May 08, 2025 Sesión A del Consejo de la Ciudad

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING.

WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:12 A.M. ON THE 8TH DAY OF MAY 2025. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.

MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION.

WE HAVE SEVERAL SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY. WE'VE GOT A FEW THINGS TO GET THROUGH AND THEN WE'LL START TO RECOGNIZE FOLKS. BUT FIRST IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR, THIS IS GOING TO BE I THINK THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING WHERE I GET TO INVITE AN INVOCATOR AND IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOR TO INVITE A FRIEND TO THE ENTIRE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, BUT PERHAPS A FRIEND TO THE WORLD. AND THAT IS JOHN GARLAND, WHO HAS SERVED AS THE PASTOR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO MENNONITE CHURCH SINCE 2016.

JOHN PASTORS FROM THE DISCIPLINE OF NO ACTION WITHOUT PRAYER, NO PRAYER WITHOUT ACTION. HIS APPLIED THEOLOGY INTERPRETS CHRISTIANITY AS A TRAUMA-TRANSFORMING FAITH MOVEMENT AND HE READS SCRIPTURE AS DIVINELY INSPIRED TO AND THROUGH TRAUMATIZED COMMUNITIES. HE UNDERSTANDS HOSPITALITY, STORY, AND PRAYER-CENTERED COMMUNITY AS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS OF HEALING.

JOHN IS CURRENTLY DOING DOCTORAL WORK ON COMMUNAL TRAUMA, SPIRITUAL RESILIENCY, AND THE PSALMS AND HE IS THE 2020 PUBLIC CITIZEN OF THE YEAR.

HE HAS TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY IN CENTRAL AMERICA, VISITING RURAL CHURCHES THAT ARE LIVING THROUGH VIOLENCE, POVERTY, AND GOVERNMENTAL FAILURES. BEFORE SAN ANTONIO, JOHN WAS A PASTOR AT THE IGLESIA MENONITA BUENAS NUEVAS IN THE BORDER COMMUNITY OF SAN JUAN, TEXAS.

AND WHILE PASTORING ON THE BORDER, JOHN WORKED AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE, A VEGETABLE FARMER, AND A CHILD NUTRITIONIST. JOHN GREW UP IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, THE SON OF A BIBLE SCHOLAR AND SOCIAL WORKER AND HIS FAMILY MOVED TO BAYLOR UNIVERSITY IN WACO, TEXAS. JOHN ATTENDED BAYLOR AND WORKED ON THE WORLD HUNGER RELIEF FARM WHICH PREPARED HIM FOR HIS FIRST SERVICE PROJECTS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND EXPOSED HIM TO THE ANABAPTIST THEOLOGY PRACTICE. AND SO PLEASE WELCOME OUR FRIEND, JOHN GARLAND, PASTOR OF MENNONITE CHURCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> WE PRAY TOGETHER. GOD, WE BEGIN THIS SESSION IN GRATITUDE.

WE GIVE THANKS FOR ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE HELD BY THIS BODY.

ALL THE MONETARY RESOURCES, ALL THE CULTURAL RESOURCES, ALL OF THESE EXAMPLES OF POWER.

BUT, GOD, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE TRUST. WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE TRUST THAT THIS CITY PLACES IN THIS BODY. SOMETIMES THAT TRUST IS EXPRESSED AS BITTER COMPLAINT, SOMETIMES IT IS EXPRESSED AS ADULATION.

IT IS HOPE. AND THE TRUST OF THIS CITY IS PLACED IN THIS BODY AND IN

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YOU GUIDING THEM. BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE IT HAS BEEN A HARD SEASON.

WE HAVE COME THROUGH A HARD SEASON IN THE NAME OF POLITICS AND IN THE NAME OF CAMPAIGNING. THERE HAVE BEEN LONG, LONG DAYS AND HARD MEETINGS.

THERE HAVE BEEN REAL INSULTS AND THERE HAS BEEN REAL HARM AND INJURY.

WE CALL THEM POLITICIANS, GOD, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE YOUR CHILDREN.

AND EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS A HUMAN BEING. AND WE LIFT UP THE WOUNDS OF THIS LAST SEASON. WE LIFT UP THE REAL HURT, KNOWING THAT THE ANXIETY AND THE ANIMOSITY, EVEN THE HATRED, GOD, IT CAN SIT ON OUR HEARTS LIKE A POISON.

AND SO WE HAND IT OVER TO YOU IN TRUST. TRUST THAT YOU WILL LEAD.

TRUST THAT YOU WILL HEAL. TRUST THAT YOU WILL LEAD THROUGH US AND THROUGH THIS BODY. AND, GOD, WE ALSO GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THE AIDES AND THE STAFFERS, ALL THE SECURITY PERSONNEL, ALL THE FOLKS UP IN THE OFFICES, ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT UNDERNEATH THE LIGHTS, WHO ARE NOT OFFERED THE MICROPHONES, BUT ARE WORKING SO HARD AND SHOWING UP EVERY DAY FOR THIS CITY. WE GIVE THANKS FOR THEM AND WE ASK THAT THE LIGHT OF YOUR FACE, THAT YOUR EYE WOULD BE ON THEM.

THAT THEY WOULD SEE THE GIFT OF BEING SEEN AND KNOWN AND LOVED.

GOD, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FINALITY OF THIS DAY AND THE SAYING OF FAREWELLS.

THERE WILL BE CHANGES OF PLAQUES AND REMOVALS OF NAMES, CHANGES IN TITLES.

GOD, WE ASK THAT IF THERE IS ANY GRIEF, THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD GRIEF.

AND IF THERE IS ANY RELIEF, THAT IT WOULD BE SURRENDER INTO YOUR PROVISION.

AND, GOD, I CALL OUT A BLESSING ON THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE SAYING GOOD-BYE TODAY.

I CALL OUT A BLESSING ON OUR BELOVED MAYOR. THESE YEARS OF SERVICE, THESE HOURS OF SERVICE, I CALL OUT A BLESSING AND I ASK, GOD, THAT THEY WOULD EXPERIENCE THIS GIFT OF BEING FULLY SEEN, FULLY KNOWN. NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR TITLES AND NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR POWER, TO BE FULLY KNOWN AND FULLY ADORED.

FULLY LOVED. AS THEY GIVE LOVE, AS THEY GIVE SERVICE, LET THEM RECEIVE THE GIFT OF BEING LOVED AND BEING SERVED BY YOU, GOD. WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD DESCEND ON THIS PLACE, FILL IT WITH WISDOM. FILL IT WITH PEACE.

FILL IT WITH JUSTICE. LET YOUR WILL BE DONE. I PRAY BY THE NAME OF THE SAVIOR, AMEN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR JOHN. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE NO MINUTES TO APPROVE TODAY, SO I'LL DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CONSENT AGENDA -- OR TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. WE HAVE ITEMS 3 AND 4, WHICH WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY. ITEM 5 FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING AND THEN OUR CONSENT AGENDA IS 6 THROUGH 17. SO AT THIS POINT I'LL ASK IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ITEM 9? ANY OTHERS? 8? I'VE GOT ITEMS 3, 4, 5, 8, AND 9 FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? 11. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, AND 11 FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

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THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, AND 11.

I'LL TAKE FOLKS -- WE'VE GOT A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT AND SO I'LL TAKE THEM NOW. WE'LL START WITH ITEM 16, WE HAVE REBECCA VIAGRAN, FORMER COUNCILMEMBER REBECCA VIAGRAN. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BRETT FINLEY.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE'RE ALL COMING UP AS A GROUP RIGHT NOW.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'VE GOT YOU, REBECCA. WE HAVE -- OH, EVERYBODY.

OKAY. >> YES. LEANNA PUENTE AS WELL AS BRETT

FINLEY AND STEPHANIE REYES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I ALSO HAVE THEY ARE THAD RUTHERFORD.

>> HE IS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE FLOOR

IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AS YOU'LL SEE HERE, WE ARE JOINED TODAY WITH A COALITION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NO. 16. THE CHANGING OF THE NAME AND RE-CLASSIFICATION OF THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN FOR SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY.

AT THIS MOMENT I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP, LEANNA PUENTE. ONE QUICK NOTE.

WE'RE ALSO REPRESENTED WITH SAMCO, THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SATX, PORT SAN ANTONIO AND OTHERS, ALL HERE IN UNITY FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS LEANNA PUENTE AND I LESSON ON THE BOARD OF THE SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP AND OF COURSE MY DAY JOB, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AT BROOKS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 16 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS IN RELATION TO THE SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY .

THIS INITIATIVE IS A VITAL STEP FORWARD. SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY ISN'T JUST ANOTHER ROADWAY, IT'S A STRATEGIC CORRIDOR THAT WILL CONNECT I-35 TO I-37 ON THE SOUTH SIDE. AND THEREFORE MAJOR EMPLOYMENT HUBS, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, HEALTHCARE, AND MANY GROWING NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S A LIFELINE INTO SOUTH TEXAS, THE SOUTH SIDE, AND ALL OF THE STATE. WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE HELPED LEAD THE CHARGE IN SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM AND LOOPING IN INCREDIBLE PARTNERS LIKE TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO, SOUTHWEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, UNIVERSITY HEALTH, JCB AND OTHERS.

THEY REPRESENT THE REAL MOVEMENT. A&M SAN ANTONIO IS SURPASSING 8,000 STUDENTS AND THE INVESTMENT FROM UNIVERSITY HEALTH TO PALO ALTO HOSPITAL CLINIC SERVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY. YOU KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK AND THE REGION IS EXPECTING MORE THAN 10,000 HOME IN THE AREA IN THE COMING YEARS. RECLASSIFYING THE SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY ENHANCES OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORTS A VISION FOR LONG-TERM INCLUSIVE GROWTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN MOVING THIS FORWARD AND WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT. I'LL HAND IT OVER TO

MR. FINLEY. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS BRETT FINLEY. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AS SERVING AS THE PRESIDENCY OF THE METRO SA CHAMBERS, ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO MOBILITY COMMISSION.

OUR CEO IS UP FIGHTING FOR EVERY OUNCE AND DOLLAR FOR TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS HERE IN AUSTIN. THERE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GROWTH ON THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY SIDE OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, AND IT'S TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS LIKE THIS WE FEEL LIKE HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED BY CITY STAFF ON THE PRIVATE SIDE. I KNOW THERE ARE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STUDIES BEING DONE, SHOUT OUT TO PAPE-DAWSON ENGINEERS TO PUT THIS PROCESS IN MOTION, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS UP HERE.

ALONG WITH THAT GROWTH FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, THOUGH, COMES THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT AS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE TO SPRAWL ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY THAT BECOMES INCREDIBLY CRUCIAL, SO PRIORITIZING THESE EFFORTS IS CLEAR FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS EVERY OTHER ORGANIZATION UP HERE INCLUDED ON THIS PROJECT. WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT PRIORITIZING THESE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE OVER THE NEXT MULTIPLE DECADES AS GROWTH ALL OVER THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO STEPHANIE REYES, PRESIDENT AND CEO WITH THE REAL

ESTATE COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO. >> BRETT IS MUCH TALLER THAN I AM.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM STEPHANIE REYES.

I AM PROUD PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO.

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THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE REGION. ONE THAT PROMISES IMPROVED MOBILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND CONNECTIVITY WHICH ARE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE KNOW THIS WILL REQUIRE SUPPORT AND INVESTMENT FROM MANY PARTNERS, LOCAL AND STATE. IN FACT, REXA WAS UP AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE EDUCATING THEM ON HOW SIGNIFICANT OF AN IMPACT THIS PROJECT WOULD HAVE ON THE REGION. I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES TODAY.

THIS PROJECT WILL BE A CORNERSTONE FOR SOUTH SIDE PROSPERITY AND A VITAL STEP FORWARD FOR A MORE CONNECTED, INCLUSIVE, AND ECONOMICALLY VIBRANT SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> AGAIN, MAYOR, THANK YOU. MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN, WE REPRESENT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED IN THE AREA. THE RESIDENTS, THE STUDENTS, THE COMPANIES, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AREAS, AND WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS ALIGNS TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THE TEXAS A&M REGIONAL PLAN. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK CITY STAFF, CAT, JOHN, AND ALEX WHO HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRIORITIZATION AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AS WELL AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO PULL ITEM 12 AND SO THE MOTION WILL BE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, AND 12. 12 NEEDS TO BE READ IN WITH SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT, SO WE'LL MOVE NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. OH, I'M SORRY.

JACK FINGER, ITEM 17.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND ONE ITEM ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IS THE ITEM WAY DOWN AT THE BOTTOM THERE.

IT'S ITEM 17. WHAT IS IT? MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, SHOW US WHAT THAT IS IN THE UNDERLINED AREA THERE. IT SAYS ORDINANCE CREATING THE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TO PROVIDE INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON POLICIES AND OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING VULNERABLE ROAD USERS.

RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. WHEN I THINK OF THE -- ALL THE ROAD USERS WE HAVE OUT THERE, I THINK OF MOTORISTS AND CYCLISTS AND EVEN THE BUS RIDERS.

SO I WANT TO SEE THIS COMMISSION THAT YOU'RE CREATING, I WANT TO SEE WHO IS GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, THE NEXT PAGE THERE, WHAT DOES IT SHOW ON THE UNDERLINED AREA? WHAT DOES THAT LIST SHOW US THERE? WELL, THE FIRST POINT THERE IS TO TRANSIT RIDERS. SECOND POINT IS CYCLISTS.

NEXT ONE IS TRAFFIC ENGINEERS. ANOTHER ONE IS TRANSPORTATION FOR THE DISADVANTAGED.

BUT I KEPT LOOKING. I COULD NOT FIND THIS. WHERE'S THE ONE FOR THE MOTORISTS? YOU KNOW, THE 99% OF THE PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL ON ROADS, THEY TRAVEL IN CARS WITH THEIR OWN VEHICLES. YEAH, RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. I'M WONDERING Y'ALL AREN'T PREJUDICE TOWARDS MOTORISTS, ARE YOU? I MEAN, IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER, I WOULD SAY Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO GET US OUT OF OUR CARS. NAH, Y'ALL WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE THE MOTORIST THE DISADVANTAGED PERSONS WITHOUT ON THIS MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. HUH? WELL, LET'S SEE. ANYBODY FROM ANY OF YOUR DISTRICTS, LIKE MAYBE FROM THE GREAT WONDERFUL DISTRICT, DISTRICT 10 HAS ANYTHING TO SAY.

OR MAYBE ADDRESS THIS PROPERLY. THANK YOU.

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

THERE IS NOW OUR MOTION ON THE FLOOR, WHICH IS ALL CONSENT ITEMS SAVE FOR 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, AND 12. WE'LL TAKE UP COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE REMAINING

ITEMS. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

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WE HEARD ABOUT IT FROM THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WE HAVE LETTERS TO SUBMIT. DO Y'ALL HAVE THESE? SUBMIT INTO RECORD.

THIS INITIATIVE IS ONGOING EFFORTS TO PROACTIVELY SUPPORT REGIONAL MOBILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING. THE ONE THING I DO WANT TO STRESS IS THAT THE EAST-WEST CONNECTOR WOULD NOT JUST HELP THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUT WOULD HELP SOUTH TEXAS AND THE STATE OF TEXAS IN GENERAL. AND WE DO WANT ALL SORTS OF MULTIMODAL PIECES OF TRANSPORTATION WORKING AND WE KNOW THAT OUR VEHICLES ARE ONE OF THE USES AND TRUCKS ARE ONE OF THE USES TO DO THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THIS FORWARD, MAKING THIS PART OF OUR PLAN, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THE STATE ON THIS ALSO.

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

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

THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT. ITEM NO. 6, THE DISTRICT 5 COMMUNITY IS EAGER TO APPROVE THE FUNDING FOR BENAVIDES PARK.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PARKS TEAM IN ENGAGING COMMUNITY. IT WAS A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION IN WHICH WE BROUGHT IN YOUTH USING THE PARK TO GIVE INPUT ON WHAT THEY ENVISION WITH THIS BOND FUNDING. WITH THIS FUNDING WE'RE GOING TO SEE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, SIDEWALKS, AND SO MUCH MORE. ULTIMATELY WHAT THE YOUTH DETERMINED IS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE EXPANSION OF A SKATE PARK HERE.

WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS FUNDING TO INITIATE CONSTRUCTION OVER AT BENAVIDES PARK. I'M GRATEFUL TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 10 AND WANTED TO THANK THE JUDGE AND HER STAFF FOR ENSURING WE'RE PREPARING AND TAKING CARE OF SAN ANTONIO YOUTH, PARTICULARLY OUR AT-RISK YOUTH. THEIR SENIOR PROGRAM BRINGS RESOURCES TO STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO TRUANCY COURT, PROVIDING THEM WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S SHARING RESOURCES LIKE READY TO WORK OR ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL OR NHSD RESOURCES. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES, NOT ONLY TO GO AND ENSURE THAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE GETTING CONNECTED TO SERVICES, BUT THE FAMILIES AS WELL.

SO JUST GRATEFUL THAT THIS WILL BRING IN FIVE MORE POSITIONS TO HELP WITH JUVENILE CASE MANAGEMENT AND OUTREACH FOCUSING ON MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCES, AND OF COURSE THE ROOT ISSUES. NO DOUBT MANY SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC PRESSURE AND OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH FALL IN BETWEEN THAT FEELING THAT PRESSURE. LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT 12 AND THANK COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR LEADING THE CHARGE IN TERMS OF THE LIENS.

AND COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA FOR AGENDAIZING THE ITEM IN THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMITTEE.

GRATEFUL FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON ITEM 12. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO JUST SPOKE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NO. 16, WHICH IS THE EAST-WEST CORRIDOR.

EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS, FINALLY.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A REALLY LONG TIME TO COME TO FRUITION BUT IT'S IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO THE SOUTH SIDE BUT TO SAN ANTONIO AND TO SOUTH TEXAS.

AND SO I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO FORMER COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA VIAGRAN FOR LEADING THE CHAMBERS. THE SOUTH TEXAS PARTNERSHIP WAS REALLY CRITICAL IN THIS AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE IN THIS AREA. AND ALSO TO ERIK AND JENNA AND ALEX AND JOHN AND REPRESENTATIVE LUJAN WHO HAS A HUGE ROLE MOVING THIS FORWARD.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PARTNERS AT TOYOTA, JCB, TEXAS A&M, PALO ALTO, BROOKS, AND PORT SAN ANTONIO. THE SOUTH SIDE IS BOOMING. THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE SOUTH SIDE. GROWTH IS HAPPENING ALL AROUND FROM I-35 TO I-37 AND TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH THIS IS THE ACTION THAT WE'RE TAKING TODAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS IS MUCH NEEDED. WHEN COMPLETED, THIS PROJECT WILL BE THE CATALYST THAT TRANSFORMS THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO INTO THE CENTER OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IN TEXAS WHILE ALSO ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.

LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT MORE UPDATES ON THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU.

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

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

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 7 BECAUSE I'M PROUD TO HAVE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM IN DISTRICT 7. THE TEXAS ANTI-GANG PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MULTI-AGENCY COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO COMBATING GANGS IN TEXAS. WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS NEXT TO THE FIELD OFFICE IN DISTRICT 7. I WANT TO THANK SAPD, THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ALL OTHER AGENCIES THAT COLLABORATE ON THIS EFFORT.

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

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

I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 13 TODAY, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF CHRISTOPHER MAMMEN. THE HISTORIC AND DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION IS SO IMPORTANT FOR DISTRICT 1 BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO PRESERVE THE CULTURE AND CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR AFFORDABILITY AND ALLOWING FOR CONTINUOUS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WE KNOW WE NEED. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. HE HAS WORKED PREVIOUSLY WITH READY TO WORK, WHICH IS A PROGRAM WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT SHORTLY, AND ALSO IN THE EDUCATION SPACE.

I KNOW HE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT LEADER THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, AND 12.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE ELECTRONIC VOTE.

I'M TOLD THAT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SHAKINESS SO WE MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO TRADITIONAL METHODS IF IT DOESN'T WORK, BUT WE'LL TRY IT FOR NOW. AND COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: YEA.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SUCCESS. MOTION APPROVED. MOTION PASSES.

UNANIMOUS. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TODAY BUT REALLY BRIEFLY WE DO HAVE ITEMS 8 AND 9 FOR PROCEDURAL PURPOSES.

I'M GOING TO PULL THOSE UP FIRST SO FOLKS CAN MOVE ON AND GET BACK TO WORK WHO ARE WAITING ON THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS. IT'S JUST PROCEDURAL.

LET ME CALL UP ITEM 8. >> CLERK: ITEM 8 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION ON BEHALF OF CPS ENERGY THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTERESTS IN LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES INVOLVING FIVE PERMANENT ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION EASEMENTS AND FOUR TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS ON PRIVATELY-OWNED REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF BEXAR COUNTY IN NCB 17634, 17648, 14915, 17640, BEGINNING AT THE EXISTING CPS ENERGY'S CAGNON TO HELOTES TRANSMISSION LINE ALONG WISEMAN ROAD EAST, 1.24 MILES FOLLOWING WISEMAN ROAD TO THE SAT15 PROPOSED WISEMAN SUBSTATION TRACT, DECLARING THE PROJECT TO BE FOR PUBLIC USE AND A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION

. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

>> I MOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN BY CPS ENERGY TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROPERTY TO THE HELOTES LINE PROJECT BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING REAL PROPERTY EASEMENTS. FIVE PERMANENT ELECTRIC EASEMENTS AND FOUR TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS . DESCRIBED BY THE CITY CLERK WEST SIDE OF BEXAR COUNTY IN NCB17634, 17648, 14915, AND 17640 BEGINNING AT THE EXISTING CPS ENERGY'S CAGNON TO HELOTES TRANSMISSION LINE ALONG WISEMAN ROAD EAST, APPROXIMATELY 1.24 MILES FOLLOWING WISEMAN ROAD TO THE SAT15 PROPOSED WISEMAN TRACT.

THIS IS DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT MAP AND PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY THE EXHIBITS

ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED IN THIS MOTION . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 8 AS READ. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE -- COUNCILMEMBER

ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: I'M GOOD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COULD YOU

GIVE US YOUR VOTE? >> GAVITO: YEA. SORRY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.

ITEM 9. >> CLERK: ITEM 9 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION ON BEHALF OF CPS ENERGY, THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTERESTS IN LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES INVOLVING 18 PERMANENT ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION EASEMENTS

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ACQUISITION . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

>> GARCIA: I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN BY CPS ENERGY TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROJECT FOR THE HOWARD TO LEON CREEK PHASE 2 TRANSMISSION PROJECT BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY DESCRIBED BY

THE CITY CLERK AND INCORPORATED AS PART OF THIS MOTION. >> CLERK: THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BEXAR COUNTY IN NCB11265, 11300, 11298, 11296, 11268 BEGINNING AT THE LEON CREEK SUBSTATION ALONG I-35 TO TRANSMISSION STRUCTURE 17 AT LEON CREEK CONSISTING OF 18 PERMANENT ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION EASEMENTS AND FOUR TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS NEAR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4. THIS PROPERTY IS DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT MAP AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED AND

INCORPORATED AS PART OF THE MOTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 9 . ANY DISCUSSION?

HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: YEA.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL NOW PROCEED WITH RECOGNIZING OUR GUESTS TODAY. SO IF YOU'RE FILTERING OUT, PLEASE, IF YOU COULD KEEP THE VOLUME DOWN. YOU KNOW, OCCASIONALLY HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL WE ARE SO IN SYNC WITHOUT SPEAKING. A NUMBER OF US ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME ENDS, AND THOSE ARE RARE TIMES BUT THEY SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

ONE OF THOSE TIMES IS NOW. SO I WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FILE A CCR. BUT IT WAS ALSO ALONG THE LINES THAT I THINK EVERY CITIZEN IN SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN THINKING, WHICH IS THAT ONE OF THE GREAT PILLARS OF OUR COMMUNITY, GREGG POPOVICH, DESERVES HIS DAY IN THE SUN, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AND SO WHILE I'M SITTING IN THIS SEAT, I PLAN TO DO THAT AT LEAST ONCE.

AND SO IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION WHICH WILL BE MADE, HOPEFULLY MORE RIGID WITHIN OUR STRUCTURE OF THE CITY AS THAT CCR MOVES THROUGH THE PIPELINE. FOR TODAY, WHEREAS GREG CHARLES COACH POPOVICH IN HIS LEADERSHIP REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF OUR CITY AND HUMANITY. AND WHEREAS COACH POP HAS TAUGHT US THAT REACHING THE PINNACLE OF SUCCESS IS MORE OF A CELEBRATION OF YOUR DEDICATION, CONSISTENCY, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIFTED YOU UP THAN IT IS ABOUT YOUR TROPHY OR AN INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADE. WHEREAS COACH POP SHOWED THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION AND THE WORLD THAT TALENT COULD BE FOUND IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE.

WHEREAS COACH POP IS ONE OF THE BEST AMBASSADORS FOR SAN ANTONIO, MILITARY CITY, USA.

HE'S AN AIR FORCE VETERAN AND A GRADUATE OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND IN 2007 HE RECEIVED THE ACADEMY'S DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD, ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS OF THE ACADEMY THAT BESTOWS UPON ITS GRADUATES WHOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INSPIRES OTHERS AND ELEVATES THE ACADEMY'S REPUTATION. OVER 29 SEASONS COACH POP HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO OVER 200 PLAYERS. HE WAS NAMED NBA COACH OF THE YEAR THREE TIMES, SERVED AS A GOLD MELDIST HEAD COACH FOR THE TEAM USA, HE WAS A HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE, THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE HALL OF FAME AMONG AMERICAN SPORTS, AND HE HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE QUICKEST EJECTION IN NBA HISTORY, 63 SECONDS.

WHEREAS IN 2019, COACH POP BECAME THE ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH IN NBA HISTORY FOR PLAYOFF SEASONS COMBINED. HE EARNED THE RECORD FOR THE MOST WINS.

COACH POP IS THE TROPHIES. HE IS ONE OF FIVE COACHES IN THE 78-YEAR HISTORY OF THE NBA TO HAVE ONE FIVE TITLES. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SHALL ENSURE THERE TO BE A COACH POP DAY HERE IN THE ALAMO CITY EVERY JANUARY 28 ON HIS BIRTHDAY.

[00:35:04]

SOME OF THE CAUSES THAT ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO COACH POP INCLUDE SHOES THAT FIT, HAVEN FOR HOPE, CHAMPIONS AGAINST HUNGER AND SO MANY MORE. WHEREAS WE WILL ALL KEEP POUNDING THE ROCK, COACH. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 28 OF EACH YEAR TO BE COACH POP DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, SINCE SHE HAS FILED OFFICIAL LOCAL LEGISLATION TO MAKE THAT

PART OF OUR LAW HERE . COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNITION OF COACH GREGG POPOVICH.

WE ALL KNOW HE HAS A HEART OF GOLD MIXED WITH THE HEART OF A CHAMPION.

WHILE WE COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HIS COURTSIDE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND JUST HOW HE CONTINUES TO BE A CHAMPION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE KNOW THAT HIS WORK TRANSCENDS BASKETBALL. YOU HIT MANY OF THE POINTS WITHIN YOUR COMMENTS AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO GROW, WE CONTINUE TO HONOR THE WORK AND THE HISTORY OF COACH GREGG POPOVICH. WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE IDEA IN OUR OFFICE, JUSTIN ASKED WHO SHOULD WE ASK TO SIGN ON.

AND I WAS LIKE DR. KAUR, DUH. EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES THAT SIGNED ON TO THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST. BUT JUST A WAY TO CONTINUE TO HONOR AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO JUST REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD. VERY SAD THAT YOU WON'T BE HERE TO MOVE THAT ALONG BUT WE KNOW IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

WELL, YOU HEARD IT FIRST, FOLKS. EVERY JANUARY 28.

SO MAKE SURE YOU MAKE PLANS. BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT PROCEED THROUGH OUR PROCESS HERE. BUT IT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR US TO GIVE BACK TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I THINK COACH POP WOULD WANT US TO DO .

RATHER THAN SHINE THE LIGHT ON HIMSELF PERSONALLY, HE WOULD ALSO GIVE IT BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY. ALL RIGHT. NOW LET ME CALL UP OUR MANY LEADERS FROM THE NATIVE AMERICAN ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TOGETHER WITH THE AUDIO] AND THE ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE MONTH OF MAY 2025 AS ASIAN AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, HONORING THEIR VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY'S CULTURE, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL FABRIC. WHEREAS THEY HAVE ENRICHED SAN ANTONIO THROUGH THEIR HARD WORK, INNOVATION, AND RESILIENCE, EXCELLING IN EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THE ARTS WHILE ALSO FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING AND DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR GREAT CITY. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ACKNOWLEDGES THE RICH TRADITIONS WHICH SERVES AS A BRIDGE CONNECTING GENERATIONS AND DIVERSE CULTURES.

WHEREAS THE STRUGGLES AND ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY INCLUDE OVERCOMING DISCRIMINATION AND CONTRIBUTING TO CIVIL RIGHTS ADVANCEMENTS SERVE AS A TESTAMENT TO THE PERSEVERANCE AND DEDICATION TO THE PRINCIPLES OF EQUALITY AND JUSTICE.

WHEREAS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND HERITAGE OF THE RESIDENTS TO ENSURE ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE VALUED AND RESPECTED.

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2025 TO BE ASIAN AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE DIVERSE HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVANCEMENT, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. WELCOME, Y'ALL . [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KEN, I'M THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT FOR THE CHINESE AMERICAN CITIZENS' ALLIANCE FOUNDED IN 1895. YES, I SAID 1895 . WE ARE THE LONGEST-SERVING ASIAN AMERICAN ADVOCACY GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS MORNING I'M HERE WITH MY FRIENDS TO COME THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION. FOR THE ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER

[00:40:06]

SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL AND YOU, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG. ON BEHALF OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF SAN ANTONIO, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.

YOUR SUPPORT MEANS SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WE CELEBRATE THE RICH CULTURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO STRONGER AND MORE VIBRANT.

AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE ASK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP IN HELPING US COMPLETE THE ASIAN CENTER, A PLACE FOR CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, THIS WILL BE A LASTING LEGACY OF THE GENERATION TO COME. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO MAYOR RON NIRENBERG FOR HIS DEDICATION AND SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. YOUR COMMITMENT TO UNITY, INCLUSION, AND PROCESS HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR CITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR STANDING FOR US.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ELISA CHAN AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO.

ON BEHALF OF ARCSA AND THE ENTIRE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO YOU AND TO CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS VOTED AND THE CITY'S GENEROUS FUNDING TO US HAS HELPED BROUGHT CLOSER FOR US TO ESTABLISH A DEDICATED CENTER THAT WILL HELP CELEBRATE, EDUCATE, BUT ALSO TO UNITE OUR VERY DIVERSE ASIAN COMMUNITY WHILE PROMOTING, FOSTERING CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING BUT ALSO APPRECIATION. I WANTED TO THANK MANY OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I'VE BEEN SITTING IN THAT SEAT BEFORE.

I KNOW HOW MUCH SACRIFICE YOU MAKE. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ADRIANA ROCHA FOR ADVOCATING FOR THIS PROJECT. MAYOR NIRENBERG, OBVIOUSLY YOU PUT SAN ANTONIO ON THE MAP INTERNATIONALLY. THANK YOU, BUT ALSO YOUR EFFORTS IN MAKING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MORE INCLUSIVE, DIVERSE, AND ALSO FRIENDLY.

MY COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU, MAKING DISTRICT 9 A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND TO WORK IN.

AND OF COURSE COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SAFETY, FIGHTING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. WE WORKED TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME.

THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE THE CITY A WONDERFUL CITY.

ALL IN ALL, THANK YOU ALL OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT WITH YOU. BUT, AGAIN, WE ARE ACTUALLY HOSTING OUR LAND EDUCATION FOR THIS NEW CENTER, MAY 19. AND WE WELCOME YOU TO ATTEND. WE APPRECIATE THIS PROCLAMATION, WHICH RECOGNIZES THE ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR ASIAN COMMUNITY.

AND THE COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND WE HOPE THAT THE ASIAN COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO HELP AND MAKE OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS VIBRANT CITY.

THANK YOU AGAIN AND GOD BLESS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DON'T GO ANYWHERE. WE HAVE TWO ASIAN AMERICANS ON THIS COUNCIL SO I'M GOING TO

TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ADVOCACY WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING TO BRING MORE HIGHLIGHT TO THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE AS THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN COUNCILMEMBER FOR SAN ANTONIO BUT ALSO WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS WE KNOW STUDENTS AND KIDS CAN'T BE WHAT THEY CAN'T SEE.

REPRESENTATION MATTERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORK AT ARCSA AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. IT'S REALLY AN HONOR. THANKS, MAYOR.

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

>> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND IT'S WHEN YOU TELL THE STORIES THAT WE FIND WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON. AND WE GET TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS. I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL PERSONALLY, BECAUSE DIFFERENT GROUPS HAVE INVITED ME TO DIFFERENT EVENTS AND I HAVE ENJOYED EACH ONE.

[00:45:04]

THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT EXAMPLE FOR COMMUNITY AND CULTURE AND HISTORY AROUND SAN

ANTONIO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WELCOMING INTO YOUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITIES. I WAS INTRODUCED TO JUST SO MANY ASPECTS OF YOUR CULTURE THAT I WILL JUST CONTINUE TO ALWAYS SHARE HOW SPECIAL YOU ALL MAKE SAN ANTONIO. AND THEN I ALSO -- WHOEVER TAKES OVER AS LIAISON -- THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR MAKING ME THE LIAISON -- BUT WHOEVER TAKES OVER FOR LIAISON NEXT, THEY HAVE TO REALIZE Y'ALL HAVE AN EVENT EVERY MONTH. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND SO I'M JUST SO HONORED TO HAVE BEEN THE LIAISON FOR YOU ALL FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE ARCSA. I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU'LL GET TO HAVE A PLACE TO SHOWCASE YOUR CULTURE AND ALSO HAVE EVENTS.

SO THAT COMMUNITY SPACE THAT IS GOING TO BE CREATED AS A RESULT OF YOUR ADVOCACY WORK, I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOUR NAMES ARE SOMEWHERE ON A PLAQUE BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE INCREDIBLE AND I AM SO, SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT I GOT TO DO ALONGSIDE YOU ALL. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WELCOMING ME INTO YOUR COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALL OF YOU ARE LEADERS IN YOUR OWN RIGHT, I KNOW WITHIN YOUR INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES. BUT IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY. THAT'S THE NATURE OF, I THINK, SAN ANTONIO. ALL OF US WANT TO COME TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY, WHETHER YOU'RE ASIAN, HISPANIC, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF GROUP. AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED. I PARTICULARLY WANTED TO COMMEND FORMER COUNCILWOMAN CHAN. I KNOW YOU HAVE DONE A LOT TO TRY AND BRING ALL OF THESE GROUPS TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK ALL OF YOU. GO BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITIES AND LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE LOVED IN

SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

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

THE ROOTS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO ASIAN COMMUNITY GO BACK OVER 100 YEARS AND IT REALLY SHOWS IN THE FABRIC OF SAN ANTONIO. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I SEE JUST A SEA OF MY FRIENDS HERE AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS. I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE BEST ZONING COMMISSIONER EVER, KEN. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR DISTRICT 6.

WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE EVENTS WE HAVE ATTENDED AND I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE DIVERSE CULTURES IN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY. WHAT YOU GUYS DO TO MAKE US FEEL WELCOME AND AT HOME IN THE SPACES IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I ESPECIALLY THANK YOU THAT YOU ALWAYS FEED ME REALLY WELL. JUST INCREDIBLE FOOD.

THAT'S I KNOW IN A LOT OF CULTURES THAT'S HOW WE SHOW LOVE.

I FELT VERY LOVED IN ALL OF YOUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.

I WILL STILL BE GOING TO EVENTS AND BRING EVERYBODY I CAN BECAUSE THEY'RE SO MUCH FUN.

I THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THOUGHT THIS YEAR'S THEME OF [INDISCERNIBLE] IS MORE THAN FITTING. EQUITY AND INCLUSION, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO LIFT

EACH OTHER UP AND CELEBRATE CULTURES [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUED PROGRESS ON ARCSA AS WELL AS ALL THE WORK THAT THE ASIAN ALLIANCE DOES EVERY DAY. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. AND NOW WE GET TO CELEBRATE THE TWO LADIES WHO HAVE THEIR BACK TURNED ON YOU ALL EVERY SINGLE MEETING. THIS IS OUR MUNICIPAL CLERKS OFFICE. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL OBSERVE PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK, MAY 4 THROUGH 10, 2025 TO HIGHLIGHT THE VITAL ROLE AND SERVICES OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK. WHEREAS THE OFFICE OF THE PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERK IS THE OLDEST AMONG PUBLIC SERVANTS WITH THE MENTION OF THE POSITION IN THE BIBLE IN GREEK AND ROMAN HISTORY. WHEREAS THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK IS ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES, SERVING OVER 1.5 MILLION SAN ANTONIANS AND THE PUBLIC AS THE INFORMATION CENTER ON FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY. WHEREAS THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK PROVIDES A MULTITUDE OF SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING CONDUCTING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, RECORDING AND PRESERVING RECORDS, INCLUDING BIRTH AND

[00:50:04]

WHEREAS THE CLERKS HAVE PLEDGED TO BE MINDFUL OF THEIR IMPARTIALITY WHILE SERVING AS THE PROFESSIONAL LINK BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS, LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES, AND AGENCIES AT ALL LOCAL LEVELS. WHEREAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE INVALUABLE WORK OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS, ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF OUR CITIES. AND WHEREAS IT IS FITTING THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR AND THANK DEBBIE RACCA-SITTRE AND THE 40 MEMBERS OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK FOR THEIR ONGOING DEDICATION, KNOWLEDGE, AND TIRELESS SERVICE. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 4 THROUGH 10, 2025 TO BE MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS . CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL.

[APPLAUSE] AND IT'S NOT JUST THE TWO OF THEM, IT'S A WHOLE TEAM OF 40-PLUS PEOPLE. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. DEBBIE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> WE HAVE 40 FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK. I'M DEBBIE RACCA-SITTRE, CITY CLERK. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR APPOINTING ME AS CITY CLERK AND I HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT BOSSES.

I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM. I HAVE A SMALL GROUP HERE THAT SUPPORTS THE CITY COUNCIL.

BUT I HAVE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FOLKS WHO WORKED ON TRYING TO GET US AN AWARD THIS YEAR.

SO I WANT TO THANK JAMIE NIETO AND HER TEAM WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND CEREMONIALS WHO PUT TOGETHER A REQUEST TO THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION, AND WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY THE EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR MUNICIPAL CLERKS. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK ERIK FOR HIS SUPPORT, AS ALWAYS, AND ALSO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, GUYS VERY MUCH. BEFORE YOU LEAVE, COUNCILMEMBER

VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. TEAM, BEFORE Y'ALL LEAVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK, YOUR GRACIOUSNESS WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNITY THAT COMES IN.

AND I KNOW THE TEAM THAT'S NOT HERE IS WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT SCARED TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL, GET THE SERVICES THAT Y'ALL OFFER. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS. AND YOU REALLY ARE ONE OF THOSE FRONT-FACING GROUPS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO WHEN THEY SEE YOU AND THEY HAVE THAT POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT BEING HERE AND BEING IN SAN ANTONIO. SO, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK DURING THE ELECTION CYCLE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WASN'T EASY. BUT WE -- I SO APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR EFFORTS. EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T GET TO SAY IT A LOT, I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS

WEEK. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THERE WAS A LINE IN THE PROCLAMATION THAT I WANTED TO REITERATE, WHICH IS WITHOUT YOU ALL WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GOVERN EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND SO I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT YOUR JOB IS AND HOW I COULD NEVER DO IT, BUT YOU ALL DO IT WITH SUCH GRACE AND KINDNESS AND EVERYTHING.

I WANT TO REITERATE THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BETTER CITY CLERK

THAT WE COULD HAVE BUT YOU, DEBBIE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WANT TO THANK THE CLERKS OFFICE AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT PUBLIC ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS, WHETHER IT'S ORDINANCES OR MEETING MINUTES IS THE BEDROCK OF DEMOCRACY. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING EFFICIENT WITH THE MINUTE KEEPING, WITH ENSURING THAT OUR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUESTS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. FOR ENSURING WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY BUT ACCESSIBILITY. WHETHER IT'S ENSURING THAT FOLKS KNOW HOW TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, REMINDING INDIVIDUALS OF WHEN THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO BEYOND THIS BUILDING OVER ON DE LA ROSA, CONNECTING FOLKS TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES, PASSPORTS.

JUST EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE ROLE THAT YOU PLAY NOT JUST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BUT DEMOCRACY AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE CITY CLERK, DEBBIE, THE WHOLE TEAM, YOU GUYS ARE THE STEADY HANDS OF CITY GOVERNMENT. I'M GOING TO SAY A LITTLE DRAMATIC BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THEY ARE GUARDIANS OF TRANSPARENCY, PROTECTORS OF

[00:55:05]

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE PROTECTORS OF DEMOCRACY AND IT'S FUNNY TO ME THAT YOU ARE BEING HONORED AND AURORA IS STILL WORKING. I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. Y'ALL HAVE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, ESPECIALLY DEBBIE.

YOU LEADERSHIP OF THE TEAM AND THE BIG CHANGES THAT YOU BROUGHT ABOUT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, CULTURALLY AND OF COURSE WITH ALL THE RECORDS. EVEN THE DIGITIZING OF THE RECORDS, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY INNOVATIVE. I REALLY -- IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH EVERY ONE OF YOU. EVEN SIGNING US UP FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO SIGN US UP FOR. I DO APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.

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

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

ARE WE GOOD ON SOUND? OKAY. WELL, I'LL JUST START.

WE OWE A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO DEBBIE, AURORA, AND EVERYBODY IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE -- [ECHO] THE CITY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT THE DILIGENT WORK. MY GODMOTHER SERVED SO I HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR OUR CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. IN FACT, THE CHAMBERS THE COUNCIL IS SITTING IN RIGHT NOW IS NAMED AFTER HER . SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING OUR MUNICIPAL CLERKS DO. WE OWE YOU ALL.

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

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: DEBBIE, AS YOU HAVE HEARD THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR OFFICE, THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT THE CITY AS A WHOLE, BUT REALLY THE COUNCIL OFFICES.

WE JUST PROBABLY WOULDN'T FUNCTION NEARLY AS WELL AS WE DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT THAT YOUR OFFICE PRESENTS TO US. I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AND I THINK YOUR WHOLE STAFF HAS SHOWN THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S NOTABLE THAT HERE WE ARE TODAY IN THE NORMA S. RODRIGUEZ COUNCIL CHAMBER THAT WAS NAMED AFTER ONE OF THE LONGEST AND FINEST-SERVING CITY CLERKS IN THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING TO CONTINUE IN THAT TRADITION. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOUR OFFICE DOES FOR US. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND ENJOY THIS MOMENT WHERE YOU GET TO TURN YOUR CHAIRS AROUND FOR THE REST OF US TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU ALL. APPL

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NOW IF I CAN HAVE MIRIAM AND THE TEAM FROM SUNSHINE COTTAGE COME UP. MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW THE ORGANIZATION BUT NOT EVERYTHING THEY DO. IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION .

WHEREAS MAY IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL SPEECH, LANGUAGE, HEARING MONTH, DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT HEARING AND SPEECH DISORDERS AND CELEBRATING THE PROFESSIONALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES. AND WHEREAS SUNSHINE COTTAGE, A LISTENING AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE SCHOOL FOR DEAF CHILDREN, WAS FOUNDED IN 1947 WITH JUST SEVEN STUDENTS, BORN FROM A MOTHER'S LOVE AND A DETERMINATION TO PROVIDE HER CHILD DIAGNOSED WITH PROFOUND HEARING LOSS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO LISTEN, AND SPEAK WITH HER OWN VOICE.

WHEREAS FOR OVER 77 YEARS, SUNSHINE COTTAGE HAS BEEN A SAN ANTONIO INSTITUTION, SUPPORTED BY NUMEROUS GENEROUS LOCAL DONORS AND HOUSED IN ICONIC LOCATIONS INCLUDING THE LANDA LIBRARY AND ZOO SCHOOL BEFORE ESTABLISHING ITS CURRENT HOME AT 603 EAST HILDEBRAND AVENUE.

WHEREAS SUNSHINE COTTAGE PARTNERED WITH TRINITY UNIVERSITY AND NOW U.T. HEALTH SAN ANTONIO TO CREATE THE MASTER OF DEAF EDUCATION PROGRAM, ENSURING THE TRAINING OF HIGHLY-SKILLED PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO TEACHING CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING. WHEREAS THE PARENT INFANT PROGRAMS ENABLES CHILDREN TO DEVELOP LISTENING AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE SKILLS BEFORE THEY ARE SCHOOL AGED, CREATING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS NEWBORNS ARE BORN WITH HEARING LOSS AND OVER 90% OF THESE CHILDREN ARE BORN TO HEARING PARENTS, HIGHLIGHTING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF SUNSHINE COTTAGE AND PROVIDING RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT FOR THESE FAMILIES. WHEREAS SUNSHINE COTTAGE HAS SERVED FOR THE PAST 77 YEARS THROUGH MULTIPLE SERVICES, INCLUDING EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, AUDIOLOGY, AND SPEECH SERVICES AND LISTENING TO SPOKEN LANGUAGE EDUCATION, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

[01:00:04]

WELCOME, YOU ALL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. MIRIAM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>> YES. THANK YOU. AND GOOD MORNING TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY TO SHARE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL RIGHT HERE HAPPENING IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS SUNSHINE COTTAGE.

MY NAME IS MIRIAM ELIZONDO AND I PROUDLY SERVE WITH MY DISTINGUISHED TEAM HERE.

I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SUNSHINE COTTAGE, WHICH IS A LISTENING AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE SCHOOL THAT HAS SUPPORTED CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS FOR 78 YEARS.

AND THERE'S NO BETTER TIME THAN THIS MONTH TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION.

SUNSHINE COTTAGE DID BEGIN IN 1947 BECAUSE OF ONE DETERMINED MOTHER WHO BELIEVED THAT HER DAUGHTER, THAT'S MRS. DELA WHITE, WHO DIDN' DID WANT HER DAUGHTER TO LISTEN AND SPEAK AND HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE STARTED WITH SEVEN STUDENTS BUT NOW WE ARE SERVING 550 ANNUALLY, BIRTH TO FOURTH GRADE .

IN OUR CLASSROOMS CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS LEARN SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEIR PEERS WHO HAVE TYPICAL HEARING THROUGH PLAY, MUSIC, FIELD TRIPS, FIESTA CELEBRATIONS, AND OUTDOOR EXPLORATION, EVERY MOMENT BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD LANGUAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND COMMUNITY. BEHIND EACH CHILD IS A DEDICATED TEAM OF PEDIATRIC AUDIOLOGISTS, PARENT INFANT ADVISERS, COUNSELORS, AND MASTER-LEVEL EDUCATORS WHO WALK HAND IN HAND WITH FAMILIES THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY FROM THEIR FIRST HEARING TEST TO THE MOMENT THE CHILD SAYS THEIR FIRST WORD. AT SUNSHINE COTTAGE NO FAMILY IS TURNED AWAY BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL BARRIERS. WE ARE FIERCELY COMMITTED TO EQUITY, COMPASSION, AND EXCELLENCE. SAN ANTONIO IS A VIBRANT AND GROWING CITY AND SUNSHINE COTTAGE IS ONE OF ITS BRIGHTEST ASSETS.

FAMILIES HAVE RELOCATED HERE FROM OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES JUST SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN ATTEND SUNSHINE COTTAGE. AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES. AS CITY LEADERS, YOU SHOULD BE PROUD TO CHAMPION A PROGRAM THAT IS NOT ONLY RARE BUT IT'S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXCELLENCE IN LISTENING AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE EDUCATION. OUR CITY IS TRULY FORTUNATE TO BE HOME TO SUCH A SPECIALIZED AND TRANSFORMATIVE RESOURCE. TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ALREADY VISITED, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SCHOOL.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T YET, WE WARMLY INVITE YOU. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE MEETING A CHILD WHO WAS BORN DEAF, WALKING UP WITH YOU AND SPEAKING WITH JOY, CONFIDENCE, AND CLARITY. THAT MOMENT, THAT MAGIC IS THE MISSION OF SUNSHINE COTTAGE IN ACTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS THAT UPLIFT ALL FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN OUR CITY. SUNSHINE COTTAGE LOVES OUR CITY AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF WHAT MAKES SAN ANTONIO SHINE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED TO GO SEE JUST AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION RUN THROUGH SHEER FORCE OF VOLUNTEERISM, TO GO TAKE A TOUR OF SUNSHINE COTTAGE. IT'S REALLY AMAZING WORK THAT

YOU ALL DO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'M SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU ALL BE LOCATED IN DISTRICT 1. I FEEL LIKE I GET THE BEST NONPROFITS TOO. BUT THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR OUR KIDS IS INCREDIBLE.

WHEN I WENT TO GO SEE AND DO A TOUR OF THE CAMPUS, IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE NOT ONLY THE SUPPORT THAT THE KIDS ARE GETTING BUT IMAGINE THE COMPASSION AND THE LOVE THAT THE TYPICAL-HEARING STUDENTS GET IN THE CLASSROOM. AND THE SUPPORT THEY PROVIDE FOR THE OTHER KIDS. IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE. IMAGINE IF WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THAT KIND OF COMPASSIONATE CLASSROOM FOR ALL KIDS, WHAT WE WOULD SEE WHEN THEY'RE ADULTS AND THE IMPACT THEY WOULD CREATE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. I KNOW YOU DO IT ON A TIGHT BUDGET AND I WAS SHOCKED AT THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE TO FUND RAISE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO KEEP THE SCHOOL GOING.

I KNOW THAT FUNDING IS NEVER A BARRIER FOR A STUDENT TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS YOUR PROGRAM, WHICH IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART FOR ANY SCHOOL THAT WORKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO JUST WANTED TO REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR YOU. I KNOW YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN OUR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY, MIRIAM, AND YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE IS WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK, TEACHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY DON'T GET SHOUTED OUT ENOUGH.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL REALLY APPRECIATES YOUR WORK.

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

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, TH THANK YOU, MIRIAM.

[01:05:01]

THANK YOU FOR SAYING YES AND MAKING SURE THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS OPTIONS FOR ALL THEIR CHILDREN AND ALL THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

I APPLAUD YOU ON THE CELEBRATION. 77 YEARS.

THAT'S NO JOKE. AND THAT Y'ALL CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE YOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE YOUTH OF THE ENTIRE STATE GET THAT OPPORTUNITY AND YOU CONTINUE TO SHINE AS AN EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF THE CITY AND THE REST OF THE STATE.

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

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND PLEASE COUNT ON THIS COUNCIL AND ANY ITERATION GOING FORWARD TO HAVE YOUR BACK AND SUPPORT YOUR CAUSE. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES AND KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF DISCRETION HERE ON OUR ORDER. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEMS 3, 4, AND 5 AS ONE DISCUSSION AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF -- BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE DISCUSSION.

I'M GOING TO PULL UP ITEM 12. I THINK THAT ONE'S GOING TO BE FAIRLY QUICK.

WE JUST HAVE TO READ SOMETHING INTO THE RECORD. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 12 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE IMPOSITION OF A MUNICIPAL UTILITY SERVICE LIEN FOR DELINQUENT WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY BILLS AND DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER AND IMPOSE. LIEN TO THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND PRESIDENT/CEO, APPROVING AN AMENDMENT AND AMENDING CHAPTER 67 OF THE CITY CODE TO ALLOW AUTOMATIC ACCRUAL OF PROGRAM POINTS TO PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM IF WATER

SERVICE IS DISCONNECTED AT APARTMENTS ON A MASTER METER. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND OF APPROVAL OF ITEM 12. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IN AUGUST, COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO FILED A CCR TO PREVENT WATER SHUTOFFS DUE TO UTILITY DELINQUENCIES BY LANDLORDS WHO CHARGED ALL INCLUSIVE RENT NOT BEING USED TO PAY UTILITIES. WHAT WE SAW IN DISTRICTS 2, 7, AND ACROSS THE CITY WERE RESIDENTS WHO PAID THEIR UTILITY BILLS THREATENED WITH WATER SHUTOFFS BY SAWS BECAUSE THEIR LANDLORDS WERE NOT USING THAT MONEY TO PAY THEIR BILLS. MANAGEMENT AND THE OWNERS OF THESE COMPLEXES WERE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR INVESTMENT THAT SUITED THEIR BOTTOM LINE BUT PLACED OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AT RISK OF LOSS OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING. TODAY'S ITEM ALLOWS ANOTHER METHOD TO HOLD THESE BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE SAFETY OF RENTERS. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR, CABELLO HAVRDA, AND WHYTE AS WELL AS SAWS FOR WORKING ON THIS SOLUTION. MIKE, I HAVE APPRECIATED OUR MEETINGS ON THIS ISSUE AND YOUR WORK TOWARDS A SOLUTION THAT ADDRESSES THE HEART OF THE CCR.

AGENDIZING THE CONVERSATION AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL AND FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

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

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT'S A NEEDED CHANGE IN THE WAY SAWS OPERATES.

AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT ITS SIGNIFICANCE. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME OKAY?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH, WE CAN HEAR YOU. YOUR AUDIO'S A LITTLE BIT CHOPPY. YOUR VIDEO AS WELL BUT WE DO HEAR YOU.

>> GAVITO: HOW ABOUT I TURN OFF THE VIDEO? I PULLED THIS ITEM IN THE

[INDISCERNIBLE] [ECHO] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK. CAN YOU LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY? ON THIS ITEM, IF WE CAN TRY COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO

AGAIN. >> GAVITO: DO YOU WANT ME TO TRY --

[FEEDBACK] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO,

[01:10:15]

I THINK YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. >> GAVITO: OKAY.

COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I WROTE THE CCR IN RESPONSE TO WATER SHUTOFFS THAT WERE HAPPENING AT APARTMENTS AROUND THE CITY, INCLUDING OUR DISTRICTS.

WHAT WE LEARNED WAS THAT LANDLORDS WERE COLLECTING MONEY FROM TENANTS TO PAY THE WATER BILLS BUT HADN'T BEEN PAYING ANYTHING TO SAWS. THIS LEFT THEM DELINQUENT.

AS A RESULT, RESIDENTS WHO HAD BEEN PAYING THEIR BILLS WERE FACING WATER SHUTOFFS AT NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I IMMEDIATELY SAW THE INJUSTICE [INDISCERNIBLE]. THE ROLE OF THE CCR WAS A WAY TO HOLD NEGLIGENT LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE AND TO ENSURE RESIDENTS DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE PROCESS.

[FEEDBACK] FEEDBACK IS PRETTY BAD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO, WE HEARD YOU AND I'M GOING TO ASK MIKE SHANNON TO COME UP AND PROVIDE THE CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THE CHANGES ARE. GO AHEAD, MIKE.

