Sep 04, 2025 City Council A Session

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>> MAYOR JONES: GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

TODAY OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OPENED WITH THE ALTERNATIVE ROCK SOND, THE WAY I SEE YOU BY SAN ANTONIO ARTIST MYPILOTIS. THEY ARE LED BY MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTALISTS, SINGER, AND SONGWRITER CHESKA BLENDING MELODIES AND SONGWRITING. IT HAS GROWN INTO A MUSICAL JOURNEY FOR THE ARTIST. AS PART OF THE SPOTLIGHT PROGRAM WE CONTINUE TO FEATURE LOCAL MUSICIANS AT THE BEGINNING OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND ON TVSA.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AT SA.GOV/ARTS AND FOLLOWING GET CREATIVE SA ON

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE PHOTO OP TO COMPLETE AND THEN WE'LL GET STARTED WITH OUR BUSINESS HERE.

GREAT. THANK Y'ALL. THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S INVOCATOR .

>> SPEARS: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I AM TRULY HONORED TO WELCOME TODAY'S GUEST. THIS IS MY PASTOR, PASTOR RICK GODWIN.

HE IS THE PASTOR AND FOUNDER OF SUMMIT CHURCH. THIS IS WHERE I GO EVERY WEEK AND HE HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ME IN MY OWN LIFE AND MANY ACROSS THE CITY AND ACROSS THE WORLD. HE IS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THE AUTHOR OF FIVE BOOKS, AND AN INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER ON FAITH AND LEADERSHIP.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT CHALLENGING PEOPLE TO LIVE WITH PURPOSE, SERVE OTHERS, AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND HE ALSO HAS A COMMERCIAL PILOT'S LICENSE, JUST IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING. BUT IF YOU EVER NEED A CHURCH, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT US AT SUMMIT. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME MY

PASTOR, RICK GODWIN. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. SHALL WE BOW FOR PRAYER? HEAVENLY FATHER WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS FOR THIS WONDERFUL CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND FOR THOSE WHO SERVE ITS PEOPLE ON CITY COUNCIL. WE ASK FOR YOUR PRESENCE TO GO WITH THIS GATHERING, GUIDING EVERY DECISION AND WORD SPOKEN TODAY.

GRANT THAT OUR LEADERS HAVE WISDOM BEYOND THEIR OWN UNDERSTANDING, DISCERNMENT TO SEEK WHAT IS JUST AND GOOD, AND COURAGE TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY AND HUMILITY.

HELP THEM TO LISTEN WITH COMPASSION TO THE CONCERNS OF NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ALIKE. AND TO PURSUE POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY, PROTECT THE VULNERABLE, AND HONOR THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON.

BLESS THE CITY STAFF AND ALL WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO SAFE, HEALTHY, AND THRIVING. MAY THEIR EFFORTS BE EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, AND CARRIED OUT WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT. WE PRAY FOR UNITY IN THIS CHAMBER EVEN AMID DIFFERING

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MAY YOUR LIBERTY AND LOVE GUIDE OUR PLANS FOR GROWTH, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND EDUCATION IN WAYS THAT REFLECT YOUR CHARACTER. WE ENTRUST SAN ANTONIO INTO YOUR HANDS, FATHER, ASKING FOR YOUR PROTECTION, PROVISION, AND BLESSING OVER THIS GREAT CITY AND ITS GREAT PEOPLE. MAY ALL THAT IS DONE HERE TODAY BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME AND MAY IT SERVE THE COMMON GOOD. WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF

THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, PASTOR. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE.

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

THIS NIGHT OUT WILL FEATURE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, REFRESHMENTS, GAMES, AND ACTIVITIES. WHEREAS THE CITYWIDE EVENT FOCUSES ON CONNECTING NEIGHBORS WITH KEY CITY DEPARTMENTS, PROVIDING CRIME PREVENTION TIPS, ENCOURAGING GREATER CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, AND PROMOTING ONGOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NOWW I DO HEREBY PROCLAIM TO BE NEIGHBORS TOGETHER.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD MORNING .

THIS IS THE ONE NIGHT OF THE YEAR THAT FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE COMMUNITY GET TOGETHER IN A FORMAL WAY TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY AND SAFETY. THIS YEAR SO FAR WE HAVE 309 NEIGHBORHOODS SIGNED UP TO CELEBRATE AND WE'RE ON TARGET TO SURPASS LAST YEAR'S.

SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE THAT NIGHT. >> YES.

AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO LOOKS FORWARD TO STRENGTHEN THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD BONDS AND PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE IT GOES WELL BEYOND POLICE, FIRE, AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. IT'S ACTUALLY EVERYBODY'S RESPONSIBILITY IN THE

COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, CHIEFS. WOULD ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE TO SPEAK?

CHAIR VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I AM SO EXCITED BECAUSE WHAT I LOVE ABOUT SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER IS I FEEL LIKE IT'S TRULY SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S US COMING TOGETHER. SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR, ALL THE FAITH COMMUNITY AND CHURCHES THAT ARE HOSTING EVENTS.

ALL OF YOU THAT ARE OUT THERE. I WISH I COULD MAKE IT TO EVERYTHING BUT MY STAFF AND I EACH TAKE A SECTION AND HEAD OUT AND VISIT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE. OUR FIRST RESPONDERS CONSTANTLY AS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE TEAM SAN ANTONIO. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR.

I AM HOPING FOR GOOD WEATHER AND COOL WEATHER. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO BOTH CHIEFS FOR ALL YOU DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I AM EXCITED AND I KNOW THE DISTRICT 5 TEAM IS ALWAYS EAGER FOR NEIGHBORS TOGETHER. BECAUSE DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS -- AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE EXCITED TO CLOSE DOWN THE STREETS.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING SAFER COMMUNITIES. EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AS WELL AS PASTOR ROBINSON AND MS. GARRETT FOR WHAT YOU DO, TRULY SERVING AS A MODEL OF HOW TO BUILD COMMUNITY

TOGETHER . >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE CHIEFS AND TO ALL OF YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER IS DEFINITELY ONE OF DISTRICT 7'S FAVORITE NIGHTS. WE'RE TRYING TO GO TO ALL THE PARTIES BECAUSE ALL OF OUR

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I'M GOING TO ECHO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE WHEN SHE SAID WE TRULY ARE TEAM SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ.

>> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. TODAY WILL ALWAYS BE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT FOR ME BUT I APPRECIATE THE NAME CHANGE BUT JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME THAT YOU PUT INTO MAKING THESE EVENTS SPECIAL. DISTRICT 8 HAS A NUMBER OF HOAS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT REALLY COME OUT FOR THIS NIGHT AND THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO TALK AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS NEIGHBORS AND CONTINUING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING

THAT Y'ALL DO. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS.

>> SPEARS: WELL, I GUESS I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING.

WE ARE A CITY THAT LOVES TO PARTY, RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO? I'M JUST EXCITED THIS WILL BE MY FIRST ONE AS A COUNCILPERSON.

I TOO CALL IT NEIGHBORS NIGHT OUT BUT I HAVE TO GET USED TO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE EFFORT. I KNOW SO MUCH EFFORT GOES INTO THIS NIGHT BEFORE WE GET THERE AND I'M SO EXCITED. DISTRICT 9 IS EXCITED AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME, EFFORT, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THIS WITH Y'ALL THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: SAME. IT'S A SPECIAL NIGHT AND THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 10 LOVE IT AND SO I KNOW WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE EXCITED FOR THE EVENING.

AND HAVING YOU GUYS THERE AND AT THESE EVENTS MAKES IT EXTRA SPECIAL.

ON BEHALF OF ALL THE DISTRICT 10 RESIDENTS, WE TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK THAT REALLY I THINK IS DONE

HERE IN OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF IT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, CHIEFS. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY THAT MADE TIME TO JOIN US THIS MORNING.

THE SECOND PROCLAMATION TODAY IS SPONSORED BY MUNICIPAL COURT WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT DEDICATES THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2025 AS ATTENDANCE MATTERS, AWARENESS MONTH, AN ANNUAL CAMPAIGN THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TOWARDS STUDENTS' ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING.

WHEREAS REDUCING CHRONIC ABSENCES REQUIRES COMMITMENT, COLLABORATION, AND A TAILORED APPROACH BETWEEN SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

THESE ARE CRITICAL REMOVING BARRIERS, PROMOTING SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM.

WHEREAS THE COURT WILL PARTNER WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS BY HOSTING EVENTS THAT ADDRESS ATTENDANCE CHALLENGES INCLUDING THE FALL SENIOR SUMMIT 2025 RISE TO GRADUATION, A THREE-PHASE PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES DESIGNED. THIS INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO EMPOWER SENIORS TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THEIR JOURNEY.

I, MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO, DO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2025 TO BE ATTENDANCE AND AWARENESS MONTH. JUDGE OBLEDO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A COUPLE OF

REMARKS. >> MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING . I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DR. JEANETTE BALL, A

SUPERINTENDENT FOR SOUTHWEST ISD . >> GOOD MORNING.

>> WE ALSO HAVE JERRY SOTO, SUPERINTENDENT FOR HARLANDALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE ALSO HAVE JUDGE CHAVARRIA FROM MUNICIPAL COURT. JOINING THE COURT TODAY ARE TEACHERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF FROM EDGEWOOD ISD --

>> MAYOR JONES: ONE SECOND. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU.

JUDGE, PLEASE. >> WE ALSO HAVE SUPPORT STAFF, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND TEACHERS FROM EDGEWOOD ISD, EAST CENTRAL ISD, HARLANDALE ISD, SOUTH SAN, SOUTH SIDE, AND SOUTHWEST ISD. SO I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE THEM THE GRATITUDE THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO SHOW THEM. WE ALSO ARE HERE WITH OUR JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS FROM THE COURT WHO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ALL THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

RECOGNIZED AS ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS ARE ADDRESSING ATTENDANCE ISSUES YEAR ROUND. NOT JUST IN SEPTEMBER, THEY ARE ADDRESSING THEM YEAR ROUND. THEY ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

THEY ARE THE FRONT LINES AND I THINK THAT THEIR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING ATTENDANCE ISSUES EARLY, ADDRESSING EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES AND MAKING SURE THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS A STRONG EDUCATED WORKFORCE REALLY NEEDS TO BE APPLAUDED. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYBODY

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THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN

VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I AM HONORED TO CHAIR AS AN INTERIM FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURTS AND TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE.

AND WHAT THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS SO IMPORTANT. AND ATTENDANCE IS KEY TO I KNOW WHAT Y'ALL ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH. AND I WANT TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT BALL AND SUPERINTENDENT SOTO WHO ARE HERE TODAY , EVERYONE REPRESENTING SCHOOLS FROM MY DISTRICTS, WHICH INCLUDES SAISD, SOUTHSIDE, HARLANDALE, AND EAST CENTRAL . THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

I KNOW IT'S A TEAM EFFORT. IT TAKES SOCIAL WORKERS, THE THERAPISTS THAT GO IN AND TALK ABOUT AT SAISD, THE TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS THAT ARE WORKING ON ATTENDANCE.

BECAUSE IT'S JUST A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT.

I AM PRO-ATTENDANCE AND I WILL BE TAGGING ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THERE AND TO JUST TRY AND GET THROUGH THE DAY AS BEST THEY CAN. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET KIDS IN SCHOOL AND WE

GET THEM GRADUATED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR

MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE OBLEDO FOR BRINGING THIS TO COUNCIL. THANK YOU, DR. BALL FOR BEING HERE.

I MET WITH ALL THREE SUPERINTENDENTS IN D4 AND TOLD THEM THAT CHILD EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT. KEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY. BECAUSE AS WE KNOW WHEN KIDS ARE NOT IN SCHOOL, OTHER THINGS HAPPEN. AND THAT'S THE BEST PLACE FOR THEM TO BE AND TO GRADUATE AND TO MOVE ON. I JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, JUDGE OBLEDO AND THE ENTIRE TEAM. THIS IS A COURT AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS HOSTED WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BECAUSE EVERY TIME I GET UP AND SPEAK TO THOSE KIDS, THEY'RE IN A SEAT I WAS IN ONCE. WHAT I HAVE SHARED WITH THE COMMITTEE BEFORE IS I HAVE SPENT SOME TIME IN TRUANCY COURT IN THE EARLY 2000S AND OFTENTIMES WHEN I GET INVITED TO SCHOOLS AND GIVE PRESENTATIONS, THEY ALWAYS ASK CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR TIME ON STUDENT COUNCIL. I'M LIKE, THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY MY EXPERIENCE.

BUT IT'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THOSE AT-RISK YOUTH ALONG.

THAT OPPORTUNITY YOUTH TO SHOW THE POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY. WHAT I VALUE ABOUT THIS COURT IS NOT ONLY IS IT ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITY.

ENCOURAGING OUR FAMILIES TO GET CONNECTED TO SERVICES AND SEEING THE AMOUNT OF SERVICES THAT Y'ALL PROVIDE AROUND MUNICIPAL COURT ON THIS DAY IS VERY VALUABLE TO THE FAMILIES.

I KNOW THAT. Y'ALL KNOW THAT, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE PRESENT.

I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT EACH OF YOU PLAY NO MATTER YOUR ROLE IN THIS COURT AND PROGRAM. I KNOW THE FAMILIES COUNT ON THAT SERVICE, ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS, CONNECTING THEM TO SERVICES.

EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COURT AND ALL THAT Y'ALL DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. LET ME ALSO ECHO MY THANKS.

