[ITEMS] [00:00:48] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION. THE TIME IS 2:09 P.M. ON JUNE 11, 2025. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE ROLL. QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. TODAY'S SESSION IS GOING TO HEAR FROM CANDIDATES FOR OUR TEMPORARY VACANCY IN DISTRICT 2. BEFORE I START THE MEETING, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA TO WELCOME A FEW FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE. >> I WANT TO WELCOME A FEW INTERNS. WE HAVE L ILIANS AND ORLANDO, WHO IS FROM TRINITY UNIVERSITY ALSO WITH JUDGE LEAH. I'M SURE TODAY WE'LL SET OUR BEST EXAMPLES FOR THEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TODAY AGAIN WE'RE GATHERED TO DELIBERATE AND EVALUATE APPLICANTS FOR THE TEMPORARY D2 COUNCIL POSITION. I'M GOING TO ASK THE CITY CLERK TO MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION. >> CLERK: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. [INAUDIBLE] ON MAY 14, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ ANNOUNCED A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE PERIOD OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. ON MAY 29, CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO INITIATE THE PROCESS TO FILL THE TEMPORARY VACANCY. MY OFFICE BEGAN RECEIVING AND PROCESSING APPLICATIONS ON MAY 19. AND ON JUNE 3, 13 QUALIFIED APPLICANTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE. THE LIST OF APPLICANTS HAD BEEN POSTED ON THE AGENDA WEBSITE AS THEY WERE ACCEPTED BY THE CITY CLERK. AND APPLICATIONS WERE SENT ALSO TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR REVIEW. 13 APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION ARE LISTED HERE. AND THE ACTION ITEMS ARE FOR TODAY THE APPLICANTS WILL PROVIDE AN OPENING STATEMENT OR A WRITTEN STATEMENT. CITY COUNCIL WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND SHORT LIST NO MORE THAN THREE APPLICANTS TO BE DISCUSSED AT A SESSION AND CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE ACTION ALSO IN A SESSION TO SELECT THE TEMPORARY COUNCILMEMBER. THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE SWEARING IN THE TEMPORARY COUNCILMEMBER AND TAKING THE --R TAKING OFFICE AUGUST 1 AND THERE WILL BE AN ORIENTATION IN THE FIRST 30 DAYS. THE TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT IS THROUGH THE RETURN OF COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ OR SEPTEMBER 30, WHICH IS SOONER. THANK YOU. [ EXECUTIVE SESSION At any time during the meeting, The City Council may recess into executive session in the C Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. I'M GOING TO CONVENE THE CITY COUNCIL INTO A BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION TO GO OVER THE PROCEDURE AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK OUT HERE SHORTLY. IF YOU CAN GET COMFORTABLE, WE'LL JUST BE GONE FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES AND WE'LL DESCRIBE THE PROCEDURE THAT WE'LL USE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS A FAIR TIME THIS AFTERNOON. THE TIME IS NOW 2:13 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025. THE CITY COUNCIL OF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE TO KILT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFF [00:07:45] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS DIRECTOR OF SERVICE FOR COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. WITH THEM. AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW DEEPLY DIFFICULT THIS DECISION HAS BEEN FOR THE COUNCILMAN. IF YOU KNOW JALEN, YOU KNOW HE IS HANDS ON IN EVERY SENSE AND TAKES OUR WORK VERY PERSONALLY. SO THE IDEA OF STEPPING AWAY EVEN TEMPORARILY IS NOT SOMETHING HE TOOK LIGHTLY. THAT EVEN THE DECISION TO TAKE PARENTAL LEAVE SPEAKS VOLUMES, NOT ONLY THE VALUE OF A PUBLIC SERVANT BUT ABOUT THE KIND OF PERSON AND FATHER HE WANTS TO BE. PRESENT, THOUGHTFUL, COMMITTED TO BE THE RIGHT THING NOT ONLY FOR HIS FAMILY BUT FOR HIS COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO THANK HIM FOR INVITING OUR TEAM INTO THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING SOMEONE TO CARRY THE TORCH IN HIS OBJECT SENSE. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO APPLIED FOR THE POSITION. BRIGHTER PLACE, SO THANK YOU. OUR OFFICE HAS ALWAYS FUNCTIONED AS A TEAM, PASSIONATE AND GROUNDED IN THE SERVICE OF DISTRICT 2. WE BELIEVE THE INTERIM COUNCIL PERSON SHOULD NOT ONLY RETAIN OUR TEAM BUT TRUST US TO CONTINUE THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH INTEGRITY AND [INAUDIBLE]. WE ARE NOT SIMPLY A STAFF. WE ARE THE MEMORY BANK OF THE OFFICE, THE HANDS AND THE HEARTS BEHIND THOUSANDS OF CONSTITUENT CASES, POLICY IDEAS, NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, AND COMMUNITY VICTORIES. THE COUNCILMAN BUILT THIS OFFICE WITH US AND WE HOPE TO CARRY FORTH THAT LEGACY SEAMLESSLY AND [00:10:06] CONFIDENTIALLY WITH A PARTNER WE CAN TRUST. WE HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL APPOINT SOMEONE WHO REFLECTS THE VALUES WE HAVE SHAPED THE OFFICE TO BE WITH EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE WITH COMPASSION. SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED WITH US IN SOME CAPACITY, WHO KNOWS THE DISTRICT, WHO UNDERSTANDS OUR PRIORITIES AND RESPECTS THE RELATIONSHIPS WE'VE BUILT FOR YEARS. THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE APPOINTMENT, A STEWARDSHIP OF TRUST. WHILE WE BELIEVE THAT MORE GOOD PEOPLE SHOULD RUN FOR OFFICE, THE REALITY IS WHEN SOMEONE RUNS AGAINST THE COUNCILMAN EVEN WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS IT DOES AFFECT US. IT AFFECTS MORALE. IT CREATES UNCERTAINTY. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO TRUST THAT THEY BELIEVE IN THE WORK WE'VE DONE THAT THEY RESPECT OUR LABOR, OUR JUDGMENT, AND OUR PURPOSE. THIS JOB IS MORE THAN JUST POLICY AND POLITICS. IT'S HUMAN, IT'S PERSONAL, AND IT REQUIRES TRUST. THIS APPOINTMENT, IN OUR VIEW, IS NOT THE MOMENT TO INTRODUCE THE KIND OF EMOTIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DISSIDENCE. WITH THAT IN MIND, AS MEMBERS OF COUNCILMAN'S STAFF, OUR TEAM WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY AND COLLECTIVELY RECOMMEND LEO CASTILLO FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 2. LEO HAS NOT ONLY WORKED ALONGSIDE OUR OFFICE, HE HAS DONE SO WITH CONSISTENCY AND HUMILITY AND SHARES OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR TEAM, UNDERSTANDS OUR WORKLOAD AND ALIGNS CLOSELY WITH THE VALUES THAT GUIDE OUR WORK. WE BELIEVE HE WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, NOT TO MAKE SWEEPING CHANGES, BUT TO UPHOLD THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE AND CONTINUE THE WORK WITHOUT DISRUPTION. AGAIN, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR LISTENING TO OUR PERSPECTIVE AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR TRUSTING US IN THIS MOMENT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR SEEING ME AND FOR SEEING POTENTIAL IN ME IN THIS POSITION AND TRUSTING ME AND ADDING THIS TEAM FROM MY PREVIOUS POSITION AS THE ROLLS OUTREACH SPECIALIST FOR DISTRICT 2, SERVING DISTRICT 2 JUST IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY. THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME EVEN IF SOMETIMES I DON'T SEE MYSELF, SO THANKING YOU. AS A WHOLE, WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE DISTRICT 2 AND COMMITTED TO DOING SO TOGETHER WITH THE RIGHT PARTNER IN PLACE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. WILLIAMS. JAMIE JOHNSON & JOHNSON. GONZALEZ. GIVANA LOPEZ. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY. I'LL BEGIN CALLING UP THE INDIVIDUAL APPLICANTS TO MAKE THEIR STATEMENT AND ANSWER A QUESTION. WE'LL START IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. IF I CAN HAVE RUBIN ARCINIEGA STAY BACK AND THE REST OF THE APPLICANTS GO INTO THE HOLDING ROOM AND WE'LL BEGIN OUR PROCESS. JUST ONE MOMENT, MR. ARCINIEGA. ALL RIGHT. MR. ARCINIEGA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPROACH THE PODIUM, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE TIMER UP AND YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL POSE A QUESTION TO YOU AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WRAP UP WITH A MINUTE CLOSE. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO HERE. MY NAME IS RUBIN ARCINIEGA. I'M A MULTI GENERATIONAL RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2. AND AS I PREPARED FOR THIS, WHICH I THINK IS RESPONSIBLE, MY MOTHER'S MEMORY CAME TO MIND. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS SHE WAS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER FOR SAISD FOR OVER 18 YEARS. ONE OF HER LAST STOPS WAS AT PICKET ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL ON EAST HOUSTON. [00:15:07] AFTER A HARD DAY, ONE OF KEY THINGS SHE ALWAYS TALKED TO ME ABOUT WAS THE IDEA OF INVESTING IN HER STUDENTS, INVESTING IN PEOPLE. THIS WAS CRITICAL FOR HER. MANY TEAMS, AS WE KNOW THIS, DISTRICT 2 HAS BEEN IN A SENSE CHARACTERIZED IN CERTAIN WAYS. SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT AND FOR THAT VERY PURPOSE IT INFORMED HOW I SAW OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW I SAW OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I DO WANT TO SPEAK TO MY CURRENT ACADEMIC BACKGROUND. CURRENTLY I'M IN THE IN AUDIO] AND OBVIOUSLY WE ALL WANT TO ENRICH OURSELVES THROUGH ACADEMICS. AS A RESIDENT OF DENVER HEIGHTS, YOU SEE ALL THIS CHANGE BUT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES THAT CREATED THIS. IT'S FOR THAT REASON I DID. THAT I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE IDEA OF HARD WORK. MY FAMILY ARE FAMILIES OF LANDSCAPERS. WE'VE BEEN ON THE EAST SIDE MORE THAN 200 YEARS. THERE'S A CALL TO DO HARD WORK. IT GAVE US THAT EXPERIENCE TO LET US KNOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES ENTREPRENEURS FACE, CONTRACTING, ACCESS TO MONIES, SERVICE AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAD TO WORK HARD. I SERVED ON THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL -- YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ARCINIEGA. >> I HAVE SERVED ON THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THE MINUTE BOARD AND WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MANY ISSUES FACING US IN DISTRICT 2, BUT IF WORK TOWARD THAT, WE KNOW WE CAN ALSO IMPROVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M GOING TO CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA TO POSE A QUESTION TO YOU. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND APPLYING AND TALKING WITH US. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH THE DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 DAYS YOU WILL SERVE, PARTICULARLY AS RELATES TO THE BUDGET. >> WE ALL HAVE HEARD THERE IS GOING TO BE A DEFICIT SO TO SPEAK, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WAS IMPRESSED BY THE YOUNG WOMAN'S STATEMENTS AS RELATES TO THE CONSTITUENCY SERVICES AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW IN JALEN'S OFFICE. I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THIS AND BE CLEAR. I WILL WORK TOWARDS JALEN'S VISION. I'M NOT HERE TO CHANGE AN AGENDA, TO HAVE MY OWN INTERNAL IDEAS. I MUST CO-CONSTRUCT AND BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE STAFF AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT 2 COMMUNITY. THERE IS THAT PORTION OF IT. I WOULD LOOK TOWARD CULTIVATING DATA, BUT IN ADDITION THROUGH ANECDOTAL. I'VE DONE THAT AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH AND REVITALIZE SAN ANTONIO. AND AS A MULTI GENERATIONAL RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2, THERE'S MANY CONCERNS WE FACE EVERY TODAY FROM ELDERLY TO ANIMAL CONTROL. IN THE END, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THIS, CONTINUE JALEN'S PROGRESSIVE VISION AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, NOT NECESSARILY FOR DISTRICT 2 OF COURSE, BUT IF WE ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AGAIN WE'LL BE ABLE TO ELEVATE SAN ANTONIO TO THE HEIGHTS THAT YOU ALL DEFINITELY TALK ABOUT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU WILL HAVE A MINUTE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING OR CLOSE YOUR STATEMENTS. >> YEAH, IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO REVISIT THE IDEA THAT FOR ME IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS IN DISTRICT 2. IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH JALEN'S VISION. I ALSO UNDERSTOOD HE'S DOING THIS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND I AGREE WHOLE HARDLY. I FIND NO ISSUE WITH THAT. I BELIEVE AS A DISTRICT 2 PUBLIC SERVANT, IF THERE'S A CALL TO ACTION AS RELATES TO HELPING HIS OFFICE AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY, BY ALL MEANS WE SHOULD DO THAT. WE'RE MORE THAN CAPABLE AS EACH CANDIDATE. IF REVISITING MY MOTHER'S ASPIRATIONS, IT'S THE IDEA DISTRICT 2 OBVIOUSLY IS THE MOST UNIQUE, DIVERSE AND ACTUALLY LARGE AREA OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT'S THE IDEA WE WILL CHARACTERIZE ITS IMPORTANCE BY INVESTING IN ITS PEOPLE. CONTINUING WHAT HE DOES, THE INSULIN SHARE PROGRAM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ANIMAL CONTROL AND DIFFERENT THINGS, THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT ELEMENTS AND MUST BE DONE AND CONTINUED IN HIS VISION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.;. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU WAIT WITH THE OTHER APPLICANTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION. WE'RE GOING TO BRING BRIAN BENAVIDEZ BACK NEXT. GOOD AFTERNOON, [00:20:17] MR. BENAVIDEZ. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION. YOU WILL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT, THEN A FEW MINUTES TO ANSWER A QUESTION AND THEN YOU CAN CLOSE UP T FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS. BRIAN BENAVIDEZ. I WAS BORN IN SAN ANTONIO, RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO. AND I PUT MY ROOTS DOWN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 AND I LIKE TO SAY I WORK AND PLAY IN DISTRICT 2. ALSO HELP BUILD COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT 2. I SERVE AS A BUSINESS APPLICATION ANALYST AT USAA BUT ALSO THE FOUNDER OF A TOURISM COMPANY. CONNECTING VISITORS AND LOCALS TO THE SPIRIT OF THE CITY. WE WELCOME THOUSANDS OF GUESTS. WE PARTNER WITH EAST SIDE ARTISTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND HELPED SHINE A LIGHT ON NEIGHBORHOODS THAT TOO OFTEN GO UNSEEN. THROUGH MURAL RIDES, I'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE FEEL PROUD OF WHERE THEY COME FROM. ART AND TOURISM CAN DO THAT. CULTURE CAN DO THAT. IT BRINGS DIGNITY. BEFORE STARTING MURAL RIDE, I SPENT FIVE YEARS FOR RIGHT FOR READING SAN ANTONIO, HELPING PROMOTE LITERACY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEEDED IT THE MOST. I'M ALSO A GRADUATE OF THE ALEXANDER BRESENIO LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WHICH DEEPENED MY UNDERSTANDING AND SHARPENED MY COMMITMENT TO SERVE. I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC ART, MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION AND THOUGHTFUL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, THE KIND THAT LIFTS UP NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT ERASING THEIR STORIES. THOSE ARE VALUES THAT I LIVE. I RIDE THROUGH THE EAST SIDE EVERY DAY. NOT JUST AS A BUSINESS OWNER, BUT AS A NEIGHBOR, A CYCLIST AND A LISTENER. AND WHAT I SEE IS POTENTIAL. AND WHAT I FEEL IS RESPONSIBILITY. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY. NOT JUST TO HOLD A SEAT BUT TO SERVE WITH INTENTION. TO SUPPORT THE CITY STAFF, TO REGION WITH HUMILITY AND MOVE DISTRICT 2 FORWARD WITH CLARITY, COMPASSION AND CARE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL TURN NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, MR. BENAVIDEZ FOR BEING HERE AND ENGAGEMENT. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH THE DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 DAYS YOU WILL SERVE, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET? >> YEAH, I WON'T PRETEND THAT I WOULD BE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM. I THINK FROM WHAT WAS SAID PREVIOUSLY BY SOME OF THE STAFF, THEY'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, MOVING THE BALL FORWARD. I DON'T PLAN ON STOPPING THAT. I DON'T PLAN ON COMING IN WITH A CLOSED MIND. THE COMMUNITY, THE STAFF ALL KNOW WHAT -- THEY'VE ALL BEEN VOCAL ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND THEY'VE BEEN MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION AND ALL I'M GOING TO DO IS HELP AND FACILITATE THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. AND YOU'LL HAVE A MINUTE TO CLOSE IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >> NO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY WASN'T ON MY BINGO CARD AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES MY WAY. BEING A CYCLIST IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN MY BUSY GET TO SEE THE STREET VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND DISTRICT 2 AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. I'M JUST WANTING TO HELP OUT AND FACILITATE THE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BENAVIDEZ. AND WE'LL ASK YOU NOW TO PROCEED BACK TO THE B ROOM AS [INAUDIBLE]. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. BRAVO. YOU WILL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT, YOU WILL GET A QUESTION FROM US AND THEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS GREAT S MY NAME IS JOE BRAVO. I HAVE OVER 20 YEARS OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ACROSS HEALTH CARE, GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT SECTOR. MY BACKGROUND INCLUDES MANAGING MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS, LEADING DIVERSE TEAMS AND DRIVING OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. WHILE STAYING ROOTED IN MISSION AND COMMUNITY VALUES. I'VE BEEN VICE PRESIDENT IN HEALTH CARE AND I'VE BEEN A CHIEF OF STAFF IN DISTRICT 7. I HOLD BOTH A MPH FROM TULANE MEDICAL SCHOOL AND MHA FROM TRINITY UNIVERSITY. I'VE USED THAT DUAL PERSPECTIVE TO BRIDGE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ORGANIZATIONAL [00:25:05] STRATEGY EFFECTIVELY. I'VE LED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, CONTRACT NEGOTIATION AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. ALWAYS ALIGNING OPERATION POLICY WITH STAKEHOLDER NEEDS. BEYOND THE WORKPLACE, I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF WEST FORT ALLIANCE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN D2. I'VE SAT ON THE BOND COMMISSION. I'M SAT ON THE TOMORROW MIDTOWN COMMISSION FOR SA TOMORROW. CURRENTLY SIT ON THE BRACKENRIDGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE PARK. AND I'M A MEMBER OF REVITALIZE SA WHICH IS A LYMPH -- LEADERSHIP PROGRAM TO ENHANCE CORRIDORS. I WAS NOMINATED FOR MY WORK IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR ENHANCING HEAD START LOCATIONS. WITH DIVERSE SYSTEMS AND TRULY SERVING PEOPLE THROUGH BETTER HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AND RESPONSIVE CITY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, I'VE MADE I THINK SOME CONTRIBUTION TO THIS CITY. I'M LOOKING TO BRING THIS MIX OF STRATEGY, SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO A ROLE WHERE I CAN MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT. I'M EXCITED ABOUT CONTRIBUTING AND I KNOW THAT I CAN ADVOCATE FOR THE COUNCILMAN IN A GREAT WAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BRAVO. I'LL TURN TO COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ TO POSE A QUESTION TO YOU. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE? AND THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION FOR THE 60 DAYS YOU'LL SERVE, AND PARTICULARLY KEEPING IN MIND AS ALL THAT WILL RELATE TO THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> JALEN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB EVERY YEAR ABOUT BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO GIVE THEIR INPUT IN WHAT IS A PRIORITY. AND I THINK GOING FORWARD THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOMETHING ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO AS WELL BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE SHORT, I BELIEVE. I RECEIVED SURVEYS ALREADY ABOUT THE BUDGET. I WORKED IN COUNCIL OFFICE D7 WITH ANA SANDOVAL. WE HELPED FORGE THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT POLICY THE CITY USES AND IT ULTIMATELY BECAME SA SPEAK UP. IT GIVES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS TO GIVE ALL OF YOU FEEDBACK. I WOULD CERTAINLY ACCELERATE THAT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST GAPS IS THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THINGS FUNCTION. JALEN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR PEOPLE, BUT WITH A BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO BE SHORT, PEOPLE NEED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH, WHERE, ET CETERA, AND YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT THE PRIORITY MIGHT BE AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO IS ACCELERATE SURVEYS, MEET LIKE JALEN HAS DONE WITH THE PUBLIC AND MAKE SURE WE STAY LOCK STEP AND THEY ARE NOT SURPRISED BY ANYTHING THAT IS DECIDED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. MR. BRAVO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRAP UP WITH A CLOSING STATEMENT, YOU ARE WELCOME TO DO SO. >> NO, I FEEL THAT JALEN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. I DON'T FEEL ANYTHING OTHER THAN WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. I THINK SOME OF THE PRIORITIES I'VE HEARD HIM SPEAK TO VEST NATURE WITH ME. -- RESONATE WITH ME. SOME OF IT HAS BEEN MOVED ON LIKE ANIMAL CARE AND SOME SENIOR SERVICES. SOME OF THE BIGGER THINGS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH PROJECT MARVEL AND THAT STUFF WILL BE SORT OF SPOKE TO SO I'LL STAY VERY MUCH IN LOCK STEP WITH JALEN TO MAKE SURE I RESONATE WHAT HE WISHES BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND DEAL WITH ALL THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT DORI BROWN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. BROWN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION. AS YOU HEARD, YOU'LL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT, THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, THEN YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLOSING. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> HELLO. I'M DORI BROWN. I BELIEVE THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY GIVES ME THE CHANCE TO FILL IN THE BLANKS. HOPEFULLY YOU'LL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW MY RESUMÉ AND LETTER OF INTEREST. I'M HAPPY TO SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF. LET ME ASSURE YOU MY POSITIVE SIEVE REPUTATION IS SOLID. MY PERSONAL GOAL IS TO LOOK OUT FOR MY DISTRICT WHILE LOOKING OUT FOR MY COUNCILMAN WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME IS I'M A MOTHER, A ORDAINED MINISTER AND [00:30:07] COMMUNITY BUSINESS OWNERS AND RADIO ANNOUNCER. TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIRED AND THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS RELATE TO MONEY. I'VE SERVED ON VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES AND FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAVE EQUIPPED ME WITH A UNIQUE BLEND OF SKILLS AND KEEN UNDERSTANDING ON THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR CITY'S RESIDENTS. I HAVE WORKED FOR OVER 25 YEARS IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTING WHERE I'VE DEVELOPED EXPERTISE IN ASSISTING AND RESOLVING CLIENT'S CHALLENGES AND TAXES. MY WORK HAS CONSISTENTLY CENTERED ON AND TRACK THE INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR THE $2 MILLION BUDGET. THEN I FOLLOW UP WITH THE CPA ON THE ANNUAL AUDIT REVIEW AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REVIEW THEIR TAX RETURN. I BELIEVE THE COUNCILMAN WOULD APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I'M A VERY PROACTIVE, QUICK STUDYING AND HERE TO COLLABORATE WITH HIM ON THE GOALS HE HAS SET FOR THE DISTRICT, GOALS THAT THE RESIDENTS RE-ELECTED HIM TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON. HE SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT WHILE OUT OF THE OFFICE THE WORK WILL GO ON AND HIS STAFF WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH ME AS HIS INTERIM COUNCIL PERSON. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I LOVE MY DISTRICT, THE RESIDENTS AND I WOULD LOVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. BROWN. I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE TO POSE A QUESTION TO YOU. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE POSITION. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH THE DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 DAYS YOU MAY SERVE, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET? >> WELL, IT'S A BLESSING THAT THE [INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN IN PLACE. WE WOULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT THINGS GO AS THEY ARE SET IN PLACE OR WE WILL -- I'LL FIND A RESOLUTION TO THOSE ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF YOU WOULD LIKE NOW, YOU CAN MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT. >> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ ON THIS. I BELIEVE IT'S A TRULY A BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FAMILY, AS A MOTHER LATE IN LIFE, AND I REALLY HOPE I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ONCE AGAIN IN THIS CAPACITY TO HELP MY COMMUNITY OUT. NO ULTERIOR MOTIVES, I JUST WANT TO BE A BLESSING TO THE COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NEXT IS LEO CASTILLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CASTILLO. AS YOU HEARD, YOU WILL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT, THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUESTION POSED TO YOU AND THEN WE'LL HEAR A CLOSING STATEMENT. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY NAME IS LEO CASTILLO. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. I'M SEEKING THIS INTERIM APPOINTMENT BECAUSE I HAVE SPENT THE LAST DECADE DOING THE WORK, BUILDING TRANS PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO AND SHOWING UP CONSISTENTLY FOR MY COMMUNITY. AS A TRANS MAN, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING LEADERS WHO LISTEN, COLLABORATE AND REMAIN GROUNDED IN THE REAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE THEY SERVE. I BRING HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN ONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S MOST URGENT CHALLENGES, HOUSING. I SUPPORT LGBTQ+ YOUNG ADULTS FACING HOMELESS, HELPING FILL THE GAPS IN SOCIAL SYSTEMS WHILE MANAGING FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS. THIS FRONT-LINE WORK HAS GIVEN ME NOT ONLY THE INSIGHT INTO GAPS IN HOUSING AND SERVICES, BUT A DEEP UNDERSTANDING WHAT REAL SOLUTIONS CAN AND MUST LOOK LIKE. I'VE KNOWN COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR NEARLY A DECADE AS A FRIEND AND ROLE MODEL AND I'M READY TO USE MY EXPERIENCE AND THE VALUES I SHARE WITH THE COUNCILMAN. I'VE SUPPORTED HIS CAMPAIGNS AND STAYED INVOLVED IN DISTRICT 2 EVENTS. IF APPOINTED, I PLAN TO WORK STEP BY STEP WITH HIS STAFF OFTENNING THE SYSTEMS AND GOALS, NOT REINVENTING THE WHOLE. I UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY OF THE UPCOMING BUDGET PROCESS AND I'M READY TO STEP IN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. CASTILLO. I'M GOODING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR TO ASK A QUESTION TO YOU. >> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION AND INTEREST. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH [00:35:02] DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 DAYS YOU WILL SERVE, PARTICULARLY AS RELATES TO THE BUDGET? >> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. BY LISTENING TO RESIDENTS, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT'S KEY, AND MAKING SURE I'M BRINGING THEIR VOICES TO THE TABLE. ALSO LEARNING FROM THE CURRENT D2 STAFF AND USING MY RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADVOCACY GROUPS. I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT OR BELIEVED PUBLIC FUNDING DECISIONS DIRECTLY IMPACT THE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND I INTEND TO CARRY THAT WORK FORWARD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. AND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT, YOU HAVE THE TIME NOW. >> NO CLOSING STATEMENT. IF CHOSEN, I WOULD BE EXCITED TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU AND REALLY GROW MY EXPERTISE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CASTILLO. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM CHRIS DAWKINS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. DAWKINS. AS YOU HEARD, YOU WILL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT. WE'LL HAVE A QUESTION POSED TO YOU AFTER THAT AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE TWO MINUTES, BUT TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL PEOPLE, FIRST OF ALL I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. AND TO YOU, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT SERVING THIS CITY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. TO THOSE COUNCIL PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING US, WE APPRECIATE YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO -- OR CONGRATULATIONS TO JALEN, YOU KNOW, FOR THE NEW BABY YOU ARE BRINGING IN. I KNOW YOU'LL BE A GREAT FATHER AND REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. MY STATEMENT WOULD BE THROUGH EVERY CHALLENGE I'VE CONTINUED TO SHOW UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY, MOTIVATED BY PURPOSE, GROUNDED IN PRIDE AND COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'M SIMPLY A BLACK-UP QUARTERBACK. JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ'S GAME PLAN REMAINS IN PLACE. I WILL SERVE TWO MONTHS AND WORK CLOSELY WITH STAFF ON THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLES THAT I CAN PLAY IN THE SHORTENED TIME FRAME TO SEE WHERE I CAN MAKE THE GREATEST IMPACT. I SEE THREE CRUCIAL ISSUES THAT REQUIRE CAREFUL ATTENTION AND DOCUMENTATION FOR THE COUNCILMAN'S RETURN. THE THREE AREAS ARE THE DEFICIT, THE OTHER IS THE FORMATION OF THE BUDGET, THE CURRENT BUDGET, AND THE THIRD ONE BEING PROJECT MARVEL. ALONG WITH THE FUTURE OF THE FROST BANK CENTER. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ALIGN TO BENEFIT DISTRICT 2 AND WITH THE INPUT AND FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS TO CREATE A LASTING AND POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M GOING TO TURN TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN TO POSE A QUESTION TO YOU. >> SURE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MR. DAWK. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR NAME FORWARD AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS. THE QUESTION IS HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 DAYS YOU WILL SERVE PARTICULARLY AS RELATES TO THIS CURRENT BUDGET? >> I THINK I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO RELY HEAVILY ON FRANK [INAUDIBLE]. HE'S CURRENTLY THE CHIEF OF STAFF. HE KNOWS WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON. IF I WOULD BE THE CANDIDATE, HOPEFULLY MR. RODRIGUEZ WOULD GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT HIM AND EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE PERSONALLY, BUT TO BE ABLE TO CONSULT WITH HIM TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT HE WOULD WANT. I'M ONLY A BACKUP QUARTERBACK. I'M ONLY THERE TO CARRY OUT HIS TERM. NO POLITICAL AGENDA ON MY PART PERIOD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU WANT TO GIVE A ONE-MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT. >> NO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM ERIC ESTRADA. WELCOME. AS YOU HEARD, YOU'LL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL WITH A QUESTION FOR YOU AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE. >> SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I THINK I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH YOU OVER THE [00:40:07] YEARS. MY NAME IS ERIC ESTRADA. I AM THE CHILD OF TWO UNDOCUMENTED CITIZENS. I LIVED IN SOUTHSIDE SAN ANTONIO, WENT TO HARLANDALE. I GOT INTRODUCED TO THE MILITARY EARLY AND GAVE ME A DESIRE TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE. I JOINED THE MILITARY AND GOT AN APPOINTMENT TO THE U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND REALIZED THE MILITARY WASN'T THE WAY I WANTED TO SERVE. SPENT THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE DOING WORK SUPPORTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HELPING FIGURE OUT BUDGETS, RUN PROGRAMS, ET CETERA. A LOT OF THE KINDS OF SKIMS THAT WOULD BE TRANSFERABLE TO THIS WHEN LOOKING AT COMPLICATED BUDGETS. I DID THAT FOR A WHILE AND 11 YEARS AGO I MET A SMALL NON-PROFIT IN TOWN. I GOT INVOLVED WITH THEM, REALLY LIKED THE MISSION AND REALIZED IT'S AN INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT CHALLENGE TO SOLVE. TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING INSECURITY, ALL THE CHALLENGES ARE MOST PROLIFIC THAT REQUIRE THE MOST SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND LEADERSHIP ARE ALL THINGS I GET TO TOUCH EVERY DAY. I SPEND A LOT OF MY TIME SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTIVELY UNHOUSED AND IT CREATES A PERSPECTIVE THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL AS YOU GO GO INTO THE COMPLICATED BUDGETS. I REALIZE IT'S AN INCREDIBLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND I HAVE NO IDEA COMING IN AND DOING ANYTHING VOLATILE. 