[01:19:58] PROVIDERS ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS. I'M HOPEFUL AT THE LOCAL [01:20:03] LEVEL THE CITY AND COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE [01:20:07] PROVIDING THE CARE AND ACCESS AND RESOURCE THAT PEOPLE DESERVE. [01:20:12] BUT BY ALSO RECOGNIZING YOU ALL ARE DOING ALL THAT YOU ALL CAN AND IT'S A NON-STOP [01:20:19] AMOUNT OF FOLKS LOOKING FOR ACCESS TO CARE AND SERVICES IN SAN ANTONIO. [01:20:23] I'M HOPEFUL AS WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE 2026 BUDGET THAT THE PRIORITY OF [01:20:28] SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE BUDGET SURVEY OFTEN FINDS HOMELESS [01:20:34] OUTREACH, ACCESS TO HOUSING CONTINUE TO BE A PRY PRY OR TEASE. [01:20:48] AND JUST THANK YOU ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO. WE KNOW THERE'S PLENTY AND [01:20:54] MUCH MORE WORK AHEAD. UNFORTUNATELY SO MANY FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING [01:21:00] ECONOMIC INSECURITY AND INSTABILITY BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL THERE IS A SYSTEM [01:21:05] ESTABLISHED AND YOU ALL ARE KEY TO THAT SYSTEM. I KNOW YOU GIVE FOLKS FROM [01:21:10] THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, I'VE MET FOLKS FROM OHIO, THEY WANT TO GET IN CONTACT TO [01:21:16] SEE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO JUST THANK YOU ALL SO [01:21:20] MUCH FOR THE WORK AND THERE'S PLENTY MORE AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [01:21:24] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. TO ALL OF YOUR STAFF, [01:21:31] 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. ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THIS PROPOSAL. >> 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 A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN DENVER WE APPROVED AN EXPANSION OF OUR DISTRICT, AND A PERSON FROM DENVER, A SIGNIFICANT [01:25:05] 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 WE APPRECIATE IT. AND MAYOR RON, I THANK YOU TOO. FOR THE REST OF YOU, THANK [01:30:03] 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. COUNCIL ENGENDERING THE REDUCE OF THE RESIDENTS OF 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 US. IS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT JUST ANOTHER BOX TO BE CHECKED? AND WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER [01:35:06] 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 NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THESE SIGNS AND DECIDE ON THE MERITS OF ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE? [01:40:02] 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 CULTURE AND ARTS UNITED FOR SAN ANTONIO. 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. APPRECIATE THE DAY THAT YOU CRUSHED A CASCARONE OVER MY 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 [01:45:05] 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 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, THERE IS SOME TIME SHARE, SOME REVENUE SHARE AS WELL, SO ALL THAT WILL BE BENEFIT FOR THE CITY. [01:50:05] 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. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, [01:55:02] 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 REMOVE THE SIGNS? [02:00:03] >> 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. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.