AND THE JUDGE CAN SPEAK -- LAST WEEK WE HAD THE BUDGET SESSION AND THERE WERE LOTS OF QUESTIONS FROM THIS DAIS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER THINK ABOUT AND BETTER UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE ROOT CHALLENGES, EXPERIENCE. BECAUSE WE CAN TALK ABOUT ADDRESSING POVERTY ALL DAY. WE CAN TALK ABOUT WORKING TO BRING GOOD BUSINESSES HERE.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT OUR FUTURE AS MILITARY CITY, USA. BUT ALL OF IT STARTS WITH MAKING SURE OUR KIDS ARE PREPARED. AND THAT REQUIRES THERE IN THE CLASSROOM. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

WE KNOW SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES ARE NOT THE SAME. FRANKLY SOME OF IT MAY BE, AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, UNDERSTANDING -- ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS OUR KIDS MISS SCHOOL IS ASTHMA. NOT HAVING ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR ADDMA. ASTHMA.

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LGBTQ KIDS IS ALSO A REASON SOME DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SHOWING UP. I WANT TO THANK YOU WHAT YOU DO.

THIS BODY UNDERSTANDS IT IN THE CONTEXT OF NOT ONLY EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES BUT ADDRESSING POVERTY AS WELL AS OUR ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS. I WILL SAY I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WE THINK YOUR WORK IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR IMPORTANT ROLE AND IDENTITY AS MILITARY CITY, USA. TO PUT ON A FORMER HAT, YOU KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT SERVE IN THE MILITARY WILL COME FROM JUST A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES.

AND SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY IS ONE OF THEM. BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE INDICATOR OF WHETHER SOMEBODY WILL SERVE IN THE MILITARY IS IF THEY KNOW SOMEBODY WHO SERVES. IF WE ARE NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH HEALTHY KIDS OR ACADEMICALLY-PREPARED KIDS, IT'S A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE.

MANY UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITY WE OWE TO YOU TO SUPPORT THE WORK, NOT ONLY FOR

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>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN

CASTILLO-ANGUIANO. >> TODAY I AM RECOGNIZING A VERY SPECIAL DISTRICT 2 RESIDENT AND FRIEND WHO PASSED AWAY ON MONDAY. IF YOU EVER DROVE DOWN WALTER STREET UP THE ROAD FROM ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH, YOU SAW TAMERO.

SHE WAS LOVED AND PROTECTED BY SO MANY OF OUR DISTRICT 2 RESIDENTS.

SHE WAS IN HER 40S, SO SWEET, AND ALWAYS WILLING TO TALK. SHE WOULD LIGHT INCENSE AS FOLKS VISITED HER AND FOR A TIME SHE HAD A BOX MADE OUT OF PLYWOOD WHERE SHE SLEPT LINED WITH CLOTHES AND ALL THE THINGS SHE OWNED. THE BOX HAD A HOLE WHERE SHE WOULD PEEK OUT AND SEE WHO WAS APPROACHING. SHE SAW EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOTHING FAZED HER. EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD HER OWN CHALLENGES, SHE HAD CLARITY AND SHE TALKED ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE CHILDREN WHO LIVED AROUND THE AREA. NEIGHBORS WOULD CONSTANTLY CHECK UP ON HER AND SHE HAD ONE TREAT THAT SHE REALLY ENJOYED, WHICH WAS A MCDONALD'S COFFEE WITH 14 CREAMERS AND 14 SUGARS. PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD SAY THAT SHE WAS GOOD WHEN SHE WAS ON HER MEDS AND HER FAMILY, INCLUDING HER DAUGHTER, TRIED EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO BRING HER IN OFF THE STREETS AND TO FIND HER HOUSING.

SHE WENT THROUGH COUNTLESS ABATEMENTS. THEY TOOK AWAY HER BOX BUT SHE ALWAYS REPORTED BACK TO HER POST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SHE WAS EVEN EMERGENCY DETAINED TO AN INSTITUTION BUT SHE WAS RELEASED WHEN THE MONEY RAN OUT.

AGAIN, HER LIFE WAS FULL AND SHE HAD A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WHO LOVED AND RESPECTED HER.

ULTIMATELY, AFTER ENDURING THE ELEMENTS, SHE PASSED AWAY FROM A HEART ATTACK.

HOMELESSNESS IS A VERY, VERY, VERY COMPLEX ISSUE AND OFTEN THE SOLUTIONS BEGIN DECADES BEFORE A PERSON DECIDES THEY NO LONGER TRUST THE HOUSING SYSTEM ENOUGH TO CHOOSE TO LIVE OUTSIDE OF IT. DISTRICT 2 AND OUR EASTSIDE COMMUNITY RESPECTED AND LOVED TAMERA LIKE ONE OF OUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS AND WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TODAY TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT TO HER FAMILY AND EVERYONE ELSE WHOSE LIFE SHE TOUCHED.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

OKAY. ITEM 3 IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF AUGUST 13, 14, 19, 20, AND 21, 2025. THE CITY CLERK IS MOVING THESE TO THE NEXT MEETING TO ALLOW FOR MORE TIME FOR REVIEW. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TAKING THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS SO THAT WE MAY CLEAR THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY? THERE IS NO OBJECTION SO WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY? MADAME CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MR. ANTONIO DIAZ. GOOD MORNING. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TOTAL.

THANK YOU. >> I'M JUST CONCERNED OVER DEVELOPMENT, OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AREAS , IF THERE'S ANY -- I SAW A COUPLE OF PROPOSALS THERE THAT WOULD SOMEHOW AFFECT THE PROTECTED AREAS BY MEDINA OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.

SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WILL OCCUR WITH CREATING EASEMENTS ON TO THOSE

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TO SPEAK, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A MOTION

TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR JONES: IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, EXCEPT ITEM 11, WHICH WAS WITHDRAWN BY STAFF. ARE THERE ANY HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT

THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16. WE HAVE SOME APPOINTMENTS FOR DISTRICT 6.

I WANT TO SHOUT OUT MR. GONZALES -- I DON'T KNOW IF RICHARD IS HERE TODAY.

THERE HE IS. HEY THERE. IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP TO THE FRONT SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE. I JUST WANTED TO NOTE RICHARD GONZALES WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO AND HAS BEEN A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE CITY.

HE HAS A STRONG RECORD OF COMMUNITY SERVICES INCLUDING VOLUNTEERING DURING HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF EFFORTS AND VOLUNTEERING AT THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.

RICHARD REPRESENTS DISTRICT 6 ON THE DIEZ Y SEIS COMMISSION CELEBRATING DIEZ Y SEIS -- SAN ANTONIO'S STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH MEXICO. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE RICHARD'S HONEST COMMISSION AND ADVICE HE GIVES TO ME. ALL OF US THERE AT THE LIBRARY IN THE SCORCHING HEAT IT WAS ALWAYS HELPFUL TO HEAR WHAT THOUGHTS YOU HAD ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND ON THE DISTRICT STAYS WITH ME NOT ONLY IN THE GENERAL BUT IN THE RUNOFF ELECTION TOO. YOU HAVE GREAT INITIALS FOR DISTRICT 6.

I'M GOING TO HEAD DOWN THERE TO TAKE A QUICK PICTURE AND WE CAN CALL IT A DAY.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JAMIE KOWALSKI.

JAMIE COMES TO US FROM THE RK GROUP. HOLDING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM UTSA AS WELL AS BEING A BOARD MEMBER ON THE HARDBERGER CONSERVANCY.

SHE IS BEING REAPPOINTED. THANK YOU SO MUCH, YAY MEE, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO AN APPOINTMENT TO THE PARKS AND REC BOARD, DR. LINDA LOPEZ GEORGE WHO HAS BEEN A DISTRICT 8 RESIDENT FOR OVER TWO DECADES, POSSESSING A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR OUR GREEN SPACES. SHE'S ALSO SERVED ON THE HARDBERGER CONSERVANCY AND CO-CHAIRED THE FUNDRAISER FARMS TO FORK. DR. GEORGE IS BEING REAPPOINTED TO THE PARKS AND REC BOARD FOR DISTRICT 8. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 8 . LAST, ANTHONY MEDRANO, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO GRADUATING FROM CHURCHILL HIGH SCHOOL AND THE SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE.

WITH OVER 50 YEARS OF EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF MEXICAN AMERICAN CELEBRATION, ANTHONY'S PASSION FOR HIS CULTURE RUNS DEEP. ANTHONY IS BEING REAPPOINTED TO THE SAN ANTONIO DIEZ Y SEIS COMMISSION FOR DISTRICT 8. THANK YOU, ANTHONY.

I BELIEVE THAT IS IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR,

ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF GREAT HIGHLIGHTS. I'M SO EXCITED TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL TODAY.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 17 APPOINTING CLEMENTINE PRYOR TO THE CITY-COUNTY JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS. REAPPOINTING DAN WALLACE AND REAPPOINTING JASON VASQUEZ TO THE HISTORIC COMPLIANCE AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD. ALL OF THESE THREE DISTRICT 7 RESIDENTS ARE HERE WITH US TODAY . IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING TO THE PODIUM. I'LL START BY RECOGNIZING CLEM PRYOR.

CLEM IS AN ABSOLUTE STAR IN DISTRICT 7 AND SHE IS LOVED BY ALL WHO KNOW HER.

MY TEAM INCLUDED. SHE GOES OUT OF HER WAY TO CHECK ON MY STAFF AND ME EVEN WHEN SHE IS DEALING WITH HER OWN STRUGGLES. AND SHE BRINGS THE SAME ENERGY TO EVERYONE SHE MEETS. SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE RESIDENT COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE RENTAL APARTMENTS AND WORKS AS A CAREGIVER TO A PERSON WITH DEMENTIA.

SHE IS A DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR HER COMMUNITY AND GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE HER NEIGHBORS ARE CARED FOR. CLEM HAS COMMITTED HER LIFE TO BEING AN ALLY TO OLDER ADULTS AND TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH MAKES HER THE PERFECT FIT FOR THIS

[00:30:03]

DAN HAS BEEN SERVING SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND HE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

HE'S ALWAYS WILLING TO LEND A HELPING HAND AND TAKES PRIDE IN BEING INVOLVED IN HIS COMMUNITY. DAN SERVES AS THE LINCOLN PARK HOA PRESIDENT.

HE IS RETIRED FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AFTER 25 YEARS.

AFTER LEAVING THE STATE HE WENT TO WORK IN RECRUITMENT AT SEVERAL COLLEGES AND JOINED WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO. DAN'S LIFE HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY, HIS STATE, AND NOW HIS CITY. I'M HONORED TO REAPPOINT HIM TO THIS COMMITTEE AND SO GRATEFUL FOR HIS LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK YOU, DAN.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE JASON VASQUEZ WHO IS BEING REAPPOINTED TO CTAB. JASON WAS ELECTED BY HIS PEERS TO SERVE AS VICE CHAIR, DEMONSTRATING HIS EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP. HE IS A VALUABLE VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY. JASON SERVED AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE JEFFERSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN HIS COMMUNITY SINCE HE WAS A TEENAGER . HE HAS WORKED FOR UTSA SINCE 2013 AND PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER. HIS DEDICATION TO MAKING SAN ANTONIO A BETTER PLACE IS TRULY INSPIRING. THANK YOU, JASON, FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR DISTRICT 7 AND OUR CITY. I'M SO EXCITED TO APPOINT YOU TODAY.

IF Y'ALL CAN STAY DOWN THERE, I'M GOING TO TAKE A QUICK PICTURE.

FIRST, LET'S GIVE ALL OF THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE TWO QUICK ITEM HIGHLIGHTS. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 7, WHICH IS OUR EXCITING FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO DESIGN AND MAKE ADA ACCESSIBLE OUR MMAIN PLAZA, WHICH IS THE PLAZA WE HAVE OUT HERE. IT'S TOOK LONGER THAN WE WERE HOPING FOR BUT I'M GLAD IT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY. I'M HOPING MY COLLEAGUES APPROVE IT.

THANK YOU TO THE ADVOCATES WHO ARE ALWAYS HERE MAKING SURE THAT OUR MAIN PLAZA IS ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL AND ONE THAT EVERYONE CAN COME TO AND ENJOY.

IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T COME AND SEEN THE SHOW AT NIGHT, I WOULD TOTALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IT. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT 26, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP FOR DENTAL SCREENINGS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES DON'T -- I NEVER HAD A DENTAL SCREENING AS A KID. DENTAL SCREENINGS GET LEFT OFF IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE FOR OUR KIDDOS. THIS ONE IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HEAD START AND AVANCE. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS FUNDING GO THROUGH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 26, ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN IN HEAD START HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH PREVENT C IVE CARE IS IMPORTANT. I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN METRO HEALTH, PARENT-CHILD INCORPORATED AND AVANCE. THEY CAN SERVICE OVER 5,000 CHILDREN . MANY PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT CAN'T NECESSARILY AFFORD DENTAL CARE AND NOT ONLY THAT, PREVENTIVE CARE. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF METRO HEALTH ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 35 AND 36.

THIS IS THE ROOSEVELT PEDESTRIAN, ALL THE HARD WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING IN WORK SESSION AS WE TALK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD, MOVING BOND PROJECTS FORWARD.

JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE RAZI'S SWAN SONG PROJECT WHERE HE GETS STARTED.

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT HE DOES. THIS WAS A 2017, 2022 BOND AND WE'RE STARTING TO LOOK FORWARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO MIKE SHANNON MOVING THIS ALONG AND MAKING SURE WE GET THIS DONE. I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TODAY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMUNICATION AND ANSWERS ON

THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT ITEM 11, WHICH WAS WITHDRAWN BY STAFF. PLEASE VOTE.

[00:35:20]

AYE. >> AYE. >> MAYOR JONES: AND OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[ACTION ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION]

THESE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 10, 2025. THE CITY CLERK HAS A PRESENTATION.

>> CLERK: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DEBBIE RACCA-SITTRE AND I'M YOUR CITY CLERK. THE SAWS WAS CREATED BY CITY COUNCIL IN APRIL OF 1992 AND SAWS IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES. THE BOARD CONSISTS OF THE MAYOR AND SIX MEMBERS APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL. TRUSTEES MUST RESIDE WITHIN THE AREA SERVED BY SAWS OR WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY.

