOFF WITH OUR PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE STEPS OF CITY HALL ON MAY 5. AGAIN,.
LANGUAGE], APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME AND OPPORTUNITY. >> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU, COUNC COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. MY NAME IS MAYA.
I SERVE AS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE AMERICAN INDIANS IN TEXAS AT THE SPANISH COLONIAL MISSIONS AND I AM THE LEAD FOR THE INITIATIVE.
IT TRANSLATES TO PEOPLE OF THE EARTH MOTHER, AS RAMON MENTIONED, IS THE LANGUAGE OF OUR NATION. THIS INITIATIVE HOUSES ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING AROUND MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND PEOPLE. WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION THAT UNFORTUNATELY WAS NOT READ TODAY.
DECLARING MAY 5 THROUGH MAY 9 THE WEEK OF ACTION FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO. THIS PROCLAMATION IS NOT MERELY SYMBOLIC, IT IS A NECESSARY PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AN ONGOING AND DEEPLY PAINFUL EPIDEMIC THAT IMPACTS
[01:15:01]
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACROSS THE CONTINENT. INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND PEOPLE FACE SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF VIOLENCE AND MURDER IN THE UNITED STATES AND YET THEIR CASES OFTEN GO IGNORED, MISCLASSIFIED, AND ARE NOT INVESTIGATED.IN TEXAS AND RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, NATIVE FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN URBAN AREAS, ARE LEFT TO SEARCH FOR LOVED ONES WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND WITHOUT INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT. AT AITSCM WE ARE WORKING TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS HORRIFIC CRISIS, TO INCREASE EDUCATION FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TO ULTIMATELY WORK FOR JUSTICE. THIS WEEK OF ACTION IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
AND THE SUPPORT OF NOT ONLY THE MAYOR BUT OF THE ENTIRE COUNCIL IS CRITICAL.
THIS IS NOT JUST A NATIVE ISSUE, THIS IS A COMMUNITY SAFETY ISSUE, A GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE ISSUE, AND A RACIAL EQUITY ISSUE. WE AT AITSCM ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS AND WE ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND THE PEOPLE WE SERVE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS. OUR INDIGENOUS RELATIVES WHO HAVE GONE MISSING, WHO HAVE FACED UNTHINKABLE VIOLENCE MATTER TO US AND THIS PROCLAMATION IS A FIRST STEP IN SHOWING THAT THEY MATTER TO YOU TOO. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO UPLIFT AN ONGOING AND ACTIVE CASE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. SARA ISABEL MARTINEZ, 17 , HAS BEEN MISSING FROM FORT WORTH, TEXAS SINCE DECEMBER 29. AND THE ORGANIZATION THAT RAMON MENTIONED, M MIW TEXAS IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO HELP HER FAMILY RECEIVE JUSTICE, AND WE
SHOULD ALL BE DOING THE SAME. THANK YOU. >> ONE LAST THING.
I DIDN'T TELL THEM I WAS GOING TO TALK. MY NAME IS SABRINA AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION. I'M ALSO THE CERTIFIED STORYTELLER SO IT WOULD BE REMISS FOR US TO NOT END WITH A QUOTE BY AUDREY LORD. SHE SAYS I AM NOT FREE, WHILE ANY OTHER WOMAN IS UNFREE. EVEN IF HER SHACKLES ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN MY OWN.
I SAY THIS TO SAY THAT AITSCM IS NOW LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH HAS BEEN A HISTORICALLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WOULD ALSO BE REMISS OF ME TO NOT MENTION THAT MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES FOR BLACK WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND JUST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE FOR BLACK WOMEN ON THE EAST SIDE AND IN THIS CITY AS WELL. WHEN YOU SUPPORT MMIW AND WE'RE UPLIFTING THIS CAMPAIGN, WE ALSO WANT TO UPLIFT OUR SISTERS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO SUFFERING THE SAME INJUSTICES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
FIRST, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMEND OUR CITY CLERK'S OFFICE FOR THE FIRST THEY KNEW YOU WERE COMING WAS AN HOUR AGO. BUT GAVE ME THE PROCLAMATION RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M GOING TO READ IT PUBLICLY AT THIS MOMENT. WHEREAS THE AMERICAN INDIANS IN TEXAS AT THE SPANISH 2025. AND WHEREAS MANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING NEIGHBORS, COLLEAGUES, AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE SURVIVORS OR FAMILY TO SURVIVORS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AS WELL AS HAVING ESCAPED OTHER TRAUMATIC ENVIRONMENTS. AND WHEREAS THE DISAPPEARANCE AND MURDERS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IS OFTEN CONNECTED TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR TRAFFICKING WHICH ARE DIRECT THREATS TO TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND HUMANITY AND COMPROMISE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO HEAL FROM TRAUMATIC AND GENOCIDE.
THEY HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE GROWING MOVEMENT TO FIGHT THE EPIDEMIC WHICH DESIRES TO BRING TO THE FOREFRONT AWARENESS OF THE TERRIBLE VIOLENCE EXPERIENCED BY NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN AND PEOPLE. WHEREAS AITSCM IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN NORTHEAST MEXICO. IT WORKS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THEIR CULTURE AND TRADITIONS OF THE PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN THE SPANISH COLONIAL MISSIONS. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 5, 2025 TO BE NATIONAL MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND PEOPLES AWARENESS DAY IN SAN
[01:20:01]
ANTONIO, TEXAS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS AND ADVOCACY. RAMON, SABRINA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU CAN HANG OUT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION ISSUES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. BEFORE I CALL US BACK THERE, WE MISSED JOHN COURAGE'S BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK SO LET'S SING HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
[SINGING] MAYOR. I DON'T NECESSARILY CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY ANYMORE, I CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARIES OF MY BIRTHDAY.
LAST WEEK WAS THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF MY 39TH BIRTHDAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE TIME IS NOW 10:32 A.M. ON THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS CHAPTER 551 AND DIB RATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087, THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.72, AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO
EMERGENCY >> WHYTE: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
THE TIME IS NOW 2:02 P.M. AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION. IN OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND I'M
GOING TO NOW HAND IT OVER TO MR. MAYOR RON NIRENBERG. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.