[00:01:21] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 10:40 A.M. ON MAY 29, 2025. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE ROLL. QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SESSION AND IN FACT IT IS THE FINAL BUSINESS MEETING OF THIS COUNCIL TERM, TECHNICALLY. WE DO KNOW THERE ARE SOME RUNOFFS HAPPENING SO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. WE HAVE ONE DEPARTING COUNCILMEMBER SO WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA IN HER FINAL MEETING SHORTLY. LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: TODAY WE ARE HONORED TO WELCOME PASTOR AMERSON. HE RECEIVED HIS CALLING OF MINISTRY IN 1986 IN ACADEMIC PREPARATION AND A MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE AND THE RENOWNED THREE LOGICAL SENSOR IN GEORGE. IN ADDITION TO SERVING HIS CONGREGATION, HE FULFILLS HIS PASSION FOR MINISTRY BY WORKING ON CIVIC AND GUIDES YOUNG PEOPLE AND BY SERVING ON THE BOARD OF MINISTRIES AND STRENGTHENING THE BLACK CHURCH FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. CALHOUN MINISTERIAL ALIGNS, SOUTH TEXAS COUNCIL OF BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND HE IS A MENTOR, ADVISER AND SPIRITUAL LEADER. HE HAS AN ENTHUSIASM FOR SEEING PEOPLE MATURE IN THEIR FAITH. THIS WILL LIKELY BE HIS LAST INVOCATION FOR NOW AS HE ACCEPTED AN APPOINTMENT TO SERVE THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN CORPUS CHRISTI BEGINNING THIS JULY. OUR COMMUNITY WILL MISS YOU DEARLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO AND OUR DISTRICT 2 COMMUNITY AND YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A HOME IN SAN ANTONIO SO WE WILL BE PATIENTLY AND ANXIOUSLY AWAITING YOUR RETURN. >> GOOD MORNING. IT IS AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL. I AM JOINED THIS MORNING BY MEMBERS OF OUR CONGREGATION ST. PAUL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 160TH CHURCH ANNIVERSARY. I ALSO WANT TO STAND AND SAY MY SUPPORT AND THANKS TO YOU COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND YOUR TENURE TO THE EAST SIDE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON ANOTHER TERM AND TO MAYOR RON NIRENBERG. GOD, AS WE TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANT WORK OF OUR COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF, I DO WITH HONOR WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND DILIGENCE AND COMPASSION OF [00:05:02] THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS WHO STRIVE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS. WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH HUMBLE HEARTS SEEKING TO EMBODIED YOUR LOVE AND GRACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. HELP US TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF PEACE AND JUSTICE, REFLECTING YOUR LIGHT IN A WORLD OFTEN CLOUDED BY DIVISION AND STRIFE. ENCOURAGE US TO ACT WITH COMPASSION, TO SERVE THOSE IN NEED AND ADVOCATE FOR THE MARGINALIZED. MAY OUR ACTIONS PROMOTE HEALING AND RECONCILIATION AS TO INSPIRE US TO STAND AGAINST INJUSTICE AND LIFT UP THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SILENCED. GRANT US THE COURAGE TO LOVE WITHOUT RESERVATION, TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED US AND TO ENCOURAGE IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE THAT BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGEES GAPS. MAY WE STRIVE FOR UNITY AND DIVERSITY, AND AS WE WORK TOWARDS SOCIAL HOLINESS, EMPOWER US TO BE A COMMUNITY ROOTED IN LOVE, HOPE AND FAITH, THAT OUR LIVES REFLECT YOUR TEACHINGS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE SERVICE BRING GLORY TO YOU. AND MAY THE WORK TODAY AND THE DISCUSSIONS OFFERED AROUND THIS DAIS BE LED WITH WISDOM, PURPOSE FOR YOUR GREATER GOOD, THIS WE PRAY IN YOUR HOLY NAME, AMEN. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, REVEREND AMERSON. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RETURN. ALL RIGHT. TO GET US STARTED TODAY, OUR FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 3, THAT'S MAY 7, 8, 14 AND 15, 2025. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 3. >> GARCIA: MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 3. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA TODAY. ALL ITEMS ARE LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR NOW. SO ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? >> MAYOR? I'D LIKE TO REQUEST WE PULL ITEMS NUMBER 16 AND 19 FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEMS 16 AND 19? ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOTION. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, SAFE SAVE FOR ITEMS 16 AND 19. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE FOLKS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS. JACK FINGER ON ITEMS 10 AND 14. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OUR MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. ITEM NUMBER 10, IT DEALS WITH THE IDEA OF, WELL, AS IT SAYS HERE, I'M JUST GOING TO READ IT. ACKNOWLEDGING THE TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMEMBER. APPARENTLY HE'S GOING TO BE LEAVING THE COUNCIL FOR A COUPLE MONTHS IN A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW. IT DOESN'T MENTION EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO BE, BUT OTHER SOURCES TELLS US HE IS GOING TO BE ADOPTING A BABY. WELL, THAT'S FINE. MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT. I MUST TELL YOU, MAYOR, THAT IN REGARDS TO YOUR SEARCH FOR -- IN REGARDS TO YOUR SEARCH FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT FOR MR. MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU YOUR SEARCH IS OVER. THE PERFECT PERSON FOR THAT POSITION IS STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT HERE. YES. YOU ARE GOING TO SAY THAT I, JACK FINGER, AM NOT EVEN A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2, BUT THROUGH THE MODERN MIRACLE IDENTIFY AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2. AND IN SOLIDARITY FOR ALL THE NEED FOR SOMEBODY -- MINORITIES TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 2, ONCE AGAIN I WILL IDENTIFY AS -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JACK, [00:10:03] IF YOU ARE DECLARING YOUR CANDIDACY, WE CAN'T LET YOU STUMP HERE ON THE DAIS. >> WELL, OKAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 10. >> I'M JUST TELLING YOU ABOUT THE MODERN REALITIES OF HOW WE CAN IDENTIFY AS SUCH THINGS, SIR. I CAN IDENTIFY AS A BLACK PERSON, I CAN IDENTIFY AS A HOMOSEXUAL, I CAN EVEN IDENTIFY AS A WOMAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JACK, THIS IS NOT PERTINENT TO ITEM 10. IF YOU WANT TO GET BACK ON THE ITEMS, I'LL LET YOU CONTINUE. IF NOT, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO THE NEXT PERSON. >> BE THAT AS IT MAY. NOBODY KNOWS HOW TO LAUGH ANYMORE. THE ITEM NUMBER -- THAT WAS 10. ITEM NUMBER 14 IS ABOUT A CONTRACT, YES, A CONTRACT WITH -- IT SAYS HERE THE HOST TRUE FLAVORS FOR A FOOD AND BEV RIDGE CONCESSION OVER AT THE AIRPORT. HERE'S THE PROBLEM. IT'S A ROUTINE CONTRACT FOR A COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO DO ALL KINDS OF CONCESSIONS OVER THERE. BUT I'VE NOTICED A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONTRIBUTIONS THERE. WHO HAS RECEIVED WHAT? WELL, OVER HALF OF YOU. YES, IF YOU CAN SHOW THAT, MR. AUDIOVISUAL MAN. MS. ROCHA GARCIA, MS. KAUR. MAYOR, YOU'VE RECEIVED ABOUT $1,000. HOW IS THIS GOING TO PASS IF YOU ALL DO THE RIGHT THING AND ABSTAIN? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. FRANCISCO MARTINEZ, ITEM NUMBER 12. MR. MARTINEZ, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANTHONY ALESSI. >> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I FELT IT FITTING TO BECOME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL TODAY ON A SPECIAL DAY FOR SOME FOLKS BEING THAT IS LAST DAY. THANK YOU TO YOUR COMMITMENT FOR READY TO WORK, FOR PLACING YOUR TRUST TO HELP PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THIS BOLD INITIATIVE. TO HELP READY TO WORK CONTINUE TO FLOURISH. THIS COUNCIL HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING SHAPING THE VOTERS' OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF A LIFE-CHANGING INITIATIVE TO HELP EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO SEEK A BETTER LIFE. YOUR TOUGH QUESTIONS, HIGH EXPECTATIONS HAVE PUSHED US ALL TO DO BETTER. AS A NON-PROFIT IT HAS SERVED SAN ANTONIO OVER 32 YEARS. WE HAVE A TESTAMENT AND REFLECTION TO THE WORK THAT CAN BE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH CONSISTENT AND SUSTAINED SUPPORT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AND THAT IMPACT SHOULDN'T STOP WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE, BUT CONTINUES TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON GENERATIONAL DOWN THE LINE. WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK THAT FAR TO SHOW THE IMPACT OF PROJECT QUEST HAS PLAYED ON GENERATIONS AS WE HAVE ONE OF OUR CHILDREN OF REQUESTERS SITTING IN THIS COUNCIL TODAY. WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO THE OUTGOING MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE THEIR FOR PLACING YOUR TRUST IN US AND HELPING US PLAY A DEVELOPMENT ROLE IN READY TO WORK AND YOUR LEGACY WILL OUTLIVE ANYONE'S TERM OR FUTURE. FOR THOSE OF YOU REMAINING YOUR ROLE BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. YOU CARRY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OVERSIGHT AND THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE WORK LAID OVER TO GET THE PROGRAM TO THIS PLACE AND CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT FOR SUCCESS FOR THIS PROGRAM. THOUSANDS OF SAN ANTONIANS AND EXPONENTIALLY MARCH CHILDREN WILL WALK A DIFFERENT PATH NOW. FOR GENERATION TO COME, FAMILIES WILL BE SHAPED BY THE DOORS YOU ALL HAVE OPENED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. ON BEHALF OF PROJECT QUEST, OUR PEERS ON THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, WE THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE TO HELP GET US STARTED AND CONTINUE THE TRUST IN US TO CONTINUE TO SEE THIS PROGRAM THROUGH AND I DON'T REMEMBER DECADES OF SUCCESS MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MARTINEZ. ANTHONY ALESSI. >> >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ACTUALLY MICHAEL TAYLOR ON ITEM 20. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I'M MICHAEL TAYLOR WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND I JUST WANT TO REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR ITEM NUMBER 20 TODAY. I WANT TO START BY THANKING THE STAFF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, VERONICA GARCIA, VERONICA GONZALES AND THE REST OF THE TEAM FOR RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL OF GRANT FUNDING FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND ALSO FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP. WE ARE REQUESTING COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF ALLOCATION OF 1.9 MILLION AND HUD HOME AND [00:15:06] CDBG FUNDS. THIS WOULD SUPPORT OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM. THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE 4 HOW OFTEN 64.6 ACRES OF UNDER YOU UTILIZED LAND AND DEVELOP THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, THE STREETS, THE SIDEWALKS, THE DRAINS, THE SEWER AND WATER MAINS THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO BUILD 28 NEW LEVERAGE MILLIONS MORE IN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, CIVIC GROUPS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO. SO RIGHT NOW HABITAT IS BUILDING THREE AND FOUR-BEDROOM HOMES FOR FAMILIES, SELLING THEM AT NO PROFIT AND FINANCING THEM WITH A 15 TO 25-YEAR ZERO PERCENTAGE MORTGAGE LOAN SO MONTHLY PAYMENTS ARE APPROXIMATELY $900 A MONTH, INCLUDING TAXES AND INSURANCE. WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE MEDIAN RENT IN SAN ANTONIO, OVER $1,800 A MONTH. SO THIS IS TRULY AN AFFORDABLE HE ON-GREAT AFFORDABLE OPTION FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. WE PREPARE ALL OF OUR FAMILIES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP. THEY ATTEND 17 HOMEOWNER READINESS CLASSES, 300 HOURS OF SWEAT EQUITY AND BUILDING ON THE HOMES OF THEIR NEIGHBORS. THIS IS A TRUE, PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTION. SO WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. SAN ANTONIO IS ALWAYS AN EXCEPTIONAL PARTNER AND A CONSISTENT FUNDER AND THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR WORK. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STEADILY INCREASE OUR HOUSING PRODUCTION EVERY YEAR. THIS YEAR WE'RE ON TRACK TO BUILD 63 NEW HABITAT HOMES. AND WE'RE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE'RE DISCIPLINED AND WE DO THE THING WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR 49 YEARS, BUT WE DO IT VERY WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT OUR GRANT FUNDING. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. TAYLOR. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS. WHILE TURN TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 20, SO THANK YOU MICHAEL TAYLOR AND THE HOUSING AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN ENSURING WE CONTINUE TO MEET THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING NEEDS. ROUGHLY 28 UNITS IN DISTRICT 5 AND I KNOW THE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO BE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE NEW NEIGHBORS AND HAVE ACTIVATED VACANT LOTS. NO DOUBT THIS FALLS WITHIN THE EDGEWOOD ISD FOOTPRINT AND WE KNOW MANY OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE IN NEED OF HOUSING AND JUST REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THIS ITEM TODAY AND JUST REALLY EXCITED IT'S 28 NEW UNITS IN DISTRICT 5. THANK YOU, MICHAEL AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT ITEM 13. I WANT TO THANK JESUS AND JEFF AND THE AIRPORT TEAM FOR GETTING THIS DONE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE INCLUDED A VERY SPECIAL PORTION OF THE SOUTH SIDE AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF YOU BEING THERE, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVE BECKERS THERE TOO AND SHARING OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE WANT THE AIRPORT TO REFLECT ALL OF SAN ANTONIO IN THEIR EXPERIENCES HERE AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR WORK AND TEAM, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND PATIENCE ON THIS PROCESS. WE'RE MAKING GREAT STRIDES AT THE AIRPORT AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO -- WE'RE REALLY GOING TO SEE MORE PEOPLE COME AND TRAVEL AND ENJOY THEIR TIME THERE. WE'RE A MID-SIZED HUB, BUT WE'RE A MIGHTY HUB SO I'LL STAND BY THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 14. I'M THANKFUL THIS IS GOING TO GO THROUGH AND I'M GOING TO ASK JOHNNY TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE THE TEAM REAL QUICK. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER. I'D LIKE -- IF THE PARTNERS CAN STAND, IN TERMINAL B, RIGHT? WE HAVE DR. BECKER, WHO IS LEADING OUR BECKER TASTING ROOM. AND MARGARET. WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. AND THEN WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] FROM 2M BARBECUE, ALSO IN B. THEN WE HAVE CHARLIE WITH BAKERY LORRAINE. STARTED BAKER LANE AROUND THE SAME TIME WE OPENED LA GLORIA, CHARLIE WAS THERE [00:20:03] WITH AN AMAZING PASTRY TEAM. THE FRENCH STYLE, NOT THE MEXICANO. AND, OF COURSE, OUR JB PARTNERS IN CRYSTAL AND NICOLA ANDAL SIX-YEAR CAPITAL SON, ALSO PART OF THE -- ALSO PART OF THE TRANSFORMATION. IT IS SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE WE ARE TODAY, HAVING LOOKED BACK ON 12 YEARS OF BRINGING LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND CHEFS AND OPERATORS TO OUR AIRPORT, MAKING THAT IMPACT. SO THANK YOU AS A COUNCIL, AS A MAYOR AND THE LEADERSHIP FOR INSISTING THAT WE ARE LOCAL. THIS IS ABOUT SAN ANTONIO. OUR PARTNER, HMS HOST, WHO HAS HELPED US REALLY GROW INDEPENDENTLY AND DEVELOP OUR BRANDS. SO WE ARE EXCITED TO GET STARTED TO WORK AND THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE TASTY AND AMAZING. CHEF. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, BUT THIS IS THE DREAM TEAM. A LOT OF US HAVE FREQUENTED YOUR RESTAURANTS AND I'M EXCITED THAT VISITORS TO SAN ANTONIO, EVEN THOSE THAT MIGHT BE PASSING THROUGH, WILL BE ABLE TO GET A REAL FLAVOR OF -- LITERALLY FLAVOR OF SAN ANTONIO. IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING. THIS IS MOVING OUR CITY SO FAR FORWARD. WE'RE ALREADY A GREAT DESTINATION, OUR AIRPORT IS GOING TO BE AN EVEN GREATER DESTINATION. I'M EXCITED AND THANKFUL AND CAN'T WAIT TO HANG OUT AT THE AIRPORT AND EAT SOME MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 1 WHICH IS APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET FOR PRE-K 4 SA. IT IS SO NUMBER 11. I CAN'T NOT HIGHLIGHT -- MULTIPLE PEOPLE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HIGHLIGHT, BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HOST TEAM. I'M GLAD YOU MADE IT THROUGH ON THE SECOND ROUND. I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT THE MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP A THE THE AIRPORT AND JESUS FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING AND JEFF TOO. THANKS SO MUCH, Y'ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT ITEMS? HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. PLEASE VOTE. THIS IS ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 16 AND 19. ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL MOVE NOW TO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. WE'LL START WITH ITEM 16. >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 16 IS APPROVAL OF AN APPEAL OF THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT PURSUANT TO CITY CODE SECTION 28-5 TO DENY A 163-SQUARE-FOOT VARIANCE FROM THE MAXIMUM 75 SIGN SQUARE FOOTAGE TO ALLOW A 238 SQUARE-FOOT DIGITAL SIGN LOCATED AT 5431 WEST LOOP 1604. APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM WOULD ALLOW THE REQUESTED VARIANCE FOR THE APPLICANT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE A COUPLE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 16. JACK FINGER. AND FOR FOLKS WHO ARE EXITING THE CHAMBERS, IF YOU CAN PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN. WE ARE CONTINUING OUR BUSINESS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER --R MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK FINGER. I WISH TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA HERE. ITEM NUMBER 16 IS ABOUT GRANTING AN EXCEPTION TO -- FOR A PERSON WHO WANTS TO BREAK THE RULES. YEAH. RULES REQUIRE PERSONS TO PUT UP BILLBOARDS TO BE WITHIN CERTAIN STANDARDS. THEY CANNOT BE TOO BIG. WHY CAN THEY NOT BE TOO BIG? WELL, BECAUSE YOU AS A [00:25:06] MOTORIST DO NOT WANT DISTRACTED DRIVING, NO GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LOOP 1604, AND SEEING A MONSTROUS BILLBOARD -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HOLD ON ONE SECOND, JACK. FOLKS IN THE CHAMBER AND EXITING THE BUILDING, IF YOU CAN PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE. WE ARE CONTINUING ON WITH OUR BUSINESS. THANK YOU. >> YOU DON'T WANT A MONDAY TRUST BILLBOARD FROM DRIVING AND HITTING OTHER MOTORISTS. BASICALLY THE BILLBOARD BEING PROPOSED HERE WOULD BECOME MORE THAN 200% BIGGER, YEAH, MORE THAN 200% BIGGER THAN ALLOWED BY LAW. AND YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER UNDERLINED AREAS SAYING WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO HERE. IF IDEA IS YOU WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU NEED TO DENY THIS INITIATIVE. YES. SO CONSEQUENTLY, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOMEBODY MAYBE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE RIGHT THING HERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. ON ITEM 16, COLLEEN WASBACK. >> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS YOU. THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE LAST TIME I ADDRESS MANY OF YOU WHO ARE LEAVING THE COUNCIL AND MOVING. >> TO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME YOU PUT IN. I HAVEN'T ALZHEIMER'S AGREED WITH EVERY DECISION -- ALWAYS AGREED WITH EVERY DECISION. I DO RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH TIME EACH OF YOU PUT IN TO GOING TO HOA MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. REGARDING THIS DIGITAL ON-PREMISE SIGN, THIS IS IN THE HILL COUNTRY GATEWAY CORRIDOR AND LOOP 1604/I-10 CORRIDOR. THESE CORRIDORS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, LIKE MANY OTHERS, INCLUDING THE BULVERDE ROAD PRESERVATION CORRIDOR, OUR HISTORIC CORRIDORS AND THE FREDERICKSBURG ROAD URBAN CORRIDOR. THEY EACH HAVE SPECIFIC STANDARDS. WHETHER THIS CORRIDOR -- WHEN THIS CORRIDOR WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 2003, DIGITAL SIGNS WEREN'T BANNED. DURING THE LAST SIGN CODE UPDATE WHICH OCCURRED IN 2023, THE SIGN CODE COMMITTEE VOTED TO ALLOW 125% OF THE SIGN SIZE TO BE DIGITAL. THAT BRINGS IT MORE IN LINE WITH MANY OF THE OTHER URBAN CORRIDORS. HOWEVER, THIS PERSON WANTS A FULL-SIZE DIGITAL SIGN IN A RAPIDLY EXPANDING AREA, THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OVERWHELMINGLY DENIED IT ON THE BASIS IT GIVES AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO ONE BUSINESS OVER THE OTHERS AND THE FACT THIS SIGN IS NOT NEEDED TO BE DIGITAL IN ORDER FOR THEM TO DRAW BUSINESS. BUSINESS IS VERY GOOD IN THAT AREA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. THIS WAS PULLED BY COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. IF I CAN GET A MOTION ON THE ITEM AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN DISCUSSION. THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 16. WE'LL START DISCUSSION WITH COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THAT I'M CONCERNED ON THIS A COUPLE OF WAYS. FIRST OF ALL, THE WORDING OF THIS ASKS TO APPROVE AN APPEAL, BUT WE HAD TWO CITY COMMISSIONS BOTH DENY THIS. AND I'M WONDERING WHY IT WAS BROUGHT TO US SAYING APPROVE AN APPEAL WHEN IT'S BEEN DENIED BY TWO COMMISSIONS AND WHY WASN'T IT BROUGHT TO US AS APPROVAL THE DENIAL ABOUT THESE COMMITTEES. I WONDER IF OUR CITY ATTORNEY CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT. >> SEGOVIA: THERE'S TWO THINGS OPERATING HERE. ONE IS THE ITEM WAS ON CONSENT SO THEREFORE WE'RE ASSUMING AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE BY THE COUNCIL. THE SECOND AS WE TRY TO CONSIDER ALSO WHAT THE FEELING IS, FRANKLY, OF THE COUNCILMAN REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THIS IS LOCATED. THE VARIANCE IS LOCATED. WITH THOSE TWO DRAFTING CHALLENGES, WE HAVE TO AGAIN ASSUME AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE IF IT STAYS ON CONSENT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO AGAIN CONSIDER WHAT THE