AND EACH MEMBER IS APPOINTED FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM AND NO MEMBER MAY SERVE MORE THAN TWO TERMS. THIS MAP SHOWS THE QUADRANTS THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD BE COMING FROM. WE HAVE THREE OPENINGS IN EACH OF THE NORTHWEST -- ONE EACH IN NORTHWEST, NORTHEAST, AND SOUTHWEST QUADRANT. THE CITY CLERK OPENED APPLICATIONS IN OUR BOARD APPLICATION SYSTEM 90 DAYS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM, WHICH WAS MARCH 1. THE TERM WOULD EXPIRE MAY 31. THE COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ASSISTED THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK IN POSTING ON THE WEB, SOCIAL MEDIA, TVSA, AND THEY SENT OUT TEXTS. SAWS DISTRIBUTED AND POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE AS WELL. 30 RESIDENTS SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATION BY THE DEADLINE OF AUGUST 13TH. THIS KIND OF GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS AND TIMELINE.

THERE WERE 30 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AND VETTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

ON AUGUST 5, MAYOR JONES CREATED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE. THE AD HOC COMMITTEE CONSISTED OF MAYOR JONES, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, AND COUNCILMAN GALVAN.

THEY REVIEWED AND SHORTLISTED THE 30 APPLICANTS DOWN TO 7. AND THEY WERE INVITED TO THIS MEETING TO BE INTERVIEWED. TODAY CITY COUNCIL WOULD VOTE ON BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

THE CITY CLERK WOULD SWEAR IN THOSE NEW MEMBERS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VOTE.

HOWEVER, THEY WON'T TAKE OFFICE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 10, AS MENTIONED BY THE MAYOR.

THE CITY CLERK WILL SEND OUT A WELCOME LETTER AND INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO FILL OUT THEIR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT AND THEY WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE TRAINING. AND THEN BOARD MEMBERS BEGIN SERVING ON THE BOARD. SO THE APPLICANTS TO BE INTERVIEWED TODAY FOR THE THREE OPEN SEATS INCLUDE THREE FOLKS FROM THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT, TWO FROM THE NORTHWEST, AND TWO FROM THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT. THERE'S ONE SEAT IN EACH QUADRANT AVAILABLE.

THE APPLICANT WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT.

I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT NO ONE WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND, SO ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE HERE IN PERSON. CITY COUNCIL WILL REVIEW ALL SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS.

THERE WERE FOUR QUESTIONS THAT WERE PREDETERMINED BUT CITY COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS IF THEY NEED CLARIFICATION ON ANY OF THE RESPONSES. MAYOR JONES, WE'LL CALL THE MEETING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE BUT NO FORMAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION .

ONCE CITY COUNCIL RECONVENES, THERE WOULD BE A MOTION TO APPOINT CANDIDATES FOR EACH OF THE OPEN SEATS AND THEN THEY WOULD BE SWORN IN. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK. ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT IS MORE THAN A CLARIFICATION TO WHAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED IN THEIR OPENING STATEMENT, IN THE INTEREST OF FAIRNESS, PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ASK THAT QUESTION OF ALL OF THE APPLICANTS. WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE TWO

[00:40:06]

TWO MINUTES EACH. >> I HAVE TO TALK LIKE AN AUCTIONEER TO PROTECT THE JOBS ABANDONED ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPES. I WENT TO SAWS AND THEY TOLD ME IT DOESN'T AFFECT PROPERTY VALUES. I FOUND OUT THAT IT DOES.

AND WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE APPRAISER KEEPS REPEATING YOU CANNOT INCLUDE THINGS OUTSIDE OF YOUR PROPERTY LINE. YOU CANNOT INCLUDE THINGS OUTSIDE OF YOUR PROPERTY LINE, WHICH I SAID WHAT IF THERE'S A BAR ALL OF A SUDDEN NEXT TO MY HOUSE? WHAT IF THERE'S A PLACE THAT MAKES NOISE NEXT TO MY HOUSE? THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE PROPERTY VALUE. ONE OF THEM THINKING OUT LOUD SAID IT'S GOING TO AFFECT SALABILITY -- IF YOU SALE A PROPERTY YOU NEED TO DISCLOSE EVERYTHING AND IF YOU DON'T, THEY CAN SUE YOU. SO THE PROPERTY VALUE ON OUR PROPERTY WAS $109,000 AND ONE CITIZEN PANELISTS -- THERE WERE THREE -- BROUGHT IT DOWN TO $20,000.

THE OTHER TWO BROUGHT IT DOWN TO $50,000. BUT THE APPRAISER INSISTED THAT IT CANNOT -- IT ONLY HAS TO BE THINGS WITHIN YOUR PROPERTY. ANYHOW, PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF THAT AND SAWS WASN'T AWARE OF THAT. SO CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT'S JUST ONE HOUSE. THEY ALSO LEAVE THE HYDRANTS -- I MEAN, ANYWHERE.

INSTEAD OF THE INTERSECTIONS. NOW EVEN THE PROPERTY VALUES OF WHERE THOSE HYDRANTS ARE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE WHERE YOU OPEN YOUR LITTLE GATE TO GET THE MAIL.

COME ON. THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO SAWS, PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS, THAT ABANDONED ASBESTOS CEMENT DOES CAUSE PROPERTY VALUE DEVALUATION.

WE HAVE A WALKING TRAIL AND SARA DOES NOT TEST AND NOW PUBLIC WORKS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT CHANNELIZED CREEK, NOW A WALKING TRAIL. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: JACK FINGER, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. >> WELL, MADAME MAYOR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SELECTING SOME PEOPLE FOR THE SAWS BOARD AND THEY WILL BE IN CHARGE OF BEING THE GATEKEEPERS FOR RATE HIKES AND SO FORTH.

IN FACT, I JUST HAPPEN TO KNOW SOMETHING -- OBSERVE SOMETHING, A HEADLINE THAT CAME OUT RECENTLY. WHAT DOES IT SAY? SAWS CONSIDERS POTENTIAL RATE INCREASE FOR CUSTOMERS IN 2026. THANK YOU.

PLEASE RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD. YEAH.

SO THE QUESTION IS WILL YOU BE SELECTING PEOPLE WHO WILL VOTE FOR THE RATE INCREASE OR TO KEEP OUR RATES THE SAME? YES. BUT EVEN MORE DISTURBING THAN THAT, MADAME MAYOR, YOU FORMED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE JUST THREE, YOU AND A COUPLE OTHER COUNCIL PEOPLE TO SHORTLIST THE 17 OUT OF 24 PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE, 17 GOT CUT OUT.

THE QUESTION IS WE AS CITIZENS WANTED TO OBSERVE AND ATTEND THE MEETINGS TO SEE HOW YOU WERE DOING THIS. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING POSTED ON THE WIT WEBSITE AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY CRITERIA MENTIONED AS TO HOW YOU WERE GOING TO BE SHORTLISTING THESE PEOPLE. KIND OF DISTURBING TO ME. EVEN MORE THAN THAT, IF YOU RETURN THAT TO ME THERE. THANK YOU. SOME OF YOUR PEOPLE WHOM YOU ARE GOING TO BE SELECTING, JUST LOOKING AT THEIR VERY OWN MATERIAL, ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA. NOW, SHE USED TO BE A COUNCILPERSON HERE BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR HER EMPLOYER, HER COMPANY, HER WEBSITE AND SO FORTH.

HER COMPANY THAT SHE IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO HAS NO DESCRIPTION OF ITSELF ON THE INTERNET. IT'S COMPLETELY ABSENT. YEAH.

SHE DID ADVOCATE FOR TAX FAIR FUNDING LAST YEAR JUST MONTHS BEFORE SHE BECAME ITS CEO .

TO ME THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. AND CODA RAYO-GARZA --

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR.

>> SO MANY SCANDALS, SO LITTLE TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE INTERVIEWS. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT APPLIED TO SERVE ON THE SAWS BOARD OF TRUSTEES. AS MAYOR AND EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE SAWS BOARD, I EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERING TO SERVE ON THESE POSITIONS. SAWS, IN PARTICULAR, IS COMING INTO AN ENVIRONMENT, AS MR. FINGER JUST RELAYED, THE NEED FOR MAJOR CAPITAL

[00:45:06]

WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE APPLICANTS FOR THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT FOLLOWED BY THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT AND THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT. CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO HEAR EACH OTHER'S INTERVIEW SO ALL APPLICANTS EXCEPT FOR JEFF WURZBURG, COULD MOVE TO

THE SEQUESTERED AREA. WE CAN BEGIN NOW. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> MAYOR JONES: SO HE HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOUR QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND SO EVERYBODY MAY FOLLOW ALONG. THE QUESTIONS HE WILL BE ANSWERING, HE HAS TWO MINUTES FOR EACH QUESTION. THOSE WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE SCREEN FOR EVERYBODY'S

AWARENESS. >> THANK YOU. MAYOR JONES, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SAWS BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT. AFTER SPENDING 11 YEARS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE I WORKED ON CAPITOL HILL, WHERE I HANDLED -- MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO RETURN TO SAN ANTONIO IN 2017 TO RAISE OUR THEN ONE-YEAR-OLD TWINS. SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN MY HOME SINCE 1997 WHEN MY FAMILY RELOCATED HERE . I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF CLARK HIGH SCHOOL AND TODAY I'M A PARTNER AT THE LAW FIRM NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT WHERE I ADD ADVISE HOSPITALS ON REGULATORY AFFAIRS. THE DECISION TO CHOOSE SAN ANTONIO AS OUR HOME WAS DELIBERATE . WE SAW THE EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING HERE BUT WE ALSO SAW MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE AND HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE OUR RETURN, I HAVE SOUGHT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

I'M PROUD TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR MORGAN'S MULTI-ASSISTANCE CENTER.

I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN LEADERSHIP SAN ANTONIO AND SERVED ON THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

I APPLIED FOR TWO REASONS. ONE OUT OF GENUINE PASSION AND DESIRE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN A MEANINGFUL AND SUBSTANTIVE MANNER. TWO, BECAUSE I BELIEVE MY BACKGROUND AS AN ATTORNEY AND IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE WILL BENEFIT THE BOARD, SAWS, AND OUR COMMUNITY. OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, SAWS HAS PROVEN THAT EDUCATING OUR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SMART CHOICES TODAY TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION BENEFITS THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF OUR WATER SYSTEM.

SMART CHOICES BUSINESSES. AND IN ADDITION WE ALL HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN PROTECTING OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE AND ENSURING THAT OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE EXCITING THINGS IN THE SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR JONES: SO, AGAIN, THE FIRST QUESTION IS ON THE SCREEN. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

>> YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW, I'VE LEARNED A LOT OVER THE LAST WEEK SINCE I LEARNED I WAS SELECTED TO INTERVIEW TODAY.

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A LOT OF VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE. ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED WAS THE EXPERTISE THAT ALREADY EXIST AT SAWS. AND AS AN ATTORNEY, I KNOW WHERE MY EXPERTISE ENDS AND OTHERS BEGINS AND THAT'S WHERE THE BENEFIT I BELIEVE I BRING TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WOULD LIE. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH, LEARN FROM THOSE EXPERTS AND HOPEFULLY THEN BE ABLE TO BENEFIT THEM WITH MY EXPERTISE. BUT, AGAIN, AS AN ATTORNEY AND ONE WHO ADVISES ON GOVERNANCE, I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT LIE NOT ONLY TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, NOT ONLY TO SAWS, BUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

WE AS A CITY, AS A COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BEXAR COUNTY, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A CITY-OWNED WATER UTILITY. WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THAT.

PEOPLE ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT SAWS. PEOPLE RECOGNIZE SAWS AND SO I DO FEEL AN OBLIGATION TO ALL. WATER IS SOMETHING THAT WE HOLD IN TRUST FOR ALL CITIZENS.

IT'S A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AS OUR COMMUNITY. AND FRANKLY IT'S WHAT BROUGHT PEOPLE TO SAN ANTONIO GENERATIONS AGO. WE'RE OUR BODIES OF WATER.

IT'S SOMETHING I TAKE SERIOUSLY. OFTENTIMES THOSE NEEDS ARE PROVIDED IN INEQUITABLE WAYS. I SEE THAT IN HEALTHCARE EVERY DAY SO THAT'S SOMETHING

[00:50:04]

OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HARNESS WATER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENSURING THAT SAWS REMAINS STRONG AND A LEADER IN TERMS OF WATER SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL BE HELPFUL AS WE TRY TO ATTRACT ADDITIONAL BUSINESSES TO SAN ANTONIO, WHICH WE'LL NEED AS OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO EXPAND. IN TERMS OF THE MOST URGENT WATER-RELATED ISSUES, INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE, BOTH AGED AND NEW.

IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY THAT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO ARE COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT WE NEED. NON-REVENUE WATER, WATER THAT'S PULLED FROM THE GROUND BUT ISN'T ULTIMATELY PAID FOR. SOME OF THAT IS PURPOSEFUL BUT ABOUT 20% OF OUR WATER IS NON-REVENUE WATER. AND EVEN WHILE SAWS HAS IN AUDIO] THAT WE LOSE NOW, EVEN 2%, IF YOU -- IT IS BASIC MATH.

THAT'S ABOUT ALL I CAN DO. THAT WOULD SAVE ABOUT 2 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER.

THAT WOULD SERVE ABOUT 250 HOUSEHOLDS A MONTH BY MAKING THAT LITTLE DIFFERENCE.

WASTEWATER INVESTMENT. IT'S MY APPRECIATION THAT OUR WASTEWATER FACILITIES ARE OLDER. THE LAST ONE WAS BUILT IN 1998.

JUST LIKE ANY INFRASTRUCTURE OR YOUR HOME. AFTER TIME, THERE ARE MAJOR REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED AND SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT.