>> SHANNON: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

JUST TO ADD ONE LITTLE ITEM TO THIS. THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS SO FAR. THIS IS A GOOD CHANGE THAT WE'RE DOING TO CHAPTER 34 AND CHAPTER 6 OF OUR CODE. FOR THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT, THE CLARIFICATION I WANTED TO ADD IS THE AUTOMATIC POINT WOULD BE FOR WATER DISCONNECTION FOR NON-PAYMENT ISSUES. I THINK I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.

I KNOW A QUESTION WAS MENTIONED THERE. JUST ADD THAT CLARIFICATION FOR

EVERYONE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 12? OKAY. AND I WILL NOTE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO'S COMMENTS INSCRIBED SO WE CAN GET THEM INTO THE RECORD AS PART OF THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT.

IF THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON ITEM 12, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL. PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE UP ITEMS 3 AND 4.

ITEM 5 THERE WILL BE A RECUSAL SO LET'S TAKE ITEM 3 AND 4 FIRST.

>> CLERK: ITEM 3 IS A BRIEFING ON PRE-K 4 SA FY2026 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET.

ITEM 4 IS A BRIEFING ON THE SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK FY2026 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AND

POST-SOLICITATION FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROVIDERS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE PRESENTATION AND THEN I'LL TAKE

COMMENTS AFTER THAT. YOU'RE UP FIRST. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M SARAH BARAY, CEO OF PRE-K 4 SA AND I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TO TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET FOR FY '26, BUT BEFORE THAT I WANT TO GIVE A PROGRAM UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO AT PRE-K 4 SA. SO OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO OPERATE OUR MODEL SCHOOLS WITH OUR FOUR CENTERS SERVING 2,000 CHILDREN, AND THEN OUR GARDENDALE EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM SERVING 275 CHILDREN.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE MORE THAN KINDERGARTEN READY WHEN THEY GO OFF INTO THEIR NEXT EDUCATION GRADE. WE'VE ALSO THIS YEAR REALLY FOCUSED ON INCREASING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE OF CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE AN OPTION FOR THEM. SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT FAMILIES ARE PLEASED WITH OUR FULL INCLUSION APPROACH, WHICH ALLOWS THEIR CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS TO SUCCEED AT HIGH LEVELS WHILE BEING IN A CLASSROOM WITH THEIR TYPICALLY-DEVELOPING PEERS. ONE THING THAT WE'RE PROUD OF IS THE CAREER PATHWAYS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED WITHIN OUR PRE-K 4 SA SCHOOLS. SO WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT GIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS TO MOVE FROM ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS SUCH AS SUBSTITUTES AND TEACHER AIDES UP INTO BECOMING A CERTIFIED TEACHER AND THEN EVEN

[01:15:01]

IN OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE OF FAMILIES IN CRISIS AND HAVING TO DELIVER CRISIS SERVICES TO THEM, INCLUDING A NUMBER OF FAMILIES WHO ARE IN UNHOUSED SITUATIONS. AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT NUMBER RISE IN THE LAST YEAR.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES IN UNHOUSED SITUATIONS IS INCREASING OR THAT THEY ARE SIMPLY FINDING PRE-K 4 SA AS A GOOD OPTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN. IN FACT, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING OUTDOORS WITHOUT SHELTER AND YET THEY SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY, THEIR CHILDREN ARE AT SCHOOL. AND SO WE HAVE INCREASED OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT THEM TO VITAL SERVICES. WE'VE ALSO INCREASED OUR SERVICES TO MILITARY FAMILIES THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH JBSA. OUR GRANTS IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DIVISION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE KEY SERVICES FOR OUR EARLY LEARNING LANDSCAPE.

CURRENTLY OUR EARLY LEARNING SHARED SERVICE ALLIANCE OF SAN ANTONIO HAS 94 SMALL CHILDCARE BUSINESSES, MOST OF THOSE OWNED BY WOMEN OF COLOR, SERVING 435 CLASSROOMS, 736 EDUCATORS, AND BENEFITING OVER 4500 CHILDREN. A RECENT STUDY THAT CAME OUT, AN EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF OUR SHARED SERVICE ALLIANCE, SHOWED THAT 100% OF THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THAT JOIN OUR ALLIANCE EARN TEXAS RISING STAR 3 OR 4, WHICH IS A HIGH-QUALITY RATING.

THE CENTERS ARE REPORTING BETTER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. AND HERE'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF, WHICH IS THE AVERAGE WAGE AMONG OUR SHARED SERVICES PROVIDERS HAS RISEN FROM $11.67 AN HOUR TO $14.25 AN HOUR. WE ARE ENCOURAGING OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, AS WE HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR BOTTOM LINE, TO INVEST BACK INTO THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND THEY ARE DOING SO. OUR OWNERS ARE ALSO INDICATING THAT THEY HAVE INCREASED CONFIDENCE AS NOT JUST CHILDCARE PROVIDERS BUT ALSO AS BUSINESS OWNERS.

LOOKING AHEAD TO FY '26, WE WILL OPEN OUR NEW SOUTH CENTER IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.

THAT'S LOCATED AT 410 AND W.W. WHITE. THIS PICTURE IS FROM A FEW WEEKS AGO. THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST SITE SERVING INFANTS AND TODDLERS AS WELL AS 3 AND 4-YEAR-OLDS. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THE RECENT STUDY BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT TEXAS A&M COMPLETED, SHOWED THAT WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE SHORTAGE OF INFANT-TODDLER CARE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND SO THIS IS GOING TO HELP ALLEVIATE THAT.

WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED BECAUSE THIS BUILDING WILL BE THE FIRST ONE THAT HAS SPECIALIZED SPACES, NOT JUST FOR FAMILIES BUT FOR EDUCATORS AS WELL. MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD IS A VERY PHYSICALLY-DEMANDING PROFESSION AND THE ADULTS WHO WORK AND SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN NEED TO HAVE SPACES DESIGNED FOR THEM, WHERE THEY CAN TAKE BREAKS AND HAVE FURNITURE THAT IS THEIR SIZE. OUR NEW FACILITY WILL HAVE THOSE SPACES THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR EDUCATORS.

WE'RE ALSO REALLY FOCUSED ON ALIGNING SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR OUR FAMILIES.

WE KNOW THAT THE TRIANGLE ARE CHILDCARE AND HOUSING. ONCE THEY HAVE THOSE TAKEN CARE OF THEY ARE ABLE TO RISE. OFTENTIMES WHEN THEY FIND CHILDCARE THEY MAY NOT FIND THE HOUSING OR MAY NOT FIND THE EMPLOYMENT AND SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS AT READY TO WORK TO HELP OUR FAMILIES CONNECT WITH THAT. BUT WE'VE ALSO ENGAGED WITH OUR PARTNERS IN SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES TO HELP FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES HAVE GREAT OPTIONS.

WE ALSO LAUNCHED PRE-K VENTURE SOLUTIONS THAT IS HELPING US TO TAKE THE -- ALL THE VISITORS THAT COME TO US AND WANT OUR TECHNICAL SUPPORT, WE'RE FIGURING HOW DO WE DO THAT AND ALSO WHAT IS THE RIGHT CHARGE FOR THAT SO WE ARE NOT USING SAN ANTONIO'S RESOURCES TO INVEST IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. WHAT HAS GROWN IS INTEREST LEADS IN SAN ANTONIO WHO WANT US TO FIGURE OUT THE CHILDCARE SOLUTIONS, THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF CARE. THERE AREN'T VERY MANY CHANGES FOR THIS YEAR. THE SALES TAX FORECAST SUGGESTS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE SAME LEVELS OF SALES TAX THAT WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS SO WE ARE GOING TO BUDGET VERY CONSERVATIVELY WITH THAT IN MIND.

[01:20:03]

TAKING US INTO THE NEXT YEAR. HERE'S OUR OPERATING BUDGET AND HOW WE INTEND TO ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS. AGAIN, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, NO BIG CHANGES. WE WILL MONITOR THE BUDGET CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE AS SALES TAX NUMBERS COME IN THAT WE ARE BEING VERY EFFICIENT WITH OUR DOLLARS. AS ALWAYS WE WILL HOLD VACANCIES OPEN A LITTLE LONGER THAN WE MIGHT HAVE NORMALLY IN NON-ESSENTIAL AREAS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FISCALLY PRUDENT WITH THAT. OUR PERSONNEL COMPLEMENT IS STAYING THE SAME. WE ARE MOVING A FEW POSITIONS WITHIN DIVISIONS, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING 502 POSITIONS JUST LIKE WE HAVE NOW.

OUR UPCOMING -- WE WILL COME BACK MAY 21 THIS BUDGET WILL GO TO OUR BOARD AND WE'LL COME BACK ON MAY 29 FOR APPROVAL. THANK YOU.

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

MIKE? >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.

HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO DO A PROGRAM REVIEW AN UPDATE ON THE READY TO WORK FY26 BUDGET. SO THE FIRST THING WE ALWAYS LOVE TO DO IS HIGHLIGHT OUR PARTICIPANTS. READY SO WORK IS ABOUT PEOPLE AND PEOPLE LIKE CARLOS WHO IS NOW WORKING FOR USAA, A READY TO WORK EMPLOYER.

HIS CASE MANAGEMENT WAS ALAMO COLLEGES AND HE PURSUED A FINANCE AND INSURANCE CREDENTIAL AND HAS INCREASED HIS SALARY 29%. BEFORE COMING TO READY TO WORK, HE WORKED IN A CALL CENTER FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATION, HE WAS ABLE TO CURE THAT INTO PROPERTY AND CASUALTY DEPARTMENT AT USAA. HE WAS INSPIRED BECAUSE OF HIS SON. HE SHOWED HE TOO WAS ABLE TO GO BACK AND GET MORE EDUCATION. WHY ARE WE INVESTING IN READY TO WORK.

INCOME AND EQUALITY, LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT RATES AND A CITY THAT HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HISTORICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS, THAT MEANS THOUGH YOU ARE THE 7TH LARGEST CITY YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE MARKETABLE TO EMPLOYERS.

WE HAVE EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE JOB DEMANDS AND NEEDS. GROWING SECTOR IN SAN ANTONIO WITH TOYOTA, JCB, INTERNATIONAL, LARGE DEMAND FOR EMPLOYEES IN THAT SPACE. HEALTH CARE CONTINUOUSLY HAS A STRONG DEMAND FOR EMPLOYEES. ALL AREAS THAT ARE IN GREAT DEMAND AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE EMPLOYERS HAVE QUALITY WORKERS IN ORDER TO FILL THAT NEED SO OUR CITY CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND PROSPER. SO, MAYOR NIRENBERG, CITY COUNCIL, DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT. 77% OF THE VOTERS SAID YES, LET'S INVEST IN EDUCATING AND RESKILLING OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE ECONOMIC MOBILITY OPPORTUNITIES WERE EXISTING FOR ALL. SO THE PROGRAM PROGRESSION, I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THESE NUMBERS. WE HAD 794 JOB PLACEMENTS ACROSS THE ECOSYSTEM THAT OUR PRIME PARTNERS WERE SERVING OUR PARTICIPANTS THROUGH, AND AS OF TODAY THERE'S 2202 INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED THROUGH THE WORK OF OUR PARTNERS. 1403, CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR.

OUR PARTNERS ARE STARTING TO DO A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE CONNECTED TO EMPLOYMENT. THE TRAINING ENROLLMENT HAS 11,363 PEOPLE ENROLLED.

4500 PERSON INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR. TRAINING COMPLETIONS HAVE GONE FROM 1350 TO 3,547. THAT NUMBER IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE READY TO WORK IS AN EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM. AS INDIVIDUALS COMPLETE THEIR TRAINING 2197 ADDITIONAL TRAINING COMPLETIONS THIS YEAR. 163% INCREASE.

OVER 1,000 EMPLOYERS HAVE HIRED READY TO WORK GRADUATES.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN JOBS, ABOUT TWO MONTHS ON AVERAGE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO FIND A JOB. FINANCE AND INSURANCE AND CYBERSECURITY HAS BEEN TAKING A LITTLE LONGER, BUT EDUCATION SEVEN DAYS TO GET

[01:25:03]

THE SCALE OF THE CITYWIDE ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM IS NOW AGAIN OVER 11,000 PEOPLE BETTERING THEMSELVES TO THE FUNDING AND RESOURCES PROVIDED THROUGH READY TO WORK. EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS, LARGE BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES, ALL BENEFITING FROM THE SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. IT'S TRULY A COMMUNITY-WIDE COLLABORATION.

OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, FAMILIAR SERVICE, ALL WORKING TOGETHER TORE THE SAME GOAL, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO BETTER THEMSELVES.

OUR PROGRAM IS TRANSPARENT AND ADAPTABLE. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING ABLE TO SHIFT. THE PUBLIC-FACING DASHBOARD UPDATES DAILY SO YOU CAN SEE OUR PROGRESS IS BROKEN DOWN BY DEMOGRAPHICS. AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION, TWO OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS JUST PRESENTED THE NATIONAL WORKFORCE CONFERENCE UP IN VIRGINIA AND THE REACTION IS THE SAME, EVERYWHERE PEOPLE ARE ASTONISHED SAN ANTONIO IS MAKING THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THIS FOR COMMUNITY RECOMMENDS. ROI STUDY INDICATED A $1.7 BILLION RETURN ON INVESTMENT. $61 RETURN FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT AND THAT WAS JUST AFTER THE FIRST YEAR WHEN THERE WAS ONLY 3300 PEOPLE ENROLLED IN TRAINING.

NOW THERE'S OVER 11,000. CURRENT STATE, AGAIN 2,197 JOB PLACEMENTS.

29,000 AVERAGE INCREASE IN SALARY ANNUALLY. THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN MATH IS ABOUT $65 MILLION AND JUST INCREASED INCOME INTO SAN ANTONIO OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. SALES TAX PROJECTION, THIS IS THE LAST YEAR READY TO WORK COLLECTS THE SALES TAX. WE FINISHED COLLECTIONING THE TAX ON DECEMBER 311 AND READY TO WORK PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO SUNSET IN 2029. YOU SEE OUR REVENUES CONNECTED, 191.8 MILLION, EXPENDITURES 67.8 MILLION. WE ONLY SPEND DOLLARS WHEN PARTICIPANTS ENTER THE PROGRAM. SO PROGRAM PROGRESS TO DATE, A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE NUMBERS. 6,000 PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE INTAKE PROCESS ELIGIBLE FOR PARTNERS.

THERE'S 5,968 PEOPLE THAT ARE IN TRAINING RIGHT NOW TODAY.

67% PARTICIPANTS EXIST TRAINING SUCCESSFULLY -- EXIT.

AGAIN, ALL THESE STATS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR PUBLIC-FACING DASHBOARD THAT IS UPDATED DAILY. OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, OUTREACH IS VERY TARGETED.

OVER 1400 INDIVIDUALS WITH SELF-IDENTIFIED DISABILITIES, 500 MILITARY-CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS. OVER 2100 SEVERAL IDENTIFYING AND 470 FOSTER SYSTEMS-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS AND OUR ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME ABOUT $14,780. EMPLOYER TRAINING OPTIONS. YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THOSE IN A MINUTE. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THAT IS MAKE SURE WE GIVE OUR READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT. EVERY EMPLOYER WHO IS COMMITTED WILL DO SO TO HIGHER A READY TO WORK PARTICIPANT. AT THAT COMPANY OR MOVING ON TO AN ADDITIONAL COMPANY WITH NEW SKILLS. THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, COHORT PROGRAMS, EMPLOYEES ARE PARTNERING TO PRE-SCREEN TALENT AND MAKE SURE A GOOD CANDIDATE. AND USAA IS PARTICIPATING AND WE GIVE OUR PARTICIPANTS THAT EXTENDED INTERVIEW THROUGH THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND IT'S AT MINIMAL RISK FOR THAT EMPLOYER WHO MAY NOT HAVE SELECTED INDIVIDUAL IF ALL THINGS BEING THE SAME WHEN THEY LOOK AT THOSE TWO RESUMES. BUT THE PAY IT FORWARD GIVES OUR PARTICIPANTS A FIGHTING CHANCE. SO NOW OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY26. 42.9 MILLION, THE VAST MAJORITY OF FUNDING GOING TOWARDS TUITION. 27% TOWARDS OUR PARTNERS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS, INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT, 9%, 5% EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, OUTREACH 4%,

[01:30:04]

WE CAN HAVE SOME REALLY, REALLY GOOD MOMENTUM IN OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE LARGE VOLUME OF PEOPLE 245 ARE EVEN VOLLEYED. THIS -- THAT ARE ENROLLED.

SO IN ADDITION TO OUR BUDGET AND OUR CURRENT PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE EXISTING, WE DID A SOLICITATION BECAUSE WE WANT TO PICK THE PACE UP. WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO ENTER THE PROGRAM, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THEM IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER AND TO DO SO, TO HIT OUR NUMBERS OF 39,000 APPLICANTS, 28,000 PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED AND 15,600 PEOPLE PLACED IN JOBS, WE KNOW WE NEED MORE ASSISTANCE.

WE DID A SOLICITATION AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR PARTICIPANTS.

THE PROPOSED TERM IS THREE YEARS WITH A ONE-YEAR RENEWAL WHICH ALIGNS WITH OUR TIME LINE FOR SUNSETTING THE INITIATIVE. UP TO $32.5 MILLION, FUNDING WITH THE READY TO WORK SALES TAX AND THREE-YEAR BASE PERIOD WHICH ENDED IN 2024 AND WE'RE WORKING ON ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME NOW.

SOLICITATION OVERVIEW. ALL THESE ENTITIES SERVING IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND TEACHER INSTRUCTION SERVICES, WE HAD A SCORING EVALUATION COMMITTEE AND WE HAD NON-SCORING ADVISORY FROM EXTERNAL PARTNERS AND INTERNAL STAFF AS WELL.

DOING THE. >> DILLARD: GENERALS, 1491 VENDORS NOTIFIED.

10 COMMITTED APPLICATIONS, TWO WERE DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE AND THERE WERE NO MATERIAL FINDINGS AS A RESULT FOR THE MINIMUM REVIEW.

AND THE DUE DILIGENCE FOUND NO MATERIAL FINDINGS AS WELL.

SCORING CRITERIA. EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS WAS THE MOST WEIGHTED PORTION OF THE SCORING AT 30 POINTS. PRICING 20 POINTS.

SBEDA 10 POINTS AND LOCAL PREFERENCE 10 POINTS. VETERAN, SMALL BUSINESS AT 5 AS WELL. AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WERE NOT REQUIRED.