COUNCILMEMBER OF THAT DISTRICT IS IN FAVOR OR NOT IN FAVOR. GIVEN THAT, THAT'S WHY WE WORDED IT AS APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE THAT'S BEING REQUESTED [00:30:04] AND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, APPROVAL WOULD ALLOW THE VARIANCE FOR THE APPLICANT. IN THE FUTURE I'VE TALKED TO CITY MANAGER WHAT WE CAN DO TO AVOID ANY SENSE OF CONFUSION IS ALWAYS HAVE THESE AS A SEPARATE ITEM, NOT HAVE THEM ON CONSENT WITH THE DEFAULT BEING COUNCIL AFFIRMING WHATEVER THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT DECIDED. >> COURAGE: YEAH, I THINK IT'S VALUABLE FOR US AS A COUNCIL TO RECOGNIZE THE CITIZEN INPUT THAT WENT INTO THIS CASE THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES. AND THEY ARE MADE UP OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M SURE THEY HEARD A LOT OF WEIGHTED EVIDENCE FOR OR AGAINST THESE AND MADE A REASONABLE DECISION AMONG THOSE COMMITTEES TO NOT APPROVE THIS RATHER DRASTIC SIGN CHANGE TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN APPROVING IN THE PAST. AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE MOTION FOR THIS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IF WE WANTED TO DENY THIS SIGN CHANGE? >> SEGOVIA: THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPEAL, THEREFORE IF THE COUNCIL DOES NOT WANT THAT VARIANCE TO GO FORWARD, IT WOULD BE A VOTE OF NO BY THE COUNCIL. ON THE MOTION. >> COURAGE: AS SIMPLE AS THAT. >> SEGOVIA: YES, COUNCILMAN. >> COURAGE: OKAY. I WANT THE COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS. I HOPE MANY OF YOU WILL. WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A CORRIDOR THAT HAS BEEN RAPIDLY GROWING, BUT STILL IS A GATEWAY TO THE HILL COUNTRY. WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE HUNDREDS OF DIGITAL SIGNS SPRINGING UP ALL ALONG THAT AREA. I THINK WE'VE BEEN PROTECTING THAT AREA FOR YEARS AND YEARS. I RESPECT MY COUNCILMEMBER NEXT TO ME WHO SAID HE IS APPROVING THAT, BUT I THINK THE REST OF US NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT WE THINK COLLECTIVELY ABOUT THAT. SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING TO DENY OR VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF HAVING TO ENDURE THE GNARL OF TRAVEL ON 1604 AND I-10, REMEMBER THERE IS THIS HUGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BUILDING OVERPASSES. THIS ONE OVERPASS HAS COVERED ENTIRELY THE ONE SIGN FOR THIS SINGLE ONE AND ONLY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER -- WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS THAT DOES SKIN CARE. YOU LITERALLY CAN'T SEE THEIR SIGN FROM THE HIGHWAY. WE'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THEM FOR A WHILE AND THE NEGOTIATED CONSENSUS WAS THAT THEY WOULD REDUCE THEIR EXISTING SIGN IN SIZE. SO RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT 300 SQUARE FEET. WE'RE REDUCING IT DOWN TO 247 SQUARE FEET. BUT ALLOW IT TO BE DIGITAL SO IT CAN BE A MODERN SEEN AND SEEN FROM THE HIGHWAY. NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, JUST DOWN THE STREET SECURITY SERVICES CREDIT UNION IS INSTALLING A GAR BEGAN YOU UNDIGITAL SIGN THAT WILL ECLIPSE THE SIZE OF ALL THE OTHER SIGNS UP AND DOWN THAT CORRIDOR. NONE OF THESE ARGUMENTS WERE MADE WITH SECURITY SERVICES, A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY, WAS ASKING FOR THAT SIGN. WHEN IT COMES TO A WOMAN-OWNED, SMALL, TINY BUSINESS, SOMEHOW OUR CONSCIOUS IS INFLAMED WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THESE ONE PEOPLE CREATE JOBS. THE SECOND THING IS WE ALSO IN DISTRICT 9, WE APPROVED A HUGE SIGN, A HUGE SIGN JUST A STONE'S THROW AWAY AT A FERTILITY CENTER. AND NEVER HEARD THESE KINDS OF CONCERNS EITHER. I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE BEING INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST, BUT IT SURE FEELS THAT WAY. I'M ASKING FOR APPROVAL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. YOU ALL ARE SO FUNNY. CAN I ASK STAFF WHICH COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDED DENIAL? I HEARD THERE WERE TWO COMMISSIONS. IT WAS THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND -- >> IT WENT TO ONLY ONE COMMISSION, THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I SEE STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL. CAN YOU SHARE THE REASONS WHY? >> THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT DENIED IT BECAUSE THEY FELT THE REQUEST IS A LOT BIGGER THAN WHAT THE CODE ALLOWS. THE CODE ALLOWS 25%, WHICH IS 75 SQUARE FOOT OF THE SIGN TO BE DIGITAL, AND THE REQUEST IS FOR 238 SQUARE FEET. >> AND SO ORIGINALLY THE STAFF RECEIVED THE APPLICATION AND THE STAFF REVIEWED IT AND [00:35:04] DENIED IT FOR THE SAME REASON. THEN THE APPLICANT DECIDED TO APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND THE BOARD ADJUSTMENT DID DENY IT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOTCHA. IT DOES MENTION THE SIGN COULD ISSUE THE REQUESTED SQUARE FOOTAGE BY BEING NON-DIGITAL. I'M NOT CERTAIN WHY NON-DIGITAL WASN'T PART OF THE COMMUNICATION. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THAT. I ALSO SEE IN THE PICTURE THE HIGHWAY IS ADJACENT TO THE SIGN AND I CAN SEE WHY THAT WOULD BE OBSTRUCTIVE. I'M NOT LIKING TO VOTE KNOW ON THIS ITEM, BUT I DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY A NON-DIGITAL SIGN WASN'T PROPOSED. THANK YOU. >> YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMAN, IS WHY A DIGITAL SIGN WAS NOT -- >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AND I HEAR THE APPLICANT IS HERE. IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER. >> YES, RAUL FRANCO, HELLO, COUNCIL. TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION, THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, THEY SAY WE ARE ALLOWED TO PUT IT ON THE WALL, THE SIZE WE'RE REQUIRING. BUT I THINK WILL BRING MORE SAFETY CONCERNS AND IT WILL LOOK MORE LIKE GNAT AESTHETIC TO BE ON THE -- LIKE NOT AESTHETIC. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IT WOULDN'T BE A NON-DIGITAL -- GOTCHA. >> I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY SAY ON THE EXISTING STRUCTURE WE'RE NOT CREATING A HIGHER FOOTPRINT ON THE AREA, WE'RE ACTUALLY REDUCING THE SQUARE FOOTAGE. AND THE SIGNAGE IS PRONE TO GROW BUSINESS. I THINK ONE OF THE OWNERS IS HERE, SHE IS A LATINA WOMAN AND SHE COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT I THINK THE SIGN WILL BRING THE SURVIVAL AND THE GROWTH FOR THIS BUSINESS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WILL DEFER TO THE COUNCILMAN JUST THIS ONCE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE COUNCILMAN IN THIS DECISION AND Y'ALL KNOW WITH GROWTH COMES CHANGES TO OUR CODE AND TO OUR SIGNAGE. WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES, WE NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE. AND SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO SEE A LOT MORE OF THIS COME AS THAT HIGHWAY GETS COMPLETED, AND AS WE LOOK AT HOW -- EVERYTHING FROM FENCES -- I KNOW WE TRY AND CREATE THIS GREAT CODE THAT'S A ONE SIZE FITS ALL, BUT THIS IS THE PROCESS AND WE HAVE TO BRING IT BACK AND SAY IN THIS CASE IT DOESN'T FIT IN THIS AND WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES. BECAUSE WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE HOW HIGH TXDOT IS GOING TO GO AND WHAT THE TRAFFIC IS AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IT HAPPEN IN CERTAIN SPOTS WHERE THE HIGHWAY HAS COME AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE LOST OUT ON THAT. AND WE CAN NAME -- I CAN NAME CERTAIN PARTS OVER BY FORT SAM HOUSTON TO THE NORTH THAT HAS HAPPENED AT. SO I REALLY, I THINK WE NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE CODE AND UNDERSTANDING THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME. SO I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM TODAY, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND -- OF COURSE I UNDERSTAND COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE'S DISLIKE FOR DIGITAL SIGNS, BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT TODAY. THANKS YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HAD BEEN HAVING A RICH DISCUSSION REGARDING DIGITAL SIGNAGE DOWNTOWN AND DESPITE OVER 7 1% OF SAN ANTONIANS SAYING THEY ARE NOT IN SUPPORT, IS NOW HAVING OPPOSITION IN A DIGITAL SIGNAGE UP NORTH. I WOULD HATE TO BELIEVE THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH BIASES, BUT CAN'T HELP IDENTIFY INCONSISTENCIES. AND WHAT WE SEE IS A SMALL MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS TRYING TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO AND I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH THE -- BEING IN OPPOSITION WHEN IN ANOTHER PLACE OF TOWN. I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS [00:40:02] ITEM IN DISTRICT 8. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. THEN COURAGE. >> PELÁEZ: I FORGOT TO MENTION ZERO NEIGHBORHOODS NEARBY. NO OPPOSITION FROM THE PUBLIC. IS THAT RIGHT? >> >> PELÁEZ: THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: I GUESS I WANT TO FINISH OUT BY JUST PUTTING OUT A WORD OF CAUTION TO THE CONTINUING COUNCILMEMBERS AND HOPEFULLY THE FUTURE COUNCILMEMBERS. WHEN WE AS A COUNCIL CHOOSE TO IGNORE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR STAFF AND THEN CHOOSE TO IGNORE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CITIZENS THAT WE ASK TO SERVE ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES, I THINK IT UNDERMINES OUR CREDIBILITY AS A COUNCIL FOR BEING FAIR OR INDEPENDENT. AND, YOU KNOW, I WORRY ABOUT THE TRUST FACTOR THAT CITY -- THAT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY HOLD FOR THIS COUNCIL. TOO OFTEN I'VE HEARD, WELL, THERE'S THESE SWEETHEART DEALS AND THIS COUNCIL PERSON IS GETTING THIS OR THIS COUNCIL PERSON IS GETTING THAT. MANNY, I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE, BUT I THINK THE PERCEPTION THAT WE PUT FORWARD BY NOT RECOGNIZING THE CAPABILITIES OF OUR STAFF AND, YOU KNOW, THE INDEPENDENCE OF PEOPLE WE APPOINT TO COMMITTEES TO MAKE REASONABLE DECISIONS I THINK UNDERMINES OUR CREDIBILITY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT AS A COUNCIL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO MAKE ITS DECISION, IT HAS THE FINAL RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS, BUT I HOPE AS WE DO WE CONSIDER WHAT IS THE PRECEDENT WE'RE SETTING OR WHAT IS THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION GOING TO BE EVEN ON A SIMPLE THING LIKE A SIGN. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S MY FINAL COMMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO THAT COMMENT AND SAY I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN THAT OUR JOB IS LOOK AT EACH CASE INDIVIDUALLY. IF WE WERE JUST GOING TO SAY YES, WE WOULDN'T BE ELECTED OFFICIALS. OUR JOB IS FOLLOW THE RULES AND IS THIS THE RIGHT DECISION TO MAKE IN THIS UNIQUE CASE. I WOULD ARGUE IF WE WERE JUST RUBBER STAMPS, WE DON'T NEED TO BE SITTING UP HERE, SO I WILL SUPPORT THIS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO I DO HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SAY. I WAS NOT EXPECTING US TO GET INTO A PHILOSOPHY OF GOVERNANCE CONVERSATION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, BUT IT'S INSTRUCTIVE. SO I'LL BE COMPLETELY CANDID WITH YOU. I DID NOT KNOW HIDE OR HAIR OF THIS ISSUE UNTIL I GOT A CALL FROM A CONSTITUENT WHO IS AGAINST IT AND ASKED ME TO LOOK INTO IT. I LOOKED AT THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS AS TO WHAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY AND ALL I HAD TO GO ON WAS THE PRESENTATION -- ACTUALLY THE PRESENTATION WASN'T POSTED YET, BUT THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS RELATED TO STAFF REPORTS. WHAT I SAW WAS A STAFF REPORT THAT RECOMMENDED DENIAL AND THEN THE APPEAL PROCESS THROUGH THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS RECOMMENDED DENIAL. THERE WERE SOME DETAILS WITH THE REDUCTION OF SIZE AND NEGOTIATION AND ALL THAT STUFF THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT THAT -- ALL OF THAT CONCLUDED WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO DENIAL. AND SO THOSE ARE MY INPUTS INTO THIS CONVERSATION. THIS HAS BEEN FAR MORE ENLIGHTENING THAN WHAT WAS ON PAPER. IF ANYBODY HAS BEEN UP TO THE 1604/I-10 AREA OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, YOU KNOW THE DIGITAL SIGN DEBATE HAS BEEN THE EQUIVALENT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIL WAR. SO WE DON'T TAKE THOSE ISSUES LIGHTLY. IT CREATES DIVERSITY. WE HAVE OVERLAY ORANGES PROTECTING THE GATEWAY INTO THE HILL COUNTRY. WE DID AN UPDATE AND I DON'T THINK THE UPDATE IN THE CODE IS SILENT, SPECIFIC WITH REGARD TO THE GROWTH OF THE I-10/1604 CHANGE AND HOW WE NEEDED TO LOSEN UP THE SIGNS. CAN SOMEBODY SPEAK TO THAT? IF WE'RE APPLYING THE 1990 ORDINANCE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. MY UNDERSTANDING A FEW YEARS AGO WE LOOSENED UP IT UP TO ALLOW FOR A LITTLE MORE COMMUNITY SIGNAGE BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY MOOD HAS CHANGED, A LITTLE MORE ENERGY SAVING, BUT WERE ALL THOSE FACTORS CONSIDERED IN THE PROCESS OF A BOA AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO DENY? >> YES, MAYOR. SO AS WE MENTIONED FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, THAT NOLTY [00:45:03] SPECIFICALLY WAS PROHIBITING DIGITAL SIGNS. AS ONE OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS MENTIONED SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT WAS HE REVIEWED BASED ON ALL THE GROWTH IN THAT AREA AND THAT AREA IS HEAVY COMMERCIAL. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO ALLOW FOR 25% DIGITAL SIGNS IN THAT AREA. SINCE I GUESS 2015 OR SO. SO ALL THESE CONDITIONS WERE LOOKED AT AND DEPENDING ON THE GROWTH, THAT'S WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE TO ALLOW DIGITAL SIGNS UP TO 25% OF THE ACTUAL SIZE, ALLOWED SIZE. BUT AS ONE OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS MENTIONED, OUR JOB IS TO FOLLOW THE CODE AND APPROVE OR DENY DEPENDING ON THE CODE. WE DO HAVE ABOUT 10% ALLOWANCE WE CAN ALLOW AND THE REQUEST WAS MORE THAN THAT, THEREFORE WE DENIED IT AND WENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S AN AN IN ADEQUACY ON OUR PART. I THINK I AUTHORED THE CCR, THAT WAS BEFORE THE PERIOD BEFORE THE I-10 AND 1604 INTERCHANGE WAS CONSIDERED. I THINK FOR THE NEW COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE UP THAT GATEWAY ORDINANCE AND SO WE CAN BETTER DEAL WITH ISSUES LIKE THIS. THAT BEING THE CASE, IF GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN A 160 SQUARE FOOT DIGITAL BILLBOARD, WHICH IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE LATE '90S AROUND 280-FOOT VINYL, I WOULD LIKE THE SMALLER SIGN, FRANKLY, IN TERMS OF AESTHETICS GOING INTO THE HILL COUNTRY. IF THAT'S THE CHOICE WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY, I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST TO VARY FROM THE ORDINANCE. AM I WRONG IN THATT INTERPRETATION? I MEAN, MY QUESTION IS IF THIS APPEAL IS DENIED, DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO INSTALL AN EVEN LARGER VINYL SIGN ON THAT SITE? >> BASED ON CODE, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE A 300 SQUARE FOOT AT THIS POINT AND OUT OF THAT THEY CAN DO 25% DIGITAL. SO TECHNICALLY IF YOU FOLLOW THE CODE, THEY CAN DO 75 SQUARE FOOT DIGITAL, 325 STATIC. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED NOT TO POST A 300 SQUARE FOOT SIGN IN EXCHANGE FOR A LITTLE BIT LARGER DIGITAL? >> YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S A DEAL I'LL TAKE. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION THEN. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE? OKAY. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? AND I DO APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE'S BRINGING UP THE STAFF CHALLENGES HERE. I THINK THAT EXPOSES A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE WE NEED TO ADDRESS GOING FORWARD IN THIS AREA. I'LL PLACE THAT ON THE NEXT COUNCIL TO DO THOUGH. WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 16. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ERIK? >> WALSH: THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN HELPFUL. THERE IS ACTUALLY ANOTHER APPEAL WORKING ITS WAY IN THE SAME AREA, WORKING ITS WAY BACK TO THE COUNCIL. SO WE'LL TAKE THE CONVERSATION HERE TODAY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE SAME THOUGHT PROCESS IS PUT INTO PLAY AND WILL LIKELY COME AT THE END OF JUNE OR POTENTIALLY EARLY AUGUST. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE RIGHT ON ITS HEELS AND IT'S TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, THAT INTERSECTION, THAT CORRIDOR HAS SOMEWHAT CHANGED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 19. >> CLERK: ITEM 19 IS A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF CREEKSIDE AT LOOKOUT APARTMENTS BY THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING FACILITY CORPORATION, PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION, PFC. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 19. >> WHYTE: MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 19. WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. KEN BROWN. >> WHYTE: HE'S WAIVING IT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: I BROUGHT THIS UP AS IT WAS PRESENTED AS A WAY OF PUTTING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT 10. I SERVED ON THE HOUSING TRUST LIKE MANY OF THE MEMBERS ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE IN THE PAST. WE KNOW WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THIS CITY. AND THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT OFFERS 10% OF THE PROJECT BEING EVEN CLOSE TO [00:50:04] AFFORDABLE. AT 60% AMI. AND 40% AT 80% AMI. I'M SPEAKING TO MY COUNCILMEMBERS BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THESE NUMBERS BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE CITIZEN. TO ME THAT'S NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I THINK MOST OF US WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING REALIZE THAT. WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 30% AMI AND 50% AMI AS WELL AS 60% AMI. HALF THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE AT MARKET RATE WHICH MEANS IT COULD BE 1800, $2,000 A MONTH FOR A RENT PROPERTY HERE. THIS COUNCIL TURNED DOWN A VERY SIGNIFICANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT IN THIS SAME DISTRICT LAST YEAR. AND I HATE TO THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO START SAYING THAT, OH, WELL, WE'RE STILL PUTTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HERE. LOOK AT THIS ONE WE'RE APPROVING TODAY. IT'S NOT REALLY AFFORDABLE. IT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO HELP ENOUGH PEOPLE FIND A REASONABLE PLACE TO LIVE IN DISTRICT 10 OR ACROSS THE NORTH SIDE. I'M DISAPPOINTED THIS COMES FROM THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY OR SAHA. I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO BUILD THE KIND OF HOUSING THAT THE 250,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN IN THIS CITY. SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, MAYOR. I JUST DON'T THINK IT PASSES THE SMELL TEST AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 19? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 19. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS THE DURATION OF OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. IF YOU'LL JUST HANG TIGHT ONE SECOND. BEFORE WE GO TO -- DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT? OVER TO YOU, ERIK. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TWO ITEMS. ONE, SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE OF FROM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING LAST MONTH, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL 2024 EXTERNAL AUDIT RESULTS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT FOR THE SEVENTH YEAR IN A ROW THE CITY'S EXTERNAL AUDITORS HAVE PRODUCED A REPORT WITH NO FINDINGS TO -- INCLUDED. THIS YEAR WAS ALSO -- WE ALSO SAW NO SINGLE AUDIT FINDINGS. THIS IS A REVIEW, AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND HOW WE MANAGE OUR FINANCIAL RECORDS. IT'S AN ANNUAL REQUIRED AUDIT OF THOSE RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS AND WAS COMPLETED BY AN INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDIT GROUP. I CAN'T STRESS THAT GIVEN THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY OF OUR ORGANIZATION THE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS IS. THE VARIETY OF RESOURCES, FUNDING RESOURCES, BUSINESS UNITS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS $4 BILLION A YEAR CORPORATION, FRANKLY IT SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY AND COMMITMENT OF OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR SYSTEMS, OUR BUSINESS PROCESSES. THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT IS LOCATED ON THE CITY'S [INAUDIBLE] PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY ASBESTOS IMPORTANT, THIS REPORT -- OR AS IMPORTANT, THIS IS USED EXTENSIVELY BY RATING AGENCIES, INVESTORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SO A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTAL FISCAL ADMINISTRATORS THAT ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION. AND SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO THANK, AND THEY ARE HERE TODAY, ELIZABETH JULIARD, OUR CITY CONTROLLER. YOU GUYS STAND UP. WHERE IS ELIZABETH? OKAY. KIMBERLY NUNES, OUR FINANCIAL REPORTING MANAGER. TAMIKA MYLES. [INAUDIBLE] OUR ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR. THE EVER PRESENT MELANIE KEATON, DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR. AND THE REST OF THE FINANCE, [00:55:01] IF YOU GUYS ALL STAND UP BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. [APPLAUSE] SEVEN YEARS IN A ROW. SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT ROLLING AND LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR'S REPORT. THANKS, GUYS. SECOND ITEM, MAYOR, LAST MONTH -- ANNUALLY WE HOST A CITY MANAGER'S EXCELLENCE AWARD PROGRAM, AND IT'S INDIVIDUALS, TEAMS THAT ARE NOMINATED BY COLLEAGUES OR CUSTOMERS AND THE WORK THEY'VE DONE? A.IT'S AN ANNUAL EVENT, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE A LUNCHEON AND RECOGNIZE THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE TEAMS THAT HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND AND HAVE EXEMPLIFIED ONE OR MORE OF OUR CORE VALUES OF TEAM WORK, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION OR PROFESSIONALISM. TODAY'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS IN THE THEME OF YESTERDAY'S PRESENTATION AS IT RELATES TO ALL THE SUMMER HIRING WE DO. WE HAD 22 EMPLOYEES, 13 FROM H.R. AND NINE FROM PARKS & REC, THAT REALLY TACKLED THIS