AND THEN DROUGHT AND SUSTAINABILITY. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE PERIODS OF LESS WATER. WE'RE EXPERIENCING THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE IN A DROUGHT SITUATION THAT IS UNPARALLELED BACK TO THE 1950S.

THIS IS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS TREMENDOUS AND TERRIFIC GROWTH. SO WE DO NEED TO HAVE AN EYE TO SUSTAINABILITY.

THE EDWARDS AQUIFER USED TO PROVIDE 50% -- I'M SORRY. USED TO PROVIDE ALMOST ALL OF OUR WATER. TODAY IT'S 50%. BUT WE HAVE FOUND THESE OTHER WATER SOURCES AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THE AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY IS BEING USED IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER.

IN TERMS OF INNOVATION, I BELIEVE THAT INNOVATION AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY GO HAND IN HAND. IT'S MY APPRECIATION THAT SAWS HAS HISTORICALLY DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB FINDING THIS BALANCE. IN FACT, WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE WATER SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED WAS THAT DESPITE OUR SIGNIFICANT GROWTH, WHICH IS 80% OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS IN TERMS OF POPULATION, WE ARE USING SIGNIFICANTLY LESS WATER PER CUSTOMER TODAY THAN AT THAT TIME. AND AS A WHOLE, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE WATER.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH SAWS' INNOVATION AND EFFORTS AT CONSERVATION.

THE SAWS' APP IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF INNOVATION THAT MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

SEEING YOUR WATER USE IN REALTIME, GETTING AN ALERT THAT YOU MAY HAVE A WATER LEAK.

THAT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE. THE PURPLE PIPE, WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST RECYCLED WATER SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT BENEFITS ALL OF US.

THAT'S SMART INNOVATION. WE ARE THE FIRST CITY TO HARNESS BIOGAS IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT'S A REVENUE SOURCE, SO THAT WAS INNOVATION THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN SUM, I DO BELIEVE THAT INNOVATION SHOULDN'T COME AT THE EXPENSE OF RATEPAYERS. IT NEEDS TO BE SMART BUT SAWS HAS A HISTORY OF THAT SMART INNOVATION THAT GOES BACK TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND IN RESPONSE TO THE FINAL QUESTION. IT IS INCONCEIVABLE TO ME THAT WE WOULDN'T COORDINATE.

WE HAVE A SHARED INTEREST IN MAINTAINING SAWS AS ONE OF THE LEADING WATER SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY. IT'S WONDERFUL FOR SAN ANTONIO.

PEOPLE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THAT FACT.

HIM TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. YOU CAN SEE THE PRIDE WE TAKE IN SAWS. THAT'S UNIQUE AND WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT CONTROL AT ALL COSTS AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WE ALL HAVE A VESTED INTEREST AS SUSTAINABLY MANAGING OUR MOST IMPORTANT AND BASIC RESOURCE FOR THE CITY BUT IN A WAY THAT ALSO ALLOWS OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS TO SHARE IN SAN ANTONIO'S BRIGHT FUTURE. AND THAT IS MY INTEREST AND DESIRE IN SERVING ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. MR. WURZBURG, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR THOUGHTS ON INCORPORATING CONSERVATION EFFORTS INTO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS REQUESTING SAWS' SERVICE.

[00:55:04]

>> SURE. I THINK THAT IS NECESSARY IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

OBVIOUSLY, ANY DEVELOPMENT WE WANT TO ENSURE IS UP TO DATE ON THE MOST RECENT AND INNOVATIVE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY IDEAS. IT WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE -- OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT AGED INFRASTRUCTURE, WE WOULDN'T WANT TO USE TECHNOLOGY THAT ISN'T UP TO DATE. THAT'S JUST GOING TO LEAD TO CHALLENGES DOWN THE ROAD. ESPECIALLY, AS I MENTIONED, AT A TIME WHERE WE ARE EXPANDING TREMENDOUSLY IN TERMS OF OUR POPULATION AND FACING DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

>> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. THANK YOU. NOW LET ME RECOGNIZE ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION ON THIS SIDE. NO? ON THIS SIDE? OKAY. CHAIR ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. THANKS FOR INTERVIEWING TODAY. IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT SAWS LOSES SO MUCH WATER, A SCARCE RESOURCE, ON LEAKY PIPES. AFTER LAST REPORT IT WAS OVER 21 BILLION GALLONS LOST ON OUR STREETS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON

HELPING SAWS SOLVE THAT ISSUE? >> I THINK A BIG PART OF THAT, BASED ON MY CONVERSATIONS AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED, IT CERTAINLY IS UPDATING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGED INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT IN PART SOME OF THE INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY THAT'S NOW AVAILABLE.

I LEARNED HOW AI CAN BE USED TO LISTEN FOR LEAKS. HOW WE CAN USE ROVERS TO FIND LEAKY PIPES OR COPPER OR LEAD PIPES. I THINK THOSE GO HAND N HAND.

AS I MENTIONED, THAT IS A PROBLEM I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. EVERY DROP OF WATER THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT TO A RESIDENT IS A DROP OF WATER WE DON'T HAVE.

AS A FRIEND OF MINE SAID, WE ALL TURN ON THE TAP. THIS AFFECTS ALL OF US.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU.

MY QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THE BOARD CAN IMPROVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND

EDUCATION REGARDING WATER CONSERVATION? >> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO MY RESPONSE TO SERVING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST THE QUADRANT. OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND EXCITED TO ENGAGE WITH MEMBERS OF MY QUADRANT AND CITIZENS AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE FACING AND ALSO SHARE WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT I DO THINK THAT'S A CRITICAL PIECE.

THERE IS AN OBLIGATION TO BE ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY, TO BE SHARING THAT.

CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE TOOLS LIKE THE APP THAT SITS IN OUR POCKET ON OUR PHONE SO WE CAN SEE WHAT SAWS IS DOING. OUR WATER USAGE, OUR ROLE. HOW WE CAN HELP WITH CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE CITY. ALL CRITICAL.

SO I THINK BEING ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, IT'S NOT JUST SHOWING UP TO MEETINGS, IT'S BEING IN THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGING WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND A VOICE FOR

MEMBERS OF THE QUADRANT. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO AS YOU KNOW ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE FACED SIGNIFICANTLY IS COORDINATION FOR CONSTRUCTION AND UTILITY CONSTRUCTION.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA ON HOW YOU WOULD HOLD THE LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PARTNERING TOGETHER AND TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS TO KNOW WHERE OUR WATER LINES

ARE UNDERGROUND. >> ABSOLUTELY. LOOK, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, AS I SAID. IT'S INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE CITY AND SAWS WOULDN'T BE WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS. WE HAVE TO MEET FOLKS WHERE THEY ARE AND WHERE THE NEEDS ARE. WE HAVE TO WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME. WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE PRIORITIES THAT ARE MOST URGENT AND AFFECT THE MOST PEOPLE AND CAN HAVE THE MOST HIGH IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. WE CANNOT BE THE CITY THAT WE ALL WANT US TO BE WITHOUT A STRONG WATER UTILITY THAT IS NOT ONLY ATTRACTIVE TO THE BUSINESSES THAT WE WANT TO ATTRACT TO SAN ANTONIO, BUT IS ENSURING THAT IT IS TAKING CARE OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. EXISTING AND THOSE THAT ARE COMING, WHETHER WE WANT THEM OR

NOT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU,

MR. WURZBURG. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THE NEXT NORTHEAST QUADRANT APPLICANT IS GREG MANN. MR. MANN, YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT AND THE QUESTIONS WILL BE POSTED ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY AS YOU CONSIDER MY REQUEST TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE SAWS BOARD OF TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS GREG MANN AND WHILE

[01:00:01]

PROFESSIONALLY, I HAVE SPENT THE LAST THREE DECADES AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF SAN ANTONIO'S BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE COMMUNITIES. I HOLD DUAL BUSINESS DEGREES IN FINANCE AND REAL ESTATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ALONG WITH A STRONG EDUCATIONAL AND PRACTICAL FOUNDATION IN ACCOUNTING. MY CAREER HAS BEEN BUILT AROUND THE HANDLING COMPLEX CONTRACTS AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS. MANY OF WHICH HAVE INCLUDED

COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IN PUBLIC UTILITIES. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE FIRST QUESTION. THANKS.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ IT ALOUD? >> MAYOR JONES: NO, JUST GO

AHEAD AND ANSWER IT. THANK YOU. >> SO AT A MACRO LEVEL, ALL OF OUR INTERESTS ARE ALIGNED IN CREATING AND MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING A SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY. AT A MORE MICRO LEVEL, EACH QUADRANT IS GOING TO HAVE ITS UNIQUE PRIORITIES AND CHALLENGES. MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN UNDERSTANDING AND WORKING THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE SAWS SERVICE AREA WILL LEND ITSELF WELL TO BEING ABLE TO COMPREHEND QUADRANTS THAT PRIORITIZE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, GROWING QUADRANTS THAT NEED NEW AND EXPANDED INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS AN ABILITY TO FOCUS ON WATER EQUALITY AND AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE QUADRANTS MOST VULNERABLE AND TYPICALLY HIT THE HARDEST FROM DROUGHT, FLOODING, FREEZING, AND OTHER ISSUES DUE TO OUTDATED AND/OR A LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WATER LEAKAGE, CURRENTLY ALMOST 17 BILLION GALLONS ANNUALLY, AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, IN MY OPINION, ARE BY FAR THE MOST URGENT CHALLENGES WE FACE. SAWS NEEDS TO BE WILLING TO EMBRACE AND INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, ALONG WITH PRIORITIZING CAPITAL INVESTMENTS TO EXPEDITIOUSLY AND RESPONSIBLY ADDRESS AND REDUCE OUR LEAKAGE PROBLEM. WE NEED TRANSPARENCY IN EVALUATING AND IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE OUR MOST VULNERABLE INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTS AND TO SYSTEMATICALLY MAKE THE NECESSARY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES NEEDED TO REFURBISH AND/OR REPLACE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESSING OUR WATER LEAKAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURES ALONE WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES IN BOTH THE NEAR AND FAR TERM AS OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE SUSTAINABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY.

IN THIS REGARD, SAWS MUST OPERATE AS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE AND

[01:05:02]

IN ADDITION, IN MY OPINION SAWS NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION IN INFRASTRUCTURE GEARED TOWARD REDUCING LEAKAGE AND THE CONSTANTLY RISING MAINTENANCE EXPENSES, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT AND DECREASE REVENUES.

SAWS APPEARS TO BE IN A HEALTHY CASH POSITION AND HAS EQUALLY STRONG CREDIT RATINGS.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY LEVERAGE THIS INTO CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LIKE THE BRACKISH BROWN WATER DESALINATION PROGRAM AND OTHERS GEARED SPECIFICALLY TOWARDS MODERNIZATION, MAINTENANCE COST REDUCTIONS, AND SUSTAINABILITY.

WITH REGARD TO COORDINATION, THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES. I BELIEVE IN FULL TRANSPARENCY ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF STAKEHOLDERS. AND IF WE START WITH THE PREMISE THAT EACH OF US HAS THE SAME COMMON OBJECTIVES AND GOALS IN PROVIDING A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY WELL INTO THE FUTURE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHY WOULD WE NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL HUMAN RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE AT OUR DISPOSAL? ULTIMATELY, WE'RE ALL RATEPAYERS. WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.

I BELIEVE THE ROLE OF THE BOARD IS TO ENSURE THAT WE FOCUS ON MAKING THE BEST DECISIONS TO PROTECT OUR RATEPAYERS. ANY INPUT IN COORDINATION THAT ACHIEVES THIS OBJECTIVE IS

CLEARLY IN ALL OF OUR BEST INTERESTS. >> MAYOR JONES: MR. MANN, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR THOUGHTS ON INCORPORATING CONSERVATION EFFORTS INTO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS REQUESTING SAWS SERVICE. THANKS.

>> LET ME START BY SAYING THAT CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT GO HAND IN HAND.

TO MAKE SURE THAT I ANSWER THE QUESTION APPROPRIATELY, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE GROWTH OF THE CITY?

>> MAYOR JONES: HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE, TO YOUR POINT, IT INCLUDES MANY RESIDENTIAL TO THE CORPORATE ENTITIES.

SO, PLEASE, GO AHEAD. >> SURE. AGAIN, I WOULD SAY THAT WE ALL HAVE A COMMON GOAL AND THAT IS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE AND SUSTAIN OUR WATER AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER. WE NEED TO RELY ON SCIENCE AND DATA AND LET SCIENCE AND DATA GUIDE US TO MAKING DECISIONS THAT PROTECT OUR WATER SOURCE.

AND SO LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO LET SCIENCE AND DATA HELP US DOWN THE PATH, UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL OF OUR OBJECTIVES ULTIMATELY ARE THE SAME. I THINK THERE'S SOLUTIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW OUR CITY TO GROW WHILE PRESERVING AND PROTECTING OUR WATER SOURCE.

>> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO AS YOU KNOW ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE BEEN FACING IS SIGNIFICANT CONSTRUCTION DELAYS DUE TO A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WATER LINES ARE UNDERGROUND. HOW WOULD YOU HOLD LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKING SURE THERE'S A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP AND THAT WE'RE DOING OUR JOB IN

THAT AREA? >> WELL, PART OF MY STATEMENT THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO FINISH IS THAT I'VE GOT THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH ENGINEERS, CONTRACTORS, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. SAWS, AS A MATTER OF FACT. IN IDENTIFYING AND CONSTRUCTING

[01:10:02]

I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE BETTER COORDINATION BETWEEN SAWS, BETWEEN PUBLIC WORKS, AND ALL OF THE RELEVANT PARTIES TO PUT TIMELINES AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS IN PLACE THAT CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THESE CONTRACTORS. I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL CAREER DOING THAT. IT IS ACHIEVABLE SO LONG AS EVERYBODY IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND EXPECTATIONS ARE MANAGED APPROPRIATELY FROM THE ONSET.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT COSTS ARE NOT GOING DOWN AND SO IF WE DON'T PROACTIVELY OPERATE AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSTANTLY SUBJECTED TO DELAYS, CHANGE

ORDERS, AND ADDITIONAL COST CONSIDERATIONS. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR

ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. YOU TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER BUT IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT SAWS LOSES SO MUCH WATER, A SCARCE RESOURCE, IN BROKEN PIPES. LAST REPORT IT WAS OVER 21 BILLION GALLONS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE MAKE THAT RIGHT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE GOT TO REDUCE THAT. I KNOW IT CAN'T BE REDUCED TO ZERO BUT WE NEED TO TAKE SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO MINIMIZE LEAKAGE.

AGAIN, I COME BACK TO A WILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY.

LOOKING AT AND IMPLEMENTING ALL OUR RESOURCES THAT ALLOW FOR PROACTIVELY DETECTING WHERE LEAKAGE OCCURS AND WE'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO MAKE THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS TO CORRECT IT AND REPLACE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT WILL HAVE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND OUR DAY-TO-DAY REVENUES. WE ARE OPERATING AT A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IF WE DON'T CONTINUE TO MAKE CORRECTING THESE INFRASTRUCTURE LEAKS OUR

TOP PRIORITY. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ.

>> GONZALEZ: MR. MANN, HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THE BOARD CAN IMPROVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND

EDUCATION REGARDING WATER CONSERVATION? >> WE NEED TO EMBRACE INPUT.

WE NEED TO EMBRACE TRANSPARENCY. AGAIN, THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISE IS THAT WE ALL WANT A SAFE, SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY. WE NEED ALL STAKEHOLDERS AT THE TABLE. WE NEED TO BE AS OPEN BOOK AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BE.

AND WE NEED TO EMBRACE THE IDEA THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

WE ALL WANT AND NEED THE SAME THING FOR OUR CITY AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MR. MANN. >> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THE LAST NORTHEAST QUADRANT APPLICANT IS JEREMY ROBERTS.

MR. ROBERTS, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT AND THE QUESTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE SCREEN. YOU CAN JUST GO THROUGH THEM.

YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR EACH QUESTION. >> FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DR. JEREMY ROBERTS AND I'M HONORED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SAWS BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I'M A LIFELONG SAN ANTONIAN WITH OVER 20 YEARS IN THE CORPORATE TECH WORLD, MANAGING MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS, LEADING COMPANIES THROUGH RAPID GROWTH, AND DRIVING STRATEGIES GROUNDED IN DATA. TODAY I SERVE AS A CEO, A FAST-GROWING INTERNATIONAL HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY AND I'M ALSO A COLLEGE

[01:15:03]

JUST GO AHEAD? SURE. QUESTION ONE.

WHILE MY SEAT WOULD REPRESENT THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT, MY RESPONSIBILITY AND MY COMMITMENT WOULD BE TO ALL SAWS CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE SERVICE AREA.

FOR ME, THIS MEANS LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF EVERY DISTRICT, UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES FACED BY URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL CUSTOMERS. AND MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE EQUITABLE AND BENEFICIAL TO THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. I WILL ACTIVELY SEEK OUT FEEDBACK FROM ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS, PARTICIPATE IN SITE VISITS ACROSS THE CITY, AND USE MY COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE TO BRING FORTH ISSUES THAT MAY AFFECT SOME AREAS DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS. THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT WOULD BE MY HOME BASE BUT IT WOULD NEVER BE MY BOUNDARY. MY GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY DECISION I SUPPORT REFLECTS THE FACT THAT WE ARE ONE SYSTEM INTERCONNECTED, INTERDEPENDENT, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING SAFE, RELIABLE, AND AFFORDABLE WATER TO ALL OF SAN ANTONIO. SO SAN ANTONIO'S MOST URGENT CHALLENGE WILL BE SECURING RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE WATER TO MEET GROWTH WHILE KEEPING INFRASTRUCTURE STRONG AND CONSERVATION AT THE FOREFRONT. SO WITH RAPID DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHWEST SIDE AND CLIMATE PRESSURES, OUR WATER DEMAND WILL RISE.

EVEN WITH THE VISTA RIDGE IN PLACE, PROJECTIONS SHOW WE COULD FACE SHORTFALLS AFTER 2035 SO WE MUST ADDRESS THIS IN TWO FRONTS. FIRST IS SUPPLY SECURITY.

MAINTAIN AND DIVERSIFY OUR WATER RESOURCES AND INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS AND ENSURE READINESS FOR FUTURE NEEDS. AND THE SECOND IS DEMAND MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE NON-REVENUE WATER THROUGH AGGRESSIVE LEAK DETECTION, INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, AND EXPAND THE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND HELP CUSTOMERS USE LESS WATER WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY OF LIFE. BY REDUCING LOSSES AND MANAGING DEMAND, WE CAN DELAY COSTLY NEW RESOURCES, KEEP RATES STABLE, AND MAINTAIN RESILIENCE WELL INTO 2050.

SO FOR ME, AS A TECHNOLOGY GUY, INNOVATION IS CRITICAL. INNOVATION INITIATIVES LIKE CONNECT H 20 AND THE BRACKISH GROUND WATER DESALINATION PLANT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM HOW WE DELIVER AND MANAGE WATER. BUT INNOVATION MUST ALWAYS BE PAIRED WITH FISCAL DISCIPLINE. EVERY NEW INVESTMENT MUST HAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED PURPOSE WITH MEASURABLE RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND A BENEFIT TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

TECHNOLOGY SHOULD IMPROVE EFFICIENCY. IT SHOULD EXTEND INFRASTRUCTURE LIFE AND MEANINGFULLY REDUCE WATER LOSS. AND NOT JUST ADOPT IT FOR ITS OWN SAKE JUST TO BE ADOPTED. AT THE SAME TIME, PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE IS ONE OF THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS OF INNOVATION AND EXTENDING THE LIFE OF EXISTING ASSETS WHILE STRATEGICALLY INTRODUCING NEW TECHNOLOGY ENSURES WE BALANCE ADVANCEMENT WITH RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR RATEPAYERS. SO MY APPROACH TO ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY IS WHERE IT MEETS A DEFINED NEED. IT DELIVERS MEASURABLE RESULTS AND SUPPORTS A LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY. SO I FULLY SUPPORT STRENGTHENING POLICY AND

[01:20:01]

SAN ANTONIO'S OWNERSHIP OF SAWS IS A UNIQUE ADVANTAGE SO IT ALLOWS US TO SHARE EXPERTISE, ALIGN PRIORITIES, AND AVOID DUPLICATED EFFORTS WHILE KEEPING THE UTILITY'S OPERATIONAL DEPENDENCE INTACT. BETTER COORDINATION BRINGS TRANSPARENCY AND COST SAVINGS.

WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS EARLY IN THE PROJECTS ENSURES OUR SCHEDULES ALIGN.

IT PREVENTS UNNECESSARY REWORK. IT REDUCES SPENDING.

EVEN SMALL STEPS LIKE POTHOLING AT THE START OF A PROJECT CAN SAVE SIGNIFICANT MONEY AND DELAYS. BY BUILDING A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, WE CAN DELIVER BETTER RESULTS FOR CUSTOMERS, USE RESOURCES MORE WISELY, AND

REINFORCE PUBLIC TRUST. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JEREMY JUST HIGHLIGHTED ON THIS BUT YOU KNOW CONSTRUCTION DELAYS NOT KNOWING WHERE WATER LINES ARE IS A BIG CHALLENGE WE'RE FACING. HOW WOULD YOU HOLD YOUR LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON PROJECTS ON A TIMELY BASIS?

>> I'M A GUY THAT GOES TO VEGAS AND DOESN'T GAMBLE BECAUSE I KNOW MY ODDS OF SUCCESS.

I DON'T GAMBLE. I HAVE NEVER GAMBLED. I MEASURE 1,000 TIMES AND CUT ONCE. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS TO WHERE WITH OUR LEADERSHIP WE DON'T ACT, WE DON'T REACT, WE LEARN. WE RESEARCH.

WE FIGURE OUT WHAT WE DO BEFORE WE EVEN PUT A SINGLE SHOVEL IN THE GROUND.

AND SO FOR THAT, YOU HOLD YOUR LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE. THEY SIGN UP FOR HARD JOBS WITH KPIS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU HOLD THEM TO THAT ACCOUNTABILITY.

BUT WE MAKE SURE THERE'S TRANSPARENCY IN THAT. IT'S NOT JUST STANDING BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR AND EXPECTING THEM TO DO THE RIGHT JOB. BUT BEING SURE TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THEM AT THE BEGINNING, THIS IS WHAT'S EXPECTED.

WE HAVE DEADLINES TO FOLLOW. WE HAVE A BUDGET TO FOLLOW. THERE'S A LOT OF EYES ON US.

WE BETTER DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR

ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU. >> GAVITO: IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT SAWS LOSES SO MUCH WATER, A SCARCE RESOURCE, IN BROKEN PIPES. AS OF LAST REPORT IT WAS OVER 21 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE MAKE THAT RIGHT?

>> GREAT QUESTION. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THAT THINKING ABOUT THAT IN ANTICIPATION. THE AVERAGE CITY OUT THERE, THE INDUSTRY BEST RIGHT NOW IS A PRACTICE BETWEEN 12% AND 15%. IF WE CAN START BY AT LEAST GETTING TO THAT FIRST, WE'RE ALREADY WINNING. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S ALL ABOUT CONSERVATION, FINANCIAL SERVICES ACCELERATING THE SMART METERING IMPLEMENTATION.

SO ONE OF THE COMMITTEES THAT I CURRENTLY SERVE RIGHT NOW THAT I CHAIR IS LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE 100% USAGE ALL ACROSS OUR CITY WITH THAT. THE NON-REVENUE WATER AND THE WATER LOSS IS A BIG PROBLEM. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO BEYOND 2035 INTO 2050. IT'S HARD TO US TO THINK BEYOND VISTA RIDGE.

IT'S HARD FOR US TO THINK ABOUT ANY TYPE OF RATE HIKES OR INFRASTRUCTURE IF WE CANNOT FIX OUR WATER LOSS. IT'S JUST A LEAKING PROBLEM. IT'S THAT BILL THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT HOPING THAT IT JUST DISAPPEARS. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE HAVE TO TACKLE FIRST AND SO THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DO.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU.

MR. ROBERTS, HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD CAN IMPROVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN EDUCATION

REGARDING WATER CONSERVATION? >> GREAT QUESTION. AS THE CHAIR OF THE CEC RIGHT NOW FOR SAWS, A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE FIND OUT, IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT HAS A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM, IT'S THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY NEED THE COMMUNICATION MOST. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT ARE DOING INITIATIVES. WE SEND SAWS REPRESENTATIVES OUT INTO THE PUBLIC.

IT STARTS AT THE HOA LEVEL. IT STARTS WITH WORKING WITH YOUR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS TO IDENTIFY THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED.

FROM THAT, GOING INTO NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, AND THEN GOING INTO SERVICE GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WORRY THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILL.

BUT THE SIMPLE COMMUNICATION OF THAT AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF USING THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND HELP THEM.

SURE. >> MAYOR JONES: MR. ROBERTS, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR THOUGHTS ON INCORPORATING CONSERVATION EFFORTS INTO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS REQUESTING

SAWS SERVICE. THANK YOU. >> I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT RULES AND REGULATIONS WITH DEVELOPMENT WITH REGARD TO WATER USAGE.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH DRIP IRRIGATION AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY IN NEW DEVELOPMENT. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN SOME OF OUR COMMITTEES TODAY IS THERE'S SOME LAX POLICIES AND THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE CITY AND

[01:25:01]

YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, DRIP IRRIGATION, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T SEE THE WATER ON THE TOP, IT USES MORE WATER AND WASTES MORE WATER. BECAUSE THERE'S A LAX POLICY BEHIND THE BUILDERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO IMPLEMENT AND PUT THOSE SYSTEMS IN, THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM STARTS. WE HAVE TO GO TO THE CORE OF IT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE POLICIES THAT ARE ALLOWING THOSE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE WRONG WAY FIRST.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MR. ROBERTS. >> SURE.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO APPLICANTS FROM THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT. THE FIRST NORTHWEST QUADRANT APPLICANT IS CODA RAYO-GARZA.

MS. RAYO-GARZA, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.

THE QUESTIONS WILL >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION. MY CAREER IS BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF DATA, RESEARCH AND PUBLIC SERVICE. WITH A PH.D. IN APPLIED TOM PHOG IF I, I HAVE DEDICATED BY CAREER TO UNDERSTANDING HOW POPULATION DYNAMICS AND TRENDS INCLUDING GROWTH AND COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS INTERSECT WITH PUBLIC POLICY AND IMPACT COMMUNITY OUTCOMES. IN MY CURRENT ROLE AS SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR RESEARCH AND DATA AT EVER TEXAN, I USE THIS EXPERTISE TO INFORM AND ADVOCATE FOR EFFECTIVE AND JUST PUBLIC POLICY SOLUTIONS.

MY WORK IS ABOUT LOOKING AHEAD, UNDERSTANDING NOT JUST WHO WE ARE TODAY BUT WHO WE WILL BE IN THE FUTURE AND WITH A RESOURCES WE WILL NEED TO THRIVE.