60 DAYS IS NOT MUCH TIME, BUT I'VE SPENT THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WORKING WITH YOU ALL, SEEING YOU ALL, WORKING WITH PEOPLE AT DHS, AND MEETING PEOPLE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE A PERSPECTIVE THAT LET ME GET THERE PRETTY QUICKLY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL GOING TO COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA FOR A QUESTION. >> HOW YOU WORK WITH DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO [INAUDIBLE] AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET? >> I THINK I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO A LOT OF BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS. I THINK D2 HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OF GETTING PEOPLE OUT. THOSE EVENTS GO LONG AND THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST. I WOULD HAVE NO IDEA TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST. YOU HEAR A LOT OF DIVERSITY. AND I WOULD WANT TO LEAD INTO THE STAFF AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE, WHO DO WE NEED TO BE TALKING TO AND WHO NEEDS TO BE IN WHAT CONVERSATIONS. IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING IN THAT COMMUNITY. I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO BE IN A LOT OF BUDGET TOWN HALLS OVER THE YEARS. D2 DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB, THE COMPLETION RATE ON BOND PROJECTS, D2 IS AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB AND I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY DESIRE TO CHANGE ANYTHING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MR. ESTRADA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE UP WITH A CLOSING STATEMENT, YOU ARE WELCOME. >> IT SAYS TWO MINUTES. I'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, POKEMON, WHATEVER. THE IDEA YOU EXPECT AND ADMIRE WHO HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AND YOU FOLLOW CLOSELY WOULD BE GONE AND YOU POTENTIALLY HAVE A RISK THERE, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IF ASKED TO STEP INTO THIS ROLE TWO MONTHS, I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. I HAVE NO POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS. WHEN THIS THING POPPED UP, IT SEEMED REALLY INTERESTING. YOU WILL SEE ME AGAIN IN THE COMING MONTHS AS WE'RE OUT HERE DOING ADVOCACY WORK. I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING AN ADVOCATE AND THE ROLE YOU ALL ARE IN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ESTRADA. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM ANSLEN GENTLE. MR. GENTLE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION. YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT. WE'LL HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU AFTER THAT AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. EVERYBODY CALLS ME JR. I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND I THINK I WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR THIS TEMPORARY POSITION OF CITY COUNCILMEMBER. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 MOST OF THE LAST TWO YEARS AND HAVE MADE A POINT OF GETTING TO KNOW THE LOCAL SCENE AS MUCH AS [00:45:01] POSSIBLE. I SHOP AT HEB AND IN DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO FIND THE BEST TAQUERIA IN DISTRICT 2. SOMETIMES EVEN THOUGH I'VE ONLY BEEN IN THE AREA TWO YEARS, I BELIEVE THAT SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES A FRESH SET OF EYES TO LOOK AT COMMON THINGS TO RECOMMEND DIFFERENT THINGS TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME GOALS. I FEEL THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION OF THIS TEMPORARY POSITION IS HONOR THE WISHES OF THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 2. THE VOTERS BELIEVE THE DIVISION OF DISTRICT 2 AND I WILL STRIVE TO HOLD ON TO THAT POSITION. I BELIEVE I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF VARIOUS SIZES AND LEVELS ALL OVER THE WORLD. TO INCLUDE SERVING AS PRECINCT CAPTAIN, THE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICE OF MARINES IN IRAQ, DEALING WITH REGIONAL GOVERNORS AND WORKING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR TWO MONTHS AS A LONG-TERM OBSERVER FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE LEARNED NO MATTER WHAT THE COUNTRY, NO MATTER THE LANGUAGE, PEOPLE ARE THE SAME. THEY HAVE THE SAME WANTS AND NEEDS. THEY WANT TO KNOW [INAUDIBLE] THE PEOPLE THEY ELECT TO LEAD THEM. THE REPRESENTS OF FALLUJAH WANT CLEAN WATER JUST LIKE THE RESIDENTS OF STONE OAK, GOVERNMENT HILL AND VALLEY FOREST. EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT WAY OF OBTAINING THESE GOALS AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD BRING TO CITY COUNCIL, A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GENTLE. I'LL TURN TO CHILLY COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO WITH A QUESTION. >> CASTILLO: HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH THE STAFF PARTICULARLY AS RELATES TO THE CITY BUDGET? >> I WOULD FOLLOW THE LEAD OF CITY COUNCIL MAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ AND HIS STAFF BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THE CITY BUDGET IS GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE IT GETS BIGGER NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE TO THINK OF THAT AT THE SAME TIME. WITH THE PROJECT MARVEL AND OTHER THINGS COMING UP, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, COME UP WITH DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIND SOLUTIONS LIKE STAFFING POLICE, THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO LINE BY LINE CUT BUDGETS OR FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO SAVE MONEY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GENTLE. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH A MINUTE TO CLOSE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD WITH MY BACKGROUND IS A MILITARY VETERAN, WITH THE UPCOMING PROPOSED MERGER BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMMANDS OF FORT SAM, IT WOULD BE AN ASSET TO OBSERVE AND TALK TO THOSE ISSUES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GENTLE. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM ROSE HILL. >> AFTERNOON, MS. HILL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION. AS YOU HEARD, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT. THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ROSE HILL AND I'M EYE ALYING FOR THE DISTRICT 2 POSITION. EDUCATE MYSELF ON THE CITY CHARTER, ON POLICY, AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER I'VE DEALT WITH SOMEBODY AT CITY HALL AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE LEADERS AND ALSO BEING THE LEADER OF THE D2 ROUND TABLE WHICH WE'RE A GROUP OF COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, BRINGING VALUABLE INFORMATION WE GET FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL AND FROM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. WE BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK. NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE. ONE OF THE REASONS I'M RUNNING IS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR SOMEBODY TO HAVE GOOD QUALIFICATIONS, KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE NEEDS. NOT ONLY DO I KNOW THE NEEDS OF ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, GOVERNMENT HILL, I KNOW ALL OF THEM. I GOT HEAD START FIVE YEARS, EXPERIENCE KNOWING WHAT EACH NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES ARE, WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE. MANY DIFF PLENTY NEIGHBORHOODS, SMALL, BIG, LARGE, DOGS, INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BUDGET. I'M A TEAM PLAYER. I