THE OVERVIEW, WE SOLICITED PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFING NOVEMBER 6, RELEASE DATE NOVEMBER 27. THAT POST-SOLICITATION WAS CONCLUDED AFTER THE INITIAL EVALUATION ON MARCH 25, INTERVIEWS ON APRIL 8 AND IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS NOW WITH THE PARTNERS. AT THAT INITIAL EVALUATION, WE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS DOWN TO FOUR. AFTER THAT FOURTH ROUND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VISION ARE TWO, GOOD WILL INDUSTRIES HAS BEEN DOING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR OVER 80 YEARS. CELEBRATING OUR ANNIVERSARY AT HALLMARK UNIVERSITY. THAT LEAD TO HIGH WAGES FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS WHO MATRICULATE THROUGH THEIR PROGRAMS. THE NEXT STEPS, MAY 29, A SESSION COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AND THE BUDGET WILL BE CONSIDERED TOO.

TWO THREE-YEAR AGREEMENTS WITH HALL MARK UNIVERSITY AND GOOD WILL INDUSTRIES OF SAN ANTONIO FOR IN-HOUSE TRAINING, INTAKE AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

AND THAT CONCLUDES ITEMS 4. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE AND SARAH FOR THESE BRIEFINGS. THESE ARE FOR ACTION ON THE 29TH SO THESE ARE BRIEFING ITEMS. I WOULD JUST SAY I WILL BE VERY PROUD TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, BUT ALSO TO HAVE HAD SOME DEGREE OF INPUT IN A PROCESS TO CREATE THE MOST WELL RESOURCED EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE PERHAPS IN THE COUNTRY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE INVESTMENTS THE PUBLIC HAS SUPPORTED IN PRE-K 4 SA WHICH HAS BEEN EXPANDED AND BECOME A MODEL NATIONALLY FOR ITS IMPACT ON CHILDREN.

OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS. WE KNOW WE HAVE MISALIGNMENTS AT TIMES WITHIN OUR K-12 SYSTEM, BUT CERTAINLY THERE IS NO LACK OF INNOVATION AND STRENGTH AND FORCE WITHIN OUR SYSTEM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND I HAVE A CHILD IN THAT SYSTEM THAT I THINK IS A TESTAMENT TO THAT AS WELL. WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THE FACT NOW SAN ANTONIO HAS A PROMISE PROGRAM THAT IS BAKED INTO THE WAY WE WILL DO BUSINESS GOING FORWARD THAT ENSURES THAT ANY BEXAR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE

[01:35:05]

THE ONE THING MOST PEOPLE DON'T GET RIGHT IS THE HARDEST TO ACCOMPLISH, WE HAD THE SEEDS OF SOLUTION FOR, HOWEVER, ARE ALL THOSE ADULT WORKERS, ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE MIRED IN JOBS THAT FRANKLY DON'T PAY A DIGNIFIED WAGE.

IF WE DON'T SOLVE THAT NOW, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO SOLVE THE GENERATIONAL POVERTY PROBLEM. I MEAN THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE CHILDREN LIVING WITHIN HOMES IN FAMILIES TODAY THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PURSUE THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL CAREERS AND GET GOOD JOBS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT STATISTICALLY IS MORE LIKELY TO PUT THEM ON A PATH OF POVERTY.

IT REQUIRES US TO BE FOCUSED WITH OUR RESOURCES AS WELL AS OUR WORDS TO BREAK THOSE CYCLES OF POVERTY. THAT'S WHY I'M SO PROUD OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY WHEN I SEE THE PROPOSITION VOTE B, MIKE, BECAUSE 77% OF VOTERS IN THE MOST DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC SAID THEY AGREE WITH THAT.

WE'VE BEEN ALL IN EVER SINCE AND IT'S NOT BEEN EASY. EVERY FAMILY, EVERYONE PERSON THAT CAMES INTO THE READY TO WORK PIPELINE IS A DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHALLENGES, BUT WE'VE WORKED CASE BY CASE TO GET THROUGH THAT.

COMES FROM A HOUSEHOLD THAT EARNS ROUGHLY $14,000 A YEAR.

THAT IS A LIFE OF DESK SIX-YEAR CAPITAL. THAT IS A LIFE THAT REQUIRES SOCIAL SERVICES THAT WE FUND. THAT IS A LIFE OF TAXPAYERS FOOTING THE BILL FOR PROGRAMS THAT FRANKLY THAT FAMILY PROBABLY DOESN'T WANT BUT NEEDS. AND SO THE PATH WAY OUT OF THAT IS TO PROVIDE THEM A GOOD EDUCATION THAT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GOOD JOB WITH A DIGNIFIED WAGE. THAT IS NOW HAPPENING IN NEW ENGLAND THOUSANDS AT A TIME. WITH 12,000 PEOPLE IN THE PIPELINE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING TRAINING AND EDUCATION THAT WILL PUT THEM ON A PATH TO A BETTER CAREER WHERE THEY ARE GETTING ON AVERAGE AROUND 44,000 A YEARS WITH BENEFITS.

THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR THOSE CHILDREN IN THOSE FAMILIES TO BE NURTURED, TO NOW BE ON A PATHWAY TO THEIR OWN THRIVING LIVES AND TURNING INTO IT A CYCLE OF EMPOWERMENT AND LIFE OF INDEPENDENCE. SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE STOOD BY THAT PROGRAM THAT AMIDST THE CRITICISM ARE WILLING TO SPEAK TRUTH TO IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND IT IS CHANGING LIVES AND THAT WHEN WE LOOK BACK ON THE TIME WE SERVED ON THIS COUNCIL AND STOOD BY DESPITE THE CHALLENGES AND THE DIFFICULTY IN MEETING THOSE CHALLENGES THAT WE PUT OUR FAITH IN OUR NEIGHBORS. WHICH TO ME IS WHAT THAT PROP B VOTE SAID.

SAN ANTONIANS ARE NOT GOING TO TURN THEIR BACK ON THEIR NEIGHBORS.

WE'RE GOING TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED AN ASSISTANCE, A HAND-UP.

GET ON A PATH TO A BETTER CAREER. AND THEY ARE WILLING TO RALLY FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE YOU THEY BELIEVE IN THE POTENTIAL OF EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT READY TO WORK IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S BEARING TRUTH TO THAT MISSION AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER, MIKE, OF THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, BUT IT IS TRULY CHANGING LIVES IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR CONTINUED VOCAL SUPPORT OF EDUCATION IN SAN ANTONIO TO THE EXTENT WE CAN GET INVOLVED IN IT BUT IT IS A MODEL FOR THIS NATION NOW.

OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE TRYING TO REPLICATE WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND WE'RE DOING IT IN A CITY THAT NEEDS IT PROBABLY MORE THAN ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES. ITEMS 3 AND 4 ARE FOR DISCUSSION ONLY AND WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO MOVE OVER TO PRE-K 4 SA.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO IN A TRIP I MET A GENTLEMAN NAMED IVAN BOLDEN. HE WORKED AT THE PENTAGON AT THE TIME BUT NOW RETIRED.

[01:40:04]

I GUESS IT WAS A -- MAYBE LAST SUMMER HE BROUGHT A CONFERENCE TO SAN ANTONIO.

I GOT TO SPEAK ON A PANEL ABOUT THE LACK OF CHILDCARE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

SPECIFICALLY IN THAT CONFERENCE IT WAS ABOUT MILITARY SPOUSES AND THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY HAVE, BUT A BIG PART WAS CHILDCARE.

SO I COMMIT TO CONNECTING YOU WITH THEM SO THEY CAN HELP YOU AND ADVOCATE FOR YOU AND I'M SURE IT CAN BE A HELPFUL RELATIONSHIP. THE FORMER JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, CHARLES BROWN, HIS WIFE IS ON THEIR BOARD AND CAN BE VERY HELPFUL.

BUT I DO REALLY THANK YOU FOR THE SPECIFICALLY ALL THE WORK YOU ARE DOING, BUT SPECIFICALLY HELPING OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE EVERY MILITARY FAMILY IN SAN ANTONIO HAS A HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE OPTION AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

>> HAVRDA: AND IT SHOWS SO THANK YOU. MOVING OVER TO READY TO WORK, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE INTENTIONAL OUTREACH TO MOST OF OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, WE BOTH HAVE A SPECIAL INTEREST IN THAT.

ALSO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM THE WAY YOU HAVE REACHED OUT, THEY GET MARCHALIZED AND LEFT OUT AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT OUTREACH.

TO SEE THEM PRIORITIZED IT'S GOOD TO SEE THEM PLACED AND HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT BOYS THEY WOULDN'T HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL START OFF BY SAYING I'M A K-12 EDUCATOR. I ALWAYS WILL BE REGARDLESS WHETHER I'M ON THE DAIS WORKING IN SCHOOLS OR NOT SO THIS IS EXCITING TO ME BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY I THINK AND I APPRECIATED THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS. IT'S HOW WE CAN GET INVOLVED IN EDUCATION LOCALLY AND MAKE SURE WE'RE GROWING WORKING SO HARD TO DO EVERY DAY. I THINK YOU ARE AN AMAZING LEADER, DOCTOR, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU PREVIOUSLY AND NOW AND SEE THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT PARTICULARLY I GET TO WORK THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE GARDENDALE PROGRAM. AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS RECEIVING THERE IS A PRE-K 4 SA EXTENDED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SECOND GRADE. AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE STUDENTS AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE FUNDRAISING A LOT TO SUPPLEMENT THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE THE STATE IS NOT FUNDING EDUCATION AT THE AMOUNT IT NEEDS TO BE. I WANTED TO SHOUT THAT OUT. AND IN ADDITION, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO SHARE SOME OF THESE COMMENTS, THERE IS A REAL THREAT TO THE LOSS OF HEAD START COMING UP AND THAT'S ALSO A PROGRAM THAT RUNS THROUGH THE CITY. WANTING TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM IF IT DOES HAPPEN TO NOT GET FUNDED AGAIN. AND WHAT IS IT WE CAN DO LOCALLY TO ENSURE THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE RECEIVING THAT EDUCATION THAT'S NECESSARY, THE ADDITIONAL TEACHER IN A CLASSROOM, THE SUPPORTS THAT ARE PROVIDED THAT THEY DON'T GET FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS. LOVE THAT YOU ARE GROWING THIS OUTSIDE CAMPUS. WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN THIS PROGRAM MORE INVOLVED WITH THE HOUSING TRUST SO WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE THINKING ABOUT BUILDING NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THERE IS AN OPTION FOR THEM TO PARTNER WITH PRE-K 4 SA.

YOU MENTIONED THE GROWTH OF EMPLOYERS AND HOW WE CAN HELP PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE FOR THE EMPLOYERS. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR THAT.

LOVE THE INNOVATION AND HOW WE'VE BEEN GROWING THE PROGRAM IS REALLY GREAT.

AS FAR AS READY TO WORK, THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

MIKE TOLD ME YESTERDAY, YOU GET SO EXCITED WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT K-12 AND THIS IS EDUCATION FOR ADULTS. I APPRECIATED THAT REFRAMING BECAUSE THAT'S TRUE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT -- AGAIN, TO THE MAYOR'S POINT. WHEN I MET WITH THE MAYOR WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. THE MAYOR TOLD ME IF WE TRULY WANT TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC DIVIDE THAT EXISTS IN THE CITY, YOU CAN'T JUST FOCUS ON UP TO 18.

WE'VE GOT TO HELP FAMILIES EVEN AFTER AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I ALWAYS SAY IS A DIGNIFIED WAGE. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE NIMBLENESS THAT YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED IN THE PROGRAM OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA USED TO TALK ABOUT THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PART AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS,

[01:45:03]

THIS WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING AND I THINK THAT WAS A PART OF THE CHALLENGE.

IT'S A HUGE UNDERTAKING THAT WE HAD TO EVOLVE AND WE HAVE.

WE'VE MADE ADJUSTMENTS WHEN WE'VE SEEN GAPS. SO I THINK WE SHOULD SHARE THAT. I THINK SHARE MORE WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW IT IS THAT WE'VE CHANGED THE PROGRAM AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WERE NOTICING, WHY WEREN'T THE EMPLOYERS HIRING THESE FOLKS.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE. NOW WE'RE HELPING THEM EMPLOY AN INCENTIVE TO GET THAT EXPERIENCE. I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE OF LIKE THIS IS NOT THE PROGRAM -- THE PROGRAM HAS CHANGED AND IT'S NOT THE SAME. SO I THINK COMMUNICATION ABOUT THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT. I KNOW YOU STARTED WITH A STORY TODAY.

HOW DO WE SHARE THAT STORY ACROSS. I STILL THINK, AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A BUDGET PLUG HERE, I JUST THINK COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS TO BE PART OF THE ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. WE NEED TO HAVE MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. I AM GOING TO ASK JUST ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START SEEING -- OH, SORRY. JUST KIDDING. THE LAST THING I'LL SAY ABOUT READY TO WORK IS I MENTIONED THIS IN OUR CALL YESTERDAY.

I DO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THE VOTERS VOTED ON THIS FOR ADULT TRAINING.

BUT I WAS JUST AT METHODIST HOSPITAL DOING A VISIT WITH THEM TWO DAYS AGO AND THEY WERE TELLING ME THEIR HT PROGRAM AT FOX TECH HAS BEEN SUPER SUCCESSFUL AND THERE ARE A HUGE SHORTAGE OF NURSES AND IF A NURSE WALKED IN THEY WOULD HIRE THEM IMMEDIATELY. I UNDERSTAND THIS WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE 18 AND ABOVE PROGRAM, BUT WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE EXPANDED IT JUST TO SENIORS TO EXPAND THE TECH PROGRAM. THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. THAT PROGRAM IS SUPER SUCCESSFUL AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LIMITED ON FUNDING AND THE AMOUNT OF KIDS THEY CAN SUPPORT THROUGH IT. BUT IF A KID KNEW THEY WOULD YET A JOB RIGHT OFF THE BAT AFTER GRADUATING, IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO EXPAND, JUST TO SEE HOW MANY MORE FOLKS WE COULD GET INTO PLACEMENTS OF JOBS.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION WAS WE HAVE SOME CASE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SUPPORT AND PROJECT QUEST IS HERE I KNOW.

I SAW SOME FOLKS EARLIER IN THE BACK AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE -- I KNOW YOU ARE DOING FOCUS GROUPS UPCOMING WITH FOLKS IN THE PROGRAM.

I JUST WANT TO FIGURE A WAY HOW WE STREAMLINE THE CASE MANAGEMENT FOLKS ARE RECEIVING SO THEY ARE GETTING THAT HIGH-QUALITY CASE MANAGEMENT.

YOU KNOW SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT EXTRA SUPPORT TO HELP GET THEM THROUGH THE PROGRAM, CAREER COUNSELINGEN HIRED INTO A JOB.

I KNOW YOU ARE BUILDING METRICS 234 -- IN FOR THAT SUPPORT.

TO ENSURE THAT CASE MANAGEMENT IS EVERY TIME YOU TALK ABOUT IT AND THE PASSION THAT YOU HAVE COMES THROUGH.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

DR. BARAY, I'LL START WITH PRE-K 4 SA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE RESULTS OF OUR STUDY AND YEARS AGO WE NEED TO DO ADDRESS BIRTH TO THREE YEARS OLD. AND THAT WE NEEDED THAT HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. AND I THINK WE HAD SOME DAY CARE CENTERS AND SOME PEOPLE DOING THAT, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW THEY ARE DOING IT. AND NOW TO FORMALIZE IT AND GET THEM TO COME INTO THE PROGRAM VIA EDU-CARE AND THEY GET TO LABEL WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO FOR THOSE THAT ARE PRACTICING THAT ALREADY AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO CONTINUE INTO THIS INDUSTRY.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE HOLTS AND THEIR HELP AND MAKING SURE WE GOT THAT FACILITY FOR PRE-K 4 SA SOUTH.

THAT WAS HUGE. WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING. WE KNOW THE GROWTH IS COMING AND WE KNOW WE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND EDUCATION.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, WE DO -- WE ARE LOOKING AT KIND OF LIEN TIMES -- LEAN TIMES, BUT THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL PASS SOON AND WE CAN GET THE POSITIONS UNFROZEN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT WHAT WE NEED, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU.

[01:50:01]

AND THOSE OF YOU WHO -- AND EVERYONE KNOWS I LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. WHEN YEARS AGO IN THE '90S THEY CLOSED THE BASES, I UNDERSTOOD AND I WAS A YOUNG WOMAN OUT OF COLLEGE, HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT THE MIDDLE CLASS COMMUNITY OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND AT THAT POINT WE HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND CHANGE. AND IT HAS TAKEN THAT LONG FOR US TO GET HERE AND SAY WE AS A CITY -- BECAUSE WE WERE WAITING FOR SOME INDUSTRY TO COME IN AND DO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, TO DO APPRENTICESHIPS AND THEY WERE NOT COMING, BUT WE KNEW WE HAD THE WORKFORCE THAT COULD WORK. SLOWLY BUT SURELY WE STARTED GETTING INDUSTRIES AND COMPANIES LIKE TOYOTA. WE STARTED CONCENTRATING ON THE CYBER AND WE HAD A GAP. THIS IS WHAT READY TO WORK IS HERE TO DO IS SIT IN THAT GAP AND SAY WE WILL DO THIS AND WITH THE PROVIDERS WE HAVE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE SCREENING. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE TALKING TO.

AND THE REASON I APPRECIATE THAT IT'S THE CITY AND NOT JUST SOME CORPORATE LIKE DALLAS DID WITH THE AIRLINES WHETHER THEY CAME IN IS WE ARE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PERSON AND THE WHOLE FAMILY AND WE ARE TRYING TO BREAK THOSE CYCLES OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY. MY PARENTS, BACK IN THE DAY YOU WANTED A MIDDLE CLASS JOB, YOU WORKED FOR THE CITY, YOU WORKED FOR USAA OR THE MILITARY BASES.

AND MY PARENTS' GOAL WAS TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR THEIR CHILD.

SEND THEM TO A BETTER SCHOOL, THAT THEIR JOB WAS COLLEGE.

WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT PARENT TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE THAT FOR THEIR CHILD BUT TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THEMSELVES TOO.

TO CONTINUE TO MOVE UP AND TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES.

SO I THINK -- THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK THE COMMUNITY WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING, BUT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR -- IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR ME TO LIVE MY LIFE AND SACRIFICE IT FOR MY CHILD. THERE'S SOME FULFILLMENT I NEED AND IN THIS CONTINUED GROWTH AND APPRENTICESHIPS, WE WILL SEE THAT HAPPENING.

NOW, ON OUR END AND OUR CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE HOUSING AND UTILITIES SO WE CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THOSE PIVOTS. THIS IS KEY TO DOING IT RIGHT.