MY EXPERTISE GIVES ME THE UNIQUE LENS TO UNDERSTAND HOW SAN ANTONIO'S STATUS AS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WILL IMPACT THE WATER DEMAND AND NEEDS. WITH A ANALYTIC LENS I HOPE TO BRING MY BACKGROUND TO HELP PLAN FOR A SUES SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE WATER FUTURE FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION TO MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND, I BRING HANDS-ON GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE. MOST NOTABLY I CURRENTLY SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CLINIC. IT IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE AND THIS HAS TAUGHT ME TO GOVERN LARGE COMPLEX ORGANIZATION WITH A FOCUS ALWAYS ON PUBLIC WELL-BEING AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. WATER IS NOT JUST A UTILITY, IT'S A FOUNDATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, ECONOMIC SECURE A SUSTAINABLE WATER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE. SO I BELIEVE THAT A SUCCESSFUL SAWS TRUSTEE, TO THE FIRST QUESTION, WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ROLE, WHILE REPRESENTING A GEOGRAPHIC CONSTITUENCY, IT'S SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVES AS A POSITION, AS A STEWARD FOR ALL RATEPAYERS. THE QUADRANT SEAT IS A VITAL MECHANISM TO ENSURE THAT THE BOARD HEARS FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, BUT OFTENTIMES THE ISSUES THAT ARE FACED IN ONE AREA ARE A MICROCOSM OF GREATER SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMIC ISSUES. WITH THAT MY APPROACH WOULD BE TO VIEW MY QUADRANT AS A BROADER HEALTH BRINGING LOCALIZED DATA AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION AND TO ENSURE BROADER REPRESENTATION, I WOULD PROACTIVELY TRY TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY BEYOND MY OWN QUADRANT BY EXPECTING IN SAWS MEETINGS BUT ALSO TRUSTEES INSIGHT FROM THEIR COMMUNITY. ON THEIR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND NEEDS FROM THE SYSTEM. FROM A DATA PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD BE EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN ANALYZING SYSTEMWIDE DATA THAT SAWS COLLECTS FROM CUSTOMERS THROUGH I BELIEVE MODALITIES LIKE THE MY ACCOUNT APP THAT PROVIDE A CHANNEL FOR FEEDBACK AND ENSURING THAT WE ARE BEING STRATEGIC WITH THAT DATA AND INFORMATION TO THEN EXPAND AND PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE SERVICES OR IMPROVE SERVICES WHERE NEEDED. YEAH, SOME OF THE MOST URGENT WATER-RELATED NEEDS

[01:30:01]

IN THE NEXT DECADE OR, TO FOR ROW LANGUAGE FROM THE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN, THE NEAR FUTURE, THOSE CHALLENGES FOR SAN ANTONIO WILL BE ABOUT MEETING INCREASED WATER DEMAND. AND THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO THE POPULATIONS INCREASE, AND MITIGATING, OF COURSE, THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND WEATHER.

WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT SAWS WATER SUPPLY AVAILABILITY IS LARGELY IMPACTED BY CLIMATE.

AS AN EXAMPLE, THE INTENSIFYING AND PERSISTENT DROUGHT CONDITIONS HAVE LED TO EDWARDS AQUIFER REACHING CRITICAL LOW LEVELS. IN THE NEXT DECADE, ANOTHER CHALLENGE WILL BE TO MODERNIZE THE AGING AND ADDRESS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE THAT WATER SERVICE DELIVERY IS CONSISTENT FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

SAWS CURRENTLY HAS IN PLACE A STRATEGIC MULTI-DECADE PLAN TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, SUPPLY DIVERSIFICATION AND CONSERVATION ARE TWO CRITICAL PILLARS IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN AS STRATEGIES TO PREPARE FOR THESE CHALLENGES. BUT ESSENTIALLY SAWS MUST CONTINUE TO BE PROACTIVE IN ITS APPROACH, CONSISTENTLY MONITORING THESE CHALLENGES AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE A RESILIENT WATER FUTURE. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR PUBLIC UTILITY, IS ABOUT MAKING SMART, STRATEGIC, RATIONALE AND FORWARD-LOOKING INVESTMENTS THAT MITIGATE FUTURE RISKS.

AND THE OVER $200 MILLION INVESTMENT PROVIDES A MEASURABLE RETURN BY PROVIDING CUSTOMERS WITH REALTIME DATA TO CATCH LEAKS EARLY.

SO THIS THEN REDUCES NON-REVENUE WATER LOSS, WHICH IS A DIRECT FINANCIAL BEEN FIT TO THE SYSTEM AND THE COMMUNITY. AND IT HELPS DEFER THE NEED FOR MORE COSTLY SUPPLY-SIDE PROJECTS. INNOVATION MUST BE PAIRED WITH FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO MEASURE IMPACT WITH DATA.

STRATEGIES LIKE PHASED IMPLEMENTATION, PILOT TESTING NEW TECHNOLOGIES BEFORE SCALING AND RIGOROUS COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS ARE SIMPLE EXAMPLES OF COMMUNICATION. IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR PRESERVING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF THE DAY A RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION SHOULD REDUCE LONG-TERM RISK AND BE BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYONE.

LASTLY, SAWS' SUCCESS AS A WHOLLY-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY IS INTERTWINED WITH THE CITY'S BROADER STRATEGIC GOALS. A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH MAKES SENSE AND MAY HELP UNLOCK MORE EFFICIENT PROCESSES THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, ALIGNING FINANCIAL PRIORITIES CAN HELP STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RATEPAYERS AND STREAM LIKE COMPLIANCE AND BRING CONSISTENCY.

THE KEY, THOUGH, TO SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION WILL BE MEASURED BY MUTUAL BENEFIT AND INCREASE IN THE QUALITY OF SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE OR THAT IS PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS. ULTIMATELY, COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND SAWS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, BUT ESSENTIAL TO THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THE

COMMUNITY WRIT LARGE. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR KAUR >> KAUR: THANK YOU.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE FACE WITH SAWS IS WORKING ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TOGETHER AND KNOWING WHERE WATERLINES ARE ARE UNDERGROUND.

HOW WOULD YOU WORK

>> I THINK THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THROUGH SAWS AS WELL AS THE CITY, THERE'S TRULY TO THE VERY LAST QUESTION AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALIGNMENT.

AND COMMITTING TO ENSURING THAT THE PROCESS WILL BE THE MOST EFFICIENT, BUT ALSO THAT WE WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHO TO GO TO WHEN SOMETHING IN THE PROCESS FALLS SHORT.

AND SO AS A TRUSTEE, IT IS ULTIMATELY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT

[01:35:04]

TRANSPARENCY IN THINGS LIKE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR

ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND YOUR INTEREST IN IT.

BROKEN PIPES. AS OF LAST REPORT IT WAS OVER 21 BILLION GALLONS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT RIGHT? >> THE 2025 WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN HAS A SCALED ODEN GOAL TO REDUCE NON-REVENUE WATER LOSS AND THAT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH ENSURING THAT WE'RE CATCHING LEAKS. THERE ARE OTHER MECHANISMS AND STRATEGIES OUTLINED IN THE PLAN ITSELF, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE CRITICAL THAT REGARDLESS OF THE STRATEGY THAT COMMUNICATION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE -- RESIDENTS AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL USERS, WE ALL NEED TO BE INFORMED AND AWARE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED.

YEAH, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ.

>> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THE BOARD CAN IMPROVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION REGARDING EDUCATION REGARDING WATER

CONSERVATION. >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, I THINK IT'S THE JOB OF THE TRUSTEE TO BE A GOOD STEWARD AND LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY. SO ENGAGING WITH CONSTITUENCIES AS I MENTION, NOT JUST THE SORT OF GEOGRAPHIC CONSTITUENCY THAT THE TRUSTEE FOR THAT QUADRANT REPRESENTS, BUT TO GO OUT AND LISTEN AND COLLECT QUALITATIVE DATA IS THAT WE ARE CONSISTENTLY UNDERSTANDING HOW THOSE NEEDS ARE CHANGING, ESPECIALLY IN A CLIMATE -- OR IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE CLIMATE POSES SUCH A DISTINCT THREAT TO OUR WATER SUPPLY.

>> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR THOUGHTS ON INCORPORATING CONSERVATION EFFORTS INTO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS REQUESTING SAWS SERVICE.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY COMMITTED AS A CITY AND THEN SAWS AS AN ENTITY.

THE CITY'S ADAPTATION PLAN ALSO HAS GOALS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

SO THE IDEA IS THAT WE BRING ALL OF THESE TOGETHER TO REACH THAT UNIFIED GOAL.

THIS WOULD FORM A PART OF THAT. WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT CONSERVATION IN ALMOST EVERY ASPECT SO THAT WE CAN SECURE BY 2075, AS THE PLAN STATES, THAT WE'VE REDUCED OUR RELIANCE ON THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, CONTINUED TO

DIVERSIFY SUPPLY AND SECURE THAT WATER FUTURE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, DOCTOR. THE LAST NORTHWEST QUADRANT APPLICANT IS THERESA SCEPANSKI. YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT AND THE QUESTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE SCREEN. YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO

RESPOND TO EACH. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.

MY NAME IS THERESA RODRIGUEZ SCEPANSKI, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF COMMUNITY FIRST HEALTH PLANS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AS A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN, I BRING MORE THAN 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS AND THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY. THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I HAVE WORKED TO ADVANCE INITIATIVES THAT IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND REDUCE DISSPIRE TEASE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BAYONET COMMUNITY FIRST, I SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE STATE MEDICAID MANAGED ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND VICE CHAIR OF THE REGIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE. I HAVE DEDICATED MY CAREER TO STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'VE USED ACCESS TO SAFE, RELIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WATER NOT ONLY AS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY, BUT AS A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE OF HEALTH AND EQUITY.

I HAVE DIRECTED COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS WITH MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS WHILE FOSTERING COLLABORATION ACROSS PUBLIC, NON-PROFIT AND PRIVATE

[01:40:03]

THROUGH LEADING INITIATIVES IN FOOD INSECURITY, HEALTH EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW CLOSELY THESE CHALLENGES ARE LINKED TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS WATER.

I AM DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SOMEBODYING OUR COMMUNITY. MY HUSBAND, A RETIRED SAPD CAPTAIN WITH 33 YEARS OF SERVICE, AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS, A NURSE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, EXEMPLIFY OUR FAMILY'S DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE. IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO CONTINUE THAT TRADITION BY SERVING THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT.

QUESTION NUMBER 1. DO I NEED TO -- OKAY. JUST PROVIDE THE RESPONSE.

THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEE I WOULD REPRESENT THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SAWS BOARD MEMBERS EXTENDS TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. EVERY DECISION WOULD BE BASED ON EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SERVICES, COMPARABLE RATE STRUCTURES, AND CONSIDERATION OF THE NEEDS OF ALL CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE SERVICE DELIVERY AREA. AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEE, I WOULD ALSO SEEK INPUT FROM THE SAWS EXECUTIVE TEAM TO UNDERSTAND HOW CURRENT POLICIES IMPACT DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY. I VIEW MY ROLE AS A TRUSTEE TO GOVERN AND MAINTAIN WATER SECURITY FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST ONE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ONE QUADRANT. I WOULD ALSO WORK WITH MY FELLOW BOARD COLLEAGUES AND THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO ENSURE THAT WE STAY ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY AND REMAIN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE IN DELIVERING THE REQUIRED WATER SUPPLIES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. A PERSON CAN LIVE UP TO THREE WEEKS WITHOUT FOOD, BUT ONLY THREE TO FIVE DAYS WITHOUT WATER.

THANK YOU. NUMBER 2. SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF THE LARGEST GROWING CITIES IN THE NATION. CHALLENGES THAT SAN ANTONIO MAY FACE IN THE COMING DECADE INCLUDE, ONE, SECURING SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLIES TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH OF OUR CITY, TO ENSURE THAT INCREASING POPULATIONS HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO CLEAN AND SAFE WATER.

NUMBER 2, MODERNIZING OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, RECOGNIZING TWO OF THREE PLANTS WERE BUILT IN THE 1960S AND THE NEWEST PLANT BUILT IN THE '80S.

INVESTMENT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE VITAL TO OUR FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY. THREE, ENSURING AFFORDABILITY TO ALL RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UNDERSTANDING -- AND NUMBER 4, EXCUSE ME, UNDERSTANDING THE POTENTIAL OF CYBER-RELATED THREATS TO OUR WATER SYSTEM AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE POTENTIAL THREATS. TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, SAWS SHOULD CONTINUE DIVERSIFYING ITS WATER SOURCES THROUGH CONSERVATION AND AQUIFER STORAGE.

WHILE DEVELOPING A SHORT AND LONG-TERM STRATEGY TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE REPLACEMENT. OFFICIALLY, CONTINUING TO EXPAND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON CONSERVATION WILL ENSURE RELIABILITY, RESILIENCE AND AFFORDABILITY IN THE YEARS AHEAD. THANK YOU. THREE, PROJECTS LIKE CONNECT H2O, ADVANCING METERING INITIATIVE SHOWS SAWS' COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION.

HOWEVER, EVERY INVESTMENT MUST BALANCE LONG-TERM VALUE WITH FINANCIAL STEWARD V.I.P. AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEE, MY APPROACH WOULD BE TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING. ONE, COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS. WE MUST CONSIDER THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. DOES THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROVIDE MEASURABLE RETURN.

IS ALSO, IS THE PROGRAM GENERATING THE DESIRED RESULTS AS INITIALLY SET FORTH. TWO, REVIEW THE ESTABLISHED KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.

WHILE I DO NOT HAVE A COMP HENCEIVE LIST OF ALL THE CURRENT KPIS, ONE EXAMPLE IS EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OF TECHNOLOGY THAT TRANSLATES IN ENERGY SAVINGS TO THE CONSUMER. AND THREE, CONDUCT REGULAR AUDITS AND REVIEWS, WORK WITH EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TO CONDUCT PERFORMANCE AUDITS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FINANCIAL AND STRATEGIC GOALS AS SET FORTH BY THIS GOVERNING BOARD.