WORK WELL WITH OTHERS. I HAVE MY FINANCIAL MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP LEAD DISTRICT 2 IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WORK WITH THE STAFF. [00:50:01] THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I HAVE THE RESPECT AND A VERY HONOR TO HAVE THE RECOMMEND, THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT 2 AND OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS THAT HAVE FOLLOWED ME FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. IN 2017 I GOT THE LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR THE BEST LIEDER IN DISTRICT 2 -- LEADER IN DISTRICT 2. THAT WAS A TOTAL HONOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. I'LL TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA WITH A QUESTION. >> HAVRDA: HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 DAYS YOU WILL SERVE PARTICULARLY AS RELATES TO THE BUDGET? >> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD ANALYZE THE BUDGET AND BE ABLE TO, AS I HAVE -- AS YOU GO THROUGH THE WORK SESSIONS AND SIT DOWN WITH THE STAFF, SEE WHERE THEY ARE AT, WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT LOOKING AT THE LAST TWO YEARS HOW THE BUDGET WAS ALLOCATED TOWARD DISTRICT 2, CDBG FUNDS, FEDERAL FUNDS, MONIES FOR COVID, ALL THOSE MONIES THAT CAME IN AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT RECEIVED MONEY AND WHO DIDN'T AND BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS, LOOKING AT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON AND AT THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED AND WERE THERE ANY FUNDS FOR THOSE PROJECTS THAT WEREN'T ALLOCATED AND DO WE NEED MORE FUNDS. I WOULD SIT DOWN WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS. EACH OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. I WOULD LAY ALL THE CARDS ON THE TABLE AND ANALYZE FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHO GOT WHAT LAST TIME AND WHO IS NOW MAYBE UP FOR GETTING MORE FUNDING. BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS GET FUNDED THROUGH THE BONDS. BONDS ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM MONEY COMING FROM THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND WHETHER IT BE CDBG FUNDS COMING OR FEDERAL FUNDS, THEY ARE ALL GOING TO COME TO DISTRICT 2. THEN THE DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SITTING DOWN WITH THE STAFF AND ALLOCATING WHERE THEY THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE MOST UTILIZED. I WOULD SIT DOWN, ANALYZE THE BUDGET AND I'VE SAT THROUGH MANY BUDGET SESSIONS AND UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. YOU WILL HAVE A MINUTE TO MAKE A CLOSING ESTIMATE. >> ONE MINUTE. HERE WE GO. I THINK I'M THE MOST QUALIFIED BECAUSE I HAVE PASSION AND I'VE BEEN IN DISTRICT 2 ALMOST 35 YEARS SERVING MY COMMUNITY. MY LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY AND HONESTY HAVE BEEN WHAT MY REPUTATION PROCEEDS. IF NOTHING ELSE, I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ♪ THIS LITTLE DISTRICT 2, I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE, THIS LITTLE DISTRICT 2 OF MINE, I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE. I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE ♪ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE NOW GOING TO HEAR FROM JENNIFER MARTINEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. MARTINEZ. THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION. YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT, THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, COUNCILMAN AND STAFF. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE BEFORE YOU. I AM A VETERAN, A RESIDENT AND ENTREPRENEUR LOCATED IN DISTRICT 2. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS APPOINTMENT AND I WOULD SHARE THAT THERE ARE THREE MAIN REASONS WHY I'VE SUBMITTED MY NAME. IS FIRST BEING DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF FINANCE AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT D2 DURING THIS BUDGET CYCLE. THE SECOND BEING JUST THIS STRONG EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I WAS WITH BEXAR COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BEFORE,EN UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES OF DRIVING A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION. AND THE THIRD BEING A STRONG RECORD OF CORROBORATION WITH PEERS AND -- COLLABORATION TO BRING FORTH ALL THE POSSIBILITIES D2 CAN BE IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. I JUST RETURNED TO MY HOMETOWN OF SAN ANTONIO TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO FROM THE MIDWEST. AND MILITARY, IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SMALL BUSINESS AND NOW IN THE CORPORATE SECTOR. DESPITE MY CAREER, I'D SAY ALONGSIDE THAT AND IN PARALLEL IS A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF SERVICE AND THAT CAME FROM BEING THE DAUGHTER OF AN IMMIGRANT WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY IN 1968 WITH A SERVANT-LEADERSHIP MIND SET. [00:55:02] I CAN REMEMBER 25 YEARS AGO VOLUNTEERING AT THEES ESPERANZA CENTER. AS WELL AS THE FLAMINGO CLUB WHICH BRINGS GOLF TO DISEVEN DISENFRANCHISED AREAS. A AN HONOR TO SUPPORT THE GREAT WORK THE COUNCILMAN IS DOING AND I'LL STOP THERE FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. MARTINEZ. I'LL TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MS. MARTINEZ. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH THE DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 DAYS YOU WILL SERVE, PARTICULARLY AS RELATES TO THE BUDGET? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THERE ARE THREE KEY PILLARS TO NAVIGATING WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH STAFF, BRINGING THE COUNCILMAN'S VISION TO LIFE AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET CYCLE. THE SECOND IS HEARING AND CONTINUING TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE SOME VERY STRONG AND URGENT TOPICS, WHETHER IT'S PROJECT MARVEL, WHETHER IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE, OR WHETHER IT'S EVEN PUBLIC SAFETY FOR D2. SO HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE OUTSIDE OF THE PICKLEBALL COURTS THAT WE SEE ALL THE TIME AT FAIRCHILD. AND THIRD IS REALLY WORKING WITH YOU ALL AS PEERS TO UNDERSTAND IN WHAT WAYS CAN WE BRING FORTH NOT ONLY WHAT'S GREAT AND NEEDED FOR D2 BUT ALSO WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE CITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU WILL NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE US A MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM A PROUD PRODUCT OF SAN ANTONIO, OF OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND NOW AS A LEADER ON THE NEAR EASTSIDE. THERE'S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY, HAVING COME RECENTLY FROM THE MIDWEST AND SEEING OTHER CITIES AND OTHER REGIONS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH MY MILITARY CAREER OR CORPORATE, I CAN TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS MOST EXCITING IS TO SEE HOW WE CONTINUE TO GROW. AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT FOR YOU AS WELL AS REPRESENT MY FAMILY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. MARTINEZ. NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM STEPHEN PARKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. PARKER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION. AS YOU HEARD, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUESTION POSED TO YOU AND YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND HELLO FELLOW COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN. LET ME JUST POINT OUT, IF I CAN, THAT I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT MYSELF. I'VE BEEN HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY FOR 30 YEARS, A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE CITY. AND I AM PRIVILEGED TO EXPLAIN TO YOU MY RESPONSIBILITIES THAT I HAVE HAD THAT I THINK I CAN BRING INTO THE CHAMBER. LET ME POINT OUT THAT I WAS A JOB TRAINING COUNSELOR WITH THE JOB TRAINING PARTNERSHIP ACT, WHICH IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE BUT IT IS A JOB READINESS PROGRAM . I THINK THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, A JOB READINESS PROGRAM WOULD HELP YOUTH AND PEOPLE WITH SECOND CHOICE WORK PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE FULFILLED IN THIS REQUIREMENT. I ALSO WAS AN INTAKE WORKER AT BEXAR COUNTY. WE PAID THE UTILITY BILLS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INDIGENT AND NOT ABLE TO PAY. AND THIS HELPED WITH PAYING ALSO THE RED PAPER THAT CPS HAD SO THEY COULD STAY AFLOAT. I'M ALSO A CO-CHAIR OF THE RYAN WHYTE HIV PROGRAM HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. IT GOT MOVED FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY RESOURCES TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. AND I'M ALSO AN INSURANCE AGENT WITHIN THE PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANY. LET ME JUST POINT OUT I BELIEVE THE ENDEAVORS CAN HELP YOU GAIN A NEW KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOP NEW SKILLS WITH REGARDS TO DEVELOPING AN MOU WITH CERTAIN PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY THAT WOULD HELP FULFILL WITH THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THAT WE CURRENTLY ARE LOOKING AT. LET ME POINT OUT THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY THE DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN TO BE PART OF LIBRARY EXPANSION PROGRAM SEMINAR HELD AT THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO THE LIBRARY COUNCIL ABOUT THESE CONSIDERATIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PARKER. I'LL TURN NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE TO POSE A QUESTION TO YOU. >> COURAGE: DID YOU WORK WITH THE DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 [01:00:05] DAYS YOU'LL SERVE? PARTICULARLY, HOW IS THIS GOING TO RELATE TO THE BUDGET? . >> YES. THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. LET ME POINT OUT THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY MANAGER DOES HAVE A CONSIDERATION AT LOOKING AT DEPARTMENTS AND FULFILLING AND BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS. LET ME POINT OUT THAT SOME OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT MAKING THE CUT. AND I HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME REVIEW AND I BELIEVE THAT MEMOS OF UNDERSTANDING, WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHER NONPROFITS CAN BE HELPFUL IN FULFILLING THOSE SHORTFALLS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PARKER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRAP UP WITH A CLOSING STATEMENT, YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW. >> LET ME POINT OUT THAT I HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING AT WOODLAWN POINT AS A FOUNDER, CO-FOUNDER, AND WITH THE LGBT COMMUNITY, FOR ALL KINDS OF CONSIDERATIONS WITH REGARDS TO A SLIDING SCALE FOR ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN UTILIZING AN OFFICE ACROSS THE FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. I AM A PAST PRESIDENT OF ABC AND PRIME TIMERS AND I'M DOING A PODCAST CALLED BEYOND PAINTING RAINBOWS WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE HISTORY OF LGBT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM CARLA SISCO. MS. SISCO, WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION. AS YOU HEARD, YOU'LL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT. WE WILL HAVE A QUESTION POSED TO YOU AFTER THAT AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE. SO THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> WELL, THANK YOU, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW FOR THIS POSITION. WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE IS 20 YEARS' EXPERIENCE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. I HAVE 13 YEARS IN CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE. I HAVE HANDLED 2500 ESCALATIONS A MONTH. I HAVE 13 YEARS EXPERIENCE CURRENTLY AS A PUBLIC SERVANT. I AM A PROJECT MANAGER. I HAVE LED MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS. I HAVE 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN FINANCE AND BUDGETING CERTIFICATION FROM HARVARD WHERE I SHARPENED MY SKILLS IN COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION. I'M ALSO FLUENT IN ESPANOL. I'M ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE CONSTITUENCY THAT WE HAVE IN DISTRICT 2. WHY AM I RUNNING? BECAUSE I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT DISTRICT 2. I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING. I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WORK AND MOVING THE DISTRICT FORWARD. BUT THE OTHER REASON IS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY READ COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, I READ YOUR MAY NEWSLETTER AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU STATED WAS THAT CITY COUNCIL'S BIGGEST RESPONSIBILITY IS ADOPTING THE BUDGET. THERE'S TEN BUDGET WORK SESSIONS. THERE'S A TOWN HALL THAT'S HAPPENING IN AUGUST. THERE IS PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THERE ARE AMENDMENTS. AND THE REASON WHY I'M RUNNING IS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY. AND SO THIS IS WHERE I CAN CONTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE OF MY 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN BUDGETING AND FINANCE. I CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. I'M HERE TO SERVE, AND THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING. THAT'S WHY I'M APPLYING. I'M STILL GOING ON MY EXPERIENCE AND THE CAMPAIGN BUT THAT'S WHY I'M APPLYING. I LOVE PEOPLE AND I WANT TO SERVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. SISCO. LET ME TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WITH A QUESTION. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE POSITION. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 DAYS THAT YOU MAY SERVE, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET? >> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED IS THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, BEING AT THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, LISTENING TO THE CONSTITUENTS, AND BEING ABLE TO HEAR WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND HOW WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT. THE OTHER THING IS THAT THERE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS SO I WILL WORK WITH THE STAFF AT THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS TO GATHER DATA TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AGAIN, THANK YOU, MS. SISCO. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT, YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW. >> YES. I DO WANT TO MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT AND I WANTED TO RESPOND TO THE STAFF THAT SPOKE EARLIER. SHE TALKED ABOUT STEWARDSHIP OF TRUST. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT. EVEN THOUGH I -- I WANTT TO DIRECT IT DIRECTLY TO THE STAFF. EVEN THOUGH I RAN AGAINST THE COUNCILMAN, I DIDN'T RUN AGAINST HIM, I RAN FOR THE DISTRICT. AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT. I WILL BE THERE TO WORK TOGETHER. I WOULD BE THERE TO BUILD. THIS IS ABOUT DISTRICT 2 AND [01:05:02] IT'S ABOUT BUILDING ON TOP OF THE FOUNDATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. SISCO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM KIZZIE THOMAS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. THOMAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE POSITION. AGAIN, YOU'LL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT. WE'LL HAVE A QUESTION POSED TO YOU AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRAP UP. FLOOR IS YOURS. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND CONGRATULATIONS, JALEN, ON YOUR BUNDLE OF JOY. WE HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE PRESENT IN THAT MOMENT. COUNCIL, MAYOR, MY NAME IS KIZZIE THOMAS. I AM A PROUD DAUGHTER OF THE EASTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. BORN AND RAISED, DEEPLY ROOTED IN DISTRICT 2. I'M AN EDUCATOR OF OVER 20 YEARS AND A SERVANT LEADER WHO HAS DEDICATED MY LIFE TO BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND RELATIONSHIPS. THIS ISN'T JUST WHERE I LIVE, THIS IS WHO I AM. I'VE STOOD UP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. I BELIEVE THE COMMUNITY DESERVES STEADY, THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP DURING THE TIME OF COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S ABSENCE. I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT'S ALREADY IN MOTION. TO ENSURE THIS TRANSITION IS SMOOTH, RESPECTFUL, AND ALIGN WITH THE GOALS ALREADY SET BY DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN AND THE PEOPLE. THERE'S A SAYING IN EDUCATION: YOU CAN TEACH SOMEONE THE CURRICULUM BUT YOU CAN'T GIVE THEM A HEART FOR KIDS. I BELIEVE THE SAME APPLIES WITH PUBLIC SERVICE. YOU CAN TRAIN SOMEONE TO FOLLOW SYSTEMS BUT YOU CAN'T GIVE THEM A HEART FOR COMMUNITY. THE HEART THAT LIVES IN ME IS A HEART FOR COMMUNITY AND IT FUELS EVERYTHING THAT I DO. THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY GIVES YOU A GLIMPSE INTO SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST A RESUME OR A LETTER OF INTENT. IT'S MY PASSION, MY PRESENCE, AND MY LIVED COMMITMENT TO THIS DISTRICT. IT'S MORE THAN AN APPOINTMENT TO ME, IT'S PERSONAL. IT'S A PURPOSE AND I AM READY TO SERVE WITH INTEGRITY, URGENCY, AND LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT RAISED ME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. THOMAS. I'LL TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION, MS. THOMAS. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH DISTRICT 2 STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE YOUR REPRESENTATION DURING THE 60 DAYS YOU WILL SERVE, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET? >> AS COLLABORATIVELY AS POSSIBLE. ONE, THE STAFF THAT IS IN PLACE, THEY HAVE DONE THE WORK AND THE RESEARCH AND THEY HAVE BEEN THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. SO MAKING SURE I GO FORTH WITH THAT. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, AUGUST IS WHEN WE GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE SURVEY RESULTS THAT HAS BEEN GOING OUT. ALSO TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THOSE RESULTS AND LOOKING INTO SEEING WHAT IS THE PRIORITY THAT THE PEOPLE SEE THAT IS A NEED. AS WELL AS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THERE IS A DEFICIT AND HOW WILL THAT DEFICIT AND THE CHOICES THAT ARE MADE IMPACT THE MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS, CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT 2. BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY. MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THE VOICES ARE HEARD OF THE CONSTITUENTS AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING WITH JALEN, COUNCILMAN MCKEE ALREADY, SO THAT WAY I CAN BE AWARE AND MAKE THE MOST IMPACTFUL DECISION FOR THE DISTRICT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. THOMAS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE, YOU NOW HAVE A MINUTE FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU THAT, AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE SYSTEMS AND BEING ABLE TO MOVE SYSTEMS, IT'S ABOUT HAVING A HEART FOR THE COMMUNITY. AS YOU CAN SEE THE CLIMATE OF OUR NATION RIGHT NOW, WE NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS A HEART FOR PEOPLE AND WHO WILL LISTEN TO PREMIUM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICE AND CHOICE IS HEARD . THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. THOMAS. YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE A SEAT OUT HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE THE LAST CANDIDATE. IF WE CAN HAVE STAFF BRING THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN, THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO RECONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO AT THIS TIME IT'S 3:28 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 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. AND DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.074, PERSONNEL MATTERS IN TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. YOU'RE WELCOME TO BRING EVERYBODY BACK IN. THEY CAN HAVE A SEAT WHILE >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THE TIME IS 3:44 P.M. ON JUNE 11, 2025. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. IN JUST A MINUTE, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND WE'LL HAVE A BRIEF COUNCIL DISCUSSION. BUT I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO APPLY FOR THE TEMPORARY VACANCY IN DISTRICT 2. IT'S NOT A VERY LONG POSITION [01:10:03] BUT YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY, GIVEN THE STAKES OF THE WORK BEING DONE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE IS TO BE COMMENDED. AND EACH OF YOU WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND PRESENTED VERY WELL ON BEHALF OF YOUR DISTRICT AND YOUR CITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO CABELLO HAVRDA WITH A MOTION. >> HAVRDA: MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE SELECT LEO CASTILLO FOR AN INTERVIEW AT TOMORROW'S A SESSION TO TEMPORARILY FILL THE DISTRICT 2 CITY COUNCIL VACANCY FOR A TERM BEGINNING AUGUST 1, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 OR AN EARLIER DATE AS NOTED IN WRITING TO THE CITY CLERK FROM COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. YOU HEARD THE MOTION. THERE WAS A SECOND. I'LL ENTERTAIN COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW. START WITH COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR DELIBERATION. THANK YOU TO MY TEAM WHO CAME OUT AND THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO ALL OF YOU WHO APPLIED AND PUT YOUR NAME IN THE HAT FOR THIS POSITION. I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW IMPRESSED I WAS BY ALL OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AND ALL YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY. I'VE GOTTEN THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH MANY OF YOU OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE DISTRICT 2 WITH VERY STRONGLY. I DID HEAR SOME OF YOU SAY THAT YOU HAD NO INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO MAYBE DO THAT ONE DAY. I THINK YOU GUYS WERE ALL FANTASTIC AND I'D BE HAPPY TO APPOINT MANY OF YOU TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. I DO LOOK FORWARD TO TOMORROW'S INTERVIEW WITH LEO AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS AND I'LL RECOGNIZE AS WELL WE COULD BRING BACK UP TO THREE PEOPLE BUT IT WAS FAIRLY UNANIMOUS. I WOULDN'T WANT TO WASTE ANYONE'S TIME. I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THAT AS A SIGN OF RESPECT AND, AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY APPOINTING Y'ALL FAIRLY SOON TO SOME BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? AND I'LL JUST NOTE, ANDY, IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT WAS DONE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, JUST TO BE CLEAR. >> SEGOVIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, WHAT WAS DONE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WAS SIMPLY A CONSIDERATION AND LOOKING AT A DISCUSSION OF THESE PRESENTATIONS, THE MATERIAL FOR ALL THE CANDIDATES, AND A DISCUSSION AS TO WHO WOULD BE SELECTED. ONE OR UP TO THREE COULD BE SELECTED TO COME BACK FOR CONSIDERATION TOMORROW. SO THERE'S NO APPOINTMENT AT ALL UNTIL THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS AND VOTES ON THE MATTER TOMORROW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JUST TO BE CLEAR, THERE WAS DISCUSSION. THERE WAS NO VOTES TAKEN. >> SEGOVIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES. THE VOTES WILL BE TAKEN RIGHT NOW. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU HEARD THE MOTION AND THERE WAS A SECOND. AND SO THIS IS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL OF APPOINTMENT OF BRINGING BACK LEO CASTILLO TOMORROW FOR AN INTERVIEW AND POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT TO THAT TEMPORARY VACANCY. WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE MORE QUESTIONS TOMORROW REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND MOVING FORWARD. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO IS ASKING YOU TO DO IS COME BACK TO ANSWER SOME MORE QUESTIONS AND THEN TAKE A VOTE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS ALL OF OUR BUSINESS TODAY IN THIS B SESSION. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR PATIENCE. AT 3:49 P.M. ON JUNE 11, 2025, THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOW ADJOURNED. NOTE THERE'S A 5:00 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENT. AND PUBLIC HEARING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.