BECAUSE IF WE JUST HAD INDUSTRY COMING AND DOING IT AND IT WASN'T THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE WOULD BE MISSING THE HISTORY, THE TRAUMA, THE COMPASSION THAT IS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM.

YOU'VE GROWN THAT TEAM. THEY ARE WORKING REALLY HARD, I APPRECIATE THEM.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO JUST HEARING ABOUT THE NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU, MIKE.

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

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, MIKE AND DR. BARAY FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT YEAR MOVING AWAY FROM THE CITY'S POVERTY RATE, I BELIEVE WE MUST LEAVE NO POPULATION BEHIND. WHAT THAT INCLUDES IS ENSURING WE'RE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE [INAUDIBLE] SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE FELONIES ON THEIR RECORD.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF MY PRIORITIES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM, ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO REHABILITATE THEMSELVES. THERE'S OVER 2,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SELF-IDENTIFIED IN TERMS OF HAVING A RECORD, BUT IN TERMS OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY MOVING FORWARD WE COULD POTENTIALLY EVEN SENT I HAVEIZE PARTICIPANTS TO HIRE FROM THIS POPULATION. I DO THINK CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE DOING AND HOW WE CAN ENSURE WE'RE

REACHING ALL OF SAN ANTONIO'S POPULATION? >> THAT'S A GREAT POINT, COUNCILMEMBER. WE AGREE, WE THINK WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE OUR EMPLOYERS IN THIS HIDDEN TALENT POOL AND WHAT THEY CAN BRING AS A BUSINESS DECISION. SOME OF OUR INDUSTRIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL THEIR VACANCIES, THIS GROUP IS PRIME AND READY AND CAN BE GREAT FITS FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND SOME COMPANIES ARE REALLY LEANING INTO IT AND FINDING IT TO BE

[01:55:07]

AND NOT SOCIAL SERVICES. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AS WE REVISIT THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, HOPEFUL WE CAN PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITY AND INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYERS. I JUST WANTED TO THANK DR. BARAY IN TERMS OF HER WORK. BOTH ARE THINGS THAT CONSTITUENTS WILL CALL OUR FIELD OFFICES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, HOW CAN THEY GET ON A LIST, HOW CAN THEY PARTICIPATE, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT AND BEING OUT IN COMMUNITY TO PLUG PARENTS AND BE THE TAKERS FOR NIECES AND NEPHEWS. THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE AND ENSURING IT'S GOING TO TAKE LIVABLE WAGES AND QUALITY EDUCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATION. GOOD JOB. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR --E ONE FOR READY TO WORK. CAN WE GO TO SLIDE 1 # 1 PLEASE? I JUST WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS SLIDE -- 11. SO THE QUESTION I HAVE IS RELATED TO THE STUDY VERSUS THE CURRENT STATE, THE INCREASE IN PARTICIPANT INCOMES. FOR THE STUDY WE HAVE 3,345 PARTICIPANTS AND INCREASE WAS 785.84 MILLION. WHEREAS FOR THE -- DOES THAT INCLUDE THOSE WHO WERE EVEN VOLLEYED ENROLLED. THE 3345 WAS ENROLLED AND IT WAS PROJECTING JOB PLACEMENTS AND LIFETIME EARNINGS OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD.

THE BOTTOM IS JUST A BACK OF THE NAPKIN MATH OF THIS IS WHAT THE WAGE INCREASE IS.

BECAUSE THE LONG-TERM PROJECTIONS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE EARNINGS, IT'S A REALLY LONG TIME BEFORE YOU START TO SEE THAT RETURN HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE 12-MONTH PROJECTION IS REAL INCREASES IN WAGES YOU SEE MEDLEY. THE STUDY ALSO TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE SOCIAL SAVINGS.

AND IT ALSO LOOKED AT THE INCREASED SPENDING OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO COME TO THAT

# -- TO THAT 1.7 BILLION. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I YES, SIR WHAT I'M -- I GUESS WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT BY NOW WE WOULD BE IN THE HUNDRED MILLION-PLUS DOLLAR RANGE BASED ABOVE THE STUDY.

>> THAT WOULD NOT BE CORRECT T STUDY IS BASED OFF THE LIFETIME EARNINGS.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOTCHA. >> THE BOTTOM IS ONLY BASED

OFF ONE YEAR. INCREASED EARNINGS ONLY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THAT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE TO ME. DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OVER THE

NEXT 12 MONTHS WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL PROGRAM SAVINGS? >> WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT

CALCULATION YET, NO, SIR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: HOW WOULD WE DO THAT?

>> WE WOULD HAVE TO PARTNER WITH AN ENTITY AND FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN GET INTO SOME OF THE DETAILS OF BREAKING DOWN OUR DATA. MAYBE WE COULD GET BACK WITH

DR. NIVEN AND HAVE HIM DO WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WOULD IMAGINE THE SAVINGS ARE PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL. I THINK THE CONTEXT I ASKED THAT QUESTION, WE JUST HAD OUR BUDGET CONVERSATION YESTERDAY AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GETTING BACK TO BASICS AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THE CORE SERVICES, BUT THE REALITY IS OUR RESIDENTS AND MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, MANY OF THEM PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM LIKE THIS OR WOULD BE ELIGIBLE REQUIRE THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES AND WE HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE INTENTIONAL. THE ROOT CAUSES OF SO MANY

[02:00:06]

IT'S GOING TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL THOSE IN THE CORE EAST AND NEAR EAST SIDE AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS ASSET. I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT'S GOING TO EXPAND TO INCLUDE INFANTS AND TODDLERS. WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE

APPLICATIONS FOR THAT. >> WE ANTICIPATE THOSE GOING LIVE THIS SUMMER.

THERE'S ONLY 40 SPOTS. WE'RE STARTING SMALL, START SMALL, FIGURE IT OUT AND EXPAND AND THOSE SERVICES WON'T START UNTIL OCTOBER. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE BUILDING WAS UP AND READY TO GO BECAUSE IF WE HAD TO -- THE BUILDING IS FINE, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN. BACK WHEN WE WERE PLANNING THIS, WE COULD STAY IN OUR CURRENT BUILDING IF SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED AND WEREN'T ABLE TO OPEN ON TIME, BUT OUR CURRENT BUILDING DOESN'T ACCOMMODATE INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

SACRED TIME TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE AND START SERVICES IN OCTOBER.

WE'LL HAVE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT WHEN WE'RE READY TO LAUNCH THOSE

APPLICATIONS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AWESOME.

MUCH OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN SAID A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT A MAJORITY OF THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY ARE WOMEN HEAD OF HOUSEHOLDS AND CHILDCARE CONTINUES TO BE A HUGE CONCERN. AS A RESULT OF THE STUDY, THE RESULT OF YOUR WORK, THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT THAT'S BEING MADE. DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE NEED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY THAT NEED CITYWIDE AND WHAT THE ECOSYSTEM LOOKS

LIKE? >> THAT'S WHAT THIS STUDY SHOWS.

WE ONLY HAVE -- WE HAVE ENOUGH SEATS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 FOR 66%.

SO IF 66% OF THE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER 5 THERE'S A SEAT SOMEWHERE.

OF THOSE, AT ANY ONE TIME ONLY 15% ARE AVAILABLE. OF THOSE, ONLY 3% ARE FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN TERMS OF IF YOU ARE A PARENT WITH AN INFANT/TODDLER, THERE ARE PROBABLY ONLY 1 # THOUSAND OPENINGS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY AND SOUTH BEXAR COUNTY IS THE FEWES CHILDCARE SPOTS IN SOUTH BEXAR COUNTY WHICH IS WHY WE'VE BEEN CONCENTRATING FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE EXPAND THERE.

IT'S NOT JUST OUR CENTERS, THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH OTHER PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR QUALITY AS WELL AS KEEP THEIR WORKERS

THERE AND PAY THEM A DIGNIFIED WAGE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AND I GUESS THE ROOT OF THAT QUESTION THAT I JUST ASKED IS I WANT TO GAUGE WHAT ROLE WE CAN PLAY AS A CITY AND FACILITATING AN INCREASE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE BY EITHER SUPPORTING THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY AND TRAINING, ALL OF THAT, AND CREATION OF NEW FACILITIES AND MUNICIPAL CHILDCARE. I THINK THIS WILL BE A EXAMPLE OF MUNICIPAL CHILDCARE THAT WILL BE A MODEL AND THAT'S A

CONVERSATION I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE HAVING. >> THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S COME AUTOMAKER OF OUR VENTURE SOLUTIONS WORK IS THAT EMPLOYERS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THE AVAILABILITY OF CHILDCARE NEAR THEIR BUSINESSES, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT NOT EVERYONE WANTS THEIR CHILD NEAR THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS. IF WE WORK COLLECTIVELY TO CREATE A NETWORK THAT SERVE NOT JUST EMPLOYEES OR EMPLOYERS BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S THE WAY WE BUILD A HUGE NETWORK SO FAMILIES HAVE OPTIONS AFFORDABLE WHERE THEY NEED THEM MOST WHETHER IT'S NEAR EMPLOYMENT OR NEAR HOME. IT'S AN IMPORTANT PORT OF

WHAT WORRY DOING GOING FORWARD. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR THE WORK DO YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR BEING A CHAMPION FOR INDICATION AT ALL AGES -- EDUCATION AT ALL AGES.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

>> GARCIA: I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING DR. BARAY AND MIKE FOR ALL THE WORK. I HAD A MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH SOMEONE WHO SAID THAT CHILDCARE IS THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.

I THOUGHT YEAH, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY THINK OF IT THAT WAY. BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.

I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THE RECOMMENDATION TODAY AND SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR WORK IN GENERAL AND ALSO THE READY TO WORK RECOMMENDATIONS.

I DO SEE A FEW PEOPLE IN THE CROWD AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, SO -- BUT IF THEY ARE NOT, THEN I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE

[02:05:02]

HALLMARK UNIVERSITY IS HERE. WE HAD A CONVERSATION A FEW YEARS AGO, DR. WOLFF, ABOUT TRYING TO PUG IN AND BE A -- PLUG IN AND BE A PART OF READY TO WORK.

THANK YOU FOR STICKING TO IT. I SEE ADRIAN BACK THERE AND PROJECT QUEST. I ALWAYS SAY PROJECT QUEST IS THAT MODEL WE WANT TO ALWAYS LOOK UP TO AND SEE HOW WE CAN DO TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY OF OUR PROGRAM AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE COLLECTIVELY.

I'M ALSO REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE ALL STILL HERE AND READY TO MAKE CHANGES, THE NEEDED CHANGES AND THAT Y'ALL ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WE HEAR OR THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HEAR. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE I W-2 AND OTJ. I FEEL SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO BE EMPLOYED. THEY NEED THAT STEADY INCOME.

THEY JUST CAN'T TAKE A BREAK. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE ON THAT END. SO I DON'T THINK THAT

THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE YET, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'RE

NOT DOING DISCUSSION -- THAT WAS PULLED SEPARATELY. >> GARCIA: I'LL HOLD OFF ON THAT. SORRY. I FORGOT.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. FOR CLARIFICATION, I KNOW THERE'S SEVERAL FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 5. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT UP IN JUST A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON BRIEFING ITEMS 3 AND 4? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND MIKE, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CALL YOU BACK UP TO ITEM 5 TO FINISH THE

PRESENTATION AS PERTAINS TO THE IWBT AND OJF. >> CLERK: ORDINANCE AUTHORIZATIONINGS EXECUTION OF CONTRACTS FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND OPPONENT WORKER TRAINING. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FROM THE SA:READY TO WORK FUND.

>> WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD AND GET HIRED.

OUR PILOT ROUNDER, WE'VE HAD OVER 470 PARTICIPANTS AND SAW REALLY STRONG RETENTION RATES WITH 91% COMBINED. OJT, THESE ARE NEW HIRES LESS THAN SIX MONTHS ON THE JOB. BANDY WORKER -- UP SCALED AT $21.21 AN HOUR. FOR THIS SECOND ROUND WE ARE RECOMMENDING 75 EMPLOYERS FOR 5.9 MILLION IN AWARDS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT 2,516 WORKERS.

WE HEARD COUNCIL LOUD AND CLEAR LAST YEAR, MORE SMALL BUSINESS.

WE PARTNERED WITH MAESTRO AND 27 SMALL BUSINESSES WE HAVE AWARDED.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING CONTRACTS TO SERVE 266 PARTICIPANTS, ABOUT $1.4 MILLION. WE KNOW SMALL BUSINESSES NEED A LITTLE MORE SUPPORT. TO SERVE 1100 TOTAL WORKERS. THESE ARE ALL NEW HIRES THAT WILL BE PLACED THROUGH THE READY TO WORK INITIATIVE AT 1.4 MILLION, $1,337 ON AVERAGE FOR PARTICIPANTS. THE FUNDING SPLIT RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

BONED, 40 MILLION BUSINESSES RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD TO SERVE 362 EXISTING WORKERS.

1.5 MILLION IN FUNDING, ABOUT $4,200 PER TRAINEE. LARGE BUSINESSES ABOUT HALF OF THAT AT 20 COMPANIES RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD TO SERVE 788 EMPLOYEES, A TOTAL AWARD 1.4 MILLION, AVERAGE OF $1,800 ROUGHLY PER PARTICIPANT.

FOR ON THE JOB, THE GRANTS WERE CAPPED. EARNING AT LEAST $20 AN HOUR. THAT'S THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDING.

THE AVERAGE COST PER TRAINEE IS 2.9 MILLION IN FUNDING. 43 EMPLOYERS.

1366 NEWLY HIRED READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS. SUPER EXCITED ABOUT.

THAT IT'S IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN GET THEIR FOOT IN THE DOOR. IT'S THE WAGE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.

THESE DOLLARS ARE REIMBURSED TO TO EMPLOYER AFTER THEY'VE MADE THOSE HIRES.

[02:10:07]

TOTAL FUNDING 2.9 MILLION. THE CITY REIMBURSES COSTS THAT THE EMPLOYER HAS PUT OUT UP FRONT TO UP SCALE AND TRAIN EXISTING WORKERS. THE GOAL IS STAY EMPLOYED WITH A COMPANY THAT IS SUPPORTING THEIR TRAINING. INSTILLS A LITTLE LOYALTY.

1150 WORKERS WILL BE UP SCALED, OVER 60 EMPLOYERS. AGAIN, THE LIST OF THE EMPLOYERS HERE. REPRESENTED THROUGH ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS.

AND THE FUNDING RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT THESE CONTRACTS THROUGH THE SA:READY TO WORK FUND AND STAFF RECOMMENDS FULL CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION TO 75 PLOYERS TO IMPLEMENT THE SA:READY TO WORK AND OPPONENT -- AND INCUMBENT

WORKER PROGRAMS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE DO HAVE FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, THEN WE'LL GET INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. WE'LL START WITH CHRIS MARTINEZ IF HE'S STILL HERE. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY GEORGE SALIVA.

>> MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, CHRIS MARTINEZ. I'M THE PROUD SECOND GENERATION OWNER OF CENTRAL ELECTRIC, THIS YEAR IS OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. THE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT UNDER MY LEADERSHIP OF THE COMPANY WE'VE NEVER LAID ANYBODY OFF AND WE BELIEVE IN PROMOTION FROM WITHIN. AS NEW JOBS, AS FOLKS RETIRE, SKILLED TRAINING IS JUST PARAMOUNT. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE TRAIN, WE MAXIMIZE OUR CERTIFICATES, OUR LICENSING. SO THIS JUST PROVIDES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. AN ELECTRICIAN IN FOUR YEARS CAN BE MAKING, WE GUARANTEE $70,000. $70,000, TUITION FREE AND THEY ARE TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY ON ON THE PATH WAY TO ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH SAINT PHILLIPS TO HELP THEM TRANSITION EASILY IN. I KNOW THE OFFICE TO GET THEM ENROLLED ON LINE. WE EVEN HAVE ONE STUDENT THAT HAS GRADUATED AND IS AT TEXAS~A&M. WE CELEBRATE NEW HOMES. WE CELEBRATE -- OUR RETENTION RATE IS OVER 90%. WE'RE JUST SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY AND WE'RE GOING TO GROW SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THESE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER -- LIKE A CAREER LIFETIME.

IT'S GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL. THIS IS VERY EXCITING.

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

GEORGE SALIVA. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TYLER SCHROEDER.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK TODAY. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE READY TO WORK IWT FUNDING.

AND THE BENEFITS THAT OUR COMPANY HAS RECEIVED. IT WAS A CHALLENGE AT FIRST TO TRY TO FIND THE SPECIFIC TYPE TRAINING THAT WOULD QUALIFY THROUGH READY TO WORK AND THE FUNDS. SO IT TOOK US SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET INTO THAT LOOP.

AFTER WE'VE BEEN IN HERE NOW GOING ON SIX, EIGHT MONTHS, THE TRAINING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN TO SAN ANTONIO FOR OUR PEOPLE HAS CHANGED THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED TO FEEL ABOUT THEMSELVES. WHERE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE SIMPLE TASK PERFORMERS, NOW THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE TRAINED EQUIPMENT REPAIR PEOPLE. PLUMBING HAS EVOLVED FROM JUST A SIMPLE TOILET TO NOW THESE SMART TOILETS THAT TAKE I.T. PEOPLE TO PRACTICALLY WORK ON.

SO TO BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THAT TYPE OF TRAINING, IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT.

WE HAVE TO BRING IN THE MANUFACTURERS TO TRAIN OUR PEOPLE TO DO THESE THINGS.

SO THAT'S THE EVOLUTION OF PLUMBING. NOW THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING

[02:15:03]

SO THE GUYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE A VALUE IN THE ACTUAL UP LIFTING OF THEIR OWN FEELING OF THEMSELVES. AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE NOW TO THE WHOLE SYSTEM, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES THAT I'VE SEEN IN MY PEOPLE. AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR OUR PEOPLE. PLUMBING IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THE TRADES WHERE IT'S A LONG EVOLUTION OF TRAINING.

IT'S NOT JUST A SIMPLE 15-WEEK COURSE THAT WE CAN GO AND SEND OUR PEOPLE TO.

SO ONCE THEY HAVE ACQUIRED THESE LICENSES AND THINGS, THAT STAGNATION CAN SEEM TO BE THERE, BUT THESE FUNDS HAVE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN THE MANUFACTURERS TO OUR COMPANIES TO TRAIN OUR PEOPLE TO WORK ON THESE NEW AND EVOLUTION-TYPE -- OR EVOLVING TYPES OF PRODUCTS COMING INTO THE PLUMBING INDUSTRY.

AND I THANK CITY COUNCIL FOR GIVING US THAT OPTION AND THAT ABILITY.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SALIVA.