[01:45:05]

FINALLY, ABSOLUTELY. AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEE, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF FURTHER COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND SAWS.

AS AN EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY COORDINATES WITH SAWS, REVIEWING AND ANALYZING FINANCIAL IMPACTS.

FURTHER COLLABORATION WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE CURRENT FISCAL POLICIES. IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER OF SAWS IS ALSO THE CITY ATTORNEY. AGAIN, PROVIDING THAT CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS. I WOULD ALSO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN POLICY ALIGNMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES SHARING WHILE ENSURING THAT SAWS REMAINS FOCUSED ON ITS MISSION OF DELIVERING SAFE, RELIABLE WATER SERVICES TO ALL RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. COORDINATION BETWEEN SAWS AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ALLOWS OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCIES OVERALL, IT IS ABOUT BUILDING A UNIFIED APPROACH TO SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO, WHILE ENSURING THE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL

WATER SERVICES REMAINS A KEY PRIORITY. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: HOW WOULD YOU ESSENTIALLY HOLD LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURE THERE'S MORE IMPORTANT SHAPE DURING CONSTRUCTION

PROJECTS? >> FIRST THING IS THE COLLABORATION AND ESSENTIAL MEETINGS THAT ARE BOTH ENGAGING WITH BOTH ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE, NUMBER ONE, THAT THE DUE DILIGENCE HAS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THAT CONSTRUCTION, FOR EXAMPLE. WE WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY -- AND AGAIN, LEADERSHIP IN AUDIO] THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, THEIR ORGANIZATION AND WHERE THE PIPELINES MAY BE, BUT THAT COLLABORATION AND THAT ONGOING COORDINATION PRIOR TO A PROJECT WILL DEFINITELY ENSURE THAT WE MINIMIZE AND MITIGATE ANY KIND OF RISK TO THAT PARTICULAR AREA OF THE COMMUNITY AND/OR TO EITHER ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS.

AND ALSO TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT AREA. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR

ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT SAWS LOSES SO MUCH WATER, A SCARCE RESOURCE, IN BROKEN PIPES. AS OF LAST REPORT, IT WAS OVER 21 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON

HOW WE MAKE THAT RIGHT? >> AS I UNDERSTAND, SOMETIMES THOSE BROKEN PIPES ARE BECAUSE OF AGING, THE OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE, ALSO DROUGHT SEASONS COULD OCCUR WHICH CAUSES THAT NATURAL TYPES OF CAUSES. EN SO, AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE LEADERSHIP AT SAWS TO ENSURE THAT, NUMBER ONE, THEY ARE DEVELOPING AND HAVE A SOLID SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM STRATEGY ON HOW TO MITIGATE ALL THESE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RISKS. HOW CAN WE GET AHEAD OF IT AND BRINGING THOSE IDEAS AND STRATEGIES FOR THIS GOVERNING BODY TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS WORKING ON THE SAME -- TOWARDS THE SAME GOALS AND THAT WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY

COUNCIL OVERALL. ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THE BOARD CAN IMPROVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION REGARDING WATER

CONSERVATION? >> COMMUNICATION HAPPENS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT MODES AND IT TAKES ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL ACTUALLY RECEIVES THAT COMMUNICATION AND TRULY UNDERSTANDS IT.

AND SO I THINK, AGAIN, WITH TECHNOLOGY, IF USED CORRECTLY, WE CAN DEFINITELY OUTREACH TO OUR COMMUNITY HOLDING PUBLIC SESSIONS, INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE REACHING EVERY QUADRANT OF THE SAN ANTONIO AREA AND BEYOND THAT WE SERVE. AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE -- WHAT SAWS BRINGS TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE AS WELL

[01:50:08]

TO SUSTAINABILITY OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR THOUGHTS ON INCORPORATING CONSERVATION EFFORTS REQUESTING SAWS

SERVICE. >> I'M SORRY, CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO --

>> MAYOR JONES: CONSERVATION EFFORTS INTO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS

REQUESTING SAWS SERVICE. >> I THINK OVERALL, AGAIN, IT'S UTILIZING THE CURRENT EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE AND THEN LOOKING AT OTHER EXPERTISE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THIS GOVERNING BODY, TO DEVELOP THE GOALS THAT WE NEED TO SET FORTH FOR OVERALL CONSERVATION. AND THEN BRINGING THAT FORWARD TO GET SUPPORT AND BUY-IN, WHETHER THAT MEANS FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AND/OR OTHER KINDS OF INVESTMENTS FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT IT'S GOT TO BE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO JUST OVERALL CONSERVATION AND WHAT OUR LONG-TERM GOALS ARE BASED ON NOT ONLY THE CURRENT NEEDS THAT WE HAVE TODAY AS A CITY, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE NEEDS, TEN-PLUS YEARS

BEYOND, BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW WE ARE GROWING. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO APPLICANTS FROM THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT. THE FIRST APPLICANT IS BLAKE PERALES.

YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR OPENING STATEMENT, THEN FOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE SCREEN AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO RESPOND TO EACH.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. BLAKE PERALES, I'M HONORED TO BE A CANNED CANDIDATE FOR SAWS TRUSTEES.

RELIABILITY, EFFICIENCY AND LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE PERFORMANCE.

OVER THE PAST DECADE, I BUILT MY CAREER IN ENGINEERING, OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT STARTING AS A MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN AND ADVANCING TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP. MY EXPERIENCE INCLUDES MANAGING REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS, UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, LARGE-SCALE CAPITAL PROJECTS AS WELL AS DEVELOPING HIGH-PERFORMING TEAMS. I HOLD A BACHELOR'S IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO AND A MASTER'S IN ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA WHICH I COMPLETE THIS YEAR. MY GOAL IN SERVING SAWS' BOARD IS CONTRIBUTE MY TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AS A PLANT ENGINEER WHO HAS OVERSEEN WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEMS. I BRING COMPLEX ISSUE RESOLUTION WHICH I BELIEVE CLOSELY IS CHALLENGING AND FACING OUR CITY TODAY. LOOKING AHEAD, I'M ESPECIALLY MOTIVATED TO SUPPORTING AND BUILDING A ROBUST AND RESILIENT WATER SYSTEM FOR SAN ANTONIO AND ADVANCING THE MOORED EARNIZATION OF OUR SYSTEM THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION. I WILL HELP ENSURE SAWS CONTINUES TO PROVIDE RELIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WATER SERVICES TODAY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

OKAY. THANK YOU. EVEN THOUGH I WOULD REPRESENT THE SOUTHWEST REGION, I BELIEVE EVERY TRUSTEE HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. DRAWING WITH MY EXPERIENCE AS A MANAGER OF SUPPLY RELATIONS, OVERSEEING MULTI ON FELT OPERATIONS AND LEADING CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS, I UNDERSTAND HOW TO BALANCE COMPETING NEEDS, DRIVE, EFFICIENCIES AND ALIGN PRIORITIES FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS. MY GOAL WOULD BE TO ENSURE ALL POLICIES AND DECISIONS REFLECT EQUITY AND FAIRNESS SUPPORTING FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND THE UNDER SERVED COMMUNITY. SAN ANTONIO FACES THREE PRESSING CHALLENGES. RAPID POPULATION GROWTH, CLIMATE VARIABILITY, AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. EXPENDING DEMAND

[01:55:11]

SAWS SHOULD CONTINUE DIVERSIFYING WATER RESOURCES INCLUDING DESALINATION WHILE NEW JERSEYING THE HIGH ENERGY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY AND EXPLORING WAYS TO MITIGATE THEM. AT THE SAME TIME CONSERVATION MUST REMAIN A PRIORITY. SAWS SHOULD CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH IRRIGATION EXEMPT OEMS TO ENCOURAGE SMART WATER THERMOSTAT MANUFACTURERS TO MANAGE PEAK DEMANDS. WITH ADVANCED ANALYTICS ALONG WITH ACCELERATING PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE WILL STRENGTHEN OUR SYSTEM'S RESILIENCE WITH A PROACTIVE, INNOVATE IT APPROACH, SAWS CAN ENSURE RELIABILITY FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES. SO INNOVATION AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY GOES HAND IN HAND. SAWS INITIATIVES LIKE THE H2O AND BRACKISH WATER DESALINATION PLANTS DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MODERNIZATION.

HOWEVER, SHE'S INVESTMENTS MUST BE CAREFULLY EVALUATED TO ENSURE THEY DELIVER REAL VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE SUCCESSFULLY OVERSEEN CAPITAL PROJECTS BY JUSTIFYING UP FRONT COSTS AND LONG-TERM SAVINGS. THEY GENERATE THROUGH IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES. I WOULD APPLY THESE SAME PRINCIPLES, SUPPORTING INNOVATION, LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS, TRANSPARENCY TO THE COMMUNITY WITH THE PUBLIC. THIS ENSURES PROGRESS WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE AFFORDABILITY. GIVEN THAT SAWS IS A PUBLICLY OWNED UTILITY, STRONG ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY DEPARTMENT BOTH NATURAL AND BENEFICIAL.

I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THESE EFFORTS TO INCREASE COORDINATION PARTICULARLY IN THE FINANCE, H.R. AND LEGAL. GREATER COLLABORATION CAN STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, REDUCE REDUNDANCY AND ENSURE CONSISTENT POLICY EXECUTION ACROSS THE CITY.

AT THE SAME TIME, I DO BELIEVE IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR SAWS TO MAINTAIN A DEDICATED TEAM AND ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON THE MISSION SPECIFIC.

SAWS' ABILITY TO DELIVER RELIABLE WATER SERVICE DEPENDS ON INDEPENDENCE TO PROVIDE OR TIES OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COMMUNITY.

A BALANCED APPROACH WOULD BE A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY WHERE IT IS APPROPRIATE, I LONG SIDE A TEAM THAT MAINTAINS A SAWS FOCUS THAT WILL HELP BETTER

ACHIEVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR

KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS FIGURING OUT WHERE WATERLINES ARE UNDERGROUND AND HOW WOULD YOU HOLD LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED ON

TIME. >> IT'S CONTRACTORS THAT DEPLOY THESE LINES THAT BURY THEM. I THINK THAT'S PARAMOUNT FIRST.

I CLOSELY OVERSEE SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH MY COMPANY AND THE COMPANIES THAT WE CONTRACT WITH. I WOULD BE TAKING THAT SAME APPROACH AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DRAWINGS ARE BEING EXECUTED AS PRINTED AND IF THERE IS DEVIATIONS, MAKING SURE THERE ARE ENGINEERING SIGN-OFF AS AND RECORDED PROPERLY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I BELIEVE, AGAIN, ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS IS WE UPDATE OUR DRAWINGS AND MAKING SURE IT'S DIGITAL AND BRINGING ALL THE OLD RECORDS INTO A DIGITAL FORMAT SO REDUCES THAT LEAD TIME FOR NOT ONLY SAWS INITIATING A PROJECT BUT ALSO THE CONTRACTORS QUOTING IT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE PARAMOUNT TO MAKE SURE THE LEADERSHIP FOCUSES ON THAT

TO BUILD A BETTER SYSTEM. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT SAWS LOSES SO MUCH WATER, A SCARCE RESOURCE, ON LEAKY PIPES. IT WAS OVER 21 BILLION GALLONS.

THAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE MAKE THAT RIGHT? >> I THINK WHAT SAWS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET THIS REPLACED.

THAT AMOUNT OF WATER IS DEFINITELY ALARMING. SHOWN ON THE LAST BOARD MEETING THAT WE ARE RANKED HIGHER COMPARED TO DALLAS AND HOUSTON, BUT THEY CAN AFFORD THAT. SAN~ANTONIO IS A DESERT CHILD ENDANGERMENT AND WE NEED TO CONSERVE -- CLIMATE AND WE NEED TO CONSERVE THAT.

[02:00:01]

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MS. IS A GONZALEZ.

>> GONZALEZ: HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THE BOARD WITH IMPROVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH

AND EDUCATION REGARDING WATER EDUCATION? >> THAT WILL BE A MULTI-TIERED APPROACH. THE BOARD NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STAKEHOLDERS. OBVIOUSLY THE COMMUNITY AT WHOLE IS OUR NUMBER ONE STAKEHOLDER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO THE NEXT GENERATION, BEING SURE THAT WE TEACH THEM ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REDUCING LAWNS, ABOUT THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AND PRESERVING THAT NATURAL RESOURCE FOR US. IT'S DEFINITELY MULTI-TIERED TO SAY WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT STAKEHOLDERS, HOW DO THEY WANT TO BE COMMUNICATED TO AND GOING TO THE SCHOOLS TO SAY WE NEED TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION SO THEY CAN BE

ABLE TO BE STEWARDS OF OUR WATER RESOURCE. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR THOUGHTS ON INCORPORATING CONSERVATION EFFORTS INTO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS REQUESTING SAWS SERVICE.

>> DEFINITELY. SO AS I STATED BEFORE, THERE'S DEFINITELY A STRESS OF HIGHER POPULATION GROWTH WHICH DOES DRIVE A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK SAWS BOARD NEEDS TO START CONSIDERING MANDATES AS FAR AS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF GREEN FIELD WHERE WE DO MORE XERISCAPE AND PARTY WATER WATER CONSERVATION WHERE WATER CAN BE FILTERED AND REUSED FOR OUR SOURCES SIMILAR TO WHAT

TOYOTA HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST DECADE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

THE LAST SOUTHWEST QUADRANT APPLICANT IS DR. ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA.

DR. ROCHA GARCIA, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR OPENING STATEMENT.

THEN FOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE SCREEN AND YOU CAN JUST RESPOND TO

THOSE TWO MINUTES EACH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THIS. I AM A RECOVERING COUNCILWOMAN AND SO I AM EXCITED THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US TODAY TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FOR THE SAWS BOARD. AND I WAS TALKING TO THE CANDIDATES OUT THERE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK AND REVIEWING THE VIDEO LATER.

