[00:00:08] [ PROCEDURAL  ] >> MAYOR JONES: GOOD MORNING. THE TIME IS NOW 9:02 ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2025. AND THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK. AS WE KNOW, SEPTEMBER 11TH IS A VERY SOLEMN DAY IN OUR COUNTRY. FOR MANY OF US I KNOW WE STILL REMEMBER WHERE WE WERE THAT FATEFUL DAY WHEN WE WERE HORRIFICALLY AND COWARDLY ATTACKED. I MYSELF WAS A JUNIOR AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY MANY OF THE PEOPLE ON MY FLOOR WHEN I WAS A RESIDENT ASSISTANT, WERE FROM NEW YORK. SO VERY MUCH FELT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF THE LOSS OF LIFE AND FRANKLY WHAT THAT ALSO MEANT FOR MY GENERATION OF FELLOW SERVICE MEMBERS WHO KNEW THAT OUR FATE WOULD BE MUCH, MUCH DIFFERENT. MANY OF US, I WAS STUDYING JAPANESE AND THAT WOULD NOT BE AS HELPFUL AS I ONCE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I WANT TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE 3,000 FOLKS THAT WERE LOST. I WANT TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT DAY AND I WANT TO ALSO MAKE SURE CERTAINLY HERE IN MILITARY CITY, USA, THOSE THAT DEPLOYED IN RESPONSE TO THOSE, WE KNOW THAT THAT WAS THE FIRST AND THE ONLY TIME THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT SECURITY ALLIANCE THAT EVER EXISTED HAS EVER EVOKED ART ARTICLE 5. I KNOW HERE IN MILITARY USA WE APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR PARTNERS AND ALLIES AND THIS DAY IS A REMINDER OF WHY WE HOLD THOSE DEAR GIVEN WHAT MAY HAPPEN. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WE REMEMBER THE VICTIMS OF 9/11. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WHO WOULD INTRODUCE TODAY'S INVOCATOR. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TODAY TO INTRODUCE REVEREND MARCINE CZYZ WHO WAS BORN JULY 31, 1983 IN POLAND. HE WAS ORDAINED TO THE PRIESTHOOD ON MAY 30, 2009. FOLLOWING HIS ORDINATION, FATHER MARCINE SERVED IN MEXICO AND CONTINUED HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND AS WELL AS POLAND FROM 2016 TO 2018. ON NOVEMBER 1, 2021, THE FATHER WAS ASSIGNED TO ST. HELENA CATHOLIC CHURCH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS A PASTOR. A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE CAME ON OCTOBER 17, 2022 WHEN ARCHBISHOP GUSTAVO GARCIA-SILLER FORMERLY [00:05:01] IN AUDIO] FATHER MARCINE ENJOYS MOVIES AND TRAVELING. HE HAS A STRONG APPRECIATION FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY, PARTICULARLY APPLE PRODUCTS. HE IS FLUENT IN POLISH, SPANISH, AND ENGLISH. FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. HEAVENLY FATHER, ON THIS DAY, SEPTEMBER 11, WE PAUSE WITH REVERENCE TO REMEMBER THE TRAGEDY THAT CHANGED OUR NATION 24 YEARS AGO. WE HOLD IN PRAYERS THE SOULS OF THE DEPARTED, THE FAMILIES WHO GRIEVE, AND ALL WHO STILL CARRY THE WOUNDS OF THAT DAY. TEACH US, O LORD, THAT TRUE PEACE IS NEVER AUTOMATIC BUT REQUIRES CONSTANT EFFORT WORKING IN JUSTICE, MERCY, AND IN LOVE. WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THE MAYOR, THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, AND ALL WHO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. STRENGTHEN THEM WITH WISDOM AND COURAGE AS THEY DELIBERATE AND DECIDE. MAY THEIR WORK ALWAYS SAFEGUARD THE SECURITY, PROSPERITY, AND WELL-BEING OF THIS CITY. INSPIRE THEM TO REMEMBER THAT EVERY ORDINANCE, EVERY DECISION, AND EVERY POLICY IS NOT ABOUT ABSTRACT IDEAS BUT ABOUT REAL PEOPLE. MAY THEY LABOR SO THAT EVERY PERSON, EVERY HUMAN BEING WITHOUT EXCEPTION FEELS WELCOME, RESPECTED, AND TRULY AT HOME IN SAN ANTONIO. BLESS, LORD, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR WORKPLACES, AND OUR FAMILIES. HELP US TO BE A COMMUNITY THAT EMBODIES COMPASSION AND HOSPITALITY WHERE PEACE IS NOT ONLY DESIRED BUT PRACTICED IN DAILY LIFE. AND REMINDS US IN BUILDING PEACE LOCALLY WE CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE IN THE WIDER WORLD. AND WITH A LIGHTER SPIRIT, LORD, WE TRUST YOU IN OUR ROLES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE NORTHEAST THAT THEY MAY BE RENEWED WITH CARE SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS MAY TRAVEL SAFELY AND WITH LESS FRUSTRATION. FOR EVEN THESE SMALL THINGS. SENT UPON US, GOD, YOUR HOLY SPIRIT OF UNITY AND LOVE. MAY ALL WE DO BE ROOTED IN JUSTICE, PEACE, AND MARKED WITH GRATITUDE. WE ASK THIS THROUGH CHRIST, OUR LORD. AMEN. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, FATHER. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> MAYOR JONES: ITEM 3 IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF AUGUST 26 AND 27. TODAY WE ARE ALSO RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. . >> >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND NOW I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO DIEZ Y [00:10:05] SEIS COMMISSION WILL HOST FIESTA SAN ANTONIO, A CELEBRATION AND COMMEMORATION OF MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY. AND WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1810, FATHER HIDALGO INITIATED THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE AS HE CALLED THE PEOPLE TO ACTION WITH THE RINGING OF CHURCH BELLS IN THE HISTORIC CHURCH. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DIEZ Y SEIS COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN 1994 WILL HOST A SERIES OF CULTURAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS, AND EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER TO COMMEMORATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15 TO OCTOBER 15, 2025 TO BE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND CALL ON ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN ON THE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THAT CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF OUR CITY'S RICH AND DIVERSE HISPANIC HERITAGE . MS. JONES, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IF I MAY, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE DIEZ Y SEIS CHAIR, OLIVIA ORTIZ, COME AND SPEAK, IF THAT WOULD BE OKAY. >> MAYOR JONES: SURE. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M OLIVIA ORTIZ, CHAIR OF THE SAN ANTONIO DIEZ Y SEIS COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE COMMISSION THIS MORNING AND ALLOWING ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THIS YEAR WE COMMEMORATE THE 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMISSION , WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1994 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER JUAN SOLIS. IN JUNE 2024, CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZED ITS IMPORTANCE AND RE-ESTABLISHED THE COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT CELEBRATE LATIN AMERICAN HISTORIES, CULTURES, AND ART. EVENTS INCLUDE TOMORROW'S EL GRITO PROGRAM AND THE FIESTA PATRIAS BOTH AT MARKET SQUARE AND SATURDAY'S PARADE ALONG GUADALUPE STREET. THESE EVENTS, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL MARIACHI FESTIVAL, DIEZ Y SEIS ARE INCLUDED IN THE FIESTA PATRIAS CALENDAR AT SA.GOV/ARTS. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AT THESE WONDERFUL CELEBRATIONS. I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? [APPLAUSE] COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, OLIVIA, FOR SPEAKING. THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE ORTIZ FAMILY WHO IS HERE TODAY. IF YOU GUYS COULD STAND UP AND GIRLS SO THEY COULD RECOGNIZE YOU. THIS TRULY IS A FAMILY AFFAIR. WHEN I ASKED FOR YOU GUYS TO SERVE -- THANK YOU. WHEN I ASKED Y'ALL TO SERVE, I ASKED YOU TO SERVE WITH THIS INCREDIBLE COMMITTEE. CAN I GET THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TO PLEASE STAND FOR THE DIEZ Y SEIS SEPTIEMBRE COMMITTEE? THANK YOU, GABRIEL, AND EVERYONE WHO CONTINUES TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE. TELLING THE STORY, TELLING OUR HISTORY IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR THE YOUTH THAT ARE IN THE CROWD TODAY. AND I AM JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR AND THE CELEBRATION AND WHAT WE'VE DONE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD. I WAS GLAD TO BE THERE AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE HAD OVER AT PLAZA DE ARMAS. AND THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF OUR CULTURE. THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF OUR STORY. THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF SAN ANTONIO, NO MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM, THIS IS THE SAN ANTONIO STORY. AND IF YOU WEREN'T LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO OR A SAN ANTONIAN, THIS IS A PART OF YOUR STORY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME OUT AND ENJOY. I'M HOPING THE WEATHER STAYS THIS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE LAST YEAR IT WAS HUMID. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY OUT TOMORROW EVENING AS WE DO THE GRITO AND THE MAYOR GETS TO ACTUALLY VIVA TOMORROW. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE, OLIVIA AND THE ORTIZ FAMILY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE ORTIZ FAMILY ALSO FOR LEADING THIS FAMILY THIS YEAR. I KNOW THIS IS A GREAT EVENT EVERY YEAR TO RECOGNIZE THE MEXICO'S INDEPENDENCE AND OUR CULTURE HISTORY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING HERE THIS FRIDAY ALSO. [00:15:02] AND I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT THE MAYOR WILL BE DOING A GRITO ON FRIDAY, SO I'LL BE RECORDING THAT ALSO. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS AND WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TO THE ORTIZ FAMILY AS WELL FOR TAKING ON THIS ROLE AND ENSURING WE CONTINUE TO SHEPHERD THIS VERY IMPORTANT EVENT. AS YOU MENTIONED, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR JUAN SOLIZ AND LUIS GALVAN FROM DISTRICT 5 FOR ENSURING WE HAVE THIS GREAT EVENT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PARADE, SO THANKFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF GABRIEL VELASQUEZ. I'M EXCITED BECAUSE THE MARSHAL WILL BE FORMER MAYOR RON NIRENBERG. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR AUDIO] >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO THE ORTIZ FAMILY AND EVERYBODY ON THE DIEZ Y SEIS COMMISSION. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO BE A PART OF THIS FIRST STEP FOR THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION FOR THE HISPANIC HERITAGE. AS A HISTORY PERSON, AS SOMEONE WHO HONED IN ON AND FOCUSED IN COLLEGE ABOUT LATINO HISTORY AND LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY, IT'S CRUCIAL TO REMEMBER TOO THAT NOT HISTORY OF OUR PEOPLE LATIN AMERICA THAT THE FIRST START ON THE 16TH LED TO A WAVE OF REVOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT TO FIGHT FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE. UNDERSTANDING THAT HISTORY THAT ONLY PLAYED WITH OUR PEOPLE BUT WITH THE FOLKS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT WAS AROUND THE TIME, AS WELL AS TEXAS, AND THE LONG HISTORY THAT LED BEYOND THAT THAT SHAPE US HERE TODAY. I'M EXCITED TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL. LET ME KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER BECAUSE OUR FOLKS ARE EAGER TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE. THAT'S PART OF OUR CULTURE AND HERITAGE AND PART OF OUR HISTORY. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND HAPPY TO BE A PARTNER IN THAT. TO MY NOT QUITE PRIMA BUT ALSO SOMEWHERE LUIS GALVAN. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO GIVE RECOGNITION TO THE ORTIZ FAMILY. THEY'RE WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DOING ALL THE WORK AS WELL AS ALL THE COMMISSION MEMBERS. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL Y'ALL'S EFFORTS. SHOULD BE A GREAT WEEK. I DID NOT KNOW MAYOR NIRENBERG WOULD BE THE GRAND MARSHAL BUT I'LL BE SURE TO CHECK IT OUT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: LET ME ECHO MY THANKS. I'M SURE WE ARE PRIMAS AT SOME POINT. THE ORTIZ FAMILY, I GOT TO SEE THEIR LATEST CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CITY AS THEY DID THE PRINT FOR THE 10TH ANNUAL WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL. THE RIDE, THE WALK, THE RUN. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, CRUZ AND OLIVIA. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE HISPANIC HERITAGE AND THE IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY. AND THIS HISPANIC COMMUNITY. OUR WHOLE CITY, THE CULTURE, THE ECONOMY, AND ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SHAPED BY THE HISPANIC TRADITIONS AND VALUES AND LEADERSHIP HERE. AND FROM OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, EDUCATION, PUBLIC SERVICE, ARTS, OUR HISPANIC HERITAGE, IT'S THE HEART OF OUR IDENTITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO CELEBRATE AND UPLIFT THIS HISTORY AND RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE HERE TODAY. AND TO BUILD OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR NEXT GENERATIONS. SO I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES AS WE HONOR THE RESILIENCE, CREATIVITY, AND STRENGTH OF OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TAKING THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL ITEM SO THAT WE MAY CLEAR THE BUSINESS FOR THE DAY? [CONSENT AGENDA  ] OKAY. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, ITEMS 5 THROUGH 22 ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A GROUP AND THERE WILL NOT BE A STAFF PRESENTATION UNLESS PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE HEARD TODAY INDIVIDUALLY? >> I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM NO. 7. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM 7. ANY FURTHER? MADAME CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? JUST JACK FINGER? [00:20:12] WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS SIGNED UP. MR. JACK FINGER. SIR, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR, MADAME MAYOR. PLEASE UNDERSTAND WE COULD BARELY HERE YOU IN THE MICROPHONE. DID YOU SAY I HAD TWO MINUTES OR THREE MINUTES? >> MAYOR JONES: SIR, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. ALSO EARLIER I COULDN'T HEAR YOU. COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT ITEMS WERE PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? >> MAYOR JONES: ITEM NO. 7. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. OKAY. MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. ONE OF TWO ITEMS I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON TODAY'S AGENDA. ITEM NO. 22 IS ABOUT WHAT YOU CALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I CALL IT WELFARE HOUSING BECAUSE BASICALLY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO -- WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING THEIR FULL AMOUNT OF THEIR RENTALS. WHO MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE? WE, THE TAXPAYERS MAKE THAT UP. YEAH. AND ITEM NO. 22 DEALS WITH APARTMENTS OVER IN DISTRICT 6, MR. GALVAN. THAT'S YOUR AREA. TEZEL ROAD AREA. I LOOKED AT THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS AND NOTICED THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO MOVE INTO THIS, IF THEY ONLY MAKE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY OF ONLY 30%, 50% IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN THAT, YOU GOT A FREE PASS. YOU CAN MOVE INTO THOSE APARTMENTS FOR A MUCH SMALLER AMOUNT. AND THAT'S TEZEL ROAD. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SHELLING OUT, WELL, NEARLY $4 MILLION ON THAT. OUR TAX DOLLARS ON THAT, SIR. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT BUT WHETHER PEOPLE IN YOUR AREA WOULD WANT TO KNOW THAT WELFARE RECIPIENTS ARE GOING TO BE LIVING RIGHT NEXT TO THEM ON TEZEL ROAD. BUT I THINK YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT THERE, SIR. A BIG CONCERN. OTHER ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, I COULDN'T HELP NOTICING A COUPLE OF ITEMS REGARDING THE LEGAL SETTLEMENTS. I THINK IT'S ITEM NO. 19 AND 20. THEY BOTH HAD ALMOST THE EXACT SAME WORDING ON IT. I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED UNTIL I TALKED WITH ONE OF YOUR CITY ATTORNEYS ABOUT THIS. THEY SAID, NO, JACK, IT IS TWO DIFFERENT SETTLEMENTS. TWO PEOPLE WERE RIDING IN THE CAR AT THE SAME TIME WHEN THEY WERE HIT BY A CITY EMPLOYEE, THERE YOU SEE. I SAID, WELL, OKAY, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE SOME LAWYER IS TRYING TO HORN IN ON THE ACTION HERE, YOU KNOW. YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU KNOW, IF A CITY EMPLOYEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, I USUALLY ASK, WELL, DOES THE CITY EMPLOYEE EVER GET PUNISHED FOR THIS? I MEAN, AFTER ALL, HE'S REQUIRING US TO SHELL OUT OUR MONEY ON IT. AND IF HE WASN'T GUILTY OF THIS, DIDN'T GO TO COURT, WELL, THIS STILL GETS ON HIS RECORD AND WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO DO? I MEAN, WHAT IS HE OR SHE SUPPOSED TO DO? HAVE THIS ON THE RECORD FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T GUILTY OF ANYTHING? YEAH, SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE AND Y'ALL NEED TO RELOOK AT THAT THERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. ALL INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP HAVE SPOKEN. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH EXCEPTION OF ITEM 7 THAT'S BEEN PULLED? IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, MINUS ITEM 7. ARE THERE ANY HIGHLIGHTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA? GO AHEAD. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AN ITEM OF APPOINTING SANDY MILLMAN RAMIREZ TO THE SAN ANTONIO DIEZ Y SEIS COMMISSION. WHAT A PERFECT DAY TO DO SO WHILE WE'RE KICKING OFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. SANDY, WOULD YOU MIND COMING TO THE PODIUM? SANDY MILLMAN RAMIREZ HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO GROWING UP RIGHT NEAR WOODLAWN LAKE AND GRADUATING FROM TRINITY UNIVERSITY. SHE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A THOUGHT LEADER LIAISON IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL SPACE BEFORE RETIRING. SHE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HER INCLUSIVE, COLLABORATIVE NATURE, WHICH I'M SURE WILL TRANSLATE WELL TO THE WORK ON THIS COMMISSION. SINCE HER RETIREMENT, SANDY HAS GOTTEN MORE INVOLVED IN THE SAN [00:25:04] ANTONIO COMMUNITY DEDICATING HER TIME TO VOLUNTEER WORK . SHE VOLUNTEERS EVERY WEEK WITH ST. BRIDGETT'S FOOD PANTRY AND HAS VOLUNTEERED WITH THE CHRISTIAN'S LADY SOCIETY, CHRISTIAN MINISTRY SERVICES, AND THE TRINITY UNIVERSITY MENTOR PROGRAM, AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. HER LOVE FOR SAN ANTONIO AND ITS CULTURE MAKE HER A IN AUDIO] AND I'M SO THANKFUL TO MAKE THIS APPOINTMENT TODAY. THANK YOU, SANDY AND PLEASE WELCOME SANDY TO THIS COMMISSION. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR KAUR. >> KAUR: >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT THREE FOLKS THAT I GET TO APPOINT TO COMMISSIONS TODAY. KARLA GURGIOLO, JEANNE RUSSELL AND MELANIE MENDEZ GONZALES. KARLA IS GOING TO BE REAPPOINTED TO THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY AND I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WILL APPRECIATE THAT WHEN YOU START OFF AS AN EMPLOYEE OF AN ORGANIZATION, BEING A BOARD MEMBER YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT INSIGHT. SHE NOW GETS TO SERVE ON THE BOARD AND DOES A GREAT JOB LEADING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE ENGAGED THERE. JEANNE RUSSELL IS THE CEO OF CAS SCHOOLS AND SHE DOES SO WITH GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TRULY SHOWS WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR PERSONALIZED LEARNING IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES FOR ALL OF OUR KIDDOS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. I'M EXCITED TO APPOINT HER TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD BOARD THAT OVERSEES PRE-K 4 SA. HER LEADERSHIP, KNOWING WHAT KIDS NEED TO GRADUATE AT THE 12TH GRADE IS REALLY CRITICAL TO HELP SUPPORT OUR AMAZING PRE-K 4 SA PROGRAM. AND THEN MELANIE MENENDEZ GONZALES IS THE FOUNDER OF K MEANS WHAT? IT'S A BLOG IN OUR COMMUNITY. SHE'S A LATINA BLOGGER AND SHE TALKS TO SO MANY LEADERS. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO APPOINT HER TO THE MAYOR'S STATUS FOR WOMEN BOARD . I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE AN AMAZING LEADER ON THAT BOARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE ON THESE COMMITTEES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 6, CLOSING FOUR UNIMPROVED FOUR UNIMPROVED PAPER ALLEYWAYS AND REQUESTING A 25-YEAR TERM ENCROACHMENT PERMIT FOR MULTIPLE EXISTING ENCROACHMENTS WITHIN A TEN-FOOT WIDE PAPER ALLEY AREA. IF APPROVED THE CLOSURES WILL BE INCORPORATED WITH ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND THE ENCROACHMENTS WILL BE LEGALLY PERMITTED ALLOWING FOR MISSION TRAIL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, WHICH WILL PROVIDE UTILITY REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT STREET PAVING, LIGHTING, AND FENCING IMPROVEMENTS. THEY'RE ALL DOING THIS WITH THE HELP OF ROCK USA. THIS WAS PART OF OUR SHIP GOALS TO BRING MORE DIVERSITY TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM THAT MADE THAT HAPPEN. I SEE VERONICA AND IAN HERE. WE GOT CREATIVE AND WE MADE SURE THEY HAD THIS AND NOW WE'RE TAKING THE NEXT STEPS AS A CITY SHOWING OUR COMMITMENT AND SAYING IF WE HAVE ALLEYWAYS WE'RE NOT USING AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT'S READY TO USE THEM AND MAINTAIN THEM, WE'RE GOING TO LET THIS HAPPEN AND MOVE FORWARD. SO THIS PROJECT, AGAIN, ROCK USA, WHICH WORKS OUT OF THE NORTHEAST AND HAS COME TO TEXAS TO COME AND HELP WITH THIS, IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE MISSION TRAILS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BY HELPING THEM MANAGE THE COMMUNITY, OPERATIONS, AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY. AND THIS IS JUST A WIN SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ALLEYWAYS THIS BUDGET SESSION AND THIS IS ONE WAY WE CAN REUSE OUR ABILITY TO KIND OF GIVE THAT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY TAKING CARE OF IT. THANK YOU THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT ITEM 7, WHICH IS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL GET STARTED WITH ITEM 4. [PUBLIC HEARING  ] [00:30:05] THE TIME IS NOW 9:31 A.M. FOR THE THE COMBINED PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE IS NOW OPEN. >> CLERK: ITEM 4 IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S 2025 AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. >> MAYOR JONES: THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET HAS A PRESENTATION . >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JUSTINA TATE. I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. TODAY I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF PRESENTATION FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING IS TO GAIN FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE PROPOSED CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED BUDGET. TODAY IS THE SECOND OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD. OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING WAS ON SEPTEMBER 3, LAST WEDNESDAY, AND TODAY IS THE SECOND ONE. THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE IN ADDITION TO 11 TOWN HALLS THAT WERE HELD ACROSS THE CITY. AND THAT WAS INCLUSIVE OF A YOUTH TOWN HALL THAT WAS HELD AS WELL. OUR TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 IS $4 BILLION. THIS IS MADE UP OF THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS. THE FIRST BEING OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS AT ABOUT $1.2 BILLION. THE SECOND, OUR CAPITAL BUDGET AT $1.1 BILLION. AND THE GENERAL FUND AT ALMOST $1.7 BILLION. AND THE GENERAL FUND PROVIDES FUNDS FOR THE CITY'S BASIC SERVICES TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS, INFRASTRUCTURE, LIBRARIES, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT, TO NAME A FEW. I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET THERE IS NO PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE. THE TAX RATE REMAINS AT 54.159 CENTS PER $100 OF VALUATION. THIS IS THE 33RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR WITHOUT A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. WE RECEIVED OUR CERTIFIED ROLL FOR PROPERTY TAX IN JULY OF THIS YEAR AND BASED ON THAT CERTIFIED ROLL, WE ARE SEEING THAT OUR BASE VALUES ARE DECREASING BY ABOUT .9% AND OUR NEW VALUES ARE GROWING ABOUT 1.76%. THE BUDGET DOES INCLUDE ALMOST $152 MILLION OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. THIS INCLUDES EXEMPTIONS FOR HOMESTEADS, OVER AGE 65, DISABLED PERSONS, AS WELL AS CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. AND THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE TAX FREEZE. A TAX FREEZE FOR OVER AGE 65. NOW I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE DO HAVE SEVERAL FEE AND RATE ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AS PART OF THE BUDGET PRESENTATIONS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW STATE LAW, REGARDING FOOD ESTABLISHMENT FEES, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED TO THE FEES AND WERE INCLUDED IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET PRESENTATION. ON DECEMBER 1, FOOD ESTABLISHMENT FEES WILL BE ASSESSED BASED ON GROSS VOLUME OF SALES RATHER THAN THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES. THESE FEES ARE BEING RECOMMENDED TO PARTIALLY RECOVER THE COST OF PROVIDING FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. FINALLY, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEXT STEPS IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS. SO THIS CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE HAVE TWO MORE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS NEXT WEEK PRIOR TO THE RECOMMENDED PROPOSED BUDGET ADOPTION ON SEPTEMBER 18, NEXT THURSDAY. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I WILL CALL THE INDIVIDUALS UP. YOU EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. ALL INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. GROUP OF THREE OR MORE WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES. THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS AUDRA ATSCORE. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ALLISON CROSHER AND THIS IS AUDRA AND WE ARE PART [00:35:05] OF AN ORGANIZATION AND WE ARE WANTING TO COMBINE OUR TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S FINE. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ALLISON CROSHER AND I'M THE IMPACT MANAGER AT THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER. AS WE MARK 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY WE ARE RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THEIR FAMILIES. INCLUDING CRISIS INTERVENTION AND BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE, ADVOCACY AND CASE MANAGEMENT, AND COUNSELING. RCC IS GRATEFUL FOR OUR LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND CITY FUNDING HAS HELPED TO SUSTAIN AND GROW OUR ADVOCACY PROGRAM. I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE RCC'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DECREASED FUNDING ON ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS. BEFORE I TOOK MY CURRENT ROLE AT RCC I SPENT YEARS AS A PART-TIME ADVOCATE AND VOLUNTEER. SOMETIMES SITTING BESIDE A SURVIVOR PAST MIDNIGHT BEFORE CATCHING A FEW HOURS OF SLEEP AND THEN HEADING TO MY FULL-TIME JOB IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. I ENDURED THE LATE NIGHTS BECAUSE I COULD CLEARLY SEE AND FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES WHEN SURVIVORS ARE HEARD, BELIEVED, AND RESPECTED. DURING THE EARLY INTERACTIONS WITH SURVIVORS, ADVOCATES OFFER OPTIONS AND EMPOWER OUR CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MAKE WELL-INFORMED DECISIONS WHILE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO FURTHER ENGAGEMENT WITH SERVICES. UNDER STATE LAW, SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE AN ADVOCATE PRESENT FOR MEDICAL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM EVENTS. AND ONLY ORGANIZATIONS DESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAMS ARE PERMITTED TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO CRISIS RESPONSE, ADVOCATES PROVIDE ONGOING SAFETY PLANNING AND CASE MANAGEMENT. ENCOURAGING SURVIVORS TO LEVERAGE THEIR STRENGTHS, MOBILIZE RESOURCES, AND PURSUE THEIR SELF-IDENTIFIED GOALS FOR RECOVERY AND WELL-BEING. IN THE PAST YEAR, A SHIFT IN BEXAR COUNTY'S FORENSIC NURSING PROGRAM COMBINED WITH IMPROVED COORDINATION WITH SAPD LED TO AN INCREASE IN REQUESTS FOR FORENSIC EXAMS AND ACCOMPANIMENT. SURVIVORS CAN NOW RECEIVE EMERGENCY CARE AT THE HOSPITAL OF THEIR CHOICE. AND ADVOCATES TRAVEL TO MEET THEM VISITING E.R.S IN ALL TEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS. THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER HAS STEPPED UP TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR SERVICES AND OUR AGENCY HAS EXCEEDED. WITH A GOAL OF REACHING 400 SURVIVORS PER YEAR THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM SERVED 441 CLIENTS IN FY24 WITHIN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF FY25, ADVOCATES HAVE HELD 653 SURVIVORS NAVIGATE THE MEDICAL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS AND ACCESS RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN DELEGATE AGENCIES WERE NOTIFIED IN MARCH THAT THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS WOULD BE DELAYED, RCC EXPECTED THAT THE EIGHT-MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSION WOULD PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED STABILITY AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE FACING REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING. INSTEAD, WE LEARNED IN AUGUST THAT OUR CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR FY26 HAD BEEN CUT IN HALF REFLECTING AN OVERALL DECREASE IN FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION. THIS FUNDING CUT WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF PART-TIME ADVOCACY POSITIONS THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FOR EVERY SURVIVOR AND ENSURING COVERAGE FOR OVERNIGHT ACCOMPANIMENT REQUESTS AND OVERLAPPING CASES. THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER RECOGNIZES THAT CITY LEADERS ARE MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET SHORTFALL. BUT ADVOCACY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS CONTINUES TO BE AN URGENT COMMUNITY NEED. RCC RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT OUR FY26 FUNDING BE RESTORED TO THE AMOUNT THAT OUR AGENCY RECEIVED IN FY25. THIS WOULD ALLOW OUR ADVOCACY TEAM TO FULFILL THE STATUTORY ROLE OF RESPONDING TO ALL ACCOMPANIMENT REQUESTS WHILE PROVIDING THE FLEXIBLE, LONGER-TERM SUPPORT THAT HELPS SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES REGAIN STABILITY AND WORK TOWARD HEALING. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. KAYLA CARTER FOLLOWED BY JOHN BACHMAN. YOU EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KAYLA CARTER AND I AM THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF FOR HER , A LOCAL NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AS WELL AS RAPE CRISIS CENTER. SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WE ALSO ADVANCE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, PROMOTING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES. FOR HER HOLDS A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY'S [00:40:01] DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDING 137,971 ANNUALLY TO SERVE OUR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS. WE ARE A CRITICAL PART OF THE DHS ECOSYSTEM RECEIVING REFERRALS FROM PLACES LIKE RAPE CRISIS CENTER, FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES, AND CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES. THIS IS WHY WE WERE INCREDIBLY SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT OUR CONTRACT WAS NOT RENEWED IN FISCAL YEAR '26 DESPITE RECEIVING WRITTEN CONFIRMATION EARLIER THIS YEAR FROM THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT STAFF THAT WE COULD ANTICIPATE AN EXTENSION THROUGH MAY OF 2026. SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A TREND. WHEN I SOUGHT CLARIFICATION, DHS INFORMED ME THAT OUR FUNDING WAS ARPA DOLLARS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025. WHILE I UNDERSTAND ARPA'S LIMITS, THIS EXPLANATION DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH THE CITY'S EARLIER REASSURANCES, RELYING ON THOSE ASSURANCES WE BUDGETED ACCORDINGLY. THIS CONTRACT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET AS A SMALL NONPROFIT, COVERING STAFF SALARIES AND CONTRACTORS WHO DELIVER THESE SERVICES LIKE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND GROUP SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WILL BE A COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS THAT WILL OPEN LATER THIS YEAR WITH RENEWED CONTRACTS BEGINNING IN JUNE OF 2026. THAT WOULD BE IDEAL IF WE COULD ALSO MEET THE GAP. AND THE CITY WOULD HONOR ITS PRIOR COMMITMENT TO EXTEND OUR CONTRACT THROUGH MAY. WITHOUT IT, WE ARE FACING A $92,000 DEFICIT IN FUNDING GAP FROM OCTOBER THROUGH MAY. A GAP WE WERE TOLD WOULD NOT EXIST. LIKE ANY BUSINESS, WE RELY ON ACCURATE INFORMATION FOR OUR CONTRACTS TO MAKE SOUND, FINANCIAL DECISIONS. THESE COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY GAVE US EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT OUR CONTRACT WOULD BE EXTENDED. TODAY WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR THE CITY TO UPHOLD ITS COMMITMENT TO ALLOCATING THAT $92,000 TO EXTEND OUR CONTRACT THROUGH MAY OF 2026. THIS IS NOT ONLY ABOUT FUNDING. IT IS ABOUT TRUST. IT IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. IT IS ENSURING THE CARE FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO'S RESIDENTS WHO COUNT ON US AND RELY ON OUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION AS YOU FINALIZE THE BUDGET DECISIONS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. JOHN BACHMAN FOLLOWED BY MOLLY S. MOLLY S.? FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. THELMA GONZALES, YOU'LL BE NEXT. >> MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. LAST TIME I PRESENTED ON THIS SUBJECT I HAD SO LITTLE TIME. DIDN'T HAVE -- ALL I COULD DO WAS PUT A FEW THINGS ON THE AUDIO-VISUAL AND YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE IT, SO THIS TIME AROUND I MADE ABOUT 13 PACKETS OF THIS PRESENTATION. ONE FOR EACH OF YOU AND ONE FOR THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY MANAGER, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY THERE. I WILL HAND THESE TO THE CITY MANAGER RIGHT NOW. I'M GOING TO -- I'M TRYING TO OFFER YOU SOME UNIQUE WAYS WHERE YOU CAN CUT YOUR BUDGET DEFICIT. YES, OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK. AND, YEAH, KIND OF A LITTLE STARTLING AT TIMES BUT THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS ON. THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER. THEY HAD A RECENT PRESENTATION ABOUT SEX WORK. YEAH, PRO-PROSTITUTION THING. FLIP THAT OVER, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, AND YOU'LL SEE AN EXPLANATION OF BASICALLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING OVER THERE. YEAH. NOW MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, THIS SHOWS EVERYBODY EXACTLY THE ESPERANZA IS GETTING FROM US. ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER, $391,844 IN THIS PAST YEAR'S BUDGET HERE. THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES IN THAT LIST THAT ARE DOING THESE KINDS OF THINGS. BUT I THINK FLIP THAT OVER. THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION. YEAH, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE SPENDING ON THE WHOLE ARTS DEPARTMENT. 13MILLION BUCKS. YOU MAY WANT TO FIND WAYS TO CUT ALL THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE DOING THINGS LIKE THIS, AS YOU HAVE JUST NOW SEEN. AND ANOTHER DEPARTMENT YOU MAY WISH TO CUT ENTIRELY IS SOMETHING CALLED THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. IS THIS DEPARTMENT REALLY NEEDED WHEN THE TOP CITY ELECTED OFFICIAL IS THE PERSON WHITE, MALE, HETEROSEXUAL OR HISPANIC, FEMALE, HOMOSEXUAL. NOW, IF IT'S LETTER B, BY GOLLY, WHY WOULD WE ON EARTH [00:45:06] NEED A DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION DEPARTMENT WHEN THE WHOLE CITY HAS BECOME VERY OPEN MINDED ON THESE THINGS, HUH? YEAH. I THINK JUST MAYBE -- OH, AND BEFORE I LEAVE, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE TAX RATE. NOW, YOU SAW THE FIGURES WHEREBY THE AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX OWNER, OUR LEVIES HAVE GONE UP 2% OR 3%. BUT INSTEAD OF OUR TAX RATE GOING DOWN 2% OR 3%, YOU LET IT REMAIN THE SAME. YOU REALLY SHOULD MAKE UP FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF TAX INCREASES THE AVERAGE PERSON TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THAT. A 10% REDUCTION WOULD BE AN HONEST STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YEAH. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THELMA GONZALES FOLLOWED BY YVETTE RAMIREZ. >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS THELMA GONZALES AND I'M THE TREASURER OF THE SAN ANTONIO FARMERS MARKET PLAZA ASSOCIATION. I WOULD LIKE TO PASS MY TIME OVER TO THE PRESIDENT, YVETTE RAMIREZ. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO FOLLOW THE GRITO THAT'S COMING TO MARKET SQUARE. IT'S VERY WELL NEEDED AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING THAT ANNUALLY AT MARKET SQUARE. WE'RE HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE TENANTS, EMPLOYEES, AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AT HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE TO ASK FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF THROUGH AUGUST OF 2026. THE DEPARTMENT OF CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT HAS INFORMED THE BUSINESSES THEY HAVE SECURED A CONTRACTOR FOR THIS LONG OVERDUE HVAC SYSTEM THAT WILL BE PLACED IN THE FARMERS MARKET BUILDING. WHILE WE APPRECIATE AND FULLY SUPPORT THESE CRITICAL UPGRADES TO THIS PROJECT, IT FORCES 48 SMALL BUSINESSES AND OVER 100 OF THEIR EMPLOYEES TO VACATE THE SPACE FOR OVER FIVE MONTHS. THIS DISRUPTION WILL COMPOUND FINANCIAL LOSSES AND DISPLACE MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYEES WHO WILL HAVE TO SEEK UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION JUST TO SURVIVE. LAST NIGHT I TOOK THE TIME TO CALCULATE JUST MY BUSINESS ALONE HOW MUCH I'VE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENTERPRISE FUND AS WELL AS THE SALES TAX DIRECTLY TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, MY BUSINESS CONTRIBUTED $64,000 PLUS IN RENT, $48,000 IN SALES TAX. TOTALING ABOUT $112,000. NOW IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY THE 48 BUSINESSES CURRENTLY THERE AND MINE IS ONE OF THE SMALLER ONES, WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED OVER $3 MILLION IN SALES TAX, $2.3 MILLION IN RENT, AND MORE THAN $5.3 MILLION DIRECTLY GENERATED FROM THIS ONE BUILDING ALONE. WE MATTER. OUR BUSINESSES MATTER. OUR EMPLOYEES MATTER. MARKET SQUARE MATTERS TO US. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE CITY TO CONTINUE THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE WRITTEN PLAN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CCDO AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO HELP US WEATHER THE STORM. WITHOUT RELIEF, MANY OF THESE BUSINESSES WILL FAIL. MARKET SQUARE IS A CORNERSTONE OF SAN ANTONIO CULTURE, HISTORY, AND TOURISM. SUPPORTING THESE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES DURING THIS DIFFICULT TRANSITION WILL DEMONSTRATE TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO THAT NOT ONLY THE CITY INVESTS IN THE FUTURE LIKE PROJECT MARVEL BUT IT HONORS THE PAST. SUPPORTING THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT SURVIVAL, IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMY AND FUTURE. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US THIS TIME AND LISTENING TO OUR PLEA HERE AND HOPING THAT WE WILL HAVE YOUR SUPPORT IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: MOLLY S. I SEE HAS ENTERED. >> SO I ACTUALLY PREPARED SOMETHING FOR THE OTHER ONE FOR THE ANIMAL ABANDONMENT BUT I THOUGHT I LOST MY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BUDGET. I THINK EVERYONE HERE KNOWS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE BUDGET. AND I KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, YOU KNOW VERY WELL HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE BUDGET. Y'ALL SEVERELY NEED TO -- HOW MANY MINUTES DO I HAVE? Y'ALL REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER [00:50:01] AND OVER AGAIN PEOPLE ARE DYING LEFT AND RIGHT IN THE STREETS. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL REALLY UNDERSTAND OR CARE ABOUT THAT ISSUE, CONSIDERING THAT GAVITO AND WHYTE AND SOME OTHERS -- I FORGOT WHO FROM THE LAST COUNCIL -- SIGNED ERIK WALSH'S REQUEST TO SWEEP PEOPLE ON A MORE READILY BASIS. THAT'S JUST CAUSING MORE TRAVESTY AND TRAGEDY AMONG THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. AND I DON'T THINK Y'ALL ARE REALLY THINKING ENOUGH ABOUT THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. SO ESPECIALLY SINCE I DID SEE THAT -- SORRY. DIDN'T MEAN TO CALL YOU COMMISSIONER, CITY MANAGER WALSH IS PROPOSING TO DO ANOTHER 1800 SWEEPS. DOES NOT RESULT IN HELPING THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY UNLESS YOUR GOAL IS TO ACTUALLY LET THEM DIE. THEN I GUESS YOUR GOAL'S MET. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT I AM VERY PLEASED THAT WE'RE NOT RAISING THE TAX RATE ON THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUES THAT JOINED WITH ME LAST TERM TO MAXIMIZE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. OUR PEOPLE PAY TOO MUCH IN TAXES ALREADY AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO LESSEN THE TAX BURDEN ON THEM WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO. WE ALL KNOW WE'VE GOT A BUDGET DEFICIT HERE BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM HERE. THIS IS A SPENDING PROBLEM. CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SPENDS TOO MUCH MONEY IN AREAS WHERE WE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING IT. AND SO I HOPE THAT AS THIS BODY CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD AND LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR CITY, THAT WE WON'T CONSIDER ANY OPTIONS THAT PLACE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: ALL INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK HAVE SPOKEN. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL FORMERLY CONSIDER AND ADOPT THE FY26 BUDGET AND VOTE ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 2025 AT ITS MEETING ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 WHICH BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M. AND WILL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER . HAVING HEARD ALL COMMENTS FROM THOSE PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. THE TIME IS NOW 9:54 A.M. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. >> >> MAYOR JONES: AS NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, THIS ITEM IS FOR BRIEFING ONLY SO NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. ITEM NO. 7 WAS PULLED BY [City Code Amendments  ] COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 7 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5 OF THE CITY CODE ENTITLED "ANIMALS" TO PROHIBIT THE ABANDONMENT OF ANIMALS. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION? >> SO MOVE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM 7. WOULD COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO LIKE A STAFF PRESENTATION? >> GAVITO: I'M GOOD WITH IT. DO Y'ALL NEED A STAFF PRESENTATION? >> MAYOR JONES: I DO. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M JOHN GARY, THE DIRECTOR FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. AND WE DID PUT TOGETHER A BRIEF PRESENTATION THAT WE'LL GO OVER. I JUST WANT TO START OFF FIRST BY GIVING A BACKGROUND OF HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY. THE CCR WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 ON MARCH 11, 2024. THE INITIAL -- WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY DONE, THE GOAL OF THE CCR WAS TO FORMERRIZE SAN ANTONIO AS A BIRD SANCTUARY TO BAR THE SHOOTING, TRAPPING, OR [00:55:01] REMOVAL OF BIRDS BY UNLICENSED INDIVIDUALS. THERE'S TWO OTHER OPTIONS PUT FORTH AS WELL IN THE CCR. ONE WAS ALLOWING ACS TO HUMANELY CAPTURE, REMOVE, AND RELOCATE PEAFOWL. AND A SECOND ONE WAS CREATING AN ORDINANCE TO ONLY ALLOW LICENSED PERMITTED HANDLERS TO REMOVE AND RELOCATE PEAFOWL OR OTHER EXOTIC BIRDS. THE CCR WAS THEN PRESENTED TO GOVERNANCE ON APRIL 12, 2024. AND THEN AGAIN PRESENTED TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2024. THE CCR WAS ALSO PRESENTED FOR PUBLIC INPUT DISTRICT 7 AND ACS LOCS HOSTED A TOWN HALL TO GATHER FEEDBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS WHERE THE PEAFOWL ARE PREVALENT. ACS PRESENTED THE ISSUE TO OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD ON MARCH 19, 2025. A CCR WAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. PRESENTED A PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT A POPULATION COUNT, ESTABLISH PEAFOWL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THE IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOODS. ALSO A CHAPTER 5 UPDATE TO PROHIBIT RELEASING OF PEAFOWL WITHIN THE CITY. IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO INCLUDE ALL ANIMALS AND NOT JUST PEAFOWL IN THIS ORDINANCE . SO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, AS IT IS PROPOSED TODAY, IS ABANDONMENT OF NON-LIVESTOCK AND LIVESTOCK ANIMALS EXCLUDING UNCAPTURED WILD, LIVING CREATURES IS A VIOLATION OF THE TEXAS PENAL CODE AND IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR, STATE JAIL FELONY, OR FELONY OF THE THIRD DEGREE. CURRENTLY BY STATE LAW ABANDONMENT IS ILLEGAL. B SECTION SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THIS CODE FOR A PERSON TO INTENTIONALLY KNOWINGLY, OR RECKLESSLY ABANDON OR RELEASE ANY ANIMAL WITHIN THE CITY THAT HAS BEEN TRAPPED EXCEPT IF THE PERSON IS TRAPPING AND RELEASING THE ANIMALS AS AUTHORIZED BY CHAPTER OR BY STATE LAW. A VIOLATION IS PUNISHABLE AS DESCRIBED IN 521. 521 IS OUR SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR OUR ORDINANCES FOR OUR FENCES AND OUR ORDINANCE. MINIMAL FINE OF $500 AND MAXIMUM OF $2,000 FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE. SECOND OFFENSE IS A MINIMUM OF $1,000 AND MAXIMUM OF $2,000 AND THIRD OFFENSES ARE $2,000. CURRENTLY IN THE TEXAS PENAL CODE 42.092, IT PROHIBITS SOMEONE FROM UNREASONABLY ABANDONING AN ANIMAL IN THEIR CUSTODY. THAT IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR IN THE STATE STATUTE. THEN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IN CITY CODE CHAPTER 5, IT'S GOING TO ADD A NEW ABANDONMENT SECTION TO CHAPTER 5 OF THE CITY CODE WHICH WILL BE A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR. OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU TODAY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE THEM AND TO ENSURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE LAWS AROUND ANIMAL ABANDONMENT. SO WE DO RECOMMEND THAT THE ORDINANCE BE APPROVED. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MR. GARY. WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. MR. JOHN BACHMAN. IS NOT HERE. OKAY. MS. KIRSTEN NICKOLL. MA'AM, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. SHE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MOLLY S. >> THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR HEARING ME TODAY. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MR. CHARLIE KIRK. I KNOW THAT MANY OF US DIDN'T AGREE WITH ALL HIS WORDS BUT HE DID REMIND US THAT WE ALL HAVE A VOICE. AS FAR AS THE CHAPTER 5 AMENDMENT, MY CONCERNS ARE IF I CATCH A HUMMINGBIRD THAT'S HIT MY WINDOW, I REHAB IT, I RELEASE IT, I COULD BE FINED. IF THE OLD LADY DOWN THE END OF THE STREET FINALLY FEEDS THAT POOR STARVING LITTLE DOG, SHE CAN BE FINED. WE'RE NOT WORRYING ABOUT THE MAN THAT'S RELEASING HIS THE LADY ABANDONING THE FAMILY DOG BECAUSE HER KIDS WENT OFF TO COLLEGE. IT WILL IMPACT MY NEIGHBORHOOD ONE BLOCK OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN. BECAUSE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS YOU WILL BE FINED. BUT IF YOU COME OUT TO LEON SPRINGS AND YOU DUMP THEM OUT THERE, IT'S NO BIG DEAL. SO MY ELDERLY NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO BE TAKING IN Y'ALL'S ANIMALS. IT'S A POORLY-WRITTEN AMENDMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S BEING [01:00:03] RUSHED. THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR SLOWING THIS DOWN. IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE RUSHED. WE ALREADY HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THROUGH THE STATE THAT FOLLOW THIS. WE DON'T NEED TO RUSH THIS. WE NEED TO SLOW IT DOWN. YOU NEED TO HEAR THE VOICES OF US, THE RESCUERS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE FINED BY THIS. IF I SPAY A DOG THAT'S BEEN HAVING LITTER AFTER LITTER AND I RELEASE HER BACK OUT THERE BECAUSE I WANT TO STOP THE CYCLE, YOU'RE GOING TO FINE ME. SO, PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR VOICES. AND AT THIS POINT I DON'T FEEL THEY'RE BEING LISTENED TO. PROVE ME WRONG. >> MAYOR JONES: MOLLY S. FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> HI. THIS ITEM OF FINING PEOPLE ON ABANDONING ANIMALS, THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR PULLING IT FROM LAST WEEK'S AGENDA. THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE ONCE AGAIN VOTED PREMATURELY ON AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD DO NOTHING TO BRING RESOLVE TO OUR ANIMAL CRISIS. WE ALREADY HAVE A STATE-INTENSE LAW, LIKE THE YOUNG LADY SAID. AND AS I UNDERSTAND, THAT DOESN'T DETER PEOPLE FROM BEING AN ASS AND ABANDONING THEIR PETS . ACS AND 311 AGENTS ARE THE REAL CAUSES OF OUR CURRENT DOG CRISIS ALONG WITH ILLEGAL BACKYARD DOG BREEDERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE UNFORTUNATELY TOO IRRESPONSIBLE OR UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO CARE PROPERLY FOR A DOG OR CAT. IN ADDITION TO ACS MAKING IT TOO DARN EASY TO ADOPT A DOG, THEY