ISSUE FOR US LAST YEAR. AND ARE DOING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR SUMMER POSITIONS THAT ARE CRITICAL FROM LIFEGUARDS TO THE SUMMER PROGRAMMING ARE FILLED ON TIME. I THINK ONE OF YOU ASKED HOMER ABOUT EXTENDED POOL SEASONS, AND PART OF HIS ANSWER WAS MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT EMPLOYEES IN PLACE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. ALL OF THAT IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTE BELIEVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HIRING PEOPLE EFFICIENTLY AND KEEPING THEM. AND THIS WAS ONE OF A NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT WAS RECOGNIZED AT OUR LUNCH AND THEY ARE THE SUBJECT OF TODAY'S VIDEO. LET'S ROLL IT. WE ALWAYS GET THE QUESTION WHAT DOES THE CITY DO. THEY ARE LIKE SO SURPRISED WHEN YOU TELL THEM THE POSITIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE. IT'S AWESOME TO TALK TO THEM AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THE INNOVATIVE PROCESSES WE WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH WITH H.R. AND PARKS & RECREATION SIDE, WE WERE ABLE TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER TO DO A ONE-STOP SHOP. HELP THEM APPLY. WE ALSO EVEN HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST US. AND THEN FROM THERE WE HAVE OUR PARKS & RECREATION PEOPLE THAT ARE CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS IN PERSON. >> WE HAVE THE POOL AVAILABLE, IT'S READY. WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE IN THERE ATTEMPTING THEIR LIFEGUARD TEST TODAY. HOPEFULLY THEY PASS, ONCE THEY DO PASS, BECAUSE WE WANT OUR APPLICANTS TO PASS TODAY, THEY WILL WALK OVER TO H.R. TO CONTINUE WITH THE HIRING PROCESS. THE COLLABORATION IS SUPER IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED ALL THE LIFEGUARDS WE CAN GET TO OPEN OUR POOLS THIS SUMMER, EVERY SUMMER. >> I THINK IT'S THE GREATEST PART ABOUT IT IS WE'RE ABLE TO GET RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY AS AN INDIVIDUAL BUT THE WHOLE TEAM. >> WALSH: I WILL POINT OUT -- [APPLAUSE] I DON'T KNOW IF THE MEMBERS OF THE H.R. OR PARKS STAFF ARE HERE, BUT IF YOU ARE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL POINT OUT I WAS RECENTLY CONTACTED BY ANOTHER CITY MANAGER IN ANOTHER MAJOR CITY IN THIS COUNTRY WITH A PRESSING ISSUE THAT THEY COULD NOT FILL THEIR SUMMER POSITIONS. AND SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THIS ARE CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT TEAM WORK AND H.R., PARKS & REC AS THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EFFICIENT AND THOSE POOLS OPEN ON TIME AND THE SUMMER PROGRAMS ARE READY FOR THE KIDS AND GETTING OUT OF SCHOOL. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK. BEFORE WE BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW WHO ARE SITTING HERE OR WATCHING ON THE STREAM, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE VERY LAST BUSINESS MEETING FOR OUR ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL WOMAN FROM DISTRICT 4, ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA. WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE HER AND HER INCREDIBLE SERVICE AS ONE OF THE MOST PREPARED PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES WE'VE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO WORK WITH. WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS, IF I CAN CALL UP GIRLS INC. [INAUDIBLE] IN OUR COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GIRLS INC. OF SAN ANTONIO. MOST OF YOU KNOW OUR MISSION, WHICH IS INSPIRE GIRLS TO BE STRONG, SMART AND BOLD. [01:00:05] HEALTHY, EDUCATED AND INDEPENDENT. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE. SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW I WEAR A BRINGS LET EVERY DAY THAT REMINDS -- WEAR A BRINGS LET EVERY DAY THAT REMINDS ME TO STAY ON TRACK. IN 2020, ONE OF OUR STUDENTS WANTED TO INTERVIEW WOMEN WHO WERE STRONG, SMART AND BOLD. THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT. SO WHEN THE BOOK WAS FINALLY DONE, SPEAKING WITH ALL OF THESE WOMEN, SHE WAS INTERESTED IN WOMEN'S HISTORY, TEXAS HISTORY, STRONG, SMART, BOLD, DR. ROCHA GARCIA COULD NOT COME TO THE BOOK LAUNCH. I WANT TO READ ONE OF THE THINGS SHE WROTE THAT SHE SAID ABOUT BEING A STRONG TEXAS WOMAN. TEXAS WOMEN ARE FRIENDLY, FULL OF HOME AND FULL OF ENTHUSIASM. WE ARE ALSO BATTLE PROVEN. WE WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE FOLKS OF EVERY WALK OF LIFE ARE REPRESENTED AND DIVERSITY MAKES US STRONGER BECAUSE WE LEARN FROM THOSE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. THIS IS THE BOOK, VALUE 1, AND THEY HAVE -- VOLUME 1, AND THEN WE HAVE A SPECIAL PORTRAIT FOR YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A FEW MINUTES TO DO THIS, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME WE GET TO ADDRESS OUR COLLEAGUE ON EQUAL FOOTING, ANYWAY, SO THE NEXT TIME COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA IS IN THIS CHAMBER, SHE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SITTING OUT THERE. I DO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY, ADRIANA, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE SERVICE OF OUR CITY. NOT JUST IN DISTRICT 4, BUT THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. WATCHING YOU PREPARE, WATCH ING YOU SERVE WITH HEART THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES OUR CITY HAS EVER SEEN HAS BEEN INSPIRATIONAL TO ME AND THE FOLKS I WORK WITH. YOU HAVE ALWAYS COME READY TO GO, READY TO WORK. AND I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AS THE YEARS UNFOLD BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR MARK HAS BEEN MADE AND WILL LAST FOR MANY GENERATIONS. I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE GIRLS INC. IS HERE BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE FOCUSED ON IS WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT AND IN MY HOUSEHOLD WE ALL SUPPORT IF NOT DRIVE AND IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WATCH YOU GROW INTO THIS OFFICE. I KNOW YOUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC SERVICE WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO UNFOLD. BUT DISTRICT 4 AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ARE BETTER OFF BECAUSE ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA WAS IN THAT SEAT. I KNOW AS YOUR SUCCESSOR COMES HERE, EDWARD, IT CONTINUES A A LONG LINE OF LEADERSHIP. IN MANY WAYS THE STRENGTH OF THE SOUTH SIDE HAS BEEN GROWING FOR YEARS. YOU TOOK A YEAR BATON FROM COUNCILMAN SALDANA AND CONTINUING THAT LEADERSHIP INTO THE NEXT GENERATION. CONGRATULATIONS AND OUR BEST TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY. [APPLAUSE] SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO SPEAK BEFORE ADRIANA GETS THE LAST WORD. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY A FEW REMARKS ABOUT ADRIANA. I THINK ALL OF US ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR YOU AND YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR COMMITMENTS TO THIS COUNCIL AND THIS COMMUNITY. I THINK THE MAYOR SAID IT, YOU ALWAYS COME PREPARED. YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK. YOU SHOW YOUR INTELLIGENCE BY THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK AND THE WAY YOU LEAD DISCUSSIONS AND INQUIRIES INTO WHAT GOES ON IN THIS CITY. WE ARE REALLY AT A LOSS THAT YOU ARE LEAVING AT THIS TIME, BUT I, LIKE THE MAYOR AND PROBABLY ALL OF US KNOW, THERE'S MORE THAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER THIS COMMUNITY. AND IF THERE IS EVER ANYTHING I CAN DO TO SHOW ANY SUPPORT FOR WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ON ME AND I'LL ALWAYS BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NEXT AND HOW YOU JUST HAVE A WONDERFUL IMPACT ON THIS COMMUNITY. I CONSIDER YOU A FRIEND. I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LOOK GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HONOR LITERALLY SERVING [01:05:03] ALONGSIDE DR. ROCHA GARCIA. AS FOLKS HAVE MENTIONED, ALWAYS PRESENT AND PUNCTUAL. EVERY COMMITTEE MEETING WE STARTED ON TIME. THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE PRODUCED MISSOURI POLICY THAN ANY OTHER COMMITTEE AND THAT TAKES LEADERSHIP ENSURING WE HAVE A ROBUST AGENDA AND WE HAVE QUORUM TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING THINGS ALONG. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR ADVOCACY AROUND COMMUNITY -- WHEN HOSPITALS ARE CLOSING BY HELPING TO SECURE MONEY. WHETHER IT'S ENSURING WE'RE MEETING OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENT GOAL BY LEADING THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AS WELL AS SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE SOUTH SIDE, BUT THE CITY HAS A WHOLE IS A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, ENSURING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED, BUT ALWAYS LEADING WITH PRINCIPLE AND FAIRNESS. YOUR LEADERSHIP WHETHER IT'S FOR HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, YOU ARE JUST AN EXPERT AND SO MUCH AND IT'S SO EVIDENT, AS FOLKS HAVE MENTIONED, BUT ALSO IN THE POLICY YOU'VE PRODUCED AND PRIORITIZE. IT'S BEEN A GREAT HONOR SERVING ALONGSIDE YOU ALL. I'VE LEARNED A LOT IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP SO THANK YOU. I DID GET YOU A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION AND I HOPE WHEREVER YOU END UP YOU WILL HANG IT TO REMIND YOURSELF OF THE GREAT WORK OF THE SOUTH SIDE. ALSO DR. ROCHA WAS FIRST OF THE FIRST TO ACKNOWLEDGE I'M A SOUTH SIDE. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANT TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU AND LOTS OF GRATITUDE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WORK. I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU AS THE FELLOW DOCTOR ON THE DAIS AND REALLY WATCHING THE WAY IN WHICH YOU LEAD HAS BEEN REMARKABLE AND HOW THOUGHTFUL YOU ARE. EVERYONE HAS KIND OF SAID THE QUESTIONS AND THE PREPAREDNESS THAT YOU BRING, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WAY IN WHICH YOU LEAD. WE WERE WORKING ON A HOUSING TRUST ISSUE AND YOU REMINDED ME WHAT IT REQUIRES FOR YOU TO DO TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE FEELS ENGAGED AND INVOLVED. YOUR PUSH WAS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I LEARNED FROM THAT SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO MOVE FAR YOU HAVE TO THINK THOUGHTFULLY ABOUT HOW WE'RE ENGAGING. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE HOUSING TRUST, LIKE COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO MENTIONED. I THINK WE'VE DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS. IN OUR LAST BOARD MEETING WE WERE SEEING ALL THE DEALS YOU GUYS HAVE PUSHED FORWARD AND HOW MANY NEW PROPERTIES ARE GOING TO BE COMING ONLINE TO TRULY CREATE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THAT WAS UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND ALSO HOW YOU LEAD WITH -- HOW YOU SHOW OFF SAN ANTONIO TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. WHEN WE WERE IN D.C. ATTENDING THE NLC MEETINGS, EVERYONE KNOWS SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH NLC. ALL OF THAT IS JUST VOLUNTEER WORK AND YOU WANT TO REPRESENT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND IT'S BEEN SUCH AMAZING LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE UNION THAT ON AS WELL. WE'RE REALLY GOING TO MISS OUT THE DAIS. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SHARE WAS YOUR READY TO WORK LEADERSHIP. MAKING SURE WE'RE GROWING AND ADDRESSING THOSE GAPS AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU ON THAT PROGRAM TOO. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. EDWARD, YOU'VE GOT REAL BIG SHOES TO BILL BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A GREAT LEADER WE'RE ALL GOING TO MISS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO NOT CALL YOU ADRIANA BECAUSE I'LL CALL YOU THAT TOMORROW. TODAY YOU ARE STILL COUNCILMEMBER DR. ROACH ROCHA GARCIA. YOU AND COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. I KNOW YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE IN OUR COMMUNITY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND I WOULD BE PROUD TO SUPPORT YOU HOWEVER YOU NEED POINT TO SAY YOU AND I WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL BOND BECAUSE WE CAME IN TOGETHER AND WE WERE THE FIRST ELECTED WOMAN MAJORITY COUNCIL. AND I DON'T THINK -- THERE WERE PEOPLE HERE THAT WERE ON THAT COUNCIL, BUT YOU AND I WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TO BE PART OF THAT MAJORITY THAT ARE STILL HERE AS WILLIAM, OF COURSE. I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, I SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT WE HAD SORT OF A FEW MONTHS OF A NORMAL COUNCIL, WHATEVER PEOPLE MIGHT CONSIDER A NORMAL COUNCIL TERM AND QUICKLY WE WERE THROWN INTO THE PANDEMIC. SO MANY FIRES AND ISSUES THAT CAME UP AND DOESN'T [01:10:04] FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN TO SETTLE IN THE DAY DAY TO DAY OF COUNCIL. THERE ARE ALWAYS BIGGER ISSUES. WE LOOKED TO EACH OTHER. WE WERE VERY CLOSE IN FIGURING OUT LIKE WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING TO YOU, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. I THINK THAT WILL ALWAYS CARRY THROUGH BECAUSE WE WERE LIKE YOUNG COUNCILMEMBERS. IT'S ALMOST LIKE COMING UP TOGETHER ON COUNCIL. SEEING EVERYTHING WE'VE BOTH BEEN THROUGH ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST TERM, I'LL BE HONORED AND PROUD TO SUPPORT YOU GOING FORWARD. THANKS VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE ABOUT MY FIRST TERM AND I REMEMBER THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT FRUSTRATED ME IN MY FIRST SCUM COUPLE OF YEARS ON COUNCIL. YOU WERE TRYING TO PLEAD WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE IS LOOKING DOWN AT THEIR PHONES. BUT EVERY TIME I WOULD LOOK AT THE DISTRICT 4 EXPERIENCE FOR ME AS A NEW COUNCILMEMBER TO KNOW YOU WERE SOMEONE WHO LISTENED AND CARED AND WANTED TO KNOW MY PERSPECTIVE. AND I'VE SEEN YOU CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AND TO MEET WITH ME AND BECOME A FRIEND. I ALSO REMEMBER FIRST FEW TIMES YOU PULLED OUT THE BUDGET BINDER AND SHE HAD ALL THE STICKY NOTES AND I'M LIKE HERE SHE GO. IT WAS A DEMONSTRATION YOU WERE PREPARED AND THAT YOU WANTED TO DEMONSTRATE HOW PREPARED YOU WERE AND THAT INSTILLS CONFIDENCE IN ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND EVERY BOARD AND COMMISSION THAT YOU SERVED ON AND EACH OF US. AND I KNOW THAT BEHIND YOU HAS BEEN A STRONG TEAM THAT INCLUDES YOUR STAFF THAT I KNOW EMPOWERED YOU AND THAT THEY EMPOWERED YOU AND YOU EMPOWERED THEM AS WELL DEMONSTRATED BY YOUR WORTHY SUCCESSOR, EDWARD. YOU HAVE BIG SHOES TO BILL, BUT ADRIANA'S SHOE GAME IS CRAZY SO I EXPECT SOME FASHION FROM YOU. BEHIND YOU ON THE TEAM IS ALSO FAMILY THAT I KNOW IS SO, SO PROUD OF YOU AND YOU'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF. IT'S TOO OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ANY OF OUR NAMES, SEE OUR PICTURES, IT'S THE HEADLINES, THE STORIES THEY READ ABOUT IT. IT'S NOT US AS WHOLE PEOPLE. THROUGHOUT THIS EXPERIENCE YOU'VE EXPERIENCED LOSS AND LOVE AND PAIN AND HURT AND EVERY DAY YOU SHOW UP READY TO USE ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO FIGHT FOR BETTER SAN ANTONIO AND FIGHT FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND FIGHT FOR THE LEAST OF US. I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR YOUR FUTURE. I KNOW YOU HAVE A LONG AND BEAUTIFUL CAREER AHEAD OF YOU, BUT ALSO A LOT OF IMPACT AHEAD OF YOU. IT'S BEEN A TRUE HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ONE DAY SERVING TOGETHER [INAUDIBLE]. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: ONE DAY I'M GOING TO HAVE GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT THIS MOMENT IN MY LIFE, I'M GOING TO TELL THEM ALL SORTS OF LIES LIKE I WAS A GREAT ATHLETE AND DID ALL THE SMART THINGS AND NEVER MADE MISTAKES. SOMEWHERE IN THERE I'LL ALSO TELL THEM THAT THE REASON THESE WERE GLORY DAYS FOR ME BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WHO ARE UNLIKE FOLKS THAT YOU SEE TOO OFTEN IN MODERN POLITICS. IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND PEOPLE TODAY WHO LEAD WITH GRACE AND WITH ELEGANCE AND WITH KINDNESS. AND I'M -- I WILL TELL THEM IT WAS A SAD MOMENT ALSO BECAUSE IN AMERICA IT WAS ALSO HARD TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACE COMPLEXITY AND APPRECIATED THE POWER OF APPLYING INTELLECT TO SOLVING PROBLEMS WITH POLICY. AND THEY WILL SAY WHO WAS THAT AND I WILL SAY, IT WAS ME, BUT IT WAS ALSO ADRIANA GARCIA. RIGHT, MAYOR? BEING ON THIS COUNCIL WITH YOU HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS OF MY LIFE AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH NEXT BECAUSE I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME. ANYWAY, ONWARD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SHE SAVES LIVES ALONG WITH THE TEAM WHEN THE PANDEMIC [01:15:11] HIT. THE COUNCILWOMAN GOT TOGETHER AND SHE SPOKE SPANISH AND SHE WAS THERE WITH ANA AND REBECCA AND SHIRLEY AND MELISSA WERE ALL BEHIND THE IDEA TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE PHONE READY. AND SHE SAVED MY LIFE BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT I WASN'T WELL BECAUSE WE WERE SO CLOSE AND SHE WAS LIKE GO SEE THE DOCTOR, YOU'RE NOT WELL, SOMETHING IS WRONG. AND THAT'S WHO SHE IS. AND SHE HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY SO WELL AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE HER ON THE GLOBAL LEVEL, ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND ON THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND I KNOW THINGS NEED TO CHANGE, AND THE LOSS OF NOT SEEING YOU WEEKLY -- OR THREE TIMES A WEEK OR DAILY IS GOING TO BE HARD, BUT I KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE FRIENDS AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO SEE EACH OTHER. AND YOUR PARENTS ARE HERE AND STEVE IS HERE SO I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING VERY FAR, BUT KNOW THAT YOU COULD, NATIONALLY YOU COULD GO JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE, BUT YOU CHOOSE TO STAY IN THE PLACE THAT RAISED YOU AND YOU CHOOSE TO SERVE. AND I AM INTERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I AM HONORED TO SIT ON THIS COUNCIL. I AM A BETTER PERSON AND COUNCILMEMBER BECAUSE OF YOU SO YOU KNOW THINGS ARE CHANGING, BUT YOU JUST CAN'T PREPARE FOR THE DAYS, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH. >> WALSH: SO COUNCILWOMAN, I RAN INTO THREE FORMER COUNCILMEMBERS THIS PAST WEEKEND, A LITTLE UNUSUAL, AND SO ONCE A COUNCIL PERSON, ALWAYS A COUNCIL PERSON. YOU HAVE THAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO. I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE ENTIRE STAFF FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY, YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR FRIENDSHIP. THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AN EXCELLENT TEAM MEMBER OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND OF THIS BODY. I WOULD SAY YOU EPITOMIZE COMPLETELY OR CORE VALUES OF PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION AND TEAM WORK. WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT, LIKE MELISSA -- COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA MENTIONED A SECOND AGO, THE LAST SIX YEARS. I REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY OF ORIENTATION, WE MET, MARIA, MYSELF, ANDY, WITH BOTH YOU AND COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA TO GO THROUGH ORIENTATION. AND IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY. SOME DAYS. SOME DAYS IT FEELS LIKE 60 YEARS AGO. BUT WE'VE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS AND YOU HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY INSTRUMENTAL TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND TO ME PERSONALLY. AND HAVE BEEN CRITICAL IN HOW AS A CITY WE'VE DEALT WITH CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND PREPAREDNESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND THE TONE AND TEMPO YOU'VE SET WILL OUTLAST MOST OF US WHEN THIS ROOM. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND GODSPEED ON WHATEVER ENDEAVOR AND MOUNTAIN YOU CLIMB, AND KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MANY FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIK. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. IT'S ONLY RIGHT WE GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD AND I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO TURN ON THE TIMER. >> GARCIA: I LOVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I JUST WANTED TO START OFF BY THANKING EVERYONE WHO IS STILL HERE AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF MY FRIENDS ARE ALSO WATCHING ON LINE WHO COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY. I WANT TO START OFF BY OBVIOUSLY THANKING THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 4. THE RESIDENTS ELECTED ME THEY WERE ABLE TO EMPOWER ME TO DO A LOT OF REALLY COOL THINGS FOR THE CITY. A LOT OF MUCH NEEDED THINGS. AND WITHOUT THEM I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME GREAT WORK THAT IS CURRENTLY STILL UNDERWAY AND SO JUST WANTED TO AGAIN THANK THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 4. AND I WANT TO THANK GIRLS, [01:20:04] INC., WHO IS STILL HERE, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL NON-PROFIT PARTNERS IN THE ROOM. YOUR WORK IS GOING TO BE SOME OF THE MOST NEEDED WORK IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD. STAY WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, STAY ENGAGED WITH THEM. REMIND THEM OF ALL THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU ALL DO. THAT IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN THE MONTHS TO COME. I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT BEFORE I GO TO MY INDIVIDUAL COLLEAGUES TO THE MEDIA. AND SO YOU ALL TELL STORIES, YOU ALL TRY TO SOUND BYTE THINGS, BUT YOU GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE. IN THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE WATCHING TV. THEY'RE READING THE NEWSPAPER. AND THAT'S SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY THEY GET INFORMATION. I'LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE A CITY HALL BEAT REPORTER OR A FEW FROM THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES. AND ALSO FROM OUR NEWS STATIONS. TODAY WAS GOING TO BE RELATIVELY EASY SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A CONTROVERSIAL THING ON SO WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THE NEWS CAMERAS BUT WE KNOW THEY'RE HERE ALL THE TIME TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ENGAGING AND KEEPING US ACCOUNTABLE. AND I'LL GO TO MY COLLEAGUES AND I'LL START IN ORDER IN DISTRICT 1. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. KAUR, FOR ALL OF YOUR PASSION IN EDUCATION. YOU'RE ALWAYS STEPPING UP FOR OUR YOUTH. YOU HAVE BROUGHT A LOT OF ENERGY ALSO. AND OF COURSE WE THINK ABOUT OUR STAFF AND RYAN HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. AND JUST, YOU KNOW, STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO HELP YOU. SO THANK YOU TO RYAN. COUNCILMAN IN DISTRICT 2, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THE INSULIN AND THE DIABETES IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES. IT WAS A PROGRAM MUCH NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THAT. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT I HOPE DOES NOT GET CUT BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES NEED THAT. AND THAT LEADS OVER TO DISTRICT 3 AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, ONE OF MY SOUTHSIDE SISTERS AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY ON THE SOUTHSIDE, IN SOUTH TEXAS, REALLY, BUT REMINDING US THAT IT'S THE WEST AND EAST SIDES THAT WE ARE THERE TO HELP OUT BECAUSE OF THOSE HEALTH INEQUITIES. YOUR WORK WITH TEXAS A&M AND TOYOTA, IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND I HAVE SERVED ALSO ON THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO BOARD. WE ALSO SERVE ON THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP. I GET TO SPEND EXTRA TIME WITH HER. SOME OF YOU ALL -- WELL, YOU ALL WON'T KNOW THIS BUT I'M GOING TO SAY THIS. I'M THE ONE THAT REMINDS HER TO KEEP HER POKER FACE ON SOMETIMES WHEN SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING SOME THINGS THAT SHE MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH. I HAVE HAD TO KICK HER ON SOME OCCASIONS IF I'M SITTING WITH HER, UNDER THE TABLE. EDWARD, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO DO THAT BUT KIND OF MAYBE JUST SMILE AT HER POLITELY OR SOMETHING AS A REMINDER. COUNCILWOMAN TERI CASTILLO, YOUR WORK WITH THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM, YOU WORK WITH HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS. YOUR WORK ON THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, YOU ARE THE CHAMPION OF HOUSING ON COUNCIL. AND SO I'M JUST INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TOHAVE A COLLEAGUE LIKE YOU. ALSO, I HAVE TOLD YOU THIS BEFORE, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE, MY MOM ALWAYS CONFUSES COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND I ON TV WHEN SHE'S WATCHING CHANNEL 21, TVSA, PLUG, WATCH IT, YOU ALL. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT RESIDENTS CONFUSE US. THEY'RE LIKE, TERI, TERI, TERI. IT'S ADRIANA BUT I'LL TELL TERI YOU SAID HELLO OR I'LL GIVE HER WHATEVER MESSAGE YOU NEED. SHE'S MY TWIN ON COUNCIL AND HONORED TO SIT BY YOU AS WELL. I ALWAYS CALL YOU ONE OF MY SOUTHSIDE SISTERS. COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA, WE CAME IN IN 2019 AND TOGETHER WE'RE GOING TO FIX MARBACH BECAUSE WE KNOW IT NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS. WE WERE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER ON A BOND PROJECT THAT WAS LONG OVERDUE. WE KNEW THAT IT HAD BEEN AGES SINCE THERE WAS AN INVESTMENT IN THAT AREA AND SO WE CAME TOGETHER, OUR TEAMS WORKS COLLECTIVELY, AND I THINK, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO FIX MARBACH RIVER. ONE DAY WHEN WE'RE DRIVING DOWN MARBACH ROAD, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY WE FIXED IT. [01:25:08] THAT WHATABURGER WON'T BE UNDERWATER. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO ISN'T HERE BUT SHE WAS ONE OF OUR LSA STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND I'M GRATEFUL ABOUT HER BEING ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF ME. AND THE WAY THAT SHE BRINGS HER GIRLS TO COUNCIL, IT JUST MAKES ME SMILE. IT MAKES ME HAPPY THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, I THINK HE MIGHT HAVE EXITED THE ROOM ALREADY IN HIS USUAL FASHION. BUT HE'S MEETING WITH A CLIENT, I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE HAD TOLD ME YESTERDAY. HE'LL MISS THIS BUT I HAVE BETTER DAD JOKES THAN HE DOES. AND HE KNOWS IT AND HIS KIDS KNOW IT. AND SO RANDOMLY HE WOULD TEXT ME DURING, LIKE, THE MOST BORING MEETINGS AND SEND A DAD JOKE, RIGHT? AND SO SOMETIMES I WAS LIKE, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T RESPOND TO THAT ONE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BUST OUT LAUGHING. ANYWAYS, I'LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ON REALLY COOL INITIATIVES TOGETHER AS WELL. I THINK I SIGNED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS CCRS AND SO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT. COUNCILMAN COURAGE, THANK YOU FOR ENDORSING ME BECAUSE TECHNICALLY YOU NEVER UNENDORSED ME. SO THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME. I THINK YOU'RE INCREDIBLE AND YOU'RE SO COURAGEOUS. LIKE, LET ME TELL YOU. I JUST THINK YOU'RE FULL OF COURAGE, AND THAT IS JUST THE MOST APPROPRIATE NAME FOR YOU. IT'S INCREDIBLE. AND I KNOW IT'S TRUE COURAGE AND IT'S INCREDIBLE TO WATCH THE TWO OF YOU. I WISH I WOULD HAVE THAT TYPE OF RELAT RELATIONSHIP . I DON'T KNOW THAT I'LL EVER FIND IT BUT I'M JUST SO BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN YOU ALL AND TO HAVE YOU ALL IN MY CORNER. AND SO I'LL CONTINUE TO BE WATCHING OVER YOU AND PRAYING FOR EVERYTHING TO GO WELL WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AS WELL. AND DISTRICT 10 STEPPED OUT. HE HAD TO GET ON A PLANE BUT I JUST FILED -- HE FILED HIS CCR ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THIS WEEK AND I WAS ABLE TO SIGN ON TO IT. SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I HAVE SIGNED ON TO SEVERAL INITIATIVES THAT COUNCILMAN MARC WHYTE HAS PROPOSED. AND OF COURSE REMEMBER, TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT ARE STAYING, REMEMBER YOU'RE NOT ONLY THE GUARDIANS OF POLICY, YOU'RE THE GUARDIANS OF TRUST. YOU'RE THE GUARDIANS OF ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU'RE THE GUARDIANS OF HOPE. AND YOU'RE ALSO THE GUARDIANS OF COMPASSION. SO THAT'S ON YOUR SHOULDERS TO CARRY ON. YES, I MIGHT BE A GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY FAN AND I AM WEARING MY REALLY COOL GROOT EARRINGS TODAY. YOU ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE CITY SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER OUR RESIDENTS. FINALLY, THE MAYOR, IN PLACE 11. THE MAYOR HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE TO WORK WITH. WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS AGREED BUT WE HAVE MADE THINGS BETTER BY THAT DISAGREEMENT. AND SO READY TO WORK, EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALLOWED ME TO WORK ON ON YOUR BEHALF, DESIGNATING ME AS A LIAISON TO BAGUIO, KNOWING IT'S A PART OF YOUR HERITAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES, THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I COULD HAVE ASKED FOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME AND PUTTING ME ON SO MANY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. MY STAFF DIDN'T APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH BUT THEY KNEW WE COULD DO IT TOGETHER. Y'ALL, THEY ASKED ME WHAT THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE WOULD BE BETWEEN MAYOR NIRENBERG AND MYSELF AND I SAID, DUH, MY GUNS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT HE WORKS OUT AND I DON'T. AND SO HE EATS HEALTHY AND -- WELL, SOMETIMES WE EAT WHATABURGER TOGETHER. BUT, MAYOR, I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. TO MY PAST COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU WHO I GOT TO WORK WITH. FORMER COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA VIAGRAN, MY ORIGINAL SOUTHSIDE SISTER. THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL BEFORE. COUNCILMAN PERRY, COUNCILMAN TREVINO. MY COLLEAGUES, SOME OF YOU DON'T KNOW BUT MY SON, WHO IS HERE TODAY, WORRIES ABOUT ME WHEN I'M DOWNTOWN A LITTLE BIT LATE BECAUSE I WAS MUGGED DOWNTOWN ONCE AND I THINK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS WALKED ME TO A CAR AFTER AN EVENT. HAS MADE SURE THAT I GOT SAFE. [01:30:08] USUALLY THE MOM IS THE ONE CALLING THE KID, WHERE ARE YOU? MY SON IS USUALLY THE ONE CALLING TO MAKE SURE I'M OKAY AND I MAKE IT HOME. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ERIK, I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE CITY MANAGER AND SO I WAS HOPING THAT IT WOULD BE IN SAN ANTONIO AND NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE LIKE PETER ZANONI LEFT. I'M SO GLAD YOU STAYED AND YOU'RE OUR CITY MANAGER. AND, MARIA, MY LIAISON, I HAD THE BEST LIAISON EVER AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE BUDGET DIRECTOR. WE HAVE WOMEN IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. THERE'S ALL THESE QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALREADY. I SAID, DON'T WORRY. SHE'S GOING TO BE WITH US THIS AFTERNOON, YOU CAN ASK HER ALL ABOUT THE BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO MAKE SURE THE NEEDS ARE DONE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 4. ANDY, THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME OUT OF TROUBLE. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME FROM GOING TO JAIL. THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL WERE IN LINE, THAT WE STILL ADVOCATED FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. AND FOR BEING AN AWESOME DAD TOO. YOU AND ERIK I HAVE SEEN -- I GOT TO JUST SEE YOU ALL GUSH ABOUT YOUR KIDS. AND SO IT'S SO NEAT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT IN PEOPLE WHO WORK SO HARD FOR THE CITY. EMILY MCGINN IS IN THE BACK. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MY DR. PEPPERS HANDY WHEN I NEEDED THAT. CHIEF MCMANUS, HE ADMITS I'M HIS FAVORITE AND ONLY CHIEF MCMANUS COULD DO THAT AND GET AWAY WITH IT. AND SO -- AND CHIEF FAUST IS GOING TO BE OUR SPEAKER FOR GIRLS EMPOWERMENT, SO WE'LL SEE HER SOON . TIM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, THANK YOU FOR LOST COUNT ALREADY. SO HE'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE. STAFF, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. STSTEPH IS MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND I HAVE KNOWN HER SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. SHE HAS GROWN SO MUCH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY AND I'M GLAD TO SAY YOU ARE THE PERSON WHO KEEPS ME ON TIME AND ON SCHEDULE AND AT ALL OF THE MEETINGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK . EDWARD, I'M SO EXCITED TO KNOW MY NEXT COUNCILPERSON AND COMPLAIN TO HIM DIRECTLY. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE TO IMPROVE DISTRICT 4 AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE AS A SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR, REALLY, IN OUR OFFICE. SO, VERY, VERY PROUD OF ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE, IN PARTICULAR WITH HOUSING AND ANYTHING THAT I THREW AT YOU. YOU WERE THE ONE THAT ALWAYS KNEW HOW TO RESPOND. AND THEN RAULITO IS SPANISH] AND SO ZONING. HE'S GOT ZONING DOWN TO A SCIENCE AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE BECOME A BETTER PLACE IN DISTRICT 4 BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK AND BECAUSE OF THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT IN. YOHANI, SHE'S ALWAYS CRYING. BUT IT'S A GOOD CRYING SHE WEARS HER HEART ON HER SLEEVE. SHE ADVOCATES FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SHE JUST CALLS AND IS CRYING AT A RESIDENT THAT NEEDS HELP AND IMMEDIATELY SHE FINDS HOW TO HELP THEM. YOHANI, THANK YOU FOR BEING THE HEART OF OUR FIELD OFFICE, OF OUR DISTRICT. AND I KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS RECOGNIZE THAT VERY WELL. CINDY. CINDY IS ONE OF THE NEWER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM BUT CINDY HAS THE BEST PINATA CHANT THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD. SHE MAKES THE SENIORS AT THE SENIOR CENTER JUST GO WILD WITH PINATAS, SINGING A SONG I DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY ELSE BUT ME HEARD AS A CHILD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND FOR SUPPORTING ALL THE RESIDENTS OF D4. GENE. GENE, YOUR WORK ON THE COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY IN SOUTH TEXAS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THE CITY FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES AND LEAVE IT AT THAT. BUT YOUR WORK IS INVALUABLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. JED IS HERE AS WELL. JED HAS BEEN KNOWN ON THE COUNCIL AS WELL FOR WORKING [01:35:04] UNDER SEVERAL MAYORS, SO HE'S BEEN AROUND. HE'S INCREDIBLE. HE WORKS WITH ME ON BCAD, IN PARTICULAR, AND SO THANK YOU FOR WORKING THERE. AND THEN ROSANNA. RROSANNA IS MY VOICE OF REASON. SHE'S THE PERSON WHO SAYS NO TO CCRS, JUST FYI. SHE DOESN'T THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING I SHOULD SIGN, THAT'S ROSANNA. SHE'S VERY THOROUGH. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY VOICE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH RJ ON THAT. THEN WE HAVE OUR INTERNS TURNED PART-TIME. AND SO BELIEVE IT OR NOT YOUR NAME DOESN'T HAVE TO START WITH AN A TO WORK IN THE DISTRICT 4 FIELD OFFICE BUT I'LL START WITH AARON. AARON JUST GRADUATED FROM ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY LAST WEEKEND. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE WITH ACS. ALSO AMY, WHO IS LITERALLY THE GIRL NEXT DOOR. SHE'S MY NEIGHBOR. REALLY, SHE IS. SHE CAN TELL MY STAFF WHEN I'M HOME AND WHEN I'M NOT, SO IT'S REALLY SCARY. AMY ALSO GRADUATED FROM ST. MARY'S, SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE ON TO LAW SCHOOL. VERY HAPPY FOR YOU AS WELL. AND ANGELINA. ANGELINA ISN'T HERE. SHE'S THE QUIETEST PERSON ON OUR TEAM. SHE WILL FIND HER VOICE EVENTUALLY. I KNOW SHE WILL WITH ALL OF YOU ALL. WE WISH HER THE BEST. I LEFT RJ FOR LEFT BECAUSE RJ IS MY RIDE OR DIE. HE MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN MY WILL ALREADY BECAUSE HE DOES SO MUCH. HE GOES UNNOTICED SOMETIMES BECAUSE HE SAYS HE TRIES TO BE MY SHADOW. AND, RJ, I DON'T EVER WANT YOU TO BE ANYBODY'S SHADOW. YOU DESERVE TO BE LEADING. AND I KNOW THAT ONE DAY YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A GREAT CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE. SO YOU CONTINUE YOUR WORK AND CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU DO. AND WE HAVE GREAT EXTENDED TEAM. WE COULDN'T DO IT IN D4 WITHOUT THE EXTENDED TEAM. THAT TEAM INCLUDES PORT SAN ANTONIO. JIM, WHO I KNOW IS LISTENING INTENTLY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GET AWAY. JIM, PACO, SOPHIA, I MEAN EVERYBODY OVER AT THE PORT WHO DOES SO MUCH FOR OUR EVENTS. THAT INCLUDES OUR FRIENDS AT FROST AND ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, DAN, WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY. BUT CHRISTY AND ANDRES ARE BACK AT FROST WORKING SO PLEASE EXTEND MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO THEM AS WELL. OUR FRIENDS AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE. THANKS TO MY GOOD FRIEND BOBBY GARZA OVER THERE AND ALL OF HIS INCREDIBLE TEAM. AND WE HAVE VALERO, SO MANY TURKEYS OVER THE YEAR. I THINK WE COUNTED 1200 TURKEYS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 4 THAT VALERO HAS PROVIDED. AND A LOT OF GIFT CARDS. THANK YOU TO SEYMOUR AND THE TEAM. THE GONZABA PROVIDING NOT ONLY FANS AND VEGGIES AND EVERYTHING BUT ALSO THE WORK WITH THE FOOD BANK AND MARIO OBLEDO AND ERIK COOPER. AND SAPOA, SAPOA IN THE BACK, AND I KNOW JOHNNY IS IN THE BACK REPRESENTING SAPOA. ALL OF THE BURGERS YOU COOKED, ALL OF THE BACKPACKS YOU HAVE DONATED TO D4 RESIDENTS. THE FIRE UNION, WHO IS NOT HERE TODAY HEALTH FAIRS. THE ZOO, TIMOTHY THE HIPPO WHO HELPED ME GET THROUGH MY TOUGHEST DAYS. CPS ENERGY, SAWS, THE FAIRS THAT WE HAVE HAD, THE ABILITY THAT YOU ALL HAD TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS THROUGH THE REAP PROGRAM, OUR PLUMBERS TO PIPES PROGRAMS. CHEF JOHNNY WAS HERE EARLIER, THE KITCHEN CAMPUS, WALTER, ROB. Y'ALL ARE MORE THAN JUST SPONSORS, YOU HAVE BECOME EXTENDED MEMBERS OF THE TEAM AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU ALL AND SAY A SHOUT OUT. I'LL MISS WORKING ON THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO BOARD. I'LL MISS BEING AT THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, ALTHOUGH I MIGHT APPLY FOR A SEAT THERE BECAUSE WE'VE HAD ABOUT 7300 HOUSING UNITS BUILT UNDER OUR WATCH AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT WORK. YESTERDAY WAS MY LAST FIRE AND POLICE PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION MEETING. WE'RE STILL A GOLD STANDARD. IT WAS NOT GOING TO FALL UNDER MY WATCH SO VERY PROUD THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS, WHO DO SO MUCH FOR THE COMMUNITY, WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF LONG AFTER THEIR RETIREMENT. THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND SOMEBODY ELSE APPOINTED. AACOG AND ALL OF THE JUDGES. I CALLED THEM MY JUDGES. [01:40:04] WE STARTED OFF A LITTLE BIT ROCKY, SOME OF THEM WERE A LITTLE GRUMPY AT FIRST AND WE WERE ABLE TO JUST ALL GET ALONG AT THE END. SO INCREDIBLE. BCAD AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE THERE. SHERRY, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. THE CAMEROONIANS, THE AUDIO] AND THE COUNCIL AIDES. THANK YOU TO KATY. THANK YOU TO RUBEN. THANK YOU TO JOLENE. I SAID THANK YOU TO RYAN EARLIER. THANK YOU TO ZACH AND VICTORIA, BY THE WAY. THANK YOU TO DERRICK. THANK YOU TO RAUL. THANK YOU TO PAT WALLACE. THANK YOU TO VICTOR, WHO I THINK IS HERE. THANK YOU TO JAMES BRANCH AS WELL. WE COULDN'T DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU ALL. AND THEN THANK YOU TO STEVE. MY KID IS HERE. HE'S ALWAYS THERE. HE'S THERE IN THE TOUGH TIMES. HE'S THERE IN THE HAPPY TIMES. HE'S REALLY, REALLY JUST COOL AND BEHIND THE SCENES. AND I LOVE THAT ABOUT HIM. HE'S REALLY, REALLY AND BECAUSE OF STEVE, I'M ABLE TO MAKE CONFESSIONS OF A COUNCILWOMAN. STEVE FIND A LIBRARY BOOK THAT HE HAD BORROWED AS A CHILD, LIKE IN ELEMENTARY WHEN HE WAS FINALLY SPRING CLEANING. AND, STEVE, I FORGOT TO RETURN THIS TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY. HE'S GOT A JOB NOW SO JUST BILL HIM ALL THE LATE FEES. ERIK, I'LL GIVE THIS OVER TO YOU SO YOU CAN TURN IT OVER TO MR. MCCARY. IT'S A REALLY GOOD BOOK. I READ IT AGAIN LAST NIGHT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SOME OTHER CONFESSIONS OF A COUNCILWOMAN THAT I'M GOING TO MISS. JACK FINGER, YOU AND I HAVE NOT ALWAYS AGREED BUT I'M SO THANKFUL THAT YOU CAME TO THE GIRLS EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT LAST YEAR AND THAT YOU SAW WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO AND THAT YOU APPRECIATED THE WORK THAT WE DO. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE THAT WE DON'T AGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS BUT WE KNOW HOW TO DISAGREE. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE MISSING, YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT I ASK ERIK WALSH IF YOU'RE OKAY. I HAVE HAD MY TEAM LITERALLY CALL WHEN YOU'VE BEEN MISSING MORE THAN A COUPLE OF MEETINGS, BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE OKAY, HEALTH-WISE. I WANTED TO SEND A SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM ONE TIME -- YOU CAN ASK ERIK WALSH ABOUT THIS -- BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED YOU WEREN'T HERE. YES, I'M NEVER GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU ON A LOT OF THINGS BUT, GUESS WHAT. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND I FELT THAT YOU NEEDED TO HEAR THAT. AND EVERY TIME I LOST MY BADGE, ERIK, I FOUND IT IN ONE OF MY PURSES. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD RETURN THOSE AS WELL. BUT IN DECEMBER 2019 I GAVE EVERYONE ON THIS DAIS A CUTE LITTLE SPIDER. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A GOOD LUCK SPIDER AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, SO I THINK IN ADDITION TO FROGS AND LIZARDS, I HATE SPIDERS NOW. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH TO AURORA AND DEBBIE AS WELL, THE ENTIRE CITY CLERK TEAM. YOUR POINTS OF PRIVILEGE YOU ALLOWED US TO DO, CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION, IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS WHO WORK OUR SECURITY OUT FRONT, NOT ONLY THE EXECUTIVE DETAIL TEAM BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE IN THOSE REALLY UGLY MAROON JACKETS. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE COLOR MAROON, BUT THEY'RE WONDERFUL. THEY ALLOW ME TO STAY PARKED IN THE CAR SOMETIMES AND DON'T TELL MY STAFF THAT I'M HERE YET, SO SOMETIMES I JUST NEED A LITTLE BREATHING ROOM. AND JUST THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU ALL. ERIK WALSH, I'M GOING TO SEND YOU A BILL FOR ALL OF THE SHOES THAT I'VE LOST TO THE BRICKS OUT FRONT WHERE MY HEELS GET STUCK IN THE PAVERS. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE. I WAS TERRIFIED DURING COVID. I WAS TERRIFIED AFTER COVID. I WAS COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN DURING THE MIGRANTS DEATHS BUT ALL OF YOU ALL MADE ME FEEL LIKE THERE'S HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW. THERE'S HOPE FOR A BETTER CITY AND I FEEL LIKE TODAY IS A VERY APPROPRIATE WAY TO CLOSE OFF MY TENURE. THIS PARTICULAR WEEKEND I'LL BE WORKING TO 11:00 P.M. THANKS TO SHERRY BECAUSE WE HAVE VISITORS FROM THE CANARY ISLANDERS. BUT WE WILL KEEP GOING . WE HAD THE WOMEN IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT HERE, THE CONFERENCE, SO I'M PRESIDING OVER THEM AS PRESIDENT FOR THE FINAL TIME AND IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE THAT IT'S MY HOMETOWN AND I BROUGHT THEM DURING THE GIRLS EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY REPLICATE THAT PROGRAM ACROSS THEIR CITIES. SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE NOT JUST PET PROJECTS, THEY'RE [01:45:02] EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITIES. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND, WITH THAT, MAYOR DIDN'T TIME ME SO I GOT TO SAY A LOT OF STUFF. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. I'VE LOVED WORKING WITH YOU ALL. I'VE LOVED SERVING WITH YOU ALL. IT'S BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO REPRESENT YOU ALL AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. AND IN TYPICAL FASHION, SHE COVERED ALL THE BASES. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN. WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO THE TIME IS NOW 12:25 P.M. ON MAY 29, 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. LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ALL PURSUANT >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON. THE TIME IS 1:15 ON MAY 29, 2025. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.