BUT YOU ALL KNOW THAT I SERVED, OR SOME OF YOU KNOW I SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMITTEE. I WANT TO THANK ALLFUL YOU ALL BECAUSE I REACHED OUT AND EITHER TALKED WITH YOU ALL OR CONNECTED WITH YOUR STAFF. I FELT PRETTY COMFORTABLE HAVING JUST VACATED THE DISTRICT 4 SEAT BECAUSE I WOULD ALSO LISTEN WHILE YOU ALL HAD THOSE ISSUES.

BUT I WANTED TO STILL CALL YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT HADN'T CHANGE UNDERSTAND THE LAST MONTHS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK WITH YOUR STAFFS.

I HAVE PAST SERVICE HERE ON COUNCIL, BUT THEN ALSO I ALWAYS PREPARE JUST IN CASE, RIGHT? AND SO THE ONE THING TODAY IN COMING THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GOT ACROSS IS THAT SAWS NOT ONLY STANDS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM, IT STANDS FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER SERVICES. THAT IS THE MIX AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD -- MISSION AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING WITH THAT. I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I HAVE FORMALLY ACCEPTED A POSITION AS INAUGURAL CEO OF THE IN AUDIO]. IT WENT LIVE ON TUESDAY, IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO CHECK IT OUT. AND I'M SAYING THAT BECAUSE WATER IS LIFE AND HEALTH IS IMPORTANT AND THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO APPLY. AND SO -- DO I JUST GO ON? WONDERFUL. EVEN THOUGH I WOULD BE REPRESENTING THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT, I FEEL LIKE I DID A LOT OF WORK OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS JUST LEARNING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, DIFFERENT NEEDS.

[02:05:06]

WITHIN THAT REALM, I FEEL LIKE I'M FULLY PREPARED AND ABLE TO NOT ONLY BRING THE EXPERTISE FROM LEARNING WITH YOU ALL AND WITH YOUR RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY, BUT ALSO FROM HAVING LIVED IN DISTRICT 4 SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS OLD.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN 78207, BUT I FEEL LIKE FROM YOU ALL THAT MY FORMER COLLEAGUES AND JUST FROM YOU ALL IN WATCHING YOUR COUNCIL SESSIONS LATELY AS WELL, I GET TO SEE A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES STILL PRESENT. AND SO THE BASIC ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO FOCUS IN ON IS THAT SUSTAINABILITY ASPECT. IT'S IN THE SAWS MISSION.

IT'S CRITICAL TO REPRESENT, COUNCILMAN MUNGIA, YOU MENTIONED YOUTH EARLIER.

HOW DO WE ENSURE THERE'S ENOUGH WATER FOR OUR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN OR FOR WHOEVER IT IS THAT FOLLOWS IN OUR PRESENCE TO RECRUIT JOBS, TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES, TO BE ABLE TO JUST HAVE A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE, ENJOY THE PARKS AND TO SAY WE HAVE THAT NOT ONLY FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS, BUT FOR A LONG TIME.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO ATTENDED A WATER CONVERSATION AND THIS WAS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FACING TEXAS IN GENERAL. AS WE THINK ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND BE FULLY REPRESENTED AS A CITY. AND THE MOST URGENT WATER CHALLENGES, YOU ALL PROBABLY SAW A COUPLE DAYS AGO THE CORPUS CITY COUNCIL AND IT WAS PETER ZANONI, CITY MANAGER. THEY HAVE SOME WATER-RELATED CHALLENGES NEAR CORPUS. AND YOU ALL SAW THE DESALINATION PLANT CAME IN WAY OVER BUDGET. AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TODAY THAT ARE HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE. BUT WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE NOT ONLY TO OUR TAXPAYERS BUT ALSO TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL COME AFTER US.

AND SO LOOKING AT -- AND LEARNING FROM BEST PRACTICES, SEEING EVEN WHERE MAYBE SOME OF THOSE FOLKS MAY HAVE MADE A MISTAKE OR TWO AND LEARNING FROM THEM AS WELL AS GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE SERVICE LEVELS THAT WE HAVE. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE HERE IN TEXAS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN TORNADO ALLEY. BUT HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THAT SUSTAINABLE WATER. WE HAVE EIGHT SOURCES THAT CAN HELP US WITH THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ALSO HAVE VERY OLD INFRASTRUCTURE. SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE THE 1980S. AND IF WE HAVEN'T UPDATED THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW LONG WILL IT BE ABLE TO HOLD? HOW LONG WILL IT BE ABLE TO WORK PROPERLY? THE OTHER THING I THINK IS AN ISSUE IS THE CYBER THREATS THAT WE HAVE. AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU ALL HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT PREVIOUSLY, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO CONSIDER AND SOMEONE COULD ATTACK OUR MOST CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT WOULD BE WATER BECAUSE WATER IS LIFE. WITH THAT I HAVE SAT ON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES ON THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE PFAS CONTAMINATION. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE REPRESENT THE FOLKS WHO MAYBE DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HELP TO THEIR HEALTH SHOULD PRACTICES LIKE THOSE OTHERS COME ALSO TO SAN ANTONIO. THE CONNECT H2O ADVANCED METERING ISSUE.

I'M FAMILY FAMILIAR WITH THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS I MADE SURE TO LET SAWS KNOW I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY.

WE KNOW NOT EVERYBODY IS DIGITALLY CONNECTED, NOT EVERYBODY IS USING THEIR PHONE FOR INFORMATION. MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS, MAYBE THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH YET, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PROGRAM IS A GREAT PROGRAM.

I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON INNOVATION WHILE CATCHING COSTS.

I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH CORPUS CHRISTI, FOR INSTANCE.

IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO

[02:10:01]

THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THING I ASKED WHEN I GOT ON CITY COUNCIL IN 2019, WHO TAKES OVER. I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT SAME QUESTION AT SAWS, WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ALL THE LEADERSHIP INCLUDING THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT'S BECAUSE OF A SAFETY REASON [INAUDIBLE] BUT I FEEL AS A TRUSTEE MEMBER THAT'S ONE OF THE CRITICAL THINGS I WOULD BE LOOKING AT. NOT HOW WE WOULD SUSTAIN THE ACTUAL WATER LEVELS BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AND MAKING SURE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE THERE THAT CAN STEP IN. AND LAST ONE IS -- SO I'VE ALWAYS RECOGNIZED THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS ACTUALLY THE FINAL LEGAL SAY FOR SAWS AS WELL. AND SO I SAW THIS QUESTION WHEN IT CAME IN YESTERDAY AND I UNDERSTAND THE H R-1. I UNDERSTAND THAT PUBLIC UTILITIES IS OVERSEEN BY BEN GORZELL AND HIS POSITION AND THE REPRESENTATIVE WE HAVE THE MAYOR THAT REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE COUNCIL. I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE QUESTION.

I DID NEED TO DO -- I WAS LIKE OH, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET INTO THIS A LITTLE MORE. THE ONLY PROBLEM, NOT THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT THE ONLY QUESTION WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE H.R. PART OF IT.

BECAUSE I HAVE NOT FOUND ON THE SAWS WEBSITE AND MAYBE I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS LOOKING, I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND, FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME DOCUMENTS THAT WERE FORMED IN THE 1990S. I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE I'VE SEEN ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR TO H.R., TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES PART OF IT, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHERE WE WERE GOING WITH THAT OR IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO, PERHAPS WITH SUCCESSION PLANNING, BUT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE IN AUDIO] TO WORK THROUGH THE FINANCE OFFICE, WITH THE LEGAL OFFICE, WITH H.R. AS WELL. BUT AGAIN, SO I JUST -- I DON'T WANT TO -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT H.R. WAS ALREADY SOMETHING THAT WAS ADDRESSED THAT WE COULD OR COULD NOT INTERFERE WITH. BE HONEST, I DID NOT KNOW THAT PART OF IT, BUT I'M FINE WITH THREE-FOURTHS OF THE QUESTION.

>> KAUR: ONE OF THE THINGS YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT ON IS THE CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH SAWS. YOU MENTIONED THIS IN YOUR OPENING REMARKS. WHAT DO YOU THINK AS A SAWS BOARD MEMBER YOU COULD DO

DIFFERENTLY TO HOLD LEADERSHIP -- >> MAYOR JONES ACTUALLY ASKED ABOUT THIS. I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TWO STRONG ADVOCATES FROM THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, MEMBER EXPERIENCE FROM PREVIOUS MUNICIPAL CHAIR, MUNICIPAL UTILITIES CHAIR EXPERIENCE WE CAN ASK A LITTLE MORE AND MAYBE TAG TEAM ON IT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S BETTER COORDINATION THAT IS GOING ON.

AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN CHANGES, EXCELLENT IN-ROADS AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER AND BEN GORZELL AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE THE ONES MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING CONNECTED. WHETHER WE THINK OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF THE CITY.

AND SO THEY JUST SAY, OH, IT'S THE CITY AND OH, WHY THE CITY DO THIS.

I'VE HEARD IT FROM A FEW OF YOU ALL AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL, I WOULD SAY, OVERSIGHT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF THERE'S ALREADY COMMITTEES ESTABLISHED, WHICH COMMITTEE ON THE SAWS BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND MAYBE TRY TO GET ON THAT COMMITTEE SO WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE MORE INFLUENCE THERE.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: MISS YOU TOO. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT SAWS LOSES SO MUCH WATER, A SCARCE RESOURCE, EVERY YEAR IN BROKEN PIPES. LAST REPORT THERE WAS OVER 21 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER LOST. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE MAKE THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WELL, WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO LOOK AT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

AND I KNOW THERE'S ALREADY SOME TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEING DEPLOYED SO THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY EVEN FROM ABOVE GROUND WHERE THE LEAKS ARE. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO INVEST A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TECHNOLOGY. I KNOW YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AND APPRECIATE YOUR WORK THERE.

[02:15:01]

WE GET TO PARTICIPATE IN SA SMART AS COUNCILMEMBERS SO YOU ALL WILL BE INVITED AND THE MAYOR GETS TO DECIDE WHAT THE CHALLENGES OR HELP WITH THAT EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT I EVER ATTENDED AS A COUNCILMEMBER BECAUSE IT GIVES US HOPE, HOPE FROM THESE YOUNG STUDENTS THAT ARE GIVING SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THEY REALLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD, BUT THEY START THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MAYBE THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT IS POSED. LIKE TO SOMEONE TOTALLY OUTSIDE THE BOX, IT'S NOT JUST THINKING IN THEIR NORMAL ENGINEERING TRAINING OR IN THEIR NORMAL LINE OF WORK, BUT HOW DO WE BRIDGE THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT HAVE THESE CREATIVE IDEAS AND EMPOWER THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY

TO DO IT. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THE BOARD CAN IMPROVE COMMUNITY OUT

REACH AND EDUCATION? >> WE'RE IN STAGE 3 AND I ASKED AS I WAS PREPARING, AND HE'S WATCHING BY THE WAY, SO I ASKED HIM WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE WATER CONCERN. LIKE IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE WATER SUPPLY IN SAN ANTONIO AND HE'S LIKE WATERING DAYS. SO I SAID, OKAY, WHAT ABOUT WATERING DAYS.

HE SAID IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE IF WE HAVE JUST ONE WATERING DAY A WEEK, THAT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE WE HAVE AN ISSUE. THAT WAS GREAT, RIGHT, LIKE FOR ME TO LEARN FROM HIM BECAUSE THAT MADE SENSE. AS WE START REMINDING PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, JUST A CONSTANT COMMUNICATION BLITZ, REMINDING THEM TO CONSERVE WATER, REMINDING THEM IF THEY HEAR SOMETHING, LIKE CHECK IT OUT.

SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT IS AVAILABLE. REMIND THEM THAT MAYBE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT DON'T HAVE A PIPE BROKEN, BUT IF THEIR NEIGHBOR NEEDS HELP, THERE ARE THESE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO US. IT'S CONSTANT COMMUNICATION, WORKING WITH YOU ALL, IT'S WORKING WITH ALL OF YOUR OFFICES, BUT THEN ALSO WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO PUSH MESSAGES OUT FOR SAWS.

WHEN I WAS LITTLE WE USED TO GO TO MEXICO AND MY PARENTS WERE BORN IN MEXICO.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT AT WHAT TIME THE WATER FLOW WAS GOING TO COME BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME OF DAY YOU COULD TAKE A BATH.

ABOUT 20 PEOPLE TRYING TO TAKE A BATH AT THE SAME TIME.

I NEVER WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT SO I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT TO

PREPARE FOR WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS AHEAD. >> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR THOUGHTS ON INCORPORATING CONSERVATION EFFORTS INTO PROPOSED

DEVELOPMENT EFFORT PROJECTS REQUESTING SAWS SERVICE. >> I THINK WE OWE IT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS TO HAVE CONSERVATION EFFORTS CONSIDERED.

BEFORE WE MAKE ANY COMMITMENTS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN, I THINK WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO ASK WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR US. WE HAVE A GREAT DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY NOW THAT SAYS WE WILL WORK WITH YOU ALL, BUT THE KEY POINT IS LET'S WORK TOGETHER, LET'S ASK THEM, LET'S PREPARE AND SEE MARGINALIZED WE CAN DO TOGETHER. WE HAVE GREAT MEMBERS THAT HAVE FAMILIES THAT LIVE HERE. WE SHOULD WANT TO SUPPORT THESE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE EMPLOYING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE FUTURE GENERATIONS HERE, THAT ARE ALREADY GENERATIONAL FAMILIES THAT HAVE LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM, SAY THAT CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE HAD AT THE BEGINNING. THE CONVERSATION ON CONSERVATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT THE BEGINNING BEFORE ANY OF THE INCENTIVES HAPPEN, ET CETERA.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, DR. ROCHA GARCIA. AT THIS TIME THE CITY

[Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the C Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ]

COUNCILS WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN

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