ALSO HAVE THESE SURRENDERED DOG FEES. 311 AGENTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TELLING PEOPLE TO RELEASE THE DOG BACK IN THE WILD. IT'S TRUE. THAT VIDEO THE NO-KILL SHELTER PUT OUT ON TIKTOK IS TRUE. 311 AGENTS HAVE ALWAYS TOLD PEOPLE THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THE CRISIS BECAUSE WE'RE BEING ADVISED BY CITY STAFF TO RELEASE THE ANIMAL BACK IN THE WILD IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO WAIT FOR THE DOGCATCHER. THE NO-KILL SHELTER GROUP IS NOT THE ONLY GROUP WHO MAY BE PUNISHED FOR TRYING TO BE GOOD SAMARITANS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DOG AND CAT ADVOCATES WHO HELP AND SERVE ANIMALS. HOW DO YOU THINK I LEARNED TO BE THE HUMAN ADVOCATE? ALL OF THESE ANIMAL ADVOCATES ARE GOING TO DO FINED ON ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEY DO THINGS THAT ACS OFTEN LACKS THE TIME, ABILITY, AND WILLINGNESS TO DO. ATTEMPTING TO SERVE HUNDREDS OF STRAY DOGS AND CAT COLONY ALL OVER THE CITY AND COUNTY SERVING THEIR NEEDS OF STARVATION, THIRST, AND OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS. PLEASE VOTE NO TO THIS AMENDMENT TO PUNISHING TO SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE WHAT MAY LOOK LIKE ABANDONMENT IS REALLY THE ANIMAL ADVOCATES ARE SERVING LIFE-SUSTAINING FOOD, WATER, AND MEDICAL. NOT TO MENTION EVICTED RENTERS. THAT'S RIGHT. EVICTED RENTERS. I SPOKE WITH HUNDREDS OF THEM ON THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL. THEY OFTEN GET DENIED ASSISTANCE FROM ACS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THIS REQUIRED ACS SURRENDERING FEE. IF THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR RENT, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE MONEY TO PAY THIS FEE WHEN THEY HAVE TO SURRENDER THEIR FUR BABY? THIS NEEDS TO CEASE FOR THESE PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND PUTTING AN AD ON CRAIGSLIST CAN OFTEN RESULT IN SUBJECTING ONE'S PET TO BECOME DOG BAIT. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS. SO PLEASE WORK -- I'M ALMOST DONE. PLEASE WORK MORE WITH THESE EXPERTS LIKE THE NO-KILL SHELTERS AND OTHER ANIMAL ADVOCATE EXPERTS. >> MAYOR JONES: YOU MAY SUBMIT THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. JACK FINGER FOLLOWED BY KELLY WALLS. >> MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. ONCE AGAIN MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. A FEW ASPECTS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE. FIRST OF ALL, MADAME MAYOR, I THINK YOU ACTUALLY HAD A GOOD IDEA IN RECOMMENDING THAT THERE BE A POSTPONEMENT ON THIS ONE BECAUSE, WELL -- AND I KNOW ONE OF THE PERSONS, MAYBE THERE WAS A LEGITIMATE OBJECTION WAS MARC WHYTE. YOU SAID YOU HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF OR SO. I HEAR YOU, MR. WHYTE, BUT YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THAT OVER HALF THE COUNCIL IS BRAND NEW AND IT WOULD HAVE HELPED IF THEY COULD HAVE HAD A FEW WEEKS, MAYBE A MONTH OR TWO, MAYBE A B SESSION OR TWO TO BE BRIEFED ON THIS SO THEY COULD LOOK AT SOME -- ALL THE HOLES IN THIS, PERHAPS, AND [01:05:05] GET APPRIZED OF EVERYTHING BEFORE THEY MAKE A BIG DECISION HERE. YEAH, SOME HOLES I'M LOOKING AT IS, WELL, I LOOKED AT THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS. 90% OF THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS TALKS ABOUT THE PEAFOWL, THE BREED OF BIRD THERE. WHICH IS FINE IF YOU WANT TO NOT ABANDON THEM BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THEY'RE BIRDS AND THEY CAN FLY AND THEY MAY ABANDON THEMSELVES. HOW ARE YOU HURTING BIRDS? SIMILARLY, HOW DO YOU HERD CATS? HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE EXPRESSION TRYING TO HERD CATS? THEY EASILY COULD CROSS ANY BORDER , UNLIKE DOGS. A BIG QUESTION MARK THERE. AND ALSO THE PERSON WHO CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA, THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS, LIKE I SAY, 90% DEALS WITH THE PEAFOWL. THE 10% SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT ALL ANIMALS. IT'S LIKE SOME COMMITTEEMEN MUST HAVE SAID WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT FOR ALL ANIMALS, HUH? AND YEAH, YEAH, LET'S DO THAT. ALL ANIMALS. DOES THAT EXTEND TO ROACHES OR BUGS OR FLIES, ANTS? IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO GET PICKY ABOUT THIS, THEY COULD ASK YOU ABOUT THOSE VERY ITEMS THERE. YEAH. LIKE AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WHAT ABOUT THE LITTLE OLD LADY WHO HAS A BIG GERMAN ■SHEPHERD.&-ÚS, HAS THIS THING ADDRESSED ALL THESE ASPECTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME BIG PROBLEMS WITH THERE? YOU MAY WANT TO POSTPONE IT A LITTLE BIT UNTIL YOU GET SOLID ANSWERS AND ALL THIS STUFF. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: KELLY WALLS FOLLOWED BY -- ACTUALLY, KELLY WALLS IS THE FINAL SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M KELLY WALLS AND I HAVE BEEN AN ANIMAL RESCUER IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. THE INCLUSION OF ITEM 7 ON TODAY'S AGENDA THAT PROPOSES TO AMEND CHAPTER 5 TO PROHIBIT THE ABANDONMENT OF ANIMALS SIGNALS THAT BOTH CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF FEEL ENTITLED TO PASS LAWS WITH ZERO SUBSTANTIAL INPUT. AS MR. JOHN GARY ADMITTED, THIS CCR WAS BASICALLY H HIJACKED BY ACS WITH NO INPUT FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE CCR CONNECTED TO THIS AGENDA ITEM STRICTLY DEALT WITH PROTECTIONS FOR PEAFOWL. AT NO TIME AT ALL DURING THE APRIL 15 MEETING IN WHICH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBERS VOTED TO ADVANCE THE CCR FOR COUNCIL VOTE WAS ANY OTHER ANIMAL MENTIONED. YET SOMEHOW BEHIND THE SCENES ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE WAS INCLUDED TO ADDRESS THE TRAPPING AND ABANDONMENT OF ALL ANIMALS. THIS AMENDMENT IS SO POORLY WRITTEN THAT IT ACTUALLY MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO PROSECUTE ANIMAL ABANDONMENT CASES. NOW IF THIS PASSES YOU CAN ONLY PROSECUTE AN INDIVIDUAL IF THEY ARE WITNESSED BOTH TRAPPING AND ABANDONING THE ANIMAL. IT WOULD MAKE IT VERY EASY TO PROSECUTE CHILDREN WHO CAPTURE AND RELEASE FROGS AND TADPOLES AT PARKS. IT WILL MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO PROSECUTE INDIVIDUALS WHO ABANDON THEIR DOGS AND CATS. AFTER WORKING 20 YEARS AS A RESCUER, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT OWNED PETS TYPICALLY ARE NOT CAPTURED BEFORE THEY'RE ABANDONED. IN MOST CASES THEY ALLOW OPENING THE FRONT DOOR AND ALLOWING THE PET TO LEAVE, LEAVING THE B PET BEHIND, OR WALKING THE PET TO A PARK AND LEAVING THE PET BEHIND. BECAUSE NONE OF THE PETS IN THESE PARTICULAR SCENARIOS WERE CAPTURED PRESCRIBE TO THE ABANDONMENT, THE ANIMAL OR THE OWN CANNOT BE PROSECUTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE . THIS AMENDMENT ALSO PENALIZES GOOD SAMARITANS WHO FIND ANIMALS AND ARE INSTRUCTED BY 311 OR ACS TO RETURN THE ANIMALS BACK TO THE STREET. WHILE JEFF COYLE AND ACS MAY TELL YOU IT DOES NOT OCCUR, 311 OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FOR THE AUDIOS REGARDING CALLS FOR ANIMAL PICKUP PROVE THAT THEY'RE LYING TO YOU. PLEASE VOTE NO ON ITEM NO. 7. [01:10:06] BRING IT BACK. ALLOW PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND THEN LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION ON WHAT REALLY CAUSES ANIMAL ABANDONMENT, INCLUDING ACS'S FAILURE TO ADDRESS CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM GOOD SAMARITANS AND PET OWNERS WHO ARE DESPERATE TO FIND PLACEMENT FOR ANIMALS THEY NO LONGER CAN CARE FOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: MA'AM, YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. OKAY. SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. CHAIR ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND I WANT TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET CLARIFICATION. BUT FIRST OFF, I DO WANT TO THANK NO-KILL SA. I WANT TO THANK ANIMAL ADVOCATES. KELLY, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR FURRY FRIENDS ALSO HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE. JOHN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE BACKGROUND ON HOW THIS CAME TO BE. THIS IS A NEEDED CHANGE THAT CAME OUT OF COLLABORATION WITH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND THE COMMUNITY. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT MY OFFICE WILL STILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT -- SPECIFICALLY ABOUT PEAFOWL. THIS ORDINANCE WON'T CHANGE THAT. THIS ORDINANCE IS JUST ONE MORE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OF MAKING SAN ANTONIO A SAFE PLACE FOR ANIMALS. WE DO NEED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF ANIMAL OWNERSHIP AND THE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. END OF STORY. WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO CALL UP STAFF TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS. JOHN -- WHERE IS JOHN? I ALSO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL WORK IN CONCERT WITH STATE ABANDONMENT LAWS. WE KNOW THAT COMPLEMENTING THE STATE LAWS -- WE KNOW THIS ORDINANCE COMPLEMENTS THE STATE ABANDONMENT LAWS SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT CLEAR. I WANT TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS RAISED HERE AND ONLINE OVER THE PAST WEEK. SO, THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT SECTION B OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WHERE IT SAYS "TRAPPED." ANDY, CAN YOU OR SOMEONE FROM THE LEGAL TEAM DEFINE WHAT TRAPPED MEANS IN THE CITY CODE? >> SEGOVIA: I'LL ASK JOE NINO TO GO UP THERE AND PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF WHAT DOES TRAPPED MEAN. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD MORNING. JOE NINO, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. TRAPPED GENERALLY HAS THE TERM WHEN YOU DEFINE IT AS AN ENCLOSURE THAT TRAPS AN ANIMAL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. >> GAVITO: WOULD USING THE WORD TRAPPED IN THIS ORDINANCE REQUIRE, FOR SOMEONE TO BE CITED OR CONVICTED, THEY MUST HAVE CAUGHT AN ANIMAL WITH A PHYSICAL TRAP? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> GAVITO: WOULD THIS SECTION APPLY TO AN INSTANCE WHERE A LITTLE KID CATCHES A FROG OR CATCHES A BIRD, KEEPS IT FOR A WHILE, AND THEN RELEASES IT BACK INTO THE WILD? >> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANIMALS, WE'RE TALKING MORE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. IT'S EASY TO -- UNDER STATE LAW, THE ACT OF ABANDONMENT -- AN UNREASONABLE ABANDONMENT IS AGAINST STATE LAW RIGHT NOW. SO THIS IS JUST AN EXTRA TOOL THAT BASICALLY, LIKE YOU INDICATED, INITIALLY STARTED WITH PEAFOWL AND THE TRAPPING OF PEAFOWL AND MOVING THEM TO ANOTHER LOCATION WITHIN THE CITY. SO THE EXTRA TOOL IN HERE WAS THE TRAPPING ASPECT OF IT. >> SEGOVIA: COUNCILWOMAN, TO GIVE YOU A MORE SPECIFIC ANSWER, THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO A 12-YEAR-OLD RELEASING A FROG FROM A JAR. IT DOES NOT. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANDY AND JOE. SO IN THE ACT OF TNR TRAP, NEUTER, AND RETURN OF FERAL CATS, IS THAT PROTECTED HERE? >> YES, COUNCILWOMAN. IT'S CLEAR IN THE ORDINANCE THAT IF THEY ARE TRAPPING AND RELEASING LEGALLY, WHICH OUR CHAPTER 5 DOES MAKE IT LEGAL TO RELEASE CATS, THEN THAT WOULD NOT FALL UNDER THIS ORDINANCE. >> GAVITO: PERFECT. AND I'M GLAD BECAUSE MY CAT IS A COMMUNITY CAT AND YOU CAN TELL BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR EARS SNIPPED. THANK YOU FOR THAT. BY WHICH ORDINANCE OR LAW DO WE KNOW THAT TRAP AND RELEASE OF FERAL CATS IS PROTECTED? >> IT'S PROTECTED IN CHAPTER 5-154. IT'S ALSO PROTECTED IN THE PENAL CODE. >> GAVITO: PERFECT. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE, THE ANIMAL ADVOCATES' HARD WORK WHO DO TRAP AND RELEASE CATS. I KNOW THAT IT'S TOUGH AND WE [01:15:06] THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. SO WHAT IF SOMEONE HAS TRAPS OUT AND ACCIDENTALLY CATCHES A RACCOON OR POSSUM. ARE THAT LIABLE TO BE CITED IF THEY RELEASE IT? >> NO, THEY WOULD NOT BE. THERE'S CLEAR LANGUAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT RECKLESSLY RELEASING. SO TRAPPING A RACCOON AND RELEASING IT WOULD NOT FALL UNDER THIS ORDINANCE AS WELL. >> GAVITO: OKAY. SO IF SOMEONE WANTS TO REMOVE A WILD ANIMAL FROM THEIR PROPERTY, LIKE A RACCOON, SO THEY TRAP IT, THEY ARE PROTECTED. >> YES. >> GAVITO: UNDER WHAT PENAL CODE? >> AGAIN, UNDER THE STATE PENAL CODE 42.092. THERE'S PROTECTIONS THERE. THE STATE DOES HAVE THE REQUIREMENTS BUT AUDIO] >> GAVITO: PERFECT. IS TRAP, NEUTER, AND RELEASE OF DOGS PROTECTED? >> NO. THERE IS NO TNR OF DOGS CURRENTLY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND SO NO, IT WOULD NOT BE. >> GAVITO: SO, WHY NOT? >> WELL, DOGS, UNLIKE CATS, CAN POSE A DANGER IF YOU RELEASE THEM BACK OUT. THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT THEY PACK UP AND CAN CREATE A DANGER FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> GAVITO: PERFECT. THAT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE TO ME. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ANIMAL CARE SERVICES OR 311 TO PUT ANIMALS BACK WHERE THEY FOUND THEM, WHICH WOULD CONTRADICT THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE. DOES ACS CURRENTLY ADVISE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUND ANIMALS TO PUT THEM BACK WHERE THEY FOUND THEM? >> WHAT WE DO IS RECOMMEND RESIDENTS, IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO KEEP AND CARE FOR THE PET, TO DON'T TAKE IT IN. THAT'S WHAT WE RECOMMEND. AND THEN CALL IT IN TO US SO WE CAN GET IT ON OUR CALL VOLUME. >> GAVITO: THANKS. JEFF, THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE FOR YOU. DOES 311 CURRENTLY ADVISE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUND ANIMALS TO PUT THEM BACK WHERE THEY FOUND THEM? >> NO, WHAT JOHN SAID IS EXACTLY CORRECT. WHEN PEOPLE CALL HAVING SEEN A STRAY, WE ASK THEM TO FILE A STRAY REPORT THAT ACS THEN USES THAT DATA TO BE ABLE TO GO DO SWEEPS AT A LATER DATE. IN THE PAST, PEOPLE HAVE CALLED HAVING TAKEN POSSESSION OF A STRAY AND THAT'S WHAT'S LED TO SOME OF THE CONFUSION. THEY SAY WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS ANIMAL? THE PRIMARY MESSAGE FROM THE 311 CALLERS IS UNLESS YOU CAN HOLD AND CARE FOR THAT ANIMAL, YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE POSSESSION OF A LOOSE OR STRAY ANIMAL. RATHER, YOU SHOULD FILE A REPORT AND LET ACS USE THE DATA AS PART OF THEIR SWEEPS PROCESS. >> GAVITO: GOT IT. THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. YES, WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND 311 ARE IN LOCKSTEP WITH HOW THEY ARE ADVISING RESIDENTS ON THIS. ANDY, BRIEFLY, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR AND A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR? >> SEGOVIA: ONCE AGAIN, COUNCILWOMAN, I'LL CALL ON JOE, WHO IS OUR PROSECUTION EXPERT. >> COUNCILWOMAN, THE CLASS A MISDEMEANOR IS UP TO ONE YEAR IN JAIL AND UP TO A $4,000 FINE. CLASS CS ARE JUST FINES. >> GA THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL TO ADD. REMEMBER, ACS INVESTIGATORS HAVE THE DISCRETION OF WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO FILE A CASE OR NOT . DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND FACTS DETERMINES WHAT THE LIABILITY IS. LIKE I INDICATED, UNDER STATE LAW, THE ACT OF UNREASONABLY ABANDONING AN ANIMAL IS ALREADY A STATE VIOLATION. AND ADDING THE WORD "TRAPPED" FOCUSES IT ON ANIMALS AND MAKES IT A CLASS C. IT'S ANOTHER TOOL. >> GAVITO: BRIEFLY, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR ACS AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO HOLD PEOPLE CAN BELIEVE FOR ANIMAL ABANDONMENT? >> IT ALLOWS US TO DO WHAT THE CCR WAS PUT IN PLACE TO DO. IT ALLOWS US TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. RESIDENTS WERE TRAPPING AND THEN TAKING PEAFOWL AND RELEASING THEM TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. WHAT THIS ADDITIONAL PIECE DOES IS ALLOW US TO ENFORCE THAT AND PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM DOING THAT. >> SEGOVIA: IF I COULD ADD TO THAT, COUNCILWOMAN, IT ALSO ALLOWS THE PRODUCING OF THE ORDINANCE WOULD FALL UNDER OUR CITY'S PROSECUTION TEAM VERSUS THE D.A. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, ANDY. BRIEFLY, BECAUSE I'M COMING SHORT ON TIME. I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE STOPPING THE CLOCK FOR THEIR ANSWERS. WHAT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT DOES ACS OFFER PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERING SURRENDERING THEIR ANIMALS? >> OBVIOUSLY, THE GOAL IS TO NOT TAKE IN THE ANIMAL AT THE SHELTER. WE TRY TO PROVIDE SPAY AND NEUTER, COLLAR, LEASHES, MICROCHIP, FOOD. ANY RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP THE PET IN THE HOME. WE GIVE THEM ADVICE ON HOW THEY CAN REHOME THE PET THEMSELVES. >> GAVITO: PERFECT. THANK YOU ALL FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION. I WOULD ASK THAT WE DO PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THEIR OPTIONS IF THEY FIND A STRAY OR INJURED [01:20:02] ANIMAL. AND THEIR BEST COURSE OF ACTION. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH BOTH DOMESTICATED ANIMALS AND WILD ANIMALS. AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE ISSUE OF ANIMAL DUMPING IN OUR CITY IS OUT OF HAND AND IT IS ALREADY ILLEGAL. WE HAVE SEEN DEATHS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. IT SHOULD NEVER BE OKAY TO DUMP A DOG. THIS IS COMPLEMENTING THE LAWS THAT ALREADY EXIST. THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE IS A NO-BRAINER AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM TODAY AND I DO THANK ALL THE ANIMAL ACTIVISTS WHO CAME UP AND SPOKE. AND I UNDERSTAND CLEARLY YOUR FRUSTRATION AND WANTING TO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE RESCUING AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE CARE ARE NOT GETTING IN TROUBLE FOR THIS. AND IT IS MY COMMITMENT TO YOU ALL TO WORK WITH DIRECTOR GARY ON MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOT -- WHEN WE DO THIS WE KNOW WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR. AND IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE SOUTHSIDE, IN MY DISTRICT, GO BY THE RIVER, AND JUST DROP A BOX OF PUPPIES THERE. AND THAT HAS HAPPENED. SO THAT IS WHERE MY CONCERN IS AND WHY I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. THE OTHER THING, THIS CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING, THIS PROCESS BEGAN WITH MAYOR CASTRO AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE MADE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, WHEN YOU SAY HELLO, WHEN YOU DECIDE TO ADOPT, YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND OUT AND PREPARE YOURSELF FOR WHEN YOU HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE. WHETHER THAT IS REHOMING THE ANIMAL OR HAVING TO PUT THE ANIMAL DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE SUFFERING. SO THINK ABOUT HOW LONG AGO MAYOR CASTRO WAS HERE AND THEY STARTED WITH THOSE LITTLE ADVERTISEMENTS WHERE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE HOLDING THEIR PETS OR A RESCUE AND TAKING PICTURES AND ENCOURAGING YOU TO SPAY AND NEUTER. SO NOW WE'RE HERE AND WE NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THAT WHEN YOU SAY HELLO TO A DOG AND IF YOU ARE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU WANT TO SAY HI AND MAYBE THROW THEM A MILKBONE VERSUS, HEY, COME ON IN, I THINK I WANT TO HOUSE YOU FOR A WHILE, PUPPY. WE NEED TO TELL THEM WHAT THE RULES ARE AS WE DO THIS. AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT SORT OF STATE WE ARE IN WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ANIMALS AND WHERE OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES IS AND WHERE OUR RESCUE SERVICES ARE. WE HIT THE PANDEMIC, EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO GET A PET AND NOW THEY'RE SITTING THERE THINKING HOW DO I REHOME THIS PET. AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME. THERE ARE NOT PEOPLE OUT THERE JUST LOOKING FOR YOUR DOG TO COME IN, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE NOT TRAINED. SO WE NEED TO HAVE AN EDUCATION. WE NEED OUR OWNERS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK THIS IS A GOOD FIRST STEP. I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS. MY OFFICE IS WILLING TO WORK, IF YOU SEE THAT THERE ARE BAD PATTERNS WHERE RESCUES ARE GETTING THERE. BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT IN WORKING WITH YOU THAT YOU HAVE PUT THE INFORMATION OUT THERE SO THAT WE CAN HELP IF THIS DOES BECOME A PROBLEM. I THINK WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT 311 AND ACS IS CLEAR IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO. I GAVE THEM SOME FOOD. I PUT OUT A THING OF WATER. OH, I HAVE THEM IN MY YARD AND THEY'RE STAYING WITH ME FOR THREE DAYS. NOW I NEED THEM GONE BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET ALONG WITH MY OTHER DOGS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS WE DO THE PUBLIC INPUT ON WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO AND HOW WE MOVE THAT FORWARD. I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY OUT THERE WHO LOVES DOGS OR WHO WANTS TO FOSTER TO GET PLUGGED IN WITH ONE OF THESE RESCUES BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO MORE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITY IT IS TO BE A PET OWNER. AS A PET OWNER OF TWO -- AND ONE I LET WALK INTO MY HOUSE. AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW SHE'S MINE. THERE'S NO SENDING HER BACK. YOU DO NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR ALL OF THAT AS YOU COME IN. I APPRECIATE HOW ACS AND RESCUES HAVE HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND THEY GET THEIR SHOTS AND WITH THE BEHAVIOR CONCERNS WE HAVE. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT. I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WITH THE CCR PROCESS BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING REGARDING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR PETS AND HOW WE GET OUR KILL RATES LOWER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE. [01:25:01] >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO FOR THE REALLY AMAZING WORK ON THIS. AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN BRINGS UP A GREAT POINT. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE HISTORY THAT THIS STARTED WITH MAYOR CASTRO. AND THEN OF COURSE IN OUR LAST TERM THE COUNCILWOMAN INITIATED THIS THROUGH THE CCR PROCESS AND I WAS PLEASED THAT MAYOR NIRENBERG AND THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MOVED IT ALONG. AND THEN IT WENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WHERE COUNCILWOMAN KAUR AND I, AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO, WE HEARD THIS I THINK AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES. THERE WAS ENGAGEMENT WITH ACS. THERE WAS ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND WE ARRIVE AT A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A PROPOSED NEW ORDINANCE THAT I THINK IS GOING TO GO SOME WAYS TO DETERRING THE BAD BEHAVIOR THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME. ABANDONING ANIMALS IS JUST SIMPLY WRONG. I THINK IT'S CRUEL TO ANIMALS. AND I ALSO THINK IN MANY CASES IT POSES A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK TO OUR CITIZENS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL SEEN. AND SO THIS, TO ME, IS REALLY GOOD WORK BY THE COUNCIL. I'M PLEASED THAT WE'VE ARRIVED HERE TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE NEW ORDINANCE. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHAT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR IS FOR THE INCREASE OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICE SUPPORT. AND WHAT I CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS IS THE NEED FOR STRONGER ACCOUNTABILITY IN TERMS OF IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND IN TERMS OF ACTIONS OF ABANDONING ANIMALS. DISTRICT 5 RECEIVES SEVERAL THOUSAND CALLS REGARDING ANIMAL CARE NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, AND WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHAT DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR IS FOR MORE SWEEPS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ACCOUNTABILITY. TOO MANY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED WITH THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN WALKING THE STREETS THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO. SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS HAVE LOST THEIR LIMBS AND THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DISCUSS WITH URGENCY AND IMPORTANCE BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS OVERALL IMPACTING FOLKS NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE CITY YOU'RE IN. IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. SO I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO WHETHER IT'S WORKING ALONGSIDE FOR A SPAY NEUTER CLINIC OR INCREASING SIGNS FOR AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS, THIS IS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ARE DEMANDING. BUT WITH THAT I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF JOHN GARY AND OF COURSE THE LEGAL TIME FOR REFINING THE LANGUAGE TO ENSURE IT'S ENFORCEABLE AND THERE'S THAT ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE. I'M GRATEFUL TO BRAD ON THE ACS TEAM BECAUSE EACH COUNCIL MEMBER BEFORE IT GETS PUT ON THE AGENDA, WE ALL GET A ONE PAGER SO THERE ARE NO SURPRISES WHEN WE GET UP HERE. THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES MAY BE, AND TO HAVE QUESTIONS AND POTENTIALLY REFINE THE ORDINANCE. SO I'M GRATEFUL TO BRAD FOR HAVING THE CONVERSATION ON HOW THIS WILL IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. NOW, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I DID HEAR FROM DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS OR I HEARD FROM A RESIDENT, I HEARD IN A RESPONSE THAT IT WOULD NOT APPLY, BUT CAN YOU CLARIFY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF MS. GAR TRASH AND HER DOG RUNS OUT OF THE YARD, WOULD THIS ORDINANCE ON ABANDONMENT IMPACT MS. GARCIA'S DOG RUNNING OUT OF HER YARD? >> NO. THE ORDINANCE IT WOULD IMPACT WOULD BE FREE ROAMING. WE WILL WORK WITH THOSE RESIDENTS AND THAT WOULD NOT FULL UNDER THIS ORDINANCE. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION BECAUSE THAT'S THE CONCERN I HEARD. I WALKED THEM THROUGH SECTION B OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH SAYS IT INTENTIONALLY, KNOWINGLY OR WRECKLESSLY ABANDON OR RELEASE ANY ANIMAL ANYWHERE IN THE CITY THAT HAS BEEN TRAPPED AND WITHIN A PERSON'S CONTROL AND POSSESSION. SO GLAD THAT IT'S EXPLICIT WITHIN THE LANGUAGE THAT IT WOULDN'T APPLY TO INDIVIDUALS WHOSE DOGS JUST RUN OUT OF THE GATE. THAT'S AN ISSUE AS WELL, BUT IT WOULDN'T APPLY TO THIS ORDINANCE IS MY POINT. AGAIN, RIGHT, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, NO MATTER INCOME, ABANDONING ANIMALS IS AN ACT OF CRUELTY AND IRRELEVANT RESPONSIBILITY. AN ABANDONED ANIMAL CAN BE DANGEROUS TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF NEGLECT, INJURY AND FEAR. DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS EXPECT URGENCY ON THIS ISSUE. TOO MANY LIVES LOST AND TOO MANY FOLKS LOSING LIMBS AND TOO MANY FOLKS FEARING WALKING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEY EXPECT THAT WE TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHANGES AND INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY IN TERMS OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO JUST SAID. [01:30:05] THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I WANT TO THANK JOHN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUR MAJOR ISSUES WITH ACS, WE HAVE TO THINK BOTH PROACTIVELY AND REACTIVE AS TO ISSUES THAT ARE-HAING. SO PROACTIVELY, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED MAKING SURE WE'RE SPAYING AND NEUTERING MORE AND MORE EDUCATION SO THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHAT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP LOOKS LIKE, BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CASA THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE CASA PROGRAM, BUT ALSO WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES WE DO HAVE TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES. SO THIS ONE ACTUALLY ADDRESSES THAT. I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR TAKING A POLICY IDEA MAKING SURE IT'S MORE COMPREHENSIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MATURE. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR GALVAN. >> GALVAN:, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR PULLING THE ITEM. HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY I KNOW IT'S BEEN A BIG TOPIC OVER THE LAST WEEK, BUT ALSO AMONGST RESIDENTS IN MY DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY ABOUT WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS, RIGHT? SO I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED A BIT MORE TODAY BY COMMISSIONER GARY AND WHAT THIS COULD MEAN AND IMPACT WILL HAVE AND COULD HAVE. I SHARE A LOT OF THE SENTIMENTS AND STATEMENTS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. WHEN WORKING IN HER OFFICE I FEELED THESE CALLS, TOOK IN AND SAW THE RESIDENTS AND SAW IT PHYSICALLY WHEN WE WOULD GO OUT AND TALK TO RESIDENTS. WE WOULD SEE A LOOSE DOG AND MAKE SURE WE WERE NOT ENDANGERING OURSELVES DOING THIS WORK. WE KNEW WHAT IT TOOK. SAME THING IS TRUE IN DISTRICT 6, JUST ACROSS COMMERCE, HIGHWAY 90, WE SHARE THE SAME ISSUES WITH LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS IN OUR STREET. AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR CHANGE AND DEMANDING THAT WE REALLY DO SOMETHING SERIOUS ON THIS AND IT HAS TO BE A CARROT AND STICK MODEL. THERE HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY BUT ALSO PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE ACTUAL PATHWAYS TO NOT ONLY EDUCATION ON THIS PIECE, BUT TO SERVICES AND SERVICES FOR SHELTER SPACE. THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR PETS NOT ONLY INDIVIDUALS, BUT AS A COMMUNITY TOO. AND SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK ACS FOR THE PROACTIVE WORK Y'ALL DID. I THINK WHILE THE CCR DID FOCUS ON PFAL, UNDERSTANDING THAT LANGUAGE CAN BE UPDATED FURTHER OUT AND UPDATING THAT LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT THE CITY CODES IS CRUCIAL WORK AND IMPORTANT WORK TO DO. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL ACS AS WELL AS THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICES FOR SEEING WHERE THE PIECES CAN OVERLAP AND CAN EXPAND. I DO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS PIECE BECAUSE LOOKING AT THE PRESENTATION I DIDN'T SEE THAT THIS WENT TO THE ACS ADVISORY BOARD, AND I'M NOT TOO SURE IF IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING IF THERE WAS MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS EXPANDING. THAT BEING SAID, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE WORK IS URGENT, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE WORK IS PROACTIVE WORK, I GET WHY IT HAS TO COME TO A SESSION REALLY QUICKLY. I THINK IN THE FUTURE WHETHER IT'S THIS DEPARTMENT OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS, MAKING SURE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF ROLE, THE PUBLIC CONTINUE TO HEAR WHAT THE CHANGES WILL LOOK LIKE, ESPECIALLY ON HOT TOPICS, IMPORTANT TOPICS LIKE THIS. BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PROACTIVE WORK AND I APPRECIATE AGAIN LOOKING AT IT FROM A VIEW OF SAYING HOW CAN WE STANDARDIZE THIS ACROSS THE BOARD AND ADDRESS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY, BY THIS COUNCIL, BY COMMITTEES. SO I WANT TO SHARE MY SUPPORT AGAIN FOR THIS WORK AND OF COURSE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AS WELL AS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE FUNDING THIS WORK AND THE SPAY-NEUTER SPACE AND SHELTER SPACE, AS WELL AS THE EDUCATION SPACE. I THINK A LOT ABOUT WHEN WE CHANGE THE RULES THE LAST CCR MORE FINES FOR AGGRESSIVE AND DANGEROUS DOGS, WE WENT OUT THERE, RIGHT? THE TEAM OF D5 AND I WENT OUT THERE WITH STAFF MEMBERS IN THE PARK IN FREEZING COLD AND WE STILL TALKED TO FOLKS. I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF YOUR FIRST WEEKS HERE AT THE CITY THAT WE WENT OUT THERE AND DID THAT EDUCATION. NOT ONLY TO SAY HERE'S THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE PETS AND MAY HAVE NOT REACHED OUT FOR SPAY-NEUTER SERVICES OR FOR FOOD OR SHELTER SPACES FOR THEIR OUTDOOR SHELTER FOR THEIR ANIMALS, BUT ALSO TALKING ABOUT HERE'S A FLYER WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON THAT WE'RE CHANGING. IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT YOU RIGHT THIS SECOND. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW BEFOREHAND BECAUSE THIS MAY AFFECT SOMEBODY WHO MAY NOT KNOW AND DOES NOT KNOW THE CHANGES. I THINK THAT EFFORT HAS TO GO THROUGH WITH THESE PIECES ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AS ANIMAL AIR CARE SERVICES, LOOSE DOGS AND ALL THESE IMPORTANT PIECES HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: HAS EVERYONE WHO HAS SPOKEN ON THIS ITEM SPOKEN, IS INTERESTED IN SPEAKING? GREAT. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AND FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE EXACTLY BETWEEN THE STATE'S CLAUSE OF UNREASONABLY ABANDONING AND THEN HOW WE HAVE DEFINED IT TO INTENTIONALLY, KNOWINGLY OR RECKLESSLY ABANDON? WHAT EXACTLY IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT? >> THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR, MAYOR. BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HIGHER LIABILITY IN THE STATE LAW, PROBABLY YOU HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD IN TERMS OF [01:35:03] INTENTIONALITY. OTHER THAN THAT THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR. >> TO CLARIFY YOU SAID THE STATE STANDARD IS HIGHER FOR INTENTIONALITY? >> CORRECT. >> MAYOR JONES: CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT? BECAUSE THE STATE SAYS UNREASONABLE AND OURS SPECIFICALLY SAYS INTENTIONALLY. >> UNDER STATE LAW THEY USE THE WORD UNREASONABLE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE ACTUAL RELEASE OF THE ANIMAL ITSELF. IF THE ANIMAL WAS BASICALLY RELEASED TO AN ANIMAL SHELTER, FOR EXAMPLE, NO ISSUE. HOWEVER, IF YOU RELEASE THAT ANIMAL IN THE WOODS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITHOUT ANY FOOD AND CARE, THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT UNREASONABLE. SO I THINK THAT'S HOW STATE LAW IS BASICALLY HAS CREATED THE STATE STATUTE. >> MAYOR JONES: JUST FOR CLARITY'S SAKE AND IMPLEMENTATION THEN, WOULD THERE BE VALUE IN IMPLEMENTATION FOR MAKING THAT VERBIAGE THE SAME? >> WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. MR. GARY, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, THANK YOU FOR BRIEFING ME, THE PRE-BRIEF ON THIS AS WELL. DURING THAT DISCUSSION YOU STATED THAT THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE WOULD HAVE, QUOTE, MINIMAL IMPACT. WHY DO YOU ASSESS THAT? >> WELL, THE REASON WHY WE WERE SAYING MINIMAL IMPACT IS BECAUSE ABANDONMENT IS ING TO ENFORCE. SO WE RECEIVE PROBABLY AROUND 400 OR SO COMPLAINTS A YEAR, AND VERY FEW ARE WE ACTUALLY ABLE TO FILE CHARGES BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CATCH SOMEONE IN THE ACT OF DOING IT. THAT'S WHY WE SAY MINIMUMS BECAUSE THE CASES ARE FEW. >> MAYOR JONES: SO WITH MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE ORDINANCE CHANGE, I GUESS GIVE FOLKS A REFERENCE POINT. HOW MANY CASES THIS YEAR OF ABANDONMENT YOU HAVE-- WERE YOU ABLE TO PURSUE SUCCESSFULLY? >> WE HAD ABOUT A HALF DOZEN OVER THE LAST YEAR. >> MAYOR JONES: A HALF DOZEN, OKAY. MR. GARY, IF WE WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED TODAY DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, AND TO ENSURE WE HAD AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS OR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH FOLKS, HOW SOON COULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? >> I CAN MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TO BE AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I WAS -- IN READING ABOUT THIS AND HEARING ABOUT SOME OF THE PUSHBACK I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT OF THE FOLKS I WOULD THINK WOULD BE NATURAL ALLIES OF OUR WORK TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, WHICH I CAN EMPATHIZE. I MEAN, WHEN MY MOM TELLS ME SHE HAS TO WALK AROUND THE DUCK POND WITH A STICK, I DON'T LIKE THAT, AND SHE DOES THAT BECAUSE SHE'S SCARED OF THE DOGS THAT MAY BE WALKING AROUND THAT ARE UNLEADER OR WHAT HAVE YOU. NOT THAT THEY'RE NECESSARILY ABANDONED, BUT I CAN EMPATHIZE WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT ALSO SEE THIS AS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND HEAR IT FROM THEIR COMMUNITY. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, THOUGH, GIVEN THE CHANGE HERE AND HOW, AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL CCR -- AGAIN, I COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO FOR TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS AND SPECIFICALLY THE PEAFOWL ISSUE, UNDERSTAND YOUR INTENT THAT THERE MAY BE BROADER APPLICATIONS. I THINK, THOUGH, IN LOOKING AT THE EXPANSION, I THINK AS HAS BEEN RAISED IN PUBLIC COMMENT AND BY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, ADDITIONAL CLARITY ON IMPLEMENTATION WOULD BE HELPFUL AT VERY LEAST AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S CLARITY ON THE DIFFERENCE IN THE STATE LEGAL LANGUAGE AS WELL AS OUR OWN DEFINITION. MY CONCERN AS WELL WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE -- FRANKLY, THE KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT END UP ABANDONING THEIR ANIMALS, OFTEN TIMES AS WE HEARD YESTERDAY EVENING, IT'S FOLKS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR ANIMALS. AND, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF THE -- IT'S NO JUDGMENT ON THEM, I THINK I'M ALSO JUST COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT AS WE ENTER INTO A VERY DIFFICULT FISCAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, MORE PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOME MAY BE FACED WITH ABOUT HOW AND WHETHER THEY CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR ANIMAL. SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE IMPACT YOU THINK IT WILL HAVE WHEN WE LOOK AGAIN AT FOLKS THAT ARE LIKELY TO DO THIS ON FIXED INCOME, ABANDONING THEIR ANIMAL, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE PENALIZATION AND GIVEN THEIR, FRANKLY, LACK OF ABILITY TO PAY? >> I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS ARE IRRESPONSIBLE AND WE'RE HOLDING THOSE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE IS IF WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING [01:40:04] THAT'S REQUIRING THEM TO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO CARE FOR THEIR PET, REACH OUT TO US. I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU I'VE BEEN IN SHELTERS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AND VISITED WITH DIRECTORS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND THERE'S NO COMMUNITY DOING WHAT SAN ANTONIO IS DOING AS FAR AS WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS FOR RESOURCES. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY RESIDENT THAT'S FINDING PROBLEMS OR TROUBLE WITH ANY TYPE OF CARE THEY NEED TO REACH OUT TO US AND WE COULD PROBABLY HELP THEM GET WHAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR PET IN THEIR HOME. THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, KEEPING PET AND PEOPLE TOGETHERMENT SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO REACH OUT TO US SO WE CAN HELP THEM. >> MAYOR JONES: AS WE ARE FINALIZING OUR BUDGET, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHETHER THE RESOURCE -- THE REQUESTED BUDGET THAT YOU'VE SUBMITTED, IF FOLKS CAN CALL TO ACS ARE AND THEY DID WANT TO HAND OVER THEIR ANIMAL TO ACS BECAUSE THEY CAN NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF IT AND THEY ARE NOW FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW PENALIZATIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS PROPOSED CHANGE, DO WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE THOSE ADDITIONAL ANIMALS? >> NO, NOT REALLY. WE STAY AT CAPACITY. OUR FIRST GOAL IS WHEN A RESIDENT CONTACTS US THAT NEEDS TO SUBMIT IS PET IS TO GET DOWN TO THE REASON WHY. IF IT'S MEDICAL OR THE PET POSES A DANGER TO THEM OR THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE THAT ONE. IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY MAY NEED JUST NEED RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR PET, THEN WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON GIVING THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. AND IF THEY TRULY JUST NO LONGER CAN KEEP THEIR PET WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM TO GIVE THEM ADVICE AND TRY TO HELP THEM REHOME THE PET ON THEIR OWN PRIOR TO AM COMING TO US. AND THAT'S GOING TO ALWAYS BE OUR PRIORITY, KEEPING ANIMALS OUT OF THE SHELTER, IT HAS TO BE A HUGE PRIORITY FOR US. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS AND IF THEY TRULY NEED TO GET THEIR PET INTO THE SHELTER WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO DO THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY AWFUL EXPLANATION. I'M THANKFUL THAT YOUR -- THE WAY IN WHICH YOU'VE ALSO APPROACHED THIS PROCESS HAS HELPED UNDERSCORE THAT WE CAN DO A LOT OF WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE STAFF, CONSIDERS MAY SOMETIMES BE NEEDED, AS YOUR EXAMPLE SHOWS THEY MAY NOT BE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU'VE MADE THAT POINT. OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MR. GARY. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN, I ECHO OUR COLLEAGUES' APPRECIATION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS, ONE, I HEAR THE URGENCY FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY AND IN LIGHT OF EVEN SOME OF THE QUESTIONS FROM THIS DAIS THAT WE WORK TO CLARIFY THOSE THINGS VERY QUICKLY. I THINK THIS IS VERY CLOSE. IF I MAY, THIS IS WHAT I RECOMMEND. I RECOMMEND THAT WE ASK LEGAL TO ENSURE THAT THE LANGUAGE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND IT AT THE CITY LEVEL IS THE SAME SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION THERE. I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT ACS DEVELOP A VERY DETAILED COMMUNICATIONS PLAN ON WHAT THESE THINGS WOULD MEAN BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THE INSTANCES THAT WERE RAISED HERE AND RAISED BY NO KILL SAN ANTONIO ARE VERY CONCERNING. AND WE JUST DON'T NEED THAT MISINFORMATION OR DISINFORMATION OUT THERE. COUNCILWOMAN, AND TO HAVE IT IN D7, I THINK A PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO WEIGH IN ON THIS IS IMPORTANT AND WILL ONLY MAKE IT STRONGER. AND ONCE THOSE THINGS ARE COMPLETE, I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON THIS VERY QUICKLY. SO WITH THOSE ACTIONS HAPPENING BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT AVAILABLE A SESSION, WHICH WOULD BE OCTOBER 2ND, AND IF THOSE THINGS ARE ABLE TO HAPPEN BY THEN, WE COULD PUT IT ON CONSENT AGENDA. MAY I ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I THINK WE DID CLARIFY A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS TODAY, SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO STAFF FOR CLARIFYING THAT. I DO ALSO IN MY LAST COMMENTS TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION TO OUR RESIDENTS. I KNOW THAT COUNCILMAN TERI CASTILLO TALKED ABOUT BLOCK WALKING. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS NEEDS. WE'RE GOOD WITH THIS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: TO CLARIFY, YOU WOULD LIKE NO PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE, JUST TO CLARIFY? >> GAVITO: NO, THERE WAS PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS AND WE'VE ALL RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS. WE CAN'T DELAY ON THIS ISSUE [01:45:02] ANY LONGER. DOG AND ABANDONING ANIMALS ARE A PROBLEM HERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ARE -- >> ARE WE READY TO NOTE? >> MAYOR JONES: NOT YET. THANK YOU. AGAIN, I CAN APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES' WILLINGNESS TO LEAD ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK IMPLEMENTATION AND HOW WE DO THINGS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE IDEA BECAUSE AGAIN, IT COULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AS SOME OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT REALLY SHOULD BE OUR STRONGEST ALLIES ON THEM AND THERE'S STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN AS WELL AS SOME OF THE, FRANKLY, LACK OF CLARITY THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WOULD NOT TAKE VERY LONG, BUT WOULD IN FACT MAKE THIS MORE EASILY ENFORCEABLE AND MORE EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE BY THE PUBLIC ON TOP OF THEIR NOT HAVING BEEN -- THIS DID NOT GO THROUGH THE ORDINANCE CHANGE, THE EXPANSION DID NOT GO THROUGH COMMITTEE AND THERE WAS NOT A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SPECIFICALLY ON THE EXPANSION. I UNDERSTAND MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, THOUGH, AS WRITTEN. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 7. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. [City Manager's Report  ] THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. ERIK, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT TODAY? >> YES, MA'AM, ONE ITEM I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL. I'M PROUD TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT ANDY SEGOVIA, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, WILL BE HONORED NEXT WEEKEND ON SEPTEMBER 20TH BY THE SAN ANTONIO BAR FOUNDATION AS THE OUTSTANDING LAWYER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ANDY AND HIS WORK. THE AWARD RECOGNIZES A LAWYER WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUALS THAT EXEMPLIFY GOODNESS IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION AS HIS SKILLS WERE ALWAYS NEEDED FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS AS A COUNSELOR AND AS AN ADVOCATE. WE HAVE PRIOR RECIPIENTS OF THIS HAVE INCLUDED FORMER JUDGE AND MAYOR PHIL HARDBERGER AND THE REVEREND CLAUDE BLACK. SO ANDY IS ENTERING HALLOWED HALLS THERE WITH THIS RECOGNITION. ANDY'S BEEN THE CITY ATTORNEY SINCE 2016. HE LEADS AN EXPERT GROUP OF ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS, SOME OF WHICH ARE IN THE ROOM TODAY, AND I CAN'T THANK HIM ENOUGH FOR HIS WORK FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY. SO CONGRATULATIONS, ANDY. [APPLAUSE]. THAT'S IT, MAYOR, THANK YOU. >> IF I MAY, MAYOR, CAN I MAKE A REAL QUICK -- >> MAYOR JONES: OF COURSE, PLEASE. >> OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A SURPRISE. I WONDERED WHY I NEEDED 30 ATTORNEYS FOR AN ACS ITEM. [LAUGHTER]. BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, ERIK AND ALL THE STAFF FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE DO. I'M ACCEPTING THE HONOR ON BEHALF OF THE GREAT TEAM I [01:50:03] HAVE. THEY'RE A WONDERFUL TEAM, COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT'S BEST FROM A PROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT AND FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT THEY'RE COMMITTED TO EACH OTHER AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT WE HAVE A WORK ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH EVERYBODY COMES TO WORK WANTING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ACTUALLY ENJOYS COMING TO WORK. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THEM ALL FOR DOING THAT. THAT'S ALWAYS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT. AND AGAIN, I AM ACCEPTING THAT ON BEHALF OF THEM BECAUSE I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE. SO THANKS, ERIK, THANKS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR JONES: [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] CONGRATULATIONS, ANDY. WE HAVE ONE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE BY COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON THIS TRULY SOMBER DAY, I WANT TO PAUSE TO HONOR CHARLIE KIRK. HE WAS A DEVOTED HUSBAND, LOVING FATHER AND MAN OF DEEP CHRISTIAN FAITH. CHARLIE'S LIFE REFLECTED HIS COMMITMENT TO FAMILY AND PRINCIPLE. AND HE BUILT HIS LIFE WITH ERICA AND HIS TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, GROUNDING HIS FAMILY WITH LOVE, PURPOSE AND CONVICTION. HE BELIEVED DEEPLY IN THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ENCOURAGING OTHERS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, TO UNDERSTAND THAT VALUES CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. HIS LEGACY REMINDS THAWS FAITH AND FAMILY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF STRONG COMMUNITIES AND THAT LIVING BOLDLY ACCORDING TO YOUR BELIEFS STRENGTHENS BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIFE. AS WE REFLECT ON HIS LIFE LET US RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO THESE SAME PRINCIPLES, SUPPORTING FAMILIES, FOSTERING CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES WITH COURAGE. CHARLIE WOULD REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE ARE CALLED TO BE LIKE SALT AND LIGHT, TO WORK TO CHANGE THE WORLD. CHARLIE HIMSELF SAID HE WANTS TO BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS COURAGE TO DEFEND HIS FAITH. LET'S COMMIT TO HONORING HIS LIFE AND LEGACY AS A CITY AND A NATION BY ABANDONING VIOLENCE AND INSTEAD EMBRACE THE GOODNESS IN ONE ANOTHER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. I THINK AS WE ALL RECOGNIZE UNFORTUNATELY IT'S A VERY CHARGED ENVIRONMENT, HOWEVER, NOBODY IN OUR COUNTRY, NOBODY IN OUR COUNTRY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, SHOULD EVER HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR OF VIOLENCE IN SUCH WAY, CERTAINLY THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS AS SUCH. AND I KNOW AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WE HONOR THAT, WE RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT OF OUR WORDS AND THE WEIGHT OF OUR ACTIONS, AND MY THOUGHTS ARE CERTAINLY WITH THE KIRK FAMILY. THE TIME IS NOW 10:54 A.M. AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.