TYLER SCHROEDER, FOLLOWED GUY FOLLOWED BY CELIA GUTIERREZ.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCILMEMBERS, GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF YOU.

WHILE NOT HERE OFTEN, IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR FOR THE BOEING COMPANY TO BE BEFORE YOU ALL. WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVES YOU HAVE ALL SET FORTH IN READY TO WORK. I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY'S FOCUS ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. IT IS NATIONALLY KNOWN, IT'S BEEN SAID IT IS NATIONALLY KNOWN. I SEARCH AS SENIOR MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AT THE BOEING COMPANY. BOEING HAS PROUDLY CALLED PORT SAN ANTONIO HOME, HEART --T OF DISTRICT 4 OUR HOME FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS. THAT WAS A COMMITMENT THAT BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER THE CLOSURE OF KELLY AIR FORCE BASE.

WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THE AEROSPACE LEGACY IN SAN ANTONIO AND FIRMLY BELIEVE AS WE GROW SO TOO SHOULD OUR COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORS. OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY IS DEMONSTRATED BY OVER $5 MILLION OF INVESTMENT IN LOCAL NON-PROFITS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS ALONE. MOST OF THAT GOING TO CRITICAL AREAS SUCH AS EDUCATIONAL ACCESS FOR OUR YOUTH, SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERANS AND FOOD SECURITY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. ADDITIONALLY WE ARE DEDICATED TO CREATING PATHWAYS FOR SAN ANTONIANS TO THRIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING INDUSTRIES IN THE WORLD AND THAT IS THE CITY'S FOCUS ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS INSTRUMENTAL.

SPECIFICALLY THE WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM WILL ALLOW US TO ACCELERATE THE UP TRAINING THROUGH A SPECIALIZED PROGRAM OF TRAINERS AND WORKPLACE COACHES. NOT ONLY WILL THIS LEAD TO GREATER FUTURE SKILLS MOBILITY AND ENSUING ECONOMIC IMPACTED TO THEIR FAMILIES.

IT WILL HELP US MAKE ENTRY TO NEW-LEVEL POSITIONS TO GET INTO THIS POSITIVE ECONOMIC CYCLE. THAT IS HOW WE INTEND TO USE THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTRANCE INTO THIS HIGH-WAGE FIELD. WE ARE WITNESSING A BURGE BURGEONING INDUSTRY.

WE HOSTED A SERIES OF PUBLIC FAIRS AND WE HAVE ANOTHER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WORK SOLUTIONS ALAMO, BUT WE ARE ADVERTISING FOR IT. THESE EVENTS ARE VITAL IN CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY WITH THOSE OPPORTUNITIES I'VE LAID OUT.

WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE GENERATIONAL IMPACT EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CAN HAVE. EMPOWERS INDUSTRIES TO THRIVE AND GROW.

BOEING IS MAKING THIS A REALITY. THING SUPPORT, THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP YOU AND THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE HAS DEMONSTRATED ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE NATIONALLY. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CELIA GUTIERREZ.

YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SAMANTHA COLEMAN. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND

[02:20:02]

I SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF LET'S GO TEXAS. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK INITIATIVE THROUGH THE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM AND INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAMS. AS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES FINDING MEANINGFUL AND INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT, WE FIND THIS FUNDING IS MORE UNANIMOUS A GRANT, IT WILL ENABLE US TO BROADEN REACH AND PROVIDE CRUCIAL SUPPORTS TO SAN ANTONIANS WHO OFTEN ENCOUNTER SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN PURSUIT FOR WORK. YOUR COMMITMENT IS ALSO A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ECONOMIC FAIRNESS.

FOSTER MORE INCLUSIVE WORK PLACES THAT REFLECT DIVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUOUS DEDICATION TOILING A STRONGER AND MORE IN INCLUSIVE SAN ANTONIO. WORKING WITH VARIOUS DISABILITIES REQUIRES WE BE ON TOP OF THE GAME, THAT WE ARE OFTEN STANDLY INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF TO BE PREPARED NOT ONLY FOR DEALING WITH EMPLOYERS BECAUSE WE ARE A PERSON-CENTERED INDUSTRY. BECAUSE OF THAT THIS GRANT ALLOWS US TO BE ON TOP OF OUR GAME, TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STAFF, TO GAIN THOSE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUAL LIFE SERVICES.

WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VISION AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, MS. GUTIERREZ. SAMANTHA COLEMAN. >> MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, BEXAR COUNTY'S LOCAL MINUTE AUTHORITY. I AM REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND BE PART OF THIS OPPORTUNITY AND IN SUCH WONDERFUL COMPANY AS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW INVESTING IN ROAD TO OUR EMPLOYEES ARE GEEPLY COMMITTED. MANY STAY FOR 10, 20, EVEN 40 YEARS ON THE REGULAR, BUT WITHOUT SUPPORT FOR UPSCALING THEY FACE LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT DESPITE DEDICATION AND POTENTIAL.

READY TO WORK ISN'T JUST FOR JOB SEEKERS. IT CAN TRANSFORMERS CREW OF THOSE ALREADY SERVING IN VITAL OFTEN OVERLOOKED ROLES.

BY FUNDING CERTIFICATIONS AND CAREER LADDER TRAINING FOR INCUMBENT WORKERS, WE CAN REDUCE RECRUITMENT COSTS AND BUILD STRONGER PIPELINE. URGENT COMMUNITY NEEDS SUCH AS GROWING CRISIS AMONG YOUTHS, VETERANS AND INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOUSELESSNESS. MANY OF OUR FRONT-LINE WORKERS COME FROM UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES. UPSCALING THROUGH READY TO WORK PROVIDES A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CAREER GROWTH AND WAGE INCREASING ALLOWING THEM TO ADVANCE. I WANT TO SHARE A POWERFUL EXAMPLE WHAT CAN LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE. IN 2009 A MAN SCUG HE WILLING WITH ADDICTION WAS REFERRED TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES. HE FOUND A NEW PAST, FIRST AS A CLIENT, THEN AS DIRECT CARE STAFF MEMBER. OVER THE YEARS HE ADVANCED TO PEER RECOVERY COACH AND FINALLY AS A TRAINER. ALONG THE WAY HE EARNED BOTH A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE TO INCREASE THOSE SKILLS AND GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY. HIS JOURNEY FROM CRISIS TO LEADERSHIP IS AN EXAMPLE HOW INVESTING IN INCUMBENT WORKERS TRANSFORMS LIVES AND STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND BEYOND. EVEN OUR TOILETS.

STORIES LIKE HIS ARE NOT THE EXCEPTION, THEY ARE THE RESULT TO GIVE PEOPLE THE TOOLS TO GLOW. EVERY GOAL INVESTED IN TRAINING INCUMBENT WORKERS PAYS BETTER CARE DELIVER, REDUCED RELIANCE ON CRISIS SERVICES LIKE EMERGENCY ROOMS AND JAILS. I RESPECT FILLLY URGE FOR YOU TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING THIS PROGRAM. WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAME BEFORE AND JUST LIKE CHCS, IT'S NOT JUST A ARE SMART INVESTMENT FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUT A CRUCIAL STEP IN A HEALTHIER AND MORE STABLE BEXAR COUNTY.

[02:25:04]

THANK YOU. >> CHAIR: THANK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IVAN

MELCHER. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

I'M A REPRESENTATIVE OF SURE MED EMS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WITNESSING FIRSTHAND IS CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS ACROSS OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAMS PROVIDE PATHWAYS FOR WORKERS TO RECEIVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND SPECIALIZE TRAINING LIKE TRANSITIONING INTO A FULLY OPERATIONAL ROLE ON AMBULANCE SERVICES OR HOSPITAL SITTING.

THESE PROGRAMS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE TIME BETWEEN CLASSROOM CERTIFICATION AND ACTUAL FIELD DEPLOYMENT. ALLOWING QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY SOONER WHILE WAITING TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILL SETS.

THE IMPACT OF THESE TRAINING INITIATIVES DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE URGENT PUBLIC NEED FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. BY SUPPORTING THE EMT CANDIDATES, WE'RE ABLE TO INCREASE RETENTION RATES BY OVER 40%, COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL TRAINING METHODS. OUR DATA SNOWS EMTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THESE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATE GREATER CONFIDENCE, CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING SKILES AND READINESS TO HANDLE -- SKILLS AND READINESS TO HANDLE REAL WORLD DECISIONS PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY PRE-HOSPITAL CARE TO PATIENTS IN CRISIS SITUATIONS.

WE DON'T KNOW THIS UNTIL WE ACTUALLY NEED AND YOU WITHIN WE'RE HOPING WHEN WE PUT THESE TRAINING -- THIS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE EMTS WE CAN PUT OUR NAME BEHIND IT. WE WANTED TO THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL AND READY TO WORK

FOR YOUR CONTINUAL SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. MANNY VIA. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK

FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

FIRST I'M GOING TO TALK ON BEHALF OF ITEM 5. THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, VISION, FRIENDSHIP, AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE INVESTMENT YOU ARE MAKING IN THIS COMMUNITY. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY AND SOMETIMES YOU THINK IT'S A THANKLESS JOB BUT IT'S AN INVESTMENT.

VIA TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN AROUND 30 YEARS. WE TALK ABOUT MULTI GENERATIONAL FAMILIES, BREAKING A CYCLE, WE ARE PROUD PRODUCTS OF BREAKING A CYCLE. 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS IS NOT EASY.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF INVESTMENTS IN OUR EMPLOYEES, IN OUR SYSTEMS. THESE DOLLARS WILL BE COMING OUR WAY, HOPEFULLY WILL BE APPROVED TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN OUR EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES $20 AN HOUR. FOR A SMALL BUSINESS, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

WE'LL MAKE THAT COMMITMENT. I WANT TO MAKE EMPLOYEES TO THE NEXT LEVEL, MAKING UP TO $200,000. GUT IT'S THE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING.

IT'S NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY BY THE COMMUNITY. VIA TECHNOLOGY WILL BE A GREAT STEWARD OF THOSE FUNDS AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO BENEFIT TREMENDOUSLY AND

THEIR FAMILIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU VERY MUCH, MR. VIA. JACK FINGER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M.

FINGER AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE EXERCISE IN READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

A WHILE BACK SOME HEADLINES CAME UP ABOUT THIS VERY PROGRAM.

WHAT DID IT SAY? IT SAYS TAX-FUNDED READY TO WORK FALLS SHORT ON KEY JOBS GOAL. TURN THE PAGE, MR. AUDIOVISUAL PLAN.

IT SAYS SALES TAX INITIATIVE HAS FALLEN SHORT OF -- AND I CIRCLED 80%, 80% OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN JOBS PAYING $15 AN HOUR WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF FINISHING THEIR TRAINING. THE -- 46% AS OF FRIDAY AT THAT POINT.

TURN THE PAGE, IF YOU WOULD. IT SAYS OF THE 1,232 PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLETED, CITY

[02:30:10]

LOOK AT THE UNDERLINED AREAS, IF YOU WOULD THERE. IT SAYS A TOTAL OF 60 EMPLOYERS WILL OFFER IWT, WILL, IT SAYS, NOT HAVE, NOT SHALL, OFFER IWT TO THOUSANDS OF EXISTING WORKERS AND 43 EMPLOYERS WILL NOT HAVE, NOT SHALL OFFER ON-THE-JOB TRAINING TO NEWLY HIRED WORKERS. CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE, IF YOU WILL. IT SAYS PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS WHO WILL, NOT HAVE, NOT SHALL, WILL CONTINUE TO TRAIN EMPLOYEES, AND FURTHER DOWN THE LINE IT SAYS THE CITY WILL NOT HAVE, NOT SHALL REIMBURSE 43 PLOYERS AND EMPLOYERS WILL, NOT SHALL. SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

SO WE GOT SOME PROBLEMS HERE. HAVE THEY REALLY MET THE GOALS SINCE WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS STUFF HERE? WELL, LET'S SEE. YOU ALL WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS IS SOME TIME AGO.

IN THAT ARTICLE IT SAYS -- AUDIOVISUAL, YEAH. BUT AFTER MANY CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH THE PROGRAM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ARE NOW OPENLY PONDERING WHETHER THE CITY IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO DELIVER A SERVICE

THEY FEEL RESIDENTS NEED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 5. >> VIAGRAN: SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL MOVE INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MIKE.

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME UP AND SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.

WE HAVE, AGAIN, WE HAVE MADE PIVOTS. THIS IS KEY ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. YOU KNOW, WORKERS TRAINING, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.

YOU ARE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON WHAT WE NEED FOR HEALTH CARE AND EMERGENCY CARE EMPLOYEES.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE. AND AS I SAID EARLIER, WE JUST NEED TO GIVE OUR RESIDENTS, GIVE OUR COMMUNITY THE CONFIDENCE TO GO OUT TO GET THESE JOBS AND TO SAY YES. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WITH THIS PROGRAM AND BY WORKING TOGETHER AND NOT IN SILOS WE CAN GET DONE.

I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THE NEW HIRES THAT ARE GOING TO GET TO BE THERE WITH SOMEONE TO MENTOR THEM, TO TALK THEM ALONG AND IT'S DESIGNATED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. IT'S NOT JUST HERE YOU GO. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE CURRENT WORKERS TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE TAKING THAT RISK MAYBE THAT HE HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE BECAUSE BASICALLY THE CITY IS ASKING AND PLEADING WITH THEM AND YOU TO MAKE SURE THEY TRY. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WOMEN THAT ARE GOING TO SAY YES TO POSITIONS THAT MAYBE TRADITIONALLY THEY WOULDN'T SAY YES TO, AND MIKE, I THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME OVER TO THE PRESENTATION ON APPRENTICESHIPS AND SEEING THE PRE-APRESENCE ADVERTISESHIP PROGRAM BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START SAYING YES TO THINGS THEY HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE. YOU ARE GOING TO OPEN THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO THANK THE EMPLOYEES THERE AND THE NEW HIRES THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON WATCHING THIS THAT ARE GOING TO SAY YES AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE -- HERE IN THE CITY AND WITH READY TO WORK WANT TO SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING AND UNDERSTAND THIS DOES NOT COME WITHOUT CITY HELP. THIS IS WHY WE ASK YOU TO JUST GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE THAT MAYBE TRADITIONALLY YOU WOULD BE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WITH MORE EDUCATION OR THIS TYPE OF BACKGROUND. BUT NOW YOU ARE GOING TO

[02:35:02]

THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND MIKE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING FOR OUR LGC WORKERS HERE BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES. AND MY CHALLENGE TO YOU AND ASK TO YOU IS LET'S GET CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE SO PEOPLE ARE ALREADY PAYING ATTENTION ACROSS THE NATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND THAT MAYBE THOSE OF YOU SAYING YES TODAY CAN THINK OF EVEN MORE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS TO WORK AND GET UPLIFTED. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS.

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

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 5? OKAY.

AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO HAS RECUSED.

>> KAUR: SORRY, I JUST OF TWO QUICK QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRAM, THANK COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN FOR ALL HER COMMENTS. AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK WE'LL START SEEING THE RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING THIS EFFICIENT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND EITHER STAYING IN THEIR

HOLES, HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE MONITORING IT -- ROLES. >> WE WILL GET DATA FROM EMPLOYERS MONTHLY ON THE PROGRESS OF THOSE EMPLOYEES. SIX MONTHS AFTER THE TRAINING IS COMPLETED, THEY LET US KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

>> KAUR: SO SIX MONTHS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN ON. >> AND THEIR WAGES.

>> KAUR: HOW LONG DO WE USUALLY TRACK GRADUATES FROM THE PROGRAM IN GENERAL?

>> FROM READY TO WORK 12 MONTHS POST-JOB. WE CHECK IN WITH THEM QUARTERLY TO SEE IF THEY NEED ANYTHING ARREST STILL EMPLOYED.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, MAYOR.

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

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

COMMENTS STAND FROM EARLIER, BUT I WANT TO BRING UP CONCERNS.

OUT OF 103 OF THE BUSINESSES, SEVEN IN DISTRICT 2, THAT MAKES 6.8%.

OUT OF THE 2,516 PARTICIPANTS, 90 OF THOSE JOBS ARE IN DISTRICT 2.

THAT WHAT SAYS TO ME WE NEED TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE OUTREACH, NOT JUST TO WORKERS BUT TO THE BUSINESSES BECAUSE THAT MEANS IF A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPANTS ARE DISTRICT 2 RESIDENTS, IF THAT'S THE CASE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO JOBS IN THEIR DISTRICT. THAT'S A CONCERN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED.

>> I CONCUR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 5? COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN THIS ITEM CAME TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE I DID ABSTAIN BECAUSE I HAD PENDING QUESTIONS WITH VIA. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET TO DISCUSS WHAT THEY INTENDED TO WITH THOSE COUPLE HUNDRED POSITIONS THEY WILL BE RECEIVING SUPPORT WITH THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE.

THEY DID GIVE ME THE INFORMATION I REQUESTED AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS

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

ANYTHING ELSE? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 5. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

THAT LEAVES US WITH ITEM 11. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

>> CLERK: ITEM 11, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 35 TO CREATE A MANDATORY 1,000-FOOT SPACING REQUIREMENT FOR TOBACCO AND VAPE SHOPS NEAR PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, DAY CARE CENTERS, SOLUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, TWO, ADD

DEFINITIONS, THREE, PROVIDE FOR PUBLICATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MIKE,

[02:40:01]

I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> SHANNON: GOOD MORNING, AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS ITEM IS A CHANGE TO OUR CITY'S ZONING CODE.

AND ADDING SOME REGULATIONS FOR EVEN HE KNOWING -- CALLED THE BREATH CCR.

THIS WAS A CCR AUTHORED BY DISTRICT 9 COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE LAST YEAR AND IT ASKED US TO UPDATE OUR ZONING CODES TO LOOK AT PROVIDING A BUFFER FOR ANY NEW VAPE SHOPS. SEPARATING THEM FROM SCHOOLS.

SO THIS DOES GO A LITTLE HAND IN HAND WHICH YOU ALL DID AT THE END OF LAST WE'RE. WE ADDED ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES TO THE SMOKING ORDINANCE. FROM SCHOOLS, DAY CARES OR COLLEGE UNIVERSITIES.

JUST TO -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MIKE, ONE SECOND.

