[00:01:25] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE HAVE MANY SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY AND I KNOW IT TOOK A LITTLE TIME TO GET DOWN BECAUSE OF ALL THE SEVERE WEATHER LAST NIGHT. TIME IS 9:19 A.M. ON JUNE 12, 2025. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ THE ROLL. >> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYONE AGAIN. TO GET US STARTED THIS MORNING, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR. >> MUNGIA: TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING PASTOR ROGER ROBLES, LEAD PASTOR OF AVENUE CHURCH LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 16 YEARS AND ARE PROUD TO HAVE THREE AMAZING KIDS: ROMAN, LUKE, AND AUTUMN. BORN AND RAISED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, PASTOR ROGER GREW UP IN CHURCH AND BEGAN HIS MINISTRY JOURNEY AT A YOUNG AGE. OVER THE YEARS HIS PASSION FOR MINISTRY GREW AS HE STEPPED INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES, FIRST AS A YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PASTOR, THEN SERVING AS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR ALONGSIDE HIS PASTOR. IN TIME, GOD PLACED A NEW CALLING ON PASTOR ROGER'S HEART, CHURCH PLANTING. IN APRIL 2003 AVENUE CHURCH WAS BORN, PLANTED IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO TO BRING HOPE, HEALING, AND PURPOSE TO THE CITY. AVENUE CHURCH IS ABOUT PEOPLE. THEY ARE HERE TO INVEST IN FUTURE GENERATIONS AND CREATE A SPACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN ENCOUNTER THE LIFE-CHANGING POWER OF JESUS. THROUGH PASSIONATE WORSHIP, AVENUE CHURCH EXISTS TO EQUIP PEOPLE WITH GOD'S WORD ALL WHILE POINTING PEOPLE TO JESUS. THEIR MISSION IS CLEAR. BUILD A LIFE-GIVING CHURCH THAT HELPS SHAPE, GUIDE, AND EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST. PASTOR ROBLES HAS THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF BEING MY OLDER BROTHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> YES. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. AT THIS TIME LET US BOW OUR HEADS AND PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OUR CITY AND ITS PEOPLE. AS WE GATHER HERE IN THIS MEETING, WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SOVEREIGNTY OVER ALL THINGS AND WE HUMBLY INVITE YOUR PRESENCE INTO THIS SPACE. LORD, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO GUIDE OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS WITH YOUR DIVINE VISION. HELP US SEE NOT ONLY WHAT IS BUT WHAT COULD BE. GIVE US CLARITY TO DISCERN THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE BOLDNESS TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND PURPOSE. GRANT US WISDOM IN EVERY DECISION WE MAKE. HELP US WEIGH EACH MATTER WITH INTEGRITY TO CONSIDER EVERY VOICE WITH RESPECT. TO ACT IN WAYS THAT BRING UNITY, HOPE, AND PROGRESS TO ALL. AND, FATHER, FILL US UP WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE, NOT JUST OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, BUT OF THE DEEPER TRUTHS THAT BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES, LOVE, JUSTICE, HUMILITY, AND SERVICE. BLESS EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY STAFF, EVERY RESIDENT THAT REPRESENTS SAN ANTONIO. MAY OUR WORK TODAY HONOR YOU, LIFT YOU UP AND ALL WHO ARE CALLED TO SERVE. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. [00:05:21] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR ROBLES. ITEM 3 IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 28 AND 29, 2025. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 3. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 3. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY THAT ARE GOING TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY. ITEMS 4 AND 5. EVERYTHING ELSE IS FOR CONSENT CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? >> VIAGRAN: ITEM 20. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 20. ANY OTHERS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 5, AND 20. WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS, SO ITEM 16, JACK FINGER. ALSO 34, JACK. GO AHEAD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, FOR SOME OF YOU THE LAST TIME, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. AND I DO WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ONE OR TWO ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL SKIP AROUND. ITEM 34 IS ABOUT WHAT I CALL -- YOU CALL IT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I CALL IT WELFARE HOUSING. ESSENTIALLY, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GIVING AWAY HERE. ABOUT $12 MILLION FOR -- OF THE UNITS, 161 WILL BE FOR FAMILIES EARNING AT OR BELOW 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. YEAH. THAT'S OUR TAX DOLLARS GOING TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY SHOULD BE EARNING THEIR OWN MONEY FOR THESE UNITS HERE. I THINK I WOULD ASK SOMEBODY -- AT LEAST ASK A FEW PERTINENT QUESTIONS ABOUT ITEM 34 BEFORE YOU GO AHEAD AND APPROVE IT. ANOTHER ITEM IS ITEM NO. 16. BASICALLY ABOUT -- MR. COURAGE, THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT. THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA ARE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR US TO HELP OUT WITH THEIR SEWAGE PROBLEMS. YEAH. A LATERAL SEWAGE LINE FROM THEIR NEW CAMP THAT THEY'RE ESTABLISHING UP IN YOUR DISTRICT THERE. I LOOKED AT THE GIRL SCOUT PLEDGE RECENTLY. IT DOES MENTION THE WORD GOD IN IT BUT OVER A HALF A CENTURY AGO THEY PUT IN AN ASTERISK SAYING A YOUNG GIRL CAN SUBSTITUTE GOD FOR ANYTHING SHE WANTS TO. I AND MANY OTHERS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT THAT THE GIRL SCOUTS ARE NOT THE SAME GIRL SCOUTS THAT YOUR MOTHER, YOUR GRANDMOTHER, OR EVEN YOUR MOTHER WERE A PART OF. YOU KNOW, A BETTER ORGANIZATION THAT YOU MAY WISH TO HONOR IN THE FUTURE IS THE AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS . YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO THEM MUCH MORE CLOSELY BECAUSE, YES, WE DO NEED A GOOD ORGANIZATION THAT DOES IN FACT DEVELOP THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG GIRLS AROUND TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK -- ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY. ON ITEM 25 WE HAVE JOHN BACHMAN. MR. BACHMAN. OKAY. THAT'S EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS. [00:10:02] I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW TO BEGIN DISCUSSION, IF THERE IS ANY. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS THIS MORNING BEGINNING WITH ITEM 19, THE FUNDING FROM STRAC FOR SAPD'S MENTAL HEALTH UNIT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE NECESSARY ALLOCATION THAT WILL GO TOWARDS ENSURING OUR PROGRAM FOR INCENTIVE CARE COORDINATION HAS THE FUNDS FOR A MENTAL HEALTH UNIT FOR SAPD TO ENSURE THAT IT'S EQUIPPED WITH SOME OF THE MOST NECESSARY WORK IN OUR CITY. SEEING THROUGH THE DECADES THAT MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN DEFUNDED, NOW THE ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH HAS BECOME A VERY PUBLIC ONE. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT DEMONSTRATES PROPER CARE AND NOT INCARCERATION FOR HAVING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FUNDING MORE COMPASSIONATE AND HOLISTIC PROGRAMS SUCH AS THIS ONE IN THE FUTURE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 24, THE APPOINTMENT OF ROMULO SPILLER TO THE HISTORICAL COMPLIANCE AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD. HE GRADUATED FROM LANIER HIGH SCHOOL, IS A ARMY. HE IS JUST VERY GROUNDED IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND HAS RESEARCHED MR. COLLINS AND IS WORKING TOWARDS ERECTING A WINDMILL TO HONOR THAT HISTORY OF THE COLLINS GARDEN NEIGHNEIGHBORHOOD . I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT 34. I WOULD LIKE TO ALWAYS COMMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF FOR THEIR WORK AND DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS REQUESTED AND APPROVED DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE 2022 BOND. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS A PROJECT FOUNDED BY THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION AND OPPORTUNITY HOME TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PRESERVING AND INVESTING IN MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT 5. LASTLY, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 35 AND I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR PETE ALANIZ AND MY SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR PERSISTENCE AND RESOURCEFULNESS IN TACKLING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. PARTICULARLY OUR WORK IN WORKING TOWARDS RESTORING CATTLEMAN'S SQUARE. NOT ONLY ARE IMPORTANT BUILDINGS BEING PRESERVED BUT THIS IS AN INITIATIVE ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY WITH A HUGE STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND SERVICES THAT COMMUNITIES NEED AND DESIRE WITHIN CATTLEMAN'S SQUARE. THERE'S SO MANY POSSIBILITIES THAT THE HOUSING TRUST AND CITY COUNCIL CAN IMPLEMENT HERE. JUST GRATEFUL AND EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN SPITE OF WHAT WE HEARD A MINUTE AGO, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16 FOR THE POSITIVE NATURE OF SUPPORTING THE GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 . THE GIRL SCOUTS HAVE BEEN AN HONORABLE ORGANIZATION FOR 100 YEARS IN THIS COMMUNITY. I HAPPEN TO KNOW THERE ARE MANY WOMEN, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE GIRL SCOUTS ALL OF THESE YEARS. THE GIRL SCOUTS IN SAN ANTONIO IN DISTRICT 9 RIGHT NOW ARE EXPANDING THE SERVICES THEY HAVE THERE. I WANT TO THANK MAJOR GENERAL ANGIE SALINAS, WHO IS THE LEADER OF THAT ORGANIZATION. SHE WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY. BUT FOR ALL GIRLS PROJECT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, THE REST OF CITY COUNCIL. LET ME LET THE GIRLS GET UP HERE. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GIRLS. YES, OUR SALLY CHEEVER GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP CENTER SITS IN DISTRICT 9. WE HAVE HAD A VERY FRIENDLY PARTNERSHIP WITH DISTRICT 9 AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE AND HIS TEAM. AND WE ARE GOING TO BE BUILDING OUR NEW BACKYARD FOR ALL GIRLS IN THE FOUR ACRES BEHIND THAT BUILDING. AND SO WE WANT TO THANK CITY COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S OFFICE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ON HELPING US WORK ON THIS FUNDING AGREEMENT. THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY. IT'S GOING TO HELP WITH THE PUBLIC ASPECT OF A LATERAL SEWER TIE-IN. WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING MORE RESTROOM BLOCKS FOR OVERNIGHT CAMPING FOR OUR GIRLS AND ADULTS. ONCE IT'S CONSTRUCTED, IT SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED BY THE END OF 2026, WE INVITE ALL OF YOU OUT TO VISIT US. WE HAVE ONE GIRL SCOUT LUCY, WHO HAS PREPARED SOME COMMENTS FOR YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M LUCY AND ON BEHALF OF THE GIRL SCOUTS WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR ALL THE SUPPORT OF THE GIRL SCOUTS TEXAS. BEING A GIRL SCOUT IS MORE THAN JUST A PILOT. IT'S A WAY TO LIVE. WE LEARN SO MANY VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS. SOME OF THE BEST THE FRIENDS I E [00:15:01] . I HAVE BEEN WITH THE TROOP AND AFTER MANY YEARS WITH THEM, THEY FEEL LIKE SISTERS TO ME. THE CAMPOUTS HAVE TO BE MY FAVORITE. WE LEARN NATURE SKILLS, COOKING SKILLS, HOW TO BRAVE EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND HOW TO BECOME GIRL SCOUTS. BESIDES ALL THE LIFE SKILLS AND FRIENDSHIPS, GIRL SCOUTS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO SHOW COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE HIGHER AWARDS PROGRAM IS WHERE THE GIRLS CREATE SOMETHING SUSTAINABLE THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY. GIRLS RECEIVE THE BRONZE AWARD, SILVER AWARD, AND GOLD MEDAL. IN FIFTH GRADE I EARNED MY BRONZE AWARD BY INSTALLING A [INDISCERNIBLE]. THESE AWARDS HELP GIRLS LIKE ME FIND A PROBLEM AND TAKING ACTION. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY AND CITY LEADERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES WHO GUIDE US IN OUR PROJECTS, ACT AS ROLE MODELS, AND SHOW US WHAT LEADING LOOKS LIKE AS AN ADULT. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE YOU ALL WHO HELP GIRLS LIKE US HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PURSUE BIGGER AND BRIGHTER FUTURES. >> THANK YOU, LUCY. [APPLAUSE] I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT OUR GIRLS ARE OUR FUTURE. GIRL SCOUTS IS A RELEVANT ORGANIZATION TODAY WHO IS HELPING TO TAKE THE NEXT GENERATION OF TODAY'S LEADERS SO THAT ONE DAY THEY WILL HAVE POSITIONS LIKE THE LADIES ON THE DAIS TODAY. I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE GIRL SCOUT ALUMS, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND WE INVITE YOU BACK WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THE PROJECT. THANK YOU. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT OBVIOUSLY THE GIRL SCOUTS TODAY BECOME THE WOMEN LEADERS IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS, MILITARY, GOVERNMENT, OR FAMILIES. SO TH THANK YOU, GIRLS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO GIRL SCOUTS. AND THANK YOU TO THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE SOUTHWEST FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. [APPLAUSE] SO IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT ITEM 16, WE CAN TAKE THAT SEPARATELY. BUT THIS IS STILL A DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS MORNING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 24C AND THAT'S THE APPOINTMENT OF CHRISTINE CHESTNUT TO THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN. CHRISTINE, IF YOU CAN PLEASE STAND. CHRISTINE IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO AND HAS LIVED IN DISTRICT 7 FOR OVER 25 YEARS. CHRISTINE RECENTLY RETIRED AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND THE DIRECTOR OF REHAB AFTER SERVING THE ADULT AND OLDER ADULT POPULATION FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. CHRISTINE HAS PRACTICED YOGA FOR 20 YEARS AND IN 2018 SHE BECAME A CERTIFIED YOGA TEACHER. SHE CURRENTLY TEACHES YOGA CLASSES THROUGHOUT THE YMCA, INCLUDING THE BOB ROSS SENIOR CENTER IN DISTRICT 8. SHE IS A WIFE, MOTHER OF TWO SONS, AND NONNA TO TWO GRANDCHILDREN. SHE HAS A PASSION FOR SERVING HER COMMUNITY AND WORKING TOWARDS SOCIAL JUSTICE. CHRISTINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. YOU WILL BRING A VALUABLE VOICE AND EAGERNESS TO THIS COMMISSION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 18, WHICH IS AN APPLICATION TO A TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE GRANT FOR PEARSALL PARK. IF APPROVED, THIS PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE MATCHING BOND FUNDS TO CONSIST OF AN ALL INCLUSIVE RATE TRACK FOR BIKES OF ALL SORTS AND ALL ABILITIES COURSE. IT WILL ADD TO OUR 500 PARKS, WHICH INCLUDES A ZIP LINE, 18-HOLE COURSE, SPLASH PAD AND EVERYTHING. PLEASE COME AND CHECK IT OUT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR. I'M HIGHLIGHTING A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ITEM 19 IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF OVER 400 GRAND FROM THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL. THIS PROGRAM TEAMS UP WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MENTAL HEALTH UNIT WITH PARAMEDICS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO HELP RESIDENTS WHO ARE FREQUENTLY IN CRISIS GET LONG-TERM CARE, NOT JUST EMERGENCY DETENTIONS. IT'S A PROVEN, PROACTIVE APPROACH THAT'S HELPED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND REDUCED REPEAT HOSPITAL VISITS. I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN CARE, COLLABORATION, AND PUBLIC SAFETY. ITEM 25 ALLOWS THE CITY TO ACQUIRE THE KENNEL FACILITY NEXT DOOR TO OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES CAMPUS. THIS AGREEMENT LETS THE CITY TAKE OVER THE FACILITY WHICH WILL ENHANCE OUR OWN ACS PROGRAM. IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT IT. [00:20:01] THANKS SO MUCH, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS 12 AND 13 TODAY. MOSTLY BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO PUT OUT IN THE WORLD THAT THEY'RE ALMOST DONE. THESE ARE FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR THE ZONA CULTURAL IN SOUTH ALAMO. IT'S GOING TO BE DONE SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR AND SOUTH ALAMO IS GOING TO BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND PUSHING US THROUGH THE FINISH LINE. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE SAWS TEAM, MR. PUENTE, AND THE LEADERSHIP OVER THERE TO SETTLE UP AFTER ALL OF THIS IS DONE. LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES AND NOT MAKE THEM EVER AGAIN. SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME OUT, WE'RE DOING A COMMUNITY MEETING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH ON THE 24TH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO TALK WITH THE BUSINESSES ON THE SOUTH ALAMO CORRIDOR TO TELL THEM WHAT THE UPDATES FOR CONSTRUCTION ARE SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S COMING THIS FALL. THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM. LET'S GET THIS DONE. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH AGAIN IS ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 5, AND 16 AND 20. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. LET'S PULL UP ITEM 16 FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION AND RECUSAL PURPOSES. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 16 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS IN AN AMOUNT OF $100,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION RELATED EXPENSES FOR THE BACKYARD FOR ALL GIRLS PROJECT AT THE SALLY CHEEVER GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP CENTER. FUNDING IS FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 9 NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS AND MOBILITY PROGRAM FUNDS TO INCLUDE FISCAL YEAR 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 16. >> COURAGE: SO MOVED. >> VIAGRAN: SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 16. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, LADIES FOR COMING UP EARLIER AND SHARING YOUR STORY. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT -- COULD Y'ALL GO AHEAD AND STAND AGAIN? Y'ALL CAN STAND UP WHERE Y'ALL ARE AT. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. SO I DID A DAY CAMP BACK IN THE DAY. I WAS A GIRL SCOUT FOR ABOUT A YEAR. AND MY PARENTS WERE SUPER PROTECTIVE SO I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO THE OVERNIGHT CAMPS. AND SO THE IDEA THAT -- THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR DOING THAT BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE WORRISOME, OVERPROTECTIVE PARENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW YOU GUYS GROW. AND COME VISIT US AT CITY HALL ANY TIME. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I TOO WAS A GIRL SCOUT. I KNOW ALL THE REALLY IMPORTANT LESSONS YOU LEARN THROUGH BEING A GIRL SCOUT. ALSO, AS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN SAID, THROUGH CAMPING AND THROUGH OVERNIGHT STAYS. JUST KEEP DOING THE GREAT WORK AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE DAIS ONE DAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: I JUST WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR PUSHING THIS ITEM FORWARD. THIS IS ONE OF HIS LAST MOMENTS ON THE DAIS AND TO ALL THE GIRLS, I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES THAT I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO BE A GIRL SCOUT AND I WAS ALWAYS VERY JEALOUS. BUT MY FAVORITE THING I LOVED WATCHING YOU GUYS DO WAS SELL THOSE COOKIES BECAUSE IT TEACHES Y'ALL HOW TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE AND HOW TO HEAR THE WORD "NO" AND ALL OF THOSE IMPORTANT SKILLS. SO THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP AS WELL FOR CONTINUING TO PUSH THE WORK. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 16? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 16. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE GET TO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS NOW, WE HAVE A LOT TO RECOGNIZE AND TO CELEBRATE TODAY. AND THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS DRAW ATTENTION TO OUR GOOD FOLKS FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY WHO ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 250TH BIRTHDAY OF KEEPING OUR NATION SAFE. LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [00:25:03] [APPLAUSE] IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO WELCOME A VALUED COMMUNITY PARTNER AND FRIEND, MAJOR GENERAL PHIL RYAN. GENERAL RYAN, ALONG WITH THE OTHER DISTINGUISHED GUESTS IN UNIFORM JOINS US TODAY TO COMMEMORATE THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY . I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND EXPRESS OUR DEEP GRATITUDE TO THE ARMY VETERANS PRESENT CAN US TODAY, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS EMPLOYEES OF OUR CITY. YOUR DEDICATION, BOTH IN UNIFORM AND IN CIVIC SERVICE EXEMPLIFIES THE HIGH IDEALS OF PUBLIC DUTY. WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE TODAY, JUNE 12, AS WOMEN VETERANS DAY, A TIME TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES OF WOMEN WHO HAVE WORN THE UNIFORM OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. SINCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, WOMEN HAVE PLAYED CENTRAL ROLES IN DEFENDING OUR NATION OFTEN OVERCOMING SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES TO DO SO. WOMEN HAVE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION ACROSS EVERY BRANCH OF THE MILITARY IN TIMES OF BOTH PEACE AND CONFLICT, TAKING ON ROLES. THEIR COURAGE, RESILIENCE, AND DEDICATION HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SHAPING THE STRENGTH AND EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR MILITARY. AS WE REFLECT ON THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AND OBSTACLES WOMEN VETERANS HAVE FACED, INCLUDING THE ONGOING FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION, EQUITY, AND ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS THEY HAVE RIGHTFULLY EARNED. TODAY IS NOT ONLY A CELEBRATION OF THEIR BRAVERY BUT A REMINDER OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT THESE TRAILBLAZERS, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR WOMEN VETERANS. THEIR UNWAIVING COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING OUR FREEDOMS CONTINUES TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE CARLOS CONTRERAS, FORMER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF SAN ANTONIO AND NOW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GOODWILL MINISTRIES. THEY PROUDLY EMPLOY DISABLED VETERANS. WHILE THE UNITED STATES ARMY OPERATES MORE THAN 150 INSTALLATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE, WE TAKE IMMENSE PRIDE IN ITS ENDURING AND SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IN 1875 THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DONATED 92 ACRES OF LAND APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE ALAMO TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY PAVING THE WAY FOR FORT SAM HOUSTON. SOLDIERS HAVE PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND THE WORLD OVER THE PAST 150 YEARS. HISTORICAL MILITARY LEADERS SUCH AS MACARTHUR, EISENHOWER, AND GRANT HAVE SERVED AT FORT SAM HOUSTON. EISENHOWER PROPOSED TO HIS WIFE AT A BUILDING THAT STILL STANDS IN THE POST TODAY. IN THE MENGER HOTEL, THEODORE ROOSEVELT ORGANIZED THE FAMED ROUGH RIDERS, VOLUNTEER CAVALRYMEN. IT'S ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT FORT SAM HOUSTON IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE BIRTHPLACE OF MILITARY AVIATION. ON MARCH 2, 1910, LIEUTENANT FULOY CONDUCTED THE FIRST FLIGHT OVER THE PARADE FIELD. U.S. ARMY NORTH HAS HONORED THIS HISTORIC MILESTONE EACH MARCH WITH AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION COMMEMORATING THE ORIGINS OF MILITARY FLIGHT. THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS TRAINED AND DEPLOYED FROM SAN ANTONIO AND HAVE SERVED IN GLOBAL CAMPAIGNS INCLUDING WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM, AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR. ARMY UNITS BASED IN SAN ANTONIO REMAIN VITAL TO OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE. BAMCE PROVIDES CAR TO WOUNDED WARRIORS AND OUR COMMUNITY. CHALLENGING CONDITIONS ENSURING OUR SERVICE MEMBERS RECEIVE THE BEST POSSIBLE MEDICAL TREATMENT OFTEN UNDER FIRE. U.S. ARMY NORTH FOCUSES ON THE DEFENSE OF NORTH AMERICA THROUGH VITAL COORDINATION WITH CANADA AND MEXICO. DURING THE PEAK OF COVID-19, U.S. ARMY NORTH DEPLOYED OVER 9,000 SERVICE MEMBERS PROVIDING SUPPORT TO ALLEVIATE THE STRAIN ON CIVILIAN HOSPITALS AND AID COMMUNITIES IN NEED. ALSO BASED AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, U.S. ARMY SOUTH OVERSEES ARMY ENGAGEMENTS AND SECURITY OPERATIONS ACROSS 31 NATIONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA OFTEN CONDUCTING HUMANITARIAN AID. FOR GENERATIONS THE ARMY AND SAN ANTONIO HAVE SHARED A STRONG, SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP. ONE OF THE CLEAR EXAMPLES IS THE PARTNERSHIP AND OUR EFFORT TO SUSTAIN AND PROTECT CAMP BULLIS, THE LARGEST MILITARY TRAINING BASE WITHIN A MAJOR URBAN AREA. [00:30:11] AS PART OF OUR EXTENDED FAMILY AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THIS BOND WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO GROW. ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL AND ALL OF MILITARY CITY, USA, HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY. HOOAH! AT THIS TIME, PLEASE WELCOME GENERAL RYAN TO SHARE HIS REMARKS. WELCOME, GENERAL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND FOR HONORING YOUR ARMY, OUR ARMY ON ITS 250TH BIRTHDAY. 14 JUNE, 1775, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A NATION YET BUT WE DID HAVE AN ARMY. AND THE FARMERS, THE BL BLACKSMITHS, SHOPKEEPERS THAT FORMED THE ARMY ARE A FAR CRY FROM THE FORCE BUT THEY HAVE THE SAME MOTTO WE SHARE THIS YEAR, WHICH IS WE WILL DEFEND. WE ARE DEFENDING AMERICA, NOT JUST HERE BUT AROUND THE WORLD IN OUR ENGAGEMENTS AND OUR WORK. CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE, AS THE MAYOR SAID, TO HIGHLIGHT HAPPY WOMEN VETERANS DAY. AND WE ARE HONORED TO BE PART OF MILITARY CITY, USA. AND ON BEHALF OF MY GOOD FRIEND, LIEUTENANT GENERAL AL PEPPEN, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE, ARMY NORTH AND SOUTH WE ARE ALL PARTNERS WITH YOU AND WE ARE ALL HONORED TO LIVE IN THIS GREAT CITY. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT THE ARMY IS GOING THROUGH A BIG PERIOD OF TRANSITION. THE ARMY TRANSITION INITIATIVE THAT'S GOING ON, DIRECTED BY OUR LEADERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WE ARE WAITING FOR WORD OF WHAT THE PLAN IS AND WE WILL, BETWEEN GENERAL PEPPEN, MYSELF, AND OTHER LEADERS AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED AS WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO KEEP A PRESENCE HERE AND THE WELCOME THAT YOU HAVE FOR US. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO TO DEFEND AMERICA, NOT JUST HERE BUT ABROAD AS WELL. AND IT IS AN HONOR TODAY, AS IS A TRADITION ACROSS NOT ONLY THE NATION BUT THE WORLD THAT WE CUT A CAKE THIS MORNING. AN HONOR THAT MR. JOE BRAY, WHO MANY OF YOU DO KNOW, WHO IS CASA, OUR CASA HERE, WHO IS A VIETNAM VET , OUR OLDEST SOLDIER PRESENT. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY HIS AGE BUT HE MAY TELL YOU LATER. AND THEN OUR YOUNGEST IS PRIVATE FIRST CLASS AKINO. SHE IS A GEOSPATIAL ENGINEER. SHE ORIGINALLY CAME FROM WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA AND SHE JOINED THE ARMY A FEW YEARS AGO. SHE'S 21 SO IF YOU SEE HER AT A BAR -- BUT SHE'S HERE AS WELL. AND MR. MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD JOIN US, MR. BRAY AND PFC AKINO, WE WOULD BE HONORED TO CUT THE CAKE FOR THE CITY. >> SERVICES. WE INVITE ANY ARMY VETERANS TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FORM UP BEHIND MAYOR NIRENBERG AND GENERAL RYAN. TRADITIONALLY, REGARDLESS OF LOCATION, MILITARY MEMBERS WILL PAUSE TO OBSERVE THEIR SERVICE BRANCH'S BIRTHDAY BY SHARING A CAKE. THE SWORD IS USED TO CUT THE CAKE AS A REMINDER THAT SERVICE MEMBERS ARE A BAND OF WARRIORS, COMMITTED TO BEARING ARMS SO OUR NATION MAY LIVE IN PEACE. GENERAL RYAN AND MAYOR NIRENBERG WILL NOW CUT THE CAKE. TRADITIONS. THE CUTTING OF THE CEREMONIAL CAKE BY THE OLDEST AND YOUNGEST SERVICE MEMBERS PRESENT. THIS ACT IS FAR MORE THAN SYMBOLIC, IT REPRESENTS THE PASSING OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE FROM ONE GENERATION OF WARRIORS TO THE NEXT. THE OLDEST MEMBER SIGNIFIES THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH OUR BRANCH IS BUILT, REPRESENTING WISDOM, TRADITION, AND THE ENDURING VALUES THAT GUIDE OUR SERVICE. THE YOUNGEST MEMBER STANDS FOR THE FUTURE, SYMBOLIZING FRESH COMMITMENT, NEW ENERGY, AND THE [00:35:05] CONTINUATION OF OUR PROUD LEGACY. TOGETHER THEY REMIND US OF THE UNITY THAT BINDS ALL GENERATIONS OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND A SHARED MISSION IN AN UNBROKEN CHAIN OF DEDICATION. OUR YOUNGEST SOLDIER IS PRIVATE FIRST CLASS STACY AKINO, 21 YEARS OLD. [APPLAUSE] OUR OLDEST SOLDIER IS THE CIVILIAN AID TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY FOR TEXAS SOUTH, MR. JOE BRAY, WHO IS A YOUNG 74. [APPLAUSE] TODAY'S ARMY MEMBERS HAVE PERFORMED ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THE FACE OF MULTIPLE CHALLENGES SUCH AS A PANDEMIC, NATURAL DISASTERS, AND GLOBAL CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS. THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND ITS SOLDIERS ARE DEDICATED TO LIVING THE MOTTO THIS WILL DEFEND. HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES ARMY! [APPLAUSE] WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SERIES OF PICTURES HERE REAL QUICK. OUR FIRST SET OF PICTURES WILL BE WOMEN VETERANS. WOULD ALL WOMEN VETERANS COME FORWARD? >> IF WE CAN NOW GET ALL ARMY VETERANS TO COME UP FOR A PICTURE, PLEASE. [00:41:01] [APPLAUSE] >> I WOULD NOW GO TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ANY COMMENTS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY. I WASN'T IN THE ARMY. I WENT IN DURING THE '71 VIETNAM ERA. I GUESS I WAS AFRAID TO GO INTO THE ARMY. MOST OF THOSE GUYS WERE BEING SENT OVER TO VIETNAM. BUT I WAS PROUD TO SERVE MY COUNTRY AND I THINK THAT ANYONE WHO SERVED IN ANY BRANCH OF THE MILITARY SHOULD ALWAYS BE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF THE ARMY OR ANY OTHER BRANCH OF THE SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING SERVICE. AND TO ANY OF US ON THE COUNCIL HERE, WHENEVER WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE MILITARY, PLEASE STEP UP, SPEAK UP AND LET THEM KNOW WE APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU, GENERAL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. YEAH, I ECHO THOSE COMMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU KNOW, THIS COUNTRY, FREEDOM IS NUMBER ONE AND YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT HELP MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY REMAINS SAFE AND FREE AND AMERICA WOULDN'T BE WHAT IT IS WITHOUT THE GREATEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR. IT'S AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE 250 YEARS OF THE U.S. ARMY. I, LIKE SO MANY SAN ANTONIANS, HAVE A LOT OF RELATIVES THAT WERE IN THE ARMY. MY FATHER AND BROTHER IS AN ARMY VETERAN. TRADITIONALLY OUR CITY WAS FORMED BY THE RIVER BUT IN MODERN TIMES IT'S FORMED BY OUR MILITARY. SO I THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP THE FIGHT THAT I KNOW YOU'RE PUTTING UP TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMANDS STAY HERE AND ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU, I WOULD BE HONORED. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ARMY. MY OTHER BROTHER IS AN ARMY COMBAT VETERAN AND SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN. HE CAME BACK AND IS NOW A CITY EMPLOYEE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, DISTRICT 4 IS HOME TO A LOT OF VETERANS OF ALL BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT. SO, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANT TO WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ARMY. MY GRANDFATHER WAS AN ARMY VETERAN. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALL YOU ALL DO TO PROTECT ALL OF US BUT ALSO FOR SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND I COMMEND ANYONE WHO HAS MADE THE CHOICE TO WEAR ANY UNIFORM WITH ANY OF OUR MILITARY BRANCHES. I KNOW YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE STATISTICS IN WHICH IT'S 1% OF THE UNITED STATES POPULATION WHO TAKES THAT RISK AND TAKES THAT COMMITMENT TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE UNITED STATES. SO JUST THANK YOU ALL. LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, THE DAUGHTER OF A VETERAN AND JUST GRATEFUL FOR Y'ALL'S SERVICE, Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP AND Y'ALL'S COMMITMENT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. YES, AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO, TO CELEBRATE 250 YEARS TAKING AN OATH TO DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION OVERSEAS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHTS AND THE FREEDOMS THAT ARE PLACED THERE IN FRONT OF US FROM FREE SPEECH TO THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. AND TO THE WOMEN WHO SERVE AND TAKE THAT OATH, UNDERSTANDING [00:45:05] THE TRADITION AND THE HISTORY THAT MAYOR NIRENBERG WENT THROUGH IN DETAIL IS JUST A BRAVE THING TO DO ALSO. I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THIS BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE BIRTHDAYS TO COME. AND JUST LOOK FORWARD TO THE MILITARY -- CONTINUING TO BE MILITARY CITY, USA AND CONTINUING TO THRIVE AND SUPPORT OUR MILITARY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ARMY. BOTH OF MY PARENTS ARE VETERANS OF THE ARMY AND THERE'S MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS BETWEEN THEM. I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOUR SERVICE REALLY DOES MEAN SOMETHING TO OUR CITY. AS YOU HEARD, MANY OF US, WE HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE SERVED. EVERYONE IN SAN ANTONIO KNOWS SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED IN THE MILITARY OR IN THE ARMY. AND SO YOU HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH EVERYONE, ANYWHERE YOU GO. AND I HOPE THAT YOU FEEL THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: COURAGE AND BRAVERY ARE WORDS THAT ARE THROWN AROUND EASILY. SO OFTEN THAT THEY MEAN VERY LITTLE WHEN SPOKEN, EXCEPT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR ARMED FORCES. AND I THINK 250 YEARS IS NO SMALL THING, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S ERA OF EVERYBODY LIGHTING THEIR HAIR ON FIRE AND SAYING THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END. IT'S NOT. THE INSTITUTION ENDURES AND NO MATTER WHAT HARD THINGS ARE THROWN AT US, INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE ARMY AND INSTITUTIONS THAT MATTER CONTINUE TO STAND AND WILL STAND, NO MATTER WHAT COMES. AND I AM PROUD THAT YOU GUYS ARE MY ARMY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILIES FOR LETTING US ENJOY YOUR SERVICE AND BENEFIT FROM IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. LET'S GIVE ONE MORE BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR U.S. ARMY. [APPLAUSE] AND TO OUR VETERANS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A FEW MORE RECOGNITIONS TODAY. AND NEXT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP THE FAMILY OF SOMEONE WHO IS ALSO CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY BUT IS UNABLE TO BE HERE. BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE SHE IS, HERSELF, CELEBRATING 100 YEARS. IF WE CAN HAVE THE FAMILY OF NINA VILLAREAL ORTIZ TO COME UP IN HONOR OF HER 100TH BIRTHDAY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL JOIN FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN CELEBRATING THIS MOMENTOUS MILESTONE OCCASION. WE EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR MORE PRECIOUS AND ENJOYABLE YEARS. HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, NINA. PRESENTED THIS 12TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025. WELCOME YOU ALL. LET ME TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO FOR A FEW REMARKS AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GAVITO: TODAY I'M PROUD TO HONOR A DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT 7 AND SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE HER 100TH BIRTHDAY. UNFORTUNATELY OUR GUEST WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE. WE ALL FELT THOSE STORMS LAST NIGHT. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH TO PAMELA AND WINSLOW. NINA WAS BORN IN MEXICO ON JUNE 18, 1925. SHORTLY AFTER HER BIRTH, SHE AND HER FAMILY MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO AND HER ROOTS RUN DEEP IN THE CITY. WITH FAMILY TIES TO SPAIN, THE CANARY ISLANDS, AND MEXICO , HER ANCESTORS MOVED HERE TO SAN ANTONIO IN 1706 AND WERE SOME OF THE FIRST SETTLERS TO HELP ESTABLISH THE AREA MISSIONS. HER RELATIVES FOUGHT IN THE ALAMO, THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, AND WORLD WAR II. SHE IS THE GREAT GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF JOSE DE LA GARZA, ONE OF THE FIRST LAND OWNERS IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE FIRST PERSON TO COIN MONEY IN TEXAS. THE FAMILY CREDITS HIM WITH COMING UP WITH THE TEXAS LONE STAR, USING IT AS THE DESIGN ON HIS COINS. HIS COINS WERE MINTED AT HIS HOME ON HOUSTON STREET. A HISTORICAL MARKER HAS BEEN ERECTED ON THE BUILDING HIGHLIGHTING THE DE LA GARZA FAMILY AND HONORING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SITE IN TEXAS' HISTORY. ALENA'S CHILDHOOD HOME HOLDS A UNIQUE PLACE IN SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY. IT WAS ONCE THE HOME OF CAROL BURNETT'S FAMILY AND WAS MS. ORTIZ SERVED AS A STORY TELLER WITH AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS . SHE HAS SPENT 100 YEARS OF LIFE SHARING HER FAMILY'S LEGACY AND ENSURING THE STORY NEVER DIES. SHE IS A DEVOTED MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER AND HAS INSTILLED [00:50:03] IN YOUNGER GENERATIONS THE VALUES AND TRADITIONS OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF SAN ANTONIO. I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE HER FAMILY HERE. I WISH HER THE HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS HER AND HER FAMILY HAVE MADE TO THIS CITY. EVERYONE, PLEASE HELP ME WISH NINA A HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY. [APPLAUSE] . >> SHE REALLY WANTED TO BE HERE. SHE HAD HER CLOTHES LAID OUT. SHE WAS READY BUT THAT STORM KEPT HER UP. SHE SENDS HER DEEPEST APPRECIATION FOR THE MAYOR AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR HONORING HER ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY. SHE THANKS YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND SHE SAYS WE HAVE A GREAT MEDICAL SYSTEM AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO GET TO 100. SO THANK YOU TO OUR CITY AND EVERYONE WHO IS INVOLVED IN THAT. FROM ALL OF OUR FAMILY, THANK YOU. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> I LOVE THIS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY AN INTERGENERATIONAL CELEBRATION. PARTICULARLY THAT YOU'RE ACKNOWLEDGING HER LIFETIME OF CIVIC AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT. IT SIGNALS TO HER GRANDCHILDREN AND HER GREAT GRANDCHILDREN THAT THEY COME BY THIS HONESTLY. IT'S IN THEIR DNA. IN FACT, ON JULY 4TH, HER OLDEST GRANDDAUGHTER WILL BE HOSTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN JERUSALEM, IN THEIR HOME. SO IT'S JUST A NICE, YOU KNOW, THIS REINFORCES THE IDEA THAT SOCIAL AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS WHAT WE DO. AND THANKS TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY FOR TEACHING ALL OF US THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING ENGAGED. AS ANN RICHARDS SAYS, IF YOU'RE NOT ONLY TABLE, YOU'RE ON THE MENU. WE LEARNED THAT FROM MY MOTHER-IN-LAW. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NINA. >> I DO WANT TO THANK MELISSA, MANNY, JOHN, AND RON FOR YOUR YEARS AND YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEEPLY MISSED. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR ALL OF US. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, GUYS. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. WE ARE ALSO APPROACHING A VERY IMPORTANT ANNUAL RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH. AND SO TO GET US STARTED WITH RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH HERE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LET ME PLEASE WELCOME WANDA LEE WEBBY. WANDA IS 74 YEARS OLD, SOON TO BE 75 ON JUNE 24 AND HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE PERFORMER AT DORIS GRIFFIN SENIOR CENTER. BOB ROSS SENIOR CENTER AND WOODLAWN POINT. SHE JOINED THE PROGRAM WHEN THEY HELD AUDITIONS AT DORIS GRIFFIN AND TOOK IT AS A PERSONAL CHALLENGE TO STEP OUTSIDE HER COMFORT ZONE. SHE WANTS TO REMIND US THAT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW . SHE WILL BE PERFORMING A PIECE THAT SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN LAST YEAR BUT IT'S VERY POWERFUL. AND IT'S AN ORIGINAL PIECE CALLED PART OF YOUR BLACKNESS. PLEASE WELCOME WANDA LEE WEBBY. >> THANK YOU. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO THEIR BLACKNESS. RED, BLACK, AND GREEN PAINTS THE SCENE HAIR SO NAPPY, CAREFREE AND HAPPY. I GUESS THAT'S JUST PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS . CRAZY, SO LAZY, LACKADAISY, THEY SAY IT'S PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. BIG LIPPED, WIDE HIPPED, YOU SAID IT, JUST PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. PIMPED UP CADILLAC, BOTTLE OF COGNAC, PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. MAMMY'S BABY, WE ALL HEARD IT SAY IT'S PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. THAT KID'S SO TALL. MUST PLAY BASKETBALL. PEOPLE ASSUME IT'S PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. SHUCKING AND JIVING, ALWAYS HIGH-FIVING, IT'S GOT TO BE PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. ROBBING, STEALING, ALWAYS DEALING, DON'T YOU KNOW IT COMES WITH THEIR BLACKNESS? SMOOTH TALKING, GHETTO WALKING, CHILD, THAT'S JUST PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. DRESSED SO CLEAN, LOOKING MEAN, WANT TO BE SEEN, UH-HUH, PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. HELL BOUND ALL WEEK, ON SUNDAY SO MEEK. MUST BE THAT RELIGION THAT'S PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. [00:55:05] KNOCKED UP WOMEN, BROKE-DOWN MEN, THAT'S HOW THEY PERCEIVE IT, JUST PART OF OUR BLACKNESS. TRASHY, ASHY, WAY TOO FLASHY. YOU GUESSED IT, PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. SOME FOLKS MAKE IT, OTHERS DON'T, SOME HELP EACH OTHER, SOME FOLKS WON'T. I GUESS THAT MUST BE THAT PART OF THEIR BLACKNESS. SIT UP, STAND UP, CLEAN UP, GROW UP, LOOK UP, GET UP, HELP YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER HOLD THEIR HEAD UP. THEN WE CAN SMILE WHEN WE SAY, YEAH, THAT IS JUST PART OF OUR BLACKNESS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. WEBBY. THAT IS AN ORIGINAL POEM THAT MS. WEBBY PERFORMED AT THE SENIORS IN PLAY ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY LAST YEAR, AND MANY OF US WERE MOVED BY IT. I THANK HER VERY MUCH FOR BEING WILLING TO PERFORM TO GET US STARTED WITH OUR JUNETEENTH RECOGNITION. LET ME NOW ALSO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ . WHEREAS ON JUNE 19, 2025 THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL COME TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO OBSERVE JUNETEENTH IN CELEBRATION OF THE OLDEST KNOWN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMEMORATION IN AMERICA. AND REMINDING EACH OF US THAT THE PRECIOUS PROMISES OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND OPPORTUNITY WHICH ARE AT THE CORE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. WHEREAS JUNE 19 IS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY AS JUNETEENTH TO COMMEMORATE PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION DECLARING AN END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES. WHEREAS IT TOOK TWO MORE YEARS FOR THIS NEWS TO REACHED THE ENSLAVED POPULATION IN TEXAS WHEN ON JUNE 19, 1865, THE GRANGER ACT, KNOWN AS GENERAL ORDER NO. 3, WAS ANNOUNCED BY GENERAL GRANGER ON HIS DAY OF LANDING AT GALVESTON, TEXAS. WHEREAS THIS ANNUAL OBSERVANCE PROVIDES OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND OUR NATION A TIME TO REFLECT AND CELEBRATE FREEDOM AND FOR EVERY AMERICAN TO PROMOTE EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. TO MARK THE OCCASION, THE JUNETEENTH PARADE ORGANIZED BY THE SAN ANTONIO JUNETEENTH FREEDOM COALITION WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 14, 2025 FOLLOWED BY THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL ORGANIZED BY THE SAN ANTONIO JUNETEENTH COMMISSION AT COMANCHE PARK NO. 2 WITH AN ARRAY OF FOOD BOOTHS, ACTIVITIES, AND MUCH MORE. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 19, 2025 TO BE JUNETEENTH DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS . AND IF I CAN NOW ASK FOR OUR JUNETEENTH COMMISSION, REGGIE ALONG WITH THE FREEDOM COALITION TO COME UP, AS I TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS WE REFLECT ON JUNETEENTH THIS YEAR, WE REMEMBER IT NOT ONLY AS A HISTORICAL MILESTONE BUT AS AN ONGOING CALL TO ACTION. JUNETEENTH MARKS THE DAY FEDERAL TROOPS ARRIVED IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TO ENFORCE THE END OF SLAVERY. TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS. THE SYSTEM OF SLAVERY DIDN'T DIE EASILY AND ITS LEGACY DIDN'T DISAPPEAR WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN. IF YOU ASK MANY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY TODAY, WILL TELL YOU PLAINLY SOME SYSTEMS OF BONDAGE NEVER ENDED, THEY JUST EVOLVED. THIS IS THE UNFORTUNATELY TRUTH THAT WE'RE CALLED TO CONFRONT. DID SLAVERY REALLY END ON JUNETEENTH OR DID IT SIMPLY SHIFT INTO SOMETHING ELSE? WHAT SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSIONS STILL EXIST IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY? WHAT INSTITUTIONS WERE BORN UNDER SLAVERY BUT NOW OPERATE UNDER DIFFERENT NAMES? HOW HAVE PROGRAMS PAST AND PRESENT CONTINUED TO DISENFRANCHISE AND LIMIT THE SUCCESS OF OUR BLACK COMMUNITIES. EVEN NOW WE'RE SEEING ICE AND VARIOUS LEVELS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT RIP APART FAMILIES. SUCH INHUMANE PRACTICES STARTED WITH THE SEPARATION OF ENSLAVED BLACK FAMILIES AND HAVE EVOLVED. WHAT IS DONE TO ONE OF US IS DONE TO ALL OF US. IN SAN ANTONIO WE HAVE MADE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS. WE HAVE PASSED A NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, NAMED RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. THESE ARE IMPORTANT STEPS BUT THEY ARE JUST THAT, STEPS. UNDOING CENTURIES OF SYSTEMIC RACISM TAKES MORE THAN STATEMENTS, IT TAKES SUSTAINED, COURAGEOUS, AND UNCOMFORTABLE ACTION. WE CAN'T IGNORE THE DATA. BLACK AMERICANS ARE INCARCERATED AT MORE THAN THREE TIMES THE RATE OF WHITE AMERICANS AND THIS ISN'T ACCIDENTAL. MALCOLM X, MARTIN LUTHER KING, FRED HAMPTON, ALL MURDERED FOR DARING TO DEMAND DIGNITY AND JUSTICE FOR BLACK LIVES. THE LIST CONTINUES WITH THE DEATH OF TRAYVON MARTIN, MICHAEL BROWN, MARQUISE JONES, [01:00:10] CHARLES ROUNDTREE, GEORGE FLOYD, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WHOSE NAMES WE KNOW AND SO MANY THAT WE DON'T. SO WHEN I AND OTHERS CHALLENGE LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES OR QUESTION LONG STANDING NORMS AND IT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, I ASK YOU TO PAUSE AND CONSIDER THE HISTORY OF OUR LIVED EXPERIENCES. WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO DEBATE OUR REALITY, WE'RE ASKING YOU AS ALLIES, LEADERS, AND AS NEIGHBORS TO HELP US CHANGE IT. IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE EASY BUT IT'S NECESSARY TO SAVE LIVES AND CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL. FOR OVER 400 YEARS THIS COUNTRY AND THIS STATE HAVE WORKED TO UNDERMINE THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND STILL DO IN MANY WAYS. JUNETEENTH CELEBRATES THE END OF SLAVERY, YES, BUT IT ALSO MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW KIND OF FIGHT TO END ITS LEGACY. SO I INVITE YOU THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR TO STAND WITH US, TO SPEAK OUT AND TO ACT. I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH MY COMMUNITY THIS WEEKEND AT THE PARADE ON SATURDAY AT 9:00 A.M. AT SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL AND AT THE MANY EVENTS HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT WEEK. I WILL SEE YOU IN THE STREETS SURROUNDED BY A POWERFUL, RESILIENT, AND DEEPLY-ROOTED COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUES TO LEAD THE WAY. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO THE COMMISSION. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS REGINALD ORE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I'M AN AIR FORCE VETERAN AND FORMER EDUCATOR HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. ON BEHALF OF MR. OSCAR VICKS, MS. JACKIE RITA, AND THE JUNETEENTH FREEDOM COALITION, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PROCLAMATION. IT HAS BEEN SAID, THE HISTORY AND THE ROOTS OF JUNETEENTH, WHERE IT STARTED AND WHERE WE ARE HERE. DON'T JUST WAIT FOR THAT ONE DAY TO CELEBRATE OR, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PREACH EQUALITY AND UNITY, THAT STARTS AT HOME. IT STARTS WITHIN OURSELVES. WE DO THAT IN OUR CHILDREN, IN OUR HOUSEHOLDS, IT SPREADS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT'S HOW WE EFFECT REAL CHANGE. I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND THE PROCLAMATION. AND JUST LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCIL, STAFF, MY NAME IS BYRON MILLER. I HAVE LIVED IN THIS CITY ALL MY LIFE. IN FACT, I'M A FIFTH-GENERATION SAN ANTONIAN. AND GROWING UP WE CELEBRATED THE 19TH OF JUNE. IT WASN'T CALLED JUNETEENTH, IT WAS THE 19TH OF JUNE. SOME AD AGENCY IN MADISON AVENUE DECIDED TO MAKE IT CUTE AND CALL IT JUNETEENTH. WHEN I DECIDED TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE 19TH OF JUNE WAS 35 YEARS AGO. WHAT I SAW WAS THE WHOLE EFFORT, THE FLAME WAS FLICKERING. BUT THANKS TO THE CITY, THE FILM HAS GOTTEN STRONGER. I REMEMBER WHEN -- I THINK I WAS TALKING TO YOU MAYOR AND YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT A CITY HOLIDAY. IT HAD ALREADY BEEN A STATE HOLIDAY SINCE 1980, BUT YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS A CITY HOLIDAY. AND YOU PUT IT IN THE BUDGET. THAT WAS BEFORE IT BECAME A FEDERAL HOLIDAY. SO YOU HAD THE FORETHOUGHT AND THE ABILITY TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DAY. YOU KNOW, AS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS, I'VE GOT TO THANK THE CITY BECAUSE OVER 35 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST BECAME INVOLVED, THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, WHICH WAS FELIX AND FRANK. THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL TO US, TO ME, TO THE EFFORT. AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE CITY, IT BEING A HOLIDAY, WE STILL ASK THAT CITY OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS PARTICIPATE WITH THE CELEBRATION, WITH THE OBSERVANCE, AND WITH JUST THE WHOLE ISSUE THAT WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT FREEDOM MEANT TO EVERYONE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, IN 1865 WHEN FREEDOM WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED IN GALVESTON, SAN ANTONIO'S THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND SO AS WORD CAME TO SAN ANTONIO, IT WAS RECEIVED EXTREMELY WELL. YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU HAD WAS YOU HAD PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT WHO WERE EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT. BUT WHAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE WAS INFORMATION. AND SO WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION, IT KEPT THEM ENSLAVED. AND SO I JUST CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY. BECAUSE, AGAIN, WHEN THOSE PEOPLE LEFT THAT PLANTATION OR [01:05:04] WHEREVER THEY WERE ENSLAVED, THEY MAY HAVE LEFT WITH JUST ONLY THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK. BUT THERE WAS THAT INFORMATION THAT ALLOWED THEM TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY. NOW, I'LL SAY THIS TO THE CITY. WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE OPPORTUNITY FROM YOU ALL AS FAR AS HELPING US IN-KIND AND OTHER AREAS TO MAKE THIS EFFORT CONTINUE TO BE NOT ONLY A UNIQUELY CELEBRATED TEXAS EVENT, BUT CELEBRATED ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND SO WE'VE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE REST OF THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE URBAN AREAS WEREN'T CELEBRATING THE 19TH OF JUNE. IT WAS IN RURAL AREAS. FOR WHATEVER REASONS, THIS IS A DIFFICULT SUBJECT FOR MANY TO TALK ABOUT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IT'S A SUBJECT IN WHICH WE CAN TALK ABOUT, WE CAN REMEMBER. YOU KNOW, NOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSED AND MAYBE IT WILL STILL BE THERE, MAYBE THEY'LL TAKE IT OUT. BUT THE ISSUE IS HOW DO WE COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, CELEBRATE FREEDOM, AND THEN HOW DO WE ALSO LOOK AT THE ADVANCEMENTS OF PEOPLE THAT WERE INSULATED TO WHERE THEY ARE TODAY. AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU NOTICE, SEE, READ, HEAR ABOUT, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY. IT WASN'T JUST BLACK FOLK THAT GOT FREE, IT WAS ALL PEOPLE. AND SO WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS CULTURAL HOLIDAY. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IT NEEDS A CULTURAL HOLIDAY LIKE THIS. THAT'S HOW Y'ALL DRIVE BUSINESSES TO COME HERE, CORPORATIONS. I MEAN, IT HAS AN EFFECT WHERE HOTELS, PEOPLE COME FOR THE FESTIVALS. SO IT HAS A DOMINO EFFECT, ECONOMICALLY, TO BENEFIT US ALL. AGAIN, I SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. MAYOR, APPRECIATE YOU ON YOUR WAY OUT. YOU MAY BE OUT NOW BUT YOU'LL BE SOMEWHERE AND YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE AN IN WITH US. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. THANK YOU. >> CAN I JUST SAY I STILL INVITE Y'ALL TO JOIN THE PARADE, WHICH WILL HAPPEN ON SATURDAY, THE 14TH. WE START AT 9:00 A.M. AT SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN, I'VE SENT LETTERS TO EVERYBODY. BUT IF YOU WANT TO JOIN, WHEN YOU GET THERE, JUST TELL THEM TO ASK FOR MARCIA AND I'LL PUT YOU IN. THAT'S IT. [APPLAUSE] >> NOW I'VE GOT TO GET A PLUG. WE HAVE THE FESTIVAL AT COMANCHE PARK NO. 2, AS THE PARADE COMES INTO THE PARK, WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE CEREMONY. AGAIN, WE HOPE EVERYBODY CAN COME. AS YOU READ, THERE WILL BE MUSIC, FUN, ENTERTAINMENT, INFORMATION. BUT ON THE 19TH OF JUNE, WHEN YOU GUYS ARE OFF, COME OUT TO CANYON SPRINGS, WE HAVE A GOLF TOURNAMENT THAT WILL BE THE 19TH OF JUNE, GOLF TOURNAMENT. TEE OFF IS 8:30. HELP US OUT WITH THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OCCASIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE MORE RECOGNITION AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GET TO OUR CITY BUSINESS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE THERE YET, BUT IT IS TRUE. THE CENTER OF GRAVITY FOR OUR HOMELESS SERVICES, WHICH HAVE BECOME NATIONALLY RENOWNED AND DOES SO MUCH TO SAVE MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES, IS TURNING 15 YEARS OLD. SO I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME UP THE TEAM FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE TO THE PODIUM AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2025, HAVEN FOR HOPE WILL CELEBRATE ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY THROUGH COMPASSIONATE, COORDINATED, AND COMPREHENSIVE CARE. AND WHEREAS HAVEN FOR HOPE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2006 BY BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADER BILL GREEHEY, WHO RECOGNIZING THE URGENT AND GROWING CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS, LED THE EFFORT TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT WITH PHIL HARDBERGER. FOLLOWING THE RESEARCH OF 200 SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HAVEN FOR HOPE LAUNCHED A ONE STOP CAMPUS MODEL TO BRING TOGETHER DOZENS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS IN ONE LOCATION, BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND STREAMLINING SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED. HAVEN FOR HOPE HAS PROVIDED VITAL SERVICES, INCLUDING HOUSING, RECOVERY SUPPORT, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO MORE THAN 53,500 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. WHEREAS FOR 15 YEARS, HAVEN FOR HOPE HAS SERVED AS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR INNOVATIVE, COLLABORATIVE, AND COMPASSIONATE SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS. [01:10:03] THANKS TO CONTINUED LEADERSHIP OF AND COMMITTED STAFF, SUPPORTING BY SELFLESS VOLUNTEERS. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JUNE 2025 TO BE HAVEN FOR HOPE'S 15TH ANNIVERSARY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND CALL UPON RESIDENTS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT HAVEN FOR HOPE'S MISSION TO TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH DONATIONS OR SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES . WELCOME, YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE SPECIAL PROCLAMATION. I AM JACKIE BUSH. OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, HAVEN HAS SERVED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY . THOSE SERVICES PROVIDED BY HAVEN AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE TRANSFORMED THOUSANDS OF LIVES. WE COULD NOT DO OUR WORK WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AND FUNDING PARTNERS SUCH AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY'S FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION TO ENSURE OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE CARED FOR. HOMELESSNESS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE AT ANY TIME AND IS A COMPLEX ISSUE. AS A CERTIFIED TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AGENCY, WE MEET OUR CLIENTS WHERE THEY ARE AND CONNECT THEM TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO FIND STABLE, SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING. WE OPERATE A LOW-BARRIER SHELTER AND A TRANSFORMATIONAL CAMPUS. WE HAVE HELPED MORE THAN 17,000 CLIENTS TRANSFORM INTO HOUSING OR A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE AND MORE THAN 7,000 FIND EMPLOYMENT. ON BEHALF OF HAVEN'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL, STAFF, PARTNERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND ESPECIALLY OUR CLIENTS, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL DO EVERY DAY FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION. EVERY TIME ME AND MY TEAM GO TO HAVEN FOR HOPE, WE'RE ALWAYS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE LEVEL OF CARE THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE OUR MOST VULNERABLE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS ON A DAILY BASIS. I'M GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO THERE. AND I KNOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE ONCE WERE THERE HOUSED THEMSELVES, LOOKING FOR THE SUPPORT AND HELP THEY NEEDED TO LIFT THEMSELVES UP. I HAD THE PLEASURE NUMEROUS TIMES OF COMING TO THE CAMPUS AND VISITING WITH DIFFERENT LEADERS THERE AND UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACE. TWICE I'VE TAKEN A BUS LOAD OF PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT 9 TO WALK THROUGH THE CENTER, TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE COMMITMENT THAT THIS CITY HAS TO SUPPORTING YOUR EFFORT ON HELPING THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS. SO TO ALL OF YOUR COMMITMENT AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE THERE WHO WORK THERE, WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THAT, WE OWE A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE FROM THIS CITY TO ALL OF THEM. I HOPE YOU'LL EXPRESS THAT, THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HAVEN FOR HOPE AND ALL THE WORK YOU DO ON CAMPUS AND THE OUTREACH YOU DO THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I KNOW IT'S HARD. IT'S CHALLENGING. IT'S WORRISOME BUT IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH IT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR WORK. I KNOW THAT THESE DAYS HAVE SEEMED DARK AND HARD, AND WE ARE ALL LOOKING WITH KIND OF HOLDING OUR BREATH ON WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT. BUT YOUR CONTINUED EFFORT GOING IN DAY BY DAY, YOUR STAFF GOING IN AND UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE LIFE AT A TIME YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THAT WE ARE ALL ONE ACCIDENT, WE ARE ALL ONE MISSTEP AWAY FROM POSSIBLY BEING ON THE STREETS AND NEEDING YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. CONTINUE THE EFFORT. KNOW THAT WE HERE ON THE COUNCIL HEAR YOU, SEE YOU, AND WE ARE WORKING OUR BEST TO TRY AND MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU HELP THIS COMMUNITY AND BEING A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT SAN ANTONIO IS WHICH IS COMPASSIONATE AND INCLUSIVE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING YOUR RESOURCE, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS THAT IF I DIDN'T [01:15:02] HIGHLIGHT, JUST LIKE HAVENOPE, R PROVIDERS ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS. I'M HOPEFUL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THE CITY AND COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE CARE AND ACCESS AND RESOURCE THAT PEOPLE DESERVE. BUT BY ALSO RECOGNIZING YOU ALL ARE DOING ALL THAT YOU ALL CAN AND IT'S A NON-STOP AMOUNT OF FOLKS LOOKING FOR ACCESS TO CARE AND SERVICES IN SAN ANTONIO. I'M HOPEFUL AS WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE 2026 BUDGET THAT THE PRIORITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE BUDGET SURVEY OFTEN FINDS HOMELESS OUTREACH, ACCESS TO HOUSING CONTINUE TO BE A PRY PRY OR TEASE. AND JUST THANK YOU ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO. WE KNOW THERE'S PLENTY AND MUCH MORE WORK AHEAD. UNFORTUNATELY SO MANY FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING ECONOMIC INSECURITY AND INSTABILITY BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL THERE IS A SYSTEM ESTABLISHED AND YOU ALL ARE KEY TO THAT SYSTEM. I KNOW YOU GIVE FOLKS FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, I'VE MET FOLKS FROM OHIO, THEY WANT TO GET IN CONTACT TO SEE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO JUST THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORK AND THERE'S PLENTY MORE AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. TO ALL OF YOUR STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE GIVE THEM OUR GRATITUDE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE YOUR BACK. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE DO NOW HAVE OUR BUSINESS ITEMS TO TAKE CARE OF, AND SO BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 20, LET ME GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT ITEM UP FIRST, THEN WE'LL GET INTO OUR TWO OTHER INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. >> CLERK: ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 28 SIGNS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TO IMPLEMENT THE DIGITAL AND MEDIA ARTS PROGRAM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO WE DO HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 20. WE'LL START IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP. WE'LL TAKE LOUIS VETTER. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID EHRLICH. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF. I COME HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS MOTION. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND ONE OF OUR NOBLE GOALS IS TO PROTECT THE HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF THIS GREAT CITY. WHAT I'M SEEING AS A LIKELIHOOD FROM THIS ENDEAVOR FROM A VENDOR WHO IS TRYING TO MAKE AN ENTRY INTO THIS ENVIRONMENT IS GOING TO DIMINISH THE VALUE WE HAVE, THE IMPRESSION THAT WE MAKE UPON OUR VISITORS. THEY COME TO SEE THE BUILDING, THE CITY. THEY DON'T COME TO SEE LARGE DISPLAYS ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY. THEY OFFER SOLUTIONS THAT AREN'T TRULY SOLUTIONS. THEY SAY WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE YOUR LIGHTING PROBLEMS BY PUTTING UP A DIGITAL SIGN SOMEWHERE, WHICH COULD BEST BE SERVED MOST LIKELY BY A STREET LIGHT. THEY OFFER IDEAS ABOUT ART. THEY CAN MAKE THOUGH DONATIONS TO THE ART COMMUNITY, BUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS TRYING TO, IN MY OPINION, BUY THEIR WAY INTO THIS ORGANIZATION, THIS ENVIRONMENT. SO I SPEAK VERY PASSIONATELY. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE TO STOP THIS ENCROACHMENT. IT DOESN'T MAKE US TO LOOK ANY BETTER AND IT RESEMBLES SOMETHING YOU HAVE DON'T THAT YOU SEE IN DENVER, NEW YORK, ATLANTA. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE CHARACTER OF STAND IS AND I KNOW YOU -- SAN ANTONIO IS AND I KNOW YOU ALL VALUE THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. DAVID EHRLICH. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ELAINE VETTER. >> THANK YOU. I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS. I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A FEW YEARS AND I'VE WORKED WITH OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. I RUN THE DENVER DISTRICT AS WELL. SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE, YOU'VE DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, YOU'VE LOOKED AT THE ECONOMICSS THE IMPACTS. WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ART. THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS THAT'S BEEN SORT OF A BACK AND FORTH. WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD DO IS [01:20:01] A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN DENVER WE APPROVED AN EXPANSION OF OUR DISTRICT, AND A PERSON FROM DENVER, A SIGNIFICANT ARTS ORGANIZATION IN DENVER TESTIFIED IN FAVOR OF THE EXPANSION. I THOUGHT I WOULD READ A COUPLE QUICK QUOTES FROM HER TESTIMONY AS OPPOSED TO ME TELLING YOU BASED ON 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND THE FACT DENVER INVESTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR INTO ART, I WOULD LET HER SPEAK AS AN ARTIST AND THE LEADER ON A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS. THE FIRST THING SHE TALKED ABOUT WAS ARTIST IMPACT. SHE SAID AS RELATES TO THIS DIGITAL MEDIA PROGRAM, THERE ARE VERY FEW VIABLE PLATFORMS FOR MEDIA ARTISTS TO EXHIBIT WORK IN PUBLIC SPACE. THESE SCREENS SERVE AS ONE OF THE RARE PROFESSIONALIZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIGITAL AND MOVING IMAGE ARTISTS. THAT'S WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT IN DENVER, A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FROM ARTISTS IN THIRD GRADE TO INTERNATIONAL TO SHOW THEIR WORK. THE OTHER THING SHE SAID WAS ON PUBLIC BENEFIT AND REVENUE, THE PUBLIC REVENUE SHARE SUPPORTS BOTH ARTISTS' STIPENDS AND LOCAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. THIS STRUCTURE BUILDS RESILIENCE INTO CULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS, REDUCES THE DEPENDENCY ON GRANTS AND FOUNDATION. IRRELEVANT THINK THE ANSWER IS NOT REQUESTING CONTRIBUTIONS, IT'S CREATING SYSTEM THAT DRIVES ALL THE ARTS. YOU DO HAVE INCREDIBLE STORIES TO TELL. YOU TOLD A BUNCH OF THEM TODAY. YES, IT WILL BE SCREENS, BUT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC BENEFIT TO ART AND ART ALWAYS NEEDS SUPPORT FROM CITIES. SO I THANK YOU AND HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. EHRLICH. ELAINE VETTER. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BONNIE SIMONS. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ELAINE VETTER. I'M A 20-YEAR RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 8 AND A NATIVE-BORN SAN ANTONIAN. I'M HERE TO VOICE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED ELECTRIC BILLBOARD PROJECT ALSO KNOWN AS THE DIGITAL ARTS AND PILOT PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS THE URBAN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT PILOT PROJECT. FIRST, THE PERMITTING PROCESS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN -- MAY NOT HAVE FULLY CONSIDERED THE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE HISTORICAL AREAS. I KNOW THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PUT THEM THERE, BUT THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO CREEP IN SOONER OR LATER. SAN ANTONIO IS UNIQUE. WE'RE KNOWN WORLDWIDE AS THE ALAMO CITY. PEOPLE COME HERE BECAUSE OF OUR SPECIAL PLACE IN HISTORY. SECOND, THESE SIGNS COULD BRING VISUAL POLLUTION AND DISRUPT THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. TOURISTS DO NOT COME TO SAN ANTONIO TO SEE MORE ADS AND BRIGHT LIGHTS. YES, THEY SAY THERE'S GOING TO BE ART, BUT HOW MUCH ART AND HOW MUCH ADS? IF YOU THINK BETTER LIGHTING IS NEEDED, PLEASE PUT UP MORE STREET LIGHTS. YOU KNOW THAT'S REALLY THE ANSWER. THIRD, THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM. AND IT DOES NOT HAVE AN END DATE NOR PROVISIONS IN WRITING FOR THE EXPENSE FOR THE REMOVAL OF THESE SIGNS. PLUS, THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE ISSUES COULD TURN THESE SIGNS INTO PUBLIC EYESORES IF NOT PUBLICLY MAINTAINED. THE WAYFINDING KIOSKS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND CURRENTLY EXIST ARE PRIME EXAMPLES OF HOW ELECTRONICS CAN FAIL AND HOW COMPANIES ALSO FAIL TO MAINTAIN THEM. FINALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS ADVERTISING PROGRAM VIOLATES THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND HAS NO PROVEN ECONOMIC UPSIDE. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THESE FACTORS CAREFULLY BEFORE APPROVING ANY ELECTRONIC SIGNAGE FOR OUR HISTORIC CITY. IF YOU ARE AN OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBER, THIS MAY WELL BE ONE OF YOUR LAST VOTES YOU PLACE AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER. I ASK THAT YOU REMEMBER THE OATH YOU TOOK TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF YOUR DISTRICT BEFORE YOU VOTE FOR THIS PROJECT. IT WILL HAVE LONG-LASTING EFFECTS IN OUR CITY AND I DON'T KNOW IF A VOTE FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE THE ONE FOR WHICH YOU REALLY WANT TO BE REMEMBERED. I ASK THAT YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS PROJECT. BUT ONE LAST REMARK, MANNY PELÁEZ, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR DISTRICT 8. YOU DID INCREDIBLE WORK AND [01:25:02] WE APPRECIATE IT. AND MAYOR RON, I THANK YOU TOO. FOR THE REST OF YOU, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR GREAT CITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. VETTER. BONNIE SIMONS. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PATTI ZIONS. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BONNIE SIMONS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS MORNING. I HAVE BEEN A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE FOR 14 YEARS, FOLLOWING A 30-YEAR CAREER IN NURSING. I'M ACTIVE IN THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE ASSOCIATION OF SAN ANTONIO. I ALSO VOLUNTEER ONE DAY A WEEK AT MISSION SAN JOSE. AND HAVE DONE SO FOR 13 YEARS. YOU WILL FIND ME CONDUCTING ONE OF THEIR MORNING WALKING TOURS, THEIR PUBLIC WALKING TOURS ON FRIDAY MORNINGS. I AM A FIFTH GENERATION SAN ANTONIAN AND I HAVE A LOVE AND A PASSION FOR MY NATIVE CITY. MY JOY IN GUIDING COMES FROM MEETING VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND SHOWING THEM A CITY I HOLD GREAT PRIDE IN. I FREQUENTLY HEAR FROM OUR VISITORS, YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY. YOU HAVE A HISTORY. YOU HAVE CULTURE. AND YOU MAINTAIN, THOUGH YOU ARE A LARGE METROPOLITAN CITY, YOU MAINTAIN THE CHARM OF A SMALL DOWNTOWN. OF A SMALL TOWN. I THINK WE WILL LOSE THAT CHARM IF WE ALLOW DIGITAL BILLBOARDS TO COME INTO OUR DOWNTOWN. LEAVE THOSE TO NEW YORK CITY OR TO LOS ANGELES. THERE IS NO PLACE IN OUR 300-YEAR-OLD CITY FOR DIGITAL BILLBOARDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. SIMONS. PATTI ZIONS. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KAREN ROWE. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, MAYOR. BEFORE I BEGIN WITH MY OPPOSITION TO THESE BILLBOARDS, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND WISH THE MAYOR -- TO SPEAK TO THE MAYOR, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB, MAYOR, AND MILTON AND I WERE REMINISCING TALKING ABOUT YOUR TERM. WE RECALL THE TIME WHEN A YOUNG COUNCILMAN CANDIDATE RANG OUR DOORBELL AND STOOD IN OUR FRONT YARD AND SPOKE ABOUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7, FORMER DISTRICT 8, FORMER PRESIDENT CONSERVATION SOCIETY, PASSIONATE SAN ANTONIAN. RON STOOD IN THE FRONT YARD WITH MILTON FOR ALMOST AN HOUR DISCUSSING HIS PLATFORM, BUT MILTON KEPT CIRCLING HIM BACK TO DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. THEN HE SAYS, RON'S HAIR WAS A LOT DARKER BACK THEN AND I LOOKED AT MY HUSBAND AND SAID SO IS YOURS. WE WISH YOU GODSPEED AND WELL WISHES AS YOU TURN THE PAGE IN THE CHAPTER OF YOUR NEW LIFE, RON, AND WE WISH YOU WELL. I'LL TAKE THE REST OF MY TIME TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THIS ITEM. I WAS A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE OF CHAPTER 28 REVISION CODE FOR THE SIGN CODE, AND WHEN THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE TASK FORCE, IT FELL FLAT. IT'S BEEN DRUG ALONG FOR THREE YEARS SINCE 2023. AND I HAVE TO WONDER WHY. [INAUDIBLE] SPOKE ABOUT ALL OF YOU SERVING THE COMMUNITY. THAT YOU SERVE US CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY. HE ALSO SPOKE ABOUT INTEGRITY AND HE SPOKE ABOUT DISCERNMENT IN YOUR DECISION-MAKING. I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS. THE CITY PERFORMS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TO INFLUENCE AND INFORM THEIR DECISIONS. WHEN THE CITY, THE CITIZENS, THE CITY MAKES DECISIONS CONTRARY TO OVER 70% OF THE PUBLIC OPINION FOR THE DIGITAL BILLBOARDS AT ISSUE, WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT MEAN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE LIKE ME IN CITY GOVERNMENT, IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT? MY TIME, MY TALENT TO GO AND SERVE. SAN ANTONIO WHEN THEIR INPUT IS IGNORED. HOW WILL THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY STAFF AND ACTIONS BY COUNCIL TODAY INFLUENCE THE MARVEL PROJECT THAT IS UPON [01:30:05] US. IS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT JUST ANOTHER BOX TO BE CHECKED? AND WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER BOXES TO BE CHECKED. I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE AND ASK YOU, AND SOME OF YOU ARE LEAVING, MANNY, WE'LL MISS YOU, BUT THINK ABOUT YOUR INTEGRITY AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. EXACTLY WHAT IS THIS PROJECT FOR? DO WE REALLY NEED IT? AND IF IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY, PLEASE DON'T PROSTITUTE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN FAVOR OF STICKING ADVERTISING ON THE SIDES OF OUR BUILDING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. KAREN ROWE. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY COLLEEN WAGASPETH. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KAREN ROWE, AND UNLIKE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE ASSOCIATION, I'VE BEEN HERE ONLY SIX YEARS. I CAME DOWN HERE SIX YEARS AGO TO ESCAPE THE UNCONTROLLABLE GROWTH IN AUSTIN AND ONE REASON WAS THE HISTORIC CHARM AND THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY. I MOVED INTENTIONALLY CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN WHERE I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 IN THE SMALL BUT POLITICALLY ACTIVE WESTPORT ASSOCIATION AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR COUNCILMEMBER'S SUBPOENA COMING ARRIVAL. I'M THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE ASSOCIATION. I JOINED THAT ASSOCIATION AFTER I GOT HERE, WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING AND ROUTINELY GIVE TOURS TO VISITORS FROM OTHER STATES, OTHER CITIES. WHEN YOU TALK TO THESE VISITORS, THE MOST COMMONLY CITED REASON THEY CAME TO SAN ANTONIO FOR A VISIT WAS TO VISIT THE RIVERWALK AND THE CHARM AND THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE CITY. I THINK ALL THESE THINGS WOULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AND I SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS MATTER TODAY. THERE IS -- THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES. ONE OTHER THING I ENJOYED ABOUT MOVING TO THE CITY WAS THE HUGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ART. WE SEE THE MURALS, THERE ARE MANY WORKS OF ARTS IN MY DISTRICT. ALL THE MURALS. I'M PLEASED THAT THE EXTENSION OF SAN~PEDRO CREEK, THAT THERE'S ART EVERYWHERE. THIS CITY HAS PLENTY OF PLACES TO DISPLAY PUBLIC ART. I THINK ANYTHING WITH THE DIGITAL SIGNS AND ADVERTISING WOULD BE COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT WITH THE HISTORIC NATURE AND CHARM OF DOWNTOWN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. ROWE. COLLEEN WAGASPETH FOLLOWED BY ELAINE LAYY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M COLLEEN WAGASPETH AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO TO THE DIGITAL MEDIA PILOT PROGRAM AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED. PLEASE DON'T SELL OUR CITY SHORT OVER A PROGRAM WHICH WILL BRING MINIMAL BENEFIT TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN EXCHANGE FOR HUGE BILLBOARDS WHICH WILL RUN ADVERTISING 80% OF THE TIME. BOTH THE SURVEY ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY AND ONE BY WOAI A MONTH AGO REVEALED MORE THAN 70% OF RESPONDENTS WOULD CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PILOT PROGRAM. GIVEN THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS CITED IN THE APRIL PCDC PRESENTATION, THE ARTS WOULD SEE JUST $300,000 A YEAR FROM THESE TEN BILLBOARDS. NINE OF WHICH COULD POSSIBLY BE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IN ORDER TO SEE ANNUAL REVENUE TO THE ARTS OF A MILLION DOLLARS, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE 33 SUCH SIGNS IN OUR CITY. THESE SIGNS WILL DISTRACT FROM THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL CHARM OF OUR CITY AS WELL AS FROM SMALLER LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EVEN FROM THE ARTS WORKS WHICH ARE FUNDED BY THE PROGRAM. TOO MUCH IS STILL UNKNOWN ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND WILL THESE BE STATIC OR FULL-MOTION BILLBOARDS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY, THAT WAS A PREMATURE BUZZER. >> THANK YOU. WILL THESE ALL BE STATIC BILLBOARDS WITH A MINIMUM DWELL TIME BETWEEN EXCHANGES OR FULL-MOTION BILLBOARDS? WILL THESE BE ALLOWED TO BE ERECTED OVER RIGHT-OF-WAYS OR CITY ROADWAYS? SHOULD THE COST TO THE SIGN COMPANIES BE MORE TO INSTALL THESE SIGNS IN OUR DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS THAT IN OTHER PROPOSED AREAS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THE ACTIVATION AND THE ART? SHOULDN'T WE BE SETTING MINIMUMS IN OUR RFPS AND ASKING BIDDERS FOR THEIR BEST PROFESSIONAL IN EXCESS OF THOSE MINIMUMS. LASTLY, IS IT A TWO-YEAR PROJECT TOO IS THAT RIGHT TO ASSESS THE POSITIVE AND [01:35:02] NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THESE SIGNS AND DECIDE ON THE MERITS OF ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE? PLEASE VOTE NO TO THIS PILOT PROGRAM. AND YOU SHOULD SEE THE OTHER GUY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. ELAINE LAHEY. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS ELAINE LAHEY, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 1 AND I WORK AS THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AT THE CAREER AT BLUE STAR WHICH IS IN DISTRICT 5. I AM HERE REPRESENTING SAN ANTONIO'S ARTS AND CULTURE SHOULD THIS PROGRAM PASS WITH YOUR APPROVAL, WE ENCOURAGE REVENUES FROM THE PILOT PROGRAM BE EARMARKED EXCLUSIVELY TO SUPPLEMENT H.O.T. FUNDING. H.O.T., WHILE SIGNIFICANT, SUPPORTS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE NEEDS OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ARTISTS THAT SERVE THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY AND ARE VERY MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TOURIST ECONOMY. ARTWORK COMMISSIONED THROUGH THIS PILOT SHOULD PASS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURES ESTABLISHED AND RIGOROUS PUBLIC ART REVIEW PROCESS. AND ANY PUBLIC ARTWORK COMPONENT SHOULD BE APPROPRIATELY FUNDED TO INCLUDE PAYMENT TO THE ARTIST, FABRICATION AND LONG-TERM CARE AND MAINTENANCE. LASTLY, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE SHOULD RECEIVE FAIR MESSAGING TIME TO PROMOTE THE WEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY'S CULTURAL EVENTS AND OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 20. OH, I'M SORRY, KATHLEEN TRENCHES. >> MY NAME IS KATHLEEN, I AM FROM DISTRICT 7, 105 NORTH JOSEPHINE TOBIN DRIVE. GOOD MORNING TO YOU -- IT'S ALMOST NOON. GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL AND PARTICIPANTS AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY. UNFORTUNATELY WE JUST LOST THE ITC, BUT THEY PUT UP A GOOD FIGHT AND I'M PROUD OF THEM. I VIEW THIS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT PILOT PROGRAM AS YET ANOTHER TROJAN HORSE. FOLLOWING THE SO-CALLED DIGITAL KIOSKS WHICH SOMEHOW SLIPPED THROUGH CITY COUNCIL WITHOUT SCRUTINY BY OUR UDC SIGNAGE CODE. WHY DO WE BOTHER TO HAVE AN ONLINE CITY SURVEY WHEN THE LATEST SHOWS THAT 70% OR MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY DISAPPROVES OF BILLBOARDS, INCLUDING DIGITAL ONES. THE CITY CONTINUES TO PROPOSE DIGITAL BILLBOARDS AS A CRUCIAL INGREDIENT OF THE SO-CALLED ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. DO WE REALLY NEED AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT? WHATEVER HAPPENED TO OUR DOWNTOWN DARK SKY INITIATIVE? THESE DIGITAL SIGNS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE INTENSE DISTRACTING LIGHTS BLINKING CONSTANTLY ON OUR ARCHITECTURAL FACADES. WHY IS SAN ANTONIO BEING TARGETED? THE ONLY CITY IN TEXAS THREATENED BY THE DIGITAL TROJAN HORSE. BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY ARTISTS, SO MANY BEAUTIFUL MUSEUMS. AND YET WHAT WE HAVE IS LOTS OF WORKING-CLASS POOR HERE TO SUPPORT THEM. OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR TOURISTS AND WE WANT TO KEEP OUR TOURISTS COMING. WHAT HAVE WE INHERITED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO IS A JEWEL. DON'T LET THE CARPETBAGGERS DESTROY IT IN THE NAME OF SUPPORTING THE ARTS. OR ANYTHING ELSE THEY CAN CONTRACT FOR OUR EYEBALLS. WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR VISITORS AND GIVE THEM THE BEST EXPERIENCE AND THEY ARE MOVING HERE, PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE. LET'S KEEP IT. AND BY THE WAY, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE. LEADER AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DAY THAT YOU CRUSHED A CASCARONE OVER MY [01:40:03] HEAD. THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 20 SO WE'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. FIRST LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 20. >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND OF APPROVAL OF ITEM 20. WE WILL NOW GO INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. I WILL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO NOT NEED A PRESENTATION. I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES DO. DO YOU WANT A PRESENTATION, MARC? THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A BRIEF PRESENTATION, BUT SURE, LET'S HAVE A PRESENTATION. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS AMIN T OMAS WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. I WILL PRESENT THE DIGITAL MEDIA AND ARTS PILOT PROGRAM. I KNOW YOU WANT A BRIEF PRESENTATION, SO I'LL TRY TO GO AS FAST AS I COULD. QUICK OVERVIEW BASICALLY. AS SOME OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS MENTIONED, WE WERE APPROACHED BY [INAUDIBLE]BL MEDIA IN 2022. AND THEY WANTED US TO CREATE BASICALLY DIGITAL MEDIA AND ARTS PILOT PROGRAM. SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE LIKE DENVER, ATLANTA AND WEST HOLLYWOOD. IF WE DECIDED TO THAT, THEN WE DEFINITELY NEED TO UPDATE CHAPTER 28, THE SIGN CODE, BECAUSE TODAY THE SIGN CODE DIGITAL DISPLAYS ARE PROHIBITED. IT CAME TO US IN 2022. WE DID WAIT A LITTLE BIT TO GO THROUGH IT WITH SIGN UPDATES IN 23023. IT WENT TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE REVIEWED IT AND SAID THIS COULD BE A POLICY ISSUE, NOT NECESSARILY A TECHNICAL ISSUE WITH THE CODE, SO WE'RE GOING TO TABLE IT. AT THAT POINT IN 2023, WE WENT TO PCDC TO PRESENT THE TECHNICAL CHANGES FOR CHAPTER 28 AND WE DID PRESENT THIS TO PCDC. THE OUTCOME WAS TO GO BACK, DO SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS, DO SOME STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, GET SOME FEEDBACK AND COME BACK WITH OPTIONS. 75% AGAINST IT, 25% WERE FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM. PCDC INSTRUCTED US TO COME BACK WITH TWO TO THREE OPTIONS AND TO WORK WITH TXDOT AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY RESTRICTIONS WITH THEM. WE DID MEET WITH TXDOT AND WE GOT WHATEVER RESTRICTIONS THEY HAVE, SO THAT WILL APPLY TO THIS PILOT PROGRAM. IN APRIL '25, WENT BACK TO PCDC AND RECOMMENDATION WAS TO MOVE FORWARD AND COME TO FULL COUNCIL. THIS SLIDE JUST SHOWS A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. THE TOP RIGHT IS A PARKING GARAGE WITH THE DIGITAL SIGN AND SOME ART COMPONENT TO IT WITH SOME LIGHTING AS WELL. JUST, AGAIN, AN EXAMPLE. IS IT JUMPING? IT'S MISSING A SLIDE SOMEHOW. HERE IS A TIMETABLE. I JUST MENTIONED THAT, BUT BASICALLY WE ARE HERE TODAY, JUNE 2025, TALKING TO COUNCIL TO SEE IF YOU WILL APPROVE THIS PROGRAM. THIS SLIDE SHOWS SOME OF THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS THAT HAVING THOSE DIGITAL DISPLAYS WILL HELP THE CITY WITH ACTIVATING SOME OF THE SPACES. WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF WE HAVE AN AREA THAT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF MOVEMENT, A LOT OF TRAFFIC, HAVING A DIGITAL SIGN MIGHT HELP TO ACTIVATE IT AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO THERE. THE CITY AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS IN THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES. IT WILL PROVIDE US WITH TIME SHARE, ALLOW US TO DISPLAY SOME ARTS AND CITY MESSAGES AS WELL. IT DOES HAVE SOME SAFETY COMPONENT WITH ADDITIONAL LIGHTING IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH LIGHT. IT DOESN'T REPLACE THE STREET LIGHTS, BUT IT DOES HELP WITH THAT. WE CAN CONTROL BASICALLY A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THE BRIGHTNESS AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE OFF ON CERTAIN TIMES AND ALL THOSE TIMES WILL BE CARBON NEUTRAL. SO 2024 WHEN COUNCIL PCDC REQUESTED US TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS, WE DID A LOT OF MEETINGS. WE MET WITH THE COMMUNITY SEVERAL TIMES. WE DID MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS. SOME OF THEM ARE LISTED HERE AND WE GOT THEIR FEEDBACK. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PILOT PROGRAM ITSELF, SOME OF THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS IS HERE. NUMBER ONE, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO BE A PILOT PROGRAM FOR TWO YEARS. SO, YOU KNOW, TO CHECK IT OUT. AFTER THE TWO YEARS, WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL TO EVALUATE IT AND SEE IF IT'S WORKING AND IT'S DOING THE JOB THAT WE THOUGHT IT WILL DO. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, [01:45:04] THERE IS SOME TIME SHARE, SOME REVENUE SHARE AS WELL, SO ALL THAT WILL BE BENEFIT FOR THE CITY. ONE OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR ALL THE FUNDS TO GO TO THE ART DEPARTMENT AND OUR RECOMMENDATION IS EXACTLY THE SAME, THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE WILL GET ALL THE REVENUE. SOME RESTRICTIONS ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE SIGN. IT CANNOT EXCEED 25% OF THE FACE OF THAT BUILDING. OBVIOUSLY IF THERE IS OTHER RESTRICTIONS LIKE TXDOT HAS CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND THE SIGN NEEDS TO BE SMALLER, THAT DEFINITELY WILL HAPPEN. WE DID PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS TO PROTECT CERTAIN AREAS. SUCH AS THE RIVERWALK. WE DON'T 'THOSE SIGNS TO BE AT THE RIVERWALK OR SEEN FROM THE RIVERWALK. THEY CANNOT BE ON ANY HISTORIC DESIGNATED STRUCTURE. IF IT'S IN THE OVERLAY DISTRICT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH HDRC FOR REVIEW. AND AS I MENTIONED, IT HAS TO COMPLY WITH TXDOT RULES. THIS IS REALLY THE PROPOSAL. AS I SAID, THE REVENUE SHARE HERE, THE PROPOSAL IS TO GET 10% AS AN INITIAL REVENUE SHARE FROM THE COMPANY, AND THAT'S FROM THE GROSS INCOME. BASED ON OTHER CITIES, DENVER AND ATLANTA AND WEST HOLLYWOOD, IT SHOWS THAT THE SIGN BRINGS ABOUT 300 TO 500,000 A YEAR, SO 10% WILL BE BETWEEN 30,000 TO 50,000 PER SIGN. AND THE PROPOSAL FROM PCDC IS IF THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS EXTENDED TO INCREASE THAT AMOUNT TO 15%. THE OTHER COMPONENT FOR REVENUE IS BASICALLY THE COMPANY UPON RECEIVING A PERMIT, THEY WILL GIVE THE CITY $100,000 TO THE ARTS DEPARTMENT TO USE THAT MONEY, NUMBER ONE, TO HIRE A LOCAL ARTIST TO LOOK AT THAT AREA WHERE THE SIGN IS GOING TO BE, DO EVALUATION, COME UP WITH A PLAN, COME UP WITH AN ART COMPONENT, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE INSTALLATION OF THAT ART COMPONENT AND THEN THE MAINTENANCE OF IT. SO THAT 100,000 WILL DEFINITELY HELP WITH THAT. THE PROPOSAL IS WE HAVE EIGHT DIFFERENT AREAS, SECTIONS IN THE CITY THAT THE SIGNS WILL BE ABLE TO BE INSTALLED THERE. THE MAXIMUM IN EACH AREA TO HAVE THREE SIGNS MAX. WITH THE CAVEAT THAT OVERALL CITYWIDE WE WILL NOT HAVE MORE THAN TEN SIGNS. AND THE LAST ONE ON THIS SLIDE IS BASICALLY THE TIME SHARE. SO THE CITY WILL GET 20% TO ADVERTISE EITHER, AGAIN, CITY MESSAGES OR ART COMPONENTS OR MESSAGES. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE ART DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID OBVIOUSLY WE NEED SOME MONEY TO BUILD THAT AND THEN WE CAN HIRE ARTISTS TO PUT TOGETHER SOME MESSAGES AND WE CAN PUT THEM ON THE SLIDE. SO AT THE BEGINNING WE MIGHT NOT HAVE A LOT OF ART MESSAGES AT THE BEGINNING, BUT THEN LATER ON WE CAN BUILD THAT AND START UTILIZING THAT. IF THE SIGN COMPANY HAS ADDITIONAL TIME, WE WILL GET ADDITIONAL 5% IF THAT TIME IS AVAILABLE. SO HERE IS THOSE EIGHT AREAS THAT WE ARE SAYING POTENTIAL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE TOP RIGHT CORNER, IT'S TOYOTA FIELD, THAT'S IN DISTRICT 10, THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS BROOK CITY AND THAT'S IN DISTRICT 3. THE BOTTOM LEFT THE PORT SA, DISTRICT 4, AND THEN WE HAVE IN THE MIDDLE BASICALLY FIVE AREAS, UTSA IS DISTRICT 5. THREE OF THEM, DOWNTOWN WEST AND EAST AND SOUTH ARE DISTRICT 1, AND THEN ALAMODOME EAST IS DISTRICT 2. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM, AND AGAIN, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE TOP ITEMS IS MAXIMUM WILL HAVE TEN SIGNS CITYWIDE. WE WILL HAVE EIGHT AREAS TO BASICALLY CHOOSE FROM AND EACH AREA CAN HAVE MAXIMUM OF THREE SIGNS. $100,000 PER PERMIT UP FRONT. IF ALL TEN ARE ISSUED, THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S GOING TO GO TO THE ARTS DEPARTMENT. 10% GROSS REVENUE FOR NOW. IF THE PILOT PROGRAM IS EXTENDED TO MOVE UP TO 15%. 20% TIME SHARE WITH 5% MORE IF THERE'S AVAILABILITY. AND THE GOAL HERE IS IN IT'S APPROVED, IT WILL GO IN EFFECT SEPTEMBER IS 15 TIME TO ALLOW TIME TO BUILD THE PROCESS AND BE READY FOR IT. WITH THAT SAID, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, AMIN. I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO COUNCILMAN WHO HAS THE FLOOR. WE'LL RESET HER TIME. [01:50:03] >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, AMIN. I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. I FEEL LIKE I'VE HEARD THIS PRESENTATION AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN CAREFULLY CONSIDERED PROPOSAL TO ALLOW OFF-PREMISES DIGITAL ADVERTISING IN SELECT AREAS OF THE CITY WHICH WILL REQUIRE AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S SIGN CODE. THE ONE THING IS THIS WAS BROUGHT BACK TO US -- OR TO ME, I LEARNED OF IT IN 2023 AND I DID HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FACT IT WAS NOT ADDRESSED AND I SHARED THAT WITH MIKE SHANNON IN THE UDC CODE. BUT HE SAID WE COULD COME BACK AND PILOT IT BECAUSE I WAS FULLY AWARE COUNCIL TO TAKE ALL TEN PILOTS INTO DISTRICT 3 AND THE SOUTHERN SECTOR BETWEEN DISTRICT 4 AND DISTRICT 3 BECAUSE WE HAD BROOKS AND WE HAD THE PORT, AND I HAVE PLACES IN HIGHLAND HILLS AND PECAN VALLEY WHERE WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS MORE WALKABLE AREAS. WHAT WE HAVE HEARD TODAY REGARDING DOWNTOWN CAN BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS WE MOVE THIS PILOT PROGRAM FORWARD. WE CAN LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORS CONSIDERATION. THE ONE THING I DO WANT TO -- ON BEHALF OF MY AMERICAN INDIANS IN TEXAS, SAN ANTONIO IS A LOT OLDER THAN 300 YEARS AND THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY TO TELL. SO WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IS HAVING THE ARTISTS FROM AREAS OF TOWN THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY FOCUSED, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN, BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM. WHEN WE -- AND IF WE HAVE THIS AT BROOKS AND AT PORT SAN ANTONIO. SO THIS IS A PILOT. IT ALLOWS FOR US TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING. I KNOW THE NUMBERS AREN'T WHAT WE NECESSARILY WANT, BUT IN CONSIDERATION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION I HAVE GOING ON IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR WITH THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN, I DON'T KNOW THAT ADVERTISERS ARE GOING TO SEE THE INCENTIVE IN WHAT STAFF PUT FORWARD. AND I THINK I SAID SOMETHING SIMILAR DURING COMMITTEE MEETING THAT IT WAS LIKE I UNDERSTAND YOUR NUMBER BECAUSE YOU LOOKED AT THE KIOSK, BUT WHEN WE PUT IN THE KIOSK DID WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF STREETS WE HAVE CLOSED, DID WE HAVE THE CONSTANT CONSTRUCTION AT UTSA DOWNTOWN. I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND REALLY STRIVE TO GET TO THAT 15%. YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. TELLING US YOU HAD THE FORUMS. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE REGARDING SURVEYS AND WHAT WE DO WITH C&E AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THE TIME OF NEGOTIATION WITH FINANCE AND CITY STAFF. BUT THIS HAS BEEN WHAT I FEEL IS LIKE THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING. SO AMIN, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS CURRENTLY DO WE HAVE ANY ART IN ENTERTAINMENT WITH OUTDOOR DIGITAL MEDIA IN ANY OTHER PARTS OF SAN ANTONIO? ALAMO RANCH, YOU KNOW, FURTHER NORTH? I THINK ABOUT BLACK ROCK. I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A PRECURSOR, BUT ON A LARGER SCALE. IS THERE ANYTHING SIMILAR GOING ON CURRENTLY? >> SO AT THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE ANY OFF-PREMISE DISTAL SIGNS IN ANY OF THE ARTS OR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS. THE EXAMPLE YOU MENTIONED THE ROCK, THAT IS ON-PREMISE SIGN. THE ONLY OFF-PREMISES SIGNS, BASICALLY WE CALL THEM BILLBOARDS, THE ONES OFF THE HIGHWAY MAINLY AND A FEW OTHERS, BUT NOT IN ANY ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OR ART DISTRICT. >> VIAGRAN: I WAS ABLE TO SEE THEM IN DENVER. I'VE BEEN TO MIAMI. THIS IS NOT THE BILLBOARDS THAT WE THINK OF NECESSARILY ON THE ROAD WITH THE CLEAR CHANNEL DRIVING OVER THROUGH BALCONES HEIGHTS. SO THEN I WANT TO SEE -- CAN YOU TOUCH ON THE SAFETY AND ILLUMINATION STANDARDS? AND I KNOW PUBLIC WORKS IS NOT HERE, BUT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WELL, JUST PUT UP STREET LIGHTS. HOW MUCH MORE WOULD A STREET LIGHT BE? THAT'S THE PUBLIC WORKS AND I DON'T KNOW JOHN OR ERIK IF YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO PUT UP STREET LIGHTS WHERE WE WANT THAT WALKABILITY. >> COUNCILWOMAN, OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD DEPEND ON LOCATION AND HOW WE DO IT, WHETHER THEY ARE WIRED OR -- WE COULD WORK ON ESTIMATES AT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS. >> VIAGRAN: AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THING IS IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST PUTTING UP MORE STREET LIGHTS. IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS WE HAVE THIS BUDGET WHERE WE CAN DO THIS. WE HAVE BEEN -- AND SO IF THIS PILOT DOES NOT WORK OUT, WE WILL HAVE THEM REMOVED BY THE COMPANY OR WE WILL DESIGNATE FUNDS TO [01:55:06] REMOVE THE SIGNS? >> THE PROPOSAL NOW IS A TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008 WHEN THE PROPOSAL WAS TO INSTALL A DIGITAL FACE ON THE BILLBOARDS FOR 15 LOCATIONS. AFTER THE PILOT PROGRAM, THOSE SIGNS WILL STAY THERE AS LONG AS THEY ARE OPERATIONAL AND MAINTAINED APPROPRIATELY, THEY WILL NOT BE REMOVED. BUT THE PROGRAM -- IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES NOT TO EXTEND IT, THEN THAT WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM LIMIT OF THE NUMBER OF SIGNS. BUT THERE IS NO PLAN TO REMOVE THOSE SIGNS. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. SO I GUESS ON THE -- SO AND THIS IS WHERE I'M GETTING DISTRICT SPECIFIC BECAUSE I THINK WITH DISTRICT 3 IN TERMS OF BROOKS AND WHY THIS IS KIND OF IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS STEP IS THAT TO LEAVE BROOKS OUT WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO REALLY HARD CREATE OUR OWN ENTERTAINMENT, OUR OWN LIVE, WORK, PLAY IN THAT DISTRICT, AND THEN THERE'S OTHERS IN DISTRICT 3 AND THE SOUTH SIDE THAT WE WANT, THAT WOULD -- THAT THEN -- WE COULD GO INTO THE RFP AND REMOVE THEM AFTERWARDS, CORRECT? LIKE LET'S SAY THEY PUT IT UP ON A UTSA BUILDING. THAT WOULD BE UTSA'S PREROGATIVE ON WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO NEXT WITH IT? >> I WOULD BELIEVE THAT SMALL PART OF THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MEDIA COMPANY THAT IS INSTALLING AND SPENDING THE MONEY ON THE SIGN AND THE OWNER. IF THEY COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT STATING IF YOU INSTALL IT NOW AND CERTAIN TIME YOU NEED TO REMOVE IT. >> VIAGRAN: SO WE'RE NOT EVEN AT THE CONTRACTUAL PHASE NOW. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ALLOW THIS IN PARTS OF TOWN THAT ARE WILLING TO HAVE IT. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER A RECORD FROM BROOKS IN SUPPORT OF THIS. I KNOW WE HEARD CENTRO SPEAK AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THEY WEREN'T HERE TODAY. BUT I DO WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. I DO WANT TO HAVE THE ARTS COMMUNITY PART -- AND TO INCLUDE MY ARTISTS FROM DISTRICT 3 AS PART OF THIS. BECAUSE I THINK THIS CAN BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN PARTS OF SOUTH SAN ANTONIO. I DON'T WANT TO SEE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY LEFT OUT BECAUSE OF -- OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT SIT ON DOWNTOWN, THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD CONVERSATION WITH UTSA AND THE ALAMODOME AREA IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WOULD WANT TO DO TOO. OUT OF THIS THERE ARE THREE AREAS THAT SIT OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN THAT COULD SEE THIS HELP WITH THEIR PROFIT AND ARTS COMMUNITY, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD TODAY. I THINK IT HAS BEEN A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS. THE CONTRACTS HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN SIGNED. WE'RE JUST ASKING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO GET TO THAT CONTRACT POINT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE ASK FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE SIGNS. IF IT IS IN A LOCATION WITHIN DISTRICT 1 THAT YOU ARE LIKE WE'RE GOING TO WANT IT GONE, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION. I'M CONFIDENT IN PORT AND BROOKS AND THE TOYOTA FIELD TO DO A CONTRACT THAT WOULD MAKE IT PLEASING TO THE RESIDENTS IN AND AROUND THAT AREA. SO I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL FOR PCDC AND I JUST DO WANT TO THANK MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE AND THAT INCLUDES COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: WHEN I WAS FIRST APPROACHED ABOUT THIS, IT WAS EXPLAINED ABOUT A WAY OF LIGHTING UP PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD ENTICE TOURISTS TO ENJOY A LITTLE BIT MORE OF DOWNTOWN. AND I THINK -- I'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE A LOT OF DOWNTOWN IS VERY DARK, THAT IT'S NOT VERY INVITING FOR TOURISTS AT NIGHT, AND THAT I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PROJECT FOR THAT, AND I WAS LOOKING AT IT AS A PILOT PROJECT. I THINK THIS IS GONE BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS AS FAR AS A PILOT PROJECT. THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PCDC RECEIVED AND WE KIND OF PASSED ON TO THE COUNCIL I [02:00:02] DON'T THINK HAD THE TOTAL COMMITTED SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I THINK WE SAID, WELL, LET'S MOVE THIS FORWARD FOR THE COUNCIL TO KIND OF RECONSIDER. LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE ON THE SCREEN AND SLIDE NUMBER 9, I'LL JUST GIVE MY INPUT ON THIS. I THINK THAT THE REVENUE SHARE SHOULD BE AT LEAST 15%, NOT 10 AND EXPANDED LATER, BUT I THINK 20 TO 25 IS UNREASONABLE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE COMPANY WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY KIND OF REVENUE TO SUPPORT THAT KIND OF SPLIT EARLIER ON. -- EARLY ON. THE TIME I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME EARLY ON IT WOULD BE MAYBE THREE-QUARTERS THE ADVERTISING, SO TO SPEAK, AND A QUARTER WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY. THIS LOOKS MORE 80%, WE GET 20 AND IF THERE'S A LITTLE LEFT OVER. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A FULL 25% AND DEDICATED TOWARD TAKING THE ART CREATED IN SAN ANTONIO AND DIGITIZING IT AND PUTTING IT UP TO PEOPLE TO ENJOY AROUND THE CITY, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE COMING TO VISIT SAN ANTONIO, TOURISTS. AND THEN MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE ADVERTISING FOR THE CITY ABOUT A SPECIAL EVENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT MY CONCEPT WAS PROMOTING MORE OF THE CITY'S WONDERFUL ART. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE DIMINISHING WHAT I PERCEIVED AS THE ADVANTAGE TO THE CITY. THE PILOT ART CONTRIBUTION OF $100,000 PER DISPLAY, WELL, NOW WE'RE HEARING THAT'S $100,000 AND THAT MAY GO FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE -- AND PAYING THE ARTISTS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'LL END UP GETTING POST IT OR PUT UP NEXT TO THOSE. HOW BIG IT IS OR HOW VALUABLE IT MAY BE. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT ISN'T A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR TO ME. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO DO A PILOT PROJECT SCATTERED ALL OVER THE CITY, I THINK IT'S A WASTE OF TIME. BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN ONE DISTRICT MAY OR MAY NOT LIKE IT. ONE DISPLAY IN ONE DISTRICT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO REALLY EVALUATE THE TOTAL IMPACT OR EFFECT IT COULD HAVE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. I THINK IT SHOULD BE TARGETED, I THINK IT SHOULD BE IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN AREA FOR AT LEAST MOST OF THESE. I NEVER THOUGHT WE SHOULD HAVE TEN. IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A PILOT, LET'S HAVE IT SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT, MEANINGFUL IN ONE AREA WE CAN GET THE GREATEST RETURN. SO I WOULDN'T THINK THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN EIGHT AND THEY SHOULD BE RELATIVELY WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN DESIGNATED AREAS THAT I THINK WE HAVE ON ONE OF THE OTHER SLIDES THERE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE FACTORS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO ME AS I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THIS. AND FROM WHAT I'M SEEING HERE, I HAVE MUCH LESS EXCITEMENT OR ENTHUSIASM FOR WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED. ONE FACTOR THAT WAS JUST MENTIONED THAT ISN'T CONSIDERED IS IF THESE GO UP AND THE PILOT BECOMES A FAILURE OR THE COMPANY GOES UNDER, YOU KNOW, THEN THEY ARE STUCK THERE. I DON'T LIKE THAT CONCEPT EITHER. I THINK IF THERE'S AN ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COMPANY TO PUT THEM UP ON A BUILDING AND THE OWNER OF THAT BUILDING GRANTS THAT PERMISSION, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING IN THAT AGREEMENT THAT TALKS ABOUT REMOVING THOSE IN THE EVENT THAT THE PROJECT FAILS FOR WHATEVER REASON. OTHERWISE WE'VE GOT A BUDGE OF DEAD BILLBOARDS ON BUILDINGS. NOW, IF THE COMPANIES MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PUT UP A BILLBOARD AND THE PROPERTY OWNER, LET'S SAY A HOTEL OR IS CITY IF IT'S ON A GARAGE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR IF THE PROJECT FAILS TO MAINTAIN AND UTILIZE THOSE THEMSELVES, THEN THAT'S GOOD, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE A BUNCH OF DEAD BILLBOARDS AROUND TOWN. AND I LIKE THE ART, I LIKE THE IDEA OF LIGHTING UP DOWNTOWN. PEOPLE SAY WHY DON'T THE CITY JUST PAY FOR IT? THIS IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR BY SOMEBODY ELSE, SAVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUTTING UP THE LIGHTS. FOR ME THAT MAKES A SENSIBLE INVESTMENT. I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE COMMENTS FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO ONE OF THE COMMENTS YOU MADE. SO DEFINITELY AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IF THE SIGN IS IN PLACE AND OPERATIONAL, EVEN IF THE PILOT PROGRAM IS NOT EXTENDED, THEY WOULD REMAIN. IF IT'S NOT OPERATIONAL, NORMALLY WE DO REQUIRE THEM TO PULL IT DOWN. I WROTE A NOTE HERE SO IF [02:05:01] THIS MOVES FORWARD, WE DO THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT, WE MAKE SURE THAT'S IN THERE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: WHILE I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE, I DEFINITELY WAS THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. ON THE ORDINANCE IT SAYS IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 15. WHY IS THAT NEXT WEEK OR TODAY? >> JUST TO GIVE US TIME TO REVIEW EVERYTHING AND COME UP WITH THE PROCESS OF HOW TO ACCEPT THE PERMITS COMING IN AND START DRAFTING SOME OF THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE DON'T WANT TO START IT WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE PROCESSES IN PLACE. >> MUNGIA: AND THAT INCLUDES RESTRICTION ON CONTENT, TIME OF OPERATION, ILLUMINATION, BRIGHTNESS, THAT'S WHAT ALL THAT INCLUDES? >> YES. >> MUNGIA: AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS EVEN IF THEY WERE IN OPPOSITION AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK IF THIS PASSES TODAY? >> IF THIS PASSES TODAY WITH SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS, THE OUTLINE, IT'S MORE LIKE A BIGGER PICTURE, WILL YOU WILL. AGAIN, THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WILL BE BETWEEN THE MEDIA COMPANY AND THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING. IF IT'S CITY BUILDING, WE WOULD WORK ON THAT. IF IT'S A PRIVATE PROPERTY, THAT PRIVATE OWNER WILL BE DEALING WITH THE MEDIA COMPANY. BUT THEY NEED TO FOLLOW THE OVERALL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE. >> MUNGIA: OKAY, GOOD. JUST SOME RESTRICTIONS I'M IN FAVOR OF ARE DEFINITELY, ADS FOR TOBACCO USE, ALCOHOL, VAPE S, POLITICAL ADS, ALL THE POLITICAL ADS. I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ARTS COMPONENT. IS ANYBODY FROM THE ARTS DEPARTMENT COMING TODAY? YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET UP. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE HERE. ONE OF THE IDEAS I WAS INTERESTED IN WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS AS A STAFFER WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO HAVE THEIR GRAPHIC ART DISPLAYED ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS IS A GROWING MEDIAN OF ART, SOMETHING WE DON'T TALK ABOUT A LOT. IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO HAVE KIDS FROM SOUTH SAN, JOHN JAY, LANIER, JEFFERSON, LEE, HAVE THEIR ART DISPLAYED DOWNTOWN, MAYBE THROUGH AN ARTS COMPETITION. I SUPPORT THE REVENUE GOING TO ARTS AND EVEN IF THAT'S A SMALL AMOUNT GOING TO PRIZE FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE CITY TO DO THAT. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM. IN MY DISTRICT IT WILL BE AT PORT SAN ANTONIO AND THEY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. I AGREE WITH THE PCDC RECOMMENDATIONS AND WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. ANDY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO -- >> SEGOVIA: THANK YOU FOR LETTING ONE OF THE DEPLORABLES SPEAK. [LAUGHTER] I KNOW YOU WERE JUST KIDDING, COUNCILMAN. I DID WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS. THE CONTRACTS AS AMIN POINTED OUT, THOSE ARE BETWEEN THE PRIVATE ENTITIES, THE SIGN PROVIDER, BUILDER, ET CETERA, AND THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS. SO I DID WANT TO CLARIFY THERE'S NO CONTRACTS THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO ENTER INTO. BUT WHAT AMIN WAS REFERRING TO IS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT THE ACTUAL PERMIT PROCESS IN PLACE INCLUDING THE GUIDELINES YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AS TO WHAT THE CONTENT WILL BE. UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S SOME LEGAL LIMITS WE HAVE IN TERMS OF THOSE RESTRICTION, BUT WE'LL BE MINDFUL OF THOSE AS WE TAKE COUNCIL'S INPUT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN ADDRESS AS MANY OF THOSE AS WE CAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF WE CAN TABLE THIS ITEM SO WE CAN GET TO THE APPOINTMENT OF DISTRICT 2 AND COME BACK TO THIS. IF THERE IS ANY OBJECTION. I KNOW WE HAVE FOLKS THAT NEED TO LEAVE. BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONGER DISCUSSION THAN I THINK WE ANTICIPATED. IS THAT ALL RIGHT? I'M GOING TO TABLE -- >> >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THEY ARE DONE -- WELL, WE'RE AT COUNCIL DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW. >> THERE'S A LONG LINE OF DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL AT THIS POINT. WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC. IF ANYBODY THAT NEEDS TO LEAVE ON THIS ITEM, THEY ARE WELCOME TO DO THAT. SO IF THERE'S -- >> VIAGRAN: WE CAN'T JUST CALL THE QUESTION IF WE NEED TO MOVE ON. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT AND I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS. WE'LL COME BACK AFTER WE GO TO ITEM 5. >> VIAGRAN: 4 AND 5? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ITEM 4 FIRST, THEN COME BACK TO THIS AND DO ITEM 5 LAST. OKAY? [02:10:07] ALL RIGHT. SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TABLE THIS ITEM. IF FOLKS NEED TO TAKE A BRIEF BREAK, WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON ITEM 20. LET'S PULL UP ITEM 4. >> CLERK: APPOINTING A TEMPORARY COUNCILMEMBER TO FILL THE DISTRICT 2 OFFICE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DO WE HAVE ANY PRESENTATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? OKAY. ANDY, DO WE NEED AN EXEC ON THIS FIRST? >> SEGOVIA: NO, MAYOR, YOU DON'T NEED AN EXEC FIRST. I WOULD PROCEED WITH THE INTERVIEW. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TODAY WE'RE GATHERED TO DELIBERATE THE APPLICANTS FOR THE VACANT DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL SEAT. YESTERDAY THE CITY COUNCIL SELECTED ONE CANDIDATE TO COME FORWARD, LEO CASTILLO, TO INTERVIEW TO FILL THE DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL SEAT UNTIL COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ RETURNS FROM HIS LEAVE OF ABSENCE. WE CAN BEGIN THAT PROCESS NOW. SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND GIVE MY COLLEAGUES AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT THEIR THOUGHTS, AND MR. CASTILLO, IF YOU CAN COME FORWARD, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A MOMENT TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION PERIOD. WE DON'T HAVE A PREPARED QUESTION FOR YOU, BUT I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR OPENING STATEMENT, THEN WE'LL TURN TO OUR DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING YOU FOR NAMING KNEE THE FINALISTS. I'M FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR THE DISTRICT 2 TEAM SUPPORT. I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF GETTING TO KNOW THEM AND I'M HONORED TO DIVIDE ANSWER AND SUBPOENA OR THE -- GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT. INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE, PARKS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY -- EXCUSE ME, COMMUNITY SPACES BECAUSE THESE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SAFETY, HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE. ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH PREVENTION AND CARE, NOT OVERPOLICING. STRENGTHENING ANIMAL CARE SERVICES SO WE HAVE SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS, RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIPS AND THIS KEEPS OUR FURRY FRIENDS HAPPIER. THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING AS WE NAVIGATE A $30 MILLION DEFICIT AND THAT WE ENSURE EQUITY AND IT DOESN'T FALL ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. I'VE LIVED AND ATTENDED SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE CITY CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING UTSA. I UNDERSTAND -- I UNDERSTAND EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT AND WE HAVE A DUTY TO FIND COMMON GROUND IN AUDIO]. WHILE THE CITY STRUCTURE AND BUDGET IS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN THOSE I'VE MANAGED, MY WORK HAS GIVEN ME REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE TO MEET METRIC GOALS AND BASELINE OF SERVICE. IT'S GIVEN ME THE FRONTLINE VIEW OF ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OUR CITY FACES AND PAINTS A PICTURE WHEN OUR SYSTEMS DON'T SERVE OUR RESIDENTS. IF APPOINTED, I WILL GOVERN IN A SPIRIT OF PASSION, COLLABORATION AND HUMILITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CASTILLO. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW, BUT LET ME ENTERTIN A MOTION ON THE APPLICANT. >> AND SECOND TO APPOINT INTO THE TEMPORARY DISTRICT 2 VACANCY MR. LEO CASTILLO. THOSE DATES ARE PRINTED. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL DISCUSSION. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, LEO, SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP TO THIS OPPORTUNITY. YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY WE MET A LOT OF REALLY GREAT CANDIDATES. I THOUGHT WHAT WAS MOST TELLING WAS THE DISTRICT 2'S TEAM AND THEIR SUPPORT WITH YOU TAKING ON THIS TEMPORARY POSITION. I KNOW BUDGET SEASON IS ITS OWN BEAST AND IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE AN AMAZING DISTRICT 2 TEAM TO LEAN ON AND I WOULD OFFER THE DISTRICT 7 TEAM'S SUPPORT TO HELP YOU THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, LEO. I'M GLAD YOU HAVE STEPPED UP, BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE FIVE MINUTES YESTERDAY WAS ENOUGH TO KIND OF GET TO KNOW YOUR STORY. [02:15:01] I DO HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK THE FIRST IS WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DOING PUBLIC SERVICE THIS WAY? BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY. IF YOU COULD TALK TO THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE TO GATHER MY THOUGHTS BECAUSE I DEFINITELY HAVE AN ANSWER. BUT GOING BACK TO A LITTLE ABOUT MY STORY, I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. I ATTENDED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SARA KING AND A LITTLE IN THE SUNRISE AREA WHY IS WHERE HE RESIDE TODAY. GRADUATED FROM UTSA. I DID A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT HANDS ON WITH POLITICAL ADVOCACY AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST TEACHING YOUTH WHAT IT MEANS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND, YOU KNOW, LEARNING ABOUT OUR RIGHTS AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THOSE SKILLS ARE REALLY SET ME UP FOR SUCCESS TO BE EVENTUALLY APPOINTED TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TOLD ME, YOU'RE IN DISTRICT 2, MAYBE YOU SHOULD STEP UP AND UTILIZE THE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE YOU HAVE GAINED ALONG THE WAY. I HAVE A WHOLE SUPPORT SYSTEM. I CAN CALL AS MANY PEOPLE AS I THINK OF AND ANYBODY WILL HELP GUIDE ME THROUGH THOSE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHY I DECIDED TO APPLY FOR THIS. >> VIAGRAN: AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, AND YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING LIKE ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR SYSTEMS THAT NEED HELP OR YOU FEEL AREN'T WORKING. WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE CITYWIDE WHERE YOU KNOW -- BECAUSE YOU ARE A NEIGHBOR TO DISTRICT 3, YOU ARE A NEIGHBOR TO DISTRICT 10, DISTRICT 1. TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE WHOLE CITY AND WHAT YOU DO WITH THRIVE. >> IT STARTED BACK WITH TEXAS RISING. I GOT INVOLVED WITH THEM WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT UTSA WHICH WAS DISTRICT 8. THIS WAS A LOT OF LEARNING WITH OUR RIGHTS, PROTESTING, WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE, WHAT OUR CITY CAN DO TO PROTECT US. AND THEN I WORKED FOR THE PRIDE CENTER FOR A WHILE AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALLOCATING RESOURCES TO ANYBODY WHO IS IN SAN ANTONIO AND SURROUNDING AREAS. A LOT OF THIS WAS REALLOCATING RESOURCES LIKE IMMIGRATION OR HOUSING ISSUES AND SO -- I'M TRYING NOT TO LOSE MY THOUGHT. BASICALLY IT'S JUST BEEN LIKE JUST WORKING THROUGH MANY NON-PROFITS. AND THEN ESPECIALLY AT AUSTIN WE ESTABLISHED A REALLY GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, BUT IT'S BASICALLY ALL THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE THROUGHOUT COLLEGE AND EVER SINCE I CAME OUT AT LIKE, I FEEL EVERYTHING HAS BEEN A LIFE EXPERIENCE. >> VIAGRAN: IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS. THIS IS THE FINAL QUESTION I HAVE BECAUSE YOU'RE YOUNG AND EAGER AND I KNOW IT'S ONLY TWO MONTHS, BUT IT'S TWO MONTHS DURING BUDGET. AND IT'S TWO MONTHS IN THIS TIME. SO YOU UNDERSTAND FULLY WHEN I TELL YOU YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE AN OATH TO DEFEND THIS U.S. CONSTITUTION. ARE YOU READY? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. LEO, LET ME ASK JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS DO YOU THINK THERE ARE ANY IMPEDIMENTS TO YOU SERVING BASED ON FAMILIAR OR WORK OBLIGATIONS OR COMMITMENTS? >> NO. CURRENTLY MY JOB WILL PUT ME ON LEAVE IF I DO GET APPOINTED. >> COURAGE: SO YOU WOULD BE A FULL-TIME COUNCILMEMBER. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> COURAGE: THERE'S A COUPLE OF CONCERNS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH COUNCIL. ONE OF THEM IS PROJECT MARVEL AND ONE OF THE POINTS OF DISCUSSION BY THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN POSSIBLY PUTTING TOGETHER A BOND PROGRAM TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT THE COUNTY IS LOOKING AT FOR A BOND PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD INCORPORATE THE CITY RAISING MONEY TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF ADDING AN ARENA AS PART OF PROJECT MARVEL. HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO THAT, HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT, WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE GOING IF YOU SAT IN THIS SEAT? >> WELL, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TODAY FOR THAT, BUT I THINK THAT THE FIRST PART WOULD BE DEFINITELY DISCUSSING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE UTILIZING SURVEYS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I NOTICE THERE'S A FEW PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 2 OUTLINED IN PROJECT MARVEL AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING DISTRICT 2 IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION EVER. >> COURAGE: OKAY. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'S BEEN COMING UP RATHER DRAMATICALLY WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS IS THE ISSUE ON IMMIGRATION AND PEOPLE IN THIS CITY BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY ICE AND TAKEN AWAY. AS YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THIS [02:20:03] COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT, PROTESTING AGAINST THAT. DO YOU HAVE A POINT OF VIEW OF BEING A COUNCILMEMBER HOW YOU VIEW THAT AND HOW YOU THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE VIEWING OUR ACTING ON THAT ISSUE? >> I THINK IMMIGRANTS ARE PEOPLE. THEY DO EXACTLY WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY SHOW UP TO WORK, SUPPORT THEIR KIDS, AND IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SUPPORTING THEM AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. >> I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR APPLYING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR SO LONG. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG MEETING. DISTRICT 2 IS THE ONLY COUNCIL DISTRICT WITH STABLE BLACK REPRESENTATION. I WANT TO ASK YOU HOW WILL YOU ENSURE THE BLACK COMMUNITY MAINTAINS ITS VOICE DURING THE WEEKS I'LL BE OUT? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I DEFINITELY DEEPLY VALUE THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN HISTORICALLY BLACK DISTRICT AND I DEFINITELY AM COMMITTED TO CENTERING BLACK VOICES IN EVERY CONSERVATION. I'VE LEARNED TRUE REPRESENTATION TODAY'S NOT ONLY MEAN A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BUT IT'S ALSO MAKING POLICIES AND INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY, BUT ALSO LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OR LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I'M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT IN DISTRICT 2, BUT ALSO THE CITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS FOR MR. CASTILLO? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL, AN APPOINTMENT OF MR. CASTILLO TO THE TEMPORARY VACANCY IN DISTRICT 2. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. CASTILLO. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: BEFORE YOU TAKE THE OATH, I WANT TO TURN THE FLOOR BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WANT TO START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT BROUGHT US HERE TODAY. AS OUR COUNCIL EVOLVES TO BEST REPRESENT A CITY THAT'S GROWING AT A RAPID PACE, WE'RE SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT DEMONSTRATES OUR VALUES. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO ARE STARTING OR GROWING THEIR FAMILY. NEITHER THE DECISION TO TAKE PARENTAL LEAVE OR REQUEST THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM COUNCILMEMBER WERE DECISIONS I CAME TO EASILY, QUICKLY OR WITHOUT RESERVATION. I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE WORK I DO EACH DAY AND THE RELATIONSHIPS WE'VE BUILT AS COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE WAYS TO RESPOND TO COMPLEX CHALLENGES OUR CITY FACES. IN WORKING ALONGSIDE MY TEAM ON THE GROUND TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK FOR MY CONSTITUENTS AND EARNING TRUST EVERY DAY. THE IDEA OF SOMEONE ELSE OCCUPYING THE SEAT WITH THE DISCRETION TO EITHER CARRY THE BATON DOWN THE TRACK OR CHANGE COURSE ENTIRELY AND LEAVE ME WITH A MESS TO CLEAN UP IS A CHALLENGING CONCEPT TO ACHIEVE 100%. HOWEVER, I'VE WATCHED PEOPLE GIVE UP PRECIOUS MOMENTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND FORCE THEIR FAMILIES TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE. AS A MAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE FULLY PRESENT FOR MY DAUGHTER. I WANT TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF MY FAMILY FOR ENSURING -- WHILE ENSURING THE NEEDS OF MY CONSTITUENTS. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE APPLICANTS, I KNOW THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE DISTRICT WELL, CONTINUE THEIR WORK IN ARTS, AGENCY, HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH AND IN SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS. TO KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE STEPPED UP CONTINUES TO HAVE A VOICE RECOGNITION AND A VOTE IN MY ABSENCE WAS A POWERFUL TESTAMENT TO WHO AND WHAT OTHER DISTRICT IS. I'M GRATEFUL TO MY STAFF FOR BRAVELY SHARING THEIR NEEDS AND WHAT THEY WANTED IN AN INTERIM COUNCILMEMBER AS THEY WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU. WE'VE BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT DURING MARRIAGES AND CHILDREN AND NEW HOMES AND MORE. SOMEONE THAT HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME AND MY TEAM AND IS COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING THROUGH ON ANY PRIORITIES. WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT DOES NOT DO NEAR ENOUGH FOR FAMILIES. WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT TOO [02:25:04] OFTEN PARENTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PARENTAL LEAVE. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS STRENGTHENED MY RESOLVE TO FIGHT TO BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT PRIORITIZES THE BASIC NEEDS OF WORKERS AND I HOPE THIS WILL BE A FOCUS OF INCOMING DOWN DURING THE BUDGET AS WE FIND NEW WAYS TO ATTRACT OR RETAIN OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. I WILL NOT BE GONE LONG AND AS SOON AS I'M ABLE TO BE BACK OUT AND ABOUT I WILL BE. LEO, I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD AND HONORED TO SUPPORT YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY. I WAS THRILLED TO LEARN YOU APPLIED FOR THE SITUATION AND I'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU IN THIS CAPACITY. WE MET ALMOST NINE YEARS AGO BACK WHEN WE WERE 18 AND 21 AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO GROW IN YOUR ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC SERVICE. IT'S ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH. WE LEARNED ABOUT LEO'S EXPERIENCE AS A ORGANIZER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REFORM, VOTER RIGHTS, THE LIGHTS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, ABOUT HIS WORK WITH YOUNG ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE'LL ADDRESS WILL BE OUR HOUSING CRISIS AND HE WILL PROVIDE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE AS SOMEONE ON THE GROUND. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE UNCERTAINTY MANY OF OUR NON-PROFITS WILL EXPERIENCE AND HIS EXPERIENCE WILL PROVE INVALUABLE. CONGRATULATIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU IN THIS WORK. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. NOW YOU NEED TO BE SWORN IN. MR. CASTILLO WILL NOT BE TAKING THE SEAT UNTIL THE LEAVE STARTS. HANG TIGHT, YOU'VE GOT SOME WORK TO DO FIRST. >> THANK YOU. >> CLERK: CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT BRIEF INTERLUDE. WE'LL GET BACK NOW TO ITEM 20. AND WE'LL RESUME OUR QUEUE. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING BEFORE THAT. LET'S GET RIGHT BACK INTO DISCUSSION AND IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. NUMBER ONE, NONE OF THE PROPOSED LOCATIONS FOR THESE ART PROJECTS OR BILLBOARDS, NONE OF THEM ARE NEAR NEIGHBORHOODS. IS THAT RIGHT? >> CORRECT. I MEAN THE AREA MIGHT HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT, AGAIN, IF THEY DECIDE TO -- INSTEAD OF THE MEDIA COMPANY DECIDE TO INSTALL A SIGN IN ONE OF THESE AREAS, THEY NEED TO DO A FULL ANALYSIS AND IT WILL COME FOR REVIEW WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. >> WHYTE: SO WE'RE IN WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LET THESE THINGS BE GLOWING INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES, ARE WE? >> I CAN DEFINITELY TELL YOU THERE IS NO RESIDENTIAL AREAS WITHIN THESE AREAS. THAT'S WHY I'M KEEPING IT A LITTLE OPEN. BUT DEFINITELY THAT'S NOT THE INTENT. >> WHYTE: SO ARE THESE COMPANIES GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND GET ANY FURTHER APPROVALS WHEN THEY DECIDE EXACTLY WHERE THESE SIGNS ARE GOING TO GO? >> YES, EXACTLY. THEY NEED TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT AND WE WOULD GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THAT PERMIT, LOCATION, THE WAY THEY INSTALL IT AND MAKE SURE THEY COMPLY WITH ALL THE OTHER RULES IN REGARDS TO HISTORIC -- >> WHYTE: WHEN THE PERMITTING TEAM LOOKS AT GIVING A PERMIT, THE LOCATION AND PROXIMITY TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISRUPTING NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT? >> YES, WE WILL REVIEW ANYTHING AND IF IT'S GOING [02:30:02] TO HAVE ANY NEGATIVE EFFECT ON RESIDENTIAL AND IF IT DOESN'T MEET ALL THE CODES THAT THE CITY HAVE, THEN DEFINITELY WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT. >> WHYTE: IN TERMS OF THE ADVERTISING, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESTRICT THE ADVERTISING IN SOME SHAPE, FORM OR FASHION? >> SEGOVIA: THE ANSWER IS YES, BUT EVEN WITH COMMERCIAL SPEECH WE'RE VERY LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN RESTRICT. WE CAN HAVE A SEPARATE BRIEFING ON THAT, THAT ENTAILS MAYBE SOME LEGAL RISKS, DEPENDING HOW ROBUST WE WANT TO DO WITH THAT, BUT WE'RE VERY LIMITED IN TERMS OF WHAT SPEECH RECOLLECT RESTRICT. >> WHYTE: BUT WE'LL TAKE WHATEVER ACTION WE CAN LEGALLY TAKE TO RESTRICT ADVERTISING OF THINGS LIKE ALCOHOL, DRUGS, SMOKING. >> SEGOVIA: ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILMAN. >> WHYTE: VAPE SHOPS, ALL THE REST OF IT. IN TERMS OF HOURS, YOU SAID THERE WILL BE NEGOTIATION OVER WHAT HOURS THESE SIGNS WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE LIT. >> CORRECT. >> WHYTE: YOU MENTIONED PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT THESE SIGNS POTENTIALLY HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE LIGHTING. HAVE WE LOOKED AT OTHER CITIES LIKE DENVER AND OTHERS, DO WE HAVE ANY HEART STATISTICS THAT SHOW WE'VE HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY'S SAFETY WHERE THESE SIGNS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE? >> I DON'T HAVE ANY HARD EVIDENCE OF THAT, BUT THAT WAS WHAT THOSE CITIES EXPLAINED TO US, THEY DID TALK ABOUT ACTIVATION OF THE SPACE. AS I MENTIONED, IF AN AREA DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF FOOD TRAFFIC WHEN THEY PUT THOSE DIGITAL DISPLAYS WITH THE ART COMPONENT, IT'S BRINGING PEOPLE TO THAT AREA SO IT'S KIND OF -- >> WHYTE: SO WE HAVE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE FROM THE COMPANIES -- >> I CAN HAVE -- >> WHYTE: IF YOU'VE GOT MORE INFORMATION. >> IN DENVER WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING UNDER AN EXPANSION AND ONE OF THE TESTIMONIALS IS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING THE AMBIENT LIGHT DOES CREATE -- IT IS HELPFUL AND THE SECOND IS THE FIRST THING, BY CONTRACT IN DENVER AND ATLANTA AND WEST HOLLYWOOD, THERE ARE LIGHT MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS. IF THE LIGHT IS TOO BRIGHT, IT HAS TO BE TURNED OFF IN HALF AN HOUR AS OPPOSED TO THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT COULD BE DAYS. THERE'S BOTH PROTECTION TO PROTECT FROM TOO MUCH LIGHT, BUT YES IN DENVER AND ALSO ATLANTA THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN PROPONENTS OF THIS. >> WHYTE: WE KNOW LIGHTING HELPS PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND I'VE TALKED TO SAPD ON JUST THIS ISSUE IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY AND I DO THINK LIGHTING WILL HELP. ERIK, I'VE GOT A QUESTION. THIS REVENUE IS CITY CAN POTENTIALLY BE GAINING, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS A REVENUE PROBLEM. TO ME WE'VE GOT A SPENDING PROBLEM, AND I THINK I'VE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR ON THAT. BUT HAVING ADDITIONAL REVENUE CREATED BY THIS PROGRAM, OF COURSE COULD BE HELPFUL. AND MY FIRST QUESTION IS HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE SPEND OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND EVERY YEAR ON ARTS? >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, WE SPEND ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE PUBLIC -- FOR ARTS AND CULTURE TO DO ART MAINTENANCE. SO ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. >> WHYTE: ANY OTHER MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND GOING TOWARDS THE ARTS PROGRAM? >> WALSH: NO, SIR. >> WHYTE: OKAY. AND THE PROPOSAL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO INTO THE H.O.T. -- IT'S GOING INTO THE H.O.T. FUND FOR ARTS AS WELL, RIGHT? >> WALSH: YES, SIR. >> WHYTE: SO I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS AUDIO] TIGHT BUDGETARY TIMES COMING UP AND THEORETICALLY THE REVENUE GAINED BY THIS PROGRAM THAT GOES INTO THE H.O.T. FUND, WE COULD USE THAT ON THE ART MAINTENANCE AND FREE UP GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, OTHER ISSUES. IS THAT RIGHT? >> WALSH: YOU COULD. THE COUNCIL ABSOLUTELY COULD DO THAT. I THINK THAT WAS A TOPIC OF ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES THAT THE STAFF TALKED ABOUT AT THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE ABOUT A SPLIT BETWEEN THE GENERAL [02:35:06] FUND AND THE H.O.T. -- AND THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND. I THINK THE RESULT OF THE COMMITTEE CONVERSATION WAS THAT THESE WERE GOING TO BE NET NEW DOLLARS TO THE EFFORT AND THEREFORE THAT'S THE ITEM BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY. >> WHYTE: RIGHT, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WHEN WE GET INTO BUDGET DISCUSSIONS THIS FALL AND NEXT YEAR, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL REVENUE BEING CREATED FOR THE ARTS PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO H.O.T., AGAIN, THEORETICALLY, WE DON'T HAVE TO INCREASE THE MONEY GOING THERE, RIGHT? WE CAN USE THE MONEY FOR THE OTHER NEEDS OF THE CITY? >> WALSH: YES, SIR. >> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT. WELL, LOOK, I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT IN THE FORM THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS TAKEN, IT IS A PILOT PROGRAM, AND IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE CAREFULLY SELECTING THE LOCATIONS FOR THESE PARTICULAR PROJECTS. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE MIND FUL OF WHAT ADVERTISING IS GOING ON THE SIGNS AND WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE MIND MINDFUL, OF COURSE, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WE ALL SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IS THE DAY TO DAY QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND MAKING SURE WE DON'T LET THESE SIGNS BE LIT AND BRIGHT AND INTERRUPTING PEOPLE'S SLEEP AND EVERYTHING AT NIGHT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS NOT ALLOWED. BUT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROGRAM AS IT'S BEEN PRESENTED AND I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT THIS COULD FREE UP SOME GENERAL FUND MONEY, IN MY OPINION, IF COUNCIL ACTS AS I THINK WE SHOULD TO DO SOME THINGS TO IMPROVE OUR BASIC CITY SERVICES. WE HAVE MANY NEEDS. WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET, AS I'VE MENTIONED, WE NEED MORE DOLLARS GOING INTO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS MONEY CAN HELP, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE ARTS, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, AND THE OTHER GENERAL FUND MONEY CAN BE USED IN SOME OF THESE OTHER AREAS, I THINK THAT COULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR CITY ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN THE COMING YEARS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO THANK AMIN AND MIKE FOR HELPING HOST A COMMUNITY MEETING AND WE WERE ABLE TO INVITE THE RESIDENTS IN AND AROUND THE AREAS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED AND ANSWERED SOME REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS REGARDING THE DARK SKY INITIATIVE AND THE HOURS AND SOME OF THE OTHER CONCERNS. DUE TO THE MIXED FEEDBACK WE ALSO DID A SURVEY FOR FOLKS ON THE CALL. DUE TO THE MIXED FEEDBACK, I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS. THANKS, THEIR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, AMIN, FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE HAVE HAD THIS BRIEFING SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CONSISTENT WITH MY COMMENTS MADE DURING COMMITTEE MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IN MARCH OF FIVE -- FIVE, THERE WAS 75% AGAINST THIS CONCEPT AND 25 FOR. THIS PROPOSAL IS BASED OFF 25% OF THOSE THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS INITIATIVE. I'M GRATEFUL THAT IN CONVERSATION THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT WERE TOUCHED ON IN DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF ADVERTISEMENT, WHAT WE KNOW CAUSES HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT UNDERSTAND IT'S GOING TO BE A CASE BY CASE WITH EACH BILLBOARD DETERMINING THOSE FACTORS. BUT NOT ALLOWING FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT OF VAPING AND/OR ALCOHOL WITH THESE KIOSKS. ONE THING I BROUGHT UP WAS THE DIGITAL KIOSKS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, THE CITY GETS 21.5% OF THAT REVENUE, WHEREAS WITH THIS PROPOSAL IT'S 10% DURING THE PILOT PROGRAM, THEN 15 YEARS IN EXTENDED. I THINK THERE'S TINT FOR US TO INCREASE THAT REVENUE FOR CONSISTENCY PURPOSES WITH [02:40:04] THE DIGITAL KIOSK REVENUE AND I'M CONCERNED THAT I DON'T SEE THAT HERE. INCREASING THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE MY POSITION WITH THIS. GRATEFUL THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DID REMOVE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BASED OFF COMMUNITY INPUT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HEARD FROM THE BLUE STAR COMMUNITY THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO BE INCLUDED ON SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THEIR INPUT AND REMOVING IT FROM THE POTENTIAL PROPOSAL. A COUPLE OF THINGS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF THIS DOES PASS THAT THE FUNDING DOES GO TOWARDS THE ARTS COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS IS A SUPERFICIAL APPEALING OPTION. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND COUNCIL COULD INVEST IN THE ARTS. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RELY ON THIS PILOT PROGRAM TO SUPPLY THE SUPPORT OUR ARTS COMMUNITY DESERVES. ITS NOT JUST PAYING FOR THE ART, IT'S THE LABOR OF THE ART AND MATERIAL OF THE ART. I THINK THIS CONVERSATION MINIMIZES THE WORK AND LABOR AND RESTORES IT TAKES TO -- RESOURCE IT TAKES TO PRODUCE ART. AND BEYOND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THE ARTS BRINGS, IT'S ENSURING THEY ARE FAIRLY COMPENSATED FOR THEIR WORK. JUST EMPHASIZING THE PUBLIC INPUT PIECE AND SEEING 75% OF RESPONDENTS WERE OPPOSED, I'M A BIT HESITANT TO SUPPORT THIS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION, I HEAR THE CONCERNS AND ARGUMENTS IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO INVEST IN LIGHTING. LASTLY, THERE WAS NO RFP PROCESS FOR THIS INITIATIVE. WHAT WE'RE APPROVING IS WE'RE ALREADY IDENTIFYING WHO WILL TAKE ON THIS WORK AND THAT'S NOT TYPICAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE RFP PROCESS AND IDENTIFYING WHO WOULD BE BEST TO TAKE ON THESE DIGITAL BILLBOARDS. THOSE ARE A COUPLE CONCERNS THAT I'VE EXPRESSED DURING COMMITTEE AND I STILL HAVE TODAY, BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK AND CHANGES THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DID ADDRESS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> MAYOR, CAN I MENTION ONE THING? OUT OF THESE TEN SIGNS, WE ARE ALLOCATING TWO OF THEM TO GO ON CITY PROPERTIES. THOSE WILL NOW THE PRIVATE ONES, THEY'RE GOING TO GO WITH A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE MEDIA COMPANY AND THE PRIVATE OWNER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 20. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE AT 11:58. WE HAVE ONE ITEM LEFT FOR THIS AFTERNOON. I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY RECESS US FOR AN HOUR FOR A LUNCH BREAK. AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 FOR OUR LAST ITEM AND FOR OUR MANAGER'S REPORT. SO AT 12:00 P.M. ON JUNE 12, 2025 WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL 1:00 P.M. NIRENBERG: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE FROM OUR RECESS. THE TIME IS 1:10 P.M. ON JUNE 12, 2025. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE DO HAVE JUST OUR LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING NEXT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT AND THEN WE WILL ADJOURN AFTER THAT. LET'S GO STRAIGHT TO ITEM 5. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 5 IS A BRIEFING ON THE 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SALLY BASURTO, DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. THIS AFTERNOON I WILL PROVIDE YOU MY FINAL STATE LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING FOR THE 89TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THIS WILL PRIMARILY BE A RECAP THAT WILL INCORPORATE A SNAPSHOT OF THE HAPPENINGS DURING THE 89TH SESSION TO INCLUDE SOME BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS, BILLS THAT PASSED THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS. THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, AS A SIDE NOTE, WE'RE ALSO COMPILING A MUCH LARGER MEMO THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AFTER JUNE 22 WHEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A BETTER DETERMINATION ON [02:45:01] BILLS THE GOVERNOR SIGNED OR DID NOT SIGN OR JUST BECAME LAW AS A RESULT OF JUST GETTING THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR DEADLINE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO SAY A BIG STATEMENT OF GRATITUDE, MAYOR AND CHAIRMAN PELAEZ AND EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT THROUGH THIS SESSION WAS VERY VALUABLE TO US AND IT WAS A MASSIVE TEAM EFFORT. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE ENGAGEMENT OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU THAT HELPED US CHAMPION, SUPPORT, AND ADVOCATE FOR BILLS, GOOD OR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. A BIG RECOGNITION AS WELL, IF YOU WILL INDULGE ME, MAYOR, GOES TO OUR STATE DELEGATION MEMBERS AND THEIR STAFFS. THEY WORKED REALLY TREMENDOUSLY HARD IN SUPPORT OF SAN ANTONIO, AGAIN, FOR GOOD BILLS AND BAD BILLS. AND SO IT'S REALLY BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH YOU, MAYOR, OVER THE COURSE OF MANY SESSIONS, AS WELL AS CHAIRMAN PELAEZ. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR PATHS CONTINUING TO CROSS. I WOULD REQUEST ANOTHER 30 SECONDS TO RECOGNIZE THE TIRELESS WORK OF THE INDIVIDUALS ON MY TEAM, SPECIFICALLY NADIA AND CHRISTINE. THEY WERE FEARLESS, RELENTLESS DAYS, NIGHTS, AND WEEKENDS. FOR 140 DAYS WE SPENT THE MAJORITY OF OUR TIME ADVOCATING AGAINST BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE DIMINISHED YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY AND SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO, AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WITH YOU AS WELL AS SOME OF THE BUDGET NUMBERS. LET'S GET STARTED. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, LAST WEEK ON JUNE 2 MARKED THE LAST DAY OF THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR THE 89TH. AFTER ALL WAS SAID AND DONE -- AND THERE CERTAINLY WAS A LOT SAID AND DONE, HERE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE NUMBERS BEFORE YOU. 9,014 BILLS PASSED. 1,135 -- SORRY. 9,014 BILLS WERE FILED. THAT IS INCREASED FROM THE 2023 SESSION. 1,135 BILLS PASSED. AND 2,262 BILLS ARE THE BILLS THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND DEPARTMENTS WERE TRACKING THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO IT WAS A TALL ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TRACK ALL THESE BILLS FOR 140 DAYS. THE NEXT MILESTONE IS JUNE 22. THAT IS THE GOVERNOR'S DEADLINE TO VETO THE BILLS. KEEP IN MIND THAT IF HE DOESN'T SIGN THE BILLS, THEY AUTOMATICALLY BECOME LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE, SO WE ARE TRACKING THAT PROCESS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO SEE WHAT WILL BE VETOED AND WHAT AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES LAW. THE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED A TWO-YEAR SPENDING PLAN FOR $338 BILLION AND A FEW BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS HERE. THE DEAAG GRANT RECEIVED $40 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR DEFENSE COMMUNITIES. THAT INCLUDES THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. GOOD NEWS, THAT IS A PLUS-UP OF $10 MILLION. TO DATE THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF GENERAL AYALA AND THE TEAM, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS RECEIVED A GRANT FOR $5 MILLION. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO TAPPING INTO THOSE RESOURCES WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE LATER THIS YEAR. THE NEXT ITEM IS A CYBERSECURITY HUB. THAT IS $50 MILLION TO BUILD A SECURE FACILITY TO HANDLE CLASSIFIED WORK AT PORT SAN ANTONIO, INCLUDING PRIVATE RESEARCH, TESTING, AND MILITARY ACTIVITY. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PORT. THIS WAS A MAJOR WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE GOES TO OUR REPRESENTATIVE, PHILIP CORTEZ. REP CORTEZ WORKED ON SECURING THIS FUNDING FOR OVER TWO YEARS, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LUJAN IN HIS ROLE ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. THEY BOTH TAG TEAMED TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS WIN TO SAN ANTONIO. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PORT. ON TO MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES. THERE ARE $235 MILLION FOR VARIOUS MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR GRANTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE GRANT PROGRAMS WILL BE MANAGED BY TEXAS HHS. ON THE LOCAL PARKS GRANTS FRONT, THERE'S $135 MILLION FOR VARIOUS LOCAL PARKS GRANTS FOR FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. ALSO INCLUDED A BIT OF GOOD NEWS HERE. THERE ARE TWO LINE ITEMS INCLUDED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. [02:50:04] $2MILLION FOR WOODLAWN PARK AND $1 MILLION FOR BROOKS PARK. REP TREY MARTINEZ FISCHER AND REP CAMPOS WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE FUNDING FOR THESE PARKS SO A BIG THANKS TO THEM FOR HELPING US SECURE THE PARKS FUNDING. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR PARKS TEAM, WITH HOMER, TO DETERMINE THE NEXT STEPS. IT WILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN WHAT THE TEXAS PARKS AND RECREATION AGENCY WILL DETERMINE WILL BE THE GUARDRAILS. THERE ARE FIVE PROGRAMS AND WE WILL SURELY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS BE ABLE TO LEARN WHAT PARTICULAR SCOPES AND DETERMINE WHAT THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE FOR THE AGENCY AND FOR THOSE APPLYING. ON TO THE TEXAS WATER FUND. THIS INCLUDES $2.5 BILLION FOR PROJECTS THAT WILL BE MANAGED BY THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. THERE'S ALSO AN ANNUAL DEDICATION OF $1 BILLION OF STATE FUND REVENUE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS FOR THIS $1 BILLION DOES COME WITH A REQUIREMENT THAT WILL GO TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER TO APPROVE THIS FUNDING. AND OUR EARLY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SAWS TEAM, THEY HAVE SHARED THAT THEY CERTAINLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO PURSUING THESE FUNDS IN THE AREA OF NEW SUPPLY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT COULD FIT INTO MANY OF THESE FUNDS. AGAIN, WE WILL TRACK THE ACTIVITY FOR THESE THREE AGENCIES, T HHS, TEXAS PARKS, AND THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SCOPE AND THE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE FOR THESE PARTICULAR FUNDS . THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE BILLS THAT PASSED. THE NEXT FEW SLIDES I WILL GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT MADE IT TO THE FINISH LINE. THESE BILLS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR. SOME HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND THE MAJORITY ARE PENDING. SOME WILL BECOME LAW, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WITH THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE. OR IF HE DOESN'T SIGN THEM, THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME LAW AND WE WILL ALSO BE TRACKING THOSE BILLS THAT ARE VETOED. THE YELLOW SYMBOLS DENOTE SEND TO THE GOVERNOR BUT HIS SIGNATURE IS PENDING. I'LL START WITH HB 128. THIS ALLOWS CERTAIN SISTER CITY AGREEMENTS BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES. IN OUR PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TRACKING THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL HAVE TO WITHDRAW FROM OUR TWO SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS IN CHINA, ONE OF THEM BEING WUXI, ESTABLISHED IN 2012. AND A FRIENDSHIP CITY RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED WITH 2010 BY OCTOBER 2025. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL . SB 33 SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES FROM PROVIDING ABORTION, LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SUCH AS PAIN OR PLANNING TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS, LODGING, LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING CHILDCARE. PLUS IT ALSO INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT AN ACTION COULD BE BROUGHT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR A PERSON AGAINST ANY PARTY FOR PROVIDING ANY LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. THIS TAKES EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1, 2025. SB 15 IS A LAND USE BILL. THIS BILL CALLS ESSENTIALLY FOR SMALLER HOMES IN SMALLER LOTS. IT TARGETS NEW SUBDIVISIONS SPECIFICALLY OR TRACTS OF AT LEAST FIVE ACRES NOT YET PLATTED AND ZONED FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. CITIES COVERED CANNOT REQUIRE NEW SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS TO BE LARGER THAN 3,000 SQUARE FEET, WIDER THAN 30 FEET, DEEPER THAN 75 FEET. AS A SPECIAL NOTE, THIS BILL WAS A PRIORITY BILL AND WAS ENDORSED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS HOUSING SHORTAGE AND AFFORDABILITY. SB 840 PREEMPTS MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY REGULATION OF CERTAIN MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. AND CONVERSION OF CERTAIN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. THIS BILL ALLOWS FOR MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS TO BE BUILT OR IN EXISTING BUILDINGS TO BE CONVERTED IN AREAS ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL, OFFICE, WAREHOUSE, OR MIXED-USE WITHOUT THE NEED TO REZONE. THIS DOES EXEMPT, HOWEVER, THE CONVERSION WITHIN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS NEAR HEAVY INDUSTRIAL USES AS WELL AS AIRPORTS AND MILITARY BASES. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. [02:55:07] THESE ARE TWO MAJOR WINS FOR SAN ANTONIO. HB 150 ESTABLISHES THE TEXAS CYBER COMMAND THAT I REPORTED ON BEFORE TO BE LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO CENTRALIZE AND ENHANCE THE STATE'S EFFORTS IN CYBERSECURITY. THIS BILL WAS SIGNED IN SAN ANTONIO JUST A FEW DAYS AGO IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER KEY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND WITH UTSA LEADERSHIP. THIS SPECIFICALLY CALLS FOR THE CYBER COMMAND TO BE HEADQUARTERED IN SAN ANTONIO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 16TH AIR FORCE, FBI, NSA, AND OTHERS. A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO UTSA AND TO OUR ENTIRE DELEGATION. THIS WAS A VERY, VERY HEAVY LIFT. SB 22 RENEWS FUNDING TO THE TEXAS MOVING IMAGE INDUSTRY INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND INCREASES FUNDING TO $300 MILLION EACH BIENNIUM FOR TEN YEARS. REPRESENTATIVE TREY MARTINEZ FISCHER PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS BILL. THIS PARTICULAR INCENTIVE FUND TO TRY TO ATTRACT VIDEO PRODUCTIONS TO TEXAS AND OF COURSE TO SAN ANTONIO HAS SEEN FUNDING YEAR TO YEAR TO YEAR. AND THAT'S BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING PROCESS TO WORK UNDER. THIS FUNDING IS NOW GUARANTEED FOR TEN YEARS AND REP MARTINEZ FISCHER WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING IT PASSED IN THE HOUSE. THIS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A VALUABLE TOOL BY OUR ARTS AND CULTURE TEAM HERE WITHIN THE CITY. THEY ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WILL SEE A MUCH HIGHER INCREASE IN PERMITS, A RISE IN FILL INQUIRIES, AND ULTIMATELY FILMING PRODUCTIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, SO THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS ADVANCE AND GET SIGNED. ON TO FINANCE AND REVENUE BILLS. HB 9 INCREASES THE EXEMPTION OF TAXATION OF A PORTION OF APPRAISED VALUE FOR BUSINESSES FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT'S HELD FOR THE USE OF PRODUCTION OF INCOME. THIS CHANGE WAS RAISED FROM $2,500 TO $125,000. THIS RAISES THE PERSON PROPERTY OR INVENTORY TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR BUSINESSES TO $125,000 . SO THE SCENARIO ESSENTIALLY IS THAT BUSINESSES NOW DON'T HAVE TO PAY TAXES -- BUSINESS TAXES APPLICABLE UNDER THIS LANGUAGE THAT'S WORTH $125,000 OR LESS. I SHOULD DENOTE THAT THE FINANCE TEAM HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WILL BE A FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO REVENUE AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY ESTIMATING THIS AT $9 MILLION. SB 75 INCREASES BIDDING TO $100,000. IT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR ALREADY . THIS PARTICULAR BILL INCREASES COMPETITIVE BIDDING THRESHOLD FROM $50,000 TO $100,000. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A TEAM TO HAVE SPECIFIC EFFICIENCIES RELATED TO BIDDING THRESHOLD FOR MORE INFORMAL SOLICITATIONS THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY TO APPROVE FOR THESE MUCH SMALLER VALUE PROCUREMENTS. ON TO DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS BILLS. SB 1202. THIS IS RELATED TO THIRD-PARTY REVIEWS OF DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTS AND INSPECTIONS OR IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING BACK UP POWER INSTALLATIONS. THIS PARTICULAR BILL ALLOWS FOR THIRD-PARTY INSTALLATIONS OF HOME BACKUP POWER RESOURCES LIKE GENERATORS, AUTHORIZING THIRD PARTIES TO CONDUCT REVIEWS AND INSPECTIONS WITHOUT REQUIRING APPROVAL FROM A REGULATORY AUTHORITY, SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY AN EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER REDEMPTION ISSUE LIMITING LOCAL AUTHORITY ON INSPECTIONS. A BIT OF GOOD NEWS IS THIS DOES NOT IMPACT CPS. SB 1252 PREEMPTS MUNICIPALITIES FROM REGULATING THE INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION OF, AGAIN, RESIDENTIAL ENERGY BACKUP SYSTEMS. THIS BILL DID GET APPROVED AND IT SPECIFIES MUNICIPAL-OWNED UTILITIES CAN REGULATE THESE PARTICULAR INSTALLATIONS AND INSPECTIONS. SO THE BILL DID GET BETTER AS ADDITIONAL NEGOTIATIONS CAME THROUGH DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. UNDER DISANNEXATION, SB 1844 ALLOWS DISANNEXATION OF CERTAIN AREAS OF MUNICIPALITIES FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR [03:00:01] WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. AGAIN, THIS BILL WAS EXPANSIVE. IT COVERED OTHER CITY-PROVIDED SERVICES AND IT WAS NARROWED DOWN TO WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. THIS BILL HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE ANTICIPATION IS THAT THIS BILL WILL HAVE VERY MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. UNDER HEALTH WE HAVE SB 1008 PROHIBITS CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM CHARGING FOOD SERVICE PERMITS AND FEES THAT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM FEE OF AN ENTITY OR EMPLOYEE THAT WOULD PAY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES. ALSO HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE BILL. FOOD SERVICE SPECIFICALLY INCLUDES FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS, RETAIL FOOD STORES, MOBILE FOOD UNITS, ROADSIDE VENDORS OR TEMPORARY FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS. THIS WILL LIKELY HAVE AN IMPACT ON PERMITS REVENUE FOR METRO HEALTH. HB 1866 UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY ALLOWS A COMMISSIONED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE THE POWER TO EXECUTE AN ARREST WARRANT ON THEIR CAMPUSES OR SEARCH WARRANT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE. THESE POWERS WERE GRANTED TO A PEACE OFFICER. REP LUJAN CARRIED THIS BILL AND IT STALLED FOR A WHILE BUT THEN HE WAS ABLE TO REVIVE IT AND IT MADE IT THROUGH. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. WE RECEIVED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AS WELL, SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER EFFORTS. AND THOSE OF REP LUJAN TO GET THIS BILL TO THE FINISH LINE, IN ORDER TO HELP THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND OUR SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE LOW-LYING CRIMES THAT HAD BEEN NOTICED AND ENCOUNTERED ON THE PARKS IN RECENT YEARS. HB 3594, THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE AND POLICE RETIREE HEALTHCARE FUND INITIATIVES BILL. THIS WAS A REP LUJAN BILL. WE SUPPORTED THIS BILL. IT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. IT ESSENTIALLY ACHIEVES MULTIPLE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FUND AT NO COST TO THE CITY. UNDER HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, HB 21. THIS BILL INCREASES TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATIONS. HFCS ARE REQUIRED TO ONLY OPERATE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR SPONSORING CITIES, COUNTIES, OR WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THIS BILL WILL SPECIFICALLY PROHIBIT THE LOCAL HFCS FROM OPERATING WHEN THE SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, AND NOT RUNNING THE RISK OF LOSING ANY ADDITIONAL CITY AND COUNTY DOLLARS. OUR HOUSING TEAM WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS SOLUTION TO SOLVE ISSUES OF THE TRAVELING HFCS IMPACTING OUR TAX BASE. SB 38 REFERRED TO AS THE SQUATTERS BILL BUT WAS AN EVICTIONS BILL, EXPEDITED THE EVICTIONS PROCESS. THIS BILL STARTED AS A REALLY BAD BILL. THERE WERE SOME IMPROVEMENTS DONE TO THE BILL. THE BILL WOULD HAVE IMPACTED EVERY EVICTION FILED IN THE STATE, POTENTIALLY SHORTENING THE TIMELINE TO AS LITTLE AS FIVE DAYS. SO THE INITIAL DRAFT WAS ONE THAT WE OPPOSED. THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK DONE ON THIS BILL. STAFF WORKED WITH LEGISLATORS IN OUR DELEGATION TO REMOVE THE MOST HARMFUL ELEMENTS OF THIS BILL TO NARROW THE FOCUS TO ONLY CASES WHERE THE DEFENDANT HAD NO LEGAL CLAIM TO THE PROPERTY. SO THIS WAS A VERY WELL-ACCOMPLISHED WORK FROM EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED. THIS IS THE SECTION OF BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS. I WILL BE BRIEF IN THIS SECTION. THIS WAS AN ARRAY OF BILLS THAT I REPORTED ON DURING THE SESSION THAT WERE PART OF MY BRIEFINGS, AND I WILL SHARE A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW. SOME OF THESE BILLS DIDN'T MAKE THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE THEY RAN O OUT OF TIME. SOME OF THESE WERE STALLED BECAUSE OF THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, OUR CITY'S PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL. UNDER LOCAL GOVERNANCE, SB 2558 -- AND I'LL LUMP IT WITH SB 3016. THESE WERE ESSENTIALLY TWO SUPER PREEMPTION BILLS. SIMPLY STATED THEY WERE PROPOSALS TO EXPAND WHAT WAS THE LAST SESSION'S HB 2127 THAT WE REFERRED TO AS THE DEATH STAR BILL THAT PREEMPTED MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODES. SO WE WILL CELEBRATE THIS SMALL WIN. ON TO SB 689, THIS ESSENTIALLY PROHIBITED [INAUDIBLE] A DEI OFFICE. THIS BILL ESSENTIALLY STALLED. FINANCE AND REVENUE BILLS. EVERY SESSION THERE ARE BILLS THAT TARGETS OUR [03:05:02] ABILITY TO TARGET SENIORS OF OBLIGATION OR VOTER APPROVED BOND PROGRAMS. AT THE TOP OF THE LIST WAS HB 19 WHICH LIMITED THE ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ISSUE DEBT, TAX RATES AND UTILIZE SUCH TOOLS SUCH AS C OF O'S. SOME OF THIS THOUGHT OF THIS BILL AS THE 2025 VERSION OF ONE OF THE WORST BILLS DURING THIS SESSION. WE ENGAGED MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY BUSINESS PARTNERS. THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THIS BILL TO GET IT TO STALL, TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS A GREAT LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT THIS WOULD HAVE HAD TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. IN PARTICULAR IT WOULD HAVE PROHIBITED US FROM EXECUTING WHAT CLEARLY ARE SOME OF THE MOST HELPFUL FINANCE TOOLS FO THROUGH OUR VOTER APPROVED BONDS AND C OF OS. SB 1024, ANOTHER EXAMPLE LIMITING MUNICIPALITIES' ABILITY TO USE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATIONS AND ANTICIPATION NOTES. IF A BOND PROPOSITION FOR THE SAME PURPOSE WAS VOTED DOWN BY VOTERS HAD THE LAST FIVE YEARS. HB 2736 REQUIRED A SUPER MAJORITY FOR ELECTIONS BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION TO AUTHORIZE ISSUANCE OF BONDS OR TAX INCREASES AND ALSO REQUIRED A TWO-THIRDS VOTER APPROVAL AND MANDATED A NOVEMBER UNIFORM ELECTION DATE. THIS WAS AN EARLY FILE OF THIS KIND AND HOWEVER IT WAS INTRODUCED IN FEBRUARY AND LUCKILY IT DID NOT MOVE. DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. AGAIN, THIS BILL -- THESE BILLS ARE VERY TYPICAL DURING EVERY SESSION THAT WOULD HAVE FURTHER IMPACTED OUR DSD OPERATIONS. HB 23 PROPOSED TO BYPASS CITY'S INSPECTION OF WORK ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT PERMITS. MANY FIXES WERE ADDED TO THIS BILL. REMOVING THE LIABILITY FOR CITIES, STRICTER ALLOWANCE OF THIRD-PARTY REVIEWERS, INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIRD-PARTY VIEWERS AS WELL. SB 1450, PROPOSING TO AMEND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE TO ALLOW THIRD-PARTY REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTS AND INSPECTIONS DIED. SB 673, THIS BILL WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE CITY TO NOT BE ABLE TO REGULATE ADUS. UPDATES TO OUR CODE WOULD HAVE BEEN NEEDED SO WE WERE VERY HAPPY AS WELL AS DSD THIS BILL DID NOT MAKE THE FINISH LINE. 3798, THIS BILL SIMPLY WOULD HAVE PREVENTED COSA'S TREE ORDINANCE. THERE WAS LANGUAGE ADDED TO PROTECT THE LAND AROUND CAMP BULLIS, SO IF THIS BILL WOULD HAVE PASSED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A 15-MILE BARRIER AROUND CAMP BULLIS. HEALTH AND SAFETY. THIS ESSENTIALLY, HB 2806 WOULD HAVE ENHANCED THE PENALTY FOR REPEAT ATTACKS AND INCLUDED FLEXIBILITY IN THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS AND GIVEN ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TEAM. WE FILED THIS BILL WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REP LUJAN. EVERYTHING WAS LEFT ON THE FIELD ON THIS BILL. WE DID ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD THINK OF. I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND THE ENGAGEMENT OF COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO WHO WAS TREMENDOUSLY ENGAGED DURING THE SESSION IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THE BILL JUST ESSENTIALLY RAN OUT OF TIME. IT COMPETED TO GET TO THE END OF THE LINE WITH THE OTHER 1200 BILLS THAT WERE RACING TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE. WE HAVE STARTED DISCUSSIONS WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE LUJAN WHERE WE WILL BE TALKING DURING THE INTERIM SESSION TO DETERMINE A STRATEGY. THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO REFILE THIS BILL. THEY RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF DANGEROUS DOGS IN OUR COMMUNITY SO THEY WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN ENGAGED, BUT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT ON THIS BILL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT. SB 464 RELATING TO COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY TO PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF E-CIGARETTE RETAILERS NEAR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. THIS WAS ONE OF THE E-CIGARETTE BILLS THAT PROHIBITED E-CIGARETTE RETAILERS WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF A SCHOOL. THIS BILL DID NOT MAKE IT. NONE OF THE SIMILAR BILLS MADE IT AS WELL. MISCELLANEOUS, HB 3345 RELATING TO AUTHORIZATION AND INCREASE IN OPTIONAL COUNTY FEE. THIS WOULD HAVE ALLOWED BEXAR COUNTY TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THROUGH INCREASED VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES NOT TO EXCEED $20 IN SUPPORT OF PROJECTS. [03:10:04] HB 5356, THIS BILL WOULD PREEMPTED THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE. IT DID NOT MAKE THE FINISH LINE. IT WOULD NOT HAVE IMPACTED THE RELATED VET CARE, CITY INSPECTIONS OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF STATE CRUELTY LAWS, BUT IT WAS STILL A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE PREEMPTED THE CITY COUNCIL'S HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE ORDINANCE SO WE'RE HAPPY IT DID NOT MAKE IT. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION THIS AFTERNOON. I APPRECIATE AGAIN ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GAVE TO ALL OF US THAT WERE IN THE TRENCHES THESE LAST 140 DAYS FOR THE 89TH. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, SALLY, AND MY THANKS TO YOU AND TO CHRISTINE AND NADIA AND THE ENTIRE IGR TEAM THAT YOU SO ABLELY REPRESENT AND WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY DAY. YOU MAKE OUR CITY VERY PROUD WHEN YOU GO UP THERE AND GET INTO THESE OFTEN DIFFICULT FIGHTS AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD ON TO OUR COMMUNITY'S VOICE IN MOST RESPECTS BECAUSE OF THOSE EFFORTS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. IN ONE DAY, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT BILLS THAT NO LONGER COMPETE FOR THE WORST BILLS IN THE STATE OR COUNTRY, BUT MAYBE WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THE STATE WHO ARE WANTING TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST TRY TO ERODE THE AUTHORITY LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. WITH THAT, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SALLY, JUST TO CLARIFY, THERE WAS A BILL FILED BY SENATOR CAMPBELL THAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT HARDER FOR US TO REGULATE E-CIGARETTE SALES NEAR SCHOOLS OR TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR US? >> BASURTO: YES, COUNCILMAN. THAT BILL DID NOT MAKE IT EITHER. >> PELÁEZ: RIGHT. IT WOULD HAVE MADE US EASIER, WOULD HAVE GIVEN US MORE TOOLS TO KEEP KIDS AWAY FROM CIGARETTES. >> BASURTO: CORRECT. >> PELÁEZ: [INAUDIBLE] BY FLOATING A BILL THAT HELPS FAMILIES. SO WHY DID THAT FAIL? JUST A MATTER OF TIMING? >> BASURTO: FIRST OF ALL, NONE OF THE BILLS RELATED TO E-CIGARETTE PROHIBITION MADE IT, BUT I THINK IT JUST RAN OUT OF TIME. >> PELÁEZ: IF NONE OF THE E-CIGARETTE-RELATED BILLS PASSED, THE ONLY CONCLUSION I CAN DRAW THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD LOBBYISTS THAT KILLED ANY EFFORT TO MAKE TEXAS HEALTHIER. AND THAT WOULD IN ESSENCE RESTRICT THEIR PRODUCT, RIGHT? THE REASON I'M HIGHLIGHTING THIS IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DRIVE THE POINT HOME THAT INSTEAD OF ATTACKING THE LOBBYISTS WHO ARE SELLING POISON TO CHILDREN, THEIR ATTACK WAS ON MAKING SURE THAT SALLY AND THE TEAM HAD LESS TOOLS TO DO THEIR JOB. IN OTHER WORDS, A CITY-PAID GOVERNMENT RELATIONS OFFENDS THEM MORE THAN GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DONE BY E-CIGARETTE COMPANIES. IS THAT RIGHT? >> BASURTO: IT COULD BE STATED THAT WAY. >> PELÁEZ: I DID STATE IT THAT WAY. THE SECOND THING IS WITH REGARDS TO HB 128, THE SISTER CITIES, AGREEMENT, ANDY, I IMAGINE YOU'VE LOOKED AT IT AND MADE IT A CENTRAL PART OF THIS WEEK'S ANALYSIS. >> SEGOVIA: WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH OUR TEAM TO SEE WHAT OPTION WE HAVE. UNDER THE STATUTE WE HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 1 TO WITHDRAW FROM ANY EXISTING AGREEMENTS WHICH GIVES US TIME TO EXPLORE OPTIONS AND COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL. >> PELÁEZ: ONE OF THE OPTIONS I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER, I WON'T BE HERE, BUT I WANT YOU TO FEEL REALLY CREATIVE WITH THAT BILL, I THINK THAT BILL WAS SO POORLY DRAFTED AND THERE'S SOME HOLES YOU COULD DRIVE A TRAIN THROUGH. IN ORDER FOR SOMEBODY TO QUALIFY, YOU HAVE TO CHECK THREE BOXES, IT HAS TO BE AN AGREEMENT, THE AGREEMENT HAS TO BE QUOTE, UNQUOTE, RECOGNIZED BY A CERTAIN 5013C. THE WORD RECOGNIZE IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY SPECIFIC WORD YOU, AND IF THE ORGANIZATION WERE TO SIMPLY CHANGE THE WORD TO CELEBRATE, I THINK YOU NO LONGER CHECK THAT BOX, RIGHT? ASIDE FROM THE FACT THIS BILL ALSO MAY INTERFERE WITH THEIRS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO RECOGNIZE OR CELEBRATE THINGS. THE THIRD BOX, THE AGREEMENT [03:15:02] HAS TO -- IT IS PROHIBITED -- THE PROHIBIT AGREEMENT REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO FOSTER AND STRENGTHEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND TOURISM AND TO ENCOURAGE OTHER TYPES OF BILATERAL COOPERATION. RIGHT? FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WITHDRAW, I THINK WE NEED TO AMEND TO SAY THAT OUR AGREEMENT IS REALLY NOTHING MORE THAN A CELEBRATION OF EACH OTHER'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO WORLD PEACE, THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBNATIONAL PEOPLE TO PEOPLE DIPLOMACY AND WE WILL REMAIN FRIENDS NO MATTER WHAT NATIONAL OR STATE POLICIES ARE. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO WITHDRAW, ANDY. I WANT YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER NOT WITHDRAWING BUT SIMPLY CELEBRATING THAT IS ALWAYS THERE. THE OTHER OPTION TOO AND THIS REQUIRES AN EXPERT DOSE OF COURAGE IS DO NOTHING AND INVITE A LAWSUIT BY WHO? IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T WITHDRAW. >> SEGOVIA: THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, COUNCILMAN, AND WE WILL EXPLORE ALL THE OPTIONS. YOU OUTLINED SOME VERY GOOD ONES. IN FACT, BUT FOR SOME ORDINANCE PROHIBITIONS, WE WOULD PROBABLY ASK YOU TO COME WORK FOR US AND LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. WE'LL EXPLORE ALL THE OPTIONS AND COME BACK TO COUNCIL. >> PELÁEZ: WE COULD ALSO IGNORE THOSE ORDINANCES IF WE WANTED TO. LASTLY, THANK YOU, SALLY. I KNOW I ALWAYS LAY IT ON THICK AND MY HOPE IS -- AND I DO THAT INTENTIONALLY WITH THE THANKS SO THAT NOBODY MISSES THAT ONE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS EFFORT WHICH IS THE ACTUAL HOURS THAT YOU GUYS POUR INTO THIS. THE TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILIES AND INDIGNITIES YOU SUFFER UP THERE. I'VE BEEN UP THERE WITH YOU, IT'S REALLY A VERY DIFFICULT THING BECAUSE RESPECT AND KINDNESS AND DIGNITY, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO SURPLUS OF THOSE THINGS UP IN THE HOUSE. AND SO I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY RECOGNIZE THE YEOMAN'S WORK YOU GUYS PUT INTO PROTECTING OR CITY WHOSE MISSION IS TO DO CITIES HARM. THEY WAKE UP AND SAY IN THE MORNINGS WHAT CAN I DO TO HURT CITIES? I'M GOING TO DO THAT. IF YOU WONDER WHETHER OR NOT --. THEIR BILLS ARE LITERALLY AIMED AT MAKING IT HARDER FOR US TO HELP PEOPLE. IMAGINE IF THEY WOKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SAID I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO TO HELP CITIES. ONE DAY WE CAN ACTUALLY BE EXCITED ABOUT A LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND GO UP AND SAY WE'VE GOT ALLIES WILLING TO HELP US. I KNOW WE HAVE ALLIES IN STATE REPS AND SENATORS, BUT THEY ARE OUT NUMBERED BY THE PEOPLE WHOSE DAYS ARE INFORMED BY MEANNESS AND CYNICISM. I'M SO HAPPY YOU GUYS -- FOR SOME REASON I'VE NOT LOST THE HOPE AND NOT LOST YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE. WITH THAT, MAYOR, I THINK THESE NICE PEOPLE HAVE DESERVED EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH PARKING SPACES. DURING JULY ONLY. THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> MUNGIA: IT'S VITAL YOU ALL ARE THERE AND WORK EVERY DAY. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CYBERSECURITY HUB, $50 MILLION TO BUILD A HUB AT PORT SAN ANTONIO. WOULD WE'RE VERY PLEASED ABOUT THAT, STATE REP CORTEZ, IT'S BEEN A COUPLE YEARS IN THE MAKING. PORT SAN ANTONIO IS DOING GREAT THINGS AND THEY CAN EITHER CONFIRM OR DEMY WHO IS WORKING THERE FROM THE -- DENY WHO IS WORKING THERE. THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS THROUGH AS WELL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I KNOW THIS IS TIRELESS AND THANKLESS AND I CAN IMAGINE IT'S DEMORAL DEMORALIZING TO THINK OF WAYS TO HURT PEOPLE, MUCH AS EXPECT SAID. I WONDER IF, I'M SURE SOMEONE CHECKS IN AND FINDS OUT WHO ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE STATE REPRESENTATIVES, STATE SENATORS IN THE STATE. WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS, THE ONES GETTING THE MOST BILLS PASSED. I WONDER WE AND INCOMING MAYOR AND COUNCIL CAN BEFRIEND SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND MAYBE MAKE THEM ALLIES. I KNOW IT'S HARD TO MAKE 100-PLUS PEOPLE YOUR FRIEND, BUT IF WE CAN FIND THE RELATIONSHIPS WE CAN INVEST [03:20:05] IT, I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT. OTHER THAN THAT, I WISH THIS WAS A LESS SOMBER UPDATE, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF WINS AND GREAT JOB. LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN IN TWO YEARS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU, SALLY AND YOUR TEAM. YOU GUYS ARE REALLY HARD WORKING. THE COUPLE OF TIMES I'VE BEEN UP THERE, YOU GUYS ARE A BLUR. I KNOW IT'S LATE NIGHTS AND HARD WORK. WE ALWAYS SAY YOU ARE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT. SOMETIMES YOU MUST FEEL THAT WE'RE KIND OF AUDIO] AND GETTING A LOT DONE, BUT I THINK THAT THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE YOU MAYBE CONTROL OR MINIMIZE OR MITIGATE IS PROBABLY NOT QUANTIFIABLE. THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK. I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE KEY PART OF THE STATE'S LEGISLATURE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND SECURITY AND WELL-BEING OF EVERYBODY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT THAT INCLUDES US SAN ANTONIANS AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THAT. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND HOPE THAT IF I CAN BE OF SUPPORT TO YOU ANY WAY IN THE FUTURE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, SALLY AND TEAM FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU PUT IN THIS RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE -- THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GRANTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS LOCAL PARKS GRANTS THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED IN YOUR PRESENTATION AND GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO HOMER AND THE STATE TEAM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND, OF COURSE, ALWAYS BEING SUCCESSFUL WHEN GOING AFTER THEM AS WELL. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. I'LL JUST SAY SPECIFICALLY I COULDN'T MORE STRONGLY AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ'S STATEMENTS ON HB 128. IF YOU NEED PRO~BONO VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, ANDY, ON DEVELOPING A STRATEGY, I WILL STAND READY TO DO THAT. I THINK IT'S JUST CLEARLY ANOTHER CULTURE WAR FLANK THAT SOME IN THE LEGISLATURE WANT TO MAKE AND HOW IT IMPACTS AND BENEFITS LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES ON A DAILY BASIS. I WILL GO TO BAT FOR STRENGTHENED RELATIONSHIPS, NOT WEAKENED ONES, ESPECIALLY IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS. SO COUNT ME IN. I THINK THAT'S IT. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND JUST SAY THIS IS MY FIRST REAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS A COUNCILMEMBER AND IT WAS A ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTIONS. I WAS SO HOPEFUL ON BILLS PARTICULARLY ON HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND SO MANY GET SLOW ROLLED. THAT BIG FUNNEL I SHOULD JUST NOT HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS. I THINK SOMETIMES MITIGATION IS THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK YOU ALL GET TO DO UP THERE AND THAT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT. I JUST WANT TO CALL OUT THAT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A LOCAL COUNCIL THAT SUPPORTS THE PUBLIC ED SYSTEM. AS A SIKH AMERICAN, HAVING THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BEING POSTED IN SCHOOLS IS TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW AND WE SHOULD NOT BE FORCING RELIGION IN SCHOOLS. I JUST WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO HEAR THAT AT LEAST LOCALLY THEY HAVE REPRESENTATION THAT BELIEVES IN THAT VALUE STILL AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR HOPEFULLY AS A COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT SESSION TO RAISERS. IN ADDITION, OUR COUNTERACT ALL OF THAT BENEFIT, BUT AT LEAST OUR TEACHERS WILL BE GETTING A LITTLE MORE PAY. AS A REMINDER, AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGETING PROCESS, WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON OUR SCHOOLS AND YOUTH AND FIGURING HOW DO WE CREATE THAT WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT FOR OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS THE FUTURE WE WANT TO BE FIGHTING FOR. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. IF ANYBODY IS LISTENING TO THIS, IT'S YOUR WARNING TO GO VOTE NEXT TIME. THAT'S IT ON ITEM 5. ERIK, IS THERE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT? >> WALSH: YES, SIR. ONE ITEM. IT'S OUR FINAL THIRD VIDEO, [03:25:05] WE'VE DONE THESE THE LAST TWO WEEKS SHARING WITH THE COUNCIL ANOTHER TEAM AWARD FROM OUR -- THE CITY MANAGER'S EXCELLENCE AWARD. TODAY'S VIDEO REALLY RECOGNIZES OUR TVSA TEAM. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY CREATE THE VIDEOS AND ALL THE PRODUCTIONS OF COUNCIL MEETINGS, BUT THIS 11-PERSON TEAM WAS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNICATION, ACCESSIBILITY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. THE TEAM HAS EXPANDED OUR GOVERNMENT MEETING PRODUCTIONS, THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED SPANISH AND ASL ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES WHILE MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS WITH OVER 300 UPDATES IN A SEAMLESS TRANSITION TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VIRTUAL FORMATS. THEY'VE SPEARHEADED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR PEG SYSTEM AND EARNED OWNER 40 NATIONAL 5:00 DADE AS A TEAM. THIS TEAM CONTINUES TO MANAGE ONE. THIS COUNTRY'S MOST ACTIVE PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNELS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY FOSTERS CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND A WHOLE HOST OF ANNUAL PROGRAMS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS TEAM. THEIR COMMITMENT AND INNOVATION HONORS ALSO THE MISSION AND MEMORY OF ONE OF OUR LONG-TERM EMPLOYEES, FRANK BURNS, WHO HAD A LITTLE OVER 18 YEARS WITH THE CITY AND PASSED AWAY LAST FALL. LET'S ROLL THAT VIDEO. WE ALWAYS HERE DID A GREAT JOB, BUT WHY THINK ANYONE SAW THE EXTENT UNTIL COVID HURT AND WE WERE THE ONLY ONES BROADCASTING AND FEEDING IT TO OUR NEWS OUTLET. TVSA DOES A LOT. IT WILL JUST BE EASIER TO SHOW YOU. TVSA'S MOST IMPORTANT CONTENT IS LIVE PRODUCTION MEETING. ALL OUR LIVE PRODUCTION MEETINGS INCLUDE ASL AND SPANISH INTERPRETATION. CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF THE FEW MUNICIPALITIES THAT STILL RUNS THE PUBLIC ACCESS MANAGER. WE'RE AT PARKS & REC NOW. COME CHECK IT OUT. >> TEAM WORK AND INNOVATION ARE THE CORE VALUES. WE HAVE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO GIVE A HELPING HAND AND INNOVATION BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS CREATING ORIGINAL CONTENT, BUT TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR BROADCAST. >> I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER TEAM AND I THINK OUR WORK SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. [APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: THAT'S IT. MAYOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, AT 1:55 P.M. ON JUNE 12, 2025, WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.