AS FOLKS LEAVE THE CHAMBER, IF YOU CAN KEEP THE VOLUME DOWN AS WE CONTINUE

BUSINESS. GO AHEAD, MAKE. >> SHANNON: THIS IS ALSO BEING DISCUSSED AT THE STATE LEVEL. THERE'S SEVERAL BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. WE'RE WATCHING ALL OF THESE. SOME ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

THEY WERE LOOKING AT A 300-FOOT BUFFER -- ACTUALLY THAT 300-FOOT HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO 1,000-FOOT BUFFER. THIS ALSO BEING ATTACKED AT THE STATE LEVEL. WE'LL ENSURE THEY ARE COORDINATED CORRECTLY.

SO WE LOOKED AT OUR VAPE SHOPS IN THE CITY. MY TEAM IDENTIFIED A LITTLE OVER 220 IN THE CITY LIMITS NOW. A LITTLE OVER A THIRD, 82, LOOK LIKE THEY ARE WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF OUR SCHOOL. THEY ARE ALL OVER THE CITY, EVERY DISTRICT HAS THEM. YOU'VE ALL SEEN THEM. AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS PROVIDE BUFFERS BETWEEN ANY NEW ONES THAT CONTINUE TO OPEN IN OUR CITY. THESE ARE THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE TALKING VAPE OR SMOKE SHOPS THAT PRIMARILY THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR. SOME OF THESE YOU SEE AROUND TOWN, THEIR NAMES INDICATE THAT, STRIP CENTERS, STAND-ALONE SHOPS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEIR MAIN BUSINESS IS SMOKE OR VAPE SHOPS. WHAT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT, GAS STATIONS, ET CETERA. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AND IT'S GONE THROUGH A PROCESS.

WE'VE GONE TO THE CITY'S ZONING COMMISSION THIS WEEK, GOT A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD NO TOBACCO OR VAPE SHOP BE ALLOWED TO OPEN WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF A DAY CARE, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY UNLESS THEY GET APPROVAL THROUGH YOU ALL THROUGH THE ZONING, SPECIAL USE SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD DO FOR AN ALCOHOL VARIANCE REQUEST THAT YOU WOULD SEE. EXISTING LOCATIONS, THE 225 OR THE 82 THAT ARE ALREADY WITHIN A SCHOOL, THOSE ARE HAVE TO BE GRANDFATHERED. THAT IS STATE AND LOCAL ZONING LAW, WE COULDN'T CHANGE THAT. OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS REQUESTED IN THE CCR IS TO ADD THIS BUFFER, THIS 1,000-FOOT BUFFER FOR NEW VAPE SHOPS OR SMOKE SHOPS THAT EACH UP IN THE FUTURE. BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE.

WE DO HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. BOYD BAXTER.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. WE WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE FOR BRINGING THIS MATTER TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE CITY'S ATTENTION. MY NAME IS BOYD BAXTER. I AM A CERTIFIED PREVENTION SPECIALIST AND A MEMBER OF THE BREATHE COALITION IN SAN ANTONIO.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT VAPEING IN SAN ANTONIO AND I OFTEN TALK TO YOUTH.

ONE OF THE ISSUES I HEAR ABOUT A LOT ESPECIALLY FROM EDUCATORS IS YOUTH VAPING IN AND AROUND SCHOOLS. WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA AND AS PREVENTION SPECIALISTS WE GO THROUGH A LOT OF DATA TO LOOK AT THE HARMS AND THE THINGS AFFECTING OUR YOUTH AND SOCIETY. TODAY I WOULD RATHER FOCUS ON SOME OF THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT AS WELL. 70% OF OUR STUDENTS CURRENTLY DO NOT VAPE AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. THAT IS BECAUSE OF MANY

[02:45:03]

ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IS EFFECTIVE LOCAL POLICIES CAN HELP PREVENT THE FIRST INITIATION OF PRODUCTS LIKE VIDEOTAPING PRODUCTS AND REDUCE THE LONG-TERM HARM AND ADDICTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BAXTER. SHARONETTE GEMMA.

RYAN YORK, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL DEAN. >> MY NAME IS RYAN YORK.

I AM FROM RISE RECOVERY AND I AM 18 YEARS OLD AND A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE FROM RISE ACADEMY. I WORK AT RISE RECOVERY AS A RECOVERY SUPPORT PEER SPECIALIST. I WORK WITH TEENS, FAMILIES AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE ISSUES WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. I AM MYSELF SOMEONE WHO DOES STRUGGLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND BEEN SOBER SINCE JUNE 2023.

I WOULD LOVE TO FOCUS ON THE STATISTICS, BUT IN ALL REALITY I THINK WHAT WOULD MEAN MORE IS HEARING FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS ACTUALLY BEEN THROUGH THIS.

I FIRST DISCOVERED NICOTINE WHEN I WAS IN EARLY MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT I HAD PROMISED GROWING UP I WAS NEVER GOING TO DO BUT THE NORMALITY BECAME BIGGER. I WOULD GO INTO THE BATHROOM AND SEE PEOPLE DOING IT AND THEY TOLD ME THEY GO ON WEB SIDES, STORES AND IT BECAME A CULTURE. WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL THERE WAS SHOPS WE KNEW THAT DIDN'T ID SO WE WOULD GO FROM THOSE. WE WOULD GO TO THOSE AND IT BECAME US BONDING OVER THAT ADDICTION. FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I CAN ATTEST TO THE CHALLENGES POSED BY VIDEOTAPING. AS YOUNG INDIVIDUALS I WAS INTRODUCED THROUGH PEER INFLUENCE AND THE MISCONCEPTION IT WAS A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKING. THE REALITY WAS DIFFERENT. IT SEEMED LIKE A HARMLESS ACTIVITY ESCALATED INTO A STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTION. THE JOURNEY TO BREAK FREE WAS ARDUOUS. THIS PERSONAL BATTLE UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES SUCH AS RESTRICTING THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE PRODUCTS NEAR SCHOOLS. THE PRESENCE OF VAPE SHOPS NEAR EDUCATIONAL AUDIO] REPORTED BETWEEN AUGUST 2023 AND APRIL 2024. WITH THE MAJORITY INVOLVING THC-RELATED PRODUCTS. THESE NOT ONLY DISRUPT THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND I HAVE FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE IN MY LIFE. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL DEALING WITH ADDICTION AND NOT HAVING THE RESOURCES PROPERLY ARMED UNTIL I CAME TO RISE RECOVERY AND GOT THOSE. NOT ONLY IS IT ABOUT AWARENESS BUT EXTENDING THOSE RESOURCES MORE THAN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR Y'ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. YORK.

DANIEL DEAN. >> HELLO. I'M A PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGIST AND I TOOK CARE OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE PULMONARY OR LUNG PROBLEMS IN MY CAREER, SIMILAR TO ASTHMA. I RETIRED IN 2016 AFTER 36 YEARS IN PEDIATRIC MEDICINE.

SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING SA KIDS BREATHE . I SUPPORT THE CHANGES TO THE SAN ANTONIO SMOKING ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE CREATING THIS MANDATORY 1,000-FOOT SPACING REQUIREMENT. I THINK THE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF TOBACCO SMOKE.

I TESTIFIED BEFORE THE COUNCIL WHEN THEY PASSED -- INCREASED THE AGE TO PURCHASE TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO 21. THE COUNCIL IS ALSO AWARE OF THE NEED FOR THE CITY TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ASTHMA.

AS I WAS PRESENT WHEN YOU SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF SA KIDS BREATHE AND THE CONTINUED SUPPORT. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. E-CIGARETTES ARE NOT SAFE.

[02:50:02]

AND THESE CHEMICALS GET INTO THE BLOOD AND INJURE VITAL ORGANS.

NICOTINE IS A HIGHLY-ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE AND IT DIRECTLY INJURES THE HEART, LUNG, AND BRAIN. THESE VAPING PRODUCTS SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME WAY AS TOBACCO PRODUCTS. OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN MANY GUIDELINES THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED TO ASSIST PHYSICIANS AND SCHOOL NURSES. THESE SUCCESSES HAVE STALLED.

THE FAMILY, CHILD, SCHOOL NURSE, AND PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN NEED YOUR HELP.

OVER THE YEARS, METRO HEALTH HAS REMINDED ME THAT PHYSICIANS ONLY CONTRIBUTE 20% TO THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES. I ACCEPT THAT. WE NEED YOUR HELP.

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH SUCH AS QUALITY HOUSING AND A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST 70%. THE CITY IS BEST ABLE TO IMPROVE THESE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD ADDRESS DECREASING EXPOSURE AND ACCESS TO TOXIC NICOTINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS. THIS WILL IMPROVE CHILDREN'S HEALTH OUTCOMES LONG TERM.

MINIMIZING ASTHMATIC CHILDREN'S EXPOSURE TO INHALED TOXIC SUBSTANCES WILL EVENTUALLY PREVENT A LIFE-THREATENING ASTHMA FLARE UP. I SUPPORT TREATING E-CIGARETTES, VAPING PRODUCTS AS TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND LIMITING ACCESS TO PLACES THAT SELL THESE ITEMS WHERE CHILDREN CAN ACCESS THEM. I ENCOURAGE VIGOROUS

ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. DEAN. ALL RIGHT. THIS WAS PULLED BY

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> COURAGE: MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 11. AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS TO ADDRESS IT, IF I MAY. I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR INDULGING ME IN PULLING THIS ITEM. USUALLY ITEMS LIKE THIS JUST GET ON CONSENT. BUT I FELT LIKE THIS WAS REALLY AN ITEM THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE THINKING MORE ABOUT. AND I FELT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT WAS TO BRING IT UP, HAVE SOME PEOPLE SHARE THEIR COMMENTS, THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND HOPEFULLY THE MEDIA WILL PAY A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO THIS AND REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THE CITY MUST DO AND CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE AND MANY OF US FROM THE PROLIFERATION OF THE DIFFERENT ADDICTIVE THINGS THAT TRANSFER IN OUR CITY. YOU KNOW, THE PROLIFERATION OF VAPING IS CREATING A NEW ADDICTED GENERATION OF SMOKERS.

IT'S BECOMING CLEAR THAT VAPING IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS SMOKING.

THIS COUNCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH METRO HEALTH HAS TAKEN PROACTIVE MEASURES TO CURB THE EXPANSION OF VAPING. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE INCLUDED VAPING IN OUR NON-SMOKING ORDINANCE AND TODAY WE'LL ENACT LEGISLATION TO KEEP VAPE SHOPS FROM OPENING NEAR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, DAYCARES, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.

THE PROXIMITY OF VAPE SHOPS TO SCHOOLS IS A CRITICAL CONCERN THAT EXACERBATES THIS ISSUE.

A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS A TROUBLING CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PRESENCE OF VAPE SHOPS NEAR SCHOOLS AND THE INITIATION AND SUSTAINED USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AMONG ADOLESCENTS.

THE STUDY FOUND THAT MANY VAPE SHOPS ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED CLOSE TO SCHOOLS, MIRRORING THE TACTICS HISTORICALLY EMPLOYED BY THE TRADITIONAL TOBACCO INDUSTRY TO RECRUIT YOUNG SMOKERS. THIS PROXIMITY NOT ONLY INCREASES THE VISIBILITY OF VAPING PRODUCTS TO IMPRESSIONABLE STUDENTS, BUT ALSO NORMALIZES THEIR USE, LEADING TO HIGHER RATES OF ADOLESCENT E-CIGARETTE CONSUMPTION.

GIVEN THESE FINDINGS, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MUST TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO PROTECT ITS YOUTH FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF VAPING. THE PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AIMS TO REGULATE THE LOCATION OF VAPE SHOPS, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS BY CREATING BUFFER ZONES AROUND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

THE CITY SEEKS TO REDUCE THE ACCESSIBILITY AND APPEAL OF VAPING PRODUCTS TO MINORS, THEREBY CURBING THE ONGOING EPIDEMIC AND PROMOTING A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR ALL RESIDENTS. I'M ALSO VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS RECOGNIZES THIS DIRE SITUATION AND IS TAKING STEPS ALONG THE SAME LINES AS WE ARE HERE IN

[02:55:04]

YOU KNOW, THE RESEARCH INDICATES HERE LOCALLY, AS YOU HEARD, THAT THERE ARE 225 VAPE SHOPS WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND AT LEAST 36% OF THEM ARE LOCATED CLOSE TO SCHOOLS. TODAY'S ORDINANCE WILL ENSURE THAT THIS NUMBER DOES NOT INCREASE. I WANT TO THANK DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR ACTING QUICKLY ON THIS INITIATIVE AND THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE ON THIS HEALTH CRISIS.

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

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 11. WE'LL CONTINUE DISCUSSION WITH

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

I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR LEADING THE INITIATIVE IN ENSURING THAT WE MITIGATE THE AMOUNT OF VAPE SHOPS NEAR OUR SCHOOLS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN AN INCREASE OF CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT AROUND CONCERNS OF WHERE BUSES ARE DROPPING OFF AND PICKING UP SOME OF OUR CHILDREN. IT'S IN FRONT OF VAPE SHOPS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET OR A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY FROM OUR SCHOOLS.

JUST GRATEFUL FOR YOU LEADING THE CHARGE TO ENSURE WE ARE PROTECTING OUR YOUTH AND PROTECTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND THEN OF COURSE LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 11? LET ME ALSO PUBLICLY THANK RYAN YORK FOR COMING OUT AND SHARING HIS TESTIMONY. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HEAR TESTIMONY FROM THEIR PEERS WHO HAVE OVERCOME THESE KINDS OF CHALLENGES AND TO URGE THEM TO TAKE A GOOD PATH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. YORK FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT RISE RECOVERY AND THE PROGRAM THERE AND THE WORK THEY'RE DOING FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING TOO.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 11.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL OF THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY BUT FIRST LET ME TURN IT OVER TO ERIK FOR A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

>> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST TWO ITEMS. THE FIRST IS THAT THIS IS PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK AND IT IS A WEEK THAT'S SET ASIDE TO RECOGNIZE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AT THE FEDERAL, COUNTY, STATE, AND MORE CLOSELY TO OUR HEART, MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. AND YOU ALL SEE ON A WEEKLY BASIS THE GOOD WORK, THE GREAT WORK THAT A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY FROM OVER 13,000 OF OUR CRITICAL TEAMMATES HERE AT THE CITY.

THEY ALL DEMONSTRATE OUR CORE VALUES OF TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION, AND PROFESSIONALISM. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. IF YOU SEE A CITY EMPLOYEE, RECOGNIZE THEM FOR PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK. SECONDLY, AND IN THAT SPIRIT, FIESTA JUST WRAPPED UP AND WITH ALL OF THE CITYWIDE EFFORTS, THIS ORGANIZATION IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, AND SOLID WASTE DO A BANG-UP JOB IN TERMS OF CLEAN UP.

CENTER CITY, METRO HEALTH, THE CONVENTION CENTER, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT, AND MANY MORE . I DON'T KNOW IF THE COUNCIL SAW BUT WE ACTUALLY HAD TWO PARAMEDICS WHO WERE NOT ON DUTY AT ONE OF THE PARADES, JAMES PEREZ AND ERIK ORTIZ, HAPPENED TO HAVE SOMEONE COLLAPSE IN FRONT OF THEM AND PERFORMED LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT TO THAT INDIVIDUAL. AND THEY WERE NOT ON DUTY. I HAD A CHANCE TO E-MAIL THEM AND THANK THEM BECAUSE IT GAVE ME CHILLS TO SEE THE VIDEO, TO SHOW THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE LEADERSHIP AND THE CRITICAL TRAINING THAT THEY HAVE. IN THAT SPIRIT, THIS WEEK'S VIDEO IS ON TWO EMPLOYEES FROM TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE A LOT OF THE BEHIND THE

[03:00:01]

LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING INSPECTORS HERE AT FIESTA IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME TO FIESTA EVENTS EVERY DAY SO WE WANT TO BE IN THE BOOTHS MAKING SURE THAT THE FOOD THEY'RE CONSUMING IS SAFE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE OVER 50 BOOTHS AT THIS EVENT. WE'RE CHECKING THE BOOTHS ON A DAILY BASIS SO WE KNOW WHAT'S BEING SOLD. WE KNOW HOW MANY BOOTHS. WE KNOW HOW MANY DAYS AND WE DIVVY UP OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE COVERAGE. WE HAVE SOME SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE REQUIRE IN THE BOOTH. THEY HAD TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WASH THEIR HANDS.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WASH THE UTENSILS THEY'RE USING IN THE BOOTH.

THEY NEED HAIR RESTRAINTS. WE LOOK FOR CLEANLINESS. WE LOOK FOR TEMPERATURES.

COLD FOOD HAS TO BE KEPT COLD. HOT FOOD HAS TO BE KEPT HOT AND ALL THE ITEMS HAVE TO BE OFF THE FLOOR. EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED BECAUSE IT'S OUT IN THE OPEN. THOSE ARE THE BASICS THAT WE LOOK FOR.

I KNOW THAT WHAT I DO IS KEEPING ALL THE RESIDENTS SAFE.

AT ONE POINT EVERYONE'S GOING TO EAT OUT SOMEWHERE, SO KNOWING MY STAFF AND MYSELF GO INTO ALL THOSE PLACES ON A DAILY BASIS AND TRY AND KEEP ALL THE FOOD SAFE FOR THE CITY

OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT'S THE MOST GRATIFYING PART OF THIS JOB. >> RIGHT NOW WE'RE PUTTING THE TEMPORARY TAPE DOWN. THE BLEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE ON ONE SIDE AND THE MIDDLE IS GOING TO BE WHERE ALL THE FLOATS ARE GOING TO BE DRIVING.

EVERY YEAR DURING APRIL WE COME OUT FOR FIESTA, GET PREPPED FOR THE PARADE.

IT STARTS ON AVENUE E AND HOUSTON. THE ROLLS OF THIS YELLOW TAPE COMES IN 8-INCH ROLLS, ABOUT 300 FEET. AND WE HAVE TO CUT 2-INCH

STRIPS. >> I HAVE BEEN DOING MARKINGS FOR 19 YEARS NOW AS A SUPERVISOR. WE DO THE SCHOOL CROSSWALKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

USUALLY ABOUT 800 CROSSWALKS. WE TAKE A PAUSE ON THAT AND THEN WE GO BACK TO DAY SHIFT AND START BACK ON OUR CROSSWALK PROGRAM. WE HAVE ONE MORE NIGHT AFTER FIESTA TO REMOVE ALL THE TAPE.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT VIDEO UPSET ME A LITTLE BIT.

I REALIZED I WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE FIESTA WITHOUT HAVING A SINGLE TURKEY LEG.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. >> WALSH: MAYBE NEXT WEEK FOR

COUNCIL WE'LL HAVE TURKEY LEGS FOR LUNCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY.

THE TIME IS 12:15 P.M. ON THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087. PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072. AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, ALL PURSUANT TO 551.071.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.